Kensei Grace Camp1 Longwei Garrett

* Kensei Exodian War Era - East of
<Kensei> East of Techrin, war wages between two major factions of the now destroyed government of the continent of Telos - the Contritionist New Telosian Alliance, and the Assimilationist Knights of Xecha. Far on the northern end of the battlefield is the encampment for the NTA, headed by none other than Kensei Aremithius, Knight-Mage and Commander of the Centarian military.
* Kensei is joined by two of his elite subordinates - Longwei Silvertongue, legendary swordsman and leader of the settlement of Astarot, and Gregario "Garrett" Antonelli, a defected high-ranking member of the Messengers of Xecha.
* Kensei sits at a large table in the main tent with a large map laid out in front of him and a few small metal figures placed on top of it. He sits quietly, examining and planning in his mind.
* You are now known as Grace
* Garrett lays on a cot in the corner, resting sleeplessly and clutching his newly-aquired mechanical right arm.
* Longwei sits a ways away, next to Kensei, staring worriedly at garrett's back.
<Longwei> ...
<Kensei> ....Silverclaw.
<Longwei> ....
<Kensei> Silverclaw.
* Kensei sets his hand on Longwei's shoulder
* Longwei jumps
<Longwei> !!
<Longwei> H-huh?
<Kensei> Any word on Michelakos yet?
<Longwei> ...
<Longwei> ...He...
* Longwei looks down to the ground, unable to meet his gaze
<Longwei> ...He's still unconcious.
<Longwei> .....
<Longwei> ....Captain, I-
<Kensei> If you're going to apologize, save it.
<Kensei> This was not your fault. If anything, it was mine.
<Longwei> ....
* Kensei sighs
<Kensei> This is insane....they expect us to go up against something so new and unknown...
<Kensei> What the hell is my brother thinking...
<Kensei> ..
<Longwei> ...?
<Kensei> The mechanical giants that Antonelli and Michelakos saw.
<Kensei> It's troubling.
<Grace> q123
<Garrett> What the hell...were they...
<Garrett> Mortar shells....electric shocks....nothing we used....made a dent...
<Kensei> We aren't sure.
<Kensei> But if they're what I think they are.....then we could have a problem.
<Grace> *Noises in the sand are heard a ways off*
<Grace> -no response-
<Grace> *Hello!?*
<Grace> -Someone is calling from near the camp
<Longwei> ...I...
* Longwei stands, slowly and shakily
<Longwei> Permission to rest, Captain?
<Kensei> Granted. Go get some sleep, Silverclaw.
<Grace> "HEY!!"
<Longwei> Yes sir.
* Grace gets fed up witht rying to call for the camp's attention, and kneels down int eh rock&sand
<Grace> she's standing in*
* Longwei leaves the tent, travelling quickly to the edge of the camp. Most of the other soldiers move out of her way - some out of fear, others out of respect
* Grace picks up a 3inch d rock and throws it with all her might somehwere in the camp
* Longwei a rock lands in the sand a short ways away from her, kicking up dust around it
<Longwei> Huh?
* Grace reaches down and quickly throws a smaller rock
* Grace stamps her foot, and then looks down
<Grace> *What was taht?*
* Longwei looks up, towards what seems to be the source, seeing another rock fly out from it
* Longwei spots a person a ways away, not easily recognizeable by her lack of a uniform
<Grace> ---
<Longwei> ....Who is...
* Grace suddenly starts running full-force at the camp
<Grace> -short scream-
<Longwei> !!
* Longwei moves to intercept, drawing her sword and charging forth with a battle cry of her own
* Grace stops just short of her at a wall, and backs up to it- out of breath
<Grace> -tent support pole-
* Grace finalyl turns towards her after a second
<Grace> S..Scorpion...Scary bugger..
* Grace catches her breath some more
* Longwei holds her sword outwards, pointed at the stranger
<Longwei> ....
* Grace doesn't recognize it yet
* Grace looks up int he air
<Grace> Whooh...
* Grace tursnt o her
<Grace> ...?
<Grace> !!
* Grace almost drops her notebooks
<Grace> Gah!! S-Sorry!!
<Longwei> You aren't dressed in a uniform. Identify yourself.
* Grace backs uo- making the tent behind her crooked
<Grace> IumI- *coughs*
<Grace> *quickly* My name is Grace Floette.
<Grace> I'm a student on independent study..or..was..I..I'm doing research on my own.
<Longwei> ....Who are you allied with?
<Grace> *bead of sweat*
<Grace> Oh-I'm *laughign nervously* I'm not one for politics..ehheh...
<Grace> um...
* Grace looks over Her uniform, sifting through her botanous thoughts for any memories involving the war
<Grace> uhhhhhhh....
* Grace draws a blank
<Longwei> Your nation. Where are you from?
<Grace> C-Centari.  And I've been away for about four months on my project..
<Longwei> Centari?
* Longwei lowers her sword
<Longwei> ..
* Grace nods, putting her things together
<Longwei> You're a ways from home.
* Grace laughs
<Grace> I've been gone so long they wouldn't possibly take me back..that is..without completing my thesis..
<Longwei> ....I...see....
<Longwei> You do...know where you are, right?
* Grace calms down and gives an annoyed shake of the head
<Grace> I've restructured my entire world map without borders, solely into geographical and bioshperic labels..
<Longwei> ....You're about half a mile away from a warzonw, kid.
* Grace whistles
<Longwei> Warzone*
<Grace> Thanks for the Scorpion then..
<Grace> So, could I chill here for a second?
<Grace> Maybe a night?  I have sketches to compare..
<Longwei> ....I can't say for sure, but we can ask the Commander.
<Grace> That'd be quite the favor -...what's your name?
<Longwei> Longwei Silverclaw.
<Longwei> Allied to Astarot.
* Grace gives her an impressed *notbad* face
* Grace gets ready to walk with her
* Longwei walks off towards the central tent, sheathing her sword and preparing for hiw to explain the situation to the Commander
* Grace is already in her books
* Longwei peeks into the tent
<Longwei> Permission to enter?
* Kensei just waves her in, not looking up from the table.
* Grace looks around after stopping
<Kensei> Silverclaw, I thought you were resting.
<Longwei> I was going to. A situation arose.
* Grace raises a hand
<Kensei> Situation?
* Kensei looks up from the table.
<Kensei> Yes?
<Grace> Hello.
* Grace gives a brief smile
* Grace leans in
<Grace> May I stay a night?
<Kensei> May I ask who you are?
* Kensei 's eyes narrow, cautiously
<Grace> Grace Floette of Centari University.
<Kensei> Ah, a fellow Centarian.
<Grace> Oh! *smiles again
* Kensei smiles, surprisingly gently
<Kensei> I suppose I could see if we have extra room.
<Grace> Great!
* Kensei stands, tapping the table with his left hand - the map and pieces fade into the surface and disappear
<Kensei> Antonelli. On your feet.
<Garrett> R-right....
* Garrett stands, snapping into a salute. He noticeably winces at the motion of his arm
* Grace tries to sneak in more time to compare sketches
<Kensei> You'll be coming with us.
<Kensei> As will Silverclaw.
<Grace> ! Right, thank you.
* Grace walks foreward into the room
<Longwei> Huh? Me?
<Kensei> Yes, you.
<Kensei> I'll need help.
<Longwei> ...Yes sir.
* Grace fills in any excess time with looking at sketches
<Grace> !*Ah!*
* Grace makes a sharp noise, then groans and scratches something off
<Kensei> Hm?
<Grace> *Too many points on the leaf...*
* Kensei looks to her
<Kensei> Something wrong?
<Grace> Hm?  Oh, I'm just comparing species..
<Kensei> Species?
* Grace stops and looks up
<Grace> Flowers, yes.
<Grace> (Is he actually interested?*
<Grace> )*
<Kensei> Ah, interesting. Is that what brings you so far out this way?
<Grace> Yes actually!
<Grace> I thuoght deserts may have flowers that have evolved to compensate for hte harsh conditions and have hidden potential.
<Grace> I've been in meadows and forests for months, I want to try tundras, deserts, and wetter woodlands.
* Grace smiles proudly
<Kensei> Really now?
<Kensei> Well, if you're looking for rare and extraordinary plant life, I'd recommend searching Everglow.
* Grace 's eyes widen, then she takes notes quickly
<Grace> Thank you so much!
<Kensei> Of course.
<Grace> Are we holding anything up..?  Or are we okay to chat?
* Grace looks around for the others
<Kensei> It's fine to chat.
* Grace smiles exhaustedly
<Grace> Can I sit?
<Kensei> Go right ahead.
* Grace sits down and sighs
* Kensei sits beside her, a ways away
<Kensei> Long journey?
<Grace> It's longer when you're winding from point to point..heh..
<Kensei> Ah...too true.
* Grace smiles warmly
<Grace> So, what did you find interesting about that?
<Kensei> Hm?
<Grace> Well, it's not often people tone in in a serious attitude when I say I study -flowers-...
<Kensei> Heh...well, it's something a know a few things about.
<Grace> F-Flwoers?
<Grace> Plant-life?
<Kensei> I have a niece with a similar hobby. She'd go into the forests with me when she was younger, and I'd teach her all about the plants and animals.
<Kensei> She took a particular liking to flowers.
<Grace> Yes...alright..
* Grace listens intently
<Kensei> I try to bring one home when I go on trips, and I travel a lot so I'm quite well-informed on the region's flora.
<Kensei> You know...you remind me of her.
* Grace laughs a bit
<Grace> She sounds like we'd make good friends..
* Grace smiles to him
<Grace> Where is she now?
<Kensei> She's back home. Too young to join the ranks, thankfully.
<Grace> Phew..
<Grace> Did she ever find anything interesting?
<Kensei> I'm not entirely sure. She's been a few places that I haven't travelled to and seen some uncommon things, but she hasn't spoken of anything that stood out too much.
<Kensei> Though she has told me that Astarot has interesting plant life.
<Grace> *sribble*
* Grace nods
<Grace> How did she get interested?
<Kensei> Hm?
<Kensei> What do you mean?
<Grace> Well...
<Grace> I remember something happenes when..well..*laughs a bit*
<Grace> Well I don't remember...I blacked out while I was out in the wilderness when I was Five..
<Grace> I remember sketchign this...specific..small bush of white and pink flowers..
* Grace stares off
<Grace> Then I remember blacking out and...I was woken up by a family friend who found my lying in a meadow...but I wasn't near the flowers anymore..
<Grace> ....
<Grace> I looked at my hands and could have sworn I was still carrying them..I wasn't...
<Grace> .....In all honesty...I'm really using the school poject to cover up my search for that flower...I just...I'm obsessed with it..
* Grace slowly pulls out a different, smaller notebook.  A very old, tattered notebook
* Grace flips through the years of her life, and all her drawings of that same flower and bush of flowers for her whole life from that day on
* Grace looks at the original drawing, in crayon.
<Grace> .....*snif*.....Yeah.....So...that's why people think I'm psychotic...
<Kensei> Heh....few people understand what it is to be devoted to a cause.
* Grace looks up and gives a tired smile
* Kensei leans back a bit, resting casually
<Grace> ....
<Kensei> I'm not sure what drives my niece. I'm fairly sure she's just appreciative of nature or something similar to that.
<Kensei> But she loves what she does.
<Grace> ...yes..that is nice..
* Grace turns away and hurriedly wipes a small tear
<Grace> ....
* Grace sticks her hand out gently
<Grace> It's nice talking.  I'd love to meet her if I could.
<Grace> What was your name?  I don't think you told me..
<Kensei> Ah, I suppose I haven't.
<Kensei> I'm Kensei Aremithius.
* Grace glances down at her hand
<Grace> It's..nice to meet you Kensei.
<Kensei> And you as well, miss Grace.
* Grace smiles warmly
* Kensei was never actually told her name
<Kensei> [Scratch, wrong]
<Grace> A-And if you -if you -EVER- see this- y- you need to find me.
<Kensei> I will.
* Grace laughs
<Grace> Thank you!
* Grace turns away happily- then spots the other two
<Grace> ! o_o
<Kensei> Hm?
<Grace> *Uuuummm.....*
* Grace fidgets with her hair over her right ear
<Grace> I..sorry were we supposed to leave with you two?
<Longwei> ?
<Kensei> Well, they follow me. Everything is okay.
* Grace doesn't calm down that much
<Grace> S-So..
<Grace> Should we go?
<Grace> ..?
<Grace> ?
<Kensei> I suppose we should focus on getting you a place to sleep.
<Grace> Yes..
* Kensei stands, holding his hand out to Grace
* Grace looks at it for a split second in shock
* Grace coughs unnatractively and walks up near him but looking away
<Grace> Let'sgo..
<Grace> (Will we jsut go already..)
* Grace is up and away from him
* Kensei walks forth, with his two attendants, towards a smaller collection of tents near the opposite edge of the camp
* Grace follows, observing the camp now, her notebooks under her arms
<Grace> _
<Grace> -Grace bunks with Garrett-
* Garrett has quit (Quit: Bye)
* Kensei is now known as Garrett
* Grace spreads out her notebooks, making sure she has everything
* Grace busies herself, still coming down from the embarassment
* Garrett sits on his cot on one side of the tent, sweating a bit from exertion and mild pain
<Garrett> Sorry you got stuck with me for the evening. I'll try not to get in your way or bother you too much.
<Grace> ?
* Grace looks up
<Grace> What for?
* Grace sits upright
<Grace> What will keep me up?
<Garrett> Uh....not really sure, just....huh.
* Grace looks at him
<Grace> Nobody's ever asked?
* Grace chuckles
<Grace> What is it, snoring?  Moaning?  Trust me, I'm fine.  I had dorms.
<Garrett> Well, I...sometimes get up during the night.
<Garrett> I toss and turn, too.
<Garrett> Sorry
<Grace> That's all?  *laughs a bit*
<Grace> You're fine..
<Grace> ...
* Grace almost asks something, then goes back to checking her notebooks
<Garrett> ...
<Garrett> (This is...really strange.)
* Grace is working fine
* Grace taps her pencil fora  while
<Grace> I'm really sorry...may I ask>
<Grace> ?*(
* Grace is staring at his arm
* Garrett messes with moving his arm a bit - it hisses and groans quietly
<Garrett> Hm?
<Grace> What...What is it?
<Grace> It's...very elaborate..
<Garrett> ...It's...a mechanical replacement.
<Grace> ...I can see taht...
<Grace> ...
<Grace> Why is it so...
* Grace realizes it's making the noises
<Grace> ...strange?
<Garrett> Huh?
<Garrett> Strange...how?
<Grace> ...I just woulnd't think of it at a normal prosthetic..
<Grace> Why does it glow?
<Garrett> Huh?
<Garrett> I.....I'm not sure. I think it might be drawing power from me or...something...
<Grace> o_o
<Grace> Why...do you have..IT..?
<Grace> And not any normal prosthetic?
<Garrett> ....It was...a solution to an emergency.
<Garrett> It was fiven to me by a friend so I could...run away.
<Garrett> Given*
<Grace> Th-THAT was an emergency?  That was the quickest option?
* Grace listens
<Grace> I...W-Wow....
* Grace had gotten up on her knees, now sits back down, stunned
<Grace> ....Wow..
<Garrett> We have a Kinesikin here that can produce machines from his body.
<Grace> O_O
<Garrett> Yeah.
* Grace just nods her head
<Grace> Alright..
<Grace> Just know I can't be mad at you for anything, It's STILL not annoying compared to dorm life.
* Grace smiles, trying to rekindle any normalcy in the tent
<Garrett> Right...
<Garrett> ....Sorry.
<Garrett> If I scared you, I mean.
* Grace shakes her head, smiling
<Grace> So, do you..want to ask me any questions?
<Garrett> I can't really..think of any.
<Garrett> Sorry. People arent really my forte...
* Grace shrugs
<Grace> I actually can get that
* Grace rotates a sketchbook towards him
<Grace> If I could, I'd talk to flowers all day instead.
<Garrett> Flowers?
* Grace 's notebooks are all openned up to sketches and analyses of plants and flowers
<Grace> Yes...
<Garrett> Ah....that's....cool?
<Garrett> I dunno...I'm not a nature kinda guy.
* Grace smiles
<Grace> That's fine.
* Grace turns it back
* Longwei some rustling is heard outside the tent
* Grace takes a casual glance to the side, and yawns
<Grace> Someone still up?
* Grace doesn't say more
<Garrett> I doubt it...it's late.
* Garrett stands
* Grace begins folding papers and stacking notebooks
* Garrett goes forth, towards the front flap of the tent
<Grace> Are you worried..?
<Garrett> No. But I am curious.
* Grace nods and goes back to packing up
<Grace> I'd say lie down.  I mean, if you'd be comfortable.
* Garrett steps out a bit, grasping onto the metal pole holding up the tent
* Grace lays down
* Grace looks down at him
<Grace> ..
* Grace shrugs and closes her eyes
<Garrett> Sends a shock through the poles and through the outer frame, it jumps onto the outside and sparks brightly right in front of Longwei
<Longwei> Wha!!
<Grace> ???
* Longwei falls back from the tent onto the ground, stunned
* Grace blinks up and pushes up off the ground
<Grace> What the hell??!
<Grace> Did you jsut attack someone you paranoi-
<Garrett> Someone was eavesdropping on us.
<Grace> So??
<Grace> Jeez!  I knew you had social issues but come ON!
* Grace is irritable, and tries to go back to sleep
<Garrett> All I did was make a bright spark.
<Garrett> Nothing but a scare.
* Grace jsut tries to sleep
<Grace> *mumble* Who was it...
<Garrett> Probably Longwei.
* Longwei gets up, running to the front of the tent
<Longwei> IHAPPENEDTOBEPASSINGBYANDISAWABRIGHTFLASGOFLIGHTDIDSOMETHINGHAPPENDIDTHATGIRLATTACKYOUISSHEASPYDONTWORRYILLPROTECTYOU
* Garrett holds out his hand
<Garrett> Stop.
<Garrett> Calm down.
* Grace watches grumpily
<Garrett> I'm fine. She's fine.
<Garrett> Why were you spying on us?
<Longwei> !
<Longwei> I-I wasn't spying on you! I was just passing by!
<Garrett> I heard you outside the tent this whole time.
<Longwei> .....
<Longwei> Alright, okay? I was...listening in a bit.
<Garrett> Why?
<Longwei> I...was worried.
<Garrett> Worried?
<Longwei> ...D-don't misunderstand me!
<Longwei> I was just making sure she wasnt doing something suspicious!
* Grace props herself up, tired
<Grace> The flower girl, really?
<Longwei> I-i-it's not like I was worried about you or anything!
<Grace> Jeez..you're all paranoid..*yawn*
<Garrett> ....
<Garrett> ...Longwei. Go to bed.
<Longwei> ...But what if she-
<Garrett> Bed.
<Garrett> Now.
<Longwei> ....
* Longwei slowly, hesitantly turns away
<Longwei> ...But what if-
<Garrett> BED.
<Longwei> ...
* Longwei walks away, back to her own tent
<Garrett> ....
* Garrett steps back in, closing the flap and flopping onto his cot
<Grace> ....Well, I guess it was good you got her..wouldn't want her up all night or....uhg...waking me up to interrogate me...
<Garrett> I dont get her at all...
<Garrett> Uuuuurgh....
<Garrett> Lets just...go to sleep.
<Grace> ...mhm..
<Grace> Hope she doesn't interrogate me anyway...
* Grace lays down
<Grace> _