<Axel_Wildfire> Holly manages a jawcracking yawn as she slumps into what she *thinks* is her room, having not noticed that she'd actually fallen one door short; her eyes are shut as she fumbles for the handle, Vincent's sword almost falling from her grip as she drags herself to where she remembers the bed being.
[BSRaven] ...Immediately finding herself with a faceful of Sio once she hits the bed, the young redhead stirring from her sleep. "...Nnh...? Whossaaaaat...?"
<Axel_Wildfire> "Gah -!" the considerably older redhead shoots to her knees on the bed, eyes wide with surprise. "This is *not* my room."
[BSRaven] The sleepy child lazily sits up and looks at Holly. "Hi Holl--" And her greeting is cut off with a yawn. "...Hate mornings."
<Axel_Wildfire> "I hate allnighters." Holly rolls onto her back, dropping a forearm across her eyes - she isn't wearing her blouse, revealing the black bra beneath, but this is largely due to the fact that her blouse is hanging out to dry down below (blood and all that). "Sorry, I missed my stop."
[BSRaven] Holly's lack of a blouse doesn't seem to trouble the little girl *at all*. "Well... Your roo--" Yawn and a point. "--attaway..."
<Axel_Wildfire> "I know, I know. I'll move in a minute." she doesn't.
[BSRaven] Not really a problem, seeing as how Sio has pretty happily fallen asleep again.
<Axel_Wildfire> "... heh." Holly groans a little as she forces herself upright, glancing at Sio - she tucks the sleeping girl back in, kisses her forehead softly. "Sweet dreams, kiddo."
[BSRaven] The little girl's smile widens somewhat, still resting peacefully.
<Axel_Wildfire> She lets herself rest for a second before her brain starts working, partly due to the CD in her pocket digging into her leg. "Aaand I wish I could curl up with you, but I gotta do stuff." Holly groans and pushes herself upright, off the bed, and grabs the sheathed Sapphire, holding it over her shoulder as she strides down to the garage, seemingly looking for Alex.
[BSRaven] And for once, it's not the genius that's overworked themself. It's the 'merely smart' guy... And he somehow decided it was a good idea to sleep under the desk. Riiiiight...
<Axel_Wildfire> "Alex! Get up, I have a present." Holly's half-nakedness doesn't seem to be an obstacle to business.
[BSRaven] Alex slowly lifts himself up -- banging his head on the underside of the desk. "ARGH--!"
[BSRaven] "...Eeegh, this isn't my bed... Where am I?"
<Axel_Wildfire> "Under a table, somehow." she crouches down and offers him the CD. "I got your code."
[BSRaven] "...Huh...?" He slowly manages to pull himself out of his current position, rubbing his head slowly as he starts searching through the desk. "...Need my pills..."
<Axel_Wildfire> "Aren't you a bit young for meds in the morning?"
[BSRaven] "You could say the same about the reason I need 'em..." Rummage.
<Axel_Wildfire> "..." Holly sighs and starts casting around.
[BSRaven] "Ah, there they are." A surprisingly large container comes out of the second drawer on the left-hand side of the desk, and Alex is quick to take two pills out of it and take them before putting the container back in the desk. "...Anyway, what's bringing you here so ea--" And then he realises...
[BSRaven] ...Holly's current half-naked state. "...rly..."
<Axel_Wildfire> "I haven't slept. I have your code." she shakes the CD in the crystal case. "Here."
[BSRaven] That gets his attention back to the CD as opposed to... other things. "Wh-- Already?!" Grab. Stare. Into the laptop it goes.
<Axel_Wildfire> "Yeah. Sio took an interest." Holly looks vaguely annoyed.
<SchoolRaven> "...The little kid?" Heavy blink. "Damn. Didn't expect her to actually know things... Just expected her to be smart."
<Axel_Wildfire> "Yeah, well, ice-cream."
<SchoolRaven> "What's with that grumpy look on your face?"
<Axel_Wildfire> "I'm tired. I've been listening to a bird singing all night." Holly folds her arms. "Get your shit together and get ready to go, by the way."
<SchoolRaven> "...Go?" Another blink. "I don't get it." [And what the hell kind of bird sings all night?]
<Axel_Wildfire> "The birdie told me something interesting." she doesn't look happy. "Have you seen Ryu?"
<SchoolRaven> "...What'd the birdie tell you then? And yeah, I think he's in his room. Had me make something for him."
<Axel_Wildfire> "Right. Oh, when you're ready, can you go and wait by Nova's office, please?"
<SchoolBRBRaven> "...You never told me what the birdie told you."
<Axel_Wildfire> "Good detective doesn't point fingers until all the players are assembled."
<SchoolRaven> "...Goddamnit." And back to work he goes.
<Axel_Wildfire> "Yeah, yeah, I know." Holly nods and takes her leave, heading for Ryu's room.
<SchoolRaven> It's uncomfortably quiet once she reaches Ryu's room -- though the sound of something being chugged should probably ease fears.
<Axel_Wildfire> She takes the time to knock, impatiently. "Oi Ryu, open up."
<SchoolRaven> There's a brief pause -- and the sound of something groaning (but it sure ain't Ryu) before the door opens, revealing a surprisingly lively Ryu. "Yo?"
<Axel_Wildfire> Holly casts about. "Get your shit together, get ready to go, meet me outside Nova's office when you're ready. Okay?"
<SchoolRaven> "...The hell's this about?"
<Axel_Wildfire> "Possible badness. A little birdie told me something worrying last night."
<SchoolRaven> "...Yeah, well, I don't believe you." And his arms fold.
<Axel_Wildfire> "Would I be here at this time of morning shirtless if it wasn't urgent?" Holly returns drily.
<SchoolRaven> "I've got Illusion Wielders in the family. I'm naturally suspicious."
<Axel_Wildfire> "Good. I am too, and I'm hoping I'm wrong." she smiles a little. "Just humour me. I'll make it up for you if I'm wrong."
<SchoolRaven> "...Fine. 10 minutes."
<Axel_Wildfire> "Thank you." Holly nods and starts making her way back to Sio's room.
<SchoolRaven> Fortunately, the young girl is still fast asleep in bed, surprisingly not awoken by the noise coming from her other neighbour.
<Axel_Wildfire> Holly seats herself on the edge of the bed, shaking Sio gently. "Hey you."
[BSRaven] "Nnh...?" Once again, the little girl's orange eyes open sleepily.
<Axel_Wildfire> "Wake up, kiddo." she smiles gently.
[BSRaven] And there they close again. "Another hooouuuuurrrr..."
<Axel_Wildfire> "Yeah, I wish." Holly shakes her again. "Come on, up you get."
[BSRaven] "Mmmmmmmhhhhhh... Sleepy Science is worst science..."
<Axel_Wildfire> "Not asking you to do science, just asking you to get up." she steals the sheets away slowly.
[BSRaven] ...Revealing that underneath there, the redhead is wearing green pajamas with white stars on them. And is curled up as if freezing cold underneath those sheets.
<Axel_Wildfire> "Up, or you'll freeze."
[BSRaven] "...Was freezing anyway..."
<Axel_Wildfire> "Hm." Holly frowns. "It's not like it's that cold; are you okay?"
[BSRaven] A nod from Sio as she reluctantly uncurls.
<Axel_Wildfire> "Why so cold?" she draws Sio into her arms.
[BSRaven] Well, she wasn't lying about how cold she felt... Christ, she's freezing. "...Dunno..."
<Axel_Wildfire> "Jeez, you feel like you're about to freeze to death, Sio." Holly's embrace tightens somewhat.
[BSRaven] Well, at least that doesn't last long. Shared body warmth is best body warmth, after all... And hey, at least the hug's returned too. "Waaaaaaaarm~."
<Axel_Wildfire> She strokes Sio's hair gently. "If you need someone to warm up with you can come and curl up with me at nights, okay?"
[BSRaven] Nod. "Sure..." And then a yawn. "...Still sleepy."
<Axel_Wildfire> "I know. Sorry to wake you up so early." Holly holds her at arms' length. "Listen, I need you to get dressed and go wait by Ryu's van, alright?"
[BSRaven] Another sleepy nod. "Hoki..."
<Axel_Wildfire> "Good girl." she kisses Sio's forehead gently.
[BSRaven] And there goes the ever-familiar smile. "Seeya there Holly."
<Axel_Wildfire> "Hopefully *not*, actually..." Holly stands and takes her leave. /Now I just need the Doc.../
[BSRaven] Pause. "...I think he went over to Luca's room..."
<Axel_Wildfire> "Who?"
[BSRaven] "...Aunt Luca! Mama's friend!"
[Kuela_Alcatai] Getting up on her tiptoes, the little girl peers out of her window too. "She's also kinda friendly with that doctor guy. He's strange."
<Axel_Wildfire> "You don't have much room to talk there." Holly laughs and goes to seek him out.
<Earthflame> The good doctor is just leaving Luca's building, after taking some more notes and tidying up a few things, closing the door behind him, and thus doesn't see Holly before she sees him.
<Axel_Wildfire> "Hey, Doc."
<Earthflame> He looks round... Revealing his clothes to be ever so slightly bloodstained. He smiles. "Ah, Holly. Good to see you. Nova says we might have some work to do soon". He seems surprisingly chipper for once. Possibly to do with the aforementioned bloodstains.
<Axel_Wildfire> "Speaking of which... come with me to Nova's office." she says it politely, but it's not a question. "Our little birdie told me something most fascinating."
<Earthflame> He raises an eyebrow. "Oh? I just got back from, ah, speaking with him myself... His species have such an interesting biology...". He makes to follow Holly, curious as to her intentions.
<Axel_Wildfire> Holly is silent all the way back, looking around the hallway to make sure they have everyone they want.
<Earthflame> The Doctor is quiet also, curious as to her silence. She was usually rather chatty.
[Kuela_Alcatai] With the exception of Sio -- who is waiting by Ryu's van, as asked -- the others are gathered just outside Nova's office. "Hope you got a good reason for this..." "Likewise.1"
<Axel_Wildfire> "I'll make it up to you if I'm wrong." Holly knocks on the door.
<Earthflame> The doctor merely raises an eyebrow.
[Kuela_Alcatai] "Well, get a-knockin'."
<Axel_Wildfire> Holly raises the volume of knocking. "I *am*, Ryu."
[Kuela_Alcatai] "...I hate mornings." There's a brief pause before Nova opens the door -- once again, the more feminine of his two figures being the one there. "...Well this is unusual."
<Axel_Wildfire> "Me too."
[Kuela_Alcatai] "...Are you going to hold a small committee meeting outside my office, or are you coming in?"
<Earthflame> The Doctor coughs. He's at the back, and can't really enter until everyone else moves.
<Axel_Wildfire> "I dunno, the hall's pretty comfy." Holly lets herself in anyway.
[Kuela_Alcatai] Ryu and Alex are right behind her.
<Earthflame> The good doctor shuffles in last, glancing towards the no longer secret but possibly still hidden basement again.
[Kuela_Alcatai] The door is closed. It's hard to tell where the wall ends and the door begins, and vice-versa... And Nova isn't bringing attention to it (though the occasional sounds of something bursting into flame is rather unsettling.)
<Axel_Wildfire> "So." Holly takes center-stage as it were, still holding her sword over her shoulder. "Our little birdie downstairs told me the most interesting thing last night."
<Earthflame> The good doctor smirks slightly. Could that be Luca, having her fun?
[Kuela_Alcatai] "Oh HELLO.", "Hmm...". The reactions don't get any notice from Nova, who merely puts the cap back on his pen and sits back in his chair. "Oh really?"
<Axel_Wildfire> "Well, here's the long and the short of it." Holly takes a breath, locking eyes with Nova. "The lady who hired him to nab a girl, in this case Sio? Perfectly matches the description of your female disguise. What's your game?"
<Earthflame> The good doctor raises an eyebrow. One of his hands quietly slips inside his white doctors coat.
[Kuela_Alcatai] "WHAT--!" "Easy now..." Ryu's sudden lunge towards Nova is cut VERY short by Alex -- who had rapidchanged into Radius Form to ensure he didn't move... Promting a sigh from Nova. "I'm not the only Russian Illusion Wielder around here."
<Earthflame> The doctors hand very slowly leaves his coat, holding a scalpel, but he doesn't look at it. He stares Straight at Nova. With an eerie, unnatural focus, he watches.
<Axel_Wildfire> "And there's someone who just *happens* to match your disguise down to the fine detailing?"
[BSRaven] A sip from the cup on the desk. "I wouldn't be surprised. I know one of the Eternal Eight can mimic even Unique Magica... For example, Nidra here has Firo Nidra, an explosive blast. Miming someone's disguise would be a pittance for someone with that degree of mimicry."
<Axel_Wildfire> "I'd be more inclined to believe that if things hadn't worked out so well because of it." Holly returns drily.
<Earthflame> The good doctor raises an eyebrow, giving Nova a knowing look.
[BSRaven] "It's not unheard of for the Eight to manipulate each other, nevermind a lesser-powered person."
<Earthflame> The doctor starts to move towards the hidden door. "Shall we ask one of them?".
[BSRaven] "...Huh?" Seems Ryu's a bit confused by that... Whilst Alex folds his arms. "...I wondered why she was familiar."
<Earthflame> The good doctor knocks heavily on the hidden door.
[BSRaven] There's a short pause before the familiar blonde form of Luca appears from behind it, looking extra-confused. "O--Oh! We have work?"
<Earthflame> The good doctor shakes his head. "Sadly not, Luca. We have suspicion and accusations, which you might help in clarifying".
[BSRaven] "What kind?"
<Axel_Wildfire> "Nova, the amount of effort required to set you up like this is *thoroughly* extravagant, and in the end a waste of time. I refuse to believe anyone would be both dumb enough to think it would work and smart enough to set it up." Holly looks bored.
[BSRaven] "I haven't left the city apart from that one time I went to pick Sio up." Another drink from the mug. "And even then, I didn't meet anyone else."
<Axel_Wildfire> Holly's eyes narrow. "'Pick Sio up'? The way I heard it you rescued her."
[BSRaven] "As I said, I was asked to babysit. I sent her back to Koro before then."
<Earthflame> The good doctor gives Luca an apologetic look for getting her involved.
<Axel_Wildfire> "That's awfully convenient..."
[BSRaven] "Life is like that sometimes."
<Axel_Wildfire> Holly gives him a long look. "So you want me to believe that somebody mimicked you just to set you up, on the *offchance* that her hired hand squealed about it to someone who wasn't you?"
[BSRaven] "Clearly someone studied under David Xanatos." Damnit Alex, not now.
<Earthflame> The good doctor thinks, and then gestures to Luca to step in, so they can close the door and seal the sound off a little. He speaks very quietly. "...We could use this".
<Axel_Wildfire> She laughs. "Bullshit. It's pure fluke that anybody who cared stumbled down there."
<Earthflame> The doctor looks up, irritated. "Holly, shut up. You're being an idiot. Lets actually think about this".
[BSRaven] Luca takes a step forward as Nova sighs. "Look, I know for a fact that this 'Eagle' is based in Arras. Arras is nowhere near here or Koro, and therefore I haven't been anywhere near that place."
<Earthflame> The doctor says, still quietly, so the noise won't transmit downstairs. "Nova... Has Eagle seen your other form?"
[BSRaven] "My true self? Yes."
<Earthflame> He waves a hand "No, I mean your disguise, this female alternate which so resembled his employer. Has he seen it?"
[BSRaven] Pause. "...I can't guarantee that he hasn't."
<Earthflame> The good doctor sighs. "Might be worth a try, at any rate. I'm sure Luca and I can fake some convincing injuries... We could make it seem as though his employer had broken in, to recover him. It may cause him to reveal more than we currently know". He speaks quietly, so as not to tip off the intended target.
[BSRaven] "He's a Water Wielder. His senses are too keen to try and do that."
<Earthflame> The good doctor thinks for a moment, and glances at Luca. "Perhaps not... We'll need to discuss this later...".
[BSRaven] "Okay..." "...Anything else?"
<Earthflame> He returns his eyes to Holly, raising an eyebrow again.
<Axel_Wildfire> Holly looks annoyed. "... it'll do for now."
[BSRaven] Brief pause. "...Come to think of it, I do actually have something for you and Nidra, Wildfire." "Oh hello..."
<Axel_Wildfire> "Oh?"
[BSRaven] "Need something picked up over at Lour. It's about a day's van drive from here." "But the tur--" "Already fixed."
<Axel_Wildfire> Holly raises one eyebrow. "What do you need?"
[BSRaven] The black-haired Russian turns back to face Holly. "Need an order picked up. I'd normally do it myself, but there are... obstacles."
<Earthflame> The good doctor slowly descends from thoughtful contemplation to focus on Nova again, one eyebrow rising slightly, although he doesn't yet speak.
<Axel_Wildfire> "Do tell." she sounds calmer, but still irritated..
[BSRaven] "It's not far from the old royal palace, which, as anyone who's even been within 20 miles of the place knows, is full of the deadliest creatures around here."
<Axel_Wildfire> "Sounds fun."
<Earthflame> The good doctor raises an eyebrow further. "And why would anything you need picked up be anywhere near That pit?". He gives Luca a sideways glance.
[BSRaven] "Looted enchanted objects from the ruins."
<Earthflame> The doctors face goes rather cold. "And how many people died for these trinkets of yours?".
[BSRaven] Unlikely scenario much, Nova? "...It was the other male Nidra that got them, but he's injured."
<Axel_Wildfire> Holly's eyes narrow. "Vincent."
[BSRaven] "...Goddamnit bro."
<Earthflame> Yawgrim sound sceptical. "If some of the toughest people in this damn country can't get close to that place without taking a few hits, what chance do we have? Or do you have some genius plan to make this Not a suicide mission?".
[BSRaven] "He's already delivered it to a safe distance. It's just dodging the wandering ones getting there that's a problem."
<Earthflame> He crosses his arms. "So, its russian roulette, rather than a straight up suicide mission? Good to know".
[BSRaven] Ryu smirks. "I could just ram 'em. Not like they're tough enough to survive being smashed into at 250 miles an hour, right?"
<Axel_Wildfire> "I can handle that." Holly nods. "Not a problem. Where's Vincent, d'you know?"
[BSRaven] "Lour."
<Axel_Wildfire> "Oh good."
<Earthflame> The good doctor simply sighs.
[BSRaven] Looking up from the desk, Nova seems to smile slightly. "So will you take it or not?" Alex raises his hands. "Fuck no, I'm out." Luca shakes her head, and Ryu raises his hand. "I'm in."
<Axel_Wildfire> "I'll do it."
<Earthflame> The good doctor sighs, rather more loudly. "If I don't come along, you idiots are going to get yourselves killed". He nods to Nova "I'm in".
[BSRaven] "Understood..." After Alex and Luca leave the room, Nova pauses for a few seconds. "...Do any of you have some sort of mapping gadget?"
<Earthflame> Yawgrim shakes his head
<Axel_Wildfire> Holly indicates her eyepatch. "Sure."
[BSRaven] "221, 583, 046. That's the co-ordinates for Lour using the local system."
<Axel_Wildfire> "Right." she nods once.
[BSRaven] "You can start whenever." "Now sounds good. Does now sound good to you two?"
<Axel_Wildfire> "Let's not waste time. Doc, Ryu, let's go."
<Earthflame> Yawgrim stretches. "Well, they say 'Fortune favours the bold'". He pats himself down, feeling the basic medical supplies he keeps in his coat. "Just let me get my doctors bag".
[BSRaven] "Yaaaaay, adventuuuuuure with only a slight chance of disemberment!"
[BSRaven] About half a day later, the trio find themselves in Ryu's ever-trusty van -- and holy crap did Nova fix it. Everything is actually working as it should, the radio more than happily belting out as they drive along the cliff-edge roads heading towards the centre of Elna.
<Earthflame> The good doctor is looking out the window, his medical bag held in his lap. It'd be worrisome if anything got spilled or broken. Every doctors equipment included some potentially dangerous substances. He hasn't spoken much.
[BSRaven] "You two're being awfully quiet. Something up?"
<Axel_Wildfire> "Worried." Holly returns simply, slowly - almost ritually - unbinding her sword.
[BSRaven] The van turns a particularly sharp corner -- this being a clifftop road, that is somewhat disconcerting... "Any particular reason?"
<Earthflame> The good doctor nods in agreement, slipping a scalpel out of his coat, holding it so it catches the light, and then slipping it into one sleeve. "'We're all going to die', I think is the main worry".
<Axel_Wildfire> "No, I'm worried that Vincent has got himself in over his head. And I'm worried that I'm actually right, and that means Sio is not in a good position where she is right now."
[BSRaven] "Little Sio, that Luca's looking after? Or Big Sio, who's way up north?"
<Axel_Wildfire> "Little. But both."
[BSRaven] "Ahh." The road pulls away from the cliff slightly, causing a sigh of relief from Ryu. "See, those two lucked out. I can't really do much with my Magica for some reason -- it's always really weak."
[BSRaven] "It's why I got this rolling fortress. Safer to just plow through things that're trying to kill you than to try and avoid them outright."
<Axel_Wildfire> "It's a good strategy. We'd honestly be in a lot of trouble without you." Holly glances back at her bike, which she manhandled into the back of the van before they got moving - just in case.
<Earthflame> The good doctor stays rather quiet, simple looking out the window and seeming rather thoughtful about things.
[BSRaven] "We'd be in a lot more trouble if it wasn't for whoever Nova had fixing this thing adding a remote control system to i-- OH SHIT." It's a sharp stop that brings the van to the edge of a cliff, another one no fewer than 12 metres away... And the road continues over it, but there's no sign of there having ever been a bridge.
<Axel_Wildfire> "... that's not meant to be there."
[BSRaven] "Y'don't say..."
<Axel_Wildfire> Holly fiddles with her eyepatch. "No, seriously, I'm looking at the map RIGHT NOW."
<Earthflame> The good doctor stares at the cliff edge, and sighs. "Joy".
[BSRaven] "Yeah, that one's my fault." A man slides down the steep hill next to the van, his crimson hair and green eyes providing something somewhat more normal compared to the usual mad array of Elnian hair and eye colours... Notably, he seems to be human. "The Floer are a lot faster than I gave them credit for."
<Earthflame> The good doctor locks a rather paranoid gaze on this newcomer
<Axel_Wildfire> Holly's stare is infinitely less paranoid, but somewhat... skeptical. "Oh?"
[BSRaven] Looking at the hole in the road, the newcomer folds his arms. "The one I fought routed my attack straight into the cliff face... Given how it works, that shouldn't even be possible."
<Earthflame> The good doctor says, in a rather flat voice. "Impossible is probably a good way of describing those things. Who are you?".
[BSRaven] "Just a wanderer."
<Axel_Wildfire> "... Stuart? Detonator Stuart?"
<Earthflame> The doctor snorts. "I'd say the same, but everyone has a name they can give. Makes it easier to distinguish". He nods at the van "We're all wanderers here".
[BSRaven] Holly's question catches him off-guard. "...There's a nickname I haven't heard in far too long."
<Axel_Wildfire> She sits up and grins.
<Axel_Wildfire> "Remember me?"
[BSRaven] "I've met a lot of beautiful women over the years." And there Stuart smirks. "Though you're probably the only one I've met that could kick my ass in a fight, Holly."
<Axel_Wildfire> Holly's grin widens. "Don't you forget it."
<Earthflame> The good doctor gives Holly a sideways glance. "Friend of yours?".
<Axel_Wildfire> "Yeah. Your problems back the way you came from, Stuart?"
[BSRaven] "I'm just helping a newer friend of mine get better."
<Axel_Wildfire> "He doesn't have blue hair, does he."
[BSRaven] This gets a brief laugh out of the man as he straightens his t-shirt out -- it sounds strangely heavy as he does so, even. "Lots of people have blue hair around here... But yes, yes he does."
<Earthflame> The good doctor raises an eyebrow
<Axel_Wildfire> Holly sighs. "Vincent, you moron." she mutters, starting to clamber free of the van.
[BSRaven] Ryu just puts his head against the steering wheel in frustration.
<Axel_Wildfire> She eyes the gap, and the hill that Stuart used to get across, and then looks back at the van. "I'll go on ahead."
[BSRaven] "Alright..." Seems Ryu's pretty despondant about it.
<Axel_Wildfire> "If he's guarding the item or whatever then this'll speed things up." Holly returns calmly. "Sorry."
<Earthflame> The good doctor sighs, and gets out of the van. "I got the feeling I'd have some more work right about now...".
[BSRaven] "Oh, you're here for the stuff he picked up?" Stuart shakes his head. "You'll need the van..."
<Axel_Wildfire> "Then I'll get there first and play guard duty."
[BSRaven] Ryu's next to speak: "How do we get a van across a 12-metre gap?"
<Axel_Wildfire> "I'll leave that up to you two to figure out." Holly grins.
[BSRaven] "..." [Damnit Luca, you could've just thrown it over...]
<Earthflame> Yawgrim sighs. "Really, Holly?".
<Axel_Wildfire> "Really. I'm pressing on. Sorry, I'm the impulsive sort." she turns to Stuart. "Guide me back?"
[BSRaven] "Over the gap, then follow the road." He points up to a barely-visible tower. "Or just head towards that, if you can run up near-vertical slopes."
<Earthflame> An eyebrow is raised. "Rushing ahead, to see a man in trouble, and leaving the doctor behind? As I recall, Nova did say he'd been hurt".
[BSRaven] "Funny thing is though, he's usually healed by now. Must be because he ain't got his sword with him."
<Axel_Wildfire> "Yeah." Holly gestures to the Sapphire sheathed over her back. "That's the idea. Sorry, Doc. And Stuart, don't be a punk, I can run up *vertical* slopes and you know it."
[BSRaven] "It'll be a nice view for me then." Smirk smirk.
<Axel_Wildfire> She blushes faintly. "Fuck you."
[BSRaven] "Nah, Vince'd kill me."
<Axel_Wildfire> Holly starts smirking back. "Well, in that case, we'll be off."
[BSRaven] "I can do downhill fine. Uphill, not so much... So I'll be about ten minutes behind ya. After I finish appreciating the view from down here, of course."
<Earthflame> The doctor glances at the van, raising an eyebrow. "...I think this is outside of my purview".
[BSRaven] Ryu just shakes his head as he gets out of the van.
<Axel_Wildfire> "Suck a dick, Stuart." she tugs off her hoodie and throws it into the van, leaving her bare from the hips up except for her black bra. "Alright..." Holly stretches to one side briefly, fiddles with her eyepatch for a moment and switches lenses, and checks to make sure that her swords are tight at her hip and over her back - as well as checking that her boots are clipped properly and that her fingerless gloves sit tight on her hands. "Alright..."
[BSRaven] Stuart just waits patiently, whilst Ryu quietly seems to be fiddling with something out of eyeshot.
<Earthflame> The good doctor raises an eyebrow at the whole affair
<Axel_Wildfire> "Well, good luck." She takes two steps back from the clifface - and then runs *at it*, hits, and goes straight up almost two metres; lashes out with one hand and grabs a vine contending with the moss... and it doesn't break. /Whew./ From there, Holly moves up, scaling the wall like a lizard; each motion is precise, fast, and smooth, with no wasted energy. "This is easy, Stuart, you're a pussy." she calls down.
[BSRaven] "You got a nice view up there? Because I know I got a good one down her--" The man's sentence is cut off as an explosion emerges from *inside* the cliff face, literally inches from Holly.
<Axel_Wildfire> "Jesus -!" Holly throws herself away from it, to one side, and catches onto a fault in the cliff-face with one hand, swinging there for a moment before she gets purchase.
[BSRaven] THAT gets Ryu's attention too. [...Holy shit.] And so does the next one -- again, mere inches from Holly, to the direction that she'd leaped from. Something must really want her off that cliff, huh?
<Earthflame> The good doctor looks rather worried. "Holly!".
<Axel_Wildfire> "Fuck -!" This time it takes out the handgrip she'd been springing for and Holly drops like a rock, yelling profanities at the cliff-face all the way.
[BSRaven] "Shit--!" Surprisingly, it's *Ryu* who's first to react, dropping whatever he was messing with and running to the cliff edge before *diving* after Holly. [C'mon Lady Luck, don't you kill me now...]
<Axel_Wildfire> "What the f- RYU YOU MORON I CAN GET MYSELF OUT OF THIS BUT NOT THE BOTH OF US!"
<Earthflame> The doctor runs to the edge, wondering if he's going to have to find some way down to put them back together at the bottom.
[BSRaven] "I can get us both outta this!" The redhead grabs onto Holly and takes a deep breath. "Firo Uda!"
[BSRaven] It's... kind of like pulling the cord on a parachute for the two of them, their fall slowing to saner, safer speeds with a somewhat violent jerk. "See, you never told me that in the first place."
<Axel_Wildfire> "Ow." Is her response to the *jerk*; her bare skin has red marks where it was dragged against Ryu's body. "You think I would go climbing things like that if I couldn't save myself from a fall?"
[BSRaven] "...You can survive a half-kilometre fall?"
<Axel_Wildfire> "I wouldn't have fallen that far to begin with..."
<Earthflame> The good doctor glances around the top of the cliff, for anything useful, and then makes his way to whatever it was that Ryu dropped.
[BSRaven] "See, you didn't tell me that. I wouldn't've done this if I knew you could save yourself." As for what Ryu dropped, it's a surprisingly ornate necklace. Jet black on one side, and a pale silver on the other.
<Axel_Wildfire> "Yeah, okay, genius... try this. How do you plan on getting *back up* once we hit the bottom?"
[BSRaven] "...Hello, remote-controlled van?"
<Earthflame> The good doctor frowns, and reaches down to pick it up, looking a little confused.
<Earthflame> Yawgrims face promptly goes pale.
<Axel_Wildfire> "Assuming it can find a path down, but sure. Can you steer this thing?" She's referring to his magic.
[BSRaven] "Oi, all I did was superheat the air so that the air resistance slowed us down a lot more... We're the steering."
<Axel_Wildfire> "In that case: that wall. Closer to it." Holly reaching up behind herself to unsheathe Sapphire.
[BSRaven] "Will try." And try he does. It's a slow progress towards the wall, and by the time they actually reach it with even Sapphire they might as well have hit the ground.
<Earthflame> The doctor very carefully slips the necklace into a pocket, looking somewhere between confused and terrified.
<Axel_Wildfire> *Clang*. Holly drives the sword into the cliff-face, and when it digs in solidly, she tucks her feet up and plants them against the wall, stopping them. "I'm going back up."
[BSRaven] "...Alright." Taking the 3-ish foot drop to the ground, Ryu reaches into his pockets and brings out a set of keys... Before dropping them, and also dropping onto his own hands and knees. "...Nngh..."
<Earthflame> The doctor calls out, crying as loud as he can down the cliff face "Holly!"
<Axel_Wildfire> "You okay?" She secures a grip on the wall and yanks Sapphire free, returning it to the sheathe over her shoulder. "Hm? What's up Doc?" Holly yells back up.
[BSRaven] He starts getting up again. "I'll be fine... Just kinda... Nngh--!" Back onto his hands and knees. "...Just kinda overdid it..."
<Earthflame> He slowly takes out the necklace, and holds it out with one arm. "Catch!". He releases the necklace, throwing it a little way from the face to try and ensure it doesn't crash into it on its way down.
<Axel_Wildfire> Holly raises one hand and does so, catching it by it's cord. "Pretty."
[BSRaven] [...Crap... I knew taking that off was a bad idea...] Stuart is just peering over the clifface to see what the hell is going on down there.
<Earthflame> The doctor starts to fidget with a ring, rotating it around as he looks down, obviously worried.
<Axel_Wildfire> "And... this is who's exactly?"
[BSRaven] No sooner than Holly asks the question, the unmistakable sound of someone throwing up can be heard from where Ryu is.
<Axel_Wildfire> "Of course." she sighs faintly and abandons her grip on the cliff, sliding down into a crouch beside Ryu. "You okay?"
[BSRaven] He shakes his head slightly... "...Might wanna... stand back..."
<Axel_Wildfire> Holly does so, instantly.
[BSRaven] About five seconds afterwards, two black wings practically *explode* out of his back... And he slowly gets to his feet again. "...Okay... That... fucking hurt."
<Axel_Wildfire> "... right then."
[BSRaven] The necklace then catches the young man's attention. "...Can I have that back?"
<Axel_Wildfire> "Sure." Holly lobs it to him.
[BSRaven] A catch, and he quickly puts it on, briefly testing his newest addition to his body. "...This is going to be awkward."
<Axel_Wildfire> She glances up at the clifftop, somewhat anxiously. "Is it now?"
[BSRaven] "Uh, yeah, in case you haven't noticed, I've got wings now." Pause... Then facepalm. "Duh. Can fly back up now."
<Axel_Wildfire> "Yep. Speaking of which, I'm going to head up and make sure Vincent gets his sword back." Holly starts hurtling up the cliff, and it's only when she's a good fifteen feet from the floor that she thinks twice and leans back, calling down. "Ryu? That was reckless, and dumb, and very brave and noble. Thanks." she says, and continues climbing.
[BSRaven] "Figured Vince'd kill me if I let his girl die on my watch." Ryu briefly makes sure everything's working as it should before taking to the air, making it to the top first. "...I didn't actually expect that to work."
<Axel_Wildfire> "Jesus. Idiot." Holly rolls over the top and this time stands back from the FUCKING EXPLODING CLIFF. "Stuart. What the hell was that? Any ideas?"
<Earthflame> The doctor approaches Ryu, and offers him a hand. He's wearing an odd smile.
[BSRaven] The hand is taken by Ryu -- a confused look on his face -- as Stuart looks up to the cliff. "...Anti-Floer booby traps. Goddamnit you guys, warn me about this shit."
<Axel_Wildfire> "Right." she cracks her knuckles, ready to challenge it again. "Well, I'm not going to let something as lame as an exploding cliff get in my way."
[BSRaven] The crimson-haired man looks to Ryu, then back to Holly. "Could always get a lift from your guardian angel."
[BSRaven] "You shut up!"
<Axel_Wildfire> "No, no no." Holly shakes her head. "That's breaking the rules."
[BSRaven] "...There's always running along the gap. That'll probably be safer."
<Axel_Wildfire> "Safer, sure, but not faster."
<Earthflame> The doctor releases the hand after saying what he needs to, and looks up at Holly, now slightly amused at her antics.
[BSRaven] There's a pause before Ryu smirks. "...I think I just had an idea. Detonate the ground below the van so that it flies into the air, use my gliding Magica in order to get it on the other side." The other redhead just blinks at him. "...You sir, are *insane*. I like it."
<Earthflame> The good doctor simply sighs. This was the life he apparently lived these days.
<Axel_Wildfire> "That works. I'm still going up this cliff. See you." Holly throws herself at it again, this time going *straight up*.
[BSRaven] "...She's just as insane."