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memestertrucks2025-03-15 03:07 pm
monstertruckers) wrote in memestertrucks2025-03-15 03:07 pm
Entry tags:
MARCH TDM
After tumbling through shadow you find yourself in a shrouded, ruined garage. It’s full of shattered windows and broken mechanical equipment, with all sorts of sharp edges to watch out for. Between that are strange symbols scrawled into the ground. Outside is cloudy weather and the beginnings of a storm flickering and rumbling.
Beyond the rundown garage is a rundown gas station surrounded by rolling, grassy hills. Close by is a Convoy of vehicles, either parked or driving up to station.
01: SUMMONING CIRCLE
This time the summoning circle and car garage is attached to retro diner, and an old wind turbine, barely still spinning and providing fading power. There’s also a broken radio playing a message about Nirvana and imploring people to head north. In fact, there’s a large amount of broken electric equipment in here and spitting sparks.
A fan circles overhead, stirring those sparks and creating a breeze. Trails of paper are attached to the fan, spinning lazily about. If Drifters choose, they can easily retrieve those paper talismans with little more than a slight static shock. While the paper is tattered and smeared with ink and blood, the following can be made out: “Broken in two […] Nothing to lose-“ “Moon mourns, call her down, ease her pain-“ “Need […] Better vessels from afar. Stronger souls-“ “Imbue with moon sigils, Give blessings of moon, share her pain. Put the ritual right.”
Hard to say what that all means, but it seems to have something to do with the summoning circle here. And there’s lingering power crackling through the building. The sort that makes the lights flash and flicker… And line up eerily with flashes of thunder on the horizon.
A fan circles overhead, stirring those sparks and creating a breeze. Trails of paper are attached to the fan, spinning lazily about. If Drifters choose, they can easily retrieve those paper talismans with little more than a slight static shock. While the paper is tattered and smeared with ink and blood, the following can be made out: “Broken in two […] Nothing to lose-“ “Moon mourns, call her down, ease her pain-“ “Need […] Better vessels from afar. Stronger souls-“ “Imbue with moon sigils, Give blessings of moon, share her pain. Put the ritual right.”
Hard to say what that all means, but it seems to have something to do with the summoning circle here. And there’s lingering power crackling through the building. The sort that makes the lights flash and flicker… And line up eerily with flashes of thunder on the horizon.
02: START UP
New arrivals will have a similar experience to before; a Convoy waiting outside for them, and a collection of vehicles, one of which feels like it belongs to them. The key to the vehicle may already be in the ignition, on the dashboard… It may have even been on their person, ever since they woke up in that garage. Either way, Drifters have the keys to the vehicle now.
…But there’s a few rough edges on these vehicles. Flat tires, cracked windows and mirrors, maybe some stuck doors and locks; all of them requires two pairs of hands and supplies. The garage can take care of the supplies… Now it’s just a matter of finding some extra hands.
…But there’s a few rough edges on these vehicles. Flat tires, cracked windows and mirrors, maybe some stuck doors and locks; all of them requires two pairs of hands and supplies. The garage can take care of the supplies… Now it’s just a matter of finding some extra hands.
03: STORM WARNING
There’s something odd in the sky; it shifts between a dark cloud, and a collection of birds. As the thing draws closer, it clearly becomes a mix of both. Car-sized, dark feathered birds and skeletal avians fly in a thundering flock, and turn the sky stormy in their wake. That alone is bad… But what’s worse is how the shiny chrome of the Convoy and vehicles draws the birds. As they dive towards the ground to snatch at the shiny metal, they pull the storm and bring a tornado with them. The Convoy does its best to anchor to the ground, but lighter vehicles and Drifters might not be so lucky.
The garage and diner takes it worst of all: the electric devices start spitting sparks and can even act as homing beacons for lightning strikes if a Drifter with electric abilities gets too close to them. Any remaining, intact windows shatter as the storm winds pick up, pelting Drifters with razor shards. And water starts pouring in, further shorting electric equipment and soaking anyone to the bone. There’s even a strange droning, siren like noise to warn about the storm and cut into one’s hearing. It’s difficult conditions for anyone caught up in the blow-out.
The garage and diner takes it worst of all: the electric devices start spitting sparks and can even act as homing beacons for lightning strikes if a Drifter with electric abilities gets too close to them. Any remaining, intact windows shatter as the storm winds pick up, pelting Drifters with razor shards. And water starts pouring in, further shorting electric equipment and soaking anyone to the bone. There’s even a strange droning, siren like noise to warn about the storm and cut into one’s hearing. It’s difficult conditions for anyone caught up in the blow-out.
04: WEATHERING
Once the main force of the storm hits, the following happens:
Diversion: Those with Fast cars can drive away from the station and divert the birds. They’ll want a second Drifter to come along; either to snipe at the pursuing birds, or keep eyes on the terrain! Eventually the birds will tire or get culled enough that the storm disperses.
Updraft: There is the risk of getting swept up in the tornado winds. Damage, injuries… And a particular quirk this storm has. Drifters who spend more than a minute in the storm winds will find that they begin to take on traits from the Harpy monster. These traits increase in potency if the Drifter experiences hunger or violence. As the weather clears and days become calmer, the traits fade.
Downburst: If Drifters get slammed into the ground by the storm, or the dark birds flying about. They may also find themselves drenched with rain. Any injury they take mends quickly, but is replaced with scales, as the Drifters begin to resemble a Naga monster. These changes grow worse if they tell lies, but disperse with the storm.
BIRDS: The birds themselves are vicious: those afflicted with Naga traits are seen as prey, while Harpies are seen as rivals. The birds are deadly, but also clumsy if forced to the ground. The screens on the Convoy recommend crippling the wings before finishing the bird off on the ground.
Diversion: Those with Fast cars can drive away from the station and divert the birds. They’ll want a second Drifter to come along; either to snipe at the pursuing birds, or keep eyes on the terrain! Eventually the birds will tire or get culled enough that the storm disperses.
Updraft: There is the risk of getting swept up in the tornado winds. Damage, injuries… And a particular quirk this storm has. Drifters who spend more than a minute in the storm winds will find that they begin to take on traits from the Harpy monster. These traits increase in potency if the Drifter experiences hunger or violence. As the weather clears and days become calmer, the traits fade.
Downburst: If Drifters get slammed into the ground by the storm, or the dark birds flying about. They may also find themselves drenched with rain. Any injury they take mends quickly, but is replaced with scales, as the Drifters begin to resemble a Naga monster. These changes grow worse if they tell lies, but disperse with the storm.
BIRDS: The birds themselves are vicious: those afflicted with Naga traits are seen as prey, while Harpies are seen as rivals. The birds are deadly, but also clumsy if forced to the ground. The screens on the Convoy recommend crippling the wings before finishing the bird off on the ground.
04: MONSTER SHIFT, NAGA
This month, Drifters will have access to the serpentine Naga. On top of all Naga species traits being available, the following occurs:
+Cold Blooded: the rain and storms can potentially make Naga slow and sluggish, or inclined to sleep or seek out other heat sources to gain energy; this includes basking in body heat from others!
+Water Divert: With their water shaping, Naga can divert falling rain and even ground saturation to make the area or other Drifters more dry. They can also concentrate water into different areas, and can also change water into mist or ice.
+Blue shift: the scales of Naga become more vibrantly blue, or a strange mottled combination of blue and stormy gray, the more intense the rains become. These scale colors can also reflect their moods.
+Extra arms that are painful and disorienting to grow, and can result in coordination issues.
+Scale Pains: Pain and discomfort when scales grow in, as well as fangs or talons!
+Water glide: during floods from the rains, Naga find they can easily traverse deep water as though they were simply walking (or slithering) across it.
+Thermal vision, making it easy to track others in the middle of storms. Vision may also become disorienting, and eyes become slitted.
+Cold Blooded: the rain and storms can potentially make Naga slow and sluggish, or inclined to sleep or seek out other heat sources to gain energy; this includes basking in body heat from others!
+Water Divert: With their water shaping, Naga can divert falling rain and even ground saturation to make the area or other Drifters more dry. They can also concentrate water into different areas, and can also change water into mist or ice.
+Blue shift: the scales of Naga become more vibrantly blue, or a strange mottled combination of blue and stormy gray, the more intense the rains become. These scale colors can also reflect their moods.
+Extra arms that are painful and disorienting to grow, and can result in coordination issues.
+Scale Pains: Pain and discomfort when scales grow in, as well as fangs or talons!
+Water glide: during floods from the rains, Naga find they can easily traverse deep water as though they were simply walking (or slithering) across it.
+Thermal vision, making it easy to track others in the middle of storms. Vision may also become disorienting, and eyes become slitted.
04: MONSTER SHIFT, HARPY
The storm will bring a second monster this month, in the form of Harpy. On top of all Harpy species traits being active, the following occurs:
+Storm Rider: high agility and capable of flying through the storm winds without hindrance. Even tornadoes can be mastered!
+Feather pains: itching, or full pain when growing feathers or wings. Talons may also be painful when growing from fingers or from feet.
+Wind Affinity: able to shape wind, including diverting the worst of the storm winds, or summon and focus wind into razors.
+Warbling Voice: words may waver and slip into something more songlike, or even a damaging sonic scream if emotions are heightened.
+Height Call: a need to get higher into the air, whether through perching on buildings or the convoy, or through flight. A sense of euphoria as they go higher.
+Nest Building: a compulsion to create a nest out of spare and soft objects, and feeling more safe inside that space.
+Heightened vision like a bird of prey, able to pick out details even at great distance. This may be disorienting at first, as vision becomes telescopic.
+Storm Rider: high agility and capable of flying through the storm winds without hindrance. Even tornadoes can be mastered!
+Feather pains: itching, or full pain when growing feathers or wings. Talons may also be painful when growing from fingers or from feet.
+Wind Affinity: able to shape wind, including diverting the worst of the storm winds, or summon and focus wind into razors.
+Warbling Voice: words may waver and slip into something more songlike, or even a damaging sonic scream if emotions are heightened.
+Height Call: a need to get higher into the air, whether through perching on buildings or the convoy, or through flight. A sense of euphoria as they go higher.
+Nest Building: a compulsion to create a nest out of spare and soft objects, and feeling more safe inside that space.
+Heightened vision like a bird of prey, able to pick out details even at great distance. This may be disorienting at first, as vision becomes telescopic.
05: RAIN, SHINE, OR SALVAGE
Upon culling enough birds, the storm disperses. The monster avians dissolve as they drop into streams of energy, feeding into Drifter Sigils and providing limited healing. And handful remain intact when they hit the ground and can be harvested for meat, feathers, and possibly even talons.
There is one extra problem, in the form of falling debris. After being pulled up into the sky, wreckage (and possibly stray Drifters) are going to drop back down. It’s advised to look out for falling objects and people. It might be possible to salvage something in the form of scrap metal for any vehicle repairs, but such a task requires two.
There is one extra problem, in the form of falling debris. After being pulled up into the sky, wreckage (and possibly stray Drifters) are going to drop back down. It’s advised to look out for falling objects and people. It might be possible to salvage something in the form of scrap metal for any vehicle repairs, but such a task requires two.
06: STORM SHOT
The storm can be dispersed in one of two ways. One is waiting the storm out. The second is a battered collection of machines melted into the roof of the garage and gas station. When touched they burn the hands of Drifters, but also fire a jolt of lightning into the storm. One shot lessens the effects of the storm, repeated shots completely disperses the weather.
In the aftermath of the storm, something different rains from the sky in the form of glowing, quicksilver feathers. These feathers can suppress one avian or serpentine trait for a month, and can also drain away any Naga or Harpy changes from the event completely.
Alternately, the feathers will allow Drifters to temporarily access flight for one day. Doing so completely robs the feather of its magic: only one effect can be chosen from a feather.
In the aftermath of the storm, something different rains from the sky in the form of glowing, quicksilver feathers. These feathers can suppress one avian or serpentine trait for a month, and can also drain away any Naga or Harpy changes from the event completely.
Alternately, the feathers will allow Drifters to temporarily access flight for one day. Doing so completely robs the feather of its magic: only one effect can be chosen from a feather.
MICRO ENCOUNTERS:
PLEASE NOTE! These are small bits of set dressing for players to include in threads if they wish, rather than full fledged prompts or events. You may handwave your exploration of these areas, or thread them out.
Windy Days: Preceding the storm are gales of strong winds, enough to stagger Drifters or send them staggering into other people or other vehicles.
Diner Is Served: While the retro diner attached to the garage has only limited food stores, curiously there is a respectable amount of cooking equipment that can be plundered. Portable stoves, pots and pans, spoons, and the like are all available for the taking.
Fading Storm: In the aftermath of the storm, the garage and diner look like they’re on their last legs, barely held up by their shelving. Anyone who wants to try salvaging had better move fast and carefully, before the entire thing comes crashing down.
Vincent Valentine | Final Fantasy OG | New Character
Senses blanking, falling into a torpor state. It's... surprisingly not uncommon for Vincent Valentine. A dream-like vision of a memory, returning to slumber after being awakened from a nightmare... feeling that terrible, horrorible rush of anger and monstrous rage as he felt control slip away while striving to cling to some thread of humanity that can force that other form to distinguish friend and foe. But it had also been a little different. Awakening was in a way similar except...
An unfamiliar ceiling. Vincent doesn't immediately move. Instead he does a quick assessment of his person. No injuries, no aches. Nothing screams impending threat even if it's rapidly becoming clear that the voices around him are not ones he's familiar with or was last in company of. He feels the weight of his gun holstered at his side, armor still in place and comfortably swathed in black leather and red, tattered cloak.
The only thing that's changed beyond the unsettling (but once again unpleasantly familiar) air of something being different about himself. He's not going to find out laying on the ground. With what might sound to others like a resigned sigh of someone who realizes they need to get out of bed when they absolutely do not want to, the dark haired man sits up. Pale features mostly shrouded from sight, bright ruby eyes. Even odds on whether he had those before coming here or he's an unlucky recipient of the Moon's effects before he even gets to his feet.
"Where am I?"
II Car Parts For Startup
He has an idea of what's going on now. Vincent has accepted the explanation in light of all the evidence that he's not still in his world and proof of it further suggested by the tattoo on the nape of his neck.. Glimpsing it is a rare occasion, given the layers he sports but sometimes the angle is just right.
As the storm is still on the approach, the red-cloaked gunman can be found going through the scrap and spare parts, looking for those that will be the right fit for a vehicle that... well, seems to belong to him now. Ones that are good enough are added to a pile. Ones that aren't are put back. Upon occassion he looks up with narrowed red eyes at the dark clouds.
III Need a sniper? (Weathering)
There's a major advantage of being nigh literally dressed head to toe in leather and thick red fabric when bird storms bust out windows and that's surviving the chaotic first strike relatively intact. As well one or two people who might have been standing near him as he raised the red fabric to shield himself and them; even going so far as to try and reach out to haul them closer.
Possibly one of the first signs since his arrival that he's not as indifferent to others as he appears. The very least, Vincent Valentine knows the value of allies and teamwork.
"Got a good car?" Calls for people to lead away the birds that are attracted to the shine of chrome have not been missed. He hadn't gotten his fully completed before the storm hit. And besides...
"I'll shoot if you can drive." The gun's already in his hand. So if someone needs protection while they're playing distraction...
IV Becoming a Monster? Must be Tuesday. (Just Get In There And Rip Off That Bandaid Vincent)
It's at some point during the torrent of birds, a monster that probably doesn't belong on Revan at all appears on the battlefield. A terrible, bipedal beast larger than most humans and covered in short purple fur which hides none of the long claws and sharp fangs in the gaping mouth of a bestial muzzle. A rippling, crimson mane courses from neck to withers and a tail lashes the air in display of its rage. Horns curled forward look a particularly cruel fate if it were to gore someone with them. Who knows, but it might be similar to a familiar monster back home.
It will greedily fall on the poor birds that get grounded and finish them off and it will roar with particular frustration at the ones that remain out of range; knowing it should be able to hurl orbs of searing heat but for some reason cannot. Wisdom suggests shooting or grounding the avian menace near it to keep it busy and that will definitely prove not to distract it from its joy of hunting the birds.
Probably best not to attack it while it's occupied though.
Where did it come from? Well, some might have seen the somewhat injured Vincent - a new Drifter in a red cloak with a gun - become the creature; those particularly close at the time would have noticed that it was as if a limit was reached; of anger, or the thrill of battle itself or injuries sustained while kiting the birds away from the convoy. Had someone given him a ride around at the time he would have, yes, jumped out a window before this happened.
...And there is after, as the rest of the flock drifts away in another direction and is dispersed and the beast's energy or time seems spent or purged as the enemy becomes no more. And then the man seems to regain control of himself, returning to his original form. Vincent slumps, though not through any particular injury and not in shock. Exhaustion perhaps.
And an expression that suggests he's all too familiar with what just happened to him in opposition to what this world is doing to its Drifters.
V. Wildcard
[ ooc: Anything not suited to the prompts above? HMU. Need someone to catch a falling Drifter after the storm? Help with some salvage? See a stray quicksilver feather caught in his hair? Can be reached on
II
He is no longer that child, but curiosity propels him closer.
Just pay no mind to the black feathers that have sprouted along his face and neck, to say nothing of the large, crow-like wings or talons poking out of the fingertips of his leather gloves.
"It's quite a nuisance. They summon us here, yet can't even provide functioning vehicles." At least they're fixable, but it's hardly an advantageous position.
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"...Not really." A nuisance. There's nothing in his tone that suggests he disagrees with the rest of the opinion; that they should expect more for the trouble the summoning is causing.
His attitude borders on apathetic to the plight all Drifters share including himself. For a moment, the man's eyes return to the pile he had been rummaging through. Then he returns his attention to Akechi. Another study, a brief close of his eyes and then the gunman lets out a sigh and offers a question.
"I'm almost done with this pile. You can look over it for what you need." Only a short pause follows. "...Are you looking for someone to help with fixes? Can't promise much."
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"And those are part of the transformation? Or did you come here looking like that?" A tilt of the gunman's head seems to suggest the obvious topic is related to all the feathers, wings and talons.
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Instead, he sets a hand on his hip, relatively calm despite the subject matter. "We've been told to remain as human as possible, yet changes follow us regardless. Even something as simple as a storm can cause one to transform."
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The tall man crosses his arms.
"As human as possible, huh?" Needless to say, Akechi isn't the only one around who has a few injokes lingering in the back of the closet. But Vincent doesn't define them so many specific words. Instead he focuses ruby eyes on the youth.
"They have any proposals on how to do that? Stay out of storms maybe?" There's one on the horizon even now. Currently? In a garage so that's fine. But Vincent's gaze does briefly check the nearest window facing the dark clouds.
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IV.
He tosses more than a few to the canine thing down there.
And once the storm disperses, he drops to land not far from Vincent, spines along his neck and back rippling with annoyance as he shakes blood from his claws.
Re: IV.
Then it all comes to an end. Vincent is 'human' again and crouched, awareness taking its sweet time to become clarity. Control... however much he's come to understand the beast inside him, there's always moments where it bursts free and sends his mind in retreat.
Dragon. That is likely what Vincent would call Stone even if the raksura was unlike any dragon he'd ever witnessed.
A dragon nearly the size of any summoned Bahamut at that.
The red-cloaked man is soaked in the rain and looks disoriented. But he drags himself to a standing position and aims his weapon.
That form of his never came with instructions. Kept everything fuzzy at best if not outright blank. In time he'd gain more control, more awareness of self. But now, Stone is just another possible threat the storm has generated. Only the fact that he isn't an avian gives Vincent pause before engaging.
Re: IV.
So he shifts back to groundling form. Mostly, anyway. The great scaled wings remain, leaving him heavier and oddly off-balance, to his disgruntlement.
To Vincent's perspective, there is a dragon, then a blur, then a tall gray man in gray clothes with black wings. Stone looks over his shoulder at the weight at his back, Vincent and his little gun momentarily forgotten. "Well. That's not supposed to happen."
Re: IV.
And who is he to speak of someone else having the power of metamorphosis, setting aside they're all becoming yet another monster?
He lowers his weapon and his expression eases. Though he remains watchful while Stone looks over his shoulder to the black wings that didn't disappear, by the time he might think to look back the weapon is holstered.
"You must be one of the 'Drifters'." Not one of the storm monsters. Or would that be fiends? "...Sorry." While Vincent doesn't sound reluctant, the apology hardly changes the pitch of his tone any.
Well, he is sincere inasfar as acknowledging he'd been wrong about Stone's identity was concerned. He's not sorry at all for being cautious.
"What's not supposed to happen?"
Re: IV.
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"Hm. Could be what this place is doing to us. Good to know I might have to look forward to that."
It's not. Not at all. The dry tone that creeps into his apathetic tone is as arid as the Corel Desert.
In the meantime, the darkness of the clouds is lessening in wake of the remaining avian retreat. But with the end of the storm comes new problems. The glitter of quicksilver feathers might catch the eye and turn it skyward. They are gentle and light and fall not too far away if they make it to the ground at all between the two present.
Then there is the remains of a very crumbled, totally rusted out junker of a pickup truck that slams to earth a lot less gracefully about ten meters away. ...Close enough that the impact probably ripples the ground beneath their feet a little.
It... probably wasn't anyone's chosen vehicle, given the condition it's in.
"....Right. That happened." Things were lifted up with the massive updraft, weren't they? After a split second examining the pickup remains, Vincent turns his attention skyward, looking for more dangerous falling objects with riskier trajectories.
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I'll just wrap this up here! Sorry about the delay tho!
I
…Not dwelling on that. Not going back there just yet. Especially since Tifa can’t even figure out where here is supposed to be.
So instead she’s going to roll onto her back, hate how much effort that takes, and then try to give some insight on the situation.
“…That sucked.”
That’s the best she can manage, right off the bat. Though her eyes are growing wide as she realizes she’s not the only one here. And there’s someone she can recognize, even if the surroundings are strange.
“Wait… Vincent, right?” She grasps for the name. Maybe she hasn't know him all that well, or for very long… But he’s something familiar. That’s got to count for something, doesn't it?
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Almost like it had been another dream- a less nightmarish one- but ultimately to find another ten or twenty years gone and perhaps some new generation of curious adventurers had someone found their way down into the horrors Shinra sought to bury.
Vincent shakes his head free of such musings. He's awake. And this is one of the same people. ... Right?
"Tifa." He speaks her name with more assurance. It might be that he has a better head for names. Or that he's known her for longer than she recalls. "You're here."
There's no reason to suspect time is funny or... other, stranger possibilities. Except that she seemed so uncertain about his name and that puzzles Vincent. ...But it's not a priority either.
"Cloud? The others?" Seen them?
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"This doesn't look anything like the park. Even the hotel had a lot more flair than this."
Still, better take stock of the situation. No threats nearby, beyond maybe some broken glass and a low rumble of thunder outside. Her next step is standing up, and getting her legs to hold her.
"I feel like I just... Like I got thrown into a Mako pool and spit out." Again.
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He usually lets people deal with simple things like standing up on their own. No chivalrous acts, not even when it's clear the person might be struggling a little. Right now is no different. But Vincent has noticed Tifa seems to be faring less well with the transition than he. And if she starts to lose her balance, he'll snap out his right arm to steady her.
Either way the comment about falling into a mako pool earns narrowed eyes and a slight frown. This time it's visible as he's looking down at Tifa.
"Are you hurt? I didn't have restore materia on me."
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Tifa raises a hand, putting a glove up to the wane light. It's a bit dim, but she should be able to make out the materia set into it...
...She can. And she can also feel her heart start to sink when she picks out how dull and lightless the materia is. It's almost like the magic and the spark has gotten pulled out of almost all of it. Save for one orb of magic.
"That's not a good sign. Something happened to my materia-"
She pauses again, tilting her head. That's weird; almost sounds like a radio is playing somewhere, judging by that crackle of static.
"Do you hear that?"
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"...Same here." But is there anything that can be done about it? Returning the weapon to its place, the former Turk turns his attention to listening for what Tifa has picked up on.
"...Yeah. That way." Rather than continue to speak of it, Vincent sets to action as he commonly does, beginning to walk in the direction of the radio in hopes to pick up a clearer understanding of the message being broadcast.
He pauses only when he remembers the flutter of the paper talismans. Reaching up to tug one down and read it, Vincent lets out a soft grunt before passing it to Tifa for her benefit.
....Though he'll then keep moving closer to the radio that attracted her attention before.
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III
Too busy killing the local wildlife and defending his vehicle, a sizeable and painfully familiar Shinra long-haul covered truck. But the cab IS polished and shiny, and quite a few of the avians seem to have more predatory interest in the man; they know what clothes otherwise hide, a scattering of naga scales, sharp fangs hidden equally out of sight. Not a person has been touched, only the beasts; if he's mad and prone to slaughtering everything in sight, it hasn't happened yet.
He's.. not quite as old as what might be expected, still with some of the softness of youth, almost but not quite a grown man at perhaps twenty or so on rough estimate. But the glance that sweeps Vincent from head to toe when approached is calculating though not cold, measuring words with what he'd seen before. "Can't say it's good," he mutters, casting a sideways glance to the quiescent truck. "But it gleams, and it runs."
Good enough??
Re: III
...Well, it's also a good landmark, probably has some armor to duck or hide non-combatants behind or under. Though that latter on reflection is changed to the possibility of using it as one of the vehicles to
kitelead the avian swarm away.Which leads to looking for the owner. The owner...
Oh. Damn.
It's a true credit of his skills as a Turk that he doesn't overtly react, nor are his efforts interrupted. There's no reason to immediately assume Sephiroth is among the enemies. Not when he defends the convey. Not when the sword expertly and visibly attacks the storm's birds and only them, heeding the presence of allies- human and nonhuman alike. There is no indifference. None of the stilted, arrogant madness.
...And he is younger. The sharp angles he glimpsed on the journey to save the planet are not as defined. There's an old, familial resemblance that stirs a pang in the dark-haired man's heart. He can't and won't let himself be distracted by it.
And he tells himself, as he approaches and asks his direct question of Sephiroth, doesn't factor at all into why he chooses to take the risk of teaming up with the man. It's all about the other things observed, carefully and without
too muchbias."And they seem to hate you almost as much as they like that truck. You drive. I'll keep them interested." It seems blunt and pressed because of the situation around them. Halfway through the last sentence, Vincent is already jumping with ease and intent to perch on the convoy's top.
...He does have a point though. The odds are good that if Vincent drove and Sephiroth kited, there wouldn't be any birds chasing them at all for want of an easier target that did not mean immediate death.
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There is no sense of recognition in Sephiroth himself, who might have if Vincent appeared in a Turk uniform, but without it, he's just another well-armed traveler, one that might not need quite as much defense as some of the others. "...Very well." He could argue it; he would probably be far more efficient at culling the creatures than the gunman, but none of his materia are working and thus any combat at range is going to leave him at a bit of a disadvantage.
Besides, it's HIS truck. Letting someone else drive it did not sit well.
Where Masamune's gone by the time he opens the truck's door and climbs inside is anyone's guess, though there's brief lingering motes of violet light from .. somewhere. The engine starts hard with a sputtering cough before it settles into a steady rumble.
Vincent better be holding on, because as one of the storm-birds dives for truck and its tasty snake interior, Sephiroth floors it. A truck that big and bulky probably shouldn't be able to accelerate quite that fast in a spray of gravel, debris, road chunks and dust, something that seems to annoy the diving bird, which pulls up in a flurry of wingbeats and a scream of outrage before it turns to pursue. So do a few others.
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Just don't ask how he's managing to keep his balance in those strange shoes and only half kneeling on the top of the truck's cab.
The moment Vincent has gleaned an understanding of how the vehicle travels over the terrain is when he stands up. Sharp cracks of a magnum revolver target not the birds that are in pursuit, but carefully selected members of other flocks to turn their attention to the fleeing vehicle that's 'attacking' them. Grazing blows or perhaps even the occasional direct kill bring more into the growing swarm of predatory avian.
....Did that man dodge roll just now? Under a swooping dive, away from a spray of blade-like feathers and ice that thud into the top of the cab... well, yes. Better metal than flesh. He's fine; dangling like a monkey off the side of the canopy if Sephiroth were to look into the rear view mirror.
And that was the man's full weight springing into the air momentarily before coming back down. Efficient six shots, a reload, six more shots. A harpy kicked to the ground with a backflip kick.
...Maybe that's why he wears boots like that.
Vincent's upside-down features appear at the passenger door window suddenly. If it's unlocked he's going to open it and slide on in but if it isn't he'll tap on the glass like politely asking for the window to be rolled down.
Sir do you know you have a swarm of birds after you?
....Either way, Vincent is going to take a moment's break in the cab of the truck if that's all the same to you. There will be cuts and scratches- he's not entirely unscathed and given the mass that's no surprise. But he's surprisingly well off.
"....Think they're upset enough?"
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Besides, straight lines are for losers, and the path the truck takes is as meandering as a fleeing rabbit's as soon as the ice and feathers impact the cab and tear through the cloth back here and there in an effort to minimize further damage. Vincent seems to be holding on just fine, it's probably alright.
When there's a tap on the glass though, Sephiroth's forced to actually leave his seat, engaging the cruise control - as shoddy as it is - just long enough to reach across the cab and manually roll the window down, knee braced against the steering wheel to prevent sudden careering into a ditch. Think they're upset enough? "You have their attention."
Another spray of ice, cold and feathers sends the truck swerving hard to plow right through a battered, low scrubby bush, right off anythign like a road and skidding down the side of a grassy slope. It's fine, they're fine, Sephiroth still has reasonable control of where they're going and how fast. "What do you plan to do with them now?"
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He immediately braced himself in the cab and started reloading the moon clips that he'd emptied. The former Turk won't complain about the ride if that's any consolation.
"Well, thought I'd come in and ask if you wanted to change places once we're far enough away. Or we can both go...." skiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiid The man sticks his arm out the window, gun first as one of the harpies tries to take advantage of the brief partial loss of control.
Two shots to the face and its negative life choices catch up to it.
"....go out there together. Your call."
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somethingsomething meme about faster switching to secondary weapon
Offhands are for losers, get in the single weapon game!
mebbe say that after u get out of a series installation with 3 subweapons
but that is my series. mainhand, offhand, three subweapons... LAME. /LAME/.
/comfort there there
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