[CLOSED] can’t you see that you cannot control the man I am- I am not a puppet on your string

[beatupgrass]

Who: Rocket (beatupgrass) and a bunch of other people
What: Obligatory Quest Log
When: February
Where: Various places.
Warning(s): Sanzo and Rocket might drink blood. God only knows what the Guardians will find. Yusei and Rocket are desecrating bones. Kagari and Rocket are probably doing sketchy shit. It's a whole thing.

[STARTERS IN THE COMMENTS]

Comments

BLINDED WITH SCIENCE PART DEUX | The Guardians

[beatupgrass]

[After the success of their first mission- Peter didn't even have to transfer units to get that robot leg- of course Rocket jumped on the chance to probe deeper. It's veering on a personal obsession now- something that might cause alarm if the Guardians weren't the kind of people who took personal vendettas fairly seriously when it didn't involve drunk dialing genocidal maniacs, and since Rocket wasn't that far yet, and they were all bored and in need of silver, it's fine.

Once again, they've crept into the Institute, using Rocket's makeshift maps to find the best possible places to lurk. It's around lunchtime, and most of the crowd has dispersed to visit the taverns in town or converge on the common areas. They're spaced together in an empty hallway, looking like they belong there, since Mantis has proven herself pretty invaluable to turning stubborn, suspicious people compliant.]

All right. This is gonna take some legwork. Promptly and I never saw the basement. [Rocket crosses his arms over his chest, and looks up at Quill, and while his hood obscures his face, it's easy to guess he's smirking.] Hey, maybe we'll see your girlfriend again.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ Listen, Peter's all about getting petty revenge on shitty folks, but, you know, there's a limit. Peter's reasonably sure Rocket hasn't hit that point yet, but he thinks they might be getting there.

Which his why Peter's tagging along on this second run – mostly to make sure that things don't go ass-end up, or that Rocket doesn't step too far off the path, where this job is concerned. Good old-fashioned thieving and information-gathering is one thing, but trashing the place or blowing it up wholesale is another thing entirely, and Peter kind of gets the impression that Rocket would be liable to do the latter without proper guidance.

Peter's holding up a wall with his shoulder, thumbs hooked into his belt, looking altogether bored. When Rocket glances over in his direction, wearing what's probably an irritating expression, Peter wrinkles his nose. ]

Hilarious. Seriously, that's probably the funniest thing I've heard all month.

[ He's being sarcastic.

Then, pointedly, ]

Maybe this time we can come back with something more interesting than a prosthetic leg, huh?

[godslay]

[ Does Gamora have a lot to keep her busy? No. Is Gamora willing to help her friends when they're going to do something potentially dangerous? Yes.

(And only partly because she doesn't want to clean up a mess later.)

But here she is, oh-so casually hanging in the hall with the others, occasionally casting quick glances around to keep an eye open for unwelcome guests. Of course, Rocket earns an unimpressed little look for his commentary, and then she's looking back down the hall.

The back-and-forth, the bickering, and Gamora cuts in with a flat tone, ]

Can we just get to the basement? The sooner this is over with, the better.

[beatupgrass]

'Course we can. With Mantis here, we can do anything we want. [Okay, so he is definitely too into Mantis using her empath abilities for evil, and maybe he should be less okay with that. Even still, he takes point, and carefully sneaks towards the general location of the basement door. His little heart is pounding in his chest- this is uncharted territory, and he still doesn't know exactly where Evras keeps his specimens, but he swallows down the panic and keeps walking.

At least he picked a good time. They aren't accosted at all- the problem is once they reach what is unmistakably the basement door, it's locked.]

[uglybug]

[Mantis makes a bit of a face at that "we can do anything we want" comment, but it's not like she can argue it. She actually kind of feels bad about it sometimes, when so many people have expressed some sort of hesitance or even disgust when they learn of her abilities.

Even so, over-using her abilities is better than putting her friends in danger, so she's standing closer to the middle of the hallway so as to easily intercept whomever might approach. Here and there, she's sent someone along the way with a gentle suggestion.

Just in case and it makes sneaking down to the basement even easier than it might have been.

Except for the lock.]

I can't tell a door to open. [So, no, with her there, you can't actually do anything you want.

Sorry, Rocket.]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ Peter's still on the fence about bringing Mantis along on these things, even with as useful as her abilities have proven to be – and they're proving to be plenty useful; a part of him can't help but think of the different ways they could have used something like this back home on past jobs, or the ways they could use them on future jobs.

It's kinda nice, having something like that in your pocket.

But, you know, "one should never rely too much on one tool, or else it's liable to break," blah blah blah, which is why Peter happily falls back on old skills. ]

I've got it.

[ He pulls out couple of tools – the Ravagers had drilled him on the various and sundry ways to illicitly get into places – and he kneels in front of the door. It's an old-fashioned lock, it seems; apparently they were depending on whatever modest security measures they had in place to keep the random Joe Schmoe from getting this far.

Peter licks his lips as he works, eyes growing distant as he feels the tumblers moving into place, and with a final twist— ]

Open Sesame.

[ The door opens. ]

[godslay]

[ Maybe someday, Gamora will ask Peter what "sesame" has to do with opening something, but today is not that day.

Admittedly, now, she finds herself grateful that she and Peter are accompanying Rocket, because she's almost entirely certain that Rocket might have opted just to blow this door open forcibly instead of going for something more subtle – like picking the lock. It's obvious how much he loathes Evras, and given the chance to ruin anything of his, she thinks he might take it.

But the door swings open, and Gamora steps forward silently to take point, her hand resting reflexively on the sword at her hip. She nudges the door open properly, edges in, and—

Stairs. Lots of stairs.

She leans over the stairwell to look down, check for any signs of personnel, but luck is on their side. ]

Clear.

[beatupgrass]

[He definitely would have. He's used to opening doors with hacking or else blowing them up or making Groot tear them down. It's not that he can't just unlock a damn door stealthily, it's just that stealth isn't his thing.

Also the average locking mechanism is usually situated at a point that is uncomfortably taller than he is.

But for all that he has a devil may care attitude about how amazing he is on his own and everyone should be delighted to have him in between protests of how he has to do everything, Rocket is grateful as they all slide into their individual roles. He couldn't have done this as easily with anyone else- and he's done a lot of these little quests with a lot of random people to know that for a fact.

Gamora takes point and he slides in beside her. The light is only bright enough that the likelihood of missing a step is minimized, but not so bright that it offers much comfort about what they're walking into. Fortunately, Rocket's nightvision is superb.]

Whatever this is, he buried it deep. [The fur on the back of his neck bristles and a low growl emanates from him as he steps forward, taking the stairs on all fours to keep from having to awkwardly hop.]

PLAYING PREACHER | SANZO

[beatupgrass]

[Rocket's willingness to take jobs to stay active and alleviate boredom usually only applies to jobs that seem easy, and this preaching bullshit happens to be above his pay grade. However, he does know someone who is... kind of priest-ish, and that's enough.

He and Sanzo definitely did not realize the amount of work that goes into this. Sanzo is in the role of the main priest, while Rocket (who is basically wearing his normal cloak with a few adornments on it is in the role of a young acolyte.

And right now, there's about to be some freakin' dragon's blood communion, and they're standing off to the side arguing about it.]

Oh no, no. I'm just an acolyte. I don't have to drink shit, dude.

[smithandwesson]

You wanted to do this didn't you? Suck it up at learn to live a little.

[Due to his current position as an apprentice shaman with the Volkkran Alters, Sanzo was quite possibly the best person for Rocket to approach for all this. That with his previous experience as a high ranking Buddhist monk left Sanzo practically divine in his behaviors. He had grown up in this sort of environment, he understood the subtleties that came with working in such uptight religious environments. Hell, due to his months working around the alters he even recognized some of the faces as he passed them by.

So technically, Rocket was cheating in getting this job done.

Sanzo, on the other hand, was risking his ass taking this up. Go figure he'd end up risking his reputation for his second job in a row, and for once he actually liked what he was doing here.

But he also liked Rocket, although he would never tell the twerp that. And he was vaguely relieved when Rocket had suddenly approached him out of the blue asking him for help. Something like this would take a real risk of his personal pride, which he knew Rocket had a lot of.]

People are shoving stranger bullshit in their faces all the time in this land. Do you want to get this fucking job done or what?

[He replied in the most strained whisper he could muster.]

[beatupgrass]

Yeah, and I don't eat that shit either. Half the time it's spiked with sex drugs. [He's seen what people get up to after they imbibe some of that shit. It's disgusting.]

I did not sign up for some sick dragon orgy, man.

[smithandwesson]

[Sanzo's trying moderately hard not to snicker out at a small angry raccoon saying the words "sign up for sick dragon orgy", he really is. But even he has his limits when it comes to ridiculous nonsensical humor.

He wasn't smirking. Not at all.]

You think I don't know that? But if you don't want the money that's fine by me. Don't know why you had to pull my ass into all this stupidity if you don't have any goddamn follow-through with your decisions.

[You're the one who wanted the money for this job Rocket. He's happy to leave you high and dry if you're going to be a whiny ass baby over a little bit of dragons blood.]

[beatupgrass]

[Rocket just narrows his eyes. IT'S NOT FUNNY. HE IS A LAB ANIMAL. THEY DON'T LET THOSE THINGS HAVE SEX DRIVES AS A GENERAL RULE.

But he still scowls when Sanzo starts berating them. There's one thing he can't abide by, despite his protests- attacks on his pride.] I dragged you into it, 'cause you know how these assholes think. But fine. Whatever. I'll drink the stupid blood. Happy?

[smithandwesson]

Yes. Because, as someone who knows how these assholes think, you would look really fucking suspicious if you don't take part in traditional ceremony involving becoming one with the very creatures they worship.

[And, if just to prove his point, does he turn around. Comfortably tucking his arms within his robes as he made his way towards the gathering of shamans. His head bowed low, his steps quiet, as he approached the head shaman and bowed towards him with respect.

It was only as the shaman bowed back that he took a kneeling stance before the altar, taking hold of the decorative bowl as it was offered out to him. Even the bowl was hot to the touch, warmer than any fresh blood he had ever previously felt. (Because, go figure, at this point he was exposed enough to such things to be able to compare the temperature of it.) But it was with little hesitation that he lifted the bowl up towards the altar.]

May the dragons strength protect and consume me.

[And, tilting his head back, did he bring the bowl to his lips. Drinking it with little hesitation as the hot liquid seared and burned down his throat.

For once he was grateful to know worser heat. As much as it seared, the blood was nothing compared to the flames that consumed him just before he woke up at Thessa Station. Instead, it only brought back memories of that time just before his home had been destroyed.

Odd that a moment like this would make him nostalgic.

But, upon finishing the bowl did he slowly stand, handing the bowl back to the shaman and once more folding his arms into his sleeves before making his way back towards Rocket.]

Just copy exactly what I did and you should be fine.

[He muttered under his breath, before quickly stepping past Rocket.

Your turn asshole.]

[beatupgrass]

[Rocket pulls his hood over his head, grumbling all the while. Fortunately, it covers up all the disgust and eyerolling as Sanzo does... pretty much what Rocket wanted him to do for this mission, so he doesn't have any reason to bitch. He's selling this well.

And when he steps back, an edge of frustration creeps into his tiny chest. He shoves his hands into his sleeves, and walks all three feet of himself towards the shaman, standing up as straight as he can.

There's some awkward fumbling with the sleeves to keep from exposing his furry hands, but the shamans seem to regard it with a mixture of disdain or fondness, assuming him to be a child acolyte eager to partake in the rituals of his elder.

To sell this point, Rocket mumbles, smoothing out his normal inflections to a more childlike cadence:] May the dragon's strength protect and consume me...

[He takes the bowl and, with much trepidation, downs it like it was a shot of something foul, barely holding in the disgusted noise. He hands the bowl back and turns to leave, running back to Sanzo and hurling curses at him under his breath.

One of the shamans steps away from the ritual and approaches, chuckling in amusement.

"Your acolyte doesn't seem to be quite prepared."

From underneath his hood, Rocket mumbles fuck.]

BONE TO PICK | YUSEI

[beatupgrass]

[It becomes clear that Rocket asking Yusei to come along with him on this journey is 90% because he needs someone bigger than him to saw the bones and carry them while he plays lookout for anyone coming on them.

He is the worst teammate ever. How do his people deal with him?] Why they gotta be so uptight about frickin' bones is beyond me.

[planetary_bonds]

[Yusei feels slightly taken advantage of. At the same time, he's also curious about what these bones are, and what people plan on doing with them (and really, dragons? He's no Jack, but after the ordeals he faced back home he can't help but wonder about any connection he could have with the dragons in this world).

If these bones get used for some ridiculous shady nonsense, though, he's coming for you too, Rocket. Rivalfriend or not.]

I'd say burial customs, but then again... [They didn't exactly bury the dragon bones, either.]

[beatupgrass]

Yeah, screw that- if they were in the ground, that'd be one thing, but leavin' remains out like this is just askin' to get took. Besides, it's disgusting. We're doing a public service.

[He pauses, ears flicking, trying to catch sound.] Saw faster, kid. I think I heard something.

[planetary_bonds]

[Yusei pauses for a second at the warning, as if trying to hear whatever Rocket's seemed to tune into. Such a thing is futile, however, and immediately he starts sawing again, this time with increased fervor. It doesn't change how precisely he cuts, but at the same time he's still only a little more than halfway through the bone, and they were always on borrowed time.]

How close is it?

[beatupgrass]

Uh. [His ears flick again.] Far enough that we can probably hide, but not far enough that we can waste a lot of time.

[He hops off his perch to check Yusei's progress.] Cree never said anything about the state they had to be in. Maybe if you saw, and I pull, we can splinter the d'ast thing.

[planetary_bonds]

...It'll probably be better, that way. Makes the break look natural.

[Like some wild animal decided to gnaw off some sweet bone marrow for themselves, or some rock happened to break it in half.]

Let's hurry, then.

[beatupgrass]

Yeah, how does that not happen more often? These things are pristine.

[Maybe the guards chase them off. Who knows? Rocket doesn't care. He just wraps his arms around the bone, because it's too big to get his hands around and yanks... and yanks...

...and eventually between the sawing and the yanking, it snaps and Rocket tumbles backwards, ass-over-head, clutching the bone in his arms. It's just as hilarious as it sounds, and for a second, Rocket just lays there soaking in the degradation.] Don't say a word, kid.

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD | Kagari

[beatupgrass]

[Admittedly, Rocket took this quest, not for any loyalty or interest in Cree getting his frickin' birds back, but because he's curious about them, himself. Prompto had mentioned them, but there hadn't been any further information.

So he dragged along the first available body who looked even slightly interested- aka the kid he tricked into fishing for his amusement- and set out on this journey. It doesn't take long for Rocket to sniff out a freshly killed bird, lying on the ground with its wings splayed.]

Eesh. I hate to say it, but this is what you get for usin' things weaker than you to do your damn dirty work.

[It's honestly a little heartening. How did those birds relay information anyway? Were they augmented? Was this something he could have been used for. He wasn't really expecting to have such a personal investment in this until he saw the broken creature. He doesn't like the idea of "bird spies," but he hates the idea of creatures being augmented and used like this, and then hurt because of it. He doesn't know who he's more pissed at right now.]

detention aka need to know basis (before the cities start burning down)

[kissintime]

[ sometimes it's better to go simple and easy. ermes is trying to be more of a professional business woman now and that means earning some respect from people she doesn't necessarily like. that also means taking on their boring ass work to curry their favor. but goddamn if she missed the memo about these damn texts being ancient and magic, so the symbols keep jumbling up every so often.

luckily she has a partner in this boring and rather annoying as hell job, in rocket. will they solve any of this? probably not. but she figures they can at least try not to die together when she asked him to come to the library with her, promising a job that wouldn't get them killed and paid upon completion. ]

Pssst. [ she obnoxiously calls to him, when he's right across the table from her. ] Hey, are your books getting messed up too or is it just mine?

[don't you forget about me.mp3]

[beatupgrass]

[Rocket rubs at his eyes with the heels of his tiny people-hands.] Shit. I thought my brain was protecting me from this bullshit. Did it seriously have to be magic texts?

Literal magic texts?

[He's a curious sort, and information can be valuable, but this is bullshit. He'd rather risk his ass for silver than this. But to hell with being a quitter.]