[CLOSED] everybody's got something to hide except for me and my monkey

[beatupgrass]

Who: Rocket (beatupgrass), Peter Quill (nostalgiabomb), Gamora (godslay), and Mantis (uglybug)
What: The Guardians take on Evras's lab.
When: Some nebulous time in April.
Where: The Institute
Warning(s): Rocket is a warning unto himself.



Cree laid out the plans so intricately that it's hard for even Rocket to suggest an improvement- though he doesn't say as much to Cree's face. Rocket's photographs from Prompto combined with their previous journey into the Institute mean they now have a rudimentary map to work from, which Rocket currently has spread out on the cobblestones behind the Institute where they plan to sneak in.

"Okay, sentrybots just on the inside are here, here, and here." Rocket gestures, pressing his claws to each spot. "Remember when this place was a low-tech wasteland? I remember that. Frickin' figures the only place with tech worth a flip is the one place I don't like goin'."

Comments

[nostalgiabomb]

[ Peter, for his part, is a big fan of the new toys Cree set them up with, and he's turning over one of the stickybombs in his hands. They're lighter than he expects, which obviously makes them easier to handle, but he had hoped there'd be a bit of heft to them. Just for the satisfaction, you know?

But, hey, waking up and instantly going to work isn't a bad way to go about things, all things considered. It means he feels a little less like an asshole for missing all the Big Stuff (but not by much). ]

It's almost like they do some crazy research worth protecting or something.

[ The sarcastic voice. Again. It's getting a lot of play during these jobs, isn't it?

He stashes the stickybomb back in his satchel, along with the rest of his share, and he crouches down beside the crude map. ]

It's gonna be rough getting Johnny 5 away from here. [ And he points to a part of the map where one of the sentrybots is expected to be stationed; he remembers that particular area being reasonably well-traveled the last time they were in the building. ] Might be a good idea to leave them for last.

[ He frowns at the photographs, then he frowns in the group in general. Then, ]

You know, we should really think about hashing this stuff out back at home.

[uglybug]

[There are parts of this plan that Mantis absolutely does not like. She has no qualms about breaking into the Institute and she has nothing against the people she's doing it with -- on the contrary, she's very glad to be working with Peter, Gamora, and Rocket. There is no hesitation in her about her part of this plan.

What she doesn't like is that she can't use her abilities on robotic sentries. None of them have that safety net that her abilities can sometimes offer.

She studies the map closely, sometimes looking off toward the Institute as if a glance now and again could alleviate all of her worries.]

I like doing this way. [She shrugs one shoulder.] Less waiting.

[beatupgrass]

That's a long walk. You might forget something. [Rocket gestures at Mantis all, "see? she knows what's up." Plus it just feels cool. Like the jobs he pulled with Groot back before... Well, back before...

Granted, that's because he and Groot didn't have a home, and the concept of "home" is a new and foreign concept to him, even here. But rather than focus on that, he focuses on the important things. Like dunking on Quill.]

Your head's so full of song lyrics, I'm surprised you can even remember what I said five minutes ago.

[godslay]

You realize the longer you spend arguing about where we could do this, the less time we have to work.

[ So, like, basically: stop being children and focus.

She points to the other two locations Rocket mentioned. ]

These areas had less traffic. We should be able to pull the sentries away without anyone noticing the disabled bodies long enough to get what Rocket needs.

[ But something else fairly crucial still feels unclear: ]

How many will we need to disable?

[nostalgiabomb]

[ It's a good thing Gamora cuts in when she does, because Peter was totally about to say something snarky, like, "Maybe I'd remember what you said if you said anything interesting, dickmunch."

But, right. Work. The fun stuff. They should focus on that. ]

However many it takes to get Rocket the parts he needs, right? Don't think that Cree guy was too keen on the particulars, just that Rocket needs to repair as many as he can.

[ After a point, they'll have to split up, with Gamora and Peter playing distraction and running interference while Rocket and Mantis go into the lab proper. It's why he looks between the two of them. ]

How much do you think you guys can carry?

[uglybug]

[Mantis shrugs -- not dismissively -- at the question. That honestly depends on a couple of things. She'll need her part in the whole mission to go smoothly, nor does she want to leave Rocket alone for too long while she explores the lab.]

I might be able to convince someone to help us carry whatever we get outside, but that is taking a risk. [And she doesn't know if she wants to do that.]

[beatupgrass]

Yeah, that's gonna be a bigger risk than y'all just going back and forth. Don't chance it.

[He slaps his hands together, grinning.] We've done this before with way less of a plan in mind. I think we got this.

[Oh look he's not being a prideful piece of shit for once. There can be miracles.]

fun fact i did not have notifs on for this thread like a loser

[godslay]

[ Gamora is already shaking her head at Mantis; she's not comfortable with the idea of convincing someone to carry things, especially since that would not only leave more room for error, but also yet another witness.

For once, she immediately agrees with Rocket. ]

Don't put yourselves in any positions that feel too exposed. We won't be close enough for immediate backup.

[ This is somewhat more for Mantis; she knows Rocket has been through tighter spots before, and he gets himself out just fine.

But she nods towards the Institute's backdoor, uncrossing her arms and shifting her weight – a clear "let's get going" adjustment. ]

The sooner we get moving, the sooner this is done.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ Oh, okay, strategy time is over, huh? Peter kneels down, helping to scoop up the photographs comprising their crude little map.

But, in all fairness, planning has never been their forte, anyway. And when Gamora nods toward the door, Peter starts bouncing on the balls of his feet, heading toward it. He turns, walking backwards, spreading his hands. ]

Alright. Let's just get out there and have a good time. Do your best.

And also? Don't get caught. That's the really important part. Do not, under any circumstances, get caught. We don't wanna be wanted in Olympia.

Again.

[beatupgrass]

[Rocket scurries ahead, walking backwards so that he's facing the other three.] Technically, I never got caught the first time. Just saying.

[And with that, he's quick to be the first to go in- he has somewhere he needs to get to, and since he's smaller and less likely to attract attention going in first is to his advantage.]