A Guarded Surprise

[tummyflowers]

Who: King Richard (tummyflowers) & Magnus Burnsides (ruffboi) & The Royal Guard!
What: Magnus and Richard have concocted a plan to train the new trainees. It's worked so well, why not try it on the other newbies?
When: This week
Where: Throughout Olympia, along several patrol routes
Warning(s): idk, maybe language and blood?


[It starts with an idea. Every great moment does, when two minds come together and realize that they can accomplish great deeds together. This is what had happened to Richard and Magnus some days ago. Now it was time for them to put that brainstorming effort to work. Since being assigned responsibility of the armory, Richard had been lending a hand in helping outfit and train some of the new recruits drawn in from the Olympian natives. They'd been young and keen lads who didn't entirely seem to grasp Richard's lessons, but they were still trying their hardest. And finally, after all the drills and strange parables of heroic valor, they were off on their first real patrols throughout the city. Richard had kindly volunteered to accompany them, even though he was very likely less equipped to do the job than they were.

Only once they were in the heart of the city did their real training begin, because Richard had enlisted the help of the swolest man he knew, a musclebound ginger with a brawny, hairy chest and an axe to match. He'd play the part of the violent criminal and give a chance to give the recruits some real hands on experience. Richard couldn't be more proud!]

OPEN PROMPT

[After some success(??) with the recruits, the two decide that it wouldn't be such a bad idea to help their fellow refugees who are equally new to the guards. It's a bit of a boring job, so something like this would surely spice things up and provide some motivation. So using his access to the patrol schedule, Richard has gone out to the city to join some of his fellow guards on their patrols all while a silent, lurking figure waits in the shadows... ready to strike.]

(tl;dr: fellow guards can have Richard show up on their normal patrols, only for Magnus to jump out and attack them! They're more than welcome to fight back and even beat up the poor guy! And yell at Richard too! It's for morale, right?)

Comments

Closed to Richard

[ruffboi]

[With Richard nearby, to keep him from being, you know, arrested, Magnus prepares to jump right into the training. He's starting off with whichever recruit gives Richard the most trouble -- this is a friendly exercise, obviously, but also, isn't it a good way to teach some arrogant recruits a little humility and respect for their commander?

In that spirit, Magnus creeps behind the guard when he seems to be not paying attention, and puts him in a chokehold.]

If you don't want to die, defend yourself!

[This guy, rather than responding to the training as expected, looks about two seconds from pissing himself.]

[tummyflowers]

[Richard had been casually pointing out some of the sights, which given he wasn't even from the city, seemed to range from obvious to wildly inaccurate. The recruits had sort of learned to put up with this sort of thing while directing their eyerolls to Richard's back. They knew he didn't even really outrank them, despite having been involved in their training.

And none of his training had prepared them for this!]

Oh God, look at the size of him! Well, go on, stop him!

[Richard steps aside, casually allowing the other two recruits to stare agape before carefully taking out their weapons. The braver one rushes Magnus yelling something about his right to surrender.]

[ruffboi]

[He throws his current victim hard to the ground, to free up his arms to fight the guards who are impressing him more, by rushing him. He draws his shield with one arm, but leaves his battle axe strapped to his back. He bashes into the guard rushing him with the shield, knocking him off balance, and then steps to the side, repositioning himself so his back isn't to the guard on the ground.]

Not bad, fella! Hey, are you going to let your friend do all the work? If you don't apprehend me, I'm going to kill this guy here, okay? [Pointing vaguely at the dude on the ground.]

[tummyflowers]

[The other guard is horrified to see both of the other guards on the ground and looks desperately to Richard for help, but Richard has already pulled out his electronic device and is casually scrolling through recent posts and comments on the feed. So he's no help.

The third guard swallows nervously, draws his sword, and approaches more cautiously. "Y-You're under arrest for assaulting a royal guard," he managed to squeak out. "Surrender now o-or we will use force!]

[personalwar]

[ 76 is assigned to the theatre district, a route that he's become all too used to over the past weeks. Beyond the first assignment that he took from Ashti, there hasn't been anything too exciting for him to deal with when he's on the clock. Mainly petty theft, complaints about harassment of actors, people trying to sneak into shows they haven't paid for, that kind of thing.

All the same, when someone else who's assigned to the Guard (judging from the uniform and the stone on the other man's chest) approaches him, 76 goes stiff as he looks him over.

This guy isn't assigned to this area, as far as he knows, so what's he doing here? ]

What is it?

[tummyflowers]

[When Richard spots 76, he isn't entirely convinced that he should go ahead here. The guy looks old, more than enough to be seasoned, and might actually be so old that Magnus could break him. Maybe if he's careful, he can use his words and eye gestures to signal to Magnus NOT to attack.]

Oh, nothing much. Just in the hood, you know. Don't think we've met. How's the theater walk today, hm?

[ruffboi]

[If Richard is eye gesturing, Magnus doesn't see it. The elderly can learn, too! As Richard is speaking and distracting, he slides out of the shadows and starts creeping up behind 76. He's actually, for a guy who is 6'5" and carrying assorted weapons, not too bad at being stealthy, but it's still not a stretch that 76 would notice being crept up on.

If he does make it near him, he whispers in his ear.]

Sneak attack!

[shashka]

[ Ocelot's around the palace district, giving the newly awakened DD a tour of things. and who else does he run into but... ]

You again.

[ his tone is friendly enough, but DD is eyeing him up with suspicion. it's only when Ocelot nods to him that the dog walks up, looking to sniff at the strange man. ]

Guess I'm not just a "bit character", after all.

[ though this does feel like a bait-and-switch midboss (or submidboss, really) fight about to start. ]

[tummyflowers]

[Well, isn't that a cute doggy, hm? Still, he's not thrilled to see Ocelot. Not because he doesn't like the guy, he seemed fine, but he just had extra written all over him. It's astonishing to see him again, really.]

So much for a cameo, eh? [Richard chuckles, laughing it off.]

How's the ahh, dogster, hm?

[ruffboi]

[Magnus is midway through a creep, just around a corner, so he can't actually see Ocelot or Richard talking. He's hiding just a few feet away and springs out - just in time to hear 'How's the dogster'.]

Sneak atta - oh! Dog! [Well, he's not going to attack a man with a dog! He might become upset seeing his master attacked.] Can I pet him?

[Apparently he's not going to explain why he just leaped out and started shouting 'sneak attack.']

[reek]

[ Really, Theon makes for a perfect target for these sorts of shenanigans. Though he’s proven himself a skilled fighter, he’s still young, not particularly imposing, and perhaps just a little too cocky for his own good. Not to mention all those times when he’s just a touch insufferable. The smirk that tugs at the corners of his mouth when Richard approaches is proof enough of that. ]

I see you’ve foregone the helmet today.

[ Which would have actually fit in really well in the theatre district. Shame. Ah, if only there were a tree nearby… ]

Have you come to make fool of yourself again, or do you intend to waste my time rather than your own?

[tummyflowers]

[Richard had some mild apprehension before, but it is gone the moment Theon smiles. He really didn't like this boy. Not in the least. He had mentioned him to Magnus, too. "That boy Theon isn't a very quick learner. You'll need to hit him twice as hard to make the lesson stick, I think."

That would be mondo-satisfying.]

Hardly. Can a fellow guard not go on a bit of volunteer patrol on his own time? I thought I'd see how you lads were doing around this area. Seems a lively place, yes?

[ruffboi]

[Oh, huh. So this is the shitty guy Richard was talking about? Maybe? He can't really tell some of these guys apart. Magnus sizes him up from where he's hiding (on a balcony immediately above them). His facial hair game is pretty weak. Seems like kind of a dick. But also, he doesn't have strong feelings about this kid.

So, naturally, he leaps down from the balcony and brandishes his axe.]

Sneak attack!

[chaoticlootral]

[ Hey, doofuses, what's happening here. While your good friend (?) Taako had previously been hanging out kind of on the sidelines, enjoying a frozen marg and taking bets on who gets a beatdown. He'd run out of drink and patience for the whole thing earlier and wandered off, citing important appointments like washing his hair to attend to. Not that Taako has anything to do with this situation, where your good boss (?) Ashti has just come round the corner, sizing Richard up and down with a clearly disapproving look. ] Yo, what's happening here? What's up with this situation, my [ what the fuck do royal guards talk like ] good . . . fellow? Guardsman. [ Something about that voice seems a little weird though. ]

[tummyflowers]

[Richard really hadn't expected the commander to make an appearance. Worse yet, she has all the insignia of the royal guard that Richard had pointed out to Magnus. He was not an especially cunning man, but Richard knew that there was no good justification whatsoever that involved jumping her.

He smiled uneasily. Even though she sounded a bit off. And maybe not as freakishly tall as he remembered?]

Oh ahh... good evening, commander. Nice of you to drop by?

[ruffboi]

[Magnus is also not an especially cunning man. The opportunity to test the reflexes of the captain of the guards is a temptation he can't resist.

He slowly begins to creep up behind Ashti, winking at Richard as he does so.]

[song_of_ice]

[Despite his mind still being clouded from sleep and the new memories that filled his head, Jon pressed ahead to return to his duties. That sense of normalcy (as much as he could find here) helped remove his thoughts from Westeros and the life he once had. After having adjusted (as much as he could) to this world, it felt as though he had been torn out of it and now had to reclaim his bearings once again. Patrol was at least easy to fall back into, being no different from his work in the Night's Watch.

Richard interrupted the stream of his thoughts, the sound of him approaching catching his attention before he came into view. It felt like months since he had been here last, which would account for the rare smile he offered the strange man, quickly gone as he tried to return to work.]

What are you doing here? I thought you patrolled a different part of the city?

[tummyflowers]

[Had Richard noticed Jon was gone? No. No he had not. In fact, it hadn't even crossed his mind until he was looking at the duty roster. Well, this would be perfect! The boy had been rather useless getting the sword out of the tree, so he probably needed this more than anyone did. Richard could only imagine how ashamed he must be still feeling over that.]

Oh, sure. Sure. But can a guy not jump patrols to catch up with an old friend?

[ruffboi]

[Meanwhile, Magnus is hiding just behind the door to a nearby building, listening in and scoping out this young man through the peep hole. He looks okay. Not too impressive. Kind of mopey. Growing out a mustache. Yeah, he figures he can take this kid.

So, having decided that, he slams the door open, and immediately tries to put Jon in a headlock.]

Sneak! Attack!

crawls here late | the market district

[competing]

[ not a lot of action in the market district, all things considered. sure, there's the occasional petty thief, and maybe a squabble between vendors or two, but most of the time it's pretty chill, despite the usual hustle and bustle that a busy area like the market district would incur.

given how many people come and go on a daily basis, lance doesn't even really find richard's presence all that odd or suspicious. if anything, he's sort of wondering how he'd never met the man before, though he supposes once he'd settled on the rifle with ashti, he didn't really make any efforts to find another weapon.

idly, lance wanders down the district, keeping a careful ear out for any riff-raff, but for the most part his attention's on richard, brow arched. ]

What was it you said you were looking for again?


( ooc; let me know if this works...! i can change details, otherwise c: )

[tummyflowers]

[This boy was YOUNG. Like, bare faced young lad waiting for his first adventure young. Richard felt almost bad for him, but only in the sense that it would be incredibly humiliating for him once Magnus showed up. Still, Richard was doing his duty. He wore a warm and friendly smile.]

Just a little companionship. Some guy time. Bro to bro talk, right? One guard to another.

[competing]

[ lance cannot help but look mildly uncertaiin, but it is also pretty instinctive at this point to give a fellow refugee and guard the benefit of the doubt. maybe this man is just really socially awkward, and this is his valiant attempt at making friends. ]

Uh — right, sure.

[ ...well! lance may as well give it his all. ]

So. You having a good day so far?

crawls in here even later than lena

[punshots]

[ How lucky Prompto is, to be paired with Richard for his patrol today! Hopefully this goes a little bit better than the time he'd tried to explain video games to the man, or the time they'd talked about the blood bank, or...okay, any time they've talked, really. And - hey. It can be good for both of them, too! He's noticed Richard doesn't patrol much, so he's going to make this the best patrol ever for him. ]

-- So I said to him, "that's my steering wheel"!

[ He's in the middle of a great story, obviously, because the market district is a little dull today. Which is probably a good thing, because it means people aren't committing crimes - or they're committing them well enough they go unnoticed by Prompto. He's looking pretty relaxed, twirling his gun around in his hand like it's a baton and not a deathstick.

He glances at Richard expectantly. ]

Having a good time? Must be pretty nice to be out of the armory for awhile!

[tummyflowers]

[Richard laughs heartily at the joke, not that he really understands how a a steering wheel figures into it? Because... what?]

Quite the relief, asshole! They just don't get fresh air like you do out here in the city. [Which is... well, if not fresh, at least air. And Richard is still working hard on that ironic Kind Richard moniker. Even if it seems only to be directed at Prompto.] You seem to be taking to this patrol thing, though. Not a single complaint about your feet, I noticed. Well done.

[ruffboi]

[Meanwhile, Magnus is waiting from the rooftops just above them for there to be a break in the conversation that he can jump into. Oh my god, this kid's story is going on forever.

Now, Magnus remembers from his last conversation with Prompto that his strategy is to look unassuming and then shoot things with guns, so he knows enough to know he should be a little careful, and also to decide to throw caution to the wind. How much could getting shot hurt, anyway?

Once the conversation seems to have moved on from the steering wheel joke, a joke Magnus has heard five hundred times, so he's not impressed, the time to strike arrives. So, he leaps down from a balcony in front of them, brandishing his axe.]

Sneak attack!