nysalogs | hangman is coming down from the gallows [closed]

Woah, woah, woah-- wait, wait, wait.

[Cayde glances up and down the hall, and then gestures to one of the rooms. It's empty tonight, they can talk without someone walking upstairs and overhearing them.]

Come on, let's talk.

[ It would be a stretch to say that 76 is settled here in Wyver territory, but he's in a better spot than he was a week ago. Not being imprisoned is a good start, but he's also gotten himself a new phone, made touch with the people he needed to check in on, and explored the immediate area. Everywhere except for the deep jungle, that is, and the time for that is now.

While the people of Wyver don't seem too concerned with 76's fugitive status (that's an Olympian problem, after all), he doesn't want to take any chances. Living somewhere isolated is how he'd managed back home, so it seems only natural to do the same thing here.

Granted, the desert had been a little easier to navigate than the jungle, but he's confident that he and Ana can figure something out. All it will take is some scouting, and for her month of being tracked to come to an end.

The mugginess only gets worse the further 76 pushes into the jungle. Given that he's wearing a leather jacket and has his face mostly covered by his visor, it's no surprise that he's started to sweat, the little bit of skin that's exposed flushing red. All the same, the conditions don't seem to slow him down at all as he presses on. ]

[ It's hard to judge from one interaction, but 76 isn't going to argue too much with Rocket's assessment. He figures both possibilities are equally likely, but the main point to keep in mind is that there still might be a chance for them to find this guy. ]

Guess we'll have to see if we can find him before someone finds us.

[ It's an awkward position to be in, no doubt about that, but with his unwavering tone, it seems that 76 is up to the challenge. He drags his hand across his mouth in thought. ]

I'd say we should keep in touch in case one of us finds him, but I already ditched my phone.

[ So they'll be more like ships passing in the night, it seems. ]

Wow. You're real extreme. [He'd have done the same, but he needs that, and he has Angel to back him up with encryptions if need be. Which means he can poke fun all he wants.

It's the simple things. And he needs some lighthearted ribbing.] Next you're gonna tell me that you plan on goin' out into the woods and livin' off the land 'til you or somebody else finds this dude or it all blows over somehow.

[ 76 eyes the empty room uncertainly. This could be a trap, and it might be in his best interest to simply leap back out the window he came in through, but that would make more of a scene and there's the possibility that Cayde actually wants to hear him out.

If that's the case, he might have useful intel for him too.

So after a few moments of internal debate, he follows Cayde inside, lingering near the door once he shuts it behind them. ]

[Cayde leans against the door when it closes behind them, casual with his arms folded over his chest. It's not 76 he's worried about; he can see the window from here, the guy has a clear shot to it if he wants to leave. But here he can easily hear anyone moving up and down the halls.]

I know you were set up-- all of you.

[That's a way to break the ice, right. Cayde's not gonna fuss around on something like this, and there's a seriousness in his voice that's almost a bit out of place on him.]

Been lookin' into the guy who offered up the carriage job, but the guy's practically vanished into thin air.

[It's times like this one really misses having scouts to do this stuff instead.]

[ Ana smiles at that. It's nice to see him joke, even if it never lasts long.

She gives him a careful once over, now that she's up close. She hadn't noticed any difference in the way he moved, so she doesn't think that he's been injured, but it's an old habit. She worries for him. ]

We can manage once a week. Who's going to come looking for us up in the station? [ There are other refugees who can get there, but Ana doubts that many of them will be looking for Jack now that there's so little to be gained from it. They'll just have to be careful. ]

Your phone is the only thing I didn't take. I didn't want anything that could be tracked to end up with your gear, including myself. Here. [ She hands him a piece of paper with co-ordinates printed on it. ] I had a friend hide it for you.

Which is surprising, since they were so quick to send us out to hunt you down and brand you as criminals. [ But he shrugs rather lazily, leaning his weight onto one foot and slowly crossing his arms over his chest. He doesn't appear particularly perplexed with the course of events, however, in fact 76 may be able to indicate that his tone almost gives off the impression that he was bored. ]

But that's besides the point, you here for information?

[ Neither 76 nor Ana (nor McCree, for that matter) are experts when it comes to tech. They're proficient enough when it comes to use, but 76 couldn't manage encryption when they're this limited in terms of equipment. So ditching his phone had seemed like the safest option.

He can tell that Rocket is ribbing him now, but there are some shades of truth to what he's saying. He'd lived out in the middle of the desert back home, after all. ]

I can't say I haven't considered it. [ His eyebrows raise in the suggestion of amusement, though it's muted. ] What's your plan?

[ The fact that Cayde is suddenly speaking openly about the situation, not to mention the way that his voice has sobered, gives 76 reason to believe that this room has offered them privacy. He's still on edge, waiting for someone to burst in to seize him and having to make a quick escape, and that's what has him edging closer to the window. Just in case.

This is the most solid information he's gotten about his search so far, which is pathetic given its sparsity. But still, he'll take what he can get at this point, assuming he can trust anything that Cayde says. ]

You know? How?

[ If the guy has vanished, there isn't much that 76 can do about that, but he'd like to know where Cayde's inside information has come from. ]

If I can't hunt the dude down, I'm probably gonna try to see if I can get to Wyver.

[And then realizing that involves running through the woods and living off the land, he adds, hastily.] Totally different thing, by the way. Maybe I'll get lucky and nobody'll be watchin' the gates at the Outpost close enough.

[ The station does provide them with some sort of neutral ground, as a place that the Olympian tracker probably can't reach. That might set off alarm bells on its own, but Jack suspects that Ana can handle herself if the authorities become suspicious. ]

All right, once a week.

[ He reaches out for the piece of paper, looking over the coordinates before he folds it up and puts it in his pocket. He'll investigate it later. ]

Thanks. Which friend?

[ It's someone Ana must trust well, to have given them a task like that. ]

Were you one of the hunters?

[ Crowley's made no secret of being a predator, but 76 hadn't run into him at all during his time as a fugitive back in Olympia. It seems like the exact sort of situation he would have wanted to capitalize on, although he also seems more interested in blood than silver.

Understandable, given that he needs it to live.

At the question, 76 nods. That's not something he needs to hide. ] If I'm right, then the guy in charge here is behind everything that happened. He's the reason I've got a target painted on my back. [ Of course he wants information. ]

[ Totally different thing, of course. Either way, Rocket likely has a better chance of being able to sneak around, given his small size.

Escaping to Wyver is a last ditch effort, but 76 is also willing to resort to that if need be. With any luck, he'll be able to steal his horse from the stables too. ]

If there really is conflict between the two nations, then it's possible Wyver will accept us with open arms.

[ Whether innocent or guilty. ]

That's kinda what I'm thinking. [He shrugs.] Personally, I've been wantin' an excuse to get over there since we landed. Always liked Wyver better in the simulations- they seem less up their own asses.

[Also less Evras in Wyver.]

[ That's an interesting tidbit of information, one that he's quick to latch onto. ]

I didn't spend much time in the simulations.

[ Now 76 is wondering if maybe he should have, though it's not like there's much point in dwelling on it now. He'll deal with the reality, come what may. ]

What was it like?

( seems old habits have a hard time dying. reaper has been living on the outskirts since he arrived. he doesn't care for the closeness. can't trust anyone. that idea still sticks with him as they move over to wyver territory. after giving the city a thorough combover, he decides he likes it better here already. not enough to stay in housing close to people, but enough he's not going to kick up a fuss yet. seems there's some good opportunities if he just looks in the right places.

there's a better assortment of greenery in wyver that reaper comes to appreciate. not in the same way most normal people would. but, then again reaper isn't exactly normal. he's made use of some criminals as of late, so he'll be fine for a while. he won't be deteriorating as quickly. certainly won't be feeling excruciating pain, either. but, in case he does, he has all this vibrant plant life out here to keep hime fairly whole. maybe some wildlife if it gets in the way.

of course, his sweet digs get a little less sweeter when he hears someone approaching. footsteps are too heavy to be any animal he's seen out here so far. he positions himself on the high ground first. his eyes scan over until he spots something out of place. and, what a treat that is. turning to smoke, he winds down the tree he's in and coalesces somewhat behind and to the side of jack. there's an obvious smile heard in his voice. )

Today must be my lucky day.

[ 76 has known he wasn't alone out here since he first stepped foot into the jungle, although that's primarily because of the rich flora and fauna. Any animals have steered cleared of him, his heavy footsteps seeming to do a decent enough job in keeping them at bay. He knows there might be some predators out here who might view him as a tasty snack, though, so he's ready to defend himself if need be.

The problem is that he hadn't been braced for this predator.

Once again, he can feel the darkness creeping toward him before he actually hears anything, and this time he's just a little faster at turning toward Reaper as he appears. 76 hasn't seen hide nor hair of him since he was labeled a fugitive, though he had received his delayed messages after getting his phone back. (It had taken a lot to not throw his phone against a hard surface to shatter it, after reading those.) It shouldn't surprise him that Reaper is still hanging around like some sort of parasite.

He's got his pulse rifle with him this time, and he adjusts it in his arms, if only to make a point. ]

Don't really see what's lucky about it.

[ When the two of them run into each other, it never ends well. ]

Less structured. Still way primitive, but I know I ain't gettin' any better around here, so that's no big. [He waves a hand in circles, trying to describe it.] It's got jungles, which ain't ideal- I prefer a more urban sprawl- but it didn't seem to have anybody like Evras.

And that's kinda what I'm lookin' for right now in places to stay in.

You don't even have to ask. [ He knows the answer, at least Crowley predicts that he knows of it. ] I only got to catch one~ But then again I let the other go free 'cause I got tired of him jumping around.

[ But that doesn't matter. Not when something else catches his interest and raises a brow. ]

If you're right? [ He whistles. ] So what are you gonna do if he goes and confesses that he did? Kill 'im?

Alan. [ Ana shrugs. She could have asked Reinhardt, but he's been preoccupied trying to feed entire city with what he can catch of local fish and game. He already worries too much.

Not that she has room to talk. ]

How are you holding up, Jack?

[ the fact that Ocelot somehow escaped being implicated in this whole mess was nothing short of a miracle. or rather, it was exactly the sort of thing that seemed to happen to him on a semi-regular basis.

funny how those things seemed to work out.

as it stood, he was looking for some of the "traitors". not for the Royal Guard (though, he supposes that it might be a good way to raise his standing) but more for his own benefit. to learn more about what exactly happened.

it's when he sees someone with a familiar build that he thinks he might've found one of his targets. as he passes by, he places a light hand on his arm. ]

Well...

[ this was one way to get information. ]

[ Oh, so it's back to Evras. Not that 76 can judge much, given what little he's been able to pick up about Rocket. A lack of structure would certainly be welcome after the week he's had, and allow him to operate in a way he couldn't in Olympia. ]

Fair enough. I'm guessing I'll get to see it for myself sooner or later.

[ They could chat more, but with the sort of danger they're in, it's not a good idea to stay grouped up for too long. ]

I should get going, but... whatever you decide to do, good luck. [ He nods firmly. ]

Who?

[ 76 only knows vaguely what happened to the other fugitives. It hadn't been easy for them to communicate, even when they were locked up, and he suspects most of them are laying low now, same as him.

Crowley doesn't hesitate to question 76's intentions, and his shoulders stiffen as he looks around the room to check if anyone overheard. He doesn't think they should be discussing this in the man's own base of operations. ]

Somehow I don't think it'll be that simple. He seems to have a lot of power at his disposal.

[ That's more or less who Jack had figured on, and he nods. He isn't going to question where Ana puts her trust, and Alan's been reliable so far. Besides, it's already done. So long as he gets his phone back, he can't really complain.

Ana asks after him and he shrugs, as if he hasn't had a price on his head for the past month. ]

Better now that I'm not in a cage.

hangman is coming down from the gallows [closed]

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for reaper

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SO SORRY COURT :'(

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