( semi-open) catch-all for event happenings;

[fakers]

Who: archer (fakers) & various others
What: fall-out from being falsely accused of terrorism
When: october 1 and shortly thereafter
Where: all around olympia
Warning(s): violence, most likely

( catch-all post for event threads. feel free to hit me up here if you'd like to plot anything! )

Comments

ermes;

[fakers]

[ to put it lightly, this situation was bad. though he knew he wasn't guilty of what he had been accused of, he also knew that didn't mean a thing in this situation. a disaster had occurred, and people were panicking.

right now, moreso than the truth, people simply needed someone to blame. and unfortunately, one of those people happened to be him. ]

This is ridiculous.

[ when the explosion had occurred, archer had decided to go to the market district in order to try to help. he hadn't predicted the transmission that would follow, or what it would mean for him. immediately upon hearing it, he decided to make himself scarce, trying to make his way from the site of the explosion as quickly as possible.

being caught out here definitely couldn't go well for him, regardless of who he encountered. ]

[kissintime]

[ when the transmission goes out, the names she recognizes on there frustrate her to no end. because she can't really say that any of them would strike her as the time to be involved in a terrorist incident. not all of them are good people necessarily, but... she doesn't get that vibe out of them. that they would intentionally hurt people for, what, nothing? for some sick bullshit?

whatever the case is though, she's trying to find them. or at least the ones she recognizes as a means of prioritizing. there's a reward on them and she wants it, but... she's conflicted. could she really sell them out for cash? maybe if she make them listen to reason instead...

she's trailing around the noble district, where people have fled to in a search of safety from the contamination that the market district has now undergone. this may be the best place to start. it's already dark, the morning of the attack now gone. she's been asking around for any signs, lies that she's part of the royal guard to those who wouldn't know better, and starts getting leads that a stark white haired man with tan skin has been seen around. archer, most likely. he's a prickly guy unfortunately. she hopes she doesn't have a hard time with him. ]

[fakers]

[ though normally he may have been better at going unnoticed, he was unfortunately caught by surprise this time. by the time he'd seen the transmission and understood its implications, people had already spotted him. and, like it or not, no place in the city was truly safe for him now - retreating back to his house would be too obvious, and seeking refugee at his place of work likely wouldn't go well for him.

the most he can do is stick to darker, less traveled roads and areas. of course, it's only natural that others might have the same idea. ]

Ermes.

[ he recognizes her from a distance, even before she's upon him. and... from her countenance, he can already tell this isn't for a friendly meeting. ]

I hope you aren't planning anything foolish.

[kissintime]

[ her body stops and swivels toward where she thinks the voice comes from in a shock. did he get the jump on her and not the other way around? crap, that's no good. she was hoping for the element of surprise on this one, especially when she doesn't know what archer can do. back when the pods were all dropping down to this planet, he was among the first to arrive even before her. that makes him powerful. ]

Hey. [ she starts, taking in a breath and composing herself. ] Having a good night, man? I saw your posters - they did a good job with your hair.

[fakers]

Posters already? They really aren't wasting any time.

[ in some ways, that just makes this all the more suspicious. but no, given the level of the disaster, it's not too unusual that they would have put everything possible into catching the names "fugitives."

all the same, he continues to watch ermes's body language, studying for anything her words might not convey. and... while there's definite reason for her to be apprehensive around a known fugitive, there's more to it than just that. ]

I don't know what you're thinking, but just give up on this foolishness and leave.

mikazuki;

[fakers]

[ things have only gotten worse for archer throughout the day; whether it be random olympian guards or other refugees after him, he's had no shortage of confrontations. he's tried to make his way to the officials so he can try to clear his name, but he's realized that isn't going to work. no one really cares what he has to say... even if in, this case, he's correct.

he's been set up. whether he likes it or not, he's up against an opponent who has more cards to play than he does.

after facing a particularly worthy opponent, archer is more than a bit injured. one of his hands stays on his neck, clutching bite marks there to keep himself from bleeding. its odd... to think he could take this kind of injury here, despite being a heroic spirit. he hates to admit it, but he's been a bit overconfident.

and that overconfidence has led to him needing help. he's not sure from who - but when he spots a familiar figure in the distance, he realizes it's someone who he can count on. he cannot say he truly knows mikazuki well, but something tells him that the boy is trustworthy. which is why he's willing to venture out of the shadows in order to approach him. ]

It's a strange fate that's brought us together against, isn't it?

[sparsity]

[ It's today that Olympia has proven to him that things aren't very different no matter where you go. For months, it's been peaceful. A new place where nobody knows his face, where there stands even ground and equal footing, in most respects. Then came the familiar explosions rocking the city. The broadcast. The names. Whatever it was that Shino actually had a hand in, killing for money or delivering weapons, the end result is the same.

But Mikazuki has no intentions of letting it end the same, not here. He's been on edge since the announcement broke moreso than the detonation and effect of the weapon. They've hidden Shino away, and he's been on the prowl ever since. There are others he feels a vague tug of concern for, but he can't leave to look.

So maybe it is fate that brings one to him, the slow stagger of footsteps catching him before the voice does. What keeps him is he sight when he pivots too quickly to look, the blood streaked down a face just familiar enough to give the pit of his stomach a kick, like a gravity-drop. ]

...I don't believe in things like that.

[ When he moved, his hand had instinctively drawn his gun, though he doesn't raise it. Shots are limited. ]

Are there any more after you?

[fakers]

[ though he can't be sure, archer simply gives a slight nod. it's been some time until he last ran into a group of guards - the royal guard weren't as much an issue here as the other refugees who had decided the price on his head was too good to turn down. he'd miscalculated; though he's always recognized that the others could become his foes one day, he hadn't expected it to come so soon. ]

No... not at the moment. But that won't last. They're still looking for me.

[ he grimaces a bit, slumping against a wall to the side. though his injuries aren't entirely obvious, the blood hidden slightly by his red cloak, there are definitely at least one or two bullet holes.

his pursuers really haven't held back; they don't really seem to care whether they take the fugitives in dead or alive. ]

I hate to admit it, but I haven't handled this situation very well.

[sparsity]

[ While it hadn't compared to seeing Shino's name, seeing Archer's hadn't exactly helped, either. Expression setting, he frowns, but it's not very calm. ]

Maybe there isn't another way to settle it.

[ For him, it hadn't been worth considering any other option but fighting. He's never understood negotiating, or surrendering. All those working pieces never interested him. Mikazuki's shoulders stay hitched with tension, anticipatory. There's a pretty impressive trail of blood, drops and splatters, some smeared into heelmarks against the ground. In a flash of blue, his gaze finally leaves Archer's face to travel off behind him into the shadows he'd dragged himself out of.

Without even basic field medical training, there's nothing to be done for his current wounds. But if he can stop new ones... ]

Who was it?

juvia;

[fakers]

[ there aren't too many people that archer knows well enough to rely on in olympia, which he realizes is a problem. he's reached out to some... but can't risk exposing himself to too many people.

in truth, if he could help it, he wouldn't let anyone find him. but in this case, that simply isn't realistic. he isn't able to return to his spirit form, and while his own skills are formidable, there are others in this city just as skilled: particularly at tracking.

which is why juvia might be surprised when he suddenly lands in front of her, jumping down from a rooftop to evade pursuit from some other enemies. he grimaces as he recognizes the girl in front of him, but without a word just grabs her and pulls her towards an alley. he can't afford to explain anything quite yet - for now he needs to just find some shelter, even if that means dragging her with him. ]

[lacuscular]

[ She is very much surprised, having only braved the outside world for the sake of more soup for both her and Rin (now sick, thanks to her). Juvia's first instinct is to say his name, but the sheer look on Archer's face has her lips pressing thin against each other as she's pulled in his direction.

It's hard not to remember that he was ousted to everyone as being linked to the attack in the market district, so she knows there's good reason for him acting like this. Even if he won't tell her, she still asks― ]

Is someone following you?

[ Despite the softness to her voice, because speaking any louder hurts too much, there's a clear threat underlying it. That she'll help take care of the problem quickly, if he needs her to. ]

[fakers]

[ he remains silent for a while, glancing out of the alleyway he's dragged her into, before finally letting out a slight sigh of relief. ]

It doesn't seem so... not now.

[ finally satisfied that he's not being pursued, he lets go of juvia. he actually looks a bit sheepish, as if he hadn't really realized what he'd been doing to begin with. ]

Sorry. It's been quite a day so far.

[ and honestly, he couldn't be sure at the time she wasn't about to attack him as well. there have been others he thought he could trust that... apparently didn't feel the same way about him. ]

[lacuscular]

[ Juvia watches him, patient with his response. She understand the feeling of being pursued, so she sees no reason to make him any more tense by rushing him. She moves, looking in the direction he glances out of, once he releases her. ]

It's fine.

[ She can only imagine how he's been, since news broke out. Since everything broke out. Being sick has kind of prevented her from contacting most of everyone, especially the ones she's most worried about.

Juvia approaches him, a hand moving up to gently touch his arm, initially unsure of what to say before settling with-- ] Are you alright, Archer?

leanne;

[fakers]

[ while there is a lot on archer's mind, and escape from the city should truly be his top priority... he can't ignore that there were others named in that suspicious transmission as well. a few he recognizes, a few he doesn't, but one that stands out in particular.

a voice in the back of his mind tells him it would be best to simply ignore it - that the girl can take care of herself just fine, and doesn't need his help. while he's largely kept watch over her from a distance, he's at least tried to make sure she's been doing alright. which, up until this point, she has. ]

Don't be an idiot. You can barely take care of yourself right now.

[ he mutters it under his breath, though even as he says the words he knows he'll simply ignore them. it isn't his nature: he can't ignore someone in need of help, regardless of the danger it might put him in.

so, while he can't say he really knows what leanne would do in this situation very well, he'll still look for her all the same. he may be injured after a handful of battles against particularly worthy adversaries, but the thought of seeking treatment for his injuries doesn't even occur to him; that's secondary to making sure others are alright.

be it blind luck or something else, he finally does manage to spot her while scanning olympia from the rooftops. and, though it may not be the most smooth of approaches, he'll take that opportunity to hurry to her side, dropping down from a roof behind her... or something weird and creepy... ]

It's good to see you're still in one piece. [ yeah this is like... the first thing he says to her after their last interaction. ]

[regives]

[ Fortunately Leanne hasn't noticed Archer's casual stalking. She's also fortunate enough to have secured a small blanket of security thanks to her friends, whom have all contributed to keeping her safe and out of contact from those currently hunting the named fugitives. Though she does stray and decide that it's best for her to put some distance between herself and friends in case the possibility of them also being dragged into this arises. Of course it seems that her attempts are futile (again, fortunately).

She's in the middle of peering around the corner when Archer makes his grand appearance, which immediately has her heart jumping into her throat. ]

—... !! [ She spins quickly on her heels, the surprise overwhelming and causing her to spin around smack him right across the face. With The Same Hand... You Know Which One. ] Oh! I'm so sorry... you scared me.

[fakers]

[ why this... but okay in this instance, he at least recognizes he probably deserved that slap.

he hadn't been expecting her to turn around just then; he could have at least had said something otherwise. he'd noticed that leanne had others helping her, so it seemed safe enough to just let her be. though in truth he didn't know much about her, she seemed the type to able to inspire loyalty in others.

at a time like this, that was perhaps more important than anything. ]

No... that was my mistake.

[ why does this seem weirdly familiar?? ]

You seem to be doing well enough, all things considered.

[regives]

[ Her lips press into a straight line, initially skeptical if his words come from an honest place or if he's only joking with her. Of course, all things considered, she's willing to assume it's the former. ]

Well... I'm not traveling on the roofs yet so I'm doing alright, yeah.

[ But she still needs to hide her face and needs someone to travel with her if she doesn't take the back streets. At the same time those were obstacles that also put others in jeopardy, much to her displeasure. ]

But I can't keep doing the same thing to get around forever. Neither of us can.

zero;

[fakers]

[ it had been a few days since the bombing; days archer had spent on the run, doing his best to avoid anyone with designs on the price on his head. he hasn't always been successful, but he'd at least managed to evade capture so far.

but the longer he remains here, the more dangerous it becomes. the sickness that had begun spreading in the city only seemed to be getting worse: at the very least, it was spreading quickly. the panic it caused would only lead to people becoming more irrational over time. needing someone to blame. someone to martyr.

he knew the pattern well. after all, he'd been victim to it once before. which is why he wouldn't allow himself to get caught unawares again; he knew he needed to get out of the city. and while he hadn't insisted his master accompany him in this flight, she had agreed to do so all the same. she had no particular attachment to this place either. ]

Is this really the best you could come up with?

[ while he'd gauged the defenses of the city walls, at the moment fighting their way out seemed inadvisable. not because it was impossible, but because there was no way to do so without causing unnecessary casualties. for now, he was an unjustly named fugitive... but if he actually took lives to get out of olympia, the price on his head would become more than warranted.

which meant the only way out was... ]

A child could see through this disguise.

[ simply combing his hair down and slapping glasses on him wasn't exactly professional espionage material, but at least he looked different than he did on the wanted posters. ]

And I don't see how pretending to be... a couple... makes this any more effective.

[ though despite his protests, the reasoning was actually quite straightforward: throughout all his time in olympia, archer had always remained something of a loner, a fact that had been circulated to those out looking for him. so while the guards would be looking for him, they'd hardly be looking for two people together... especially since zero wasn't on the listed of wanted criminals. ]

[offtune]

[ it makes sense that they needed to stay close; having gone through the trouble of adjusting to her role as archer's master, it'd would be particularly foolish to let him venture alone. walk beside me, she had told him that night. it should be obvious that it means she would walk beside him as well, despite telling herself that she has no attachment to him... and especially not that god forsaken city—

she had a vision about this, back in that machine— that she'd have to leave eventually. olympia is lucky she didn't need to resort to bloodshed for it.

more ironic is that it's archer who is being pursued by the government. from what she'd heard (and not necessarily directly from him), he'd killed some people, and that helped facilitate the bombings that occurred a couple days prior. it sounds the kind of trouble she would typically get into, but zero had been too weak to partake in all this fun... was she even around at the time?

so they flee. archer talked her out of killing, for the exact reason that these assholes would probably pursue him for the rest of his life. but, the compromise is a shitty cover, and look, zero's not into it either. it's the best they can come up with the limited time they have. ]

You said no killing. [ it's a surprisingly effective disguise. even zero has to occasionally doubletake to see if she's still speaking to the same man. ] So shut the hell up and act like you're my goddamn husband.

[ she holds out her hand. ]

[fakers]

[ really, he just counts himself fortunate that she's cooperating for now. it had taken some effort to convince her that just breaking out wasn't the best of ideas - beyond the long term ramifications, forcing their way through would mean an immediate pursuit. at least for a while. and unlike the olympian guard, they didn't have any means of transportation.

so for the time being, just pretending to... wait what? ]

That wasn't the plan...!

[ it really isn't that dramatic a change - what difference does it make if they're simply pretending to be lovers or a married pair? but he bristles all the same, either due to the last minute change or... something else entirely. but as soon as his initial surprise fades and begins think over it more calmly, he simply takes her hand.

especially since he notices some guards looking in their direction. so he quickly adds under his breath: ]

Just act natural. [ says the guy who looks waaaay too stiff right now. ]

[offtune]

[ she's standing close, so his protest is met with a hard jab of her elbow against his rib, certain to hurt him. ]

Being a fugitive wasn't a part of the plan either, [ whatever plan that is... maybe survive. ] Do you hear me complaining?

[ okay, so maybe she did when she first heard of this, but they're beyond that point now, aren't they? she tries not to roll her eyes when the warmth of his hand finds hers. zero intertwines their fingers, noticing how tight his grip is. and of course, he doesn't appear natural at all. cursing under her breath, she places her free hand against his chest. ]

Are you okay, darling? [ she fucking hates this fake shit, but it worked on four, so — ] You look pale...

a2;

[fakers]

[ they'd been living in the wilderness for some time now, a fact which archer still partly blames himself for. his own situation was unavoidable... but getting a2 involved was not. that she'd followed had surprised him at first, though in some ways it seemed natural enough. there was a definite bond there that had been formed, even if it had been in a virtual reality simulation.

still, life without the comforts of the city was hardly easy. foraging for food and supplies wasn't difficult, but the wilds of olympia had other threats... the likes of which he'd seen before when moving from the outlook to the city, but had never truly had to contend with on an every day basis.

once they'd learned that people were moving to wyver, the decision to follow was easy enough. at the moment, they were directionless; at least wyver offered new possibilities. a chance at learning the truth behind the bombing, and at getting a cure for those affected in their company (for now, that simply meant rocket).

but big picture aside, for the moment there were more immediate concerns. ]

A2... Don't read too much into this question, but have you been regularly bathing?

[ there's definitely dried mud and leaves still tangled in her hair, so the answer should be obvious. it wasn't as if he went out of his way to pay attention to such things... but over time, it's become too glaringly obvious to just ignore. ]

[atwo]

[ the thought of keeping herself cleaned never crossed her mind because, well, there's no real reason for her to worry about it. she doesn't sweat and thankfully, there's no other smell that comes from her.

besides the smell of nature. it doesn't bother her in the slightest because she has no sense of smell, she doesn't notice that she smells more muddy than normal or the feeling of twigs in her hair mixed with mud and leans ]

Bathing? No, I can't say that I have.

[ even back in olympia, she only bothered to bathe a handful of times. ] Is there a problem?

[fakers]

[ ultimately, it had been more a rhetorical question than anything else, but actually having it confirmed aloud... earns a2 a loud sigh. archer simply holds up a bag, containing some hygiene products he'd "procured" from the nearby outpost. though zero was something of a slob herself, she wasn't entirely without common sense.

at least about this sort of thing. ]

Though I don't particularly mind [ that's a lie. ], it could become a bigger problem if you... remain in this condition.

The smell alone might make us more easily found by pursuers.

[atwo]

[ you guys are so strange, there's nothing wrong with not bathing in who knows how long when. smh. ]

Would it...? [ she starts to left her arm to her nose and then remembers that, hey, it's pointless for her to try. her cheeks turn become a light shade of red as she finds herself to be somewhat embarrassed. ]

I suppose I should find somewhere to clean up then.