( semi-open ) they can take my breath

[regives]

Who: Leanne (regives) & various
What: Your girl's a fugitive on the run.
When: The first of October and the days following!
Where: All around Olympia.
Warning(s): None... for now.


a.)

[ A situation going from bad to worse should be relatively familiar to Leanne, but that doesn't save her from the overwhelming amount of surprise that hits her when news of the explosion finally surfaces. She of course experiences concern for who may be close to the blast, and then is immediately taken aback when the announcement that included her name also rings through.

Undoubtedly there's an explanation that needs to be made. But given her wavering trust there's no way for her to turn herself in, especially when she's being accused for a crime she didn't commit.

Though her luck continues to be a distant thing as the podcast is made when she's trying to make herself back to her apartment. Taking the back streets in hopes of avoiding those who are fully prepared to round up those accused without hesitation, she knows a little silver is enough to motivate anybody. So when she's peering around the next corner and makes blatant eye contact with another person she immediately shrinks back. Way to go, girl, hopefully they didn't notice? But if they did... maybe if she acts normal then they could go on their way without there being an unnecessary bump in the road.

Or not. She's a little glad she left the house with better shoes to run in today. ]

b.)

[ So are you trying to help her get from point A to point B without getting noticed? Great, you're a pal, and Leanne's got the greatest idea known to man: by acting like your terribly non-suspicious girlfriend! With an oversize jacket on her shoulders with the hood pulled up on top of her head she's pretty much the definition of ominous. And while she wouldn't say that she is some sort of award winning actress she does at least try to make the plan of her pretending to be your sick significant other work somehow.

Leanne keeps a hand firmly around the other person's arm. Holding onto them tightly as a heavy weight of anxiety rests on her shoulders. ]

I'm kinda surprised that this is working. [ Oh! Someone's looking, she pretends to cough. ] But I'm glad... sorry for dragging you into this.

( closed starters will be in the comment section below! her plotting comment is here but feel free to pm or pp me through vongaribaldi. )

Comments

a

[shikomizue]

[For a man walking the streets in the wake of a terrorist attack, Takasugi doesn't appear too upset. There's a dull smile on his face, placid yet misplaced enough among the nervous crowd to stand out.

He doesn't recognize the girl turning startled around the corner, but he returns the eye contact regardless, imposing perhaps in how he doesn't rush but simply continues his pace to her location.]

The ones responsible will be in hiding by now- [He turns the corner.] If you're too cautious, people will find you suspicious.

[regives]

[ His voice causes her heart to jump in her chest, eyes wide with panic for a brief second when he sees him turn the corner. She presses hard against the wall, taking a tentative step opposite of his direction. ]

Is that right? Haha. [ Empty. She's a bad actress. ] I'm just bad with people.

[ A really bad actress. ]

[shikomizue]

[Fear is obvious in the way the girl has plastered herself to the wall, though such an observation leaves Takasugi wanting to know why.

Maybe he's suspicious himself - he has considered - but that's easy enough to check.

Letting her run with her lie should clear him of any immediate cause for wariness.] Ah, I see.

A good reason to take the back roads, huh? [There, excuse accepted.] Though, surely you've heard what happened.

peter.

[regives]

[ How she's managed to dodge each person hunting with little scrapes and bruises is honestly the greatest thing that's happened in the past few days. Attempting to squeeze in as much as she can before she needs a new, more safer, alternative to keep herself from being caught.

Surprisingly enough she has a number of people she can rely on, but relying on them solely to get around could end more tragically than she's hoping for.

Leanne continues taking the back alleys, noticing the wanted posters of herself and several others (both familiar and unfamiliar) planted on the walls. She wonders briefly where these people were, what they were doing, if they were possibly doing the same thing as her—

It's either fate or timely convenience that she runs into another person. She has to do a double take, actually, leaning close to the man's photo on the wall before she decides that there's no mistaking that beard. He seems distracted, or just focused on sneaking around, so Leanne is actually moving cautiously without startling him.

"Without startling him" also includes grabbing him by the forearm and pulling him back from any possible wandering eyes. ] They'll see you if you walk around like that.

[volumeone]

[Peter wrenches his arm free, hand automatically going for the quad blaster hidden by the folds of the cloak by almost pure muscle reflex. He's feeling less than awesome, on edge because of the sheer number of wanted posters he saw plastered every couple of feet and on top of that? He can't smell and it feels like his nose and throat are trying to close up and he's hoping it's just Rocket shedding and not whatever he got hit with in the explosion]

Ease up there!

[Good news is he didn't just clock the girl for grabbing him like that. He peers in her face, trying to get a quick read on her if he thinks she's in his boat, she wants to legit help, or she's just someone who wants to collect on the bounty away from the public]

Hey, you're one of them. I mean, you're wanted too. [The lightbulb goes off as he recognizes her face. He'd never cared too much about wanted people so long as they didn't dick over his day...but that way then. Now he's in the same boat as her for the same crime and suddenly she might be the closest thing to a friend he has within the next couple of blocks]

I'm guessing we're not turning each other in.

[regives]

[ Of course his reaction is to be expected, which is why she's also quick to put some distance between them in hopes that he doesn't attempt to swing at her. But overall she doesn't blame him. Her presence is a sudden intrusion and honestly the last either want is the feeling that they're being dragged into one bad situation and into the next—which would be getting caught by someone hunting them down.

Her shoulders relax, however, her brows furrowed as her lips remained pressed against each other. She responds silently, initially, slowly shaking her head. ]

I wasn't planning on it, no. In fact I just saved you from possibly getting caught by someone who is. [ She peers over his shoulder. Or at least what she can, considering their differences in height, and quickly turns to another alleyway. ] There's about three of them out there looking, come this way.

b.

[middy]

[ Point A to point B escort job, sure why not! Kidding, he's doing this to help, since a good deal of people he met are branded as fugitives. Surely it's because of weird coincidences, not because he has bad taste in friends. Anyway! ]

I am too-- watch your step, I might trip.

[ He has gotten somewhat used to her clinging to his arm after a couple minutes, thankfully! Since he's been doing errands on Shino's behalf, thus being out and about, he's actually trying to be... normal, not obviously inconspicuous? All he hopes is to not be put on the spot; he's not winning any actor awards either. He's pulling the slightly put-upon boyfriend act pretty well, at least! ]

It's fine. Where do you need to be?

[ He takes one quick look behind him before turning his attention to Leanne. He's not the one with a hood on, so him surveying from time to time for vigilantes should be fine. ]

[regives]

[ Leanne glances down to look at what little space was between the two of them. Ensuring that her steps didn't somehow align with his and actually manage to trip either on of them. Though her grip remains and she keeps herself secured against him. ]

I just need to go to the market. Grab a few things for my roommates, since two of them are a little under the weather, and some supplies for myself...

[ She bites her bottom lip. ]

I might have to leave the city soon. [ Actually she's definitely going to be leaving the city soon. ]

[middy]

[ A nod. If he has any complaints about the steadfast grip, Hush doesn't say. He smooths out her hood at the top, but it works as a reassuring, light touch to the head. ]

Understood. Someone I know is sick as well, so I might get something for him, now that you mention it.

[ He glances down with her, not just because he doesn't trust her to check on her steps. He's seen couples growing up, and either their gaze is toward eachother or in the same direction. At some point he glances at the market stalls and storefronts, trying to figure out if he needs anything. It's errands with a side of "acting" that makes it work, hopefully. ]

Ah. I can get those supplies for you, so it looks less suspicious.

Leaving here, I wonder... if we should do that too. For our friend.

[ He's smart enough to not say Shino's name out loud. Honestly, what can they do, what more should they do. Obviously they won't let Shino be turned in, not when they don't trust this government to treat Shino, or Leanne, or anyone right when there's an unjust bounty on their heads. But will it really help? He should look into Wyver. ]

a-ish but a little wildcard too

[sparsity]

[ Throughout his life, there have been many weights Mikazuki found purpose in bearing. Despite being hardworking here and trying all sorts of new things, there's something that orients him in all the chaos of the last few days. Explosions and betrayal, blame traveling faster than the sickness it finds roots in. But that sort of lawlessness, refugees turning on one another with Olympia's blessing... it makes things simpler. It shows him where his allegiance should really be.

But while rounding the streets of the residential district, proving himself more than enough of a threat to be left alone, his thoughts stray. Just a little. To the names in the broadcast, one of which he's guarded with his life... and he'd found Archer, too. His footsteps slow, and before he can consciously ask himself why, he's fished his mobile out of his pocket.

And maybe he'd wish he hadn't spent the last couple years learning to read and write only to use it like this, but he sends a text, favoring the convenience this once. ]

tell me where you are

[ That just leaves one unaccounted for, for him. Which is why Leanne is getting that single text. ]

[regives]

[ Admittedly when she took the job with a feeling of familiarity of what she experienced in her own world Leanne didn't think of the possible consequences that would follow. Of course when she had done something similar all that came to weigh on her shoulders was the fact that she had taken another life, someone who possibly had friends and family like herself, but in a dog-eat-dog world she learned from two that that was how she would survive.

Also taking down a band of thieves often times didn't lead to an explosion spreading an unknown disease and making her an enemy to the whole area. The unexpected turn of events cause her stomach to flip and turn with anxiety, not to mention her initial concern being what happened to the people supposedly close to the blast. Friends had been tangled into this mess and she wished to apologize, but of course that came with a number of complications.

The subtle sound of her device causes her to jump, moving over to conceal herself and ensure that no one currently searching had overheard. Fortunately enough the overall crowd and bustling of voices causes her to remain hidden. When she finally looks to see a message from Mikazuki she's both surprised and relieved at the same time. ]

Residential.

[ She was this close to getting to her apartment... ugh. ]

I'm in the back roads.

[ If that helps any. ]

[sparsity]

[ When the reply comes back fairly quickly, a twinge of relief passes through him. He's always prepared for the worst, for silence. That was just how things went, all his life. Measuring what he had to live with against constant loss, knowing anyone could disappear at anytime. Maybe, after everything, he's almost grateful that it isn't the case this time, even if the reprieve is brief and inconsequential in the long run.

Stopping where he is to focus on reading, he glances over his shoulder at the streets crossing and looping through the sections of housing. There's not much of a system to it, but he's sure he's familiar enough by now. It's busier here, with people moving from place to place, restricted by the spread of the sickness. Still. ]

which block are you close to
i can meet you

[ There are some things better seen with his own eyes. ]

euphie.

[regives]

[ Leanne has gained experience with living out in the forests thanks to their arrival to the world of El Nysa. Unlike when she first started working with Zephyr and Vashyron she appears both content and confident with the skills she's gained so far, wanting to create an optimistic atmosphere within the group as they leave Olympia behind them to escape. A few faces she deems familiar and others she suspects are here because they couldn't believe the government would be as quick to throw the accused under the bus and allow them to be hunted down.

Or perhaps for a simpler reason. She'll pry and answer her own questions later, but for now she recognizes that the girl who is presumably younger than her who had followed a band of misfits who Leanne is on friendly terms with. Basically a friend of her sons Hush and Mikazuki (and her totally not domestic husband Eugene) is a friend of hers. ]

Hey! [ She's easy to spot by the campfire, and Leanne doesn't hesitate to make herself comfortable in the space next to Euphemia. ] I went into the forest real quick, and check out what I found. [ Wrapped in a makeshift bag are around two handfuls of berries, freshly picked and washed. ] You seemed a little lonely here so I was wondering if you wanted to share some and chat a bit. Today's been pretty hectic, to say the least.

[ smooth...... yes... ]

sorry this is so late...and wildcard kinda I guess!!

[ofobedience]

[Well, isn't this a mess. His morals can hardly be said to be shiny-white or to reside in the right place, and it's not as though he's never set off bombs in the heart of a city that ended up killing thousands of people (because he sure has done that), but this current charge leveled against him, it's a false one. Or partially false. He'd killed those trying to get the chemical weapons to safety, and he'd delivered said weapons into the hands of the man who orchestrated all this, but he'd believed - as she had - that they were doing something to help the city that has adopted them, not hinder it.

Right and wrong, black and white-- these things have never been clear to him, and so is it really any wonder that he fell into a trap such as this?

No matter. It's done now, and currently he's waiting on a rooftop, obscured by overhanging shadow, as he watches the alleyway in the red light district where the two of them agreed to meet. And eventually a figure appears, one who's scent he recognises, and quite abruptly he's dropping from his lofty perch to land neatly in front of her, sudden and quick.

Dressed in oversized jeans and a baggy hoody pulled over a plaid shirt (courtesy of his roommate), at first glance it would be easy to mistake him for an overzealous citizen out to make themselves some sliver. But no sooner does he land then he's pushing the hood back, revealing the sharp-angled face underneath, white-blond hair swept back for once and sunglasses nowhere in evidence, but recognisably Giovanni nonetheless.]

Don't say anything about the clothes. I've never felt so shabby in my life.

[As if that's the important thing, here.]

you're good!

[regives]

[ Given an hours time is surprisingly more than enough for Leanne. Which is done mainly because she has to dress down, no longer donned in her usual attire and instead wearing a much less eye-catching dress and a hood hanging over her head. Honestly it reminds her of what she had worn back in the laboratory but she hastily pushes that thought aside. It doesn't help that she's gone and colored her hair to a dark brown, something she hadn't been planning to do for years.

Though it's hard to think of anything else when Giovanni makes his sudden appearance. Her heart leaps into her throat and it takes the reveal of his face for her to calm herself. Releasing a small, yet audible, sigh before she greets him with a smile. ]

You're making it really hard to keep my mouth shut... but if it helps any you could look worse. [ Said with a shrug, taking steps closer and lifting a hand to pull a few stray strands of hair behind his ear. ] We'll definitely be able to get around easily though. They've brought their defenses up at the gates so it won't be a walk in the park getting out of here.

misa.

[regives]

[ Somehow the structure of the new city was more home familiar than the "orderly" fashioned Olympian buildings, which of course was both refreshing and comforting all in once. While not much of a fan of the humid air she holds her complaints and is more or less happier to finally walk around without fear of being hunted down because of the bounty on her head.

Exploration is the key to getting to know a new area and that's precisely what she's doing once the initial settling in is over and done with. Leanne has a long laundry list of things to do, which of course includes finding old faces and either explaining the situation (if they're unaware) or figure out the next step. And lo' and behold Misa just so happens to cut into her peripheral the second her face comes to mind.

In the few hours of being here Leanne has learned that walking the swaying bridges in heels is going to be a newly formed talent in her future. And sure enough the smaller girl will too. ] Misa! [ Making her presence known first and foremost, she waves encouragingly from in front of Misa. Still a handful of steps away before she's extending a hand. ] Grab on, it's a lot easier when you've got someone to hold onto.

[ don't be sus... she's not gonna throw her off... ]

[lifespanned]

Oh! Leanne...

[ On instinct, she waves back, taking a few steps towards the mouth of the bridge and giving a quick study of the other. She's aware it would be foolish to make her suspicions obvious, even now that she has witnessed the two confessions that took place over the network - she doesn't know what Leanne's connection to it all was. Misa can also see that it will require help to cross this bridge...So she makes the decision to take the other's hand without much hesitation. ]

You're already used to crossing things like this?

gaius.

[regives]

[ Leanne has had her share of experience fetching items here and there in locations that were considered "unsafe", but it's only within this world that she's made contact with heavy vegetated areas such as large forests and jungles. So while she claims to be completely suited and adapted to the area that proves to be a lie a good hour into her trip of searching for the flowers or leaves necessary for cure with Gaius. ]

Whoa! [ Her body vaults forward when her heel suddenly sinks into the earth, arms extended out in case she needed to catch herself before she's eating a mouthful of dirt. Fortunately enough she's able to keep on her feet and she responds with a soft sigh of relief. ] Sorry, give me a minute. [ She leans down to grab at her ankle and help herself lift her heel out of the soft earth. Stepping to the side in order to avoid the possibility of making the same mistake twice. ]

Ugh. Okay. Remind me later that I need to find better shoes, this is definitely not going to work.

[crosspear]

[The moment that Leanne almost falls is the same moment that Gaius moves forward to be ready to catch her if he needs to. It's a handy thing, being able to sense movements in the air. He feels her extending his arms before his eyes catch it. He's relieved when she seems to manage, though he stands close just in case she needs a hand.]

Take all the time you need. We can probably take care of that shoe problem once we're back in town.

[They might have to barter some, but there's bound to be a pair of shoes that both meet her tastes and have utility somewhere, right? Gaius steps off to the side with her.]

So, how does it feel? Being back with the others?

giovanni.

[regives]

[ Something in the back of her head told her that something like this would happen. But perhaps she was too optimistic, too naive, in thinking that everything would work out in some way that wouldn't lead in either herself or Giovanni getting caught by the Olympian Guards.

Maybe she should have been more persistent with him staying with her. Held him close and refused to let him attempt at finding the individual who roped them into becoming fugitives to begin with. Though somehow she doubts that she could have done anything to make him change his mind; determined and stubborn, even if she were to beg the likelihood of him leaving would have been the same. But at least he kept his word and told her when he'd go, to which the most she could do at the time was watch as his back slowly disappear from her perspective.

She didn't have to see the Olympian-wide broadcast and watch him apologize, carefully explaining the situation, well-aware that he had must have been captured some time after their separation—but she did. Of course she did. And when word reached their little group of runaways that the people of Olympia were moving to Wyver she thought of this as the perfect opportunity to find him again. Preferably within the move but obviously that didn't happen.

So it has to be somewhere within the walls of Wyver, around the South End, which happens to finally work in her favor when she spots him. And fortunately the guard left to look over him (a gross fuckin' ginger lookin' fellow) obviously doesn't care or something because immediately Leanne is making her presence known by running up to him like this is some comically written soap opera. ] Giovanni! [ And you know damn well she's going to wrap her arms around him. Embracing him as if it's been the first time in years, her heart jumping in her chest and thudding hard enough that it echoes in her ears. ] Gio—... Giovanni, I'm so glad that you're okay.

[ofobedience]

[And he would have got away with it too, if it wasn't for that gross fucking ginger-looking fellow and that one meddling kid, but alas. His plans had gone awry, as he'd been warned that they would, and the days of his incarceration had stretched long to him, filled with mounting tension. Never mind that, ultimately, he's experienced far worse things, things that no normal person could ever have lived through. He'd been treated well enough if one discounts suspicion and disdain, there'd been none of the torture he'd expected, he hadn't even been severely restrained (unlike that one time back home where Zollner went overkill on the bondage physical restrictions). But that they'd end up more or less pardoning him with only a few minor punishments to endure and rules to abide by-- it's not something he would have imagined. Instead there'd been dark stretches of uncertainty, the expectation of being sentenced to something far worse than he'd ultimately received.

And so yes, the leash has pulled a little tighter since the moment of his release, but it isn't such a terrible thing. Makes him feel, if anything, more firmly grounded in reality, more sure of the world and his place within it. The fellow Guard they've chosen to be his minder is certainly not his favourite person right now, but he does at least demonstrate moments of monumental laxity, leading to times where he's left quite unattended, such as in this precise moment.

This moment where he hears the sound of a familiar voice taking the shape of his name, and he's already half-turned towards her when her arms are quite abruptly around him. There's surprise like a snapped stem in him, a quick pulse and push towards violence that comes with being suddenly caught up in an embrace that his instincts can only interpret as a prelude to an attack, but recognition floods in swiftly-- the sight and scent of her, the sound of her voice. All familiar things. All, strangely, welcome things.

He stands there stiffly a moment in the circle of her arms, body straight and hard and muscles jumping in the confusion of being abruptly held, and he doesn't know how to react, not immediately. Isn't sure how he's supposed to respond. Until finally, very tentatively, he places his arms around her, too. Featherlight and poised for movement at a moment's notice, yes, but around her nonetheless.

His own heart skitters in his chest, and there's a strange feeling in him, then. One he doesn't know how to name.]

I'm fine. There's no need to make a fuss.

cain.

[regives]

[ Fortunately enough Cain isn't going to suffer with Leanne sometimes dragging the pace of their journey because she wasn't equipped with better traveling shoes. Some time after her trip with Gaius she made a wardrobe change, so she silently bids the dresses and heels adieu as she switches it up with what appears to be Zephyr's clothing. Not that he'd know who that is or that apparently Leanne's raiding his existent closet on the station but whatever. ]

Y'know, [ While they're taking a short break, she's resting her back against the trunk of a tree. ] I've heard a lot of mixed stories from the locals here, but so far I haven't ran into anything dangerous. [ She might as well admit that it's only the second time she's been here though. ] The game is pretty easy to hunt, and fortunately enough I haven't fallen into a patch of poison ivy or something... but it really makes you think what's out here that'd have people hesitate to go in.

[baguablade]

Hopefully not giant, telepathic spiders who'll use the voices of our loved ones to lure us into their webs...

[ His voice is dry, but gee, that sure is oddly specific, isn't it? He's heard the stories and he's genuinely hoping that's not what they're going to run into. It's been enough of a trek, difficult enough with having to keep watch over the sick, that having to worry about people wandering off, lured away by telepathic monsters, is a very unpleasant thought indeed.

But they're moving in relatively large groups. Hopefully it's enough to keep anything too dangerous from viewing them as easy pickings, and even though Cain keeps his hand on his sword hilt, he does relax enough to flop down against the tree trunk beside Leanne for a quick rest. His voice goes even drier as he adds: ]

Still, it's good for you, isn't it? If people are looking out at what's in the branches, they probably won't be checking the faces around them too much.

shino.

[regives]

Thank you! Come back soon.

[ When given many suggestions in which she could help the community Leanne takes the opportunity to do everything she can, so she doesn't look the other way when she learns of a shopkeeper whose daughter fell into the hands of the sickness spreading. Admittedly she's only ever had experience behind a counter in this world, and the customers here certainly weren't looking for the same services as she would provide back home.

That's probably a good thing, to be honest.

The store itself held a number of items: from daily necessities common here in Wyver to a few consumables. It was impressive to her seeing as it was still well maintained despite having been run by a single person for however long. But now she and someone familiar to her by name, considering they were both previously blamed for crimes they never committed, are stuck here manning the store. ] Hey, Shino? [ She stands on her tip toes, looking around for the other fugitive. ] The guy guy who was supposed to bring the cabbages just came and dropped them off, could you give me a hand?

[galaxycannon]

[ Shino shares a particular brand of guilt due to his involvement in the spread of the illness in Olympia, so it's easy to convince him to help the shopkeep in need. Besides, he's got the best face for customer service. Tagging along with one of Eugene's friends makes it an easy transition, too. He's surprised Eugene's been able to get close to such a pretty girl. Maybe his age has helped him out more than he thought.

He's fixing up some shelves when he hears Leanne's request for help. There's no hesitation as he pops over, dusting off his hands. ]

Sure, show me where to go.