nysalogs | [ goldeneye n64 theme plays ]

[ This could very well be a mistake. Jack has made his feelings about Cree clear, and Ana is generally inclined to agree with his judgement, but the pace of her own investigation so far has been tediously slow and she doesn't think the rising tension in Wyver and Olympia will wait for it. Cree is willing to pay her for something she would have needed to do anyway. It works, for now.

She pulls Atsushi in; he has experience with combat, with the Institute, and plenty of motivation. Whether or not he's already caught wind of the job, she'd prefer to work with him. Alan has helpfully provided her some schematics, and she goes over them with Atsushi to stage their entry and exit well before they're anywhere near the building. They head up before dawn, when guards are most likely to be tired and even the most hardworking scientists will have called it a night.

She tries not to think of the many other young people she's brought to places like this. This is different. She isn't his captain, just his friend.

They need to confirm the guard rotation before they try to break in, but there's already someone camped out at the best vantage point when they arrive - smart, and no doubt running the same job. Ana can barely pick out his silhouette on the rooftop, with the distance and the darkness, but she scopes in to see what they're dealing with. ]

I think I know him. [ She gestures for Atsushi to follow her as they head up into the building. Her mask casts a faint blue glow that should have been visible from the rooftop if he was paying attention. If he wasn't, well... She hopes that, at least up close, it will be familiar enough to keep her and Atsushi from getting shot at immediately. ] Let's hope he likes company, hmm? But in case he doesn't, you might want to stay back.

Edited 2018-01-12 03:08 (UTC)

[Call him sentimental, but thinking, feeling robots made as instruments of war is something Cayde can't readily ignore. And biological warfare in general just isn't cool. Even if he wasn't terminally nosy, this would be a hard job for him to pass up. It makes him think of something that slips away when he tries to define it, just at the edge of his memory and impossible to focus on.]

[Some of humanity's more questionable ideas are shaping up to be a near-universal constant.]

[Cayde's set up with a sniper rifle of his own — the gun itself is honestly terrible, but it has a scope and that's what he needs it for — watching the guards, keeping a real eye out for where the lazy ones work, though it seems like they're coming up on the point in their shift where everyone starts getting sloppy. He's not so focused that he doesn't notice the glow of Ana's mask however, and he almost laughs when he turns his head in her direction to see where it's coming from, his own eyes casting a blue glow of their own in the darkness.]

[He takes a moment, waiting to confirm she and her friend are coming his way before he lifts a hand in a wave. Yes, he's seen her and yes, he's feeling friendly. Seems like a fair enough assumption she's here for the same reason at any rate.]

[It's weird how this is both normal and anything but. Atsushi was very much used to going on missions back in Yokohama, but ever since coming here, with no Armed Detective Agency to show him the way, the jobs he's taken on have been far more mundane. He doesn't mind that; in fact, it's probably a good thing. But between the recent revelations about the Institute, and having Ana to guide him and so give him that extra push he needs, he's excited to do this. He'd almost forgotten this feeling of being useful, of doing something important for the greater good.

He's still nervous, though; he can't not be. It's not because the mission comes from Cree - Atsushi had considered doing it even so, even if he'd been reluctant to do it on his own - but because -... Well, a lot could go wrong. And though he's not afraid of the potential consequences even if they do fail (which he considers far from certain), it's not knowing those consequences that messes with his head and makes him worry.

Atsushi nods at Ana's order and considers hiding (even if he has to wonder how she knows this guy who may or may not turn aggressive), but they're already getting a friendly wave. No point in being sneaky about his presence now... Instead, Atsushi tries to be obvious enough about his presence that there can be no doubt about his good intentions (when it comes to this stranger, anyway!) as they slowly make their way over.

He'll leave introductions to Ana for now. If she couldn't be sure what kind of reaction to expect, Atsushi isn't going to risk saying or doing the wrong thing just yet.]

[ The wave sets her at ease, and the two of them get to the rooftop without incident. Ana has only worked wit Cayde once before, and that had been a simulation, purely for their mutual entertainment. Still, it's given her a good idea of what to expect from him.

She moves over to where Cayde is taking cover, expecting Atsushi to follow. ]

Cayde. [ A greeting an an introduction. She gestures at her partner. ] This is Atsushi. [ They can get to know each other later. ]

I think we're all going the same way. Care to join us?

I was worried for a sec you were coming for that drink I owe you.

[Said with good humour as he sets down the gun and stand, packing it all away in a case that gets stowed under some boxes. He could ask questions, but that'd probably be a waste of time. If the simulation is anything like the real thing, he knows Ana's capable enough, and he doubts she'd bring someone along who isn't similarly so.]

[When he stands, he gestures to the building with a free hand, casting a glance back at Ana and her friend.]

How good are you two at climbing?

[Atsushi gives a bow at the introduction, little more than a nod but no less polite for it. Guns aren't exactly his favorite, but he knows Ana likes them too, and... well, all guns are not the same.

Besides, if they're meant to recover information without leaving any signs that they've been there, killing isn't really on the table. That's reassuring, but he resolves to work it into conversation at some point if he can, just in case.]

I'm better at jumping, but I can climb.

[... Doesn't sound very impressive, probably, but he's serious about the way he says it for a reason. He's talking high leaps here, not like rope skipping.]

Please tell me what you need me to do.

[ Ana chuckles at the comment. She hasn't forgotten, and she has a feeling that after tonight they'll have plenty more to talk about. Assuming they're not killed or arrested or turned into science experiments, of course.

As for Atsushi, she's seen some of what he can do, and jumping rope isn't what comes to mind. She feels a little more certain about bringing him along with each passing moment. ]

I'll manage. [ She doesn't sound enthusiastic, but there's no uncertainty there. She can do it. ] You want to go for the south window then? Second floor? [ She's guessing as much. It's one of the viable entrances he would have been able to see from this angle, but not the only one. ]

[Oh, jumping. Boy does Cayde miss that triple jump.]

[Anyway, Cayde puts his hands on his hips and tilts his head at Ana. She nailed it. Not that he's surprised but, you know, let him seem cool like he's got a plan and stuff. He doesn't past getting inside, but he's real good at pretending.]

Guards are pretty regimented about their movements. Give it a few minutes and we should have a clear path around the edge, wait another few and it should be another opening to the building if we're quick about it.

[He mimes all of this with his hands as he talks, addressing both Ana and Atsushi.]

They don't seem real big on looking up either.

[South window, second floor. Atsushi makes a mental note of it. At least they'll have a few minutes to talk things through, then.]

If it's the second floor, I can jump there and help you both up.

[Whether with a rope or by a simple lift for the final stretch, it should hopefully save them all some time. He'd probably even be able to carry someone up as he jumps, but that seems weird to offer - and as long as they don't know for sure what they'll find inside, it's better not to risk it anyway.]

[ Ana doesn't go anywhere without a plan. She likes the illusion of having things under control for an entire five, sometimes six seconds after the proverbial boots hit the ground.

She nods at Cayde. Timing the guard rotations was a part of the plan for coming up here, but since he's already done it that saves them some time. ]

I'll take you up on that, Atsushi. The faster we get inside, the better. [ Ana is no stranger to working with people whose abilities are well beyond human, and one of the best lessons she's learned is to take full advantage when they offer. ]

That window leads into an office. I don't have enough intel to know who it belongs to, so if they're still there we may have to subdue them. Quietly.

Edited 2018-01-15 03:11 (UTC)

[Cayde looks up at the window, truthfully he has zero idea what the layout's like beyond the main entrance, he was planning to just wing it and hope real hard that it doesn't all blow up in his face.]

Don't suppose anyone's got tranqs? [He tilts his head and raises his shoulders in an exaggerated shrug] I mean, working that late. It's not weird to fall asleep at your desk.

I used to work at the Institute, but I never went this far into it...

[He'd been an errand boy at best, mostly out in the field collecting samples. It didn't make him feel any less disappointed - and hurt - when he found out what the Institute was up to.]

I don't have tranqs [or any other weapons, for that matter... he's conspicuously lacking in those] but I'm pretty fast when I transform. If there are no other options, I don't mind risking being seen.

[He turns to Cayde.] ... I should mention: I'm a weretiger. [Yeah, he... could have maybe done that sooner. Oh well.]

Once we get past this hall I'm flying blind too. [ Alan's map hadn't been complete by any stretch, but it gave her a good idea of what parts of the institute were already accessible and didn't need to be retreaded. ]

I can put one of them to sleep at a time, and only for a short time. [ She taps her sidearm. ] We're best off avoiding attention. Move quickly and stay close to me. If we get into trouble, I'll bail you out.

[ She's definitely not slipping into running this like a mission. Not at all. ] Ready to go?

Sure thing, chief.

[He says it with a teasing lilt, seeing as Ana's apparently in charge here. But he's not fussed really. Instead he just moves forward to lead the way and get this show on the road, gesturing for them both to follow.]

[It's definitely a mission, and Atsushi for one is more than happy to have someone else be in charge. That would have been the case regardless, and he quite literally trusts Ana with his life, if it should come to that. Not that he's hoping it will come to that...

With Cayde leading, Atsushi intends to take the tail, quick and quiet about his steps. All according to plan so far: they do indeed have clear path around the edge, where they have to hide again to await their opening to the building they plan to enter. Atsushi transforms his eyes to try to scan the room while they wait - not that he can see much from down here, but at least there are no shadows moving, or anything like that.

When he thinks it's safe to go, he checks the others for silent confirmation - and if there are no objections, he'll gesture for Ana to follow before transforming his legs and running closer to the window. She has tranqs, right? And he has the power to get her up there, transforming his arms so he can throw her.

Time for that High Ana? Time for that High Ana.]

Ana moves between the two of them, her hand resting on the grip of her sidearm. She doesn't have any particular enhancements - not anymore - but her eye has adjusted to the dark and she knows where to look for trouble in a place like this. It's all surprisingly efficient, considering that they've never worked together before.

Once it's safe, she nods to Atsushi. In the end, she's trusting him with her life too, so she follows after him and lets him do what he needs to to get her to the window. She's seen him transformed partly before now, but the novelty hasn't really worn off yet.

He throws her like she weighs nothing at all. Ana curls into a ball, protecting her head as she tumbles into the office. She rolls to her feet in an instant, sidearm drawn.

The office is empty.

The only movement is from a desk chair she'd knocked over on her way in. She stays still for a few moments, listening for any guards who might have heard her, but when there are no approaching footsteps she moves back to the window to signal for Atsushi and Cayde to come up.

[ There's no such thing as easy money. Ana has never worried about this kind of thing too much, but she's been out of a job since she moved to Wyver, and being a vigilante pays approximately nothing. She'd taken this job because it was simple, it paid adequately, and it seemed unlikely to cause any harm to anyone else.

So far, her expectations have been right on the mark. She's found a nice little spring nestled in a valley that seems relatively safe, and despite the strange mist rolling off the water, she can see crystals glowing softly from the bottom of the pool. She's been told that these pools are enchanted, but that rumor seems to be one of the exaggerated ones. Small animals - is that a pink otter? - dip in and out without any particular concern.

Ana sighs, having watched this unremarkable pool for nearly a half-hour. This is a place full of magic and dragons. Maybe easy money isn't such an impossible thing to hope for. She sheds her coat on the bank, still wearing a full black bodysuit as she wades into the water. She's about waist-deep when she hears the sound of approaching footsteps. Her hand drops to her sidearm, but she doesn't draw it yet. ]

Hello?

[ Voilà! Can you even believe that such a handsome visage would appear from the lush jungle? JJ emerges from the greenery bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. While he was somewhat apprehensive about this job, worried about running into more of Wyver's dragons, he has to admit that the journey so far as been almost picturesque.

There have been no ominous or unfortunately large creatures, which is for the best, considering that JJ is alone and unarmed, and everything that he's spotted along his walk has been cute or at least ordinary.

And now, a wondrous pool among the beautiful sprawl of nature? ]

Hey there. [ He greets, grin cocky right off the bat. ] Looks like we had the same idea.

[ He rattles the bag that he'd brought along as an indication of what he means. ]

[ Ana, who had no idea that maple trees grew in the humid jungle, is surprised to see a Canadian can survive here.

She lifts her hand from her sidearm to wave cheerfully at the young man. He seems friendly enough, and she's more worried about the creatures than the people out here. ]

Looks like. [ She gestures to the opposite bank, where her own bag sits in a patch of grass. ] There's enough to go around. Why don't we clean this place out together and split the profit?

I can't refuse such a generous offer. Especially when it comes from such a pretty lady. [ ;)

But this is new; a stranger that actually seems friendly rather than cynical. Stepping further out of the grass, JJ drops his bag on the grass next to hers. He sheds his jacket there too, leaving him in a short sleeved shirt before he begins to roll up his pants. ]

How's the water feeling? [ Standing up straight again, he peers at the water, trying to gauge just how deep it is. ] Maybe I should've brought swimming trunks.

[ Ana chuckles. Flattery will get you everywhere, kid. ] Aren't you a charmer?

[ She doesn't mind. It's nice to see that some of the younger people have a more optimistic attitude, and aren't interested in pointless arguments about who earned which bit of silver. ]

The middle of the pool gets a little deeper and colder, but I'll be sure to rescue you if you have any trouble.

[ The water reaches just below her shoulders at the deepest part, and Ana isn't particularly tall. They shouldn't have any problems with that kind of thing. ]

[ He is a charmer! And he's all smiles as he moves into the water, lukewarm near the edges but indeed getting colder as he wades further in. It would've been smarter to bring along another set of clothes, but he's not too bothered. It's still early in the day, and he has no qualms with just stripping afterwards and letting his clothes dry in the sun as he lounges.

The water changes between them once they're both in it, not that they can tell, just a slight shimmer of magic in the sunlight. ]

This seems like a strangely easy way to earn cash, doesn't it? [ In comparison to raiding graves, etc. ] Just a nice afternoon out...

[ He crouches down to pick up a gem, his back cracking as he does.

... That's weird. ]

[ It is a really lovely day. Ana has no idea how the weather here is so much warmer when it's not quite that far from Olympia, but she's not complaining. Days like this make her feel so much younger. ]

Now that you've said that, we're going to be chased by giant alligators or...

[ Ana stares.

Where she'd been chatting amiably with a nice young man moments before, now there's a man who must be in his late fifties hunched over the water. This is going to be some magic bullshit, isn't it? Knowing her luck, she's run into a stranger who is actually a three-hundred-year old shapeshifter who likes to mess around. She puts her hands on her hips (is her gear a little loser?) ]

Is this supposed to be a joke? [ She's not angry, just exasperated. ]

Is what a joke?

[ There are sudden aches where there aren't usually, and JJ is no stranger to aches—he feels them constantly during skating season and after long hours of practice and performance. But this is a different kind, weariness setting into his bones and weird hip and back pain.

But what startles him the most is the sound of his voice, a little rougher and lacking its usual volume. ]

What—

[ He starts, taking a step back, the water sloshing around them.

He'd been flirting with Ana before, but she's smoking hot now. ]

What happened?!

[ Ana looks down at herself, then slowly reaches up to touch her face. She pinches her own cheek, then she has to push her fingers under the eyepatch just to be sure.

Her eye is still gone. She had traded for cybernetic enhancement when she was younger than this - but the rest of it... It's a rare moment where she feels completely at a loss. At least she's not the only one who clearly feels that way.

So, magic. Just not coming from him. ]

I... [ She clears her throat. If she's learned anything from her line of work, it's how to pretend she has everything under control. Be cool, Ana. ] At least you know you grow up to be handsome?

[ Stop talking, Ana. ] I think we should -- let's start by getting out of the water.

[ He does his best not to throw up when she reaches under her eyepatch to peel at the eye hole that is probably there. It's kind of rude, but he doesn't want to see that?!

Even if she is banging hot. It's not like he could flirt with her anyway, not when he's old and she's so young. ]

I am? Hold on—

[ He'll get out of the water, but first, he needs to take a #selfie. Fishing his phone out of his pocket, he holds it up to take a picture of himself, grey hair and wrinkles over what should've been smooth skin. It's jarring, but that doesn't stop him from grinning and winking at the camera.

Once he's satisfied, he starts to amble out of the water, concern increasing that this is some kind of spell and that he'll be stuck this way... And yet, he glances over at Ana, ]

Do you want a picture together?

[ Ana has already started toward the bank before the man digs into his pocket and pulls out his phone. It's a little old fashioned, but she recognizes what he's doing right away. It's better than going into a panic. Of the strange things that could have happened to them, she supposes this is mostly harmless. Assuming it isn't permanent.

Once she gets out of the water, her bodysuit is a little baggy in the most awkward places, but she joins JJ. ]

Of course. How else will people know that we've both been good looking for our entire lives? [ Ana flicks her braid over her shoulder, for emphasis. The best thing to do in a bad situation is act like it isn't concerning until they can figure out how to handle this. It's magic nonsense. If it doesn't fix itself, there are plenty of people here who ought to be able to help them. But for now... ]

What is your name, anyway?

[ JJ is deceptively at ease as he leans next to Ana to take the picture, feeling how surreal it is as he looks at the image, answering without looking away from his screen, ] I'm JJ. And you?

[ His toes curl into the grass as he steps fully out of the water, his quietly pleased expression fading into something slightly more thoughtful. And then that thoughtful expression turns into something more alarmed. ]

Oh my god. [ He breathes out, head snapping up from where he'd been looking at his phone. ] Oh my god, I'm old. What if we're like this forever? I— I can't skate like this? My bones—

[ There's the panic. ]

Ana. [ She barely gets her name out before the panic starts to set in. The worst part of it is, panic is something she's intimately familiar with, and it makes it that much easier to forget the strangeness of her body and the magic and the fact that she is completely out of her depth.

JJ isn't even a soldier, she doesn't have to lie to him. ]

Hey, look at me. [ She puts her hands on his shoulders. There's some sense in his babbling - she picks up the word 'skate' - but first things first. ] You will not be like this forever. Do you understand? We're going to fix it, but you need to calm down.

[ Ana does her best to visit Olympia when she can, but with the way tensions have been rising she's cut her time here back to a minimum, and she rarely comes by just for the sake of it anymore. Today she's here to collect herbs and flowers native to Olympia - ones that she's familiar with, to be used for potions and for the mixture she's been making to top up her ammunition.

It's a relatively safe endeavor, so she's invited You along to catch up. She doesn't know how long it will be before Olympia becomes entirely hostile territory, after all.

At the moment, she's up on her tiptoes trying to reach low-hanging fruit from a glowing tree. She's not having much luck. ]

You, do you think you could reach it if I boost you up?

[Honestly, You is just really happy that she's getting to go on a mission and help people! And she feels safe with Ana, like the two of them can do anything.

Which is why she doesn't hesitate.] Aye-aye, Ms. Ana! I can get up there no problem!

--I could probably climb the rest of the way if I can get onto that lower branch?

[ Ana chuckles. ] Alright.

[ She crouches down with her fingers laced so that You can step into her hands to be boosted up. She's fleetingly concerned about balance and letting You up into a tall tree, but You's an athletic girl. She can handle herself. ] I'm counting on you cadet You.

I won't letcha down! [You plants her hands on Ana's shoulders and steps into her hand, taking a breath to steady herself and giving Ana a nod when she's ready.

When she's boosted up, she leaps as much as she can, stretching her arms over her head and wrapping them around the thick branch. It bends a little, but seems to support her weight just fine.] A-hup!

[She says, swinging her legs up, hooking one over and pulling herself up until she's straddling the branch. She really is quite the athletic youth.] It's a little hard to see through the leaves... do you see it from down there?

[ Diving for gems has been one of the more relaxing quests she's taken on. It's not as lucrative as other things, but no one gets hurt and the water's effects have been temporary when there is an effect at all.

At the moment, she's sitting near the edge of the pool, contemplating her options. There's a large gem at the bottom of the water, pinned under a rock. She can barely move it even with Jack's strength to aid her, and she's starting to think she'll just have to abandon it and come back.

When another person wanders into the clearing, Ana waves at her. She's had good luck relying on the kindness of strangers so far. ]

Do you think you can give me a hand? There's a gem stuck down there. [ She gestures at the water. ]

Edited 2018-01-21 22:49 (UTC)

[ Spoilers: Red is a noodle, this is going to go fantastically.

That said — her trip to the lakes is more to get a lay of the land, as opposed to taking on any grand quest ( better not lean too heavily towards one faction or another, her involvement in politics didn't go so well last time ). But one thing leads to another, and she ends up a little too close to the water's edge, where —

She turns to someone calling for her, coming face to face with someone she doesn't recognize; no surprises there. She tilts her head at the request, taking a few steps closer to the water to look for the said gem.

... And sees nothing ( she's not looking in the right place ). She decides to take the easy way out, though, pulling out her phone to type a quick— ]

Where?

[ This is definitely going to go fantastically.

Ana smiles, a little wry, and points to the center of the pool. The light from the gem is barely visible, mostly obscured by the rock she's been trying to move. ]

If you want to sign, I'm a little bit rusty but I can understand. [ Probably. ]

Edited 2018-01-29 03:00 (UTC)

[ They'll try her hardest and that's enough, I guess.

With a better direction, she narrows her eyes — leans a little closer to the waters, just barely catching the sparkle off the surface of the water. The water isn't quite clear enough to see the rock yet, but she can have her rude awakening.

But for now, her attention snaps back to Ana, blinking at the offer. At least manages to look a little sheepish when she types out a new message to show her. ] I don't know how.

I can help, though. [ Yolo let's do this. ]

[ goldeneye n64 theme plays ]

for atsushi and cayde

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zooms in a million years later with cold coffee

opens arms!!

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