witchesreign | MISSION: Stop the Pirate Ship [Marco/Rose/Zabala]

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MISSION: Stop the Pirate Ship [Marco/Rose/Zabala]

[1800 hours Friday evening finds the Commander waiting patiently at-ease in the Garden Garage. Written in the tense lines of her jaw and neck is the quiet anger that she otherwise keeps hidden behind calm professionalism.]

[She believes, though she won't admit openly, that Marco purposely selected a cadet of all people to join this dangerous, top-tier, ordinarily-Zabala-would-do-this-alone mission simply because she had not directly and explicitly specified that the mission party should be entirely SeeDs.]

[But as much as she's irritated at Marco, she's irritated at herself in turn. She'd know that the SeeD would test her. In this case, they'd outwitted her. So she would play the cards as they'd been dealt.]

[...For that matter, she also didn't expect either of them to be quite on time for the departure, but she'd enjoy being surprised.]

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[Marco's early actually, clearly anxious to go.]

Commander. [He nods when she gets near, though he continues to lack a salute. Oh yes, taking a student along? He's proud of himself. He'd go it alone if allowed, but if he's going to have non-familial backup, he'll bring Rose. Someone even more irritated at the way things are run than him. Not to mention, she's good with direct paramagic as the Commander requested. Marco just hopes Rose doesn't go grimdark like she did when he visited John's memories with him. That would be weird, and Marco still hasn't had the fortitude to ask how Rose snapped out of it, or even whether she was at that point in time yet. OOPS. Ah well, he's completely doing this Whitebeard style, and that is worth all the points to himself, if nothing else.]

[Rose arrives almost exactly at the appointed time - while she'd had no intention of coming late (both out of respect to Marco and because that was unprofessional) she certainly wasn't going to give the Garden any more consideration than was absolutely necessary. they hadn't earned it, in her opinion.

she's changed into the more dangerous-looking Velvet Squiddleknit dress and, despite her perfect posture and cooly stoic expression, is absolutely electrified to be doing something finally. the fact that there's a high chance she's going to need to blast something with the Thorns neatly tucked away in her dress only adds to the excitement.

hopefully David will get over his butthurt long enough to feed the Duchess while she's gone.

when she draws near to the other two she directs a curtsy that somehow smacks of saccharine facetiousness despite only a minute change in her expression. Zabala definitely won't be getting a salute out of her. she turns a little to give Marco a more genuinely friendly nod]

I do hope I haven't kept anyone waiting.

Seed Marco. Cadet Lalonde. [She nods precisely. She isn't required to salute in this situation anyway, so no hypocrisy involved, though she is noting that both of them have a certain lenient attitude towards the Code. Which is no surprise.]

[She gestures to the transport van behind her.] Board up. We will be departing to Balamb Harbor, where we will be taking a transport ship to Centra. We will set up camp there, then dedicate the next day for searching for the ship we are seeking.

Right on time Rose.

Ready for some pirate hunting? [He's clearly expecting to have fun.]

I'd certainly hope so, else I'll make a poor companion on what promises to be an enjoyable outing.

[she allows herself a small smirk as she makes her way to the van. oh god this was going to be great.]

[As soon as they all boarded and shut the doors, the van backs up, then heads for the ramp up. The Commander sits on one of the bench seats, folding her hands in contemplation.]

Marco, I would like you to take Siren, and I will take Ifrit. Cadet Lalonde will Junction Shiva and Quezacoatl. Objections? Also, Cadet, what weapon do you use?

Siren it is. No objections. Are we going to do this assassination style however, or try to retrieve information from them instead?

I've no qualms with the junctions. As to my weapons...[she pauses to turn and pull out the Thorns, holding them up with a sickeningly sweet smile] I've got that covered nicely, thank you.

[she could mention that they also shoot powerful blasts of magic, but why ruin what should be a priceless reaction?]

[The Commander nods, and holds out a hand for their Junction devices to make the necessary transfers, her own in her other hand as she makes the adjustments for her own.]

I have a stock of 20 Sleep which I will transfer to you, Marco. Status-attack junction it and we will attempt to incapacitate any foes we face for capture and interrogation. However, ending the threat is our priority, and we have no idea of exactly what we are facing. Err on the side of completion and survival.

[That actually gets a deadpan, slightly mocking salute out of him.]

Yosh.

Understood. [an unknown enemy, too? this just keeps getting better and better]

[Not entirely accurate, but the Commander had already been over this extensively with Marco...]

[She has nothing further to say, and so the van continues along the relatively short drive. Some few minutes later, it comes to a halt, and from up front the driver calls back to let them know they're here.]

[Rising, the Commander opens the doors and steps out into the salty sea-air of Balamb Harbor.]

[Marco practically jumps out. He's really not one for vehicles that aren't as large as the garden or his Moby Dick ships back home. He takes a deep breath of salt air and stretches out his muscles, careful to avoid giving off too much of a non-human vibe, and keeping his blue flames completely in check.]

So commander, does this mean you're stuck in charge of P.R. as well now?

[Asked completely casually.]

[Rose follows them out, gaze softening momentarily at the scenery. it reminded her of LOLAR in many ways.

she doesn't offer anything up into the conversation yet, preferring to listen and gather what information she can. there'd be plenty of time for talk later.]

Missions completed competently and effectively are the best PR.

[Sort of a yes, sort of a no. Also, Marco has a bit of a disappointment coming -- the transport ship is larger than the van, but certainly not much larger.]

[The Commander doesn't board immediately, though -- instead, she picks up her own weapons, then begins casually belting them on. A short, curved sword and a sheath for throwing knives at one hip, balancing a longer katana at the other, and then a no-daichi slung casually over her back.]

I don't anticipate an attack, but I would rather be prepared.

I completely agree. [Which gets her a challenging look right back, but Marco's pretty ready for anything, even if he looks like he's lazing about relaxing.]

I'd think such a train of thought would be obvious, given the circumstances.

[Rose's tone is light and airy, swimming with sardonic undertones. her Thorns are within easy reach, so she has everything she needs at her fingertips]

[Grateful for the extreme effort they're making to be pleasant and companionable, the Commander steps aboard. Once they're on as well, the hatch shuts behind them, and she takes position behind the wheel to guide the boat out of the harbor and onto the open ocean.]

Another small ship, eh?

[Lazily watches the commander drive, seemingly relaxed but with a pretty obvious undercurrent of a taut nocked arrow. It's just as well that the Moby Dick was constantly getting coated and sailing underwater, even if it was as big as the Garden to account for his family members five times Marco's size. In any case, he'd be more claustrophobic were it not for that.]

Oi Rose, you've never fought pirates before, right? At least they won't have anything on that Jack Noir. [Why yes, he did just jump straight into giving away that he knows so much more than he should, and basically very discreetly trying to check if he should worry about Rose going "grimdark" again.]

I don't think that there's much this universe has to offer that could compare with an omnipotent demon.

[her reply is casual enough, but she's definitely looking at Marco a little more sharply than before. Rose hasn't experienced any of that yet, but luckily when John was here he'd certainly told her of her eventual grimdark fate; it made it easier to give an ambiguous answer that way.]

If anything we encounter on this mission is omnipotent, I for one will be disappointed in our pay scale.

[But whatever they might be facing, they won't encounter it today. Their path takes them far south, to Centra, and truth be told it's something of a long and tedious journey; nevertheless, as the sun dips below the horizon, land comes into view in the distance, and the Captain directs the ship thataway.]

So glad to know you're on my side about that. [Small amused snort, and a headtilt at the land. Either weird pirates to hang out in such an obvious haven, or just weak. Oh well either way, he's just remind himself, different world, different rules of thumb. It's not like this whole world knows the obvious pirate techniques, after all.]

You remember enough of your survival training for a night under the stars, I hope?

[She doesn't doubt Marco could weather the evening readily, but the Commander isn't above needling him just a little.]

[That gets a very big smirk out of him.]

Better. I've survived the New World by watching over my family at nights.

[She could believe all she wanted about how difficult this world was, but Marco would always be convinced it was a vacation. And given the insanity of the New World half of the Grand Line, he felt a little entitled to mocking right back. The price of her not getting to know about the other worlds people came from before here.]

Good. We'll camp here for the night, then take up an observation position on the highest ground available in the morning.

[These boats are made for troop landings. Consequently, the Commander doesn't hesitate to drive it right up onto the beach -- a bumpy ride, but quite effective.]

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MISSION: Stop the Pirate Ship [Marco/Rose/Zabala]

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one unexpectedly messy return to college later... (i'm so sorry guys omg)

Never fear, we knew you were out. :)

Indeed B) Welcome back

lmao thanks <3

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And then I got sick, SORRY FOR LATE!!

pffft it's fine

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