Thread: //.ghost/ECHO::Murphy_Was_Right:// [ClockworkCadence x Ryees]

It was odd to see Kirin in here with the rest of the raiders, seamlessly blending in as just another face in the crowd, just another hungry and tired man. He had an intriguing air about him that seemed to detach him from typical reality that most people experiencedor maybe that was just how she perceived him. It wasnt that he never acted human around herhe was sleeping when she first approached him, for gods sakebut Lyras inability to see him as a normal person mostly resulted from the fact that she just didnt want to. He was a target, and murdering someone that she acknowledged as a human was so much harder on her morality and guilt than simply killing something she dismissed as inhuman. She convinced herself to ignore all signs of personable traits, which in theory worked very well, at least until she was surprised by every instance of shockingly normal behavior she managed to notice. Moments like this, for instance. For a moment, Lyra wondered what was betterrecovering from her coughs and having to look Kirin in the eye afterwards, or actually dying from choking and giving him the amusement of watching the oh-so skilled and dangerous assassin be murdered by simple breakfast foods. She almost chose the latter. Instead, her hand darted out for the cup of water hed offered, grateful for a chance to recover her breath, but absolutely frustrated with the embarrassment creeping onto her cheeks. Surely the next time she moved to dispatch of him, hed end up laughing in her face. Her job of killing him might have originally been just Vincents orders, but at this point, she might need to kill him just so there werent any witnesses left to her apparent inability to breathe and her previous failure to keep illusion separate from reality. She shot a look of dont you dare say a word about this unless you want to be eating your entrails for breakfast instead before she forced a causal appearance on her face, not meeting his eye as she replied with a carefully neutral Morning, in response. A few forkfuls of egg were shoveled into her mouth, her mountains of food slowly but surely becoming plains as her focus drifted to his tray, noting the stark contrast of neat and organized against her Im too hungry to care, its all going to the same place anyway pile. With an uncomfortable shuffle in her seat, green peeked up through the strands of fiery hair that had fallen into her face, carefully considering her words. So how are you feeling today? She began slowly, warning herself to be careful with this acting shit unless she wanted a repeat of her earlier incident. On the outside, she was the worried and injured friend, but on the inside, she wanted to tear his throat outthose two people should never mix. Im sorry your shoulders so fucked up. I really hope it heals alright. The words expressed a genuine concern for his well-being, but her vibrant eyes shouted that she wished the injury had ended up much worse. Deciding that that had been enough attempts at conversation for today, she focused back on clearing her tray, feeling as if she hadnt eaten in weeks, given the shit-storm of events that had ravaged her mind and body. Her face was a blank canvas until a commanding and familiar voice drifted into the building from outsideit was .GORGON , up bright and early, barking at some poor goon outside for some reason or other. Somehow, this woman managed to have the skills to develop this fort and the willing followers to fill it, but how shed managed to do either was the mystery of the century. Lyras attention flickered towards the entrance of the building as the tall and slender woman barged inside, the expressive colors of annoyance and mild amusement painting Lyras visage with muted colors as she watched. B-squad. Youre with me. She called out to the room, already turning on her heel and slithering her way out the door, leaving the group to hurriedly deposit their trays and chase after her. They seemed terrified of her, as if somehow all of her tough-guy bravado was actually real. It was respectable that she was so direct and no-nonsense, but it was to the point where these traits appeared so inflated and stereotypical, they were laughably too ridiculous to be real, like distorting mirrors at a carnival. Huh. This should be good. Lyra muttered under her breath, excitement blooming in a bright grin across her lips as she stood, grateful for an excuse to leave as she stole a piece of toast from the nearly-bare buffet, following the group out the door. The suns warmth made the chill of the wind a bit more bearable as it rose higher into the sky, blanketing the waking fort with energy and life. Raiders milled about, some making their way into different buildings while others found their places on various parts of the training grounds. They had an air about them that exuded determination, discipline, and daftness. .GORGON stood towards the front of the group that had scuttled outside after her, her loud voice carrying all the way across the clearing as she instructed them in archery? Lyra snorted as she sat down in a patch of grass off to the side of their range, stifling laughter that shot pain through her torso as she watched with fascinated amusement. Archery? What was this, the Middle Ages? Was this for hunting or legitimately for fighting .WRAITHS with a freaking bow and arrow ? Was this some sort of high and mighty goal of hers, to have her raiders trained in every weapon known to man, to make them versatile and adaptable or some shit? Maybe it was an exercise in focus or something? Of all the things this group could have been training for with their mediocre skills, archery? Holy shit. Please tell me this bitch Robin Hoods her tough ass through the badlands. She murmured to herself, the thought of it sending tears of barely contained laughter and aching pain into the corners of her eyes.