BY INVITATION ONLY West Forever Fall (Strange new arrivals in remnant side thread)

[Seniornabbit]

Cayde-6
Cayde had followed Stephens previous gaze, looking towards the gothic awesome lady. She reminded him of a warlock or hunter. He found it odd that Lady seemed curious aswell. Hed ask later if he could as he felt the vehicle stop, bout time.

As he got up he saw Yang stop and mention her sister. Thats gonna be fun, if Yangs sister is as fun as the blonde is he cant wait to meet her. "should be nice to meet her at least, must be cool if shes related to you" he commented as he exited the transport stretching a bit. Why did Exos have to have replica internals, getting cramps was never fun.

He looked at the two teachers as he walked to the platforms and stood on one. The Victor guy near him seemed very focused. Makes sense. "so awesome mustache there, whats going down" he asked the grey haired teacher casually.​

 

[Seniornabbit]

Kazuma Kiryu
As the vehicle stopped the ex yakuza got up calmly. He wasnt the best socially so getting into his element would let him destress a bit ppus it might let him.figure out more about the otherd through them fighting. Yang and Cereza seemed to have a important talk based on the blonde's reaction. He continjed forward not wanting to be dragged into the conversation, he wasnt the best at that anyway.

The two teachers looked...interesting enough to be fought in purgatory. Especially since as teachers they are likely highly skilled. He walked to the platforms and stood on it. He wasnt sure what would be happening. They needed to get to the forest at least.

Kiryu looked around as he flicked his hands causing his gauntlets to form over hus hands. He still wasnt used to that part, luckily it still allowed for his normal fighting style. Though he didnt follow the recommendation to have a ranged option, he will make do as usual.​

 

[Goonfire]

LADY
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HUNK​

Cereza practically danced off the aircraft, not too fazed by Yang's reaction. "Ah... Pleased to be free of that sardine can," she remarked dramatically as she sashayed towards a pedestal. Her tone turned much more chipper. "Good day, sirs! I don't suppose I'll be earning frequent flyer miles for trips like these, hm?"

Lady wasn't so enthused. Her eyes narrowed as Cereza seemed to shrug off the tension she caused by bringing up Yang's sister. 'I can't help feeling like this is some play to knock her off her game,' she thought to herself, observing the witch's winged shadow now that they were in better lighting. There was no doubt in her mind, Cereza was a target. 'I'm gonna get to the bottom of this, and then I'll wipe that smile right off your face... Demon bitch.'

Hunk snapped his fingers audibly as he passed by Yang. "Looks like we're moving out. Put on your war face, rookie," he told her. It was the first time he had spoken—another potential shocker. The words sounded as though they had come from a no-nonsense teacher, or perhaps a grizzled military officer... or both. He proceeded to stand on his pedestal with his weapon lashed to his back with a sling.

 

[Camleen]

There is a confuzzled look upon the buxom blond's features. How the hell did they know Ruby? Why would they know her? Now she knows that Ruby will, on many occasion, get herself caught up in trouble. She doesn't look for trouble, but it sure seems to find her. Now did these 2 strangers know Ruby because THEY were the trouble that Ruby might have gotten into? She eyes Victor and Cereza, wondering if she's going to have to kick their respective asses for hassling her little sister.

Of course it takes a few thoughts of asskicking to get Yang's mind back on the right track. If Ruby were in trouble, she would probably be the first to know, right? Okay MAYbe their dad. But definitely herself a close second. As she steps onto the ground from the transport, she discretely pulls her scroll from her pocket. She intends to call Ruby… because now she's paranoid. When Yang thinks there is a chance someone she cares for could be having trouble.. she has to act. Sadly, she notices that her scroll doesn't have a single out here. Which she is sure is on purpose. Due to the nature of the test they are all about to be put into.

One more time, she centers herself.
These 2 knowing her is just a very very weird coincidence.
Ruby is fine.
She's has to focus on this next task.
Clubbing later.

She nods a little and now strides towards the platforms, looking to Cayde with a little grin. "Of course she's awesome, dude. I mean… nowhere near like me, but still." She winks and motions to herself with her thumb. But a new voice suddenly… is her grampa here? No.. no she looks to Hunk as he finally speaks. "Rookie? Man, you just watch me burn." She then lightly hits Hunk in the shoulder with the back of her fist playfully and lightly.

Stepping gingerly up onto her platform, she starts to punch the air in front of her, warming up. And in the middle of that, her bracelets unfold themselves and form yellow colored gauntlets along her forearms.

Now the taller of the professors speaks, motioning to Cereza. "Not this time, younglady. Now pay attentionsstudentsandprofessor Port will give you allinstructions!" The gray haired professor now steps up, his rifle/double axe slung on his shoulder. He looks right at Cayde and replies "That's PROFessor mustache to you, young man." He then looks towards the others, and motions to the vast forest behind him. "Now pay attention students! This exam will determine your teams and partners! Each of you will be launched into the forest!" Now Oobleck speaks after taking another deep drink from his thermos. "OnceLaunchedYouEachWill use your falling techniques. Once in the forest the first one you meet will be YOUR partner!" He takes another big swig from his thermos. "Together you will then traverse to the southern part of the ForestWhereYouWillFind some ruins, and relics within!" Now Port speaks once more. "Choose a relic, and then head back to this spot. Have NO doubt students, the forest is dangerous! You will be faced with many varieties of Grimm!" "YesYesThatsRight." And you WILL be on your own. Your scrolls have been deactivated. You WILL be monitored by Huntsman, but they will ONLY intercede if your life is in immediate danger." "You will be relying on your schooling and instincts, children! NowGoodLuckToYouDon'tBreakYourLegsLanding!" Now Port raises his rifle towards the air.
At this moment, Yang grins and pulls a pair of aviator sunglasses from a breast pocket and slips them on. Port speaks once more "Now stow your mustache wax and…. GO!" When he says that he fires his rifle. And the group is launched into the air, heading over the forest, getting to about 200 feet above…

 

[Goonfire]

LADY
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HUNK​

The three oddballs listened carefully to the instructions. Cereza's mind was easily the one to wander the most. Did the relics contain anything? Perhaps she could use one to bolster her power, obtain a new weapon, or at least learn about civilizations long gone... Before launching, she once again pulled her four pistols from behind her back as though it were a sleight of hand trick, attaching two to her heels and holding onto the other two. "Break a leg, but not literally!" she jested, blowing a kiss to those beside her.

Lady inspected her missile launcher, specifically checking the cable's attachment to the enormous, serrated bayonet under the muzzle. She was prepared for disappointment; with huntsmen watching, she likely wouldn't get the chance to wipe her quarry off the map.

Hunk folded his arms at the mention of landing techniques. He had put together his own dossier the night before so he at least seemed educated. Of all the eccentric characters here, with their wild outfits and larger-than-life personalities, he was more the odd one out. He'd have to improvise, as he'd never dropped so far without a parachute... not that he'd admit this was a daunting task from the start. After all, if he could survive getting bludgeoned with a steel pipe by an immortal mutant with the strength of five men, the odds were already in his favor.

And they were off! The outsiders soared through the air at high speeds, gravity dragging them down towards the trees.

Cereza seemed serene as she plummeted. Mustering her power, a pair of butterfly-like wings burst forth, fluttering to slow her fall. As soon as she touched the ground, they vanished without a trace. Simple, graceful, and definitely unusual...

Lady tucked and rolled mid-air, like a practiced acrobat. Had Mec been present, the maneuver may have even reminded him of someone he knew. Once she disappeared below the forest canopy, she unfurled and took aim. Pulling a secondary trigger on the Kalina Ann's foregrip, the bayonet shot forth like a bullet, impacting a thick tree branch. The mechanism then pulled her forward, redirecting her downward momentum. She landed without a hitch, all according to plan. "Huh... so that's why they call it a landing exam," she muttered to herself. Yang really wasn't exaggerating or joking. "I think I aced it already."

Hunk gritted his teeth, his expression thankfully hidden by his gas mask. He drew his bayonet and reversed it, the sharp edge facing toward him. Thinking fast, he hooked it around a tree branch sloping downwards and grabbed the dull edge of the blade with his left hand. The bark was stripped off, bits and chunks raining around him. He quickly found the end of the branch, which bowed under his weight and snapped. By then, he had slowed his fall enough that a simple safety roll was enough to avoid bodily harm. Now for the million-dollar question: Who was his partner? What poor soul would lay eyes on him first, or vice versa?

 

[AshenAngel]

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Victor was completely unaware or perhaps just uncaring to the look Yang gave him, his mind more focused on the threat of Grimm as opposed to the threat of the blonde firecracker. He was oddly calm as the instructors go through the details of this exercise. The format was similar enough to the practical exercises of the entrance exam that he felt comfortable in his preparations... At least until combat unfolded. Then all bets were off. But he could pretend that things were fine for a few short moments, reaching up to grab hold of his hat just before they were skybound.

For a second, a rare genuine smile crossed his face, a laugh bubbling from his chest. A memory, riding the wind alongside Gavin, freedom finally within their grasp as the ginkgo leaves stirred around them. Yes, things were terribly complicated back then, but in the face of what came after, Victor yearned for more of that time.

The second hand ticks ever forward.

The memory was gone and the forest was rapidly approaching.

The second hand ticks.

Tree tops whizz by.

Tick.

Forest floor approaching.

The hands of time slow, the air shimmering with his interference.

His forward momentum stops as he hangs there in time.

He gets his feet below him, stepping gracefully to the ground. He brushes out the rumples of his suit caused by the flight as his little bubble of time pops.

His expression closes off once more, gaze surveying his surroundings in careful consideration. Seeing as nothing was jumping out of the bushes just yet, he figured he had a little time before he really needed to start worrying. "Anyone around here?" He tentatively calls out, hoping to find a partner before the Grimm found him.

 

[AshenAngel]

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The stink of melted plastic and burnt drywall was thick in the air. She could hear Eddie, an arson investigator and an old friend from high school, yapping with a couple firefighters as they stood outside her burnt-out apartment. Most had their hands on their hips. This wasn't the first time they were called in to the little brick apartment building... Or her unit.

The first time, someone tried throwing a Molotov cocktail through her bedroom window and missed, setting the little scraggly window box planter she had ablaze. The second time, Benny Calgusta - mob hitman 79 years young - had broken into her apartment, unaware she had moved in with her off an on boyfriend that day, and fell asleep smoking a cigarette on her couch while he was waiting for her to show up. The cigarette fell, the couch and Benny went up in flames. The third time, the Molotov made it through the bedroom window but failed to break on Steph's bed, and her best friend Lula - who'd commandeered Steph's bedroom while dealing with some housing issues of her own - grabbed it and threw it back out the window. It missed the bad guy's car and hit Steph's week old Prius.

No one had been hurt, this time, that was the important thing. Rex was a little rattled, but he was alright. Her landlord had given her an eviction notice after she'd gathered up what survived of her things. She sucked in a deep breath of gross humid air, looking down at the little hamster cage in her arms. Tears started to well up at the corners of her eyes and she bit the inside of her lip hard to keep them from falling. She was not going to ugly cry in front of Eddie. He'd tell his wife - Steph's cousin, Shirley the Whiner - and then she'd tell the girls at Holiday Hair Salon and then her mother would find out and then it would be a big stink. She sucks in a deep breath through her teeth, gaze going up to the starless night sky. Too much light pollution in Trenton, maybe it was time to give somewhere else a shot. "We'll get through this, huh, Rex? We always do." She closes her eyes, drawing up whatever energy she could muster.

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For the huntsman assigned to keep an eye on Stephen... Welp, today just became a lot more interesting. Probably in a bad way. In the blink of an eye some spunky frizzball of a girl in soot stained clothes was standing in his place carrying a stupid hamster cage. Good luck.

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When she opened them, she was rapidly blinking away sunlight. "What the- ohhhhh oh no... Shit." She was not in Jersey anymore, that was for damn sure. She'd seen the Delaware Water Gap during the fall, and this was not it. She was doing her best fish impression, mouth hanging agape. So much red, it was still summer- a gunshot snaps Steph into motion. She ducks low, quickly reaching into Rex's cage and pulling out his soup can with him still in it. She nestles the can between her boobs in order to free up her hands to dig her pistol out of her bag... Only once again shocked to find that her little pistol was not the same as it was when she'd fished it out of her cookie jar twenty minutes prior.

The little peashooter had grown, had a twin.... And that was a taser. "Huh. Neat." Was muttered under her breath, before she shakes her head and focuses. Someone shot something, which means there was someone around, at least. In her experience, people who were shooting things were not to be considered friendly. She hikes her bag up on her shoulder, before quietly starting to make her way in the opposite direction of Lady. Or at least she started to, until one hell of a bad feeling stopped her in her tracks. There, verrrrrry far off, she caught a glimpse of some giant black bee that looked like a Pokemon distantly through the trees... and y'know what? Suddenly going towards the people shooting things was starting to sound a lot more reasonable.

She turns on her heel and starts very quietly walking in Lady's direction.

 

[Goonfire]

LADY
Partner: Stephanie (@AshenAngel)​

Lady strode through the woods, headed southbound. The dense foliage and tightly spaced trees made for some uncomfortably close quarters, so she opted to put her signature weapon on her back and pull out a pistol. She turned quickly, checking every angle to ensure she didn't get surprised...

And yet, she still got a shock when she found herself staring down her sights at a girl she had never seen before. From what she had observed while flying, this was about where Stephen had landed. "What the hell?" she said aloud, slowly lowering her sidearm. "You picked a great day to take a stroll in the woods. Who are you?" Lady couldn't help cocking an eyebrow at this person before her. While the devil hunter looked like she was ready for battle, this chick... was a mess. She smelled faintly of smoke—not from cigarettes—and had a tin can wedged in her cleavage. If that didn't scream 'out of place', nothing did.

A faint buzzing noise reached Lady's ears. Glancing over the stranger's shoulder, she noticed the wasps floating about. They were almost the size of one's fist and had vicious, narrow stingers. Was that a type of Grimm?

In any case, Lady placed her index finger over her mouth and beckoned for the new girl to come. "The bugs grow big out here," she murmured, trying to inject a dash of humor into the tense situation.

 

[Seniornabbit]

Cayde-6
Cayde chuckled at Yangs response. He liked that attitude, good person. The gasmask guy seemed qay too serious to him. A unfun Zavala. He turned his head towards the staff as they spoke.He rolled his eyes at moustache correcting him. He rubbed his hands together at the idea of being launched. An exciting time afterall. Relic hunting seemed fun aswell.

He let out a loud cheer as he was launched. He sailed through the air for a bit. He lifted his arm to his face, shielding the mask as he began to go down. He effortlessly grabbed onto a branch and spun on it like an acrobat. He swing from branch to branch for a bit until launching himself on the ground. He rolled as he landed standing up with a chuckle. Nailed it.

He drew Ace out of its holster as he scanned the area. These grimm beasties werent the worst but he learnt to be cautious on jobs. Well cautious for a hunter. He stopped briefly to feel on his belt. His handmade explosives still there. Good, would be a useful emergency tool. He continued walking as he thought he heard a voice. "Someone around here, do we have to do marco polo or something" he jokingly said outloud as he headed towards the guys voice.​

 

[Seniornabbit]

Kazuma Kiryu
Kiryu quietly turned his head towards the teachers as the duo talked. One talked at very high speeds and the other had some pride. A interesting duo. Sounded like it was a retrieval task. The launching part was still concerning. He didnt have a landing strategy prepared but well hes gone through a lot worse. He braced himself with a serious expression.

As he was launched Kiryu quickly looked around. The trees where the main thing around. He tensed his body, a trick from younger linked to the beast style. It let him smash through the branches he fell through. His gauntlets allowed him to drip into the trunk of a tree. The armored fingers dragged down the tree as he lwt himself fall onto the ground. His aura and durability helped there for sure.

He stood back up brushing himself off briefly. The ex yakuza looked around himself before heading off. Ready to swing at any grimm or any threat. He marched forward as ideas ran through his head. If needed he could use rocks and branches if needed, Grimm could also be used against others. He could easily swing one into another if required. However first he needed to find his partner.​

 

[AshenAngel]

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What was a kid doing out here... armed to the teeth? Stephanie mirrored that bewildered look the kid gave her before glancing down at herself... and yeah, this was one hell of a first impression, wasn't it? She raises her hands sheepishly, very clearly keeping her weapon pointed away from the girl to try and ease tensions seeing as the girl was pointing a pistol at her. Her posture relaxes slightly as Lady lowers the weapon. "Hah, yeah... It's definitely been a day. The name's Stephanie, Stephanie Plum... And you are...?" She has a sheepish smile on her face, because how in the world was she going to talk her way through this without looking bat-shit crazy.

Rex took this moment to pop his head out of the can in quick survey, and seeing nothing he wanted a part in, he went back into hiding.

Alright, without looking bat-shit crazier. Thanks Rex, thanks a bunch. "Listen, I'm not too sure what's going on here exactly, but..." Steph's brows furrow when she notices Lady's attention going to something behind her, recognizing the universal 'sh' for what it was. She promptly shuts up and slowly turns around. That bug had friends, apparently. Steph slowly backs up alongside Lady, her gaze going hard as looks over the little swarm of creepy bugs. They had little bone-white embellishments to them, nothing like she'd ever seen before.

She should not have stayed up late watching the Mist the other night. At this rate, she was done with creepy bug movies permanently. A wasp saw her little involuntary shudder and took that moment to dive at the curly haired teen.

The moment of 'oh shit' was palpable but Steph raised her twin pistols, locking them together.

Pink electricity arced between the two pistols, and with an electrical POP! The big fuck-off bug… slowly fell apart before Stephanie's eyes? "I know this thing packs some juice, but that can't be right… Can it?" Her questioning stops when the rest of the swarm becomes agitated, the buzzing growing more intense as they crept forward further. She glances at the girl with clear worry on her face. "Run or fight?"

 

[AshenAngel]

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Victor breathes out a small sigh as he hears someone answer him. The voice belonged to the masked teen. It seemed fairly ridiculous to wear a mask in a school accepting of all types. Not all of the student body was as accepting to Faunus, but Victor wasn't one to be easily bullied or intimidated by anyone in an academic environment, and Cayde seemed to be fairly popular which provided a certain protection as well. Perhaps the kid was just doing it for dramatic flair or style. The later seemed more believable, if Victor was remembering the conversation on the bus correctly.

Maybe there was one of the quieter people around… But, no, he opened himself up to this.

"Let's not waste time on childish games?" He's quick to walk over in Cayde's direction. He looks over the guy, seeing he already had his weapon out. Well, at least he seemed capable. "I suppose we should start heading south." It was straight to the point, distinctly impersonal. It wasn't that Victor disliked Cayde. Victor was just a piece of work that was now confronted with the biggest group project he'd ever been forced into. Firing poor performers wasn't an option, and in all likelihood Victor was going to be the poor performer in combat situations. And considering this was a combat school, Victor could see the repeating problem.

It left him feeling particularly sour, but he was going to do his best. Hopefully Cayde was willing to be patient until Victor had an opportunity to prove his worth.

 

[Goonfire]

HUNK
Partner: Kiryu (@Seniornabbit)

Hunk realized his landing was graceful, relative to what sounded more like a meteor strike not far behind him. After checking his rifle Venom's mag and safety, he gathered that his position was south from the apparent 'crash site'. Since it was imperative he take a partner and there were huntsmen spying on them, he supposed the latter could act as a safety net for the former, should history repeat itself in its usual manner... and so he paused.

After a moment of waiting with bated breath, he saw the classy Japanese man from aboard the aircraft and exhaled a sigh of relief. "Looks like you're my partner for this. Report." With his icy tone, Hunk was already coming off as a ray of sunshine. 'Report', given the context, likely meant he wished for an introduction, but couldn't quite manage more friendly verbiage.

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LADY
Partner: Stephanie (@AshenAngel)

At first, Stephanie already seemed bat-shit crazy simply for being here. "Name's Lady. How did you and your... friend end up here?" the hunter inquired, pointing to the hamster. Unfortunately, the bugs forced her to cut off Steph mid-explanation. However, her mere prefacing said all that needed to be said; she had likely been pulled from her world unexpectedly. Lady made a mental note to ask her more later.

Lady was about 75 percent sure of one thing: Stephanie wasn't a demon. In four years, she had never seen a demon who could wield modern firearms with any skill—not even her colleague Trish. Since the giant wasps had taken notice, they had to think fast. They zipped through the canopy with frightening agility, approaching from above. "Shit... Fight!" she retorted while flipping her huge primary weapon over her shoulder. It hit the ground at her feet, the bayonet sinking into the moist earth. With the press of a button, the rectangular pods at the rear launched a cluster of micro missiles into the canopy. Small explosions shredded the branches, dispersing shrapnel and splinters in short radii to thin the swarm's numbers.

A handful of surviving wasps descended upon the girls, prompting Lady to abandon the launcher momentarily and leap out of the way of their deadly stinger thrusts, displaying peak human agility.

 

[Camleen]

The winds billowing passed her felt wonderful. Adrenaline pumped through the whole of Yang's form, heightening the excitement. Making this ride all the more better. She shouts and howls as she sails through the air, upper body leaning forward into it. She begins to descend, and her arms draw back, her fists pointing backwards. Elbows bend and she (essentially) punches behind herself, that action followed by a loud 'KABLAM'. Her gauntlets fire in a shotgun like action, flinging her forward and ascending. 4 more shots, and she sees her spot. A break in the canopy where she can drop down. And she hits that hole, her arms drawing in to cross over her chest. With a loud 'THUD' she plants her feet against the thick trunk of a tree, kicking off of it in a controlled descent. She bounds off of the surrounding trees, going down a bit more each time. Now within range of the ground, she goes into a roll and then springs to her feet and into a casual walk. She pulls off her glasses to tuck them away, exclaiming proudly "Nailed it."

Moving now through the beautiful forest, she reaches once more into one of her pockets to pull out her scroll. Just as the professors said, it's been deactivated. She wanted to try to get hold of Ruby once more.. but that's going to have to wait. Switching her scroll off, she tucks back into its hiding place in her pocket.

There's a smile on her lips as she moves, her violet colored eyes scanning the whole of the forest around her. She loves the feel of this place. It reminds her of home, except her home is less red and orange and more… green. Mostly just green. Reaching up she plucks a leaf from its limb, rubbing her thumbs gently against its soft surface. She tends to be a more tactile person, touching things helps her understand better. Or appreciate more.

"Soooo who's gonna be my bud?" She says softly, still looking around herself. Ahead of herself in the forest then…she thinks she hears voices. Her smile widens as she thinks she has found some people. She can't quite see the whole way to make out exactly who… or what… is there. "YOOOOO 'ey oh!" she calls out loudly. "Lady? One of the pretty boys? Helllllllllo." She pushes through the underbrush… but the hairs on the back of her neck suddenly stand on end and she pauses. Her forward foot pushes her backwards as a large set of claws sweeps in front of her. The claws impact on the tree she had just passed, 4 large gouges now in the bark. She springs back as an Ursa emerges from the treeline, roaring as it stomps towards Yang. Yang grins widely and drops the pretty leaf and raises her fists into a ready position. "Well you're not who I was lookin for. But you are just a cutey!" A second Ursa stomps from the treeline, both focused on her. "Oh ya found YOUR partner, of course. And I ain't even found mine yet!" The first Ursa roars and charges, swiping at Yang with its giant clawed paw. Yang also steps forward, leaning to one side to let the claws pass over her shoulder. She then gives it 3 quick jabs to its side, but it doesn't seem to feel it. The Ursa turns and swipes at her again, this time she springs back away from its range. She keeps the other Ursa in her line of sight, shifting her position to accommodate this. The Ursa lowers itself onto all 4 paws and charges Yang, and she runs at it, leaping over it with a skilled flip. But.. she lands shorter than she had wanted to. Her eyes widen with realization, and the Ursa swings back at her. With a cry of pain she is hit, and sent flying for a few good feet. She lands in a roll, laying there a moment on her elbows. A gold colored energy field flickers around her as she grins, raising her eyes to the Ursa as it now starts to stalk towards her, growling loudly.

She springs to her feet, her hair starting to sway unnaturally. "You got me. Now my turn!" Her lips move.. but they don't seem to be synced to her words. Imitating the bad dubbing she often finds in those old delightful martial arts movies. The really bad ones. Which are some of her favorite things. The Ursa now charges towards her, one of its paws raised up in preparation of finishing her. And Yang runs right at it. She blinks… her violet eyes shifting to a blood red. She slams her fists together as she grins, and fa golden fire explodes from her hands and along her hair. She moves faster than before, catching the Ursa off guard. It begins to bring its paw down at her, but the battle is already over. "RRRRRRRRRAH!" She growls out as she punches the Ursa right in its considerable midsection. It freezes and then lurches forward as Yang draws her fist back. The Ursa starts to fall… and the whole of its back explodes outwards from the force of her hit. It lets out a rumbling groan as its body slowly dissipates into a black dust.. and then nothing. Angrily Yang turns, flames dancing along her upper body and arms. The other Ursa seems to not know what to do for a moment. As if flabbergasted by what happened to the other. "What?!" Yang yells in something of an enraged tone "You want some of this too?!" She calls out, the Ursa rearing up on its hind legs and roaring now.

 

[AshenAngel]

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Stephanie was a little confused at Lady's... nickname? But then again she had a stoner on her frequent-flier FTA list that went by Mooner. She's learned to roll with the weird. Rolling into combat was another thing entirely. "Y'know, for once in my life I was really hoping for a run." She quips a little bit of stress entering her voice, separating her pistols as she lets her gut take the wheel, picking off a few of the wasps that had gotten through Lady's barrage with a decent amount of skill. It helped a great deal that she wasn't aiming at anything vaguely person-shaped. That tended to be the hang-up with her. After all, it was all fun and games until someone got hurt and she didn't like having that sort of stuff on her conscience.

When the remnants of the swarm got a little too close for comfort, the pistols came back together as she felt her heart pounding in her chest. Keep your head on, don't let Rex become an orphan. She only moves as much as she absolutely has to, pacing herself to avoid She slips to the side, narrowly avoiding the swordlike stinger as she swings her taser in a sharp left hook, fist and taser going through the disintegrating bug and extending further to tag the unlucky bastard that was coming in behind his buggy buddy. Seeing no more coming for her, her gaze flicks to Lady to double check the teen was alright... Even if the girl seemed much more prepared for this situation than any teenager had a right to be. Hell, the only vaguely violent trouble she got into back then was running over Morrelli, and it was only meant to be a scare, he ended up hurt because he tripped over himself like an idiot. "We used to get some pretty big bugs where I'm from, but, geeze Louise. You good, Lady?"

What was going on here, really? Why the sudden shift from night to day, New Jersey to who knows? She had a guy get beamed into her apartment once the week before Christmas, but he said it was a gross process... Could have just been his special way of getting around the question. Being a cousin to Ranger, there was a familial resemblance in avoiding the 'how the hell did you get here' song and dance. That whole holiday had broadened Steph's views on the world, leaving a little more room for whimsical magical things to simply exist in her peripheral. Which led to a possibility. Was this Diesel's idea of a joke? This is so not funny if it is.

 

[Goonfire]

Bayonetta
Partner: Yang (@Camleen)

Cereza heard the blasts and hollering and saw a shadow passing overhead. "Is she planning to make it to the ruins by flying alone?" she huffed to herself. "I'd best pick up the pace." She took off in a full sprint; she cared more about looking good and raising the bar than finding a partner. For most of her journey, she had relied solely on skill to carry her through wars with the legions of Paradiso.

Soon, Cereza approached the sounds of a raging battle, the roar of a fierce girl matching those of bears. Peering between the trees, she saw the feat that was Yang obliterating a bear-like monster. No blood, just black particles... That must have been a Grimm. The way Yang's hair moved of its own volition reminded the witch of her own kind, but those eyes... Looks like Cereza was already seeing a new side of the popular girl.

Well, no time like the present to make a scene. Leaping out of the brush, Cereza opened fire, the guns on her heels blazing as she did a handstand. The bullets rapidly chewed away at the beast's thick hide. "Two monsters, but only one girl? Let's make this a proper double date now," she quipped while flipping forward. It rushed towards her on all fours and skidded, swiping with its deadly claw.

"No touching!" Cereza hopped over the sharp claw, spring-boarding off the monster's head and landing behind it. Her cranberry-red aura manifested while her braids unwound. Her long hair seemed to vanish partway down before a circular portal matching her aura color opened above the Ursa. Cereza stamped her foot, and from that portal emerged a torrent of hair that transformed into a leg with blue skin. The ground shook as the giant, stiletto-heeled foot flattened the Grimm. Both dissipated soon after, leaving only an indentation in the ground.

"I take it that was you flying overhead but a moment ago?" Cereza questioned, striking a voguish pose as her billowing locks twisted themselves into the same thick pigtails.

---

LADY
Partner: Stephanie (@AshenAngel)

Lady supplemented Stephanie's fire with several shots from her CZ, picking off the last few stragglers. With their combined effort, there were no wasps left. They were safe... for the moment. "Tip-top. Good shooting," she answered while wrenching the custom bazooka from the ground. She glanced around, trying to pinpoint a nest somewhere. Creatures like those were best eliminated quickly.

"So I think I understand how you got here. We'll talk about that later, 'kay?" Lady started before mouthing, "We're being monitored." She then continued aloud: "Now, did you see some guy who looks like Vincent Price around here?"

"Stephen's gone," came a voice from seemingly nowhere.

Lady's head whipped around, trying to find the source. "What the hell...!? Hey! What's that supposed to mean?" Putting two and two together, it must have been the huntsman tracking her progress. Did they mean Stephen was dead?

"He isn't here, but the exam continues. Try adapting to the situation."

"With a civilian? Are you joking!?"

There was no further response. The devil hunter looked almost bewildered—nay, exasperated. "Shit. I'm sorry, but... Care to partner up? Long story short, the only way is forward, and we'll get picked up at the ruins when I'm done there." Though this was a bizarre turn of events, Stephanie seemed to know how to handle herself, and going back towards the cliff was pointless.

 

[Seniornabbit]

Cayde-6
Cayde turned when he heard someone move towards him. Ace pointed at the ready, fast as a flash. Just as fast he pointed it up seeing it was the grumpy pants. "theres always times for games, stops people from getting bored mid mission" he said jokingly as he looked Victor over as he stood there. While handsome he didnt seem as experienced as the others he saw. Not bad honestly just meant he had to be ready to be a bit patient.

Cayde moved south a bit shrugging lightly. "sure south sounds good, what can you do if i may ask, shot that gun often?" he asked casually. He scanned the area as he headed south. Despite his casual tone he seemed ready for an attack. A level of confidence akin to someone whos done this sort of thing for years, and damn well at that. He heard some rustling and growls nearby.

He crouched down and moved further ahead a bit, he peered through the brush. A few of the wolves and a bear grimm. He signalled for Victor to come over as he inspected Ace's ammo. "a few bad guys over there, might be hard to avoid but...there's enough trees and bushes we can get through...expect to run like hell if it goes wrong"​

 

[Seniornabbit]

Kazuma Kiryu
The ex yakuza saw the gas mask wearing one come towards him. His partner it seemed based on the rules earlier. The guy was quite a serious one, seemed like ex military...if not for the age, something was off there. He turned properly towards him and nodded. "seems like it, Kiryu Kazuma, spotted anything helpful around?" he responded calmly as he crossed his arms.

This guys attitude now and on the transport earlier was strange to the ex yakuza. Very experienced and soldierish. Hopefully he was a team player. The man looked around for a bit. Trying to listen out for anything odd. The grimm he fought werent the most sneaky. His gauntlets where prepped already so he wouldnt be too worried on an attack.

"take it your weapons the rifle, hopefully it can tear through these grimm" he stated calmly as he looked the man over. The rifle was interesting, hes fired a lot of guns so he knew it looked well made. Works with him, he preffered getting up close afterall, a partner with range was good to have.​

 

[Camleen]

Staring down the much larger Grimm, Yang feels that grin spreading across her pretty lips. The grin that only shows itself when Yang knows she's about to get into a knock down drag out brawl. And she loves it.

But.. maybe not!

Just as soon as Cereza is going to make her entrance, Yang's crimson hued eyes dart towards the underbrush she emerges from. She heard something, and had assumed it was another Grimm. Nope! Her stance relaxes as she stares dumbfounded, those eyes shifting back to a violet color. "What the…" she utters as she watches, seeming dazzled by he performance. Yang fortunately snaps out of it as she notices the Grimm shifting targets out of the corner of her eyes. She grits her teeth and is about to intercept the large bear like monster, but… once again Cereza seems to have the situation very well in hand.

"Huh?" she utters as Cereza seems to begin to utilize her Semblence. At least that's how Yang's mind interprets it. She actually hops back when her hair seems to…just disappear. "What is happening?" she utters. The portal emerges above the Ursa, and Yang points with both hands towards it, her tone louder, more excited. "What is that?!" A giant… leg… stomps down on the beast, and Yang's hands draw up and then she motions towards the leg with her hands again. Even louder this time.. "What is that?!" She watches mystified as the Grimm's body disintegrates into dust like black particles, leaving only an indentation to mark its passing.

She is still pointing at the spot the Grimm was with both hands when Cereza speaks, her attention apparently glued to that spot. Both hands then motion to Cereza as she calls out. "What the hell was that?!" She then draws herself up and stands fully, pumping her fist into the air once "That was amazing! And you looked amazing the whole time!" She says with a laugh. Yang then points to her shoes and exclaims "I want high heels that shoot!"

 

[AshenAngel]

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P
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There was a little smile on Steph's face once she was sure Lady was alright, but it just about died on impact at the mention of being monitored. "... Like Egghead from Batman, or like a nutty serial killer? Kinda makes a difference." Stephanie questions with a look of growing concern. She flinches at the voice from nowhere, deeply disliking the general disregard she was given. She takes a measured breath. Being underestimated meant she had better odds of getting out of whatever this was.

There's been worse. No unhinged morticians were trying to drain her, she wasn't locked in an ice cream factory with a serial killer. No handcuffs. Pretty sure there weren't any drugs involved - she felt too sharp right off the bat, and that never happened with her when it came to the whole drugged kidnapping scenario.

So... She could handle this. Right? At least do it for Rex.

She places one hand on her hip, taking in Lady's exasperation with a frown and trying real hard to not develop a twitch in her eyebrow. "Yeah, I'll follow your lead." She says, none too enthusiastic herself given Lady's outward thoughts on the matter. It brought an icky feeling to Steph's stomach, reminding her of the countless times she'd been written off. Budgeted under entertainment. "Let's walk and talk. As much as I love it when people keep things short and sweet, I feel like that's not gonna cut it for this."