Who: Jenner, Lightning, Ymerith, Rhea.
Where: R/T Lounge, Red Lion's Camp (Wasteland)
Why:  Spontaeneous plot out of nowhere.
Date of Log:  8/23/00




Jenner strides into the lounge with a loping gait, shifting the backpack he's got slung over one shoulder.  Hmm, fairly empty again in here, well, except for the lady at the hearth.  He reaches up to tip his hat, "Evenin', ma'am."

Lightning smiles broadly, "And hello to you too.  Beautiful day out today wouldn't you say?"  She stretches lightly enjoying the warmth of the hearth.

Jenner shrugs his shoulders, heading toward the bar to lean against it rather then sit.  "Eh, looks the same just about every day.  Say, is it... normal for there to be large dragon lizards on the roof of this place?"

Lightning looks at you weird, "I don't think so.  Is one there now?"

Jenner nods, looking a tad bit perplexed.  Before he came here, things were... well, they made sense.  Since he arrived here, everything's gone topsy turvy.  "Yeah, big black critter.  I think it's asleep."

Lightning sighs loudly, "Asleep...  I don't think I would bother it if it really big"

Jenner chuckles softly and nods in agreement. "I wasn't about to prod it."  Realizing he's being rude, he finally introduces himself, "Name's Jenner, kinda new to these parts."

Lightning smiles, "I'm Lightning.  I'm not really new but I haven't been around much.  Just getting use to where I'm living."

Jenner smiles, moving to the far end of the bar, closest to the hearth to pick a new leaning spot.  "Nice t'meetcha Miss Lightning."  Funny, he met Flame yesterday, and Lightning today.  So, when will he meet Wind, Earth and Water now?  Heh.

Lightning grins, "If your new around here where did you come from?

Ho ho, so someone's asking him again where he's from.  Jenner grins somewhat crypitcally, "Somewhere to the North."  Well, it sounded like a good direction to pick.

Lightning nods, "Lots of good places around there."  At least she thinks there are nice places there.  "Why did you come here?"

Jenner shrugs again, reaching up to tip the hat back from his eyes a little so he can get a better look at Lightning.  "Seemed like a good idea at the time.  Well, honestly I just kinda ended up here, didn't really know where I was going."

Ymerith casually strides into the joint, appraising the occupants, and satisfied, takes a seat at the bar.

Ymerith [to Osbornn]: The usual, gimme a beer.

Osbornn says, "You got it!" He quickly mixes up a beer and hands it to Ymerith.

Lightning nods, "I can understand that."  She nods to the newcomer.  "I feel I've been wandering quite awhile myself"

Jenner leans against the far side of the bar, the end closest to the hearth, apparently conversing with Lightning.  "You're turn then, Miss Lightning.  Where do you hail from?"

Lightning smiles and shrugs slightly, "The place my father settled down.  It didn't really have a name.  I don't even know if I could find my way back."

Ymerith keeps to himself, drinking his beer.

Jenner chuckles and nods in agreement, "I don't know if I'd forget the name, but I've definately forgotten how to get back."  Wouldn't want to.  It's something he'd like to forget ever existed.

Ymerith . o O ( There's things we all run from, it takes guts to admit we're running. )

Lightning nods and looks in Ymerith's direction, "Hello stranger, I'm Lightning and this is Jenner."  She introduces him even if she's just met him.

Jenner glances over at Ymerith, reaching up to tip his hat.  "Evenin'."

Ymerith shrugs to himself, turning around, "Kiva, Johnny Kiva."

Lightning smiles, "An interesting name.  Where do you hail from?"

Ymerith looks pensive a moment, "Not that it matters now, but I've lived most of my life up and down the east coast.  (I) think I've lived the longest in upstate New York."

Lightning nods, "And why wouldn't it matter?"

Jenner recognizes the names, though he tries not to outwardly show it.  He also falls kinda quiet for the moment, listening.

Ymerith looks exasperated, "It's not there anymore." almost talking as if to a slow child.

Lightning shrugs, "But still you are from there and so it does matter I believe.  It's part of the past and the past matters."

Ymerith shakes his head, "Some things are best forgotten, lady.  I for one am glad we'll probably never see another war."

Jenner snorts suddenly at that, "Pasts are nothing more then shadows that follow you along, nipping at your heels. Personally, I would rather forget it."

Ymerith says, "A nuclear one, anyway."

Lightning shrugs, "I suppose.  I make it a habit to learn something from all experiences.  The past the sum of those experiences."

Jenner softens his tone again, shrugging in Lightning's direction, "Not everyone's had a happy past they just wanna dredge up alla time.  But, hey, more power to ya if that's what ya want to do."

Lightning chuckles lightly, "My past isn't a beautiful thing but it was a good experience."

Jenner lifts an eyebrow, pondering asking.  But, his past isn't an open book either, so he shrugs and decides not to ask.  "Glad yours was."  Indicating his probably wasn't.

Lightning grins, "So, what have you done since getting here?"

"Hung out mostly, taking a break from my travels till it's time to move on yet again," Jenner replies, then gestures toward the exit, "Had a slisssh invasion last night though, bloody things were all over t'place."

Lightning eeps, "I've heard of those things.  Aren't they evil?"

Jenner nods, looking grim, "Killed two people last night."

Lightning nods, "How awful.  Did you know the people?"

Jenner shakes his head, "Not really, sorta ran into them but I didn't know their names."  He doesn't mention he saw one of them alive again later on. That was just... too surreal.

Lightning nods, "I don't know very many people around here either."

Jenner isn't really sure he -wants- to know anyone here, so far the ones he's met are freaks.  Still, Lightning seems semi-normal at least.  "I take it you're fairly new then too?"

Lightning smiles, "That I am.  I've been working hard at studying magic.  It's been so long since I learned what my father taught me that I'm having to figure it out again on my own"

Lightning smiles and says hello to Rhea

Rhea returns the greeting wryly, rubbing her hip as she makes her way toward the bar.

Lightning continues to smile as she says, "And how are you today?"

Magic... oh boy. Another mage.  Jenner falls kinda quiet after the revelation.  Rhea's entrance gets his attention, however, and he reaches up, tipping his hat to her, "Evenin', Ma'am."

Rhea mutters, "Could've been better, if I didn't get jumped along the way."

Rhea [to Jenner]: And a hello to you too.

Lightning's eyebrows both shoot up, "By someone?"

Rhea sighs irritably as she jerks her thumb towards the exit. "Some six-foot arsehole in there."

Lightning nods, "That's horrible.  What did you do?"

Rhea corrects herself "A six foot -heavy- arsehole." her green eyes glitter. "Nothing! Apparently he mistook me for someone else." she flicks at a purple pigtail. "God knows how."

Lightning giggles sightly, "I don't either"

Jenner finds himself glancing towards the exit.  Seeing as he's taller then six feet, that doesn't seem so huge to him.  "Huh, do you mean Devon the..." his tone gets a little mocking, "Romany mage?"

Rhea rolls her eyes. "Must've been blind or something." she glances towards you. "Wouldn't know, really. Seen him a couple of times before, but I never heard his name." she makes a face.

Lightning smiles, "But you are okay right?

Rhea mmhmms. "Just a couple of bruises."

Lightning nods, "At least you are okay"

Jenner snorts, shaking his head as he reaches up to tug at his ponytail.  "Obviously he's lacking in knowing how to treat a lady."

Rhea laughs. "That, and he needs to get his eyes checked."

Rhea [to Osbornn]: Gimme a beer.

Osbornn says, "You got it!" He quickly mixes up a beer and hands it to Rhea.

Lightning grins and says to Rhea, "Hi, I'm Lightning."

Rhea cups the glass in both hands, swivelling on the barstool to face Lightning and you. "And I'm Rhea." she extends a hand towards Lightning, despite the fact that she'd be too far away to reach.

Jenner lets the first introduction be completed before he reaches up yet again to tip his hat.  "Name's Jenner. Nice to meet you, Miss Rhea."  He has a slight drawl to his voice.

Ymerith shakes his head, recovering from what was evidently too much to drink.

Rhea smirks slightly, shaking the imaginary hand before glancing towards you. "Rhea'll do, thanks, Mist'r Jenner."

Ymerith notices Rhea, and while smiling, checks his wallet,  "Hello Rhea."

Jenner grins at Rhea, letting the hat stay tipped forward though it half hides his eyes.  "It wouldn't be polite, but iffin' ya want, I'll call ya Rhea."

Rhea swivels in her chair again to face Ymerith, grinning. "Yo, Kiva... And no, I wouldn't do that to a friend..." She looks back at Jenner. "Ai, thankee very much, young master Jenner, ah'd appreciate tha'."

Ymerith grins, "Good old Rhea.  How have the years been treating you?"

Hey, is he being mocked?  Eh, even if he is, Jenner takes it good naturedly enough.  "Jenner'll do, Miss Rhea."  Tsk, he's slipping up already.

Rhea grins wickedly at Ymerith. "It's brought me two kids, in fact." she corrects you, "Rhea it was, Rhea it is, and Rhea it'll be forever more...hopefully."

Ymerith nearly gasps, "Kids?  YOU?  ....  uh.....  uh......" and trails off.

Rhea snickers softly. "No, not -that- way."

Rhea says, "-Definitely- not."

Jenner is practically a kid himself, but glances away at the mention of them, back toward Lightning.  "You suddenly got rather quiet."

Lightning smiles, "I'm just watching what's going on.

Rhea [to Ymerith]: Cally? I've told you about Cally, haven't I? And Riff.

Ymerith shakes his head slowly at Rhea, "Nope, I didn't even know you were involved with anybody."

Rhea grins. "I'm not, you should know better. Who would there be anyway? Naxos?" The last is coloured with laughter.

Ymerith says, "Actually, I never knew much about that guy.  Met him in passing once, if I remember right.  How then?"

Ymerith looks dubiously at his beer, wondering if he should hazard another swallow.

Ymerith drinks some of his beer.  About two-thirds of it remains.

Rhea smiles. "Adopted Cally about two years ago, Riff a year ago. Dome hasn't been the same since."

Jenner nods to Lightning, then pushes away from the bar, "Well, if y'all will excuse me, have a nice night."  And with that, he starts toward the exit.

Ymerith says, "Where'd they come from?"

Ymerith nods in Jenner's direction, "Nice to meet you, anyway.  Sorry I wasn't much to talk to."

(Insert walking out, seeing something really bad and running back in here.)

Rhea waves vaguely to you before turning back to Ymerith with a slight shrug. "Cally's parents met a dragonturtle..."

Jenner suddenly rushes back in, looking somewhat... pale.  He glances around quickly, for somewhere to hide...

Ymerith says, "What's wrong?"

Ymerith gets up from his barstool.

Rhea twists around, eyeing first you, then the south exit.

Jenner dashes over toward the bar, crouching down, though he's tall enough that really it's somewhat futile.  "Shhh."

Rhea says, "What?"

Rhea gets up from her barstool.

Ymerith's hand goes to his knife, not drawing it quite yet.

Soldier arrives from the south.

Lightning oh mys

Ymerith looks over the soldier, VERY carefully.

Soldier enters quietly, hardened gaze searching the room.  "The boy. Where is he?"

Jenner squeezes his eyes shut, crosses his fingers and prays.

Ymerith steps forward, "What boy would that be?"

Lightning glances in Jenner's direction

Ymerith searches the soldier's uniform visually, looking for some clue of identification.

Rhea's fingers itch, taking care not to look towards Jenner as she fixes an almost casual gaze on the soldier.

Soldier does in fact spot the bar, realizing it's probably the only place the aforementioned boy could hide, "The boy who just ran in here."

Ymerith says, "Oz, let's make a new drink, gimme a boy"

Osbornn says, "You got it!" He quickly mixes up a new drink, gimme a boy and hands it to Ymerith.

Ymerith says, "Here ya go, officer."

Rhea laughs softly.

Ymerith says, "What's this boy done?"

Ymerith tries to press the soldier for information or anything that he might give away.

Soldier looks at the drink slowly, lifting it up to assess it.  He's not amused, not by any means.  Dropping it to the ground, he replies, "The boy is AWOL from our troop.  I have been sent to return him to his proper place, following detainment and trial."  To the room in general, he calls, "Vaniel Jenner.  I know you're here, don't make me look for you."

Ymerith blinks, "AWOL?  That is serious....  What's he look like?"

Rhea . o O ( What's an AWOL? )

Jenner sighs, closing his eyes.  No, not this, anything but this.  So, he gives up, rising to his feet.  Adjusting the hat he sneers at the Soldier, "Oh give it up, Commander.  I'm not your little sniper boy anymore.  You talk to them like I had some sort of -choice-."

Lightning says, "Jenner do you have to go?"

Ymerith crosses his arms, watching intently now.

Ymerith drinks some of his beer.  More than half of it remains.

Soldier doesn't react, actually stepping forward toward Jenner, "It's time to go, Jenner.  This has gone on long enough."  He reaches for the boy's arm, intent on taking him by force if necessary.  The rest of the room is forgotten.  He has his objective in sight.

Rhea mutters softly, "Damn military." she raises her voice slightly, "Leave him alone."

Ymerith says, "I'm afraid I can't let you take him away if he's not willing, friend."

Jenner draws back, glancing at Ymerith in surprise.  He's been on his own so long, he's not really expecting anyone to defend him.

Ymerith takes a new tone to his voice, "By whose orders have you been sent to apprehend him?  Who's your CO?  By what authority do you claim to presume command here?"

Ymerith fires question after question at the soldier, quoting orders, chapter and verse, acting quite the drill instructor.

Soldier speaks without looking at Ymerith.  "This does not concern you.  It is an affair of the Red Lions."  For those in the know, they are a roguish outfit based on the upper west coast, mercenaries who use and train kids for their outfits.  Rumors say most of those kids are abducted or orphaned and indoctrinated into the group.

Ymerith says, "Mercenaries, eh?  Do you have a service contract?  Without one, he's a free being."

Rhea's fingers creep towards the knife handle at her hip.

Ymerith motions Rhea to stay her hand and to move toward the door, in case the soldier has backup waiting outside.

Soldier turns toward Ymerith now, actually frowning.  His gaze flicks briefly toward Rhea, noting the possible threat in her movements.  He's not stupid, just intent on completing his mission.  "My mission is to bring the boy back, and back he will go.  This is not your affair, do not get involved."

Ymerith turns to the boy in question, "Do you want to go?"

Rhea stills, but does not drop her hand, casually hooking a thumb in her belt, cool eyes watching the soldier with contempt.

Jenner shoves his hands into his pockets, scowling at the Soldier as if he were the very bane of his existence. "Honestly? No.  But, it's better you don't get involved.  The Red Lions aren't about to let me go."  Sneering at the Soldier he adds, "Fine, I'll go, just leave everyone in here alone."

Lightning continues to watch.  If needed she might beable to help.  But not much.

Ymerith [to Jenner]: If you go willingly, I'm not getting involved, then.

Rhea says softly, "I think it's too late to not get involved."

Ymerith [to Jenner]: But if you don't want to go, you'd better say so now.

Soldier does reach out and grab onto Jenner's arm.  The grip is tight enough to make the boy wince.  "A deal then."  He whips the kid out in front of him and gives him a hardy shove forward.  Toward the room, he says, "My apologies for the interruption."

Rhea's green eyes flicker with anger. "Let him go!"

Ymerith blocks exit to the south.

Lightning rises from the hearth.

Rhea takes a couple of steps toward the soldier, hand clenching over the hilt of her long knife.

Ymerith says, "Nobody's going anywhere until I hear it from the boy.  Do you want to go with him, Jenner?"

Jenner stumbles forward, catching himself before he falls.  Paused there, with Ymerith blocking the exit, he frowns.  "Man, don't get involved, I don't want anybody getting dead because of me."  He still doesn't say yes or no.  About this time, the Soldier comes up behind him, snatching the hat off to toss it over his shoulder.  Won't be needing that where he's going.

Soldier says, "Sir, I think it best you let us pass."

Ymerith [to Jenner]: Yes or no, do you WANT to go?

Ymerith sighs, "Fine kid, if you're not gonna stick up for yourself, why should I?

Ymerith moves away from the south.

Jenner says, "Dammit, no, I do not want to go.  Happy?"

Soldier reaches around Jenner about this time, getting no real resistence from the kid.  Jenner knows what he's capable of, after all.  "Sir, let us pass, I really would prefer not to damage the kid. He's valuable."

Ymerith says, "You've got me damn curious, what could you want with this kid?"

Ymerith . o O ( He said something about sniperboy....  This bears digging into )

Ymerith . o O ( Ok Meg, when they leave, follow where they go.  We'll figure out what's going on here. )

Bringing a knife up to rest against Jenner's throat as it's tilted back, the soldier replies blandly, "Snipers are few and far between, sir, and this one here is possibly the best we've seen in years.  I'm supposed to make sure this one is brought back to us.  But, if you insist, I could just destroy him here."  He's testing the waters.  Seeing how willing Ymerith is to stick up for a stranger.

Rhea's left hand clenches. "He's a person, damnit, not some hunk of metal that you can put a bloody crystal value on."

Ymerith shrugs, "If he's really that valuable, your CO would shoot you for killing him."

Ymerith pauses, "Then again, maybe not...."

Ymerith devises a new strategy, "Say, why don't you tell me more of your organization on the way?  I have .... talents."

Though a flash of humor shows in the soldier's eyes, and a definate look of fear in Jenner's, the 'Commander' doesn't bite.  "Sorry, perhaps another time.  I have to get this boy back to our camp and secure him.  Now, if we may pass?"

Rhea glances quickly towards Kiva, eyes narrowing.

Ymerith shrugs, still unsure.  The soldier acts professionaly, he's GOT to have backup somewhere, maybe another sniper....  He opens his mouth to speak....

Ymerith says, "Fair enough, how shall we get in contact?"

Rhea hisses under her breath.

"If you really want to join, and aren't bluffing me," which by the soldier's tone of voice says he's not so sure it isn't just a bluff, "Then we'll meet here, tomorrow.  After I've had the boy shipped back."  He knows Rhea's upset, and does evaluate the threat she may pose.

Ymerith shrugs, "I'd at least to take a look, my curiousity is quite piqued.  I miss being part of a team."

Rhea doesn't really look like much of a threat really. Lavender hair done up in short pigtails. Just a little over five feet. There is a big knife in her belt, though, of which she's starting to reveal a bit of the blade.

Soldier merely nods, proceeding to move Jenner toward the exit again.  He spins the kid around the closer he gets, keeping the knife pressed against the boy's throat as he advances backward.  Not very trusting, is he.

Ymerith reveals, slowly, in a very non-threatening manner, a la Han Solo, the .45 he's had in his hand the whole time, "Were I bluffing, we'd not still be talking."

Soldier seems slightly impressed, for a moment, and then he, and Jenner, are out the door.


(Sometime later on.)


A slight figure wanders through the wasteland, cloaked, illogically,
in black.

Rhea . o O ( Damn, I need to get a new outfit... )

The Red Lion's camp is seemingly deserted.  They've seen Rhea's approach from a distance, and left the tents empty for whoever to find and walk straight into their trap.  No one is around to be seen, but the tents all bear the rampant red lions on them.  It's hard to mistake.

Rhea pauses for a moment, at the edge of the camp, easing her knife out of its sheath. She hadn't expected to find the camp so easily, nor had she expected to find it deserted. The back of her neck prickles as she pushes back her hood so she can see better, green eyes flickering warily about the area.

As Rhea draws her long knife, you think (Now that's a Knife!).

Rhea feels her pale blue skin burning uncomfortably under the hot sun as she steps cautiously towards one of the tents, footfalls quiet although she feels that they echo loudly in the silence.

Only the wind blowing sand grains against the tents makes a sound. Then, suddenly, Rhea will find herself surrounded by ten men, dressed in light tan camoflage, all of them pointing the muzzles of some twisted, but mean looking guns at her.  They wait silently for her reaction.

Rhea stills. There are worse things than death. Of course, death isn't particularly pleasant either. Where's Kiva when you need him? Her lips curl derisively, defiant as her fingers clench tightly over the hilt of her knife, then loosen, letting it fall to the ground with a dull thud.

Rhea drops a long knife.

The armed soldiers stand their ground, and then the Commander rounds them, moving forward to stand before Rhea.  He frowns.  "You should not have come here.  Is the boy a friend of yours?  Why are you so intent on forcing my hand in this? I did not want to hurt you or anyone within the Building."

Rhea spits contemptously on the ground. "Whether the boy's a friend of mine or not does not matter. The fact is, he is a -boy-. A child." her green eyes glitter with fury, although she does not make any further movement with all those nozzles pointing at her.

Soldier reaches to grip Rhea's chin at the disrespect she shows. "Miss.  I would think twice before insulting me, or my company at this point.  You are a prisoner of the Red Lions.  And it is not your place to question who we use within our ranks."

Rhea spits directly into the Commander's face, the rest of her recklessness rising to the surface. "Filth. Child abuser. Bastard. Toad-humping spawn of a maggot. Your father crawled from the dung heap. Your mother came from the gutter and spurted you on the ground along with her piss." Each insult said clearly, distinctly, coldly. "Why don't you just go commit suicide?"

Soldier slaps at Rhea's face, then gestures for the others to move in.  One soldier roughly grabs at Rhea's arms, pulling them behind her back to bind them.  The Commander, wiping spittle from his face, mutters, "Put her in with the boy.  Let her see how she's utterly failed to save him."

The Commander's hand lands with a stinging slap as the 'mariner's head snaps to one side, head momentarily ringing, stunned, before a humourless smile curves her lips as she is jerked around. She offers no resistance, nor does she offer any assistance. Silent now, but defiant nonetheless.

Someone snickers and mentions 'wildfire'.  The Commander thusly retreats back toward his post, leaving the soldiers there to finish binding Rhea and drag her toward one tent in paticular.  The soldier holding her grins, whispering in her ear, "Now, don't you get no notions about Vaniel.  He looks like a kid, but he's a wild one with the ladies."  And she is thusly shoved through the tent flaps.

Rhea stumbles forward through the flaps, just regretfully missing the opportunity for a kick to the offending soldier. She manages to keep her feet, tugging at the bindings about her wrists(?). A soft hiss emerges from her lips, "Arsefucker." She looks around the tent, shaking her head to clear it, grateful for one thing: shade.

Jenner rolls over as someone enters the tent.  His face is bruised, well almost mashed on the right side, hands bound behind him in the same manner.  He blinks his one good eye and says hoarsely, "Miss Rhea?"

Rhea's eyes flare with fresh anger as she stumbles over towards Jenner and drops to her knees beside him, wincing slightly at the impact. "Just Rhea," she corrects him softly. Her gaze moves over his face, taking note of every black bruise, inwardly cursing the soldiers outside.

Jenner struggles to get to an upright position, but unfortunately, he's gotten kicked as well as punched and his body just doesn't want to respond right now.  He gives up with a sigh.

Rhea manages a wry, sad smile, even though inwardly, she's burning. How could they do this to a kid? "Yeah, might be a good idea if you stayed still, huh." She pulls at the binding behind her back again, fingers straining futilely in an attempt to find the knots.

"Won't do ya much good, Rhea," see, he finally remembered to lose the 'Miss'.  Jenner sighs again, since this is his worst nightmare come true.  "These guys are the best.  Why'd you come after me?  You just met me today?  They'll only hurt you."

Rhea says softly, "Hey, I got two kids of my own, remember? If like this ever happened to them..." She cringes slightly, whispering to herself, "Riff'll have the sense to contact someone if I don't come home..." She tries a little smile, although her sunburn and bruise is beginning to make itself better known, as she continues, "Couldn't let you go all alone, could I now?"

Jenner lifts an eyebrow.  Ok, the one that's above the non-puffy eye, "Rhea, I'm not a kid, I'm sixteen."  Ok, so -he- thinks he's not a kid.  However, it's hard to say if he's lying or not, that face of his is a blessing as well as a curse, making him look a hellovalot younger.  "These guys're serious though.  And how's anyone gonna know you came out here?  I don't want you gettin' hurt cause of me."

Rhea grins slightly. "I'm older than you, Vaniel, so to me, you're a kid." Not that she looks too much older herself. One pigtail's starting to come undone. She shifts slightly as her feet begin to grow numb and manouvers around so she's sitting down a little more comfortably, legs crossed on the ground. Can't do anything about those bonds, they're rubbing her wrists raw. "Well, I figure that the kids will realise that I'm not home and go warn someone. Hopefully Sky. And Kiva..." She shrugs. "Kiva's smart, he'll know something's wrong when I don't answer my comm."

Jenner winces at the use of his first name.  Damn them, he -hates- that name.  Otherwise, he stares at the sloping roof of the tent.  "Just call me Jenner, please.  Vaniel's the name -they- gave me cause I didn't have one when they found me."  He shifts a little at the mention of Kiva, "Kiva... Johnny?  The guy who seemed to have all the military lingo down?"  Hey, might be some hope there if -he- came along.  Still, it's hard to believe anyone around here is so willing to help out a nigh stranger.

Rhea apologises swiftly, "Sorry, Jenner, I'll remember that." She looks down at the lad. "Uh huh. Kiva's good." Her grin returns faintly. "Sneaky. And if nothing else, I suppose he can get Meg to fire some tents that don't have us in them." She glances towards the tent flap briefly before she returns her gaze to Jenner. "So how'd you end up in this hellhole?"

Story time!  Jenner closes his one good eye, the other already swollen shut by now.  No sense in hiding things.  The idea of Kiva coming to the rescue is kinda nice, so he'll allow himself the fantasy at least for tonight.  It's survival instinct kicking in.  He does ask, "Meg?" imagining another kid or something burning the tents.  But, story time.  "I didn't have much of a choice, they killed my parents when I was two.  Snatched me up and dropped me into their military camp to be raised as one of them.  Been a problem child from the start, but they wanted me cause I was good with a gun, real good."  He finds himself actually grinning.  "Best damn sharpshooter they've got."

Rhea's eyes blaze, saying vehemently, "The bastards." She closes her eyes briefly, calming herself, then opens them again, bringing another smile to her face. "You're that good, huh? You'll have to show me sometime when we get out." When, not if. She shifts, trying to shrug off her cloak, a little difficult with her locked shoulders, but the heat is stifling.

"Yeah, but they're professional bastards," Jenner responds, finally forcing himself to sit up. "Need to help with that?  Two work better then one with hands tied behind your back." It takes a bit of effort to get upright, but he manages it this time.  "And Rhea, if we get out of here, I'll be more then happy to show you how trigger happy I can be."  He knows these guys, after all, and knows he's in for a world of hurt when they get him back to home base.

Rhea turns slightly to show her back to Jenner while still trying to reach up with her fingers to tug at the sleeve edges. "Fine, professional bastards. But we will get out of here. Trust me. Or trust Kiva." She twists around, "And don't strain yourself too much. No point in hurting yourself more, hey."

Jenner chuckles, puffing bloodied red hair out of his face as he moves around.  "They're no where near done with me, I've had worse beatings."  He has too, but let's not go there.   He fumbles a little, having to look over his shoulder with the one good while to see what he's doing, hopefully helping Rhea out of the cloak without too much trouble, "You know... we might be able to get these things untied... with enough time."

The heavy black cloak finally slips free to bunch up around her wrists. Oh well. Better there than suffocating her. She sucks in a few deep breaths, a little more comfortable. "Thankee." She smiles as she twists her head around again. "You think?" She tugs experimentally, flicking her fingers free of the cloak. "We could try now, I guess...sit still." She gropes blindly, searching for your hands.

Jenner tries to help, though the damn ropes are cutting fairly deeply into his skin, making movement difficult at best.  "Knots are under... there... I think you've got it.  Dunno how well this'll work..." And if they find out, well, don't think about it, kiddo.  The knots are complicated, and tight, but not impossible.

Rhea shifts once to get into a little more comfortable position before her fingers start work on the knot, feeling out the ropes with nimble, but slowly stiffening fingers. Her brow knits in concentration while she comments, "Well, we'll be able to get comfortable for a bit, at least, maybe clean you up some." She pulls experimentally at one of the coils, fingertips searching for some gap where she can tug the knot free.

"Clean me up? Nah, they'll just rough me up again, the worse off I look the better," this is Red Lion logic at its best.  "They just want to make sure I know I've been a bad puppy, they don't want me crippled or dead."  After all, what good would it do them if their sharpshooter can't shoot?  He tries to hold still, despite his arms and fingers stiffening. Well, his fingers feel -numb- from the cut off blood flow.  "'Sides, I don't want them roughing you up for helping me."

Rhea says wryly, "Neither do I, come to think of it, but I can probably handle it." Fingers working busily, a small smile as it slips a fraction. "On the bright side, if we get these knots undone, we could run faster when Kiva comes along...Or that charming commander of yours." She pauses for a moment, clenching and stretching her fingers with a sigh. "But it -might- be safer leaving them done up."

Jenner chuckles, "Perhaps..." However, he'd love to at least have a -little- circulation back in his hands.  The idiots didn't think that his fingers falling off would be, you know, detrimental to him being able to shoot.  Feh.  "Well, at least you're sure your friends will come for you."  He's never really had friends, so the concept seems kinda alien to him.

About this time, however, the tent flap comes up, one of the soldiers peering in.  "So, how're you t-- hey...!  Commander!"  The flap closes again and Jenner whirls around away from you.  He curses, fully expecting trouble.  From the -other- side suddenly, a hand reaches through the other tent flap and grasps the collar of Jenner's duster, dragging him bodily out.  A cold, calm voice says, "Miss, I suggest you just stay put in there.  We'll check on you later."