[ THE CO-ED WASHROOM ] HERE BE HORSEMEN TERRITORY pg 10!

[Ice Queen]

x_Nata_x

((Ah, okay, sorry! I fixed it^^))

Roch gently let Hel down, watching Eris silently as she reprimanded him, but not looking away. So they knew all the hunters on campus, or something? And they hadn't done anything about it?

He didn't give a jack about crossing the battlefield again. He'd do it a million times if he had to. But preventing it before he had to seemed jackin' logical to him. Sure, he probably shouldn't have lost it, but that little rebuttal, it hadn't been about him losing his temper. It had been about her pride. Her jackin pride.

His eyes were cold, but he didn't say anything.  

[Bittiface]

Commotion caught Mot's attention. He'd been standing quietly the entire time, simply taking in what was said as it came. But now his attention turned to Roch and Hel. Hel seemed to be reprimanding him for staring something with another student. Nothing new. What caught him by surprise was the hug.
Roch was hugging her? And she seemed to be hugging back. Okay, friendly hug, no big deal. It was of no concern to Mot.

However, they didn't let go.

The hug continued, they bickered, talked to others, but he hung in his arms all the while. So his suspicions were right? Did they fancy each other?
Well it was none of his concern, right? Then why was it that he felt bothered. Roch deserved a nice ghoul, and Hel deserved a nice boil. Roch was a good guy, and Hel was an amazing young lady, despite her erratic behavior.

Then again, the two of them were always erratic. Maybe they were meant for one another after all.

Mot shook off the thoughts, keeping to hi spot on the wall, waiting for more information before heading back.  

[revenant aria]

As Eris's hands ran through Aisa's feathered back, perhaps she would have felt the stiff and rigid posture the heir of Death took. All of the heirs would recognize it-- Eris did little to soften Asa's mood, although there was much in the room to ignore a forest fire with nothing more than a twig. That twig, for Aisa, had snapped. Purple heels walked sharply through the band of students, her fingernails digging deeply into the palm of her glove, spots of red soaking through. These were natural questions, she was forced to remind herself. But these spineless sort was not the heir of Death's forte-- not after they had been stuck on the island the way they had for so long.

Fighting. Every single day. Nobody knew how long. But it had been far too much time. The students spoke of these questions after a single night, where groups had died-- brought back to life, they simply wanted to disable and research? Perhaps Connie might have agreed .. or a staff member. Research was good. Assuming one came back from it. Did they?

Not unscarred .. or alive. Not without dying at least once. There wasn't always going to be Red to bring them back.

Hel, Jericho, Damian and Barth were addressed. All questions would be answered by the heirs .. But some would come later or sooner than others.

"I have one. Is there a way to destroy these weapons? The Humans.. they're nothing without them, right?"

“Is there a way yet to revert those who have been converted to weapons?”

"If we can't destroy them, maybe there is a way to disable them?"

"As of yet, we do not know the answer. Conversion is tricky .. Just as fear makes us difficult to kill, these weapons retain some of those properties. None of us heirs have been able to properly destroy a weapon. What we do know is that such a process makes them lethal to us." She took another step forward, the stiff feather between her fingers sharply snapped in half. "You want to disable them? You break the hunter's arms and legs so they can't use them."

She snapped her fingers, in effect, as she voiced the rather strong-minded comment.

"Do many of you think you're strong enough to wrench their weapons away and keep them from utilizing it? Do you think you have the time or capacity to simply disable them, risking them from coming back before they return to kill you?"

They did a great job with that. Aisa's withering though would have smashed several skulls, if it were possibly to extract the power of the mind into a physical form.

"Research? I have no problem with research .." Aisa's cool manner was deceptive, a concealed rage nearly exploding with each word that came from Barth. Arel and Hellma would not be pleased to hear that the heir of Death actually reaped death amongst their students, the deed absolutely forbidden .. yet tempting. ".. Yet, ask yourself. Would you shoot on your friends? Say, I wonder who might have been researching .. Red, perhaps?" The way she said their deceased teacher's name implied that she was of a far greater stature than the average first or second year. "Although, if she had found a way, I believe she would have told us by now. Who knows? But let me make this clear-- your soft-hearted ways will be the death of you. These victimized weapons work willingly with hunters--"

How many times had they shot on the students? How many times had the heirs been hit with a neverending bombardment of shots, from these students, that Barth implied, still halloween? Would halloween students really shoot on their own? The thought was incomprehensible-- that one would not punish such weapons for their crimes. That, these weapons deserved the honor of being brought back. Even if they had been victimized into the situation, they were enemies.

"--- Willingly. Even if you did manage to bring them back .. For reasons other than information, they must be disposed of. Can you carry that out? Or will you return them to their former positions? If so, can you accept them? Look them in the eye and laugh with them, knowing they killed you, your comrades and your teachers? Oh wait, but before that, they'll kill you by the time you get close enough to research."

She wasn't trying to scare the students .. Aisa struggled to remember the tactful etiquette of war, strategizing and negotiating. She had to negotiate. The heirs were far too biased on the subject as it was, with similar or differing opinions .. but they needed to keep themselves in check. Aisa stuggled to speak, softly, her hand raising to throw a long black tail of hair behind her.

"I speak as the heir to the Clan of Death. Nobody else. I am not against your plans precisely .. Simply, if we had the strength to carry these out, information would be our ally. But as you have witnessed, a single meeting with their side ended in tremendous death on our side. We dont have the luxury of research-- Too many die before they can even think of that point. If it were possible .. A team to do such would be useful."

Quote:

All questions will be answered, but in the interest of keeping posts short (and for each horsemen to speak their opinions/answers) only a few questions will be answered in each post from each horsemen. Do not fret, we'll get to you!

 

[x_Nata_x]

A little sigh escaped the sorrel-haired horseman's lips as Aisa bristled, feeling the anger that radiated from her kin. Her own was gone, but it was like that -- easily invoked and easily dissipated, fluctuating on a dime, on a single phrase, impossible to predict. While Roch's insult had infuriated her, the students' naivety did not. They were still idealists, young and green, not yet exposed to the war the Horsemen had been battling for centuries. It was natural for them to want to save their fallen kin, to refer to textbook solutions to problems that were nothing like what they read in their books. They would learn -- the horsemen would see to that, surely, and they would see with time. Her domain was a harsh one, and while she cared little of what changes would result in it, she knew they would come. Soon, they would be just as cynical, just as eager for blood.

Cupping both elbows loosely with her fingers, Eris listened quietly until Death was finished before speaking up, her voice smooth as silk once more. "Peace, love," she murmured, another likely-fruitless attempt to pacify Aisa. What irony it was, for that word to pass from War's lips. Still, if she noticed, she didn't make it apparent, instead letting her attention wander back to the students, considering their questions.

"The scale can tip at any point, on any single event. This war is a relatively new one -- we, as Halloween, have preyed upon humans since the beginning of time. It is only within the last few centuries that the humans have decided to fight back. While the Hunters numbers are few compared to their general population, we have suddenly found ourselves prey. Unsuspecting prey."

She paused for a moment, her expression pensive. "They have been subtle, until now. As you have witnessed, not all Halloweentown even believes they exist. The predators have the advantage -- they have been building intel for the centuries since their start. They have trained for decades, developed strategies for longer, with stealth as their advantage. We, in this very room, are possibly the only resistance. And, with no insult intended, we are young and inexperienced. They've lost their stealth advantage, but not completely. The boogeymen are only promoting ignorance."

Turning her attention to Levi, she pursed her lips a little, obviously dissatisfied by the answer she was about to give. "As for tricking them, they will likely be on guard now. Red was of an exceptional skill level, one even we do not possess. As far as we know, tricking them seems not a simple task. The weapons are intelligence assets in themselves, and will speak to their masters... they may see through our tricks, and may very well rat you out."

"It is very difficult to recognize the enemy with one look from across a crowded room. With the number of students enrolled in Amityville, it would be impossible to ensure an infiltration of a few hunters would never occur. However, should you pay attention, finding them is not. We know there are none here because we have been watching you carefully the moment you entered this room." At this, she nodded her head towards Cym, at the door. "We don't know how long they can stay here before they crumble, but at least in Amityville, their advantage is moot. If you are alert, if you are clever, they have lost it completely. Perhaps it has even been reversed -- we are not sure they are aware we know of their infiltration. If you are very clever, perhaps you could use this advantage against them."

(No worries Ice Queen <3 We just have to keep what they know limited, that's all!)  

[Blade Kuroda]

The outburst and conflict caused Shun to narrow his eyes at the people involved. By Jack, this was almost like the haunted house all over again, only with different people and a slight different reason.

"Turning on each other will only help the humans rather than our own," he hissed lowly before turning to Aisa as she began to answer the questions. The weapons themselves, seemed to not hold the key for defeating the Hunters. Well. They were and they weren't. They didn't know enough. Death had many valid points here.

War had some good insight as well. It was to be expected, considering her own domain.

"From what I've seen, these humans seem to be hardier than one might expect. If getting their weapon away isn't much of an option, then what is the best and most efficient way to kill them?" he asked. The Reaper then paused for a moment, "For that matter, just how do we go about eliminating them all? If we are to not to target their leaders?"  

[Bloodlust Dante]

It shouldn't have surprised Damien that he had to pinch the bridge of his nose due to another one of Roch's..... moments. "Roch, stop picking fights for no reason, we work together." he barked back quietly. Now he could see why the boil had such a large record.

As much fun as it was to check if levi was not a hunter is disguise, he wasn't keen on her pinch that caused him to yip out in discomfort, and immediately twap her with his tail. "What was that for?" such a cruel ghoul she was.

And then he never wished he bothered to open his mouth with the way the horseman went about saying the word, disarm. Like it was some kind of disease, the disease of softies. And his eyes decided to focus more on the floor as she continued to let them have it. and just as soon as the bereavement started, it ended with Eris taking over like some kind of Trick boogeyman/ Treat boogeyman scenario, honeyed and giving off understanding.  

[Kaiyumi]

Xiu was vaguely aware of the conflict, but she was far more focused on the questions that the other students were asking the horsemen, as well as their replies. The scythe-wielding hunter--Caelius--she knew to stay away from now. She raised a hand to rub absently at her shoulder, jaw tightening at the thought that these Halloweeners-turned-weapons were working willingly with the humans. How could that be? Surely that hadn't chosen to be turned into weapons, to be accomplices in the attacking and killing of their fellow Halloween citizens.

How could they simply destroy those who used to be just like them? Perhaps they had once been family or friends to the people in this room. The thought of such a thing happening to any of her friends--and just how close some of them had gotten during the field trip--made her hands curl into fists.

Shun's question was a good one, but it unnerved her as well. Yes, the baku had been raised in such a way where scaring humans was emphasized, but never killing.

"What would you suggest we do if we suspect--or are certain--that someone is one of these hunters in disguise?" She found herself speaking up suddenly, "Should we just...destroy this crumbling body of theirs, or...?"  

[Ice Queen]

"I've met one of them for sure," Roch said quietly, knowing Demi would hear him. "Who knows what she--or he learned from me? How the hell do I know if I didn't help them put those guys in cages, dawg? How many times have I jacked up and helped those bastards out? I'll dissipate a million times, I don't give a jack, but... seeing them in those cages..."

Bloodlust Dante

 

[Grey Dragon]

Cymbeline was grinning long before Eris gestured in her direction. From her spot in the back, unseen and constantly observing, that grin had shifted between an expression of almost mirth, and a sharp baring of teeth. How... They had not seen... They had not experienced even a fraction of what there were to hunters. And yet they made such grand plans. Like great little ant heroes they dared suggest the recovery of their kin, already twisted and bound to service in death.

At the nod from her sibling there were finally some students turning around to follow the expression. She grinned an evil grin and wiggled her fingers back in greeting. Yes, she had seen every single student enter. Was that not what she was there for, both all seeing and completely blind, sniffing out earth and clay from the mass of blood and bones... Perhaps...

It wasn't until the reaper Shun spoke up that Cymbeline laughed again, her ribs clattering. "Is that not what we are here for? To give you the greatest chance of surviving to destroy your enemies? Our enemies?" The heir of Famine crooned, her voice taking on a sing-song tone. "In truth, they squash like insects, frail carcasses ready and waiting for splitting open. If you get past their guard~"

Strolling casually along the back edge of the group, Cymbeline grinned some more at Xiu's question. "Squish them! Hehehehe. But never let them see it coming. Make them oblivious, give them no warning. NEVER." By now the ghoul was clearly more submerged in madness than the current situation, her fists clenching and unclenching, a wild expression in her eyes. And yet there was some wisdom to be taken from her words.  

[Bloodlust Dante]

"Roch." Damien whispered back. he was always so brash but even the hound knew that the guitarists heart was in the right place. "You can't change what happened in the past, but you have now armed yourself with the knowledge, focus on the fight ahead." The pat on the boil's shoulder may not have expressed much, but he would hope that Roch would get that there was no point in beating himself over it. "This infighting is only going to help them and I know you don't want to do that." the memories of the few that were still locked up in those cages still haunted himself too at nights when the moon did nothing to calm him down.

"Lets let them talk more before flipping out, alright dude?  

[Bilious]

Christof remained quiet, of course, huddled beside Barth as he glanced from question to answer and back again. Roch was upset, and rightfully so, but a crowded bathroom was not the place to swing fists.

After a long while of mulling over the horsemens' words, he finally lifted a hand to pat the Sloth on the shoulder, signing for him to translate: "You-were-not-taken-willingly. They-tried-anyway. Sometimes..." He paused his movements, looking grieved, "The... servant-cannot-do-anything-but-follow-Master. There-is-magics-for-that. No-choice-but-follow-Master. Destroy-the-master, undo-the-magics. How-do-we-know-the-process-doesn't-effect-the-brain? What-is-done-may-still-be-undone.

Most-definite-more-research-is-needed.

If-we-find-a-Human.... should-not-destroy. Should-capture-and-question. Study."  

[Toshihiko Two]

"Starved? Put in a desperate situation? Enslaved? Who's to say. I'm not proposing moral judgements. Loyalties are easy to win under the threat of death. Maybe the lot of them are traitors that need hanging, and maybe they're just a sorry lot that's been magically bound. Or maybe it's case by case."

Barth hesitated, flexing his claws.

"But it was very nearly me. It was very nearly a lot of us."

Christof signed, and Barth spoke for him, word-for-word, swallowing nervously but preceding at If you kill the master. He hesitated at the last part.

"If we find a human, we err," He did not translate what Christof thought they should do with Humans, "we'll discuss that part later."

Aisa did speak for the Clan of Death. Of course she'd propose they kill all the things. He was a similar creature. He understood prerogatives. The Horsemen had gathered them here to rip and tear and make a bit of chaos. And a lot of students would be wanting that, blood for...whatever had happened to Red. Barth was not generally opposed to Death and Despair and so on, but he generally preferred that it happened to other people.

"The information will be useful. We wouldn't necessarily need to infiltrate. We've got a start. Items. Pieces of their technology. The pendants, for example. I've had a look at their equipment. They engineered it, we can engineer it. And then...reverse-engineer it. It's what I do. Although usually it's...you know, recliners, and things to open doors from a distance. But this has all gotten a bit personal and it's a project I wouldn't mind putting some time into. What I need," Barth said, "and why I've really brought it up at all, is to get some help with the magical aspects. I can learn, but it's not really my forte."  

[Nio Love]

Bul's question made Riley's brow furrow. She didn't have an answer for him, yet.. but it was clear she wasn't about to bring Nox up to the horsemen. She had a feeling they were not the types to mix.

Still, the horsemen gave good advice. The leaders were obviously the strongest of the hunters, and students were not ready to fight them. They should exercise caution.

She, of course, would not exercise caution.

If we see Dr. H, together, we will fight. Riley finally answered to Bul, and left it at that.

Riley then fell silent, as she was far too interested in listening to what they had to say, to interrupt with idle questions and chatter. When the fight broke out in the crowd, her eyes barely flickered to Roch and Zurine, as though she had expected it to happen eventually.

And she had.

This was the necessary danger associated with telling the student body the truth - but she had been ready to take these risks, from the beginning. They had to know everything, in order to survive as a unit.

Loss of individuals was an acceptable risk.

Her eyes turned to rest on Roch, an affectionate glimmer in them. For all it's worth, Riley privately emitted to Roch - her voice was heard only by him - I agreed with you. The new students need experience in sparring, anyway. But, perhaps challenge them more amiably, and privately. Today, we listen. Tomorrow, we fight.

Ice Queen

 

[LP]

Willow's tail flickered as she watched the room eyes following one and then another. Stopping and lingering on the fighting. She knew Muka from open house, she didn't doubt him then.

She was taking in the information, so they were here? In things that smelled of dirt and crumbled... interesting. She looked on almost with a bored glance to each and every student until Barth mentioned re-engineering. There her gaze stopped looking towards Eris and the other three for a moment.

She was considering her words, something to ask. The question though, was how to ask it? "Is there a way to find out why...." There was a pause as if she was unsure she wanted to continue the question. However, she had started it so there was no backing out, "...why the weapon Red had fused to her? Why they became one?"

She had a feeling that was why red was now dead... "Shouldn't we know that before we fiddle too much with trying to revert anything made by the humans?" She didn't want Barth to end up like Red if touching fear run objects made by humans... were the cause of it. It didn't matter what it was, her eyes were lingering on Barth and Christof as she asked the last part.  

[Lucyal]

Hel released Roch once he let her down, crossing her arms as she shot him a look that said ‘I told you so’. That could have in regards to Roch’s observation that she had indeed grown, or because of some of the other words flying around. Regardless, once the punk reaper seemed calm enough, Hel didn’t feel the need to try and restrain him…for now. She may have been kind of flattered that Eris considered her right, but now was not the time.

A frown returned, tugging at her lips as her question was answered by Asia. They still didn’t know? Honestly, she liked the suggestion put forth by Barth as well. A research division…She kept on listening for now.