Cog & Gear: Flashpoint

[Kerr]

Monad awoke and sat up in the bed. He could feel a large bruise on his side which was still painful but that was his only major injury, the rest was minor cuts and smaller bruises. Monad winced due to the pain. If it weren't for all the people around he'd likely become The Mother to mend those wounds. He looked around at the other people, the patients, a number of which he recognized from being in the same train coach and at the almost identical duo. "Are we the only ones who survived?" Monad asked.

Hidden:

Do we still have our clothes or are we in hospital gowns?

[Dirty Spaceman]

Holman awoke suddenly, with a sharp intake of breath. The first thing in his conscious mind was the pain. After coming to terms with the bruises and soreness he felt, and recalling the horrific crash on the train (Not an accident, he noted, But an attack of some sort!), he instinctively moved to take stock of his surroundings and situation. Out of habit he reached for his notebook - only to find that it wasn't there. Further investigation confirmed that his gun and money were also gone.

Okay, it'll be mental notes then. He pulled himself up into a slouched position, grunting from the pain that accompanied the movement, and looked around. A plain room, no windows, one exit/entrance; eight strangers on beds identical to his, some of whom he recognized from the train. I hope these aren't the only other survivors, he thought with a shiver. And in the centre of the room, the two strange young people. Twins, by the looks of it. Our healers, or our captors, Holman thought. Or perhaps both.

Two of the other survivors spoke up to pose questions to their apparent wardens. Holman chose to wait and hear their responses before opening any inquiries of his own.

[BetaB17]

Rin & Mausier

It happened so fast, the explosion, the chaos, all of it, Rin had hardly the chance to react. With no time to spare, Mausier quickly reached for her, bracing her small frame within his own as they helplessly were tossed about. There was little he could do as his back slammed into a window, all he could do was make sure Rin was as safe as can be, no matter the cost. Then, the final blow was struck, and try as he might as the word grew dimmer, he could not hold on to her forever. In last desperate hope, he reached out for her but no avail 'Rin!!'
------------------------------------------------
The wreckage and smoke was all she could see, sudden fear stricken her as she feverishly searched for her beloved guardian. 'Mausier..' Tears wicked her eyes as she presumed the worst, only for the nightmare to worsen. The scene with the strangers only striked more fear in her eyes, a small whimper as she tried to stay strong. 'Mausier..' Her voice could not work, and her legs dared not move. As the blade was drawn, she flinched, teared trailing down her face while she stared death in the face. 'Save me..' Everything else was just a blur, her mind no longer capable of endurance. 'Save me Mausier..'
------------------------------------------
He awoke earlier than most. The very instance any semblance of consciousness stirred, Mausier shot strait up with a panicked look. It hurt to move, but none of that mattered; it didn't even concern him that his gun was missing, all he needed to know was if Rin was safe. He frantically looked around, searching for Rin, a true concern look in his eyes, but it all seemed to subside when he spotted her, safe and asleep.

His body screamed at him as he desperately moved, but he would not heed. Lightly he settled by her bed, kneeling before it as a lone hand brushed the side of her face. Content of her well being, he took his seat near the head of the bed, slowly allowing her to nuzzle up to his lap as if driven by instinct. Where as before she looked as if she was stricken with a nightmare, his mere precense seemed to only ail her restless dreams. He just sat there, guarding her as she slept, not saying a word to the duo or any other

As time passed, Rin slowly stirred awake. As if just the same, she shot up with a panic in a desperate attempt to look for her guardian. The very instance she spotted him, beside her, a brief smile hidden behind that collar, nothing could stop what followed. Her eyes slowly began to water, tears just pouring down her face as she foughy back the inevitable cry. As it came, she lounged to Mausier, embracing him to no end, her small hands holding tight to his coat with all their might. Her loud cry was no longer restrained, her tears soaked deep into her guardian's chest, as he comforted her with a soft hand upon her head. Muffled by her cry and his chest, Mausier could clearly hear one thing "Nev'r leave me.. please.. just stay.. a lil longer.."

[Rook]

The Strange Room

The twins turned around as Alistair spoke, identical grins appearing on their faces as they approached the beds, leaving the longswords behind. The male twin answered quickly, "Yes, we are!"

"No we are not." the female twin said in an equally quick tone.

"But we were?"

" 'We' never were. I was."

"But I helped!"

"Poorly."

"But I still did."

"Yes, I suppose you did at that. So to answer the original question, yes, we did patch you lot up." she crossed her arms and mulled over Monad's questions, "Truth be told, I don't know."

"Oooh. That's a new one." remarked the male twin, drawing out a jug of icy water from beneath one of the beds and handing it in a cup to Roger.

"Shut it!"

"All right. Perhaps Uncle has learned something by now."

"Ah, Uncle!" she slapped a hand to her forehead, "We must let him now that they have come around."

"Right, he's likely on the edge of his seat. Positively dying to make your collective acquaintance, you see."

"If you have no more need of us..." the female twin said slowly, backing slowly towards the door.

[Unionhack]

The Pyrate sat a bit bewildered by the twins and their odd manner of speaking. "Right... no, I have nothing more for you. Can't say the same for the rest of the lot, but I'm fine. I'm curious to meet this... 'uncle' of yours. It seems I owe him; and the two of you; my thanks, and a firm handshake at the very least."

With a pained groan, Alistair swung to the side of his bed and got a better look of the room, stopping when he laid eyes on the maskless Cornelia. Oh, good, she made it.

Oblivious to the front she was putting up by pretending to be asleep, he spoke to her. "Hey, Cornelia, you all in one piece over there?"

[Baloth-Kul]

With a sigh containing both relief and irritation, Cornelia tucked her left arm under the back of her head. She lazily held up her right hand, connecting her thumb and forefinger, indicating that she was okay, before tucking that arm under her head as well.

"Where...oof...are our effects?" she asked of the twins, while stifling further groaning.

[The-Shadow-One]

Morgan narrowed his eyes as soon as the train halted, and after he recovered from his spontaneous relationship with the back of the chair in front of him. His hand curled around his derringer, right before the energy that flipped the train blasted into it. Lights out for the albino happened very soon after.

Arousing to the sound of voices he jerked up, hand searching futilely for his pistol as he slowly started to realise. "Well this is embarrassing." He mumbled quietly to himself. Looking around as he calmed himself down, soft breaths. Winces as he felt his pain, mostly in his elbows and lower back, must've knocked them hard against something. He let out another breath, closing his eyes. Trying to feel out their surroundings, listening right now.

[Aarah]

Roger sat up on his bed as the twins rose from their chairs. He thought they were an odd looking pair, and he wiped his eyes as they approached.

He screwed up his face in confusion as they spoke. Was it his head injury, or were they both talking nonsense?
The cup of water offered to him got a look of inspection and then he took it and held it in his hand.

Uncle? Who is their Uncle? And why are there strange twin children in our recovery room?

Now feeling a bit more compos mentis, Roger looked down at his body and gasped lightly.
Look at the state of my suit! I look a fright!
In an unsettled hurry, he put the cup on the end of the bed, then smoothed down his waistcoat and patted his trousers. "Ouch!" He cried, as one of his leg pats hit a bruise.
His hair got a smoothing down next, his face wincing as it aggravated his headache. He dipped his finger in the cup of water and wet his hair slightly with the drops, ensuring that there were no flyway strands.

Roger sighed when he felt himself feel a bit more presentable once again. He had already realised that his coinpurse, cane and stiletto were gone, and the smooth down of his waistcoat had revealed the absence of his pocket watch too. Assumedly, his other belongings in his jacket, which was beside his bed, had been taken too. Although slightly miffed at them not being present, he was sure that it was merely a common procedure at a medical facility.

[Kerr]

I should have just stayed in bed. Unless, how big was the explosion? How many were there? Monad just remembered seeing a bright purple flash out the window the instant before the train was derailed, then he woke up in the bed. He couldn't be sure how big the destruction was but with the purple explosion he thought of the purple explosion and meteorites with devastated the Dwarves a century ago. Had that happened again? Was the entire city in ruin?

Monad was sure he'd find out the answer soon enough, once this uncle of theirs arrived. He sat back in the bed, making sure not to strain anything. He could hear the child who had been sitting in front of him crying. He felt sorry for her, she'd no doubt been traumatized by the event but at least she was alive, that was something. There were probably other children on the train for which the same couldn't be said.

Hidden:

I wonder if Roger will be able to recognize the hijackers, they are wearing mostly the same clothes and sound the same after all. Perception check maybe?

[Rook]

The Strange Room

"That's a good question." answered the male twin, "Amelia, where are their things?"

"I don't know, Antoine." replied the female, "I'm terribly sorry, but we're not sure. You didn't have anything but the clothes on your backs when we first saw you."

"We'll have to ask Uncle." Antoine resolved, "When you're ready to speak with him, just take a left, a right, another left, go up the stairs, and his office will be right in front of you."

The twins picked up their swords and exited the room, though they seemed to have forgotten the baseball.

[Aarah]

Roger had wanted to ask the twins where they all were, but didn't get a chance before they abruptly left.

"Well, this is all very peculiar." He exclaimed aloud, as he moved his legs over the right side of the bed and stood up.
His muscles ached quite a bit, but at least his injuries seemed minor and he was able to stand.

Having already spotted Victoria when he first awoke, Roger looked around at the others that were in the strange room.
He didn't see Rupert Lowe: the chatty portly man from the train, but it wasn't long before he spotted someone that seemed familiar.
A man with long black hair, black trousers and boots; he was without his mask but Roger could tell that it was the male criminal from the train.
His eyes darted to the person near him - a woman, and, yes, her unmistakable white doctor's coat.

The clock shop owner's eyes widened and his heart became angered by the very sight of them.

"You! You two there!" He quickly glanced around at everyone. "That woman and that man are thieves!" His finger pointed sharply at Alistair and Cornelia.
"They were robbing the first class carriage! Taking our money for their own greedy pockets!"
He stayed beside his bed, but glared at the other survivors, awaiting their shocked and outraged responses.

[Baloth-Kul]

Cornelia first exchanged a look with Alistair, then looked at Roger with disinterest. "If we two are thieves, then you are as well, sir" Her eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Are you the one who attempted to read our minds? You're the only one here I recognize from that carriage, and while there were many others, the only one yet living is you. What is your claim on this?"

Hidden:

Sounded meta when I was typing it up, but it isn't, really. She doesn't want people mucking about in her head, and it would make sense for one of the very few survivors who was in that carriage to possess magical capabilities. She can't be certain it's him, but she has her suspicions nevertheless.

[Unionhack]

"And what an interesting turn of phrase there; 'greedy pockets'. I assure you that everyone in that coach could have fed the lower class coaches twice over. Why do you think we were there in the first place?" Alistair protested with a crossing of his arms.

"Some of us had the deck stacked against us since day one. So we play the ace up our sleeve so we can eat. I guarantee you would be able to afford it."

[BetaB17]

Rin & Mausier

After a little while, the sobs started to settle down. Freshly wiped eyes and a new resolve, Rin resituated herself near the edge of the bed, her back to Mausier's like two sides of the same coin.

Mausier only deafly paid attention to those around him. The twins didn't really draw his concern, and neither did word of their uncle. He just sat there, cracking the aches in his neck and hands.

Rin on the otherhand took this time to inspect the others, and occasionally linger on a few. When the twins left, she could not help but remark "Wha'ts with 'em lot?" Her pupils drifted to the high corner of her eye, awaiting Mausier's reply before reverting straight ahead. She gripped the ends of her knees with her hands, bracing herself as she leaned forward "I kno', but.."

Her comment was cut short with a loud gasp, she pointed a finger in surprise "Oye! It's tha' one chap!" She was utterly flabbergasted at Monads well being "How in te bloody hell did ya of all folks make it out alive?! I knew you wer' a odd one." She was almost accusing in her sway of voice, but of course, had nothing to back it up.

However, the ruckus and accusations made by the others seemed to fly over her head, spin around the globe, and knock her in the back of the noggin. She yelled at them in a rather annoyed tone "Ayh! Will y'u lot pipe it down!! Nobody gives a damn 'bout no finger pointin, blame makin hooligans! Shut it!!" She seemed to have blown off the top of her kettle, much unlike Mausier's will still was cold "Wat's more important here, iz this chap here is really [&@%!]' meh off!!" She shot another flared point at Monad in complete hypocrisy, again, for no obvious reason

[The SheoDovah]

Victoria Vario

"And we just survived a terrorist attack. Unless their grand plan for thievery involved killing everyone and barely escaping with their lives via dumb luck, it doesn't matter if they are thieves or not." Victoria told the man that was making a bit of a fuss. "Or do you intend to force justice upon them out of a sense of honour despite the fact that our day has been disrupted." She looked at the man. "But I did not survive a train crash caused by magic just to get roped into an argument about the rights and wrongs thievery so would you kindly shut up before you give me a headache." She knew magic when she saw it and she knew that the purple light was of a magical origin. It was rather best she didn't mention that she was a mage to avoid a.... misunderstanding involving her death.

[BetaB17]

Rin

"Oye!! Didn' I say shut it!" She mouthed off to Victoria with a flare, completely ignoring the entirety of Victoria's statement, just the fact that she was talking was all she needed

[Aarah]

Roger looked a mixture of puzzled and offended when Cornelia accused him of being a thief too.
His nose turned up in the air at the two robbers' insults.

"If I could read minds, I would not bother using my skill to read either of yours! I wouldn't want to tarnish my brain, or catch some kind of telepathic disease!" He retorted.

"And don't try to tell me that the explosives you planted, and your weapons, we're all for a good cause. It was clearly your 'firecrackers' that caused the destruction of our train!"

When others in the room began speaking up, the gentleman expected back up against the criminals, but his expectations were sorely unmet.
Roger's face looked startled at Rin's outburst.
"Goodness! What a rude child!" He looked a Mausier beside her. "I suggest you teach your daughter better language, Sir."

After Victoria spoke, Roger came to realise that he wasn't going to get much assistance from anyone there.
If this room was full of the better class, I know they would have something to say about these scoundrels!
He huffed and put on his grey suit jacket. He knew when to pipe down, but he was certainly not going to forget the issue.

[Kerr]

"You don't know the half of it." said Monad in response to the kid calling him 'odd.' Her comment made him think of home, the other children in Yaga always thought he was odd too. It seemed like Monad was going to chuckle but instead winced slightly in pain due to the bruises on his side. The sooner I can change, the better. He held his side and looked over at the girl. "What did I do anyway? Look at you and almost die in a train crash?"

[BetaB17]

Rin & Mausier

"Why do I hav' te say?" Rin replied to Monad. She was a bit bashful to it, a hint to her childlike attitude "I just kno' when somethin aint right when I see..."

"What!!!?" She said with a roar, the very hair on her head started to ruffle as the unthinkable was done. She jumped off her seat with a rather rude noise, and marched herself over to Roran "How very dare ye, I say! How very dare ye!" She stood before Roger with her hands on her hips, the very notion of her self assumed maturity made clear.

As soon as she could, she went to scorn the man for what he said "I ain't no daughter to nobody, 'an I'd talk however damn I want! Ye'r old fart!" Without a second wasted, she lunged at him, ready to give Roger a good slap across a face like a good gentleman deserves. However she stopped mid strike, and gave a nervous chuckle. Looming over Roger was Mausier, standing at his back, staring down at the two with a never ending glare. Rin, herself, knew she was in some troube worthy of a stirn talk, but Roger was no more in the clear either

[The SheoDovah]

Victoria Vario

"Did you, child? I did not hear you over the bickerings of him and the accused." Victoria commented whilst getting out of the bed. "But i think it would be a good idea to introduce each other and see this uncle of our guardians or gaolers." She suggested whilst rubbing her forehead. "Or if you wish to do so, you can all bicker amongst yourselves until you gray your hair and have your lives wither away as age consumes you." Provided, no-one decided to start an argument, she would wait to see if introductions would happen.

[Dirty Spaceman]

This is completely ridiculous, Holman thought. He had half a mind to get up and go for the door, both furthering his investigation into their strange captors and escaping this inane bickering, but he still groaned in pain when he tried to swing his legs over the side of the bed. He'd have to give it another minute at least. The only thing worth retaining from the argument among his fellow survivors was the fact that the one man and woman were thieves - likely the masked duo he'd glimpsed entering the second coach, he reasoned. If I can keep an eye on them, I might be able to turn them in for a reward once we get out of here, he thought. Or at least sell a tip to the Watch. Serving the law always felt a lot better when it came with a sizable chunk of money in return.

Meanwhile, he decided that he might as well get social, even if these people were strangers that he hoped he'd never have to see again after today. "Well, I'm Holman Finley," he said following Victoria's prompt. He neglected to share his occupation at the present moment. "How do you do."

[Aarah]

When Rin marched over and gave him a verbal display of her anger, Roger looked down at the girl with an expression similar to one which would occur when a bad smell was in the air.

Old fart? This child is unruly! Little did he know just how unruly she was; her lunge catching him by surprise.
An alarmed noise was produced from Roger as she attacked; the spontaneity of it giving him no time to defend, only enough to make him recoil backwards.
The sudden movement sent a sharp pain through his head, making him grimace, but luckily, Rin stopped short of her planned strike.

Roger followed her gaze and looked behind him. He rubbed his forehead, slowly straightened himself up and faced Mausier.
He looked at the man's face, then moved his gaze from his eyes, down to his waist and back up again.
"Oh. Hello." He greeted coyly.

[Baloth-Kul]

"I..." Cornelia began, "...am leaving." She heaved herself out of the bed and onto her feet, and followed the the instructions Antoine gave. Left, right, left, up the stairs, and straight ahead. On the way, her eyes scanned back and forth, wary of any tricks, and looking for any exits should a hasty getaway be required.

[BetaB17]

Rin & Mausier

Rin could not help but give Roger a bit more space, feeling guilty of how imposing Mausier had to be because of her. She looked down at her feet, a look of shame. For all that it seemed, it was as if she wa being scolded by her guardian. In an act of urgency, she spoke out defensively "But.. but it's not my fault? Ye gotta understand, he started it!" Her plea brought no avail, as a quick look from Mausier shot her down

As if over exaggerating the cold scold, Rin clinged her chest and pretended that she was pierced by the very notion of that gaze. She fell back, faking a faint move just long enough for her turn to pass. She knew what would follow

True to his means, Mausier may be mute but he is far from blind, Rin was not purely at fault. In a singular gesture, he clasped a gloved hand upon Roger's shoulder; firm, intimidating, but none so to inflict pain, and a look that said it all 'Don't mess with Rin'. He released Roger with two soft pats on the same shoulder, a sign that all things should be good.

With his stirn 'talk' out of the way, he walked over by Rin, still pretending to have fainted, still clenching her chest like a bullet wound. He grabbed her by the back of her collar and hoisted her up with ease, letting her hang at the end of his grip, still 'unconscious'. Her ears twitched, as if Mausier had said something, but she still would not wake. Then, with little warning, he began to shake her like a rag doll, forcing her to react with a jolt of flailing limbs

"I'mma awake! I'mma awake! Now stop! I heard ye thee first bloody time!" As promised, he stopped, leaving behind a dangling Rin with her arms crossed and her face in a pout, she could hardly look Roger in the face "I'm sorry k'.. tha'ts all ya gettin.. an' don't be callin me kid neither" Rin finished with a irritated stomp, despite the very lack of earth beeath her shoes. This was the closest to any apology Roger would get from, at least, so long as he admits to his own fault.

[The-Shadow-One]

Morgan blinked. "Well.. these antics are funny." He murmured, putting foot to the floor as he lifted himself up, wincing and letting out little quick breaths as he stretched every sore part he had. "However after what just happened they seem rather out of place. I am Morgan Sumiden. " He offered, well the others names he jotted down in his mind, people to look up to find out about. An eye focused on the two accused of thievery, wondering if he heard or seen some paper warning about them. A loud sigh caused him to dismiss this train of thought. He turned. "I do hope they didn't steal my pocket watch that has sentimental value to me." He grumbled softly, perhaps a lie. "I wonder what time it is.. We could have been out for a while.."