Aisha Innez
Location: An alleyway?
Feeling: Diplomatic, protective, fearful, just a tad bit annoyed.
Tagged: Riki (Bug), Jackson, Grayson (Mazu), Kiren (Aria), Jasper, Kiba -Actually just everyone at this point LMAO we're having a party
The other's reaction answered her question. This was definitely out of the ordinary. With quick, whispered orders, they moved quickly, Bug flying out their hat, possibly to alert the others without having to move away from her. It was quick thinking, and Aisha couldn't help the moment of silent appreciation for having a companion who could fly. It sure did seem convenient, both as a messenger and a higher vantage point.
Crouching down behind a corner, Aisha watched as they left the confines of her power, unsure if she should tell them that they weren't going to be in her range. But then again, they probably knew that. As such, Aisha opted to just be quiet, slowly tweaking it as they moved so her control lessened before they actually stepped out so the environment's noises would feel like they slowly returned instead of like if someone suddenly whipped out a loudspeaker. Still, she couldn't help the sigh of relief when she finally let her powers dissipate, not needing it for the moment. Usually she was used enough to her power that having it covering her 24/7 was almost muscle memory and didn't consume a lot of her energy, but after all that happened today, her reserves were pretty low, and it would be good to catch a break where she could, especially since it seemed the danger wasn't especially over yet.
They moved in a wide berth that definitely spoke of experience and lethality, and Aisha couldn't help a small smile on her features, even as she kept an eye out for zombies. Even if they were scared of snakes, their movements were quite snake-like in themselves.
As Aisha watched, her hand reflexively went into her bag, clutching a loose sack of rocks. She had a few of them, and they were particularly useful when she had to distract zombies and have them go somewhere else, especially with her power making sure there was no sound from them when she threw them, and only sounded when they hit the ground. It wouldn't be quite as effective with humans, but the other was skilled and sneaky enough that Aisha was quite sure that a momentary distraction would be enough for them to cut their losses and run if things got bad.
If it got really terrible too, perhaps she could aim for their bodies for a stun. Sure, she had a gun (that she'd never used) and venomous darts, but death felt terribly final for a confusing situation. She'd only really used her darts on aggressive animals before, and only then when they were about to maul her, and that wasn't about to change now. One of these days, she really hoped to find a stun gun or a taser. That would solve quite a lot of her problems.
She'd also made a few smoke bombs for more permanent distractions, but smoke bombs were bad when you had allies that didn't know you had it, or multiple parties. Aisha bit her lip as she she watched the situation, her hands stinging as she ran her fingers along the satchel of rocks. There were a few people- Wait.
Was that a cougar?
For a second, Aisha almost dropped the rocks and announced her own position. Swallowing, Aisha pursed her lips as Eve slid out her jacket to peer at the scene before them as well. Being a little further away from the flames, the snake could sense others better. With the ability to sense heat signatures, night had never been a deterrent for the reptile. Staring for a while, Eve locked on to four different positions, staring at each for half a second longer than she would when she was simply scanning the area. Four others, then, counting the cougar.
It didn't look wild, so maybe it was an animal companion the way Eve was hers? Aisha let out a surprised huff at that, shaking her head in slight disbelief. She thought she'd been used to what the apocalypse had thrown at her, but when she was thinking about animal companions, carnivorous predators hadn't exactly been in her assumption of 'animal'. Then again, that was just the pot calling the kettle black. She really had to control her assumptions.
As she was talking, Eve suddenly jerked back, before staring in a slightly different spot. Another person/animal? But how did they appear so suddenly? Eve would have noticed them if they came along the roads, and she wouldn't have been quite so surprised. Perhaps someone with another power, then. Eve also looked into the distance, letting a low hiss of caution. And another coming closer from further away.
But then Eve slid back out of sight, and Aisha looked at where the snake was hiding in surprise. Eve usually preferred to keep a lookout if she sensed things were bad, so this was rare. When the androgyne popped up a second later, however, Aisha realised the snake didn't want to rattle them more. She hid a small smile. Eve could try to be fearsome and unpredictable, but at the end of the day the snake was caring in her own way.
The other looked an absolute wreck, which wasn't a surprise. Looking at how exhausted they were, Aisha felt the urge to help support the other or give them a hug, but she was quite sure that wouldn't go over well with them. Still, as they spoke, gesturing vaguely at the other group, Aisha paused. Was this who they had been speaking of? If so, that would probably be why they felt safe enough to come back, but then why not just go there with her?
Perhaps they were safe, but they weren't especially affiliated to the other group? They had said that they would only take her to them, and Aisha had noticed the distancing tone before. It was very probable that the plan was to bring her to the other person, before moving off. But then, why hadn't they left now that they'd achieved their goal? Also the phrasing, 'help me talk to them'... Did they also want something out of this interaction? But what?
Well if she was a lone wolf, like she seemed to be, then definitely to be unaccosted or occasionally given help and resources without being bothered. But who was friendly? And what had they seen that was so complicated that they had to come back and ask her to navigate a conversation? Aisha turned, about to ask the other, but then paused.
They were slurring and exhausted, and looked about ready to topple on their feet. No matter what the situation was, they had delivered on their promise, and brought her to the others like she'd wanted, even keeping Aisha out of trouble as they went to scope out the scene. If they had determined it was safe, then she would just have to trust that and go with her gut when she got there. It was obvious from before that the other wasn't used to social interaction, and they looked a second away from keeling over.
Aisha would have used her power once more now that she was back in range, but now that she had to leave, it would only have lasted a second. Of course, she'd realised a few months ago that she could transmit her power through Eve, and if Eve stayed with them she would be able to shift the locus of her power, but that would definitely do the opposite of relaxing the other. Looking in the direction of the people-and the huge cougar-, she thought quickly for a moment.
Knowing that the other was touchy about the space, Aisha simply made eye contact to catch her gaze, before nodding. "Of course. Thank you." Knowing the other's attention span was limited but not wanting to touch and startle them, Aisha put things on the ground, trying to keep things short and succinct as she did. "Bag of rocks. Water. Sweets and provisions." For a second, Aisha paused, not knowing if the other would want the other item. Ah, screw it. If they didn't need it, they could just not use it. Gripping a small soft toy that was around the size of their bat, she placed it down as well. It wouldn't be the same as their companion, but holding something soft helped ground her sometimes and maybe it would do the same for them. "Toy bear."
Nodding to herself, Aisha then took a step back, giving the other a small smile but was no longer sure if they were paying attention. "Good luck."
That done, she took a deep breath, before pulling her powers round her once more the way she was used to. As she did, Eve shifted so she was still hidden, but her eyes peeked out through the top of the jacket where she had a good vantage point, as she liked. Not quite sure how to approach but knowing enough to know that she probably wouldn't get killed or punched on sight, Aisha moved closer. The androgyne might not have been the best at social interactions, but they truly had a sense of responsibility that Aisha trusted and admired. Maybe if she'd been that good under pressure she wouldn't have disappointed the others the way she did.
But then again, she wouldn't have the skills she had now.
Drawing closer, it seemed like a tense situation. There were a total of four men, with a group of three men along the back, one of them holding the one closer to her at gun point with the cougar circling and cutting said one off. A fight? Aisha frowned, now uncertain. Not only was this the exact type of tense situation she wanted to avoid, she now had more than a few questions? Did the three together know each other? With the cougar's actions it was obvious that the cougar was an animal companion, probably one belonging to the three that were grouped together, but one of them looked terribly banged up. But he was also the one holding a gun, which was definitely the most dangerous item she could see. There was a crossbow some ways away as well, which was definitely what was used to shoot the flaming arrow. Perhaps a call for help then? With how one was injured. That probably meant the three were a group-at least, they would trust each other over the stranger-, and the last was a hostile party.
But the most important question... Which group was the one that the androgyne had wanted her to meet? She knew at least one of them would be tolerant of her presence if she mentioned them, but if it was the lone one then distracting him could very well mean his death. Then, a slight movement caught her eyes.
The bat was clinging to one of the three men's chest! That had to be him!
Now decided, Aisha stepped forward, keeping herself far enough that she was an equal distance from both the hostile stranger (and the cougar) and the group of three. Dissipating her control and looking around first for walkers, Aisha hesitantly cleared her throat to catch their attention. "I recognise this is a bad time, but uh, the... um... the one with Bug, the bat, sent me." Aisha only realised too late that she hadn't managed to get the other's name after all. Darn, that would definitely have helped with her credibility. But she gestured to Bug as she spoke, hoping that would be enough. After all, if she hadn't met them then she would definitely have assumed Bug belonged to the man he clung to, right?
This seemed like a very complicated situation, there were guns, and they were in an open alleyway. Coming from a position where she knew almost nothing, Aisha racked her brain to find something to say. What exactly was she supposed to talk to them about anyway? They really should have given her a little more to work with.
Eve tightened ever so slightly once more, which probably meant there was yet someone else or another animal in the vicinity, and Aisha mentally groaned at everything getting even more complex. Before anything happened, perhaps it would be best to attempt to defuse the situation. Looking at the lone one, she nodded at him before looking at the others. "This situation looks dicey, and you're alone. On the other hand, you guys look hurt. I don't know what's going on, but a fight isn't going to benefit anyone, and we're all in the open after night has fallen."
Aisha let her words rest in the air for a moment, before she continued. If this didn't work, perhaps it would be time for a smoke bomb after all. "I'm going to take a leap of faith here and assume no one wants to die and that there's a lot that everyone wants to say to everyone else. Shall we at the very least relocate to somewhere a bit more defensible?" And maybe not point guns? Aisha felt that that wasn't too much to ask, but kept herself from vocalising the last part. She would take what she could get.