Post Tenebras Veritas (Planes/Cars RP)

[Dusty Crophopper]

(( Titanic-X, I hate to repeat myself, but... it's kind of happening again. First off, no way they could know that rhyme. It's not from Spray's world, and it's not possible he'd know it here either. Also try to avoid... RPing with yourself, if that makes sense. Otherwise it just kind of becomes fanfic writing, not RPing. There's PLENTY of others to interact with at present, but I'm glad at least you did drive up to Miles. ))

Dusty - Tags: Shadow

"Ah... yeah." Dusty said here, listening to her story. Jeez... she's run into a snow drift after fleeing her... former life? "So... he was personally responsible for the death of one of the agents that saved your life? Well... you know it's funny... I followed the World Grand Prix pretty closely, and Sir Axlerod seemed like such a decent sort... I mean... he was generous... philanthropic... I mean... I dunno... just hard to believe he'd kill cars." Dusty said, shrugging his ailerons here.

"Still... I'm not sure that black plane... Spray... has all the answers. Axlerod apparently showed up under your agency's protection so... had to be a reason, right? I mean come on... it would make zero sense to bring him here to protect him! I mean he was probably in a maximum security prison... I really don't think bringing him here would offer him any protection. I'm positive there's another reason he's here." Dusty pointed out to her. "Logically speaking at least. But uh... I'm... I'm sorry he did that... I can understand why you hate him... I really don't... feel comfortable having him here either but... I dunno I guess I... I guess I just have a hard time hating anyone outright... but yeah if that had happened to me... yeah I'd... feel the same way. I'm sorry..." he apologized again softly, rolling beside her now and gently placing his wing on top of her after hesitating a moment, and hoping she wouldn't pull out some crazy move on him for touching her. She felt... good to the touch... comforting even for some odd reason.

"But... you'd really give up this mission because of your personal animosity towards him? Can't you just... you know... put it aside and focus on the job?" He asked her. "I know it might be hard but... if you refused... what would happen to you?" he asked her softly, trying to reassure her.

Oskar - Tags: Shinn, Rush

Oskar winced a little here, feeling that some of Shinn's comments might have been... insensitive, but the MiG wasn't privy to their little conversation from earlier so... he wouldn't possibly know what Rush had been through. He looked over at the Corsair, and shook his front. "I never implied you wouldn't be willing to sacrifice yourself... absolutely not. I don't think you're afraid... I just think... that..." He trailed off here as Rush confessed to them he couldn't kill now if it saved his life.

"But why?" the small German plane asked. "What has scarred you so much that... if your life was on the line... you could not take another?" Oskar was not accusatory, but curious at this... and encouraging in his tones, as he wanted it to make it clear he was here to help... not to judge.

Blade - Tags: Otter

"Yeah... yeah I guess that's true..." Blade said here, trailing off as he thought about it. It was just... random. Freak crosswind had killed him... though it shouldn't have. He was such a good flyer... much better than Blade had ever been... yet he'd died... and Blade had survived. It just... it wasn't... right.

He didn't know much about Dusty's crash, as he hadn't followed his racing back then, and hadn't asked later on either. Still... it seemed these kinds of things just... happened. But he'd told himself over and over for years that it was because of his love for Nick... but he needed to stop lying to himself. Otter was right... it wouldn't have mattered what he'd done... Nick would've died regardless in that particular scenario. "I just... I can't believe I told you all that. I don't regret my life now but... crap... what have I turned myself into?" he wondered aloud. "The cold, professional firefighter who saves lives but... never opens up about himself and wears a mask? I used to be shy... reserved... the quiet kid in school. Then when I met Nick... I was more outgoing... liked to have fun more... wasn't afraid of things. Then he died and I just... buried myself in my second career. Left my old self behind. Looking back... it's like I'm looking at myself now... and not liking what I'm seeing. I DON'T like the fact that I seem intimidating... or unapproachable, particularly to the new trainees I have. I just... I dunno... I'm all business and no... real... fun I guess."

He tried to think of what to say or do from here, and looked up at the sky, the light from the twin moons bathing the town and its denizens in very different light than Blade was used to. It was... eerie... like Halloween... but... stranger. What would happen when their moon had one of its rare red cycles? Would the sky just be... red? "I'm just gonna say it..." Blade said, eyes still on the new moon. "These new developments... they got me terrified. I feel like I'm just a small helicopter in a sea of... things that are so much bigger than I am. I almost feel like... what if I don't have much time left? What if none of us do? I want desperately to have Nick by my side... but that's not possible. I just have to..." he didn't finish that sentence, and finally lowered his gaze back to the table and Otter. He waited... just wanting to let Otter talk instead, as he felt a mix of relief he'd finally come out to someone about himself, and unease over the fact he'd lowered his defenses and his walls. He didn't think Otter would take this information and use it maliciously though... Blade needed to get over that mentality... it was holding him back in life.

And Nick? Should he carry a torch for him his whole life... or move on if he met the right person? He had quashed any thoughts of even looking in another guy's direction ever since Nick's death. Sure, it was impossible to fully suppress and eradicate the occasional thought of desire and want, as it was simple nature, but Blade had never let it outwardly appear as if he were ever interested in anyone. Blade briefly thought about all those times he'd told himself no... never again, and if they were simply wasted opportunities in his life rather than well guarded secrets.

Looking up to the sky again, Blade pictured Nick watching him, but had no idea if that were true or not. Fanciful dreams... that's all that was. Still... knowing Nick, who had such a passion for life and appreciating everything about it... Blade knew deep in his heart that Nick wouldn't want him to be this way... wouldn't want him to never take another opportunity ever again if presented to him. "What the h*** have I been doing with myself?" he muttered without thinking.

Miles - Tags: Doc, Spray

"Yes... well... I've always been this way you see... mocked and scorned for it... because you know... we're all such loving... accepting cars growing up." Miles told Doc with regretful sarcasm. "An-anyway... I'm sure my minders have some meds or something... but... you asked how I met Zundapp and where he is now. The latter one is easy: incarceration I'm fairly certain. He didn't escape after all. As for the former... it was one of those things... group get togethers whatever you want to call them. He was there... and by that point, I was already... well into my planning stages. He took me aside... offered me his services... it was just casual chat at first... but it turned darker... he said he'd handle the aspects I wouldn't want to handle. He'd take care of all the problems... sweep them all away... and make sure it ran smoothly. All I had to do was create my competition and host it. That's all. No oil on my wheels, no deaths on my conscience... and he refused to tell me everything... because he said that way I'd sleep better at night, if I didn't know what he was doing behind the scenes. I fooled myself into thinking it was all right... if I didn't know, it couldn't hurt me. Still... I only originated the idea during my attempted circumnavigation of the globe." he explained.

"I was... delirious... weak from hunger and thirst... my tank drying up... and while I was resting in the jungle, feverish and hallucinating it came to me... the thought that I could do something... to make lemons relevant... to make them important again... yes..." He huffed, seeming to need to catch his breath here. "Anyway..."

He paused as he looked over at Spray here. "Now's really not the best time but... what do you want to ask?" he winced again as pain lanced through his side, his injuries refusing to let him feel any form of good right now.

[Titanic X 21]

Spray - Miles, Doc

"Just something about the attackers," he said. "And... Only if you want to. I... Also would like to kind of apologize for the way I was acting earlier."

Seeing the way the Ranger behaved brought something out in him and it reminded him of his first time here. Helpless, weak and... Scared. He felt kind of ashamed for it and he felt... Sorry for his behavior.

He really wanted to ignore the guy too, but... for some reason he just couldn't.

((Sorry, Cal. It's kind of hard but I'm trying.))

Radar - Dusty, Shadow

The large AWACS shifted a bit before he made his way over to where Shadow and Dusty were. The way the two were talking reminded him of his first time seeing Spray and his wife act around one another and it brought a smile to his face as he stopped and blocked out the light of the red moon with one of his massive wings over them. It wasn't too bad, but enough to also grant them a bit of privacy.

He had other things to focus on anyway, such as how the h*** a battle broke out here.

Horah - Otter, Blade

The big Raptor made his way over to where Otter and Blade were, surprised at the helicopter's mood. He seemed to be... a bit... upset about something.

"Um..." He opened his mouth to speak, but he closed it as soon as he saw Otter's scarred eyes.

He had seen some nasty things before, but not like that. His own injury from his childhood throbbed a bit, a dull ache really as he heard Blade speak. He kept quiet though.

He looked at Otter and briefly wondered if this guy was wiser than he seemed, judging from his speaking.

((Again, sorry Cal.))

[ShadowWolfCelica]

Shadow Tags: Dusty, Radar

Shadow frowned at the small plane ad he mentioned Miles didn't seem that bad during the races. "We'll of course he would act like that in the public eye. He wouldn't willingly show he was a criminal to everyone would he? Besides..... no he wasn't. ... PERSONALLY responsible for killing Agent Turbo.... BUT he was the original brains behind what happened I will always blame him. As well as all the lemons involved..... they WILL be dealt with." She said here, though looked down, even lowering herself a little. She watched as he moved beside her, hesitated, before placing a wing on her. She had to admit, It was nice for the comfort. Something she didn't get often. She looked up again at him briefly, welcoming the affection, leaning toward him a little.

She pursed her lips as he said about putting it aside and getting on with the mission. She glanced once again to her mission partner in her side mirror, sighing a little. "I..... suppose I'll have to" She said here, though sounded more defeated. It was here, a shadow fell across them, and the Celica shot her gaze up, seeing a large wing blocking the light from the moons. She sunk a little on the spot, again, not used to such huge planes around her, though this one seemed ok. "Thanks.." She said up to him, giving him the briefest of smiles.

[ZAFTPrime]

Doc - Tags: Miles, Spray

Doc frowned a bit. "Shouldn't have the fact that he didn't tell you what he was up to tipped you off to how bad an idea that was?" He asked before he looked back around himself and sighed. "No one probably expected his plans. Personally, I think he was using you to get what he wanted." Doc then narrowed his eyes a bit before he looked back up. "If you had known about his real plans, would you have allowed him into your life? Would you have agreed to his help?"

Looking back at Spray, the midnight blue racecar frowned a bit again. Why was that plane here? And who was he? He had asked about knowing who Sheriff was, so the Hornet wasn't sure if he could trust him. Speaking of said cruiser, Doc looked back at where the Mercury was lurking. Why was he here? Unsure of what to do, Doc just waited to see what his friend was up to...

Shinn - Tags: Oskar, Skipper, Rush

Shinn frowned a bit at what he was hearing. He sighed. "I'm sorry my comments came off as rude, but I was just trying to help." He said before he heard Oskar's questions. He decided to remain silent to find out more. Sometimes silence was the best way to learn things...

[adelphi prime.]

{Heh... I am such a slow RPer... sorry everyone for having to wait for my slow poke nature.}

Otter - Tags: Blade, Horah

Otter sat back and listened patiently, his expression only revealing contemplation. "You just have to take it one step at a time, friend," he told Blade flat out, "We're all small specks across the ocean, but think about it, this whole earth is made up of billions of billions of tiny specks of... stuff... How? I can't even understand. But somehow, someway, these small specks invisible to the eye make up everything, including me and you. If they were not joined, they would be useless, but it's together they make a stronghold. Like bricks in a building or links of a chain. I think that if we hold on together as one through this we'll make it through." His voice almost took on a strict tone, one that reflected just a tad of who he was before going blind, "It's pointless to fret about what tomorrow holds for us, because then we'd be wasting our time -whether it's a few minutes or years, what time we have is important." He paused for a moment, "You say you look at who you are and you hate it, but that can change. Nobody's gonna be perfect, and nobody should try to be. We can't change what happened to us in the past, but we can change who we are now, and whether or not we allow ourselves to indulge in such folly as wishing to have the past back... I've done it, you've done it... I think everyone will think selfish thoughts of what could have been... but that's not what matters. So what are you going to do?"

He hadn't noticed the F-22(?) come up to the group, only hearing the single 'um' and not taking any note of it. He heard the soft pur of a third engine near him, but then again, it could be any number of planes nearby, perhaps just passing through.

Rush - Tags: Shinn, Oskar

Rush just felt horrible, and wanted to creep back to his hangar like a beaten dog to its kennel. Perhaps it was his shame of running earlier, or the events of the day, including the bright red, second moon. Either way, he couldn't help but to feel that there was no place for him here. "No," he responded to Shinn, "no, that was my mistake, not yours." Then he glanced at Oskar. "I don't believe I could," he said, shaking his head, "if it were to protect another, perhaps... but to kill for my own life? Never."

[Dusty Crophopper]

((Eh it's fine, I was kind of slow this week myself. And you ninjad me Kanzu! XD Also my next tour was canceled due to riots in Baltimore, BUT, I got another, longer one, and I have to leave tomorrow for it! So posting will once again slow down, sorry guys. I'm just glad I have all this work to do! I get to fly to my destination too, so can't wait! ))

Dusty - Tags: Shadow, Radar

"Yeah well... I just have this feeling that... I dunno. There are criminals who don't hide their nature, and act outright evil all the time. Then there are ones like him... they mask their nature but only because they had a regular life BEFORE they changed... he's one of those cars. His natural state was present when he was hiding his newer mentality and personality. So... he wasn't always like that." Dusty pointed out to her here. "I just... not that it makes what he did any better but... I dunno... starting a cycle of vengeance... especially against a car who didn't start out bad... is it going to make you any better than him in the end?" he asked her softly.

"You give in to the same emotions he gave into... it just spawns more hatred... more retaliation. Showing him more... the kind of compassion he used to show others... it'd make you the better car... and might even help him out as well. I just... I dunno... I know you want nothing to do with him and want to make him pay for his actions... but I just feel like... total hatred of someone doesn't solve many issues. Of course... I'm one to talk... since I want to take revenge on those responsible for doing this to my town but... I don't know how I'd go about doing it... and I've never killed anyone before in my life... and really don't want to start right now." he informed her.

"I'm not sure this is really helping any... and might not be what you want to hear... but... I dunno, I'm sorry... I probably shouldn't be trying to talk you out of anything to be honest. All I'm saying is... be careful with these emotions. I feel hatred only breeds more hatred... that's all I'm saying." Maybe he was just naive... had a naive view of how the world operated, but he liked to believe that hatred could have an end somewhere. It wouldn't work for everyone, but it could work for some... and Dusty knew that for a fact.

He looked up as he saw Radar's wing shielding them now from that eerie and creepy light of the twin moons. "Uh... thanks." Dusty gave him a smile, unsure really of who this was or why he was helping, but he was glad for it all the same.

Miles - Tags: Spray, Doc

"Well..." Miles paused as he considered Doc's words here, trying to fight off the pain. "I just... I didn't want... to associate myself with it. I guess I just... deluded myself into thinking if I didn't know about it... it wouldn't be bad. Like if I could just ignore what was really going on... I'd be... I'd be OK. I didn't know what he was going to do... I just knew some oil had to be spilled for this... but I never wanted it to get to the point it... did I suppose. You think he was using me?" he asked now, raising a brow. "It's... entirely possible, but I think we used each other in all honesty." He paused again to think about what Doc was saying, and his question.

"Never..." he said now, trailing off. "I never... would've accepted his help. I wouldn't have done my plan either. Or at least... not the way it was ultimately carried out. Yeah... it... it would be different with the benefit of hindsight..." He told the Hudson.

Shifting his gaze to Spray here, he studied him. "I'm sorry, who are you? Who do you represent? And well... all right I'll... answer what I can." He agreed, nodding once. Then the plane apologized to him, and Miles regarded him with open mouth and a confused stare. "You... would like to apologize to me? That's... odd. I never get apologized to. I don't feel I deserve any of it. But uh... thank you... I... I appreciate that." he told him sincerely, giving him another single nod in thanks.

Oskar - Tags: Rush, Shinn

Oskar could see the pain on Rush's features, the twisted agony he was going through... and he hated it. He wanted to just make this all right. To help him to heal... but it wasn't easy for everyone he met. "I... I see. But why?" he asked softly. "It is admitting your life is not worth as much as any other... and that is... that is not true. Your life is valued just as much as everyone else's... I know it may not seem like it... but it is. I... I have often felt the same about me... I refuse to let my past define who I am now... that's the ONLY thing that's kept me going through this. I don't let it dictate who I am... because I have changed... I still blame myself for not saving those kids in my squadron but... I cannot let it consume me. I have to heal... not just for my sake... but for those I speak with as well. I only hope... you can value yourself soon as well, Herr Rush."

Oskar's voice was gentle... soft... and he tried to be as reassuring as he could be without being pushy. No way he was going to force Rush into anything. He only wanted to help him... not force his wing. He'd be as gentle as he could, and let Rush make his own conclusions... and maybe... over time it would get better for the old warplane.

Blade - Tags: Otter, Hoarah

Blade listened attentively, and seemed a little... uneasy as a large plane he didn't know taxied up to them. Who was this? What did he want? Blade wasn't comfortable sharing his orientation with just anyone yet, but the F-22 hybrid seemed to have... something else on his mind than the conversation that was taking place between Otter and Blade, so Blade turned his attention back to Otter for now as he spoke.

So... banding together made the specks strong. Blade admitted, he hadn't ever considered that, because he'd always considered himself a loner... solitary... deserving to suffer for what had happened to Nick; to never be with anyone again, and to just take his life as seriously as he could. But that... that wasn't what Nick would've wanted... he'd buried that deep within himself... too scared to face it... too scared to face Nick's ghost... Blade had always blamed himself for not saving him... and felt Nick blamed him too.. but knowing how close they had been... Nick wouldn't be blaming him... he'd be pitying him. Pitying his pathetic situation. Pitying how much he felt sorry for himself and refused to move on with his life... it was a reality Blade could've never accepted before but now... what WAS he going to do?

"I... I don't want to lie to myself anymore... I want to be honest about who I am... what... I am." Blade stated here firmly. "I can't change that... and I shouldn't hide it either... well... I don't think I have to change certain aspects... I'm not a... what do you call it? Player? I don't believe in just putting myself out there and casually dating... but... at the same time... I don't want to be alone my whole life either... if I meet the right vehicle." he confessed to Otter here. "I want... I want to be... more open with others... not telling everyone of course but... just... more open about who I am... who I want to be. I don't want to shut others out anymore..."

He looked at the blind plane, wishing he could see him, but knowing it was an impossibility. "Hey Otter... thanks... for this. I... I really appreciate it, all right? I don't know why I didn't see this before but... you helped me take a long... critical look at myself... and I needed to do that. I needed to kick myself in the tail because... nobody else would've done it. I DON'T want to live like I've been living... I want to be... more open about things. So thanks..." He looked over at Horah here, pivoting his view. "Can I... help you?" he asked now.

[Alfor]

(I honestly have no idea how to reply with Aeris...I'm stuck xD)

[Dusty Crophopper]

((Just say what you'd like to eat. XD I'll work with it from there. ))

[Titanic X 21]

Radar - Dusty, Shadow

The big AWACS nodded, a smile crossing his features. "No problem," he said. "I thought you two could use some privacy, and be somewhat shielded from the light of that d*** red moon." He paused for a moment. "The name's Radar Harrison. And you?"

He didn't know these two, but he was sure the red and white and black plane was familiar. He just didn't know where he had seen him before. The other car on the other hand was clearly someone he didn't know.

Spray - Doc, Miles

Spray nodded. "Yeah. And as for your other questions, I'm with the FBI and my name is Spray Krane. Sorry for the sudden questioning, but I need to know just what you can recall about the attackers that jumped you in prison. Any bit of information is needed, and even the smallest bit may produce a lead."

He shifted a bit on his tires, his eyes looking back at where the others were scattered about. By now the attackers' bodies were beginning to be cleared out by other officers from neighboring communities, the Propwash Junction PD having sent out calls to get them rounded up. "Because this just... doesn't seem right..." he muttered.

Spray then turned back to Miles. "If you don't mind, what do you recall about the attack? Did you see anything about the attackers that may be of some significance?" he asked.

Horah - Blade, Otter

Horah blinked and smiled a bit sheepishly. "Sorry. But I couldn't help but wonder what you were up to over here," he said gently. "The name's Horah Emaji." He was careful to not spook Otter's dog as he moved to the side a bit, allowing her some room. "I was wondering if you guys had learned anything new about the attackers."

[ZAFTPrime]

((Don't forget about Sheriff either! I want to see how he reacts to his friend being alive! ))

Doc - Tags: Miles, Spray

Doc nodded at Miles's words. "Good to know at least. It shows you're not like what everyone else thinks you are if you feel regret at what happened." Doc went silent after that, pondering on what to do next. His mission was a bust, save for the images of the odd moon he had recorded, and they had no new leads on anyone or anything else.

"So much for finding out anything about these attackers and what they are after..." He growled before he decided to try and poke around any of the bodies for any sort of clues as to why they had attacked the small town. As much as he hated to admit it, Doc was a bit creeped out by having to examine deceased cars. He wasn't a coroner, just a doctor! He lingered near a body, unsure of whether he should touch it or not. Doc was sure Miles might find this amusing to say the least he mused as he reached out with a tire, albeit hesitantly.

Shinn - Tags: Skipper, Oskar, Rush

Shinn nodded in agreement. "Let me tell you, I was in the same position once. Actually, I have been told my life has no value by those who hate MIGs. I'm part MIG, so I have been told that several times. But when I was down to that point, I vowed to prove that my life has meaning, and I did. More than once. By the time I was assigned to the Wrenches, I had made a name for myself in stealth tactics and speed. Many of my former foes in the U.S. Military have admitted they were wrong about me as a result. Some are honest, others...eh...not so much. But do I let it get me down? Nope. I just keep on moving along in life and brush it aside as best I can." Here, he sighed.

"I will admit, there are times when I feel like it is too much, but I know that my friends and squadmates, as well as my family, value my life and I keep going for them." He added, hoping that his words would help Rush out in some way.