Post Tenebras Veritas (Planes/Cars RP)

[ZAFTPrime]

Sid - Tags: Finn, Aeris, Roger

"Not bad, Roger. Glad you could pick up." Sid replied with a grin. "And yes, I am in Rio. I'm currently on a mission with CHROME and need some information on Bandit Squadron. I need to know who their current employer is, and what their next mission may be as well as a potential base of operations. They recently attacked us and tried to kill a U.S. military jet. We were able to stop it, but barely."

Shinn - Tag: Miles

Shinn shook his head as he laughed and joined Miles. "Well, I will pay this once. So order whatever you want." Shinn replied as he sat by the Range Rover. "And if you really want to tap your account, I don't care. Just be discreet about it."

He looked over some of the stuff on the menu and blushed a bit. "Um...I can't really understand a lot of this, so can you help me?" He asked in a sheepish manner.

Doc - Tag: Blade

Doc looked up at the red helicopter as he came to a stop. "What do you mean, you've been having problems?" Doc asked as he looked to Blade. The ex-racer knew full well that Blade had been having trouble, but this was the first that the helicopter had ever addressed such issues with him. Then again, he did learn a bit about Blade's past and how he had been not so confident most of his life.

The midnight blue Hudson Hornet was waiting patiently for Blade to continue. It was obvious that the helicopter needed to get his off his rotors.

[ShadowWolfCelica]

Shadow: Tags- Dusty

She remained still as she filled up some more, waiting for the tell tale sign that she was full, but smiled slightly at his answer. She pursed her lips here before speaking. "Eu lhe asseguro, eu sou fluente em vários idiomas" She said here, with a grin, though shook her hood a little. "As an Agent it IS required that we learn different languages.... Though its can be tough work" She said here, noticing that the fuel pump had jolted, letting her know she was done. She started her engine again and pulled up more beside him, her tank more satisfied now. "I've seen quite a few of your races yes... you're quite the star! But I've never been able to see you in person, that was always something i wanted to do.... of course work and such comes first.. Can't just abandon it to go see a race..... Finn would kill me!" She laughed here

"But i always wanted to. Maybe you'll be able to show me one day, eh?" She said here, with some degree of both calm and sadness.

[Dusty Crophopper]

Oskar - Tags: Spray

"I thought you might." he smiled here, looking rather studious with his spectacles on. "The fact of the matter is, I wasn't blind to the fact hundreds of Jews had suddenly vanished in my home city. It's funny you call them weak, however. Unless you're referring to a different kind of weak though. I have not heard them referred to as such, even in my time. They were referred to as many things, but weak was not one of them. The mentally ill, the gypsies, the gays, sure, they were all classified as inferior, weak perhaps, but not the Jews. So if by weak you mean... in our own military it also depends. Weak is a broad term, Herr Krane. It could mean many things. It was like any view back then... males were supposed to be strong and virile, but we all knew it wasn't entirely true. I myself personally tried to help those in my squadron I knew were... young and incapable."

He noted the first kebabs were over to their table, being lamb of some kind, and Oskar nodded gratefully to sample some. "You know... if you're asking if I approved of the mass killings... of course not. We were told they were taken to labor camps, similar to what the US was doing to the Japanese. We were told they were well fed and cared for... I never personally looked into it... but towards the end of the war... it became... impossible to ignore what was really happening." His voiced dropped considerably here, and he stared at his lamb. "I... I feel like... no I know I was horrified when I found out the full extent. By that point, it severely shook any faith I had in what I was fighting for, I... couldn't... I almost gave up in fact. Everything I thought I had known... it was all gone. Granted I never approved of going into non-German countries in the first place, so things were always a little shaky with me there but this... this was it. The only reason I fought... the only reason I kept going... was to prevent another Dresden or Hamburg from occurring. I fought to save the lives of my people... that... that is the only thing I could take comfort in regarding my side..." He said sadly here, refusing to look up at the plane, and kept staring at his lamb instead, before finally sliding some into his mouth, and chewing slowly, almost mechanically as he waited for Spray's response.

Roger - Tags: Sid

Roger paused, and pulled up some files. "Right mate, Bandit Squadron... let me see what I've got. If I recall, they're a disgraced ex-military unit turned guns-for-hire, since they were booted out of the US Air Force during the invasion of Iraq. Let me see what I've got... one moment please." He said in the calm, collected tones Sid was used to.

"Here it is I've got it. Uh turns out they're currently working for a weapons' manufacturer old chum. A corporation by the name of Skysword Industries... CEO Hiram Carew... he's British, though his headquarters are in the United States, but he has a prominent branch in the jungles outside of Rio. He mostly manufactures aircraft weaponry, really cutting edge stuff but... also manufactures nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction. Has a rather large contract with the US government, England, Brazil, Japan, China, uh... list goes on I'm afraid." Grenville murmured. "Anyway I'll send you his file and his company's file... you sure this is someone you want to go after?" he inquired, concern in his voice. "He's quite well connected... unless Bandit Squadron went rogue again." Roger commented.

Sid soon had files in his databanks, and they contained pictures of Skysword and Carew. Carew was an older looking American model, seemingly from the 20s or 30s. He was a light silver with maroon trim, and his model was listed as a Peerless, a model no longer around. He was smiling slightly in the picture, standing in front of his logo, which was a sword rising out of the ground into the sky. He appeared spry for his age though, not looking like a car who was almost a hundred years old by this point.

"You got all that?" Roger asked, making sure the files had uploaded properly.

"Bandit Squadron's current head is an ace called Rosso. He's no pushover, and has held his own in combat before." Roger sent over files on him and his squadron mates as well. They were all generally elites, having taken part in several dangerous missions in Iraq behind enemy lines, and had fought in some of the worst regions of the world since then, with a lot of Africa and Southeast Asia in the mix.

Miles - Tags: Shinn

"Mighty kind of you!" Miles replied gratefully. "I'll make it up to you, and don't worry... I'll be discreet. My bank puts discretion first and foremost after all." He smiled as Shinn couldn't understand the Portuguese options. "Of course... we have steak, beef stew, lamb, moqueca, which is like a fish stew served in a clay pot, uh..." He paused as a server came to take their drink orders. "A caipirinha for me please." Miles ordered with an eager smile. "Uh feijoada, that's like a pork stew, and you have your assorted fried bar snacks like palm hearts, cheeses, minced beefs, salted cod balls, shredded chicken, potato puree, etc, etc!" Miles declared, chuckling happily at the prospect of ordering real food and alcohol.

"Following so far?" the Rover asked, clearly in much better spirits now than he had been all day. He was thankful he had survived, and was counting his blessings now as they came up.

Blade - Tags: Doc

Blade hovered down in front of Doc, extended his landing gear as the car stopped, and came in for a landing, his rotors slowing now and gradually coming to a halt as he fixed him with a look. "I think... I think I have unresolved feelings I'm trying to work out. I don't want to carry a torch for my dead lover my whole life... I want to move on... be... happy again." he began, actually squirming as this was hard for him to explain. Sighing, he looked off to the side. "Da***t. I just... I dunno... I'm afraid I... I'm afraid I..." He kept stumbling over any attempt to say what he wanted to say, and sighed heavily once more.

"I dunno... I like that guy Otter... the one we traveled with... the blind jet. I know he's not like that and... well I dunno. He's a nice guy... much nicer than I expected from a former soldier. Call me stupid but... you know what? It's probably best if I don't... I don't even know to what extent I like him." Blade stated forcefully here, almost glaring at Doc. "I dunno if it's just... friendship or... there's something more... heck I don't even know if I want there to be something more..." He trailed off here, glad he'd gotten that out in the open, but unsure if Doc would judge him here... he braced for it all the same, and was unfortunately used to it by this point in life. Sure it was becoming more acceptable... but a lot still looked down on it... and despised it even.

Dusty - Tags: Shadow

"No idea what you just said." Dusty offered her a smile and shook his front. "I don't speak a word of Portuguese sadly. In fact, I don't really speak any other language aside from English." he stated with a degree of regret, though was still smiling. His eyes seemed to light up as she said she'd seen him race on TV. "Really?" he asked, propeller spinning a little here. "Oh! Believe me, races are SO much better to see in person!" he told her. "I mean the big ones can be difficult as you only see a part of the race, but we really do try to provide big screens in the stands so you can see everything. Heheh, yes I'm sure work has gotten in the way but wow... never knew you actually wanted to see my races in person!" He seemed happy with this, as if it had suddenly cheered him up.

"Well I'm sure if you can get the time off, you can make it to one. Just let me know! I'll get you in for free!" he said, smiling widely at her. "So... now that you're gassed and good to go... where to next?" he asked. "The beach? A hotel? A restaurant? What do you feel like doing?" he inquired, happy to go with whatever she wanted.

((OK everyone, I'm back on tour until Friday night, so posting will once again be slow! I'll try and post at least once a day though if I can!))

[Titanic X 21]

Spray - Oskar

"That was exactly what I was asking," Spray said in a low voice. "And... frankly I'm quite surprised you did find it disgusting. And that you fought to save lives." He paused, taking a bite of his own food. "It's sort of like... what I do in a way. Except I would fight to defend those that are precious to me." He was hesitant to reveal his past, and to be frank, he wasn't sure if this old plane would believe him. As soon as the lamb touched his tongue though, he smiled.

"Wow! This is good!" Spray remarked. He finally finished his bite and looked the old Komet in the eye directly. "But, in all honesty, why? Why didn't you do something once you learned of it? Or at least made an effort to have it go public? I know I would've."

((Awesome, Cal! Have a good trip! ))

[ZAFTPrime]

Sid - Tag: Roger

Sid nodded. "I got every word." He replied. Looking over the images again, he frowned to himself. He would have to ask Finn about Dusty's vision. Something about the car, the Peerless, seemed off. "As for Bandit Squadron's leader, if I recall, a member of the Jolly Wrenches fought him. Thanks for the information. We'll be careful. And don't worry. We have a few connections to the FBI, so we should be able to find a way to get a warrant if need be."

Sid didn't like where this was going though. The enemy seemed to be getting more and more mysterious.

"Finn, what do you know about Dusty's vision? Did he say anything about what it involved?" Sid asked. He wanted to be certain of a few things. "I will send you the files of what my MI6 contact sent me as well."

Shinn - Tag: Miles

Shinn grinned. "Yes, I follow you. I'll try the steak. Haven't had any food from Brazil before. And I'll just take plain water. I'm not really a big drinker unless you count the Russian booze. I can handle that better than any normal alcohol. Ironic, yes, but the lighter stuff makes me sick." He then looked back. "What do you want, Miles?"

Doc - Tag: Blade

Doc frowned a bit, but didn't call Blade out on it. "So you think you might want to have something a bit more...serious...than just a friendship with Otter, right?" Doc asked. He noticed Blade's sudden wince and sighed.

"If you think I will call you out on your feelings, I won't." The ex-racer replied. "To be honest, two of the residents on Radiator Springs, our hippie Filmore, and our war vet Sarge, there have been a few rumors going around that they are in the same way you were with your lover. No one has been able to prove it though, but even if it were true, I personally don't see any problem with it. Sure, some others might, but I don't." Doc chuckled a bit here. "Back home, I am also the judge, so if anyone gave them any flak about their rumored relationship, I would have them arrested for any crimes that would be against the town's laws."

He then became serious here. "Hiding who you are will only bring you down. It almost happened with me, and I wound up revealing myself when I didn't want to. But that only helped me in the end. Pretending to be someone who likes the opposite gender when you don't will only cage you. If you truly want to fly, accept who you are and don't be afraid. And if anyone wants to give you problems with it, they will have to go through me." Doc said. He hoped Blade would take up his offer of help. The midnight blue racecar didn't want Blade to go through what he had gone through already, not if he could help it.

[Dusty Crophopper]

Oskar - Tags: Spray

Oskar frowned at this, and lifted his eyes at long last to Spray. "You're surprised? I'm not an emotionless android or monster." he pointed out now. "I'm a living vehicle, just like you. I have emotions, I have feelings. And of course I fought to save lives. Thousands died in the fire bombings of our cities... I couldn't idly sit by and let that continue. They were all civilians who had nothing to do with the war." He silently listened as Spray described what he would do, and while it was similar, Oskar fought to defend his civilians. who he knew would be targets in the latter stages of the war.

"Heh... yes it is." The Me 163 smiled and gratefully accepted the next bit, which was his favorite: the chicken wrapped in bacon. "Aha! Prepare to be in for a treat! This is the good stuff!" he declared, licking his lips as he began to help himself. He looked up here as Spray asked his next question, the spectacles still on his face. "Herr Krane... by the time I found out, it was pretty much public knowledge. The Americans were overrunning my country and liberating these camps and it was coming to light. There was nothing further to do, and I was engaged in sorties almost every day due to the constant bombing raids on our cities. I was... I told you I almost gave up... gave up everything when I found out. I didn't know what to do... it was only the knowledge that innocents were dying in firestorms that kept me going and fighting just a little bit longer. It was so... horrible though, to think of. I only wish I had known about it earlier on... and had not believed the stories about the 'labor camps.'" he said mournfully now, looking down again as he'd once more stopped eating.

Roger and Finn - Tags: Sid, Aeris

"It might take more than a warrant to search his properties, mate." Roger responded. "I don't think there's a judge alive who would grant it in the States, and do keep in mind, you're in Brazil right now... whole 'nother world down there!" he reminded his friend.

Finn looked over at Sid here, glad the press seemed to be finally backing off. "Dusty's vision?" Finn asked. He knew that well, as he'd personally interviewed Crophopper before they'd left Propwash Junction. "It was a place he'd never seen before... black rocks that formed strange pinnacles that seemed to have buildings on top of them. Growing out of the pinnacle tops in fact." Finn described. "And there was a car... an older model car, but he couldn't identify the type... and he asked if he saw what they were becoming... and that red would replace blue... though curiously, there was a blue hue everywhere he was standing... it seemed to radiate around the world, and bathe it in its light. And yes, I'd appreciate those files, thanks. What did he say?" Finn inquired.

Miles - Tags: Shinn

"Heh, well what I'm having his hardly light, but that's the point! It's Brazil's national drink after all!" he declared happily. "As for me I want... a lamb dish please." Miles said thoughtfully. "Been feeling like eating well, and I've only ever dreamed of this for years whilst in prison! I can't wait to eat REAL food!" he exclaimed, a bit too giddy for his own good right now.

The waiter nodded and departed, and Miles looked out to the sea, the beach goers still swarming the beaches here despite the setting sun. "There's a lot of things I've missed in fact... the feel of the air on my skin... the warmth of the sun on a beach... the sound of the waves... real food... alcohol... heh... a woman's laughter... just... the feeling of someone against me that isn't an inmate trying to kill me." he stated here. "I just... it's amazing the stuff you miss... when you've thrown your life away." he said. "To be honest... sometimes I wonder how I haven't just committed suicide by now... I miss this... all of this. And it's... I don't want to go back." he said now, looking at Shinn with almost frantic eyes as his drink was delivered.

Glancing down at it, he took a grateful sip of the sugary drink, closing his eyes and exhaling as he savored the taste, seeming to just drift on its sensation as he got lost in the experience, listening to the waves, feeling the wind, and letting the alcohol burn his throat as it went down into his body...

Blade - Tags: Doc

"Yeah..." Blade said softly. "I do think that..." He looked off to the side here, narrowing his eyes. "I don't pretend anything though. I have never expressed interest in anyone after my lover died. I walled myself off... pretended to be unreadable and totally uninterested in anyone." he explained, but softened again. "Yeah... I was hiding myself though. Suppressing my old self. I... I try to accept who I am but it's hard... I grew up thinking it was wrong my whole life... and my lover's death only seemed to confirm that it was wrong. But look..." He stopped here, trying to think of how to say this.

"Just because I can be who... I am doesn't mean... doesn't mean anything if your feelings aren't returned." He said simply here. "Otter isn't like me, and I respect that. He loves that Skila woman, who probably doesn't love him in return but... but I hope it works out for them because I want him to be happy. I know he would... never... feel anything for me. And that's why... that's why I kind of do hate myself. I'm rare... I know the majority of others out there aren't like me. And then I go and finally start maybe developing feelings for another, but I know it's d*** well pointless because he isn't like me anyway. So it's just one big losing battle. I can't ever win. I walled myself off and probably missed countless opportunities in my life and now... now that I finally... feel like I might like someone again... there's no chance of it working out anyway."

He sighed and looked away with disgust. "I dunno... sometimes I think it's better if I just go back to my cold, reserved self. Tough as nails and all business, you know?"

[ZAFTPrime]

Sid - Tags: Finn, Roger

Sid looked down and nodded at Roger's words before he spoke. "Thanks. I will keep that in mind. I will contact you again if need be."

Looking back down at Finn, he frowned. "I see. Well, it doesn't help much that Dusty couldn't identify the car in his vision. As for what Roger, my old team-mate, said, he mentioned there is a connection between Bandit Squadron and a place called Skysword Industries, which was their previous employer who contracted them. The car who runs the place...he just gives me a bad vibe based on his image alone. I know I shouldn't go on mere feelings with this, but he could be someone who he is not appearing to be. Just saying."

Shinn - Tag: Miles

Shinn nodded. "Well, that can happen." He said as he looked out at the sea as well. "Whenever I am on the Flysenhower, the sea seems to calm me down. I know it shouldn't, but I feel calmer on the boat than I do on a sandy beach. It just feels too off to me, you know? I prefer to hear the hum of the engines and the calm ocean rather than the ocean sound alone. I just feel out of place on a calm beach."

Doc - Tag: Blade

"I see." Doc didn't know what else to say other than that. He had to try though. "I know it is hard, but you may find someone else who likes you in the same way. If you want Otter to be happy, don't just go up and tell him how you feel. Otter likes someone else, and that should be what makes you happy for him." Doc then sighed. "I'm sorry. I'm just not used to giving love advice. I'm medical, not psychological."

Doc then laughed a bit. "To be honest, I never really had someone coming to me like this at all." He then went serious again. "Don't you dare go back to the way you were before! If you do, no one will see the real you! I didn't even think of going back to how I used to be once I revealed my racing past. You shouldn't either. It will only make you miserable again."

Here, the ex-racer looked Blade directly in the eye. "Being the old you might be a good option in the short term, but in the long-term, it's a bad idea. I am speaking from personal experience. It's only a temporary fix to a solution that can be solved in an easier manner. Hiding is not an option for the long run." Then, Doc looked down. "There're many things in my life I tried to hide, but being a racer was the one thing I took pride in. When I had to hide who I was truly, when I had to deny I had been a racer, I fell...I don't know...I fell prey to bad emotions. I became a grumpy, unsociable car, who only cared about his job and hated messing around. But when Lightning came into my life, and found out who I was, he broke through the armor I had built up. I couldn't deny who I had been, and then, for old times' sake, I went out and raced around the dirt track back in town. I hadn't felt to free in years, and I knew who I was at heart at that point in time. Eventually, I tried to hide my racing past again, but in an ironic twist, I came to regret my decision to call the press to take Lightning away. I realized I couldn't go back to the way I had been. I had been so miserable, and it took only a few days for the kid to get through to the real me, and set me free. That was why I went and became his crew chief, and why I reentered the world of racing. I never wanted to be miserable like that again."

[adelphi prime.]

{Recap/repost? I'm gonna try to force myself out of this slump... because I really wanna RP.}

[Dusty Crophopper]

Finn - Tags: Sid, Aeris

Finn began looking through the files on his HUD, frowning thoughtfully as he brought up the files on Skysword Industries. "Skysword? They're one of the biggest weapons' suppliers in the world!" he exclaimed. "They supply both the Americans and the British, so to hear that they're mixed up in all this well... we better be d*** sure we're right." he murmured. "Hiram Carew has the power to topple even CHROME if he wanted to! He's no nonsense but I don't think I've ever seen him." He paused though, eyes widening as he pulled up Carew's picture.

"Wait... that's Carew?" Finn asked, studying him. "That's... remarkably similar to what Crophopper and Otter described!" Finn exclaimed. "Very light, creamy silver... maroon trim! Older model car! That might be him! I'll need to ask them to confirm but... the resemblance to their description is striking!" Finn felt his engine stop, even though it was still technically running, and his oil run cold now.

Flipping through more images, he narrowed his eyes once more. "Hiram Carew... you don't think he's... the one behind this, do you? I mean... why now? And what's this red and blue nonsense? He's been an upstanding citizen for... well ever since we've had a file on him. It just doesn't make any sense! He's never come off as a terrorist or... a lunatic before! No red and blue and certainly no attacks on civilians! Sure he has his detractors, as a capitalist exploiter to communists, but... nothing serious. Sid this just doesn't make any sense. Why would he... turn into the car of their vision?" Finn speculated aloud.

Miles - Tags: Shinn

Miles opened his eyes, and stared straight ahead at Shinn as he took another drink. "You should try prison... then you really miss stuff." Miles replied blandly, though offered a mirthless chuckle. "Eheh... sorry... bad joke. Guess I'm just so... glad to be out here... you know?" he asked, shifting a little in place. "You have no idea how much I want to just drive off and... disappear... not worry about that bomb... take my money and vanish. I could do it you know... save for the fact I'd be blown up."

He sighed, and took another long swig of his drink. "Mmmm... I guess I should just... enjoy this while it lasts." he stated. "Heh... all the things you wish you could do over in your life." he stated mournfully. "Anyway I guess I should stop feeling sorry for myself, eh?" he asked, shrugging his front tires here by spreading them out slightly.

Blade - Tags: Doc

Blade pursed his lips and thought about what Doc said. All of it. At first he was disappointed he couldn't tell Otter how he felt... but then... Doc launched into a story about why he shouldn't go back to walling himself off. While the helicopter couldn't exactly relate to it, he knew such a story might be valuable. But Blade knew he had no Lightning... no... equivalent of that in his life. Except... except he really did. And he knew it.

"I see..." he said, beginning slowly. "But... but I don't have that. I don't have anyone who's broken down my armor save for... save for... Otter..." Blade trailed off now, staring into space at seemingly nothing. "I... I've never... been able to open up like that... to anyone before. And now... now that I have... I... I just don't know. I want to tell him... but I don't think I can. Because... I know he likes Skila but... da***t. I just..." He sighed, knowing what it was he was feeling.

"I..." He was feeling sick to his tank now, and he slumped a little here, unsure what to do next. "I... do want to tell him..." He said softly, almost meekly. "I do... just to let him know... I'm afraid he's only going to hurt himself with Skila but... you can't choose who other people love. You can't Yeah it worked out in a freak accident way for me a long time ago but... lightning rarely strikes twice, ya know?" Blade asked, almost snapping, but trying to keep his emotions under control.

"Sorry." He apologized now. "I feel like I'm on a g*****n roller coaster right now. Up and down and left and right and no idea what's coming next. I know you're not a psychologist, just a doctor but... well you told me to get it off my rotors, so I did." He sighed. "Your advice is don't tell him, eh?" Blade asked, turning this over in his mind. "Just... say nothing to him? Keep it all in?"

[Titanic X 21]

((Well, Propwash, everyone is basically having dinner and trying to gather intel on the Bandit Squadron. Sid contacted an old friend back at MI6 and got some intel that could be of use, while Doc and Blade are chatting and Shinn and Miles are having dinner, same with Spray and Oskar. Hope that helps.))

Spray - Oskar

Spray pursed his lips and nodded. "I see." He looked around, his eyes roaming over the gathered patrons and waitresses. He wasn't sure why, but something was off here. He could feel his ailerons twitching ever so slightly, and he narrowed his eyes a bit before resuming taking a bite of his meal. He was actually quite surprised that this old Komet was as driven as he was in a sense.

He was able to finish the lamb as Oskar spoke, and he nodded before he took a bite of the bacon-wrapped chicken. His eyes went wide at the taste. "Wow! This is amazing!" he said with a grin. He finished his bite and looked down. "I... I guess that maybe we're not so different in that regard... wanting to protect innocents, I mean..." he said.

He didn't even know that soon they were about to do just that...

And soon.