Seikou sits at the desk for once, doing paperwork boredly, occasionally dropping his pencil and half-collapsing onto the desk.

Variance steps in, a slight bit battered from the general wear and tear of patrolling south of Truce(Kobolds tend to be a bit rowdy), resting his even -more- generic spear against a wall in a corner. His gaze looks to Seikou, immediately noticing his need for rest.

Seikou looks up and waves weakly. "Hey, Vari-sama..."

Variance walks over to the desk, taking a spare pen in hand. "I'll take it from here, you look tortured enough."

Seikou shakes his head. "i'm fine... I'm just looking for info on Aura and doing my job while I'm at it... You rest... I've only been at it 4 hours... I can keep going..."

Variance perks a brow, but decides not to pry further(what he'd heard from Seikou about Aura before was more than enough reason to explain his doing this), but takes out a purple and blue-colored can of something, setting it on the desk.

Seikou looks at the can. "...wha?"

You say 'Well, at least have that. Oddly enough, it seems to work as well as it claims to...'

Seikou sips the karma jolt and blinks. "Don't feel anything..."

You say 'It's not immediate, but if it doesn't do anything... Well, I guess I'm that much stranger than I thought.'

Variance keeps a certain comment regarding the eccentricity of his creator wisely to himself...

Seikou slowly seems more and more awake, and turns back to the paperwork at hand with a new energy... The only problem is, the report he's currently working on, at least, is entirely in Japanese.

Variance takes a quick glance at the report-in-progress and briefly considers mentioning it to Seikou, but decides against, figuring Signas somehow has a way of reading it...

Seikou continues to happily write, apparently unaware that anything's wrong.

Seikou says 'IthinkthissodareallyworksthankyouforitIcanwritesomuchwhee!'

Variance perks a brow. "Er... yeah, you're welcome." On that note, he carefully takes a report form from the pile on the desk, starting to write on his own.

Seikou finishes the report and immediatley takes another fourm paper off the stack, starting working on some random piece of buerocracy.

Seikou speaks, in a slightly more normal voice, although still fast-paced. "Don't we have a computer or something so I could search for 'Aura' and it would pop up and I could give her the info? I mean we are computers it would make sense to have computers..."

Variance pauses in his systematic writing for a moment to ponder the statement. "...It would, yes. Then again, we haven't quite built up the funds to get decent systems in..."

Seikou says '...Too bad...'

Variance keeps writing, brow furrowing at something unseen. "In the end, it all comes down to money..."

Seikou says 'I have some money in the bank... I'd be willing to use it towards helping the Base out...'

You say 'We've been through this before, and I'm sure we'll get some in somehow. We got the break room, didn't we?'

Seikou says '...Still... I want to find out if we have any inf on Aura -quickly-...'

Variance finishes off his routine report, dropping it leisurely into the 'IN' box on the desk. "The only choice I can think of is the hard-copy files, but even -I'm- not sure where they are." A rather derogatory comment crosses his mind, just barely restrained by logic.

Seikou says 'Probably Signas-sama's office, but I have no idea how to get in there...'

Variance quickly examines the wall behind the desk while he's around there, squinting analytically at where he speculates a door is. "I don't think anyone but Signas himself knows..."

Seikou starts to rummage in one of the desk's drawers, looking for some sort of clue to where the files are...

Variance sighs and starts back towards his usual place against the wall, snagging another random unfinished piece of red tape on his way back. Oh, the wonderful life of a Maverick Hunter...

Seikou finally sighs and slaps the last form in the box, looking depressed. "I frikken give up on finding -anything-."

A man about average height, dressed in a black suit, with red shoulder length hair, and wearing dark shades, walks through the door, sounding off the bell. No one would possibly guess that well dressed person is Vice without his armor.

Someone walks towards the desk. "Excuse me, is anyone here?"

Seikou looks up. "Ah, konnichiwa! My name's Seikou! How may I help you?"

Variance pauses in his comments to Signas on the back of the form he's holding, standing to attention.

Someone says ' Many people from my town have been killed recently, the town is in panic, everyone is just hiding in their homes.'

Seikou says 'My God... We'll get directly on it, sir! Where is your town located?'

Seikou has gone pale at the thought, although he tries to remain at least partially in control of the situation...

Someone says ' Past the canyons of Truce, I'm sure you've heard of Cosmo Canyon.'

Seikou nods and climbs up from the table. "We're on it, sir!" he calls, dashing out the door...

Variance stays for a moment more, though still obviously intending to speed off immediately after. "Did you see what it was?"

Someone says ' I've caught a glimpse of what seemed like a machine..? I believe it was wearing red and had blue hair.'

Someone says ' It was too fast for me to get any more detail.'

Variance nods and follows after Seikou at a similar speed.


[ Guardia - A Grassy Field ]

Seikou is just outside the door. He nods and falls into step behind Vari...

Seikou says 'Any details on the Maverick...?'

Variance starts to approach the gate to the west, pausing to actually consider what he'd been told. "Blue hair, wearing red..."

You say '...But isn't that...?'

Seikou turns pale immediatley and whispers, almost silently, "...It couldn't be... Aura..."

Seikou says 'Let's go. Now...'

((Kinda late. x.x;))

Variance shakes his head, starting his sprint again. "Regardless, we still have to go!"

[ Bustling Canyon, Cosmo - Entrance ]

Variance quickly scans the surroundings, moving a little to the right, towards the Candle, though he didn't quite know what purpose that would serve. -Everyone- seemed either gone or killed.

Seikou walks over to a fallen form and kneels beside the body for a moment. "...It's too late for them..." he whispers. "We... failed..."

Seikou says '...How could she...? Aura...'

Seikou sighs for a moment and pulls something out of a pocket or something... a beautiful white rose, tied with a white silk ribbon. "I... i wanted this for her... but now that she..." He places a rose on the body and stands in silence.

You say '...It might not have been her. The description -was- pretty broad...'

Seikou says '...Vari-sama, answer me honestly. Do -any- other Reploids in this world match that description?'

Variance stands still, gaze averted from both Seikou and the lifeless body before him. "...Not that I've seen."

Seikou nods a little, black hair falling in front of his eyes, shading them from view. "...I thought as much..." he laughs, more bitterly than happily. "I fell in love with a Maverick.... I really do my job well, ne?"

A few moments of pained silence pass, accompanied only by the eternal flaring and crackling of the distant Cosmo Candle before Variance starts to head towards the gate, still very quiet. "...We should report to Signas."

Seikou nods and slowly turns away, a single tear falling down his cheek...




((Different RP, same plotline. >.>))

Variance steps through the steel door, barely noticing the still-distant Seikou immediately go off towards the break room in his own sort of despaired awe. Well, at least he could say he's seen a true Maverick attack, but... -her-?

Signas is already standing, and watches Variance and Seikou come in, looking disdraught. "Lieutenant? Commander? What's going on?"

Variance looks up from the floor, half-heartedly saluting. "We received word of a Maverick attack at Cosmo Canyon... and it wasn't inaccurate."

Signas blinks, startled. "What?! How.. how extensive was the damage, did you find the Maverick?"

Variance remains stiff, trying to repress all but the most necessary memories of the sight. "The damage to the town itself was minimal, but... the casualties were more than numerous." He pauses, trying to keep his voice as professional as possible.

You say 'We arrived too late to intercept the Maverick, but the description we received was of one in red armor and blue hair.'

Signas's eyes widen with suprise, and then despair. "Oh /no/. I can only estimate from you and Seikou's expressions what the bodycount is."

Signas says 'I want.. I want all available Hunters on alert for a reploid with, as you say, red armor and blue hair, although even that might have been a disguise. We can't just ignore a... massacre of this magnitude."'

Variance nods, saluting again in confirmation. "There might be a few survivors, we didn't go too far into town to check."

Signas blinks again, lowering his head, completely boggled. Might be a few survivors?

Variance starts for the exit again, trying desperately to hold back on 'letting loose' until out of earshot of his superiors...

Signas calls out after Variance. "Commander!.. maybe you should.. take some time off. I'm upset by this news as well. I'll get another unit to investigate, if that's alright with you?"

Variance stops just before leaving, just barely managing to compose himself enough to face Signas again. "Right, thank you. I'm just sorry we couldn't get there sooner..."

Signas says 'It's... not your fault, commander. I know you and Seikou did as much as you could.'

Variance sighs and turns to try to find some consolance from the blank concrete wall beside him. "I realize that, it's just... I can't help but feel responsible somehow."

Signas nods. He's not really sure what to say anymore.

Variance would be equally as sure about what to say if his position didn't come to snap his attention back up again. He stands a little straighter, again trying to look professional. "Is there anything you need me to take care of before I go?"

Signas says 'Ah, no.. Dismissed, Commander.'

Variance nods and takes his leave as silently as he came in...




((Yet another RP! Three in one day(sort of)! What're the odds?!))

Variance steps into what usually is the ever-welcoming open court of Truce Square, though not looking welcomed at all. He looks up briefly to see which of the regulars are loitering around... wait...

Aura is kind of standing off to one side of the square, more near the eastern dock than the actual square, swaying gently back and forth as she gazes out in the same direction, not noticing much else.

A small little smile is etched across her face, the black rose usually tied into her hair clutched tightly in one hand as Aura seems actually quite peaceful.

Variance suddenly stiffens at the sight of Aura, eyes widening. She... doesn't -look- like she's been anywhere recently... But speculation doesn't work in Maverick-tracking, and he takes a breath to steady himself, speaking calmly. "Aura, I presume?"

Aura seems to snap out of her daydream at the mention of her name, cautiously turning halfway around as her smile diminishes, taking on her erstwhile-timid expression, and she nods. "I am. You're the hunter who accompanied.."

Aura says '..Seikou that one day when fighting Vaisu, were you not?"'

The calm, professional air he worked so hard to keep up breaks somewhat, though Variance tries to keep it unknown to all but himself. "Yes, I was..."

Variance pauses a moment to try to recompose himself enough to continue, as strained as it seems, "You haven't been in the Cosmo Canyon region recently, have you?"

Aura seems thoughtful for a moment, and eases her swaying to a standstill after a moment longer, clasping her hands together in front of her. "I'm afraid I haven't. Since yesterday evening, I haven't left the Sanctuary, after Seikou.."

Aura says '..showed me around an island called 'Shrike'. Why, is something amiss in that area that I should know about?'

Aura pauses on that thought, quietly glancing northward towards the mountain region, and Cosmo Canyon's general direction, as though she were trying to remember where it was located, herself.

Variance immediately relaxes, as though an immeasurable weight had been lifted, though he still maintains his professionalism. "No, nothing you should concern yourself with. Though I'd suggest you do yourself a favor and delay any vacations for a while."

Aura returns her attention to the here and now, almost caught in another daydream as it were, with a confused expression. "Vacation? I rarely ever leave the immediate area as it is.. but, er.. since you're the Hunter, I'll be sure and do as.."

Aura says 'you ask. I just hope everything's okay..'

Aura seems slightly more and more concerned as she speaks, the obviousness of this fact evident in her violet eyes.

Aura suddenly looks as though someone had slapped her across the face, eyes widening. "Did something happen to Seikou..?"

"No, he's fine," Variance says quickly, trying to lace as much reassurance as he can for both Aura and himself in his words, "As I said, there's nothing to worry about." /Not now, at least.../

Aura shakes her head slightly, watching you with a cautious gaze for only a moment. "Well, okay... I'm sorry if I seemed overly concerned. I, uh.." She doesn't finish her sentence, instead, her cheeks tinging a nice shade of rose.

"As long as everything is fine, it matters little, then." Aura pipes up quickly, as if trying to change the subject in a hurried manner.

Variance nods in understanding, unable to keep a knowing smirk to himself. "Point taken." He bows shortly and starts back the way he came, waving on the way. "I appreciate your assistance!"

Aura simply watches with a softened expression, and nods slightly, choosing to remain silent in and of herself.