[ Ange is trying to be good about this. She really is. She can hear Miller's network message, and she's listening to it, trying to make her way out towards the inn.
But that is, of course, not exactly a safe passage. Not with the thing that's attacking the town at its edges, but also not with the monsters around. Even though Ange is trying her best to be careful about getting to the inn, she didn't expect to be caught off guard by one of the monsters.
She doesn't know what's up with this one, but it seems like her magic is totally useless against it. Even though she's tried to attack it and keep it at bay, nothing is helping - and trying to escape has only gotten the girl caught in a corner, her back up against the wall. Dammit, and she was so close to the inn too--
Close enough, in fact, that Miller might be able to pick up on Ange's last resort in the middle of this situation - which is to let out a scream and hope that someone hears it and comes to check out the situation before the monster approaching her can attack her. ]
[ To be perfectly honest? As he collected information among those keeping watching or huddling for safety at the inn, there were a few people on his mind in particular who he hoped he might learn the whereabouts of in the process. Ange, Toph... If he went much longer without getting a clear answer, then he would eventually get too antsy to stay directing resources from this post. But as fortune(?) would have it, it seems that answer was about to come to him, although in a less than ideal fashion.
Miller has been making himself as busy as he can, making up for his chagrined understanding that he doesn't have the tools to take on the Beast. He's back and forth from place to place, watching everything that comes in and out of the building. While he makes regular sweeps of the immediate surroundings, the effort only serves to make his anxiety grow more — the streets are completely devoid of locals, and the monsters that make their way through are roaming like they don't even know where they're headed. Pure chaos.
He'd taken up a position behind a wall of sandbags, listening for the sounds of their movements, when suddenly a distant scream rings out. It's familiar to him somehow, seeds a pit of worry in his stomach as he rushes to seek it out, cranking the pressure on his Hellbreath to its max as he runs.
Apparently the locating part was not the issue as Miller is spouting off before he even turns the corner into the passage. ]
Try this on for size, motherfucker!
[ The sound of the gun firing is a deafening bang, with the monster already scrambling in his direction as it senses the threat too late to avoid being shot. But it doesn't take it out in one, angrily rushing toward him to retaliate. Only then, with it leaving Ange crouching in the corner, does Miller realize why the voice had sounded so familiar. It only incenses him toward the ugly thing more. ]
[ Ange does wince at the sound of the gunfire, but at least it doesn't seem to wind her up into a panic. Instead she moves like she's used to a situation like this, at least. The girl makes herself smaller. She's pretty sure that someone firing a gun in a situation like this isn't a threat to her, but stray bullets are still definitely a danger, and she doesn't want to be a big target.
It seems like someone who actually knows how to use a weapon was firing though, since she notices nothing hitting the walls near her. The gunfire seems to only hit the monster, and Ange's eyes grow a little wider in surprise when she notices the creature turning to take off after something else.
The surprise when she hears that voice and realizes who it's running after makes her eyes grow even wider. She immediately moves up from where she had tried to shrink in on herself to stay protected from the gunfire, staring at Miller and the monster rapidly heading his way. ]
Be careful..! [ She calls out, knowing there's very little she can do here when her magic doesn't seem to work against this thing at all. ] It's-- It's strong!
[ And the last thing she wants is for Miller to die protecting her. Even less so after the talk they had about what happens to the people around her. ]
[ Firing in a tight space like this isn't ideal, but sometimes taking the risk is the only thing one can do. There's zero doubt in Miller's actions, regardless, clearly assured he doesn't stand to threaten the person being terrorized by the beast. In this situation, thankfully, it pays off. And then it hits him all at once — a surge of worry that it's Ange and she needs to stay back, stay down — but also there's no time to do anything else because the creature is fast on its feet.
So he simply moves with his instinct, running backwards as he fires off another shot. Not to worry! Nothing he can't handle.
Or so his confidence would like to suggest to her were the monster not able to tank the projectile like it now saw that coming. Surprising, reminiscent of a mutant to Miller, because the incredibly high velocity of the railgun's bullets makes its power far stronger than a shot from any regular rifle.
It howls, leaping through the air in an attempt to knock him off his feet when they collide. Miller blocks its clawed feet with his gun, grunting as he does indeed go down, except with a push of momentum that leaves the monster on the bottom of the scuffle. He starts unceremoniously bashing it's head in with his weapon, and calls out to Ange without looking back at her. ]
Not that Ange is in any trouble or anything. No, it's exactly because of what he's doing that she's safe for now. But she's wearing an expression on her face that she wouldn't want him to see - one of total concern. She's looking so worried about Miller as she's standing there, worrying about what to do in this moment. She should probably help him, but-- What if he's right, and her getting closer would just inconvenience him when she can't injure the monster the way he can anyway?
But if there's anything the girl is terrified of, it's just standing there and watching her lose people. It's happened too often. She's terrified, and it means that Ange can't mask the emotion in her voice at all as she calls out: ]
Are you sure about that?!
[ Because she's pretty sure locked into a physical struggle with a monster is maybe not right where you want things to be - not even when you're beating in said monster's face. Or attempting to do that. It means that the words don't sound sarcastic they way they usually would have, but they sound deadly concerned for his life in this moment.
The girl takes one step closer, but still stays at a relative distance - still unsure of what to do here, yet worried enough she can't just stay still. ]
[ There are a lot of things one could worry about in this world. Or this simulation. Whichever you wanted to describe it with. It's impossible to keep living normally if you think about them all the time. Shifts that make him forget things, act like a different person, take people he knows away. As much as he can, he puts them out of his mind. But when the threat is real, physically real and in front of him? There's no need to pretend. Miller knows monsters, and there's not a shred of intimidation in how he faces this one.
He trusts that Ange will listen because he can't turn his focus away from the creature that has turned from predatory to filled with adrenaline, fighting for its life. In a way, that makes it even more dangerous—its bloodshot eyes glare blindly through him as it digs its claws into his arm. But Miller doesn't stop, his response to Ange truncated by each slam of his weapon into its head. ]
I am. Absolutely. Sure.
[ It's not at all effortless. His breathing is ragged with the struggle, but he remains unsatisfied until long after the monster's face is no longer recognizable. He finally stands there crouched over it, panting, as though waiting to make sure that it's dead. ]
[ Even though Miller was the one in the middle of the action, not Ange, the girl is standing a little distance away with every single muscle in her body feeling like it has been pulled tight as she watches the mangled creature.
For a moment there's just silence between them. Ange doesn't move, doesn't speak. It's only when she's sure the creature still hasn't moved for about a minute or so that there's finally sound - the sound of her footsteps as she runs over to Miller now. Ange's usual poker face is nowhere to be seen as she glanced up at him with eyes filled with worry. ]
You're-- You're alright, right?
[ At least Miller isn't the one who got his face bashed in, but you never know for sure. And it doesn't help that Ange isn't sure if Miller is the type to hide it when he's hurt either. ]
[ He stays where he is for a long moment, just staring down at the creature — which is just as much a chance to catch his breath as it is a way of checking for signs of life. When he finally turns back to look over at Ange, she's running towards him, worry plain as day on her face. This causes him to move immediately, stepping away from the monster to meet her as he promptly turns the barrel of his gun toward the ground. ]
I'm fine. [ Said quickly, dismissed for what he feels is the much more important point. ] What about you? You're not hurt, are you?
[ He came as soon as he heard the scream, but who knows how long she'd been trying to escape from this thing...
But regardless of the answer, he'll start ushering her along in the direction he came from. ]
I'm fine, I was-- I was trying to get away from it.
[ The girl does cast a glance towards the monster, but she doesn't seem particularly disturbed by the way Miller smashed its face in like that. Ange has seen worse gore, after all. What's important is that it really does seem like it won't be getting up again, unable to hurt her or him or anyone else.
So Ange moves to follow Miller the moment he's ushering her along. Not really bothering to resist or question the act, though she does ask: ]
Where are we going? [ She's not sure if the way he's moving like he's got a mission is just to take her away from here or because he's got a specific destination in mind. ]
[ He's relieved that she doesn't fight him on that, but it does beg the question where it is she was trying to go before all of this took place. If it's important, he's sure she'll bring it back up though, so for now he doesn't ask.
Satisfied she'll follow on her own, he lets the arm ushering her drop to his side and continues on, eyes scanning their surroundings. Namely above them. ]
To the inn. It's a good place to keep watch, and some of us have already sheltered inside there.
[ ... ]
I haven't been able to get in touch with Richard... but I'm sure he would not object.
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expiationlogs2025-03-11 10:18 am
iv!
But that is, of course, not exactly a safe passage. Not with the thing that's attacking the town at its edges, but also not with the monsters around. Even though Ange is trying her best to be careful about getting to the inn, she didn't expect to be caught off guard by one of the monsters.
She doesn't know what's up with this one, but it seems like her magic is totally useless against it. Even though she's tried to attack it and keep it at bay, nothing is helping - and trying to escape has only gotten the girl caught in a corner, her back up against the wall. Dammit, and she was so close to the inn too--
Close enough, in fact, that Miller might be able to pick up on Ange's last resort in the middle of this situation - which is to let out a scream and hope that someone hears it and comes to check out the situation before the monster approaching her can attack her. ]
no subject
Miller has been making himself as busy as he can, making up for his chagrined understanding that he doesn't have the tools to take on the Beast. He's back and forth from place to place, watching everything that comes in and out of the building. While he makes regular sweeps of the immediate surroundings, the effort only serves to make his anxiety grow more — the streets are completely devoid of locals, and the monsters that make their way through are roaming like they don't even know where they're headed. Pure chaos.
He'd taken up a position behind a wall of sandbags, listening for the sounds of their movements, when suddenly a distant scream rings out. It's familiar to him somehow, seeds a pit of worry in his stomach as he rushes to seek it out, cranking the pressure on his Hellbreath to its max as he runs.
Apparently the locating part was not the issue as Miller is spouting off before he even turns the corner into the passage. ]
Try this on for size, motherfucker!
[ The sound of the gun firing is a deafening bang, with the monster already scrambling in his direction as it senses the threat too late to avoid being shot. But it doesn't take it out in one, angrily rushing toward him to retaliate. Only then, with it leaving Ange crouching in the corner, does Miller realize why the voice had sounded so familiar. It only incenses him toward the ugly thing more. ]
That's right! Come and get it!
no subject
It seems like someone who actually knows how to use a weapon was firing though, since she notices nothing hitting the walls near her. The gunfire seems to only hit the monster, and Ange's eyes grow a little wider in surprise when she notices the creature turning to take off after something else.
The surprise when she hears that voice and realizes who it's running after makes her eyes grow even wider. She immediately moves up from where she had tried to shrink in on herself to stay protected from the gunfire, staring at Miller and the monster rapidly heading his way. ]
Be careful..! [ She calls out, knowing there's very little she can do here when her magic doesn't seem to work against this thing at all. ] It's-- It's strong!
[ And the last thing she wants is for Miller to die protecting her. Even less so after the talk they had about what happens to the people around her. ]
no subject
So he simply moves with his instinct, running backwards as he fires off another shot. Not to worry! Nothing he can't handle.
Or so his confidence would like to suggest to her were the monster not able to tank the projectile like it now saw that coming. Surprising, reminiscent of a mutant to Miller, because the incredibly high velocity of the railgun's bullets makes its power far stronger than a shot from any regular rifle.
It howls, leaping through the air in an attempt to knock him off his feet when they collide. Miller blocks its clawed feet with his gun, grunting as he does indeed go down, except with a push of momentum that leaves the monster on the bottom of the scuffle. He starts unceremoniously bashing it's head in with his weapon, and calls out to Ange without looking back at her. ]
Stay there! I've got it right where I want it!
no subject
Not that Ange is in any trouble or anything. No, it's exactly because of what he's doing that she's safe for now. But she's wearing an expression on her face that she wouldn't want him to see - one of total concern. She's looking so worried about Miller as she's standing there, worrying about what to do in this moment. She should probably help him, but-- What if he's right, and her getting closer would just inconvenience him when she can't injure the monster the way he can anyway?
But if there's anything the girl is terrified of, it's just standing there and watching her lose people. It's happened too often. She's terrified, and it means that Ange can't mask the emotion in her voice at all as she calls out: ]
Are you sure about that?!
[ Because she's pretty sure locked into a physical struggle with a monster is maybe not right where you want things to be - not even when you're beating in said monster's face. Or attempting to do that. It means that the words don't sound sarcastic they way they usually would have, but they sound deadly concerned for his life in this moment.
The girl takes one step closer, but still stays at a relative distance - still unsure of what to do here, yet worried enough she can't just stay still. ]
no subject
He trusts that Ange will listen because he can't turn his focus away from the creature that has turned from predatory to filled with adrenaline, fighting for its life. In a way, that makes it even more dangerous—its bloodshot eyes glare blindly through him as it digs its claws into his arm. But Miller doesn't stop, his response to Ange truncated by each slam of his weapon into its head. ]
I am. Absolutely. Sure.
[ It's not at all effortless. His breathing is ragged with the struggle, but he remains unsatisfied until long after the monster's face is no longer recognizable. He finally stands there crouched over it, panting, as though waiting to make sure that it's dead. ]
no subject
For a moment there's just silence between them. Ange doesn't move, doesn't speak. It's only when she's sure the creature still hasn't moved for about a minute or so that there's finally sound - the sound of her footsteps as she runs over to Miller now. Ange's usual poker face is nowhere to be seen as she glanced up at him with eyes filled with worry. ]
You're-- You're alright, right?
[ At least Miller isn't the one who got his face bashed in, but you never know for sure. And it doesn't help that Ange isn't sure if Miller is the type to hide it when he's hurt either. ]
no subject
I'm fine. [ Said quickly, dismissed for what he feels is the much more important point. ] What about you? You're not hurt, are you?
[ He came as soon as he heard the scream, but who knows how long she'd been trying to escape from this thing...
But regardless of the answer, he'll start ushering her along in the direction he came from. ]
Come on. We shouldn't hang around out here.
no subject
[ The girl does cast a glance towards the monster, but she doesn't seem particularly disturbed by the way Miller smashed its face in like that. Ange has seen worse gore, after all. What's important is that it really does seem like it won't be getting up again, unable to hurt her or him or anyone else.
So Ange moves to follow Miller the moment he's ushering her along. Not really bothering to resist or question the act, though she does ask: ]
Where are we going? [ She's not sure if the way he's moving like he's got a mission is just to take her away from here or because he's got a specific destination in mind. ]
no subject
Satisfied she'll follow on her own, he lets the arm ushering her drop to his side and continues on, eyes scanning their surroundings. Namely above them. ]
To the inn. It's a good place to keep watch, and some of us have already sheltered inside there.
[ ... ]
I haven't been able to get in touch with Richard... but I'm sure he would not object.