Capture the Flag [Lassa]

[Jess]

What~? Think I can kill you with looks alone~?

My my, all these toy soldiers, hm? Hands stuffed into the pockets on her pants and maroon magnificence swaying behind her as she walked, it had to be said that as Lucy Roberts marched toward the command centre she was looking confidence in crimson, and especially when compared to the white uniforms she was practically stumbling over in her approach.
Hopefully we won’t break too many of them as we play, hm? Time was the girl likely to lose her head if she found herself striding around the place catching nods of presumed respect and perhaps the odd lingering stare here and there, it didn’t seem long ago that the girl with the green gaze had wanted nothing more than to join the blanched brigade and fight alongside her father for all that was good and just, and while she certainly hadn’t lost her inclination toward the latter that didn’t mean she didn’t sense a degree of irony in what she was doing now.

If dad could see me now… Shaking her head and smirking as she bathed in that sense of nostalgia which her current little venture seemed to rouse, the vixen couldn’t help but wonder how differently things might have turned out if she ended up in one of those bright shirts and blue neckerchiefs, but even in doing so knew now that there had been a certain wisdom in her father’s intention.
Always tried to keep me far away from his boys, didn’t he? Only feeling all the more like she had found her calling as she looked over the stiffness that surrounded her and enjoyed the feel of relaxation she walked with, it was nice to know that she could help make the world a better place without having quite so stuff a pole grafted in behind her, and nicer still to note that for all of her defiance of her daddy’s wish, in one area she had done as he said. Even if she did spend many of her days now fighting crime, just like he wanted, she hadn’t become a marine, now had she?

“At ease gentlemen.” For all these reasons and more only too happy to exploit her status in the newfound elite unit of Blackpage to tease the more publicized branch of authorisation action, it was nice to note shapely individuals bracing as she approached and nicer still to see how easily she could brush them away, even if she did so with her now near trademark inclination.
“If you can~?” Not about to waste those lingering stares or curious glances without batting a lash or offering a little moment of promise either, all Lucy could do was grin as she marched into the command tent assuming she had brightened someone’s day, and hope that it wasn’t the last either. I mean, a fair few of these guys were about to have quite the bad time if she had anything to do about it, so it was nice enough to balance those scales a little, wasn’t it~?

	"Marie Shelley" – Nurse?	### words
	@tag, Longcoat Badass

[Tokoz]

 Sitting in the chair to one side of the command tent with his legs crossed, Lassa kept a neutral expression on his face and his gaze focused on the Marine commander before him. 

Blackpage had been asked to help prepare some Marine units for dealing with higher-powered foes by acting as the baddies in a war game of sorts. The empty area of one of G-6's testing ground islands had been cleared for the purposes of this contest, and the Marines were setting up their beachead. Lassa and Lucy had been given a chance to prep the grounds a bit themselves, but nothing too fancy. 

It had worried him a bit that they might be going up against the lunatics of Project Cazador, but instead they were facing down another Division that had shipped in for the test. The 65th Division had arrived earlier that day, and Lucy and Lassa had been asked to meet with the Commander before things kicked off. Lassa had shown up a full hour early, just in case there was any important details to be discussed. 

This was proving to be a mistake, as the Commander had been pontificating on the fabulous nature of the 65th's men, training, gear, cooks, uniforms, unit band, navigators, fighting capability, and so on for much of the past 45 minutes. Lassa was simply nodding every time the man took a breath, and letting the talk drone on in the background. 

When the flap was pushed open, Lassa let out a small sigh of relief. "Ah, Commander. Have you met my partner for this event, Agent Roberts?" He said, cutting in as the man looked set to begin discussing how they divided the cleaning schedule. He dearly wanted to punch him in the face, but that would be a headache he didn't really need to deal with.

 "Hrm? Ah, no, I haven't. A pleasure to meet you, Agent Roberts. I was just telling Agent Iskario here about the preparations we've made for this ah, harumph, 'cross-agency practice', you see." 

The man, whose name Lassa was struggling to care enough to remember, twirled his mustache in self-satisfaction and gestured to a nearby chair, offering for Lucy to sit. 

[Jess]

What~? Think I can kill you with looks alone~?

Partner, huh? Taking a little pride in the particulars which Lassa opted to address her, while Miss Roberts had to admit that she still felt something a little more akin to junior and senior officer between them than a connection of equal standing, there seemed a note of acceptance and acknowledgement in such a choice of words which she didn’t dislike. Clearly she had done a good job impressing her ‘sempai’ of late, eh?
“And you, I’m sure?” Certainly seeming more amused by this fact than she was the man in charge of the marine operation, that was for sure, while she opted to play nice for the moment the youngster had spent enough time around officers on account of who her father was to know which led by example and which pushed from the back, and from what she had heard and saw this definitely seemed the case of the latter far more than the former.

“Oh~? Well, it’s nice to know we’ll be getting a decent workout~?” Perhaps judging him a little bit harshly for being more a man of strategy than action but that likely reflecting her own fondness for a hands on approach, which some might have found a spot of inter-agency exercise to be a waste of time and talent Lucy at least found herself excited by the challenge which lay ahead of her, and was happy to hear that the man in charge was taking things seriously because of that.
“I suppose asking what we’re up against would ruin the surprise for later, right?” For that matter waiting with baited breath for their chance to begin really, more than anything she was waiting for the chance to test and show off the skills she had been building lately, and perhaps for no one more so than the figure who she now found herself lucky enough to fight alongside. Having the opportunity to push herself hard since their last assignment and hit a new level by her estimation, she couldn’t help but wonder how she compared to a warrior who had now in almost every way become her benchmark for ability.

“So what’s the play here?” Raring to go in order to see just how well she might be able to compare with her cohort because of that, one would perhaps have to forgive the raven for the dash of urgency she showed when it came to the briefing portion of their little introduction as she pushed past the pleasantries and went straight to business, though already had half an idea what was going on here even before stepping into the tent.
“We break in, and your people try to stop us?” Likely proving unworthy of her position within an elite group dedicated to intelligence and investigation if she hadn’t already surmised their purpose here, Miss Roberts knew all too well that the cunning commandant wanted to show off in his own way as well, and they were the means to do so. After all, what was better for ones bragging rights than being able to say their platoon got the better of a couple of monsters like her and Lassa, eh?

	"Marie Shelley" – Nurse?	### words
	@tag, Longcoat Badass

[Tokoz]

 "Why, INDEED! For you see, my men have prepared vigorously for this!~ Their vigilance will know no bounds, meaning that not a single agent, Revolutionary or otherwise, will get through! You see that-" The commander pontificated, continuing to ramble as he moved around Lucy and stood in the front of the tent, gesturing to the men outside. Rolling his eyes, Lassa checked his watched and raised his eyebrow. 

Noon. 

And... leaning over, he looked down at the schedule. 

Exercise Beginning: Noon Sharp

Lifting his watch, he silently pointed at it, then at the schedule, before raising an eyebrow at Lucy and using a ribbon of cloth to raise the side of the tent up. Making a 'after you' gesture, he waited until they had exited the commander's bluster tent. Reaching out, he concentrated for a moment. 

After a few seconds of manipulating, a pair of simple cloth dolls in suits with suggestions of Lucy and Lassa's appearences had taken their place. Snickering silently, Lassa lowered the back of the tent, and made sure they were out of immediate earshot. Looking over at Lucy, he hummed for a moment. 

He could suggest something, but......

 "Lucy, why don't you take point on this?" He said, shrugging. "It's good practice. You know what I can do, and I'm a hell of a blunt instrument if need be. Think of me as muscle rather than a senior agent for now, yeah?" Cracking his neck back and forth, he shoved his hands in his pockets and grinned widely. 

It had been a while since he wasn't taking the initiative. Having to work with someone else's plans would be fun. Especially with something like this, where the consequences were pretty minimal. The Marines might have a few officers, but a unit's structure limited the number of powerful fighters they were likely to have by a fair bit. 

[Jess]

What~? Think I can kill you with looks alone~?

Hm…? Certainly not paying full attention to the bluster of the commandant and perhaps zoning out enough that it took her a moment to notice the gesture of the figure by her side, those long and dark lashes fluttered as Lassa drew her attention, and then seemed to motion to a couple of ‘bodies’ who seemed far more inclined toward sitting through a lecture like this.
Right… No need to sit through his monologue, eh? Nodding to her partner and showing the hint of a smirk at the mischief inherent in the deed as well, while Miss Roberts wasn’t totally sure whether this little act of briefing rebellion which was shown by her mentor was a reflection of how her slightly more flexible thinking was rubbing off or not she was thankful for the intervention, and ever more the chance to slip away quietly from the sound of that droning voice as well.

“Jeez, that guy can talk, huh?” Shaking her head and sighing when they were safely clear of earshot though even then not sure that someone who loved the sound of their own voice so much would notice her chatter all that much, Lucy tilted her head to one side and let loose a little bit of frustration at the small window with which she had been treated to such rambling, and sympathized toward the soul who had beaten her there.
“Wait… Are you sure?” Bowled over a little in the next beat however when her senior seemed to say that she should take charge of their terrific twosome on this occasion, once more did she find herself blinking with a momentary confusion at such a suggestion since she had perhaps grown accustomed to being the second fiddle in their operation, and wasn’t quite convinced her leg wasn’t being pulled because of that.

“Heh, suppose you’re right then…” Won over however when the balance of the argument was made and realizing that this was as good a chance to show what she was made of in command as any they would get, Miss Roberts once more found herself with quiet scrutiny regarding the motives of her workmate and teacher, but on this occasion it was for no negative reason.
“Looks like you’re working for me today, Iskario~” Left to wonder if she was being given a chance to prove herself in light of the two of them had achieved together, even though their time as a dynamic duo had barely been a matter of months she knew she had grown a lot within it, and now only relished what she was given as a result; a chance to show him she could work on his level…

	"Marie Shelley" – Nurse?	### words
	@tag, Longcoat Badass

[Tokoz]

"Absolutely." Nodding, Lassa strode forwards at a brisk walk, still trying to put some distance between the man who hadn't noticed it was go time and themselves. Still, he turned to look over at Lucy and quirk an eyebrow. 

"So, what's the plan? Based on my initial scan-through of the island, and what the big bore was telling me..."

He held his hands together and pulled them apart, creating a crude cloth map of the forest. There was a tent, the pair of them represented by small stick figures, and a large forest. In the middle was a big Marine base, though seemingly created out of wood. Around it was a scattering of various marine caps, slowly moving in a circling motion. 

"Their main base is in the center, with patrols circling. They also have various guard posts with Den Den Mushi and a check-in schedule that I don't know. The boss indicated they had some other plans, but not what they are. I didn't push him too hard. If he gave away all their secrets, it'd bias this a bit too much." 

Tapping the forest with one finger, he re-adjusted the map to be more accurate than cartoonish, although it was still a bit simplistic, and tossed it to Lucy. 

"So, what's the plan? I volunteered all the info I got. Whatever comes next is up to you, p- commander." Smiling in a slightly teasing manner, he put his hands behind his head and glanced around as he waited for her response. 

This was a good chance for this. No serious consequences aside from the Marines potentially getting an undeservedly swelled head, but frankly that might happen no matter what they did. Besides, Lucy's instincts had proven damn good before. Time to see what happened when Lassa wasn't the one holding the reigns, as it was. 

[Jess]

What~? Think I can kill you with looks alone~?

“Wow, you sure are handy, aren't you, soldier~?” The brow of the black beauty arching to one side as her partner made their little mock up, and not just because of how impressive his detail work was as well, Miss Roberts couldn't help but admire the ability of the marvel that was her mentor to memorize and recall stuff like this and was left smirking as she complimented that skill while enjoying the calm that preceded the storm which was to follow.
“Guns blazing might be fun~? I reckon between us we can take a battalion or two as a warm up, right~?” That green gaze of hers gleaming as well as she grinned and initially seemed to suggest the idea of making for quite the hurricane as well in how they went about things, with skills like theirs it was so rare that they had the chance to let loose properly and as such she couldn't help but feel a little allure in the concept of fighting off an army like this, and seemed to show perhaps a sense of overconfidence is well in how she seemed to expect them capable of such a thing as well. Even if she was joking, for the most part, at least.

“I suppose it wouldn't be in the spirit of the exercise though, right?” Sighing however when she admitted that as much as it might have brought her some personal sense of enjoyment they likely would have spoiled the occasion for everyone else in doing so, while lucy was happy to cut loose a little where allowed and when necessary she did find her inherent fondness for the boys in blue and white weaving a little guilt at battering and bruising so many, and instead decided they would more likely need a more skilful and surgical approach.
“Besides, I reckon that guy will be way more embarrassed if we get to the prize right under his nose, right?” This having value in of itself since it would likely sting nobody more than the pompous fool that commanded the division to know he had been beaten not by overwhelming and unstoppable force but rather cleverness and creativity, the raven reckoned he fancied himself quite the chess master, and as such she couldn't help but feel a little thrill in the prospect of beating him at his own game, rather than theirs.

“So we go in quiet, maybe see how far we can get without being spotted~?” For that reason finding a sense of focus as she looked over the map that her mentor had made and growing quiet for a second as she analysed it, those emerald eyes narrowed as she searched the little mock up for the scantest sign of a gap in the armour that surrounded the fortress, and slowly did her lips seem to curl as she saw one.
“From… Here~? Go through the treetops, no problem for us air walkers, and the woods are dense enough here they won't be able to see us coming so well~?” Able to guess that this division had been up against plenty when it came to both their training and more hazardous experience but reckoning they weren't use to the special tactics offered by the brigade from Blackpage, from what she could see their defence was terribly terrestrial, and therefore likely to be exposed to something a little more uncommon. Like, for example, the gift of an aerial approach…

	"Marie Shelley" – Nurse?	### words
	@tag, Longcoat Badass

[Tokoz]

 "I am to please, boss." Lassa said, smirking slightly as he tapped the side of his chin and considered the map over Lucy's shoulder. 

He wouldn't lie, he was considering the hard and fast approach as well. The marines were not usually prepared for someone of their level, and taking the base by storm would be an object lesson for them. Still... It had some issues, and this WAS supposed to be practice. Probably best not to. 

"Not really, no. Besides, we're supposed to be training em against infiltration or similar. Any Vice Admiral or similar could show up and hit them like a truck. We want to show them how to deal with infiltration and worse." When she mentioned the Marine commander, his face split into a nasty grin. 

"That too. The pompous windbag could use a few holes poked in his balloon-like ego. If his men are totally useless, then it completely demolishes his supposed theories and skills." 

Considering her words, Lassa mulled it over for a few moments. Aerial was probably the best approach. It wasn't completely unknown to Marines on the Grand Line, and it wasn't entirely silent, but it was still much harder for people to master defending against such intrusions. 

"You're probably right. We'll have to take it a bit slow, but it's a good path. Lead the way, and just avoid being too noisy. Even Marines will notice a branch or shower of leaves out of nowhere." 

Kicking upwards, he began to move carefully in the direction Lucy had pointed. It wouldn't be long after leaving that a Marine Patrol would become visible beneath them. Drifting forwards, Lassa glanced down at them and then back at Lucy. They hadn't seen them yet, but there was always a chance. What to do... Hold the course, or try to adjust. Take the risk, or risk that the change would potentially cause discovery 

[Jess]

What~? Think I can kill you with looks alone~?

“My my, that might prove a problem, huh?” The ability in agility which Lucy possessed only enhanced by her use of the geppou technique and therefore a silently running through the treetops not much of a challenge for her, those emerald eyes seemed to narrow as she caught sight of the patrol they were approaching who could only too readily prove themselves able to blow the whistle upon their ambition here, while the group was hardly much of a threat to a pair like herself and her mentor there was a far greater risk of conflict at least alerting the main force, and that would prove problematic. For most, at least.
“I've got an idea though, keep going. I'll handle this one~” Perhaps able to surprise her partner because of how she only seemed to smirk at the sense of opportunity in the reveal and flashing him both a grin and a wink from her green gaze as well, so many of their missions together had seemed to revolve around the canny and capable commander supporting and surpassing her at every turn, and so there was no shortage of delight from the dark dish when she saw a chance to show something only she could do.

I doubt many people beyond the director and me know about this one, hm~? For that reason the fox happy to let her momentum ebb and body too as she ceased hammering her heels off the branches around her and the air and instead allowed herself to drift briefly toward the ground, it would likely prove a little tricky for her cohort to realize what was going on as she let gravity take hold of her for a second, but he was sure he would prove an astute enough pupil to realize that she hadn't simply disappeared from the air entirely as she activated her devil fruit ability and transformed into something else entirely.
I was hoping to save it for the next time Lassa and I sparred~? Shrinking in an instant and likely with the kind of speed that most would think she had simply vanished into nothing, all too quickly was Miss Roberts supporting her now tiny and decidedly waspish frame through the aid of a twin pair of wings beating upon her back as she assumed her full form, and did so with a sense of aplomb befitting the first reveal of her new ability to her long-time ally.

Oh well~ Ultimately that fact also helping to soothe the sense of disappointment that she felt in not being able to surprise him in the heat of battle with her new ability, at the very least this seemed a rather a fitting manner to introduce her new abilities, and their potency as well. The latter clear in how she seemed to effortless sweep through the air in her sleek and streamlined form with a kind of pace that allowed her to take the scenic route and still intercept the patrol before they would have much time to scan the trees above them, in truth lucy was only just getting started as she picked one of them at random and drove her stinger into the poor fools arm. And in doing so, seemed to provoke a howl which would ensure nobody had any time to see anything other than a wailing man and the wicked little insect that had injured him…

	"Marie Shelley" – Nurse?	### words
	@tag, Longcoat Badass

[Tokoz]

 Waiting in the treetops, Lassa had to chuckle when he saw Lucy disappear, only to zero in on the truth of the matter. "So, you went with the classic... welcome to the ranks of the hammers, Lucy." 

The small insect zipped forwards, and Lassa's keen eyes followed it from afar, watching as the insect zipped towards a Marine and struck true. Quickly moving forwards a bit, and hiding himself in the top of a tree, he chuckled to himself. 

Oh, that would be a brutally effective transformation for infiltration. Shame that he could just wrap himself in armored cloth and keep the stinger from penetrating, but even for him it would be a devil to hit the tiny target with anything serious. Especially if she used the transformation to dodge or move around him. 

An excellent ability, all told. Perfect for a member of Blackpage. 

Waiting till she returned and the patrol had been sufficiently distracted, he mimed a silent clap. "Very nice. You got a good one." No time for a more in-depth query, they had to keep moving. Allowing the commander to take the lead, he kept following. 

While he was an infiltration specialist, other than Shigan and strangling with cloth he didn't really have great 'stealth' attacks in the same way. This would be a huge asset. 

As they continued, Lassa suddenly paused, and stopped to peer forwards. Holding out a hand, he came to a stop in the treetops, and gestured ahead silently. Frowning, he had to admit, the Marine had actually had a semi-decent idea. 

Perched on a small platform in the crook of a large tree just ahead was a pair of Marines, one with binoculars scanning the forest floor, and another holding a Den Den Mushi. It didn't seem to be active at the moment, but the man could likely activate it very quickly if he saw anything unusual. If they had been on the ground, it would have been much harder to see the treetop watch post. 

Seems Lucy's idea to go at it from above was paying off, and Lassa turned towards her, silently asking what to do. 

[Jess]

What~? Think I can kill you with looks alone~?

"EEEYAAAAAAAAAOOOWWWWW!!!!"

"It's... A damn bug!"

"Get it, before it stings us as well!"

"Wumppffff!
N-Not me, ya fwool!"

"S-Sorry. It's... Too fast!"

"A-Are you... Just gonna leave me here?
Feels like I got shot...!"

"Bah, stawp being a baby,
'ee just smacked me in the fwace with his wifle!"

"I'll show you a baby!"

The chaos that has been created by a single well-placed sting seeming almost a disappointing thing to depart, had she motion of her mandibles then Miss Roberts might just have been snickering to herself as she flicked her wings and sped off back toward the tree tops, but all she could really do was wiggle them in her own expression of amusement as she left the squad behind her to their own devices and pressed on. And, with no time at all, found herself returning to something more shapely for human eyes as she rounded on her partner again.

“The director thought I was due an upgrade~” Perhaps ready to shout out in jubilation as she did so and not just because of how she found her waspy ways seeming to agitate her spirit as well but on this occasion keeping her voice hushed, though the moment meant that she had to downplay her reaction and the pride therein, Lucy had to admit that the approval she was shown for her new ability was something that brought not shortage of esteem to her, and not least because the ally giving it was the closest thing she could have had to a proud parent in this line of work.
“Sadly I can't make my own suits with this, but it's got other uses, hm~?” Feeling like she had been trying to chase the horizon itself ever since the two of them had met and exchanged blows on the sea train that day and finally feeling as if she made a little ground upon it, it was hard not to hold the appreciation she was shown in the highest regard given who had given it, but that didn't mean she wasn't prepared to offer a little of her usual sass to them all the same. After all, why change the habit of a worktime, huh?

Using the same trick again will probably only draw suspicion… Not afforded too much time to revel in her reveal however before the path of the pair seemed to draw them back to a pair of watchful eyes and binoculars which would make their job only that much easier, though the raven reckoned she could get to them with her powers once more and try the same little bit she had before she guessed that their leaders would only grow more suspicious if people were spontaneously stung by the same brand of badass barb like her own, and so on this occasion she guessed that discretion would be the better part of valour.
Lucky for us they're more interested in people on the ground though~ For that reason the fox waving her hand as she continued her conversation silently with her comrade, Miss Roberts brushed away the idea of confrontation and then pointed upward before looking above and spying a path they could take to the top of the canopy to evade this particular trap, and as she hopped higher in the air hoped it wouldn't leave them too exposed as a result. Who knew what they had waiting and watching on the fortress itself, eh?

	"Marie Shelley" – Nurse?	### words
	@tag, Longcoat Badass

[Tokoz]

 The Director had passed that one on, huh? Guess the old man had a few Devil Fruits for those who might want them. It made sense. While there were certainly plenty of powerful fighters who didn't have an Ability, having one gave an Agent more options, and often ones that were hard to expect. For fighters who specialized in stealth, surprise, and rapid overwhelming force, anything which gave them an opening was invaluable. 

"Aye, it seems fitting for you as well. You're already coming up with good ways to use it. A lot of people would just do something obvious, like a flying kick or whatever. It's the user that makes the ability, not the ability making the user, and you're well on your way to making it a feared one." 

Approval clear in his voice, he followed her lead, skirting around the watch point and heading onwards and upwards, continuing on towards the fortress. As they peaked above the tree cover, however, Lassa had to narrow his eyes.

The makeshift fortress was in a clearing, having been constructed with an outer ring of walls and a central 'keep' out of felled trees and quick-setting mortar. It was a surprisingly sturdy-looking fortification, but in fairness, it was supposed to both represent an existing Marine base and be able to be destroyed after the fact without too much trouble. 

The real concern was the slight glint he saw from the top of the tower as they rose skywards, sun reflecting off something as it came into view. There wasn't a visible figure or warning light, or windows, so-

"Fuck." Lassa growled, immediately diving downwards, signaling Lucy to head down as well. "I saw a glint. I think they parked a sniper on top of the fortress. I don't know if they saw me or not, but if we keep it up in the air we're probably going to get spotted." 

Hitting the ground, he took a quick look around, then pressed up against a tree. Checking sightlines through the trees would be difficult, but thankfully the treetop outpost was far enough back that it probably couldn't see them down here either. Now they just had to keep from getting caught by a patrol and being forced to go loud. 

[Jess]

What~? Think I can kill you with looks alone~?

All to easy… The absence of experience that the ebony haired enchantress possessed seeming to show as kicked off the air and bounded along like the leaves were her runway, the girl with the green gaze guessed that anyone below them would likely think that the impact they had on the canopy was the effect of wind or birds or something of that ilk, but perhaps she was underestimating just what it was they were up against.
Oh sh- Left to blink as her buddy hurled themself back below the treeline only a matter of moments past the scrutiny of the tower and then realizing what had coerced them into such an act of urgency, the faint glint of something ahead widened those emerald eyes and sent lucy spilling groundward as well, and perhaps in part because of an instinct ingrained to follow and emulate her usual mentor the minx mimicked his action and ducked behind a tree as well where she could see him, but little else would hopefully be able to witness her.

“…Think they spotted us?” Pausing for a series of seconds that seemed more like minutes or even hours as she scanned the area around her both visually and otherwise to see if she could spy signs of a response, that youthful impatience proved a problem given the urgency she felt in the moment, and the fact the lass couldn't tell if she was fortunate or not that the distance between them and whatever had been looking around and catching the light would mean that their reflex would be far from immediate.
“Guess we'll only know if they send a squad here, huh? Sorry about that one, a miscalculation, probably?” Trembling a little because of that fact but less from fear and more because she felt like a spring ready to fly off in a reaction which she wanted soon but would likely face later, the lass let loose a breath as she recognised the fact that their potential punishment would likely come in a moment they couldn't too accurately product, and as a leader apologized for her oversight in regard for what she had advised.

“Quick and quiet along the ground, then, hm~? Thankfully…” Perhaps in that aspect glad that she could count on the expertise and assurance of someone she admired more than she let on, Miss Roberts nodded as she agreed with the assessment that Lassa had given, but was sure to add her own little twist as she kicked off the ground and seemingly, in the space of but a moment, seemed to lurch from the cover of one tree and then to the next in nothing more than a blur.
“…we've got a trick that makes that a bit of a doddle, eh teach?” Happy to note that a skillset crafted and passed on for god knows how long by the agents of the government was able and adaptable enough to provide another route by which they might cover themselves in the woods, they could readily lurch between trunks with their superhuman art while watching each others backs warily, though how long they could keep it up would remain to be seen. After all, it was a simple ploy, and likely to prove far more difficult with a watchful patrol in their way, right?

	"Marie Shelley" – Nurse?	### words
	@tag, Longcoat Badass

[Tokoz]

 "Not sure, but if I saw a glint, it means the scope was probably aimed this way." Lassa said, frowning as he tried to work out the likelihood of them being rumbled. If the sniper was looking through the scope, they'd be dialed in further, and might not have seen anything. However, there was no guarantee they had been. 

Presumably, the intent was to lock down their location from a distance, then send troops to converge on them while tracking their progress. Getting as close as they had, the usefulness of a single sniper was greatly reduced. The fact that they weren't firing, not even the paint bullets the unit had been given for the exercise meant that either they were clear... or the sniper's purpose wasn't just to take them down. 

"I think we need to assume they saw us, and plan accordingly." Lassa said, nodding approvingly at Lucy owning up to it. "It wasn't technically a miscalculation. Your calculations were fine, it was the unexpected variable that wasn't accounted for. It's always what you don't expect that gets you." Glancing back at the fortress in the distance, Lassa tapped his lips for a moment. 

"The blowhard might have a more competent subordinate who's 'adjusting' some of his ideas on the fly. Or, he might just have gotten lucky. Broken clock, twice a day, you know the saying." He mused as he blurred forwards. Moving from trunk to trunk, he followed Lucy forwards. It was quick, but they had to be careful, just in case-

"SPREAD OUT! DON'T LET ANYONE SLIP PAST YOU!"

There we go. A patrol, sent out in their direction and sweeping the forest. He stopped behind the trunk he was currently hugging and gestured to Lucy, indicating the oncoming patrol and giving the sign for 'orders?'. 

He had a few ideas, but this was her show. No time to offer options, and the basic signaling wouldn't allow for complex planning. She'd have to trust that he could either fulfill an objective without a full explanation, or risk getting made mid-plan. Overthinking could be just as deadly as recklessness here. As the patrol got closer with each step, their options decreased. Already, stealth was going to be harder with each passing moment. 

Whatever the course, the patrol presented both a problem and an opportunity. Flexing his fingers, he began spooling up rolls of cloth in his palm, material ready to be reshaped as needed depending on the play. 

[Jess]

What~? Think I can kill you with looks alone~?

Prepare the worst, and hope for the best huh? Looks like he was right… Freezing in her tracks as she spotted the sign of a white uniform ahead of them and recognising the value in what lass had told her about the response, though Miss Roberts was no doubt disheartened to realize that such a small slip had sent their smoothly orchestrated scheme into doubt despite the assurance she was offered, ultimately she was enough of a pro to know that she had bigger and better things to think about over as the forest was flanked by potential defenders only too keen on barring their passage. Or trying to, at least.
We'd probably win in a straight fight if we rushed em quickly enough? Perhaps the sable siren showing that she carried a note of superiority when it came to the common soldier even now as she immediately seemed to assume she and her apt ally would prove victorious in a straight fight even with an armed brigade like this one, perhaps if they had been acting in the spirit she had suggested earlier then she might have made good on that presumption and lurched into the fight straight away, but something seemed to stall that endeavour.

Those kind of numbers, it's only going to take one of them shouting or letting off a shot and the game is over… Or is it? Quickly able to guess that they weren't wholly unlikely to make it through such a clash totally unscathed and even less likely to keep quiet as she did so, the vision of the vixen tightened as she realized that either way there seemed little chance of them avoiding wider attention, but soon Lucy seemed to smirk as she opted to act like the guerrilla fighter and transform such a shortcoming into a potential strength.
“I've got a plan. Can you whip me up a little body pillow type thing of yourself~?” With that in mind happy to slip back into her more inconspicuous waspish form and beat her wings innocuously to head on over to where she might be able to commune with her cohort more readily, and then piped up in a tone which sounded like a buzzing hiss as she settled on the tree next to him, and crackled out some words in a manner which did its most to keep their profile discreet.

“We're probably gonna get seen either way, so best thing to do is use that to our advantage? I'll take a decoy with me, lead them away, then use my handy, hidey bug form to give them the slip and catch you back up?” Seeming to at the very least possess a creative mind when it came to the obstacles they faced even not an experienced one and perhaps chalking that fact up to her inherent tendency toward mischief, she couldn't help but look toward the rather versatile skill that her mentor possessed and wonder just how apt they were with those sheets and folds and such, and Miss Roberts managed to concoct a plan through that sense of curiosity and belief she had in Lassa as well.
“Meanwhile, while them and their friends are out chasing me and my new cuddle buddy, you get inside?” More than able to play decoy when her principle skill now seemed to be the ability to dip from sight and the detection of most with relative ease and perhaps only shackled by the presence of a larger figure by her side in that, there seemed almost a poetic sense of satisfaction in leading the lads and lasses on a merry chase, and making their real enemy think he had been dealt a winning hand too, when in reality he had been given anything but…

	"Marie Shelley" – Nurse?	### words
	@tag, Longcoat Badass