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#FreedomFalls – December 7, 2016
The weather is not bad for this time of year. There is a chilly breeze of air measuring -15 degrees Celsius, which is certianly uncomfortable for the unprepared.
They find themselves by a hiking path leading into the forest at the east-north-east edge of the state's territory. It's within walking distance of Road's End. The forest is dense with various species of tree, most notably a pine-like tree with quite sharp needles that is best avoided. The gravel hiking path itself is snowed over with a 12cm (5") layer, a few footsteps along it and plastic poles flanking the right side of
Ehanis steps out of a wheeled taxi onto the snowy roadside. She's wearing a gray winter coat with sharp red trims coat blue jeans over a hidden insulated layer of clothes. On her head is a asari-shaped blue beanie, and a red scarf surrounds her neck. Ehanis has lived on Illium and Omega in the past, which means she's used to warmer, more consistent temperatures. She has a pistol holstered on her left thigh. She
took the taxi from town, picking up Sioria on the way, though it gave the turian quite short notice.
Anyone else might have considered it too short notice, but considering it was the Turian's day off and, like usual, she didn't have much going on, she was happy to come out. She herself is out of her armour for once, wearing a thick black, double-breasted jacket and thermal boots, keeping her nice and toasty in the freezing air. She even has a hat with two flaps on either side, hanging
down over the sides of her face. "Tell you what..." she says, shoving her gloved hands into her pockets. She breathes a small sigh and watches as her breath turns to a little cloud. "I'd kill for a Quarian eco-suit right now. I hear they keep them at the perfect temperatures no matter the environment. Within reason."
Ehanis raises an eyebrow. "Oh yeah?" she says, not agreeing with that, "but that crap runs out of batteries after a while. Winterwear doesn't."
"Well yeah, that's what I hear." she says. "Besides, ever see a Quarian wearing a coat? Nuh-uh." She steps onto the side walk and takes a good look at their surroundings. "But I get your point. They're probably rechargable though, right?" she looks to Ehanis with an eye-ridge quirked. "Sounds more efficient." The Turian takes her attention away for a moment to take another look around
the forest ahead of them. "Y'know, I don't think I've been out here before." The Turian begins down the path at a leisurely pace. "Not looking for a place to dump the body, are ya?" She makes sure to punctuate that with a wink.
Ehanis feigns surprise for a moment as she begins walking alongside the turian. "Oh, fuck. You're onto my plans already," she says, a grin forming. "No, I would have picked a different location if I had those plans."
The path goes north and is close to the eastern edge of the forest; the edge facing towards the town.
Sioria chuckles lightly as they walk, her boots making muffled crunching noises as they sink into the snow. She looks to Ehanis and taps her nose. "Keen detective skills." she says. "So what IS the plan?" she finally asks, looking up at the tall trees around her. There was an oddly soothing silence all around them, only broken occasionally by the odd creaking of a tree, or a whistle from
Ehanis steps back at the tap of the nose, then shrugs. "Plans?" she says. "I heard about a nice place for a hike, and we hadn't spoken in a while. Not in person." She sighs. "It's been a shit couple of months," she says. "Both of the Redrock gigs I've been on has gone to hell, and my sister was pissed at the other bosses for sending me on the last one... and at me."
Sioria blinks and nods slowly at Ehanis' explanation. "I guess I'm partially at fault for less talking." she says, quietly. "Kinda figured you wanted space and all." She begins walking again and clears her throat. "Yeah, it hasn't been super, has it? I don't really know anything from outside of what you've told me, but... hey, things can get better, right?" She turns and walks backwards
for a moment, giving Ehanis two thumbs up. "Just gotta, uh... stay positive, right?" Little did she know, she was about five seconds away from walking into a tree.
Ehanis snorts. "Yeah, yeah, I know," she says. "There hasn't been much to be positive about. That's the problem. Expecting 'Lyna to get better... that's going to take a big fucking miracle. She acts like she's my mother sometimes." A tight-lipped smile is her only reaction to seeing the turian about to walk into a tree, though there's signs of stifled laughter in her expression.
Sioria raises an eye-ridge a little at her sifled laughter, and cocks her head slightly. "What? Is there something on m- oof!" Wham! Right into the tree she goes, causing several snow-ball sized layers of snow to come tumbling from some of the branches above. She closes her eyes and lets out a small, resigned sigh. "Ow." she finally says, snow having built up on her head and shoulders.
"...anyway. That's why you've got friends like me, right? Something to stay positive about." she says as she brushes herself up... only to get covered with one more thin layer. She gives an annoyed sigh as she steps out from under the tree and brushes herself off again.
Ehanis can't stifle it anymore, and she breaks out into laughter once the turian hits the tree. "And laugh about," she says. "Seriously, though, didn't that Taurus crew teach you to be aware of your surroundings?"
Sioria shakes off the last bit of snow and grumbles slightly. "I must be getting rusty." she says with a light sigh. "Or I'm just distracted. Who knows, you're a distracting person." A small smile appears on her plated face as she looks back at Ehanis. "But hey. Made you smile, right?" She gives the ol' double thumbs up again. "Mission accomplished." With a spin on her heel, she's back
Ehanis nods and starts walking, not taking the turian's hand. "Don't get yourself badly hurt on my behalf," she says. "Freedom Falls is sorely lacking in turians, especially ones that aren't fuckups." Not that she's anyone to judge, the washed up Omega merc that always seems to screw up missions. At least she hoped Sioria didn't read the mission reports.
Sioria doesn't seem to react to Ehanis not taking her arm, instead just walking along. She honestly didn't expect Ehanis to take it, but it was a nice gesture at least. "Y'know what, I think you might be right there," Sioria says, tapping her chin. "I guess the only other ones I've met are mercs. Not many of us roaming the streets." She shrugs a little and keeps walking. "I guess I'm
Ehanis snorts. "Did you forget about the tree already?" she asks before a sigh escapes her. "Maybe we're all fuckups out here, in our own ways."
"I was hoping I was excluded from the 'fuck-up' catagory." she says with a small sigh. "Lets just, uh... forget about the tree, yeah?" She looks around briefly before smirking and letting out a small amused huff. "Hard to do in a forest. Speaking of, thanks for bringing me here. Its gorgeous." Though she still isn't certain why she was brought here. Eh, it was nice enough to spend time
with her. Those sorts of questions would just ruin the mood. "I reckon you're right though. We all make mistakes. Hell, I'm sure your sister's made some big one's in her time. Why else would she be hesitant?"
Ehanis nods. "It's nice out here, and quiet," she says. "I hate quiet, though, that's why I didn't want to come here alone." She pauses for a moment, and nods as she addresses the other point. "Oh yeah, she's made some terrible mistakes," she says, "like underestimating me." That pales in comparison to some of them, but Ehanis knew better than to even brush on the biggest ones.
There is a fork in the path ahead, one continuing forward while another goes left. There are no signage to go by, but a keen eye might glimpse a tall thin structure peeking out between the treetops to the west.
Sioria grins and gives Ehanis a firm but friendly slap on the shoulder. "Atta girl." That hand turns into a thumbs up. "Think positive." She continues forth, down the snowy, gravelly road until she meets the fork in the road. She looks down both, then looks to Ehanis expectantly. "Been here before? Which way is more interesting?" She looks own each way again, then squints down the west
fork. "What's that down there?" she asks. "Could it be civilization after all these weeks of wondering through the forest?!" she looks back to Ehanis with a very badly acted shocked expression.
Ehanis shakes her head. "That's not positive," she mutters before answering the question. "Like I said, I just heard about this place," she says. "Might as well check it out. We've got all day anyway, right?"
Sioria feels a little awkward at first. Maybe Sioria thought a little /too/ positive... she shrugs it off and starts off towards the west. "We do indeed, my fine Asari friend, we do indeed." she says, putting it rather simply. "Maybe there's treasure, eh? One of them... human witch things." Then she looks around them again. "...or its just a boring ol' building with nothing interesting.
But this is Aite, right? When does that ever happen?" she can't help but give an amused snort at the notion.
Ehanis grins at the mention of 'witch'. "Wouldn't count on it so close to the opening," she says. "I dressed up as a 'space witch' yesterday, actually. Redrock had this ridiculous party where we all looked silly. You should have been there. It was for Li, though, so we couldn't go too crazy on the booze."
Sioria tsks lightly. "Yeah, don't remind me. I was stuck on the other side of town, couldn't make it back in time." She sighs heavily. "By the time I did get back to base, they were already cleaning up. I couldn't tell you how let down I felt." She shakes her head and smiles again. "But there's always next time, right?" She leans in slightly. "So tell me... was the outfit hot? Eh? Eh?"
Ehanis sighs. "You missed out," she says. "And yeah, of course it was." She grins. "Ilyna's was even better, but she refused to wear the dress, so her costume ended up looking half-assed. Not that I expected her wear it, but I figured she needed to let loose and stop worrying about everything." While she was misrepresenting the issues her sister faced – for the right reasons –, she was being honest to some
Sioria lets out a small groan and facepalms. "Ugh, of course it was. Now I regret not being there even more!" She looks to Ehanis once again. "Please tell me you got pictures, right? I mean, its not like you're gonna wear it again any time soon, are you?" She shakes her head and huffs a little. "Stupid parties... stupid sexy costumes... I wanted to go as an elephant..."
Ehanis raises an eyebrow. "I didn't take any pictures," she says. "Security camera must have seen it all, though. The techie might let you have a copy if you ask nicely. And what the fuck is an 'elephant'?"
As they get closer, the construction reveals itself to be a simple watchtower. It's mostly wooden aside from the metal scaffolding under it. There is a ladder on the side of it facing the path.
Sioria tsks again. "Of course there's no pictures." she says. "Security camera pictures just don't have that pazazz, there's no heart to 'em. I guess you'll just have to model the outfit for me." She says, jokingly. Well, hopeful jokingly, but she knew better by then. "As for an elephant? Heard about 'em when I was working for Tauros, they're massive land mammals that live on earth.
They've got big ears, giant tusks, and a 'trunk'. Like a long hose for a nose. Scary stuff, but really cool." she says with a grin. "I know what you're thinking, but hey, I like 'em and I think they're badass. Plus I found a place i could get all the pieces for." She looks up at the watch tower and sneers a little. "Ah. Just a watch tower." Then she blinks as an idea forms. She looks
around, then to the tower, then Ehanis. "...last one up's a rotten egg!" she quips before running off towards the ladder.