007 ☯ Alma [VOICE]

[alma_karma]

[ooc: Backdated to not long after midnight on April 1st.]

[The feed clicks on to the sound of panicked, raspy breathing. Small fingers fumble at the device for several long seconds before words come, halting and strained.]

A-Allen! I-!... I was back in the l-lab and then I woke up here a-and- [Alma cuts off, coughing wetly away from the feed for a minute before he manages to gather himself and continue]

Yu's not br-breathing and he's not getting b-back up!

Comments

[TEXT > VIDEO]

[tothelastbreath]

[Sent a short while later.]

you're coming? i'm right outside the barrier if you want to meet up.

[The feed then switches to video, panning slowly around Allen's surroundings. Hopefully that's enough to show where he is.]

[TEXT > VIDEO]

[selfkimesis.livejournal.com]

[OFFLINE]

[tothelastbreath]

[Is actually kind of unsure about this, but night will give them cover, and it does help to have someone who can tell East from West with him. Whenever Karkat reaches the other side of the river, Tim will greet and lead him across to where Allen's waiting under the cover of some trees.]

[Offline]

[selfkimesis.livejournal.com]

[The night is exactly what a Troll belongs in and Karkat is no exception. He might be pretty untrollish a lot of the times but he moves silently through the darkness and meets up with Allen thanks to Tim's help.] Plan. Do you have one?

[Offline]

[tothelastbreath]

[A simple nod in greeting, and he's turning his PDA around to show Karkat the video of Kanda and Alma's surroundings, pointing out a few landmarks in the cityscape.]

This is the view from wherever they are. It's not quite a map, but I can ask them for more details later, or see if they can send us a signal of some sort. They're both alright. We only have to find them and make sure they get back safely.

[Offline]

[selfkimesis.livejournal.com]

[He takes in the view, thinking about it. They don't have anything to aid them at their disposal.]

What's between us and them?

[Offline]

[tothelastbreath]

[Turning to nod at the wall encircling all of Credinta.]

Just this and some guards posted along it. Once we get past, we shouldn't run into much trouble as long as we keep a low profile. My friends may also be able to meet us halfway after a bit of rest.

[Well, he knows Kanda can. Not sure if Alma's mentally up to it.]

[Offline]

[selfkimesis.livejournal.com]

How do you usually deal with the guards? How big is their post?

[Offline]

[tothelastbreath]

Sneak past them. They're only doing their jobs, I'd rather not fight them if I can help it.

[Reaches to push a low-hanging branch aside so they can just make out the guardhouses, each situated several metres apart.]

It's not too hard if we can be quiet and fast, especially at night.

[Offline]

[selfkimesis.livejournal.com]

[He studies and looks at Allen. He's pale, too pale. Then again he has his HORNS that are bright. He thinks about it.]

Then at least be fucking smart about it. You're pale. Cover up.

[He removes one of his spare shirts from his Sylladex and tears it up to tie around his horns to cover them up.]

[Offline]

[tothelastbreath]

[With just the faintest trace of annoyance:] I know that, I was just getting to it.

[Flips the hood of his coat up and tugs it low, then takes a moment to survey Karkat's handiwork.]

That should do, I can't see them anymore. Ready?

[Offline]

[selfkimesis.livejournal.com]

[Karkat only grunts this time, you practically can't see him in his grays and blacks.]

[Offline]

[tothelastbreath]

[Looks like they're as ready as they'll ever be! Allen points to a stretch of wall partially shielded from view by an overhanging tree, almost equidistance from two guardhouses.]

Will you need help?

[Offline]

[selfkimesis.livejournal.com]

[In answer to that Karkat gives him a look.] Let's just fucking go already. Longer we piss around here, the more likely they'll be found.

[Offline]

[tothelastbreath]

―We're in this together, I don't want you to get caught either.

[But he'll save his concerns and go ahead, sticking to the shadows as much as possible on his way to the wall.]

[Offline]

[selfkimesis.livejournal.com]

I'm not going to get caught.

[He snaps before he follows him, sticking to the shadows. Hard to see him at all with his horns covered.]

[Offline]

[tothelastbreath]

[This is reminding Allen, albeit very vaguely, of missions with Kanda. Karkat sounds like he knows what he's doing, so Allen will go ahead and fling himself over the wall, landing on silent feet and darting behind some bushes to wait for the troll.]

[Offline]

[selfkimesis.livejournal.com]

[Karkat is reminded of when they snuck into Derse to overthrown the Black Queen. There were more of them, moving silently and doing their parts of the operation. ...made it nostalgic for the days before everything went wrong. He climbs the wall slowly, moving up and dropping down without a sound on the other side.

He joins Allen in the bushes with a snort.] Well, are we going to get moving or hang out in the bushes like useless fuckers? Which way?

1/2 [Offline]

[tothelastbreath]

[Allen's waiting with a bit of a smile on his lips--]

2/2 [Offline]

[tothelastbreath]

[--until the swearing blasts it right off.]

[in a hushed voice, trying not to sound too affronted:] I was waiting for you.

[He then turns to point out a clock tower in the distance, which was visible in the video from Alma's PDA.]

Suppose that's as good a start as any.

[Offline]

[selfkimesis.livejournal.com]

[Karkat watches him point and looks around warily.]

The area's clear, let's go.

[And this time like a leader he moves out first, keeping to the shadows and darkness. He pauses at a good spot to wait for him and removes his sickle from his sylladex. Then uses it to faintly signal Allen.]

[Offline]

[tothelastbreath]

[He doesn't seem to have an issue with playing rear guard, especially since he can't navigate his way out of a paper bag. When Karkat signals, he follows with Tim stuffed into his coat, sticking to the shadows much like the other had done. Unless he spots any signs of danger, or has a suggestion to volunteer later, he'll be happy keeping to this arrangement in silence.]

[Offline] LOL THAT ICON

[selfkimesis.livejournal.com]

[This is how Karkat used to do this. He falls right back into the old routine, ducking low as he moves in the direction of the clock tower. He finds an alley way and checks it before signaling again.]

[Offline] I love and abuse it!

[tothelastbreath]

[Allen slips into the alley way after Karkat, glad to find it deserted. They should be a safe distance away from the barrier by now. Just watch out for coppers and inquisitive eyes, and they'll be fine. The practiced way with which Karkat is going about this hasn't escaped Allen's notice, but now is neither the time nor place for questions, so he simply gestures for the other boy to keep going.]

[Offline] Abuse it forever~

[selfkimesis.livejournal.com]

[He shifts at the edge of the alleyway and cautiously peers out. He holds up his hand to signal Allen to wait. Then moves out, how much longer till they reach the others? He has to wonder on that.]