Free States of the Crescent

[Through the Living Hope]

Just now, The Stormfather said:

 

Quote

Yep

 

[The Stormfather He/Him]

1 minute ago, Spark of Hope said:

 

“Mare. We survived the arena. We survived the rebellion.” Mark glared out at the people surrounding him. “We can survive this. We’re practically experts, at this point, at surviving when we logically shouldn’t.”

[Through the Living Hope]

Just now, The Stormfather said:

“Mare. We survived the arena. We survived the rebellion.” Mark glared out at the people surrounding him. “We can survive this. We’re practically experts, at this point, at surviving when we logically shouldn’t.”

She glanced around at the Marksmen. That being the case or not, they'd had some form of control then. They weren't surrounded by people holding guns at them.

[The Stormfather He/Him]

Just now, Spark of Hope said:

She glanced around at the Marksmen. That being the case or not, they'd had some form of control then. They weren't surrounded by people holding guns at them.

“Mare, if you have any kind of idea of how to get out of here,” Mark murmured, “I’m open to suggestions.”

One of the Marksmen, with a knife, seemed to be about to throw, and Mark turne sharply towards him and raised his Shardblade. “Bad idea, kid.”

the man was probably a decade older than him.

[Through the Living Hope]

Just now, The Stormfather said:

“Mare, if you have any kind of idea of how to get out of here,” Mark murmured, “I’m open to suggestions.”

One of the Marksmen, with a knife, seemed to be about to throw, and Mark turne sharply towards him and raised his Shardblade. “Bad idea, kid.”

the man was probably a decade older than him.

She put a hand on one of her bracers, but made no indication that she planned to tap it. "The only idea I have involves leaving you behind."

[The Stormfather He/Him]

23 hours ago, Spark of Hope said:

She put a hand on one of her bracers, but made no indication that she planned to tap it. "The only idea I have involves leaving you behind."

Mark paused. “It… that might be the only way you can get out of here.”

He lowered his voice to barely a whisper. “Back out. Try to get away. I’ll try to distract them. Maybe… maybe you’ll be able to get to help before they… before they kill me.”

[Through the Living Hope]

8 minutes ago, The Stormfather said:

Mark paused. “It… that might be the only way you can get out of here.”

He lowered his voice to barely a whisper. “Back out. Try to get away. I’ll try to distract them. Maybe… maybe you’ll be able to get to help before they… before they kill me.”

She wanted to protest. But she didn’t. He could tell she didn’t want to leave him behind. 

[The Stormfather He/Him]

6 hours ago, Spark of Hope said:

She wanted to protest. But she didn’t. He could tell she didn’t want to leave him behind. 

Mark sighed. "It's..."

The only way?

When is there ever only one way?

The circle of enemies grew tighter, though even still, none dared to shoot or attack Mark. They seemed more nervous than before, and several of them were whispering to each other, though Mark couldn't hear the words.

"I've tried everything that I can." He murmured. 

[Through the Living Hope]

58 minutes ago, The Stormfather said:

Mark sighed. "It's..."

The only way?

When is there ever only one way?

The circle of enemies grew tighter, though even still, none dared to shoot or attack Mark. They seemed more nervous than before, and several of them were whispering to each other, though Mark couldn't hear the words.

"I've tried everything that I can." He murmured. 

“Just- only if you stay safe. Get out of here. I don’t think I could live with myself if you didn’t.”

[The Stormfather He/Him]

13 minutes ago, Spark of Hope said:

“Just- only if you stay safe. Get out of here. I don’t think I could live with myself if you didn’t.”

"If we both turn and run, they'll shoot us down without a second thought." He said, swinging his Blade intimidatingly towards a few who had drawn closer.

"If we could get one of those..." He waved his hand vaguely in the direction of the automobiles. "Things, we might be able to just...I don't know. Leave?"

[Through the Living Hope]

4 minutes ago, The Stormfather said:

"If we both turn and run, they'll shoot us down without a second thought." He said, swinging his Blade intimidatingly towards a few who had drawn closer.

"If we could get one of those..." He waved his hand vaguely in the direction of the automobiles. "Things, we might be able to just...I don't know. Leave?"

“We probably could.”

[The Stormfather He/Him]

14 hours ago, Spark of Hope said:

“We probably could.”

“Alright. So we run, grab one of those things, hope it starts fast enough for us to not get shot, pray that they don’t break something important in the auto when they shoot at us, and hope that they aren’t great at running and won’t get too many shots.” Mark grimaced. “Seems unlikely. Although, there ain’t much else we can do.”

[Through the Living Hope]

14 minutes ago, The Stormfather said:

“Alright. So we run, grab one of those things, hope it starts fast enough for us to not get shot, pray that they don’t break something important in the auto when they shoot at us, and hope that they aren’t great at running and won’t get too many shots.” Mark grimaced. “Seems unlikely. Although, there ain’t much else we can do.”

"I'll head for it and try to start it. Hold off as long as you can."

[The Stormfather He/Him]

3 hours ago, Spark of Hope said:

"I'll head for it and try to start it. Hold off as long as you can."

“I’ll try to get them focused on me again.” He said quietly, then stepped towards one of them.

“None of you are willing to take the shot.” Mark said, addressing those surrounding him. “Because you know you’ll probably die, or at least end up with a Shardblade through your arm if you do.”

Some people looked at him oddly. A few looked guilty that they hadn’t taken the shot yet.

Mark shifted his Blade into more of a hook, that wasn’t sharp, to pry off him other aluminum restraint.

A few shied away, though others seemed to, oddly, gain confidence.

If you fight them, they’ll fight back. Right now, their mentality is in between not sure. If you’re hostile, you’ll drive them to one side, and you’ll die.

“You can-“ Mark started.

”Oh, just shut up-“ One of them shouted, to everyone but Mark’s amusement.

[Through the Living Hope]

1 minute ago, The Stormfather said:

“I’ll try to get them focused on me again.” He said quietly, then stepped towards one of them.

“None of you are willing to take the shot.” Mark said, addressing those surrounding him. “Because you know you’ll probably die, or at least end up with a Shardblade through your arm if you do.”

Some people looked at him oddly. A few looked guilty that they hadn’t taken the shot yet.

Mark shifted his Blade into more of a hook, that wasn’t sharp, to pry off him other aluminum restraint.

A few shied away, though others seemed to, oddly, gain confidence.

If you fight them, they’ll fight back. Right now, their mentality is in between not sure. If you’re hostile, you’ll drive them to one side, and you’ll die.

“You can-“ Mark started.

”Oh, just shut up-“ One of them shouted, to everyone but Mark’s amusement.

She snuck over to the automobile.

[The Stormfather He/Him]

1 minute ago, Spark of Hope said:

She snuck over to the automobile.

As she did, Mark yelled, “Adris, now!”

Nothing happened.

but, the shout did catch several of the people off guard, and they readied weapons in other directions, expecting an ambush.

He laughed. “Little paranoid, aren’t you?”

A few of them started laughing, and others mocking his desperation. Few of them maintained their guard.

[Through the Living Hope]

Just now, The Stormfather said:

As she did, Mark yelled, “Adris, now!”

Nothing happened.

but, the shout did catch several of the people off guard, and they readied weapons in other directions, expecting an ambush.

He laughed. “Little paranoid, aren’t you?”

A few of them started laughing, and others mocking his desperation. Few of them maintained their guard.

She cursed under her breath as she tried to hotwire the vehicle.

[The Stormfather He/Him]

On 4/4/2025 at 1:31 PM, Spark of Hope said:

She cursed under her breath as she tried to hotwire the vehicle.

Mark continued to speak with the guards, distracting them for longer.

He felt his Spren tugging at his mind, warning him.

He spun around, Blade ready, at a few of the guards who had drawn closer. "Back off." He growled.

They did, one of them even apologizing.

As a few moments went on, Mark feigned like he was pacing around, and made his way towards the automobile.

[Through the Living Hope]

3 hours ago, The Stormfather said:

Mark continued to speak with the guards, distracting them for longer.

He felt his Spren tugging at his mind, warning him.

He spun around, Blade ready, at a few of the guards who had drawn closer. "Back off." He growled.

They did, one of them even apologizing.

As a few moments went on, Mark feigned like he was pacing around, and made his way towards the automobile.

It shuddered, and the engine began running. And making a loud noise. 

[The Stormfather He/Him]

5 hours ago, Spark of Hope said:

It shuddered, and the engine began running. And making a loud noise. 

Mark launched his Shardblade towards one of the people, turning and leaping towards the automobile, throwing himself in.

"Go!"

He saw one person fall from his shardblade. A few bullets dinged off of parts of the automobile, and he ducked down.

[Through the Living Hope]

Just now, The Stormfather said:

Mark launched his Shardblade towards one of the people, turning and leaping towards the automobile, throwing himself in.

"Go!"

He saw one person fall from his shardblade. A few bullets dinged off of parts of the automobile, and he ducked down.

She panicked for a split second - not knowing how to drive herself - and slammed her foot against the gas. The vehicle flew forward. 

[The Stormfather He/Him]

5 minutes ago, Spark of Hope said:

She panicked for a split second - not knowing how to drive herself - and slammed her foot against the gas. The vehicle flew forward. 

Mark shouted something unintelligible, covering his ears at the gunshots and the loud engine.

A few shots hit the vehicle, though none doing massive damage. It seemed that the people they had just stolen it from had attached some kind of reinforcements on it. It made sense, given their warlike disposition.

Mark was breathing heavily. Please, please, please, please. He was silent, praying that no gunshots would hit anything important.

[Through the Living Hope]

1 minute ago, The Stormfather said:

Mark shouted something unintelligible, covering his ears at the gunshots and the loud engine.

A few shots hit the vehicle, though none doing massive damage. It seemed that the people they had just stolen it from had attached some kind of reinforcements on it. It made sense, given their warlike disposition.

Mark was breathing heavily. Please, please, please, please. He was silent, praying that no gunshots would hit anything important.

She clenched the wheel, her knuckles white. Her mouth dropped open and her eyes were wide. 

[The Stormfather He/Him]

4 minutes ago, Spark of Hope said:

She clenched the wheel, her knuckles white. Her mouth dropped open and her eyes were wide. 

"You know how to drive right?"

[Through the Living Hope]

1 minute ago, The Stormfather said:

"You know how to drive right?"

“[FLIP] NO!”