Free States of the Crescent

[Through the Living Hope]

2 minutes ago, The Stormfather said:

"I hope so. I just feel like I've run out of tricks, out of ways to somehow survive when I shouldn't. This time, we might have to win by actually winning, not dumb luck."

“We can. We have before.”

[The Stormfather He/Him]

4 minutes ago, Spark of Hope said:

“We can. We have before.”

Mark nodded. "Yeah... I guess I'd better be going. I'll come back if I think of anything else."

Mark turned and left through the door. He lifted the papers that Marewill had given them, staring hard at the map that marked their bases of operation.

He accidentally  bumped into a man walking the other way down the hallway towards Marewill's room.

"Oh, sorry!" Mark exclaimed, getting out of his way.

the man stayed silent, though his eyes landed on the tattoo on the back of Mark's neck. Mark hurried along, not wanting to deal with anybody who recognized the mark of the Rusted.

Mark, he's there to-

"I don't want to hear it, whatever it is. I can solve this without the help of a Killer."

[Through the Living Hope]

Just now, The Stormfather said:

Mark nodded. "Yeah... I guess I'd better be going. I'll come back if I think of anything else."

Mark turned and left through the door. He lifted the papers that Marewill had given them, staring hard at the map that marked their bases of operation.

He accidentally  bumped into a man walking the other way down the hallway towards Marewill's room.

"Oh, sorry!" Mark exclaimed, getting out of his way.

the man stayed silent, though his eyes landed on the tattoo on the back of Mark's neck. Mark hurried along, not wanting to deal with anybody who recognized the mark of the Rusted.

Mark, he's there to-

"I don't want to hear it, whatever it is. I can solve this without the help of a Killer."

Tinker began to close the door. 

[The Stormfather He/Him]

Just now, Spark of Hope said:

Tinker began to close the door. 

Mark continued walking, ignoring the incessant murmur of the Killer in his head.

The man, dressed in nondescript clothing, walked through the hallway. He slipped a few coins into his hand, glancing back towards Mark nervously.

Mark!

"SHUT UP!" He shouted. In the middle of a hospital. With working doctors.

A security guard appeared from a doorway a moment later, grabbing his arm. "Sir, we're going to have to escort you from the premises. Our patients cannot deal with your shouting."

Mark pulled against his arm, but the grip of the security guard was strong. Unnaturally strong.

Mark burned brass, soothing slightly at the guard's emotions. "I'm sorry, but there was a..." He searched for a way to explain. "A strange Spren, bothering me. I've sent it away now."

The guard was not convinced. "A Spren, you say?" He chuckled. "Whoever you are, this place is lined in aluminum, to stop such things from happening, and stop the Rotspren from infecting wounded patients."

The guard, too, noticed the tattoo on the back of Mark's neck.

He pulled Mark towards the door. "I know the way out. Leave me be." Mark said.

"We don't want any of your gangs in here, sir."

Mark flared brass, soothing the guard's suspicion and nervousness. He didn't budge.

Copper burner, maybe. But his hand is too strong... Feruchemy, maybe?

Twinborn? Working as a security guard at a hospital? Seems Unlikely.

Mark left the door, though he lingered outside for a few moments, watching the guard walk back through the main entrance of the hospital. He took a turn at one of the hallways. Towards the room he had come out of, probably.

Towards Marewill.

Mark, you need to listen! They're going to ki-

Mark flared brass angrily, pointing it towards the Killer. It did nothing, unsurprisingly.

 

 

 

[Through the Living Hope]

19 minutes ago, The Stormfather said:

Mark continued walking, ignoring the incessant murmur of the Killer in his head.

The man, dressed in nondescript clothing, walked through the hallway. He slipped a few coins into his hand, glancing back towards Mark nervously.

Mark!

"SHUT UP!" He shouted. In the middle of a hospital. With working doctors.

A security guard appeared from a doorway a moment later, grabbing his arm. "Sir, we're going to have to escort you from the premises. Our patients cannot deal with your shouting."

Mark pulled against his arm, but the grip of the security guard was strong. Unnaturally strong.

Mark burned brass, soothing slightly at the guard's emotions. "I'm sorry, but there was a..." He searched for a way to explain. "A strange Spren, bothering me. I've sent it away now."

The guard was not convinced. "A Spren, you say?" He chuckled. "Whoever you are, this place is lined in aluminum, to stop such things from happening, and stop the Rotspren from infecting wounded patients."

The guard, too, noticed the tattoo on the back of Mark's neck.

He pulled Mark towards the door. "I know the way out. Leave me be." Mark said.

"We don't want any of your gangs in here, sir."

Mark flared brass, soothing the guard's suspicion and nervousness. He didn't budge.

Copper burner, maybe. But his hand is too strong... Feruchemy, maybe?

Twinborn? Working as a security guard at a hospital? Seems Unlikely.

Mark left the door, though he lingered outside for a few moments, watching the guard walk back through the main entrance of the hospital. He took a turn at one of the hallways. Towards the room he had come out of, probably.

Towards Marewill.

Mark, you need to listen! They're going to ki-

Mark flared brass angrily, pointing it towards the Killer. It did nothing, unsurprisingly.

 

 

 

Tinker sat beside Marewill and took her hand. She smiled weakly at him. 

[The Stormfather He/Him]

6 minutes ago, Spark of Hope said:

Tinker sat beside Marewill and took her hand. She smiled weakly at him. 

The man in the hallway stood idly outside the door, as if waiting for something. He rolled some coins across his fingertips, and, when nobody was near, quickly drank a vial of metal.

A few seconds later, he nodded to the security guard who had escorted Mark from the hospital.

"He's gone?" Carelessly, the man had spoken loud enough for those inside Marewill's room to hear.

"He's gone." The security guard confirmed. 

"What are the orders?" The first man asked.

The security guard rolled up one sleeve and tapped the pewter bracer on his upper arm. He tapped twice with one finger, then twice with two.

The two went silent, both still outside Marewill's room. Others thought them simply waiting to visit a patient when they saw the pair.

-----

Mark continued on his way home. The Killer continued to press him about... something, though he didn't bother to listen.

"Remember..." He murmured as he walked, this time actually paying attention and not giving all of his attention to the papers in his hand.

[Through the Living Hope]

18 minutes ago, The Stormfather said:

The man in the hallway stood idly outside the door, as if waiting for something. He rolled some coins across his fingertips, and, when nobody was near, quickly drank a vial of metal.

A few seconds later, he nodded to the security guard who had escorted Mark from the hospital.

"He's gone?" Carelessly, the man had spoken loud enough for those inside Marewill's room to hear.

"He's gone." The security guard confirmed. 

"What are the orders?" The first man asked.

The security guard rolled up one sleeve and tapped the pewter bracer on his upper arm. He tapped twice with one finger, then twice with two.

The two went silent, both still outside Marewill's room. Others thought them simply waiting to visit a patient when they saw the pair.

-----

Mark continued on his way home. The Killer continued to press him about... something, though he didn't bother to listen.

"Remember..." He murmured as he walked, this time actually paying attention and not giving all of his attention to the papers in his hand.

Tinker leaned over and kissed her forehead.

[The Stormfather He/Him]

1 minute ago, Spark of Hope said:

Tinker leaned over and kissed her forehead.

The security guard entered the room without knocking.

"I apologize to both of you, but it appears there is a security breach in the hospital. We must take you to a safe location immediately."

[Through the Living Hope]

4 minutes ago, The Stormfather said:

The security guard entered the room without knocking.

"I apologize to both of you, but it appears there is a security breach in the hospital. We must take you to a safe location immediately."

He sat up. "What happened?"

Her hand tightened around his.

[The Stormfather He/Him]

3 minutes ago, Spark of Hope said:

He sat up. "What happened?"

Her hand tightened around his.

The guard paused for a moment. An odd moment, as if he wasn't quite sure what to say.

"Thieves." He answered. "Stealing medication from us. They may want to take hostages, which is why is it imperative that we get the patients out of the vulnerability of these rooms now."

[Through the Living Hope]

1 minute ago, The Stormfather said:

The guard paused for a moment. An odd moment, as if he wasn't quite sure what to say.

"Thieves." He answered. "Stealing medication from us. They may want to take hostages, which is why is it imperative that we get the patients out of the vulnerability of these rooms now."

He looked at Marewill, who considered the guard's words. She opened her mouth to answer, but hesitated.

Don't trust anyone you don't already know...

"Mare?"

[The Stormfather He/Him]

Just now, Spark of Hope said:

He looked at Marewill, who considered the guard's words. She opened her mouth to answer, but hesitated.

Don't trust anyone you don't already know...

"Mare?"

"I am telling you, we need to leave, now!" He insisted. He seemed... desperate.

[Through the Living Hope]

2 minutes ago, The Stormfather said:

"I am telling you, we need to leave, now!" He insisted. He seemed... desperate.

"Mare, we should move. We can always leave later."

She paused, then whispered, "Wouldn't they have an alarm for emergencies?"

Tinker hesitated.

[The Stormfather He/Him]

6 minutes ago, Spark of Hope said:

"Mare, we should move. We can always leave later."

She paused, then whispered, "Wouldn't they have an alarm for emergencies?"

Tinker hesitated.

The guard looked at the two of you, trying to hold back his fury.

"Just- Gah! Come with me! Do you want to be left here to be taken hostage or something?" He exclaimed.

[Through the Living Hope]

1 minute ago, The Stormfather said:

The guard looked at the two of you, trying to hold back his fury.

"Just- Gah! Come with me! Do you want to be left here to be taken hostage or something?" He exclaimed.

Tinker looked in her eyes. She didn't trust the guard.

He'd trust her.

"I'll protect her," he said.

[The Stormfather He/Him]

1 minute ago, Spark of Hope said:

Tinker looked in her eyes. She didn't trust the guard.

He'd trust her.

"I'll protect her," he said.

The guard paused. "What?" He seemed genuinely shocked. He didn't speak more for a while.

----

Mark was nearing his house when the Killer's constant grumbling got to him.

"Fine! What is it!" He shouted, not caring at this point if he was overheard.

Mark, you were trying to figure out who the most vulnerable person is that they would try to attack- It's not going to be any of the people at the house. Why would they attack people with weapons, guarded by Invested, if they could just attack the person who's bedridden in the hospital?

"Oh, no.." Mark turned around, back towards the large building. He wasn't that far away, though he had been walking quickly in his anger. "Rusts."

He started running back towards the hospital.

That man had been a copper burner, probably. He'll hide his ally's allomancy so the real security guards, if they have a Seeker, can't locate them. He had some kind of extra strength, so he was probably a pewter Feruchemist. A Brute.

Mark ran with a new sense of urgency, though without Stormlight, he felt slow in his run.

[Through the Living Hope]

9 minutes ago, The Stormfather said:

The guard paused. "What?" He seemed genuinely shocked. He didn't speak more for a while.

----

Mark was nearing his house when the Killer's constant grumbling got to him.

"Fine! What is it!" He shouted, not caring at this point if he was overheard.

Mark, you were trying to figure out who the most vulnerable person is that they would try to attack- It's not going to be any of the people at the house. Why would they attack people with weapons, guarded by Invested, if they could just attack the person who's bedridden in the hospital?

"Oh, no.." Mark turned around, back towards the large building. He wasn't that far away, though he had been walking quickly in his anger. "Rusts."

He started running back towards the hospital.

That man had been a copper burner, probably. He'll hide his ally's allomancy so the real security guards, if they have a Seeker, can't locate them. He had some kind of extra strength, so he was probably a pewter Feruchemist. A Brute.

Mark ran with a new sense of urgency, though without Stormlight, he felt slow in his run.

He kept his eyes trained on Marewill's. "I'm Invested. I can protect her."

He finally turned to the guard. "I know it's your job to keep us safe, and I appreciate that. But you forget that the two of us survived against creatures who were created to kill us. I'm a Mistborn, and I love her. I won't let anything happen to her. You can leave us here. Protect the others."

[The Stormfather He/Him]

14 minutes ago, Spark of Hope said:

He kept his eyes trained on Marewill's. "I'm Invested. I can protect her."

He finally turned to the guard. "I know it's your job to keep us safe, and I appreciate that. But you forget that the two of us survived against creatures who were created to kill us. I'm a Mistborn, and I love her. I won't let anything happen to her. You can leave us here. Protect the others."

The guard seemed hesitant. There was a rhythmic tapping from outside. Three, then two. Three, then two.

The guard paused. "Allow me to speak to my superiors, if you will." He stepped outside the door. The two walked a few steps away so they couldn't be heard, wary of any tin Tinker might be burning.

-----

Mark was still running. He was in the front lawn area of the hospital now.

[Through the Living Hope]

2 minutes ago, The Stormfather said:

The guard seemed hesitant. There was a rhythmic tapping from outside. Three, then two. Three, then two.

The guard paused. "Allow me to speak to my superiors, if you will." He stepped outside the door. The two walked a few steps away so they couldn't be heard, wary of any tin Tinker might be burning.

-----

Mark was still running. He was in the front lawn area of the hospital now.

Tinker looked at her in confusion. "Mare, why are you-"

"Mark said not to trust anyone we didn't know. I just.. I have a feeling.."

Tinker thought for a moment, nodded, and sighed. "I'll trust you, Mare, but we might have to make a break for it if you're right."

[The Stormfather He/Him]

10 minutes ago, Spark of Hope said:

Tinker looked at her in confusion. "Mare, why are you-"

"Mark said not to trust anyone we didn't know. I just.. I have a feeling.."

Tinker thought for a moment, nodded, and sighed. "I'll trust you, Mare, but we might have to make a break for it if you're right."

The guard comes back through the door a few moments later. Silent, he walks over to Marewill's bed and starts wheeling it out the door.

Quote

Is Tinker actually Mistborn or was he lying? I don't remember who had what Investiture of the tributes.

 

[Through the Living Hope]

1 minute ago, The Stormfather said:

The guard comes back through the door a few moments later. Silent, he walks over to Marewill's bed and starts wheeling it out the door.

 

Quote

Yeah he is, he Snapped when the Capitol tried to make Mare fight him

Tinker grabbed the head of the bed. "While you've been focused on getting us out, how many others have you let be taken hostage?"

[The Stormfather He/Him]

5 minutes ago, Spark of Hope said:

Tinker grabbed the head of the bed. "While you've been focused on getting us out, how many others have you let be taken hostage?"

Quote

Wow I have zero recollection of that.

I guess I may have skimmed over a few posts when everything was super active and I had to read like 3 pages at a time.

The 'guard' paused, as if he hadn't considered this. "Uh. There are other guards dealing with the rest of the patients-"

He was cut off as the other man, holding a few coins in his hand, stepped through the door. "Rust all of this. You two are coming with us."

The guard sighed in relief.

"You're terrible at lying, Kirian." The other man scolded.

"You were supposed to be in the uniform, Dierer." Kirian answered.

"Either way, let's just grab them and go." Dierer said.

[Through the Living Hope]

1 minute ago, The Stormfather said:

The 'guard' paused, as if he hadn't considered this. "Uh. There are other guards dealing with the rest of the patients-"

He was cut off as the other man, holding a few coins in his hand, stepped through the door. "Rust all of this. You two are coming with us."

The guard sighed in relief.

"You're terrible at lying, Kirian." The other man scolded.

"You were supposed to be in the uniform, Dierer." Kirian answered.

"Either way, let's just grab them and go." Dierer said.

"Tinker-"

He grabbed her in a bridal carry, flared pewter, and bursted through the guards.

[The Stormfather He/Him]

1 minute ago, Spark of Hope said:

"Tinker-"

He grabbed her in a bridal carry, flared pewter, and bursted through the guards.

Dierer tossed the coins into the air, Pushing hard on them towards Tinker. The other, Kirian, stepped away from the Coinshot and pulled a glass dagger out from within his jacket.

[Through the Living Hope]

3 minutes ago, The Stormfather said:

Dierer tossed the coins into the air, Pushing hard on them towards Tinker. The other, Kirian, stepped away from the Coinshot and pulled a glass dagger out from within his jacket.

He fell from the pressure of the coins, twisting his body so Marewill wouldn't hit the ground.