Thank you for your service

SirCatfish · Sep 1, 2018

Bastian, as it currently was, spent most of his waking time alternating between his job and his studies. While it didn't make for a very interesting life, he appreciated the structure it gave him to follow. It also meant that there was rarely a time where he didn't have anything to do.

Right now happened to be one of those times. Normally, when he had shortened classes, he clocked in for more hours on the job in the evening, but tonight he had miraculously forgot about his shortened seminar. He should probably be glad for the break, but finding himself with nothing to fill the time was more than a bit disconcerting.

An unlit cigarette trailed from his mouth as he flipped through the notes he had made in the past few months, searching for errors or incomplete entries. Looking upwards for what was intended to be a short break, he found his attention immediately directed to somebody currently crossing the courtyard. Somebody he was almost absolutely positive that he knew.

"Hey, Sergeant Havoc?" he called out, closing his notebook as a frown deepened on his face. "Sir?"

@Romi

Romi · Sep 2, 2018

Havoc hadn't noticed him. That was kind of the point, but he didn't know that was the point, and he chalked it up to distraction. He simply turned, a folder tucked under his arm, and stared at the man who'd spoken to him.

Sergeant. He hadn't been called that in more than a year, and it took him a moment to even register it.

Bastian. His medic. Or one of his medics. Bastian hadn't been attached to his unit when he'd gone through his trouble, and he hadn't seen the man since his discharge. Seeing him on the island made it fairly clear that one way or another, Bastian had likely had an incident of own.

He slapped out a salute by sheer instinct. A fellow soldier, more or less. Ranks had gone by the wayside.

"Schwarz," he said, genuinely unclear on what rank Schwarz had held. Was he still a medic? Probalby not. "You were discharged as well?"

SirCatfish · Sep 2, 2018

It was Sergeant James Havoc all right. Bastian was attached to Havoc’s unit for the better half of a deployment before he was transferred, and though he didn’t spend enough time interacting with Havoc to actually get to know the man, he knew enough of him to understand that he wasn’t one of the glory-seekers or sadists who actually got adrenaline out of killing. Unfortunately, there were too many of them in the Rangers.

There were good people, of course. But it always happened that the bad made a deeper impression on the whole than the decent majority.

He rushed to stand and return the salute, more out of habit than anything. that was something about the island that was different than the brief time he spent idle in the US. Nobody cared about his background here. And frankly, he liked it better.

“Medical. Took one too many bullets,” Bastian said, giving a rueful smile. “Didn’t expect to see you here, sir.”

Romi · Sep 3, 2018

Havoc's personality tended to be vaguely disguised within the military. Naturally, Havoc was stoic and emotionless. In the military, people simply assumed he was putting on a front. Acting stern and stoic and with a distinct lack of care because that was what impressed people. Having your stuff together, basically.

Only no part of it was an act. That was just how he was all the time. Even in civilian life.

"One bullet is too many," Havoc said. It was true, although it sort of depended on where you got shot. One that nicked your arm might be something you could walk off. One that hit your head meant you were dead.

"I can't say the same," Havoc said. He held out his hand, a flame springing to life in his palm, and then he nodded.

"I was discharged after my powers activated," he explained, closing his palm and dropping his hand as his arm dropped. "The military has minimal interest in supernaturals. It risks breaking too many treaties, or violating the veil."

SirCatfish · Sep 3, 2018

"I got 3 to my back. Lucky nothing hit my spine. Still messed me up pretty badly," Bastian said. His jaw inadvertently tightened again recounting the memory, but he grinned anyways. No use in getting anybody to worry.

Technically, he shouldn't have been discharged under a medical count. His injuries had been debilitating, but not to the degree that he was unable to recover from them. Mostly he suspected that it was his psychological state and the conditions surrounding his injury that prompted his discharge, but that was not important.

At least he had something to do here. That was more than what could be said for many other veterans.

The sudden appearance of the flame was initially surprising, which showed on his face, but turned into muted interest soon after. He had spent long enough here to see more than enough of powers being demonstrated. "That makes sense. Shame, though. Probably would've been pretty useful at times."

"Well, I also see ghosts now, after I've been injured, so I guess that's a bit of a problem as well. Also how I ended up here," he joked.

Romi · Sep 4, 2018

Havoc nodded along to three to the back. He could understand that. He couldn't relate, because the number of times he'd been shot was literally once, but he could understand anyway. He'd seen people on his squad go down. Some of them got back up. Some of them didn't.

"They would be," Havoc agreed. "Most powers on the island would be. However, I understand why they'd prefer to avoid an all out supernatural war. Having no government use supernaturals is preferable to completely outclassing humans entirely."

Havoc still considered himself human. If a supernatural war broke out, he was under no illusions he'd be near the bottom rung of things. Fire and air manipulation couldn't keep up with literal dragons, let alone the gods that walked the island just like anyone else.

"Ghosts?" Havoc said, his voice as inexpressive as ever even if an eyebrow did go up. "After a near death experience, I guess?"

SirCatfish · Sep 5, 2018

"Yeah. Lots of insane powers around here. Vampires, werewolves, dragons... if humans ever end up in a war with supernaturals I guess I know where to put my bets," Bastian responded, flashing a grin. In many ways a war on that level would be completely different, and the strategist inside of him was already wondering how it would play out. Clearly conventional warfare would not be the way to go, but there are very few supernaturals who can withstand a direct grenade hit...

He shook that chain of thought out of his head. Strategising was fun. Thinking about just how brutal that could be was not.

"I met a kid here, maybe 20. Nice guy. Apparently the UK government experimented on him. Tried to make him a weapon," he offered. A redhead, with eyes that didn't track. He had forgotten the kid's name, but he did remember what he said. "Ghosts. Yeah. I was dead for.... maybe fifteen minutes? Longer than anyone should come back alive for."

"After that, I saw ghosts. Turns out I'm half reaper. Nearly drowning in blood is, well, not my favourite way to find out. But I'm glad I know."

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Thank you for your service

SirCatfish

Chaotic Tired

Romi

Secretly a Bird

SirCatfish

Chaotic Tired

Romi

Secretly a Bird

SirCatfish

Chaotic Tired

Romi

Secretly a Bird

SirCatfish

Chaotic Tired