ғᴏᴜʀ. [ video; reflected off a mirror in his room, late evening ]

[secondcomingof]

[ The feed is sharp and clear and focused when it comes into view, centered around one Casval Mass, who has propped himself up on a heavy trunk with one long leg crossed over the other. His eyes are stern and his tone sterner still; compared to his initial introduction on the network, his demeanor is comparatively absent of ego, replaced by an intense drive that can be felt even through the mirror he's broadcasting from. ]

Good evening.

For those of you unfamiliar with me, my name is Casval Mass. It's come to my attention, recently, that a hotspot of activity related to the so-called "invasion" has flared within the area known as the "Dead District". More specifically, several non-network related residents have complained of werewolf attacks. While I too am skeptical of the nature of these attacks, its timing cannot be ignored in relation to our predicament.

[ Casval leans down, beginning to flip open the various locking mechanisms on the trunk. ]

Therefore, I propose that a scouting party of sorts be sent into this District to determine the scope of—and, if necessary, eliminate—this problem. I am aware that some of you may doubt my abilities on this front, or take issue with me personally. I ask you to set these qualms aside in favor of achieving our greater goal.

[ Click and snap go the last locks, and Casval rises, opening the trunk and pushing it over to reveal... well, a metric fuckload of weaponry. Guns of all sizes, body armor, blades, other objects meant to kill and maim and what have you, it's all there in spades. Some of it questionably legal, for those of you familiar with such stock.

A little bit of ego does slip through as he smirks back up at his audience, picking out a polished sniper rifle in particular for himself and leaning against it as he stands. ]

As you can see, I can provide the equipment necessary for this mission. I am seeking motivated individuals to join me in this endeavor. If those individuals do not step forward, I will simply go myself.

[ Blue eyes narrow testily. ]

I am through running and hiding. If I should die, let it be in this way, facing this threat, instead of cowering in the shadows. I will not allow paranoia and uncertainty to condemn me to a lifetime of servitude.

I thank you in advance for your cooperation.

[ And, just before the feed cuts, and before he forgets: ]

Banagher Links.

I need to speak to you immediately. Please respond.

[ The threat of or I'll find you anyway goes unspoken, but is clear in his voice regardless. ]

Comments

text

[masterofbling]

I'll tell the girls to give you a 21 leg salute. :)

[haha laying yourself on the line for others? what is that? :U]

[ video; mirror ]

[secondcomingof]

[ And you get the good ol' Italian salute for your efforts, Richard. Nice try, but Casval's somewhat stable now. You'll have to troll harder than that to get a rise out of him... so to speak. ]

Put them near me again and I'm tossing them out as bait.

[ ...well. ]

text;

[reapsthewind]

... you are one crazy motherfucker, you know that?

Anyway, I don't know how to shoot.

[ video; mirror ]

[secondcomingof]

[ He just smiles ever so slightly. Ever so unhingedly. ]

I can teach you, if you're interested. We need all the manpower we can get... and womanpower, if you'll allow me the poorness of a joke.

Private Audio

[twopercent]

Heh. A little over-the-top, don't you think?

you sure do love talking to his privates UH I MEAN audio yes

[secondcomingof]

I was channeling your ever-so-charming demeanor, darling.

Better to rile them up in a useful way, at least, before they're wont to explode in ways that are less so.

[Audio]

[chalicejoker]

[Well, he's got to put those monster-fighting memories to some use...and he's kind of restless and cranky. Even if he still thinks Casval is full of no small amount of hot air, the dude's still got some serious weaponry.]

I'll go.

[ video; mirror ]

[secondcomingof]

Much obliged.

[ A pause. ]

I don't believe I've caught your name?

text / picture

[deathcough]

[ text; cellphone ]

[secondcomingof]

Your contribution is, as always, invaluable, sir.

[ That was a rather nice way of putting yeah fuck you too you dumb little shit I don't got time for this. ]

text

[kingside]

Don't die. It would be bad for morale.

[... It's as close as he can get to saying "good luck" without acknowledging the awful reality of the situation.]

[ text; cellphone ]

[secondcomingof]

Allowing this issue to fester would be even worse, but I appreciate the vote of confidence... I think.

[ Don't worry. Casval's got enough awful acknowledgment of said reality for the both of you. ]

video

[unfearing]

[ On this end, Elizabeth's eyes go quite wide at that arsenal Casval is packing but she soon shakes the feeling off. Weapons aren't the enemy, at any rate. It's what people choose to do with those weapons, and for the moment she still finds the Captain to be an incredibly admirable man. She quickly switches on her own video feed. ]

Do you think I could be of any use, Captain? I can load and fire most small and medium caliber pistols.

[ video; mirror ]

[secondcomingof]

[ Casval hesitates, somewhat. Yes, he's already being protective of you, shut up. ]

Experience is useful, but may I ask how much of it was in the field? I don't want to unnecessarily endanger anyone.

[ Note: this is false. Casval will endanger the fuck out of Souji and his ilk, but Elizabeth is a trickier subject to handle. She's on his good side, and therefore he is very much interested in keeping her alive. ]

text

[testsonseashells]

Am Dr. Mordin Solus. Will join you. Underwent FBI training, can handle guns. Time?

[ text; cellphone ]

[secondcomingof]

Phenomenal. Might I get your name and contact, for my records?

And undecided for now, but likely within the next night or so. I need to organize everything so we're not just charging in blind.

( not here because he is strongly wary of you )

[argents]

[ Points for proactivity, he guesses, but this is honestly one of the least comforting things to feel obligated to respond to. He'd could ignore it, but something sticks, needles around in the back of his mind. Telling him that'd be a completely pointless thing to go and accomplish, for a variety of reasons. To alienate. Make an enemy of. ]

( jk here's some audio )

[argents]

What is it?

[ No point in hiding behind text, either. ]

[audio]

[northless]

I'm coming too.

[ video; mirror ]

[secondcomingof]

[ ...okay so this one he's a little more hesitant in sending out. ]

With what? A scalding pot of coffee?

text

[mightymegatron]

I'm not exactly a soldier.

[ text; cellphone ]

[secondcomingof]

Your point?

text, after all that crap up there with souji.

[iaijutsu]

I'd like to come along.

[To keep his best friend from being killed, whether that's by werewolves or by Casval.]

voice

[redelivers]

[ DO YOU RECOGNIZE THIS VOICE. He's been trying to keep up and failing. But he thinks he has the gist of it. That being SOUJI A THING. ]

Hajime. What the fuck is going on??

[Text]

[professorwolf]

I know their scent. I can perhaps lead you to them, though I won't be much use with the actual hunting.

[There is a pause, and he adds in a second line a moment later,]

What do you need with Banagher?

[That threatening tone has him a little on edge. Banagher is his student.]

[ text; cellphone ]

[secondcomingof]

That would come in handy, yes. Name and contact?

Re: your second concern, I'm afraid that is a private matter between Banagher and myself. I ask that you not inquire further on the matter.

voice

[redelivers]

Have room for one more?

[ video; mirror ]

[secondcomingof]

You've got it.

Name and contact?

audio; cell phone

[withregret]

[ Let them go and die. The thought crosses her mind as soon as she sees the post, and the amount of inexperienced children responding, willing lambs to be lead into the slaughter. As of late these thoughts have been happening more and more - confused thoughts, full of hatred that left the taste for vengeance on her tongue. If they wished to fight against something they didn't understand with weapons half of them probably couldn't fire, that was their choice. Let them go. What does it matter? They'll all go, soon.

She catches herself mid-thought, eyes red rimmed from lack of sleep from disturbing thoughts - from the senseless hatred. Disgust. What did it matter? Why should she care about these people? Why had she ever cared? The laughter of a man sits heavily in her mind, driving her slowly insane. Who are you? And what did you do? Why was this man, this shadow of a man she had never seen before, plucking slowly away at her sanity and driving her to these mad thoughts?

No, these thoughts were wrong. Why they were there, she didn't know - but she couldn't let them control her. She could not allow her emotions to inhibit her judgement and let her sit back while young adults with no experience offered themselves up to "glory". Not as a teacher, not as the person she had been raised to be. Compassion for others... it's funny, when they don't have compassion for you. They laugh. Such terrible laughter.

Push it aside. Push it aside and press on. Ignore the laughter, ignore the hatred. Push it down and away. It's not yours. It's not.

Out of professionalism she would normally just go to video. But she couldn't, not with eyes red rimmed, like a fool. A fool who couldn't quell disgusting thoughts. Her voice, though, remains smooth and even. ]

Casval Mass. While your weapons are quite impressive and your words pretty, I still have concerns. Do you think to simply walk into the Dead District with your guns blazing, inexperienced teenagers at your side?

How exactly do you plan to achieve success in this endeavor? From what we do know, whatever is in there - werewolves or not - should not be taken lightly.

YOUR TAG WAS AMAZING FYI sorry mine is so comparitively lacking ;; also video...

[secondcomingof]

[ ...well, at least she left the pretty reference at the words. He's grateful for that, and completely understanding of her suspicions. In her position, he'd feel similarly, but on the same token, this isn't something he's going to let sit. Because he's feeling agitated, too—that cognitive dissonance that happens when someone you shouldn't be, who should've never been is trying to worm their way into your brain, and there's nothing you can do to stop them.

Because Rue's concerns are fair, they are addressed fairly, with the consideration they justly deserve. ]

You're not incorrect. This isn't exactly my ideal force, but circumstances at hand have left us little choice but to act. The idea of an aggressor running wild in the city sits ill with me, and therefore, the only logical response is to shut them down before they become a problem.

In addition, even if I may share your views that some are simply unfit to tag along on this adventure of ours, I have no binding will over anybody. Ultimately, people are free to act as they see fit, and it is not within my power nor my right to stop them.

As for achieving success, I'll likely break our forces into teams, with more experienced individuals leading these teams. We are not completely helpless; there are some with experience, useful abilities, things of that nature that lend themselves to our goal.

And as for myself... [ his eyes sharpen, glistening ] hunting is my profession. It is what I was born and bred to do. Therefore, I have absolute confidence that, one way or another, these so-called wolves will be summarily put down and eliminated as a threat.

[Texted]

[espigeonage]

Shit, that's impressive.

Also, hello Captain! I amend the previous remark to also include your hair.

[ text; cellphone ]

[secondcomingof]

Uh.

Thank you?

[ Okay he legit does not know what to say here. Julien water u doin. ]

video;

[earnedmystripes]

I'm a pretty good shot.

[By which he means he's an excellent one. You don't last twelve years on a police force while being extremely against killing without having very efficient means of crippling violent criminals.]

Are regular bullets gonna be enough, though? In the stories and movies and such, you need silver.

[ video; mirror ]

[secondcomingof]

[ Just who he wanted to see—and he honestly means that, donning a warm smile. ]

I would be honored to work alongside you, Kotetsu.

[ ...but that last bit was seriously kind of silly, bro. ]

My bullet punishes all without distinction. If we run into anything that needs killing, they won't survive.

Text

[icy_heavens]

[It takes him a long, long time to decide what to do about this post. Honestly? He wants to find out what's going on, wants to help. But there's the nagging issue of his age, and the fact that he really has no qualifications for this stuff.

[... But he wants to go. He'd go on his own, like he had with the statue . . . except that would be exceptionally stupid and he knows it. Going to touch the statue was one thing. "Werewolf" hunting? That's entirely different, even if he has some weird supernatural power now. If he's going to go, he may just have to suck it up and head out with everyone else.

[So it's a while before this text finally gets sent. But it's out there now. No taking it back.]

I want to help.

[ text; cellphone ]

[secondcomingof]

[ Good on you, kid. Age aside, he can respect the discipline and dedication behind his ultimate answer, even if it's still on the shakier side, and so responds politely in kind. No arrogance present. ]

You're more than welcome to. May I have a name and number for contact purposes?

[Text]

[shiromadoushi]

I want to help.

But I don't know how to use a gun. Just some of how to fight.

[ text; cellphone ]

[secondcomingof]

As noted to others on this post, I can provide some basic training prior to the actual hunt.

text

[elfstoned]

You know I'm going. I'll bring the bandages.

[ text; cellphone ]

[secondcomingof]

That won't be necessary.

No one's getting hurt here, other than whoever or whatever is foolish enough to stand in my way.

[ But he knows you're right, really. He's just being stubborn. ]

[Audio]

[scramasax]

Captain - Casval Mass?

[That was the man who'd responded to his handwritten message last week with calligraphy and a flourishing signature, wasn't it?]

not here

[struckout]

[ Fuck you fuck you fuck you fuck you fuck you fuck you fuck you fuck you fuck you, are you kidding?!

Thank you for your time in receiving this silent message of hate. :) Have a terrible day. ]