Broadcast Frequencies [Closed]

[redcinemareel]

Character(s): Grell, Marco, & Thatch
Location: Since it's multiple locations... Timber, Dollet, then a safehouse near Deling.
Rating: Goodness...I'm going to go with R, because of This Family™
Open/Closed/Finished: Closed
Summary: Grell takes on the mission to " Obtain data readings on broadcast signal interference in major metropolitan areas." She enlisted Marco and Thatch since she may be pretty preoccupied with info gathering.



It was about a week since Grell stated that she would to leave for this mission. She actually has a backpack on her back, filled with her laptop, wires, hair items, snacks (including birdseed), notebooks, books on broadcast signals, volume one of Shakespeare's Complete Works, maps, pens, pencils, an extra adapter, an external hard drive, a change of clothes, and lipgloss. She left a handwritten message for those in her party two nights before, since she knew she wouldn't have time to speak to them much due to her preparations:

Bring your laptops and adapters, as well as anything else we would need. We're leaving two days from now at 0600 via train.
-Grell

Of course she was junctioned properly, with plenty of firepower to go around. They would take a train to Timber, then one of them will have to drive north to Dollet (which means car rentals), and from Dollet...perhaps back home if nothing else needed to be done. They may need to stay in a hotel if they're too tired to travel back to Balamb. The care ride alone would take at least three hours, and with possible encounters with monsters and Grell staring at computer screens all day...

All their necessary documents and paperwork for travel and security purposes have been processed and packed as well.


(ooc: this mission may take at least two IC days, starting from Monday! And since Namur is still a cadet, I don't think he can join this group v_v I'll make some threads we can jump around in!)

Comments

TRAIN RIDE

[redcinemareel]

Dressed in her summer attire, Grell was sitting in a train booth, eyelash deep into the first volume of Shakespeare's works. She decided to give her brain a break from researching broadcast signals and indulge in purple prose. Or lavender. Whichever.

Who wants to be her leg pillow?

[thatched]

That would be Marco as Thatch is taking up most of the room on the other side, his knees touching the seat in front of him as he slouches to keep from bumping into the luggage rack. and reading his own copy of 68 Steps to Freedom. It's a stupid book and trite but it's something to do to distill the fact that he hates this part of the trip. He hates the tiny little seats and the low ceilings and the fact that his neck is starting to ache.

He sets down the book for about the tenth time, resting his head back against the wall and smirks a bit as he sees how invested Grell is. He's memorized those things by heart. Almost. The good ones anyway. He rubs the back of his neck, accidentally elbowing Marco in the head.

"Sorry, mate," he mutters, ruffling that frond like hair as he contorts, trying to stretch, wincing at the twinge. "How long is this ride again?"

[redcinemareel]

Yes, this was the best ever thing to read on long train rides. Getting lost in deep nostalgia in place of frying her brain in books about broadcast signals. She could only absorb so much about radio waves, wireless wayports, and intranet in an afternoon.

She looked over her book after a while, well, only when Thatch bumped his elbow into Marco's. Poor birdie. "A little under an hour and a half." She bookmarked her place and closed the novel before patting his scrunched up leg. "Did you need a neck massage?"

Come to think of it, they could have driven there, maybe, or at least part of the way after the train ride...

[fierybluebird]

Marco chirped idly, paying it no mind, and closed his eyes to go back to sleep. It was a lot easier to fit Thatch when Marco himself could be light as a bird and take up a minimal amount of room. It was comfier too. He didn't really notice the elbow though, being a phoenix tended to make him immune to normal damage. Yet another reason phoenixes were so superior.

He opened an eye at Grell's offer, but he didn't seem to put out by it. Awww, wasn't that nice? They were finally getting along!

[thatched]

They probably could have driven there almost all of the way but the Blue Minuet does eat a lot of gas and it's cheaper to load it on the train in the long run. Worth the pain in the end. Or at least it better be. He blinked and raised an eyebrow at Grell's generous offer. Since Marco doesn't seem to mind it, just gave the lazy look of a contented yet alert phoenix, Thatch supposes it's alright.

"Aye, and thank you, sweetheart. I leave myself in your capable hands."

[redcinemareel]

As if Marco would deter her from doing what she wanted. Sure, he may be able to kick her in the face, but deter her? No. Never. So she took her legs off the soft birdie and set her book down where she sat. Making sure to give her phoenix a few soft pets, Grell climbed the seat so she could stand on it and give that massage she promised.

She then realized that Thatch has a whole lotta neck going on there. So she took off her gloves, cracked her fingers and went to work, doing her best not to use too much of her strength, else Thatch would need a neck brace. She started off as light as she could, which might just be at normal human strength, or so she thought. It had been a long while since she was human. The base of his neck was where she started, using her thumbs to make deep circles where the spine was.

"Once we arrive in TImber, we'll go straight to the television station. I'm not sure if we'll have time for bar hopping." Grell gave a light hum before continuing. "I'm not even sure how long I'll take..."

[thatched]

If he was in any way apprehensive about this, it melted away under Grell's fingertips. That felt entirely too good and she was an evil evil woman who could viciously use this against him if she wanted. He would even be tempted to create some situations in which she could take advantage of his weakness.

"With hands like that I'd follow you anywhere," Thatch said, and it was partly true. "We should do a little barhopping somewhere along this route. It's both fun and a damned good way to get information." Maybe not information to their specific mission, but who knew what you could pick up and what would become relevant further on down the pipe.

But speaking of which...

"And no trying to get me laid, you," Thatch said, poking Marco in the soft feathery side.

[fierybluebird]

Marco chirped lazily in protest. "Who me?" Yes. Totally innocent this one.

"You realize with her hands all over your muscles she's going to think you mean with her, right?" Marco whistled sleepily in phoenix and shifted to lay over Thatch now that his wife was out of her seat.

[redcinemareel]

What are you chirping?! [She really wanted to learn bird speak. She looks down at Thatch, poking his head.] What is he chirping?!

TIMBER

[redcinemareel]

Their first place to visit is Timber's TV station. It was well known for the interference messing things up years ago, so this was a prime spot to see what was up with this place. Feel free to touch things you're not supposed to.

Things, not people, Thatch.

[redcinemareel]

They probably looked pretty odd walking into the station, showing their SeeD credentials to gain access to the main tower. They were escorted upstairs by someone from the front desk, a young woman in her late twenties, and lead to a room that was unlocked with a key. Oddly, there was nothing to encounter as they went up the winding stairs and through a few security doors. Once they reached a plain looking door (which looked like a lot of doors they passed by...) and stepped inside, they could see that it was filled with panels that had assorted buttons, monitors, knobs, and many chairs. It was a pretty round room, as well, with only a few windows.

The clerk gave them a sort of diagram of where things were, but otherwise, left them be and went back downstairs. All the halls looked the same when they came up, so hopefully one of them remembered the way back. Grell studied the diagram before determining where a port would be to hook up her computer. So she walked over and started setting up.

She really wanted to touch all the buttons...

[fierybluebird]

Maps, Marco could deal with quite well. Computers were another story however. He still considered himself savvy for remembering how to do emotes on the BBS. Seriously.

He arches an eyebrow at Grell's fingers. "No, Kitten." He knows her too well.

[redcinemareel]

[Grell stops mere milimeters from a shiny, red, button. Damnit. Caught.]

...right, then. Back to work~! [So very nonchalantly just...walking away. She'll get you, yet, shiny red button!] That goes double for you both! [She turns to them, hand on a hip.] Set up your laptops, just in case! [Grell takes up her backpack, withdrawing the laptop and wires from within.]

DRIVING

[redcinemareel]

WELP, Marco cannot drive for anything. It was up to Thatch or Grell. It'll be very likely that they'll hit something, run over something, encounter a monster, or all of the above as they travel.

HOTEL

[redcinemareel]

They'll probably need to rest for the night. Unfortunately, Balamb Garden is on a budget and they can only afford one room and one bed. They can get an extra fold out bed, but...that's about it!

DOLLET/RAZEM'S SAFEHOUSE

[redcinemareel]

Dollet Communications Tower. Mostly a rinse and repeat from Timber, but this safehouse needs investigating.

(ooc: Does Marco know about this place?)

[redcinemareel]

With all the information gathered over the first day and a half, the findings lead them to this safehouse. It was odd, as it wasn't really on many maps, which only meant this place had to be new, was supposed to be a secret, or all of the above. Grell insisted they look into this building and figure out why some frequencies were coming from it, but not changing in how they were sent nor received. It seemed pretty monotone. Was it even in use?

It was the last stop on their trip, and she hoped that they could find something extra to report. What a mystery~!