The Inspection

[acciomod]

On the whole, the weather had been temperamental lately. One minute, it was absolutely bucketing it down, and the next, it was bright sunshine. The amount of rain had turned the ground into a muddy mess, but at least the tents provided perfectly adequate shelter, and a gazebo had been erected over the community dining table to protect everyone from the elements.

Despite the temperamental weather, however, it had been fairly warm throughout the past two weeks, so the chill in the air during dinner that evening was particularly noticeable, even before the dark, hooded figure by the Ministry's representative's desk had been seen.

Nervously, the Ministry representative approached the table.

"I'm afraid we have a visitor," he said, addressing everyone at the table and hoping that anyone not there could hear him. "This is a Dementor, one of the Guards at Azkaban. It's a high security prison. He's just here to, well, ensure that a certain escaped criminal isn't hiding amongst you.

"I don't expect he'll be here for more than an half an hour, so do try not to worry too much. They can make people rather, well... uncomfortable."

Bowing his head slightly, he left the Outsiders to their meal.

[And so, a Dementor is lurking around the camp, just in case one of the Outsiders is secretly Sirius Black. They're known to sap the happiness out of the environment, and - in cases where there are true horrors in someone's past - cause traumatic memories to resurface.

The chilly, depressed feeling can be lifted by the deliciousness of chocolate, though the Outsiders will need to discover this on their own. Good thing there's dessert.]

Comments

[followthenose]

[He doesn't jump at all when you suddenly appear right out of freaking nowhere. Really. Buut you seem human and, more importantly, concerned, so he's going to release the tension on the slingshot band while maintaining a deathgrip on the weapon itself]

Nah. I'm fine. Just keeping on guard is all. I've been in more ominous places than this. Th-that chill in the air doesn't scare me at all. [ And there is a chill, right? He's not just imagining things, is he?]

[count_to_peace]

[This person is pretty odd...]

You're on guard inside a tent?

[followthenose]

W-well I'm just practicing, of course. I'm not really on guard here. It would be a stupid thing to guard from inside a tent and I'm a natural guard, you know. I once was the honor guard for a princess and saved her [Almost sort of] single-handedly from a bunch assassins.

[count_to_peace]

Impressive. [Although it seems a bit trumped up.] Would you like to accompany me on surveilling the area, then?

[followthenose]

O-of course. I've got your back. [Since you seem like a pretty strong guy. He'll just creep on out of the tent here and grin at you though small noises might make him jump]

I'm Usopp, though some people call me the Great Captain.

[count_to_peace]

[Zechs nods at the introduction.] A pleasure, Captain Usopp. I'm Lieutenant Colonel Zechs. Merquise.

[Since they're introducing rank and all.]

[followthenose]

[Big grin. Someone who actually calls him captain! He likes this guy! However, the amount of rank is worrying. It sounds way too complicated for any kind of pirate group]

So I'm guessing you're with the marines or something?

[count_to_peace]

[Usopp seems respectful enough to earn being called captain.]

There aren't specifically marines in my world. We're all adept at using underwater mobile suits.

[followthenose]

Mobile...suits? [He's imagining a suit like Sanji would wear, walking around on its own. Maybe swimming underwater. Weird and he's pretty sure that's not what this guy means]

Aren't...most suits mobile?

[count_to_peace]

This is just another term for a very large military weapon. Think of it as a suit of armor larger than any building you've seen, and armed with various weapons.

[followthenose]

Oh yeah. I know a guy like that. He's not as big as a building, though. [Still that does sound pretty cool, he's gotta say] Are they for giants or something?

[count_to_peace]

[Zechs shakes his head, chuckling softly.] No. They're for any normal sized human to operate. It takes lots of training, however.

[followthenose]

Ehh? Really? I'd like to see one! In fact, I'd like to drive one. I bet I'd be a natural! I can practically sail a whole ship [Mostly kind of] all by myself!

[count_to_peace]

[He smiles softly at the excitement of seeing a Gundam. If only he had the Tallgeese III here.]

Unfortunately, my mobile suit didn't arrive with me. It's probably for the best.

[followthenose]

I don't know. I bet one of those things could crush the creepy things that have been wandering around here.

[count_to_peace]

The suit won't be of much use if the pilot is indisposed. [Especially since it isn't a mobile doll.]