AN: Taji and I are going to try this thing where we dedicate some time each week to personally writing something to share with each other. With work, class, life, etc. piling on, it’s been harder and harder to write and complete something for my personal blog here but I’m committed to get something out that I can be relatively proud of haha.
Anyway, this drabble features two new characters I’m bringing into the Defender RP. I needed more action in the RP and currently Adelle alone wasn’t enough haha xD So now I’ve created these two characters I’m excited to start working on. One is a female and a lead pilot for her team named Cypress. The other is a male pilot and a bit of a grump named Quill. I’ve been making character designs via the app Doodle Face so I will likely add those soon to the blog so you guys can get a good look of what I’m picturing for them in my mind.
Anyway, Cypress is the leader so to speak and has a personality where she doesn’t allow any nonsense in her presence. She is tough with her team but has their best interests at heart. She is dedicated to the mission at hand and will not tolerate personal quims in her presence. She doesn’t have much to say regarding the time travelers. All she cares about is if they are a good part of the team and will do what they can to achieve the mission.
Quill on the other hand despises the time travelers and often has something to remark about them, even in the field. I look forward to having him in interactions with Elliot and Adelle. He’s a strong, hot-headed soldier and likes to show off on occasion. When I say he’s strong, I mean he could shatter bones by grabbing people if he let himself. He’s trained all his life to exceed the expectations of his generation. His family has always had a distaste for the time travelers and their abilities to slip into the game with ease. Also, he blames the time travelers for the state of their world and the battles they face.
Cypress and Quill are friends from the past so their interactions outside of battle are more in line with that. In battle though, Cypress ain’t got time for your shit lmao. I going to try and build up their characters more and more in the drabbles so that when I feature them in the RP I can be really proud of what they accomplish. Anyway hope you guys enjoy!
Smoke curled from the diminished remains of the cigarette perching at her lips, Cypress’s narrowed gaze upon the ruins of one of the ancient cities that had fallen to war and rebellion. Her usual Sunday rides would lead her to the same destination time and time again, recollections of her family’s history residing in the ghosts residing in the collapsed civilization before her. For some, it would be a painful reminder of what was lost. For her, it was a way forward, a reminder of what she was fighting for. Each week she would ride her motorcycle and take in the sights, promising the world she would protect she deemed worth fighting for.
Today however was different. A haggard expression was hard to hide, even through her tinted sunglasses. Bawled fists buried themselves in the pockets of her pilot jacket. Every inch of her was tense, struggling to hold together in the midst of the destroyed landscape before her. At her shoulder, her core Cedar chimed on occasion but remained quiet to allow the pilot her time to deal with her growing emotions.
The faint purr of another motorcycle crept to her senses, Cypress choosing to ignore its approach as she continued her piece together her thoughts. After all, there was only one other person who knew of her weekly ritual. She was all-too-familiar with the roar of that bike and there was no escaping him once he put his mind into finding her.
The aged relic of a motorcycle came barreling down the broken road, the rider bringing it to a slow before creeping it closer to the woman’s own more-modern of the two bikes. Funny how someone who disliked those from the past would cherish their technology more so than the technology of his own time. Once he screeched to a halt, the rider pulled off the helmet to reveal one of Cypress’ oldest friends, Quill Peters (I’m laughing at the accidental homage to Guardians of the Galaxy right now hahaha).
“Figured I’d find you here,” said the pilot as he slid off his seat, careful to scoop up his core Ceil before making his way over to the woman’s side. “Heard from the Captain-.” (I’m still unsure of the ranks for this story so for now I’m going with Captain lol)
Cypress pulled a hand from the confines of her pocket, reaching up to peel the dwindling remains of the cigarette from her lips. A steady stream of smoke rolled into the air before she spoke, “Did you now? And what by chance did you hear?”
Quill’s brow raised at the question. “You’re being promoted to the team leader,” he answered. (I’m probably mutilating the ranks so much, I’m so sorry xD) “What’s with the frustration huh? Thought you’d be thrilled. You were clearly the best out of our entire squadron. It’s only fair you gain the top prize. Hell, soon you’ll even take his place as Captain.”
The woman seemed to turn her nose up at such a statement, once more returning the cigarette to its rightful place. A frown formed on Quill’s lips at the response, his temper bubbling up. How he hated to be treated as inferior, especially by her. Cypress excelled in nearly everything they competed in throughout their lives together, forcing Quill to play second fiddle to her greatness. And when that attitude of hers came crawling forth, it was hard not to bare his fangs against her.
“I drove all the way out here to check on you and you gonna act like a bitch to me, really?” He hissed through gritted teeth, the woman continuing to ignore her companion’s presence as the cigarette continued to burn away into nothingness. “Aren’t you supposed to be happy huh? This is big and you acting like it’s a god damn problem is insulting, especially to those who lost out to you.”
The statement seemed to catch the woman’s attention as she tilted her head towards her companion, once more removing the cigarette from her lips so she could speak. “I have led you to misunderstand it seems.”
“What gave it away?” Quill growled, folding his arms as he narrowed his eyes upon the woman.
“Fair point,” she remarked with a shrug, flicking away the unwanted ash of her cigarette as she thought of how best to respond. “The Captain’s words this morning…struck a chord.”
Fury simmered into confusion. “What do you mean by that? From what I saw, he was bloody ecstatic to have you be promoted,” he said with a raised brow. “What could he have possibly said to strike you the wrong way? Did he say you fight like a girl or something. Because you would have beat him up right then and said thanks for the compliment. Just saying.”
Cypress showed hints of a smile forming, though it quickly dissipated as she shook her head. “He compared me to my grandfather.”
Further confusion settled upon the man as he shook his head. “Dude was a war hero won’t he? Shouldn’t that be a compliment and not something that gets your panties all in a bunch.”
The woman gestured forward to the ruined city, the decrepit remains a haunting reminder of the past. “This place used to be a beautiful city filled with citizens. However, a single mistake aided in its demise. This destroyed city left to rot was his fault. He let rebellion claim it and many lost their lives because of it,” Cypress hummed, a hint of regret in the tone of her voice as she spoke. “He ignored any speak of an attack, instead focusing his efforts elsewhere. So when the attack finally came at full force, the troops were unprepared for the battle ahead. Evacuation was practically pointless by the time the soldiers made their stand. This ruined city was a plague on his heart ever since. And to think, this could still be a beautiful landscape had he listened to the warnings.”
Quill scanned the ruins for a moment, his confusion settling as he offered a nod in response.
“Mistakes that could cause so much bloodshed, so much loss for innocent lives-no, I never want to make such dangerous mistakes as this,” Cypress remarked, tossing the cigarette upon the path before pressing her heel into its remains. “Being compared to my grandfather-the memories, the stories all came flooding back from my childhood. Memories of when he and my family were reminded of that shameful past. He would bring me out here you know, tell me about the attack and how it would often replay in his mind. He would remember each and every detail. And he would remind himself of every instance where he could of done something differently. I never want to experience that. Ever.”
The pair grew silent for a moment, Cypress continuing to stare upon the remains of the past while Quill buried his hands into his pockets. Sure, he could somewhat understand her reasoning but something just didn’t add up in his mind.
Holding back his frustrations, he began, “But that was just one battle. One instance in his life. He continued to fight and was claimed a war hero for a reason. The pain from this one attack was there of course but he continued to fight. He learned from that mistake and went on to save countless others. I’d say it’s an honor for someone to be reminded of him when looking at you and your accomplishments.”
Her sunglasses slid on the bridge of her nose as she glanced towards her companion, a flash of interest in her eyes as she waited for him to continue.
“Stop pouting and start celebrating, jeez,” he huffed, a frown forming on his lips as he glared at the fallen city before them. “That mistake is there for you to learn from as well. You can be the leader you wish to be. You can take what your grandfather has taught you from his past and use it to lead the charge and save countless lives. You can be the protector you want to be. So stop moping already and let’s go celebrate before you kick my ass tomorrow in drills.”
A small grin formed on the woman’s lips as she stretched her limbs. “Interesting concept. You’d think I’d let you drink away the evening before we have drills tomorrow? My, no wonder you were not the one to claiming the leadership role,” she hummed as she scooped Cedar into her hold, slipping the core onto her bike before straddling the seat. Removing her sunglasses, she then slipped on her helmet and gestured for her companion to follow suit. “Forgive me for my hesitance. I suppose you did make some sense, Quill. I am proud to be compared to my grandfather. I’ll surpass him though. I won’t make the same mistakes he did. He taught me too well to let those moments happen.”
“I feel like your sincerity is coated in sarcasm and witty retorts at the expense of myself,” Quill growled underneath his breath as he followed suit, tossing his helmet on once more as he gestured back down the roads towards civilization. “Whatever Cy, let’s just get back home already and you can go tell your grandfather the good news. And then we drink and enjoy ourselves god damn it. If I’m going to get insulted regardless, might as well be drunk when it happens.”
“Sometimes I wonder how you even manage to stay in shape and excel in our troops with such a foul attitude and terrible drinking habit,” Cypress mused, thankful her helmet hid her grin as she revved up the engine of her bike. “Fine, I’ll share one drink in celebration. A favor to you for joining me and allowing me to mumble about insecurities. But then it’s off to bed so we can be ready for drills in the morning. Oh, and you’re paying after all. I’m the guest of honor.”
Before Quill could protest, Cypress’ bike had darted off along the dusty road, kicking up a cloud in its wake as she traveled without him. “Yeah yeah whatever, congrats to you,” he muttered with a grin of his own before charging after his companion, his core Ceil chiming along as they drove off towards town.
*~End~*