03: I'll Owe You an Aristocratic Favor! [Backdated to before Kairos Aspida Mission]

[armored_fruit]

[1]

Isaac suddenly pops up on the comms of all the members of the Dullahan squad...and a few others he clicks on by accident. He looks...extremely serious and concerned.

"All members of the Dullahan Squad! Report to the aft Hanger Bay immediately! A moment of vital crisis has come upon us!"

[2]

(Open to all)

Once you show up to the aft hanger bay, you discover...nothing but Isaac Sinclair, standing next to the ready Dullahan armor units...which have been decked out with hastily sown sashes of green-grey cloth.

This paragon of Brittanian peerage...rubs the back of his head sheepishly, a very nervous smile on his face.

"You may all be wondering why I summoned you all here under the pretense of an emergency...Ho, Ho!

[3]

(To be revealed after second prompt)

Comments

1)

[armored_mother]

[Cora's already arrived... and in full armor too! The rest of the team's already moving.]

Alright Appletree, what's the situation? If its a crisis we won't have much time.

Re: 1)

[armored_fruit]

You come upon Appletree in the midst of...sewing?

Rushing back and forth between tables with bolts of cloth, he's seems to be trying to make some green and grey shoulder sashes...Dullahan unit sized shoulder sashes.

He pauses, panting for breath, then brightens noticeably as he sees you.

"Lady Anderson! My heart is gladdened at your arrival!"

He pulls out a tape measure.

"I need to take your measurement while in your Dullahan armor..."

His expression quickly grows very, very nervous.

"...and ask you for a very personal favor."

[armored_mother]

Ap-... Isaac.

[She sighs and palms her face. The other squaddies were looking at each other... no doubt that Mongrel was saying all sorts of mean-spirited words behind that helmet. A metal 'clunk' from Dice punching him in the shoulder further testified that.]

I...

[She takes a deep breath and nods.]

I'm guessing whatever it is you need our help right? Well you got it.

[She's not even going to ask what it is? Funnily enough, there were some shrugs and unseen looks between the team... but no overt disagreement... well. Aside from Mongrel, but he's always disgruntled.]

[armored_fruit]

Isaac looks up with a start, surprise etched over his face.

"You fine, outstanding fellows..."

Tears of joy brim in his eyes, and he throws himself forward to grasp Cora's hands...or Cora's armored gauntlets, rather.

"What blessed thing did I ever do in a past life to deserve you..." He blubbers. "I am truly in your debt to you all! Whatever deed or favor you may need in the future, no matter the cost, you need only ask and it will be done!"

Quickly wiping away his tears, he begins throwing sashes over everyone's Dullahan armor.

"We haven't time to waste! Crown Prince Leopold of the Kingdom of Ruba will be boarding the Chalice in less than half an hour, and we need to make you all look convincingly like my personal armsmen!"

[armored_runaway]

Yes... yes Ah am ya dirk. Now whaddya wan'?

[armored_fruit]

"I do not believe you are my Dirk." Isaac replies after a moment of puzzlement. "Nor my bodkin, stiletto, or other form of dagger."

"But never mind that!" He continues. "Crown Prince Leopold of Ruba will be docking with this ship shortly, and we have but one chance to impress him!

[armored_runaway]

"G'damnit Issac! Quit ya jokin' 'roun on mah assent!"

Then when he presents his case.

"Oh bloody 'ell... yer worryin' bout some bloke from a'notha country?"

[armored_fruit]

"Not just any 'bloke', as you would put it! He is a Crown Prince in the flesh! And–"

Isaac hesitates, and then lets his fretfulness show through.

"–if I can forge an alliance between him and my family, perhaps we can use his prestige to save our land."

[armored_runaway]

"Ah dunnae how much a smaller country can help a biggah one... Yer really hung up on this, aintcha? Well... don't let it distract ya from watcha gotta do... We got time travelin baddies on toppa e'erything else!"

Jojo will never get Issac's ambition with this stuff..., as such, she's not putting a whole lot of faith in him either. To her, it's more like a hobby she has no interest in.

[armored_fruit]

"No, no, it's the reverse, my dear Lady Royston!" Isaac assures her. "We, the ancient yet currently small Sinclair family, hope to restore our former fortunes and influence by allying with the large and prosperous Kingdom of Ruba!"

He seems to have not done the research. Meanwhile, I=in response to Joanne's remarkable about Kairos Aspida:

"Do you think there are any members of the aristocracy among them?"

[armored_runaway]

"You are kiddin me! Did you just suggest makin allies with people who're tryin to kill us from the future! Jus fer yer family!

ARE YOU EVEN THINKIN ABOUT THE 'ERE AN NOW!? Whatta bout yer own survival!?"

GDI Issac!

[armored_fruit]

Isaac wilts before Joanne's tirade like flamethrowered flower.

"But isn't family...more important that anything?" He finally says softly.

[armored_runaway]

[[Can you wilt any further? You know that Joanne hates talking about 'family']]

YOU EXPECT ME TO PUT A BUNCH OF ABUSIVE DEADBEATS BEFORE THE SAFETY OF THIS DAMNED PLANET YOU MUSTA BEEN DROPPED ON YOUR HEAD TEN TOO MANY TIMES!

[armored_fruit]

"EXCUSE ME IF THE FACT THAT I WAS REARED BY A LOVING AND AFFECTIONATE FAMILY DOES NOT DOVETAIL WITH YOUR BITTER EXPERIENCES! I FURTHER APOLOGIZE FOR HAVING THE TEMERITY TO ACTUALLY RETURN THE LOVE THEY GAVE ME!"

Ooh. Looks like it's your turn to push Isaac's button.

[armored_runaway]

[[Push a button? Naw... She'll just take a swing instead! Damn street punk!]]