You Should Keep Your Distance [starter mission]

[Ashley Symons]

THINK BEFORE I SPEAK BECAUSE

I KNOW I'VE GOT A TEMPER

ashley symons [ profile ] [ pc ] non-modded mission

Ashley hadn’t even started to hesitate when she was given a way to prove herself to Coryn, as soon as the possibility had been brought up she’d already decided to accept. Maybe if she actually stopped to think about it for a moment, she would have realised that impulsive attitude was part of the reason she needed to prove herself in the first place. Delivering groceries was a simple mission in her mind, it was something she used to do all the time with her parents with produce and supplies from the farm. Sure this time she was alone, but she also wasn’t a child anymore - she could handle herself without her parents support and protection. There had always been the risk of Plasma interference even back then, when weren’t they taking the opportunity to stick their grubby little claws in and cause trouble. None of this dissuaded her, she was fully convinced that she could do this - even if she had to deal with Plasma face to face. Her journey to the local hospital was relatively quiet. She had memories of many of the quieter routes through Hyo City, the areas she’d frequently made use of as a child to stay hidden. They hadn’t always worked, sure, but she also hadn’t always been the most subtle and quiet child either - she just happened to get lucky. Maybe luck was on her side again today too. Obviously there was the fact that her assigned mission just happened to be something she had some kind of experience in, but she also slightly recognised the address. She had been hoping she wouldn’t have to ask for directions, it wasn’t like she had her own map or device to figure it out herself right now. As she started to reach the location, Ashley took one last look at the sheet she’d been given by Coryn. This was definitely the right place - but instead of a delivery van waiting to be unloaded, there was someone waiting outside with a worried looking expression on their face. Maybe she was early and luck really was on her side, or maybe the trouble was already starting. She haphazardly folded the paper up again, hiding it at the bottom of one of her pockets, before making her way over with a smile.

388 words

MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS

[Ashley Symons]

THINK BEFORE I SPEAK BECAUSE

I KNOW I'VE GOT A TEMPER

ashley symons [ profile ] [ pc ] non-modded mission

”Hi, I’m here to help unload the delivery.” She offered out one of her burnt hands, ready to give a handshake in greeting. Her voice was a lot more controlled and steady now than it had been earlier with Coryn, but she also wasn’t having to deal with the bad odour of the lab and the imminent danger of being shot. ”Am I here early or…?” She left the question hanging in the air, already jumping to conclusions as to what they were going to respond with. The hospital staff accepted the handshake, although it took him a moment to actually respond to her. It was a familiar feeling to Ashley, she could tell he was making note of her young appearance - and he was probably judging her because of it. She tried to not let her frustration show, she had Plasma to deal with. ”Coryn did mention you’d be coming. But, as you can see, the delivery is running late.” He gave Ashley a polite smile, but it was obvious he was still worried. Honestly, Ashley had expected the trouble to occur during the unloading - but of course there would be the possibility of Plasma attacking the delivery before it even arrived. ”We already sent someone to find them, but-” ”I’ll go and help them.” Ashley interrupted without thinking, eager to help and also confront Plasma. The male looked at her shocked for a moment, before nodding and looking down one of the nearby roads. ”They should be down that way.” Ashley followed his gaze, her own expression becoming more determined with each passing second. ”I’ll be right back with them then.” Ashley rushed off before she could get any more information, or even any response at all.

291 words

MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS

[Ashley Symons]

THINK BEFORE I SPEAK BECAUSE

I KNOW I'VE GOT A TEMPER

ashley symons [ profile ] [ pc ] non-modded mission

An active delivery truck in Hyo city wasn’t too difficult to find, especially when it wasn’t that far from its destination. What was difficult was Ashley holding herself back as she made her way closer. She’d practically run the entire way from the hospital, which really wasn’t needed in all honesty. There was no one in the driver’s seat as Ashley approached, but the engine was still running and she could hear agitated voices coming from behind the vehicle. She slowed her pace down to a walk again, straightening her jacket and taking a deep breath. If it was Plasma,which she was convinced it was, it was going to take all of her conscious effort to hold back just this once. After counting to three in her head, Ashley put on a smile and made her way to the commotion behind the van. ”Please, we need to get this delivery to the hospital.” ”Don’t matter where you’re takin’ it, open up the van.” ”The hospital needs this. Patients need this.” ”Give ‘em what’s left then. Move.” Ashley felt her eye twitch slightly with annoyance, having to take another breath to calm herself. She really wanted to step in and make a scene, make the Plasma bastards regret trying anything this day. But even she knew she didn’t have time for a physical fight. If it was just a one on one fight she honestly believed she could win, but as if Plasma would fight fair and she had no way of knowing just how many she would be facing right now. There was also one issue that Ashley hadn’t taken into account, at this point she didn’t even know this was definitely Plasma - but she would be making a good guess to assume anyway.

295 words

MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS

[Ashley Symons]

THINK BEFORE I SPEAK BECAUSE

I KNOW I'VE GOT A TEMPER

ashley symons [ profile ] [ pc ] non-modded mission

”Is everything okay back here?” Ashley’s voice was way too sweet, almost obviously fake, as she stepped out behind the van. There were five other people other than herself; at least one of them she could assume was the van driver. All eyes turned to Ashley’s voice, reactions varying amongst the many faces. ”Get lost kid, we’re busy.” One of the males growled at her - and from his appearance and stance, Ashley was making the assumption this was one of the Plasma issues she was going to have to help with. The other three people: well the one stood closest to the van with the driver was probably from the hospital like here, and at least one of the others looked like they were working with the grumpy male who had growled at her. The fifth person, honestly they could’ve just been a bystander who just happened to be a bit too close to the ruckus. If they didn’t get involved, Ashley didn’t have to worry about them. ”Busy?” Ashley looked around herself in mock confusion, before fixing her gaze on the main Plasma male. He had to be at least 8 inches taller than her, and slightly bigger than her in build, but she wasn’t about to let a size difference make her back down. ”It’s a bit of a walk to carry everything to the hospital from here, isn’t it?” The driver and hospital staff-member watched Ashley with a slightly confused expression, probably wondering why someone her age was getting involved. Ashley didn’t look at them though, just walking slowly towards the Plasma male with her eyes locked onto his. His own expression was a lot more irritated than anyone else. She was probably close enough to hit him now if she wanted, and oh she really wanted to. But it was one vs two minimum - and while she fully believed she could handle it, even if logically she probably couldn’t, it would take time that she didn’t have. The delivery still had to arrive at the hospital and be unloaded, and she still needed to make it back to Ava Labs before the day ended. None of those thoughts against a fight stopped her fists from instinctively clenching slightly by her sides though. ”I told you to get lost!” The male spoke each word through clenched teeth, and within a few seconds was grabbing the front of Ashley’s shirt in his own clenched fist. ”Or are we about to have a problem here.”

418 words

MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS

[Ashley Symons]

THINK BEFORE I SPEAK BECAUSE

I KNOW I'VE GOT A TEMPER

ashley symons [ profile ] [ pc ] non-modded mission

Ashley couldn’t help but let the flash of anger show in her expression, it was too much to ask to expect her to hide that and also stop herself from headbutting this guy right in the nose - honestly she was only just managing the latter somehow. ”You’re really going to attack an unarmed citizen? Unprovoked?” She was really trying to keep up whatever act she’d started to put on earlier, but the anger was obvious in her tone of voice - and if looks could kill… ”Seems like a bad move, Sir.” That last word was so loaded, almost every bit of frustration from the day seeping out into that one syllable. ”Why don’t we stop making the hospital wait for their delivery, yeah?” In a bad habit she had, Ashley acted without really thinking once again and put some force into pushing the male away. The only advantage she really had was the fact that he wasn’t expecting it, so while the front of her shirt ended up slightly stretched he did let go for a moment - before grabbing one of her arms with a glare. ”You better cut that fuckin’ attitude, or else.” His grip on Ashley’s arm tightened - and while she felt herself wince slightly, she didn’t back down from his gaze. She wasn’t scared of him, she wasn’t even scared of going up against both of them at the same time. Bravery wasn’t always smart though. ”Look, please just let this delivery go through. She’s just a kid.” The hospital staff-member finally spoke up, putting a hand on Ashley’s shoulder gently. Her voice was slightly firm, but still non-confrontational. ”I don’t think any of us want a scene.” With a small movement of her head, she motioned towards a small crowd that had started to form nearby. Some people were just waiting to be able to get through, some had heard a commotion and decided to see what was going on. Whatever their reason for being there, it was clear this was becoming a scene - not the ideal scenario for what was probably meant to be a quick grocery theft.

358 words

MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS

[Ashley Symons]

THINK BEFORE I SPEAK BECAUSE

I KNOW I'VE GOT A TEMPER

ashley symons [ profile ] [ pc ] non-modded mission

The Plasma male forcefully dropped Ashley’s arm with a string of obscenities, practically ordering his partner to deal with the crowd. Ashley honestly wasn’t taking in any of the words they were saying to each other. Her whole body was starting to shake with anger, and the only thing holding her clenched fist back was a tight grip on her shoulder. ”Get the van started, they can’t really do anything now.” The woman’s voice was hushed slightly as she spoke to the driver, and Ashley could make out the sound of hurried footsteps making their way to the front of the van again. It didn’t feel like a win, sure it was a sort-of success but there was no satisfaction from it at all. She heard the van start up behind her, and felt a slight reassuring squeeze on her shoulder. ”That was a pretty dumb thing to do you know, are you okay?” Ashley managed a small noise in response, even as she felt herself being pulled away from further confrontation. For a moment she almost forgot the actual reason she’d come here in the first place, and it wasn’t until she was being escorted back towards the hospital that she actually started trying to calm herself down again. ”You really take after your parents don’t you.” Ashley paused her walking for a moment, looking up at the woman in slight shock. As far as she could tell she didn’t recognise her, but there was a feeling of familiarity in her voice - maybe she was just imagining it. ”You knew my parents?” ”Of course, they were always getting into trouble before they had you. You’ve grown so much since I last saw you though.” A wave of mixed emotions washed over Ashley, and she really didn’t know how to react - for once she was at a loss for words. The journey back took longer with the two of them, mainly because Ashley wasn’t running at full speed this time. The air was filled with hushed stories about her parents - stories of her own mother’s reckless behaviour from before Ashley’s birth, stories of the two of them together. It was nice to remember them without thoughts of the fire crowding every inch of her mind.

378 words

MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS

[Ashley Symons]

THINK BEFORE I SPEAK BECAUSE

I KNOW I'VE GOT A TEMPER

ashley symons [ profile ] [ pc ] non-modded mission Daxton

By the time they arrived back at the hospital, Ashley felt a lot lighter and calmer. Sure if she ever saw that specific Plasma member again she probably wouldn’t hold herself back - especially not if she was alone - but for this exact moment she didn’t feel the need to run back after him to finish the fight. The unloading process had already started without them, but Ashley wasted no time getting in there and helping. She had little trouble carrying everything, her scarred arms irritating her slightly as she put them to work that they hadn’t done in months. She could still feel where the grip had been on her arm, but she was trying to ignore it for now. She just wanted to feel that secure familiarity of making a delivery again. ”I’m guessing you want to rush back to Coryn now, eh? You Symons never did stay still for long.” Ashley let herself smile at the comment, pulling her jack up onto her shoulder as it slipped down once again. They were almost done with the unloading, and for now it seemed like Plasma had backed off. Would it stop them for good, probably not, but she could hope they would at least leave it for a while - it wouldn’t look good if they were found trying to steal hospital supplies again. Ashley lifted the last box of groceries out of the van, swiftly jumping out onto the ground instead of taking the easy ramp to get out. ”I do need to head back, but there’s still stuff to do so…” It wasn’t too late, and she wanted to get the job done properly this time even if it took longer. She really couldn’t give Coryn any reason to doubt her dedication right now. ”I think we can handle the rest, let’s just just get this last one inside.” Ashley nodded, single handedly carrying the box inside to the same location as the others. Even with permission to leave it to the hospital staff, Ashley stayed behind to help. An extra pair of hands made the job go faster after all. The whole unloading task took a few hours to complete, and the adrenaline fuelled energy Ashley had been running on all day was getting dangerously close to running on empty. By the time she actually let herself leave, the sky was starting to turn dark with each passing minute. ”Don’t get yourself in any more trouble on your way back.” Ashley turned to face the woman from before, nodding her head in response. It was like being lectured by her parents again, being told to stay out of trouble, but this time she wasn’t also being told to lock the door and hide away until someone came back home - not that she ever truly listened to those instructions. ”You’ve been a big help today, and I’m sure your parents would be proud.” With a slight reassuring pat on the shoulder, the other female disappeared back into the hospital building - leaving Ashley by herself once again. A bittersweet emotion washed over the teen and she took a moment to breathe and keep herself calm, for once not from overwhelming anger. Would she stay calm for long, probably not in all honesty. With no one there to keep her in check she would probably start to get angry again by just thinking about the events of the day - and she would be lying if she said she didn’t feel at all frustrated by how her confrontation had ended. Before the day got too late and the sky got too dark, Ashley made her way through the streets of Hyo City once again. Hopefully she would be just as lucky to avoid any of the patrols on her second trip to Ava Labs.

639 words

[[ i honestly had so much fun with this, i hope it's long enough for the mission haha ]]

MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS

[Daxton]

Congratulations!

You've successfully completed your mission!

With all that publicity that's probably going to pop up revolving around recordings, it's doubtful that any Plasma grunts might try robbing hospital shipments again! Thanks to you, the residents of the hospital can retrieve any nutritional specialties and just food in general that they might need!

Head back to Ava Labs to receive your prize.