<div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>The Old Man and the Fox</strong></span></div><br/><div class="floatleft">(https://i.imgur.com/f9p8l32.png)</div><strong>NAME:</strong>Albion<br/><strong>DAY:</strong>September 28th, 2018, Afternoon<br/><strong>LOCATION:</strong>Outdoor Shooting Range<br/><strong>TAGGING:</strong>Nerissa<br/><strong>EXTRA:</strong><br/><strong>WEARING:</strong>Standard SOPHE uniform<br/><br/><hr/><br/>"... Why are you wasting time? You have your task, now see it... Stop right there." He spoke, expecting her to try and get close to take a safer shot, but she holsters the firearm instead. What was she planning? He couldn't move from his position without risking shifting the apple, but all he could do was watch her with the aame stone-cold precision he'd observed her throughout the day with. "You know this isn't part of the task... If this is your idea of collecting yourself before you shoot, be my guest, but don't waste my-" He started to speak, but something about her demeanor told him there was more at work here than what he could simply perceive. She walked with purpose, intent, resolution...<br/><br/>Yet she stood face to face with him... And simply leaned against hia form. Now for the first time that day, he felt confused... The only indication she would know she'd given him pause was a sudden flicker in his eyelids, trying not to betray his sense of focus. She wanted to become his friend that much? ... All she needed to do was complete the task and he could consider it... But she seemed to have much longer-term ideas. "... You're just a trainee. Don't start getting delusions of grandeur just because you found one problem case." His eyes narrowed, and now she could see his lips contort slightly into a frown. She was trying with all her might to be nice, and still he attempted to push her away, even as she kissed him on the cheek.<br/><br/>There was no warmth, no comfort in his pallid skin, not even as her hand roamed, seemingly to explore his chest... Only to draw his knife for her own agenda. His throat made a nervous swallowing, but he dared not betray his concern more than that. Her ultimate aim made itself apparent as she sought to forge an oath... One that tied her life to his own. "... No, don't-" He began to protest before she slit her palm, his eyes widened by the sheer lack of care she was now showing for her own life. He almost seemed to lose focus now as she pressed her wounded palm to his cheek, warming him with the sense of blood, as she sealed the oath in her own language.<br/><br/>Even as she pulled away, the stain of red remained on his cheek, and the brief flicker of emotion she could have witnessed on his features seemed to be gone for now. "... You're being foolish, Nerissa. Tacking your life to mine like that... Why?" He couldn't understand what could have been running through her mind... A hypocritical thought, if there ever was one. Now he knew what must have run through her mind when he spoke his absurd demand of her... Except now, if she took his life, neither one of them would exist any more. This ditzy, bad girl fox... Had bound her life to someone she barely knew, who had so far verbally and emotionally mistreated her... Why?<br/><br/>"... So now you're ready then? The stakes are higher... It isn't just one life you have to worry about now." He had to remind her... But she drew her firearm and took aim. His eyes remained open now, as he spread his arms out. "... All or nothing."