thenewscout

[thenewscout]

Bristling slightly under the touch, it’s quickly recognized as one of safety rather than escalation. Instinctually shuffling closer to the taller mercenary, Scout tries to ignore the prickling feeling of eyes watching him from behind. Tucked away in his coworker’s shadow.

Pack safety—Don’t split into groups, is the contradictory mindset. Fragmenting a team makes coordination difficult.

Whatever that meant.

Focusing on the weight pressed into his shoulder, Scout squeezes his eyes shut. Willing away the frustration clawing up his throat and wanting release. A deluge of insults would do nothing but cement him as the immature newbie. So he swallows the pent up rage and bites his tongue.

A small comfort was taken in the form of Mundy’s scowl, even as it’s reigned back into a more professional look. Letting a long exhale past his lips, he mirrors the expression of detachment as best he can, taking the more experienced Mercenary’s cue as the Spy’s unhurried footsteps exited the room.

The two are left in blissful silence for a moment, ‘he ain’t worth it’ ringing in the younger mercenary’s ears. Sustained for a while, the quiet is cut short just as he begins to overthink it.

@askredengineer

A mixture of voices surges into the halls, heated debate echoing before being abruptly shushed.

“I’m just saying that we—”

The bassy undertone of Rusty’s voice carries through the uneven walls; even after they’d quieted. Otherwise inaudible but clearly fraught with unease.

@askredmedic

“Herr Engineer, with all due respect—zis cannot get to ze others.” Is the staccato of the Medic’s high-strung voice, dipping below the threshold as they move someplace more private.

Scout casts an alarmed look over his shoulder, blinking at Sniper. Toeing between running after the voices or being good—not eavesdropping when his mind insists he should.

Impulsive. Repulsive. Repelled despite the strong word never being spoken aloud. Against his better judgement, Scout mouths the words for permission.

“Should we..?”

So wait. This… All of dis is way worse than I thought, right? Crap. Even spy’s worried… And he’s the best guy I know at dis job!

[thenewscout]

[ @rengineer ] "Merry Christmas, boy. Next time if the eggnog's got a kick like a mule, best not keep ridin’."

“Mmmerry Crimsmaas,” Scout holds a loose salute over his head, head laid back on the pillow. Alcohols outta the system, just left with a headache—playing it up, most likely. “‘Ey, maybe don’t spike it next time? Stuff was delicious, didn’t even notice.”

“Mostly.”

“Ok on second thought maybe it was kinda suspicious but I didn’t caaare it tasted good!!! Can you blame a guy?”

[thenewscout]

( Again, apologies for the absence! I’ve been working on something big for these blogs in the background. I believe the project started in October and I severely underestimated the amount of time it would take to complete. ;^^ I look forward to sharing it with you all, though!

Safe to say that these blogs are not abandoned, nor inactive! Just laying in wait. :] )

[thenewscout]

Down for the count and then some. Boy’s half blacked-out, staring up at the ceiling. “whoad’ded twooo extra lights n’here? Wait, no, three… thinkat’s three…”

He sounds unsure of himself, trying to count on his fingers. Clearly seeing multiple of those, too.

I hear drama going on in zhe other room. On the bright side, zis eggnog is superb!

Sip.

Ooh, very nice! Bit of a kick to it, isn’t there?

[thenewscout]

#REDSmissmas2k24 — Mountain Lab Base

Question 09: Mistletoe

Ohhh no. Oh no no no. He would NOT handle that well. He’d get super awkward and flustered, probably apologize too in case it’s someone who feels pressured about it.

He… Probably wouldn’t expect anyone to want to? Not to mention there’d be a few he’d straight up refuse to kiss, even platonically.

If it does happen, the person would probably have to initiate it first. Unless he’s getting a really big confidence boost in a “now or never” type moment, it’s safe to say he’d chicken out under the assumption that he’s making the other party uncomfortable or something.

IF it’s someone who feels too pressured and IF he’s not interested, the least he’ll do is an awkward kiss on the hand so people will leave them alone about it.

🎄QUESTION 0912

If your characters got stuck under the mistletoe with someone, what would happen?

🎁 PROMPT 0912

Gift.

Reply or reblog to answer the question. Create a new post tagged with #REDSmissmas2k24 to share your response to the daily prompt.

[thenewscout]

“Am I?!” Face shifting from disappointed to starstruck in an instant, Scout begins pumping his fists in front of him—the inexperienced greenhorn shining through his weak facade, which he’d failed to cultivate properly thus far. But it was sweet. A childish grin, a sparkle of excitement unsullied by years of hard work on the battlefield. “Of course, man! I’d love to help you build a freakin’ satellite, are you kidding me?”

The wide, toothy grin put his buck teeth fully on display. Freckles still not worn in by the constant snow and fog. Smoothing down the rumples on his hat from his previously constant fussing, he instead begins fidgeting out of excitement at the prospect rather than anxiety. Internally, his mind is going a mile a minute, trying to wrap his head around how smart this guy must be to casually bring up such a project.

From what little he’d overheard from Rusty, he knew the guy was… Maybe kinda a big deal? But to the Scout, big deals were everywhere. It kinda flattened out the curve, made it hard to gage who really deserved the title ‘till he met the person in question. So far, a mental checklist is ticking off all the boxes pointing towards ‘yes.’

Calm, kind, mature, but—Scout tamps down his excitement a little to focus more on observing the man—he feels something a bit off there too, probably what got him into being a mercenary in the first place. It sets off a red flag or two, but the boy is perfectly fine to waive it for the sake of a new friend. What’s it matter if they’re all a bit messed up in the head? It comes with the job, after all.

Smart. Definitely smart. Like, really, extremely, SUPER smart. It carried in the way he spoke, the complicated thingymajig where his arm should be, how Rusty would never admit he’s a tad bit jealous of the guy wait what no! He didn’t overhear that, it was a private conversation and he and Medic were alone and so he shouldn’t know that! No thinking about the eavesdropping—Accidental eavesdropping! Or the fact that he was worried about what would happen if not even this guy knew how to—

Scout blinks, realizing that he’d suddenly started staring again. Stammering and unsure what to say, he lands on the current thought and nothing more.

“You, are SO cool.”

You spot him in the pantry, a rare sight outside of his workshop — just grabbing a cup of coffee, probably to fuel another long stretch of tinkering.

" Howdy, " Engie greeted, goggles above his tired eyes. Despite the exhaustion etched into his features, his voice carried its usual warmth. " How ya doin'? "

[thenewscout]

"....I-is someone there?"

“Ye-ACK!” The boy jumps a solid few feet into the air, going rigid as a board upon hitting the ground, turning to where he heard the noise.

The hearth is low, embers spitting from the charred remains of its fuel. Casting a dim, eerie light through the bars in front of it and sending it cascading into the awkward corners of the room. It’s shockingly small, with strange jutting corners with the walls that create ample blind spots. The faintest edges of the orange light bounce off of the plaster walls, lighting the two from below.

“WHAT! Are you doing here in the middle of the night?” The boy’s voice steadily drops from an outdoor voice, to indoor voice, to barely audible at all. Casting a distrustful look at the walls, unsure of how thick or thin they were. With how unbelievably illogical the layout of this place was, he figured it was a mix of both. Better to play it safe for now.

Squinting back at the silhouette he can barely make out in the dark, his face lights up in recognition—if a bit of confusion.

“Wait! I-uh, don’t think I know you yet. Unless you’re a Spy. Please don’t be a spy—You’re our uh—Our…” Trailing off for a moment, Scout taps at his chin. Index finger lifting to point up when it finally comes to him. “Oh! No wait… Oh yeah! You’re our cook, right? Chef lady? Is that— What do I call you? Cook feels too informal, is that rude? Sorry if ‘dats rude.”

He’s gone from lightly suspicious to completely fine with the stranger standing there, in the dark, in a strangely constructed base in less than a few seconds. Going so far as to crouch by the ebbing hearth and lift his hands near the bars, reaching for the little heat it provided.

[thenewscout]

Scout chokes up a little, eyes focused on the fingers snapping in front of his face. Only broken out of the stare that follows Spy’s hands to rest at his pockets by the muttered words under the bushman’s breath. Prompting a short, shaky laugh. Humorless.

He doesn’t quite settle. Forcibly lowering his posture but still stiff. Shoulders flat, elbows angled to where the coat flares slightly to the sides. Stilled where the normally restless shuffle of his feet implied pent up energy.

Resembling a dog that sizes up an opponent it can’t take, gaze flicking around for signs of an opening despite knowing the futility of picking a fight.

Be the bigger man. Repeated to himself like a mantra. Be the bigger man. Don’t start it. Let them come to you. Ma didn’t raise you like that. Make ma proud. Be the bigger man. Make ma proud. Make ma proud. Make ma proud. Make ma proud. Make ma proud. Be the bigger man—

Fist flashing out from the pockets of his winter coat, he makes a run for Spy while his back is turned.

Is what he imagines. In reality, all he does is take a sharp inhale and turn his head away with a sniff, teeth gritted. Focusing on the taller mercenary to keep his mind off the boiling rage at being treated so flippantly.

So wait. This… All of dis is way worse than I thought, right? Crap. Even spy’s worried… And he’s the best guy I know at dis job!

[thenewscout]

— " Howdy, you're invited: A Very Private Smissmas Hideout! I hope this message finds y'all in good spirits (or at least not blowin' somethin' up at the moment). I reckon it’s been a tough year, so I thought we’d take a well-deserved break and celebrate the season together.I've gone and rented out a cozy little spot far from all the noise to host a private Smissmas hideout. It’s peaceful, got plenty of space, and even a fireplace or two. Bring something warm to wear, 'cause it's gonna be chilly! Date: 1st December 2024 — 31st December 2024 Dress Code: Festive (or whatever's comfy for ya) Now, the location… I'm keepin' it under wraps to keep things extra private. Attached to this message is a set of coordinates and instructions on how to get there.Trust me, y'all don't wanna miss this. There'll be good food, laughs, and maybe even a surprise or two. And yes, the BLU team's invited too — truce zone rules apply, no funny business. P.S. If anyone’s got dietary restrictions (or strong feelings ‘bout fruitcake), let me know! "

CONFIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS:

FOR PRIVATE EYES ONLY

Howdy, I'm Albedo, the guy running this blog, and this is my first time hosting a Christmas Event for the TF2 RP community. This event will be held on Tumblr. Here are a few things you need to know:

∫ GENERAL dx

This event is strictly for all TF2 RP-related blogs only, including fan teams, anons and TF2 OCs! Engie's gone ahead and set up sentries outside to keep unwanted guests at bay — so, if you're not on the guest list, don't bother tryin' to sneak in!

Strictly no NSFW RPs... If you want to get into that kind of content, do so in your own private servers.

Reblog this post with #( attending ) if you plan on joining the event. If you're just helping spread the word, feel free to tag it with #( sharing ).

DO NOT start threads off this post! However, during the event, you can start new threads that aren't related to the event itself. We want everyone to have fun, whether you're here for the event or just here to RP something else entirely.

This event is not compulsory. If you prefer to start threads on other topics, you absolutely can!

Please tag any event-related threads, posts, or starters with #REDSmissmas2k24.

Please refer to this Google Doc for more information! Please toggle print layout on Mobile or view it on Desktop. (Mobile version will be coming soon)

∫ DAILIES dx

Daily questions and drabbles will be shared on this account throughout December :) Participation in the event is not required to answer or engage with them — everyone is welcome!

That is all for now, please keep an eye out for any future updates! Any related quick-time events/starters will be posted on my blog :) If you have any questions, feel free to ask them.

[thenewscout]

It feels like a half-truth. Do they really have a plan? What constitutes having a plan when half of it is still in the dark? Is he rounding up?

Upon being offered a reassuring smile, the Scout settles a bit. Fingers flicking against each other, but his shuffling feet have stilled.

Gaze fixed attentively on the Engineer, he listens. Eyes sharper on the topic shift—almost akin to a dog in how his head eagerly tilts without his knowing. That kind of sidelong look is ingrained into scouts by default, it seems. But for it to be in relation to something rather pertinent to the team’s wellbeing—something he and the others are equally in the dark about; save for the two engineers—is refreshing.

“Ha—Thanks,” Scout croaks, elbow folded close as he rubs the back of his head. “Ma said I take after my pops in that way… Never met the guy, so I wouldn’t know but—anyway!” His hand pulls away to dismiss the thought, waving it off. “I’m uh, real glad you’ve got a plan. It’s nice to meetcha, and… Well, I’m awful sorry it’s on these terms, y’know? Bad rep when everyone’s stressed, hah…” Clearing his throat, the boy eventually trails off, gaze still fixed on Engie. At this point, it’s getting a little intense. Not that he means it, it seems natural, if a bit off-putting of a behavior.

Rocking on the balls of his feet, he finally looks aside, resting a few long moments before suddenly blurting out a “They didn’t give you a map, either, did they?”

You spot him in the pantry, a rare sight outside of his workshop — just grabbing a cup of coffee, probably to fuel another long stretch of tinkering.

" Howdy, " Engie greeted, goggles above his tired eyes. Despite the exhaustion etched into his features, his voice carried its usual warmth. " How ya doin'? "

[thenewscout]

“Y’have the blueprints?”

Hand freezing, Scout looks up in surprise. Unfamiliarity forgotten over the prospect of a new discovery to do with the base.

“Since when? I-I mean I heard—I thought dat… uh,”

disconnecting and blankly staring ahead, the boy’s eyes lock on the wall. Brain overloaded, foot tapping, he tries to think. Reaching up to fuss with the bits of short, unruly hair poking out from right beneath his hat.

“Just, not a lotta info on this place. Kinda stressing me out, y’know? It’d be nice t’hear we know more than earlier.” Opening and closing his mouth, he visibly contemplates what he’s about to say. Only when he begins does he immediately think better of it and shut his mouth. “Doc was real mad when he found out that… The-uh… Nevermind.” Trailing off into an inaudible mess of uttered words and mumbles.

You spot him in the pantry, a rare sight outside of his workshop — just grabbing a cup of coffee, probably to fuel another long stretch of tinkering.

" Howdy, " Engie greeted, goggles above his tired eyes. Despite the exhaustion etched into his features, his voice carried its usual warmth. " How ya doin'? "

[thenewscout]

“Woah.”

The new scout is wearing a pilot hat, despite the cold being relegated to the outdoors. Hand unconsciously tugging at the sides while he looks the Engineer up and down.

“You look, way tired.” He blurts, head cocking to the side. Multiple moments pass before the realization hits that he hadn’t responded properly, immediately fumbling to overcorrect his mistake.

“Uh, doin’ good-doin’ good! Howdy, errr, hey… Yep, heya pally! I’m uh… Here. And so are you. We’re both here…”

Followed by a failed attempt to casually lean on the doorframe, he stops himself from slipping. Fidgeting instead as the awkward silence extends between the two.

“Yyye-p.”

Popping the ‘p’ at the end of his sentence, Scout stands uneasily in the doorway, fingers drumming against the side.

You spot him in the pantry, a rare sight outside of his workshop — just grabbing a cup of coffee, probably to fuel another long stretch of tinkering.

" Howdy, " Engie greeted, goggles above his tired eyes. Despite the exhaustion etched into his features, his voice carried its usual warmth. " How ya doin'? "

[thenewscout]

“Y-Yeah! What he said—! I mean—” The Scout rocks on his feet, expression flickering indecisively between being grateful for Sniper’s intrusion and one of faint indignation and hurt. The spark of pride that demands he defend it, scrapping with the warmth of someone else doing so on his behalf. “—But I, I—…Don’t worry Snipes, I can handle this myself.”

That, and the hurt and confusion of someone he respected and looked up to flippantly saying something so scathing towards him. Like the remark didn’t even take thought to produce. That it had already existed, and only gone unsaid.

The unsubtle quaver in his voice when he refers to Mundy with an unused nickname betrays how deep the cut went, intentional or not. He’s puffing himself up to look bigger, winter coat only doing so much for his angular, bony frame. Jaw set as he sizes up the older mercenary.

So wait. This… All of dis is way worse than I thought, right? Crap. Even spy’s worried… And he’s the best guy I know at dis job!

[thenewscout]

I-Uhm… Well you sure seem worried, man. Like, not that it’s a weakness or anything! I just… I mean we’re all big and strong and tough and everything but you’ve gotta admit, right..? This stuff? I-I mean I didn’t know it wasn’t normal…

The new scout begins rapidly tapping his foot on the floor, fretting with his hair.

Are they tryna kill us or something? I didn’t sign up for this!

So wait. This… All of dis is way worse than I thought, right? Crap. Even spy’s worried… And he’s the best guy I know at dis job!

[thenewscout]

So wait. This… All of dis is way worse than I thought, right? Crap. Even spy’s worried… And he’s the best guy I know at dis job!

[thenewscout]

I—w-Well no—! But if we don’t do somethin’ we won’t get anything for it either! Look man, respawn’s scary. I’ll admit it, I’m freakin’ terrified!

What if it happens to you? Or me? Or Medic? Or that new guy? Or even Spy?! What then? There’s still a chance, and that’s not what I signed up for!

Hm. Respawn is still unstable.

[thenewscout]

You kidding? Anything’s better than dis!

Hm. Respawn is still unstable.