18th Confession [Voice/Action]

[notabluesbro]

[Voice]

Looks like we're being led around by a rope, like usual. But you gotta' wonder—what good will it do to rile us all up into wanting to fight, into learning how to fight? Or have they forgotten that most of Luceti wants them either dead, or drinking through a straw? Either way, it's pretty incredible that they can't hold back these enemies, and yet we can kill them on the battlefield. Us, people who are trapped here, who can't even fight a gang of robots from dragging us off.

It's all topsy-turvy, isn't it?

[And while he's here... well, might as well take his mind off things for a little while to address a certain grumpy-faced child...]

[[Filtered to 'Katie' // 70% Unhackable]]

Hey, kid—can I talk to you, or would you rather just glare at me for a minute?

[Said without a trace of malice, of course, because Wolfwood has a hard time throwing that around kids; actually, he's far too curious about how she did it, than the fact that she tossed him for no real known reason toward what could've been his second death.]

[Action]

[All that said and done, he's got practicing to do. He's been hoarding up on his ammo, but knowing they'll supply him with more is a relief; he goes to the battle dome and proceeds to shoot apart whatever the simulation throws at him: guys with angel wings? Their weak points are those. Those big-ass things, right there. And they're significantly easy to shoot down when you just go for one of them. But then, he also practices on people he's used to shooting: guys with guns.

Swivel cross. Block bullets. Fire back from behind Punisher. It's all ingrained into his mind as clear as anything else he's ever learned. Except where his shots normally tear through vital organs, a lot of his targets instead are hit where they couldn't use their guns anymore—arms, and then legs, all meticulous. Some are killed. He notes it, acknowledges it, and makes no effort to correct himself for it.

When he walks out of the battle dome, his cross is significantly lighter. He'll take the time to drop by the Good Spirits and drink equally light, draw out a cigarette and light it, wait until the light outside's gone and find himself too awake to return home just yet. So he sits in the forest against a rock, arms folded while he barks sharply to his empty left-hand side:]

Are you going to teach me more or not?

[He returns home with a few little burns here and there, as expected. But at least he can create bigger blasts of fire. It's more than he was hoping for. Somewhere in this day, he fancies he'll have to talk to Vash about what's to come.]

Comments

[voice]

[soulbait.livejournal.com]

It seems entirely possible that where we are so often weakened by the Shifts inside of the barrier the robots are strengthened. Or, failing that, that there is some subtle miasma they release that serves a depressant. [A pause, sigh] Oh perhaps... we are simply the more useful piece, given that we can leave the "nest" safely, whereas the robots might not be able to.

Re: [voice]

[notabluesbro]

[Oh hey, there's that grumpy kid who hates preachers. 8D]

And yet they send people incapable of fighting... Their 'compatibility' system makes no sense to me. One second you're not compatible with it, the next you're on the draft list a few months later without your say so.

They could at least be a little more predictable.

[Spoken exasperatedly, but in a mocking tone that said he knew there was no such thing as predictability in the way of the Malnosso.]

[voice]

[soulbait.livejournal.com]

You are assuming that a matter of compatibility is within their control. It could well be a factor outside of their control.

[Action]

[endgames]

Because it's an equal opportunity for them.

[This answer likely would've made more sense in context if he'd said it on the journals, instead of from where he sits on a rooftop in the square, but pssh. Details.]

Re: [Action]

[notabluesbro]

[Wolfwood pauses midstep, and then turns his chin just slightly to find the source of the noise. Ah, Shikamaru, was it? His mind is a little overwhelmed by questions and thoughts, so he doesn't quite make the connection yet. And then then, he probably should make sure—]

Pardon?

[Action]

[endgames]

Your question on the journals. [He closes said book, tucking it into his flak jacket.] It's because it works to both of their advantages.

[Action]

[goldenglasses]

[Talk to Vash? Why the heck would you want to do something silly like that! Not like he's been attempting to avoid the world by hiding in his room when not at Good Spirits and the bakery to stock up, or taking care of the flowers at the shop.

...man he's bad at this recluse thing.

But if you REALLY want to have a chat with him he'll be lounging on his bed, petting the cat. No, that is NOT a bottle of whiskey hiding cleverly behind his night stand.

That would be an empty one that was lazily and hidden not very well.]

Re: [Action]

[notabluesbro]

[Wolfwood leans on the door—yep, he's got a few bandaids here and there, a bandage on his wrist, as though he's been learning from a spirit or two—frowning.]

Don't tell me you're drinking yourself dumb when there's a draft going on.

[Action]

[goldenglasses]

No, not dumb. It was almost empty before I saw the announcement. [Because that WAS his plan until he saw THAT.]

[He eyes the bandages.] Are you getting far with him?

[flicker-flash.livejournal.com]

[How about she glares for a minute and talks?]

It's a free country.

[This would sound so much more rebellious and mean if she wasn't clearly stuffed up to the gills with a head cold. |D]

[notabluesbro]

[...kid, you are just so grumpy and he's not sure why. :(]

Did you not like the way I dressed, Miss Katie? Or were you offended by my nose? I don't know, I don't think it's that bad. I think it suits me pretty well!

[But Wolfwood'll still put up with you, because you're just a kid. With the ability to fling people other places and possibly kill them.]

[flicker-flash.livejournal.com]

[SHE HAS LOTS OF REASONS, YOU JERK. No really. For instance:]

How do you know my name?

[Because that is important and if priests know her name that means terrible things and aaaah ;A;]

[daisy023]

I still wonder about it.

If these units can capture residents here, why do they need us? Do they only work on foreign bodies?

[Not that she'd deny a chance to fight, though.]

[notabluesbro]

I've heard there's at least one robot here in Luceti. Maybe someone should ask them if they've been able to go through these 'tunnels'? Unless you're right, and only those literally brought here can leave it.

...

Maybe all of their power resides here, on this specific section of land—and outside the barrier, they're powerless. That's why power-caps are lifted when we leave, maybe...?

[He's grasping at what he's heard, but he's still not entirely sure, being so new to all this.]

[daisy023]

We are from different worlds. If a being can vary from planet to planet, then so can from dimension to dimension. Luceti proves that. Some here even have magic.

And with alternate laws of physics... I don't think there's physical compatibility outside the barrier. Like gravity and atmospheric pressure.

Maybe they're only effective against us because they use tech that works against us, from alternate worlds. But not against natives of this one.

...What is that robot?

[amber-arcangel.livejournal.com]

I think they just really don't like us...

[That's her logic when she's slightly annoyed. Yep.]

[notabluesbro]

Ha, you know, Kohaku... I think that's a pretty valid explanation for all this. But I wonder why? Most of the folks here seem like decent people, for them to be such jerks.

[amber-arcangel.livejournal.com]

Maybe they only like themselves?

[ action ]

[notaboy-gtfo.livejournal.com]

[ 'sup, preacher-man. You needed another thread with someone being a creeper in the forest and all. Don't mind Smellerbee being a tree-monkey a little ways away. ]

Nobody'll teach you anything with that kind of attitude.

[ This is not at all pot-and-kettle. ]

Re: [ action ]

[notabluesbro]

[He glances at the trees beyond, swatting away the fire spirit's presence for a moment to take up conversation; he grins.]

Aha, and you're a pro at learning from grumpy fire spirits?

[ action ]

[notaboy-gtfo.livejournal.com]

[ Harumph. ]

What would I want to learn from one of those for?

It's just common sense.

[voice]

[strayfag.livejournal.com]

[He's been thinking something along those lines since the draft notice, but he's not sure how wise it is to announce it in public. Can things around here be all that different from back home?]

It's pretty messed up, but there's still not much we can do from in here.

Re: [voice]

[notabluesbro]

[At this point, Wolfwood hardly cares what the Malnosso know about his own personal thoughts on the matter; he's more worried about random shifts and annoying drafts, than the retaliation of a few annoyed Malnosso members.

In a better term: Fuck 'em.]

You have that right—especially if they're able to force people into experiments and involuntary drafts before they have a chance to do anything.

[But hell, would they do anything to someone they're already shipping off to war?]

action

[bernardelli.livejournal.com]

[ Meryl will be working and looking tired. Drafts always take a toll on her sleep. ]

Re: action

[notabluesbro]

[Oh hey there, insurance girl. He walks in and sits down without a second glance at her—though his voice is sympathetic.]

You look awful.