EVENT: HERE THERE BE MONSTERS

[initiatesnpc]

Date & Time: October 24 - October 31
Location: Throughout Exsilium
Characters: ALL; tag yourselves in
Summary: The Transports return from their mission to find the island crawling with monsters.
Warnings: Violence, possibly injuries (notify a mod if there's cause to add a particular warning!)

The Transports return from their mission to Medieval Russia, but the Initiative Hold is eerily deserted. Normally, their would be a number of Initiative personnel prepared to meet the Transports at the end of their mission for debriefing.

Instead, there is only silence.

That is, until a distant thumping sound can be heard. It is growing closer, and suddenly the beast is bursting into the room. It lets out a roar and charges. Within minutes, it is easily defeated, but damage has already been done -- it collided with the Transporter machine, which is now making a low fizzling sound and lets off a couple sparks. The commotion is enough to draw the attention of the few remaining Initiative personnel who still inhabit the Hold, who arrive immediately afterwards. They are able to tell the Transports two things: that the machine is broken and currently unable to sent anyone back in time, and that the island has been overrun with aggressive, mutated beasts sent by the United Earth. They have been under siege for months, with the island's population reduced to a mere fraction of what it had once been.

Comments

[implying]

Yes, that one. [ That comes out a little stiffly, because man, Adam, how can you just be so nonchalant about that?? And he really doesn't want to give a name, he'd rather keep all related business as private as possible, but... what if Adam ever needs a similar service?

After a pause: ] Equius, one of the trolls here.

[neveraskedforthis]

[ Because.

And yeah, that's basically why he's asking. He's not going to go around bothering people without a good reason, but he feels more comfortable having a list on hand of people that might know a thing or two about cybernetics, if worse comes to worse. It's strange--it's not like normal human limbs can't fail you either when damaged, but he's a lot more conscious about it now... given exposure to some electricity can already render him an invalid.

He drums his fingers rhythmically against the surface of the table, thinking. Can't believe it hasn't activated yet... ]

Well, if he knows what he's doing.

[implying]

[ He glances around, growing more and more uncomfortable with this conversation, but... well, there's no one nearby to overhear it. So, that's a little better. ...But not much.

Reluctantly, he adds: ] He managed to clean my vents of the toxin build-up, after the bombings. I would say he's at least competent.

[neveraskedforthis]

[ Oh just get used to talking about your cyborg bits Vanadi. ]

How do you ask people?

[ Knowing FULL WELL you are usually uncomfortable. Only fair to address that, now, given Vanadi already knows what makes him uncomfortable. ]

[implying]

With care.

[ Yeah, he remembers your post about it, Adam. So non-secretive, so unclassy. ]

I lead the conversation into it, if they've given me reason to think they may be able to help. For his part, Equius had given us a view of his room, and all the robotic parts therein. It was no great piece of deduction.

[neveraskedforthis]

[ Yeah well, Adam's just upfront about things. And not sneaky like certain other people. ]

Did you ever consider just straight up asking for what you want or need? Instead of just schmoozing about -- [ shit no one really cares about, he wants to say, but that's harsh ] things that don't really matter. Would be a lot less misleading, probably.

[implying]

[ Is he being nagged? Ugh, Adam. Why you gotta be like this. ]

Lovely advice. I'll be sure to take it into consideration.

[neveraskedforthis]

[ You know. Just in case.

Also his way of saying, if you want something right now, better spit it out. ]

And dismiss it, ultimately.

[implying]

It's a possibility.

[ Oh yeah, he's totally worn out his welcome here. He stands himself up from the couch, smoothing out his pants and shirt as he does. ]

You've your methods, and I suppose I have mine.

[neveraskedforthis]

[ He waves ta-ta for now as Vanadi gets up. He's not at all surprised he would rather run away from a serious discussion about serious things! ]

Naturally. Each person is different.

[ And, as such, will respond to certain approaches differently than others. ]

[implying]

[ He's retreated again to stand behind the couch and, feeling a little better with a physical barrier between them, pauses there with hands rested on the back. ]

Adam, I... [ ...not sure where he's really going with this. He drops his gaze to the couch, nose of the mask dipping down. ] I'm sorry it's ended up like this, between us.

[ Not that he expects Adam to even listen to that— or at least to have no kind of real reaction— but it feels necessary to say. ]

[neveraskedforthis]

Jensen.

[ He corrects, just to make a point. It's funny how most people around here don't even ask before they start to call him by his first name, like it should be a given. ]

And why are you sorry? Because you feel like you need to be friends with everyone?

[ Like he just said, people are different. And Adam's an introvert, just like Vanadi's an extreme extrovert... that's not going to work out in the long run. ]

At least make it easier for yourself and drop that kind of mindset. The rest will happen on its own, be it good or bad, and nobody will have wasted any time or energy.

[ In other words, stop trying so hard and just let things happen organically. Geez. ]

[implying]

[ The first instinct is to just agree, apologize, and make a quick getaway, but Vanadi stops himself. It goes against his nature, but dammit, he's annoyed. This philosophy of his is about all he has going for himself. One hand tightens on the back of the couch, but he doesn't look up again. ]

And who are you to say so, Jensen?

[neveraskedforthis]

[ Strangely enough, Adam doesn't appear nearly as tense as Vanadi. Though he's a little surprised the guy is still here. ]

Just some old guy who's gone through enough 'friends' to know that the real ones are the ones that stick around whether or not you need them; even if there's nothing to be said.

[implying]

And what of the rest? Those that you don't deem real? Just ignore the whole lot of them, shall I?

[neveraskedforthis]

[ Sigh. ]

Or you could be patient and wait for them to come to you.

Just an idea.

[implying]

[ What a terrible idea. Who would want to be friends with Vanadi if he didn't make every effort to be charming and outgoing? Then he's just some guy in a mask— or worse still, some ugly, scarred man. And there's really nothing worse than loneliness.

He shakes his head, jaw tight. ]

It wouldn't work for me. Keep your ideas, I've no need for them.

[neveraskedforthis]

Sounds to me like you've never even tried. But whatever--do what you have to do, and all that.

[ No point crying over spilt milk, after all. Adam will just go back to checking the network now and finishing his sandwich. ]

[implying]

[ He backs away a step, dropping his hand back to his side. It wouldn't work. He doesn't need to try it, he knows it. Men like Adam can be happy with themselves, or quietly miserable, or whatever it is — Vanadi needs all these people he constantly pulls in close to himself. He's quite sure the sadness of it all would be impossible to keep at bay, otherwise.

It's too bad he doesn't have any of the words to express it, but he supposes it would all work out to the same thing, either way. Explaining himself to Adam would be a bit like shouting into the wind, he thinks.

He backs away a few steps more before turning to depart, silent despite the limp. ]