cartesianism | April 1st

April 1st - Arrival

Arrival

It feels more like waking up from a very restful night, instead of the jarring feeling of waking up in an unknown bed. That feeling may not last long, though, because you're definitely not looking up at any ceiling you're familiar with.

It's some kind of motel room -- maybe cleaner than you'd expect from such a place. There's a comfortable bed, a trunk with a military uniforn and a gas mask and enough space to stash whatever you get during the next two months, a closet with a familiar outfit or two...no other belongings in this room, and certainly no answers as to why you're here.

There's one thing that may bring more questions than answers: a calendar. Today's date is marked there: April 1st. Happy April Fools day? The entirety of April and most of May is empty, but the week from May 21st to May 25th is filled with one word:

END

The moment you step out of your room with AC you're hit by the warm, sticky air of Cartesio. Today is a rather dry day. You're not the only one who seems to be lost -- other people come out of their rooms. At some point, once you get to the lobby, you find a few things of interest: a guestbook, a rack of maps, and a note pinned to the wood of the counter:

"Meet me at the Lodge in two hours -- The Sergeant"
You now have a place to go to in two hours. In the meanwhile, how about you get accustomed to the motel and the town?

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[When Hawks finishes his own examination of the inside of the building and guidebook, he makes his way outside. If he's right, that guy should be-- there! Not even in an alleyway this time, though. All of that information being available defeats the purpose of being cautious it seems.

It's a matter of moments to stroll closer, Hawks letting his eyes wander and take in their surroundings.]

Pretty elaborate for one of your "tests," Dabi.

[ Clearly this means Dabi is just going to play nice today, Hawks. He waits until the winged hero is close enough before he bothers with a response, but notably there's less of a smirk on his face than you would expect. ]

Don't tell me the number two hero can't handle this much. [ Speaking of alleyways and being out in the open, now that he has Hawk's attention he's going to start walking off (you better follow Hero) to the Junkyard. That's a sufficiently shady enough spot for talking, sure. ]

I'm sure I'll manage. [Hawks huffs out a breath and fights the urge to eyeroll. While unsettling that two relatively cautious and very powerful people managed to be spirited away somehow so far it isn't anything close to the most dangerous fight he's had in even the last week, let alone as a pro hero.]

[He actually does roll his eyes when he see where Dabi had led them. It's secluded for sure, but not exactly a step up from an abandoned warehouse.

After they find a place far enough inside the junkyard to be private, Hawks opens his wings and flaps lazily, an idle motion just fast enough to stir the hot air and provide a slight breeze.]

So. Shogi, really? If I didn't know not to underestimate you I wouldn't have guessed.

[ Gotta pay attention to aesthetics, y'know. In a normal situation Dabi would find a nice piece of scrap to sit and get comfy on, but he neither trusts Hawks nor anything about this situation. Standing and partially leering it is then. ]

Aww, I'd be flattered 'cept that's your specialty right? Being so charming and all. Guess that's how you got the number two spot, sweeping everyone off their feet.

Edited 2018-09-30 19:11 (UTC)

[That's just asking to get tetanus, Dabi. Granted, with that many staples you'd probably be more up to date on that shot than anyone else.

Hawks shifts his wings wider and lifts his arms out a bit towards Dabi--a very open gesture, though that gleam in his eye and his smile are a bit too sharp to be actually trusting.]

Why, if you wanted to be swept off your feet all you had to do was say so, Dabi!

Edited 2018-09-30 21:19 (UTC)

[ "Try it" he almost says, though he bites it back just barely (something about fried chicken also comes to mind). Wait actually- Oddly his actual response is somewhat similar to his first thought, go figure. ]

If it can get me out of here, that might be worth hearing whatever drivel came out of your mouth during. [ But that's not exactly what he means, and he points up. He kind of doubts it would be that easy, but can you just fly away, Hawks? ]

[An interesting thought-- while he's carried people before, and he's traveled far distances before, he's never carried a person through what looks like a desert. They'd probably need supplies if they did that too, since it's not exactly a forgiving environment. The teasing look fades as Hawks examines Dabi up and down, tall and thin, but not the heaviest person he's lifted.

Hawks steps away from the trash heaps and crouches, his wings flaring wide. He barely stays pauses long enough to get out a "hold that thought" out before he's working his way into the sky.

They air is hot but rather stagnant, so no convenient updrafts to ride. It's surprisingly hard to get high enough to see if there was a neighboring town-- there doesn't seem to be, not in his not-insignificant vision anyway. Even up higher the air is still fighting him, and unless that changed on another day, staying aloft will be a lot of work.

Preliminary assessment done, Hawks angles his wings to spiral down towards where Dabi waits.]

No landmarks, and the flight conditions aren't exactly favorable. Even if I can get out of here, it'd take a lot longer than I'd prefer.

[He'll quirk an eyebrow at Dabi and copy his gesture at the sky] You want a turn?

[ Dabi patiently waits while Hawks goes surveying, letting some thoughts turn over in his head in the meantime. He's far from the easiest person to read (both due to the scars and his general demeanor), but this whole situation is irritating. Less that he's separated from the League—how many times had he gone off on his own—but that he doesn't have any real sense of what to expect. Not to mention that he's stuck here with the bird and the brat.

His gaze is sharper than it was previously, but his tone still carries that same cool tone as before. ]

Pass. Not one of your fangirls to swoon over something useless. [ In other words, he's not interested in deadends and there's the matter of him not trusting Hawks on top of it. Then again, he apparently trusts him enough to take his word that flying isn't a valid option, but that's more of a confirmation than truly trusting the hero. ]

Besides, doubt you'd really leave the brat behind.

[Psshhhh your loss Dabi

The repeated comment to ‘his fangirls’ draws an eyeroll out of Hawks. Autographs are one thing, but he doesn’t make it a habit to use his quirk with random fans unless he has to rescue them. Part of him is almost relieved Dabi didn’t want a lift— his aviator jacket and gloves must not be agreeing with this heat. They’re designed to help in the colder, windier conditions high in the air, not this heat. It’s either that, or whatever brought them here is messing with his body more than he’d like. Not happy with that thought, but not trusting Dabi enough to voice it. Maybe another time, if he gets desperate. And they have a deal to fall back on.

Shelving that thought, he pulls his gloves off and shoves them in his jacket pockets before shrugging the jacket off onto the ground. That already feels a bit better, less to hold heat against him. ]

Nah, I wouldn’t leave him behind. A few feathers for one person and I can still fly carrying the other. Or both of you could have some feathers and I just have the supplies we’d need to get out of here, but that can lead to a lot more variables to juggle. Not exactly fun, depending on how long it goes on and if the air stays unfavorable.

Edited 2018-10-01 21:24 (UTC)

[ The deadpan expressions stays (it might actually get more intense tbh), but Hawks does get the slightest eyebrow raise at the clothing removal. Jeez, don't you know how to grin and bear it with wearing winter clothes in warm weather? Dabi was wearing his current get-up, long coat and all, during the summer camp raid and was just fine— get on his level! ]

Guess stripping is part of your charm. [ But moving onward while continuing to stare because this is his default expression anyway. ]

Keep goin', you're doing a great job of convincing me that you're on our side, Hawks.

[Just because someone has only two outfits and chooses them both to be winter proof in the middle of summer doesn't mean everybody needs to be like that! Give a bird a break.

Hawks winks, but his face immediately fades back into a flatter expression. After another moment, his wings resume an idle wave.]

Very funny, your jokes must be your charm. [A shrug just a touch too aggravated to be the casual he normally goes for.] Not sure what you want me to "keep doing," since I doubt the answer is "strip."

[ Never.

Good choice there Hawks, 'cause he's not in the mood to play too much either. He does manage a grin at the faux compliment though. ]

Sorry, I'm not Toga. [ ...that's a morsel of information that he wouldn't have offered were it not for the circumstances, and he's immediately irritated at himself for it. ]

What part of villain screams saving that brat? He's already proved himself useless to us.

[That name and tidbit gets filed away, but...Looks like it's back to that special song and dance. Hawks grits his teeth and can feel his shoulders tense before forcing them back down.]

Surely as smart as you are, you should know know about "indoctrination." Even Stockholm Syndrome. A little bit of kindness can be twisted pretty easily to more devious means. This [a handwave to encompass everything around them] is obviously not something the League set up, even an angry prejudiced brat could tell that. Help him now, or at least let me make the token effort. He's already trained to trust a "hero" when they offer direction, isn't he? Time will let the rest fall into place.

[If Hawks sounds bitter, it's not something he's forcing too much. There is some bitterness at his own situation from too many years ago now. Different circumstances, but close enough to shoehorn into it.]

Didn't stop him from trying to convince himself otherwise. [ Dabi has little patience for idiots on a good day, let alone dealing with a stupid brat when shit's like this. ] He's your problem. I never thought he was worth it in the first place. [ And you can bet he'll be watching to see just how much "Stockholm Syndrome" this turns out to be. ]

Kid like that will self destruct with or without your help either way. [ ...he would know. ]

As long as you can be an adult and not roast the kid, fine. He [and you] will be my problem.

[As much as it pains him to say it...] Yeah, if left unchecked he probably would self destruct. Good thing none of us plan to be here long enough to see it happen. We should get more information later, at whatever that ‘meeting’ is supposed to entail.

[There was a calendar in Hawks’ room with only two months available too. If that’s not something as ominous as he worries, they might just be able to stick it out as well. That would only be a last resort though, no need to be sitting ducks if they can just find a way to leave.]

Optimistic, Hero. [ To both things really—the first time he met Shigaraki comes to mind, but he shakes it off. ]

Right, right, you've never been to a villain run meeting before. [ Just rubbing it in, all good. ] If it's like the rest, it'll end with at least something or someone embedded in a wall.

[That was the ‘you’ of six months ago! If Shigaraki could grow so much in that time, someone can hope Dabi did too, eh?]

Well, time to put yourself to some use then. Why don’t you lead by example on how two villains conduct a meeting. I’m sure it’ll be educational.

[ Of course! In the span of just six months he's gone from committing petty crimes to burning people alive causally like it's his job (which tbf it is). ]

You encouragin' me to set this whole place on fire, Hawks?

[but did you do your job before it became your job because that’s dedication]

Are you saying all you’re good for is fire? Here I was thinking you knew how to use your smart mouth, not just run it. Or did you not earn your leadership of the Vanguard?

[Time to really play with fire. Goading Dabi will either hopefully get him to contribute some kind of expertise that isnt just burning things or standing and looking pretty, or get him “fired up” a hell of a lot sooner and aimed at Hawks.

Guess he’ll learn the answer the hard way.]

[ Is it still dedication if he created the position.

As the seconds tick by, it might seem that Hawk's plan isn't going to work at all. Dabi offers neither helpful insight, nor does he move to instigate a conflict. He just stands there, hands in his pockets, posture slightly bent, smirk relaxing into a neutral expression. And that's probably not all too surprising given his usual muted demeanor and how he tends to handle most situations. But like most things in life, there's always a flip side.

Hawks has seen it before during their brief fight over High End—that flame that's flickering one moment and fully ignited the next. Lucky him to see it twice, because even Shouto Todoroki doesn't earn this type of response. Maybe Hawks is special, or maybe he's just way too aggravated over the collected events of the day. Hard to tell. Either way, all the winged hero gets is a second of warning before Dabi is closing the distance between them—his left hand already alight in blue flames.

There's as much instinct as there is experience at play here, though Dabi can already tell that something about his quirk is off—but hopefully that goes both ways. He knows Hawks is fast, but he'll harness both the element of surprise and the wherewithal to play dirty(he'll grab any part of the hero he can) to keep him from flying away. Whether he manages to pin Hawks up against a pile of scrap or not, he'll stop just short of actually setting him on fire, though his left hand remains ablaze. ]

I earned it by getting idiots like you to shut up.

[It's close enough.

As the seconds tick by, Hawks feels tension crackle along his back. Even with his relaxed demeanor, Dabi usually would have said something by now, if talk was all that would happen.

When the villain finally surges forward Hawks tries to propel himself backwards, buy enough of a moment to then go up or sideways. The unnatural amount of fatigue from the earlier flight must be getting to him though, because he stumbles over his own discarded jacket and gets pinned in place. He's barely keeping his balance, wings slightly spread but too close to junk heaps to effectively use without risking bringing it all down on them, and has an arm trapped in a vice-like grip. The flames dance in his glasses' reflection--too close to risk shedding feathers. Hawks is fairly well stuck unless he risks more than he might like this early into this weird situation.

Hawks also really isn't sure if this is better or worse than if he hadn't opened his mouth. He can't even call Dabi out on his response being a lie either--he certainly did get Hawks to shut up for several fraught moments, just like he said.]

I guess I'd call that a pretty effective demonstration of putting your words to actions.

Thanks for noticing. [ The fire in his palm flares in tandem with the heat in his chest, making for a considerably toasty atmosphere with all the metal around. It's a good thing Hawks took off his jacket, cause Dabi's flames are still as excruciatingly hot as ever too. But as uncomfortable as this situation might be, it doesn't seem like the villain is going to go any further, even if he hasn't loosened his grip any. ]

Don't forget your place, birdie. A cage is still a cage, and this time you're trapped with me.

[If Hawks thought the sky was hot, this is new heights of uncomfortable. His wings twitch, wanting to blow some of the heat away, but he works to still them.

Thankfully, fried chicken doesn't quite seem to be on the menu just yet.]

The reverse is true then too isn't it? You're stuck with me too. Shouldn't that be a hint to not roast your probable ride out of here?

[Hawks is also probably going to end up covering for Dabi to at least the exploding brat, if not someone else if they have a problem with the "villain" title. Mutualistic relationship, and all.]

Could just give you a quick char instead. You've already shown me that you don't need all those feathers. [ The flame surges brighter in his hand, but after one, two beats, it's extinguished with a close of his palm. ]

Maybe later. [ The fire may be gone, but until he sees how the hero responds he's not backing off completely. ]

[Hawks waits several more moments after the fire is extinguished before he lets his muscles relax-- his wings settle into a resting position against his back and his arms move as much as they can to follow suit, given that Dabi is still holding the one.]

You can let go now, you know. We can always chat more later after we've seen what this place wants from us.

[They've reached their impasse, had the pissing contest, let's get on with the professional part of the day.]

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amburere - 2018-10-09 01:51 (UTC) - Expand

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