WEEK 0 — ARRIVAL

[cartesio]

Week 0: Arrival

When you wake up you immediately feel something’s off. You sit on the bed and find it’s not your bed, and this isn’t your room either. You seem to be in a rather normal-looking motel room. To your side there’s a trunk, if you open it you’ll find a military uniform, the key to your room, a set of rules and a debit card. Don’t lose those items! Or do lose the rules, you'll find a brand new copy the next day under your pillow. There’s also a calendar on the wall, you can see today’s date. The year is unreadable, but the month and day are very clear:

March 28^th
There it says ‘Meet the Sergeant at the Lodge, 9:00 AM’. There’s also a circle around March 31st, with the word ‘END’ scrawled there.

For now leaving your motel room would be a good choice. When you reach the lobby, you see the receptionist’s desk— no one’s manning it. There’s a rack filled with maps, marking several locations in the town.

There are also many strangers here – and you’re one more. For now it may be a good idea to take a map and explore the town.

After all, looks like you’re stuck here in the boonies for a while.

Links

IC Rules
Room Assignments
Locations
Tasks (LOCKED currently)

March 28^th
March 29^th
March 30^th

Comments

[cartesio]

No and no. If it's any consolation, you can be sure I'm not affiliated to anyone who's against you. Forget about your home for now. There are more important things to be concerned about.

[The Sergeant turns his head to talk to someone else. Is he intentionally trying to be as dismissive as possible? Apparently so]

[dvaita]

[ That's fine; he's used to not being treated seriously upon first glance. After all there's nothing imposing about Serph, from his lean build to his generally quiet demeanor. But he was still the leader of Embryon&emdash;whatever was left of it anyway.

So he doesn't shy away at addressing the Sergeant again, raising his voice louder this time. ]

Then tell me where you took them. Where are Sera, Heat, Gale, and Cielo?

[cartesio]

[Oh, Serph, you're still here. The Sergeant glances at him. It takes him a moment to realize who Serph is talking about]

I didn't touch them at all. Why are you asking? Are they really that important to you?

[Careful with how you answer, Serph. The Sergeant is listening that question with special attention, and that can't be good at all]

[dvaita]

Of course they are. [ Did you want solid confirmation, because Serph's in no state to hide where his priorities lie, nor would he care to even without his Atma buzzing in his mind. ]

I was with them, and now I'm not. If you're responsible for me being here, then you know where they are. Where are they. [ If his voice sounds like a growl at this point, it's because it is. ]

[cartesio]

Of course they are...I see... [He seems to be mulling something. After a moment he nods. He seems to have his guard up -- that's clearly aggressive behavior, Serph. He's sure he'll be able to withstand anything Serph can do, but an attack would force him to retaliate, and he doesn't want to resort to such thing]

I just told you I didn't do anything to them. Do you want me to bring them here to this town? Would that compel you to be more agreeable? After all, they seem to be very important to you.

[You just gave the Sergeant ideas that can only come to bite you all in the ass someday, Serph. Way to go]

[dvaita]

[ Selfishly he wants to say 'Yes, bring them here.' If they were together, no matter what danger they were in, it was better than being apart. But that's just his-what would Sera call it, his heart? Speaking. Already he can hear Gale in his ear telling him that it's an illogical choice, and even worse than that, one entire ill fitting of a leader.

Not like he was a stranger to solo missions either. Hastily he takes a deep breath, willing the other being inside of him down. His voice doesn't quite have the same growl to it before, but who knows how long that'll last. ]

Don't do anything to them. Whatever this is, they don't deserve it. Even if you were the Church, you wouldn't have my obedience.

[cartesio]

I won't promise anything. Some people say the best way to make a person do something is by aiming at their heart. I wonder how much that applies to you.

[Implicit threat, yeah]

[dvaita]

[ The response that follows is from Varuna, not Serph. A few steps forward, a flash of bright blue light— blades where arms and hands should be. That guttural growl turns into something incredibly distorted and decidedly less human. ]

Your promises wouldn't mean anything either way. [ The rest of the threat goes unanswered, at least verbally, the show of power likely speaks for itself.

But he doesn't move, not yet.]

[cartesio]

[If the Sergeant is intimidated he doesn't show it. He examines Serph with interest, as if evaluating just how fast he'd move and attack him if he wanted.

It's...more worrying than he expected. Retreat! For once he's going to refrain from pressing buttons randomly like he has been doing today. Yeah, he's finally learning!]

Whatever. It's just four days, there's no time for anything like finding and bringing them here. Keep this...side of yours under control and this'll all be over before you know it.

[dvaita]

[ Luckily, Serph isn't Heat. Given the chance he'll always choose diplomacy over straight out conflict, even with Varuna thirsting for blood.

That doesn't stop him from flashing a brief glimpse of fangs, even as his blades transform back into arms in a burst of bright blue light. ]

I have no reason to trust your word, Sergeant. No one here does. [ Especially the newborns in this group, who were too young to be dragged into this kind of thing even in the Junkyard. Who knows what would happen if they fought right now? Besides, there was a fuzzy feeling throughout his body that he couldn't quite shake, even when he had briefly transformed just now. ]

But I'll hold you to it. Four cycles and you let everyone go.

[cartesio]

March 31st, noon, and it'll be over. That'll never change. I'll warn you, though: this little incident has you on notice. Do not misstep again or I'll make sure you never leave this town.

[You have been warned, Serph]

[dvaita]

[ Despite the situation, Serph laughs with a fang filled grin. It's more of a chuckle than anything else, but he can't help it given the quick about face the Sargeant took. Heat would be proud, he's sure. ]

I don't have a problem fighting you whenever, if you leave everyone else out of it. But yeah, I'll remember if you do the same. 

[ Maybe, just maybe, there was a chance this wouldn't all need to end violence. ] 

[monstrology]

[Well that's easily going to capture Will's attention, and quickly his captivation as well. He and the Sergeant aren't the only ones seeing this, right?? He can see how their captor backed down at the sight of it, too...

and oh, the sight of this creature, indeed! Those claws, that body structure! Interestingly, it came from what he presumed to be a human! Absolutely fascinating!

He watches intently to see how this goes, with every intention of seeking this one out should the situation with the Sergeant fully diffuse.]

[dvaita]

[ For better or worse, Serph isnt hot-headed. On the contrary, the air around him feels icy, strangely enough. If he had transformed fully he would have been downright terrifying, but just his arms turning into blades was disconcerting on its own.

After issuing his declaration and willing his body to return to normal, he turns to look at Will. ]

I won't hurt you. [ Even if his eyes are still a brilliant shade of amber. ]

[monstrology]

[Disconcerting is not the word coming to Will's mind. Far from it, honestly. But Will isn't like most when it comes to the unnatural.

He eases into a smile when Serph addresses him, pleased that he was sought out first. The man shifted between forms so effortlessly...how amazing.]

Oh, I wasn't worried. [Said so matter-of-factly. Sure, he's vulnerable without his tools, but...] Care to explain what all of that was about, though?

[He motions at Serph's arms, indicating the blades that are no longer present.]

[dvaita]

[ That's a strange response, but Serph is glad for it. ]

You don't have an Atma? [ He points to his left cheek where a bold black insignia appears to be tattooed. While Serph knows the answer is likely no, he has to ask to make sure— the man's response is even more curious if he's right. There could still be the chance however, that the other man's Atma is in a place not so easily visible. ]

[monstrology]

[The brief look of confusion should be confirmation enough for Serph, but Will gives a verbal response to further drive it home.]

I'm afraid not. Is that what's giving you the ability to do that?

[And if so, where can I get one, is the addition that goes unsaid.]

[dvaita]

Yeah, I'm not sure I would call it an ability though. [ He lets out a breath and closes his eyes for a few moments—when they open again, they're a light shade of grey that matches his hair. ]

You don't have an Atma, but you're not screaming that I'm a monster. [ Out of all the weird things and people he's encountered in the past few hours, this might just be the strangest. ]

[monstrology]

I see...

[There's a rising excitement in his voice as he says that and studies Serph's actions, an "I see" of intrigue rather than dismissal. What is an "Atma", then? He must know! Never in all of the skydoms would he have expected to come across such a being. While the current situation is dire, Will easily considers being stuck in it worth it for Serph alone.]

Had I done so, I promise that it would have only been out of the utmost praise. Monsters are wonderful, and sadly misunderstood. I am not surprised if the usual reactions that you receive are ones of fear.

[...so he's still calling Serph a monster in a way.]

[streetwolf]

[No offense. But he's backstepping the hell away from that.]

What!? What just happened?

[He is very eloquent and confused.]

[dvaita]

[ It takes a moment for Serph to shift his focus, thankfully by that point he no longer has blades for arms even if his eyes are still an eerie shade of amber. He blinks a few times, trying both to find words and to bring his voice back to normal. ]

My Atma it's—I won't hurt you. [ That would probably sound more comforting if his pitch didn't keep oscillating into something resembling a deep growl. ] 

[streetwolf]

That doesn't explain what the fuck happened to your hands!? You got knives hidden in your sleeves or something?

[He saw them change, but normal guy from the 40s. Knives make more sense]

[dvaita]

No it's part of me. I can transform because of my Atma. [ Here, he points to the mark on his left cheek. ]

I know it probably doesn't make much sense, it didn't make much sense initially to me either.

[streetwolf]

[Just...Just give him a moment. His hand comes up for a second, then drops.

Uhh...huh?]

... A tat on your face makes your hands turn into freaky claw things?

[dvaita]

Not just my hands, I can transform more than that.

[ All he can do is offer a small smile—he's aware how ridiculous this all sounds. ]