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 Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2012 7:56 pm
It bothered her. No, it more than bothered her. The knowledge that she hadn't properly met her neighbors really, really bothered Sydney for some reason. She wasn't even sure why, but she had been searching the entire island practically for some sort of gift, one she could bring with her to introduce herself politely over.
Which was really, really weird. Because she was seriously positive that she had been a goth in her previous life. Nonetheless Syd found herself with a small set of shimmering shells (the kitchen was busted, so cookie baking was out) and knocking on the door of her neighbor's room.
Izy asked.
Hush, at least they're pretty!
Oh, she was such an idiot sometimes...
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Posted: Wed Feb 29, 2012 4:11 pm
Vanessa hadn't been outside her room is a long time. Well, at least not out of it for anything other than training, eating, and shooting at things. But in any case, she hadn't been outside of it for any reason that could be considered to be social. She's heard of the newest trainees awakening, but hadn't actually run into any of them yet. She had still been recovering from the whole children-to-horseman-fodder ordeal when they had joined the ranks, and hadn't motivated herself to go meet the newer releases anyway. It wasn't as if Vanessa was a social creature anyway, so she hadn't thought it necessary to go meet her new team-mates yet.
As such, Vanessa hadn't expected anyone to be knocking on her door anytime soon. Her brow furrowed slightly. Perhaps it was Wilson? There weren't many others that she knew well enough to be considered friends with on the Island, after all...
Vanessa was garbed in her usual clothing (combat boots, cargo pants, tank top, even her jacket and scarf, actually) as she opened the door. The face of the young woman on the other side was not one that she knew. Vanessa's eyes immediately scanned down the newcomer, identifying her clothing choice as something remarkably similar to what she herself would wear. Her eyes returned to the newcomer's face, and a slight, ever so faint smile appeared in the redhead's expression. "You must be one of the new trainees." She stated, offering out her hand for a shake. "I'm Vanessa Arrian, Life Division, previously known as E-3. And you would be...?" Vanessa asked, wanting to catalog this person at least as 'a potential ally' simply from her clothing choice.
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Posted: Wed Feb 29, 2012 6:34 pm
Sydney was taking in some of the same things Vanessa was. "Ah, yes, I'm one of the 'lambs,'" she said, holding out the shining shell. "I've come to introduce myself to my new neighbor--I hope I'm not interrupting," she added, a faint flush crossing her cheeks as she realized just how childish her gift was.
"I ah, wanted to bake cookies as a moving in gift, but I'm afraid someone destroyed the kitchen," she admitted. "My name is Sydney Lowe, I'm a Mist hunter, and I'm in room 138." Explaining why they were neighbors... right?
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Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2012 8:11 pm
"I'm a Hatchling. So from the awakening before your group's." Vanessa said, not knowing if someone had explained the names of the groups so far to this new young woman. Vanessa looked to the shell as it was offered to her, slight confusion playing across her face for a moment before the red-head figured out what exactly was going on. "Ah, thank you?" She half-asked, accepting the shell gently and tipping it over in her palm, looking it over diligently. Volt gave an interested sound in her mind, no doubt a predecessor of some obnoxious joke. He did seem to be at a loss for a moment though, so Vanessa could direct her attention elsewhere.
When she mentioned they were neighbors now, Vanessa returned her attention to the dark-haired girl. "I see. And you're not interupting anything, don't worry. I've simply been...resting." How exactly do you tell a new recruit that you've been attempting to heal up from nearly being smashed do death via a gravity warp caused by a vile horseman?
"Oh, you'll get used to it. Probably Julie and her antics again." Vanessa said as ways of an explanation for the kitchen. The Life Trainee directed her full attention to the other woman as she introduced herself. She gave a nod and opened her door slightly more with her unoccupied hand. "Thank you for coming to speak with me, Sydney." Not many of her neighbors had done that, so out of politeness, this misty already was scoring a few points. She waved back to her room. "It wouldn't do to leave you on the proverbial threshold, so would you like to come in?"
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Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2012 8:35 pm
"If I'm not being a bother, I would love to," Sydney said with a slight smile. "And um... I believe they call my group the 'lambs' as in 'lambs to slaughter.'" She didn't seem too bothered by that title, nor did she look much like a lamb, but oh well. "Why do they call you hatchlings?" she asked curiously as she stepped into the room, trying to be discreet about how she was looking around. Vanessa's room seemed an awfully lot like her own. Rather boring on the surface. But to Sydney it seemed quite well managed and proper. She approved. Both of the room and the clothing choices.
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Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2012 8:56 pm
"I'd expect as much." Vanessa said, a slight half-smile to the comment about their group names. "The group before my own were known as the Strays, so it makes sense that the terms are going to poke fun at their members. I'm not quite sure why we're hatchlings, but I think it had something to do with the trainee on duty watching our pods. He mentioned we were hatchlings and it just, well, stuck, I suppose." Vanessa moved into her room, leaving the door slightly ajar after Sydney came in, and took a seat on the edge of her bed, waving to the one, rather plain looking chair. "Sit, if you'd like."
Everything in Vanessa's room had a purpose in some way or another, with the exception of a few little objects such as the photograph of Vivian on the dresser, or the joke book on the desk (which, in her defense, she hadn't purchased. It had been a gift from Wilson, and probably was directed at Volt really).
Vanessa noticed the subtle way the other girl took in the room. 'She's aware of her surroundings. A good sign.' Volt gave a little sound of suprise, not used to hearing praise about much from Vanessa. Before the weapon could interject though, Vanessa nodded to Sydney again. "Are you a long-range or short-range fighter, and do you have experience with either anyway?" An introduction with Vanessa could've been an interview, really.
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Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2012 7:14 am
Sydney smiled slightly, a hint of eagerness in her expression. "Izy is a crossbow, so he's long ranged. I ah, honestly don't have much hands on experience with weapons, but I have been reading every book I can get ahold of, as well as trying to learn on the training field," she said, reaching up and touching her gold choker to summon the weapon into her hands. She looked at it with a happy, almost loving expression. "And you?" she asked. "What sort of weapon do you have? Can I see it?"
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Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2012 9:38 pm
Vanessa nodded understandingly. "Long-range then. It takes some getting used to, but it's a very good skill to learn. My weapon is also a long-range, although I can use him in short range, much to his dismay, but you'll discover that it's good to know how to fire a weapon from a distance." True story, right there. When Vanessa had been a three-foot-nothing tall my little pony of death, she'd still been making better shots with the capture guns than those without long-range fighting experience. She'd seen that some of the other long-rangers had the same results, and afterward added into her report that everyone should have to learn to fire a weapon with some accuracy. "So, you've found the shooting ranges, then?" She asked, noting the newly summoned weapon. It's bright yellow patterns reminded her of Volt's electrical chamber. A cross-bow would be a tricky weapon to have if the situation called for close range. At least with Volt, she could use his bulk as a ram or his latticework of a barrel as a stabbing tool if she had to.
She could hear her weapon thinking, a slight rustling static sound within her head. :: Ten points to it's coloring. Do you think it's electrical? :: Volt finally asked, almost hopefully in her head.
"It might just be the color." Vanessa reminded back silently, getting a crackling sigh in return from the weapon.
It was almost amusing to Vanessa to see a new trainee who actually looked like they really enjoyed their weapon's company. When the misty requested to see Volt, an almost proud hint of a smile crossed her face. "Of course." The red-head stood, stretching her arms as she did so. Then, she held out her hand, the little lantern pendant flickering and disappearing from her neck as the tesla cannon materialized. She swiftly moved the cannon to her shoulder, for comfort and the fact that it would've been hard to support the weapon with only one hand and nothing else. Volt really was quite the impressive sight, with the length of just his sharp metal-lattice-work barrel barely shorter than her entire arm, and then adding a little more than a forearm's length of electrical chamber. The chamber crackled and surged around with trapped electricity, almost appearing like miniature lightning within the confines of the weapon. Vanessa gestured to him with her open arm. "This is Voltaire, though he prefers Volt. He's a Tesla Cannon." She waved her arm down his length. "He shoots concentrated electricity and in a pinch can be used as both a blunt and sharp close-range weapon. He also tells... jokes, in case you ever need any." The chamber was practically glowing, and Volt was beaming in her mind as well. She'd acknowledged that he told jokes, and that had just made his week.
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Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2012 11:53 am
"I see," Sydney said, a bit awed by the size. "Izy ah, sings," she said. "He's got a very good voice, too. Do you know what type of creature Volt was before he became a weapon?" she asked. So far no one had been offended by these questions and it was so fascinating to the misty. Gramps, Wilson's weapon, went on rants and seemed quite old, Vanessa's told jokes.
"They're all very individual, aren't they?" she asked quietly, thinking on it. "Not just what they can do, but their personalities and pasts. I'm afraid that Izy still refuses to tell me what he was before this."
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Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2012 9:55 pm
Vanessa nodded along. All of the weapons were very unique, since they had been...things, before they were in their current form. "Sings well, I see. Do you enjoy his company?" Vanessa asked, tipping her head slightly. To the question about what Volt used to be, Vanessa gave confirming nod. "Volt used to be an electrical dragon before. He claims that people used to appreciate his jokes a lot more when someone besides me actually could hear them, though." Vanessa said with a slight lift of one mouth-corner, looking over to the cannon on her shoulder. The electrical chamber crackled in agreement.
As the newer trainee spoke up again, both Lifer and weapon turned their attention to her. Vanessa looked to the crossbow, and then to Volt. "Of course. They were living beings before. They still are, really, since they've just been given a better purpose in that life now." Even though Volt was infuriating at some times, Vanessa had gotten so used to his mind in her own that she wasn't sure what she would do if her weapon someday just went completely silent. Vanessa waved to Izy and spoke again, "He may just not be comfortable enough to tell you yet? The rates differ, just as any person would act differently if asked to present their life story to a complete stranger. Of course, I can't vouch on them taking a long time though, since the first thing Volt said to me was a pick-up line about polar bears right after I pulled him from the wall." She looked to the cannon, whose electrical chamber was crackling and frazzling like trapped lightning inside.
:: It was just an joke! A joke! :: Volt's voice announced, sounding just as frazzled and embarassed as his electrical chamber looked to be. :: An icebreaker seemed to be in order, and I hadn't spoken to anyone in ages, okay? :: Vanessa was actually amused, for once, by the Tesla Cannon's antics. "It's fine, I was just giving you a little grief over it. You're fine, Volt." Vanessa thought back with a mental pat on the head for the weapon.
Vanessa gestured between the two weapons, and then looked back to Sydney. "Have you met their true kinds yet? Any of the monsters we fight?" She asked, trying to get a scope of what exactly the new trainees had gone through so far.
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Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2012 12:36 pm
"We had a fight with a yeti," she said slowly. "But the more experienced hunters didn't seem to think it was... right. That when it died it didn't do it correctly," she admitted. "So I'm not sure that I have, other than the shadows I saw... before I came here," she went on.
Her mind turned to Izy again, as it so often did. "But..." She didn't like not being trusted. Of course they had only been partners for a little bit, but the idea of him not trusting her enough to tell her anything about himself--when he knew so much about her--
"It isn't fair," she said almost in a whisper. Izy knew about her underwear love and her raunchy romance novels and how she still didn't like storms, and how--
But she didn't know anything about him. Not really. And he wasn't saying anything now.
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Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2012 7:59 pm
Vanessa listened as the lamb recalled what Vanessa assumed was their 'introduction-to-missions'-mission, like the...desert incident had been with her group. She gave a nod to the mention of the yeti being messed up. "It's quite possible that something was wrong. I know that during my group's first mission, we were attacked by a giant sludge-waste-rot dragon-type monster. Something was wrong with it though...It had half of a person in it." She shook her head. "Usually when you kill one of those things, they dissolve, of sorts. Disperse. That sort thing. Problem is, they come back." Vanessa frowned, recalling her meetings with the creatures before. Of course, they all seemed a lot taller one of the times. That was probably since she had been some kind of height-challenged were-pegasus of death (not to be confused with the deathponies) at that particular point in time, but whatever.
Vanessa caught sight as Sydney's face seemed to fall, if only slightly. It was the tone that really tipped her off to the newer trainee's apparent issue. Her eyes flickered to the crossbow and back to the dark-haired girl's face. She caught the other's words, and gave a slight nod. Quietly, she offered a potential theory. "It might not be that he doesn't want to talk. Perhaps he just doesn't remember." After all, Volt hadn't shared much of his life pre-weaponization with Vanessa, but she'd never taken it personally. The transition from from dragon to cannon couldn't have been easy. She'd always just assumed that there was nothing for him to tell. The tesla cannon was silent, his electrical chamber crackling as if he was trying to focus on something.
Of course, Volt could go through her mind, through her memories, everything. Vanessa had nothing to hide.
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Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2012 8:49 pm
The words "not remember" echoed in her mind and she grasped onto them like a drowning man. "Yes, of course," she said, her face brightening quickly. "I'm sure he's a lot like me in that," she admitted. "I still don't recall everything from my life before this. And he went through something even more... dramatic, I suppose you could say, than I did," she finished.
I will help you remember, she promised the weapon seriously, urgently. We can help each other to remember, okay, Izy? But no matter what happened before this, we still... this is better, she thought.
Izy still said nothing. But she was certain she was right in this.
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Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2012 2:11 pm
Vanessa nodded, watching the other girl's face. She seemed a lot happier when the idea that Izy just couldn't remember was presented. Vanessa's nodding paused, her head tipping slightly. "Like you?" A faint curiosity seemed present in Vanessa's voice. "Do you not remember your past before coming here?" Had something gone wrong with the pods whist she had been in them? Had someone alerted Dr. H about this problem, if one existed? Vanessa couldn't fathom not remembering her past. Her time as E-3 had shown her just how empty her life would've been without her memories of her parents and little Vivi, and she now cherished those memories so deeply she would never let them go.
What would it be like to be unable to remember her little sister? Vivian was Vanessa's reason for becoming a Hunter. How could she have made half of the choices she'd made to get here without the motivation of protecting her little sister?
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Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2012 2:15 pm
"When I first got out of the pods I didn't remember anything," Sydney said, frowning slightly. "I remember more now, of course. In fact the longer I'm here the more I remember, but I'm still sure a lot of its missing," she admitted. She shrugged. "Then again, what I do remember is nothing great."
College had SUCKED. She hadn't fit in. She wasn't sure she fit in here, either, any everyone else had a voice in their head like she did--sanity didn't seem exactly a requirement for this place. "I'm not sure it's really important for me to remember everything."
Which was sad, she thought, but dismissed it.
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