He'd told her to meet him outside the library, sardonically informing her that he'd be the one who'd lost his razor, and there he waited, bundled into a thin sweater and his moon-emblazoned coat despite the Island heat, his back against the wall and his alarmingly-thin hands--one freshly tattooed with what looked to be a dead bird--alternating between smoking and tapping a pen restlessly on the edge of a notebook open in his lap.
He was an odd fit among the usual Deus crowd: older-looking, for one, especially given scruff that had tipped over into an actual beard some time the week prior, with dark-circled eyes and a ropey neck and scrawny wrists that belied the underfed body underneath the layers. He did, however, sport the standard-issue Hunter battlefield wear and tear: in his case, a deep, angry scar twisting from ear to ear across his throat over his scarf. His eyes wandered back and forth over the passing Hunters, waiting. He'd never met her; didn't know what she looked like. All he could do was pray that she was more sane than the usual denizen of Life division, which, he was coming to realize, had a particular brand of crazy all its own.
He was anxious; it showed in every line of him, and when he saw a Hunter looking rather than simply passing he tried to catch her attention with a wave.
GrnGriff
Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2014 6:49 am
Her steps had slowed as she neared the library, becoming careful as her attention shifted more towards searching and away from watching where she was going. He'd be waiting, and he'd mentioned he'd be a little rough in the facial hair department. Sherry took this to heart, recalling that most hunters seemed to prefer a clean-shaven look, and only on her walk over did she notice just how many of the guys seemed to like a little bit of chin-fuzz. Hopefully she'd still be able to spot the fellow she was going to meet.
It was the wave that did it. A bit of movement that drew her eye, and as she focused on him she noted that he was indeed a scruffy man, and not just because he had a full-on beard growing in. Just when had he lost that razor? How long did it take for that much hair to grow? Sherry had no idea, and now was not the time to ask such things.
Best to be formal when meeting new people. Not that she wanted to bother the poor man if he was not who she was looking for. He already looked a tad uncomfortable, and she'd hate to make that worse.
"Hello," she said, giving a small wave of her own and stepping closer, clearly a little hesitant. She'd feel so silly if this weren't him, though really who else could it be? "Are you Mr. Thompson?"
"Sherry Greyson?" he asked, extending the tattooed hand (a dead bird on a pool of blood, feathers wrapping around his wrist, red ink pooling towards his knuckles) for her to shake, although without standing up and, in fact, while gesturing to the ground as though it were an office chair. Never mind that they were right next to a building full of tables and chairs. His voice was much softer and his grip was stronger than his looks would give him credit for although, as he withdrew, his fingers shook, a faint tremor.
The constant tension was much more noticeable up close, the tautness of his shoulder, a sense of caged motion, a dog that might bolt at any moment. "It's hard finding people in your Division who can carry on a conversation," he said flatly. "Almost as bad as Death."
xxxGrnGriff
biggrin
Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2014 8:10 pm
"Yes!" She might have been a little too enthusiastic, but it was more from relief than anything. "Nice to meet you," she said, taking his hand. A solid but gentle squeeze was given. She spared a glance for his hand, the tattoo she could see, and then she looked to the ground.
There was a moment of contemplation, and then she sat down beside him. She'd offered to come and help him out, so they'd do things his way. Besides, there was a friendly charm in sitting on the ground. He still appeared nervous, too, so rocking the boat wasn't something she'd want to do. So, with a little sigh and a small smile settled down, making herself comfortable.
"Yes," she agreed. "It can be tough to find people who are not going on about runic tech or Fear or something." Though she wasn't sure about the Death comment. She liked most that she knew from that division. To be fair...that wasn't very many.
"But I certainly hope I can help you out with this."
"To help me out," he answered sardonically, "you'll need to go on about runic tech and FEAR, but--you know. Controlled."
He flipped through the notebook in his hand to a pocket folder, and removed from it a little folded booklet of information. "This," he said, handing it to her and rooting through the pages for something else, "was made by Camille Ryland--she's in Sun--and we're looking to get them in the hands of every new depod. It's a sort of--abstract of all the things we'd like to cover in a group setting once a month, twice a month--we aren't sure yet. Really basic, fundamentals-of-not-dying, type things. We're looking for a Life tech who can answer questions and present all the stuff on this page--" he leaned over to indicate "--without going majorly off the rails or causing undue terror. Not all the Life material is particularly pleasant to present," he added flatly, "so no pressure. If this is the sort of thing you'd be interested in I'd love to get your input. Actually I want your input, either way." He paused. "We're still sorting out what's vital from what isn't."
Island Tech
((OOC: Not worded exactly like it would be ICly, but general gist of it))
Runic Tech
Normal technology does not function as expected on the Island. Technology must be modified with runes. "Runic" tech was formally done by hand and is now primarily done by computer. Basic runic abilities are valuable skills; you can hone your skills by rune diving and carving your own runestones. You have received a runic smartphone with access to the Deus intranet. Further technology will have to be paid for out of your own pocket, including a fee for whatever Life tech runics the item for you. The Deus intranet contains partial mirrors of many websites, but is not connected to the outside world's internet. This includes Twitter. Experimental runic tech can be extraordinarily dangerous. Handle unknown tech with care and exactly as instructed. Completion of various training courses entitles you to the use of runic weapons, including runic bandages, which are an extremely valuable front-line tool.
Consequences of the weapon bond
Although you now heal much faster than a normal person, unusually severe or just plain unusual injuries should be reported to the infirmary ASAP, as should any potentially suspicious physical changes Protected sex is now mandatory. If not, your FEAR shield will see to it that anything left in a fleshy receptacle is turned into a bouncing bundle of horrifying zombie terror. This applies to men as well as women. For more information please feel free to visit the infirmary for an enlightening demonstration.
GrnGriff
LOL Sorry for the crazy big post I am just legit working on the overall lists atm and I was like man I should just... paste... this.... xD
Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2014 9:30 pm
Sherry nearly laughed. She knew what he meant- get someone who wasn't going to use all the technical terms and lecture about it for hours upon hours. At least she hoped that's what he meant. Because she couldn't go on about it for hours.
"Ooh," she said, looking at the the booklet. It was rather nice, so far, at least from the brief glance she'd had time to give it. "It's a brilliant idea, and very useful, to be sure. I'd love to help."
She could be the friendly face of Life to go over Life things. Even...the sex ed. stuff. She remembered a certain conversation with Jake about that. Very important indeed. As well as the other consequences of weapon bonding. And of course runic tools, since without them she'd have been dead more than once.
"Yes," she said again, nodding and looking up, "I can present, and I'd love to help with input. I see Runic Tech and Weapon Bond here... Are you going to have a Moon cover the infirmary? And what about golems? Or are those the advanced class?"
She wanted to know what she needed to study. She was going to be ready for ALL the questions.
He leaned over again, to fan through the pages looking for the relevant items.
"I only cover the infirmary a little--if you think there's something that especially needs to be said I'm all ears--" and this was accompanied by an I wish I hadn't said that face, possibly because the man had the kind of ears that had probably gotten him grief in middle school "--but yeah, what little I have I lumped in with the opening basics, for now, but everything's still getting shifted around. Golems are getting covered by a Death hunter as soon as I can--find one," he faltered. "I keep thinking that's supposed to be me and remembering it isn't any more. Been talking to Gale Gentry, on and off.
"There's a lot of overlap," he added, with a hint of frustration creeping in, "so sometimes it's hard to know where things go. But I'll be ******** if it's just going to be me and Cami in front of a crowd of people, for a number of reasons." Partially stage fright, of course, but also partially Edith's voice in his head gently warning him not to step on any divisional toes. Belatedly: "I really, really ******** appreciate that you got in touch with me about this." There was a painful, boyish sincerity to that that sat oddly with all of him but the ears. "If you know any Life hunters who'd be good additional points of contact, too, I'm--listening," he amended.
