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 Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2015 1:17 pm
"Er," said Gale, looking confused. "I...am not certain who Uncle Fester is, but we're not necessarily lost to ourselves, just to the outside world. Being here keeps our anonymity relatively well, though there are other bases located around the world."
He shifted from one foot to the other, and made another note on the paper. "I suppose if you want to call me that," said Gale dryly. "But I'm the hunter on duty right now, so you get stuck with me."
His gaze rose to meet Christopher's. "Just noting down the basics," Gale said. The concerned tone was noted, and he turned the clipboard around so the other could see. "Your statistical information is already here, so I'm just double checking that you are who the pod says you are and whatnot."
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Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2015 3:34 pm
"From the.. Addams Family.." Chris's mouth quirked in obvious disappointment. He held himself rather awkward, arms held straight into his pockets and shoulders hunched vaguely forward. Chris's blue eyes darted over the clipboard and he nodded but looked like he was waiting for something. Anything, really. "So is the whole place this umm..." boring, "umm or are you just not a fan of this?" Because Gale was hardly warm and welcoming. He seemed bored actually and Chris got mixed messages on whether this was a big deal (the whole waking up part) or as nonchalant as the brit made it seem. He subconciously angled himself with slight defense, as if Gale would bite back for anything mildly dissenting.
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Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2015 3:41 pm
One eyebrow raised. Gale lifted a hand and rubbed idly at his eyepatch before his shoulders relaxed a little, the faintest hint of a smile touching his lips before it disappeared again.
"You mean, is everyone as seemingly calm and disinterested as I am?" Gale asked dryly, lowering his arm so that the clipboard fell against his side. "No, but I'm not nearly as disconnected as I may seem. I've been here a long time, but pod duty is always interesting to me, even if I don't show it."
He shifted from one foot to the other and shrugged. "I just happen to be a little more straight-faced than a lot, but don't worry, I'm sure you'll find some of the others to be more...excitable."
There was almost - almost a bitterness, like he was frustrated at his own lack of cheer, but the expression on Gale's face was as inscrutable as ever, except for a slight flash across his eye that seemed as though it might have been discouragement.
"Basic rundown: we are a militaristic group of humans who fight monsters," said Gale, continuing with the introductory process. "The word 'monster' is a bit subjective, since there are a variety of things we hunt, but we do it to protect ourselves and the world. You start off as a beginning trainee and work your way up until you're a fully fledged hunter, or a Specialist."
He took a breath.
"Any questions so far?"
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Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2015 4:05 pm
"Fair enough." Chris seemed to relax when Gale didn't rebuff his comments. "I don't need too much excitement. I was just... wondering." The new trainee seemed a little underwhelmed, at least outwardly. He was interested and bright eyed, but lacked a certain enthusiasm that came with revealing someone was going to be a monster hunter. He listened, eyes still roaming, until Gale was questioning him. The idea of being a monster hunter was pretty outrageous but he was hardly going to argue when a british guy wakes him up out of a sci-fi pod room. "Am I the only one?" There was uneasiness in the sudden way he shifted, looking behind him and around. "Don't military groups usually do like.. boot camp and stuff?" It didn't dawn on him that his crazy dreams of battling to the death were anything but that, dreams.
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Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2015 4:12 pm
The lack of surprise or confusion when it came to introducing a new hunter's purpose was not unheard for them, but it was a little unusual. Gale gave Chris a once over, his gaze working to try and figure out what exactly he was thinking, the very faint and vague sense of familiarity that he was getting.
The feeling went away rather quickly. Gale lifted a foot behind him and tapped idly at the floor with the toe of his boot.
"The only one to awaken today, yes," he said. "The only one to awaken ever...no, there have been quite a few over the past several years that I've been here, myself included. As for boot camp..."
Gale nodded towards the pod. "You should have been subjected to a rigorous training simulation while in your pod. Do you remember anything?"
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Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2015 6:35 pm
"Oh umm.." He tried to tuck his bangs back only to have them flop back in his face. "The dreams?" They'd seemed real, too real, but he'd had vivid dreams his entire life. It was one of the few ways he could escape. By his shuffling he may have been more agitated than he seemed but Chris was very calm. He asked few questions unless necessary and seemed to be looking to Gale for all instruction. The young man didn't seem like the type to take any sort of initiative for himself, at least not right now.
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Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2015 8:05 pm
The shuffling didn't bother Gale; he watched Christopher carefully, eyes narrowed slightly out of a silent observation.
"The dreams, yes," he said. "If your dreams included being thrust into the middle of warfare and learning to fight and defend yourself, then yes, those were the simulations. They were to prepare you for what's to come here, though admittedly, nothing really does that."
Gale took a little breath. "But don't worry, you won't have to do things on your own; you'll be partnered with someone - or rather, something. A weapon that'll help you along the way."
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Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2015 5:28 am
"Like a gun?" It was Chris' first reaction. Dream battle simulations, sci-fi pods, free weapons given to teenagers. He wasn't sure this itself wasn't some kind of dream. Best to just go with it and sort himself out later. "You got one?"
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Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2015 10:28 am
The faint smile was back, the corner of Gale's mouth quirking upwards.
"Yes," he said, in answer to both questions, and held out his hand. The silver and gold ring on his right index finger glowed a brief white and then the rifle appeared, taller than himself, nearly as tall as Christopher was. Gale wrapped his fingers around the barrel and let it stand beside him, leaning a little.
"You'll get one too," he said. "Maybe not a gun, all weapons are specific to the hunter who wields them. My best mate has a bow and arrow, and my girlfriend has a sword, so it really just depends on what speaks to you - literally. These weapons are former monsters that have been converted into weapons; they are still sentient, however, and will speak to you within your mind."
The rifle was desummoned once more, and Gale gave Christopher a cautious look.
"Does that all make sense?"
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Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2015 6:13 am
Chris actually jolted in his skin at the appearance of the gun, lifting an arm like he was about to be hit. It was more about the sudden appearance, even though it was hardly an in-your-face presentation, the young man was simply not used to surprises. His arm lowered a bit, peering over with wide blinking eyes. "Oh.. cool. You know I never used a weapon before..." Well that wasn't entirely true. He had. A loooong time ago and a bit sooner but... well he certainly knew he wouldn't know what to do with a gun like that. "It makes no ******** sense actually." Chris's lips twisted into a hopeless sort of smile, "but I'm sure it don't matter cause I'm gettin thrown in anyway right?"
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Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2015 10:44 am
"You'll get used to it," said Gale, as the weapon dissipated. Whether it was a fortunate or unfortunate thing, the truth was that using one's weapons became a second nature to most, and by this point in time, Gale couldn't imagine not having Jinhai; had long forgotten what it was like to have only his own thoughts in his head.
A surprising snort of laughter escaped Gale's throat, and he shook his head a little. "It'll make sense soon, it doesn't at first, but it will," he said, sounding faintly amused. "But yes, you're right, you'll be thrown in pretty much immediately. Do you have any other questions before I guide you to where you'll find your weapon?"
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Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2015 11:03 am
"Ummm..." Chris just shrugged. He'd probably have questions later. He'd probably have questions about anything. "Can I find you later if I need help?" Gale didn't seem terrible, he'd even shown a bit of humor through that deadpan. He could appreciate someone who wasn't in-your-face.
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Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2015 11:21 am
His shoulders relaxed a little.
"Of course," said Gale, feeling secretly pleased that he was being asked this question. "When you get your coat and cell phone - they should already have been delivered to your room - my number's programmed into it already, along with the rest of the hunters here on the island. Just look for Gale Gentry. I'm also in Room 221, up on the second floor."
He flipped over a sheet of paper on his clipboard and attempted to draw directions to the Dark Cover on a blank one.
"You'll have to take a few turns to get there, but it's underground, so it's not terribly difficult," said Gale. "It's a place called the Dark Cove; if you find yourself lost, just ask anyone around, they all know. Once you get there, you'll find your weapon."
He pulled the paper off and held it out to Christopher.
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Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2015 11:31 am
"Cell phone? Like my own cell phone?" No he'd never had his own phone before. Chris accepted the paper, finally extracting his hands from his pockets permanently to look it over. His eyes looked up, dragged towards what was marked as the exit, then back to the paper. "Ok.. cool." He fidgeted again, not sure if he was supposed to just go or what. "Umm.. thanks.." He made like he would step away but seemed reluctant to do anything without being told explicitly to do so.
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Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2015 11:53 am
"Every hunter gets a mobile, even the new ones," said Gale with a slightly larger smile. "It'll come in handy, and it's necessary for the higher ups to be able to contact you when missions happen, so just keep it with you all the time if you can."
He noticed Christopher's shifty gaze, the uncertainty, and Gale gave a little nod.
"You can go," he said encouragingly. "Lemme know if there's anything you need, all right?"
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