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 Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2009 9:51 pm
Valeriu had a certain fondness for fish he hadn't had before his stint in the jungle and his subsequent growth. It used to be that, when he was a kid, anything fish-related as a food seemed suspicious and untrustworthy, possibly poisoned.
The day he found small bones in his salmon, he'd decided fish were out to kill people. Especially the ones caught in the Harbor - he used to wonder if the poison had somehow leaked into their little fish bodies.
Now, though, he found himself making weekly trips on Sunday to the Harbor.
He still suspected the fish were more dangerous than they appeared.
Today, however, he was in the mood for something else beyond the normal range of googly-eyed sea-dwellers. With cargo shorts and t-shirt on, he wandered in between the warehouses, angling his way towards the street-sellers and the docks. It was a Sunday. A relaxing day. Maybe, before buying his seafood, he could chance to see what the waters were like. He might get lucky and catch a meal on his own, although that had really only worked for him when it came to rivers.
Hm. He was definitely up for something beyond fish.
Maybe...
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Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2009 10:05 pm
When Pekelo and Keoni got onto Keahi's nerves, the boy often found himself wandering about Harbor. While he hadn't actually seen Honu'aumakua's physical form in some time, he always felt that the mental connection was stronger closer to the water. Plus, the water's movement seemed to soothe him.
It was as he weaved his way in frustration through the warehouses that Honu's voice spoke up. There's another player near you... Beware of this one. He seems strong. He's been playing for a while. Keahi's anger forced him to keep moving, but he kept an eye out for anyone that looked odd.
You shouldn't get so angry.
"Yeah, well, if they didn't pick on me, I wouldn't be," the boy muttered through gritted teeth. Being stuck in the middle sucked. It sucked hard.
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Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2009 10:43 pm
Maybe...
He felt like turtle.
He wasn't sure why the decision had come to him. He'd seen something, someone...but his eyes were constantly roving, always on the move, staring here, glancing there. It took a minute of searching to find some recognition - his gaze stumbled upon a child, younger than he was. Although Vale couldn't be sure; the boy was pretty big. But there was that youth to the face that was unmistakable.
He really, really felt like turtle for dinner.
Vale's curiosity was piqued.
He moved closer, gaze predatory and intent on his target of interest. His senses were prickling as they'd done before, and if he wasn't mistaken, this boy might just be one of their kind.
Flip-flops and shorts might not have been the best wear for an occasion like this, but he figured he could at least check in on a potential enemy.
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Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2009 8:43 am
As Keahi continued on, he felt something prickling at the back of his neck. Not usually a good feeling... The boy refrained from gazing about, trying to remain nonchalant. His mind, though, was racing. The Game wasn't just a game... Honu had warned him repeatedly of this and of the fact that he could get hurt.
And if this guy was stalking him... well, he didn't seem like one of the nice guys. Keahi turned a corner and used the opportunity to sneak a glance backwards. Okay, yeah, this guy was definitely not just some random dude. He had a tail. And Keahi thought he'd seen some kind of marking on his face too.
"Ah, man. I'm in trouble, aren't I?" He muttered, wishing now that he'd worked harder on fighting techniques.
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Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2009 9:38 am
It used to also be that, once upon a time, if he'd seen another person like him, he'd approach them like a normal human being. Have a conversation, maybe, make a friend.
Oh, once upon a time.
Now, it was just a chase.
Despite the flip-flops he was wearing, Vale quickly rounded the corner as well, tail swishing along behind him. He wondered if the other boy knew he was there, knew he was being followed, the distance quickly shortening between them with the pace Valeriu was keeping.
He might have to teach him that it was not wise to ever leave your back open to a potential enemy. And Valeriu was definitely more than a potential enemy.
Before he could make a move, however, he still needed to find out for sure if this was another Player. He wasn't about to try and kill an innocent kid.
And you don't think Players are innocent? Tezcatlipoca queried, especially amused at the situation. And all-too-enthused about it. Valeriu might not need Ciro's help in learning to kill.
That was just one more thing he could tease Shamash about.
Valeriu shrugged. No. They know v'hat they v'ere getting ee'nto. I am just...reminding them.
He was getting used to playing the villain. Had been getting used to it, even since he'd first attacked Quinn (although that attack had been provoked, if not the second time around). Or maybe it was just the chase, putting him in the mindset.
Valeriu decided this game of cat and mouse had gone on long enough.
"Hey, you!"
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Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2009 7:17 pm
Keahi could feel the other boy closing in and his eyes searched back and forth, looking for a possible escape route. Or at least not a path that would leave him trapped. He was starting to debate turning a corner and waiting just around it for this guy to catch up and plant a fist in his stomach before running off... but Vale's shout beat him to it.
The boy turned, arms crossing over his chest. "What do you want?" His feet were at a comfortable distance apart and the boy was prepared to run if needed. 'Yeah, breathing underwater really helps me here...' He thought, trying to think what he could do. This guy was older, taller...
But not bigger. Keahi frowned. True, he probably at least matched the boy in weight. But that wasn't much of an advantage...
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Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2009 7:51 pm
Just as he thought. If nothing else, the odd markings (almost like scales) on the younger boy's body flagged him as a Player. No child would get genetic modifications like the ones he had witnessed in the Scene.
He could do this. Was ready to do this.
Frowning right back, Vale knew he probably looked pretty un-intimidating in his beachwear.
"I am pretty sure you know v'hat I v'ant," he answered nonchalantly, taking a step forward. "You know v'hat the Game ee's about." Another step, and more distance had closed between them.
"And I have to v'in. So let us just skip the ee'ntroductions and get down to ee't. No hard feelings, da?" He was honest about that. Even when admitting his intent to murder another in cold blood, he didn't want them under the impression that he hated them, or was doing it out of spite or without reason.
He almost felt bad. The kid was obviously inexperienced. But Ciro was right - better to take them out now than pay for it later.
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Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2009 8:20 pm
'This is not good! This is not good!!!' Keahi was trying not to show his panic as the older boy closed in. Yeah, he'd been told that the Game could get you killed... but he'd been honestly hoping that it wouldn't happen. Well, perhaps he could still run away before this guy like... killed him.
"No hard feelings!?" Keahi scoffed. "Yeah, right. I mean it's not like you want to kill me or anything..." He took a step back and then another. This did not look like it would end well...
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Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2009 8:50 pm
"I suppose the phrase really does not mean much ee'n times like this," he admitted, shadows sliding up from the cement at his feet to curl about his fingers, forming into sharp and wicked looking daggers.
As long as it makes you feel better about yourself.
I am doing v'hat you v'ant, aren't I?
He sympathized with the kid, really he did.
It didn't stop him from throwing the dark blades whiplash-fast at the boy, simultaneously lunging forward to cut off his retreat.
Whatever pity he may feel for his prey, it didn't change the fact that the godling had accepted the consequences the moment he had accepted his god.
Plus, he had to admit that predatory part of him enjoyed the sound of his daggers hitting their mark.
Dice Roll: 5
Multiplier: 1x
Damage: -5 HP to Keahi
Vale: 20 HP
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Nikiana rolled 1 6-sided dice:
1
Total: 1 (1-6)
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Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2009 9:05 pm
Keahi was not expecting shadow blades to suddenly fly through the air at him. He managed to throw an arm up in time to prevent any from hitting his face, though it didn't stop them from sinking into his arm. Wincing, he was really wishing he had better powers.
Still, he wasn't fond of fighting. But there was no chance he'd just let this guy get away with harming him like this. He stepped in towards Vale, his fist balled up and aiming for the guy. Fists vs creepy shadow blades? Yeah, he wasn't feeling too good about this fight....
Dice Roll: 1
Damage: -5 HP to Keahi
Keahi: 5 HP
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Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2009 10:25 pm
The moment he saw the other boy move to attack back, Vale had dropped down low. Keahi may have been larger, but he was slower, less balanced. A hit from him would probably hurt - if it made contact.
Crouching down, he shifted his own balance - shadow gathering in a heavy and hard mass around his foot as he braced his hands against the ground, leg swinging up in a round kick straight to the other boy's front.
The crunch he heard told him this was far more effective than the damage the daggers had dealt.
Bemusedly, he realized he'd lost a flip-flop somewhere along the way as he rolled to stand back above the defeated boy. Probably flew off from the kick.
Well...that was easier than he thought. Then again, he couldn't have imagined facing off against an older Player when he was this young. Thinking of even confronting Ciro left him with a pang of pity for the other child.
Was he dead? Cautiously, he prowled around the prone form, unsure of what to do now.
Possibly dead. Might not be.
If he wasn't?
Then you finish him.
His steps paused at that, and he abruptly backed off.
It was too easy. Too simple. To casually reach down and rip the life out of this defenseless being. He'd beaten him, but to deal such a terrible, finishing blow?
He thought he could do it. Fighting against a formidable enemy, conscious and awake and dangerous and fighting back - he could kill like that. Could wring or stab the life out of them, like with Quinn, face to face and eye to eye.
But this...no. It was tantamount to killing a person as they slept. Cowardly, and too cruel for even Valeriu to stomach.
He couldn't do it. This was going to bite him back later on, he knew. If the boy survived his blows, he was bound to demand his god make him stronger, like Valeriu had asked of his own.
He'd deal with that when it came.
The warehouse alleystreet was still empty, the turn of the corner hiding their scuffle from public view. Carefully, he stepped around the prone figure, re-locating his flip-flop tossed to the side and slipping it back on.
At least rob the kid to show this fight had some sort of purpose, Tezcatlipoca drawled in the back of his head in disdain. He wasn't too pleased to have to still rely on Shamash's kid to teach Valeriu how to kill right, but he expected this to happen. Plus, he wouldn't have chosen Valeriu if the kid was that much of a coward to stab another in the back or while sleeping.
Shaking his head, Vale stepped back out into the open streets of the Harbor, yet more thoughts troubling his mind at this latest failure.
And he still had that craving for turtle.
Dice Roll: 6
Multiplier: 2x
Damage: -12 HP to Keahi
Vale: 20 HP
Knock Out!
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