|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 2:26 pm
After a long day of patrolling and a MRE for lunch that made his stomach a little queasy in the heat, Jack was ready to get off his feet for a bit and to somewhere cool. Very cool. Unfortunately the labs did not have the book he needed, so more traveling was in his future.
(( I don't see what the problem is: it's lovely to be outside! Granted, the heat is a bit much . . . ))
"Uh huh."
Jack still found it immensely weird to talk to someone in his own head, hence why he kept forgetting and speaking aloud.
(( You'll get used to it, I'm sure~ Now what is it we're finding? ))
"Library's got something--s**t." He rolled his eyes. Library's got a few books on Halloween geography I want to look into. Eventually the portals will be up, so we might as well prepare ourselves for infiltrating the environment.
(( For science? ))
For science, G-man.
Hands pocketed, Jack ambled down the walkway towards the library, smiling a little to himself as the giant giddily whooped in his head--an actual smile for once, even.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 4:56 pm
The magic word had come from a voice he didn't recognize. Library. The one thing he had been searching for since his talk with Otto, and the one thing he had yet to find through all his wanderings, adventures and free time. Now he had a lead, and he had to follow it. He decided this little venture could be beneficial to him in more ways than one; he was going to he lead to the library, but he was going to practice his sleuthing. One could sleuth without words, right?
He was decent at getting information out of people, but stalking was not really his forte.
Luckily for him he caught sight of the one who had mentioned the Library, and after that it was just a matter of keeping his distance and watching the man's back down the hallway.
First, he was too far back; the only reason he even found the other man in general was because of a lucky turn on his part. After that though...he was much too close. It would have been obvious to anyone paying even a bit of attention that they were being followed.
Even moreso when some dust caught in his nose, and he started to sneeze rather loudly.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 5:08 pm
At least Ripley's target had a head full of hair too abnormally colored to miss. Although Jack was starting to wonder if there was any point in keeping it up now that he was cut off from his supplies and had to deal with Finn if he wanted some. God help him . . . Nevertheless, after a short while he did get the feeling he was being watched, though he was used to receiving stares thanks to his height; it was only when the sneeze resounded a bit too close for comfort that he turned his head.
And there was a white-haired guy. Huh. "Gesundheit," Jack said, brow raised slightly. "There's plenty of space around me if you want to pass, you know."
(( Oh, he looks friendly! )) Owain thought everyone looked friendly. (( Ask him his name! Oh, is he going to the library too? Maybe you could study together! Library friends~! ))
Jack ignored this and instead turned back to continue on his way.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 5:24 pm
Ripley bit back his disappointed groan at his failure.
< Good job. > Wilhelm sounded in Ripley's head, so sarcastic that the new Hunter could practically hear the slow clapping that accompanied it.
"Thanks." He managed, both to the other man and his weapon, rubbing the underside of his nose with his gloved thumb. "It's not that, I was just--" Whoever the green haired was, he was already turning away and heading back down the hallway. For a moment he considered just resuming his quiet stalking, but now that the other man knew, it would be pointless.
"Actually." He took a quick few steps to catch up, standing beside the green haired one. "You're on your way to the library? Mind if I join you?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 5:35 pm
(( I told you! Hah! I can smell a scholar even with your dull senses. ))
Jack repressed the urge to roll his eyes, making a note to find out if there was a way to mute this whole weapons in your head deal up, even for a minute. "Not at all," he replied, shortening his strides. "I'd rather have some human company for a while, to be honest. No personal boundaries with these things."
The giant gave off the sense of being mildly put off.
Jack directed them through the intersection off to the left, the library looming before them dead ahead. "Are you new as well, then? I only learned about the library a day ago."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 7:16 pm
"I understand that feeling." Ripley's voice was edged with frustration, understanding the predicament. "Mine eternal companion is luckily on the quiet side, but when he does actually speak?" Gloved fingers ran through his hair out of annoyance. "The term stick in the mud is putting it lightly. What's yours like?" Gold eyes slid towards his new acquaintance. 'As well', huh? So this person was a fairly new one as well. Perfect! It would make him feel less stupid in the long run to have someone who was likely at his speed.
"Yeah, fairly new. I was told about the library a few days in but I've had no luck in finding it until today." He was grateful that he had stumbled across this...actually.
"Oh, by the way, my name is Ripley. Ripley Crowell." He kept up with the green haired man, but he twisted at the waist to hold out his right hand.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 9:33 pm
"I'd prefer a business relationship, to be honest. When I was told the weapons were sentient, I didn't know they came with a dose of insanity." Jack wiped at his brow as they walked. "Mine is . . .in a word, overexuberant." Among other things.
Espying the offered hand out of the corner of his eye, he took it and shook once firmly. "Jack Hawthorn, Life Division. The information's been in a little disarray, frankly, and the size of headquarters, let alone the island . . ." He let out a breath of air that lifted a few of his bangs, opening the door to get in. The musty book smell wasn't aided by the heat, but at least now they could find a bit of solace inside.
"It's rough to simply jump into; almost barbaric how much we have to infer or bother other hunters about. I suppose that's why trainees like you and I should stick together until we get our bearings, hmm?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2013 1:04 pm
"Ouch. I'm sorry. I'd definitely prefer stick in the mud over over-exuberant." Ripley's voice dropped sympathetically, suddenly grateful that Wilhelm was, well, Wilhelm. It could have been a lot worse. There was a smug feeling in his head that he knew wasn't his, and he politely resisted his urge to tell his weapon to shut up.
"Life, huh? What does that division specialize in? I'm still a little rusty on the details. Oh, I'm in Death, by the way." In case he hadn't noticed the emblem on the coat, anyway. Ripley still found it endlessly amusing that he was put in Death Division.
"As for the information on the island...well, all I have to say is that this place has a very flawed design to begin with. I mean...what kind of military group gives weapons and no real instruction to a group of once-ordinary people?" He managed to make his complaint sound more like a slightly inconveniencing observation, and he stepped inside the library on Jack's heels.
"And even after, by the sounds of it. My first day up I got the brilliant advice of 'Don't die, and you'll rank up'. Might as well hang onto all the friends you can get." The heat was bothering him, and not even the comforting smell of books was going to change that; conversation, however, had a small chance. "Are you looking for a particular book? Subject, maybe?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2013 2:39 pm
"Death, hmm? Interesting." He smiled. "Perhaps we should stick close for more than one reason. Life as I understand it is meant to be on the more technical side of information--researching, experimenting, documenting. Death does the more active portion of gathering said intel, scouting on the enemy and all." He pulled at his shirt collar to try and cool himself off a little more with a wry look. "You can see why I would be frustrated at being...thrust head first, so to speak. Plenty of binders and computer documents around, but nothing localized enough to give summaries instead of report after report after damn report. I could spend a year in the labs learning about the past and still only scratch the surface from the looks of things."
Not counting what Nevada had told him about the more secretive, undocumented events, like the council's murder. He was starting to wonder what exactly he had signed up for.
"'Don't die.'" Jack snorted and looked for helpful signs that showed how the library was divided. "Everyone here seems so casual about death, it's almost uncanny," he noted. "Perhaps because civilians are allowed large and pointy objects. Granted, I've never wielded a sword in my life, but after a few training sessions it's starting to feel almost natural."
He peered off to the side and began to lazily make his way over to a particular section of books. "Geography. Halloween geography," he clarified. "I've been wondering what their world is like. Apparently there are portals that allow you to go there in something called a golem. Owain's been nattering on about it ever since we heard."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Oct 02, 2013 8:30 am
"I can only imagine. From what I gather we've got to learn everything about a whole other world." Being thrust into that sort of situation head first was frustrating at best, and to put it the nicest. "There's a difference between hitting the ground running and just plain old wiping out face first." He shook his head, his lips pressing into a very unimpressed frown. "Think maybe it's possible to get the cliff notes version from someone? Several someones?" Otherwise they would be at a considerable disadvantage. Moreso than they already were.
"Yes, don't die. I noticed that too, about their whole nonchalant attitude towards it. It's probably a good thing, considering what we do now, but...kind of sad still, don't you think?" Often times Ripley thought himself nonchalant about death as well, considering he had seen it and dealt with the aftermath of it hundreds upon thousands of times. In this situation though, this new life of his, he imagined that it would be different now. Perhaps he'd be affected by it again, and perhaps one day he might become desensitized to it all over again. If that were possible, anyway.
"Wait - Halloween? As in the holiday?" Ripley's brows has shot up, nearly disappearing into his bangs in surprise. Halloween seriously?! Whaaaat - Was that even possible?! How was - What was - ahhh! He had no idea there was an actual world of these things, and nobody he had come across yet had told him otherwise! Up until now he assumed it was just monsters here and there, and not a mostly-tangible thing with geography. "--Jesus, I think I'm drowning again." He groaned, slapping his face with the palm of his hand and dragging his fingers down his flesh.
"Hey, mind if I join you? Maybe we can tag team the research." Just like a science class partner, he thought with a grin.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Dec 03, 2013 6:24 pm
"Exciting, isn't it." Though his tone was almost brisk and dry, there was a subtle eagerness to Jack's steps; there wasn't quite anything in the world like finding a treasure trove of knowledge waiting to be explored. He made a vague gesture at Ripley to come along since he voiced his interest, stopping at the first bookcase and squinting at the uppermost row of books.
"As in the holiday," Jack confirmed, his fingers ghosting over several promising titles. "Apparently that is the source of the moving shadows; I'm assuming you saw those too, back in the . . . human world." He paused, unsure what to make of the phrase. Honestly Jack didn't even know where Deus was located beyond, apparently, something about the Bermuda Triangle and in between places. "Take bite sized pieces, Ripley Crowell. Start with a book."
Plucking one off the top shelf, Jack flipped it open and began to peruse the table of contents. "What's sad about death?" he asked in passing. "It happens to the best and worst of us eventually. A military organization like this doesn't have time to think about what lies beyond that, I'd think."
Enoh Love /rolls around and pretends this was made earlier ;;
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
