savetheearth | 002; action; closed; backdated to Friday

Entry tags:

002; action; closed; backdated to Friday

WHO: Brendan & Kallie
WHERE: Dead District, near the statue
WHEN: April 19, afternoon

[While there are numerous reasons to not do something as reckless and ill-advised as venturing into a vacant district (pardon, vacant except for the werewolves) just to see a statue, Brendan is at least temporarily convinced that the reasons for doing so outweigh them. After all, it isn't like he's going at night; that would have been stupid. There is still the uncomfortable notion that travelers into and out of the district are being monitored, if not by the police then by others on the network, but Brendan has... something of an excuse for that if he's caught. "It was a dare" has to convince some people, right?

... Right. He really should have thought this through more.

Sighing to himself, Brendan shifts the weight of his bag and slowly approaches the statue. There's something reassuring in the fact that he can resist the urge to leave if he sets his mind to it, but he's all too aware that the desire isn't entirely external. Really, what had he been thinking? But if this statue holds some link to what's going on and he can learn more by interacting with it and the damned thing is going to be demolished in a matter of days, he doesn't have much of a choice.

This whole situation is annoyingly symbolic, he knows that much, and grimacing, he resumes walking.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Kallie's known about the dead district's statue for a while now, known that it causes... effects. Despite wanting to see the thing for just about the same amount of time she's heard of it, however, this is the first time she's dared to venture far enough to actually get a proper look.

Considering the recent talk on the network, it's entirely possible she might not get another chance if she waits much longer. It makes her nervous to be alone, the memory of the group of mutated animals attacking her still fresh in her mind, the risk of surveillance either in person or remotely lingering in the corners of her thoughts... but the desire not to be left out of the loop is stronger. She has to do something.

She's already having second and third thoughts before she reaches the corner though, regretting the audibility of her gait even before she then spots the back of someone else already ahead of her. Her light jog slows slightly as she frowns, soaking in his appearance, already rehearsing her own alibi.... ]

[Facing away from her is, Brendan hears the newcomer before he sees her and accomplishes the latter only through a furtive glance over his shoulder. Some girl he doesn't recognize— no, he can't be certain that he doesn't know her, not without turning and examining her properly. Either way, he knows immediately that the last thing he should do is appear at all guilty about the fact that he's here or conceal where he's going. It seems counter-intuitive, but perhaps if he behaves as though he has nothing to hide— that should work, shouldn't it? Damn it. But the girl— young woman, really— doesn't appear at all like she's with the authorities. A meaningless observation, probably, but it does introduce the vague possibility that she's merely a bystander. Maybe.

Trying to turn the situation over in his head any more than he already has is altogether too much for Brendan to want to process just now, though, and so squaring his shoulders a little, he resumes walking along his previous course. Up to the statue it is, but there's no way he's going to touch it while the stranger can see him. Maybe she'll simply be on her way. It could happen.]

[ It doesn't take a tracking genius to realize that the young man ahead of her has exactly the same destination in mind as she does. The realization irritates her, even if it should have already been obvious from the moment she spotted him- this place wasn't exactly a happening location even when she was a baby and this particular section was new, and especially so ever since the homeless population had been made a non-issue by whatever alarmingly supernatural-seeming means were being employed here.

The question is, is he here for the same reason? Is he another under the influence of that odd network and its accompanying odd occurrences?

Suspicions pull at her, but for some reason she decides that she just has to know. Turning back now would be almost just as suspicious of her, right? Changing her pace to a quick walk, she attempts to draw even. ]

Are you lost?

[ Somehow, she manages a tone that is, while devoid of sarcasm or other abrasiveness, also lacking in either concern or that semi-amused lilt typically meant to serve as a pseudo-greeting, too. Her gaze and her question are equally direct. ]

[— Damn. Almost there, too, and Brendan gives the statue a lingering look before glancing in the girl's direction. His age— no, older? He isn't certain, but in any case the way she's looking at him and how she'd addressed him doesn't inspire confidence. At least she doesn't seem openly hostile, but for all he knows, that can change at a moment's notice.]

No, in fact.

[His own voice is bored and faintly condescending, which he immediately regrets, but how the hell else is he supposed to answer a question like that? Assuming, of course, that he wasn't here to investigate the statue for less than ordinary reasons. Maybe if he behaves incredibly rudely toward her, she'll go away. Would a plan like that have any merit at all? But what if she is hostile and decides to take a swing at him?

He frowns a little, then tries again.]

Sorry, but I wasn't exactly expecting company, much less to be treated like I didn't know where I was going. Last I checked, it was hard to wander into this place accidentally.

Are you lost?

[... That wasn't much of an improvement, was it?]

[ Kallie frowns. Needless to say, it's unusual for someone to be so abrasive to her right off the bat.

Annoyed, she instead turns her attention to the statue. This close to it, she definitely feels the sensation the others had spoken of- like her heart is beating too fast, overlaying the sentiment that maybe she really shouldn't be here. In a way it makes her feel even more defiant, her eyes narrowing as she peers at the snake carved from that unusual pink stone.

But really, she probably should give an answer, considering she was the one who approached the guy in the first place. She lifts her shoulders only very slightly, about as much of a shrug as anyone gets out of her. ]

Hm... guess you haven't tried Apple Maps lately.

[... Apple Maps. Right. Brendan rolls his eyes, then follows her gaze to the statue, his frown deepening. If hanging around this place means he's going to be randomly interrogated, maybe he should leave, forget this whole adventure. The statue is certainly making it tempting— unless those are his own nerves talking? Whatever the case, he's growing more uncomfortable by the moment, and it's only due to the strength of his fear that the girl might be an informant or something that he doesn't show it. Not really much of a boon at all, if he thinks about it.]

I'm not lost. I didn't wander here by accident. I'm here to see the statue.

[He says the words as patiently as he can, eyes snapping back to the girl. Nothing to hide here, definitely not nervous, and in no way fighting the urge to turn around and march right back out of here. Ignore the fact that he's unconsciously rubbing the palm of one hand against the fabric of his jeans to dry it; he is not sweating.]

And you? Is it a hobby of yours to find lost souls in the Dead District? You're not a social worker, are you?

[ Hey, Kallie is practically the queen of paranoia at this point as well. Rather than pushing her towards wanting to withdraw here, however, somehow it really only strengthens her determination- she has to know whether this guy can be trusted, or... well, honestly, the other explanation is that he is an alarmingly good actor. She's no expert of human behavior, but even she can tell that--

No, she has to be sure. Still leveling a flat look at him, now tinged with just the mildest hint of exasperation, she drags out the previously-implied iPhone, apparently brushing off his questions in favor of fiddling with the screen. ]

... Look, can you tell me what this says?

[ And what do you know, shoving in one's number into the address line does in fact bring up the network right in the middle of the much joked-about Apple Maps. Moment of truth, as she turns it towards his face. ]

[Exasperated looks are familiar territory, almost relaxing in their own way, but Brendan remains on guard and poised to flee. She can probably outrun him, but maybe if he uses the terrain to his advantage, puts enough obstacles between them— would that work?

He tenses further still when the young woman whips out— a gun, badge, handcuffs?— an iPhone, of all things, and he sends her an exasperated look of his own, shoulders sagging a little. Don't do things like that, and what sort of question is "Can you tell me what this says?" anyway?

He glances at the screen then, sees the first line of a familiar entry, then frowns. A network post? So she's one of them? Unless agents had already infiltrated the network, but this seems like an awfully roundabout way of entrapping possible members. Perhaps if she'd been more upfront about the matter— but she'd approached him, hadn't she? And...

He wrenches his gaze away from the phone's screen, shifts his weight again, and speaks. It's a gamble, and he'd really rather not reveal himself at all, but if she's going to be this damned persistent, maybe— dammit.]

"Okay, first, the serious stuff: that snake statue in the Dead District. It has to go. It's bad news."

[ Kallie lets out a slow breath, relaxing in a weird sort of way that doesn't really seem to leave her that much less tense than before, but at least relieved of the suspicion that this guy isn't someone from the ragtag group of those with access to the network. Clandestine experimentation with her parents and random university students has been enough to prove to her that it can't be seen by just anyone even when pushed in their face. ]

Alright... [ She shifts her weight and gaze, towards the statue. ] Guess we're here for the same reason, then.

[ Which she's still all kinds of uncomfortable about; already she regrets what little she's said aloud. Maybe she's not all that familiar with the real world of spying, but pop culture has filled her in about as much as any other college-age woman not living under a rock would be. ]

[Brendan is about as relieved as she is, which is to say not at all, but he is finding it at least slightly easier to not fidget as he looks at her again, this time doing his best to inspect her more keenly. Has he seen her before? Again, she seems around his age, so it's not unthinkable. He's confident that they've never been formally introduced, though, and with any luck, that fact will remain true even after this meeting. After all, if she was that suspicious of him to begin with, he may just have a partner in paranoia here.]

It seems that we are.

[He says the words as evenly as he can, but the instant they're out of his mouth, he's fighting the urge to crack a grin, laugh even. Sudden hysterical relief is not wanted right now, goddammit, it had better go away soon.]

I— shall we just get this over with? [He jerks his head at the statue.] The longer we stay here... well, you know what could happen.

[He hopes it doesn't need saying, and god but this whole cloak-and-dagger routine is getting ridiculous. The smile is impossible to suppress now, but hopefully she won't think anything of it.]

Yeah.

[ Let it be known that Kallie has no objections to getting down to business. Immediately she's hidden her phone away again, attention snapping to the statue save for a brief glance back at her impromptu partner as she steps away. ]

I go by Lightning. It's not my real name. Don't give me yours.

[ Preemptive, obviously, although despite her words her tone is neutral. She just figures that if she gives any opportunity for silence to kick in, the higher the chance he'll blurt out his own name as some attempt at politeness or whatever. The alias thing is a weird rule of hers that's just kind of grown out of circumstance, but it's one she still refuses to deviate from if she can help it. In the same way she strives to protect herself by providing a false name, she attempts to do the same for others by insisting she stays in the dark about the finer details of who they are.

Easier said than done, when you've got people who are set on pasting their identities all over the network, though. She doesn't get that at all, and counts it fortunate that as far as she knows this guy doesn't seem to be one of them. ]

[Preemptive and unnecessary, but while Brendan rolls his eyes and loses the smile, he doesn't say as much. Thank heaven he'd come across someone practical, at least, instead of one who would have insisted on being friends or otherwise forging some lasting tie in this place. He prefers to know a little more about who he's getting involved with ahead of time, preferably without them doing the same.

The silence stretches a little longer, Brendan still unmoving, but eventually, he resumes motion, walking straight up to the statue and pausing with a hand mere inches away from its stony surface. There's little sense in staring at it, as far as he can tell, so he should just... get it over with and touch the damn thing. Right?

Before he does, he glances back over his shoulder.]

I've had some negative reactions to this sort of thing. If any crop up this time, think nothing of it.

[ Her eyes narrow as she follows, watching, while at the same time trying to keep an eye out without being too conspicuous about it. The warning gives her pause, because of course she has to wonder what in the world he's referring to.

He's talking to a girl who already has the ability to fling electricity at things and summon ghost-weapons complete with transitory feathers. Her mind is filled with the knowledge of monsters she's never actually met. From the network, she's seen and heard of some crazy things so far and, despite not being too terribly prone to letting her imagination run away on fanciful routes, can come up with some pretty spectacular options for what he might mean.

However, it's too late now to object to the matter, and she has no interest in wasting the time of both of them. So, even if she's sort of bracing herself to be struck dead by potentially the stupidest possible thing in the next few seconds... ]

Right.

[ She nods, crossing her arms. ]

[In fairness, Brendan knows nothing about the girl apart from the fact that she apparently thinks Lightning is an acceptable alias. If he'd been picking out a code name for himself, it would have been something much cooler, like... like...

... Well, it would be something cooler.

He looks back to the statue once he's certain she's gotten the message, at any rate, and mentally bracing himself, he closes the gap between flesh and stone. The sensation that follows is one that he's reluctantly familiar with, that of being hollowed out while something far, far greater overpowers and overwhelms him, but even though he sought it out willingly this time and even allows his eyes to fall shut to hurry the process along (he is not a fan of it in the slightest), that... is apparently all that happens. Just that feeling.

Nothing else.

He's frowning instantly the moment it fades, eyes snapping open as he pulls his hand away, then touches it to the statue again. Nothing. Still nothing, not even that strange heartbeat. Had he done something wrong?

He pushes away in frustration and steps back, waving Lightning elegantly toward the statue.]

I guess it doesn't like me. Your turn. I'll keep a lookout.

[ ... Nothing happens? Kallie follows suit in frowning as it becomes apparent that, whatever just occurred, it doesn't seemed to have impressed Not-Lost here. However, then again, several of the times she'd gotten something, it hadn't been immediately evident afterward, either. Maybe he just hadn't realized yet that his head was now filled with special knowledge of the inner workings of steamboats or whatever. ]

Might take a while to kick in.

[ -- Is what she offers as she steps up, eyebrows twitching. All the same, it puts her on edge a bit as well, after she'd been prepared for something a little more obviou--

The woman blinks as she suddenly double-takes, tilting her head at the man. She's not always the most observant person around when it comes to other people's appearance, but with as wary as she is here, the sense that something is different is prompt... even if she's then at once sure that it was just her imagination.

But still... the distinct purpleness of his eyes doesn't seem to go away even when she's paused long enough to get a second look, and she's certain she would have noticed something so unusual beforehand. ]

What... color are your eyes?

[It isn't what she asks but how she asks it that catches Brendan's notice, even if he is actually somewhat accustomed to the question. Blue eyes with black hair isn't exactly common, after all, but the way she's staring at him, like he's just grown a second head— or had she just not noticed before? Or...

Reflexively, he lifts a hand to his face, right hand lightly touching below his right eye.]

They're blue. I inherited them from my mother.

[He sounds less than certain when he says it, Lightning's worry evidently catching.]

What happened? Did—

[He breaks off, shakes his head, and pulls out his own phone, indulging in the frequent vanity of using it as a mirror and... oh, god.]

You must be joking.

Edited 2013-05-04 01:05 (UTC)

[ Kallie has pale eyes herself, so she's used to the comments. As for him, he's definitely gone violet. She doesn't really try to get a word in as he reacts, again simply watching as she once again finds herself not sure what to say anyway. Distractedly, she lifts a hand to smooth down her pulled-back hair- which used to be a lot darker before a little less than a week ago... ]

Maybe it just doesn't like normal coloring.

[ That's her best guess, anyway, sort of. However, with that she finally seems to remember what she was doing before, quickly shaking off her attention towards him yet again. All things told she's not really looking forward to this, but at this point, it nearly seems necessary if she's to get any closer to the bottom of why it's happening.

With a deep breath, she steps up to the pink stone, slowly reaching out as she looks up and down the height of the sculpture. It occurs to her that maybe she should have issued a warning as well, given the rather shocking nature of what she's experienced at least once before... but before she can go through with it, her fingertips brush against the statue's surface.

She freezes... and then naturally, promptly has that bad reaction Brendan had been warning her of. Jerking away as if burned, she gasps sharply and stumbles backward, not quite successful in maintaining her footing; with exactly zero sense of elegance, she falls rather squarely right on her ass on the dirty pavement. ]

[Maybe it doesn't like normal coloring. Not the most reassuring, that statement, but he shoves his phone back in his pocket without comment anyway, scowling openly. He'll have to find some way to disguise the change, he knows that much, but for right now, with what they've come here to do, it isn't his first priority. Back on the lookout he goes even before she begins to make her move, gaze fixed on their surroundings. It's probably too much to hope that she'll respond to the statue in a similar way to how he had, but at the very least, he probably has an opportunity to observe here that he wouldn't elsewhere.

What he isn't prepared for is for Lightning to jerk away and fall as she does, and caught off guard as he is, his gaze is immediately drawn to her. He doesn't have the reflexes to catch her, unfortunately, but he does stop immediately and kneel by her side, eyes concerned. He may have only just met her, but that's no reason to dismiss her well-being as unimportant.]

Lightning? Are you all right?

Ah...

[ Stunned, maybe. She feels weird, as if there's a charge under her skin, a buzz lacing through her thoughts. She feels... displaced, although she wouldn't be able to explain why, and there's a heaviness in her chest that makes her automatically lift a hand to press over her heart, blinking as she ducks her head.

Strangely enough, she seems unusually aware of the fact that she can make a choice at all about how to answer the question. ]

-- I'm fine.

[ Though on the other hand, lounging around in a place and time like this is probably not the best of ideas. Irritated and baffled, she at least tries to start gathering herself back up as embarrassment colors her face. ]

[For obvious reasons, Brendan is less than convinced by the assertion, but one look at Lightning is all he needs to know that mentioning this would not be a good idea. He backs off instead, rising with comparative ease and casting another glance around them. Should he offer a hand? Would she be offended? Or... no, to hell with it, there's still such a thing as basic manners.

He holds a hand out to her, eyes refocusing on her face before he thinks better of it and looks off to the side. The less he acknowledges her embarrassment, the better, and he tries to make it as plain through his body language as possible that the hand is entirely ignorable if she so chooses.]

I imagine it would be best if we left separately, but staggering our exits may draw attention on its own. Which would you prefer?

[It's as polite a way as he can think of to indirectly offer to walk her back wherever. The gesture may very well go unnoticed or possibly even offend her, but he feels better for having it out there anyway.]

[ The air of discomfort here is nearly overwhelming- above all else, Kallie does not like to be fazed so thoroughly, and in her mortification, it takes her a moment to even realize she's been offered a hand at all. She can't decide if this is better or worse than the time she'd managed to trip over her own feet and go sprawling in front of the entire track team in high school. At least then it had been an accident.

He's not laughing at her though, so that's a plus. Still, it's with enormous reluctance that she takes the offered help and finally gets back up on her feet, putting just enough pull on him to compensate for the lingering daze.

She almost doesn't want to know what's changed in her this time, to have caused such an unusual effect. Lyall had claimed that when he'd made contact with this statue, he'd felt as if his blood was boiling... but she's not sure that's exactly an accurate description of the odd sensation she got out of it.

All she can hope is that she isn't about to morph into anything weird as this keeps happening. Purple lightning and invisible swords and mysterious memories are one thing, turning into a multi-faced Ezekial-esque tetramorph-angel (or something) is... another.

Her brow draws in irritation at the question, even if she recognizes the practicality, and after only a second or two: ]

We can walk to the bus station, at least.

[ Even if she doesn't like it. Regardless, pleasing or not, she's still concerned more about whatever's safest than uneasiness. ]

[No, not laughing, not smirking, and in fact not in any way acknowledging that that she had fallen at all once she's back on her feet, continuing their conversation as if nothing at all had interrupted it. Had the moment been any less tense and in any way casual, he might have made some remark, but even if he is still a teenager, Brendan can easily recognize that this is neither the time nor place. Time to move on.]

The bus station it is.

[He hesitates before actually taking his first steps in that direction, though, visibly restraining himself from asking something else. Are you sure you're all right? seems most likely, but even if he doesn't know Lightning especially well, she already strikes him as the stubborn sort (no pun intended). It would likely lead nowhere.

He doesn't glance back to check that she's following, either, instead hauling his messenger back around, opening it, and beginning to root around. It's too much to hope that he has a pair of sunglasses handy, isn't it? The eyes, after all, are something he's fairly certain he won't be able to write off all that easily. Yes, he could claim that they're contacts, but how long would that hold up? And then when he went home... shit, how is he supposed to explain this?

His search proves to be in vain, unfortunately, and with a small sigh, he speaks again.]

Do you happen to have a pair of sunglasses I could borrow? Then again, it seems moot point if we're unlikely to meet again.

[Well, he can always just buy a cheap pair at a corner store. That should hold off some of the more awkward questions for a while. He hopes.]

Huh?

[ Kallie obliquely notices him going through his bag, but at the question she looks up in surprise, distracted from the important task of studying her hands perhaps a little too closely. All things considered, she'd actually managed to completely forget about his now oddly-colored eyes, so it takes her a moment to realize why he might be asking a girl he barely knows for concealing eyewear.

She doesn't ever bring that kind of thing along though, and shakes her head even as she goes for her pockets by instinct, as if subconsciously expecting sunglasses to magically appear in her running clothes just because she thought of some. ]

Sorry.

[ And she presses her lips together, suddenly imagining if it had been her with such an obvious effect. There's...whatever is going on with her hair, yes, but she figures she can just either buy some dye herself or pay someone to fix it while claiming some odd mistake she'd done to it herself. ]

[... To be expected. All right. Okay. He can handle this, right? He's an intelligent young man with many worthwhile skills and plenty of knowledge. He'll just... yes, buy a pair from a corner store, probably not when in Lightning's company because he hadn't thought to bring any cash with him and she might somehow catch sight of his name printed on one of the cards in his wallet. Unreasonably paranoid, probably, but that's the name of the game where the network is concerned and he doubts she'll take offense.]

Nevermind, then. Let's just go.

[And get this baffling outing over with.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

002; action; closed; backdated to Friday

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject