Johnny Blocksville

IC: Kenji Kono - [????????] Your boat lays adrift. Fog has engulfed the ocean around you, to the extent you have no reference points for where are you are, and where you might be soon. The moon above you is the only thing that seems to penetrate the encompassing cloud. It is eerily huge tonight. You can make out the details of its surface, and you wonder for a moment what creatures may lay upon the silver floor of that ghostly orb. You consider whether they might be staring back at you. Your gaze eventually directs itself down, as your feelings are pricked. Something passively watches, you know that much. The front of your canoe draws your eye. Perched atop the edge is a small winged Rahi, perhaps a variety of Gukko, though not one you've ever observed. It moves somewhat erratically too, its wings flapping intermittently but never carrying it up. You know better than to approach it, you don't wish to scare it off. "A little late for a seabird to hunt, no?" The words carry off your lips hoarsely, but softly spoken. The first you've spoken in a stretch of time you don't even know the full length of. "Quite alive looking for a Kono." The bird squawked back, much to your shock. Despite the direction of the voice being unmistakable, you scan the fog anyway, looking for a non-existent source. Your gaze has to settle eventually, back to the black winged Rahi. It flaps its wings futilely once again. "You must be mistaken." You reply, the boat gently rocking as you shift in stance slightly. "What are you?" The Rahi tilts its head. "Dull question." It decides, hopping along the edge of the canoe closer toward you. "What are you?" Your eye twitches. The irony of you being frustrated at its evasiveness is entirely lost on you. You watch it closely, feeling the missing space between your teeth with your tongue. "If I am dead, I'd like to be judged soon, please." You say, finally, sitting back down. "Don't you know where you're going?" The bird replies, hopping down onto your knee. "I'm not so sure I care." You say, at least a partial lie. The Rahi stares you down, before seeming to shrug. "Sounds like you've been dead for a while." It says. "But no judgement comes. That's up to you. Nobody else." ...

IC: Solan Iudex - 'The Dancing Crab', Ostia "Now...I don't 'member you telling me I can't smoke in here, but regardless, if you cared that much you should have stubbed the karzin' cig out yourself. Oh, I know ya wouldn't dare. I'm just sayin'. Yeah, yeah, I'll go outside. Keep ya mask on." The bartender trying to reason with the careless veteran eventually gave up, as, midway through standing up, Solan Iudex paused and relit his cigarette, before sitting back down. Discerning whether he was acting out of genuine mental confusion or using his state as an excuse seemed a task of deduction that the Po-Matoran really wasn't prepared to perform after the long shift he just had. He simply shrugged at a few of the customers around the Su-Toa who exclaimed at Solan's sudden growing small cloud of smoke, the man periodically taking swigs from a tall glass of ale in-between his drags. Solan, both literally and figuratively, didn't know why he was here. It'd been yet another uneventful day of travel, and no opportunities for him had presented themselves, those that had, had outright rejected him. Mercenary work, of late, was highly competitive, and it was difficult for an battered fool like himself to convince any potential employers that he was fit to work in pretty much any field. He sometimes pondered guard work, but it seemed that was much more thinking and sitting around than he was really capable of doing. Though he could probably do a better job than most of the clowns that they had working already. And so, he languished. Maybe he hoped an opportunity would present itself to him, a job would fall out of the sky, to whisk him away from his troubles and downs. Perhaps even a final journey...? ... He coughed and spat as he realised he'd unintentionally bitten into his cigarette. OOC: Open for interaction

IC: Karmine Madoc - Taking Point (Iron Mahi, Carriage 1) A wise decision! I pick out a stray piece of glass in my bicep, saying some unsavoury words as it turns out to be bigger than I'd bargained for. I soon figure the effort of cleaning the trickling blood to cost more time than we have, which is all peachy. This shouldn't be too much longer. I take after a stalking Kavinika, ranged weapon raised squarely at the engine room door in front of us as I lead our hopeful trio unto the breach. I hope anyone on the other side is a coward. ... No, you don't. OOC: Opening the engine room door @Silvan Haven@Tarn@Perp@Nato G and everyone else I missed

IC: Karmine Madoc - Anger Managed (Iron Mahi, Carriage 1) It takes me a little time for me to recognise that Baz has finally gotten a grasp of what is currently happening in front of him, and Surdo also appears to be just fine. Minor crisis averted. I use but a moment to wipe some of the blood on my face with the back of my hand, having sheathed my sword for the time being, seeing as nobody seems to be protesting to our little act of train piracy. Finally, I'm able to offer something of a warmer smile. I was beginning to think the capability had rescinded. "That sounds like a good shout. Our supposed evasion of the authorities isn't going to last too long. Minnorak, would you watch our rears? Us three should move forward." OOC: @Perp@Nato G@Tarn and everyone else

IC: Ela Latos - Lighthouse The blood faded from Ela's blade as he brought it beside her head, both hands clutching the handle. "In that case...it is again, an honour to meet you, my Lady." She said this in earnest, perhaps sensing that the Fursic's decision to tell her was something of a privilege. Nevertheless, the Lesterin's gaze became harder. "But now your strength has revealed itself. So, unveiled, we begin for certain." She'd already begun to circle Kiyaku. It was a difficult dance. She now had to confront the knowledge that her senses may have to be discarded in order to best the Menti. Suddenly, she rushed seemingly impulsively, the Le-Lesterin's added speed making her a blur with a glint of silver aimed for the Menti's torso. OOC: @Krayzikk

IC: Karmine Madoc - Anger Management (Iron Mahi, Carriage 1) Sweet great spirit, please hear me, please give me the strength and patience not to SLAM THIS THICK HEADED SKAKDI TOO HARD AND LIQUIDATE HIS- I can breathe. Everything's right as rain. He's just playing it up, for the audience. Just selling the act. Nobody's acting stupid, I'm all fine and dandy. Just play along. Don't get any more carried away. It's all improv. My hand tightens around the closely held firearm, mostly just a warning to the already quite frightened passengers behind me and Baszlin, while I reach down to my left sword at my thigh, loosening its gravity to have it drawn quickly and pointed at the performative Skakdi in front. "Well, listen. Handle your friend or you'll be on the floor with him. Is that alright?" I find myself desperately hoping Baz catches onto my not so subtle hint, before the real trouble arrives. OOC: @Perp@Tarn@Nato Gand everyone else on heist squad and the train

IC: Ela Latos - Lighthouse "I-" Had she miscalculated? Blood trailed down her blade. It was a predictable swing, how could she have been hit? Stop bleeding, get back up. Ela frowned, in what looked like disappointment, but internally, was immense shock. Le-Wahi had healers, she could go get someone. It wasn't too late. They'd understa- And then, the crystal on her neck. "Hmm. Hahahahahaha." The Lesterin's laugh was that of genuine amusement, but also shock and surprise. She bit her tongue, still chuckling to herself. "You have me lost, in both senses of the term." Ela finally spoke, swallowing finally. "You have your first concession. I'm sure you knew you'd get me, with that one." OOC: @Krayzikk

IC: ??? - ?????? "I just don't understand. I mean, you even said I was better, right?" "...That's not all there is to this." "Don't be foolish. What else is there?" "I love you more than anyone else in these islands. But you do need to learn to look past the surface." "Look. You're starting to talk like they do, now. Just say what you mean." "Fair enough. Do you remember when Mother hit you?" "How could I forget?" "Why do you think she did that?" "Because I lost." "Not just that. I'd beaten you in a way you hadn't expected, that you'd hadn't prepared for." "Yeah." "You kept rejecting training offers to help you improve, train you as a Willhammer. And then when I beat you, you had the gall to be angry." "Because that wasn't fair! You knew that wasn't my discipline." "It looks like you're the fool here. You put all your eggs in one basket. Did you never think about why you lost?" "No, I just thought about beating you next time." ...

IC: Kenji - Sail Tired bones heft the canoe from its shoreside hovel. It's not an overly long way to drag it, the last hurdle is just always the toughest for you to overcome. You find yourself paused for but an instance, before shaking yourself and tightening your hands around the rope attached to the front of the boat. A mistake. You yank too strong. The weathered and rotting rope snaps and you stumble, nearly falling but planting your feet firmly. You hiss, however, as you look down. A road marked across your palms. Red and brown coloured, painful to touch. And so, you bring out the beaten canteen you've been using for a while. You open one palm out, your dominant hand, and pour on some of the water you had left. It hurts a little, but it soothes more. It looks cleaner, although nowhere near where it should be. You'll dress it later. Then you repeat the process with the other hand. Now, the boat. You hoist it up onto your shoulders, carrying it like it was the world itself. It's not as heavy there as you'd imagined. You begin to walk, dragging it across the sand and away from the rocks, the ocean waves coming closer, and closer. You're not sure where the wind will take you, but you hope it'll be far away from this place. Before long, injured hands drop the canoe into the water, and you gaze upon the footsteps you'd left in the sand, the ruined settlements beyond. You will not miss this island. Night falls soon.

IC: Karmine Madoc - Grand Entrance At The Iron Mahi (Recommended listening) All of the goings on inside the train unbeknownst to me, I'm currently climbing back down to the side windows of the carriage - or, well, more accurately rappelling, just with no rope. The noise and commotion caused by Surdo and Baz's somewhat poorly telegraphed (but in the end, well executed!) act left me free to lightly hop down the side of the train, wind still carving across my face like tiny little Takea teeth. I do this until my feet are positioned directly above the top of the train window. I can just about see some of the passengers inside, the black cloaked Ta-Toa catching my eye in particular. And with Baszlin's passioned, but sadly inaudible, address made to the commuters on board, I finally untighten the weapon around my shoulder. It is somewhat regrettable how quickly I check it over, making sure the magazine inside was full, and that there is not a round already chambered, so as to avoid accidental discharges. Collateral damage is good for nobody. I'd be lying if I said I was not a little nervous as I breathe in, turning my face away from the window and using my gravity powers to give me an extra bit of boost in my jump, and an ever so slight pull back to the window. Well, actually, I won't be modest. It's quite a karzing strong pull. One that I feel every bit of as my body painfully crashes through the window, glass flying and falling across the empty seats in front as well as into me. And try as I might to hold on and to not let the adrenaline and excitement take over, I'm afraid I can't help myself as I stand up quickly in the centre of the carriage, weapon drawn and blood streaming across my arms and face already, both eyes open and more than alert. "GET YOUR DISGUSTING BLOODY BEHINDS DOWN AND YOUR HANDS ABOVE YOUR HEADS, UNLESS YOU WANT TO MATCH EYES WITH ME!!!" Oh dear. OOC: @Tarn@Perp@Nato G@Vezok's Friend

IC: Kenji - Without Honour or Morality There's something therapeutic about the air, as you stride among the tall grass toward the coast. The smell of rot is slowly but surely purging itself away, replaced by a cool, salty breeze. Kozu is by no means a big island, and this has worked to your advantage thus far - traversing the isle quickly is far easier than, say, on Sado. The two isles, in your head, are not dissimilar practically. But the Rahkshi here would at least gift you the grace of a quick death - the same could not be said for the Imperials. You would be expected to rot longer, far before you met your fate, on Sado. Sado would not be your escape plan. You have heard little of any other island in the Empire since your stay in Kozu, but you hope that in your heart, Oki is safe. Your animalistic desires wishes you could die there, instead of the other growing graveyards in Kentoku. The scraps of your past self, your pride, prohibits this. And so as your ill used mind remains blank, your only instinct is to sail, far away from this place. You spot a canoe far ahead as you step onto the edge of the bluff. The waves seem to have washed it in, the rest of the coastal area remains lifeless and barren besides the forces of nature eroding at the island with time. You care not what brought it here, it seems in well enough shape for you to make your attempt out of Kozu, to a destination yet unknown. You place your straw hat back on your head, leaning your head back as the coastal winds brush your gaunt face.

IC: ??? - Outside the train Surdo, and for that matter really anyone in the few carriages near him, would hear a heavy percussive thumping sound on top of the train. It would appear that the crew's teammate had indeed finally done his job for now. OOC: @BULiK@oncertainty@Tarn and the rest