BZPRPG - Ta-Wahi

[Void Emissary]

IC:

 

"Lasinia, you literally - " (and oh god i'm turning into one of those people who says "literally" all of the time oh god oh god) " - just compared them to expired popcorn."

 

-Void

Edited September 27, 2014 by Emissary

[Snelly]

IC: Mekana

 

"If you could read my mind you'd hide your cash better." 

 

IC: Mimira

 

"I'm never eating popcorn again." 

[Krayzikk]

IC:

 

There was a pause, silence the only response from within the building. As moments stretched into minutes, Saeva's impatience grew; after a minute without response, she rapped on the door even louder, practically shaking it from the impacts. Movement was, at that point, heard within, the sound of footsteps approaching the door. As it grew louder, a weary and mildly annoyed voice began to speak.

 

"For Karzahni's sake, we're closed! Can't you fools see-" The speaker, an older Ta-Toa with a worn Akaku, stopped short as he swung the door open, staring at the trio outside his doors with widening eyes. After a moment of silence, Saeva scratched awkwardly at the back of her head, grinning sheepishly.

 

"Hey, pops."

 

"... Saeva!' The Ta-Toa said, with a mix of relief and exasperation. After a moment, he swore under his breath. "You are alright. And you've got friends with you! Come on in, your mother will want to see you. She's been worried sick, when she didn't hear from you."

Edited September 28, 2014 by Ninth Krayzikk

[Razgriz]

IC: Okay, real talk here. The tough guy look can't last forever. Yeah, you might be a delinquent, a fighter, a god-knows-how-many time fight club champ, but there's no use trying to hold up a facade of being emotionless. A real man don't run from his heart being warmed, right? The true bad mofo is the one who can look at the reunion happening right now and admit to himself, "yeah, that's nice to see.", right?

...

Oh, whatever. Erzu thought, breaking into a grin. Not like I've got other guys to not show weakness to around anyway. I doubt her dad gives half a .

Following the pair of Ta Toa into the house, he remembered his agreement with Saeva and slipped his sandals of at the door, sliding them neatly out of the way of the path, and continued on. Best not track sand and ash and dust into the house, right? That'd be rude.
 

[Zox Tomana]

IC: Saeren

 

"Must have been quite the event to end the way it did. How did your leg come to be injured?"

[Hitoshura]

IC: Ryzen

 

I shurgged. "Any will do, as long as they're cheap enough. I'm not one who owns a lot of money."

[Banana Gunz]

IC: Akhulii

 

Akhulii rubbed his wrists as he responded. "Who ever said I was rich? I'm out here trying to expand my fine establishment. If anyone on this blasted island were really rich they'd have the akiri eating out of their hands. I'm not poor, but life isn't easy for anyone anymore. Too many ambitious people these days. Crazy Skakdi, Vortixx, Dasaki  and even toa all running around trying to get power. You toa are lucky, you can defend yourselves, but not us, not the matoran. Where does all of this leave us? Unprotected. You toa are all scattered around fighting your own personal wars. It's not about the matoran anymore. It's about power."

 

Akhulii slumped down, frustrated. He hated thinking about the problems on Mata-Nui. He rarely showed concern for it but it was his home and still mattered to him. He rarely prayed to Mata-Nui, but deep down still hoped that he was there to lead them through the hardships. Mata-Nui had originally created to the toa to protect them. Now, you would only get that by paying for it.

 

Suddenly his stomach grumbled again and he remembered how hungry he was.

 

"C'mon, let's go. We've still got to eat." He stood up and took a quick scan of the area.

 

"I see a restaurant over there." He pointed. "Let's go see if the menu's good. What type of food do you like?"

 

OOC: Oh man, the character expansion is real here.

Edited September 28, 2014 by Banana Gunz

[Perp]

IC: Torana

 

Okay, ten minutes with this girl and I'm already meeting her parents.

 

At least take me out to dinner first, Saeva...

[Krayzikk]

IC:

 

Saeva looked like she wanted to sink into the floor.

 

The older Ta-Toa held the door open as she and her companions entered, revealing, for the first time, a nearly immaculate store just inside the door. Shelves lined the walls, each one stocked with clothing of varying types, ranging from heavy coats suited for the slopes of Mt. Ihu to boots that wouldn't look out of place. A small number of steel mannequins dotted the floor, demonstrating varying attires. The right hand side of the room held a few racks of other items, miscellaneous supplies, for the most part.

 

Saeva led the way up a small set of stairs, headed for the second floor. The Ta-Toa looked both uncomfortable and relieved in equal measure, and for very different reasons. At the top of the stairs, she turned to the left into a small sitting area. A Fe-Toa was seated at the table, a mug held between her hands, but she looked up and smiled widely as the group reached the top of the stairs.

 

"Had a feeling that you'd show up, after what happened. It's good to see that you're alright." She paused, looking to Erzu and Torana. "And you two are? Would you like something to drink? Have a seat, have a seat, we've got plenty of them."

[25K Now!]

IC: Lasinia

 

"They taste better than Captain Blue's socks."

 

IC: Ophaim

 

"Yes, I have noticed you sneaking a few widgets while I have not been looking."

[Razgriz]

IC: This is it. A man doesn't run from his promises, better show that resolve. I am a delinquent no longer.

He cleared his throat, holding the thumb-side of his fist to his mouth as he sat into a chair, posture a tad rigid as he made sure to not lean back and kick his feet up on something else.

...Mata Nui, this felt weird. He wanted to at least sit cross-legged, something, but he couldn't afford to take chances here. The things a man must do for honor's sake...

"Uh, hi. I'm Erzu Salvajemono, nice to meet you, miss Sareta." he managed with an inclination of the head, smooth enough to not arouse suspicion to anyone save likely Saeva herself. "I think I'll be fine, thanks--er, thank you."

This is harder than I thought. Why does it feel so... pressuring?

He faced the pressure as he always did, of course. In silence, as naturally as he could.

Which just might have been a bit less than normal, now that the spotlight was (sort of) on him.
 

[Perp]

IC: Torana

 

REAL SMOOTH, ERZU, CLASS ACT.

 

Torana cut in before he could embarrass himself.

 

"I'm Torana. I've only just wandered into Ta-Koro and met your daughter a few minutes ago, but she was kind enough to let me tag along. Pleased to meet you," she said, calmly sitting down at the Saretas' table, neatly folding her hands together. "I appreciate your hospitality, thank you."

 

She looked quickly over at the Bo-Toa beside her - was that a bead of sweat rolling down his face?

[Nato G]

IC: Natharius.

 

"How did my leg come to be injured?" Natharius repeated with a dry laugh. "Skyra shot me. With a gun." 

[Razgriz]

IC: He caught the look.

Caught it with a defensive glare. Worry about yourself.

[Zox Tomana]

IC: Saeren

 

"Skyra shot me. With a gun," came the reply. Saeren gave the Skakdi an honest look of surprise as he rounded another corner.

 

"Skyra? As in Skyra Daring of the Gukko Force? Next thing you're gonna tell me is that Joske Nimil was part of the fight." Saeren noticed one of the guards looking at him. "You're kidding me." What in Mata Nui's name was this Skakdi doing in a fight with those three? I practically live under a rock and I know those names. Out loud he went on, "Seeing as at least Commander Daring went into the fight with that kind of weaponry, did Toa Shaddix use a gun for that?" He twisted the hand that symbolically kept Grokk aloft, pointing at the place where he'd mostly sealed the nearly fatal hole, a bright grey spot on dirty-brown armor. His reasoning was stretch, and his phrasing bad. He could practically feel the three guards cursing him in their minds.

Edited September 28, 2014 by Zox Tomana

[Nato G]

IC: Natharius.

 

"Ah, no, that would have been Dorian's hand." Natharius didn't even bother trying to hide his distaste. Seriously, why did everyone think Dorian was so great? He was as much of a jerk as Grokk was, probably worse. "Stupid nearly ripped Grokk's heart out." He turned to one of the guards. "Now, I don't really know who any of these people are, or what they've done in the past, but I'm pretty ###### sure someone who tries to rip people's hearts out with their bare hands should be in an asylum, or better yet, dead." 

Edited September 28, 2014 by NatoGreavesy

[Zox Tomana]

OOC: Advantage to cooking at 0300, quick response time

 

IC: Saeren

 

"His hand?" Saeren followed the lead guard around the final turn to bring them in line with the hospital, now only a couple blocks from them. With a free hand he waved at a pair of idle medics. Their attention gained he pointed at Grokk, and then at the hospital. Understanding, they nodded and disappeared inside to inform the staff to prepare for a Guard escorted patient. "I don't know about putting Toa Shaddix into an asylum or killing him, something far beyond my skills, but I do agree with you. Sticking your hand in someone's chest is more than a little bit excessive."

 

Changing his tone to that of a professional. "Grokk will have to go into an Intensive Care ward, you can be taken care of in the regular ER. As a favor to me, don't do anything stupid, there are many injured people in there." He would let the guards take care of how to divvy themselves up between the two patients, but there were plenty of their fellows at the hospital itself. Once he got them inside, the nurses and doctors would take charge of Grokk, and the guards would take him and Natharius from there.

 

OOC: Disadvantage to cooking while RPing, long composition times.

[Nato G]

IC: Natharius.

 

Saeren was probably the fourth person today who'd tried to discourage him from the doing something stupid. First had been the guard he'd spoken to on his arrival in the city. The second had been Grokk when he'd dissuaded him from assaulting the Piraka clubhouse. The third had been Skyra when she'd been threatening him. So far, he'd only listened to one of them, and that one had caused him a lot of problems so far.

 

So yeah... he wasn't sure if, even with the best of intentions in mind, he would be able to escape the trap of doing anything stupid. He was sure, however, that this was likely going to be a hospital visit he'd never forget...

 

...for better or worse. 

[Zox Tomana]

IC: Saeren

 

The group was silent as they walked through the doors into the ER. Saeren levitated Grokk higher into the air as two medical assistants wheeled a gurney over to take him. Setting the Skakdi gently down, Saeren turned to the inquiring, Sana covered face of a doctor and began his report.

 

"Two male Skakdi involved in an altercation with three Toa. The one on the bed is Grokk, many minor wounds, one larger laceration, and a deep puncture wound to the chest. Chest wound was caused by penetrating trauma from a hand being inserted into the chest. 2nd degree burn to the facial structures. Suspected lung collapse, possible shock from blood loss. I mostly covered the hole to allow some air to come back out, and covered his other wounds with bandaging. The goggles were applied by a member of the Guard. This other is Natharius, possible broken leg due to impact trauma from a bullet. No penetration, I reshaped the armor, loosened the casing, and splinted the leg using an iron lattice. One other wound, cauterized in the field by the patient. Both are under arrest by the Guard by the authority of a Colonel... I did not get his name, as well as Lieutenant Loren."

 

All this was noted down on an iStone by a Matoran scribe, and the doctor ordered Grokk to be taken immediately to surgery for assessment and healing. "We're still fairly busy with some of the injured from the attack, so Natharius will have to wait. Stay with him, I may need to ask both of you questions." With that, the doctor walked off, two of the escorts following Grokk, one remaining behind with Saeren and Natharius.

 

OOC: Welcome, Nuju and Nate to the Ta-Koro Hospital. Please enjoy your stay.

[Nato G]

IC: Natharius.

 

Natharius watched Grokk getting wheeled off, and couldn't help but scowl to himself. So everyone hated Grokk, a skakdi, because he'd killed one of the Turaga. But everyone still loved Dorian, a Toa, even though he'd presumably done the same thing. Where was the fairness in that? He was picking up on a lot of racial discrimination in this increasingly situation, and he didn't like it. If only he hadn't gone into the city today, how might things have gone differently? 

 

Despite his dislike for... just about everyone he'd met so far in this city, he was taking a liking to Saeren. The medic seemed more concerned with his patients than with what they may or might not have done in the past. A man who did his job regardless of the outside influences; that was something Natharius could respect. 

 

"So... now what?" he asked tiredly. He was only just coming to realise how exhausted the morning's events had left him. He hadn't been in a fight that intense since... well, ever really. It had been a learning experience for him, and not one he'd particularly enjoyed. 

 

Next time, things would go differently. 

[Zox Tomana]

IC: Saeren

 

"Now I stand by, lend a hand if a nurse asks for me, and generally just wait." Saeren stopped a passing aide and handed his pack over with a request that it be refilled whenever it was convenient. "If you don't mind, why were the Colonel and Lieutenant so particularly worried about Grokk's arrest over yours? Both of you were involved in the fight, as I understand it." Saeren began to feel the generalized nervousness of being social return. This wasn't a medical question, nor could it have any medical bearing. Doctor, please come back and ask questions. Please?

[Nato G]

IC: Natharius.

 

He could see that Saeren was getting nervous. Interesting. 

 

"Well, apparently Grokk was involved in the Turaga Killings. It would have been nice if he'd bothered to tell me that before roping me into his stupid scheme, but I can see why the guards would be more interested in capturing the criminal with the huge bounty on his head rather than me, the guy who only arrived here today." 

Edited September 28, 2014 by NatoGreavesy

[Zox Tomana]

IC: Saeren

 

"Turaga killing?" Saeren put his 'medic face' on. Doesn't change how you treat him. Murderer or monk, I'm just the medic. "I see..." He shifted uncomfortably. "Are there any other wounds we should know about? I can do a brief assessment before a healer comes along."

[Nato G]

IC: Natharius.

 

Saeren was trying to change the subject. The talk of Turaga Killing was making him uncomfortable. This was also very interesting. "In terms of myself, apart form my leg, and my side, I got hit around the head a few times, but nothing feels broken. Except my bruised ego. But as for Grokk, I'm afraid I don't really know. There was so much going on in that fight that I didn't really get to see everything that happened." 

[Nato G]

IC: Mirra and Wisp. 

 

"What was that all about?" Mirra asked brightly, as Wisp came in through the door. She was holding up a piece of crystal and boredly shaping it into different objects as she sat at their house's small table waiting for him to return.

 

"Some kind of brawl on the streets. A couple of mercs fighting it out, by the looks of it. That Dorian guy that everyone's talking about and a couple of other Toa took on a pair of skakdi. The guards are handling it."

 

"Skakdi?" that caught Mirra's attention. 

 

"Not the Piraka." Wisp assured her, sitting down across from her and lighting up a cigarette, using his power to shape the smoke into strange rings and patterns. The Piraka had launched their attack from the opposite side of Ta-Koro. by the time Mirra and Wisp had figured out what had actually be happening, the skakdi had come and gone. "Things are getting out of hand out there," he pointed back to the door, which he'd locked behind him when he'd come in. "First there was the Piraka attack, and then today alone there were two violent street fights. We can't sit by idly any longer."

 

"We aren't being idle, we're being careful." Mirra countered. "We're only two Toa. There's a lot more enemies out there than there are allies. These Legacy guys attacking Ko-Koro, it sounds like they've payed off half the mercs on the island. They've got all of Makuta's resources, and we don't even know who's actually giving it to them. We can't do anything rash."

 

"But if we stay here in this one walled-off city, there's no way we're every going to find out anything. We need to do something. Which gave me an idea..." 

 

"Let's hear it, then." Mirra smiled.

 

He told her what he had in mind, and she agreed. It only took a few minutes to put it together, and when it was done, Wisp opened the door and let Mirra hang up her creation. "Very nice." he smirked, admiring the sign she had created. 

 

"Now we just wait to see if anyone chooses to hire us, I guess." Mirra said, heading back inside. 

 

The sign, made of thin sheet of crystal, hung from a hook attached to the top of the front door of their small, two-storey home:

 

Smoke & Mirrors, Heroes for Hire

Inquire Within

 

OOC: Open for interaction if anyone feels like hiring them. Just see the sign and knock on the door.  

[Snelly]

IC: Mekana 

 

"Only borrowed a little..." 

 

IC: Skyra

 

I sneezed, ever get that feeling that someone somewhere was talking about you? Me neither. As I watched Dorian and Joske quietly I slumped down onto the floor and sat against the doorframe. To be honest I was quite exhausted, I'd been moving non-stop since I'd left Le-Wahi, and I'd done nothing but exert energy on various things, like dusting, finding Dorian, shooting guns, screaming at people. It was all very tiring. And we still had to go kill a Rahkshi! 

 

At least I think we did, with Dorian injured though it seemed plans had changed for the moment. Why was one Rahkshi all that important anyway? It certainly wouldn't try to attack us in the middle of Ta-koro. 

[Mel]

[Ta Koro, Guard Residential District]

 

Having escorted the two Skakdi to the hospital without incident, Lucira and Jolek returned to the scene of the brawl.  Lucira could tell the toa of magnetism was getting bored.  Things were turning to be a lot calmer than they could have been.

 

“Sorry for dragging you along,” she said to Jolek, noticing that Tarotix was still supervising cleanup.  “I’m going to help him interview the other people involved.  You don’t have to come.”

Edited September 28, 2014 by Yukiko

[Razgriz]

IC: He shrugged, despite the veracity of her evaluation. "Hey, I chose to stick my head in this with ya. Could've said no any time. May as well see it through, you know?" he reasoned, bringing an arm forward in a gesture that could only mean 'lead the way'. Half-doing this would basically invalidate the time he'd spent following along in the first place.

Can't get off the ride while it's still moving.

[Hitoshura]

IC: Ryzen

 

I barely paid attention to Akhulli, my eyes wandering around as he spoke.

 

"What kind of food do you like?" He suddenly spoke.

 

"Hmm? I'll eat anything, really. Did we find something"

[Krayzikk]

IC:

 

There was a momentary pause, before the Fe-Toa laughed quietly, Saeva's father busying himself at the counter behind the table. A faint whir could be heard emanating from his Akaku as he chopped away at a collection of vegetables. A fain humming could be heard, quickly pinpointed as from the same Toa, while the Fe-Toa behind him composed herself again.

 

"No need to be so stiff, either of you. Saeva's a bit... Unconventional, and I would expect those she's met to be the same. We may not exactly understand it, but we're used to it." Saeva, the subject in question, cleared her throat awkwardly as her mother looked to Torana. "So short a time? Not much has changed, then. I do hope she hasn't caused you any trouble, but she's always tended to find someone to drag along with her."

 

"That's ."

 

"Language, Saeva."

[Razgriz]

IC: He visibly deflated and loosened up, albeit catching himself before regressing back into his usual full-on slouch. He knew it was gonna be too obvious.

"Yeah, not really." he said in response to Saeva, idly half-listening to the tune coming from her father. I think I recognize that...

Dunno where from, though.

He responded to a deadly gaze leveled his way with a cheeky grin. Now things were starting to feel a bit more normal. This was better.
 

[Perp]

IC: Torana

 

The Vo-Toa smiled and quietly chuckled.

 

"No, no, she's been very welcoming. I'd only just walked into the Koro, when we both were just noticing..."

 

Torana cut herself short - the smile fell away and she lowered her eyes before she said anything further - she didn't want to bring up this subject. This was Saeva's home, her parents, and the Toa of Lightning didn't want to dredge up any raw emotions before Saeva had the chance to broach the subject first. She briefly worried whether she had already gone too far.

 

I shouldn't have said anything.

[Banana Gunz]

IC: Akhulii

 

Akhulii looked at Ryzen in annoyance and said, "Yes, actually I did. C'mon, let's go see what's on the menu. You toa of ice aren't the most attentive types I suppose? Anyway, I hope they serve fish. I do like fish..."

 

He got up and began walking towards the restaurant. He found it rude how Ryzen just seemed so inconsiderate. Typical for a stupid toa. Always thinking about what rocks they're gonna blow apart next. Never about the matoran! Hmph. Whatever, whoever Ryzen is personally doesn't concern me. It's all business as they say.

 

As he approached the restaurant he could smell tasty food inside. The outside was also made of the same lava stone, but was a little smoother and more decorated. A large sign on front made it's title out to be "The Flaming Fikou". Akhulii had never tried roasted fikou before and assumed it would taste absolutely horrid, but the smell coming out made it seem that the food couldn't be that bad.

 

There was a small line but nothing that would keep them waiting for long.

[Razgriz]

IC: "How quick the place patches up." Erzu finished helpfully, a genuine note of impression coloring the words as he folded his arms. "I don't even think my town's so fast... especially considering the rumors made it sound real bad."

[Zox Tomana]

IC: Saeren

 

"Right." The Toa looked away, studying the medical emblem on the wall. It's wrong to wish someone were hurt, but could someone send me off somewhere, anywhere? Give me a partner with a Sana and I'll triage and treat a battlefield if it gets me out of socializing.

 

One of the aides came by and handed Saeren a full pack of supplies. The medic nodded his thanks and began to look through the pack. Yes, yes, no, no, no. "They never leave it in order," he muttered, hooking the pack on backwards and busying himself with rearranging the contents of the bag.

[Nato G]

IC: Natharius.

 

Time to mess with the medic, Natharius thought slyly. Saeren was playing as neutral, staying out of things, not putting his own personal thoughts and feelings into his work. While Natharius could respect that, he was interested to see how far that neutrality could be stretched...

 

"You know," he said, "I like you. You do your work and don't let your personal biases get in the way. It's admirable, really. I can see why everyone likes you. Grokk's a bit like that, too. He got given a job, and he did it, without letting his own personal feelings get in the way. The only difference between the two of you is that he hurts people, and you save them." 

 

He waited to see how Saeren would respond.

[Zox Tomana]

IC: Saeren

 

"Job?" Saeren, paused in his rearranging. "I don't really think of this as a job..." Well, I do get paid for this, so I'm not really a volunteer. "...it's more like my life at this point. Anyway," he gave a discomforted glance at Natharius, "my job has its limits. I'm constrained by both the law at large and by protocols set out by my medical directors. If Grokk is a Turaga-killer, then his job and mine have a rather serious legality difference." His voice got quieter and quieter as he spoke, though the same level of belief was behind each word. One of the few things worse than socializing? Political socializing. He took a small bit of refuge in refolding a large, cloth dressing meant for abdominal wounds. A little more loudly he said, "I can only do so much, he can do almost anything."

[25K Now!]

IC: Ophaim

 

"It is of no matter. You are free to borrow my money if for a good cause."

 

His smile grew.

 

"However, I do expect it to be paid back one day. Possibly with your life if necessary."

[Nato G]

IC: Natharius.

 

Natharius was at a loss. He was obviously making Saeren uncomfortable, but not changing his views in any way. 

 

"He can't do anything he wants," Natharius pointed out, "only what he's paid to do." That wasn't exactly true, from what he'd seen of Grokk's behavior today, but Saeren didn't know that. "You can do what you want, and this," he gestured around the interior of the hospital "is obviously what you chose. If I had to guess, you chose it because it was what you were good at; what you wanted to do. But Grokk and I: we're skakdi. War is all we know. We don't get much choice in what we do. I'm not going to try to justify what Grokk has done, or what I've done, and certainly not what those Piraka s did. But just think about our lot in life, if you're ever tempted to judge us." 

 

Natharius tried not to smile. He was starting to enjoy this little game. 

[Snelly]

IC: Mekana 

 

"Ahhh come on Ophy...you wouldn't make a girl lay down her life for a few measly coins would you?" She said as cutely as possible. 

 

Would he?