Heroics - X Team - A GAME OF CAT & MOUSE

[Garth Blackburn]

Look away from Starker, attempt to stifle laughter

 

[Sato.]

"That would be just about enough."

stand up

"Unlike some amongst us, I am here with a goal. The fact that we're possibly working together... frightens me."

slowly walk towards the other side of the room, while talking

"Should I end up working with one of you, I expect someone passionate and serious..."

pause walking halfway, look around the room

"Who can I trust... no, who can I respect? I'd like to know sooner rather than later. Who out of the gathered people here shares my vision?"

 

[Garth Blackburn]

Play loud fart from Sato's location.

Fall over laughing

 

[Shane Starker]

"I got goals. Like doin' my time and gettin' outta this dog and pony show."

Look over to Garth and start to walk toward him

"You got thomethin' to do with this, chubby? I can't give you a lithp, but you lose a few teeth and you'll thound pretty f---in' funny, too."

 

[Garth Blackburn]

Stop laughing best I can, release Starker from the lisp

"Something to do with what now?"

 

[Sato.]

sigh

"Both of you are irrelevant to me and my goals, that much was certain already. Yet I fail to see any of you two deserving of the title 'hero'. Keeping yourselves out of my business would be my recommendation... There is hardly need for you."

 

[Shane Starker]

"Something to do with... with..."

Stop walking and cock eyebrow.

"Something. Keystone. Sasquatch."

"What the f---."

 

[Garth Blackburn]

"Eh don't worry about it, it was probably nothing. Get a load of that nerd over there thinking we want to be heroes though, am I right?"

 

[Shane Starker]

Continue staring ahead, confused, then snap out of it and snicker

"Heh. Now there I gotta agree with ya."

Turn to Sato

"Look, Almondboy, I'm not comin' here to stir up any bulls---, but the high and mighty routine doesn't mean d--- to me. I'm a merc. I'm always gonna be a merc. And I'm not sure where you're from or what you're doin' here that you got this sense of self-importance brewin', but it ain't gonna impress me, and you sure as hell ain't gonna insult me by tellin' me I can't be a hero."

"Fact is I seem to recall sayin' that verbatim to Archetype, before he strongarmed me into joining this unit. What'd you do for your spot -- suck him off?"

 

[Sato.]

"If insults is what you're resorting to, this conversation is rendered meaningless. I've made my intentions clear and your questions are irrelevant."

look shane right in the eyes

"Not everybody has a heart untainted. I never intended to set the bar too high for you all, yet some of you have already triggered disappointment."

 

[Ronnie Cordova]

Walk between Sato and Starker. Point at Sato.

"Hello, putting on a humble act doesn't stop you from being insufferably full of yourself."

Turn to face Starker.

"Hello, feeling a little insecure, are we?"

 

[Shane Starker]

OOC: Sato, I'm assuming you meant "a tainted heart" there rather than an untained heart, as otherwise it doesn't make sense.

-------

Match Sato's gaze. I'm sure in most such situations, Sato would see a glimmer of self-reflection, guilt, remorse, or reminiscence in the allegedly bad-to-the-bone guy he is staring down. But here, there's nothing to see. Just cold invitation. Something that borders right on the abyss of outright evil.

Half-smile

"Maybe I jumped the gun gettin' personal. Measure of a man's what he's willing to put up front, that's what my daddy would say. Just the same, the cheerleader thing don't do it for me. Lookin' at those clothes, those looks, I'm guessin' you ain't seen much of the real world. It's a nasty place. Let me know how the do-gooder thing works out for you when some guy pops you one in the back because you wouldn't finish him off. Seen it happen a hundred times; been the guy with the gun on the ground once or twice myself."

"Myself, I might not have your back when it goes down. Y'know. Since I'm not needed, and all."

Grin

 

[Sato.]

"I am self-aware rather than full of myself. 'To know thyself is to know thy world', as they say."

pause

"Should you dislike me, I suggest you avoid me or change your ways... lest you want to stir conflict."

 

[Sato.]

OoC: nope. 'not everybody has a heart untainted'. hinting you have a tainted heart yet I dont.

 

[Shane Starker]

OOC: Oh I get it now. You were emphasizing how rare and important it is to have an untainted heart. I thought you were emphasizing that Starker is alone in his own taintedness or somethin'.

----------

Ignore Sato and turn to Ronnie

"Hello, feeling a little insecure, are we?"

"I don't think I'm the one dressed up like a mid-life crisis. Where'd you buy that? A porn prop auction -- in the seventies?"

 

[Sato.]

turn back to shane

"My knowledge has been expanded the last few days, I ill desire your warnings, yet thank you for the effort."

pause

"Surely a man such as yourself has reasons for standing here besides your job. A man devoid of morals is but an empty shell."

 

[Ronnie Cordova]

To Sato:

"Hello, now you're shifting to the tough guy routine like half of them. Did you all take the same acting classes?"

Point at Starker, "And you, oh wow! Ha ha ha ha ha! You, are pitiful. You play a mean bad guy, but you've got no style. Keep an eye on me and maybe you could learn something."

 

[Sato.]

ignore ronnie

 

[Sato.]

ooc: my reaction to shane was made without knowing he would post, which is why it looks weird that i talk to a guy who just decided to ignore me

 

[Shane Starker]

Roll eyes at Ronnie and turn to Sato

"Surely a man such as yourself has reasons for standing here besides your job. A man devoid of morals is but an empty shell."

"Funny thing to assume, after all I've said."

Puff on cigarette, drop it and ash it out with my toe.

"Yeah. I got morals. You get contracted, you do a job. Somebody does a job for you, you pay up."

"End of story."

 

[Sato.]

"If only my outlook could be so black and white. But I digress, I see your point of view, and I do not wish or enemies here... I'm looking for a comrad."

turn to face the room, expectingly

"I could search, yet there is nothing to find in this man. I knew not that eyes as empty as his exist, for even a demon experiences joy... yet there is not a shred of this man's humanity to be found. Salvation is nigh possible at this point. These are not matters that interest me."

 

[Garth Blackburn]

"Sooooooooo...

I think we should order pizza. ****ing starving"

 

[Shane Starker]

"I could search, yet there is nothing to find in this man. I knew not that eyes as empty as his exist, for even a demon experiences joy... yet there is not a shred of this man's humanity to be found. Salvation is nigh possible at this point. These are not matters that interest me."

"Huhn. Finally gets it. Never heard nobody put it like that, though."

"Don't worry, blondie, I ain't gonna be your enemy. That's not what I'm gettin' paid to do, after all. I'm gettin a check to work with you. Just don't look for a buddy here, and definitely don't be lookin' for no hero."

 

[Shane Starker]

"Sooooooooo...

I think we should order pizza. ****ing starving"

"Order a pizza."

"To the top secret bunker."

"You gotta be f---in' kidding me."

 

[Lumox]

Sit cross-legged in the exact center of the room.

 

[Casmick]

"So, uh, am I the only one who wants to be here?"

 

[Garth Blackburn]

"Babe I just wanna be wherever you are."

 

[Casmick]

"Ohmygod. Can we like, vote you off of the island or something?"

 

[Garth Blackburn]

"Whoa now babe, if you want to spend time with me alone, you just needed to ask! I'll take you to any island you'd like."

 

[Payload]

Looks at Garth.

"I could have a pizza here in thirty minutes flat. Or your money back."

Payload straightens up and cranes his neck in a full circle. He looks as though he's listening to a distant noise and comparing it to the racket within. He looks around the room, tallying, noting everyone that is out of place.

To Casmick:
"Don't worry about him. Some of us are here for the right reasons."

 

[Garth Blackburn]

"Payload, lets be best friend forever."

 

[Payload]

Payload walks over to the wall furthest from the main door. He begins running his hands along the exposed surface, stopping briefly whenever he finds a grippable surface. He tests each with his weight.

"I don't think there are any Invisibles or camos in here, but it might still be another test. Anyone seen Archie lately?"

 

[Shane Starker]

Turn over to Payload with a start

"When the f--- did you get here, kid?"

 

[Garth Blackburn]

"Is the pizza in the walls? I don't understand."

 

[Payload]

To Starker

"Forgive me for not shaking your hand. I don't feel like another chokehold."

 

[Garth Blackburn]

"...oh, okay I guess"

 

[Stromgarde]

"I don't think there are any Invisibles or camos in here, but it might still be another test. Anyone seen Archie lately?"

"Yeah, I saw him at the malt shop with Jughead and Reggie."

 

[Shane Starker]

Smirk to Payload

"Aw c'mon, kid. Wasn't nothin' personal -- just takin' care of business. You know how that goes."

Gesture

"So why the hell're you here? You were all about the freelance yourself, if I remember right. As for the Boyscout, ain't seen him since he forced me into this shindig in the first place."

 

[Payload]

"Oh man, that's gotta suck. Being forced to do a job. Are you ok man? Do you need... like... a support group or something? Do you want a hug?"

 

[Shane Starker]

"Phewwwwwwwwwwwwww alright, kid. You got me there. But c'mon, this is pretty f---in' different. Could be months before the good ol' boy lets me off the leash."

"I take it you're here by choice, then. What brought you over from the independent life? Last I saw, you were pretty into doin' your own thing."