Maus decides he's done as much thinking as there needs to be done about the phone call. He stands up, inserts a few coins, keeps a few more at the ready, and dials.
"Hello, ma'am," he says solemnly. It's best to be polite. Maus would rather not find out what getting blown up feels like. "Hopefully I'm not disturbing you greatly. I would like to know that if killing everyone to make sure I get my target at some point counts as cheating. I will also take the opportunity to suggest that you experiment with other hobbies such as knitting or keeping a vegetable garden." His tone is dead serious, as if unaware that she might find this unwelcome. "I think that would be much more productive."
The last battle's curtains will open on stage!"Wow, that's—WACHPFFFGGHHH!!" Sheriff would have commented on Ace's new terrakinesis, only to be interrupted by a titanic sneeze. Like, super-sneeze. There was an actual powerful gust of wind as he sneezed, sending dust rocketing into the air and slightly shaking tables. "Oh. Huh. Excuse me." He wiped his nose.
"Hmm." He sat there for a moment, thinking carefully on how to word his next sentence. He then stood up, and turned around to face Paper. He then extended a friendly hand to her and said, "Well, then, I personally invite you to, um, be friends?" That last part did not come out as smoothly as he had wanted, and suddenly he felt very awkward and very self aware.
Good God Why?Back on laptop
[Bar]
Blue couldn't help but let excitement boiled over. Such glorious powers. Sure, they had better powers than himself, but he knew he didn't make a mistake letting them all in.
And besides, if one died, he could take their ring for himself.
Sheriff's enhanced speed derailed his train of thoughts.
A chill went through him. He jerked his head toward the center of the room. Aerokinesis? Sounded like trouble. He had the power to conjure out a hurricane blow himself—or all of Chicago, away.
He had no idea how to use his power for that.
How did he got the term "aerokinesis" anyways?
He looked the timepiece over. The numbers were emblazoned in round, white lettering, the hands looked like they were just some wires with white enamel filling in the holes.
"I'm... guessing it's a watch."
This variety of watch was the only kind of wristwatch that was acceptable for men to be wearing in 1926. They were issued to Allied and American soldiers during World War I, resulting in many men taking home a nice little souvenir. German soldiers, on the other hand, were stuck struggling with old-styled pocket watches.
"Jack, you have debauched my sloth."Oh jeez time to run, and I'm sensing some more peevishness from Blue.
"As interesting as Sheriff's powers are I suggest we all get out of here. Get some accommodations and try to figure out what to do. If anyone approaches us I should be able to give us a vague idea of their intent."
He looks up towards Blue.
"So, where to I guess?"
Bet you didn't see that comingNow that nobody's attention was on, the smile on Rock's face disappeared for a second. He quickly removed the ring from his pocket, examined it, and then placed it on his finger.
Then the smile came back as he looked around the room. He spotted the man who had run out to talk on the phone before sitting alone in the corner, toying with the gauze around his wrist.
He walked over to him. "Hi!" Although the word contained all of his characteristic enthusiasm, it had none of the volume. It was as if he was trying to avoid drawing anyone's attention. "I'm Rock! What's Your Name?"
[Bar—>Outside]
Blue sensed the slightest shift from Link. He irked and put up even a sturdier facade.
"Okay," Blue said, gathering up the group like a herd of sheep, "let's get out of here before someone misfires and causes a Day One massacre." He headed toward the exit, taking glimpses out of the few dusty windows. Bright sunlight illuminated the surrounding area. He carefully twisted the knob, hoping police weren't waiting outside. His instincts told him they were in a shady setting.
Right. Alcohol was prohibited.
He patted Link's head. "First of all, we should get you some news clothes. You're going to raise eyebrows. Next, we need to get a few hotel rooms in a nice area. How should we split the group so we can get everything done?"
He opened the door, letting daylight leak through. Once the threshold was exposed, he peeked out.
edited 2nd Apr '12 7:15:18 PM by chihuahua0
"Oh, hello!" she seemed much less irritable when addressed politely, "You don't need to be so polite though, just don't be mean! And you're not disturbing me any more than my last caller was! Oh wait. Hold on a second-"
There was the sound of her fiddling with something for a second before she got back on.
"Okay. Yeah you can kill everyone in one go. It's technically not cheating. Your fragments won't be very sharp yet though, and everyone else has powers too. So I wouldn't advise it."
“DAMMIT WHEN I HEAR 'SPACE CQC' ALL I CAN THINK OF IS BIG BOSS WITH A FISHBOWL ON HIS HEAD, STRANGLING AN ASTRONAUT OUTSIDE THE ISS.""We can't really communicate with each other, and let's face it during combat I'm dead weight. I have a bad feeling about that kid who just ran off at the beginning of the game, someone of that age can't be quite sane and just run off. Still..... if you insist I'd probably put Ace with me and Flip with you."
Link stared at his hand, and thought things out again.
Hopefully we won't get separated and attacked, but only a group could probably overcome us. And no one else has managed to get one of the ground. Besides, I could probably calm them down a bit by force
edited 2nd Apr '12 7:24:29 PM by Aqueos
Bet you didn't see that coming"Perhaps we should just stay together. Besides, if we DO get attacked by a loner we could probably overpower them and take their ring. We effectively neuter them as well as see as possibly kill them if their one of our targets."
The pure coldness of the statement hits Link a few seconds later.
"On the other hand maybe I should just focus more on clothing and less on death."
He stares at his feet.
I hope that's enough to make amends....
edited 2nd Apr '12 7:49:15 PM by Aqueos
Bet you didn't see that coming[Outside]
"Yeah, let's focus on clothing and supplies. We'll also have to set aside time to figure out the extent of our powers." Really, he didn't want to linger on the whole death topic. He needed to keep his mind clear, since he had no memories from his life. Sure, he retained enough knowledge to not be ignorant, but he had nothing on his parents, his friends, his skills, his sins.
Disturbing and crazy.
Blue scanned the surrounding area. Ah, the city. Bustling with activity and open air. Cars on the streets, with a few people on the side. Blue became more aware of Link's appearance, and therefore edged closer to him and more to the front. His height alone, compared to the rest of the group, provided enough of a distraction.
They walked for a few more blocks. Blue slowly absorbed his surroundings. Shock finally passed. Was this really the city that they would be shedding blood upon within the next day? What other crimes lurked under the surface, ready to be laid bare.
Once the commercial district came into sight, Blue spotted a clothing store. It looked decent, but not too rich. He pointed at that direction and said. "Let's get some spare clothes there. Flip and I will use some of our money to get hotel rooms. How many should we get among us?"
Blue took out his wallet. Stuffed to the brim, by the feel of it. How much money was in it? Was it limited?
edited 2nd Apr '12 8:04:30 PM by chihuahua0
"We're safer in the same room, but then again I don't know how much we all trust each other..."
Link sees Blue peering at the wallet, clearly curious.
"And the money truly is unlimited, I checked. You'll never be able to dispense all of it in thirty days."
Link turns to Ace.
"So is it just me and getting a few clothes, or do you want something as well? It's not like money is an object after all."
edited 2nd Apr '12 8:11:25 PM by Aqueos
Bet you didn't see that coming"I understand. Thank you for your time."
Not counting the fact that she just put him in a death match, she doesn't seem so bad. Maus checks his wallet. So... infinite money. His coins would be good for practice, then. And there is something he definitely needs to do before he tries looking for the others.
Maus lays the letter in front of him and the dead mouse on top of it. One of his quarters rests in his palm.
How do I do this?
He imagines the coin splitting into petals, just as described by the letter.
What happens next reminds Maus of a row of books falling over as the coin becomes thin shards of metal, as if cut by invisible knives. He lets them flutter to the ground, then wills them to float in the air. Then he drives one of them into the mouse's throat. It's too blunt, so he pinches it with his finger and digs it in, using his sleeve to protect himself.
Maus uses the trickle of blood to blot out his target and his identity on both sides of the paper. The dead mouse goes in one pocket; the letter and the remains of the quarter go in the other.
He tries to make his way back to the abandoned speakeasy. One hand is in his pocket, stroking his mouse, and he doesn't seem very concerned about the blood spreading there. Or on his fingers, for that matter.
He sees the tall contestant* and some others out front. They look like the younger portion of the contestants. Possibly more naive. Maybe they'd be less likely to attack first.
Maus trails them from a distance, forgetting that his bloody clothes make him stick out.
edited 2nd Apr '12 8:21:52 PM by SnowyFoxes
The last battle's curtains will open on stage![Commercial Area]
Blue cracked open his wallet to confirm Link's observation.
Huge wad of money, neatly packed together. Plenty of hundreds, along with smaller amounts, along with a few coins thrown into one of the pockets.
To make sure, Blue grabbed as much as the money as possible and wretched them out. He peeked into the wallet.
Soon enough, all of the bills had been replaced.
He shoved the money back in, although he let a few coins clatter onto the sidewalk.
Yep, magic was definitely involved. The very thought of it send bubbles through him. If magic was involved, what stopped the organizer of the death game from doing anything?
Perhaps she would show mercy toward her playthings. Even though the implications of being a plaything was demeaning. Entertainment was the only motive. Only the most delusional of scientists or alchemists would conduct such a sadistic experiment. Yet again, insanity grew on trees.
Someone in the corner of his eye caught his attention. He jerked his head back.
Someone else wearing a collar. And with blood spatters on his clothes.
Warning bells clanged within his mind.
"Look behind you," he said to the group.
edited 2nd Apr '12 8:23:42 PM by chihuahua0
"It's the boy! He has malicious intent, just open fire with whatever you have. There's no reasoning with that kind of anger. Get in the front Blue, try to protect us. As for Ace and Flip.... I suggest you try to knock him off balance from a distant and bash in his head."
I can't risk this.
"Hurry! He has no mercy!" Link projects a sense of urgency into his voice, an unnatural sort and tries to bend the emotion of plain urgency as opposed to panic into his cohorts. Moments later, he receives a horrible headache as payment.
edited 2nd Apr '12 8:31:31 PM by Aqueos
Bet you didn't see that coming"Wait," Blue held Link back by the collar. And considering how thin he was, it was an easy task.
People around them started staring. He felt exposed in the open air. It was the collars. It was a brand, screaming to all passerbyers all wasn't right in the world.
"There are bystanders," he harshly whispered into Link's ear. So much, he felt his warm breath bouncing back. "Let's find a more deserted place before raising hell."
Straight-out unloading their powers onto a player was out of the question. It would establish them as a malicious group of teenage monsters. They weren't trained enough to deal with such pressure and reputation.
Blue found an opening in traffic, right by the intersection. The closest cars were fifteen seconds away. He seized onto his sense of urgency and propelled himself across.
Time to lose their first target.
edited 2nd Apr '12 8:34:51 PM by chihuahua0

The only thing Rock got in response was Asimi blinking and putting his cigarette back into his mouth. In the meantime, Judas had burst out laughing.
Well, Rock was definitely not one to be around, add that to those kids at the bar...
A few moments had passed, and he noticed the metal-sheathed trench watch on his wrist. Out of curiosity, he flipped open the cover and read the white lettering.
It was... 2 o'clock?
edited 2nd Apr '12 6:40:21 PM by CrystalGlacia
"Jack, you have debauched my sloth."