Video / action

[monotreme_101]

[Not much preamble to the video.]

Happy New Year.

I got a piece of paper I need studied - I wanna know where it came from, who's touched it and pretty much anything else about it that might be unusual including whether it's been handled by a ghost or some other undead type person. Handwriting expert could be useful too because I wanna see if it matches the writing of someone who was on campus. Methods scientific or occult or a little column A and a little column B - Don't care. Just need results. I'm willing to pay.


ACTION! Choose your own adventure.

Scenario A: Knuckles is in the Gym in the afternoons beating the snot out of the training bag, or in the weight room, lifting the custom weights Max made for him in ridiculously high volume. He's less his normal cheerful self and it's pretty clear he's working through some frustrations but don't let that stop you saying Hi! He's more than happy of the company, honest! And if you're up for a spar, he would be more than happy to oblige you there, too.

Scenario B: Inbetween or after classes, you can find him in the halls or finishing up whatever work he didn't get done during whichever class you happen to share with him. He may also be walking inbetween buildings or across the quad or to the gym or anywhere else you may have reason to run into him.

Scenario C: In the city, at night. You're less than likely to spot him unless you're on the rooftops of FDC or doing something you shouldn't be doing and he happens to find you. He's been patrolling late evening through to very early morning, especially in the area near where they found Charlise's body, and wherever else recent violence has been reported on the six oclock news. Feel free to either be also inspecting and looking for clues, Oh Fellow Warriors of Justice. Or just be someone who happens to cross his path.

Comments

[monotreme_101]

Well, I've been pretty busy. School, work and trying to work on this murder thing. Other'n that, I really got no complaints. I was on my way to get lunch, though - you wanna come with?

[stillawoman]

[ She takes a moment to respond, not sure if it would be right of her to go along - only, since she wouldn't want to impose... but he had offered, and she did want to speak with him some more... ]

If you would not mind. [ A polite smile came upon her face. ]

[monotreme_101]

Wouldn't offer if I minded. That wouldn't do either of us any good. C'mon, let's go get fed.

[He smiled at her and started walking again.]

So, how are you finding life here now you've had a little longer to adjust?

[stillawoman]

[ And as Knuckles began to walk, Furiae followed him, taking a spot somewhat to his side but with his a little more in front to lead. ]

It has been well, very well... I joined my classes late, but my teachers have been fair and understanding... I look forward to attending them this year.

[ She clasps her hands in front of them as they walk, making them bob slightly with her steps. ]

Are you... yourself from this region, Mister Knuckles? If it is fine for me to ask you...

[ If it had come up before, Furiae admittedly couldn't remember. ]

[monotreme_101]

Don't worry about showin' up late. We get folks enrolling all year round. Literally. No-one's gonna bust your chops over starting in the winter semester. Might make catchin' up on class work a little harder but there's plenty of folks who'll be happy to help I'm sure. Totoring and whatnot.

[He sticks his own hands behind his back as they walk.]

Me? Nah - I come from a different place entirely. I come from an Island called Angel Island. Normally it flies through the sky, but I set it down in the ocean off shore. You can get there by boat. Oh, and you don't need to keep callin' me Mister, just so you know. Just Knuckles is fine.

[stillawoman]

[ She finds herself nodding as he speaks. Curious, too, sometimes, with how he phrases things - "bust your chops" - but the meaning seems clear enough and Furiae has no problem understand him. ]

Knuckles... [ She notes to drop the formality from his name, too, nodding once more in acknowledgement to it. But what he said before that - that's got quite a bit of her attention. ] Your island... is it truly like any other island? Are you a sorcerer?

[monotreme_101]

Hah! No, no - I'm no sorceror. There was an artifact of great power on the Island, keeping it in the sky. That's all. I removed it from the place it needs to be to become airborne so I can come to school here.

[He chuckled. He'd actually flunked out of Kamek's magic class back when that was a thing. He had the magical aptitude of a boiled potato.]

Angel Island isn't really like other Islands, no - it';s pretty big. And it's covered in ruins, jungles, forests and hills, a volcano. Even a desert near the center. It's a pretty great place.

[stillawoman]

... It sounds to be a sight to behold. I cannot imagine how it must look, floating in the sky...

[ She pauses a bit. ] What made you... leave it?

[monotreme_101]

It's... majestic. I left to come here and study. I'd lived on the Island alone my entire life and I realized there was so much I could never know while I stayed there by myself. I've always been the kind of person who wants to push his limits, but there are some limits you can't push without other people, you know?

[stillawoman]

... Yes, I... believe I do. Maybe...

[ She answers a bit wistfully, finding her fingers tightening together and then loosening. ]

But excuse me, Knuckles... I find it hard to see you as someone who has lived alone for a long time. I don't disbelieve you, but... you appear to me as someone who knows many people.

[monotreme_101]

I do NOW, sure. But I've been in this place for nearly five years. My initial time here was spent with a few, select people and just trying to navigate around being with different folks. Girls, especially, I found hard to talk to. Never could ask for help, or apologize even when I did something wrong or messed up and I got angry a lot. It's been... a long road.

[He opened the cafeteria door for her.]

I'm a pretty sociable guy now, but it's taken a lot of effort to get here.

[stillawoman]

[ There was something momentarily charming to Furiae to hear Knuckles admit he had trouble speaking to girls, though she didn't comment on it. Instead, in she went, waiting for Knuckles to enter before going to join the queue to get something to eat - which she offered to let Knuckles to go first by a motion of a hand and a nod of her head towards the counter. ]

Please.

[monotreme_101]

Oh, thanks.

[He smiled up at her before taking his place in line and reaching up to grab each of them a tray.]

So, anyhow, that's my story. What about you? What's the world you come from like and what's your place in it?

[stillawoman]

[ She stands at the side beside him in place, and takes the tray with a thankful nod. The question though... ]

It is... a world enveloped in strife...

[ It would be the first time she has ever spoken about her own world to another person. She speaks more softly than usual - it's not a happy subject. ]

My role in it... was as the goddess.

[ As she admits it, she doesn't look at Knuckles - but she hadn't since he had asked the question. Instead, her eyes stayed downcast to the tray in front of her. ]

[monotreme_101]

[Knuckles wasn't the sharpest of nails when it came to reading people, but he could tell it wasn't an easy question for her to answer. He really hadn't meant much more by it than finding out a little bit about his new companion, so, he felt bad to see her looking down because of it.]

Hey, that's a pretty tough gig - there are other folks who are and have been here who're gods and godesses. I know it ain't easy, even when the land ISN'T enveloped in strife. Talked about it with a few of them. Wouldn't take the job by choice.

[stillawoman]

I accepted it, when it happened... the one next to become the goddess receives upon them a mark, but to be the goddess means living as the goddess. ... I did not refuse it.

[ As the line would move, so would Furiae, not forgetting where she was despite her shift in mood. When foods were being picked, she would be quiet or speak when it was her turn. ]

[monotreme_101]

You're very brave.

[His own brush with godhood during the temporal distortion had been more than a little frightening to him when he'd come back from it. He could never do it again, even if he was at least mostly sure he'd do a better job now than then, should it come to that. Knuckles shook his head, swishing those thoughts out of his head and started loading his plate up with broccolli and carrot sticks and fresh fruit.]

....anyway! Hopefully being here now is a good change for you?

[stillawoman]

[ The compliment was one that didn't reach to Furiae. Her, brave... she had never felt anything of the sought. She got herself a fruit salad from the pick and a hot drink of tea to go with it. Maybe water would have been better, but the days were still cold and she enjoyed the drink now and then.

After the bit of silence, the query takes her a moment to answer, but she does nod her head. ]

It is... and for my brother as well.

[monotreme_101]

Yeah...

[He felt a little awkward. Maybe Caim hadn't yet told her of his prior crimes? And he'd promised not to do so. And he and Caim were collaborating on the murder case. It was just plain complicated for a guy who liked simple, clear cut interactions with people.]

Yeah. He seems to be doing well here. Now.

[stillawoman]

[ Furiae didn't say anything, not until once they had taken their trays and picked out a place to eat in peace, hopefully at a spot where no one sat close to them. She took the opposite side to Knuckles, sitting looking at the table and the foods that stuck out on the trays, until she returned to their conversation. ]

I'm not blind to how people feel towards my brother... I know that he hasn't many allies, that his friends are few...

[ She watched the steam from her cup rise in front of her, but decided to look at Knuckles instead as she spoke-- ]

But he has changed... compared to the man he was before.

[ -- and then she looked back down again, to her lunch. ]

He is happier... even if it is only a little.

[monotreme_101]

I know he's changed. I've seen that much.

[He started to eat, thinking it over.]

He has at least one really good friend. Mac Aroni. Guy is one of my best pals, so, Caim's in good company there. And he's been helpful to me without asking for much of anything in return. You could call us allies.

[He felt weird saying it, but it was true. In this matter, at least.]

[stillawoman]

Mister Mac Aroni... he introduced me to him not long ago. He appears as you say.

[ She decides to take the drink into her hands, feeling its warmth on her hands. Still quite hot, maybe too much to take a drink, but she considers it. ]

But thank you... for allowing my brother to be of help. [ She lowers the cup a bit, looking to Knuckles and giving him a short bow of her head. Her eyes quickly enough though return to the drink as she takes a sip of it. ]

[monotreme_101]

You don't gotta thank me. I needed his help and he was willing to give it so it's fine - He was eager to be of help and I gotta give him kudos for that.

[He crunched down a few more sprigs of broccolie and tried to figure out a different direction to take the conversation. He really didn't want to get into 'your brother was a serial killer' territory.]

So, have you gotten to see much of the city yet?

[stillawoman]

[ Furiae knew she didn't have to thank him - and that she herself could make little difference to much. She gave a simple nod to his words, and didn't say anything in the small of silence that occurred and took to some of her food.

When the new topic arose, Furiae waited until she had eaten the slice of fruit in her mouth, then answered when ready. ]

No, not quite. I arrived inside the city, but I have rarely been since... once, or twice.

[monotreme_101]

Huh. Well, I guess it might be a little much to take in being as you just kinda arrived and all, but you should try and check out a little more of it. There's actually a lot of fun places to go and a lot of neat things to do. What kinds of stuff do you like doin' for fun, anyway?