Nem
Member
[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]You can skip this part if you want, but before we begin our shenanigans, I want to say a few things. Real talk. We’re a small group currently, it’s just the three of us- Nem(comic-sans enthusiast), Ryushura(the ‘suprememe’ baron of emo-angst), and TheLoneRook(filthy WoW-champion). Small enough to be good friends, adventure buddies, but not large enough to do a roleplay without trusting randoms. Which, once, actually turned out really well! We want more experiences like that, basically. The feeling of a plot that progresses. The feeling of [/SIZE][SIZE=14.666666666666666px]real [/SIZE][SIZE=14.666666666666666px]characters that come to life through their interactions. More than that, though. We’re looking for a friend (or friends!), someone to lean on, someone who may want to lean on us. We’re looking for a buddy. Sorry for taking so long, lol, here’s the actual interest check:[/SIZE]
Wanted:[SIZE=14.666666666666666px] Long-Term friend-o’s and adventure buddies to bring spice to our lives, have fun rp’ing with us, and help out with ideas and writing. I’m sure many of you are just tired of promising roleplays dying in 10 posts or people never talking in the ooc as we are. Even if it’s just a casual hobby, we want to meet new people, you know? Get some juicy collaborative writing [/SIZE][SIZE=14.666666666666666px]action. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]Communication is the key to any relationship
. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]We just want, you know, a friend- or friends? [/SIZE]
[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]Love is an open door. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]Can YOU be an adventure buddy? [/SIZE]
[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]You sure can![/SIZE]
[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]There’s no sign-up, no application! [/SIZE]
[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]The only requirement is oodles of angst, decent writing-ability, and the ability to HAVE FRIENDSHIP! [/SIZE]
[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]WE want YOU![/SIZE]
[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]Here’s a really long, thought out, writing sample. This is the quality of writing we do, and this is from one of our old rp's. I hope you enjoy the read.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]Nems’s & Shura’s:[/SIZE]
[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]Also, we do use skype to chat with each-other (not voice-chat, though if you’re into that we can see to it probably), and talk about things. If you’re comfortable with sharing yours with us, and want to be a mutual adventure-buddy, shoot me a pm about it![/SIZE]
Wanted:[SIZE=14.666666666666666px] Long-Term friend-o’s and adventure buddies to bring spice to our lives, have fun rp’ing with us, and help out with ideas and writing. I’m sure many of you are just tired of promising roleplays dying in 10 posts or people never talking in the ooc as we are. Even if it’s just a casual hobby, we want to meet new people, you know? Get some juicy collaborative writing [/SIZE][SIZE=14.666666666666666px]action. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]Communication is the key to any relationship
. [/SIZE][SIZE=14.666666666666666px]We just want, you know, a friend- or friends? [/SIZE]
[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]Love is an open door. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]Can YOU be an adventure buddy? [/SIZE]
[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]You sure can![/SIZE]
[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]There’s no sign-up, no application! [/SIZE]
[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]The only requirement is oodles of angst, decent writing-ability, and the ability to HAVE FRIENDSHIP! [/SIZE]
[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]WE want YOU![/SIZE]
[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]Here’s a really long, thought out, writing sample. This is the quality of writing we do, and this is from one of our old rp's. I hope you enjoy the read.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]Nems’s & Shura’s:[/SIZE]
...
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]It was already dark when Farris left for the call, walking down the dimly lit streets with her hands tucked into her pockets while sipping her take-away coffee. The thick, bitter taste, abated by the shovels of cream, had always helped settle her nerves, but tonight she couldn't stop her hands from shaking.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]She had been preparing meticulously for this day, spending countless hours on the training grounds to hone her skills and countless more trying to rid herself of the dreadful feeling settling in her heart when this day actually came. Each bullet she expelled, Farris hoped that in some way it would drive away her deepest fears. In the flash of light, it was like watching her nightmares being repelled away. There really was no feeling like the staccato of a firearm, the second of physical suspension as her body stiffens to brace the imminent recoil, however slight it might be. For her, this moment of pause was true bliss.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]In some ways she wished the Drop never came. The world would be safe at last. No more people have to suffer. For the gods? She didn't really understand it all herself. Why did these powerful entities choose this cursed world to rebuild? Why not another? Did they wish to see us suffer? Or was this some kind of sick game for them? These questions always picked at the back of her mind.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]But asking questions does not change her reality.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]The Marksman has tried to help her with her mental hang ups, but labeling things with glowing targets does not exactly equate to conversation.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]'Shoot your problems away', isn't a mindset she really thought was healthy or proactive, but whatever.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]She just followed their directions.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Even though she didn't feel safe knowing the beasts of the Drop were out lurking in the darkness tonight, she made sure to walk without her mantle activated to ensure the safety of others around her. Protecting herself at the cost of another is not an outcome she desired.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Farris came across a bundled form underneath an underpass when she took a shortcut through the city towards the subway. She stopped briefly as her eyes darkened in sympathy. It might have alluded careless eyes, but she took to habit of noticing every detail, no matter how unsightly they are. Within the mass was a brittle woman, frozen stiff in slumber aside one of the towering cement columns. She looked like she needed a new blanket, the tattered cloth eaten away by time and overuse. She wondered why her family didn't take her in and shelter her from this kind of existence. Perhaps she was just uncooperative and lazy, refusing to work. But it could also be because she was simply alone in the world.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Farris tucked a few dollars into her belongings before leaving.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Her eyes narrowed in pain.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]'If I fail tonight. There would be much worse things in this world... than not having a home.'[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]A dingy thirty-by-thirty square filled with illegal substances, six worktables, machines you couldn't even hope to get on the black market, experimental explosives, and a bed.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Home is sweet.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]There are only eight lights in the entire house- one for the door, one for the bed, and six for the worktables.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Home is warm.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]This kind of job required good light, but too much and you'll get noticed, dragged back to the awful job in a large government complex six feet under the earth, and hundreds of miles from civilization. Not to say the house was neither of those things, but it's important not to be bothered when one twitch, one slip-up- one accident, lands you dead and the surrounding landscape scorched, irradiated, and ruined.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Home is quiet.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Aemn woke up early in the morning, soot falling from the ceiling as cars traveled overhead, shaking the roof and pummeling his eardrums. The stale stench of chemicals slipped into his nostrils, making him feel queasy. Aemn got out of bed, putting on a thick pair of pants and sitting down at one of the work-tables. The chill of the room sank into him, making him slow and lethargic as he thumped his hands across the table, searching for a light-switch. His hand hit something large and plastic, and when he flipped it, the room was drowned in light, and a gentle hum filled the air.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Perfect.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Aemn picked his crystal off the table, looping the chain through his belt loop, then clipping the hook to the belt loop. With his left hand, he searched for his cup of water he left sitting out before he left for town last night. He gripped something, and looking at it blearily, realized it was the detonator for a few well-placed bombs around town. [/SIZE][SIZE=13.333333333333332px]No, no.. [/SIZE][SIZE=13.333333333333332px]He thought, slowly withdrawing his hand before the fingerprint recognition software and the pressure sensor picked up his hand. He scanned the table, grabbing his actual cup, then immediately thrust it to his lips. A single drop came out.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Empty. Like my life.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Irritated, Aemn pulled on a coat, fore-going a shirt, put on some sandals, then went up to the surface and sealed his home shut. He fingered his defensive-explosives in his pocket, just in case he ran into any... unsavory folk. But, with a smile on his face, and explosives in his pocket, he went out to go buy some much-needed groceries.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]---[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]His breath was starting to come heavy to him, after hard hours of running through alleyways and underground hideouts from cops.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Can't believe I was chased out of the grocery store by police, then chased around town, because I pulled out my defense C4 instead of my wallet! Honest mistake, really.. Anyone would've done it, not like I was hurting anyone! Rude-ass police officers.. I was just.. you know, shopping! I'm no domestic terrorist.. What a silly notion! What a crummy juncture this's all been! [/SIZE][SIZE=13.333333333333332px]On the dark street, minding his own business, a broken was glaring over at Aemn, whose mouth was still drawn wide in a smile. The broken stalked over, and Aemn glared at it, dropping his hand to his crystal, and as the broken lunged at him, Aemn activated the crystal, feeling the ancient power flowing through his veins. Power erupted from in the form of crystalline dust, blasting the broken backwards and covering him in his fighting gear. Knowing he wouldn’t have long, he started to summon a weapon. He focused intensely, feeling the long handle, his eyes shut, followed by the stabby part of the weapon- the best part, really. He opened his eyes, ready to see his masterpiece-[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]It was a broom.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]A fucking broom?![/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]He immediately ran forward and hit the broken in the jaw with it, which broke the broom in half, but gave [/SIZE][SIZE=13.333333333333332px]him[/SIZE][SIZE=13.333333333333332px] plenty of time to run. Besides, running was what he did best. Aemn kept running, seeing a lowered walkway with a bridge going over it. Without thinking, Aemn threw the C4 down behind him, jumping off the walkway and spinning around to see when he should spring the trap. The broken walked over the C4- and heartlessly, Aemn detonated it.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]An orange blossom of flame and a massive metallic roar filled the city, the explosive shockwave flinging the bits and pieces of the broken around.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Was it really worth $4,000 to kill it?[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Hell yeah.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Farris blinked twice when she felt a chilling presence from above.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]She nearly triggered her mantle, knowing this feeling all too well, but stayed her hand when she recognized another sentinel already dealing with the Broken. Or at least that's what she thought.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]The shockwave drove away the poor lady, who quickly left screaming in terror about ‘the end of the world’. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Aemn hit the ground hard, feeling his arm crunch. He looked up with a smile to see an angsty woman walking towards the subway. "Hey.. how are ye?" He said, laughing as his arm throbbed.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Farris watched the scene with an appalled look, and half-considering following the woman to apologize for the inconvenience, but saw the Blacksmith's injury and thought it a more pressing matter. Despite laying upon an unusually twisted set of arms, the blacksmith spoke as though they were casually meeting at a store.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]She immediately started walking up to him, "Umm." Farris said, her lips pouring with concern upon inspecting his body. Yep, there is a broken bone or two in there. She didn't need to be a Priest to tell that. "I'm not sure. But are you alright? Can't really tell with the, uh, laughing."[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Aemn got off the ground without putting any pressure on his right arm, awkwardly moving his feet so he could stand up.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Aemn's broken right arm flopped around, not unlike a wet noodle, as he set about patting his clothing, searching for other explosives in case he came into more broken. "How can you be unsure of how you feel?" He asked, taking a grenade out of his pocket with his left hand and moving it to an outside pocket. "It's not like your mind is a jigsaw puzzle, all mixed up and scrambl- well. That's not true, I can't be entirely sure about other people's heads." As he said this, he continued to cycle explosives he was carrying in his pockets to places he could reach them easier, pointedly ignoring the fact his right arm was broken. When he finished, he held out his right arm to shake hands, realizing what it looked like.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]A compound fracture of the wrist, causing it to be bent into the shape of a "C", as well as his shoulder likely being dislocated. "Hm." He brought his hand up to his face, flopping it back and forth to see what would happen. Bone grated against bone, and after a sickeningly painful pulsating sensation, he stopped, realizing he'd only made the problem worse. Staring at it, the "C" now had a massive lump, where it was obvious one of the bones had slid on top of the other one, like two tectonic plates. "Well." He said, staring at it with what almost seemed like concern. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]"I guess I outta put some ice on that..." [/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Farris had been busy staring at the strange man, her lips bent in confusion at his initial question. How does he not realize the stark difference between suffering and pleasure? The questions kept popping up in her head as she looked at him idle about. Was he in shock? Did he not feel the pain? He really was a strange person. Well, she wasn't going to judge him for a being a little odd. He seemed nice despite his usual behavior.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]He looked up at the sentinel, realizing he'd forgotten she was there.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]"Sorry! I've been terribly rude. My mantled-name is Nem, personally, sorry to ignore you like that. But you see, I'm in a bit of a pickle here, yeah, and I have tah humbly request you shove my shoulder back in place- a small favor to ask, yeah. Can you just uh.. shove it, right here, fairly hard?"[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]She smiled warmly, "Nice to meet you, Nem. My given title is Nova." laughing lightly, "I wish we could meet on better circumstances, but I suppose now is as good a time as ever..."[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]He pointed at a place on his shoulder. Given his fairly basic medical knowledge, he estimated a nice lil' shove right [/SIZE][SIZE=13.333333333333332px]there[/SIZE][SIZE=13.333333333333332px] ought to put the ball and socket joint back into comfy alignment. At this point, anticipating pain, Aemn took a handkerchief out of his pocket and bit down on it hard, smiling at the woman.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Nem then pointed to his drooping shoulder, asking her to push it back in place.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]"Ah, well, okay then. I'll try..." she said, eyes worried, "But are you sure this is a good idea? I'm not exactly medically licensed or anything..."[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]She didn't like the idea of the haphazard repairs, but even with body whole, the broken were a threat.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Farris gave him one last reluctant look before grasping his arm, pushing where he had directed. Thrusting her whole body forth, the bone didn't seem to budge an inch, until finally, there was a loud horrifying pop. Her eyes grew wide when she looked at the new development.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Aemn bit down on the handkerchief hard, feeling the intense burning in his shoulder as the joint popped back into place, but then cracked, and rolled back out of place. Technically the same injury, just a little bit worse. He took the handkerchief out of his mouth with his left hand, stowing it away for later. "Well. That didn't seem to work at all." He flicked his shoulder a few times, but felt no sensation. Maybe the circulation was cut off.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]It's probably fine. What could possibly go wrong?[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Not only was his hand in the shape of a 'C', now his shoulder was stuck in an 'L'. If this keeps up, Nem will resemble more an alphabet soup than a person.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]"Um..." ducking her eyes in apology, "Yeah, let's have a Priest take a look at this..."[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Really, what an unfortunate meeting.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]"I guess my thirty-or-so seconds of medical training don't really help or apply here, huh. I guess I just just a little bit off with that whole 'push-it-'ere' business. That being that, though, I guess I do ought to find a priest or something, huh. Where are you headed, yourself, anyway? I was just running from a Broken, personally, then exploded it- can you believe the prices on explosives these days?! It's ridiculous!" As he said ridiculous, he threw his arms up, wincing in pain as his right arm then stuck in place at an angle above his head. "Hot diddly damn! My arms just ain't what they used to be, huh. It's just ridiculous!"[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]“I can't really leave my arm like this..”[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Aemn looked over at his arm, which was bent over backwards, stuck in place, and then his crooked wrist was at just the right angle to where his hand laid on his head, perfectly flat. Aemn turned around from facing Nova, walking in the direction she was before he had interrupted her.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Farris nearly laughed aloud at his erratic antics. He was like a cartoon character. But real. The situation was supposed to be serious and grim, so why was she fighting with her amusement? Maybe his oddness had infected her on contact? Knowing such a thing isn't possible and that she would never come up with such a though normally, she questioned her perception of reality. But she couldn't get tangled up in her thoughts right now. There was the issue at hand. Farris canted her growing smile by twisting her head to the side. She felt bad for not being able to fix the problem, and so she sought another solution.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Finishing off her coffee, she casually lobbed the cup into a trashcan 50 feet away.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Aemn’s face grew crooked and distorted in amazement, and he could only help but think about what he had just seen. [/SIZE][SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Despite the fact that is a perfectly good coffee cup, that's a damn nice throw. Even despite the fact the wind would've surely blown it off course, it still landed perfectly, not even hitting the rim of the trash can.. Am I cut out for this business? [/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Despite the absurdity, Farris conducted herself as though not. She gave him a look as she moved closer, offering her shoulder to lean on. It was the least she can do after messing up his arm even more.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]He took it happily.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]"Didn't you get the message?" she paused, remembering Nem was new to the Sentinel business after all. Continuing with a more senior-like tone. "The Drop has finally come." she said, hoping the intensity of her words would come across to the silly man. "Speaking of which, can't you create explosives yourself instead of buying them? You're a... well, you know." she said hesitantly, wishing to keep his occupation a secret as per conduct.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]"You know, that's why that broken had appeared just now..."[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]When she said this, her eyes narrowed slightly as she focused her senses, pointing them towards the direction of her mental glowing targets. Far in the distance, the entrance to the subway can be seen, with a sign that read; ‘Sector 19. Metro.’ [/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]He smiled, "Well, if you knew me at all- which is fine you don't, that'd be real creepy actually, you'd know I do make explosives myself- just not with any help from my mantle, yeah. I'm a terribly inexperienced smith, after all, I know exactly all the intricacies I need to about the things I craft, and yet, I end up with something completely different. So here I am, spending hours a day, wasting my time making C4 traditionally when I could practice making it from thin air. But that's fine, I suppose. It works. It's reliable." [/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]After a long pause, Nem finally replied to more of her statements, "Well, yeah, the Broken appeared there.. but I thought that's just what they did, you know? Like how I explode things, it's just what I do. But if the drop is open, right... I've always wanted to go sky-diving. I'm sure it can't be that bad, fighting for your life for a cause you don't know much about, for a war you can never win. That's basically what life is on its own anyway, isn't it?" He hardly recognized the words he was saying, the throbbing pain in his arm was distracting. Though he was sure he said some good, maybe something even wise.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Throughout it, though, his smile kept on.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]And so did his feet, one step after the other, on their way to The Drop.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]One day..[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]The entrance to the Drop seemed to be occupied already. A few figures, but she couldn't really tell in the darkness before they disappeared down the pit. It appears they were a little late. Seemed reasonable seeing that they would move on ahead since Farris had been deterred on her journey there. Hobbling around a man upon her shoulders didn't make it any faster either. Still, he was pleasant company. He liked telling jokes despite the obvious pain and she appreciated that. It helped ease her anxiousness and nothing spoke of character than someone who can smile in the face of danger. Sometimes he was incredibly mature too. But she had a bad feeling about this one, the glowing target in her mind blinking overhead when she laid eyes upon the entrance.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]That change was issued by The Marksman when there was a priority target, usually very dangerous. So Farris was glad many others showed for the call. Just two would not be enough to fight whatever's down there tonight.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Stepping forward towards the hole, she glanced down and saw the vast emptiness within. There was no telling how far it lead, the darkness coming to a pitch black at the center. This truly looked like the entrance to whole other world. From what she was told, they'd just have to jump down. So all that's left is to do so.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]"Are you ready, Nem?" she smiled nervously, "Arm feeling better? If I recall, there is a Magician that lives around here. If they're here, they would surely be able to conjure up an ice pack for you." laughing, "Hopefully you don't accidentally blow them up, too..."[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]It was already dark when Farris left for the call, walking down the dimly lit streets with her hands tucked into her pockets while sipping her take-away coffee. The thick, bitter taste, abated by the shovels of cream, had always helped settle her nerves, but tonight she couldn't stop her hands from shaking.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]She had been preparing meticulously for this day, spending countless hours on the training grounds to hone her skills and countless more trying to rid herself of the dreadful feeling settling in her heart when this day actually came. Each bullet she expelled, Farris hoped that in some way it would drive away her deepest fears. In the flash of light, it was like watching her nightmares being repelled away. There really was no feeling like the staccato of a firearm, the second of physical suspension as her body stiffens to brace the imminent recoil, however slight it might be. For her, this moment of pause was true bliss.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]In some ways she wished the Drop never came. The world would be safe at last. No more people have to suffer. For the gods? She didn't really understand it all herself. Why did these powerful entities choose this cursed world to rebuild? Why not another? Did they wish to see us suffer? Or was this some kind of sick game for them? These questions always picked at the back of her mind.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]But asking questions does not change her reality.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]The Marksman has tried to help her with her mental hang ups, but labeling things with glowing targets does not exactly equate to conversation.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]'Shoot your problems away', isn't a mindset she really thought was healthy or proactive, but whatever.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]She just followed their directions.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Even though she didn't feel safe knowing the beasts of the Drop were out lurking in the darkness tonight, she made sure to walk without her mantle activated to ensure the safety of others around her. Protecting herself at the cost of another is not an outcome she desired.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Farris came across a bundled form underneath an underpass when she took a shortcut through the city towards the subway. She stopped briefly as her eyes darkened in sympathy. It might have alluded careless eyes, but she took to habit of noticing every detail, no matter how unsightly they are. Within the mass was a brittle woman, frozen stiff in slumber aside one of the towering cement columns. She looked like she needed a new blanket, the tattered cloth eaten away by time and overuse. She wondered why her family didn't take her in and shelter her from this kind of existence. Perhaps she was just uncooperative and lazy, refusing to work. But it could also be because she was simply alone in the world.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Farris tucked a few dollars into her belongings before leaving.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Her eyes narrowed in pain.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]'If I fail tonight. There would be much worse things in this world... than not having a home.'[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]A dingy thirty-by-thirty square filled with illegal substances, six worktables, machines you couldn't even hope to get on the black market, experimental explosives, and a bed.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Home is sweet.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]There are only eight lights in the entire house- one for the door, one for the bed, and six for the worktables.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Home is warm.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]This kind of job required good light, but too much and you'll get noticed, dragged back to the awful job in a large government complex six feet under the earth, and hundreds of miles from civilization. Not to say the house was neither of those things, but it's important not to be bothered when one twitch, one slip-up- one accident, lands you dead and the surrounding landscape scorched, irradiated, and ruined.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Home is quiet.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Aemn woke up early in the morning, soot falling from the ceiling as cars traveled overhead, shaking the roof and pummeling his eardrums. The stale stench of chemicals slipped into his nostrils, making him feel queasy. Aemn got out of bed, putting on a thick pair of pants and sitting down at one of the work-tables. The chill of the room sank into him, making him slow and lethargic as he thumped his hands across the table, searching for a light-switch. His hand hit something large and plastic, and when he flipped it, the room was drowned in light, and a gentle hum filled the air.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Perfect.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Aemn picked his crystal off the table, looping the chain through his belt loop, then clipping the hook to the belt loop. With his left hand, he searched for his cup of water he left sitting out before he left for town last night. He gripped something, and looking at it blearily, realized it was the detonator for a few well-placed bombs around town. [/SIZE][SIZE=13.333333333333332px]No, no.. [/SIZE][SIZE=13.333333333333332px]He thought, slowly withdrawing his hand before the fingerprint recognition software and the pressure sensor picked up his hand. He scanned the table, grabbing his actual cup, then immediately thrust it to his lips. A single drop came out.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Empty. Like my life.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Irritated, Aemn pulled on a coat, fore-going a shirt, put on some sandals, then went up to the surface and sealed his home shut. He fingered his defensive-explosives in his pocket, just in case he ran into any... unsavory folk. But, with a smile on his face, and explosives in his pocket, he went out to go buy some much-needed groceries.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]---[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]His breath was starting to come heavy to him, after hard hours of running through alleyways and underground hideouts from cops.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Can't believe I was chased out of the grocery store by police, then chased around town, because I pulled out my defense C4 instead of my wallet! Honest mistake, really.. Anyone would've done it, not like I was hurting anyone! Rude-ass police officers.. I was just.. you know, shopping! I'm no domestic terrorist.. What a silly notion! What a crummy juncture this's all been! [/SIZE][SIZE=13.333333333333332px]On the dark street, minding his own business, a broken was glaring over at Aemn, whose mouth was still drawn wide in a smile. The broken stalked over, and Aemn glared at it, dropping his hand to his crystal, and as the broken lunged at him, Aemn activated the crystal, feeling the ancient power flowing through his veins. Power erupted from in the form of crystalline dust, blasting the broken backwards and covering him in his fighting gear. Knowing he wouldn’t have long, he started to summon a weapon. He focused intensely, feeling the long handle, his eyes shut, followed by the stabby part of the weapon- the best part, really. He opened his eyes, ready to see his masterpiece-[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]It was a broom.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]A fucking broom?![/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]He immediately ran forward and hit the broken in the jaw with it, which broke the broom in half, but gave [/SIZE][SIZE=13.333333333333332px]him[/SIZE][SIZE=13.333333333333332px] plenty of time to run. Besides, running was what he did best. Aemn kept running, seeing a lowered walkway with a bridge going over it. Without thinking, Aemn threw the C4 down behind him, jumping off the walkway and spinning around to see when he should spring the trap. The broken walked over the C4- and heartlessly, Aemn detonated it.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]An orange blossom of flame and a massive metallic roar filled the city, the explosive shockwave flinging the bits and pieces of the broken around.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Was it really worth $4,000 to kill it?[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Hell yeah.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Farris blinked twice when she felt a chilling presence from above.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]She nearly triggered her mantle, knowing this feeling all too well, but stayed her hand when she recognized another sentinel already dealing with the Broken. Or at least that's what she thought.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]The shockwave drove away the poor lady, who quickly left screaming in terror about ‘the end of the world’. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Aemn hit the ground hard, feeling his arm crunch. He looked up with a smile to see an angsty woman walking towards the subway. "Hey.. how are ye?" He said, laughing as his arm throbbed.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Farris watched the scene with an appalled look, and half-considering following the woman to apologize for the inconvenience, but saw the Blacksmith's injury and thought it a more pressing matter. Despite laying upon an unusually twisted set of arms, the blacksmith spoke as though they were casually meeting at a store.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]She immediately started walking up to him, "Umm." Farris said, her lips pouring with concern upon inspecting his body. Yep, there is a broken bone or two in there. She didn't need to be a Priest to tell that. "I'm not sure. But are you alright? Can't really tell with the, uh, laughing."[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Aemn got off the ground without putting any pressure on his right arm, awkwardly moving his feet so he could stand up.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Aemn's broken right arm flopped around, not unlike a wet noodle, as he set about patting his clothing, searching for other explosives in case he came into more broken. "How can you be unsure of how you feel?" He asked, taking a grenade out of his pocket with his left hand and moving it to an outside pocket. "It's not like your mind is a jigsaw puzzle, all mixed up and scrambl- well. That's not true, I can't be entirely sure about other people's heads." As he said this, he continued to cycle explosives he was carrying in his pockets to places he could reach them easier, pointedly ignoring the fact his right arm was broken. When he finished, he held out his right arm to shake hands, realizing what it looked like.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]A compound fracture of the wrist, causing it to be bent into the shape of a "C", as well as his shoulder likely being dislocated. "Hm." He brought his hand up to his face, flopping it back and forth to see what would happen. Bone grated against bone, and after a sickeningly painful pulsating sensation, he stopped, realizing he'd only made the problem worse. Staring at it, the "C" now had a massive lump, where it was obvious one of the bones had slid on top of the other one, like two tectonic plates. "Well." He said, staring at it with what almost seemed like concern. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]"I guess I outta put some ice on that..." [/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Farris had been busy staring at the strange man, her lips bent in confusion at his initial question. How does he not realize the stark difference between suffering and pleasure? The questions kept popping up in her head as she looked at him idle about. Was he in shock? Did he not feel the pain? He really was a strange person. Well, she wasn't going to judge him for a being a little odd. He seemed nice despite his usual behavior.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]He looked up at the sentinel, realizing he'd forgotten she was there.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]"Sorry! I've been terribly rude. My mantled-name is Nem, personally, sorry to ignore you like that. But you see, I'm in a bit of a pickle here, yeah, and I have tah humbly request you shove my shoulder back in place- a small favor to ask, yeah. Can you just uh.. shove it, right here, fairly hard?"[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]She smiled warmly, "Nice to meet you, Nem. My given title is Nova." laughing lightly, "I wish we could meet on better circumstances, but I suppose now is as good a time as ever..."[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]He pointed at a place on his shoulder. Given his fairly basic medical knowledge, he estimated a nice lil' shove right [/SIZE][SIZE=13.333333333333332px]there[/SIZE][SIZE=13.333333333333332px] ought to put the ball and socket joint back into comfy alignment. At this point, anticipating pain, Aemn took a handkerchief out of his pocket and bit down on it hard, smiling at the woman.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Nem then pointed to his drooping shoulder, asking her to push it back in place.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]"Ah, well, okay then. I'll try..." she said, eyes worried, "But are you sure this is a good idea? I'm not exactly medically licensed or anything..."[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]She didn't like the idea of the haphazard repairs, but even with body whole, the broken were a threat.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Farris gave him one last reluctant look before grasping his arm, pushing where he had directed. Thrusting her whole body forth, the bone didn't seem to budge an inch, until finally, there was a loud horrifying pop. Her eyes grew wide when she looked at the new development.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Aemn bit down on the handkerchief hard, feeling the intense burning in his shoulder as the joint popped back into place, but then cracked, and rolled back out of place. Technically the same injury, just a little bit worse. He took the handkerchief out of his mouth with his left hand, stowing it away for later. "Well. That didn't seem to work at all." He flicked his shoulder a few times, but felt no sensation. Maybe the circulation was cut off.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]It's probably fine. What could possibly go wrong?[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Not only was his hand in the shape of a 'C', now his shoulder was stuck in an 'L'. If this keeps up, Nem will resemble more an alphabet soup than a person.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]"Um..." ducking her eyes in apology, "Yeah, let's have a Priest take a look at this..."[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Really, what an unfortunate meeting.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]"I guess my thirty-or-so seconds of medical training don't really help or apply here, huh. I guess I just just a little bit off with that whole 'push-it-'ere' business. That being that, though, I guess I do ought to find a priest or something, huh. Where are you headed, yourself, anyway? I was just running from a Broken, personally, then exploded it- can you believe the prices on explosives these days?! It's ridiculous!" As he said ridiculous, he threw his arms up, wincing in pain as his right arm then stuck in place at an angle above his head. "Hot diddly damn! My arms just ain't what they used to be, huh. It's just ridiculous!"[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]“I can't really leave my arm like this..”[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Aemn looked over at his arm, which was bent over backwards, stuck in place, and then his crooked wrist was at just the right angle to where his hand laid on his head, perfectly flat. Aemn turned around from facing Nova, walking in the direction she was before he had interrupted her.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Farris nearly laughed aloud at his erratic antics. He was like a cartoon character. But real. The situation was supposed to be serious and grim, so why was she fighting with her amusement? Maybe his oddness had infected her on contact? Knowing such a thing isn't possible and that she would never come up with such a though normally, she questioned her perception of reality. But she couldn't get tangled up in her thoughts right now. There was the issue at hand. Farris canted her growing smile by twisting her head to the side. She felt bad for not being able to fix the problem, and so she sought another solution.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Finishing off her coffee, she casually lobbed the cup into a trashcan 50 feet away.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Aemn’s face grew crooked and distorted in amazement, and he could only help but think about what he had just seen. [/SIZE][SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Despite the fact that is a perfectly good coffee cup, that's a damn nice throw. Even despite the fact the wind would've surely blown it off course, it still landed perfectly, not even hitting the rim of the trash can.. Am I cut out for this business? [/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Despite the absurdity, Farris conducted herself as though not. She gave him a look as she moved closer, offering her shoulder to lean on. It was the least she can do after messing up his arm even more.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]He took it happily.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]"Didn't you get the message?" she paused, remembering Nem was new to the Sentinel business after all. Continuing with a more senior-like tone. "The Drop has finally come." she said, hoping the intensity of her words would come across to the silly man. "Speaking of which, can't you create explosives yourself instead of buying them? You're a... well, you know." she said hesitantly, wishing to keep his occupation a secret as per conduct.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]"You know, that's why that broken had appeared just now..."[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]When she said this, her eyes narrowed slightly as she focused her senses, pointing them towards the direction of her mental glowing targets. Far in the distance, the entrance to the subway can be seen, with a sign that read; ‘Sector 19. Metro.’ [/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]He smiled, "Well, if you knew me at all- which is fine you don't, that'd be real creepy actually, you'd know I do make explosives myself- just not with any help from my mantle, yeah. I'm a terribly inexperienced smith, after all, I know exactly all the intricacies I need to about the things I craft, and yet, I end up with something completely different. So here I am, spending hours a day, wasting my time making C4 traditionally when I could practice making it from thin air. But that's fine, I suppose. It works. It's reliable." [/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]After a long pause, Nem finally replied to more of her statements, "Well, yeah, the Broken appeared there.. but I thought that's just what they did, you know? Like how I explode things, it's just what I do. But if the drop is open, right... I've always wanted to go sky-diving. I'm sure it can't be that bad, fighting for your life for a cause you don't know much about, for a war you can never win. That's basically what life is on its own anyway, isn't it?" He hardly recognized the words he was saying, the throbbing pain in his arm was distracting. Though he was sure he said some good, maybe something even wise.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Throughout it, though, his smile kept on.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]And so did his feet, one step after the other, on their way to The Drop.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]One day..[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]The entrance to the Drop seemed to be occupied already. A few figures, but she couldn't really tell in the darkness before they disappeared down the pit. It appears they were a little late. Seemed reasonable seeing that they would move on ahead since Farris had been deterred on her journey there. Hobbling around a man upon her shoulders didn't make it any faster either. Still, he was pleasant company. He liked telling jokes despite the obvious pain and she appreciated that. It helped ease her anxiousness and nothing spoke of character than someone who can smile in the face of danger. Sometimes he was incredibly mature too. But she had a bad feeling about this one, the glowing target in her mind blinking overhead when she laid eyes upon the entrance.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]That change was issued by The Marksman when there was a priority target, usually very dangerous. So Farris was glad many others showed for the call. Just two would not be enough to fight whatever's down there tonight.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]Stepping forward towards the hole, she glanced down and saw the vast emptiness within. There was no telling how far it lead, the darkness coming to a pitch black at the center. This truly looked like the entrance to whole other world. From what she was told, they'd just have to jump down. So all that's left is to do so.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13.333333333333332px]"Are you ready, Nem?" she smiled nervously, "Arm feeling better? If I recall, there is a Magician that lives around here. If they're here, they would surely be able to conjure up an ice pack for you." laughing, "Hopefully you don't accidentally blow them up, too..."[/SIZE]
[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]Also, we do use skype to chat with each-other (not voice-chat, though if you’re into that we can see to it probably), and talk about things. If you’re comfortable with sharing yours with us, and want to be a mutual adventure-buddy, shoot me a pm about it![/SIZE]
