sixth bite ⌛ anonymous text / action

[redhourglass]

( the message that appears on the network might be familiar to some. the red text has been popping up lately all over the place, commenting, sharing opinions. always anonymous, always red. whoever it was, they couldn't be goaded into revealing who they were, and they didn't seem to be bothered by the lack of trust by the general populace. quite the contrary - perhaps they were used to it. )

good job. it was a nice piece of work, the fighting that was done.
but, we were unprepared. too many casualties that didn't need to happen on our part.

this is just the beginning.


action;
( if anyone happens to be strolling by the arena, they might notice a woman inside the empty coliseum, sparring (it seems) with herself. she's fast and strong, using knives to cut down wooden practice dummies as if they were nothing, gymnastic feats giving her no trouble either. it can't be very satisfying, sparring with yourself, but for natasha, it was the only way to keep in top shape -- and she didn't want to advertise for a suitable partner.

tossing a knife into what would be the "eye" of another dummy, she rolled across the dirt ground to retrieve it, jumping into a back flip and then settling on her haunches, hand on the ground. time to rest. for a moment. )

Comments

action;

[odinsons]

[ the coliseum is a place thor has basically made his home since his arrival. it's the only place that feels familiar enough and the only true place he may linger to get his aggression out... as it seems it has not truly left him.

when he arrives, he can't say he's all that surprised to find natasha there. in fact, it's a welcome sight. at the very least, if he is going to seek a sparring partner, it's best to start with someone he knows and trusts. thor watches silently, waiting for the most opportune moment to approach and finds it when she rests. ]

Care for a moving target?

action;

[redhourglass]

( listening for thor was like listening for an elephant - you could hear him coming from miles away. it was almost familiar, though, so she didn't bother stopping her exercises. it wasn't anything he hadn't seen before from her, especially not in action.

she was, however, surprised that he would offer himself as a sparring partner. )

You?

( sorry, she's not laughing at you. just at the idea! )

Are you sure that's a good idea, big guy?

action;

[odinsons]

[ it's not his fault, okay. he is asgardian and has a lot of weight sitting on his bones! but it helps him pack a mean punch, so he can't really complain.

and, wow. rude, natasha. thor crosses his arms and laughs in a disbelieving sort of way. ]

You think me so weak to not withstand your blows? I am no babe still swaddled in cloth.

[necrowmantic]

[Hey it's mysterious red text person.]

Everyone did do a good job! Even the dead ones, nya ha! But hey, what're a few losses when we pop back up anyway?

Kinda makes winning inevitable if we have an unkillable army, even if it's totally disorganized.

perma-anon text.

[redhourglass]

( ugh it's you. )

that's not an intelligent strategy.
we don't 'pop up' immediately; they could overwhelm us before we regenerate.
psychological damage would be crippling.

[necrowmantic]

Ehh... would it really be that bad? I mean, who could mind dying when you know ahead of time it doesn't matter? Sure, the process could be a horrible brutal mess, but I bet we'd all get used to it!

But I'm definitely not a tactician. No head for that at all! But wouldn't it also be kinda demoralizing for the other guys if they conquer us, but we never stay put? They'd just lie awake at night wondering if this time it'd be them gutted in their beds by a vengeful Traveller.

text;

[chronologistics]

nice shade

[Because that's totally what's important here.]

anon text.

[redhourglass]

thanks.

( she doesn't get it. but. whatever. )

anon text;

[tigers]

[ Aw, it's Moran's anon pal again. He wasn't actually around to see the fighting, but he has a nice little assumption: ]

You call that load of rot 'fighting'? Good god, that was the sorriest excuse for a battle I've seen in my life. This lot could learn a thing or two from a week in the jungle.

[ He is the least anon lbr ]

anon text.

[redhourglass]

( oh, wow, she recognizes this one. it even makes her laugh! )

depends on who you were fighting with. did you manage to fight with the gods at all?

anon text.

[tigers]

[ Good. ]

I fight for myself and no one but, chummy.

[bowdown]

who the fuck cares aboat casualities
bitches who r worthless shoulda die
good thing they did too else they were gonna be a glubbin pain in the ass

anon text.

[redhourglass]

casualties put us at a disadvantage, no matter how 'useless' they seem

anon text.

[bowdown]

gods just gotta keep bringin peeps in
actshoally if they stopped resurrectin the fucks dat got themshellves krilled there would be lot moor enthusiasm about keepin yourshellf alive too

[pushesgently]

[Altaïr notes the anonymous red text and considers replying, but his work with the novices is done for the day and he finds himself restless once more. Whether it's the knowledge that he cannot escape this world to the people and the son who need him at home or because he does not yet know every inch of the city that drives him, he really isn't sure.

So he goes exploring as usual, sometimes on the roofs and sometimes on the ground, and eventually arrives at the arena. When he spots the woman working out, he watches for a while, drawn in by her skill. She moves like an Assassin, yet not; their training is obviously different, but there's a command of her body and environment that's evident even from a short assessment.

Of course, he has no idea she's also the writer behind the earlier, cryptic text.]

You're very good.

[redhourglass]

( if she was aware of being watched before this, she doesn't give any indication. let them watch. there were few enough in the city who knew who she was that she didn't feel in any danger by a few passerby seeing what she could do in an arena.

she was, however, surprised that someone would comment. rising from her current position, she throws a glance over her shoulder and offers a raised eyebrow. )

Thank you.

( she hadn't heard him approach so close. hm. worrying. perhaps she was getting rusty after all. )

Do you need the arena? I'm almost done.

[pushesgently]

[To him, it's not particularly notable; a gesture of respect from one skilled warrior to another. Not that his own skills are obvious at the moment.]

I hadn't planned on it. Actually, this is the first time I've been here. It's been some weeks since I arrived in the city, but there's been little time for exploration recently.

[People have been too busy fighting or dying.]

[TEXT]

[timaeus_testified]

There was a trap in the throne room, unexpected when it should have been.
You're right, this is a learning exercise.
One we shouldn't ignore.

anon text.

[redhourglass]

that kind of mistake is deadly and a trap is amateur work.
we don't know how many more learning experiences we'll be afforded.

( she hadn't been aware of that. thank you for the information. )

[text, anonymous]

[not_a_troll]

Of course it is just the beginning. We are battling Ragnarok, the endless cycle of death and rebirth and the like.

[Aka: Loki hasn't been there, he's talking a bit out of his ass.]

anon text.

[redhourglass]

is that so.
it felt like i was fighting giants. could have fooled me.

[Text]

[hadbadays]

Difficult to be properly prepared when people come and go.

anon text.

[redhourglass]

there are some people who stay, still. why not organize them?

[action]

[daddyissues]

[Connor never had enough information to contact Shahidka for an in-person meeting, but if the woman using that name had looked him up, she'd know what he looks like.

He's actually heading for the coliseum himself, a few hours early to meet Pyro -- he wants to practice his shadow figures for this session. He's surprised to see anyone there, especially someone so skilled without a partner. Connor watches for a moment, then strolls forward when she drops to rest.]

Wow.

action.

[redhourglass]

( she knew she wasn't alone. it wasn't rare that she attracted a few people watching; usually natives (which was creepy for other reasons), but when she straightened up and saw who it was after resting appropriately... well. that was a surprise. one of her contacts from the network, someone she'd never heard from.

interesting. )

You're Connor, aren't you?