It...seemed like a good idea at the time.

[splinterself]

[So after getting the "Where is this, who are you, what is going on?" out of his system, Dirk Strider was purposefully and boldly exploring Mac Anu and was...kind of bemused by the fact that the city wasn't done up in purple and black.

...just saying.

He had ended up at the harbor and there he paused in his wan- purposeful exploring, as...you know what's incredibly distracting? Actually only having one self (at least for the time being) that he was aware of. Also the clothes. Also the fact that he still had no idea what the hell was going on, and, more importantly, what was happening with Roxy.

There was a certain irony in him spacing out just as badly as he did when he had multiple selves to juggle, one which was lost on the guy as he was spacing out, brooding.]

...

[Yeah, this was getting him nowhere. (And shit, the lack of purple really was throwing him off.) That was when he shook his head slightly, turned to the nearest person, and said:]

Hey.

[So verbose.]

Comments

lolol I claim first comment.

[hoperaider]

[Jake has been on a Strider Hunt after getting the low-down on the game and shit. Well, it's not just a Strider Hunt, really, more like. An Everyone Hunt. Just to see if any of his best friends are here with him.

Eventually, it takes him to the harbor. He's about to explore the ships because holy shit cool!!! But then someone says a greeting, and he turns. His curiosity instantly morphs to a cheerful grin.]

Dirk!

[Have a bro-hug! ...Wait.]

Are you the real Dirk this time? The amount of not-yous I have seen in one day could try a saint's patience.

Dork.

[splinterself]

[What the fuck is this.

What the fuck is this.

What the fuck is this.

It wasn't like he wasn't unhappy to see Jake. (Even though part of him wondered if this was what his Auto-Responder had meant when he mentioned having his own "diabolical interwoven plans." If so, at some point every day he wondered why he programmed his own personal troll: this moment was that point today.) He was glad to actually see Jake in the flesh.

Just...

Seriously. What the fuck. He was going to be pulling the strings of their session and a few hours in this happened. And Jake was here. And there was no sign of Jane or Roxy. But Jake was here.

Just what the fuck. Especially that last question.]

Dude, who would I be? [Seriously, English, seriously.]

Takes one to know one. :P

[hoperaider]

[Wow, Dirk, don't be like that.]

Hell if I know. Another illusion conjured up by my subconsciousness while I'm busy being knocked out? AR with a new physical body given that this is, from what I've gathered, an entirely new world that's actually a video game made reality for us?

[He's been having a day, dude. Actually, now that he remembers that he did take a fall right on his head, it's starting to hurt a bit. That's going to be a mighty tender spot for a while.]

I am what I am, so yes, you're right. *brofist*

[splinterself]

[His brain's rebooting, give him a second.]

...Jake. [God. He normally would be good(ish). But, with that opening?]

It seems that... [There's an opening for screaming to happen. Does he feel a bit dirty saying that? Yeah, just a bit.]

*brofist* Also I lied in chat. 1/3

[hoperaider]

[At first he was like this.]

[deniability]

[ he actually managed to hone in on a woman wearing purple, which is either coincidence or latent purple-seeking abilities he should explore in more detail.

Hitei is just amused at all of the children wandering around. It makes it so easy. She's been watching him for a while, going with the general flow of the NPCs, so when his eyes sharpen she's conveniently there. Nonetheless, she affects surprise. ]

Ah, hello.

[splinterself]

[Considering that he also chatted with Faris, the privateer with violet locks, possibly the latter.]

Are you busy with anything? I just got here and was wondering if you knew your way around this game.

[deniability]

[ Let the experimentation begin, then. ]

My way around... I suppose I know that. Is it that you're interested in becoming a rare hunter?

[splinterself]

Been thinking about it. [Okay, so he's kinda not sure, but.] I haven't decided what I'll do yet, but I need something to keep me busy.

[tank_sniper]

What?

[Also super verbose.]

[splinterself]

Just figured I'd try talking to the locals this time. [It beats feigning sleepwalking.] Name's Dirk. I was getting ready for an altercation with some drones when I ended up in this game instead. You?

[tank_sniper]

[She narrows her eyes a little at the term "locals", but okay whatever.]

I was trying to log into my usual game when I found myself stuck in a completely different one.

What do you mean by drones?

[splinterself]

Agents of the Ba- [Considering how the seafaring pillager had responded to 'Batterwitch'?] ...Condese. I kinda pissed off my evil troll overlord a little.

[miraculousfate]

[That's alright, Dirk. Vanille talks enough for four people.]

Hi! [She'll even throw in a little wave.]

[splinterself]

[That was kinda unexpected. Not in a bad way, but still unexpected.]

I just got here and I thought I might as well get to know the people here. I'm Dirk.

[miraculousfate]

That new thing seems to be happening a lot. [And you're getting a giggle.] It's nice to meet you, Dirk. I'm Vanille.

[splinterself]

[And his eyebrows, ever so slightly, loft upward. It's that moment when you're started, and yet deeply unsurprised.] Man, you too? Seems like everyone's being deracinated.

[diedforyoursins]

[maybe it's a little strange to start chatting up the nearest stranger, but kaworu evidently doesn't seem to mind. though to be fair, he's usually the one starting up conversations with bystanders on a whim.]

Hello. Did you just arrive?

[splinterself]

Yeah. I take it this sort of thing happens often.

[diedforyoursins]

I have not been here for very long myself, but it does seem to be the case for everyone I have spoken to.

[splinterself]

So what do people do around here? [For fun or for business, take your pick.] It's a game, I get that, though it isn't the game I was expecting.

[adarable]

Yes?

[ smile!! ]

Did you need anything, sir?

[splinterself]

...not exactly. [Shrug.] I was just wondering if you knew your way around here, that's all. Dirk Strider.

[adarable]

I do! [ pause, curtsy! ] I am Ada Vessalius; it is a pleasure to meet you, Mister Strider!

[splinterself]

Mister?

[If he was older, maybe, a grown man with some kid that he was looking after...sure, why the hell not. Play up the role. Be Mister Strider, milk the title for all it's worth and do all that comes with it for irony's sake. In another lifetime he might've been all over that.

But as is, it just made him feel awkward. If anyone was Mister Strider it was his bro.]

Just call me Dirk, ok?