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

[hoperaider]

[If this were D&D and their Charisma score was at zero, then yes it'd be v. nice. Sadly, this will not happen.

Okay, Jake's going to be a smart ass and grins teasingly.]

Me!

Also, keywords.

[splinterself]

[Physically, they're fighting. Emotionally, he feels like the icon just happened.]

...you.

l m f a o I will gank that, too. We will have sister icons.

[hoperaider]

[Yes, Jake is good at that.]

Yes, me. I type in green, my eyes are green, and it's one of my favorite colors!

Beautiful. I'm still looking for the coveted highfive + SHENANIGANS icon. I'll keep you posted.

[splinterself]

Yeah, I know, but I am not going to riff off of 'Jake English.'

Yes good. I'll look forward to this.

[hoperaider]

I'm not sure whether to find that offensive or not.

['Nother one down!]

[splinterself]

Alright, then, tell me what the hell is the first thing 'Dirk Strider' brings to mind.

[hoperaider]

Loyalty. [He says this immediately and literally without thought.] My second choice would've been bravery.

[splinterself]

Goddamn, warn me if you're gonna say something like that. [Oh, right, taking out the last one.]

[hoperaider]

You said to say the first thing that popped into my mind when I think of a certain Strider. Now, how about 'Jake English' since I've divulged my word associated with you? [Final Fantasy Victory Fanfare! Time to explore this room.]

[splinterself]

...hope. [And yes, exploring the room.

The room is...a room. There's various breakables and he'll smash a couple, glancing over at Jake with a brief, "You gonna smash some or am I going to take care of them all?" look.

The exit, once they get around to it, is very wide and stretches off to the north. There's something ominous about it.]

[hoperaider]

Aw, that's sweet of you. [Since they're also still playing the game....] Pandora.

[He's going to let Dirk handle them, which reminds him.] Dirk, how's your health looking? I've still got a health drink if you need it.

[Jake is also going to investigate a bit of the exit. Just taking a peek, really. Obviously, since it's ominous, it has to be the right way!]

[splinterself]

Ain't that much to it. It is your aspect, after all. [Which isn't why it came to mind, but makes for a good cover. And shit, he's gotta break them all? Fine, he's going to pull out his sword and just take out a bunch at once.] And I'm fine.

Box.

[hoperaider]

Music.

[Well, since everything is smashed and Dirk seems ready, Jake is going to investigate that hallway. He's more cautious about it than most of the other times, though.]

[splinterself]

Rhythm.

[He's right beside Jake.

Gosh it's ominous.]

So what do you think is this way? More goblins? Stairs? The final boss? [They should get to the next room in a few...moments.]

[hoperaider]

Pianissimo.

[Good thing it's a group of two people rather than a solo thing.]

I don't know, but it doesn't feel quite right. [Yet Jake's not about to turn back.]

[splinterself]

Fortissimo.

[And they enter the next room, or perhaps stealthily stand outside of it, to discover that it is...

...

...

...

...wait for it...

...

Empty.]

...

[There's three exits, however, and to their right is a small narrow passageway that ends in a room almost as quickly as begun. Through it, if they look, they can see what appears to be a large lurking gun giant just chilling in the next room over. The corridor appears to be too small for it to fit so there's no danger of them getting rushed.]

[hoperaider]

[Jake is not at all discouraged by the empty room, and immediately takes a look at the rightmost passageway...only to back up in case the giant actually can go through the corridor. Because fuck physics?]

Your thoughts?

[splinterself]

[Hm.]

I guess that depends on if you feel lucky, English. We could always chill here and you take potshots until the giant dies. Or we could just go somewhere else and come back later.

[hoperaider]

Given its size, it may take a long time before it falls.

[He checks his map.]

How about we leave the devil for last and explore the rest of this place? We may need more health drinks in case my bayonet doesn't reach it from here.

[splinterself]

Yeah, I really don't feel like dying today.

[Which leaves...the last of the three paths. (And at this point I wish I kept up with drawing a map of this place.) Dirk heads in that direction instead. From behind, the giant chills.]

[hoperaider]

Agreed.

[Jake follows, and man, he hopes that giant doesn't follow or anything. The last thing they need is a surprise attack from it.]

[splinterself]

Or hell, worse, it tries chasing after us and we're stuck running through this place while trying to find the exit. [The giant, at least for the time being, seemed content to chill in its room behind them. Still, Dirk kept an eye on his behind in case he needed to hastily shove Jake against the nearest wall and act as a distraction or raise up his sword and thrust into the opposition. Better safe than sorry.

To be serious for a moment, though, he couldn't keep an eye on Jane or make sure that Roxy was safe (and this was and would drive him absolutely nuts), but he could at least make sure that Jake was alright.]

[hoperaider]

That's almost as bad as the stalking predator scenario.

[Jake is infinitely thankful that Dirk has his back. He's starting to fall back into the wary watchfulness he has when out in the jungle. Unfortunately, this also means he's going to be ridiculously easy to startle, regardless of knowing that Dirk is there.]

[splinterself]

But you can't deny that merciless jungle predation was good for something. [And he's going to fall back ever so slightly, let Jake take the lead as they near the next room.]

[hoperaider]

I suppose it was good at making me more cautious, though that didn't help with the thrice damned giant spiders on the island, to be perfectly upfront.

[He is super glad to have Brobot because of that.]