and fate reaches sidewise for another "duplicate". sort of.

[psychomachy]

[air is not supposed to warp and pixelate like that, oh no. but then, a plaza shouldn't have new arrivals plummeting through the pixelation to crumple nicely against the ground, either.]

... oww ...

... What --!

[it shouldn't have been a surprise -- given where he'd been -- that when the ground gave way he'd plummeted straight through to some

Comments

[ventus_aerius]

[the howl of pain was what caught Harpuia' attention initially. He only took five seconds to decide to go investigate. With the layout and building, Harpuia could easily fly to safety if things got out of hand...

But picture his surprise when, upon nearing the location where the sound originated, he ends up coming across what should have been a familiar face? The armor looked exactly like Omega's but for the fact that the color scheme of the other Reploid was entirely wrong. Caught off guard, Harpuia ends up hovering in the air in plain sight longer than he intended simply staring]

This place... [torn between being on edge or disgusted, Harpuia lets himself drop in height until he's only hovering slightly off the ground]

[psychomachy]

This place ...

[one would think that, given his own origins, Nightmare would be able to accept 'oddities' at face value. one would think that given his current place of origin, Nightmare would not bat an eyelash at people and situations that do not quite match up --]

[unfortunately, he's always been worse at that when it comes to more familiar faces.]

... Harpuia?!

[ventus_aerius]

[well, if there ever would be anything that would knock him out of the sky, it would have to be Zero by principle. Or 'a' Zero, as it were]

[so when he heard the other, stranger Zero call out his name in confusion the green flyer ended up dropping the last few inches out of the sky and landing a little less gracefully than usual. The concern of one or two nearby Reploids were chased off with a steely glare from the little Guardian before he stands up and closes the distance a bit... Just enough so that they weren't shouting at each other though, he still didn't trust Zero-Omega-whatever-he-was]

... [who are you? how do you know my name? why so surprised?] Yes, what do you want? [... not quite what he wanted to say]

[psychomachy]

[Harpuia's approach prompts Nightmare to echo the action, padding closer with mouth slightly agape -- as if testing the air for the Guardian's scent. my, what big fangs we have, and what a puzzled expression.]

This place is ...

Different, you. Changed?

[the slurred words trail off in a mutter about 'worlds', before he cocks his head to one side and eyes Harpuia critically.]

A different thing, you, jade-flyer.

[ventus_aerius]

[he takes a step back when he catches sight of the fangs. We'll just stay on guard over here]

Hm? [and it takes a while before Harpuia can piece together what the strange Reploid was trying to say... or at least, a somewhat reasonable interpretation of what the pink one was trying to say]

From the day I've been activated, I've always been this way. I haven't changed. [a confused look] You don't act like either of them...

[psychomachy]

Again, again; a different world, place, origin. Maybe. A strange thing ...

[noting Harpuia's obvious wariness, he sighs and promptly dismisses his armour. less of a threat, perhaps? or no --?]

Either? Two, more-than-two -- these are ...?

Zero is ..?

[ventus_aerius]

[Harpuia just doesn't take well to Omega's original design/Zero. It's really not your fault, Nightmare... But he recognizes the action for what it is and tries to loosen up his posture slightly]

Zero and another who shares your design. They- As far as I know, only Zero is here, but... [wait a second]

Who are you?

[psychomachy]

[quizzical headtilt ~ but there's not really been two ...]

The red one, the dead one -- here, present. To be looked-for? Mmrr ...

[blink]

[sigh]

Nightmare, I.

[ventus_aerius]

...? You might be able to contact him. I haven't heard a word from that Reploid for a while now.

'Nightmare.' [that name rung a bell, but Harpuia couldn't recall where he heard of it before...]

[psychomachy]

Needed, this; to speak, to warn --

[stopping dead now, and watching Harpuia. interesting reaction? maybe?]

Yes ...?

[ventus_aerius]

It sounds familiar... But I recall why. [he shakes his head. This guy was definitely not like Omega, and while Harpuia was picking up some strange data, it wasn't as if Nightmare had been hostile. Ugh, this place was messing with his head too much]

What do you need to warn Zero of? And why do you resemble him so much?

[psychomachy]

To tell, inform, warn; this one, of Nightmare. Of -- certain things, necessity. Hunters to be spoken with.

[not wanting to explain in public, oh no; not with no many curious faces. at least he'd eaten well in the immediate past and there was no rush ...]

[and then there was the other question. oh how he hated that question]

Of the red one, dead one, I.

[ventus_aerius]

[warn? Did he mean to warn the Hunter's about himself or of something related to him? ...] They have encrypted channels here, but I'm not cleared to access it here. You could send a message to them, requesting assistance. No promises though.

...

[he blinks] That- [stop] Hm.

[and he's at a loss for what to do. Harpuia has no authority here, as well as no real knowledge of how the system works here. It wasn't as if he could just... call someone and ask. There was a feeling that bringing Nightmare to X might just cause everyone a whole lot of discomfort]

[psychomachy]

Knowing this, I; a different world, different place. Nothing to be promised. Still, a needing thing -- to be attempting, I.

Messenging; how?

[sighing, Nightmare watches Harpuia for a long moment.]

... Thinking, you?

[ventus_aerius]

[Harpuia seemed to be getting used to Nightmare's speech... Or at least, he's picking up on the general idea of what the other was saying a little faster than before]

[taps the side of his helmet] Only the private Hunter channels are encrypted. Messages can still be sent to them via open channels...

Mm? It's hard not to be rendered 'thoughtful' in this situation.

[psychomachy]

[nodding --]

Ahh -- tempting, tempting. Should, must be done; to be known, an important thing. Contact; channels given, to this one? Or ...?

[soft snort]

Specifics to be thinking?