Mute Mute Mute

[shenghuanzhe]

I warned you.

[Kevas and Haine both get muted comms for 24 hours. They're free to scream all they like, but their comms will only let them post text--no voice.]

Any more screamin', I can hand out the mutes like fuckin' candy. Zeshat-damned passengers.

Erol. Got a bone t'pick with you.

Comments

[psychoticracer]

Oh? I haven't done anything really interesting in... oh, about two weeks now.

What, too quiet?

[shenghuanzhe]

Somethin' like that. Somethin' I wanna talk t'you about in person, man.

[psychoticracer]

[Understandable; they weren't secure after all.

Erol knew that Batou was after him as well, so broadcasting a future location on the comms was dodgy, but he doubted even they would mess with the First Mate, or rather with the consequences from Redd for doing so.

Of course they'd have no problem intercepting him to or from. Such was life - no fun without a little spice.]

Rendez-vous point?

[shenghuanzhe]

Deck fifteen. Caves.

[Kage clicks off the comm and steps out of the staircase intot he dimness of Deck 15. Water laps off in the darkness, and theair is moist and cool.]

so what IS hiatus, anyway.

[psychoticracer]

[Erol knows that Kage knows he won't waste air chatter on confirmation, so he heads down to 15, idly dragging his cast down the stairway rail to hear the noise echo. Any enemies he had tracking him at the moment were more than capable of rooting him out regardless of whether he was quiet or not, and the sound amused him.

Taking the stairs was also a good test of the state of his midsection, engaging muscles for core balance and coordination. Hurt like fuck, but he was a bit more limber than a week ago. He'd been letting Christine fuss over him - despite her own sprained ankle - and it showed.

Hitting the main deck, he looked around, not bothering to call out.]

it comes from the latin word 'hiaterius' which means 'mana sucks'

[shenghuanzhe]

Hey, man. Looks like y'had a rough week. Don't tell me Chase did that t'you.

[Kage's leaning against the wall, casually leafing through a book. Yes, that's right, Kage is looking through a book. It's an old book of paintings by famous masters, and some of them are pretty pornographic. He slowly rips out a page and folds it, then sticks it in his pocket.]

ffff it is your feminine wiles luring me from my sickbed

[psychoticracer]

[Erol snorted.]

Don't insult me. I took the Eco Freak for a run. Turns out it was worth pumping all that Dark Eco into him for two years, who knew?

[All right, so he HAD fought Jak before, and seen quite a bit of his capabilities (including the vaunted Light Eco; THAT was a surprise), but the fights had usually been interrupted or interfered with, and this was the first time with just the two of them, no external factors. It was good to see his effort expended on the project really had gone to good use. One thing to hear the boy had taken care of the Metal Head leader, another to see the capabilities truly function in combat.

Pictures. Erol's interest in printed items was limited - he wanted to DO it, not READ about it - but he smirks at a glimpse of the content. Oh, well that made sense then.]

So go on. What's gnawing on those short little ears of yours.

[Idly he takes out one of the Rotisserie knives and practices flipping the ill-balanced thing. It's a challenge, and keeps his restless mind occupied.]

*wriggles*

[shenghuanzhe]

People've been actin' damn fuckin' strange lately. Marriage proposals'n screamin'n all that manner of shit.

[Kage flips the book shut and tosses it over his shoulder into the pond. There's a plonk and the book sinks down in the cool, black water. Kage pays it no mind and ambles over, looking Erol up and down.]

No shit, Jak did this? Fucker nearly puked in Carni, didn't think he had it in him.

8D~

[psychoticracer]

[Well he MEANT why Kage wanted to speak to him, but clearly the First Mate would get around to that when he felt like it. Not like Erol had anywhere to go. And it wasn't like he minded the company.

He takes an easy reverse grip on the knife and rests the hand on his hip, looking up at Kage from his own 5'9" with fearless regard.]

Oh, you've only seen the blonde. Wait until the Dark Eco gets going. "Dark Jak" would ADORE Carnival - tear a path through it bare-handed, if the ship dampening didn't wear him out too fast. But you've got to get him angry to see that bit; you know, threaten someone he cares about, that sort of nonsense.

He's not much otherwise. Liked him better in Haven, all the raw edges are smoothed over now.

[shenghuanzhe]

Really.

[There's something dark and glittering in Kage's eyes when he hears of that power latent in Jak. He flashes Erol a smile, and it's cruel, bloodless.]

I appreciate the heads up, man.

[And that dark thing is gone as Kage smiles easily at Erol.]

So gimme the balisong, man.

[He could ask nicely, but Kage kinda wants some conflicct.]

[psychoticracer]

[Oh Erol was always happy to tell people aaaalll about Jak's dark side. That he was responsible for. It's his pleasure, Kage.

At the next question, Erol pauses a beat to switch mental gears - the question DID come out of nowhere - then cocks his head. A grin spreads before he laughs, amused and intrigued. He'd almost forgotten how much FUN Kage was.]

Why?

[Not I don't know what you're talking about, or What balisong, but Why. Erol wasn't interested in lying about the fact he had it. Clearly Kage knew, he was the First Mate. Anyway, he had Chase on a leash, he'd likely picked the story up from the brat. Not a hard deduction to make, especially since from his earlier comments Kage knew they had fought.]

[shenghuanzhe]

'Cause I want it, Erol, and I think you wanna give me what I want.

[Kage let his eyes flick down the shorter man's body, back up, hold his eyes.

It was flirtatious, his words arrogant and dominant. Kage's testing him, pushing, like he does with everyone.]

[psychoticracer]

[Erol's own eyes, dark golden turned ruddy by the dim cave light, narrow to something sharp, speculative, and very pleased by this turn of events. When Even was here, Erol knew very well the pair of them were off-limits. And when Even left, Kage was too much of a damn mess to consider it. For a while Erol wasn't certain if Kage was doing something ridiculous like going celibate out of mourning. Certainly didn't suit him.

This? This was a vast improvement.]

Well perhaps I think you ought to work for it. Perhaps you need to be more - convincing.

[His weight is balanced, technically ready for a surprise attack, but with Kage's skill and Erol's condition the outcome of any fight was predetermined. He just wanted to make it interesting.]

[shenghuanzhe]

[Kage punches at Erol's head, lightning fast almost before the elf has finished speaking. Erol dodges, of course, just as Kage expects him to. Erol might be damaged, but he still has lightning-fast reflexes.

Kage grins and steps in, not punching now, no, he's trying to grapple and put Erol into a hold. Less chance of opening up Erol's wounds, and it'd be easier to hurt him like that.

Kage has his priorities.]

[psychoticracer]

[Erol hissed as he sidestepped to maneuver, seeing Kage's strategy quickly. Even under normal circumstances, Kage's height and weight were an edge against Erol's, while the elf's advantage had always been speed. If Kage got a grip on him, this was over - or perhaps, just beginning, but Erol was certainly not one to deliberately make a bad move just to see what came after

[shenghuanzhe]

[And Kage doesn't back off, but he does step backwards and give Erol the distance he's been wanting. Of course, once Kage has some space he starts unbuttonining his jacket, eyes still watching Erol. ]

It's just, y'get me so excited.

[It's pure sarcasm, but it's a distraction while Kage quickly works the buttons so he can take off his jacket.]