(Untitled)

[lizardoverdose]

Characters: Novak/Scales [lizardoverdose] & Vimes/Stoneface [stonyfaced]
Date/Time: BACKDATED to February 2nd, late evening.
Location: The Marketplace, and probably moving from there.
Rating: PG..13? Probably.
Summary: Scales & Stoneface have a talk about the current state of Edensphere security.

Comments

[stonyfaced]

Stoneface stood on the side of the pathway, looking about for Scales. Even with a horrendous lack of grammar, he seemed to have a good head on his shoulders, and that was all that he needed. Then again, the man--lizard--lizardman--whatever he was, showed no sign of showing up.

Which was vexing. All things considered, a giant lizard (which he was still having some trouble believing, but he was becoming accustomed to being surprised) shouldn't be hard to spot. Then, as a finger a bit too pointed than what fit his idea of what a finger should feel like tapped him on the shoulder, he whipped his head around.

...Ah. The bit of arm sticking out of the cloak was scaly. Apparently he wasn't used enough to being surprised, judging from what felt like the whiplash he'd received. "Scales, right?" He asked, rubbing his neck

[lizardoverdose]

"That's me," he responded, pulling the hand back into the rest of the shapeless black form. The face under the cloak was equally green, with a little wry smile on his face. His slit-eyes twinkled under the hood, even more wry and a little mean and a little cool. "Sorry about sneaking up on you, there. I'm feeling more paranoid than I used to, and I figured climbing onto a building and yelling your name would be a little embarrassing."

"Nice to meet you for real this time, Stoneface." He offered the same gloved hand. "Let's talk?"

[stonyfaced]

"Not a problem," he replied, eying Scales' appearance with some fascination, but he held himself back from outright staring; that was an invitation for trouble. "I can't blame you."

Not with what had been happening around here. Murders and disappearances, and, well, the man was covered in scales. Even if everybody seemed oddly accepting of what Stoneface considered to be outrageous things, there was probably a person or two who looked upon it with distaste.

"That sounds like a plan," he replied, shaking Scales' hand firmly, amidst his confusion as to exactly how his hands worked in the first place. He rose his hand to his face, a familiar scritch-scratch sound accompanying his nails scraping against stubble; he had yet to find a decent razor in this place.

It would be a good idea to try finding a place a bit more secluded for the nature of their conversation, he figured, or at least to be able to move so that if someone were following them, they could detect it. "Shall we walk?"

[lizardoverdose]

Scales was accustomed to the looks and the stares, and he understood that even respect granted a double-take. That being said, he liked Stoneface's attempt at control. It was a mark in his favor, and he found that those came around less and less. He also liked a firm handshake, and though that much could be deceiving, it was something that he never stopped paying attention to.

"I'd like that, yeah." He glanced behind him, as if looking for someone following him - his eyes tracking the roofs, and the trees above that, intent. He was watchful at least and downright paranoid at worst, but paranoia kept you alive. Paranoia and distrust. He had a long legs and quite a bit of muscle, and he found himself adjusting his long strides to Stoneface's for a couple of silent moments. Then, he spoke, his voice still cool.

"Are you interested in doing some, ah, guard-work? I believe, these days, it's called vigilantism."

You could see the smirk from even deep inside the hood.

[lizardoverdose]

"Well," Scales began, thoughtfully. It wasn't that he didn't like having laws, but without them, he sure as he'll felt freer. Plus, he couldn't stop thinking that whatever would be made would end up giving him he super short end of the stick. Laws were, honestly, not for him. But at this point, something had to be better than nothing. "Honestly, I feel sketchy at best about laws - remnant from my past, I guess. I guess something is better than nothing? I don't know."

He shrugged, as if to demonstrate his point.

"but yes. I agree. Marching patrols, maybe? The cocoons may be important, but I tend to value people already alive rather than those yet to be born. I'd suggest someone in the residential areas, someone in the marketplace to make sure any money disputes are resolved peacefully or solve it when they get violent. Maybe even at park island, too? I think hose are the most important, though." he paused for a bit, to again collect his thoughts. "what do you think?"

[stonyfaced]

"I agree," Stoneface said, thoughtfully. "But laws provides a base. Boundaries, if you will. If somebody gets attacked, you can tell the attacker exactly what he did wrong and toss him a cell for a few nights." He paused. "There are cells somewhere here, aren't there

[lizardoverdose]

"And if you're the person that's excluded from those boundaries?" He asked, feeling like it was the appropriate answer. "What happens if those laws are made by unjust people - leave people out, favor some over others? Not far, I think. Most certainly not fair, mm. Who can we trust to make such laws? And can we be sure the sphere'll care

[stonyfaced]

He frowned as Scales brought up the concern of the wrong people making the wrong laws. It made sense, Stoneface knew, but something simply felt wrong without the boundaries. "I'm not talking about overly complicated laws," he said carefully--Scales seemed firm enough on this point for him to use tact. "I've no authority to make them, but a general action-punishment rule would be helpful. If somebody kills somebody else, they spend time in cells. That sort of thing." The constant furrow of his brow furrowed further as he thought. Corrupt higher-ups. Yeah. He could see it happening. But rules would have to be what separated the... good from bad, so to speak