“The roof is optional.” Bai joked, considering that four walls and a bed were all fine and dandy, but she hadn’t mentioned anything to cover her head. She did, however, realize how lame her joke was and decided not to laugh out loud but grin instead.“Oh! Republic City, you say? I always wanted to go there! The bustling streets, the shopping, the Air Temple being so close… that would be so cool to see! Oh, and all the neat futuristic looking buildings!” Bai sort of began to ramble on with her ideas on how Republic City was; which was clearly based on propaganda. “So what sort of business are you in?”
“Hm, ‘s warm enough for that.” The corners of her mouth turned up a bit. Her smile widened at the other girl’s suppressed laugh.
Fletch was quiet for a moment while she tried to decide how to reply. The city was riddled with crime, but it wasn’t a complete disaster either. For the moment she let the story stand. It wasn’t as if she didn’t have her own starry-eyed ideas about Yu Dao in her time. “I’m a messenger. It’s why I’m here, carrying paperwork to a branch office.”
“If you don’t get up, I will spill this on you. And then where would you be?” Skoochy said, laughing.But, taking mercy on the young messenger, he sat on the ground beside her; a bit of a balancing trick, considering he had one bowl of noodles in each hand. Handing Fletch her bowl, he started digging away at his own bowl.
“So how about the warehouse? See anything interesting?” Skoochy asked, determined to keep his voice calm. Still, he couldn’t help the hint of hope in his voice. Maybe this time, Skoochy could find a roof to put over his head, and the heads of the rest of his little gang.
“Nah, I didn’t go in.” She said around a mouthful of noodles. The messenger jabbed in his direction with chopsticks spirited out of one of her numerous pockets. “You think I’m gonna go in there by myself? No way.”
Damn him and that hopeful look on his face. It almost made her wish she had something useful to tell him, but the fact was that it was stupid to scout a big place like that alone. Too many places for kids to disappear. “Didn’t see any lights burning though, no signs of shady business. Looked like regular shipments to me. Nice and legitimate.”
It would be a bad idea to camp out on Triad turf, even accidentally.
Skoochy was rabidly slurping up his noodles while Fletch talked. He was listening and she knew he was, but his hunger always took precedence. That was something about street life they both understood.
Gulping down the last mouthful of noodles, Skoochy let out a giant sigh, then addressed Fletch directly.
“So the warehouse is still in business then? If I came along would you be able to scout the inside?” he asked.
It was a small hope he knew, but Skoochy wanted an empty building, or even just an empty room to squat in. Anything at this point would be better than sleeping in the alleyway.
“I dunno, I only did a quick recon. It was clear for another sweep anyway.”
If she had a flaw as a scout it was that she sometimes moved to damn fast to get the full picture of the situation - it wasn’t a problem that Skoochy had. One of the reasons they worked so well together.
The noodles steadily disappeared while she thought out her answer, going over a mental image of the scene with a fine-toothed comb. “Think there was a window near the top I could get into. Don’t know if I can haul your ass up though.”
She pulled a face in his direction before she slurped the last broth from the bottom of her bowl. Fletch rolled it between her palms, already lazily scanning the crowd. “If this isn’t it, you know me. I’ve got a couple other places in mind.”
Fletch had been too caught up in her surroundings to notice that someone was approaching. She was still kicking herself for that, though it wasn’t obvious by looking. Her stance settled into something more alert and less awestruck child.
“Don’t worry about it.” She said, with an easy smile that could mean anything and nothing. The other woman was a bit shorter, but not by much. Probably a trained bender by the way she moved, a local from the clothes and a slight difference in accent.
The other girl’s obvious pride made her laugh quietly. She didn’t quite relax, but her expression warmed a little. ” ‘s…amazing. Thanks. For the welcome.”
“S’okay, I can - ” She paused, considering her options. This could be any number of traps, but Yu Dao was very different from home. She didn’t know the streets or the people. Could hardly sleep on the side of the road like she did on the way here. Trust the suspiciously friendly local, or be lost for the rest of the evening?
“Okay… you have anywhere in mind?” Fletch scooped her bag off the ground and hefted it over her shoulder.
“Wonderful!” Bai continued to smile, nodding her head briefly in approval of the girl’s decision to follow her. “Well, if price is no option we have a gorgeous Inn that’s original to the city. It has carved jade and wood that really brings you back to war times, it’s really neat. But if you’re looking to save a buck, I can bring you to an Inn that’s very clean and efficient as well as easy on the wallet.” Bai seemed to ramble on about various Inns and taverns before realizing she had been talking for quite some time.
“Oh, I’m sorry! I seem to be rambling… anyway, I think I’ll take you to the middle ground. Fair prices, original artisan carvings. No Jade, though, but the wooden banister is something to behold!” the tomboy turned, gesturing for Fletch to follow in tow. “So tell me about your home town, I’m sure it’s quite the place!”
“Cheap is better. All I want is four walls and a bed.” She interjected mildly, shoving her hands in her pockets and toying with the drawstring of her coin purse.
She smiled faintly at her guide, reflecting the emotion back without quite reciprocating. “Grew up in Republic City - it’s okay I guess. People are good mostly, and business could be worse.”
The ran a hand along a low stone wall as she walked, tracing a smoothed-over path from someone else doing the same for a decade or ten. This was a place with history. It was probably a good thing these buildings couldn’t talk.
YEAAH. SEASON 2 TWINS.
I hope they’re spiritual guides for Korra.
They’re just delving into the depths of the Southern Water Tribe’s spiritual caverns.
Fletch all but bounced in place, eyes jumping from places to place with with-eyed curiosity. Like a cave cricket in a frying pan, as her grandmother always said. This was fucking Yu Dao.Her grandfather waxed poetic on its beauty and the culture that fused Earth and Fire nations into a working whole. Her childhood was filled with tales of Yu Dao, city of the finest craftsmen and artists, a true rival to Republic City on every level. Her father always promised that they would go someday, and now she was finally here. The biggest surprise of all: it was just as amazing as she thought it would be.
It was very different from her own city. The buildings were in good repair but dignified, like old men who had seen the decades pass and aged with grace. People laughed and shouted as they went about their lives. It seemed almost kinder than Republic City.
She nearly jumped out of her skin when someone spoke. (Idiot. Never let your guard down in a new place. Never.) Fletch smiled, and scratched the back of her head. “Nah, not right now. Just sightseeing a bit.”
Her delivery wasn’t rush anyway. Jerk sure didn’t pay enough for it.
The strange girl was silent at first; she appeared to be drinking in her surroundings like an alcoholic on a binge. Bai took the moment to take in the girl’s appearance and was pleased enough to think that she was, at least, not threatening. Just… strange. Very strange.
Bai had very obviously startled the girl which allowed a small wave of guilt to pass over her body. “Oh! I’m so sorry, I didn’t think- I mean, I didn’t know you hadn’t seen me.” especially since you’re looking around like that… geeze. She thought.
However, Bai nodded. “Of course! Though if I may,” she smiled, placing a hand over her chest. “I would like to welcome you to Yu Dao, a proud standing city with a history for the ages.” it was obvious that Bai was very proud herself of her home town. Having grown up here since birth, she was no stranger to every nook and cranny, street and back alley that her adventurous young self had once explored in depth.
“And if you like, I can direct you to the nearest Inn if you plan on staying.” Bai smiled warmly.
Fletch had been too caught up in her surroundings to notice that someone was approaching. She was still kicking herself for that, though it wasn’t obvious by looking. Her stance settled into something more alert and less awestruck child.
“Don’t worry about it.” She said, with an easy smile that could mean anything and nothing. The other woman was a bit shorter, but not by much. Probably a trained bender by the way she moved, a local from the clothes and a slight difference in accent.
The other girl’s obvious pride made her laugh quietly. She didn’t quite relax, but her expression warmed a little. ” ‘s…amazing. Thanks. For the welcome.”
“S’okay, I can - ” She paused, considering her options. This could be any number of traps, but Yu Dao was very different from home. She didn’t know the streets or the people. Could hardly sleep on the side of the road like she did on the way here. Trust the suspiciously friendly local, or be lost for the rest of the evening?
“Okay… you have anywhere in mind?” Fletch scooped her bag off the ground and hefted it over her shoulder.
I think character deaths should be more prominent in role-plays. The reason I say this is to allow a risk-factor to happen— you actually have something to fear when another character threatens to stab you in the jugular and rip your throat out. Violence has a place. Any extreme bodily harm has a place.
But, I think, the fact that it’s considered a major plot and is up to the individual player inhibits most role-players as opposed to allowing them to grow. Many act invincible by default because they’re “immortalized”. Whereas a simple stab wound (depending on the incision) if the ambulance doesn’t get there in time is enough to kill.
Just thinking out loud. And wondering were I to attempt to implement this into my own role-play over time, how willing people would be to still play out their character with that risk involved.
Killing Moon does this really effectively.
“Your character may die—but if your character dies, you aren’t removed from the game: instead, you can select a different character to play. Your character won’t die for no reason, however: if you don’t want your character to die, keep them from challenging authority or outing oneself to hunters. However, do not apply if you can’t accept this prospect. We are called “Killing Moon” for a reason. Aim to get attached to storylines and plot arcs rather than specific roles.”
And I agree with the immortality thing. I hate when I play a character with power and the ability to kill (which I end up doing a lot because it’s fun) and I can’t have them do anything. Everyone they talk to will end up challenging them, but then I’m not allowed to have my character respond accurately and at least kick their ass. Their players get annoyed, but it would be ooc for my guy to not want to at the very least give your character a black eye. It ends up that characters that are meant to be feared for their strength and violence no longer have that image because players don’t want to let anything happen to their characters.
Also, I just think killing characters is fun. It reinforces the idea that not every hero is going to make it and gives a real, tangible fear to the survivors.
