acatalepsy_rpg | video, after the caverns

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video, after the caverns

So, correct me if I'm wrong about this.

[Hank doesn't bother with an intro, just starts right on in. The angle he's holding his wrist shows both his face and the stick he's dragging along the wall behind him, which has been in a fire at some point in the recent past and leaves a long black trail of ash over the wall as he walks.]

But when all you heroes trooped into the haunted caves under the mysterious freaky lake the communication plan was along the lines of, 'gee, if someone gets their feet ate off by some freaky bullshit I sure do hope they yell real loud so I can get there before they bleed out' right? I mean, I trust you guys know to make a post letting us all know if you need backup, but what if this- [Here the screen shakes as Hank wiggles his wrist, indicating the watch] -gets busted, or stolen, or whatever?

I don't know, I was just thinking, next time a bunch of us, or just anyone, goes into something that might get bad there should be some kind of post stuck to the top of our feed that we could all check, just something like this-

[He stops walking, still talking as he starts to scratch a little list in ash onto the wall beside him.]

Hey, I wonder how little Suzy's doing. Oh, she checked in an hour ago, she's probably fine.

[He writes Suzy on the wall, and a checkmark next to her name.]

How about JimBob the Murder Bot? Oh, he hasn't checked in for about seven hours, I should take someone to go look for him.

[Next to JimBob the Murder Bot he doodles a little skull. Sorry Jimbo, it's hard out there for a figurative probably-dead robot. Better luck next time.]

Or maybe you guys would rather do some kinda daily role call like in school or, hell, maybe it's just more fun to lone wolf your way through all this world saving shit, what do I know. Decide amongst yourselves. I might be around, I might not. Just thought I'd throw this out there. I'm gonna go eat.

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Ha. All right. It's technically pretty accurate anyway.

[Of course he's a lion.

Barabas nods.]

We aren't an army. And you're right, over all, we shouldn't be. That's not to say having a least a small group of us who are ready and able to mobilize and fight cooperatively if need be wouldn't be helpful. More a security force, to make sure everyone else has a fighting chance to regroup and stay safe if we find ourselves in that sort of situation.

[Of course he's actually a fuckin lion. Hank sighs and tries to move past it.]

Seems like they did okay so far, if you really want to organize people you're probably gonna need to know how they handled shit before we got here. Like, what level of strategy they had before and all that stuff. But it seems like you're already on that anyway, so.

[He shrugs.]

I don't know, training people's way beyond me. Maybe some of the military types could start running around together and do whatever they do while the rest of us just sit around and just... I don't know, hope we find a handgun if things get hairy. You'd be in that first group though, right? You said something about, uh... [Fuck, he can't even tell what he does and doesn't want to ask about in this conversation anymore.] ...Battlefields, or something?

Mm. I'm trying to piece together how things went in the previous two... jaunts... that everyone was sent on. The people I've found to speak to have been very helpful in that.

[He's got himself a few definitely involved types, which helps.]

I can fight, but I wouldn't all myself a military types. I'm better at organizing behind the scenes, rather than giving orders. I can more than hold my own in a fight though, especially if I'm handed a knife or two.

[Hank nods, filing the fact away.]

What kind of organizing? Strategy in fights or raids, or legal stuff? Or just in general? If we actually do organize shit in the next uh, jaunt- are we sure that's the right word there? Uh... [Where was he?] Yeah, if we do actually organize our shit, what part do you think you'd be better at?

[Oh. Now those are good questions. This guy is sharp, Barabas is realizing. That sort of sharpness could come in handy too.]

Intel gathering, compiling, putting together the bigger picture. I'm not a battle strategist. But I have a knack for politics and reading people and situations, for identifying key players and motivations and what sort of approach or leverage might work best.

[A faint grin.] When you're a misfit even in the clan of misfits of the Pack, you learn how social and political games work -- or you don't survive.

[And he's managed to survive and flourish.]

What about you. This call for a check in system, and a roster... are you used to organizing people?

Edited 2018-10-21 22:47 (UTC)

[The question distracts him from his curiosity about the misfit thing, which is cool because it means he can put that in the pile of ''questions to decide later whether it's worth the sanity points to ask'. Hank purses his lips and shrugs.]

Ah, yeah. [He shrugs a shoulder, pulling a face as he realizes he probably ought to add, in the interest of honesty:] I'm probably pretty out of practice, though. I guess I could run an operation if we needed it, uh, an investigation or a raid or whatever, but there are probably tons more qualified people than me wandering around here. You, for example - although the kind of intel I'm used to putting together's probably a lot different from whatever a lawyer-slash-uh... werewolf politician gets up to. I guess that's going on some kind of list though right, some kind of list of assets you're keeping?

The list is purely voluntary, so only if you'd like it to. Otherwise it stays in my head.

[But he certainly won't forget.]

So. What sort of practice are you out of, if you don't mind my asking? What's your background?

[He hesitates before he adds,] And it's weremongoose, for the record. Though here, my beast form has been changed. Werehyena now. Either way, not a wolf.

Noted.

[Hank says it dryly, because - of course - there's not really much of a difference to him.]

Cop. Out of Detroit, if that matters - uh, I guess it doesn't make much of a difference here, what city I'm from. After the normal stuff I spent some time in narcotics, then uh, moved out of that back into detective stuff, homicide. Ran a few big operations, did some management shit - although uh, I spend just as much time just working cases these days. [His look, already kind of uncomfortable, slides away from the camera and he shrugs again.] Not enough detectives to go around, you know?

So. If we drop into some place with a drug problem I guess I might be able to help but uh, it doesn't sound like these guys stay in one place long enough for anything like what I'm used to. I feel like I would have heard about it if these fun little field trips were supposed to last for years. Maybe that's where this magic power bullshit comes in - although like, some of that just seems so stupid, like, how's turning you from a fuckin mongoose into a hyena supposed to make you more of a problem solving machine? How's that even different from what you did before? I don't get it.

[Barabas manages to hold back a grin. Cop was on his short list of guesses, honestly. But no need to say that.]

Still, even in short term rather than long term, some of those skills must transfer.

[But he does nod.] Several weeks seems to be the trend so far. No more than a couple months, but there have been only two other worlds as far as I can tell.

And as for the change to my ability... I don't think they're meant to be efficient. Given the collection of abilities, there isn't any particular pattern I can put together. But certainly some of them seem personal. The hyena thing is definitely personal. It almost feels like some strange punchline to a joke I haven't quite figured out yet.

Yeah. You're tellin me.

[Hank sighs and rubs a hand over his face. He can sympathize with the guy about stupid magic powers - shit, can he - but he's kind of less than interested in telling anyone, ever, what his is. Anyone he touches being able to feel his feelings is some real carebear bullshit and Hank's really not here for it. Or wishes he didn't have to be here for it - he could be in Detroit or fuckin anywhere else, any other place, as long as that place was real.]

So. Any suggestions for how to make this whole thing actually work? Not that I'm putting myself in charge of it, I wouldn't even know how to get the ball really rolling. But. You know.

[Barabas doesn't bother trying to quell the grin that rises at that.]

Several yes. And oh, I don't know, I think you started the ball rolling on it just fine already. But it would definitely be easier to get together while we're still in the Temple grounds, I think.

[Barabas is nominating Hank for in charge of this. The motion has already passed honestly.]

[Hank smiles too but his is small and wary, kind of suspicious of that grin.]

So, a little team coordination meeting, that's your first suggestion? I don't know man, one of the few good things about this weirdo bullshit is that I don't have to go to those any more.

[Not that he really went to half of them back home, but you know what? That's not the point here, and not even having any he's supposed to be at has been kind of convenient.]

Well that couldn't hurt. And in fact, we're setting up an office of sorts to centralize some of this information if people need to find it. But no... I mean if we're counting people, it's probably easier while we're in our neat little rooms in the Temple. But I doubt it'll be so easy as sending out a census.

{Sadly. It'd be nice to have that sort of paperwork. Oh well.]

That said, you should come speak with Maes and me, if it interests you.

Well...

[Hank pulls a face, looking like he's tasting something weird. That sounds dangerously like getting involved. But-]

I uh, I guess it couldn't hurt to go see what you put together. What kind of census info would you even want? Those demographics would come out pretty fuckin weird, I can tell you that for free.

[It's a slippery slope to involvement too. Beware, Hank.]

Good. It'll be nice to speak in person too.

[But right what kind of census.]

The usual, I suppose. Name. Age... which may be misleading, but still, at least something. Maybe any others from their world that they're aware of.

[He manages to mostly hold back a grin as he adds,] Annual household income, Coke or Pepsi preference

[Hank huffs, amused.]

The day we get Coke or Pepsi up here to pick a favorite on I'll be first in line to take that vote. But uh, before we've got any real power structure set up here people don't have any reason to tell us shit. Like, what are we even going to use it for? If those questions aren't coming from someone they trust people wanna know how their info's gonna get used. I mean, we wouldn't have to worry about a lot of shit they had to back home and there'll be plenty of people who'll fill out a little survey just cause they wanna help, but. If a strange guy came to my door asking questions about me I know I'd tell him where he could stick his little scantron.

[Will it be nice to speak in person, though? Will it? Hank's not any nicer in person.]

For making sure no one gets inadvertently left behind in a dangerous situation, and for keeping track of the people who disappear without warning or explanation. And you're right, some might object. So it'll have to be voluntary. And hopefully it proves useful enough with those willing to engage that anyone hesitant can see the benefit of it.

[Barabas offers a sympathetic shrug.] Most of us are still strangers. But we all have the common ground of being snatched from our homes without warning. It's understandable for some people to be... on the defensive. But just because it may not work perfectly, or because not everyone will be on board isn't reason not to try. If that approach doesn't work, we try the next one.

[Barabas is used to this sort of person, Hank. The only difference is Hank doesn't turn into a huge apex predator.]

Oh, yeah.

[Hank raises his eyebrows, smiling a little, wryly. Guy's got him there, doesn't he?]

Persistence. Think I remember what that's like. So, would you do another post asking whatever or would you want to go door to door, since uh - what'd you say about that office, you trying to keep physical copies there or something?

[That's a wonderful difference, one to be thankful for. The last thing anyone needs is for Hank to start spending time as a literal bear.]

[Honestly Hank would fit right in with Clan Heavy, but Barabas is at least kind enough not to remark on those sorts of things. Not everyone wants to hear they remind someone of werebears.]

A post can't hurt, and it's certainly quicker than door to door. But actually presenting it to people in person could be more effective.

[Por que no los dos?]

Well you gotta choose one, we don't all get hardons for paperwork like you lawyers. I do think uh, havin a hard copy's a good idea, but it'd be kind of hard to take that with us on our next little field trip so, I don't know. Watch might be better. It's weird that these things don't come with like... printers, I don't know. It's just weird that something that's made by an actual probably-a-witch is less advanced than something I'd see back home.

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video, after the caverns

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