[Open Log] Don't you Worry 'bout a thing

[backwordscompatible]

Characters: Members of the Foreigners' Guild
Date: Beginning of May
Location: Welcome Center
Situation: Trying to figure out just how this thing is going to work
Warnings/Rating: none to start; will update if needed

Today, the Center is...not quite closed, because it was never closed, but the sign out front was a little more specific than usual: indicating that those who had chosen to align themselves with the Foreigners' Guild to stop by at their convenience for a group discussion. Word of mouth was the primary means of getting the information out, but just in case, Zatanna was nearby with a checklist making sure to get names of not only who showed up, but of any known members who did not. So that they could be contacted at a later time and kept in the loop.

For her part, the 19-year-old was sitting casually in her favorite armchair by the fireplace (though currently lit, was emitting very little heat, indicating a more magical nature. For ambiance, mainly) and not-quite-facilitating the entire process. Her body language gave little indication of wanting to step forward as official leader, although she was ready with answers for any who may have had relevant questions.



[[ooc: Characters are encouraged to make their own top levels for open-ended discussion of the state of the Guild; if any of them want to talk to Zatanna specifically, indicate in the subject level and she'll come around.]]

Comments

[annihilist]

"Only when it gets your knickers in a twist," the Brit returned just as mildly, turning to give Kratos a full on smirk.

It wasn't that Devin got particular enjoyment out of doing illegal things. Criminal conduct had become habit out of necessity long ago. The implication of it being fun, however, had a tendency to rile certain kinds of people, sometimes more so than the actual infraction, and therein lay the real entertainment.

[simulsimul]

Ah, one of those. Less prickly than Yuan, by all counts, but effortlessly arrogant and prone to being annoying just because. Kratos humphs, a sound which possibly approaches amusement. Possibly.

"You remind me of someone I know. Contrary. Deliberately prodding, just for the sake of it."

[annihilist]

The smirk did not diminish whatsoever. Devin hadn't been lying when he said he found Kratos interesting, and getting another chance to pull conversation out of him was proving rewarding.

"Why, Kratos, I'm hurt. You forgot 'irresistable', among other things," Devin crooned. "But you've hit upon two of my best qualities, so I've decided to forgive you."

[simulsimul]

That was ... one hell of a response, and made Kratos finally look over properly with an expression approaching shades of bemusement.

"I forgot nothing," he said dryly. If he was discomforted by Devin's tone, beyond the vague confusion, it didn't show. "But as you've chosen to be magnanimous, I suppose I can accept."

[annihilist]

Devin will take vague confusion. It was better than impassivity, which Kratos seemed to have in spades.

"Good, or we might have a problem," he returned, a definite note of amusement in his voice. A few seconds of silence passed, and the vampire shifted his weight almost imperceptibly towards Kratos, not quite leaning in. "I can give you an itemized list of what you've left out, even so."

[simulsimul]

"That's what you said last time," Kratos pointed out, entirely deadpan and oblivious to conventional Earth sense of humour and innuendo. Devin had said the same thing about his being an angel.

Kratos didn't shift away from the not-quite-lean, only tipped his head. "I'm sure you could. I imagine I would be able to guess most of the things on the list."

[annihilist]

"I did, didn't I?" Devin said cheerfully. "Points for observation."

The vampire is more than capable of making up for Kratos' lack of Earth humor. He sorely hopes to restage some of his more favorite moments from various media. At the last, Devin merely tips his head slightly.

"I'd like to see you try, but that might fill up your quota of words for the day."

[simulsimul]

"It would be a pity to deprive you of conversation, in that event," Kratos answered mildly; but this was the mildness of concealed amusement, carrying an argument for the sake of the argument.

Yuan was more prickly; but Devin's smug antagonism was very similar. ... Kratos concealed the pang caused by a number of muddled emotions, choosing to set them aside from another time. Perhaps never.

[annihilist]

"I would be so terribly bereft. Whatever would I do with myself."

Judging by his tone, probably follow Kratos around with a violin wherever he went, or something similar. He did actually like irritating people from time to time, but those people were rarely fully living beings.

[simulsimul]

"Flaunt the law to assuage your boredom, I presume." Kratos turned his attention back to proceedings at large, but that didn't mean he was ignoring Devin. Just giving a credible presentation of it, aside from speaking again.

"Or look for other vampires, perhaps?" That was dry. They both knew how Devin felt about his own kind -- or at least, the ones who acted as superior beings.

[annihilist]

"Mm. Too predictable now." Kratos turning away gave Devin the chance to do the same. The smirk remained as he did so, but it didn't meet his eyes any longer.

"There would be no point in hunting here," he replied evenly, though the neutrality was undoubtedly forced.

The statement is incomplete; he would hunt, but he wouldn't kill. Other vampires like him would endanger these people, endanger the whole city. They would have to be dealt with - restrained, fed the minimum needed to survive, and kept away from polite society until they disappeared. None of this, of course, gets said aloud.

[simulsimul]

"Why not?" Were there simply no vampires here, or no vampires Devin considered worth hunting?

Either way, there was obviously more to the statement than the actual words implied. Devin had gone from cheerful to even in far too short a time for it not to be caused by something.

[annihilist]

"They would come back," Devin said simply. There weren't any native vampires here, as far as he could tell and as far as anyone know. They hadn't reached all the continents, apparently, but thus far he seemed to be a population of one.

Fai... Fai was different. Fai was alive. Devin still didn't know what to do about that, but his point held.

"Besides, it would be like shooting fish in a barrel. Too easy," he added, and along with this was an expression that resembled smiling to a casual observer, but was brittle at the edges.

[simulsimul]

That made Kratos pause. He'd heard about that, the tendency of people to come back from the dead in this place; but even incidental death not being an option for him meant he'd put the possibility out of his mind.

A horrible thought, really.

"That depends on how much you've kept yourself up to level while you've been here," Kratos noted, taking the opening for a change of subject. It was a bland sort of comment, not exactly a challenge ... but possibly one.

[annihilist]

The curve of Devin's smirk barely softened, but it was the line of difference between feigned and genuine.

"You're welcome to find out, if you dare," he remarked, keeping his gaze on the small crowd discussion. His scuffle with Valdis didn't really count as practice, but he'd hardly been lazy since arriving. Neither Kratos nor Devin knew the exact capabilities of the other, however, so if they fought - amicably or otherwise - they'd both be unknown quantities.

Devin, lacking much useful battle magic, would almost certainly lose unless Kratos refrained from spellwork.

[simulsimul]

"If I dare?" Kratos's eyebrows lifted, and he glanced sideways with shades of incredulity and amusement. "I hardly believe a fight with you would be daring much."

His only sparring partner had eventually stopped showing up, besides, not that Kratos was surprised. Zelos had shown willingness to keep sparring for longer after his transformation ended than Kratos had expected.

[annihilist]

"I believe that would greatly depend on the terms of such a fight, mercenary," Devin returned mildly, not looking at him. He was an effective killer, and only a step or two down from that made him quite dangerous in a fight. And the vampire probably wouldn't mind the chance to try and beat up an angel.

"Man to man," he began pointedly, "it could be quite the challenge. Or does all your skill as a hired sword rely on your wings?" He already knew that wasn't the case, but Devin would not be passing up opportunities to needle Kratos.

[simulsimul]

"Then you admit you couldn't best me in a fight with no limitations." Not that that was at all the point, but one had to point out the humility in such admissions.

"But if we're scaling down," Kratos continued, "that would depend on whether you can put down your own unique abilities -- or am I to accept being hamstrung to mortal limitations while you enjoy whatever benefits you possess as a vampire?"

At this point, they were just arguing constraints.

[annihilist]

"If it helps you sleep at night, sure."

Devin wasn't actually certain what he could do with no limitations. The Devil himself feared what Devin contained, and he only has a fragment. No need to tell Kratos that.

"I'm well practiced at pulling my punches. Humans are very breakable." Careful application of strength was a skill Devin prided himself on.

[simulsimul]

"I don't sleep." This was said with deadpan impassivity that made it difficult to tell whether it was a joke or just a statement of face. Kratos turned back to the room at large, the way Devin had done. "There won't be any need for that. I can limit myself to my blade, and bar myself from using magical artes."

It wouldn't preclude his using strength or speed or healing, but he could scale those appropriately if need be -- though he would prefer it not to be necessary. It always made something in him ache, to have to fight the seal down to lower his skill level. Necessary, and worth it, oft-times; but even still.

"Where and when?"

[annihilist]

"It​ seems I'll have to find myself a sword." Devin didn't carry one these days, since it was much easier to conceal firearms.

Setting up a sparring match during a meeting meant for Guild organization felt oddly companionable; it's not something Devin wanted to encourage. That said, it had been a long time since he's faced anyone with enough skill to best him. He could use the practice.

"How about after the session on high crimes is done, lest they ban a casual dueling." And Devin would need time to acquire a weapon. "Dawn? Perhaps outside the city walls, where there's more space."

[simulsimul]

"If it ever is," said Kratos dryly. He hadn't been given a reason to believe the situation might be extended; but then again, he hadn't been given any reason not to think the same. Excesses of power often gained their own weight.

"There's an area I've used in the past," he said. "It's past the farms but nearer the shell's edge, away from the risk of any collateral damage. There's a path which splits off from the road from Water Sector's gate."

[annihilist]

"Sounds suitable. I like having room to move." When one could speed around to the point of being a blur, it was always nice to have sufficient space to stretch. "I haven't been that way, but I'm sure it won't be hard to find."

The vampire was not at all directionally challenged. He would like to get in some practice beforehand, however, so this would give him a little time to shave off the rust from his skills.

"How would you like to determine the victor?" Because they were clear on this being a challenge, not a friendly practice session.

[simulsimul]

"To the blood seems too simple," said Kratos. A battle was barely begun, by the time blood might be drawn between two skilled combatants; and such a draw would hardly be anything worth stopping for. "Usually, I'd spar to a wingpull -- but you've no wings. Is there any analogous state you have which we can use to determine a scale?"

[annihilist]

"The closest would involve knocking out teeth."

That would hurt like hell if it happened; his fangs are rather more sensitive than the rest. He considered this for a few moments. "What about disarming? Unless you'd like to continue into fisticuffs should that occur."