(IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)

[TGLS]

Originally Posted by ericthered

Slam: "I mean this place. Its not exactly homey."

"Well, it's better than a hole in the ground, or the orphanage..."

I feel guilty saying this place is better than the hole in Bumundo, but can't quite place why...

Originally Posted by ericthered

Working for a better class of criminal!

Perhaps so... At least there is the choice this time around, instead of, "Pay me or face the consequences."

Originally Posted by ericthered

The Aquarium is full of water, and it doesn't seem to be leaking. The lighting is off... the direction of it is wrong, he thinks, even though the intensity is right. They've got a different tank full of fish down a different tunnel. Royal says they've got another location where they're keeping more fish and the screamers.

I point out the lighting problem. "The lights, they shouldn't be coming from up top like that. They're just the right brightness, but it was like they were coming from another direction..."

Then I ask to see where they're keeping the other fish.

[ericthered]

Originally Posted by TGLS

"Well, it's better than a hole in the ground, or the orphanage..."

Slam: "You'll need to used to better than that!"

I point out the lighting problem. "The lights, they shouldn't be coming from up top like that. They're just the right brightness, but it was like they were coming from another direction..."

They fidget around and get the lighting working as well as they can. Its a very robust system they can tweak quickly.

Then I ask to see where they're keeping the other fish.

Royal takes Julian there. Its a similar location, but quite a ways away... it feels like they've gone at least a mile. This area is much more staid. The fish are in two tanks. A third contains three slimely eel-worm things with a flat tail, divots down its flank, two enourmous round mandibles around a disgusting mouth, and four tiny eyes. Julian can FEEL them looking at him. No... its that feeling he associates with Riask. The creatures are wary about him.



Royal: "Wow, the screamers really watch you. That's something else. They ignore us."

[TGLS]

Originally Posted by ericthered

Slam: "You'll need to used to better than that!"

Seems like there's a get missing...
"Yeah, like I even deserve this much."

Originally Posted by ericthered

Royal takes Julian there. Its a similar location, but quite a ways away... it feels like they've gone at least a mile. This area is much more staid. The fish are in two tanks. A third contains three slimely eel-worm things with a flat tail, divots down its flank, two enourmous round mandibles around a disgusting mouth, and four tiny eyes. Julian can FEEL them looking at him. No... its that feeling he associates with Riask. The creatures are wary about him.

Their beatty little eyes staring into me, the disgusting gnashing mouth, and the strange feeling they seem to be pushing on me is almost too much. I look around for something to hide behind, like the inch of glass isn't enough to protect me. I back up slightly; why can't they just leave me alone? Can they tell I'm an astropic? That gives me an idea...

I settle myself slightly, and look the screamer dead in the eye. "Go away."

Originally Posted by ericthered

Royal: "Wow, the screamers really watch you. That's something else. They ignore us."

"You wouldn't know the half of it. They feel... Ominous."

[ericthered]

Originally Posted by TGLS

Seems like there's a get missing...

... indeed

"Yeah, like I even deserve this much."

Slam: "Dude, who cares about if you think you deserve it! No one is going to worry about giving you what you deserve! Take it! Its yours! own it! "

Their beatty little eyes staring into me, the disgusting gnashing mouth, and the strange feeling they seem to be pushing on me is almost too much. I look around for something to hide behind, like the inch of glass isn't enough to protect me. I back up slightly; why can't they just leave me alone? Can they tell I'm an astropic? That gives me an idea...

"beatty" little eyes? as in "Wyatt Beatty?"

"You wouldn't know the half of it. They feel... Ominous."

Royal: "Really? Do we need to get you out of here? That looks like more than just a feeling"

I settle myself slightly, and look the screamer dead in the eye. "Go away."

Julian feels some sort of wave go out of him, and the screamers recoil, and go back about three yards. Then Julian feels some sort of strange hostile pressure from them. Something on his mind. But not a scream... more like a shove.

[TGLS]

Originally Posted by ericthered

Slam: "Dude, who cares about if you think you deserve it! No one is going to worry about giving you what you deserve! Take it! Its yours! own it! "

It's true; I can have it if I deserve it or not. It's a brass ring; all I have to do is grab it. If I don't deserve it it's just going to be taken away anyway.

Originally Posted by ericthered

"beatty" little eyes? as in "Wyatt Beatty?"

What a coincidence my typo means something!

Originally Posted by ericthered

Royal: "Really? Do we need to get you out of here? That looks like more than just a feeling"

"I think it should be OK, unless they start screaming. Maybe it's like echolocation, where they finds potential threats/prey/other animals. That's why they're paying attention to me while ignoring you like a lump of kelp."

Originally Posted by ericthered

Julian feels some sort of wave go out of him, and the screamers recoil, and go back about three yards. Then Julian feels some sort of strange hostile pressure from them. Something on his mind. But not a scream... more like a shove.

I try to stay put and not run away, trip myself up or lose balance.

[153] 23-07-21 14:49:24 CEST
Will?
3d6 <= 11
6 + 4 + 5 = 15 ... failure

I any case, I say, "I guess talking to the starpus won't be that hard."

[ericthered]

Originally Posted by TGLS

"I think it should be OK, unless they start screaming. Maybe it's like echolocation, where they finds potential threats/prey/other animals. That's why they're paying attention to me while ignoring you like a lump of kelp."

Royal: "They're said to be aggressive predators. I wonder why they're not attacking."

I try to stay put and not run away, trip myself up or lose balance.

I suppose it is indeed an intimidation check by the creatures. They win the contest. Julian must back off away from them or face large penalties (-6) to most things he does.

I any case, I say, "I guess talking to the starpus won't be that hard."

Royal: "Talking to someone is a very different challenge than staring them down."

[TGLS]

Originally Posted by ericthered

Royal: "They're said to be aggressive predators. I wonder why they're not attacking."

"Well, maybe they're aware their in a tank and what they see isn't what they can get at?"

Originally Posted by ericthered

I suppose it is indeed an intimidation check by the creatures. They win the contest. Julian must back off away from them or face large penalties (-6) to most things he does.

Oof...
They're really scary, I back off before I completely lose composure here. I move to leave, choking back tears.

Originally Posted by ericthered

Royal: "Talking to someone is a very different challenge than staring them down."

"That's true, but it wasn't just a stare down. It was more than that. Like... Something came out of me and into them before they backed off. And they, pushed (?) back? It wasn't a scream, but..."

"Maybe they aren't predators. I mean, they could be screaming to make a starpus helpless before they devour them, true. But they could just as easily be screaming and running away."

[ericthered]

Originally Posted by TGLS

"Well, maybe they're aware their in a tank and what they see isn't what they can get at?"

Royal: "Maybe."

"That's true, but it wasn't just a stare down. It was more than that. Like... Something came out of me and into them before they backed off. And they, pushed (?) back? It wasn't a scream, but..."

"Maybe they aren't predators. I mean, they could be screaming to make a starpus helpless before they devour them, true. But they could just as easily be screaming and running away."

Royal: "Now I want to find another astropic and see how the screamers react. I can only imagine how excited Florence would be."



Royal: "You shouldn't need to deal with screamers for the job. You done here?"

[TGLS]

Originally Posted by ericthered

Royal: "You shouldn't need to deal with screamers for the job. You done here?"

As much as I'd like to go looking for the food fish, I rather just leave now. "Yeah, let's go."

[ericthered]

Royal takes Julian back to the flat.

As they're going back, Julian sees someone in the transport riding with them who looks familiar... A full black beard. Is that Paulis Tatum from his dreams?


back in the flat, he's able to get some studying done. Royal says they'll be putting their plans into effect tomorrow night, and encourages him to go to bed early so he'll be well rested.