towerofanimus | Will you or won't you

Will you or won't you

Characters: Anybody and everybody
Setting: Floor 1, before noon
Summary: Riki's offered a way to help keep the Tower powered a little longer. Obviously this is going to cause a lot of discussion and debate so let's CONSOLIDATE
Warnings: Nothing as of yet. Possibly eventually, so keep an eye on subject lines and I 'll try to change to reflect any developments

[No doubt Riki's announcement would be polarizing, but the instructions themselves were clear: Floor 1 at noon if you want to help out. And if you want to meet people, try to talk them in or out of it? Or hell, maybe even just talk about the revelation on who is behind those explosions? Well, this is as good a place as any for that too.

Just remember to be careful near the staircase]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[David looks up, and over at the other red-goggled guy. His expression is a melange of wry grimness.]

Heh. Yeah, been around for half a year already, dere wasn't much I could do to help. Until now, dat is.

[He gestures to the Vanguard "Redding" rifle that's strapped to a thigh mount.]

Without ammo, a Blaster like me ain't gonna do much good for anybody.

Six months, huh? [That's not good, Reno thought he knew most of the people in the Tower, or at least kept tabs on names.

He eyes the weapon with some interest.]

Ammo's the kind of thing that's rare around here. Why I switched to bows. You don't fight unarmed?

[David shakes his head at the question.]

Naw, not if I can help it. I mean dere's times I gotta punch a goon in da face, but if I gotta go mano e mano from da start, it ain't gonna end well for me.

[He glances down to the other side of his utility belt.]

I did get my hands on one of da swords dem ugly punks like carryin' around, back when da glamour failed da first time. Dunno how to use it, though, beyond "swing as hard as you can an' hope you hit somethin'."

[Reno grunts softly.]

That's harsh. Those kinda skills are useful around here. We don't have a lot of time, but if you're interested in learnin' some of the basics, I can teach.

[Huh! This is a pretty lucky break for David. He gives Reno a more honest grin than the one he'd been wearing.]

Heck, why not? I'm game.

[His flight system drops him gently onto the floor. If his short stature wasn't apparent before, it definitely ought to be now; even with the powered armor suit boosting his height a few inches, he doesn't stand taller than five feet and a half.]

So how're we doin' dis?

[Huh. Reno pauses a moment, thinking how he would. The guy seems sort of attached to the armor, but the height difference shouldn't be a problem.]

Are ya volunteering for Riki?

Not really volunteering for him, but for da good of everybody.

[Roundabout way of saying "yes," David supposes, but it's the truth. He ... really doesn't know a whole lot about the admins beyond "some are good and some are bad," and where Riki stands in that mess is mostly unknown to him for now.]

[Though with Riki pinning the blame on Jason ... a beat passes before David speaks up again.]

'Sides, if what he says is true, one of da bad guys is responsible for dis mess. Gotta try an make things right, yanno?

[Reno can't really say anything for that. His opinion is complicated and confused, and so far he hasn't had luck making his case with anything.]

Might be a good idea to wait until after Riki's done with this whole thing before doin' the training thing. Don't know what'll happen to you guys.

[He shrugs.]

Far as I'm concerned, if this is Jason's fault, I think they shoulda made him do this power the Tower crap.

Oh—well, arright.

[David looks a little disappointed, but ... maybe this guy has a point. For what time he's spent in the Tower, he's certainly seen some strange things happen to its residents. For now, he'll content himself to speculate on the issue with Jason.]

Maybe da damage done to da tower's more dan da power dey could get offa him alone? Or, dey got somethin' more fitting of a punishment planned for 'em ...

[Normally, Reno wouldn't mind, but there's no telling what will happen, and as far as he's concerned everyone going needed all the energy they could get.]

He's been punished before, so Riki might be waiting for Ruana to wake up. Don't think she'll be all that pleased he screwed up the Tower so much we're running outta energy five months early.

Yeah. I'm guessin' she's like da head honcho of all da admins, right? What's your take on her?

[David's feeling a mite embarrassed that he hadn't tried to gather any information on the tower and its keepers in the past half-year.]

Psychotic kid.

[It's simple, to the point, and pretty accurate as far as Reno's concerned.]

[David's expression turns a bit sour.]

Oh boy. One of does types, huh ... How 'bout da rest of da gang? Way back when I first got here people were tellin' me we've got good guys an' bad guys runnin' dis joint.

Jason's the 'for the science' type. Zo's an actual kid, he seems to want to help but he's in with Ruana. Riki's the one hardest to figure out, but he's 'intrigued' by intellectual pursuits.

[If Reno seems like he's giving a report, it's because he is.]

They don't think of themselves as good or bad. Some of 'em honestly think they're saving us.

[And David appreciates a good sitrep! He keeps silent while Reno goes through the list, readjusting the cigar in his outh as he listens. Then, afterwards—]

Well, ya know what dey say. "Da road to Hell's paved with good intentions." Fought more dan my share of villains like dat, thought dey were doin' everybody a favor despite all da misery an' sufferin' they were dishin' out.

[That actually gets a soft chuckle out of Reno.]

Yeah, that pegs them real neat. Take it you've got a big share of experience with that.

[David nods.]

Oh yeah. Worst case of it I ever saw was dis one guy, Doctor Vahzilok. Guy got obsessed with trying to put an end to death, an' his solution was harvestin' innocent people an' superheroes for spare parts.

[Then he grits his teeth, clamping on the cigar a bit harder than usual.]

Jason probably would have loved 'em.

Ah, man, why is it always the scientist types?

[He's had plenty experience with that even before the Tower.]

Heh, dere's good apples an' bad ones in every bunch. Lucky we got guys like Positron an' Synapse to balance quacks like Vahzilok out.

[Another beat passes while David looks ... perhaps a little crestfallen.]

Well—had at any rate.

[The names didn't mean anything to Reno except maybe vague sciencey words related to atoms and brain cells... but he understands the look.]

Partners of yours? I know the feelin'.

Not really partners ... more like role models. Dem two guys were part of da Survivin' Eight. Toughest heroes of da Freedom Phalanx.

[David's tone of voice sounds a little wistful, a little reverent.]

If dey were here, I bet dey could've done a lot more good for everyone dan someone like me. Specially since dey're science types, yanno? Good at figurin' stuff out.

Don't think like that. You think like that, you underestimate yourself.

[Reno's tone is a bit sharper than he meant it to be, but after being wrung through how many talks of leadership and failure, hearing it from someone else rubbed raw nerves.]

[David looks taken aback by Reno's admonishment, but not affronted.]

Eh, I guess—yeah, you're right. Dey ain't here, I am. I gotta be da one to step up to bat here.

[It's a sentiment that Reno all too painfully knows.]

What's your name?

Name's David. "Little David," if you wanna go by my superhero name.

[He affects a wry grin.]

Small guy wit a big honkin' gun. Dat's how I roll.

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