1st Combo - [video]

[redcladidealist]

[The video comes on in a jolt of motion, which stills to a skewed image of pavement, buildings, and a soaking wet teenage boy clad in red and black lying on the ground. He winces as though he'd just hit the ground. Hard.]

Oww...

[Pushing himself up off the ground, he rubs his head.]

Is everyone all...

[Wait. Something's wrong. He looks around the plaza with clearly growing alarm, but still not at the SFC.]

Guys? Where is everyone?

[And where in the world is he?!]


[OOC: I'm up for action or network replies. Either works for me!]

Comments

[stayb100ponyboy]

It's not a tattoo.

[Pause]

Well, it is, but everyone has one. It's just something you use instead of currency. And yes, it's how you get food and clothing and whatnot.

[Shrug]

Beats me.

[redcladidealist]

Oh, so someone drew it on you with a marker. Got it!

[Not that he understands why that would entitle you to free food and clothes, but maybe at this point it'd just be easier to go with it. If Equius is wrong, then Lloyd will just have to get a job for that, too, which was what he was expecting in the first place.]

You're sure I have something like that...

[He can't tell. He's pretty much clothed head to toe, and he's not about to look for a mark that might be on his body who-knows-where right here and now. Maybe when he finds a bathroom.]

[stayb100ponyboy]

Everyone does. It's just a matter of finding it.

[Being hatched into privilege because of his blood color, Equius didn't have much of a problem adjusting to the Vatheon money system. He's had work, on and off, but it's not something he takes very seriously.]

Of course, there's a trade-off for getting everything for free, and that's the curses.

[redcladidealist]

[Just like that, all thoughts about marks and money completely disappear. Equius, you have his attention.]

C-curses?!

[stayb100ponyboy]

Yes. Every two weeks or so, a curse happens. Sometimes it's something silly, like wearing hats, and sometimes it's more serious, like having your age either excelerated or reversed. It depends. And they don't always strike you, either. Sometimes a curse won't affect you, but it will affect everyone around you.

[redcladidealist]

[Okay, Lloyd's trying to wrap his mind around all of that and... it's not working. Too much, too unbelievable, too...

Wait, does he even remember what that word means?

He shakes his head.]

I don't know if I get all of that, but it doesn't sound good at all. Is there any way to cure this stuff? Or avoid it?

I get so happy when I can use this icon ICly

[stayb100ponyboy]

[Equius shakes his head.]

Not really. It either catches you or it doesn't; there's no rhyme or reason to it.

Haha, happy to assist. XD

[redcladidealist]

[Oh crap, not good at all. Alarm visibly crossing his face.]

They at least wear off, though, right?

[stayb100ponyboy]

They only last about a week before wearing off.

[redcladidealist]

Ugh, a week... Well, at least it's not permanent.

[Lloyd pauses for a moment, considering Equius.]

Hey, you've really told me a lot. Thanks! I'm Lloyd, by the way. What's your name?

[stayb100ponyboy]

[As new arrivals go, this one is accepting things with a minimum of fuss. Equius approves.]

Equius Zahhak. Good luck out there, Lloyd. Don't talk to the short troll with nubby horns and a foul mouth... he's a jerk.

[redcladidealist]

Uh, okay?

[He'll try to make a mental note of that, but, well, we'll see how that goes.]

Equius. Got it. I'm going to take a look around, see if I can find some of my friends. They went through the Gate with me, so they might have come here, too. Maybe I'll see you around sometime.

[stayb100ponyboy]

Good luck.

[Equius offers a small, half-hearted wave, and then turns back towards the buildings. He crouches a little, gathering strength in his legs, then STRONG jumps back onto the rooftops.]

[redcladidealist]

[Lloyd watches with a startled blink as Equius takes off. That wasn't any little jump. Whoa, trolls are pretty amazing!]