boxedfixer

[boxedfixer]

To his credit, Ceryx didn't visibly flinch grin that went a little too far. But it was a good reminder that he still didn't entirely understand what he was dealing with. Should still be cautious.

"Less than half of that was mine, I think. But it's good to be clean again. And Prosthetic...it's when a person replaces a part of themselves with something made. Sometimes it's just a limb or sometimes they go farther and start trying to replace everything."

He looked at his conversational partner, still not sure how much was flesh, machine, or other. But if this one is learning about humans.... "But yeah, I think you have the right idea. Only make them scared when they need to be."

Ceryx hadn’t recovered from his prior deficit of fucks to worry more than that token resistance. He undid his pants, kicking the torn garment to the wall with the shirt. Those would get clean after he took care of himself.

“I’m not entirely familiar with the term, but I haven’t met anything quite like you before. I’ve known some people who go Prosthetic, but…your mechanical parts seem a step above anything I’ve seen. Many steps.” He bent down, cleaning his lower body as he talked. He scrubbed away at the caked on blood that had seeped through his clothing, revealing green hair and unbroken skin.

Seeing that there weren’t many remaining injuries under the blood made him feel better already. “And you’re a lot more…..polite and talkative than some of the things I’d say I’m afraid of.”

[boxedfixer]

Ceryx hadn't recovered from his prior deficit of fucks to worry more than that token resistance. He undid his pants, kicking the torn garment to the wall with the shirt. Those would get clean after he took care of himself.

"I'm not entirely familiar with the term, but I haven't met anything quite like you before. I've known some people who go Prosthetic, but...your mechanical parts seem a step above anything I've seen. Many steps." He bent down, cleaning his lower body as he talked. He scrubbed away at the caked on blood that had seeped through his clothing, revealing green hair and unbroken skin.

Seeing that there weren't many remaining injuries under the blood made him feel better already. "And you're a lot more.....polite and talkative than some of the things I'd say I'm afraid of."

After the first few moments of silence, Ceryx figured that there was some other form of communication that he wasn’t privy to happening. He busied himself with getting back to his shower. Especially if there was a chance of some other party being involved. The more blood he could get cleaned off the closer he’d be able to get to presentable.

After the creature spoke back up he nodded. “Assessing” was mildly concerning but was fair in the circumstances. Better make the most of the time he had to prep.

“If you want to keep talking until then I’m certainly willing, but just lemme know because there’s some areas I don’t know if you want to be here while I clean.” He gestured down at his pants, unsure if the message would be fully understood or not.

[boxedfixer]

After the first few moments of silence, Ceryx figured that there was some other form of communication that he wasn't privy to happening. He busied himself with getting back to his shower. Especially if there was a chance of some other party being involved. The more blood he could get cleaned off the closer he'd be able to get to presentable.

After the creature spoke back up he nodded. "Assessing" was mildly concerning but was fair in the circumstances. Better make the most of the time he had to prep.

"If you want to keep talking until then I'm certainly willing, but just lemme know because there's some areas I don't know if you want to be here while I clean." He gestured down at his pants, unsure if the message would be fully understood or not.

“I’d appreciate it.” He’d also feel a bit worried, because as nice as this….entity was he was still a little on edge at the idea of assistance so freely offered. But the backstreets had a system for this, when money wasn’t the preferred currency. “I’d owe you. Not sure what all I’d be helpful with since you don’t seem like the type to want stolen goods and you look perfectly capable of holding your own if violence were to happen, but you’d have a favor with me.”

Offices and syndicates lived and died on their reputations, and while he didn’t have any built up standing here, it was all he could really offer. “At some point I’d probably need to find a way to make some money of my own, which still runs into the same problem of my skillset not quite matching what I’d guess they need. But that’s a problem to worry about once I have clothes and a full stomach.”

[boxedfixer]

"I'd appreciate it." He'd also feel a bit worried, because as nice as this....entity was he was still a little on edge at the idea of assistance so freely offered. But the backstreets had a system for this, when money wasn't the preferred currency. "I'd owe you. Not sure what all I'd be helpful with since you don't seem like the type to want stolen goods and you look perfectly capable of holding your own if violence were to happen, but you'd have a favor with me."

Offices and syndicates lived and died on their reputations, and while he didn't have any built up standing here, it was all he could really offer. "At some point I'd probably need to find a way to make some money of my own, which still runs into the same problem of my skillset not quite matching what I'd guess they need. But that's a problem to worry about once I have clothes and a full stomach."

Ceryx looked at the new arrival. Certainly didn’t seem like anything he’d been familiar with,. He knew better than to judge the dangerousness of an entity by size and appearance, but he still estimated the larger of the two to be the bigger threat if push came to shove. Still, if they were going to stay friendly, he had no objection.

“I might have a little money,” He paused, a realization hitting him, “But that won’t do me any good as I don’t think we use the same currency. Unless your shops take Ahn I’m probably going to have to rely on…charity. At least until I find something I can get paid for.” He wasn’t entirely sure what catches to expect from a shelter, but he knew that he didn’t want to rely on them longer than he had to.

He had to ask, curiosity getting the better of him. What did your friend need at the shelter?“

[boxedfixer]

//aaaaa I've been spotted o:

[boxedfixer]

What emotion are you?

Anxiety.

Anxiety is your companion, the shadow that hangs over you like a storm cloud. It's a voice that whispers in your ear, telling you all the things that could go wrong- echoing and bouncing inside the walls of your mind. It's a feeling that clutches at your chest, making it hard to breathe. It's a cycle, a never-ending loop of worry and fear. I wish I could turn it off for you, silence the doubt in your mind, but it's always there, lurking in the corners of your thoughts, ready to strike when you least expect it.

Certainly one of the ones in the mix, yeah.

Tagged by @mmxstrangers

I don't have enough people following me to tag <__<

[boxedfixer]

Ceryx looked at the new arrival. Certainly didn't seem like anything he'd been familiar with,. He knew better than to judge the dangerousness of an entity by size and appearance, but he still estimated the larger of the two to be the bigger threat if push came to shove. Still, if they were going to stay friendly, he had no objection.

"I might have a little money," He paused, a realization hitting him, "But that won't do me any good as I don't think we use the same currency. Unless your shops take Ahn I'm probably going to have to rely on...charity. At least until I find something I can get paid for." He wasn't entirely sure what catches to expect from a shelter, but he knew that he didn't want to rely on them longer than he had to.

He had to ask, curiosity getting the better of him. What did your friend need at the shelter?"

Ceryx probably would have been slightly offended under normal conditions, but he was a realist and knew what he must looks like. Unarmed, half naked, and still partially covered in blood, a fair amount of it his own. He probably did not cut the most impressive figure.

“I’m a grade 7 Fixer, although I like to think I can act like a 6 on a good day. The Hana Association” He stopped, realizing that the agency’s name wouldn’t carry much weight in a place this far out of its reach, but he kept going, figuring it was still the best way to describe it. “They consider me to be on the upper side of the bottom of the roster, decently capable for a solo Fixer.”

He prodded the sodden remains of his top. “Normally I look a little better put together, but the last fight I was in before I made it here went poorly. You should have seen the others though. My tailor’s gonna be pissed though, I think this outfit is dead.”

He saw a little bit of a second entity. “Oh, you’ve got an -02–” he tried to cut off the technical term, not wanting to have to explain what an abnormality is or why he’s using jargon from them now. “A friend?”

[boxedfixer]

Ceryx probably would have been slightly offended under normal conditions, but he was a realist and knew what he must looks like. Unarmed, half naked, and still partially covered in blood, a fair amount of it his own. He probably did not cut the most impressive figure.

"I'm a grade 7 Fixer, although I like to think I can act like a 6 on a good day. The Hana Association" He stopped, realizing that the agency's name wouldn't carry much weight in a place this far out of its reach, but he kept going, figuring it was still the best way to describe it. "They consider me to be on the upper side of the bottom of the roster, decently capable for a solo Fixer."

He prodded the sodden remains of his top. "Normally I look a little better put together, but the last fight I was in before I made it here went poorly. You should have seen the others though. My tailor's gonna be pissed though, I think this outfit is dead."

He saw a little bit of a second entity. "Oh, you've got an -02--" he tried to cut off the technical term, not wanting to have to explain what an abnormality is or why he's using jargon from them now. "A friend?"

He added the names to his mental notes. Ceryx paused at the question though. I guess someone built like that can afford to be soft. He turned off the shower and thought the answer over before replying. “Where I come from we just call The City, and yes, sometimes it can be a violent place, and unfair. I think everyone just wants something to keep them safe. It might be their employer, or a hired protector, or their own strength, but if someone is trying to make you unsafe, they’re fair game for whatever you have that can stop them.”

He looked over Mezzo, doing a mental guess of how much damage that body could do if they really tried. “I’m a bit surprised that anyone really would give you any trouble though, Something they want to steal from you or they just feel ambitious?”

[boxedfixer]

He added the names to his mental notes. Ceryx paused at the question though. I guess someone built like that can afford to be soft. He turned off the shower and thought the answer over before replying. “Where I come from we just call The City, and yes, sometimes it can be a violent place, and unfair. I think everyone just wants something to keep them safe. It might be their employer, or a hired protector, or their own strength, but if someone is trying to make you unsafe, they’re fair game for whatever you have that can stop them.”

He looked over Mezzo, doing a mental guess of how much damage that body could do if they really tried. “I’m a bit surprised that anyone really would give you any trouble though, Something they want to steal from you or they just feel ambitious?”

boxedfixer​:

“Near as I can tell nobody has been following me, not that it’d be hard with all this sa–blood on me. Deliberately came out this way because I didn’t think any upstanding sorts would want to have anything to do with someone covered in blood, so I needed a place to clean up and plan ahead.”

Remarkably knowledgeable compared to an abno, Ceryx turned back to Mezzo. “I’m not really from around here, and this City of yours is…very different from the one I’m used to. Honestly, you telling me that this area is dangerous is the only familiar and comforting news I’ve heard all day.”

The larger cryptid hummed in understanding, nodding along to Ceryx’s words. Some of his teeth poked out with his smile. “Mmhmm. Makes sense to me!”

Mezzo tilted his head at the other’s admission. The mental cogs were turning. “So… You are from somewhere more dangerous. That doesn’t sound nice.” Familiar and comforting for the city to be dangerous? What kind of place did Ceryx come from?! “I hear Maverick attacks happen all over Abel City. I, um, don’t go out into the parts with lots of people cuz people are afraid of me, so I don’t know everything. There are nice places to go out at night though! Even if I have to punch someone trying to attack me sometimes…”

He clenched his fists, fins flattening against his neck.

“… I don’t like to hurt people or Mavericks, but sometimes they just don’t go away. Is… Is that what it’s like for your City, too?”

[boxedfixer]

“Near as I can tell nobody has been following me, not that it’d be hard with all this sa--blood on me. Deliberately came out this way because I didn’t think any upstanding sorts would want to have anything to do with someone covered in blood, so I needed a place to clean up and plan ahead.”

Remarkably knowledgeable compared to an abno, Ceryx turned back to Mezzo. “I’m not really from around here, and this City of yours is...very different from the one I’m used to. Honestly, you telling me that this area is dangerous is the only familiar and comforting news I’ve heard all day.”

boxedfixer​:

Yeah sure. That body shape makes the weird angle on the neck make more sense. Ceryx would have to keep his guard up and pay attention, because this certainly seemed more an abnormality than a human. At least that was familair though: he’d run into a few during his scavenging runs on the L-Corp ruins.

Mezzo was clearly intelligent enough to hold conversation, and seemed more interested than talking than face-mangling, so Ceryx would try to keep that trend going. Throw in a good faith gesture even. “I’m figuring this was were people would clean up after a day working here. There’s pipes and….” Ceryx was not a plumber.

“Pipes and the water comes from somewhere.” To demonstrate, he stepped out of his own cone of water to reach to a shower between him and Mezzo, turning it on to a light drizzle before returning to his own. “Just… wants to come out, I guess.”

“Oooooohhhhhh.” Mezzo’s fins stretched out even wider at the demonstration, “so it’s… Programmed, that way? Okay. I didn’t know humans needed water to do… Whatever it is you’re doing.”

Confusion crossed Mezzo’s harsh features again, this time staring at Ceryx himself. “Usually I don’t see humans down here. I didn’t even know humans lived in this part of the city! All I see are Mavericks most of the time…”

His eyebrows knit together in concern, leaning in closer. “There aren’t any Mavericks chasing you, are there? They usually go after humans…” he almost whispered.

[boxedfixer]

Yeah sure. That body shape makes the weird angle on the neck make more sense. Ceryx would have to keep his guard up and pay attention, because this certainly seemed more an abnormality than a human. At least that was familair though: he’d run into a few during his scavenging runs on the L-Corp ruins.

Mezzo was clearly intelligent enough to hold conversation, and seemed more interested than talking than face-mangling, so Ceryx would try to keep that trend going. Throw in a good faith gesture even. “I’m figuring this was were people would clean up after a day working here. There’s pipes and....” Ceryx was not a plumber.

“Pipes and the water comes from somewhere.” To demonstrate, he stepped out of his own cone of water to reach to a shower between him and Mezzo, turning it on to a light drizzle before returning to his own. “Just... wants to come out, I guess.”

boxedfixer​:

Ceryx hadn’t picked up any sign that he was being approached, or watched. Too busy living in the moment of clean. Or he might have just run out of fucks to give after how his day had been going. Either way, he was able to keep his calm, continuing to scrub away, working the dried bits out of his short hair. “Just kinda standing in it and doing the best I can. Far from the worst shower I’ve taken, I’ll tell you that much.”

He pushed his hair back out of his eyes and turned to look at the speaker as he put it back up. He had…questions. The head peeking it at him didn’t seem to be coming from the right angle to be from a human of a respectable height, which, given the shape of the head, checked out. It could be an abnormality, if those existed here, but at least it could talk. He’d try that.

“What wants to know?”

“Um… So… You’re not making the water come out of the wall?” the cryptid asked hesitantly, staring more at the showerhead than the bloody figure standing beneath it. The metallic smell made his nose wiggle and his face scrunch in a wince, but other than that he didn’t seem very bothered by the man himself.

Glancing back down towards him, the ‘abnormality’ blinked at the question. “What… Wants to know?… Do you mean, ‘who wants to know’? Because, ah… Everyone calls me Mezzo.”

The man didn’t seem that intimidated by him, which was a first. Driven by his curiosity, Mezzo opened the door further and took a step in. He had to duck to get through the doorway, and his hands by themselves took up a lot of room as well. The tall cryptid’s gaze switched between the shower and the man himself.

[boxedfixer]

Ceryx hadn’t picked up any sign that he was being approached, or watched. Too busy living in the moment of clean. Or he might have just run out of fucks to give after how his day had been going. Either way, he was able to keep his calm, continuing to scrub away, working the dried bits out of his short hair. “Just kinda standing in it and doing the best I can. Far from the worst shower I’ve taken, I’ll tell you that much.”

He pushed his hair back out of his eyes and turned to look at the speaker as he put it back up. He had...questions. The head peeking it at him didn’t seem to be coming from the right angle to be from a human of a respectable height, which, given the shape of the head, checked out. It could be an abnormality, if those existed here, but at least it could talk. He’d try that.

“What wants to know?”

boxedfixer​:

It felt good. Even though he had to convince himself that there was any warmth in the water it was just nice to feel it. If he understood things right, it had, somehow, only been a day or so since he set out on this risky gambit. He’d just managed to fit what felt like a month of agony and ass-beating into it.

As he worked to help the water clean off the dried blood from his body and clothing, he checked out his injuries. There would still be bruising for a bit, but it looked like most of the worst had healed up.

Figuring the shirt was probably as clean as it would get without being burnt, he started to unbutton what was left of it. Once off, he tossed it against the wall and continued the shower. Whatever he faced later, he’d at least face it clean.

As the two approached closer, the distinct pattering noise like rain could be heard. Confusion overtook the cryptid’s caution in that moment. Was it… Raining?

Issi tilted his head at the taller one’s confusion. Apparently, his bigger companion had never heard of a shower before - figuratively and literally.

Before Issi could step up to stop him, his friend peeked through the door and widened his eyes. An odd-looking man - a human, by the looks of it - was standing in rain coming from a metal piece of equipment. Rain? Inside of a subway station? Underground? Absolutely unheard of.

“… How are you doing that?”

The tall cryptid stared at the sight, having spoken before he registered the fact he completely blew his stealthy cover. He even leaned in through the doorway more, his head poking out more and his fins up and alert.

[boxedfixer]

It felt good. Even though he had to convince himself that there was any warmth in the water it was just nice to feel it. If he understood things right, it had, somehow, only been a day or so since he set out on this risky gambit. He’d just managed to fit what felt like a month of agony and ass-beating into it.

As he worked to help the water clean off the dried blood from his body and clothing, he checked out his injuries. There would still be bruising for a bit, but it looked like most of the worst had healed up.

Figuring the shirt was probably as clean as it would get without being burnt, he started to unbutton what was left of it. Once off, he tossed it against the wall and continued the shower. Whatever he faced later, he’d at least face it clean.

boxedfixer​:

It was promising. He didn’t actually have anything on him that used electricity, let alone would hook up to the outlets here, but it was good that it was still on. Meant that if he managed to get his hands on local stuff it would still work.

He found an “Employees Only” door and found it conveniently unlocked (by virtue of being broken) and started looking for a good spot to hold up. Opening another set of doors and reaching for a lights witch he found himself in a locker room. As he set the box down, he started rationalizing the decision he’d already made. It would be a good idea to make sure the water is still working, and while his clothes were still trashed he could at least get them clean and closer to presentable.

He turned one of the showers on, pleasantly surprised that the water ran at all, and after a minute of running it even had a little warmth to it. He stepped into the water still dressed, determined to get some of the blood off before he even bothered taking anything off.

The two wandering the tunnels just walked out, clambering onto the platform. They were just about to walk out when the taller one’s fins perked up.

The subtle hum of the water pipes wasn’t something he ever recalled hearing here before… And what was with the bright lights leaking out from behind the doors?

All of a sudden, the two inhabitants of the subway felt a lot less alone.

The taller one’s fins went flat against his neck while nervous energy flooded his system. Someone else was here? Sure, it wasn’t unusual to find another Reploid or two hanging out or needing a recharge in the office or just loitering around the platforms until nighttime, but those types certainly weren’t friendly in most cases. He hated the times he had to fight them off.

Beckoning Issi to stay close to him, the cryptid crouched behind a trash can before sneaking closer to the doors, trying to peek in.

[boxedfixer]

The Dark Earths Zodiac

The Frost

As the winter creeps over the woods, so you move through your world-- slow sometimes, seeming to recede in the open light, but every night you find your way to more than you had the night before. The sign of the Frost is defined by its opportunism, wisdom, and intensity. You are unavoidable. There are few that those of the Frost cannot find some common ground with, crawling all the same over tree and root, blossom and weed. But the Frost also harbors their beliefs beyond the reach of the summer, and will not be easily moved by those around them. They are the most stubborn of the signs, and tend to enjoy argument for its own sake. They hate to be wrong. As a result, they have the tendency to try and be as circumspect as possible, gather all the information they can, and form opinions only once the whole picture is clear--they are rarely ensnared by impulsiveness and may even find those who do act spontaneously annoying. This sign anticipates its future eagerly, but they are not consumed by its imaginings as the Sparrow is-- rather, the Frost knows their time will come, and patiently works towards when it might claim the whole forest as its own. Ambition comes before all else for the Frost, though that ambition isn't limited to traditional productivity; they pursue goals of all sorts with a singlemindedness that puts noncommittal minds like the Mycellium to shame. They tend to believe in hard work as the main ingredient in success. That, and finding the right moment to strike-- but patient as they may be, this moment may never come. The Frost does not deal well with failure, and their tendency to repress their emotions fails to mesh well with this. Despite their common success, those born under this sign are often haunted with feelings of failure, inadequacy, and the constant pressure of never having quite enough time.

I got tagged but don’t yet have vict--I mean followers to tag from here yet so I’ll hit people some other time.

[boxedfixer]

It was promising. He didn’t actually have anything on him that used electricity, let alone would hook up to the outlets here, but it was good that it was still on. Meant that if he managed to get his hands on local stuff it would still work.

He found an “Employees Only” door and found it conveniently unlocked (by virtue of being broken) and started looking for a good spot to hold up. Opening another set of doors and reaching for a lights witch he found himself in a locker room. As he set the box down, he started rationalizing the decision he’d already made. It would be a good idea to make sure the water is still working, and while his clothes were still trashed he could at least get them clean and closer to presentable.

He turned one of the showers on, pleasantly surprised that the water ran at all, and after a minute of running it even had a little warmth to it. He stepped into the water still dressed, determined to get some of the blood off before he even bothered taking anything off.

New Arrival

Ceryx was feeling a lot better now that he was re-armed, enough that he was on the move. Long term he’d sort out later, but short term it was getting later in the day and he wanted a place to spend the night in, and medium term he’d want a base of operations while he figured out more about where he was.

He started trying to find the worst part of town, a distressingly hard task when there aren’t the usual sounds of the City to go by. Eventually he started to find some husks of neglected buildings here and there, suggesting he was going in the right direction. His goal was somewhere bad enough that nobody would care if he moved in, but still close enough to civilization that maybe some of the utilities still worked. Water or power, or both if he was lucky.

There was a tunnel going down, and the occasional flicker of lights. The signs suggested it might be a train station of sorts.

Ceryx wasn’t feeling like riding another train after what he went through, but holing up in a station didn’t seem like that bad of an idea.

[boxedfixer]

New Arrival

Ceryx was feeling a lot better now that he was re-armed, enough that he was on the move. Long term he’d sort out later, but short term it was getting later in the day and he wanted a place to spend the night in, and medium term he’d want a base of operations while he figured out more about where he was.

He started trying to find the worst part of town, a distressingly hard task when there aren’t the usual sounds of the City to go by. Eventually he started to find some husks of neglected buildings here and there, suggesting he was going in the right direction. His goal was somewhere bad enough that nobody would care if he moved in, but still close enough to civilization that maybe some of the utilities still worked. Water or power, or both if he was lucky.

There was a tunnel going down, and the occasional flicker of lights. The signs suggested it might be a train station of sorts.

Ceryx wasn’t feeling like riding another train after what he went through, but holing up in a station didn’t seem like that bad of an idea.

[boxedfixer]

Starter handouts

Starter selection time!

I got this ’here fella and want to do some things with him. I’ve got options!

Want to meet him in the park while he’s still under the weather and mostly armless? Got that in a prior post and it is still open for takers.

Want to be there when he gets the arm back? Can do, just drop me a line so I know who to aim the starter at.

Wanna be the one to tell him he just got isekai’d and get to see his first rounds of culture shock? Hit me up

Wanna do something after he’s got his legs back under him and can actually try to adapt to the new setting he finds himself in? Yeah, lets do it.