video; un: Clyde

[darknstormy]

[ The video shook a little before finally landing on his face. Well, the profile of his face. Seth had turned it on without realizing then stepped away. He glanced back, catching something moving in his peripheral.

Shit.

[ A look of illumination graced his features and he stopped his approach to turn off the feed. Seth cleared his throat, his expression more accepting of their surrounding circumstance than his frustrated focus of seconds ago. What could he say? He was glad to have a speaking voice again. Might as well put it to use. ]

If there's somethin' that getting sucked from one mess to another's taught me, it's that nothin' lasts forever. All this shit's temporary... I couldn't talk soon after ending up here. My better half couldn't hear. And some of you got acquainted with the pain in the ass who lives with us, Leo. --Who by the way, can't exactly help what he is and didn't fuckin' ask to be made but still lives buy a code. But I digress...

[ Seth sat back after the brief introduction of sorts. ]

I'm Seth. Seth Gecko. You've already met Leo on here. As my Bonnie once called him, 'a walkin'-talkin' after shave commercial' who sang for you. Margo hasn't graced you all with an appearance yet but that's probably thanks to the roller coaster we've been through since arriving. She'll no doubt talk about magic when she does. Me? Well, I'm just a run of the mill guy from Kansas City. No powers, though not too bad with a piece.

[ He leaned forward and pulled out a gun tucked at the small of his back, brought it to view then returned it. ]

So if I haven't bored you all to hell yet, maybe some of who's left can enlighten me on what life's been like here? It seems the breaking up into islands is something new. Before ending up here, the three of us were at a place in France--or at least, it seemed French--that nobody could make a sound or chance gettin' torn apart by monsters.

Anybody sharin' insight about life here, you've earned yourself some manual labor. Or anythin' else I can come up with.

[ He offered an expectant look at the end. Not quite a smile, but a signature move when trying to get something without the means to obtain it otherwise. ]

Comments

[darknstormy]

[ Agent? Did that make her a Fed? She didn't come across like any other kind. Wasn't about to get anyone a role or major league contract.

Another plus one for Hadriel being a desert on arrival. Seth was glad to miss the boat on that one. There was only so much sand and sun that he liked, especially after Mexico and Texas. Especially having to deal with monsters. No matter what Leo said, the eldest Gecko preferred island life compared to squatting in caves.

He gave a nod and replied, a bit stoic. ]

Missouri, yeah. I spent some time in Texas and Mexico, if that matters any. You from the southeast or that just coincidence?

[ Kanye did name his kid North. Who knew from what time this chick was. Leo didn't look to be from the future but he was. Seth worked with the information given to him. ]

So with these creatures around on a regular basis, where can I get a reload on ammo?

[ A slightly more important question. ]

[uptightness]

[He was so far off with his guess, and likely wouldn't come any closer to what she was. It wasn't as if she would expect him to come close to placing her with the organization that she had been a part of. Most people hadn't gotten to the level of space travel that was common in her own universe.

Her name isn't even her real name. Carolina. It's been something that she's carried for so long now that it might as well be. Not like she associated herself as being a Church.]

Coincidence.

[And, nothing more about that.]

They used to be just within a certain area, but now... Not entirely certain. I'd take care of whatever ammo you have. Maybe look in to a knife or something. They're annoying, but- [A shrug. She is a soldier. Aside from arriving after not eating or drinking for days, she's able to handle herself.] Odd nurses that tried to attack when you made noise was what I arrived to. Flying monkeys was another. Some strange creatures that sprang out. They'd leave you alone once you left the mists of the arena.

[darknstormy]

Right.

[ Seth stared for a long pause, digesting what she just informed him of. Definitely not a Fed. They relied on a gun and pretty much nothing else. Knives... knives were more military or merc related. Richie liked them. Seth preferred his hands but could use a knife well enough. ]

There were flyin' monkeys when we got here. How often does that shit happen? --There some kind of cycle to monsters poppin' up?

[ Because maybe giving anyone shooting lessons wasn't the best idea if ammo was hard to come by. ]

[uptightness]

It's been around thirty days, give or take.

[It differs a little but it more or less does appear to be on some sort of schedule. It's not like people appear all the time. Rather, like a regular program, they come in groups.]

Haven't been here long enough if there is a cycle.

[darknstormy]

[ He didn't fall for the 'give or take'. She was counting. Definitely part of some military faction. ...Or maybe one of those disorders Richie talked about like Rain Man. ]

So you're also fresh meat then? What's your story?

[uptightness]

[Was a part of a military faction.

Which she also helped to bring down.

Now? She's just trying to make amends. It's a process.]

Seen the coliseum come alive four times now. Fresher than some.

[And more seasoned than others.]

Familiar with space travel at all?

[darknstormy]

Got it. I've only been here for one round of that. And now I'm not even on the same island so maybe lady luck finally paid me and mine a visit.

[ Space travel? His face became hesitant at that question. ]

Me personally, no. I'm not one of those conspiracy types who thinks it's all a hoax like my brother.

Why? Is that what you did before here?

[ Weirder shit had been said. He could give her a minute to explain. ]

[uptightness]

No. I was a soldier.

[Which did involve space travel but it wasn't her main job.]

UNSC. United Nations Space Command.

[darknstormy]

[ His expression barely changed yet internally Seth was smug that his notion about her had been right. He gave a nod. ]

Wait. What?

[ Only one thing would make what she said feasible. ]

What year did we start sendin' soldiers to space?

[ Assuming she was from Earth. ]

[uptightness]

Mid 21st century is when we started colonizing other worlds. Mars. Jovian Moons. Some campaigns in the 22nd century.

[More two sides than outside forces.]

26th century, if you want external conflict between us and the Covenant Empire.

[darknstormy]

Christ. That's even further than Aliens.

[ He needed to stop confusing fiction with real life. ]

I was alive when the millennium changed. About five hundred years before that conflict you're talkin' about.

How the fuck are you dealin' here? This shit's kind of primitive for me, can't imagine what life's life for you?

[uptightness]

It's not all space ships and technology. Of course, there are things that are more advanced than this place has.

[Houses. Vehicles. Armour. Entertainment.

A lot of things, really.

But-]

I've got people here though.

[darknstormy]

So you're really sayin' like centuries ahead?

[ He had a hard time believing this for some reason. But then she said something more interesting. ]

You've got people here?

[ It wasn't hard to believe considering he had people too. Well, a person. Leo was picked up along the way. ]

Husband and kids kinda people or...?

[uptightness]

[That soft snort as those green eyes settle on him.]

Yes.

[Because it is as simple as that. It makes some things easier but it makes some things harder. It's not like it's a fix-all for everything, technology.

Her face scrunches slightly at his words, because he is so far off base...]

Team mates. [Although after a moment, she does add.] Family.

[Because they are more than just team mates.]