discedo_logs | Lachesistein: Open Log

[ Sasuke had remained as quiet as ever on the train, not complaining about the smell or condition in general but rather keeping to himself and his own thoughts. That letter. If it had really been... How could it be? And yet people had been brought back from the dead before.

He's quick to exit as soon as the cars roll to a stop, planning to investigate each house at a time for further clues. Sticking together as a group might've been wise, but he's never been much of a team player. ]

[ Suigetsu stretches as soon as he hits the ground and rolls his joints out, complaining loudly about the smell. But he narrows his eyes as he looks away from Sasuke, lips curling down at the dense fog.

Visibility, probably ten, twenty yards. There's nothing but the small, decrepit train station, half razed to the ground by something. He stays close to Sasuke, an arm's distance away. ]

What a surprise - it's a shit hole too. I didn't know what I was expecting... definitely not this.

[ The words take a few seconds to truly register, the sounds absorbed and replaying in his mind subconsciously until he deems them worthy of perusing. Ah. Complaints. At least that is expected. ]

In this world, I'm no longer surprised by the poor conditions of things. [ "Poor conditions". That's a kind way to describe the scene before them both. Is he afraid? Not even remotely. Perhaps ill at ease thanks to his hindered ability to see. ] Keep your guard up. What weaponry did you bring?

You take things too literally sometimes, you know? [ Suigetsu states blandly; he needs to educate Sasuke in sarcasm and the art of guile. So gullible... ]

I brouughht... kunai. It's all I need, as if I'm going to overpack, then all I'd hear is you complain about me slowing you down and that gets sooo annoying! [ He sniggers.

He looks over though, striding beside Sasuke easily. ] You're distracted. Thinking about Itachi?

[ Strangely it isn't something that he hears often, despite how true it really is. Why should he assume things are said in jest? ]

Yeah. [ It's a question that needn't be asked. Normally he might hedge the issue of his brother at first but no, not now. ] Kunai is fine, as long as you have something.

If someone caught our brothers I'd be more worried about them! [ Suigetsu exclaims contentedly, confidently. It's his own little way of making sure his partner wasn't worried.

Worry led to apprehension. Apprehension led to failure. Failure was not an option.

He doesn't pull the right reaction out of Sasuke with that dig at him, but he shrugs it off and twirls one of the small weapons around his finger deftly. ] Where do you wanna search first?

[ In his mind he agrees with Suigetsu, aware that being bogged down with unhelpful emotions would only distract him from the goal that he needs to accomplish. But he's also always had a problem with that cool exterior when it comes to his family. ] Assuming that this is real. Assuming that they have their abilities. [ It doesn't put him at ease, the fact that neither himself nor Suigetsu do. ]

The others will make noise if they find something. More isolated places. Houses, perhaps.

Yeah, seriously? The notes were probably forgeries. But really, even without abilities, look at you and me. [ He laughs sharply. ] We can beat down any one of these suckers and we don't even have our chips out. [ Either he's excellent at concealing the fact that he's just as worried, or he actually doesn't believe in this shit.

He hums. ] I got a good look at one of those track maps on the way off the train; looks like they're somewhere to the South. [ Suigetsu keeps his hands behind his head as they walk, trying to ignore the voices that seem to echo faintly around them. ] Alright, I think I'm hearing things.

Don't get too cocky. There are people here that are stronger than both of us right now. [ His limitations are hardly things that he wants to discuss but rushing in armed with overconfidence will only damage them both. ]

If you're hearing things, then we both are. For now I would say to ignore it, but don't let your guard down. [ Like that should even need to be said. Poor Suigetsu, always a victim of that patronizing attitude. ]

Yeah, well, once we get out of these backwater boonies we can convince that ex-teammate to remove the chips. [ He chuckles, lips curling into a tight smile. ] Can't wait to get my fucking power back.

Thank god, I thought I was going crazy. [ Too late for that, Suigetsu, but that's besides the point. ] Don't gotta tell me twice. [ He's had one hand near his kunai this entire trip.

They come up to a house quick enough though, the two-story building looking much larger and more ominous - it's the sheer state of it. ] Alright, looks shady enough. Let's check it out, huh?

Edited 2012-07-27 18:30 (UTC)

"Backwater"? The cities themselves are still not too impressive. [ Although in a few ways he's reminded of Konoha. Varying architecture, some of it overgrown. No skyscrapers or anything like that. ]

Sure. No losing sight of each other. [ There's no fear in his tone at all; all he truly feels is apprehension. It's the thought of seeing his brother again that occupies his mind, not a concern about anything that might choose to attack them. He tries the front door, needing to use a little extra strength to force it open thanks to a rusted latch. Still... Why does he have the feeling someone or something has been in here more recently than it seems? ] How quiet.

Tell me about it, some skeleton guy says the lake is acidic! Can't even go swimming... [ He scuffs his foot on the doormat, heading in after Sasuke gets the entry open. Looking around with a bored expression, he straightens a painting hanging on the wall and examines a table of pictures. ]

Well, they didn't take many of their belongings with them if they decided to evacuate or something. [ He pulls open a drawer, spotting essential things like a flashlight, candles, a lighter... he drags a hand across the table, palm coming away clean. ] Definitely recent, there's no dust. Creepy~

Acidic... [ Perhaps it's fortunate that he hasn't spent much time near it himself. ]

If someone has recently been here then it isn't much of an evacuation. [ He plucks up that lighter, flicking it and being presented with a small flame. Still had fluid in it, then. It's snapped shut and tossed back into the drawer as he exits that little parlor, heading through a doorway and into a spacious kitchen. Still the architecture seems strange to him; Konoha was so different. ]

I would expect to smell something rotten if someone left in a hurry.

[ When Sasuke moves into the kitchen, Suigetsu peeks around a corner to scan a living room before losing sight of the man he's not supposed to lose sight of. ] No sign of a struggle or anything. It's like they just vanished. Or someone likes playing pretty elaborate pranks!

[ He pulls a fire poker from the stand by the fireplace and steps away from the hearth, giving it a test swing. ] Huh. So- [ There's a sudden creak of the floorboards overhead and Suigetsu tenses, throwing a look over his shoulder.

Backing out of the living room, he quickly, silently, moves into the kitchen. ] Sasuke. Upstairs.

[ He'd just been taking a look inside the pantries when he too heard that quiet sound, immediately stepping back. ] Ah, I heard it. [ With voice barely over a whisper Sasuke rests a hand on the hilt of that chokuto, moving quietly back towards the entryway and the staircase that they'd passed.

He keeps to the left side of each step, allowing him more room to draw his sword if necessary and also avoiding the weaker center where old steps were more likely to creak. As soon as he reaches the top Sasuke pauses, leaning forward to see as much around the corner as he could. Nothing in immediate sight. And yet... ] Slowly.

[ He scales the stairs a short distance from Sasuke, fire poker held aloft. He waits for the other's word and moves first into the hallway carefully when it's cleared, eyes as wide as ever. Back to a wall, he slinks down to the nearest doorframe and takes a look around the corner.

Inside, a gold sphere. He straightens, examining it curiously. Waving his comrade over, he gives a subtle shrug and places his hands on his hips. ] Musta rolled a little or something. Whaddaya think it- ah. [ There's clicking and whirring and the ball is rolling towards them. ]

[ Suigetsu's wave is almost unnecessary; that relaxed posture more than signals his skepticism of any real danger. He steps closer, finding the gaudy object unimpressive himself until it begins to move. ] Some oversized mechanical toy? [ The words have barely escaped before that sphere starts shifting, the quiet clanks of metal accompanying the transformation. It's humanoid, the thing that's emerged from the top half, wielding some kind of unfamiliar weapon while continuing to roll forward. ] Che...

[ He might not be as fast as before but still Sasuke's speed is impressive as he darts forward past this new enemy, slicing at it and knocking its weapon from its hand in the process. ] Suigetsu, now. [ Already he's turning to aim another attack at it from behind. He'd rather bludgeon it into stillness now than wait to see what else it could do. ]

Woah! [ Suigetsu seems intrigued when it transforms, noting the gears and cogs, the strange writing all over it; ancient hieroglyphs or something. But he's not staring at its body. Sasuke disarms the piece of dangerous technology and its weapon clatters to the ground, sliding only to bump into his feet. ]

Don't even have to tell me! [ He exclaims, scooping up the sword-like object, reaching up to block a swing of its heavy arm with its own broken piece. Suigetsu slashes at its gut with the fire poker, pushes its arm away with a grunt of effort before stabbing down to pierce its spherical base, effectively pinning it in place. ]

Your turn! [ He calls to Sasuke, smirking broadly. He hasn't gotten to fight in a while. It feels good, man. ]

[ This would be much easier with his abilities and the electrical current he usually runs through that sword, but perhaps having a handicap can make things interesting on occasion. If he has to adjust for having a weaker blade, well... He'll simply have to concentrate on a weaker target.

The thin pieces of metal connecting the torso to that previously mobile sphere are cut through with comparative ease following another slice, a chunk of metal falling to the floor noisily. ] Looks like it doesn't speak. Maybe it can still be useful in another way. [ Hints of some kind would be great, at least. Sasuke stabs his chokuto down through its other arm, leaving it as alive as it could be but essentially helpless to do anything. ]

In what way could this pile of junk be useful to us? [ Suigetsu abandons the fire poker in the belly of the gold metal beast in favour of hefting the heavy Dwemer artifact in his hands. He smoothes a palm over the flat-side of gritty blade, noting the sharp edge despite it looking many years old. ]

Except for scavenging. What an exotic looking sword. There's a spring inside this... [ He gives it a practice swing, the same as he had on the hearth downstairs. Seemingly satisfied, he tucks it into his belt and looks over the robot carefully. ] Maybe some scraps from this thing would come in handy.

Scraps? We don't need any scraps. [ What are you, Suigetsu, an Argonian? Does that make him a Dunmer? Regardless, it's safe to say that he has all the metal on his person that he can imagine needing. Which is a fair amount. ]

Looks like you found something else of use, however. [ No helpful markings or messages... But still Sasuke considers it meaningful. Some sort of automated bodyguard, perhaps, and it wouldn't be here if it didn't have something worth protecting. ]

Alright, well this is good enough for me. [ He's patting the sword at his side. Frankly, he's a little surprised at how heavy it is - it seems this isn't your traditional kind of metal, or gold for that matter. It looks foreign, almost eaten away, but still as sturdy as ever.

How was he going to break it to Sasuke he'd be lugging something weighty around again? ... Well, he could always let him find out when they start walking. He'd need a break soon. ] Whaddaya think? Wanna keep looking here? This thing doesn't look like it has any friends around.

[ That sword receives a small fraction of his focus before Sasuke is again looking around the sparsely decorated room. ]

No. We came here for one reason and we're going to stay focused on that. Don't get distracted, alright?

I know that. But really, houses aren't the place we should be looking, Sasuke. They're small, not large enough to house multiple bodies if our brothers really have been abducted. I say we go look in the school.

[ He crouches, unfolds the map he yanked from the train and hits it with the backs of his fingers. ] Then the mall, then maybe the warehouses over here. School's the closest. But they may want us to look there.

And they seem to have anticipated we'd stop here too if everyone has recently cleared out and this thing was lying in wait. We don't have the advantage here... not tactically. We never did. I accept that.

Now's not the time to worry about traps, not if we're already here. If the school is closest then that's where we'll head.

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