trans_9 | Slinking about [OPEN]

Sitting around and watching the ship's network wasn't achieving as much as it had done back home. There, he'd been able to keep a hand- er, cellphone -on the pulse of the city's population, and survey them without having to leave relative safety. Here, not only was he completely alone, but the population was irritatingly careful about their messaging. Cazali could have gone to get his 'information' from that Kamen Rider, but...he didn't want to seem dependent. Especially to someone who apparently knew about him. So, he had to go about gathering intel the old fashioned way- stalking.

Caz had intended to start from the bottom up, but a certain fixture had caught his eye. The sign for "Contagion Containment and Treatment ". He rarely would admit his wariness about Dr. Maki's presence, but...if the doctor would be anywhere (useful, anyway), then it would be in a lab. So, cautiously, Cazali poked his head in, trying to scan quickly for any sigh of the man and his creepy doll. Even if Maki wasn't around at all, science labs were practically a home away from home given how many times he'd frequented them, so it'd probably be a good place to start information gathering.

Eventually, his search lead him to the city, which was at least a more comfortable setting. The lack of population was a bit more shocking than he'd first anticipated- it would be harder to blend in here, especially with him fully decked out in normal clothes, not that stupid plant skin. No candroids, no OOOs, no Kougami stuff littering the streets, though he had spotted a ridevendor a ways back. He wouldn't be surprised if the riders tried to monitor his actions with the remote, so he opted against using it. Instead, he strolled about, trying to play casual.

After some time wandering the city, he'd crossed the park on almost instinct, admittedly a little too lost in thought to pay attention to where he was going. Only when he saw the familiar front of Maki's abandoned home did he react, shifting in to his Greeed form and daring to approach the building. It didn't make sense why it was here- the world was destroyed, or so said some idiotic human meat-sacks -and he really didn't need more reason to be paranoid. A cursory sweep of the home proved it was empty, left just how it had been when he'd last seen it, down to the chess set, soccer ball, and Maki's precious painting.

It took Cazali a good five minutes of staring at the painting before he acted- slowly opening the frame, and with all the shaking control he could manage, tearing the art in to strips, then the strips in to squares, then the squares in to confetti. He left the whole mess right where the purple drape has once hung, and went to his favorite spot on the stairs, his drape already waiting for him.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Zouichi crossed his arms, considering Cazali. "There are a number of humans on the Council, yes. But also some nonhumans."

He closed his eyes for a moment. "In theory, it's a good system. There are several Councilors to balance each other's opinions, there's a captain to take over when battle requires. However, in practice... I believe the laws here are applied unevenly, that law is sometimes adhered to even when it doesn't serve the people it governs, that the people who make and enforce the law often confuse authority with right, and that few people on board see a problem with this. The result is that a lot of the time verdicts are simply handed down with no real way of really understanding how decisions were made in the first place." Don't even get him started on the communication issues, Cazali. Seriously, don't.

"But for what it's worth, I agree with you. Having one blanket policy applied to all the people here has already hurt us, and yet it seems unlikely to change. At the very least, however, let me say that when someone physically threatens crew members here, the response is swift."

"I never understood human policy and government, to be blunt. I was created back in 1200, so adapting to modern society without monarchs is still a bit...weird~?" Ignoring he'd only been conscious for a total of two years tops. "So I tend to avoid this sort of thing if I can~ It makes blending in a bit hard."

Communication would actually be a topic Caz would love to get in to, hysterically. "It doesn't take a genius to know that case by case would be better." And a defeated shrug. "I'll be frank- I did attack people back home. We have to use humans as hosts to heal ourselves, basically~? I don't need to here, but...if they went by previous records, then I'd be just as 'bad' as Ankh." A dramatic headtoss, "Oh well~ I gotta make the best of it. If I have to fill out paperwork, so be it~"

"Most people tend to steer clear of the government. At least, that's what they did back home... bureaucracy and regulations made it difficult for ordinary people to get what they wanted done." Of course, by the time Zouichi had been picked up and put here, most of that bureaucracy had been gone.

"I'm afraid you won't be allowed to attack people on the ship. However, the head of the Medical department is a vampire; I don't think your background will necessarily be held against you."

"I guess government is something we'll just have to leave to the oh-so-capable others, then~?" The sarcasm wasn't just dripping, it was practically gushing.

"I shouldn't need to- if Ankh can keep to himself, and a few other choice individuals don't show up." Cazali wasn't usually very...peaceful, but strategies had called for stranger things out of him. "I'll just have to see what I can do about this...paperwork. Maybe go donate myself to science while I'm at it~ Maybe if they let me feed under their little microscope I'll be allowed." Likewise, his tone spoke volumes for his less than cuddly feelings towards science.

"Indeed." He gave Cazali an appraising look. "I doubt they'll be interested in the intricacies of your feeding processes, but I'm sure that the Science department would be interested in you should they find out. I believe it may be Medical you'll be more familiar with, since they require physicals for all crew members."

Science was awesome! It was way better than magic, which made no sense.

"I worked with a scientist back home~ I'm used to the labcoat types." Caz looked up, debating, but in the end decided to keep his trap shut. He'd told this guy a lot already- no use talking about personal matters.

"Though, I have to ask, if you don't mind me being nosy~ You're security, right?" And a pause for formality. "Why the career move when you're less than enthused with our illustrious leaders...?" Part of him was just testing something- could non-humans have enough desire for a Greeed to even feed on? He wasn't planning on doing any more than trying to bait a reaction, but...he had already palmed one of his cell medals. Just a reflex, or so he wanted to tell himself.

Science was awesome when magic couldn't solve your problems.

"Same here." Like Cazali, he didn't really see a reason to elaborate. He was a Synthetic Human -- of course he'd worked with scientists before.

Zouichi shook his head at the question. "I am part of Security. And I do it to protect the people aboard. If that means I have to work with people I'm not always enthused about, that's fine. Besides, if everyone thought like that, Security and all the rest would only be made up of people who agreed with the leadership. I don't think that's necessarily a good thing."

...huh. No medal slot. Maybe synthetics weren't able to be hosts? Or, his desire was elsewhere...? Probably not good to toy with it- it'd just come off as suspicious.

"Valid point~ I hadn't thought of it that way." It didn't completely make sense to the Greeed, but being agreeable was the name of the game. Caz stepped away from the sign he'd been leaning on, stretching lazily. "I guess this won't be so bad, but..." He cast his eyes down the road. "I shoulda taken that train~ You don't mind giving me a lift to the station, do you? I might as well go do that paperwork stuff now, rather than letting it sit~"

For what it's worth, Cazali, Zouichi has made a lifetime endeavor out of ignoring his own desires. He wouldn't be so keen on someone trying to figure out if they could feed on them, though.

Zouichi tossed Cazalli the spare motorcycle helmet; a casual, practiced gesture. "Sure. Get on."

Cazali caught the helmet with no problem, but seemed to overanalyze it as if he wasn't sure what to do with it. On one hand, he had no skull to cave in. On the other...it'd help block his face off and probably make him not get so motion sick. Vehicles and Caz never did go together too well.

He took his hat off and slung it around the metal chain at his hip, slipping the helmet on less than gracefully. He even approached the bike, but...seemed to hesitate, giving a laugh under the helmet.

"You're sure a trusting guy~" It wasn't meant to be suspicious, actually. Caz sat himself on the back of the bike, looking around like he was expecting handles. This was far from the cycles he was used to seeing. Aw, screw it. He didn't need to hold anything. "Okay~"

Zouichi glanced over his shoulder at Cazali. "Maybe because I can afford to be." Which was at least partially true; if he were human, Cazali would no doubt present a greater threat. But part of it was that he just naturally tended to give people the benefit of the doubt.

At least before he started spending time on this ship. He gunned the accelerator, sending them surging off in the direction of the station.

Oh geez. All the medals inside Caz seemed to lurch, plinking against each other once the Zouichi hit the throttle. Cazali was the lightest greeed by quite a bit, in part due to his wind/light affinity, so motion felt like it was going right through him. He immediately snapped his eyes closed, actually grateful for the helmet. Though to say the ride made him clam up abruptly would be a bit of an understatement.

The only reason his eighty-pound self didn't go flying off the cycle entirely was probably due to him using his own wind powers to counterbalance the speed. Or, he was trying to.

Slinking about [OPEN]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject