trans_9 | Summertime [Open]

...okay, Caz certainly hadn't known about any of that. And while he didn't put the same stress on some of it- he didn't care about mothers, and didn't have any 'important people' to stress over -but the vivisection thing sure seemed to spook him. Well, the zombies would have too if he was an organic life form.

"...since you're a pretty straightforward guy, I'm going to assume all that shit is real." Said for the sake of saying it. "They took someone apart? That's what happens if security nabs you?" Oh, fuck no. He wasn't being scattered around like a bunch of loose change again. Fuck that. Plus, if he factored in all the nonsense about the council... "So, people are free to go about their business even if they were genocidal freaks back on their world, but if they break a rule on the ship they get dissected?" Yeah, Cazali just doesn't understand.

Kittens tend to calm everyone down, unless they're soulless monsters. "...that place creeps me out~ People sit around and indulge in false images, egh. But if I gotta do it to keep the kitten from starving, fine. He's certainly given me something to do, instead of sitting on my ass and sulking all day~" He appreciates you, Besel. More than he can comprehend.

Edited 2011-11-02 19:15 (UTC)

Few new people did. And even among the crew who'd been around for a while, well... they just seemed to compartmentalize what happened, and move on. But Zouichi had a long memory for that sort of thing -- a long memory.

"The ship did, yes. That's what people are referring to when they talk about Punishment. It was only performed once, as far as anyone on the crew that's currently awake remembers, and since then, Punishment has supposedly been suspended -- not by the ship, but by people in Engineering overriding the ship's 'Warden' personality. Security doesn't have anything to do with Punishment, though. At most, I've seen people being confined in the Brig."

Come to think of it, Cazali didn't seem to understand how things worked here. "On the ship, there's the ship's rules, and there's the crew's rules. They don't always coincide. The departments, the Council, and the military command are all crew-created constructs, to help organize and govern the crew."

Zouichi nodded. "Understandable. But the Sensoriums might be one of the better options."

"...as far as anyone remembers." Caz latched on to that little tidbit, and his spooked face only grew in to one of disgust. "So, some ship can prod around in people's brains...and stuff like that~? I suuure feel rescued, all of a sudden!"

The fact that the damn thing had to be hacked by crewmates was even more awkward. It was a damn good thing Caz hadn't decided to just go full out evil mode when he popped, or...yeah best not to think about it. Hey, at least he only had to worry about jail.

He only grew more deadpan as the topic continued. "So there's at least three major bodies of government, not counting the departments, and two of them have separate sets of rules?" He had to laugh. It was the only way to get that weird feeling of concern off his chest. "Well, that's just dandy~ Why don't they publish this stuff in that stupid little newbie guide? Or did I miss that part, too~? Jesus."

Screw it. Even if he couldn't taste it, Caz took a piece of watermelon and chomped down on it. At the very least it made him feel better.

"Welcome to the ship," Zouichi said dryly. "Some people blame it all on the 'Warden' personality, but if you ask me, they're just two sides of the same coin."

"I wouldn't really call the ship a branch of government. That would imply we have some kind of say in how it runs things. But yes, there's a military Command, and a civilian Council." He shook his head. "Hey, at least they gave you a newbie guide. They didn't have one of those when I woke up."

"Yeah, that's always the excuse. Humans sure love using personalities to explain away their problems."

Caz gave a sigh, staring at the watermelon and hazarding another bite in to it. The sound was kind of like a glorp noise instead of chewing. "So, the ship's like a king- or, the more vogue term is a 'dictator'. And the other two are puppet governments that, in the blink of an eye, can be overrun because of a personality malfunction." Caz snorted, and let himself lie down, kicking his legs. "So~ How successful would someone be if they got off at shore leave and didn't get back on~? Not that I'm all for letting a bunch of space bugs or whatever eat everything, but if they're not going to let me fight something without being some expendable pawn, I am failing morale."

Well, that was a weird sound. "You can leave anytime you want on shore leave. The question is what you'd do from then on. A lot of people stay here because their families or friends might be in the pods, or because they believe the story about being able to restore their worlds. There's also this: if the Ohm are going around destroying universes, there's no guarantee that the world you get off at won't be destroyed."

"...okay, that last one's a bit more compelling." Really, it boiled down to- would he rather risk destruction of a planet, or risk running in to other Greeed?

"Ah, this is so stupid!!~" Caz's lip completely curled, and he glorp'd more watermelon. "I'm used to being on the other end of the spectrum~ But I guess this is what evolution is for..."

Zouichi looked thoughtful. "I suppose you could be sure to get off at a world with universe-traversing technology, if you wanted... but..." he shrugged.

"I'm here because it's the best chance I've seen so far of allowing me to change the way things are headed. I don't see what evolution has to do with it, though."

"Eh, I wouldn't really leave. I just don't like all my eggs in one basket, you know~? Options make the worlds go 'round~"

The watermelon slice- rind and all -was swallowed with one final glorp, and he finally sat back up. "I don't want to stay the way I am forever. I want to get better. The easiest way to do that is to evolve."

...which probably didn't make any sense to someone not from OOOsiverse.

"You know, you're not supposed to eat the rind. Although I suppose I shouldn't complain; it saves me the trouble of getting rid of them myself."

Zouichi frowned a little. "What, exactly, constitutes 'better'? Evolution on my world took place over a long period of time, through natural selection for traits that allowed individual organisms to survive."

"We're pretty much garbage disposals~ You need me to get rid of the rest~?" Well okay it'd just sort of chill in his body cavity till he "threw" it up, but shut up. It counted as disposal in his mind.

"Stronger. Faster. Not reliant." Caz counted off on his fingers, hovering on the fourth for a second before continuing. "Don't want any hobos being able to use my medals. Want to actually be able to see and hear properly someday." And handswitch. "I don't want to go human like Ankh, nor do I want to stay the way I am. Oh, and if I'm reaching for stars~ I'd like Mezul and Gamel's medals back. Water powers were fun."

"The rest of the rinds? Sure. But someone else might want a piece of watermelon." That was an important distinction.

"Wait a second... Mezul and Gamel's medals? Meaning that you've stolen other Greeed's medals as well?" What was he even helping you for then :|

"Fine~" He didn't seem to care either way, and spent a good ten seconds glorping down the used-up rinds.

Oh boy, this was going to be fun to explain. Caz plinked out one of his cell medals, examining the coin in his fingers, and actually did something shocking- considered his words before opening his mouth.

"We all did, back home. Take one Greeed's medals to make them help you get your own from another Greeed, that sort of stuff. But Doctor...sort of took it to another level." The coin was grasped tight, and Caz shrugged. "Yeah, I'd like Mezul's medals, and Gamel's, and even Ankh's. Oh, and Uva's I guess. But using another Greeed's medals is...taboo. I was the first one to do it without losing control, mostly because of Doctor's research, but..."

Oh yeah he'd died. "...its a hollow desire. I can't do it again. Not after everything that happened, you know~?" He leaned back again, elbows on the deck and sighed. "Sure would be nice though~ I felt so full, with their medals inside me."

"Okay, you do realize that if you stole medals from other Greeed, it might make your case a little harder to prove? Especially if it was a common practice among your kind." A species of thieves. Awesome.

~~Also, Cazali, does Zouichi not want to hear about how you felt so full with other Greeed's body parts inside you in fact if you never mentioned that again it would be super awesome~~

"I can't claim to understand what it's like to be a Greeed, but you may want to start up some other hobbies."

"Well, it's not like I was going to tell them that part. It wasn't supposed to be common either...Ankh started it." Way to sound juvenile, even if it was true. "He stole mine and Uva's cores first. We tried to get them back and...well, we all died the end." Which was Caz for 'I don't really think anyone gives a crap'.

It took him a moment, but he finally did continue. "I want my medals. But I don't want to want them~? I'm trying to fight nature to prove I don't need them, otherwise I would have gone and done that stupid paperwork already." Sigh. "Sure, they're my body, and not having them makes me feel sick and empty, but...I haven't had them for eight hundred years. I'm never going to be complete. Why torment myself~?"

As for hobbies... "That's what Besel is for, duh~ I never got to play with a cat before, it's actually sort of nice~"

Zouichi frowned. "But you do realize that if I'm questioned about it, I will have to mention this, don't you? As much as I sympathize with you missing parts of yourself, I can't approve of what you've done." In short, he cared.

He wasn't sure what to say about the rest. If Zouichi was missing a part of his body, well... there wouldn't really be any point in getting it back, save perhaps preventing someone from reverse-engineering him.

"Yeaaah, I figured as much~ I don't hold it against you." Shrug time go. "Just, ah~ I dunno. I'm not used to talking this much, but I think it feels good?"

Yeah, this is one of those rare times Caz was just flying by the seat of his pants.

"The only thing I ever spoke to before this stupid meatship to was the Doctor, and...well, fuck him. So, yeah, congrats, you have to put up with me actually being ignorant about things. I'm sure you're positively thrilled."

"I understand. I'm just clarifying this for your benefit -- I can't lie for you if someone questions me about what I know about you. I am part of Security, and I think I mentioned that. That means that sometimes, I have to set my personal feelings aside in order to abide by the existing rules here.

"If it's more important that you talk about what happened, however... by all means, go ahead." It wasn't like Zouichi could stop him. Or rather, it would be a little unfair to stop him. Cazali seemed confused about a lot of things.

"I'm not used to people sticking their neck out for me anyway, so it'd be weirder if you ever did lie on my behalf~ Trust me." Cazali was quick to wave it off, but he turned a bit critical a minute later.

"Man, you think I'm going to fall for that~? You may be straight-forward, but nobody gives a fuck about anybody else's problems. I hung around in the Crusades, I hung around in 2011. That fact never changes." A huff. "So yeah~ I'm trying to give you a free pass to avoid listening to me ramble about stuff I should get over, okay?~"

This was starting to feel like 'giving a damn'. Ewwwwwwww.

"Regardless of what you may believe, I do care about people other than myself," Zouichi said dryly. "Still, I'm afraid we'd have to be somewhat better acquainted before I'd lie on your behalf. And your 'free pass' is noted."

"I do find it a little difficult to believe you've never met anyone who cared about someone other than themselves. Even considering the time periods in which you lived."

"I don't understand 'care'. It doesn't make much sense. But, ah, you're the sort to be frank and all that- so if you say it, I'm probably going to believe you mean it~" Caz was beginning to realize he didn't know how to handle straightforward people. Sans, well. Maki. But Maki was straightforward in his THE END IS THE TRUE TEST OF blah blah, not positive stuff.

"...okay, I met a few people who cared about other people." Caz scowled, as if trying to accept that was the reason. Stupid Eiji hobo kamen rider asshole stupid- "I've seen people go to some moronic lengths to help people and all that crap. It just seems pointless and suicidal." Cazali did some vague gesture with his wrist. "In that same line- you'd have to be better acquainted with people for some things, right?~ Well, correct me if I'm wrong, but that means you have to want to put up with someone~ So, even if you're the straightest arrow I ever saw in my life, I still know you don't care to hear everyone's sob story, no matter how many magical epiphanies it would give them~"

A pause, and he shrugged. "Long story short~ Don't offer to listen to my problems when you don't actually want to. It gets pretty old."

"Suicidal, perhaps, but not pointless. Some people simply have a cause for which they'd willingly give their lives. Sometimes it's justice, or power, or protecting the lives of those they care about. And you're correct; I wouldn't care to listen to everyone's problems."

In that regard, Zouichi tended to separate people into those he concerned himself with, and those he didn't. Were someone weak, disoriented, frightened, or the last of their kind, he'd go the extra length to reassure them and lend them aid. A person who was combative, rude, and perfectly capable of taking themselves, on the other hand, was essentially not his problem. The vulnerable came first.

"I don't not want to hear your story," he said. Yeah, eat THAT double negative. "But if that changes, I'll let you know."

A cause one would give their life for? So, the hobo and Maki. Greaaaat. And if Caz knew that order of concerned operations, he would have jetted by now.

Oh geez double negatives, his one weakness. He actually counted off on his fingers, speaking as quietly as he could. "Don't, not, so they cancel out." He actually seemed pretty mentally tangled by the discussion, as if the implications were sinking in finally, or something. Caz could be smart with things, but only when they didn't have to do with emotional response things...or grammar, apparently.

"...see, this is the stuff I don't get. Why would I even consider telling someone else~? If Doctor shows up, I don't want people knowing why I'd be using his blood to paint the town red, they'd just use it against me." Caz itched at his head, as if trying to shake out the bits of confusion. "But I feel all...wound up, not talking about it. I want to, I guess. But I don't want to tell people who...don't, care?" He was probably going to give Zou every possible avenue to escape the conversation at this point. "I don't like wasting time- yours or mine. Even if I'm doing it by being so back and forth about this."

A groan, and Caz pushed his hat over his face. "Aaaah, why am I still talking about this anyway...?~"

Zouichi was confused. Did Cazali want him to listen or not? Was he being told to leave? Finally, he offered, "If there's no one else you feel comfortable talking to, I don't mind listening. Maybe the process of discussing things will lesson your general sense of confusion, as it did for me."

Although at least Zouichi had been created for less sinister purposes.

Cazali has a better Tsundere dialect than Sensible, sorry Zou.

"...it worked for you?" Well, that was basically the deciding factor. No, for real this time.

"Eh, the meat of the problem with all this~ I never had regret before, you know~? Okay, steal some medals, backstab all the others, whatever- never bothered me. We were made to fight, we ran out of adversaries, so we fought one another. Mezul was useless without Gamel up her cape, and Uva would rather hide like the insect he's made from. Ankh...well, he's just an asshole. So, no loss, right~?"

A sigh. "Ankh gave me a lovely lesson in evolution when we woke up, so I sought to find some humans to work with. That's how I met Dr. Maki~ He wanted to study Greeed and destroy the planet for some...who the hell cares. But I just wanted his information. We worked pretty well, regardless~ I had to give him a kick in the ass, and he got pushy with me, but all in all it was a very beneficial partnership. He's the one that gave me the others' medals, and I experimented with them. Turns out if one Greeed took in a mass of core medals in a short amount of time, they'd go crazy and consume the world like Doctor wanted. I didn't want the world to end- duh, I wouldn't exist then either~ But I played along."

Caz pouted his lips, bit the corner of his mouth, shifted his hat, everything to keep from saying what he wanted to. "...I set it up so I could steal all nine of my medals from the others. I actually succeed, but...OOOs. Him and Maki both had medals in themselves, as well. The purple ones, the only ones capable of killing a Greeed. OOOs...shattered three of my medals, two shattered instantly. One of them was, me. My consciousness. I escaped, but...I was the first to feel that, really." Lost Ankh didn't count. "Maki found me. He...knew I would do it, and he took all my medals from me but my breaking one."

Caz had run out of things to fidget with.

"...I've been betrayed before, but that was different. Now I...I don't want to do that all again. I'm, tired? I regret being reckless, and...eh~ We're not supposed to feel this stuff, we're just supposed to want things and fight things."

Edited 2011-11-10 21:38 (UTC)

Summertime [Open]

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btw have i mentioned im sorry caz sucks

Re: btw have i mentioned im sorry caz sucks

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