inventings | 01 CON ● ACTION ● SIX OF DIAMONDS

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01 CON ● ACTION ● SIX OF DIAMONDS

( Ever since Adalinda arrived here, she's mostly staying out of sight and keeping to herself -- keeping away from people. If anyone attempted to talk to her up to this point or noticed her hovering close to them while they spoke to someone, she'll feign needing to be somewhere else and get the hell out of there before she can be confronted.

Until she gets her bearings and knows she won't lose her cool at the sight of anything/anyone/whatever, she needs to be by herself and think over the events that lead up to this. Because seriously! Wings on her back? This fancy journal machine... thing that seems to be able to contact others after she carefully inspected it? This sure as hell isn't Germany.

She finally comes to the conclusion that this isn't some sort of elaborate scheme hatched out by the Woman or this is some sort of dying dream she's having. Good for her? Bad for her? Who knows. All she's certain of is that there's a lot of places to explore but sticks to the buildings and houses and you know. Signs of life in this place. Seeing how she's possibly the only member in the Doe gang to be here, she can't afford risking the possibility of getting in trouble until her friends arrived to get her. One way or another. )

I suppose I have to make the most out of this until James or Josie get me out of this mess. Hell, I'll take up Jacob's help if it means getting nagged by him. First things first...

( She gives a distasteful look at her new outfit. One thing she cannot abide is being stuck with the clothes she finds herself wearing and careful inspection of the place she woke up this morning reveals no signs of her original outfit.

So rain or not she'll be heading to the Clothing Shop to find something nicer to wear and then check out the Welcome Center after hearing about it here and there. For now she'll duck into buildings or go closer to houses in a subtle attempt to inspect them, scout them out. She's no Point Person but she reckons she can pick up a thing or two from what she may 'accidentally' see or 'overhear'.

That and the rain was annoying to deal with how it made her hair get so matted and tangled and she wanted as much shelter from the weather as possible until she got to her destinations. She has a feeling this place doesn't have her brand of hair products. Great. )

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( She looks up, learning from her earlier encounter, and nods, sighing as if this is something she understands. It's nice to know that, so far, she seems to be running into people who seem nice. No worries about needing to polish her fighting for now. )

You can say that again. I think at this rate I'll need to cut my hair. ( She tucks a disheveled strand of hair behind her ear for what feels like the hundredth time. This freaking weather. ) If I won't detract you from your shopping, could I ask you a question. I noticed something about how you phrased your comment.

I mean. It could just be me being a silly goose but the way you said 'dropped off' and the other conversations I had earlier -- It seems to be implied that this happens often. It could just be my poor nerves talking. Never was one for travel.

[Hardly inconvenienced, he turns away from a clothing rack, his smile tinged with wryness. After having been helped as newcomer, it's the least he can do to return the favour and ease someone's transition into this strange place.]

Hate to say it, but you've just won a lucky draw for an all expenses paid trip to this fishbowl for an indefinite period of time.

[It's not easy news to break, so he had thought to soften it with a joke.]

New arrivals come in bunches every couple of months like clockwork. Wish I could say that's the craziest it gets around here, but things are always changing up.

Good to know this is all for free. I think my credit card company would have a heart attack at the bills I might rack up during my stay here.

( 'Indefinite' is a word she still cannot get used to, admit to. The idea of being stuck here without James or Josie makes her skin crawl and her heart thud a little louder. Surely there has to be a way out of here. Then again. If people have been stuck here for a while and still have not found a way out...

Adalinda shrugs affably like the news of this isn't a shocking, worrying thing to hear. )

I must admit. This is the first time I've heard of this 'changing up' from the others I've spoken to, Monsieur... ( She deliberately trails off, faking a realization and an embarrassed laugh. ) Oh my! I completely forgot my manners for a minute. I'm Addie. Pleased to meet you.

[As far as he can tell she's taking things admirably well, something for which he is somewhat grateful seeing as he isn't quite sure how well he'd have handled a meltdown.]

Guess I'm as guilty as you are. [With an easy chuckle, he extends his dominant hand - the one which is also flesh and bone - for a firm albeit comfortable shake. Always good to make a solid first impression.]

Spencer. Pleasure to meet you, Addie. [Drawing back, he adds:] Shame it isn't on a brighter day, but it is what it is.

( She tries to give a strong handshake too but there's a reason why she was a Honey Trap with Louis and Jade and not a Muscles with James and Josephine. Opting instead for gracefulness over strength, she gives the most elegant handshake she can muster and neatly draws back her own hand and clasps her hands together in a polite fashion. )

Spencer, lovely name. ( Rubbing the back of her neck, she averts her gaze and seems worried about something she wants to ask him. ) Now. About this 'changing up' you said. Are you referring to things that are not... the experiments?

( She has no problem faking a wince because this isn't a fake. She's still trying to wrap her head around the idea yet remains calm and collected, knowing a hotheadedness is not needed right now if she wants more details for this. )

[From the nuances in her body language that suggest a mild unease, he had suspected she would ask a different, more sensitive question. One he would have obliged with an answer, still.]

No, just talking about the monthly bullshit they pull on us. The word is that the Malnosso are looking for a way off of this rock as much as most of us are. Except instead of working with us and the sharp minds we have around here, they just use us as guinea pigs, force conscription whenever they need a few more people to deal with their mess, and get their jollies at the same time.

( Much as she likes delicate questions as the next person when finding themselves in a place with wings on their back and a barcode on their neck, she'll like straight answers too of what else is going down here. It isn't what it is at first glance she's gotten that much. How far is the question now.

Thankfully Spencer provides it for her. She had no idea that there will be fun 'events' that happen monthly. The idea of it makes her skin crawl but she keeps her cool and gives him a grateful smile, glad to learn something new about this place. )

Malnosso. So that's what they're called. ( She places a hand on her chest and breathes deeply, looking up at the man with an apologetic curve to her smile. ) I do feel bad for being so blunt with my question, I could have worded it much more delicately, but this is intriguing to know. Basically they pull people in to find out how to get out while making us both their entertainment and arsenal? ( Geez who does that remind her of. )

No wonder they provide this for us and all for free. I suppose this could be some sort of odd compensation in return.

[Her apology, though heard just fine, goes unacknowledged. Nothing in her manner had bothered him and her curiosity is entirely justifiable given the circumstances. It ain't easy being new.]

Yeah -- [The answer escapes him in a mild sigh.] -- to keep us just obedient and complacent enough, I guess you could say. We're not the only fishbowl they're looking after either. Don't have ways of contacting the others as far as I know, but you run into them sometimes on the battlefield. And they're not always so thrilled to see us.

[He shifts his weight, shrugging.] Anyway... it's a lot to take in on your first day. I wouldn't worry about trying to figure everything out right away.

( Battlefield? Looks like the man she spoke to when she first arrived here wasn't exaggerating to them being soldiers. With this confirmed, she'll be doing her best to stay out of said battlefield. Make money, not war in her opinion.

The advice at the end has her think. Much as she loathes the idea, it would be wise to stop pestering for answers about heavy topics so much. She nods, smiling bashfully and ducking her head. ) That's a good point. I think I'll try to hold back on playing Twenty Questions with everyone I meet. I believe I learned enough today anyways. I'll try to focus on getting clothes, looking for somewhere to settle down until...

( Her gang finds a way to get her out of here. At the very least she expects James and Josie and Anna to try and track her. )

... Something starts. If nothing is happening to this place now, I might as well make the most of it and learn the ropes to be of use for the future. Maybe learn more self-defense seeing how I left my pepperspray back in my clothes. ( And her unregistered gun. Not that'll admit that. )

[He scratches absently at his stubbled jaw, not meaning to give her the impression, if such is the case, that he was in a particular hurry to break off the conversation. There isn't much he had planned to do after all.]

There're people around here always up to spar and teach a thing or two about self-defense. I'd put the word out that you're looking for someone to take you up on some training. [An amused quirk of the lips.] Bet you'd get a nibble within five minutes.

( She does get the impression but makes no mention of it, wishing to continue to talk to him much as he can. It's nice to talk to someone else that wasn't from the gang and without the pressure of the job on her shoulders. There's her worry of this situation she's in, she'll be worrying about that for a while, but like he said she shouldn't worry too much on the first day. )

You really think anyone would be interested in helping out a defenseless damsel on how to throw a punch? ( 'Defenseless' might be a bit of a stretch, she likes to think. She knows a few things. Not a lot. Better than nothing like some people she knew in the gang. ) It would be nice to get to know more of the people here and if it means I must do so in training, I see no harm in it.

[That's a joke, right? He raises a brow at her choice of words, huffing a faint, vaguely incredulous laugh. He wouldn't expect to earn points calling any woman a 'defenseless damsel'; that's the kind of thing he figures invites a sharp word or two, if not a slap.]

You got your fists, elbows, knees, and heels -- hardly defenseless, even without extensive training. Get at the eyes, nose, throat, solar plexus, or groin of your attacker with a hard strike and you've just turned the tables.

I never thought of it that way before. Talk about using your body as how the Americans back home would say it.

( Seriously. She never thought of going after someone's eyes when trying to fight someone off. That part was definitely not part of S.I.N.G that Jack taught her. )

It certainly sounds like you know a thing or two about fighting, Monsieur Spencer. ( She says it with lightness, an observation and a praise. But did he have this knowledge as it was natural for him to know prior to coming here or it was something he picked up when being made to battle? He never did mention a specific time he was stuck here and asking now would be suspicious. ) I guess 'defenseless' is a bit dramatic to say when introducing yourself to people, no? Is 'combative knowledge-challenged' a better way to explain my desires to train?

[He snorts softly, not so much at her praise as at 'combative knowledge-challenged'.]

I should; I'm with the armed forces back home. ...But, you know, saying you're 'eager to learn' works just fine too.

( A blink at his suggestion and she smiles at it, nodding in agreement. ) I guess it could too!

I shouldn't try to be so wordy when it comes to these things, hm? ( She laughs a bit at herself, ducking her head in embarrassment of her continued fumbling in front of Spencer. ) Suppose this could be chalked up to a case of my nerves working against me.

Don't worry about it. [Dismissively, though not unkindly.] It's not exactly easy, being tossed into a new place and at the mercy of strangers, more or less... but you could be worse off in terms of your company. Your philanthropist-types vastly outnumber the assholes around here, from the looks of things. So unless you're from some kind of paradise, it's almost a little surreal.

It's anything but a paradise where I'm from-- ( Mostly thanks to people like her. ) --which is why I am surprised with how friendly people have been to me so far. You think people would be less interested in helping out another clueless newcomer here.

But I won't complain. It's nice to know that there are people I can go to should a situation arise. Like you! I wish I could think of a way to pay you back for being so helpful to me.

We're in this together -- the least I can do is share the basics. Think it's about as close to a Welcome To Luceti 101 class you're gonna get. [He chuckles dryly.] When you're more settled in, I'd have a look through your journal at the guide towards the back. It'll bring you up to speed on what this place is all about, more or less.

There's a guide in the journal about everything of here? That is both handy and... How do you say it? Prepared.

( Definitely not getting creeped out vibes. Oh no. If she is, she is wisely ignoring them to keep her cool. She'll like to look at it now but decides not to, believing that she can remember this important fact for later. )

Are you sure you do not want any payment in return? I don't have anything on me right now but I can... Hmmm. Perhaps help you look for whatever you are searching for? You are here for a reason before I came in.

Yeah. Written by one of us a few years back, so you have them to thank for taking the time to compile all this.

[Ah, if he were a shameless lech, he'd have jokingly suggested a very simple sort of payment for what help he has offered. But he has a number of reasons to do otherwise.]

Already taken care of. [He makes a point of holds up lifting the t-shirts he has bunched in his metal fist. The thought is appreciated, however.]

Thanks, though.

They must have had a lot of time on their hands to go and write a guide on this place. No doubt also making it detailed as possible if my guessing is correct. ( One of them? As in someone who got sucked in here? She has to admit that this is getting more and more interesting to note by the day. )

I could help you find more. ( There is no such thing as 'too much' in Addie's dictionary. ) What's the trouble in finding some backups for... Whatever you're going to do with those.

Yeah. If remember correctly. I think the author's one of the people who have been around here the longest. At least two years.

[There's a depressing thought -- but he thrusts it aside by offering a goodnatured jab in response to her lattermost remark while glancing between her and the shirts.]

Thought it was pretty obvious I'm making doilies out of them. [He has a reputation of being a smart ass to defend.]

( In a playful mood thanks to the bountiful amount of information she learned from him, she doesn't mind too much of the 'smart ass' side of him. )

Excusez-moi monsieur. I do not just do dollies. It would be an insult to the money my mama poured out for my education.

I can also knit items. I think a camouflage scarf will be striking on you. ( Maybe she'll be bit of a smart ass herself. Playfully, of course. ) Truly -- Whatever you need those for, I perhaps can do it and make it better. Maybe add a touch of lace if you're interested.

[He snorts.]

Right. Think I'll respectfully pass on the lace. [Bionic commandos don't do pretty.] I just mean to make a few adjustments to them - nothing fancy.

[With his hulking metal prosthesis, clothing tended to be chosen and worn for functionality and comfort first and style second - with the exception of his custom made military jacket which offered a fine balance between both.]

Shame! I thought pale green would be a flattering shade on you.

Making adjustments? I can understand that. I'm not surprised that most of the clothes here are not designed for us in mind. ( Which is a shame. She doesn't expect any fashion labels here but a business suit or blazer will be nice. ) When you speak of these adjustments. Does this mean you are refitting them or... Making sure they last longer?

01 CON ● ACTION ● SIX OF DIAMONDS

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