Action

[passedover]

[It’s morning. The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and there are two new arrivals around town who seem convinced that something very suspicious is going on here. Dressed in what can only be described as tactical gear, they’re clearly some kind of military, and appear to be acting accordingly. In a situation like this, the best course of action is obviously to fall back on instinct in an attempt to get to the bottom of whatever this is supposed to be. For these two, that means proceeding with caution.

Clearly there’s nothing questionable about two men carrying big guns through farms and fields, speaking to each other quietly as if to keep from being overheard. Keeping together, never straying far from the other, or lingering too long in a single area. Not at all questionable, or scary, or yeah no what are these two idiots doing.

They’re doing recon, of course! And they’re fairly thorough about it, methodically searching, poking around, overturning anything that looks questionable and possibly pointing guns at it. Was that thing yours? Sorry, it’s being inspected now. Do you live in this house? No problem, they’re just going to check around back. See or experience anything strange during your stay? No? Are you sure?

Or maybe you just come across them while going about your business. They’re obviously friendly with each other, even if they’re regarding everything else with some degree of wariness. It seems like a great idea to approach, if only to ask what the heck they think they’re doing.]

(ooc: It’s a two for one deal with Jack strikecommand and Gabriel passedover. We’ll both be replying to all threads unless otherwise requested.)

Comments

[littlehero]

[Boy did you boys pick the wrong rock to overturn. Probably literally; there's a huuuge rock pile that might as well be a small mountain jutting out of otherwise flat (but poorly maintained) farmland. Suspicious? Absolutely. It's especially weird when the earth starts to rumble around it as it rises, chunks of boulder floating up to resemble arms and a head for a vaguely humanoid shape.

The thing issues a low growl like the grind of a slow-moving rockslide and glowers down at the intruders. Is it less menacing or more so with that cute chalk smile drawn on? Well, either way, things are looking grim for our ... heroes ... ?

Who knows if anyone can even hear nearby farmhouse's front door slam open, but there is the alarmed cry of someone very small.]

Golem, wait!! Who is it? Don't hurt them!

[But Golem doesn't back down. He doesn't proceed to smash anybody either, so that's good, at least. His voice is the kind of low bass that's felt more than it's heard.]

SEERE, NO COME . . . WEAPONS.

[At least this is only a rock giant instead of an iron one. You got lucky this time, punks.

Anyway, should Jack and Gabriel look to the farmhouse they might notice some pale blond kid who can't possibly be older than a first grader. Might notice. He's barely tall enough to properly peer over the banister of the front porch. So he's going to do the smart thing and ignore his pet rock's warning and hop down the stairs, but at least he keeps his distance.]

Hello? Are you alright?

[passedover]

[The moment the rock pile started moving Gabriel had moved an arm out in front of Jack to haul the both of them backwards. Putting a good several feet between them and the... moving rock hill? Whatever. Distance was what was needed and it wasn't as if he'd never hauled his fellow soldier back before.

Or the other way around.



It also talked. Great.

Other voice wasn't missed, but Gabriel was only tilting his head enough to catch where it might have come from out of the corner of an eye—]

Been better.

[A kid?]

Friend of yours?

[Guard not dropping. Yet.

Focus more on the other man at his side and of course the rock-thing there in front of them.]

[littlehero]

Yes, that's right...

[He's being greeted with words instead of bullets, so that's a good sign, right? Enough to make him comfortable with getting close enough to put a hand against Golem's rocky base.]

I'm sorry if he startled you! He's just a little protective. [A little. Seere looks back and forth between his two guests and takes up a posture more befitting someone of actual importance instead of a tiny kid.]

My name is Seere. Are you two lost?

[strikecommand]

[Jack, on the other hand, is about ready to open fire, certain that there's an omnic underneath all that stone. It's only Gabriel keeping his cool that prevents shots from being fired, though Jack staggers backwards when he's pulled, clearly having some trouble processing this.]

What is that thing?

[He doesn't seem to grasp that it might be a little insensitive to call something that's talking to them a "thing", but Jack is so thrown off his guard that it's difficult not to have a strong reaction.]

[passedover]

[Honestly? If he'd not have caught that voice he'd be just as ready to start firing as Jack, but the appearance of a kid changed plans real quick.

... and with a name given it sounded more and more like this.. Rock thing? Was either an assigned, found, or earned protector.

That and it would not be great to start shooting at something that rocky with any number of civilians around coming closer. Still, he was keeping a hand on Jack to both keep him grounded, along with himself.

Still that resting scowl.]

So I see.

[Wasn't at all put at ease but.. really definitely not about to start shooting now. Since Jack was asking what it was—]

Not quite? I just got here, friend and I have been.. looking around.

[littlehero]

[Thing? Excuse you, sir. You do not insult a manchildchildman's one and only friend. Seere purses his lips and runs his hand back and forth over stone like he's simply soothing a horse.]

His name is Golem, and... well, that's also what he is. [Seere was six when he named him get off his back.] We've been friends for many years now. I promise there's nothing to be afraid of... oh!

[He perks up all of the sudden.]

If you want to get a really good look around, he's just the one to ask! You're not afraid of heights, are you?

[passedover]

Golem.

[No judgement just, repeating the name and what it apparently was. Definitely no Omnic classification he'd heard of, but it still never hurt to remain cautious of that one.

Some things you just never forgot.]

Not particularly, no.

[Glancing Jack's way, towards the end of that reply.]

[strikecommand]

[Jack is finding it a little difficult to believe this creature won't hurt him, but he does lower his gun slightly. If Gabriel isn't going to fight, then Jack will back down as well, though that doesn't necessarily mean he likes it. There's no real reason for a child to lie to them, at least, that's what he hopes. It's a bit difficult to turn his paranoia off, though seeing Gabriel lower his guard (if only a little) puts Jack just the slightest bit at ease.

He understands what the look means, at least.]

I can take a look, if you want.

[But he's not going to be happy about it!]

[littlehero]

Wonderful! The view really is something. You'll see.

[He smiles brightly and presses his tattooed little palms together. Excellent! He's actually being able to be helpful, which will surely win these fellows over - and at the same time gain their appreciation for Golem, too. One day everyone will love them, and then he will raise a rock army to conquer the world-- wait, no

Without any command or even so much as a signal, Golem tilts forward and settles a hand on the ground, long stones like fingers curling up to form the world's least assuring guardrail. But it's something. Seere stares up at Jack expectantly. Don't worry, he'll follow.]

[passedover]

I'll take your word for it.

[While also nudging for Jack to go ahead, a tilt of his head as well while there might have been a brief shoulder squeeze. Enough of a silent Got your back should something happen.

Not that he fully expected something to happen, but.. well. Caution.

For the moment Gabriel was putting his faith in the kid and his Golem. Even if there was some bit of lingering wariness, it wasn't enough to be immediately distrusting.]

[strikecommand]

[Gabriel's nudge seals the deal, and Jack knows that he's probably going to regret this. There's only so much a reassuring shoulder squeeze can do, but he sighs and steps forward anyway, reaching out for one of Golem's fingers to use as a stabilizer as he clambers into his palm.

He fixes Gabriel with a look that says if anything happens to him, it's most certainly his fault.]

[littlehero]

[The contract is sealed.

Seere steps on after Jack, clasping his hands behind his back. He's had almost twenty years to perfect his balancing act - and being on the same wavelength as his pact-partner is a nice boost - so he has NO FEAR in just standing so close to the edge. It's fine. He's fine. The only one not fine here is the guy who's sitting out, obviously.]

Here we go.

[Please keep your hands and feet inside the ride at all times, so on and so forth. Golem's speed isn't dangerous or anything, but there's no further warning before his hand lifts, and lifts, and liiifts, kicking up the air around them in a gust that ruffles through their hair like it's some kind of Ghibli film. Which might be fitting, depending on whether Jack finds some kind of magical charm to the array of enclosed fields and farmhouses dotting the valley.

Or maybe it's actually unnerving because the jamjar nature of the place means there's probably some weird shit going on with how things should exist in a physical space, man, I don't know. Seere's not bothered anyway.]

[passedover]

Enjoy the ride.

[There was a look right back at Jack that was more or less You'll be fine and Gabriel honestly just did not want to go to any sort of heights he was not prepared for. For good reason. He didn't sign up for this and



That was something to see from the ground, honestly. Not at all sad that he chose not to but hey, at least Jack could report back with what he saw up there.]

[strikecommand]

[He will not enjoy the ride! He won't enjoy it at all. Jack's knuckles are white as he grips Golem's stone fingers, but soon enough he's in the air and it all seems mostly moot. A sudden movement is going to send him toppling no matter how hard he tries to keep himself stable.

Luckily, Golem is (relatively) stable, and Jack isn't about to let a kid show him up in the daring deeds department. He straightens and tries to take in the surroundings, but unfortunately nothing about it seems very strange to him--just farmland and forests.

Maybe Seere is catching on to something he's missing.]

See anything?

[littlehero]

Hm...? I can see the town, to the east. The ocean on the horizon... The mountains...

[He does wonder what's beyond those, but hasn't had a proper excuse to go exploring. Thankfully, he isn't quite as reckless as he used to be. Sort of.

He shifts his focus from the distance to the much closer Jack, his eyes narrowing a little in thought.]

You're looking for something specific.

[At least admit it's a nice view!]

[strikecommand]

I'm not sure.

[He's in the awkward position of not knowing what he's looking for, but knowing that he'll know it when he sees it. Jack frowns.]

I guess it all looks pretty normal.

[Maybe he was hoping for some kind of shady government facility hidden in the forest, or something.]