001 Audio

[h41ku]

[The voice that comes online sounds automated, mechanical. Like the voicemail guy on the phone! But it's a person, and he's here for introductions.]

Hi.

My name is Zer0 / I have only just arrived / straight outta... the bus.

Our mission is clear / however, I do not care / it's freaking boring.

[He only sounds like the voicemail guy. He's clearly made of attitude.]

Instead, how about / we go into the mountains, / kill some badasses?

Comments

[anappleaday]

[ this reply is clipped, tone flat in the way of someone who is angry but trying not to outright lose their temper.

...she's still using haiku, though. for a different topic she might pass, but she's never been good at backing down from a potential challenge when nettled. ]

How about instead
You leave what hasn't harmed you
To live out its life?

Boredom is poor cause
For cruelty against those
Who have done no wrong.

[h41ku]

But I want big drops / a challenge is really fun / and it's pretty cool.

[Slam poetry.]

Monsters are a test / of all my abilities / it gives them purpose.

[anappleaday]

A challenge is fine
Needless suffering is not.
They don't deserve that.

If you want a test
Pick on someone your own size
Who agrees to fight.

[h41ku]

Monsters are fair game. / Dunno how that's my problem. / You're pretty damn lame.

There are always quests / to clear out all the monsters / that come to the town.

Duh.

[anappleaday]

[ there's a soft and distinctly inhuman rumble before she replies again, dropping any attempt at poetry ]

There's a difference between going after the ones who have become a danger and the ones that are happy to keep to themselves. From their perspective, you're doing the same thing as the ones those quests are for.

...If you consider monsters fair game, then I suppose if I came after you it would only be self-defense.

[ Lilith. Lilith, no. ]

[h41ku]

Do you wish to fight? / I gladly welcome challenge. / Come at me bro.

[He even turns on the camera, making a "come here" motion at her in the camera, a ヽ( `д´*)ノ displayed from his visor plate.]

[He's having fun.]

[anappleaday]

[ the response is short— the camera turning on to reveal the sharp teeth of some kind of reptile skull far too close to the camera. those jaws swing open, briefly revealing the coldly furious expression of a scarred up woman apparently wearing that toothy skull as a mask—

before slamming shut with a loud, nearly musical clack. the video ends there.

there's a map attached the message, a spot near the mountains circled in red. ]

[h41ku]

[Zer0's GPS is broken, so even when he matches the map to his way marker and makes his way out there, it takes him like. A comedic long time to arrive. And he's covered in twigs and brambles, because hey. He's not used to forests, at all.]

[But he arrives nonetheless, looking around for his opponent with a ?? displayed on his screen.]

[anappleaday]

[ thanks for all the time to familiarize herself with the terrain, buddy. not that she hadn't picked somewhere she knew decently to begin with, but getting the chance to go over it with a fine-toothed comb with an eye toward strategy is nice. ]

Kind of you to show up. I was beginning to wonder.

[ the voice comes from somewhere to his right, and is about all the warning he gets before the ground abruptly cracks open beneath his feet. ]

[h41ku]

[He can barely draw his gun between hearing her voice and having to leap to higher ground to get back on his feet. He points and shoots, but doubts he hit her. He heard her voice, but where was it coming from?]

A surprise attack. / That's wonderful, I'm impressed. / I will have to learn.

[This terrain is as alien to him as anything else. Most planets are seriously lacking in greenery.]

[He can't wait to start.]