The bodies in my floor all trusted someone. Now I walk on them to tea.

[kingshaming]

[After the trial, Xander does what he does best. What always blanks his mind when training is not an option:

He organizes.

The hot food for lunch is out still, and while he feels far from hungry, he knows they all SHOULD eat. Everyone wanders off to take care of their own grief, and he lets them for now- and instead busies himself at the espresso bar. There's something specific he wants to do.

Later, under each door, and with the same thing written on the white board he had dragged out for meetings:]

There is hot food and tea in the cafeteria, and while I have no stomach for food it is there for those that can.

While it is tempting to be alone right now, if you wish company I shall be there until evening. Now may be a good time to compare new information while it is fresh.

If not, please stay well.

Xander

[And as promised there is fresh tea. Green tea in fact, though it lacks the milk Chitanda made- but basic tea he can manage at least]

Comments

[misplacedxsheath]

Did you notice White's attempt to cover something on his tie? It seems even our Overseers aren't free from surveillance.

[almightyconflagration]

Yeah, and also how horrified the other looked as well. Considering how lame their "rude" awakening was, it was quite worth it.

[misplacedxsheath]

Hmph, I don't think their tools are calibrated for the likes of us. Though it is insulting that they think we'd be bothered by something so common as electricity.

[almightyconflagration]

Actually I find it interesting how they keep showing in small ways that they really don't know much about some of the things about us. That lame attempt at punishment showed they didn't understand about elemental resistances.

[misplacedxsheath]

Or that any warrior would be a fool to not protect himself against his own elements. Unless they merely focused in on our signature talents and ignored any of our less iconic abilities.

[almightyconflagration]

Very true. Your fire did nothing to me and punishment wasn't needed. I didn't care to try and stay awake because I doubted they could do much and I was proven right.

[misplacedxsheath]

Hmph, their punishment barely phased me more than it did you. Lightning may be my secondary element, but I've still ensured I'm at least somewhat proof against it. Heh, it might even be worth it if White becomes frustrated with his inability to harm me so easily.

[almightyconflagration]

He'll grow frustrated before he gets much of a reaction from me.

[misplacedxsheath]

It's almost tempting to see how recalcitrant we can be before they accept that their electricity is all but useless against us...the only thing making it a debate is the uncertainty of whether or not they'll kill someone simply for being difficult.

[almightyconflagration]

They certainly are vague about what the punishments are. If I knew more I'd be more willing to mess with them.

[misplacedxsheath]

That may be the point. If we knew the precise line of our limits, we'd always be pressing right up against it. This way, we have to be cautious and rely on guesswork to know how far we can go in making their jobs difficult.

[almightyconflagration]

Very much so because most living beings do care about their continued survival and wish to remain in good health. Though one other thing I have picked up on, natural resistances and defenses aren't dampened.

[misplacedxsheath]

I suspect there's little they can do to remove a factor of our biology. Even sealing my Ethers entirely wouldn't undo the effects they've already had upon my system.

[almightyconflagration]

Though I'd need to see more about the actual results. Truly, if we could find an open enough area I'd be open to an actual fight. Sitting around with nothing to do is getting on my nerves.

[misplacedxsheath]

Hmph, mine as well. Bad enough I haven't met an opponent worthy of my personal attention in fourteen years, here I can't even entertain myself against training drones.

[almightyconflagration]

Hasn't been quite so long for me, but the person I could fight and not hold back with kicked it some time back and I've not found anyone since. I was hoping this mission I took would let me fight someone worth my time, but I got dragged here instead.

[misplacedxsheath]

At least yours has the excuse. Mine decided to retire shortly after he gave me this.

[He reaches up to tap the scar running down the side of his face and makes a sound of disgust.]

[almightyconflagration]

Ah, so you want to return the favor. Mine was just a fellow Enforcer, number II. His skill with the Body-Split Craft made him quite a formidable foe.

[misplacedxsheath]

I'll settle for just removing his entire insufferable head. Even in the short time we were enemies before he retired, he managed to make himself quite a nuisance.

[Although...]

But something you said...Body-Split Craft?

[almightyconflagration]

It's a common skill among Enforcers, but he was the most skilled at it. He could make numerous duplicates of himself and have them fight alongside him. All quite durable as well. It would be like fighting potentially up to eight of the same very strong man.

[The way McBurn talks of this, it seems he rather enjoyed such battles and could handle being outnumbered quite well. In fact it's the closest he's shown to giving a damn.]

[misplacedxsheath]

Eight? That must be quite difficult to keep track of. I'm the creator of the Chhaya summon, and even I can only maintain two separate forms at once.

[almightyconflagration]

It might have been, but it didn't seem to hinder him one bit. Maybe that's because he got plenty of chances to practice it with someone who could hold up against them.

[misplacedxsheath]

Hmm, quite possible. I've yet to even find an enemy truly worth even a single shadow, save that fool, Uzuki. In honesty, most of the time I use it to aid in the busy work involved in keeping an entire fleet operational in the midst of a war.

[almightyconflagration]

Sounds like both of us might be satisfied as long as we can find a place to actually fight.

[misplacedxsheath]

It's a shame we won't have access to our full array of abilities. Fire is impressive enough, but some if my flashier abilities are sealed. Still, it'll be entertaining so long as it's challenging.