Day 69 | [video] | Dilandau Albatou

[burnburnburn]

[For the first time since he's been in Kore, Dilandau's not looking the least bit put out when making a public announcement. He's alert and in a good mood. Though he's draped on his sofa, it's a deceptive relaxation. He's got the stillness of a coiled spring,  ready to jump into action any moment. ]

 I hear there's more than beasts in the woods. Does anyone have information about the metal bears who guard the perimeter in the forest?

Comments

Video

[undomesticated]

Yes. They're huge, they're grumpier than a robot should be, and they smell terrible.

[Someone did not like these robot bears. No siree.]

Re: Video

[burnburnburn]

[That interests him immediately]

How huge? Are they taller than the trees?

[undomesticated]

Well, no, but they're bigger than any bear I've come across before. And way stronger.

[And did she mention the smell?]

[burnburnburn]

Are they bigger than that man with the tattoos on his forehead, Wallie?

[A pause]

When you said they stank, what was it of? Was it fuel, or of an area they'd lingered, or something else?

Video

[tryingitall]

I glimpsed a few through the trees not long ago, but I'm no kind of mechanic.

I will tell you they seem to leave a significant trail of devastation in their wake. Unless there's something bigger and more dangerous than them I didn't see.

[undomesticated]

Oil. Metal. Rotted fur. Burning fuel. I don't know about Wallie. I haven't met him.

[plaidsamurai]

I've taken down a handful of 'em... 'bout eight. They've got a lotta sharp bits, an' I'm pretty sure they're made out of steel. Whatever they're made of, they can be sliced up, an' I've seen someone smash 'em.

Problem ain't the bears themselves. The problem is the tranquilizer they give you when they've had enough.

I was doin' fine, winnin' even, and then I woke up back at the edge of the woods.

What're you plannin'?

voice;

[hexappeal]

Are you thinking about getting a closer look?

[hung_garian]

Info? Well, probably the most pertinent thing I know is that they're planning a picnic this afternoon, real big fancy affair, loads of guards - so if you go down to the woods today, you'd better go in disguise.

Video

[burnburnburn]

[Dilandau's eyes narrow slightly at the sight of Balthazar, but since he hasn't mentioned the humiliation he witnessed he simply nods]

How near to our town do they roam?

[burnburnburn]

[He makes a small face at that description]

I'll make sure I stand upwind to them if I encounter them.

I haven't spoken to you before. What's your name?

[burnburnburn]

Reconnaissance, after I've gotten some basic details.

[And these are exactly the details he wants.]

You must be a strong one if you can take down our guards. Did you make a noticeable dent in their numbers?

Re: voice;

[burnburnburn]

I'm thinking that only fools rush in blind. How much of a look I have depends on what I learn from the people who've been here longer than I.

[burnburnburn]

[He was hoping that Gabriel would never, ever bother him again after proving his point.]

Is that right?

[He's biting his tongue so hard not to say anything else about the stupidity. He doesn't want another thrashing.]

[plaidsamurai]

The crap in the forest ain't our guards, they're our guards' toys, an' when they bored of us breakin' 'em they'll knock us out.

[Forgive him. Annoyed is his natural state.]

All in all I've taken out right around ten of 'em. They go down pretty easy if you don't mind gettin' a bit sliced up.

[undomesticated]

Riley Samson. And you are?

[She was slowly but surely starting to get to know the faces and names of the people around here. Very slowly.]

[hung_garian]

Oh, yeah. 100% true. I wouldn't lie.

[burnburnburn]

[He sits forward in his chair]

Have you ever seen our guards?

[burnburnburn]

Dilandau Albatou.

[Her taps his lips with his forefinger, thinking for a moment]

Would you be willing to track down those bears again?

[burnburnburn]

[He's tempted to just cut off the video, but there's got to be a way to get some use out of this demon]

Have you ever tried using those powers on yours on one of them?

[undomesticated]

[She made a noise that was like a huff of air mixed with a snort.]

Um, no. I got my ass handed to me last time. You want to run into them? Try to leave.

Video

[tryingitall]

There may be some distortion out there. I'm not positive. I would say between seven and fifteen miles, but it's a rough estimate.

[hung_garian]

My powers of wit and sophistication and dashing good looks, you mean? Ooooor were you referring to the ass-kicking kind?

[burnburnburn]

I'd rather collect some intelligence first.

so they defeated you? How strong are you? [A pause, and then an addendum] Measured on a human scale.

[undomesticated]

I wasn't exactly human at the time. I was, um, kind of a big cat.