12th Resurrection - How to Make Friends & Influence People

[sanctus_dei]

[A pale young man sits alone at the park at an outdoor chess board during the afternoon. There's pieces on the board, and a few have been moved around. Mostly, he's reading through an old, old book as he sits there. There's no title on the cover, or if there was, it rubbed off ages ago. There's another book sitting next to him too on the bench - just a run-of-the-mill library book on basic car care. He smokes as he reads, and occasionally puts the book down to make a move on the chessboard. Yep, against himself. He has no one else to play with at the moment. Captain Crankypants here knows that he needs to make allies if he ever wants to overthrow this town, or crack its mysteries... but he also really hates 90% of people, and wouldn't know how to make friends with someone if his life depended on it. And without his spellcasting ability, there wasn't much he could do...

Nonsense! There's plenty Theo's capable of... right?

He also knows that he needs to find a relaxing hobby in this town before he goes completely mad. After all, he was just threatening to beat a girl with a wrench for messing with his car that he doesn't even *care* about. And that he already pretty muched FUBARed it on his own. Obviously mechanics will require more study before he jumps in head-first again...

So this was as far as Theo could make it to being social. He's outside, what more do you want? Well, maybe you want to join in and play some chess. Or maybe you just want to point and laugh at him for being a bitter loner. The choice is yours.]

Comments

[weiss-tank.livejournal.com]

[Ken did get distracted once or twice, mainly because the two piece colours were black and white and that held meaning for him, but in his own defense, he did get back on track fairly quickly]

You know, maybe they should have stuck you in a teaching job here, you don't suck at explaining things.

[sanctusdei.livejournal.com]

Be forced into putting up with goddamn rugrats all day? No thanks.

[weiss-tank.livejournal.com]

Oh come on Theo, the kids here ain't that bad. They're a good bunch. [Ken loves kids, and theoretically he understands that other people don't but it just doesn't quite stick all the time.]

[He picks up the white knight and smiles a little] This one is the one that does the 'L' shape moves, right? [See, he can pay attention]

[sanctusdei.livejournal.com]

[Let's not forget that Theo - and even Ken - is practically a kid himself.]

Hnn. I just avoid them. Most here are just droned anyway. There's nothing more annoying than that.

[He nods, his expression still flat.] Right. Good to see you actually are paying attention.

[weiss-tank.livejournal.com]

[That's so very true, and even though Ken might not mind the observation, Theo would probably hate it.]

Yeah, it's a little creepy, but they're still human kids. I think I just got used to them honestly.

[He just stuck his tongue out at the paying attention comment]

[sanctusdei.livejournal.com]

Just barley. I have one living in my house and he's annoying as anything. Especially since he insists on calling me dad when I'm only a few years older than him.

[He lights a cigarette, frowning]

[weiss-tank.livejournal.com]

[This brings up a question that Ken doesn't think he's asked before, but it's a very important question.]

Uh, you may have told me and I forgot...but how old are you anyways?

[sanctusdei.livejournal.com]

[Theo takes another move. There goes another of you pawns, Ken.]

Nineteen.

[weiss-tank.livejournal.com]

Holy fuck you're young! I thought you were a lot older! [Ken pouted at the loss of a pawn, and actually stopped to think about it for once.]

[sanctusdei.livejournal.com]

…I get that a lot. Do I really seem that old?

[weiss-tank.livejournal.com]

Well, it's the smoking and the drinking and being angry at the world thing that you've got going. [He's moving a pawn as he talks and wow! He got one of yours!]

That and you act like a 50 year old guy.

[sanctusdei.livejournal.com]

[He takes a moment to reply, after taking a long drag on his smoke. It looks like he's thinking deeply about the game, but then he finally speaks up.]

…yeah, well, life is shitty like that.

[weiss-tank.livejournal.com]

Lighten up Theo. Life isn't that bad. I mean sure it kicks you in the balls once in a while but it's still worth surviving.

[sanctusdei.livejournal.com]

[He's quiet again, avoiding eye contact, focusing on the board.]

…you and I come from different times and places, Ken.

[weiss-tank.livejournal.com]

Well no duh considering you can do magic and stuff like that. [Ken sighed and moved again]

You aren't dead yet Theo. I'm 19 and technically I am. [He figures this is safe enough to admit because he can tell the story with out saying really what happens afterwords.]

[sanctusdei.livejournal.com]

…That's not true. I am dead. I figured that's why I'm here in the first place. I was killed right before waking up here.

[weiss-tank.livejournal.com]

You aren't dead. I mean, what really? Shot? [He shook his head, wrong questions there Ken]

I mean, I know some people are taken here right as they die, but some aren't. This can't really be death if its like that, right?

[sanctusdei.livejournal.com]

…yeah, I was, actually.

[Another uncomfortable pause. He finishes his cigarette, stamps it out, and makes his next move on the board. Hope you don't miss that Bishop.]

…I had found out today that some people leave and come back. Which is why I don't think this is hell for everyone. Just select people. Ken, if people really bring this place down and send everyone to their homes, I'm pretty fucked.

[weiss-tank.livejournal.com]

I don't see why we can't just send you somewhere better then. I mean, it shouldn't just work that everyone just blips back home.

That just wouldn't be fair.

[sanctusdei.livejournal.com]

How is anything about this place fair.

[weiss-tank.livejournal.com]

Haha, I guess you're right. But it'll still work out somehow. I mean, there are people who've left and not come back, or had their past self come back and what not.

This place is playing by some very strange rules. We just don't know 'em yet!

[sanctusdei.livejournal.com]

Yeah. I've been researching spells that normally should be used in this sort of thing, but I've come up with nothing so far. This places has utterly destroyed any rules I know of.

[weiss-tank.livejournal.com]

Tell me about it. You can't die, the town gets to do whatever the hell it wants, and you can't get fucking miso at the grocery store.

[sanctusdei.livejournal.com]

The amount of magic energy to keep a place like this running must be staggering. I can't even begin to imagine how it's done.

…the hell is miso?

[weiss-tank.livejournal.com]

Maybe it's not magic, maybe it's some sorta weird technology. [It's a little closer to being possible in Ken's world then Theo's but oh well.]

Huh? Miso? Oh, it's a soybean product that makes awesome soup and stuff. I get it from that little Japan dude but I haven't been able to get a hold of him for a restock.