1st reaping ~ i was born to death ~ [video;PUBLIC]

[deaths_head]

[The face that fills the network isn't a pleasant one. It's an older man's face, not unpleasant to look at--Irish complexion and coloring with pale skin, the faintest hint of broadly scattered freckles, slate grey eyes, and a neatly trimmed, vivid red goatee that matches the red hair streaming well past his shoulders. His brow is furrowed, his mouth turned down in a peevish scowl...

...then he holds his smart phone at arm's length, and more of the picture comes together.

For one thing, his look is very 'biker chic' courtesy of the chain around his neck, and the black leather vest he wears over a matching wifebeater. His arms are sleeved in intricate tattoos in a myriad of surprisingly vivid colors--mostly black and white, with the occasional splash of red, violet, green, or blue. There's plenty of canvas, given the newcomer's muscular build: broad shoulders, thick arms with subtle definition--not showy, but it's a body built for a heavy work load it's clearly accustomed to.

That's the other thing, and probably the main reason the man in question is so damn unhappy looking, and that's his size. The arm holding out the smart phone is long enough to get a nicely framed shot of him, and the backdrop of a room from the Genessia Commonspace. Based on some of the markers of his surroundings compared to the level of his head as he stands there, one might be able to peg his height somewhere in the uncomfortable range of well over six and a half feet...okay, closer to seven.

Even in his human guise--an approximation of the body he once inhabited as a living man--the Shade, Lord of the Vale and Reaper of the Wayward, sometimes known as Gentle Death, is too damn large to exist in the world around him.]

I been here five damn minutes, busted myself at least three times on somethin', and suffice to say I ain't remotely happy.

[The voice is deep, pleasant save for the aggravation in his tone, the accent Southern to those familiar with it--definitely something Texan, for anyone that might come from Earth or be familiar with that region.]

I get I'm stuck here. Can't do nothin' 'bout that. [Lord knows he's tried, and he can't transport himself anywhere but where he's at. Can't even move between the damn cities without that stupid amulet, a visible lump tucked under his wifebeater.] But at the very least, they could make the space a little more habitable for them of us that ain't goddamn ants.

[He glances over his shoulder towards the bed--thank God he has no need for sleep. Turning back to his phone, his scowl, impossibly, deepens.]

If I can't get out? I'm gettin' me somewhere I can stretch my damn legs for a spell. Anyone who knows where a body can get a decent room? Gets a round on me. Wherever there is in this godsforsaken world to drink, at any rate.

Comments

[Video]

[kalmaleader]

[There's a giant masked dragon blinking at the screen. Somehow he's sure that this newcomer's size issues pale in comparison to his own...]

...What are you talking about? This place is plenty habitable for those of us who aren't ants. And that's coming from someone who can't even fit into any of the buildings.

Re: [Video]

[deaths_head]

[The Shade just...blinks a little at the appearance of the dragon. Sure, it's impressive, and he's never seen a dragon...

But he's seen some sick shit in Hell. And that doesn't count Rick, his right hand man, in his true form.]

Well, believe you me, it gets a hell of a lot less welcomin' once you get your head in the door, I tell you what. Least, if you don't scrape it on some low door frame. Might have to take a step from you 'n stay the hell outside. Wouldn't be the first time I slept 'neath a bare sky.

[Video]

[uglypet]

[She almost didn't respond. Almost. His anger for ants is truly fierce, and she is a gross bug lady! But he does seem as if he needs some help, and if she is helpful, then she will be liked. Maybe then he will change his hatred for insect creatures.]

[So the video isn't of Mantis, though her soft-spoken and oddly-accented voice can be heard. Instead it's of a cheap motel room with stained carpets, a bedspread of rust orange, mustard yellow, and avocado green in some semblance of a floral pattern, peeling wallpaper, a radiator with the paint flecking off in many places... If he's seen a cheap motel room before, then it should all be very familiar.]

I am very lucky to be staying in a room like this. It has a working toilet!

[This is apparently very high praise for her.]

And here you see a shower that grants you hot water for five whole minutes before it gets cold.

[The camera swings back around and he might catch a glimpse of her in the mirror with her green and black outfit and long black hair and--were those antennae on her head?]

And look!

[The camera bobs as she crosses the room (past some broken glass on the floor?) to the door, where there's a chain that keeps the room locked.]

A peephole, and a chain, for maximum security. But that is not the best part...

[Her delicate hand reaches up, unfastening the chain, and the camera moves into the hallway, and down, down some stairs, before coming to a stop before a buzzing soda machine.]

Beeeeverraaaageeeessss!

Re: [Video]

[deaths_head]

[The place he gets the five cent tour of is a dump, to put it nicely. The barely there glimpse of something not quite human only just registers, and more as a question regarding her origin--that quiet, gentle little voice, dusky pale skin, dark eyes and hair...smacks of 'fallen angel' in his mind.

She's so damn proud of her crappy hotel room, though--well...shit. Reminds him too goddamn much of the soul he left behind back home, minus the big mouth and attitude problem.

When he answers, he's far less belligerent.]

Have to admit, little lady--I'm fair impressed.

[He hesitates a long moment before...]

If you care to, you can call me Joe. What's your name, if you don't mind me askin'?

[Video]

[uglypet]

[He might not be able to see it, but she's grinning hugely at his compliment to her choice of living arrangements.]

Thank you. It is a place called "Low End Motel." I have certainly obtained a great deal for very little pay.

[Honestly, why don't more people want to live here? It's a mystery! No it isn't.]

Joe is a nice name! I like to speak it. My name is Mantis, Joe.

[The camera is still fixated on the 'Koke' logo as the vending machine light continues to sputter and hum.]

[Video]

[wonderland_vogue]

[Oh, she's been rather bored with the network of late, what with no one seeming particularly interested in coming to play her and her brother's games. But this? This is what catches her attention and the moment he mentions busting himself on something and realizes how big is, she's busting out in laughter which takes a moment or two to subside.

And she might have been enough of a dick to have hit the video button at the tail end of that.

At least it's pretty impossible to tell what she actually is from a video.]

Depends on what you want as far as rooming goes. Could just make your own out in one of the forests or something, I guess. That's what I did, anyway. Though I'd suggest staying out of Everglade's forest unless you're a fan of the supernatural or horror themes~

Other than that, I can't say I'm too sure. I didn't look into housing too much before coming out here.

[Video]

[deaths_head]

[Oh, he caught that laughter, all right--and she's getting glared at for it.

Least she's got something to say, rather than just yukking it up on his account.]

I ain't no stranger to bunkin' under the sky, sweetheart. And I don't scare easy.

This Everglade--horror by conventional standards? Or is there something evil to it?

[Video]

[brat_from_hell]

You must be very tall, mister.

[Video]

[deaths_head]

[...a kid? Hoo boy.]

A mite. 'Bout five, five 'n a quarter by the time I was eleven. You're 'bout that old, right?

[He squints, as if struggling to assess the boy's age.]

Mmmmm...maybe not. Nah, you gotta be older 'n that.

[Video]

[0_times_0]

[Oh, look, it's another one of those human-looking beings. As if Genessia doesn't have enough of those. But... there's something oddly appealing about this human, but Zero can't really put his finger on what it is. And it isn't his size, that's for sure.]

I see you are also not very pleased by your present predicament. If I were you though, I would get used to this place. They don't seem to like seeing us leave. [Trust him, he tried. He can fly and he flew for a long time but... found no exit in sight.]

[Video]

[deaths_head]

[The Shade's scowl deepens at the sight of what he can only call a sentient eyeball--not nearly as disturbing as some of the things he saw in Hell, mind...Christ, with a few tentacles he'd fit right into the nastier parts of Purgatory. Still, he's an unwelcome reminder of the place he hates most to visit, and the divine being he loathes the most (Lucifer).

So there's a subtle shift to his appearance as a thread of his control slips loose. His eyes darken visibly--not with anger, but with something very like storm clouds rolling through grey irises. If one watches closely, tiny sparks of light can even be made out as lightning leaps and flickers in the depths of the storm in his eyes.]

Been locked up before. That ain't new--it's the housing situation that's givin' me a case of the red ass, if you get my meaning.

[VIDEO] //I AM DYING OVER YOUR PB OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMG hi\\

[micancion]

[Hector is just going to...well, stare a bit. He thought he'd been tall but, ay!]

Ah, well? That place is just for new arrivals. You could probably find an apartment or house that's uh, big enough?

[VIDEO] //HIII OMG I AM SO JAZZED THAT EVERYONE HERE KNOWS MY SWEET DARK PRINCE OF ASS KICKING SON\\

[deaths_head]

[...well, that's new. And very, very interesting. Have an absent nod, while the Shade regards this new skeletal figure with a keen interest bordering on hungry.]

Reckon I could, once I find work...might be I'm askin' an especially stupid question, but I ain't ever claimed to be a smart man: are you dead, friend?

[Video]

[allforthem]

I hear ya. Those apartments are awful. But chin up! Once you get a good job, you'll be able to move out of there in no-time.

Anything cheap here is nicer than that cramped space, trust me. Where are you from?

[Video]

[deaths_head]

From here 'n there. [He's terse, gruff...but then that bothers him some, because it's a fair innocuous question...]

Houston.

[It's sort of true. It was where his father was from, at any rate--if not for his daddy's twang, he'd have ended up with his momma's Irish brogue.]

[video]

[fadedscarlet]

Hey~ It's either that or something much more vile, like, you know, NO ROOM AT ALL?

Entitled human, try something worse why don't you? [Kii chuckled to themselves]

[video]

[deaths_head]

[For just a second, the Shade's temper flares as his eyes narrow--but after a moment the brief heat of rage dies, and something cold settles into his expression as his drawl fades to nearly nothing.]

You make a lot of assumptions, little one. Haven't you ever heard the expression 'trial makes flesh out of stone?'

Video

[sarcastass]

You have to be the first person who's openly accepted upon arrival that he's not getting out.

I feel like I should have a celebratory champagne bottle around for every time someone shows up here and doesn't ask a stupid question.

[Honestly, the man on this end of the camera looks pretty normal. The blacked out glasses seemed to suggest he was blinder than a mole, but hey, looks perfectly human.]

It depends on what your aesthetic is, as far as rooms go. We have modern convenience, future convenience, no convenience and the fifty percent chance you'll be eaten by a vampire.

Video

[deaths_head]

[The observation gets a terse shrug.] I been locked up before. [Granted, that was Hell...and that's something he doesn't much think about if he can help it, much less discuss with strangers.]

Truth to tell, I'm used to simple. Used to carvin' out my own hole to sleep in, too, if it comes down to--

--back up a sec, did you just say vampires? [Jesus Christ, if this ain't Hell it's a good approximation. Vampires defy the laws of life and death. He hates the way they make his skin crawl and his magic burn like a living thing full of righteous indignation.

Some people hate nails on chalkboards. Some folks hate shrill noises or pop songs. Vampires, for the Shade, are all of the above.]

Video;

[immortalrose]

[Talk about an intro.

Augustine peers into the screen looking a tad perplexed at this behemoth of a man. If the dhampir had to guess, he would assume this gentleman to be even taller than him. That's a bit of a phenomenon since most of the people on this world are indeed "ants". That comment won a healthy chuckle from Augustine.]

You are in good company. [He states with a grin.] More often than not, even I find the doorways in this Genessia City to be a bit low and I'm only a little past six feet.

[Augustine is dressed in his evening best which consists of one of his tailored red baroque themed suits and lots of beautiful white lace. He looks like a nobleman, a prince of some bygone age. Maybe that's because he happens to be one.]

Are you adverse to traveling? If not, then why not the After Life Lounge in Nova City? You can wet your whistle there for cheap.

Video - I hope late is okay!!!

[blindpuppet]

It isn't too bad. [Enis is sitting in a bar with the blue screen of her computer splashing against her chin and jaw.] You can also get another room. You just need to find a job.

[Which she assumes that he'll be able to handle.]

As for a drink. That I can help you with too. I'm at one of the smaller bars in Genessia. What are you interested in and I can direct you.

[ video ]

[wearenotbroken]

[ At first, she hadn't sure she was going to say anything to him. Maybe this whole thing was a trick on his part. Or maybe she had in fact died and this was his home....but she was banking on the fact that it wasn't. Not with the reaction he was having at the moment.

So maybe she could have ducked him and just kept her distance. Except for the fact that she didn't want to. She was in a strange new place and he was something familiar to her. As strange as that thought was...

So she appeared on his screen despite being wary at the moment. She couldn't resist teasing him with a small smirk though. ]

Don't you know how to duck or curl up? I'm sure even giants could do it.

Re: [ video ]

[deaths_head]

[...no goddamn blessed fucking way.]

...you.

[ Video ]

[fondofapples]

Oh look. If it isn't tall, ginger, and drink-buying.

[ Regina gives Joe, the Shade, whatever he was calling himself here a bitterly amused smile. ]

We've got to stop meeting this way. [ On someone's first day in town. ]

Re: [ Video ]

[deaths_head]

[...okay, that's...new. She knows who he is, too...he doesn't buy anyone's liquor outside the Vale, but he can't tell if she's divine or damned.]

Have we met, ma'am?