genessia | Lost in the New World (closed)

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Lost in the New World (closed)

who: Zoro and Sync
what: Zoro's job as recruit-tester for Jolly Eddy's means some poor sap has to try to get him from point A to point B. Today's poor sap is Sync.
when: Jan 2 eh
where: Everglade
warnings: nah

[Hiring officer sounds all official and snooty, but Zoro believes that his job assisting Namur is to test out any new escort recruits sent his way. He was never told what "testing" meant, but that was just fine, because Zoro tended to make shit up as he went along anyway. What it meant to Namur? Zoro's complete lack of direction meant someone had to successfully guide him from one end of Everglade to the other without losing him or getting in trouble.

This morning, all Zoro is given is a place to show up at and the name of the person he's testing today: Sync. How bad is his navigation? He's late. Seriously, a street corner one block in from the Everglade gate shouldn't be hard to find and yet here we are. Zoro arrives eventually, though, armed with his three swords and looking at his phone to determine whether he knew what Sync looked like or how he would recognize his recruit.]

Oh, wait. I think this is the place. Huh. He could've said it was right here.

[Feel bad for Sync, everyone, he has the world's worst toddler to babysit today. Namur has at least given him the real mission, to direct Zoro from that street corner to a market stall in the center of Everglade as quickly and efficiently as possible. They may or may not come into any trouble, but if they do, Zoro will enjoy seeing how this guy fights.]

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[Sync was on time, and waiting, had ben, but he was keeping calm, this was going to be an actual occurrence on the job; he was sure. He was perched on a wall, one leg dangling off, while he gazed for Zoro, who's description he got from Namur.

At this point, Sync still wasn't sure why he had agreed, but Namur was easy to talk to, so that was probably why. It would do well after keeping to himself so much to get going in his place; home was apparently not an option, not that he wanted it. Hopping down from the wall when he saw Zoro come up. The three swords were interesting, but he wasn't going to question it. Nor was he going to question being that late.]

Yo.

[He tossed up a gloved hand in greeting, not showing any of his face beneath the distinctive mask he wore just yet; he might give a smile or more likely a smirk once he got a feel for the other man. Glancing around, he decided it was clear for the moment and stepped closer.]

You ready to hit the market?

...oh. You must be the guy.

[yeah thanks Zoro 'the guy.' The mask is a pretty good giveaway though, he was supposed to look out for it.]

Yeah, I'm set. I'm supposed to let you lead, so go for it.

[While he thinks it's so he can gauge whether Sync knows his way around Everglade, it's much more than that. Zoro, it might be noted, knows absolutely nothing of this town - he spends 99% of his time in Fayren. So naturally, even though he says it's on Sync to lead and him to follow and judge, Zoro starts off by walking right past him in the complete opposite direction of the market.]

['The guy'? Alright, fine. They didn't have to know eachother, as he commonly liked to say to people.]

Sure.

[Everglade isn't Sync's primary hangout either, but he liked to know places. So he had a decent route thought up when Zoro ruins it by heading past him, but despite the fact that Sync is maybe 5'5" out of his boots and looks like he might weigh 140 soaking wet, let Zoro just ruin this for him.]

The market's this way.

[He juts a thumb off to one side for a start.]

Huh?

[screeches to a stop and turns around]

You sure? All right, you're in charge here I guess.

[all it takes is that one suggestion and Zoro moves to follow correctly, resting an elbow on the hilts of his swords as he falls in with Sync]

So what's the deal, anyway? Figure dragging people through this town is a better job than anything else?

...

[Sync wasn't ignoring Zoro, but it's a question he doesn't really have an answer to. He had been mostly just drifitng along in this world, and having a place where he might actually belong seemed enticing.]

Yeah, I guess. All I have is experience fighting, and since there's a good chance of that; it seemed like a good idea.

[Glacing at the swordsman, Sync finds himself curious about the three swords again, and shrugs, more to himself.]

What about you? What's the deal with the three swords?

Yeah, I get you. There's not a lot of other places around here with an actual challenge for a fighter.

[he taps Wadou Ichimonji's hilt, a bit proud. He never tires of answering that particular question]

I fight with them. Yes, all at once, no, not always all at once.

Damn. I was hoping you knew something I didn't.

[He might like to talk about life having no meaning, but there was always a certain sort of thrill when you were bashing someone's face in that almost filled the void he thought he had.

The talk of the swords does grab his rapt attention, however, and his hand snaps over to Zoro, assessing if he was a liar or serious.]

...Show me some time. I've never heard of using three swords.

[whoa there grabby hands! Zoro stops and eyes him but lets it pass]

Not many people have. I invented the technique myself. If you really wanna see it, we'll have to look for trouble rather than wait for it to come to us.

[starting a fight with innocent Everglade citizens going about their day is probably a bad idea, though. Besides, Zoro's got nothing against any of them, even the wolfy and fangy ones. Oh well.]

[He moves off again, mulling over the idea. He wasn't much of a bully without Van posturing him and shrugged. He was, but only when it was personal, like with Anise.]

Maybe. Might wait for someone to mouth off first.

[the pause nearly loses Zoro, he actually starts off on a cross-path, but realizes after two steps that Sync has gone the other way and veers to follow]

S'why I hang out in Fayren mostly. The sea's there, and there's enough monsters in the woods to take the edge off once in a while. Other than that, there's really not much to fight here and it sucks.

Might have to move there, then. Genessia is boring, and everyone talks about this place being bad news...

[So far he found that pretty false, and massively disappointing. Mostly because the stigma about Everglade echoed the sentiment about Replicas on Auldrant.]

I feel more like people need a fat lip for getting me excited to come here. ...Anyway, cut left here.

[Moving as he says, Sync keeps a steady pace.]

So, you wanna spar some time then? I may not et to see your three sword style, but it might help break things up anyway.

Yeah, no argument there. The cities got nothin' I want except maybe a different bar to go to once in a while.

[he looks away across the city, wondering how far it is to the market and whether there's open space near it like a park or something] ...yeah, why not? If you can keep up with a swordsman like me.

[of course, he's yammering while he looks away, so when his ears hear "left" his head is already pointed in a different direction, so he instinctively turns left from where he's facing - which doubles him back down the street the way they came and away from Sync]

If you're up for drinking, that's fine.

[He wasn't, but that's because it was prohibited for his age where he came from. Plus he liked to stay focused. There's just a smirk at the comment about him keeping up, he can do just fine.]

I don't think I need to worry, much.

[It's when he doesn't even hear a grunt of disagreement after a few seconds that he snaps his head around. It had been a worry, but damn if he wasn't still in shock that Zoro was gone. In a hurry to find his target, Sync spies two buildings that are close enough together that he kicks off each in turn to get to the top of one and make a quick survey. Not seeing Zoro immediately has Sync running along the roof back the way they came to try and seek him out.]

[Most people, when they get lost, are smart enough to stop and wait for their companions to catch up. Not Zoro. No, Zoro just keeps going on this heading until he realizes he's left Sync behind somewhere, and then still keeps going, looking around and occasionally calling out as he goes.

I mean, it's his job not to lose his recruit, right? Where'd that idiot turn off too, he said left and then went right!]

OOoooi! Where'd you go?

[It's the shouting that finally helps him pin down where the pirate went. Which was basically where they started. This was great. He flips down off the roof to land a few feet behind Zoro, throwing his hands on his hips.]

I gotta chain you to me, don't I?

[Don't think he won't; he wasn't right-hand back on Auldrant for the fun of it. He had to be useful and get a job done or be replaced.]

[whirls around at the voice] ...oh, there you are. Geez, you gotta give better directions than that.

[because it's never his fault, etc etc. At least Namur knows better and will factor this idiot into any reports he gives about "mistakes." Zoro just goes right back up to Sync and tips his head in a gesture]

Your job to show me around, better get cracking.

[There's a faint bristle. Sync is good at pretending he's emotionless, but he's got as much going on as the next young teen.]

Fine, come on. Market's this way. Past that one shop everyone has go to for wards. Or something.

[Something about ghost wards or spiritual protection; he believes in what he can punch for the time being, and ironically; you could punch a ghost on Auldrant. Walking again, he makes sure to keep an eye on Zoro this time.]

Haven't found any decent food places...but that might be because I'm human. 'Heard there was a real big mess with one City Guardian a while ago, and it's just not been the same.

Forwards, huh? [oh Sync, that wordplay might be your downfall.

Zoro tags along, stifling his grumbling at having to start over]

I don't know much of anything about the Guardians, only that thing with the phones was a damn pain in the ass. Dunno how effective they are if murders still happen regularly, but that ain't my problem.

Yeah. [He didn't catch that, yet, so be thankful. When it comes back to the phones, he looks down at his. His solution had been to stuff it under his couch and just generally be out and away from it.]

I hated it. Biggest waste of time, you're right about it not being a problem though; I don't sweat it much either.

[If you're weak, you die. That's a simple truth, and he was the only one that made it in the end, save for the coddled errors.]

Okay, so we're making a left at that intersection up ahead.

And you're sure this time. Left?

[Zoro tends to base his internal compass on whatever direction he's facing, so as long as he doesn't look one way or the other he should, in theory, make the turn.

Then again...]

You sure talk pretty tough like you've seen shit, for someone your size.

[he legit keeps going forward for no reason whatsoever. At least he stops short when he realizes there's a building in the way]

Yeah, left.

[At the commentary, Sync glances over his shoulder, pausing to watch Zoro walk straight Even after they had both agreed to go left.]

Come on, this way... And I've seen things. I figure you have too, but I don't really feel like going back home. I can't speak for you on that.

[fortunately he takes correction easily, so Zoro veers and follows Sync that way]

Home is where I belong, me and all my crew. We need to get back there but if there's nothing we can actually do to make it happen, I'll wait.

Sounds like you have a place.

[He sounds envious. Sync nods his head though, waiting is better than making a fuss.]

If I ever hear anything about a way out, I'll give you a shout.

[He cuts right after a few more steps, walking down an alley.]

Yeah, yeah.

[he's not holding his breath, really. At least this place has a real ocean, even if they can't go out to sea permanently.

This time, when Zoro continues forward, he actually notices that his short shadow isn't following and stops. A quick look locates Sync and he turns around to follow. Geez, this guy.]

Are we there yet?

Quit complainin', it's just two more blocks.

[Though, he pauses briefly before he starts moving again.]

How do you know Namur? He makes it sound like you have history.

[but mooooom]

Eh, not much of one. He and I met in the last world I got stuck in, hung out a bit, but we're not that close. I know his crew by reputation more than actually getting to know them.

[I swear I'll turn this bus around]

Makes sense then, people are sticking to who they know. Or know of.

I'm the same way and I barely like who I know.

[the struggle bus is real]

No comrades of your own here? I can imagine, it's probably pretty shitty. There's not a lot of interesting people here to get to know.

[he's tried to poke around but making friends is hard]

My comrades? Eh.

[He didn't really like anyone from home. Perhaps he could tolerate the ones that came.]

Well, I make do. It's up ahead.

[He points, there is a courtyard ahead, presumably the stalls.]

Huh. [well, then. That does seem to be a market all right.] Wow, I think that was the fastest time yet.

[which means of course he has to look away for a second and veer abruptly to the left.]

[Well, well. Was that a compliment? Being pissed at Zoro being that good of an actor aside; it seemed like that was pretty high praise. So Sync was going to bask-- Wait. He's gone. He had let his attention drop for half a second, and that seemed to be all it took with this one.]

Zoro! Damn.

[This time Sync was less passive in his search, speeding around the corner right. Only to find there was no Zoro. He was ready to look again, instead finding Zoro heading the other way like it was the most natural thing in the world. Sprinting up behind him, he tapped the pirate on the shoulder.]

Sightseeing again?

[yeah, he doesn't get far.]

...what the hell, where'd you go? Can't go wandering off like that.

[THE IRONY. He turns to look straight at the building they're behind]

Did we go past the market?

No. We didn't make it. Regardless...

[He figures there will be another interruption somehow.]

So, how about we team up for a bounty some time? You mention lacking a challenge, and some of these have been fun.

Well, then, your job's not done. [with a little 'shoo, shoo' of his hand. Make sure you get him there for real, Sync]

Maybe. I haven't seen anything too hard for me to handle yet. [also, really bad at sharing money. At least his maybes are genuine, he's not saying no.] I'll keep it in mind.

[There's a grunt, and he starts moving.]

Sure. [He isn't being doubtful, he is just agreeing with Zoro's words. Turning them around, he starts back the way they came.]

[this time he manages to follow correctly, eyeing Sync's back while he considers how to word his report to Namur. At least no matter what he says, Namur will read between the lines to know what this particular recruit was capable of actually doing]

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Lost in the New World (closed)

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