mortemscintilla: ∅  I saw a pretty little thing approaching me (Hei - All Business)
Hei (Li Shenshung) ([personal profile] mortemscintilla) wrote in [community profile] poly_chromatic2012-09-15 07:42 am

♦ ♦ 7th Contract

[ The ticking is a grinding migraine. ]

[ It's like a repeat of his time in The Gate. The absence of rational coordinates making him tense and queasy. His dreams are sporadic, but so vivid that sometimes he awakens to real images of enemies and blood-splattered walls. He misses Pai, but that missing is immense enough to constitute a whole atmosphere. His state of being. In that state, he thinks of others, most of them unexpected. Yin, for her light laconic presence and how simple she'd make reconnaissance. Huang, whose gruff practicality filled him with both irritation and respect. Mao, who was probably everything good about a Contractor (even if he was a terrible cat.) ]

[ They weren't friends. But they'd accepted each other as a team. ]

[ Here, he hasn't taken the steps to turn acquaintances into associates. It serves no purpose. Not unless they have something he wants. But most are in the same position as him. Trapped, at the Deities' mercy.  He keeps no social circles. No girlfriends -- he can sum up his 'romantic' encounters here on his fingers. Hour by hour, he postpones the question: What am I going to do here? ]

[ He should at least get a pet. Something to stave off the ticking. ]

[ Until then, this curse is effective enough to infuriate distract him. ]


Options For Run-Ins:

[ Cafe Satine: There's a spring in his step as he buses tables and does kitchenwork. Hands and feet moving in easy rhythm with the music floating from the speakers. He doesn't realize how bad it is until he's sweeping eggshells off the tiles -- and starts Turbo Dancing with his broom. Customers and employees stare. Li blushes and stammers apologies. ]

[ Inside, he grits his teeth. This is going to be a bothersome shift. ]


[ Evening Stroll: He's tried staying at his apartment. But ticking paired with dancing is disorienting. When his pirouettes transform into actual cartwheels, resulting in a crack when his foot hits the thin wall, he exits hurriedly. Walking the nighttime streets, he forgoes drinks at the bar for cool air and starry skies. Few pedestrians. Not too much traffic. Taking an inventory of his surroundings, he almost relaxes. ]

[ Until music spills from a nearby bar. ]

[ Passersby form a loose circle as he goes through his sweeping
routine. The City seems to enjoy cursing him with solos. The implications don't escape him. ]

[ Nor does the annoyance. ]


[ Recon: Cursed or not, he refuses to forgo reconnaissance. His movements are a little more balletic. His exits on the wire a little more elaborate. But this is familiar territory, at least. He picks up on marked areas -- Topside and Underground. For the most part, time passes smoothly. But in the shadow of Pandora's, he spots a crime mid-scene. A group of toughs have lured three drunk people, young women in flowery dresses, into the darkness off the street. ]

[ It'a not his job to save them. Let the Police deal with it. ]

[ But he could use the combat-practice. So in he swoops, masked and armed. Music from the club muffles the attacker's howls as he breaks their extremities. It isn't until he's knocked them out, snapping at the terrified women to run, Without those damn heels, that the curse returns. ]

[ ...
Work dat booty, Mr. Reaper. ]

[ OOC: Putting a different spin on the dancing curse! Feel free to run into any of his personas. He may grab you and twirl you -- before flustering and babbling as 'Li', or shove you away/knock you out as 'The Black Reaper.' The dance hilarity for the last option starts at 0:20 xDD ]
anatural: Korra looks angry (pic#4510806)

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[personal profile] anatural 2012-09-15 02:01 pm (UTC)(link)
[Congratulations, Hei. Korra is off to the side, watching you beat the shit out of those thugs. She'd been about to swoop in and save the day herself when he came to the rescue. His mask may be different -- more creepy, less stupid -- but she recognizes the way he moves. This is the same guy who beat the crap out of her before. She watches him fight, admiring his skill, horrified by his viciousness, and confused as all get out.

Is he a good guy, or is he a bad guy?]


Hey!
oceantrauma: (What?)

[personal profile] oceantrauma 2012-09-15 11:41 pm (UTC)(link)
[Ken had only been in the mood for some tea and something light to munch on. In the middle of making his order, he stops completely to watch as 'Li' dances with his broom.]

[He continues to stare.... He doesn't care much for music, or dancing. However, he is starting to care for Li.]

[When he seems quite done, for the moment, Ken tries waving to him. It's been a while since he saw him, after all.]
oceantrauma: (Nothing wrong smile)

[personal profile] oceantrauma 2012-09-16 12:24 am (UTC)(link)
Ah, tea, actually.

It's good to see you, though. I haven't seen you since I returned.
oceantrauma: (Nothing wrong smile)

[personal profile] oceantrauma 2012-09-16 12:30 am (UTC)(link)
I was about to give it, but your...uh, routine caught my attention.

Yes. I went home for a time. It was nice, though time flows slower here. Or, at least, it did for me.
oceantrauma: (Brainstorm)

[personal profile] oceantrauma 2012-09-16 03:25 am (UTC)(link)
Uh, just green tea would be nice.

Well, when I left home it was mid-summer. When I went back it was to the same point in time. Then I went through summer up to Christmas. But when I came back here, I had only been gone a month.
oceantrauma: (Unsure)

[personal profile] oceantrauma 2012-09-16 03:40 am (UTC)(link)
Yes. A couple cookies would be nice.

Well, I do miss my friends and family when I'm here. But since I know I'll be returned to the same point in time, I'm not as worried as I was before. Besides, I like the people I've met here.

What about you, Li-san? Is it sad for you to be here?
oceantrauma: (Just a little worried)

[personal profile] oceantrauma 2012-09-16 03:55 am (UTC)(link)
Wh-why would they do that? They didn't the first time. Though...I don't think I would mind too much this time.

You don't miss anyone?
oceantrauma: (.... no comment)

[personal profile] oceantrauma 2012-09-16 04:21 am (UTC)(link)
Uh, well. [Normally, Ken wouldn't be telling this to anyone, either, but since it's on the network anyway...] I sort of in the middle of being kidnapped. It would be frustrating to be sent back to that.

If we were in Tokyo at the same time, I'd be your friend.
oceantrauma: (.... no comment)

[personal profile] oceantrauma 2012-09-16 04:32 am (UTC)(link)
Just this guy. [Doesn't want to go into the details, as shown by how he bites his lip after.]

You're right. The people have been good to me here.
oceantrauma: (Just a little worried)

[personal profile] oceantrauma 2012-09-16 04:45 am (UTC)(link)
I don't really know him too well.

You're not the first to say that. But I still haven't run into anyone too questionable. [Because he doesn't realize you're a creeper yet, Hei. And he's not going to mention the whole being used to get black-market weapons from the Underground thing.]
oceantrauma: (Frown)

[personal profile] oceantrauma 2012-09-16 04:53 am (UTC)(link)
It's not something I want to go into right now. [Especially with someone that would need the WHOLE story, unlike Rita, who already knew some bits.]

[And no. He doesn't need that again!]


You're right. It doesn't. I should be a little more careful, even here.

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