We Are Our Avatars XI (Open)

[Chungus]

Ile Bizard, Montreal. Afternoon. March 3rd.​

As Fernand approached the automail store, Kuki looked to the ware through the window, as well, looking the various models on display over, curiously.

"Are these cybernetics?"

[hr]

ED Shelter, Montreal. Morning. March 4th​

"How are you planning on getting a chance to "draw blood"? More practice matches with Dalahar?"

Kuki questioned.

 

[Slenn]

"Well, being in combat more or less is what I meant. I should have been more elaborate. Some feral cases claim it was the onset of violence. Sometimes it was blood."

 

[ShindoL Shill]

Ile Bizard, Montreal, March 3rd

When they entered the automail store, Fernand and Kuki would see, primarily, a number of automail models on display. Most of them were covered with a skin-coloured protective material, which would make them almost indistinguishable from normal human limbs. However, some were visibly metallic, using a variety of different metals.

At the back of the room was a counter, and behind that were two doors, both closed. Sitting on the counter, reading a manual, was a ginger girl, who appeared to be about thirteen. She had no visible prostheses on her body, and seemed to be human.

[hr]

"More won't help, unfortunately." the shopkeeper informed Nina.

 

[Kirke]

"Well, you will have to trust our judgement. Legally speaking from our side, miss 'White' was resisting arrest, attempted to kidnap a person, issued threats and assaulted a peace officer. And seeing as we are situated in the sovereign nation of Canada, and the incident occurred here, we will follow our own laws. As for the order to kill, well, if an ETR squad is deployed they are always authorised to use lethal force. When 'White' refused to stand down and began preparing a spell, she took the shot in order to protect herself, her squad, me and the nearby civilians. It was only afterwards, when I woke up, that the ETR squad knew that 'White' was using non-lethal force." - She paused, then said; "I am sure, however, that many of those brought here by the anomaly would be happy to be returned home."

 

[Gearhead mk2]

"No. There are no mages where I'm from. Magic is all contained in artifacts that any can use." Candace explained.

 

[Silence]

Montreal, Quebec, Canada. March 3rd, 2025
- Ile Bizard -
Afternoon​

"I think they're magic, but I'm honestly not sure." Fernand said, looking around. After picking up some models and inspecting them, he walked up to the girl.

"Hey." he said.

[hr]

Montreal, Quebec, Canada. March 4th, 2025
- Bordeaux Prison -
Late Morning​

"What did you just say?" Black began saying to Dalahar, angrily, but he was kicked by Red a second later. It obviously hurt Red a little bit, kicking with barefeet against full armour, but it stopped Black from doing more.

[color=e50000]"I'm honestly not sure she knew the risks."[/color] Red explained. [color=e50000]"She was not using any lethal spells, and she could heal herself and others quite well.
Why was she not just stunned, or something like that?"[/color]

[hr]

Green frowned, then said: "Alright. We will return these people to their homes. After that ... we will see. I'm sorry, but despite me being reasonable, I think, there are others not quite as understanding."

 

[Chungus]

Ile Bizard, Montreal. Afternoon. March 3rd.​

As Fernand approached the girl, Kuki kept quiet, for now, and let him talk. While waiting, Kuki looked various models over with their normal sight for a moment, more, then tried to see if there was anything organic to them, with their bio-vision. After, Kuki decided to do a basic analysis on the girl, just for the sake of it.
[hr]

ED Shelter, Montreal. Morning. March 4th​

"So you're going to throw yourself into the fray?"

Kuki questioned, standing up, and poking their head out from under the chair.

"For the sake of research or not, I don't think that's wise. This may be important, but you shouldn't stain your conscience, and/or risk harm to yourself for it. And that's not even touching on the moral and legal aspect, if you're planning on doing this, here."

 

[ShindoL Shill]

Ile Bizard, Montreal, March 3rd

Kuki would find that the automail contained nothing organic, and that the girl was a human. When Fernand addressed her, she looked up from the book, then said, "Bonjour. Uh ... Joel, les clients!" The latter part was directed at one of the doors, which opened up to reveal a man standing a little over 2 metres tall, with short black hair and steely gray eyes. He wore a black vest and jeans, and was visibly very muscular.
After a brief moment of looking over Fernand and Kuki, he smiled warmly and said, [color=336699]"Bonjour! Parlez-vous fran?ais?"[/color]

 

[Vakra jal]

Dalahar allowed himself a brief smile. "Fighting? As in combat? You honestly thing everyone will abide by your standards of non-lethality? Whether or not it is against your morals or not it's foolish and naive." He glanced at Black "what's different from what and any of the thousands of astartes I've seen die? What makes her death such a crime?"

 

[Drakmorg]

[color=ff9966]"Okay. Thank you!"[/color] Nina replied to the shopkeeper. Turning her attention to Candace and Raz, she asked, [color=ff9966]"Do you guys wanna buy anything, or keep looking around?"[/color]

 

[Gearhead mk2]

"I'm not sure I could afford anything..." Candace told Nina.

 

[Slenn]

"I understand what you're saying. But it's not as if I'm going to fight at every chance I get. There's a tenet we keep amongst our clan: 'Heroics are good, but only if you are capable of doing so. There's no shame in saying you're unable to do something.' Besides that, I've been extremely oriented towards pacifism my whole life, always going for the more diplomatic route. But I think I might be able to learn something if I learn something about combat. Perhaps when to know when violence is necessary, or to tell when things are going south in a diplomatic debate. You can't always choose your fights after all. Rest assured, I won't be fighting every protester that spits in my face or picking fights for the heck of it.

 

[Silence]

Montreal, Quebec, Canada. March 3rd, 2025
- Ile Bizard -
Afternoon​

"Oui." Fernand said and smiled back. He then continued talking in french. ""

[hr]

Montreal, Quebec, Canada. March 4th, 2025
- Bordeaux Prison -
Late Morning​

"Do you know nothing about honour?
You set rules for a fight, usually, and fight by these rules.

Otherwise you are a pure backstabber, an assassin. Scum of the earth. Not worth living." Black seemed to lose his temper about Dalahar's response.

Red looked worried.

 

[Vakra jal]

"Doesn't matter about anything personal. It just matters that your side and your cause is triumphant. Why would you sacrifice your own beliefs and cause for some cause in personal honour? I'm a siege commander. Was a siege commander. There is no honour on directing artillery and breaching teams but I did it regardless. My brothers honour was that they fought knowing full well any battle might be their last." Dalahar was angry now "Grevel Yok, Gannicus, Torgal........Ralven. All random names
To you but I remember them. I remember the astartes who died for a cause. Because they could, because they could fight and because they were nothing but weapons I still remember them but mourning is over. They knew the risks as anyone abound"

 

[Kirke]

"I will notify my superior, just in case. I do hope there wont be further violence, but we will defend ourselves well if it comes to that." Ella said, before pausing; "And if it does come to that, the extradition process of your fugitive would become... difficult. Might be something to consider for those who are less reasonable." To herself, Ella almost wished that there would be trouble, but she quashed the thought quickly. Her personal feelings weren't a part of this, she was only a representative of the law.
[hr]
In the 'Red' sector HQ of XPOL, the morning shift chief of operations sat up in his chair. The dimensional portal detection system was a bit haywire during an anomaly, sure. But two identical signatures had now been detected, and that was worthy of note. Particularly since they had awoken a long-dormant subroutine in the system, a subroutine that had been added during XCOM's shadow war. The chief picked up his phone, and called the commander of XPOL...

 

[Furioso]

Raz looked around at some of the runes before responding to Nina. "I'd like to buy some stuff, but all I have are Psitanium arrowheads, I don't think they count as money outside of camp."

 

[ShindoL Shill]

Ile Bizard, Montreal, March 3rd

[color=336699]<"No, they're not magical. It's all just electrical signals and motors."[/color] Joel explained.

 

[Chungus]

Automail store, Ile Bizard, Montreal. Afternoon. March 3rd.​

Not seeing anything organic in the prosthetic, Kuki wasn't very surprised due to the lack of refrigeration, but they were impressed at how close the prosthetic parts matched the parts they were meant to replace, visually.

Their translator not being set to translate French, Kuki had no idea what the girl, or bighuge man she called out, or Fernand were saying. While waiting, Kuki decided to analyse the man, too, although they didn't expect the result to be any different from the girl's.
[hr]

ED Shelter, Montreal. Morning. March 4th​

"You don't need to have experienced combat to recognise it, I feel. I understand true pacifism only works when the other side feels the same way, but that doesn't mean you should dive head-first into the deep end"

, Kuki said, then was quiet for a moment considering their words.

"I think you should put more thought into this decision, before going down this path. Because once you do, there is no going back.

So, if I might make a suggestion; Talk to war veterans. Volunteer as a relief worker in war-torn areas. Then decide."

 

[Gearhead mk2]

"Arrowheads? What?" Candace asked, overhearing Raz.

 

[Silence]

Montreal, Quebec, Canada. March 3rd, 2025
- Ile Bizard -
Afternoon​

"" Fernand said, hoping Kuki had understood. "< So, how do they work?
I ... don't suppose you can show without an amputee, could you?"

[hr]

Montreal, Quebec, Canada. March 4th, 2025
- Bordeaux Prison -
Late Morning​

"You wouldn't give a shit about your own people, if you don't understand how the death of another can affect someone." Black said angrily and bluntly. "And your mourning might be over, mine is not. Especially not for something so easily avoided. Your deaths might be inevitable, White's was not."

[color=e50000]"We should go ..."[/color] Red said to Black, who did not seem to listen.

[hr]

"I honestly doubt the extradition would be much more difficult than it is right now." Green said. "But, you know, I am willing to wait until it is worked out, before doing more.
You are lucky you get the time to prepare."