maskormenace

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So, uh, I've been thinking about maybe taking on a few side jobs. After being here for a certain amount of time, it seems kind of natural to think about the future, right? At least from what I've seen so far.

Anyway aside from the nice, peaceful job they gave me, I'm not real sure how to apply the rest of my skill set. Mercenary work, bodyguard business — hell, I've been a bounty hunter too, but I don't know how well any of that pays here. What I'm trying to say is: if anyone's looking for a sword-for-hire, let me know will you?

[ Wait. It pays to be polite, doesn't it? ]

Thanks.

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I used my skills to join the police force. Others used it to join the military. There's still a fairly healthy industry for potential bodyguards. The elite would probably enjoy having an imPort bodyguard. I believe it would mean something to their status.

Most jobs that utilize your skillset beyond a government, self-defense, guarding, teaching, or demonstration capacity are probably illegal.

No more military. I've got enough nightmares of commanding officers drilling me for — well, damn near anything.

As for the rest, I guess I'd better stay on the right side of the local law. Speaking of...you like being in the police force?

I was a commanding officer, and I rejected the military as well. I've had enough of that for one lifetime.

I enjoy my work, yes, though it's not without its flaws. What city are you in?

Oh yeah? Shit, I guess I'm just glad this place actually lets people decide what they want for themselves. Having your whole damn life planned out at birth, well, I'll just say I'm glad I wasn't under your command. I was a real pain back then, to say the fucking least.

I'm in Maurtia Falls. For now, anyway.

You should be. I wasn't what anyone would have called a lenient leader either. We would have had words. And plenty of grunt work.

I'm in Maurtia Falls too. I can't say that our police force is without its bad eggs. [ An understatement. ] But I like my work. And I do good work. My partner and I both do. If you got assigned with us, you'd be in good hands.

What "nice, peaceful" job did you end up with?

Oh, that?

I'm a book critic. Who doesn't like a little adventure and romance, am I right? But as much as I enjoy it, and shit, I'd even go so far as to call it relaxing, I think maybe it's time to try and branch out.

What do you do, anyway? Something worth checking into?

There's nothing wrong with feeling like it's time to try new things. I'd consider that growth.

I've been with the same position since I arrived here, three years ago. At the Princess Palace. I'm a stylist. How long have you been here?

Growth? Eh, as long as it's a step in the right direction for once.

[ Sal smiles at the idea; she can only hope this turns out the way she wants it to. ]

Princess Palace? Now that sounds pretty fancy — I knew someone who was handy with hair and make up once. Not the sort of person you'd expect to have a fair hand at it, either. An ex-soldier type. Me, uh, I've been here close to a year now. More than enough time to find things I like about it. Or people.

Growth, yes. That's true, but sometimes we need to take a few bad steps in the wrong direction to get to taking the right path.

It's quite fancy. You should take a visit one day. They're open to the public most weekends. That person you knew, we have that in common, working in a war.

Ah, a year. That's not too bad.

Were you a soldier or something? You know, for however many of us there are around here, I can't help but wonder if any of us know what to do with peace. Or something like it, anyway. Here I am, after all, thinking about fighting for money.

Shit, "not too bad"! Well, how long have you been around then?

I was one of the leaders heading the rebellion. So, in some way, yes. I was a soldier. Back home, peace was short-lived. I had only a handful of days to enjoy it before I found myself here. Peace leaves me restless. I've been fighting for too many years.

Three years in total.

Even if your happy ending was only a few days lived, I think you've got plenty on me already. As much as I tried to do something to make the war end, it turns out...there's no easy fix for real, lasting peace. Seems easier to break all the bad things down than it is to create something better.

Three years? I suppose you are a veteran. So then the real fucking question is: what kind of plans have you made here? Ending wars, building a better world, with all of that lofty crap on hold — we still need some kind of goal to reach for, don't we?

There may be no real easy fix, but you shouldn't give up hope. Even in the face of it being hopeless.

Not quite. There are others I've met who've been here for much longer than my three years. One would think the goal to reach for is to be able to return home. To our own wars.

How long have you been here, out of curiosity?

I do feel the problem of not being able to apply yourself in the way you normally would, though.

Almost a damn year, I think, give or take all of that dimension-hopping birdshit. But for everything bad that's happened...I think I let myself grow a little fond of this place.

Well, what did you used to do before this? I suppose in a lot of ways I can't exactly do the things I would back home — but that's not always for the worst.

It certainly has it charms, I'll admit. The people moreso than the world, that is.

I'm a doctor. Surgeon, by specialty. But I'm frequently required to dip into the scientific and engineering side of things.

Well shit, don't get me wrong, I think this place could do with a few improvements. More opera, for one, and I guess less of that world-threatening dilemma birdshit too.

But the people are...alright.

Really, a doctor? For some reason I wouldn't have guessed it. Or maybe I'm just too damn good at getting on the wrong side of every healer back home. What's being a doctor like on...Cybertron, wasn't it?

Oh, there's definitely room for improvement.

[ This is text, so Sal can't see the way Knock Out's expression immediately sours at the remark... nor does text convey the chill in his answer. ]

Yes. You're not the first person to mention your surprise at the idea.

Cybertron, yes. It was much like being a doctor anywhere, I'd imagine. People get injured, sick, need improvements and augments. Of course in wartime it's all "patch this fighter, install this weapons mod, weld this corpse arm onto your leader so he can forge a sword of evil space crystal". Not precisely what I trained for, but you learn to adapt when needs must.

Edited 2020-10-13 19:56 (UTC)

Now see, that doesn't sound so unfamiliar. Even mages in wartime rely on whatever's available to keep them fighting. But after enough potions and alchemics, whoever or whatever comes out of that battlefield probably won't be the same people you remember walking in. You know how it is, every sacrifice for a "worthy cause" — always sounded like birdshit to me, really.

One man's evil space sword is another's army of Scrath.

It's when I remember the bad days that I can, well, appreciate this place a little more.

You mentioned your war before... it doesn't sound like any kind of war I've heard of. What prompted it?

Admittedly the sword did have impressive effectiveness.

Yes... it does.

I think being a body-guard is very legit, some people want personal protection. Specially if it comes from an imPort, I'd say.

Yeah, I guess I see your point. Plenty of mages from back home could earn a decent living at it, even without all the celebrity we've got here. Maybe there's no monsters or warlords, at least on a quiet day, but every world has its share of normal assholes to fight.

You ever do any of that kind of work? I know there's plenty of imPorts who hate the shit they've been given here, but even if I take on some extra work, I don't think I'm ready to give it up completely. Not when I've finally become a patient reader, and hey, who would've ever thought that was possible?

I guess you could say I was somewhat a body-guard back home. I am tipping my toes into the hero business here, though.

What job are you doing right now?

Yeah, well I can't exactly say I'm immune to the odd acts of do-goodery either. Blame it on the genuine heroes here, I suppose; all of that niceness has to rub off eventually.

I'm a book critic. It's nothing flashy, but it's been paying the bills. I guess I've been hesitant to fight for money but...stick to what you're good at, right? What kind of weapons do you fight with?

It's something like that for me as well! So I felt like taking it more seriously.

But books are nice. I haven't read one in ages, though.
And I use a sword. I'm still not the best at it, but I'm training hard.

you're probably overqualified
but policework is a steady paycheck and regular hours

Huh, well, I don't expect anyone needs me to fight off rogue mages or anything but...you know, I don't exactly understand how this police-work operates around here. Back home in the Scar it was martial law, a bitter fucking warzone that I don't usually bother to miss.

Can't say I miss all the public executions either, that's for damn sure. What do you do, anyway?

well
you never fucking know with this place

[ "Rogue mages" seem about as likely as anything else, where the Porter is concerned. But that's beside the point. ]

mostly? i file a lot of reports
if i'm lucky i get to kick in a few doors
knock a few heads
i try to avoid public executions
the paperwork is hell

[ She's joking. Probably. ]

There are a lot of opportunities in security.

There's always some rich bastard somewhere who needs protection. You know any?

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