maskormenace | 1 cuff | video

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[ The video turns on to reveal a large man, who is providing it with a close-up shot of about half of his face, and one strong, muscular shoulder. Most of his skin is bare, aside from a white tunic-like garment pinned at that shoulder. It's evident that someone is in the room with him, since he's focused on them and not on what he's doing. ]

Is it working? I cannot tell if --

[ Another voice interrupts, directing his attention back to the camera, and then Damen adjusts it so that his whole face is on screen. He is dark-haired and dark-eyed, and his olive-toned skin is well bronzed by sunlight.

He could not look less comfortable with a camera in his hand. His smile is a somewhat awkward attempt at friendliness, but it's obvious this is new to him. ]

Hello. My name is Damen. [ His eyes flick away from the camera at that, looking again at his companion. 'Damen', and not 'Damianos'. A pet name given to a network of strangers. He sees no reason to hide their true names - but he’ll do it, even so.

While he is introducing himself, the person who had his attention earlier decides to make an appearance. Or better yet, he decides to slide into the space by ending half on Damen’s lap, one hand lazily lifting to sweep a little of his hair back from his forehead. Where the original man is large and olive skinned, Laurent looks fair and slight in comparison. He isn’t actually in miniature, a fact he will press upon people at some point, when perspective is brought up. And where there is bare skin on show behind him, his is all covered up by the kind of clothing that looks restricting even by modern standards. ]

And mine is Laurent. [ He somehow manages to look like he’s smiling without following through, which is a power he possessed before the Porter ever decided to bless him with new ones. ] As you might have guessed, we’ve only recently arrived to this wonderful place.

[ Damen has rearranged himself to give Laurent space, and slide an accommodating arm around his waist. At that comment, though, he rolls his eyes up at his lover. Be nice, Laurent.

Laurent catches that look out of the corner of his eye, mouth twitching slightly like that smile he’s been curbing is threatening to break free. ]

We would like any advice you can give about acclimatising while here. This world is unlike our own, your buildings, modes of transport, ways of communication - [ Lifting his brows upward as if to indicate the device . ] - they’re all unfamiliar. We would not like to remain ignorant.

[ Then Damen leans in, tagging onto the end: ]

And I have need of a place to train. I prefer the sword. If any of you would test your skill against mine, I’d welcome it.

[ The glance they share then seems to be one of mutual agreement. Laurent shifts slightly, reaches out to turn off the feed. His sleeve obscures the view, but to those with extremely good hearing they might catch the as if anyone could best you before Damen interrupts his own smile to reach forward.]

Wait - there was something else. [ There’s a brief scramble for something beside him, and then Damen lifts his file into view. With his eyebrows lifting and expression dubious, he reads from the page. ] Can someone tell me what-- ‘Sunday School’ is? I am supposed to teach it.

[ He glances up at Laurent, nodding. ] That’s it.

[ It’s settled then, Laurent angles the camera once, so that his sincere ( no, really! ) expression can be caught. ] We appreciate the aid.

[ ooc: Damen is red and Laurent is blue. ]

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[ _{There is not a single gap nor human feature about him; its all hidden by the sleek white curves and angles of his armor. Two real eyes are actually looking back at the other but he'd never dream of showing anyone other than his doctor his face. He gives a gentle chuckle.} ]

It is more like I am inside metal and machinery. It did at first, but I got used to it. I must ask, are you perhaps from a place without... uh... [ _{Genji fishes for the word, pressing a finger against his helm. It was very rare, actually, to be asked a question like that. It took him back to the times where he stumbled across nomads at home, who had never used any kind of new-age machinery in their life...!} ] ... Advanced technology?

[ Advanced technology? That is perhaps a touch of kindness. Damen's eyebrows have lifted, and he gestures to the camera in front of him. ]

We are from a place without any of this.

Even the names are new. This house is filled with...things, that we cannot use.

[ Or cannot use yet, anyway. They'll have to get used to that. ]

It's very new.

[ _{So a place far in the past then...? That was rather fascinating. His families ideals and stories were from a time far before technology and the past interested him so.} ]

... If you ever need assistance, I would be happy to lend a helping hand. [ _{He was a patient soul who wouldn't mind explaining a few things for someone in need...! He says humorously,} ] I am very familiar with technology as I am from a world even more advanced than this one-- probably helps that I am basically technology, too.

And yet you are alive. You think and speak. You are a person, but these machines are not.

[ There’s a difference. Damen can see that, although he very clearly doesn’t have his head around the concept of artificial intelligence yet. Already the lines are beginning to blur between what is alive and what is not, and he prefers to think in straight lines. ]

I would welcome your help. I think we both would.

Is it…common, in your world? For people to join with machines, as you have.

And yet you'd be surprised at how many people adore comparing me to things like lamps. [ _{His attitude about that is surprisingly not salty; hes very much used to the bullying by now and nothing thrown at him could really bother him.} ]

Great; it'll give me something to do. [ _{A bored ninja was never a good one.} ] I'm actually... alone in my world. There is no-one else like me. No-one wants to be like me either; the finer things in life have been robbed from me. My body wasn't made to be lived with... it was made to fight.

[ At once, Damen thinks that this is a sacrifice he would not make. He, too, was made to fight; he's had a lifetime of training and experience, and feels at home on the battlefield.

But this is a step much further. ]

You say they have been robbed. You did not choose this for yourself?

What happened to you?

... I did not. [ _{His words were almost mournful... he misses a life where he could be both a warrior and a human, not just a tool for fighting. The finer things like exciting new food, feeling the sun down upon him and even human comforts like hand holding or kissing were gone. All of them.} ]

... I was betrayed by my family and was torn to pieces for disagreeing with their lifestyle. Someone high up in the world thought I was too important to die so they stole what was left of me and gave me a choice; I either allow myself to be turned into a weapon or they would leave me for dead. They knew I had 'special talents' and if I died... they would lose out on an opportunity to own something powerful.

I did not want to die. [ _{No-one really did.} ] I sought revenge... and for that reason I had to live. I let them use me as a tool. I let them control me, thus I killed in their name. When I finally escaped I realized that no matter how far I ran from the battlefield now, forever and always... I would always be a soldier. Physically, at least.

[ _{A soft chuckle; he was well known in his world for both bad and good reasons.} ]

Mentally however I am no longer that man. Even if I am still missing much... I do try to enjoy the life I have. What about you? How did you become a warrior?

[ So he had not been a warrior before, that's the implication here. Damen understands what it is to be taken and used against his will -

But not like this. And never so inescapably as this. The choice that was put before this man had been a terrible thing. Most people, if given the option, would not choose to die. They would want a chance to restore themselves, particularly if they were betrayed.

By family, no less. That thought makes something twist inside Damen. He knows what that's like, too. ]

I have been a warrior all my life. [ He glances at Laurent, because he must be careful. Damen does not overly want to conceal the fact that they're royalty. He doesn't see the point, but he's going along with it anyway. He'll tell the truth, without telling all of the truth. ] My people value strength and honour. I've done my duty, serving in the army of the King, and leading men in war. I've trained since childhood, in many styles. It is the life I've known, and one expected of me, though none of it was forced.

I'm sorry for what happened to you. What lifestyle did you disagree with? It must have been important.

So you have seen much combat. Being born into a warrior lifestyle, was leading men to their end-- or glory-- easy or natural? I haven't met many war Generals. And if you had the choice, if honor had not been so ingrained into you from birth... would you have said no to rid yourself of blood upon your soul? I ask out of curiosity. People born with certain voices whispering into their ear sometimes think they are more free than they are.

[ _{He isn't being intense and its all spoken very softly, like he genuinely wishes to understand and engage the others view on his own upbringing. He himself could not be chained down by the responsibility of holding lives in his hands and thus, had never been a suitable candidate for war. The ninja commends the other mentally for having partook in warfare but he also wonders... if one was never raised in such an environment would they rally to the call as quickly as a fighter would?

It was the cause-and-effect of tradition. It was an ugly beast that interfered with the paths that souls could have traveled along, mottling the possibilities till they all ended in pretentious battling-- a mere show of power. The old ways were frightfully manipulative when it came down to it. But this man at least didn't seem like a thug lusting for blood... that in itself was very interesting; and perhaps, odd. Genji decided he would ponder upon this.

It is important to him because his brother had been raised to lead a war too, born to fight, and it had made his mind a terrible place to poke into.}]

It is alright. My family were the leading crime lords of Asia, so strong that not even multiple military forces from over the world could not extinguish them. They controlled so much of the drug and assassin trade that sometimes even Japan's own leaders would scuttle to us for help. [ _{And he, in turn, as a son of the first and leading family, was funnily enough called a 'prince'-- he disliked the title greatly.} ] I didn't want to grow up to become a part of this corruption. Not even the lure of that power could sway me from what I wanted to be; free.

Freedom is such an important element to any life... just as you were free to lead wars, I was free to destroy my entire families legacy.

[ _{Where countless of government controlled militia and work forces had failed over the space of two hundred years, where literal thousands of mercenaries, assassins and soldiers had fallen he did it all within twenty four hours with no back up.} ]

It was natural. But that was when war seemed glorious to me, before I saw what else it could do. Before I saw the results of losing in war.

[ Damen leans back. There's no arrogance in his expression; he's only being truthful. ]

I am unbeaten on the field. I had seen only what victory meant, until an...opportunity, showed me the other side.

[ When he had been in Vere with Laurent, he means, and saw the results of his own people attacking a Veretian village. To see that had complicated his vision of war.

But still, and even in spite of it, Damen is at his greatest ease when he's fighting. It's something he knows how to do, and he had felt at home on the field even when standing alongside an enemy army. ]

I cannot change the past. In the future, I would like to see peace in my world. I would like to make that happen.

What you have done - standing against your family - I commend you for that. To do right when all around you are doing wrong, is something that speaks well of you.

[ Damen will remember it. This is a man he can count as honourable. That means a great deal. ]

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