Manhattan's Diamond King

[apocalypsejack]

Jack had been wandering the streets on a night watch with Diamond. The people of the Party and their Ministry of Truth goons were getting bold. It made Jack antsy and he wasn’t sleeping. It was weird sometimes how he went days and weeks here and there without sleeping. No one knew how he could do it.

The scenery had changed oddly when he turned a corner, Diamond at his side whining. He reached down and patted the white mutt that went with him everywhere. Straightening, Halloween Jack shifted the automatic weapon slung over one shoulder that stood in stark contrast to his feminine clothing including spike heeled black boots and gaudy diamond bracelets and earrings. He came very close to shooting the hologram when it startled him by appearing on his blind side. He’d seen something like this before but couldn’t remember where. He listened to it all the while wondering why the guy was in the weird get up. It looked enough like a military uniform to make him suspicious of the Nexus.

Walking on he kept looking up at the building corners, the trees, anywhere something could be hung. Though the gun was back in a resting position, he remained jumpy and jittery.. one part drugs and one part nerves. Diamond was watching the people coming out into the plaza. Normal morning traffic of shops opening.

Jack narrowed his eye at the people and eventually asks. “There aren’t any cameras or drones here?”

He is confused as hell about what is going on. The dog sat at his feet, looking up expectantly at her one eyes master. In the back of his mind there is a lingering worry that this is some Party trap or that he had been caught again and this was something in his own mind.

Comments

[tr1ckortreat]

Cameras or drones? Weren't they mortal devices used to spy on the nation to make sure they were doing what they were told? Loki knew Stark among other mortals used such devices. Trivial to most Asgardians and utterly useless in his opinion. The man's appearance caused the god to stop in his tracks and place both hands behind his back. Dressed in his usual fancy Asgardian armour, Loki surveyed the man and noticed he wore a patch. How ironic. Thor was not the only resident to own one it seemed.

There was also the part about the rather large dog. Was she a pet or more of a deterrent? Either way, conversation was due to be struck with the new stranger.

"Are you referring to Midgardian toys? No, there aren't of those within the Nexus. At least, none I know of. We don't need people using such things to pry into one's life, do we?"

[gwiazdezrzuca]

A young woman with wings considers the question.

"I don't think I've seen any cameras here. But I'm sure you could find some in a shop, if you need one? Although I'm not sure where any shops are, here."

Erika's visited Nexus a few times, but only shortly, and isn't sure where anything might be here, yet.

She wants to help, because whoever he is, he seems so confused. But she's not sure she knows how to. Why is the lack of cameras in some place so confusing?

[eumenis]

There's a tall woman at one end of the Plaza, quietly moving crates of fruit from a trailer to a smaller wagon. It's actually the dog that catches her eye first, and wins a little smile from her. Animals are few and far between in the Wasteland, and while the Citadel owns half a dozen dogs, it's always nice to see others. Plus they remind her of Max.

It's a little harder to know what to make of the question. She glances around the buildings above them, then shrugs and wanders closer, prosthetic left arm tucked at her side. "You can buy them in some of the stores if you want them. I guess a few of the more posh shops have them for security. But no, not usually outdoors. You two just got here, I guess?"

[sweetcandygirl]

It is the presence of Diamond that attracts the attention of two large canine creatures first. One is a hyena, who seems to be wearing a bright neon pink collar around his neck. The other is a Mightyena, who is very hyena in appearance, but the Pokémon has darker fur and seems to be very comfortable with the bright neon yellow collar that decorates his neck.

"Never thought about that. Most people have a camera on their PINpoint though... so there is that...." The woman who answers is wearing a skintight red and black outfit, with a matching red jacket that is unzipped right now. Her hair is decorated with lots of reds and blues, and one black strand braided into her white locks.

"And robots. But are those the kinda drones you wanted to know about? Is it one of those... these ain't the drones you are looking for... type of things?"

[skeksisheretic]

"I don't know what cameras and drones are." There are crystal-bats, artificial creatures and tools of the Skeksis that they use for scouting and spying, but in the early years of the Gelfling resistance they're few in number. "But no one's being watched here, as far as I know. If there's a bad government where you're from...there are a lot of people here in the same boat. Worlds torn by war or people who are fleeing bad leaders."

The old birdlike creature who approaches Jack is clearly battered. His secondary limbs are bent roughly behind his back and tied so that he'll never be able to use them again, and there's a large metal nail that's been driven into his skull.

"I should know! I come from one such world. My name is skekGra the Heretic. I was exiled from my own people for my beliefs - though good riddance, if I do say so myself. Nasty creatures, Skeksis, and I say that as one myself! The Ritual-Master punishes anyone who steps too far out of line. Never any killing, but anything up to that is on the table. skekNa didn't put his own eye out, or cut off his own hand..."

[angelic_asshole]

"Be thankful there aren't any. Unless you'd prefer one or two for our voyeur sessions."

The voice was emanating from the rather ruggedly handsome man walking towards Jack carrying two bottles of scotch in both hands. Why have one when you can share with someone else. Also, who needed glasses when bottles served their purpose. He also knew that Jack was the type of guy who necked his whiskey from the bottle like the rest of them. He side-eyed the automatic weapon and knew Jack was always on edge, ready to shoot if he felt threatened. Hopefully, the anti-violence field would stop anyone getting shot who didn't need to get shot. Yeah, he'd read about that in the pamphlet.

Balthazar had arrived into the Nexus only a few days ago and was still relatively new himself. It seemed Jack had brought along Diamond and this pleased the angel since their last encounter back at Jack's apartment had proved....interesting to say the least. His eyes crinkled up into a friendly smile as he stood facing his rebellious friend offering him up a bottle of scotch.

[somekindofspaceuncle]

"It's alright, no one's watching you. Well, probably," Hiroki says.

It seems like this is what this man is worried about. Or maybe Hiroki's just projecting.

"You look a bit like someone I know. Hey. Welcome to Nexus. Not many people would watch you here, even if you are handsome."