LV464J | Voice | Night 24

[solitarysoul]

[The voice that comes over the radio is quiet, since he's not sure if this area is safe, but matter of fact. This equipment had to be military, so while he's never used one he easily switches into a more official mode.]

Requesting information on location.

[He hesitates, then adds.]

I seem to be on a beach with white sand.

Comments

[wingbound]

[ Can't be sure nobody's gone after him to punish him for desertion, right? ]

For a start, none of us know how we got here or why. There's locals who apparently lived here for generations, hostiles and weird animals in the jungle, and people who claim to have died and come back.

[ How about that for not "normal". ]

[solitarysoul]

[Yeah. Always gonna be looking over his shoulder for one reason or another.

Thats, uh, a lot. Its obvious what he needs to ask about first, though.]

What sort of hostiles?

[wingbound]

[ That's part of how Levi stopped sleeping like a normal person... though the other part was simply having no exposure to daylight until he reached his late twenties. ]

So far, nobody who encountered them lived long enough to get a look.

[ He knows that's not helpful, but it is what it is. ]

They seem to stick to certain areas, however. The one we're aware of is located immediately northeast from the mountain at the center of the island.

[solitarysoul]

[This Levi has too many nightmares to sleep well anyway.]

So they shouldn't be a problem as I head towards this village? That's good. I don't have my gun anymore.

[wingbound]

[ wow, they have so much in common... ]

Yeah, that should be fine. [ Pause. ] From what you told the others, you may have landed near the same place I did. The path along the treeline was safe then.

[ But okay, hold it for a minute. First the very... official sounding post, then calling him sir, then mentioning that he had a gun on him. He's just going to take a guess at this point. ]

You're a soldier?

[solitarysoul]

Good.

I, uh..

[Levi hesitates. He was a soldier, for five long years. Does he still count as one, after deserting? Even after the war ended...]

I was.

[wingbound]

[ Was. Either (hopefully) that conflict came to an end, or this guy got fed up with it. If so, that's not really Levi's business, but he has to check something first. ]

...what do you know about titans?

[solitarysoul]

Titans?

[He searches his memory...was that some sort of weapon? Maybe one of the rumored Brehem experiments. Or, just, something really big. But if he's heard of it he doesn't remember.]

Nothing. Sorry.

[wingbound]

[ It is indeed some sort of weapon... in a way, at least. But he can't think of any reason from anybody from their world to pretend not to know what titans were. Everybody did; it's claiming otherwise that would arouse more suspicion than vice versa. ]

I see.

[ Okay. Maybe he's not an enemy then. But of course Levi will still keep an eye on any new arrivals that draw nearby. ]

[solitarysoul]

[That was not the reaction he expected. Okay, he wasn't sure what to expect but somehow a curt response like that threw him off. Had he said something wrong? He was probably supposed to know about whatever titans were. This guy had been helpful and yet somehow Levi managed to fuck things up. Stupid, he was so stupid.]

Sorry Sir, we didn't get much news on the front.

[wingbound]

[ And that's not the reaction Levi expected. Shit, the kid must think he's angry at him or something. Not to mention the concept of "the front" doesn't sound like the Marley-Paradis conflict at all. ]

No, it's fine. I'm actually relieved. [ Pause. He's not sure how much he wants to share here, but maybe a little bit would be good to reassure him. ] ...We were on the verge of war back home. There's certain people I'd prefer not to know I'm here, if they show up. Like I said, can't be too careful.

[ It's quite a lot of information, and yet it would say nothing to somebody actually looking for him. He thinks that should do. ]

[solitarysoul]

Oh.

[Okay, yeah, that wasn't so bad. And he can understand not wanting to give himself away, especially if he was part of some sort of secret project or whatever.
On the verge of war, though...his war had ended just recently. The idea of another one starting so soon was almost sickening. But he had no idea where this man was from and hadn't figured out the multiverse thing yet, so perhaps it was somewhere far away? Not that any news what so ever would have penetrated that damned fog Prehevil had during the Festival.]

I understand. It sounds like we can't be sure who or what is here.

[wingbound]

[ It's not something like a secret project, exactly, but even despite his self-worth issues, Levi acknowledges that he's one of the most valuable targets for the enemy. And he's a sitting duck here. He'd be more confident if he still had his gear, but it is what it is. ]

Not until you speak to somebody face to face, no. There are more people on the island than there are on the communications list. And some from the list have never made themselves known.

[ So it's really all up in the air. Ah, but it's not all completely hopeless-- ]

I've met the three who replied to you so far. They're clean.

[solitarysoul]

That's good to know. Thank you Sir.

[If this guy, who his brain neatly fit into the 'superior officer' box, said those people were safe he'd accept that. Without question. But a good part of it is he wants to be able to trust someone. Levi is not used to working on his own.]

Are there many people at the village?

[wingbound]

[ Oh no... well, he's in luck because Levi can definitely be trusted. It's probably a good idea not to extend the same courtesy to everyone he speaks to, though. ]

Why do you need to know?

[ Levi would like to trust him in return, but that's an odd question for somebody who isn't trying to measure his odds at fighting against it or kidnapping someone for information, cough cough. ]

[solitarysoul]

Because that's where I'm going...? All I know is there are people there and they have supplies. But I don't know how many people.

[He is uncertain how he'd deal with more than a few people.]

[wingbound]

[ ...that's evading his question. But he thinks he knows where this is coming from. ]

You won't need to steal anything. They're pretty intent on sharing.

[solitarysoul]

..that's good to know.

[The people he spoke to didn't mention a price, but that couldn't always be trusted. Or they couldn't be expected to speak for everyone.]

I mostly just want...aside from my unit I'm not used to people.

[wingbound]

[ Ah. A fellow introvert, then. Levi feels for him. ]

The base area is pretty big and most people come and go. [ So there shouldn't be a large concentration of people in any one spot. ] You can find a quiet spot if you need to. You'll do fine.

[ En..couragement? Sort of? ]

If you stick around a while, they might ask you to pitch in with daily tasks or upkeep. That's about it.

[solitarysoul]

I don't mind earning my keep.

[He'd actually probably prefer having something to do.]

Thank you for all your help. Are you with the others?

[Can he show his appreciation in person instead of over this weird radios.]

[wingbound]

Good.

[ He should get along splendidly with the others then, considering they were warming up even to Levi's crude, distant ass. ]

No, there was something I wanted to check. [ Which turned out to be a big fat nothing, so now he was mapping the jungle out of spite. ] But I'll come by in a day or two.

[solitarysoul]

Okay.

[Uh...shit. What does he say here? There was a way to end these conversations but he'd never paid attention. So he just defaults back to]

Thanks.

[wingbound]

Yeah.

[ Levi may or may not know the actual protocol, but when has he ever paid attention to being polite? Nah, he's just going to hang up here. ]

[ Good luck, kid! ]