[Open] Mind the Gap

[likeits1999]

Who: Kevin & Anyone
What: Kevin lives his 90s skateboarder dreams
Where: LOVE Park
When: During the Philly camp period
Warnings/Notes: None

[ Kevin's never been to Philadelphia, but even under the ruin of the forest he knows where he is. Once he figured that out, he had to head for LOVE Park.

There are a number of important spots, but the ledges around the empty fountain are a sacred landmark of 90s skateboarding. Skating the gap from the sculpture into the dry bowl is a rite of passage that's been on Kevin's list for years, but back home? That's Sabbat country. You must never go there, Simba. It's not worth getting caught up in a vampire turf war.

Here, though? The only thing in his way is the rough shape the place is in and some plant roots that have luckily missed the all-important fountain gap. He'll take that over pissy vampires any... evening. He supposes it's evening? The sky hasn't changed the whole time they've been here, it's mad spooky.

Kevin wishes he could record himself as he makes the first attempt, and is immediately glad he can't when he misjudges the distance and spills on the landing. He pops back up, grabs the board, and tries again. It takes him to the third time to get his landing right. ]

Hell yeah!

[ Kevin whoops triumph, pumping a fist in the air as he loops back around.

He jumps again. And again. He starts getting fancy, spins and flips in the air. He laughs when he falls, catching himself or rolling through it with endurance the living only wish for. He makes a lot of celebratory noise whenever a daring experiment pans out for him.

He's probably lucky there's nothing in the ruined city that thinks teenaged vampire sounds like a good snack, really. ]

Comments

[likeits1999]

[ Kevin nods, considering. ]

That's me, man. Red-blooded teenager, I guess. I mean, it's donated, but...

[ He shrugs in a way that is probably troublingly casual for the subject. ]

[greyerrant]

Donated? That do you mean?

[ The large man blinks, and looks down with interest at the young man ]

[likeits1999]

Oh damn, nobody told you huh?

[ Kevin sighs. He has a feeling he's still going to have to do this a lot. ]

I'm a vampire?

Don't worry about it though, we got a system for that now.

[greyerrant]

I do not know what that words means.

[ He looks at the young man with continued curiousity. ]

[likeits1999]

Oh boy.

[ This is already going great. ]

So I don't know how you're gonna take this, but I promise it's not gonna be a problem that isn't already solved?

But I kinda gotta drink blood a lot.

[greyerrant]

That seems like a significant problem, even if it is solved.

[ Loken frowns. ]

Are you going to be all right, then?

[likeits1999]

Oh yeah. I'm fine. I think.

[ Okay, this might actually be going great? ]

I'm just... I don't want to lie to people about that.

[greyerrant]

Honesty and honor are the two most important characteristics someone can possess.

It does you credit that you show them both.


[ He nods his head, though his expression doesn't change. ]

[likeits1999]

[ Kevin hesitates for a long, awkward moment. ]

Are we cool?

[ He's getting uncomfortable. ]

[greyerrant]

The temperature seems normal.

[ Loken appears not to understand his weird juve slang. ]

[likeits1999]

Nah I mean like... you're givin' me this weird look and I'm trying to figure out if we're good or if I should be worried about that.

[greyerrant]

That's just how I look at people.

[ Loken shrugs.]

I have been a soldier for over a century. I simply assess everyone as I watch them. It isn't personal.

[likeits1999]

[ Kevin squints. ]

No offense, dog, but you don't look like you're a hundred.

[greyerrant]

Wolf, thank you. Luna wolves, 10th company, to be exact.

[ He shrugs his shoulders ]

It's good that I'm about a hundred and fifty then. Massive geneforging and other surgical enhancements will keep you... if not young, then seemingly unaging. It is said my kind don't die of old age, but nobody has ever gotten that old. Our fate is to die for humanity.

[likeits1999]

I know some people that are like two-hundred but it's the vampire thing. I don't know who's the oldest around anymore.

[ This guy sounds fancy and all science fiction. That would explain why he's huge. ]

Who you guys fighting that you gotta get big like that?

[greyerrant]

Orks. Eldar. A hundred other xenosforms that are inimical to humanity. Sometimes recalcitrant human cultures that refused to join the Imperium. And of late... each other.

[ He looks pained admitting that last part. ]

[likeits1999]

[ Kevin only got maybe a third of that, but he dials in on orcs. ]

Orcs are the fuckin' worst.

[ He watched that movie, he knows what that is. ]

[greyerrant]

I was there on Ullanor, when the Emperor and Horus crushed their empire. It was the greatest day I ever had the privilege of living, I think.

[ He smiles a little. ]

It is good that we haven't seen such things, at least, not yet.

[likeits1999]

I don't know about all that so much, but hey. Sounds like a good deal.

[ Kevin shrugs goodnaturedly. ]

If all this keeps up with those Ringwraith dudes and stuff, though, you better expect we see orcs. They're on the same side or something.

[ He casually tangles together two cosmologies joined only in similar-sounding ugly green guys. ]

[greyerrant]

Fortunately, I know how to kill orks. It takes quite a bit of work and is best done with fire, but I can guarantee that we won't have as much difficulty with them as we would with the armored men on weathertop.

[ Looken actually looks a little excited to fight orcs. Those are foes he understands. ]

[likeits1999]

Just keep the fire away from me and we're golden.

[ Kevin gives him a thumbs up. ]

[greyerrant]

I'm not a Salamander. Be assured I won't be using fire willy-nilly, or simply because I like burning things. The initial kill is best done with blades or a ranged weapon, though it seems our options for such things are very limited indeed. I am surprised in a conurbation like this that I've seen no firearms.