Obelisk : Room 508 - Ryan's Apartment(#618R)
One word springs to mind as you walk into Ryan's apartment: cluttered. Stuff is
strewn everywhere, from the multitude of shelves tht line the wall, to the
comic books and CD's on the floor.
The main room, which makes up most of the apartment, has apparently been
relegated to storage duty. Aside from the King-sized bed, the desk, and the TV,
all the rest of the furniture here is book shelves. As you look the shelves
over, you see a roughly equal proportion of both scholarly texts (physics
textbooks, archaeological logs, etc.), and comic books. How unusual. Hooked up
to the TV is a wide variety of video game consoles, some no longer supported.
The small kitchenette and bathroom are comparatively unremarkable.
[Exits : (O)ut ]
[Things : None ]
>Harken pages, "T is a knock at the door. Hey, at least she's taking the mundane way in." to you.
>You page-pose, "Ryan peers through the peephole. "What the...?"" to Harken
>Harken pages, "Yup. Scythe-wielding lady on the other side. Only, today she
appears to be without her scythe." to you.
>o
You open the door and walk out into the hallway.
Obelisk Apartments: Fifth Floor
Exactly as you'd expect. The clean hallways of this floor are maintained by a
constant, almost literal army of custodians and maids. The lighting is
adequate, and a few security cameras add to the sense of protection. Sparse,
fragrant, potted plants also dispell any odors that might make their way inside
here.
[Exits : 509, (508) Ryan's Apartment, 507, 506, 505, 504, 503, 502, (501)
Alhana's Apartment, and (E)levator ]
[Players : Harken ]
[Things : None ]
>Ryan opens the door and walks out into the hall. His right hand is bandaged,
but aside from that he seems in good condition. He says, somewhat dryly, "What
can I do for you...?"
>Harken answers with a question. "You are one of Strife's friends?"
>Ryan rubs the back of his neck. "More like 'acquantiance', but close enough."
>Harken frowns faintly. "What do you know about this Esmerelda?"
>Ryan crosses his arms. "That she'd be better if she were diced into small cubes
and laced with vinager." He peers at Harken.
>Harken asks, "I'm inclined to agree, but I have my own reasons. What is your
quarrel with her?"
>Ryan frowns. "She's hurt my friends, forced one to kill another, and just about
ruined one's life..."
>Harken says, "To what end? Surely, she is more than just a petty troublemaker,
this dragon..."
>Ryan shakes his head. "I'm not sure, but it's like she gets off on human misery
or something, you know?"
>Harken's eyes narrow, anger lighting their depths, although her attention seems
focused elsewhere. "...Yes. I'm familiar with the type."
>Ryan hmms. "Do tell."
>Harken's gaze snaps back to Ryan. "Unnecessary. Suffice to say I do not care
for this .... woman's.... methods, and I would like to be kept abreast of her
activities."
>Ryan says, "You probably know more than me. She doesn't exactly tell everyone
her plans..."
>Harken counters, "I know what I hear from the people of this town. Men,
particularly." She smirks. "She appears to like men--or like playing with them,
anyway. That makes you an excellent potential source, baby."
>Ryan raises an eyebrow. "Next time I see her, she's swallowing teeth. I trust
her about as far as I can throw a tank."
>Harken chuckles. "Careful, baby. She could take you out in a heartbeat."
>Ryan frowns and closes his eyes. "I'm pretty sure of that, but it's better to
be smoking rubble then one of her playthings." . o O ( I think. )
>Harken scowls at Ryan, her entire demeanor changing subtly. She murmurs, as if
from a great distance, "...Throwing your life away is not courage."
>Ryan says, "And being toadie to a freak like her isn't honorable."
>Harken straightens slightly, shaking herself out of whatever reverie seized
her. "Then see that you are not. Are you strong enough to keep from being
baited by her, baby? That's the question," she challenges.
>Ryan raises an eyebrow. "What do you mean by that?"
>Harken chuckles. "Esmerelda works through manipulation, you know that. She
likes to make people angry enough to do foolish things--but if you keep from
losing your head, you should be able to see through her cheap tricks. Don't
rise to the bait. And don't throw your life away for stupidity's sake,
mistaking it for courage or honor."
>Ryan crosses his arms. . o O ( How annoying, I've NEVER lost my hea- ...
!^@(! )
>Harken smirks. "Think you can handle that, baby?"
>Ryan scowls. "Who're you calling baby? And of COURSE I can handle that!"
>Harken counters, "Prove it.... baby."
>Ryan raises an eyebrow. "She isn't exactly here now for me to ignore, eh?"
>Harken chuckles, and turns away, calling over her shoulder, "Then I'll expect a
full report, when next we meet."
>Ryan frowns, and hmmphs. "When'd I become you're little journalist?"
>Harken's voice fades as she withdraws further down the hall, but she's
definitely amused. "You'd better practice if you want to keep your head around
Esmerelda, kid."
>Ryan says, plainly, "I'm not dead yet."
>Harken pauses. ".... .... You're right. Try and keep it that way, hmm?"
>Harken walks into the elevator.
>Harken has left.
(
geocities.com/tokyo/harbor/3252) (
geocities.com/tokyo/harbor) (
geocities.com/tokyo)