Building a Life (Open)

Zack shook his head. "I don't know... It's a part of me, a piece of my soul. Since the day I found myself on that table beneath those knives... Since the day me and my parents died... It's been inside me. I fear that even if it were excised, I don't know if there'd be anything left... But if I fall, the Titans will need you. I've seen all of them fight, I've sparred with most of them. Hell a good number of them have been trained by me. And none of them stand a chance. Maybe united they could bring me down, but to what end? When the madness grips me... They fight to subdue, to put the criminal behind bars. But in my madness I don't work that way. Anyone who wants to beat me in combat has to kill me, or they will lose before they've even begun. But they can't. They won't. I was their leader, I was their teammate. I was their friend. I know exactly what will happen if I lose myself to it."

Zack rubbed his temples, trying not to think about the images in his head. "But whether or not they have the heart to kill me matters not if they can't beat me in combat. That's why you can help them. I have no powers. None. I'm just a madman with the weapons of his murdered friends. It's the armor it's self. That's what lets me manipulate magnetic fields."

Something dark passed over Zack's gaze as he paused for a moment. "And what's worse, is I'm not the only one. I escaped. But there are countless others who didn't. L.A.W. has some... Some way of controlling people... There are other weapons, other pieces. All of the pieces must go back in the box, Victoria. Otherwise this whole thing will just get worse..."

Zack nodded. "Whatever you must do, do it. I can give you direct access if you need it, but it'll be messy." In truth, Zack would rather avoid cutting his skin to allow Victoria to commune directly with his armor, as his flesh still did have feeling, but it would be a small price to pay to see L.A.W. destroyed. "There are only a few others that I know of who use this metal, as it is very difficult to work, but they are all monsters in their own right, each worth countless others in terms of combat value. I can tell you about them, as well as what I know about this metal. Though it isn't safe here. Perhaps your... Communion should be somewhere more private."

Zack's expression softened. "I wouldn not ask this of you if I saw another way. I don't know if you'll have to kill, and I hope you don't. But I cannot promise anything. Just... Stay alive. You may very well be this city, and everywhere else's, greatest hope."

Zack shook his head, thinking out loud. "That's the problem... I want to be as in the dark as possible. If I fall, it will buy you more time while I figure it out. Your shop isn't defensible, but then again, it doesn't have to be. I'm the only one who should be a problem there, and I may be alright. L.A.W. doesn't know about you, or you wouldn't be alive right now, or worse. Plus, your shop has plenty of metal you can use quite well - plenty of weapons to use against me if I do fall. At least you should be able to slow me down enough to escape."

He nodded, apparently reaching a decision. "I don't think I should know where you live. However, I already know where your shop is, so it will limit the amount of information I would be able to use against you to a minimum. That is, if you're okay with using your shop for... This."

"Don't be sorry. You have helped more than you know. Besides, I am well accustomed to exile. I've had practice not being around my friends." Zack was obviously unhappy about the prospect of being alone, but he knew more than anyone that it was a necessity. He picked up his drink and followed Victoria.

"I am sorry you are involved in this, but for what it's worth, thank you."

Victoria kept her composure as they walked out of the coffee shop together, likely garnering some strange looks. They were a most unlikely duo.

"Your apology is accepted...and you are most welcome," she said quietly as they began their stroll down the nighttime streets. Her steps were measured, the entirety of her mind focusing on keeping her legs from shaking. She was shocked by the events of the evening, appalled by L.A.W. and their practices, terrified for her own safety and well-being, and heartbroken about the tragic condition of one of the people she could call 'friend'. One who shared, to some extent, her power.

Just one foot in front of the other, and no tears. Not yet...there would be time enough later.

((Should I make a new thread for the store...or shall we just finish it out here?))

ooc: Normally I'd say a new thread, but my time is a bit limited as I'm leaving tomorrow and it's almost one in the morning. It is feasible that at some point in one of the ports I'll find internet access, but I don't know for sure. I'd say to wrap it up we skip to the store. Sorry if it feels rushed, but I'd hate to leave you hanging until August.

((You've got it!))

After an eerily silent walk, the two arrived in Three Valleys jewelry boutique. Victoria wasted little time, not wanting to be in the store that late and generally running on little more than adrenaline, tea, and a desire not to break down in front of such a stoic figure.

She handed him a pad of paper and a pen. "You may use these. Write down what you know; I will read it later after I am finished with hands-on experience." As he jotted down notes, she found one of the many gaps in his tattered clothing, sliding a lady's hand through and resting it on his skin. She muttered a quiet apology and closed her eyes, just feeling the metal's consistency, its vibration. It was difficult to work, as he had mentioned before...a stubborn material, the likes of which she had never experienced. She dared not actually move any of it, but she did work to reach it. The connection was key; if she could connect to the metal, it would respond to her. And if she did it beforehand, before it was needed, she could do it a lot faster when it counted.

After what seemed like forever, with her arm feeling heavy from being held in one place so long, she gave a light nod. Her hand slipped out from his torn shirt, and her eyes opened to look up at him. "I...I can do it..." She informed him. "Do you have the notes for me...?"

Zack looked at the paper and held the pen awkwardly. He had never actually written before. But he knew how to read, so he knew what the symbols were. He started writing. He wrote exactly how he spoke, as he placed the words in his head onto paper. Initially, he jumped when he felt Victoria's hand on his skin. It was rare anybody touched him outside of combat. He thought back along his life. He couldn't remember much of his parents, and had long since forgotten their embrace. He had been hugged once, by a very close friend as she walked to her death. And he had held a fellow Titan's hand when he told her of his current condition. Any other time he could remember someone touching him, it was to cause pain. He shook his head and went back to work. He quickly filled the page, and flipped it over. Filling that page, he snatched another, and another. He wrote about himself, about the metal's properties: it's immense weight and density. About it's ability to create magnetic fields when exposed to neural activity. About it's hyperconductivity to heat, cold, and electricity. He wrote about the weapons who used the metal: He wrote about the Bishop. He wrote about the Rook. He wrote about the Knight. He wrote, albeit briefly about the others: The Queen, the King, and the pawns. He was finished soon after Victoria. "Here. Don't let anybody but those you trust with your life see these. If their existence becomes known, whoever carries them and everyone affiliated with that person, anyone who could have seen them will be a target. L.A.W. is not ready for all out war, and will not risk anyone knowing of their existence."

Zack's handwriting was atrocious, but legible. As Victoria went to grab the papers from his hand, he snatched her hand in his. "Be careful Victoria. I... I don't know what I would do if this gets you killed... I don't want to lose another friend."

ooc: The Rook and the Bishop actually have character sheets here on ttrpg. They're both in the create-a-villain sections. If you'd like, I can provide links. I'll work on creating similar sheets for the King and Queen, but as this story line will be on hold until I get back they will likely be posted then.