etrayalogs | (OPEN/CATCH-ALL) can't commit to anything but a crime

(fury is still too dulcet a feeling to describe what he feels.

although etraya lacks the piles of burning trash, the stench, the scorching sun, and the feeling of hopelessness, home is where chrollo's mind refuses to leave ever since he first heard his purpose in this place. 'to prove your world worthy of existence' feels like a tasteless and disgusting joke to someone from meteor city - to some such as himself, home, and to the world at large, a place to leave your trash and unwanted. a purgatory of ghosts, unknown to the world at large, unseen. nothing for the residents but to waste away counting their days, and nothing for them outside of it either.

no meaning.

which is why chrollo's entire existence has been about not proving himself worthy of it, but instead, painting the streets soaked in red to show it alongside the group born from the same despair. every murder, theft, and massacre, imprints a will that is selfless in nature and proof of living, the opportunity to be something when they were set to accomplish nothing. greater than the individual, greater than any system, and naturally, greater than chrollo himself. even completely separated from the phantom troupe, chrollo desires nothing less than to exert its will upon a world that dares question it. it's all that's left of him, after all.

but all has its time. with the fact that he hasn't been here long, there are too many questions unanswered: what does echo know about them? how have the missions been? who is here? what was the selection criteria? are they watching, and who would be an ally? he can't possibly show himself so soon.

it's been a while since chrollo had to stay in a role for so long, but he hasn't yet seen where the plot shifts, that point when the curtains close and he can put down the script he's been writing as he goes. the man he currently plays is kind, helpful, extroverted, and an academic - as to justify all the questions that he finds himself asking. today is no different, that impeccable and natural smile plastered on his face as the pool balls brush, and yet, none fall to add to his score. lost once again to the companion bots! how unfortunate.

he's here to gather information and make connections, so, the next person to pass by will get waved at.)

Hey! Are you any good at pool? These bots are merciless!

( learning about this place is the first step to understanding the world of matters, and it's with curiosity that she goes out to understand. what she learns can be used for future conversations, and it's why she goes out without anyone to influence her thoughts. alone, she peeks into various rooms, passing closed doors with interest, and only stopping when someone calls out to her.

with a tilt of her head, she looks left then right, and finally over to the voice that's waving to her — oh, him. the guy who's horrible at math problems. )

Why do you lie?

( again, he has tried to fool her with his attempts to impress her, or maybe he's never been trying to do that. instead, it could be that he isn't as knowledgeable of things much like her, or the world he comes from doesn't contain what she has. that's why as her eyes glance around for this supposed "pool", 37 is disappointed when she's unable to find it. )

There is no body of water to be seen.

( even with the bots being here, she can only find that they too are accomplices in the lie. they're not near a pool either! she looks to chrollo with an unimpressed expression, her brows furrowing... )

(the chuckle he gives sounds fond, but whether it is genuine is up for debate. an interesting person to find in this place, and entertaining to say the least. to try and understand a world he has never seen or heard of is hard enough, but 37 truly makes it a challenge to behold with her expectations.

a little too literal of a train of thought, though.)

No, no! It's the name of the game. See those are numbered from 1 to 15? Solid colors are 1 through 7, and stripes are the ones that are 9 through 15. You hit the white cue ball to pocket your colors, and when you're done, you have to pocket number 8. Whoever does this wins first. Want to give it a try?

How interesting, why is number 8 last?

( that one is interesting she will give it that, her eyes staring at the table to find all the properly labeled like he says. the solid and the stripes, and though it's new to her, she walks over.

rather than play, she picks up the number 8, looking at the color of it before placing it back on the table exactly in the position she had picked it up from. )

But... why is it called pool when there is no water? They are numbers and not letters, it makes no sense!

( at least she's willing to learn. )

You'd have to visit the Begerossé Union and ask them that, dearest 37.

(although, how curious, how are the games in her island? perhaps it would appease her more if he exchanged the game for her liking.)

Would you like to play, or would you like to teach me something new?

( she doesn't know what that is, why would he tell her that as it'll be something she keeps in mind for later. perhaps he can elaborate. with one last look at the pool table, she figures that understanding would be best. )

I want to understand how this works.

( it's the equation placed before her, and the answer will be...? whatever it is, she walks over to the table with her hands resting on the side of it. she understands the length and width, and if the balls are to fall into the pockets then there's certain angles that they should be hit at .

37 likes that part, that's what makes this interesting. )

I can teach you how to play. I want to watch you and the bot.

(suppose that for her, his world would be a little overwhelming if she managed to see it. some places are similar to nova city, others are green and kissed by the sweet tides... others are feats of architectural wonders. he's travelled, although his roots tend to be in the same places. meteor city, heaven's arena where he rules as a floor master, quite the honor as one of the best strategists and strongest fighters it has to offer.

not what he's showing any here, hands together in thankfulness with an embarrassed smile on his face.)

Are you sure? I might be a lost cause.

(but he's restarting the game, leaving it ready for the bot to strike it first.)

That is why you learn.

( rather than get a chair to spectate, 37 pulls herself up onto the pool table on the middle to right side. she's aware that they'll have to move around the table, so she's ready to push herself off if either of them come close to where she is. first, she watches the bot curiously at how it holds the pool stick, and where it begins to hit first in order to scatter the balls from one another.

they bounce against the walls edges, some not even making it close, but they're all branched out igniting the match's beginning. )

Which ball belongs to you, and which belongs to it?

( or should she keep watching, she doesn't know if it's still the bot's turn. her eyes are already in search for the number one as she wonders do they go in order, or if there's another pattern that she's not seeing. )

I've been playing the solids-- oh, nice.

(he can see there are a few possibilities for him, some obvious, some harder to achieve, but he'll move around the table a few times, as if he was trying to find a perfect angle to hit number '5' until he finds one that requires a larger force for it to hit the pocket. purposefully, there's hardly any strength in the way he hits, and it stops just at the entrance - a perfect opportunity for the bot to distance it from the score with the ones that are near it.)

Where's Six, by the way? Did you sneak out?

Why did you move all the way there?

( his angle isn't something 37 entirely agrees with, and as the ball zips across the table, she intercepts by picking it up and placing it somewhere else on the table.

the bot probably beeps in response to the sudden change, but 37 seems to have a different idea from this game than they do, and it's not like they said she couldn't touch them. )

Hm... what does it prove if you have that answer? I am here now, aren't I?

If I hit from the angle I was before, I was going to pocket his ball, and then I'd be in trouble. You might make the bot cry if you touch them, it's against the rules, by the way.

(not that he cares, but she did say she wanted to learn, and the smile he gives tells her not to worry about it. it's the bot's turn, and he moves next to 37 so they both have the same point of view of it.)

Proves nothing. Are you aware you're quite combative?

They cry.

( that stands out to her as she looks to the bot curiously, her body turning to see it move right next to her and 37 drops down from the pool table to move to a different portion of it.

she has a pretty good idea of the angles, the width, and the bot's speed... she wonders if they're also calculating like those who are too hooked on computers using it to solve the problem for them. )

How strange, I'm not fighting against anything at all. Hm...

( she looks down, tilting her head in thought as she tries to understand his claim. )

It's not literal. You tend to be very stubborn and argumentative about things you disagree with, don't like, or don't understand, you know? It's a fine personality trait, but you should be thoughtful about how you're coming across, I worry someone might not see it in good faith and take it personally...

(his talks with 37 all paint a picture in his head of a world he cannot imagine, although he knows she can hardly imagine his. is there ill-intent on the island? evil? or are all the matters they face internal?

just from how she first reacted to him, he knows a good chunk of his people would not take that kindly, and hell, even strays he's met on the way wouldn't allow for it. he's not yet met all the people here, so it's best to side with caution.

does he truly worry? it's hard to say. does he mean the advice? wholeheartedly so.

as the bot makes his move, he calls for her.)

Where do you think I should hit?

No. I do not think I am stubborn or argumentative. I believe we live in two separate worlds, where certain answers matter very little to me.

( but does that mean she's coming off as stubborn, depends, no one has ever said this to her so she'll think it over. she's very vocal on her island beside 210, does he not like when people question him?

she hums in thought, her eyes closed at his question. )

From the corner, that ball is at an angle that can properly be met at the end of your stick.

( she points to it as she doesn't mind if the bot sees of hears, she doesn't even know if this is cheating when it's teaching. )

You'll manage to hit at the bottom edge, it'll turn at 15 degrees cause it to spin, and the momentum will have it hit against the wall, and bounce off to stop in the lower middle.

We do, but so does everyone else. I only ask you for caution. I myself don't mind, but others might.

(it's the bottom line of what he means, either way. whether she takes it to heart is up to her, and should she find herself in troubled waters, it is equally on her - his contribution to it ends here.

what she says pans out, he can calculate in his own mind and visualize the trajectory with ease... but it's more believable if he struggles to find the right grip, the right position and the right strength. it will go 93% as expected, too much force that causes the ball to bounce a few times on the edges of the pocket before it falls.)

Woah-- very cool!!

No, you all live in the World of Matters; if you didn't, you'd see things ever so differently.

( he would see the patterns beneath the material items that cover it, he would have noticed that there was too much strength put into his hit when her eyes open— that error only causes the ball to fall, but it doesn't set up the perfect position that she had in mind.

she doesn't like it, that much is true, and yet he finds happiness through a poorly thought out equation that's missing so many steps. )

Why did you do that?

( she looks to him curious, her eyes falling upon the main arm he used for the moment. )

Do you happen to find such 'World of Matters' meaningless?

(ah, but if she lived in it, she'd too see things ever so differently. perhaps that's the disconnect, this never-ending comparison she puts forward when engaging with others.

knowing exactly what she means doesn't reach his face, big gray eyes staring at her for a second before he blinks a few times in sheer confusion.)

Do what?

It is only a shadow showing you half of the truth, it is those who believe in it are blind to the bigger picture. You shouldn't be satisfied with the shadows on the wall and limited light, while the World of Matters is educational in teaching you there is more outside it, what is taught means little to me as I understand there is more.

( she gets up off the pool table, walking around the bot and chrollo to the other side where their game isn't focused on. 37 crosses her legs, her hands rest on her lap as she continues to speak her mind as though she believes nothing else but this. )

But that doesn't call it meaningless, there is meaning if it is shown to me. There is something to learn, I promised someone important I would find it.

( that's when she touches her own arm indicated the spot she's curious about. )

For someone with skilled abilities when it comes to input and output, why are you unable to manage how much strength goes into that arm?

Other worlds have other types of truth, though. How far will you go into learning about them?

(more like a morbid curiosity. part of him wants to see whether she can break through her own thinking, or whether she's fated to remain boxed in it. as six said, it is ultimately up to her, and in chrollo's own view, there's nothing they can do other than watch whether she can challenge what she is given. little can either do, nor does he have the will to try and change it.

just curious.)

... Ah, I think I get too excited and I can't control the strength...

Edited 2024-11-07 00:31 (UTC)

Do not be silly, the Transcendental World transcends all, that's why they share this pleasure.

( she looks to him as though this concept should be easy to grasp, that's why she's unable to change her mind because this should mean there's only one. however, he wouldn't be the first to believe there is more than one "truth". the truth she searches for goes past just this world the other places his chips in. )

Why?

( curiously, she brings a hand to her chin to contemplate that answer. )

Having the ability of an enhancer, you can hone yourself, can't you?

( with a tilt of her head, she looks at him waiting for an answer. )

I'm afraid you got it wrong, I am not an Enhancer.

(although he doesn't need to be one to infuse nen and strength onto an object or a limb, but that would only make his move stronger. besides, it's not like his ability would do him any favors in a game of pool, only if he was trying to steal it or explode it... and even then, really.

those are not his.)

And I'm not a skillful Nen-user, so it's not like it'd make that much of a difference...

Oh? I thought you could do them as well, maybe not.

( how unfortunate, then she does have it wrong, and she accepts it as is. then again, it's not like she's committed to how his powers work, instead, it's still interesting that there's a percentage to what he can do. wasn't it 80%? )

Are you unable to use your skills in this game?

( that's something she didn't realize either. )

No, it's not really like this. Those categories are where your aura fits, but using it is upon a specific ability you create for yourself. I don't have one yet.

(more... or less. principles of those categories can apply, naturally, they're trained upon once a person learns how to use their aura, but vagueing the ins and outs of aura use feels safer. he can give something, half-truth, half-omission, or half-lie.)

I see. I wasn't aware how limiting things were.

( that can't be helped when she doesn't understand how his skills work in general, but they aren't the ones you can use in pool.

the angles that she notes within the game grow smaller or larger depending on where they stand, and if they follow a straight line to hit certain balls, then it'll go the known direction. chrollo doesn't do that when he plays because he's way too excited, and she wonders why is that. )

Why are you excited? What does it solve for you?

Pretty limiting, you have to work with what you have rather creatively. It's your signature, after all.

(funnily enough, people he knows would most likely be exceptionally proficient at pool using their abilities. machi could attach a thread to the balls, make them move in her favor. hisoka and his bungee gum aura, which transmutes his aura to bear the same properties as rubber and gum could equally play with the momentum, amongst others.

not chrollo, though! he murdered hisoka not long ago, therefore, he did not have the opportunity to grab bungee gum and its properties of rubber and gum, and even if he did, it'd be gone from the book with its owner.)

Are you not excited when you try to win at something?

APARTMENTS - cw mentions of violence and murder, dehumanization, poverty and existence themes

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not me making up stuff

actions will have consequences

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