etrayalogs | [OPEN] Skulking at Twilight

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[OPEN] Skulking at Twilight

WHO: Kirk Langstrom and you
WHEN: Throughout March
WHERE: Junkyard, S.T.A.R. Labs and maybe various other places in Etraya
WHAT: A Bat search mostly?
NOTES\WARNINGS: See here for general warnings about Kirk and see here for what your character may notice about him.

While Kirk knows that he’s fortunate that the companion bots recreated the Tower of Justice here in Etraya, it’s not a perfect duplicate. Unfortunately for him, this iteration of his home didn’t come with all of the top-notch lab equipment he’s used to. So finding something to fix those deficiencies has become one of several projects he’s decided to take on in Etraya.

1) Junkyard:
It's not glamorous but it’s not the first time Kirk went scrounging in garbage. Doing it near twilight while dressed in his full Batman suit probably makes for a strange sight though. Also probably not helping is the lack of effort he has in throwing aside some of the heavier and bulkier debris, like a whole bike.

Don’t worry. He won’t bite if you get close to him.

2) S.T.A.R. Labs:
Back home, S.T.A.R. Labs was one of many entities the government contracted for Project Fair Play. The weapons that came out of there worked just as they intended. It’s only because of Luthor’s last-second intervention that the Justice League is still alive.

So for Kirk, it feels strange skulking about in any version of S.T.A.R. Labs. But based on his aerial surveys, this was a building that was more likely to have what he needs. He observed that some people use it but it doesn’t look like anyone’s living there. Plus, the building appears to be large enough that it’s unlikely that all of the rooms are occupied.

So like any good bat-themed vigilante, he eventually decides to break into S.T.A.R. through the rooftop shortly before sundown.

Dressed in his full Batman suit, he carefully starts searching unused rooms for equipment or spare parts he could use. Maybe he could even use one of the rooms as a spare lab? The lack of security might be a problem though.

He’s also keeping his eyes and ears open for anyone else who might be around.

3) Closed to Vander:
Regardless of how successful his errands or searches are, Kirk always returns to the Tower of Justice. The companion bots didn’t recreate everything the real one has but it’s damn close enough that Kirk feels no need to live elsewhere in Etraya.

It’s unfortunate though that the Tower’s security systems weren’t also bought over. It would be a shame if someone was to just stroll right in. All they need to do is not feel intimidated by the Tower’s size and cold sterility.

Plus, it’s weird that some figure with scalloped wings might’ve been seen flying around.

4) Wildcard:

((OOC: Got something else in mind? Want to play with my character but can’t work up a prompt? Let’s talk! My contact info is in the journal profile and I'm the game's Discord server))

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A corner of Kirk's lip lightly twitches in amusement at the question. He appreciates the comparison too.

"Both. My suit has to be sleek for mobility. Birdlike wings would be too cumbersome," he replies. "And I've always liked bats. I studied them extensively."

"That's because you're skinny." Okay, that was unfair. Kirk was skinner than Vander for this particular comparison. He considered for a moment what he knew of flight, birds and bats alike. He'd always liked them, their ability to just... fly away to somewhere new.

"I suppose feathers would be more difficult to control midflight." It was interesting of course. "Did you? What did you learn?"

Kirk makes another soft huff of amusement. Vander isn't wrong. He's skinny compared to Hernan. Plus, he's the physically weakest Justice League member.

"There was a lot I learned in school and then in university," Kirk says. "But for bats specifically I learned how adaptable they are despite their diminutive sizes. They have their own special abilities. It makes sense that you saw them in mine shafts. There aren't a lot of animals that can live long term in caves."

As someone with little formal education, he found himself nodding along to the explanation. School was clearly different from university like how Piltover had school and the academy's. He expected there were enough similarities that he could follow along.

"Ha, well, you haven't been in the fissures then. We have things that survive down there. Things are forced to be hardy and adaptable," he remarked. "What kind of special abilities interests you most about them?"

"How they can navigate in the dark. How efficient they are at flying but can rest well in caves," Kirk replies. His tone is still calm but there's a tinge of admiration as he talks about bats. They're part of what started him on the path he's on now. "Plenty would consider them 'creepy' but they're social animals and stay together in large colonies to thrive. They help each for survival."

But then there was one particular trait from a specific type of bat Kirk studied extensive. At that, Kirk stops himself short. That piece of information was best for when the time is right.

Kirk begins to lead Vander towards the end of the hallway.

"What else are in the fissures?"

"They're also highly efficient hunters," he added. People might not be impressed by them snatching up insects, but Vander had always admired them when he saw them out and about navigating the tunnels and the air above the undercity. "It seems like you have a great admiration for them. No wonder you have an outfit utilizing that about them into it."

He followed, still glancing up and about at the vastness of the hallway that they were walking through. It was difficult to make him feel small, and this place definitely did that. He took it all in stride though, reveling in the advanced nature of this place.

"Bioluminescent plants, cave lizards, insects, fungus, valuable minerals and ore veins." He spoke only of the 'good' aspects of the fissures, unwilling to bring down the mood. Much like Kirk, there were topics best left unspoken.

Kirk is listening attentive as he leads Vander to the main living space. Normally Kirk doesn't care what most people think of him. He had long accepted that most see him as a monster. But for the few people he's willing to be open to, he's tries not to be too off-putting. To them, he tries to show that he's not entirely cold.

It's why he isn't going to levitate or fly even though it would be faster. He knows it must feel strange for most people to suddenly be in a vast and coldly sterile building.

"Of course. All results of having been underground for so long. What would be mined?" he asks.

Thankfully Vander had a naturally long stride, so they did manage to cover ground quickly even as he looked around still. This place was unique and cold, sterile even. He couldn't even say it reminded him of the inside of a prison cell as those definitely had more character than this place. Still, who was he to judge someone else's choice of home? It was probably entertaining to fly all around this place.

"Yeah, that's us trenchers," he remarked casually, using the common moniker of his people. They claimed the word for empowerment, even if it was slang and supposed to be degrading. "Metal ores mostly, but rare earth minerals and gemstones too. Sometimes gases, but those are fairly dangerous to harvest if one doesn't know where the pocket is."

"Mining's dangerous work in general," Kirk agrees. It sounds similar enough to what Earth's mining is like. Vander certainly looks like he's had a lot of experience with hard physical labor. "Do you still do it?"

Both men's footsteps echo as they get closer to the end of the hallway. Whatever room is at the other end seems to have large windows based on how much sunlight is coming from it.

"It is, yes. A lot of good men and women died," he agreed, remembering most of them. He remembered the ones he had spent shifts with at least, but the mine tunnels were vast and different shifts and teams mined for different ores and minerals. "No, I managed to buy my freedom in my twenties."

He thought that there could be a wicked game of one of those sports ball in these corridors. He had no idea where they were going, but his curiosity was not diminished no matter how far they had to walk.

"What do you research here?"

"It depends on the mission or case. Sometimes, all three of us have to be involved. Other times I can investigate on my own," Kirk replies. "And then there are the projects I work on my own for personal reasons. Most of the time it has to do with solving a crime."

They then reach the end of the hallway and into a large room. Just like most of the tower, most of the space feels sterile and sparsely decorated. at the center of the room is a closed hatch. Another part of the room suggests it's supposed to be a more casual area. It's even got a wet bar! With it's wide windows, the Tower's living room is a good place to get a wide view of the Tower's surrounding area.

"That's a whole lot of words in non-answer sentences if I've ever heard one," he replied dryly. He expected that Kirk had a reason to not divulge information, but he expected perhaps a few crumbs might be dropped if he pointed out the very politically correct answer.

They enter yet another large and sparse room, and Vander was getting the idea that someone around here desperately needed some home decor. Also, why were all the chairs and sofas so big? Did they actually have giants in this place and they happened to be hiding? It was all interesting aesthetic choices.

He moved away from Kirk towards the windows to admire the view beyond.

For a moment, Kirk had pressed his lips into a thin line. The annoying part is that Vander's right. His vague response was on purpose. He's used to being discrete about his work to most ousiders.

But then Vander walks towards the window to admire the view. Kirk follows.

"Normally, this would be one of the best views of Metropolis," he says, also looking out the window. He then starts to point out various directions.

"Over there on the east would be Centennial Park. Further out would be Metropolis University. About a few miles east of there would be Shuster Arena. Directly south from here would be city hall. Far west would be Hob's Bay."

The view remained nice enough, not that he had been exposed to more than the top most of Zaun and the occasional building climb in Piltover in his youth. Buildings for the most part were still underground, so he was willing to admire the clear views and landscapes.

He was aware of Kirk stepping up nearby, and he made a point of following the direction that the other man was speaking about as if he could imagine the buildings and infrastructure that was being described. He had no idea what any of those buildings looked like, but his head moved to peer to the side then up then moved along the route that Kirk described.

"Do you miss the city and its views then? I expect you can glide around the city as well as these halls, yeah?"

"It feels strange to have limited flying space," Kirk admits. It's not so much the physical places he misses as it is his ability to do certain things. For example, he's used to going between Metropolis and Gotham.

He walks over to the wet bar next and checks what drinks are available. He'll have to ask Hernan for forgiveness later. He's not used to playing host, especially when a ally or friend unexpectedly drops by.

"Normally, my teammates and I enter and leave through the roof."

"I figure you have more glide potential," he remarked. The wide expansive space made it easy to catch the air, wouldn't it? It was nothing like clambering up and down the often claustrophobic spaces between twisting iron buildings, catching whatever footing or handholds available. If he was a younger man, he'd consider the value, but he had left that part of him behind many years before. "Though, I suppose once you touch down, it would be a long walk back."

He turned his head to watch Kirk move over to the wet bar, though he didn't expect to actually be offered a drink. It was a nice touch, of course, a show of hospitality and welcome to this large abode.

"Is it normally just the three of you that live here, or does this place turn into a lively party of dense populations from your cities?"

Kirk picks a bottle of whiskey and pours it into a glass for Vander. The whiskey isn't top shelf but it would seem rude to offer something too cheap.

"Usually it's just the three of us. Any visitors we have tend to be more formal," Kirk replies.

He then puts away the whiskey bottle and pulls out a smaller bottle containing a red liquid. He makes himself a glass.

"Scientists, politicians, the military."

"Awful big place for three people," he remarked conversationally. "It must be lonely in this big place, since I think I recall you saying it's just you and Hernan, yes?"

He supposed he could see why people might be uncomfortable here with it large open spaces and sterile cold walls and floors. He still found it a curiosity rather than off-putting; if anything, it did remind him a little of the old abandoned mine shafts deep in the underground.

"Sounds like you and your friends are pillars of the community. Do you miss it?"

Kirk thinks about the question and again of Vander's network post as he walks over and offers the older man the glass of whiskey.

"Not really. Until recently, it was more like we would save communities but never really be part of them," he replies.

He quietly takes a sip of blood from his own glass before looking back out at the window.

"Besides Metropolis, we would have a full view of the protesters too."

He looked over and reached out to take the offered drink, bringing it up to his nose and sniff the contents. Whiskey. High shelf compared to some of what he had under the bar when he presided over it, but he didn't yet take a sip of it.

"Do you want to be part of communities, or does this suit the way you want to live? You're a nice guy, smart and curious from what I've seen. It's obvious you want to help people."

His eyes flicked to the glass in Kirk's hand. That was a very distinct colour and turbidity of liquid. Like tomato juice but distinctly not. He brought his drink to his lips and sipped it.

"Protestors protesting what exactly?"

Again there’s a pause while Kirk thinks about how to reply. He doesn’t feel comfortable lying about what he and the his teammates faced back home. Each of them faced great hardships and were far from being godlike.

But the full truth might put a sudden end to his camaraderie with Vander. He doesn’t know what the general attitude Etraya has to vampires. Plus, Vander had already said he would fight Hernan if he ever gets out of line.

“The abilities my teammates and I have and how we use them can scare people,” he finally says, still doing his usual monotonous tone. “Until recently, people thought of us as monsters who wanted to be gods. We had a pact with the government.”

This was not the first hesitance that he had observed in Kirk, and it seemed to him that his sudden appearance had precipitated the revelation of information that the other man might otherwise not be keen to share. Vander found it extremely revealing though, especially given Kirk's previous reluctance to share personal information upon their first meetings.

Skeletons in this one's closet, or at least there was information that Kirk was not comfortable sharing. He took that to mean that the man had suffered rejections before, likely many and from people that had been friendly. The monotone was just another indication.

Vander made his move by simply stepping closer to Kirk and nudging their shoulders lightly together. "People fear what they don't understand, it's true. People also don't have a lot of trust for things that might force them to bend the knee or threaten them." He smiled even as he took a sip from his whiskey and offered the tumbler to Kirk. "I don't think you're a monster, Kirk. Can I try your drink too?"

Unlike the previous question, this one Kirk answers with no hesitation.

“You wouldn’t like it,” he says. In fact, he’s absolutely sure it’ll have Vander retract his statement about not seeing Kirk as a monster. “I have a condition and this helps with my symptoms.”

Vander looked momentarily perplexed by the reply, turning his head to look in the direction of the wet bar. That was an interesting place to keep a medication that aided with afflictions, not one that he had seen before. No doubt that lack of guests helped with the comfort of leaving it around.

"You keep medication next to the alcohol, do you?" He took another sip from his tumbler, observing Kirk. "May I ask what your condition is?"

Kirk stares back at Vander, calculating something in his mind.

"When we first met, you were extremely agitated and ready to fight," he says. "There were physical changes too. I haven't seen it since then. What was that?"

It sounds like a sudden topic change but it's Kirk trying to get a better read on what Vander is. The state Kirk saw him in during their first meeting reminded him of himself whenever he goes too long without blood. Would Vander understand? Maybe. Or maybe that state was a one-off and not something ingrained like Kirk's own feral state.

Back home, Kirk's vampiric status is public knowledge. There was no escaping it. But in Etraya, few know who or what Batman is. Kirk has been careful about who he reveals that part of himself to. He doesn't know how many would be comfortable knowing that a part of him sees people as meals.

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