Hawaiian Hideout
[I'm missing a log, so here is some background; it won't take long. Spark Man's player dropped, creating a gap in Gamma Squad. I was promoted to Advisor, and Snake Man, not Top Man, was promoted to commander. Since Snake and I don't get along, I ended up freaking out, and buggering off. I disappeared for about three days, during which time I vacationed in Tokyo, met up with a drunken Dust Man, and locked him in a pet shop. Then, I ended up here...]
Hawaii
Welcome to Hawaii. All of the Hawaiian islands are now protected for their natural environment. An even bigger tourist attraction than it used to be, it is now home to some of the biggest hotels and condos around. The volcanoes on the island have long ago stopped erupting and have been named dormant, although lately they have been smoking quite a bit. This is the place if you need to get away from all the technical mumbo-jumbo of modern society. The old traditions of grass skirt wearing girls dancing the hula remains strong and visitors are still welcomed with floral necklaces. So kick back and relax, you're in the land of fun in the Sun.
Seashell
Obvious exits:
Submerge
Ocean
Up leads to Sky Above North Pacific.
Gemini Man is relaxing on the beach on a fold-out chair. Watching the sun as it prepares to set over the waves, he sips from a tall drink, looking almost eerily calm and peaceful.
A rather small, little-known beach, in fact... which is just what makes it attractive to the very few around. Including the one just arriving... who's in much plainer clothes than is usual for him -- largely because his usual garb, which tends to earn him strange looks as it is, would look *completely* out of place here.
At first, this new visitor seems to just be here to enjoy the sunset himself... but it doesn't even take ten seconds for the presence of his brother to register for him. He blinks, then moves to spread his towel next to Gemini Man instead of farther away as he was planning to.
"Greetings."
Crystal Man
Here stands what appears to be an ordinary young man. His hair is black, waist-length, and up in a ponytail, while his eyes are blue and seem as though they look into, rather than at, whatever they focus on. He's dressed in blue shorts, a turquoise t-shirt, and white sneakers, and around his neck hangs a simple silver necklace with a minimally cut quartz crystal on it as a pendant. The only really strange thing is that something about this person's demeanor suggests distaste with his appearance, as though he were in a dress instead of plain clothes.
Gemini Man doesn't do anything for a moment. Then, he sets his drink down, digs it slightly into the sand, and lifts up his glasses slightly, looking down through their bottoms at Crystal Man. "...So they send you?" He pushes down the glasses, and leans back in his chair. "I didn't realize they knew I was missing already. I figured I had at least a week."
Crystal Man shakes his head. "The ones you're thinking of didn't send me, no," he replies softly and, perhaps, a bit enigmatically. "Though it would seem we've similar tastes in locales in which to watch sunsets."
Gemini Man leans over, and picks up his drink, stirring it slightly with the twisty-straw before he takes a sip. "Wonderful coincidence. .... So, you come here a lot?" He looks back over the water.
"Only occasionally," the mystic admits, shifting and smoothing the towel a bit to even out the sand beneath it. "It takes slightly more effort to get here than to some other locales. But the reason behind my having chosen here today regardless is rather clear." A touch of a smirk can be seen on Crystal Man's face for a split-second, though since he's looking out towards the water by now it probably wasn't seen so much as heard...
Gemini Man looks at him under the glasses again. ...He had to be kidding. Gemini sighs. "I already have a roommate, Crystal Man. And we changed our mind about asking you for help."
"No, brother," Crystal Man returns with a sigh, still looking towards the sea, "I don't plan to stay for that long. Though it's a shame that you feel that way. I... had hoped that you were more... persistent than that."
[Radio: (A) Masters] Waste Disposal Dust Man transmits, "Augh... Where am I?"
Gemini Man blinks at Crystal Man's response, but before he can answer... he bursts out laughing at the radio message.
[Radio: (A) Masters] Waste Disposal Dust Man transmits over the sound of puppies barking...
[Radio: (A) Masters] Crystal Man transmits, "Wouldn't you be better able to answer that than we, brother?"
[Radio: (A) Masters] Waste Disposal Dust Man sounds like he's having problems... "I don't know, it's too bright..."
[Radio: (A) Masters] Blizzard Man transmits, "... Have you tried turning down the visible light spectrograph on your optics?"
Gemini Man is still laughing. He'd answer the radio, but, really, it's just too funny...
[Radio: (A) Masters] Waste Disposal Dust Man is quiet for a moment. "Oh... That's much better..."
[Radio: (A) Masters] Gemini Man snickers over the radio. "So...did they find you a good home? We hear you have a pedigree."
[Radio: (A) Masters] Waste Disposal Dust Man grunts, and speaks over puppies... "You know what, Gem? I hate you. I hate you with a vengance..."
Crystal Man keeps the small frown that would otherwise appear to himself -- one that would have conveyed his concern for Dust Man and failure to understand why Gemini Man is laughing so... though then the solid twin's mocking response comes through, and the master of jewels turns his head to look Gemini Man over carefully, quietly trying to determine just from what he can perceive -- a heck of a lot, really -- if this is a prank of Gemini's or just something he happened to find funny...
[Radio: (A) Masters] Punk transmits, "o/~ /Dead/ Puppies! Dead Puppies! Dead Puppies, aren't much fun!"
[Radio: (A) Masters] Waste Disposal Dust Man transmits, "Gemini... Where are you?"
Gemini Man looks over at Crystal Man, and snorts slightly at the other Master's apprasing stare. "He's not far from the teleporters. That was just closer to the bar, and, frankly, I was too drunk myself to lug him all the way home."
[Radio: (A) Masters] Gemini Man transmits (over the sound of a nearby beach), "None of your business, Dust Man. You aren't far from the teleporters. Go sleep it off."
This time, Crystal Man really *does* frown a bit. "Perhaps you were, but your twin can become sober instantly, if I recall. Though given your state when he and I carried you home that once, I am unsurprised that you've forgotten."
Gemini Man stirs his drink idly, and mumbles, "Okay, you've got me THERE, but I wasn't going to go back to base, anyway. Why should I send him?"
"You also could have called for aid," Crystal Man further points out. "...Although, if your motivation for leaving Dust Man there was vengeance for some slight, that seems to me a good variety." His tone of voice? So complex under his forced neutrality as to be easily mistaken for true grey...
Gemini Man shakes his head. "Naw. He didn't do anything wrong. But I wasn't about to waste the chance ...him being drunk and all. Really I was just mad that the Repliforcers wouldn't play with me. I wouldn't have felt bad about that at all." Of course, he didn't feel bad about this, either, if his tone was any indication. He polishes off the drink, and tosses the empty glass haphazardly into the sand. "Anyway, it doesn't take a psychic or a horoscope to figure out why I don't feel like going back to base right now, or right ever." He sinks back into his chair, and, under his glasses, closes his eyes. "Or why a little harmless prank might make me feel better."
Crystal Man nods in both agreement and understanding. "Indeed not, brother. Hence why I don't intend to try to convince you to come back." He sighs and lowers his head as he adds, "Although you must be aware that Father will not allow you to hide forever."
Strange... was that *regret* hidden in his voice?...
Gemini Man responds without opening his eyes. "I know that. If I have orders, I'll act on them. If I get a call to action, I'll do it. I'm aware that being a Master isn't a job you can put in a resignation on."
"Will you be all right, only the two of you?" Crystal Man queries, sounding neutral but his blue optics betraying some of his worry despite himself. "It sounds very lonely... And should you be found out, and need aid, what will you do? Call for help, and thus invite Snake Man to torment you once more?..." His usual mask wavers just a bit, revealing for one second a hint at just how deeply that abusive relationship bothers him...
Gemini Man asks, or, rather, accuses, "So what you're implying is that we can't take care of ourselves."
Crystal Man shakes his head gently. "What I'm implying," the master of jewels calmly corrects, "is that it will not be as easy as it might seem for one of us. Those..." . o O (...not restricted so...) O o . "...not of our family have elsewhere to turn when in need. Such is not the case for us."
You say, "I've thought it through, Crystal Man. We have a couple of options, but the easiest one is to just operate like normal and file all our reports in by remote. I can get my work done, and I won't look like an idiot."
Crystal Man finally turns to look upon the water again. "Then may the spirits protect both of you from the evils that abound in this world and from those who wish us ill." . o O (I shall miss you, brother.) O o .
Gemini Man snickers. "You don't have to act like you're never going to see us again. After all, you know where to find us. ...Just don't tell Snake."
. o O (You will be apart from the rest of our family, brother,) O o . Crystal Man responds in his mind alone. . o O (That is painful enough to know...) O o . When Gemini Man requests secrecy, however, another twinge hits him. . o O (Oh, to be able to make a promise...) O o . "Such would never be my desire, brother. ...I will try."
Gemini Man says, with sincerity, "Thanks. I appriciate that."
Crystal Man nods in response, not turning. . o O (My only regret is that I am unable to do more...) O o . "You're most welcome, brother. And remember that I will always help you in any way I..." . o O (...am allowed...) O o . "...I can." Here, however, he can't quite hold back a sigh of regret. "I..." . o O (...only wish I were able to do more.) O o .
Gemini Man returns his sigh. "Hey, it's our problem, not yours. Don't beat yourself up over it. And if he doesn't ask, you don't have to tell him."
"This is true," Crystal Man admits, "but such is cold comfort indeed."
Gemini Man can't think of any way to reassure Crystal, and he's not really the reassuring type. So he doesn't respond.
Crystal Man remains silent as well at first, just watching the last bits of the sunset go by... though shortly after the last sliver of light disappears, a few soft words are sung under the mystic's breath:
~I know that the spades are the swords of a soldier~
~I know that the clubs are weapons of war~
~I know that diamonds mean money for this art~
~But that's not the shape of my heart...~
Gemini Man snoozes lightly, only somewhat overhearing Crystal's mutterings. oO(He's cut out for doing the things he does best, but he sure isn't cut out for doing the things I do. Well, nobody said we all had to be programmed the same way.)Oo
There's a silence, then Crystal Man turns to his brother again. "I can remain for a few hours more if you desire my company. I've nothing scheduled immediately, since I've completed the work that previously had me so occupied."
Gemini Man mumbles, dismissively, "Up to you."
Crystal Man nods, bringing his left index finger to his mouth as he considers that. . o O (Has he a need for it currently?) O o . he wonders as he gauges the twin's mood.
It's really pretty difficult to tell. Gemini Man is incredibly relaxed and confident...but he could always be faking it. Is he afraid of being "on his own," or comfortable with this decision?... But, you must remember... he IS two people.
The difficulty of the task isn't daunting to Crystal Man in the least. He believes himself to be a mind-reader for good reason; for many practical intents and purposes, he *is*. Thus, the master of jewels simply lets the rest of the world go... letting every talent he's aware of and every sensor he isn't be put to bear on the task. He might very well look like he's in a trance... which, well, isn't that far off the mark, really.
This only lasts for a few seconds, though, before the crystal conjurer begins blinking again and stands. "Would you prefer that I schedule a time to return, brother, or would you rather that the spirits dictate the circumstances of our next encounter as well?"
Gemini Man takes off his sunglasses, now that it is dark, and looks up at Crystal Man as the other android rises. "How about the latter?" Gemini asks. "Unless we call," he then amends.
[Radio: (A) Masters] Snake Man yawns. "Anything interesssting going on?"
Crystal Man smiles inwardly as he nods. "Which you are always welcome to do," he adds as he kneels down to pick up his towel, then shakes the sand out of it with a few fluffy-sounding *snap*s. "Though I must admit, of all of our kin, you're likely the best suited to going it alone, as it were. For obvious reasons."
Gemini Man ignores his radio. Completely. He doesn't even blink. And he nods at Crystal Man. "Glad you recognize that."
Crystal Man folds the towel up, then stuffs it... well, somewhere. Wherever animated characters around the world put their stuff that's too big to fit in a pocket. "I shall see you again when you're ready. Until then and beyond, may the spirits guide you." The mystic then turns and starts towards the beach's exit...
"Take care, Crystal Man," Gemini Man says, at the mystic's back. "...See you later."
Crystal Man nods again. "You shall, brother," he assures the twin before he's out of hearing range.
Gemini Man lays back in the seat and snoozes.
Private Beach
A beach on the west side of the big island. Ridged off by high cliffs on all sides, it would be a lovely place to watch the sunset...if not for the treacherous footing and the clearly marked: NO TRESPASSING signs.
Private Beach
This beach is walled in on all four sides by volcanic cliffs. It becomes rocky very quickly as it parts from the water's edge, and isn't well-suited as a tourist attraction. However, the view of the ocean is magnificent.
Tucked under the cliff's edges and mostly hidden from outside the beach, is a small but very expensive-looking private conduminium. It seems to be currently in use... though not by the actual owner.
