[action] Top of the world, looking down on creation...

[neverforgets]

[ On one section of the beach, about twenty feet from where the sand gives way to jungle, someone has planted a giant mallet head into the sand. A bright, red scarf is tied to the handle. The handle sticks straight up--

And up--

And up--

And up into the sky. If you're good at estimating height, you might guess it's two hundred feet up above the ground. And at the very top, you can see the shape of a person up there. ]

Comments

Iron Hammer needs an adult!

[neverforgets]

[ On his way down from his perch, Lavi notices a person hanging out by the base of the hammer. At least he knows now he's not the only person hanging around here. Or only one of a pair; he'd seen someone out on the rocks just offshore. ]

Careful, it bites. [ Calls down with not-entirely-fake good humor, but any stranger is cause for caution, especially when his vision blurs every so often. So he lingers just out of arm's reach and gives the man a wave. ]

not yet

[cleanedslate]

Yeah? That doesn't seem like a desirable trait in a hammer.

[ his eyes are still on the hammer, not you; he's contemplating the elastic quality. definitely no hinges or anything that he can see, so it's just a property of... whatever material it's made out of. which is interesting. ]

[neverforgets]

[ Not sure whether to be relieved or not that he gets so little attention; though an akuma wouldn't be able to touch the hammer without injury, so... could just be good old human curiosity. But he still stays where he is for now. ]

Little-Big Hammer's special that way. Best buddy a guy can have.

[cleanedslate]

Pretty sure that's actively sad. And this is coming from me. [ he scrapes a nail over the surface; pretty unyielding, as far as that goes! ]

What's your best buddy made out of?

[neverforgets]

[ Just laughs. Of course he was kidding. A book is a guy's best friend, duh. ]

S'called "Innocence". Given by God and all that.

[cleanedslate]

[ yes, but books can't bite you in apparently fun sexy ways! ]

Yeah? Any god in particular, or just Brand X?

[neverforgets]

[ Someone hasn't been reading the right books.

Lavi eases down the rest of the way, planting his feet firmly on the hammer's head. And the comment gets a grin out of him. ]

The god of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; "I Am Who Am", an' all that. [ Leaves off "nonsense", but it might still be audible. ]

[cleanedslate]

Old Testament or New? [ still not so much looking up. he doesn't believe you, though he's amused by the idea. more aliens duping people into worshiping them? awesome. and this god was never the nicest guy, either. ]

[neverforgets]

[ Observes the man as he keeps examining the weapon, kind of amused. Though if Gramps hadn't told him all about Innocence before they had joines the Order, he probably would have behaved the same way. ] Old one, far as I know.

Mine's called Iron Hammer.

[cleanedslate]

Because what's more innocent than an iron hammer, right? [ vague. he adds ] So, when God gave it to you, was that like... FedEx, or in person? Maybe there was a burning bush or two involved?

[neverforgets]

You should see the guy who's teeth are made of it. [ Wry. ] And Innocence's been around for seven thousand years. Kinda before my time.

[ He does shrink the hammer's head to about half the size it was, then takes a seat on it, leaning against the handle. Invoking the Innocence doesn't seem to take any extra effort, meaning he's feeling fatigue seep in for other reasons. Ones he didn't want to think about right now. ]

What's fedex?

[cleanedslate]

[ no fair, he was imagining that under a microscope! ]

It's like UPS, only with better branding. [ does that not help? he does notice, you know, the bruises and bleeding and stuff, but mostly he just quirks an eyebrow at it. pointing out: ]

Take it from a guy who knows: altitude and blood loss don't play well together.

[neverforgets]

[ Self-effacing laugh. ] Thanks, man. The bigger guy was faster'n me. [ And now there are two of this guy. Lavi closes his eye for a moment until that passes. ]

You a mountain climber? [ Because he didn't know about Innocence, and mankind can't fly, right? It's the only option that makes sense! Unlike the explanation of "fedex". 8| ]

[cleanedslate]

[ pilates is like yoga, and fedex is like ups ] I'd say I'm sorry to hear that, but you know. I don't actually know you. Maybe you deserved this. [ vague gesture ]

And sure. You could say that. [ beat ] It wouldn't be all that accurate, but you could say it.

[neverforgets]

[ What are pilates and yoga?! D8 ]

[ Takes that first comment with good grace; how cynical are you, man? Could we be cynic buddies? ] The guy attackin' me certainly thought I did.

So, if I wasn't to be accurate, how would I explain how you know about high altitudes?

[cleanedslate]

[ they're like zumba ]

They usually do.

I fly. [ shrugs his shoulders contentedly ]

[neverforgets]

[ UNHELPFUL. ]

... [ Blinks. ] You fly? How?

[cleanedslate]

[ as much and as often as physically possible! ]

Rockets. Well, technically, repulsors. [ might be enjoying your blank expression ] It's part of a system I designed.

[neverforgets]

[ So confuse. ]

So you're like one of the Science Department guys. [ Managed to grasp that much. ] Think you can walk an' talk at the same time, man? [ Would like to give you more chances to talk about yourself! But maybe we should keep moving. ]

[cleanedslate]

I'm like the science department guy. [ no idea what you're talking about, but does it matter that much? ]

And that is a tough one. [ his eyes flick down to the hammer again ] But I think I can manage. Why, somewhere you gotta be? Appointments to keep?

[neverforgets]

Just the one our captors gave us. [ Holds up the device. ]

I saw some water 'bout a mile or so that way. [ Points off the the west-northwest location, into the jungle. ] Thought I'd go check. [ Hefts the hammer like it doesn't weigh a thing, and settles it on his shoulder. ] Want t'come along?

[cleanedslate]

Well, sure, but we've got days for that.

[ he says, up until he gets to that last bit. ]

Water, inland. So, probably fresh, at least? [ yeah, here's a subject he knows nothing about, but some vaaaague memories of middle school survival videos. and water is a good thing to have, as little as he likes being led around by his nose. ]

[neverforgets]

Yeah, small river, I think.

[ Glances up at the sun, shading his eye. ] An' days move faster than we always like to think, man. Much as I don't like any of this, it's better than starving or dying of thirst. [ And water and food might help him stave off this... sickness he suspects he has. ]

Name's Lavi.

[cleanedslate]

It's still not a complicated task. [ dismissive little hand gesture ]

Tony.

[neverforgets]

[ Hehe. ]

Sometimes uncomplicated is good. [ He's going to start walking toward where he saw the water. ] What's your world like, Tony?