first one to make that doctor who joke loses

[birdsbirdsbirds]

Who: Everyone! All of you!
Broadcast: Maybe!
Action: Definitely!
When: Anytime during the toxic moon event!

---

[boy oh boy, isn't everyone just so excited to explore this... charming... place...?

this is a game-wide mingle and the timeframe isn't super-important, so throw in with whatever you want! play war games, go shopping for gas masks, get lost in the wilderness, hide up in the Iskaulit and refuse to set foot on the moon, anything goes.

here's the main event info post for reference! have fun!]

Comments

FOR KIRITO

[sandhate]

[ for the record, he thought this might be a bad idea. but really, what better way to test out new lightsabers-- no, what is it that Kirito called it photon swords -- then to go into the wilderness where no strangers and unknowing locals might come around and get curious.

it's a good sword though. it's cut is nearly the same, burning through tree branches with the same blacken flavor. it just doesn't sing the way a true lightsaber does. he can't complain (or he's saving it up for later).

anakin turns to kirito and deactivates the sword after marking a spot on a tree. ]

It's not bad. Think it might need more weight towards the end.

[huaaaaagh]

See? That's what I was thinking.

[Kirito tilts his own blade left and right while it's off, then shakes his head.]

It didn't feel right before, but after I got the upgrade, it's even worse. I'm still looking for a good counterweight that doesn't mess with the balance at the same time.

[sandhate]

[ ah, right. kirito's upgrade that he was obsessed with. anakin would make a flippant remark about rancors again but it doesn't seem like the time. ]

Well, you did get stronger. I don't know what you expected. [ a sigh ] All I can think of is getting power cells for it. It's what we use for our lightsabers. It'll add extra juice we need and add more weight to it.

[ he reactivates the sword and gestures at kirito while he gets into a dueling stance. anakin has assumed that kirito knows his basic katas but it's hard to tell from their brief nerdery in the lab. ]

Alright, come on. Let's see how they work in a fight.

[huaaaaagh]

[He's not obsessed, it's just useful...! Well, okay, maybe slightly fixated.

Kirito flips his own blade on and takes his own stance, a slightly unorthodox pose with the blade out in front of himself, the other hand back. He holds it for a moment, inhaling, exhaling, then lunges abruptly into a downward strike. He's used to fighting monsters, not people, and it's been a long time since it was a potentially dangerous situation, so he'll be a little clumsy and hesitant in a casual spar. Not a beginner, exactly, but not a challenge either.]

[sandhate]

[ he had expect different styles and forms of duelling. it's not all that surprising. though he does keep a mental and physical note about who carries certain styles, what the close equivalent would be in lightsaber forms. it's beginning to be a hobby; the only time of record keeping that he enjoys.

kirito lunges and he parries it away. it sings as the blades touch and sizzle when one of their blades touch the leaves on the ground. he shouts, slightly muffled, from behind his mask. ]

Harder!

[huaaaaagh]

[Well, if he insists. Kirito narrows his eyes and adds more impact to his strikes, taking advantage of his boosted strength to push back against Anakin's blade. It's his first time using the photon blade against another, and he's trying not to be distracted by it, but... well, he's actually pretty happy about how they hold up. There could have been a world of problems that made them ineffective when used this way, but so far so good.

Anyway, focusing.]

[sandhate]

[ the edge of the blade singe the shoulder of his tunic as he blocks. he gives kirito a look, not necessary one that would make them stop but it was definitely an mild alarm. ]

Might need to work on the adjusters too. Unless you meant to ruin my clothes.

[ a muffled chuckle and he rolls with the direction of kirito's strike, stepping aside so to free himself of being on the defensive and keep the flow of the spar going. ]

Blades hold out. [ anakin switches his sword grip to his left, ungloved hand and makes a face. ] A bit hot though, or is it just me?

[huaaaaagh]

[Kirito doesn't even apologize for the clothes getting singed, though he does ease off a little bit with a smile. The point of this isn't to cause any injuries, here, and that was cutting - literally - a bit close. It's tough to find a middle ground.]

It's not just you. The guns weren't designed for continuous energy flow, just short bursts with a mild cooldown in between. It's better to use them with gloves until I can replace the main body with a less conductive metal. They don't get hot enough to melt, though.

[sandhate]

[ anakin twirls the metal in his hand with practiced ease, though with his durasteel this time. ]

There's probably something we could get on planet. I don't know what kind of mess you think you'll get into but I don't know if I can trust a saber that has a heat limit.

[ muffled but light: ] Yes, even if you say it won't melt. How does your strength upgrade feel, anyway?

[huaaaaagh]

Just try to keep each fight under five minutes and you're golden.

[Usually that's enough for him, but sometimes it's prudent to retreat from a tough battle, so.]

Honestly, the upgrade's been amazing. I feel more like myself, or at least what I'm used to.

[He'd always felt at his best in the virtual world, which- okay, he fully recognizes that's messed up. But it's true. Having the upgrade puts him one step closer to what counts as normal for him.]

[sandhate]

[ he looks unsure about that, even if it's a joke. ] I don't always use my lightsaber for a fight. Cutting through a hull of a ship often takes more than five, unfortunately. [ a beat ] Not that I'm going to try and cut through our ship.

What you're used to, huh. [ anakin raised a brow ] It doesn't feel weird that someone's giving you this power?

[huaaaaagh]

It does, and it doesn't. I won't deny that there'll probably be some cost down the line, and maybe it'll be enough to make me regret it. But if having this power means I can protect myself and the people I care about when I need to? It's worth it.

[Honestly, no cost could make him regret that.]

[sandhate]

[ he still doesn't get it but what are you going to do. well, he's going to make a face at kirito for thinking that way
a nodding understanding and half eyebrow raised and not understanding. ]

Right. You just have to keep the fighting down to five minutes.

[ and with no small amount of sarcasm ]

And if you're unsatisfied, you can just ask for another "upgrade".

[huaaaaagh]

[Kirito can recognize the tone, but he's not going to let it outwardly bother him. He's certainly not ashamed of his choice, either.]

I can, yeah. And maybe I will.

[He glances expectantly at Anakin. Got a problem with that?]

[sandhate]

[ anakin does, but he's never like chips like these. too invasive. it's not his life and not his choice, he only worries about the repercussions of it a little. his shoulders lift in a shrug. ]

I do. But that's your decision.

[ there's no small amount of condescension there. he returns to the point of their trip out here. ]

I'd trade an upgrade for materials I could work with. [ not that it helps without an engineering augment ]

[huaaaaagh]

I wouldn't say no to that if it was something that they offered.

[Well, he may not prioritize it - equipment is only good if you can actually use it properly - but it's definitely an interest.]

Any luck finding useful materials in town?

[sandhate]

Not unless you want poison. They have a lot of that. And coolant - not a bad idea but it's more of a last resort.

[ He flicks and twists the sword in his hand, igniting it again. His feet spreads in a stance, a defensive one. ]

C'mon. Round two. Let's try for more than five minutes. I can't feel how hot it gets with my sword hand, so tell me when it gets too hot.

[huaaaaagh]

You got it.

[He can't feel it, though? That makes him curious, as he charges in for another series of clashes.]

What kind of glove have you got that can hold back this kind of heat?

[sandhate]

It's not the glove.

[ He parries with a few practice stances. How does he put this... ]

My arm isn't organic. I can't feel it.

[huaaaaagh]

[.....what

what

he lives with a guy who has a robot arm and no one told him]

Whoa... you can't even tell.

[That's so cool...]

[sandhate]

[ He is slightly uncomfortable with that; you can't even tell because he made it that way. It took him a few months to correct it so that it looks like it could be a real arm. And every time he sees the metal he remembers his failure--

Anakin strikes hard and boldly, a large sweep combined with a pull in the Force that brings the blades in contact again. But it also pulls Kirito out like a hard physical yank. Anakin's frown eases up, and he lightly continues. ]

It stands contact. But there are other people making lightsabers too, as far as I know. We should test it against theirs.

[huaaaaagh]

[The topic shift is abrupt enough that he can take a hint, at least. He can't quite stop the "whoa!" that escapes him at the sudden pull, either- that's different, and even more distracting than the conversation. He backs off a bit, flexing his wrist with a quick flip of the blade. Had that really just happened?]

Ah... I didn't know there were others... though I'm not surprised, either. That'd be cool- maybe we can swap suggestions, improve the overall designs.

[sandhate]

[ He would apologize for using the Force. It's basically cheating. But it's also done and he doesn't think too much of it (because he's a dick). ]

I think my Padawan has one. I'll ask to borrow it and bring it in for you.

[huaaaaagh]

[You just wait till he realizes it, buddy. Then the wings will come out!! ...And he'll only be marginally more effective than now, but whatever.]

Your what?

[Padawho?]

[sandhate]

[ r u an angel. ]

Oh. [ He rubs his temples. ] Ahsoka, she's the one who has some training sabers.