(Preshow) Preshow Facility

[Dust]

The half naked man continued to keep his perfect posture even while sitting, somethings never stopped even when you've been on vacation, or freed from a prison without bars or a key. He tested each food before agreeing with his choices in his life and took a large bite next. If he could fit the whole thing in his mouth, in it would go; leaving him with puffed out cheeks for the first few chews before he could adjust the crushed ingredients with his tongue and cheek to continue with eating it again. He was in mid decinstruction of something with a lot of rice when the other man came and sat down. Dust looked up and saw his face, and then noticed the strong bloody scent around him. He didnt think it was just the smear of whatever individual was brave enough to attack him. Hokori, however, was used to the smell so he didn't much flinch.

He did make quick of his food, to be a better conversationalist, which momentarily baffeled him once more. He wanted to make a good enough impression to these people, but in the past he would have decided that not talking at all was better than his commanders getting thier panties in a bunch from some mogrel getting 'uppity'. "Giant what? Where?" He asked, ignoring the naked comment - or at least so distracted enough by the idea of a giant calamari walking about. Or in his own mind, crawling about. "No. I did not." He sounded sad by this thruth. "It would have been something to see, I suppose." He frowned before sipping his ice water, turning to his eating companion. "Where are my manners?" Indeed, he never needed them until now. "My name is Hokori(Dust)." He offered, then bowed respectfully but careful not to faceplant into either of their plates of food. He held it there until the man in front of him said something, before sitting back up and one more bow - a praying bow generally done for thanking someone and then he took one more drink before looking back at his new company as if expecting more conversation while he put the last plate on the growing pile.

[Dawnika Snow]

Inside the facility were already the loser that had come before her. It was a good assumption that more would come, which was better for her. More people to kill meant more Om for each one she killed.

The Gym area was empty. Thank Omni it was, she had a moment to practice with her guns before the fight without anyone learning her strategies. The Gym was pretty varied with its content. A giant mirror on one wall to practice while watching your form, mostly helpful for swordsmen or fist fighters. An area with weights sprawled about the floor and racks. It looks like it's been used recently, considering all the dumbbells lying around and plates on the mats by the benches and racks. Lastly, and Dawn’s favorite, a small enclosed area that was used as a shooting range. She would head through the soundproof door and grab a pair of noise-cancelling headphones. The lanes had a set of targets lined up and would pop out from different angles and positions, or you could set the target to hold still. Dawn obviously chose the former, it wouldn’t be practice if her target held still.

Her pistol in hand and protective gear on, she started her warm up. The targets popped up from their positions and fell back down nigh instantly. Dawn’s speed and skill was seldom matched, but not all her shots were perfect.

After a half hour or so of practice, she decided it was sufficient. Replacing her pistol in its leather holster and returning the headphones, Dawn decided to get something to eat and drink at the bar. She took a seat at the bar a few seats away from any other primes there and ordered something to feast on.

[Katrielle Layton]

Bendy chuckled at Abyss's nervousness about fighting the so-called demon. "You really that scared? Look, I don't care how tough he is; if things go as planned then it'll be one versus three. If we can ambush him, even better."

While the demon was confident that they take him on as a group, he wasn't necessarily worried about how he would go about it by himself. Gears turned in his head as he examined the two Primes before him. Kong, who apparently wasn't human, struck him as a bit stuck-up - if anything the Prime's personality would clash instead of the man bending under his will. Abyss, on the other hand, felt too cautious. She could possibly be manipulated, but she would probably be suspicious the entire time. Even if he could manipulate her, he seemed certain that she couldn't be persuaded to do something she normally wouldn't.

Neither of them seemed to be of any particular threat though, so he figured they could all benefit from a short alliance. How short of an alliance? As short as he needed it to be, but they didn't need to know that.

If Bendy hadn't been a perpetual grin on his face, he would've been grinning when the squid Prime arrived with pizza and drinks. "Nice!" he said, grabbing a slice and taking a big bite out of it. Wow, how long had it been since he last had pizza? It was just as greasy as he liked it. It didn't take long for him to finish his piece before he grabbed his drink and took a large swig of it. While this drink was a little too "frou-frou" for his tastes, any hard drink was better than none.

He wiped his mouth with a gloved hand once he finished his drink. Now he needed to push the waters a little bit. "So... if we're gonna team up, we oughta have a team name," he started. Hopefully it would sow the illusion that he intended for the alliance to be permanent. "Just imagine it! A lone Prime struggling to complete his last goal, only to be swarmed upon!" He stood up on the table for emphasis. "By none other than 'Bendy's Darling Devils'!"

[Oleander]

It was amusing, seeing the man trying to bow while sitting. When Dust stood, Takezo did the same and offered a returned, respectful bow. He even held his right hand up in a half-prayer gesture, a sign of equality. At least in his age. To offer your sword hand and bow was just good manners. "Shinmen Takezo." As his back straightened, he caught from the corner of his eye the entrance of Abyss. His lips curled into a smirk.

"There it is. It tried to remove me from the dojo." The chuckle that escaped Takezo was not too pleasant. Clearly there was some sort of sick pride there. "It ran off when I looked at it." He gestured towards Abyss, his lips curled into a malicious grin. "I hope to come across it in the game."

Abyss had met Takezo's gaze. The smirk he bore and the bloodlust in those eyes, she had painted a target on her head. She had unknowingly issued a challenge, and the swordsman accepted. The terror rose, but luckily Takezo's eyes break contact first.

He returned to his seat after the oddly formal greeting the pair had shared. Plucking his chopsticks up he expertly maneuvers a mushroom over to a piece of chicken and wraps a few noodles around it. The ultimate combination of flavor - topped with a piece of onion. "I see no weapon on you. I take it you are some sort of sorcerer? Or perhaps a very bold brawler?"

"You could say that." Dust was not going to spoil things right before the competition. He watched Takezo shovel the mountain he had created into his maw, then slurp the dangling noodles up. It almost made him question who the real animal was here. He noticed Takezo glancing over to the other table now and then. "Worried?"

"The fearful slab of uncut sashimi found body guards. I can bet they will be working together." His words by themselves said yes, but the tone and that present grin revealed the hidden meaning. He was almost bubbling with excitement, like a repugnant witch's cauldron. "It looks to be three on one. And that one with the bushy brows has the face of a wolf in sheep's clothing." He knew the type. He had shed his sheep's attire long ago, but he knew the look. "I can't wait."

[Dust]

Shinmen Takezo.. It was a name Dust thought would be wise to remember. He was pleased the seemingly older man returned his bow. He suddenly became aware of their common customs and choice in eating utensils. Volk had been raised Japanese and some of the culture was still there, what little survived his brainwashing that the Russians called training. He wondered if this man came from his own world, or if the similarities weren't as striking as they were coincidence. After all, he could have simply came from a parallel world that did not suffer his curse. What luck this man had, but now was not the time to resent his past; He should have done that in the past he resents, even if he could not have. Now was time to respect the warrior. 

As he was also expertly moving his chopsticks around, gathering a bit of his next dish, a few more people entered the mess hall dimension. This would not have normally registered on Wolf's radar, but it was his companion who brought it to his attention. With a mouth full of something cold, he brought his attention to squid who was walking about, casually like it was the most normal thing for a creature like that to do. The stone grey eyes in Dust's head widen. He had seen a number of things in his life, but this was indeed a first. And he could still not believe what his mind was perceiving. Not only did it walk, but it talked. It ordered something from the menu, and then waited there. It was hard not to imagine it contemplating on some calamari, if only because of ignorance in a language barrier. Actually.. What language did squid speak? He was about to ask one of many questions when Shinmen-San began to explain his own encounter with it. 

The younger man listened intently as he slowly chewed the mess of fish and vegetables within his mouth, careful not to chew over his words. It was a short tale worth only a few minutes of concentration, but Dust could picture it all just the same. Imagine that? A contractor with an imagination; enough of one to create a image of a dojo where this brief combat of wills had happened. He set his eyes back on the squid creature as it moved back, almost loosing one of its glasses of wine to the harsh mistress Gravity only to snatch it with a tentacle. He noted that the creature had expert control over those things, and briefly wondered if its beak would be more dangerous, or less.

He swallowed his meal as the swordsman commented out loud about him not having a blade, reaching up and rubbing the back of his neck as he answered as vaguely as he could. In truth, he had no idea if he could even compete in this thing. This 'game' as it would seem to be. He turned back, watching the man turn a pile of food into a work of art before consuming it as if he had no interest in savoring the taste for what it was. Then again, everything that the half naked man has tried has been delicious. It would be safe to assume that anything that had any taste that couldn't be described as some form or another of the word 'excellent' was meant to taste that way. Like the 'blue cheese' sprinkled along one of his steaks - which he had ordered with the words 'barely cooked' - while the meat was perfection, the cheese tasted bitter and he just politely ate around. "Worried?" He asked, out of playful banter, his days with his old war partner Drake did not leave him without some use.

But when he looked the man over, he was already refocused on the squid. It - she? - had returned to the other two with a large pizza that would surely feed the three of them. Dust wondered if the squid had any taste - odd coming from him of course - to have chosen such a bad combo as pizza and wine. He has had them each separately when food was just food, but even without refined taste buds he could tell you that it was a bad combination of food. Even if you got the right color, there were better things to get drunk off of while eating pizza. His critisism was cut short as his company took the oppurtunity to think out loud in front of someone who he could bounce ideas off of. 

Dust felt nervous, for the first time, as the swordsman talked about wolves in sheep's clothing. He let out a nervous laughter while he grabbed for his water again, but when he looked the guy over he had to correct his earlier thoughts. No.. This man was not bouncing ideas, he was analyzing the situation, and enjoying the odds. He did not fear the part of being out numbered, no, he relished in it. He was thrilled by the odds. Without knowing anything about this man, and Dust knew so little, he was sure that it was a welcomed challenge because it would indeed be a challenge at that point.

Dust adjusted his way of thinking, and turned to the trio in the corner, sipping the water as he observed them. After a long moment, the cup slid from his lips. Apparently he's also forgotten the thrill of a good hunt, maybe it was fate that they sit beside each other, as the corners of his mouth pulled back into a grin Hokori was hooked with the idea of enjoying this event instead of just experiencing it, his teeth looking already sharp for just a mortal. "Shinmen-san, I can tell you already have the upper hand here, your confidence is contagious; But if you are going to be fighting wolves, wouldn't it make more sense to bring your own?" He turned to his table fellow, new life in his eyes. "As they say, when in Rome.."

[Oleander]

The look he gave Dust was cold, calculating, and wickedly delighted. His dark eyes were alight with the thrill of a challenge. "Are you suggesting a team up?" The man's voice had an air of humor to it, as if he found the very idea laughable.

Then again, he saw something here. A semblance of rivalry matched by similarity. Takezo was not blind; he noticed the animalistic nature of his new potential comrade. The lacking sword meant he was not exactly a potential threat to Takezo's desired title. At least, not yet. "You know ... that might be fun. If we meet in the Abyss, we can hunt together." It sounded like there was a but coming. "But... if we both make it to the finals... then we duel." It was an official way of saying 'I won't cut you down from behind, just wait till the end.'

The only reason Takezo offered even this level of cooperation was because Dust felt familiar. A warrior soul like Mitahachi, a bit gentler than his own, yet just as eager to prove his strength. Then there was that look of the beast. He too looked like a wolf in sheep's clothing, but for now Takezo allowed that to go unsaid. Best he not reveal his suspicions till later in the game, perhaps when Dust reveals why he needed no sword. Takezo's own skill was in plain view, with his sword as a blatant signature.

"And if one of us wins this and comes out with more than he can carry... we meet in Carrefore, to lighten the load." He was not above paying his dues. He rarely had to do so before to a warrior... but the immortality that Omni bestowed on Primes meant an honorable death was not always the end. It was... a peculiar situation. "How does that sound?"

[Larfleeze]

"No."

"What do you mean, no? It's perfect!"

"I don't think it's perfect either. Neither of us are devils." Abyss said.

"Then what's he supposed to be?" Bendy asked.

"I was a god, actually." 

"Pfft!" Bendy laughed, "Ego much?"

"I was. I'm just a prime now, though. It seems creatures that were weak are made strong by Omni, and creatures that are strong are made weak. A great equalizer."

"Well, if we're not 'Bendy's Darling Devils' what do you propose we call ourselves, your holiness?" Bendy asked sarcastically. 

"Omniverse Special Egg Legion?" Abyss asked, hopeful.

"Why 'Egg'?" Chakravartin asked. 

"Because that suggestion was so bad it cracked." Bendy replied. Both his companions groaned, "What? You didn't like my joke? You guys need thicker shells!" his grin just grew wider as both of them glared at the demon. 

"You'd fear a name like that if you were from my universe." Abyss defended.

"Why do we even need a name?" Chakravartin asked, irritated, "It's not even a permanent alliance."

"Look, it's fun, isn't it? And with your whole anal retentive thing in the library, I know you like organizational stuff."

"...Golden Squid Ink Alliance." Chakravartin tried.

Bendy burst out laughing, and Abyss soon got caught up with it. Embarassed and irritated, Chakravartin looked away, focusing on removing the bits of meat from his pizza before eating it. As he ate, and the other two continued their discussion, he felt the gaze of the humans on his back- no, less him, more on... Abyss.

"...Your demon is staring at us." Chakravartin said with some amusement, "I think he plans on making trouble for us in particular, once the Game starts."

[Dust]

Dust met the man's eyes, like a beast that did not fear man, or a man that did not fear a demon. Where the squid creature buckled under his gaze, Dust; SW- 808; Contractor 385, as branded on his neck; Hokori Hoshi, met him eye to eye. 

There was most certainly a kinship between them, even if neither being would acknowledge it out right.  Maybe not exactly from the same cloth, but they were probably stitched together by similar threads; If only because of some twisted god's creation in his own world.. The man before Shinmen-san had years and years of experience of taking necessary risks, and calculating his odds logically. So at the risk of sounding like a delusional child to the man who approached him, he offered the alliance. Even the condescending notes in his voice could not shake Dust's resolve on this offer. He sat there with the slight smile of self-satisfaction and new life, waiting out the answer without so much as a bead of sweat forming in his paws. Either the man beside him thought him a fool or a genius, perhaps a little of both in the end - but maybe more fool than genius by his tone.

To hide the fact that he still did not know if he could even fight at his fullest potential, Hokori let the older; the wiser man run through it all by himself. After all, it was true that neither of them knew what the future held, and what were the chances in them meeting up in the game at all. But having multiple plans for multiple outcomes was what he did naturally. And he would be a fool not to take the oppuntunity he'd been presented.

It pleased him just as much to hear Shinmen Takezo, a man of blade and battle as much as fairness and kindness, agree to this offer. He could almost feel the tail of his other form wag furiously with joy - an odd feeling as he had never given his tail or his excitment much thought - at the terms of which their alliance was built upon. Trust, in its simplest form. Trust. They each trusted each other to help in whatever way they could, aid one another as long as the risks didn't outweigh the rewards. What he did not expect, however, was the additional kindness this man gifted him. A truce of respect.

The bare chested young man with the dark hair, still slightly wet from his swim this morning, suddenly hoped the two of them could meet each other on the battle field at the end of all this. It would be an honor to battle him. The seasoned worrier probably had more skill, but Dust's instincts told him it would be one hell of a fight. A good fight, a fight that would leave him with a good feeling inside his chest and heart even if he lost. "Carrefore, eh?" The polished smile appeared again, flashing his satisfaction in this all. "Sounds like a great place to see after this is done!" He said, then lifted his hand to shake with his, as a his partner, as a fellow fighter, and as an equal. "I wish you well, from here on out." He said, letting the other man know, and letting him know it was truth with a sturdy shake that proved he was not some delusional child. Despite the childish glee in his heart that knew nothing before this.

He wondered at that moment, what were his chances of surviving very long? The squid thing was something to behold, the man he was dealing with felt familiar, but he knew nothing about his competition. The only thing that brought comfort, was that not a lot - if any - knew about him. He was plain, naked even. What did people think he had up his non-existing sleeves? Surely he was no threat to anyone here, at least by appearance. What they saw and what he was, and even what he could potentially be were all different and interesting views, weren't they? With a glance around, he saw now some strange things. A living cartoon character, that was the simplest way of putting it, a woman(?) covered in golds and blues, a mysterious man in the back muttering to himself, and beyond these walls; Others. Maybe it was best not to think about it and get back to eating all this gorgeous food.

[Oleander]

Takezo genuinely liked this man. The intensity of joy that he read upon this man's face was that of a warrior before battle. A true warrior, one not pondering over survival, but focused on victory and goals. Takezo may not win; he did not even consider this a goal. He was here for reconnaissance. Strong primes. Weak primes. Warriors. Peons. He may not be looking for allies to always have his back - he sought to rise above the need for such a thing - but the idea of finding like minded individuals thrilled Takezo. Mitahachi was one such fellow - happy to dance with a sword in a rain of blood.

Like minded with their own end game - if Dust wanted to be the a master of his own martial art, he doubted the beastly-grinned man would pick up a sword and challenge Takezo. "To be honest... all I saw of the place was a few buildings and a tent. I've only been in this world for... five hours... six... I can't tell anymore." The thought made him chuckle. He had not even been here a day and he had lost track of time. He could not just walk outside and see the sun, and even if he could... the magic portal and Nexus made time difficult to gauge.

His sharp ears perked a bit at the excitable conversation from across the room. It took a brief moment, but he eventually figured out what the topic was about. It made the ronin laugh aloud. "They are discussing the name of their little gathering. They act like children playing tag. If we were not preparing to cut them down, I would scold them." He shovels another amalgamation of foods into his mouth.

It seems he was staring at Abyss... The creature was by far the strangest. He could almost understand Bendy, he looked like a yokai given life by the nightmare of lazy calligrapher. Amusingly, the tale was common amongst young Samurai, though it mainly taught one to never leave an inkstick in water. Though the gloves and bowtie were... a strange edition. In the myths, the yokai would be much larger, slimmer, and dripping with wet ink. There was no squid-faced yokai tthat he knew of.

"I wonder how land-borne calamari would taste..." Nevermind the moral issue, he was considering the edibility of a squid that had been out of water for so long. He could not imagine how dry the creature would be. Would it still have the familiar chewy texture? "Would you just eat the tentacles, or... the whole thing? If it only has one heart when we kill it, I claim it." Yet another mouthful of various foods are shoveled into his mouth. It was difficult to guess if he could even taste anything he mixed together, or if the mixture was just that good of an experience. Then again, he might not even be paying attention to the food on his plate at the moment.

[Jak Mar]

To Bar 

Mar crossed his arms. Due to his previous DA experiences, it had taught him not to trust anybody not even those who looked innocent.

At the very least, nobody needed to know who he was in the previous DAs and other fights he had been in the Omniverse.

He desummoned his hoverboard and stepped off, looking around the facilities.  He had already eaten before he came to DA.  

The ring had made him arrive and Ron had held the mike up to the eco warriors face.

“Oh! Look who it is! That’s right… A saga favorite, Dynamite Kid!!! He’s shown his face here 3 years.

Jak frowned “I prefer Mar.”

“That’s right folks, This is Ron Burgundy here interviewing Mar… er Dynamite Kid.”

He pushed the mike out of his face and covered his mouth and his eyes.

Mar sighed and moved toward the Bar area.  Maybe a slight beer might calm his nerves.

“Trust nobody.”

[Dust]

BAR(Still)

Dust went back to his abnormally large amounts of meat based dishes; Half of them were already gone, and the plates stacked neatly to his left where he was less likely to accidentally throw them across the floor with whatever movement he would make in the future. In the meanwhile his commrade has found his own way through his thoughts, describing what sounded like a simple camp to the younger man. 

As well, it sounded like Dust might have more experience with the Omniverse, which was comical on its own seeing how he's been a beach bum for the past ... Honestly, how long has it been sense his capture? He felt actual guilt about not knowing how long his old battle companion has been dead for; Drake, his fellow contractor. At what point did he stop counting days, stop thinking about the train riddled with bullets form machine guns, stop smelling the scent of gun powder and blood that clung to the air in his memories; when did he stop seeing the face of peace on the man who'd helped him limp towards the mirage of freedom? The scenes from so long ago flashed through his mind like he'd seen it all yesterday.

It wasn't until he realized he actually did smell gunpowder that he snapped out of it. It wasn't as strong as that tight hall way through the train, but he could never forget the smell. As he lowered his food, his dark grey eyes scanned the crowd of people. There was the three people that his companion has found more entertaining to watch, Shinmen was either reading their lips or had a better time sorting through their conversation from a distance than the distracted Hokori. His eyes twisted towards the door, spotting a dark skinned man coming through the door. With his wild hair color and his pointed ears, Dust stared for a moment longer than he intended. He was not the strangest creature in the area, nor did the sharp and pungent scent of a fired gun come from him.

He turned his eyes on the other male in the room, one he hadn't really interacted with so much as glimpsed upon before turning back to his meal. Looking like he came straight out of a old 50's black and white American film, including a slight grey tint to his skin. While he looked more at home with the cartoon character, in attire at the very least; the smokey air that wafted from the guy was more generated by expensive cigars and alcohol, probably whatever was in his tumbler. Dust took a moment to also size this man up, kind of thin with a hint of darkness to him, but otherwise human. 

The man bit into another strip of steak, the hard seasoned exterior of the meat has cooled but tasted just as great as the rest of the food, while the soft, bloody insides were no match to his teeth, and a trail of juice squeezed past his maw to run down his strong jaw and neck. He was slow to lower the plate to the table and wiping it away with his hand, then rubbing his hand into his damp shorts. He looked up at this time to the bar, where a figure in dark clothing sat. He noticed when she came in, but now became aware of her and the gun collection she carried on her. And the scent of freshly fired ammo that surrounded her. Probably from past shootings, and not just the recent one. His eyes lingered on her for a long time, but he was thinking about his past again.

That was until the new friendly face began to speak once more. "A team name?" Volk asked, after swallowing the beef he'd been sucking on while in his trance and staring at the woman at the bar. His focus turned back to the three surrounding the pizza. He had to agree, it was a bit childish; and he didn't even hear the ideas that had passed through the three of them. To be fair, one of them was a cartoon figure, and another being a comical combination of tentacles and humanoid. 

Looking at all three of them, Dust tried to imagine what they came up with, pushing another mouthful of food through his lips with his chopsticks. Only to half choke on the bite as Shinmen wondered out loud what the squid thing would have tasted like, if only because he'd been wondering the same thing himself; And when his friend called dibs Dust bit back the urge to complain past a playful groan before he choked down he food to laugh at his ramblings now. Taking in the strangely colored calamari, Dust studied her for a moment. She kind of appeared a bit cartoonish as well now that he was looking at it. "Anime.." He said out loud, then chuckled to himself and looked away. 

Dust's eyes landed back on the girl at the bar, only naturally as that was where he was facing. He stacked two more plates, and then paused as if it seemed his appetite was smaller than he'd thought and the ambitiousness of his plate stacking was finally catching up to the rather underwhelming looking man, but that was not the case at all. He grabs the pitcher and fills his water up once more, watching the ice that flowed into his cup with the crystal clear water. "Makes you wonder what they will discuss next, perhaps matching colored gear?" He teased the group playfully, if not simply. He didn't actually have anything against them, but the older gentleman's amusement felt like it should be humored, even just a bit.

[Oleander]

He laughed. The deep belly laugh that he laughed was not a sound that induced the laughter of others. It was a harsh, biting laughter. "Right! Matching costumes and masks! They can turn the fight into a high class Nogaku and dance us to death!" Takezo's empty hand thumps the table as a closed fist. Something about this seemed outrageously funny to the man.

Takezo had shed so much blood in his life, lived through so much death, this new light on combat was... down right unfathomable. His only response was to laugh. "No, no, we shouldn't mock them! Humor in the face of death is bravery at its finest! Plus if we call them fools, they might put bells on their hats and dance instead!" He was dying. His chopsticks were abandoned on his plate as his hands fall to his aching sides.

"No! No, they are absolutely right! We should wear making colors too!" Before Dust could complain, he forced down his laughter long enough to say; "The color of dirt and blood! And - and our team name will be Chef and the Hunter! Catch and Cut Calamari!"

He almost could not understand how the three treated warfare so lightly, especially with such small chances of their little group ever surviving. In the end... only one would win. He knew many "teams" that crumbled under normal conditions, but this was the ultimate test. "I think I'm dying..." Takezo doubles over, his head touching the table. "They act like children with bamboo sticks! Even immortals should have greater concerns than what to call themselves." He exhaled, slowly coming down. "I'm sorry... I'm sorry... Where I come from, this sort of thing usually ended in a mercy killing. It was better a swift death than being captured in silly uniforms and--" He couldn't even finish. "Just ... just imagining it is absurd..."

He finally reigned it in. It took a moment and a bit of work, but he calmed himself down to a reasonable level. "Forgive my outburst. I was almost intimidated by the odds, until I imagined them in skin tight, brightly colored uniforms... with .... choreographed..." and he was laughing again. "Demon of the sword, I vanquish you, by the power of the moon and all that is good and just!" He was quoting something, a play, by the dramatic tone in his voice. Dust might get the feeling the man was not quite in the know when it came to anime - but Japan's desire for dramatic and thrilling entertainment was nothing "new age." The medium only changed. He could not stop cackling, even though the major outburst had passed. Takezo clutched his sides still. "I almost hope they show up in full costume!"

[Professor Sunshine]

BAR, then GYM/DOJO

"Hahahahaha! That is such a funny name for a alliance, and while I would love to use such a funny name, we should probably shorten it up to just Golden Alliance. It's not a funny name, but at the least we can say it that way without bursting into laughter." Abyss cracked up at the hilarious name that Chakravartin brought up, the "Golden Squid Ink Alliance", and while she still wanted the group to be called the "Omniverse Special Egg Legion", after what Chakravartin said she decided to give him the role of naming the group since he made such a funny name from combining their own traits. As Abyss continued to eat the pizza and wine, the three continued to talk and strategize about what to do once they got to the main event. At least untill...

...Your demon is staring at us. I think he plans on making trouble for us in particular, once the Game starts." Those words snapped Abyss out of her bliss, as she started to shake in fear once again of the demon swordsman noticing and spying on her, no doubt probably hearing on what they plan to do once they get to the island and find him. As Abyss was scared of what the swordsman would do now that he probably know of her plans, she slowly packed up the remaining slices in a bag she created from Omnilium, and got up from her seat, shaking in fear.

"He is!? I'm not risking my life to join this just to have that demon swordsman watch and kill me! Meet me in the gym when you can find it, so we can worry about not being watched by him, and maybe we can even put in some last minute training." Upon finishing those words, Abyss quickly bolted out of the bar in a hurry, hoping to get far away from the demon who she was frightened of. As she carried the bag containing the remaining few pizza slices, she had the idea to use it as bait later on to lure that swordsman to an ambush, but even then she was unsure that he would fall for it, or if she would even be able to bring the pizza with her to the main event.

As Abyss marched out of the bar and ran through the hall, Abyss could hear the outburst of Shinmen as he was making up a team name with someone else, which frightened Abyss since she thought that meant that he was starting to try to even the odds by making a team of his own. As she continued to run through the hall Abyss was trying to think of any possible way to take out Shinmen before he could counter her, but with him getting a teammate that she didn't notice until she left thanks to that outburst, she had no idea how she could seperate the demon's group without being cut into calamari.

By the time she got back into the gym, Abyss started to look around to see what changed since she left the room. As she looked around the first thing she noticed was one of the punching bags, which was cut up and on the floor, a sign that the demon swordsman actually took her advice and cut up one of them. Abyss also noticed one woman using the targeting range by herself, but considering the last time she tried to talk someone away from the gym, she decided to leave the woman alone, just in case she was dangerous like the swordsman. As the other two entered the gym, Abyss was waiting by cutting one of the punching bags off of it's string using a kick and sitting on it like a couch.

[Malon]

Central Corridor => The Gym area

Malon stumbled through the portal into the staging area, still rather confused about the circumstances. Several meters away from her Ron Burgundy was just receiving a printout that - had Malon been close enough to peek over his shoulder she would have seen this - noted Malon's participation. The situation made her feel uncomfortable enough that she wanted to turn around and leave. But when she noticed that the team wasn't paying attention to her she simply headed past them and traversed the corridor, then dodged into the first room that branched off of it. As it turned out it was a bar or restaurant of some sorts, larger than most such establishments that she had seen in Hyrule. Then again, this world had shown her several times already that things were different around here than what she was used to. The smells were making her stomach rumble, reminding her that the last thing she'd eaten was dried meat, this morning.

She let her eyes pass over the present individuals as she walked up to the closest counter. Before she could respond to the employee's friendly greeting however, she caught sight of someone that she had not expected to see again so soon... and frankly, she hadn't wanted to ever see them again. The vampire. That man with the small magic tool that blasted holes in people's chests. Who had drunk the blood of a man by biting them, and beguiled a horse before her eyes. She could feel a cold fear rise in her stomach... Instinctively she reached for the leather bag and wrapped the Bandit's Bandana around her forehead, once more taking on Snake's appearance - or well, a slightly altered appearance. She'd changed it around a bit to remove the scar and a few other key differences to make herself look less like the bandit leader that she had killed, to avoid drawing as much attention. The employee, being used to much more curious things from Primes, didn't even raise an eyebrow and just continued to smile. Hey, number 13... I'll need your skills this time around, Malon thought to herself. Or was it to a different person? This reincarnation cycle thing was making her more and more confused each time it came up... but she felt Malon the 13th's 'reaction', her personality bleeding through. Her fear disappeared, it was replaced by calmness. The vampire was wearing a different attire, though he could not change his face, but it was likely that he did not want to be noticed. Just like herself. He would not recognize her behind the facade of Snake either.

"Ah, pardon that", she said to the bar employee. "I'd like a... what is this, please?" she then asked, pointing at a piece of baked dough that looked like it was filled with something.

"The calzone? These filled with cheese, tomato and minced meat. It's like a pizza, but folded up", the employee explained.

"Mmm. I'll take two, please." The employee took two with a pair of pincers and put them in a microwave, while explaining to Malon that the food was sponsored and thus free for participants. Moments later, the two calzones came onto a plate and were handed to her. Malon took a seat and was about to dig in when she heard a voice: "I'd wait for it to cool down a bit if I were you."

"Eh?" She looked up and spotted a young woman with strange clothes, sitting a few seats away from her and looking over. "Why would I? They've sat on that display, they shouldn't be hot." When she held her hand out over the plate however, she felt that she was mistaken. They would have burnt her mouth had she taken a bite.

"They were warmed up in a microwave. Didn't you notice?"

"... what's a microwave?"

[Larfleeze]

GYM

Chakravartin followed the nervous squid girl to the dojo, and found himself acknowledging it. Abyss herself was sitting on a sandbag, otherwise, the dojo was free of use. He half expected there to be warriors moving through katas to prepare, but instead, it seemed like everyone wanted to eat first.

"So, Aybss, you said you wanted to train?" Chakravartin asked, "If that's so, I think we should begin by revealing our capabilities to each other. We can design a proper strategy once we know what we're capable of as a group."

"Show and tell huh?" Bendy replied, "That's fine then."

Chakravartin gestured to the four golden hands floating above him, as they slowly orbited him. "This is... about all I can do at the moment, offensively. I call them Palace Hands. I can use one at a distance, or four at close range. Otherwise, I'm quite durable, and my form quite malleable." to display, he grinned, until his smile grew further and further, wrapping all the way across his head. He grabbed his own hair, and lifted everything above the jaw free of everything below it.

He tossed his head up and down, and noted with some amusement that Bendy found his display interesting, while Abyss only seemed to look sick. Placing his head back in its proper place, he gestured to the swords at his sides, "I'm also fairly good with a weapon, but my strength isn't nearly what it was before I came to the Omniverse." he handed a Palace Hand a sword, and had it begin spinning, until the blade was a blur, like a propeller on a plane, "But I think it'll still be quite deadly enough!" he said over the whooshing sound.

[Dawnika Snow]

Dawn eyed the elven looking humanoid sitting a few seats away from her, questioning the bar attendant on the foods and electrical devices used around the facility. It didn't surprise her that some people around the Omniverse wouldn't know what a microwave was even if you tried to explain it. Some might have even called it sorcery and attempted to kill you for the simple thought of such blasphemious idea. She decided talking couldn't hurt much.

"A microwave is a device people use to warm up pre-cooked food. Think of it like an oven for food that's already been through the oven." Beyond the elf's understanding of the food, she had to at least know what an oven was. Another quick inspection of the elf made her realize that she had to be a contender. She was obviously not from the Syntech company and no one came here but them and other primes for the competition. "So, you're here for Dante's Abyss? You look a bit," She paused trying to think of a word to fit the situation. "Underprepared. I see you carrying some sickles, but no armor. Not to mention sickles are a farmer's tool."

Dawn said before biting into a piece of meat and taking a drink water to help get it down. Malon wasn't sure how to react to the woman's advice. It made since that this competition would not be a short one, or an easy one at all, but what else could she do?

"We are enemies, I'll have you know. Seeking alliances amongst your cometition is risky and I don't have much of an intention on making friends here. The only reason I've come is to get paid. Everyone I beat will die. Be sure to give it your all, it wouldn't be fun if I didn't have a bit of a challenge to go along with my payment." The cloaked woman said taking another bite of her food, seemingly done with the conversation.

She had noticed the man at a table across the room eyeing her. A broad man with dark shaggy hair, not much more noteable characteristics from this distance. He didn't carry a visible weapon and seemed pretty relaxed for being in a death match surrounded by his enemies. Why he kept glancing her way was a mystery to her. Was he subtly trying to guage her strength or was he simply just looking towards her direction, staring off into the space in front of him? After that talk with Malon, an idea struck the ebony haired assassin: If I do attempt to make friends here, perhaps it would be easier to gain information about them and find some of their weaknesses. With that thought, Dawn finished her food and set the plate back up to the counter.

"You have a good day, elf. May you find honour in your battles to come." She said to Malon, taking her drink with her to the table of men, one of which that had been staring in her direction previously. She took her face mask off as she approached and called when she got close to the table. "Hey there follow competitors. May I join you?" She asked holding her hand out ready to grab and pull a chair out for her to sit in. "You may call me Dawn."

[Jak Mar]

After the hero was away from Ron Burgundy, it was time to move to the gym area for a bit of gun practice. The eco warrior had picked up some “tacos” as they called it here and started to eat them sideways as they tasted good to his his rumbling stomach.

“Damn, no wonder these things taste so good.”

He was chewing on the taco when he noticed a half naked guy staring at him. He turned his head and stared back, it was probably the knife ears. People always stared at those.

He eyed back and stared back, raising a eyebrow.

His com/dataverse device had gone off then,

It brought a small smile to his face.

Someone he knew from previous years was coming, a friend and teammate earlier.

“Mar” kept his distance, and watched the competitors, eyeing one table which interested him who was full of men and a silverish woman with armor on.

Then there was the strange man who stared at him, by far the strangest he’s seen, a talking squid and a cartoon who looked straight out of one of his storybooks.

There was a man with black hair and a sword as well.

He also noticed a man with dark tinted skin who looked like he could belong in a crime mafia of some sort.

A lot different than what he’d be through in his worst times working for the bad guys.

He walked up to the armored woman and eyed behind him before nodding. “Hey.”

[Dawnika Snow]

Dawn raised an eyebrow as Jak approached and said his greeting. Another elf-type person? This is going to be a pretty interesting competition.

"Uh, hello. Nice to meet you," She said, glancing back to Shinmen and Dust. The Swordsman was laughing over something, trying to regain his composure. She was unsure of what he was laughing at exactly. Dust stared back at Jak, who had also invaded the two men's conversation with Dawn. it almost looked as if they knew each other, but Dawn's greeting told otherwise. "I guess you would too like to take a seat with these gentlemen here?" She asked Jak, looking back at them, giving a face of uncertainty.

[Harlan Higgs]

Victor Hendy had watched a sitcom's worth of events from all the Primes filing in and out of the Bar area. The squid, the cartoon, the youth, the demon, and now what looked like an elf, and a young girl radiating darkness and vitriol. They bickered and squabbled amongst each other, brokering alliances and partnerships of convienience, sure to be broken when it came down to the difference between winning or losing. It warmed the vampire's desiccated heart to see such ambition, such naked betrayal in the works. Truly an event for only the most ruthless and clever of Primes. One in which he hoped he would excel at. 

But for now...he was hungry.

He rose from his table, pushing the metal disk away from his chair and stowing the illusory wrench back on his belt. It seemed his inconspicuous disguise had served its purpose, barely anyone taking notice of him during their dealings. Perhaps they thought he was some sort of maintenance personnel. Good. Anonymity was one of his most treasured abilities, possessing the kind of face that a citizen on the street would forget in a moment or in a crowd.

He left the Bar, idly cracking his yellow nailed fingers and running his tongue along his hidden fangs, joining a pair of Syntech secretaries making their way back to the main entrance to the facility.

New Primes were stepping off the transport pad as Hendy ducked through the room, absently whistling to himself. The hallways were clearly marked with signs pointing to the different areas. Hmm...Gym? Library....or Park? Park....Vic was never a big fan of the sunny outdoors, being what he was, and he doubted he'd find anyone ripe for the hunt in the gym. So that left the Library. Perfect place to sneak up on some pretty young thing stacking the books.

LIBRARY

There was a young woman deep into the stacks. Vic could smell her and her perfume, a delightful lavender scent mixing with the papery smell of old tomes and manuscripts. Making sure no one was in direct view of his personage, he leaned against a wall and disappeared from all perception. Casually, he walked down the aisles, shadowing the girl, traveling in adjacent lanes and leaning against bookshelves at the end of where she was working. 

He could hear the blood pumping in her body, the Ravnos peeling back his lips in unseen anticipation as she bent over her book cart. A redhead, slim, freckled, most likely in her late 20's. Exactly his type. 

He crept slowly towards her, his footsteps muffled, and reappeared just behind her without any sound. She turned around with a book in her hands, and he could see the surprise in her eyes as she registered the sudden appearance of the blue collar mechanic behind her. Her lips parting to let out a startled exclamation, Victor Hendy put a finger to her lips and slid a hand around her waist. "Shhhh...." He whispered, using his other hand to brush her hair back over her skull. 

She was frozen in the moment, unsure of what to do, unsure if she could do anything. Her body quivered as the vampire leaned forward and kissed her on the lips. Entirely passionless, but a shy bookish type like her? Probably had fantasies of this very thing happening. Was a shame he didn't have anywhere to bring her, and a fling with an anonymous broad would be detrimental to his carefully cultivated state of mind. No, she was sustenance and little else. Romance could wait until he had won.

Her eyes had closed during the kiss, and she was already enraptured in the supernatural aura that Kindred generated when they were feeding. Vic Hendy's fangs scraped her neck, breaking the skin, and she let out a soft gasp, her leg popping up, her body going limp in his strong hands as he drank and drank. Hot liquid life, right from the prettiest source he could fine. Invigorating, powerful, and just what he needed to keep his tacks sharp and his mind like a razor.

The girl would come out of her stupor seated on the floor, her head spinning, her mind foggy, and slightly lightheaded, but none the worse for the wear. 

And no sign of the man she'd...seen? Dreamt? Imagined?

No sign at all.

[Cirno]

As cirno entered the Abyss waiting area the first thing she did was pass Ron as she had some training to do. She passed many primes and secondarys alike shoving and pushing past them.

--Dojo/gym--

When she entered the Dojo she saw a few primes talking amoungst themselves. She talked to herself as she fired some icicles at the wall. "So a squid a human and a demon? walk into a bar." She went on to a punching bag enjoying beating the shit out of it. She would tag team with Clownpiece if she could get away from it.