001 [Video]

[withthebrotherhood]

[The video feed shows Toad (in all his scummy green glory) focused and frowning as he messes with the console. It’s not like there wasn’t an explanation, but he’s bad at listening. And refraining from touching things.]

Ah… freakin’… stupid… Heeeey, it’s workin’!

[He immediately brightens. Then scowls again when he remembers what he turned it on for.]

So, uh, I'm new. Hi. Anyway, how cool are people with this deal? Maybe someday do something to fight the weird evil whatever it is, get a house on turtle island?

[The roof over his head aspect is actually quite a selling point for Toad. And there's something unnatural about admitting he exists on some kind of public channel and not just hiding in the shadows, but it seems to be what people do here.]

‘Cus that’s stupid, but how stupid? Is it worth playin’ along? I didn’t see a lot of dumpsters to dive in and stuff, so can you even be, like, no, fight your own monster, I’ll be over here, hiding. Do you actually get in trouble or go to turtle jail?

[He’s a follower. And a coward. Having some idea of how much of a tantrum he can get away with throwing will be helpful.]

...Toad out.

Comments

[Video]

[vhaidtluin]

[He's seen plenty of repulsive looking creatures before, but he's still going to pull a face when he sees Toad because...yeah. There's not much to see in the video, everything is dimly lit with some light coming through curtains and the slight glow from his eyes.]

How 'cool' do you think people are with this? We've been kidnapped with no real reliable way to return other than 'it might happen randomly'.

Playing along seems to be what most people choose to do. Easier for them. Makes little difference if you don't play along though. But I doubt anyone is going to want a coward around if the time should come.

[withthebrotherhood]

[Nothing about this is weird from Toad's perspective. Annoying and pretentious, sure, but people who think they're impressive and mildly spooky delivery are part and parcel of his everyday life.]

Yeah, it's a pretty sweet way to get out of stupid stuff.

[vhaidtluin]

[He doesn't think he's impressive, he knows he is. You're just being rude now.]

As long as you stay out of my way should anything happen, then you're free to hide under whichever rock you want to crawl under.

[And he hopes to Lolth that you aren't put in any kind of group with him if they're ever put into groups.]

[withthebrotherhood]

[Yeah, that's pretty much his thing.]

Wherever I can get a good view of you getting your snotty ass kicked, man.

Video

[ixis]

An interesting question! Are there consequences in not partaking in the war? Of course, are you one capable of such? Combat-ready? Magic-wielding? Weapon-holding?

There are likely other ways to contribute, in any case. Not everyone here is as powerful as the rest of us.

[withthebrotherhood]

Iiiii'm definitely in the low end of the talent pool.

[Something he's usually resigned to, especially when it gets him out of anything dangerous.]

[ixis]

How defeatist! Do tell, boy. What talents do you have? Perhaps it is best left for others to be the judge of your usefulness.

[Naugus has just taken a shine to the kid right out the gate because he doesn't look like a standard human. Das racist.]

[withthebrotherhood]

Perhaps others should find somethin' better to do. I spit slime an' jump high. That's pretty much my deal.

[Toad takes a shine to no one.]

[ixis]

How positively...unique. You remind me a great deal of a gentleman back home, really, who had similiar talents. Flying was always good at getting results, even if he was not the...ahem, most endearing fellow.

[Which is to say Flying was straight-up mental. The nation of Mercia is still talking about his terror tactics. Anyhow, Naugus steeples his mismatched hands in front of him, resting his chin on top of them.]

Why sell yourself so severely short? What was your lot in life back in your own realm, I wonder? Are these 'talents' of yours standard fare for your kind?

[solo_patria]

[Well, for all that he is no Gavroche, Enjolras is, regardless, somehow reminded of him anyway.]

I was, still am, not quite a fan of having been forced here, with no free choice offered but the circumstances being as they are, fighting as we can seems to be much less of an evil than might otherwise be suspected.

[And he's offering the faintest of faint smiles here.]

As far as turtle prison, well. I have been present for the capture and execution, a deserved one, as so few are, of one who had murdered here.

[withthebrotherhood]

...You know you talk like a boring chick movie, right?

[He's thinking of Jane Austen adaptations, but doesn't want to admit he could name the boring chick movie in question. Domino used to watch them around the hideout sometimes.]

So anyway, there is turtle jail, but, what, you have to do somethin' real bad to get in?

[solo_patria]

[Chick...movie? A film about chickens growth processes, what? Then again, Enjolras HAS noticed something of a language barrier between himself and some people.][Seriously, monsieur? Are you alluding to something else?]

Something along those lines, I'd SUSPECT.

[withthebrotherhood]

Hokay, duly noted. Try to be subtle. I hate jail.

[He's made quite a tour of them. He'd know.]

[naismith]

I doubt it. Jail seems to be reserved for overt acts against the state, or public disruption. Passive dissent, as far as I've seen from console records, has been left unpunished.

[Oh look, an actual informative answer. That's Miles for you. He looks vaguely interested in Toad's appearance, but doesn't say anything on it; he himself is under five feet tall, has a slightly overlarge head and a subtle hunch to his spine. It'd be much more pronounced if not for years of corrective surgery. But he's familiar with genetically altered humans and he doesn't want to bring it up rudely.]

[withthebrotherhood]

[Well, that's a surprise. Not only helpful information, but suited to his style of doing nothing and hoping no one important notices. And even offered politely. He is, naturally, suspicious.]

Huh, well, I'm pretty good at passive...

[naismith]

[Being suspicious of Miles is always the right choice, but at least for this moment he doesn't have any ulterior motives.

His answering smirk is sharply edged.] I'm not. I suppose passive is a valid lifestyle choice. [If one he fundamentally doesn't understand.] Better survival rate, certainly.

[withthebrotherhood]

[He can be snide right back. ...Actually, he can't really turn it off.]

There's plenty of people who wanna stand right on the bull's eye of life. They can do it for me.

[everylittlegirl]

I don't really think you have to fight.

This place kind of sucks, but it's not like, the worst thing ever. Sometimes it's almost cool.

[withthebrotherhood]

[Aw, geeze, kids. They make him kinda nervous.]

Nah, it, uh, would have to work pretty hard to be the worst thing ever. Just a pretty lame deal, y'know?

[everylittlegirl]

I mean, don't think it's all like, rainbows and marshmallows. We're still clones fighting someone else's war against a basically unbeatable evil.

[withthebrotherhood]

Eh, sounds likes Tuesday, except the clone part.

[video]

[bludhavenknight]

Unless you plan on going around and killing people while you say you don't want to fight, then I think you should be afraid of being thrown in jail. [Hey, it happens.]

But no one is going to force you to do something you don't want to. Unwilling soldiers or fighters are not really the best out there, you know? [He grins.] People might be pissed if you find a lawn chair and get some popcorn going, though.

[withthebrotherhood]

I dunno, that'd be pretty sweet. Maybe on a roof, though. Out of the line of fire. Cus lawnchairs are pretty flimsy.

[bludhavenknight]

Deck chair then! Those are a lot sturdier, and a lot more comfortable then just sitting on a roof. You can bring the deck chair with you up there.

[withthebrotherhood]

Sounds like a plan, man. I mean, even cheap furniture can absorb a couple rounds most times.