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Post by Tomahawk on Apr 4, 2005 14:04:36 GMT
((Somewhat out of sequence, but hey...))
Tomahawk was startled at the young girl’s response, and as he looked down at this young one clutching his arm, he suddenly found himself flashing back to that incident so many years ago…<br> The “Mission”. His work with A.R.M. The thoughts and feelings that had been aroused at that time, and where it had all lead. In one brief moment, he relived all those things, all the way down to the explosion that had rocked his senses and changed his path- and outlook- forever.
“What am I doing here…” he thought to himself, as the room exploded around him in shouts, sobs, and accusations, drowned out by the super-imposed flames, crashes and explosions from his memories. The entire experience was heady, confusing, and horribly disorienting. Something was happening, something was changing, both inside of him and around him, but he had little grasp on what it could be. He felt a slight push from inside, even as he turned to face the re-animated corporation agents trying to impose their presence upon the reservation lands- the shouts, screams, gunshots, and cries…<br> “This isn’t right- this has already happened… I am not on the ‘Rez, I am in New York…”<br> He struggled to regain control of the his thoughts and memories and to get them all under control, even as he felt another presence attempting to assert itself within his mind- and everything within him rose to the challenge and leaped to his defense.
“What is happening here?” he thought, stumbling slightly and catching himself on the doorway for balance. Something was definitely wrong here- something was invading his mind, and like a snarling beast his psyche was rising up to challenge it, even as his conscious self struggled to regain control of the situation, and his grip on his surroundings.
“No…” he thought to himself, “that’s not the corporation, it’s not their agents, I’m not in the building anymore, I… am… safe?”<br> Opening his eyes again, he saw that the room had resumed some measure of calm again, even as his own thoughts and feelings were raging like a tornado within, kept in check only by his desire… his need for control.
“Grandson, one thing you must always remember…[/I]” The voice came cutting through his mind, a memory from his time learning with his Grandfather, Medicine Man of their tribe. “Never mix ‘Medicines’. The effects are unpredictable, uncontrollable. Our Medicine Ways and the ways of the Wasichu cannot be mixed, and can only result in trouble if they are…”<br> He barely heard the words T’Challa had said- something about a game, giant birds- it was all too much, Michael really needed a break, something to clear his thoughts before he could even hope to continue with anything. What he needed was an Inipi- a Sweatlodge, but he had yet to construct one on Tribal’s grounds- if they would even allow him to do so. But they did have a sauna, he recalled- better than nothing.
Finally finding his voice, he cleared his throat and stated,
“Errm. Very well, then… I… I will be in the Sauna, if anyone should need me.”<br> With that he turned to leave, intending to get his chanupa from his room before heading down below to the Sauna area.
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Post by Madclergy on Apr 4, 2005 21:28:09 GMT
"Why do they call it 'football', do you kick the ball like in soccer?"
"How am I to answer this when I don't know the answer, they call it football because thats what they call it, sheesh."
Antonio's mental distress did not show as he was very well aware of a kid's ability to pick up "unknowing" in a human's voice.
"There is a part in the game where you kick the ball, it is called a punt. But the rest of the game is running with the ball and throwing it. We do as well have soccer but it is not as serious as Football"
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Post by Hiro on Apr 5, 2005 0:22:05 GMT
"Ee," the boy muttered at Antonio's description of the kicking, or lack thereof really, in a game called football. It sounded more like 'running handball' would be more appropriate. Or throwball, but if all you did was punt the ball every now and again, why would you call the sport football? Football was supposed to be soocer, these Americans really had things backwards. To the boy's mind anyway, but then, there was much about American culture in society that he had not been exposed to or understood.
"So do you like this American sport football," the boy asked curiously, as he glanced over to where the native american man had withdrawn, leaving Ami-chan in the room with the mismatched pair. Looking back up at Antonio, the young Japanese added, "I like soccer. We play that in Japan."
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Post by Madclergy on Apr 5, 2005 0:44:54 GMT
"Yes I do enjoy 'watching' a game of Football every now and again, soccer as well. Soccer is big in central america as well did you know that?"
Antonio felt like the little kid in the backseat of a car "are we there yet? how bout now? now?" only they hadn't left yet.
"I guess I am just anxious to get on the job, I can feel a part of me tugging me towards the door but yet another feeling that it is safe here and these people will help. Aye whatever will I do with such conflicting forces"
Antonio stood from his kneeling position and crossed his arms across his chest.
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Post by Silverback on Apr 7, 2005 12:18:43 GMT
Just as he was close to exiting the meeting room T'Challa overheard the high-pitched voice of a child piercing through the low hub-bub of conversation that permeated the room. "Can I go as Amazon? Pleeeeeeeeeeeeaaasssssssssse?!?!"
Turning his attention to Amy he opened his mouth to answer but had no chance to utter his reply before she threw another question in his direction. "Hey, does this mean I don't have to do the report?"
Raising his voice slightly so that everyone could hear, even Hiro, he replied to Amys first query. "Yes, you can go as Amazon, in fact its best that everyone at the game maintain a high profile to help deter any trouble-makers in the crowd." The presence of these half-dozen heroes should ensure a calm, peaceful evening for all. Only the most ardent thugs would seek a confrontation with these members of his team.
"As for your report you can also write about tonights game and how teamwork is a positive aspect to have as a group." He managed to hide his smile as he saw the crestfallen look on her face. "I'm glad you reminded me about your report. Thankyou."
The Wakandan returned to the doors and finally made his exit.
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Post by Tomahawk on Apr 9, 2005 12:20:28 GMT
After having left the meeting room, Tomahawk made his way back to his chambers.
“What happened back there? Why are all these thoughts from the past suddenly flooding into my mind? What possibly could have triggered all of this?”<br> The young Sihasapa man was at a loss. He walked over to the room’s small console near the door and quickly entered the code T’challa had given him before to disable the smoke detectors in his chambers, and than sat himself down with his abalone-shell smudge bowl. Lighting up a bundle of white sage, he attempted to calm his mind and thoughts in meditation, allowing the smoke from the smoldering herbs to wash itself over him.
After about fifteen minutes of this ceremonial cleansing and calming, the sage had burned itself out, and he carefully gathered the ashes together in a small square of cloth to scatter to the winds the next time he went outside. Gathering up his bundle including his Chanupa, he again reactivated the smoke detectors in his room before making his way down to the closest thing Tribal HQ had to a Sweatlodge- the saunas.
He deliberately avoided as much contact with others in the hallways and such as possible, keeping to himself and making his way as swiftly as was possible in the massive building. Finally arriving, he turned the knob to set the sauna on “maximum”- the only setting which could even possibly hope to bring him to a sweat, considering his resistance to energy forms including heat, and prepared himself for entering. Taking up a pail of water and ladle, he took his bundle under his arm and the towel-clad Tomahawk entered the sauna, closing the door behind him.
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Post by Amazon on Apr 11, 2005 3:59:40 GMT
It had been a classic no-win situation. In asking about the report, she had reminded him about it, but had she not asked and not done, he would surely have remembered eventually and she'd have been in trouble for trying to get away with it. This was why she didn't miss school at all. Unfortunately, they had already made it clear that she would be returning to classes soon, so she just couldn't escape it. Frowning, she folded her arms across her chest and pouted.
Still, on the plus side, she'd be going out as Amazon tonight, though she was becoming more and more confused about the mission. Now he was talking about a game and Hiro and the other guy — the one who was actually willing to talk to the kids — were talking about football? And soccer? She just wanted to see the Giant Falcons!!
Perhaps we misunderstood his original statement about the mission. Perhaps the term "giant falcon" actually relates to something else entirely? "Ooooohhhh..." Amy said plaintively. "It's not fair! I wanna see Giant Falcons, not... anything else."
What about this football thing? Amy sighed, then thought about it. She remembered her father talking about it sometimes. "Um... well, my dad liked watching football, but I dunno. I like volleyball. Soccer is fun too. And baseball!" She paused, looking over at the man and boy, struggling to recall her father's comments on the subject. "He liked the Toronto Ogre-nots. I don't know what they were, but I guess they definitely weren't ogres." She nodded in confirmation of her belief, then continued. "Sometimes they kicked-butt and sometimes they sucked, so maybe they were vampires?" She shrugged slightly, not providing the two males with much time to decipher her ramblings. "Anyway, I think they were named after Jason and the Ogre-nots, who were warriors from back when Athena and Artemis were doing the butt-kicking!"
Amy, dear, they were known as Jason and the Argonauts, not ogre-nots. Amy's face took on a perplexed expression, then she shrugged and gave a lop-sided smile that said "whatever!" and focused her gaze on Hiro a little unsure as to how they should proceed. "So... should we go?"
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Post by Hiro on Apr 11, 2005 12:24:14 GMT
"Soccer is big in central america as well did you know that," the green-eyed man had asked the boy, as Antonio rose back up to his feet.
"Hai, so so," the young Nihonjin answered in his native language with an enthusiastic nod. "I hear of Japan playing Brazil team this year, ne?"
Ooooohhhh... It's not fair! I wanna see Giant Falcons, not... anything else."
Looking over at Ami-chan, it wasn't immediately clear if she was talking to Hiro and Antonio, her spirit, or... just herself.
That girl scares me, Rain whispered quietly in the boy's ear. No, seriously. She has issues. Like, deep psychological types. More so than even you, I think.
The last comment drew an over the shoulder glare from the boy before he looked up at Antonio. "Ikimashou. I am ready, too."
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Post by Silverback on Apr 11, 2005 13:30:01 GMT
Khalifa sat quietly almost lost in his own thoughts as he mused over Michaels outburst wondering what had caused him to act so . . . out of character. The sheer anger within the native american had shocked him completely. The young african had started to grow fond of this man, maybe even a love for him like a brother - but that was before . . . this.
As he watched Tomahawk stride out the meeting room he was tempted to follow him but, as he went to rise, he decided that maybe the red-skinned hero needed some time alone to gather his thoughts and emotions. They would talk later, maybe at the game, to clear the air a little.
Silverbacks attention was grabbed by the childrens conversation about football, soccer and american football. This was something he could help explain and, finally rising from the comfortable recliner, he engaged the three Tribal members in conversation.
"Many english tourists came to the Virunja National Park and told me about this game. It is like their rugby football game except the players are too . . ." he paused trying to recollect the phrase used, ". . . chicken because they have to wear body armour as protection." He decided to refrain from some of the more degrading terms he'd heard used by the tourists.
"So it is not football or soccer, more like rugby, but not." The young man shrugged his shoulders and scratched his head in confusion. In a whispered voice he winked at Amy and Hiro. "If you ask me these americans are crazy." He concluded his statement by sticking out his tongue, rolling his eyes and circling his temple with a single finger hoping to make the children laugh.
"Say why don't we take you to the Bronx Zoo sometime eh? You'll be able to see a giant 'hawk' there." He offered graciously remembering their excitement at the mention of seeing a giant falcon. "You'll be able to see lots of different type of falcon there and even the condor with its huge wingspan!"
Smiling at the delight in Amys and Hiros eyes he stopped them from babbling a reply with his own reply. "We can't go today because we've already got something to do but maybe this weekend?"
'At least nothing can go wrong to interrupt the visit this time!' The silent thought came in hope after what happened the previous day.
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Post by Amazon on Apr 18, 2005 16:36:47 GMT
Okay, now Amy was really confused. First they're talking about football, then they're talking about soccer and now... what was "rugby"? She'd never heard of such a game, but images various ways in which rugs could be used in a sport went racing through her mind, all of them entirely absurd even to her way of thinking. The girl scratched her head and shrugged slightly, finding the whole discussion to be entirely silly, though not nearly so much as seeing the black man making faces.
Bursting out with laughter, she quickly covered her mouth with both hands and stifled herself down to a trail of giggles. The face itself was amusing, but to see it coming from an adult who usually seemed so serious? It was just too much! Fortunately, she was able to regain control of herself as she became happily distracted by the thought of visiting the zoo. Now that would be cool! "YAY!"
That would be SO much better than going to some dumb game of football and she was nearly bouncing with excitement that was all too soon drained with the declaration that she'd have to wait for the weekend and was still stuck going to the game. With a loud, exasperated sigh, she had little choice but to accept it. "Alright..." She spoke in a tone that might've made it sound like she was just sentenced to the electric chair and had to begin her march towards inevitable doom.
Don't be so negative, Amy, this mission could be both fun and educational in its own right. Educational? That was the last thing she wanted and she would've balked at the idea that a trip to the zoo could actually teach her something. Nothing educational could ever be fun. You would like it. Probably reminds you of the old arenas back home and the gladatorial battles. Athena didn't have to respond, they all knew it was true.
There was, of course, one big plus to the excursion, that being that she could go out as Amazon. That thought alone cheered her up and she promptly decided that she'd change right then and there, without so much as a thought for the others standing around watching. "For justice and honour! To protect the innocent!" She blurted out the words, a swirling wind rapidly picking up in the conference room even as a blue-green light seemed to emanate from the girl herself. Very quickly she disappeared from sight completely. "The spirit of the Amazons lives within me!"
As she finished speaking the words which enacted her transformation, the light engulfed the child, hiding her from sight but without becoming blindingly bright to those witnessing it. With circling winds reaching their climax, however, hair and newspapers fluttered wildly, pages flipping and snapping briefly before the wind suddenly dies along with the light. Where the child once stood was now a beautiful, sword-wielding woman of obvious strength and power.
Smiling brightly, she sheathed the sword before looking around at the others, the thought finally occurring to her that transforming in front of others wasn't a good way to keep that whole secret identity thing going, even if a couple of them already knew. She'd only met the guy with the club, after all. "Uhhhh... you didn't see that, okay?"
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Post by Madclergy on Apr 19, 2005 1:48:34 GMT
"The little one is filled with much curiosity, muy curiouso. As they say in America, curiosity killed the cat. This means I will have to keep my eye on him."
Antonio was not accustomed to hearing the man's accent as he spoke to the young boy and he had to struggle to understand some things the man had said. His mind worked harder as his newfound knowledge of the ancient spanish language flooded his mind with unknown terms. There was one phrase that worried Antonio as it kept creeping up on him, one phrase that he did not understand before but was slowly veering its ugly head in a most disturbing way.
"Su vida destruirá ésos alrededor de usted"
Antonio only hoped that this phrase would not be the leading factor in his life, no matter its meaning.
Once Khalifa had finished talking to Hiro, Antonio looked down to the small boy.
"I hope I have answered some of the questions you had about American Football, I hope we can talk a little bit later, maybe at the game." with a simple nod to Hiro Antonio turned to Khalifa.
"I was wondering if you could point me in the direction of the Sweatlodge, that the man before was talking about before? I understand the meaning of good teamwork and I wanted to patch things with him before tonight so that things went over as smoothly as possible."
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Post by Silverback on Apr 19, 2005 13:16:04 GMT
Khalifas attention was distracted by the sight of Amy changing into her alter-ego so he only half-heard Antonios question about the steam room. "Hmmm . . . steam room? Umm . . . yes, the steam room."
Dragging his eyes away from the spectacle before him he diverted his attention away from the straw-haired warrior before him. "Ah yes. It is good to withdraw the thorn before the wound goes bad. Is that not so?" He questioned rhetorically.
"You will find the steam room in the basement with the other facilities. If you get lost one of the staff will direct you." Before he had time to depart he threw a question to the latino, "were you wanting to return to the hotel this afternoon to see if we could find any evidence?"
Doctor Druid had vouched for this man and, as his upbringing taught him to revere witch doctors and mystics, he felt that he should offer as much help as possible to the newest member of the team. He too wished to settle things with Tomahawk but it was more important that those two strangers became, if not friends, at least team mates.
"Who wants some ice cream?" Khalifa remembered gaining several pounds after he first discovered this delightful treat. He'd paid for it though when T'Challa had engaged him in several exhausting bouts of combat training and physical exercise. The memory of which made him grimace.
"But not too much." He added thoughtfully.
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Post by Madclergy on Apr 19, 2005 20:57:19 GMT
Antonio was surprised at the voice inside his own mind as he stood in the room, waiting on seconds to give the man thanks for the directions and to answer his question.
"The man talks sense in riddles, yet he seems to have a much more dangerous side within him."
Antonio gave Khalifa a small grin as he offered the kid icecream and then answered the man's posed question.
"Yes, I would like to return to the hotel this evening before the game. Thank you for the directions, I am glad to hear the servants will be of help to me." Antonio moved towards the door to the meeting room then turned back to Khalifa, "I don't believe we have formely been introduced though, I am Antonio" as Antonio introduced himself he moved back to pose a hand to the man.
"Teamwork begins with the connection of all men not just a small connection between a few" a small voice chimed in the back of Antonio's head.
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Post by Hiro on Apr 20, 2005 23:32:18 GMT
"Ice krimu," the young boy echoed in the curious mesh of Japanese and English that many referred to jokingly as Engrish, turning his head to look over at Khafia. He was a tall, brown man like T'Challa-san was. The child wondered what made his skin brown like that. He'd seen photographs of brown people, like from Africa, but he'd never actually met one before coming to America.
"Oh, I do," he added happily, bouncing over closer to Khafia. Antony was still interesting, especially if he'd like to play soccer sometime... but Khafia was talking about ice cream; ergo, he was topping the popularity chart at the moment. Besides, the green-eyed man had said something about wanting to go make up with the other guy.
He didn't even care what kind. Ice cream was ice cream. So far as he was aware, there wasn't such a thing as bad ice cream.
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Post by Silverback on Apr 23, 2005 12:49:59 GMT
Seeing Antonios outstretched hand he understood this strange custom that seemed common place in europe and america. In his native africa it was not unusual for friends and colleagues to greet each other with affectionate embraces but he'd been here long enough to realise that many men were uncomfortable with this. Well, apart from one male only bar where his greetings were made more than welcome, this had still puzzled him and no one on the team had cared to elaborate further.
Reaching out he wrapped his strong, calloused hand around the latinos wrist and clasped his free hand onto the back of Antonios hand and gave a firm, single shake. Releasing his grip he clapped the man on the shoulder and started walking towards the exit pointing out the elevator that would take him to the basement.
Over his shoulder he shouted to Hiro and Amy. "Come on children we've got some ice-cream to find." Plastered across his face was a huge smile.
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