the_campus | ANNOUNCEMENT 002

Ooooh, my goodness! This Max sounds so large it'd be hard to say hello from down here from someone like me! Why do you need to be so big anyhow? Is it really all that more fun to hit your head on door jambs more often?

[Because honestly Pegasus has enough trouble with that as it is. He chuckled at his own little jest, happy that he'd managed to make the other laugh.]

Oh...Oh I see. I'm sorry if I implied such a thing. [There was kind of a case of that in his world, of when Noah Kaiba's memories had been uploaded into a supercomputer, but that had been kind of different and Pegasus hadn't known about it himself.] I did not mean to lump you into the same category or to offend. I just meant that we've come no where close to that in my world.

[It's entirely fascinating, really it is. Or can't you tell how interested he is in how he's leaning up to stare into your eyes?]

But a cybrid you yourself...do you or don't you have organic parts?

[He did say Cybrids were human mentally at least, but their bodies were entirely cyborg if he'd understood correctly.]

Do you mind if I...?

[He lifted his hand to go and touch Leo's arm. He really is just curious.]

Preference. We usually don't have to worry about doors; the buildings back home are built with cybrids in mind.

[ To an outside eye, it would probably be humorous to see just how far Leo is leaning back to make up for Pegasus's inquisitive stare. He tries to play the moment off by stepping to the side, taking a quick gander at the gate around the courtyard. But, of course, after brief pause he has to turn back to address the man's questions. ]

My arms, legs, eyes, and part of my chest - that's all I've had replaced. Some people get an entirely new body, some keep their heads, some just replace an arm. Not everyone's going to have the same enhancements. When I say human brain, I mean it.

[ Drawing in a deep breath and then exhaling through his nose, Leo extends his arm for the other man to touch. It's clear that he is trying to be patient, realizing that cybrids are an entirely new concept for the man. ]

It's not all that different from the real thing. Just has more functions.

O~oh, well I guess that makes sense doesn't it?

[Pegasus of course knew he was making him a bit uncomfortable, but that wasn't too unusual for him. He had that kind of effect on people. Plus, Leo's definitely a point of interest for him.

He doesn't see him like a science project like Kaiba might, however, which was a rather good thing. He just appreciated the finer details of the man, really.]

Hmmm, so you're functional everywhere else, organic-wise. Interesting.

[He laid his hand gently on the surface of Leo's arm, giving it a light squeeze.]

Oooh? So can you still feel touch in those places?

[ The man's vocal observation is pointedly avoided. The question, however: ]

For the most part. [ He opens his fist and turns it palm-up to show off the pressure sensors. ] Here, I can feel it. [ He then twists his arm to show off the black and grey that leads from his wrist to his armpit before disappearing underneath the white leather. ] These stay active too.

...But when I do this-- [ He moves the other man's hand away from his arm and pulls it back. In that swift movement, the white lined along his forearm and triceps pulls up and away. Where his radial and ulna bones should be, there's a metal rod that extends with a brilliant blue light coming off of the scythe-like end. Barely visible over his shoulder is one of the three pieces that raise for the blade's vent. ] ... It severs the connection.

[His arm lowered automatically back to his side when his hand was brushed away, ruffled cuffs straightened as he adjusted his jacket. He was paying careful attention to Leo's words, noting how the sensitivities worked with the function of the cybernetic part as he was walked through the process.]

Mm...[He's sure that the way that the design functioned was completely advanced and he wouldn't have been able to make much sense of the blue prints, but the sensory mechanism had to be off the charts in how meticulous it was. How interesting then that if he needed to the sensory unit could be disabled. It was a little beyond him to take in all at once but the explanation helped quite a lot.]

So would you say your range of motion is as capable as a human's, or even moreso with the enhancements?

[ Just as easily as the positron blade extended from his arm, it's retracted. All of the pieces form back together and his arm is back to its default state. ]

I'm a practitioner of the Cybrid Arts. Paired with top of the line tech, even people with enhancements have trouble keeping up.

[ Which is to say that exceeds a normal human's output, motion or otherwise. He can jump higher than a human, fall from great heights, and even pick up pre-war vehicles and toss them aside as though they were made of paper.

His voice may carry a bit of a pride there. He's normally not one to boast about his abilities or exploits (that is, unless he's being mocked about it - again, Jack Cayman comes to mind) but his tech? Well, that's a different story. ]

[Despite his inclination for the arts, Pegasus was a secret admirer of the finer points of technology. While he didn't care for some of the advancements and could at times be considered a bit vintage, that was just his way of misleading others into thinking he held no skill in them whatsoever.

His hacking of the secret Kaiba interface computer should have been indication enough, as well as his partnership with Kaiba Corporations when he could have just as easily gone to someone else. Hence, why Pegasus thought the mechanics behind Leo's capabilities were unusually intriguing.]

You are a marvel of life and science paired beautifully together, I do commend you sir. Now this may pose an odd question but can you handle delicate things? Is it fine-tuned with the finesse of a human grasp enough to hold, oh, say something glass without breaking it?

[Because if he couldn't control his brute strength then it may as well have been crude.]

[ Leo gives the other man an incredulous look. After what he's shown him, he's going to question how much control he has over his limbs? What the hell kind of sense does that make? ]

I wouldn't say odd. [ ... Just redundant. ] But yeah, I can. It's not something I have to actively think about to prevent, either.

[ But the man will just have to take his word for it unless he manages to pull a glass out of thin air or improvise. ]

[Normally he wouldn't have but he had to be sure for a very specific reason. There is in fact a method to Pegasus' madness, Leo just had yet to realize it. His gaze is sharp and calculating. Oh there was a purpose indeed in all that he did or said.]

That's what I thought. Forgive me I had to be sure.

[He tilted his head and smirked slightly at the reaction.]

I just wanted to know if I could interest you in a drink.

[ ... Or Pegasus will ask him for a drink instead of performing some sort of miracle act. There's that he didn't consider. If Max were here, he'd probably get a good laugh out of the suggestion, a joke at his own expense like he did in Hong Long topped off with a hearty clap on Leo's shoulder. But Leo isn't much of a drinker, hasn't been since Max abused the substance by mixing it with his PTSD medication. It didn't make the man sick but it was a factor that made it worse.

Still, social drinking can't too bad. He doesn't have to down much and he has a better chance of learning more from that than he does wandering around the rest of the joint. Pegasus has been here for a month; he should have something to say about the place. ]

Sure. [ Leo gives the a man a brief nod of his head. ] Lead the way.

[A casual little drink with a new acquaintance could hardly be so bad, could it? After all, Pegasus was the perfect example of a gracious host. He'd half-expected Leo to say "no", so he's pleasantly surprised. Very pleasantly surprised, in fact. So much so he clasped his hands together while his entire face lit up.]

Oh how wonderful!~ Mind you, I know it seems sudden but we're in a strange place with no one familiar and all alone, none of our usual resources...may as well make some! And what better way to get to know each other a little better, hmm?

[Honestly Pegasus is the sort who is something of a social butterfly but yet still managed to withdraw from personal connections back home. This place was sort of forcing him to adjust or else he may never find a way out.]

Alright, I hope you don't mind if it's in the dean's office. [It's sort of become his unofficial haven given he had exclusive access to the liquor cabinet.] I think my dormitory might be a little too cramped for you.

[He doesn't want to make him feel claustrophobic, after all. That would be rude. Plus there was his roommate Lee to consider. Pegasus saunters towards the indoors casually, knowing Leo would be following after him before long. It wasn't too far, just in the staff wing of the school.]

[ Leo watches the man leisurely stroll into the building as though he doesn't have a care in the world. Some people are easy to please. With a scoff to himself and a shake of his head, the cybrid eventually follows suit. It takes him a moment but a few quick strides and he's walking just shy of the man. ]

So I take it the office is empty. [ Though it's worded as a question, it's clear he isn't looking for an answer. ] ... Have you run into the staff? There's the nurse, I know. She's so damn skittish you can't get a straight answer out of her.

[ As he talks, a tiny flashing light appears in the center of his pupil while his irises begin to glow. One thing he gets out of this trip is more data for his visual reference of the building. ]

Edited (boy i sure am having a lot of typos) 2013-07-02 11:57 (UTC)

[He fell into stride with him quite easily enough, his legs maybe not quite as long but nearly given he was only five inches shorter than him. To him a little conversation over drinks was not only just a way of being friendly but also practical. You learned a lot more that way than being closed off from others. Pegasus of course had his own ways of doing his own investigation.]

Aside from the lady who runs the cafeteria, the nurse, and that oh-so-friendly voice we keep hearing over the intercom there doesn't appear to be anyone else here.

[He confirmed, glancing his way to catch the way his eye glowed with the unnatural light. It was almost distracting to the point where he had to force himself to move a bit to the side gracefully to avoid bumping into him.]

They won't talk. And since everyone else here has been just as confused as you and I, there are some that were not so kind. I believe they're rather wary of newcomers now.

[ The response-time is nearly instant and the green wired filter Leo had over his visual as he scanned the hall fades into a normal view. Gradually, his eyes dim, turning into a more natural looking color. ]

So only the cafeteria and infirmary are operated. Guess that should say something about the food.

[ He keeps his expression deadpan for the joke. Still, what Pegasus says makes sense; given how many people have been brought here, there's bound to be someone with an aggressive personality. If the nurse has been threatened, it at least explains her timid nature. ]

Intimidation can be an effective means to garner information but only works against certain people. Besides, there's nothing to gain from scaring the nurse; it's pretty clear she isn't the mastermind here.

[He'd have asked about that too, but the intricacies of science could be left a mystery a moment longer while he spoke. There was more to the story behind the veils of secrets and lies, but there was much the Creator of Duel Monsters had not seen yet. Even with immense power at his disposal, the Eye could only glean so much from their environment.]

Oh, you're completely right~ It's hardly edible at all! It's awful.

[Pegasus sighed softly with a grim smile at that little jest, though he wouldn't readily admit to finding ways around it. There were provisions to be found if one only knew where to look. Hence why he was being versatile about utilizing liquor cabinets. The way Pegasus saw it, there was no need to be shy about one's needs, especially when there was no one here to claim what was left.]

Mmm~ An astute observation. Your mind is as quick and fine-tuned as your body, I daresay.

[Before long the office loomed before them, and he opened the door for Leo with a flourish to go inside first.]

After you good sir.

Sometimes I hate being right.

[ It's uttered more to himself than his company. He's pretty shit with making his own food. He'd often pick something up from a bar when he had downtime or, back before Max snapped, would visit their place. Ondine would insist he stay for dinner, shoving plate after plate of the most amazing food in front of him. Max was right, nothing ever really compared to her cooking.

The memories leave a bitter taste in Leo's mouth, one that can't easily be washed away. He mutters his thanks to Pegasus and ducks his way through the door, a sour smile on his face. The ceiling is thankfully as high as the rest of the building and aside from ducking to get through the door frame, he doesn't have to hunch over to accomodate. ]

Not a bad room. You'd think it'd be utilized more.

Well, don't worry. I know a thing or two about food. It's really not that hard. If you ever need someone to help with that, I wouldn't mind.

[He trailed after him before closing the door, leaving it unlocked since he didn't want to make this seem like he was trying to trap the man. It wasn't hard to tell from the bitterness Leo spoke with that he preferred to be cooked for.

While Pegasus mostly didn't feel the need to cook given he had his personal chef to do that for him Leo was quite in luck, as on occasion he was just that eccentric that he would be able to whip up most anything on the fly. And just the way he saw it was a gracious invitation to offer his help in the matter. He's already made Lee waffles, after all. It was as simple to him as mixing the right ingredients and using heat in just the right way to create a masterpiece, much like how he utilized paints to create art. The principles were similar, which was why cooking was often referred to as the 'culinary arts'.]

Mm, well. Since it isn't, no point in letting it go to waste.

[Yes, the dean's office wasn't too shabby, since there was oak bookshelves, the persian-looking carpet, the portrait over the mantlepiece of a fireplace along with the leather armchairs near the fire. Yes, it's quite a bit classier than say, the dormitories though the school was decent enough in decor.

Pegasus sauntered over to the glass liquor cabinet and opened the door with a small key he'd found in the desk, unlocking it smoothly.]

Well, pick your poison.

[ To be honest, Leo hasn't seen a place spruced up like this in... well, he can't even remember. It is, without a doubt, pre-war decor; only they had the luxury to indulge in these types of things. The economy back home's too screwed for people with honest jobs to reap any of the benefits that come from having cash.

The cybrid moves towards the bookcase as Pegasus works with the cabinet. He's tracing his thumb along the spines, reading over book titles when the question comes along.]

Bourbon whiskey. Prefer wheat but I'll take what you've got.

Bourbon. Good choice. Ice or no ice?

[Especially because it was either that or...hmm. Not a whole lot of variety, sadly. Pegasus didn't prefer it himself as he was very much a wine drinker, but since he was a good sport he'd managed to indulge his guests.

He grabbed the bottle in question before pulling forth two snifter glasses.]

[ He casts a look over his shoulder, tilting his head back slightly so he doesn't obstruct his voice. ]

Served neat.

[ His attention is then back on the books, tracing his way back to the start of the line. More out of idle curiosity than anything, he plucks one off the shelf and thumbs through a few pages. The book itself was nondescript, lacking a title on its spine or a sleeve over its cover. ]

It's weird to see so many of these. They're pretty much obsolete back home - more for collecting.

Very well. Neat it is~!

[No ice it was then! He poured the amber liquid into the snifter to an appropriate amount, so that when the glass itself was palmed just so the bourbon's complexities could be further explored with the opening of its aroma by the heat of the hand.

He poured one for himself as well, and then held the two glasses before him, offering one out to him.]

...Really? Obsolete as in simply uploaded to a computer instead? They do have a library here, if you're interested in seeing it sometime. I prefer holding a book in my hands myself, personally.

[ He runs his index finger over one of the printed sentences before closing the book shut with an audible snap. Using his other hand to hold its place, he slides it back into position. ]

Yeah, everything is digital. My guess is that it's because it's easy to destroy a physical copy and people want something that lasts. Arson rates aren't exactly low back in Mil City.

[ Leo runs his thumb down the spine of the book one last time before he pulls away and heads towards Pegasus to collect his drink. ]

Thanks.

Oh. Well, what if they get erased? Or is much of your world given to securing long-lasting digital copies?

[He can only imagine for as advanced as Leo made his world sound that they would've come up with a way to prevent that.]

You're welcome.~ And feel free to sit if you like.

[His gaze followed the tall cybrid quietly before he decided to casually swirl the snifter in his hand, waiting a moment before taking a small sip. This bourbon wasn't the finest quality but it wasn't mediocre either. The flavor was smooth, a little smokey, but not overpowering.]

If it's been recorded, it's still out there. There's recovery units that specialize in retrieving broken or deleted data.

[ He looks down into his glass, mimicking the other's actions by swirling his drink. The snifter can't be utilized to its full extent since his limbs are unable to put off heat but, at the very least, it still traps in the aroma. He hesitates before taking a gradual sip; the bourbon is pleasant, smooth. Much better than the shit back home. Max may have been more of a gin man but he would've appreciated this bottle. ]

You've heard a bit about Milvallen. What about the place you're from?

[ Leo takes the offered seat though he doesn't sit prim and proper. Where most would cross their legs or ankles in polite company, he sits as he would anywhere else. ]

I see...Of course there would have to be, wouldn't there?

[It wasn't long before Pegasus sat himself, though unlike Leo he did cross his legs as was natural for him while he considered the question.]

Mmm, well. I'm from America of Earth. The United States. A very bustling and lively country. Known as the melting pot of the world really. Many different people and cultures meshed together...It's where I debuted Duel Monsters for the first time.

[Their worlds couldn't be more opposite given the immense structure of the governments and emphasis on entertainment. Duel Monsters was famous worldwide, and Pegasus himself was a celebrity. Anarchy wasn't even thought of in the least. Pleasures like the one he had now had been taken for granted, so maybe this was why it was harder for Pegasus to adjust to his current surroundings.]

It's a game I designed, you see. I'm a businessman by trade, the CEO of Industrial Illusions, but my craft is in entertainment. So as you can imagine it's rather irksome to be kidnapped when I have a company to run. My business partner, Kaiba Corporations depends on me for transferring the data to their computers, after all.

Unlike Milvallen people don't commonly have enhancements where I'm from. I think the most we do is transplants and prosthetics though there have been several unusual cases before of amazing technology being used in order to replace oh, say, a faulty eyesight or hearing...There have been innovations in biorobotics but not nearly to the level you described.

[Cybrids may as well be a thing of science fiction, still. Though magic and strange occult events were a lot more commonplace.]

ANNOUNCEMENT 002

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Excuse my late ;;

Pfft, I can wait months. You're fine.

<3

My turn to apologize. Not just for the wait but length as well. Ahh.

I'm happy to backtag so no worries~