Earth Movers and Shakers

Summer 2021, Week 4, Thursday early evening

Talos, City Centre

Ari Thomas

Wandering the city seemingly aimlessly, he walks along whilst keeping a watchful eye on his surroundings. I gotta get used to being on patrols and such. Never know when someone is gonna jump a random person, or.. His eyes drift to the building that started his sudden friendship with Unbreakable. Or if somebody is going to try something reckless. He chuckles at the memory, his well-intentioned jump up top of that building, the mistakes that were made, and how, thankfully, no one got hurt. Well, except himself. Jeez, was that only a week ago? Maybe two? Man, time flies. He shakes his head in disbelief, and continues along his path.  

Lesris

Lesris is walking around the city looking for a good spot to grab dinner. She's already been by a few places and they didn't have anything she was looking for. Man when am I gonna find a good steakhouse? then shes sees Ari. He looks kinda jumpy, oughta see if he needs something "Hey, are you ok?" She says walking up  

Ari Thomas

Turning his head to get a good look at the person approaching him, he tries to determine if they are an angry person ready to berate him for the fiasco the previous Sunday or someone that wanted to approach him with more peaceful intentions. Hearing the question, he smiles and breathes a small sigh of relief. "Oh, for sure. Just having a bit of a walk about town. Why? What's up?"   If she watched the news of the events that unfolded the last weekend, she would recognize his face as someone that fought alongside AERI at the events in Henry, footage of him making barricades for the police and attacking the Evo gangsters as a large rock monster. Surely some of that footage was clipped and spun to fit an agenda or narrative that the sources were trying to uphold, painting him as either a dangerous monster or a helpful hero.  

Lesris

"You just looked on edge." This guy's face seems familiar, who is this man? "I feel like I've seen you somewhere, but I can't place it" Truth is she just recently moved to town and has next to no idea of any of this places recent history other than it was a big city.  

Ari Thomas

He smiles, a bit sheepish that he was so obviously tense. "Eh, I guess I've been a little jumpy lately. Lots of anti-evo people want to lock me up and put me away. But I couldn't say I recognize you. Are you from out of town?" He asks with genuine curiosity, his hands coming out of his pockets to sign what he is saying in ASL out of habit.  

Lesris

"Yeah, I just moved here after hearing about the Evo sanctuary." It takes a minute for what you just said to click. Wait hes an Evo! Uhhhh ok you got this just ask about his powers, no way that could go wrong "so, uh you're an evo too? Me and my family moved here for work. Is it any better here than outside the city?"  

Ari Thomas

He raises his eyebrows with surprise at how forward she was with her status as an Evo, and he nods to help confirm as he says with both his voice and hands, "Oh, for sure! Lots of people, myself included, came here for that reason. As for better.. I mean, it's a lot better than everywhere else.. but people are scared right now, evolved or not."   "I'm curious, what do you and your family do? For work and if you guys are all evolved?"  

Lesris

"We're all miners, it's a family trade. And as of now its 2 of us that are evolved, we all use earth based powers as well. I guess its from the mines or something." How many evos are here? If I ran into one on my first week here then there must be alot. I gotta meet more! she shrugs as she coats a finger in soft dirt, "i create and my brother destroys, I guess its some yin and yang stuff huh?" how's he gonna react, will he show me his ability? Will he scold me for using out in the open? Shit I fucked up  

Ari Thomas

Huh... earth users.. one that creates and one that destroys. He watches as she coats a single finger in dirt, the earth seeming to fly in from the surrounding area to pack itself onto her like some sort of armor. "That's a pretty neat ability." He says and signs with a warm smile.   "I've got some earth power of my own, too." He explains as he starts to harden his skin to a stone-like texture, though rather than gathering material from his surroundings his stone seems to be like a transformation, his flesh warping into a stone-hard material.

[Elemental Form, Basic x1, -0EP (25/25)]

 

Lesris

"That seems alot more practical than my ability. To be able to change your skin instead of just adding layers to it, seems real useful." I'm getting kinda hungry, he prolly knows of a good place. "I hate to change the topic, but do you know anywhere that serves good food, I'm famished." She slightly exaggerates her hand movements and speech to try and get a chuckle.  

Ari Thomas

Remembering the feel of every impact, the bullets, the enhanced strength people punching and bruising him, feeling the stone crack under the brutal onslaught, he smiles and nods.   Lesris gets that chuckle out of him, a big and dramatic display that, with the mention of food, is accompanied by his own growling stomach. When was the last time I ate? Noon? And it's getting dark out now. Buuut... maybe some food first. "Sure, if you're looking for some sit-down places we've got a few good ones around downtown I could show ya."  

Lesris

"That sounds good to me, you pick where. I don't really care where we eat so whatever you prefer. Oh and I dont believe I've told you my name yet have I? I'm Lesris." First week out and im already having a blast. I wonder if I could get some playing in before it gets too late She flicks the packed dirt off her finger  

Ari Thomas

Smiling warmly, he extends his hand for a handshake. "Ari. Ari Thomas. Though folks are gonna hopefully know me as Stonewall soon." He dismisses the stony skin, the rough texture softening back to its normal chocolate brown, fleshy consistency. "Will it be just you tonight, or will your family be coming, too?" He asks, a little bit of nervousness in his voice.  

Lesris

She accepts the handshake "it'll just be me tonight. I was looking to get a little playing in." She points the acoustic guitar slung on her back "you wanna go by Stonewall? Thats crazily similar to the name I wanna go by, yknow as a heroine. Its Stoneheart by the way." Crap i though I was being original with that name, so I either change it or make a really big name for myself, oh well I guess the new boxing tank is gonna take the news by storm "So what kind of place are we gonna eat at?"  

Ari Thomas

His face grows a shade darker in color, smiling sheepishly. "Yeaah, I started out with Geb, but it is a kind of obscure reference, and I wanted something a little less... conceited, I guess? And something that says 'defender', not like.. Earthquake." His brow furrows and his smile falters into a slight frown.   "Dunno, kinda feel like a boulder brain sometimes. I say go for Stoneheart, though!" He says, perking up a little bit to show support. "I'll find something, for sure. Maybe I'll be known as The Mountain."   "I think there's a place in Holywell that welcomes performers, if you like a kind of steakhouse vibe."  

Lesris

"I've been looking for that kinda place, if you wanna go there that is." She kinda blushes "I hope you like country music haha" why are you getting nervous? Its just a few people in a restaurant, its not like anything gonna happen there "so why are you out and about so late huh? Looking for troublemakers?" She says jokingly  

Ari Thomas

"Oh, uh.. yeah, I was keeping an eye and ear out for any potential dangers. That.. might have been part of why I was so jumpy." He grins and laughs a little sheepishly. "I don't mind a bit of country, and the Prospector's Flask would be very happy to have a country singer in the house."   He looks around and asks "So, um.. do you have a car, or did you need a lift?"  

Lesris

"yeah imma need a ride, sorry bout that" damn I should buy a car, this is kinda embarrassing "do you have a car?" Shes looks a little embarrassed but she tries to hide it. "So uh, if you need help hunting down some of those potential dangers then maybe I can help, if you want me to."  

Ari Thomas

"Yep, I've got a car. Practically built her myself." He motions for her to follow, smiling warmly to help reassure Lesris that it's okay. "I know that there are a lot of people that take the bus and the metro to get around the city, but I prefer having my own ride."   He leads her to where he had parked his '08 Ford Taurus, unlocking and opening the passenger door. Along the back bumper and trunk, a casual observer might notice a couple of bullet holes along the otherwise smooth body of the car. "Heh, that would be fun! Though I'm hoping that I can go forward with the interview process with folks known as AERI, the Authorized Evo Response Initiative. If you're looking to become a sort of a hero, going with them would be a good idea."  

Storyteller

The two climbed into the car and Ari drove them both to the Prospector's Flask, a bar and steakhouse styled restaurant, the normal clientele being laborers of all types. Along the way, Ari happily answered any questions he could about the city, and asking a few of his own about where Lesris was from and what life was like before moving to New Victoria.