pick my brain all you want

[fantasmaniac]

Who| Reaper & Co. [ That means YOU♥  -- OPEN ]
What| Introduction to Legion World. Decked out in his edgelord gear, he goes for a walk.
Where| Ghosting around, locations will be noted.
When| Roughly after TTHS?
Warnings/Notes| None in particular


[ ɪɴᴛʀᴏ – ɴᴏ ᴘᴄ ɪɴᴛᴇʀᴀᴄᴛɪᴏɴ ]

They almost seemed a little worried about how calmly he took to being explained everything that's been happening, a look almost like pity or genuine concern, and he couldn't understand why. His first train of thought was 'this is a dream, isn't it?', until he remembered that he doesn't really dream anymore. It's just blurry images and smoke, and he's pretty sure he doesn't sleep.

Which then brought him to question the bits and pieces of what happened before he blacked out. Suffocating, then feeling his skin burn more, alongside the ever-present crackle of decay that he always feels. He's just glad that wasn't the killing blow, because damn, choking to death sucks. What a way to go. More importantly, it's not the method that bothers him but the circumstances surrounding it. He's a busy guy, he had shit to accomplish before he disappeared from existence entirely. Hell to raise. People to torture. All that fun stuff. Like hell he was going to cease to exist permanently before he did any of that.

So it's almost a relief. Hah.

He barely spoke, only replied in short, almost curt, answers as he understood perfectly. His recovery time was relatively quick, so by the time the portly fellow barged into his room, he was well aware of the situation. That's not to say he believed it (this could easily be mind tricks, an illusion, something involving a virtual simulator), at least not until he could prove he wasn't being tricked. So when the offer was made, he didn't exactly reply. Chalking it up to confusion and perhaps a needing a little time to adjust, they gave him the option of coming back to the decision later, and they left him alone after running a routine scan to make sure he was fit to leave the facility.

He didn't notice it while they were talking, but his mask was sitting by him on the table the whole time.

▶▶▶

[ ʜᴀʙɪᴛᴀᴛ ᴅᴇᴄᴋ ]

A. Watchpoint: Gibraltar
If he didn't think he was being tricked before, this sure convinces him he is being tricked now more than ever. Watchpoint: Gibraltar is a very distinct landmark, and how it's just oddly placed alongside other foreign structures make this all the more confusing. What's the point of all this? Why is this landmark here, placed like this?

He reaches out to touch the side of the wall as if testing to see if it's real, clawed fingers clacking audibly against it.

B. The Temple of Anubis
The Temple of Anubis also stands alone on its own, like someone just laser-cut around the area, lifted it up, and placed it down onto this plot of land. It's jarring. Suspicious. He has nothing to work with though, only able to continue along with presuming this is all just some elaborate plot to get into his head.

The more he wanders around, flitting through the darkest shadows and corridors of the temple, the more real it all feels. It's unsettling. He entertains the thought of this all being real– but if it is, the coincidence of being brought to some place (another universe?) that reminds him too much of Overwatch is almost a little too ridiculous to consider.

Comments

IT'S TIME

[mylawn]

Reaper isn't the only one exploring Gibraltar. 76 still isn't convinced this isn't some simulation, even with Ana and Reinhardt providing ample evidence to the contrary. Stumbling upon a startlingly accurate reproduction of an old Watchpoint, it takes him a moment to remind himself that this is either Ana or Reinhardt's, probably. He'd been given the option to somehow create his own space in the habitat deck, so it's not out of the question that one of them did the same, and thought this was a good idea.

He can't blame them for wanting something familiar, but he finds it unsettling, and he doesn't go in without his gun.

Still, he's not exactly subtle, his boots on the floor of the corridor giving him away--but he's confident in his ability to handle any potential threats, like the one that's making that noise. 76 comes to a stop in the hall, listening for the source, quieting his footsteps as he starts to approach.

TIME TO KILL

[fantasmaniac]

He's been in shittier conditions than this, and in a much more disoriented state of mind, so he has no trouble picking up the footsteps that clomp heavily in his general direction. Still letting his clawed gauntlet scrape around a corner as he finds a corridor to lay in wait, he wonders who's wandering around in Gibraltar. Weird makeshift Gibraltar. They sound confident.

Upon realizing he didn't have his spooky smoky hammer-space anymore, he carries one shotgun in one hand while the other remained strapped to his hip. It's only when he stops moving, pressing up against the wall to listen, that he notices the footsteps have dulled dramatically.

They're trained. Of course- it's still a simulation in his mind, the most likely scenario of all this. Of course they'd throw someone that's well-trained at him. Then what- this is some kind of training exercise? Seems stupid...

[mylawn]

76 takes note that the noise stops when he quiets his footsteps, which means that someone is, in fact here, and they know he’s here, in turn. He raises his gun, not entirely certain that whoever (or whatever) he’s about to encounter isn’t hostile. When he lifts a hand to activate his visor and starts scanning the general vicinity while continuing to make his way down the corridor, he comes up empty.

That does not, however, indicate that someone isn’t around. 76 knows there are a few reasons why something might not show up on his environment scanner.

“I know you’re there.”

It’s a risk, revealing himself, especially when there’s presumably a corner between him and whoever else is around, but he wants to let them know that they’re not going to get the drop on him.

Whoever they might be.

[fantasmaniac]

Of course it would be him. Maybe this simulation is smarter than he took it for, able to scan his mind for the one asshole that's on his mind whenever Overwatch comes up (which, let's be real, is very often). He doesn't bother hiding for long, as he pinpoints the location from where the voice is coming from, slowly stepping out of the corridor and into the hall.

He's on one end while 76 stands on the other, and while this super direct method of attack isn't his thing, he figures it's only right to do it here. Plus it's a pretty cramped corridor. Trying to mosey out of there unnoticed wouldn't be easy.

"Well, well... look who it is."

Hologram Jack. It'd be easy to imagine him as real, as he'd only just seen him not too long ago in Egypt, but he tries to reign that information back. He has no idea who else could be watching or will be watching later on down the line.

[mylawn]

76 freezes in the hall, because Reaper is the very last person he wants to see. He's still incredibly dissatisfied by what was left unfinished in Giza--still thinks he could have got the upper hand on Reaper, still angry that he turned tail and ran as soon as he realized he couldn't take 76 and Ana.

This time, there's no one else to get in the way, and he's ready.

He doesn't even bother to answer, and the gun is all but forgotten almost instantly. No, it's just him and Reyes in this hallway, and he's closing the distance with blinding speed, cocking his fist back to swing a punch.

b for badly as in "this will go badly"

[thewildflower]

She hasn't been here for long, but the idea of habitats, pieces of other world, it's a strange one to Rebecca. It feels almost invasive to intrude on someone else's private area, too, but she's been trying to find where her own is without asking for help. She's had enough asking for help. This might be a strange future world, but she can't depend on others all the time.

She's standing on the outskirts of the habitat, not wanting to venture in too deep, but it's still gaudy enough to draw her attention. She stands at the bottom of one of the Anubis statues, wondering just what the purpose of these muscular, armored dog men is. Whether Reaper is on his way in or out when he notices Rebecca, she'll call out to him—and if he's being a little too sneaky, maybe her precognition warned her of his arrival a few seconds ago.

"Ah! Is this your place? I'm not really trying to intrude, it's just so...big. It really stands out."

oh boy oh boy

[fantasmaniac]

Small footsteps, either careless or confident, approach him, so his first reaction is to definitely be a little too sneaky. Despite his efforts, she still manages to call out to him, but in all honesty? She's probably the strangest thing he's come up against. The fact that she looks so utterly harmless, for one, is jarring. He'd been expecting more than that if his hunches were correct about this place.

Perhaps it's a test? Well, that's one way to look at it. Either way, he takes care not to let his guards down.

"The Temple of Anubis holds no importance to me."

He knows it does to somebody else, but not him directly.

"Looking for trouble, kid?"

[thewildflower]

The Temple of Anubis...it was an elegant name, of that much she was certain. If only her company was more elegant; she's barely begun talking to him, but with his state of dress and his first few words...well. Rebecca knows she's somewhat naive, so she vows to be a little careful.

"Ah...is that so? I wonder who it belongs to, then. Probably someone majestic."

She shrinks slightly when addressed like that.

"It's R...it's Bracer, actually," she corrects herself, protesting the word 'kid'. "I'm not looking for anything, really, I'm just looking around." But her voice wavers just a little.

[fantasmaniac]

He's about as elegant as a snarled thorn bush. All sharp corners and cinched waist, he cuts both an intimidating but rather comical figure that seems to draw in a strange mixture of awe and ridicule. Doesn't matter- he doesn't give a shit. Haters can go die for all he cares.

"Majestic." He repeats, with a generous amount of ire. It might not quite register with Rebecca, though, since she doesn't really know the relationship between him and the ex-members of Overwatch. It might be Fareeha. It might be Ana. Either of them could fit the bill, if he were to be totally candid.

The correction gets a slight downward tilt of his head, looking down at her. Fully turning himself so that he's coming towards her with purposeful strides, he chuckles under his breath. It's a deep, raspy sound, like he'd been smoking ten packs a week for the past year or so.

"Ever think something might coming looking for you? Danger usually finds itself preying upon unsuspecting victims."

Is that a threat?

B

[jonesiseverywhere]

Last time Casey explored an ancient temple, he got someone's arm cut off.

OK, it was a robot but whatever, he's not making that mistake twice. Just leaving the temple alone is not an option for Casey, not when there might be something cool to find. A cursed dagger? A golden idol? A whole pack of poison mummies to beat down? The possibilities are just too enticing for him.

But the absolute last thing he expected to find? A copycat.

Casey hides around the corner of the temples walls to watch the other guy in the skull mask and hood. He's no ninja like his turtle pals, but he can stay out of sight well enough.

Too bad he can't help the little noise of disgust when he realizes this guy is totally jacking his swag!

[fantasmaniac]

Reaper has had plenty of training to know when he's being watched. It only makes him metaphorically roll his eyes when he hears a soft sound of disapproval in his vicinity, and he gathers it's probably some dumbass punk snooping around.

There's quite a few oddities in this program, he thinks. It starts chalking up to Definitely Suspicious and Possibly Not a Virtual Reality, which... is really not all that better, but better than being monitored.

It doesn't mean he's going to let his guard down, and he's certainly not going to waste his bullets. He found out early on that he cannot materialize his weaponry anymore. Frustrating. But despite all that, he readies his Hellfire shotguns anyway and slowly– almost like he's fading into smoke, soft tendrils of black wisps fluttering at the edges– he melts into the shadows of a dark entryway. Not too dark that someone wandering in couldn't adjust to it quickly enough, but dark enough that he probably wouldn't be able to trust his own eyes.

[jonesiseverywhere]

Wait, what?

Casey watches this guy start...smoking? from his hiding place and his immediate impulse is to draw his hockey stick. He acts on that one but not the impulse that tells him to go in swinging. Especially when he blinks and the guy is gone. OK, weird. And it sets off some alarm bells in his head.

And he doesn't pay attention to any of them, stepping out from behind cover and gripping his stick in a defensive stance. His body is alert and his senses are all focused on finding the copycat creep. Which he does in time to realize that he...might not have gone all that far if that shape in the corner is any indication.

"I know you're there!" He shouts, just in case it actually is him. "G-get out here and I won't hafta get rough with ya!"

[fantasmaniac]

Oh.

Were you talking to him? Sorry, that's nothing but a broken pillar, jagged in edges that may have reproduced the look Casey may have been looking out for. But to his credit, Reaper is still nearby.

There's a fluttering sound behind him.

B.

[justicecoulduseanap]

They'd let her come up with a design for a section of the habitat deck when she'd joined the Legion, and she'd picked the Temple of Anubis on a whim. Picking Cairo would have been odd, leaving it devoid of people, so she went with something she was used to seeing a bit more deserted.

She also didn't spend too much time there, though. Mostly because after years of wandering on her own, it was nice to actually be around people. But she did stop in from time to time, just to get some peace and quiet.

She'd just gotten used to her flight ring, too, and used it to land fairly high up on one of the many dusty buildings that lined the streets. It was just then that she heard movement off in the distance. Almost instinctively now, she activated her invisibility powers, heading off to get a clearer view.

Still hidden from sight, she saw him as she perched from atop one of the crumbling pillars. She didn't have her rifle with her, so she carefully aimed her tranquilizer pistol at him.

Reaper would probably sense the pair of eyes staring holes into him from a distance, if his instincts are still what they used to be.

[fantasmaniac]

Don't worry, Ana. He hasn't lost his edge (ha, get it). If anything, he's very much aware of something- someone- shifting in the atmosphere, sensitive to the presence of anything living and with a heartbeat. He obviously doesn't see her, nor can he pinpoint her location, but that vague feeling of being watched is ever present.

He doesn't stop moving, keeping his pace at an almost leisurely stroll. His guards remain up, ready for anything. It's not like he assumes random people will just start shooting at him, but he can't say that hasn't happened to him before. Especially with the way he's dressed (everything just screams edgy 90's villain) and how infamous he is.

It's only when he brings himself out into the open, right smack in the middle of the open area does he stop. Surrounded by pillars and twisting walkways and hallways, there's plenty of ways to get the drop on him, but he just remains where he is in hopes of enticing the person watching him.

[justicecoulduseanap]

Of course, Ana's not stupid. She's a sniper. Even if she's trained in martial arts, her forte is attacking from a distance, so getting into a close-quarters skirmish with anyone is not something she'd do lightly.

Especially not against him.

Instead, she picks a spot where she's sure the abandoned corridors and open market will carry her voice enough that he won't be able to pinpoint exactly where she is when she speaks up. She was pretty sure the Legion wouldn't appreciate her starting a firefight in their home base, so she decided to see if she can get him to play nice.

"You're looking well, Gabriel," she said, maintaining her aim. "I can change that if you try anything funny, though."

She'd loved him like a brother, once. But that was a long time ago.

[fantasmaniac]

"You..."

He repeats, a line he remembers using the last time he'd encountered her. She was always there to try and break up the fight. A nuisance. Someone who he remembers having a vague amount of respect for, but now he can't bring himself to feel. She had gone through something similar as he and yet, she still believed in them.

His stance remains infuriatingly neutral. Her presence doesn't rile him up as much as some others did, as she kept her distance. Smart. As usual.

"Hmn, guess that depends what you find 'funny'."

For a simulation, these things are way too specific. There's way too much information. He's rapidly coming to the conclusion that this is For Real, and even if there is a slight amount of doubt that it might not be? There's way more consequences in treating this like a virtual reality than something real. It's a tough gamble.

B

[unrecovered]

When he has the time, Wash has taken to wandering the habitat deck. The unfamiliar landscapes are a good distraction for when he'd rather let his mind wander than think about anything in particular (like getting attacked, the possibility of a mole within the Legion, tanking his friendship with Chief...there's quite a list right now). He's found himself in what looks like a temple straight out of Egypt - probably Ana's space, if he has to guess. There's something oddly peaceful about the stillness here-

Which is almost immediately broken as something pings his motion trackers, not far from where he is and heading towards him. Normally he wouldn't be too worried - the only people allowed down here without an escort are Legion, after all-

-But there's a mole in the Legion right now.

So he settles himself close to the nearest wall, quiet and waiting and ready, just in case.

[fantasmaniac]

The problem with not agreeing to the Legionnaire's oath is probably situations like this. He has no idea about the mole rumor, aside from the network broadcasts he'd gotten a look at, but he doesn't care. If they want to jump to conclusions and point fingers at a guy that just got here, then that's their problem.

He is sensitive to sensing living things in his near vicinity, his cold and lifeless lack of a heat signature being a stark contrast to those who have them. It's not a specific skill he has, but years of training just has him attuned to these sort of hair-raising details.

There's a pile of wooden crates and vases littered around the market place, still dusty and untouched, which he picks up carefully and turns it around in his hand. He traces a crack forming along the side with a claw, the tinny sound of metal against ceramic ringing through the air.

Where are you... he wonders. It almost seems like he's waiting for something, for a good long minute that seems like more, before he twirls around and flings the vase at the wall where Wash may or may not be.

[unrecovered]

After a few moments, the blip drops off his trackers, which is not at all reassuring given the ugly scraping sound that follows it. Okay, someone's being a creep. Great. He does his best to track the source of the noise, keeping an eye on his trackers in case the blip shows up again-

Which is about when a vase comes flying from right the fuck out of nowhere and shatters against the wall a few feet away from him. He nearly jumps out of his skin and whips around, searching for the source of the vase. Judging from the trajectory, the source is in the general vicinity of where the ping dropped off his trackers. Of course.

There are several smart ways to approach this situation, and several exceedingly stupid ways. In a moment of pique, Wash picks one of the latter. "This isn't a fucking horror movie!"

[fantasmaniac]

Oh, sure it is. It'll be a horror movie because his presence practically decrees it. To make things worse, Reaper is floating around in his wraith form: a vicious black cloud rippling and weaving in out of the shadows, where if Wash looked out of his peripherals, he'd only catch that glimpse of a smoky trail.

It's also probably why he's not showing up on the tracker anymore, either.

Reaper doesn't even have to try so hard with this guy, as he just outs himself by yelling out into the open. All he does is quietly teleport himself behind the guy a couple feet away using his Shadow Step, and aim his shotgun straight at the back of the guy's head.

"Boo."

[justicecrusader]

Reinhardt had chosen Watchpoint: Gibraltar on a complete whim, honestly. He hadn't given it much thought outside of it being something familiar to him, that reminded him of the good old days of Overwatch. Granted, in retrospect, it had been a bit silly to ask for an entire watchpoint as his biome, especially given how it was completely devoid of any staff. But all the same, in a fantastical world where he went on space missions and fought intergalactic threats... it was nice to have something to keep him grounded.

There were some pants of the watchpoint that he specifically frequented. The crew quarters, the command room, even the laboratory, where he spent most of his time with Winston. Mostly though, he liked to be outdoors. As such, he had quite a few campsites outdoors, one of which he was resting by...

... before he heard that noise.

"Ah, is someone there?" He called out, sitting up from the ground. His armor left in the crew quarters, if only because he figured he didn't need it. He glanced around, trying to see if he could spot whoever made that noise. But at the moment, he saw nothing. "Please, come join me! I will be making s'mores in but a moment!"

[fantasmaniac]

Trying to suss out who could've brought such specific landmarks into this simulation isn't too difficult, but hearing that voice call out to him made it all the more obvious. Of course Reinhardt would've chosen such a nostalgic point. Hearing how at ease, friendly, and relaxed he is makes him want to laugh- just, wow, some people are just warming up to this place.

Then again, they probably didn't expect Reaper to show up all 'Surprise, Bitch. I bet you thought you saw the last of me' and ruin their little party. A meme a little before his time, but still a good one.

He doesn't answer Reinhardt, naturally. Instead, he quietly makes his way around to the other side. While he doesn't really make any footsteps in this form, the billowing of the clouds around him flap gently in the breeze. If Reinhardt can hear well enough, then, he might notice a sort of uneasy activity around him.

If anything, Reaper wants to avoid getting into a fight with him. Even without his armor, he's a force to be reckoned with, and without any backup bullets, Reaper is pretty much stuck running away from him.

[justicecrusader]

Oh, he heard something alright. Even if it wasn't footsteps, there was no denying the tell tale signs of activity somewhere in the area. Reinhardt may have been at ease right now, but he was still a veteran. But really, the whole thing made him more confused than uneasy, the idea that someone might be trying to hide from him making him wonder who it'd even be.

Maybe it was Jack. After all, he wasn't exactly... social.

"Jack, if that is you, I promise I will not carry you like a sack of potatoes again!" Reinhardt called out, grunting as he stood up from the ground. All the while, trying to restrain the chuckle that threatened to leave him at the recollection.

[fantasmaniac]

Part of him is hoping he won't move from that spot and will leave it be, but there's also that insane part of him that wants to bristle up and laugh in Reinhardt's face. Jack... bringing up his name in such a familiar and friendly way, something about hearing his name always gets his blood boiling.

He wonders what would happen if he confronted Reinhardt now. Would he kill him? Would he succeed? And if he did, and this was all just some complicated VR scenario, would he wake up? The plan seemed crazy enough to work. Even if it wasn't a VR scenario, he wouldn't exactly 'die', either.

Without a word, he makes his way up towards a higher point, standing on a ledge where he can see Reinhardt and his campsite from a good distance away. He won't call out to him, just watch him- just watch him until he notices him there.