week 2 - undine - saturday, post-trial

[completelycrazy]

[Newt! is! trying to burn off some nervous energy by doing laps around Shibuya!! It's not going well!

Because, wow, that trial was upsetting. They've all been upsetting, but this one really takes the cake. So he's not exactly in the mood for a conversation when he runs into Undine, but, well. Here they are.]

So are you still prioritizing #NotAllReapers or what?

[He's pissy.]

Comments

[alchemicalwater]

[WELL THAT DOES GET HER TO SMILE A BIT so good job there?]

If I was a reaper, maybe I wouldn't be so scared of everyone here.

[completelycrazy]

[That genuinely catches him off guard.]

Scared of everyone? Really?

[alchemicalwater]

Well not everyone, I guess.

[She is not afraid of Chiyo or Mary alright? And Setz is alright too. And probably Alex. Newt's got her more 'nervous' than 'afraid' as well.]

I'm...I'm not that strong, alright? I'm here alone, when before I always fought as part of a team. Even then, my powers were more 'utility' than 'damage output'. Most of the people here are bigger than me, have more useful psychs, and more than a few of them seem a little unhinged. Who wouldn't be afraid in that situation?

[completelycrazy]

Hm. Well, for starters, I think you need to reevaluate your definition of strength. Why are you so focused on damage output? I don't know what you get up to at home, but I don't think hitting harder is going to matter much here. Not if a Reaper decides to go after you.

[Which... is probably not comforting? He's never been great at being a shoulder to cry on. He's going somewhere with this, though.]

Brute force isn't going to win this game for us, and it's sure as hell not going to do a lick of good against the Reapers. They have a massive advantage here. The only way to bypass that is to be smart. Intelligence will get you way further than, I don't know. Punching stuff with abandon.

[NOT NAMING ANY NAMES...]

[alchemicalwater]

[Dude she hears you. Her partner tried to put out fire by shooting it.]

But that's what I mean: even if I make plans for defending myself, a lot of what I can actually do is limited to who I can partner up with.

[Like getting someone wet and then a lightning-user fries them. Or spreading water everywhere for an ice-user to freeze into icicles.]

I guess I do have an advantage for running away, it's pretty easy to make people slip and fall. But that doesn't help much if I'm cornered.

[completelycrazy]

[He bites his lip, considering this. She does have a point, but...]

Sounds to me like you just need to get creative. Is that why you're out here doing this? [He waves a hand at the wall that she's been soaking through their entire conversation.] Trying to turn water into bullets or something? That's never gonna work. [As awesome as that would be.]

Water can do plenty of damage to people, but its most dangerous in large quantities. Couldn't you conjure a bubble of water around someone's head, or something? Drown them? [...] If you had to, I mean. We're talking defense.

[alchemicalwater]

[Sobs is she really that obvious.]

It was something Sylvia had mentioned, back when we were alive. But I guess it's not possible, I've been at it for a while and I think I just made the wall wet.

And I probably could drown someone, but I'd rather not. I don't want to kill anyone, just stop them if they're trying to kill me. That was my thought with the water: if I could make it strong enough of a hit to sting at least, maybe it would startle them.

[completelycrazy]

Well, the drowning could be temporary. Just a distraction. You wouldn't have to follow through, just... Hold 'em hostage long enough to get away. But, hm. [He's thinking. It feels nice to put his smarts toward something more mundane than solving murders...]

A well-aimed spurt of water can do some damage. Like, one of those jets, but straight in the eyes? That'd stun anyone. Can you change the temperature of the water? That'd do the trick, too.

[alchemicalwater]

I don't think I can change the temperature of water, but I can move water that's already hot.

[She's tried that in the bath before.]

Maybe I'll just carry a cup of coffee with me everywhere.

[completelycrazy]

[That gets a chuckle out of him.]

Hey, there you go. With that kind of creativity, you should be just fine if anyone comes after you.