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[hearuthinking]

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[mehanizovati]

Not a clue, I am thinking retreat might be the only option. [well, so is fighting, and that weird robot man is now moving so viktor starts to head away, keeping a hand at jason's elbow just in case.

thankfully nothing seems to come out after them, a quick glance behind showing him the portal remains peacefully standing there. he doesn't stop moving just in case but he does ease the pace a bit, huffing an amused breath.] Well, so far so good. I admit I was worried we'd have to deal with an angry cyborg of some kind. Knowing the undercity they would try to mug us.

[hearuthinking]

[He's a little reluctant to go the fighting route. As long as that robot creature stays in its own world and doesn't attack them, Jason would rather just back off.

Jason has to admit it was interesting, and he's glad he got to see Viktor's world. He has to snort at that mugging comment]

Sounds like New York or Chicago, all right. My mama was always goin' on about people gettin' mugged in the big cities. It's why learning self-defense is important. Though I don't think any of the tricks would work on a fuckin' robot.

[mehanizovati]

[it was nice to see zaun again, even a weird, apparently more robot-filled zaun. now that it seems like they aren't going to have to fight a robot man he's perked up again. it's been a good exploration, what can he say? curiosity sated.]

Ha, she isn't wrong. Well, in the undercity it is nearly a rite of passage to get mugged at some point, I suppose. Less so topside. [so pretty much new york or chicago in all honesty. maybe a little weirder than either, which is saying something.] You make it sound like you grew up more in the country.

[hearuthinking]

Don't know if "country" is the right word, but it was a pretty small town. Most of the time there wasn't enough money to bother muggin' over.

[mehanizovati]

That and more likely to be recognized, I imagine. I've never lived in a small place, even now my lab is in the busier part of the Willful Machine. It's a little hard to picture the streets not always being swamped with people.

[hearuthinking]

If your home was anything like that portal? Yeah, I can see smaller towns bein' strange. [He nods a little] Right. Well, don't forget to swing by the stables sometime. I'll show you a taste of country life.

[mehanizovati]

Mm, mostly yes. That is where I spent the first half of my life, I then moved topside which was far safer but still very much a massive city. I've never been outside of those two before coming here. [he admits, so very much no idea what a smaller town might be like. certainly not the country, which makes him glance over with a faint smile.]

Will there be horses? That is very 'country,' no? [that's about as much as he knows a country life might have. crops? little fairs maybe??]

[hearuthinking]

This place changes every month. Hope you ain't too comfortable.

You're damn right. Pretty well-trained, from what I've seen. [Hey, there may be little Junimos coming out of portals, you never know]

[mehanizovati]

Oh, I know better now than to get comfortable. Look at what something as simple as looking after a lighthouse led us.

[honestly a stardew portal would be particularly hilarious. maybe some fresh fruit or wine would fall through, that would be worth it.] I'd like to see that. I have never seen a horse up close. Do you ride them?

[hearuthinking]

True. [Though it wasn't all bad. The bits where they joked and teased were nice]

Sure, I go horseback when I patrol sometimes. I'm gettin' more used to traveling by lantern, but the horses are good for when you don't wanna do that.

[mehanizovati]

I still owe you a meal though. Would you like to go to one of the stalls around here? [he hasn't really tried much of the 'local cuisine,' so to speak, so it'd be interesting.

somehow jason riding a horse charms him. it helps he's never seen someone do that either outside of books and thinks it looks incredibly dangerous to just dash about on such a large animal.] Truly? Where I am from patrols on horseback sound like Demacian knights. Get some armor and you might fit right in.

[hearuthinking]

I could eat. [And a bonus of hanging out without having to fight off creatures or any other weird Trench shit]

Armor would just slow me and the horse down. Not good when you're goin' after monsters. I got the vest I came in with, and the Hunter clothes protect me in the ways that matter.

[mehanizovati]

Excellent. [he gestures so they can start making their way more towards the bustle of people and away from the smattering of portals. he still glances over when they pass one, both wary and curious, but at a glimpse he just sees what looks like a little town. in new england. maybe a sign proclaiming it little hope.

they might be better off not stopping at that one.]

I always did wonder how they made that armor weight manageable for the horse as well. [he admits.] Do you have to fight often on your patrols?

[hearuthinking]

[Yeah that place isn't worth looking into. Jason gives a few of them glances as they pass. Some look medieval, some modern, some futuristic. It is a little interesting just how many different worlds there are. Jason pauses longer when he spots something that looks familiar, like Big Ben or a pirate ship. At one point he swears he sees two kids flying on a winged horse]

These portals are fuckin' wild.

[To the question, he makes a so-so gesture] I got a feeling we Hunters are gonna be busy thanks to these portals. Can't even imagine how many fuckin' monsters are leaking through. I've been gettin' pretty good on the crossbow, so if something is flying, you bet I'm goin' after it on a horse and shootin' it down.

[mehanizovati]

[viktor does stop a second to look at the pirate ship, humming a little over the design but moving on quickly- he loves ships but more so ones with engines he can obsess over. he is also in hearty agreement with that.] I have to thank you again for coming. I couldn't resist a chance to see into new worlds, even with the danger.

I had an infestation of these irritating little slimes outside my lab for a while. Harmless but I can only imagine the other things coming out if that many made it to my alley. [he hated those things So Much.] Impressive, I've never had particularly good aim. On horseback and with moving targets? You must be better than 'pretty good.'

[hearuthinking]

I didn't mind taggin' along. [And his agreeing had absolutely nothing to do with him wanting to see Viktor again, nope not at all]

If there's anything nasty in there, you just call me and I'll clean 'em out for ya. [he smiles a little] I'm a marine. They don't call us the "best of the best" for nothin'.

[mehanizovati]

Well next time we'll try something less dangerous, I think. [he imagines there will be a next time, and would like there to be. even with his goal of being a little more social than he was in his own world he thinks he'd make an effort for jason, especially after their lighthouse adventures.]

I will keep that in mind- thankfully they were more noisy than dangerous. [his lips quirk as he looks over.] Best of the best, hm? I will have to make sure that fighting dummy I am building you is quite sturdy then.

[hearuthinking]

There's bound to be somethin' that ain't fuckin' nightmares. [Maybe going along the canals or having a drink at the Earworm?]

I already can't wait to see it.

[mehanizovati]

[exactly the kind of not dangerous thing, both would be extremely up viktor's alley. for now he points out an open air food stall, the tempting smell of fried food of various types filling the air.] I've never tried there, what do you think?

I admit it will be an entertaining project. If you ever are in need of equipment like it you should let me know.

[hearuthinking]

Sure. If they serve it on a stick, we can eat and walk.

[He smiles and nods] You bet. Though with those three karate schools, I don't know how many people want basic self-defense lessons.

[mehanizovati]

I would hope they do, what is a good food stall without that? [he steps up and yes, there are several things on sticks, including some sort of grilled mushroom and meat combo that viktor nods to order himself. even with the hallucinations he still likes mushrooms, what can he say.

he considers that as he waits.] I did notice those, they seem to be enjoying themselves. [the tournament thing is kind of funny to watch go down like late night entertainment when doing science late at night.] I think offering what you do is important. Take me, I would not feel comfortable in those schools but it is important I learn to defend myself better here. The base level is foundation and foundation is the most important part of any education.

[hearuthinking]

It'll be fun to watch, in any case. [He makes an order himself, paying with stones or whatever the vendors may want]

You've been doin' great so far. We don't need to be in a fancy tournament to prove that.

[mehanizovati]

Precisely. We get the training done and free entertainment from the more rambunctious. [he offers a quirk of the lips to that, before waving a hand at jason pulling out payment.]

Allow me, please, I did drag you out here. A meal was part of the payment, yes? [he pulls out his own payment, usually he just does repair favors around but thankfully he keeps some valuable trinkets or the stones aside for things like this.]

[hearuthinking]

Fine, but I'm paying next time. [Is it too bold to assume there will be a next time? He hopes not] And it ain't like you twisted my arm. I wanted to come along.

[mehanizovati]

Very well- and to be fair I could have easily dragged us into a fight with monsters. [they were a bit lucky, which he'll take. he pays for the food, taking his own and regarding it before taking a bit. it gets a solid nod- pretty good! which is a relief, since he knows food stalls can be hit or miss.]