Log:Lessons from Riptide

The_Big_Time|The Big Time 2013/04/24 	 Ghost-2 Scrapper Sukeban Titan Anthony Quinn|Quinn Riptide 1

Champions Mush - Wednesday, April 24, 2013, 11:33 AM

Sandy Bottoms Island ''Sandy Bottoms Island sits within the broad curve of Colonial Bay itself. The south of the island is composed of craggy rocks, and here the large historic lighthouse stands; the bridge too ends its great arch on this firmer ground, close by the Oceanarium. On the eastern side of the island, at the end of the rocky outcropping, is the old prison. The majority of the island, to the leeward, is a broad sweep of softer ground, coarse sand and small pebbles. The more secluded of Colonial Bay's beaches are here, as are the ruins of an old fishing village. Sparse sea grass sprouts here and there and many seabirds frequent the island as both nesting grounds and a place to rest between searches for food. ''

Scrapper waits on the beach for her "lesson" with Riptide. She's not very good at waiting and paces nervously. Almost without thought, boots made of some purple force with little swirls of red and black appear over her shoes as the waves come in, keeping them dry.

Riptide, does not arrive via normal human propulsion methods. No, since he spends most of his time under water he swims at the surface at speed. At /real/ speed. As he launches himself out of the air to fly gracefully through the air and land on the island the water behind him sucks down into a wicked undertow which is similar to his namesake. Pushing long hair out of his face as he drips water to the ground around him Riptide looks around and upon spotting Scrapper, a smile touches his face. "Am I late?" He asks curiously, "Time, is different up here, than down there." He nods his head to the ocean.

Quinn is out enjoying himself with a bit of a joyride. Rather than hovering high above the Earth for another orbital highdive he is doing almost the exact reverse, seeing just how close to the wavetops he can get while flying rapidly. In deference to the people on nearby boats and to the local wildlife he keeps his speed down slightly below the speed of sound to avoid the sonic boom he would create but the shock of his passage nevertheless raises a spectacular 'rooster tail' behind him.

Scrapper grins at the twin displays and says to Riptide, "No, you are right on time. Riptide, may I introduce Anthony Quinn, a man whose intelligence and technical ability is as 'unaverage' as my strength. Q, this is Riptide, newly arrived to both Colonial Bay and the surface world."

Riptide looks over at Q, "Yes, I met him the same day I met you Jo." He says with a smile, "His dive suit is most intriguing. And well armed, if I remember correctly." He looks back over towards Scrapper, "And I recall he automatically assumed I could not take care of myself. I assumed our lessons would just be you and I."

Attracted by the sight of Riptide's waterspout Quinn changes direction and swings toward shore before Scrapper's introduction, decelerating rapidly to avoid dragging a small wave behind him when he lands. "Yeah, we've met," he says after Jo makes the introductions. His faceplate pops open and retracts. "I was just in the neighborhood," he says to Riptide.

"And it wasn't so much that I was assuming you couldn't take care of yourself," Quinn adds with a grin. "Often the problem is that newcomers are far too capable of taking care of themselves."

Scrapper nods, "Q tends to drop in whenever he sees something unusual: purple glows, sonic booms, swimmers outrunning boats. I just took the opportunity to show you how to do a proper greeting, since some people tend to skip over that sort of thing."

Scrapper says, "As the person who knows the others best, giving the introductions fell to me. Note that the greeting also included a small interesting fact to start conversation in addition to the party's name, although names alone is acceptible. If you hear somebody give introductions like that and leave off a person, either that person wishes to be ignored or the person giving the introductions doesn't know them."

"Oh!" Riptide's expression clears up and he smiles wider, "Thank you. I... had thought you wanted him here for protection against me. I do not look like people from the surface, after all." He looks down a bit but then he's always looking down, well, most of the time, he's a tall guy. "I apologize for thinking wrongly." Then to Quinn he cocks his head to the side, "Does your culture not pride itself on being self sufficient and able to take care of ones self in day to day things? Being offered a 'spare' seemed to me as if you wished to entrap me where you could keep an eye on me, and to show off your power in housing so many people. I apologize for my mistake." He looks back to Scrapper and nods. "I see."

Quinn nods to Riptide and smiles. "Sure," he says, "we pride ourselves on self sufficiency a lot but consider two different things. First off, someone who has just arrived is very unlikely to have any money with them. Where will they stay? How will they pay for food? Because we pride ourselves on self sufficiency a lot of places will turn someone away if they don't have any money. They might be very wealthy but if they haven't brought something of value here and they are able to find someone who can exchange that into the local currency they could still find themselves in some difficulty.

"Secondly," Q says, "there are the issues of culture. Someone from a hierarchically structured society might expect that he is simply allowed to do certain things simply because of their position, such as staying at an hotel or eating at a restaurant without payment. It isn't that they can't pay. They are simply unaware that they should.

Scrapper nods, "In addition, natives sometimes relax proper behavior so simply copying what others do is not always best."

Riptide considers, "My people, we have a caste system but all caste's are equal to one another. A warrior is equal to a scientist who is equal to a mystic who is equal to a laborer who is equal to a farmer, and so on. Our government is a council of the elders of each cast, all sharing the same representation. We do not have royalty, and abandoned the concept of fuedalism before the calamity." He smiles a little, "I /have/ been studying the surface world for some time. Scientific study as well as my own personal curiosity. It is how I learned this language. It is very different experiencing it rather than watching however."

[To Riptide] Scrapper says, ""So, given your studies, if I were with you and you started talking to someone else, when would I *not* want you to introduce me?"

[To Scrapper] Riptide says, "I have no idea. I did not get much chance to observe small scale interactions which is why I need your help yes?"

Quinn nods and smiles. "Glad to hear that," he says, "but I wasn't even really referring to aristocrats. Cultures are really tricky things. It is completely possible for someone's culture to say that a warrior is equal to a laborer and yet the laborer is expected to provide a home to the warrior. The warrior has a responsibility is to protect the laborer and in return the laborer has a responsibility to shelter the warrior. Neither is above the other. And in some cultures it might even be viewed as an insult to try to pay someone for sheltering you. It would imply that they are greedy and would only fulfill their cultural obligations because of gain."

Riptide's eyes narrow and he looks down at Quinn, "We are not barbarians and do not condone slavery of any kind. All services and goods must be paid for appropriately. Any warrior who demanded /anything/ of another caste would be met with derision and mockery. I am a warrior, it is what I was born to be. That does not mean it is all I am, and that it affords me any special priviledge. I make money as a warrior, guarding science missions, merchant caravans, or a farmers field." He pauses for a moment, rakes both hands through his hair. "I am doing my best to not try to judge your culture by the standards of my own. Please do not try and judge mine by the barbaric standards of surface cultures from the past."

Scrapper starts to say somthing about servants and bodyguards but swallows it when Q and Riptide carry the conversation away from lessons. She grins at Riptide, but remains silent.

Scrapper thinks .oO (I like him.)

Quinn gives a slight shrug of his shoulders. "When we first met I didn't know anything about your culture," he says, "I didn't know if it was a monetary based economy, a barter based economy, or a gift economy. I didn't even know you had been studying us. What I did know was that when people from outside our culture first arrive the two most common areas that trouble initially arises in are food and lodging, so I was trying to head off those possibilities proactively. As for barbarism and slavery," he shrugs again, "I was referring to nothing of the sort. I was referring to obligations rather than laws. In such an example a warrior who placed unreasonable demands on a farmer would simply be refused and everyone would view him as being in the wrong. The farmer isn't a slave and isn't expected to act like one. If he is unable to house the warrior for some reason he would simply refuse and the warrior would look for another farmer. To my view that would be a very elegant and enlightened culture, and I'm speaking from the perspective of someone who would be the farmer in that equation."

Scrapper says, "How about we concentrate on this culture instead hypothetical or historical ones?"

"Elegant and enlightened?" Riptide asks with eyebrow upraising, "I knew the surface was barbaric in many ways but... you are supposed to be an intelligent individual yes?" He looks back to Scrapper for clarification. "I should not judge." He says after a few moments, "I apologize. Again. I forget how different this world is from my own. I see this world, all the technology that has been developed, and I thought that there would be some commonalities on the personal scale. In any sense I am pleased to say that my culture, is far different than the one you had thought." He looks towards Scrapper, "Please." he nods, "I would like that very much."

Scrapper says, "Considering his power level, I thought the best topic to discuss after introductions would be vengeance."

Riptide asks, "Power level?"

Quinn gives one last shrug of his shoulders. "In this capacity I probably am not a typical example," he says. "Having a lot I believe I also have a great deal of obligation to assist people with it. Most people, however, probably are much closer to your society. I really only brought up the examples to show you why I was concerned and to tell you that I meant no insult."

"I find it disheartening that you feel you must be obligated to provide for anyone with less than yourself." Riptide says seriously and honestly, "While some may have more than others, there is always more to be had for those who work for it. Perhaps it is due to the inherent dangers of our environment."

Scrapper starts to draw on the sand trying to keep the conversation friendly. "Are you familiar with a bell curve?" she asks before proceeding anyway by drawing two slightly overlapping curves. "Most humans fall on one of two bell curves. So, for example, strength. The average person on this curve can lift about 100 kilograms, but the overage on this curve is closer to 400 or 800. Without his armor Quinn is on the high side of this larger curve. With his armor on, he falls just above me on the high side of this smaller curve."

Scrapper says, "These folks (pointing to the larger curve) tend to be wary of these folks (pointing to the smaller curve)."

Quinn chuckles a little. "I think you have a mistaken impression," he says. "I believe I have an obligation to help people, not provide for them. That is a whole other philosophical debate, however, and one we should have at another time."

"Yes I am familiar with basic mathematic concepts." Riptide says conversationally, "Who do you think taught the greeks?" He smiles and crouches down on the balls of his feet and rests his elbows on his knees as he looks down at the curve and then over towards Scrapper, "Why?" He asks curiously, "Should they not be happy there are those who are capable of such things? Warriors are physically more powerful than other Atlanteans, just as a scientist is smarter than I. I am not wary of their intelligence, I am grateful for it. Without their intelligence our culture would not be the great thing it is today. Same with laborer's and their endurance, mystics and their spirituality..." He hmms looking perplexed, "What do you think my power level is on this scale?"

Scrapper says, "That brings me back to the topic I wanted to talk about: vengeance. We can test your abilities, but given your swimming speed I'm fairly certain most people would consider you to be firmly on this curve. In your culture, what do you do when a warrior acts in a manner different that the way he should act?"

Quinn just lets Scrapper talk for now since the subject seems to be back on track.

"The same thing that happens to anyone else." Riptide explains, "They are subdued if they do not go willingly and are incarcerated until they can be judged by the Council. It does not happen often, usually in cases of mental trauma or illness. Reparations are made if necessary." He frowns a little, "It is a sad day for us all when such a thing happens due to it's rarity. If the Atlantean is found unfit and incapable of existing within our society they are banished."

Scrapper nods, "Good. Our societies are the similar in that respect, although incarceration is more common than banishment since we currently lack places to banish people to. The main problem in our society is that the difference between the two bell curves is sometimes so wide that those on this curve can't restrain those on the other one."

"I see." Riptide says seriously, "Why can't they be restrained? Your culture has lost it's mystics entirely? I had assumed that I just hadn't seen evidence of them... not that they were completely gone." He frowns then looks at Quinn, "Is that why your dive suit is so well armed? I had thought you simply were preparing for inevitable conflict with Lemuria being a dive suit."

Quinn nods to Riptide. "This is my combat suit," he says, "for dealing with situations like what Jo is referring to. I have a couple of others such as my exploration suit, but they are more lightly armed since they aren't really intended for conflict."

Scrapper says, "I didn't say they can't be restrained, just that it sometimes somebody like you or I to do it. Technically, my job at the castle over there is as a bodyguard: protecting one person or a few people from dangers presented by unknown others that would do them harm. In reality, my employer, Princess Stephanie is on this curve and has expanded the job of me and my team to protecting anyone who cannot defend themselves."

Riptide nods to Quinn and though is still frowning looks back over towards Stephanie, "Then, you have a very real problem with crime still. I had seen, movies?" He asks as if that's the right name, "I had thought they were fabrications for entertainment not documentaries."

Scrapper says, "Both. Explosions are prettier and less deadly in the movies. Fewer fireballs and more shrapnel."

"In addition to crime you've also got the occasional scientific mishap that runs amok, alien invasions, extradimensional incursions and every now and then zombies," adds Quinn. "I hate zombies."

Scrapper says, "You also have people like yourself from other cultures where the rules are not similar or enlightened."

Riptide nods, "I see." He says seriously and then sighs, "I still would term what we are talking of justice and not vengeance. Vengeance is... an ugly thing, with little moral ground causing as much or more harm than the original wrongdoing." He smiles, "Do not worry, I will be gentle with the locals should I need to protect the innocent." He then looks at Quinn and back to Scrapper, "Zombies? So then there is some magic left in the surface world, if only dark and twisted."

Scrapper smirks, "Not all is sick and twisted. I know some low magic."

"Oh?" Riptide asks, "When I asked about mystics and received no response I assumed the worst." He smiles at Scrapper, "I am pleased that it survives, in my homeland it was the combination of magic and science that allowed us to survive the calamity intact." He grows more somber, "Even then, we lost many lives that day."

Quinn nods to Riptide. "Oh, sure," he says. "Every now and then we have the odd magical explosion. The grounds of the Embassy," he gestures in its direction, "are highly magical. They cause all sorts of problems for my systems because someone decided to hack reality and left a very buggy version of it."

Scrapper says, "Many magicians ... most? ... learned elsewhere. It is not as common as technology."

Cecila makes her way to the island in costume. She's going at a leisurely pace as she probes the surroundings of the castle area and finds herself heading towards the beach

"I see." Riptide looks thoughtful, "I am not a magician. My knowledge of magic is scholarly rather than practical." He explains, "And it is for my people's magic. Maybe there are traces of Atlantis still in modern magic, I cannot say." He shrugs a little and then looks over towards Quinn, "Make a suit adapted to that version of reality." It's a simple suggestion, but clearly Riptide is not a scientist.

Scrapper blinks at Riptides suggestion, waves to Cecila, then says to Quinn, "Why not?"

A white rabbit, two foot tall, bipedal and wearing a formal evening Tux, appears beside Quinn.

Quinn chuckles a little at Riptide's suggestion. "Easier said that done," he replies. "That would require me spending time in the Embassy to learn what's going on there and that..." He taps twisting patterns in the center of his chest. "...presents its own problems."

Cecila remains rather oblivious to Scrapper's wave as she gets into earshot "Hey there, did someone decide to have a party on the beach without me" she asks having recognized at least Scrapper's voice and probably Q's.

Quinn looks down at the rabbit that has suddenly appeared. "All right. That's a new one," he states with an arched eyebrow.

Scrapper says, "Riptide, may I introduce the white rabbit, a projection of Ghost, one of my team mates. Rabbit, this is Riptide ... an ... Atlantean?" She looks to Riptide for confirmation of the description. ".. warrior."

A few seconds after the rabbit makes its appearance the hazy insubtantial figure of Ghost also appears from notwhere. "Hi. Jo, thanks for the introduction. My messengers can find people. And I can follow them. Hi, everyone. Anthony, it's you was hoping to speak with. Do you have a moment?"

Quinn nods to Ghost as she appears. "Sure," he says. "How did those reloads work out for you?"

"Yes." Riptide says to Scrappers comment even if the arrival of a strangely dressed white rabbit does seem to put the large purple man on edge. Maybe it's a natural predator of atlanteans. "How can you be sure it belongs to whom you think it does?" And then Ghost arrives, sorta, and he frowns again. "I think, perhaps, it is a good time to end the lesson Jo." He says simply.

[To Q] Ghost says, "Brilliant. Although I've been spending so much time in libraries I haven't fired one in anger as yet. But they work just fine in the Gym. Just fine. Thanks, Anthony, I'm really grateful.""

 Scrapper says, "What do you guys think of Riptide? I like his attitude and he does nice things for the decor too."

 Sukeban says, "Never heard of the guy."

 Ghost says, "The big purple guy, right? I don't know him. So I'll not make any comment."

A green amorphous blob of green magic stretches from the mainland, and quickly pulls back together into Lia. Lia examines the area, and spotting the gathering, she flies over to them, "Hello."

Quinn nods to Ghost and grins. "Never fired in anger? You were smiling the whole time?" he quips. "Glad that those are working for you. So what can I help you with?"

 Scrapper says, "He's new in town, so hasn't really acclimated yet. He swims faster than I fly, though."

As the crowd grows ever larger with more and more unusual arrivals Riptide takes a step back, towards the water and distancing himself from the group of people who clearly know each other, at least for the most part. He studies their interactions curiously, folding his arms across his chest and watching rather than involving himself.

Ghost waves to Lia as she talks to the others, but mostly Quinn. "I wanted to repay you, Anthony. I'm starting to get adjusted to the pitiful mana level here on Earth and Undermoon. Sufficiently adjusted that I'm pretty sure I can enchant your suit and that thing in your chest to function unimpaired in the Embassy and Undermoon."

Scrapper pauses, and takes a quick head count. Pointing, she says "Riptide, this is Ghost, Lia, and Bulldozer; all members of my team. Guys, meet Riptide."

Scrapper says, "The missing three are Bard, Titan and Sukeban."

Ghost turns and nods to Riptide, "It's a pleasure to meet you."

Quinn arches an eyebrow. "Really?" he says, seeming somewhat surprised. "That would be fantastic, really. Every time I have to take a shortcut through one of Lorelei's dimensions I'm always worried that I'll explode or something. I really would appreciate it."

Scrapper shuts up and lets the others get to know Riptide in their own way.

Lia turns to Riptide, looks to Ghost, nods her, then looks to Riptide and nods to him as well, "Yes, a pleasure to meet you. What brings you here?"

Ghost says, "I'll still be in your debt, Anthony. But I'm glad to give it a try. Even if it doesn't work..." She touches the hilt of her sword, "I'm not the enchanter here I was back home. But there's no downside. Either it works and you can travel to the Embassy and Undermoon without trouble, or it doesn't work and nothing happens.""

Riptide nods towards Ghost, and then looks at Lia, studying that one for a few moments too. Then at the question he answers, "I was attacked by surfacers who are attempting to invade the ocean and until I deal with them sufficient to return home without being followed, here I remain." He answers simply.

Cecila smiles some at the introduction "Hey there... so you were all saying something about a new guy... I take it that's him?" she asks for confirmation as wet sand springs up and forms into a chair for her to sit in and relax "Always nice to meet new people... Especially ones that arent trying to rob banks or cause trouble"

Quinn chuckles a little to Ghost. "All I did was give you some ammo," he says. "I'm pretty sure that making sure I can enter the Embassy without dying would more than balance the scales."

Ghost grins at Anthony and laughs, "The thought that if you could enter the embassy you and that impressive battlesuit of yours might help out occasionally never crossed my mind." She says.

Suddenly a warning horn sounds out from one of the towers of the aforementioned embassy.

Quinn laughs a bit at that. "Yeah, well, when I do get the chance to do that and help you out then the scales will be balance..." He cuts off as the warning horn is suddenly sounded.

Ghost says, "Oh-oh."

(Continued...)