Almost As Good As Photoshop [SG]

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv181/SojiRem/salemsmithposttable.png);][atrb=width, 497][atrb=height, 297][atrb=style,border:0 blue none,b,Table][scrolly:h(266),w(296),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:65px;margin-left:201px;color:#c1c1c1;)]Salem Smith could have face/palmed. Salem Smith could have laughed. Salem Smith could have walked away from this kid as quickly as he could and just ignored the fact that he had ever even appeared before him. All three of these thoughts were bickering to be brought into reality, yet he did none. "Glad you think so," was the hum that escaped. At Eli's question, Salem deadpanned. "Soon enough," he replied. Not soon enough..... he mentally scolded himself. "Though... not soon enough..." he stated only to then realize he was contradicting himself. Shaking his head, the businessman sighed. "You know it's a little rude to chew a new friend up with questions, yes?" he asked forcing a calmer smile. [/scrolly]

[Admiral Striker General]

Honestly, there was some little part of Eli that wanted to laugh at the words 'new friend', and even that part was torn between 'are you serious' and 'omgyay'. However, much more of him turned sheepish instead, and that was what came out externally too. Looking off, he offered an "OH. Eh... Sorry? Heh.."

His gaze turned back up, more soulful than before and.. possibly slightly hurt? "I just really want to know where you think the cause stands, and what you personally want to see it accomplish... It's.. really easy, ya know? People saying they want change and reform, the nobles to go down, and so-on... but it's a lot harder to really do anything. If no one knows just exactly what they're doing to achieve that goal, it's really not much more than a pipe dream.. is it.." He.. hadn't really meant to get so deep into that, but.. well.. heh... That was about half innocent feedback and half his own frustrations with the inaction of supporters..

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv181/SojiRem/salemsmithposttable.png);][atrb=width, 497][atrb=height, 297][atrb=style,border:0 blue none,b,Table][scrolly:h(266),w(296),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:65px;margin-left:201px;color:#c1c1c1;)].........Ouch. Salem had no other words to describe the slice that had just made its way through his cranium. His face paled, and something far more somber than normal set itself on Salem's features. A part of him wanted to retaliate and shout something about it not just being a far off dream while another part of him retreated away and mumbled something extremely spineless. Between the two extremes, Salem found no words. Instead, he ended up looking away for a few seconds, focusing in on some detail that didn't even register in his mind. "Yeah... I know what you mean..." was the sigh of a reply that finally came. [/scrolly]

[Admiral Striker General]

I see.. thought the boy. Yes, it was most unfortunate then.. But he wasn't finished. "So... you really don't have any specific plans in the works..?" He didn't wait for an answer. He was going to guess if there was anything, it was either incomplete or small scale or lacked the man power to carry out, etc. He sighed slightly. "As many people as I've been talking to, it just kind of seems like things are.... really unorganized everywhere.. =/"

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv181/SojiRem/salemsmithposttable.png);][atrb=width, 497][atrb=height, 297][atrb=style,border:0 blue none,b,Table][scrolly:h(266),w(296),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:65px;margin-left:201px;color:#c1c1c1;)]Eli's words cut again, and Salem looked rather sharply and was about to retaliate with 'yes we have plans or maybe 'yes I have plans', yet as Eli continued, Salem shut his eyes and cut himself off. Reaching up, he brought a single gloved hand to his temple and ended up setting his index finger on it, pressing lightly. "It's what happens when ...." he broke off not wanting to explain that was what happened when a leader vanishes. Though it was somewhat common knowledge at least among some of the higher ranking rebels that their leader had seemed to suddenly disappear, Salem wasn't even sure that it was common knowledge beyond that. Though Eli seemed to be a kid, his questions seemed to resemble an adult's more, and Salem still knew very little of him.... [/scrolly]

[Admiral Striker General]

Ahh... Yes, good.. This was good. He didn't want to give into his failures, but neither was he denying them when called directly.. Eli wondered where he was going with his statement, though mostly assumed it was going back to the 'no one has resolve' bit. That passing of blame was something that would need to be worked out of him, but... Yes.. Yes, it seemed Eli had made a good decision in picking this man's name out of the few he'd heard in reverent whispers.

He was calm, level-headed. He was clearly frustrated with the way things were, and sounded to have a very solid long-term resolve. Yet outwardly.. Well, that was an interesting mix, really. He struck Eli as the sort of person who might be hard not to notice; though it may have been total coincidence, having just noticed the man by happenstance himself certainly didn't hurt that theory. But he appeared careful enough with information, even with Eli showing express interest right off, and the boy did wonder if in a normal situation this Salem might come off as rather uninteresting to one with whom he had little to discuss. Similarly, he.. might actually be pretty charismatic in a group of like minds, or at least he seemed to be on a good track and could probably be trained easily enough.

Yes, all right then. Eli could figure out an exact niche once he'd found a few more members for his council, but he'd made up his mind. He definitely wanted Salem to be on it. "It seems," he started, "total anarchy doesn't really work for anyone, does it." That was important to establish. "We don't need the lack of leadership... just different leadership.. Am I right..?"

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv181/SojiRem/salemsmithposttable.png);][atrb=width, 497][atrb=height, 297][atrb=style,border:0 blue none,b,Table][scrolly:h(266),w(296),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:65px;margin-left:201px;color:#c1c1c1;)]"Yes," Salem's voice answered back flatly. "We don't need a lack of system but a change in the system," he smiled a little more than before. "Perhaps a republic though seeing as straight democracy's cousin tends to be anarchy at times... Something more modern than this," he spoke a bit faster than before, but upon realizing this, he stopped and reminded himself to moderate his tone. "Such a system would even allow the common people a say in everything, and ...." he fell to humming lightly at this thought. [/scrolly]

[Admiral Striker General]

Awesome. Eli's smile brightened. "If that's the case... can I tell you a secret?" For a few seconds he stood, then became slightly uncomfortable. "I uh.. I'll need you to bend down to hear since I.. kind of can't stand on my toes.." His eyes motioned downward as he pulled up one pant leg enough to reveal some off-white plastic of sorts rather than skin, as well as the fact that.... hey, those weren't shoes. Eli rarely saw much point in wearing them when his feet were just as durable and probably even a little easier to clean, heh.

Dropping the pant leg, his eyes moved back up to Salem with a slight cheesy grin. "Yeah.." Sometimes he thought it might be a bit more convenient to make himself a bit taller, but... Eh. He was properly proportioned as it was, and he imagined at least very close to if not right at the height he would have been otherwise; and Eli was really pretty happy with himself. It might be nice to not be blind on one side, but the eye he had was pretty sharp, and anyway every little mark and mar had a story to it; personally, he always thought that was slightly cool, even if not all the stories were so much. "But secret?"

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv181/SojiRem/salemsmithposttable.png);][atrb=width, 497][atrb=height, 297][atrb=style,border:0 blue none,b,Table][scrolly:h(266),w(296),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:65px;margin-left:201px;color:#c1c1c1;)]A secret? A confused look came to Salem's face for a brief moment. Why...? What sort of secret would... even... be worthy of such previous questioning? As Eli explained that he couldn't stand on his toes then revealing the leg, Salem's bottom left eyelid twitched. Well... er.... well....uh... Is he trying to sell me so-... This thought was smacked away as Salem reminded himself that Eli had said a secret, and though a secret could somehow pertain to...er...yeah.... "I... I see..." Salem finally replied realizing that he had been standing there silently for a good few seconds if not longer. A complying motion followed, and Salem bent down before raising a had to cup his ear waiting to heart whatever this 'secret' was. Though his features were no longer light, they were serious at least. [/scrolly]

[Admiral Striker General]

Something in Eli was... a little more giddily pleased than he should have been when the older man complied with his ear cupped and everything. Still, he had to stay focused. Quietly but still spoken, he said, "I told you Mother didn't like everyone to know her name.. but..." Dropping to a true whisper, he leaned in. "But if you've been around long enough... you might know her by another one..."

[/size]

Eli raised his own hand to his mouth, opposite Salem's own hand. Between the two, this most crucial piece was completely guarded from the outside world. Even the Leafeon at Eli's heels could not have lip-read when he whispered a certain name to the man, followed by a few titles ranging from mundane to ominous which he may or may not have heard. Either way, each was articulated, presented carefully and with a minor sense of awe even from the one speaking. Leaning back, he fell into an easier smile, eye a bit more lidded now than usual as he waited for the response. For the first time in this whole conversation, he may have actually looked close to his true age. .. Maybe.[/blockquote]

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv181/SojiRem/salemsmithposttable.png);][atrb=width, 497][atrb=height, 297][atrb=style,border:0 blue none,b,Table][scrolly:h(266),w(296),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:65px;margin-left:201px;color:#c1c1c1;)]Salem's visage trembled, and it took everything in him not to fight off the natural desire to contort. Did ... did this... this kid know... who...how...did...he'd said 'Mother' but....Did he realize... As Eli finished and leaned back, Salem was left looking in awe for a few seconds. However, skepticism quickly killed his expression and guarded his thoughts, or at least it tried to. He could be lying... He could. He could be some sort of spy.... This was true. Did he believe these two thoughts, though? Did the child hint at any deceit previous to this? Did this boy even realize.... Salem was unsure. He had never heard of her having been a parent, though then again he wasn't one to ask having too high regard for her to pry. Now a days, he also knew what one did to separate himself from work and family, especially in the line of work that the rebels did... But.... "Do you... have any proof?" Salem asked almost a little exasperated for words and finding himself having a hard time making the words sound the way he wanted them to. Rather than the skeptical retort that it was meant to come off as, it was something far weaker in nature, and the tone could easily have been ridden off as greater interest now being put in. Though he tried to bury it, some part of Salem sparked with hope. [/scrolly]

[Admiral Striker General]

There was a very slight delay, and then laughed sheepishly; a light blush may have even painted his cheeks, though scarring helped a lot to hide it on one side. "Not really~"

Giving Salem a little space again, he motioned to pick back up walking. "I'm sort of adopted." 'Sort of' deserved more emphasis than he actually put on it. "But hey~ Just knowing that name at my age should say something, right?" Tilting back his head, he stared wistfully at the sky for a few moments, secretly wondering if Mother might be looking at it right now too.... For just that moment, Eli fought a sigh.

As another thought occurred, though, he looked quickly back to Salem and offered, "Oh~ Though if you ever met her personally, I do have a picture in my wallet? ...Though it doesn't help much if you haven't.. Heh."

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv181/SojiRem/salemsmithposttable.png);][atrb=width, 497][atrb=height, 297][atrb=style,border:0 blue none,b,Table][scrolly:h(266),w(296),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:65px;margin-left:201px;color:#c1c1c1;)]Despite the fact that the boy didn't have proof, Salem couldn't... shake the feeling. Damn it all if he raised his hopes too high too soon and damn it all if he didn't react quick enough to catch this opportunity to know more if Eli was being truthful. As Eli started walking, Salem followed not saying much of anything even as Eli continued. If he could get into contact with her..if.... Salem was getting ahead of himself and knew it, yet... this obscure giddy feeling that was settling itself in him and brushing away the frustration was hard to ignore. Stop. Stop. He's still just a kid and he could have... gotten lucky with that name.... But that didn't seem likely..... It was only after a moment that Salem had realized Eli had asked him a question. A picture? "Do show~" he grinned a little. If it was her... then... well... not all doubt would be erased but.... he'd at least allow this feeling to persist. [/scrolly]

[Admiral Striker General]

Eli chuckled a bit and quickly produced said wallet from his back pocket. This picture was something he kept with him at all times; he could scarcely function without it. If it came down to it, he.. he was sure he could press on for Mother's sake, but he really just didn't like thinking about that at all. Having this little extra piece of her with him was invaluable to the boy.

He pulled out the leather folds and opened the full pouch, fingering through... were those random papers or Pen bills? It was hard to say for certain, but it actually looked more like the latter.. and a fair amount of them at that. Before there was much time to judge, though, the photo was pulled out and the wallet closed. "Here<3"

He wasn't offering, of course; just holding it to see. Certainly the woman looked a bit different than Salem may have ever seen her, both because this picture was well over five years old and because she was.. well, very well-dressed. Such wasn't too strange for a family portrait though, right? Around her waist was wrapped a much smaller Eli, unmistakable even with shorter hair and suit. At Eli's feet was a three-legged Indigo Eevee; naturally, the boy had insisted on allowing his very best friend in the picture too. :> "I was.. thirteen here, I think. ..Maybe twelve. Heh."

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv181/SojiRem/salemsmithposttable.png);][atrb=width, 497][atrb=height, 297][atrb=style,border:0 blue none,b,Table][scrolly:h(266),w(296),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:65px;margin-left:201px;color:#c1c1c1;)]As the picture was produced, Salem bent down a little and looked it over. Indeed, the woman looked a little different, but though the skeptical part of him wished to press this, the full belief overpowered the doubt and ended up tossing it into the back of his mind. As Eli spoke, Salem's eyes suddenly snapped up to him again. Twelve or thirteen? The boy certainly looked older now but... how much older? He ... looked like a kid. Salem would have guessed him to be about twelve or thirteen, and this thought had only been slightly deterred by Eli's persistence and questions, which would have possibly fit that age group for all Salem knew, anyways. "How old are you... exactly?" the silver haired man asked standing up fully again and pushing up his sunglasses. [/scrolly]

[Admiral Striker General]

Eli grinned sheepishly. "Heh!" He.. Actually he didn't get that a lot, though he kind of expected to. He guessed most people didn't have enough reason to doubt their impressions to ask, haha. Of course, that was exactly the way he liked it. If he looked his age, people would expect him to act it, and where the hell would the fun be in that? "Oh, I'm nineteen~" he chimed. As he spoke, he quickly put his beloved photo back in its place and his wallet back into his pocket, pulling his sweater back down over that. Aside from comfort and style, he liked his oversized shirts because it made his pockets a little less accessible. Thieves were certain to be more abundant in the country's current state than ever, and Eli didn't care to take excess chances.. heh. Not that he actually gave much thought to it; even his appreciation of his shirts was only half conscious.

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv181/SojiRem/salemsmithposttable.png);][atrb=width, 497][atrb=height, 297][atrb=style,border:0 blue none,b,Table][scrolly:h(266),w(296),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:65px;margin-left:201px;color:#c1c1c1;)]Nineteen? So he was a legal adult? He was not some preteen or early teen aged kid running around? Well... it could have -or rather did- fool Salem, at least. Somewhere in the back of his mind, a new paranoia was slowly starting to grow which would encompass children into his higher information guarding of sorts. After a moment, he chuckled a little to himself and offered Eli a smile. "Oh my, almost twenty," he hummed a little as he started to walk yet again. "Is your birthday coming up any time soon?" Not that Salem really cared, but something, possibly a mix between habit bound courtesy and a desire to continue conversation without any more awkward pauses. Ah... right, a bit more back on topic then. "And... you said earlier that you were going to help out in place of your mother or...? What happened to her?" The first question carried a more ambiguous confused tone while the second question stemmed strictly from worry. He doubted she was dead. It ... wouldn't add up... but then again.... "She's alright, isn't she?" he asked. [/scrolly]

[Admiral Striker General]

"Hm? Ah, no, it was a few months ago," he said on the subject of his birthday.

When Salem asked what happened to Mother, Eli shot him a look that seemed to scream 'don't even think like that!' Taking a deep breath, he sighed and calmed down, though. "Of course." Once again, he drifted into that tone that seemed to ask 'did you really need to ask?'

Finally reacquiring a smile, he elaborated. "She's planning. Preparing, waiting. We're not in a good enough position to strike yet." Where perhaps it should have become a bit darker, Eli's expression instead became.. distant. More whimsical, even. Bordering on euphoric. "But that's what I'm here for...~<3 And you Salem... You're going to help me~" The words were nearly sung, and faded into a laugh that radiated innocence. This was.. a dream to the boy. More than just 'his dream', it really felt as though he was drifting through a world of surrealism. At last... at long last... Things were actually starting.

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv181/SojiRem/salemsmithposttable.png);][atrb=width, 497][atrb=height, 297][atrb=style,border:0 blue none,b,Table][scrolly:h(266),w(296),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:65px;margin-left:201px;color:#c1c1c1;)]Ah....This is good then... Something heavy that he wasn't aware of had lifted itself up off of Salem and disappeared completely. So she was still alive and still working. That was good. That was very good. Even if he received such a look from Eli in response, Salem didn't quite care. But... She sent Eli here then... and... So that was... why he had been targeted? Had he seriously just assumed that he would drop down and help? What kind of--- a child. A child would speak that way. A child would assume that because he had heard the story, he would be instantly tied to him. But... but even still apart from that.... With the knowledge that this boy was a tie to her..... Salem couldn't deny that he wanted it when it came down to it. This was what he was looking for. This was the new start to a new direction that he had been hoping for. Even if it came in a different sort of package than he had been expecting. There had been proof. That picture was her.This.... A laugh escaped from Salem and vibrated the air. "I see...." he replied as his face lightened. "Then let's start a revival~" he grinned a little. I'm not following a kid though.... He mentally stressed to himself. I'm following his mother.... the leader.... Even if that meant, in turn, he was subordinate to this boy.... [/scrolly]

[Admiral Striker General]

Eli let out a giddy laugh and clapped his hands together, or as well as he could while still holding his cane. "Great~!" He might have spun around or danced a little in excitement, but such was a bit difficult for him, so he settled for just this.

"We've got a lot to discuss then! Where to set up any form of HQ and who else to recruit-.. I picked you first by the way~" He hoped that would flatter the man. "Details of the chain of command and who you'll be over... Ahhh, it's just going to be so much fun~"

He suddenly placed a hand to his pitifully bare chin (Eli swore sometimes he thought he could feel something like peach fuzz, but had never seen any evidence) in thought, and then appeared to have a bright idea. "We should talk on Gaia-- my Torterra, I mean. Then we can keep moving and sit and talk at the same time." Gaia was the bestest<3 Then as an afterthought, "Are you hungry? We could pick up something to eat if you want, too?" :3