riverview | TEXT; xxreaperxx

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TEXT; xxreaperxx

Well, well, well. It's been awhile, friends.

Since it looks like we're getting into most fun times of the year, I figured now was as good of a time as any to offer everyone to play a game with me. I promise it won't be exceptionally difficult.

Let me introduce you to Sombra's Achievement Game.

So here's basically how it works. I have in this post a list of possible achievements with pre-determined points associated with each achievement. All you have to do is earn those achievements and accumulate as many Sombra Points as you can. The game begins today and ends on December 1st. Whoever has the most points at the end of the game wins a very special prize from yours truly. I'll of course keep you all updated on your current standings and check in here and there.

Now, here are some rules to play by and the list of achievements you can earn.

💀 All achievements in question must have happened here and not in your home world. With that in mind, if you think you deserve the achievement, I need proof. That's right, these aren't freebies. I need your receipts.

💀 If you wish to provide proof via privately, this is acceptable. Consider it a private little game. Nobody else needs to pry into your life, right?

💀 You may provide your proof in either this post, my personal inbox, or in follow up posts tallying Sombra Points.

💀 The prize is a secret. You won't know what it is until it's earned. If you're the winner, you can reveal it to everyone else at that time.

💀 If you have any follow up questions, please place them here or in my inbox. I'll be happy to clarify for you!

Now then. Time for the achievement list, right?

💀 Acquaintance - Hold a brief conversation with Sombra. Preferably for more than five turns. - 5 SP
💀 Pity Party - Secret unlockable. How do you earn this one? Who knows! - 1 SP
💀 Chatty Cathy - Hold a full conversation with Sombra for ten turns or more. - 10 SP
💀 What a Twist - Express your theory on why we're actually here. Are we dead all along? Will it all end in a church before we know it? What if we're all living this through our dreams? Who knows! - 10 SP
💀 Friends in the End - Make a friend with someone you would never have expected in your wildest imagination. - 15 SP
💀 Paramour - Did you develop a romantic relationship here? You deserve this achievement for sure. One night stands don't count. - 20 SP
💀 Vendetta - Did you make yourself a rival or personal enemy here? I'd love to know. - 25 SP
💀 Only Human - Easily earned if you're just human in the end. - 10 SP
💀 That's Bananas & Peanut Butter - Earn this if you aren't human. - 20 SP
💀 Cut Me Deep - Have you hurt someone here? Physical injuries only. Harsh words don't cut it. - 15 SP
💀 In My Head - Your memories were shared with someone, or someone shared their memories with you. And I don't mean by conversation. - 15 SP
💀 All Body Types - Your body was changed in some way against your will. Did you temporarily become older? Or younger? - 15 SP
💀 Career Day - Doing something here that you wouldn't normally do for a job? State your previous job and your current one here. Show the receipts if you have them. - 10 SP
💀 I'm Not Really Feeling It - Had your emotions tampered with against your will in some way. - 15 SP
💀 Tuesday's Finest - Dress up for Halloween. - 20 SP
💀 Sugar For a Skull - Share your Halloween goods with Sombra. - 50 SP

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[The words make her roll her eyes, but the ability is a curious one. She doesn't have superpowers -- but she can do something similar, with her own technology.

Sombra tilts her head.]

Aw, Dodger. C'mon.

It's easy. If you've made yourself a little... rival in regard to Shimada-san, then you'd get some more points for yourself in my game. And the more information you give me, the more I can give you dirt on Genji.

I probably know him better than anyone here.

I know you know him better than anyone else. You and Reaper, but he won't talk to me about Overwatch.

[He tips his head in return, shifting a little bit closer and gaining a playful smirk on his face. His face is now about an inch from hers.]

Come on, Sombra. I think you know what'll get me talking.

[There's a long pause of consideration, and she slowly leans in, her lips pursing. They almost... pucker. The inch is now but a half-inch.

Then, she smiles sharply, before shoving her palm into Dodger's face.]

Bomp.

I'm quickly losing interest. Maybe your food is better than how you operate, Dodger.

[Instead of annoying him, that actually gets a sarcastic laugh out of him. Yeah, that's about what he expected. He shakes his head lazily, and teleports back to check on that tin foil. Yeah, that looks... correct? He hopes. He'll let that be. Instead he grabs peppers and onions from the fridge and sets about chopping them up. Notably, they were the only thing in his fridge other than some old takeout and a LOT of beer.]

You can help out, you know. If you want.

[It's just a suggestion, though, and after a pause he changes the topic entirely.]

A few months back I made friends with a 3000-year-old man that taught me a little about cooking. Didn't learn much from him, but he got a few ideas going. All started when I stole some books from him and tried to get him to pay me to 'look' for them. He saw through it pretty quickly. I've dated two people here, working on a second, had a couple return visits from a handful of others. Nothing solid. It's not how I work. Tried damn hard to get Reaper's attention, but all that old fucker sees is a dumb kid. I've almost burned a few people alive, and Ivar Ragnarsson definitely has some scars to prove our rivalry. I've got a couple myself if you want to see them. I shared memories with Ragnarsson and a few other people, and saw a few of Reaper's. A few months back I turned into a version of myself that wasn't poor. Sort of a body change, I guess. I work as a mechanic here, but I was an information broker and hitman back home. It's a weird shift. On the side I was breeding emotion-altering fireflies for a while, that project's dying off. Literally. And if I end up with Halloween candy you can have it, but more likely I'll see what I can stock up on during November 1st.

[After that wall of information he finally glances at her.]

So, how many points did I rack up?

Yeah, I don't really want to cook. That's why you're doing it.

[With a wave of her hand, she pulls up a few digital screens. Cameras she's planted around the city, the videos playing for her as she idly listens to Dodger, like she's not giving him her full attention.

When he's done, Sombra just laughs quietly.]

Well, I guess you earned some.

[With her fingertips, she flicks out a message to Dodger's inbox:

There's a pause, then she smiles before tossing him another.

]

Until I can verify your information, this is what you're getting for your points. I'm sure it won't be hard to confirm, if it's all accurate. Though I'd really rather have better confirmation on your Paramour achievement. It doesn't sound very... romantic.

But I'll tell you what. If your fajitas are edible, I'll give you a little something on Genji Shimada.

[He rolls his eyes after checking the achievements. Really, what did he expect. He'll just have to give her some decent proof when he isn't... heavily concentrating on not slicing his fingers open.]

One of the people I dated isn't speaking to me, and the other's not in the city. Not much I can do for proof. [He shrugs.] If one-sided shit counts you can just ask Reaper, he'll vouch for me.

[After all, he's rooted around enough to know Reaper complains about him. Which is almost flattering.

Now that the ingredients are chopped up he places them in a metal bowl, chops up the cooked steak to add to it, and dumps in some pre-mixed spice pack that he mixes in with a fork. Here, the interesting part comes in - he holds the bowl in one hand, which is set aflame, and stirs the food with his other while he speaks.]

Edible's a loose term. But we'll see how this goes. [He glances up, watching Sombra use her computer screens.] That tech's pretty close to something in my world - how's it work?

If you could just name names, that would make it so much easier for me, Dodger. [She sighs and rolls her eyes. Again.] I know you wanna bone Papi, one-sided stuff doesn't count.

[Even if the food ends up sucking, watching Dodger cook is admittedly impressive. If nothing else, she's getting a good display of his powers by being here.]

If I get food poisoning, I know who to blame. [She doesn't sound too concerned, though.

At the question, she clears her throat and puts on her best Dodger voice:] It's none of your business.

Fine. Eichi Tenshouin, and Onyx. Whether or not that means anything.

[Not like it matters anyway - he fully expects Sombra to be able to find all this information on her own if it's really that important.]

I guess I have something going with Shigeru Miyata at the moment. [He hesitates.] That's what the whole... thing with Shimada is about. He's been getting in my way.

[And he's suitably reluctant to admit that, because... here he is, a hardened criminal from the streets of the Northeast, complaining about another boy talking to his crush.]

[The first name means nothing. The second though gives her a split second pause, and while Sombra doesn't express anything but mild interest she's smiling on the inside.]

What, so you're mad that Genji-chan is cockblocking you or something?

He's not cockblocking me, he's just in my way. [He tips his head in a gesture that isn't yes or no.] So I figured I could kill him, and it didn't work. Now I want to know how to do it better - and if I can make it hurt on the way down, all the better.

[He's going to omit the fact that he's been repeatedly making trips to Genji's house just to bother him. Even after the murder attempt.]

[Ah. Well, it might be kind of funny to take Genji down a notch, she isn't interested in pissing off Reaper -- and moreso, she's looking for reasons to give a damn about Dodger's little situation.

Eventually, Sombra shrugs and points at Dodger.]

That's neat and everything, but how's dinner coming along?

[Those are good points that Dodger would agree with. He can't say he has a good reason for her to care, just that he's open to price negotiation.]

Seems done... I guess.

[It's close to the consistency he's pretty sure fajita's are supposed to have... he shuts off the heat in his hand and forks a bit of everything to offer her.]

Try and it and tell me if it needs more time.

[Seeing as he primarily works in heats above 500 fahrenheit... it might be a little overcooked. But at least it will be crispy.]

[She hems and haws for a moment as she looks over the fajitas.]

I'm pretty sure if you gave it more time, it'd charcoal.

[Gingerly, she takes a piece of steak and puts it right into her mouth. Her nose wrinkles, but she shrugs.]

It's edible, I guess. Which means I suppose I should give you something.

[Pulling up a digital screen with her fingertips, Sombra quickly inputs a command before she sends a picture to Dodger's inbox.

It's a much younger Genji Shimada, probably in middle school age. With braces. Definitely braces.]

[Dodger sets the food down and wraps a few tortillas in tin foil, warming it up like he'd done with the steak by heating his hand and holding the bundle. His other hand checks his phone, and... he huffs a laugh.]

Cute, but that doesn't help me. [He sips his phone away, watching her evenly.] I want real, hard details about his past. I know you have them, and I know if there's anything more to find you will. We both know I'll do as many favors, whatever they are, as I need to to get that information. So either you're seeing how long you can string me along before you've got everything you need to hurt me for your own reasons... or you're just bored at having easy prey that doesn't try to fight you. Either way, I've got no power over you and no intention to get any, so I can't stop you if you get bored and leave me twisting in the wind.

[He says it all evenly and matter-of-fact, but that doesn't mean he's content with it. It's just something he doesn't feel she'll listen to if he tries to show his emotions. Sob stories don't work on people like her.]

Heh.

[Sombra takes a step back, and her smile more wicked as she looks at Dodger.]

I don't want my toys broken. And so far, Genji is a way better toy than you. Sure, you have fancy powers. You know I like information. But you're desperate, and it's a little sad.

You don't have anything for me except for a crappy fajita. There are way better players here than you.

I'm not desperate, I'm just determined.

[He's desperate.]

Let me give you some advice - everyone is useful. Writing someone off as 'having nothing for you' just cuts off your own resources, especially if they're going to give what they have willingly.

[He could make threats, but he knows she won't take them seriously. He's not going to waste his time with that. Instead he just opens the tin wrap and offers her a tortilla.]

Eat up - the crappy fajitas were all your choice, don't forget that.

Sure you are.

[At his statement, Sombra lets out a sharp laugh and shakes her head.]

You say that like I'm new at this. Watch yourself, Dodger. You're not very convincing and you haven't offered me anything useful. Who knew someone with fire powers would end up barely a chef for me?

[The tortilla is gingerly taken.]

I said fajitas, you made them crappy.

You haven't proven yourself once, so as far as I'm concerned, you are new. Listen - my skills are torture, extortion and intel gathering. Not cooking. [He cocks his head.] You knew that going in, and you knew I'd be willing to buy you food worth eating. You went into this seeing if it would be worth laughing at, and it isn't even good enough for that. That falls on you for poor management - I'm delivering exactly what you asked me for.

[He bursts in a flash of sparks then - they swirl around Sombra and he reforms just behind her, running his fingers through her hair as he slips past her.]

On the other hand, if this deal doesn't work out, I can always take out my frustrations on you. I've made my peace with never impressing your father... which means it won't change a damn thing if something happens to you, right?

Aw, now you're mad.

[As if she's never seen someone reform before. Sombra turns around to look at Dodger, then just bursts out laughing.]

Dios mío, that's almost adorable -- if you weren't so ridiculous.

[Sombra's prepared a few escape routes, on the off chance. After all, Dodger is far from the most stable individual, and Sombra isn't interested in fighting. Not today, anyway.]

Go on. You got another for me?

[He just grunts in annoyance. He doesn't expect anything else from her - she comes off as someone sheltered, someone who doesn't understand that the life she leads isn't a game. And that makes it very, very difficult to get through to her how much of a mistake she's making, pressing his buttons.

Instead he just looks her over with a calculating look, before replying.]

How old are you - 18, 20? How long have you been in your line of work... you were young when you started, right? Just wanted to see what would happen if you did it? I bet your parents were pretty proud, if they got you all that nice tech. Makes me wonder if you're running away from something like everyone else in Talon, or they're just another piece in your game of chess.

[All of the statements just make her giggle. Most of that is all so, so wrong, but she doesn't want to give him anything. He's needling.

It won't work.]

If you think that's how old I am, I gotta say, I'm real flattered.

Let's see. My turn. You're irritable, grumpy, and you do your best to show off, so you want people to take you seriously. You've had a tough life, and only know how to look out for yourself. What's you and yours is all that matters. You know information is a good payment method and being someone from the slums, you've heard all kinds of stuff in the past.

And you make shit decisions. But I guess that one is obvious, isn't it?

We could do this all night, Dodger. You could try to keep me pegged... but you've given me more ammo on you than anything else. And I guess that'll be a little amusing for later.

Keep your crappy fajitas. I'm gonna go get some real food.

[She gives a little wave and vanishes from Dodger's sight, teleporting herself out of his apartment.]

[She's just as wrong, and he's about to point it out when she waves and disappears. It leaves him shivering with annoyance, and a moment after she leaves there is a cracked and smoldering hole slammed into his kitchen counter.

He was right about one thing, though; he has no power over her. She's him, with more skill, and he hates it more than words can describe... but at least he has food to eat his feelings, and a very low standard for edibility.]

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TEXT; xxreaperxx

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