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[Network] username: leonskennedy | ota

[The camera angle isn't the most flattering, hinting that the tired looking young man isn't too used to camera phones.]

Hi. My name's Leon Kennedy. I'm new. I know a handful of people here are new too but some have been here before. I guess, I'm hoping to talk to a few people who are returning about the things you know about this place. Talking over this thing is fine but I'd prefer to meet in person.

Anyone who's returning who'd be alright meeting in person, I'll throw a drink on me into the deal. Your choice, beer or coffee.

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People don't always stay dead where I'm from. But when they do 'come back', they don't come back right.

I was told that the only side effects were missing memories? [Seriously, don't tempt him with a good time.

Her points still don't have him convinced that all of this can be explained in some kind of scientific way.]

So... doesn't that make you more of a resident than a visitor? It kind of sounds like you just live here now.

Edited 2023-07-07 01:13 (UTC)

Some people come back.. different. From a different point on their timeline, backwards and forwards. Sometimes they lose the city in transit. Like a dream.

Sure, I'd be a resident if only I hadn't just gotten back here with the rest of you. A month ago, I was not here. I was in the Integra Arms Hotel on a street named Twisted. If I'm a resident of anywhere, it's there, another dead reality.

[She'd meant to order them food but frankly, she was enjoying the conversation.]

They don't come back 'right'? What does that mean?

[He raises a hand to wave, the gesture coming off a little boyish.]

Hi. I think, I'd prefer in person. ...Dust? Maybe I could help? [He's put together a bookcase before.]

[Different. That word makes him tense, expecting her to start describing grotesque monsters, twisted bodies that were barely a shell of the person they were before. But what she says ends up being more weird than horrifying.]

Well, if a younger me shows up, tell him not to go back. [He scoffs softly in laughter.]

Another dead reality? I don't get it. How does a reality die?

[He swishes his lips, looking down at his tea and stalling for a moment by taking a sip. He doesn't really look at her when he speaks, seeing the things he's talking about, replaying memories.] They usually come back... changed, mindless, stronger. Sometimes it's claws and teeth, sometimes they're three times the size they were in life... with claws and teeth. Tentacles. And they're usually a bitch to kill. Re-kill.

I have a bakery here but it's been closed for a while. It needs a bit of tidying up but that's where I am. It's called Flour Power. I'll send you a pin.

[ Insert location here! ]

Got it.

[She hadn't said anything about coffee but he still grabs some, hoping she'll like whatever fancy Frappuccino he picked out for her, and heads to the spot pinned on his map. The sign outside does say Flour Power and, just like she said, the place looks like it'd been closed for some time.

He tries the door, letting himself in but he doesn't immediately spot her. Perhaps she's in the back.] Hello? It's Leon. We spoke over the network.

Not sure that'd do any good, but I'll try to remember the message.

[She makes a face at his description.]

Gross. But... also sounds like some fun. [She totally understood why it wouldn't be fun for him, but she was something else.]

And I don't know how a reality dies. I have some theories, but that's a larger conversation better meant on rooftops with saki.

[He gives her an exhausted glare before picking up his cup.] Yeah, you know, you're right. It's great. [His tone is completely flat. Looking toward the door, he takes a sip. He certainly wasn't above dealing with things using dark humor but it felt earned somehow.]

So what's the deal with the magisters? [He's obviously eager to get this conversation back on track.] They've got to know more than they let on.

Aside from them, is there any way to get to the City? If it's as sentient as they say it is, it must be able to tell us what it actually wants. [Or reveal itself so he can fire a rocket launcher at it.]

[The glare was utterly ignored, but it was all noted.]

They do.

If everything is the same as last time, it's under the Tower. And the tower isn't an easy place to breech. It can't be damaged, for one, and they'd be stupid to keep it in the same place. Could be that its somewhere totally different this time around. But where ever it is, its not easy to get to, and it's already claimed a couple of lives in previous attempts. And those people.. They didn't come back the same in a different way. Like part of themselves were missing or.. locked away.

The magistrates mind the Chosen that are in their district. You'll answer to whomever the magistrate of your apartment district is. They're generally ambivalent, though some of them had some spice and flare.

I figured.

[He pauses midsip, looking confused.] What? Where under the Tower? I live there... [He knows he has to be missing something, especially if people have died trying to get to... 'it'.] What's it look like? The City's... whatever. Some brain in a jar or something? A computer?

[He purses his lips, making a face as he puts the cup down.] Great. Pretty sure I've already pissed off the Duchess.

[ Kate has left the front door of her bakery unlocked because she knows that Leon is stopping by. Also, maybe someone who knows her will stop by. She doesn't know. She's not worried about being robbed.

His entrance into Flour Power is signaled by the bells hanging on the door. She can hear them in the back where she is busy working. ]

I'll be right there.

[ She calls and a few moments later she appears. She smiles at him as she walks around the counter to greet him properly. ]

Hello. Glad you were able to find the place alright.

No problem...

[He looks around the place, aside from a bit of dust, it looks really nice and the big windows by the door let in a nice amount of natural light.

He offers her a smile when she steps out of the back and holds up the coffee he'd brought her.] Yeah, wasn't too hard. I wasn't sure what you liked, I think it's something caramel.

[He gives her another smile, this one apologetic.] So, what can I help with? The place looks pretty good already.

[ Kate has already done a level one cleaning on the front area. Level two happens tomorrow. Yes, she is a clean freak, a demanding one too. ]

Oh! Caramel is my favorite actually. Thank you.

[ Aww. He's sweet. ]

I thought you had questions?

Great. [He offers her a soft smile.]

Oh, I definitely do, but I can multitask if you want some help. Promise.

[But until she gives him directions, he'll lean against the counter and take a sip of his own coffee.] Was this place yours before? You must've been here a while to open up a business.

Before waking here again... Did you go home?

A Pyramid actually, but no one knows what's inside. It gets into your head as its defense, just to start.

[Devi's eyes light up and her tea cup is abandoned in favor of lacing her fingers together, weight resting on her elbows, as a platform for her chin.]

Tell me everything about her.

Edited 2023-07-10 00:17 (UTC)

It gets into your head how? Like... makes you see things? Thinks things? Or does it know stuff about you?

[He really shouldn't be accepting that those are possibilities quite so easily.]

The Duchess? She reminds me of a lot of politicians. Those people where you just get a feeling they've never told the full truth in their whole life but what they're saying has bits of truth. She did mention the magistrates can communicate with the City... kind of. She wouldn't elaborate, claimed she didn't have enough time to.

Yes. Yes is the answer to all those. Whatever it wants to, Leon. Whatever it needs to.

The best lies are rooted in truth. But it is for sure a lie that she doesn't have enough time; that means she didn't like your questions. I'd bet five dollars. I can't tell you about their powers - we've seen a range and I don't know if they're person specific or shared and fully accessible by all of them. The latter isn't a likely option but a possible one, nonetheless.

Great. [He nods, lips pressed into a thin line.

But something she mentions immediately piques his interest and he leans in a little. It's his first time hearing anyone mention it.] Powers? What were some of the things the past magistrates could do? And does anyone have any idea where it comes from? Is the City lending them some of its power?

We're back to magic. [She tuts softly and sighs.]

Let's fix that a little bit, shall we? Since clearly we're not gonna eat right now- [Devi drops her boots and slides out of the booth, leather trench coat flaring as she straightens it out with a little shake.]

But not in here. I like this place and I'd like to be able to come back.

[It's impossible to miss the roll of his eyes.] Sure.

[He looks confused at first, watching her get out of the booth, and looks a little put out as he sighs and gets up. At least, he's already paid.]

Fine. Lead the way.

[Lead the way she would, outside and onto the street. She waits for Leon to get fully out of the building and a little way away from the door before she turns around. And promptly levetates.]

You think I got a jet pack, Leon? Wires maybe? [She holds up a finger and flares her other hand in a roll, manifesting a basketball sized ball of bright purple kinetic energy.]

You got science for this? A checklist I can fill out of my symptoms or somethin'?

[She leans in a little, one foot lifting a little and tucking behind her other calf.]

You wanna fly, Kennedy?

[He'd had a few guesses as to what she might show him. His money had been on something to do with fire. Levitation doesn't seem to shock him though and he crosses his arms.]

I'm not a scientist but all of this could be science. Just because I don't understand how you do it, doesn't mean I'm going to call it magic.

[He scowls when she asks him if he wants to fly.] Do. Not.

I met a little girl who could make fires and put monsters into a trance by singing. [She'd been infected of course.] It wasn't magic. [And it hadn't been magic when she'd turned to dust in his arms either.]

I told you before. Semantics. You can call this whatever you want. Whatever makes you happy.

[ She accepts the smile and the coffee.

Does she want help? Her first response is to say no. She'd rather do it all on her own. Flour Power is her baby after all. She has put a lot of hard work into it and knows how she wants things to be. However, he is being kind. She should not turn down the offer for help just because she is a perfectionist. ]

Well. If you want to lower the chairs from the table to the floor I won't stop you.

[ He is offering after all! ]

It was and I was. I put in a lot of hard work.

I did. I was here one moment, home the next with no memory of this place until I woke up back in my apartment.

Sure. [He gives her a nod, meandering toward the closest table to start moving the chairs down onto the floor, working slowly so as not to make too much noise. He doesn't want to miss anything she says after all.

He pauses after lowering a chair, hands on the backrest of it as he looks over at her.]

No memory of being here? [He cocks his head to the side.] As if it never happened? And then... you remembered it all again once you woke up here?

[He finds that bizarre. Why the memory loss? Could it be the City's doing or her own mind trying to protect her? He still looks deep in thought as he moves to the next chair.]

[It was Devi's turn to roll her eyes, fingers coming together to smooth over the bottom half of the sphere and launching it into the air where it goes high before exploding in a flair.]

Oh I see. You're one of those. [She sighs.] What a fucking drag having to trot out those specifics - what's wrong with calling it by something easy until it's figured out by nerds able to find a root source? Are you gonna say that every time? 'That guy shot electricity out of his fingertips like fuckin' Emperor Palatine, but it wasn't magic, it's just science no one can even begin to understand?

You're still wrong by the way, but I can see it'll take something Special to move you.

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[Network] username: leonskennedy | ota

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