[Network] username: leonskennedy | ota

[needsabreak]

[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.

Comments

[needsabreak]

[Leon can't contain the snort of laughter.] Are you really trying to use Star Wars to convince me magic is a thing?

Also, yeah, I'd say that shit in the science fiction movie was science.

[He just shakes his head, arms still crossed.]

We're just going to have to agree to disagree here, I think. Like I said, call it whatever you want, but I'm not calling this 'magic'. It's ignorant. I'm sure ancient people also thought magnets or aerodynamics were magic.

[artistwithasickness]

[Her eyes narrow at the first, lips curling at the edges but it all breaks into an impish grin at his very logic, very annoying point.]

It's a big multiverse. I hope you're ready to see some real shit.

[She straightens, shoulder squaring, chin lifting with a flare of her hand out towards the city, back to being the showman.]

The city runs on the pyramid in the basement and subbasement levels. It generates a bubble that keeps the city safe from the monsters and wasteland of horror that lives outside. Our being here is what keeps the place safe. Tear down the construct and you utterly destroy this world all over again. I think that's what we did, in the end. After the assault on the Tower.

[Her hand falls and she drops back to the ground unceremoniously.]

So maybe don't do that unless they give us good reason. Welcome to enlistment in the Balance.

[needsabreak]

Sure. I think I'll manage. [He says flatly.

Honestly, Leon's ability to roll with the punches is one of the things that had kept him alive so far. He was great at compartmentalizing, for better or for worse.

She has his attention now though, the first person to bring up that there was something beyond the City.] It's protecting us... And using us to create that protection?

[Well, that complicates things.]

Huh... Why not tell us that when we arrive? [It's mostly rhetorical. He certainly doesn't expect her to have an answer to why the Magistrates kept the secrets they did.]

[bossyboiler]

[ She watches him a moment before joining in on the chair lowering process. ]

None at all. [ She puts down a chair. ]

Waking back up with those memories is also like a slap to the brain. I felt a little discombobulated at first as the memories integrate themselves. If that makes sense.

[needsabreak]

Kind of like trying to remember what happened last when you've been knocked out? [No, Leon :|]

So, I guess my next question is... knowing what you know from the last time you were here, what are your plans? Just run your shop and be content where you are? [He'd found a job as well out of necessity but this level of settling feels far beyond that.]

[artistwithasickness]

[Devi shrugs.]

They're dramatic and some- most sane and reasonable people might object to being used in such a way. This is the honeymoon period. Let everyone get settled, quiet. [A hand slips out, lazy fingers brushing back and forth across the air to match the airy, dream like tone she carried for it all.]

Lull them into jobs and routine, security in their surroundings for the day to day to function almost peacefully. [Until it doesn't. Her paintstained hand gets tucked away again as her tone drops back to normal.]

It is something that you can touch though. Just a short little flight, in any direction you like.

[needsabreak]

Whoa, whoa, wait, you can't just say something like that. What do you mean we're being lulled into a false sense of security? What happens?

[She seriously couldn't just casually bring up something like that and then leave him hanging.]

Really? I thought... I thought someone said you could try to keep going in one direction and you'd just end up back where you started. The barrier's a physical thing? Like a wall?

[bossyboiler]

Um. I've only been knocked out once and that's not like it at all.

I'm going to reopen this place and take it day by day and just try to get through it as best I can.

[needsabreak]

[He sucked on his lower lip, looking almost like a grade-schooler who'd just been told their answer is completely wrong.] Right. Okay.

[He moved on to the next chair.] Try to get through it?

It feels like I'm missing something. This place doesn't seem too different than back home. Actually, a lot more normal and mundane for me. So, what's the deal here?

[artistwithasickness]

[Looking over sidelong, Devi grins.]

Oh, you caught that huh? Well I shouldn't get to far ahead of myself anyway. What you're telling me is already in contradiction and this is a brand new canvas. I could just be telling you old and outdated news.

So I'll amend what I said to 'used to be able' to touch it. Always have to leave room for possibilities.

[needsabreak]

Hey. No. This isn't something to smile about. Outdated or not, it still sounds like it'd be valuable intel. So, what the hell are you talking about?

[He'd rather be prepared for something that never ends up happening than be blindsided.

He pauses, giving her a nonplussed look.] What do you want? You want to hear me say you're magical, or something?

[artistwithasickness]

[Ohho, an admonishment. The stones he had in his ignorance about how ridiculous she was was impressive. Her grin stays, despite the proverbial newspaper across her nose.]

You don't enjoy a good fight like I do, clearly. It's absolutely something to smile about.

[The question made her laugh, a bright, bellish peel of sound.]

Oh, Leon. Of course not. What I do is actually scienced out. For the most part. Though that doesn't include the shit I went through to get it. I don't want anything. I'm just happy to be here.

[needsabreak]

[He is not appreciating any of this. Do you see his angry face and his crossed arms, Devi? Do you?!]

A good fighter wouldn't turn down a chance to learn something about their opponent.

[All he can really do is narrow his eyes at her antics. Finally sighing in defeat.]

Fine. Keep it to yourself. But I'm obviously not going to get anywhere here.

It was great meeting you. Good luck with your magic. [He grounds the words out like someone is forcing him to conclude this with unfelt pleasantries complete with an empty, forced smile.]

[bossyboiler]

What's wrong? [ Had she said something that upset him? ]

Yeah. Try to get through it. [ She nods her head and stops what she's doing. Sure, it seems like an ordinary City. A city that is cut off from everywhere but still a city nonetheless. ] Why don't you have a seat?

[ Kate retrieves her coffee drink and takes a sip of it. It's good. She'll need the caffeine fortification to explain how Prominences work. ]

[tolife]

[ He could go into detail over how strange it was given how little he sleeps, but no he simply nodded.] It would appear so. For me, it was as if no time moved.

I will get back to you once I gather the data, of course, Mr. Kennedy.

[ He paid attention to that transmission. That was how he had Leon's last name. ]

I've heard that before, but honestly, I have seen no evidence of this myself. Speak to Devi D, she's been here longer than most I know.

[needsabreak]

Don't worry about it.

[He pauses, chair in hand and gives her a searching look before nodding. Setting the chair down, he then takes a seat in it, an elbow leaning on the table. This might finally be what he's looking for, the other shoe dropping.]

Alright, I'm bracing. [He has to crack a crappy joke, trying to dodge the seriousness of the looming conversation.]

[needsabreak]

[Leon remains silent as Herbert answers what he can, obviously trying to piece everything together and now questioning some of the things he thought he'd started to understand. He needed to write all this down.] Thanks.

[He moves his cup of coffee experimentally, pretty sure it's only luke warm at this point but he tries it regardless, making a bit of a face.]

Devi D? Alright. [Herbert can't know this but Leon will meet up with her for one of the most aggravating and almost enlightening conversations yet.]

I can't really think of much else unless you can think of anything we haven't talked about yet.

[bossyboiler]

If you say so. [ Kate levels a look at him. It's too late, Leon. She's already going to worry about it. She then shakes her head and takes another sip from her drink after sitting down across from him. It's hard to look serious when sipping through a straw. Slurp! Slurp! ]

So, every now and then, usually at least once a month, there are moods that effect the City and everyone in it. They are called Prominences.

[needsabreak]

Moods? [It takes him a moment but it finally clicks that he's heard something kind of similar to what she's talking about before.] Does this have something to do with the whole 'sins' thing? The reactions the City allegedly feeds off of?

[He pauses to take a sip of his own coffee.]

So, what happens during a Prominence?

[bossyboiler]

Moods. And yeah, it does.

[ She has to think a moment because in one way it feels like it was only yesterday and then in another way, it feels like years have passed. ]

One time, I was afraid of stepping over thresholds and going through doorways. One time I thought everyone was out to get me. There was the time I thought I had the best bakery in the City. Um. Those are some of the lighter prominences.

[needsabreak]

So... more messing with people's heads?

[His voice is low and serious.]

If those are the 'lighter' ones and they change the way you think and make you paranoid. What happens when they ramp things up? [He pauses, tilting his head a little to get a better look at her reaction.] If you don't mind talking about it.

[bossyboiler]

Yes. I'm sorry to be the bearer or bad news.

Oh, I didn't explain it well enough. Those are the ones that effected me the lightest. Other people can be more heavily effected and it's not good.


((OOC: Here is a link to past prominences if you're interested.))

[tolife]

[ Nodding silently a moment to the thanks. The wheels of his mind spinning already, this would be his distraction from work today. ]

It's never good once it cools.

[ Herbert commented at the face Leon made. He might have no idea, but he knew the girls always showed up where she was needed. So he'd not be shocked too much if Leon updates him. Devi was the closest to a friend Herbert would claim these days. ]

That is perfectly fine, I should be heading out soon anyway. Thank you for your time, and please feel free to reach out to me should you find any info of use. [ Pulling a business card from his inside jacket pocket, he held it over to Leon. It was an old one but the info was the same. ]

[needsabreak]

No, you explained it perfectly.

I was just... nevermind. That gives me more than enough of an idea as to what can be expected.

[He gets a far off look in his eyes as he chews the inside of his cheek. He's worried about the paranoia... the last thing he wants to do is accidentally hurt someone.]

We should get back to the chairs, yeah? [Something to do besides think sounds good right about now.]

[needsabreak]

[Leon looks up when his coffee is commented on, offering something of a polite smile of acknowledgement and agreement.]

Sure, I don't want to keep y- [He blinks owlishly at the business card, taking a moment too long to reach out and take it.] You... have business cards... [It's less of a question and more of a statement of fact.]

Yeah, definitely. Nice meeting you. [Leon gives him a nod as he stands up and heads out as well with quite a lot to think about.]