ourhaven | [Action] Arrival of an urban legend

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[The shooting star in the sky over Ikebukuro was more warning to the people of this world than the woman riding through the streets of her home city got. Maybe it was happenstance that this happened, coincidence. Perhaps it was a subconscious wish of the local pillar to make things a bit more interesting and more like home. Either way, the black bike wobbled and looked like it was about to crash before the rider pulled it steady once more. It was disorienting: one minute she was driving down one street and then another it was slightly different.

The changes weren't drastic, but having been in this city for twenty years you notice when certain shops are different or a road turns in a different way or a pothole is suddenly gone. It was the little things she noticed. And then there was the mood as well. There was something different in the air. Something different about the way people pointed as she rode by.

And police sirens. She wasn't hearing any of those. The city's sounds seemed...not muted...but not as far reaching either.

Slipping her phone from her sleeve she tried to shoot off some messages but she kept getting an out of service error...And what was with that stone that fell from her sleeve after it? Putting them both back, the headless rider sped off in search of answers. ]

Video

[The video that accompanies Celty's arrival is a brief one. She doesn't yet understand the purpose of the rune. A yellow helmet and a black reflective visor can be seen in the frame of the transmitted image. It looks at the rune, likely at the way it's going, but no words are said. In the background one can see the lights of a city going by. After a moment the figure shrugs and the image goes black as the rune is slipped up her sleeve.

It's still broadcasting though, and likely receiving as well.]

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[Sure enough, there are a few perks to being a Pillar that the group generally doesn't talk about. You're aware of who's coming and going, so you're never surprised by arrivals or departures; you can, with some effort, tweak the process and direct said arrivals to where you like.

Celty's landing in Havens-Ikebukuro is no accident -- neither is the fact that Mikado is also present in the city shortly after, really just long enough to leave the other Pillars and speak with Asuna. He sees her broadcast on the rune network, but he doesn't reply yet. Instead, he makes contact with some of the local moogles -- some he knew back when the dragons were around, others simply flock to him because they're eager to help serve one of the Pillars -- and through their miniature communications network of sorts, he's able to track Celty's movements pretty well for the next half hour.

Long story short, the next time Celty stops at a red light, her rune will indicate that she's receiving an audio transmission.]

Celty-san?

[By this point Celty is a bit spooked. The first few times she tried to stop these fluffy white things came fluttering out at her. And while they WERE adorable and she wanted to snuggle them, her alien paranoia was running fairly strong.

It was when one of them made the mistake of saying they were on another world that she zoomed off at breakneck speed trying to ditch them.

Half an hour later she rolls to a complete stop and looks around. There's no sign of the little things now. Maybe she can get her bearings. Is her apartment in this place too? Is Shinra here? Is he okay?]

Celty-san?

[Celty jumps as she hears the familiar voice. She fumbles with her belongings, first checking her phone but then the strange stone as she tries to find the source. One again she holds the rune out, examining as it pulses with light.]

[One disadvantage to Pillardom (or... is it a good thing, after all?) is that they don't know everything; Mikado has no way of knowing from what point in their world's timeline Celty's come from, and he's spent enough time in the last half year analyzing his life to know that there are a few... delicate areas, grey areas, and that's part of why he's not confronting her directly yet. As happy as he is to see her here, he doesn't want to force his presence on anyone with whom he might be on shaky ground because of old sins, or cause doubt towards the Havens because he has an untrustworthy reputation.

And... considering how unstable he's been in the past, telling someone that he's now a world ruler might not be the best way of going about things.

So--]

Ah -- evening, Celty-san. [He doesn't wait for a response -- since, well. Duh. -- but keeps on talking without a break, only pausing on occasion to let her take his words in.] I'm guessing you've probably noticed a few differences in the city by now. It's a long story, but you're still in Ikebukuro -- our Ikebukuro, just a little different. I'll go ahead and get this much out of the way: Sonohara-san isn't here, and neither are Izaya-san or Aoba-kun, if you know who that is. A few of the people we know aren't in this version of the city.

If you want to meet, I can explain more. Either way, you're safe here, so there's nothing to worry about. The police aren't after you anymore, and you can trust the moogles -- the white animals you've probably seen flying around.

The rune you're using now has a text function. I'm sure you can figure it out just fine, so please let me know if you'd like to talk in-person. I'm around.

[He's told her as much as she really needs to know starting out ~~he basically filled in for the moogles~~, so the rest is up to her. If she wants to meet, he's glad to; if she doesn't... he won't question it.]

[Mikado is at least lucky enough that Celty has not yet had a fateful encounter with him in an abandoned building, but time will tell if that changes. For the moment she has her suspicions about what he's up to but lacks for any concrete evidence or occurrence.

Her focus remains on the rune as he speaks, listening to his words and at least there's a soft assurance that neither aliens nor the police are involved.

She can trust Mikado after all.]

'That doesn't really explain what this place is. This is like Ikebukuro but...it's not the same. Trust me, I know.

Are you sure everything is alright?

Where can I meet you?'

[The moogles are still pretty odd and she's suspicious of them in spite of their cuteness. What she wants more than all else right now is reassurance that all is well and that nobody she loves ~~Shinra~~ is in harm's way.]

[There's a brief pause as Mikado reads the text. It's not much, but her concern is a relief -- it says she doesn't hate him, although he can't say for sure that she doesn't doubt him (or his sanity, as she once did).]

Yeah, I'm all right. If you want to stay right there, I can come to you. Ah, behind you.

[And sure enough, if she looks behind her... there he is, having crossed the street during their conversation. He's dressed casually, and as he makes his way over, something might seem off about him, too -- namely, that he looks older than the last time they met, although Mikado's not exactly known for looking his age. It may not be totally obvious that he's somehow aged up to 18 since the last time they spoke, but he's a little taller, at least.

There's a ~~persistent~~ moogle following at his shoulder, although she's respectfully staying behind him.]

Ah, hi! It's... really been a while, Celty-san.

Edited 2015-11-04 20:39 (UTC)

[Celty finds herself reluctant to stay put. This situation is far beyond anything she considers normal and her imagination is busy running off on its own. On the other hand Mikado seems to know something so she decides she has to put her trust in him.

~~And she's confident she can fight her way past him and anyone he brings with him if things go sour.~~

And of course his sudden arrival makes her jump. She's known him to have his connections but this was fast even by his standards.

She notes the change in his appearance and files it away, but more distracting is the moogle fluttering nearby.

So without much else to go on she sticks to something simpler.]

Ryugamine-san, what is going on here? I was just driving through Ikebukro when everything changed. This looks like home but it isn't. Did we get abducted by aliens? You can tell me. I promise I'll protect you from them.

[He reads the message with a neutral face, looking only mildly surprised by the end. He shakes his head with a sympathetic smile. Meanwhile, the moogle tries (and fails) to be subtle in peeking over his shoulder to see what Celty's typed.]

Ah, no, nothing like that! We're safe here, really. [Being around Mikado, ironically, is now one of the safest places to be, in most cases. He rubs the back of his neck, trying to consider how best to even start.] Ah... it was a lot easier to explain back when the dragons were around, I think...

With all due respect, kupo... You might just confuse her more if you say things like that...

[Mikado shoots the moogle an apologetic glance.] Ah, yeah... I guess that can wait. [Then, to Celty,] Well -- this is another world, but not like you might think. It's... not another planet, per se, but... more like another realm. Things work a little strangely here, including time and space. I've been here for over two years myself, actually.

[Dragons? DRAGONS? Your little fluffy alien thing is right about you making things more complicated Mikado. Of course amidst all her confusion Celty is wrapped up between trying to figure out if she should be scare of this strange creature or hug its adorableness close.

It's possible that the moogle is a fae creature like herself...but it has that antenna. And an antenna like that means it's an alien...right? Damnit her dvd collection never covered furry aliens!

It takes her a few words before she realizes Mikado is talking again. Another realm? That doesn't make all of this that much better. Especially with the replication of the city.]

So is this all magic then? Did a wizard take us here or something? Or those dragons? And you can't have been here for two years! I just saw you last night!

How do we get home?

[Action] Arrival of an urban legend

audio (FOR NOW...)

Re: audio (FOR NOW...)

audio

Re: audio

audio > action, derp

Augh, I am a slow moving trash barge

LOL so am I, it's all good

Re: LOL so am I, it's all good