(open) celebrating everything it took to free us from the land of the broken and betrayed

[whatsupcroc]

Date & Time: February 12th - February 14th
Location: Throughout Exsilium
Characters: ANY & ALL
Summary: Separation Awareness Day is a festival and time of celebration for the hard won and retained freedoms of those who live on the island of Exsilium. Separate from the United Earth, they continue to exist, and thrive in their own way. As those identified as teenagers and children are showered with gifts of sweets, foods, and toys from the adult population, merchants are selling on the streets and color had invaded the often grey atmosphere. Feasting is practically a law, singing can be heard in the streets, and instruments that may stay safely indoors most the year are brought out to encourage dancing and such other frivolities as are rarely seen.

The night of the 14th there are fireworks shows throughout the city, with the most impressive display being launched from the remains of Buckingham Palace.

Warnings: Festivities!

Date your threads as you will, and feel free to use this as a Valentine's exploration as well for those more inclined to appreciate a holiday from home amidst the celebrations of a whole different sort of world!

Comments

Jesse Pinkman | red light district | anytime | OPEN

[hostage]

[Jesse's where many might expect to find him: among the trash who make their living profiting off the loneliness and misery of others. He's often the merchant, but just as often the customer. A romantic at heart, this holiday hits him hard. He prefers to get away from it all. That's why he's here, staying in brothels as if they're hotels. The girls welcome him because he pays with something that's better than gold and they can't get enough of it. They'd rather he stay than leave.

But he does duck out every few hours, for a cigarette or food or to check for messages in peace and quiet (or as much peace as can be found on the streets during a city-wide celebration). The redness around his eyes tells that he hasn't been doing much sleeping at all.]

[payback]

[Rin shows in this seedy part of town mostly because she is trawling the whole place looking for some fun or alternately anything interesting. She has little interest in picking up hookers though. Mostly she is on the move here, blowing through like a grey cloud in a green cloak.

It's been a while since she's seen Jesse while arranged as herself. Somehow she is not that surprised to see him intis sketchy part of town... somehow.]

Have you been here all day?

[hostage]

[Well, it's a surprise when Rin shows up here. His eyebrows are raised like he's been caught doing something bad, which is really only half true.]

Um... Not here here. I mean, kind of. Why?

[payback]

[No reaction to his expression. She just gazes at him with that weird receptive stillness that so many of the off-the-wall things that fly by her get: waiting to see what he has to say for himself.]

I dunno. It's kind of a weird part of town.

[hostage]

I dunno. It's not bad.

[You know, despite the fact that someone was shot and killed not a block from here and he got accused of doing the shooting and all.]

What about you?

[payback]

I'm exploring! I always go around just anywhere. Cities are interesting and most people are friendly. [And she can extract herself with relative ease from any situations that get sketchy.] Don't you know there's a festival going on?

[hostage]

Oh! Yeah, yeah. I been partying. Like, over here. Yeah. They're really into it, huh?

[payback]

They are but it makes sense I guess. [She stares at him.] Are you okay?

[hostage]

Yeah, I'm fine.

[He shifts awkwardly from one foot to the other, scratching the back of his neck.]

So you been having a good time with this whole festival thing? Getting up to anything good?

[payback]

[Staaaaaaaaaaring.]

... You're meeting prostitutes, aren't you?

[hostage]

[Yeah, he could respond to that. But instead he's just going to slowly turn the other way and run both hands over his face.]

[payback]

Don't lie to me.

[hostage]

Did I say anything?

[payback]

You haven't answered. So yes?

[hostage]

How's it any of your business? Yeah. I'm picking up some girls. So what?

[payback]

[She shrugs.]

It's a festival day. What, are you just going to stick around here the whole time?

...I'm mean. Hi.

[inthejunk]

[Yosuke on the other hand, took a wrong turn somewhere. He doesn't know the city as well as he probably should yet. Accordingly, he's a bit wide-eyed as he glances around nervously. Man he's so gonna get mugged. Or at least an STD. That's going to suck.

The girls on the corner give him the same dead eyed looks they give everyone else, but they all approach him. Young and clean and nervous? He looks like a customer who doesn't know what he's in for. And well cared for, probably plenty of cash to spare. The men, on the other hand, tend to leer. A few catcall or inquire prices. Holy shit, where the hell is he?

When he bumps-literally- into Jesse, it's a relief. A familiar face...even if the guy is maybe a pedo and a suspected murderer. Somehow it's still better than nothing.]

Ow! Uh. Sorry about that. It's Jesse, right?

yes you are

[hostage]

Whoa! Jesus...

[Jesse nearly dropped his cigarette onto Yosuke. As it is, a few ashes go scattering. He takes one last drag before tossing the thing away. He was almost done with it, anyway.]

Yeah. Hey.

<3

[inthejunk]

Hey.

[Ugh, it still feels as if people are staring. Yosuke ducks his head down so his hair falls in his eyes and shifts his weight uncomfortably.]

I'm Yosuke. In case I never told you. Uh...I'm not here looking for prostitutes. Just so you know.

[hostage]

None of my business if you are.

[Although now he's totally convinced that Yosuke's looking for prostitutes.]

[inthejunk]

...Right.

[His red face probably doesn't help matters any. What he should do of course is turn around and leave. He doesn't know his way, though, so instead he bounces nervously on the balls of his feet and makes things worse as usual.]

A-and I'm not a call boy.

[hostage]

Good for you?

[Not an image he wanted, thanks. Jesse's getting about as uncomfortable as Yosuke, because this is sounding totally sketch and he's half-afraid that the next words out of Yosuke's mouth will be "not" a proposition and dear god please no.]

[inthejunk]

Um. This is kind of embarrassing...

[Yosuke scratches at his ribs, itchy all over just from the atmosphere around them. He has to gold his arms across his body to stop scratching.]

I wasn't paying attention, and I don't really know-you know. The way back to the commerce center.

[hostage]

[...Thank god.]

Yeah, don't worry about it.

[Jesse's just grateful he's not getting hit on. He turns and points down the street.]

It's, um... You go like in that general direction. Once you clear this neighborhood, you'll see some taller buildings and you just head towards those.

oops autotypo

[inthejunk]

[Man is he relieved Jesse knows the way out. Somehow that guy looks perfectly at home in this place. Yosuke even sighs in relief a little. Usually he loves attention, but the attention he's been getting here makes him feel gross. Another creepy guy decides to whistle at him just then, and he shudders. Yep, it's time to leave.]

That way...yeah, okay. Thanks.