MISSION ONE: STRIKE AGAINST THE GREEN WALL | Closed

[soul_sister]

Date & Time: Monday, August 26th, 2013
Location: New York City
Characters: Rosette, Chrono, Tempest
Summary: THE FINEST IN GATHERING MISSIONS, also known as culture shock, the log.
Warnings: srs rpers!! NONE

[Three Transports are discretely dropped into a back alley, a few blocks away from a friendly, neighborhood corporate Walgreens. Dumpsters and service doors to various stores facing the roadway line the box filled alley. Above them, metal fire escapes curve up and up, scaling floors of the large concrete buildings.

At the sole exit to the alley, light pours through, as well as the roar of the crowds and traffic beyond.]

So, okay guys. Cool, collected. Businesslike.

Comments

[overclocking]

Don't even think about it.

[He releases Rosette as well, stepping back.]

Let's just get this over with by interacting with as few people as possible. Okay? [That includes casting spells on people, Tempest.]

[hyanaimne]

Do not give me reason to think it, then.

[she glances around; at least the distraction interrupted her staring at everything like an idiot]

Where is this place we need to find?

[soul_sister]

[That causes Rosette to scratch her temple and look around carefully. Nothing really bore any resemblance to what she was used to in the slightest.]

We should look for apothecary globes, maybe?

[overclocking]

[For the first time, he allows his babysitter-like attention to splinter to the city itself. Eyes rake high-rise buildings, flashing lights, lines upon lines of modern cars...

It's still very obviously New York, but it's a New York that's gotten a strange, alien makeover. Having to locate one specific store in this sprawling jungle suddenly seems more like the daunting task that it actually is.]

Maybe we should... ask someone.

[hyanaimne]

[of course, someone would suggest asking. Tempest sighs, rubbing the bridge of her nose for a moment. This entire world was alien to her, and it was so damn loud that she was starting to get a headache. What sort of city was this loud anyway? Honestly.

But . . . asking someone meant they'd get this over faster. But between the three of them . . .

She heaves a sigh]

I will ask someone.

[soul_sister]

[Her agreement is distracted and really, almost non verbal for the "mmmm" it was.

Instead, she's caught sight of an enormous pick up truck with cab and suspension so raised it could easily BE a monster truck for the wheels it accommodates.]

What is THAT...?

[overclocking]

The future has odd taste . . .

We'll just... wait for you, Tempest.

Right here. Without moving or talking to anyone.

[Because he doesn't really want to approach these people and Rosette will likely start a fist-fight with random passerby if she tries.]

[hyanaimne]

See that you do.

[with a deep breath, Tempest heads down the sidewalk a bit, an eye out for anyone who looks at least decently friendly.

So of course she comes across a group of young men out for a night of bar-hopping.

With a sigh, Tempest decides that they may be her best bet. Chrono and Rosette may even hear the sigh, before she approaches the group, and in the most pleasant voice they probably have ever heard from her: "Excuse me, but I'm not from here - could you assist me in finding a store . . . ?"]

[soul_sister]

[Rosette huffs as the young men talk amongst themselves a few seconds before one of the taller one's scratches his cheek and points up a few blocks.]

Honestly! Treating US like children and then making all nicey nice with strangers.

[overclocking]

[Chrono, meanwhile, is applying the ostrich technique of if I can't see them they can't see me and not looking too closely at anyone or anything. The earlier eye-raking has left him without enough to process without adding more.]

But she's getting the job done. Stop complaining.

[hyanaimne]

[Tempest, meanwhile, treats the whole exchange likes she treats most everything else - like business. It isn't hard to pretend to be friendly and lost - the latter being true, it's just a matter of putting on the shy "I'm not from here" act to get what she wants. She doesn't know what "blocks" are, at least, the way the word is being used but pretend she does, listening intently as they give her the right directions. Four up, two to the left. Big sign. Shouldn't be too hard to find.

She turns down an invitation to join the young men and thanks them for their time, then turns back to join Chrono and Rosette. She looks entirely smug with herself, her demeanor returning to what they're a bit more familiar with. You know, with the added smugness]

They said that there are two on a road known as "Broadway".

[soul_sister]

[She brightens easily enough, shaking off the bristle quickly.]

Two? This will be easy.

Lead on!

[overclocking]

[He can't help feeling mildly impressed. Maybe this is what that feminine wiles thing is all about. It's actually kind of convenient.]

Why would one road need two of the same store... Do you think it matters which one we go to?

[hyanaimne]

[she starts leading the way, albeit slowly so that they can all remain together. The question, though, makes her wonder as well]

I . . . do not know? We can check both if need be.

[soul_sister]

[Now that they are moving, her attention stays fixed more to the storefronts as they pass. Pawnshops and easy loans, department stores and corner grocers... all of it seems somehow extremely normal and alien all at once.]

Easy enough, if one doesn't have it, we'll go to the next. How long can the road be?

[overclocking]

[He peers in store fronts as they go, and pauses more than once at passerby on smartphones. They look like smaller versions of the Initiative's tablet, and everyone has one... actually, it makes his hair stand on end a bit. Surely that's just coincidental...?

He frowns at the question, though, peering out at the road ahead of them. The skyscrapers lining the road seem to sprawl out forever.]

... Do you really want an answer to that?

[hyanaimne]

Four blocks.

[said in a way in which she doesn't . . . really understand] And then we must go left two blocks.

[soul_sister]

[She follows Chrono's gaze... and REFUSES to be daunted.] We'll deal with that if it becomes an issue!



[And the nods to Tempest, taking the lead just like that. At least, this time, she's watching the crowd patterns quite a bit better as they move forward.] Good! That's not far at all.

[overclocking]

[He follows along behind them, weaving through people as necessary. It's a lot harder when you're literally shorter than everyone, and the people in this city seem to know exactly where they're going on how quickly they should be walking to get there...

After being jostled, shoved, and effectively separated more than once (and having to search the crowd for the back of Tempest's head), he gives up and just hooks his hands in both of their sleeves as they proceed.]

[hyanaimne]

[Tempest glances down, a bit confused, then surprised.

. . . she can't help the teasing that automatically follows]

Do you want me to carry you so you do not get lost?

[overclocking]

[He experiences an odd flashback to a red-haired German woman and just barely resists the urge to skitter backwards.]

No- No, thank you! I'm just fine! Everything is fine.

[hyanaimne]

[that was an interesting face. She snorts]

If you insist.

[soul_sister]

[Rosette, for her part, seemed preoccupied in blazing the trail for their motley trio. When Chrono grabbed onto her sleeve, she simply reversed the grip and took a hold of his hand as if it were the most natural thing. The exchange drowning into the background of the crowd.]

Here!

Okay! Is everyone ready?

[What appears to be a segmented glass wall stands in front of them.]






Does anyone see a door?

[overclocking]

[There are no interesting faces happening here!! He focuses instead on being tugged through the throng of people, and pulls up short when they reach their—apparent—destination.

... He seems just as at a loss as Rosette does.]

It looks like all they have is windows...

[hyanaimne]

[. . . this is the oddest apothecary she's ever seen.

No, this is the weirdest shop she's ever seen. It was so bright. And red. And full of people]

. . . perhaps this is not the entrance?