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]

[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?

1/2

[soul_sister]

[Rosette shifts from one foot to the other, scouring the walls of the shop that she can make out.]

I don't see any. Let's just...

[She takes a step onto the mat.]

[soul_sister]

[And suddenly, the very wall of windows seems to part in front of her with a loud WHOOSH and a blast of cold air. With a yelp of alarm, she scrambles back, yanking Chrono with her.]

WHAT?!

[overclocking]

[He yelps, himself, though it's unclear whether it's in response to the door or the sudden manhandling.]

Hey! Be careful! [HOW DID YOU BREAK THE STORE ALREADY?]

[hyanaimne]

[Tempest scrambles right back with them, a hand going for the sword that isn't there out of instinct.

What kind of window parted this way?! Was it done through a magic spell? But she couldn't sense anything! What was going on]

What the—

[soul_sister]

[THE STORE IS NOT BROKEN!!! Or if it is, it's not her fault. NOT AT ALL.]

...




...... You go first.

[overclocking]

[Well, there's no fire, and there are no alarms going off, and aside from the small crowd watching three lunatics attempting to enter a Walgreens, there don't seem to be any security or police swooping in to mitigate. So maybe...

... But still.]

...


After you, Tempest.

[hyanaimne]

[N O P E.

Tempest reaches back and finds the first piece of clothing she can find (Rosette's, fortunately or unfortunately) and tugs forward, sending the girl stumbling into the . . there wasn't even a word for what stood before them, but Rosette was going to experience it first]

[soul_sister]

[There is nothing subtle about any of this. There's a startled, distressed noise from her as she stumbles through the entrance... arms windmilling.


More alarmingly, perhaps. The window CLOSES BEHIND HER.]

[overclocking]

[He stares at Tempest in alarm for a moment, before whipping around at the WHOOSH of the doors.

What...? Surely this isn't a trap. The United Earth doesn't even exist in this year, does it? He steps forward immediately (practically on instinct), prepared to break the glass if he has to, and- immediately jumps back when the doors WHOOSH open again.

... ...]

It's-

It's a door that opens by itself?

[hyanaimne]

[ . . . well then]

But - how . . . ?

[Tempest hesitantly takes a few steps forward, then quickly moves in between the glass before it closes again. The door slides closed behind her, and she turns to watch it with a mix of interest and horror, because it's still crazy]

[soul_sister]

[In the mean time, Rosette is already down one of the aisles, checking out vitamins. Because SCREW YOU TRAITORS!!]

[overclocking]

[Struck by the sudden alarm of being alone on the street of Alien Future New York, Chrono scuttles in after Tempest, hesitating only briefly on the pad should the doors be a fluke.

(They aren't.)

Of course, Rosette is already out of sight, so he turns to Tempest instead (after flicking a nervous glance at the bored teenager operating the cash register).]

So... gauze, right?