EVENT #008 AFTERMATH LOG

[larkers]

WHO: The Displaced!
WHERE: Lots of places—potentially? Mostly New Amsterdam as the focus.
WHEN: March 4, 2512
WHAT: Unlocking of the gates and the game's fast travel network.
NOTES OR WARNINGS: Uninvited visions.

> EVENT #008 AFTERMATH LOG

The vision itself is almost instantaneous once the last of the four gates activates, hitting the Displaced no matter where they are. It doesn't matter where that individual Displaced is: if they're in New Amsterdam, at one of the gates, or sleeping, they'll see the same vision. A flash of seven colors (red, blue, black, gold, orange, red, and white) followed by an image of a nomadic people heading up a long, stone bridge that appears to be naturally occurring. At the end of the bridge is an open, lit-up triangle that acts as a gateway, inviting them inside. Then there is another flash, followed by the nomads walking through the gate and ending up in a different, new location. And then another.

Any understanding of this vision isn't immediate. The answers won't be apparent until later, when there is an innate understanding of what they've learned and what they've unlocked for themselves. The world has opened up to the Displaced, and in some ways, it's there for them to access and even take for themselves if they so choose.

After the vision ends, any of the Displaced located at the four ruins will immediately begin to glow in all blue before they fade out of view and find themselves crammed into a new location. The relocation is immediate, and if anyone checks a map via their neural implant to see where they are geolocation wise, they'll be able to tell that they're underneath New Amsterdam. For anyone who's been in the underground cave system of New Amsterdam, they may think their surroundings are familiar, if not the same. After all, this area has been locked away for a very long time.

One more thing is apparent: they've landed on another form of gate that needs to be unlocked. After the numerous trials and puzzles the Displaced have faced, what's one more?

◉ The puzzle to solve is right beneath the feet of the Displaced on a bronze-colored mechanism. At the center of the mechanism are multiple overlapping triangles, and on the outside, there are five separated triangles that sit individually.

◉ Solving the puzzle involves connecting a daisychain of Displaced and having five key focal points step on the triangles at once.

◉ Once the puzzle unlocks, there will be another understanding: that what they saw in the vision belongs to them. Any of the Displaced outside of the caves will know what it means.

◉ With that work done, it's time to explore. The underground cave system of New Amsterdam is half-inhabited by the sprawling megacity, and half-uninhabited and untouched. This part of the cave system was locked away for centuries, and just like the other ruins, there are some relics and lost items from the past. The eras vary: some are early medieval burial sites with items like brittle, forgotten swords and shields, while others are crosses and manuscripts that refer to this location as the center of the Holy Roman Empire.

◉ The manuscripts are a mix of imagery from Catholicism and the same, omnipresent geometric imagery.

◉ The way out of the cave system involves touching a hand to a handprint alongside what appears to be a door. This print will only appear to the Displaced, so they will be able to move in and away from this location largely unobserved.

> ON THE JOB FROM 9 TO 5

Now that the gates trip is done and the Displaced have new answers—if potentially unhelpful ones, depending on their perspective—it's time to return to their lives. Surprisingly, New Amsterdam has no festivals going on, as if it's time to now be hungover from a February that involved nonstop partying. The city has been cleaned up and everyone's returning to their jobs as if the city around them is not in a constant state of revelry.

◉ Ah, it's time to return to work! No one is required to lose their jobs, but it might take a bit of groveling for the Displaced to return to where they were working before. (With the exception of the Red Wings bar. Poor Mister Doctor Stephen Strange.) El will have sent along any excuses to any bosses who might need an explanation. Ze's used to this gig by now.

◉ What about those cities left behind? No one planned on abandoning those gates at that exact moment. They will remain open to the Displaced. Anyone who had a hotel room in New Oslo or even kept stuff stored at New Beijing will find that they can just teleport back via this new fast travel system.

◉ Though for anyone who's been dealing with tampered food, maybe it's time to go take a break. You know where's a good place to do it? The Displaced-run Red Wings bar. Ah, poor Mister Doctor Strange, at least the people coming in out of nowhere are all Displaced looking for proper food and a drink. It's time to mingle, share notes, and see what's what. Might as well get to seeing where there's overlap—and what to do next.

◉ Or it's time to explore! The world is finally open and available to one and all. Well, to one Displaced and all.

◉ The information on these gates and what they do won't immediately be available to El and Gaby. It's up to the Displaced if they decide to share with their NPC friends. (Of course, if it's mentioned via the Morningstar network, then they'll know!)

> FINAL OOC NOTES

This is meant primarily as a laid back, return to life log for the Displaced after their exciting trips around the world (and trips-to-be, most likely). Any questions about the aftermath should be directed to our aftermath questions thread!

Our CR meme will be posted on February 14th (Happy Valentine's Day!), and our arrival log for all newbies will be going up on February 15th.

Thanks again for making this a great event!

> NAVIGATION

Comments

Ginia | OTA

[unlucky7]

Exploring
[After a few days of dealing with the unstable ground in the Great Pyramids, Ginia is still on the lookout for symbolic imagery leading to traps, unstable floors, and hybrid animals with gold eyes. She's quick to lower the machete in her hands around people, or otherwise put it away when she's looking through rooms.

She's studying some ancient armor and swords before she waves to get the attention of the person next to her, asking through sign:]

How hard do you think it was moving around in armor like this?

[There's a curious and eager look in her eyes.]

Back to Work
[There's something strange about going back to work after a few days of exploring ruins and seeing a new slice of the world. Most people would recognize it as the down period of returning to work after a vacation, but never having had a vacation in her life, the mixed sense of restlessness, depression, and lethargy hits Ginia hard. Still, she promised working a double shift at Red Wings, so there Ginia is.

She's primarily security, but it's not uncommon to see her running the register or helping clean or even serving food and drinks. Ginia focuses and does her job, but in the moments of downtime, she gravitates toward any other Displaced that aren't busy at the moment and waves to get their attention before signing.]

What's your take on everything?

Wildcard
[Hit me with any ideas you have! Ginia is happy to go to New Oslo as she didn't get a chance to look at it prior, and has a personal interest in New Tokyo and New Honolulu, but will go anywhere. Contact me at cordially or Catamari#6352 on Discord if you want to plot more!]

Closed to Ephemera

[unlucky7]

[On the plus side, they're back in New Amsterdam in one piece. Didn't even need to trek through a desert and figure out transportation. All of their gear is with them too. They certainly came back with more than they left with in terms of usable supplies, weapons, and armor.

But weapons and armor are fairly conspicuous and so is all the new body armor Ephemera has. While they can pack everything into the camping bags with some careful work and planning, even the bags could attract the wrong kind of attention. There is no easy way for them to explain any of the equipment they have on them and Ginia did not survive an unexpected expedition to the Great Pyramids only to end up turned over to the UNA.]

How do you purpose we get back to our apartment? Wait until it gets dark or keep to alleys and rooftops?

[She's never been in the caverns of New Amsterdam, but not everyone seems too surprised by its existence. It's probably safe enough waiting things out, though Ginia feels like she doesn't want to waste any time. The world is so much bigger now. For once in her life, it feels like she can see it. And there is so, so much she wants to see.]

Then what do you say about traveling out for food?

Back to Work

[interminably]

( Klaus has gone back to his own work, hoping to find a loop hole out of his diminishing, downplayed role. It is easy to find solace at the end of the day in liquor, among people he could call his friends and if not friends, allies. He and Angela hadn't spoken in person since he'd first helped her, but, but they had shared a neural connection on their respective treks.

Angela recognizes him and it seems, gets his attention. Signing is the name of the game again, so he sets his glass down and tries to search his mind, through the haze of happy hour. )

We are merely recreating events that happened long before we were brought here, possibly to the inevitable point of catastrophe.

( He even smiles as he says it, indicating he's probably not in his right mind. )

Closed to Hama

[unlucky7]

[The vision fades and Ginia feels like she's plunging down down down but no, she's standing on solid ground and the location is different. The people are different. She stares around at the sudden group of people gathered in the cavern, picking out more than a few familiar faces from the New Oslo or even the Everest group.

But one of the closest familiar faces is Hama. Ginia heads over to check on her, waving to get her attention.]

Are you okay?

Klaus Mikaelson — OTA

[interminably]

Yawn and Stretch and Try to Come to Life — Pre-Unlocking

( This is unlike any time Klaus has appeared anywhere else before. It's not astral projection and it's not waking up after a nondescript amount of time, drugged and compliant. It's worse. He somehow knows the secrets to the ruins he's found himself in, but also knows that something is very different. He is acutely aware of everyone else around him, and his daughter, which is his first priority.

After comparing notes with Caroline and Hope, he knows that activating these gates affected them adversely.

He plays the new revelation close to the vest as he makes sense of their new surroundings. He's particularly attentive of the floor beneath them. He crouches down, placing his hand on one of the triangles. He can be found tracing steps over to another triangle and another. There seem to be five and more than five of them here at this moment. He thought four was a number that mattered, but now it seems that it's five. He stands in one place very intently, trying to figure it out. )

They Use Your Mind and They Never Give You Credit — Post-Unlocking

( Klaus takes the time to explore their surroundings. Now that his path is cleared, of course he remains down underneath the city. His hand resting around the hilt of an abandoned sword as he wonders if obtaining one might aid him in fighting better, and it occurs to him he may have to properly train. He flashes back to a brutal fighting session between Mikael and he and he lets go as if the sword burns him.

He does pocket a few scrolls he finds and a particularly ornate cross. It is interesting that they left behind Buddhist influences and have stumbled upon Judeo-Christian influences.

He can be found reading one manuscript, a few others peeking out of his knapsack at his feet. He finds that carrying it with him has become more arduous. His strength is not nearly where it needs to be and his legs seem to be tired. As does he.

Some might find him climbing his way back to the surface, the hike taking its' toll. They might notice he doesn't look as confident as he usually does. His steps are more labored as he pushes his body harder. )

What A Way to Fake a Living

( Kovacs doesn't seem to be in the city any longer. In fact everyone in the art circles seem to think there's a conspiracy in his disappearance.

Klaus does find himself at the higher society parties and events trying to win more influence by citing his friendship with fake Banksy himself. He saw him as a sort of mentor-like figure. And he's very disappointed in his disappearance which could be the work of somebody nefarious. He leans on his dramatics and keeps the crowd riveted.

Any other members of the Displaced who may have been invited (or crashed) can see he's captured one circle or another in his tales of art collecting and his adventures with his friend. They may also see that he frequently denies a free drink, preferring to nurse one glass at a time as his tolerance is not what it used to be.

His goal: to win his own influence and gain art favor. Is there perhaps a scenario where Kovacs came through. Klaus doesn't have a road map to what he may have facilitated which only drives Klaus more. )

Barely Getting By, It's All Takin' And No Giving — Red Wings

A. One Sheet to the Wind — ( Klaus finds himself here more often, almost every night. At first because most of his closer confidants either work there or frequent there, but also because he finds he doesn't prefer to drink alone in his brother's apartment. He still can't call it his apartment even though it's properly in his name thanks to El - and Hope's money.

This Klaus is pleasant enough, happy to pass the time or muse about their trips. He compares notes between expeditions and even discusses their newfound fast traveling group ability. This is Klaus at his most contemplative. He'll even buy you a drink, just for listening. Why isn't now the time to get down to the nitty gritty. What is going on? )

One more. ( Before adding. ) On second thought, leave the bottle. Please.

B. Two Sheets to the Wind — ( He finds it fun to study people, to psychoanalyze whomever sits next to him and it turns into a drinking game. He clutches a shot glass in hand - and the bottle he's asked for - and says something properly invasive about whom he's interacting with. He may be less powerful and neutered as a wolf, but he still has his intelligence. He can still outwit anyone.

It's possible he's said something using zero tact, without worrying about consequences. Or, he's baiting you. Either way, it's not clear if he's trying to or if it's just happening. )

C. Three Sheets to the Wind — Locked to Ren & Tim ( It always gets to this point, whichever bartender is on shift inevitably cuts him off. He can't compel himself another bottle, or justify drinking anymore without drawing yet more attention to himself, something he usually encourages. Except, he is over a thousand years old and he is pretty sure a teenager is cutting him off. )

Are you of drinking age?

Red Wings ( a )

[strove]

[Given the Situation at Red Wings, Clarke is actually on shift for the night. While she's no bartender, she's moving through the restaurant to pick up dishes, wipe down tables, and generally help offer as much stability as she can manage while having no idea how to manage a bar. Look, she's trying, and part of her role in this is as support.

When it's time to take the rest of the night off, she's about to deliver Klaus' drink to him. When she does, she takes up a glass off the bar and slides around to drop in beside him.]

You don't mind sharing, do you?

[The surprising part—of course—is that the alcohol seems to do something for him.]

pARTy

[monomachy]

[It's a little ironic that considering her chosen profession and its social requirements, Diana isn't a huge fan of parties. She'll dress the part and put on a smile when the need arises, but all she can really think about is how she'd much rather be at home with a cup of tea. But she's attending this particular event as a favor to the owners of the gallery where she works, and maintaining the gallery's reputation is necessary. There are a lot of potential patrons here, and she isn't going to alienate any of them by giving the impression that she doesn't want to be here.

At least she sees a familiar face in the crowd, and seamlessly slips into the small group Klaus has gathered. As she listens to him talk, she can't help the smile that tugs at her lips. He certainly has a way with crowds. She doesn't make any particular effort to catch his eye, but considering she's several inches taller than most people in this room, she doesn't think he'll have a hard time noticing her.]

SLAMS IN

[snipedt]

[ Out of an enormous sense of guilt for leaving Stephen in the lurch to go to Everest, Tim's been picking up a lot of extra shifts at Red Wings. Until better opportunities arise, the gun he lifted from the merc up on the mountain is in his locker at work, which is a terrible thing to do for several reasons and he knows it, but he can't take it back to the safehouse and he's avoiding apartment-hunting like the plague.

Seeing Klaus is always quite pleasant, but right now he looks drunk as hell, and that's a little jarring, since Klaus always seems so composed. He's been watching from over by the door, itching for a cigarette as he's been doing a lot recently, until he decides he should probably intervene before Klaus slops out onto the sidewalk and gets crumpled to death by foot traffic or something. ]

Hey, buddy, [ he says as he makes his way over, slapping a hand firmly just between his shoulder blades for a second. ] One-man party over here.

WILDCARD - Adventure Bound

[filloryfanatic]

( Quentin thrived when there were mysteries abound. His mind had a way of churning and obsessing, and if there was nothing to obsess over what would he think about? His death, for sure. The fact he'd never see his friends again. What they'd say to his mother, if she knew. What they were all doing without him. How any moment here could be his last breath. You know, fun stuff. So instead he threw himself into the mysteries and the life here. The ruins and the gates opened his mind again, thinking of the big picture.

But he always makes time in his overworked mind to care about people, and Klaus already is one of them. He might have imprinted a little when they met, he's even wearing the clothes Klaus gave him now, but the conversations over the network strengthened his end of the bond with his new friend. It could be that they were both dead; he didn't know how many others were, and it's a morbid thing to bond over, but they're also parents. Supernaturals of some kind with weird lifespans. Lots of common ground basically.

He waits outside the safehouse for Klaus after letting him know he's free, wondering if he should have gone to Red Wings to check how drunk he was first. It might be his new friend wasn't as up to an adventure as he thought, but Quentin lets him be the judge of it. He messages Eliot to update him; it's not exactly new for Quentin to put his fingers in everything, and they both know that. He keeps on the lookout for Klaus, unsure where they're headed but a little thrilled about it. Adventures get to him, okay?)

C.

[variate]

[ it was after a couple drinks in that Ren begins to watch him. he, admirably, keeps up with the patrons on either side of Klaus as well as ensuring that Klaus' glass of water is always filled. while he can't count the number of drinks that Klaus has been served, he's aware of what this kind of shitfaced looked like. ]

Only old men ask me that.

[ his voice is a lot lower than someone might expect. ]

marcos diaz ( ota )

[heliophilous]

▶ 01. RETURN

---

( for once, marcos doesn't lose his job after coming back from one of new amsterdam's unscheduled trips. he's glad for that since he's kind of gotten himself comfortable where he is.

before he'd gotten unceremoniously kidnapped, he'd gone to giles bell and signed himself up for drug trials that were studying the rage virus. after everything with caroline and what that virus had done to her, he had even more of a reason to do so.

he hadn't really felt any of the indicated side effects while on the trip but now that he was back and taken a second round, he was starting to notice a few things. one, he hasn't been sleeping very well at all. a few hours here and there but otherwise, he spends the nights up and around, walking and reading or just sitting.

but the late nights and lack of sleep are starting to show as he's found himself a cafe and there's a coffee in front of him, fingers wrapped around it but marcos himself has his chin in his hands and his eyes closed.

later, when he's plied himself with caffeine, he can be found in the city, in the red light district, speaking quietly with a few of his contacts there and passing out some money that he's earned that he won't use. a few of them comment on how he looks but he plays it off and says he's fine.

because he is. )

▶ 02. WILDCARD

---

( feel free to throw other things at me. i'm at spoonishly for plotting. )

▶ wildcard

[chocolateries]

[ everyone needs a break. after what happened to caroline and hope's brain surgery and inexplicable kidnapping and what happened to caroline again -- and honestly, universe, give silena's friend a freakin' break! -- and marcos' foray into medical testing, the entirety of the apartment deserves many vacations.

silena needs it the least but skipping out on work for a week meant she'd been bumped down to part time so she happens to have loads of time on her hands. she's stress weaved a basket (and then stress-weaved five more, there are a lot of baskets in the apartment now), she knit no less than three scarves, she's made too many pinch pots and tiny little clay figures, now she is bored. time for a mini vacation!

buenos aires is her first choice. it doesn't matter to her that it isn't the real buenos aires or that nothing might have survived from the original capital city, it's still argentina. she's happy with her choice as she and marcos stroll down the río de la plata, munching on empanadas. ]

Thanks for coming with me, I was getting cabin fever.

[ clearly this is a favor for silena and not something marcos himself desperately needs, see what she did there. clever girl, velociraptors ain't got nothing on her. ]

illya kuryakin ( ota )

[kgbs]

▶ 01. AROUND

---

( illya had not been taken anywhere by this city's whims but he'd certainly noticed something was awry. there was little he could do about it while he'd been making sure daisy recovered but it was obvious when people returned.

the fighting rings were a little more crowded and illya finds himself having to wait to fight while other matches went on. he doesn't necessarily mind because it means he has time to sit back and watch what might be his competition.

later on that night, you might find him well dressed and walking away from one of the petrov gambling establishments. his knuckles are a bit bruised and his suit disheveled but it's been a good night. sometimes, when someone wanted to cause trouble, illya got to do more than just stand there and be intimidating. sometimes, he got to show off why he was hired.

overall, it had not been a bad night. )

▶ 02. WILDCARD

---

( feel free to throw anything else at me. i'm at spoonisly for plotting. )

fighting rings

[interminably]

( Klaus needs blood to sustain himself. That hasn't changed. But, all of his perks, physical and sensory seem to be dulled completely. His ears and nose seem to still be heightened, but only annoyingly so, in ways that keep him up at night from the sounds of the city life outside, or hushed conversations a table away. But, nothing like he was. It's only natural that he decides to test the limits physically. Who is he now, if not an all powerful hybrid?

It's something he tries, stupidly after he reaches the bottom of a bottle. He needs to test his newfound limits. In a few days, his sense of self preservation and his intelligence will kick back in, but his hubris will always remain. That's why Ilya may recognize the fight taking place tonight. Unlike the last time, when Klaus let his match get the best of him only to turn the tables dramatically at the last moment, tonight Klaus seems to be evenly matched - if a little less so because he's not in his right mind. But, bourbon would do that to his new body.

At first, his reflexes keep up - albeit not how he remembered how they worked. He feeds into painful memories of sparring with his father and that rage comes out in full force. He all but keeps himself from screaming, Mikael!

Unfortunately, Klaus' training occurred over a thousand years before now (literally thanks to his being here in this time) and it's not long before his match-up telegraphs his every move.

His shit is kicked quite well and he ends the match with a hand to his throat up against chainlink. Dropping to the ground, he thwacks the floor with his palm. Once, twice, three times a loser.

It didn't help his frustration and it didn't give him any more knowledge about what he is now. He is happy to not have bet on himself winning. He'd never be so foolish. He accepts a rag and brings it to his split lip. He takes a moment, clinging to the chainlink from the other side, having to actually gather his strength before moving on and even then, he makes it to a chair adjacent to Ilya. He sighs, nursing his wound and giving an absent glance around before it becomes more calculated. He is suddenly hungry and perhaps that comes from his beating, or it's what's included in his power down. Either way, there are a few low-lifes that won't be missed.

He does accept the complimentary glass of something given to him. Maybe because he'd fought before. Definitely because his loss had been somebody's monetary gain. )

riku • ota

[inherited]

i. back to the daily grind

[Once Riku arrives in the cave, he'll check in with anyone he knows. Rio meant making new connections and working with new people, but he missed his friends and worried about them in the process. Now that they've returned, it's time to see how everyone made out. The good news is that he doesn't look like he had too bad of a time in Rio—except for where he's now underneath a city that's cold, and he hasn't had any of his warmer wear since it got left outside of a shop in New Beijing.

After that, it's back to a lot of things.

Going back to work at the police force? Yep, he's getting right to it. If anyone's looking to start training, he's getting back to it. Riku's a long way off from being an officer of the law himself, but he's thought of highly around the precinct … when he's not accidentally rude to his instructors (which can happen from time to time).

Since he lost his winter jacket, he'll also need to go out and buy a new one. Anyone can see him shopping for one while wearing multiple sweatshirts to stay warm. He's cold! It doesn't help that his primary outfit to wear involves a long pair of shorts.

Otherwise—he'll focus on getting a routine down. Jogging in the mornings. Stopping at Sora's restaurant at least once a week to have a meal there. But when he's not working the routine, he'll be somewhere else.]

ii. seeing the outside world

[The literal somewhere else is around the world. Eager to experience this new worldhopping mechanism, Riku will use a lot of his freetime to visit other cities. Anyone else who's heading down to try it out will likely run into him along the way, as he'll be down there a lot.

Even though the more toxic version of his wanderlust has all but faded, he's still a kid who's eager to see a lot more of this giant world.

He's happy to bring someone along for the exploratory ride! Riku's down to share his experience.]

Kal-El | Red Wings bar OTA

[ibelieveintruth]

OTA

In the wake of that mess, and that glorious resolution, Kal returned to his place, got a very long shower, and then headed for Red Wings, a box of carefully held artifacts in his arms.

He set them on a table, ordered food and drinks, then lifted the box and went hunting for a few people.

He can be found there at that table, though, for days, off and on, using the net to search for answers, talking to others who are interested in the subject of the artifacts and gates, and checking with some of the smartest people he knows.

***

Diana
Seeking out one he knew would be there, Kal tracked down Diana with the box of items.

"Got some new items for you, Diana. Got any ideas on secrets and ancient mysteries?" His grin was fond, and welcoming, as he spotted her. She was, and always would be, someone he would trust.

He's sporting a t-shirt, shorts, and sandals as he speaks, walking up to her table with a grin.

***

Cassandra

At the bar, sometimes he sits as he takes notes on what he finds on the network, and ideas on what he can do and try next. Making journeys down to the gates and to other places, and back to the city an the bar once more, he can be found there to take notes once more.

And is always welcoming of friendly faces. With some, he talks, and with others, he talks.

Cassandra. Its good to see you again.

***

Quentin

After the craziness, he wants to check in on another new friend, and so he can be found reaching out to, and inviting, Quentin to meet him and talk to him of ideas.

"Quentin, if you get this, reach out, or come meet me at the Rest Wings. Its got good drinks, and a lot of us are here.

[lucubrare]

[ Cass is definitely a friendly face. It's still her first few weeks bartending and she's got a whole system ongoing to teach herself all the drinks people request, plus she's having to talk to a lot of people, so a nice, friendly, familiar face is quite welcome. ]

Did you know, [ she signs with a smile, ] that people like telling their bartenders things they probably shouldn't tell anyone?

[unlucky7]

Ginia is usually one of the bouncers at Red Wings, but with people still recovering from the recent expeditions, she's cross-training as a server. She brings Kal-El's food and drink over, smiling as she peeks at the artifacts.

"There's an interesting collection," she signs once her hands are free.

[filloryfanatic]

Quentin gets the message and smiles. There's been a shitton going on in his head and in this place recently, and it's all swimming around. He's making plans. It's all a wonderful distraction from his inner despair and depression, which is great. He's still in the safehouse for now living-wise until he and Eliot can get full-time jobs and move out, and it also makes it easier to say hello to people. But he's already looked into Red Wings as the place to work for the Displaced, so it's no hardship to end up there.

He spots Clark pretty quickly, he's impossible to miss, being so tall and statuesque. "Hey, Clark." It's nice that someone thought to reach out to him. He's usually surprised and delighted when they do; it's usually him who cares about others, not always the other way around.

[monomachy]

Over the past week or so, Diana feels as if she has seen more relics and artifacts than over the course of her entire career in the museum circuit--and she doesn't know whether to be impressed or disgusted by it. But after some deep contemplation and chasing her thoughts around in circles, she's decided that it's no accident that they were able to get into the ruins and activate the gates at the exact same time. Diana has always believed in fate, and she can feel the Moirai pulling and weaving their beloved strings in this.

So when Clark brings her a literal box of items, she manages a smile, weak though it may be. Just because she senses something greater at work here doesn't mean she's entirely alright with the displaced plundering the ruins.

"Plenty. But whether or not it means anything is still to be decided."

closed to nill;

[dunhaming]

[ Even though she cooks most of the time, it's good to get out every now and then. Olivia heads down to the Displaced's bar for dinner, people watching and enjoying not having to do her own dishes. On the way to the bathroom she spots Nill in the kitchen and decides to loiter after her meal is finished in order to check how the girl is doing.

When Nill is on break or finished work she'll find Olivia nearby, waiting with a smile on her face. ]

Hey. I noticed you back there and wanted to see how you're doing.

[culver]

[Nill has never had a job like this before. She used to cook on the ship for herself and her friends, but the only real jobs she's ever had were when she and Badou opened their info broker business and when she's found work as a courier here in New Amsterdam. While she still does a little bit of both of those, she actually likes having steady employment. She likes knowing she'll get paid regularly, when she has to get to work and when she can leave. Having a routine is comforting, even more so after the past week.

She's just gone on a break when she spots Olivia, and a smile blooms across her face. She lifts a hand in greeting, then raises the other to sign her response. She's been practicing, and feels more confident in holding a conversation this way.]

I'm doing alright. Feeling better than I did. How are you?

Jon Snow ✥ All Over The Place! ✥ OTA

[northerndragon]

[If you would like me to write anything more specific for you or have any questions, hit me up on Discord -- I'm in game chat -- or at detectivefiction.]

CAVES

[northerndragon]

a. The Dead World

All of the city is new to him, but this part even more so. Still, there's something familiar about it -- not because one cave is usually like enough to the next, but because in its way, it reminds him of the crypts under Winterfell.

What's down here is old, covered in dust and rubble and the grime of years. The active living city is above them and around them, but not aware of them. This is the realm of the forgotten dead.

He sees a pile of rubble opposite the entrance, as if some of the back wall has caved, and three stone coffins towards what was probably once the center of the chamber. Each coffin is topped by the iron bands and rotting splinters of a wooden shield that still have a scrap or two of red and yellow paint clinging to them, and a longsword, crumbling to rust.

Jon frowns at one of the swords for a long time until, with care, he picks up the fragment with the pommel and grip and part of the blade. It's then that he notices that he's not alone.

If the interloper is new to him, he says, "How long has it been, to you, since they used these?"

If he's met them -- especially if he knows they're anything like him -- he says, "I used to see the same rusty swords at home, but the world wasn't like this one. The time has passed, I've seen crypts like this one, but it's the same as it always was for us. A thousand years ago, two thousand, they lived as we do. Why is that?"

b. Mummers, maybe?

After all of it, as they explore the caves, something seems to be troubling him.

"You saw all those people, crossing the stone bridge, didn't you? What did they look like to you?"

c. Artifact

He holds something against him, wrapped in his clothing -- a bit of metal, a bit of crystal, and it seems that he's being careful with it. What might have come back with him that was made long ago in Tibet?

clarke griffin ( closed to quentin coldwater )

[strove]

[Clarke will be sitting at the bar in Equinox whenever Quentin walks in. It's obvious from the rapport that she has with the bartender that she's a bit of a regular here. She doesn't come alone most of the time, having built a group of friends among her fellow PRESERVE volunteers. Of course, that friendship is built on a lie, so there is a level of distance between her and them.

Equinox isn't built to house many people. There are a few booths, a strip of flood leading into the back hallway where the restrooms are, and the bar itself that exists on the opposite wall. The owner works there almost all the time, keeping it open around the clock and offering a simple breakfast in the morning. Recently, they've been serving a lot of egg dishes with spinach since their spinach garden has overgrown with all the weird green growth throughout New Amsterdam.

The front of the establishment is covered by a black and white overhang, inviting people inside.

She has a beer in front of her, but she hasn't taken many sips from it.]

[filloryfanatic]

[Quentin walks in looking around with curious eyes, taking in all the details fairly quickly. He's observant and interested in all the new places he's absorbed in, and even small stops like this have that same fully engaged reaction. He's not looking to case the joint or look for exits, but seeing details like the booths, the restrooms, and smelling the food in the air. Hey, at least his afterlife isn't boring. It's been thrilling in a way he tries not to communicate out loud because then people would go who is that weirdo who seems excited to be kidnapped in the multiverse. But the excitement burns under his skin, especially since the ruins.

He spots Clarke and recognizes her from her Cooltalk, yeah, of course he pays attention to those, he's a Millenial. In the past he might have run through a thousand scenarios of the right way to approach her, the right things to say and do, but he's gone through enough shit at this point. And she doesn't seem like the type of person, from the network, to be very impressed by people who attempt to seem smooth.]

Hey, Clarke. [He says simply, sitting next to her at the bar. It won't be long before his hair grows out enough to have that floppy feel to it again, but this is the shortest he's had it so far. Quentin drums his fingers on top of the bar, some tension releasing from the smallest of gestures. He's here for her. They barely know each other, but he cares about people, and that leads him to their side, always.]

Any suggestions on a drink order?