ARRIVAL LOG #031

[larkers]

WHO: Everyone!
WHERE: Anime Naexpo, among other places in New Amsterdam
WHEN: September 22-25 2512
WHAT: Anime Naexpo comes to New Amsterdam again! Time to be really hot and wear awesome costumes. Multiple types of hot, apparently.
NOTES OR WARNINGS: Coercion and loss of autonomy, as well as needles; references to furries and drug use (cannabis in particular), as well as sex workers.

> ARRIVAL LOG #031

Awareness comes to you in blurred snatches, cloudy fragments of sound, light, color, and sensation. It's hard to grasp onto anything but a series of rhythmic beeps, a medicinal astringent smell, and the sensation of movement beneath you. Your eyes are heavy and you struggle to keep them open, but in the glimpses between slow blinks, you see a man in front of you dressed in all white. There isn't any other visibility. Not yet.

You realize there are a few others with you who are dressed similarly to you, but in different colors. Ever heard of tokusatsu, or even the Power Rangers? Well, it looks like Jimmy (the guy behind the drop offs) went all out for Anime Naexpo. Every single newcomer is wearing a costume ranger suit. These suits are specially designed to fit each person, and even though it's hot as hell outside, there's a cooling unit built in to keep them from overheating. Which would be thoughtful if they were able to go to the convention, which they're not.

Just the same, Jimmy picked out colors and bird motifs for each of the newcomers:

◉ MAKO: Red with a scarlet flycatcher insignia on his chest.

◉ ABBY: Purple with a starling insignia on her chest.

◉ HUGH: Blue with a lazuli bunting on his chest.

◉ JASON: Green with a lovebird on his chest. … This may be a message of fondness for the other Jason.

◉ EULALIA: Yellow with a goldfinch on her chest.

◉ SEPHIROTH: Silver with a lichmera on his chest.

These costumes do have a helmet, but they're in each of the newcomers' hands rather than placed over their heads. In addition, these costumes will be a pain in the ass to get off, especially if someone has to use the bathroom. At least they look really cool.

After spotting the mask in your hand, you might have another look around to see that there's an armored interior door, along with two more people visible (they look like a nurse and a guard), not to mention the multiple skyscrapers flying by the building, as if you're near their highest point. You may try to open your mouth to speak, to ask even a basic question, but you'll find that your tongue is like it's coated in tar. You'll ultimately manage nothing more than an empty parting of lips and a huff of air.

When the vehicle stops, the nurse steps into view. His jaw sets as he curses to himself about a central venous IV (one that's in their necks—that's why the helmet isn't on) because of the devotion to these stupid ass costumes. He's still meticulous as he pulls out one after another, but his movements are slower. As he works, the guard gets out, and she looks impatient with her arms crossed outside of the vehicle.

The nurse begins to guide everyone out one by one. Another guard is there, it turns out. He must have gotten out of the front passenger seat. They keep everyone lined up and organized. "We'll make this simple. You're the clowns he's dropping off today, but it looks like he went all out." An eyeroll. "So, do him a solid and listen to us. Head around to the place that says Red Wings. Go in through the door and look for people like you. Last I heard, they'll know you're coming. Don't go running off somewhere else, even if it's in embarrassment. I wouldn't blame you." Before anyone's motioned off to be on their way, he grabs a dropped helmet off the floor of the vehicle, and hands it to someone. It doesn't match their color. He doesn't seem to care.

After the spoilsport (or gruffly sympathetic? Hard to say) guard gets back into the vehicle, the others responsible for this drop off follow suit, hitting the road. The road, of course, is in the sky. For the newcomers, it's better to head into the bar like directed. Well, it's not like you have any choice in the matter. Plus, he has a point: you might be right to be embarrassed about being dressed up as a toku character. Sorry for the welcome.

◉ Though entirely capable of independent action and thought, new characters will find themselves completely, unquestioningly compliant to any verbal statement which could be taken as a command or request.

Moments before the drop offs occur, a message comes from one Jacob Harold in the inboxes of all of the current Displaced. Strangely enough, it reads like a terms and conditions message from Giles Bell's internal messaging department. The actual terms are just a bunch of bird names, so click through.

No word on the bird shirts? I guess that's my fault. Some newcomers are coming in. I know they can't go to the convention, but maybe they'd like a get up for next year. I had these specially made. Oh, they'll be around the corner in about five minutes. Treat them well.

I'll be reaching out to a select number of you soon.

— JH

> THE STATE OF NEW AMSTERDAM

Out of the alley and around to the front, the newcomers will find a city that has made a lot of headway in rebuilding itself, in part because it was in better shape than other megacities. Psychologically, a large number of people are still very traumatized. Some of the city's pristine gleam has managed to return despite that, but surfaces are deceiving.

After all, New Amsterdam has been through a lot—so much that it's almost impossible to summarize it all. The city's seen a lot of tragedy between giant kaiju attacks,an EMP that killed lots of people, a vengeance-driven simulation put on by a very angry AI, and an additional monster attack, though this one was worldwide. Oddly enough, New Amsterdam fared the best throughout the attacks because of the intervention from the strange people with the blue glowing chests (known to each other colloquially as "the Displaced"). Most recently, the entire population of this world was pulled into another universe, their minds altered to believe that they had always lived in this strange place called The Aerie. With an overpopulation problem that was solved via monthly battle royales starring anyone who broke a law, it was not an easy place to live for many. Now that everyone's returned to the real world, they still have memories of that other life layered on, and it's a lot to process. So if people seem unwilling to talk, or off in any way, there may be a reason other than big-city unfriendliness.

And what of the Displaced? These people have had a presence in New Amsterdam for a while. First, they were the weirdos who inspired messages from the NAPD to remind people that vigilantism is a bad idea after they took out a kaiju all by themselves. Later, they were creeping into medical wings and heading up into the floating pyramid outside of the city to help bring the environmental grid around the world back online. After the simulation where their powers were key to causing little glitches throughout the experience, the Displaced became more widely known, a pattern that has only continued as some of them were quite high-profile in the Aerie as key members of the ruling class or repeat victors of the battle royales. The very same bar that everyone got dropped off at today is also one of their bases of operation.

There has been a group that has quietly appreciated the Displaced for a while. Around September 2511, little shrines started sprouting up around the city depicting the Displaced. While many of these shrines were simple in nature, made up of candles and a piece of art portraying someone with a blue shape coming out of their chest, others were beautiful murals, lavish in every way. These murals sell for a lot of money, but the people buying them don't seem to know why these paintings are a big deal.

Are the Displaced worthy of shrines and attention? Debatable. The people connected to the shrines think they're either touched by god, gods themselves, or carrying something god-like within them. And as it turned out? They were right. These people tend to be marked with sacred geometry tattoos. They aren't in the majority in the city by any means, but they were the first "fans" of the Displaced. Now that the Displaced are becoming known, their shrines are getting more notice. And with the existence of gods becoming a reality rather than a belief, other religious groups are cropping up as well, strange in a world that was once purely secular.

Along the way, the Displaced have made some enemies, and the fact that all of the Cardinals in the Aerie were Displaced isn't helping matters. The United Nations, the leading governmental force in this world, has made no secret that they're not fans, and now they're taking additional steps with a newly announced Task Force that will be investigating all of the strange goings-on of the past year or so—much of which revolved around the Displaced. (More on that below!) Thankfully, the governor of New Amsterdam, Joseph Lynch, has at least spoken out in support of the Displaced.

There are also the corporations, the most notable at the moment being Riverstone. A former entertainment mogul in the 20th and 21st centuries, Riverstone eventually began to broaden their interests prior to World War III. Most recently, they offered to perform tests on the Displaced in exchange for some information. Riverstone has a mild presence in New Amsterdam, but has a symbiotic relationship with the United Nations in their capital city, New Beijing.

It feels important to note that it's hot in New Amsterdam right now, hot and humid and sticky, with frequent downpours. There is also water rationing going on. Despite that, the city of New Amsterdam continues to be overgrown with plant life and greenery that clogs up plumbing everywhere. What's that about? You guessed it, it's another weird Displaced-caused thing.

Right now, the Displaced are renovating, opening new businesses, and planning a trip to North America. The continent was decimated by nuclear warfare at the end of World War III, and has been left uninhabited since. Now, the Displaced are curious about what they might find there, and if it could be a place for them to escape to if their reputations get any worse.

Now it's time to see what's going on around New Amsterdam, from Red Wings and beyond!

> RED WINGS
The newcomers were directed to head into a bar that is on the other side of the alley, and there is only one available: the Displaced-run Red Wings. Thanks to the major decrease in business, Red Wings looks like itself again. Bright red lights welcome newcomers inside. The open space is mostly tables with seats. All of the booths got removed following the monster attacks, so while it's far less intimate, it'll be easier for the owners to clean things up if future attacks occur.

Much like anywhere else, water is rationed carefully at Red Wings. (It doesn't help that one of the owners is a practiced rationer thanks to her post-apocalyptic life.) Business is slow but steady; most of the customers now are regulars, as any gawkers had that knocked that out of their system by their unwanted AU experience.

While it's not possible for any of the newcomers to see them because their implant hasn't been activated yet, there are various baseball and soccer games from around the world playing on projected screens. Too bad there aren't as many patrons watching. The good news is that there will be plenty of room to sit down, settle in, and even play a round of pool before—needing to head downstairs? That's right: the temporary safehouse is right here.

> SPECIAL INVESTIGATION TASK FORCE
Now that it's been a full month since the Aerie ended, the UN's Special Investigation Task Force has settled into New Amsterdam (with a few deployments in other megacities for appearance's sake). That isn't a coincidence. While on the surface, this Task Force has been designed to look into the many strange events in this world that started in June 2511, its real goal seems to be to pin all of these unusual circumstances on the Displaced.

For the most part, the citizens of New Amsterdam are not happy with the introduction of this Task Force. While some are displeased with the Displaced's involvement in the Aerie as Cardinals, they're very supportive of the group as a whole. Their efforts are valued, and many believe that things would be far worse in New Amsterdam without their involvement. (The idea being that no one is blaming these strange, glowing newcomers for what's happened.) Given the announced recruitment of Aerie Shrikes (in short: that alternate world's secret police), NA citizens are even more on edge. The last thing they want is a hidden law enforcement group affecting their lives.

Given the unique nature of their Aerie training, Task Force members are ordered to hide in plain sight. All of them are former Shrikes from the Aerie, making it so that their identities may be easy to pin down. But many Shrikes wore masks and maintained a heavy level of secrecy around their role, making them harder to identify. On the other hand, while very dangerous to anyone who might make a move on them, the Task Force is not conditioned and trained to be loyal to the UN alone (like the previous UN soldiers had been). Many of them are in this for job security reasons, as well as the very real hunt for answers about what's been happening in this world.

Task Force members are following the Displaced, albeit from a distance. They're also asking questions and showing up where they aren't wanted. Fighting rings? Oh, they're there. They may even participate. Gambling dens? They're there, too. It seems as if there's no limit to what they'll do. To make matters worse, they're offering credits to people who will come forward with any saved photographic or video evidence of the weird events around New Amsterdam from the past year.

> SPIRITUAL MOVEMENTS
Multiple religious movements have sprung up around New Amsterdam, the most notable of which is led by Yennefer (angerberg). Using her clout as a Cardinal as well as someone forced into her role in the Aerie, she's returned with the intention of reclaiming some power as a notable religious leader. Her goal is, primarily, to recruit wealthy but disaffected young adults who no longer feel as if they have a place in this world following their experiences in the Aerie. And why is this notable? Because she's using the zeitgeist of her time as a Cardinal, her identity as a member of the fringe group of glowing Displaced, and a powerful message to draw people to her. Oh, it helps that gods have been confirmed. And she definitely has a piece of one inside of her. All of the Displaced do, in fact.

Beyond Yennefer, there is a smaller spiritual group mostly focused on altruism and casting aside technology in the city. Though it's small, it's led by a wealthy woman named Nirvana, and they just got done celebrating their annual Insomniac Ball (a hedonist's paradise in rave form).

Many religious groups are in their fledgling stages. No one has religious works. Some groups squat in various abandoned buildings to turn them into makeshift chapels or shrines, but the New Amsterdam Police Department has begun to work to move them from these locations. The odd behaviors of these groups is cited as the cause for their involvement. Due to their odd choices of worship, some of their members have begun to display violent tendencies—likely in part because they decided to consume pieces of the gods that had been left in New Amsterdam in following multiple monster attacks. Gross and also—gross. Any of these violent people have been taken to medical institutions to try to rehabilitate them.

(Unfortunately, as many of the Displaced know, the only cure for these fanatics is to be touched by a member of the Displaced for five minutes. At this time, the Displaced will cause a sense of pain before it shifts into a sense of tranquility. That tranquility will stay with both the healer and the person cured for 24 hours. And yes, this is different behavior from before!)

> FIGHT THE POWER
Outside of Morningstar (which is a rebel organization that has had its influence on this world for 50 years), there are two burgeoning rebellions.

The first group are the Kestrels. They were a rebel group that existed within the Quarry, and many of its Aerie members are now exerting themselves within the real world as well. While oppression has a different coat of paint in the real world, it's still not all that different. Right now, the Kestrels are primarily focused on violence as a means of bringing an end to the oppression of their world, but they can be refocused if they have a good leader or set of leaders. They may cause a spot of trouble around the world before that person steps up.

The second rebellion is in space. After years of mistreatment and oppression by the UN—especially since its workers were largely treated as disposable—the colonies have now declared independence from the UN. Of course, a declaration means nothing if they can't back it up. They do have a spot of mysterious help from someone on Earth, but they could use some additional assistance (as well as trained employees) if they're going to succeed.

In both rebellions, input from the Displaced is all but necessary for these movements to succeed. If you're interested, hit us up on Plot Engagement or this month's CR meme questions thread to get the ball rolling.

> GETTING BACK IN ORDER (HOSPITALS AND BUSINESSES)
Though New Amsterdam is beginning to appear as if it's back in order, that's not true on all fronts. In some ways, appearances might be deceiving. After all, a lot of focus has gone toward renovations and reconstruction all around the city to try to get the economy back in working order following the simulation, monster attacks, and subsequent consequences of a prolonged alternate reality situation. Reconstruction is nearly done, but that isn't the same for the people themselves.

Thanks to the efforts of the Displaced, hospitals are starting to function somewhat better. However, thanks to a year's worth of traumatic events—combined with that lifetime in another world called the Aerie—things are still … very, very busy. Volunteers are needed, especially if they can help undergo counseling and therapeutic training to help with intake. There are some people who are also more prone to acting out and violence, so people who are willing to go through training to help with these circumstances are welcome as well. Needless to say, the numerous hospitals in New Amsterdam are full given the wide range of services that they provide. Any help (or continued help) is very much appreciated!

Around the city, a lot of other locations are looking to get back into business. Ever wanted to try on a job or three (or even ten) to see what you like most? New Amsterdam is the place to really live out your dreams right now. From being trained to be a line cook to cleaning toilets, there's something for everyone. Or a single person. The upside of this is that everyone will get paid, and since many of these jobs are available through restaurants, there's sure to be free food, too. It's a win-win situation. But don't expect these jobs to last. Many of these businesses are running at full capacity to try to get back into working order, especially with many employees still recovering from their previous experiences.

> ANIME NAEXPO

Some shows must go on. In the case of Anime Naexpo—more colloquially known as Anime Naex—that's doubly the case. A few last minute changes means that the venue is set up differently: all inside, and all to avoid people from struggling under the constraints of the high temperatures outside. But it could be worse—it could have been cancelled. It could have been cancelled. Thankfully, input from Joseph Lynch and City Hall's community organizers helped make a final push to make this annual event a reality once more. The problem is the same, however: it is very hot and water rationing will make it difficult to deal with that. Prior to the event's start, numerous messages will go out advising con-goers to not wear heavy costumes that could lead to heat exhaustion or worse. New Amsterdam hospitals are at full capacity. With so many people ecstatic about getting to do something fun after spending a year making their costumes, odds are that no one is going to be thrilled about following these directions. So, they won't.

Rather than being held in its usual venue, Anime Naex has been moved to a set of interconnected hotels that exist in the underground part of New Amsterdam. One of these hotels does have an elevator to lift people up to the surface, but this will only be relevant if someone's staying in that portion of the hotel. In order to combat heat exhaustion, all of the convention will be taking place down below. A few nerds will take to social media to claim they're being hidden away, but look—it's 2512 and nerds became cool (AKA noticeably profitable) centuries ago. They won't get much traction.

What used to be a one-part street fair and one-part anime convention has been fully merged together to ensure that most everyone is inside with central air conditioning. This may be a good thing for various amateur artists hoping to grab attention or sell their wares, as there will be limited opportunities to miss their booths.

Anime Naexpo is a three-day-long event, with badges only available for those three days. This year's volunteers who are working the show are dressed up in pseudo-military getups, in part because it was the best they could do on short notice. Their original costumes were designed after the popular battle royale show, and those had to be discarded at short notice.

As it is, the program for the show is loaded as expected.

> CURRENT HITS
There are three shows competing in popularity at the moment, though there are still some fans who believe that Hot Case (a noir anime with a 1990s aesthetic) deserves a second, third, and fourth season. Given the awkwardness over the year's popular shows, they may not be wrong.

The first up is Vestica: Aeon: The Second Chapter. With a name that is a callback to sacred geometry in a lot of ways, some of its fans feel a bit strange given the symbolism they've started to notice (especially around New Amsterdam). But on its own, Vestica: Aeon is part of the long-lasting Vestica franchise, and it's pretty enjoyable once divorced from its context.

The next most popular show is the aforementioned Battle Royale anime: Who Deserves to Live? Even the name itself is a touch problematic given the current atmosphere. It was growing in worldwide popularity before the Aerie hit, swallowing up everyone into its hold. The show itself is very dark and grim, giving the sense that even if the people within bring an end to the battle royales they're forced to fight, they won't be happy to live on.

Last but not least is the show with the pseudo-military get ups. Partly produced by Riverstone's entertainment department as a thinly-veiled propaganda series, it follows an immortal band of brothers fighting together throughout history. It shows the change in times, loyalties, and more, but their dedication as soldiers never wavers. At the beginning of the show, they undergo hard conditioning after being brought together from disparate walks of life. It could be touching in a lot of ways, but it's very obviously meant to be pro-United Nations Army in its messaging. Given that all of those soldiers were unilaterally discharged and left to fend for themselves, it's all the more tacky.

> COSTUMES
Although there are some shoddy costumes bought off the 2512 equivalent of Ebay without checking the reviews, most people are turning out decked out as if nothing happened. That means that, again, they're ignoring advice to keep their outfits a bit light so that they don't face heat exhaustion. At Anime Naexpo, the costumed guests take their opportunities seriously. The competition held every year is fierce, especially since the most original and well-put-together costumes can lead to a contract with a major motion film studio. Want to make the wacky costumes for the next sci-fi gig? This is where someone gets started. One catch, however, is that limited water means that any costumes that don't account for the conditions may not last through the weekend. Slips, spills, and anything else can easily destroy a delicate costume. Maybe vying for that film gig should wait until next year?

> SPECIAL INTERESSTS
Ah, the … niche community. If anyone shouldn't be wearing a costume, it's people who fall under this collective group. Yep, we mean furries. While furries are, by and large, largely invisible in this world, there are a number of them that go out of their way to get surgically attached cat ears (that function like real ears!), whiskers, claws, and even gills if they're feeling a bit fishy. But it's around this time that they dress to the nines in their full costumes to take to the anime convention streets. Needless to say, the furries will be suffering. But they tend to have money in spades, so if someone wants to take commissions at the show to draw their fursonas, they'll make a hefty amount of credits.

Knowing that there's a clear market in this, a number of brothels advertise cosplay events that start around Anime Naexpo and run through the end of October (what with Halloween coming up and all). These brothels won't have services available at the convention, but they will be happy to educate anyone who's interested. They're also likely to have holographic displays of the kinds of costumes (furry and otherwise) that are available to any guests giving them a try after the convention.

> EVENTS
It's not a convention without the panels! These panels are run by a wide array of special guests. Mostly superficial in nature, they're largely positioned as a setup for photo opportunities and autographs after the event. (All digital, of course.)

There are also panels by the standard guests that will be going on almost around the clock. Some are:

"Did Anime Influence Our Life in the Aerie?"
"Fictional AIs. Can We Depict Them as Heroes?"
"Enjoying Fiction After Living It."

In addition, there will be multiple game rooms throughout the convention. Some will allow gamers to beta-test the next virtual reality FPS or driving game, while others will involve app creators trying to show that their app will be the next neural implant hit so that they can draw in sponsorship. Prepare for some real duds when it comes to that stuff.

> MERCHANDISE
There are two types of merchandise at this year's Anime Naexpo: the handmade fan stuff, and then the stuff that's clearly made by predatory corporations running under a subsidiary. The good news is that the predatory corporations put out some great merchandise. The bad news is that—well, you get the drift. Among all the various types of merchandise (figures, hentai stuff [complete with lots of tentacles], the works) is work revolving around the Displaced. Amoli Bhasin cut a deal to get a lot of this stuff out there, so there will be shirts with Red Wings logos, as well as hats, shoes, and everything else. On the other side, there will be fanworks of the Cardinals and arena winners (even if they're the sketchy repeat ones), sometimes depicted … in ships with one another. Look, if that's how they're going to cope, that's fine? Maybe? Many of these things are sold as avatars, profile backgrounds, and more. And some of them are selling like hot cakes.

> MISCELLANY
Food trucks will be lined up outside of the event to keep people well-nourished, even if some of their beverages may not provide the hydration needed. In order to try to cut down on the heat exhaustion, the event runners have cancelled this year's Ball and Rave events, especially since they're known for exacerbating the issue in normal years. Things are probably going to be bad enough at the con. Let's not add sweaty, awkwardly costumed dancing to the mix.

> SAFEHOUSE

After a day spent inside of Red Wings, the newcomers will be allowed to head down to the safehouse below the bar. While the safehouse is typically located elsewhere in New Amsterdam, it's currently undergoing renovations. Thus, the Red Wings safehouse it is. If anyone doesn't wish to enter the safehouse, the compliance drug may come into play, but it's better to work out any problems with other players.

Located under Red Wings, access to this safehouse is through a hatch inside of the kitchen area. Smells of curry will be most apparent in the kitchen (in part because curry is a smell that just doesn't go away). The inside of the safehouse is nice enough, with rows of cots set up, but it will seem a touch hot and humid inside because of all of the cannabis plants. Yes, moved off to the side are several cannabis plants that have been growing down below. Once the newcomers are sent down there, they will notice the central air kicking on, as well as the last remains of the cannabis operation being brought to a close. At least temporarily.

The safehouse has all the amenities needed: a large communal kitchen, a large communal bathroom, a first aid room with a medi-unit (that will heal all major injuries), and a side room for storage, which is where the rest of the cannabis plants have been moved to. Right now, the kitchen is a bit sparse in terms of anyone needing to cook for themselves, but the Red Wings employees have filled the fridge with leftovers from the day in case anyone gets hungry.

Integration will be handled entirely by the fellow Displaced, though anyone can contact El through zeir inbox, if needed. El is an AI that leads the rebel group Morningstar, though zeir identity is known only to the Displaced because of the world's anti-AI sentiments.

◉ New characters will be asked to pick their beds, and be provided with a change of (second-hand, mismatched and somewhat threadbare) clothes and basic toiletries.

◉ The kitchen only has leftovers from the day's meals, but there is a wide variety of good food thanks to the efforts of Nill, Murphy, and Ren in the Red Wings kitchen. If anyone's jonesing for some caffeine, they can try sweet-talking a Red Wings employee to make some of their stash of beans and bring it on down.

◉ Along those same lines, newcomers will find that this is a world that is steeped in sustainable choices. Paper is a thing of the past. Ever used a bidet regularly? This world gives everyone a crash course in exactly what that feels like if they haven't experienced it before.

◉ Shortly after their arrival, El will message the newcomers to explain the basics. Ze will explain that they've been given a modest stipend of credits to help them get by until they can find a job. This will be enough to cover their living expenses for about a month while they hang out in the safehouse, if they're careful with budgeting.

◉ The drugs making new characters compliant will remain in their systems for a few hours after their arrival at the safehouse before finally beginning to fade. They will be gone entirely after a night's rest. In the meantime, they may want to be careful of what others say to them.

◉ It will be made clear to new characters that in this world, everything is reliant on the implants and their associated IDs. Without them, new arrivals can't do anything—no buying anything or even opening doors. Without IDs, people stick out like a sore thumb, and with certain powerful entities in this world gunning for the Displaced, this could be incredibly dangerous for them.

◉ New characters will be given rudimentary access to the network on arrival in the safehouse, but will not have their ID set up yet. They will be able to make posts and replies, but their messages will be anonymous — and they do not have inboxes yet.

◉ New characters do not have access to the internet until their ID is setup. They only have limited access because they're present in the safehouse, but they can't surf the rest of the internet, check out Cooltalk, or watch the equivalent of Netflix until their ID is made.

◉ New characters cannot leave the safehouse at this time. The hatch won't open for them, not because it's locked, but because no IDs means no doors will open at all. This will make it impossible for them to get out for the next four days until their IDs have been finalized by El. There won't be any immediately obvious ways to cut their way out through turning off the power, either. Not everyone loves the safehouse system, but it's the best they've got for now and current Displaced will usually come by to help newbies pass the time and answer their questions. Time to sit tight.

◉ As a note, if any character does manage to leave the safehouse because someone let them out either accidentally or purposefully, we need the players involved to drop us a line! For further details on the current safehouse procedures and how they came about, please see this post!

◉ New characters will not be allowed to leave the safehouse until SEPTEMBER 26, 2512 (MARCH 21, 2021). These 4 days are for them to adjust, learn about the world they've arrived in from their fellows, and for El to speak with them and work on setting up their IDs.

> FINAL OOC NOTES

You're now free to post to the network and logs comms. To reiterate, your characters will have no IDs or inboxes, nor be allowed to roam free until after those initial four days have passed. Until then, all characters will appear as @anonymous on the network. While sitting down in the safehouse, it's expected that they'll have gotten a good idea of their new situation from their fellow characters, and will have discussed their background and job potentials with El in order for their false IDs to be set up.

If you have any questions or ideas about how you'd like to get your character involved in the world, please head over to the plot engagement post and drop us a comment! For questions specific to this log, there is a thread below.

The March CR meme for the month is here. We've added a questions thread there to act as a middle ground before people head over to Plot Engagement.

Please check out our March calendar rundown for a look at things happening this month.

AC will remain halved for the foreseeable future. New players will only need to provide at least five comments across two-four (2-4) threads, while older players will only need to provide ten comments across two-four (2-4) threads. Please let us know if you have any questions about this!

> NAVIGATION

Comments

QUESTIONS

[larkers]

kestrels

[unmoor]

hello mods!

i'd be interested in throwing hook with the kestrels. he wasn't in the aerie, but he dislikes the corporates and wants more freedom for everyone, you know, the pirate ideals. he's been a captain of his own ship for many years, so he knows how to handle a rowdy crew and he wouldn't be opposed to violence as long as it's not targeted at defenseless civilians.

how and where could he get in contact with these people?

also he had someone tailing him not so long ago - would this be an issue in relation to this plot?

[notathreat]

Did the newbies come in with hair this time or am I just reading too far into it?

moved per veronica's advice

[impede]

Per this thread with Lance (where Akechi and Lance spot Task Force members watching them outside of the convention space), Akechi is going to walk up to one of the Shrikes-turned-Task Force and introduce himself, ask why they're there, and even imply that they might be fans of them (without specifying what brought about that fandom). It's mostly a way to test (like he did with the Phantom Thieves in canon) how they deal with direct confrontation.

How will this go? We're pausing the thread for this reaction, and I don't intend to have the interaction go on for long! It's mostly a hit-and-run, Akechi style.

Sephiroth | open!

[unkindled_madness]

> Red Wings

[To say Sephiroth hates this would be an understatement. There's a horror underlying all of it that he hones into fury, and his first coherent thought is simply Hojo.

But as he begins to process his surroundings, the idiotic outfit, the loss of his hair, he realizes that, impossibly, Hojo had nothing to do with this. Despite the lingering drugs in his system and the undeniable evidence that something's been done to him... it wasn't Hojo. He tries not to dwell on the similarities once he comes to that realization. This is an entirely unfamiliar situation, and he needs to get his bearings, quickly.

So he'll sit in this bar and he'll listen to what explanations are offered, because until he can be certain his body will obey him and only him, it makes no sense to start a fight. But he is seething beneath it, and if nothing else, he's going to hurl the damn costume helmet away from him the moment the impulse occurs to him.]


> Safehouse

[Sephiroth changes out of the costume at the first opportunity, with no considerations given to modesty. (It's a shared living space, isn't it?) He kicks the discarded costume under his cot... but he keeps the gloves. He watches his fellow inmates, studying them, with no intention of letting his guard down.

When night falls, he doesn't sleep. When it seems most of the others have, he tries the hatch, but just as he was told, it doesn't open for him. He holds his hand pressed against it for a long moment, then climbs back down. Something suspiciously like panic is rising up in him, remembering other doors that only opened for the right ID. He can tell himself this is different, but-- what?

He needs to be alone. Is anyone in the kitchen? It's late. His body is trembling and he folds his arms tightly in an effort to still it. Just breathe. He's not a child any longer, and he knows much better now the differences between him and other people. They've told him this confinement is temporary, but if that's a lie, he'll kill who he needs to to force an exit.

So either way it's temporary, and this feeling that is definitely not panic is going to pass.]

safehouse

[immutable]

[ hugh wonders how any of them can sleep. he dozed for a few hours, but he wakes again in the middle of the night and gets up.

he feels restless, and with nowhere to go there's nothing to do but tell himself that soon he'll be out of this cramped space. when he can't bear lying on this bed anymore he gets up, heads for the kitchen to see if the tea he'd seen in the cupboard was any good.

but there's already someone there. someone who seems to be coping even worse than he is.

hugh enters anyway, sets about finding the tea in the cupboard, boiling some water, finding some mugs. it's a long time since he's made food with his own hands-- possibly years-- but it gives him something to focus on, which helps.

and if the man doesn't address him first, hugh will eventually offer up: ]

I'm making tea if you'd like some.

red wings

[strove]

[Once the mask is hurled past her, Clarke's steps falter. She doesn't respond with anger. Frankly, she's surprised that it's the first to go colliding with the floor. The fact that it's barely damaged is unsurprising, at least given what she knows of Jimmy's funds. If he managed to get fitting outfits, he'd get a mask that would hold up.

It just seems wasteful. The helmet at all, that is—not the fact that he's throwing it away. Clarke would do the same. Hell, she's done worse in unfamiliar situations.

So, she takes it into the back. Maybe someone can repurpose it. No matter what, it's hidden from view for whenever he has to go downstairs. No need to let him see the reminder.

Then she returns, steps into the spot across from him at the bar, and asks:] What else can I do for you? [Like he had asked her to throw away the helmet and she complied.]

Red Wings

[selfimage]

[ there's a man a barstool over that's dressed neatly in a nicer-ish suit. there's a zipper up the front, and a jacket over his shoulders. the way he's dressed, he doesn't seem all that concerned with the heat. he's nursing something out of a tumbler, and tilts his head with Sephiroth sits next to him. ]

Well, you just look like you've had an experience.

[ there's a hint of playfulness tilt to his voice, but also some expectancy that makes the whole thing seem a little blaise. ]

Welcome to the party, I suppose.

safehouse

[culver]

Some days, her shifts at the bar run a little later than normal, and this is one of those days. It isn't until close to two in the morning, when the bar is just about to close, that she finally has a moment to breath. By the time everything is washed up and put away, she's hit a welcome second wind, and doesn't feel ready to head back home just yet. So she packs up the extra curry and rice from the day, deciding that she might as well take it down to the safehouse now instead of tomorrow morning; there's probably room in the fridge down there, anyway.

Nill doesn't bother with the hatch, instead taking a deep breath, exhaling slowly as she taps into her power, decreasing the density of her body so she can slowly sink through the floor where the hatch is. A year here in New Amsterdam has given her more control over it than she thought she'd ever had, and Peter celebrating her nineteenth (technically eighteenth) birthday with her the other week has given her a much needed boost in confidence. Thankfully, nobody is below her (something she probably should have thought of first, but it's almost three in the morning now, and maybe that second wind isn't as coherent as she thought it was). The blue glow fades from her chest as she eases on to the floor, setting everything's density right before moving towards the kitchen, keeping her steps quiet so she doesn't wake anyone sleeping in the cots.

The light is on, and someone is standing there.

Not wanting to frighten them, Nill knocks softly on the door frame, hopefully alerting the person to her presence as she continues forward. He is... very tall. Her wings flick out behind her, an indication of a discomfort she hasn't entirely conquered yet, but she doesn't adjust her course. Instead, she sets the curry on the counter, and if he's looked at her by now, she'll lift the lid to show what's inside before gesturing to him, then the food. He's more than welcome to have some now, if he wants. She puts on what is meant to be an encouraging smile.

jason todd (arkham knight) | ota

[vitiate]

> red wings

[ this is already enough to make his head swim. But Jason knows himself well enough to know something’s wrong when he just unquestioningly follows the orders given to him. Knows that this feeling of being out of control of his own body is different, but definitely familiar. And he fucking hates how he’s already looking for people like him, rather than turning the other way and leaving.

Even with the ridiculous outfit that’s bound to stand out. He could mitigate around that, and even if he couldn’t, it came with a helmet.

He tries to rationalize with himself that he can get more information by playing along, but his instinct is to lash out at the first person that actually tries to talk to him. He’s been captured once in his life, and he never wants to repeat the experience. And yet, he still finds himself scanning the bar, even though he’s wired so tight he might snap. ]

> safehouse

[ he stares at the door. Sure, he understands what was explained about the IDs. and he can even grasp that something weird’s happening with the multiverse, and this is how they’re all men and women out of time and space. But it doesn’t mean he has to like it.

He spends most of his time staring at the trapdoor entrance, watching who comes and goes, and then the other parts of his time pacing around, subconsciously still looking for an exit. Still looking for the right wire to blow that’ll short the whole thing.

But, you know. There’s precious little to do otherwise. What, why would he bother getting to know anyone else who’s trapped? ]

> wildcard

(hit me up at bespeak for plotting, thanks!)

safehouse

[baum]

[ John's been here for a month, and he's no more comfortable with it now than he was at the beginning. There are people he talks to, and there's a basic routine he follows day to day. It includes training, sparring, trying to keep himself sharp. It includes working, trying to put enough money away to get to somewhere more secure.

Moving safehouses had made him even more wary. Still, aware that there's newcomers, he's keen to help them acclimatise. He'd appreciated the people who did that for him.

This man looks about as comfortable here as him, and John feels a certain affinity with that level of watchfulness. He makes his way over. ]

Hey. I know it sucks, being stuck in here. It won't be for long, but is there anything I can get you?

Don't say a hamburger. [ He smiles. ] I can't work miracles, here.

safehouse

[immutable]

[ Hugh hates it here, but from the looks of his fellow inmates he isn't the one who hates it the most. He's used to living in confined quarters (not as confined as this) and he's built routines for himself to give the time some kind of meaning.

( Fellow arrivals not inmates. They're getting out of here in a few days. It's the process everyone who's arrived here has been through. Apparently. )

So he breaks up the day into manageable chunks and sets himself things to do. It doesn't make everything entirely better, but he avoids just sitting and stewing-- or picking fights, like he feels he wants to at times with his fellow inma-- arrivals who don't seem to be doing anything productive.

At one point he turns up at the hatch, unsurprised to find Jason there, with a bowl of something hot and edible. ]

Hey. Thought you might be hungry after just sitting and staring for the past twelve hours.

[ It probably hasn't been twelve hours. Hugh also probably could sound less condescending, but he's trying to keep his tone level. ]

[reneger]

( he'd get the staring, had he been down here earlier. he could sympathize, or empathize, or whatever with it. give a whole "been here, done that, life sucks" speech.

except jason isn't given time for any of that, because the moment he lowers himself down into the safehouse, he's right there, fucking staring towards him with that stupid face and the stupid "J" etched into his skin. he's seen another him, before. younger. newer to the whole schtick than he was by a significant measure. except this guy?

this guy looks like his damn clone. and it's enough that he stops as soon as he's inside. narrows his eyes. watches him. waits for--for loki to shift back to loki and say it was a joke, or for something else to happen. you know. as you do, when you find yourself faced with another you. )

red wings!

[dickism]

[Dick isn't minding his own business today, because when does he ever? Instead, he's here specifically to scope out the new arrivals. Yes, part of that is making sure they're okay and feel as safe as possible, but part of it is also making sure none of them ring any alarm bells. He was raised by Batman, after all, and as affable as he comes off, he has that same obsession with preparation.

The newbies aren't hard to spot this time, considering their get ups. And Dick, too, is easily recognizable, despite his much shorter hair. His eyes skim over Jason, thrown by the over the top costume, and then he double takes. It's only the scar on his cheek that makes Dick realize this is a different one. And so, of course, he beelines across the bar.]

red wings;

[mahem]

[ harley's not difficult to spot either, looking like she does — she's still making the most of being given jimmy's platinum moon credit card once upon a time, wearing the kind of clothes that are designed to draw the eye to her, sequins and tight silhouettes that leave plenty of pale, tattooed skin on display.

her hair is still growing back, though, but she's got enough on top that it's left her rubbing it frequently, moving her palm over the short fuzz. most of the time she compensates by wearing big, dangly earrings instead to offset how naked her head feels. but she'll be incredibly happy to have her hair back as soon as she can get it.

of course her intention is to head to the bar to see what she can see — and maybe talk someone into buying her a drink first — so she only spares a glance for a face she knows, not spotting the various physical differences yet as she breezes on past. ]

Oh, hey, Jay.

[ that's an awfully familiar way to greet someone. ]

Red Wings

[selfimage]

[ every two weeks Loki comes to scout for people that he may know, not out of generosity, but out of the lingering knowledge of control. there are parts of his narrative going very well, and he doesn't want to jeopardize his own standing.

Loki half turns and makes eye contact. there's a hint of recognition before he waves his hand and deliberately turns away.

well, that's a tad awkward, isn't it? he decides to nurse his drink instead. ]

after the whole mess (cw: emeto mentions)

[strove]

[On the one hand, Jason (a Jason) is a known entity. Threatening. Bombastic. Quick to draw conclusions about someone. Doesn't think twice about how what he says comes across. On the other hand, he's unpredictable. He doesn't want to be seen as a good guy. And he's unreasonable.

It's the last one that makes her wary as she heads into the safehouse, sidestepping the bodily fluids. (Presumably, before coming down, she's already asked one of her employees to help—with a promise of a bonus. At least vomit isn't an unknown thing in a bar.)

She stops before the new Jason, eyes passing over him.] I'm Clarke. Stephen called on me to help. [There's a lot more baggage there. There's a slight wariness to her stance—she can't help it. Even if he's not the Jason she knows, they have a year's worth of problems to unpack (plus the six years tossed in in which she grew up, which complicates the perception of time itself).]

I can heal that up, unless you'd like to keep the reminder. [She's dealt with a culture of people who do that. So, it's worth asking ... from both angles.]

mako (lok) | ota

[browbeater]

> day 1

[ well. This is all really alarming. One minute, you’re in the hospital getting the release to head back into the field, the next you’re wearing something… really skin tight? With a helmet? And being told to go into a bar-- actually, recounting the whole process is pointless.

But still, when he finds himself in Red Wings, absolutely everything is bewildering to him. This isn’t Republic City, but also it’s not even on the same level of technology. The movers were… small, and everywhere. The bar seemed a lot more automated, and-- he’s frankly not sure what to think. ]

Excuse me.

[ he’ll just go up to the bar. ]

I’m looking for someone. Or, someones. And I’ve got no clue what’s going on. Where I am, why I’m dressed like this.

[ and just take matters into his own hands. ]

> days 2-4

[ well, he wants to escape. But he’s not sure where he’d go to, or how he’d get in contact with, well, anyone. It’s actual hell just getting his head squared away, with this new idea of a “neural implant.”

But the worst part about it all? Is he can’t firebend anymore. And actually, when he isn’t trying to cook, he’s meditating, running through his firebending forms, or if he’s really deep into frustration, staring at his hand, with a melancholy look like he’s expecting to see something and it’s not coming.

Which, honestly, maybe it has to do with the fine Lichtenburg Figures lining his arm that you can only really see when you get closer. Still, it’s frustrating. ]

> wildcard

(hit me up at bespeak for plotting, thanks!)

[immutable]

[ mako is possibly the arrival that hugh is least frustrated with. he seems to be actively trying to keep himself engaged instead of sitting around moping, and that's something to be respected. hugh has his own routine he's following, and not having to worry about even one of his fellow arrivals is comforting.

but one day he catches the man deep in contemplation and pauses ]

Hey. You in the mood for some company?

abby a. / tlou 2 (open)

[armd]

𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚠𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜
(she doesn't want to go, but she has to. it's hard enough to adjust to the outfit (uncomfortable, made of an unforgiving, shiny material that abby has never, would never choose to wear if given the option), let alone how she blithely follows every off-handed command given to her with no idea what the cause of it is. she's aware of her legs moving in a direction she's never been before. obviously something else is at play here but she's too out of it to put any real thought into resisting, and before she knows it, she's in a bar.

she's never been in a working bar before. a real one, a functioning one like in a movie; abby's been into old, broken buildings before. they've had approximations at the WLF fob, but that's all they've ever really been: guesswork, and tailored to fit into old stadium boxes. this is the actual thing. the lights captivate her for a long moment.

instinctively, she wants to stand at the edge or in a corner and scope out the building with a wall at her back. checking the perimeter is an impulse burnt into her, but it's impossible to blend in wearing this get-up, and somebody is sure to notice her doing it. so she leans back, away from the bar top, with her arms folded uncomfortably at her chest and people watches for a while. her tongue still feels a little thick in her mouth.

one of the command lingers in her brain stem, though. look for people like you.

the first displaced to come within hearing range catches her interest immediately and you might find yourself being blatantly stared at. a little audacious coming from a woman wearing a vivid purple power ranger costume, but there you go.)

𝚜𝚊𝚏𝚎 𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚎
(new clothes are a relief. second-hand, like everything at home. abby been given a worn t-shirt and jeans with holes in the knees; anything is better than the fucking clown costume. she's bundled it up, shoved it underneath of her cot, and she's absolutely going to 'forget' to take it along with her once she's out of here.

because, for now, she isn't allowed to go. this grates heavily on abby, grinds on her like a stone. she has a fairly new dislike of being trapped in dark spaces, and the safehouse has little natural light. other people being there doesn't help, either. in fact, it makes the whole situation feel even more like something abby thought she already fought her way out of, tooth and nail.

she doesn't sleep well. she spends a lot of time familiarising herself with the neural implant, and trying not to stare at a certain name stuck at the top of her inbox. the network connection is too limited for her to be able to look anything up though, and she has to give up in disgust at some point.

and maybe start casing the joint for a bookshelf, or– fuck, even just a shit paperback somebody might have accidentally left down here at some point.)

𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚍𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚍
(find me at blisters for plotting!)

safehouse

[browbeater]

[ honestly, he's observed some of the other arrivals. Six of them so far, and varying degrees of pissed off, from what he can tell. He knows he seems calm comparatively. But talking about escaping and getting back to Korra or his brother doesn't really make sense right now.

So, might as well get to know the people he's trapped with. they're in as bad of a situation. and misery does love company. ]

What're you looking for?

[ asked with mild curiosity as he watches her, his hands shoved inside his pockets. ]

Lance | OTA

[lifetothefullest]

[Red Wings | New Arrivals]

[For the most part, Lance avoids new arrival day.

There are several reasons for that, most of which coming from his general opposition to how everything is handled. He doesn't like the system in place and doesn't want to be a part of it, and so has been generally staying out of it all entirely.

But he decides to involve himself today, at least in part; he's not going to be directing newbies into the safehouse--that choice will be up to them--but he can answer questions and, more importantly, try to help reassure people as they deal with the situation they've found themselves in. That's something he's good at, and it's something very important.

The new arrivals are even easier to spot than usual this time, and so Lance approaches one with a small smile of greeting, but keeps some distance between them both out of caution and so as not to accidentally be threatening.]

Hey. Just arrived?

[Obviously, but it's just a way to start the conversation and get a sense of how it might go.]


[Red Wings | OTA]

[In addition to greeting new arrivals Lance can also be found lurking at the bar itself, idly sipping a drink and half paying attention to the network, the rest of his attention on watching other people in the bar. His nerves are slightly less frayed than they have been since returning from the Aerie, but that still isn't saying much and so he'll probably be aware of anyone approaching.

Despite not feeling particularly social, he'll still offer an attempt at a smile and a nod at anyone who approaches, curious to see how some other Displaced are doing.]


[City | OTA]

[Although normally Lance might've actually been tempted to attend an anime con, having been to a few conventions in his day, at the moment it sounds like one step removed from hell; a ton of people in a confined space is bad enough, let alone with the potential for being recognized from the Aerie. He's so not interested in that.

But he does lurk around a little outside, getting some snacks from the food trucks and watching people wander around in their different costumes. With the LED hat Kyna had gotten him combined with sunglasses, he isn't too noticeable if he doesn't draw close scrutiny.

But of course there's that sense of being watched, and it's surely someone on the task force. Lance can't pinpoint exactly where they are just yet, but if there's another Displaced around he might wander over toward them with fake casualness.]

We're being watched. Again.

city

[impede]

[There is something very strange about the cultural phenomenon of a 2512 world celebrating something that started in his country, and then was transferred over to other countries and perceived in a certain way. Even more confusing is that there doesn't seem to be a cultural definition behind this form of media. It doesn't have that flavor that came with Japan.

No, in a lot of ways, it's as if it's an off-shoot. A rip off. A weird thing that evolved and devolved. Much like everything in this world, anything that claims to be an homage feels shallow and too-far-removed. Any unique ties to the past are surface level.

He's here, though, because in some tangential way, the governor decided to make sure the show went on. And thus, as one of the assistants of the Lieutenant Governor, he has to at least make an appearance. Get a sense of things. Akechi thinks they just didn't have any work for him for the day, but what does he know?

Akechi is the type of person who doesn't wear shorts even when it's this hot out. His shirt is a thin button-up short-sleeved top, which is as casual as he'll go. Even if he's often a kid playing at being an adult, he has some tastes that match that mindset more organically.

He's sipping on a sparkling beverage when he hears Lance. He casts a glance his away, brown hair falling into his eyes as he does.]

How would you propose that we handle this? [There doesn't seem to be any sense of surprise in his tone. Odds are that he spotted them, too. Has spotted them before. He wonders if it's only a matter of time before he's linked to the Kurt Fischer reveal. Ah, won't that be messy?]

Callisto | OTA

[myfavoritemurder]

Red Wings

[Of all the places that Callisto drifts into on a regular basis, Red Wings is at the top. It's largely practical: there's food here, and clean water, and the air is cooler than it is outside. But there's also the fact that, though she's is prone to unfriendliness and hostility even on her best days, she's not completely asocial - and here, there are people to poke at who won't stare at her with slack-jawed wonder, or try to show her pieces of art with her face on them. It's almost a relief.

So she loiters a lot, polishing off her food quickly enough and then hanging around for an hour or two longer, generally choosing to sit on the floor rather than taking a chair at a table. She looks every bit the vagrant that she is, and she also looks entirely unashamed of this fact. She carries a duffle bag and a titanium baseball bat with her everywhere, her clothes are dingy, rumpled, and patched, and her hair is messy and unstyled. But if anyone stares at her, she'll stare right back, and if anyone catches her watching them, she'll double down - sometimes with a challenging glare, and other times with a wicked grin and a playful wave.]

Oh, come say hi.

[She might say, grin widening.]

I don't bite. Usually.

fight club; cw: violence and injuries

[Either by pure accident or through word of mouth, Callisto discovers the fighting rings in early September, and quickly establishes herself as a semi-regular visitor. The arm she'd broken during a street fight keeps her from jumping into the fray immediately, but the moment her cast comes off, she wastes no time practically throwing herself at the sport. She's a formidable opponent, even against enhanced humans with weapons more impressive than her bat, but not so formidable that she doesn't often take a beating even during the fights that she comes out on top of. An incomplete list of injuries that she ends up causing in others: broken teeth, broken noses, broken fingers, broken cheekbones, concussions, and untold numbers of bruises. An incomplete list of injuries that she ends up with herself: ... almost all of that all over again.

She never holds back, and she shrieks and spits and screams and she fights. Sometimes, she doesn't even notice the finishing bell and she has to be pulled away from her opponent, even if she's the loser and they have her pinned. Sometimes, as she's yanked out of the ring and pulled over to the medics, she laughs hysterically, like she can't stop.]

misc.

[Feel free to a) contact me for a personalized starter, or b) throw her a wildcard starter! She spends a lot of time wandering the city (occasionally but rarely using public transportation), visiting familiar haunts and exploring new places alike. She also sleeps outside, and though she does usually make an effort to sequester herself, anyone who spends their nights poking around out-of-the-way alleys might come across her.]

hugh culber | star trek discovery

[immutable]

red wings

[ Nothing about this situation is okay, but Hugh's been told to look for people like him and the problem is he doesn't know what that means. There are others dressed like him, shaved heads and hazy looks in their eyes that some part of Hugh's mind knows to be a common aftereffect of medication--

But he can't keep his thoughts in order; he keeps slipping into an anger that he knows is covering over a fear of the unknown and uncontrollable. His mind keeps trying to rationalize what is happening, but the only facsimile it can come up with is that he must have died, again. Died and found himself back in alternate reality.

Is that what they had meant? Find other like you-- other people who have died? He finds himself staring intensely at the others in the bar, trying to judge if they're enough like him to approach. If he isn't approached first, he'll sit himself beside someone he thinks must be 'like him' enough-- ]

Tell me where we are.

safehouse

[ Hugh follows a routine. He gets up, makes breakfast, works out-- using whatever he can find as weights, he meditates, he reads whatever he's given access to, he sorts the medical supplies, observes his fellow inma-- arrivals, takes notes on the behemoth of the arrival guide they have, has lunch, practices typing with the (frankly outdated) keyboard of this world, keeps a written log, eats again, works out again, meditates again... keeps his body and his mind busy.

For the most part this keeps him from dwelling on the leaden weight in the bottom of his gut-- a dread about what's been done to them, how they've been brought here, what's happening back on the Discovery. How he'll get back.

But even with all his efforts he can't sleep at night and finds himself joining the other arrivals in wandering the safehouse like nightly apparitions, vague and aimless and tense.

So any of the Displaced who visit the safehouse are a welcome distraction, and Hugh makes sure to approach them. He's eager for any and all information he can get about what the world is like. ]

How long's it been since you were one of the ones stuck in here?

network, anonymous
Thank you to those of you who put together the document with information about the world. It's been helpful, both for information and to help pass the time in here.

Since I don't yet have full access to the network, but I'm curious about how many of us there are and whether someone has found anything that connects all of us and would explain why we're the ones who've been brought here.
-Hugh Culber

safehouse

[dreamkillers]

[ he doesn't often visit the safehouse if he can avoid it. he hates it there, but sometimes he needs a break from his bedhopping, and there's usually a quiet spot he can just fucking veg out and stare at the ceiling for a while. plus, like, the showers. so he's hungover, still jittery from the last shit he snorted a couple of hours ago, and probably looks like a hot mess, dark circles under his eyes and too thin and with his head still mostly shaved.

so when some old dude makes a beeline for him, kavinsky tries to sidestep him, only pausing to give him a dead-eyed stare at the question. his brows lift, and he reaches one bandaged hand up to rub it over his shorn hair. ]

What d'you think, man?

Lexa | The 100 | OTA

[coalitions]

[Red Wings]

In Red Wings, Lexa is often there although cleaning, stocking things in the back, or now assisting with the safehouse. She is a quiet but steady presence, and while she mostly keeps to herself, she's been attempting to help out in the forward-facing parts. If only to get less rusty with her newly learned social skills, thanks to the Aerie, although it's stilted.

"I think I finally understand the rules of the game," she says, watching the screen. The small talk doesn't come easily to her so it doesn't sound quite authentic, but Lexa is trying. She rarely wastes time so watching the game is to understand the culture here and to have a reason to talk to the customers.

"I don't recognize you, are you new?" Her very straight-forward gaze and question can be aimed at any newcomers or people who are rarely at Red Wings, or maybe visiting for the first time. Lexa's long dark hair is heavily braided and out of her face. "If you're hungry I can get you something or bring you to the safehouse." She doesn't offer answers, mostly because she is never the best at explaining this place, but if asked she'll try her best.

After her post on the network, Lexa offered people the chance to speak to her in person instead of reply on the network. She's even easier to find in Red Wings afterward, either in the front of the building or in the back room where she's still working on the details. Come and talk to her, she gave the invitation freely!

[Safehouse]

Lexa helped set up the Red Wings safehouse and tries to stock it with the essentials, although she doesn't think about anything outside of the things needed to live. No fun or little touches. She can be found wandering in and out, sometimes to bring new clothes, sometimes to bring food from the kitchen. She sets it down and rarely lingers, but she may pause to talk to people who have been around and still live there, or anyone who intentionally seeks her out.

[Wild Card]

[ooc: hit me with whatever or message on plurk]

Red Wings

[carrera]

The message looking for helping with training caught Dick's attention in ways few things in this place have. While he should be looking for a more secure job that he can afford an apartment with, he can't resist throwing himself into doing things that he knows he's good at.

Deciding he would rather have this talk face to face than over a network he's still questioning on so many levels, including what was done to them, he finishes up the run he's doing for a courier service and then heads to Red Wings.

He had plans to ask for Lexa when he got there, but in turn she approaches him first, asking if he's new.

"Fairly new. A little over a month," he says, pausing to think about it in those terms and realize how much time has passed so quickly. "I was actually looking for you, I believe. I'm Dick, and I wanted to volunteer my services for the training program you're putting together."

eula salucci — original

[dinastia]

» RED WINGS

So what's good here?

[ If Eula is self-conscious about walking around in what is patently a mustard yellow Power Rangers suit, then she's not showing it. In point of fact, as she's leaning against the bar and craning her neck to look at the offerings, she has her helmet tucked casually under her arm like she's used to wearing this thing. Which she isn't, don't get her wrong, she's just kind of feeling herself. Some people thrive in lycra; it explains the prominence and popularity of yoga pants. ]

I know, you're amazed by my steely resolve and ability to see past the batshit insanity of my current situation. It's because I'm severely repressing my feelings so I can let them out later. Probably scream into a pillow or something, I've heard that helps. But... so does hard liquor.

» SAFEHOUSE

A.
Hey, wanna trade? [ Eula is standing at the foot of someone's bed, or at least she assumes it's theirs because they're sitting on it. She's holding a garish lime green knitted garment in one hand, and she pauses to wrinkle her nose at it before she holds it out again, giving it a little demonstrative shake. ] It's definitely your colour. Matches your eyes.

B.
[ If she's not trading clothes, she's exploring the place. There are a lot of things she's supposed to read, but none of them have sufficiently caught her interest, and she's not about to dig into the history of a place that still feels as unreal as Narnia when she could be poking around this place. It turns out to be a good idea, since the second door she opens after the restroom is a room home to a metric fuckton of weed.

She leaves the weed room in kind of a daze, wandering into the kitchen and poking her head in. ]

Hey, so. Quick question. Is that weed, like, for anyone? To just have?

» WILDCARD

[ hmu with whatever!! once she's allowed out eula will be hanging around at the fight clubs trying to test her power so if anyone wants to do a thread of that variety lmk, i'm contactable at crowders :^) ]

safehouse - A

[unkindled_madness]

[Sephiroth regards her flatly. It's true, he's far from thrilled with his current attire (amazing as it is), and his eyes are in fact a remarkably bright green, but...]

I should hope not.

[That's an impressively ugly shade of green and to say it's his color is frankly insulting. She knows that, right? Does she think he's an idiot?]

dick grayson

[dickism]

anime nexpo

[Has Dick ever watched anime in his life? Nope. Does he care? No. The truth is, he's curious, and he loves the theatricality of these things—it doesn't really matter that he doesn't recognize the characters the attendees are cosplaying. Really, it's a little like being around a bunch of superheroes back home.

He shows up a few times over the weekend—sometimes by himself, with vestiges of glitter on his face from Jo, and sometimes dragging one of his brothers along. The handmade stuff is charming. The stuff that's thinly veiled corporate crap, not so much.

And of course, there's another reason to be here, because there always is. The Displaced are on center stage, whether it's the new shows or the merch littering the dealer's hall. He pauses at all of it, taking it in.]

I'm sure Clarke and Stephen are going to love the Red Wings stuff.

[batricide]

[ the (not so) babiest of the bats is with him, looking both annoyed to be here and yet somehow pleased to see dick so enthusiastic. he's always trailing a few steps behind. occasionally pausing to shoot a withering glare at someone wearing a suspiciously off model DYI version of a suit that looks a lot like his.

basically, he hates it. but dick loves it. and so he's here. ]

I don't think we should celebrate our safehouse being turned into a merchandise line, Grayson.