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redstringtheories2021-10-01 02:11 pm
TDM #4
(cw: potential for severe disorientation/vertigo, claustrophobia, arachnophobia, body horror)
It happens in the blink of an eye. You may have been asleep. You may not have. You may have stepped through a door or turned a corner. You may have seen a flicker of something at the corner of your vision and turned to look. Or maybe you didn't.
It doesn't matter. What matters is that you find yourself somewhere entirely new and entirely unfamiliar. The arrival point is not always the same. (If you're lucky, it might be a canteen or an open office. If you're not, well... you aren't claustrophobic, are you? Or arachnophobic. These ducts do seem to be a bit cobwebby.) There is no one waiting for you but you don’t seem to be alone, either. Even in a janitor’s closet or the bathroom, you’ll find at least one person who seems to be just as out of place as you are.
If characters have arrived in a location devoid of NPCs, they may want to work together to figure out what is going on... or to avoid their 'kidnappers.' If you’ve arrived in the middle of the entry foyer or the gym, there may well be a few people who startle a bit at your arrival and try to approach (or discreetly leave the room... where are they going?). Will you cooperate or fight? Do you even understand what they're saying? You might need to find a translator, if you’re not immediately willing to follow a stranger.
After characters follow their new hosts (or are forcibly taken in) there will be a limited tour and the chance to settle in at the ADI-provided housing. (Do you enjoy living with strangers? Well. It's a new situation to navigate, anyway.)
(cw: creepy toys, possible violence, supernaturally induced emotions)
Weird things happen in Dogtown, everyone knows it. The Apocalypse Disruption Initiative (ADI) is not above taking advantage of that to test out the waters for its newest arrivals. They're not looking to send anyone to their death, though. That's far too much paperwork, you'd been assured with a wink from the employee who'd directed you to the park trailhead. You've been left with another person. Maybe they're a new arrival, as well, or a more seasoned 'veteran.' Either way, you're together for the next while and you've been asked to find and record any paranormal activity in the park. You have your phones and any other equipment you might have brought with you. Those who succeed in documenting anything peculiar will receive a $100 reward to be used as they see fit.
This month...characters who enter the area will eventually stumble upon...a very interesting sight. Take enough confusing, branching paths, and they’ll find a variety of toys abandoned in...a variety of ways.
Some, reminiscent of the happenings of the past month, can be found dangling from branches, or from contraptions of sticks and string staked into the ground. Others might be found arranged in patterns...or simply discarded. Some appear to be tied up. Perhaps surprisingly, there is no evidence of the destruction of these toys. Some may appear to be disintegrating but that’s age, not malice. There are old toys and new toys to be found. Maybe it’s just a prank, or an art installation?
Nothing seems to happen to anyone who ventures to touch the toys. At least...not right away. However, any character who does decide to touch a toy will start to feel like they just don’t have...enough. It might manifest as being particularly possessive over things or people they feel are theirs...or in coveting what they don’t already have (be it material or immaterial). These urges will fade away on their own in time, but who knows what might happen before they do?
(cw: mention of vehicular collisions, supernaturally-induced sleep/fatigue)
There is an ethereal music spreading throughout town. It started in the graveyards last month, but now it's spreading, even as collisions and other accidents continue to pile up. Tourists and locals, alike, will find keeping awake incredibly difficult as October rolls in with a rumble of thunder and a splash of rain. Even caffeine doesn't seem to help much with the problem. The music is only just there, just at the edge of awareness, and it's a song that you know. You can't entirely place it, but it's maddeningly familiar.
The local gangs seem to have taken note of the situation, and have taken to sending out their seemingly more resilient members for some mischief. Specifically, pickpocketing those they might find sleeping or less alert than usual. You might be half-falling asleep on a bus when a hand reaches into your pocket or your bag. You might witness the thief in action, stealing from someone else. Or maybe you're someone keen to take advantage of the situation, yourself. There's money to be made for someone with even moderately light fingers when the target is snoring on a park bench or zoning out while sitting at a cafe.
There doesn't seem to be an even effect to the music. It impacts some people in the same vicinity more than others with seemingly no rhyme or reason. The one constant that does appear for those digging deeply, is that ADI HQ and the ADI housing complex seem to be less affected by the music. It can still sometimes be heard, but it's not nearly as prominent as it is throughout the rest of the city.
(cw: supernaturally-induced sleep/fatigue, mild memory loss)
For as much as everyone seems to be sleeping lately, it does not seem to be restful sleep. In fact, people dozing off regularly will find themselves even more exhausted and irritable than usual. Again, this seems to be far more pronounced for anyone straying too far from ADI's properties for extended periods.
Another feature of this latest round of supernatural irritation is that even those who tend to remember their dreams may have trouble with that. You might remember that the dreams weren't pleasant, but that's about it. The specifics are as elusive as the source of the singing.
Festive planning for the end-of-the-month Halloween Party is in full swing at ADI, and characters may find themselves strong-armed by Pam and other HR personnel, in spite of any grumpiness and exhaustion, into helping with some part of it. Will you be assisting with making decorations? Buying supplies for the kitchens? Helping those who might not understand Halloween to find the perfect costume? Everyone is feeling a little out of sorts, and having trouble focusing, so there's some particular pushing to spread tasks out to everyone possible so it doesn't fall on a single individual. Anyone who helps will be compensated for their time, and they might even get some extra cash to buy their own fancy costume or preferred food for the party.
- ARRIVAL (Oct 1 - 31): Two people will always arrive in the same general location together. Arrivals occur throughout the early month, not all on the same day or in the same place. Arrivals are not naturally fluent in English/other languages immediately upon arrival. Characters may attempt to evade capture, but they will eventually be snagged before they can leave the building. PC's already in-game are more than welcome to interact with and try to guide new PC's to get them oriented. Please refer to the Arrival page for details regarding the arrival and onboarding process.
- Toying With You (Oct 1 - 31): Characters who physically interact with abandoned toys will find themselves overwhelmed by feelings of jealousy and/or possessiveness. Depending on how much interaction they have with the toys, these feelings might be stronger or last longer. (Anyone who, for example, removes a toy from Dogtown will probably find themselves helpless NOT to act on the feelings.) Strength of feeling and duration of time is up to player discretion. The source of these feelings could be anything, including the toys themselves. The toys can be destroyed but are not clumped all in one spot. It may take some searching to find them all.
- Pick a Pocket (Oct 1- 25): Characters are welcome to experience, enact, or stop a crime. You may find yourself victim, hero, or perpetrator. The number of people asleep or having trouble staying awake will increase the closer you get to graveyards and seem to decrease the closer you get to ADI-owned buildings. The decrease in sleepiness around ADI buildings does not extend to anyone living at Bonnie's. Characters may find themselves falling asleep in the middle of trivial or important tasks, perhaps even in the middle of conversation. This is a supernatural sleep, but for the moment, it seems easy enough to wake someone up with a loud noise or a shake. Or, if you're feeling particularly vindictive, a splash of water to the face.
- Sleeper's Paradox (Oct 1-25): Characters are welcome to take part in whatever party planning they wish to for ADI's Halloween party. Everyone affected by the drowsiness that's taken over the city will find that they cannot remember the specific nature of their dreams; although, they will have the sense that they did have them, and they were unpleasant. The effects of the fatigue may affect other memories or result in increased irritability, and decreased focus and reaction times. Characters may find themselves more prone to error than usual, even those who are typically known for being on-point at all times.
no subject
Would you shut up?!
[ Does Abel understand Japanese? Even if he doesn't, maybe he'll at least sense the intense anger in that short demand. Because Gen really is angry -- furious, livid -- enough to surge to his feet, dizziness be damned. Of course, that has him bumping up against the hand being held out his way, and he swats it aside without a second thought. Hope you were holding tight onto that rosary Abel, or else it's going bouncing off the closet wall with how angrily Gen's slapped his arm out of the way.
That incredibly rude gesture is followed by a blind grab at whatever he can get his fingers around -- the front of Abel's clothes, maybe some of his long hair -- and Gen yanks it closer as he snarls, ]
Stop shouting!
[ The horrible teenager says, almost shouting.
Wow, sure hope nobody's outside this closet listening to this absolutely mortifying exchange. ]
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--but he has no time to dwell on the absurdity of such a thing considering his hand is being so rudely swatted?? wow!! Gen?!?! how dare?? Abel gives a soft noise of protest and another soft "ow!" before recoiling again, shrinking further against the door and peering into the darkness on the brink of tears. ]
YOU stop shouting!! And-- and stop HITTING ME while you're at it!! Haven't you learned basic manners?! That is-- is very unkind and now my hand hurts AND my leg hurts, too-- I bruise very easily, for your information...!
[ ....though he clearly understood what was spoken to him (is he even aware...), he is responding in
Albionese??English and thus frustratingly giving this poor boy nothing but incensed, whiny gibberish in return. this is going SO well, they are on their way to being Besties, love this for them, ]no subject
What the hell is wrong with you?!
[ Joke's on him though, because just shaking Abel turns out to be really strenuous for his poor, frazzled (still tinnitus-riddled) brain, and Gen ends up buckling forward, blindly extending his hand forth to brace against the wall behind Abel.
... wait, no. Not a wall? Because it rattled a bit when he leaned against it? Is this a door?
His grip remains tight against Abel's shirtfront as he shifts on his feet, and Gen gropes along the door's surface (jostling Abel this way and that, sorry-not-sorry) until his hand finds a doorknob, and he immediately gives it a hard wrench.
Which, surprise, isn't locked! Meaning it easily swings open with barely a creak, sending Abel bowling over backwards out of the closet and, along with him, Gen spilling right across him with a muffled 'oof.'
Such grace. Such ✨ dignity ✨. ]
no subject
[ all of this comes out as some jerky nonsense as Abel finds his addled brain rattled like a pea in a shoebox, one of his hands awkwardly jutting out to counter-grasp Gen at his shoulder to try and steady himself. n-no, STOP-- he might have had the good fortune of a little extra time to put his head together before Gen came to, but he might still be, ah... slightly off-kilter, you see--
through the darkness it is hard to see what his closet-demon is up to when Gen's grip suddenly shifts, but Abel'll take the absence of further rattling to try and put his head in order and count his blessings none the less. however, when he feels said closet-demon just nudging and shoving at him like Abel isn't even here... the priest pipes up again, albeit at a far more tolerable volume. ]
Um-- Mister Demon, if you'd be so kind as to respect my personal space-- hello? S-sir, are you--
[ 'okay' wow sure is a shame this inquiry, even if it is interrupted, wouldn't have done much good seeing as how it is still being spouted in
AlbioneseEnglish; it carries a hint of concern that might just be more sincere in tone than the rest....which all that goes out the window as Abel's position as "leaning-post" is suddenly and abruptly evolving when the door gives out behind him. it is swinging open, leaving the pull of gravity unceremoniously sending him sprawling gracelessly backwards, hands flailing in futile effort to grip onto something for purchase. in comes a rush of light, chasing away the darkness just in time to illuminate their fall from glory......
Abel's high-pitched yelp of surprise is cut off into a breathless wheeze as Gen's weight lands atop him, boy's face smushed into the front of his cassock (at least it's clean... for once....... w-wow, what good fortune for Gen!!!). eyes squeezed shut in a wince and rubbing at the back of his noggin into silver-hair-- did he bump the floor? the wall...? ow-- he's whimpering in a manner that suggests he might, quite possibly,
cry. ]
The light. I-- I see the light.
no subject
Gen groans as he slowly props himself up onto his knees with his free arm. Shaking his head once to try and clear his thoughts, before threateningly yanking at that handful of Abel's clothes, more than ready to shout at this scapegoat a bit more to vent the anger boiling in his chest but -- ]
... are you gonna cry?
[ Something about the pathetic, watery-eyed looked on the guy's face immediately makes his anger deflate. Not out of like, pity or anything, though! Gen instead stares at his victim for a moment in pure confusion -- who the hell even is this guy? -- before giving a click of the tongue. His expression twists with the sort of pure contempt and disgust that only a teenager can muster before he shoves Abel back and lets go of his clothes. ]
Whatever.
[ In the pleasant lighting of the hallway, it's clearer that Gen looks like shit, absolutely drained and exhausted, and not just because of their little ordeal in the closet. His head's still hurting as he gets to his feet (not at all caring if he steps on the sprawling drape of Abel's clothes, whoops), but at least he can think a little clearer now that they're out in the light and he isn't crammed up against this weird foreigner.
This is ... some sort of office building, it looks like? Was there even a place like this in town? Gen casts about at their surroundings with all the caution of a spooked stray dog, though his hand digs through his pocket to withdraw a cigarette. Yeah, he knows they're indoors, but he feels like he's going to explode from the stress if he can't take the edge off it; cigarette between his lips, he looks around the hallway before casting a glance back towards Abel, now searching for his lighter. ]
Hey. Do you speak Japanese? ... Japanese. Not English.
[ That last bit's in English, though is accent is frankly atrocious. ]
no subject
grumbling softly to himself, he is pushing clumsily to sit upright and fixing his glasses that were thrown askew in their tumble; his head is... oddly discombobulated; it's strange. there's no time to dwell, however-- their situation is becoming a little more apparent (and disquieting) as he has time to examine their surroundings... an office building? some kind of commercial space...? this looks nothing like the part of Londinium he had been in, last. did he lose time...?
--ah; he realizes the serious-eyed boy is addressing him again with a belated start when he feels said eyes burning holes through him. Abel's Japanese is... rusty, extremely rusty-- he is lucky he remembers what little vocabulary is still rattling around in his brain, so he ends up awkwardly nodding. ...and then shaking his head no. helpfully. he can grasp the gist of what his new friend is saying, but... that might be the best he can do. ]
A little? Little. Ah, I don't know if that's... [ was that the right 'little'?? god,
......why is he still sitting on the floor looking up at this boy like an idiot, ]
no subject
... and why is he just sitting there, like a kid.
Gen huffs before lighting his cigarette and taking a deep drag. It does help calm his nerves a little bit, and he glances up towards the ceiling; he'll put it out if a smoke alarm somewhere starts beeping, but he really badly needs it right now. He holds the smoke in his lungs for a long moment before exhaling slowly, then looks to Abel once more. ]
Who -- are you. [ Rusty. He's ditched class so often that what little English he remembers is mostly from Hollywood movies and watching his stepmother on the phone when he was younger. Gen's brow furrows as he tries to figure out what he wants to say. ] Where ...
[ And then changes his mind. Scuffs a hand through his hair, frustrated, before muttering mostly to himself, ]
The hell am I doing. Like a guy who was sniveling and screaming in there'd have anything useful to say, anyway. [ Another pull at his cigarette before he deadpans at Abel, ] Never mind. You can stay there and cry, or whatever you want. I'm leaving.
[ This is probably just some sort of ridiculous prank, right? He fell asleep when he got home (though he doesn't remember getting home?) and one of the workers thought it'd be funny to stuff him in a closet in some office building with a stranger? This place better not be far from his home or else he's going to kick someone's ass. ]
no subject
the man holds his hands out placatingly, imploring his closet-mate (a bond forged through darkness. a connection that will bind them for all their days. brothers in arms) to calm as he takes a little step closer, ]
W-wait! Hold on, sir, I-- um... [ a small noise of plea... and he is trying his best to communicate his intent, even if he might not be able to get it out in Japanese. it's pretty clear without being fluent from the boy's tone alone that Gen...? has Had Enough. ] ...You don't know where we are, either? [ ...no idea if any of this is getting through, but... he gestures with a thumb down the hall toward their surroundings, before shaking his head. Abel... has no idea where this is, either. how in the world had they gotten into that closet together--?
and how is this boy fluent in a language no one has spoken in over eight hundred years...? ]
no subject
This -- ... [ There's something uniquely aggravating about this situation, where just being his usual surly self would probably be a waste of air since this guy won't understand it. So Gen grudgingly struggles with his words, even as his cigarette ember glows bright with his next frustrated inhale. ] ... where this is, don't know.
[ Why the hell is he even trying for some stranger. Gen huffs out his smoke through his nose before turning to start heading down the hallway, though the way his gaze lingers pointedly on Abel suggests he expects to be followed. Not that he gets far, though. There's a window just a few steps ahead, and his footsteps slow the instant they're close enough to see through it, his eyes widening into a disbelieving stare.
This ... isn't his hometown. ]
no subject
...but he is quickly trotting after his newfound companion none the less, not wanting to be left behind in the least-- which means he nearly barrels into him when Gen stops to admire the view beyond the window. for a moment, Abel doesn't quite catch what's piqued Gen's interest, shuffling awkwardly as he gazes down the hall, but...
when Abel's attention travels outside, he finds himself similarly arrested by the sight. this, is... decidedly not Londinium. this isn't even Albion anymore by the looks of it. ]
What in the world...?
[ it is a small and breathy exhale of both awe and disquiet.
where in God's name... are they? ]
no subject
No signal. ]
-- what the hell. [ He distractedly reboots his phone, stalks two steps forward, then halts. Furiously glares back at Abel, like he's looking for someone to blame, and starts raising his fist before looking back out the window, harried. It's obvious that he's struggling to handle this turn of events, and when he looks down at his phone once more and sees that it still has no signal, he snarls, ] Fuck!
[ Lucky for Abel, stress wins out over his aggression for the moment, and Gen crumples into a low crouch against the wall below the window, hand scuffing furiously through his hair as he tries to come to terms with whatever the hell is going on. Regardless of language comprehension, it's obvious his low mutters to himself are equal parts incredulous and frustrated. ]
... this is a nightmare. I gotta wake up. I don't have time to deal with this.
no subject
they seem to be in a set of circumstances neither of them truly understand, if what little he grasps of Gen's Japanese is any indicator.
Abel is cautiously crouching in front of the teen after a momentary pause to try and get his own bearings-- this town... wherever they are, is completely alien to him, too-- and there is a quiet concern in blue eyes behind the old-fashioned lenses. ]
...I know this looks bad. [ and I don't know how much you even understand me right now-- ahh, what a mess... ] But there's got to be an explanation, right...? Let's try to find out where we are and go from there, okay?
[ he stretches his hand, slowly and gently; it is an olive branch, so to speak. surely if they were brought here in a kidnapping or other nefarious plot-- they wouldn't have been stuck in an unlocked closet and left unattended, right? as outrageous as all this is, maybe... maybe it's a misunderstanding? maybe they just need to find their way out and make sense of the 'why,' later... ]
no subject
Other hand still tangled in his hair, Gen glares up at his closet-mate past the messy curtain of his bangs before growling, ] Don't look at me like that.
[ Something about the look in those blue eyes, kind and placating and almost pitying, makes his stomach turn. His first instinct is to beat some answers out of Abel, because surely this ridiculous-looking foreigner must have some answers, but Gen doesn't get much further than grabbing at Abel's shirtfront (again!) and yanking him close before hesitating. Just glowering at him for a long moment, breathing in furious huffs, before shoving him back. ]
Like I have any reason to trust you.
[ He's holding back only because he wouldn't be able to understand what Abel's saying, he tells himself. That's absolutely the only reason he hasn't beaten the guy's face in already. Absolutely nothing to do with that unfamiliar, gentle tone of voice Abel had used.
But for better or for worse, at least Abel's olive branch seems to have calmed the worst of his distress. Gen seethes at him a moment longer before looking away, leaning against the wall as he grudgingly straightens back up. After all, he thinks he'd caught the words 'let's' and 'go' amidst everything else Abel was saying. ]
no subject
...
and he's quite relieved when that rage doesn't boil over into outright violence; the priest is stumbling back with a soft 'ooph' as he lands on his butt, but... he will count this a win in his book. getting lightly manhandled?? far kinder treatment than he normally gets!!! ...and it seems his closet-bud is accepting his invitation to go at this together-- that though their communication is... tentative at best, it's served as enough for now. this is... good! this is good.
so his smile is a little cautious, a bit tentatively encouraging-- yes, yes, he's well aware that this boy probably thinks Abel a less-than-favorable individual to be stuck in this sort of mess with. yet... here they are, hm? one sometimes has to make due with what they're given. he won't test his luck, but-- let it be known he would've definitely offered his hands for handsie-holding if Gen were anyone but, say,
.......Gen. and punchy. ]
Right... ah. Right-- should we try to find someone and ask if they know where we are? ...Um-- people? Where. [ this is clumsy at best, but it's better than nothing-- ]
no subject
And only then, he looks at Abel. Predictably, he doesn't smile back, answering Abel's tentatively encouraging grin with a dead-eyed stare. ]
Dunno what you're smiling about.
[ But it's muttered more to himself than to attack Abel. Gen glances down to check his phone once more without any expectations, and confirms that yes, it won't be able to connect to anything, before pocketing it once more. ]
Where ... [ A squint back the way they'd came, then the other way down the hallway. Both directions look pretty same-y, but he thinks he can hear very faint sounds of movement down one way, if he tries very hard. ] This way. Um ... Go here.
[ A tap at his ear to indicate he thinks he hears movement, then he just starts walking off in that direction, casting about warily at their surroundings. He's only been in a few office buildings in the first place, and the foreign architecture's really making him feel uneasy. The style and layout feel ... foreign. One closed door they walk by has a complicated sign posted in English. His cigarette glows bright with his next inhale before he abruptly looks back to Abel. ]
You. Where ... you think you were where? Where d'you last remember being?
[ Maybe this is outside of town? Closer to wherever this foreigner's from, before they both woke up in that closet? ]
no subject
he is peering curiously over the boy's shoulder as he fiddles with his phone-- that is a phone, isn't it...? the sort that Abel hasn't seen, since...
...well. today is certainly wracking up more and more Incredulous Points. (is he sure he didn't simply bonk his head?? maybe Gen was right, and this really is a dream.)
--ah. focus; his thoughts are drifting and he brings himself back to the moment as he nudges in a habitual way at his glasses, ]
Where was I? You mean before here, of course... [ yes... naturally, ] --I was in Londinium? [ why is that a question? who knows, ] At the Palace? Buckingham! You know, the Queen is to be coronated today, it's a very big affair and-- [ .....Gen is not going to understand half of this. he stops himself, dials it back. ] Um-- you? Where were you? Attending the ceremony as well...?
no subject
It takes Gen a moment of scowling to try and parse through all that extraneous babbling and extract what he thinks is the core of Abel's answer. ]
... London?
[ And it earns an incredibly dubious stare over his shoulder. ]
No. Not ... [ Ugh. London, as if. This guy probably misunderstood his question, then. Thought he was being asked where he's from originally, not where he was right before this whole mess. Gen huffs out a big puff of smoke in Abel's direction before continuing his halting attempt at an interrogation. ] Not where your birth. Where you ...
[ okay so maybe he should have tried a little harder with his studies ]
... where you were before you woke up in that closet. Why would I care where you're from. -- where in Japan?
no subject
Ah. N-no, no... Japan?
[ he shakes his head-- and maybe, just maybe, he is peering at Gen with a slightly more discerning sort of attention. and perhaps it's time to go at this from another angle. ]
What else do you speak? You're from somewhere else, seeing as Japan is obviously, ah. Off the table. [ here, it's a crapshoot in the dark, but-- he is rattling the following off in each stated language: ] Do you speak Latin? ...The Roman common tongue, maybe? Germanican? ...Franc?
[ he has to speak ONE of the tongues of the world, right? ...Japanese has been dead for nigh 800 years-- and even if this boy was, say... the son of a historian and linguist with an extreme passion to pass on their distant, all-but-extinct heritage, he has to speak something else more palatable to the wider populous of wherever he's from, r-right...? ]
no subject
And while that hard stare of his might give Abel a brief glimmer of hope that one of those myriad languages was the answer, what he instead says is, ]
What the hell are you doing?
[ Language comprehension aside, his incredulous, deadpan tone of voice and the baffled look he gives Abel say enough. ]
Are you showing off?
no subject
...
be.
oh. the boy is back to ......scowling, again. the smile is slowly but surely leaking right on off the priest's face until all that's left for Abel to do is hang his shoulders in defeat and exhale a haggard sigh. life is hard, sometimes. so, so hard. why does the Lord continue to test him this way--? ]
Fine! Fine, have it your way. [ Abel is pointing to himself, ] I was in London. The palace? I was at the Palace! --You know, the one with the guards with the funny hats? [ hands... FLAILING in wide and definitely helpful gestures, here... ] Ah... Queen. Crown?
[ the next Queen of Albion was being crowned, it was a big deal-- alright?? does that ring any bells...?
(this is going so well.) ]
no subject
Gen leans back to avoid getting clocked in the chin by an enthusiastic wave of the arm, giving a low click of the tongue, and when Abel's next emphatic gesture positions him appropriately, Gen just huffs out a lungful of smoke in the direction of his face and turns away. ]
Yeah, yeah, I got it, you're from London. Never mind.
[ Maybe this guy ... just got into the airport on a flight from London. And this is just some weird area near the airport. Surely, that's what's going on here. There's no way they're outside the country.
Careless of the ash dribbling off the end of his cigarette, Gen resumes leading the way down the hallway, trying to suppress the strange anxiety starting to boil in his gut. And while he straightens his posture somewhat at the increasing sounds of activity coming from ahead, any relief he might have felt is squelched when he spots someone swerving into the hallway ahead of them.
A man dressed in what looks to be a security uniform. Who's pointing right their way, shouting, ]
There! Two spotted!
[ Because that totally isn't an alarming sight to behold in a language you don't understand. ]
no subject
[ Abel is trotting at Gen's heel like a diligent accomplice in closet-escapee crime, hovering nearby and stubbornly -- however futile it may be -- continuing to press on about this whole affair about where Gen's come from, the priest is sure there's an explanation that will clear all this up in a jiffy...
which is why at the sound of voices coming from ahead, there is a sense of relief coming over him. --aha! surely whoever works this place will be able to point them in the right direction... something had gone awry somewhere for him and the boy to have ended up in a closet of all places. but--
at the familiar sight of security pointing in his direction, age old instincts abruptly kick into overdrive. oh, no. oh no. he... he isn't even trespassing on purpose this time??? Abel is freezing like a deer in headlights, before he flails his hands up in a placating gesture-- ]
W--wait! Sir, we-- we seem to be in the midst of a very tragic and yet surely easily explainable situation, h... haha, um--
[ .......he is sending his closet-mate a sidelong glance as if trying to discern if they should be running or not from his companion's demeanor. why is Abel roping himself in with Gen?? why is he assuming Gen is in some sort of trouble?? maybe it's that punchy demeanor, hm,
well. suppose they'll figure it out soon enough, eh? ]
no subject
But unfortunately, Gen makes the mistake(?) of looking to Abel for some indication of what to do -- not because he trusts Abel, but simply because the man in the security uniform had spoken English, so he assumes Abel will respond appropriately. (And also, despite his surly demeanor and prickly behavior, he's ultimately a teenager. A small part of him can't help assuming the adult will know how to react in this confusing situation.)
So when Abel responds with what seems to be panic, if those flailing hand gestures are any indication, it immediately puts him on guard. ]
I dunno who you are, but you've got a lot of nerve messing with me! Where is this, and what the hell's your plan?
[ Still working under the (hopeful) assumption that this is somewhere in Japan, Gen snarls that demand in Japanese. But even without understanding his words, it must be obvious that he's gearing up for a fight, his stance guarded and shoulders squared as he takes a half-step forward. Only exacerbated by when the man points to him and hollers that smoking isn't allowed in this building.
And also that shouting must have been to alert the other men on their shift, because another man in a similar uniform strides into their field of vision further down the hallway, where it opens up into an office space. Talk about a welcoming environment. ]
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...the situation is certainly being exacerbated now, no denying it, both by Gen's disposition and by the chiding nature of the guard's retort (even if, unbeknownst to our intrepid heroes, these men wish them no ill-will at all). Abel is stiffening a little further when the security guard is joined by another further down the hall, and-- as priests who are often-times knee-deep in complicated and usually self-inflicted messes-- he thinks calculating a retreat might be in order... reaching out to grasp Gen's sleeve with a nervous sort of chuckle. ]
For some reason, I get the impression that the two of us aren't exactly supposed to be here, sir...! C... can't imagine why, but-- um...
[ ...he is beginning to backpedal in the direction from which they'd came; he thinks 'round the corner must open to somewhere else, right? maybe if they're lucky, they can get to some kind of stairwell? find an exit...? ]
Run, would you...?! I don't know about you, but I don't want to find out if we're being kidnapped in some hellscape where we're forced to be office workers for the rest of time!! Cubicle life...?! N-no, no sir~! The man can't hold me down!! [ this is a hushed whisper, maybe a little bit on the too loud side for discretion... get going, Gen!!!!! he is definitely right behind you!! ]
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It's only when he hears that stream of babbling coming from behind him and notices Abel's hand hovering near his arm that Gen looks over, clearly irritated -- but his furious bravado flagging just a touch in favor of caution. ]
What're you even going on about, talking so much when you know I can't understand you ...
[ And by the time Gen looks back to those uniformed men, there's a third one walking up, talking into a walkie-talkie. ... yeah, he's headstrong, but he's not about to think he can take on three guys alone with his bare fists.
So after a moment longer of quietly glowering at those men (who approach with authoritative confidence, murmuring between themselves before declaring, 'Come with us, we're not going to hurt you') Gen abruptly turns on heel and starts running, as Abel had requested. And as a small bonus, he snatches up Abel's sleeve on the way, dragging him along as he takes off down the hallway at an impressive pace.
Better stay on your feet, Abel. ]
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