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  1. - Top - End - #1
    Bugbear in the Playground
     
    OrcBarbarianGuy

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    Default [Oddness] Uptown Rumble IC

    Uptown, New York City

    MRMM

    What is the value of a smile?

    An errant thought, a whisper of idleness, a sparking neuron amongst a thousand others… All against the backdrop of a warm August day… Outside, the sun had already risen, and for hours the city had been busy… Though to say that it had stopped being busy at all would be a complete misrepresentation of the facts.

    No, as it stood, unlike her, unlike this girl, the city never slept. It just kept ticking along, an entity all to itself. It was a comforting thought, perhaps, that there were constants in the universe. Little expressions of a cosmic orderly will that kept the trains running on time, that some things, perhaps, never changed. As she tied her hair back into two long tails, she quietly wished her life were not one of those things.

    How many people are here? How many people walk these streets, see the things I see? How many are like me, how many are different from me? I want to know, I want to know, I want to know!

    She smiled into the mirror confidently, grabbing her satchel as she ran out into the small living room of a small apartment… Expensive as it was, it was still tiny. But it was home, and that was good enough for her. She waved to her mother cheerfully as she bound out the door, swiping a mislaid apple from the table with her other hand.

    “Bye mom, I’m off to school!” She exclaimed, not bothering to wait for her mother’s reply. “See you tonigghtttt!” She bellowed as she took the stairs three at a time, dangerously skipping down the steps, startling those coming and going with her unpredictability.

    Do people try to find gremlins under bridges, or aliens in the sky? I wonder if there really are alligators in the sewers… Man, what must people think of this place? There must be all kinds of stories! She paused, a fraction of an instant. How many stories have I not heard?!

    Lorena Lee ran out onto the street, breathing in the air of the city… Smiling at the presentation of a perfect day, a perfect day to return to the school year. A junior now, she was so close to graduating… She could almost taste it, but it was still too far away. She took a few quick skips down the front steps of the apartment… Tripping and falling forward, her apple falling away from her hand…

    An arm around her shoulders, a hand on the apple… A young man, Korean, shaking his head and admonishing her to be more careful, or to perhaps watch what she was doing. In her mind, it was all rather far away, she was too happy to be worried about such things, but she thanked him all the same.

    What is the value of a kind gesture?

    She ran past the little street vendors and markets, hopping onto a bus to take her across the Harlem River and into the Heights, so she could get closer to school. She had a good feeling about today, that anything could happen… And perhaps anything could. The city was a microcosm unto itself, home to so many different people… She never wanted to leave. She wanted to absorb all of this chaos and energy and become one with the universe of change.

    Where do all the people come from? What stories do they know? I want to hear them, I want to know! ARGHHH, life is so boring! Everything is so borrrinnnnggggg! She pouted quietly. But they’re all here, so I shouldn’t be too much of a downer, I’ve got so much to be happy for!

    She believed in a contradiction, a paradox of ideas; a chaotic world that never changed, an orderly city that was never the same. Millions of intertwining threads creating a grander and more perfect tableau of human existence… The combined passion and energy powering a city that never slept, never changed.

    Changed, yet always evolved.

    The bus screeched in front of the M.R.R., already busy with employees and customers, the eccentric and frenetic owner out and about, plying his trade with enthusiasm and cheer. People seemed to love Xander, he never really had to try. He was just affable, good-natured… And he wanted nothing more than to see people smile. She loved visiting the place, and now that she was a junior she could gain freedom from school during periods without classes, enabling her to visit the menagerie of madness whenever she wished. The Korean, having apparently tagged along, quietly stepped off there before the bus zoomed away.

    A corner, a turn, an expected shift in a normal routine, and… 10 Wood Academy, the small private school that she called her own. She quickly hopped off the bus, crossing the street with hop-skips of barely-contained energy, dodging around an odd, off-white motorcycle that screeched around her, missing her by a few inches, the driver’s face impassive as he sped away. Lorena stared after it curiously… It almost reminded her of bones... She waved to girls and boys she knew, unable to keep the grin from bursting to her lips.

    In this place, in this world… Perhaps the worth of simple kindness is immeasurable.

    New York City… Her home. A contradiction. She ran inside of the school, passing by a boy who looked quite like her, though taller and skinnier, with pale white hair… A boy who didn’t notice the pain of a rock in his shoe, not that she knew, not that she cared. A classmate, nothing more to it.

    Lorena found her desk, humming happily to herself, unworried by the fact no one spoke to her, no one wished to talk to the girl who was always talking about ingredients and reagents, casting spells and summoning toads to haunt the girls who bullied her.

    Not that she cared. She was too happy to care.

    All of these people, walking the street… Yes. There must be some, just like me.

    The day, the year, her life… It was only just beginning.

    Welcome to New York City, my friends. She thought, imagining the crowds of people before her.

    Welcome to Oddness.

  2. - Top - End - #2
    Dwarf in the Playground
     
    BlackDragon

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    Default Re: [Oddness] Uptown Rumble IC

    The wind blew gently at the top of the Empire State building. He was the only one up there that morning. He gazed out over the city, the man that couldn't sleep in the city that never sleeps. He had forgotten how much he liked New York. Thinking about it, he hadn't been in the city since 2001, right around this time of year. The amount of people he had spoken to that day...he wasn't sure how many of them were alive or not. But as always he tried not to dwell on his memories, he had far too many of them for that.

    New York had always been an interesting place for him. He had been there hundreds of times over the years, and each trip was different from the last. He couldn't say that about many places. He enjoyed it though, the mystery of the city, its strange dichotomy of purest light and foulest darkness. You could find anything here. If he ever had to settle somewhere, it would probably be here, though he knew that was something that would never happen. Thousands upon thousands of people lived here, each with their own unique story to tell. Most of them were common and unremarkable, but each one was distinctly their own. In reality, New York showed him why humanity wasn't completely repulsive. And he like that. They were the favorite children, after all.

    New York. It was certainly good to be back.

    He stood silently as the wind blew his coat about him, his right hand resting on a cane that he had recently acquired and the other on the railing. He stood, waiting. What had called him to the city? What force was strong enough to pull him here? He had been watching as he rode around the city earlier that day but hadn't seen anyone remarkable at all, though he did almost run over a child on her way into school. He had a bad feeling about her. But even so, she was only human, and nothing that he couldn't handle if he needed to.

    A raven flew up and landed on his shoulder, its eyes flashing green, but it too remained silent. He knew that he hadn't found anything, which was disappointing. The raven let out a small noise of apology, but he was in no mood and he brushed the bird away with his hand. If something supernatural had brought him here, he knew that there were two people he could go to for information. The first was the ever eccentric business man Alexander Mifferly. He was sure that the strange must flock to him like maggots to a corpse. The other was an old "friend" of his, Sergei Zmeya, though that was if he was still operating from New York. He looked over to the bird and made a motion with his head, causing the bird to take off. Despair could focus on finding Zmeya for him.

    Vincent Pierce strode out from the empire state, his long coat and cane gone and replaced with a black leather jacket. He mounted his motorcycle and the beast came to life at his approach. He rode off into the morning to speak with Mr. Mifferly.
    "The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the same as the difference between lightning and a lightning bug." ~ Mark Twain

  3. - Top - End - #3
    Troll in the Playground
     
    Space Lawyer's Avatar

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    Default Re: [Oddness] Uptown Rumble IC

    Sergei

    The sun crests over top the bright buildings. The man sits on a balcony, midnight-blue silk robe draping his form, a cup of coffee darker than the space between the stars steaming in front of him. He raises a hand to greet the life-giving celestial body. It was both his greatest enemy and his oldest friend. His business was not one for the day. Secrets, lies, and jealously hoarded connections had made his life what it was today, and the all-revealing sunlight stood inimically opposed, both metaphysically and in reality. The sun made things happen though; it sent all the small people down below scurrying about, making their lives so full of the interesting drama that the man so craved.

    Sergei had become influential many years ago, and supremely wealthy not long after that. If he chose to, he could have retired from this world, and simply lived in paradise for his remaining lifespan. It would have been a short lifespan though, because it would have been dreadfully dull. As much as Sergei hated to admit it, he needed the people whose strings he held, even as much as they often needed him.

    He looks back into the cavernous darkness of the penthouse. It was empty, and silent. Sergei hated it when the place was like this. Right now, thanks to an odd confluence of events, he had no one. Only one side of the bed had been disturbed. The suite he had set aside for a live-in assistant was gathering dust, ever since Olson had resigned to spend his remaining days in Boca, or Phoenix, one of those hot places that seniors decided to retire to.

    Sergei crosses the plush carpet to a sleek and modern looking bathroom. In moments, steam and water were washing the grime of the night from his tall frame. Some expensive bodywash, I can't remember what this stuff is; I'll have to call Olson and ask about it., helps. A few minutes later, having completed his ablutions, Sergei stands in a closet, racks of shoes, suits, and ties laid out before him. He always felt it a bit ostentatious, but this presentation style worked for him, and helped keep it all organized. A sharkskin gray suit, complemented with a lilac shirt and dark blue tie. Silver cufflinks and tiepin complete the outfit.

    He glances at the keys, but decides not to drive. It would be a pain in the morning traffic, and besides Who knows what interesting things I'll come across on the streets?

    It didn't take long for those interesting things to show up; it never did. There went Vincent, roaring by on that motorcycle of his. Sergei's eyes flick to the sky, looking for the raven.

    His phone dings. A text message from the girl, saying she'll take the job.

    When Sergei glances back up, Vincent is gone, and Despair sits in front of him, cawing. "What do you want, bird?"

    Behind the bird, across the street, he catches a flash of burgundy hair. There were thousands of women in this city with hair dyed like that, but none of them had that same confidence. Nora.
    Last edited by Space Lawyer; 2013-08-13 at 10:46 AM.
    07/03/2018: I’m back. The long break was necessary.

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  4. - Top - End - #4
    Ettin in the Playground
     
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    Default Re: [Oddness] Uptown Rumble IC

    Everything was alright.

    She was new to this, she'd admit, but her people were doing well. There was plenty of food, shelter, and water in this part of the world, enough so that they even had time for intellectual pursuits. The nearest neighbors were a good ways to the south, and they seemed peaceful and content enough. What had they called themselves again? The Roamings? That didn't sound quite right. Still, she wasn't bothered - she had plenty of time to learn it.

    A boy was running up from the stream to his mother, holding a bowl of water that was, for him, comically oversized. She'd need it to get dinner started - that rabbit wouldn't stew itself. Magnificent. A simple interplay of love and kindness. The mother turned, to the boy, and said -

    *HONK HONK HONK HONK*

    The noise from the truck outside jolted Nora awake and sent a spike of pain through her skull. The motion and her sudden exhalation blasting the newspaper she'd covered her face with high into the air. She sat up slowly from the couch she'd been sleeping on as yesterday's news glided gently to the floor. Right. Sleep. That thing she did when she'd been active too long. She was never going to get used to that - going comatose for hours, hallucinating vividly, and forgetting all about it at the end. Even now, she was losing the details of that dream.

    Too-bright light shone through the windows of her little office, even with the blinds drawn as they were. Nora managed to stagger her way into the kitchen for a glass of water, still processing what else she was supposed to do. She consulted the handy list she'd made - personal grooming, then food.

    Half an hour later, the private investigator was finally functional, though not any happier about it. She wondered if living at work was having an adverse affect on her psychological health. As she walked to her desk, she saw no new messages or electronic mail concerning her attempts to gather data on the most recent missing child case she'd taken on. There were, however, reminders that the rent was past due, and of course the traffic out on the street was going out of its way to be extra loud this morning. Sighing, she headed out the door and into the foot traffic on the sidewalk outside.

    Just another day in New York. Everything was not alright.
    Last edited by Jade_Tarem; 2013-08-13 at 12:22 PM.
    Amazing Zealot avatar by Elder Tsofu.

  5. - Top - End - #5
    Ogre in the Playground
     
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    Default Re: [Oddness] Uptown Rumble IC

    Rory looked over the street out his window and sighed. Then he went back and finished his breakfast, at this point quite used to the sensation in his skin which had started a few weeks before and had at one time been described as odd. The fact that it had spread to his skull and down his back recently was slightly more unnerving.

    He leaned back, looking at the apartment Uncle Andrew had found for him. Blast that man. Rory had turned the guy down, and all he'd done was smile and hand him the keys. Sure he hadn't actually bought the place, just payed the rent for a while, but still, he couldn't help but feel manipulated. Had he known the "congrats, you're turning into a reptile" speech would be too much? Just planned the whole thing so Rory would end up close enough to keep an eye on? To some extent it was best it had been him. Rory would have decked his father if he'd given him that speech. He isn't sure why, since he loved his father, but he is pretty sure he would have. Oh, well, by all accounts he would have barely felt it.

    Maybe it was below his education, but he did find himself interested in the job the man, Xander, had offered him. It was a crazy place, but it would keep his mind from angsting about any of this. And heck, if he grew wings during his lunch break no one would be the wiser.

    It was odd. He kept feeling paranoid that he'd wake up and discover some huge change had crept up on him as he slept, but he hadn't had any trouble and his dreams were rather peaceful. They'd been about flying, recently. Kind of odd what ends up being soothing. Aw heck, there he goes feeling sappy again.

    Rory swallows his last bite of toast and starts gathering his stuff. He'd be heading out to MRR this morning. He'd lucked out; it was very close.
    Spako Highclaws by Ceika.

    [Sorry Boss, but as always, I get the last word.]

  6. - Top - End - #6
    Bugbear in the Playground
     
    babel_matrix's Avatar

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    Default Re: [Oddness] Uptown Rumble IC

    Manhattan. It didn’t seem like much, growing up, but that’s because it was all Seung had ever known. He knew, by reputation, that the country outside this island’s borders was stricken with madness, antiquated beliefs and a touch more paranoia than even the Big Apple, which had the most reason to have it. To a budding scholar of Columbia University, the difference was even more stark, yet demanded more research, more personal confirmation that the world really was as ugly as his favorite blogs claimed it to be… But that’d require leaving the City of Dreams, and all the energy that flowed through its streets. Even as Seung walked on a busy, buzzing sidewalk near his bus stop, the humanity of the city came over him in waves, throttling his body to and fro. He had never gone white water rafting, but it had to be comparable: navigating the rapids of New Yorkers was exhilarating, ever-changing, and damned hazardous for a novice as the occasional tourist proved.

    The commute on his off-day from school was invigorating, putting all his senses and strength to their peaks… just in time to watch a teenager nearly eat the sidewalk in front of young Mr. Kim. He carefully caught her with one hand, snatching from the air an apple that shook loose from her with the other. “Whoa! Are you alright?” The words had come out harsher than he meant to, and she was already on her way to the bus stop, leaving him behind with surprisingly earnest words of gratitude. In a river of bleary eyed, half-asleep travelers, she had given him an espresso shot of energy, and it was enough to lift the corners of Seung’s mouth.

    The bus ride was blissfully short, full of people who didn’t have too much going on. Save for the young ones, the spirits of the bus’ occupants were fairly dim, closed off to those around them… particularly to strangers, like him. The bus stopped at a light just before the store, and a bit of graffiti on the brick wall of an old apartment building brought a grin to Seung’s face. Someone was in love. It sang in the wild curves of every letter just as earnestly as in the love-sick sighs of high school adoration, and the vibes it gave Seung brought to mind the perfumes and giddy laughter of former lovers. He jotted down the address on a palm-sized, spiral notepad, a rare sight even among the eccentric of Manhattan, a bastion of bleeding-edge technology. With any luck, he could return to it later before the art was inevitably painted over. The bus lurched forward, and Seung soon found himself before Mifferly Reductionist Retailer.

    The Columbia Museum of Art had become a place of rest and study for Mr. Kim, and he absorbed news from the curators and fellow students as easily as he did the sensations and emotions of painters. Given that it was almost a second home for him, he took almost equal offense to the recent break-in as the keepers of the museum did. He was no police detective, certainly, but he had visited M.R.R. enough to know that choice pieces of art, some even as valuable as the Weeping Daughter was purported to be, found their way into the varied inventory of the Retailer. If it couldn’t be found here, then at least the store owner might give him a clue. Stolen goods needed buyers... and Xander probably knew plenty of buyers.

    Pressed in with the crowd in front of M.R.R., the Empire State vibe started hitting Seung again, and his steps grew eager.
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    Nothing, anywhere! A sad state of affairs, truly.

  7. - Top - End - #7
    Ogre in the Playground
     
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    Default Re: [Oddness] Uptown Rumble IC

    MRR

    It's about this time that Rory shows up for work. He's still not entirely sure what he does, but for now he'll settle with whatever helpful things he feels like until Xander takes the time to tell him. Sounds like his boss' thought process at least. He'll push through whatever crowd there is on his way in.
    To Seung sensitive to people who pass by, he probably broadcasts confidence mixed with some good spirits and humor. That and the fact that in pure energy he might as well be on fire with "Hello, I am a magical creature" written on his forehead. Normally it wouldn't be that obvious, but safeties fail a bit during the part of his life when his true aspects start to break through his form.
    Last edited by Deathkeeper; 2013-08-13 at 01:10 PM.
    Spako Highclaws by Ceika.

    [Sorry Boss, but as always, I get the last word.]

  8. - Top - End - #8
    Dwarf in the Playground
     
    BlackDragon

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    Default Re: [Oddness] Uptown Rumble IC

    Despair

    The bird stared at Segei, its eyes glittering as it "spoke" to Sergei.

    No need to be rude, human. I know that you know my name. It looked at Sergei and cocked its head, cawing out loudly. Master wishes to see you. And as the words entered Sergei's head, the raven took flight and disappeared into the sky.

    Vincent - MRR, Meeting Rory

    Vincent pulled up to the front of MRR, the beast he rode emitting a low growl as they slowed to a stop. Vincent dismounted and the bike shut down, awaiting its master's return.

    Vincent strode casually toward the entrance of the building, his jacket having changed back to being the long, wool coat that fluttered behind him and a cane now in his hand. Though nobody noticed. Nobody ever noticed. His gait was slow and steady as to not draw any attention to himself as he opened the front doors and walked into MMR.

    There were several people in the entrance of the building still. People just getting to work. Vincent, though, was concerned by only one individual: a tall boy who was exuding an air of something...off. Vincent couldn't quite tell what it was, but he knew the boy wasn't completely human. And he was an employee. He walked strait up to the boy and tapped his cane gently against his leg.

    "Excuse me," Vincent said, his voice deep and his words slow and deliberate, "I have an appointment with your employer, Mr. Mifferly. I request to see him immediately." He locked his eyes with the boy's as he spoke, never blinking and not looking away even for a second.
    Last edited by Reverend1124; 2013-08-13 at 10:18 PM.
    "The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the same as the difference between lightning and a lightning bug." ~ Mark Twain

  9. - Top - End - #9
    Ogre in the Playground
     
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    Default Re: [Oddness] Uptown Rumble IC

    MRR

    Ah, supernatural age. The perks it brings, like being able to call grown men "boys."
    Rory isn't expecting to be getting poked by his customers, but eh, whatever.
    "Xander has a nasty habit of being entirely unpredictable in his movement. I've been meaning to suggest he get a tracking chip so we can find him easier. Still, I can help you look for him if you'd like."
    Spako Highclaws by Ceika.

    [Sorry Boss, but as always, I get the last word.]

  10. - Top - End - #10
    Dwarf in the Playground
     
    BlackDragon

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    Default Re: [Oddness] Uptown Rumble IC

    MRR

    "I would appreciate the help, child." As the words left Vincent's mouth he remembered that he appeared but 23. Oh well. The boy couldn't have been even that old. "Though if you might know one who would better know the location of Mr. Mifferly that might speed up our search. I have a timetable to keep, I'm afraid."
    Last edited by Reverend1124; 2013-08-14 at 03:45 PM.
    "The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the same as the difference between lightning and a lightning bug." ~ Mark Twain

  11. - Top - End - #11
    Ogre in the Playground
     
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    Default Re: [Oddness] Uptown Rumble IC

    MRR

    Actually, Rory's just a few months away from being 23. So it's actually pretty awkward. Regardless, he lets it pass despite the flags being raised in his head and he smiles.
    "Let's speed up the process, then, shall we? You may want to cover your ears. *ahem*
    XANDER! YOU HAVE AN APPOINTMENT!"

    Let it be known that when he wants to, Rory can really bellow. Well, it's practically in his name after all (for the record it was completely accidental).
    Last edited by Deathkeeper; 2013-08-13 at 10:38 PM.
    Spako Highclaws by Ceika.

    [Sorry Boss, but as always, I get the last word.]

  12. - Top - End - #12
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    Default Re: [Oddness] Uptown Rumble IC

    Elizabeth wakes to an orchestra of car horns blaring on one of the nearby roads. Rising with a groan, she begins her morning ritual by becoming fairly presentable then shuffling to the kitchen for her daily dose of caffeine. Actually, kitchen is putting it politely. It’s more like a corner of her living room with a small cooking space. Nodding at the current guest taking up the extra living room chair she makes her way to the coffee maker. This morning it’s a small elderly lady who, after a short get to know you chat and a cup of coffee, apparently used to live nearby and died of a stroke about 20 years ago. All sorts of wandering ghosts pass through Elizabeth’s. In fact, meeting the newbies has become a part of her morning ritual. She gets part of her daily socializing fix in and hears so much juicy gossip journalists would sell their souls just to hear half of it.

    After their conversation dies out, she grabs another cup of coffee and checks her phone. One text message. Who's textin' me? Wait, how'd anyone get ma number? She anxiously presses the open button and skims the message, weary of the content. She inhales sharply and, forgetting she was sipping a liquid, nearly chokes to death on her coffee. After a violent coughing fit, she’s finally able to regain the ability to be a human being again. “Sweet Lord in heaven a job offer!” she exclaims, her southern accent ever present. She hurriedly types out an acceptance and presses the send button with a satisfied grin plastered onto her face.

    As she steps outside her apartment, heading nowhere in particular, her thoughts are jumbled with excitement. It’s finally happenin'. My life in the big city’s finally takin’ off. I can practically hear the doors uh opportunity opening. Anything’s possibly now, right? Heck, maybe I’m gonna make a name for myself and get famous. It don’t make no difference that I know nuthin about my employer, all that matters is that I’m gonna get somewhere and I’m gonna do something with my life. This is what I left home for. This is living.
    Last edited by LadyMarinette; 2013-08-14 at 09:34 AM.

  13. - Top - End - #13
    Troll in the Playground
     
    Space Lawyer's Avatar

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    Default Re: [Oddness] Uptown Rumble IC

    Sergei

    Oh, Vincent, you are as dramatic as always. "The Master wants to see you." Just sounds so old-fashioned.

    Sergei skips across the street, heedless of the traffic. None the cars hit him, of course, but some miss only by a fraction of an inch. Just more proof that luck was on Sergei's side today, as it had been every day of his life.

    He slips the crowd, eventually catching up to and matching paces with his target. "Good morning, Nora. Lovely day for a stroll, isn't it?"
    07/03/2018: I’m back. The long break was necessary.

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    Default Re: [Oddness] Uptown Rumble IC

    Xander

    PRMM: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUOSulm9YRA

    Xander awakes that morning to the sound of the elevator music coming to life.

    He sits up, draws in a deep breath, stretches out his arms with a contented yawn. He glances at the screen on the wall, which tells him the elevator's on the third floor. A grin spreads over his rounded angular face, and as he climbs to his feet and presses the number 2, the happy little song on the speakers springs to his lips. The lyrics dance across the screen, with a purple bar indicating his Enthusiasm Level—which had never dropped below Umbrella Rank in his life.

    Soooo, it's morning again, eh, Mrr? he thinks as the elevator descends. What delightful weirdness do we have in store for the world today?

    The doors slide open to reveal his kingdom, sparkling with possibilities, a perfect playground for his dreams to fly unhindered by the laws of reason. He dances over the threshold, still humming the tune as he makes his way to the grand fountain at the center of the floor; a dry tile circle with low walls around the edges, and one enormous pipe hanging down over the center. "Personal hygiene?" He steps in and stands under the pipe for a few moments, waiting. Then a gush of water suddenly slams down on the top of his head, drenching his business suit in one enormous spurt. The water floods the fountain, then swirls down the drain with a fantastic sucking sensation. He grins. "Check!"

    He leaps out without a pause, taking no notice of the puddles he leaves in his wake. He straightens his glasses and proceeds to the clothing aisle, where he picks out a clean, dry outfit and dances into a fitting room. A couple minutes later he bursts out the door, looking fabulous, as usual. "Good morning, Marcus! Do something with this!" He tosses the soaked suit aside and continues toward the escalator, which he leaps down with barely contained enthusiasm.

    "Nice to see you, Wilson! How's the new chinchilla, Vinnie? Patrice! What the heck is that! I love it!" He skips through the store with his hands in his pockets and greeting ready for each of his beloved minions, though half of their names he makes up on the spot. Only stopping a few times to dance with his employees, he finally approaches the Kumquat Cafe towards the entrance of the store. "My regular feast, please!” he announces, sliding into a booth.

    Tasty and necessary daily sustenance? A bowl of ice-cream, cereal, and maple syrup drops onto the table in front of him. He grins. Check. I now dub this morning… A SUCCESS!

    And just in time for the unleashing of the customers, too! The doors slide open, and a stampede of people pours in, all looking to have a good time, looking for the cheer he was so gifted at providing. His people, his public. Did they know how much he needed them? Did they need him too? He didn’t really know, but then again, he didn’t know much about anything. He didn’t care. As long as he had M.R.R., what else could he need?

    He sits up, his ever-present smile widening with warm affection. He looks down at his breakfast. Food? Who needs food, really? There’d be time to care for his meaningless physical needs later. Right now, there are much more important things to attend to.

    He shoves the bowl aside and vaults over the bars that separate the café from the rest of the store. "Did I hear that someone’s looking for… a Xanderdander?"

    Later…

    Did I hear that someone’s looking for a Xanderdander?

    He straightens in a manner reminiscent of a meerkat, his blond head whipping about in search of the voice. An appointment, did it say? Well then, there’s no time to waste! He leaps into a shopping cart, hoping this won’t be the boring sort of appointment. ”My apologies, adorable and very tiny people!” he says to the group of children he’d been entertaining. ”But I’m afraid duty calls. Farewell, hobbits! Isaac… away with us!”

    He swishes his finger out to direct the carriage with one hand, using the other to toss out various pieces of merchandise as his trusty sidekick propels him to the front of the store.

    "Faster! Faster!" he commands. The cart rapidly approaches the place the voice was coming from, and the source of it becomes visible. Ah yes! The new recruit! As well as a young man who dresses like a serial killer!

    It becomes interestingly apparent that their paths are about to collide. "Slower! Slower!" he amends to his previous statement. When this doesn't appear to slow the cart down quickly enough, he cheerfully leaps over the side, leaving Isaac to crash into the two to his heart's content. "I'm here!" he announces, planting his bowling shoes firmly on the ground. "Now what's this delightful nonsense about an appointment?"
    Last edited by Jellyfish; 2013-08-14 at 04:00 PM.

  15. - Top - End - #15
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    BlackDragon

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    Vincent - MMR

    Without even blinking Vincent extended his left hand and stopped the cart dead in its tracks, it tilting up on its front wheels and being held aloft for a second, Xander's poor assistant dangling from it. He let go and the cart dropped back down to all four.

    "Mr. Alexander Mifferly, I presume?" he didn't wait for an answer, "My name is Vincent Pierce and I would be grateful if we could find somewhere more private so I may speak with you."
    "The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the same as the difference between lightning and a lightning bug." ~ Mark Twain

  16. - Top - End - #16
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    Rory, MRR

    Well, good thing that guy had used superhuman stopping power so he hadn't had to. Regardless, looks like his work here is done. Rory starts to head off.
    Spako Highclaws by Ceika.

    [Sorry Boss, but as always, I get the last word.]

  17. - Top - End - #17
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    Nora

    "If you say so." Nora half-growls. Sergei had found her - of course he had. She tried to remember what their last conversation had been about and drew a blank. "What do you need?" There, the words were still brusque but at least she'd managed to sound more neutral than hostile. She reminded herself that she needed this man, and owed him.
    Amazing Zealot avatar by Elder Tsofu.

  18. - Top - End - #18
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    Isaac M.R.R.

    Isaac landed deftly on his feet, frowning slightly at the display of power by this newcomer. Working at M.R.R. always led to one odd occurrence or another and Isaac was finally starting to get used to them. but Xander did always like to keep people on their toes. He turned his attention towards the man who had introduced himself as Vincent. It was unlikely that Vincent was an enemy, although Isaac was certain Xander must have a few that didn't like the extreme eccentricities that he displayed on a daily basis. Maybe even some of the employees.

    "Do you want me to stick around for this little meeting, Xander? If not I would like to do my daily security check sometime...today. Not that pushing people around in carts isn't how I imagined spending my days."

    The security at M.R.R. was something of a nightmare, the store's floor plan having been planned out by a man with a vision that almost any child could rally under. That's really what Xander seemed to be after all, a child with enough power and money to build his dreams and share them with the world. And what is security to a child? Someone else's problem. Isaac shook himself from his idle reverie, he would have time to wonder about his life choices later, right now he had other things to focus on.

  19. - Top - End - #19
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    Anton, 10 Wood Academy

    Anton Briar moved autonomously towards the large, pristine, glorified-daycare known as high school. He couldn't feel his own shoes on his feet. Couldn't feel anything. His nerves were dead to pain, but unfortunately that meant they were dead to most everything. His body had to adapt over the years and learn to work with only pressure, and no texture. This ridiculous body of his would be useless without the incredible, god-like organ that resided within his skull.

    He took in a long breath, closing his eyes for a moment to just...get away from it all. When he opened his eyes again, he did what he always did...stared at peoples' faces. His gaze casually mulled over those around him, watching them talk, or laugh. He had no qualms with eye contact, and frequently looked right into the eyes of anyone and everyone. He was admiring them. But they seemed to find it creepy, always averting their gaze or giving him a distasteful look. Not that he cared. He felt nothing but pity for them really. For the entire human race.

    ...to be trapped in such..such pathetic, sacks of meat. It's..it's like taking a car engine and putting it on a pogo-stick. It's abhorring. Somewhere along the line, Nature really screwed up.

    With a sigh, Anton made his way into class, huffing with some sort of sardonic amusement as he watched the ever-peppy Lorena bounce her way through the halls. He tugged absent-mindedly at his long sleeves. Every part of him was covered, save his face, and hands. Wriggling his fingers, Anton stared indifferently at his hand. At least hands had some fine detail and intricacies. Triple-jointed fingers, opposable thumbs, and fingernails... He didn't have to be too disgusted showing them in public.


    Another day... Another miserable, meaningless day...

  20. - Top - End - #20
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    Xander, M.R.R.

    Xander turns to look at Isaac. "Well then, we'd best be glad I have enough imagination for the both of us, because good grief, who dreams of pushing people around in shopping carts all day?" There's a pause, and he stares as Isaac expectantly. He blinks. "Seriously, who? Tell them to give me a call."

    He strides away, thoroughly expecting his posse to follow him. "Anycoffee, go ahead and do your little security checkup thing, my endearingly paranoid yeoman! Don't worry, once I'm done talking with my new friend you can push me around all you like. ...With a shopping cart. Not with bossiness because then I'll have to dock your paycheck. And speaking of pandas!" He pulls a folder out of nowhere and tosses it at the retreating Rory. "Your mission assignment for the day, my Minion Level 1!"

    The folder hits the boy on the shoulder and falls open on the floor, revealing a page ripped from a coloring book, complete with a picture that seems a little too skillfully colored to have been done by a five-year-old. Upon turning it over, Rory might find his instructions written in a rather... impractical color on the back.

    Third-floor Sales Associate. You are to help customers navigate the store and find the products they need. A sensational hat is mandatory; you'll find one on the second floor. Ask a sales associate if you get lost.

    That taken care of, it only leaves... Ah yes! His rather-unnerving-yet-probably-perfectly-charming-on-the-inside new friend! He swings an arm over the man's shoulder and starts steering him toward the escalator. "I think we'll find some sufficient privacy over this direction!" he says.

  21. - Top - End - #21
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    MRR

    Forum yellow makes my eyes bleed.
    Rory will shrug and head upstairs to pick up a hat. He thinks he'd look boss in an Indiana Jones fedora. Or a samurai helmet, just because there's a precedent of old-school helmets being awesome on anyone.
    Spako Highclaws by Ceika.

    [Sorry Boss, but as always, I get the last word.]

  22. - Top - End - #22
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    Seung Kim, M.R.R.

    Seung followed the mob into the store... and the very air damn-near electrocuted him. The currents of man are doubled, then tripled, and then increased tenfold just at the entrance, where the daily wonders put on display woo the crowd into their usual state. Seung, for all his attempts at a cool and calm demeanor, is wooed to an almost giddy state. In mere minutes, he was already walking through the most recent art gallery/aisle towards the back, where everything from inspired, zany wall art to heartfelt pieces made by careful, talented new artists from the local projects.

    He was enthralled for half a minute, fully exploring a skull etched out of a chunk of iron in some workshop, when his original purpose finally seemed important enough to interrupt the exploration of Xander's latest exhibitions. The rest of the store, which could fill the day with its depths, would have to wait; Seung had to find The Weeping Daughter or else gain audience with the proprietor, as eccentric a man from afar as he apparently was by reputation. Seung had caught mad, joyful glimpses of the man several times, but never had reason to approach him... Now, with no sign of the sculpture he sought, he had only the owner to approach... and an owner to find.

    He began a slow and, to admit his guilt, embellished search of the wares and floors, looking for an owner who, unbeknownst to him, had an appointment. His search eventually brought him to the elevator, a device that allegedly detected the enthusiasm of singing in the elevator the second floor... Seung watched as a troupe of elementary school children clamored in after him, and began their list of demands with the elevator before its doors had even closed properly. Seung, outvoted and outmatched by their obvious edge in this competition, simply leaned back and let the exuberance wash over him... for all of twelve seconds.

    The doors opened again, letting out the gaggle of youths, their parents, and Seung behind the lot of them. His eyes barely registered the young employee, a man seemingly in his own age group, moving to get on the elevator. Seung gave the man a polite nod, nothing apparently out of place... until he brushed past him.

    Seung Kim wasn't prepared for what exploded before his vision: a roaring pillar of life force, towering above the crowd, and even Seung, until it punched a hole into the ceiling and ascended somewhere into the heavens. A strong, far too potent inner-fire for even the most determined, tenacious souls... among humans. Seung stepped sideways and away from the boy, barely looking at him as much as he looked at the visible sign that appeared... and the moment that distance was wedged between them, it was gone. The employee seemed normal again.

    M.R.R. was (in)famous for its rare and delightful finds... and this marked the first time Seung had seen anything like the brown-haired, blue-eyed boy. Certainly, it wasn't the samurai helmet upon the stranger's head that made Seung stare at the young man as the elevator doors began to close.
    Last edited by babel_matrix; 2013-08-16 at 08:11 PM.
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  23. - Top - End - #23
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    MRR, Rory

    Well, crap. They actually had an honest-to-goodness Kabuto helmet. So taking that. In fact, he might ask Xander if he can keep it sometime because man is this thing awesome. Maybe not as sturdy as a master smith's work that a samurai would have but it's at least made of the real stuff. If he ever tracked down where Xander hid the full set. Okay, admittedly if he got a full o-yoroi fitted to him it would almost make up for the second puberty. Almost.
    Rory is thinking this as he bumps into an asian boy a little younger than him. Who proceeds to go wide-eyed for just a moment as he does so. For just a second worry spikes through him. What had he seen? Then he calms down, he really shouldn't have anything to worry about.
    "Sorry about that, sir. You, er, okay?"
    The elevator doors close in front of him. He'll get the next one.
    Spako Highclaws by Ceika.

    [Sorry Boss, but as always, I get the last word.]

  24. - Top - End - #24
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    BlackDragon

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    Vincent - MRR

    The disgust that welled up inside Vincent as Xander's arm draped across his shoulder was immense, but he had to remember that this man might have some information for him. He cringed a bit as they walked towards the escalator.

    "Excellent. Now, Mr. Mifferly, I am well aware that you have an affinity for things that are not quite ordinary. If I have heard correctly I was hoping you could assist me in a search for someone who is nowhere near ordinary."

    The twelve seconds it took to go up the escalator was a bit awkward, the two of them just standing there side by side. Actually, really awkward. But whatever.
    "The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the same as the difference between lightning and a lightning bug." ~ Mark Twain

  25. - Top - End - #25
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    Seung, M.R.R.

    Seung blinked at what seemed like a regular young man... for now. Seung had no choice but to skip ahead, regardless; the "interesting" folk seldom appreciated it being mentioned, and the last thing the place needed was an argument about it.

    Seung realized he had been staring a bit longer than would be considered polite, and quickly opted to look around, as if lost. His voice was rather deep for his appearance, but came out clear and positive despite his apparent discomfort. "Yes, actually... I'm looking for a particular art piece that might have come into your inventory. Perhaps recently?" Seung pulled out the clipped image of his sought prize: a beautiful, full-sized sculpture of a crying young girl in a beautiful, English gown from the 17th century. He neared the lad, taking care to not make contact; in contemporary Manhattan, it was hardly an odd gesture. "A 17th century piece called The Weeping Daughter... I saw some of the works downstairs, one even hinting at 19th century styles, but nothing matching this. I was hoping the store owner might know where I could find a place to purchase this piece... if he couldn't acquire it himself, of course." Beating around the bush was a stale affair... but telling an employee that he might be working for some sort of part-time information broker, one that Seung vastly preferred by reputation over the one he knew personally, didn't seem prudent.
    Last edited by babel_matrix; 2013-08-16 at 08:35 PM.
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  26. - Top - End - #26
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    MRR, Rory

    Rory looks at the photo for a moment.
    "Not sure how much Xander's into stuff like that. Still, I can ask him. I think he's talking to a man with an appointment for now, anyway. Would you like to stick around until he comes back?"
    Spako Highclaws by Ceika.

    [Sorry Boss, but as always, I get the last word.]

  27. - Top - End - #27
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    MRMM

    They walk among us.


    People.


    Human beings. Every day they pass you by in the streets. Who are they? Where are they going? Where are they from?

    Are they important? Do they matter? In a city of millions of individuals, how easy it is to lose one's individuality. They're like shadows. Masses of bodies with no names, and faces that go by in a blur.

    Two young girls discuss a man for whom they both share a deep admiration. Do you hear them?
    A tear rolls down the cheek of a boy as he waits at the crosswalk. Do you notice?
    You hear your phone ring. You see the taxi you're looking for. Everyone lives their own lives, in their own worlds.

    So what happens when two worlds are unexpectedly brought together?

    Does one pull the other in, forcing the foreigner to abide by the laws of this world? Or do they come together to create a new world, in mutual harmony?


    The two young men in the infamous Reductionist Retailer have stumbled upon each other. Both bearing secrets. Both with worlds much different from the norm. One has unwittingly touched the world of the other, and in a brief moment, he is overwhelmed with something outside of himself.

    And little does the bright, young inheritor know that his arm is draped over a being of darkness and despair. The young man has created for himself a world of joy, and unending wonder. But can he protect his world from the darkness that is here, that is everywhere? Even there...

    ...on the streets. As he walks, with no fault in his steps, and no surprise in his day. For he is meticulous, and a hoarder of knowledge. He knows much, but how far can he truly see into the worlds of others? What does he know of the world belonging to the girl called Nora? Does he see the struggle of her heart?

    The heart is a strange thing. For it seems it loves to to obsess, to fixate upon those certain things it deems valuable. It is different for every person.

    For the schoolboy, Anton, and for the working man, Isaac, they live in worlds from which their hearts have rarely escaped from. They go about their lives, always moving, with faint aspirations, but nothing to truly capture their hearts, and give them...life. Will they ever find what they are looking for? Do they even know what it is?

    Not like this girl. Elizabeth. As she moves through unfamiliar streets, in a new world, a world so unlike her own. But she walks with purpose, willing to be affected, and changed, by this world around her; for it is what she desires. She knows what she wants, and where she's going. Her heart yearns for something new, and fresh, and she has obeyed the call.

    This one also knows her heart. Lorena Lee. A young woman in the making, full of passion, with a heart that beats with life every day. Her world is not rigid or tight, but expanding, malleable as she pursues knowledge, and ultimately, her dreams. In a way, her world has grown, without her even knowing, reaching out and touching the other worlds around her. She has awakened a heart that longs for something more than the simple kindness and amiable spirits of the friends she currently has. This heart has seen the passion in the life of Lorena Lee, and it wants to be closer, to taste of this energy even more. This heart belongs to a girl called Melanie Reed. She is 15 years old, a budding Sophomore at 10 Wood Academy. She is small, frail, and forgettable. Not extraordinary, nor outspoken. Her world is dull, with little individuality or creativity; she looks to others to nurture her world. She needs them. Their kindness, their love, and their passion. For she has none of her own.

    Unlike her...the Woman in White. The one who sparked the heart of the young Korean man, and gave him something to obsess over, to fixate on. Something that gives him drive. Energy. If only he knew that at this very moment, she was donning her lavish, white dress. That she was singing softly to herself, as she gracefully penned lyrics upon paper, which she will sing tonight, at a humble, hole-in-the-wall karaoke bar.


    They are all connected. And yet they are all separated. But how long will their worlds remain their own? How long until other forces inevitably come to destroy the worlds they have so carefully created for themselves.
    Last edited by Valik Sparks; 2013-08-17 at 01:50 PM.

  28. - Top - End - #28
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    babel_matrix's Avatar

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    Seung, M.R.R.

    Kim nodded at the man, pocketing the crisp print-out once more. "If you could let him know, please... I'll be here or upstairs, unless there's a..." Seung looked around, at the beautiful typhoon that served as a mere taste of the labyrinth that awaited above. "... waiting... room?"
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  29. - Top - End - #29
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    MRR, Rory

    Rory shakes his head. "Nothing like that that I know of. I'd go with you if you want. The third floor is a maze, and it's supposed to be my job to follow people around up there to make sure no one gets lost for days at a time or something. Today at least."
    Spako Highclaws by Ceika.

    [Sorry Boss, but as always, I get the last word.]

  30. - Top - End - #30
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    Xander, MRR

    Xander’s eyes light up as he steps onto the escalator. “Far from ordinary?” he says. “By socks, you’ve come to the right place! Jump!”

    Without further explanation, he tumbles over the railing. A prolonged, “Wheeee!” is heard right before a cushioned thud.

    "Come! Quickly!" he calls up as he bounces to his feet. He appears to have jumped into a small room with no ceiling, walled off from the rest of the store. Only part of the room is visible from the escalator, but that small glimpse gives the vague impression of an enormous lavender bounce house.

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