You know that I was never that cool

[forelocked]

Who: Farlan Church and OPEN
What: Farlan's arrival
When: Sunday & Monday, March 9 & 10
Where: Around town, in the apartments, and at the grocery store
Summary: Farlan stumbles around and gets his bearings. He's not ready to use any suspicious journal things.
Rating: All audiences, unless something unforeseen happens.
Note: Any format is fine


A. Village outskirts (March 9th)

[The first thing Farlan does upon arriving is scramble to get on his feet--he can't be lying down, on his own, outside the walls. He stands up, breathing hard. If he got unhorsed somehow, he's going to die.

When he stands up, he freezes. This isn't where he was. He's on the outskirts of a village, and there are people, normal looking people, moving around inside it. He doesn't see the Survey Corps anywhere. So he's not outside the walls? But he just was? What the hell is going on? It's so... weird.

He notices his uniform at his feet and stoops to pick it up. It's not as if he's crazy about the uniform, but they're his clothes. He doesn't feel comfortable running around shirtless. Ugh, this is terrible, but at least wherever he is, it must be safe, right? He's safe. Relatively. He tries to pull on his shirt and jacket. That's when he notices the wings. What. Wings? That's not possible. Great, he's lost his mind. Or something. He tries his best to put his clothes on in spite of the bizarre appendages, but they ache.

Well, there's nothing else for him to do but figure out what's happening here. He picks up the journal, too, although he's not sure what it is. He heads into town warily, looking for a source of information. He doesn't like relying on random strangers, but he's utterly lost. He puts on his best polite and worried face.]

Uh, excuse me, please--?

B. Apartments, Flame Building (March 9th)

[Farlan frowns very seriously at his journal and shuts it in a drawer. He doesn't trust it. Then he frowns at the room. He's been doing a lot of frowning lately.

Now that that's done, he heads out into the hall and starts to search the building. If he's going to be living here, he has to investigate, which includes, of course, carefully and quietly testing doors to see if they can be opened, and the important business of nosing around. Not that he'd call it "nosing around". It's important reconnaissance work. He may be a criminal, but he's not intending to harm anyone or steal anything. He's worried and curious.]

C. Grocery store (March 10th)

[Free food. That's a joke. He doesn't believe it for an instant. No one in charge of this place could be nice. Altruism, ha. Farlan's not falling for it. They're using this food supply to control the population, that's obvious.

He isn't fooled by it, but he's not adverse to taking advantage of it. He obtained some (also suspiciously free) sacks in the village, and he's filling them up with food, starting with what looks like it'll last the longest. He'll take as much as he can carry, and he's a fairly strong young man. Still wearing his Survey Corps uniform, he is undeniably a man on a mission.

You've got to do whatever you can to survive--it doesn't matter what world you're in.]

Comments

C

[whiskytraitorfirefight]

[While Farlan is stocking up, a dog comes wandering down the aisle. Laika's tail wags happily as she pads down the aisle, a large bone clutched in her mouth. Sup.

Not too far behind her dog comes Ginia, a backpack slung over her back. She whistles sharply for her dog - one day she'll keep Laika on a leash - and nods at Farlan. The jacket is hard to miss along with the bags of food. With what she knows about their world, the sight isn't surprising at all.]

[forelocked]

[Farlan looks from the dog to Ginia. It doesn't strike him as odd to find a dog in a grocery store. Where he's from, that kind of thing wouldn't be looked on askance.

Along with stockpiling food, it's struck him that making allies is a good idea, so he smiles easily. It can't hurt to make nice to the other people stuck here, right? Right.]

Hi. Nice dog.

[whiskytraitorfirefight]

[It's always good making allies in this place. Ginia returns the smile, already intent on getting to know him. She knows the uniform, she knows most of the people from that world, and she'll probably get to know him in time, but it's good to get a headstart. Because Ginia likes surviving and the more people she can get people watching her back the better.

She gives Laika a loving pat on the head and scratch behind the ears before she takes out her phone. She's silent for a few seconds as she types out a message, walking closer so she can hold up the screen for him to read.]

Thanks.

If you're stocking up on food, there's some beef jerky on the aisle to the right of us. Assuming you haven't already seen it.

[forelocked]

Oh.

[Farlan makes a thoughtful noise as she fiddles with the device, watching her curiously, unsure of what she's doing and what the thing is. When she holds the phone out, he peers at it intently, seeing that there are words written there. Is it like one of those weird journals, then?]

Really? I'll take that, too. Thanks.

[Beef wasn't exactly on offer in the slums--all the more reason they'd had to steal it. He knows a lot more about that kind of food than most people living in the slums. He moves in the direction indicated.]

Finally, some meat that'll last.

[There's plenty of meat here, but most of it is no good for his purposes.]

There's so much of everything...

A

[needlepricked]

( Annie wouldn't disagree with his sentiment later on, when it came to food and the rest, but she'd only just made it to the village herself. There'd been no easy out for her walking in, but she had asked and paid attention to what was available, including on the joournal that behaved nothing like a journal.

Strangely, the more surreal things seemed, the less dream-like they felt. She'd been able to find things that fit, more or less. Pants, a sweater, socks and boots. Nothing that particularly stood out. Things that were sturdy, in subdued colors.

She recognizes the uniform of the one politely asking for attention. Annie's mildly surprised he's not a face she recognizes.

Not that he mightn't be someone she's killed. Recognition had little to do with that.

She looks away, as if she's uncertain he's addressing her, intending to move forward without comment if he's not quick enough to verify he's asking her, and not someone else, for assistance. She had no words to exchange with anyone in his position, and no means to desire an empathetic response to the confusion this Luceti brought on anyone. )

[forelocked]

[Farlan is still too disoriented and confused to have a sense of where he actually is. He can't imagine how he suddenly came to be within the walls--or where inside the walls he is. Because that must be where he is, right?

He doesn't recognize this young woman at all. For all he knows, she might live here.]

Excuse me.

[He repeats himself as she turns away and seems to be on the verge of leaving. Maybe she didn't realize he was talking to her? There's also the possibility that she doesn't want to talk to him, but he'll deal with that if it's confirmed. He tries again, not one to give up easily.]

I was wondering if I could ask you a few questions. If you wouldn't mind?

[needlepricked]

( Ah, so it was her. Annie turns her face back his way, evaluating what she sees. he doesn't appear to be particularly tense, or on edge and whatching how she reacts. He's eitehr a good actor, or he has no knowledge of who she is.

She doesn't believe that lack will continue into the future. She sighs inwardly, shifting to square off against Farlan. Answers? She doesn't have many of those. )

I won't promise to have answers.

( It's almost like saying she doesn't mind, while looking up at him wearing a neutral expression. At least she has most her hair pulled back into a familiar bun by now. She feels slightly more organized with that simple effort alone. )

[forelocked]

All right, that's okay. No need to make me any promises, I'm not demanding.

[He smiles at this.]

This might be a weird question, but can you tell me what this place is, and where? I'm kind of new.

[He has a very poor sense of geography, even back home, so he's unable to identify most places within the walls. Unfamiliarity is to be expected. He might not question whether he was somewhere within the walls, if not for the wings. Wings can't exactly be explained away.]

B. Farlan guess who is behind door number 3...

[reviling]

[Despite the fact that he's been constantly monitoring the contact list on the journals for new arrivals, he takes a break every now and then to work on other things. As a result he misses Farlan's name appearing, and in fact doesn't notice for several hours.

It's not until he's about to leave the apartment in the Flame building to make some rounds through the village that he notices, because someone's just tried to open their (locked) door without knocking. His eyes narrow slightly before he flips the lock and yanks open the door, ready to snap at the would-be intruder, when his eyes fall on a face he's not seen in years.

Another person who should be dead.

Levi stands rooted to the spot, breath and voice caught hard in his chest.

Fuck this place. First Petra, now Farlan.]

[forelocked]

[Farlan takes a step back as the door opens, his cover story prepared. But then he promptly forgets it as he sees who opens the door.

He's startled as well, if not nearly as much so. As far as he's concerned, he and Levi are both alive and well. He hadn't realized Levi was present in Luceti, but he was with Levi right before he got here, so he'd been wondering where he'd gotten to. He smiles.]

Levi! I didn't know you were here, too. It's good to see you.

Sorry about this, I was just--

[He shrugs, as there's no reason to have a cover story with Levi.]

You know.

[reviling]

[Levi feels the blood drain from his face, suddenly feeling lightheaded. He grips the door harder suddenly, takes an accidental step forward.

Petra is one thing; she's recently passed away, and in many ways Levi hasn't had a lot of time to process that loss fully. It takes a long time, especially given that he lost them all at once. In a strange, sick way, it's almost as though she'd never died, now that she's here.

But Farlan has been dead for years. It's essentially like seeing a ghost.

Except that in general, Levi doesn't believe in ghosts.

And yet, Farlan is standing in front of him, smiling at him as though nothing happened.

A long moment passes before he realizes he hasn't spoken.]

Farlan.

[he swallows, trying to ignore the thudding in his chest.]

When did you get here?

[forelocked]

[As Levi stares at him, he stares back. Levi looks even grimmer than usual, if that can be believed. He's not quite sure what to make of it. It's true that this place is strange and disorienting, but Levi's strong and adaptable, and what's oddest is the way he's looking at him, in fixed surprise. Not that he wasn't surprised, too, but it's different, somehow.]

I just got here. Today, I mean. It's been a few hours, and I've been checking the place out.

[His smile shifts into a frown of concern. Something's wrong. It's not as if Levi's exactly easy to read, but he's gotten somewhat used to dealing with him, over time.]

Are you okay?

B

[wipesfaith]

[When Jean hears the door creak open behind him, he doesn't even look up - naturally, he assumes it's Marco walking in.] Hey, c'mere and help me figure this out. You already started your math, right?

[He's at the kitchen table, hunched over an open notebook that's littered with equations, his pencil pausing in his furious scrawling to tap at the page in annoyance. Sunday means homework day. His jacket is draped over the back of his chair, and his boots stand by the door, but the rest of his uniform is intact.]

[forelocked]

[There's someone there. Not exactly surprising. These things are to be expected. Fortunately, Farlan was fully prepared for this contingency. His expression shifts into something suitably sheepish, and he clears his throat.]

Ah, I'm sorry--all these rooms look the same. I didn't mean to disturb you.

I am pretty good at math, though.

[Math is important!]

1/2

[wipesfaith]

[...You're defnitely not Marco.]

[wipesfaith]

[What the-- He jerks around in his chair to face the intruder.]

Just who the hell are you?!

a

[breezing]

[ Luckily, this stranger is pretty non-threatening and also fairly cheerful looking. She also seems to know exactly where she's going, which would be a good reason to stop her. Since it's a Sunday, Ikki doesn't have to rush to school, and seems perfectly happy to skid to a stop from her cheery skipping towards the bakery, taking a roundabout path at the edge of town. It counts as exploring, right? ]

Hm...? Yeah, what's up? Can I help you?

[ She does sort of rock back and forth on her feet as she stands still, though, clearly full of energy. ]

[forelocked]

[Ah, a kid. Good, he can deal with kids. He likes kids. He smiles, and even if it's something of a put on, as he's trying to hide his nervousness and doubt, he's non-threatening himself.

The kid looks happy, so that's a good sign, right? Everyone here looks happier and healthier than most people did at home.]

Sure, you can definitely help. You look like you really know your way around, so--maybe you could tell me about this place?

[breezing]

[ Asking her to tell him more about Luceti gets an immediate once-over. That's right...Korra had shown up near the start of it, but it was New Feather season again, wasn't it? Every month, now, instead of every other month. He was wearing some sort of uniform, so she hadn't immediately identified him as new like she would have with the traditional pajamas, but...

Huh. The uniform actually looked a little familiar. Sort of like what Levi and some of the other people wore. Well, whatever. ]

Yeah, sure. I'll have been here two years come summer. What'd you hear so far, though? Did anyone tell you anything yet, or d'you want it from the top? You're a New Feather, huh? I can take you to the Welcome Center while we talk. They'll help you find an apartment. Or a house or whatever...they have notes on what's all occupied so you don't try to move in somewhere where there's people already. Grandpa works there sometimes.

B

[petreefied]

[It's rather impressive, Petra thinks as she spies the man poking around doors and peeking in, that there would be a thief in a place where food, shelter, and virtually every other desirable commodity is free. That thought is quickly replaced with fury as she notices the crest on the back of his jacket. Was he trying to blame or spread rumors about the Survey Corps? Even in this strange world without the MP or annoyed citizens to complain about the taxes and funding wasted on the Corps, there was someone who'd dare try and sully their reputation?

Alternatively, and even more embarrassingly, the guy could be a former soldier. But what kind of person would do this, right in the middle of the day?]

You! What are you doing?

[Whatever it is, Petra's going to find out.]

[forelocked]

[He turns to her and blinks. He hadn't exactly wanted to be seen, but that's fine--its not as if he was doing anything except for looking around. The only commodity he's interested in right now is information.]

Who, me? I'm just looking around.

[He glances from side to side, then drops his voice to a whisper, yet one loud enough to carry, addressing her as if they're co-conspirators.]

To tell you the truth, I don't trust this place.

[petreefied]

[Had she been younger, had it been someone else, it might have been a good lure. But Petra didn't survive two years of expeditions by assuming the best in everyone. Though her direct confrontation of this guy, whoever he was, isn't exactly showing of her street smarts...]

No crap. And I don't trust you.

[She crosses her arms over her just, skepticism clearly written on her face.] What's your name, soldier?

[If this is all some misunderstanding, she can apologize later.]

B

[ura_no_ura]

[ It just so happens to be that Kakashi's been hanging out on the rooftop of Flame Building, enjoying the warmer weather and the sun with a book. He's lying on the ledge, ankle crossed over his knee, one hand under his head as he holds up the book over his face with one hand. ]

[forelocked]

[Oh, just some guy reading. Farlan isn't big on reading for pleasure, himself. He can read, but he doesn't do so often, unless he has to. He taught himself to read for the sake of business--meaning, criminal activities. But he's interested in the other people here, and in possibly forming some alliances with them. Or at least getting to know them. It's useful.

So he smiles.]

Hey. You live here too, I guess?

[He pauses before adding:]

Ah, sorry, I don't mean to interrupt you.

[ura_no_ura]

[ Kakashi had heard the footsteps in the stairway and the door opening and shutting, but hadn't bothered to check who made their way up there. Judging by the chakra, he had known it wasn't one of the ninja, Erwin, or Levi.

He gives the new voice a sidelong glance, then sits up.

This guy doesn't look too familiar. Given the recent wave of arrivals, he could be a New Feather, or just someone Kakashi hasn't met before who recently moved into Flame Building. ]

Mmm, it's fine. [ Said as he waves off the interruption. ] I'm Kakashi. I live on the eighth floor.