genessia | 001 // Video

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001 // Video

[The feed opens not onto someone's face, but onto a view of one of the typical Genessia Commonspace rooms - and while this is the sort of thing that might happen by accident, the way the feed gives such a clear view suggests that this is deliberate.

Because, of course, it is. Just as deliberate as the forced calm in the voice that speaks: male register, adult-seeming if on the younger side and cool enough to ice a whole room even in the midst of summer. Someone is not pleased, but is at least not about to throw a tantrum over it.]

Might I ask who it was who decided that such...accommodation, loathe as I am to even call it that, would be a suitable offering to those of higher standing? Is it not enough that we are torn away in the middle of something actually quite important, that we are then to be faced with this insult of a gesture? I understand a need for incentive, to ensure that we do not remain reliant on whomever it was that brought us here, but surely the notion of homelessness after a time would be enough.

Not that I plan to be here any longer than is necessary, of course. But a little hospitality goes a long way towards improving one's mood, and I hardly think this can be truly classed as hospitality.

[No, he's not about to show himself or introduce himself in any way. That'll come later, once he has a handle on the situation.

And speaking of that, because of course he's already searched the network for any record of the other Hosts:]

Private voice to Kaoru Hitachiin and Haruhi Fujioka.

Would either of you care to explain what, exactly, is going on here? And I don't mean regurgitation of that hologram. What are they not telling us?

[He's happy he's not the only one here, really. This is just how he shows it.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Ah so this is part of public service? I'm glad to see someone, at least, takes their role seriously.

[It's a promising indicator of one of the cities, at least, though he doesn't know enough about any of them yet to be able to say anything more.]

I have a temporary solution in the making, at least. Fortunately, I am not the only one I know around here.

[Not that he plans to outstay his welcome but if Kaoru's here, it makes sense to stay with him for now.]

[Yang grins. She has a feeling he's going to be...less than pleased once he meets Nova City's primary Guardian. Still, Gale's a good guy. They'll get along sooner or later.]

Glad to hear it! That definitely helps.

[She nods once.]

All right, give me a call once you're ready, and I'll swing by to pick you up. Sound good?

All right. Though if there are any times that would be less than ideal, please do let me know. I would not wish to disturb you at an inconvenient moment.

[Because he knows exactly how well he'd take it.]

Awwww, that's so thoughtful! Thanks, Kyoya.

[It's a pretty stark difference from how things first started. She has a feeling it's going to be a lot of fun getting to know him better.]

I'll do that. Good luck!

[Cue a day or so later, Yang will receive a text message reminding her of the discussion and asking after a convenient time for her to show him around Nova City because if he has business there anyway he might as well combine two birds with one stone.]

[She smiles when she gets the text. Polite and perfect, just like she expected. Maybe moreso! She responds with a suggested time as well as a request for his address.]

[When the time comes, there's a tell-tale roar of a motorcycle approaching fast. She rolls up on the custom motorbike that Smoker made for her, which she hand painted with her signature colors of yellow and black. Pulling up to the curb, she lets the engine idle as she sits back on the seat with a creak of leather.]

Yo~!

[Flicking her shades down, Yang grins at her passenger and holds out a second helmet for him.]

Ever ride a motorcycle before?

[Even for as helpful as she's being, Kyoya opts to suggest a more neutral meeting spot, citing a desire not to want to disrupt Kaoru or his roommate - even as it's almost a certainty that Kyoya is last of them all to rise. It's not that he doesn't trust her, specifically but a little caution still never hurts.

A neutral space also allows him time to observe a little more of the comings and goings around here, at least until the engine roar catches his attention and somehow he's not entirely surprised, even if he hadn't expected it, exactly. More that he knows better than to rule anything out at this early stage.

The question earns a quirk of a smile as he accepts the offered helmet. He's a little more uncertain about this than he's letting on, but not so much so as to feel a need to decline even if he's also somewhat dodging the question.]

I trust you, at least, must have some experience of riding with a passenger. Interested as I am in this place, I have no desire for first-hand experience with the healthcare system just yet.

[And that's what matters, ultimately, as far as he's concerned.]

[It may not be a direct answer, but Yang gets the hint.]

You're in good hands. I'll keep you safe.

[She winks before lowering the shades and gripping the handlebars firmly. She'll wait patiently until he's settled. Kyoya is free to hold onto her shoulders or put his arms around her waist. So long as he's got a good grip!]

Hold tight, okay?

[Yang pushes off with her boot and guides the motorcycle back into traffic. This isn't the first time she's taken a newbie out for a ride, and she takes the turns nice and slow so as not to scare him. She won't go wild...unless, of course, he asks her too.]

[Unfortunately, he still has to put up with that mane of thick blonde hair slapping him in the face as they ride. She might be accustomed to taking passengers, but it's been a while, and she forgot about that particular annoyance.]

[Through the gate they go, into the high-tech world of Nova City with every sci-fi cliché there is. Aliens mingle with humans in gleaming bodysuits, riding the moving sidewalks or piloting flying cars. There are a few hover vehicles that remain on the street and Yang joins them. When they arrive at last at the planetarium, Yang pulls over to the curb and kicks the stand down before killing the engine. She takes off her helmet and shakes her head, then grins back at Kyoya.]

Not too rough for you, was it?

I'll hold you to that.

[It's spoken pleasantly but it's also not a joke. Still, for now he settles with a firm grip on her shoulders - anything more feels inappropriate for someone he's just met - and braces himself for the experience.

He can't say it's entirely unpleasant. But that isn't to say he doesn't think he'd enjoy the experience rather more without his vision obscured with a faceful of hair. He does manage the odd glimpse here and there of a city far beyond even anything the Ootori empire has yet managed, but it's only when they stop and he's able to dismount and distance himself from the hair wall that he can truly appreciate just what he's dealing with.

It's innovation beyond what he could ever imagine. But he can only take that as a challenge.

His attention returns to Yang at the question, his expression on the edge of a smile that nonetheless won't stop him from being entirely honest.]

The journey was fine, though I expect I might have enjoyed it more without the constant distraction of your hair. But I suppose that's something easy to forget if you don't normally carry passengers.

[Polite, but still with a hint of suggesting that he'd be less forgiving a second time.]

[Yang hangs her helmet on the handlebar, a glint of mischief on her face that changes to surprise, then softens into something a little nostalgic as she pulls some of her hair over her shoulder. Right... She'll have to use one of those ribbons she was collecting.]

Whoops. Forgot about that. Remind me to pick something up while we're out.

[She rises to her feet and pivots, unstraddling the motorcycle, and pocketing her keys.]

Want to check out the planetarium? It's not too far from here.

Hmm? I'm surprised you don't carry something already.

[Not because of the motorcycle, necessarily. That, she can apparently handle without her hair getting in her way. But he has to think that it might make other things more difficult if hair is getting in the way all the time - not that he'd know, and it's not a conversation he's ever had with his sister, but even so.

It's a fleeting comment, though - it's hardly his concern how she chooses to do things, where it doesn't impact on him, and if this is part of the tour then he can't say he minds so much.]

I suppose it won't hurt to take a brief look. Can I assume it is one of the more popular attractions here?

What can I say? I like how the wind feels when I ride.

[Yang winks, stopping at the lift that carries them up to the skybridge so they can safely cross the street.]

There are other places we can visit too, depending on your interests. Arcades, cafes, the beach, a museum, a casino, the holodecks...

[She counts them off on her fingers.]

...a couple of gardens, a resort... We'd need an extra day or two to check out everything, but there are some brochures at the planetarium you can look over.

[Yang rests her hands on her hips with a grin, letting the bridge carry them along.]

What sorts of things are you typically interested in? I'm guessing you're not the type of guy who'd go to the monster hovertruck rally, so we can skip that.

[Without anything obscuring his vision, Kyoya's able to take a more thorough look at where they are, at the structures incorporated that would seem a far-flung dream except that they're right in front of him. Some of it rooted in what he knows, much of it seemingly torn right from the pages of fiction and all of it very much directed to facing forward and demonstrating the full extent of progress made here.

He offers a bland smile at the mention of monster trucks - hover or otherwise - as he considers the question before him.]

It seems they cater to all tastes here, at least. As to be expected for such a vast city. Though I imagine it will be some time before I can fully avail myself of any of it. Frittering away a stipend does not strike me as the wisest move I could make.

[Not that he minds seeing what's on offer, but he's going to need his full financial prowess to ensure he can survive here, without anything but his own work to fund whatever he might need.]

That's not really what I asked~

[They're coming to the edge of the walk, so Yang's arms drop back to her sides as she steps off and moves to the lift.]

I've got you covered for the day, so don't worry about the cost involved. Let's just focus on having a good time for now!

[The doors to the planetarium slide open with a little 'whoosh!' as they approach. Once they're inside the air-conditioned building, Yang grins back at him over her shoulder.]

Admission to this part is free anyway. Come on, you won't be putting me out any.

[She waves him over to the tourist section near the information desk, where other establishments have placed their shiny leaflets and brochures for anyone to pick up and keep. Yang moves to the side and folds her arms, resting against the wall to see what Kyoya investigates of his own volition.]

Oh no, I couldn't possibly impose so much on someone I've only just met.

[He's playing it off as humility, but practically he just doesn't want to find himself too indebted to anyone at this early stage of his being here. Even if it will eventually no longer matter, it matters now and that is what he must focus on.

Still, he follows into the main lobby of the Planetarium, still taking in as much as he reasonably can for how much he's already having to process today. Even for him, there's a lot that's new and will need time to come to understand but he'll at least humour her in browsing the information stands.

Not necessarily for leisure, although there are a couple of cafes that catch his interest all the same - he has to eat, and though he won't admit it now he's going to be reliant on other means until he can get a better handle on cooking for himself. The casino brochure also catches his eye, though as he flicks through he doesn't linger on the actual gambling attractions. He's more interested in the structure of the business, honestly, though it's not an industry he knows well.

He's about to address Yang once more - no sense in keeping her time tied up when he'd quite happily spend the afternoon here learning about the different businesses and attractions of this city - when a loud ruckus from outside the building catches his attention. From where he stands now, the information racks obscure his vision slightly but his ears work just fine and either the participants are exceptionally loud or this incident is closer than he might reasonably like.

He does look to Yang, then, though his expression is more query - can she see anything more than he can and is it about time for them to make a sly exit?]

I'm pretty sure you called it a 'service' earlier. If you're that worried about it though, just owe me a favor in the future once you get established. Until then, seriously, it's no sweat. I make pretty good bank with my--

[She breaks off at the sound of something exploding and the following sound of screaming and panicked citizens. Yang's face is serious just for a moment before she's strolling toward the doors.]

In fact, how about I cash in that favor now? Keep people from going outside, I don't want them getting caught in the crossfire.

[Her left fist closes as a series of hard, yellow plates snap and click into place to form a gauntlet from wrist to elbow. Her metal right arm doens't change much, but there's still a small whir of gears as a gun barrel clicks into place on the back of her wrist. Yang's steps are quick as she moves to the door, but she doesn't start running until she's outside. The last thing she wants is to start a panic inside the planetarium.]

[Once she's got some speed built up and her target in sight...a hijacked police hovercar from the looks of it that's banging into other cars and sending them spinning wildly toward the street and into buildings...she thrusts her arms behind her and double fires both gauntlet and arm gun to propel her skyward. People are turning to watch, even wandering closer to the street for a better look at their deputy guardian in action.]

[Kyoya won't be able to see much since she's taking the fight to the zooming car. Will he stay where he is and follow through on that favor, or will curiosity get the best of him?]

[Kyoya won't deny a certain degree of curiosity as he notes the transformations Yang undergoes before she heads out - nothing major, but still something he isn't accustomed to. Still, he has no interest in getting caught up in whatever it is that might be going on out there - he doesn't get his hands dirty even when dealing with regular humans and he's getting the distinct impression that those are going to be the least of his concerns here.

Of course, that isn't to say he's going to just jump to someone else's command either. He does scout out someone who might work for the planetarium's security team - who, as it turns out, already seems aware that something is going on and is moving towards the doorways. Which is what Kyoya would expect, really - it's their job to protect their customers, not his.

And so with that all in hand, Kyoya simply returns to the information stand to continue his browsing, relaxing somewhat now that he doesn't have to concern himself with another's presence and the potential interruption to his reading.]

[About ten minutes later, Yang returns. It was a longer walk back due to the wild careening of the stolen vehicle, but the cops have the criminals in custody and are taking them to space prison.]

[There's not much difference in Yang's appearance, save that her gauntlet is deactivated and she smells slightly of gunpowder and fire smoke. ...Geez, he's completely unruffled. And he wasn't playing security, so she's going to say he still owes her a favor.]

Find anything good?

It's hard to say based on reading materials alone, but I've certainly found plenty to think about.

[He doesn't seem at all apologetic that he hasn't involved himself in whatever was going on. He isn't going to place himself in a situation where he'd only be in the way, not when there are better uses of his time right in front of him and staff paid to do the job that was needed.

He looks up, then, nose wrinkling at the hint of smoke.]

I take it everything is under control, now?

[Yang makes sure to stand closer than normal. :D Breathe it in, Kyoya!]

Yup. We're good.

[Details schmetails, she gets the impression he wasn't all that interested and is asking only for the sake of small talk. Otherwise he wouldn't be calmly picking out brochures.]

Do you want to check out the next star show, or head somewhere else?

[Kyoya very unsubtly makes sure to keep a degree of distance between them. There's being polite and then there's tolerating someone he barely knows in his personal space and the latter just isn't happening.]

I suppose that wouldn't hurt. Either way, I've seen all I need to down here.

[As to the rest, he figures she simply can't tell him for some protocol reason. And since it doesn't impact on him, he doesn't see a reason to push for details he might not be entitled to.

If it did impact on him, that wouldn't stop him. But that's not the case this time.]

[It's her job to make sure things like that don't impact innocent bystanders and also Kyoya. Watching him shift away is pretty funny, but she doesn't push it any further than that. Eventually the smoke scent will wear off, especially as her aura recovers.]

Sounds good! I've always wanted to catch one of these shows anyway. Gotta be strange to see the patterns of the stars and know it doesn't match the ones you're used to.

[She strides up to the counter and pushes some bills across.]

Two for the star show.

'Here you go, lovebirds!'

[The lady smiles beatifically. Yang doesn't bat a lash, and neither corrects her nor acts on it. She just grins and picks up the tickets, passing one to her 'lovebird.']

Shall we?

[Even as he's only really here out of a combination of politeness and mild curiosity, Kyoya might have found something to say to Yang's supposition had it not been so quickly followed by a naive ticket-seller's misconception and a clear lack of intent on Yang's part of correcting her.

There is only so much he will put up with for the sake of politeness. And not even the political advantages, whatever those might even be, are not enough for him to hold his tongue.

And so he steps back, arms folded as he regards Yang with a certain degree more of suspicion than he's shown before. When he speaks, there's a hint of ice to his tone - he's not bringing the full weight of his coldness to bear but there's no room to doubt that he's starting to see this in a different light, or at least with the potential to do so.]

Not just yet. For now I'm rather more interested as to why you have not seen fit to correct the misguided assumptions of this young woman here. A little presumptuous for a first meeting, no?

[When he speaks of the ticket-seller, his tone is less of a malicious misunderstanding and more of an idiot who ought to learn to hold her tongue when dealing with customers. That much, he's used to but he's more interested in exactly why Yang has seemingly not reacted and he will have no part in any scheme involving him which he has not had any input into.]

[Pretty cold! But it'll take a lot more than that to freeze the sunny side of Yang's nature. So while there's surprise on her face at his sudden protest, she can't really make herself stop grinning. When he finishes, she just shakes her head.]

You have no idea how much I want to tease you right now.

[Arms folded, she shifts her weight to the other hip with a bemused tilt of her head.]

Loosen up a little, huh? She didn't mean anything by it. I thought it was funny and a little endearing, so yeah, didn't bother me enough to make a big deal out of it. I'll let her know about the mistake.

[Such a fussy little guy! Yang saunters back to the counter, explaining the situation and jutting a thumb over her shoulder. The ticket seller's mouth opens as mortification washes over her pale face, resulting in Yang holding up her hands to stem the tide of apologies. A couple of embarrassed bows later, Yang returns.]

Better?

[That icy look only sharpens as she mentions the desire to tease him, just in case she weren't already aware of just how bad an idea that would be. Frankly, the list of people who are allowed to tease him is incredibly finite, limited largely to family and the Host Club - and even then, he has his limits.

Influential, Yang may prove to be but she is still a stranger. And with Kyoya still a little on edge about the situation overall - he never has been good with situations he doesn't have control over and this is leagues above anything he's dealt with before - it's only natural to him that he might not have the patience for dealing with anything that reminds him of just what he has to contend with here.

He doesn't respond to her comment about loosening up, simply watches as she goes back to the ticket seller. Who at least has the grace to realise, it seems, just why she shouldn't make assumptions about the people who pass through. It smooths over his frayed nerves just a little, enough that he will at least see this through if only to not waste what has already been spent.]

I suppose that's the best I can ask for, for now. Though perhaps a little training in reading body language wouldn't go amiss for these people.

[Yes, he's making a mental note to mention that to management at some point. In the meantime, he's striding ahead without really waiting for Yang - he has little doubt that she'll follow and the sooner he can get through this, the sooner he can make his excuses to find some time to himself and to process all of what he's seen and heard and plan for how exactly he's going to tackle this being dumped in a whole new world where he has to start from near nothing.]

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