1st fire = it don't come easy, the road of the gypsy

[hellorhighwater]

[ACTION;Genessia City]

[He's an idiosyncratic sight, the man stalking through the city streets looking like something out of a strangely futuristic fairy tale: the high leather boots, gleaming mail armor bearing a coat of arms depicting a full moon branded by the figure of a dragon, short sword at his hip, and gauntlets he wears give him the look of some kind of medieval soldier or knight.

The look of him is too sleek, however: the mail he wears is a snug fit, shimmering in the light but seemingly little more than fabric, covering him from neck to waist with his arms left bare. The boots and gauntlets are heavy leather, but make no sound as he moves--and carry a strange pattern, something like scales but not.

And despite the fact that he was visibly on his guard, scanning his surroundings at regular intervals, every sense on high alert...he's visibly comfortable with his surroundings. He navigates the streets with ease, minding street lights, hugging buildings to make faster turns around corners--he's clearly seen a modern type of city before. He's lived on streets like these, he's walked a world very similar to this one.

It's been a while--decades--but Neil Blair still remembers his way around a city. It's not Nocturne, it's not the five realms, and it's not New York. But it's still a mostly known quantity.

He's going to feel a lot better once he has a lay of the land--and finds a place to gather some spell ingredients.]

[VIDEO;public]

[The moment the feed comes to life, the moment of transition is brief--a handsome face with dark coloring frowning in confusion at the smart phone in his hand before he confirms he's life and refocuses on the camera. His expression is...well, angry is the nicest way to describe it.]

Uh--hey. I'm--

[The words are on his lips. Black Fire of Nocturne, the title he uses at court, but this isn't the five realms. This is...another world, and nobody knows him here.

The anger in his face dies for just a second, replaced by something like hope before his features turn guarded.]

--I'm...Neil. New here--uh, I was just curious about what people do for work around here? Y'know, what and where. These temporary bunks are okay but I wanna get a job and get out of here...so recommendations on housing would also be good. I know there's a few places to go, what's your input?

Thanks in advance.

Comments

Video

[clevermind]

What is it that you like to do?

[Belle is sitting at a desk, her long light brown hair braided over one shoulder. She has a few books spread across her desk and a paper and pencil in front of her. She'd been working but she likes to take the time to help others when she can.]

For example, I love books and learning. So I became a literary teacher at Altteton University.

There are many different types of jobs in Genessia.

Video

[hellorhighwater]

Well, uh...to be honest, there's a big divide between what I like to do and what I'm good at.

[Truthfully, books are a thing. He was trained harshly, but every plateau in his training that the Night Dragon fought to push him through, he always educated himself beyond it rather than using force.

But study couldn't replace a sword in combat.]

Back home I was, uh...a military man, to put it nicely. I'm good in a fight--probably the only real gift I got. Besides magic, I mean, but I put it to best use the same way.

Video

[clevermind]

Well, this is a pretty good place to try out the things that you like to do.

[She'd never have the chance to become a teacher back in her home town. Women weren't exactly revered for their intelligence or their abilities to hold a paying position. They were expected to stay home with children and get married.]

There are jobs here that involve fighting. If you'd feel more comfortable doing that. There are positions at the police forces and I know there are bounty boards as well.

[Belle thinks he should try something new.]

Re: Video

[hellorhighwater]

[He perks at the mention of bounties.] What I did back home was pretty similar to bounty hunting.

[Except he was rewarded for the 'dead' part, not the alive.]

But--police, that's--I remember law enforcement. From when I was a kid... back then, I was bad at following orders. I've gotten better at it, though.

[He smirks, shaking his head.]

Sorta, anyway.

Video

[clevermind]

I've never been good at taking orders myself.

[She smiles just a little bit.]

I've been told that takes practice but it's never a skill I've mastered. If you'd like to give it a try, everyone I've met here has been pleasant. I'm sure they'll talk to you about the position as well.

Or you can learn something new. A lot of places are willing to teach those who have arrived at entry level positions since we don't exactly have a way to prove our proficiency.

[fondofapples]

[ For the second time in as many days, Regina is scrolling through the network videos. Today, she isn't in the midst of a self-pity party. No. Today she is aggressively scrolling through videos for faces she might recognize, collecting up people she knows to put into her contacts.

This place. This place is one she can work with. This place has the kind of energy she knows and remembers.

This...

She hits record without realizing she's doing it and the word simply falls out of her mouth. ]

You.

[hellorhighwater]

[Neil blinks at the face on the network--already a problem 'cause she's gorgeous, at least the Night Dragon would call her a problem--because she recognizes him. Seems to, at any rate.

She's definitely got the look of a dragon, that fire and intelligence in her eyes. Question is, which of the realms? He knew all the nobles of Nocturne, the dragons of Lora were fair, as were most of the dragons of Torrel...

Most likely bet was that she was a noble of the Opal Sea. He couldn't get near the Triton dragons unless they came up for air, which wasn't often...but the rumors still spread, and the bad blood between the Triton and Nocturne could fill an ocean of its own.]

Whatever you think you know of me, Lady Triton, you can forget. I'm not gonna cause any trouble, all right?

[fondofapples]

Lady who?

[ Regina blinks and has to back up her thoughts to figure out what just happened. Which she does while she's looking him over and appreciating how he looks in that sleek, form-fitting armor, and those arms.

All right, so he doesn't recognize her and he's wearing actual mail and weapons. Maybe he's not the Dark Dodge dragon mage who needed her help to find carnations, but a different version.

She sighs, slips her hair back over her shoulder and a lizard scampers up her arm. ]

It's Your Majesty Queen of the Enchanted Forest Regina, if you're looking for a proper title.

[hellorhighwater]

Your Majesty Queen of--

[Neil blinks, then shakes his head with a huff.]

I forgot how long titles get outside the realms. [Regarding the woman again, he looks vaguely sheepish.] Sorry, just--mistook you for a Triton royal.

[And she's cleary not from his world, so he probably should clarify. Clearing his throat, he tries again.]

Denizens of the Opal Sea--water dragons. Anyway, uh...sorry 'bout that.

[A beat.]

Your Majesty.

[More to remember. Majesty, not 'Great Dragon,' that's going to take some getting used to...crap.]

[fondofapples]

[ Regina has a moment that could be scripted clear out of the Office. She turns her head to look at the lizard-cum-dragon-cum-witch sitting on her shoulder as though she's looking at an audience. Her eyebrows lift, her mouth quirks, and then she's back in real people time, stifling a smirk. ]

"I mistook you for dragon nobility" is easily the most interesting excuse I've heard lately.

[ Although she's tempted to see how long she can get him to call her 'Majesty', she dismisses it with a flick of elegant fingers. ]

I'm no more a queen here than you are a knight, dragon mage. Regina will do. I don't believe you ever got around to telling me your name, last time we met. Just the entire history of the realms and the elements you needed for some spell or other.

action:

[thefirething]

There's a small, angry child yelling at someone on the street. Someone who is holding tight to her backpack and refusing to let go, despite the blonde girl's threats and shouts and kicks at the persons legs. It's an attempted theft in progress, and the blonde girl looks to be losing.

Until one well placed kick connects with an ankle and her attempted mugger lets go, stumbling backwards and running off, followed by loud swearing. Very loud and colorful swearing.

"Yeah, you better goddamn run, you pathetic asshole! Let me see your face again! See how long you keep it, you shit!"

When the attempted mugger is gone, Charlie turns and heads to a nearby bench, setting herself and the backpack down and checking it over thoroughly.

It's an old backpack, tired and patched together. How it survived the tug-of-war between the girl and that asshole, it's only information the Gods have. And how the girl, a mere waif of a thing who looks like she could use a good meal or two, managed to win that fight is also only known by the Gods, but she did. And while she should feel good about her situation, she's still angry. So anyone walking nearby might either catch it on the look on her face, or maybe pick up on the fact that the air around her is slightly warmer, a faint shimmer or waver as if a fire may or may not start.

Charlie's hoping not. Boy, is she hoping not. Once her bag has been checked, Charlie lets herself slump backwards on the bench with a sigh, eyes closed and breathing kept even until the temperature change around her is gone. The air feels normal. No fires today.

[ ooc: mugger is an NPC. ]

action:

[hellorhighwater]

Just before the temperature is completely even again, a voice rings out behind her.

"You can turn the fire inward, you know. With a little effort."

If she turns around, she'll find a broad, armed soldier with a hand outstretched--not glowing, but sparks are definitely leaping from his fingertips, and wink out with a hiss of smoke as he closes abruptly closes his fist.

"Short cut I taught myself when I was a kid." Neil explained, flexing his fingers and circling around to sit next to her on the bench. "Before I knew what I could do, I mean. Knowing anatomy's all it takes...a little extra heat in the muscles can keep you loose in a fight."

Re: action:

[thefirething]

Charlie jumps at the voice, instinctively clutching her backpack close as if it's the only thing in the world that she owns. Or maybe it holds everything she owns in it. It's probably the latter.

Turning to shoot the man a glare for this bullshit, she's thrown from her annoyance by the sparks. And the attire. Still, she can't help but eye him with wariness.

This kid here? This is a kid whose life hasn't ever once been easy. At least, not for very long.

"I've done that. Not to help in a fight, though." To stay warm when she has to sleep outside and it's cold as fuck out.

Re: action:

[hellorhighwater]

"Let me guess: body heat? Sleeping on the street?" Neil asked, unconsciously echoing her thoughts. "Or waiting on a corner? I did that a time or two--the street corner, I mean."

Extending his hand, palm up, Neil concentrated. A small spot in the air began to turn red, then white...gradually, a tiny flame came to live, hovering over his palm. Unlike most fire, however, this flame had a brilliant white core, and moved like something with substance--silk or viscose, sparks flying from the edges of the flame.

"That got tricky sometimes, though--it's not deep enough." he went on, slowly contracting his fingers until the flame was trapped in his fist. "Burned some bedding that way when the group home got too cold at night."

Opening his hand, a jet black stone sat in his palm, something bright and scarlet dancing in its center.

"Eye of the Ember--that's what it's called where I'm from." he explained, shifting his grip on the stone to offer it to her. "Condensed essence of dragon fire, eats elemental flame for breakfast. Literally: crush it in your hand if you get out of control and it'll absorb the heat."

HELL YES SETH FREAKIN' ROLLINS XD, video

[hellorhighwater]

Finding a place to live? Or work? I mean, I get it both ways, seriously. But I'll give you a heads up, sure. What's your name?

[Action]

[borntolove]

[You know what he loves about the weekends - is that he can take off - unless he gets forward a pending emergency. Which this evening like other weekend evenings; The Doctor is flying everywhere and finally lands his Tardis late at night - about 11 pm when he finally does land in the park in Genessia and steps outside the Tardis and climbs to sit on top of her and look at the stars.

They're so close and yet so very far away...]

[Action]

[hellorhighwater]

[Neil is crossing the park with his hand on his sword and one fist curled loosely at his side--not in violence, but cradled around a pocket of heat ready to ignite if he needs his fire...

And slows to a stop when the wind picks up.

He would be worried about the approach of a dragon, like the Sky Maker or one of his battalion, if not for the strange grinding, wheezing sound that punctuates the air before a thin outline appears about three feet ahead of him. With every swell of sound, the outline grows clearer, until a large blue structure is in front of him. Out of nothing.

Truthfully, it's not the weirdest thing he's ever seen. What's weird is the guy that suddenly appears on top of it just as Neil is stepping back to take the whole thing in.]

Hey! Uh--'scuse me? [He cranes his neck up to try and catch the man's eye.] What, uh--what is that? This, I mean--this box?

[Action]

[borntolove]

[These stars here - he barely knows them and dreams of the stars he does know but the barrier keeps him from getting to know these stars.

Ten hears the other and smells the other - who smells rather good to be honest with bonfire smell. The very faint smell of blood which is also metallic - which may have something to do with a fight?

Neil will feel when he's this close to the Box that there's a 'hum' that seems to come from inside]

A magic Box.

[Action]

[bigbadrose]

Being rude again!

[Flings the door open recklessly to see the visitor.] Hallo! I'm Rose Tyler, and this is the Doctor. We're trying to see how much of her soul is able to control the random here. Very Arthur Dent, right Doctor?

[Video]

[classicms_smith]

Well, we always need people to help bundle papers and pack them into the trucks at the newspaper office.

[She wrinkles her nose.]

And you look fairly strong and tough all around.

Re: [Video]

[hellorhighwater]

[He frowns thoughtfully at the offer. Sounds like pretty basic stuff...simple, honest, normal work. It's almost as appealing as the idea of something academic, like that girl he talked to before had mentioned.]

Well, I dunno about tough, but I can lift a load. [His upper lip bulges as he chews on his tongue behind closed lips in contemplation, trying to remember the size of the guard he dumped into that hunter's trap last time he had to take shelter in the Silver Wood...]

I can haul at least...two hundred pounds? Maybe two fifty.

Re: [Video]

[classicms_smith]

I'll ask around if you want.

[Two fifty. Well, leave it to boys to know how much they can lift to the exact kilo.]

I don't think it would particularly adventurous but, well! It's something to do in the mean time.

[Video]

[peaceful_shadows]

I find that some of the apartments within Genessia City proper are quite amendable. However, I suppose it really comes up to your preference in scenery.

[Nikola can be seen sitting at a kitchen table within a nice apartment, just sipping coffee out of his mug. Admittedly, it was a rather simple mug that simply read 'Torchwood'... He may have liberated it from work at some point.]

As for work, I find the best course of action to be assessing your own skills and perhaps hobbies and seeing just where they can be put to use.

[light_of_willpower]

[That anger is noted, but not something Trunks is going to worry about yet. Especially since the new arrival calmed down too.]

Well, how recently did you wake up, Mr. Neil? Did you read any of the brochures and listen to the hologram? It's a lot to take in from what I remember--even if you're kind of used to traveling between worlds.

[Which he sort of is? Sort of isn't, too--depends on if alternate timelines count.]

My name's Trunks, and I've been here for about 4 months or so, roughly.