action;

[ironrose]

( A woman sits by the bay, fingers toying with her newly acquired box of goodies. She looks wet, like she might have been one of the less fortunate new arrivals to fall face first into the water. Upon approach however, the smell of the ocean is overwhelmingly strong, as if she'd recently been for a dunk in a saltier sea than this.

As is usual with most new arrivals, she seems confused by the odd situation she's been suddenly thrust into. She also looks sort of... dazed? Like she's hit her head too hard. It's not hard to spot, even under the large hat she wears, or the flood of dark, wavy curls upon her head; the trickles of blood along her cheeks and temple.

Eventually she moves, though not without a groan and quiet curse under her breath. Not really paying attention, chances of knocking into someone's shoulder on the way through is more than possible. A muttered apology comes, but unless directly engaged there isn't much more than that. )

Comments

[mysteryhero]

[The person she bumps into is a man wearing what might appear to an elaborate cosplay of a superhero, complete with burgundy cape and a gold chestplate that lights up from within. He holds his hands out automatically to steady her.]

Hey, hey... Are you alright?

[He notices the blood.]

You're hurt.

[ironrose]

( Jade instinctively raises a hand to bat his away, stopping just before making contact. A pause, dark eyes shifting to appraise the man. What in the hell is he wearing? Such a stark contrast to her worn, sun-bleached leathers, she can't help but wince a little at the brightness of it. )

Just bumped my head. ( A wave of her hand, dismissive. ) I need a - heh. ( A laugh. She needs a lot of things right now. ) I just need to find a place to rest. Got my key already or ...whatever.

[mysteryhero]

So you've just got here... I've only been here for a few days myself.

[And they've already been quite eventful - at least on a personal level.]

What does it say on your key? There should be an address. I can help you find it and then you can rest.

[He's actually not familiar enough with the place yet to know where any hospitals or doctors may be located but maybe she's not too badly hurt.]

[ironrose]

Yeah, I guess. Where's here? ( Her eyes dart around again, the pupils dilated and the lids only half open. She skipped the hologram introduction, apparently.

A glance down to her key. ) Fourteen. Commonspace.

[mysteryhero]

Commonspace. I believe that's not far from here.

Can you walk alright?

[ironrose]

( A pause, considering. ) Guess we'll find out, won't we?

( she has so many questions, but her head hurts so bad and it's so fucking bright she can barely see or think straight. The man beside her is nice - too nice, she thinks, silently wondering what his end game is once they reach this commonspace. She can feel her daggers on her belt, and she hopes if push comes to shove she'll be quick enough to use them.

For now though, he seems harmless, and suspicious or not she knows when to accept help. ) After you.

[mysteryhero]

Oh, I think we should go side by side.

[The suggestion may also seem suspicious but he has an excuse for it.]

All the better to keep an eye on your condition.

[It sounds gracious, the way he says it.]

[ironrose]

( Not the answer she hoped for, but she's not in a position to decline. She'll hedge her bets for now - what's the worst he can do on a crowded street anyway? Nothing worse than she could. )

...alright. ( she steps to his side, that smell of salt still staining the air around her. )

[mysteryhero]

[She may be surprised at exactly what he could do but right now his only goal was to gallantly help her to her apartment. Like a good hero would.]

What's your name?

[Small talk. Introductions. Could keep her alert, if nothing else, as they move forward.]

[ironrose]

Jade. ( She leaves out her titles, or any indication of her identity besides the first name. It's a waste of breath and could turn this situation sour if he's even remotely familiar with her or the world she hails from. )

You?

[mysteryhero]

I'm called Mysterio.

[Implying that wasn't his actual name but he's been using it for most introductions so far. They both have their mysteries.]

[ironrose]

( She laughs and promptly feels a shock of pain through her skull in doing so. Worth it. )

Alright then. Mysterio it is. ( she's heard weirder, she supposed. ) How did we - where the hell are we anyway?

[mysteryhero]

[He frowns a little at the laughter but then explains in answer to her question.]

The place we arrive in is called the Bay, which leads to the central city of Genessia. There are archways to other cities attached to this one and somehow the pendent you should also have been given will allow you that access.

[The information is fresh in his mind, having only recently been told that himself.]

[light_of_willpower]

[Oh the smell of blood under the water is clear, even if it weren't visible. Being knocked into, Trunks heard the apology but turned his head to follow the other. And reached out just enough to carefully tap their upper arm while speaking.]

Hey, you alright? What happened?

[No anger, just honest concern in his tone and expression and posture.]

[ironrose]

( Jade turns quickly, the motion causing her already swimmy head to spin. A hand sets on her hip, fingers grazing a dagger like she's ready to pull it. She doesn't, not yet, but instinct is hard to stop. )

Hit my head before - before... ( a vague wave of her hand, encompassing. Before she got here. ) before my grand entrance here, that's all.

[light_of_willpower]

[The defensive reaction is part of why Trunks hadn't done more than just tap her upper-arm. A way of getting attention while hopefully not threatening. Not that he was that worried about a dagger, but getting into a fight with an injured person would NOT help them.

He nods though, and makes sure to keep his posture still not-threatening. Hands where she could see 'em and slow but obvious movements. ]

Got it. Wariness of strangers aside, do you want help getting it looked at and cleaned at least? There's a lot to process going on, even when you're not injured.

[ironrose]

( Smart. Luckily, even through hazy vision she can tell he's not being outright aggressive, so she in turn slowly lets her hand drop back down to rest at her side. If need be she can reach for her weapon again, but... hopefully she won't have to. )

Is there a barber in town or something? ( Sorry she's from medieval fantasy world, barbers are the best they got so far as medical professionals are concerned. She doesn't even bother to assume a magic user is around to help either. )

[light_of_willpower]

[He's used to dealing with aggressive people. Most of whom are part of his family, no less. Her question brings a blink from him, trying to figure out why she'd want a barber. Only for a moment though, before he gets it.]

We can do better than a barber. I need you to trust me though.

[He's aware it's asking a lot.]

What do you remember, about arriving here?

[ironrose]

( It's her turn to look confused. Better than a barber? Maybe a Mender. Honestly though, she'd take a sketchy guy in a back alley with some gauze and a bottle of booze. )

Alright. ( She doesn't have much choice and he seems... genuine enough? She can't get a real read on him, not with her head as fucked up as it is. )

Uh. Woke up in a weird cocoon thing, got a box of shit, wandered out into the city. If anything happened between then and now... I don't remember.

[light_of_willpower]

Alright, that makes it a bit harder, since you don't remember. Let's find a place where you can sit, and I can look at that wound?

[Not much he can do now to fill in the gaps, but he'll manage.]

Are you okay to walk, or do you want me to support you?

[Asking her, because he'd noticed her wariness. Much like how he kept making sure he was coming of as 'not a threat' as much as possible. He wasn't, fortunately, intending to be a threat at all to her or anyone else without good reason.]

[ironrose]

( She nods and almost immediately regrets doing so. A hand raises to press against her temple, hoping to momentarily relieve the throbbing pain in her skull. )

Yeah, yeah I can walk. Just ...lead the way I guess.( she motions vaguely with her free hand, sighing through her nose in annoyance. Not at him, but more at the situation in general. )

[light_of_willpower]

Alright, although if you start to wobble, just reach out. I'm sturdier than I look, and it won't be the first time I've helped someone wounded.

[Something he'd gotten far too good at, honestly.]

I'll try to explain some of what's going on, too, alright? To start with, my name's Trunks. Like you, I woke up here suddenly in the weird cocoon thing. I've been here about a year and a half, and you're not the first or the last new arrival. No, I don't know who brought us here--no one really seems to. We also don't know how to go back to where we came from.

[No need to correct her perceptions yet. Keeping his pace easy along with half of his attention on her. Watching the street as they moved and--there. A shady spot with some green in a tiny park next to some buildings. With a bench--perfect.]

[ironrose]

( She smirks a little at that, amused. ) I'll make sure to fall in your direction if I start to tip. ( said only partially in jest. Better landing on him than smacking her head again. Helps that he's kind of cute, too.

Distracted briefly by her pounding head and her own seemingly disjointed thoughts, Jade only barely hears the beginning of his explanation. Not that it matters much, it doesn't make a lick of sense to her regardless. )

Jade. ( she manages after a few seconds of reeling from all she's suddenly forced to process. ) Names Jade. And all of that sounds really really fucked up.

( she beelines for that bench, and we soon as she's within range she's flipping onto it happily. After a few seconds she removes her hat, revealing the mess of dark curls on her head. A good portion seems stained with crusted blood, matting it to her face. ) You've really been here over a year? God's.

[light_of_willpower]

Circumstances aside, it's nice to meet you Jade.

[With good humor in the tone and a hint of smile, acknowledging the strangeness of it all. As long as she's able to flop on the bench mostly upright, he'll take it. Reaching into his pocket and pulling out a small plastic case that fits in his palm.]

Unfortunately. I've known people who've been here longer, and some who've been here less. I've seen people vanish, and come back too, with no memory of being here before.

[Like his father. His mother had been here about a year and a half, or had it been longer, when Trunks had arrived? Vegeta'd been here twice and had no memory, the second time, of being here before.]

Your assessment isn't wrong though, about how it all sounds. Sadly, it's the truth.

[Finding the capsule he wants, it's pulled out and the case placed back in a pocket as he turns to Jade.]

This is going to be loud and there'll be some smoke. I promise it's safe though.

[Then depressing the button on top, and tossing the capsule out a bit into the clear space. While it's in the air, there is a 'hoipoi' sound and some smoke, and the sound of a box impacting the ground. A storage crate seen when the smoke clears, with a giant red upright X on it.]

[ironrose]

Circumstances are hardly ever ideal, but likewise. ( if she were being honest, this might be the smoothest and least odd introduction she's had in years. Says a lot about the chaos of her life.

Jade just takes a moment to take in everything he said. From his explanation earlier, the reasoning behind all of this seems to be lacking. She doesn't bother asking any more questions for the time being - save it for when her head hurts less.

The only bad part about the capsules reveal is the sudden sounds. Trunk's warning at least prepared her for the smoke, so she's only vaguely startled. She can't help the pain that surges from any loud or surprising noises though. )

...I'm not going to even ask how that works.