Intro Post

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WHO: Blake Belladona and anyone who wants to run into our new arrival
WHAT: Disoriented, confused and trying to make a game plan. (Sorry RWBY people, she's going to keep her head down until she thinks it's safe to reveal herself because she's Blake. >_>)
WHEN: Late evening, Feb. 14th
WHERE: Fayren,The Drunken Monkey
WARNINGS:N/A

[Blake kicked open the pod she was encased in and wasted no time jumping out, Gambol Shroud at the ready. She tried to stay focused, but with everything she'd been through waking up in a pod in some strange cave was the last thing that her nerves needed. Her hand was shaking on her weapon. Her last memory was of the shame and self-blame for what happened to Yang eating away at her until she had come to a decision.

She had to get as far away from everyone as she could. She knew that Adam had been turning into a monster for some time, but she had never imagined that he hated her this much or that he would go this far. Every one of her friends had a target on their backs so long as he had a score to settle with her. And she couldn't take seeing anyone else hurt because of her. So, she had fled. She had no plan on what to do or where to go. If Adam had become this insane he may already be planning to have her tracked down and there was no way in hell she was letting anyone else get dragged into it this time. She felt a cold stone settle in her stomach as she realized that he might already have found her. She still had no idea of how she had ended up in that pod. Or what town or city she was even in.

*An hour later...

She was still shaken up by seeing Weiss of all people on the video. Her heart had felt a stab of something that almost felt like homesickness and she had to clamp down on her impulse to contact her friend. She almost had, then like a coward, snapped the device shut. She just couldn't face them right now. And besides, who knew who else had been brought here?

And so, she was sitting with a stone necklace on and no plan after grumpily assuring the dubious bartender that she did indeed, really just ask for a pint of milk. She winced as she sipped her drink, a sharp pain reminding her of the parting gift her old comrade in arms had left her with. At least it wasn't bleeding. ]

Comments

[koishi_komeiji]

Oh look! A new person! Koishi had been doing her usual routine near the bay... Which is to say she was goofing off, chasing rabbits and squirrels, and being a general and overall menace to the small animals there.

Of course her chase was abandoned immediately upon sensing someone arrive at the bay. And, to her surprise, someone she'd seen before emerging. She'd heard about things like this happening before but had never actually seen it.

And so, powers cloaking her presence, the little youkai followed Blake for some time, drifting after her, unseen and unnoticed, wherever she may go... until she arrived at... the bar?

A reasonable place to go. But they don't have sake!

Drifting up next to Blade she decided to finally get her attention. Reaching up, she tapped her on the shoulder several times. "Miss? Hello? Can you hear me yet? Can you see me?" It might take several tries... "Hello? My name is Koishi. Hellooo?"

[fade_to_black]

Blake was trying to motivate herself to listen to the conversations around her though all outward appearances suggested she was just looking moodily into space. Bars, taverns, these were the kind of places that she's learned long ago were where you went to pick up information. She never liked to linger long because these places, depending on the standards of the establishment also tended to be rowdy and noisy. Blake preferred quiet. But if she wanted to get her bearings here she knew she had to stop moping and bear it. Besides, the noise drowned out her other thoughts. And her other thoughts weren't rainbows and sunshine right now. Maybe she should get alcohol.

Another thing it drowned out apparently was her ability to sense someone sneaking up on her. She jumped when she felt Koishi's touch and the hairs on her neck and arms shot straight up. She started to grab for Gambol Shroud but she paused halfway when her golden eyes landed on the face of a young girl. Her style of clothing made Blake wonder if this girl was also from Remnant. (Anyway, it would soothe her pride to assume that this girl's Semblance was the reason she'd never even heard footsteps coming her way.) But wasn't she a bit young for a place like this? Well it wasn't like Blake had room to talk.

"Yes, I hear you,"Blake replied curtly, still a bit disgruntled that she had been taken by surprise. She sipped as her drink again trying to cover that she'd nearly jumped out of her skin. "What do you want?" she asked, flatly.

[koishi_komeiji]

Koishi didn't seem to mind Blake's harshness. Instead, she just smiled more, her eyes brightening. Literally A blue sphere the size of a baseball bobbed into view, nudging Blake's arm. It seemed to be a part of the girl, connected by two cords that wound loosely around her body and connected at her ankles.

"I don't want anything miss! My name is Koishi Komeiji. I'm a satori youkai. We're like... spirit-monster-demon things." She smiled sheepishly. "There isn't a good word in this language for it. But that's what I am! And don't be scared! I can't read minds anymore."

She really seemed to like to talk.

"I just wanted to say welcome. You just arrived right? And you're here instead of there, right? That means you're new. And I like saying hi to new people because its scary to be in a new place like this. But I've been here for two winters now so I know this place really well, okay?"

[fade_to_black]

"Sprit...monster...demon things?" Blake repeated, slowly looking dubiously at this girl's shining eyes and nearly Nora-like levels of energy. It most certainly wasn't Remnant if a spirit-monster-demon thing was boldly strolling up to a huntress in training and announcing itself. Oh, and telling them not to be afraid..

But it was a kid. Blake supposed she should humor her. It was a distraction anyway.

"You don't seem scary," she conceded. "Were you sent here by yourself?"

[koishi_komeiji]

"Yeah! There are many types of youkai but I'm a satori. We're psychic! But I got rid of my mind reading power, see?" She lifted her hat, revealing a very old bald spot and scar just above her left temple. The hat actually seemed lopsided and designed to protect the scar. She straightened it after another moment. "Now I can read and manipulate the subconscious. I like that power better."

"And I'm not scary because I'm in my humanoid form. When I look normal I have scary eyes and big teeth and things. People think my claws are really scary but I don't understand why. They're sharp and stubby and for climbing and digging and catching and holding small animals like rabbits and foxes. A lot of youkai have much scarier claws than me."

She seemed harmless but that sphere was nudging higher and higher on Blake's arm and- wait, was it an eye? Yes! A closed eye.

"I arrived by myself and I met Miss White. She's a human and she's really wonderful. Then my sister arrived!" All smiles. "She's the guardian of this archway now. Of Fayren. She's good at protecting everyone here. You should meet her sometime. She's really grumpy and skittish because humans don't like monsters usually and attack us. But she's really a kind and wonderful person. But there's lots of grump."

[alwaysimpaled]

Dante had been making his rounds to every bar and seedy place he could find, and the Drunken Monkey just happened to be next on his stop. He'd ordered a shot of vodka before noticing Blake. That sure was not something he expected to see here. After downing the shot, the heavily armed man made his way over to Blake, momentarily forgetting he was carrying two handguns and a massive sword in public.

"Aren't you a little young to be in a place like this?"

[fade_to_black]

Blake had been listening in on with interest to two people in the corner talking about their goings on at the Fish Market. Their conversation wasn't really that engaging but the idea that there was a place nearby to get a fish or two was almost enough to cheer her up. She was about to shift her attention to another conversation when her concealed Faunus ears twitched. She looked up to see a heavily armed man heading her way. Inwardly, she suppressed a groan. She had been trying to be inconspicuous. She hoped this guy wasn't the bouncer.

She looked up at him stoically. "Why, am I being thrown out?"

The last thing she needed was a fight right now. The stab wound in her side was closing because of her aura, but slowly. She'd used up a lot projecting a clone of both herself and Yang. Plus, she didn't need the first thing she did in this town to include getting picked up by the police.

[alwaysimpaled]

Dante just shrugged, shaking his head. "Nah, I'm just another customer."

He took a seat next to Blake, propping his feet up on the table after adjusting Rebellion so that it didn't damage anything. "Still... you've got a... look about you. What's your story?"

[fade_to_black]

She gave his feet an annoyed look, but didn't comment. Considering where she was it would be silly to expect much in the way of table manners. Or possibly manners in general.

"Much the same as everyone who's brought here," she replied, guardedly gripping the warm mug in hands. "Woke up in a strange metal shell and saw the video that basically told me That I couldn't leave but not to worry because I was fairly safe and that I should go and find a job." She left out the part where it was one of her closest friends narrating the video.

"I suppose I should thank them for the free money, though," she added, dryly.

[beacane]

Ozpin's entire being hurt -- he supposed that was what happened when your aura broke, and the newly minted Fall Maiden slams you around. But upon Weiss' welcome message, Ozpin immediately set out to find her. His students. Glynda, Qrow, James, anyone. But he hadn't found anyone yet, and after checking the communication device he was given, he had noticed a few familiar faces. Ruby, Torchwwick...

But before he could settle everything with them, he noticed a familiar figure through a window, and he stopped before immediately deciding a sidetrack was necessary, opening the door. A slight tap of his cane as he walked forward, forcing himself to move as normally as possible.

It would not do, after all, for his students to see him as anything but fine.

"Blake."

It was said quietly, as he approached the bar -- giving her some distance, but resting his hand against a stool, preparing to take a seat.

[fade_to_black]

Blake froze in place as she saw who was approaching her. It was telling of how much shock she was in that the color immediately drained from her face. Maybe something had been put into her drink after all. When she was able to move, she rubbed her eyes. Her hands came away wet. She stood up, her amber gaze taking in the man before her with uncertainty as if like one of her clones he could vanish at a given moment.

Shortly after Ruby's uncle had carried her unconscious form back from the school, they had been informed that there was no sign of the headmaster. Blake, ever the skeptic had assumed that he was also a casualty to be added to the growing pile. She still remembered the feeling that had lanced through her heart when they confirmed Pyrrah's death. She had wished she was back in that building getting stabbed by Adam and that he had had the decency to just finish her. She had not entertained the slightest hope that Ozpin had survived.

"You're alive..."she managed to choke out. Stubbornly she wiped at a tear.

Up until this point of her arrival her expression had remained closed, her emotions closely guarded. But now the mask was shattered.

[beacane]

At Blake's expression, Ozpin immediately extended a hand to her, lowering his tone.

"Come with me -- we can talk in private."

His tone was quiet, but urgent, and he kept his voice gentle. Encouraging.

[fade_to_black]

She eyed his hand distrustingly as though she still half expected him to vanish. He did have the right to know what had happened at his own school. She didn't want to be difficult. But....

She eyed the door with uncertainty. "Is is just you and me in this town? From Remnant, I mean?"

Ozpin didn't know she'd ran. But she wasn't up to facing the others. She wasn't sure if after what had happened to Yang she could ever face them again.

[infinitejustice]

[Today was Athrun's day off. For a change of pace, he decided to explore the city. At the moment, he could feel himself getting hungry, so he had decided to stop in at a nearby bar.

He sits down and orders a cola and a burger. He looks to his side -- and sees someone he's met before -- though barely talked to.]

Oh, hello. Long time, no see.

[They had barely interacted last time, so he wouldn't be surprised if she doesn't remember him. Though he would be surprised to hear that she has no memories of her previous stay.]

[fade_to_black]

[Blake blinks at the stranger as she receives her pint. Was she supposed to know this boy? ]

Huh?

[Not the most intelligent reply, but she was unsure if he was actually talking to her.]

[infinitejustice]

[Athrun's facial expression turns to a sheepish one and he scratches his cheek. He's not surprised, though he is a tad embarrassed.]

Ah, you don't remember me? I guess that's not surprising. We barely talked. We ran into each other at the fair. You were spending time with the kittens who were up for adoption.

[fade_to_black]

[Blake blinked at him wondering what in the world he could be talking about. She'd never been here. Though spending time with strays sounded just like her, she'd give him that.]

I'm sorry. I think you got me confused. This is the first time I've been to this city.

[She sure hoped this wasn't some kind of cheesey pick up artist scheme. Though he looked harmless.]

[maybeitsmaybelline]

Roman got a head start on sulking in dark corners of dubious establishments. Not that he would call it that, mind you. He was scoping out the area, listening in on the locals, trying to get a grip on how the underworld has changed since his last stay here. If he needs to buy a drink to fit in, so be it. If he needs to buy a couple more, hey, he's dedicated. And if he keeps wondering about whether or not Neo landed safely, whether or not he could go to the dream docks to find out, whether or not he even wants to when there's a sizable chance that he'll just find out that they're both dead and there's no going back to Remnant, ever...

Well. He's not wondering about that, obviously. Because he's just eavesdropping on the locals.

Seeing Blake come in looking so miserable was a treat. He considered approaching her then and there, but his better judgement reminded him that he nearly died yesterday so he shouldn't go picking fights. But then he caught the wince and noticed that she was favoring that side. So she was alone, miserable, and wounded! How could he resist?

He pulled up a chair beside her and set down his drink.

"Fancy seeing you here, kitty cat. No friends to keep you company tonight?"

[fade_to_black]

Blake had returned to the bar to gather a little more info and read the brochure she had found in the cave more closely. After all, her money wouldn't last forever. She needed to decide what she was going to do here. It shouldn't be too hard with her skills. She'd already met some pretty interesting people here tonight and if they found a way to fit into this society then so could she. Or maybe she could just try something calm and normal like bookstore, that would be quiet at leas-

A second later sooner and Blake would have choked on the milk she was drinking. And had she seen who was approaching she'd have probably flung it at him. The absolute last voice she expected or wanted to hear had her leaping backwards out of her chair, hair literally raising on the back of her neck and arms. She looked like a cat in full attack mode, her stance the embodiment of hostility. She had heard the news from Ozpin and knew that he was around somewhere, but to run into him here and to actually be seeing him was another thing.

A second later after the shock came a wave of pure, white fury at seeing the bastard who was to blame for sabotaging any relief effort that Vale might have gotten during the Grimm attack.

"You - you disgusting rat, you should have stayed dead!" she spat, reaching for Gambool Shroud. "I'm going to make you wish - ugh!" She winced as a sharp pain stabbed in her the side and moist dampness there reminded her that jumping around with an injury wasn't exactly smart.

[maybeitsmaybelline]

"Ah ah!" He tsked, wagging a finger at her. "No need to throw a hissy fit. Neither of us want to make a scene tonight, do we?"

It was a shot in the dark, granted, but a decent one. Running and hiding was her style, and the way she was skulking around in dark bars instead of getting help from her friends? He had at least a 50/50 shot of being correct. He patted her chair.

"Sit down. If I was looking for a fight, you'd already be on the floor. I just thought we could have a little chat."

[fade_to_black]

"Speak for yourself!" she hissed.

But it was mostly bravado. Another jump like that and she might reopen her wound and then she would be back on the ground in a fetal position the way Nora and Ren had found her that night. It had a been the most horrible few minutes of her life practically lying on top of Yang, determined to not let Adam's blade anywhere near her friend again.

Her map and what passed for a scroll here were still on the table. She had seen Weiss's entry so at least they knew Torchwick was here. Blake didn't do anything as careless as let her gaze fall on it just then, but she knew she would have to return to the table to be near it.

"About what?" She would have no choice to humor him for now. Why did it have to be when she was injured and useless? Any other day, she could have fought him.

[Action]

[neverfeltthatway]

Armin's heading home late, like usual these days. Serving as acting CEO for Weiss, it hadn't occurred to him that he'd essentially be responsible for her job as well as what he already did for her - and those in and of themselves had been enough for him to overwork himself. But to be honest, he doesn't really mind. He's tired all the time, but - well, he likes keeping busy. It helps him not think about everything - how messed up things were in his world when he left, everything he went through as a Traveler, everyone he'd lost. Back home, as a Traveler, and here...

But there was nothing he could do about any of that. At least working, he could help make a difference. It didn't make him happy, but it was enough.

That was all driven from his mind when a passing glance shows him a familiar figure at the bar in a passing establishment. He freezes for a moment, eyes wide, then rushes inside, a smile breaking over his face.

"Blake!" It's only then that it occurs to him that she might not remember him at all, and he hesitates, the smile freezing before it's fully formed.

Re: [Action]

[fade_to_black]

Blake's sharp ears caught the sound of her name and her head jerked up. For a brief, panicked moment, she worried someone had found her. But what she saw instead was a boy with blonde hair that she didn't recognize. Her amber eyes regarded him cautiously.

"Do I know you?"

This was getting weird. This boy would be the second person who had recognized her that she couldn't place no matter how hard she racked her memory.

[Action]

[neverfeltthatway]

He takes in her expression, then looks away with a somewhat shaky breath.

"You don't recognize me. You don't remember..."

No matter how many times it happens, it still hurts him more than he's expecting.

He takes a couple deep breaths, then manages to clear the hurt and disappointment off his face before looking back at her. "I'm sorry, I always forget. You were here before, but people who leave and come back often have no memory of the previous time. For them, it somehow never happened.

"I'm Armin. I knew you, when you were here last time."

Re: [Action]

[fade_to_black]

Athrun had said pretty much the same thing. She studied his expression. The hurt there looked genuine. If it was fake he was doing a good job. But why lie about this? At any rate, it looked like his mood was matching hers right about now. And maybe that's why she didn't just smile politely at him and return to her drink.

"So...we were friends?" she asked. Another person she'd have to be responsible for if her past caught up to her again. "What was I like? When I was here, I mean."

The last kid had told her she had been taking care of some kittens. It did sound like her.