01st Bark | Action & Video

[nofortunateone]

Action: Wandering.

[His nose flares as a cool breath of air fills his lungs. Stormy gray eyes peer through thick dark lashes as he assesses his surroundings. He already knows that he is somewhere new, however his jeans, leather jacket and other effects seem to have traveled with him.

There is only one familiar scent lingering in this place due to the water which laps noisily against the shore. His fingers flex, each digit stretching before he shifts and raises from his strange tomb. His shoulders were tense as he rose to his full daunting height and the water rippled as he stepped towards the bay's exit. He inspects the box, reading through each written word that decorates the pamphlets. He then pockets what he needs and tosses the container they came in back into the water. His stare lingers on the phone before he pockets it as well.

Toby shoves his hands in his jeans and then begins to follow the familiar scent that trails through the new city. His eyes are like steel as he glances around Genessia heading towards a mysterious destination with intent interest.]

[OOC: Feel free to run into him anywhere as he walks through the city.]

Video: Effort.

[He doesn’t look happy to be speaking to some unknown entity like this. His tone is even and remains matter-of-fact as he asks the one question that's pressing against his thoughts.]

I’m interested in knowing who assumes leadership around here. Seen or unseen. [He'd rather know all the players on the field.] That said, what is it that everyone does here?

[Since it appears that going home isn't a valid option at the moment; not that his home needs him.]

Action: BAR!

[Later that night Toby can be found at his usual end of day location; the bar. It's difficult for him to get drunk but he enjoys the buzzing atmosphere and the collection of conversations that fly freely from drunk lips.

The glass clinks softly against the polished counter top as the bartender slides a beer in front of him. 'At least somethings never change,' he thinks to himself as he brings the edge of the glass to his lips. The cold bitter taste of beer fills his mouth and trickles down his throat with great satisfaction.

Gray eyes move over the bar as Toby watches those who come and go; sit and complain. It's nice and at least in the bar he's able to experiance the more familiar scents of alcohol and smoke.]

Comments

Video

[youfool]

That would be the CPU, which handles day-to-day maintenance and routine, and the Genius Loci, which makes themselves scarce. As for what everyone does...goodness, it'd probably be shorter to say what they don't do.

They don't seem to marry and bear children, for starters.

Video

[nofortunateone]

[As much information as that is, it's equally unclear. Toby watches the screen with an unchanging expression.]

If they are scarce who sets rules?

[He won't say laws, it isn't as if he's ever really concerned himself with them.]

Re: Video

[youfool]

"Oh, no it's still them, largely through the binding laws set down since the world's inception. You can't, for instance, go past certain city limits without whiting out and waking up in a hospital. You can't go through an archway without that necklace given to every fresh arrival. And so on.

The Guardians set rules for sections of the world, though they're pretty common to the ones you'd find in any civilized society.

Video

[nofortunateone]

[He raises an eyebrow at the strange man. The fact that the CPU sets containment rules and those in charge set other laws; it's unsettling to say the least.]

Nothing out of the ordinary in these laws?

[He somehow doubts that.]

Re: Video

[youfool]

Everglade in particular has had a run of degeneracy lately; you'll want to avoid that place at night. Probably during the day, too, just to be secure. The rest of the laws are reasonable, though how they're enforced varies. Fayren, for example, relies on knights, who labor under monastic prejudices and the like. Nova City has an impersonal touch with most of the police being automated.

action;

[justalittlerunaway]

[It had been a few days, and Cas was actually starting to like Genessia. It was a city, big, like New York, but spread out and there was a lot of green between the architecture. She was starting to get a feel for the place, too. It didn't feel like home, nothing really did, and all the scents were still weird, but she could like it here.

She'd actually just gotten in from getting lunch down the street and was settling in, the smell of Chinese takeout filling her nostrils, whenever the knock came at the door. She closed the carton, frowning. She didn't know anyone here. She moved toward the door, nostrils flaring, and the familiar scent filled her with relief.

He must have gone looking for her, too. She opened the door, smirking slightly.]

Hey, Toby. So they dragged you here, too, huh? Weird. [And she steps aside, an invitation.] Mi casa es su casa. Come on in.

action;

[nofortunateone]

[Toby raises an eyebrow at her and then steps inside. He glances around, noting how awful this place is before his gaze lingers on Cas. She's like a flower standing alone within a dark mass of earth where the light only touches the ground she walks across. He lets out a slow sigh, happy that at least one wolf he knows his here and the fact that it's Cas somehow eases his nerves.

He shakes his hand letting his guard drop only a fraction.] You haven't been here long. [It's a statement from what he's smelled.]

You're enjoying it?

action;

[justalittlerunaway]

[Shows up at her doorstep in a weird, different dimension where they somehow ended up in the same place and that's all he has to say. Nice. She shakes her head moving over to the worn but clean sofa and sitting on the arm, crossing her arms.]

Nope. What was your first clue? The fact that this place smells really musty, or the fact that I'm having takeout, which means I have no pans?

[She shrugs.]

I wanted to get as far away from my family as possible. I think I did a pretty good job, all things considered. That and...this place...there's nothing not new about it. It's...kind of cool.

[She looks over to him.] You just got here. [Judging from the lack of smell the past few days.]

action;

[nofortunateone]

[Toby nods in response to her as if knowing a shrug might just piss her off. Stormy gray eyes seem to flick between her and her meal. He hasn't even thought about eating given the circumstances.]

Don't let me stop you from your dinner.

[He rests his back against the wall and sighs.]

Cool is one way to describe it.

[He doesn't sound like he agrees though he's thankful that at least his family is safe. There is another pause before Toby drops his gaze as if inspecting her apartment more.]

It's good to see you.

action;

[justalittlerunaway]

[She looks back over to the small table on which is her box of cashew chicken and her dumplings and fried rice before looking back over to him, and sweet smile on her face.]

You know, it's good to see you, too, Toby. [And she sounds like she might be a little surprised to feel that way.] I think I sort of missed you. I mean, it's only been a few days since I saw you...is that weird?

[And she looks back over to the food.]

Have you eaten?

( video )

[whatsbackup]

[To the point, huh? Ronan can respect that. He was a smart guy and got a stand for his communicator, so sitting outside with it propped on the table out there while he's smoking isn't that weird.]

Some people who've been around a while have a bunch of theories, but that's all they are. I'm not keen on believing something just because somebody who kidnapped me told me it was the truth. The CPU holds an election every six months for each City, people they brought here, to run the protection of the place. They call them Guardians. Each city's got it's own police force and judicial system, though. A lot of it's runs on bounties. If you could say there's one thing in charge, it's the CPU, but calling it that makes me think it's some weird Sci-Fi A.I. thing. Which...maybe it is. Nobody really knows.

[He shrugs.]

As for what we do around here? We live, pal. We go to work, we do our damnedest to keep each other safe when something crosses the old bridge in Everglade, or decides to break down. You know. Life.

( video )

[nofortunateone]

[Toby's eyebrow rose at the thought of bounties and elections. Something about those combined don't make a lot of sense.]

Those elected.

[His response somehow eases the tension in Toby's frame though Ronan most likely can't tell over the phone. People living their lives, it's always been so much more complicated than that for him. He doesn't know if he can live without his pack to protect.]

And Everglade, tell me about them.

( video )

[whatsbackup]

[Ronan raises an eyebrow slowly at the video feed.]

What's with the interest in Everglade? [He holds up a hand as though a thought just occurred to him.] Let me guess. Ted started waxing poetic about it.

( video )

[nofortunateone]

[Toby smirks at the screen which is the first bit of personality that's broken through his clam exterior.]

It's common is it?

[Somehow doesn't surprise Toby.]

What's he have against that place?

( video )

[whatsbackup]

Ted really likes to hear himself talk. [Ronan shrugs.] He used to be the Guardian. He's a pretty religious guy, doesn't take well to people wanting a compromise. He banned the practice of Necromancy in Everglade, because it contradicted his beliefs. There was a lot of pushback, and when election time rolled around, the people went with someone who compromises.

[He shrugs.] I guess he's still sore.

action;

[namemeansbeauty]

[Belle was currently walking through the city herself, making her way toward home, the whole time her eyes were looking at a book. She seemed focused at least as she managed to jump over an obstruction that was before with without batting an eyelid and just as she had gotten closer to the other, managed to step out of the way just before they would collide.]

I'm sorry. [She figured she should at least look up for the moment. Sure they hadn't collided but still.]

action;

[nofortunateone]

[Toby is always aware of his surroundings, it comes with the life he's been forced into though he doesn't expect to see a girl with her nose perfectly positioned in a book. He steps from her path and as she pauses he nods his head.

There really is no reason to apologize and his response while short is soft.]

It's fine.

[He sees no reason to linger.]

action;

[namemeansbeauty]

[She closed her book, moving to place it in her messenger bag she carried around with her.]

I've not seen you around before, so is it safe to assume you are new?

action;

[nofortunateone]

[Toby resists the urge to walk away knowing that he needs more information about this place. He's never been an avid talker considering most of the thoughts that skittered through his head were ones of self loathing and hate. This girl... she seems to sweet.

That much he can tell and they've barely spoken. He doesn't want to taint that and so he'll answer her, ask his questions and move on.]

Yes. Did you arrive the same way I did?

[Since there is a system set up the answer seems to be yes but he wants to confirm. To know that she's telling the truth, that's one thing he is very good at.]

action;

[namemeansbeauty]

If you mean from the pods by the bay, then it's safe to say yes.

[Now that she thought about it a bit more, it had been a few months now since she arrived. She didn't feel as bad as she did a couple months ago either, so she was starting to wonder if perhaps she had been slowly getting over what problems she did have.]

There are a lot more people who arrive in such a way, yet we don't have full answers as to why except what my friend was once told, which is a make it as you will type thing.

action;

[thelastdruid]

[Two days later...between working at the library and running by the arts center to see if any new shows were casting, and just hanging around in the hopes of meeting some people involved in the theater, Nathan moved around Genessia a lot. Seeing the guy wasn't that hard, since he was still fairly new and was paying attention to his surroundings more than he normally would. Seeing once or twice wasn't even that weird.

This time, instead of ignoring him as he was heading into their apartment building, he stopped at the door, stood straight, squared his shoulders, and turned directly toward the guy. Whether he was there or not didn't matter. If he wasn't there, he couldn't have gotten far.]

I don't know who you are, but you can stop creeping now.

action;

[nofortunateone]

[Toby can't stop his instincts all the time and part of that is making sure that the Shaper, one of his fathers adopted children, is safe. He isn't around all the time but at least once a day he'll check up on her, she's living in the city with the druid so he can't imagine what trouble she'd get up too but he'd rather be safe than sorry. Added to the fact that Cas is out and about a lot this gives him something more to do.

He walks with his hands shoved in his pockets. He's already figured out that she doesn't remember, otherwise she'd have contacted him by now. He's unsure what Nathan remembers since they're living together it might be hard for him.

Hearing Nathan's comment only makes him smile to himself. So he doesn't know Toby either.] I wouldn't call it creeping. [Except it is.

Toby steps forward slightly, his hands still in the pockets of his jeans as his gray eyes land on Nathan. He nods his head in recognition.] Druid.

action;

[thelastdruid]

[Nathan stops, standing straighter, his gaze even. It was a practiced certainty, even though this stranger calling him but his title told him a lot more than he really wanted to know. There were people from their world here, and he hadn't know. How could he be so stupid?

His body language betrayed none of his uncertainty, however, even though no actor could mask his scent.

He nods in return of the greeting.]

Creeper.

[And did that mean this guy was following him, not Airy? Shit.]

What do you want?

action;

[nofortunateone]

[Toby shakes his head inhaling and then exhaling a deep breath before speaking.]

Don't be scared.

[His eyes look at Nathan as if he's looking through him.] I wanted to see if you remembered me.

It's a shame.

[Since he doesn't, though Toby isn't the sort of person who'll just fill in the details so easily.] You should watch out for her. [He tries to make it not sound like a threat but she and Nathan are considered part of his fathers pack. Their scents don't change but they need to be protected.]

action;

[thelastdruid]

[Nathan clenched his jaw.]

I'm not. [Nervous, sure, but not afraid. He just didn't know what to expect from this guy, and he didn't know how the energy of this place would react if he tried to use it. Here didn't seem like a good place to find out, which put him at a disadvantage.]

If I know you, you must be a friend. How about we start with a name?