genessia | 01. Finding the lay of the land [Action]

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01. Finding the lay of the land [Action]

A. Call this a bar? [Jack's Bar & Karaoke, Genessia City]
[Rude might not know where he is or what's going on beyond what the hologram had told him but if this is like any city in the world he knows, he has a fair idea of where he might go to find out. His funds might be strictly limited until he can adjust well enough to determine where he wants to seek employment, but he has ways around that, too.

Which is what initially draws him to Jack's Bar. Clue's in the name, seems like a sure bet...except for the part where Karaoke is in the title too. Not really his scene, and probably not quiet enough for his needs, and yet he isn't quite moving from the spot he's found himself fixed to. After all, this might be the only place around here he can find a decent drink and while he has to do what he has to do, the temptation to bury all the uncertainty he's not showing or really admitting to under just one drink is pretty high.

His indecision wouldn't normally be an issue. Except he's parked himself in front of the door, and he's a little too big for most people to squeeze past, too. Even for those inclined to try, he radiates a natural bodyguard aura that suggests he might react to people in his space before he thinks about why they're there.]

B. Next best thing [Library, Genessia City]

[Once he's past the bar quandary, Rude decides that if he can't sit and lurk and drink in knowledge from other people, he'll follow his map to a place where he can sit and lurk and drink in knowledge from books instead. It means edited versions of what he really wants to know but it's the best start he has.

He takes his time in perusing the shelves, seeking out more factual sections - history seems to be his main aim, but he can't help but grab other topics of interest. He's not really paying much attention to the people around him but if he does happen to notice someone close enough who's struggling to reach something, he might take it on himself to silently pass them what they were stretching for without pausing in his own intentions even for long enough to suggest he expects to be thanked. Losing the distraction is thanks enough to him.

Soon enough, he has a decent stack of books to start on and has found a corner to settle into, away from most distractions but still close enough to others that he might glean potentially interesting snippets even here. He's taking his time in leafing through each volume, though he doesn't seem to be focusing on any one in particular yet. Instead, he's starting to form two piles based on actual usefulness of the book in question before he starts to read anything in earnest.

Throughout, the shades he wears stay put. Somehow, that doesn't seem to be slowing him down any.]

C. Wildcard [Genessia City]
[Neither of these work? Feel free to bump into him somewhere else. He'll be keeping his focus on Genessia City for now, but he'll be poking about as much as he can manage and just finding his bearings.]

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*In the non-fiction section, slightly further down the aisle from Rude, is a pink-haired girl who is clearly not tall enough to reach the book that she wants. After reaching on her tip toes for the book several times, Sonico gives up and tilts her head this way and that, trying to assess the situation.

Apparently, she has decided that the best way to reach the book she wants is to climb the shelf. She doesn't intend on going too far, but she steps her feet up onto the first rung of the shelf, biting her lip as she and the books wobble, one hand stretching up as far as it can, but still falling short*

[ although bars weren’t exactly her scene either, shiemi did enjoy karaoke! it was a good confidence boost for her, even though she wasn’t exactly a beautiful singer, she did have fun with it and it seemed everyone else did as well.

but getting through the door was another thing entirely. a very big, well dressed man stood in front of it. shiemi considers trying to squeeze past him… but that would be really rude! she stands a few feet in front of him, before tilting her head and smiling warmly as usual. ]

A-Ah… good afternoon! Are you going inside too?

[Rude initially doesn't pay much mind to the pink-haired girl at the edge of his peripheral vision. He's aware that she's there in the way he's never quite not aware when there are people around him but there's nothing to nudge him into paying any more than the faintest surface-level of attention.

Until she moves to climb the shelves. That gets his attention, and he finds he's tuned into her a little more. He knows this could backfire, but he might be a little familiar with short women determined to get what they want anyway because he doesn't intervene at first. See where her own initiative gets her first because it's not really his place to intervene anyway.

But then she still can't reach and if she stretches any further either she or the shelf or both is likely to come crashing down and that's going to be more of a disruption than helping out.]

Which one?

[He might speak only two words, but he crams a heck of a lot into them, and into what he doesn't say. He doesn't ask if she wants help because if he asked a certain blonde Turk if she needed help he'd get a no regardless of the true answer. Better not to give that option and skip to an actually useful question.]

[The voice rouses him from his thoughts well enough. Apparently this place holds appeal for some, even if he is far from the target audience. And he has managed to end up in the way, not by intention but he knows he really should have been more careful.

He'll step aside, at least, while he considers the question. Truthfully, he's not sure he knows the answer himself but that might sound weird and make him loitering nearby even weirder so he needs something a little better. Fortunately, getting a good look at the girl who'd spoken to him gives him a temporary dodge.]

You come here a lot?

[It's a possible in to getting answers that would allow him to give an answer in turn, but it's also a little surprised that this would be her scene. He's no stranger to teenagers drinking, but this one doesn't seem the type to him. For all he knows he shouldn't underestimate someone based on appearance alone.]

*Okay, well this is a bonus. Sonico had certainly noticed that there was a tall man nearby who would be able to reach her book with ease, but she really hadn't wanted to bother him. Now that's technically offering, though, she doesn't mind so much. Besides, one of her feet is starting to slip*

That one.

*It's a bit hard to tell which because the one she's pointing at is a very slim book packed closely beside some other skinny books*

The..blue one. The sort of dark blue one.

*Because yes, they are skinny enough not to have the titles on their spines, and they're all some kind of variation of blue or grey*

I think. It's hard to tell...

*Sonico looks up into the man's face with a sheepish smile because he's offering help and she knows she's not exactly making things easy for him*

[As descriptions go, "sort of dark blue" in a shelf full of slim books of shades of grey and blue isn't the best and Rude is pretty sure they both know it. But he can tell she's struggling to hang on and holding out to narrow down the choices could be dangerous.

So instead, he'll take the whole block of similarly-coloured skinny books and move them all to a nearby table. She'll be able to look through them better but beyond that, she'll have to come away from clambering the shelves at least for now.

He doesn't say anything. But he does spare her a grunt that seeks to convey that he doesn't mind that much, even if he does have his own stuff to get on with.]

[ she’s a bit startled by how sudden and blunt his question was, but of course she is going to answer it. shiemi shakes her head, but moves moved closer so it would actually look as of the two of them were holding a conversation instead of occasionally saying things in the distance. she bows her head politely before speaking: ]

When I’m not busy, yep! But not a lot though, just for the karaoke.

[ she pauses, leaning forward curiously and tilting her head. ]

Why? Are you… new here?

*To say that she was relieved when he removed the books from the shelf was an understatement, because as soon as he did so her foot did slip back onto the floor causing Sonico to tip back and land awkwardly on her ankle. It would be rude to complain though, so she just winces slightly before smiling at him*

Thank you so much! You are a life saver!

*Sonico moves over to the table and glances over the selection of books. It's easy enough to choose the one she wants, but then there are other titles now that catch her eye. The first she picks up is entitled Tokyo's Giant Squid, and the other is called Research on a Legend. She tucks the books happily under her arm and scoops the others into a small pile so - Ah, now there is the issue of getting them back on the shelf where they came from. She glances back over to the man and wonders if she can bother him again...*

[Investigating all of the bars had been his motive in these cities, to find the one he'd haunt the most while he was stuck in this damn place. This newest one had caught his attention due to the karaoke aspect of it, mainly just to see how bad the talent with it goes.

But he's trying to get into the door only to be met with a giant body that he hasn't quite put together who it goes with. Mainly because he didn't expect for him to show up here, so therefore Reno is going to be a dick about things, as is his usual course of action.]

Hey! Get the fuck out of the doorway, some of us are trying to get inside! [He snaps and that voice and attitude should be super familiar, really.]

[The body blocking the doorway doesn't move immediately, mostly because Rude is taking a moment to process the fact that he's just heard a familiar voice. Stands to reason they'd both be here, though why they saw fit to send them separately, Rude isn't sure.

But he'll let Reno sweat just that little bit longer and then, just at the edge when he knows the redhead will lash out if he doesn't do something, he turns with a wry little expression.]

Thought you had better taste.

[Because nothing says "I'm glad you're here" than casual mockery of Reno being more eager to test this place than he is.]

[Well, that makes a little more sense, he supposes. More sense than her moving closer, when he's aware he doesn't cut the most welcoming figure even when he isn't only vocalising a tenth of the conversation that's flowing in his head. But she doesn't seem intimidated so he'll take that for what it is.

Perhaps it's that which lends him towards being more honest than he ordinarily might be in answering a question that could leave him vulnerable. Or as vulnerable as he ever tends to get, at least. And so he nods, elaborating a little on the reasons behind his question.]

Wondering what kind of place it is. Like to know what to expect.

[He can handle the unknown, but he's much better when he knows exactly what he's walking into.]

[With all of the action around this place, Eighteen had done her best to keep her head down and keep tabs on the one big threat of their planet while simultaneously keeping up the illusion that she could still function day to day as if it were nothing at all.

But she groaned softly to herself as she stepped outside of the Kame Dojo, arms crossed over her chest as she leaned against a tree nearest the entranceway to the small building. The children and her husband were inside training as usual, none of them particularly near her level of training for her to deal with for now.

Though the passing form causes her to raise a brow in question, knowing she hadn't seen him around this place before and certainly didn't look like any of the natives that wandered this city.]

Hey! You lost? [She calls, pushing herself off of the tree to head over, though with no particular haste.]

You just scream new, you know.

[Oh boy, that's always the wrong path to go unless you're someone that can get away with it. And Rude is absolutely one that can get away with doing as such. Just as he's about to throw a punch he pauses as he hears the voice and the face as he turns.

That fist immediately lowers back to his side, unclenching even if he's growling a little bit still.]

Look, gotta fuckin' figure out who has the best booze 'round this place. That's all. [But he's motioning for him to get out of the doorway and out onto the street.]

When the fuck did you get here?

[He nods at her thanks, watching her a moment longer to make sure she hasn't actually hurt herself beyond an awkward landing before he returns to his own business. So long as she can leave under her own steam, he figures his job is about done and he can consider the titles he might need.

But he's aware enough of her now that he can't block out her eyes on him and he supposes he should have expected this. She hadn't actually wanted the whole block of books, after all, and apparently she doesn't want to just leave the rest where they are.

He's not going to get anything done while she's watching him like that. At least, that's what he tells himself as he walks back over, taking the neatly-piled reject books so he can slot them back where they belong. And he knows doing so in utter silence might unsettle her, which is why he tells himself he says what he does next.]

Find what you were looking for?

[Rude hadn't thought he'd been projecting his newness with any particular clarity. Maybe there's something in the way he's trying to get his bearings, maybe he doesn't blend in as well here yet as he does back home. Whatever the case, he's thinking nothing of it until someone's calling to him and he pauses in his stride, already considering where this might be going.

It's subtle, but there's a tension in the way he holds himself, prepared for trouble even as he intends to keep things civil unless he has cause not to.]

And if I am?

[New? Lost? He's not specifying. He doesn't think he's the latter but he's not sure it's a question and not a threat so caution prevails for now.]

Good. Thought for a moment you were going to display your talents.

[More teasing, because that's usually a good way to get Reno out of the knots he twists himself into and if it doesn't work, that's Rude's cue that something bigger's going on. Still, he'll follow Reno because Reno looks like he knows where he's going which is telling enough that he won't even tease about it.

Yet.

The question draws a shrug; he has a vague idea but he knows Reno doesn't care for specifics.]

Not long. You?

[Eh, it's less projecting it and more that she keeps track of every single person she sees, just from the fact of being a cyborg. She snorts softly to herself, figuring that he'd be tense about all of it, she sure as had been when she first got here.

Not that she's ever not on her guard around people she doesn't know, given she's moving over to him and her posture very clearly indicating she'll fight back if he wants to cause some sort of problem. One hand moves to push some hair behind her left ear, other than that seeming particularly calm given the situation.]

Thought I might offer a bit of help, that's all. Nothing to do today as the students are working with Krillin and none of them are at the level to train with me yet. [She motions back towards the dojo.]

It's hard to get your bearings in a new city, after all. Or, well, for humans. [She's letting that lie there for a moment, figuring that he's probably organic given what she can tell of him.]

Pft, as if you'd catch me anywhere near that microphone. [Though he seems to be calming down a good bit from where he was previously, with the knowledge that someone familiar is here and someone that can actually back him up in case shit goes absolutely South.]

Maybe a week, if that. There's at least one other person we know 'round this city, but like fuck if I want to involve him in anything ever. [Which should give him a clue that it's absolutely someone from AVALANCHE. But he leads the way a few blocks down, taking a turn here and there as he moves.]

Apparently some shitheel in this place is calling himself the Emperor or whatever, I wasn't listening that much to it. Some alien bastard or something.

[He knows that stance. He's worked with and against enough women in his time to know the signs even in a frame less obviously solid than his own. They're sounding each other out, he knows, neither wanting to concede ground even with curiosity hovering between them.

Or whatever it is driving her. Curiosity still stands for him, more so in light of her last remark and that helps to colour certain other comments she's made. Of course, curiosity isn't quite enough to shake his disapproval at the notion that he might not be able to handle himself even if that's not what she means to insinuate.]

I'll manage. Not as hard as you're making out.

[He's used to cities, after all, even if on the surface this one is very different to the one he grew up in. He doesn't know this place as intimately yet but give him time and he'll know the routes that matter, and several that only matter in an emergency.

That's also as close as he'll come to mentioning that he's not lost so much as he is exploring, which is a distinct thing as far as he's concerned.]

[He's doing a better job of noticing that than anyone else in this damn place, but she's far too curious for her own good as she's taking notice of a few different things. The way this guy holds himself, he seems to be something of a fighter and that's making her interested in seeing what she might be able to pull from him. Since he's the first one she's come into contact with that's not from her world. Different styles are always interesting.

Though she's keeping her comments relatively brief, pointedly unpainted nails tapping against the denim of her skirt. Something she's fallen back into since she'd arrived in this place, even if she has far more options in this place.]

You sure about that? There's a ton of strong people in these cities. [She muses softly, though leaving it unsaid that she'd rather like to see if he actually can manage himself when people like Frieza are running around. And maybe goading him just a little bit to be interested in testing that theory.]

Not while you're this sober.

[Give them a few hours and Rude knows all bets are off. Drunk is when Reno tends to get his craziest ideas and it's even odds if Rude will play along or derail the carcrash before it happens.

Reno's comment about not listening earns him a knowing look because when does Reno listen properly to anything? It's a lead to follow up later, but there's no point getting into it now when Reno's told him about all he'd apparently absorbed from this supposed Emperor.

Which brings them back to the other person they know and while Reno might think he's being obvious, there are enough splintered groups that Rude has one very important question to ask.]

Threat or annoyance?

I'm far too sober for this place to exist, let's put it that way. [Which means perfectly and completely sober and he's not taking that too terribly well. But, seriously, don't let him make a total idiot out of himself in the first month he's in this place, Rude. Just this one time.

When it comes from some blowhard claiming to be able to destroy things, he doesn't listen past the first few words. And the video that accompanied it didn't really do him any favors in listening any closer than he already was.

At the question he pauses a moment, letting that turn over in his head for a moment. Given the shit they'd been through...]

Annoyance. It's our world-saving obnoxious blondie bastard. [So Cloud.]

*Sonico blushes as she bows her head in thanks. This clearly isn't a man who enjoys talking, and maybe he doesn't much like being in the company of others. It's more than fair enough if he doesn't want to have a long indepth chat with her, but she still feels bad about getting in his way*

Thank you so much. I'm so sorry to trouble you.

*Still, his question makes her feel that perhaps his silence doesn't mean that he hates her guts for bothering him, so she relaxes into a smile as she holds up the books for him to see*

Exactly what I wanted. Thank you! Have you managed to find what you've been looking for?

[ savir has frequented jack's bar nearly every night since his arrival a few weeks ago. the drinks are good, the singing is... questionable, but he always appreciates the lively atmosphere.

tonight, however, it seems he will have a difficult time getting through the door to start his five hour long binge drinking session. a man — a worthy contender biggest fucker around — standing in his way. savir, with his six-foot-seven, well-muscled frame, cannot even think about trying to squeeze past him. so he is left with only one choice — ]

Excuse me, sir. Might there be a reason you are blocking the doorway? I hope that it is not so crowded that you have been shoved all the way back here.

[A cigarette is pressed between Terrance's lips as he inhales the last sweet wisps of smoke. As he exhales he turns to see the large, lumbering man, standing in the doorway.]

Hey, mate. You don't make a very convincing door.

[His tone is short though he's trying not to let his annoyance seep through. He'd been working all day on Tony's stupid project. He has maybe a hour before he'll have to head back to work and continue to mind grueling tasks he'd been given.]

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01. Finding the lay of the land [Action]

Library!

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A. Call this a bar? [Jack's Bar & Karaoke, Genessia City]