001 | say hello to everything you've left behind

[mortal_son]

[ ACTION ]

Initially, bleary and only just waking, Shinjiro thought he'd died.

After all, that's what happens when a guy gets shot twice, and then gets to say some pretty cool last words, and then ... dies in the arms of his best friend.

Yeah, that happened. After his mind began to wake, it was the first thing he remembered - the sure, solid knowledge that he had been dying, so, naturally, that must mean he was dead now. Honestly? He was good with that. Shinjiro had meant what he'd said. It was supposed to go down like that, and he was glad he went out doing something, saving someone, rather than ...

A familiar, dry, racking pain seized his lungs, and Shinjiro was forced to his side, clutching the edge of ... whatever he was lying in ... to cough, repeatedly, and unproductively. Like a hundred thousand tiny knives in his throat, that was. Damn it, he hated this, hated what the suppressants were doing to him, hated dying ...

Wait.

Shit.

Shit.

In the back of his mind, in the bottom of what he'd call his soul, he felt a distant, frustrated anger. The feeling of someone denied something, the feeling of someone wanting to be let out, the feeling of wrath and contempt which was all centered on Shinjiro himself.

God-damn-it.

Shinjiro knew he was alive. Somehow, through some magic or feat of science, he was alive.

Coughing spell now past, he shakily rolled onto his back again. Ignoring the box on his chest - setting it to his side for now - he quickly unbuttoned his coat, reached under his turtleneck. His fingers shook, half from the shock of cold, half from disbelief and nerves. There. He had gotten shot, twice, right there, and now beneath his fingertips he could only feel scars. Later, he'd have to get a better look at them, but right now? If he were to judge, he'd say they'd long been healed.

Where the hell was he? When the hell was he? How long had he'd been out?

Calm down, he told himself. No use in working himself up when he didn't know shit and there was nobody to attack. Even if he had a really, really good reason to be worked up and angry. His jaw worked for a moment, grinding his teeth. Castor, within him, shifted; he wanted to be out, as always, and maybe even work out some rage on something which wasn't Shinjiro this time. Well, tough shit.

Breathing deeply, Shinjiro sat up.

... Was this Tartarus?

No, of course not. But that was the first thing Shinjiro's mind reached for, when he registered his weird surroundings. When he got a good look at the damn bed (cocoon?) he had been lying in. What the hell. It wasn't somewhere he knew, either, transformed by the Dark Hour - he knew that instinctively, just as he knew it wasn't Tartarus. The Dark Hour was entirely its own beast, unsettling and wrong and eerie, and no reality would ever replicate it. Plus, if nothing else, the walls weren't bleeding. As they do in, well, anywhere, during the Dark Hour.

So. He wasn't dead. This wasn't during the Dark Hour, and he wasn't anywhere he recognized.

His hand brushed against the box he had hastily set aside earlier. Warily, almost expecting it to ... explode, or something ... he opened it.

***

Some time later, after getting out of the cocoon, after fumbling on the weird necklace (what did it mean real people anyway?), after watching the hologram ...

Shinjiro stood between the arches, not daring to lean up against one.

He tried to think.


***

[ AUDIO ]

[the voice is that of a young man, tone on the low end of tenor. he sounds resigned, almost bored]

Uh. Hey. Other "real" people.

Just how free are these apartments they're givin' us, anyway? What's the catch?

Comments

[Audio]

[foxcurls]

They kick you out at the end of the month, that's the only catch I've seen so far.

Re: [Audio]

[mortal_son]

Gotta find a job or you're on the streets, right?

Action

[clevermind]

"Are you alright?"

Belle had been walking home from work when she spotted Shinjiro leaning against the arches. She was wearing her usual dress with a basket under one arm. Her basket was filled with books and trinkets that she had taken with her to work that day.

Her expression was open, inquisitive and kind as she stared at the boy. She didn't remember seeing him around but then, there were a great number of people that she didn't know.

Re: Action

[mortal_son]

Shinjiro was surprised to see someone appear (what it seemed to be) at random from one of the arches.

"I'm fine." The answer was reflexive, dismissive. More out of habit than actual annoyance. He straightened from the arch, putting his hands in his pockets, stooping a little so he loomed less over the girl.

She seemed to be wearing some kind of costume, but the hologram did too; there was mention of other worlds. Probably nobody wore anything normal. His eyes narrowed as he examined her - he didn't really recognize how intimidating he might look right now, very nearly scowling at her.

Action

[clevermind]

Belle tensed but she was getting used to unfriendly stares. "I see." She replied in a cool voice, the fingers of her free hand lightly brushing against a small bit of fabric in her basket.

"Are you sure?" She was rather perceptive and it appeared as if something was bothering him.

"You act as if you haven't seen the archways before."

[audio]

[youfool]

[The voice on the line sounds casual and cheery. He's probably done this too many times and is far too happy for it.]

"Hello yourself! What's your name?

Ah, well, you might know the cynical axiom: 'you get what you pay for.' Or don't pay for, in this case: the living conditions are very sparse. And temporary, as has been mentioned."

Re: [audio]

[mortal_son]

It's got a roof and a door that locks, right? Gotta pay for that most places, "sparse" or not.

[ watch him ignore the name request ]

Re: [audio]

[youfool]

Heh, well by now you've probably gathered this place is very unique. An abode appropriate to the offense of being spirited away, if indeed you consider it an offense. Yes, it has both of those. A microwave too, I think.

[Ted fails to notice a great many things, but not-given-names aren't one of them. Usually. Well, he probably forgot to give his first. That must be the reason!]

Oh! I'm Ted, excuse me.

[Video]

[fierybluebird]

They're not free. You have to pay. They're just willing to accommodate long enough for you to get a job.

Re: [Video]

[mortal_son]

Now I get that.

But even bein "accommodating" comes with some kinda catch. Usually.

[ Shinjiro is beginning to feel a little sheepish for being so suspicious, but. ]

Action

[k2so]

[Guess who's walking near the bay on his way home? A 7 feet tall droid, with dark paintjob and a bright orange starbird symbol on his shoulder. He notices the young man on the archway and it doesn't take him long to figure out he must be new here.]

Do you need help?

Re: Action

[mortal_son]

[ Reflexively ] I don't need anyone's -

[ Turns to look. Does a clear double-take. Kay is lucky that he's already met a robot before. ]

[ Aigis wasn't so ... tall, though ]

[ Shinjiro straightens a bit. Just in case this robot wants to attack him. Wary, now. ] I don't need your help.

Re: Action

[k2so]

[Aigis and Kaytoo are very, very different. He takes a step closer to Shinjiro and silently laments he can give people a raised eyebrow.]

Are you completely sure? You look like you don't know where you are or where to go from here.

voice;

[unhappy]

There was a big homeless problem before they set that up and people were complaining about that, but it didn't solve the problem because people just like to complain. They're literally giving out a free month of shelter to everyone who comes here and 5000 red bills which is more than some jobs pay for a month, but people still complain about it even though this world practically hands you success on a platter to unrealistic extents.

99% of the population here would die out if they had to live on their own without being catered to, which most of the leaders here basically believe whenever the only clear solution to getting us out of here is presented, so don't expect much from anyone.

[ The person who was once actually homeless is judging the shit out of everyone here bc they're all worthless assholes in her opinion. There are like maybe two people she doesn't hate. ]

Re: voice;

[mortal_son]

Tch. Really? They're givin out a free month of housing cause they feel sorry for us?

[ ... being homeless is definitely not for everyone. He wouldn't wish it on most of the kids he knew, definitely. But as for him? He was a survivor. It wasn't fun, but he chose to go on his own before, and he could deal with it. ]

I don't need anyone's help. [ irritated ] I can handle myself.

Re: voice;

[unhappy]

Wow, prideful. Totally not what I said. They were trying to help, but they missed the point that everyone is a bunch of ungrateful assholes.

[ Point and case. She's laughing internally. ]

[Audio]

[alwaysimpaled]

A natural skeptic, nice. That'll keep ya breathing here.

That said, I've got space at my place if you need somewhere to crash. No catch. Just part of my job as deputy guardian.

Re: [Audio]

[mortal_son]

... I don't need any help.

[ Wry ] Bein more suspicious usually keeps you alive.

[Audio]

[alwaysimpaled]

...Ooooookay.

[He pauses to roll his eyes as hard as he can, as if that would come through the audio.]

There's a fine line between being skeptic and paranoid. Skeptical can be a good thing. Paranoid, not so much.

voice;

[firefandance]

you make it sound like we're just a figment of your imagination or something the way you said, other real people.

[She doesn't linger too long at least, no reason to.]

The catch is they are only 'free' for a limited period, much like my inn is for those who would rather not live in those apartments. It's mostly so people can find their footing and get out there.

Re: voice;

[mortal_son]

Nah, just somethin the hologram said. Dunno what she means, that we gotta tell ourselves apart from "real" people with these necklace things.

[ He never met Ryogi, after all ]

I got that now. Still. Seems kinda weird you'd let people just stay there, even short term, for free.

voice;

[firefandance]

Ah yes. Natives to Genessia don't wear them, but people who come here through the means of the Bay tend to be given them when we first arrive. That's the best way to tell the difference to who is in the same boat.

[She paused.]

New arrivals really don't get a lot in terms of money to afford most places. So really it seems logical that until they work and start earning money, it's best to do such a thing.

audio

[captain_by_the_book]

Personally, I consider it the consolation price for having been kidnapped and turned into a lab rat at the whim of unknown, powerful forces. Is that not good enough for you?

Re: audio

[mortal_son]

[ Wait, what? Nobody mentioned this. Angry, startled: ] Turned into a lab rat?

[captain_by_the_book]

Do you think this is anything but a huge cage? Just because it's larger and more comfortable than most prisons doesn't make it true.