destinystrings | From One City to Another [Open post event info and start]

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Who: Everyone (guests and non-guests alike)
Where: Geartopia
Summary: Event in City start!
Warnings: Cowboys and Gears
EVENT INFO: Read about it here if you're a new comer!

The Mayoress keeps her word, and the Visitors are whisked away and changed into more suitable clothing for this world, free of charge. As they step down from the portal -- a stark contrast to the last time it was used, a giant man standing easily over eight feet tall and resembling a mammoth takes out a piece of string and measures everyone for their complimentary hat, vest, goggles and boots, as a small team works nearby to adjust the sizes of the materials they already have. It's rather interesting to see them at work, cutting with iron scissors - a spiderlady using her own silken string along with a robot aide to patch things up. Before long, you are given an outfit that's been tailor-fit for you.

Hopefully you aren't too arachnophobic, she's a nice old lady.

Once that's all done, the Mayoress speaks up.

"Come with us, please!"

Robotic horses and chariots draw them into the middle of the town, as a small map is given to everyone, but it's overly simple at best.

As they arrive in the town square, a look around reveals that the people here seem to be a mixture of humans, humanoid animals that have evolved, and robots. The feeling is very Old West, but with it all kept at a simple level despite the advance technology present. Compared to Hinoto-Ri and its lights, bright city and atmosphere, Geartopia feels like it falls on the opposite end of the spectrum. There's barely anything that would make you think of a modern city.

Which is why those that don't look like they belong stand out even more than you do.

Confused people from various worlds, not meant to have landed here... but currently with no way to go home, are stuck in Geartopia, violently torn from whatever they had been doing.

"We ain't sure what happened," she tells the Visitors, shaking her head. "But the past three days have been nothin' more than a giant mess! And they keep pilin' up. We need you to help us figure out what's happenin’!"

As they continue towards the town's center, she gives a bit more explanation: Once, long ago, Geartopia was built by aliens visiting the planet that granted intelligence to some native species. That includes her kind! The giant black obsidian monoliths humming precariously outside of town are an example of that. Normally the rocks only work when they need to contact other worlds. Three days ago, they started to glow, and that's when others began to appear here. People that had not been planned for. And they were still coming in, too...

The technology the elder aliens left them allows them to contact other planets during times of distress, but otherwise, there is nothing futuristic going on - the aliens wanted it this way and for the most part, the population respects this. Most of the area is dry and arid, with very tiny grass and shrubs growing over the hill, and, strangely enough, an area from town that is densely populated by forest.

They'll need your strange and powerful manpower in the upcoming days… just like twenty years ago, when the previous mayoress had called upon great heroes for aid.

[OOC Info about Geartopia:

- Saloon and bars of all sizes. Most are comically named with an object and a color. You can find all sorts of them across town. The shadier ones can be found at the far end of the west.

- There are hotels with gear-driven pianos playing wistful tunes as you drink hard liquor made from cactus juice, honey and barley. The honey wine is especially prized and costly.

- There is also a small carnival with a steampunk and old west fair, sugar and cactus fruit pies, whole animals roasted over open pits, musicians, and a single wooden coaster. It's not much, but the food is excellent.

- Be careful, however. The cactus fruit does cause stomach aches for most people not native to this world.

- There are farms around here, if you feel like having real food and doing honest work.

- The general store has steampunk items for sale, but most of them are much too expensive for the visitors at this point. You can try to barter.

- Oh, and news travels fast. Cause problems, and the rumors will travel to the mayoress fast enough.

- Start posts with Open or Closed depending on what you want to do!

RP VISITORS NOT FROM STRINGS: Here’s your own situation: Your character showed up here anytime from the 4th to the 16th and they have no idea why. They just popped out from their own place and popped in here. HAVE FUN!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Akihiko looks up and blinks at his shocked expression. He doesn't know what the man is thinking, but that's... probably not a happy look. He pulls his arm back and presses a small clenched fist to his chest, fervently wishing for Shinji to suddenly show up and save him. Like he always does, for both him and Miki, whenever the other kids are picking on them.]

A-Am I in trouble?

[He's not going to cry or run away... He wants to be strong and brave, just like Shinji!]

[His brows knit together as he continues to stare at the ... kid version of himself, but he at least turns around properly to do so. That question just jolts him back into reality, reminding him that this isn't in fact some sort of dream. (Not that everything so far was easy to dismiss as a dream.)

...Maybe he was jumping to the wrong conclusion, though.]

No, you're not. Don't worry, I'm not mad. [He pauses, almost hesitant to know the answer to the question he's going to ask.]

What's your name, kid?

O-Okay.

[He relaxes a little at that answer, arm dropping back down by his side. Oh... is it okay to tell his name to a stranger? His brows furrow as he thinks about this. He's supposed to listen to adults, and the man doesn't look... bad? Hopefully.]

Akihiko Sanada.

[Wait! He's supposed to bow too, when doing introductions! And he does it, but belatedly. Good thing the caretakers aren't here to see this, or they would scold him for forgetting his manners.]

[Oh boy. So much for that idea.

Akihiko feels strangely unsure as he lets that response settle in his brain. This is a living, breathing younger version of himself. One who apparently did not realize his own identity. Should he tell him? Should he not? How does he even handle this situation?]

That's what I thought. [Those words come as a murmur more than anything, and he clears his throat.]

You-- er, you were talking about the fireflies?

[The silver hair is not registering to him as anything significant. He's quite a few years away from learning about genetics. Akihiko is still thinking about how to catch the fireflies, maybe keep them in a jar, so he can put it in Miki's room.]

...Huh? [The man said something, but he didn't hear, since it was quiet and way high up. Akihiko pouts a little; he doesn't like being so small. He can't wait to grow bigger.]

Uh huh. [He nods.] Um... are they always bright like that? My little sister doesn't like the dark...

[His face loses some of that worried unsureness when he hears that question. That young, huh? He barely remembers being that young outside of moments that he spent with Miki and Shinji.

He doesn't quite smile, but his face is definitely more relaxed as he nods.]

At night, at least. ...They don't usually make a habit of sitting in people's hair, though. [He didn't know how to explain that one.]

Your sister is here with you?

Maybe you have food in your hair, mister. [He helpfully supplies, because that makes perfect sense in his head.] Or someone taught 'em how to sit. [Like dogs. Insects can totally be trained too, right?

Akihiko lowers his eyes as his expression turns worried, and even a little scared. He, Miki, and Shinji, are almost always together, every waking moment. It feels so strange to be apart from them.]

Well, um... I haven't seen her... and I dunno where Shinji went. [He mumbles softly.] I think they got lost... 'cause this carnival's so big.

Hm. [Akihiko glances off in the direction of the rest of the carnival, his expression thoughtful. Could they be out there? A complete little image from his past, alive and together and unaware of what would happen all too soon?

He can't help but remark on responsibility as he returns his attention to the boy.]

You should probably be looking for them instead of following around a stranger.

[He flushes a little, at getting scolded again. There's a short pause, like he expects to be punished somehow. But he nods, because he knows the man is right.]

I was looking, but... [Then he got distracted by the fireflies. Oops.] I-I'll keep looking! I won't leave without 'em!

[Akihiko remembers to bow this time, and waits to be dismissed so he can go back to his search. Pity, he won't be able to catch those fireflies for Miki after all.]

[He finds himself reminded of just how seriously he took his responsibility of taking care of Miki; it's hard not to think about it when he can see it written all over that young face. When the boy bows, Akihiko clears his throat again.]

Luckily for you, you've found a police officer. [He smiles a little, encouragingly.] I'll help you look around.

[Gray widens with surprise; more so at his offer to help than his position. He hasn't been exposed to law enforcement all that much, at this point, other than knowing they're supposed to protect the public. Officer Kurosawa is a thread entangled within his future.

The smile definitely helps. Akihiko's small shoulders slack in a bit of relief, yet again.]

Really? You're not too busy catching bad guys, Officer... um... [He doesn't know his name.]

Sanada. We share the same last name.

[He had experience with not telling the whole truth, so the answer comes easily enough. Remembering what had been mentioned about fireflies, he raises a hand to his hair, frowning slightly in surprise at the two fireflies that cling to his gloved hand as he brings it away.

If there were more of them in his hair... He shakes his head, as if hoping that will do something about the insects.]

...I think I can see why you ended up following me.

Oh! Okay, Sanada-san.

[His original question is quickly forgotten, in favor of focusing on the fireflies again. He reaches up instinctively, despite being way too short to grab any of the small flying sources of light.]

Your hair’s the same color as mine… Does that mean they’ll sit in my hair too?

[Sanada-san. It was strange to hear that coming from his younger self. But he brushes that away to focus on the question.]

It's possible. [He manages to cup his other hand around the two fireflies, leaning over to let the boy inspect and possibly attempt to hold the insects.] You like fireflies?

[They didn't hold any particular meaning to him, but he had to admit that they were nice to look at. Mitsuru would lightly tease that he didn't have a poetic bone in his body.]

From One City to Another [Open post event info and start]

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