The Search for the Newcomers, December 2012 Edition.

[stringmods]

Who: Open to Everyone, but only Newly Accepted Characters can start threads.
Where: All around the city! They appear where you want them to appear.
Summary: Newcomers arrive and by now the Government is more ready and sends everyone out to go people hunting.
Warnings: ARRIVALS. Also assume the first thread is the ones who tell you about the city, and the other tags for the character can be talking with others in the city and learning more about it.

[FOR THOSE IN THE CITY:]
They were getting much better at this, it was for certain.

Last month's initial testing of the HORUS system had worked really well. The device which allowed everyone to spot abnormalities; and now even more refined, they could hone in on newcomers at a much faster pace. The leftover energy from the travel (commonly called Magatama Residue) gave them a few minutes to find them before it would flicker out.

Combined with the fact they could appear in most parts of the city, it made finding the newcomers was both easy yet frustratingly difficult.

As the blips appear on your own radar function, it was also nice enough to calculate for you the best transport and destination routes to take to get there. Speed was of the essence, after all.

[FOR THOSE WHO JUST ARRIVED:]
You're not in your homeworld anymore. That much is evident. So how do you feel? Happy? Sad? Troubled? A little of all three? No matter what, the memories of a butterfly man named Philemon are fading like a dream; you'll remember the details, but perhaps not everything he has said.

There is one word that stays with you, however.

Persona.

So...here to save the city, huh? First you'll need to find out more information. And who knows, maybe a familiar face or two...

[OOC: As stated above, only new characters can start a thread, but feel free to jump in any of them. characters arrive with their clothing and whatever items they had on them the moment they were taken; the remaining items will be later found in their apartments.]

Comments

[doesasordered]

"Troubled" covers how Nikolai feels right now quite well. Also "conflicted" and "somewhat relieved".

Nik was always good at blending into the scenery. Being plain-looking man of average height and weight helps, as well as a lot of practice going unnoticed, for now he will stalk the streets and get a feeling of where is he and what's going on. This all seems like a dream. Better to stay on the defensive for a bit while he gets himself sorted out.

Later in the day, you might come across him sitting on a public bench, a man in a nice suit having a cigarette and looking damn confused. Nik's given up on the blending-in part, and doesn't care if he looks like a newbie tourist. You'll probably find him poking at his nifty new watch and muttering to himself in Russian.

[greyerrant]

An armored figure shuffles by Niko's position, checking a small computer, the HORUS system giving out a little ping. He looks at Nik, back at the computer, and rumbles in a surly-sounding voice.

"This cogitator says you are new here."

[doesasordered]

A large armored man was the last thing Nikolai was expecting. He can't hid his surprise, and he even slides away a bit defensively.

"Ah. Does it now."

[greyerrant]

"Yes. No need to fear, I'm another sojourner here like you. My name is Cerberus."

He is quiet for a moment and says, "Welcome. I can lead you to the dormitories and more talkative people, if you like."

[doesasordered]

Still on the defensive, Nik nods, but he rises from the bench.

"Alright. You... also just appeared here as well?

[greyerrant]

"No, I have been here for some time."

He shifts slightly at Nik's standing, but makes no aggressive actions.

"It is a mix of good and bad, like many things."

[doesasordered]

"Yes, well..." That's vague. "All in all I'd rather just go home. Or wake up. I'm not convinced I'm not dreaming, yet."

[greyerrant]

"It is quite real, unfortunately. I do believe you can go home at any point you like. As for it being a dream, well, I can certainly strike you and you can determine for yourself whether you are perceiving reality. I am told mortals sometimes do this."

[doesasordered]

What even is this guy. "N-No, no, not necessary. But, if I can leave any time I like, why bring me here in the first place? No one asked if I wanted to be involved."

I hate prose too!

[all_wound_up]

Excuse me, are you lost...?

[Nano's on her way home from grocery shopping, and as a conscientious citizen of Hinoto-Ri, has decided to take pity on this poor confused looking guy on the bench.]

viva action tags!

[doesasordered]

[He looks up from his watch. No sense hiding it anymore. He needed answers.]

Yes, I am. I just arrived today.

[all_wound_up]

Do you need help finding your way around? It was very confusing for me at first as well.

[doesasordered]

So you were drawn here as well? Forgive me, this all seems very surreal.

[all_wound_up]

That's right. It... takes a little getting used to.

[doesasordered]

That is for sure. [Considering he's talking to a girl with a key sticking out of her back, which he's trying not to stare at.]

I suppose I should be looking for the apartment buildings... Do you know where they are?

[all_wound_up]

[She appreciates him not bringing it up.]

Which ones? There are two apartment buildings - Pisces and Libra. The one you live in should be on your ID card.

[doesasordered]

[He checks it again to be sure.] Pisces, it seems.

[greatergone]

What was that disgusting thing that human had planted in his mouth? Scans say it was filled with some possibly toxic substances. Not to mention that inhaling smoke of anything wasn't exactly recommended for health.

Could it...

"Are you committing suicide, gue'la?"

[doesasordered]

Considering Nik is calmly sitting on his bench minding his own business, he doesn't even know how to process the question at first.

The question also seemed to be coming from a robot.

"....... Excuse me?"

[greatergone]

The robot thing can't be helped. Certainly not when his voice sounds a little washed out thanks to the speakers.

"The thing you are burning into your mouth will kill you."

[doesasordered]

Nik takes the cigarette out of his mouth, looks at it, then back at the robot.

"Not immediately, I suppose. It is an unfortunate side effect. Does no one else here smoke?"

[greatergone]

A shrug, a surprisingly human gesture.. He doesn't know nor does he care to actually figure it out. Nik just happened to be a target today.

"Then you admit to being self-destructive?"

[doesasordered]

"There's more to it I suppose. I never think of it that way, if you must know."

[greatergone]

"I suppose that level of forethought is beyond most gue'la." As in, typical humans. Only thinking of the now.

[doesasordered]

".... I'm not really in need of a lecture about my smoking right now."