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

[princessofheart]

[Kairi had ended up in the Aries district, and her mouth was currently watering.
The sweet scent of fried, sugary sweet potatoes were wafting from a vendor from across the street, and it took all her willpower not to plow across and stuff her face. Sadly, there was one thing between her and her goal: money. Oh, and that whole 'I have no idea where I am' thing nagging at the back of her mind. But that wasn't exactly a new sensation for her, and as far as Kairi figured, she must've collapsed in the Reaver fight and woken up in time for an F3 trip. It was new to actually see people around that weren't other test subjects, but maybe Val had decided to try out something new? The deactivated state of her collar only further proved her hypothesis in her mind, not to mention they were pretty over-due for one by this point. But she couldn't find her faciliberry on her anywhere...
Gah. Maybe she ought to go looking for her friends rather than sit here salivating over some sweets. Kairi could sense Naminé elsewhere in the town, so she might as well go find her if she couldn't just send her a message. She could deal with her stomach grumbles later...]


(ooc: This Kairi is a game transplant from a_facility! Normal Kairi looks like this, but this particular Kairi has longer hair, about down to her bust, which is normally kept back in a braid or pony tail, and is 17 years old. She has many scars, both old and new, on her arms and legs, having spent almost a year of her life in a torture facility (some of them are training wounds, though). Instead of a zipper dress, she usually wears clothes that are easier to fight in. If you wanna see all the differences between her and canon, here is her app and the game info is at the top c: If your character knows Kairi and wants to comment on her appearance, assume she's wearing a pink hoodie, white capris, and her standard shoes. Her collar will be very obviously visible-- it's black in color and has 1B engraved on it!)

[growths]

Amicable, since other people don't have nearly the amount of self-control that Kairi apparently possesses. While the redhead doesn't set herself upon the vendor not everyone has the same reservations. Garra certainly has no qualms about more or less reaching into the cart to grab one for himself after none-too-kindly shoving the poor man out of the way following a protest that he "needs to pay for that." It's actually causing a bit of ruckus when the man gets up and makes a grab for dark-haired male, but by that point he's already got several plucked into his arms.

oh no why did you steal in front of the goody two shoes

[princessofheart]

"Hey!"

Kairi's tone is angry and firm, and her whole plan changes completely as she turns to approach the man with enough gall to steal from a hapless vender. She doesn't bother to summon her keyblade-- not yet, anyways-- but moves to grab the man by the shoulder or arm with a glare. "You can't just take something like that!" The nerve of some people! That man was just trying to make a living!

;u; bad life choices

[growths]

He'll have to make a living sans three piece of product, since they fall from Garra's arms the moment Kairi tugs his arm away from his torso where he kept them carefully guarded. And naturally that's what Garra is most concerned about, starting in surprise and reaching after them. He was going to eat those how could you.

[princessofheart]

She summons her keyblade, pointing it between Garra and his meal. It may be a pretty, flowery piece of work, but combined with Kairi's expression it came off as a lot more intimidating than it had any right to be. Though it nags at the back of her mind that, as much as she loved this keyblade and the bond it symbolized, she wouldn't be surprised if this guy just laughed at the sight of it.
"No. You pay this man, apologize, and leave."
Kairi doesn't say it, but she pretty much implies he doesn't deserve to take that food with him, either. The nerve of some people...

[growths]

Had he been in his Host's right mind? There would definitely be laughter. It's flowery and girly and so Powerpuff Girls it hurts, but luckily for Kairi Garra does not posses that state required to pick up on that connotation. As far as he can tell it's just a bright, colourful flower-stick and he happens to be rather fond of bright happy colours.

Very quickly he turns from the fallen potatoes to her, expression lighting with interest. "What's that. It's bright--lots of bright."

[destinedwaters]

[She normally came to the Aries district to shop for supplies. Probably fewer than most would get for a week's supply of food, but she was still adjusting to the fact that she didn't need to allow herself smaller portions, anymore. At least not while she was here. It's almost peculiar, too.

Yet as she draws nearer to where she normally shops at, she can sense a presence even without her Persona, though Eudora certainly seconded the familiarity. It was one that was...albeit a little different, but barely noticeable without scanning. Who it was was more of interest than the differences, currently.

Aqua deviated course in favor of finding this person Not a hard task, considering- she wasn't very far-]

...Kairi? [Not-so-bitty why are you wearing a collar what are them scars for asdjklj oh god her mother mode is kicking in again how long has it been since she had-?] He brought you here, too?

[princessofheart]

--Aqua?!

[The familiar voice surprises her. Aqua was the last person she'd expect to run in to here, not that she wasn't extremely excited. It had been so long since she'd seen her or Terra, and her heart still ached knowing that she hadn't been able to help prevent them from being terminated-- both of them had been terminated twice while she was around, in fact. It was never good to have her friends show up in a torture facility (which she thought she was still in oops), but she couldn't help but smile knowing that she'd have her mentor around again.]

He? Me? Didn't she bring you here?

[Had Val put together another experiment to bring a bunch of people in at once like the last time she had seen Aqua? That was a very hectic month...]

[destinedwaters]

Mm. [She nods faintly, but something about this seems a little... off.She tilts her head, perplexed. What was Kairi insinuating? Or at least attempting to.] What are you talking about?

[Take a good look, Kairi-- there is no collar around her neck. Nor are there around many of those wandering the streets. Only a watch around her wrist that's barely visible under her sleeves. After a moment, she shakes her head.]

You remember the man with the butterfly mask, right?

[princessofheart]

Yes, I figured he was a dream...

[You can see realization dawning as her eyes dart around more seriously, taking a long moment to look at Aqua's neck as her fingers gently touch her own collar. Her lips purse, and she's starting to feel a knot in her stomach. What in the world was going on...? She obviously wasn't home, and this was starting to feel less and less like Facility...
Aqua would have the answers.]

Where are we...?

[destinedwaters]

He was, and yet he wasn't...? It's hard to explain, and even I don't fully know what it meant.

[But she could help figure it out with her! It could be a thing. Still, that confusion? She knew it well, even though when she arrived at first she was more relieved that she didn't have to sleep on a rock or sand for at least a few days, if she could sleep at all.]

This city's called Hinoto-Ri. From what I understand, it's a world many of us outsiders were called to "save", but from what... is more of a mystery that involves a power called Persona and something to do with a "zodiac" on another world.

[Don't mind the post-apocalyptic nature. It's at least better than a space station or a city in perpetual night, right?]

A few others from our worlds are here, too... though I'm pretty sure not all of us remember the same things.

[charmedbymemories]

[Waking up in this world, while on one hand strange and disconcerting, was distinctly familiar in a way that Naminé didn't want to dwell on. This...wasn't the Facility, not even F3. There were too many people she didn't recognize, too many things off about the whole situation in comparison to being at the Facility that made her uneasy.

It didn't help that feeling of dread when she realized her communicator wasn't the Faciliberry she'd gotten used to using.

New place, new people...no family. She hadn't wanted to come to terms with that fact. She didn't want to admit to herself that she was alone again. But as she'd stepped out of her assigned apartment, her knees almost buckled out from under her from the force of the realization, like a punch to her stomach.

Alone. Alone again. Why is she always alone? She covered her face, a hitched breath leaving her. She stumbled to what she'll later discover is the Capricorn district, its grassy fields hiding her from the world as she sank down and cried.

She cried until there's no more tears to cry. Tried to calm down. And only by doing that does she realize...there's a familiar warmth in the back of her mind. They're here. She couldn't say if they are the same as her family from Facility, but they're here. She bolted up with a half gasp and ran.]

Kairi! Kairi!

[princessofheart]

[As far as Kairi was concerned, she had only seen Naminé a few hours prior. Yet the connection she had to the other girl started filling her with the sense that she needed to see her now, and fast. And so off she went, almost at a sprint to catch up to where she knew Naminé was heading from.

As soon as she catches sight of the other girl, she adds an extra kick to speed, grateful for her increased stamina from training all that time in Facility. As soon as they're close, a large smile breaks over her face, and her heart swells with longing she didn't know she had-- almost as if it had been a long time since they'd seen each other.]

Naminé!

[Slowing down enough so that they don't end in a painful collision, Kairi grabs Nami by the arm and uses the momentum to swing her into her own arms, wrapping her up into a tight hug.]

[charmedbymemories]

[Naminé is so blinded by her need to find Kairi that she doesn't realize until the last second that they've almost run headlong into each other. When Kairi's arms go around her, she returns the gesture in kind, everything suddenly seeming a little bit more right in the world. Thoughts and memories click into place, and the ache in her chest fades away to sheer relief.]

Kairi, oh Light, I can't-- it's really you-- I've missed you so much--

[princessofheart]

Sssh, I'm here.

[Don't get her wrong, Kairi was immensely confused. But the need to comfort her Other was far more important at the moment, and that was what she planned to do. So she runs her hands in soothing circular motions over Naminé's back, continuing to hold her tight and send her as many reassuring vibes as possible.]

[whereibelong]

Xion had taken to wandering a little during her free time, upon Roxas and Axel's departure. She'd still go home before it got too late, and she wasn't just... entirely shutting herself off or anything. But just sometimes she'd want space to think.

Which is why she was even in Aries at all - it was far from any of the districts she usually spends time in. But maybe here she could get some food, since it was either here or at one of the restaurants on the first two floors or so of the apartment building.

She hadn't expected to see someone very familiar also near the food vendors. The red hair was very distinctive though, even if it was longer than she remembered. Xion all but ran forward. "Kairi!"

[princessofheart]

That was a comfortingly familiar voice, and Kairi immediately turns to try to find the source. Turning to look behind her, Kairi's eyes lock on to Xion, and a large smile of recognition immediately crosses over her face. She holds up a hand to wave at her cheerfully, glad to see that she had so quickly found another friend despite the lack of communicator.

"Xion!"

Kairi moves to close the distance between them, not yet noticing the large distinct difference between the two of them: collars. It did kind of nag at the back of her mind that Xion's hair was a bit longer than she remembered last seeing, but hey, that wasn't really the most important thing to her at the moment.

"Hey, do you know where we are?"

Laaaate

[dreamprotector]

[Riku is on a little detour from his way back home from the library and wondering just what kind of take-out to pick up for dinner (he may or may not be currently living more from take-out than from home cooked things, sue him), busy with his thoughts, until-

He startles and stops when he registers a very, very familiar smell, eyes widening as he starts to search the crowd around him - she's somewhere close, it has to be her, right?

And sure enough, he catches sight of her back, cloths different, hair longer, maybe just a little bit taller, but it's definitely her and before he can even think of calling out he is already running, then reaching to catch her shoulder.]

Kairi?!

never too late uwu

[princessofheart]

[The combination of a familiar voice and a touch on her shoulder sends her turning around to face him, smile on her face. A touch of confusion crosses her expression as she notices his hair, though-- much shorter than the shaggy cut she last remembered him having. He probably finally got sick of the sheep look and had someone chop it down since she was last awake or something, heh. The signs did point to her probably having been in the pod for a while, anyways. It was actually quite a flattering cut, she approved.]

Whoa, Riku! I can't believe you cut your hair!

[dreamprotector]

[Well, it's definitely her. There's a smile spreading over his face as he looks over her, though it may or may not start to mix with worry - the hair, the cloths, that black band around her neck... she looks quite a bit different than he is used to.

Though he scowls shortly when she mentions his hair (who do you think may have talked him into this in first place anyways?), then shakes his head and raises an eyebrow, looking maybe kind of amused.]

...And I can't believe that's the first thing you've got to say to me.

[Because seriously. They are in a large city like Hinoto-Ri, run into each other by coincidence and the first thing she can think to comment on his hair? Seriously?]

[princessofheart]

Oh, right. Sorry.

[She looks a little sheepish, and she rubs at the back of her head with a small chuckle. Silly her, she didn't even know how long she'd been gone yet, they must've all been worried sick...]

How long has it been?

[What she thinks she's asking is how long has it been since she got stuck in the pods, but of course she isn't really in Facility, now is she?]

[aworldwithoutyou]

[Sora was only here mostly out of curiosity. But, as much as it pained him to admit it, he was already thinking about leaving. He was starting to get short on money (man, finding a job was a lot harder than he thought it would be), and everything here was way too expensive...and smelled way too good. It was really tempting to buy something, anyway. Just something small! His friends would kill him if he blew the money he had left, though.

Still, he doesn't really have anything else to do, and exploring the area is fun. That's mostly what he's doing when a very familiar redhead catches his eye. Maybe it should have taken him a minute to figure it out, since she looked a bit different...but this was Kairi. Sora could recognize her anywhere!]

Kairi!

[He's still a short distance away when he calls her name, but now he's making a beeline in her direction.]

[princessofheart]

[Ah yes, that was a voice Kairi knew all too well. She immediately turns to face the direction the voice came from, smiling widely with a relieved expression.]

Sora! Oh Light, I thought I'd never find you guys in this huge place-- how long has it been?

[Of course, what she thinks she's asking and what he'll probably think she's asking are two completely different things.]

[aworldwithoutyou]

How long? Um...

[His thought process and hers probably don't match at all - the only thing Sora is trying to do is figure out how long he's been in this world. After all, as far as he remembers, the last time he saw Kairi was only a couple hours before he ended up here, if that long.

Of course, Kairi could be from another time or something, but he hasn't really thought about that yet.]

I've been here for a month or so, I think. Did you just get here, Kairi?

[princessofheart]

...Well, yes, but that's not what I mean.

[Blink??]

How long was I gone for? I was comatose, wasn't I?