destinystrings | Paradisus Perditaque

Paradisus Perditaque

Paradisus Perditaque

☢

What: Closing Arena Ceremonies
Where: Aries Arena & Televised
Summary: 1/24/10AC
Warnings: This could get serious...but who knows.

The last week and a half had been, at best, an insane blur of lights, colors, Persona and celebrations.

And while your own victories have been appreciated by the population, you are, after all, Visitors. No playing in the main competition. Not even proper brackets, you were just lucky to be allowed to be IN the tournament as a main show at all! It was a great honor, and you should accept it as such.

That's show business for you.

The main news that had been on everyone's lips was that the longtime champion, Blue Sky Dragoon, had been beaten by his long-time rival, Royal Red Lion for top honors this year. Red Lion (real name Bunrakuken Karube, although they couldn't say that in public due to the new rule this year) had created the biggest upset since the event's creation ten years ago. For him, it was a monumental victory, as it meant he would be, more or less, the hero for the city for the next year. For Blue Sky Dragoon, it meant his reign of five years had finally come to an end.

Needless to say, the second place contestant looked rather bitter as he was ushered into the podium for the main division.

In the end, there had been no interruptions. The entire Games had gone off without a hitch. Your efforts had been appreciated during the course, however, and you were all invited for the final closing ceremonies. Kiyoshi Suou was still on alert, unwilling to relax even a little.

For the most part, closing ceremonies were trivial, and, dare we say, boring. The energy from the tournament had been slowly declining, and by the third national song and a kabuki reenactment of the final battle between Dragoon and Lion, most were trying not to doze off.

And yet...you...as Visitors. There's a strange feeling around you. It's not the lack of energy from the civilians, no.

Something isn't right.

Unfortunately you can't prove that and you can't stop what's going on but...you can try looking around. But you should probably be as discreet as possible, all things considered. While you can't just search the arena during the ceremony, there is still the underbelly of the stadium, athletes you could talk to, policemen on the job...

...it's like trying to finding a needle in a haystack.

[OOC - Alright timeline of events: Tonight is going to be just mingling, assessing the crowd and seeing what you can find. Create closed or open posts, or just watch the show and comment between yourselves. We have some NPCs that can talk with you (anyone who has an NPC, or was given NPC info for this log are free to have them be around), or you can talk amongst yourselves; this is, after all a celebration, although an apparently boring one.

Once this post is done, there will also be a mod post going up with a few additions about what is going to go down tomorrow, and some announcements! Our tentative hour for the main event will be the 24th at 6-7PM EASTERN tomorrow. Be there!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Bunrakuken looks up from his place backstage, where he had been chatting with some of the friendlier competitors. His gaze is drawn to the new arrival, watching her—or him; hell if he knows whether the individual in the shroud is a man or a woman, quite frankly— be pseudo-interrogated by one of the other competitors. He overhears their conversation, interest piqued as he excuses himself from his place near one of the tables. The conversation pauses, but continues on without him.

He walks over, hands deep within the pockets of his surprisingly heavy coat. He's a broad-shouldered man in his early thirties, one Zelda might recognize as the "Royal Red Lion" who had upset the power dynamics of the tournament. But for as tall and well-muscled as the Lion is, towering over many of the individuals here, he's all smiles today, and seems entirely unapologetic about having interrupted what was promising to turn into a scintillating conversation.

"He's part of security," he says, grinning as he pats his fellow competitor on the shoulder once. Except he knows this person isn't security; he's been briefed concerning who was part of the security force, and what they looked like—so he knows she's lying, whoever this man or woman is (he'll just keep switching pronouns so he's at least half right most of the time), but he's curious. And curiosity hasn't yet killed the Red Lion yet. "You can relax, yeah?"

The man didn't seem to entirely buy it at first, and continued eying Zelda suspiciously before he was interrupted by Bunrakuken. The shoulder pat sort of caught him by surprise, but it certainly redirected his attention.

"You know this guy?" The was an incredulous surprise to his voice-- and if one listened closely, they might catch the hint of some accent in his voice, though it was hard to tell where it was from (maybe some sort of southern region?).

He looked back to Zelda, though thankfully looking less suspicious, and gave a facetious sigh. "They really getting that paranoid now of all times? Someone should tell them to relax!" Honestly, what were the chances of something happening now?

It takes nearly nearly all Zelda has to keep any fear or dread out of her eyes as the towering "Red Lion" approaches. She's most certainly caught - there's no way he wouldn't know--

... He's... vouching for her? Why would he do a thing like that? She's suspicious in her own way now, but she can't let the facade drop. Not yet. Mimicking the displays of respect she's seen around town, she bows slightly at the waist to the tournament winner. "Thank you, sir."

Then, she turns to the foreigner (?), "Better overly prepared than not at all, I suppose. It would be nice if they truly are motivated by pure paranoia - it would make our jobs a lot easier."

That little 'I'm just doing my job' piece said, she makes another short bow to the competitors, hoping to excuse herself so she might continue her search...

He nods in response to the other man's question, easy-going grin never fading. He bows back to the shrouded figure—a slight inclination of his head.

"It's what you're paid for," he says. "Paranoid or not, you're just doing your job. No harm in that."

He jerks then his white-maned head—hair far longer than it used to be when he first began competing—towards his fellow competitor. "But he's right, you know! You do need to relax," he says, allowing his steel-edged eyes to meet hers. He doesn't look away. Just because he vouched for her doesn't mean he isn't wary; he's as aware of the danger as anyone else here is. It's his business to. "Can't do your job half as well if you're nervous. No use jumping at every yen that hits the floor, is there?" And she did look a little tense, even under that shroud, which made her hard to read. His smile eases. "Why don't I show you around? You can do your job and I can do mine."

And it's obvious he's not about to take "no" for an answer.

"He's right you know. Getting the jitters before something happens is bound to make you trip up." The man is grinning now, and though the comment sounded a bit harsh, it was clear to see he was joking and didn't actually have any malicious intent.

"You go ahead and show the guy around," He added, turning to look at Bunrakuken. "I'm gonna go try and track down Takaji before the ceremony finally closes. Or before he gets trampled by the crowd." From the way he said it, it was something completely expected of the guy he was looking for.

He gave a friendly nod to both of the other two, before departing for another part of the area.

Damn, of course it couldn't be that easy. The "Sheikah's" visible eye narrows slightly at the "Red Lion", though whether it's in a glare or a smile is nearly impossible to discern. As the other competitor excuses himself, however, she nods, her pursed lips hidden behind her scarf. With no one else to distract the larger man, it seems like she's stuck going along.

"It would be an honor to have the one who performed so admirably in the tournament as my guide."

Not that she trusts him as far as she can throw him, but... better not to cause a scene here, in front of the other competitors.

Edited (I can type I swear) 2013-01-25 01:00 (UTC)

Bunrakuken laughs as the other man turns to leave. Poor man needs to be trapped in a bubble for his own protection.

After the man leaves, the Red Lion turns to his mysterious acquaintance and gestures to the left with his outstretched hand, where one can adventure deeper backstage. It also passes by the refreshment table. He considers that a plus.

"Shall we then?"

"Of course."

Her response is short, businesslike. Without the other man around to convince and with her suspicions about Bunrakuken, her willingness to talk much (or too much) plummets. She follows his gesture, though she tries to keep him within her sight if possible, not allowing for him to fall behind her.

And refreshments are the last thing on her mind at the moment, so if he expects her to stop there, well...

Oh, he expects her to stop there, so humor him, my dear, because he is stopping. For the moment.

"You'll have to forgive my memory," he says, as he offers her a glass of punch as he begins to walk again, his own glass balanced easily in his other hand. He figured she would not want to stop for long. He can be polite when there's business that needs to be done. And business does need to be done. His grin slides a bit as he looks into her eyes again, holds it. "But I can't seem to recall your name when we were given a list of security forces."

She wasn't, after all, on the list.

Curious, that.

As soon as the word "memory" passes his lips, she knows what's coming. She's caught, has been caught since the taller man approached, and this is the moment that decides whether or not she can talk her way out of it.

She swallows her nerves, her grip around her unwanted glass tightens, but keeps her voice steady and calm. For the most part.

"Tell me, Royal Red Lion," she begins, and it's obvious she's not going to directly answer his question. There's no need to, really. "You are a powerful master of the power of Persona. Has this power granted you something of a sixth sense?"

"Extra common sense, maybe," he replies with a small grin that seems unbothered with her evasion as he ventures further backstage, beyond hearing and notice. Common sense, or so he hopes, anyway. God knows he can sometimes be an idiot. "And I'd like to think I'd know when I was being lied to."

He's... not throwing her out? He's leading her even further backstage?

... You are a strange man, Bunrakuken.

"That is not precisely what I mean, though I will grant that you are more perceptive than that other young man." Even though her bluff probably only worked on him because Red Lion vouched for her. "I mean... a gut instinct that something bad is about to happen. More powerful than mere paranoia or anxiety."

Well, she had to have come here for a reason.

"You should have said so, then. Personas grant a lot of things. You'd be surprised what some people can do with them."

He fought a user once who could sometimes read his moves before he even made them. ...That had been tricky. Ah! But her question.

"But of course." Peace like this wasn't peace. It was the calm before the storm. "The wolf's been at the door the whole time. Never figured this event would go off without something happening. And with the Anoli, it's never gentle. You take their threats seriously." He's seen many of the previous mayors die first-hand. He holds no illusions that this tournament will end without a single complaint.

Considering she hasn't even awakened to her own yet, he's probably right in saying that she would be surprised. But that's not what she's interested in.

"You have known this entire time?" She cannot help the surprise that enters her voice. It's one thing for Visitors who know next to nothing about the threat they face to sign up for such a risky event, but a native? And a fairly well-known one at that?

"... Why do they feel the need to make such threats, do you know?" She still doesn't quite trust him, but his frankness is getting her to open up, just a bit.

He purses his lips in thought. "So you're a Visitor then? Interesting." It's said almost offhand, as if he doesn't expect her to answer, like he's questioning a ghost with no voice.

This visitor's either that, or a very good actor who's pretending to be ignorant to Hinoto-Ri's problems. That's still possible, of course. Could be Anoli still, but he likes his first assumption better.

If she (or he) had been born here, she would have known who the Anoli were and what they stood for. Their creed.

But he'll answer her question, though perhaps not directly. Turnabout is fair play, after all.

He sips at his drink, letting his statement from before hang for a moment. Have its time in the sun—or lack thereof. "...Why do organized groups usually make threats against another established power?"

Really, thank the Goddesses this disguise hides so much of her expression, because her teeth clench when he makes his assessment. After being outed as someone merely masquerading as security, it was only a matter of time before she was outed as a non-native as well. But the way he says it, the way she can't get a read on what his thoughts on her Visitor-status are drives her up the figurative wall.

She doesn't answer, of course. Again, there's no reason to. But his second question...

"Greed. A desire to hold that power for themselves." From the sounds of it, she has some experience in this matter. Though Ganondorf was only one man, he was a very powerful man with very high ambition. "Occasionally there is a legitimate cause, but those tend not to use such extreme and violent tactics."

Her state of dress hardly helps in his assumptions. It's not so much eccentric (he has seen his share of oddly clothed eccentrics) as it is notably foreign.

"Correct. It can also stem from a legitimate cause and become corrupted as it gains influence, even while still holding to the core it strives for. Ideals become twisted, and suddenly no option is too harsh. Political statements turn into displays of power and intimidation."

It happens. Used to happen more before their world withered away. It's all in the history books.

"There are a lot of things at work."

... Hm. She listens to his words carefully, a story of slow corruption and unresponsive governance forming in her mind. There's no way to make sure it's the right story, at least not without directly asking (and it's clear she doesn't like doing that), so she keeps her own assumptions to herself for now.

For the most part.

"You make it sound like this has been a problem for a long time." But how long? How long has it been since they abandoned peaceful method in favor of extremism? "What is the city's general opinion of them? The citizenry, I mean, not the government."

What is your opinion of them?

"Years. Killed our previous mayor four years ago, during the tournament." He had been there. He remembers seeing him die. "But they haven't been as loud as they have been now." A sort of gathering storm. They hadn't interrupted the past three tournaments, though they had threatened to, but the rumor was that the Anoli leader would be here. Rumors like that often came true. And where he came, chaos usually followed.

As for the rest. "They're terrorists, as far as the government is concerned. They do very little to make themselves appear otherwise, so that what most of the city believes, and rightly so. Some of their ideology has merit, granted," he says, rubbing a hand under his chin in thought, "but their beliefs are buried under their preferred tactics and preference for force and threats in place of debate and peace. They do not make themselves seem very becoming."

They have a history of assassination and the mayor still dared them to appear in the exact same place? Goddesses, there's a fine line between bravery and stupidity, and the more she hears, the more she believes this man's hobby is skipping across it.

But, well, at least it seems like they won't be fighting outnumbered. Fear is good for keeping people in line, but not so much for recruiting.

"Such men are common to every world, it would seem," she mutters, just barely above her breath. Men who believe violence and force and power are the only way to achieve their goals. And to think she thought she was done with such men.

After musing on that, she bows slightly once again, this time a bit more genuinely. The Red Lion has been helpful, after all. "Thank you. This conversation has been enlightening."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Paradisus Perditaque

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject