soul_logs | [OPEN] Earthquake Event

Entry tags:

[OPEN] Earthquake Event

Characters: OPEN
Location: Death City
Rating: Varied
Time: Jan 22
Description: OOC post here.

It's early in the morning -- just after morning training -- when the ground beneath Death City shakes violently in what most of you might recognize as an earthquake. It's not a particularly huge one for the more experienced of the guests, but it sends cracks shooting through the cobblestoned ground of Death City and up the sides of some buildings. A small handful of structures, mostly those that have been abandoned in the course of this war or the very old ones, take the most damage and topple over or crumble at their foundations.

The earthquake lasts no more than half a minute, but the vibrations and aftershocks last through the day. Death City's streets become full of holes, from those the size of apples to what could be described as deep ditches. The greatest damage, however, is the commercial sector, which becomes flooded as the waterways take damage and spill water into the streets. Shibusen's alarms blare out and quick, urgent orders to fix the waterways and search for the injured or anyone trapped in rubble filter in through all networks.

ooc: Like always, please feel free to start your own threads. Follow the subject line format:
[Character(s)] [Location/Time] [Close/Open]
This in-game day will last a week irl.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[That was clearly not on Kotetsu's mind at all as he'd always have the mindset that helping others would be his priority, no matter where he was or what sort of danger lay ahead. And so when she managed to accept his offer with no problems he smiled and opened his mouth to offer his own name in return.

Except she was running already.]

Ah... Ah--! W-wait, wait a second! Hold on, you're gonna lose me if you go that fast! [He's obviously joking but she could have at least given him time to introduce himself too. She almost seemed mad too. Did he do something wrong...?]

[There's a noise that might have been a laugh. She would have apologized, been much more polite, but her mind is focused only on getting to the top of the building where her gallery resides. If any of 'her' kids are up there she's going to be a total mess.

The ground shakes a little as they run; it's a minor tremor, enough to make Rei stumble and slam a hand against the building to keep from falling over herself. But the second it passes she pushes of and continue on. Soon they'll find themselves running up the stairs and Rei throwing open the doors.]

Ritsuka?

[There's nobody in sight, but picture frames lay all over the floor, the earthquake having knocked them down, and the glass is everywhere.]

...I don't think anyone's here. [She feels only a little silly for being so panicked now, taking a moment to catch her breath] I was afraid-- [Rei shakes her head, not wanting to dwell much on what she might have found and turns an almost sheepish look back to Kotetsu]

...Sorry, I... was rather rude back there, wasn't I?

[Kotetsu simply follows along close behind her, getting a little shaken up himself when that tremor hit them and he'd been about to try to reach out to make sure Rei managed to stay on her feet but once he realized she was doing a good enough job of taking care of herself he simply didn't do anything. In fact the whole walk there had been filled with nothing but silence on his end.

It just didn't seem like the right time to talk, and even when they arrived at the gallery and he heard the obvious worry in her voice he gave a tiny sympathetic smile. At least from the looks and sound of it no one was in the building that shouldn't have been there during the earthquake so the two could rest easy for now.

Once she finally turned to address him he spoke up finally, smile a little wider as he waved off her words.]

No no, it's fine! I've had to deal with way worse than that before and I've got pretty thick skin. Besides, you had more important things to worry about. Everything seems clear though which is great! --ah, though... your gallery's kind of a mess now.

[She glances around the gallery, the small frown the only indication to her distress.] I worked so hard to take all of these...

But I can take others, replace them with new pictures. So long as no one was hurt, that's all that matters. I should start cleaning up though... [She looks a bit sheepish] I'm here a lot, so whenever one of the kids needs me they usually just stop by or will wait around for me. I guess it was just an off day for that.

[Rei shakes her head and looks to him] I'm sorry, I never got your name.

[Suddenly Kotetsu makes sure that he doesn't happen to be standing on one of those frames himself and he looks down. Mental sigh of relief when there's nothing. Last thing she needs is people walking all over her broken pictures like that after the earthquake has already done enough damage.]

You should probably save up the cleaning for a little later. Looks like you'll need as much extra help as you can get. But the name's Wi-- ...gah. [Reaching up and realizing that in all this panic he'd forgotten to put on his mask he simply just scratches at his forehead sheepishly. As much as Kotetsu knew things were different between here and Sternbild he'd been a little conflicted on whether to keep using his hero name or not. A silly internal conflict but it was important to him. Oh well.]

That one's just a weird nickname, you don't need to know that one! Kotetsu, it's Kotetsu! Nice to meet ya! Or, er, about as nice as it is to meet after an earthquake.

[She stares at him a moment, unsure of where that first line was going to go (and she'd be lying if she said she wasn't curious). But after a moment she nods, amused]

Nice to meet you too, Kotetsu. [She moves away from him, carefully stepping over glass to get a better look at the damage. A sigh again]

I don't mean to hold you up any more, but would you mind helping me a little...? [Rei shifts her weight, looking a little embarrassed to ask] I want to take the rest of the pictures down, but, ah... Some of them are a little heavy, even with my training. I promise we can go quickly if you have somewhere else to be.

No problem! Trust me, I'm good with clean up! Just tell me what to carry and I'll do the best job possible. I might not look it at my age but I'm pretty tough. Extra careful though too! [Already rolling up his sleeves and cracking his knuckles. Usually his form of clean-up is (accidentally) destroying things or manhandling some criminals in order to get a job done but he can totally do this kind of clean-up too!] Bunny can always wai--

[Even as he steps forward and manages to crush a framed picture under his foot.]

...ah.

You don't look that old to me. [Rei's also just really bad with ages. And it's the only thing she can think to say as she tries to figure out what. to say.

Her gaze goes back to the picture and she closes her eyes. Deep breath in, exhale out...]

Please just be careful. Even if I can replace these photos, I'd rather they not be damaged. The frames or glass breaking isn't usually a problem; I can usually save the picture, but...

[But it'd be better to not break the frame at all.

She turns away and crouches, beginning to gather frames in her arms.]

...Bunny?

S-sorry, sorry! That wasn't there when I looked--! Or, er, was it...? Sorry! I'll pick it up, don't worry! [Already crouching down to pick up the picture and frame pieces as well as see if there's anything else on the ground that should be picked up away from his clumsy feet.]

Ah, almost forty actually but I don't look that bad for my age, right? You can hardly tell! Ahah... ha...

[Figuring he's done enough of a job of humiliating himself Kotetsu stops and stands, holding what little items he managed to pick up in his arms. However at the mention of his partner's name he perks up a little.] Oh right, Bunny! He's kind of a friend of mine. Partner actually. We work together back home-- we're from the same place... city... "world", I guess?

[She looks up, the surprise clear on her face] Forty? I thought you were closer to my age! [Really bad at ages.

The photographs seem to be mostly street life; the people of Shibusen and various other cities. Landscapes from different countries that Rei's visited on her missions, never missing a chance to take up her camera if she can afford it.

She stands and holds out her hand to receive it, balancing the other pictures on one arm] Ah, how lucky for you. Some people here never see the people from their home worlds; it's really a lot easier to adjust when you have someone to adjust with. [Or their friends show up and then get taken back home far too soon.]

You haven't been in Death City long, have you?

[A loud laugh at that. From the looks of it she seems just a little younger than Barnaby and he hasn't reached his 30s yet.]

No way, not even close! I mean you look like you're not even Bunny's age yet. That's being too generous for me. [Kotetsu gives a quick glance at the photos, almost hoping he could have gotten a moment to give them a better look over but he offers them back promptly. Now isn't the time to be looking at pictures!]

Yeah, definitely lucky. I mean I found out someone else I know is here but we didn't really talk much back home. --still counts as two! Just Bunny's... different? [Unfortunately Kotetsu has yet to learn that they're not on the same page in terms of friendship but regardless, Barnaby is important to him and he'll always be more relieved than he lets on that the younger man is here with him. Plus it's nice to have someone there to have his back when he unintentionally ticks off Yuri.]

I've only been here... not even a month I think! So you can still call me a rookie to the place. Sure has been a while since you could call me anything like that.

[The laugh startles her and she stares at him for a moment, surprised, before chuckling herself] Ah, I suppose I was a little off then.

Do you mean you're from different times? That happens fairly often. Some people come from earlier times, some from later; Some even come back from the dead. [She goes quiet and turns away to pick up some more frames, frowning lightly]

Ah, I've been here-- [A pause and she tilts her head up, the answer surprising her] A little more than six months now, actually. Time seems to have really flown by. Still, I like it here, so I suppose it's alright. [And she has no intention of going home even when this war is over]

[Of course he doesn't notice, his personality can just never be contained. Kotetsu begins to look around in search of more frames to pick up as well as make sure he doesn't step on anything else, everything she says mostly going through one ear and then out the other--

until something catches his attention. Something that he swears he misheard.]

Wait... o-oi, wait wait wait go backwards a little. What do you mean by different times? --and did you say it can bring back people from the dead?

[Someone didn't exactly pay attention to what BREW can do and never bothered asking, obviously. As much as the dead part kind of disturbs him he waves the subject off, and all that spunk he'd had from the beginning slowly starts to fade away into nothing but confusion and worry.]

That's not what I wanna talk about though. The times thing. Go back to that. What does it mean?

[She looks startled once more, worried that she's caused him distress as she sets the frames aside]

You didn't know? There are frequent cases of people coming in before or after another person's point in time. It could be anything from a few hours to a few months. Maybe even years.

[She shifts her weight, frowning a little and crossing her arms over her chest] And yes, even the dead. Sometimes BREW brings back people right at the time of or right after their death.

So... you're telling me it's like, bringing someone from the future? Or the... past...?

[The more he talks the more unsteady his voice becomes, as if he's trying his hardest not to believe what he's being told and yet he's sure that this couldn't be a lie. She seems far too nice to just say this sort of thing to a stranger for kicks, and what with how much this world has stacked onto it in terms of oddities something like this just... makes sense.

Ever since he'd arrived at Death City and met up with Barnaby, Kotetsu's had a troubling feeling in the pit of his stomach. Like something was wrong, but he never paid it much attention. Until now. He might finally have his answer as to what exactly has been going on with is partner. Why he's seemed more distant and confrontational and snippy and just... not at all like the Barnaby he last knew. The Barnaby he'd known for more than the past year.]

Yes, exactly. Some people come in not even knowing someone who, in that other person's timeline, might be very close to them. It can be a bit disorienting at first, but typically someone from the further point in time can quickly start the friendship up again if they know how the friendship started in the first place.

I've seen the same happen for people who are together--a boyfriend or a girlfriend--but the other person is from before that point. It's gets even trickier then, but... [Rei trails off when she notices the man's expression and her eyes widen. She bites her lip, distressed and concerned because oh fuck not as planned.]

Kotetsu, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you. Are you alright?

[Shit, he's let too much out already and he's not going to burden Rei with something that doesn't even concern her. Quickly Kotetsu attempts to backtrack as much as possible, putting up that carefree and idiotic front he always loves to fall back on.]

--no no, it's okay! Don't worry about it, it's fine! I'm fine! It's just... that's just really harsh isn't it?! I was just thinking about it and I guess I got a little too caught up in my thoughts and-- aah, that'd be a really big mess! I mean, if you think about it, having to re-meet someone like that, or especially having to explain stuff that happened to a person before it even happened to them... and then if you had to keep stuff a secret because they weren't ready for it...

[How much does Barnaby not know of? How much is he going to have to lie to him about? How much is he going to have to hide again and for how long?]

...n-nothing, it's nothing. I was just-- aha, I'm really bad at this stuff. Don't worry about it, really! I'm just too sensitive I guess!

[The look on her face suggests she doesn't believe him] I know I might be a lot younger then you, but if you need someone to confide in, I'll be more than happy to help you in anyway I can.

[There's a brief moment of hesitation and she loosely crosses her arms over her chest] It's... worse if the person is dead by your time. And even harder when they go home. At least if it's just a difference in relationship levels you can get it back to that level, and be content in knowing that when you go home that everything will be back to normal.

I can't really not worry; I've made it my job. [but she looks faintly amused]

[But he tried so hard with his fake plastic smiles... slowly noticing that she's not only not falling for his false front but he's actually getting a rather good talking to, which doesn't happen to him often. Talk about awkward. That forced grin slowly fades away to a hesitant quirk of his lips, something more melancholic and thoughtful than anything else though he manages to keep up a light-hearted tone.]

That's an awful big burden, letting yourself listen to an old man's trouble's just like that.

[It could be worse, but it's not. That's just how it is and he should be thankful for at least that much. Even if he's not sure what he's going to do at this point, it's not the end of the world.]

You realize at this point it's just gonna be you and me worrying up a storm. That's not gonna get us anywhere! ...but, thanks.

[She's tried the fake smiles and the carefully controlled emtions too long to not recognize it, even a little, in others.]

I've taken on worse burdens. This isn't awful at all compared to those. [it's said easily enough, giving a little shrug] If you don't have even one person to trust and unload your worries on, it'll all just end up building up, won't it?

[...Then again, she's probably not one to talk. The stern, almost motherly expression disappears and she shakes her head, a small, amused smile lifting the corners of her mouth]

...You're welcome. I didn't mean to come off like that; I'm used to dealing with people younger then me, so I suppose it just comes out... [You will be mothered regardless of your age, though. Maybe a little less then the kids.]

[Kotetsu watches her intently for a while in slight awe and amusement. He's never quite dealt with anyone like this before, someone more than ready to put him in his place with a few words that hit close to home. ...actually, "never" isn't the right word. He only knows of two people that have ever had this effect on him and one of them he'd rather not think about at the moment. Like a child being scolded, he feels just a little ridiculous now and he almost wants to protest but he knows he can't.

This woman sure is something, he can say that much.]

You sure got your work cut out for ya. No wonder you look so tough, carrying all that weight on your own. [His features are a tad too soft when he says that, so it's not quite meant as a joke. Still, there's a quiet chuckle afterward as he looks around the gallery for a moment, hands on his hips.]

Guess I'll be helping out with picking up more than just a few frames then. Only fair.

[She opens her mouth, pauses, then closes it, looking a little surprised. She liked to pretend, on good days that she moved as easily as anyone else, unburdened and unrestrained.

Maybe her front isn't as good as she'd like it to be. Rei glances down at her hand, thumb moving over her ring finger where the paler ring of skin announces where a ring should have sat.

After a moment she raises her head again, her smile not quite reaching her eyes] I do my best. That's all that can really be asked of me, isn't it?

[But she takes in a breath and places her hands on her hips to mirror him, looking around]

I won't go easy on you, you know. Can you handle that? [She tries to hide her smile, but there's a definite teasing tone in her voice]

[There's a curious blink, feeling as if he's been taken off-guard somehow but he's not exactly sure how or why. Something changed, especially in her eyes... or maybe he's just reflecting her own attitude and worrying too much. A part of him wonders just what exactly can result from two people whose priorities involve everyone except themselves. It sounds like a trainwreck to most but to Kotetsu he doesn't particularly mind it. Maybe that's what happens when you learn to worry about yourself for once.

All he offers is a small nod, hands falling from his sides.]

That's all most people can do really, some just do it better than others. But I got a feeling you won't be having any problems there.

[And then there it is again, another change but he follows this one a lot easier because he's just that good at knowing when he's being teased. Kotetsu stiffens up awkwardly, realizing what she's doing and so he decides to cross his arms over his chest and look off to the side in an exaggerated huff.]

Oi, you got a lot of nerve saying something like that to someone my age! I can handle a whole lot just so you know. In fact, I should be the one telling you to be ready! Got it?

[There's a smile, warm and small; she's pleased despite herself, recognizing a compliment when she heard one.

But she turns those thoughts away to cover her mouth, feigning surprise] Ah, how could I have forgotten? Your advanced age didn't even come to mind. I'll get the hospital on stand-by right away, in case you injure yourself.

On that note, perhaps you'd like to sign a release form so that neither my gallery nor I are responsible for any injuries you sustain helping me. I will, however, visit you in the hospital, with the flowers of your choosing.

[She barely gets through her spiel before she turns away a little, shoulders shaking as she laughs]

[OPEN] Earthquake Event

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