[Open]

[heavenly_earth]

Characters: The Watch & OPEN to everyone
Location: Death City
Time: May 10th-13th
Rating: PG-13 for now
Warnings: Potential violence
Summary: The city is in chaos and the Watch is trying to do their job, but it's a little more than they can handle on their own.


The civilians have taken to the streets in a formal march of protest, holding signs both insulting and critical; some simply vulgar while others call for action- for change. They come from everywhere and don't stop until they reach Shibusen's stairs to rally with a growing mob of protesters. Shibusen agents gifted with Calming Wavelength stand by to allow attempts at mediation, but while they aren't violent, the protesters remain unyielding in their convictions.

In other parts of the city, trouble-makers work tirelessly to disrupt or sabotage businesses, paint graffiti over any untouched wall of known guest establishments, and harass the unusual-looking passerby. Don't go out alone, or you might find yourself cornered by these troublemakers with unpredictable temperaments.

The Watch is on the move in every district, working to protect its citizens and try their hand at peacemaking, but they're stretched pretty thin...


[OOC: Coordination post is here and as always, feel free to make your own threads!]

Comments

[atleast80]

Hyoubu came out to watch the fireworks. He'd closed up World's End early today, even made sure to get someone to board up all the windows. He didn't care particularly about the pub itself, but it would be troublesome if something were to happen to it.

He hadn't expected to see a familiar face so soon.

"Do they really have that right? I'm not entirely convinced."

He was aware that without powers he's putting himself in potential danger here, but what was life without a little danger now and then?

[itsfondue]

Steve hears the rather familiar voice, his eyes briefly looking at Hyoubu before quickly returning their attention to the crowd in front of him. He didn't expect to see him around here and although Steve isn't against his company, he's not really in the mood for snide remarks.

Regardless, he keeps his voice calm and serious as he answers him.

"Yes, long as they're not hurting anyone, they should be allowed to set up business here." He blocks a couple more rocks that are thrown his way. "You shouldn't stay too close, don't want another guest to be harmed here."

[atleast80]

He would find it strange to know that Steve wasn't against his company. Especially since he so often went out of his way to be a pest.

"How considerate of you." Though he didn't make much of an effort to move in the end (he did, however, try to make sure there wasn't anyone in his blind spots. He didn't particularly care to have a rock thrown at him.)

"But what if they're hurting someone else's business? Not physically of course, but you know, it can't be fun to lose customers to some weird other-worlder."

[itsfondue]

It looks like his 'friend' here is going to watch him struggle with the protesters. Steve would appreciate the help, but he's not gonna ask and bring another guest involved in this.

"Afraid that's how business works sometimes. Capitalism at its finest." He says that last bit a little sarcastically because even though he doesn't oppose capitalism, it can't be fun to lose your own store and source of income.

[atleast80]

"Indeed."

It wasn't like Hyoubu had any means of helping anyway. Without powers and without any weapons he was just a guy who happened to have a military background. If he were a liar he'd say he was perfectly harmless.

"Are you on your own?" Honestly, he thought the Watch was at least intelligent enough to know that their members should travel in pairs.

[itsfondue]

"I can handle these crowds by myself." Well, he thinks so at least. He's not worried about getting injured, but getting them to disperse is difficult. "Told the police officers earlier to pair up and work on different sections."

He holds up his shield as someone throws a bottle at him, the glass breaking on impact. "And I've managed worse."

[atleast80]

"It'll be easier if you just knock them out, you know." He didn't say that very loudly, just loud enough so that the words are only heard by the person they were intended for.

If asked he'd just say he wasn't in the mood to be caught in a stampeding crowd if what he said accidentally added oil to the flame. Though he'd be lying if he said the fact that they were both old war veterans didn't make him feel a little nostalgic.

[itsfondue]

"Rather not resort to beating up a large group of civilians. Could incite more riots as well. Be never ending at that point." Steve's voice isn't that loud either, as he wants only Hyoubu to hear him. Wouldn't be good if the civilians took advantage of his comment.

Steve thinks that it's a little unfortunate that he keeps on bumping into Hyoubu in rather difficult moments (besides their first meeting). The guy is the only person that he knows as a WWII survivor, even if they were on opposite sides. But that doesn't seem to matter much, especially in Death City.

[atleast80]

"Don't you think it might be a bit late for that?" Honestly, at this point he was pretty sure things would keep getting worse even without anyone to incite them. (Though that begged the question...how did things get so out of hand in the first place?)

[itsfondue]

"I'd rather still avoid it and I'm gonna stick with that." The riots haven't been slowing down at all and it's worrying, but Steve plans on defending rather than attacking. Maybe he can speak with someone in making a speech of some sort in order to calm the riots...

[atleast80]

He sighed. "You're really too soft, you know that?" It was kind of annoying in some ways. (Though he could vaguely remember a time when he would have felt the same.)

[itsfondue]

"If you regard not beating up citizens as being soft." Of course, Hyoubu does seem to be a bit jaded from his past experiences. His first conversation with him comes to mind, how he was treated poorly just because he was an esper.

[atleast80]

"Sometimes it's the most efficient way to take care of these things." It would have been better if it was just that he had been treated poorly. He could have lived with that. It was being betrayed and losing everything that finally broke him. "It's not like anyone would blame you for acting out of self-defence."

[itsfondue]

"Being efficient doesn't mean it's the right thing to do." He's heard 'efficient' be used in a lot of wrong ways, mostly in WWII. "Maybe not, but that's not my main concern. I'm gonna continue like this, even if others regard me as foolish."

[atleast80]

...no, it doesn't. Really, Hyoubu wanted to be annoyed by this guy but it just wasn't happening today.

He thinks he might need to get more sleep.

"Suit yourself."