Fear is the brightest of signs | February Catchall; open

[lasergrenades]

Characters: Pepper Potts, Devin Parker, and you!
Date: Throughout February
Location: Around Aifaran
Situation: Pepper and Devin are both exploring the city and getting jobs, albeit in very different fashions. The vampire continues to be snippy.
Warnings/Rating: None yet; will add as needed.


A. [Pepper] Verdant Sentry | Early February | Open

Now that things are settling down, Pepper needs to find a job. She's naturally drawn to law-enforcement, and while the Verdant Sentry has some aspects of it that are definitely militaristic, they still remind her of SHIELD (minus some of the more problematic aspects). For the time being, at least, they're definitely where her skill-set is most applicable. They don't seem immediately convinced by her resume, even when she tells them about the power armor. Still, they're not turning her down for joining, but skipping some training she already has may not be happening.

It's possible that she shouldn't try to help out on every patrol she sees. The eagerness gets tamped down some after the first week of February, and Pepper settles for studying how the Sentry operates as well as hitting the books.

B. [Pepper] Dreaming Bridge/Opara Core | Mid February | Open

So, Pepper is a natural phone user, and the yimo is absolutely awesome. Aifaran doesn't quite have the internet, but things like Xa Xa and the other aspects of the Lae Shunjai are super cool, and she wastes no time in trying them. She even snaps a few shots from the air when she's in her armor, which are suddenly hugely popular.

And then, mysteriously, her Xa Xa account seems to have disappeared, which is a Problem. She spends a little time trying to figure it out before going to ask for help from the Dreaming Bridge staff, who will probably just tell her to contact tech support. It's not a bad idea to know where the Opara Core is, anyway, so even if she doesn't need to attend to the issue in person, she's going to find a map and figure out how to get there.

C. [Pepper] Aifaran Cafe | Early February | Bakura

In Keeliai, Pepper and Bakura had a few favorite locations to get food, like one that made crepes. Now in Aifaran, they don't have any favorites anymore, and testing out places to try new food seems like a great way to learn the city. There's no shortage of cafes, and they got some recommendations from the Dreaming Bridge about where to go. Until they both have jobs, they'll have to be especially considerate about spending, but they could go somewhere casual.

"How's your roommate working out?"

D. [Devin] Central Ioduan Academy | Early February | Open

Devin is glad that the city he's ended up in this time is larger. Not as big as some, and not as large as he might like, but it's big enough that he can blend in more easily. It will make it simpler to disappear when he feels like it, even if departing entirely is ill-advised. He has certain needs that smaller settlements may not be able to support - or would simple refuse to, not that he would blame them. Staying here means he needs to find a job, however, and he's not interested in law enforcement again. Too busy, too structured. He's been in the military before, and he's not in the mood. The only thing he really enjoys is books, so he heads to the most sizable one in the city, at the Ioduan Academy. He doesn't expect to be given a high ranking position; that's not important. The rest of the Academy looks interesting, too, so he spends a little time exploring the campus.

E. [Devin] Aifaran Piers | Throughout February | Open

Devin is brooding. There's really no other word for it. As little time as possible is spent at the Dreaming Bridge, because he'll have to deal with his roommates. When he's not working or wandering the city learning its streets, he's found an old pier by the water that no longer sees commercial use. The wood is weathered and beaten, but still sturdy enough to support pedestrians. Someone set up a bench at one end of it, and Devin can sometimes be found there taking notes in a journal or reading a book. He may or may not be up for conversation.

(OOC: Let me know if you want a specific starter or feel free to write your own!)

Comments

[ursulamajor]

"I've noticed that. Though... I wonder," Ursula says, with a slight smile. "I'd like to test that sometime!"

Perhaps it is hard to take the magic away from a witch's instincts.

Ursula follows her in, and she looks around as they step through the door. A bustling lobby, and it seems quite impressive at a glance; enough to draw a long look and an appreciative whistle from the witch. She places her hands on her hips, and then she nods her head once to what she says. "It seems so -- and I certainly hope not. I had a..."

She thinks of Croix.

"...acquaintance," she says, after a pause. "She was good with technology. But... she made things a little, ah, more stylish."

[lasergrenades]

Pepper grins slyly. If Ursula likes pushing boundaries, she and Pepper are probably going to get on swimmingly.

"Yeah? That's cool. My friend Tony is an engineer and a genius, and mostly he's about just making insanely awesome tech, but sometimes that lines up with it looking really good, too," she remarks. Since there's no rush to really get the account problem fixed right this second, they can linger and absorb the comings and goings while they chat. "What kind of things would she make?"

[ursulamajor]

"Well... my world has magic," Ursula says. She has talked to enough people to learn that this is not standard. Which is a little disappointing, but what can be done? "She learned to make technology that channeled that. She made drones, for one thing--they were these little flying things, that looked like a... Roomba? And they could serve as a focal point for spells."

She shakes her head, and pushes her glasses up. The better to hide the distant look in her eyes, with some of these memories. "And she made ways to enhance one's magical potential, through technology. That had some... problems, though." A beat. "Oh, and she was working on a smartphone, of course."

[lasergrenades]

Pepper takes a second to think about it. "Flying Roombas. That'd end up on YouTube fast. Yeah, I feel like mixing magic and technology can go really well but also really badly, depending on what you're using and trying to do. I mean, it's sort of less about the mixing itself than the person doing it, at least most of the time from what I've seen," she considers. "Like, across the board, even if it's not a mix."

Her armor, for example, could be used to help people or as a weapon (sometimes it was both, depending on the situation, which was usually fighting bad guys). She shrugs lightly, as though to say it happens.

"Still, it's a really interesting idea. We don't have any magic in my world, but my friend Tony is a genius engineer and he'd probably try making a magic smartphone, too," she laughs. "I bet he's dying to get in here and ask everyone about everything," Pepper adds, gesturing to the building around them.

[ursulamajor]

"I think she only avoided it because... well, because people didn't think magic was real. She didn't care much about the publicity or attention." That was Chariot. Ursula smiles, a little, and then she tilts her head to the side. She nods, with a sense of understanding, then.

"It... had pretty big some problems," she admits. "I'm not sure what she's doing, now days. We went our separate ways, after awhile."

Ursula looks around -- then she blinks, before she looks back at Pepper. "Your friend Tony could make some of the things here?" she asks. "I admit, I'm not really familiar with what makes things advanced. I'm sort of a traditional witch. I use a wand, used a broom to fly back in the day..." She trails off. "I didn't really do much with technology."

[lasergrenades]

"Ah. Yeah, I can totally understand needing to keep that kind of thing hidden," Pepper acknowledges. Superhero identities were definitely important.

She grins at the question. "Yep, he can build some super cool, super advanced stuff. He and I both have flying power armor; our friend Rhodey does, too, but he's never come to Konryu for some reason." A pause as the redhead processes the second half of Ursula's statement. "Wait, you actually flew on a broom? That's awesome! Do you have your wand with you? Can I see it? I've seen a lot of people with magic but that's actually totally new. What kind of things can you do?"

The problem of her Xa Xa account has apparently been forgotten.

[ursulamajor]

"Mm." Ursula murmurs, but she nods. It's a nod of understanding.

"I used to. I can't fly on a broom these days, but that's not typical of witches," she says. "I lost the power due to some unfortunate business with a rare... uh... pollen." Then, her eyes light up behind the glasses. She smiles, and nods. Her wand is at her belt; she pulls it free, then flicks it. What looked like a plain wooden rod extends out into a wand, ending in a small gem. A pulse of aquamarine light glows off it, briefly cross-shaped like a star.

"Now, let's see... ah, simple things, first."

She waves her wand. A series of magical sparkles appear, floating up into the air. They rise up quickly around her and blossom out into a star shape -- and then drift down, slowly.

"Illusions like this are easy for me," Ursula says. "But, they're eye-catching. I can also do a lot more... functional things."

[lasergrenades]

Even as a simple demonstration, Pepper's eyes and smile are wide in rapt attention. Dreamfolk had all sort of magic, and new varieties have not lost their charm or intrigue for her.

"Oh, man, it's like personal fireworks," she beams, delighted. A few other people in the lobby seem to have noticed, and one even claps a little. "The wand thing is clever, too. I wouldn't have guessed that's what it was. Have you always been able to do magic? What's your favorite thing to do?"

She has so many questions.

[ursulamajor]

"Mm-hm. There are many features, of course. For instance..." She motions, with a hand. Then, a pair of rabbit ears spring up from Ursula's head. They lift her witch's hat. She motions with the wand, though, and a pair of holes appear. The hat slides down her head.

She smiles. "I can change my shape, for instance. My favorite, though..."

Ursula's expression turns wistful. She thinks of magic shows; of adoring crowds, of cries of delighted children, of a simpler time. But it's hard to ignore the truths that poisoned those days, and her smile remains wistful and slightly sad.

"...anything that makes people smile," she says, softly, glancing down at the ground. "Anything that reminds them that magic is the most wonderful thing in the world." And then, she pauses, and laughs. "S-Sorry. That's a lame cop-out answer, isn't it?"

[lasergrenades]

"What? No, that's a great answer," Pepper assures her new friend. "I mean, magic can be totally awesome, and it is when it's at its best. Wanting to make sure people remember that is really cool."

She's not sure what about that has Ursula looking a little sad, and while she's curious, this is not the right time to press. In hopes of cheering her up, or at least sweeping away whatever is upsetting her, Pepper smiles (and it's not forced, the shape-change is super neat).

"You look pretty fantastic with rabbit ears, too, which really isn't the easiest thing to do. I can do a little magic, but I learned it here. Well, Konryu here, not this city," she amends. "I was here a long time ago, before the archipelago was even put together." A grin and a shrug. "Now I'm back."

[ursulamajor]

"Ah... well..."

Ursula looks flustered, on the one hand. On the other, there is more to it than being flustered; it comes from the same place that made her feel a little sad, and the professor nods, slowly. "Thank you, Pepper. I suppose it's easy to get used to people who don't feel it's real--or feel it should be used for practical purposes only."

Which isn't the sad memory.

She laughs, though, and flicks one of her rabbit ears. Then, it fades away. A moment later, and a blink of aquamarine light later, and her hat fixes itself too. "Why, thank you! But--ah, how long have you been here, then? And... before the archipelago? What was it, then?"

[lasergrenades]

That was probably a common argument among magic users across different realms - but magic is magic, and that means wonderment really ought to come with it, in Pepper's opinion. Respect, too, she's learned.

"Well, we were on a completely different turtle; his name is Tu Vishan. The city was called Keeliai, and that was 566 years ago. We got shunted into the Dreaming for a while because the planes were getting all messed up, which they still are, but we got kind of lost in the process, apparently," she explains. "Tu Vishan told us it would only be a year. Since he's still in between the planes, whatever the problems are must have been a lot bigger than he thought. I've only been in Aifaran for a few weeks now."

[ursulamajor]

"Ah... amazing! So there are more turtles than this one. I thought--well, I never quite believed we were on a turtle until I got a really good look," Ursula says. She smiles. "Then it was incredible. But... the planes were messed up, you said? And--it was over 500 years, instead of the promised one?"

Her nose wrinkles. "I don't like the sound of that..."