citylogs | [open] welcome to the city

Entry tags:

[open] welcome to the city

WHO: Altria Caster (

excaliburden) & perhaps you!
WHAT: Help out a gal who just got here and is still getting used to magical city things like powdered sugar
WHERE: Across the city! Namely: a convenience store, park, subway, etc.......
WHEN: Early November
WARNINGS: N/A! Will update if necessary

a. local victorian orphan discovers convenience stores

[You're probably popping into the local convenience store for sensible reasons, like to buy a soda or to grab a few things you're missing for your dinner. Maybe for one of those hot dogs. No judgment.

Either way, you're getting interrupted by a gremlin in young woman form, who comes right up to you as soon as she makes eye contact, holding up... one of those small little packs of powdered sugar donuts.]

Have you ever tried one of these?

[She sounds awed.

There is powdered sugar around her mouth and on her fingers. She seems to have already eaten three of the five in the pack. It's a little bit like a religious experience, honestly.]

b. park break

[There's only so much walking around the city she can do before she gets tired. Even a few days in, it's still a pretty overwhelming place, and despite making many plans with many helpful people upon first arriving, she... has not acted on any of them.

So it is that even though it's either very early in the morning or very late at night, Altria can be found seated on one of the benches in the park, shoulders hunched and hands in her lap. She doesn't seem to be asleep, just... thinking very, very intently.

Of course, if she notices that someone's near, she'll immediately straighten, lifting a hand to wave--but with how deep in thought she is, it isn't hard to sneak up on her, either.]

c. subway

[Using the subway today to get across the city? That's a perfectly normal thing to do.

There's a young woman there as well, nose pressed to the window as she stares out as the train moves, even though it's, you know, underground and there's nothing to see. It's fine--she still seems amazed.

Also, if you hop back on the train a few hours later to go elsewhere, she's... still there. She might be leaning back in the seat, staring at the ceiling, or moving from seat to seat idly, or, in particularly empty times of day, sprawled along two seats at once.

Don't worry about it. Everything's fine here!]

d. wildcard

(Wanna tag in but these prompts don't work? Totally fine, hit me with whatever--or poke me over here to plot something out!)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[The abrupt and easy way that he sits next to her causes Altria to jump a little, eyes wide--more with an impressed sort of air than anything. Wowwww...]

That was so smooth and easy!

[ The benefits of being someone who's never had problems with blending in. ]

Ah. My apologies if I startled you. It was not my intention.

[ He scoots a bit away from her, offering a bit of space. ]

You seemed to be contemplating something and I thought to join you.

Oh, no, it's okay! I'm glad to have the company, honestly.

[She smiles at him brightly, leaning back against the bench and kicking her feet a little, idly.]

Do you have a lot on your mind? It's pretty late for deep thoughts, isn't it?

[ That's his secret. He's always thinking... ]

It is said that active thinking comes easier to the brain, due to the lack of distractions.

[ As evidenced by how empty the park is at this hour, minimizing the amount of said distractions.

He rests his hands in his lap. One of them is wrapped in bandages. ]

Is that how it works...?

[She seems earnestly intrigued more than anything, head tilting to one side as she looks at him. And because she's already looking at him, it's natural the way her gaze falls to his hands next--and she blinks.

She's always been too nosy for her own good. Being here hasn't changed that at all, and she's immediately distracted from her question.]

Oh--your hand. Are you okay?

[ His hand? Yi Sang glances at the girl before returning his gaze back to his lap. Oh. Right.

He nods. ]

I am now, yes, thanks to someone's aid.

[ She doesn't need to know he'd gotten too close to a carnivorous plant at the poison gardens, tried to tough it out, and when it only got worse had to show up with a metaphorical tucked tail at the door of an acquaintance with a medical background. ]

I have been trying to improve on requesting and seeking assistance from others.

[Huuuuh...? There's a lot of story there, hidden behind two sentences, she can't help but think. So something happened, and he wasn't okay until he got help. Thankfully he did.

But his second statement makes it seem like...]

... So are you one of those sorts of people who tries to be tough and stand on your own even when there are other people around who can help out?

[For what it's worth, she doesn't mean it insultingly; she legitimately sounds curious, mostly.]

[ That is certainly one interpretation of his words. But because it is inaccurate, Yi Sang shakes his head. ]

No, I... am not nearly strong enough to do so.

[ If anything, he thinks most of his life could be characterized as weak, folding to the forces that closed in on him. ]

Rather, I would not wish to burden others.

[ He glances at his company, equally curious. ]

Perhaps your description is one that applies to you instead...?

Oh, really...?

[That... sounds all-too-familiar. So she just shakes her head sheepishly at his return question, placing her own hands quietly in her lap.]

No, I'm not strong enough for that either. Honestly, I doubt I'd be able to do anything without my companions...!

So... I guess I'm relieved you have people you can rely on here, even if you don't want to burden them.

[ He listens quietly to what she has to say. Her admission of being unable to do anything without her companions -- in truth, it's something he can relate to.

It does occur to him that he's speaking with someone who remains a stranger. ]

You may call me Yi Sang. ...it is my hope that you find others to rely on here as well.

[ Saying that as if he hadn't just arrived days ago too. ]

And thank you for asking about my hand. I see you are quite kind.

Oh... I don't know about that. I think I'm pretty average, honestly!

[Just a regular ol' teenage girl, that's her.]

It's nice to meet you, though. I'm Altria Caster.

You sound like a professional greeter already--have you been here long?

[ Altria Caster. He'll have to remember that for the future.

He shakes his head in response to her question. ]

No, it has been but a few days. I lack the proper experience to be a professional greeter.

[ ...he's not sure he'd make a very good one either, truth be told... ]

Only a few days?

[Oh!! Oh wow! Oh...!! That means they arrived around the same time!]

I never would've guessed! That means you're brand new too! [Oh gosh.] Are you adjusting okay? Did you find a place to live and everything?

[ "Too," she specifies, meaning this girl hasn't called this mysterious city her home for very long either. ]

I have been fortunate and discovered some of my former colleagues here as well.

[ Though perhaps "fortunate" isn't accurate. It's probably not a very good thing that several of them find themselves stranded here now. That would leave the rest of their colleagues short on manpower.

...what's done is done. No point in dwelling on it too much. So he nods in response to her final question. ]

Yes, one of my colleagues and I have claimed an apartment for ourselves. [ A pause. ] ...you have found one for yourself as well, have you not?

[ Surely she's not camping out here, and that's what she's doing out in the park this late...? ]

[Surely not! That'd be crazy. Ha ha.

Anyway, she's absolutely fascinated by his use of the word "colleagues". She's aware, vaguely, of what a colleague is, but she's never heard anyone refer to their companions that way. What sort of relationship do they have, she wonders... what does that look like?

Oh. He's asking her about her circumstances. Whoops.]

Oh--um, yes! I did find one. Someone helped me out a lot when I first got here.

[... It's just... the sterile apartment living spaces are so foreign and alien to her, and she can't help but feel like she's doing something wrong by taking one of them. It's cold here outside, and she knows the night's only going to get colder, but somehow, she can't seem to bring herself to go back to that room either.]

I think I'm... still adjusting, that's all!

[ It's a little strange to refer to people he's known for a handful of months as "companions." Slowly but surely though, he thinks he could begin to refer to them as "companions" instead.

And it's odd to think it's possible for him to still be surrounded by companions. Those who had once held that title were gone, scattered to the winds like dandelion seeds. Maybe someday, others would stand in their shoes.

In any event, Yi Sang identifies the difference between "finding" a place and "living" in a place. ]

A space that is bare of your own belongings... Indeed, that would require its resident to adjust to it.

[ He glances over at his company. ]

Perhaps acquiring some items that you like and placing them in that room might assist in shortening the adjustment period?

[Huh... her own belongings. Now that he points it out, that's an ordinary, regular way to make a place feel more like home, right...?]

I see... that makes sense!

I think I just have to try a little harder overall in general--and then I'll be able to adjust.

[She clenches both of her hands into determined fists in front of her, nodding firmly.]

I'll do my best!

[ "Try a little harder," she says. And that's not... quite what he meant. ]

...your desire to improve your efforts is commendable, though forcing the issue may do more harm than good. It is unclear to me whether one can consciously and intentionally become more swiftly accustomed to new surroundings, especially when they have been transplanted like us.

[ But if it floats her boat, who is he to judge?

Yi Sang reaches into his coat pocket, withdrawing a leather bound notebook. He lays opens in his lap and flips to its back cover, carefully tearing a sheet of paper from it. He folds the page over diagonally and tears the excess off, forming a square.

His fingers work meticulously, folding and running a fingernail over each crease to ensure each edge is crisp. He works methodically in spite of his bandaged hand, until the paper takes the shape of a crane. Gently, he tugs the flaps of pointed paper on its sides perpendicular, allowing the bird to stretch to its full wingspan.

He presents the paper crane in his palm to his current company. ]

You may place this in your new living space. Perhaps it will make it seem less barren.

[.... Huh?

She watches him at work curiously, with a calm little smile, sans any expectations whatsoever. He's human, right? A human from Proper Human History, or something like that. Maybe this is a ritual of some sort!

Besides, it's interesting to watch him at work; his fingers work cleverly, detail-oriented in a way that Altria has never quite managed to be.

... And then he presents it to her.]

[She smiles at him blankly for a few moments too long. A beat, two, and then slowly her gaze shifts from the crane to his face, and back again.

... What?]

... Huh?

You... made it for me?

[... Is he sure? Isn't it some sort of mistake? Why would anyone give anything to her, without knowing who she is, or what her role is, or anything. He has no reason to give her anything, and yet... there's a delicately folded bird in his palm, being offered ever-so-gently to her.]

[ He nods. There's no one else around. Who else could it go to? ]

Yes. It is my hope that you will give it a good home, one where it may stay warm with you.

[ One where both the crane and Altria can stay warm indoors.

His arm remains extended to her, paper bird nestled in his slightly-cupped hand. Has she never received a gift before? Fortunately, Yi Sang is patient. He glances down at the crane with a thoughtful expression. ]

Perhaps you may wish to give it a name?

[He's patient, which means that eventually, she accepts that he's not... faking it. He's just offering her this delicate little paper bird he made, and carefully, she reaches out to take it, holding it gently in her own palms so she can admire it.

... A good home? With her?]

I'll... do my best! [To keep it warm. To keep it safe.]

Thank you very much! It's so beautiful... I'll definitely treasure it!

[As for a name... she knows better than anyone just how precious names are. To faeries, they're synonymous with purpose. So if she thinks of it that way, this little guy's name should be...]

Um... I'm not good with names, but maybe... Gareth? [Her first gift, and her first knight.]

Mm, I am wholly reassured that you will keep it safe.

[ The way Altria holds it like a priceless item already tells him she'll take good care of it. It is but a small token, one that hardly required any effort on Yi Sang's part. Nevertheless, he's well aware that the value of a gift is ultimately in the eyes of the recipient. ]

Gareth?

[ It sounds like an oddly specific name; it must be meaningful to her. So he nods, satisfied with her decision. Now that she has bestowed the bird a name, it is an item that is truly her own. ]

An unfamiliar name to me, but it is nevertheless suitable.

[It's nice of him to accept the name without pressing, just as it was so kind of him to offer the gift for nothing at all. A gift without strings attached. Kindness without ulterior motives.

He truly is a gentle human being.

She keeps the crane tucked close to her chest, cradled in her palm while still being ever-so-cautious to not squish it with her fingers.]

It's a very nice name, right? Really warm and brave, like a good friend.

[She'll leave it at that, lest she think too hard about things back home, and delve into things she's not ready to face.]

... You said you have "colleagues" here, right? What are they like?

[ His smile remains, though it doesn't quite reach his eyes. "A good friend," Altria says. A companion. Someone had called him that in the past, though its delivery was steeped in venom, held over his head. It invokes the taste of medicine, bitter as it melts against his tongue.

...he supposes, lately, "colleague" has felt more akin to the original definition for "companion." ]

Indeed, I discovered a handful of them. One of them has an admirable sense of justice, unable to ignore the plight of those in need. A crusader for those who do not possess the strength or courage to take up their own arms, be it in the literal sense or with her infectious enthusiasm.

[ ...which lands her in trouble from time to time, but that's neither here nor there. ]

I have learned from her that we do not need to concern ourselves with food and supplies. It appears everything required is provided by the City itself.

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picks castoria up in my hands. nothing bad is allows to happen to you ever

i'm sure her future is going to be filled with only sunshine and puppies, definitely

IM SO SCARED FOR HER... also feel free to go wild with her lie detector btw