welcome to goldvale . intro post #1

[powergamer]

It begins with a flash of blinding light.

No matter what they’re doing, the light is so stunning that they pause to shield their eyes. Logically, it seems like such a bright light would hurt their eyes, and yet somehow, it’s not painful at all. It’s strange, but stranger still, a moment later, the ground underneath them is gone. They’re falling, and it feels like they’re falling for a long time as their eyes adjust after that light.

Yet, it’s not long at all—they’re only falling five feet or so. But as they, and others, appear in the air, there’s a shriek of alarm.

“Beryl—Go!!”

A man’s voice shouts after the scream, and as their eyes adjust, they’ll see two blurry figures, the woman running away while the man briefly stands his ground with a dagger raised before he takes advantage of the confusion to flee as well and cover her. You, and all of the other disoriented strangers, have been left alone. There might be a few bruises from the fall, but otherwise, there are no new injuries. It’s a strange lobby, but nothing about it seems helpful to reveal where you are. Following the two figures is fruitless too, since the door at the end of that hallway is sealed shut with magic—no one will be able to pass through.

So, just where are you?

JUMP TO
arrival . announcement . into the city
DISTRICTS
ironwall . tinwick . steelmount
nickelhollow . platmoor . silverbourne

Comments

[totallysane]

Ryuuga-

[Mikado cuts himself off, laughs, and shakes his head.]

Ah, actually, you can just use Mikado. My family name is a bit of a mouthful.

[He's corrected himself more than once now with strangers in this world, but he's still getting used to it. He starts in the direction he indicated, being careful not to move too far away from Kili.]

[kilimanjaro]

Mikado. [Kili nods and sets off, favoring his side considerably. Once they're a good distance away, Kili stops, glancing around again.]

...I think here is good.

[totallysane]

[Mikado nods, looks around just to be sure things look relatively safe, and then slides his school bag over to the edge of his shoulder. He doesn't actually want to set it down, so he shifts about a little to organize things, and starts to rummage through his supplies.

He's suddenly very glad he took a first aid kit to that meeting. Never mind that he'd done it for the sole purpose of bandaging an injury he was going to cause himself; he's got better uses for it now.

He reaches out very carefully, but doesn't actually touch until he's looked up again.]

I have special cleaning pads I can use on it, and then a spray to keep it from getting infected, and then I'll bandage it. Do you need me to help get your clothing out of the way, or would you like to do that?

[kilimanjaro]

I've got it.

[Kili hesitates a moment before taking his bow and quiver off his shoulder and setting them aside. He's still got his sword and his knives belted to his hip, but he still feels kind of defenseless without his bow.

Rather than taking off his layers, which would probably make for much easier access to dealing with the wound, he just bunches them up and pulls them over. The wound isn't shallow, but it isn't terribly deep either, a bloody gash spreading across his ribs.

Kili keeps his eyes open, checking the streets and around them for any danger.]

[totallysane]

[Now that he's actually looking at the wound, Mikado doesn't hesitate. The strange man's health is far more important than anything else, so he crouches carefully to get a good view, starts to arrange his supplies along the top edge of his bag, and carefully starts to work.

He's not too concerned about causing pain: he's fairly sure someone dressed in this manner and carrying a weapon can handle it. But his hands are both careful and efficient as he cleans the wound, then starts to apply butterfly bandages to hold it shut. He's sure a professional could do something better, but he doesn't think the man will die or anything, at least.]

Try paying attention to your breath, that always helps me.

[kilimanjaro]

[Just because Kili looks the part doesn't mean he actually is. He winces when Mikado sets at treating the gash, though he looks everywhere but at him and what he's doing. He's taken a few good hits before, but that doesn't make it much easier to bear. So perhaps he's more accustomed to pain than others, but it still hurts.

He chuckles a little at the comment, a brief smile crossing his face.] That's what my uncle says, too.

[totallysane]

He must be a clever man.

[Mikado smiles back easily, obviously not phased by the blood or the wound itself. If anything, he's more curious about it, but he's trying not to let that show.

He finishes with the bandages to keep it closed, then puts a larger bandage over the top, to be sure it stays clean.]

I'm not sure what kinds of supplies are available here, and I need to change my own bandages as well soon, but if you need more help, you can find me. I'm joining the fighter's guild.

[kilimanjaro]

[Kili nods, taking in slow but shallow breaths as Mikado finishes up. His gaze stays away from what the other is doing, at least until he's done. The dwarf adjusts his clothes, giving a satisfied nod.]

Um...thank you. [Mikado seems practiced with tending to injuries, but where Kili's from, that's not totally unusual. He doesn't pick up on it, at least not this time.]

Good luck with the fighter's guild. I just tried that myself, but Thorin said there's always been some prejudice between races. [He shrugs.]

[totallysane]

I kind of... well, they didn't really want me at first, but I was pretty stubborn. It's really important to me.

[Mikado laughs a little sheepishly.]

I'm sorry to hear that they didn't listen to you though. You certainly look more suited to it than I do. Do you have another idea for a guild to join, or will you try there again..?

[kilimanjaro]

Tall Folk are bastards. [It comes out a little bitterly, and then he realizes he's talking to one of the Tall Folk.]

Er. Sorry. Not all of them. But generally they aren't...as kind to my people.

[Kili sighs and tilts his head back to look at the sky.] I don't know. I won't be part of something that's going to make my life hell. The disciple guild sounds like it could be something I could do... [He shrugs.] The archery one was disappointing.

[totallysane]

It's okay. I understand why you would say that, so I don't mind.

[He doesn't, really. It doesn't matter at all to him, when he's only concerned about this other person's well-being.]

It's true; it's probably better for you to find a place where you don't have to fight for the right to even be there. I hope you can find it.

[He laughs softly.]

Not everyone is going to be stubborn like me. But if you need a friend, sometime, you can contact me, okay?

[kilimanjaro]

[Kili looks down from the sky, meeting Mikado's gaze and giving him a small smile in return. With his wound cleaned and bound, his safety a bit more assured than before, he feels better, more relaxed.]

...That's kind of you, thank you. [He claps Mikado's shoulder in a gesture of camaraderie.] I'm not sure yet where I'll be, but I owe you a debt now. If you would allow me to repay that, I would be grateful.

[totallysane]

[Mikado opens his mouth to say that it's not necessary, but then he closes it again right away. That's not true, is it?

Kili's words make it clear that he feels strongly about debt, so that's part of it. But there's also the fact that Mikado is well and truly alone in this world. There's no girl with a sword to defend him, no van full of cheerfully weird gangsters to rescue him, no dullahan on a black bike. There's no one to go to for information that he know will have it, no contacts. No new contract signed in blood. Nothing and no one.

He needs contacts, allies, people who owe him debts.

So he nods slowly.]

I'll be sure to let you know, if there's anything I need.