♤ There's a Method in His Madness

[deal_me_in]

WHO: Cayde-6 and yooou
WHERE: Around this weirdo city
WHAT: Getting into trouble Trying to track down people he knows
WHEN: Mid-May
WARNINGS: N/A



Arson
We'll both have to do something separately. Each should try to get the attention of one of those groups or try to find others that remember Temba. It had sounded like a decent plan to Cayde. The question had just been the what. He supposed vandalizing Stark's place was out of the question, not to mention the security he'd have to avoid. The same probably goes for the other big-name buildings. Who's this Djarin anyway?

In the end, the only casualty is a billboard. That had been a slight mistake on Cayde's part, having underestimated how quickly one would catch fire, and he only hoped at least something of that by now trademark Agrii face he'd traced out had been seen before the rest of the board had been caught up in flames.

The second attempt had been bolder, down a street and done at late hours when traffic was near non-existent. Few witnesses would say they'd seen a hooded figure running about the middle of a street for the length of a block. Just before he vanished, the street was lit up in flames. Images taken from above street level would see the message better, a fiery, strange message by someone who obviously couldn't spell:

DON'T FORGET, HE ROWS


((OOC: Not actually a prompt Cayde will be responding to so much as a 'here's a thing he did' but reactions are welcome! Unless someone wants to catch him leaving the scene of the crime message. If so, only one taker please!))



The Super Sleuth..?
The newspaper he'd borrowed from Echo had shown him some interesting things, and not just Captain America in a tree trying to rescue the cat Cayde had also borrowed. Obviously after that strange alien invasion the other day, it's probably safe to assume that this city is anything but normal- aside from the fact that it probably shouldn't even exist. He'd seen Ikora blasting aliens with void magic. The Soldier had suddenly taken on some hero roll and seemed downright chipper about it. And then there were other names floating about in articles that got him thinking.

Hopefully Echo doesn't expect this paper back. It's got circles around names in headlines and things. Names of local heroes (he rows?) and vigilantes.

"Oh yes, Cayde, you are so very clever," he tells himself as he folds the paper up while he crosses a street. Which he totally has the right of way! The hand thingy's not flashing yet! It's the truck's fault for having its brakes go out as it comes down the sloped street, horn blaring as it lurches this way and that in the driver's effort to shave off some speed but it's still coming rather fast. "-seriously?"


Warlock Hunt (For Lark and Ikora)
Spending time thinking and reminscing about Ikora to, what was it- acclimatize the wool thread he'd bought had been extremely strange and borderline creepy in his opinion, although it had also been a sobering suggestion of what could easily just be gone if whatever was going on in this city continued. Cayde had given Lark the thread once she was ready to work with it, eager to see how things panned out with this magical map she said she could create. And he had not been disappointed.

"So does that work with like...objects too or just people?" he asks as they set foot into the library. That map trick had worked spectacularly, and Cayde being one who liked his paper maps had bought a city one just to match up with the one Lark had woven. He'd almost smacked himself in the head. Where else would a Warlock be in a city?

"Let's see. Do we ask for Miss Rey...?" he wonders aloud even as he tries and fails to stifle snickers at that. He wonders if Ikora's ever been called 'Miss Rey' in her entire Guardian life.


Wildcard
((OOC: Want his 'sleuthing' to have him end up where your character is, provided he might have seen a hero name in a paper and took a guess at who they might be if it seemed obvious to him, or if they had their own names come up in it! ...oh gosh is he gonna get kicked out of the newspaper office too...))

Comments

Warlock Hunt

[stitch_witch]

This was not, of course, where she had expected to end up. But with the arrival Lark had been happy to tuck her cloth away, intending to call back the magic and thread at a later time for disposal in a safe manner.

But what she wanted, more than anything, was her robes. These clothes felt so... revealing in ways she hadn't been used to in a while.

"Would you perhaps consider lowering your voice? It seems impolite to be loud in a space such as this."

[deal_me_in]

"Huh? Ooh right," Cayde says, dropping his voice low with as sheepish a grin as he can muster. Not that it would last long. The Exo's not very quiet unless he wants to be. He saunters on ahead, expecting Lark to stick close as he looks around. How long has it been since he's been in a library like this? Of course even the Speaker's library had been limited, but it was still more books than he'd ever think to get through.

"So this is a Golden Age or at least Pre-Golden Age library..." he marvels. Now where to find Ikora. "Oh hey, a mystery section. ...although somehow I doubt that's the mystery Ikora would be looking for."

[cannot_flinch]

Ikora was not in the mystery section.

She was at the reference desk helping a young man figure out what books would work best for his paper on early computers. There was also a black cat on the counter curled up looking, for all the world, like it was asleep.

But its tail flicked lazily back and forth and occasionally it opened its eyes and looked around before pretending to sleep again.

Ikora had noticed the two visitors and how loud one of them was. She glanced at them and frowned. For some reason she had a strange sense of deja vu when she looked at them except she was also certain she had never seen them before.

[stitch_witch]

"Perhaps if you explained what the woman looked like, I could assist you better in finding her," Lark said, keeping her voice low. "Is she young or old? What is her skin tone? Does she have any distinguishing features."

Lark's map hadn't been nearly specific enough to find someone in all of these stacks. And oh, how many wonderful books there were.

[deal_me_in]

Thankfully Cayde's not being as loud as he possibly could be.

"-have I not? Wow, you are on top of things, Cayde," the Exo mutters to himself, shaking his head. He gestures with a hand even as he continues to look around. "Anyway, she's about this tall, dark skin, hair cropped close to her scalp, kind of a regal beari- Ikora!"

Okay, that is a wince-worthy volume, which he at least has the decency to realize as he hunches his shoulders and ducks his head just a touch, however still pointing in the direction of the warlock. Naturally it's not a state-of-being he tends to remain in for long as he all but bounds over to the reference desk, metal face beaming.

[cannot_flinch]

Almost everyone in the library looks over at the man's shout of her name. A few library regulars know her that well but this man... this metal man... is a stranger to her.

A part of her mind says no, that's wrong.

But it's not wrong. She doesn't know this man shouting her name like they're old friends. Ikora motions the young man she is helping to wait before she turns her attention to the blue man shouting at her.

"Can I help you, sir?" she asks, no real warmth in her tone just polite professionalism.

[stitch_witch]

“You are not reasonable,” Lark sighed once Cayde bellowed. Yet it was with reason and she moved to follow the man to the reason for his shout.

Upon seeing the woman she offered an abbreviated bow.

“Forgive my companion. He is excitable and, I believe, seeking you. For answers as to why we are here.”

[deal_me_in]

"I am most reasonable," the Exo insists. He leans against the counter as Lark delivers the preamble.

"Would've said hi sooner after I saw you hurling void magic at aliens but you seemed kind of busy." That and he fell into a dumpster, but he's not going to mention that.

"Now. From that look you're giving me you're either trying to pull my leg and make this difficult or you really don't know who I am. Which is ridiculous because really, who can forget my handsome face?"

[cannot_flinch]

"People come here looking for books. I'm not sure what you're hoping to find." Ikora looks them both over, torn between deja vu and a complete blank in her mind. It was a strange conflict of thoughts.

"I'm afraid I don't even know your name," she said with another, longer look at the robotic man. "You might have me confused with someone else you know."

But he did recognize her from defending the city which was a bit surprising. She wasn't usually recognized for her superhero persona. There was some magic around Vanguard that made her face hard to remember.

Sleuth

[mrsklover]

Richie is only barely heroic. His power is better for putting kids into naptime than it is for saving anyone's life. Still, when he sees this guy standing in the middle of the road, seconds away from being mowed down, he can't help but spring into action.

For all the good a forty year old 'springing' into action did.

Still, he took off running and, thanks mostly to being close rather than being fast, he got to the guy and used his momentum to push him aside. Sort of. Well. They lived. So that is what matters.

Gasping for air he looked over at the guy and realized too late that he dropped his notepad in the road. Shit. Well, hopefully he wouldn't put him to sleep with a simple question.

"You okay?"

[deal_me_in]

Well this is a twist! And probably not the most comfortable rescue given that it's not flesh and blood under that fashionable hoodie! Blue light winks in and out as the Exo blinks at his apparent savior.

"Y-yeah, I'm fi-" Squint. "Richie?"

[mrsklover]

Huh?

Richie looks at the blue lights and has a memory. Or maybe something like a memory? At any rate, he feels like he knows this person even if he can't entirely place how or why.

Without his notepad he has to keep his conversations short lest the man pass out on him, so he can't start interrogating. He settles on:

"You know me?"

[deal_me_in]

Cayde grabs him by the shoulders, and then looks where they are and starts a little closer to the sidewalk. Crazy drivers in this place!

"Yes! You're Richie, the guy who likes doing standup comedy and had a bad run-in with alien clowns or something." Or maybe that's not going to get them anywhere if he doesn't remember anything, the Exo reminds himself. "-anyway I'm Cayde. Robot guy? Made a bar in Temba? Home of little fangy pink alien creatures with four arms that we're supposed to be saving? Ring any bells?"

[mrsklover]

Richie blinks a little, both because everything he is saying sounds familiar and because the guy hasn't even yawned yet. Richie talked to him and he seems pretty steady on his feet. That hasn't really happened before.

"Cayde..." The name sounds familiar but he can't entirely place it. He tries to focus on it and the idea of a bar. Funny enough, it's more the comedy bit and the clown that rings true to him. It sounds like something almost from a dream, but no. No... He can almost remember it...

"I...uh.... No? I'm Richie, the guy who can't talk without putting people to sleep." Or was he? "Uh. But that clown thing... I mean. It sounds a little familiar..."

[deal_me_in]

Familiar is better than the blank looks or the ones that make it seen like he's the crazy one here, and he's gotten enough of those. Cayde looks hopeful as he tilts his head, watching for some kind of light bulb to connect but all he's getting is a flicker.

Know what, he'll take it.

"You put people to sleep when you talk? You gotta work on those jokes, kid."

[mrsklover]

Okay, that is funny. Richie laughs, surprised at the joke as much as he is by the fact that he can have a conversation with someone for more than a minute. That alone makes him mildly desperate to stick around Cayde. Add on the mystery stuff he's dumped here and Richie is hooked.

"What can I say? Not a lot of ways to practice when people pass out. But... You know me as a comedian? How? When?"

[deal_me_in]

"Oh, so you weren't kidding? You meant like...literally. Okay that's kinda weird but this place is weird so I guess it all works out." Cayde shakes his head. "Anyway, I know this all sounds crazy but you thankfully have not given me the crazy look so I'm taking that as a good sign. So hear me out."

He takes a second to figure out how to start things off. "So there's this ruined city called Temba on an alien planet called Agra Ten, and we were all brought there to help the Agrii- the ones who called the place home- to solve some problems so they can come back. And we were all there not a month ago, but then suddenly...all this." He gestures vaguely. "-which I'm not sure how to explain but anyhow that's how I know you and you told me you had a thing for wanting to do stand-up and I said you could use the bar space."

Sleuth

[the_child]

The Kid wasn't normally seen out and about without his guardian, but he felt like getting some air today. It turned out to be lucky he did. He sensed the danger, feeling the driver's panic. He lacks the strength or ability to stop the vehicle careening out of control, but there is one thing he can do. Taking off, he flies at top speed towards the being in the truck's path. He aims to hit him in the shoulder, knocking him out of the way without a moment to spare.

[deal_me_in]

He has been hit and flung and found himself flying and falling all too many times in this screwy city. It doesn't look good on his Guardian track record, not that he hasn't had enough embarrassing moments there, but this is still comparing centuries with days and weeks. He's not sure what's hit him now but it isn't the truck, not from the direction it's come from and the direction he's sent sprawling, but hopefully the green projectile that had struck him won't get stunned by the solid metal of the Exo beneath all that clothing.

Cayde's reflexes kick in as he nears the ground, the Exo twisting to minimize a skid and use the momentum to roll back onto his feet. The truck goes zooming past, tires screeching before it hits a fire hydrant on the opposite corner, sending up a geyser of water that immediately begins to drench the intersection.

"...whoa. Okay... What hit me?"

[the_child]

Thankfully, the alien is more durable than he looks. He's also got a touch of telekinetic power to help even the playing field... It's just not his strong suit.

He stands, brushing himself off and smiling at the stranger. The words are projected right into Cayde's head. How? Don't question it. I did. Thankfully it wasn't that truck. Are you alright?

[deal_me_in]

His response is momentarily derailed by the sudden words in his head, leaving him gaping like a metal fish. He shakes his head, not too crazy about finding other people's voices in his head, but right now that's not as important.

"Kid! Ohmygosh- Yes, I'm fine- thanks, did not want to get hit by giant metal objects moving at speed. Why are you, have you always been able to talk like that?" He waves a hand about as though to push the questions he'd just dropped out of the way. "Anyway, more importantly, do you remember me?"

He manages not to sound pleading but somehow it shows in his expression, the slightly brighter glow of his eyes.

[the_child]

The Kid tilts his head, frowning a little. What is this person even babbling about. He's pretty recognizable, so he's not surprised by being called Kid. But the rest...

He shakes his head a little, No, I don't remember you. Should I?

[deal_me_in]

His eagerness hits the wall then and subsequently plummets with his mood, shoulders sagging. "Oh." Well that's never not awkward. Cayde shoves his hands into his pockets because he totally hadn't been about to hug the little one just a moment ago.

"I was hoping you would? We're like...ship buddies. And bar buddies! I got this tank back in Temba? You like eating stuff out of? Raw, no less, but still- oh, is helmet guy with you? One of these days I'll get his name."

[the_child]

The Kid blinks. He can see the memories in this guy's mind. A spaceship. A bar full of fish tanks. A sign 'mind the kid.' Him... But it can't be him. And yet... And Din, though his costume is a little different. The guy had been so excited to see him, genuinely excited. The excitement usually reserved for friends, not rescuing heroes. Temba... Where does he know that name?

I don't understand. What is Temba?

[deal_me_in]

"Temba, it's...Actually I don't know how we got here but we're supposed to be in Temba now. It's a ruined city, on a planet called Agra Ten. These pink guys called the Agrii brought us all there to help save it."

Maybe he should print out flyers. Explaining this is really wearing on him, but Cayde rallies on regardless, in hopes of finding some chink in whatever sort of illusionary armor this place has created. Or snags. Is that what you'd call it if you were alluding to weaving? He's no weaver like Lark but she'd made it sound cooler.

"But then one day we just woke up here and everything was different. This isn't... it's not where everyone is from. Like you and Helmet- and these Jedi guys... you're from some space, and me and Ikora and Tony and a lot of these other guys are from Earth- different Earths, but not this one. This is fake, somehow. I can't explain except that it might be magic or something and I can't even explain that so I probably sound insane right now."