You Can Look [OPEN]

[liontomyself]

WHO: Leo and OPEN
WHERE: Maurtia Falls
WHEN: Jan 8th???
WHAT: Leo doesn't know what cars are but they look dangerous
WARNINGS: ????Possible violence? Maybe. We'll have to see.

[Leo was new to this world. He'd gotten a lot of exposition, and frankly, he had studied the pamphlet and taken it to heart as much as he could, but this was very overwhelming for the recently crowned young king. He had managed to figure out how to use the Porter to get to the city he was assigned to, but honestly he was lost.

Anyone could tell he was a new imPort, his face buried in a map he'd snagged from some kind of information center... also he was clad in black, somewhat intimidating armor, complete with claw-like gauntlets and a capelet.

He had not been paying much attention, his dark purple book under an arm as he wandered into the streets. He hadn't heard any hooves, after all, surely this was safe. It was not safe, and as he looked up, he noticed it. Some kind of armored carriages were coming in his direction VERY quickly. He did what he thought was best, his hand glowing bright purple before gravity on that block shifted, enough to send the cars- and any nearby pedestrians- floating into the air as he stood there, eyes wide and teeth grit.]

What is...?!

[Alright he had not been expecting horseless armored chariots. That sounded ridiculous! Also, was that an attempt on his life?! Was it deliberate?!

Holding a hand out toward one of the vehicles he'd lifted, gravity shifted to pull it closer to him, while it remained floating harmlessly in the air, unable to find any purchase for the wheels to get it moving.]

You! Announce yourself! Explain yourself!

Comments

[deadtective]

You're gonna make someone puke like that, dude.

[the comment comes from the safety of the sidewalk, where Hazel is currently watching events unfold with an aggressively nonchalant expression plastered to her face. she doesn't have all the details currently, having been around the corner when the chaos began, but a quick glance has made her pretty certain that whatever kicked this off was probably really stupid.

honestly, why did she bother sticking her nose in shit like this? the alarmed people rushing past her in the opposite direction should've been her cue to alter her route and save herself a metaphorical headache.]

[liontomyself]

[That wasn't the worst reaction someone could have as far as Leo is concerned. Still, he was definitely in the right here.]

Whether or not my assailants vomit is hardly a concern of mine.

[Because that's what this clearly was, otherwise why would they have snuck up on him? Okay, maybe he hadn't been paying the most attention, and maybe he knew what a street WAS, he just hadn't... expected such things to come directly at him so.

Realizing he might have made an error though... Leo begrudgingly allows gravity to slowly return to normal, the cars and pedestrians slowly drifting back to the ground.]

Besides, it's not like I jostled them much.

[deadtective]

People are weirdly sensitive to being upside-down most of the time. It's how carnivals make so much fucking money.

[but he seems reasonable enough to realize this is probably something he couldn't defend rationally after being called out, so she doesn't push it any further. as she watches everyone disperse from the scene as rapidly as possible without causing another accident, she casually asks:]

So do you have a vendetta against every car in this city or just those six?

[liontomyself]

Carnivals...??? [He knew what a carnival was, but what did being upside down have to do with it? Trying not to look like more of a fool, he also retreats to the relative safety of the sidewalk, carefully watching as people and vehicles disperse.]

Is that what those armored carriages are called? 'Cars'? If so, I've no vendetta. They were the ones charging me.

[Time for another fun boy from the distant past, right?]

[deadtective]

["fun" is seriously debatable here. how does she always end up running into these people? doesn't anyone chaperone them for their first month or something??]

Sorry, but you've only got the right of way when you're in the crosswalk. So unless you're fishing for a lawsuit you're probably not gonna want to do that again.

[or do, whatever. she's a random zombie who stopped on the street to insert herself into a stressful situation, not a cop.]

[cigarbribery]

[Figures. The one time he takes a taxi out of town, and Foggy's car just happens to be lifted up in the air by some maniac. The taxi driver honks angrily, swearing up and down at the guy, so Foggy grabs hold of him and tells him to calm down, he'll handle this, he's a lawyer. Even though technically he still doesn't have his license back, but shush.

He rolls the window down and sticks his head out the window.]

Could you set us down gently first? Please? [He sounds somewhat friendly and willing to explain, at least, if also exasperated.] I swear we didn't mean to almost run you over.

[liontomyself]

[It is a good thing that Foggy stepped in. The person swearing at him from the driver's seat hadn't EXACTLY assured him that this was not an assassination attempt. Leo had extended a hand, sharp gauntlets in a gesture that made it look like he may perhaps have been debating crushing the vehicle. After all, best to eliminate the danger, right?

That said, he's not a monster, and a friendly-sounding voice manages to change his mind.]

Hmph. Fine. [Doesn't mean he has to like it. Leo scowled, but complied, slowly allowing gravity to return to normal.]

But if you make a move, I will not hesitate to crush your armored carriage.

[cigarbribery]

We're not gonna make a move. Promise.

[The taxi driver clambers out once the car is gently set down, yells something at Foggy about how he can keep his sixty bucks, and shoves the bills at him before storming off. Foggy just sighs as he climbs out of the taxi, resting an elbow on the roof as he looks at Leo with the air of someone who might not be used to this, but is very used to talking people down.

He also makes sure to keep both his hands in view. See? No weapons.]

Can we talk off the streets? People here tend to take it kinda personally when someone's standing in the middle of the road.

[liontomyself]

[Really, the taxi driver was smart to run off, and lucky besides. Leo never had been good about his temper when people spoke to him the way he had. His attention is otherwise occupied though, but for him to give a disappointed scoff as the man ran off. It wasn't like Leo really even did anything! Just a little bit of floating and people here go mad!]

I wasn't intending to remain in the road. Simply attempting to navigate with a very unfamiliar map.

[His brows raised as he waved the map in the man's direction, as if to prove his point. He might look like a supervillain in the making with his gravity powers, perpetual scowl, and the dark, spiky armor, but he was kind of more like a lost tourist at the moment.]

[cigarbribery]

[His blind ninja best friend runs around in red leather armor with pointy horns. The most Leo's costume gets out of Foggy is a raised eyebrow, because come on, does he not realize what he looks like? But he shrugs, and lets that go.]

Where are you going? I can probably take you there, I know the city pretty well. [Not as well as New York, but Foggy's reasonably knowledgeable. He jerks a thumb over to the cars beginning to back up behind them, the irate honking starting up.] And if you weren't planning on staying on the road, then we should definitely get out of here before things get ugly.

H E L P I N G

[knaval]

[so riptide sees this in human form. just another unremarkable wandering down the street (maybe being recognised once or twice by people who're into BB3K) until he sees leo do the thing. it doesn't occur to him that this is a good guy, only that he's doing something that could hurt the people in the car.

he has to be a good autobot sometime, right? anyway, he shifts into robot mode, suddenly 32ft of metal behind leo and puts his hands either side of the guy.]

Put them down!

[liontomyself]

[Now, Leo was a relatively brave kid. He was able to serve as a general in war times, boldly riding into battles which he may very well not survive. He had powers which made him quite dangerous himself, and of course he was dressed in some spiky, spooky black armor, but he was still very much an 18 year old boy from a bygone era in which they hadn't really even had electricity. So a giant robot appearing and touching him when he had already been frightened by the oncoming traffic PROBABLY doesn't garner the reaction Riptide was expecting as Leo lets out a shriek and jumps, his spell breaking immediately and everything falling to the ground with a cacophonous thud of metal, rubber, and of course, people.]

AH! Wh-!!!

[He pales as he looks at whatever touched him, not sure what it was, not sure how to fight it.]

H-honored god of all things-

[knaval]

Oh! That was easy. Okay.

[he draws his hands back, though he's still crouching to look at leo.]

Um. Hi? You're not a bad guy or anything, right? I mean... levitating cars kind of seems like it.

[liontomyself]

Are...

[Okay it was talking, so it wasn't like some sort of Faceless or golem, but what it was saying was. Strange.]

... Are you asking me about my relative morality??? That's pretty subjective, don't you think?

[knaval]

Er. Yes. I think so.

[these words...]

You were levitating the car. With people inside. Look, they're still screaming!

[...though now about riptide.]

[fauxmarth]

[it's the warning cries from pedestrians at the crosswalk that alert her. in any world, Lucina is a hero at heart, and she can't ignore trouble brewing right down the block! peeling away from her window-shopping, Lucina hastens to the street as fast as a polka-dot pencil skirt can allow.

she sees the pointing, the dark figure walking across with no heed to their warnings as the vehicle races past her, and the danger is now clear. she adds her voice to the chorus:]

Look out!!

[she's too far away, he's going to--!!]

-?!

[the car is suddenly bewitched and sent into the air, along with the poor, wellmeaning onlookers. Lucina skids on her heels to a halt, just shy of the radius of the spell -- even being this close has her hair and garish accessories floating slightly.]

Gods! This is-- [she looks to the would-be crash victim. it's him!]

[liontomyself]

[Honestly, in the commotion and with his head having been buried in the map, he hasn't heard a warning.

All he notices is that polka-dot pencil skirt and the garish accessories as a woman wearing them comes running at him. Leo turns to face her, staring her down as if this was her fault.]

Wh-what is the meaning of this?!

[fauxmarth]

[there's really no need to ask: his hand is the one held up in a gesture of power, while the rest of this scene seems completely askew.

Lucina recovers from her shock and bristles, compelled to find some way to de-escalate the situation before the panic from the people floating above becomes too loud to overcome.]

Sir, please-- [she addresses Leo, while holding her hands out in a soothing gesture to the frightened, confused people.] If you're able, can you safely stop this enchantment?

[she doesn't want to have to bring Falchion into this, but should he be a villain, then by gods, she will ruin this nice (AWFUL) outfit!]

[liontomyself]

[He certainly looks the villain, standing poised in the middle of chaos in his black armor and the scowl on his face. Really, he'd just been frightened by making the mistake to walk into traffic, but he was trying to save face by not looking frazzled.]

If I'm able?

Do you think I'd have used such a large radius if I were going to hurt bystanders?

[HE MIGHT HAVE. He'd panicked, okay?! Still, he didn't look completely inclined to just do as he was asked.]

If you can assure me that this was not an assassination attempt, then I may do so.

[fauxmarth]

Assassination? [she's rather startled by the notion -- it hadn't come to mind at all. not that...much has had time to since rushing into this scene.

it's through the graces of many, many witnesses that the puzzle this scene happens to be can be fitted together, bit by bit. there's definitely protest to his request -- perhaps not in the nicest of tones, but...well. nobody seems to be happy floating around up there except a handful of kids and a couple of teens with their phones out.

so it's up to Lucina to try and make sense of the madness. she gives ear to several of the more boisterous voices -- especially that of the passengers inside the captive vehicle, her eyes flickering about to add it all up. the speeding car, the near-empty crossing, the light...

it's the light that makes the most sense. she may not know much, but...]

Peace! Please! [she begs of the people above her.] I, I think I have an understanding. Or, understanding of...misunderstanding, as it seems.

[she looks back to Leo, straightening up, trying to put her best foot forward and appear quite certain.]

You were distracted with reading just a moment ago, yes? [some scattered, shouted yeses from the chorus.] Well, in doing so, you failed to notice it was unsafe to cross here... [she gestures broadly to the street...and the increasingly growing bit of traffic behind them.] The path here is for the vehicles to use, and you must have stepped into the pathway of this one.

[Learn to read a damn CROSSWALK, the car's passenger yells. Lucina's eyes wince.]

There are many rules for travel here, you see...

[shadowglitter]

[ After Lucina arrived, Odin had set an alert on the network to see if any names he might recognize would be added. He was in the middle of talking to a friend about his cousin when his communicator buzzed, and Leo's face was there, attached to his name, staring up from the communicator with the kind of sour, cat-like grace Odin had come to expect from him over the past six years of being his retainer.

And as a good retainer, Odin dropped everything he was doing and just fucking ran to find him. He's a god damn mess by the time he stumbles onto the scene, his Prince and his Lod in the middle of a busy street with cars floating helplessly around him, and Odin's heart is so full he feels like he could cry.

He stumbles through the natives gathered around to watch, climbs over one of the half-of-the-ground cars angled in just an awkward enough position to be in his way, and wheezes pathetically as he trips and jumps down off the engine. He staggers over the asphalt of the road as he clambers towards Leo, and-- there they come, there come the tears, when he's finally close enough to see his face. ]

L-- Lord-- Lord Le-- [ wheeze ]

L-LORD L-LEEEOOOOOOOOO!!!!

[ He collapses on Leo's side, all but knocking him to the ground, crying right in his ear. He wraps his arms around Leo's chest and buries his face into his neck, sobbing and wheezing and generally acting completely unbecoming for a man of his title. He squeezes Leo as close to him as he can, and finally, finally, he feels like he's home. ]

[liontomyself]

[Leo had been shocked by the attack on his person that was cars just attempting to go down the street, and was not actually expecting to be tackled to the ground by a crying retainer, so...

There he was.

He let out a yell as his hold on the spell that was floating everyone around him snapped, sending everyone hurtling back to the ground as Leo his the pavement as well, arms wrapping around him, there were some tears on his face that were not his, and of course, Odin, screaming.

Leo's first sound is a wheeze as he attempts to get the wind back into him before he just starts... clawing at Odin a little with his gauntlets. Not... .as much as normal because frankly he IS relieved to see a retainer, but GODS, ODIN.]

O-Odin....!!! Let... let go!!! Can't breathe!

[shadowglitter]

[ The not as much as normal aspect of the clawing is what gets Odin to stop, eventually, after another few very long minutes of sobbing and screaming and hugging and wheezing. He's stricken with the panicked concern that Leo must be-- hurt, or lethargic, or something, if he's not using the full force of his energy to pry Odin away from him, but-- but when he eases back and stands to his full height and habitually smooths a strand of hair away from Leo's eyes, he seems... fine. Maybe. Odin would know if he was sick. He's not sick. ]

You're--

[ He chokes, a little, and rubs the back of his hand over his eyes. It would be a rather touching moment, if not for the fucking cars and concerned people still floating haphazardly above them. ]

P-Prince Leo. I didn't-- you're here. I didn't think I'd ever see you again.

[liontomyself]

[Leo doesn't even flinch from the way Odin smoothed his hair, far too used to it to be bothered. It's actually pretty comforting, after the stress of getting sucked into this crazy weird world with it's terrible metal carriages and strange buildings. Being lost and wandering without a real idea of how to figure out this whole 'address' thing...

He doesn't even correct Odin on his incorrect title. He'd been Prince LEo for so long that it almost doesn't even register.]

H- I just... What do you mean?

[He never thought he'd see him again??? But they'd recently seen each other, right?]

Oh, just a moment. [ABOUT THOSE FLOATING PEOPLE AND CARS. They're complaining pretty loudly now that they're fairly sure they're not in immediate danger, and so Leo grimaces and starts to let them down. Gently enough, but not like SUPER gently so there are protests from cars and people alike as they hit the ground. Whatever. Leo didn't care about them.]

There we are. Now what do you mean 'you never thought you'd see me again'?

[shadowglitter]

[ Odin could not give less of a shit about the floating cars or the complaining people or the danger anyone on this street, themselves included, may or may not be in. All he cares about is Leo, and being with Leo, and totally going against his orders to give Leo some space so he can slide back over and hug him just as tightly as before. He's not done yet. This hug isn't done yet. ]

I-- things are... I haven't--

[ He takes a breath. It's not unusual, for him, to struggle with words, at least when those words aren't laced in screams about dragons or dungeons or woods or nightmares. Speaking without affectation to his Lord has never really been how he navigates their relationship, but he hasn't seen Leo for months, and while every nerve in his body is screaming "this deserves the most poetic comparison to oceans of blood crashing against cliffs of bone", one single, sensible thought is telling him to just speak like a human being. For once. That's the thought he listens to. ]

It's been-- six months. Since I've seen you. The timelines here are-- it's just, it's messy. I haven't seen you for six months. I was scared and alone and I tried so hard to stay a good retainer, to stay connected to you, and I--

I didn't think--

[ SNIFFLE. ]