I'd be a dancer of a different tune

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I'd be a dancer of a different tune

WHO: Cipher Nine and OTA
WHERE: Anywhere
WHEN: During June
WHAT: It's a catch-all with some starters, so endless possibilities!
WARNINGS: I'll update as necessary.

anywhere, night time
[Out in the night being a superhero? Catching bad guys? Or were you just the victim of a random attack?

It doesn't matter which, but as it turns out, Edwon was somewhere close by. If it looks like you've got this under control, he's just going to watch. Lean against a wall, arms acrossed, enjoy the show.

If it looks like you don't? He'll step in. Either way:]

They don't like to keep us bored here, do they.

heropa
[Edwon isn't someone to just relax, but he is someone who'll pretend to relax. So he can be found in and around his assigned housing of Heropa #004, maybe just talking a walk around the neighborhood, enjoying the scenery and not at all spying on the other residents. Maybe he's on his balcony, leaning on the railing, enjoying the sun - it's a decent vantage point, eyes or no eyes.

Look, he wants to know who lives around here, and that's easiest done by being a friendly neighbour. And he plays that part really well.

If he sees you, he'll smile. Come talk?]

choose your own adventure
[Feel free to run into Edwon in any of the cities, since he'll be all over the place for a while. Write me a starter, and I'll take it from there. Or if you want me to write you a specific starter, or you want to plot something, find me over at

vikinged or robin#5467

Oh, and I don't care if you use paragraphs or action style, just go for it and I'll match.]

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[The tall, impassive man that walks past Heropa 004 doesn't seem the type to be walking a small dog, and yet there was a well-behaved Jack Russell walking several paces in front of him, leash in the man's hand. He slows as he realizes that there was someone outside, and stops when he sees where he is. The dog sits shortly after.]

You're new to the neighborhood.

[The words are toneless and slightly cold as he states that, rather than asks if, the stranger at Heropa 004 was new.]

[Edwon isn't used to dogs, but he's used to stranger pets than that, and this one seems well behaved enough. He chooses to ignore it, instead paying attention to the apparent owner.

He gets the feeling he's under suspicion. That's always interesting.]

I am. I'm Edwon, recently arrived. [He makes a small bow.] It's a nice neighborhood we've been placed in.

[Judd makes a silent command for the dog to sit, and it obeys moments later.]

It is. Though it is also the most humid.

[Though he's lived many places throughout his life, he eventually made home in the mountains. He misses the climate.]

Yes, but at least they keep the houses nice and cool inside.

[He prefers hot to cold, himself, but the fact that this place is at least technologically advanced enough to have air conditioning is still a relief.]

I didn't catch your name.

I hadn't yet offered it. Judd.

[He looks down at the Jack Rusell.]

And this is Ozzy.

[He is very well aware the other man didn't ask, which is most of why he said it.]

It's nice to meet you, Judd.

[Still slightly hostile, then. Edwon will counter it by pretending not to notice.]

It's a dog, right? Hello, Ozzy.

[More like naturally suspicious. His normal monotone certainly doesn't help matters.]

A pleasure.

[He nods and the dog barks, wagging his tail but not getting up from his sit position.]

Yes. He was my former roommate's, but he's gone back home.

[Hey, nothing wrong with being suspicious!]

And you're taking care of him? That's nice of you.

[He doesn't react to the bark. He's met louder pets, but he's also not used to dogs at all, and doesn't know if the tail wagging is good or bad.]

If you and Ozzy are out here walking a lot, I imagine I'll be running into you regularly.

I had been assisting with his training.

[Because Bob, while a good guy, was a bit impetuous.]

I take it you're a new imPort, newly living in housing number 4.

What kind of training?

[He tilts his head, lips barely forming a smile.]

You're right. You already noticed the house I'm in as well?

Basic obedience.

[As the dog's a foster, he has no plans on training it further.]

Habit. ImPorts show up in the beginning of the month, and I wind up noting which houses have new inhabitants.

In that case, training seems to be going well.

[The dog certainly seems obedient to him. It's been sitting there patiently so far.]

That's very observant. [Too observant, most people wouldn't bother.] I'm impressed. And a little relieved. I'm assuming you keep an eye out for danger as well.

He's a good dog.

[Judd gently pats the top of the dog's head.

And he can't help but be observant. It's how he was trained.]

Don't confuse me for this overabundance of superheroes that seem to exist in this world, but yes, I can be known to protect my territory.

Tinúviel elvanui, e lleth alfirin edhelhael...

[Cecelia tips the watering can, trying to get the rest of its contents out and into the planter on her balcony while she sings. it's a rare thing to sing aloud outside, but the weather is fair, the house is empty, and she doesn't feel the fear of being judged! why not indulge a bit of her childhood dreams of being some fair lady in a faraway place, singing songs of fairer ladies in farther places?

she's got half of it, at least: she is in a faraway place. it just takes a bit of imagination for the rest...and closing her eyes to the ugly concrete of the street below.]

O hon ring finnil fuinui
A renc gelebrin thiliol…!

[Edwon tilts his head, and walks over to the edge of his balcony when he hears the singing - there's a small barrier there, to prevent residents from looking straight into each other's apartments, but it doesn't actually make a difference to him. He senses one person, and a whole lot of plantlife, making it stand out a lot compared to the other balconies here. Someone has put effort into it.

He against his railing, which should be enough to allow the other person to see him. He waits to be spotted to say anything.]

I didn't mean to spy, but you have a very nice voice.

[Cecelia squeaks in alarm, jolting and--] Ah! Oh! Gah! [--dropping her watering can; look out below!]

Oh, gods! Sorry! Hello?! [she's reluctant to peek over, but she must...]

[Don't worry, she won't be faced with anyone looking at her if she peeks. His face is turned the wrong way, and he's wearing his blindfold, as always. Not that it changes his actual awareness of her in any way.]

Hello. [And he sounds a little amused, too.] What were you singing?

[oh GODS.

embarrassed, she hides behind her hands for a moment before dragging her fingers down to curl at her chin.

well...if he'd been hit by a falling watering can, he'd have said something other than hello, right?]

Um. Hhhhi... [she leans down to better see. there's the offending can in a puddle...nowhere near having struck the man. thank gods.]

W-what? I--oh. Uh. N-nothing. Nothing. I...didn't think anyone was. Around. Listening.

[Don't worry, he's very difficult to hit with falling objects.]

I wasn't, until just now. [A little while ago, at least, but there's no need to embarrass her further, he thinks.] I take it the watering can wasn't a deliberate attack, then?

Do you want it back?

Well, uh--I mean-- [her eyes wince.] Yes, I...I'll come down and...and get it, of course. Sorry. You can just...leave it there. Pay it no mind. Actually, pretend you, you didn't see or hear me?

I didn't see you, but I couldn't forget hearing you, I'm afraid.

[He's starting to recognize her voice from having gone through a couple of her network post, and that makes this even better. He can't resist teasing a little bit more because of it.]

I can bring it up if you like.

[the correction makes her pause, giving her a brief pulse of indignation. gods, like she'd know he saw one way or another! not like he's--

wearing...a blindfold...

gods whatever!

hastily:] N-no, no! No, just--wait a moment. I guess. Or not? I don't know--

[she makes an exasperated sound, vanishing from the balcony. a minute or so later, she comes bustling outside, still futzing with a shawl along the way before snatching the can up.]

There. Good. Sorry. For...interrupting? I don't know if that's what happened? Or...what...is happening. I guess. Sorry. Who are you?

[unlike Edwon, Cecelia didn't have a lot to go on as far as investigating a stranger...if she even wanted to. she's been a bit busy with other things! and she's been trying to avoid digging up stuff on people; it tends to end poorly.]

[Digging up information on people is what he does. His epxerience is that it never hurts to be prepared - and right now it gives him the upper hand, since he knows something she doesn't.

Not that he needs the upper hand - she's flustered, he's teasing, it's a normal situation, not a hostile one - but it's an impossible habit to break. And at least it adds to his amusement.]

You didn't interrupt. I was just out walking.

[Figuring out who his neighbors are - again, information.]

I'm Edwon. I just moved in here.

Oh, here? With-- [Wolfwood? Jaime?

...wait.

she blinks.]

Edwon? Didn't I...? [she frowns, squinting at him for a beat before it hits.]

Wait. You--were you...recently on the network? Talking about seeing things? Or--

I was. And you're Cecilia.

[He bows just slightly.]

It's nice to meet you in person, even if you did attack me with a watering can.

Oh-!! [she gasps a little, clapping a hand over her mouth for a moment. it figures OF COURSE IT FIGURES she'd make an idiot of herself in front of one of the blessed few sane and conversational people she'd encountered!]

Omigawds. I--! No, I absolutely didn't mean for that to happen, I swear! I'm so sorry. I--oh. Gods. That's...a terrible impression to leave, isn't it? Oh...

[Edwon laughs, a surprisingly throaty sound coming from him.]

You can relax. I dodged it, didn't I? [He waves off her apologies.] Even if you'd managed to hit me and knocked me out, I would have forgiven you.

That's...

[suspiciously kind.]

That's generous of you. Yes. [she clears her throat, hugging the watering can tighter to herself, as if ensuring it didn't just magically leap out to try and knock the man out.]

I-in any case, it won't happen again. I'll be far too mindful for that. So. So it's...nothing you have to think about going forward.

It was an accident.

[And he'd be angry with himself if he'd failed to dodge something like that.]

And I'll be more careful not to startle you next time.

R...right...

[...well. if he wants to take some responsibility for his own security, far be it from her to fall all over herself in apologies, right? right?!

she exhales. gods, get a grip, Cecelia...you were working on this, weren't you?!]

That aside. You...you say you're now moving in here, yes? This street? Which house would that be? [please not mine please not mine please not mine please not mine please not mine--]

I'm right over there.

[He points to the house next to hers. Normally he'd be reluctant to tell anyone where he lives, but when she lives right next to him, she'd likely find out sooner or later.]

Oh-- [okay, GOOD that it's not hers...but it's so close!!! is that good?? she's not sure what's good anymore. hellfire.]

Oh, well...you'll have to mind the, uh. The occasional yelling from over here.

[...]

Not from me! From...from my housemates. Two of them. They're just...they're very rowdy men...

[...........................]

That sounds so unsavory, but--but I do try to encourage them to be civil and quiet when they're in the house! They're just...naturally...loud-types...is all...

[and this speaks nothing to her at-times shrieking at their transgressions; nothing will be spoken of those.]

Yelling?

[He tilts his head a little, like he's considering it. Otherwise his face is neutral now.]

I can tolerate some yelling. I've dealt with people like that before, and I probably won't be in much.

[He's going to be all over the place, really.]

Are they friends of yours?

I mean...! [engh. she briefly pinches the bridge of her nose.] One, yes. I know him well. The other is fairly new and...hard to parse, honestly. But at least he hasn't done the house some dire damage yet, so maybe I'm worried for nothing?

Maybe. You do seem like you need to relax a little, instead of stressing over something that might not happen.

[Or a lot, actually.]

Hhha, ha... [it's a very forced, wincing bit of a laugh.] R-right. Yes. [inside, she has to try and quell a sudden spark of annoyance: gee, why didn't I think of that?! sure, I'll just MAGICALLY relax!!

conceal, don't feel, Cecelia; channel the elf in you.]

In either case... [lifting her chin back up, trying to capture the poise and haughtiness that said elvishness would armor her with.] I felt it only proper to make an account of what nonsense may come from this particular house, lest you be left living in some ominous cloud of uncertainty about it.

There's a great deal more ominous beyond this house, after all.

That was a bit rude, wasn't it? I apologize.

[She really didn't seem to like that. Really, she's making herself a target, but that isn't his problem.]

I appreciate it. It saves me having to awkwardly ask questions about it later. Hopefully my own roommates are quieter.

Ominous is one way to put it.

[Cecelia's mouth opens and closes without sound at the apology. she doesn't get a lot of those when she's ruffled -- not ones plain and casual like that, anyway.]

Um...well...it's...is it this house right next to mine? House three, was it? I do know some of the residents...

Edited (directions, what are they, who knows) 2020-07-08 02:24 (UTC)

House four.

[He points to the one opposite.]

So you've been here long enough to get to know a lot of your neighbors?

Oh-- [she's kind of relieved at that! for reasons...she doesn't wholly know in the moment.] Oh, that one? Ah, that...Mmm... [she frowns, squinting in its direction.] That one isn't nearly as abuzz, I don't think...I mean, I think I've seen a lad come in and out of there now and then? But no boisterous sorts to my recollection. Perhaps you'll have something of a measure of peace there.

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I'd be a dancer of a different tune

Heropa

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the promised encounter

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