hit be me baby one more time [OPEN]

[siriusly]

WHO: Manabu and YOU
WHERE: all over
WHEN: wk of 5/5, whenever!
WHAT: so much can happen every day
WARNINGS: TBD


heropa:
The starting point, for better or worse.

It's a mercy Heropa is rather small as places go; not a winding, confusing metropolis trying its best to loom and close in on a body and make them feel like a rat in a maze. The feelings of isolation and confusion come in gentler waves here, so Manabu can be a bit more optimistic. It can be a pretty productive morning if he tries hard!

Until late afternoon and he's sweating through his uniform and slowly getting a migraine from having to squint through the sun, that is. But until then, he's more apt to look and learn, peering closely at places and people for signs of familiarity.

By the time evening comes, he does find the old baseball diamond he'd spent his first evening ever on this Earth at. Kind of bittersweet, really? A quiet, pensive space for quiet, pensive thoughts.


nonah:
The weather here is much more tolerable for all the running around he's got to be doing this week. The trains are a pleasant sight, too; not quite like home, but a comforting sound to hear now and then. The sudden rain that passes through town catches him off-guard, but it's not all that unwelcome compared to blazing Florida sun.

First business in town is to find the new home. Nonah #4 is, of course, already occupied; he was surprised to see reply-notes to the one he tacked on the fridge, but they were rather friendly, so he has hopes his first run-ins will be as cordial...

Whether or not he can charm the dog that he's been warned about, though...

Housekeeping at the house aside, he also has to get himself over to the mall where he was assigned to work. There's a bit of pride on the line here, whether he'll admit it or not: this SDF officer is not going to be driving kiddie trains in a mall. He's just not. No way.

His apology to the manager is certainly not that adamant (more bowing and apologizing and bowing again), but getting that squared off lifts a huge weight off of him, and he's much more energized to tackle the next problem!

Until he remembers the next problem is that he has no clothes but the ones on his back.

Shopping is the wooooorst.


de chima:
Coming to De Chima is a little weird: this is the city he had the least amount of exposure to two years ago. The atmosphere aside, Manabu's looking for things that seem different. ImPort things, particularly: can he identify things as non-local right away? It's a bit difficult for him.

That...that and he wants to see the local law enforcement working. How the people respond to them. What's different than before. How have all those horrible things Jacob and Kanaya and everyone told him he missed changed this place?


marutia falls:
The gray skies in Marutia seem to play on Manabu's spirits at this point; he comes here with less clear goals. He knows he has some studying to get started on, and he definitely needs to find out about that whole job-change thing for Brendan (and himself)...

There's a few hours in the library where an attempt is made to be a good student. But Manabu...was never a good student. He'll probably wind up face-down on the book open in front of him at some point, softly snoring.

He's not keen on staying in this place very late, but things happen and old habits can die hard: he can wind up retracing routes he walked earlier in the day, this time with an eye out for trouble of the unsightly sort. Badge or not, it's just in him to patrol.

Comments

Heropa, evening

[pale_blue_arrow]

[Brendan has dug as best he can into how imPorts and the police are working together. His findings are too squeaky clean, with gaps and omissions where people draw blanks, indicating there's some stuff not being recorded. It might not be as dark as that implies; some things, law enforcement really does need to keep secret, all things considered. But he's still new to this place, so he lacks a lot of context for the info he does have. Maybe it's actually worse than it looks. He just doesn't have the right framing to draw a conclusion.

When he plops down unceremoniously beside Manabu - it wasn't hard to figure out what the guy looked like, he just flipped through old public network posts a bit - he holds out a pocket notebook with all his observations, dates and hard facts written in it.]

Hey. Did some digging like y' asked; this is what I've got so far. Go over it when you can - didn't find anything urgent.

[Despite his best attempts not to care, he does recall the way their last conversation ended, and quirks an eyebrow.] How're you holding up?

[siriusly]

[Manabu was waaaay off-planet to notice Brendan's approach. he was sitting on the bleachers, chin in his hands, elbows on his knees, and eyes upward, wondering if just maybe some of the flickering lights of planes overhead could've secretly been the trains from back home.

but months with his stupid power have conditioned him: the feeling of a body nearby pulls him back, and by the time Brendan plops down, Manabu's leaning so far back he's liable to fall off the edge should his hand slip.

the notebook held toward him isn't rushing forward to smash him in the face, and once Manabu's sure of that, then he can look up and gawk at the owner, only just catching the request to do some studying.

he blinks, still frozen in his recoil.]

Hh...hah-? What?

[pale_blue_arrow]

That's one way to answer the question of if you're okay. You really are an odd bird, you know that, right? [Not that that's a bad thing - there's different ways to be odd, and Brendan finds this more harmless than most people he's met. Sprawling out across the bleachers, the San Clemente teen doesn't bother asking why Manabu is acting like he expects to be hit. If he's got baggage, it might be best to leave well enough alone; Brendan shrugs instead, placing the notebook into Manabu's hands and talking casually.]

Like I said, I dug up what dirt there was to dig on the surface about imPorts and the cops; it's not a smoking gun for evidence about anything, but it's a solid start.

[siriusly]

I'm-? [he cuts himself off, because he's cutting the kid off. after a beat of listening, processing...he realizes, and the recognition pops right on his face without a thought.]

You're Brendan, aren't you? [he's surprised, but relieved enough to sit upright, his eyes darting from Brendan to the notebook and back, growing more confused.] How...did you find me out here?

[pale_blue_arrow]

The one and only; you know anybody else who talks like this? [He shrugs in response to the question.] I've been walking the town all day, trying to get a feel for the place. New layout to take in, completely different street names than back home. If I'm gonna be doin' anyone any good, I gotta get the lay of the land down. Pawed through the old network posts to see if I could find a face to put to your name, so I knew you when I saw you.

[Brendan yawns slightly, folding his hands back under his head as a cushion, looking for all the world unconcerned and unaffected. It's an act he's gotten so good at even he can't tell if it's all fake anymore.] I was gonna swing by your place later, but there's no reason to pass up an opportunity when you're down in my neck of the woods.

[siriusly]

[before that notebook can get forgotten and accidentally knocked behind the bleachers, Manabu picks it up, giving it a more thoughtful glance while Brendan is talking. he blinks, looking back when there's a yawn.

his mouth quirks on one side.] Aah, that's true. It's lucky...

But it puts me in a bit of a pinch... [his eyes wince, even as he smiles.] I don't have that job stuff for you yet. Picking up where I left off turned out to not be so simple, so a lot of things have to happen. [his head dips a little in apology.] I know what I have to do, I just have to get to it. Will you be able to wait a little longer?

[pale_blue_arrow]

S' fine. I got nothing but time to waste around here so far anyway. Besides, if nobody's going to even give me a definition of my job, I figure the powers that be can't get too peeved if I don't do it. You can take all the time you want just so long as you come through.

[Getting results was the important thing. Whether it happened 'on time' or not was irrelevant when, at least for now, it seemed there was some time to spare on the job front. Without a job he wouldn't have cash to burn, but he'd also have time open to continue snooping around his neighbors' and housemates' trash and catalogue their schedules. Brendan's good at finding ways to keep himself busy.

Idly, he waves a hand in a dismissive gesture.] You've been put through the wringer from what I can tell. A little delay won't kill me.

[siriusly]

[Brendan's dismissal gets a soft, relieved chuckle out of Manabu. he idly turns one of the notebook pages, rather surprised there's as much as there is; this is what happens when expectations are so low one forgets to expect anything at all. in the end, it's a pleasant gift, one less thing to struggle with on his own.

that 'wringer' thing, though...he exhales kind of heavily, shaking his head. are his troubles that transparent?]

All the same, thanks. This kind of stuff [the notebook gets a little shake for emphasis.] helps a lot. I can listen to people tell me what I've missed, but while I'm doing that, I'll just be missing more that's happening now.

Lucky, I guess, that things are...kind of mellow, from what I've seen and heard. [squinting at the page:] Unless you've come across stuff?

[pale_blue_arrow]

[Brendan furrows his brow at Manabu. Stressing out about the present and the past simultaneously doesn't seem like a great way to get caught up, just a great way to make mountains out of molehills and continents out of mountains. He keeps his voice near-bored, just trying to calm the guy down a bit.]

All I found was pretty mellow, mostly minor things, not really anything too alarming. Everything's on an even keel and mostly, above board - but there are some gaps, guess not everything that's going on is going on where it can be tracked. You want those gaps filled, my guess is you'll have to talk to the imPorts or the cops directly. But it could just be that some stuff is being kept quiet for legal reasons; not sure how the laws here match up to back home, but sometimes cops gotta cool their heels and zip their lips when it comes to cases still under investigation.

In summary: everything's fine as far as I can tell, and I'm paranoid as Othello at the end of the play, so you can kick back and breathe a little easier, Bird. [Yeah, that's definitely Manabu's new nickname. He's as fidgety as a bird is, and just as anxious.]

[siriusly]

[he gives another weak laugh.] I guess I must be more on edge than usual! It wouldn't be so bad if I still had my power nullifier, but... [he lifts his hand a little and tilts it, as if expecting the tech to just magically appear back on his wrist.] No luck there. Which means I need to keep my guard up.

I should be getting a new one soon, though. So I won't seem so... [vague hand shake.]

[pale_blue_arrow]

Why d'you need a power nullifier? [His brow furrows and this time, he lets the frown cross his face, if only to convey his curiosity.] I try not to dig too deep into people I know personally. Doesn't end well. So I'm still not clear on what your power is, but I dunno if asking is breaking some kinda imPort etiquette rule.

[siriusly]

Oh, I don't know about that... I'm pretty sure people can talk about their powers all they want and folks will listen and give advice. [grinning now, despite himself.] I only don't try to say much because my power is ridiculous. It's kind of hard to avoid, though.

Whenever someone's arm gets too close... [he pantomimes the rest, holding his and up and slowly drawing it toward himself. at a point, he curls his fingers into a fist, gingerly pressing against his cheek.]

...Or a slap, or a shove...whatever the thing, it's always me getting beat up.

[pale_blue_arrow]

...there is something really wrong with this place. Do you at least have a healing factor to offset that, or something? [Sure, after fending off some bullies his friend Brian had joked he was a magnet for beatdowns, but that was just a joke. This is that, but made literal. It's less of a power and more a curse.]

I'm guessing this has killed your love life. Unless you're into that kinda thing.

Nonah

[aboveand]

[At a little after 10pm, the devil shuffles into Nonah 004. More accurately, an exhausted teenager wearing devil horns shuffles into the house. He barely stifles a yawn as he looks around the room, eyes stopping on the large, black Great Dane asleep on the floor nearby. Smiling, he reaches down and ruffles the top of the dog's head.]

Here, these suit you more than me, mutt.

[Removing the devil headband, he sticks it on the dog, who looks deeply offended but makes no move to remove the offending thing on his head. Terry chuckles and fumbles about his pockets, looking for his phone to take a picture when he hears a noise. Both teen and dog freeze, turning almost in unison to the source of the noise. Terry almost immediately relaxes, and crosses the room to introduce himself.]

Hey, you must be Manabu. Terry McGinnis. [He offers his hand.] You've probably already met Ace. I hope he hasn't done anything to bug you.

[Ace makes no effort to get up, and continues to look offended at everything around him.]

[siriusly]

[Manabu's key is still in the door he's pushed open when he's snapped out of his troubled trance by two pairs of eyes. he bristles, a sound caught in his throat that is well enough to be cut off, because Terry's already piped up and begun to march over.

with.

hand.

out.]

Gyih--!! [before said hand can extend past the door's threshold, Manabu's made a very sudden, uncoordinated leap backward, his own arms windmilling to keep his balance. a grocery bag is hooked at an elbow, and it swings about in one rotation to smack Manabu on the side of the head.

small price to pay for not getting suckerpunched; Manabu will take it, frozen in a finally-balanced squat, red-faced and immediately embarrassed.

he is eye-level with the giant, black dog standing just behind Terry.]

Uuh... [cough.] H-hi... [returning to a normal standing position is slow.] Yes. Yes, that's...that's me.

[beat.]

Sorry.

[aboveand]

[Both man and dog blink at the display. Normally Terry would reach out to try to help Manabu regain his balance, but as he feels that his hand was somehow the problem in the first place, he just drops it to his side and tries not to stare until the other guy seems settled...ish.

Ace decides to take advantage of the man's close proximity to his nose to sniff at him, almost mindful not to get too close lest he spook this guy too.]

Nah man, my fault. Handshakes are out, got it now.

[siriusly]

[ugh. the worst. power. ever. Manabu brings a hand to his face, shaking his head while he tries to press the hot-red embarrassment off.]

It's really not, I promise. It's a stupid--stupid Porter thing. Power--power thing. Sorry. That was probably the worst introduction to a housemate you've ever dealt with.

[DEEP, HEALING BREATH, MANABU. he lets it out in a sigh, his hand dropping and, after a moment, extending.] I have to reach out first. Bad things don't happen if it's like that.

[aboveand]

Definitely not. The last guy that lived here jumped out the window to get away from me. I'm beginning to develop a complex.

[An easy smile to show he's joking. Terry doesn't take offense to any of this in the slightest.]

But here I thought I got a bad power.

[He glances down at Ace, who has now craned his head slightly to sniff the outstretched hand, the devil horn headband still somehow balanced on his head. After waiting a second to make sure that the hand was for a handshake and not to balance himself or something, Terry slowly reaches out his own to shake it, though at almost a glacial pace to make sure he doesn't accidentally set his new housemate off again.]

Does that initiation thing extend to dogs too? Ace's well behaved but I don't want him to accidentally hurt you by getting excited.

[siriusly]

[while still deeply embarrassed, an almost-proper handshake does get his shoulders to sag with relief. that's. that's one almost-normal thing.

said hand withdraws to the back of his neck, rubbing it awkwardly, held in place as he looks at the dog and considers.]

Aah, well...I don't think I've had any cats or dogs jump at me any more dramatically than usual... [a beat, nodding.] Even when I lived with a reindeer, I survived.

[that's incentive enough to at least...walk into the house and offer the hand to Ace, his smile a little worried. because this dog is like the size of a pony and it's a little intimidating.]

[aboveand]

You lived with a reindeer? [A smirk.] Are you one of Santa's helpers?

[A joke... but one Terry quickly realizes might backfire if Manabu's from a world without Santa Claus. Ah well, too late to change anything.

Ace sniffs the hand extended to him, then turns his head and walks away.]

He's, uh... temperamental. [A diva would be more accurate.]

[siriusly]

[Terry's gag is left dangling just as much as Manabu is by a dog. his smile twitches, but he's not mad. he just awkwardly laughs it off, straightening up, and sending his hand to the back of his neck.]

I mean, as long as he tolerates me, that's fine enough, I guess... Just, uh, let me know if he's got any special rules so I stay on his good side.

[aboveand]

He's pretty chill now that he knows who you are. Just... don't ever sneak up on him.

[Terry's tone implies that it will not end well. Thankfully, the dog has a pretty good sense of smell.]

Also, don't be surprised if you catch him in mid-air. He can sort of fly.

[siriusly]

[this gets another laugh out of Manabu, but it cuts short, because he suddenly realizes that might. not actually be a joke.

he looks concerned.]

Wait--

Really?

[aboveand]

[Terry whistles and points up in the air. Ace all but rolls his doggy eyes, but he flies up into the air, the devil horns finally falling off his neck. Terry catches it.]

Really.

[siriusly]

GAH-!!

[Manabu smears himself against the door behind him, gawking. after a beat and this...this normalizes, he eases up a little, but doesn't stop eyeballing that dog.

it hits him:

the dog has a better power than he does.]

I...I didn't know animals were affected, too...