Event Post

[phantomsoldier]

It's Christmas, and instead of being inside like a normal person, you can find this guy on a bench nearly anywhere in the city, snoozing easily in his huge jacket. He's too clean to be a hobo, and if he is, he's pretty young looking anyway.

You should probably wake him up, it's cold out here.

Comments

[afterdarkbeforedawn]

You realize if you stay there too long, the police might assume you're a vagrant.

[phantomsoldier]

He blinks his eyes slowly and tilts his head at you.

"L-..." And sighs heavily, rubbing at his face.

"Yeah, well. If I stay long enough, I might frost over and go into a cryogenic sleep. But, the police are probably more likely." He looks you up and down.

"Neil Faust. You are?"

[afterdarkbeforedawn]

Futaba Jouji.

[phantomsoldier]

"Thanks for waking me."

He stretches and yawns.

"...what are you doing on the streets right now anyway?"

[afterdarkbeforedawn]

Walking to work.

[phantomsoldier]

"Ah, which way?"

He stands up, shakes himself off.

"If it's my way, I'll go with you."

[handofaegis]

*this blonde girl found you sleeping on the bench.

... she pokes a little*

[phantomsoldier]

His eyes snap open and he pulls a hand back like he's gearing to hit something. ... then stops and stares blankly at you.

"...hullo."

[handofaegis]

Oh, hello! Sorry if I disturbed you, but I was led to think that sleeping in the cold might be a bad idea.

[phantomsoldier]

"...Yeah? I mean, I guess. I decided walking all the way back to my apartment would be too much so I decided to go to sleep here."

[handofaegis]

Do you live really far away or something?

[phantomsoldier]

"Nah, it's about two or three miles from here."

He stretches.

"Neil Faust, LDS student."

[handofaegis]

Oh, I'm Aegis! I'm definitely not a student.

*she smiles a bit, standing up straight. she seems... bubbly.*

[phantomsoldier]

How do I get out of this. Someone send help.

"Yeah, I uh. Gathered that.

... Lots of people around here with weird names. You don't look like a shield."

[handofaegis]

Well, of course I don't look like a shield, silly. I'm not being a shield right now.

*what.*

[phantomsoldier]

He looks like he's not really... processing that well. Then immediately perks up once he fully gets it in his head.

"...So you CAN be shield? ...Aegis... I considered running your archetype! Are you kidding me?!"

This looks like it may be the most animated this kid can get.

[handofaegis]

Oh, wow! I'm flattered. You were going to run us? That's so surreal, but I guess it's exciting to hear.

But yeah, I'm the Aegis you're thinking of. See, see? *she even makes the shield appear after a moment's concentration. she's totally showing off a bit. but it's the exact shield.*

[phantomsoldier]

He stares agape. Monsters were... are... He looks like he's vastly unprepared for this.

"Yeah, I was just... too young to get the hang of the mechanics. This... is a little surreal. Can I... touch it?"

[handofaegis]

Oh, sure! I don't mind.

[phantomsoldier]

He very tentatively reaches out to lightly rest his hand on the shield, trying very very hard to go back to his 'I don't give a damn' composure.

[handofaegis]

*it feels very sturdy-- like it could reflect bullets, or even more than that. But it's also got a slightly warm feeling to it. Not a cold metallic feeling, but like there's life in it.

it is definitely not a normal shield.*

[phantomsoldier]

He stares at it for a while and lingers his hand there for a while.

"I, uh... thanks."

[handofaegis]

*smiling, as she makes it vanish*

It's no problem!

[phantomsoldier]

"You... I didn't think you'd be this nice, I'm gonna be honest."

He scratches at his cheek.

"May I pry why Domino and not... another world?"

[handofaegis]

Oh, well, uh. *she scratches her cheek a bit, thinking. It's no harm telling him a little bit, at least.*

I used to be from another world, but basically our home kinda... Was falling apart. And was really dangerous too. It's just me and a few others now thanks to that.

Though, ah... Domino is technically just the closest city to where we live, now. Did you hear about the island that had showed up in the ocean nearby?

[phantomsoldier]

"Oh, um. Sorry to hear about that..."

He gives a little head nod.

"Yeah, a little. It was a bit on the news, didn't get much coverage outside of here, I'd imagine."

[handofaegis]

That island is where I'm from.

Or, more accurately, that "island" is actually a part of our home. Like the last really intact part.

[phantomsoldier]

"Oh. You... put an island into our world? That's... pretty impressive on your part."

He scratches at his cheek.

"Sorry, didn't mean to busybody you. Just curious, is all, meeting... a really friendly spirit my second week here."

[handofaegis]

It's fine! You're new here too, and I'm the one who bugged you in the first place. I don't mind talking a little about it.

I still kinda get surprised it managed to happen, either.

[phantomsoldier]

"That's... good for you guys."

A shrug.

"It's not bugging if we got a decent conversation out of it."