raisetheearth | sit down at my table, put your minds at ease [closed]

Entry tags:

sit down at my table, put your minds at ease [closed]

Who: Reki, Umi, and Keldak
Where: Infinita City
When: Backdated to August 5th
What: An offer was given. Now it's time to settle in.
Warnings: Language?
Status: Closed

Reki never liked the idea of putting trust in a random stranger. She didn't like trusting most people in the world outside of the few that she could even consider to be folks she liked. That was the way that she had lived for the better part of a whole year, constantly moving, trying to find some sort of life to make in the world. To keep surviving.

That's why it was so hard to accept that they were finally getting help.

This anonymous person, who seemed so keen on meeting them that they sent a helicopter for her, no less. It seemed that the soldiers were merely an escort for Umi, but there was still an uncomfortable feeling in Reki's stomach as they took flight. And it wasn't airsickness. She made sure that Umi was alright, tossed an idle threat or two out that obviously meant nothing, and waited in silence until the city peaked over the horizon.

Umi is right, it's quite the sight. She leans over to her, speaking just quietly enough for both of them to hear. "That's it, right? Where you were?"

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

While Umi didn't like trusting someone so readily, on such short notice, she wasn't sure how long she could take the life they were living. She wanted to not have to fight for her life, to forage for sustenance, to find shelter on the fly - and she didn't want that for Reki. Whatever Reki was to her, Umi wanted to do what was best for her, as well, then Keldek had spoken of greater ideals, a plan that she could actually see herself being dedicated to...

They just had to hope that trusting someone didn't backfire yet again. Umi smiled, one of the most honest smiles Reki would have likely seen from her, as they approached the city. "That is it - Infinita City."

Whether the end result of this journey bore fruit or not, Reki was certainly being shown some display of service. Apparently, someone cared not just about her, but about Reki enough to give them armed escort to the city.

And what a city it was. In a burned and wrecked world such as this, it was literally a shining beacon on the land. Everywhere Reki looked, there were lights. They passed areas in construction, finished, shining buildings, too many things for Reki to put to memory just yet. Soon enough, they were reaching that area Umi herself had been to the first time.

"..." For a few beats, Reki was lost for words. "Sure is... a place."

Their abilities. Their loyalty. Umi still had no thoughts for being valued beyond that but a mutually beneficial working relationship was still beneficial.

Being part of something so magnificent, the city being built up almost mocking the wastes surrounding it, spoke to something in Umi, though.

Still her head droops at Reki's comment. "You sound unimpressed."

Reki merely wanted to be valued. She despised thinking otherwise now.

Her gaze jumps to Umi, as though she forgot the girl was there. The view outside had simply captured her. "No way, it's impressive as shit."

She leaned back in her seat. "It just feels.... too good to be true, you know?"

Umi would have to value her enough then. She laughs softly at Reki's reaction, leaning a little closer. "I know what you mean. I was growing accustomed to that life as well - this is a stark change, and all so sudden as well."

"It's like.... I don't know." Reki could almost physically feel her hopes growing for whatever she was about to see when they landed. That was a dumb feeling, and she instantly tried to subdue it with a frown.

"So, your new boss.... what's he like?"

Any hope or joy is probably too optimistic - but it's also the intention. "An older man. Polite, but not overly friendly - idealistic, and seemingly very intelligent."

That's probably true if he's managed to organize this, although it remains to be proven in Umi's mind.

The helicopter nears the landing pad once again.

"Hmmph." Is all that Umi should hear from Reki. A decidedly neutral sound, though more affirming that she was taking what Umi said into mind. Whoever this guy was, he had enough resources and men to make a city like this shine.

She sat back, and stared at the ceiling as the helicopter slowly set itself down on the landing pad. There was a tension in the air, though it might have just been the stormy clouds on the horizon.

Reki hated storms.

This time, the chopper took a slight detour as it descended over the city. Instead of landing at the roof of the building, it moved to a different pad just beside the large building.

Like before, the soldiers stepped off first, quickly moving to the side with rapid, trained precision without a word. The same way they'd been for the whole trip, even when Reki had attempted her "threat."

They weren't alone with the soldiers down here though. Right across from them was a long, black car and as the two of them disembarked one of the doors opened up to reveal the very man Umi had met earlier. Still up and still looking alert and impressive as ever, despite how late it had to be right now. He strode across the landing pad to meet the two of them halfway.

"Miss Ryuzaki, welcome back." He nodded to her before turning his attention to Reki, looking over her. "And you must be this mysterious companion of hers."

Umi would be here for Reki through any storms, for now. They would weather storms and worse together.

She was curious about the helicopter's path, looking out with interest as they landed. The soldiers did their thing, a discipline and precision that Umi was thankful for, even if it made her feel a bit inadequate, and she stepped out ahead of Reki, smiling at Keldek. "Thank you, glad to be back."

She stepped forward, again, making sure that she was between the two of them, in case Reki felt intimidated - Umi was fairly certain she'd still be nervous without that to focus on. "This is my companion, Reki, yes."

Reki didn't noticed the slight change in the helicopter's path, it was just another place to land, not that she had been there the first time. Regardless, the soldiers stepped out to stand guard, making the skeptical Reki feel a little sheepish for being so dubious about them.

Some small part of her was still hesitant to step out of the helicopter, but that didn't stop Umi, so Reki followed suit. She stepped out after her into the space between their escort and that sleek car.

And there he was, the main man, so to speak. The person Umi had been meeting with. He cut an authoritative figure, like Umi said. She waited beside Umi, watching the older man's movements until she realizes they were both talking about her.

"Ah... Hmm, yeah. I'm Reki, Umi's friend."

Umi's efforts to put herself between himself and Reki don't go particularly unnoticed... not that it wasn't a little futile. Being quite a tall man, he towered over the both of them so there wasn't anything obstructing him as he turned his gaze to Reki.

Dark eyes flickered over the winged girl, lingered on her lost arm for a moment, as if taking a full measure of her from that single glance. If anything could be read in those eyes it might be... unimpressed. Nonetheless, the rest of his face wore a cordial, even friendly smile as he nodded to her.

"It's a pleasure, Reki. Welcome to Infinita City." Those eyes finally let her, turning back to Umi. "I thought I'd meet you down here and accompany you for the first part of your tour through the city. Show you where you'll be living while you work for me."

Obviously futile, but it made Umi feel better, would hopefully make Reki feel better, and send a little bit of a message to Keldek. There were many things he could do and say, much he could ask of Umi - but she'd protect Reki, and didn't want any unrealistic expectations placed on her. Even the smile couldn't really hide the entirety of how little of an impression she left on him. Better, maybe, in the long run.

Umi relaxed, hands behind her back. "Thank you, you are far too generous, truly - I would love to accompany you on a personal tour."

Reki did feel a little better, seeing Umi still care by trying to protect her. Not much though. It was merely a small comfort in the face of this giant opportunity being presented to the both of them. So much could be said but this man seemed to hold more power then the both of them just by the look on his face.

A friendly smile was the last thing Reki was used to receiving. She eyed the older man for a few seconds, gaze unfaltering and even a little judging. Not expecting much from this was already the name of the game, but she had the feeling that he wanted them here, at least.

"...Yeah." She finally spoke again, rubbing what was left of her arm with her other hand, a little self-conscious of it. "We're really getting a place to stay around here?"

As if instinctively, her mind wandered to the outer rim of the city, the refugee camps.

Not much of an impression at all. The girl is rather unimpressive, both in stature and in what he can see in those eyes of hers. Lacking in any kind of drive or motivation. Utterly pointless.

The other one, Umi, was at least more impressive. The gesture and the message it carried didn't go unnoticed, even if it was a touch futile considering who she was facing.

He wielded much more than financial or military power these days.

"I can't promise it will always be so." He chuckled, good-natured. "I'm a busy man, but I am willing to take the time out of my day to greet new employees... and their companions."

He started back to the car, lifting his hand to gesture towards a great hulking beast of a red-haired man standing beside it.

"For the more day-to-day matters, I've assigned Carl here to look after you." Carl merely grunts a little bit, and steps aside to open up one of the doors for the incoming passengers.

Regardless of how unimpressive Reki is, how small and huddled over and weak she may seem... Umi didn't want people to treat her like she didn't matter. Maybe, to most of the world, she didn't, anyways, but something about Reki fading into irrelevance, until people forgot her, like she didn't exist in the first place...

As long as Umi was alive, that wouldn't happen.

Even if she was powerless compared to Keldek, she had at least that much power over their fates.

The sight of Carl made her eyes widen slightly, a mook if there ever was one, but muscle was a useful trait - and for all she knew, he had some kind of enhancements. Either way, being attended to would be a nice change of pace. "It is a pleasure to meet you Carl," Umi greeted woodenly as she climbed into the vehicle.

Regardless of how powerful or foreboding a man like Keldak could be, calling Reki utterly pointless would have been as blind a statement as it would be provoking a furious retort. A rather shaggy Doppelganger, yes, but her appearance was just that. An appearance. With all the powers of a magical warrior, she tore through aliens in the final battle, even losing an arm didn't stop her.

She refused to be seen as "pointless" by anyone anymore. She'd gone through that shit already.

If anything, her eyes did show one thing. A fury born of despair that could lash out at anybody.

"Thanks. I think I'm really feeling the love." She replied, voice dry like sand as she gave a brisk nod to the redheaded mountain. "Hey there." A mountain that could prove a threat, but not with the two of them combined. Power levels, and all that.

She followed into the car, sliding in next to Umi. Her gaze flickered to the old man. "Mister Keldak. Can I ask something?"

A thought in the back of his mind, despite the somewhat weak first impression. None of these children were what they seemed, but, all the power in the world may as well not exist if it was held by someone who lacked the drive to use it. Time would tell if this Reki possessed that or not but she may yet prove useful.

After all, the first step to using any tool effectively was knowing how to use it.

Carl just made a... sound in response to the two greetings, something like a grunt of acknowledgement before shutting the door and heading to the driver's seat after his three passengers climbed aboard, his big head popping up in a small tinted window between them and the driver's seat a moment later. The inside of the limo was much like the office Umi had seen earlier, spacious but without an excess of extravagance or comfort. Function favored over appearances.

Anton took a seat across from the two newcomers, settling in as they got moving. He turned toward Reki again when she spoke up, nodding a bit toward her.

"Go right ahead."

Anton Keldek was not a man, Umi figured, to ruin a situation like that - and of course, Reki and Umi alike were more than they seemed. Of course Umi's new employer was, in all likelihood, also far more than he seemed, and he already gave off every impression of both confidence and power. Despite having chose to trust and work with him, she would have to be wary all the same. She was wary of almost everyone anyways, though.

She'd have to file away that Carl was not a conversationalist. The limo was comfortable, almost lavish compared to the life they'd been living, though also still far off of what it could be. This was not the sort of dictator to live in the pinnacle of comfort while those around him suffered.

Umi settled in, allowing Reki to ask her question.

What a boring looking limousine. Bare bones would be a simple way to describe it, in Reki's opinion. It told her a bit about their mysteriously powerful benefactor; he had money to burn.... though he held himself back on extravagances. An interesting mindset, though one someone like Reki couldn't quite wrap her head around after living a life with less money then limbs.

Maybe that was the reason they were taking this job. Find a new home, and someplace to really live comfortably. A nice dream that Reki was working towards for over a year now.

Even in her rather comfy seat, Reki's face held a sliver of unease, as though she was trying to unwrap some great mystery and it simply wouldn't budge.

"Why do you want us? She questions, straight to the point. "I didn't think many places liked to hire dirty, homeless people."

It was simply the way of things. Some people worked and amassed power only to indulge themselves in reckless extravagance, wearing their wealth and success out in the open. To somebody like Keldek though... he had no taste for the gaudy. He wore his power in other ways.

"You don't seem to hold a very high opinion of yourself." He smirked a bit, but it wasn't an unexpected question. It was a relatively simple answer. "But I look at the two of you and I see more than 'dirty, homeless people.' I see the ability to help change the world forever into your own image. I see potential."

The city alone was an incredible display of power, Umi knew. Having access to soldiers, airpower, resources, and the ability to leverage them - out in the middle of a ravaged continent - his wealth would be waste on extravagance. Perhaps some would still see what he had as extravagant, of course, but one did need to make an impression.

Reki's question didn't surprise her, although she would take offense to 'dirty homeless people' if it wasn't so true. Leaning forward, she turned back towards Keldek. "You know that we have power - and motivation. That we have seen enough to have a reason to change the world."

She was simply choosing to be honest, Umi. There was hardly any offense meant when Reki was simply stating the facts. It had been that way since.... it had always been that way for them. "I'm just being honest." she remarked towards Keldak, leaning forward a bit in her chair, giving her spotted wings room.

"Changing the world, huh? Is that it?" A heck of a plan, in her opinion. More of an idea then something to work towards, though.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

sit down at my table, put your minds at ease [closed]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject