open 🌌 the crime of the day is: loitering

[chimericalclaw]

Who: One Zekarion Altius & hopefully YOU
Where: The inn, medical-related businesses (clinic, apothecary, NPC locations), bar lupin, (around the) courthouse
What: Totally normal businessman gets familiar with the surroundings and people, including staring at the ominous phantom courthouse.
Warnings: nothing yet?

⬬ the countless feasts laid at my feet | inn

[In some ways, it's safer in a crowd than on his own, so for now he remains at the Inn. Even he isn't so spoiled as to refuse free food until he properly gets his foot in the door.

Anyone around the inn can find one tall businessman in the public areas, talking with others, reading something on his tablet with a coffee, or simply watching the passersby. Somehow, he seems to get some actual conversation out of the locals, even if it's not the friendliest... but he might greet Chosen, too:]

Are you new as well, or do you just enjoy the company? [There might be the slightest hint of sarcasm in the latter, but for the most part it's meant as a pleasantry.]

⬬ keep the same appointments I kept | medical businesses

[Part of getting his foot in the door, so to speak, is familiarizing himself with the Aldrip version of the industry he's involved in back home. There's no reason to reinvent the wheel, he thinks—so he heads anywhere medical services and goods are provided.

He's obviously not looking for anything in particular, nor is he apparently injured. The way he's looking around speaks more to evaluation than anything.]

I've heard this world can be dangerous. [There's some concern in his tone, certainly, but it's more a statement of something he's apparently accepted.] I suppose that makes places like this even more important.

⬬ my intentions couldn't have been purer | bar lupin

[As the quieter of the Chosen-own bars in town, Lupin is the one Altius heads to. Anywhere with alcohol tends to be a good place to gather information. Plus, the locals have required some extra effort on his part, so he won't be unhappy if he finds a few easier routes via his fellow accused.

As long as someone isn't giving him the same side-eye as the "native" citizens, he'll strike up a quiet conversation:]

With how disagreeable the locals are acting, it's fortunate they allow us places like this, hm?

⬬ I'm not looking for absolution | courthouse

[There is a man frowning with some consternation at the courthouse.

It might be more accurate to call it the image of the courthouse, however; even though his suit and tie makes him look like he'd fit right in with the atmosphere, the building doesn't even deign to solidify to allow him to try the door. Rude??

The first time he comes to see it, he does a proper walk around, investigating from most angles and even passing straight through it to see if there's some trick. But no. It's basically a mirage.

In subsequent times, he'll find a bench to place himself, still watching with sharp eyes to see if anything changes. For at least his first few weeks in Aldrip, he makes this part of his routine.]

⬬ try walking in my shoes | wildcard

[Another idea? Hit me up via plotting post, PM or lumieresdedragon !

As a note: if your character has any supernatural sense, it will react as if Zekarion isn't there. You can read more about that and him here!]

Comments

[followyourstar]

< Oh, Altius. >

[It's no wonder they didn't see him until it was too late. And boy is it still just as unsettling as ever to have no indication other than their own sight (and the hand on their arm, of course) that he's there at all.]

< Just a few books I'm studying to run things better. It's the first time I've been able to take anything back with me. >

[chimericalclaw]

To run your office? It's always good to make sure you're on top of things when you're starting out.

[Good for Dante, realizing their shortcomings and trying to work on them. It's not necessarily a common trait even among those he's worked with... so it earns some respect from him. His apparent good mood fades somewhat as he considers that last thing, however.]

They haven't let you borrow anything before now at all? I'd think that would be against the point of most libraries...

[followyourstar]

< I could still read it as long as I was in the library, but I think they were worried about getting the books back from non-locals. >

[Chosen, in other words, but they dislike the term enough to avoid using it unless they have to.]

< So if I'm going to get the opportunity now, I might as well take advantage. >

[chimericalclaw]

Preemptively accusing us of theft, hm.

[He doesn't sound as perturbed as he might have before, though; at this point he's getting used to it, though he's not beyond acknowledging it as unpleasant. He lets out a huff of breath as if to dismiss some of the sourness of that statement.]

Well, I'm glad they've finally allowed you to borrow a few. Are you heading back to your office? I realized earlier I should have asked where you've set up.

[followyourstar]

[Dante nods.]

< It's more of a house I'm using as an office, but... yeah. > [They motion with their head for him to follow.] < You can come with if you want. It's nothing fancy but it's not too far from here. There might be some snacks in the kitchen too if you want any. >

[Someone might as well.]

[chimericalclaw]

I'd love to see it. Thank you.

[Dante has acquired +1 tag-along. Altius puts his hands in his pockets as he walks alongside his acquaintance.]

I've been looking into starting something of my own here. Perhaps you can walk me through what you did as well? If it's not too much trouble.

[followyourstar]

< Um. >

[Oh boy. How do they break it to him? They lead the way, adjusting the strap of their bag.]

< Are you sure you want to hear from me? I'm the person with a bag of books trying to figure out how all of this actually works, after all. >

[And if their discussion at the carnival is anything to go by, Dante still has a long, long way to go.]

< Mostly I just made a decision, put myself out there, and kind hoped it worked out? Oh, and made notes on the different businesses around here too. >

[chimericalclaw]

[Altius only smiles kindly and lets out a chuckle at the implication. Dante may be unskilled compared to him in terms of business acumen, but that doesn't mean they haven't learned anything worthwhile, surely.]

Every culture is different in how their businesses operates, so I like to learn everything I can. If nothing else, you're taking the right steps.

[Notes! That's good. He'll be asking about those in a minute...]

Is the house you're working out of where you live as well, or is it a separate building?

[followyourstar]

< Every culture is different in that way, huh? >

[Then maybe they should just be happy that the businesses here don't follow the same "cultures" as those back home. Not that they know of

...They should probably answer the question.]

< I live and work in the same please, yeah. Most of the building was going unused, so I might as well do something with it. That was the idea, anyway. >

[chimericalclaw]

In my experience, yes. Thankfully there's only a city or two to learn about here, hm?

[Does that sound like it's a minuscule amount to him compared to the scope of what he knows? Hopefully it doesn't come off as too arrogant. Ha ha. :) ]

I lived in the same building as my company, as well. It's more practical, in my opinion. [That sounds like approval in his voice, probably.]

Admittedly, it was primarily built for the business long before I got there, and the dwelling was only an option that I decided to take. Have you had to do anything to make it work for your office?

[followyourstar]

[There's a pause.]

< Right. Two cities. ...I'm still not used to that. >

[No matter how many times its brought up it will never not sound strange to them. Multiple cities as in more than one. They're going to need to write up a reminder in their PDA or something when they get inside.

They shake their head, both to clear it and to answer Altius's question.]

< Not too much just yet. I should probably set up some sort of reception at some point, but I don't know that business is doing well enough for me to need it. Other than that, I've just made one of the bedrooms my office and left the other one open to be something else. Either a guest room or medical room. I haven't decided yet. >

[chimericalclaw]

[Altius doesn't try to hide the way his eyebrows rise at the statement, an unspoken question directly aimed at just above the middle of their "face," where he must imagine Dante's sight originates. Intent is made slightly more difficult to communicate when one has no eyes to look into... but he'll make do.

Hmm. He wonders if Dante has no need for sleep, or if there's a separate room they're using? A personal curiosity to tuck away.]

Hopefully you'll find little need for the latter, but only time will tell. [Especially since Dante said they intended for Purgatorio to accept more dangerous missions, at least potentially.] You said you had a medic on staff?

[followyourstar]

< Yeah, her name's Yukina. I don't know if you've gotten the chance to meet her at all? The other two are Nurarihyon and Yuri. >

[They pause and, after a moment, continue.]

< And to explain what I said just before all that... There's only one City where I'm from, and it's a lot bigger than this one. A lot bigger than this one. Aldrip is even smaller than a single District in the City, and the City has 25 of them. >

[chimericalclaw]

[He nods in response to the names—it's good to have a few more to add to his stalking tracking notes. But first, he takes a moment to process what Dante is telling him.]

A proper city-state, then. I hesitate to ask what's outside of it. [If there's only one? Something is severely wrong, he thinks.] Aldrip is relatively small in comparison to the larger cities I know, but we have no shortage of them, large or small. I've traveled to dozens in the last year alone.

[And less so in this past year than the previous ones... His gaze momentarily changes as if drained of feeling, but then he blinks and his mild expression has returned as he looks back to Dante.]

I haven't had the pleasure of meeting any of your team yet, but I'm sure I'll get to it eventually.

[followyourstar]

< Dozens? >

[More than one existing had been surprising, but dozens is nigh-unfathomable. Dozens. More than the amount of districts there are in the City.

Though... not as big as the City. Or so they assume? Altius called it a "city-state" after all (whatever that is).

They're still trying to work it out when they notice the shift in Altius's expression, but the moment it registers, the information is shelved.]

< I take it some weren't all that great to visit? >

[chimericalclaw]

Hm? [Altius raises his eyebrows at the question. He'd been so distracted by his thoughts he hadn't noticed the slip in his mask; he's usually more cognizant of himself, but the topic of what exactly he's been doing the last year has come to be one that throws him off balance. All he can think to do is answer the question neutrally.]

Well, I can't say they're all wonderful by any means, and often I don't have the time to take in the sights. My work typically keeps me to a strict schedule.

[It's all the same to him, when it ultimately comes down to it, even if he fakes having an opinion. People are people. Their cultures and structures follow suit.]

I think we can say that my world is much less confined than yours... or this one. Can I assume you've never been in an airplane?

[followyourstar]

[There's something off here. But they don't know him well enough to say what. Maybe they were just seeing things.]

< I don't know what that is, which probably answers your question. >

[chimericalclaw]

[A brief chuckle leaves him.]

It's a form of transportation. A metal structure with an engine and extensions like wings that allow it to fly at the level of the clouds. [He gestures at the evening sky.] It's the fastest way for us to travel long distances, so I've lost count of how many I've been in.

[Altius keeps track of a lot of things, but that detail is so insignificant to him that he leaves it to others.]

It gives you a different perspective. A city looks like nothing more than a set of toys at that height.

[followyourstar]

[They stop for a moment, staring up at the simulated clouds. Maybe it's because of all the other technology the City has to offer, but somehow the idea doesn't seem too farfetched.]

< A set of toys from high up and a massive labyrinth on the ground. Though even that's different depending on where you are. >

[Is that view why these airplanes don't exist back home? Or is it just because there are other forms of transport around? There's no way for them to know right now, they suppose.]

[chimericalclaw]

[Altius pauses to wait for Dante, watching them with a curious eye. It sounds as if this home of theirs must be quite dense, as well... He hums thoughtfully for a moment.]

I've always thought it's a good reminder, that feeling lost in the moment doesn't mean there's not a path forward. You might just need to look at the situation differently.

[He tilts his head towards the bag Dante is holding.]

Or gather a little more information.

[followyourstar]

[There's a pause before Dante replies, and when they do it's accompanied by the upbeat rhythm of their ticking clock, making them sound almost amused.]

< "Feeling lost in the moment doesn't mean there's not a path forward..." >

[It sounds like something they would say to the Sinners.]

< You're not wrong there. Guess that idea works for the small things, too. >

[They start moving again, and little by little the modest house they took over starts to come into view.]

< Oh, we're almost there. It's that place there, a couple houses down. >

[chimericalclaw]

It does indeed.

[A faint smile comes to his face with the agreement, and soon his attention is drawn to their destination.]

Ah, good. [He casts his eyes around to see what else is nearby—other businesses, homes, the size of the roads...] It seems like a decent enough location, though Aldrip is small enough that nothing is terribly inconvenient.

[He misses his car, admittedly...]