expiationlogs | open 🌌 today's crime: soliciting

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open 🌌 today's crime: soliciting

Who: Zekarion & YOU
Where: YOUR HOME, Aldrip Post Office, and assorted locations
What: Expiation, say hello to centralized mail services! Also there is an extremely tired man to bother.
Warnings: references to game-induced visions of violence and such, probably.

One day early in February, the people of Aldrip will find a letter delivered to their residence—sitting on their doorstep, on a nearby table or surface, slid under the door, whatever possible to make sure that you get your very first piece of public mail!

Inside is a typewritten letter headed with a letterhead seal proclaiming its origin as the Aldrip Postal Service. The letter describes the marvels of the mail service such as the founder is familiar with them: daily deliveries to and from the convenience of your home, local experts already familiar with recipients' addresses, the versatile nature of physical communication and lack of electricity requirement. Privacy is a promise, and the Aldrip Postal Service will send any and all mail... that isn't an active physical danger to those delivering or receiving it. Not that anyone would try such a thing! :)

The letter also brings up the upcoming Day of Devotion—for those romantically inclined who may want to send surprise or secret packages of flowers or sweets or love letters, anonymity is guaranteed. The delivery people don't even know where they came from without a return address!

The letter concludes with a note that the office is seeking organizational staff, couriers, and trainers to help handle their carrier pigeons to make the mail as efficient as it can be.

If you'd like to officially request your own mail box (it's free!), look into the job offers, or simply take a look at the post office itself, the address in the heading is repeated at the bottom of the letter. The founder only signs ZA at the bottom, so you'll just have to go in person to find out who's sending you mail now.

(Regardless of who it is, they're not responsible for any unwanted chain letters or advertisements received. If someone wants to reach out about your carriage's extended warranty, the mail service will not discriminate.)

⬬ some kind of trouble on the sensory screen | post office

[The brick and stone building, situated right near the middle of the city not far from the inn, has a few entrances, one under a set of arches, another under a covering supported by pillars. A couple of people in blue uniforms stand outside each one, offering informational fliers about what one can expect from the mail service. One of said people is dressed slightly differently, however; a tall man with dark hair wears a blue suit and tie to match the other workers, answering questions and encouraging people to step inside.

If anyone approaches closely enough to be heard with a normal conversational tone, he'll offer a greeting appropriate to the time of day.]

Have you gotten one of our letters yet?

⬬ clutch at plausible deniability | cafe/inn

[He can't spend all his time doing that, though. He's only one man, and he has other endeavors to work on. Endeavors such as trying not to look too exhausted over the coffee he's nursing at the local cafe or inn, or sigh too loudly over it.]

⬬ some kind of drama live on satellite | elsewhere/wildcard

[ooc: interested in something else? plot with me here or at

lumieresdedragon!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[That sure is a piece of mail on his doorstep. And huh (give him a few minutes to read said mail).

...

He sort of forgot that Aldrip didn't have mail-- at least until now, obviously. He's just sort of gotten used to communicating through the tablets all the time. It's quick and easy and it's not like he really got a lot of mail back home. He wasn't the type to write letters and any mail was usually addressed to his parents. So, this is a change, and one that obviously someone set up.

But call him curious, because he sort of wants to see the person who even thought of making a postal service here. Might be nice to have a mailbox too anyway, especially since he owns a house. It's not like the American Dream or whatever if his house doesn't include a mailbox, right? Sure.

So, he makes his way to the new building, after parking his motorcycle nearby and pulling off his helmet (he got bitched enough about that). He takes note of the people already working there, and--]

Oh my god, you set this up?

[It's Altius!! Because of course it is, ZA makes so much more sense now. Well, it's honestly not too surprising that he created this since Altius is a businessman. And that's what they do, Scott guesses. They make a post office. Sure. Nonetheless, Scott almost looks exasperated, but guess this is fine.]

[Altius greets Scott with a smile. Look, it's his favorite motorcycle deliveryperson! He hasn't yet gotten around to reaching out to discuss, ahem, potentially building on his responsibilities, but it looks like the lad has saved him the trouble.]

Were you expecting someone different?

[...You know what, fair. It really is sort of hard to imagine anyone else setting up something like this. Maybe that Silco guy?? Jinx's father? But guess he doesn't believe in the mail or whatever.

Nonetheless, Scott lifts one shoulder in a half shrug. He appears normal, mostly handling the aftermath of all that dream stuff, but it's not something he really wants to talk about either. Although... seeing Altius as a teenager may be too difficult to pass up, even though something in his chest still twists thinking about all that. Time to cover all that up by giving him attitude--]

At least wear the mailman hat.

[Ha.]

It would look terrible on me, I'm afraid.

[Altius doesn't quite know if there's anything to that vague pause, so he simply pivots to what he was going to do anyway, and gestures with one hand towards the door. They can talk in private soon enough.]

Why don't you come in and I'll show you around.

[Figures that this stuffy guy in a suit would refuse to wear the hat.

Scott almost smiles about that, but it's kind of awkward when the last encounter that you had with that person was when you almost broke down crying while spilling your guts out about wanting impossible dreams. Yeah, sort of embarrassing, especially since something in him was deeply comforted by Altius' hug, because it was something real, unlike... unlike the hugs Alex gave him in that dream. Just figments of his imagination, essentially, and it hurts thinking about.

Not to mention that he trapped so many of his friends in his dream. He didn't want any of them to leave him and knowing this place, it would've been real bad if they remained stuck there forever. He feels like he should apologize to all of them, even though he knows that it's not entirely his fault either. It's this place being stupid, like normal, but it would be good to talk anyway.

Still, this whole mail service thing is a good distraction.]

Wow, my own personal tour of the post office. It's what I always wanted. [He feels so special!! But he goes over to the older man as instructed, stepping inside the brand new building.]

[He openly laughs at the sarcasm as he turns to lead Scott inside. He's taken note of that shift in expression, but—later, later.]

Perhaps I can get you a commemorative plaque to mark the occasion.

[Altius guides him through the entrance lobby, pointing out the desks for customer service and the drop-offs for packages, but he figures Scott has either been to one or seen enough of them in movies or television to not need any in-depth descriptions about the front end.

No, the more interesting part is stepping further past all that, into one of the sorting halls with aisles and aisles of wooden cubbies all labeled with individual addresses, empty canvas carts between them waiting to be filled with mail. Sadly, it's empty for now for the most part, but a few local employees mill about, checking the labels and sorting through a small handful of letters.]

It gives me a different sense of the city, looking at it all like this.

Wow, you're full of jokes now.

[Does Scott always need to get the last word in? Maybe. Just for Altius. Besides, if the dream was accurate at all, he used to be a punk himself. Someone with an attitude and a chip on his shoulder. So, he gets it, surely, even if he's an old man now.

But the mutant actually pays attention to everything that he's pointing out, noting the desks and everything that would make a post office... a post office. Not exciting, but guess it's kind of cool. Sort of like 'cool that you made this happen' and now Aldrip has an official place that can deliver mail. At least it's familiar to Scott and he can appreciate that.

The sorting hall is definitely a little more interesting though. Not like he gets to see the 'back room' all that much, except in movies here and there, and it's where all the... magic happens. Even if said room is pretty bare. Scott makes a small sound, one that's indecipherable, before he shoves his hands inside his pockets like normal.]

It gives you a sense that no one uses the mail yet? [....] But you got several addresses already, so guess it will only grow from here.

[If Scott is so determined to have his witty remarks, fine, fine, he can have them. He's being much less humorous when he continues, though still lighthearted:]

Just making up for lost time.

[Because, yeah, now that Scott knows how much of a humorless ass he was at Scott's age... and, maybe he can understand why Altius is so patient with his sass. Most of the time.

He doesn't know if that reaction to the sorting is one of a lad who's impressed, but he's not picky. He hasn't built all this for his own ego.]

That's not quite what I meant, but—you're right. [A pause where he takes a breath, folding one arm over his chest and bringing the other hand to his chin.] I was thinking about the people who live here. Maybe they're not as—well-defined as we are, but they still take up so much space, with their own routines and personalities...

[He hums in thought, wondering how deep it goes. Wonders not for the first time if they may have once been Chosen themselves, as he's heard of some of the other populations in this world.]

But I won't bore you with that.

[Instead! He takes a few steps forward to explain the sorting systems in place and the general flow of the mail, the differences in the process between letters and packages. He expects to lose Scott's interest if he goes on too long about it, so he keeps it to the point.]

Edited (there should be a space there.) 2025-02-11 17:53 (UTC)

[It takes Scott a moment, but he figures out what Altius is saying. The locals. They're part of the simulation and sometimes they don't really feel real, but they still exist in their own way? And they could possibly be more? He has complicated feelings about them, honestly, but if Altius wants to provide an extra service for them, there's really nothing wrong with it. Kind of nice of him, really, his opinion of the man growing ever so much, especially after how he comforted him in the dream.

Which. Still something to unpack, but later!! LATER...

Because he continues to follow Altius as he explains the sorting systems and everything and... okay, this is definitely nice and all, but this is really going in-depth into something that he probably doesn't need to know about. At least he doesn't make the explanation too long or else Scott would've really spaced out.]

So, uh, is there a reason why you're telling me all this? [Is Altius really that proud of his post office?]

Am I losing you?

[His steps pause as he looks back, a look of good humor on his face.]

But yes, you could say that. I'll show you my office and we can chat.

[If Scott follows after him, he'll climb a set of stairs to the second floor, a space that's mostly an external hallway around the main sorting area cut out and railed off to see what's happening below. The door he comes to is framed by windows to allow those inside to see anyone's approach, and from those windows they can see the ones that look out onto the street as well.

It's not an ostentatious room; larger than the other individual offices at best, lined with filing cabinets along one wall, simply furnished with a small couch under one of the interior windows, and so on, and so forth. It's still strange to Altius that he has neither a computer nor a phone at the desk, but it is what it is.]

You can sit if you like. [Or not, whatever. Altius isn't sitting down himself yet, so Scott can even cheekily take the chair at the desk if he wants.]

No. [He's not defensive at all, what are you talking about!! Scott huffs, trying not to look embarrassed about getting caught. In fact, he's just going to double down now.]

I just wanted you to get to the point.

[Because Altius was yapping so much! But miraculously, Scott doesn't add any extra comments from there, following the older man up to the second floor as they head towards what the mutant would call 'the head honcho's office.' The fact that they had to climb a flight of stares and there's windows looking down at the people below definitely screams that. Besides, Altius himself just said that they're heading to his office. Scott has to instinctively push back a couple of older memories where he had to walk to the principal's office after 'acting out' again or whatever bullshit.

At least this doesn't really feel like that. Maybe it's because it's just the post office and not a school, but honestly, it's because he kind of actually like Altius, unlike the adults at his old school. So, Scott's less defensive, although he can't help but look just a little more serious too, as they step inside.

Probably the only reason why he doesn't immediately steal his chair.]

...What did you want to tell me anyway?

[Okay, maybe he can't fully hide some of his awkward behavior, Scott shifting where he's standing in front of the desk as he look at Altius. It's clear the teen is trying to play it cool, but he really can't remember a time when someone 'invited' him to his office for a good thing. Did he disappoint the older man in some way?]

[As honed as his senses are to other people's moods, he catches onto Scott's shiftiness easily enough, and he turns with a raised eyebrow as his humor apparently fades. Arms folded, he sounds fairly serious when he says:]

I'm afraid I'm going to have to put you in detention, Mr. Summers.

[He only lets that hang in the air for a single second before an easy smile returns to his face that he hopes is reassuring.]

You can relax, Scott. I was only going to ask if you'd be interested in delivering for the post office. I wanted to check in with you, too; we can have a little more privacy here than out in the middle of the building.

[His mouth parts, like he's about ready to talk back, but it immediately shuts in a small snap when Scott finally figures out that Altius is only joking with him. Oh, uh. Right, duh. He knew that this entire time!! He can't be placed in detention because there's no school... and because Altius isn't actually upset with him. That reaffirmation is so relieving for reasons that he doesn't want to admit. Scott flushes lightly, cheeks darkening just a shade, but he tries to fight back the rest of his embarrassed feelings as he looks at Altius' reassuring smile.

Old man is teasing him and it worked..... clearly he needs to step up his game. Nonetheless, Scott's posture loses that tension, shoulders lowering as he takes in everything he's saying. Wait, delivering for the post office??]

Wait, you're offering me a job? [...And of course he wanted to check in on him. That's the kind of adult Altius is, huh?]

[A sly look comes to his eyes briefly as Scott tries to hide his little gullible moment, but he lets it pass without comment.]

That I am. [He tilts his head.] Are you interested? It shouldn't be any more complicated than what I've asked you for before.

[Not a word old man!!!]

Uh... [Scott's mostly still recovering from the surprise of being offered an actual job from Altius. Yeah, he's done a couple of favors for him before, but this is something official. He'll probably have steady work hours and pay and all that... instead of Scott just doing the odd job here and there for various locals. It'd be nice, really.

He wants to ask Altius if he's sure, but he wouldn't have offered this in the first place otherwise. He's a businessman-- he probably knows what he's doing when it comes to this sort of thing.]

Yeah. [He eventually answers, voice almost shy, before it regains some of his confidence. Sure, being a delivery man wasn't what he imagined his first job to be, but he doesn't find himself upset by it either. At least he can drive his motorcycle around still, right??] Not even doing a job interview, huh?

[Glad to know he impressed him that much!!]

That's one of the benefits to living in a realm with only vaguely defined employment laws, [he answers with a shrug of one shoulder. Definitely nothing shady about that! Not that he'd ever take advantage of any of the real people here... he's just taking advantage of what he can get out of Aldrip itself.

It's a bit endearing, that Scott seems so taken aback by all this. A part of him wonders why the young man always seems so surprised at his offers, and not just the job-related ones...]

But wonderful. I can write you up a proper contract later, just so we're on the same page. [With a faint hm! of realization:] I don't even need to ask you for your uniform size, I suppose.

[How handy, that they've already gotten that sorted.]

[That didn't sound sketchy at all.

Well, at least Scott doesn't have to go through an official interview process, so that's nice! Didn't have to submit a resume or anything, he's just being offered a real job without barely any effort. If only things would be this easy back home.

Although, if he becomes a X-Man... maybe it will be the same thing. He can't imagine that he'd be submitting an application for something like that. It seems like a thing that will just happen. Thoughts for later though.

Scott nods when Altius mentions a contract, although it's more absentminded than anything else. It doesn't seem like the teen cares too much, just going with the flow, until the older mentions uniforms and Scott's face immediately scrunches.]

Wait, uniform? [He didn't think he'd have to wear one!!]

[Altius wonders vaguely where Scott's head went to for that moment, but he lets out an amused huff at the young man's apparent offense.]

Have you ever seen a postman without one? [He steps towards his chair behind the desk, but keeps his eyes on Scott.] You know what people say about men in uniforms, don't you?

You just mentioned that there are vague employment laws. So, you don't have to have a uniform for your workers.

[Scott's 100% pouting. He doesn't want to wear some lame looking mailman uniform with short shorts!! Or whatever else. A silly blue hat. All of that would fully clash with his style.

Also ignore him mumbling how he's pretty sure that the whole men in uniform bit only refers to military uniforms. Not mailmen.]

[Sorry, Scott, he's laughing at both the open response and the muttered one, setting his elbows on his desk as he sits.]

And ruin the traditional look? I could never.

[Also post office uniforms used to look very military, you know! This is what happens when you kids don't read up on your history, he swears...]

We have a few different styles; I'm sure you can find one that agrees with you. Is a blue button-up really so unappealing?

[He's forgotten how much of a stuffy businessman Altius is until now. He won't forget again!! Really, this is a solid reminder that he really plays by the rules still, despite being the one that's creating them. Ugh, and he had such high hopes. Scott's face continues to have that scrunched look, not even bothering to hide his displeasure about all this.]

Some traditions are meant to be broken.

[GRUMBLE. Then a sigh. He's relenting, because whatever. He has a job still.]

Fine, I guess a blue button-up is fine. [...] I'm still delivering on my motorcycle, aren't I?

Ever the contrarian.

[He says it with some humor, some fondness; but also, since Scott is ultimately conceding, he enjoys teasing the young man for the way he always wants to get the last word in.]

I assume that's your preference, [he says agreeably.] Given it's the fas—

[He thinks he catches something out of the corner of his eye—as if he'd opened one of his twisting portals into the void, and for the briefest of moments, alarmed, he thinks perhaps he's lost control—

But there's nothing there, not over Scott's shoulder, nor out past the window. Another false vision. Though his suddenly serious expression smooths over again, there's still a hint of uneasiness in it.]

—the faster method.

[The snarky retort that Scott had ready slowly dies in his throat, mouth closing in a twist of concern as Altius appears to just momentarily drift off. It's like he's distracted by something and it's enough that it gets Scott to turn his head back, as if trying to see what the older man is looking at.

But there's nothing. At least nothing out of the ordinary, just a closed door and his shelves nearby. Nothing that would be out of place in a mailroom office. The mutant returns to look back at Altius with a small worried frown in place. Yep, that concern is being directed straight at him now.]

...Are you okay?

Edited 2025-02-28 15:52 (UTC)

[A slow breath leaves him as he folds his hands on the desktop.]

I'm fine.

[He debates with himself for a moment. There's no good way of putting this, but trying to dismiss it feels like a mistake. He could come up with an excuse, but... perhaps it's better to try to find the truth of it. It's a risk—he's not fond of the idea of anyone thinking he's losing his mind—but he thinks out of anyone, Scott might be more willing to keep thoughts like that about Altius to himself...

It's only a few moments before he continues, just before Scott might have thought it was his turn to say something.]

Has this world ever... caused you to see things that weren't there?

[It's clear that Scott doesn't believe Altius's reassurance. He's heard 'I'm fine' so many times before when it's been obvious that they aren't okay and this is no different. It's not like Altius to suddenly space out like that, see something that clearly wasn't there, and Scott doesn't bother to hide his worry for his employer. Mentor.

He's about ready to tell him that he doesn't believe Altius for a second, but surprisingly, at least to Scott, the older man opens up on his own. Scott's mouth shuts in a small click, that surprise lasting for a couple of seconds longer before he gets with the program and starts thinking about the question he just asked.

So, he's seeing things that aren't there.]

Yeah, a couple of times. [Scott says, figuring that telling him this truth might help. He's fine talking about it, mostly.] Illusions of people.

[Of Alex.]

What did you see?

post office;

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flight of stares...... ignore me

:3

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