open;

[duelkatana]

Characters: Leonardo and OPEN
Date: The first two weeks of August
Location: Throughout Keeliai
Situation: Leo takes his newly-acquired ability to sense bad M-vibes out for a spin. And another spin. And another. Stop the ride; we want to get off.
Warnings/Rating: None, subject to change

-

The only way it can be described is a fog. Thick and layered mist settled over the land, the buildings, the people of Keeliai. When he'd first sensed the dark presence, just days after completing his training, it had sent chills of surprise up his spine that settled into a cold weight in his middle. Everywhere he turned, everywhere he went - that dark, heavy feeling, pressing down with such directness that he can hardly believe not every soul on Tu Vishan is able to sense it.

He wonders how long it's been here. And he wonders if there's anywhere it isn't.

Leonardo spends the final days of July to himself, quietly meditating on his newfound ability and the first truth it's revealed to him. But there's a time for reflection, and a time for action - when the next month rolls past, he hasn't found any answers within his own mind. It's time to look for them elsewhere.

Surely there must be some place on the turtle where this dark energy doesn't exist. Right?


[ooc; Leo will be covering just about every accessible inch of Keeliai; PM me if you'd like a threadstarter or feel free to hop in with your own!]

Comments

[lordhotman]

[As one of the newest arrivals, Zuko has been spending a lot of his time exploring and settling into this new place. He met his young turtle that decided to adopt him, and now today he's just roaming around.

He's on his way back home in the Fire Sector when he catches sight of something strange. Another turtle? Or at least he thinks it's a turtle. He can't help but stop and stare for a moment.]

[duelkatana]

[Leo is still a stranger to using the streets for travel - on foot, anyway - but he finds that it's the best way to conduct his search. It's uncomfortable, it's slow, but it's the only way to see the people. From up on the rooftops, he can barely tell where they are past the sense of endless black clouds lingering in the streets.]

[So he's on foot. And, miraculously, something does seem to nag at him more strongly than the usual bad vibes. Leonardo immediately recognizes it as the age-old feeling that he's being watched, and stops in place, slinking back to the sidewalk as he glances back and forth across the crowd.]

[Eventually, he meets the gaze of a young human man with a vicious burn scar over his left eye. Huh. Birds of a feather, eh? But Leo doesn't care for being stared at, especially since he arrived here and turned out to be one of the less freaky-looking inhabitants of the city, so there's not much else to do but hold the guy's gaze until he makes a move.]

[Well, he could run away. But let's not go to that extreme quite yet.]

[lordhotman]

[Zuko hadn't meant to stare, but he catches himself doing just that. Seemingly to realize as much, he blinks once, noticing that the turtle person looks uncomfortable. Perhaps it would be better to just look away and leave, but for some reason he can't quite explain... he's curious.

Thus the young man approaches, careful to not appear hostile or threatening. After all, there's plenty of people around here that could be. Gangs and stuff, you know.]

[duelkatana]

[His guard goes up when the kid starts to approach, but it doesn't take long to see that there's a total lack of aggression there. No visible weapons, no hostile body laguage... no red flags so far. So Leo merely holds his ground for the moment, politely inclining his head in greeting.]

Can I help you?

[lordhotman]

[While Zuko doesn't have any weapons on him, he notices that this green guy definitely does. He has no reason to be worried though. His own... "weapon" isn't something that he carries on him. But he gets the distinct feeling that this guy has no intention to fight unless he himself starts one.]

Maybe.

[Pause.]

You're a swordsman.

[duelkatana]

[That... makes him raise an eye ridge. Hm. Is that why he approached Leo? Looking for a sparring partner... or an opponent? It wouldn't be the first time someone came to him because of his skill with a blade, but he has to admit, this guy is leaving a better first impression than the last. At least he didn't chuck a throwing knife at the back of Leo's head.]

I am.

[But the scarred man is unarmed. Leonardo can't think of many swordsmen who would be caught dead without their blades if they could help it. He wants to ask, are you, but first he'll see how the guy reacts to confirmation. Hopefully not by pulling a tanto out of his sleeve.]

[lordhotman]

[Well... that wasn't the ONLY reason that Zuko approached him. But saying something like... 'WOW You're green and weird looking. Like a turtle or something!' That... didn't seem all that appropriate. No more than someone pointing out his scar, anyway.]

My swords didn't make it here with me. I need to find replacements.

[If there's anyone that could know where to find a good pair of blades, it would be another swordsman.]

[duelkatana]

[Ahh. Well, that changes things considerably. A good amount of the tension in Leo's stare melts away, replaced by empathy. He knows what it's like to be separated from one's weapons unwillingly. He pushes the lingering dark presence to the back of his mind, centering his focus on the conversation.]

[Leo also notes the plural swords. Interesting. A fellow dual wielder?]

If you're looking for an armory, you're in the right Sector. Are you... planning to forge your own?

[lordhotman]

[Forge his own? Zuko hadn't actually thought about that.]

I would, but I've never done it before.

[After all, he was only a kid when he took lessons from Master Piandao.]

[duelkatana]

[Hmm, not surprising. Leo's situation back home means he's always had to forge his own weapons, but that's probably untrue of most humans. There's no shame in it.]

There's probably someone there who can get you started. What kind of swords do you use, if you don't mind me asking?

[Some are easier to forge than others.]

[lordhotman]

Dual Dao swords.

[The thought of forging his own swords was kind of exciting. Zuko then points at Leonardo's own blades.]

Those are Katanas, right?

[raavashing]

[Wan spots Leonardo while he's checking out the Wood sector. He jogged over from one side, grinning at the not-spirit as he called out.]

Leonardo! You look lost. Can I help?

[duelkatana]

[Having his name called out from afar is highly unusual, especially since it's from a voice other than the usual culprits, so when he hears it, he turns right away. To his surprise - and relief - it's neither his brothers nor some random old enemy with a vendetta.]

[Of course, that relief is tempered a bit by the fact that the familiar dark presence seems to be lingering over Wan the same as it is everyone else. Determined not to let it sour his reaction, Leo smiles as Wan approaches.]

Wan! I almost forgot you lived in this Sector.

[raavashing]

[Well, if the presence was lingering over Wan, the Avatar certainly didn't seem to feel it. Not with the bright smile he had on him.]

Yeah. It's a really nice place. The treehouses here are so much better than the ones we built outside the Lion Turtle City. It helps that the trees are so big. I've only ever seen one tree as old as the ones here.

[He took a moment to look his friend over for any signs of the heat getting to him. The concern was obvious and he didn't try to hide what he was doing.]

You doing okay?

[duelkatana]

[He tries not to let his smile fall in the face of Wan's bright grin. It's eerie, feeling the dark energy swirling around both of them... and seeing Wan act like he can't sense a thing. Then again, he can't. That was the whole point of Leo's training: to sense what others can't.]

[He follows most of what Wan says, but really is only startled out of his thoughts at the blatant scrutiny he is suddenly subjected to. He averts his gaze slightly, wondering if it's simple friendly concern, or if it's obvious that he's having a bad day. Social skills would probably help in this situation.]

Fine. Just passing through and... taking in the scenery.

[In all its horrible glory.]

[raavashing]

[Wan's smile faded as he watched Leo. The guy was clearly not feeling well. Whether it was due to the heat or something else, Wan couldn't tell.]

Sure. The scenery...

I know I don't know you very well, but I like you and you don't look as good as you did when we met. Is the heat getting to you? I can help cool you down if that's all it is. But if there's something else, I'd like to help.

[duelkatana]

[There's no hiding the cringe that twists his expression this time. Is he really that transparent? Leo fumbles for a moment, his gaze flitting further to the side and back, before he sighs and rubs the back of his neck.]

[The heat is a factor, but it's really just putting additional discomfort on top of what's already there. He isn't sure how to explain it, but... if anyone would understand a spiritual disquiet, it would be an Avatar, right? Maybe he can get some advice.]

[Still. This is really embarrassing.]

Wan, do you ever pick up... strange energies as the Avatar?

[raavashing]

[An eyebrow rose at the question and he shook his head.]

I don't think so, but... well, I only just became the Avatar. I don't really have a lot of experience with the role. Korra would be a better person to ask. Or Aang. What kind of strange energies are you looking for?

[looksfine]

[Her scanners detected a biometric signature within the general vicinity, but her visual receptors could not confirm those readings.]

[In short: Aya knew someone was there, but she couldn't see him. Or her.]

[Things were mostly quiet for that time of night. Few organic beings regained consciousness. A chance for those who did not sleep at all to revel in the peace and silence. Some might consider it boring, but Aya had long grown accustomed to the several hours of isolation before her current friends and allies (among others) regained consciousness.]

[Tonight, however, was different. Her guard was up, but not her weapons. There was no reason to suspect hostility just yet.]

I request that you make your presence visible. [Then, as almost an afterthought:] Please.

[duelkatana]

[The request is ridiculous. Or it would be, back home. Leonardo has met very few people who have had the ability to detect him when he wished to remain hidden, and fewer still who responded by asking he make himself visible.]

[It's a little bit different here on the turtle, and maybe that's why Leo slowly complies, dropping from the shadowed rooftop of a nearby building. He lands in a crouch, moonlight glinting off of the twin katana slung over his shell as he slowly stands and takes a single step forward. But there's no aggression in his body language; no indication that he's doing anything other than complying with a request he isn't quite comfortable with.]

[Part of it is because anyone with enough confidence to call out a ninja shouldn't be ignored. Another part of it is that she said please, which is strange enough in itself.]

[His chin tips up slightly in the darkness, eyes regarding her with a mix of respect and caution.]

I'm impressed. Not many people can pick a ninja out of his element.

[looksfine]

[Aya watched as a shadowy figure dropped into her line of vision. Neither her face nor body language conveyed any one specific emotion, though her eyes continue to shine curiosity. Twin blades shone in the dim lighting, though they both remained sheathed.]

The processes of detecting your biometric signature once you within range was not difficult.

[A simple explanation (by her standards) to an unspoken question. How did she pick him out? Science. That's how.]

Were you following me?

[duelkatana]

[...biometric signature? What on Earth? He's heard Don use it enough times to know what it means, but that doesn't quite help him understand what she's getting at.]

[Fact of it is, he was following her. Only for a minute, and he'd never intended to actually make contact with her - she's just another on the long list of individuals he's chosen to follow around for a bit today, monitoring the dark energy that clings to every person on the turtle. Other than her appearance being unique enough that it caught his attention, she's been no different from the rest until now.]

Yeah - sorry. I've just... never seen you around these parts before.

[Never mind he's actually the stranger around here.]

[looksfine]

[Would it even surprise him to learn that she and Don were already well acquainted with one another?]

Apologies are not necessary.

Although, for future reference, if you are curious about my existence, then I would prefer you ask me directly.