September Catch-All | OPEN

[onethirdthesoul]

Characters: Ryou and YOU!
Date: September 10th~30th (after he and Yami Bakura clear things up)
Location: Around Keeliai, Mu-Hao
Situation: Many
Warnings/Rating: None yet.

[part a]
[In spite of some warnings from the Spirit himself, Ryou didn't wait to see if everyone heard their message. It's possible someone might still mistake them, but he decided to simply tie his hair up and tuck it into a hat instead of worrying himself sick. It doesn't do much, but it's a start.

Properly "disguised", he can be seen around the less shady looking parts of Keeliai, a sketchpad and colored pencils in hand. Even with the maps Solomon provided him, making a diorama of the turtle was going to need some personal experience. The map gave him layouts, but it didn't really provide that glimmer of insight that distinguished each sector. Even if he didn't have to toll away on the details like he would a game of Monster World, he feels the context of color, at the very least, will help.]

[part b]
He also stops at several food stands along the way, so passersby might notice him snacking as he diligently colors in little sketches of the more fantastical parts of each Sector. Is he still researching, or is he just gathering ideas for his next tabletop at this point?]

This would make a really cool final boss arena...! [Well, that answers that.]

((ooc: Prose or brackets is fine! If you want to do anything specific and would like to set something up outside of these prompts, feel free to PP/PM me! I'll add it to the top-level prompts.))

Comments

Yami Bakura;

[onethirdthesoul]

[Ryou said he'd see him later. He didn't say when, and really he hadn't planned on coming over today at all, but he just happened to be inspecting the Fire Sector when he passed by the Huo-Hao suite.

It only took him a moment to make his decision before he walked right in and greeted the giant turtle there.]

Hello, Emily-Helen-chan. Is Baku-san home?

[denyamenti]

[ Though her 'parent' was still a little cool in reception of Ryou's arrival, Emily-Helen thought he was very nice and appreciated that he'd stayed to talk to her for a few minutes the last time he was here. She also evidently didn't hold any kind of grudge about how he'd shrieked the first time she'd spoken to him. Bakura had explained what certain kind of suffixes meant so she radiated happy excitement when he'd used one. ]

Hello! I am glad to be Emily-Helen-chan, it means you like me! He is out for a little bit but he promised to bring me seaweed treats! He should be back soon.

[onethirdthesoul]

[Ryou takes a seat near Emily-Helen, and while he's still kind of dumbfounded by the idea of talking to an animal in actual human words, he's not faking his enthusiasm. She's like a little kid...well, a large kid...pet?!]

Aww, he's getting you treats? That's really nice of him! [Surprisingly kind, too. He's a little suspicious.

Some time passes as Ryou happily continues the conversation with Emily-Helen, until suddenly the doors open and a way too familiar face walks in. Now that the person he came here for was home, he leant over to pat Emily-Helen on the head in a farewell gesture.] Well, it was nice talking to you! We can talk again on my way back out, okay?

[As Ryou gets to his feet, that cheerful demeanor practically vanishes the moment he greets the other Bakura.]

Hey, Baku-san.

[denyamenti]

[ Ryou's cheer wasn't the only good mood that evaporated at his entry, particularly when the teen called him that. Bakura realized that Ryou thought he was being cute and clever with it, but it was really neither and it certainly didn't predispose the thief to giving him much leniency with anything. He'd been out getting food for the apartment and carried a paper sack in one arm, since Costigan was around sporadically and the other roommate, not at all. ]

What do you want?

[ He bypassed Ryou with a careless brush and went to Emily-Helen, setting down a smaller bag of seaweed formed into fist-sized shapes for her treat and then carrying the remainder into the kitchen, leaving Ryou to follow if he wished. ]

[onethirdthesoul]

[That cold stare was hard for Ryou to swallow, and he found himself staring just shy of the other man's eyes to avoid it.]

It's about our last conversation... [He trails off Bakura walks right past him, watching a moment as he gives the turtle her treat. It looks like he hadn't been lying after all, and somehow that small act of kindness helped Ryou to steel himself to go on.]

I-- [But before he can say anything Bakura's moving, and he's forced to trail along behind him once he realizes he won't be stopping.] I wanted to talk about the Ring. You said it was dangerous for me to test it out last time, but I think everybody knows now...

[denyamenti]

[ With Emily-Helen happily munching on her snacks in the other room, Bakura begins putting away his purchases; the sight is uncannily mundane. ]

It isn't only the Foreigners who are dangerous, as your little run-in with those gang thugs proved. You really do attract every possible bully in any given world, don't you?

[onethirdthesoul]

You know about that...? [Ryou lips twist in an uncomfortable look, not just because Bakura knew, but because of how close to home his offhand comment hit. Sometimes he almost forgot, but Yugi-tachi wasn't here to help distract him.]

W-wait, nevermind. That's not important. [He shakes his head.] Why can't I just test it out somewhere safer? Or...you could always answer some of my other questions.

Solomon Wreath;

[onethirdthesoul]

[Since Ryou was working on the diorama for Solomon, he'd invited him to come over and have a look at its work-in-progress today. He even had a nice stack of notes from his ventures to go with it.]

Hello, Wreath-san! It's nice to see you again. My room's this way. [Gesturing him inside (and making sure he removes his shoes first), Ryou leads the older man up to his room and to the table where his diorama was making progress.

It's pretty fairly sized at about six feet length-wise, and keeping the general proportions of turtle shell's width with it. Instead of building it on an actual curved surface Ryou's opted for a rectangular table for stability's sake. It doesn't have enough of an effect on the proportions to be an issue, and Ryou's already done a rough-but-efficient painting for the type of ground in each section, as well as having marked off the edges of the shell.

Set aside on one corner of the table are a lot of different sized and shaped buildings with references on them to relate them back to where they should be on the map. It looks like he's tackled the basic silhouettes for most of the major buildings, but hasn't done any detail work yet.]

Okay, this is what I have so far! What do you think?

[peacefullywreathed]

[The materials were basic, but most things in Keeliai were basic; even so when Solomon had delivered them they had seemed to be sufficient. The maps had been the most important thing, naturally, and that had actually taken some time--if only for Solomon to find one of his maps that wasn't marked-up by deathsprings.

[Solomon removes his shoes and follows Ryou with amused indulgence, giving the beginnings of the diorama a scan. Not that he'll say it too explicitly, but he's mildly impressed. Not just teenage boasting, then.]

Sufficient.

[He taps one of the buildings.]

Remember there's no need to go into too much detail with the paintwork. The importance rests in the layout, not the appearance. I was unable to find maps of the palace, but I'll speak to Bakura. He may have some. In the meantime, I do have these.

[He takes a few folded sheets out of his pocket and unfolds them on the desk. They're maps, again, roughly drawn but accurate and with a scale in a corner.]

These are some of the mines leading under the shell's surface--not deeply, but even still. If we're to need a retreat, or if they might be used to transport people, I would rather have them in the diorama.

[onethirdthesoul]

[Only sufficient? Ryou had been hoping for more of a reaction than that, and his smile faulters a little on the comment about keeping the details out of his paintwork. It wasn't anything he hadn't known already, but after looking around the city he'd been kind of excited to get to painting it!

Perhaps he can make his own mini diorama after he finishes this one.]

I thought some paint might help keep everything distinct, especially between Sectors... I can save on sculpting time that way too.

[He takes a step over as Solomon unfolds the map, eying it with intrigue.]

But I already built everything to be on the ground level... [And he doesn't have anything like his Monster World table here where he could just flip the panels as he pleased.] Should I just make a separate diorama in the same scale?

[peacefullywreathed]

[Solomon cast a glance at the teen, and was gracious enough to withhold his amusement at the boy's obvious disappointment.]

That is true. Very well; at your discretion.

[In spite of the complaint, Solomon recognised the interest on Ryou's face, and pushed the maps closed with a smile.]

Certainly, if you feel that's best. As long as they're accurate and we can tell where they connect to the surface, the exact method doesn't matter.

[onethirdthesoul]

[Ryou's glad to know he's been given the go-ahead on painting, because otherwise he might start to feel guilty by "wasting" time on it.

When Solomon closes the map, he looks back up to meet his eyes.]

Hmm... I guess I could outline the areas that they connect in red or yellow paint so they stand out. How's that sound? [He flashes Solomon a smile.]

[peacefullywreathed]

You're the tradesman.

[It's mildly amused, and Solomon hands over the folded map.]

Is there anything else I ought to know before I leave you?

Billy Costigan;

[onethirdthesoul]

[While taking notes in the Fire Sector, Ryou began to wander a little too far off the main road, eventually finding himself in a narrow and dingy alleyway. A few intimidating natives stepped up to greet him just as he was turning to leave. Some were his height, some were a fair bit taller, and they all certainly looked tougher as they leered at him, making your typical threats.]

I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean-- [He's cut off as one of the larger member shoves him, and then it becomes almost a game as he's shoved, stumbling back and forth between the three of them. Ryou tried to protest, but he often couldn't get the words out, and he was terrified.]

S-stop it!! [One more harsh shove to the chest sent him, and a good chunk of his work, straight to the ground.]

[lostundercover]

[It was no wonder Bakura was worried about Ryou. Costigan missed most of Bakura's pretending days, only really getting to know the true criminal and perhaps good man hidden beneath strife and circumstance. What little he knew of the facade was almost embarrassing for the kid who turned out to fit that description exactly and the undercover is glad to be following the kid today as they venture through the Fire Sector. Costigan stays a street or two behind, always only keeping the kid in sight and never following him directly.

Except then the kid's running into one of the gangs Costigan knows and was even friendly with until his announcement as head of the foreigner's police division. It's amazing how many bridges that title burned.]

Leave the guy alone. [He calls idly as he walks forward, intervening the moment one of the kedan lays a hand on the other guy.] He's not worth anything.

[One of the kedan steps forward, between Costigan and Ryou. The undercover reaches his right hand around to the gun at the small of his back, drawing it easily and leveling it in one smooth motion.] Back off, or I'll forget that Jinzi was so nice to me.

[The kedan look at each other, to the kid, and then to Costigan. Finally, the one between them steps aside. The Bostonian keeps his gun trained on the apparent leader.] Come on, kid.

[onethirdthesoul]

[Ryou was starting to think he should have heeded Bakura's warning a little better by now, even if this was wholly unrelated. He's on the verge of tears as Costigan walks on the scene, and while that voice does sound somewhat familiar, Ryou's far too upset to process who it is just yet. All he knows is that he's been bailed out of a very bad situation, on seemingly blind luck alone.]

I--I don't... [I don't have anything, is what Ryou's trying to say, but he just trails off instead as he notices the older man pulling a gun.

He's too frightened to move when he sees it, only managing to budge his frozen limbs when he's being spoken to directly. Even then it takes Ryou a moment to understand, but once he does he's scrambling to his feet and quickly behind Costigan. The last place he wants to be right now is between a gun and a bunch of thugs.]

D-don't shoot them. [He manages the words, barely loud enough for the man just in front of him to hear.]

[lostundercover]

[Costigan drops his free hand to Ryou's shoulder, tugging on the kid's clothes to help move him out of the way. At his words, the undercover can't help a sigh. With one last, long look at each of the kedan, he returns the weapon to the small of his back, lucky that none of them noticed the safety being 'on' the entire time.

Then he turns to move quickly away, the same hand reaching out to Ryou to again guide him if needed, pulling him away from the danger. Every few steps, Costigan casts a glance over his shoulder to ensure the gang is still walking away, returning to the business they were conducting before the kid interrupted.]

You alright? [He asks finally, sliding both hands into his pockets as they reemerge onto a slightly larger and more public street. Costigan doesn't stop walking, but his pace slows.]

[onethirdthesoul]

[Ryou starts to hurry out as soon as Costigan starts moving. The hand is hardly needed, but it's not unwanted. He's still feeling shaken up after the whole thing and trying to swallow down the lump in his throat.

As soon as they're back out onto the public street Ryou breathes out a sigh of relief as he nods his head.]

Yeah...yeah, I'm okay. Thank you. [He gulps, straightening up and casting a glance back at the alleyway. It's too bad he dropped so much of his work back there, but better his drawings than his head.] Really.

[lostundercover]

It's fine. [Not really one for attention or praise, Costigan is quick to dismiss the thanks. His eyes continually scan their surroundings, never actually looking at the kid he just rescued. The Bostonian knows what he would find anyway, has spent enough time with Bakura to remember the kid's face without having to see it again. The differences are small enough.]

We should be able to cycle back in about a half hour, maybe an hour, to pick up whatever you dropped. If it wasn't valuable, they don't have a reason to bother it. They're less vengeful than you would think.

Korra;

[onethirdthesoul]

[As promised, the day after they first spoke over the console, Ryou arrived at the dojo with a small backpack in tow. Since it was already in the Wood Sector he decided just to walk, testing his by-foot navigation skills. Needless to say he got lost once or twice, but he still made it on time. Nothing like leaving way earlier than necessary!]

Korra? [He looked around as he walked into the main area, finally breaking into a grin when he saw her.]

Hello! Good afternoon!

[alphatar]

[The main area had different mats laid out. One of them had a class of young kedan that had just finished their lesson and they bowed to their instructor, another kedan, before making a break for the door.

Korra was using another mat with a wooden dummy, her arms hitting the wooden poles on one side that represent the arms and leg. Not too far away from her is Eshai, the turtle was eating out of a huge bowl set aside. A pleased feeling emanated from her, part of the reason Korra was smiling through the sweat.

When she heard Ryou’s voice, she looked up; her arms coming to a halt.]

Hey. You made it.

[She grabbed the towel atop the dummy and wiped her face off, beckoning Ryou toward her.]

Mu ren zhuang. [Once she was done wiping her face, she set the towel on her shoulder.] This. [She rapped it with her knuckles.] It’s a wooden dummy that represents your opponent. It helps refine your technique and chi.

[Eshai looked up from her bowl, happy to see another foreigner and eager to display the knowledge she’s learned/observed from Korra.]

And leaves bruises!

[Korra inclined her head with a half smile.]

That too. So, what do you think?

[She waved to her kedan employee before letting the instructor head to the showers, then motioned at the rest of the dojo. Most of the equipment was typical. Heavy punching bags, speed bags, bo staffs, wooden dummies, sparring gear, target shields, and even weapon racks.]

[onethirdthesoul]

[Ryou makes his way over to Korra once she greets him, coming to a stop nearby to take in the impromptu lesson on "mu ren zhuang". (Even in his head, Ryou manages to butcher the pronunciation.)

He really didn't know anything about dojos or martial arts, but he was more than happy to learn if it meant working here. Korra seemed to be in a much better mood than she had over the console, and he's happy to see the change as he nods along to her lesson.

Eshai's comment also earns a small laugh.]

I think it's really nice! I wasn't sure what I was expecting, but it's definitely more than whatever that was. So what kind of work will you have me doing?

[alphatar]

[Having a night to rest and being in the calming presence Eshai radiated had brought around Korra's usual zeal. That and the absence of Bakura being on the other end of the console or even being on her mind in general.]

Maintenance. [A quick wipe of the towel over her neck and Korra folded it a few times so she could point with it.]

Dusting, sweeping, mopping, windows, laundry: mostly uniforms and towels, cleaning and folding the mats, and check to see if any equipment gets broken at the end of the day. Maybe some little stuff if you have down time, but it's lot easier than it sounds once you get used to it.

[She threw the towel into a nearby clothes bin.]

Still interested?

[onethirdthesoul]

Yup! [He pipped up cheerfully, balling his hands into fists.]

I've always wondered what it would be like to have a job, and if it means I get to help fill a spot you really needed, that's even better. [Even if the work itself didn't seem that fun, he could probably make some new friends while he was here.]

[alphatar]

Well, I do need someone else to do it now. [Her eyes flicked at the mat, her toes pressing down on it. But she didn't dwell on it much, hard to do so when Eshai noticed the practically imperceptible change in her. The turtle sent out a dancing telepathic wave of delight as she chewed a mouthful of food.

Korra gave a simple smile as she looked up at Ryou.]

I'll give you two weeks at the usual rate, three juulan an hour. If you do a good job and stay on board, I just might up to the five an hour I was paying my last guy.

[She padded back to Eshai to see if she was done with her lunch and turned to Ryou. All it took was a look for her to know it wasn't Bakura trying to mess with her. Korra hated that she was still wary despite her spiritual ability and gifted vision from Asti.]

Tomorrow too soon for you to start?