rough winds do shake the darling buds of may | open, with starters

[wrathfulkhan]

Characters: Eyebrow Squad Gene, Jackie, Deon, and you!
Date: Throughout May
Location: Keeliai and the rest of the shell
Situation: General May drama and doings for Eyebrow Squad.
Warnings/Rating: None initially, but subject to change.

A. [Gene] Midnight Hotel | May 2 | closed to Tony

Gene hadn't taken the disappearance of the new influx of Foreigners well. But he'd taken it better than he'd expected; he'd always known, in his heart, that Bianca being back had been too good to be true. And Amelia hadn't returned, either. He'd been seized with a rather unusual and rather unfortunate sensation of missing all his friends who'd come and gone from Keeliai.

And it occurs to him that Tony might be feeling even worse. Howard had been swept away too. Gene hadn't been particularly heartbroken to see him gone - he still isn't too sure where he stands with the man - but he knows Tony's devastated by it. So he's tried to be as supportive as possible. He doesn't like seeing Tony upset.

B. [Gene] Sky Sector | early-mid May | open

Gene's been going around the Sky Sector and helping finalize some of the construction, making himself known among the kedan in the area, checking out the stalls in the artisan area. Sometimes he's putting the finishing touches on the little house he'd built for himself and Tony, and if he's not actively using tools - or secretly using the orange ring to manipulate matter, honing his control of it - he's probably open to talking.

C. [Jackie] Teahouse in the Water Sector | early-mid May | open

When he's not doing Snake stuff, Jackie's become quite fond of hanging out in a little teahouse in the Water Sector. Most of the time he has his Snake badge off, not wanting to intimidate any of the kedan, and just enjoying a quiet cup of tea. Tea had never really been his...well...his cup of tea, back home, but here he was starting to enjoy it.

D. [Deon] Metal Sector | early-mid May | open

Deon, meanwhile, is scouting out any technology he can find, buying up scrap wherever he can find it and writing out code by hand in a cheap notebook. Even if he can't test it, it's at least a decent exercise.

He's been dissuaded from dismantling a console - but he really wants to know how they work. Not worth pissing off the kedan, though; he's heard they don't take well to that.

But it looks like he knows what he's doing, or at least what he's after, either sitting on a bench and going over his handwritten code, the end of a pen in his mouth, or haggling with some kedan over some busted piece of looted Foreigner tech.

E. [Deon] Fire Sector | May 16 | closed to Shay

Deon's tired, and in need of a drink. He doesn't normally drink, but he's interested in seeing more of the kedan culture, and he figures that's worth the price of a beer or the local equivalent. Thus he sits at the bar, drinking an oddly sweet concoction that still has a mildly alcoholic fire to it, occasionally writing in his notebook as more ideas occur to him.


F. [Gene] House Iron Dragon | May 8 | closed to Tony

Tony's been acting weird the past day or so - more cagey than usual. Something's up, but Gene hasn't deduced what yet.

"You okay?" he asks, setting a mug of tea down in front of Tony, some concern in his voice. Still mopey over Howard, perhaps? The grief happens in waves, he knows that well.

G. [Deon] Stark Industries | late April | closed to NPCs

The staff at Stark Industries has been busy of late, but not too busy to finally see Deon for a job interview. He hasn't had one since college, so he's a little apprehensive, and visibly fidgeting.

H. [Deon] Wood Sector | mid-May | closed to China and Shay

Deon should really know better than to cut through gang territory by now. As it is, he's been cornered by some kedan from a smaller gang who are pushing him around and demanding his juulan. For someone so tall, he's a bit shit at defending himself or being at all imposing.

I. [Gene] Sky Sector / Earth Sector | early May 9 | closed to Skul

Once Gene manages to get his heart down from pounding like hell in his head, he grabs his radio and makes a call to Skul, like he'd promised Tony.

"Skul? I know it's late, but I need your help."

---

OOC Note: If you want another starter, please hit me up over at Chatvert and I'll pull something together for you! :>

Comments

C!

[solo_patria]

Water Sector is a place Enjolras has never spent much time in, but today he's been wandering about, and found his way toward a tea shop around noon. Thinking he may as well pop in, he's very surprised to see Jackie there, and, while he's waiting about, he gives him a quick wave and a little smile.

Hi?

[jinzhong]

Jackie, meanwhile, is elated to see Enjolras. "Hey!" he says with a grin, standing up and waving like a total dork. "What've you been up to, man? Haven't seen you around."

[solo_patria]

"Not very much, I admit." Enjolras switches to a grin when he sees he's not interupting, and looks just as dorky somehow. "Trying to compile the book of our stories, doing some stuff at the Welcome Center, but other than that..." he shrugs. "How have YOU been doing? Still running errands?"

B~

[skeletonenigma]

Skulduggery hadn't known Bianca himself very well. He'd been aware of how important she was to Gene; it was one of those small pieces of information brought to light in the aftermath of the bombings, one of the clues Skulduggery followed to find Bakura's murderer. So when he'd heard she was among the influx to arrive in the wake of the Woodsmen's festival, he'd known a conversation with Gene would, eventually, be necessary.

He found Gene at the newly dubbed Sky Sector, taking care of the last of the construction. Skulduggery waited until he had a free moment, hovering just on the edge of Gene's attention, unobtrusive but unmistakeable in his exquisitely tailored suit and very fine hat sitting on top of his gleaming skull. When he had Gene's attention, he nodded over at the Foreigner housing. "How much of that did you build on your own?"

[wrathfulkhan]

Ah yes. Skul was here.

Gene knew why, of course, and he'd been expecting this. Once Bianca had disappeared, he knew it was only going to be a matter of time before Skul made sure he wasn't going to lose his mind and murder anyone again.

But if he wanted to start with small talk, that was fine. "Most of it," he said. "The foundation and the layout, I had some help on." He was no architect, and the kedan had been helpful, but he'd constructed it mostly himself.

[skeletonenigma]

Skulduggery nodded. "It's impressive."

It was, too. Assuming Skulduggery could ignore the last bout of construction work he'd observed - something that was surprisingly easy to do - it was hard not to admire how much of the potential in the new Sector was already being fulfilled.

He also knew how counterintuitively relaxing it could be to throw yourself into work.

"Would you rather I beat around the bush a little more," he asked, "or get the point out of the way so we can enjoy a nice conversation?"

A

[highprofilerichkid]

Tony is upset, and he's not doing a very good job of hiding it. He's tried losing himself in the work in the Sky Sector, putting the finishing touches on the new home he and Gene had built for themselves, but even that doesn't generate much enthusiasm.

Howard's abrupt departure has hit him hard. Losing his dad, again, after being kept away from him for so long, again— it's just so unfair. He's disappointed and miserable and more homesick than ever, and there's nothing he can do about it.

Well, there is one thing...

The next time Gene returns to their room, he'll find Tony curled up on the couch, not in his usual attitude of mopey lethargy, but instead looking thoughtful and tense. He's turning something over and over in his hands— Something he quickly hides as soon as Gene opens the door.

prepare for tolkien jokes

[wrathfulkhan]

The change in Tony's body language from the usual mopey attitude in the face of emotional trauma does not go unnoticed. But for the life of him, Gene doesn't know why. Perhaps it's that Tony's cobbling together some sort of plan to conjure Howard back from the Dreaming; perhaps the loss has spurred him to find a solution to the problem of losing their memories upon returning home.

He goes and sits next to Tony, trying to ignore that Tony's hiding something in his hand. "How are you doing?" he asks sympathetically. There may be no love lost between him and Howard, but he knows what it is to lose a parent so abruptly.

my body is ready

[highprofilerichkid]

Tony shrugs. He doesn't look at Gene. He doesn't say 'not great,' but he doesn't really need to.

"I thought... I thought since we've been here so long, that he'd stick around, you know?" Keeliai seems to latch more strongly onto some universes, pulling more people who stay longer. "I thought we'd have time to figure things out."

B!

[theideaguy]

And Sokka is doing the same for his own home. Now that they have the capacity to make their own homes, he's doing it his way, and that entails making one big enough for him and his friends... at least those that would want to live in with him in a house that he's practically designed and made from the ground up. With help, admittedly. But it's time for a quick break, and so he starts wandering along the new street in Sky Sector to see who his neighbours are.

Sure enough, Gene is one of them. Which means both him and Tony. That's kind of lucky really. He won't complain about that.

How does he know? Because Gene is out there standing in front. "Hey... I didn't realise your house was so close to mine!"

[wrathfulkhan]

Gene turns when he hears Sokka coming over. "Oh yeah," he says, sounding just as surprised. "I didn't realize that either. Looks like we're neighbors," he says with a smile. This is good. He likes Sokka, and Tony likes Sokka, and Gene and Tony both like Katara, too. Not hard to like someone who saves your life or the life of someone you love, anyway. "Your sister's going to be staying with you, too, right?"

[theideaguy]

"Can't complain about that. We've been almost neighbours in the Hotel for that matter; might as well not stop now. Besides someone's got to live here." He grins a bit and nods. "And yeah, that's the plan. At the moment, I think I've signed up my sister, Toph, Aang, and myself. It might be... a little bit cramped, but it's better sleeping outside. And perhaps less cramped than the Hotel." As he talks, he's throwing a hammer up in the air, twirling it in circles. Until he loses control of it and misses the catch. And it drops. Onto his toe. He makes a rather pained face but quickly picks up the hammer as if nothing happened.

F

[highprofilerichkid]

"Huh? Oh, yeah." Tony takes the mug (one-handed: the other, the wrist of which normally holds his soul gem bracelet, is still resting in his lap.) "Yeah, I'm fine."

He's not fine. He has a headache that's gotten steadily worse since his soul gem was stolen, and he's starting to feel nauseous and dizzy. And he's exhausted, though he doesn't know if that's due to the lack of soul gem or the lack of sleep.

"Just a long night in the lab last night." A long night futilely searching the streets for his muggers, actually.

Gene hasn't noticed yet, since Tony's been wearing long sleeves all day, and Tony wants it to stay that way. He doesn't want Gene to worry, and he especially doesn't want Gene to flip out, chase down his muggers, and... fall off the wagon. So to speak. He means 'murder people.' Tony will just have to find the bracelet on his own, and hopefully Gene will never be the wiser.

F for you, Tony. F minus.

[wrathfulkhan]

Yeah, Tony, you've never been a good liar. Gene's suspicious of that explanation, but less so than he may normally be. He knows Tony has a tendency to spend long nights in the lab.

"You sure you're not coming down with some weird kedan disease?" Gene asks, teasing him a little. "I don't usually see you this quiet, even when you've been doing science all night."

A for effort?

[highprofilerichkid]

Tony chuckles, and hopes it doesn't sound too strained. "Could be. Maybe I've got turtle flu," he jokes back. "I should probably hit the sack early, then. I've got a lot of work tomorrow."

He'll have to take off the long-sleeved shirt for bed, because wearing long sleeves to sleep in early summer would be highly suspicious. But if he's in bed before Gene tonight, and out of bed before him tomorrow morning, maybe Gene won't notice the missing bracelet.

B.

[looksfine]

[Aya had not necessarily been avoiding the Sky Sector since coming down with her mysterious illness, but her visits--and subsequent efforts to help--had noticeably diminished.]

[Still, she had promised to offer her assistance whenever possible. And with the virus (theoretically) eradicated from her systems, leaving her at not only 100% functional capacity once more, but with a much greater understanding of what to detect for future system scans...she returned once more. To find a familiar face assessing the current status.]

Greetings, Gene.

Things appear to be progressing at a highly acceptable rate.

[wrathfulkhan]

[Oh! Hiya, Aya!

He turns to her with a smile.] Hey, good to see you. Yeah, looks like we're about finished here. Of course, then I'll be unemployed, [he says, shaking his head, his smile turning rueful.]

G; Deon; Stark Industries

[forgediron]

Things are rather tense around Stark Industries lately. No one's talking about it, but it's tense. The woman who came out for Deon was short for a kedan and walked with a limp, and shared Zanru's dark skin, if Deon had seen her before.

Xuiyu led with: "You've got balls, applying for a job here with my cousin's ass-bug about you Foreigners." She looked Deon up and down. "Wish I could say she didn't have a point. She's just terrible at communication with it." She turned. "Xuiyu. I'm the engineer in charge of projects. C'mon, we'll talk in a room."

She led him down the hall to a small office for just these occasions.

[craftlife]

And some of that tangible tension was part of why Deon's fidgeting. Last time he was in an office that was this tense, he didn't exactly come out on top. But he was hopeful that he'd make a good impression on Xuiyu with his gangly self, sunny smile, and eager-to-please demeanor.

Though she did start off a bit coarse, he didn't let it put him off. After time spent around the gangsters who'd taken Chappie, that doesn't really faze him anymore.

"Good to meet you, Xuiyu, I'm Deon." First-name basis? Yes? Good? "Thank you for fitting in some time to see me today."

He accompanied her to the small office, keeping himself hopeful - and fidgety.

B!

[oceanblue]

It wasn't too unlike Katara to be found in the new sector as well, and it certainly wasn't unlike her to be curious about the foreigners still working on homes nearby the one she had moved into with Aang her brother and friends. She's happy to see new and old faces as she mentally maps out the new area on her way home from picking up food for their little group, and she's more than happy to spot Gene working on a house nearby. So she stops, of course, grinning as she watches him put another finishing touch on something. "My brother didn't help you build this one, right?" she asks, clearly lighthearted and teasing. "Wouldn't want to have to patch you up again because the walls space in."

[wrathfulkhan]

"Katara," Gene says with a smile, happy to see her as he is happy to see few people. Hey, you save a guy's life and he starts to like having you around. "No, this one was pretty much all me. I think I'll be safe from Sokka's construction skills...at least, while I'm here. What about you? Sure you'll be okay in that house?" he asks, teasing as well. "We've got an extra room in case the walls come down around your ears."

I~

[skeletonenigma]

Even while meditating, Skulduggery usually keeps his radio somewhere on his person. He'd store it inside his ribcage if there was any chance whatsoever of keeping it balanced there. Since there isn't, it's usually on the ground beside him, and its customary crackle of static is one of the things that can rouse Skulduggery instantly.

He picks it up when he recognises Gene's voice. "Where are you?"

[wrathfulkhan]

"At my place, in the Sky Sector," he says, and Skul may notice a tremor in his voice. "Tony was mugged over a day ago for his soul gem, and I'm going to need help finding it."

And not raining down hellfire on those responsible, is the implication.

H I'm so sorry about the delay

[inkulcation]

China's loyalties are to herself, first and foremost; she has no real reason to stop. Except that tiny, niggling shred of what Skulduggery would call human decency and she would call the practical side of maintaining ties with other Foreigners. It does stop her, is what matters, and her otherwise businesslike steps take a slight detour to the corner in which the tall and rather unthreatening Foreigner is being harassed.

"Really," she says, pitching her voice to carry, and there's almost a radiance about her beauty for all that her expression looks distinctly irritated. "This is a pathetic choice of hobbies."

and i'm so sorry about mine

[craftlife]

Whoa, what, whoa, who is that?

Deon and the gang members seem to have the same thought at the same time, because they quit harassing him and look at her almost raptly. The leader starts about half a dozen sentences and can't finish them, and Deon's just opting to keep his mouth shut, because given his track record, he just knows he'll say something stupid.