To Escape The Past

To Escape The Past
Date of Scene:	01 November 2012
Location:	Manhattan - Central Park
Synopsis:	Mercade and Avira meet in Central Park to discuss some things. Mercade reveals to Avira that he's figured something out, and she explaind why, before they are joined by a group of travellers... And a hobo.
Cast of Characters:	Raiya Fujihara, Will Sherman, Mercade Alexander, Avira, Deelel

---

Avira has posed:
A short note has been left at the Twilight Detective Agency office:

"Hey Mercade,

I came to town to check out Central Park and thought I'd drop by. I got myself a Ma Belle so now you can keep in touch with me. Here is my number."

MEANWHILE IN CENTRAL PARK...

The huge, sprawling area remains a curious green oasis in a city of brick and steel. Foot traffic is high, as usual, with not even the occasional Heartless threat keeping people away. It has been a few weeks, after all.

One section of the park sports very large rock formations. Huge boulders, most half-buried, that have been there since this ground was "broken." It was not unusual to find people playing or picnicing on top of them.

It might be difficult to spot Avira right away since today she dresses as any other New Yorker might, sporting a pair of jeans and a white t-shirt with a Gaelic knot design on the front and sleeves. Only the scars and the everpresent sheathed Spine really give her away. She stands at the base of one of these rock formations and draws a long breath.

Then she runs at it, leaping, striking it with her feet, then pushing off high into the air. When she lands, she hits the ground rolling and rolls backwards.

Mercade Alexander has posed:
Things have been more quiet lately, which is really nice. The Detective has finally had a chance to relax and heal up some of that SAN Damage he's taken in recent times.

The note is a welcome sight. Mercade's always enjoyed hanging out with Avira, and so off he goes to Central Park. It doesn't take too long to find Avira, not everyone is practicing Parkour wall-running and jumping after all, and that spine is eternal. He approaches the boulders, leaning on one of them and smiling as he watches Avira. "Hey there, Avira. Nice clothes! You really rock the look. Where did you get them?"

Avira has posed:
Just as Avira rolls herself back up into a crouched position, she hears Mercade speak his greeting. "Oh hey!" she smiles, quickly standing and dusting her knees off. In fact, she's pretty dusty all over so she's clearly been out here for some time. Before answering his question, she runs at Mercade!

Or rather, she runs at the boulder he leans against, leaps up, and scrabbles her way on top of it...rather ungracefully, actually. Her footing didn't go as smoothly as it should have. Once on top, she sits down and leans forward with her hands between her legs to support her. "Took myself shopping here since I had a bit of extra money. I recently had a job in some cold mountains so I needed some warmer stuff anyway. Anyway, how's things here? Good to see nobody's super panicked about what's-his-face's threats."

Mercade Alexander has posed:
Mercade chuckles at the leap, looking up at Avira from his relaxed position. "They certainly fit you." He says, with a small grin. "Everything's fine here in Manhattan right now. Baigan's yelling has been written off as a lunatic's rant, which isn't all that inaccurate. No one really believes another world is going to invade here, even with the Heartless."

He sighs. "Xanatos is really helping to keep this place together. He's basically the last man standing as far as influence and power goes here. Army's gone. Government's gone. Without him, we'd be in trouble."

Avira has posed:
Avira's grin widens just a little. "Why thank you, Mercade, that's the nicest thing anyone's said to me all day." A short laugh follows and the grin turns into a smirk. "You got that right. And who really has the resources to mount an invasion against anything right now? ...well, besides the Heartless...can that even be done from a world shard?"

Evenly, she nods, "It's kind of mind blowing. Nearly all this country's resources...poof, just /gone/. Xanatos basically IS the government at this point, isn't he? Can't say he's doing a bad job either, though, what with being able to get his Ma Belle network going."

Mercade Alexander has posed:
"Bad day for compliments, or have you been running people over?" Mercade chuckles again, and he turns, leaping up the boulder to grab onto the edge of the top. With some scrambling, he pulls himself up and orients hismelf to sit down next to Avira.

He looks out over the park, nodding. "It's to his benefit to keep things orderly and secure. Still, I don't know how long this can last."

The Detective shrugs. "Still, all I can think of is how the others out there are. IF they're on a little island like we are and we just haven't found them, or..."

Avira has posed:
"Ahaha, little bit of both. It's been an...interesting week so far, let's just say that." Avira laughs, watching as the detective scales the rock to sit down by her side. "...it's to everyone's, really. Mass panic would just make us all vulnerable to /them/. It makes me wonder, though, why the rest of the world fell into the darkness, but this part's still here."

Thinking of the others, he says. Avira grows quiet and turns her head, looking out towards the city. Out in the direction of Brooklyn. "...or if they're all gone. Or maybe they could have been tossed somewhere else in the worlds, like I was."

Mercade Alexander has posed:
Mercade Alexander is very scrabbly today. "Based on what I know so far, there's probably something here that prevents at least this much of the world from just being... consumed. I don't know what it is, but whatever it is, it's important."

Mercade also looks over in the direction of Brooklyn. "They'll be out there. Somewhere. Waiting for us to bring them all back. We have to keep up hope."

He pauses then, thinking for a bit. "So, what was it like before you ended up in Rabanastre?"

Avira has posed:
Avira makes a contemplative noise, "It makes sense. I can't begin to fathom what it is. Does anybody really 'get' the Heartless at this point? I sure don't." She seems troubled, "It's all so...big."

She straightens her back and falls silent, looking away from where Brooklyn was. At Mercade's words...she seems unsure what to say, growing awkwardly silent.

That awkward silence continues a little too long after he asks his question about life before Rabanastre. "...boring. I lived in a small village on the Giza Plains where I worked as the assistant to a natural healer. ...we didn't do magic in our village."

Mercade Alexander has posed:
"A healer who spontaneously develops a Brooklyn accent, knows what pizza is, has used computers, and wears Manhattan clothing like she's done it all her life." Mercade teases. "I think you've kind of blown it on hiding that you're from here too, Avira." He pauses. "Your name really /is/ Avira, right?"

Avira has posed:
"&#($!" Her outburst is loud enough that a few nearby picnicers look their way and a flock of birds flees a nearby tree. Avira suddenly leaps to her feet and turns to face Mercade, staring down at him with an annoyed look on her face.

"Ugh, you...you...damn it, I thought I was being careful enough." Avira does find some solace in that he is a detective, so he has to be sharp. Her shoulders slump a little and she turns away. "It's not, but let's keep that between you and me. In fact, let's keep all of this between you and me."</span>

Mercade Alexander has posed:
Well damn. Mercade wasn't expecting that kind of a reaction. He falls over at the expletive, and he blinks, looking up worriedly for a moment at the unsettled Avira. He frowns, blinking, and stands himself, rubbing his chin. "It seems odd that you'd want to hide where you came from so much... Don't tell me you're the one who removed that spine from its previous owner."

Avira has posed:
Avira immediately pales. "Oh no. Oh hell no, it's nothing like that...this.." She withdraws the Spine from its sheath. "It...it..the core's not real, it was a model." She offers the weapon to Mercade carefully...not that he can really tell what it may or may not have been before it took this 'form.' It's also pretty darn heavy.

"After what happened to our world, Mercade..." she says in a low, quiet voice, "...and I woke up in Ivalice, I took it as an opportunity to...start over."

Mercade Alexander has posed:
Mercade takes it and looks it over, grunting slightly at the weight. IT's clear that he's not used to using things this heavy. He examines it veeeeeeeery carefully, lingering over every detail. He gives it some experimental hefts. and peers at Avira suspiciously...

And then he breaks into a grin, chuckling as he says in a terrible faux British accent, "It's only a model." He hands it back, and then shrugs. "Start over, huh? I suppose that's a good a reason as any. There's a million worlds out there with things we've never seen. No reason why we shouldn't take advantage of it if we can." Mercade rubs his chin again, and then plops himself down on the edge of the rock once more. "So, has it been working out for you? The starting over, I mean."

Avira has posed:
Smirking, Avira puts her finger up to her lips.

"Shh."

Taking back the Spine, she turns away from Mercade, and holds it out with one hand away from the two of them. With a quick motion, she twists the grip on the weapon with that one hand so it is inverted. From here, it's put back in its sheath. "I know, right? And this time I can actually /be/ somebody." Avira lets out a sigh, remaining standing even while Mercade sits. She takes the opportunity to put her hands on her hips. Is she...posing? Probably.

"Well I haven't died, so I think it's been working out pretty well!" she grins saucily, then sits back down on the rock next to Mercade. "It's pretty hard, actually. I have to train every day just to keep up and there's just so much I don't know how, or can't, do. Figuring out magic was a beast."

Mercade Alexander has posed:
"It's like a movie, isn't it?" Mercade laughs. "A reguar girl in a regular world, cast out into the darkness to find magic and mystery and become a hero." Mercade frowns. "Is that really what it takes, though? I wonder... Still, I doubt I'd ever get this magic thing. I'm smart enought, I guess, but..." He pauses, "I think there's a part of me that still doesn't want to believe."

Avira has posed:
"I know, right?!" There's that almost manic enthusiasm that Mercade may have seen produced by "Avira" before. "Hey, I /survived/, and I'm going to keep on surviving."

'Is that really what it takes, though?'

The enthusiasm quickly fades. "Well I dunno...we'll see. It'd be nice, though, to be a hero. A legit hero." But at the same time, 'being a hero' wound up conflicting with 'surviving this madness' pretty often. "That magic thing...well, if you don't put your heart into it, then yeah...it'll never work for you. I've..." Avira looks kind of embarassed, "...I've always wanted to believe."

She pulls her legs up to her and wraps her arms around her knees. "It was Rosalie, by the way. Rosalie Levine."

Mercade Alexander has posed:
Mercade's expression becomes extremely intent, like he's thinking about something. A troubled expression, that. He pulls it away, just letting his face relax as he resumes the usual, easygoing detective look that he seems to always have. "I don't know about it, Avira. I've felt magic. It's..." He shakes his head. "Eh, nothing. I hope you keep surviving, Avira. I hope you get everything you're fighting for."

He smiles faintly to Avira. "Nice name. It'll be our secret."

Avira has posed:
"Mercade..." she watches the expression on his face. That's not the usual Mercade she knows at all. "It's what...?" she prompts, hoping to get a word of what's troubling him so badly about it. Was it the same as Riku? Disgusted by magic?

"Heh." she nudges Mercade's shoulder with the side of her head, "Thanks."

But then she turns to him, wagging her finger, "Technically not my name anymore! But yes...our secret. Tell no one. Not even the Dark Prince of Hobos."

Mercade Alexander has posed:
"Some things you can leave behind. Others trail after you forever." Mercade replies. He twitches for a moment, and then the mask falls away again, revealing an intense, burning expression as he draws in upon himself. "I talked to Riku a while back. We got to talking about magic, and what it was like. He showed me... Something of what he deals with."

His face becomes haunted as he speaks. "It was like drowning in a pool of ink, but I could breathe. It surrounded me, permeated me. It felt... warm. Comforting. It... It's not like it spoke to me, but I knew. I could be anything I ever wanted to be. Everything I wanted, there. And it held me there, like a mother."

His voice shakes. "It was..."

Avira has posed:
Avira has shifted to a kneeling positioin now and turned to face Mercade on that rock, watching him intently, clearly concerned, and also very close. That expression, that look on his face. She's seen that kind of haunted look before.

She almost regrets asking now, seeing him like this, but that mention of Riku. "Mercade..." before she does anything else, she reaches out to him and hugs him around the shoulders. She's not sure /why/ exactly, it just felt...appropriate.

"That's awful. That's more than what it should be..." Avira murmurs quietly, "...there's something up with Riku. I don't know what it is, but there's something."

Mercade Alexander has posed:
At the touch, Mercade jerks, brought out of dark reverie. He blinks for a moment, his expression confused, and then he awkwardly relaxes, sighing. "He's a strong kid, but he has problems. Big problems. But he wants to deal with them on his own. I'm not sure if that's the best way to do it, but he's doing all right so far."

Avira has posed:
When Mercade suddenly snaps out of it, Avira freezes there, awkwardly, with her arms around his shoulders. Rapidly, she withdraws and sits back on her knees again. It's as if just thinking of that moment made it happen for him all over again. It must've been BAD.

"...teenagers." Avira sighs, shaking her head. "Still, I worry about him, Mercade. ...I worry about a lot of people come to think of it. I must be paranoid."

Mercade Alexander has posed:
Mercade seems to be unsure of what to say about the hugging thing so he kind of just doesn't say anything. He scratches the back of his head, still a bit awkwardly. "That's not paranoia. That's just being a worrywart. Paranoia would be thinking those people were out to get you."

He goes quiet for a bit, thinking. "So uh..."

Avira has posed:
Hugging? What hugging? Avira is doing a good job at acting like that awkward moment never happened. "Worrywart?" Avira makes a face, "That's a word for old people. And I'm not /that/ old..." Compared to those Damn Teenagers maybe. "Guess I'm really afraid those people are going to wind up seriously hurt?" Or seriously hurting somebody.

Avira lets her legs "dangle" now, laying them flat against the rock since sitting on her knees really hurts her ankles. "...so uh what?"

Mercade Alexander has posed:
Yep. No hugging here. "That's... a pretty valid thing to worry about. It's dangerous out there." Mercade sighs. "I honestly am not sure what to do at this point. I'm trying to look for ways to stop the Heartless, but every time I think I get close to an answer, It slips away. I'm not sure how to get ahead of the curve here, and I'm not sure how much time we have."

Avira has posed:
"...yeah." Avira's shoulders sink, "I don't know where to start either...heck, you've thought about this way more than I have. I've mostly just been tryin' to survive. But I've noticed one thing at least, Mercade." She looks to him, cracking a half-smile, "...things don't seem to be getting any worse, right?"

Words to invite trouble for sure. She stands now and, without warning, leaps from the rock, landing oddly quietly.

Will Sherman has posed:
Central Park!

He loves this place, always so much do...like...

Hiding in a bush and watching Mercade and Avira 'make out'. Of course this hasn't happened, and Will shakes his head...god Mercade, stop failing!

==> Kiss the Girl.

DO IT YOU PANSY!

Of course, Will makes a long suffering sigh after a while, and finnally comes out of the bush.

"That was a good nap." smooth Will.

Mercade Alexander has posed:
Mercade hops off the rock himself, Holding one hand on the wall and using the rubber soleso f his shoes to help slow his fall along the side of the rock. You'd think physics would make him bounce off, but somehow he doesn't. He hits the ground lightly, stepping forward to stand next to Avira. "Survival has been... interesting. But there's been no shortage of craziness. "But well, it's a habit of mine. I think a lot. Detective, right?" Mercade shrugs. "Everything about what's happening is a giant mystery. It's like... /the/ Mystery, if you know what I mean?"

He sighs about that last comment. "You just /had/ to say that, didn't you? Didn't you just yell at me for saying things like that the other day?"

Avira has posed:
There is to be no making out without musical accompaniment. Disney FACT.

"Oh no, there is absolutely nothing wrong with thinking, Mercade. Nothing at all." Avira grins, hooking her thumbs in the beltloops of her jeans. For those just arriving (or popping out of the bushes, like Will), Avira's dressed like a New Yorker today and less a mighty hunter of desert beasts. "I know exactly what you mean. Keep at it...people are counting on people like us to figure it all out."

Avira smiles sheepishly for a second, "Hey that doesn't count. It's not a situation of imminent disaster like that underground vault. ....Will."

She looks startled to see the hobo. "How...long were you in those bushes?"

Raiya Fujihara has posed:
The life of a wandering ronin can lead you to many strange places and force you into meeting many strange beings. This 'Manhattan' has nearly been completely overwhelming to her and this is not even the first time she has visited these strange parts. The blonde samurai sticks out like a sore thumb with very little chance of her blending in at all with how the locals dress and act. Talk about being a samurai fish out of water.

Seeking to escape from the craziness of the urban jungle, Raiya flees into Central Park. At least here, there are more things that remind her of home even if there are plenty of anachronisms every few feet. She eventually comes upon a group of half-strangers and aquaintances. The wandering warrior draws near and hails the group with a raised hand, the long sleeve of her kimono falling down as she does such. "Greetings fellow travellers and..." The various gathered members get looks now. Hmm. Some of them look like they might belong here. "...others."

Will Sherman has posed:
"Uh..."

Five minutes ago, Avaria moves to hug Mercade. Will immediately jumps into a Bush nearby. He is surprisingly silent. Of course, it's also hard to hear anything.

"I just woke up? You know us hobos, sleeping in random places." he says, making a shrug.

Play it cool...play it cool, don't startle the witch.

"I totally didn't see you hug me-" Damn it! NOT SMOOTH WILL!

Hey look Chick in a Komodo and a sword and stuff! "Hey it's...that woman!" he says, pointing at her.

Deelel has posed:
Deelel is just looking like a tourist really her clothign while not insanely out of place are a bit odd prehaps a bit more suited to something a bit more mad maxish or prehaps sciti. The blue hired woman seems to just be enjoying the pack looking at a statue seemingly with intrest at least until. There's a bit of comption from the gathers gumshoes and friends. She tilts her head over looking at them strangely.

Mercade Alexander has posed:
Mercade doesn't respond to Will's accusation. That's the only way you win.

Though he might try to finagle a singing Rastafarian crab sometime. Who knows. "Fair enough, Avira, Fair enough. We'll figure it out, eventually."

The arrival of Raiya causes Mercade to squint for a moment. He gives the samurai a wave. "Hello there. I remember seeing you a while back... Traverse Town, the coliseum, right? You were pretty impressive." He grins.

Avira has posed:
"...oh, is that it?" Avira looks...relieved? Well she should be, he wasn't eavesdropping for very long. "So you saw uh..." The scarred woman looks awkward for a moment but resumes frowning at Will, "..and you started watching us then?!"

Just what did he think he was going to see?!?!?

Fortunately Will's distraction technique works. "Oh, yeah, I remember you."

Will Sherman has posed:
Will succeeds in bullshitting!

Smooth Will, smooth...

Now the lady is the center of attention, and Mercade is still horrible with the ladies. He guesses the world is right!

Or something.

He's seen this hundreds of times...but how to manipulate this into a relationship?

Issac Hayes is needed, he thinks...

Raiya Fujihara has posed:
That's right Mercade. The only way to win is not to play at all...er...or something like that.

There is a brief flicker in Raiya's green eyes when Mercade recalls her from the colisseum. That was a mighty battle that day, a good fight even if she did almost perish. But then again, what 'good fight' ever not have that attached to it? "Thank you for your kind words. A great victory was won that day since no one was hurt too greviously."

Raiya remembers Avira too. They never got along very well, but they also never had great reason to be foes. Such is life sometimes. Will and Avira both get acknowledging nods from Raiya. "One never knows when fate will bring people back together again." Or tear them apart, but Raiya leaves that bit out.

Mercade Alexander has posed:
Mercade is not horrible with the ladies. Will just doesn't know when 'appropriate times' are. I mean, it's not like Avira waltzed into his office in a slinky red dress, smelling of lilacs and trouble and speaking with a voice thick with whiskey and cigarettes...

No wait, wrong script. That was the woman who /got/ him into this mess. He never did see her again... Huh.

Mercade looks thoughtful, caught up in something for a moment when he realizes people are talking to him. "Uh, right! Yes. Good fight. Ummm..." Mercade scraches the back of his head, thinking. He seems to do this a lot. "I don't think I've ever had the chance to introduce myself." He looks up, flicking a hand and producing a business card. "I'm Mercade Alexander, of the Twilight Detective Agency. What brings you to Manhattan?"

Avira has posed:
Will could always try a thick Jamacian accent. That always works, right?

It was actually rather unfortuante that the entirety of her reactions with Raiya mostly consisted of them disagreeing on things. It wasn't as if Avira went out of her way to oppose the lady samurai either. "Yeah funny that-oh hush, Will." Avira folds her arms over her chest and gives him a look. The kind of look that says 'I know you were eavesdropping on me and I might get you back for it later.'

There is no introduction from Avira. She's pretty sure Raiya got her name that while back in that cafe where unfortunate impressions were made.

Will Sherman has posed:
Will says that, looking oddly towards the other newcomer...Zeros and ones? Weird.

He turns back towards Avira giving her a smile...

"It's true though. It's not perfect, but I can...well, I guess nothing is perfect...or maybe I do see things perfectly, but can't understand it? Who knows?" Will says, with a shrug. "It's often funny when you follow fate and luck to get to places you wouldn't have found or been there normally."

Deelel has posed:
Deelel is contiunign to watch the humans as she nears them seemingly curious but not just yet barging in just what are these people up to. They certainly have Deelel's attention. She's starting to understand something. Users are little different then Basics. It's disturbing yet comforting at the same time the more she thinks about it. In the end they likely needed her kind's help as much as her's needed them.

Raiya Fujihara has posed:
Mercade's formal introduction draws a smile from Raiya. She respects such actions even if they are meaningless to some in this day and age. A hand is reached out for the offered card which she takes and glances at before deftly tucking it away in the folds of her kimono. Detective agency as in investigative? Mmmm. Sounds suspiciously close to what the Turks or those awful Wutai ninja do. Raiya will have to be on her toes around this person.

Sometimes strong personalities are just meant to crash together like when a warm wind intertwines with a cold one. However, the samurai is not looking to cause any natural disasters with Avira. She is content with being courteous for now.

Will may or may not be able to see much about Raiya's fate with those special eyes of his. If he does notice anything, he would see that there seems to be literal 'strings' binding Raiya together and that they are quite frayed.

Something moving in her peripheral causes Raiya to stir uneasily, but she does not quite notice a certain blue haired being yet.

Mercade Alexander has posed:
So there's always thunderstorms around Avira and Raiya!?

Mercade's got enough to deal with right now that he doesn't notice the wallflower Deelel, for the moment, he arches an eyebrow at Raiya. "Not the talking type, huh? Suit yourself. Enjoy the place, as long as you don't cause trouble you'll be welcome here." He grins. "Welcome." He glances over to Will. "So what does your fate senses..." He wiggles his finger dramatically. "Say about our current situation?" He leaves it nebulous on purpose. Will loves this stuff.

Avira has posed:
"...fate and luck...you know, I don't like thinking of them as things that are so similar." Avira mutters. "Oh jeeze, Mercade, don't encourage him!"

Though she's more afraid to know the specifics right now. Slowly, she looks from Raiya, then beyond to the curious-looking Deelel, then back to Raiya. The lady samurai seemed uneasy, though Avira saw no reason to be that way, save for being unfamiliar with this particular land.

Will Sherman has posed:
"Needs more Issac Hayes." Will says, mysteriously to Mercade.

"If you mean, more in general...you," he says towards Raiya, "Have lost something very dear to you. However, it is still there, for the strings are flayed, not severed. Whatever it is, it is regainable...if you want it to be so." he says, looking towards Avira, "I see bright strings in your fate, you have a brilliant heart, despite how you act sometimes." he says, "I see a flayed string...but a string severed by darkness." he says, shaking his head... "See a lot of those lately." he says, sadly.

He points at the wall flower, "And her fate is in binary. That's pretty weird." he says, and then back at Mercade, "And your super normal. Your so normal you'd make magic turn into gun, I swear." he says, chiding Mercade. "Before you ask, I can't turn it off. I see it constantly, superimposed over my vision."

Deelel has posed:
Deelel says, "finally stops playing watcher at this poing and strides up to the stange little group and seems friendly she's smiling at least. "This is a trange city really but well it seems some of the people here are friendly enough." Her voice is nice enough but it's got this strange digital warbel to it. It's not that strong but one can notice it. "It seems the strangest things happen here."""

Raiya Fujihara has posed:
The samurai can be rather silent at times. It is a curse of her reserved, non-inebriated nature. She smiles again towards Mercade when he notices this. He is either very observant or she is just bad at this 'small talk' thing with people outside of her social class. "I seek no trouble in this place, and thank you for the hospitable welcome." She replies before casting a small glance over at Avira. It seems the feeling might be mutual them, but Raiya does not possess the social tact to smooth things over with Avira...atleast sober that is.

Will's soothsaying quickly draws the black and purple kimono wearing woman's attention. She has indeed lost much in the 'fall' of Wutai. Too much. Her eyes close briefly as Will hits a little too close to home for someone she just barely knows. Her eyes reopen and they refocus on Will. "I have not crossed paths with a seer in ages. How fortuitous to stumble upon one in my travels once more."

When Deelel joins the group, Raiya offers a wave of greetings towards the being. "With so many people in such a small location, it is only natural for the fates of many to cross paths." Raiya says in a calm voice and friendly smile.

Mercade Alexander has posed:
Mercade listens. "Binary? Really?" He looks over at Deelel and blinks. "Uh, hi! I'm Mercade Alexander, with the Twilight Detective Agency." He hands her another card. How many of those does he HAVE? "Nice to meet you." He doesn't quite seem to really notice what's so weird about her.

"I have no idea what you're talking about, Will." Mercade says with an impenetrable poker face. "And I like being normal. Normal is great. Normal people get to sit around and eat pizza and watch TV and get paid to do things that don't involve getting killed."

Raiya's response gets a nod. "It stands to reason. Central Park is basically a major crossing an melting pot of Manhattan. It's no Times Square, but it's basically great. I can see why the portal opened here." He gestures to the area. "Anyway... Are you just wandering, or were you looking for something in particular? Will and I know the place really well."

Avira has posed:
In the case of Raiya, Avira actually knows enough to make a good guess about what that 'something' that is that's been lost. She'll keep this to herself, though, rather than blurt it out for Mercade and the others to here. Raiya will receive a knowing glance from Avira, though.

But as to her own fate... "...that sounds promising. Um...thanks." She'll even let the 'despite how you act sometimes' thing fly. "But..."

Avira looks to Mercade, narrowing her eyes, "I don't buy that HE is 'normal' at all. Now binary, that's just weird." Deelel seems weird altogether and in an oddly familiar way. "I-oh, oops."

There's a ringing noise. It's Avira's newest toy, the 'Ma Belle' (though she'd rather call it a cell phone). "'scuse me." Avira heads back to the rocks she was practicing parkour on earlier

Will Sherman has posed:
"Just because he's brave and gets into weird situations, doesn't mean he isn't normal." Will says, with a grin, "Cuz he is super normal." he says towards Avira, and then Raiya is suddenly calling him a seer and stuff, "Oh ho...no I ain't a seer. Seers see the future, I see the present and sometimes the past. What I see is the connections of fate and luck, not the future...and even then, these things aren't certain. You'd be surprised how powerful a force of the person can be on these things."

Then to MErcade, he shrugs, "I enjoy these things too, because I'm good at acting normal."

Deelel has posed:
Deelel takes the card and seems to take a moment to realise what it is and it vanishes into a pocket located on her pants. "oh I'm Deelel. Good to meer you and yes this park cetainaly does get strange people. Humm There are some things I'm looking for but I'm lacking in local currency. How is such at hing even possible like that?" The comment about binary seems to not suprise the woman at all. "Binary what else would it be. Something is or it isn't it's a basic as that. If I thought this fate thing was real I'd not be alive right now."

Raiya Fujihara has posed:
Mercade's question is a bit more impactful upon Raiya then the detective probably intended. What -was- she doing here? Was she actually looking for something? The answer is one not pleasing to the samurai. She is a ronin now, a samurai no longer. There was really nothing for her here. The blonde swordswoman lowers her head solemnly before looking back up at Mercade. "I..I am just a wanderer." She says in a weak voice before adding more strongly, "A traveller."

Avira's decision to not divulge everything to Mercade and the others does not go unnoticed. A minute nod is given in return to Avira as a silent words of thanks. Proper discretion is always appreciated.

Will's correction on the semantics that she used draws a nod from the samurai. "A unique gift for many only choose to see the past as they see fit. That ability must be lost to you," says a slightly envious Raiya.

Somethings in this world just go completely over Raiya's head. The word 'binary' is one of them. WHen Deelel brings it up again, Raiya looks her way. Is she saying that everything is black and white? Is this what the word binary means? The samurai grows thoughtful once more as she ponders all of this. "Not everything is so simple as what you speak. Realizing this is one of the most difficult lessons that must be learned."

Mercade Alexander has posed:
"You're goddamn terrible at acting normal, Mr. 'I Can See Fate And Bring It Up In Casual Conversation'." Mercade replies. He glances over to Deelel, blinking at her words. "You're... a little odd. What are you even talking about?"

Mercade watches Raiya as the others speak, however, his gaze flicking over her accoutrements, stance, and actions. "A traveller I'll believe, miss, but 'just a wanderer'... Well, if you say so." He smiles. "Someone with scars like yours, with that bearing... And your sword... That isn't the weapon of 'just a wanderer'. You probably have quite the story, miss."

Will Sherman has posed:
Will grins at Mercade, "Well, sometimes it comes up. Like now. With these ladies who are needing to be impressed." he says, kidding.

He looks back towards Deelel. "Oh you are going to have a wonderful time out here then. You'd be suprised at how little is actually certain, at how much is or is not. Infact, only Taxes and death are certain." he says, of course...that might be a uncertainy for him.

Will's eyes don't miss the subtle movements from Avira, "What was lost can be found...but it's a matter of perspective...even I am blinded by this. If you were not blinded by this, you'd not be very good at being a person, eh?"

Deelel has posed:
Deelel looks ar Raiya strangely, given what Deelel is? Such a concept is as alien to her as a great old one would be to the humans assembled here. Her head skinda hurts a little bit at this point. "I am odd I'm not from here I'm seeking some things in this world and in others." She also thinks that MCP is lose in this world and it's all her damn fault he is lose on their creators. The problem is her world is so different that her existance might thought to be unture or glitched. Which would get her ignored at best, or locked up at worst. "I never heard of Taxes before..."

Raiya Fujihara has posed:
Raiya should have expected that Mercade would not be satisfied with the answer that she gave him. The observations he makes draws a cautious look out of the samurai. Her manner is still not threatening persay, but she does seem rather tense all of a sudden. Her weapon is not one of a normal wanderer. That much is very true. "A sad story like many before me and many more to come in these dark days," says the woman quite cynically in response to Mercade.

The blonde swordswoman can surprisingly relate to Deelel over those feelings of concepts and notions that seem alien. Even her own world seems strange to her now, but that is to be expected in this new era of connected worlds. Raiya, too, has never heard of Texas and grows quiet now so that she might learn what or who that is.

Will Sherman has posed:
Will looks around...

This place really could use a hotdog stand walking tho-

Just like that Will abuses fate to have a hotdog vender just start walking into sight!

"Hey!" he waves over towards the guy. "Okay, guys this is basicly a tradition here in Manhattan...with Deep Dish pizza, but we'll start with this. "Ten with everything!" he says, leaving Mercade with the bill.

Deelel has posed:
Deelel would at least understand the swordswoman's feeling of alieness to some degree really. She looks over at the hot dogs and takes a grins. She actually knows what a hotdog is thanks to Auron and likes them. So she perks up a good bit, she could use some energy anyway. "Most kind of you."

Raiya Fujihara has posed:
Food stands are not foreign to Wutai, but ones that carry 'hotdogs' and 'deep-dish pizza' certainly are. The samurai looks at the food vendor and their stand blankly as Will buys 10 of...something. Raiya looks to Deelel, expecting them to be just as confused, but she seems to recognize the food. It looks like the Wutai warrior is the only one here who is out of the know. Regardless of her lack of food knowledge, Raiya decides to follow Deelel's example and be courteous. "Agreed. It is most kind to provide us with..." The samurai blanks out on how to finish. Okay. It looks like....some sort of cooked meat wrapped three-quarters of the with some sort of bread. "...meat-rolls," adds Raiya after some not so quick thinking on her part.

Mercade Alexander has posed:
Mercade gapes. "Dammit Will, stop spending all my money on your stomach!" He knows who Will is REALLY buying for, as he makes a count of how many of those hot dogs go straight into Will's hollow leg.

"Anyway..." Mercade sighs, resigned to his fate as he looks to Raiya. "It's true. There's a lot of sad stories out there... But if there's anything we can do to make it a little happier, let us know, all right? That's our business." He smiles. "Maybe with luck, we'll see if we can keep some of those sad stories from happening."

Will Sherman has posed:
Mercade gets one...Raiya gets one, Deelel gets one...

Will gets seven, and starts devouring them.

"They're good, called hotdogs. And anyone that tells you that Ketchup doesn't go on them can go right to he-I mean..." he says, looking at the dirty look from Mercade. Will grins, taking EXTRA Ketchup. SPITE!

As the conversation continues, Will speaks up, "Well you do there." he says, "As long as I get fed."

Deelel has posed:
Deelel stares at Will as he eats seven hotdogs while holding her own. She doesn't take a dirnk at least for the moment. She seems to be enjoying the hotdog it's kinda of strange it's like eating and enjoying it is a new thing to her. "These really are good. I hadn't had any before I arrive in this city. Still I'm suprised this place works as well as it does with the chaos inherit here. Just how is any sense of order maintaned?"

Mercade Alexander has posed:
Mercade Alexander yoinks one more hotdog from Will and gets it over to Avira, who is in the background. "Philistine." He mentions to Will, who desecrates his hot dogs without care.

Deelel gets a question in return. "Before, or after the Heartless arrived?"

Deelel has posed:
Deelel says "Before and after, there's no natural order to this world no actual purpose to the system that exists here. It's unerveing to say the least." Basics were free willed but they did have a purpose upon their births they knew what they were made for. Even if they kinda of went off into something else on rare occasions like herserlf. "I not directly encounted the heartless but they sound like a virial infection in how they operate."

Mercade Alexander has posed:
"Well, people set down rules that they follow that keeps them from doing things like killing and stealing from each other. When those rules are broken, they're found and captured, and then punished." Mercade explains. "Viral infec..." Mercade trails off. "Where are you /from/?" He asks, quinting. "

Deelel has posed:
Deelel tilts her head for a moment getting the wrong mental image. Seeing Black Guard rather than police actions in her mind. "I see I'll keep that in mind." Still the rules were not set into place by an outside force. She tilts her head. "Where am I from people don't take it well."

Mercade Alexander has posed:
Mercade Alexander hums. "I see." Mercade says. "You're from a rough place." He nods to those present. "I can't judge your sanity or lack thereof, Deelel. I've seen things that make me think I'm insane." He chuckles, and shrugs." Anyway, I need to get going." He looks to Will. "If you need me, give me a call, all right?" He turns, and begins heading out.

Deelel has posed:
Deelel says "I will likely need it. My world would be alien to you I must admit still people are people in the end if that helps." She turns away away and heads off with her Hot Dog enjoying it all the while.