001 | The Fallen Angel Searches for Answers

[closetdweller]

[People awake to the Murmur will find a bristling poke at their awareness-- as if someone was trying to figure out the rules and parameters of this new form of communication. There was a sense of cold, as if touching metal or linoleum flooring in the wintertime without shoes, and the vague buzz of a song that some folks from a certain era might recognize-- albeit in fragments.

It was clear that the song was being used to block other whispers and sensations, like a point to focus on.

After a moment, a voice broke through the poorly recalled melodies synthesizer and repetitive lyrics.]

Testing. Testing.

[The young man legally known as Urushihara Hanzo made a popping sound with his lips.]

I'm not used to working in these conditions,

[He admitted, but pressed on.]

But that's not the point. This place is a version of Earth, I think. If there's anyone familiar with that world, can you help a guy figure out what city we're in?

Comments

[vocalistyodels]

[This might be the worst bout of noise yet. Mangled nonsense he couldn't understand, nor did he want to. Still he does have an answer for the question posed-]

If what's left of the signage in the train station is anything to go by- Manhattan.

[closetdweller]

[Get used to it, the possibilities could be much more esoteric than an 80s international pop duet.]

Manhattan?

Damn. I'm from Japan- isn't that in New York or something?

[vocalistyodels]

[Cooper can't really talk, most of the music big where he's from is from the 40's and 50's or similar in style.]

Bingo. Got it in one.

[omertosa]

[As much as Texas has been trying her damnedest to shy away from the persistent pull of the murmur, oddly enough it is those intermittent snatches of music that get her to linger long enough to allow the connection at first. In the physical world, her ears perk up, despite the sound purely echoing in her head.

Her presence hangs there like someone lurking in shadow for a moment or two, accompanied by the scent of rain and the sensation of it pattering on pavement.]

What makes you so sure it's "Earth"?

[closetdweller]

[Shadows and rain were comfortable enough. He had dealt with both often in Ente Isla. Being the only one like himself for so long, he had gotten used to people just acting peculiar around him.]

... That lady with the strange name said it,

[He said, unwittingly releasing an echo of a feminine voice calling him 'sibling' as he answered. There's a shudder on the connection, and a swell of 80s electronica in the background again.

Someone appreciated his privacy.]

At least, she said something to that idea. This way of communicating is very distracting.

But another guy said he saw a sign that said 'Manhattan', so that's a clue. I also woke in a Miggy R's, and I've only seen those on Earth.

[omertosa]

['Lady with a strange name' could be anyone, as far as she's concerned, but that blip of a voice and the sensation it carries makes it abundantly more clear. And it's only when the music swells again that she begins to realize it's a more intentional presence. A good idea for blocking out the background noise of the mind; she'll have to remember that.]

Interesting. I assumed it was Terra, but... it does feel a little off.

[It being an entirely different world would be the least weird part of all of this, to be honest.]

[dethangel]

I know I've been here before!!! But it had more stuff.

[Helpful? Probably not. But even a little familiarity is nice when you've toured a lot.]

[closetdweller]

I bet it did!

[It was pretty helpful, actually. Someone who knew the city, even a little, was doing much better than he was.]

It probably had a lot of cars and lights, right? Like Tokyo.

[dethangel]

Right, like Tokyo.

[He's been all around the world at this point, from crappy little clubs to huge stadiums, so idle thoughts of other similar cities provide something of an undercurrent to his words.]

There were a lot of lights. And I remember going to this big toy store one time. And Pickles tried to beat up a guy in a bar.

[snaggletooth]

[ Wow! ]

You've contacted the wrong person!

[closetdweller]

Not surprised.

I'm used to a similar spell back home, but we can filter it. Not sure if this thing can be filtered.

[snaggletooth]

[ Ah, well, trying again's the only thing to be done about it. Unfortunately for Urushihara, Ivan is talking to him now. ]

Earth was scrapped for resources by Segyein some time ago. It was located in the green zone of a yellow dwarf, and it was orbited by one moon. That's what I know— ♪

[clockgears]

[ Hm. That's rather annoying, and Ozpin can't quite keep that 'annoyed' feeling from flickering through the murmur before he manages to wrangle it under control. ]

I'm afraid I'm not familiar with 'Earth'. But we seem to be in a city called 'New York City', which appears to be in a region simply called 'New York'.

[ Which isn't too strange to him, at least. The City of Vale is in the Kingdom of Vale, after all. ]

[closetdweller]

[Brief and unbidden, an immediate thought of 'humans are so weird' slipped through before Urushihara could stop it-- but he pressed on quickly, hoping it would be ignored.]

Well that's convenient,

[He said, thoughtful. ]

Guess that means we're in a country called the United States. I think. Not that much of it seems to be working right now.

[clockgears]

[ Humans are so weird, huh? Ozpin will just file that away for later... ]

'Not working' may be a bit too generous.

[ The place is an absolute wreck. ]

I'm afraid I don't recognize any of the fauna, either. They somewhat resemble animals and creatures I'm familiar with, but they're clearly not the same.

[scowlish]

[His message is, as always, accompanied by the scent of the forest after a rain. It's more focused, though, as he's had some practice now.]

It's a lot like where I come from, but it's certainly not Finland. Not enough trees. But the ruins and all that...I'm used to that.

[closetdweller]

[A rainy forest-- that was nostalgic. Unbidden was an image of a little imp in the wilderness, with dirt on his hooves, bright eyes and big ideas. Urushihara pulled it away when he caught it and doubled down on the pop duet, letting the remembered voices of Barry Manilow and Hideki Saijo blend until they couldn't be fully told apart.]

Human cities in ruin like this are new to me,

[He admitted, ]

At least, cities like this.

[shatteredlenses]

Apologies, Luci. I'm afraid I won't be much help to you with your questions. My world is called Eos, not Earth. I don't know that I've ever heard that word used as a name before.

[Ignis doesn't make mention of the music as he's already tuned it and most of the other extraneous sounds out. He's so used to doing that during council meetings and even when he's cooking while Noctis and Prompto have friendly squabbles over video games that it's unconscious on his part now.]

Where are you?

[closetdweller]

Hi, Ignis.

[There was a pop of pleasant surprise and familiarity at that voice. It was good to have someone he could trust to keep their head arrive.]

I... Think that's also Latin? Maybe? Earth languages are all so weird, and there's so many of them!

I'm at the Miggy R's in some sort of city square?

[He offered, floating a visual of the cracked windows, the towering skyscrapers, and a set of faded yet distinct golden arches.]

The logo is a little different. So are the items on the menu if I'm reading it right. But, they look close enough? A burger and fries with special sauce can't be that different.

[shatteredlenses]

How curious.

[Now that they have more time to contemplate language barriers or the lack thereof, Ignis can't help but wonder how many different names they may end up giving the same thing. At least this strange connection lets them share images as well as words. It may help cut down on some of the confusion.]

That is rather a large building you've found. My small store could probably fit in it more than once.

[It is not lost on Ignis, though, that a pizza lover like Luci ended up in a fast food restaurant and his amusement trickles into the connection.]

If any food was going to be universal, a burger and fries would likely be it. I don't suppose you found anything working in the kitchen, did you?

[potentialman]

The signs are in English, for whatever that's worth. [ Not that there couldn't be some English signage elsewhere, but probably -- ] North America or the UK, I'd guess.

[ Aren't there like...more u's or something in the latter? He thinks he's read something about the differences once, but... ]

[closetdweller]

Could be Australia, too. Or... New Zealand?

[He hummed, trying to recall the various maps he had seen in books and online.]

Isn't Canada one, too?

[potentialman]

I think Canada also has French as a national language. I haven't seen any signs in French...but I don't know if signage there usually would have both or not. [ And it depends on the area, too, he's pretty sure? ]

[sorte]

[ well that's a shame, the music was preferable. ]

Oh? Why does it matter?

[closetdweller]

Just curious.

If someone knows the city, maybe we can figure our way around a little easier.

[And the music was still playing in the background-- clearly a way of trying to control and isolate the Murmur in the only way that an avid gamer and computer nerd could figure out on short notice.]