[Another man near the changing room had just finished changing and plops a Stetson hat over his own yukata. Apparently, he had similar ideas. Dell Conagher was shorter than most folk, but made up for it by being wider than he was tall, filling out his rust-blue yukata with a stocky frame.]
"When in Rome" it, I reckon.
[Just a seven syllables in and the man's accent is dripping with a Texan drawl. He flashes a wide, sideways smile. He lifts a prosthetic hand up for a wave, thin, skeletal-like fingers semi-saluting.]
[He replied to the newcomer in a voice that carried strains of the Swamplands and a drawl from the West, tipping up his hat and shifting to get a better look. Prosthetics like that were new to him-- but stranger things existed, so he paid it little mind.]
If we're not further than that. We'll be hard pressed to find roads leading there from here.
Yeah, I'm new. The city's bigger than the New York I know. Thought this place'd be a little queter... but no such luck, huh?
[Or maybe he doesn't, but Dell doesn't seem to bothered either way. He steps aside to give the man some tent space.]
Hey there, someone else who knows what the hell New York is. [His grin widens at that. You love to hear it!] I didn't bother to stick around NYC when I could help it - not much of a city man, but I figure this place is... what, multiple New Yorks? Somethin' like that.
[Have a perplexed look from the towering cowboy. As much as he appreciated the space, he had been firmly under the impression that Rome was on Earth...why would people not be on Earth anyway?
These were questions that he filed away with a huff. It was too much too quickly; he just wanted to get his bearings.]
Yeah. Definitely a bunch of New Yorks bundled up together like dynamite. Set to explode like it too.
[He rubbed his neck, flustered.]
I'm not a city person either, but Ma and my sisters deserved better. Plan was to get a job Portside. Now... I'm here, it looks like.
You go out and try to enjoy the festival, I guess.
[ He'd also been convinced to don a yukata, though he hadn't fought it as vehemently as the other man had. Still, he feels a little foolish, like he's walking around in a bathrobe.
Malcolm points to the western landscape forming across the other man's clothes. ]
That's pretty. Is it familiar to you?
[ Odds are, it is. Based on the hat and the accent, he'd bet that's a view the guy sees often back home. Thinking of his own home now, Malcolm's yukata fills up with images of skyscrapers, graffiti and the Statue of Liberty. ]
[The foolishness was felt doubly for Marshall. Standing heads over most men, including the one beside him, he truly had not anticipated being able to find clothes that would fit him appropriately. But the yukata, with it's airiness and threat to his sense of decency aside, wrapped around his tall, solid build appropriately and with room to spare.
Marshall felt quite foolish. While he had also anticipated a dressing gown, he hadn't expected it to be so comfortable]
...The desert?
[He asked, tugging at his long sleeves to get a better look at the ruddy sandscape at sunset.]
Yeah, I've been out there for jobs frequent enough. The days are hot, the nights are cool, and I've never been anywhere where the stars were brighter.
[A shrug. He had nothing to hide, but it wasn't a topic he thought was of particular interest. One desert landscape resembled hundreds of others-- it was the people that made a difference.
Catching the patterning on the stranger's yukata, Marshall hummed in interest.]
...Isn't that the statue they put up in New York Harbor a few years back? What's it... Liberty?
[ Malcolm's met a few people here from the past and it's been amusing each time. He loves talking to people who are from a different time than him. ]
Well, my thoughts are that they're all pretty great inventions, ones that are very commonplace when I come from. We're able to record voices and moving pictures from a device we carry with us. Kind of like this thing. [ He holds up the communication device. ] I'm curious what you think of this.
[Even after enduring it for the past couple of weeks, Lilias still wasn’t used to the heat that had engulfed the land during the local warm season. After spending long enough enjoying the local festivities, comfort eventually prompted her to head away from the crowds and seek out somewhere quiet to catch a breeze off the water.
She had declined to don any of the local garb, and was making her way along the beach in a grey blouse and skirt with the aid of her walking cane. The ambient light from the nearby festival sufficed for now to light her way, glimmering on the water to her left as she strolled along the shore. There wasn’t much else around, so it was easy enough to spot the man kneeling at the water’s edge. Equally simple, as she drew closer, to note the drinkware and the jug of liquor sitting next to him.
She halted nearby, observing him for a brief moment before speaking.]
[It was only a question of time before someone noticed his actions and started asking questions, and Marshall was hardly surprised that it had happened sooner rather than later. There were precious few quiet stretches of sand along the shores of the festival, and everyone needed a chance to breathe between the fish catching games, dancing, and all sorts of confections that he had never seen before in his life. Tilting his head, Marshall looked up at the stranger and offered a small, nonchalant shrug in reply.]
Only if someone wants to join.
[He said, and moved the jug of wine out of the way. Smoothing out the sand with a hand, he gave it a satisfied pat before speaking up again.]
You wanna? I'm waiting to see if this 'Momo' that everyone's talking about wants to join us.
[Lilias raised her eyebrows slightly in surprise when he responded to her question by smoothing out a place in the sand for her to join him. Not that the invitation itself was that surprising, but the gesture that accompanied it was more courteous than what she considered to be the standard here.
She decided to take him up on it, crouching down with the aid of her cane and seating herself on the sandy beach. After a moment spent arranging her skirts to her satisfaction, she folded her hands together and glanced over at the man.]
What do you intend to do if it makes an appearance?
[No matter the circumstances, it was never appropriate to turn away a stranger who had made an effort to meet him. With the uneven sands of the beach, the ongoing festivities, and the cane that Marshall had noted but not spoken a word of, he knew that this approach must have been no simple feat for the stranger.
The same could have been said for his father, while he lived. Strong as the man was, war had robbed the man of a leg and left him making do with basic prosthetics and other implements.
It was rude to comment, but not rude to offer a seat.
Waiting while the stranger got settled, Marshall turned his gaze back out toward the sea.]
Honestly? I haven't figured that out yet.
[Said without shame.]
But, to have the reputation it does, Momo is probably upset about something we haven't figured out yet. That is, if understanding this creature is even possible.
[Did multi-headed sea monsters typically have motives? Lilias wouldn’t have assumed such, but she wasn’t all that knowledgeable about that topic even in her own world, let alone here. It just hadn’t ever been something that felt important to consider. It would be like asking if the local wolves had a particular reason for attacking livestock― even if there was one, most people would simply focus on having them killed.
Though if Momo had come to be something of a town mascot, she could see why people might want to keep it placated instead. Perhaps having it around and content brought good luck.]
So what you’re saying is... you’re hoping to learn more about this disgruntled sea monster. [It's impossible to tell from her tone whether she thinks this is a good idea or a terrible one.] Maybe have a little heart-to-heart with it.
[ Kunikida instantly notices the hat. It's a hat that's somehow more gaudy than Chuuya's, and one that clearly doesn't go with any traditional Japanese attire.
He would pass by this man without commenting, since it would be relatively rude to do so to a complete stranger; however, with his luck, he ends up being spoken to. Which means that he's obligated to express his opinion. ]
That hat doesn't fit what you're wearing. Do you have a reason for keeping it on?
Literally a dark leather Stetson with minimal decoration, worn by use and the sun despite regular maintenance to keep the material soft in the heat of the climes Marshall was familiar with. Casting the man a perplexed look, Marshall replied:]
Because it's mine and I like it?
[He didn't feel like he cut a respectable picture in the yukata the girl had insisted that he wear. He was too tall and too rough in many ways. The hat provided a sense of comfort and familiarity in the bizarre landscape.]
[ He can already tell that this interaction isn't going to go as planned. This stranger is going to insist on keeping that hat on his head, even if it really looks ridiculous right now. ]
Does it bring familiarity to you? I suppose I can understand wanting to keep something close on your person at all times.
[ Jim's been at the beach often enough during the festival himself, enjoying the good weather, getting to know people, having some fun in the water, and occasionally greeting Momo, whenever he happens to come by. Jim may or may not have taken a liking to the giant creature, who seems to appreciate him too, as well as the fact that he pretty much doesn't litter. Ever.
When he arrives at the beach he doesn't even think much of the guy washing himself with the water (and sand?), with a bottle of whatever next to him. He's seen so much weird crap, that hardly raises any flags as it is. If their eyes meet he greets him with a brief smile, then some feet away he starts to undress until he's down to his tiny swimming shorts.
Then into the water he goes, only hesitating briefly at the shift in temperature before he's wading farther in, diving in head first once the water goes up to his waist. Momo might not even be around right now, but Jim's hoping he'll make himself known if he is. ]
[Paying respects and being clean before first meetings was a matter of formality. When meeting powers that were greater than yourself, it was beyond unseemly to approach with dirty hands and a dusty beard. Hands and face dripping still with water, Marshall nodded when his gaze briefly met the strangers--
In the seconds before he realized what was happening.
Swearing under his breath, Marshall removed his hat and shook his head. Boots followed, then jacket and shirt.
The man was gonna get himself killed if he wasn't careful, Marshall believed. It was unwise to tangle with powers beyond yourself--
[ Jim didn't even notice the guy getting to his feet and rushing to come into the water after him, because if he had he probably would've made some very inappropriate comment.
As it was, there was nothing dangerous here, not that he could see. And he wasn't scared of the hydra. In fact he swam out into deeper waters, farther and farther away from the shore, stopping where he still could touch the bottom with his feet.
Then he looked around, trying to spot the creature in the water, hands slapping against the surface as though that would be enough to get his attention. ]
[It was only as they tread deeper that Marshall recalled the waters of his youth-- how the sea in the gulf had receded to nothing but a hint of blue in the distance, beaching wildlife from fish to manatees in it's wake before surging forth with a rage so through and unbridled that it seemed to stem from the depths of hell itself. It was a hurricane, and he recalled the devaastation that drove his family from their home and to another part of the country.
He didn't like the water much anymore.
Swallowing the knot in his throat and ignoring the way his heart beat with the strength of a drum in his chest, he finally caught up to the man, and--]
You mad?!
[Called just loud enough to hear over the water-- hopefully not loud enough to disturb the beast.]
Take it from an experienced hand, you do not tempt that which you cannot wrestle to the ground or shoot.
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A (hope this is ok! can change if not)
"When in Rome" it, I reckon.
[Just a seven syllables in and the man's accent is dripping with a Texan drawl. He flashes a wide, sideways smile. He lifts a prosthetic hand up for a wave, thin, skeletal-like fingers semi-saluting.]
You new 'round here?
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[He replied to the newcomer in a voice that carried strains of the Swamplands and a drawl from the West, tipping up his hat and shifting to get a better look. Prosthetics like that were new to him-- but stranger things existed, so he paid it little mind.]
If we're not further than that. We'll be hard pressed to find roads leading there from here.
Yeah, I'm new. The city's bigger than the New York I know. Thought this place'd be a little queter... but no such luck, huh?
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[Or maybe he doesn't, but Dell doesn't seem to bothered either way. He steps aside to give the man some tent space.]
Hey there, someone else who knows what the hell New York is. [His grin widens at that. You love to hear it!] I didn't bother to stick around NYC when I could help it - not much of a city man, but I figure this place is... what, multiple New Yorks? Somethin' like that.
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These were questions that he filed away with a huff. It was too much too quickly; he just wanted to get his bearings.]
Yeah. Definitely a bunch of New Yorks bundled up together like dynamite. Set to explode like it too.
[He rubbed his neck, flustered.]
I'm not a city person either, but Ma and my sisters deserved better. Plan was to get a job Portside. Now... I'm here, it looks like.
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I been here more than a year now. It likes to explode more often then y'think.
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You go out and try to enjoy the festival, I guess.
[ He'd also been convinced to don a yukata, though he hadn't fought it as vehemently as the other man had. Still, he feels a little foolish, like he's walking around in a bathrobe.
Malcolm points to the western landscape forming across the other man's clothes. ]
That's pretty. Is it familiar to you?
[ Odds are, it is. Based on the hat and the accent, he'd bet that's a view the guy sees often back home. Thinking of his own home now, Malcolm's yukata fills up with images of skyscrapers, graffiti and the Statue of Liberty. ]
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Marshall felt quite foolish. While he had also anticipated a dressing gown, he hadn't expected it to be so comfortable]
...The desert?
[He asked, tugging at his long sleeves to get a better look at the ruddy sandscape at sunset.]
Yeah, I've been out there for jobs frequent enough. The days are hot, the nights are cool, and I've never been anywhere where the stars were brighter.
[A shrug. He had nothing to hide, but it wasn't a topic he thought was of particular interest. One desert landscape resembled hundreds of others-- it was the people that made a difference.
Catching the patterning on the stranger's yukata, Marshall hummed in interest.]
...Isn't that the statue they put up in New York Harbor a few years back? What's it... Liberty?
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Malcolm looks down at the pattern that has appeared on his yukata and grins. ]
Yeah, it is. It's... been more than a few years though, at least for me.
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This is another of those Time things, it's it?
[He asked, already suspecting that it was. Even if folks seemed like they were from a place similar to him, there were differences.]
What are your thoughts on those crazy things Edison is making in New Jersey? Recording voices, moving pictures, all of that?
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Well, my thoughts are that they're all pretty great inventions, ones that are very commonplace when I come from. We're able to record voices and moving pictures from a device we carry with us. Kind of like this thing. [ He holds up the communication device. ] I'm curious what you think of this.
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omg i effed up the code and didn't notice I'M SORRY
haha it's okay
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She had declined to don any of the local garb, and was making her way along the beach in a grey blouse and skirt with the aid of her walking cane. The ambient light from the nearby festival sufficed for now to light her way, glimmering on the water to her left as she strolled along the shore. There wasn’t much else around, so it was easy enough to spot the man kneeling at the water’s edge. Equally simple, as she drew closer, to note the drinkware and the jug of liquor sitting next to him.
She halted nearby, observing him for a brief moment before speaking.]
Are you waiting for someone?
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Only if someone wants to join.
[He said, and moved the jug of wine out of the way. Smoothing out the sand with a hand, he gave it a satisfied pat before speaking up again.]
You wanna? I'm waiting to see if this 'Momo' that everyone's talking about wants to join us.
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She decided to take him up on it, crouching down with the aid of her cane and seating herself on the sandy beach. After a moment spent arranging her skirts to her satisfaction, she folded her hands together and glanced over at the man.]
What do you intend to do if it makes an appearance?
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The same could have been said for his father, while he lived. Strong as the man was, war had robbed the man of a leg and left him making do with basic prosthetics and other implements.
It was rude to comment, but not rude to offer a seat.
Waiting while the stranger got settled, Marshall turned his gaze back out toward the sea.]
Honestly? I haven't figured that out yet.
[Said without shame.]
But, to have the reputation it does, Momo is probably upset about something we haven't figured out yet. That is, if understanding this creature is even possible.
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Though if Momo had come to be something of a town mascot, she could see why people might want to keep it placated instead. Perhaps having it around and content brought good luck.]
So what you’re saying is... you’re hoping to learn more about this disgruntled sea monster. [It's impossible to tell from her tone whether she thinks this is a good idea or a terrible one.] Maybe have a little heart-to-heart with it.
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He would pass by this man without commenting, since it would be relatively rude to do so to a complete stranger; however, with his luck, he ends up being spoken to. Which means that he's obligated to express his opinion. ]
That hat doesn't fit what you're wearing. Do you have a reason for keeping it on?
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Literally a dark leather Stetson with minimal decoration, worn by use and the sun despite regular maintenance to keep the material soft in the heat of the climes Marshall was familiar with. Casting the man a perplexed look, Marshall replied:]
Because it's mine and I like it?
[He didn't feel like he cut a respectable picture in the yukata the girl had insisted that he wear. He was too tall and too rough in many ways. The hat provided a sense of comfort and familiarity in the bizarre landscape.]
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Does it bring familiarity to you? I suppose I can understand wanting to keep something close on your person at all times.
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I'm fond of it, and I don't want to lose it. The people here don't seem like they appreciate how hard it is to find a good hat.
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After shrugging, he states: ]
Well, I won't try to change your mind. But I do question what you'd do if you lost that hat at some point. Would you be able to find another?
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When he arrives at the beach he doesn't even think much of the guy washing himself with the water (and sand?), with a bottle of whatever next to him. He's seen so much weird crap, that hardly raises any flags as it is. If their eyes meet he greets him with a brief smile, then some feet away he starts to undress until he's down to his tiny swimming shorts.
Then into the water he goes, only hesitating briefly at the shift in temperature before he's wading farther in, diving in head first once the water goes up to his waist. Momo might not even be around right now, but Jim's hoping he'll make himself known if he is. ]
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In the seconds before he realized what was happening.
Swearing under his breath, Marshall removed his hat and shook his head. Boots followed, then jacket and shirt.
The man was gonna get himself killed if he wasn't careful, Marshall believed. It was unwise to tangle with powers beyond yourself--
He knew this from personal experience.]
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As it was, there was nothing dangerous here, not that he could see. And he wasn't scared of the hydra. In fact he swam out into deeper waters, farther and farther away from the shore, stopping where he still could touch the bottom with his feet.
Then he looked around, trying to spot the creature in the water, hands slapping against the surface as though that would be enough to get his attention. ]
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He didn't like the water much anymore.
Swallowing the knot in his throat and ignoring the way his heart beat with the strength of a drum in his chest, he finally caught up to the man, and--]
You mad?!
[Called just loud enough to hear over the water-- hopefully not loud enough to disturb the beast.]
Take it from an experienced hand, you do not tempt that which you cannot wrestle to the ground or shoot.
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