[open] ride out, protectors of the realm

[wolfpuppy]

Who: Ryuuga wolfpuppy & OPEN
When: Post-ghost event, 5/1-5/7 IC, 1/13 OOC
Where: Throughout the Colony
What: Catch-all patrol log! Sightings of a golden wolf! Mistakes will probably be made.
Rating/Warning: None atm - I'll change accordingly.

[After the ghosts had appeared, and even after they've been sealed away, Ryuuga had taken it upon himself to start nightly patrols of the colony, covering a different district or two each night. With the appearance of the ghosts, he's sure that there probably was going to be pockets of malevolent energy springing up, and that means the potential for Gates to start appearing. Following that logic from what he's dealt with back home, Gates mean Horrors, and it's bad enough he's got Jinga to deal with. And despite the fact that he's supposed to be discreet while doing this, nobody's perfect, and he's always bent the rules a bit in regard to it anyway. There are several options as to how he could be spotted during the night:

a.) One might find him crouched in an alleyway, putting random objects next to his head for a moment as he shuts his eyes in concentration before either tossing it aside, moving with a sudden urgency to another area, or standing there with an annoyed look on his face. Yeah, he's used to using his psychometry abilities to pick up on clues, but sometimes it was just weird what he did end up picking up.

b.) Others might find him in the Shopping District trying to haggle with various vendors over odd objects (or just trying to get food).

c.) Still others might actually be approached by him directly in various districts while he asks them about anything weird they've noticed, strange disappearances or sudden changes in behavior they've noticed in people around the colony. Well, stranger than usual, anyway.

d.) Some might see a streak jumping across rooftops and ledges (or run past you if you're up on the roofs as well), the glint of gold unmistakable as a figure in wolf-like armor takes great leaps in a huge hurry. Do you dare follow?

e.) Or you may have seen him in one of his few moments of respite, eyes closed and resting for a few moments as he's leaned up against an empty wall or bench before he starts up again. Horrors were the most active at night, he couldn't rest for too long, even if he had other "work" in the morning.]

(So essentially this is a catch-all log for Ryuuga's patrols for the next IC week or so. Feel free to tag in, just put location and day in the subject line pls. He's not actually going to find anything re: Gates, but he doesn't know that.)

Comments

SLAMS INTO THIS, a...!

[zitteraal]

[ Well, that's...odd. Though, to be fair, after Adolf's first impressions of Ryuuga— seeing the kid get decked out in gold armor, said kid having a sentient ring— he supposes that these are the kinds of things one should reasonably expect. Maybe.

He doesn't make it a habit of making other people's daily routines his business, but after seeing Ryuuga start after holding an item to his head, he figures that that's at least some cause for concern.

So. One foot steps into the alley, and he offers by way of greeting: ] ...What are you doing.

[ Short and simple, right. At least his expression (obscured as it is) remains largely steady, not judgmental. ]

[wolfpuppy]

[These two really need to stop meeting up like this.

After another moment or two of silence, Ryuuga ends up standing up - another dud. Just the usual residual emotions of sadness from part of a scrapped CyBuddy -

and he nearly jolts when he sees Adolf standing in the alleyway. He lets out a breath, running a hand through his hair.]

Sheesh...

[Wait. He just ask what he was doing. Goddammit.

This is awkward. To be honest, he's not even sure how to explain this.]

I, uh, was checking for something?

[zitteraal]

Checking for something.

[ He parrots, which is a bad military habit— it has all the ring of a disapproving superior, a silent 'explain yourself'.

...Which is unfair, he realizes. Ryuuga isn't from his world, nor is he his subordinate, so he appends, after a beat: ] Does whatever ability you have include the power to converse with inanimate objects.

[ IT'S REALLY...LOOKING THAT WAY, with how Ryuuga casually talks to rings. ]

[wolfpuppy]

[Zaruba's a weird case, let's be real. There's an awkward pause for a few moments before he finally nods.]

Kind of. [There's a bit of a difference, but he'll get to that in a sec. He lets out a huff of air - granted, he's not really going into anything Makai-related per se, so he can at least not feel guilty about it.

Doesn't make it any less awkward, though.]

It's not so much conversing with inanimate objects as it is picking up on traces of emotions or memories from people who've held them. It helps in tracking down things like those monsters you saw me fight against back in ViViD.

[zitteraal]

[ A moment to digest this, please. Thankfully, he's met someone here who can do something similar and experienced it firsthand, so he can shelf his disbelief more readily now. ]

I see. Useful.

[ Which may sound dismissive, but it's an acknowledgement— he doesn't mince words, and despite his level expression, he does consider Ryuuga someone with a fair amount of skill. ]

So. What kind of trouble are you sticking your nose in right now, then.

[wolfpuppy]

[He's at least managing a small, wry smirk at the response. It's definitely a lot better reaction than he's seen in the past. Honestly, even among those in his occupation, it was considered a strange ability. Damned if it wasn't useful, though.]

Trouble? Me? [He gives a weak chuckle at the attempt of a joke but he does sober up after a moment.]

Making sure those ghosts didn't decide to leave any "presents" behind, that's all.

[zitteraal]

[ It's trouble enough, these kids running around and feeling obligated to stick their necks out for the sake of others. Ryuuga is so confident about his ability to do so and so flippant about...actually doing so, that it winds its way back into being mildly disarming.

Why is it that so many people are like this, around here? God. ]

'Presents'. ...As in, lingering curses?

[ Because he remembers those, the hallucinations and headaches. His brows knit over the top of his collar. ]

[wolfpuppy]

[In Ryuuga's case, it's been ingrained in his head ever since he was a kid - his job as a Makai Knight is first and foremost as a protector. Half the time he can't help but jump into stupid situations just because he knows that there might be a possibility of saving others. Downsides of growing up with heroic idealism pounded into your head and taking it upon yourself to be humanity's "hope".]

Basically. Doesn't seem like there's anything out of the ordinary so far, so that's a good sign?

[zitteraal]

'So far'. With your running around, have you considered what it is you're going to do in the event that you do run into anything potentially dangerous?

[ Stern, austere, severe— it's easier to fall back into those habits, easier to assume that attitude, because it ensures that he'll bear the brunt of someone's ire without becoming important to them. If that's what it takes for someone not to die, he's of the opinion that it's equivalent exchange.

So, here he is— an awkward 27 year old trying desperately to protect people without making it look that way. Nerd. ]

No one will thank you if you die in a ditch somewhere protecting nameless faces.

[ ok but does he truly have to say things like this... thanks, adolf. ]

5/1 IC; A

[braavado]

[Though she knows the area the spirits were coming from is sealed off now, Korra can't help but feel restless still. The grating sound that had seemingly signaled the beginning of their troubles hasn't disappeared at all, and the bit of negative energy still lingering in the air makes it hard for her to sleep.

So she opts for walking the streets at night to work off the nerves. She isn't too surprised to see Ryuuga busying himself, though she does get a good chuckle when he tosses aside something suddenly while looking annoyed.]

Didn't see what you wanted to?

[The way he'd been focusing on whatever he was holding before, Korra guesses he must have been using his power to read it like he's shown her before.]

[wolfpuppy]

[Ryuuga nods as he steps forward out of the alleyway. At least it's not like the wall and he doesn't feel anything from these objects, but nothing is there that would point him at the right direction. Though he figured it would only be a matter of time until he found some sort of lead.]

Nope. Though whether that's actually a good thing or not is something I still gotta figure out.

What brings you out here?

[braavado]

Still can't sleep. [Korra stills as the grating sound echoes through the air again, right on cue.]

We sealed up that wall, but I can't stop wondering if something else is going to happen. What about you?

[wolfpuppy]

Still-? [He lifts his head slightly when the grating starts up again.]

Ah. Right. [To tell the truth, he hadn't really been paying attention to it, though he could be excused in that regard due to the fact that he's been trying to clamp down on leads.]

I'm trying to make sure there aren't any side-effects from those ghosts. Haven't felt or seen anything really bad yet, so we got that going for us.

[braavado]

Yeah. [Korra murmurs, closing her eyes for a moment as she tests the air with her senses.]

It feels like the negative energy's starting to disappear now. My headache isn't as bad now, too.

[wolfpuppy]

That's good.

[There's a pause before he speaks:]

You haven't noticed anything really ... off about anyone afterward, did you?

[braavado]

Off? [She's mostly puzzled, but she hasn't missed the deliberate way Ryuuga's asking about this. There's a reason for it.]

You'll probably have to be more specific. What kind of "off" are we talking about here?

[wolfpuppy]

Sudden changes in behavior, anyone disappearing mysteriously ... stuff like that.

[It's a long shot, but he can't really afford to not try and be thorough. It's only recently that he decided to step it up anyway, so might as well attack this with gusto.]

5/2 ic; b

[playboyknight]

[On his way home, Angelo notices Ryuuga near one of the vendors he usually shops at. Curiosity gets the better of him and he walks over to see what's going on.]

These vendors can be rather stingy. If you're trying to haggle, don't let them make you pay more than a couple credits worth for whatever item you're purchasing.

[wolfpuppy]

Hm? [Ryuuga pauses from his conversation with the merchant (They had been engaging in some small talk, but not much was really moving past that as far as trying to actually agree on prices. Go figure.) and he gives a bit of a sheepish grin.]

So I've noticed. Thought a friend of mine was bad enough. [And even when D. Ringo actually did give him a discount, he owed some sort of favor, which ... usually wasn't fun. Old man knew what he was doing, though.]

[playboyknight]

[He shrugs before taking out a small flask to drink from it then put it away. He's closer now to Ryuuga to see what the man was buying, because he was curious.]

So what is it you're trying to get off our friend here?

[wolfpuppy]

Nothing special - just something I thought I'd decorate my apartment with.

[And in fact it's true! Though the decorative statue that Ryuuga seems to be haggling for is ... not exactly something you'd consider someone like him getting. To be honest, he does appreciate art, but considering how much he's moved around due to his job, he really doesn't carry much with him. If his hunch about the statue is wrong, though, he can donate it to someone who can appreciate it much more than he can.]

[playboyknight]

[Angelo just stares at the statue itself. Wow, was that odd or what. Of course, he's not going to judge this guy's tastes in statues out-loud anyway.]

Well it's interesting to say the least, not something you see every day. Maybe I'll see something I like too.

[He then starts looking around himself for something to decorate his apartment with, only with his eyes and not actually moving away from Ryuuga. Instead though, he eyes this cute statue and ponders about getting it.]

Say, since you're haggling with the vendor... Can you see about haggling for that statue too? [He points to the fairy statue he eyed already.]

[wolfpuppy]

Huh - [... this is definitely something he wasn't expecting, but he can roll with it.

Probably.]

I guess I can see what I can do - hang on.

[Why does he do these things.

Granted he doesn't need his credits all that much outside of basic necessities - part of living as a Makai Knight did involve being pretty Spartan when it came to possessions - so it's not like he's really losing much on this.

Though maybe -

At this point, he's attempting to try and get a bundle deal going for the two statues, maybe that will help the shopkeep budge slightly on his price. It's worth a shot.]

[playboyknight]

[Angelo watches in amusement before he goes to pick up the statue himself to look at it. It is pretty nice. Hmm, maybe he can get this guy to buy him more stuff. Oh what a genius idea. So what does he do? He brings more stuff with him back over to the shopkeep and Ryuuga after looking around. It's mostly jewelry and little knickknacks, but he's determined to get out of this without paying.]

Let's include all of this in our deal. I think our shopkeep friend will agree more eagerly.

[wolfpuppy]

[Waitaminute -

Okay it's one thing if it's bundling one or two things together, or if it's someone he knows.

But this?]

Hold on a sec-

[Though even despite the attempts at a rebuttal from Ryuuga, the shopkeeper is much more willing to part with his wares, though the look that the former's giving Angelo is more akin to a "Dude, really?!!" without saying so.]