[open] some Kenoma come up to Godsblood the other day...

[baltimores]

WHO: Amos, Gen, Eustace, Childe, any Pleroma
WHAT: Amos wants a gun, Eustace wants to make a portal, and in order to make it happen they go to...
WHERE: Godsblood.
WHEN: Towards the end of Visoseri/start of Soviseri
WARNINGS: None, unless you count bullying of various Pleroma; will add as necessary


The content of this entry is intended to be an OOC explanation of what's going on to keep everyone up to speed; any characters who may be in Godsblood during this time period are free to top level or tag out. This is not an event and simply a unique instance that some characters are kinda sorta technically in enemy territory, which opens itself up to thread opportunities that would not otherwise be possible.

Basically: four Kenoma are journeying up to Godsblood, albeit not all together and through different means.

Amos and Gen will be arriving via a boat directly from Achamoth, and accordingly, will be outed as Kenoma Aions right from the get-go — the populace should know who they are, and word of their arrival would likely get around. Amos is there because he wants to build a higher quality gun than what they have in Achamoth and Godsblood is the place to do it; Gen is there to serve as backup/moral support/because they're friends, okay. Story plotting link here for more details.

Eustace and Childe will be sneaking in via carriage from the Artisan shrine/a portal and will therefore not be known as Kenoma Aions upon entry to Godsblood — unless there are characters there who already know who they are, that is. Eustace is setting up a portal to facilitate travel between Achamoth and Godsblood. This is not public knowledge and non-Kenoma Aions/NPCs are unlikely to know about this. Story plotting link here for more details.

The mods have also provided some guidelines for how interactions could go between characters so that any Pleroma wouldn't necessarily have to out themselves as Aions when it comes to interacting with Amos or Gen, who are publicly declared as such. Highlighting what was said further down in Amos' plotting comment:

It wouldn't be unreasonable for a visiting Aion to be chatting up people within Godsblood so sharing a meal ... wouldn't be a dead give away, but it might tie them to the Aions on the rumor network if they do it in public. Whether they are just strangers Gen and Amos are dining with or whether they are connected to Achamoth won't be clear, but it would definitely have implications ... It's definitely a risk, at any rate.

As for meeting in a busy street or a public park the connection is still possible but a lot less likely, since the odds of them chatting up some rando in the park is a lot more likely than sitting down for dinner with them. It'd also be a lot more obvious if someone was spying on them, unlike a closed environment like a pub or eatery, so that'd probably be the safest option without going somewhere deserted or private.

Comments

[goldendeceiver]

[ Jumping a teenager and killing him isn't really his style, but Ernesto is less of a softie than Gen might imagine. He is practical however, and while Gen going back to the Regent and reporting on the location of the Pleroma doesn't really serve Ernesto well, he can't imagine for a second that Gen came here without the Regent knowing his location. The Kenoma seem to move in groups by and large, and he already knows that Gen isn't the only Kenoma in the city right now. Even if Ernesto somehow managed to take down all of them, and gather up their shards, the fact that they fail to report back would bring down more trouble on his head than it's worth.

So no, he won't resort to crass measure like that.

He will take very keen interest in the fact that Gen seems aware that he's not popular here though, even as he smiles in a far more welcoming way. He's already got something of a reputation as being a friendly guy among the people of Godsblood, so the fact that he'd play tour guide to one of the Regent's people won't be out of character, and in theory shouldn't cast any of the suspicion of Gen onto him.

He hopes at least.

Either way, he'll act natural as he acts like this is just a normal chance meeting with a stranger, tail wagging at the forced pleasantries (incredible...) that Gen gets out. ]

Happy to help, Chamo.

[ If he's getting away with it, then he's going to keep using it. ]

What brings you all the way out to our city in the first place?

[epiprocta]

[ What the hell does 'Chamo' even mean.

Whatever, he'll ask later. For now, Gen trails a pace behind Ernesto, hands in pockets and gaze casting about at his surroundings. And at least in this context, he truly just looks like any normal, delinquent teenager -- rough around the edges and a little unfriendly-looking, but nothing more than that. His bootsoles scuff against the pavement as he follows behind Ernesto at an easy gait, his gaze lingering on a distant stall for a moment -- the person manning the stall is hawking some sort of street food, which smells good -- before looking over at that question. ]

Business. [ The answer's offered along with a small shrug of the shoulders. ] Not mine. I'm just here as support, mostly. Keeping an eye on things as backup.

[ Hence the time he's wiling away around the streets here, acting like more of a sightseeing tourist than any sort of threatening presence. The answer's given calmly, without much hesitation; Gen doesn't offer any elaboration, but Ernesto probably won't get the sense that he's lying either.

Of course, that doesn't stop the general populace from still regarding Gen, the rumored Kenoma Aion, with open caution and hostility. A pair of youths nearby whisper between themselves as they pass, keeping their words hushed even as their eyes follow Gen's back, and he waits until they've stepped out of immediate earshot before asking, ]

So what exactly's the word going 'round here about us Aions? [ 'Us Aions,' he says. A passerby might think Gen's just referring to himself and whoever he's accompanying here, wanting to know exactly why he's being treated in such hostile fashion. But surely, Ernesto knows -- this is also Gen obliquely probing to gauge how the hell Ernesto's been getting along in this unfamiliar city. ] Just out of curiosity.

[goldendeceiver]

[ The answer he gets is vague enough that Ernesto has no reason not to believe it. If Gen had given any specifics, then maybe there would be more reason to doubt his word. Then again, it seems unlikely that Gen would give specifics regardless of his level of honesty.

Business makes sense though. The Kenoma he's met so far have been casual when running into Ernesto, but none of them had seemed like they were actually looking for him, and more importantly, no one has been picking a fight. Godsblood is a pretty industrious city too, and there's a lot that you can only get here with the number of inventors and tinkerers that litter the streets.

Still, the idea that they could be here for recon for the Regent also crosses Ernesto's mind. Even if it really is business entirely unrelated to the Pleroma, Ernesto will have to tread lightly, and make sure he gives away as little useful information as he possibly can. It's bad enough that they'll be able to report back that the city is housing some Pleroma at all. ]

All I've heard is that a couple of you had shown up recently from Achamoth. People aren't really sure what the Regent's people want with our city, so it has everyone stirred up.

[ He glances over his shoulder at Gen now, smile steady even as he give him a quick searching look, before turning to face forward again. ]

No offense, we're just not looking for any trouble here if we can avoid it.

[ We meaning the people of Godsblood on the surface, but we also clearly meaning Ernesto and the other Pleroma. ]

[epiprocta]

Yeah, I've noticed.

[ That they're not looking for trouble. Nobody's dared to actually pick a fight with him thus far. The worst the Godsblood citizens have had the gall to do is shoot him dirty stares and gossip amongst themselves when they think they're out of earshot; clearly, they're not willing to gamble on the goodwill and mercy of a man who serves the Regent. It's cowardly and dirty, and Gen can't claim to be a fan of this treatment.

Gossip always feels like death by a thousand cuts, after all. A lingering sort of shittiness that rankles at the nerves.

But whatever. That's him. Him and Amos. Amos apparently doesn't care, and he's acclimated to it. So -- ]

And what if I weren't serving the Regent, you think? [ It feels a little sacrilegious saying that; the Kenoma's influence wound around his soul pulses dark, discouraging from pursuing that line of thought too deeply. There's only a brief pause before Gen continues flatly: ] -- as a hypothetical. If I were just an Aion who happened to end up here. Y'think people would be treating me any different?

[ 'What would happen if I were to out you?'

His tone of voice is languid and curious, like he's asking about a curious weather phenomenon. Gen truly has no plans of starting any fights here. But he can't help wondering what life's been like for those who hadn't chosen to live in Achamoth -- what risks those Aions are taking by living here. ]

[goldendeceiver]

[ It can't feel good to have people looking at you and whispering about you the way the people of Godsblood have been doing, but Ernesto can't really blame them either. Their murmuring has very little to do with Gen as a person, and everything to do with what he stands for. Whether he wanted this for himself or not, by giving into the Kenoma he became a representative for the Regent, and even though the Bloodites are also technically the Regent's people too...

It's not born from any great love they have for them.

But there isn't a great love for the Pleroma either, and the question that Gen asks has the hairs on the back of Ernesto's neck standing up even as his smile stays steady and friendly. He hums thoughtfully, gaze sliding sideways to look at Gen. ]

Asking a question like that... you're not trying to trap me, are you?

[ Because for a person of Godsblood to help a known Pleroma could be very dangerous for them. ]

I'm just a businessman. All I want to do is keep my head down, and sell my wares. I don't go around asking where people come from, and I think most people here are the same way.

[ He'll neatly try to sidestep that question, but the truth of the matter is he doubts that the people of Godsblood would be rolling out the red carpet for the Pleroma any time soon. Inviting them in means inviting the Regent's wrath. ]

[epiprocta]

[ So even the Pleroma Aions wouldn't have a good time if they were unmasked, huh.

Gen lets that uneasy silence hang in the air for far too long. Deliberately, of course. And maybe Ernesto can feel Gen's stare prickling at the back of his neck -- not hostile, not aggressive, but quietly observant, mulling matters over. While he can't be completely sure, the way Ernesto sidesteps the question suggests it's not one he wants to answer ... and if he won't even bluff that the Pleroma here would be welcomed as heroes or whatever, then clearly the opposite must be true to at least some extent. Regardless of Ernesto's loyalties, he doesn't want to draw attention to himself as an Aion, right.

Strange how he doesn't feel that much satisfaction from such a conclusion. Sure, Gen does find some petty comfort in knowing that the Pleroma Aions don't get to just coast through life here while he has to endure all those wary stares and cautious whispers, that they must also be feeling some pressure while here. But it's just a drop in the bucket, nothing he feels the urge to chase. ]

... told you, didn't I? [ In the end, Gen breaks that silence with a noncommittal shrug, his tone of voice languid. If he's masking and threats or animosity, he's doing a truly artful job of it. ] Not here looking for trouble. I'm just killing time while my partner takes care of some business -- asking some curious questions, getting my bearings here. Didn't mean to ruffle your feathers. Or your fur.

[ And while he certainly won't apologize for having 'accidentally' tread upon sensitive territory, he'll offer someone else just as good. (It's not just as good.) As in, he steps forward a pace to give Ernesto a slightly-too-rough thump to the back. ]

So lighten up. Don't take it personally, I can respect a guy just trying to make some money.

[goldendeceiver]

[ The fact that Ernesto is clearly pretending he's not at Aion at all is probably answer enough to how well he thinks this will go for him. While the chances are good he'll have more people silently supporting him than Gen will find in this city, the desire not to upset the Regent will have many citizens of Godsblood refusing to interact with Ernesto. It'd make the already arduous ordeal of gathering supplies and sending them to Greentruth all the more difficult.

And besides, despite the generally atmosphere of scorn for the Regent that most Bloodites have, every city is going to have a mix of political opinions, and there are some outliers who would likely actively be hostile towards a Pleroma in particular. In those less common situations, Ernesto wouldn't even have the backing of a powerful force to act as a deterrent to keep people from picking fights with him.

So Gen's deliberate silence does have the chilling effect on Ernesto that he intends, but nothing in Ernesto's demeanor would suggest he's bothered by it. No matter how unnerved he is, he refuses to show signs that Gen is getting under his skin.

Not everyone is Kim Dokja.

The thump though? That gets more of a reaction, because it's a lot less expected than the words. While he should probably have assumed that Gen wouldn't be the type to keep his hands politely to himself given his past tail touching, the unexpected nature mixed with the force of it does have Ernesto tripping a half step before he regains his balance, laughing awkwardly about his near fall. ]

I appreciate the understanding.

[ It all goes smoothly enough, something they can move on from and pretend didn't happen at all.

Except...

Except when he tripped forward his tail lifted up suddenly for balance, catching on the back of his shirt. The movement of his tail, mixed with the movement of his stumble was just enough for the whole thing to lift up just for a brief moment. Just long enough for Gen to have gotten a flash of something brown fading quickly into a brilliant looking blue. ]

[epiprocta]

[ Ernesto is answered with nothing more than a noncommittal grunt, at first. Like it's Gen's low-effort way of saying 'yeah, sure.' Just something to further this stupid character they're playing. But after that noise is followed by a short stretch of silence, Ernesto might notice that Gen's gaze isn't fixed on his face, but instead at his back. Down towards his tail? Sort of. Roughly that region. But not quite, actually.

The only warning Ernesto gets for what comes next is when Gen gives a small cant of the head, as if in thought, brow ever so slightly furrowed.

Then Gen abruptly grabs at the hem of the back of Ernesto's shirt, then tugs it upwards.

Not far. Not all the way up, just a few inches. Just enough that he can confirm what that brief glimmer of colors he'd seen shining at the base of Ernesto's tail had been. Then he quickly lets go and withdraws his hand before any passersby can see, because he really is abiding by his claim that he's not deliberately looking to get Ernesto in trouble -- it's not like he wants to blow Ernesto's cover as a Horosian citizen. He just wanted a peek at that. ]

... nice tramp stamp.

[ There's a tightness to his voice that suggests he's doing his absolute best to fight back a horrible smug laugh. At least Gen speeds up another step afterward to walk abreast with Ernesto in some small indication that he's not looking to do that again.

Though one time alone is certainly rude enough. Sorry not sorry, Ernesto. He was just too curious, and his curiosity certainly paid off with that incredibly funny revelation. ]

You always go for that kinda look? Or did that one just kinda ... happen.

[goldendeceiver]

[ The thing about being a dog-man in a sea of mostly non-dog men is that most people seem to fixate weirdly on the dog traits. While it's true that Ernesto's world is made up a plenty of people who aren't Perroes too, the ears and tail are such common features amongst most of the populace that no one bats a single eye at whatever furry bits another person happens to be rocking.

Meanwhile, while the natives of Horos seem pretty comfortable with his ears and tail, his fellow Aions sure do seem to struggle with them.

So when Gen's gaze travels uncomfortably low, Ernesto doesn't think too much of it at first. His shard might be there, but so is his tail, and Gen's already put his grubby little mitts on it once. Though while he doubts Gen is infected with any sort of strange cursed disease this time, he really, really hopes Gen doesn't decide to grab it again.

What Gen actually ends up doing though? It's significantly worse than just grabbing his tail would be. This kid really doesn't have a good concept of boundaries, does he? Ernesto's face twists up into a grimace as he reaches back to smooth his shirt down.

There's an actual danger in this. Having a Kenoma know where the most vulnerable part of his body isn't exactly comforting, especially when the one and only benefit to his shard location is how hidden it stays from most prying eyes. The thought that this steals away an advantage he has definitely occurs to him, but right now he's playing it off as if he's just disgruntled by Gen being kind of brazen and handsy.

Which, to be fair, he is a little. ]

Haha...

[ Brat... ]

You could call it an unexpected impulse decision.

[ Not on Ernesto's part, admittedly, but by the forces that dragged him unwillingly into this world. ]

Not one I'd make again.