Row 1 - New Arrival

[kaonashi]

Who: No-Face and anyone who happens to pass
Where: The Plaza
When: January 23rd, later in the evening
Style: Any
Status: Open

There appears to be a phantasmal black blob laying motionless, off near the center of this strange and foreign plaza. Next to this heap rests a basket that appears to contain a bundle of wool fiber, two knitting needles, and a small group of vegetables.

As quickly as it appears though, the dark mass solidifies and takes it's regular looming form; a white mask drifting up from the center and appearing where a face would normally be located. The quiet figure you're left with is just a bit unsettling. Those blank eyes seem to stare straight off into the distance for a moment, before the ghostly being extends an arm down to pick up the basket. Oddly enough, he seems to clutch his container against him with both arms rather protectively.

"...Ah...?"

Comments

[last_lombax]

Luckily the Lombax had seen almost stranger aliens and hadn't come in contact with the Loki Master yet so seeing No-Face wasn't that big of a shock. He was just another alien right? Well it was nice to see another non-human anyway, no matter what he was. He walked over to the creature and waves a gloves hand.

"Um, hello? Welcome to Vatheon."

[kaonashi]

No-Face, on the other hand, appears to be very startled at the sudden approach of this stranger. Gently drifting back, the spirit clings to his basket even more as he shakes his head in response to Ratchet's greeting. No, this isn't where he's supposed to be. He was meant to bring this back to his home! All that can escape the mask is another small whisper, though this time it may sound like a short whimper.

He hardly even notices the water dripping down his mask, and onto his basket. Sorry, Lombax. No-Face is literally speechless.

[last_lombax]

Ratchet stopped and help up his empty hands. So the alien was scared huh? He'd have to take it slow then.

"I'm not going to hurt you. You're in a new place called Vatheon. It's a city under the sea."

[kaonashi]

Under the sea? But the sea wasn't anywhere near the forest. How's it possible that something flung No-Face that far out, without him even noticing? Under would imply that there's no train leading out of here, either... Not that No-Face would be able to afford a ticket.

A short "Ah" echos out of the mask, while the spirit does his best not to crumple back up into a useless blob. This was definitely unfortunate indeed. At least there's a nice... being? creature? For the sake of simplicity, No-Face is going to think "person" here to help.

He loosened his grip on the basket, seeming to relax a bit more.

[bufudine]

Serph had spotted the black blob ever since it appeared along with some sort of container. It had struck him as odd, despite the numerous odd things he's encountered ever since he and Cielo's arrival, so he had kept an eye on it.

But when it suddenly lurches into form, he's immediately on guard. An Atma form!?

...Yet it seems oddly non-aggressive. Confused, even. 'Foreigners' are supposed to arrive here, right? Serph can't help wanting to help. But he doesn't know what this demon is, or what it's capable of, so he's still guarded. When he makes his cautious approach, he takes care to be in its line of sight first, so as not to startle it.

[rainbowarch]

Serph had been looking pretty curiously at the...indeterminate black thing for a while now, so Cielo was not surprised in the least when he finally decided to approach it. Is that thing it has important to it? Cielo can't help but notice the way its holding it. Either way, it doesn't look like its looking for a fight.

Still, he can't very well let Serph go on his own in case it tries to smother him with its blobness or something. So, like the good comrade he is, Cielo accompanied Serph to observe the black demon.

...if he were to be honest, he kind of wants to poke it.

It looks squishy.

[kaonashi]

Being approached by two potential-thieves in strange apparel is the last thing that No-Face wants. Serph is the first one that the spirit notices, focusing his attention on him as he comes closer. Don't think he's not keeping an eye on Cielo, though. The pale mask seems to show a bit of nervous wariness, ever so slightly, as No-Face flickers in and out of visibility. Unfortunately, whatever escape he's trying to make is failing...

Instead, he backs up with every step they take forward. There will be no stealing of the goods today, no sir.

"A-Ah..."

[withoutasign]

Signless is going for his daily walk through the Plaza, looking for any displaced children who might be in need of a troll dad, when he spots the black shape. He watches quietly as it forms up into... into something. Yes, it looks vaguely disconcerting, but he isn't getting any sense of evil from it. Quite the opposite, in fact; it strikes him as shy and gentle. And lost.

So he does what any rational person would do when confronted with a being of indeterminate origin and hostility... he strolls right up and sits down next to it.

"Hello. Welcome to Vatheon."

[kaonashi]

After getting over the initial horror of being lost in unfamiliar surroundings, No-Face continues to silently stand where he appeared. Could he be planning out his next move? Obviously, he'll be needing to return home somehow. A cold loneliness is already balling up inside of the spirit, and it's only been a few hours since he's left the company of Zeniba!

When this stranger suddenly appears and greets him, the ghostly apparition takes a few steps to the side in order to gain a little more distance. Just as he's done before, No-Face gently shakes his masked head as if to say "No, this is not where I'm meant to be". As usual, he only manages to make the slightest whisper as he stares hopelessly at Signless.

[withoutasign]

"I know."

Signless nods, and keeps his voice low and soft so as not to frighten the new arrival.

"I was afraid when I first appeared here, too. But I mean you no harm, if there's anything you need help with, I will do my best to assist you."

[booyaka_boom]

Selphie happened to be near by just when the blob became more solid, and a heck of a lot bigger. It had a face, so it must have some kind of feeling - that was Selphie's answer to most creatures. But it might be a monster. It doesn't seem angry, so Selpie tiptoes closer, a little uncertain herself.

"Hello...uh...mister?"

But she'd be ready to fight in a moment if need be.

[kaonashi]

No-Face is shifting through the contents of his basket, double-checking everything when another unfamiliar voice chimes in. He looks from side to side, before glancing down at Selphie.

"...Ah...?"

A hint of curiosity overcomes the mask, but No-Face nods a polite hello all the same. That look in her eyes suggests that she might not be too trusting of a figure like him. It's understandable, if not a bit discomforting.

[booyaka_boom]

Selphie stood quite still as she faced him, but her expression softened as she realised that the thing was looking quite unsure, just like anyone else who might have showed up.

"Can you understand me, Mister Thing? Are you okay?"

[schrodingersghost]

This was different. Danny drops down from his usual patrol route and drifts over to investigate. Hope you don't mind strange ghosts coming from the sky.

[kaonashi]

Something up above catches his eye, and it most certainly isn't a bird. That young human drifts and floats just as a river spirit would. Perhaps that means he's just as powerful? The clothing is strange, though. Definitely not from any land that No-Face is familiar with... Which is really just the area around the bath house, and the woods that Zeniba's house is in....

Still, his focus isn't straying from Danny at all.

[schrodingersghost]

Danny dives, coming to a halt directly in front of the spirit... and still floating several inches above the ground.

[singsforsouls]

There have been some odd-looking newcomers, but this one is definitely the oddest Naoya has seen so far. It looks much more akin to the demons he is used to than the humans Vatheon seems fond of.

Though he calls a Persona to the front of his mind, prepared for attack, he does not approach aggressively, however. Naoya sees how it clutches the container; demons that act like that can normally be negotiated with. He hopes that is the case here.

"Hello there." He draws a hand out of his pocket to wave to the figure, keeping his eyes peeled for any sort of reaction.

[kaonashi]

If only No-Face had known how much of an odd sight he was, perhaps he wouldn't be standing out in the middle of the plaza. It can't be helped though, and before he knows it there's another stranger approaching him.

If you're expecting quick reaction-speed, you're out of luck! No-Face slowly turns to face Naoya, giving him a hauntingly silent stare...

Until he politely nods a hello back, of course. At this point, No-Face is just rolling with the greetings. It still doesn't make him any less uncomfortable, though. In the bath house, people quite literally walked straight through him until he started pelting them with gold, so all this attention is rather unexpected.

okay so technically he shouldn't even have arrived yet, but...I wanted to tag No-Face...

[replacing]

Well, that tall, dark silhouette has caught the attention of one particular young man. As an onmyōji, Subaru is used to dealing with spirits of all sorts, and with a traditional upbringing like his, he knows generally what sort of spirit No-Face must be, if not specifically. He isn't the haunting sort, the sort who used to be alive; he is a being in and of himself.

Respectfully, Subaru approaches, his steps slow and even. He's dressed head-to-toe in black, so he and No-Face rather match, in that respect. "Hello," he greats calmly, his voice soft. He bows politely, inclining his head. "Are you in need of any help?" He's always been kind and considerate towards spirits, and it is his duty, after all, to aid them where he can. It's what he was raised to do, and even now he can't quite shake the inclination.

[kaonashi]

It seems that Subaru has hit the nail right on the head with this one. No-Face may be a little more haunting than most, out of boredom and loneliness though! The courteous nature of this man is foreign to the apparition, if it's genuine. The spirit isn't throwing around gold though, so it must be true and honest.

No-Face returns the bow, remaining absolutely silent. Help? It would help if Subaru could somehow send him back to where he was before. But, it's likely that isn't going to be an option and No-Face realizes this. So the spirit simply glances around at his surroundings, making it clear that he has no idea what to do now that he's arrived.

[replacing]

Ahh, not a talkative one, apparently. That's all right. Subaru prefers not to mince words, either. Respectful, though, and seems harmless enough. That's good. Unfortunately, though, Subaru doesn't have the power to send him home in that way--otherwise he'd have done so already.

"I take it you've just arrived?" There's obvious empathy in Subaru's tone. "I only came here very recently, myself." He understands your predicament, No-Face. "From what I understand, we cannot leave this place of our own volition." He shakes his head. "I am sorry I was not able to give you more comforting news."

[nos_servabit]

Jacob is used to shadows and things that bump in the night. When you live on an island which contains a very large and powerful smoke monster that can appear when you least expect it, you get used to the fact that there are things in the world that can't be explained by human logic.

So, upon seeing the new arrival form itself from the blob it once was, he approaches, smiling warmly at it.

"You're new, are you? Welcome to Vatheon."

[kaonashi]

When Jacob walks up to him, No-Face is still wiping some drips of water off of his mask. He's accepted the fact that he's no longer in familiar territory, but is still not very appreciative of being soaked to his very core like some wet sponge.

He nods in confirmation, before turning his attention to Jacob. Vatheon. As much as he spins that name around his mind, he can't pull out a single memory of any mention of such a place before. To be fair, No-Face is not the type to travel very far. Perhaps there has always been a city under the ocean? That's a thought for another time, as No-Face is currently observing this new face. At least the stranger seems friendly so far.

[nos_servabit]

He just stares at No-face for a while with calm blue eyes, and then nods, as if he's agreeing with something No-Face said.

"It's a place underneath the sea. There's even an elevator that takes you to a nice island on top of the dome. The natives are very friendly here. They'll give you food and even a place to stay."

His voice is level as he explains, and he pauses for a minute before cocking his head slightly at the new arrival.

"Do you have a name?"

[mothersunlight]

A spirit? One that feels pretty 'normal' to Amaterasu, even. Fascinated, she trots closer, letting out a very brief and short whine to get his attention without scaring him.