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.

[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."

[bufudine]

...Ah.

Serph pauses as soon as he realises the thing seems to be on the verge of flight. Is it truly a demon? It seems awfully passive for one.

Actually... these movements reminded him of an Omoikane. Delicious and strangely filling, but protective of its stomachache inducing 'treasure'. Though this demon hasn't reduced their battle abilities yet, so Serph is willing to hold off on making an attempt on its treasure, whatever that is.

Instead he attempts to quell it's fear. "We aren't here to fight."

[rainbowarch]

Oh yeah, they were definitely scaring the thing. Cielo isn't very keen on attacking things that clearly don't want to fight. But that doesn't mean he can let his guard down. After all, it might get so spooked it might try something. He turns to Serph and says,

"We must be pretty scary looking to it, ja?"

They weren't even in their Atma forms, either. If it was that scared of them as humans, it would be positively terrified if they transformed.

[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.

[kaonashi]

Looking from one to the other, No-Face slowly gives a nod of understanding. That doesn't keep him from gradually moving the basket behind him, though. These two appeared to be people, just like that wonderful little Sen. Perhaps this means they're also just as kind?

Truth be told, aside form her, these are some of the only people No-Face has actually seen. He tries to fade out one last time, only making himself semi-visible before he shifts right back to normal. More of that, and the phantom's likely to collapse back into a blob.

At this point, No-Face can feel a small tremble begin to overcome him.

[bufudine]

He has to agree with Cielo; if it's reacting so badly to them as humans, imagine how terrified it would be of their demonic forms. It seems to understand their words, though, so Serph is glad for that. He wants a closer look at the container it's carrying, but since it seems protective of that, he doesn't press the matter.

... That tremble. Does it have a stomach ache?

Serph can sympathise. Well... he does have a spare Dis-Ache to ease its pain. So he keeps an eye on the demon while taking out one of the medicines from his pockets, and holds it out.

[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."

[rainbowarch]

Cielo watched No-Face try to fade again. So it had like...invisibility powers? And it was trying to use them but couldn't for some reason? He was about to say something about this when he noticed Serph digging into his pockets.

Serph. What are you doing. What is that you're- oh. It's a Dis-Ache. The thing does seem like it's unwell, though Cielo doesn't know if it's from illness or fear. And if it sick, how does Serph know it's a stomach ache?

Sometimes Cielo just doesn't understand how his leader thinks.

"That thing fixes stomach aches," he explained to the blobby not-invisible demon. "If you ate something bad or you ate too much, that'll fix you right up."

Those things were wonders, let him tell you. Cielo knows all too well what suffering from a stomach ache is like.

It's not fun.

[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.

[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]

Gifts? So soon? No-Face is quite taken aback by this kind gesture. The slight shiver subsides, now replaced by absolute curiosity. Turning his attention towards Cielo, as he explains, No-Face slowly reaches a hand out to take the odd unit of medicine. For stomach aches, hm?

The spirit gently places the basket on the ground behind him, turning around to store the Dis-Ache in it for later. Perhaps it will come in handy, though he dreads to imagine another scene of gluttony like what happened at the bath house.

O-Oh, how rude. No-Face extends his arms down into the basket again, seeming to shuffle around for a bit before revealing a peach. One act of generosity for another, after all. Although this was originally meant to be brought home, a ripe fruit seems an appropriate trade.

Here you are, Serph. No-Face reaches his arm out to offer a gift of his own. His mask seems just a tiny bit happier.

"Ah... Ah...."

[kaonashi]

Why does this one speak like there is absolutely no escape from these confines? There's a faint wobble in his whisper, one of confusion and growing dis-ease. At least the stranger is kind, though that does not help much when you are trapped within this place.

A memory of the bath house, of being cooped up with greed and vice, pops up and sticks within his mind. Could the very same happen here? No-Face lowers his head, remaining motionless for a moment. Then a small nod is exchanged. Surely there is some way out of here. He simply needs to find it.

[bufudine]

It's turning around and leaving its back exposed to them? This demon must really not know battle at all.

But Serph is glad they seem to have won over the creature, though he has no idea what the item it's holding out is. Nevertheless, Serph takes it with a nod of appreciation; he's not one to refuse items given to him freely.

He's a little surprised when he holds it, though. Serph instinctively knows it's a 'peach' -- but what is a peach's purpose? -- but he had been expecting the item to be hard, not soft. Luckily, he doesn't accidentally break the skin of the peach.

Well, while he's curiously inspecting the gift from the demon, turning it over in his hands, maybe Cielo has some questions for it. Though with the sounds it's making, Serph isn't sure it can even talk like they can.

[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.

[rainbowarch]

Cielo stared at the peach a bit. He too knew it was a peach, but what to peaches do? It didn't look like a medicine or a bomb. In fact, it looked kind of fuzzy more than anything else. But he supposed a gift was a gift. Maybe they'd find out later what it was used for.

While Serph was preoccupied with the fruit, Cielo turned his attention back to the demon(?). It hasn't really said anything so far, more like it just made some noises. Tilting his head to one side, he asked, "Can you talk?"

[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.

[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]

No-Face is completely oblivious of their odd reactions to the fruit. He was simply happy to return the favor! When Cielo asks his question, No-Face tilts his head for a moment... Well, that's an interesting thought.

No-Face can't speak as it is, but he knows that can change under less desirable circumstances... A situation he hopes not to find himself in, again.

In answer to the question, No-Face simply shakes his head. It'd be better if they didn't know... how he can get. Hopefully this does not stifle any communication too badly.

[schrodingersghost]

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

[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.