oo1; acquaintances

[reiks]

Who: Prince Hal
Where: Around the park
When: June 28th
Style: Prose but I'll match
Status: Open!



"Well, if you insist on following me, I suppose I can make an exception this time."

It was a different place, that was for certain. The brochure was ... explanatory enough, though it still left Hal feeling confused and very much out of place. But it was easier to just take it all one step at a time, to not let it overwhelm him, and try his best to just wake up from this strange new reality. He never remembered any of his dreams being so vivid, which was probably not the healthiest way to view this whole situation but- at least he wasn't making a spectacle.

Yet.

The park was a good place to just walk around, take in the scenery, and let himself think. It was such an absurd idea, an underwater city! Definitely a dream. There were a few other people about, gathered in groups or couples and chatting amongst themselves, dressed so strangely that it was only making him feel even more out of sorts. But he tried not to let it show, and at least the ducks were willing to listen to most of his frustrations.

This, however, was a little ridiculous. The small scrap of bread was a meager dinner at best, but the smaller of the ducks had been plenty happy for it. Greedy too, it would seem, having followed Hal away from the pond with the rest of the ducks. The prince had noticed his traveling companion a bit belatedly, and finally stopped to turn around and crouch down to continue their conversation.

"But if I could have your name, it would make further conversations much less awkward for the both of us."

"Quack!"

"... Woodrow?"

"Quack quack!"

"Woodrow then," Hal stood with a nod, gesturing for his new friend to follow him to the nearby fruit trees. "Come, let's get you an apple."

Comments

[copesetic]

Adjusting to somewhere you've been dragged to against your will is a difficult thing and Albert's not even sure he wants to. Despite his teammate having been here for over a month, the German still refuses to believe that he'll be kept here similarly. Still, the days wear on and he hasn't been able to dig up much information that points to a way out, at least not yet. He still has that database that Jet pointed him towards to finish sifting through.

He'd decided to leave off it for the afternoon, feeling cooped up in his hotel room, so he'd made his way to the park for a walk. Despite the bubble being in the summer months, the white haired man is in long pants and sleeves, even gloves covering both hands. Maybe it's not so strange though, considering the bubble doesn't get direct sun.

The forest walk is quite pleasant, actually, and Albert finds he's enjoying it in spite of himself. At least, until he comes across a scraggly man talking to a duck.

Well then.

"Do ducks eat apples?"

[reiks]

Hal hadn't been in the underwater city for too long, not long enough to start making acquaintances or anything. He'd asked a few people for directions and advice, but for the most part he kept to himself, trying to determine what was the norm and just how radically different everyone around him seemed to be. It was troubling, but he did his best to deal.

The apple trees caught his attention, a favourite of his from his childhood and the memories associated with it made him smile. He was nearly there when a stranger beckoned him and he paused, a little surprised but not at all put off by someone wanting to start a conversation.

Someone who wasn't a duck, at any rate.

"He seemed very keen on the idea," the prince answered with a shrug, glancing down at the duck waddling happily around his feet. "At the very least, it would be rude of me to refuse him. Poor thing would never be able to reach them on his own."

[copesetic]

"Well it's a duck. I would think it would be excited about the prospect of any kind of food. I just thought they ate bugs and bread crumbs." It's nice to see the critter though. A bit of home in this alien bubble.

"Are you new here as well or have you and the duck been friends for awhile?" There's an edge of mirth to his tone, obviously just trying to make friendly conversation. He's been withdrawn for long enough and he's ready to try and make friends.

Or he's just looking for information, but either way he seems genial.

[reiks]

"You would be correct," Hal replied, another glance cast down at the duck and this time more scrutinizing. What a clever feathered friend he had, indeed. "But perhaps their kind has always longed for the taste of fresh fruit but lacks the necessary height to reach the branches."

And they were probably lazy so they didn't want to fly up and get the fruit themselves. Clever, clever.

"I've only just met him," he continued with a shrug, helping himself to one of the tree's apples. He smiled fondly at the fruit and memories it brought with it, idly considering whether or not to share it with his duck friend. "It was late yesterday when I arrived here myself. And I'm afraid I'm at quite a loss at what to do with myself." Rubbing the apple on his coat sleeve, he looked up at the stranger, curious. "You as well, then."

[copesetic]

"Well that's an interesting thing I've never thought of," the German chuckles at the idea. This guy certainly is creative.

"Yes, I arrived a few days ago. I was lucky enough, or unlucky enough as the case may be, to find a couple of my friends were already brought here so I never thought to befriend the local waterfowl. I agree with not knowing what exactly to do, though. Whatever purpose we were brought here for doesn't seem to be all that urgent." Albert folds his arms at that, frowning a bit and wondering if perhaps the point is to let them stew first and see what they do before conducting whatever research they had planned. He's used to scientists with that sort of compulsion.

[reiks]

Creative was certainly one word for it. Hal's imagination did get the best of him sometimes, but he had to admit it was fun being the tall buddy of a happy, playful duck.

"Others you know were brought here as well?" Hal asked, suddenly concerned but at the same time ... well, a little hopeful. There were some people he didn't particularly get along well with back home, but the more he thought about it, the more he wanted to at least see them once again. Who knew how long it would be until he returned home, if ever? Whatever the plans of the people who'd brought them here were, if there was a chance of seeing anyone from home again-

he could cross that bridge when the time came, he supposed. Or- well, if.

"It is quite strange," Hal pondered aloud, his feathered friend trying to get his attention by poking his boots with his beak. "Why they have decided to do all this is a little more concerning than how."

[copesetic]

"Yes, one about a month ago and one within hours of when I arrived. I'm really not sure there's any rhyme or reason to it." At least, not to the people taken. He's somewhat worried about the curses he's been hearing about, but as he said before, their captors seem to be taking their sweet time.

"That may be, but it's the how that could possibly be reverse engineered to send us home. Perhaps even in time to prevent certain events from coming to pass. Whatever the mechanism is seems to have temporal properties."

[zipperlips]

Somewhere between the nod and the fruit trees, Hal seemed to have acquired another follower, though this one was a bit more strange than a duck. He had horns, for one, and was dressed and painted like a skeleton. Also unlike the duck, he wasn't making any sound.

When Hal turned back around, though, the guy gave a little wave of greeting, then pointed toward the duck and tilted his head.

[reiks]

While Hal was slowly becoming accustomed to certain levels of strangeness in this city, there were still plenty of surprises. He wasn't expecting surprises in the form of oddly dressed, horned people of course. Hopefully his startled "Oh--" was understandable.

"Gracious, you should warn others before sneaking up on them," Hal said once the initial shock had worn off. He caught the stranger gesturing at his duck friend, and he looked down at the little creature poking at his ankles. "Oh- this is Woodrow, a new friend of mine. He seems quite taken with me."

[zipperlips]

Hal's startled reaction wasn't only understandable, it actually got a smile out of him. That might even have been the reaction he wanted to get. Kurloz certainly didn't try to make himself seem any less strange. He just tilted his head as he looked skeptically between Hal and the newly-named Woodrow. Clearly, he's judging the guy for having befriended and named a duck so quickly.

[reiks]

Odd, certainly. Hal had difficulty trying to figure out what the stranger's intentions were when he didn't speak a single word, but whether it was because he couldn't or simply wouldn't, Hal couldn't determine. But it would be quite rude to assume either, and he didn't want to cause conflict so soon into his arrival here.

"I know, I know," he said instead, sighing and shaking his head. Ducks. Silly, silly ducks. "I suppose I do spoil him, but you'll find he can be terribly persuasive."

[zipperlips]

Hal's curiosity would end up answered, if he looked carefully at Kurloz's mouth. His lips were actually sewn shut, which was a point in favor of "couldn't", though also caused by a desire not to, on his part. He tilts his head and looks at the duck, clearly skeptical of it's persuasive abilities.

[reiks]

"You doubt the ever persuasive fowl?" Hal continued on, whether the silent stranger was even interested or not. Sometimes, he did simply enjoy hearing himself talk. As did the duck, it seemed, quack-quacking away at his ankles. "You hear that, Woodrow? He doesn't believe you could persuade a man to fetch you fruit."

[destinyembrace]

Kairi had been watching the ducks, letting her mind wander a bit when she wasn't absorbed with how adorable the ducklings were. She had almost missed the one wandering off, only catching it just as it waddled out of sight.

Now, Vatheon didn't have much in the way of natural predators (outside the forest at least) but it still wasn't safe for a duckling to wander off alone. Concern for the baby animal had her running after it, in hopes she could herd it back towards the lake.

She skids around the corner, intent on a bit of a chase, when she sees the duckling following a man. It's not too hard to guess why it's doing that, but since it seems to be in no apparent danger, she decides to just watch for now and see what happens. At least it was a cute sight, if anything.

[reiks]

As it turned out, ducks were one of the more conversational types of birds that he'd met in his lifetime. Hal carried on towards the fruit trees, completely unaware of the young lady trailing after them, the happy little duckling waddling excitedly around the prince's ankles all eager for his upcoming treat.

"Is that so?" Hal glanced down at the duck, intrigued in a conversation only the two of them could hear. "My word, do send her my condolences. It must have been a lovely little nest. Pity about the weather."

They had made their way to the apple trees soon enough, and Hal reached up to pick the brightest one he could find. The duck quacked eagerly and waddled in circles, wings flapping with his excitement. It was easy enough to slice off a tiny piece of the apple with the small knife in his boot, and tossed the slice onto the grass below for the duck to enjoy. He couldn't help smiling at the sight.

[destinyembrace]

It was a sweet sight, really, and once Kairi realized what was going on - and just why the duckling had wandered off from the nest - she sighed in relief and hung back. She didn't want to be rude and intrude, since the little duck was fine, but she did want to make sure he made his way back home eventually.

That, and she secretly wanted to know just why this man was carrying on a conversation with a duck...

[reiks]

The duck became a little less chatty during his snacking, but certainly more enthusiastic. His tail feathers wiggled about like a mad creature, waddling about in circles every time he had to wait for a new bite. Hal could barely keep up with his slicing up of the fruit, but he did manage to give the silly creature a decent sized snack throughout their visit.

He crouched back down on the ground, sneaking a bite from the apple for himself in between shaving off another few pieces for the duck. The prince did happen to look up at the moment to spot someone following along, and though his eyes widened a hint in surprise, he certainly wasn't put off. He was making a hint of a spectacle, here.

With a smile he waved his hand, friendly as ever. The duck, of course, was far too occupied with his apple to greet the stranger just yet.

[destinyembrace]

Oop, she'd been spotted. But the stranger didn't seem to mind, and he even seemed happy to invite her over. With only the barest moment of hesitation, she walks over to the pair, addressing the man as to not disturb the duckling.

"Sorry for following. I was watching the baby ducks at the pond. Then one of them disappeared, so I got a little worried." She tucked some hair behind her ear. "Not that this place is that dangerous, but there's a lot of places a duckling shouldn't get into."

[reiks]

He didn't mind at all, of course. Hal knew he was sort of making a mockery of a scene here, a grown man (he liked to think) sharing an apple and idle conversation with a young duckling. Better that it be a young lady who would find the idea cute, rather than a fellow grown man teasing and making fun.

"Certainly not, especially so far from his family," Hal answered in kind, wholly sympathizing of course. True, he would be worried of the little duck, but it was the prince who had coaxed him away with the promise of fruit. Technically he was at fault, but the young miss didn't have to know that. "I had thought it my duty to ensure the poor creature's safe return to mother dearest. You may ease your worries."

[thewinedude]

If Prince Hal was concerned about people dressed strangely, this man was no exception. Mr. D's fashion sense (such as it was) tended to turn heads even in his own world... and usually not in a flattering manner. Purple running shoes and shirt. Leopard print pants today. His hair was a dark curly mess, and his face was unshaven. He might have been good-looking once, but that was before his permanent bad mood made him careless about his appearance.

Mr. D was in the park, people "watching" with an expression of terrible boredom on his face and a can of Diet Coke in hand. A happy octopus decorated the can just to spite him. His attention was only slightly grabbed by the man with the ducks... and only then when he started talking to them. From this distance, the restricted god of wine couldn't tell if the man was actually touched by madness... or is that's what being in a place like this did to normal people.

It was the actual back-and-forth conversation that made Mr. D finally approach the man and duck pair. It still didn't feel like madness in the way that the god was familiar with it, but he wasn't going to rule it out. Not yet anyway.

"Can you actually understand him? That's an interesting trick." Mr. D didn't sound like he was interested. He still sounded like he was bored.

[reiks]

Strangely was one thing, completely absurd was another. And the stranger now approaching was the walking definition of the word. Hal was certain even the duck was a bit weirded out (though maybe that was the animal print pants frightening the poor thing.)

They had made it to the apple trees, and Hal began to slice up the apple into tiny pieces to share with his duck friend when the less than inconspicuous stranger advanced. Barely three bites in and Hal's attention was drawn to him. And here his red jacket was oft seen as a little ridiculous back home. Brows arched, Hal leaned back against the apple tree behind him, while the duck enjoyed his apple feast in the grass.

"I can indeed," the prince decided to boast. Why not? It wasn't as though anyone would be able to prove him wrong. "Matter of fact, it is my most reputable skill. Why, that larger one back in the pond was recently complaining about his sore beak."

[thewinedude]

Mr. D's animal print any article of clothing tended to be cause for alarm. He had a shocking amount of it. Anyone around him for longer than a day would surely be appalled and unable to look directly into the fashion disaster. It wasn't that he didn't know better. Mr. D simply didn't care. He wore what he liked, regardless of how many people and ducks it startled.

Talking to animals seemed nearly as ridiculous as Mr. D's outfit. Such things were not heard of from as a skill of normal human beings. The quickest way to approach the situation and be done with this was to ask directly. Mr. D's voice was skeptical. "To what deity do you owe such a gift? Or perhaps it is a madness that has settled on you?" He didn't seem particularly crazy to him. And Mr. D knew all about crazy.

[reiks]

Well, at least he was playing along. Only a day in this underwater city and Hal already missed his friends at the taverns and speakeasies, the ones who would join in his games and festivities, his plays and stories, everyone trying to one up the other in terms of fantastical whimsy or sheer stupidity. But at least someone felt keen to indulge in some of his own silliness. Even if he did look like he'd just stepped out of a blind tailor's shop.

"I would presume it to be a deity of complete and utter useless life skills," Hal answered with a shrug, the duck happily wagging tail feathers about as he enjoyed his little apple feast. Conversation was conversation, and there was only so much he could enjoy with a duck while making half of it up himself. "Perhaps a deity of madness. Or madness, suffering from the belief of such deities. A madness regarding the belief of mad deities, even."

[thewinedude]

It was this sort of silliness that Mr. D secretly still enjoyed. Silliness without fear and without apology. The duck-speaking man's answer amused him, and, instead of his usual bored expression, earned him the hint of a real smile. He liked this man's turn of phrase. The dramaticism reminded him of the theatre that he used to enjoy so much. It was a lost art, really. Kids these days. [scoff] He followed in kind.

"It isn't madness to believe in such deities, but believe itself in them can be the cause. I am familiar with a mad god, both driven mad by his divine stepmother and causing madness in his followers. But I don't see his mark on you, however. Just the mark of this," he waves a hand vaguely to indicate the city around them with an expression of disgust, "mad place."

[reiks]

Mark--

Oh, dear. Hal normally wasn't at all one for body paint and marking - there were plenty of advisement against it back home, of course - but the one he'd arrived here with was something he couldn't explain but couldn't erase, either. No amount of soap or scrubbing. Though- he hadn't intended for it to be visible, considering where it had suddenly appeared on his skin.

"Is it showing?" Hal asked with more than a hint of embarrassment, standing upright and stepping aside as he took a few moments to ensure his trousers were pulled up and laced accordingly. His face was certainly red by now. Other people, from what he'd seen, sometimes had the same design somewhere else on their body. How lucky they were. "My most sincere apologies, stranger, I often forget it's even there."