[OPEN] For Want Of Some Ruby Slippers

[atypical_echo]

Who: Mark Bryant atypical_echo, Sephiroth unkindled_madness, Open
What: Getting Lost In The Multiverse
When: August 12th through 17th
Where: The Multiverse (each starter has a link to information)
Content Warnings: If needed


I. Surely I'm Only Dreaming| Open | Premise & Setting

There he'd been, minding his own business as he worked at the small table in his new shitty apartment, flipping through photos to review his final image selections for the disastrous wedding contract. And then...

And then he had awoken in a park, out of nowhere. A beautiful park with fountains and staircases and so much he didn't really know what to do with. A woman with vividly crimson hair and a gentle smile talked and talked and Mark was just in too much shock to listen, even when a small man (was that a literal hobbit?) had rushed up, handed him a gray satchel, and left. In it, keys, a tiny bit of money, and a flip phone.

"Okay, but who even uses a flip phone these days?"

Well, it's not the first random place he's been dropped in, so he supposed he could do his best and keep going. So Mark started walking. And soon had to jump out of the way of a giant fucking bird that someone was riding.

"Someone pinch me. I think I'm sleeping."

II. Unda' Tha Sea! | Open (CW: Panic Attack) | Premise FAQ

It had taken him days in that last mess of a place to find the break in space-time. Of course Mark hadn't been looking for it. But it had called and with the shivering sense of right calling to him, and Mark had gone toward it. Which was why he had awoken in a strange bunk bed in a strange place. An abandoned seeming place, for there was no sign of residents in the strangely rounded dorm.

Of course, Mark had then come outside and... Well, he'd made the mistake of looking up. Looking up high above where there was a shine where the sky should have been. Glass. Distant glass. A dome. And...

"Oh fuck," he gasped as he looked upward. "Am I...?"

Underwater. He was trapped in some fucking dome underwater? In a panic, Mark found himself running forward, finding a glass tunnel. Through there, another dome, this one looking like a central square with a market. Or what would have been a market if anyone were around. Instead it was... empty. There were lights, there was air, there were even a few trees growing up in places that were clearly meant for him. But otherwise.

"No," he said, already starting to hyperventilate. "No. No no no no no."

He was panicking, shaking, his heart racing like it was going to beat right out of his chest. No.

"Please, I can't be alone. I can't. Please," he said, his voice raising to a shout, "is someone out there!?"

III. Let's Go To The Mall | Closed to Sephiroth

He just wanted to go home. Was that so wrong? Perhaps it was, because here Mark is, slamming at the doors of the food court, trying to get out. Which, of course, he couldn't. Ever since the latest portal had dropped him here, he'd been stranded. Which had been almost eight hours now.

"Let me out!" he shouted, still slamming his fists against the door. "Oh come the fuck on. I don't even like malls! The chairs in the food court are sticky! The fashion is from the nineties. I look horrible in grunge styles!"

There were people staring at him, of course, from the different food stalls. Mark didn't care.

"I swear to fuck, there is less interesting happening here than in Regency Britain!"

Comments

[unkindled_madness]

Sephiroth look skeptical. "I suppose, if that's something that appeals to you."

[atypical_echo]

That earned a shrug from him.

"Eating together is something friends do. Or family. Not that I'm calling us friends. It's just... community?"

[unkindled_madness]

Oh, good. They're not instant friends.

"...I will keep that in mind."

[atypical_echo]

Why would they be instant friends? He doesn't even really know the guy. Geez. At least experience some trauma with him before he attempts to befriend you.

"We should, uh,probably get back to searching, right?"

[unkindled_madness]

Some people are weird that way and Sephiroth hasn't figured this one out yet.

"Yes. Keep your eyes open, and alert me if you see anything odd."

[atypical_echo]

Yeah, well, people can be like that. And Mark can too. But usually with people who have been through trauma with him. WHich was not as common actually.

"I'll try," he says.

Granted Sephiroth has silver hair and strange eyes soooooo what counts as 'odd' here?

[unkindled_madness]

Odd like interdimensional odd, of course. Which technically they both are, but they don't need to look for themselves.

"...is it easier for you to maintain control when you're aware of the powers you might access?" Because he seems to be doing a lot better now.

[atypical_echo]

"Yeah," Mark answered. "Well provided they aren't emotion fueled, or mental powers. Mental stuff can be a MESS to control. It often runs whether you want it to or not."

[unkindled_madness]

"...I don't believe I have any sort of telepathy."

But, you know. He didn't know he could fly either.

[atypical_echo]

"Yeah, I noticed. I would have been able to feel it," he said, sighing. "I've worked with a lot of telepaths. I tend to pick that one up fast."

[unkindled_madness]

Sephiroth is vaguely curious whether that work was voluntary, but he doesn't really want to hear about more laboratory time.

"It's a common ability, where you come from?"

[atypical_echo]

It's okay. Mark wouldn't want to share his study time with someone who had been through something similar. Too much like a support group. He'd hate those. So, yeah, he's trying to minimize.

"Telepaths? Yep. Basically more than anything else you get telepaths, telekinetics, and people with enhanced strength."

[unkindled_madness]

"Hm." What is a world like, where telepathy is common?

"I do have that. Strength, that is. Should you find yourself needing to strike anyone, you may wish to hold back."

[atypical_echo]

Well, it's a common gift for Atypicals. And when it came to it, Atypicals were less than 10% of the human population. So it's still very rare.

Still, his eyes go wide. Dude is FULL of powers.

"Well, I'm even more sure you're not from my world. No one has that many powers. You do one thing, even if the one thing works in multiple ways. But I've had a bit of practice. I'll do my best to hold back."

[unkindled_madness]

10% seems like a lot, especially for something that doesn't exist on his world.

"It is unusual where I come from, as well."

[atypical_echo]

Well, it's not even that high. It doesn't even make double digits. It's just... not known even.

"Guess we're peas in a pod then."

[unkindled_madness]

Sephiroth glances at him, not sure if he likes the sound of that.

"As in, similar?"

[atypical_echo]

"Yeah," Mark agreed. "In the whole being uncommon sorts of people."

He's also super different from Sephiroth, he gets that too.

[unkindled_madness]

"I suppose I can grant you that, although it seems more like lone peas in entirely separate pods."

Is there an idiom for that.

[atypical_echo]

Mark sighed and wanted to roll his eyes. Dude, whatever.

"Okay. Let's think. Mall... Is there an arcade anywhere?"

[unkindled_madness]

He doesn't want to be all cozy in a pea pod with you! Let him have his space.

"Yes. On the lower level, I believe. Why?"

[atypical_echo]

Hey, he doesn't wanna be cozy too. Sephiroth is SO not his type.

"Because arcades always ate time and coins when I was a kid. Seems a good place for a tear in space-time."

[unkindled_madness]

Wow, what about the cheekbones?

"...aren't they designed to take coins?"

[atypical_echo]

Dude, they are SEXY cheekbones, and his hair is AMAZING and the dude would be an AMAZING model and if they ever get out of here, Mark will ABSOLUTELY try to get the guy to pose for him so he's got more good stuff for his portfolio.

However, wanting to be with someone was more than looks. Duh.

"Yeah, but still, the point stands."

[unkindled_madness]

He's not sure what the point is, exactly.

"I suppose it's as good a place to look as any."