Grand Opening!

[Raikotsu Sudeki]

Pamphlets had been handed out all around Palisade City. Especially around the Ark where most of the people from the old world, known in this world as the "Meta's", were typically found hanging around. Still clinging to what little was left of their old lives. The statues of Strike The Leader of Prota, and Raikotsu Sudeki The Blood Dragon stood in the middle a constant reminder of what it cost for everyone to be where they were. Alive, but leaderless. Most Meta's stayed there since it was the last bit of familiarity left to them. Others however, ditched this place the moment they could and spread themselves hiding out in Society where they would attempt to blend in.

Due to this knowledge Pamphlets were sent everywhere so that no one could miss them. The Pamphlets announced the grand opening of the first, and only, apartment built for Meta's. It was cheap, but there wasn't any discrimination and the Meta's that moved in were allowed to live their rent free. For the time being. So that they could have individual housing and access to common necessities. Food, water, SHOWERS... and privacy. The group, Tactical Solutions International (TSI), run by this worlds Raikotsu Sudkei, had been working tirelessly for days to make sure the building would be up and ready as soon as possible. They even added on to a pre-existing apartment complex to make it more expedient. Much to the... annoyance of some of the residence already living there...

However, after one short week from the day that the Ark landed in Palisade City... The Apartments were ready for anyone that wanted to come! However, that also drew the attention of Anti-Meta people standing outside of the apartments holding up signs with varying degrees of slander, many TSI agents were holding back these people so that they wouldn't attempt to cause a scene.

Surprisingly enough though, on the opposite of the group protesting against the Meta's, there seemed to be a group Supporting the Meta's offering words of welcome and appreciation. Some even calling them Saviors, and Harolds of God etc. This group too was being held back by TSI agents as they were already trying to start fights with the Anti-Meta group. In-between the two groups right now was Raikotsu himself standing at the Main entrance to the Apartments. Waiting patiently for what looked to be the last of the stragglers to show up to the Grand Opening.

[Gidget]

Gidget lived in the apartments already, in a tiny one bedroom apartment on the third floor. She spent as little money on housing as she could, and while a bit run down, the apartment served its purpose. During the addition, she had gotten very little sleep, and she was already sick and tired of her new neighbors. Her headaches had come back, and the noise was not helping.

As the crowds began to gather, Gidget had started by throwing random takeout containers at them, a couple still half filled with food, but it had done nothing to dissuade them. Eventually, she had given up. A shower didn't calm her down, and she dressed herself in a comfortable pair of baggy shorts, a simple tank top, and her brother's jacket: a sleeveless piece with giant, flopping imp ears on the hood. Placing the leather buckled collar around her neck and her favorite Converse on her feet, she swallowed her building rage as much as she could and decided to head outside.

With her outfit choice, it was nearly impossible to tell her gender. Then again, it usually was. She meshed her teeth together and went out, looking at the crowds that had gathered and scoffing. Shoving her hands deep into her jacket pockets, she slipped off to one side, watching.

[Drake]

It had been a rough week for Drake. Having to live I'm the Ark. Staring at his fathers petrified corpse. Not only that. After Bauldur's surprise and attempt at kindness... Drake now sported his fathers arm. Which after Rai's dying confession of love to Drake... he wasn't handling very much too well right now.

However, word had gotten to him about Dopple-Daddy (Spike's favorite nickname for New World Rai) and his plans to make a Meta friendly apartment. Drake had to scoff. He wasn't going to live in a shit hole like this. Spike had already started making arrangements for the remnants of Lightning. He would trust his Uncle for now.

Still, curiosity got the best of him as he showed up to the grand opening as well sitting back away from the crowds. Using his enhanced vision to see what was happening from far enough away as to not be near should anything happen. He had an inkling of a feeling. An all too familiar feeling of all hell breaking loose.

[Haku]

Haku had organized his squad to handle the line holding back the Anti-Meta group that was forming. It wasn't a difficult task just... an annoying one. He had his line form a tight barricade only he and his Lieutenant, Lorelai, we free to walk the line to keep and eye on, and provide support, to any possible weak links.

"Stay vigilant. Its our asses if anything should happen today."

Was his motivational speech to the group. Which was rewarded with a chuckle from the few that had known him the longest.

[Lorelai Khaalid]

Silently, and without any warning of her approach, Lorelai appeared at Haku's side once more. She had left moments before to patrol the line, and had somehow managed to blend effortlessly in despite the tactical gear she wore and the sword strapped to her hip. She glanced up at him, eyes flashing, and gave a nod in his direction. All was well, for now, but she did not expect things to stay that way.

Her eyes traveled to the group of Meta-humans, and a strange almost-expression crossed her features. Her delicate fingers fell to caress the hilt of her blade, before she intentionally crossed her arms. She did not bother to speak, which was fairly normal for her, but the tension in her shoulders was enough to let Haku - and those that knew her or had worked with her - know just how on edge she was about this entire thing.

[Avice Locke]

Avice had stayed outside for a long while she hadn't cared for the apartments or being around people. She kept to herself and it was fine how no one else seemed to pay her mind. She wasn't opening up and she wasn't breaking down. She was as hard as stone and as cold as blizzard winds you can't shelter from. Her gaze looked to the sky most days as if she would see in the distance her child or her old home wishing for not but answers and a way to make who ever did this pay.

Some were strong enough to be called gods, some were strong enough to control and create rules and places to suit their needs and further someone had the power above all to destroy it all. She'll need to find that power even if she had to achieve it herself. Maybe it won't brink Derik back but it will keep the creatures who took him from taking anything else. She wanted to take it away from them and make them feel feeble, failed, and missing.

She finally had a reason to become more than a story teller... She was going to become a key player in this game.

First thing she noticed was her power and how it felt distant. Her throat was parched wanting to fill herself with Qi... She would venture to the apartments and eye the local tenants who leered and jabbed at their presence she looked out over the crowd of those who'd fight over if we were welcome or not.

"They better make up their minds to like us or hate us... Before we decide to make it for them." She would say mostly to herself.

[Rhona Hall]

None of it mattered any longer but she was still holding on to all she had. Her metals and her jacket. Where she came from and who she was... She couldn't forget it. She wouldn't even try.

However as it didn't matter suddenly it felt heavy on her shoulders and needlessly so. She was accustomed to lifting heavy but this was pressing on her chest and without a spotter. She took off her jacket and it felt easier to breathe. She chopped some hair off and it felt lighter. In the time she was waiting for the apartments to open she had started letting go. She sold her medals made of gold, silver, and embellished with Jem's but she kept her jacket. It was a reminder of who she once was and what pain that caused.

One more thing she could absolutely use... Was a fresh shower.

[Dime Price]

She hadn't left Drake's presence. She always remained a distance but she had always been close. When he was ready she would be there. While she helped with the monuments and memorials. She buried deal and tended to the living she was being very active in rebuilding for their new life.

For she knew deep down when everything comes crashing down all you need to do is build back up. Even when you hit rock bottom all there will be is up. So she rose to the occasion where ever she was useful.

[Derik R. Locke]

The kid was doing some school near by. Extra summer classes for an 8 year old didn't come often but he was learning lessons a few years ahead of his age group and he was learning them quick. The crowded city however was something new and something he realized was 8 years in the making.

8 years waiting for him to ponder if he should find his mother or just forget she exists. His father hadn't said of her anything to make an impression on him, in fact what he did know he found... disappointing.

[Lucille "Lucky" O'Donnovan]

Their world ended? Her home destroyed? She only cried and wept over her lost thingamabobs and tinkers. But there was plenty more! She was working maintenance when everything went down and she spent the week collecting scrap and parts to start anew.

Kicked in glass of destroyed electronic stores and nearly pissed her pants at all the over loaded scrap she had at her fingertips what would she do with this heaven of technology at he fingertips?

[Shiloh]

She had only managed to get a couple of hours of sleep the night before. She was far too excited to be at the Grand Opening, to see people from her world. It had taken quite a bit of effort, but eventually, she managed to get her chief editor to agree to give her the day off, so long as she brought her camera with her and managed to get some good pictures. That wasn't difficult to agree to: she was planning on bringing her camera, anyway.

Shiloh knew her only friend would be there, and that Rai would be there. She hoped against hope that she might recognize one of the Meta-Humans that had managed to make it over. She had no clue how much time had passed in her world... Would any of the people she knew even recognize her anymore? She was a very different person than the little girl that had randomly disappeared.

Would her parents be here? She was so excited, she was practically buzzing.

[Adelaide]

Adelaide would be there in the crowd following Shiloh. Why she was so excited to be here, Adelaide would never know. This place was full of smelly individuals and idiots. I mean, seriously. Who the fuck tried to pick a fight in the open road when a fucking private military is literally standing in front of you? Stupid. She sighed.

"Dude."

Was all she would say, the obvious lack of wanting to be there, and more importantly, the want to be somewhere with Pizza... was all inside that one word. Shiloh would definitely know that.

[Soni Vox]

Soni stepped onto the scene, her long blue hair swinging with the breeze. What a rollercoaster life had been. 

When she first came over, it was the most turbulence her heart had ever experienced. It was terror, that she could die. Then relief, that she had made it. Confusion as to how it happened. Fascination with the new world. Then, the worst of all, heartbreak, as she had to face the fact that she would never see her big sister again. She prayed, and hoped, and anything a 13 year old girl could do, that Veronica was okay, that somehow that world had made it, or that they were sent somewhere too. Naturally, supernaturally, in whatever way possible. Hopefully Veronica had made it, and was happy, without pain or suffering. 

She found a new caretaker in Xapham, not as a replacement or substitute, but as someone that Veronica would have loved, someone she would've supported Soni learning under. So she worked hard and developed her Qi more than anything, and now here she was, 8 years later, an instructor in Xapham's school with direct accessibility to him. She felt comfortable again, in this new life. She felt stronger than ever before, in Qi, body, mind, heart, and soul. Though, now that she had been here awhile, she had been considering what awaited out in the world for her. And if it'd be worth it to start something out there. 

That's when the past came back, quite literally. An Ark of some sort. When she heard of it she went to look for Veronica, but re-realized the loss of her big sister. Soni wasn't there for long before she realized everyone there was solely those in the building she had last been in the old world. 

It was just as she felt like she was beginning to reach the end of processing this historical and confusing event, when Pamphlets spread about told of a new apartment building opening up for her fellow Metas. It was lovely advertising, no doubt, but for now she was comfortable in Xapham's school living quarters. 

Hearing Xapham say the apartment was for her Meta "brothers and sisters" helped her realize that, though she wasn't planning on living there, it would be good to be there for them. Who knows, maybe she would see an old student!

Soni arrives on the scene, her hands in her pockets, and cat-ear headphones blaring music. 

[Raikotsu Sudeki]

It seemed that everyone that was going to show up was present. There may be a few stragglers left. But they wouldn't be of any concern to Rai. Now he would step up and hold up what looked like a microphone.

"Welcome. To Humans and Meta's alike. Here, today, with this building we are starting a brand new way of life. One in which our two people, from two world, can learn to co-exist in one."

He paused to let his words sink in.

"This last week has been difficult for everyone. For the Meta's it has been one of adjustment and acceptance of loss. For us it has been one of learning and, in some cases, fearing the unknown. But today we change that pace and instead instill a new feeling of growth, development, and understanding during this difficult time."

He fell silent as claps from a mix of the Pro-Meta group, and a few of the Meta's in attendance. And boos from a mix of Meta's and the Anti-Meta group. However, the air seemed to change with the applause and the boos. Everyone could feel as if something was about to happen...

[Gidget]

Gidget glanced around as the crowds went crazy, narrowing her eyes at the noise and the sunlight. In actuality, she didn't much care what their opinions were... In fact, she didn't really care one way or another about the Meta-Humans in general. She disliked the fact that they were here, causing such a commotion, when she had chosen this apartment specifically to stay out of the way of anything big happening. It was far too late for that, she supposed.

Scoffing softly to herself, she pushed her hand through her grey and black hair, cupping one side of her face, and sat around. Unlike most of the other people present, it seemed, Gidget had absolutely no keen sense of survival; she probably wouldn't really be able to tell danger if it stared her in the face. While she had done some minor research in regards to Rai, his company, and the Meta-Humans, it all really bored her. Something about multiple worlds, or maybe it was dimensions... Some such utter bullshit.

She turned her glaring gaze back up to Rai. In actuality, he was the focus on the majority of her ire in that moment. Which she figured he was well aware of.