Open World Post: Aviario, CT

[dr_feistus]

At first glance, Aviario could be any normal small New England city - it's got its fair share of well-preserved historical buildings, a lovely park, a reasonably happy community, and a decent amount of "townies" who've been around forever and know everyone and everything there is to know about living there.

At second glance, there are strange things that were probably a trick of the mind - a flash of light, an animal looking at you as though it were watching you, someone who just lit their cigarette without a lighter.

At third glance, you start looking closer, and find out at least one thing: magic is real. Depending on how closely you look ... you might find out more than you wanted to know about who uses it, and why, and how.

Just pass through, crash with someone you happen to have met before for a weekend, poke your nose where it doesn't belong ... it's all up to you, the city is an open book. Just ... don't go near that old house on the hill. The owner's really tired of having to turn away everyone who goes up there just to ask about the "ancient curse".

Comments

Francis McMillon - OTA

[ignorethevoices]

[Main Street is fairly quiet this time of day. Even so, a woman crosses the street to avoid walking past the only other pedestrian on this particular stretch of road.

He doesn't even seem to notice as he scuffs his feet down the sidewalk. His head is down, eyes fixed on the worn journal in his hand, his felt tip pen flying across the page. Most people would have a difficult time writing and walking at the same time but he seems to manage just fine. He sidesteps a parking meter without even looking up, blindly walking the same path he's taken almost every day for years. At each crosswalk he pauses, nervously clutching the journal to his chest as his eyes dart around to make sure the coast is clear before continuing on his way. If anyone dares get close enough they may hear him muttering]

Not this time. They tricked me last time but they won't get me this time. No. No. They won't. I've figured them out. I know. I know. They don't know that I know but I know. They come from the shadows. Get into my brain and pull it apart. Have to be careful. Can't be too careful.

[People around these parts know to give him a wide berth so he's given up watching out for others who may be walking in his path. He hasn't taken tourists into account, however. If he's not careful he might walk right into someone.]

Re: Francis McMillon - OTA

[silentrunning]

[Well now. It's your lucky or unlucky day! There's a tourist around... And she's walking down the same street. She walks past him, not noticing. She's too busy staring around in confusion. But just at that moment, she stops to look at something, giving this guy ample opprotunity to slam into her.

[ignorethevoices]

[What? What is a random person doing standing in his way during this time of day? There isn't usually anyone standing in this exact spot at this time today. No. No there isn't.

He yelps a little as he crashes into the girl, flailing and falling hard onto the sidewalk. He doesn't seem very concerned about his bruised tailbone... or the girl he'd run into for that matter... he's more intent on locating his journal and his pen. He scrambles across the sidewalk to retrieve the fallen objects, snapping the book closed and clutching it to his chest. Frantic, he looks around, just waiting for someone to come out of the shadows and grab him.]

[silentrunning]

[The girl leaps backward too. Sorry man. Years in Aperture before winding up in a crazy convoluted magical castle will make you leary... She drops to a crouch, staring at him with big startled eyes before finally speaking up. Normally she wouldn't. He's a stranger. But she hasn't got a pen or anything to write on.]

I'm sorry. Are you all right? I didn't know you were behind me or I'd not have stopped like this. I'm new around here. But I promise... I don't mean you any harm.

[She knows the look of someone who's probably spent a lot of time running for his life, and if he's this jumpy there's gotta be a reason. She peers around, eyes flicking here and there, probing at the shadows, trying to find what it is he's afraid of.]