Search Core - 2009 [active/OPEN]

[cafedeinfierno]

Characters: Diego Armando, Kang, VERY VERY OPEN.
Content: The cooler heads of Manhattan get together for a discussion at Madison Square Garden.
Location: ... Madison Square Garden.
Time of day: The evening after the disappearances.
Warnings: None.

NOTES: This will be a party-style thread. If your character has any interest in discussing the

Comments

[loopmein]

Much as Odd was reluctant to leave the cathedral, the expanding topic of people gathering together and acting piqued his interest. He had been in this city long enough to know that disappearances such as these weren’t an everyday occurrence, and when it involved one of his friends... it was personal. And this time, they had taken someone who meant a lot to Odd. They had taken Garnet.

From the very start, Odd had promised himself to look after her. Even if he hadn’t told her this, even if she didn’t entirely agree to it, Odd took it upon himself to look after her. He had been the one to help her off the streets when she first showed up. He had been there for her when she needed a confident. He was there when she had done harm to herself.

And now, in a time where it seemed like she needed him and her friends the most, they were powerless to do anything to help her. Instead, they were gathering in nice little organized meetings, talking it out. Still, within that court, he quietly took a seat and waited. From the looks of how few people had arrived, he must have been early. Fine by him. He could wait.

Admittedly, some of these people needed a good talking to. Some had the idea of going on ahead and investigating Central Park. Odd was not entirely opposed to this, but it had the potential of going horribly wrong. He wasn’t against supporting Raiel, should he be serious on going ahead and carrying that out. Someone had to do something, and sitting around waiting for the missing persons to show up didn’t strike Odd as the kind of thing to do.

Leaning back in the seat, Odd tilted his head to the ceiling, and he waited, trying not to dwell on the matters so much.

What a mess this was.

[lilywhiteiris]

There was so much going on, she wasn't sure what to make of it. All she knew was Mystic Mia was missing. So was Harry, and several other people. While she had little to contribute, all she could do is make sure the searchers were taking care of themselves. It had been a long day for everyone, so she decided it fell to her to make sure people kept their strength and spirit up. So she'd brought an electic hot water pot, lots of her favorite teas, and as much food and snacks as she could fit in a backpack and duffel bag. It wasn't as nice as a dinner at the Strand, but there were some sandwiches in and among the packaged chips and cookies.

So as people arrived, she made them a cup of tea, and approached them simply. "Excuse me, if you'd like, I have tea and sandwiches. I thought people might be hungry if they're running around so much..." she said, offering what she hoped was an encouraging smile. She had yet to do some meditation to calm herself, and her worry showed plainly. She offered the steaming cup of tea to the young man siting by himself.

[loopmein]

Rushing had never done any good in the past. Not for Odd, anyway. So he didn’t have any problem with patience. If he did anything that could compromise the safety of those who had been taken by acting rashly, that would be on their heads. Odd hoped to make that clear to any of those who dared to wander off into Central Park.

He hadn’t moved move from his position since he first sat down, so Odd had that faraway look about him when a woman approached. He almost didn’t notice her out the corner of his eye. Then he turned his head to her and blinked. She appeared normal and kindly enough, but so did a lot of other people who were just as liable to be just as dangerous as anyone else. And sometimes even the nice ones who had absolutely no ill will could do harm.

Around here you could never be too careful.

At the offering of tea, Odd shifted uncomfortably. He knew that the woman probably had no malicious intent towards the nice offering; he still couldn’t help it due to his previous incident on Halloween. After having a bad trip after accepting tea from one nice lady, his radar went up by default at any such mention of tea. Couldn’t ever let your guard down these days.

“No thanks on the tea. I wouldn’t mind some sandwiches, though. I’m starved.” Odd had been too far scatterbrained to really consider the fact that he hadn’t troubled himself to eat that morning. So yes, he was fairly hungry.

[lilywhiteiris]

The smile grew a bit when he at least accepted the sandwich. It looks like she had yet to escape the stigma of sharing her sister's face. Ah well. If people wanted to trust her, they would. It was just that simple. She set the styrofoam cup in the seat's cupholder, and shrugged off her backpack. "I have turkey and ham, both with regular American cheese. And I have some little mayonaise and mustard packets." She shifted some bags of chips aside, before getting to the insulated lunch bag in the bottom that contained the sandwiches. "I have a bunch of bags of chips too."

[loopmein]

On a personal level, Odd really had no knowledge of the history of this woman or anyone related to her. He had met the one responsible for his episode on Halloween; enough to realize that it had been just a practical game of trick-or-treat gone wrong. What was meant to be just a joke turned out to be something that really wasn’t that funny at all to a lot of people... Odd included.

It also wasn’t entirely a matter of whether he trusted this woman or not. She seemed nice enough, and at least her face wasn’t entirely covered in stitches, coupled by that strange singsong of a voice. You could never be too sure of the overly nice types, however. But Odd hated the idea of being one of those type who grew suspicious and distrustful of everyone.

So for now, he decided to let that go.

He also just never really cared that much for tea; that was another factor.

“Turkey and some regular potato chips will be just fine.” He smiled pleasantly. “I’m Odd, by the way. Don’t think we’ve ever met.”

[lilywhiteiris]

She nodded, retrieving the requested items and handing them over with a couple napkins as well. "Call me Iris. It's great to meet you," she smiled. "Though I wish it were under better circumstances."

[loopmein]

Accepting the offer, Odd laid them out on the table and settled with what he had. Luckily, he didn’t have the appetite of a growing boy, so this would be enough.

“Iris. That’s a nice name.” He really didn’t put the name to anything else. In terms of what had been going on with other people’s affairs in Manhattan, Odd Thomas had kept surprisingly to himself. On top of everything else he had to deal with, he had enough on his plate as it were.

To put it lightly.

He shrugged at her second remark. “Oh, I don’t know. Disappearances are circumstantial in this city when it comes to that. They say people are united through trials and tribulations.” He took the napkins. “I think it’s true.”

[lilywhiteiris]

She nodded in response to his statement. "Oh, I agree fully. Even before I ended up here I would agree to that." She looked down at her hands where they gripped the strap of her backpack. There was the faintest of pink twinges on her cheeks from thinking of Phoenix. "Like right now. People are coming together to find out what's happened to these people."