text.

[eraserdad]

[Well, this is happening. He's pretty ticked off about it, but he's accepted the situation. Which means the next step is to find any allies he might have around here and gather information. Unfortunately...he's assuming this network is monitored by Astoria, so he can't exactly speak freely.]

if you're familiar with the term 'quirk' or ua high school, contact me.

[He's already found two of his students, but if he's missed others, or his coworkers, he needs to know.]

also, if you've been with this 'circle' for awhile, i'd appreciate a chance to talk in person. i have some questions.

Comments

[metagame]

Hmm... How about your answer to this: what's something you can see, but can't? [he doesn't like reusing riddles, it's gauche! buuut it's also the best one he has to gauge a stranger on the magic internet.]

[eraserdad]

[ . . . . ]

you're kidding, right

[he knows you're not kidding. just. give him a minute with this.]

[metagame]

I don't kid around with riddles.

[eraserdad]

that's absurd

[He'd say he doesn't have time for this but apparently!! He has nothing but time right now!!! So he's just going to be crabby about it before he eventually caves to trying to figure it out.]

[metagame]

Heh, you'd be surprised how insightful they are. Even someone taking the time to answer can say a lot about how they are as a person... though, admittedly, it's far from perfect.

I don't expect an answer right away, and I'll even meet with you now if you'd like. Just don't think I'll forget that you haven't answered.

[eraserdad]

that's fine
i'll be waiting outside the castle

[Just in case this guy would try to lead him into a trap or something.]

[metagame]

Sure.

Any distinguishing features I'm looking for outside? It'd be a shame to meet with the wrong person by accident.

[eraserdad]

[hm.]

i have a scar under my eye and i'm wearing what'll look like a large scarf

[identifiable enough without too many details, he thinks.]

[metagame]

Thanks. I'm hard to miss.

[Transitioning this to action! Because why not! Once Atem hit send, he's off to the forest and front of the temple. Guy with a large scarf and a scar under his eye, huh... And he called the temple a castle. What is this guy? Some kind of ninja? (Not that Atem has any room to talk with his ridiculous winged-diadem and purple cloak.)

Aha, there's Aizawa. Atem offers a half-wave and cocky smile as a hello:] Yo.

[eraserdad]

[Superhero actually, but more ninja-y than flashy, tbh.

Anyway, a guy with Some Kind Of Hairstyle approaches him, and he's assuming this is what they meant by being hard to miss. He gets up when he's waved at, offering a brief acknowledging nod, though he doesn't wave in return.]

Hey. I take it you're Atem?

[why bother with proper introductions when you can just read the name printed on a person's comments right.]

[metagame]

Yep, so you're Aizawa... [A swift gesture at the scarf and a low whistle. Not quite who Atem was thinking, but, hey.] Quite a cautious man, hm? [His tone is jovial-- for good reason, he's just as cautious, the similarity is too amusing. (Better to bluff indifference, gauge who "Aizawa" is, learn their intent...)]

So, what'd you like to know?

[eraserdad]

Kidnappings tend to inspire caution, yeah.

[He wants to know a lot of things, but he knows he needs to be economical about it. Start with the most pressing questions first.]

What do we know about Astoria? What's she after, why does she need us?

[metagame]

You could always ask her yourself. [A good shrug to continue his bluff.] You don't know me, so you can take this with a grain of salt... [He's narrowing his eyes, scouting the area, trying to figure Aizawa's angle. There's caution-- certainly from the kidnapping, but someone isn't that direct unless there's something else.]

But she's friendly, earnest might be a better word to describe her. [He crosses his arms, thoughtful.] As for what she's after? She wants to save people, universes... From what I've gathered, she'd gladly do it herself, but she can't leave this place.

[eraserdad]

You'll have to excuse me if I'm not exactly up for a polite conversation with her.

[Despite his words, his tone is so desert dry and acerbic that it's clear he doesn't care if Atem excuses him or not. The only reason he's not saying "Astoria can go fuck herself" outright is because the person he's talking to looks relatively young.]

She can draw people from other universes but she can't leave?

[smells like bullshit 2 him]

[metagame]

I don't know if it's really just her? [excuse u he is 18, he knows the implication-- he's seen it so many times in Grandpa and Mahad and-- No, no reason to think about that right now. Atem picks at his cloak absentmindedly!] She mentioned the temple has something to do with it, too. I also don't know if anyone's ever gotten her to elaborate.

[He wasn't this sore about the arrival... But he can see why people aren't too thrilled. It's not exactly people signed up for this sort of thing.]

sorry for the delay! holidays, etc

[eraserdad]

The temple kidnaps people.

[Could his tone get any flatter. He looks incredibly unimpressed, too.]