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Back to the months before

Who: Fortuna (or rather, Rosalia Ibbott) and you!
Where: The streets of District 1
When: Backdated to the start of the deaging
Summary: Fortuna has been aged down to about 12. Meaning she's not really Fortuna anymore.
Warnings: um...nothing yet?

First, a hideously long intro. Skip to the next bold text if you don't want to read.

Rosalia wakes in a strange place. The bed is too soft. It's also too long. She opens her eyes to an unfamiliar ceiling, free of any trace of insects. She sits up, taking in her surroundings. The room she's in is a large one, though it's mostly empty save for a coat rack containing a very large black duster and a pair of combat drones lying on the floor. She watches the drones as she gets up, padding over the stripped floor cautiously. They don't look like they're active, but they provide a clue. She's been kidnapped by a rigger, obviously. Maybe drugged in her sleep or something. She can't remember running into anyone suspicious today. She'd better learn what she can, she thinks as she pulls the coat on the rack down to look for clues or a weapon or something useful. Why? Does this mystery rigger - a troll or ork, judging by the trenchcoat, a woman if which side buttons is any indication - work for the Mafia? Have they abducted her because her parents failed to pay off their debt? And where is this captor of hers? Why would any kidnapper just leave her unattended?

A search through its many pockets (so much room to conceal things...) reveals a bunch of mechanical things, a weird oriental-looking mask, a laser microphone, a medium-sized empty sack (what's the point of putting this in a pocket?), and...bingo, a commlink! She turns it on...to be greeted by a password screen. Whoops. Okay, scratch that, she still doesn't know anything else about her captor besides sex, one of two possible metatypes, and occupation. Maybe there's something else somewhere, she thinks as she opens one of the two doors in the room. It's a restroom. Well, it's stupid, but she needs to use it anyway. While she's in there, though, she sees several used tubes of white hair dye. So now she's got a good idea of her captor's appearance.

She speaks to fill the nervous silence. "Ork or troll lady with white hair, keep an eye out for rigger jacks. Got it." With a deep breath, she cautiously heads out of the room, to find...the beginnings of a workshop. And a window. The buildings look Asian, maybe. Nice neighborhood. No metahumans at all passing by, weirdly enough. Is this Japan? She's heard their government has no tolerance for metahumans. ...Is that why her captor is nowhere to be found? She may have friends, though. So she searches for a weapon, and finds it - a knife in the kitchen.

Actual RP prompt begins here

And this is Saeng Seong's first look at Rosalia Ibbott, the person Fortuna used to be: a preteen girl in well-worn clothes wandering first the halls of building four and then the streets of the district, carrying an ordinary kitchen knife nervously.

As she wanders, however, she realizes how strange she must be. There are no homeless people about, this is obviously a wealthy place. So she tears off a strip of the shirt under her tank top to tie around her waist, tying the knife to it loosely. That doesn't look like she's going to kill someone at any rate. It looks weird but she looks weird no matter what. She'd better make the most of it.

Eventually, she comes across a shop. And she realizes she can read the sign.

"That doesn't make any sense...I don't know Japanese or whatever..."

Those things, linguasofts or whatever, she thinks suddenly, frantically feeling around her head for any sign of surgery. Nothing. No datajacks, no chip slots, no sign of headware being implanted at all. Still freaked out, she sits down on a bench, trying not to look too vulnerable and still trying to figure out just where she is.

"I don't get it..."

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Michelangelo had no idea where he was. Wherever it was, it was NOT New York.

When he had woken up, he had been alone in an apartment. Not the lair. There was also no sign of his brothers either or Master Splinter. Being alone in an unfamiliar place was kind of terrifying. It was also shocking to be above ground where there were other people. It had been taught to him from as early as he could remember that him and his brothers couldn't walk freely above ground. People wouldn't understand them and bad things might happen. Splinter had told them that someday after they had completed their training, they would be ready to go to the surface. But, Michelangelo didn't think that day would be today. He was barely 8 years old! Okay. Seven and a half. But close enough!

The small humanoid turtle managed to sneak out of his apartment via the balcony and down to ground level without being seen. He had found a rumpled up map in the apartment next to his chucks and keys. He had grabbed them, slung his weapons in his belt and tied on his bandanna before leaving. Using the map, he used every trick he knew to sneak around, keeping to the side streets and alleys. He still had no idea where he was - or what city. It kind of reminded him of Japan - well he'd never been there, but he heard stories from Splinter.

After doing some exploring and trying to gather the nerve to try and approach someone that seemed safe enough - the young ninja in training sat at the edge of an alley, not far from a large rectangular planter that had shrubbery and small trees. It was that moment, that he heard a sound from the other side of the plants. A young girl's voice saying 'I don't get it'. She sounded as confused as he felt. Michelangelo decided to investigate. If anyone was safe to talk to it was another kid! At least, that was the theory.

"Hey!" Mikey called softly, creeping until he was hiding against the planter and the plants. He was crouched, trying to be as small and invisible as possible.

"Don't freak out!" He reassured quickly, not wanting to startle her. "Do you know where we are?"

Edited 2014-12-24 07:52 (UTC)

Rosalia heard someone else call to her - in English, thank god - and she followed the voice. He'd told her not to freak out, and certainly, she didn't, or not overtly. She was still startled to see what looked like a humanoid turtle in front of her, like something out of a cartoon come to life. She flinched back a little, before straightening up again and ducking behind the planter with him. Still, she sounded a little nervous when she answered.

"Um. No-no idea. Looks like Japan or something. A-are you some kind of ork?" If this was Japan, why wouldn't he hide? They didn't like anyone different over there - over here if she was right.

Michelangelo's blue eyes widened when the girl suddenly came around the shrubbery and spotted his hiding spot. He jerked back slightly when she flinched - expecting her to scream or something. He hated it when humans did that.

"Hey it's cool! I'm not gonna hurt ya..." He quickly reassured in a hushed voice. "Huh...it kinda does have that Japan vibe doesn't it?" He tilted his head with a frown though. "Ork? Nah, I'm a turtle! Uh...a mutant turtle actually!" Initial startlement and unease fading, he was now all sorts of curious, studying her with large eyes. "What's an Ork?"

"You've never seen them? Tough guys a little bigger than humans?" Was there another country that didn't like having metahumans around? She didn't know...

"Never mind, how'd you get here if you don't know where we are either?"

Mikey shook his head wordlessly, he had never heard of an Ork before let alone seen anything other than humans.

"I...I don't know!" He said finally in answer to her question. "I woke up and I was in an apartment! No sign of my brothers or anything!" He looked around, peeking over the shrubbery. "Never seen this place in my life!"

He glanced over with a small grin. "I'm Michelangelo!"

"Rosalia. I think something scary's going on, Michelangelo. I woke up in a strange apartment too. Thing is, someone's stuff was there. A troll lady. Maybe she's the one behind all this. We've gotta find a way to call our families before...whatever we were brought here for happens."

Whatever their reason for being brought here, it certainly can't be for their own protection. She doesn't get how this turtle kid can be so cheerful about it.

Michelangelo smiled. "Rosalia? That's a pretty name." He said amiably.

The smile faded a little when he heard her side of the situation. It sounded all sorts of funky to be honest. It worried him. He wished his sensei and brothers were there. Then it would be better! Sensei would know what to do....

"Hmm...if we were in New York, it would be a simple matter of hopping into the sewers. I know where to go. But here..." His voice faded. "It's not home. I wouldn't even know how to contact my family." Well, how hard could it be to find other turtle kids and a giant rat in this city anyway?

"If we can find a phone, I might be able to figure out how to contact mine. But I don't know if they can get me out of here..."

If this really was because of her family's debt with the Mafia, not only would they not be able to help her, but calling them could get them in danger too. But that didn't seem as likely, with this turtle kid in the same situation.

Even if it had nothing to do with anything, they didn't have the money to arrange a flight. So what would they do, rack up another debt to bring her back? She knows how much it stresses her entire family out...

Mikey could tell by Rosalia's body language and facial expression that the wheels were turning ferociously in her head. He had no idea what she was thinking about, but he recognized the signs by his experience with his own brothers. Especially Leonardo or Donatello. They were thinkers in their own right.

"Hey..." He said, reaching out and touching her arm. "It will be okay. We'll figure something out." Despite the uncertainty of the situation, this he seemed to know as fact. "Are you hungry? Maybe we should get some food and chill out somewhere to come up with some ideas." He grinned. "Besides - it's always better to plan on a full stomach!"

Edited 2015-01-20 00:15 (UTC)

"Yeah. There's gotta be a way out of this." She smiled a little weakly at her new reptilian friend. "I don't have any money on me, though."

How was she going to call her parents, then? She hadn't exactly thought that one through, she realized.

At least she is - and has always been - one to keep her head under pressure. She should be freaking out a lot more than she has.

"It's okay! I got the money covered. I found some in the apartment I woke up in!" Mikey didn't seem to think there was anything wrong in taking it. Considering he himself woke alone in the place - no one else was going to use it!

The smile he returned to Rosalia was warm and encouraging. He was just the type to look at the bright side of things. Sure he knew this was an unsettling situation and maybe a bit scary - but he had a new friend to explore a new place with! It wasn't so bad.

"Okay...Should I use the money so people don't freak out? You're hiding like they will..."

She doesn't want him to get hurt or anything. He seems nice.

Michelangelo thought that one over for a brief moment.

"Hmm...well it's what I'm used to back home. Master Splinter always told me and my brothers that people wouldn't understand us because we were different. But this isn't home!" A mischevious smile flickered over his features. "I'm willing to try and experiment! Like, if we walk down the street and no one says anything that's a good sign. Or...we could walk into that cafe over there and see what happens!" He shrugged a little. "I'm learning to be a ninja! I'll protect us!" He sounded confident.

"Okay, if you're sure..." She honestly didn't want to be caught in the middle of it if he was mistaken for a monster and a fight happened, but she wasn't going to turn down free food.

"Yeah I'm positive!" Mikey grinned. "I know some pretty sweet moves." He demonstrated this by leaping over the bushes he was hiding behind, landing in a front roll, and then rising to his feet in one smooth motion. He posed like a kung fu action hero.

A couple people were walking on the other side of the street. Some glanced over but no one reacted negatively.

Mikey straightened - a little surprised. "Huh...wow. First test a success!" He turned back to Roasalia with a grin. Next! The cafe!

When she saw him get no more than a passing glance, she cautiously followed him out of hiding. If this wasn't a place that was human-supremacist, why were there no metahumans except evidence of a troll having lived in the place she woke up in?

None of this makes sense.

"This is too weird..."

"Huh...you're telling me!" Mikey rubbed at the back of his head. He definitely wasn't used to a reaction like that back home! It was like he was...normal! Or...maybe there were other mutants here in this town.

"C'mon! Let's see what happens in the cafe!" He beamed excitedly. it was like an adventure!! And kinda fun! He trotted across the street, heading towards the store front, not even trying to keep un-noticed. This was awesome!

Rosalia was worried, in contrast. It felt wrong. None of this made sense. It was almost like she was dreaming but it didn't feel like dreaming.

She followed along behind him, though, glancing up at the people who looked up when they came in. They seemed mildly interested in the strange turtle boy, but not hostile or afraid. Weirder and weirder.

And the menu...no soy anything. Coffee instead of soykaf. Offered at the prices her parents would buy soykaf. The only soy on the menu was the option of soymilk instead of regular, offered as a footnote. Sure, this place was obviously richer than where she came from but this...these prices weren't for the rich. Not to mention not only being able to read the menu as if she knew the language, but understanding the value of the currency like she'd grown up with it instead of nuyen.

She fell into step beside him so she could whisper, "Michelangelo, this is weird. All this food is expensive stuff but they're selling it so cheap. Something's not right here, and it's making me really scared."

There. She admitted it. She's afraid of this weird place. It gives her the creeps.

Edited 2015-02-12 04:36 (UTC)

Where Rosalia was uneasy, Mikey was ecstatic. Here he was, walking around a store with people around and they weren't freaking out! This was the greatest! He said hi to people, checked out the menu and oggled all the goodies behind the counter through the glass.

When Rosalia came up beside him he looked over in surprise then concern when he saw how nervous she was. When she said she was scared - he reached over and took her hand, giving it a squeeze.

"Hey it's okay. I'm here with you!" He whispered back, smiling. "I know we just met and all, but you're still my friend. You're safe with me!"

Edited 2015-02-18 21:39 (UTC)

She wasn't so sure about that. It felt like she was on some weird sci-fi show or something, where everything is wrong in weird ways, and she knows a language she never learned, and here she is with a big walking, talking turtle leading her along...

Honestly the more she saw the more wrong it seemed. Instinctively, she pulled her hand out of his grasp.

"I don't get this place..."

Mikey let Rosalia pull away, wishing he knew what to do to help make her feel better. He knew that it wasn't just him that was wierd to her. It was something to do with this place they were in. Yeah it struck him as odd that he wasn't in New York and he was separated from his family. Sure it scared him a little too.

But it helped for him to be in a place where people weren't freaking out. Plus he met someone like Rosalia that made him feel less alone.

"Me neither." He agreed with her, nodding. "But one thing I do know, is that this food smells delicious." He held up the cash card he had found. "I know it's hard to think of eating when you're scared...but we might need our energy for..." For what? "More adventuring!"

No, he wasn't trying to make Rosalia feel bad for feeling the way she did. He shared a lot of those same feelings! He was just trying to do what his brothers did with him when he was scared: distraction!

The cafe had been the last straw, honestly, in a long line of subtle and not-so-subtle weirdness.

But she had just woken up and she had to admit she was hungry. Besides, she had to stay calm. She was already getting a bit of a headache from the frustration and stress.

"Okay...okay. You're right. We should get something to eat." She looks up at the menu. "What kinds of things do you like?"

Mikey's answer was immediate. "My favorite is pizza!" He grinned. "Though it doesn't look like they have any pizza here. They have sandwiches though and the desserts look really good..."

He looked over at Rosalia. "What's your favorite foods?" He asked curiously.

"Um..."

Her eyes scanned the menu again. She couldn't figure exactly why, but when her eyes fell on a picture of their fruit salad, her mouth watered like she hadn't eaten in days.

"You know...I can't remember the last time I had real fruit."

Mikey squinted over at the menu thoughtfully. "Fruit huh?" He pointed at the picture. "I can get you that salad if you want! It seems to be the fruitiest thing on the menu!" He grinned good naturedly.

"I'll probably get a sandwich and a root beer...and...a dessert! I can always share it with you!"

Despite the kind of scary unusual sort of situation - the fact that he was able to be in a store and order his own food like anyone else, caused the ninja in training to be filled with glee.

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