ourearth: General Mod icon, shows Earth (Default)
Save Our Earth Mods ([personal profile] ourearth) wrote in [community profile] saveourearth2018-11-11 03:24 pm

Light the fires [Mingle]

Date: 2nd to 5th of November; backdated due to the Halloween mingle being too close by
Characters: Open!


2nd to 4th

Bonfire night approaches, and like every year, a large bonfire is set up on the Greens, as well as an impressive fireworks display, intended to happen on the 3rd. It's been advertised for a few weeks now, and many families, groups of teenagers, and just regular people are planning on going... And then it's abruptly cancelled at the evening of the 2nd. The official word on it is that some kind of safety regulations weren't met, and as this was discovered at the final security check, there is no time to fix them. Oddly enough, at the same time yellow signs go up near the Greens, reading:
Mossgate POLICE Working for a safer Mossgate
We are appealing for witnesses: Can you help us?
Police incident
An incident occurred in this area between 1pm on the 2/11 and 2pm on the 3/11.
In strictest confidence, plase phone
020787574
Did you see or hear anything?
Please call us
On the number above or at your local police station

...And the perceptive person might notice that there are a few oddities going on around town. For one, there is more police out in the streets than normal, constables nobody has seen before, too, and they are carrying guns. Why are they carrying guns? This is not the airport or central London! This is the first thing that really gets the rumour mill going.

The second thing is that the area that was fenced off so when fireworks and bonfire happened, only those who paid an entrance fee would be able to get close, is still fenced off despite the cancellation. And those who peer into the area will notice more police there.

And then, on the 4th of November, a few nondescript vans and a small nondescript lorry arrive at the parking lot at the bottom of the Greens, and some people get off. All of them wear civilian clothes. A few simply wander off into Mossgate, but the rest goes up onto the Greens. And some of those carry large suitcases that seem to be quite heavy. Too bad there's bushes and trees and it is impossible to see what they're doing at the place where the bonfire and fireworks were set to happen...

[ooc: There are a few dedicated open NPC toplevels below for people to investigate, as well as toplevels aimed at specific characters. If anyone has ideas for investigating that are not covered by the below toplevels and needs input, prod the mod contact thread on the last setting interactions post!]



5th

After the fireworks in Mossgate couldn't happen, it was decided to do them in one of the villages in Mossgate Council. Naturally, Folkton and Moss Manor both clamoured to get them. But after a few young men got into a fistfight about it and a nose was broken, Mayor Gary Russell arrived at the Salomonic decision of having the fireworks happen in Tarwich instead. They have a nice little park there, and the official reason for the decision is that it is closer to Mossgate town so it will be easier for people from there to attend. The real reason is of course to not take any sides in the village rivalry.

Tarwich, by contrast, is too young to truly have rivalries and there are no old families that could bring true patriotic pride into the mix. Nicely bland and harmless. An excellent middle ground.

So on the evening of the fifth, like every year, there are two massive bonfires in Mossgate council, one in Folkton and one in Moss Manor. Little fairgrounds have sprung up next to them - a children's carousel, a kiddie train, an ice cream van, one or two vendors that sell festival foods like candy floss (= cotton candy).

But unlike other years, there's a third event, and most unusually the location is the often-forgotten Tarwich: Carefully timed so that people can first go see the fireworks and then go to whichever bonfire they prefer, there is a very nice 30 minutes long firework taking place in Tarwich, just after nightfall. There are no carousels or ice cream vans here, but festival food is offered, too.
saveournpcs: (other)

[personal profile] saveournpcs 2018-11-13 07:32 am (UTC)(link)
"You say he was poking it. What was he doing, exactly?" The wording sounds like a turn of phrase to Mrs Potter when she read it in the documents, but it showed up again now. So perhaps there is more to it.

Mr Burnbridge leaves time for Walter to answer his colleague, and then asks: "Are you thinking of a specific show when you say that his smile looked like something out of a cartoon?"
iamnotgod: A man staring slightly off-center, looking serious. (Let Me Explain You A Thing)

[personal profile] iamnotgod 2018-11-13 06:00 pm (UTC)(link)
"Exactly that," Walter says, holding up a finger of his own in an attempt to replicate the move.

"Like he was testing it for solidity or some such thing." There was no denying it was bizarre.

As for the second question, Walter makes a wry face - thinking through for a concise answer still takes less than a second, but the question still seems out-of-the-blue for him.

"Ever watched the Anna-Barb shows? It was like an expression the villain from the racing cartoon would make when he talked about his plans."

The only reason he knows them is because someone smuggled tapes of them round the university campus; there'd been lots of weird quirks like that going on, especially during finals weekends.
saveournpcs: (other)

[personal profile] saveournpcs 2018-11-13 06:16 pm (UTC)(link)
"...Do you think he thought it was somehow equipped with an alarm?" Not that that would make sense, but what Walter describes makes no sense either. "Or perhaps that he was waiting for someone to come up and talk to him?"

Her colleague simply nods slowly. Okay. "Would you say he physically resembled that character as well in other ways than just the smile?"
iamnotgod: A man, holding a folder in one hand and gesturing with the other, looking off to the right. (And WHAT Is This?)

... Was he wearing the sweater pictured in the icon?

[personal profile] iamnotgod 2018-11-14 01:22 am (UTC)(link)
"I couldn't tell you what he was thinking," Walter answers, shaking his head.

"He did say he was curious, but apart from that... And while he addressed us, it didn't appear he was precisely waiting for anyone."

His attention shifts slightly to focus on the other speaker.

"No."

His answer this time is much more firm.
saveournpcs: (other)

Yes!

[personal profile] saveournpcs 2018-11-14 08:47 am (UTC)(link)
The woman makes some notes and then taps the pen against her lower lip. "Did he sound genuine when he said he was curious?"
iamnotgod: Shade Over Face (What Did You Do To Me?)

[personal profile] iamnotgod 2018-11-15 01:38 am (UTC)(link)
"Considering he didn't say all that much to begin with, I couldn't begin to give you an accurate answer, but going off of feeling... I suppose so?"

But he would be slow to call it innocent curiosity, if pressed.
saveournpcs: (other)

he talked like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-PIidaqCyU

[personal profile] saveournpcs 2018-11-16 09:03 pm (UTC)(link)
"Could you discern any accent at all? Anything that might have hinted at where he might be from?"

There are three people who saw this man. Perhaps if they combine all of their impressions, something useful will fall out...
iamnotgod: A man, staring down and left, looking unimpressed and/or concentrating. (*Really?*)

Oh gods. XD

[personal profile] iamnotgod 2018-11-16 10:46 pm (UTC)(link)
"Not native Mossgate."

He gets that impression out foremost.

"Beyond that, well, I admit my degree of international exposure is rather limited. Nothing sticks out properly, however."

Again, it'd be easier to draw a conclusion if the man had talked for longer; sample size can make a big difference.
saveournpcs: (other)

[personal profile] saveournpcs 2018-11-17 10:06 pm (UTC)(link)
"Is there anything else that stood out about him or the situation? Are you certain that there was nobody else nearby?"

This was more helpful than they feared, but still much less helpful than they hoped, the tone conveys.
iamnotgod: A man, holding a folder in one hand and gesturing with the other, looking off to the right. (And WHAT Is This?)

[personal profile] iamnotgod 2018-11-17 10:38 pm (UTC)(link)
Walter makes a wry face, thinking.

"While I doubt it was particularly unique, he was wearing a blue sweater. It may have been turtleneck in style...?"

But he is no fashion expert.

"And there was no one else nearby from what I could see."
saveournpcs: (other)

[personal profile] saveournpcs 2018-11-18 05:48 pm (UTC)(link)
"...I see." She smiles and stands. "Thank you for your cooperation. It is very much appreciated."
iamnotgod: A man, holding a folder in one hand and gesturing with the other, looking off to the right. (And WHAT Is This?)

[personal profile] iamnotgod 2018-11-18 06:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Presumably that means this interview is over...? He doesn't stand yet, though, merely nodding and offering a smile in turn.

"I'm glad I was able to offer something, at any rate. A good day to all three of you, then," he adds, nodding additionally in the directions of Khan's two associates.

Were they friends? Probably not. Colleges, perhaps.
saveournpcs: (other)

[personal profile] saveournpcs 2018-11-18 07:15 pm (UTC)(link)
"I'll bring you to the door." At long last, the super speaks up again and stands as well, heading over to the door and opening it for Walter to step through with her.
iamnotgod: A man, smiling and holding a book. (When He Smiles.)

[personal profile] iamnotgod 2018-11-18 07:54 pm (UTC)(link)
"Thanks," he says, getting himself up and moving over to the door with barely-kept-in-check swiftness.
saveournpcs: (Mahira Khan)

[personal profile] saveournpcs 2018-11-18 08:36 pm (UTC)(link)
The man and the woman at the table watch him leave, and then the door closes behind them and the super leads him back to the front desk.

"Thanks for coming. Have a safe trip home."
iamnotgod: A man, sitting and possibly smiling. (Awkward Smile)

[personal profile] iamnotgod 2018-11-18 10:17 pm (UTC)(link)
"You, too," he says - and then stops, a curious look on his face.

"How have you been doing, dealing with all this?"

Yes, he is in fact asking after her well-being. Hopefully it doesn't come across as all that strange?
saveournpcs: (Mahira Khan)

[personal profile] saveournpcs 2018-11-19 09:37 pm (UTC)(link)
"Sometimes things get hectic." She gives him a professional, though genuine, smile. "It's just one of the things about this job, when things get the busiest and most upsetting, you are the one who is supposed to stay calm and deal with the situation."

She doesn't fully stop, only slows down, clearly wanting him to keep walking.
Edited 2018-11-19 21:37 (UTC)
iamnotgod: A man, smiling and holding a book. (When He Smiles.)

[personal profile] iamnotgod 2018-11-19 11:04 pm (UTC)(link)
"It's one hell of a skill, I'll say that much."

He's better at it than he'd ever give himself credit for, but he's no expert...

He gets the hint, heading the rest of the way out of the building.
saveournpcs: (Mahira Khan)

[personal profile] saveournpcs 2018-11-20 03:54 pm (UTC)(link)
She'll accompany him to the door, wish him a good afternoon there, and then ehad back inside. There is a lot more work to be done.