omegafriends

Entry tags:

piece kioku no kakera: tomoki chino

001

[RUMBLR Post]

[A blog for Tomoki's off the clock writing and findings. He will sometimes reblog unique photos of Supers in action as well as articles from various news sites about heroes and villains and what have you. He does a lot of his own writing, too.]

It's certainly never a dull moment in Venture City.

While this is good news for my job security (being a reporter is a harrowing way to make a living, for those who don't know), it sure makes for a strange way of life. I've been in this city all my life, and every day I wake up thinking "I don't think there's anything left to surprise me." Obviously I'm proven wrong every single one of those days. Sometimes I wonder just what other cities do with their time.

So my question for everyone is, what is it that makes us so special? We definitely get a lot more excitement than the rest of the world, it seems like. Any theories?

Leave me your thoughts while I proofread this article about fascist space dinosaurs.

--

Action. [A] [You will find Tomoki in one of two places- working on his article at the Daily Venture with a number of empty coffee cups near him. He's been at the office almost all night trying to finish up this recent publication and he's the sort of guy to not stop until he's finished.]

[B] [He's finished and is actually relaxing by sitting outside at a small cafe, drinking something caffeinated. He's poking at his laptop here or there but otherwise just appears to be out of it.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

fluctuation in the space/time bond that draws supers without them realizing it
villains that feel the technology and position of raw resources, government facilities and heroes makes it a perfect testing ground
aliens
take your pick
there are a lot of theories as to why as there are super hero costume designs

Edited (i can spell) 2014-07-09 07:21 (UTC)

For the villains theory, I feel like just about any other city could have similar resources, so maybe it's the draw of heroes themselves that bring the villains flocking here as well?

But I guess we could also just blame aliens. It's not like we can disprove that.

it might be
i think some of the super forces are here because of some event a few years back
or the founder of that omegafriend thing was from around here and wanted to stay closer to home

All sound theories. We really could be the result of a bunch of nicely placed coincidences layering on top of each other.

too many coincidences make me feel uneasy
i've found that if there are too many, then there is something not very healthy underneath

[And your laptop poking is interrupted by that new girl from work!]

Good afternoon, Mr. Chino!

My name is Aya Shameimaru - I've been assigned to shadow you for your next story, so I thought it might be prudent to introduce myself.

[Where did she even come from? Tomoki nearly chokes on his coffee. He manages to avoiding dying, though and looks up at her.]

-Oh. Miss Aya, the intern, right?

[No one told him about this- but that was okay, he guessed.]

You took some impressive pictures during the dinosaur invasion, if I remember right.

All in a day's work. I didn't even get trampled by any of them!

[Thanks to the help of multiple heroes.]

So what's next on the Daily Venture's list? More supervillain plot?

[He quirks a smile, sitting up and pulling his notepad out of his bag. She seemed like the appropriate amount of go-getter that was needed in this business.]

Well, it so happens I have a list of potential stories for this week. It's important to have more than one lead, since stories could lead to dead ends.

[You're not the only one who has a notepad, Tomoki!]

Righty ho! Now, what's first on our list?

[VERY GOOD. He flips through a few pages.]

First, there have been rumors around town about a vampire aiming to attack people in the city. Nothing so far has been reported that hints that she's already struck, however so we should aim to investigate that.

If that ends up a dead end there's still the matter of the "Dr. Eggman" that hijacked all of the city's networks to make that broadcast challenging the city to stop him.

You know, I've always wondered why so many villains go out of the way to announce their crimes. Do you think they're more interested in success or publicity?

It's hard to say. I think a lot of them enjoy the attention, or else they would have much more subtle means of enacting their crimes. Some of them probably just get really overconfident, which usually leads to their downfall.

Then as intrepid warriors of truth, we must exploit that overconfidence as hard as possible!

[He grins. She has a lot of spunk, that was good. He could also appreciate her thoughts on the truth.]

Exactly. Even if it means running headfirst into danger, which I'm sure you've already seen your fair share of. We don't have it easy being reporters in this town, but its up to use to make sure nothing gets left uncovered.

[A young man, about 16, steps out of the cafe and takes his first sip of American coffee... And promptly gags and spit it out, cursing in Spanish.]

¡CARAY! That is terrible!

[He then realizes he has spit said coffee onto Chino, and the boy goes crimson. He begins rambling an apology through a thick Spanish accent.]

¿¡Qué he hecho!? Oh, I am so, so sorry, sir!

Edited 2014-07-09 18:18 (UTC)

[Well that happened. Tomoki practically leaps out of his chair because coffee is hot.]

O-Oi! At least aim at the ground next time!

[Frazzled but not as angry as someone would have probably been normally.]

[Antonio clearly feels terrible about it, and is apologizing as fast as he can without slipping back into Spanish.]

I am so sorry! I am so sorry! Did it stain? Do you want me to buy a new shirt? I think there is a tienda just down the street...

No, no, it's fine.

[The kid obviously hadn't meant to do it. He grumbles a little while patting his shirt down with a napkin. At least he didn't have to go back to work.]

Next time you have that much of a complaint with the coffee, just drop a note in their suggestions box, yeah?

[Really hoping you weren't too specifically keen on a peaceful afternoon, Tomoki. Because Rei just bodily vaulted himself over the cute little fence of the cafe's patio and is sliding into a chair beside you, gripping the table and looking harried.]

I'm glad you're so easy to find.

[You know, he'd be pretty used to stuff like this, but not usually from Rei. Jin? Jin, maybe but this was very clearly Rei. He sits up, glancing around- it didn't look like anyone was chasing him.]

Maybe I should work harder at it- I'm a little too popular today. What's wrong?

[Yeah Jin is a bit of a spazz. ...and does have a habit of leaping over things or into bushes to escape people he's invariably pissed off that are chasing him with sticks or newspapers or sometimes shotguns.]

[We don't talk about most of those instances.]

[Rei fidgets, folding his hands together on the table and wringing them.]

There's someone here with your face, Tomoki.

[There's a pause as Tomoki looks at him seriously. Then he picks up his coffee again and sips.]

I see you've met Mr. Hino.

[Frowns.]

That doesn't bother you?

It's driving me batty, actually, but I've been busy. After I finished this article I was going to see if you were maybe interested in a little reconnaissance.

[A beat.]

But, why does that have you so worked up? Did something happen?

[He shifts away from the table and closes his eyes, and for a moment Ken steps to the plate.]

There are plenty of simple explanations to someone sharing a similar genetic makeup to you, Chino Tomoki. However given our location and Venture City's tendency to operate on the most outlandish and difficult of reasons behind things...

[Rei opens his eyes and waves a hand in front of his face dismissively.]

He called me a strange name I didn't recognize-- said I looked like a friend of his.

[Thanks for stating the obvious, Ken. He's definitely considered that, but the inaccessibility of that information is half of why he needed to call you for help.]

[That last part grabs his attention, though.]

He did? Really? Do you think... [Given that Rei literally knew nothing of himself.]

[He tosses his head a little, hunching his shoulders and sitting back in the chair, making himself oddly small.]

He said the friend had passed away, so... I'm not sure it could mean anything. He seemed uncertain, though.

[This sure made things complicated. He frowns.]

I think, given the nature of our city, we shouldn't rule anything out. I think it would be beneficial for us both to look into Eiji Hino and see what we can learn.

[He taps a finger on the table for a moment.]

Would you be willing to look into some government databases for me?

Edited 2014-07-10 21:10 (UTC)

[He looks pretty sincerely bothered by the whole thing, scattered as he is, and the request comes as a welcome distraction. He lifts his head and quirks a sideways half-grin, nodding.]

Write down what you need and I'll see what I can do.

[He hesitates for a moment, before he's pulling out his tell-tale notebook and writing things down.]

Venture City Department of Social Services
August 27, 1989

[He doesn't quite look at him for a moment.]

I need to see if you can find out anything about when I was turned over into foster care. I was too young to remember myself, but someone had to have done it. Find a name for me if you can- or any kind of records like that. It'll give me a place to start.

Edited 2014-07-11 02:03 (UTC)

[He tilts his head, frowning at the date and then at Tomoki. He doesn't ask, but Aya looks plainly sympathetic. She reaches across the table and sets a hand on Tomoki's wrist.]

[A moment later, Rei shakes his head and recoils his hand, looking vaguely embarrassed, and nods.]

I'll let you know as soon as I find something.

[He nods, putting his notepad away.]

I'll hunt down Hino again and see if I can get any further information out of him.

What was the name he called you?

[And he's back to looking uncomfortable. He's not entirely dissatisfied with the fact that he knows nothing of himself-- but the concept of learning scares the bejeebus out of him.]

[He fidgets.]

"Ankh". Like the Egyptian symbol.

[Oops he spoke too soon, putting away his notepad. He pulls it back out again and writes that down.]

Did he tell you how long its been since his friend "passed away"? Do you know approximately how far back you remember being "Rei"?

[He wheezes a small laugh, shaking his head.]

It seemed like an uncomfortable topic, so I didn't ask beyond who "Ankh" was. I've never known anything but "Rei", though I don't remember anything prior to three years ago.

[He does not like talking about this Tomoki why are you asking him.]

[He writes that down.]

All right. I've got a hippie face-stealer to hunt down, then.

[So much for a relaxing coffee break.]

[He nods, and probably tells Tomoki where he had last seen Eiji in order to help him locate him.]

He shouldn't be too hard to find, he... dresses very colorfully.

[He nods.]

He sticks out like a sore thumb. I'll let you know what I find out.

[He nods again, folding himself into his chair and picking idly at the fabric of his sleeves.]

[He glances up, briefly.]

Be careful, hm?

[He quirks a small smile.]

I will. See you soon, everybody.

[In response to his post, and the rather intriguing question it asks, Tomoki receives an anonymous message.]

You know, that's something I'd love to know myself! I've been all over the world, and I can tell you there really is no place like Venture City! Even after living here for years I'm still not sure I'm anywhere near the answer, although the way this town brings in Supers, it does remind me of how a certain other place attracts something else... △

[How curious. Well, it's rumblr so anon messages aren't that strange really.]

It's good to know that even to the outside world our town is a bit of an anomaly. Of course, now you've got me curious about this other place you're reminded of. Care to elaborate?

[Soon after his reply, Tomoki receives another.]

The funny thing is, it's the place I like to think of as my hometown! Gravity Falls, Oregon! Sure, on the outside it might look like a sleepy little mountain town with nothing to note, but the secrets it holds...
Oh, now that's what makes it so special! △

[The message is still anonymous, and as such the triangle appears to be a signature of sorts, indicating it's the same person.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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