Utopia

[Big Uri]

The depths of winter hadn't quite arrived yet, but it was coming, the citizens of Utopia's breath still enjoying a rather warm winter sun. It wouldn't be long before the snow came, though thanks to the environmentally stabilised farms, the food supplies wouldn't falter. It was mainly people on the outskirts of the outermost boroughs that had to worry about the winter, as any who relied on foraging in the wasteland would have to cut back. Winter each year brought with it different creatures and different plants from the wasteland. Another group of people who wished the winter wouldn't come were the police. The lack of heating and food made ordinarily peaceful people desperate, and made desperate people dangerous.

Not that it was anything they couldn't manage, but no one enjoyed an extra workload in the police department, and that was exactly what was facing Russell Barksdale, Detective First Class of the Utopia Police Department, on that cold afternoon in the inner city. There had been another murder, the fifth crime in three or four years in the inner city, and this one was important. He lit a cigarette and shoved his free hand into the pocket of his overcoat, exhaling the smoke and looking around at the rather excessive police presence. He was theoretically redundant, but he had never been one to bank on the competence of the law.

He had taken a quick look around the crime scene before the 'experts' mangled it, the hint of blue not yet gone from his ordinarily brown eyes. No resistance, but whatever had killed the man, a purely administrative member of the government according to what the Chief himself had told him, had come from outside his room, from either the balcony or the fire escape opposite the building. Or the opposite building proper, but Russell had already inspected the room facing the window and had found very little amiss. Whatever had killed him, be it Flow or weapon, must have been about an inch in diameter and definitely wasn't a bullet, Russell gathered, though as to what it had been he had no idea. With so many Flows in such a small area, it was impossible to keep track of all of them, and since they were used so little the authorities didn't know as much about them as they let on.

Regardless, what was more significant perhaps was the man's identity. Delmer Skinner, a former contestant of the Acer Tournament, read his file, and a clerk in the Department of Justice. Of course, since it was the Chief of Police that made sure to tell him this, he couldn't help but doubt the information. The reason he thought of the murder as the fifth in a series was because the murders all had one thing in common: they were all Acer Tournament contestants who had been killed. Sure there were government officials who were killed between the time of the first and the time of the fifth, but they had been out in the projects and the slums, acts of civil disobedience. This was the inner city, these had been assassinations.

He went to his car, a modern vehicle designed after the Great Storm by some person with an engineering-oriented Flow that worked for the government. It had been modelled after a classic car, but the detective hadn't seen enough of those to know which one it was based off. Pulling his hat low to keep the glare of the sun off his face, he leaned into the vehicle, opening up a small laptop and taking out a phone. Scrolling through a list of contacts, he selected one and set it down, whereupon the sound of dialling and eventually answering could be heard through the car if you were sitting in it.

"Is that records?" he asked, his voice bassy and quiet as he stuck his head in. "Yeah, could you put me on- Oh, right. Hi, I'm wondering if you could send me the files of all known Acer Contestants we have in prison at the moment. You know the link. Thanks."

He sat back out, watching the other police officers mill around while he waited for the data to transfer. When he heard the small 'bing' from his computer to tell him it was finished, he leaned back in, scrolling through them extremely quickly. He took a further minute to decide, sitting there while his eyes glowed faintly blue. He sat in fully, closing the door and the laptop, and putting on his seatbelt. He cast a quick last glance around the crime scene just in case, recalling the jail he was about to visit.

------

On an entirely different side of town, in an entirely different setting, Luke Evans woke up with a headache, sitting up carefully in bed with a hand pressed awkwardly to his face. He shook it off, taking a glance at both the clock and the mirror that lay beside his bed, the afternoon sun illuminating the room a bit better than he would have liked. It was a large enough room with a large enough bed in its middle, and the view out of the windows was more pleasant than most in his area, being able to see above the graffiti-clad apartment complexes of his borough. His room had originally been built to be like an artist's studio, though Luke had turned it into a purely residential and recreational dwelling, with a large living area outside of the bedroom and a passable kitchen, not that it was well enough stocked to matter.

He plonked his head back down on the pillow, immediately feeling more comfortable and happy. He knew that he should probably get up since he had a job to receive that day, but laziness and a lack of discipline were his true mistresses, and he nearly pandered to those rather than the burden of responsibility. He moved his hand around his bedside table, finding some painkillers and slapping them into his mouth, before turning back into happiness.

About a half an hour, probably closer to an hour later, he rose, dressed in a vest and a pair of boxers. Making his way to the bathroom, he scrutinised himself critically. His eyes were bloodshot, his face unshaven and his hair spiky from moving in bed.   He could still see marks on his shoulder from cutting out the tracker put on him by police, and he brushed his teeth as quickly as he could, washing his face and donning an unbuttoned and open check shirt over his vest, looking less shabby and more like his younger self. Putting on a pair of tracksuit bottoms, he opened his door, heading down to the reception to pick up his milk, the newspaper, and any post that he may have received. He descended the stairs in silence, his socked feet making almost no sound as he moved. He looked innocuous enough, his expression the rather standard one of a man who had woken up after a night of too much partying and not enough rest and recuperation. 

He strolled out to the front of the building, his Flow making it so he couldn't feel the chill that was beginning to hit Utopia and he certainly looked oblivious in a pair of socks, not even wearing shoes. He tinkered with his mailbox, getting slightly frustrated as it wasn't opening properly, the entry slightly damaged from being forced open a bit too many times. With an almighty effort he forced it open again, creating a rather loud noise for such a mundane task. He kept at it though, not oblivious but apathetic to what had happened. He just didn't care.

[quackers are yummylicious]

Heidi sighed, staring boredly up at the ceiling from her cot. "I'm so bored!" she shouted, listening as her voice echoed along with the other aimless chatter that was going on at this time in the morning.

"Shut it, Armistead!" came her reply, probably from some guard or something. Bastards had no sense of fun.

The woman rolled over onto her stomach, looking at her so called pillow, before rolling back over onto her back and getting off the cot. She moved it to the center of her cell, getting an odd look from her cellmate on the other side of the small room, before sitting in the middle of the cot and closing her eyes. She was only quiet for a brief moment, before speaking up again. "Y'know, Tombo used to meditate a lot. Said he didn't need to worry about sleep b'cuz of it," she stated matter-of-factly, before continuing. "I personally think he was full of bullshit, because this doesn't make me feel any less goddamn bored!"

---

Kira sighed as shuffled around the house, cleaning up a bit before she would drop Jason off at his daycare. She had gotten a decent job as a waitress, and it paid enough to get enough food on the table, which was a relief. Honestly, how had she been reduced to such a low position? Did she get no respect for getting through the tournament? Thoughts of the tournament brought back thoughts of Luke and Nathan, though, so she pushed those to the back of her mind as she opened the door to the bedroom that she and Jason shared.

Walking over to the bed, she smiled softly, before gently shaking him awake. "Rise and shine, sleepyhead," she murmured, picking the boy up despite his half-asleep protests and taking him out to the kitchen to get something for breakfast.

---

Elena was still fast asleep, buried under quite a few blankets. She didn't deal well with the cold, and had no desire to feel any of it. Perhaps she'd just hibernate all winter. Yes, that would be nice.

[AbsolWings]

Once upon a time there was a girl. Girl lived in a small grey house upon a flowering tree. One day the girl fell out of the tree. Below things were not quite as flowery. Things were not quite as flowery but things were good. Girl loved good. Girl loved all. Once upon a time there was a girl Girl lived in a small grey house upon a flowering tree One day girl fell out of the tree Belowthings were not quiteas flowery Thingswerenot quite as flowery buthings were good Girl loved good GirllovedallOnceuponatimetherewasagirlGirllivedinasmallgreyhoouseuponaffloweringtreeOnedaygirlfelloutofthetreeonedaygirlfelloutofthetreeonedaygirlfellloutofthetree

Clue jolted awake as her image-less dream fell apart, the words running together and twisting, the pleasant noise in the background turning into a terrible, painful grinding symphony. The motion was so quick it nearly made her dizzy. Everything around her was blurry, shaking and seeming to twist before her very eyes. A bead of sweat ran down the side of her face, pooling on her delicate chin and dropping to the ground. Her chest heaved beneath the over-sized sweater that she always wore, heart pounding.
For a moment she was honestly in a panic, but before long fingers of wind cooled her down, perhaps chilling her slightly but not all too much. The blurs at the edges of her vision cleared themselves up.

An azure sky smiled down at her from above, made slightly more grey by the imminent winter. To her, it was beautiful. Clue grinned up at the clouds, eyes glowing with warmth, and it seemed nearly as if the clouds would grin back. She loved clouds. There was nothing they couldn't look like. Sometimes she wondered what it must be like to float for a moment among them, lazily watching the people below and shifting into their heart's desires.
She'd been cloud watching.

Clue rubbed a sleepy eye with the back of a small hand, letting out a tiny yawn. A small puff of vapor from her breath danced through the air, and she watched it happily as it danced out of sight.

"Dozed off?" she chirped now, head tilted, though she wasn't talking to anyone in particular. She'd probably slipped into a sleep while she was sky-gazing...then again, what had she expected? Sleep always followed when she curled up against something. That was explainable. What she couldn't explain was the odd dream full of words. She could never fully understand them and they always ended oh-so terribly, and always with somebody leaving something.

Then again, we're always leaving something, no?

Clue stretched like a kitten, arms spread out in front of her while her body trembled in gratitude, and then stood up. Looking down at the pleasant grass she could see where she'd been laying. A slender, sleepy imprint now lay on the lawn in her stead, curled slightly, a single arm off to the side. The girl let her mind wander.
She didn't really have anything planned to do today except for romp about and nibble on things, and then maybe put funny items down Obby's back.

People were always saying that if she didn't straighten up and do something now she'd be heading nowhere fast. Clue always nodded politely when they said this, but she didn't intend to change.
She'd never understood why everyone was so obsessed with actually getting somewhere.

[Shadoe Mayari]

Charmaine was up quite early, wishing to escape the madness that was that insane Necromancer. The winter months meant more work for Adeline, who would often communicate with and comfort those souls before they moved on. She didn’t have to do it, but she felt as if it was her duty. But the more she did it, the more…unstable she would become, Charmaine observed. And after being subjected to her wrath oh so many times already, Char didn’t know how she hadn’t just left the lady to rot on her own.

But as those angry, negative thoughts flooded her mind, they were quickly replaced with pleasurable ones before Char had a chance to contemplate them. She decided to head into the inner city, maybe visit some of Adeline’s friends. Whatever got her away from that old haunted house she called home. She glanced at her watch and headed out, cutting through the back alleys.

She wasn’t afraid of walking around by herself. After all, Ade said that she’ll protect her, as long as Char took good care of that old watch. She didn’t really understand why, but she decided just to go along with it.

[Creation of Pokerus]

Paul drew his fur coat around his shoulders tighter. Could be a nasty one, he predicted to himself, looking up at the sky. The wind patterns suggested snow soon, and the clouds he had see off in the west were quite foreboding. Luckily he had all the furs he needed to keep himself, and his clients, warm throughout the winter.

Paul slung his AK over his shoulder, of course it wasn't loaded nor was the empty magazine even filled with bullets, per usual. He had a few loaded ones in his pack, stuffed inside a hidden pouch at the bottom of his bag. He didn't use his gun to kill animals for the fur(it ruined the hide), which helped save him the hard to make ammunition for his gun.

Paul strolled around the cracked pavement of the outer streets, several large furs carried effortlessly on his back. He had a few employers he was on his way to, but was trying to keep a low profile, which kept him along the back streets and alleyways.

[Big Uri]

Russell drove off, mentioning to a fellow detective that he was going and that he was to be called if needed. He didn't feel the need to disclose where he was going, since he was sure someone, somewhere higher up than him would have a problem with it. They usually did. It didn't take him a huge amount of time to get to the penitentiary. Most of them were closer to the inner city than the slums because of the trouble they would get out there. He parked his car underground, leaving his coat in the car because it was warmer in the prison.

He flashed his police ID when he entered the office from the underground level, murmuring 'Heidi Armistead' loud enough to be audible. A guard was assigned to accompany him, but Russell strode ahead, his head bowed slightly and his hands in his pockets as he walked. He was besieged with insults ad death threats from the inmates, but he didn't react in the slightest, putting a hand on his head to keep his hat on as he climbed the stairs to Heidi's cell.

"I've come to offer you a chance at freedom," he stated simply in his quiet voice.

[Book the Hero]

Percy stared at the crime scene, examining it in great detail, looking for any signs that Flow was involved. He really hoped there was, for then he would be able to go after this bastard himself. Delmer had been a good friend to both him and Joey back in the Acer days, and he had still talked to the guy at least once a week even after it was over.

Percy knew that there had been four other cases of old Acer contestants dying in the past few years, and was eager to look into the case even more. If someone was murdering old Acer contestants, then he wanted to stop them.

It was funny, if he had still been in Joey's head, he probably would have only cared about Delmer's death. But having his own body, and a head to himself, slowly allowed him to change over the years, growing a bit more compassionate. He was still as cynical as ever though.

With a sigh, he left the crime scene, getting into his car, and began driving back to base. He wanted another look at the files of those previous cases, again.

[quackers are yummylicious]

Heidi raised an eyebrow, reaching behind her and picking up the pillow from her cot. "If you want negotiations, I don't wanna do them in a cell, asshole," she stated, glaring at the man who looked official enough to be government. Of course, then again, he also kind of looked like Tom, and that definitely struck a soft spot.

[Big Uri]

"I suppose that's a fair request," Russell replied calmly, gesturing to the guards who had accompanied him while he himself leaned against the railing. He looked around at the jeering criminals and wondered how many of the he'd put in jail, and if any of them were innocent. Once they'd put handcuffs on Heidi, making sure not to put them on too tight in the presence of a law official, they opened the cell door carefully. Russell idly wondered if she would try to kill anybody.

[quackers are yummylicious]

Heidi scowled at the handcuffs, flipping the guards off as best she could. "You fuckers obviously don't know who you're dealing with. Fucking Heidi Armistead, that's who. If you think a pair of measly little handcuffs will keep you safe, you've got another thing comin'," she hissed, her tone hostile, before she turned to Russell, a smile upon her face, made a bit eerie by the faded scar. "Off we go, then? At least you have the sense to listen to me."

[Shadoe Mayari]

The cold stung Charmaine’s face as she ran through the alleyways. She was already tired of running, as she wasn't exactly fit to do this kind of stuff. Damn Ade for not feeding her enough. She began chuckling quietly to herself; something in her head changed the pain into a strange tingly feeling, like she was being tickled. She soon burst into laughter, leaning on a wall for support. Why was she so happy…? Even though the pain was changed, it didn’t mean that it wasn’t there anymore. She sunk to the ground, smiling and trying to catch her breath.

[Big Uri]

Russell led her off, again quiet as they passed the jeering inmates, their arms hanging limply out of the bars as the guards followed behind, trying to look menacing but only looking annoyed at Heidi's backtalk. Had Russell not been there they probably would have gone for some corpsman punishment, even of it wasn't by the book, but the prison had to look good under scrutiny.

The detective led her to an interrogation room, ditching the guards and holding the door open. It was a simple grey room and Heidi was free to choose any seat she wanted. Russell sat down in whatever one was free, taking a file from the table and leafing through idly, though at a speed that would seem ridiculous for a normal human.

"Interesting record you've got," he offered after a minute.

[Creation of Pokerus]

Kaylee looked over the crime , stepping through things and looking around. She had left her sock behind so she didn't disturb the ground, so she was basically a floating pair of clothing, which attracted some odd looks. "This will make an amazing story," she murmured to herself.

---

Meanwhile, Paul was nearing his objective location, a small run down apartment building where the general poor collected and stayed. No one really claimed to own the slum, nor would anyone want to for how beat up it was, but Paul found valuable customers in the poor. They supplied him with all sorts of resources, since he had no need for currency.

He pushed his way in the back door and was greeted with applause. The twenty or so people living here would be able to survive the winter with these furs he had collected. While he generally didn't care if they lived or died, he felt a certain pride in doing the right thing, as was a soldier's job.

Paul deposited the furs with the people who would turn them into coats and blankets for the others and collected his payment. Several baggies of dried meat, a handful of ammunition that would fit his rifle(which isn't much, considering the size of the shells his rifle took), and a spare magazine, the fifth one that month. It was a risky business getting these things for him, but the people needed the clothing.

Nodding the a person on the way out, Paul stepped back into the back alley, blinking at the feeling of a strange Flow signature.

[quackers are yummylicious]

"You're damn right it is. Beautiful record. Motherfuckin' amazed that even I could pull it off," Heidi said as she sat down, idly scratching her cuffs against the chair. She hated these damn things.

[Big Uri]

"You been Nulled? Your file's been half-assed, and I'm not sure what the penalty for flipping out like you did was back when Councillor O'Connor was on the council," Russell asked boredly, leaning back in his seat and shoving his hands in his pockets.

-----

Luke took in two large bags of posts and groceries, the box shutting with a loud rattle as he strolled inside. He smiled at the receptionist, who smiled back for once because he was actually up to date with his rent. He also exuded an aura of heat almost subconsciously, which was always welcome.

[Shadoe Mayari]

Charmaine remained in her little spot against the wall for a while, trying to recover. She wanted to get out of the cold soon, but... She didn't know how to explain it, but the cold felt good. The more it stung, the better it felt in her mind... She wanted to exhaust herself even more by sprinting down the alleyway, but she knew that she was at her limit. She glanced at her watch again, even though she knew that it didn't even tell the right time. That Necromancer said that she'd have her skull if she corrected it. What a strange lady.

[quackers are yummylicious]

Heidi fell silent, staring at the table for a bit. She didn't really like thinking about that. "Yeah, I got Nulled. Fucking defenseless. You got history, don'tcha? You used to violence?" she asked, standing up and starting to pace around the room. "And don't talk about Tombo with that tone. Especially not now. I hear enough rumors to know you government folks are keeping him out."

She paused, glancing over at Russell, before shaking her head, rattling the handcuffs again and starting to mutter to herself.

---

Kira hummed as she walked down the street, carrying Jason as she went to drop him off. He insisted on counting the number of streetlights that they passed, though it didn't bother her much nowadays.

[Ra The BlazeWingPhoenix]

Whoosh. His black cloaked moved as he took his long strides. Zackary Wolfen, one of the Acer contestants, was moving to visit someone rather uninvited. He liked being like that, expecially when going over to his house.

Percival.

He worked for the government. Zackary wasn't amused by that. He wasn't into the whole, Nullifying thing. He did a good job of keeping his Flow hidden, almost like it was nulled to most others...those that no longer could sense. His sword pressing against the back, lower than he was accustom too, and straight. He didn't feel like answering questions as to why he was carrying a weapon. Then again, ever since Acer. He never left home without one. Inside of his boot, he carried one of Neo Value's daggers. Poor guy... Last time Zackary had talked to him, was when he gave him the dagger.

From his source, he heard Percival would be out today. He hoped Simon and the girl...Mary, would be there. Well, needless to say, without being asked, he kept an eye on them whenever possible.

I might want to leave Kira something too. We were...somewhat friends in the tournament... Zackary recalled, turning a corner with a woosh.

"I should be almost there." Zackary muttered to himse.f

[AbsolWings]

(I HAD NO IDEA PEOPLE RESPONDED SO QUICKLY QAQ)

A burst a warm sweetness flooded her mouth, and Clue smiled to herself, rolling the candy around gently with her tongue. She didn't exactly know what it was but it was sugary; anything with sugar was a delicacy as far as she was concerned. The smell of strawberry and something honey-like permeated the air wherever she passed, her sweater smelling like candy by now.

Clue let the sleeves of her over sized covering swallow up her little hands, swinging her arms as she walked. Every now and then she'd stop and kick a can across the street, or bend down and pick up something shiny. It was a rather dismal day truth be told, but the word dismal seemed to hold no place in her mind. The fluffy, wild mass of black and blue hair atop her head was ruffled compassionately by the cold wind, urging her to pull her sweater tighter around her skin, trying to keep warm as she wandered.
That was the only thing about winter. It was oh-so uncomfy to roam in the cold, and more than likely she'd have to stay indoors with Obby.

Clue shifted her candy to the other side of her mouth, turning an alley way towards were a few sections of marketplaces resided. Maybe she'd see if she could talk somebody into something, or find leftovers on the ground. Maybe she could get some more candy....

Her very image flickered as she rounded the next corner, once, twice, thrice like a broken TV screen. Clue stopped and looked down at herself, rubbing her belly with a small frown. She'd felt sort of funny for a moment. Maybe she didn't need to eat any more candy...

[Book the Hero]

After picking up the files he needed, after going through all the paperwork to get them, Percival put the case files in his suit case, as he began to pack up. He was now officially off duty, he would study the files tonight, after Mary went to sleep. Right now, he had to get home, and check in with Simon and Mary.

He got in his car, and drove off towards home. Thanks to his position, he was able to get a more upper-class home to stay in, and it was only a short while from the station, so it was in one of the most safest parts of the cities. A few minutes later, he parked out front, getting out of the car, suitcase in hand.

[Ra The BlazeWingPhoenix]

"Shit," Zackary stopped in his tracks, just about to take a step around the corner. Percival was back earlier than he though he would be. This complicated things greatly, since he wasn't too sure Percival's stance on this. He glanced around the corner.

If he recalled correctly, Percival could sense. Wither or not he was nulled...that was what Zackary was counting on. Higher ups...Disgusting...

"So much for that..."

[Book the Hero]

Percival paused mid-step. "...Hello Zackary." Percival said, remembering to pronounce it right, before turning towards the corner the man was hiding behind. "I presume you had an important reason for coming here, enough so to risk going to a neighborhood not a few miles away from where the FPU are stationed."

Percival showed no signs of hostility, and had yet to activate his Flow. He was curious as to why he had come, and the man had done nothing illegal yet with his Flow.

[Ra The BlazeWingPhoenix]

"Your senses have yet to decive you, Percy." Zackary stepped out from behind the building, his cloak never failing to cover all below his head. "I just thought I would take a nice little walk. You know, catch fresh air. Gawk at the higher ups."

Of course. Sarcasm. One of the things he still held onto. During Acer, he never talked much.

"Is there a problem with a man, who wishes to have a life of peace, after going through hell and back."

[Book the Hero]

"Not at all, but let's cut the crap shall we?" Percy said to the man. "What do you want?"

[Ra The BlazeWingPhoenix]

"I did not know you liked to do that in your spare time," Zackary commented, with a light chuckle. "But, I suppose I shall just skip right to the chase, I just came to see Simon and Mary, to see if they're doing ok." His expression changed to a more...dead serious one.

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