May Meta Plot - Part 1

[tramitis]

Who: Mr. Martin and Your Character
What: Mr. Martin has a few questions
When: Monday, May 11, 2020
Where: The streets of NYC
Rating/Warnings: TBD
Notes: This is happening all over the city in the afternoon, wherever your character is currently walking. When your characters talk about their encounter, they’ll learn that everyone’s encounter (he will visit with 8 characters) happened at the same time. How did Mr. Martin manage to do that?! It’s a ~mystery~.

Players are welcome to either thread out the encounter, or handwave. Either way the encounter will be short. If you would prefer to handwave the conversation, feel free to discuss with the mods in the comments.


The weather is chilly and rainy, though the snow from the other day has thankfully melted. The weather doesn’t seem to stop people from going about their lives and the busy streets are bustling as usual.

Mr. Martin is there, standing in the middle of the sidewalk, when your character rounds the corner, they can’t miss him. The streets might be full of pedestrians, but they seem to part around him, giving your character clear path to him.

Mr. Martin looks surly, but the weather only marginally contributed to that mood. He’s mulling about something else entirely.

“Mr./Ms. [Your character’s name],” He addresses your character. “Let’s take a walk.” It’s not a request.

Comments

[tramitis]

Mr. Martin seemed oblivious to how he was making Clarence feel.

"To talk," he said. That was what he wanted.

"I recall telling you when we first met that you should stay out of trouble."

[hardtoignore]

This guy was trying to sound like some of the lame school counselors Clarence had dealt with in the past. Mr. Martin probably wasn't even trying but it certainly didn't endear him to Clarence by any means.

"Yeah? What am I being blamed for now?" Okay, sure. He fought with one of his guardians last month and stayed away from home for a weekend, but he was making up for that by actually trying to make good grades on his finals wasn't he?

[tramitis]

Mr. Martin was hardly aiming for endearing. Any negative opinion of him dropped and slide away from his notice just like the rain dropping on his shoulders.

"I keep an eye on all the Different. Trying to hide things from me is... ill-advised."

[hardtoignore]

Clarence's entire body stiffened at that. He glared with full force at Mr. Martin but inside he was quaking.

"So I had a fight with one of my guardians. Big deal! You're not my social worker. What does any of that have to do with you?" You obviously meaning the Bureau at large, not just this one man.

[tramitis]

Mr. Martin frowned at the young man.

"Absolutely nothing, Mr. Blakely," did he sound a bit annoyed at that answer? "Your home life isn't my concern. My business is the Bureau."

[hardtoignore]

"Yeah, I'd say so." And he didn't care if he was being rude. He disliked this man the more time he spent in his presence.

"Okay, so if that's the case, what is it you think I'm hiding? I haven't done any carp otherwise."

[tramitis]

"You don't trust the Bureau, do you Mr. Blakely?"

[hardtoignore]

Clarence stops, looking up at Mr. Martin with suspicion.

"... I mean, should I?"

[tramitis]

"I have never told you anything but the truth," Mr. Martin said. "Whether you choose to believe me or not is out of my control. But neither do I require your trust."

[hardtoignore]

"The truth doesn't seem so black and white like it used to," Clarence admitted, shrugging. "I don't care if you trust me either, but I'm not doing anything bad. I haven't gone out of my way to cause trouble."

He practically growls as he stuffs his hands into his hoodie pocket. "People sure do think I'm always getting into it though."

[tramitis]

Mr. Martin stopped and turned towards Clarence.

"Have you heard any of the Different spreading anti-Bureau sentiment?"

[hardtoignore]

Clarence found himself taking a step back, just to make sure there was enough space to scramble away if Martin made a grab at him.

"I mean, I know there's several conspiracy theories floating around. I wouldn't say it's anti-Bureau so much as, like, just general speculation." It was somewhat of a lie; sure, some people were Very Against the Bureau, but he hadn't heard anything incriminating. No word of anyone taking things too far.

[tramitis]

"And what speculation is that?" Mr. Martin asked. He stood in place and didn't try to get closer to Clarence.

[hardtoignore]

"You know... like maybe the memories are implanted in some way. Or it's all just some huge conspiracy." Clarence shrugs. "Nothing any worse than that."

[tramitis]

"No one plotting against the Bureau?" Mr. Martin asked.

[hardtoignore]

"None that I know..." But knowing Clarence's face, he probably looked like he was lying even if he was being truthful. He really didn't know if anyone was plotting against the Bureau. He just knew people didn't like them.

[tramitis]

Mr. Martin pauses for a moment, considering Clarence.

"Do stay out of trouble," he says at last.

He then turned and slipped into the crowd. Within seconds, he was completely gone.