New Places and New Faces [Open]

[Hope Estheim]

It had not been more than an hour since he'd stepped off the train and already Hope Estheim was hopelessly lost. It was more than a bit embarrassing but he'd never been to this city before and without a map to guide him he hardly knew where to find the address he'd been given. The street signs were of some help but without knowing which streets led to which it wasn't exactly what he needed right now.

The platinum haired man huffed slightly in frustration and looked to the piece of paper he held in one hand. The scrawl was messy and rushed but still somewhat legible. It was a little strange coming to a new town, especially when it was from a town where he'd lived and worked for practically his entire life. With still no hint as to where to find the location of the address he glanced around for somewhere he could get directions before tapping the shoulder of someone walking by.

[Neku Sakuraba]

"Hey there, kid, are you lost?"

A redheaded young man, around the age of fourteen, walked up to Hope, hands in his pocket and a grin on his face. His black eyes were curious and intelligent.

He was also obviously much younger than Hope.

"I just got back in town, but I lived here most of my life. I can help you find where you need to go. You look familiar - do I know you?"

[Haku]

{Jazz}

Skipping down the street Jazz bumps into the back on someone... Whom is being asked if they're lost... And then something about being familiar. She steps around so she's standing and observing them, ".... Hai~!"

[Hope Estheim]

A voice off to the side caught Hope's attention which caused him to look towards the source, the person he'd tapped walking away without further ado. Due to being called a kid Hope had expected someone older but the person in front of him looked at least 7 years younger. "Um, yeah. I'm trying to get find this address." He replied as he handed the slip of paper to the younger boy. He was a little put off by the fact that the boy apparently recognized him. He could admit that the voice sounded somewhat familiar but he'd never seen the boy's face before.

"No, I can't say that we've-" He was cut off midsentence as someone bumped into his back, forcing him forward a step. He moved to glance over his shoulder to see who could've possibly bumped into his back when the girl stepped around him. Her greeting was as if she hadn't just run into him. "Hello." He replied, somewhat perplexed by her strange behaviour and completely unlike anyone else he'd ever known.

[Haku]

She bounces on her toes, ''Hai, hai, hai..." And she giggles brightly holding out her hand. "I'm Jazz and you guys are?"

[Neku Sakuraba]

"Well, I haven't gotten this kid's name yet," he grinned and jerked his head at Hope, "but I'm Izzy, it's good to meet you."

[Hope Estheim]

While Hope had never lived or worked outside of his old hometown he had to admit he had never been greeted quite so energetically as he had been by the girl calling herself Jazz. He glanced towards the boy calling himself Izzy, not a name he could ever recall hearing, and introduced himself as well. "My name is Hope." He said with a small smile of greeting flitting across his face. It was still a little strange being called 'Kid' by someone who was far younger than he but since he had been with the Network, just not this branch, for over a year he had become used to strange things. Not to mention that if the rumours were true, then Urbadelphia practically cornered the market on 'Strange'.

[Neku Sakuraba]

"Hope, huh? It's nice to meet you." Izzy leaned against one of the shop walls, grinning. "So, where're you headed? I can definitely take you wherever you need to be, if you need help."

His foot tapped absently, not necessarily a nervous gesture or an impatient one, just the kind of movement tic you get from hyperactive people when they're standing still for any reason.

[Haku]

Jazz beams at each one respectively when they state their names. And then bounces again after Izzy asks where Hope headed, "Mind if I tag along, I promise to not be annoying!"

[Hope Estheim]

This kid seemed completely self assured and confident. Not that it was strange. Growing up Hope had seen plenty of kids with an almost cocky demeanour even if he hadn't been one of them. "176B Cordon Avenue." He answered the teen as he shifted slightly, thinking on how he'd pick up a map from one of the local convenience stores after he'd met with his employer. It would certainly come in handy until he became familiar with the city's layout. The girl's cheery voice quickly drew him from his reverie, his green eyes darting over to meet hers. "I don't mind." He told her before turning his attention back to Izzy. "Do you?"

[Neku Sakuraba]

He blinked, then grinned. "You're in the wrong place, then. That's upside-Downtown, in the area with all the business complexes. You're in luck, I'm on my way to that area too."

Then he shrugged. "If she wants to come along, that's totally cool with me."

[Hope Estheim]

Hope cursed internally at the news that he was in completely the wrong place. "I should have guessed. I suppose being new in town isn't doing me any favours." He replied with an amused chuckle. "Thanks though." He said before glancing at Jazz to see if she indeed intended to follow, not that he minded before he returned his attention to Izzy. "Lead the way." He had to admit that it felt a little odd being led around by someone so much younger than himself since very rarely was Hope put into situations where he had no idea of the layout of the location he was in.

[Neku Sakuraba]

"Hey, sure, no problem." Izzy grinned. "You're pretty okay, Hope, right? Yeah. By the way, watch your step here in Urbadelphia. There's a lotta weird things that go on, and this city's not exactly friendly to norms."

He strolled along, hands in his pockets, glancing back at Hope. "If you can spring it, don't go into the Labyrinth - that's downside-Downtown and the back streets - by yourself unless you've got a map or something. Easy to get lost in there, and the gangs are demonic." He laughed at his own joke. "And... well, I don't know if you're looking for info or anything, but... do your best to stay away from Izaya Orihara, kid. That guy's bad news."

[Hope Estheim]

Hope kept up easily, the difference in their heights making Hope's strides longer than those of his young escort. "Yeah, I've heard about some of those odd incidents. Your town certainly has a reputation." He said with an internal grin. Odd things happened in most cities, the reason the Network had multiple branches, Urbadelphia seemed to have a special affinity for 'weird'.

He continued listening to what Izzy had to say, absorbing the information just as if he were back in school once more. The mention of Izaya made him especially curious but not enough to go looking for the man. Hope was a scientist, hardly a warrior even if he was fairly adept with a pistol but that was purely for self defence. "Izaya, huh? I've heard his name before but all I've heard is that he's some kind of information broker." He replied thoughtfully, thinking back to the file he'd seen on someone's desk back at the former branch he'd worked in. There had been little information on the demon besides that. "I take it he acts particularly demonic too?" He added with a chuckle, making a slight joke about Izzy's description of the gangs as well as Izaya's non-human nature.

[Neku Sakuraba]

A sharp look, then a crooked grin. "You could say that," he said, chuckling wickedly. "Let's just say he doesn't just trade for cash, huh? You don't have to be rich to pay him, but even the rich sometimes have a hard time affording his services."

He thought for a minute. "Lessee... since you're a newbie, what else should you know... oh, yeah. You see a tall blonde in a bartender's getup, don't piss him off. Of all the gangs in the Labyrinth, the most dangerous are the Blades and the Scarves. The Scarves are actually a pretty okay bunch but they don't take well to outsiders, and the Blades are worse than Izaya. Scarves tag with yellow S's, the Blades use a red sword. If you're looking for a safe place to hang out, Veil's the best in town; good food and after dark, it's a club, so if you're over 18 you can get a drink or two there. I've heard it's pretty good stuff but I don't drink yet, so, I wouldn't know."

He continued walking, a thoughtful look on his face, as if trying to remember all the wisdom he had to impart.

"Oh, yeah! If you get into any kind of weird trouble, Veil's also the place to head. There's cheap housing on Shade Street, it's in the Labyrinth but it's a pretty safe place since it's closer to upside-Downtown than the inner warren."