Romi

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There had been a lot of effort, but not a lot of time. The end of the world meant the evacuation was on a tight schedule, and Manta Carlos had pulled out all the stops. They'd found a beach with road access, abandoned due to the lateness of the season, and then they'd cleared space. They had only a rough estimate for how many were coming, and that meant they'd need plenty of room.

The portal was set up on the far side of the beach, and along the rest of it were everything the evacuees could want. Several community groups--including the Starlight Helper's Club--had set up there. There was food. There were blankets and clothes. One group had little baggies, one per person, with essentials to help them through the first few days. The ministries had sent people to catalog, to note down every person who came through. To take their pictures and issue temporary IDs. To sort. To figure out who was there, and what was being done with them.

Technically speaking, the island probably could have absorbed all thousand or so evacuees. It was possible, but it wasn't smart. Many of the people had no need to be on the island. Many would struggle to adapt. They'd do better in the narrow reality, surrounded by people without powers. Surrounded by normality. They'd need to be told about the new world, told to keep the secret, but by the end of the month many would be relocated, and those who remained would be those with powers.

By the time the portal opened, Manta Carlos had maybe two hundred of its people waiting, greeting the evacuees and getting them ready.



This is a big, no post order group thread for anyone who doesn't want a dedicated side thread.
 
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Boop

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André was exhausted. He felt like he hasn't slept in weeks - it wasn't that far off. His dad was much worse. The man seemed to have aged years since his wife died, and André was sort of afraid that he was going to lose his dad too.

He was clinging to his dad's hand unabashedly when they left the portal, looking somewhere around 10 years old, small and lost.

But he had to keep it together a little longer. When he got his picture taken for the temporary id, he warned them about his abilities, too tired to take advantage of the opportunity for pranks. Chameleon did manage to shift back into his main form, and the person taking the photo didn't even comment on the fact that his hair colour was still changing.
After that he didn't let go of his dad's hand again, looking around for anyone in this mass influx they actually knew.
 

Wuffy

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Xavier walked through the portal, wearing his outfit with mask, goggles and hoodie pulled down. He had a slight limp, and a general messy and scuffed up look. Just like many others, he looked tired. He carried with him a backpack full of belongings he was able to salvage from the wreck that became his home. It was a light bag.

The past few days had been restless, as Xavier tried to find others from his family, and helped people who were trapped. He made his way to get his temporary ID first. It wasn’t the best ID he’s ever had, seeing his messy face in the picture. Next he made his way to get a blanket and clothes, then some food. He just sat himself down, wrapped himself in the blanket, and started eating the food. All the while, he kept a look out for anyone he knew. His parents and siblings, his friends, people he worked with. Anyone.
 

Romi

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Most people had come through the portal alone, or with a few select family members. Very few families were intact. Finch, on the other hand, had come through with a literal swarm of birds fleeing the end of the world, most of which flew off the moment they were through a portal. Several more nervous birds had taken to perching on Finch, leading to no small amount of distress and confusion as Manta Carlos officials tried to figure out how to handle things. Finch wasn't exactly not cooperating, but he was definitely spending more time comforting his birds than he was dealing with anyone from Manta Carlos.

Right up until he spotted a sort of familiar face.

Finch slid over to Vortex, turning their mask up to look up at Vortex.

"Vortex?" Finch said, his voice unable to be described in any way other than screechy. "Is that you?"

Few people knew finch, but everyone knew Gallant. He'd been the very last through the portal, ensuring that every person they'd gathered up made it to their new home. Even though he'd retired years before, he came through the portal in his full armor, a suit of red knights armor that would be recognizable to anyone from Halcyon.

There were many familiar faces, but Gallant almost immediately set his eyes on a young boy. One of the youngest. There were a few small children, but for the most part it was teenagers and adults--those strong enough to have lived through the first wave of what was happening around them. Seeing someone so young clinging to a man who was so clearly his father made Gallant's heart turn, and he strode towards them, addressing Andre's father first.

"Are the two of you alright?"
 

Wuffy

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Xavier jumped a little where he sat, surprised partially by someone suddenly saying his name, also because of the fact they screeched it. He looked where he was just called... His eyes lit up, and a look of relief appeared on his face. Someone he recognised!

Albeit he's only met Finch a couple of times, but still. "Finch!" He sounded a little surprised as he quickly stood up. Partially because he was a little surprised Finch was able to recognise him so quick. Guess the rest of the outfit was pretty unique. He left the blanket, and clothes he'd picked up, on the ground along with his backpack. "I mean, yeah it's me." He genuinely sounded so happy to see someone he actually knew.

@Romi
 

Romi

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Vortex wasn't exactly Finch's first choice for who to find, but a familiar face was a familiar face. That said, he wasn't sure who he wanted, so long as he knew them.

"I remember everyone I've ever worked with," Finch said, bobbing their head with each word. "Except those that I don't."

Which was a lot, if he was being realistic. But once he'd worked with someone, he tended to remember them a lot better than people he met in day to day life. It was important to remember clients, so he put the extra effort in.

Finch craned his neck around, inspecting the surroundings and finding a lot of people, but no one really interacting with Vortex. Just him. Which kind of answered his question, but he asked it anyway.

"Have you seen anyone else you know?"
 

Boop

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Chameleon's dad was in shock. He was a normal man with a normal job and a normal life. Even his son, though he had strange abilities and worked with the government, wasn't one of those flashy superhero types. And now everything was gone, his wife dead and being eaten by something he couldn't process, his home lost.

When Gallant himself came over to talk to them, he frowned and pulled André closer to him, as if to protect him from the red knight, mumbling a curt, "We're fine. Sir."

Chameleon didn't resist his dad's pulling, but he did attempt an apologetic smile at Gallant. His shifting was second nature by now, and while he did have very good control for the most part, in times like this when he wasn't working, his ability was more affected by mood. Looking 10 had been almost unconscious, but now confronted, he gradually shifted back up to his own age. "He misses mom, home. We all do."

@Romi
 

Wuffy

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Xavier considered what Finch just said, a small smile on his face. "So you remember other people just as well as anybody?" He let out a small laugh. He was a pretty cheerful guy, and he used humour if things were a bit glum. The situation right now wasn't exactly... the greatest. "I'm just glad to be seeing someone I recognise." He sighed.

He noticed Finch look around, and was about to question what he was looking at but... Finch spoke before he could. He had been still trying to find his friends and family... He sat back down on the ground, looking away from Finch for a moment. "I... haven't found anyone." He folded his arms. He wanted to be optimistic, but everywhere he looked, he found no trace of anyone he knew in his more personal life.

To be honest, Xavier has been running off fumes by this point with the optimism and energy. It was kind of catching up to him that his family was probably... gone. Before, he never thought he'd be upset by this. He always felt that compared to his other siblings, he didn't receive any notice from anyone in his family.

@Romi
 

Romi

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Gallant gave a sympathetic smile behind the mask, reaching up to snap the faceplate up so they could see his expressions. He probably didn't need it. Supposedly, the island of Manta Carlos was a safe haven, but he couldn't help but be a bit wary. Just because someone said it was safe didn't mean it actually was, and he wasn't going to let any more people get hurt.

Halcyon City was small enough as it was.

Gallant shifted slightly, going down on one knee so he could talk to Chameleon directly.

"Of course," Gallant said. "We've all lost people important to us. But what matters now is who we have left, and for you, that's your father."


"Yes, yes yes yes," Finch babbled. "Familiar faces are good. I could make do anywhere, but having friends makes things nice."

A crow swooped down, landing on Finch's shoulder, and the small man cooed gently, reaching up to scratch at the bird's chest feathers.

"The birds like it here, yes. They say it's easier to fly."

Not all that surprising, considering a portion of the atmosphere had been punched out, which made it awfully difficult to fly. Or breath. Being on Manta Carlos felt like the first time he'd gotten an actual lungful of air in a long while.

"It will be okay," Finch said, his voice still screechy despite his very best attempt at obviously being comforting. "There are nice people here."
 

Boop

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Chameleon nodded firmly. Sure, he was shaken up too, and not used to anything as crazy as leaving his entire home behind, being a refugee. But he's always kinda been expected to be more than just a kid, if not quite an adult either. "Yes, sir." It was a lot less bitter than his father's reply had been.

Looking at his dad beside him, André even smiled a little. "I know I have him." His dad was still holding him protectively, but the man seemed lost in thought. "I'm gonna take care of him too... You probably have a lot of people to talk to, but thanks for this."
 
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