Got him a penthouse view from the tip-top of the food chain, boys

[swordedpast]

WHO: Anyone who cares to join in!
WHERE: Near Union Square.
WHEN: During the day on Saturday, March 30th, and Sunday, March 31st.
WARNINGS: Nothing too terrible, though there may be minor violence in some threads.
SUMMARY: An imPort-themed street fair is held; a protest takes place next to it; shenanigans probably occur.
FORMAT: Tagger's choice.

Street fairs are an ordinary thing on the weekends in the City. A block will be closed off to traffic: merchants selling jewelry and knick-knacks and scarves and rugs set up their stalls, and vendors hawk cotton candy and funnel cake. Organizations wave passersby over to hand out pamphlets. That's a pretty typical thing. So in some ways, the spectacle now taking up a City block not far from Union Square is a perfectly normal sight.

In some ways.

But this is no ordinary street fair. The food vendors don't sell ordinary hot dogs; they sell "hero dogs," with buns shaped like capes. All the art being sold at various stalls has a theme based around the exploits of imPorts--unless it's actually sold by an imPort. That's also a possibility, here. The more theatrically-inclined among the imPort population can be seen now and again over the weekend putting on shows of their own on small stages about the street, or maybe simply greeting fans. A few booths are manned by imPorts themselves and offer pamphlets and fliers explaining various imPort-focused organizations. All in all, it's a nice little festival, and surely nothing at all will go wrong.

Well, except for the fact that on the next street over, a protest is going on. The rising anti-imPort group 4532 lines the streets in numbers at least enough to make a scene. Some peacefully hold up signs; others lean a little too close to the tape closing off the street for the fair and heckle the crowds. As the weekend wears on, there may well be some violence here. But with people like this around, someone should be able to break it up, right?

[ OOC: The information on this mini-plot can be found here. Please mingle in comments! If appropriate, feel free to have your character be in charge of a booth, putting on a show, or helping out in some way. ]

Comments

open; prose or quick, i'll switch to match!

[topslug]

It's a bit surprising to her that anyone's thought of putting this together. As an ImPort herself, but certainly no superhero, she doesn't stand out much from the rest of the civilian's milling through. She's mostly there to sample the wares on offer and to watch the performances other ImPorts have put on. Whenever and wherever she is to be found, she's most likely to be found with something edible in hand, thoughtfully munching away as she looks at what's available and speaks with the Cityzens running the fair, listening to what they have to say. The outside perspective on ImPorts is insightful, to say the least: it's one thing to know, intellectually, the impact they have, and another to actually hear about it.

The presence of 4532 is hard to miss, but unless actual violence breaks out, the most she'll do for the moment is listen to their protests, and coax the few that look like they might actually start throwing things to back down. Surprisingly enough, some of them actually listen, though that may be less because they're convinced than they're confused by a young woman earnestly offering them a taste of some of the food the street stalls have to offer.

[incywincyhero]

[Once the latest batch of possible converts to open-mindedness have left, a man who's been quietly watching from a few paces away speaks up.]

Kill 'em with kindness, eh? I like it. That was well handled.

[After some consideration, Peter had decided to show up to the fair in his civvies. He was wearing his costume underneath, as always, but he wanted to give the protestors the benefit of the doubt, and not risk goading them with a Spider-Man appearance. He almost spoke up -- as Peter Parker -- the first time one of the 4532 accosted the young woman, but clearly she had things well in hand. Maybe a bit unconventionally, but he was hardly one to talk.]

[topslug]

[ She wasn't aware of being observed -- or perhaps, more accurately, she was aware of it but didn't think to take note of it. People tend to think Yako Katsuragi is odd for any number of reasons, and she's gotten used to catching attention one way or another.

The remark seemed positive enough, if wholly unexpected, and she gave Peter a sheepish smile. ]

There's no reason you can't have a good conversation with someone just because you don't see eye to eye on some things, right? [ She glances at the rest of the protesters. ] I don't think most of these people are looking for trouble. They just want their voices to be heard.

[incywincyhero]

Yeah. It's hard to blame them for not getting it, honestly -- even back home people got scared sometimes, and we've have superheroes there for decades.

So long as they're not rioting, or hurting people, anyway... [He shakes his head. He remembers the War of Four Walls.]

I'm Peter, by the way. [He sticks out a hand.]

[topslug]

I'm Yako. Nice to meet you. [ She takes his hand without hesitation, giving it a firm shake before letting go. ]

Your world had superheroes? [ It's not an uncommon story, of course, but if there was any doubt he was an ImPort, it's gone now. Curiosity's easy enough to read on her features, though after a moment's consideration, she decides it's probably best if they start moving away from the gathered crowd. Talking about that superheroes probably isn't a good idea around people who are protesting against them. ]

I never met any myself, until I got here.

[incywincyhero]

[Peter gets the general idea and walks with her, back towards the friendlier atmosphere of the fair proper.]

Yeah, I know a lot of imPorts come from quieter places. Or if not quieter -- [a rueful smile] -- less spandexy.

[topslug]

[ That gets him a soft laugh, though she notices the ruefulness in his expression. ]

I wouldn't say it was quieter back home, but there were fewer people in costumes. The Porter doesn't seem to care about the kind of world you come from.

[ She glances out over the fair, like she's trying to decide what attraction she wants to check out next, then nods at him. ]

Have you had the chance to see everything yet?

[incywincyhero]

Well, with one exception -- I don't think I've met anyone who comes from a universe quite as, well, normal as this place used to be. But I take your point.

[He sweeps a hand in front of him, inviting her to take the lead.] I just got here a few minutes ago, so if you have any suggestions...

[topslug]

I suppose she thought people from ordinary worlds wouldn't make great heroes. [ Kidding, though. She's not planning to be a hero anytime soon, no matter what Lachesis claims to want to turn them into.

She hums thoughtfully under her breath as she steps forward. ]

I've only really looked at the food-- [ And she seems a trifle embarrassed, at that, though she recovers her composure quickly. ] So I don't have much of a better idea than you do.

[incywincyhero]

Well, how about -- [He closes his eyes, spins in a circle, and stabs the air at random. Then he opens his eyes to see what he's picked--] the import-themed trash sculptures? Those look, uh. Interesting. [He glances back in her direction, raising a brow -- it's hard to tell if he's daring her or expressing his sheepishness.]

[topslug]

[ She has to cover her mouth to stifle a grin, but the amusement is clearly visible anyway. ]

Best one out of three, maybe? [ Despite the light joke, she's already stepping forward along towards the the stall in question. ]

Although I'm not sure if I'd be any good at recognizing who they're supposed to be. I've never heard of any of the superheroes here.