Aug 06 20:11:48 107

From Chronicles

Aug 06 20:11:48 107

Kingsdale - South West Dregs

There are no trees or fields, but the Dregs are still a wilderness. The landscape is different, the predators are different, yet the danger is the same. Daeni travels along the street, conspicuous in that she is dressed more for the wilds outside the gates than in.

Dorian walks at a measured pace along the street. His manner is confident, though his face carries a mixed look of wariness, watchfulness, and a touch of sadness. He stops and gives the woman in green and tan a curious look. He tips his hat to her.

Daeni is alert, grey eyes constantly on the move over her surroundings. The man with the strange hat is quickly noted surveyed before her attention moves on. His halt and gesture then promptly pull her eyes back to him and she also stops to look him over more intently.

Dorian tips his hat again. "Howdy Ma'am. I don't mean to be rude. You just look kinda out a place 'round here. Probably more so than I do. I didn't mean to give offense. My name's Dorian. I do apologize if you thought I was gawking."

"What is gawking?" Daeni asks as she continues to regard him warily. One can never be too careful. "My place is where I stand and I come here often." Her words carry a lilting accent, and she could be more displaced than he judging by that alone.

Dorian appears to think over her response for a moment. A slight grin comes to his face. "Well Ma'am, gawking means staring. It's considered rude in some circles of society. Like I said, I didn't mean to do that." He looks around for a moment, "I don't come here often. I'm kinda new in town, and still getting my bearings. This place is rather depressing. Not as bad as Juarez, but still...." He sighs, "I was hoping things like this didn't exist everywhere."

Daeni relaxes her gaze upon him enough to expand her field of focus further around them. "If rude to me, you would know. This place is what is. Danger. That is everywhere, more some places."

Dorian looks around a bit as he nods, "Yep, you're right about that. More some 'en others, I reckon." He refocuses his attention on the woman, and smiles. "I didn't catch your name."

"I did not throw it." She explains before offering it. "I am Daeni. Why do you come here?" There is no accusation, only curiosity.

There is a bit of a scuffle between a group of squatters in the near distance. There is some loud swearing, and cussing that ceases as quickly as it began.

Dorian chuckles a bit, "My you take things for what they are, Miss Daeni. It's a pleasure to meet ya." His hand strays towards his knife, as he notices the commotion. He returns his attention Daeni, still smiling. "I guess you could say I'm sorta exploring. Like I said, I'm kinda new in town."

Daeni's brows lift upwards. "What are things if not what they-" The question is abandoned as she pivots her entire body to the sounds of scuffle and raised voices. She reflexively tenses, not frightened, but wary. Her attention does not leave the direction of the noise immediately, even as she speaks. "Explore too far, too quick, and be dead." It could be a friendly pieces of advice.

Dorian gives a brief, hearty laugh. "If ya ain't quick enough, you can end up dead too." He gives her another curious look, "So, you ain't from around here, are ya?"

"No." Daeni shakes her head slightly and takes the opportunity to pan her gaze as well. "Not from here, but quick enough. Many humans slow."

Dorian nods a bit, "You sure pack a lot of meaning in a few words Miss Daeni." Still smiling he continues, "I ain't saying I'm the sharpest tool in the shed, but I ain't the dullest. I get along alright." He gives a bit of a gesture to the surroundings, "So, what brings you here? If I can be so nosy, as to ask?"

The corners of her lips twitch in an upward hint as Daeni mimics his gesture. "More danger here, so makes good practice." Eyes follow the wave of her hand. "Many strong prey to hunt here."

Dorian looks rather thoughtful for a moment. He looks around for a couple of moments. "So....you hunt here?" His question is asked rather tentatively.

"I hunt here," Daeni nods, "and in forests. There for food and to train, here for to train. Also explore same time." She does strive to put as much information in as few words as possible. It is more efficient, and the human tongue is difficult enough as it is.

Dorian nods again, "Well....I guess it makes sense. My little brother used to run the guantlets to hone his skills." He shrugs, "Me, I'd just as soon break horses, and punch cattle for a living....honest labor is the best as my dad used to say."

Daeni nods her approval. "Too many lazy and not work. No work, no ..." she pauses to grope for a word "... worth. Not for what have or who have it."

Dorian looks at the woman in tan, and green seriously. "Well Miss Daeni, you just said a mouthful. I had another brother who used to point out that too. Their gone now, but I think about that often."

"Brothers good to have." Daeni agrees, her features relaxing but a moment in her own, personal reminiscence. The moment passes and her visage firms once more. "Must think of now and later, not past."

Dorian shrugs a bit, "Well, ya gotta know where ya been. If ya wanna figure out where you're going." He looks a bit pained for a brief moment.

Daeni shakes her head and makes a cursory scan of their surroundings. "No. Look back too much, not see where going. Thoughts on before, ignore now, now kills you."

Dorian gives a hearty laugh. "Well Ma'am. We all gotta go sometime. The best ya can do is figure out the way you're gonna go."

Daeni exhales a brisk snort. "I not fall in hole looking over shoulder. Not forget past, also not think of all times." It is possible that her mild annoyance improves her American. On the other hand, it could merely be coincidence.

Dorian looks thoughtfully at his companion. He nods, "You got something there Miss Daeni. Ya can't go forward looking backwards. I was just saying that ya gotta remember where ya been. Ya gotta remember it to have some grounding. If ya don't learn from mistakes, you're gonna make 'em again."

"Yes. Must learn." Daeni and Dorian are in agreement and the misinterperetation is clarified. Her weight shifts to favor one leg then the other before she sweeps the area with a glance yet again.

Dorian scans the area briefly. He smiles, "I imagine that they want nothing to do with us at the moment, Miss Daeni. It's vultures, and jackals that prey around these parts. They want the weak. Ya don't look weak."

Daeni gestures with her hand, vaguely, to the area around them. "Most are stupid. I am not weak, some still try. They not try again." She is very certain of these facts.

Dorian looks at the woman frankly. In a matter-of-fact voice he says, "You are one tough customer, Miss Daeni. I damn sure hope to count you among my friends, instead of my enemies."

Daeni concludes her gestures with a finger pointed at Dorian and a fresh hint of curl at her lips. "You are smart human. Keep smart when explore and you not die." Following the compliment, her eyes move past him, searching rather than furtive. "Find good hunting, you tell me."

Dorian ponders Daeni's statement a moment. He then nods slowly, "I gotcha Miss Daeni. I agree. I'll let ya know if I come across anything. You sure are something else. Maybe we can share a campfire sometime. I ain't that bad of a cook."

"Maybe." There is no indication in Daeni's tone to evaluate the likelihood, high or low. What something else he may think her, so does not know, nor does she dwell on it. No offense appears taken, although her eyes have come to linger upon part of the nearby building above them. Several rapid steps are taken before she springs upwards, catches hold of a bent girder easily 4 meters from the ground, and swings herself in a partial flip to land atop it. Once crouched in her perch, her eyes lower to the man. "Good to talk, Dorian, now is time to hunt."

Dorian looks a bit suprised. He quickly recovers, and then tips his hat. He studies her for a brief moment. He grins, "It was pleasure meeting ya Ma'am. You take care. And good hunting to ya. I hope to see you again soon."

Dorian produces a cigarette from his pocket and strikes a match on the brim of his hat. He gives the woman another brief glance as he puffs the tobacco to life. He turns and walks away whistling a rather melancholy tune.

Daeni nods once to the man, and then she is off. The decrepit building and its neighboors are not trees, but they offer her an elevated path and vantage points to run along or leap between.