Dec 13 13:47:36 108 PA - New Face and Unknown Destination
From Chronicles
Dec 13 13:47:36 108 PA.
INSIDE THE CITY GATES
Mid-December in Missouri is a cold winter indeed. It came early this year, an ironic statement because it comes 'early' every year, right around the same time. Currently, a two-foot deep blanket of snow has collected all over. However, as the old highway drives in through the gates, the passing vehicles have crushed the snow into oblivion on the road, but piled it six feet or higher on the sides. Dirty, black slush that most people avoid. This is no place to not be on one's toes - even in winter, people drive like maniacs. A shorter man dressed in white and cream garb is coming in from the east, where much of the traffic peels off to be parked or repaired.
Which is more dangerous: huge drifts or rushing vehicles? The cloaked figure walks along the edge of the dirty slush, splitting the hazards. Boots and a simple wooden staff plop into the dirty slush on the way south from the gates. For all the activity around, the deep hood stays pointed ahead. Not much paranoia or sightseeing going on.
There isn't much to see here, where it's more of a traffic diversion than anything else. Particularly if you've lived here - even if not nearly as long as others. Humming and intermittently whistling and singing an old tune unlikely to be recognized, the fellow in white and cream picks up his motion into a slow jog. Something that could be kept up for a long time, though not terribly fast in itself. "...comes marching home again.. hurrah.. .. men will cheer and the boys will shout... ....the ladies they will..." He'll soon reach the cloaked figure from the side, no other noise rising above passing vehicles than the crunching of slush beneath boots.
Aya continues walking, though a few of her steps eventually slow. This puts the jogging and singing man's point of intercept in front rather than alongside, if things continue as they are. Aside from that, she makes no obvious reaction to him or any of the noisy vehicles moving around.
Even though there are nearly as many pedestrians moving in and out as there are vehicles, every once in a while someone will catch a person's attention for no apparent reason. Perhaps it was the slight bit of slowing. Perhaps the robe blew just the right way. Whatever it was, the white-and-cream, wintry-clad figure's slow jog turns back into a walk, slush and ice crunching beneath feet. A head of salt-and-pepper hair is revealed as the man pulls back the hood of his jacket, the front-fur having been framing his mildly tanned face. He falls into step alongside the robed figure, but at a polite distance. Speaking over the din of the passing vehicles, he calls, "Hello! Cold day to be coming in from the wilderness." The tones come out in what those in another time would call a thick Kentucky drawl.
A few more steps fall before, "Hello. Yes, it is cold." The greeting is proper, if not any warmer than the air. After three more steps, the hood pans in the man's direction and lowers. She could be looking him over, but it is hard to tell. All that is easily visible are lips and chin that match the obviously feminine voice.
Oh, so it is a woman. Gabriel dips his head and smiles. "Hi there, ma'am. Miss. Little hard to tell with the hood. Keeps the cold out, though." He has to step aside as one hovertruck takes a dangerous slide to the side. "Just coming in?" He allows for a light chuckle, then, "Sorry, your hood caught my eye. Hundred thousand people in the city, but every once in a while someone looks more interesting than others - I'm not usually one of the more interesting ones." He laughs derisively at himself. Quiet fellow, really. Nice, too. Even if he hasn't yet bothered to introduce himself to a complete stranger.
"I am not more interesting than any others." Lips purse slightly with the statement. "The hood keeps the rain out, also. You are also not interesting?" Her head remains turned in his direction as she continues to walk straight ahead, except for a sidestep around a mound of snow.
"No, no," slide out the words in his drawl. "Only thing that makes me interesting is that most people I meet think I'm old enough to be a parent. Gabriel Blaze, of Kentucky. Are you looking for somewhere in particular? Be happy to help you find it." His words are soft spoken, with a smile. As a brisk wind once more picks up, his fur hood is raised, though the white wool ski-mask head-piece remains around his neck. "I'm sure you've got your own interest, even if you don't want anyone to know. We're all unique."
Aya's lips shift again before flattening. "Not all are so different from each other. I am not looking for somewhere, only traveling this direction. What is this Kingsdale?" There is some accent to her American, but it is slight and vague.
Gabriel isn't speaking American, he's speaking English. Something that also sets him apart from just about everyone else that people are likely to meet on a regular basis. So he does occasionally have a slightly difficult time understanding. "Um.. what is Kingsdale? It's a city. People live here, work here.. it's a city. Manufacturing, you name it. I can't really tell you this by myself, it's more hearsay for me - but they say that Kingsdale's kind of a beacon of hope. Not a lot of racism and such. Magicians and psychics, tech." His wintered shoulders shrug. "Apparently it's a better place than most else. So, a woman arriving in a place, and she doesn't know where it is that she's come? See, that's interesting." He pauses for a moment before asking politely, "If you feel comfortable, I'd like to know your name. Perhaps I can help you out with where you don't know where you're looking to go?"
Aya listens. With some interest, if the tilt of her head is any indication. "There are many people here, of many kinds?" She shakes her head. "I know nothing of Kingsdale and have never come here before." There is a long stretch of silence and two puddles are stepped over or around before she offers, "My name is Aya."
"Aya, nice to meet you. I suppose that you'll really have to see the city yourself to understand it. People of all kinds. But unless you have some really powerful powers, stay out of the southeast side. They call it the 'Dregs, and it's basically lawless. Gangs, supernatural beasts - not a good place." Gabriel shakes his head and confirms, "I do my best to stay out of it. You must not be coming in from Tolkeen or anything like that; you'd know what a city was."
"I will avoid these Dregs," Aya nods, taking heed of the warning. "Did you come from Tolkeen?" Her head finally turns back to face in the direction of their steps. She neither confirms nor denies his assumption.
Gabriel chuckles quietly. "No, no. I'm.. not from around here. A little hard to explain. Back east, far east and... even further than that." He's then quiet for a few good seconds, crunching along through the slush. "Still, I'm not going to badger a stranger, not even an interesting one. Particularly if you aren't looking for directions. I guess my only other advise is to stay out of the Park at night, and watch your wallet in the Merchant's Plaza. There're a couple of good places to stay the night, warm, out of the elements. But, I'll not keep you. You have someplace to go, obviously, even if you don’t know what it is yet."
Aya is not in any great hurry even if she never stopped her steps. She is coordinated enough to walk and speak at the same time. "I will be wary." Her head turns again and her lips curl. Upwards, this time, in something close to a small, deliberate smile. "Where are these good places?" Aya could now have a more specific place to go. Out of the cold and wet is better than in it.
An eyebrow quirks upward. Conversation? "Keep heading south, but keep to the east side of the road. There's a place called Happy Days Inn, best in the city. Don't know your inclination or budget, but if you're looking for permanent lodging, you can find just about everything." Gabriel pauses, friendly, but not ready to ramble on about the various apartment and condominium complexes without knowing more.
"Happy Days," Aya repeats the name with a nod before turning her head to the southeast. She falls silent afterward for several steps. Then, almost as an afterthought, Aya adds, "Thank you."
"You're welcome, Aya," Gabriel says, dipping his hooded head. "Best wishes to you. I hope I'll be seeing you around. There's a coffee shop off the Plaza that I like. Nice and warm. But I'll be on my way, leave you alone. Remember, watch your wallet in the Merchant's Plaza, don't enter the Plaza Park at night, and stay out of the southeast quarter. Now, a stranger will leave you alone. Take care." Gabriel takes only a few strides before he's once again moving off at the slow jog, deeper into the city.
