Jun 08 00:39:53 106 PA - Midnight Encounter in the Dregs
From Chronicles
Weather at Wed Jun 08 00:39:53 106 PA (18.85C, 65.92F):
Small spits of rain and wind dance underneath the blackened sky. The thick cloud cover drifts calmly overhead, content, but nonetheless looming.
The darkness in the Dregs has earned a sacred quality all of its own. Midnight brings a hushed reverence to the streets where every man, woman and child are transformed into acolytes burdened under vows of silence. The quiet makes the occasional laser blast in the distance all the more stark when it rings out, but occasionally there's a peppering of simpler gunfire to be heard too. The darkness makes Anastasi stand out stark against it as well, a white gossamer girl sitting cross-legged on top of a rusted out car bathing in the light of one of the few working streetlamps left on this jagged stretch of road. Rain patters down on her when it falls, ignored in favor of the cigarette she smokes in daydreaming indolence.
The lamp is far from the only light in the night as another approaches. Burning blue with magical energy a hand lights a young woman's way. Her red hair shimmering slightly in the flames halo as she approaches the sanctioned circle of electrical light. Her flame dimming as she nears the bright, her pupils contracting within her vibrant red irises. Her blazer appearing golden in the bath of the white light. She looks curiously at the girl present, the girl she saw from afar that inspired her to inter the light that outshone her own. "You seem different from others around here." She states in a cautious tone, an observation to be explored.
"I am different," Stasi responds, speaking around the cigarette held between two fingers at her lips. "...from the others around here." There's a queer pause, a break in the cadence, masked under the orange flare of the cigarette's tip and a lungful of bitter smoke. Her pale blue eyes wander up Tirzah from heel to head, taking a measure and assessing the mojo. "You are too," she decides.
Light is a rarity in the Dresg at night, yet it is congregating during the wee hours of this one. Yet one more soul approaches, possibly drawn by the illumination in the otherwise looming darkness. The man is conspicous in his approach to the pair, striding down the center of the broken street. He shares some stark white apparel with one, and also a cerulean luminescence with the other. The latter is concentrated within his eyes and the mark upon his forehead.
The fiery woman nods, letting the flames form her hand die out in the lamplight as her eyes adjust it to a bearable haze. "I don't reside here. I venture sometimes, to scavenge, explore or hunt. It is a good place to find the unexpected." She offers in explanation to her presence. And another presence can not go unnoticed as he approaches the light. To the eye, it is a most appealing figure, perfect in most ways. But in contrast her intuition makes her wary as she can feel the power in the air around him.
"Yeah," Stasi breathes smoke, roiling clouds drifting through the wet haze and white light. Her eyes are already slid sidewise to mark Adon's approach before she can agree, "the unexpected." The cigarette cartwheels away, flicked end of end to die with a gasp in the running water in the gutter. She stands up on the car's roof, tense like a coiled spring, and settles her hand on the reassurance of her sword's hilt.
Adon continues to approach to just within the circle of light, where it abruptly halts. Each of the women are scrutinized a long moment, in turn, until whatever concerns the man wishes to answer are satisfied. A hand is lifted in a semblance of a wave, but the limb does not 'wave.' "It is not safe to venture here, moreso after dusk. Caution on part of you both is wise."
Tirzah is a bit taken aback by the warning, her intuition having not prepared her for it. But after considering it for a second she relaxes and smirks, letting the power she held ready in her link slide back. "Caution is always wise, regardless of the reputation of the lands around you. And safety is relative. Is it safe for you here sir?" She asks in return, her attention devoted to his presence now, though the other girl's readiness to fight or run is noticed with a glance.
"Caution yourself, bucko," Stasi advises as color, such as it is, returns to the knuckles pressed against her sword. "And put a shirt on, Sally Ann's is three blocks that way." Her thumb shows the way, the rest of her stays where it is.
"Indeed it is." His chin dips to the red woman with Adon's nod. "The risk is greater here than elsewhere, so I seek to reduce it. I am both more, and less, safe than others." His attention shifts to the pale one, and focuses firmly once more. "Who is this Sally Ann and why should I visit her?"
Tirzah nods slowly accepting the replies as her smile grows confident. "Well I am quite safe here, having been her in many conditions. I can take care of myself. But do you always make a note of assuming others are not aware of their surrounding. Do you think we are oblivious to the gunfire in the distance or the devastation all around. This is not the city proper a few blocks away, this is the dregs. One would have to be robbed of all senses not to realize that, as its nature permeates them." She notes correcting the powerful one so she might assess his reaction. "And sally an is a thrift store where you could find a shirt and not give ladies the wrong impression."
Adon shakes his head in response. "I assumed nothing. My warning was offered in courtesy, not insult. There may be far worse threats stalking the night than the rebellious or desitute. Whatever impression a shirt prevents is not intended, but that I choose not to wear one, is."
Tirzah nods slowly, her smile unfaltering. "Like vampires or other horrors. Discretion is advisable, preparation more so. As I said I'm not new here. And while your intention may be chivalrous you still don't escape the condescending nature of chivalry. I can take care of myself, as our well being and actions our our own responsibility perhaps realize that I must be aware of this to still be here. Reserve chivalry for situations I do not understand, there it can be welcome."
"If you don't know what Sally Ann's is, I should be the one warning -you-." Stasi's hand slips from her sword and she tugs her coat closed over it. She turns back to Tirzah, crouches down on the roof the decaying hulk of the car and fishes for another cigarette. "So you're scavenging? Exploring?" Nevermind the detour, she gets this conversation back on track.
"My actions are corrected." Tirzah now receives another nod from Adon, this one respectfully deepend into a partial bow. "You know more of this city than I, as my arrival is recent. Know you where the vampires or others skulk in these shadows?" There is no sarcasm nor patronizing tone to his words. Merely an acknowledgement followed by practical question.
Flare comes out of the trailer park humming a bit to herself. For once there is no sign of glitter in her hair, or on her skin as the crimson haired elf walks along. She seems to be in a good mood, and as she sees a familiar face, gives a wave towards Tirzah.
Tirzah shrugs as the debate wins out in her favor to look to Anastasi. "A little of both, I like finding treasure and don't mind the trouble that often comes with it. Restless nights I come here. Tonight feeling especially so." She replies before looking back to Adon. "Where the meat is, and where shleter from the daylight is plentiful. Where would you hide a box holding a corpse you don't want anyone to ever take interest it? Amongst that people lost interest in ages ago?" She asks, pointing out the flawless logic mercilessly. And then a warm smile finds her expression as she returns the wave to Flare.
Anastasi nods agreement with Tirzah's statement. She leaps down off the car, not bothering to stand up first, falling the few feet in a rustle of white cloth and confident balance. "It's pretty safe here," she adds. "The Vigs like things quiet, so the fangs are all deeper in. It's ugly there." It says a lot, considering the place where it's said.
Adon is enlightened further, on several matters, by Tirzah's succinct logic. "My thanks for you generous wisdom." The acknowledgement is flat, and the nod to the one in white just as expressive. "Then my hunt moves 'deeper in.'" Whether further comment is intended, the exchange of waves pulls his attention to the latest arrival. The other in red is surveyed as the rest.
Flare heads that way a bit and dips her head, "Hunt? Hmm?" she asks as she gets a bit closer. The elf dips her head and smiles, "hello," she says remembering her manners a bit.
Tirzah nods slightly to Adon at his mention of venturing deeper before looking back to Flare. "Hi Flare you seem bright tonight, things on the up?" She asks openly, the conversation about threats and hunts gladly abandoned. Looking back to Anastasi she grimaces slightly, shaking her head. "We never got introduced. I'm Tirzah." She offers, extending her hand.
Her own hunt renewed back on terra firma, Stasi finds her pack of cigarettes and plucks one out between her pale lips. "Anastasi," she returns the introduction, delicately sliding her hand into Tirzah's for a brief shake. Her eyes move among the trio, questing. "Got a light?"
The nod is returned and Adon turns to continue on with his hunt, as noted. He bears no light in the sense that Anastasi implies, so there is none to offer as he steps from the light and moves away.
Flare shrugs a bit, "No answer as to what hunt?" she asks and then nods to Anastasi, "Well I am a burster so if you need flame, can handle it, or maybe Tirzah could." she looks at Tirzah, "Oh...have a question for you."
The handshake accepted Tirzah makes a slight nod. "Good to meet you Anastasi, I'd like to know what makes you different some time I think." She invites before turning to raise her brow at Flare in curiosity. "Oh?" She asks, letting intrigue capture her attention.
Anastasi's sigh is an eloquent denouncement of society, an abyssal depth of disappointment wrapped up in a breathy little noise. She gives Tirzah's hand a light squeeze before letting go and feeling around at her pockets. "Asked if you had a light, not your life story," she notes to Flare. The unlit tip of the cigarette bobs like bottle on a stormy sea with every word. "If the answer's yes, you take care of it. If it's no, you shake your head." She finds her lighter. It's not magic, it's not psionic, but it does the job and does it with a lot less yap.
Flare nods to Tirzah, "Yeah, you mentioned a guy a while back." she says and looks curious and then looks back at Anastasi, "And if I had just burst into flames, you are saying that you wouldn't have just tried shooting me?" she shakes her head, "I have learned the hard way, to be cautious."
Tirzah shakes her head slightly, looking back to Anastasi. "My spells would just burn away your whole cigarette, besides, you seem equipped, you lit the last one." She points out with a smirk. "The big one went to hunt vampires I think. Foolish pursuit, he might get one, but a pack will tear him apart." She notes, though apparently feels no loss to the situation. Then nodding her mind gets back to Flare's question. "yeah I think so, maybe too. Of course they are men and prone to certain vulgarities, but I think they can be gentlemen at times." She explains to Flare.
The slender white stick lit and burning sweetly, Anastasi doesn't force the issue. It would take too long to explain to non-smokers the finer points of cigarette etiquette. Her lighter drops into a pocket - a different pocket than she found it in - and she draws in a thoughtful mouthful of smoke. Silent now, her turn to listen and observe.
Flare nods, "Well, as long as they are fireproof or, can deal with it somehow, tried with someone, but, he isn't and as much as he said he would risk it...." she flushes a bit and looks down.
Tirzah nods, smiling in understanding. "Well its not hard to find a scroll for such a spell in this city, and maybe a more permanent solution as well. But first I'll get the spell and we can go introduce you to him. I'm sure he'll jump at the chance to impress you with his bravery." She notes with a slight chuckle.
Two puffs on a cigarette is more than enough time to decide if she wants to get involved. She doesn't. "Nice running into you, Tirzah," Anastasi interjects. "See you around, we can catch up on our differences." She gives Flare a nod, polite enough, and holds her hand up in a lazy imitation of a wave as she starts to walk off.
Flare nods, "Any hint as to who?" she asks and then turns and glances over at Anastasi and shakes her head and looks back to Tirzah, "Sorry that I interupted that." she says and sighs a bit.
Tirzah nods slightly as Anastasi takes her leave. "Indeed, I'll watch for you." She promises before looking back to Flare. "Its alrighty, lots of time yet. I guess i can tell you, though I hope you don't already know him and he has ruined it. His name is Sebastien, he's a cyberknight." She explains to her fiery friend with an air of trepidation.
Flare shakes her head, "no, don't know him, at least I don't think I do." she says softly, "Only know a few, and the only one I know that has seen me dance is Leo." she shakes her head a bit.
Tirzah looks a bit relieved at that and smiles all the sweeter at the mention of Leo. "Leonard is an interesting guy, but unduly complicated. And any relation with him would be even more so. Sebastien though is simple enough, a chivalrous man with no qualms over expressing himself and liking what he sees. Plus he cant resist a hot date. maybe that has potential for more later, but for now I'm sure he'll be glad to help."
Flare smiles a little and then nods, "Gutsy but yes, complicated." she says and then listens a bit, "I would like to meet him." she says softly.
Tirzah nods lookijng to the horizon as it starts to show the first hint of the dawn that is a few hours away. "Of course, perhaps tomorrow or the day after?" She asks, to see if that is a good time. "I have a job today, so I'll be occupied for that. But once its done I can introduce you. Or if you like to be bold he'll be done work at the hospital shortly after dawn, he lives in Raleighs Retreat, 2nd unit." She offers, feeling confidentin giving Flare the option of her escort or not.
Flare nods, "Maybe when you are done." she says,sounding just a hint nervous. She smiles a little, "Well good luck with your job today then." she says softly.
Tirzah nods leaving the lamplight to make her way back to the city proper. "Thanks, I'm sure it will be a great job." She nots with confidence before dissolving into the night
