catchall | September | open

[spiralpatterns]

Characters: Zephyr, X, anyone else who feels like it
Date: Septemberish
Location: Dreaming Bridge, Aifaran
Situation: Many, lots
Warnings/Rating: Will warn in thread headers if it gets there



A | X | Dreaming Bridge | Closed

"Hey, buddy, got a sec?" This is without preamble as Zephyr ambles home one day from another of his assorted odd jobs. He flops headlong into his bunk without waiting for an answer; but he adjusts after a moment to look sidelong over at X, thoughtful.

He doesn't actually bother to get up.

B | Faith 2 | Open

"Please hide me." This is said very earnestly as Zephyr ducks into the shop and heads for the nearest friendly Dreamperson. He jerks his head outside; there's a Ban Om acolyte just standing there. Watching. Smiling.

Zephyr looks, to say the least, harried.

C | Meta 1 | Open

So Zephyr's been doing a bit of exploring this month, more consciously than simply going where work takes him. Looking into areas he likes, areas that might have nice apartments to live in. Places he could consciously call a home, instead of just kind of... drifting.

Unfortunately, today the yimo's mapping is on the fritz. Seems like interference, but who's he to judge? Zephyr trips into a ditch, mutters a curse, and thumps it before shoving it back into his pocket. There is some muttering to himself. "That's what I get for trying to use a damn map, I guess."

Comments

C

[annihilist]

In what is either complete coincidence or the universe conspiring to force them to interact, Devin is there to see Zephyr's mishap. Such are the dangers of mobile devices and walking. He hasn't forgotten Zephyr's commentary on his ability to be a guardian, and his gaze is appropriately frigid.

"You might try a paper map," Devin suggests coolly, standing at a little distance. His posture is forcibly relaxed. "Or barring that, ask for directions."

[spiralpatterns]

Oh, awesome, this guy.

Even in the ditch, Zephyr's expression cools noticeably, out of 'mildly annoyed' and into 'somewhat chilly.' "Where's the fun in that?" he asks, with a sort of casualness that is just a hair on the forced side. "Unless it's the kind of map with here there be dragons on it. Maybe I like getting lost."

You don't know him, Devin. And if you did Zephyr might be forced to change some things out of spite.

[annihilist]

Devin arches an eyebrow. "You might consider coming up with a less transparent excuse for falling distractedly into a ditch," he says mildly. "Unless this counts as 'lost' or 'fun' in your book."

Do yourself a favor and don't try to pretend it is, Zephyr. Anyone with eyes can see it is neither of those things. He considers offering Zephyr a hand up for about half a second before deciding the likelihood it'll be taken is approximately nil. Instead, he moves closer - but not directly over Zephyr. Making himself appear threatening is unnecessary.

"If you can be convinced to get off of your metaphorical high horse while you're much more literally down to earth, I can tell you how to get where you're going," Devin remarks flatly.

[spiralpatterns]

The shittiest part is that even these same words, coming from Sara or Kana, would be about a hundred times better. From this asshole they're just grating and depressing. Zephyr clambers out of the ditch and aggressively shoves his hands into his pockets.

"Depends on the company," he says finally. "A bunch of really shitty things can get tolerable if you've got the right company."

Oh, he definitely shouldn't have said that. Zephyr presses on.

"I'm at least half wandering, anyway," he says, eying Devin. "Got an idea of where in the city I want to be, mostly, but I want to see what the neighborhoods are like. Apartment-hunting, y'know?"

[annihilist]

It feels a little like talking with a sullen teenager, though the remark on company suggests that Zephyr has more reason to be sullen than purely uninformed dislike. Zephyr has friends, somewhere, and circumstances when he needs them. The instinct to dig into that is on the tip of his tongue, a barb always at the ready - but he doesn't say what comes to mind. If Devin decides to rip into him, he will at least do so based on grounded observation, and facts where possible.

And, as it happens, Devin has had a similar experience when it comes to the right company.

"Seeing as I live in an apartment, yes," he says dryly. "I am aware of both the concept and its practical application. Keep your eyes up if you want to see what a place is like," Devin suggests. He pauses and looks down the street with intensity he might otherwise reserve for a glare. "Watch the people, not the streets, and they'll show you something you won't find on any map. You might even learn something, if you're paying attention."

[spiralpatterns]

"And yet, if I keep my eyes up, I run the risk of tripping into ditches again." This is with a flash of self-deprecating humor; he's giving up the pretense that he meant to do that.

Hands still in pockets, Zephyr starts ambling down the street, jerking his chin at Devin. "Fair enough. If you've got something else to say, you can people-watch and talk with me." Because he doesn't really feel like giving this guy a whole lot of time out of his plans, but-- well, Zephyr's been wrong about people before.

Occasionally.