Summer 8 - Open

[notrosesshadow]

Morning - Community Center

Martha decided she needed a hike. While she had been avoiding people, she also wasn't really experiencing the island. Today she would. She woke up early and braided her hair... her hair. The rain had done a number on it, and she didn't have any product to even attempt to straighten it... Braids it was until she figured something else out. That done, and with proper adventuring clothes and shoes, she made her way to the Community Center. There she poked around in the kitchen. She filled a canteen with water and grabbed some various food stuffs that she could throw in her backpack. She didn't plan for this to be a massive hike, but just enough. She also make sure to add a pen and notebook.

---

Evening - Community Center

Martha sat in the lounge on the second floor with a cup of tea and a book. The hike had been what she needed, and now, she needed tea. She also should review her notes, but that could wait until she got back to her room.

Comments

[notrosesshadow]

Martha waited for him in the dining hall. She adjusted her backpack and was just finishing up tightening her boots when he came back.

"Brilliant. Let's go."

She sets off at a brisk pace. Martha wants to get to the mountain before the sun gets too high, though with summer this high north, that's difficult in and of itself.

Once they're out of the general community, she spoke again. "Haven't run across your species before. May I ask where you're from?"

[bluerocks]

He keeps up with her overall pace easily, though occasionally lags behind as he pauses to take in a view, or lets himself slip into a more leisurely stride, before quickening his steps so she doesn't get too far ahead of him.

At that question, though, he stops short. Though there didn't seem to be malice or judgement in her tone, the 'what are you, anyway?' part still strikes a sore spot.

"I came here from the Kingdom of Seyruun, though I don't claim anywhere in particular as my home," he answers flatly, knowing that probably wasn't exactly what she was asking for. "But you're pretty unlikely to find another of my kind there, or anywhere."

Self-conciously, he pulls his hood over his head before he starts walking again, walking a bit faster so he can be slightly ahead of her so she can't see his expression.

[notrosesshadow]

Martha pauses a moment, a quizzical look on her face as he moves off quickly. She caught up quickly.

"I'm sorry my questions are distressing you. I'm curious. I'm a traveler of sorts, and I meet all types of people. I... I enjoy learning about new cultures. But I can certainly keep my mouth shut while we walk."

[bluerocks]

Zel walks in silence for a while, stewing a little bit in his own bad feelings. But it feels fairly foolish after some time passes; why did he bother inviting him along onto someone else's hike if he was just going to blow her off the whole way?

"My culture is human, but my body is a chimera," he says, breaking the silence at last. "It was a curse laid on me that I haven't figured out how to cure. I'm a traveler as well. You've truly not seen anything like this in your world?"

[notrosesshadow]

He was silent long enough that she quit expecting an answer. Martha had paused and was studying a plan when he next spoke.

Her look softened as he spoke. Then she shook her head. "Nope. Lots of aliens of different types. And there're plenty of more planets for me to visit... if I ever get the chance to again. No curses in my world either. At least, not the type that aren't fully scientifically explained... albeit more advanced science than I know... I'm sorry that happened to you."

[bluerocks]

"You've traveled between planets." By now, she's not the first person he's met here with such otherworldly experiences, but there's still some awe in his voice. Now he's curious, and especially quick to get off the topic of his own source of angst once it seemed clear that she was unlikely to just produce a cure for the blues out of her pocket. "What's your home world like?"

[notrosesshadow]

"Yes I have," she replied with a smile. "I'm from Earth. In fact, a lot of my world is similar to here. I could imagine a place like this in the more rural areas of my country. This could be my world. Or it could be a parallel universe." She shook her head to clear the musings. "Sorry. Got off topic."I live in our country's capital. So big city... lots of people and traffic. Definitely not ass idyllic as this.