paixaorpg | Wandering around. [COMPLETED]

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Wandering around. [COMPLETED]

Character(s): Howl and Xaldin.
Content: Howl gets off the train stop near Haja o Que Houver, and heads towards Carta Para Ti only to stop for a moment of brief contemplation. He meets another person wandering about this early on in the day -- they talk.
Setting: Getting off the train stop near Haja o Que Houver [F4], and then further on to somewhere near Carta Para Ti [E6].
Time: Friday early morning, near-dawn.
Warnings: None so far.

He stepped off, one hand holding his jacket in place like the cape he fancied it to be as the train continued on it's way behind him. He walked for a bit and looked around, music catching on his ears. He breathed in and out, looking for the source, only to have his eyes settle on words stating the name Haja o Que Houver. According to the little tool that had been given to him at Muspelheim, this was one of the hotels that were available in the immediate area. There was one more further off on the train route still, but he would give that one a look after he sated his curiosity of Carta Para Ti, the gypsy establishment not too far (he assumed) from where he was standing now.

The wizard began to walk, the steady click of his heels a familiar rhythm to his ears. Walking was one of those things that he enjoyed doing whenever he could -- it gave him the opportunity to look about, observe and perhaps, be observed himself. But he had chosen the train when it chugged along near the destroyed and deserted Ecos na Catedral, settling for it's comforts over his usual pasttime. Sitting upon cushioned chairs seemed so much more wise than wandering under a sprinkle of rain.

For what had seemed like hours, Howl recalled, he had walked through the Muspelheim area nearest to the gate, thinking to himself that it was as dead as a graveyard. Though some buildings remained intact, others looked as though they were what was left of an all-consuming fire.

The wizard shivered a little, and told himself it was more because of the cold rather than the memory of the charred buildings.

Snowflakes fell, intermingled with thin raindrops, and the wizard picked up his pace to find shelter under a tree. It was strange, to see it made made out of glass, and why it was so was yet another of the many questions that plagued his mind. Though his new toy (he moved a thumb over the smooth surface of the journal) had both entertained and enlightened him with information regarding his surroundings... the places, his location, the network... well... there was only so many answers that the tiny gadget could provide.

Howl sighed and would have leaned against the tree, as he would have been wont to do -- but the material it was made of made him wary of doing so. Instead, he pocketed the journal and crossed his arms, thinking it a shame that the sky was so cloudly he wouldn't be able to look if he might catch the last of shooting stars cutting across the lightening pre-dawn sky.

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After a not-so stunning entrance earlier through the Vanaheim gate, Xaldin had taken to walking and observing. It would have been easier, had the weather been more agreeable and more people been awake and about. Very few were. It had been the deep of night, a very cold one at that, and so very few nightowls went from place to place. Most windows had been dark. Most buildings had been quiet. Well, this was certainly worth abandoning earlier commitments. He had hoped for a little more excitement, especially after the things he'd seen before. Perhaps excitement didn't happen in the dead of night.

So he'd walked through the miserable weather, preferring not to take the train. So much could be missed on that vehicle. Besides, he didn't want to become soft and lazy. He'd always trust his two feet before anything that loud and ratchety.

Then there was music, muffled but coming from an establishment that should have gone dark hours ago with the rest of them. Xaldin plucked his electronic journal from the folds of his cloak to see what building it was. Ah. Only the Haja o Que Houver. It wasn't worth his time.

...But that was. As he replaced the journal, he noticed someone taking shelter under a nearby tree. It was a wise move, considering how cold and nasty the weather was. Maybe when the sun came up, it'd warm everything, but even that was unlikely. Not during this phase. The best thing to do would be to obtain a hotel room. But that could wait.

This someone wasn't a native, and he had a particularly interesting aura. It was time for some further investigation...time for being social. Joy. Xaldin crossed the space between himself and the tree, stopping under its branches on the opposite side as the non-native. And now, as he leaned against the tree trunk, idle banter. "What are you doing out this time of night, sir? You'll likely catch cold unless you find somewhere drier to stay." He tried to sound concerned, but his tone came off just a little flat.

And because I wrote this when I first woke up... I kind of missed saying that Xaldin walked past the Haja place and continued on to meet Howl. Because it totally doesn't read that way, and I don't want to rewrite the whole comment though I was unclear there. Yay early morning haze. Sorry about that! >>

Howl lifted his gaze and squinted a little trying to make out the features of the figure that was now approaching him. What little sunlight there was backlighted the man, and the current dimness lent shadow and shade, causing him to look more like a silhouette than anything else. Transferring his weight forward, the wizard stood, keeping his face's expression neutral.

"I was looking for Carta Para Ti when it started to rain." He replied. "Are you a local?"

"You're obviously not one yourself." He laughed a little. "Carta Para Ti? What interest have you there? I'd think a man such as yourself would avoid such a place." He smiled some, though it was hardly visible beneath his raised hood. He approached Howl more, not getting too close. "Unless you like having your money stolen, in which case you should hurry over." That also answered the question about being a local. Only locals would know details about the establishments. "Where have you come from?"

Howl nodded slowly, as if considering what had been told him and he offered a slim smile -- one that was neither too friendly, yet still veiling all other emotions. He slipped the journal out of his pocket. "This... thing... told me that Carta Para Ti was home to gypsies. They interest me -- whatever wares they might have to sell, that is." He paused a moment, head bowed and eyes roaming over the surface of the contraption as if considering his words.

"I'm... not from around here." He settled for that response. He had never been the type to give away information. It wasn't a habit he planned to start.

"Ah, you're interested in gypsy wares. You must have unusual interests then." What exactly was the man looking for? Certainly whatever it was could be bought in any store. Unless the man was one of those 'bargain hunters' he'd heard about. That was of no matter.

"I know you're not from around here," Xaldin continued. "I've never seen you here before. And if you've arrived recently, you've taken quite well to your journal." So the man wasn't dumb as a block. Promising. "Some people can hardly work theirs at first."

Howl looked down at the journal again before finally slipping it back in his pocket. "I was confused at first -- and the buttons are terribly small and they make my hands cramp," the wizard lifted his eyes again and offered a brief smile. "But once I realized what buttons meant what, it was easy enough."

He paused and glanced over the man's shoulder, noting that the sunrise had begun to seep into the sky. He laughed softly, albeit a bit sheepishly and scratched the back of his neck. "Forgive me," Howl shook his head, his blond locks moving with the motion. "I've forgotten my manners." The wizard pulled himself up to his full height and looked his newfound companion straight in the eye. "I am known as Pendragon."

Yes, the alias would do for now.

"And you are?"

"Ah, a pleasure to meet you, Pendragon." Xaldin tilted his head towards the other man. What an absurd name he had. Was that really his name? If it was, the man had a lot to live up to. "Around here, people call me Kaze." Like hell they did. "Anyhow, it is odd to find another person awake at this time in such weather conditions. I'd think you'd put off visiting the gypsies in favor of sleeping in a warm bed."

Howl shrugged slightly, noting quietly that the man had a point. "I arrived only a few hours ago. I was admitted through the Muspelheim Gate across the city. I boarded the train from there to get here." The wizard nodded towards the direction of Haja o Que Houver, "I planned to check in at the hotel, but I'm still very much awake and hoped to tire myself out first by wandering about." One slim-fingered hand lifted to brush away a random lock of hair that fell into his eyes. He would need a trim soon. He supposed someone at the hotel would have a pair of scissors that he could borrow. "Walking is a past time that I enjoy."

It was morning now. The roads were lightening under the sunlight. "The city's lovely. At least, what I've seen of it is." He opted leaving out the state of the area that he'd seen earlier. The thought and memory was too depressing for him. Burned buildings held little appeal, afterall. "I want to explore it a little more before I let myself rest."

"As for the... gypsies." Howl smirked, "They fascinate me as I happen to be one myself."

"Muspelheim is lovely. You picked a beautiful gate to enter through." Damned Muspelheim! Pendragon should have stayed closer to his gate. It was surprising to find he had traveled so far in so little time. Well, he did mention that he took the train. That tended to help transit quite a bit. So did a hearty helping of wanderlust.

"Well, I doubt you came to this city to meet old kin." Xaldin laughed a little. "You probably have bigger things on your mind than that. If you intend to keep trekking through the city, would you like a traveling companion? I know interesting things about Paixao that the average person does not." He smiled secretly. "If you'd rather travel alone, then by all means do so. I'd think the sooner the both of us get out of this chill weather, the better. It's supposed to get nastier as the day progresses."

Howl frowned a little. A beautiful gate to enter through? The wizard had given his arrival some thought while on the train, and as far as he was sure (in himself, at least) he hadn't chosen anything -- much less his own arrival outside the aforementioned gate hours before.

To hear such a comment from who was technically the first person he'd actually met within the city grounds made Howl slightly uneasy. By nature and experience Howl was a suspicious creature, and though he was well-versed in the ways of magic -- a master, in fact, the worlds he'd wandered thanks to the door of his castle were hardly anything like the one he was standing in right now.

Something wasn't quite right. But as always, he felt it best to would wait for things unfold on their own volition.

He offered a friendly smile -- the same one he'd donned many times before in front of kings and high-order witches and wizards. "Your offer is generous." He would play his part and take his cues as they came. When things unfurled, he intended to be fully aware of his place in the script. "I would... appreciate the company. The city intrigues me. I would like to know more of it."

Howl slipped his arms through the sleeves of his jacket and reveled in the warmth. "Which is the better hotel, by the way -- Haja o Que Houver or the Actua Are? The less expensive of the two would be better by far, but if a secure place to sleep in means a higher price I won't quibble at the thought of spending."

Ah, so the man would like to have him as company. Though the better idea would have been to leave him to wander the Vanaheim area more, he'd make decisions as they came. After all, there was the network to utilize in case other things came up. It was highly improbable, considering who would be the one to alert him of such events. If nothing else, this Pendragon would be an interesting one to observe.

Pendragon was curious about Paixao. Who wasn't? The network constantly showed 'what am I doing heres' and 'this has to be a dream, nightmare, or hallucination' as each person arrived. Paixao was so much more than that, of course. How much would Pendragon wish to know? How much would Xaldin let on? It was a subtle game.

A question was posed. And so, a fitting answer. "The Haja o Que Houver has reasonable rates, but the place could stand for some rennovations. It's small, though rather upbeat and loud at night. The Actua Are hotels are your best bet. Pricey, but secure, very secure. Other than the one by Vanaheim, they are well worth their cost. The best hotel in the city in my opinion is the Morem O Lisboa, but that's a long haul from here. Besides, you might want to look into more permanent housing, especially if you do not know how long you'll be staying here. Paying hotel rent for months would be most impractical." He smiled thinly again. This game was enjoyable. "Shall we be on our way? There is much to see."

The wizard nodded and considered the options that Kaze had just expressed to him. Permanent housing? He hid a quiet frown. The way the man put it, is was almost as if he knew something that Howl didn't -- and that rarely sat well with him.

However, he could feel the tendrils of fatigue coaxing him from the back of his head. Finding a place to stay was in his best interest. "Well then," Howl fixed a light-hearted (though no less fabricated) smile on his face. "Lead the way."

"You must be tired," Xaldin said with a fabricated smiled of his own. "You didn't give a destination. Will we be seeing Carta Para Ti now, or are you more inclined to find a place to rest first? The gypsies will still be there later." Xaldin himself wasn't particularly tired, but he'd wait for Pendragon if he chose to sleep before he went exploring. "I suggest we find a hotel first." Xaldin could choose for his new acquaintance, but that would take the fun away. He could hardly find out what Pendragon was like if he made all the decisions for the man.

Howl nodded, running a hand through his hair. "In that case, I'll settle for a hotel first." He didn't want to let it show, but now that he'd acknowledged the fact that he was tired, he felt heavy in the sense that his body was giving into fatigue. Whipping out the journal, Howl's fingers deftly maneuvered the contraption into showing him the map.

The closest in proximity was still Haja o Que Houver, and despite Kaze's comment about the place needing renovations, Howl mused that as long as he could rest his head for one night he wouldn't mind. He may have been picky about a lot of things -- the clothes he donned, the people he associated with (that is, when he was back home) -- but as for places to sleep and rest, as long as there was a proper bed, he couldn't complain.

Th wizard slipped the tool back into his pocket and offered his companion a smile. "I'm afraid despite the fact that it's morning, I'm quite tired." He turned his head to one side and extended his hand, rain catching to pool in the middle of his palm. "I don't mind walking in the rain. But I'll be heading over to the Haja o Que Houver." Stepping back, Howl bowed with all the courtly grace that he'd been taught at the academy. "You're welcome to come along, as I meant what I said when I told you that I would appreciate the company of one who knew this city better than I..."

Howl straightened and tilted his head to one side in a way that was rather boyish. "Though perhaps you'd prefer to walk around on your own for a bit." He rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm not very entertaining when I'm asleep." Nor did he allow anyone to be around him when he was asleep.

Go on and say you'd rather dawdle. The wizard mused inwardly, as if the mere act of doing so would make it so. Besides, if he had future need for the man, he was sure he could find him.

"I didn't think you would be. Most people, unless sleepwalkers, tend to be boring at rest." So Pendragon was smart. He knew when he was tired. He knew when he ought to sleep. One had to dig to reach that conclusion, of course. Pendragon was a... curious creature.

"Well, I believe you can follow the map to your hotel well enough on your own. If you want to contact me, use your electronic journal and make an entry. I'll respond promptly. For now, I'll continue on my own. It was pleasant meeting you, Pendragon." Xaldin tipped his head once towards Pendragon and started off into the rain once more. He'd let on enough information, just enough to make Pendragon curious. "May we meet again," he called over his shoulder.

Howl nodded but made no other reply than that. The wizard watched him go, as the rain fell effortlessly from above and down around. An interesting man, if any, though one that he wouldn't be in too much of a hurry to meet again.

Howl inhaled deeply, the scent of water a comfort had he needed such a thing, and he stepped out into the rain to walk back to the hotel.

I wonder what other kind of people I'll meet in this place, he mused quietly, and had anyone been around to see, there was an amused look twinkling in his eye. He shook his head lightly, relieving himself of the weight of water on him and listened eagerly to the sound of his footfalls all the way to where he could be dry. He was looking forward to a nap.

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Wandering around. [COMPLETED]

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