WHO: James Rogers and OPEN
WHERE: Around the City
WHEN: Any time
WARNINGS: None
SUMMARY: James explores his new habitat alone, meets interesting people
FORMAT: log, stuff, words
(
but even if that doesn't ring true, you've been all over, and it's been all over you )
After all, it was damn near impossible to find a decent place to train for anything in that damn City.
The ground was cracked and uneven, dusted with rubble and the odd, broken boulders and spires here and there. There were scorch marks on fewer, indicators of more than a little average horseplay. Weeds had sprung up all over the place, making the whole plot look uglier, but hey. Space was space.
Zelgadis had grown to like that plot the best for its lack of company. Before he'd been cured, it was safe to study and train without his heavy mantle stifling him in the summer. He didn't need that to hide anymore, but the day's wind-tunnel breeze was damn cold, so the hood was drawn up as he worked. He was standing straight and still, sword held tightly in both hands. The blade was black and red, crackling and humming with a spell that he'd long since catered for himself. Sure, it was no Sword of Light, but he'd evened the playing field between himself and the monsters with this trick.
The goal at the moment was to make it last. Spells like the Astral Vine required a lot of willpower to endure, and sometimes it just wasn't enough to keep going in a fight. For lack of a sparring partner, Zelgadis had chosen a bit of conditioning for his benefit. And, if he were honest about it, it was a comfort. Trying to fit in with the people of that world was hard and oftentimes humiliating. The blade was something to come back to and at least feel marginally good about.
So that was the scene: a mainly-vacant plot of abandoned land with a mostly-distracted swordsman therein with a definitely-magicked sword hissing in his hands. His attention kept him from noticing any passers-by right away.
Reply
This guy was probably one of those people. James stopped to watch, curious. He had never used a sword himself, but he'd grown up alongside Torunn, who's sword was as much a part of her as James' shield was a part of him. It was a little strange to see someone else with a sword, although the way he moved seemed nothing like how Torunn used her sword.
Regardless, James was fascinated, and watched in silence for several minutes.
Reply
The weight of effort lifted and Zelgadis sagged, stepping out of stance with a heavy sigh. He'd hoped to hold out a little longer, but it wasn't a complete loss. That was minutes longer than his last attempt - a sign of getting stronger without being subject to Rezo's curse.
He glanced the spectator while he was wiping his forehead. He stopped immediately, straightening back up and squinting. Who-?
Reply
Instead he stood there awkwardly, wondering if this guy was one of the many villains James had been told lived here, or if they were on the same side. Well, if he was a villain, at least James knew help was only a call away.
Reply
"Who are you?" he called, perhaps a bit harder than he'd intended. Whoever it was didn't look that formidable (or old), but appearances only counted for so much. That was just as true in the City as it was back on his world, the major difference being how damn impossible it was to keep track.
Hence, caution came before giving anyone the benefit of the doubt. It was hard to be all that friendly-looking with a smoking blade in hand, too, but that wasn't really on Zel's mind at the moment.
Reply
He wasn't worried about a fight. James was sure of his skills against a swordsman. But he didn't want to get into an unnecessary fight either. "Who are you?"
Reply
...With a giant shield on his back. Right.
"Zelgadis." A slight pause, still wondering about that shield. Maybe...
"Did you come here to train?"
[shoot me if he doesn't actually have the shield on him at the moment sobs]
Reply
James shook his head at the question about training, "I'm new here, I'm just learning my way around the city," James explained. Zelgadis seemed to have calmed down, so James relaxed a little more too.
"Do you always use a sword?" His curiosity was obvious. From what he knew about the recent past in his world, most people didn't use swords, and James had been under the impression it was rare.
Reply
Reply
"I have a friend at home who uses a sword... but I don't know anyone that can do magic. How does that work? Were you using magic just then?"
Reply
The sword tilted as he shifted weight, still keeping it upright with a palm on the pommel. "But that was magic. My magic."
Reply
"That's really neat."
Reply
"You've just arrived here, then," he observed, his tone a slight inquiry. It was still possible he'd been around for a while, only less interested in exploring. Zelgadis could've understood the sentiment; the City was a ridiculous mess to him.
Reply
Reply
It was a dull but agreeing sound, sign of someone either not very sociable or just trying to act a bit cool. Or both. In Zelgadis' of case, it was both. He turned a quarter of the way away from James, lifting his sword again and holding it level, twisting it to catch light and spot any fresh nicks or chippings.
"It's been quieter than usual," he remarked dryly. "There's too many troublemakers packed together here."
Reply
He looked at the sword curiously as it caught the light, and took a few steps forward. "Have you always used a sword?"
Reply
Leave a comment