[Locked to alloy_avenger]

[leavesapause]

The room is of decent size; large enough to include a table and chair as well as the bed. Though there's scarce space to so much as lay a hand on the table for all the thread, tinted glass and black and white material.

Sora skirts past a pile of luggage to the door, a hand hovering over the handle. "You are an atheist?"

Comments

[alloy_avenger]

Hank's cyborg eyes take in his surroundings at a decidedly slower pace than their maximum capability. He looked to Sora, over by the door. "Nope, just hopeful."

[leavesapause]

There's a pause as Sora considers this. The door is then opened to reveal a wide plaster corridor and held open for Hank. "The crowds are going to assume you are part of a technical cult of one kind or another."

[alloy_avenger]

"I love investigating new worlds," he said with a somewhat diabolical glee. "Crowds, you say?" The cyborg floated an inch off the ground, to and through the door.

[leavesapause]

Sora notes the floating with amusement. "Forgive me, they are going to assume you're a spirit, not merely a cult member."

"Yes, crowds, there's a festival on today." The door is closed, and Sora starts down the bright hallway with large strides. "Would you prefer a high perch or one closer to the parade?"

[alloy_avenger]

Hank's cape ruffled with the air flowing past it. "Whatever's most comfortable for you, old boy. It truly makes no difference for me."

[leavesapause]

A nod and Sora steps aside to let a young nun past whose hand inches closer to the knife clearly hanging from her belt on seeing Hank. Though it prompts some hand waving and mild assurances from Sora. "He's a friend, don't worry."

She doesn't look all that convinced, but her hand falls away and she wags a finger at the both of them. "Get him blessed, to be sure," she warns in French much more fluent than Sora's.

There's a short pause after the nun continues on before Sora continues on the way. "Excuse her, many people are jumpy about these things."

[alloy_avenger]

After they passed, Hank turned and winked at her. "Is this going to be a problem for you?" he asked Sora. "These people have every right to fear me. I'm a killer, after all."

[leavesapause]

She simply raises an eyebrow at him for it.

"No. Not if you refrain from destroying anything. The people here are quite restrained. Something for which I am very thankful." There are a couple of quick turns and they come to a stairs. "You should understand, plenty of these people have killed too. It's unwise for them to go without a general wariness."

[alloy_avenger]

"Having killed doesn't make you a killer," he said darkly as he ascended the stairs, not touching nary a one.

[leavesapause]

"Not everyone fears death." Sora opens the door, stepping out onto the city walls. Again it's held open for Hank. "The gates are close by, and I'm sure you won't fall off."

[alloy_avenger]

He glided along merrily, his eyes working hard.

[leavesapause]

From here, they can see that most of the city's buildings follow the same old style. A river also cut through the city, though mainly hidden by some of the taller buildings.

To get to the gate, they must pass through another pair of doors, which will be held open again. A woman with a scoped rifle resting against her shoulder looks them over and grins. "You've got some timing, there, they're only just through the gate."

Below, the main street is lined with people, a few standing out for their odd clothing. At the head of the parade, nuns in their traditional clothing along with habit styled helmets, visors and all. On their arms they hold aloft what appears to be cockerels with hoods and lizard tails.

[alloy_avenger]

"What's with the roosters?" asked Hank as he landed and broke into stride.

[leavesapause]

"Have you heard of a cockatrice, Hank?"

[alloy_avenger]

"Noo..." he said, in wonderment. "Couldn't be."

[leavesapause]

Sora smiles under the mask at Hank's reaction. "They are. Bred and trained to protect the people. It's one of those saving graces that some quirks of this world can become advantages."