"Good enough. Rettigue is a retired investment banker, hence the luxurious apartment..." He gestures to the place before opening the door. It is luxury of a kind, if one likes a lack of decoration and a sleek dark furniture. Because he is not feeling like an infirm old man, this morning, he spins the cane once theatrically in the hall. It feels terribly good to lock the door behind them and breathe the air outside his rooms. The building is a nice one, either newer or refurbished, and very quiet this time of day. It is not the Metrolite, but the enormous picture window in his living room could have told her that. There's something more modern about the architecture here.
"Keep the map, for your own reference. I thought it might come in handy." He strikes out for the elevator with his usual long strides, aware that taking the stairs today might be pushing his luck.
The lobby will likewise be quiet, and somewhat modern to her eyes, although it lacks the ultra-sleek clean lines of his apartment interior. It's not until they step out into the street she's likely to be struck with the full force of the future. They are not far from the park, although his apartment was not so upscale as to have an overlooking view of it. Even at nine in the morning New York is a busy place, and there are the more familiar businessmen, but also youths in bright clothes with boomboxes thumping strange music, and far more cars than she's used to. This is a louder, brighter, noisier place than the city she knows. New York over time has become intensified, more life packed into the same space and all of it moving faster.
Myra gives a betraying chuckle at the sight of his cane as he spins it and shrugs as she follows him, noting the number on the front of his door should she need to find the room without her PINpoint. She's already tucked the map into her purse, keeping it out of sight, but ready for reference should she need it. Her cursory glance had told her that there would be a need to read it closely, but for a touristy outing, she should be fine.
She seems to take all the new surroundings in stride until they reach the street, and she pauses just outside of the door. New York has never been quiet, but this is just plain noisy and her ears protest as a young man holding a boombox on his shoulder strolls by her. For a moment, she's actually afraid, afraid she's jumped into something far over her head, and she winces. She gives a glance to The Shadow, and feels her confidence start to return, but it's then that she realizes how horribly she's just telegraphed her uncertainty. She instinctively narrows her eyes in an expression very characteristic of Ming. It doesn't give the cruel look that would normally appear, instead it makes her look almost arrogant.
"Well." Her determination is set now, and she's proverbially back on her feet. "Shall we?"
Despite how gradually he's become accustomed to the times, The Shadow fully expects her moment of shock. It can't be avoided, and like jumping into cold water it seems best to get it over with quickly. As they step out the door he is watching her, his expression a blank but his gaze keen. This is New York, and a busy street, and he knows her moment of surprise is likely to pass unnoticed by anyone but him.
Instead of whatever disapproval she may have expected, he offers a forgiving nod, and then his arm. "The garage is this way." He strolls at an easier pace to the parking garage beside the apartments, giving her a chance to take in the sights. The lone guard recognizes him on sight with a grunt, and it is cooler and quieter within. Bright yellow concrete columns and flourescent lighting render it an alien place for her, and the cars all have a slightly boxy look, compared to what she's used to. He takes her to a black four-door, and unlocks and holds the passenger door for her gallantly.
Myra doesn't gawk, but she lets her eyes watch everything, while keeping her head stationary. It feels as crowded as the Nexus common area, but almost every person that passes them by lives here. She holds onto The Shadow's arm, feeling a sort of confidence flow from him as he strolls towards the garage.
She keeps quiet in the garage, and sits down in the vehicle, staring out the windshield as she watches him walk around the front of the car.
"At least the bikes get better..." She mumbles to herself, not particularly enamored with the angular look of the cars.
"Hmmm?" The Shadow slides in and tucks the cane away, catching her mumble but not the words. The car itself is a manual transmission, and therefore will be familiar to her, although the design of the dash may throw her off briefly. His seat is pushed well back to allow for his height, and the car is slightly older than those around it, but in excellent condition inside and out. That it is black should hardly surprise her, of course.
He pulls out into the street, and along the ride she can absorb the sights of the city without being so directly accosted by them. As it is summer, there's no school and she'll have quite a good look at the younger crowd. The closer he gets to Greenwich Village, the more of them she will see. "The Village is... for the younger crowd, now. You'll be all right, and today I can get away with it by accompanying you, but normally I only visit after dark." He leaves it to her to interpret the full meaning of that. "But the youth culture is usually the target of the drug rings, so the area demands my attention."
"I was just thinking, it's like stepping into the common room." She refrains from using the term Nexus, if only because she's unsure to what level she should mind herself now that they're outside of the apartment.
Myra keeps her head turned to look out the window as they meander along the streets, and she watches the colorful plumes of hair pass by, hears the loud bass of boomboxes and car stereos up into her teeth, and tries to take in the overload of information. Indeed as they get closer to The Village, their numbers only increase, and she realizes she does indeed fit in, even if she's tried to be more conservative about her dress code.
"From what I understand, they seem to almost encourage that sort of activity, if anything because it's against the law." She sounds almost saddened, when she sees yet another boombox and feels the courage to ask a simple question.
"I never saw those in the book I read. What are the, um..." She feels so primitive trying to describe a boombox. "What do they call the radios they're all carrying around?" Fortunately, she's half right about that term at least, as most of them are tuned to similar radio stations, if they're not playing a tape.
It should be safe enough to speak in the car, although they may want the windows down due to the temperatures of early July. The Shadow merely nods, negotiating his way around the cabs just as deftly as they move around the other cars, pedestrians, and maddened bike couriers.
"Boomboxes. Radio and casette player..." He hesitates there, as he searches for a way to explain casette tapes to a woman who knows only primitive records. "Casettes are small, but they work a little like a compact film reel, for just sound." He'll have to show her his stereo later, simply as a teaching tool. Unfortunately he keeps little music around, as it would only be a distraction. "Just don't ask me about the music. There are some things even I can't fathom." He smirks very faintly, and finds a parking space with a meter.
"It does seem a bit on the loud side." She watches young pedestrians run across the street after each other around them, and when he parks, she takes her own initiative, getting out of the car before he can hold her door for her. She feels rude, but she's noticed that people seem to just empty out of cars in a pell-mell fashion. A few boys on the sidewalk pause as she gets out of the car, eying the new arrival, but their gaze quickly focuses on The Shadow as he stands tall from the vehicle, and they move on their way. "I think you just doubled as a body guard." She turns to The Shadow once the boys are out of earshot.
"It's not the volume, it's the screaming." She's liable to understand what she means whenever she hears heavy metal music.
If he is startled by her hurrying out of the car, he makes no show of it. He takes his time getting out, retrieving the cane and moving with a hint of stiffness that he does not truly feel. At her comment, he raises an eyebrow, regarding her across the top of the car. "Hm. Lock it, would you? I'd like it to still be here later." He comes to join her on the sidewalk, and offers his arm again, but seems ready to let her lead the way. "Don't buy anything, and don't give money to panhandlers." There is something of the tone of a peevish old man there, but she's likely to sense it is largely for show.
Myra looks down at the door and pushes the lock down before shutting it with a gentle shove.
"Scrooge." She gives his elbow a playful, gentle tug that she hopes doesn't jostle his shoulder. She still takes his offered elbow though, and walks in stride with him, the familiar streets filled with unfamiliar sights and sounds.
Even that faintest of gestures results in a soft wheeze, but his face does not betray any pain. Instead he smirks very slightly, and his eyes glimmer with amusement. It isn't that he begrudges anyone the money, but society has changed. The reason for his warning will quickly become clear, as they're accosted by sidewalk table venders hawking 'genuine' Rolex watches, junky jewelry, sneakers, and an assortment of other goods. There are myriad rythms from boomboxes, and a group of teens gathered about a square of cardboard on the ground, taking turns doing athletic gyrations on it. The Shadow strolls along at an easy place, appearing to pay no particular attention to anything, while keeping half an eye on the reflections in the shop windows.
She makes a note not to cause him to wheeze again. Every time he does, she feels guilty.
Myra keeps her 'gawking' limited to a disinterested gaze that allows her eyes to linger long enough to take in what she sees in the best detail she can, and then quickly move on to the next thing without looking surprised or curious.
She eventually does hear what The Shadow meant by the screaming, and gives The Shadow a look that seems both apologetic, and amused at the same time.
"They'd sell you a box to dance on if they could." She remarks as they pass another group of dancers, and a vendor that calls Myra 'sweetheart' as he tries to catch her attention with cheap watches and bracelets. At one point Myra finds herself moving her head ever so slightly to the beat of song as they approach its source, but doesn't stop the motion, as most others passing by seem to be doing the same thing anyways. So the culture didn't appear a total wash, at least they had occasional songs that were appealing, even to someone with her antiquated tastes.
They pass by a music store and Myra smiles as she notices all the different hair styles present, and wonders how exactly one gets a Mohawk to stand up so tall without flopping over. She sees a sign that says Sale: Tapes and sees a picture of a cassette tape, with a table of them beneath. At least now she knows what they look like.
"So, anything in particular you'd like to see?" The question is really for herself, but in the character of Menz, it's the closest she can come to asking if they have any specific location to visit or if they'll just keep window shopping. He said he didn't have a plan for their day, so she considered that he might just have them wander around The Village until noon, and then go to Chinatown.
There is an ever-present wheeze, in fact, but soft enough that there isn't slightest chance of it being heard amidst the noise of the street. He has noted her gaze, casual but widely observant, and allows her to simply take in the sights. His own attention has been very slightly distracted, although he does tend to watch the windows. When she speaks, he is roused from whatever has been occupying his attention. "Hmm? Just taking in the sights, really. It's this busy at night, too..." There are a number of nightclubs scattered along the street, among the music and clothing shops.
There is also someone coming up fast behind them on a skateboard, although it will hardly be the first skater she's seen on the streets. The noise of the wheels is lost against the general background noise, of course. Without breaking stride, The Shadow jabs his cane down very hard as the skateboarder is drawing level.
Because he's hit the front edge of the skateboard, it makes a spectacular flip. Because the skateboarder crouched at the last minute, they go tumbling just a couple of feet in front of him. "Hey man, my board! I need that!" The teenager has to scramble after the skateboard because it's trying to roll off through the crowd, and there's definitely some jeering happening.
The teen stands up after catching the skateboard, face flushed. The Shadow is a mean old man. "That was wicked! I was watching for your arm."
Myra blinks, completely surprised by The Shadow's sudden action, and uncertain as to the meaning behind it. The skateboarder tumbles before them in a curious display and retrieves their skateboard. She watches them with a wary glare, loosening her grip on his arm so they can both be ready should the kid try anything silly. She keeps quiet for the time being.
Although he is not oblivious to the interest of the passers-by in the developing situation, The Shadow makes a show of ignoring them. "You followed us, all the way from the apartments." It is clearly not a question, and he frowns mildly, fixing a withering gaze on the teenager before them. Myra may observe there is no tension in his frame, and he is holding the cane casually once more. Evidently he expects no real trouble from the newcomer, but he is clearly annoyed.
"Keep the map, for your own reference. I thought it might come in handy." He strikes out for the elevator with his usual long strides, aware that taking the stairs today might be pushing his luck.
The lobby will likewise be quiet, and somewhat modern to her eyes, although it lacks the ultra-sleek clean lines of his apartment interior. It's not until they step out into the street she's likely to be struck with the full force of the future. They are not far from the park, although his apartment was not so upscale as to have an overlooking view of it. Even at nine in the morning New York is a busy place, and there are the more familiar businessmen, but also youths in bright clothes with boomboxes thumping strange music, and far more cars than she's used to. This is a louder, brighter, noisier place than the city she knows. New York over time has become intensified, more life packed into the same space and all of it moving faster.
Reply
She seems to take all the new surroundings in stride until they reach the street, and she pauses just outside of the door. New York has never been quiet, but this is just plain noisy and her ears protest as a young man holding a boombox on his shoulder strolls by her. For a moment, she's actually afraid, afraid she's jumped into something far over her head, and she winces. She gives a glance to The Shadow, and feels her confidence start to return, but it's then that she realizes how horribly she's just telegraphed her uncertainty. She instinctively narrows her eyes in an expression very characteristic of Ming. It doesn't give the cruel look that would normally appear, instead it makes her look almost arrogant.
"Well." Her determination is set now, and she's proverbially back on her feet. "Shall we?"
Reply
Instead of whatever disapproval she may have expected, he offers a forgiving nod, and then his arm. "The garage is this way." He strolls at an easier pace to the parking garage beside the apartments, giving her a chance to take in the sights. The lone guard recognizes him on sight with a grunt, and it is cooler and quieter within. Bright yellow concrete columns and flourescent lighting render it an alien place for her, and the cars all have a slightly boxy look, compared to what she's used to. He takes her to a black four-door, and unlocks and holds the passenger door for her gallantly.
Reply
She keeps quiet in the garage, and sits down in the vehicle, staring out the windshield as she watches him walk around the front of the car.
"At least the bikes get better..." She mumbles to herself, not particularly enamored with the angular look of the cars.
Reply
He pulls out into the street, and along the ride she can absorb the sights of the city without being so directly accosted by them. As it is summer, there's no school and she'll have quite a good look at the younger crowd. The closer he gets to Greenwich Village, the more of them she will see. "The Village is... for the younger crowd, now. You'll be all right, and today I can get away with it by accompanying you, but normally I only visit after dark." He leaves it to her to interpret the full meaning of that. "But the youth culture is usually the target of the drug rings, so the area demands my attention."
Reply
Myra keeps her head turned to look out the window as they meander along the streets, and she watches the colorful plumes of hair pass by, hears the loud bass of boomboxes and car stereos up into her teeth, and tries to take in the overload of information. Indeed as they get closer to The Village, their numbers only increase, and she realizes she does indeed fit in, even if she's tried to be more conservative about her dress code.
"From what I understand, they seem to almost encourage that sort of activity, if anything because it's against the law." She sounds almost saddened, when she sees yet another boombox and feels the courage to ask a simple question.
"I never saw those in the book I read. What are the, um..." She feels so primitive trying to describe a boombox. "What do they call the radios they're all carrying around?" Fortunately, she's half right about that term at least, as most of them are tuned to similar radio stations, if they're not playing a tape.
Reply
"Boomboxes. Radio and casette player..." He hesitates there, as he searches for a way to explain casette tapes to a woman who knows only primitive records. "Casettes are small, but they work a little like a compact film reel, for just sound." He'll have to show her his stereo later, simply as a teaching tool. Unfortunately he keeps little music around, as it would only be a distraction. "Just don't ask me about the music. There are some things even I can't fathom." He smirks very faintly, and finds a parking space with a meter.
Reply
"It does seem a bit on the loud side." She watches young pedestrians run across the street after each other around them, and when he parks, she takes her own initiative, getting out of the car before he can hold her door for her. She feels rude, but she's noticed that people seem to just empty out of cars in a pell-mell fashion. A few boys on the sidewalk pause as she gets out of the car, eying the new arrival, but their gaze quickly focuses on The Shadow as he stands tall from the vehicle, and they move on their way. "I think you just doubled as a body guard." She turns to The Shadow once the boys are out of earshot.
Reply
If he is startled by her hurrying out of the car, he makes no show of it. He takes his time getting out, retrieving the cane and moving with a hint of stiffness that he does not truly feel. At her comment, he raises an eyebrow, regarding her across the top of the car. "Hm. Lock it, would you? I'd like it to still be here later." He comes to join her on the sidewalk, and offers his arm again, but seems ready to let her lead the way. "Don't buy anything, and don't give money to panhandlers." There is something of the tone of a peevish old man there, but she's likely to sense it is largely for show.
Reply
"Scrooge." She gives his elbow a playful, gentle tug that she hopes doesn't jostle his shoulder. She still takes his offered elbow though, and walks in stride with him, the familiar streets filled with unfamiliar sights and sounds.
Reply
Reply
Myra keeps her 'gawking' limited to a disinterested gaze that allows her eyes to linger long enough to take in what she sees in the best detail she can, and then quickly move on to the next thing without looking surprised or curious.
She eventually does hear what The Shadow meant by the screaming, and gives The Shadow a look that seems both apologetic, and amused at the same time.
"They'd sell you a box to dance on if they could." She remarks as they pass another group of dancers, and a vendor that calls Myra 'sweetheart' as he tries to catch her attention with cheap watches and bracelets. At one point Myra finds herself moving her head ever so slightly to the beat of song as they approach its source, but doesn't stop the motion, as most others passing by seem to be doing the same thing anyways. So the culture didn't appear a total wash, at least they had occasional songs that were appealing, even to someone with her antiquated tastes.
They pass by a music store and Myra smiles as she notices all the different hair styles present, and wonders how exactly one gets a Mohawk to stand up so tall without flopping over. She sees a sign that says Sale: Tapes and sees a picture of a cassette tape, with a table of them beneath. At least now she knows what they look like.
"So, anything in particular you'd like to see?" The question is really for herself, but in the character of Menz, it's the closest she can come to asking if they have any specific location to visit or if they'll just keep window shopping. He said he didn't have a plan for their day, so she considered that he might just have them wander around The Village until noon, and then go to Chinatown.
Reply
There is also someone coming up fast behind them on a skateboard, although it will hardly be the first skater she's seen on the streets. The noise of the wheels is lost against the general background noise, of course. Without breaking stride, The Shadow jabs his cane down very hard as the skateboarder is drawing level.
Reply
The teen stands up after catching the skateboard, face flushed. The Shadow is a mean old man. "That was wicked! I was watching for your arm."
Reply
Reply
Myra may observe there is no tension in his frame, and he is holding the cane casually once more. Evidently he expects no real trouble from the newcomer, but he is clearly annoyed.
"Why?"
Reply
Leave a comment