Urbanite Lost: Day At the Beach [action]

[urbanwonderland]

[After fashioning herself a tankini according to her taste (violet with a boy-cut leg), gathering together a bag of papers and books, fixing a thermos of something cold to drink, and a finding a reasonably large towel, Reeve set off for the beach. Following a brief walk near (but not in) the surf, she's made herself at home a little distance from

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[restlessdevil]

[Oh look! Someone who Zenobia hasn't introduced herself to. Time to remedy that! She walks up and stops a few feet short of Reeve, plopping herself down on the sand.] Hello!

[urbanwonderland]

[Feeling the nearby impact of girl on sand, Reeve raises her head for a look around. Her hair has come out of its tie, so she moves it out of her eyes, smiling at her visitor.]

Oh, hello there. Lovely day, isn't it? [A closer look reveals she doesn't recognize her visitor.] Don't think we've met, my name's Reeve-- and you are?

[restlessdevil]

My name's Zenobia. Nice to meet you! Since I haven't seen you before, I was hoping maybe we could talk. I like meeting new people.

And it is such a nice day. Ah, the ocean breeze, the sound of the waves... [Zenobia sighs, her wing twitching slightly.]

[urbanwonderland]

[Reeve smiles up at her visitor.]
Yes, I like meeting new people too-- I suppose this is the place for it, if there ever was one. You're welcome to stay-- it's a free beach, after all! If you don't mind my asking, do you have just the one? Wing, that is.

[restlessdevil]

Yeah, there's just the one wing. It's an oddity that I was born with. Um... it's because I'm half-demon. ...I hope that's not a problem.

[urbanwonderland]

No problem at all! In fact, if having wings is a demonic trait and you're half-demon, wouldn't it be more of an oddity if you didn't have at least one? [Reeve smiles. She's quirky like that.]

So, enjoying your day at the beach?

[restlessdevil]

[Zenobia wasn't expecting that response.] Huh. You have a neat way of thinking. Well, as long as it doesn't bother you, then that's cool.

Yes! I haven't been to the beach in such a long time! Ah, it's so amazing.

[urbanwonderland]

[Reeve smiles. She's more and more difficult to surprise these days.] Why should it? It's not as if it affects your ability to communicate with me in some way. For instance, we can both agree that the shore is a very nice place to be, even though you have one wing and I have none!

Does your world-- do you have places like this at home?

[restlessdevil]

...I like you. [Zenobia smiles.] You're really understanding.

Yeah... I... grew up near a place like this. Not all of those memories were happy. But somehow, it doesn't matter. The sea is still comforting to me...

[urbanwonderland]

Well, thank you, Zenobia. That's nice of you to say. I do like to get to know people on their own terms, so to speak.

That's a lovely association to have with the sea. I was raised inland, so my associations with the beach all involve vacations with my family or school friends. Wonderful days, but quite busy ones. Not a lot of time for contemplation, I'm afraid.

How long have you been here, Zenobia? Is there anyone else here from your world?

[restlessdevil]

That's a good attitude to have. I should strive to be more like that. "Get to know people on their own terms..." I'll try to remember that.

I suppose under the situation, it's a nice thing within a bad thing that you're able to take time and enjoy the beach here. ...Well, that is, assuming you'd rather be back home in your world. I have to keep reminding myself that for most people, this isn't exactly a paradise.

I've been here for... wow, it's been almost a month already. How time flies.

[urbanwonderland]

Well, I would rather be home, to be honest. But I see no sense in ignoring some of the more pleasant aspects to this place simply because my stay here wasn't my own idea. As you say, it's one of a few "nice things within a bad thing".

How does this place stack up against your home? Would you rather be here?

[restlessdevil]

Yeah. Might as well enjoy yourself while you're here.

I'd much rather be here. I mean, even if I wasn't still sealed in a mirror, I'd rather be here, because so far there aren't people wanting to hunt me down because of this wing.

...Oh yeah, I'm getting ahead of myself. I was sealed in a mirror for being half-demon. And I'd been in there a long time. And then I came here. So yes. Here is infinitely preferable.

[urbanwonderland]

[This news earns two raised eyebrows from Reeve. She's never really put much stock in the divine or the infernal, but the Garden is broadening her horizons considerably.]

Really-- just for being half-demon? Did the people who sealed you in think you were a danger?

[restlessdevil]

The Holy Knights of Zera don't take demons lightly, and I suppose they can't be blamed for it. [Though Zenobia does blame them. Very much.] Demons in my world seem bent on the destruction or enslavement of humans, and have potent abilities, so I suppose that adds a lot to why I was sealed away.

They had never seen a half-demon before. In fact, that's kind of not supposed to be possible, according to a lot of texts. So I guess they just thought I was the same as any full demon. I'm not sure.

[urbanwonderland]

Well yes, I can see why the establishment would treat someone with your makeup as potentially problematic-- but if you are the only half demon, I'd think it might be to the general advantage to attempt some sort of mutual understanding or at the every least an information exchange! Awfully short-sighted, just locking people away without exploring the possibilities.

That must have been very difficult for you. Did you come to this place from your prison?