The more I see, the less I know.

[revenant_trash]

Ironically enough, Lex slopes out of a dark side street and hears the strains of “Say Hey” almost the second it starts. There's a parked-up van on the corner, a passenger waiting with the volume up and the windows down, whilst the driver is absent. He's never heard music before, and stops, pressing himself back against a darkened shop front, the

Comments

[hisprotegee]

Beside a building that looked like it was closed, was a small alley, littered with trash, walls covered in graffiti and the sounds of a violent argument between a light female voice and a heavy masculine one.

"Let's see what your Daddy says when he finds out what you've been trying to do!" yelled the masculine voice, before storming out of the alley.

Just a moment later, a young woman with dark skin and hair calmly walked out of the alley, and didn't bother going after the guy, who may have seemed like something other than human if anyone around could tell. The young woman, however, was human.

She hoisted a backpack onto her back, and popped a piece of candy in her mouth before looking directly in Lex's direction. She looked him up and down then turned on her heels to leave.

"You following? I need you to help me."

[revenant_trash]

Lex has shrunk back into the shadows whilst the arguing takes place. He can smell demon emanating from the alley, and is not prepared to have any more dealings with them than he can help. He's about to merge into the darkness when the female emerges into the street and sees him... speaks to him.

The wraith gapes. More at the food-like thing she just put in her mouth, than the request. Why would he care about anyone here? Let alone actively assist. He hesitates a moment, then reluctantly follows. She's clearly human, despite the stink of demons, and he's armed. Hell cities teach one very quickly, that harmless -looking people aren't always quite that.

“What will you pay me?” Then Lex recalls the male voice he heard. “And what is it? I'm not going to fight anyone or you. I make for a poor bodyguard”

[hisprotegee]

"All I need you to do is tell my guard that I've been spending time with you tonight."

Reaching into a pocket, she retrieves another piece of candy.

"Shoes? Money? What's your price?"

[revenant_trash]

“All right. I'll tell him, we walked. But I won't have anyone believing I'm a streetwhore.” He can't help but read sexuality in the request. It's what happens between two people at night in the cities he's visited. One of them either gets coins for it, or wakes to find a steel collar around their neck. Or doesn't wake at all.

“Shoes!” He repeats without thinking. “And food. Something really good to eat. Do you have real bread?”

Wheat is scarce in Hell, and Lex has discovered only the most basic foods in the few places the rifts have taken him.

[lostinthefog]

It's Julian's first night in New York, and he is not sure yet if moving here has been a good idea. The city is huge, loud, unfamiliar, but then, that's what he has been looking for, isn't it? A place where no one knows him except for the three people that have made him come here. A place for a fresh start.

Nevertheless, after having rent a tiny room in a cheap, shabby hotel located in a rather shady area, he already misses his little house. It has been shabby, as well, and not even technically his, but it has been some sort of home. Here, he has no such thing yet, and the small amount of money he has saved from his old job wouldn't pay his room forever.

So, taking his dog with him, Julian leaves the hotel to start exploring the city. He has meant to find his friends, but when he soon notices a familiar face on the other side of the street, he is stunned. As he crosses the road and walks towards Lex, he does notice something is off, though, starting with the lack of shoes.

"What the ... Phoenix?" He asks, still baffled.

[revenant_trash]

He's spotted - and smelt - the undertones of vampire on the night air. Lex tries not to notice the other, with the animal, willing them to stay on their side of the street. He pushes his hands into his pockets, feeling the switchblades... not that they're any use against a vampire, surely?

The name the vampire uses isn't lost on Lex. ...Could he possibly be Libre? All this way from the motherworld? Still, it pays to show these creature's who's boss.

“I can't gut you, but I'll slit that thing's throat if you come any closer.” The words come harsher and braver than Lex feels right now. But as the dog seems well in command of the situation, and is now snuffling around Lex's bare feet. The threat is somewhat... ineffective.

[lostinthefog]

Julian stops in front of Lex, studying him unbelievingly. From this close, it becomes clear to him that this isn't Phoenix, but the resemblance is still striking. The stranger seems nervous, and Julian raises his hands a little to show he poses no threat.

"Hey, don't worry, I'm not going to harm you. Neither is the dog. Peavey, come here."

The dog is reluctant to obey, and it needs a repeat of the command until he returns to Julian, still sniffing in Lex' direction curiously.

"I'm sorry if I scared you. It's just ... you look remarkably like someone I know."

[revenant_trash]

“I'm not afraid of you!” Lex almost yells at the stranger, every word a lie.

He recalls the images of the Kaelen clan in the temple, and the vampire general only too well, and hasn't the first idea what to make of this situation. It's exacerbated by the fact that Lex has never looked in a mirror. And the fact they're a whole dimension away from home. There must be plenty of young men who look alike here. And Phoenix must be a common name in this world.

“Are you Libre?” He demands. “Are you having spies follow me? I'm nothing. Leave me alone!”