In the naked city

[dwightandclean]

Who: Dwight dwightandclean and anyone else!
Where: The Harbour (bring a jacket~)
When: November 15, mid-day
Style: Prose but I can change
Status: OPEN

The wind was cold and every so often a flurry of snow would cling to his hair. The water was somewhat choppy but Dwight was used to it. Living on the coast of Maine for so many years made this sort of weather familiar. Almost comforting; if only there was a small island a little ways out in the bay. He shrugged his jacket tighter and rubbed his hands together. The day was not exactly fit for exploring but Dwight was getting restless. His job didn't exactly let him stay cooped up back home.

"And now I'm on a forced day off." He sighed, watching his breath float out over the water. His shoulders itched but the familiar weight pressing against them let him relax at least a little.

He kicked a rock into the water and settled down on some debris. Watching the waves and wondering just how far this place would let them go.

Comments

[behind_my_smile]

Fai had taken a day off from the club and the bar in order to get some air and clear his mind. Many of his friends had left recently and some of the events of the past couple weeks had him in a more somber mood then is normal for the vampire.

He had decided to go up to the Harbor since it would mostly likely be quiet. He didn't mind the cold, having spent many decades in a world covered in ice and snow, so it was almost nostalgic to walk outside in the frigid temps.

As he was walking he saw the other man, who looked to be rather deep in thought. Fai brought a smile to his lips as he got close, "Good afternoon."

[dwightandclean]

Dwight had heard Fai coming up behind him, but he remained calmed and focused on the water. "Hi."

The Cleaner hadn't expected anyone to come out in this weather but well, that just showed how much he had to learn about this place. Keeping some attention on the waves he turned around and offered Fai a pretty open smile.

"Thought I was the only one who could stand the cold."

[behind_my_smile]

Fai's smile was warm even if his soul wasn't feeling all that up to it. "My world used to be cold all the time. This actually feels warm compared to that." Fai laughed a little then looked out towards the water. "I'll admit I was surprised to see anyone out here as well. Most people don't seem to do well with cold weather. I think they like the more temperate climate of the bubble."

[dwightandclean]

"I rather have real weather. Good or..." He gestures to the choppy water before tucking his hands back into his jacket. That 'used' part caught his attention but, Dwight isn't sure just how to take it. Vatheon has sort of shorted out his context filter.

"That's a phrase I'll have to get used to." He stands up and kicks his boot against some debris to get a little feeling back in his toes. "'My world'."

[behind_my_smile]

Fai looked back at Dwight as he stood up. If the man asked, Fai would answer. His world no longer existed. It was destroyed and it was Fai's fault. That second part was not something he would be so forthcoming with.

"Are you relatively new to the bubble?" Fai had been there for six months at this point and he still found it to be new and interesting. But sometimes he knew it could be hard for the newcomers to adjust to the differences of the underwater world.

[dwightandclean]

Dwight never asks, mostly because it gives the impression that he'd share what had gone on in his world. Though...the folks around here would probably tolerate Troubles a bit more.

"Got here just about two weeks ago." small head shake, "And landing in a fountain? Not the best welcome I've ever had."

[behind_my_smile]

Fai laughs again, "It is a pretty rough welcoming to the world. Perhaps if the fountain was empty it would be a little more pleasant. But welcome~ Hopefuly you'll find this place to be at least a little enjoyable."

[dwightandclean]

"Empty?" He runs a hand through his hair then looks calmly at Fai, "I think that might be a lot more unpleasant." The welcome earns the other man another smile but Dwight just shakes his head.

"So far it's been different. I'll give this place that much." The idea of being an experiment though bring a thoughtful frown to his face. It was probably one of those deep seeded and slightly ridiculous fears, but the thought was there. Now it was a possibility and it just didn't sit right.

[behind_my_smile]

"Different is a very good word for it." Fai gets distracted by the first thought though and returns to the fountain idea. A playful smile spreads across his face.

"But what if the fountain was filled with something else instead? Something fluffy even? Like pillows or feathers? Wouldn't that be more pleasant then water? What a warm welcome it would be!"

[dwightandclean]

"Pillows?" Dwight's eyebrow twitches up in amusement. This guy was turning out to be just as 'interesting' as Vatheon. "I could probably handle pillows." A small pout of thought, "Not feathers though. Really hard to clean those up."

[behind_my_smile]

"I think we should change the fountain then. I wonder if this world would get upset. It's too bad we can't predict when people show up, then we could have it all set up and ready for them. It can be full of the fluffiest and most amazing pillows in Vatheon! And then once everyone is here the water can go back in it. That would probably take an awful lot of work though. The fountain would have to be drained and then dried and then filled with the pillows. I really think the newcomers would appreciate it though."

Fai likes this idea but he isn't one to actually try and see if it is feasible.

[dwightandclean]

"You could always try those inflatable floating...chair things."

Why was he playing along with this? It was just rhetorical, and silly but that part was alright,and never going to be done. He shrugged and looked back out at the bay.

"Keep from having to drain the thing every other Tuesday or whatever."

[behind_my_smile]

"Ah! That is a very good point! IF we provide them with fun floaty things to land on that maybe they won't be so upset when they arrive!"

Fai taps his chin in thought. "I bet there are all kinds of fun things that just need to be blown up like a big balloon that would be nice to land on too! If they are fun shapes maybe the regular villagers won't be opposed to them being in there."

[fightforastar]

Whatever the weather, Tifa made periodic trips up to the island, just to take a look at the sky and confirm for herself that there was no threat there. She'd come almost daily when she first arrived, but now once or twice a week was enough.

It was closer to autumn weather by her reckoning, but still a drop from the recent heat wave and a far cry from beach temperatures, and she didn't quite expect to run into anyone.

Seeing the stranger watching the water, Tifa stepped up to join him. She gave him a glance and a friendly smile, but stayed silent for the moment as she gauged whether he'd prefer to be left to himself.

[dwightandclean]

He'd felt her approach, years of training was always hard to ignore, so he simply offered her a small smile back. The weather had been a deciding factor in coming outside, but only because he missed the chill air and smell of salt that he often had back home. Plus, it wasn't like he'd claimed the harbour for solo brooding time, so he simply stood to silently offer her a seat.

[fightforastar]

Tifa settled herself down with an appreciative nod and looked out to sea.

"Homesick?" she wondered. It wasn't obvious, but a certain tenseness in his shoulders and the way he looked out at the water made her suspect he hadn't yet resigned himself to the place.

[dwightandclean]

He glanced at her before smirking a bit, "Not yet." He kicked a rock into the water, "Just practicing for when it does hit."

Now he was curious what a young girl was doing out in the cold and alone, "Only been here about two weeks. You?"

[fightforastar]

"Going on three months," she answered with a rueful shrug. "I'm still not sure I'm used to it."

[dwightandclean]

"Three?" Well that just gives him something to look forward too, "There's a lot to get used to. Three months doesn't seem like it'd be enough." Not when a whole new world is involved.

[fightforastar]

Admittedly, Tifa had as much trouble coping with the things she'd left behind as with adjusting to a new world.

"This place doesn't always give you much down time either," she agreed. "You have to really take advantage of it when it does."

[dwightandclean]

"No down time?...well, I'm still pretty new so I've been lucky." Which was new but it was a good new. Something he wished would stick around but according to this girl, it wouldn't.

"But now that I know...I'm going to enjoy the quiet."

[fightforastar]

He must have come just late enough to miss the walking nightmares, she supposed. Lucky indeed.

"Good plan," was all she said on the matter. There was no need to get into that and worry him too much. She offered him another smile. "I'm Tifa, by the way."

[dwightandclean]

"Plans are helpful. Especially if the situation is..well.." He gestures behind them towards the vague shape of the elevator. "A bubble city."

If he ever learns about those nightmares, he'll actually thank Vatheon for it's timing. Lucky isn't something he gets too often, not without effort anyways.

"I'm Dwight."

[fightforastar]

"Nice to meet you, Dwight. You've probably gotten the rundown on the place by now, but if there's anything you've been wondering about..." She gives a shrug. "Not many people are really prepared for suddenly winding up in a bubble city."

[dwightandclean]

"Uh, I read the user manual I found when I got here and was told about the Defense Force." He shrugs a litle bit, "Not sure if that's a full run down but it's all I got."

He gives a small chuckle, "Not the worse that I've seen but you do have a point."