OPEN LOG FOR JAN

[heartstings]

WHO: Kenzi & OPEN
WHERE: Maurtia Falls & around
WHEN: January
WHAT: Some prompts for early January
WARNINGS: Alcohol, language, general Kenzi stuff

[A] THE RED BRANCH
[ Most any day of the week Kenzi can be found at the Branch. The exterior is still covered in graffiti but the front door, windows, and shutters have all been repaired. The door is unlocked to those that give it a try, though those with ill intent in their heart may find they can’t pass through the doorway.

Once inside the building is warm and inviting, if a little empty.

If Kenzi isn’t immediately in view her voice can be heard from somewhere in the building. ]

In here! [ Whereever here is. ]

[B] THE RED BRANCH SAND PIT
[ Some days the door is locked, but if one decides to wander the grounds a bit they’ll find a path has been cut through the overgrown that leads back around the building. There is a clearing with wooden seats built around a large pit of cleared land that has been filled in with sand. Broken weapon stands sit nearby. They’re mostly empty save a few broken wooden training weapons.

Well, there was sand but it’s now all been overtaken by grass which Kenzi is trying to clear away by any means necessary. In this case, it seems to be the use of her light abilities. Which seems to be doing a pretty good job of burning away the grass. ]

[C] GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN (OPEN; ANY CITY THAT ISN’T JEOPARDY)
[ Kenzi can be found in the bars and clubs in any of the cities; flirting, drinking, hustling some guys at pool if there happens to be a table, and dancing. She back from vacation and not letting the fun train come to a stop. Not yet, anyway.

She might also be found in a cafe or diner, window shopping, or just chilling on a bench. She likely has Sir Apple, the cat-sized green and pink fairy dragon, with her. Having him around garners a bit of a crowd, usually children, so she can’t be too hard to miss. ]

[D] WILDCARD
[ HMU on plurk or toss up your own prompt. ]

Comments

[heartstings]

One shot does not make me intoxicated. [ She snorts and rolls her eyes. ] I'm not even tipsy.

But, yeah, a little booze does help make hard labor feel less tedious.

[ Speaking of booze, she eyes the glass he's still carrying around. ] Are you just going to hold onto that or drink it?

[despicableglee]

Hm? Oh! [right. this thing.

...he has a mind to just dump it. or give it back to her.

that's probably bad form; he slams it back, offering the glass back to her.]

[heartstings]

[ She would have been pretty upset if he just dumped it, it would have been such a waste of perfectly good alcohol. She takes the glass from him and sets aside on the most level surface she can find before picking up a garden rake that's set nearby and moves to the sandpit. ]

So, how you enjoying this world?

[ Awkward small talk, but if he's going to hang around... ]

[despicableglee]

[hang around and just kind of stand in the way of things without the decency to move unless told? yes. yes he is. each and any wave to move him just puts him in a spot that'll be inconvenient later, like some kind of big dumb cat.]

It's quite the trip! Everyone is so very busy all the time, even when they're busy doing absolutely nothing of value at all!

[like him! right now!]

[heartstings]

[ Kenzi's used to a small dragon that likes to be in the way so Xellos is just a bigger version. She shoots him a flat stare and just does her best to work around him. ]

And what do you considering to be doing nothing of value?

[ She pauses with the end of the rake buried deep in the sand, ready to pull up more of the overgrowth. ]

[despicableglee]

Most things people get caught up doing. [a shrug.] People certainly put in an awful lot of time and effort into things that will have no impact after they're dead -- and even the things they think will matter won't anyway. But the mind seems designed to twist around just enough to make it all seem worthwhile.

[heartstings]

Yeah, well, that's just life ain't it? We're here, we do stuff that probably doesn't matter to anyone but us, and then we die.

[ If he's trying to sour Kenzi's mood he's failing. ]

[despicableglee]

[mildly:] That certainly is the viewpoint of many. Most don't see the bigger scope of existence and its flow, and are content to drift along at their leisure, doing this or that for no real reason beyond a momentary spark of satisfaction...or feeling at all! This place in particular; so, so busy! Nonstop, until the business wanes...leaving just the gaping maw of something much bigger barely felt deep within...

[beat.

chipper:] "That's just life," they say! It's pretty funny!

[heartstings]

[ Kenzi stops tearing up roots and looks over at Xellos, blinking at him. ]

O...okay then.

[ He's so strange and she doesn't really know what to say to all that. ]

You're weird, y'know that?

[despicableglee]

My, my... [he sighs, the sound tapering with a soft chuckle. perhaps there's little of interest to gain, even with the curious spells in place that drew his attention. that's a bummer!

he tilts his head down to observe the spot in the sand where his staff has been idly boring a little hole while he idles. idle indeed: he's not put out by this impromptu vacation, but he's also a creature made for a purpose, and even if he follows rules with all the balance and dexterity of a seasoned drunkard trying to walk a tightrope, he still follows them.

he's being put in a position not unlike these humans sorts, he realizes: all this time and no direction! goodness gracious, is he actually going to wind up with some new seeds of knowledge about the mortal condition that couldn't otherwise be cultivated in a world where his kind thrive?

wouldn't that be funny.]

That isn't the first time I've heard that. It won't be the last. Either way, I don't mind! [he looks back up shrugging.]

But, say...your goal here is to clear this place to dirt, right? [holding up a finger:] I have a way to do it in mere seconds!

[heartstings]

[ Kenzi feels like she's a master of having no purpose. She certainly drifts through life trying to find things to fill her time, especially in this place. Back home it was a little easier to find something that felt like it meant something, but here she just feels like she's trying to fill a void and failing. ]

Well, long as you're aware.

[ Her head tilts a little as she gives him a curious look. The offer is tempting but... ] And what do you get out of helping me?

[despicableglee]

[finger wagging:] It's a mystery, isn't it? I don't know how anyone will take to anything until it's happened. I'm not clairvoyant, after all.

[heartstings]

[ She leans on the rake. ] No, I mean, what do you want in return. Peeps don't usually do stuff for free.

[despicableglee]

People think they don't usually do stuff for free, you mean. But really, nobody owes anyone a thing much of the time! [is that being annoying and pedantic in a kind of sociopathic way? yes.

anyway:] But if it puts your mind at ease, I can ask for payment.

[heartstings]

[ She's finding she could really use another drink. She sighs. ]

And what would you want as payment?

[despicableglee]

[hmm. well, there's not a whole lot of value anyone can give him! but he'll play along:] Another drink!

[heartstings]

[ She considers it for a moment before nodding. ] A'ight deal.

[ And she's just going to move from the sandpit. ]

[despicableglee]

[a very wise call is made by Kenzi, because no sooner did she say deal than Xellos waved his finger again, producing a flickering ball of light that grows into larger, frantic flames. rocking up on his toes, he levitates upward a dozen or so feet. he then points down to send it there, and with no real flourish nor courtesy for the space at large just.

just craters that shit. in very Slayers fashion.

as one does.]

[heartstings]

[ Kenzi watches as the ball of flame grows and really hopes he's not a going to cause too a great deal of destruction. Upon impact, Kenzi stumbles back and raises her arms in an attempt to protect herself from both the flames and anything the explosion kicks up. After a moment she lowers her arms and stares with wide eyes at the crater left behind.

For a moment her mouth works soundlessly. ] Wha-- If you was just gonna--

[ She covers her face with both hands and sighs. ] Well, I'm going to need more sand.

[despicableglee]

[look, keeping the sand was not part of the offer. he said he'd clear this place to dirt and he did. it just kind of also includes a little bit of rockbed now.

he's so helpful.

while landing at the lip of the crater, waving dust and smoke away:] If you salt it, nothing will ever grow in this spot again, I bet! See? Easy.

[heartstings]

[ Kenzi sighs again as she starts to make her way back to where she picked up the rake, setting it back in place. ]

I guess. Lets go get you that drink.

[despicableglee]

[Xellos happily follows along, trailing the vapor of "why this why me" emanating from miss Kenzi.

once inside, though, he hears a curious sound. distant sirens...]

Aa? That noise again. What is that?

[heartstings]

[ There is certainly a lot of that coming off her. ]

The sirens? Police, fire, ambulance, one of those. They mean someone is hurt or done something they shouldn't have or both.

[despicableglee]

[you mean like...blowing up land in the middle of a city unannounced? huh.]

So more noise to add to the chaos. Interesting. [he shrugs.]

[heartstings]

[ The Branch is just far enough from Maurtia Falls that no one's going to call the cops on a few explosions, but close enough that it's not inconvenient to get to. ]

They're meant to tell people to get out of the way when the vehicles are moving on the road. But, yeah, they do just add more noise to the chaos.

[ Returning to the Branch, Kenzi enters and shrugs off her jacket with a shiver. ]