maskormenacelogs | find some kind of glow

You didn't really scare me. [ Okay, maybe he did scare her a little bit. But she was going to insist it was just she'd been apprehensive or uneasy, not scared. She let her hands drop from her hips and her entire posture switched to something much less on the defense and guarded. It was clear she was still watching him, but she wasn't on the defensive. ]

Most people would've just left me alone though. They always have.

[ This grows from mildly to absolutely concerning on Gil's end. His expression furrows at the thought; he might not know her, but there's nothing so far that indicates she's an unruly young girl. She seems to have her heart in the right place.

Still, it incites slight panic in Gil, too. He struggles to find the proper words to say to her. ]

... they shouldn't have. Who knows what could go wrong in a bar like that?

[ He fidgets in his spot. ]

Uh... I'm Gilbert, by the way.

A lot of things can go wrong anywhere. [ She shrugged it off like it was absolutely no big deal. It wasn't to her, not really. In fact it seemed weirder to have people so concerned. Especially a stranger. ] I was on my own for a while, I learned how to take care of myself really well.

[ She smiles her best reassuring smile and moves one hand back to her hip. It's an attempt at some sort of confident pose. ]

Hi, Gilbert. >small>[ Somehow the name fits him. ] I'm Traci.

Oh.

[ His expression softens; Traci is fairly young, so it's unfortunate she's been forced on her own. While Gil left the Nightray manor on his own, he had the money to support himself despite living in apartment with barely any room. ]

Miss Traci, then. [ He nods. ] Sorry to hear.

[ And since he doesn't want to leave it at that: ] Where do you live? I can walk you home, if it's not far.

Just Traci. [ Miss was way too formal even for this weird guy with the accent that had tried to rescue her. ] There's no reason to be sorry. [ and she shrugged at the comment like there really was no reason to be sorry. ]

I'm not actually from this city. I came up from Heropa so I think walking might be out of the question.

All the way from ―

[ It clicks a second later and he nods, finally understanding what is going on. Sort of. ]

ImPort?

[ It definitely explains her being on her own when there's an abundance of teenagers, let alone children, who are stuck figuring out how to take care of themselves with very little guidance. ]

[ She nodded. ] Yup. Good guess. [ And quick guess. She offered her best attempt at a smile. ] Hope that's not a problem. [ If he was an import himself it definitely wouldn't be, but if he wasn't, well, she never expected too much from people. ]

Hardly.

[ Gil holds out his arm, pulling up his coat sleeve a moment to revealed the barely visible glow of REGISTERED on his arm. Then he pulls it back down, lifting his head to meet her gaze once more. ]

I don't mind either. The Porters make it a quick trip.

[ Which is to say she shouldn't be alone, even on her way back home. After what she's revealed, it wouldn't feel right. ]

Nice. Looks like we've at least got that in common. [ She smiled and relaxed just a tiny bit more at that. So he was like her. Sort of. At least in the area of being an imPort and being registered. Not that she really liked the idea of registered but it was better than the other option. ]

I hadn't planned on going back yet. Or back by the Porters.

It's getting pretty late. You should get home soon.

[ He doesn't want to relent just yet; maybe this girl will see he has a point and accept his offer.

... oh, who is he kidding? These kids never listen. It's like it's genetically implanted in them during puberty or something to rebel! ]

What are you going to do?

[ She tilted her head to one side and just looked at him for a second. Was he really trying to tell her what she should or shouldn't do? There was this small part (no it's a large part) of her that wanted to be obstinate just because nobody told her what to do. Her dad tried and she didn't listen to him. ]

I'm trying to figure the city out. Get a good feel with it in case I ever need to use my abilities here.

[ ... did he also stumble across one of those aspiring-to-be-superheroes? His luck has been something this past week. ]

Are you looking for something in particular? I'm not sure what you'll find in a club...

The feel of the city, what makes it unique. [ After a few seconds it did occur to her that it made zero sense. He was an imPort so he probably got the whole power thing so there was nothing wrong with elaborating some. ] Some of my powers are tied with the area I'm in. So it can be easier to cast spells or channel things if I know how to connect to a city. [ She looked around this place. ] Wouldn't want to connect too much here though, I don't think I'd like how it'd change me.

I'm not sure I understand entirely.

[ It's not a difficult admission; superpowers of any kind have always been somewhat difficult to comprehend. Magic exists in his world, however its power is not so easily harnessed from what he's gathered the past few weeks back home. The power of a chain is similar, but he's much more knowledgeable when it comes to chains. ]

What sort of changes would it have on you?

That's sorta difficult to explain. [ She began to tap one of her feet in a rhythmic manner similar to the beat that had been playing outside the venue. Explaining this was always so weird and difficult. If she could show rather than tell it'd be easier but how did you show something like that? ]

Sometimes when I'm in a place for a while I start to take on the traits that are most prevalent in that city. It's magic and it's feel just rub off on me.

You can't control it?

[ If that's the case, that aspect of her power sounds a tad frightening. Gil personally needs to feel in control and constantly feels he has none of it. He can't imagine what a power like that would do to his head alone if he had it. ]

[ She bites down on her lower lip and then shrugs one shoulder. ] I can control my magic but not necessarily the influence. [ A beat ] But I can definitely mostly control my magic. [ Mostly. Really helping her case. ]

[ That doesn't sound good... and he can't help a slightly worried and skeptical look. ]

Um... it might be best you go home and get some rest instead. Is it affecting you now?

[ She looked at him for a while and then arched an eyebrow. This guy was definitely weird that he even cared. Or was it weird that she thought it was that weird that some stranger was showing so much concern?

She shakes her head. ]

Nope. Not at all. I'd have to spend a lot more time here. I really can't even get that great of a feel for the place. Other than the general idea that it reminds me of a place I had an apartment in. [ It was a crappy apartment. ]

You can't honestly be planning to stay here the whole night. Where will you stay?

[ If she has the money to afford a nice hotel room, he wouldn't mind walking her over there. He's not fond of motels or the areas she wants to sneak around in. This city hosts numerous problems when it comes to corruption alone, so it's easy to imagine that some creeps out there would want to prey on Traci. ]

I've lived here since last year. Is there anything you want to know specifically?

Nah, I planned on going back eventually. I didn't have a set time though. [ No she doesn't have the money for a hotel room. Especially not after she dedicated all of her savings and money to a birthday party. Sometimes she thinks smart, other times she thinks with very narrow tunnel vision.

That was a tunnel vision time. She blinked and then tried to look casual.]

You're another one that's been stuck here a while then? [ How many people ended up here for years? That was just discouraging news. ]

Specifically what would you say is this places major draw? What's it's...thing that makes it unique?

[ He's clearly not expecting that question from Traci, so Gil has to search for an answer he doesn't quite have. ]

The draw?

[ If he's going to be completely honest, Maurtia Falls had a small number of draws: the weather beats Florida's any day (he'll take the cold over humidity), the fact the locals are content to leave imPorts alone, and that Kenzi was here... or going to be. ]

It's quieter compared to the other cities. Nobody really bothers you if you're an imPort.

Really? That actually sounds kind of nice. [ If that was really the case maybe she should consider moving here. ] No big disasters or annoying people asking imPort questions? What are the people like in general?

Not really. Even when there are problems within the imPort community, trouble doesn't come here often.

The people? They're private for the most part. You might get a few curious people, otherwise everyone minds each other's business.

[ Which helps criminals get away with whatever illegal activity they're doing since so many are willing to turn a blind eye. ]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

1/2

2/2

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject