tvk | (no subject)

(no subject)

[That there quiet boom? That sound followed up with an accidental video as the phone hit the ground, an ugly stringy clatter as a guitar followed down. A girl's voice grunted a little in pain, then a scrambling as she sat back up]

Zulf, why- ah! [A little hand came into view as the guitar was scooped up, then a small questioning noise as the phone was picked up too. Two dark curious eyes inside a pale face looked at the screen.] When did I get this...?

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[Zia's plucking idly at her guitar as she waited, her nervousness creating a soft mood as the Kid approaches]

Where is this...?

Prospero. It's a city in the middle of some place I never heard of.

[Kid has to break the news, so he does it with all the grace a Mason can give.] We been kidnapped. Somehow.

[The news hit her as hard as his hammer, and Zia swayed on her feet] Kidnapped...? But why?

No clue. Us and other folks're taken here from where our homes are. But they don't make any demands or rules for us. It's actually kinda cozy.

'Cept there's monsters at the strike of midnight. Shadows, they call 'em.

It... sounds kind of nice. But is anyone else here? Rucks or... Zulf?

What kind of monsters are Shadows?

No. Honestly thought I'd be the only one 'til you showed up. Zulf 'n Rucks should still be back at the Bastion, wonderin' where we've up and gone.

Nasty beasts, that's what. Not like animals, either. Weird things that don't like the livin' too much.

Zulf, he- [Her hand tightened on the guitar] He read my father's journal. He's gone.

Is there a haven we can go to?

[Wait a second. Kid's mind comes right to a halt when he heard that.]

...just now, you mean? Zia, that...that happened weeks ago.

What do you mean? The Monument just... [She looked down]

...Zulf broke it after readin' that book. I had to go 'round the world and get Shards to substitute.

We fixed it. I carried Zulf back. You don't remember any of that, Zia?

[She shook her head, her memory ending right at the destruction]

That's strange. [Wait, Kid thinks, that means she don't remember about the Ura...

And that's not a thought he wants to touch, no sir.]

Well...whatever. There's a hotel close to here we all stay at for free. You can prolly nab a room there. Shadows shouldn't be trouble. Just stay indoors 'til the night stops lookin' wrong.

Zulf's okay, isn't he?

[He's hiding something. Zia can see that, but she hadn't stopped trusting Kid even here] That'll be fine. What do you mean "wrong"? What happens?

Barely. But he was alive 'n well when I left.

At midnight, the whole street gets dark 'n bloody and all other kinds of wrong. That's when those Shadows show up. Just wait out the hour and things go back to normal...they don't bug folks in the hotel.

He just... he's just a little confused. He doesn't deserve to- to die like everyone else.

Okay. I'll remember that. [But the Kid can see a glimmer of little Zia's curiosity in her face. Of what the Shadows could be, and what the Kid was trying to protect her from]

I know. That's why I brought 'em back. [Kid finally breaks the stone on his face and does his best to give Zia an honest smile. Yeah, he's alive, it says.

Kid also sees she's gettin' ideas. But he had to get her settled in, first. And Kid knew better than to leave a young lady without an escort.]

Hotel's this way. I can take ya there.

[The relief pierces Zia truer than a Pecker's beak.] Thank you. For bringing him back.

Can you show me around a bit? It's nothing like the City... and I'm a little curious where the market might be.

[Kid can't help but roll his eyes when Zia mentions being curious about the market. Still, this was probably a godsend to Zia compared to the cramped and solitary Bastion...and he knew it'd be good company for both of them.]

Alright, no problem. I'll show ya around. We can stop at the hotel when the sun sets.

[Zia smiles at the offer, her whole face lighting up like never before. It's not even the freedom around from the tiny Bastion, but company of a familiar and honestly friendly face] Thank you!

[Ah, darnit. The Kid feels a little embarrassed at how happy Zia was at being able to see Prospero. Or rather, that smile was just a bit too sweet for him to keep looking blank for. He'd just suddenly find the opposite direction interesting as he rubbed his neck.]

Right, uh...no problem. Anyway, market's just a ways to the northwest from here. We can start there.

[She nodded, starting on the way] Has everything been okay for you? It sounds as if a lot has happen, what with Zulf and the Bastion.

I've been in one piece. Don't worry about it.

[That is, much like Jawson's Bog, he didn't want to talk about it. Right now Kid just wanted to be happy about the fact another survivor had joined him out here.]

Things'll be calmer now, I think. Both back home and here.

[Zia gives him a warm smile] It'll be fine.

Yeah. It should. [Hopefully.]

[Her smile dominated her face as she nods]

Oh! Wow, it's so different looking here.

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