rainbows are visions, but only illusions

[glowsferatu]

WHO: Kanaya Maryam and YOU!!
WHERE: Around The City
WHEN: March 13th, afternoon
WARNINGS: Creeping, stalking, awkwardness, potentially a little blood?
SUMMARY: Kanaya's been thirsty lately, and it's led to her stalking shadows a little more often, creeping around, thinking about how people might taste. Bright feelings and bad ideas.
FORMAT: Whatever you like! If you have any special instructions, drop a note here!

[ terezi had crashed shortly after they returned from school. she still wasn't used to the daylight hours, and despite every assurance kanaya could possibly give, still wasn't comfortable under the sun. she only stayed up to keep an eye on kanaya, but it was clear that it was wearing on her. kanaya had tucked her in with her scalemates before sneaking out herself.

she finds herself stepping along the edges of the rooftops, leaping across the walls, dancing across the city as though it was her own personal studio. it helps to clear her head, but also recalls the last time she did this, reminds her of her need. it isn't as easy this time, though, she knows better.

but a resolution not to take doesn't erase the strength of her want. she slides down a fire escape, kicks against the wall, and softly lands in the alley below. she's not sure how she'll manage the thirst for now, but the romance of the hunt is certainly tempting as she sees the passersby on the sidewalk. she can't stay here long, she'll have to keep moving if she wants her thoughts to keep from settling on the subject too strongly. ]

Comments

[slingshots]

[ Man, you have way more time on your hands when you've dropped out of school. Sometimes Redbird even pops out during the day, just because, well, why not? It's actually kind of nice doing her gliding trick over the City when she can actually see things! Things like... Kanaya?

Carrie has the sinking feeling she owes Kanaya an apology, even if she... can only barely remember how most of their last conversation went. Guided by guilty and duty, she swings down to snag a perch on an eve overhead, and... clears her throat a little awkwardly. ]

[glowsferatu]

[ her glow flares momentarily at the sound, and she jumps a bit, like a kid caught with her hand in the cookie jar. catching sight of its source, she brightens to something a little more steady, and slowly, innocently, backs away from the mouth of the alley and glances up at redbird

the worst person to run into at the most inopportune time ]

Oh, um...hello.

[slingshots]

[ Like Carrie's in any position to notice guilt or awkwardness, when she's so busy drowning in her own. She only fidgets, wishing she'd just kept going.

Well, too late now. ]

Hey.

[ Play it cool, play it cool. (Now what?) ]

...How's things?

[glowsferatu]

[ kanaya needles her fingers together in a method of perfect and indisputable innocence

god jesus carrie why do you have to make it all so awkward she hates this ]

Perfectly within the realms of reason! The level of concern necessitated by all events presently in occurrence is an absolute zero.

[slingshots]

[ Well. Maybe she's not totally oblivious to all forms of awkwardness... but then, of course, she'll just chalk it up to having made a serious idiot of herself last time they talked. She shifts uncomfortably, knowing she probably ought to drop to the ground to continue this conversation like... a normal person.

She doesn't move, though. ]

Keen. Um. [ Does she just... out and apologize? Or would that be even more awkward? ] ...So, figure I'm good to start training again. If you wanna.

[glowsferatu]

[ this distance was only compounding the inconvenient nature of the situation. kanaya wonders if she shouldn't try to close it, but then...she decides the proximity may actually lessen it, comparatively. she, to no surprise, hates that things have gotten to this point, and tries to ignore how much she hates the both of them for causing it.

it is, if anything, at least a welcome distraction from what she was doing a moment ago. she needed one of those. ]

If you think that would be wise, given the circumstances. [ though maintaining the outlet would be convenient, but she's afraid that knowing how redbird feels at the heart of it may still sully that. ]

[slingshots]

'Course. I mean, training's training. [ A little quirk of a smile, because those at least are always natural. ] And you're getting pretty good, too.

[ ...this distance is starting to feel a little ridiculous. So Carrie makes herself hop forward and hit the ground, heading forward to bring the gap to at least conversational size. ]

[girlverine]

[Laura was standing in the far end of that particular alley, with the unconscious body of a drug-dealer she'd accosted a few moments prior laying at her feet. He was bleeding from a broken nose, but otherwise appeared to just be knocked out. She'd gone through his pockets, and was stuffing his earnings in her pocket as she dialed 911 on the dealers cell with her other hand.]

[She pauses though, before she hits the second one, as a familiar scent catches her attention, half-turning to peer towards the fire escape and the figure dropping off of it, shadowed by the afternoon sun at the far end of the alley. Huh. After a brief moment, she closes the phone with a very audible snap.]

[glowsferatu]

[ it's the smell of blood that gets kanaya's own attention, envelops her senses. but the sound of the phone doesn't hurt, either. she turns with some surprise to see laura there, but the man is far more unexpected!

she wonders if she shouldn't help him, as she approaches, but seeing the blood from his nose puts her on edge, hesitant to get too close ]

What happened to him?

[girlverine]

I kicked him.

[Laura shrugs, turning back towards the unconcious man, then back to Kanaya, holding up the pilfered phone.]

I was about to call the police, it's not a good idea for either of us to be here when they arrive.

[glowsferatu]

[ she doesn't look at laura, her eyes are fixed on the blood from the man's nose. her glow wavers, her hands tremble, she's certain her forehead must be clammy. basically every indicator she has of her desire is working on all cylinders, aside from the verbal one ]

And...so he deserved this, then? A criminal?

[ an acceptable target? perhaps even terezi would agree with that, channeling her thirst into a tool of justice ]

[girlverine]

[Laura studies Kanaya carefully then, she could smell the...she wasn't entirely sure how to classify it, really, but 'need' was probably accurate...]

Yes. He is a pimp, and was selling meth.

[A pause.]

Are you alright?

[glowsferatu]

[ kanaya meets laura's gaze then, but flickers back to the blood for a lingering glance before looking back at laura again. she's heard the term "pimp" tossed about in varying contexts, though the use now was notably disdainful. maybe a quick sip would be acceptable ]

Yes.

Perfectly fine.

[soldieringblue]

No amount of stealth was going to shield her efforts utterly from Soldier Blue. It wasn't his intention, but it surely was in his nature to detect those engrossed, unguarded thoughts and feelings – moreso because she was someone he knew and recognized, thought and sight alike.

He only felt the faintest notion of her; that's all he needed to pique his interest. He stopped in his tracks and stepped aside, giving more of the sidewalk to other pedestrians so he could spend time listening and searching, trying to find the body the familiar notion belonged to.

What is she doing...?

[glowsferatu]

She didn't notice him at first, standing at the mouth of the alley,slowly inching her way out to the sidewalk. She was too busy watching the people go by, some very intently.

Eventually, she fell in behind a tall man walking down the sidewalk in Soldier Blue's direction. How far she intended to follow him, and what exactly she expected to do once she was finished, she hadn't really decided yet.

[soldieringblue]

It was unclear why she was so fixated – it would stay unclear lest he pry, but he hoped he wouldn't have to resort to that. The closer she got, maybe...

But the man passed, and so did she. It worried him. Though he could hardly consider himself a good friend – they'd only known each other for a short time, spoken less – he'd hardly walk away from something striking him so odd. If it was something important, far be it for him to intrude, but...

He watched them go, frowning, before deciding to send out a thought. It was better than shouting aloud, drawing undue attention.

Kanaya?

[glowsferatu]

She stopped immediately in her tracks, wheeling about frantically and trying to find the source. Had someone called her name? Was it her conscience getting to her? Her glow increased with the resulting guilt, and it's then that she finally saw him.

She shrunk under his gaze, no matter what lack of judgement it held. She could judge herself enough for the both of them. But, having been caught, she approached him slowly, with embarrassment. "I-I didn't...I had no intention of ultimately accomplishing any act I may have entertained."

[soldieringblue]

Her guilt was practically palpable, though for what reason, Blue couldn't tell. It clearly bothered her, however. Blue's brow creased with a sense of concern, unsure as to whether he'd interrupted something not quite so harmless.

"I'm not sure I understand," he said once she'd drawn closer. "What was happening? That you were so fixated..."

[glowsferatu]

"Nothing! Nothing whatsoever," she insisted, though she'd never been a liar with any kind of gift. "It was, um, mere curiosity! Yes, a desire to understand humans in their daily routine."

[brutalsorrow]

[It has only been two days at most since her arrival to this city, but yet Samara has found herself settling into a routine. The city was still largely foreign to her, and she knew to be efficient in any capacity as a Justicar, she needed to know this place inside and out.

So, she made up patrols for herself. And she noticed things. Different times of day brought on different types of people. And different criminals. She was still unarmed, but had her biotics to rely on- and she was slightly on edge, so when she heard noise from the darkened alleyway, she quickly activated her biotics, glowing blue as she took a step towards the source of the noise]

[glowsferatu]

[ well, blue glow meets white glow, because kanaya has absolutely no idea what to make of this blue lady approaching. it's safe, perhaps, to imagine her to be similarly an imPort, but she's met enough blue humans that she can't jump to the conclusion of this one being otherwise. ]

I, uh...hope I'd done nothing to disturb you.

[brutalsorrow]

[Just a child- but Samara knew better than to lower her guard in a strange encounter. She let her biotics fizzle out, but still stood to attention, ready to re-activate them if needed. This did seem to be a child, yes, but Samara wasn't certain what the glow was an indicator of.]

You haven't. I was merely being cautious.

[glowsferatu]

[ kanaya is a little jealous that this lady seems to have such control over her own glow, and idly entertains the thought of whether it would be bad form to simply abscond from this encounter. but she's already engaged, so the window of opportunity may be gone ]

Well, I certainly don't intend you any harm...or anyone else, for that matter.

[brutalsorrow]

I am pleased to hear that. I apologize if I've startled you, I assumed you were- [pause] someone else.

Though I've a question for you. If it is not too intrusive.

[glowsferatu]

I don't suppose I could deny your curiosity, without at least being familiar with the topic it involves.