Synopsis: Distant Sky runs into Soldier of Misfortune, and Hunting Mist shows up with a bit of business.

Location: Chronopolis - Sapphire District

Recorded: Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Cast: Forbidden Blossom (as Distant Sky), Soldier of Misfortune, Hunting Mist

 

It's a cloudy day today, the sun a bit dimmed, though time ot time cracks slide by in the clouds, causing the city to unexpectedly shine for moments. The city is busy as ever, as students and professionals alike wind their way through the streets, with occasional crews working knowledge into practicality.

Coming out of the District of Starmetal, Distant Sky holds a brochure in hand - an idea lost to most of creation - as she sees the sights. Stepping up onto a dividing wall, she walks along, and then looks up, pointing as she references her book. Obviously sightseeing, though with a certain energy not usually found in tourism.

 

Dressed back in his comfortable, ratty old clothes, Soldier of Misfortune walks down the street with a big smile on his face, his hat tipped up for his face to catch the morning sun. His longcoat flutters in the breeze behind him, and his firewand is slung over his back comfortably as he strolls happily through the city.

Soldier stops as he catches sight of Distant Sky, holding up his hand. "Hi there!" He calls, bounding over to her. "Remember me?" His smile shifts to a grin, and gold eyes gleam in the light of Sol as his hand slides into his black hair behind his head. "The guy who, uh, who caught you."

 

Distant Sky looks down, crouching from where she's at. "Oh, hey, ah... Soldier, right? How could I forget?" She tilts her head. "I thought I'd have one last look before I went onward and outward." The pamphlet shakes loosely in her hand. "So, he put you to work yet?"

 

"A while ago," Soldier teases, "And I'm glad I'm so unforgettable!" he calls. "Want me to climb up so we can talk easier?" 

He laughs. "Or do you want to just jump down so I can catch you again?"

 

From around the corner, a ways off, Hunting Mist walks into sight and spots Soldier. Distant Sky's presence is blocked until he approaches, so he sees Soldier looking up, smiling, and calls out, "There y'are! Been wanderin' around this maze fer a day lookin' fer ya!"

 

"I don't always need catching, you know.", as she hops off, landing lightly. "Hey, it'd be rude if I forgot a good catch like that." Leaning to the side, she looks around him to Hunting Mist for a moment, smiling.

 

"Hi again," Soldier smiles at Mister, "What were you looking for me for?" And Soldier laughs and scratches the back of his head. "So it was the -catch- that was unforgettable and not me, huh?"

 

Pulling up short, Mist tips his hat to the lady from above, and again to Soldier, "Ma'am...well, ah just' wanted t'thank you for backing my play with Chronos there. He's sorta touchy about some things, it seems. Ah'm just wonderin' how I might get in touch with you once I leave th'city, in case ah need t'get ahold of ya."

 

Distant Sky says, "Hey, take what you can get, don't look in a horse's mouth, count your blessing, and-" She looks to Mist, and then to Soldier, echoing, "Play?", with a curious tone of puzzlement.

 

"Ma'am, m'name's Hunting Mist, from th'south of th'Yellow River, an' ah'm working for Chronos. Fer now."

 

Soldier tips his hat down and grins at Sky. "Too true," he teases, tilting his head at Mist. "Oh, uh, Mist here works for Chronos. He was trying to convince the boss to retract the bounty on that renegade, erm..." Soldier snaps his fingers.

 

Hunting Mist says, "Phil."

 

"Phil?" Soldier blinks. "What kind of a weird name is Phil?"

 

Hunting Mist says, "Sorry, ah got a penchant fer shorter names. Philokrates."

 

"Working for Chronos? Doing what...?" She looks over to Soldier. "Philokrates?" She swings about to stare at Mist. "Why would you- you know he's killed people, right? Lots of people?"

 

Soldier scratches the back of his head. "It's really complicated," he admits, his smile shifting to a frown as his hat goes down to practically cover his face.

 

Hunting Mist bites his lip, then replies, "Yeah, he did, and all that he did was in Great Forks, where they took him, tried him, and punished him. I was just askin' Chronos about th'bounty, since he didn't do anything here, an' he's likely sending people t'get killed while it still hangs over him. I just wanted to know if that was what he wants."

 

Distant Sky looks to Soldier. "Complicated?... more like crazy. Barmy, even." She looks back to Mist, her mouth twitching as she looks thoughful. "You're probably right, but still, he's a killer, isn't he?"

 

Shaking his head slowly, Mist brings hit hat down to shade his eyes a bit better, "Well, if being a killer is the problem, most people we regard as heroes wouldn't be. Naw, th'problem is why he killed, who he killed, and what's been done about it. An' that's sorta what ah'm working on."

 

Soldier slides his hand into his pocket. "I only backed him up because if Chronos keeps the bounty hunt on, he might risk pissing off other nations, and that'll lead to worse."

 

Distant Sky says, "It's not just that killed, yes, but..." She shakes her head. "... well, there's only so much you can do to make it looks like he cares. Ugh. This is why he builds cities and I just sightsee in them, though."

 

Mist's lips tighten into something just short of a frown, and nods at Soldier's remark, "Fair enough.". 

 

Turning to Distant Sky, "Interesting comment, ma'am. Never caught your name."

 

"Distant Sky, Mist. Good to meet.", she offers her hand. "I'm usually not quite so bitter, honest. Killing gets to me, somehow.", she adds dryly.

 

Taking her hand and shaking it briefly, Mist replies, "Well, it gets all sorts of folk riled up, ma'am. Some more'n others."

 

Soldier scratches the side of his head. "Sorry," he says to Mist, "But we have enough problems on our hands in this world without war because of bounty hunters. Not that I don't agree that maybe something's wrong, but I've never met the guy."

 

"But... is there a nation that's indebted to him? That'd be strange...", Distant Sky, and then suddenly waves her hands. "Ahhh, I really don't want to talk about him anymore, seriously."

 

Hunting Mist waves his hand, dispelling the tension, "Yer right, this is no time fer this talk, especially in front of a pretty lady. C'mon, let's move this somewhere else."

 

"Sounds like a plan," Soldier agrees.

 

Distant Sky looks over, and adds, "Somewhere else? Where?" She looks to Soldier. "You have a plan?", she says with a grin.

 

"I do not," Soldier replies. "I was hoping he did."

 

Mist holds up his hands, "Nope, don't look at me, I didn't have anything in mind other than findin' you, and ah've done that already. S'not like ah know this city any."

 

"There are some great miniskirt cafes in the area," Soldier murmurs with a blush, tugging down his hat. "But the one we were at earlier is my favorite...there's one nearby though we could hit."

 

Blushing, and smiling a little, Mist tilts his hat forward, "Ah, naw, ah've had enough o'those places fer now. A man can only take so much at once. Ah think ah better go an' see to mah 'horse'."

 

"Miniskirt cafes...?", looking somewhat puzzled, and blinks. "Is that a euphemism for a bordello or..." She looks back to Mist. "Horse? Hm. Okay. Good meeting you, stranger."

 

Hunting Mist says, "Same to you, ma'am. Ah'm sure we'll see each other again."

 

Soldier shakes his head vigorously as 'bordello'. "No, no! It's just a cafe where the girls dress a little skimpier than usual and..." He looks down at the ground, feeling acutely uncomfortable about the whole thing. "Bye," he offers to Mist.

 

With that, Hunting Mist tips his hat in farewell to the pair, and heads down to where his Familiar is, a figure in black moseying off under the sun.

 

Distant Sky stares and says, "This is a very strange town, sometimes." She takes a step away. "So, where /are/ we going?"

 

"We'll...we'll go to a normal cafe," he replies, still blushing fairly heavily. "Sorry. It's probably pretty improper of me to take such a pretty girl to another cafe just so I can stare at the other pretty girls."

 

Distant Sky smirks. "I don't really care, I have more important things to worry about than who you stare at.", as she walks after. "But thank you for the compliment!"

 

"It just feels rude. I'm not a pig." Soldier smiles at her, opening the door to a cafe. "Here we go. I'll even pay for you."

 

"Didn't even imply that.", replies Distant Sky, and walks in as she looks around. "So, how has your work been? If it is work, anyway..." She says with a wide gesture, before picking a seat and settling in.

 

Soldier laughs and slides in. "Not well. I'm a horrible guard," he admits, tugging on his hat instinctively. "I keep falling off roofs and I don't have good samaritans waiting under them to catch me." With a wink of his golden eye, he calls over a waiter and orders a drink. "But I think he's keeping me on the payroll because I'm a godblood."

 

Distant Sky leans back in her chair leisurely, echoing, "Godblood? What sort? Or is that some sort of secret I'm not supposed to ask? Don't smite." She slides her satchel off, swinging it over to lie next to her chair.

 

Soldier laughs and wiggles his fingers, a stream of coins sliding out of his wallet and encircling her face in a heart. "Guess." He teases.

 

Distant Sky reaches out to poke at one of the coins, blinking. "Money, then?", she adds. "Coins! Lucher! Silver!", she more rapid-fire guesses, sitting up a bit.

 

"Wealth," he laughs, streaming the coins along to form an arrow through the heart and sink it back into his wallet. "But good guess."

 

Distant Sky claps politely, and then adds, "So, then, why do you need a job? Aren't you supposed to be... well, naturally wealthy, or...?" She pauses. "I don't really know much about your kind."

 

Soldier coughs a bit, tilting his hat to the side. "Let's just say that my father wasn't very nice and leave it at that," he confirms. "What about you? What do you do?"

 

"Oh, me?", Distant Sky says, looking a little put-upon. "Oh, well, you know, I'm a wanderer. That means I wander." She looks thoughtful as she looks aside coyly. "So I do whatever needs doing. I don't really have one thing I do."

 

"Actually," Soldier laughs, scratching the back of his head, "I'm kind of a wanderer myself. I'm only here because the pay's good."

 

Distant Sky says, "Yeah, I bet it is.", leaning forward a bit and setting her arms on the table. Raising a hand to call a server over, she asks, "What's Chronos like?"

 

"Stubborn. Kind of a jerk. Depends on the day, I guess, and his mood. I think he's trying to do the right thing, but I think he's getting lost in the moment." Soldier laughs and scratches the back of his head. "Figures I'd be sitting with a pretty girl and she'd want to know all about some other guy. Just my luck."

 

Distant Sky laughs. "I just wanted to see what you thought, I talked with him earlier, but... he's too straight-laced. Tightly wound. I think it restricts his blood flow, you know?" She looks up to the server. "Ah, do you have some milk tea? Thanks."

 

"He is." Soldier agrees. "Very straight-laced. I mean, I'm pretty...um...laced myself, but Chronos takes it to a whole new level."

 

"Well, I mean, I guess that seems to be the Exalted way, you know? Great people, but to know them... woo." Sky shakes her head, and then leans her chin on a palm.

 

Soldier laughs and picks up his drink. "I'll say," he replies, leaning across the table to grin at her. "Gods can vary. It depends on how nice the god you're dealing with is."

 

Distant Sky says, "Yeah, I've run into a few. I don't exactly go looking them up, usual company excepted." Her own drink arrives, and she takes it up in both hands. "But you seem perfectly nice. I'd hate to be wrong."

 

Soldier winks. "I can be bad if I want to," he teases, taking another sip. "But usually, I'm a pretty nice guy, yeah."

 

"Well, you are a soldier of some sort, I suppose.", Sky replies before sipping. "But I guess every god has to have a wrathful aspect, hm?"

 

"It's just a name," Soldier laughs, "I do more ditch-digging and flirting than I do soldiering. But I suppose so."

 

Distant Sky says, "Well, there haven't been any wars lately... except down south, anyway. Not that I'm saying there should be! It just seems to be... well, inevitable sometimes." She pauses. "Wait, you were just trying to stop a war, right?"

 

"I'm a soldier, but that doesn't mean I like killing people," he points out.

 

Distant Sky rolls her eyes and grins. "I mean, just, irony, I'm not saying annnnything like that." She takes a sip.

 

"I know. It was just too good an opportunity to pass up," he laughs. "How's your drink? Worth spending time with a shiftless godblood?"

 

Distant Sky takes a sip, and points over, "Hey, I'm just as shiftless! I mean, I'm not the one with a job here working for the big cheese. I'm shiftless... ess... er."

 

"I'm wearing a ratty old hat! I practically scream 'shiftless!'" Soldier protests in a huff, but it's clear he doesn't really mean it as his face breaks out in a wide grin.

 

Distant Sky sighs, "Okay, okay, you're more shifty than I am." She takes a long sip, and then adds, "But you still work for The Man."

 

Soldier laughs, triumphant in his shiftiness, then winks at her. "Only right now. So! Where's next on the Distant Sky destination list?"

 

Distant Sky smiles, "Oh, I have to have a plan now, do I? That'd be, ah... against the wanderer code, good sir. Why, I go where the wind takes me."

 

"I didn't know we had a code. I must be slacking." Soldier takes a sip of his drink. "I'm curious if you had any particular destination you were heading towards...you know, so I can take a shorter route, beat you there, and flirt with you again," he jokes, raising his mug. "No, but seriously...Greyfalls is pretty interesting, or Nexus, if you're looking for ideas."

 

Distant Sky says, "Well, I was thinking of being around the Hundred Kingdoms a little longer, and then... southward, probably. There's a lot of trouble down there, I hear. Could probably use a mysterious wanderer."

 

"Probably could," Soldier agrees. "Could use a lot more, really."

 

Distant Sky sips down, and stares into an empty cup. "Maybe, I never know if me being around is always a good thing, but I try." She grins. "But... you'll be around here for awhile, then?"

 

Soldier of Misfortune nods. "Probably will. It's not a bad place to stay, though I'm starting to get that wanderer's itch."

 

Distant Sky rises, "It's very nice here... but it's not me." She tilts her head. "So much is happening here... but... it's not exactly a place that needs me yet." She smiles. "But it was good to catch you before I go."

Soldier blushes and tugs down his hat. "It was nice catching you, too," he laughs, "In every sense of the word."

 

Distant Sky smiles broadly, waving her hand. "I'll try and be a bit more graceful next time. Goodbye, Soldier."

 

"Don't be too graceful on my account. I like it when pretty girls drop out of the sky. Have a nice night, Distant. Be careful."