Closed Shifting Eyes

[Adeon Tien]

72nd of Summer, 513 AV


The streets were a bit darker that night, and the atmosphere a bit more mellow. The stars were bright on evening, shining through the light layer of clouds idly filling half the sky. On the other half, the stars nor the clouds could be seen through the glare of a yellow sunset.

Adeon had not the slightest idea of where he was or how he had gotten there. But that's why he was there. Adeon had decided that, prior to evaluating anyone as a suitable companion or evidence, he would a feel for Lhavit as a city.

A few people still inhabited the narrow streets, briefly eyeing Adeon as they walked by. Adeon pretended not to notice the eyes in him, keeping his hooded head pointed forward.

As his heels clicked softly on the pavement, he began to ponder how much time the expedition portion of his mission would take, this time. In the past, he'd need a new body before completely exploring a city.

But was it too much time taken? He wondered. There was only so much Adeon would take before giving up, now. He had begun to doubt that what he was searching for even existed.

Perhaps He should skip Lhavit, and simply look for a soul. If one existed, that is.

Perhaps it'd be easier to skip the introduction to the city, and begin the search for souls.

Yes, that's wise. He decided. It shall begin tomorrow eve.

[Eshe Czardas]

Eshe was one of the people who noticed Adeon. He was strange-looking and suspicious, a hood pulled up to cover his face. Granted, it was a bit chilly, but not enough to try and shield your face from it. The girl pulled her cloak tighter around herself. If he was a danger to the city, she'd report him to the Shinya. The dancer followed him, filing away certain details. He was a few inches taller than she, probably around six foot. A dark cloak, obviously. Dark hair too. If only she could see his eyes, she'd be able to give them a better description. Her own steps were quick, landing on the balls of her feet and pushing off with a special kind of grace. Eshe's slippers made a 'ssk-ssk' noise every time they touched the ground, and she was in her blouse and skirt which only made more noise. The girl's hair was pulled back in a braid this time, too. It kept strands from escaping her hood, which was flicked up to keep her ears warm. Not as far as the man's, though.

[Adeon Tien]

As the sun was about to disappear over the mountains in the horizon, Adeon stopped. He lifted his head from the ground, staring at the sun. He squinted as he did so, and seemed almost entranced by the sunset. But not for more than a second.

His pale hands, that previously rested at his sides, reached to the folds of his hood, gripping the sides. He glanced to his direct left and his direct right, ever so careful.

Which was when he heard the shuffling.

Adeon froze. He dared not move with the presence behind him. As he did so, the noise faded. It was too close for it to have been walking away, and he had not seen it pass him.

Someone was following him.

He lowered his hands to his thighs, balling them into fists before placing them in the folds of his cloak. He did not turn.

Damnit... He thought. This was surely to be the end of his visit to Lhavit.

Whoever is in question here is obviously concerned that I may be a threat. Either that, or they're genuinely stupid. Either way, I'll be revealed.

As the sun went down, the streets cleared. The only two people left in that area were Adeon, and his pursuer.

[Eshe Czardas]

He had stopped moving now. Hands went up to his hood, then back down to his thighs. What was he doing? Looked left, looked right, didn't turn. It was only Eshe and the man, now. She was a little scared now, since there wasn't anyone about. Her heartbeat sped up, and her leg muscles tightened. She was prepared to run. If he didn't turn, she'd be gone faster than Lazybones when food was ready. And that was saying something. With her precious kitty in her thoughts, the dancer bounced on her feet a little bit. That speed would be pretty hard to match. She mapped out her route in her head. If he followed her, she'd just run to the Shinyama peak. If he didn't, she'd take a complicated route back home. Probably pass through the Azure Market to lose him. Especially if he didn't get a good look at her. She decided to run even if he didn't turn, pivoting on her left leg and pushing off. Her hands balled into fists and she bolted back the way she came. Eshe skidded, taking a quick right. She tripped, hands shooting out to catch herself. Landed heavily, both knees hitting the stones. That's going to leave a bruise. She tried to ignore the aching pain, getting her legs under her and leaping forwards like a frog. Eshe's foot barely touched the ground before it was in the air again, her body taking over with a dancer's grace. Darting between two buildings, she hoped the man hadn't followed her. Her breathing was heavy, and her muscles were quivering. The knees didn't help either, and she slid to the ground with her back against the wall. There was some relief, but there was going to be bruising. Blasted skirt. She wished she was wearing her shorts.

[Adeon Tien]

He turned, a bit cross. He expected to see a face, a Shinya uniform, maybe. So, of course, he was astonished to see a figure running away.

Petching hell! He swore silently, patting himself down before jogging after her.

As she ran down the road, he evaluated her for later. Shoulder-length blondish hair, petite and elegant form, and the idiotic decision to run in a skirt.

He guffawed at that last decision, not the least bit surprised that when she tried to turn a corner, she fell. He might've even chuckled a bit at her misfortune.

He took this opportunity to get a bit closer, by perhaps five feet, before she sprung up and kept running. The fall looked painful as well. But there was something about how she got up... Elegant. Almost trained. Perhaps she was an acrobat? A dancer? Or perhaps she was more skilled in thievery than Adeon had thought. He quickly turned the corner, following her into an alleyway. There wasn't much she could've stolen from him, and it probably wouldn't be missed... But Adeon surely did not appreciate this.

He stepped into the alley before seeing her form, and smiling to himself. He studied her face: Petite, as her form, but longish with a flat forehead and a defined jawbone.

"I suggest you stop running" He shouted out to her, almost certain she couldn't run with that type of fall. "I've seen your face."

[Eshe Czardas]

Well, shyke. He'd seen her face. And she couldn't run, he was right. Not with the now-flaming pain in her knees. It'd hurt just to stand. Eshe curled up. Why did he have to smile? "If you're going to hurt me, then hurry up. Don't taunt people. And if you're going to steal something, all I have is a few coins and my clothes. Don't bother trying to search for anything else." It was uncommon, someone actually coming after her. He must've known that she was following him beforehand, or meant for her to follow him. This was getting to be very suspicious, even more so than before. Eshe simply looked down at her toes, sighing.

[Adeon Tien]

He smiled at his good luck in catching her, but was then confused with her surrender. This woman was supposed to be a thief! She had almost broken her hip bone, yet could still run away!

Wait a second.

Adeon, now befuddled, checked himself again. He patted down his cloak, and the simple clothes underneath it. Nothing was missing. This furthered his curiosity of the woman. Was she simply scared of him? No, no. No one would go through those lengths to get away from him, especially since he had his hood up.

"If you're going to hurt me, then hurry up. Don't taunt people. And if you're going to steal something, all I have is a few coins and my clothes. Don't bother trying to search for anything else." She said.

A number of things crossed into Adeon's mind. For one, he wouldn't hurt her. Mostly because he couldn't risk the suspicion, at the moment. A hooded stranger was enough to worry about. But a random beating FROM the hooded stranger? That'd get the Shinya on him in three bells or less.

A few other things distracted Adeon, as well.

Is she SCOLDING me!?
She's afraid of me. What a wimp.
It's not really smart to tell a potential thief that MAY hurt you that all you have are some coins and your clothes.

But first and foremost:

She believes ME to be the thief!

Now, Adeon was a smidgen more confused than previous. Well, He thought. I can ask as many questions as I like. No use letting that go to waste.

He stared her down for a moment before speaking, slitting his eyes and shifting his foot so only his side faced her, his back leaning on the same wall as the girl.

"Why did I have a little stalker until the sun went down? I don't believe I did anything to aggravate you. Yet now, you sit here, wounded, accusing me of being an aspiring thief or, possible, a rapist. You can imagine that I'm a bit offended.

This better be good. He thought to himself.

[Eshe Czardas]

Eshe spluttered. He wasn't going to hurt her? And he was just as confused? He had leaned against the wall, the same one she was on, and looked down at her. Blast it. "I thought you looked suspicious, so I decided to follow you in case something happened and I could report to the Shinya. Considering that you stopped moving when you realized I was there, I figured that you were going to attack me or steal my money. Or you knew I was there already, and you meant for me to follow you. That's the truth, and it is all I tell." And he'd better not be a magic-user. The girl hated magic. Especially the kind that her sister specialized in: Hypnotism and Auristics. She still was uncomfortable around that one man, Zeran. Eshe pulled her cloak even tighter. Blasted men.

[Adeon Tien]

This peeked his interest. His head sprung up, hitting the wall behind him. The pain was but moderate, and could be easily ignored.

"You would stop if someone was following you, as well. I do you the decency of keeping my anonymity. If anything, I should be following you. Everyone's inside, now." He took a moment to look up at the sky between the two buildings, the clouds becoming darker and darker. Half of Lhavit's brilliant sky had faded behind the gray mass. "And yet you, dressed in nightwear, walk the streets for seemingly no reason." He stated, not taking his eyes off the sky.

"Other than following strange men."

He thought a moment.

"Unless that IS why you're out here."

So far, she seemed less than charming. Is this truly what Lhavit has to offer? Disappointing.

[Eshe Czardas]

Pfft. She wouldn't stop. Stopping gave them a window to do whatever. "They're inside now, stranger, but they'll be coming out soon enough. You forget that Lhavit is alive at night too. Is it a bad thing to be walking to your work? I enjoy getting there early, thank you very much. And I am not some stupid, air-headed little girl. I wouldn't be out here just to find a strange man to follow." How dare he insult her intelligence like that. Despite the pain in her knees, Eshe stood and looked down her nose at him. Her eyes snapped, chilling. Sure, he was taller than she, but her glare was cold. If it was desperately needed, she could probably evade him and run to the Shinyama.