[Open]

[movingon]

The evening after the market, starting just after sundown, a young woman is wandering around the city. She doesn't look like much - jeans, a hoodie against the cold, sneakers, slightly shaggy brown hair - and will try to stay away from the richer parts of town.

Sometimes she can be caught looking around in worry, studying the face of people that looked at her - Malin still can't quite believe that this collar is really working. That she really looks human again.

But she does. Looking down at her own hands, looking at her reflection, watching other people's reaction to her, she clearly does.

With time, she will grow bolder, even approach people - sometimes to just exchange a greeting with someone taking their dog out after work, sometimes to bother a promising looking person for a few dollars, sometimes to ask the way to a soup kitchen or a cheap club. Not that she wants to go to those places or really needs money, but she wants to try out this illusion and also... talk to people.

Comments

[movingon]

"It's no better or worse here than anywhere else, as long as you aren't on the run."

Because then you'll have nowhere to go to.

Is she on the run? She doesn't know. Maybe, but if they really have no contact to the outside world here, she's a lot less in trouble than back home. And now that she has a human appearance again... She'll still watch out for vampires. Because diablerie can't be hidden, she's been told, at least not in the months or years after. It was all a bit vague, which she didn't worry about then but which makes this harder now. But it's a risk not worth taking.

And besides, she still can't figure out who even rules this city and where they are.

[helborn]

"Depends what you consider on the run." From the Titans, yes. From others, maybe not.

Still... if he's here, maybe he doesn't have to fight. He's never liked the idea of fighting... and while he still has the need to go back and fight...

No. Part of him burns with shame at the idea of running from a fight, and he takes a step back, face contorting in anger. "I have to go back. I have to... I can't let them win. If they win, we're all dead."

[movingon]

"Except for you, because you'll be here.

Who are "they"?"

Sorry, did you think she was particularly invested in feelings of duty?

[helborn]

No, but he's kind of a different case. "The Titans. They have to be defeated. I wouldn't be surprised if they can rip through worlds to find this place, too."

... Maybe he should have shut up.

[movingon]

She gives him a very disbelieving look. She might not know much about the world (well, more than the average human, but compared to other supernaturals) but that sounds seriously out there.

"And is there a realistic chance of defeating them if you go back?"

Not that she'd have any idea how going back should be possible. So far she's found nothing.

[helborn]

"They're strong. Better to try to do the right thing and die in battle then just sit around being scared." Not that he has much of a choice, really - but even if he didn't... he can't just be afraid for the rest of his life.

[movingon]

"Personally, I think surviving is a pretty good option, too. Better even than pointless heroics."

Because pointless heroics will see you dead. It's as easy as that.

[helborn]

"True, but if you're dead either way you might as well go with something that has a chance of fixing things. That's what I think, at least." He knows he's not got the greatest of wisdom, but it seems fair to him.

[movingon]

"Only if it's not a difference of "die now or die in two hundred years"." If you'll die soon either way and going along with world saving efforts might prevent certain death at about the same time as you'd die in any other way, she could consider joining up with such efforts. But seriously? World endings?

[helborn]

"We're not going to get that long if they get their hands on things. But... well. Not everyone can fight. I don't have a choice." There's a hint of bitterness to that last bit, but it's true. Would he still fight if he didn't have these abilities? He's not sure.

[movingon]

"As in, someone is forcing you to?"

She raises and eyebrow at him, though not for long because she is also keeping an eye on the way ahead of them and trying to at the same time keep an eye on their surroundings. Being wary never hurts.

[helborn]

"Something like that." He doesn't want to think about what would happen if he refused. He'd probably be killed and be in even worse trouble than he already is.

[movingon]

"Then it's not like you can help it." No actual heroism going on here. She can get being forced into a line of action, one way or the other.

"But yeah, I think you'll be forced to stay here. I doubt there's a way out."