poly_chromatic | 001 || Action/Voice

[Beside the fountain, a statue has appeared. Or so one might assume, given the slate-grey stone of its skin, the sharp glint of wire topping its head as a fall of hair. Despite the illusion of its cape and cloak that billow in the winter breeze, the shimmer of light on the longsword dangling from one clenched fist, surely it can't be alive...]

[But watch from another angle and see that the tunic it wears is in tatters, exposing a lean torso of yet more stone, the features of a chiseled face framed by darker pebbles. The first sign of true life is seen in sluggish trails of blood that flow from his mouth and chest, their slow drips rhythmic against the ground.]

[The stone man sways in silence, eyes closed, and then he pitches forward into the fountain. A sharp crack sounds as his hip strikes the base, and then the only movement are the ribbons of red that flow from his wounds and get swept into the current.]

***
[Voice, some time later]

[A distinctly uncomfortable clearing of his throat, before a low, smoky voice addresses whoever might be listening. He is far from used to communicating through such means, but it might prove advantageous to not require face to face contact.]

How might a new... resident [or whatever a stranger calls himself] go about finding living accommodations and employment? I haven't seen much in the way of advertisement postings. [Wanted posters being, of course, his usual method of job seeking.]

((OOC: So sorry this took so long, I've been (really) sick! Any City dweller that can sense supernatural presence might be slightly pinged by him, but they probably won't be able to identify what exactly he is. For more specific info, feel free to ask!))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Tohru nods.] It's made more sense the longer I've been here.

But maybe someone else can explain it better than I could. There are a lot of nice people here willing to help out.

[Right. At the "Welcome Center." Which sounds more sketchy than welcoming, but that might be just the 'suddenly and inexplicably somewhere else' talking.]

I'll bear that in mind. But first I should finish healing up. [And get a new tunic, this one is ruined.]

Ah, am I in the way? [Why else would someone mention that? Could he not do the rest with her there? Of course! What if she was making him uncomfortable?]

If you don't need any other help, maybe I should just leave? [It's a sincere, albeit, confused offer.]

[...Damn, there goes his guilt reflex. He is sure there's someone to blame for his inability to blow this girl off.]

No, you're fine. I'd rather have some information than none. [He continues his healing spell, flushing just a bit. Stone skin can indeed blush, and it's really obvious.]

[And Tohru doesn't interpret it as a blush, either. She immediately looks alarmed at seeing the bright pink color against his darker tones.]

Ah! Do you have a fever? [She reaches out to feel his forehead.] Maybe we should have taken you inside and got you dried off. You might get sick!

[Unaccustomed to being touched so suddenly (at least not when it involved being punched from behind), Zelgadis instinctively jerks backwards with a sound of surprise and warning.]

[His arms pinwheel as his balance is upset and then -- ]

[SPLASH.]

Oh, no! I'm so sorry! [The opposite of what she wanted was for him to get soaked, all over again, especially when the weather was still so chilly.]

Please, let me help you up? [She extends a hand, hoping to get him out of the water.]

[He surfaces, sputtering, more embarrassed than worried about the chill.] I'm fine. My skin isn't -- I'm fine. [He crawls back up into the fountain ledge, trying to hide his blushing.]

[That doesn't stop her from worrying, though.] Are you certain you won't get ill? We really should get you dried off....

If you get a cold, and don't take care of it, it can get very bad.

I don't get sick. [At least, he hasn't since Rezo cursed him. And even if he did he'd say the same thing, because he can warm himself up given enough time and a place for a fire.]

[He gets out of the fountain entirely this time, fishing out his sword which got dropped in the shuffle.] It's fine. I just need somewhere to warm up.

[She sighs with relief.]

I'm still sorry I startled you, though. Please, let me buy you a cup of tea to make up for it?

[...Tea does sound good. But he'd really rather get dry and get the blood out of his clothes -- he glances down at his tattered shirt, and amends that to 'get new clothes' -- first.]

Make it coffee, in a few days. I need to find a good place for that around here, anyway.

Okay. [She nods, but, again, gets the impression she might be impeding him from getting other things taken care of.]

What's your name so I can find you later?

I'm Tohru Honda. [A quick bow of greeting.]

[The bow is -- different, but it's better than a handshake, for him.]

Zelgadis Greywars. [He pauses in wringing his clothes to murmur a thanks for the information.]

Mister Grewars. It's a pleasure to meet you.

I'll leave you to get everything taken care of, and see you for coffee at a later time. I hope you settle in well. [And with that, Tohru turns to leave. She had been in the middle of something, after all. Now if she could just remember WHAT that was.]

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