Strangers in the Dark (psl)

[idontmeantobraig]

The reports from the day shift weren't much to go on. Citizens claiming some old coot they didn't recognize wandering around the back alleys in the evenings. Lame. So what if some new guy from the next city over took his walks after dark just to get out of the summer heat? "Suspicious" and "weird", too. Who cared? The guy was old, of course he wouldn't exactly look like a daisy.

But it was something to do on an otherwise boring night. Braig enjoyed moving freely while most of the city slept, keeping to the rooftops and prowling the gardens like a cat. He'd had some muggers try to jump him once. As if. At face value a lone guard looked like an easy target. Unfortunately for them, Braig wasn't. Ever since then, they knew to keep to themselves whenever he was on patrol. So his search for a peculiar old man was only hampered by one thing.

No sign of the old coot anywhere on the streets below.

Ah well. Maybe the guy's knees were bothering him tonight, and he'd stayed home. Braig made his way to the high wall overlooking the fountains. It was cool there, with a good view of the city, and the lights set in the stone blocks illuminated the entire area. Perfect place to stop for a bit and have a snack. He set aside his crossbows and pulled an apple out of his pack.

"So much for actually having something to do around here," he said to no one in particular.

Comments

[capax_infiniti]

The first time he'd come had been a very long time ago. When he was younger, making a catalog of worlds. He'd tucked it away into his memory, moving on, with little second thought.

Of course now, now that he was looking for That Place, he was revisiting many of those old worlds. This one was no different. It hadn't felt like it changed much, but worlds steeped in light changed very slowly. There was a new leader, and with that leadership new direction. The town was thriving under this new leader, titled Ansem the Wise. Signs of his command were everywhere, the impressive aquaducts being the most prominent.

Learning more would take finesse, though. There were a few different ways to do so, but the easiest would perhaps be the best. Let himself be seen, draw out the local authorities. Given how kindly the people here tended to be, no doubt the officer would be inclined to answer the questions of a confused old man.

And so, once more he strode through darkness, exiting into a familiar alleyway. After making sure there were no witnesses, he began to affect a slow gait, carefully making his way out to the street. His projected path would take him around the gardens next to the castle, better to be intercepted.

[idontmeantobraig]

Braig was about to bite into his snack when the atmosphere in the vicinity changed. For lack of a better term. An almost electric thrill ran up his arms and trickled the back of his neck as a gaping, dark tear appeared near the ground, at the water's edge. He was still staring, mouth gaped in shock, when the old man who had made everyone so nervous stepped through.

....Okay. That was definitely day shift's problem. Not his. File that report under no way on this green world.

Although the more he thought on it, the more his curiosity got the better of him. It almost looked like his own ability, but slower, more of the between place showing before it closed. Braig's power was more like...like folding a piece of paper to get from point A to point B in as little time as possible. This guy had ripped a hole in the air.

...And now he was getting away.

Braig cursed under his breath, quickly shoving the apple back into his pack. He went between, putting himself a good ten feet behind the stranger. He would like to think he didn't need to pull his crossbows on an old man. But after what he had just seen? He wasn't taking chances.

"Hey! Old coot!"