Open | Network or Action | And all the sinners crawl

[preemptiveforgiveness]

Matt doesn't get on the network immediately. In fact, he's a little surprised to find that his PDA seems to have excellent voice control capabilities. He's also surprised to find an apartment that's laid out very much like his at home. As he explores the city, sunglasses on and cane in hand, there's a lot about this place that surprises him.

It's not until the third day, and plenty of exploring, that he finally gets on the network. He's sitting in a coffee shop, coffee at hand when he brings up the video screen and network capabilities. He probably looks pretty puzzled on the screen (because he is) but he also tries to look friendly enough. He's talked to a few people in the last few days, but not the city at large.

"Matthew Murdock," he tells the video screen, "and I guess you could say I'm new here. I've gathered a few things about this city, like the door I came in through doesn't go both ways and there are some very strange coincidences going on." He'll be happy to share some of those coincidences should anyone ask, but they mostly consist of his apartment right now.

"In any case, any information about this place will be very welcome."

That said, he turns the video function off, pockets the PDA and picks up his coffee. He's going to continue exploring and can be found just about anywhere in the city. Occasionally he'll stop, cock his head to one side and appear to be listening to something, but then he'll continue on, cane tapping ahead of him.

Comments

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[championinquisitor]

Alaina never goes anywhere in Itinere without her armor or her battleaxe these days. Normally, she would walk through Skyhold without being fully armored, but Skyhold never had the sort of reality-shifting events that have happened here in Itinere. Being as practical and realistic as she is, Alaina doesn't take chances.

So here she is, wandering the streets to make sure nothing else weird has happened since she last walked around. Or rode, since she's done a fair amount of that since she found three of her mounts. She does pay attention to the network, when she remembers that these little handheld things actually work like that -- Thedas has nothing remotely similar -- and so when she spies the man not far from the coffee shop, she does recognize him. Pausing for a few seconds, she finally approaches.

"That depends on what you want to know about this place," she offers, falling into step beside him. She has a decent amount of information, but not all of it is pleasant.

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[preemptiveforgiveness]

Matt doesn't know enough about this place yet to worry about armor or weapons. However, he's a master at hand to hand combat and can use his cane as a weapon if need be. He's also terribly good at using the environment around him as a weapon.

He can hear her armor and smell the steel of the battleaxe. He doesn't know what sort of weapon she's got, but he knows it's got an edged blade.

He tilts his head at her comment, realizing that she must be responding to his request on the network. "As I seem to be trapped here, I feel like I should have as much information as I can gather."

action;

[championinquisitor]

Alaina's issue isn't with the people here. So far, she's a protector of the people and has been trying to gather as much information as she can. Information is power and everyone in Itinere can use power against whoever or whatever is in charge.

"I assume you've got the rundown about the doors already. Has anyone explained about wishing?"

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[preemptiveforgiveness]

Well that's something at least. Back home, he's a protector of the people as well, or at least his part of the city. They've got a common goal: gathering as much information as they can.

He nods. "I have and it seems the door doesn't want to work for me in reverse." He tilts his head a bit at her second question. "Wishing? Pardon me?"

That's a no.

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[championinquisitor]

"Neither has mine. I've been here for a few months and mine still won't open." So she gets what it's like to be stuck here, especially if he has somewhere else to be and things to do. Alaina has a world to save. Quite literally.

"Sometimes you can wish for things. Dream them up. I'm not sure what the limits are. I just know that sometimes... if you 'wish' for something, it'll appear. Buildings might expand, that sort of thing. This place seems to have the ability to repair itself almost overnight. Almost as though it isn't real."

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[preemptiveforgiveness]

Matt nods, a little deflated at the words. He had hoped that he was simply turning the doorknob wrong or something like that. Matt doesn't have a world to save and Hell's Kitchen will probably limp along without him. He does have people to save though and that's important enough to him that he wants to get back to it.

The look on his face is one of complete confusion. He understands the words that she's saying, but he doesn't understand what she's saying at all. "Like a dream or...." like something else? He's not even sure he wants to give a name to that something else.

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[championinquisitor]

After everything she has seen, both here and in Thedas, Alaina doesn't like to mince words. She may be a huge troll and a joke besides, but in serious situations, she is all business. Right now, she thinks this is one of those situations that calls for blunt honesty.

"Like a dream." That's the easiest explanation she has. Her other option is that this is the Fade, which could also be interpreted as a dream. "Your door might reopen and then you might wake up, but while you're here, things are... strange." To say the very least. "Most of the people I've met are more than happy to give help if you ever need it, myself included."

action;

[sanguinescry]

One thing that Lydia is still getting used to is the complete and total freedom she has here. She lives with Derek instead of having to sneak around to have a quickie in his bathroom when the rest of the pack is in the kitchen, or having to lie to her mom, saying she's sleeping over at Kira's house. Never having to actually spend money while shopping like it's her job doesn't hurt, either. In short, whether she's willing to admit it or not, Lydia's starting to like it here.

She's walking down the street on her way back to the apartments, one arm full of bags of new clothes and other arm up so that she can type out a message to Derek to see if he needs anything on her way back. She's too caught up in it and walks — well, speedwalks? — directly into something solid. She realizes with a jolt that she's collided with a person.

Lydia barely acknowledges it at first; a quick, distracted "sorry," bubbling up as she keeps walking, but then, in addition, she trips over what feels like a cane or something and that's what finally gets her attention.

Lydia finally looks up and her eyes go wide as saucers as her face turns red, mortified. "Oh my God," she blurts out, putting her bags down to cover her mouth with shame. A second later, her hands falls away again so she can speak. "Oh God, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, I wasn't paying attention...are you okay? I'm so sorry."

Lydia's always had a predilection toward being in her own little world and, being the most popular in her class for a while only perpetuated it because her classmates clamored for her attention; split like the Red Sea to let her through when she was walking down the halls. Being in this place and not having to deal with the supernatural threats in Beacon Hills had sort of...made her unwittingly start to regress a little, here and there. Watch that, you're not that girl anymore, Lydia, she felt like she was reminding herself whenever she went somewhere without Derek there, unwittingly and unintentionally grounding her to the person she'd become, rather than the shameful, shallow one she used to be.

"I can't believe I just did that, seriously, I'm so sorry."

action;

[preemptiveforgiveness]

Matt knows that she's there, but he's busy pretending that he's blind for the moment and he assumes the woman speed-walking toward him will dart around him at the last moment. After all, he's exhibiting all the expected signs of someone blind: tapping cane and sunglasses. He's surprised when she collides with him and his hands go out to catch her as she trips over his cane. His hands fall away when it's clear she's not going to actually fall.

He can smell the blood rushing to her face and it's reasonably obvious that she's embarrassed. He tries to wave off her apology, but her words are bubbling out so quickly, it's ineffective. When she finally takes a breath and stops apologizing he smiles at her. "It's okay. Really. I'm fine. Are you alright?"

[sanguinescry]

If she wasn't so mortified, Lydia might've thought it strange that his reflexes were so quick as far as reaching to catch her. In the moment, she's missed it, though, too embarrassed at her faux pas to have noticed it. She looks back at him with a little bit of disbelief when his concern is whether she's fine. Lydia doesn't think she's a good enough woman to say that she would have the same reaction in his shoes.

"I'm fine, I'm really sorry. I should've been watching where I was going," she says softly, brow creased with concern. It's more than a little humiliating to be the one out of the two with sight — from the looks of things — and still be the one to have crashed into the other. Lydia raises a hand to her face again, covering her eyes and forehead for a moment before letting it fall away. "I didn't hurt you or anything, right? Or break anything, were you carrying anything? God, seriously, I feel so bad..."

[preemptiveforgiveness]

It's amazing what people will miss because they're concerned with themselves. Matt appreciates that fact. Well, he's fine so he thinks the next obvious step is to make sure that she's alright.

He nods. "Yes, you probably should have," he admits with a slight, lopsided smile. "However, no harm, no foul." She doesn't need to be humiliated. He probably should have heard her texting and dodged out of her way. "No. You didn't hurt me. I'm tougher than I look," he assures her. "And I wasn't carrying anything except my cane and it's survived a great deal more than a collision with a pretty girl."

[sanguinescry]

Well, if nothing else, the man seems to be taking her intrusion pretty well, which she supposes makes him a better man than she is woman, because she'd have torn him a new asshole by now if the tables were turned.

The compliment catches her off guard, though, because she'd been under the impression that he was blind. In spite of herself, Lydia huffs out a surprised laugh. "Wow, instead of reaming me for being rude, you're trying to be suave, that's an interesting choice," she laughed. "I'm Lydia."

[preemptiveforgiveness]

He has lived his whole life in New York City. He's used to people intruding, so to speak. He's used to a great deal more people period.

He is blind, but Foggy swears he's awfully good at finding beautiful women. He chuckles a little at her comment and shrugs a bit. "I work with what I've got," he responds. "It's nice to meet you, Lydia and really, it's no big deal. I've deal with much worse than being run into."

action

[jerrythevampire]

One of those evenings Matt is out exploring, there's someone watching him. Someone without a heartbeat or noticeable breathing, so he might just go unnoticed.

Vampires are funny that way.

Jerry's been watching this place, getting the lay of the land as it were, looking around. He's going to need to feed soon, but he's waiting for the right time and the right place to do that.

Who knows when opportunity might strike.

While a blind guy doesn't make the best target just naturally, Jerry does keep an eye on him. Something about how the guy moves is ... interesting, to say the least. So, Jerry decides to follow at something of a distance, hands in his pockets, relaxed. Just ... out for a stroll.

action

[preemptiveforgiveness]

Matt actually doesn't realize he's being followed because there's no sounds of breathing and no heartbeat to listen to. The person following him is also incredibly quiet in his movements.

Matt does stop every now and then to listen to things around him. He wanders down streets and turns corners. Occasionally he'll go into a building and check it out. He stops in a bar and orders a beer. He's going to sit at the bar for a minute and just listen to the conversations going on around him.

[jerrythevampire]

Now, see? Jerry likes a good beer. The problem, at times, can be that even in places like this, he needs to be invited in. So, there's a moment when he pauses, thinking about just going the fuck on. Nothing here, right? But as a lark, he tips a toe into the doorway and what do you know, nothing stops him.

Nice.

So, he sits down next to the guy he's been trailing and he orders a beer. "And one for him," he says, pointing to Matt. Why not?

[preemptiveforgiveness]

For him, it's fortunate that the place is public or considered public or something like that. For Matt, depending on Jerry's intentions, that might not be the case. It's yet to be decided.

Matt looks up, completely and utterly surprised when the guy speaks because there'd been no tell-tale signs of a person next to him or following him. "Thanks," he murmurs as he takes a sip of the beer. He tilts his head ever so slightly, listening to the man. He still can't discern a heartbeat or breathing. After a pause, he sticks his hand out for Jerry to shake. "Matt Murdock. I'm new in town."

[jerrythevampire]

"Jerry," offers the vampire. That smile is in his tone. His hand is cool to the touch but his handshake is firm. "I'm new too, actually. Just a few weeks. Not a bad place, all things considered, huh?"

[preemptiveforgiveness]

Matt has never met anyone without a pulse or that seems to have such a low body temperature. He probably looks reasonably confused even though he's trying not to show it. The gears in his brain are turning as he tries to figure this out.

"I haven't made a decision yet. Tell me a little about it?"

[stillplaying]

With the return of normality has come the return of Katniss' almost daily rituals of hunting and exploring. It's not a bad way to spend the day, she thinks. They are activities that make her almost feel a little content with life. Not that she'll ever be content. She doesn't think that's possible. But whatever life it is that she lives here, it has to be better than a life without her sister in it. Even if it means a life without Peeta or Gale or anyone else that she might remotely love.

She's at the outskirts of the forest when she sees the man with the cane. It's his behavior that attracts her attention. He stops and tilts his head to one side, a familiar sort of gesture to Katniss. She's done it herself in the woods, using her hearing as much as her eyesight to track her prey. But he doesn't look like any kind of hunter she's familiar with. Not with that cane of his. Curious, she takes a few quiet steps forward. Her normal walk is stealthy compared to most but right now, she's doing her utmost to stay silent. It's not that hard; Katniss has had years of practice.

When he starts to move again, she follows. Her bow and quiver are slung over her shoulder. It almost becomes a game to her. How long can she follow the man before he notices her?

[preemptiveforgiveness]

Matt doesn't hunt, not like Katniss does and not for the reasons she does. Nor does he hunt the same prey she does. In fact, he's not entirely sure that there's a need for Daredevil here. Maybe he'll be normal here, or as normal as he can be. Exploring though, that's probably closer to the same reasons she explores. He wants to gain information about this place, learn about it, figure it out. He'd known Hell's Kitchen like the back of his hand. If he's going to live here, he's going to want to know it just as well, though he's not sure he'll ever be content to be here. This place doesn't have any of his friends or his family or even anything he loves.

Hearing is one of the major senses that Matt uses because he can't use sight. He also uses his sense of smell, but that's a great deal more subtle. He doesn't walk around sniffing the air or anything. He's not any kind of hunter that she's familiar with, at least it's not likely. She's successful at staying quiet and following him stealthily because as far as he knows, there's no one here that wants to kill him. He's not listening for heartbeats surrounding him or the intake of breath, and as mentioned, he's not going around sniffing the air.

She's successful until he stops again and tilts his head, listening to the sounds around him. He catches a heartbeat behind him, one that's too loud to be someone in one of the buildings surrounding them. He doesn't turn around though and he doesn't confront her, not just yet. He simply grips his cane a bit tighter and continues walking forward, but now he's listening for the person behind him and making some judgements and getting some ideas on just who is following him. Whoever it is has training of some sort and that worries him. Maybe there is someone here who wants to kill him.

[stillplaying]

The kind of hunting Matt would do is unlike anything that she's experienced. She wouldn't understand why anyone would risk their lives for the sake of people that they don't even know. It's so contrary to everything that she witnessed as a child. People don't help other people without expecting something in return. Even in the uprising, people expected something in return. Power, freedom, vengeance. It's all the same. People are all the same. Most people aren't good. And contentment is impossible to find.

She's successful because he's not paying as close attention to her as he probably should. She'd prefer to think that it's because she's just that good. Two arenas, an uprising. Years of hunting. She has to be good. Otherwise she wouldn't have kept herself (or her family) fed. Otherwise she might have died.

Katniss has no desire to kill him. She has no desire to kill anyone unless they try to harm Prim. Then she won't hesitate. Nor really will she hesitate if her own life is on the line. She's not a good person. She never has been. But she is a survivor. When he stops, she stops too. Freezes. But he never turns around and the game continues. It's a strange sort of game she realizes, but she just can't help herself. This game distracts her. She needs this kind of distraction.

But there are little things he can probably pick up on. There's the smell of the forest on her and the smell of blood from a rabbit she had butchered earlier in the day. The subtle whisper of the wind through the feathers of her arrows and her own breathing, slow and steady and as quiet as can be.

[preemptiveforgiveness]

Maybe one of these days he'll be able to explain it to her. He cares about people, about his city. He wants to make the world a better place, wants to right injustice and he knows that's got everything to do with the fact that his father was murdered. It's also because he's been given abilities and it has opened his eyes to people's suffering and pain. He can't set by and let that continue when he can stop it, at least for one person, at least for a little while.

That's fair enough. He ought to be paying more attention, but he's fallen into the trap of this being a lazy little town. Besides, no one knows Daredevil here, that he knows of, and he's thinking about exploring and learning about this city rather than defending himself.

That all changes when he realizes that she's behind him. He's on his guard now, aware that she's still there and that she stops when he stops. He does take a subtle, deep breath of air. He catches that smell of blood. It doesn't smell quite human: too wild and 'gamey', but he can't identify what kind of blood it is. He definitely smells the forest, all green and earthy on her. He's also reasonably sure the person following him is a woman. He's been around too long to underestimate her because of that.

He hesitates a little longer, giving her a chance to attack him if that's what she wants to do or at least give herself away. When she doesn't, he turns in her general direction. "Maybe it's my imagination because I'm new here, but are you following me?" he asks.

[stillplaying]

That sounds like Peeta. Noble. Heroic. Stupid. Everything that she's been determined not to be. Katniss isn't a hero. She never wanted to be one. All she had wanted to do was keep her sister out of the Hunger Games and keep Peeta alive. She had lit a spark instead. It had been a needed spark for Panem but ultimately, one that had cost her far too much. It's why she's here now. Not quite doing penance but filling some sort of similar gap instead.

If she had been anyone else, it could have been a deadly mistake. Katniss never let her guard down and the only moment she had come close, the world had nearly ended in Itinere. That's definitely a mistake she won't make again.

The game ends sooner than she wants it to. He stops and this time, he turns around to look at her. But there's something off in the way he stares. It's not so much the glasses that he wears as how he's just holding his gaze in her general direction rather than looking directly at her. It makes sense in that moment; the way he holds the cane, the reason he kept stopping to listen. He can't see. But it doesn't stop Katniss from scowling at him. Defensively, she answers, "Does it matter?"

[preemptiveforgiveness]

Yes, it could have been a deadly mistake and one he's not likely to make again. However, he'd been lucky this time that it wasn't deadly and that the girl following him has no desire to kill him.

It does usually occur to everyone at some point that he's blind unless he's got his daredevil suit on. He might not be able to see the scowl but he can imagine that it goes with the defensive tone of her voice.

"It might," he tells her. "Why were you following me?"