« « Something Entertaining - Cameron + Audley » »

[Audley Bohdan]

Audley's eyes widened more. Cameron wanted to show him his city? The Fae... why could he never remember his name?... never even mentioned his home except when saying he wanted to go back to it. Seeing Scrijx on his own would be different than if the other boy showed it to him. There was just something about being shown a place, instead of wondering around it like he was in Jokadi.

Then the Majikadai's eyes widened even more. It was almost comical. "...Smashed into the... pavement?... by a heap of metal?" he asked fearfully. "Metal falls from the sky in cities?" he asked, his face scrunched up in confusion. From where he was he couldn't see any of the vechicles. He saw sidewalks and sidestreets just big enough for people to walk down. Besides, they were still on the city's border.

Aud hated how naive he sounded. But he knew close to nothing about city life. Falling heaps of metal sounded less than glamourous, though. He would just have to be sure not to wander out into the middle of the street... whatever that was. Well, he had maybe heard that term in passing but he had never seen a street before.

"I will not go onto the street," he promised, nodding. "It is a good thing you came with me, or else I might have gone onto it on accident," he said softly. "Metal, well, falling metal, would be a lot harder to deflect than some beast, yeah?"

[Cameron Ainsworth]

Cameron gave the boy a momentarily incredulous look before laughter escaped him, shaking him for a moment until he could regain enough control over himself to correct the other's misconception. Metal falling from the sky? Aside from the possibility of someone's ship malfunctioning and crashing into the city below it, he couldn't say that he'd ever imagine roughly one ton of metal falling from the sky to crush whoever happened to be misfortunate to stand below it.

"No, it doesn't fall from the sky. See, there are things called cars. We use them to get around in," He explained, subconsciously finding it a bit comical to be explaining something so elementary as cars, "They stay on the street, though. As long as you're on either side of the street, they won't hit you."

He hadn't expected the boy to know every last detail about city life. However, he was slightly shocked to find out that he just barely knew anything about it at all. But it was endearing, to say the least, to see the boy's shocked expression and to hear how naive he really sounded sometimes.

"Maybe I should escort you to... where ever it is that you're going. I'd worry about you if I just turned you loose on your own right here," He ignored the sudden protective feeling that pushed him to make the offer. There was nothing strange about being concerned over someone's well-being, especially after they had saved you, was there? He had to resist the urge to tease the other with a comment about the falling metal, deciding that he'd save the teasing for later if another opportunity popped up, "I think it would be fair. You saved me from some sort of big cat in the forest and I'll make sure you don't get yourself run over or mugged in the city, at least until we can find those two from before. How about it?"

[Audley Bohdan]

Audley was blushing darkly the moment Cameron starting laughing. He was giving the other boy an embarrassed glare, wondering what was so funny. Was it not right to be scared of flying balls of metal...?

"Oh," he muttered softly, shifting from side to side. He should have thought of that. Cars were something he knew about. Just because he lived in the ouskirts of Jeskara didn't mean he was completely oblivious to their world's technologies. He had just never head one being referred to as a 'heap of metal'.

Aud slid his sword in the sheath around his waist. It probably would not be the smartest thing to carry around a sword in the city, around so many people. "I would be very grateful if you do that for me. It seems like my companions have already moved on...," he trailed off, looking around for them before looking back at Cameron.

He new that shaking hands for Zercans had very different meanings than it did for other species. It had something to do with their mates or affection or something of the sort. So when he wanted to show that he was grateful for the man's help he was not sure how to. He decided on nodding slightly. "We are suppose to either find the Prince or another big vegetation company. My village is looking to trade with the city for fruits and vegetables," he explained.

[Cameron Ainsworth]

"Well, that makes things considerably more difficult," Cameron mumbled quietly whenever Audley mentioned where it was he was supposed to be going. The Prince? He was fairly sure you couldn't just wander into... where ever the Prince was. It wasn't as if he knew the locations of any big company that dealt with fruits and vegetables, either. For a long moment, he considered just what to do and nothing came to mind. A small sigh escaped him and he shook his head. Well, great. He wanted to help the boy, but he didn't even know where anything was besides the basics. He gave the other an apologetic look, shrugging.

"I honestly don't have any idea where either of those kinds of places would be," Cameron stated, looking around once just to make sure that the younger boy's companions had indeed moved on. Unable to find them himself, he scowled, "Those guys should have waited for you. What would they have done if I hadn't wanted to go along with you? Let you wander about in the city all by yourself? Whether they're experienced warriors or whatever you want to call them, I call that irresponsible. I'm not sure I want to let you go with them again once we find them. I'd worry about you more with them than I would worry about you being alone in this place."

So, maybe he was exaggerating just a little, but there it was, that weird protective feeling again, stirred up by the very thought of the Majikadai boy wandered around the city by himself. He knew the other most likely could have fended for himself--he was carrying a sword, after all--but it still upset him that his supposed allies would just abandon him like that. Just thinking about it made him want to give the other two Majikadai a nice, long mouthful.

"Anyway," He sighed, pushing his mind forcefully onto a different subject, "Which place do you think they'll try to find first--the Prince or the company? I really don't know which way to take you for one or the other, but I suppose we could ask for directions or something."

[Audley Bohdan]

Audley gave the other man a look. He won't letme go off them? he thought to himself. Who gave this man the right to decide what he did? The brunette seemed very... forward. He assumed he had the right to tell Aud what to do, it seemed, and the Majikadai did not like that.

"Whether or not they should have left is not an issue. I should have walked quicker and caught up to them. It is my responsibility to find them, and when I do it is my responsibility to go with them. My part in this group may not be the one of leader, and it is definitely not the one of helpless child needing to be watched. Either way, I can not abandon my companions or my village," he went on seriously.

Then the teen sighed and looked around. "They would want to find a company first. It is best that we do not bother the Prince because dealing with royals is much more difficult than simply going through a company," he explained. "We will need to try to find a company that specializes in fruits and or vegetables. Do you have an idea of where companies would be? I do not know how cities arrange their housing and such...."

[Cameron Ainsworth]

"Relax," Cameron sighed, shaking his head, "I was only exaggerating. It's not like I really plan to prevent you going with them. I'm just overprotective."

Of course, that didn't mean that he wanted the boy to go with the two other Majikadai, either. He wouldn't try to talk him out of going, but he would still worry. It was Audley choice who he went with and honestly, Cameron knew it wasn't any of his business. All his self-imposed job was to get Audley back to Cheyenne and Turin and then he was free to be on his way. Surprisingly, he didn't like the idea of parting with the other once they had found who they were looking for. It was more than just simple worry that they would leave him behind again, too, which was what perplexed the older male the most. It was a sadness-envoking feeling, knowing that he wouldn't see the light-haired boy again.

"Like I said, I don't have any idea where one would be specifically. We could ask for directions, but maybe that would be unnecessary. It shouldn't be too hard to find a produce store somewhere around here," He shrugged one of his shoulders, "What do you think? Wander around for a while looking for a produce shop and ask for directions if we can't find one? Or do you have a better plan?"

[Audley Bohdan]

Audley thought for a moment. Asking for directions may allow them to find a place quicker but... if they wandered around he would be able to see more of the city, right? And this was pretty much a once in a lifetime opportunity. Besides, he would be able to spend more time with Cameron this way. Not that that mattered, but....

He glanced at the other boy for a moment. It was because he was new, Aud decided. That was the only reason he didn't want to have to leave Cam... because he was different. Yeah, that was it.

"I like your plan," the teen said finally. "I don't really want to bother anyone else if we could find it on our own." Aud paused a moment. "And I am sorry for overreacting to your statement." Deciding that was apology enough, he started walking. "Now tell me if I am about to go onto a street, okay?" he said. "We don't have streets in my village. There is no need for streets there. So, what I'm saying is I don't know what to look for...," he trailed off softly.

[Cameron Ainsworth]

"Alright, I'll be sure to keep an eye on you then, but really, it's not hard to figure out where to walk," He grinned, pointing down at the sidewalk, "Just stay on the sidewalk and that's really all you need to know. I'll spare you the explanation of traffic lights."

Cameron slipped his hands into his pockets as he walked, strolling along the sidewalk alongside the other. He really didn't have the slightest idea if they would find the kind of place they were looking for. Besides, even if they found a produce store, it wasn't liked the other two Majikadai would necessarily be there waiting for their third member, either. But, wandering around like this until they found something permitted him more time to be around the other. He knew that it was selfish of him to not just ask for directions and take him directly where he needed to go. Audley had a job to do--a commitment to his village--and here Cameron was, leading him around the city in a search that could prove to take hours. But he wasn't quite so willing to end the pleasant little walk so soon.

"So, what's it like living in the firest, anyway?" The brunette asked, making small talk as he turned a corner, "I can't even begin to imagine, I'm sure. The closest I've ever been to living in the forest is a week-long camping trip I went on when I was little."

He wrinkled his nose at the memory. Oh, that trip hadn't been a pleasant one. Sleeping outside for a week.. Waking up freezing cold and wet from the morning dew.. Hardly any modern luxuries to keep him entertained... It had been torture, really. But to think that Audley lived like that. The younger boy definitely had his respect. Cameron knew he couldn't have done it himself. He would've went insane.

[Audley Bohdan]

"What's it like?" Audley repeated. By the look on the other's face he could tell the camping trip hadn't been his fondest memory. And the Majikadai was not surprised. He heard that people that take these trips sleep outside on the ground under tents, which were like waterproof sheets. It couldn't be comfortable at all. Not to mention they normally weren't used to the conditions of living outside 'civilization', so were bound to make many mistakes. He wouldn't want to go on a camping trip, that was for sure.

"It's... nice," he said, making a face. He had never thought about how to describe living in the forest before. It was just how life was, and that was that. "Hm... it's... quiet. Much quieter than here," he waved his hand around them. It was definately louder here, with all the people talking and the few cars he had seen- and was careful to be far away from, by the way.

"One, because we do not have as many people and we don't have cars. And two, because it would be really stupid to make so much. It's just asking some strong pack of beasts to attack, ya know?" he explained.

The lavender haired boy laughed lightly. "And it isn't anything like your camping trips. We don't sleep on the ground under tents. We all have houses in the trees, with warm beds and good food. It isn't anything like these tall stone buildings," he said, staring at the imposing things around him. "But they are nice, and for the most part keep us safe from predators...," he trailed off, briefly thinking about his mother's death. "For the most part," he repeated under his breathe.

"But that is why we always have to be alert, and why we all must become at least slightly skilled fighters," he said.

[Cameron Ainsworth]

"It sounds a lot better than I thought it would be," Cameron gave the other a smile, "But I'll leave the forest to you. I don't think I'd be able to do it."

Oh, that was an understatement. He wouldn't have been able to endure more than two hours of it, at the very most. Cameron wasn't exactly the poster child for the 'outdoorsy' type. In fact, he could've been classified as the exact opposite. He was the kind of person that became ill at the very thought of spending a prolonged time outside. Brief little walks, like the one he had been on earlier, weren't something he disliked. As long as he could turn back at any time he wished and go right back to civilization, he was perfectly fine. Nature, in small doses, could be beautiful and relaxing, after all. But anything more than an hour was pushing it.

"You know, I've never really noticed how loud the city was until you pointed it out. I guess you kind of grow used to it after a while and all sort of becomes background noise," The expression grew thoughtful for a moment, "But you're right. It is kind of loud."

Now that he was listening for it, he could heard the buzz of cars going by, people talking, and a multitude of other things. He certainly hadn't noticed it until it had been pointed out. Even when he'd moved to the city, he couldn't immediately recall ever thinking Scrijx was loud. Maybe he'd been desensitized to noise early on, though. After all, he'd grown up in a house with two younger, louder siblings who had had a particular liking for racing up and down the stairs at one in the morning.

"I don't think I'd like too much quiet, though," He admitted, "It'd be kind of creepy."

[Audley Bohdan]

"Really?" Audley asked, tilting his head. "I like the quiet most of the time. It makes it easier to hear when there is something lurking near you. Though... I suppose if it was too quiet and I was around my nephew it would be creepy," he said, smiling slightly.

Yes, it would be very strange if it was too quiet around his nephew Kyle. The boy still so young and hyper and outspoken. It was kind of odd that a boy at age seven could still be so carefree, but for some reason Audley was happy about that. He liked how the young Majikadai was still enjoying life before really beginning his training. It was certain he would have to at some point, or else his life would be very dangerous and he would not last long.

"But it is strange for me how everyone is so loud here. It makes me worry needlessly about their safety," he admitted. "I know nothing can harm the people here, because this is Jokadi, but the way I live makes me... need to worry," he shrugged.

"So, tell me, how is it like living in a city?" he asked interestedly. "I've told you about the forest, it's your turn. There must be many exciting things if all cities are this big!"

[Cameron Ainsworth]

"I wouldn't say that nothing can harm you here," Cameron shrugged. Despite the laws demanding that no one be made into prey within the city limit, there were undoubtedly a few citizens around that didn't take much heed to the law somewhere out there, "But I guess it's reasonable that you'd be worried about the noise, too. Just try not to worry about it, because I'd say the majority of people here know how to take care of themselves."

At least, he assumed they did. Living on a planet amongst vampyres, deamones, and incubi surely would instill at least a small desire to learn how to take care of oneself in a person. Unless, of course, that person was looking for trouble intentionally. But, that was a different case.

"There are a lot of exciting things to do. In big cities like this, it's hard to ever find any free time because there are so many things to do. It's nice most of the time, but it can get a bit stressful at others," Cameron gave a short laugh, "It's really fast paced, too. Everything's changing all the time. Always something new to see. Every week they build a new restaurant or put in some new kind of place to waste time at."

In three years of time, Cameron had managed to just barely scratch the surface of what all there was to do in Scrijx. There was certainly never a dull moment and the few times he had the time and desire to spend a calm, quiet evening at his apartment were always well appreciated before he had to go right back to work and play again.

"I like it, though," He smiled, the fond memories making him a bit homesick, "Scrijx is really beautiful, though, especially during the day time. It really is too bad that Jeskara doesn't have a sun. It would be interesting to see Jokadi in the light. Maybe it would be a bit more.. appealing then."

[Audley Bohdan]

It sounded like their homes were very different. Cameron's was fast paced and always changing. Audley's was actually pretty slow and always the same. They didn't build new things everyday, and for the most part they did the same things all the time. The Majikadai wondered how it would be to live in Cam's home for a day. He couldn't imagine the other walking in his shoes any more than the half-Zercan could himself, though. It would be way too dangerous for him and Audley would worry about his safety.

That's kind of like how Cameron was worried about me going with Cheyenne and Turin again, he thought with surprise. Why were they so concerned about each other? It was strange to say the least, and he wanted to figure it out.

"Jeskara is beautiful, even though it is dark. I can not imagine it with a sun," Audley admitted. "I have seen books with pictures of how daylight looks... and it is very... well bright. Doesn't it hurt your eyes?" he asked. "And it must be so hot with a giant fire ball always around," he pointed out. The teen paused a moment. "Though I do admit it is something I would like to see. Daylight, I mean. Only not on Jeskara. It would be too strange." While they walked it didn't occur to him that they were not doing their best looking for a produce company. The reason was probably he was too interested is this new brunette to think about it.

[Cameron Ainsworth]

"It is beautiful, in it's own way," Cameron nodded in agreement, "But I guess I just like the sun better. It's easier for me to see when the sun's out, anyway."

Truthfully, he could see in the dark, but it was still easier for him to get around when it was light outside. Perhaps part of it was just for the fact that he didn't have to worry about anyone sneaking up on him while the sun was out. After all, it was considerably harder to jump someone when the light was out and there were scarcely any shadows to hide in.

"It doesn't hurt your eyes unless you look directly at it, and it's never all that hot except on a few rare days. It's pleasant," He smiled, "It's definitely not like Jeskara, temperature-wise. You don't have to constantly wear a jacket."

All the talk of Zerca was indeed making the half-breed homesick, especially with the mention of the temperature. That had been one of the first things Cameron had noticed about the perpetually dark planet--it was cold. He didn't care much for it, honestly. He hadn't even owned any sort of jacket until he'd taken this little trip, and he'd simply picked up a thin cloth one before he'd left. Even with it on at current, it didn't provide much warmth at all.

"Well, I did make the offer to take you to visit Zerca," Cameron mentioned the joke again when the other admitted that he would have liked to see the daylight, though the small hint of sincerity behind the playful tone had even caught him by surprise. Ignoring it for a moment, he pulled an obviously fake pout, "But I doubt you'd want to go with me, would you?"

(( Geez, just got home from marching in the Christmas Parade in town. It's too early for Christmas Parades. Any time is too early for Christmas Parades, 'cause I hate being in them. Stupid band... ))

[Audley Bohdan]

"Of course I would," the teen said without thinking. Then he blushed lightly, but on his pale face it showed up nicely. Or not nicely in his opinion. "I mean no. I mean... um..." he stopped talking for a moment.

Audley opened his mouth as if to say something but then closed it. What was he supposed to say? Yes, he did want to go to Zerca with Cameron. But could he? No. His village was nearing a major crisis, and he was supposed to be finding a way out of it that moment. Going off on some trip to a different planet was out of the question. He just wouldn't be allowed to.

"What I mean is, I would like to go with to your home," he said finally. "The only problem is I can't. Even if my village wasn't in trouble I doubt I could go off to a different planet.... My people would not think highly of me for going away."

Audley bit his lip lightly then smiled at Cameron slightly. "It is a nice thought though, and I thank you offering to take me with you."