Within the light [OPEN]

[shadowsangel]

Who: Ryou and anyone who comes across him
What: Exploration and aimless wandering
Where: Various locations
When: 14th
Warnings: None as of yet.


Only so much could be accomplished by one's self when faced with an empty house perhaps a bit too big and only figuring out alien appliances to pass the time. Granted, it did take him a fair amount of time to figure out just how to work the kitchen, or at least not set it on fire, so that was a bit of his time properly wasted, but not nearly enough. He'd accepted this was his life now, and with that came the knowledge that he would have to start from scratch with all of his personal projects. It had sounded exciting at first, almost fun even, but after barely a few days the novelty was quick to wear off and leave Ryou helplessly restless and uncertain of this new home. After he expended as much time becoming acquainted with his new home as he could bare, Ryou found himself deciding it best to explore the city a little more thoroughly.

[Library - Morning/Early Afternoon]

When he'd first seen the building which contained books, he'd been excited to finally find something to do in this place while he tried to get his wits about him. But things had never been that easy for him, and now's no different.

"You'd think there'd be something here..." A mutter to himself, a huff of annoyance with an almost pout lacing its tones as Ryou stares accusingly at yet another book filled with pages of some sort of script he can't even begin to decipher. For the last half hour, he's wandered from one isle to the next, pulling out books to flip through them only to be disappointed and returning them to the shelves, repeating the process in vain in hopes of finding some sort of fantasy or history book entertaining enough to keep his attention.


[Armory - Late afternoon/Early Evening]

After nearly being eaten upon his arrival, it became abundantly clear that going around this place without any means to defend himself was not only stupid but borderline suicidal. It's true, Ryou had never honestly had any sort of training with weapons or fighting, but that didn't mean he didn't have some idea of what to do with a small blade. The Ring Spirit had kept a knife or two on him occasionally, after all, and surely his body had to remember some of the motions even if his mind drew a blank. A thoughtful look graces his face as he wanders through the armory, stopping every now and then to debate if he should try small daggers or perhaps a short sword of sorts. Daggers certainly feel more comfortable to hold, but who wouldn't want to look cool using a sword? Or, look foolish more than likely. More than once he picks up a blade, tests it in his hands, only to sigh and place it back where he got it from, indecision reigning high.


[Wandering - Night]

Getting from point A to point B has never before required the use of a map, so Ryou hadn't thought to check his when he made his way out. It wasn't all bad, not really. He'd found a few places of interest, from the lake to the park, the unsettling run down parts of town and even a few clothing shops he'd missed on his first few rounds, and could be found making his way through the streets lost in thought. Or just plain lost. With most of his attention focused on examining the buildings or greenery around him, there's not much left for paying attention to what or who may be in front of him.

Comments

[Armory - Late afternoon/Early Evening]

[feelslikeimspilling]

Will was getting used to wandering around at night time, despite being told not to and knowing that there were people possibly keeping an extra eye out, to look for his. Still, he took his chances.

He'd quite recently and rather unfairly I add, been banned from the armory. That wasn't going to stop him sniffing around it, though. Everyone has a right to protect themselves, seeing as he'd come to this underground city with his own gun, and had it confiscated before he even had a chance to use it... So here he was, snooping around the halls, looking at the various weapons, trying to find one small enough and easily forgettable. something like a flip knife or a hunting blade.

It was then while turning a corner, that he spotted the young looking male with balanced white hair. Shit. Hopefully, he'd not seen him, Will could do without being found here, especially how suspicious he was acting. Backing up, trying to leave without drawing attention- That was when he bumped into a rack full of spears... Great, just great, of course, they had to rattle and scatter to roll across the floor at his feet.

[shadowsangel]

Much like a cat caught doing something wrong, the loud noise causes Ryou to startle bad enough to jump and drop the sword he'd been holding. And yet, even he was surprised to find his uninjured hand grasping the hilt of a dagger tight in defense, just in case. His body had moved from instinct into a defensive stance even as his face showed surprise and a little bit of fear from the sudden noise after so long of quiet. But once he managed to get a good look at who was with him, his forced his posture to relax and a small smile came to his face.

"My apologies, you startled me. Are you quite alright?"

He spared the dagger in his own hand a curious glance before stuffing it and a couple more like it that were lining the walls into the school bag held in his bandaged left side, making a note to himself to practice with them later. Perhaps he could turn one of the spare rooms of his home into a training room, it would certainly come in handy with how things seem to go in this place.

"Have you seen a knife belt around? I'm afraid I'm unfamiliar with this place." The question was out before he had time to think of how rude it would be to strike up a conversation without proper introductions first, but his mind hadn't exactly been in its right place as of late. Once he found something to focus on to keep himself steady, it was rather hard to let go of the subject.

[feelslikeimspilling]

Will turned his face away, grimacing. It was just some kid. Surely he wasn't with the City Guard? Ugh, he'd wanted to avoid talking to them but here they were as chatty as ever. Will huffed out a noise, bent down and started to collect the spears he'd sent to tumble.

"Yea. I'm fine. I eh, I haven't seen whatever it is you're looking for, so I can't help.... Sorry."

Will took note on how the boy bagged a few weapons for himself, strange that someone as small as him was willing to take something that involved such strength. Will couldn't help it, he started talking before he could stop himself. "Do you even know how to use them?" shaking his head and rubbing a few fingers to his temple, frustrated that he was getting himself involved. "You'll just end up in a world of hurt if you're not ready for close combat like that."

As for introductions, Will wasn't about to give his name out. If Maketh somehow found out that he was in here when she'd specifically insisted he was banned, he'll only end up with her on his case again.

Once all the spears we back in their place, Will slipped his hands into his pocket, not before tucking a small hunting knife he'd been eyeing up into the back of his trousers, hooked on a belt look for safe keeping. Hopefully, the kid didn't notice.

[shadowsangel]

If Ryou noticed the knife being slipped away, he didn't comment about it. It was none of his business, and wasn't that what this place was here for? As far as he was aware, it was a free for all, take what you need kind of place. He moved to help pick up the fallen spears, but it was too late once he made his way closer, so he found himself hesitating and unsure how to proceed.

Instead of thinking on it too much, he decided to focus on the question posed to him. A very good question, to be honest. He gave a sheepish laugh, holding his schoolbag closer to his side while his right hand fiddled with the ends of his hair. "Honestly? Don't quite know what to really do with them, aside from the basic. But I'm sure-well..."

How would one even go about explaining something like his reasoning without sounding crazy? Well, not like it would matter what anyone thought of them here. "I assumed if my body was familiar with the motions, if it came down to it, I'd be able to at the very least defend myself enough to not die."

[feelslikeimspilling]

Will didn't mean to make the boy feel uncomfortable, he just gave off this air about him, he couldn't help it. It was a stand-off reaction he had, his own defense mechanism to ward people off and stop them getting too close. But this was just a kid and a new face by the looks of it. Will knew how hard it was when he arrived here, so he felt sorry for him. Sighing and letting his posture relaxed a little so that he didn;t come across as too much of a stuffy old man.

"No, that's a good start." Will avoided looking the boy in his eyes, but he still looked at him and around him. " You're parasympathetic nervous system should kick in, er, your flight or fight instinct. Some people end up benefiting rally well from it, you might be a good fighter but would never know until you were in that position. Or, alternatively you could be as fast as a flee. Just spring on off out of harm's way." He gestured with his finger, the hopping motion of said flee. " But it's still a good idea to get a hold of the basics. I'm no expert so don't ask me, I'm just saying."

[shadowsangel]

Hearing that his assumption wasn't stupid got him perking up a little, his mood significantly brightening. It helped that the man didn't ask why he assumed his body would know the motions if his mind didn't, because that was a bridge Ryou still was unsure how he was going to cross. He didn't want to come off as crazy to anyone in his place, but he also wasn't sure if he was ready to admit anything regarding the spirit he once played landlord for.

"I'm fairly sure my reflexes know better than me, so for my own sake, I'm hoping we're both right on this. I do plan to practice, but I think I'll do better learning on my own than with someone else teaching me. I do appreciate your concern, thank you." The smile was almost genuine but bordered more on polite instinct than any real emotion behind it.

"I'm Ryou, by the way." It was strange, only giving out one name to people. But at the same time it was quite clear that most here were of Western origin, so it wouldn't seem as strange to go on a first name basis with them. The name Bakura was tainted, a small ache shrouded in a myriad of emotion he wasn't quite sure what to do with every time he heard the name he shared with the thief king. It was better to simply not think of it at all.

[feelslikeimspilling]

Will picked up on the boy's smile, he could tell if was fake, void of any emotion, he knew this because Will wore a smile very similar to it himself. He'd let it slide, though, the boy was doing no harm and so saw no harm in letting him play act if he wanted. Will's main concern was not being found in the armory by anyone from the City Guard, not what some kid was doing in here with a bunch of knives and fake smiles.

"Still, there's some horrible things here. When I arrived, it was zombies and dragons. Sounds crazy I know, but that's how it is. You'd do well to find yourself a place to stay if you haven't already been told all this of course... And I'm just repeating over and over." He trailed off, nervous talking was a pain in the ass.

As his name was given, Will observed him. He looked a little awkward as if he was introducing himself differently from how he normally would. Taking a moment to consider what he looked like and how politely he spoke, Will smirked a little. "Will Graham. Nice to meet you Ryou."

[Library]

[hearthebell]

They study, even though they have no interest in academics.

L said the words, along with others, a long time ago to a group of admirers who really knew very little about him, in spite of all their diligence and efforts. The lecture in its entirety is probably the most blatantly honest he's ever been; he is himself diligent, after all, applying more hard work than his languid appearance suggests he's capable of to no terribly satisfying end. That's why he's in the library today, combing over the same stacks for anything his sharp focus and observational skills might have missed the first, second, and third time. He doesn't enjoy it, find it fulfilling or even cathartic to read for this many hours. Some memorization is inevitable, and that just means more irrelevant facts to slow and clutter his mind.

Seated in his customary perch at one of the tables with a stack of books, L glances sidelong at the white-haired boy at the sound of his wistful murmur.

"You'd think a lot of things about this place, but chances are higher than not that you'd be wrong," he says dryly. He's been here long enough to have seen a few new waves of arrivals, and it's the same story each time. Thinking there's a way out that others haven't found, looking for it, and eventually falling into grim acceptance of the reality that they're simply not a match for the gods that write the rules here.

[shadowsangel]

One would think after what he's seen in this place, Ryou would know to be on his guard at all times. Too bad he's used to someone else paying attention for him, and thus is far too easily caught off his guard as he's not used to being unaware someone is nearby. Strange how you never notice you had a so-called sixth sense until it's gone. He hesitates for a moment, unsure how to respond at first, before setting down the book he'd been fruitlessly flipping through to see if the other had found any that were readable.

"I'm not surprised. That's how it goes with most things in life, isn't it? The moment you think you know something, there will always be something or someone there to prove to you that you know nothing at all." He pauses a respectable distance of a few feet away, head curiously inclined to the stack of books around the other. "What do you have there? I haven't been looking for anything in specific, to be honest. Only something to pass the time."

[hearthebell]

There's nothing whatsoever wrong with being a little bit of a space cadet, deep in some productive thought process while everything else passes by in the background. L's spent much of his own life that way, actually. But Hadriel rather demands vigilance, whether it's in regards to the gods, some monsters, or a shabby stranger almost eclipsed by his stack of books.

L exhales deeply in a sigh; it's not that he's never heard or thought what Bakura says in such a thoughtful way. It's that he's heard and thought it very often, and as wonderful as it would be, repetition makes it no less true.

"Not always. It's dangerous to speak in absolutes," he replies, as if for the sole purpose of being a contrarian. "But often... yes, it's like that." He glances Bakura's direction, aware of the distance between them and taking careful note of it in case it changes anytime soon, before turning his attention back to the books.

"Various history and books. I've been through them all three times already, but since I'm not doing anything else of importance today... I thought there wouldn't be harm in going through them again, just in case I missed something on the first read-throughs."

He sounds like he doesn't believe there's even the remotest chance of that. It's going through the motions, pure and plain and simple. In other words, passing the time, just like Bakura.

"If you're just bored, there are novels. Fantasy, science fiction, if you go in for such things..."

The tone is just a touch tetchy and judgmental. Very likely, L considers "such things" a waste of time.