can't seem to find our state of grace

[tryingitall]

Who: Balthazar and OPEN
What: Exploring and chatting.
When: Day 54
Where: All over the place, but eventually the bar and House 11. Encounter him anywhere you like.
Warnings: Probably none, will update if that changes.


Balthazar's not sure whether to be optimistic about this brave new world or not. There's no question but that certain individuals here are a threat. Raphael and Lucifer? Scary. Whatever's got them all trapped here? Also scary. At the moment, though, the weather is fairly pleasant, there's no looming apocalypse, planned or otherwise, and even the demons here seem to be, if not civil, at least tolerable.

Probably the other shoe will drop before long, but until then he's going to try to enjoy himself.

Hence the search for the bar he hears is around somewhere. He circles through streets, looking over houses, buildings, and...hmm. Rubble. That's a little worrisome. But not too far off he finds what he was looking for, and slips curiously through the doors.

Comments

[undomesticated]

"I've been warned away from the ocean by multiple people because of a giant squid? So, maybe stand up by the lighthouse and neener neener down at it." She took another sip, watching this strange man with the strange name seem to take this all in stride.

[tryingitall]

His expression shifts, gaze going unfocused as his thoughts go somewhere else. "I like lighthouses. I like the ocean. I might have to do that. Does it ever storm here?"

[undomesticated]

She shrugged at him. "Your guess is as good as mine. I haven't been here long enough to have much of a say. Maybe it does." She took another sip of her drink. "Do you like storms?"

[tryingitall]

"I'm very fond of storms over the sea. They're dangerous, of course. I wouldn't want to see an all-out hurricane hit the place." He taps his knuckles on the edge of the table lightly, smiling. Knock on wood.

"But watching lightning hit the water is beautiful."

[undomesticated]

"Nature has a way of being terrifyingly beautiful." She smiled, thinking of some of the things she'd seen in her comparatively much shorter lifespan.

[tryingitall]

"And beautifully terrifying?" He grins at her, not trying to mock, but amused by the turn or phrase. "Your backpacking trip. Was it an excuse to see the wilderness, then?"

[undomesticated]

"Very much." She nodded as she smiled again, turning her bottle around on the table. "Not exactly. I've lived in the wilderness most of my life. I wanted to try to experience a little Americana. See what all the fuss was about."

[tryingitall]

"Americana as in giant fiberglass corndogs and huge balls of twine? I could recommend a few places."

...so he did a little roadtripping shortly after he Fell. Foamhenge was totally worth it.

[undomesticated]

"Something like that, yeah. I've spent more time out of the country than in it, so I figured now was a good time to get to know my roots, so to speak. When we get out of here, I'd be glad to visit a few."

[tryingitall]

"I recommend avoiding any place that has 'and alligator farm' added to the name. I must say, I'm curious as to why you've spent so much time in the wilderness." It strikes him as a very odd background.

No doubt there are elements of his own backstory that prompt raised eyebrows, though. He's interested, but prying isn't a good way to begin in a strange place.

[undomesticated]

"I thought alligator farms were supposed to be fun?" She grinned when she said it, trying to picture one of her brothers straddling an alligator and getting tossed in the mud. How was that not fun?

"Dad's work," she answered. "He spends a lot of time researching rural and untouched tribes and we spend a lot of time following him. At least I can say I had an eclectic childhood."

[tryingitall]

"Not for the alligators," he answers with a straight face, although that's not really what he meant by the warning in the first place. "Unless the visitors are slow and/or clumsy."

"Ah, yes, you mentioned that. I'm sorry, maybe the beer's stronger than I thought." He smiles apologetically. It's not the drinking, of course, just his own tendency to distraction. "You must have been all over the world, though."

[undomesticated]

"Then it's sort of their own fault. Poke the bear, expect to get bitten." She shrugged. She'd come to realize that people did pretty dumb things in relation to animals and then blamed the animals for it. It seemed to be a failing of theirs.

She gave him a small shrug at the apology. "Not all over it, but we've covered a fair chunk. What about you? Do you travel a lot to find good art?"

[tryingitall]

"I've been around most of the continental United States, plus a few forays into Europe and Asia. I meant to go further afield, but I got embroiled in...a different project." Judging from his slight grimace, it wasn't a project he was all that excited about.

[undomesticated]

"Really? What project?" Her curiosity was piqued by the fact that he clearly didn't want to have been doing what he'd wound up doing.

[tryingitall]

"Oh, you know. Saving the world." He makes a dismissive gesture. He doesn't want to talk about it, and he's hoping she'll think he's joking.

[undomesticated]

She gives him a weak little laugh. Saving the world through art. Right. Ha ha. Not like he's obligated to talk to her about it. "And they stuck you here for your effort. Kind of rude, don't you think?"

[tryingitall]

"Very much so, but they do say no good deed goes unpunished." He doesn't feel apologetic for deflecting so obviously, but he does give her a kindly smile. It's nothing personal.

"I think I had better go on to the house I've been invited to, now, but I'm glad to have met someone new. I hope I'll see you around the place, Riley." He offers a second handshake, standing politely.

[undomesticated]

She pushes back her own chair, standing and taking his hand with a smile. "It's been nice to just talk. Thanks for putting up with me, Balthazar." She nodded at the last remark. "Not like either of us are going anywhere any time soon, right?"

[tryingitall]

"Oh, I do like to talk." He chuckles softly, and shakes her hand.

"And it's no trouble at all. You take care of yourself. Don't get eaten by velociraptors."

[undomesticated]

"I'll do my best." She gave him a salute, paired with a cheeky grin. "Same goes for you."