PM to join Meeting at the Beach (Castor Riley)

[Savannah]

8th Spring 513AV

The sun was up and it was nice and hot out. Savannah was laying on the sand and feeling the cool water on her feet. She laid there thinking of all that she has lost in her past, performances she's done, men she been with, and her stealing accomplishments. She closed her eyes and just began to use her hearing of seeing.

[Castor Riley]

Castor had finally gotten himself settled into his dorm room at the University, and he'd started to get a feel for the town itself. So when he woke up that morning he decided to go for a quick run; get his blood pumping and his thoughts in order. It hadn't been long enough since the winter's sorrows and despite his sunny disposition and determination to move on, he couldn't help but feel the threatening approach of the clouds of depression. First, he headed to the beach, as he had decided that that should be the place that would most suit his purposes. On his way there, Castor could not help but be amazed at the beautiful architecture of the town's many pre-Valterrian structures. Being used to a life behind Syliras' walls - walls that had begun to feel suffocating years before he had finally left - the openness of the city and the soft ululation of the waves soothed him. If the two towers rising out from the bay were a bit disconcerting, they were still an irregularity that was easily adapted to. To Castor's mind, these obelisks were a continuous and rather welcome reminder of the reason he had actually left Syliras in the first place; the thrill of adventure and the sheer possibility inherent in a life lived unconfined.

Finally on the beach, Castor considered whether it would be prudent to just take his boots off and relish in the feeling of the warm sand, running until that feeling of peace and energy consumed the thoughts that had been darkening his mind. He decided against it though: there would be time for relaxing in the sand after he'd finished his run. Castor had left most of the more cumbersome items, like his coat, backpack and dagger at home. He was dressed in his simple shirt and pants and carried his grandfather's journal. Already looking forward to reading the book for the first time in this new city, he began his run at a slow jog, feeling the sand thump beneath his boots and allowing the blood flowing to his limbs and the pleasing sounds of the water to clear his mind of thought. In the far distance, he could just see the figure of a person lying in the sunlight.

[Savannah]

Savannah almost felt dead, she just started up at the sky. Her blonde hair was scattered around her head. As the sun heated then water seemed to be cool. Her light tan body shined from the sun. she didnt move, but only breathing lightly. Savannah had loose shirt that came down to her belly and she wore brown leather pants.

After awhile Savannah continued to lay there sleeping very lightly. She heard someone runnig across the beach. A smile curled her lips, Hmm.. Should I steal or wait to see if I like the person or not... Thoughts swarmed quietly in her head. She moved her lips back the way they are... and now she waited.

[Castor Riley]

As Castor approached the distant figure, he made out more and more details of her appearance; first he saw that she - and he felt certain it was a she - had long blonde hair, spread around her head as she lay in the sand. As he got nearer, he thought she looked a picture of contentment, glorying in the sunlight. He certainly knew that appearances can be most deceiving, however he had rarely seen a person so at peace, as to be lying on the beach, seemingly asleep, when just about anybody could be running by. He debated whether he should stop and say hello; after all, he had only just moved to town, and a person who would just up and sleep on the beach seemed like just the kind of person Castor might enjoy hanging out with. Or she could be the type of person to scream and try and eat my face off, he cautioned himself. Still, he supposed it was a risk worth taking; he would either meet someone interesting, or, worst case scenario, he would be forced to make a running retreat, which would be a great workout. So he kept approaching the figure on the beach. Belatedly, he considered that his labored breath and sweatiness might not make the best first impression. Then again, he had never really cared about such things. Still a bit off - so as not to startle her too much by suddenly waking her up, and to have a headstart should any evasive manoeuvering be necessary - he called out to the woman: 'Hello! Nice day we're having!'

[Savannah]

Savannah sat up slowly and turned towards the man she smiled. "Yes it is!" She agreed then continued, "And you are? My name is Savannah."

She then got up and brushed the sand of her tan legs and body. Then she pulled back her hair and began to walk towards the man smiling. "I don't think I've seen you around before.." she said leaning her body off to the side. He seemed nice enough, but it could always change say..if some one took something from him, killed his lover. She thought about it.. Maybe I'll get to know him first then maybe decide what I'll do, and maybe it'll be nothing at all..

[Castor Riley]

'Oh, I'm Castor. Nice to meet you Savannah.' The woman got up, her long hair cascading down around her face as she wiped the sand off her body. She then began walking towards him. 'I don't think I've seen you around before' she said, with a smile. The woman, Savannah, had a very powerful vibe to her - feral almost. He was getting the distinct impression he was being hunted. He shook that feeling off as his paranoia speaking. 'Do you know everyone who is in Zeltiva?' he smiled. 'In any case you wouldn't have seen me. I only just arrived three days ago.' 'How long have you been in Zeltiva?' he asked. He felt some sweat trickling down his forehead and wiped it off with the back of his hand. A fly buzzed somewhere nearby. He waited.

[Savannah]

huh, new guy.. she almost seemed to laugh at the fear in him. His body was tense, sweat sneaked across his face. She smiled brightly at him, then touch his shoulder gently. "It's nice to see new faces I'm glad we could meet. I have lived here since birth.. Meaning I know my way around here." She took a long pease of her hair and tucked it behind her ear. Haha he is afraid and he should... Maybe he seems nice. I'll be alittle nicer...

[Castor Riley]

The woman appeared incredibly amused by him. He thought she looked like she was containing outright laughter, which made him feel silly about his reservations. She touched his shoulder, which sent a jolt of apprehension through him; in his experience, total strangers did not habitually have this sort of contact. One would shake hands at most. Anything more than that, especially from a pretty lady, was usually a cover for some other motive. Or she was just really open. He couldn't tell yet, but having grown up navigating the crowds of the Great Bazaar, he had learned two things; one, if someone bumps into you in a crowd, check your pockets, and two, never trust a pretty face. 'It's nice to see new faces, I'm glad we could meet. I have lived here since birth... Meaning I know my way around here.' she said, tucking an errant strand of her golden hair behind her ear. Her words were friendly enough and her actions equally so. He let his guard down a bit, but put his hands in his pockets just in case, his journal securely tucked in the nook of his shoulder. 'Well, it's nice to meet you, too.' he replied with a smile. His voice then took on a note of concern. 'I hope you were alright over Winter; I heard there was a bout of the plague in Zeltiva. I almost decided against coming, but I simply had to begin my studies and I had already put off leaving Syliras for too long.'

[Savannah]

She laughed at the cocern in his voice, "Don't worry about it just be glad you weren't around to live through it.. But I made it through." Savannah smiled and seemed less intense than she started out. He seems like a nice guy, I wont bother him.. but Savannah curious about Castor, "You lived in Syliras? I heard its nice there."

[Castor Riley]

'Don't worry about it just be glad you weren't around to live through it.. But I made it through.' replied Savannah. It occured to Castor that starting a conversation with a stranger about a deadly plague that had until recently wreaked havoc in their city and decimated its population might not be the most ingratiating ice-breaker. Her words indicated what a struggle it must have been, how terrifying to be hunted in the streets of your own city by an invisible predator. Even though she had survived, how many friends might she have lost to such a widespread epidemic? He was relieved that the conversation moved swiftly to the next topic, before he started feeling truly bad about his callousness. 'You lived in Syliras? I heard its nice there.' she asked. He almost laughed at the thought. It had been a while since Syliras had been even tolerable for him. He didn't want to launch a vitriol-filled tirade against his home city in response to such an innocent question though, so instead he replied: 'It has its charm. It's a safe place, that's for sure.' He resisted momentarily, but couldn't help adding 'If safe is what you want out of life.' If he truly had to choose a word to describe it, the word would have been 'Suffocating'. 'Hey, I was just having a quick run and I was wondering if you'd like to join me. I have no combat ability to speak of, so I find having fast feet is the best way for me to remain in good healthy. Plus it's best to reach your zone after you've started running' He smiled invitingly.