open | knock knock

[festivalpies]

Who: Julien, and anyone who answers.
Where: The first floor of the Xochipilli Employee Housing.
When: 1st July, early morning.
Summary: Getting to know the neighbours.
Rating: G

One fate averted in favour of another. Julien had exhausted questioning his situation, and despite his uneasy sleep in so foreign a land, El Sera heralded the dawn of a renewed future for him, free of Duke Edmun's dungeon and wrath. If this was the work of the Maker's hand, then his due penance would be paid in service rather than flesh – whether by coincidence or design, the task asked of him played to his strengths and allowed him to remain true to his knight's path.

What he did not have was an appropriate foundation, which was why this morning found Julien knocking upon his neighbours' doors. Though he would not force the matter, in his experience it paid to be acquainted with those in your vicinity. It was no bad place to start.

Comments

[festivalpies]

Julien regards both man and dog with moderate curiosity, within the boundaries of polite reserve. While he cannot miss the distrust he's greeted with, he does not take it personally. Nor does he allow it to deter him – perhaps his success will be limited, but even an opened door has given him a face to associate with the room and a master to associate with the hound.

"As I took up residence here yesterday, I thought it past time that I introduce myself to my neighbours."

Julien's Voldoan accent is strong, immediately marking him as foreign. Fortunately it has an equivalent in this world – French, his Xochipilli tour guide had assumed – because he cannot prevent it from being distinctive. He certainly knows better than to try to conceal it. Arrogance has never been his downfall.

"I am Julien."

He does not ask for a name in return or offer any additional conversation, knowing better than to force interaction. His words are already a clear invitation to engage him; no more is necessary.

[crotesque]

Will's brows pinch slightly. The calm directness is not unpleasant, simply unusual, and it says something about the personality of this man. Already a file has been created and labeled in Will's mind, taking note of everything. He really wishes he could just not take so many notes, could just interact and exist, but that's not how his mind works. He's used to it.

The dog tilts his head up at Julien, friendly and inquisitive.

"Nice to meet you, Julien." Will is secretly relieved that they don't have to shake hands. "What bring you to the neighborhood?"

Will isn't so good at pretending to be friendly, but he also isn't trying to be rude.

[festivalpies]

“Employment,” Julien answers with a trace of dry humour. “A change of pace and fresh opportunity.”

He extends a hand towards the dog in the universal offer of a scratch behind its ears.

“What happened to your companion's paw?”

[crotesque]

It isn't the first time Will has heard that wryness. He's... used it himself a couple of times. He wonders if he should be questioning everyone who moves into this building. It's a difficult question to work smoothly into conversation however. Hey, hi, are you a magical boy too?

For now he just scrubs a hand back through his hair, glancing down at the dog.

"Frost bite, it got nasty the other day."

[festivalpies]

"Poor fellow."

The difficult part of adjusting to this world is the sheer volume of difference between it and his own that Julien must learn of and ingrain. In Gransys his watch was the Stone of the North, and its large snow harpy populations made frost-related injuries a common risk, so it takes Julien a second to realise the oddity of such an injury given the warm climate and general lack of magic. It is a barely noticeable lapse, but a lapse all the same, which is less than ideal. Faint puzzlement touches his expression.

"I did not think this city cold enough for it."

[crotesque]

"There was a... cold snap, earlier in the week."

It's a little bit obvious when Will is lying about something. He is just not very good about it, but in this case he is not completely lying, merely omitting some details. There's still the same sort of breathiness to the assertion, however, a lack of total conviction.

"It was really strange." And he shrugs, as if to dismiss the issue. "What is it you do, Julien?"

[festivalpies]

Julien is certainly perceptive enough to note the lie. While he has the grace not to call it out, he does raise his eyebrows. The deception is easy to understand when one is aware that the existence of magic and monsters is not publicly acknowledged. But is this man merely an observer?

There is no time to follow that thread of thought, however, because the question posed to him takes quick-thinking. To call himself a knight would be folly in this world, yet to hesitate would be suspicious. The truth requires no conscious effort to maintain, so he simply omits his martial duties.

"Diplomacy. The management of people and resources, requisition." Julien cocks his head. "What of you?"

[crotesque]

Will's change of expression is subtle, just a little more interest. He's taking note of similarities he feels about Julien and about his own roommate. Someone used to a far different set of cultural identifiers, abstracting his world to explain it. It is a theory in process, one of the many newly opened files in his mind where he stores information. The initial thought of where Julien might fit amongst them is noted.

"Sometimes I do the same thing." It's a bitter observation, though Will's tone is easy enough that without context, it does not strike as such. "Currently, I teach criminal theory to officers."

[festivalpies]

"An interesting line of work."

The concept is a fascinating one to Julien. With experience keeping the peace one tends to gain an instinct for picking out criminals, and some idea of what drives them. But to make a serious study of it, and teach those whom the knowledge serves best... that is truly progressive.

As far as settling in goes, it is a twist of luck that his past lies beyond the rift. It also reminds him that he must research El Sera's laws.

"Do you teach from experience?"

[crotesque]

Will nods, his eyes on the floor for a moment. His place in law enforcement is a particularly grisly one and he does not particularly like to highlight that fact to every stranger who inquires about his work.

"Sometimes." Most of the time. "I also studied forensics at school, doctorate."

But he's not a doctor, contrary to what some people seem to think.

[festivalpies]

It is a statement that means little to Julien, the consequence of incompatibility between worlds. He simply dips his head in acknowledgement in response, and embraces the aversion to the subject shown. There is no reason to pursue.

Moving the conversation onward is easy enough.

"Will you introduce yourself and your companion?" he asks.

Julien ensures that there is patience in his tone -- it is, after all, not a demand.

[crotesque]

The calm would almost be unnerving, if Will didn't appreciate it so much. He was usually bombarded with his understanding of others, all their volatility.

"Will Graham," he really prefers not to shake hands if he can help it, so unless the other man makes some motion suggesting he'd like it... Will is just going to motion down to the dog next instead. "He's going by Deoji, for the time being."

DeeOhGee. Will wasn't entirely sold on the idea of keeping the dog yet, however. Not entirely sure about trying to make this place home.

life has conspired against me tagging, so sorry for the huge delay!

[festivalpies]

Fortunately for Will, the handshake is too new a gesture for Julien to be in the habit of intiating.

"Deoji," Julien echoes, the pronounciation distorted by his accent. "An unusual name."

While El Sera is far indeed from Gransys, the people that he's met thus far have very Gransian names. Even 'El Sera' sounds as though it could belong in Hearthstone. Yet it will not do to wander in stray thoughts right in the middle of a conversation.

"Have you lived here long?"