tushanshu_logs | Ladymance Landfall Log

Trying to get away.

[It's not actually as accusing as it would have been if he didn't recognize her. Actually, it's almost amused, most of his anger simmering down.

He also raises his eyebrows and shrugs.]

The clothing is designed to clean easy.

[The weapons, however? He uses the llothi fur, too, and then dirt from the street to carefully polish them clean again before sheathing them carefully, all the while alert.]

Were you after something interesting when they attacked you, anyway?

That was part of it, but it wasn't mutually exclusive from defeating them.

[She's still a little huffy, but the worst is over, and the llothi being gone is just good in general.]

Design or otherwise, it was unnecessarily messy.

[Annabeth watches him clean off his weapon as she slides her knife back into its sheath, glancing at the area around them in a process. Just in case. And there's something a little familiar about this kid, under the gore.]

I was just going back to the city. [Said with a slight air of 'not that it's relevant to anyone but me.']

... you should see it after a bloody run-in after a two-hour trek through the sewers. Not that,

[his eyes move back to the beasts on the ground,]

the outcome is lethal when people are involved.

[Robin turns his face to look at Annabeth.]

This city, or Keeliai? [What. Both were plausible options.] Did they draw you out somehow, or just set upon you?

[Now that the deadly part is over, he is vaguely curious about the third creature that some llothi pairs use to help them hunt.]

Ugh, sewers. Don't remind me. [She knows how gross those are, with or without blood to top it off.]

The city. Keeliai's in the other direction. And they just found me. No mimicking from their little friend.

One does what needs to be done. [Like that is normal, coming out of a kid his age.] Like I said. The material is designed to clean well.

[And his eyebrows rise, above the mask.]

Whatever that means. Other than that they don't always use the other creature.

Good for you. [Speaking of the clothing material, mostly.]

I think they mostly track by scent and sound. That's the impression I've gotten.

[But now that the fight is over she's sort of (subtly) peering curiously, because there is something most definitely familiar about this kid, and the not quite stranger-like way they've fallen into conversation.]

>Tt.<

I meant the choices between using the third one to lure prey or not.

[Once his weapon is clean and sheathed, he stalks towards the city. That's where she said she was going, right? His walk is... more fluid, more relaxed, and even more actually confident than the haughty stroll of Damian Wayne. Though... it might not be impossible to be reminded of the other. Ramrod straight back, for one thing? Check.]

Predators choose their prey somehow. Although in this place they might be going for anything that they can get, I can't imagine prey is very numerous, here. Though there must be, or they would have died out a long time ago.

[She rolls her eyes.] I can't read their minds. They probably evolved to work together that way on occasion. And that's what I was referring to - when they don't use their little friend.

[But she trails after him, at least until she gets even with him, because Annabeth Chase? She doesn't walk behind anyone, unless by choice and with purpose.]

Maybe they scavenge and wait for the days Tu Vishan makes contact and the kedan creep on land - maybe there's actual prey further out than we're able to reach. There's not a lot of plant life for them to even be vegetarians. Or maybe they're like camels and water - a little bit of food goes a long way?

[Robin shoots her an incredulous look.]

Do they somehow seem to act even remotely herbivorous, to you?

Desert this may be, but there is more here than meets the eye.

Scavenger doesn't necessarily imply herbivorous, and no, they don't, actually. But they could be omnivorous by need to survive from lack of carnal meat. Of course they hunt, but there's no telling what their preferred prey is unless we find it.

And wow, really? I had no idea there were secrets to the mainland that extended beyond the sand!

Only when there is little but sustenance for not-picky herbivores and that niche does not seem to be occupied. They act like predators.

[A behavior that omnivores... non-human omnivores do not tend do develop. Not even rats.]

[And then Damian stares at her... then crosses his arms.]

I suppose you would not have reached this far without at least supposing the fact. However, I meant... something else.

[He does not have the correct words for it. Something beyond the visible? That did not fit quite right. So he just, uh. Turned around and stalked towards the spot where the buildings were thicker and the sand on the roads shallower.]

My point is still there that it's an option.

[She follows after him, her curiosity getting the better of her - curiosity towards both who he is and what he's talking about.]

Like what in particular then?

Edited 2013-02-04 04:47 (UTC)

An unlikely one!

[He's not paying attention on her reasons, but he does approve of her sticking close. It would probably be frowned at if he were to just. Leave her out here.]

It's a desert filled with ruins of cities and predatory huge beasts that show moderate intelligence in their hunting patterns, and a mausoleum fulled of dead bodies some of whom seem relatively fresh. Where did they come from? And why is whatever's attacking them coming after us?

[Sure, there could be ways to preserve those bodies that will make them stay 'fresh' - but there are much older ones, and if the aging rate is slowed, that would make those way older than the time when the cities must have been abandoned.]

It doesn't add up.

[She rolls her eyes.] Unlikely doesn't translate into impossible, you realize.

We don't know if the same thing that killed all those people is coming after us, too. They all looked... utterly horrified. I don't think the llothi can do that. But there are way more questions than answers.

How fortunate I'm used to the whole 'doesn't add up' thing. [Though she says it with mild annoyance - not at him, but the situation.]

And 'remotely possible' doesn't translate into 'credible explanation.'

[He looks sideways at her.]

Used to it as in complacent about it?

[Yep. That's a jab. Don't sound resign about shitty things, woman.]

Except on the occasions where it does.

Never complacent. [Her tone is kind of harsh in response.]

[This back and forth - it's familiar. The way it goes, the snapping, the grumbling. Has she spoken with this kid before? She must have.]

Edited 2013-02-16 20:18 (UTC)

They don't act like scavengers! Scavenges avoid direct confrontation, when possible!

[AUGH ANGRY!!!!]

Though not complacent is good. Better than the alternative.

Gods, you're worse than I am. [DAT ANGER.]

[Frysquinting you though. How many children with that kind of temperament exist here??]

I'm adaptable. I figure things out.

Why should that matter?

[Dat anger, not made better by bafflement. This one is special.]

Fine. What have you figured out?

I was just making an observation. [She answers it kind of indifferently. Even if she's still mulling over how she might know him.]

About the mainland or this place in general?

Hnn.

Either.

[His tone suggest strongly that he doesn't expect much worthwhile to come from either option, but he'll let her talk.]

[She picks up on that tone.]

If you don't actually care what I have to say, don't bother asking for it.

I care about very little. That does not mean I would not be interested in what you can say.

[She sort of narrows her eyes. The indifference but curiosity. And when she responds, it's not an answer at all.]

We've spoken before.

[Damian... doesn't react. Just keeps walking.]

What difference does it make if we have or haven't?

[But his mind is all red alerts.]

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