Markus and Zhijiru }{ Closed for now...

[JxSlaughter]

Zhijiru had been traveling for two weeks now, but it was into an area largely unknown to him. The reason of this was because he was trying to find more places to sell and more things to buy, as merchants tend to do. He had been here before, once. But it was as a child, and since then the area had greatly changed. The village grew from huts to more stable buildings as their economy grew. This was thanks to water, fish, and more people staying and visiting. Yet it seemed darker and more mysterious than he remembered it to be. Probably because it was night-fall though.

Fireflies danced over the water and lit up the shore as an occasional sound of splashing fish break the silence as they try to catch some of these lightning bugs. The bugs didn't fly very fast, and were not like pests. They were magical and gentle like snowfall. Some would sit on the hats of people as they moved through the town and they lit up the pathways only to move slowly way to avoid getting harmed.

It had been a day since he had water, so he headed to town for some water and rest. He didn't come with any company from his animals like he usually did. No dog, no ox, and no cart either. It was just him out on a long leisurely walk. The scenery was calming for now, but he had to keep in mind that Lonea is not all pleasantry and beauty. There were not only monsters from nearby forests and in the lake, but who knew what kind of strangers he would meet on his journey.

He saw copper coin in the middle of his pathway. No one appeared to be nearby in the darkness, but he looked around just to be sure. To his right there was an alley way, but it was to dark to see if anyone was inside. Apparently fireflies didn't like the shadows of buildings. He picked it up and looked at it for a brief moment.

[mianst]

Just then, out of the dark alleyway, a man pounced on Zhijiru's back. Poking him in the back with his index and middle finger, as small sparks jumped from the man's fingers to Zhijiru's back, Paralyzing him.

The man rolled Zhijiru over onto his back and held a small knife to his throat. "who are you?"
The, incredibly pale and thin, man said. "You're not one of the common thugs that skulks about this town."

[JxSlaughter]

All of a sudden a shock surged through Jiru's body, causing himself to stiffen uncontrollably. The man asked who he was and if he was a skulk. Jiru looked at his hand which clenched onto the coin when he became paralyzed. It loosened in a few moments and he twitched at his hand to drop it. Scared for his life, Jiru nervously replied, "N-n-no... see?..." The coin fell onto the ground with a clinging noise. "I'm j-j-just a traveler..."

[mianst]

"and why come here...'Traveler?" Markus said, not entirely ready to trust this stranger.

[JxSlaughter]

Jiru tried to steady his voice, "I'm a merchant... I was looking for n-new opportunities to barter..." He was certain that the freakish character would kill him if he did anything that would spark his hidden emotions. "No lie sir..." He tried to not make any sudden movements. Jiru was worried that the patch over his eye would make him seem like a bad guy to him. But the stranger didn't look so great himself.

[mianst]

"Ah-ha, ha, ha ha ha ha ha ha! A merchant! Ha ha ha ha ha! We thought you a thieving lair, But we finds a humbuly-proud tradesman! Markus exclaims as he looses himself in hysterical laughter.
"Oh well heh-heh. no hard feelin's then aey?" Markus says as he stretches out his hand to Jiru. But then recoils and says: "Oh I suppose you can't move...Don't worry, it'll pass fairly quickly..."
Markus crouches now and studys the man in front of him, wile wearing a stupid grin.

[JxSlaughter]

"Guh.." Jiru let his head rest down on the pavement and waited until he could feel his legs a bit. Jiru thought to himself, "This guy is crazy isn't he?" Soon he tried to pick himself up but it wasn't easy. He wobbled a little bit before he truly had control. Jiru placed his hand on his chest and sighed. He glanced over at the stranger. "I might as well..." Assuming that his odd game was over he asked, "Do you know a nearby shelter that takes in strangers?" Jiru thought that the man lived in the area, since he had some thoughts about gang activities. But... he wasn't sure if he should trust him.

[mianst]

Markus excitedly exclaims: "Oh sure-sure, he lives not far from this very spot. Just about half a mile into the woods...He'll sure be safe and warm there..." A calm settles over Markus as he says: "As long as you're not afraid of the dark. As you can no-doubt tell, I'm a bit odd. I don't mean to be...never mind, short version, no windows or mirrors...we'll wait till you're fit to walk."

[JxSlaughter]

"Uhh..." Jiru didn't like the sound of that at all. "I'll just go look over this way--" Jiru started scooting away. "--for an inn, I'm sure that it is nearby. After all, I just started searching, and 'over there' sounds quite far after what you've done to me..." He started to shuffle on in a different direction hugging the wall for support. He continued saying, "I'm quite afraid of the dark anyways..." That was a lie, hopefully he wouldn't sense it.

[mianst]

"wait..." Markus holds out a hand, then whispers to himself: "Stay calm, deep breaths, remain calm, at least apologize to the man." Now to Jiru: "Let me at least seek your forgiveness." Kneeling as he says this. "It was wrong of me to attack you. I have been without proper human companionship for many years. My name is Markus Kruger. I can understand your aversion to me...I can assure you that no further harm will come to you, be it from me, or any other." Bowing his head now, "Please do me the honor of letting me host for you. I have many different foods. I can also assure you that your stay will be completely uninterrupted...I understand if you should refuse. Again I apologize."

[JxSlaughter]

Jiru expected... Markus... to be more of an angry quick to judge and kill kind-of person. He may have seemed to be at first, but now he seemed to be more to his senses. Jiru would have felt guilty leaving the man after such a speech. Maybe it wont be so bad. After all, he had food. Which he had been running short on for days. Jiru sighed. He reluctantly replied, "Alright then... I'll come with you." Feeling in his legs was back pretty much entirely now. Jiru decided to follow the strange, lonely man. He whipped the sweat off his fore-head, he had been traveling a very long time.

[mianst]

Trying not to act too excited, Markus showed his new companion to a small overgrown path into the forest. "Now don't be too hasty to judge the house when you see it. The outside is intentionally disheveled, as to avert anyone who might be seekin' loot. Inside is quite clean and well kept, if I do say so my self." Thinking out loud to him self "T's a bit like me in a way, I guess." Now back to Jiru. "Besides, the innkeep's a bloody slave driver with his prices. You'd be lucky to get outa there with 'a hard day's work' as he calls it...By the way stranger, might I inquire as to what your name might be?"

[JxSlaughter]

"Just call me Jiru." He scarcely ever gave out his full name. Jiru looked around the area. "So are looters a frequent problem here?" The man was smart to make his house look abandoned if it was true. But maybe he was just insane. Jiru was still skeptical about trusting Markus.

[mianst]

"well, when I was younger, yes. But I've managed to build a reputation, to not be messed with by those thugs...But not for the reasons I assume you're thinking...I have a certain, shall we say, ability." Markus snaps his fingers and a small bolt of lightning jumps from them to the closest tree branch. "Don't be frightened though, as I said, I'll not be doin' any harm to you again. It's a nifty trick, that. But painful, or at least it used to be..." Markus stairs off aimlessly into the trees, then stops abruptly, staring intently at an beaten down old shack. Covered in moss and other wild plant-life. "Here it is, home sweet home."

[JxSlaughter]

Zhijiru cringed when he saw lightning come out at his will. Jiru didn't have any real special ability of his own, it was more like an infection, or a disability. "Glad that I'm on your side." Jiru smiled a bit, and tried to loosen up as he got closer to Markus's home.