4/8/2003

12:15 AM

Logfile from Gabriel.

 

Canal Street - Eastern End

Canal Street runs east to west through the heart of New York's downtown region most popularly known as Chinatown. As far as the eye can see, the buildings and sidewalks are marked with signs in both English and Chinese, the later being far more common. At any time day or night, the traffic is heavy and often shockingly reckless even to the usual jaded New Yorker, pedestrians crossing with disregard for personal safety.

Store fronts here are narrow for all the large gaudy signs stacked sometimes two or three high up overhead. The buildings lining the way generally stand about three to ten stories, unlike the tall skyscrapers visible further north across the city. Canal marks the region bordering Jewelry Row, where the stores are literally lined with gold, or at least behind the glass windows. Concession stands of hot food, vegetables, and merchandise take up the edges of the sidewalks, making travel difficult. There is a cacophony of different languages in the air, from tourists to the mish mash of different dialects from the immigrants housed in this district.

Houki is here.

Obvious exits:

Mulberry St. (NO)   Bowery St. (NE)   Canal St. (WE)   Elizabeth St. (SE)   Mott St. (SO)

 

Hotohori

From elegance unmeasured to dignity well bound, this young man possesses a stature of rare nobility for all of his six feet in length. Athletic in build and form, an almost imperial subtlety tickles along his every movement and gesture. Long, silken locks of the darkest chocolate brown descend with an almost ethereal grace and straightness to mid-back as the golden tawny gaze of his eyes is often partially overshadowed with a persistent forelock. Beyond the obvious aesthetic lines of a face wrought with gentle beauty, there is determination etched along the curve of his jaw. Not just another pretty face.

Vibrant, rich red colors the long robe that drapes along his form, sleeveless and descending to just beyond his knees, drawn close at his waist with a belting blue sash. A white shirt, edged in gold at the neckline and blue at the cuffs, is worn underneath. Long pants of the same white encase his legs until coming to his long boots, pale blue and bound close to his calves with a criss-cross of white laced binding. Hair is drawn loosely back, bound with a leather tie beyond his shoulders.

Hotohori appears to be 21 years, 11 months, and 26 days old.

He is awake and looks alert.

=-=> Hotohori looked at you!

 

At this time in the evening, surely the streets and walks in this area of town have thinned out some. Stores are closed and stands are drawn back and away. The usual hub-bub is practically nil and won't revive again until just before sunrise. And it is to this evening-shrouded scene that the man is dropped into. The distinctive red-glow flashes once, and suddenly there he stands, and still in all of his bookworld finery. The man stumbles forward a step, blinking. Alarm arrives on his features as he turns about, looking for and finding nothing the same as it was before. "Miaka? Tamahome?" he mutters, and then sighs.

 

Stores, and resturaunts have closed as well, leaving one young woman back on the track for home. Shinobu actually had a good night for a change, carefully watching her trail as she heads home. What can she say... waitresses get good tips. Wandering down the street, she pulls her coat close under the chill, her steps shaking the unusual bout of snow off her bag. It's only then, when she pauses to look in one of the store's windows, that that red light bursts nearby, to leave someone behind in its wake. Purple eyes widen, to the point they're near saucers, before she stumbles back herself. "Yeaagh!" .... How eloquent. ".... What in the world.....??!" And why does he look... familiar?

 

Houki

 A smattering of gentleness, a winsome touch of fragile elegance is what rests upon this graceful shell. Her quiet nature rests upon her like some sort of mantle, an unconscious presence that seems to dictate her everything; from her near regal mannerisms to how she dresses, there is an innate sense of style and decorum that only seems to be enhanced by her natural tendencies. Lush violet hair is what crowns the top of Shinobu's head, usually pulled up and held by silver barrettes, though some tendrils manage to escape the less than severe bun. They frame a heart shaped face that is dominated by large brown eyes -- there's a near doe like quality to those large orbs, only complimented by the pert nose and lush lips underneath them. While barely just at 5'6", it seems that either genetics, or perhaps a good meal has filled out her form, soft curves quietly stating her femininity, hardly needing anything more.

A smart business suit is what adorns the woman's athletic figure; lush curves are hidden underneath muted pools of crimson and midnight. This girl shows an innate sense of style that starts with a simple black blouse, button down fashion only enhanced by the silken texture of the high-collared creation. Over that is a deep red jacket, purposely oversized to only flirtatiously hint at what's underneath, though it is left unbuttoned, as it is her usual style. The hem of the jacket almost shades the short matching skirt of silk, leaving shapely legs out in the open, only guarded by dark, sheer hose. High heels complete the outfit, giving the girl and extra three inches in height.

Houki appears to be 23 years, 1 months, and 25 days old.

She is awake, but has been staring off into space for 3 minutes.

 

Gabriel is pressing a hand to his forehead, wincing all the while. He squints his eyes shut, muttering, "It was all a hallucination. It had to have been. It...." He is trailing off though, eyes slowly opening once more, only to cast down at the Konanese attire. "Or I could be wrong..." He takes a moment to smooth his hands over his chest and then tug at the sash, apparently oblivious as to the woman as of yet.

 

This can /not/ be happening. "People just don't appear out of nowhere," comes with a hasty squeak, bringing the young woman to stop dead in her back pedaling tracks. "This is just... I must be working too hard." Even the outfit is something that she knows she has seen somewhere before, but even she can't quite place it. Certainly not now, when she is just moments from hyperventilating. ".... I should go home. Yes, that's a wonderful idea," she chatters to herself, squaring her shoulder before attempting to walk past Gabriel. Mustn't look.... but... that hair.... those eyes... everything... so familiar. Wincing, the girl nearly missteps, a hand going out to the building she was scooting next to in order to keep herself from faceplanting.

 

Gabriel draws in another ragged gasp before straightening. Wouldn't do to just stand there in the middle of a sidewalk, gasping and basically looking less than all put together. That would not do at all. The footsteps of another have the man shooting the woman a glance, hardly catching a profile in the haphazard shadows of the evening. As she seems to trip in her walking, the man is immediately offering a hand to her shoulder to try to steady the woman. "Oh. Watch your step. Are you alright?"

 

The hand, oddly, is needed, even as Shinbou tries to regain her balance. It's only then that she manages to glance up at Gabriel, eyes wide, quite unwilling to believe what she's actually seeing. "....I...." Give her a moment, even as her mind tries to rationalize what she saw. There has to be some sort of explanation for this... it can't be those dreams and nightmares! Mouth agape, eyes refusing to blink, her mind suddenly clicks, and the oddest idea is placed within it. "You're.... dressed from some sort of show? That's really weird to be like that out here, in this cold." There's a faint smile, somewhat nerved, even as the girl blushes faintly. "But, I'm fine... though perhaps you shouldn't be wandering around like that. It's really cold out here."

 

Gabriel is muttering an apology, for some reason or another. The man's head turns, and he finally looks fully upon Shinobu, and seems to hesitate.  He simply remains for a very long moment, watching her with wide eyes that slowly narrow while studying her. Absectly, he answers, "I didn't plan on coming out here like this. Something of an accident, but I'm not worried about the chill." His hand doesn't immediately leave her elbow, and he speaks softly, "I don't mean to sound as though this is a really poor pick up line, but do I know you?"

 

Shinobu doesn't say anything under that look, as if her very words would betray her. Very much like a deer in headlights -- abeit pretty ones -- she really can't bring herself to speak. Instead, she straightens, making sure she suddenly isn't going to fall onto the sidewalk, before letting out a faint sigh. "... Well, I'd hope not. It can be rather... weird out here, nowadays." If evident only by the snow that's still falling about them. About to say something else, perhaps about his hand at her elbow, Gabriel's question brings her short. ".... I... don't think I've met you," she manages to stammer out at last, though at the end she has to look down at the ground. "... I mean... unless you've been to Hong Kong.... I've only spent a few years here... and you don't look the type to ....." To what? Hang out in normal places, instead of the upscale? Where'd that thought come from? "Ah... forgive me. My name's Shinobu. Shinobu Chan."

 

Gabriel is content to simply peer into the woman's wide brown eyes, curiosity and something else rather obvious in his. "No? I have the oddest feeling though..." He has been having quite a few of those lately. More than a few. "I was, once, for hardly a week though. Possibly then. That could be it," he mutters, attention shifting to drift up to the woman's hair, and it is there he feels a tug. No, this simply couldn't be the woman that Nuriko mentioned. It couldn't be that easy. "Shinobu? That is a beautiful name. I'm Hoto-" Erk. Wait. Got too used to that. "Gabriel."

 

Shinobu still hasn't pulled away, despite her conscience nagging at her. If this is so uncomfortable, baka, move! Oddly, she can't quite bring herself to do that, though. Instead, her free hand moves to her lips, to cover them faintly, before she finally moves it away. Why? Because the name he almost tossed out was more than vaguely familiar... and the name he gives instead is almost disappointing. "Somehow... it suits you," is given softly, even as she turns... well, as much as she is able to, considering Gabriel still has her arm. "Well, that could be it.... I have a rather large family there, including a younger sister." Well, sis doesn't look quite as big as Shinobu, but could that be it? Who knows. "Ah... I'm ... not keeping you from anything, am I?"

 

Gabriel finaly has thought enough to release her elbow, albeit reluctantly. "Yes. Possibly," he airily replies, not sounding as though he is convinced though and it is rather obvious. A faint smile makes a brief appearance, warm despite the unseasonable bite to the air, along with the chuckle, "Not at all. Other than... you wouldn't happen to know exactly where this is, would you?" Looking rather embarrassed, he continues, "I'm lost."

 

And Shinbou can only flush as her elbow is let go, not quite willing just to walk off yet. She probably should, considering the circumstances, but something, or rather, someone keeps her here. It was like watching that phoenix pin in the window... and meeting Karen, who looked oddly like someone else she knew. This is getting all too scary for her, though she still can't bring herself to walk away. Especially under that smile; it's one that could melt hearts and curl toes, but strangely, that's the most familiar thing of all to her. And for a long moment, she simply... doesn't answer Gabriel. It's only when a car passes the sounds of the city invading her ears, that she flushes as notes, "Ah.... we're just off the end of Canal Street.... where do you live? I mean, I can, ah, give directions!" That's what she meant, honest.

 

Gabriel watches her expectantly for a moment, but doesn't say anything. No, instead his smile quirks a little to the side with faint amusement. He is more than content to watch the woman in the meantime, seemingly drinking in her presence. When she does speak, he seems to startle, and then nods his head, echoing, "Canal Street" The man turns to the side, looking off down the expanse, "I'm over in the Village, renovating a building." He considers softly, "I wonder how much time has..." But in the next breath, he is peering down at her, "I'm more than likely keeping you from something, Shinobu. I should get going... are you alright though? You didn't twist your ankle or anything?"

 

Over... in the village? Renovating a /building/?? Oh, completely out of her league. At least, that's the first thought that comes to her head; the second is more along the lines of was he really watching her like that? .... Couldn't have. She isn't that interesting to watch, really. Well, not in plain clothes. Work clothes is another matter entirely. ... Ahem! Still, Shinobu pauses at his comments, before musing, "Ne, I was in no rush, just heading ho... hm?" And instinctively, she looks down to said ankle, twisting just enough to see it and probably giving poor Gabriel a view. "No.... it still looks and feels in one piece... I think I can make it to the subway, no problem."

 

Gabriel is frowning slightly at her, "You really shouldn't be walking home this late at night, and all on your own. You never know what sort of person you could find out here." Even the drop-dead gorgeous one's bedecked in period clothes despite the weather? Those are the ones you /really/ need to be careful of. "How about I get you a ca-" But the man trails off, sighing. Not a bit of cash upon him. "Would you mind then if I at least walked you to the subway? I'd feel better knowing I could at least see you that far?"