soul_logs | [OPEN]

Having taken shelter in the church to get out of the storm yesterday, Zeratul was more than happy to return outdoors. Without the sand and the wind, he could get a better sense of the strange city he was now residing in, and he decided to start with the closest place: the park. He had no idea if this Earth was anything like the ancestral home of the terrans from his sector, but it didn’t seem overly inhospitable. Having been raised on a desert planet, Death City’s weather was just another mild day for him. He was glad to see patches of vegetation could still thrive here as well, and spent the better part of the morning winding through the trees.

Zeratul eventually stopped his wanderings near the area where the daily training was conducted, settling down into a crouch to watch the comings and goings of citizens and guests alike. There were worse places he could have wound up, he supposed, but that didn’t do much to ease the transition. So many things hung in the balance back home, with the presence of the zerg swarm, the threat of the hybrids and so much more. It continued to weigh heavily on his mind, even if there was nothing he could do from here. It was almost certain he had been summoned for some greater purpose, but that eluded him as much as it frustrated him. Keeping himself from dwelling on it was proving difficult, and he doubted meditating would be any help either.

He contemplated returning to the church to find Tassadar, but ultimately decided against it. They both needed a little distance to come to terms with this recent turn of events, and Zeratul needed to see the city for himself.

The pursuit of true knowledge was never an easy thing, and nothing exemplified that more than having to scale Shibusen’s stairs once again. The promise of what the library might contain for Zeratul was well worth it though, and if it provided what he needed he would walk these stairs every day. His days as a scholar made this place irresistible to him, despite the fact that it was filled with the most archaic method of storing information. The paper books and tomes were old and well preserved, but they would not last forever. Unless the humans here began transcribing them to a more permanent vessel, he would mourn the loss of so much knowledge.

The next obstacle after the stairs was the heavy reliance on written language. Although his people had continued the practice of their writing, he had little to no exposure to human languages. With some help from the librarian, Zeratul gathered an impressive stack of books, split between foreign language dictionaries, grammar guides and anything that happened to catch his eye. It was going to take some time learning and deciphering these new languages, but it wasn’t something he hadn’t done before. Once he had mastered it, he could begin delving for the real information he had come to find here.

Zeratul managed to commandeer a table near the corner of the library, pushing the chairs out of the way so he could sit comfortably on the floor. At the very least the high ceilings here made it easy for someone of his height to navigate, but the size of the tables was unfortunate. He sat in silence, hunched over one book or another, thumbing through pages carefully to avoid damaging them with his claws.

Finished at the library and his more traditional method of research, Zeratul found himself exploring the area of the city where the greatest number of people had congregated. While he had no use for nearly everything that was offered in the Shopping District, it still provided an opportunity to study. Most people shied away from him on the streets, but no one seemed frightened or overly shocked by his appearance. Given the nature of his fellow guests and the fact that this city had seen two protoss before him, he was thankful to be able to walk in peace.

If he was lucky, he could find someone to speak with about the situation of the war. Books could only tell him so much, and Tassadar’s experience was only one facet of the whole. Unfortunately, given his ragged clothing and harsh features, he hardly looked approachable. He needed only be patient, though, and he knew he would find at least one person to indulge his curiosity.

Zeratul made frequent stops throughout the streets, crouching down near corners or benches to silently observe those around him.

It wasn't easy to miss a ten-foot-tall alien, and Gai caught sight of the Protoss before too long. Almost right away he realized this wasn't Tassadar or Selendis. They had a new person from their world here, then. Gai made his way over after some time, having finished up clean-up after Morning Training.

"Hello!" Gai said as he headed over. "You are nearly in the right area for Morning Training, but a little late for it, if that is what you were looking for? I am Maito Gai, though, and welcome to the city."

Zeratul was easily pulled from his thoughts as Gai approached, thankful for the much needed distraction. He straightened his back slightly, but did not stand to his full height.

"En Taro Adun," he inclined his head at the greeting. "Thank you for your information, but I am merely acquainting myself with this city. I am Zeratul."

"Of course. I am sorry. En Taro Adun." Gai bowed his head back. "I am glad to meet you, Zeratul, and the city has a great many things that are worth acquainting with!" It was hard to know who might be friends with those he knew and who wouldn't be, and Gai would want to warn Tassadar before revealing his presence... "Have you had a chance to see much of it yet? Or many of the people?" Maybe some careful probing first.

The apology was a bit of a surprise, but the fact that he didn't trip up on the phrase told him he was not the first protoss Gai had spoken to. Zeratul reached up to scratch his chin, humming thoughtfully.

"I have seen a great deal of stairs," he said. "And even more sand. The people I have just begun to meet."

That didn't answer Gai's most pressing concern, and so he decided to quickly message Tassadar while he spoke with Zeratul. He raised his mirror up, typing as he continued smiling. "The stairs are one of the city's best features! But have you been shown the map yet?"

Protoss, name sounds like ze-ra-tu-ru, enemy or ally? There, message sent to Tassadar, and Gai showed the map to Zeratul on his mirror as he waited for an answer. The reply happened a moment later, a quiet beep. "I am sorry. It does that sometimes. One moment!" Pulling it back, Gai saw the answer. Ally. That was a relief, in Gai's mind. "There is another Protoss here. I do not know if you knew yet, but he says you are his ally, Tassadar."

Shibusen's stairs were not the longest he'd walked, but the storm hadn't really improved his opinion of them. Zeratul tilted his head curiously when Gai presented the mirror. He had not taken the time to use his very much, and with his long claws, it wasn't the easiest to manage.

"The map will be most useful. Thank you," he nodded in thanks, pausing when Gai mentioned Tassadar. He knew the templar had been here for some time, but he had yet to learn of his presence in this city. "We were fortunate to find one another yesterday, and we are indeed allies."

Cybele had wanted to have something entertaining to read, and so she went to the library to find something. The Witch did as well. She'd bee-lined right towards the 'non-fiction' section regarding Witches, and pulled one of the books from the shelf. It was bound to be an entertaining read, and she wondered how many times she'd laugh at the content and how it was more 'fiction' than anything else.

Her tail swished behind her, the gesture showing her amusement, before the Witch took the book and moved over to find somewhere to sit. Cybele paused, however, at the sight of the giant seated on the floor. It wasn't the first time she'd seen suck large guests, but she hadn't been interested enough to approach any of them yet.

Stalking over to the table the alien sat at, Cybele shifted to her side and moved to slide her backside onto the flat surface. She swung her legs up and around next as she moved to sit cross-legged on the table and facing the giant guest. Tucking her lion-like tail around her, it flicked subtly with interest while she looked at the strange creature.

"You ain't no kishin egg, that I be knowing, but do d'em humans go runnin' in fear thinkin' you be one?" The Witch asked with a growing smirk on her face.

Considering the other library patrons were just as content to ignore him, Zeratul did not look up until Cybele was suddenly between him and the books. He was instantly suspicious, and irritated, his heavy brow knitting together. Leaning back to maintain some distance between them, he shut the book he had been studying, and gave her a hard look.

"It has not happened, but I have not been here long," he said evenly. "Do you require assistance with something?"

Doubtful, but he had to ask. He glanced at her tail briefly, curious about what species she was. She looked human, but that was clearly not the case.

"You are welcome!" Gai nodded at Zeratul's confirmation. "I am sorry about the typing. I had to ask him before I told you that he were here. He is my friend and I would not betray his presence to someone who could be looking for him to harm him." He looked back over the city, easy to see from their vantage point. "There was another Protoss here for a time, but Selendis is gone now. I liked her as well. But BREW takes many and sends others."

He gave Zeratul a smile. "Did you have questions about the city still? Or are you simply looking to see what you can see?"

He was an odd one. How did this creature eat with no mouth! There were so many possibilities, and that curiosity burned to discover why. It was a pity that she couldn't just take him back to that laboratory she once had... but such was the price of being able to take her revenge.

"That be a disappointment, that is," Cybele muttered with a sigh. Now where was the fun in that? Maybe it might still come, but until then... shaking her head, Cybele dropped the book onto the desk as she leant in closer to get a better look at this one's face. "How'you be sustainin' that body of yours with no mouth?"

Zeratul found Gai's concern for Tassadar heartening. He had been troubled to find his friend so isolated and withdrawn, so he was glad to know at least one person had befriended him.

"Hm, I have heard the Executor was here for a time." He knew she was needed back in their home sector, but her presence had probably once been a comfort to Tassadar. The sons and daughters of Aiur were not suited for being alone, not like he was.

He considered Gai's offer, then shook his head. "You are most kind, but there are some things I must see for myself at present. I will have many questions soon, I am certain."

Of course she would ignore his question, and was apparently deciding to get even more familiar whether he liked it or not. Zeratul recoiled as she moved in, raising one hand to swat her back.

"What business is it of yours?" he replied. "Leave me in peace!"

Under normal circumstances, he would have no trouble indulging curious questions. But this woman was pushing his boundaries, her brashness reminding him a little too much of the Queen of Blades.

It was curious, on her part, to see him talking without moving his jaw. Was it a Meister ability? Some form of telepathy? But not two way if he couldn't read her thoughts in return. The fact that he was already bristling at her antics didn't deter her, but only stirred the Witch on to find out more while she skillfully avoided the swatting attempt.

"I'm curious 'bout you," Cybele said without shame. She wasn't know for having any filters on her thoughts when she wanted to say something, and knew exactly what buttons to push when she wanted to annoy as well. It was a bad combination in the rare moments she wanted both, such as it was right now. "Such'a large form hav'ta consume large amounts of food. D'em kishin eggs eat human souls, 'da beasts the flesh of the livin', and you?"

"The Executor?" Gai wasn't sure he'd heard that title for Selendis before. He tilted his head. "Does Tassadar have a title like that, or you? If it is not rude to ask. I do not mean to cause offense. I like to learn, but I do not know when I am trying to learn too much, sometimes."

He nodded. "I ran many laps around the city to get acquainted with it! It was also very good exercise. And there are many training opportunities every morning right over there." Gai gestured toward the training grounds. "Oh! Tassadar comes there, but so does someone else from your world. Kerrigan, a human. Do you know her?" She was at least respectful of Tassadar, so Gai was guessing they would be allies as well.

She was that determined, then. He resigned himself to having to entertain her, but if she pushed too far, he would simply leave. There was places in this city Zeratul could not go thanks to his size, but he had a feeling the same worked in reverse.

"And I," Zeratul said, pulling his tattered cloak around his arms. It was a defensive gesture, closing himself off. "Obtain the nutrients I need from the sun and stars."

She didn't need to know any more than that.

Cybele waited with baited breath to see if he would bristle again or answer her curiosity. The pulling of the cloak had her laughing beneath her breath, and had her smile widening when she realised the gesture. Did he feel threatened of her?

"Do you go up to 'em? Take that energy for yourself?" The Witch asked. This time she was genuinely curious. She'd never met anyone else who could go into space like she and her sisters could. Maybe they could have a race.... well... once she got her full magic back. If she'd won then she'd take that tattered cloak of his just so then she could see beneath it all. Maybe study him.

Zeratul chuckled. Gai had come here offering to answer Zeratul's questions, but he seemed to have more than enough of his own.

"Indeed! Both Selendis and Tassadar share the rank of High Executor, though not at the same time," he explained. "I am a Prelate, of the Nerazim tribe."

Ran... laps? He could admire the human's enthusiasm, but he hardly saw the need to go to such lengths. A shadow seemed to pass over his face at the mention of Kerrigan, but when he spoke his tone was neutral.

"I know of her, and she was present for my arrival here yesterday," he said. To say it was a complicated situation was putting it mildly, but Gai's intentions seemed pure.

Her curiosity was hardly endearing considering the way she carried herself, and he continued to watch her with a guarded expression. He found her quite disagreeable.

"You are familiar with how a plant sustains itself with the giving light of the sun, hmn?" he asked in turn, pointedly ignoring her other question. A handful of the people he'd spoken with here were familiar with his species, and he assumed those people were at least halfway friendly with either Tassadar or Selendis. It made him wonder if she was a new arrival here, or the other protoss had eluded her.

She pouted with disappointment when he dodged her question. Cybele didn't hide the fact that she'd noticed it either, and that despite her style of speech, she'd just displayed herself as having a sharp mind and eye. Flicking her tail back, the Witch spun herself on the table to only half face the guest as she shrugged.

"I be familiar with," Cybele said before leaning back and supporting herself with her hands on the table. Glancing lazily at him, the lion-witch muttered, "You be sayin' that you sustain yourself with such energy."

If she was trying to be seductive or coy, it was completely wasted on Zeratul. At the very least her body language was easy to read, although it was unfortunate none of it indicated she was going to leave soon.

"Indeed."

He doubted that would satisfy her, but he hoped to bore her by withholding information.

The lack of answer had her sighing. Where was the fun in that? Watching him from the corner of her eye, the Witch gave no prior warning to her gesture as she was suddenly reaching out to pull aside the cloth obscuring the lower half of Zeratul's face.

"You got some scar hidin' under there?" She asked while trying to answer her own question.

Zeratul was on his feet in an instant, batting her hand away from his face and the cloth. His weathered hide was scarred and aged from his long years and battles, but there was nothing that he was hiding.

"Enough!" he roared, though his shout was heard only by the Witch. His quick motion was what startled most of the patrons, and he hunched over, glaring at the woman. "You try my patience, female."

[OPEN]

[City Park]

[Library]

[Shopping District]

[City Park]

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Gai, it's rude to text while talking to people!

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Yes but he has to protect his friend!

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Good old Gai :)

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:D

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