City stroll

[evillurks]

The Shadow arrives at Ichi's apartment by the door, rather than by PINpoint, and his knock is distinctly different from that of Chaz Walters. He is quick to greet Ichi once the door is open, however, trusting the other man to recognize his voice. "Afternoon. Feeling recovered from yesterday?" There is quiet amusement in his tone. He carries two canes, his own with the ebony eagle's head, and another wrapped in paper. Ichi will have a proper red-tipped white cane for the city streets, and the old man has even brought him a pair of dark sunglasses.

Comments

[blind-masseur.livejournal.com]

"It will be nice to go home occasionally. Our'busy' is a little different, and it's nice to be able to go back to simple things." He's grown a greater appreciation for the simpler life he used to live before stumbling into the Nexus, even if he does love the newness of everything currently around him. "I can roll in a little mud, and walk until my sandals wear through." He chuckles. "And then come back here, clean up, and speak another language." He is starting to find this all amusing the more he's exposed to New York.

[evillurks.livejournal.com]

"Busy?" That single word carries a smirk. The Shadow's version of busy would run most people into the ground. "I should trade places with you for a vacation." He offers to refill Ichi's glass with a quiet clink of the bottle. "But the pace of life in New York is hectic even by modern standards for the rest of the world."

[blind-masseur.livejournal.com]

"You should." He laughs brightly. "You could visit a temple. When I've had enough, I find a temple and stay there for a few days. I'll do chores, anything the Priests need help with." Ichi seems to be adjusting well to the noisy city as he pauses a moment before taking a small sidestep toward The Shadow, avoiding a dog that pulls on its master's leash.

"A dog's a dog, no matter how many ways you try to clean him up." He speaks lowly, but with a tone of amusement.

[evillurks.livejournal.com]

"Mm, there are working dogs, trained to act as guides for the blind. I'm not sure you'd want that to worry about that, though. I'm not sure what you'd do with him when you're in your world." He sidesteps as well, without really thinking about it, his thoughts drifting briefly elsewhere.

The sigh is a quiet one, but heavy all the same. "That... might not be such a bad idea." It wouldn't be the home sanctuary he feels he has lost, but there are times he feels he has had more than enough and needs some peace.

[blind-masseur.livejournal.com]

"I'm don't really like dogs, anyways." He'd been chased and barked at by enough to annoy him for years to come already.

At the sigh from The Shadow, Ichi reaches out, setting a careful hand on the man's shoulder. The motion is almost uncertain, as if he doesn't trust his own ears to correctly pinpoint The Shadow's location in space.

"With a heart like that, it's tempting to send you now." He gives a strong, reassuring squeeze before letting his hand drop back to his side. "Next time I'm home, I'll look for a nice place, and keep away so I don't bring trouble." He smiles at himself for that.

[evillurks.livejournal.com]

The Shadow gives a simple nod of acceptance, although of course it goes unseen. It's easy enough to let it go, as he trusts Ichi to learn his way around the modern world even without canine aid. Already he's making excellent progress.

He is not expecting the pat on the shoulder, and gives his companion a raised eyebrow, forcing a wry smile. "I don't know when I'd have time anyway. There's no need to hurry on my account. I can rest when I'm dead."

[blind-masseur.livejournal.com]

"That's a terrible time to relax, my friend." He grumped, though there's an attempt to make his words a bit lighthearted. "We are supposed to get everything we can out of this life. A little time in prayer and meditation will only give you more energy to meet challenges ahead."

[evillurks.livejournal.com]

Even in the chaotic sounds of the street, Ichi may detect a quiet wheezing huff. It's an ambiguous sound, perhaps part amusement, part dismissal. "Are we? If I lived life for myself, those around me would suffer. But... your point is a good one. I'll try to find a break." It's a vague kind of promise. Getting The Shadow to relax is never an easy task.

"Turn the next corner, too. We're circling the building." The sound of a skateboard turns his head briefly, but the teenager on it is no one they know.

[blind-masseur.livejournal.com]

Perhaps it might be a new one for Ichi to focus on when he's back home. It's something good that might keep him out of trouble more, at least the kind that he brings upon himself.

At the corner he follows the sounds and senses that lead him to the turn and he continues on alongside the Shadow.

"What kind of places do they have here where people can relax?" He might as well continue the topic, even if it is enough of a deviation, so as to take the focus off of the fact that The Shadow has what Ichi considers a very poor approach to the matter.

[evillurks.livejournal.com]

"People in New York aren't very big on relaxing." The cacophany of activity around them seems to support this statement. The city is full of people in a hurry, intent on their own business.

"There's... spas, I suppose, but those are mostly for women." He's not entirely accurate in that, but it's not something he knows much about. "The world these days is all about getting as much done as fast as possible. The places I used to find peace are either gone, or rapidly shrinking."

[blind-masseur.livejournal.com]

That explanation suddenly starts to help things fall into place. Ichi's been confused by all the bustle, and the speed at which Chaz is often to speak. If everything and everyone here is in a hurry at all times, it's little wonder why there is so much to take in all at once.

"I'll have to pick up the pace a bit more then." With a smile, he steps a little more lively for a moment, getting a half-pace ahead of The Shadow before resuming his previous stride. "Heh, I should work my way up to it first." As they pass by a shop, someone drops change and he can't help it as he grins broadly, before giving a bright laugh that startles someone walking by, likely a tourist. Once they are out of earshot of the shop he speaks again. "A little hard with the noise, but two....pennies, and a..." He tilts his head in concentration, the words are a little hard sometimes. "A quarter?" He shakes his head. "The smaller one, smaller than the penny."

[evillurks.livejournal.com]

"Dime. Ten cents." He can't pick out that kind of sound in this crowd, but trusts Ichi to. "That makes Twelve cents."

Ichi's usual ambling pace through life is a marked contrast to the constant insomniac bustle of the city. On the other hand it is a mark of New Yorkers that they are inclined to ignore whatever does not affect them personally, and thus the crowd has been simply flowing around them, as if they are so much a piece of scenery, worthy of no more attention than it takes not to run into them. The Shadow is often forced to curtail his usually long strides to match, but it suits his purposes that they should be unremarkable and ignored.

[blind-masseur.livejournal.com]

"Dime." He reaffirms the word, making a note to remember it. These details, he knew, were important. "I'll get it soon." He smiles, raising his head a bit as they walk into a more direct beam of sunlight that's made its way to the street between buildings.

"Fast city, fast people. What food do they like best?" Being a bit of a foody at heart, Ichi's interested in what other meals may be available, apart from what Chaz has brought him, and what he finds in his refrigerator and pantry.

[evillurks.livejournal.com]

One eyebrow rises, but all Ichi has to interpret is the pause before the answer. The Shadow is familiar with many foods, simply as an aspect of his knowledge of different cultures, but it's not something he thinks about often.

"People from all over the world come to live here, so they bring a wide variety of cultures and foods. I suppose the traditional American fare is hamburgers, hot dogs, and pizza." What Chaz has an has not introduced Ichi to on that front, he doesn't know. Certainly pizza seems to be the first food of choice among people her age.

[blind-masseur.livejournal.com]

"Pizza. Chaz talks about that." Most of Ichi's meals have consisted of Chinese food, mostly due to the fact that he had no idea what else to ask for, aside from more of the same. He hasn't tried it yet, though. "Now that I can get out, I will have to try more food here." He pats his stomach with a chuckle.

[evillurks.livejournal.com]

There is a very quiet sound of amusement, nearly lost in the din. "I'm sure we can arrange a pizza for you. There's a variety of toppings to choose from." He tends to eat relatively healthy, most of the time, but he's not averse to junk food on occasion. "I'll make sure to allow you a food budget..."

((I'm terribly sorry I fell behind...))

[blind-masseur.livejournal.com]

((No worries! :) ))

"Heh, now there's a thought. A man like me, getting an official stipend." These sorts of things only happened for magistrates and people of rank. "I'm going to be spoiled for when I go back home after all this."

[evillurks.livejournal.com]

"Hm. I could let you starve." There is not a serious note to his tone, there. "I always make sure my agents have what they need." There is a distinction, of course, between what they need and what they want, and there are times he is even inclined to deny them the latter if he feels it conflicts with their duties for him. The Shadow is not a cruel master, but he is a strict and demanding one. He has been lenient with Ichi, thus far, but that may not last forever.
Their course leads them toward the park, and presently he may hear the difference of wind in the leaves ahead, while on either side the tall buildings make harsh, unnatural echoes of sound that he has already learned to ignore. There are the scents of nature, faint, but a blessed relief from the myriad stink of the city.

[blind-masseur.livejournal.com]

The more familiar scents gain his attention and Ichi perks, pointing his nose in the direction of the park. His senses are momentarily diverted as he feels a moment of relief before returning his concentration to the walk.

"I like not starving." He smiles as he ambles along. "I want to do good. You've done much for me, I owe you."

[evillurks.livejournal.com]

The subtle expressions are noted, and correctly interpreted. "Central Park. It's better if you avoid it at night, but during the day it's a pleasant break from the city." While he assumes Ichi can take care of any muggers he might encounter here at night, the results of his self-defense could be awkward.

"Mmm. Then I'll be sure to put you to work soon. You have valuable ears."

[blind-masseur.livejournal.com]

"I'd like that. Work makes me happy. I stay out of trouble." He chuckles. "Bad trouble."

[evillurks.livejournal.com]

They pause at the sidewalk, and cross a street that sounds less busy than the last, and when they reach the far side he can feel the shade of the trees. "There's a fence ahead, follow it to the left." The park is bordered but black enameled fencing, at least as high as Ichi's shoulder and cool to the touch.

"I'm afraid the work I assign won't always keep you out of trouble..." The Shadow will have some idea beforehand what manner of trouble he may be sending Ichi into, at the very least.

[blind-masseur.livejournal.com]

His cane taps the fence when they reach it and he puts out a hand, feeling its cool texture under his fingers as he drags them along a brief moment. He raises his head to the flickering sensations of sun and shade on his face with a smile.

"A little trouble for a good reason. Not all bad." His cane clicks against the fence at a set pattern, allowing him to locate a break when they finally reach it.

[evillurks.livejournal.com]

The quick staccato of Ichi's cane along the fence is reminiscent of a child's running along one dragging a stick, or a baseball card in the spokes of a bicycle wheel, and for a brief moment The Shadow is lost in a fit of mild nostalgia.

"Mmmmm?" It is a distant, thoughtful sound, as if his mind was briefly very far away. "If I put you into something where you may need to defend yourself, I'll warn you, but it's very likely." Most of his agents are expected to have some kind of fighting ability, and to protect themselves when necessary.

[blind-masseur.livejournal.com]

And The Shadow knows, Ichi certainly has the ability to protect himself.

"A warning." He chuckles. "How nice." He feels the grade of the pavement change and his cane returns to the path before him.