Out (Valencia)

[Damien Blaze]

Damien cut the engine to his 1971 Chevy Nova, Flipping the required switches that opened the passage to the coolants, bringing down the temp of the 396 big block. He was proud of his car, it was his favorite thing he owned, and he spent alot of time in it. But now wasn't the time for vehicles. He had come here so he could start in on one of the many things he loved to do.

Run.

He hadn't been exercising as much as usual these days, probably one of the reasons he didn't really feel at home. He took off his sweater, revealing a white Tank-top underneath. It squeezed to his muscular frame, and allowed cool air to pass over his body. It was around one o'clock, and a light breeze was stirring. He opened the door to his car, flipping off the switches and removing the key. His wore blue baggy pants, and a black belt that held them up. Not exactly your typical running attire, but with so many possible ways he could end up in a fight, he deciding to wear something with free movement, instead of constricting or annoying.

He sat with his feet on the ground outside, and reached into the back, grabbing his running shoes and lacing them up. He had just bought them, thankful for the shit-load of money his aunt had deposited into his bank account. He had plenty of money to live on for the next several years, if not the rest of his life. It was his inheritance, given to him early since he wouldn't be coming home anymore.

He pulled the shoes on, threw the necklace that held his car and house key on it over his neck, and locked his car doors. He stood up outside his car, giving a stretch, and took off, jogging lightly and at even pace, loving the feel of the wind past his face and his muscles working in his favor. He turned down the small path that was by the beach, and jogged evenly, at peace for the first time in weeks.

[Valencia Donahue]

Punctuating what could've been a scene taken directly out of “Baywatch” was Valencia engaging in an activity seemingly less positive. In denim shorts and a lightweight t-shirt, she was soaking up the breeze, the sun, and... The ocean water. To any anonymous passerby, the sight of Valencia walking straight into the sea would conjure up images of suicide and drowning. To Valencia, on the other hand, she just felt like gradually cooling off without risking the shock of hypothermia by dramatically changing her temperature. There were things on her mind and she'd rather have her surroundings as serene as possible... Not like anyone would know that right away, what with the people playing on ther beach and doing their own thing, but Valencia tried to make do with it.

((OOC: Short, but there really wasn't much for me to work off of.))

[Damien Blaze]

OOC(( thats in the eye of the beholder, i guess. were it me, i see plenty of openings, but again every writers different. You may see openings in stories that i wouldnt as well ))

IC

Damien ran, the cool wind giving his burning muscles relief through the skin. He took to the beach, feet kicking up sand, and decided that had to be enough for a day, He must have run the trail three times, clear across the beach and back, so he figured he was set for today. Taking off his shirt, he draped it over his shoulders. He took off his shoes as well, and placed them behind a stump, deciding he would take a stroll down to the ocean. It was warm out when he wasnt running, and needed a cool dip in the water. He had a change of clothes in the car, so he could always just cahnge from the jeans he was wearing after they were wet.

After putting his socks inside his shoes, Damien walked down the beach, coming along side a girl on her own way down to the water. He had noticed her as he walked, and, realizing he had almost no new friends in the area, decided he would try his best to make this girl his first. As he came up next to her, he would give her a smile and say "Hello. Beautiful Day, isnt it?" If she replied, and even if she didnt, Damien would extend out his hand. " My names Damien. You are..?"

His voice had a polite tone to it, and it was kind. She was attractive, but looking for things of that manner was the farthest thing down on Damiens to-do list. He didnt have time for it, nor did he really want it after his last girlfriend and him ended rather brutally. He pushed down the thoughts, and continued to hold out his hand with a smile.

[Valencia Donahue]

((OOC: From an RPer's perspective, there're plenty of openings, sure. However, what I'm getting at are the limits for my character in this particular setting and situation (IC). Not my capabilities (OOC). I think you'll get it after a while.))

Valencia was nearly waist deep in the water when she heard someone approaching from behind. She was about to assume that it's just another person going in for a dip when she heard a voice address her. She gave her surroundings a brief glance and paused her progress to check if she was mistaken. The presence in the water didn't move and spoke to her again, this time introducing himself. Valencia tilted her head slightly to catch Damien's form out of the corner of her gray eyes and assessed the individual. While Damien appeared to be your average, friendly, social person, Valencia wasn't one for small talk unless it meant something to her or she was in the right frame of mind. She wasn't. Nonetheless, she isn't one to give the cold shoulder unless it's warranted. She merely murmured her name just loud enough to be heard over the waves.

“Valencia.”

With that, Valencia lowered herself onto her knees and submerged herself underwater. She stayed there for half a minute before surfacing a foot or two away.

“Is there any particular intention behind your introduction? There're lots of other strangers in the world you could've talked to.”

It may've sounded mean, but it was straight to the point.

[Damien Blaze]

Damien frowned a little, reaching up and scratching his head. He looked behind him, and around him, as though looking for somone she could have been talking to. "Im sorry, did i catch you just after an argument or somthing? You seem kind of hostile" He felt the water lap against his pants, enjoying the cool feel of it against the burning muscles in his legs. Yes, it was true, the girl was attractive. But frankly, from what he just seen, she was acting like a pine-cone had been shoved up her ass.

Damien would keep that to himself though, content with what he said. After he answer, whether it was rude or told him to go away, damien would sink into the water, and speak again. "Im sorry, i just have a question. Are you,well, blind?" He was a very blunt person, and hoped she wouldnt take offence to what he said. Just, from what he saw, it appeared that she was indeed blind.

OOC(( sorry for length))

[Valencia Donahue]

“I find it interesting that you perceive me as hostile when I merely asked for the occasion. Not everyone is prone to making acquaintances without some kind of intention, you see. Some may simply want a friend, some may actually want a target. In other more special cases, the reasons are subconscious.”

Valencia was unfazed by Damien's comment and just elaborated upon her question. It was to be expected that she would be perceived as cold. She wasn't one to use more words than necessary for quite of a few reasons, after all; one of which to observe her acquaintances and how they respond to her ambiguous nature. Was a cup half full or half empty? Whatever the case may be, the first question yielded results and she was going to keep observing Damien until he tired of her presence. She sunk beneath the waves and ran her fingers through the sand below as if searching for something before resurfacing for air in a different location. The waves had a way with carrying bodies around. Valencia turned her gaze away when Damien spoke about her eyesight.

Most people are observant enough to not bother asking...

“I'm blind to many things that compel me to search for insight, but in case of my eyesight... I'm not blind.”

Getting profound now, aren't we?

[Damien Blaze]

He smiled.

"I guess hostile was too strong of a word. You just seemed a little irritated, judging by your tone of voice."

Damien tilted his head a little at her explanation of her blindness. This had to be one of the strangest encounters he'd had since he had come ehre. At first she appears like she doesnt want to be bothered, and now shes going all philisophical on him. Either this was one hell of a bipolar woman, or she just enjoyed screwing with him. He didnt like it much, since he didnt feel his inteligence merrited it, but he wouldnt say anything, instead letting a slight silence go on for a few seconds.

He'd smile yet again.

"Your an odd one,Valencia, ill give you that."

He stood, having been cooled off by the morning breeze and the crystal clear water he had been sitting in.

"My names Damien, by the way.It was A pleasure meeting you." He turned to leave. It didnt seem like she was in the mood for conversation, so he was going to let it drop. He stopped after taking no more than a few steps, and turned back. Screw it. Why let the possibility of a friendship die so easily?

"You know, im heading over to Roadhouse to get some food. You want to go?"

His voice had a polite tone to it, and he didnt even bother to guess what her answer might be. He was already preparing the smile and goodbye for when she turned him down. She didnt seem the type to just up and go to dinner with a complete stranger, but he kind of hoped she would accept. He could use some company, even if he knew she probably didnt want some.

He grinned, spreading his hands in a half-shrug.

"My treat!"

[Valencia Donahue]

When Damien commented about his interpretation of Valencia, she didn't say much as she floated in the water. She was used to these thoughts and though it bothered her from time to time how quickly people judged her, she figured that the mental calluses she gained were worth it. She uttered a brief and succinct reply, knowing that saying much more would give off the wrong idea.

“I get that a lot.”

Valencia dove underwater a little and kept running her fingers through the sand. The water was getting a little nippy despite the 1 PM-ish sun. It was a sign that a fog may roll in later that evening. She resurfaced in time to hear Damien politely reintroduce himself as though she could've missed the first introduction. While it miffed her a little to feel as though her snow queen nature scared him off, she gave him credit for at least saying goodbye first. He turned to leave and Valencia stared at his form as she soaked in some solar warmth. After some time, Damien changed his mind and offered her a meal from his own wallet.

I shouldn't take food from strangers... But not only is he paying, but I'm admittedly rather hungry...

She simply nodded and headed towards the shore, squeezing water out of her “blonde” hair and her shirt like a sponge. Her towel was laid spread out on the beach and it made her glad to know that something warm and comforting was waiting for her.

[Damien Blaze]

OOC: ((i hope this doesn't come off like I'm controlling your character. I can change it if it does.))

Damien was pleasantly surprised to see the slight nod of the head that followed his offer. He hadn't really expected a yes, but was no less accommodating. He had meant the offer, and was more than happy to take her out for food, not even as friends, but as basically strangers. He had,however, realized that he had re-introduced himself, and it was no accident. It wouldn't be the last time he would introduce himself, and there was a reason for it. However, it wasn't one he wanted to think about, so he pushed it to the back of his mind, ready to come out when he needed it to.

He gave a pleasant smile, then turned, sloshing through the water and stepping on to the beach. He stalked through the sand, the tiny particles clinging viciously to his feet as he trudged towards where his shoes lay. He sat on the log, waiting for Valencia to grab her towel. He noticed a small pool of water that had gathered in a Small crevasse between the log and sand, so he turned, sticking in his feet and washing off the excess sand that stuck to his feet. afterward, he put his wet feet into his socks, which immediately soaked up the water, then stuck them in his new shoes. He didn't really mind them getting wet, he could dry them out later.

He stood, walking to his car and unlocking it. He leaned in, grabbing a towel that was folded on the back seat and setting it in the front set, so when he sat it wouldn't get the seat wet. He got in, flipping a few switches to allow coolant to his engine. He leaned over, unlocked the passenger door, then took the few papers from the seat and sat them in the back. His car was very clean, and he had one change of clothes in the back, which he would get in to when he got home.

He stuck the key in the ignition, and fired it up, the 750 horses screaming as life was given to them. He shifted to reverse, and backed out, then shifted to first and took off, shifting again the the appropriate times. He glanced to Valencia.

"So, Valencia, you go to school here? or do you just live in the area?" His tone was polite, trying his best to make small talk.

[Valencia Donahue]

((OOC: Naw, it's all good. At this point, there's extremely little for Valencia to really do.))

Valencia was a reasonably strange person when it came to drying herself off at the beach. She would of course pad herself dry with her towel, but she didn't bring an extra change of clothes. Because she'd typically stay at the beach until sundown, she would dry off within the confines of her warm towel while watching the sunset instead of changing into something else. Thus, why she was taking off her shorts and shirt and squeezing them like sponges with her towel draped over her shoulders, covering up her bathing suit-clad body. Unless it was necessary, Valencia was mostly conservative and her covering up her form showed that. She followed Damien to his car with her slowly drying apparel, walking barefoot in the sand and letting it stick to her ankles as it soaked up the moisture. Apparently, she came to the beach with no sandals.

I hope the place ain't “no shoes, no service”...

When Damien unlocked his car, she brushed most of the sand off of her feet and only let the persistent grains remain. As soon as she got into the car and Damien started up the engine, he asked more about her. Evidently, his attempt at small talk was a decent one. Valencia wasn't annoyed enough to ignore him so long as he was treating her.

“I recently graduated from Hircine High and I work there part time as an assistant at the library. I go to college. My schedule is flexible enough. I've lived in SanFran for as long as I can remember.”

Dude, how much does this guy care for his car...

[Damien Blaze]

Damien had watched as she climbed into his car, her wet clothes squeezing water out all over his seats. He sighed lightly, knowing there was no way to prevent it now, and he might as well be as comfortable as possible. Grabbing the towel under him, he pulled it out, tossing it in the back seat. He looked in his rear view. then back forward. He listened to her explanation. Short. sweet. simple. He smiled at this person he just happened to come across. Of all the beach goers, he had picked the one who was least likley to be his friend.

Oh, it wasnt anything she did, really, just a feeling he got. But that didnt mean it would keep him from trying. She seemed like the kind of person you really had to be around for a long time to get close to her. So Damien, who wasnt one to give up so easily, turned to her as he drove.

"Well, what about what you like to do? Anything interesting?"

He would try and keep the conversation light, doing his best to make her feel comfortable.

((i realize this is short, and doesnt leave much room for her to do much. My apologies for both))

[Valencia Donahue]

((OOC: ::fixes up some inconsistencies:: ))

As the ride continued, Valencia noticed that her clothes were still dripping. Although she squeezed out most of the water before entering the car and the only thing between Valencia and the seat was the towel she was wrapped in, there was no stopping water wherever it may be. And here she was, trying to stay warm and dry after the dip in the sea. What interrupted the Asian from her mildly annoyed thoughts were more inquiries about herself. Valencia kept quiet for a while as though carefully selecting her words... When she finally replied, her tone clearly implied that “If you're going to be a conversationalist, you might as well be a good one”.

“I like trying out new things. I don't have any particular hobbies so long as my activities hold my interest. It's getting harder to find worthwhile things to do nowadays.”

Valencia was being bluntly and plainly honest. She may find interest in the most mundane things when she's in the right mood, but lately... Well, for the past few years in all honesty, it was getting harder and harder for her to open up with to much for her to push away.