@albaitross &&. SAID... Red eyes stare at Abbel from a comfortable distance away - watchful, cataloging, thinking. The staring only stops when the woman lets her hand fall from her chin, apparently done with her thinking session, and approaches with little regard for anything else.
"—Compared to the rest of this place, you seem like its anti-thesis, o' stranger." A small smile; it's a bad attempt at seeming gentle and affable, in that it's clearly not trying to be anything so demure. "But you're not actually a stranger, are you? Not to this place. Oh, but I probably sound like a stranger myself! Do you want a name from me then? Something else? Knowledge? Memory? A heart? Maybe even a god's soul?"
Her red eyes shine bemusedly; it seems like she's at least half aware that she sounds at least a little ludicrous. "Hm hmm, you'll have to excuse my curiosity, if it sounds excessive. I'm a tourist on vacation, you see. Been sightseeing for the past few days - interesting place, this city."
the river flows ceaselessly, churning waves of lavender and froth that stretch from one end of the horizon to the other. the water glows ever so slightly, lit from within by an unearthly bioluminescence. it isn't uncommon to see humans clustering on the riverbank; couples with intertwined hands, attempting to maintain some semblance of normalcy. lonely souls quietly trying to assemble the courage to swim the styx themselves — most scurrying away like frightened mice the moment its chilled water touches flesh. some claim to see faces in the river's foam; rough approximations of human forms, their bodies twisted to nightmarish proportions by the waves. abbel personally believes such visions to be the result of overactive imaginations running wild. ( it holds no bearing on them either way. )
they're gazing down at the river from an embankment when she speaks, their hands resting lightly on the railing. abbel's head swivels; they greet the stranger with a slow ( vaguely feline ) blink. ❝ its antithesis? ❞ they echo, as if trying to get a feel for how the word weighs on their tongue. ❝ interesting; i don't believe i've ever heard myself described in such terms before. ❞ although, that doesn't mean her observation is devoid of any merit — whether made in jest or otherwise. styx is a flashy eyesore of bright colors; a skyline of neon lights set upon a backdrop of eternal night. abbel, adorned in pale hues to match their placid nature, sticks out like a sore thumb. it wasn't always this way — or so they've been told. luminaries are a dying breed; as styx grows increasingly colorful and opulent, they grow rarer by the day.
❝ it's illegal to take the soul of someone who isn't a city resident. ❞ the alichino heir continues, turning to face her fully. ❝ although, your name would be nice — i'd like to know what to call the person i'm speaking with. it's only common courtesy. ❞ the corners of their mouth twitch; a flicker of a wry smile before their countenance returns to its usual neutrality.
❝ if you wouldn't mind, i'd also be interested in hearing about your stay. ❞ an impromptu survey of sorts. ❝ i have a personal obligation to ensure the citizens of styx are able to live comfortable afterlives. ❞ one is less inclined to leave a gilded cage if it shines brightly enough … and the longer the humans remain in styx, the higher the likelihood they are to sell their souls to the malebranche. providing the metaphorical bread and circuses works to their advantage — it's why there's such a notable lack of fire and brimstone despite the locale. ❝ please don't feel obligated to hold your tongue for my sake; i'm interested in your honest opinion, for better and especially for worse. ❞
