Days Go On Forever :// ((OPEN))

[nina]

Dawn had quietly crept upon the sleeping city, casting away the stars and flooding the clear sky with blue. Only a few people stirred within the city, merchants preparing to open shop, sailors docking or leaving the port, innkeepers readying complementary breakfast for paying travelers, or simply those who rise early with the sun. Nina Foster was one of the latter, though not because she enjoyed the early wake up call. She’d sleep forever if she didn’t dream.

In a tiny loft above the city’s most secluded tavern, Nina’s sleep was far from restful. In her dreams, or rather, in her nightmares, the night of Cameron’s death replayed in her head like a bad sitcom, each installment more frightening than the last. She awoke in a cold sweat, and like she did every morning, she patiently awaited the moment when the dream finally faded into a lost memory. Within minutes, her breathing and heartbeat returned to normal, and the perspiration on her warm body evaporated into the air. By the time she pulled on her boots and breeches, she had no recollection of the nightmare. After a quick glance in the mirror and a tattered comb through her hair, Nina left the attic she now called home and made her way down to the main floor through a trap door in the center of her room and then down a narrow flight of stairs.

In the main dining area, her land lord Henry Colvin stood behind the bar slicing the morning delivery of oranges, limes, and lemons. He looked up as he heard Nina come down the stairs, giving her a grunt and a shrug good morning in the process. Henry was an old man of 72, quiet, mysterious, and secluded, much like Nina herself, which is why she liked him. He didn’t ask many questions and gave her a place to stay for cheap. They had an odd relationship, basically just staying out of each other’s way. They were not friends, hardly acquaintances, but maintained a basic understanding of each other’s personal space, privacy, and life. Henry threw her an orange as she left the tavern for the day.

The streets were still fairly quiet at the moment. Nina gave it about an hour before they were teeming with locals, traders, and tourists. The air was lightly scented with salt as the wind blew inland from the Yôsei Sea. Nina stripped the orange peel with her fingers, savoring the vitamin C as she ate her breakfast. She was heading toward the harbor where she made a daily sum of cash deterring thieves and other pests from antagonizing the fishermen and other traders. They seemed to be a growing nuisance in the recent days.

[»Kamui Syvil VII]

(Is it all right if I join with Kamui?)

[nina]

Course it is ^^

[»Kamui Syvil VII]

Though it was only a little past dawn, the ports and harbors of Idaitokai were already quite busy. People were unloading the morning catches of fishermen and others were transporting it of to the markets. Other types of cargo were being unloaded too, some of it also going to market and some it being transported to storage in warehouses. Some vessels were being prepped to embark, some had already set sail, and some were just arriving at port, while others still were undergoing repairs in the dry docks.
At the end of an unused pier was a figure in a long orange vest that hung down from the piling on top of which he was crouched, rather like a monkey. A furry tail poking from a hole in the back of the vest added to this image.
Near the piling, a small piglet was dozing. A white wolfdog sat nearby.
Kamui yawned, his tail sagging, and stared lazily out at the ocean, questioning why it was that he was up this early.

(Sorry if it's kinda bleh.)

[nina]

[[no worries ^^]]

The harbor itself was fairly active, incoming and outgoing vessels, sailors, traders, and vagrants making up most of the commotion. Nina tossed aside the orange peel, confident a bird or rat would come back to take up the remains. As she walked down the harbor, she searched the piers and the horizon for the vessels of her weekly employers; either the vessel Naomi, who normally carried some highly demanded merchandise, or The Sea Spirit, who was simply a fishing vessel, though one who seemed to carry the largest catch. She saw neither, and though she would normally search for some other means of income for the day, Nina found herself lethargic in the endeavor. She decided to wait and see if either one of her employers would dock later that afternoon, though it was unlikely.

As if she had anything else to do.

She made her way though the light crowed of people toward the end of the harbor. On the far side, most of the piers remained unused, stocked rather with crates and barrels of various content. Old netting and tarps covered a few of the pilings. On top of one in particular rested a figure clad in orange, and crouched like a primate. A tail, pointed ears, and a mass of orange hair added to his bestiality. As he was accompanied by a small, snoozing piglet and a white, furry canine, Nina found herself wondering if it was natural for so many different species to sit so casually together. It was almost comical to her, though she had no qualms with the scene by any means. The man – ? – yawned and sagged in his seat, looking about as bored as Nina felt.

Nina sauntered casually up the pier, absentmindedly wondering if the dog would pick up the scent of her canine blood. “Mornin’” she said. Hopefully he didn’t mind a little company. After all, Nina did enjoy a good conversation.

[»Kamui Syvil VII]

(Sorry, I forgot to mention that his rutsack is on the pier, slumped against the piling he's on, and his sheathed sword is also leaning against it.)

Yibbles continued to doze, but Sakurako looked up as Nina approached. The wolfdog's intelligent and icy eyes examined the woman. Her disdain for strangers was plainly evident.
Kamui didn't look up, but his nose twitched. He spoke aloud, mostly to himself. "Ohh? What's this now? ...An interestin' mix, that's for sure."
He then swiveled around on the piling to face Nina, the black chains binding the large cloth wrapped scythe-like object on his back rattling slightly. He grinned cheerily.
"Mornin'."

[nina]

Nina’s greeting was met with a mumbled reply she didn’t quite catch. Of course, the primate-man wasn’t far off base. As a human with a bit of Angelic blood and a dash of canine-demon blood, Nina did make for an interesting mix indeed, if not a seemingly dangerous one. Her bloodline was contradictory, crashing at every intersection of morality, philosophy, and reality, though balanced by her mere human nature, keeping everything in check. Nina wasn’t actually dangerous by any means. Quite the contrary, she was just as in control of herself as a monk, if not more so.

As she came to the end of the pier, Nina’s eyes met those of the wolfdog. They seemed to scrutinize her, analyze her movements, and determine her purpose. It was apparent that the canine didn’t like strangers much, or perhaps it was Nina she wasn’t fond of. It certainly wouldn’t be the first time. She knelt down a couple feet in front of the canine in order to bring herself down to eye level with her. She had to adjust her sword as she did so, eventually settling on her haunches.

With a rough swivel and a rattling of a chain came the man’s cheery good morning. Nina smiled in reply, though her eyes were still fixed on the wolfdog’s.

“She’s quite a lovely creature,” Nina said to the man. “Protective of you it seems.”

“I come in peace, pretty lady,” she chuckled.

[»Kamui Syvil VII]

"Oh, yes. Quite lovely." Kamui said, tilting his head and watching Nina interact with Sakurako. "You'll hafta excuse her though. Sakurako's not very trustin' of strangers, 'specially other females."
Sakurako met Nina's eyes, her wary expression unchanging.
"Yibbles on the other hand..." Kamui looked down at the dozing piglet, "Well, if he's awake, he'll come right up to just about anyone."

[nina]

Nina’s reassurance towards Sakurako went overlooked by the wolfdog, no flicker of acceptance, no glimmer of content, passed over her features. Nina broke eye contact with the wolfdog to look at the sleeping piglet when his named was mentioned. Yibbles neither awoke nor stirred at the sound of his name, oblivious to his surroundings, lost in a peaceful slumber. Nina found herself wishing she could sleep so soundly; Alas, she was plagued by nightmares in her would-be slumber.

Nina looked up at the monkey-man, taking in his facial features for the first time. He had one green eye, one orange like his untamable hair, a scar across his cheek, and pointed, pierced ears. It was obvious he had the blood of a demon flowing through his veins, though much more concentrated that Nina’s. While her physical appearance was very much human, without the slightest hint at her demonic (or even her angelic) origins, his gave away his heritage at the first glance.

“So what about you?” she asked him after a few seconds. “Are you trusting of strangers?”

“Females?” she added humorously.[/size][/font]

[»Kamui Syvil VII]

"Hmm." He smiled a bit. "I usually give people the benefit of the doubt. 'Specially pretty ladies."
From the piling, he extended a hand.
"I'm Sy."

(My post is bleh... Sorry.
I wasn't sure about the "“Females?” she added humorously." bit. Was she asking about Sakurako or him?)