Aria log

Entry 3

Well, the gem charging experiment was a success. Not quite more effort than it was worth, but I’d certainly rather earn them in the long run. Still, I managed enough charge to get a simple outfit more suited to my surroundings to better help blend in.

On that regard, I feel I hardly need to worry. Though the first day showed my wings wouldn’t cause me to stick out like a sore thumb a few more days showed me that I rarely even warranted a passing glance. I think my usual outfit actually got more looks than my physiology. On that note, the feeling of being watched has thankfully faded. Even though I’ve had feelings like that before, this was stronger, and it didn’t come from the general crowd. I’m glad it’s fading, as its insistence was rather unnerving.

There was only one other thing of note. Earlier today, I met a most peculiar individual. I’d sat down at a café with outdoor seating to get a bite to eat, presuming I’d be able to eat in solitary, when they sat down across the table from me. I was content to just stay quiet, and was surprised when he spoke. Even now though, I question if the person was a he. The voice had an odd quality that couldn’t really be pegged as either or, and its body didn’t offer much hint either. The chest seemed flat, but then it didn’t really look mammalian. Its body was smooth, with most the center mass a dark grey a few shades short of black, with a fair amount of its extremities being something of a cream or dark ivory in color. The head was kinda sorta canine, but not quite, topped with tall, angular ears. The clothes were also androgynous, giving no hints. Still, it just doesn’t feel right referring to someone as “it”, and my mind identified male first, so I’ll go with that.

He addressed himself as Theory, an odd name to me, but not the strangest I’d heard. I gave him my name to be polite, not really in the mood for conversation. He continued on as though he didn’t notice that I wasn’t really in the mood to get to know a stranger, and yet, I found myself replying. Thinking back, a few of his questions were perhaps a bit odd. Actually, I think he may have known that I was being evasive when he asked a few more personal questions. He wasn’t exactly forthcoming himself, but he seemed amicable.

I must have gone through two refills talking with him, about general things as well as questions to get to know each other better. I still don’t have a good idea as to who he was, but I recall I was a little edgy around him. Something just didn’t feel right about the whole thing, though I can’t put my finger on what. He excused himself once my food arrived, quite late in hindsight, but fresh on arrival. I had other things to do that day, but the more I think on it, the more I get the feeling that I missed something important.

Shortly after that “being watched” feeling faded, he showed up and tried to get to know me, then left just like that, like we were friends just catching up and happened to cross paths. Coincidence? I know my memories kinda funny, but I’m not apt to forget things in world, I think. Still don’t even know if I should keep my guard up or dig deeper should I encounter him again. Given the circumstances, I can’t imagine that was purely random.

Maybe I’m just imagining things. There’s a lot about this world I still don’t understand. Just need to remember to revisit these things once I have greater context.

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A sketch from my friend  negativeTHEORY of his focal character Theory meeting my prime character, Damian, early in the winged wolf's visitation of the reality of the Aerospace, Aria. Both seem to be not quite sure what to make of each other, neither threatened, but suspecting there's more to the other than meets the eye. This is unlikely to be their only encounter, and it's unclear how their relationship will evolve.

Theory belongs to  negativeTHEORY

Damian belongs to myself