[ With his few essentials (mostly weapons) slung in a shoulder bag, Hei drifts through the square, a ghost in the scenery, affecting cover for no reason. The traffic thrums and quivers like a leaping pulse. Pedestrians filter out toward the gates, empty-handed or hauling luggage, smiling or sad-eyed, hugging or murmuring to each other, music skirling in an eerie rise and fall in the background. He doesn't stop to analyze -- why waste time? -- but as he pushes through the crowd, senses assaulted by stimuli, he has to acknowledge a dull surprise at the fact that life is carrying on. Before him, his breath fogs in the dark chilly air. ]
[ A week ago, he would have decoded the City with each glance. A haze of maps and grids and data burning behind his eyes -- Shortcut through the street there; nice noodle stand at the left; that two-story house has been empty for five weeks; that woman there, very strange family history. But there's no need for that. Not anymore. The City is just a blurred multicolor wall topped by limitless dark sky. ]
[ Exhaling, Hei lifts his chin and cuts through the crowds, unseen. ]
Open;
[ A week ago, he would have decoded the City with each glance. A haze of maps and grids and data burning behind his eyes -- Shortcut through the street there; nice noodle stand at the left; that two-story house has been empty for five weeks; that woman there, very strange family history. But there's no need for that. Not anymore. The City is just a blurred multicolor wall topped by limitless dark sky. ]
[ Exhaling, Hei lifts his chin and cuts through the crowds, unseen. ]
[ He has a door to get to. ]