The park. On the other side, away from the equipment, the place filled with trees and perfect places for having picnics. A man clad in beige looks at his hands in wonder. His hands are perfectly normal, human hands. This is what surprises him so. How can this be? He removes his hood and runs a hand through his hair, his human hair. It was soft, silky, nice to the touch. Unbelievable.....
It was then that Zelgadiss realized where he was. He didn't know. All he knew was it wasn't the place he supposed to be. He was sitting on a bench, in a park. That in itself wasn't so bad. What disturbed him were the people, all dressed strangely, and the big things that moved loudly around the edges of the park. Not a horse in sight.
Instinctively, Zel searched for a familiar face in the crowd of people by the equipment. He thought he might have glimpsed a flash of mahogany wood and some purple hair, but dismissed the thought. Why would Xelloss be here and not Lina or Gourry or Amelia? Not really thinking, he walked toward the group of children and mothers, hoping to find out where he was. And extremely fat and angry lady walked up to him, red in the face.
"Sir," she huffed, "How dare you come near our children with that, that....thing!"
"Excuse me?"
"Imagine, with all the violence around these days! And you! A grown man, carrying around a sword - A REAL one, no less - as if you were a little boy playing Hired Mercenary!"
"Ma'am, I can assure you....."
"Don't you 'ma'am' me! I love my grandchildren more then anything in the world, and I'll be damned if anyone's a bad influence on them!"
"Ma'am, your causing a scene."
It was true, children and parents alike had gathered around, watching the confrontation between the strange, badly-clothed guy and the uppity grandmother.
"I don't give a damn if I'm causing a scene! Now get your sorry little rear-end away from these innocent children!" She pointed to the edge of the park. Zelgadiss could swear he could hear a familiar chuckle....
Not wanting to make even more trouble then he already had, Zelgadiss put his hands up in a defensive gesture and turned around, walking away from the fat cow and her little calves. He heard her call to him as he left, "May god have mercy on your surely damned soul! You will burn eternally for trying to corrupt our children!"
Zel met the dirt, "Oh brother....."