Running with the Shadows of the Night

[Ryn]

"That last one is when I just walk away. People don't like it."

[Katarina Kane]

"Well, no, they wouldn't, would they? It's dismissive."

[Ryn]

"They'd rather I lie or say something that makes no sense?" she asks, seeming genuinely confused. She's aware of it being rude (or generally not great) but she'd figured it the lesser of bad options.

[Katarina Kane]

"You could be honest and say you don't know what to say," Katarina pointed out.

[Ryn]

To Ryn that sounds an awful lot like admitting weakness. Not that it'd be wrong, in terms of conversation most people tend to have the upper hand on her. Which is precisely why she doesn't like that.

"Hrmm. Can I at least snarl at them when I do?"

[Katarina Kane]

"It depends on what you want them to think of you," Katarina laughed.

[Ryn]

"Most people? I'd want them to think that I want them to leave me alone with complicated human-words." she says. Then just in case she clarifies. "Because I do."

[Katarina Kane]

"And then, when you later need their help?" Katarina asked, raising an eyebrow.

[Ryn]

"I usually don't." Ryn shrugs a little. This whole being around people is new enough. The concept of relying on anybody is still pretty alien to her.

[Katarina Kane]

"Mmm," Katarina hummed, doubtfully. "Seems like a good way to leave yourself in trouble, if you burn all the bridges behind you."

[Ryn]

"Easier to watch your back." she jokes. Sort of. But even she recognizes that Katarina considers this important. "Trying not to."

[Katarina Kane]

"I just don't want you to end up alone," Katarina smiled, sadly.

[Ryn]

"I've been fine on my own for a long time. I prefer it." she says, then after a brief pause adds, "Mostly." If she was better with words she might be able to express her perceived difference between being alone and being lonely more clearly, instead she fumbles for words.

"I'm happy just being. I..." she frowns. She knows humans aren't like that and she's tried to explain it before, but she's beginning to think that maybe it's impossible. And that makes her sad somehow. "Sometimes I just watch the stars come and go and I'm as happy as seeing your eyes smile. Different-happy, but happy still. I don't have the clever-words for it."

[Katarina Kane]

"There's nothing wrong with enjoying being alone," Katarina smiled. "But you're here now. With people. And if you are going to be around people, you need to learn to play that game."

[Ryn]

"Seems more like it's for their benefit." she points out, vaguely amused. If she thinks about it as people being scared it sits a little better with her, even if the notion of actively taking steps to the contrary seems wrong. Still, doing something so fragile, little people can handle being in her presence doesn't sound completely horrible.

[Katarina Kane]

"Well, knowing you is a benefit," Katarina laughed.

[Ryn]

That has never been true before. But Ryn can tell Katarina isn't lieing.

"Most people would disagree." she grins. "Maybe they're all cowards."

[Katarina Kane]

"Well, you haven't brought most people popped corn," Katarina grinned back.

[Ryn]

"Because they are cowards." she nods. "And I believe you promised me a television-story in exchange."

[Katarina Kane]

"I did indeed. Sit down and get comfortable, and I'll see what I can dig up."

[Ryn]

'Comfortable' for Ryn apparently means perching on the edge of the couch on the balls of her feet, knees almost up against her chest and her hands loosely holding on to the edge. All silhouette is missing are some wings and she'd look like a gargoyle that got lost on it's way to the roof.

[Katarina Kane]

"Just don't fall off," Katarina laughed, putting in a tape and queuing the hip and modern synth soundtrack

[Ryn]

Ryn watches the opening sequence curiously.

"Oh! I get it. He's a skinwalker."

[Katarina Kane]

"A what?" Katarina asked, blinking.

[Ryn]

"Humans who bond with animal spirits. Or let them ride their flesh."

[Katarina Kane]

"Huh. I suppose that's right, though that's not how the show explained it. I think he has some kind of strange African technique or trained with Tibetan monks or...something."

[Ryn]

Ryn nods. It's vague but it makes sense to her. "Some humans haven't forgotten the old ways. I don't know if they would teach this man."

[Katarina Kane]

"Is that really something you can get taught though? I would think that would just be in your blood or something."

[Ryn]

Ryn shrugs slightly. "Maybe you can only learn if you have a gift to start. But humans are clever and wily."

[Katarina Kane]

"Those clever and wily humans must not have been writing this show,' Katarina pointed out, as the plot began.

The plot, such as it was, involved drama in the world of horse racing. Unlike the previous show they had watched, Katarina was in this one quite early -- she was playing a horse trainer. It seems that someone else had stolen a horse of hers from her ranch (?) and was using it to win horse races -- or so she claimed; the jockey in question denied any and all wrongdoing in the matter.

It sure was convenient that there were so many animal-related crimes when the Manimal was on the case.

[Ryn]

"They're upset that... the wrong person is doing the riding? Shouldn't a Skinwalker side with the horses."

[Katarina Kane]

"It was the theft, you see. My character had raised that horse from a foal on her ranch, and then the other guy, the baddie, he stole it and was using it to make money," Katarina explained.

[Ryn]

"Oh, you're on the horses side and he's helping you." she nods. "And he... can't tell if the 'baddie' is lieing..." It probably shouldn't shock her that a human would not know to take full advantage of his animal senses.

[Katarina Kane]

"I guess you could say my character is on the horse's 'side'," Katarina mused. "She mostly just wanted her horse back; there wasn't a lot of depth there. It isn't that kind of show."

[Ryn]

"It's better to want the horse than to win money." she breaks down the morality. "Even if going fast is all they really do."

[Katarina Kane]

"Possibly. The show just did it because I can ride a horse, and they had access to a horse, and it gave a little bit of variety in what they could have Michael turn into," Katarina laughed. "I doubt they thought any more about it than that."

[Ryn]

"There's a lot of things you can do. For a human." she teases.

[Katarina Kane]

That caught Katarina up a little short.

"I...trained in a number of things," she said, after a moment. "To be well-rounded, and everything."

[Ryn]

"It's good! People should know how to do more things. What else can you do?" she asks and shifts to turn a little more towards Katarina. Her attention from behind those glasses continues to be intense, for better or for worse.

[Katarina Kane]

"Well..." Katarina said, stalling. "You know I can drive, and I'm good at that. I got some training in that. And maintenance and repair. And I can ride horses well; I've done that since I was small."