Topic: Absolution

Lydia Loran

Date: 2007-02-04 00:12 EST
It. Was. Cold.

Really, the silly green haired elf shouldn't be out, not now, not so late at night, or early in the morning if one wants to be technical. And of all places to be.. WestEnd? She should know better. She does know better! She had no business being here, she never did, and yet... here she was. Though maybe she did have reasons, even if she didn't quite know them or understand them. Silly reasons, silly worries...

Lydia exhaled sharply, her breath visible in the cold winter air. She moved quickly down the streets, steps were light as she passed alleys, and above all else, she was rather alert. Maybe overly so. Any sound she heard or thought she heard startled her. Any movement of shadow or light had her snapping her gaze that way to see...nothing. She slumped a bit, but kept moving along. Standing still for too long probably wouldn't be the best thing to do.

Clank!

Pale blue eyes took on their glow immediately as she shrieked at the sudden sound. It had come from the alley just ahead and to the right. Biting her lip, she took a cautious step foward, peering over, hand lifting a bit, ready to strike...

...then a grey blur shot out of the alley. A little grey cat had knocked over a garbage can lid searching for scraps most likely.

Lydia relaxed a bit as she sighed, the glow of her eyes fading as her gaze moved to follow the ball of fluff. She frowned faintly, rather tempted to go after it, capture it, maybe even bring it home. But it was moving so fast, really, it was already gone. Her frown deepened a bit more before she continued to walk. Seeing that cat had reminded her of her own little white fluffball, Mellon. She felt she had been neglecting him lately. He stayed in one of her two rooms at the inn, and with her working so much or staying at Grem's, she didn't see much of him unless she was dropping by to feed or water him, or take care of his litter box. She remembered that he seemed happy that time Erin brought her own kitten over, and he played with her... perhaps asking Erin if he could stay at her place for a while would be a good idea? She'd still see him, but he'd have a playmate.

It had also occured to her she could ask Grem if she could bring Mellon to his apartment to stay there sometimes. Maybe with more exposure, Mellon would actually like Grem? That... or she'd need to get some more band-aids. ...Or he'd just say no. There really was only one way to find out though.

There was a brief falter in her steps as she thought she heard...

...laughter?

Brows furrowed a bit as she lifted her head, the sounds of, yes, laughter snapping her from her thoughts. Steps were quieter than usual as she approached a nearby building, close to where she heard it from. Hand rested against the wall as she leaned foward, peeking around the corner. Eyes widened a touch at the sight. It looked to be two kids (they couldn't have been more than sixteen, maybe seventeen) laughing, snickering, amused... at what? That fallen figure at their feet, struggling to stand. The figure managed to move to hands and knees, but simply buckled again when one of those kids kicked them in the side.

"Stop that!"

The words escaped Lydia without thought as she stepped forward from her hiding spot, fists clenched at her sides. The two kids didn't seem to be phased though. Kids they were yeah, but they were also bigger, taller, stronger... and one seemed to be packing a steel bar of sorts for a weapon. The one with the bar took a few steps foward, chin up, brazen as steel smacked against the palm of his other hand. It was obvious he was trying to intimidate, and it worked at first. Lydia recoiled from him, just a little, before her eyes took on that familiar white glow.

"What the f-"

"Molito!"

Sparks erupted violently through the air, blooming and sparkling outwards from seemingly nowhere. Intimidation tactics of her own, this was really just a show. If her intentions were to harm anyone, she'd have used fire. Those sparks weren't aimed for the kids, but the direction was pretty random, so if a spark or three did accidently touch them...

"Ow!"

Steel clattered as it hit the ground before those kids took off. After all, they were just kids, and were humans with no power of their own like that. They didn't want to take their chances with the weird green haired girl with the glowing eyes and pointy ears.

Only when they were out of sight did her eyes revert back to their normal pale blue and her stance seemed a touch more relaxed. Attention turned back to the fallen figure before she moved that way, concert writ across her features. As she approached the figure became clearer. It was an elderly man, though his hair, beard, and moustache, which were all on the long side, were more blond than grey, contrasting with his deep set grey eyes, and the river-like wrinkles on his face. Clothing was old and worn, cheeks were gaunt... he looked like he could use a good meal, some clothes... a home.

"Are you alright?" Lydia kneeled down close to him, reaching out to help him up. Though she blinked a bit in suprised when he pulled away, casting an angry look towards her.

"Get offa me!"

Lydia Loran

Date: 2007-02-04 03:09 EST
Blink.

"Don't lookit me like that!" The man furrowed his brows a bit, scowling at Lydia. "What, you want a 'thank you'? A medal? Reward?" Teeth grit together as he winced, a hand moving to his ribs as he scrambled to push himself to his feet. Once again, Lydia reached out to help him, but he used his other hand to 'shoo' her away before standing up, muttering a bit under his breath. "Frikken girl scout..."

Concern faded away into confusion. He seemed to be... okay, right? A little hurt, but he could move, stand, didn't seem to be in agony. Lydia stood and straightened, watching him warily. "You're.. okay?"

"I'm great. Really." Dryly spoken as he squinted at her. "Just got the shit beat out of me and you ask if I'm okay. You're a girl scout and a genius..." He shook his head as he spoke, lowering his head as a palm was pressed to his forehead. "Really, I'm fine." He straightened somewhat, hand falling away from forehead and to his ribs as he cast grey eyes to the green haired elf. "Just a little beat up."

"Oh... well... do you need..." She trailed off a bit as her gaze drifted over him. She was a bit uncertain how to finish her question.

"Do I need...what?" Dry tone makes another come back.

"...anything?"

"Good lord..." A roll of his eyes before he leaned forward, grey eyes locking with her pale blue. "No."

Lydia frowned faintly, gaze lowering somewhat and away from his. She parted her lips to say something, but there wasn't really anything to say was there? A glint of something around his neck did happen to catch her attention. A cant of her head as she studied-

"What?" He glowered a bit at Lydia, grey eyes narrowing a touch.

She blinked a bit before lifting her gaze, though not much. He couldn't have been more than five inches taller than her. Maybe six if he straighted a little more... "Nothing." She shook her head. "I just noticed you were wearing a..." She trailed off, gaze lowering as she raised a hand to her own scarf covered neck.

A silvery blond brow arched as he leaned back, hand going up towards the rusty, coppery cross around his neck almost protectively, defensively. "Oh yeah? What would a pointy eared-" Gaze flickering rather deliberately over Lydia's pointed ears for a brief moment before they found her eyes. "-like you know about a cross?"

It was her turn to be defensive now. Arms folded in front of her chest as she tilted her chin up ever so slightly. "I know plenty..." Her tone didn't quite match the almost indignant posture.

The second silvery blond brow lifted to meet the first. "Do go on." Drily.

She bit at her lip. She didn't have to explain herself to this man. This very rude man... she saved him, he should be nicer, right? Just a little bit? He must have sensed her hesitation too, because his look was oh so very smug then. Seeing it made her frown. She felt angry. She didn't know exactly why. She just... did. The only thing she could come up with regarding that cross, was what Erin had once told her. "A man.. I think his name was Jesus.." Her gaze lowered briefly to think, then she nodded a little, gaze lifting once again as she spoke. "He had to carry one. He was alone too.. and people were shouting at him and throwing things at him, and just.. being awful to him. But one person came forward to help him carry it." Pausing, considering. "It's like.. a symbol. It's what friends do. Help shoulder each other's crosses.. burdens." Feet shuffled oh so faintly.

The man's brows lowered a touch as grey eyes... softened? "Not the worst interpretation I've heard." A grin then, seemingly good natured. "But not the best either." He turned and leaned down, grunting a bit as a hand rested on his ribs, the other grabbing a bag that was laying on the ground. As he straightened, he turned back towards Lydia and slung the bag over his shoulder. "What's yer name?"

Expression and stance relaxed a bit, shoulders lowered as her arms uncrossed and fell to her sides. "Lydia."

"Lydia." A simple nod. "Nice name. I'm Mason." He gestured for her to follow as he turned and started down the street.

"Walk with me."

Lydia Loran

Date: 2007-02-06 02:22 EST
When a stranger tells you to walk with them, to a location you are unfamiliar with, in an area of town that is unfamiliar but you know to be dangerous, you do not walk with them.

Yet here Lydia was, walking with Mason.

He shifted his bag from one arm to the other, walk favoring right side a little more. Minor injuries from the previous attack most likely. He glanced over his shoulder, snorting at Lydia who was a few steps behind him. "You've got to be at least thirty years younger than me, yet you walk like you're thirty years older. Pick up the pace girl scout."

She frowned a bit at the nick name, since she had no idea what a 'girl scout' was, before picking up her pace so she was walking next to Mason, rather than behind.

"You can't be walking slow in places like this. People prey on you if you seem like an easy target."

Considering that he was the one that was just attacked, and not her, and the fact that he was the one lecturing her... brows lifted a bit at that.

An easy grin. "I'm old. What's yer excuse?"

Lydia snorted faintly in response, but a smile soon followed. She eyed the bag he was carrying a moment. "Do you need me to-"

"No."

"Oh... well I just thought-"

"No."

"Alright, I'm so-"

"No."

Her brows crinkled a bit. This was exasperating. "I was just going to-"

Mason stopped suddenly, placing palm to forehead again for a moment before casting a pointed look to the green haired elf. "No. No apologies, no offering to help if I don't need it."

Pale blues narrowed a touch. "I'm only trying to help."

"Why?" Lydia looked a bit confused at the question, but before she had a chance to offer a reply of any kind, Mason simply grinned, and started walking again. "How long have you lived here?"

The sudden change of topic had only made her expression of confusion a bit stronger, though when he was a few paces ahead, it faded as she walked to catch up. "Quite a few months now..."

"Really?" He looked genuinely suprised, those silvery blond brows lifting a bit. "I guess I shouldn't be suprised, not many seem to be from here, and many that are probably leave, while others get forced here."

"I... wasn't forced here."

"You honestly telling me that you came here of your own free will, then chose to stay?"

"..yeah." Lydia nodded, a bit hesitantly. "There are worse places out there."

Mason's pace slowed somewhat, the look on his face a bit thoughtful. "I suppose you'd be right... there's always worse." A grin. "There's always better though."

"Maybe, but I'm rather... content... here." Arms crossed in front of her as she eyed him, almost warily. He didn't seem to notice it though, that, or he just ignored it.

"I guess you would be." He looked her over, clothing and dress, not the form. "You're dressed nice... probably have some money... a home... what are you doing out so late? In a place like this?"

"I..I don't know." Pause. "Why do you want to know?"

He shrugged. "I'm just trying to make small talk 'til I get home. It's close." He lifted a hand to point ahead and around a corner. "What do you do then? Are you some sorta.. magical demi-god?" In a place like Rhydin... who knows?

"I make clothes." She eyed Mason a moment before sighing faintly. "Me and my sister are about to open up a store..."

"Oh, well that's nice." He smiled and nodded. "I don't meet enough people like you that actually takes time to do something productive."

Brows furrowed quizzically. "...people like m-"

"Home sweet home!" Mason broke into a cheshire grin as they approached the corner of a building. Didn't seem to have an entrance either.. but wait! The old man leaned down and slid a board to the side, revealing a small opening in the side of the building. "Ladies first."

This is where the green haired elf drew the line. Really, she wasn't quite that daft. A faint smile as she eyed the hole, then Mason. "I should actually be getting home myself... it's pretty late." And if she wanted to get there before Grem did...

He chuckled a bit. "Good, the girl scout has smarts." Nodding. "You be careful finding your way back home Lydia."

"Yeah.. you be careful too Mason."

The man offered the green haired elf a nod before ducking down into that opening, letting the board slide back in place and he was gone. Lydia pursed her lips in thought for a moment before glancing around, then started down the road quickly, trying to keep alert, be aware...

...though part of her wondered what a 'girl scout' was.