|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2011 11:31 pm
It was nearing mid-day as Safiyah quickly trotted along one of the numerous walkways that connected many of the more motionless sections of Neim.
She had just purchased a small jar of a very strong-bonding and lightweight glue that was her favorite to use in her kite making. There were of course other types to choose from, but this particular one was made with a mixture of plant resins that didn't smell absolutely toxic. Rather, it had a subtle scent like that of freshly cut grass. And it wasn't cheap either.
Which was why she was particularly frantic at the moment. Shortly after exiting the shop she had had it stolen.
If someone were to ask her if she had been properly aware at the time, she would have sworn up and down that yes, of course she had been. Though, in sad reality she had been clear on the other side of Elore exploring the vast flower fields she had read and heard about. Or at least in her mind she had been.
Safiyah was a rather avid daydreamer. Which was fine when she was home alone, tending to her plants or sketching out kite designs, but as it was currently proving (as it often did) such a skill wasn't the best to have when out and about.
She had only caught a quick glance of the culprit as he or she rushed away with her small and precious package. When, or if, she ever caught up with them, she still wasn't quite sure what to do. Conflict and confrontation was almost a phobia for her, however in this case she just might-
!
Her sporadic train of thought was cut short as she rounded a corner and ran directly into another person. Being the smaller of the two she rebounded, and found herself sitting on the ground rubbing her nose while trying to focus through a rapidly spinning vision.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2011 11:58 pm
Matthew had slept rather late this day. This set him back quite a bit as he had some errands he wanted to run while he was staying in this city, but now he was over four hours behind schedule, and that was, frankly, just upsetting. He'd have to forgo the outfitting since he missed the appointment, and now he was going to be stuck in his home clothes, which just made him stand out like a sore thumb. Jeans weren't really the 'in thing' here, but no matter, he'd just have to apologize and set up another time. Not like the man could refuse, anyway. He'd already paid his fee.
Currently, he was headed to a bookshop that held a lot of art supplies since he was starting to run a bit short. On his way out the door, he had grabbed a bottle of some sort of fruity drink, though he really couldn't be too sure what it was. All he knew was that he liked it. He had just begun to drink when suddenly something - someone - came out of nowhere and ran dead-smack into his chest. He got the wind knocked out of him for a moment, but then, "s**t!" Matthew sputtered, nearly choking on the drink he'd been gulping down just seconds earlier. He coughed a few times before looking around in irritation, about to give someone lip. He asked of nobody in particular before finally turning his gaze down at the awkward and flustered looking girl below him.
He frowned and let out a heavy sigh as he bent forward a bit to offer his hand. "Oi! C'mon, chica, haven't got all day."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2011 3:46 pm
Staggering to her feet, still a bit dazed, Safiyah looked up at the man she had plowed into. With an small internal sigh she uncovered her nose from which a small drop of blood leaked and asked:
"Have you seen anyone run by here? They stole something from me." Peeking around the man she glanced about for any signs of the culprit. "They were shorter than I, so probably younger. Light colored hair..." She trailed off and looked back up into the others eyes.
At that point she realized she should be apologizing, as the collision was her fault. However she found herself locking up as she often did in social encounters. Particularly ones that could lead to any negative reactions. Instead, she simply stood there blushing darkly and not able to make eye contact anymore.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2011 4:22 pm
Matthew pressed his lips in the thin line, studying the girl in front of him for a bit. He noticed her nose was bleeding, and at that moment registered the dull ache in his chest from the impact. He scoffed, reaching into his pocket to pull out a rumpled napkin. Shrugging, he tried to flatten it out as he handed it to her. "Don't wantcha to get blood on your shirt." He explained quietly.
He turned and glanced behind himself and rolled his eyes. "Well, ya just 'bout described half the people here!" He paused and sighed again, assuming since she was rushing that the stolen thing was probably very important to her. Or expensive. Then against expensive things were important by default. He brought a hand up to his neck and worked out some kinks. "Sorry, doll, but I didn' see anyone. I do admit I wasn't payin' much attention in the first place, seeing how people always rushin' here 'n' there. But um,"
Matt stopped talking and tilted his head to the side. "What's wrong with ya? Why you all red in the face?" He put his hands on his hips and bent down a bit more to her level. He noticed she was averting her eyes, but people tended to do that around him for some reason. "Look, I'm not mad at'cha. I've had worse happen to me than bein' run into, I can assure you on that. Ha!" He chuckled for a moment, shaking his head and letting the grin fall from his lips. "How 'bout this. Since I'm already late today anyway, 'nother hour or so ain't gonna hurt. I'll help you find whatever it was that brat stole off ya, kay?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2011 6:19 pm
Even though she felt her face burning and ears ringing, she was still listening. Although, to understand, she found herself having to pick apart the stranger's words. She was used to the language used in writings for the most part. This man was speaking very casually and had a strange accent to boot, so most of what he said seemed to take a moment to sink in.
Blinking, she managed to swing her gaze back to his though only for a second before it slid away once more.
He had offered to help her. That was certainly something she hadn't expected. After thinking on it for a moment she came to the conclusion that it would be very helpful. What -would- she do if she caught the thief? Stammer at them to please return the item?
That would mean having to work with someone; a thing she wasn't accustomed to at all. But the pros outweighed the cons quite clearly.
"I would be very grateful." The statement was delivered without a stutter, but came out so lowly she was very near whispering.
Knotting her long sleeves between her hands, she glanced back around the man.
"We should hurry then. They were running quite fast."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2011 7:06 pm
Matthew grinned and gave her a thumbs-ups gesture that he quickly swung over his shoulder, pointing in the direction the thief had apparently gone. "How fast can you run?" he asked, assessing her footwear and frowning a bit. Though she had been going pretty fast when she ran into him earlier so it would probably be alright.
"Alrighty then," he started, leaning around the girl to set down his fruit drink on a nearby windowsill. "lead the way!" He smiled again and bent his knees, preparing for a nice chase.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2011 10:03 pm
Safiyah flushed deeper red as the man leant around her.
Clasping her hands together, she sputtered:
"N-not very vast.. a-at all."
Despite the confession she took a deep breath, squared her shoulders and started off at a brisk trot, trusting the man to follow.
They rounded a few corners and came upon a large shopping plaza. People milled about, talking, buying and eating. On the far side a small group of scruffy looking young people were gathered around a short, blond haired boy that tossed about a small jar. Everyone was laughing and a few patted the boy on the back.
"Eep!" Safiyah skidded to a halt covering her mouth, a look of horror in her wide eyes. Shakily she pointed at the group. "That's it! What was taken from me!"
Across the way, the boy was unstopping the jar and about to turn it upside down.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2011 4:32 pm
Matt grinned and followed her through the town. He didn't have to go very fast to keep pace, but he was still a bit out of breath when they stopped because he'd been pretty lazy about physical activity the last few months. There simply hadn't been enough time to put aside for working out between his job and his hobby.
Up ahead was a group of children who looked to be celebrating over something. There was a young boy with an object in his hands, and soon Matt's suspicious were confirmed when the girl pointed out the child and his ill gotten goods. Matt narrowed his eyes at the boy and put out a hand in front of the girl to halt her movements. "Stay here. I got this." he said, slowly making his way to the group. As he neared, he pretended to suddenly gain interest in their activity and grinned childishly and bent down to the kids.
A few of them, ratty looking and wide-eyed, back up a step, but the boy with the jar paused and quirked his head to the side. "What?" He asked, cradling the jar closer to himself and looking awfully suspicious.
Matt shook his head and make a tsk tsk sound. "You kids really shouldn't be playin' with that, y'know." he said, a warning in his voice. He started to back up, then the blonde boy took the bait.
"Why not?"
"Well," Matt started, sounding much like a parent lecturing their kids."do you even know what's inside of that thing?" He asked, pointing at the jar and leaning away from it like it might explode at any moment.
The boy looked a bit worried. "No? Why? What's in it?" He held it away from himself a bit now.
"Kid, if ya get summa that on you, it'll burn right through yer clothes and tear open your skin. If you survive the horrible pain, you'll have scars so terrible, no one is ever gonna want to play with you anymore." He paused to let the words take effect. Just when he thought the kid's eyes couldn't get any wider, he added, "It might even kill you."
Suddenly, the jar was thrust into Matt's arms and the kids still left, including the blonde, fled the scene. He could've laughed so hard he'd pass out, but instead went for the smirk this time as he walked back to the girl, jar in hand.
"Here ya go, m'lady." He said over-dramatically, bowing as he held out the undisturbed jar back to its rightful owner. After a beat, he asked "'The hell is that s**t anyway?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2011 6:10 pm
The entire time the man had been speaking with the group that held possession of her jar, Safiyah had been leaning this way and that, trying to get a better look at their interactions. Her eyes darted from the man to the boy that held the jar, back to the man, and then around at the others and back. She never liked to do conversing her self but she did certainly enjoy watching. Not to mention she was particularly interested in this one as her expensive glue was at stake.
She watched as the man spoke and the boy began to look more and more apprehensive until he finally shoved Safiyah's jar into the man's hands and ran.
Clapping her hands together once in happiness, she smiled wondering exactly what the man had said, though she could guess somewhat by the boys actions and reactions.
However, her smiled faded as the man came back to her.
Accepting the jar she found herself back in her heated cloud of nervousness. She clutched the item in her sleeve covered hands a bit shakily.
When asked what was in the jar, though as usual she had to pick apart his words to glean their true meaning, she replied quietly.
"Glue."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2011 2:55 pm
"What, seriously? Glue?" Matt asked, tilting his head to the side a bit and staring at the jar in the girl's arms curiously. "Well then..." He paused to look around himself now, his hand moving up to the back of his neck as if it was a nervous gesture. "Um. Whaddya need glue for anyway? And is it expensive here? Cuz that really blows if I break s**t." As he looked around, he realized they had chased the kid into the town square of sorts, and his eyes caught a sparkle from a vender nearby.
Before letting her respond to his questions, he slowly made his way to the stand, expecting the girl to follow him, but not too worried if she didn't.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2011 3:11 pm
"It's not difficult to get, though this one is expensive..." She swallowed hard and flushed a bit as he walked away. "And I make kites." Though he was far enough away and her voice low enough, she was pretty sure he hadn't heard her.
Saffiyah knew she owed the man -something- in gratitude, but she had spent all the money she had brought on the glue. And would he even accept money? Some people would get offended by such an offer. Was 'thank you' enough? Though she doubted she could deliver the line with the appropriate amount of gratitude. Should she offer him one of her kites? Their construction was rather high end and there for dictated a high selling price, but again would he be offended by such a material offering?
During this whole internal conversation she shifted nervously, glance darting about as she struggled to decide what to do.
Finally she made up her mind, turned and left.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2011 8:38 pm
Matthew scoffed and slammed his hand down on the wooden board that served as the vender's counter. A few trinkets bounced and made a high pitched noise and he grinned at the sound. "Look man, all this stuff here, it's way overpriced!" He picked up a little gold-gilded pocket watch and shoved it in the shopkeep's face. Either it was old, or made to look old, though it did have a nice charm about it. "The price for this thing is outrageous! I could getta pretty piece like this at t'mall back home an' it wouldn't even cost me halfa what'cher askin'! Seriously! When the man recoiled at his words, Matt placed the watch back down in its proper place and backed up a bit. "In any case, you'll never have any customers if ya keep overpricin' yer s**t." He rolled his eyes at the hurt look on the older man's face and turned around, bringing his hand up to give him a backwards wave of sorts as he left.
Matt quickly realized the girl had split. Well, this wouldn't do at all! Here he was, half a day left and nothing to do since he missed his first appointment and probably already missed out on going to the other places by now. It was starting to move on to night time. He advanced further into the town square, pushing people to the side and looking at their faces for any sign of the girl. Eventually, he caught sight of her walking slowly, holding the jar protectively in her arms. He really didn't mean for her to leave, as most of the time when he got distracted by something, the other people would just follow him. Though this girl was rather awkward, so she probably just assumed he had left her there. He frowned as he jogged a bit to catch up with her.
When he reached her, he barely touched her shoulder and said, sounding a bit hurt, "Hey! How come ya left? I was comin' back."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2011 12:34 am
Saffiyah continued on in her usual state of oblivion, heading for her house which wasn't too far.
As Matthew touched her arm she jumped so hard she practically tossed the jar that had been so carefully tucked in her arms.
With many gasps and jerking movements she fumbled with the object, trying to catch it. Eventually after a good few seconds of juggling it around she found herself on her knees clutching the jar tightly to her chest, panting from the shock.
She looked up at the man with wide, accusing eyes almost as if she thought he had planned to do that to her.
"You- Followed me." The words came out shakily and halfway between a statement and a question, she wasn't even sure herself which she had meant it to be.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 9:01 pm
"Well, duh," Matthew sighed, rolling his eyes. "You ran off!" He put his hands on his hips and leaned forward a little bit, looking at the girl curiously. "I figured ya'd follow me. I tend ta walk off a lot, I s'pose. Somethin' caught my eye at that man's shop...but he was overpriced, so whatever..." He caught himself rambling and stood up straight again. "Anyway, I guess I got used'ta my friends keepin' up when I dash off. Didn't think you'd go the other way, lil' Miss."
An awkward pause and the noise of a throat clearing later...
"Well uh, if you don't want me tagging along anymore...I can just, go back to my business." Matt looked to the side for a second, seeming rather forlorn. " I just like to have company, is all...so." He shrugged.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 9:23 pm
Saffiyah stood slowly, patting he behind clean with one hand, the glue in the other.
"I was going to come back. I wanted to retrieve something from my house and bring it to you.. as thanks.." As she spoke she got quieter and quieter, eyes down cast.
Fidgeting with the jar, she glanced up at the other.
"If you want.. f-follow me.."
Then she turned and continued towards where her house was, though she couldn't help but feel completely awkward. She had to constantly keep herself from looking over her shoulder to see if the man was following, if he was looking at her strangely, or any other insecurity that flitted through her fluttering mind.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
