|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2016 3:05 pm
[2 Weeks, 6 Days After Stronger than You] Having spent the days after he had retired just driving from city to city and town to town, Zephyr was enjoying the freedom he had - all while still relatively hiding himself as he still had a warrant for his name and he knew that. Three days into being a retired mercenary, he was sent a text from his friend Alex who had told him that his ex-teammate, Zero - or Hexxis, was in the hospital with pretty serious injuries. Unable to find or contact Hexxis, he had wandered from town to town, making his way to Belosh as he had promised her thats where he would be if she needed to see him. Well, if she were still able to find a way to get to him, she was probably going to go there, right?
Or, that's what he was hoping.
Making his way into a small city about halfway to Belosh, he parked his motorcycle outside the sectioned-off area of downtown that seemed to be a little farmers market. Sliding his helmet off and pushing his messy hair out of his eyes, he put on a pair of sunglasses and kept the helmet tucked under his arm as he started to walk through the market, mildly curious, but also trying to keep his mind off of the fact that he couldn't get into contact with the woman he loved, and it was starting to put a decent amount of strain on him, more so as he had nothing to really distract himself now. No jobs, no person sharing his body and mind, nothing. He wasn't really even interested in his usual go-to when he was stressed as he was more interested in just being with her that he didn't really find it appealing.
Letting out a sigh, he took out his e-cig, deciding to be a slight gentleman as it was an outdoor market with a lot of little kids scurrying about, and turned it on. Putting it to his lips, he took in a deep breath and let it out slowly, the scent being that of vanilla sugar cookies.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2016 3:37 pm
Cordelia maneuvered the crowd with a fair amount of dexterity and grace, a woven tote bag in her hand as she was buy some food items and a number of alcoholic bottles for later. She was traveling alone since Andy would have a very difficult time walking in the market without the ability to see where she was going, and the fallen could still be recognized for having a bounty if someone really stared at her hard enough. Cordelia, however, didn't even have a warrant, so she usually did the shopping.
The two girls had only settled into El'mor within the past few days with Zaku's help, and were having a house warming party later that night. Well, it would be a party if there were other people invited, but for now it was just hanging out together and drinking.
She hadn't bothered to change her hairstyle today, sporting long pigtails as always. Although, her clothes were much more modest, wearing a tshirt and and a skirt that fell to her knees with ballet flat style shoes. She stopped at a stand that had different kinds of coffee and teas. Huh. She did remember they were low on both so she should likely pick up some as well. They would likely need it in the morning. She picked up two of the coffee bags and compared them, trying to decide which one to go with.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Broken_Illumination Captain
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2016 3:53 pm
Slowly making his way through the crowd, the demon had just kept his eyes just sort of going from stand to stand, though as someone was talking about coffee, only two stalls forward on the right, he started to pick up his pace. He hadn't had a cup of coffee yet today, and they usually tended to brew some in places like this. Once he got to the stall - not even fully paying attention to the woman with pigtails next to him - he looked to the person manning the stall and smiled, just holding his e-cig in his hand before turning it off so he could talk without it running out of battery.
"Hey, I was wondering how much a cup of this coffee right here would be?" he asked, pointing to one of the sealed bags that had a rather interesting and colorful design on the front, as if trying to depict what the coffee would taste like.
Looking over to the colorful stranger, the man at the stand smiled, "You sir, have good taste. It'll be 2$." he grinned wide.
Nodding, Zephyr dug through his pockets, though he paused when he realized all he had was a card on him, and spending 2$ on just a cup of coffee was clearly not allowed for card payments - as the sign behind the man read that you'd need a minimum of a 20$ transaction to use a card. Letting out a sigh, he glanced over to the woman next to him, his subconscious running over why she looked familiar, then looked back to the man. "How about - a cup of that coffee, and whatever this lovely lady here is going to be purchasing?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2016 6:52 pm
Cordelia really couldn't decide as she stared at both of the packages in her hands. She was so enthralled by the details of the coffee she had in her hands, she hadn't noticed the familiar voice speaking next to her. She was about to choose both when she realized she also needed tea as well, so she selected the one in her left had and reached over to pick up a tin a tea then blinked as she heard someone possibly talking about her.
Lovely lady? She looked over to him, a flush of color to her plastic-looking cheeks. "I.. what? You really don't have to.." she stammered slightly. Pausing for a second, she blinked and tilted her eyes slightly and narrowed her eyes with an analyzing expression. "..do I.. know you?.."
|
|
|
|
|
|
Broken_Illumination Captain
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2016 6:49 pm
Looking back as the woman spoke, he smiled a bit and stared for a moment, more so after she mentioned that they might have known each other. Taking a moment, Zephyr stared at her before it finally clicked. "Oh, oh... we do!" he smiled a bit then looked about, "I still want to pay for your stuff though - to make it up to me you could invite me over for the night perhaps?" he tilted his head, the offer being extended not one filled with his usual charismatic charm - either power or normal. He was in need of just being around someone who at least understood what was going on to some extent.
"It's been a little while, but I think it would be nice to just hang out with a friend, you know?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2016 7:12 pm
Cordelia blinked, then squinted her eyes slightly, dark skin, purple hair.. Her eyes suddenly lit up and she smiled. "Oh.. it's you.. Funny meeting you here!" she retorted before looking down to the things in her hands then to him. A curious look on her face before she started to laugh. "Sure! Andy and I were planning on having a house warming party tonight even though it's just me and her... I'm sure she wouldn't mind if you came over for the night. We could use the company." she offered with a smile and handed the man at the stand the items she had picked out to be purchased and bagged.
"I get ya. I also got some booze for tonight if you're up for it." she grinned with a chuckle. She had a feeling he might be a little down from what Zaku had relayed with her the last time they had spoken. About Hexxis and all. She wondered if he knew. Regardless, a night hanging out sounded nice.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Broken_Illumination Captain
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2016 7:44 pm
The man behind the table smiled and took the items to put into a bag, totaling up the entire amount on his phone, "Alright, the total plus your coffee comes to 22$." He stated before holding out his hand.
Zephyr handed over his card, allowing the man to swipe it before he was motioned to sign - which he did - and the man handed the bag over to Cordelia before starting on the cup of coffee. Turning to look to her while the man brewed his coffee, he smiled softly, a smile that was faintly showing just how exhausted he was, "That would be wonderful - I do need a break after.... everything." he let out a sigh, it now quite clear that he knew what had happened to Hexxis, or at least the bare minimum.
"It's always nice to have time alone, but sometimes just being with a friend can help you sort things out even more."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2016 8:10 pm
Cordelia took the bag and bowed her head to the man and looked to Zephyr with a smile. He was a lot nicer than the reports had garnered the first time they had met. In fact, there was a time, she was scared of him. A man working for Haven and so easily charming to get his way. She had labeled him a threat back then but over time, her view of him had changed. Especially with the way Zaku spoke of him. Who knew they would eventually consider each other friends. It was nice.
He appeared troubled and that was even more so a reason she wanted to help him. She motioned for him to follow her as that would conclude her shopping for later events. Leading him back to the house she resided in, she unlocked the door and enter. "Look who I ran into at the market!"
Andy was sitting on the couch listening to the television as Cordelia entered. Turning her attention in her general direction with a slight unamused look. "Is that.. supposed to be some kind of joke?" she asked, not sure if the comment had been made intentionally or by accident.
Cordelia laughed nervously. "Oh.. sorry.. I didn't mean it like that. Anyway, I found Zephyr at the market and he wants to hang out with us tonight." she explained and moved to go put things away in the kitchen.
Andy slowly came to a stand and moved toward the door. "I don't think we've ever met.. but I've heard a lot about you. I'm Andy." she greeted with a smile.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Broken_Illumination Captain
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2016 8:19 pm
Taking the coffee once it was made as well as getting his card back, he followed her through the crowd and back to the house that she had been sharing. Sipping on the delightfully warm and bitter beverage, he tilted his head a little bit when he was introduced to the - from what he could tell - the blind meta. "Well, it is a pleasure to meet you.I am curious as to what you've been told." Zephyr laughed a little bit before moved to sit down near Andy, but not too close as to not make her comfortable.
Sure, she was gorgeous, but he didn't want to make her uncomfortable, more so when he was unsure on what was said about him. Even if she had found any interest in him, he was more than likely not going to reciprocate. "But yeah, I was tired of being alone for nearly three weeks." he smiled a little bit as he looked down at his cup of coffee.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2016 8:42 pm
Andy laughed with him, a little flirtatiously even. His voice was nice. Really nice. "I hear you're surprisingly handsome, it's a shame I wasn't around when you showed your face around the renegades. But if your voice is any indicator, I believe every word of it." she smirked then felt him move closer as she moved to sit back down, although he sat a bit further. "Well, you're not alone now, so you're in the right place." she spoke softly, scooting a little closer.
Cordelia walked back in and quietly snorted on how fast Andy was moving in on Zephyr. If only she knew. Shrugging, she moved to them and set down one of the bottles of liquor on the coffee table, opening it up. "I feel like we should really mix this with something..." she spoke with a concerned look.
"It's up to you, you're a still life.. I didn't even know still life's could get drunk. But hey, whatever livens the party right?" Andy laughed and reached out for the bottle, having a bit of trouble locating right away but grabbed the bottle none the less, taking a swig then offering the bottle to Zephyr with a grin.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Broken_Illumination Captain
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2016 10:12 am
"Ah - I guess that's better than what everyone else seems to be told then." he laughs a bit, "Though you may not be able to see, it, you can always touch it." he offered, sipping his coffee a bit before Cordelia walked back in, setting his coffee on a nearby table he watched her set the bottles of liquor on the same table. "Well...depends on what all you have and what all you want to drink..as well as how drunk you possibly want to get." Zephyr smiled a little bit, leaning back into the couch and letting out a sigh.
He was still pretty distraught from the little news he was given, it being something that was clearly wearing him down. The news he got was just that Hexxis had been taken to a hospital and was wounded - and that was it. Nothing more, nothing less.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2016 10:42 am
Cordelia quirked an eyebrow. "Wait, wasn't your best friend a still life?" she asked as she noticed Zephyr didn't grab the bottle from Andy so she grabbed it from her and sat down on the floor next to the coffee table. Taking a swig with a grimace, she started coughing at the harsh burn of the alcohol in her throat. Did Andy really just drink this stuff straight like this? She had hoped to keep with Andy but that looked like it would prove a far more difficult task than she had anticipated.
"Well yes, but she never drank alcohol because her sibling shared her emotions and feelings. It made sense." she answered even if she was obviously focused on Zephyr, his laugh only making things a little more tempting. "Well if you don't mind me touching you... I prefer feeling over seeing anyway.." she spoke softly. She moved to actually straddle into his lap, facing him as she reached out to touch him. An amorous smile on her face as her hands pressed against his chest first before moving up to his face, her fingers searching for their target. "..piercings." her grin grew as she bit her lip.
Cordelia was watching quietly, Andy's actions being something of a wonder as she sort of felt embarrassed about it. While part of her wanted to watch more like an intrigued teen who had never seen two people be so close, the other half was getting too overwhelmed in her shyness. She looked away suddenly, a flush of color to her cheeks as she took another swig and coughed again. Oh right, it was alcohol.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Broken_Illumination Captain
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2016 10:55 am
It was clear that Zephyr wanted to enjoy his coffee before drinking some of the alcohol, though as Andy offered it he just sort of waved his hand mostly as a motion towards Cordelia that he wasn't interested in the alcohol just yet. As the blind meta focused on him while telling her small story, he looked a little startled as he was straddled and her hands started to wander around him. First on his chest, which was covered by a simple printed t-shirt, then onto his face, a small smile on his own lips as she mentioned his piercings. Waiting for the wandering fingers to go up higher, her closed his eyes.
"If you want to cut the burn of the alcohol, there's a variety of things you can mix it with. I have no idea what you have, let alone what flavors of alcohol you even have, but depending on that...you can make some interesting and fantastic flavors." Zephyr mentioned as he thought about the variety of drinks he had ended up partaking in while he was at bars.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2016 11:11 am
Andy could feel he wasn't protesting her touch. She slid a hand up to run gentle fingers through his hair as her other hand caressed down the side of his face.
Cordelia was staring again as she almost hadn't registered what Zephyr had said. She blinked and looked down at the bottle, "This is vodka.. The other bottle is whiskey." she answered, trying not to stare but was taking mental notes how they acted.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Broken_Illumination Captain
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2016 11:33 am
Nearly melting as the fingers ran through his hair, he let out a long, happy sigh, "Oooh man I forgot how good this feels.." Zephyr muttered, looking rather content at the playing of his hair, more content than he had been in days.
Taking a moment or two to snap out of the slight daze, he looked over to Cordelia, "Vodka can be mixed with a variety of additives, Whiskey...there's a couple of it, but I enjoy Vodka better."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
