°˖✧ { ʟɪʟɪᴛʜ } ✧˖° (replies) – Page 4

MAU.

“ … straight to the point , huh ? “ she let go , busying her hands with far more important things ; like straightening the wrinkles the wind had blown into her dress , and patting down the wild curls of her hair . her mouth had screwed into a pout , and after she was done looking tidy in that mediocre way of her’s , she opted for a more beneficial method of conversation .

“ but … no . how about this ? we’ll do a question exchange ! you get to ask something , and i’ll get to ask something in return . you already went first , so— mau . i’m mau . who’re you ? “

_{———❝ YOU ARE AWFULLY CHEEKY FOR SOMEONE WHO JUST SAW A DEAD BODY. but you’re right, mau, i’ve been awfully unfair in this exchange. ❞
the man shifted a bit, beginning to herd them both toward a safer area where they wouldn’t be questioned. it was almost comedic, the fireman saving the girl from a tree.}

_{❝ my name is elliot. is there anything else you’d like to know? ❞}

WHITTAKER.

elliot’s reply caused him to chuckle. he leaned back into the chair and traced the tip of his finger around the rim of the mug. ❛ hah, sounds like you had fun then. ❜ he haphazardly ran a hand through his hair. ❛ i wish i could travel like you do. seeing the rest of the world sounds like a dream. ❜ he may have had all the time in the world to travel, but certainly not the money.

❛ i’m sure i can say you had a better time than i’m having. i hate staying inside all day. ❜ it sometimes felt like the only traveling he did was sitting on a plane for a few hours; for the rest of the time he was stuck inside, often without being able to go out and sightsee ( even after so many years, he hated being trapped indoors. it conflicted with his upbringing. ). ❛ if i can, i’ll make time to get away. what should i do while i’m here this time ? ❜

_{———THERE WAS A PAUSE FOLLOWING HIS THOUGHT. their truth in the immortal game was simple ; where some counted vast riches, others depended on the occupations that came to them. elliot was not proud of his job, the job that sustained him, yet it went without saying that he could live life comfortably on the few hours he put into it. smiling, the man turned his cup and placed it down on the knit coaster beside whittaker.}

_{❝ i’d like to show you around, if you’d let me?}

❞

he lifted to take what of whittaker’s the other had packed, gesturing towards the backrooms of the flat.

❝

maybe i’ll be able to convince you to join me on an otherworldly adventure in the future ; for now, staycations seem safe enough? ❞

VISITOR.

@faustium liked for a STARTER.

She should have known better to wander at this time of the
night, but her sheer wanderlust – especially when it came to
being in a new place – got the best of her. The desire to come
to understand her oriental roots, being birthed from a German
mother, forced her to travel to such a gracious country.

“ And here I thought I’d feel safer walking around at night
compared to home… Turns out it’s just the same… ” Perhaps if
you had not chosen to be out at such an abnormal hour.

_{———HE’D WATCHED THE MAN TAIL HER SINCE WELL BEFORE HE WOULD HAVE CONSIDERED IT COINCIDENCE. parking his bike beneath the underpass of a connecting road, the man kept his helmet on as he watched the pursuit closely. most nights, people were not so fortunate to have him looking out for them; the level of crime against visitors was on the rise. pacing himself as to not give away his presence, the man listened in as his prey closed in on the woman. this would not end with a kill, he knew it.}

_{before knife was even brandished, kaufman sprung and grappled the would-be mugger in his arms. holding him like that as he thrashed and struggled, the man counted slowly towards two hundred. then and there, he rested the attacker on his back.}

❝ the emergency number is 112. call it. ❞

BOOKSELLER.

^{‘ — Ah. I think they’re leftover from the original store owner. His tastes were very … eclectic, to say the least. You’re probably the only person beside him that’s had an eye for it. I’m almost tempted to give it away just to free up space on the shelves. ‘}

^{Words spilled out before thought could be put into them and the next moment he was ducked around the other side of the shelf. Not that he needed to hide, or anything – but he could feel himself speaking too fast and hovering too close. Part of him worried it was noticeable to the other man scanning pages of foreign text. Though he brought the conversation up and approached he found that it was harder to keep an even expression.}

^{‘ Oh – you know … I close the shop around six so, maybe seven or eight? ‘}

_{———THE MAN SMILED AT THE NOTION OF A FREE SET FROM HIS FAVORITE WRITER, but instead placed the book back into its sleeve beside the others in the collection. plucking the set from the shelf, he made somewhat of a gag hauling it over to the counter where the owner no longer waited, turning to give the man a smile.}

_{❝ that’s not necessary, i’d like to make a purchase. ❞
he knew exactly what it was like owning a storefront at the man’s age and experience. it was no laughing matter, hard hours and little pay off aside from meeting new people. eventually, the requirements of his curse turned into more of a job than a hobby, and vice versa for his profession.}

❝ consider it fate… i’m probably the only person within a hundred miles who would be interested enough in buying it. ❞
he plucked a pen from the counter top, scribbling down his name and number on the back of a card, and wedging it between two crisp fifty dollar bills. he considered that some incentive to pick a nice venue.

TIKI.

tiki didn’t pay much attention to the house, he never observed details too well. but the very back of his brain told him that it was better than the current denizen he’s living at… illicitly. but he wasn’t focused on living matters, he was more fascinated with the glass of water. he took the glass into his large hands with reluctance. did he hate water? no. but it was all he drank at the laboratory. once he was liberated, he discovered soda and grew a preference for the beverage.

nonetheless, he still took the glass’ rim to his rosy lips and sipped on it. ❝ thank you, ❞ was said after pulling the glass away from his mouth. the laboratory taught him many things, such as being polite and always thankful for any good deed. ❝ delighted to… make your acquaintance, elliot… elliot, ❞ he repeated the name. he found the name to be pleasant on the tongue. ❝ that’s a… beautiful name,

❞ he added.

not many people asked him about his religion, he assumed that nobody cared about the subject anymore. but tiki didn’t mind being asked, he wasn’t ashamed of it. to begin his answer, he revealed a cross necklace that hid under his shirt. ❝ oh yeah, i think… i’m a christian. i love god and jesus and mary and joseph… and the whole lot. i go to church… every sunday… when i remember. ❞

_{———A SMILE GRACED HIS FACE AT THE COMPLIMENT. he wasn’t used to the sort of politeness that came in situations like this. too many questions, too much confusion ; when it came to conversations like these, many young people were quick to display their emotions in a negative space. tiki felt almost… reticent.}

_{❝ i used to be a bit more religious myself, but i still practice to a degree. ❞
he wondered if the young man had ever met anyone who wasn’t christian. a town like this did not offer much in the way of selection, yet that wasn’t exactly something he considered heinous for the size of the place. usually, he would have liked to separate religion from the matter, but it was hard to know what the kid would believe.}

❝ i ask, because i was not born with my abilities. ❞
from what he could tell, this wasn’t nearly as arcane of a union as elliot’s own situation. there needed to be a bridge he could work with, and religion seemed to be just that.

❝ do you believe in demons, tiki? ❞

MAGUIRE.

_{“Everyone’s got a signature mate, some are just more obvious than others. And some are just better at spotting them I suppose.” zhey chuckled then, though the smile didn’t quite breach into emerald eyes. So, he could sense the supernatural as well? Zhe wondered if even now, zhey gave off a signature of sorts, though it might be altered now given the current situation.}

_{“For the meantime, you can call me Maguire; Brendon Maguire of Belfast at your service.” zhey gave a small bow with the introduction, it’s been a long time since zhey had to use ‘Brendon’ as a cover name. “And I’m sure you’re right sir Elliot, but the numbers don’t always speak for themselves.” zhey sent a wink for clarification.}

_{“I think that is good of you to do so, too many times have the two clashed and behind an ocean of blood in its wake.” eyes darkened with memory, the scars coating the entirety of zheir legs tingling with the phantom ghost flames of the past. “But, I must ask what the source of your magic might be? It’s one I’m not overly familiar with.”}

_{———❝ NAME SURE PACKS A PUNCH? elliot kaufman, berlin native. ❞
he wondered on that, the power of a name. elliot grew up in weimar, a city in the southern portion of germany. only after his mother had passed, had he forsaken the municipality and entered the bustling movement that came with berlin life. strange how some things never changed. cities remained as they were, growing at a rate so relative to their surroundings.}

_{he offered his hand, emerald eyes steady as he shook maguire’s own. there was a small jolt of energy through the leather buffer of his black gloves, something he supposed might happen when two magic users grew in proximity. he’d always been able to sense the arcane, like an amputee swearing his phantom limb would ache when rain was near. instead of a limb, it was the scar tissue on the back of his neck.}

❝ i could say demons, but that would be a vast oversimplification, maguire. ❞
a smile dusted over a rather neutral expression. not everyone liked the sound of demonic intervention. certainly, the idea of selling one’s soul only to be fooled out of longevity had been the center of many famous works. faust himself could not attain satisfaction before his end of the deal was up.

❝ something older than demons, i think… a primordial god, of sorts. infernal still, but not of the same selfish intentions. my demon is one who seeks justice. ❞

QUID PRO QUO.

There is an air about the stranger that seems to mirror Anton’s own foreignness: a suggestion that they’re both outlanders walking unwelcoming terrain. Even out here, where the scorched earth accepts no one, they still exist in that quiet, airless space that exposes one loner to another. He doesn’t mind. In a way, he almost finds a certain understanding in him for the man’s self-contained complacency that makes the diner guests take the longer route just to avoid passing their table.

Anton’s wary gaze goes from the starved curl of that mouth to the now emptied cup of coffee, to the brown stain smudged across the rim. One of his hands drops almost listlessly on the bulge that’s visible under his jacket — not quite reaching for the metal weight that lies beneath the well-worn leather, just resting there for the time being. There are certain types of magnanimity he doesn’t have any need for.

“ What kinda favour would that be? ”

_{———❝ CAN I ORDER ANYTHING ELSE FOR YOU? a drink maybe? ❞
he finished his coffee, wiping his face with a checkered serviette as a waitress sneaked by to take the empty mug. crumpling the thin napkin, the man turned to face his newest acquaintance. green eyes settled into the dim lighting, in them the sort of glint that looked akin to a genuine smile, but only unsettled the stomach.}

_{❝ if not, then i’d like to speak with you in private. ❞
places like these were safer than others. public and enclosed, the diner set the stage for a rather claustrophobic assembly. he’d considered leaving his gun behind, a thought which did not last long knowing the game they played. there were measures to be had and safeguards to be kept. still, a risk or two could be taken in other ways. leaving the safety of a nest did not dull the eagle’s talons.}

ROOKIE.

@faustium liked this to get a starter!

Dodger grinned to himself, eyes closed as he enjoyed the sunlight. Funny thing ‘bout coffee shops–no one figured they was anything ‘sides what they was. And certainly, not much to go a’wondering ‘bout in a coffee shop. Another thing ‘bout coffee shops worth h’appreciating was the chatter. Folks near was always either talking ‘bout themselves or figuring ‘bout what to speak on next rather than worrying on anything else.

Of course, he’d gotten a place out of good sight from any CCTVs and there wasn’t any cameras to worry on elsewise. A little table just at the edge of the outdoor patio of the coffee shop was just the thing, he figured. And he nodded to the bloke as he approached, the body fitting the description he’d be given.

“Pleasure to meet you, sir. You wanting coffee mayhap? Tea?”

_{———FOUR THOUSAND YEARS ALIVE DID NOT MAKE METHUSELAH A FOOL. his work in london had hit a roadblock of sorts, a death in the network, a man he considered close. the underbelly of europe had evolved in his time as a gun for hire. still, assassins were a commodity that seemed to only grow older, a generational shift with their inability to pass on the trade. he wondered about that, seeing the young man beckoning him over. criminals could now die of natural causes and the young would take their place.}

_{❝ i’ve had my morning cup already. ❞
the statement fell as he sat himself down across from his newest contact. he had nothing on the kid, not a name nor an age. to his knowledge, his own information might not have been as secure. the name methuselah was, at best, a childish epithet.}

❝ so tell me about yourself ; forgive me if i’m a little dubious, you seem very young. ❞

JUDE.

^{Defense curls tongue but saying anything is, ironically, thought better of. Instead, he sinks toward the floor once he’s recovered from the shove to creep close to Elliot’s hunched form, crouching beside him and picking up the few pieces of glass that are a glimmer against the flooring. Keen eyes can see see where they’ve landed after projected from frame’s hold by the impact. He may have been ordered to leave, but he can’t find it in himself to obey as he should.}

^{Ears pressed to skull and expression far more easier to read, Jude’s exterior is not as hard as Elliot’s; seldom is it. He talks too fast and too much, lacks tact and pricks nerves, but there is an animal element of raw honesty to him in the presence of should – be threat and contender. So his ongoing apology is scrawled heavy all across his face, in the clench of jaw and the deep drip of pale brows while he wordlessly assists in cleaning up some of the mess he’s caused.}

^{That should be that, but he can’t help but stare at the low – top trashcan and think of the contents tossed inside. Was Elliot going to trash it, just like that? Was it to assuage his ego, to rebuke the sentimentality that had him hold onto such an old photo in the first place? He can’t wrap his head around the why, but cur puts himself at risk of even more violence to dig through glass and retrieve discarded image, slipping it from its velvet backing and thumbing over the tears that now mar the family photo. There are cuts through the center, but beneath one outstretched white rip there are still the sullen, intact eyes of a younger Elliot looking out.}

^{“ Elliot… I don’t want to go. I know you’re pissed, but I don’t want to leave you by yourself to ride it out alone. “ It’s a surprise to himself that voice doesn’t waver, but there is a pleading quality to its acquired softness. There’s a likely chance that the other man won’t ever let him come around again if he leaves him alone now to whatever upset he’s caused: it has to be worse beneath the surface of cool facade. “ And you should keep this… it’s not completely ruined. “ Jude rises to stand, backing up to give Elliot the space to do the same. “ It’s old but you’ve kept it all this time. “ So it obviously means something to you.}

_{———AS OLD AS HE WAS, THINGS FROZEN IN TIME DID NOT MATURE. there were parts unknown to most that he could not bear to show. long sleeves over branded skin and gloves worn to hide marks that never faded, he still looked like he did the day he died. there was weakness in his curse, weakness in everything he was up until now. destroying all traces of his shortcomings had only reminded him they existed.}

there was nothing he could do in that moment to prevent himself from shaking. embarrassment mixed with pain, creating the needed ingredients for the perfect storm. was there meaning in this? an ugly emotion that threatened to overflow? mockery had been his initial catalyst, but now it spilled into something closer to pity. pity, he despised more than anything. pity, he would not accept from anyone, most especially jude.

it fell apart like a tower of bricks. hunched over, the man lifted to escape before it all came down on top of him, only to stumble, to grab and steady, to hold jude there with his head hung low. the tremors in his hands hadn’t stopped, and now jude was able to feel them for himself as elliot gripped him by the arms. he lifted his head, face red and dangerously close to tears. mouth open like he intended to speak, the man wet his lips once before the tension broke and the tears began to roll down his face.

❝ fuck. ❞
he said once.

❝ fuck. ❞
he repeated, finally pushing jude aside. it was laughable, really, how much energy he wasted on the other. how his patience had managed a small miracle, not tearing the other apart, but instead swallowing his pride like the bitter pill it was. he let jude get him to the point of tears and he let him have it.

MALIK.

“Wow, that’s an interesting story, tell me more.”

The Dai greeted his teeth as the other continued to inform him about tragedies they had been through which in the end brought him here. At first, interest was the only thing in his eyes; it would be a lie if he said he wasn’t interested in what had come of their story after they passed away but seeing as nothing had truly changed, his interest began to fade. Especially after he had to listen to the beginning of sad childhood story or this stranger.

“I am kidding– please don’t.”

Offending them was not his intention however, they just needed to understand this was not the first time he heard such a story nor was it going to be the last one. Perhaps if they had met when he was younger, then he would offer a sorry and a pat on their shoulder even but, at this age he found it impossible to do so. Still, kindness soon resonated in his voice as he offered them a cup of tea and a place to rest.

“You must be tired. Why don’t you have a drink and
get some sleep? We can talk about your situation then.”

@faustium

– SC.

_{———❝ YOUR TONE MAKES ME WONDER HOW MUCH YOU BELIEVE ME. it’s not in my interest to lie when it sounds this preposterous. ❞
he couldn’t quite rationalize the situation himself. knowing some meant he knew nothing, really. had this been the work of the apple? it wasn’t everyday you were transported to an unfamiliar time and place, and rarely did such a thing allow for the kind of understanding he was getting. nothing seemed to sit right.}

_{❝ the german brotherhood is not even in its infancy. why are you allowing me to stay? ❞
it’s a point he liked to think about. above all else, he was no one to the organization. they could do as they pleased with him, a foreign face in an unknown land. despite his words, his intent, he spoke on just the surface and said only what was important. his childhood, though intrinsic to the full picture, made for an abridged tale at best. he was not the kind of man to speak his business, nor was he keen on garnering pity.}