Aslyn & Sid: The Marketplace

[audramya]

There was a slight skip to her step as Aslyn wandered through the underground tunnels. She’d just fed on a Bairn and was satiated. There was even a bit of color to her cheeks where the blood now flowed through her system. But now that she was full she didn‘t really have anything else to do. Sure, she could return to the Nabila territory, but when matters boiled down to it--she just didn’t want to. Kaage would probably get on her case again about leaving the bodies she fed on in the tunnels giving Nabila a bad name and she didn’t feel like being reprimanded just yet. She stopped in the tunnels with her lips pursed slightly as she debated on what to do. Straining her ears she tried to listen for something interesting, but there was silence. That was no one around. That meant there was no one to hunt even for sport. With a dejected sigh she decided to head to the markets. There was always something happening there at least and it gave her an excuse to be out--not that she needed one. Although it would be quite difficult to control her blood-lust in such a crowded area that in itself, she thought, might be interesting. When she arrived, Aslyn walked past the stalls slowly in order to see everything, but she soon found herself eying the patrons more than she did the objects on the tables. Every single person there was nothing more than food or toys to her. Finally she couldn’t even focus on the knick-knacks. Turning around to face the crowd, she leaned back with her elbows supporting her on a random stall as she watched the passerby with interest. She’d already fed, but she could always use a new toy to play with.

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[colleen]

He stumbled through the maze, like a rat looking for cheese. Hazy vignettes of the underprivileged sewer rats peering back at him at every turn. Oh look there's another one, lingering precariously on the edge of malnutrition and pity with their hair matted and their clothes ratted, isn't that just a darn shame. Sidney chuckled to himself, they were beggars, and while he had nothing against those who unfortunately were dejected from society Sidney didn't not enjoy the laziness of many of the street rats. If you were someone who once and a while rustled up some bits of scrap or offered to shine someone shoes, you were halfway decent in Sid's book. Hell, you could sell a canvas covered in your own fecal matter; at least you tried right? But those who just lounged around on the ground, arms outstretched for anything that might fall their way, useless whelps. Sidney waved to the ones he recognized, mostly children who liked to look at the pictures he sold and politely (or as politely as he could) shunned those who merely asked for the trinkets in his pockets.

Sidney made way down familiar corridors, running his hands over the damped bricks contemplating how long the structure of these catacombs would hold out. Had the once underneath Paris held when things went to shit? For that matter was the Eiffel Tower now just an oversized guard post? Did the French still know how to make pastry rounds? God he missed varied meals. Of course things like French pastry theoretically could be made, but who the hell would bother wasting all that sugar not to mention struggle to find proper butter. Bovines, like most animals had been decimated, of course a few remaining fertile had been morphed into a mutated species. Needless to say their milk and butter just wasn't the same. Must've been the radiation.

Upon entering his home away from home, Sidney surveyed the patrons. Having already pre-determined that he wasn't going to open shop today, Sidney questioned why he had bothered to even come. It wasn't like he was friends with many of the business men, and even if he was he wasn't going to hang around chatting them up while letting their consumers dwindle away. Sidney rationalized that perhaps he needed supplies, the odd thing or two to keep him alive over the next week or so. Alive was dramatic, but addicts often dramatize their need for their addictions. While pondering his mental grocery list, Sidney let his gaze fall on a familiar face. Without considering the repercussions, Sidney found himself approaching his dear Ilsabeth grinning like the fox that finally caught the hare.

"Oh my word, oh my stars!" --his hands most with his words, imitating that of a god-fearing woman witness a miracle -- "I can't believe they let you out of the compound, I can't believe she let you out of the compound." Sidney laughed casually throwing an arm around the ''old friend’’; he honestly didn't expect to see her so soon. After all they hadn't really talked too much more about his "cure" before he had become too incoherent and it had been suggested that he went to sleep. "So love, what brings you into my humble abode?" He smiled; ignoring what he assumed was Elizabeth's usual 'fucking get away from me, I hate you' look.

[audramya]

When the man approached her in such dramatic fashion, Aslyn tilted her head to the side curiously before crossing her arms across her chest. Her eyes twinkled in amusement as she watched him, greatly entertained by his antics. It was certain she hadn’t met this man before because if she had then she would have certainly remembered--or he’d be dead. Either way she wondered if he was drunk on some sort of alcohol or even on something else much stronger. Her eyes flickered down to the arm that was now draped casually over her shoulder before moving back to his face. “Roleplay?” Aslyn asked after a minute with a raised eyebrow in his direction. Well this was perhaps one of the weirdest pick-up attempts that she’d been privy too (because she couldn’t for the life of her come up with any other reason why he’d approach her in such a way). “All right. I’ll bite,” she finally laughed and lifted a hand to tousle her hair playfully. Although she tried to keep her face as serious as possible, the corners of her mouth were turned upwards ever so slightly into a smile. “It was hard to get away,“ she said dramatically. Since he was already invading her personal space, so she took that a step further, turning her head and pressing her forehead against his. In a whisper, she said, “But after the other night I just couldn‘t get you off my mind. And I knew you‘d be here…so I had to come.” Aslyn couldn’t help but throw her head back and burst out laughing after that. “Oh man," she mused. "If I’d know I could have gotten a meal so easily then I totally wouldn’t have wasted all my energy on that guy in the tunnels earlier. But then I suppose it’s a good thing for you that I’m already satisfied for the day,” she informed him, tapping his nose lightly with her finger. “Otherwise you’d probably be in trouble, old man. I don‘t think you could handle me in action one on one.”

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[colleen]

He had watched her through her little tirade, her 'roleplay' as she put it, and had decided that yes, this was Elizabeth albeit a little more forward but Elizabeth nonetheless. If this is what she was like outside of Labonita, away from her mother then it really was going to be a goal to get her away from the settlement permanently. Sidney smiled, pleased thinking that perhaps he had caused even a small part of her evolution. She was much more forward, much more vibrant and humorous, she even smiled once or twice for Christ’s sake! And then with a tap on the nose, a flick of a switch and the mechanics of Sidney's mind ground to a halt.

Well this ...
... what was this ...?

This was a pickle, not a cucumber a pickle; gobsmacked he was that something had gone amiss. What was that saying? If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, then it must be a duck? Where was his duck? Sidney wiped the shock and concern (for himself or for Elizabeth?) from his face and smiled politely at this red haired enigma before him. Well what could he do, maybe she was a victim of dissociative episodes and the serious old maid that Sid had met earlier was just her mother speaking through. In a short irrational panic Sidney questioned whether or not this was plausible and if her mother was actually alive. The whole concept was very á la 1960s Psycho.

Sidney shrugged removing his now awkwardly placed arm; some people were just prone to mood swings. Rationalizing, he accounted her 'old maid' attitude to the fact that he interrupted her quiet time in the middle of the night. It was understandable, and while he didn't know that she had vampiric tendencies, after all she did have the upper hand. Smiling once again, he made a short but emphasized bow in her direction.

"Well your Highness, I am quite pleased to have be spared an unfortunate demise. How may I ever pay back such a favor?"

[audramya]

The sudden look on of shock on his face made her laugh anymore. This man was a riot and way too easy to mess with--which was kind of odd considering that she wasn’t even really trying hard. “I think I’ve scared him,” she commented with a grin. When he removed his arm, she took a step back and clasped her hands behind her, twirling slightly. “Your Highness?” she asked, evaluating the title in her head before deciding that she liked it. Aslyn nodded her head in approval. “Careful, sir,” she said. “You could get a girl spoiled with that kind of talk.” Bringing a finger to her chin, she tapped it thoughtfully. “I suppose you could be my slave,” she said after a moment. “My eternally grateful servant. I’d be sure to take good care of you.” Tilting her head forward and lifting her eyes to his, she gave a coy smile. “I promise.” Behind her came a loud clash and Aslyn spun around to see what had made the noise. Someone had run into a stall sending the contents spreading and normally she wouldn’t have thought anything of this if it hadn’t been located near the exit which only reminded her how she’d eventually have to go back to the Nabila territory and face Kaage. The thought made her crinkle her nose before she turned around with a sigh and shook her head. “What do you say we get out of here, stranger?” Aslyn offered. “Anywhere you want to go. I’m game. I just really don’t want to go back home right now. I don’t want to hear it. I‘m tired of trying to be forced into something that I‘m not.” She held her hand out towards him. “Wouldn’t mind getting to know you a little better either. Maybe we could go somewhere more private?” Taunting him slightly, she added, “Unless you’re afraid. And then I wouldn‘t blame you.”

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