Falling from Grace

[Syllanna]

[Syllanna & orangenovia55]

Alexandrios, better known by the nickname of Alex, yawned as the sun began it's descent down the skies. He hugged his white coat closer to him and breathed short breaths of the crisp fall air. His golden scarf hung snugly around his neck, highlighting the dark blue shirt he wore underneath it. His jeans were well worn and his boots were meant to ensure a firm grasp on the ground. A golden chain fell from his pocket where he kept his pocket watch. He always knew the time of day, because he could track the sun's movement across the sky, but the watch was his only gift from the divine father he rarely met and held something infinitely more precious than just the time. He brushed the shaggy red hair from his green eyes and it fell right back across his bronzed olive skin. Already he could feel the snowfall coming, though it wouldn't arrive for a few days yet. It's not that he was particularly attuned to the weather, he had simply learned to read the same signs that any mortal could to predict snowfall.

In fact, most of Alex's magic resided in things generally considered useless to his warrior-like cousins, the children of Ares. Like music and charismatic influence over mortal minds. Oh, they enjoyed the benefits of his healing magic when they came back from practice with swords piercing their limbs, but other than that they ignored him. He didn't mind so much because he always had friends in the daughters and sons of Aphrodite, the Huntresses of Artemis and the wily messengers of Hermes. He liked to be alone when he composed though and that was his favorite thing in the world to do. Especially since he'd gotten the guitar he'd asked for last Christmas.

The approach of the holiday seasons was why he was out and about today, sneaking away from camp on Friday night when they weren't allowed to leave unsupervised. He'd had to lull some guardian peacocks to sleep and they'd no doubt rat him out when they woke, but for now he figured he had a few hours of peace time. Alex intended to get full use of the peace time by spending all the money he had tucked into his coat on presents for his mortal mother and friends. He breathed some warm air on his hands as he opened the door to a brightly lit cafe, intending to buy some hot chocolate with cinammon sprinkled on top. Though the woman behind the counter would probably look at him funny for the special request, she'd forgive him for his beauty and no doubt spend the rest of the day swooning about him.

[orangenovia55]

Tanner Jade Leaflet, or TJ, walked along the sidewalks in her favorite yellow ski jacket. Normally, she would be within the confines of her camp on a Friday night, but she had been too antsy tonight. Something about the weather and time of year beckoned her to find a coffee shop in the mortal town. TJ assumed it was the tradition of going to cafes with her mother while they were shopping. She missed the days before camp and the special abilities she possessed.

Being a daughter of Anubis, TJ could detect when others were being deceitful. Her father was the one who passed judgment on passed souls with the Feather, but he always knew whether the Feather would weigh more or less than the judged's heart. Along with that came a couple of other skills, she was adept with both a flail and khopesh, dogs (being close kin to jackals) understood her, and finally she could always feel the dead. That last ability? Not really impressive or useful, but came with the territory.

Her eyes finally fell on a little cafe. She entered it and noticed a little server behind the ounter making flirty eyes at whatever customer she was helping. TJ could only see the back of him, but figured that the woman was probably over-doing it. She waited for her turn by browsing the menu. A dark chocolate latte would probably hit the caffeine craving she had right now.

[Syllanna]

With his large hot chocolate, extra whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon along with a stick inside the chocolate, Alex turned to exit the cafe and begin his window shopping. His boyish grin lighting up his being, he came face to face with a rather attractive looking young woman. Alex took a moment to blink and then openly stare for a moment before shaking his head. He had the grace to blush. "Sorry." He says and moves out of her way so she can order. "I didn't mean to block the way."

[orangenovia55]

TJ nodded at him. The girl behind the counter hadn't been too far off, he was definitely good-looking. However, TJ had the grace not to be so forward about it. It did surprise her that the man had spent a moment staring at her. She chalked it up to the fact that she was only five feet tall. That was always startling for people above average height.

"What can I get you?" The girl asked.

TJ ran her fingers through her long, dark brown hair as she went back and forth about her drink choice. "The dark chocolate latte," she said finally. TJ handed over her money and then stood aside to wait for her order. She looked around the little cafe and decided that she would spend a few more moments in here at a quiet table sipping her drink before rushing off into the cold.

[Syllanna]

Alex's brain had short-circuited. There was no other way to describe it. It was like this woman, more of a girl really, had just surprised him beyond words. He took a minute to frown at himself for being silly. Who gets surprised by someone in line behind them at cafe? Honestly. He stepped out of the way and sipped his drink thoughtfully for a few minutes before shaking his head and moving back into the cold streets. He walked slowly and finally caught sight of a clothing store. His little sister was only fifteen and fashion crazy. He walked in and fingered some dresses. He knew her size, roughly, but was utterly lost in what was considered fashionable. So he ended up torn between a blue and silver scarf and an emerald green one with gold thread. This way, her size wouldn't matter.

He took the small bag offered him with the scarves and then headed out again. In no time, he found the jewelry store. Inside, he found a simple necklace that his mother would love and spent most of his money on that. But he also found a bracelet, intricately wrought with swirling patterns out of gold. He bought that too, wondering if it might come in handy later. He was just about ready to head home, his chocolate long gone, when he saw the crowds heading in one direction. He followed a couple that was holding hands to the open space. There, he stumbled across something amazing: a movie being projected on the side of a building. It was just starting as the last people crowded in. He took one of the few spots left and settled down on the grass, smiling up at the projection.

[orangenovia55]

After a few hours of browsing around the stores, TJ noticed that a crowd had formed. Looking up at the side of a building she saw that a holiday movie was being shown. TJ missed being able to watch them with her mother so she made her way toward the crowd. She looked around for an open spot on the grass. When one was in sight, TJ clambered over to it and brought herself down gently on the grass. The opening indicated that the movie would be Home Alone and she smiled. This was one of her favorites.

[Syllanna]

Alex laughed and got a little misty eyed throughout the movie. When it finished, he just relaxed, letting other people get up first and exit. Just as he stood to stretch and consider heading back, he heard it. The sound was very much like someone calling for help. "Help me! Help me!"

The crowd murmured and began to look towards the noise. Some people moved towards it, some moved back, and some pulled out their phones to contact help. Alex wasn't fooled though. He knew exactly what that sound meant and he wasn't sure he was ready to go back just yet. Especially not since it meant incredible embarrassment if they pulled him from the crowd. He searched for a path through the crowd and took what he thought was the best way. "Excuse me! Pardon me!" He slipped through people and around people, shoving where he had to in order to go the opposite way of the noise.

He was moving so fast, his face panicked, that his bag caught and the golden bracelet tumbled out, sparkling on the ground in front of TJ as Alex kept moving, not noticing the loss of the very expensive trinket. A noise began to rise from the crowd as they pointed and shouted out in astonishment.

[orangenovia55]

TJ looked down at the bracelet. She picked it up and tried to shout out to him, "You dropped..." He was already gone.

The jewelry looked expensive and like it might be a gift for someone. TJ decided that she'd use her illegal electronics to set-up a lost advertisement for him. Once all the confusion was over, she expected that he would want to know where it went. She wasn't one for keeping things that didn't belong to her.

She glanced down at her watch. It was time to get back to camp. TJ didn't want to get caught outside without permission. The repercussions for being caught would be more than she wanted to deal with right now.

[Syllanna]

Alex made a frantic trip back to camp and flailed his way into it at the last possible second. He had just enough time to look innocent as his cabin was inspected before the guardians left and he relaxed. It wasn't until the next morning that he found the bracelet was gone. He frowned, trying to remember when he'd last had it. It could have been anytime after he'd left the jewelry store. Maybe it had fallen out on the streets, or at the movie, or during his frantic run back to camp. He sighed and considered the possibilities. He supposed he'd have to go looking for it. This time, when he slipped out of camp, he made sure he had permission for one full day's visit. Since he was in no rush, he could take his time searching the town.

He started by retracing his path from the jewelry store. A few hours later, he was still minus his bracelet and he was getting tired. He stopped by a local restaurant for some lunch.

[orangenovia55]

TJ sat in her room and waited for an email, call, or something about the posters she placed all over the small town. She had taken a picture of the bracelet and left some information for the person to call her to get it back. The trinket seemed pretty valuable and she would hate for someone to be missing it. TJ held it in her hands as she looked at it. Possibly, the thing could be sentimental. TJ would hate to be holding someone's valuable memories in her hand while they desperately searched for it.