Member
Misunderstandings
☀Azulia Ellison☀
☠Ｋｉｌｌｉａｎ Ｊｏｎｅｓ☠
And Miri
Time
Day 3 ~ Morning (10-11 am) Evening
Location
Roadside
Killian leaned against his car with his phone in hand. Once again Zoey had asked for another hour for preparation. Meaning the woman was planning something special. Which would mean one of two things. Azulia would be getting a very special welcome party or she would end up with a stomach ache. Neither being the best choice. Then again the woman did enjoy being an older sister to others.
He glanced toward the screen when the object went off. “Another 15 minutes!? Really Zoey how long do you really need?”
Noises erupted from a nearby alleyway as several trash cans, some of which were ablaze, tumbled onto the street. Next was a herd of stray cats, scrambling and mewing on top of each other as they ran. Finally, at the end of the parade of chaos, came a ragged looking orange haired man (Or something along those lines). “Give the lady some time.”, he said out of the blue
“Patience isn’t one of my strong suits though I’m grateful for the advise. You’ve just saved me from getting punch in the face again.” The young man said nodding his head. He watched the person’s movements carefully while mentally debating if spoking more would be a good idea.
“May I ask you a rather strange question?”
“Absolutely” said the Licenti
“Why are you starting fires. I’m not trying to be rude or anything mind you but it does seem a bit odd.” The guy commented casually. His features didn’t display his worry but in a way his eyes did.
“Ehh, I’m not really starting them. It’s more the uh…” His voice trailed off as he looked around “I’m gonna admit it: It was definitely me. It’s a hobby, pretty much.”
The human nodded. “I do ask that you be a bit more careful. You see I’m spending time with my little sister and I would much rather not tell her father about how she got hurt. Due to knowing the man fairly well I know that conversation won’t end well.” He paused for a moment in order to think of a peaceful solution to this problem.
“Well, again, it’s just a hobby. I’m more an activist than anything.” Miri walked over to the car and leaned against it. “Who’s this Zoe person anyways? And where’re we going?” Miri had evidently invited himself along.
Killian really wanted to throw the man away from them yet something in the back of his mind kept him from acting. Perhaps it was due to Charles’ personality rubbing off on him. “I’m sorry to tell you but we doesn’t mean that you’re coming too. I will be taking my little sister to an ice cream shop and then we’ll be going somewhere else. You will be one your own. As for who Zoey is that’s none of your concern sir.”
“Pretty sure you just said she’s your sister. And I love ice cream. C’mon, what’s the worst that could happen?” Miri grinned like an idiot. He did love ice cream.
” A lot considering that Zoey’s shop was shot up. I’m just hoping that it’s not who I think it is. As for your situation sir I don’t trust you.”
”Well, that’s awful rude. Don’t you think before you speak? You could hurt someone’s feelings. Like my own. I am damaged. Besides, we could make a deal. I have ties in the underworld. I could find out who shot up said shoppe.”
The man’s eyes shifted toward Miri. “I don’t know who you are or what you do for a living but I can tell you this. You’re not the only one that’s been in illegal dealing. If I want to find out who shot up her shop then I will take care of it. My way and if it’s who I think it is then his head will be mounted on my wall. Until then I ask that you leave this be.”
”Do you know the hoops you’re making me jump through for a ride to an ice cream shop and some conversation? Jesus, I’ll pay you if you’re that damn stubborn.”
“Next time please make your statement much clear. Ask for a ride before making a deal. Now then I do have a favor to ask as payment.”
”Lay it on me”
“There’s a gang at the edge of town. They're attempting to make a push into the drug business. Mind keeping an eye on them for me? And if they spot you tell them Killian sent you. Though I do hope you aren’t caught.”
”My man, if I wanted to I could make a phone call and shut the whole thing down. But, your idea sounds MUCH more fun. So it’s a deal.”
The guy nodded and stood from the car door. “Then you have that ride and once there you will have an answer to your question.”
Miri let himself in, and began commenting on the interior of the car. ”Fancy. I dig it.” He grinned as he began playing with the window controls.
The African american couldn’t help but chuckle.
Azulia watched the guy, not really saying anything at first. She thought of his hobby as a little strange as it wasn't as common back where she grew up in Wisconsin. The only time she saw fires was when people were burning unwanted branches and things that were allowed to be burn, with a burn permit of course, or her school having their yearly bonfire for homecoming week.
She held her old phone tightly in her tiny hands. “Well since we have some time to wait for Zoey to be ready...I guess we can get my new phone” Azulia suggested.
“You know father would be mad if I didn't have a properly working phone” she said
The young man groaned a little. “Honestly Charles needs to chill out. Then again he’s older than the two or perhaps three of us. If we do get you a new phone then I’m paying for it. Granted your father will be buying gas and ice cream Az.”
He placed the car once again into drive and went down the road. “So does anyone have any certain questions they want to know?”
”Just one, really. Who is this individual we’re going to meet? And are we bringing them ice cream?”
“Zoey is a very...well most of the time she’s loving. Though I have learned never to grab her ass when drunk. Then you get a broken nose.”
”You say that like I get drunk.”
“To be honest you shouldn’t be in this car. It’s more of a warning. If you do something she doesn’t like you’ll be greeted with either a weapon or a fist. The ice cream thing is a no. We both know an ice cream shop around this area.”
”Ah, well, let’s see how well we get along. Personally, I am looking forward to it.”
Azulia gave him a look, her eyebrows curving upwards with confusion. “Excuse me, but when did we exactly invite you?” Recalling the events, all she saw was this stranger explaining why he set fires to trash and then got into their car asking about Zoey.
”Eh, I made a deal with the fellow driving. No worries, I won’t do anything even slightly illegal! I’ve a reputation to uphold.”
“Well I don't know your reputation as I come from the United States sir, so anything here is completely new to me and technically if you were where I came from you could be arrested for burning things without a permit to do so and burnin things that shouldn't be burned”
“Az please calm down. Keep in mind I was apart of the illegal business. I’m still on the run from them mind you. I’ve asked him to keep an eye on my old gang due to them attempting to push into a mobster’s terf. Later this week I’ll meet with him but that will have to be kept a secret from your father.” The man remark while attempting to defuse the situation.
”I don’t want to start any conflict. It’s just, everyone has a story, right? And I’m interested in hearing said stories. You too don’t seem like such big fans of our current ruling body. Everyone has their reasons. What’s yours?”
Azulia frowned. “My mother passed away, killed by a drunk driver on her way home, Charles was given custody of me as my father hasn't been in my life long enough that he can't gain it, besides he is still MIA which I'm glad for” she said crossing her arms.
“I much rather not tell my story.”
”I can respect that. Me? I’m just really not into like...proto-Nazism. If you could call it that. So, I’ll make a fuss in public and people might start to care. Now, am I paying for my ice cream or is your father?”
“I don't know. It depends on what Killian or Charles said. We have to get gas and my phone as Charles basically demanded. I had to open my mouth about the phone service but I guess it would have eventually came out at some point. I guess sooner than later was better for it” she said laying her head off to the side. Clouds was all she could see in the sky.
”Eh, I can shell out a few bucks for some ice cream. By the by, who’s this Charlies fellow?”
“Why does it have to be so cloudy out. It always ruins the good mood” Azulia said with a frown on her lips.
“It’s not cloudy. Yes, there’s clouds in the sky but that’s for the ones who have lost a lover to life. At least that’s what she told me when she was alive. If you don’t want to add a little light to this unexpected weather change then that’s fine.” Killian said in his usual serious face though Azulia would feel a gently squeeze on her shoulder.
“What is your story sir? Why did you come here of all places?”
Azuli smiled as she looked at him, reaching over and gave his hand a gentle squeeze.
Miri looked her in the eyes with an odd coldness. ”I’ve lost people to the Prae. I don’t intend on letting any more innocents die. And, so, I came to the most populous city in the world to kick some ass and bring down a regime or two. Also, I’ve heard there’s some damn good ice cream.” And with that, the facade broke and he let loose a grin.
Azulia gulped as a cold shiver went down her spine. She felt like she was being threatened in a way by this stranger and her shoulders went noticeably tensed and she placed both her hands in her lap to the point of nearly locking her elbows.
The man glared into the mirror, eyes displaying a much colder atmosphere around him, while placing his arm over Azulia. His foot worked towards the brake practically slamming on it. This would hopefully caught the passengers attention fairly quickly. “Mind elaborating on this please? Mainly because I have some Prae friends whom I would love to keep safe.” He asked darkly.
Miri kept smiling. ”I do as well, sir. It’s less the Prae and more the Exeo and those who have decided to encamp themselves upon our fair city. Trust me, one of my best friends was a Prae.”
“Thank you for clearing this fact up with me. I’ll make sure to let you know if I see any followers around. Now then since we’re almost to one of our destinations do you have something else you need sir?” the guy asked in a lighter tone.
”Yeah, what kinda ice cream are you guys getting? Because I have a policy where I don’t get the same flavor as anyone else.”
“I um...never actually had ice cream” she said, her voice tight and shaky. “W...we um have this thing called custard which is...um completely different from ice cream, so I don’t know what to expect for ice cream” she said, her tense for, a little less tense with Killian’s arm around her.
”Ice cream is a lot like custard, depending on the consistency. The best kinda custard are concrete mixers with a ton of toppings. But that’s just an opinion.”
“I usually go for Rocky Road. Azulia Are you alright?”
“Y yeah I'm fine. Can we go in please?” she asked. Her mind couldn't wrap around his words. Was her kind really that horrible. It left a rather sickening feeling in her stomach and at the moment she wasn't sure she could handle ice cream, but she needed something to eat.
Miri noticed this change in demeanor. ”I’m sorry kid, I didn’t mean to mess with you. Every species, whether human or Licenti or Prae, has fucked up in some regard. I have a long list of atrocities the Prae don’t even know happened. So lighten up. Let’s grab some ice cream.”
Killian nodded and removed his arm. He know that he had scared her. This wasn’t the way the man wanted today to go at all. Yet here they all were. The human took a deep breath and pulled up to the shop. Outside was a woman leaning against the building, glaring their way, before her finger beckoned their way.
“This isn’t going to end well. Az why don’t you go up first? I need to speak with our guest.”
