a gentleman and a saint

[demonic-affairs.livejournal.com]

Who: a mysterious passer-by and whoever is in Radiant Garden
What: He's looking for someone but likes to talk. A lot.
Where: anywhere in RG
When: sometime during the day?

He didn't actually stand out from the usual hustle and bustle that was the norm for an afternoon in Radiant Garden. He actually appeared quite average, from his height to his nondescript coat and sunglasses to his posture. Nothing too odd about him at all.

He sat on the stairs leading down to the towns square, watching as people passed by, completely unbothered by his presence.

Comments

[ariakitsune.livejournal.com]

Aria probably wouldn't have given the him a second look if Pancake hadn't stopped suddenly to stare at him nervously.

She picked up the critter and tilted her head curiously at the stranger. It wasn't often that Pancake seemed afraid of someone after all.

[demonic-affairs.livejournal.com]

He turned his head slightly, peering at Aria and Pancake through his sunglasses. Amused by their suspicious glances, he gave a little smirk and a small wave.

Other than that, he didn't do anything.

[ariakitsune.livejournal.com]

Aria did not like that smirk but, she wasn't about to start any hostilities. She grumbled something mostly unintelligible about dream hares.

"Do you often wave at people who look at you like you might be plotting something?" she asked, fully aware that she lacked anything resembling a poker face.

[demonic-affairs.livejournal.com]

"Yes," he replied amiably in a hard to identify accent, resting back on his elbows. "What can I say? I like it when pretty girls give me their attention."

[ariakitsune.livejournal.com]

Greeaat, one of those. "I'm sure Pancake would appreciate the compliment if she wasn't afraid of you for whatever reason." She obviously wasn't taking the compliment at face value.

[demonic-affairs.livejournal.com]

A full blown smile appeared on his face now and he laughed, throwing his head back in amusement. A few people turned at the laugh, not because of its suddenness but something else entirely. Some people's stares lasted longer than what was normal. There was something subtle in the air around him, something that demanded attention.

"I wasn't talking about the rabbit, and you know it," he said brightly, unaffected by her brushed-off reply.

[ariakitsune.livejournal.com]

Aria frowned uncertainly. "Of course. It would be weird if you were." Curiosity was probably the only thing keeping her from making some kind of excuse to leave.

[rox-chan.livejournal.com]

There hadn't been many reasons to leave the house as of late - apart from the occasional urge to train and the need for fresh air, Rox had been, as usual, a shut-in, with little but studying and failed attempts to write to occupy her.

Today, however, it had occurred to her that her and Ray's little home was short on a small necessity known as food. She had been, honestly, relieved for the chance to get out. Even though the marketplace was familiar to her, now, it was still a nice change of scenery.

So, an hour and about 75 Munny later (food, in comparison to potions and weapons, was surprisingly cheap), she found herself feeling somewhat calm and alert for the first time in weeks.

...Being more alert, sadly, didn't save her from a a complete and utter lack of observational skills.

Or from falling up the stairs to the town square, for that matter.

She feel forward, not catching herself in time to stop herself from sliding along the step. For a second she stayed there, and took a quick look at her hand. Skinned, of course. Son of a bitch.

In addition, her groceries had fallen everywhere, including next to a man sitting on the steps.

"Oh, sorry about that!" she said, picking up a some of the stray cans and bags.

[songbird9.livejournal.com]

Song was out for a walk between magic lessons and her own studies, when she spotted Aria, Pancake, and a stranger. She might have said 'hi' and passed on by, but it was the same thing which had made Aria pause that caught her attention as well. Something was up with the Pancake.

It might have been nothing. Animals could be weird like that... but Song was curious now.

"Hey Aria. New friend?"

[demonic-affairs.livejournal.com]

The man tilted his head to the side. "Then why make a point to turn the conversation to the poor thing?" His tone was still teasing.

He spotted Song before she even noticed them. His eyes narrowed just slightly, but were still hidden behind his sunglasses. His smile, though, never wavered. "Ah, it must be my lucky day."

[demonic-affairs.livejournal.com]

He laughed quietly and immediately began helping her pick up the fallen groceries. "No need to apologize. Accidents happen."

[ariakitsune.livejournal.com]

Aria shrugged. "No particular reason."

Then she noticed Song. "It's a bit early to call him a friend," she deadpanned.

[songbird9.livejournal.com]

Song tilted her head, looking from Aria to the stranger and back.
"Is he bothering you?" she asked neutrally.

[demonic-affairs.livejournal.com]

"So you say pointless things just to hold a conversation," he asked slyly, crossing his arms. "I wonder if I should be flattered."

He lowered his sunglasses just slightly at Song's comment, his eyes a very familiar shade of electric blue. "I don't think I'm bothering anyone. Just being polite."

[ariakitsune.livejournal.com]

She shrugged again. "It was amusing, at least." She ignored his wondering.

"Not bothered. Just haven't even gotten around to introductions yet."

[songbird9.livejournal.com]

Song, of course, was completely distracted by that flash of blue. It was impossible not to recognize, but so unexpected that she thought her eyes were playing tricks on her.

She made a vague noise at Aria's answer, but didn't take her eyes off the stranger.

"Well... I'm Song, this is Aria, and this may be a very strange question, but could you take off your sunglasses, sir?" It never hurt to ask politely.

[demonic-affairs.livejournal.com]

"Now amusement I can understand," the man said again, still smiling as if nothing was wrong. "Though I usually prefer something else to occupy my time."

He turned his head slightly towards Song. "I never refuse a lady who asks something of me so politely." He removed the sunglasses, tucking them into the collar of his coat. He looked back at the two of them, a very faint glow in his supernaturally blue eyes. The odd sense in the air that seemed to surround him grew more pronounced the moment he slipped the glasses off.

[ariakitsune.livejournal.com]

Aria wasn't sure she wanted to know what the something else was. She was distracted from thinking about it when he removed his sunglasses. That glow was definitely not normal and she was surprised when the odd sense grew.

She just watched him warily for now, unsure what to say.

[songbird9.livejournal.com]

Song's eyebrows went up. Well, that was interesting.

".... I know two others with eyes like yours," she said quietly.

[rox-chan.livejournal.com]

"Still, you were just minding your own business, and then some klutz drops a bunch of tomato sauce cans on your back..." She was clearly flustered; she always was when she was talking to people she didn't know. It was even worse when she noticed he was actually helping her...not that she wasn't grateful, of course.

"Thanks." Rox said, smiling and getting her first good look at his face. There was something...odd, about him. Not his appearance, or the way he was acting - he seemed pretty normal, for the most part. But just a little something in the air around him, maybe, was off.

Then again, she had never been very good at noticing that sort of thing. Maybe it was only her imagination.

"...hey, have I seen you around here before?" she asked, the words out of her mouth before she had even formed a coherent thought.

[demonic-affairs.livejournal.com]

He winked at Aria, unaffected by her sudden unease. The electric pressure in the air increased.

Song's words, however, seemed to alert something in him other than the playful flirting. He sat up just a little bit straighter at her mention of "two". "Oh? What are the odds?" He climbed to his feet, brushing off nonexistent snow on his coat. "And here I thought my astounding good looks were rare."

Somehow, though, he didn't seem too concerned, as if he were almost expecting Song's reply.

((sorry Aria. Replying quick cuz I have class in a sec))

[songbird9.livejournal.com]

She rested a hand on her hip, smirking faintly. Dealing with demons had not been included in her plans for the day, but as it seemed to be one of her favorite activities, she was willing to change her schedule....

"Rare, but not unique. Though I admit, I never expected to meet another. You are an incubus, or something similar, aren't you?"

[ariakitsune.livejournal.com]

Well, that explained Pancake's reaction. It was actually less worrying than other possible reasons. She was still wary and still didn't have anything to say.

[demonic-affairs.livejournal.com]

"I guess it's just one of those days," he laughed, shaking his head. "A beautiful girl comes along and plays damsel in distress. How could I refuse?" While reaching for a can of said tomato sauce, his hand brushed hers just slightly, and a wave of something like a static shock except more intense passed between them.

He handed her the can. "I can't say that we have met before. I haven't really been here long."

[demonic-affairs.livejournal.com]

He seemed amused at Aria's silence, but didn't remark on it just yet.

"Well, I suppose you would know," he said to Song, chuckling. "You've been with one recently. Hopefully not my sister though - she's terribly fickle around mortal women."