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Post by Angelique Morel on Jul 19, 2011 10:28:47 GMT -5
Resting her head against the wall that she was leaning against, Angelique sighed, feeling exhausted. Julien sat next to her, one of his hands firmly fisted in her dress, so that she knew he was there, his other hand having its thumb sucked on. It had been exhausting, today. There were so many people, and each one stared at her, every look that she was given telling her that she shouldn't be here, she should be in one of the camps. Camps, please! Angelique wasn't going to one of those slums where people paid to put Ishvalans like her! As if!
Still, it was nice having a respite from the stares, in the alley she was in. Of course, she had checked it thoroughly to make sure that there was no one in here, before she had even considered letting Julien in there, but it was clear, and so she took this brief moment to catch her breath, and steal up her courage. "Come on, Julien. We're going back out," Angelique told her son, smiling softly down at him.
The adorable little thing that he was, he looked up at her, popping his thumb out of his mouth (she really needed to break that habit, but it kept him quiet...), and nodding solemnly. "Up, Mama!" Julien announced, releasing her dress and holding his arms up into the air. With a smile, she snatched up her son, propping him on her hip, being careful that her blue dress didn't lift up with him, and stepped out of the alley, peering out as her smile slipped away, replaced by her normal grim expression.
It was just a sea of Amestrians... Sure, that was normal, in Central, but she really didn't like it. Oh well. Stealing herself, and giving a pat to Julien's back, who had already replaced his thumb and was watching everyone once more with his red eyes, Angelique stepped back out into the streets, moving once more with the people, and doing her best to ignore the way people often stumbled over their feet as they took a good look at her. Yes, she was an Ishvalan, and and an obviously poor one at that, but she didn't need always be in the slums! Stop staring, idiots! A scowl crept its way onto her face, a sight which Julien giggled, amused, at.
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Post by kotaro7914 on Jul 19, 2011 15:25:36 GMT -5
Kotaro walked through the crowded streets of Central, his hood pulled up over his head. There were some days he didn't wish to speak to anyone. Days he would rather just go on a walk and think things over. This was one of those days. The hood helped him stay inconspicuous. People rarely talked to a hooded man. Something he had learned over time.
His eyes were scanning his surroundings, something he never meant, but it had turned into instinct over the time he had awaken. His features hidden under the hood and his hands in his pockets. He looked an awful lot like a thief. But he had never stolen a thing in his life.
As his eyes studied everything they soon fell on a peculiar sight. There was a girl coming out of an alley, carrying a small child. Her skin looked to be Ishvalan, but her eyes weren't the red standard of them. The child's were however. He noticed she was scowling at everyone. He also noticed he had stopped walking and was staring. He shook his head and continued walking.
After a bit he looked back, unable to help himself. She was obviously poor, and that wasn't something Kotaro enjoyed to see. That child was so young as well. If she was the mother, then her life as well as the child's could have been a living hell. The thought was stuck in his mind as soon as he thought it. He tried to abandon the thought, but finally gave in and started walking towards her. "Hello," he said removing his hood.
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Post by Angelique Morel on Jul 19, 2011 20:43:34 GMT -5
Angelique had seen the hooded figure out of the corner of her eye, whom stopped, and presumably stared, though she couldn’t tell as she couldn’t see his face, but had dismissed it as another person surprised to see an Ishvalan in Central. Well, one who didn’t appear to be trying to tear down the place, at least. And with good reason, if she was! Honestly, they wipe out her people and expect no retaliation? Stupid, anyone who thought that. However, wary thoughts of the figure immediately sprang to mind once more as he (even hooded, it was kind of obvious he was male) walked in their direction. Was it just a coincidence? After all, he had started walking before turning this way, perhaps he was looking for a shop…?
No, it wasn’t, Angelique decided as the man approached her, dropping his hood with a greeting, revealing his slightly scarred face. Shifting her stance so that Julien was on the other side of the man, who seemed about her age, possibly older, she stopped as well, giving him a nod. ”Hello…” Angelique told him, obviously wary about him being this close, and by her son. What could he want? Was he simply curious as to why she was here? Going to try to send her to one of the camps? Or maybe he wanted to… ‘hire’ her. It could be completely innocent hiring, but she doubted it. It hardly ever was.
Barely a beat after her greeting, the girl’s brow furrowed, as her face set into its grim expression, unsure whether she should scowl at him, or not.”What do you want, sir?” The honorific had a sarcastic undertone to it, of course. It was rare that she meant anyone she respected. Shifting him on her hip, Julien leaned backwards, showing his distrust of strangers that she had thrust upon him. After all, you never know when they could try to harm you, or to take advantage of you. And in Central? Well, there were plenty of scum here, particularly because of the military. Ishvala damn them!
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Post by kotaro7914 on Jul 19, 2011 20:57:50 GMT -5
Kotaro gave a slight nod. "I know its not any of my business, but I was wondering if you had a place to stay." He said kindly. This girl seemed about his age, yet she had that child. He mentally sighed. "My name is Kotaro, and if you have nowhere to go I can offer you a spare room." He said. He saw the child back away a bit. He didn't like strangers. Smart kid. "I can offer you food and a place to stay. Then again I'm not sure really why I'm asking. Its kinda rude of me to suggest your homeless."
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Post by Angelique Morel on Jul 20, 2011 6:57:59 GMT -5
As she listened to the other speak, Angelique was pretty sure he could see the growing disbelief on her face. Something that was completely warranted, after all. His last statement made her snort, though, as she shook her head. "I'm an Ishvalan, sir. If I'm not in the camps, even if I had the money for it, no one would let me get a place to stay." Alone, before she had Julien, they occasionally would. Probably with the absence of her red eyes, but now that she had a young son who possessed the typical Ishvalan eyes, well... She hadn't been able to get a place since. Most often, she'd sleep on a relatively safe part of the streets, or in the corner of a store she had holed herself up in before it closed.
Shifting Julien on her hip, who was sucking his thumb as he stared at the man, now dubbed Kotaro, with wide eyes, Angelique's mouth thinned into a line. "What are you getting out of this, sir? What do you happen to want from me?" No one did anything for free, ever. At least to Ishvalans. Maybe if she was some poor Amestrian girl, down on her luck, or even Xingese, Angelique could see that happening. But her? An Ishvalan girl, part of the people that the military, which was right there, tried to wipe out? She had a reason to be suspicious.
Well, whatever it was, she could do it. Unless it was something that would be detrimental to her little July, Angelique could and would do it. Sure, she'd have to beg Ishvala for forgiveness later, but this was about survival, not her god.
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Post by kotaro7914 on Jul 20, 2011 9:09:04 GMT -5
"I'm sorry." Kotaro said. "Look, I don't care if your an Ishvalan, if you need a place to stay, I'll give you one." He hated when he saw people homeless. He never did anything but give them money, but this one had a kid. "I'm not one to discriminate."
When she asked about what he wanted he shook his head. "No no, I don't want anything in return. You can have the room nothing attached." He wondered what this kid had been through. Young with a child, homeless, also no telling what she had seen since she was Ishvalan.
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Post by Angelique Morel on Jul 20, 2011 14:45:21 GMT -5
Angelique nearly explained to the other that she had been referring to the fact that he thought she actually might /not/ be homeless, but decided she didn't care enough. Let him believe whatever he wanted. Nearly snorting aloud at his statement about not discriminating, the girl managed to hold it in. Not discriminate? Everyone did it, even if it was completely unconscious. Honestly... It was rather delusional to think otherwise, but she didn't want to get into a whole debate about it, right here on the streets. Especially because she had Julien. Her little angel, who was remaining silent, his attention wandering as he gazed around, looking at all the people with his inquisitive, red eyes.
His next words stopped her thoughts completely, and she nearly snarled her words at him, but managed to reign herself in. "Nothing is free, Amestrian." Angelique had no idea how this Kotaro was so... so... Ugh, he just was. No matter what he said, she'd end up doing something, sooner or later. With him, though, it probably couldn't be much, seeing as he wasn't lying. Or if he was, he was so good at it that she couldn't tell, even with all her years picking through lies. If it was the latter, she was screwed anyway. Even if she walked away now, it wouldn't matter.
Hesitating, weighing the possibilities in her mind, Angelique bit her lip. If he would still have her, even with that outburst... "Is... there a lock on the door?" the girl asked, hating how hesitant her voice sounded, her eyes straying to her son, who smiled at her, before returning to Kotaro. She /needed/ a lock. Or to barricade the door, at least.
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Post by kotaro7914 on Jul 20, 2011 15:10:59 GMT -5
Kotaro sighed as she got mad at him. Nothing is free. That was true. But he didn't want anything from the girl. Nothing at all. "Your right, nothing is free, but I want nothing from you." He said calmly. "I know its strange I'm suggesting this, even a bit suspicious, but all I want is to give you a place to stay."
When she asked if the room had a lock he nodded. "Yes, there is a lock. Look, before you say anything, the room is above my store. Its a weapon store, so I don't want to risk your child to those dangers. They are out of reach but I know its not the best place." He gave her a slight smile. "If you want the room, its yours."
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Post by Angelique Morel on Jul 21, 2011 21:03:24 GMT -5
He was right. It was suspicious. Highly suspicious, in fact. Had the man been any less genuine, any more tricky, with any hint of manipulation at all, she'd be gone. Down the street before he even realized it, hopefully. But... He didn't seem to display any of those traits that she'd taken for warning signs, for the bells that rung and told her to flee. Did that mean that she trusted him? Oh no, Angelique wouldn't trust the guy as far as she could throw him. Which... wasn't far, in all honesty. As long as there was a way to keep a barrier to between them, a way to slow him for a moment, if only to snatch her child and run, she'd be fine.
At the implication that her son would even /dream/ of touching weapons, Angelique huffed slightly, though she did offer a tidbit of information. "Julien would /not/ touch anything. And neither would I." With that proclamation, she regarded him warily, weighing the two options. One, a roof over her head, and food, both of which would be much appreciated. On the other hand, no matter what he said, he probably did want something, and, seeing as he ran a weapons store, could be dangerous... However, the pros seemed to outweigh the cons. Hopefully he wasn't a secret mass-murderer, or something.
"Fine," she sighed, feeling oh so small at that moment, conceding her fate to another. "I'll... have the room." It felt as if she were admitting defeat, as if her struggle for survival had dried up in that moment, an ocean that stopped lapping at the shores. Julien, as if sensing his mother's feelings, reached over and patted her on the cheek, bringing a quick, soft smile to her face, before it vanished once more.
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Post by kotaro7914 on Jul 21, 2011 22:14:24 GMT -5
Kotaro nodded. "I just felt I should warn you before you made the decision. A weapons store isn't the safest place, especially for a child. I wasn't suspecting you of anything, just a warning." He knew she wouldn't trust him, probobly less then anyone. But he had to give her the offer. He couldn't leave her and the child to face the streets.
Then he heard her accept the offer. Reluctantly. "Alright, the room is yours." He said with a nod. "The room is yours, and I'll give you the food and drink you need. May I have your name?"
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Post by Angelique Morel on Jul 23, 2011 9:03:41 GMT -5
Just a warning? Better be a warning, and not an implied threat, in any way, shape, or form. Or she'd be out of here, screw the room and the food. There was no way she'd accept the offer of someone /threatening/ her. Thankfully, it seemed as though it had been a warning, just that, so Angelique accepted it with a wary nod. If he pulled anything...
"I'm Angelique," she told him at his question, not offering her last. "And my son is Julien." That is, if he already hadn't picked that up already. Still, people could not notice things, quite easily, so it was always best to be sure. Because he was not going to call her son 'kid', or something ridiculous like that. Honestly.
Swallowing a bit, Angelique stole of her courage, eyes averted. "And... thanks," she told him, the words coming out harsher than she would like, but honestly, it didn't matter. She had said it, hadn't she?
Unfortunately, that seemed to set Julien off, because he took up the word as well, apparently believing that his mother was at least /somewhat/ comfortable around the other. "Sanks, sanks!" Giving her son a look, July immediately became quiet, but with a happy little smile on his face.
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Post by kotaro7914 on Jul 23, 2011 10:30:36 GMT -5
"A pleasure to meet you Angelique and Julien, my name is Kotaro." He said with a nod and a smile. At least she introduced herself. With the way she was talking he had expected to not get a name. She seemed very hostile towards him, something picked up in Ishval because of the war probably, but he didn't care if she was hostile towards him.
He noticed her thanks was a bit harsh, but thought no more of it. She was putting her trust, what little she had, into a complete stranger. No matter how a man appeared at first, there could always be a sharp change. Julien also thanked him, so he offered a smile. "Its nothing, just an act of kindness."
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