conductor of the struggle bus [open]

[exuviiated]

[So, after he gets gracelessly dunked and... purified, he supposes, he runs.

Back to his little place in the slums, and there he hides out until he feels ready to face the world again. That comes with time and hunger, and finds him at the mall with what currency he's managed to get from pawning off things he doesn't need.]

Hey, is there any map of the mall? I'm-- I'm lost.

[Very lost.]

Comments

[starvelingsoulless]

[Alexis has been working on leaving; they'll be out during the daytime if they don't go in direct sunlight, and honestly, there is a regrettable lack of nightlife in this city. It's all civilians, nobody interesting. If they want to get any info, to really settle in here, they'll need to make friends.

Regardless of however obnoxious it sounds.]

Likely. Couldn't tell you where it is, but it's around somewhere.

[exuviiated]

[Oh. Okay. He looks over the person he's speaking-- has been spoken to by-- and quickly settles on looking around again to find anybody else. On being denied that, he turns back.]

Okay. I'll-- ask someone else, or keep looking, I guess.
--I'm Aaron. What's your name?

that's a good instinctual reaction to alexis, aaron. thank you for having common sense

[starvelingsoulless]

Place isn't that large; bound to be a map somewhere around here, unless there's none just to make it amusing.

Alexis. You been here long? Don't think I've seen you on the network.

[exuviiated]

Hi. Alexis. Why're you here? Lost, too?

[He's tripping over his words. He needs to stop talking and collect his thoughts.]

[diediediediediedie]

[As it turns out, the mall is a nice place to hide from Rose Quartz, who has almost no reason to be in there. A green woman with triangle hair can't blend in with crowds and previous adventures in shoplifting has made her unwelcome in the actual shops.

But there is no Rose Quartz here. That's worth it.

...There is also this guy, a person she's not certain she should be angry at.]

Oh...You.

[exuviiated]

[There's absolutely no way for this to end well if she wants to get revenge. Aaron's healing magic can't do much against her, and he really isn't much of a fighter.

Here's to hoping she wasn't looking for revenge for his bad advice.]

Yeah. Me.
--hi.

[diediediediediedie]

[Revenge isn't first on her mind. It's not...not there, but it seems sort of irrelevant at this point.

...What does seem relevant is that there seem to be no shadows on him anymore. Had he or had he not been the one recruiting for them?]

You've lost your shadows, I see.

[It's halfway between a question and an interrogation. What's your game, Aaron?]

[starvelingsoulless]

Easier to buy clothes than take them. Not like it's any of your business? I just answered your question, it's not like you're my best friend suddenly.

[Alexis takes a bite of a hamburger that they pushed off to the side when Aaron's question came. It looks...honestly kind of like a flavor explosion. There is a lot on that burger.]

[exuviiated]

Yeah, I got...

[Dunked in a magic fountain by people who were my enemies at that point, but aren't now, I guess? seems a little off the mark and ramble-y.]

They're gone now. It wasn't a good investment.

[He looks her over. Does she have any shadows on her?]

[exuviiated]

Well, it doesn't hurt to be friendly.

[Aaron fairly stares at them, refusing to look away. He can be offsetting, too.]

Do you have any friends here?

[starvelingsoulless]

...I don't get it.

[Alexis takes another bite out of the burger, keeping keen eye contact with Aaron. Their expression is cold.]

Why would I need friends? I've got a knife.

[exuviiated]

A knife is not going to heal you when you get hurt.

[Tactful! He shrugs, and doesn't let the stare drop.]

It's a good thing to have connections.

[unrecovered]

The little triangular kiosks have them.

[Wash has a bag from the mall's pet store in his right hand, a bandage on his left hand, and his poker face firmly in place. He can be calm, but if it turns out Aaron's made another deal, Wash is dropping everything and hauling his ass back up to the top of the spire.]

[Your move, kid.]

[exuviiated]

[His move indeed. Aaron wonders if he can answer quickly and get the heck outta dodge, because his chest feels like it's closing up-- he's nervous, and guilty, and it-- it feels kind of good, because he's normal again, but really bad because of obvious reasons.]

Oh. Thanks.

[He looks around for a kiosk, seeing one a few yards away. Score.]

I'm sorry for...

[Hand gestures.]

It got out of hand.

[diediediediediedie]

[Well, she's cranky but that's not exactly shadow influence as much as it is standard operating procedure.]

Was your body destroyed as well?

[Apparently that was important now.]

[unrecovered]

Little bit, yeah.

[On one hand, Wash isn't really enjoying seeing Aaron panic. On the other hand, it's a pretty good indicator that he hasn't made another deal.]

Are you okay?

[starvelingsoulless]

You don't get hurt. It's a simple solution.

Connections aren't the same thing. You use connections. Don't have t'like them.

[exuviiated]

N-- no?

[He's incredibly lucky. Also, his hands are clenched tightly and tucked in his pants pockets. Stress.]

I just got dunked into the fountain.

[exuviiated]

I'm doing fine. Are you?

[Concentrating on how someone else feels will help to calm him down. It has to.]

[exuviiated]

Friends are great. You can be as tough as you want, but life is pretty unfulfilling if you don't have people to share it with.

[Like he knows. He does.]

[diediediediediedie]

The fountain...oh, yes, the one on top of the spire.

[Which heals shadows. Good to know. File that away for later. That means he has his...

Suddenly, she sees an opportunity.]

I assume you have your healing magic back?

[unrecovered]

For the most part.

[He was pulled back to Chorus not long after tossing Aaron in that fountain. For Wash, that day was months ago. Still, if Aaron doesn't already know, then Wash sees no reason to advertise it. He nods towards the greater part of the mall.]

What are you looking for?

[exuviiated]

I do.

[That, he's happy about, and he doesn't know why he was ever happy to lose it.]

[It's hard to hurt someone with healing magic.]

Do you need anything?

[exuviiated]

I'm gonna go get some food. I've been...

[More hand gestures.]

Hiding out at my place, I guess, ever since.

[He still looks abashed, but much less panicky than when Wash had first addressed him.]

[starvelingsoulless]

...I don't understand what you're gettin' at.

[Alexis breaks eye contact. Man, this is a good burger. It tastes like unresolved emotional issues.]

People are annoying.