Avrey tilted his head, first at the direction the man had so suddenly gone off into, then to Mythrius worried gaze. He turned to Singh, clearing his throat slightly to invoke some feeling of authority. "Doctor, why dont y-you get a group together t-to follow that guy." Avrey whispered to the ghost.
Dr Singh nodded, giving a halfhearted salute and then disappearing into the air.
Avrey looked back to the woman, now more utterly confused than before. What was she? And why was that guy after her?
"Wh-why would you have… um… en-enemies?" He stuttered, trying not to sound rude
“You’re having him followed?”Mythrius squeaked.
If she could sense Singh, there was a chance, however small, that this other would sense him. He would then come on the hunt, and she would undoubtedly be the prey. And what did that mean for the others in the shop?
“I… ‘Tis… I met some folks I should not have. Things got out of hand, and they misunderstood,”she said quickly and quietly.
It likely sounded like an excuse, but it was the best half-lie Mythrius could come up with at the moment.
Avrey nodded slightly, scooting over on the bench to make room for Dr Singh. Not that it really mattered.
"Y-yeah. But don't worry, the guys watching him are-are the best. They're not a-as easily caught as… m-my friend over here." He said, glancing at the now glaring doctor. "…hopefully."
He tapped his fingers on the table as he listened, face contorting with confusion.
"Okay…" Avrey acknowledged half-heartedly. She didn't want to expose the truth, which was highly understandable. After all, they had just met.
Mythrius nodded at his reply, though she was still skeptical. Drāckonians were natural predators, even while in human form. No drāckonian appreciated being followed.
“Hopefully,”she said quietly.
She quickly noticed his expression and sighed, looking down at her nearly finished mocha. He had undoubtedly seen that her words were false, but what else could she say?
“I… I do not know how to properly explain everything. To put it simply, and honestly, I… angered a group that I had considered allies, and now I realize that they were much worse than I initially thought. And, I know not how to get away from them,”she explained timidly.
Mythrius abruptly realized how shy she’s been acting around Avrey and questioned it. Why was she so bashful now? Where had her typical bold nature gone? Or was she more afraid and alone than she had initially thought?
Avrey nodded along, resting his head in his hands as he listened.
"I kn-know the feeling…" He mumbled, rubbing the collar of his jacket. He had noticed Mythrius's nervousness, a bit confused at the sudden change in demeanor.. Perhaps it was the reality of the dangers setting in…
Then, at the most unfortunate moment, Avrey's manager came out of the back room.
"KINGSFORD!" He roared, stomping up and dragging Avrey behind the counter. "You useless slut! What the hell are you doing??"
Avrey's face turned red as he stared to tear up a bit, praying to all things good and holy that he wouldn't start crying.
Mythrius was grateful that Avrey seemed to understand, and that she wouldn’t have to go into greater detail. The thought of being hunted was unnerving as it was. Including Avrey, an innocent and delightfully unusual man, in the hunt would be torture.
When the manager came out, she watched him closely. Her eyes narrowed at the way he treated Avrey. She stifled a growl, then turned to her mocha and finished it.
Afterward, she stood and headed over to the counter. Her bold demeanor had returned, a hint of something dark beneath.
“Pardon me, but would you kindly refrain from such harsh actions? Avrey here was keeping me company while I was having a rough moment. And, he made me an excellent mocha. Speaking of, could I have a refill, Avrey? Just let me know if I must pay for it,”Mythrius said, her deep blue eyes boring into the manager with a dangerous gleam. Though, her gaze softened at Avrey and she gave the youth a sweet smile.
(Hello?)
(Bumping just in case)
(Oh sorry I completely forgot to respond)
(You’re good. I was just checking)
Avrey smiled softy, mouthng a thank you as the manager pressed her lips together.
"Don't let it happen again, Kingsford." He growled before stomping off to the back room. Avrey sighed in relief and took Mythrius's cup.
"Th-th-thank you." He mumbled, still a bit red. "I-I-I'll give you the refill for free."
He turned back to the strange woman once he had finished, tilting his head. "I-Is that why you're here? Are y-you running from.. them?" He whispered softly, eyes glancing to where the other mysterious man had disappeared.
Mythrius subtly nodded at Avrey, then watched the manager leave with narrowed eyes. When the manager was gone, she turned back to Avrey.
“You are welcome,”she replied.
Mythrius smiled softly when Avrey mentioned the free refill, then grabbed the mocha when it was finished. She hesitated to reply.
“Truthfully… yes. I had hoped to escape them a while ago, yet I am not very… inconspicuous,”she answered quietly.
Mythrius didn’t dare tell him why she was so obvious. It worried her that Avrey might not like the fact that she was the only daughter of the notorious drāckonian named Lucitius, who was well respected for his powerful abilities but disliked by some for his ambiguous morality.
Avrey nodded, tapping his fingers as he thought for a moment. "I-If you don't mind me asking, wh-why are they so intent on following you? I mean, I-I-I know you made them mad somehow, b-but I would have given up by now."
He knew it was cruel, but he needed to pry. Her aura was so… strong. otherworldly even. There had to be a better reason to why she was here. A better explanation of who she was. Besides, if his friends were to get involved in this, he would have to know a lot more in order to truly trust the situation
Mythrius hesitated again, trying to think of a way to reply. Subtlety only seemed to gain more questions, but being blunt would likely scare Avrey. She sighed, then took a deep breath. She was never good at subtlety.
“I had gotten close to the leader, and had nearly become his co-leader, until I made a mistake. Now, the leader is out for mine blood, and too many of them know who I am,”she whispered.
Avrey nodded, raising a hand to his chin as he processed the information. She was being awfully vague about the whole situation, which was, of course, understandable. Why explain your past to a complete stranger? Avrey knew that feeling as well…
"I-I-I see…" He mumbled, thinking harder about what could be done. "S-so you got too close to someone you shouldn't have, m-made them mad somehow, a-a-and they're after you?" He repeated, attempting to make her explain a bit more.
Mythrius nodded slightly.
“Well, it was not that I should not have gotten with him, yet… actually, it is… yet ‘tis not… oh, I know not… He was such a gentleman to me, yet… he is what mine father would call a tyrant, basically corrupt. When I realized that, I tried to get away from him, yet… he would not let me go. Thus, I attacked him, and… I… I tore out his eye and cut his arm off,”she explained shakily, looking away as a maroon tear, a blood tear, slid down her cheek. She quickly wiped it off.
“I am not proud of mine actions, yet it gave me the opportunity to escape. Unfortunately for me, he wishes me dead for what I did to him, and he will not stop until one of us dies,”she added.
Mythrius looked back at Avrey, hoping she hadn’t just scared him away. He was the only trustworthy person she had met in a long while, and she was truly frightened that she might lose that connection.
Avrey continued to tap his fingers, leaning in a bit as he listened.
"So… he m-made you trust him, then kept you from leaving?" Avrey repeated, timidly. "S-sounds like someone I know…"
His eyes widened at the gory remarks as to how Mythrius escaped, grimacing slightly. "god-goddamn…" He mumbled. He had seen things, he had experienced things, and he had… done things that he wasn't proud of as well. So he wasn't afraid of the actions… he simply understood.
"I-I am so sorry…" He mumbled, keeping his eyes on the woman's as he spoke. "Thank-thank you for telling me. That w-will help a lot."
Mythrius hesitated at his words, then shook her head.
“He did not make me trust him, he fell in love with me. Then, he tried to introduce me to his darker habits,”she clarified.
She then averted her eyes at his reaction to her description. She didn’t want to seem like a monster to Avrey, even though she had actually enjoyed attacking the man.
Mythrius nodded at his words.
“Thank you for helping me. I had been cut off from everyone I trust a while ago, so ‘tis a great relief to finally have another ally,”she said softly.
Avrey put his head down, biting the inside of his cheek as he nodded solemnly.
"Oh… I-I-I see…" He mumbled, imagining what it must have been like for her. To be lured in…
He simply nodded, a slight smile spreading across his lips as he chuckled lightly.
"Yeah, I mean, I-it's what I do." He shrugged, scratching the back of his neck as his attention turned back to the countertop.
"Its uh… its been a while since i've h-had an ally l-like that too." He answered with the same air, reminiscing for a moment.
"H-how about… how about we meet up later to t-talk more about this?"
Mythrius nodded in acknowledgment without saying anything else about the man. A small, shy smile appeared on her face when he smiled at her. It grew bigger at his words.
“I am glad I am not alone anymore,”she said.
Mythrius paused at his offer, a bit surprised, then chuckled.
“That would work. Where do you wish to meet? I know few places here, and I can barely remember how to get back to mine apartment,”she asked, snickering at her predicament.
Avrey's smile only grew, letting out a small chuckle as he toyed with his hair a bit more.
"S-same here…"
Her quips only made him laugh even harder, as he leaned on the counter and thought for a moment. "I-I get off work at 5… you can tell time, r-right? An-anyways, meet me at the fountain in seattle center. I-I-Its a few blocks from the needle."
Mythrius snickered at his reaction, a genuine smile forming on her face.
She hesitated when he suggested the time and where they could meet.
“I admit I only have limited knowledge on telling time here. And… I am rather unfamiliar with this city, or human cities in general. Yet, I am a quick learner,”she replied.
Mythrius then froze when she realized what she had said. It was likely quite obvious now that she was not truly human, nor even from Earth. How would Avrey react to that?
Avrey smiled at the response, nodding happily. "If not, I could p-probably get you a map or something…"
He trailed off as his listening went back to Mythrius. Human cities… She said the word with distaste, as if she wasn't quite… human.
But Avrey was quite used to this type of language. The unfamiliarity, the dissociation, it was nothing he wasn't used to.
He tenderly smiled, shrugging a bit as he busied himself with wiping the counters. "Hey, I-I can help you out if you need it. I know h-how it feels to be… w-well… lost."
(You were actually right on the money with the distate, lol. Most drāckonians disdain humanity)
“A… map could help,”she said, a bit timidly. He had realized what she’d said. Should she run? Did she just lose him as an ally?
Mythrius watched him closely, worried. When he gave her a smile and shrugged, she breathed a sigh of relief. Then, she remembered his ghostly companions, and it made sense that he would be more open-minded than most.
“I thank you. Assistance would be greatly appreciated,”she replied.
(Ayyy! Nice!)
Avrey nodded, quickly grabbing a small map of the downtown area that was under the counter, conveniently.
His countenance was still friendly, open, and very understanding. He knew fully what it was like to be outcasted and different. He knew too well the struggles of being rejected and alone. There was no way he wanted anyone else to have to feel that too.
"I-It's really no problem! Honestly, I-I know what might be going through your head, and I… I really want to help you out."
Mythrius took the map and studied it, trying to find where she was. It took her a moment, but she finally pinpointed the cafe, then found the spot Avrey had mentioned to meet. She then looked up and smiled a bit at his expression.
It soothed her to know that she finally had someone she could trust again. It wasn’t that she was necessarily an outcast, but after angering her former lover she had been cut off from her family and their allies. She wasn’t sure how either. Her father, the unique individual that he was, should’ve found her by now, but he hadn’t. It still confused her.
Mythrius chuckled happily at his words.
“I am glad. I truly am. It has been quite harsh, being this alone,”she said.
