(If you have a place in mind, that's all good! I don't really have a preference ^^)
"Okay," Ranir agreed, deciding it was better than nothing. The city hadn't sounded familiar at all, but there was no helping that. Besides, all she really needed was to find someone who might have heard of the person she was searching for. Maybe here would be the place.
Maybe, she thought grimly. In the months she'd been searching, she'd found nothing. No sign of him, no trace of his passing. As if he didn't exist.
"Let's go," she said, pushing those thoughts aside. "After you."
(okie :) )
Will nodded, leading them back on the path towards town. Worcester was a fairly large town in the middle of England, only a couple hours drive outside of Birmingham. It was a nice place, simple, fairly quiet, and had all the right places that a child would dream of growing up with. The orphanage was placed halfway between the outskirts of the town and the middle, meaning everything was fairly accessible.
Will led them along the path, past the houses and shops with light up Christmas decor. It was sweet, like entering a different world with the spirit of Christmas.
(Sorry for the absence, I had a rough couple of days there. College is such a pain, and I'm getting signed up pretty late TwT)
Ranir looked around in confusion at the lights glowing all around her. It was gorgeous, but the colors swam before her tired eyes as she followed Will down the roads and paths. The town was just as beautiful as the lights, some of the architecture reminding her of her own home in a way that made her heart ache.
"Why are all those lights up?" Ranir asked, quickening her pace momentarily to walk next to Will. "Do you…Are they always like this?"
(All good man, take all the time you need, life is a pain and school is ass, I totally get it)
Will hummed a little to her question, raising a brow as he processed what she had asked before he replied, "Oh! No they're not always like this," He replied, gestured to the lights and the light up Santa with his reindeer in a shop window, "It's Christmas in a few weeks, you know, the time of year most people around the world celebrate?" How could you go your whole life not knowing what this holiday was? He wasn't going to judge, but he did find it slightly strange.
(Thanks! <3 Haha you're very right about that xDD)
"Christmas," Ranir repeated slowly, the word sounding strange and clunky to her. "Sorry, I've never heard of it."
She felt a little uncomfortable in the brightly illuminated area, feeling as though anyone could look at her and see how weakened and tired she'd become over the course of her travels. She'd grown used to darkness and solitude; to be in a brightly lit town now was disconcerting, and she unconsciously adjusted her pace so she was walking a little closer to Will.
Willem didn't comment on how close Ranir was, knowing that if he was in her position he would have done the same, "Oh, okay, that's fine." Maybe she followed a different religion, maybe she'd lived in a more remote country for most of her life where Christmas wasn't so prominent. It was plausible, but Will didn't want to analyze her, not when she probably didn't need him questioning everything at the moment, "The hotel is just up ahead."
"Right," Ranir muttered, shaking her head slightly in an attempt to clear it. "Thank-you."
A good night's sleep would do her good. Somewhere safe and warm. Of course, then the real problem hit her.
"I don't have any money," she said in defeat as she made the realization. "I'm sorry, I should have said earlier, I'm afraid I'm just wasting your time."
"Oh." Will stopped, biting the inside of his cheek. He wasn't going to let Ranir stay on the streets on a night like this. Maybe he could get some money from Johnathan. It was worth a shot, and the only plan he had now, "I might be able to get some from the orphanage," He said after a moment, "Enough for one or two nights."
(I'm back!~ Thanks for waiting <3)
"Are you sure?" Ranir asked uncertainly, unsure why this stranger was going so far out if his way for her. Hospitality was a long forgotten whisper of a memory from happier times. Selfish cruelty had been all she'd known for so long she found it hard to believe he was trying so hard on her account. Yet at the same time, she couldn't believe he was acting out of any hidden malicious intent. His gaze and voice were too sincere and genuine for that.
"Why are you helping me?" she asked bluntly, turning to face him head on, unconsciously stiffening, trying to make herself seem less weak.
(No problem :) I hope you're okay <3)
Will was a little taken a back by the sudden bluntness of her tone, how her posture seemed to change. He was just trying to help, he was not being nice enough? Did it seem like he was doing it for his own gain whatever that might be? "Because I know what it's like to be lonely and cold. No one likes to stay out on the streets," He shrugged, "I just want to do something nice, and it wouldn't be right to leave you in the cold on a night like this."
(Thanks <3 It's on it's way uphill <3)
That took the wind out of her sails. He shoulders slumped, and she took a step back, nodding slightly. "Well. Then I thank you. I hope you know there's nothing I can give you in return."
Maybe it was to warn him off. She didn't really know her own reasoning behind saying it. Maybe she just didn't want him to be holding out hope for…
I doubt I look like I could give him much of anything anyway, she told herself wryly, glancing back up at Will. Maybe he really was just a good kid.
Once again, Will simply shrugged, uncaring for the thought of money or anything else. Even if the thought of a family rung in his head, he knew that wasn't a possibility, he'd given up hope on the dream years ago, "That doesn't matter to me. I just want to help you, that's all."
He offered a small smile, hoping at the very least to convince her to come back to the orphanage to get some money. Or even stay one night there, if Johnathan had anything to stay about it.
(Hey! Still here, just going to be a little slow for a while ^^ Don't worry about me forgetting you, I leave these unread until I have to reply to them, so I promise I'll get to you :)
"Ah…well, who am I to turn you down," Ranir said with a crooked smile that held no actual mirth. "Thank-you. I'll admit it's been a long time since someone has met me with kindness, and not hostility. My trust isn't what it once was."
Though she didn't say it, Will's genuine attempts to reach out meant a lot to her. He reminded her a little of someone she was firmly NOT thinking about, which made her sad and happy both at the same time.
(All good man, I took a break from here anyway just to process some life shit and my birthday aha)
"I understand," Will's smile grew a fraction and he turned around and headed towards the orphanage. It wasn't far from here, they'd make it in a matter of minutes, "I could get why you'd be cautious. And besides, teens these days are assholes and do shit for their own gain."
(oh, I feel that TwT I hope everything's going well for you <3 But happy birthday! When was that? We must have pretty close birthdays, mine was on the 20th ^^)
"I would believe that," Ranir said as she followed along beside Will again. "Seems like most everyone is."
It was a saddening thought, really, but one depressingly true in her experience. She'd seen over and over again how one man's resource became another's treasure, and would devolve into war and brutality. Even one's most trusted could turn against you in an instant.
Turning away from such thoughts, she focused on what was up ahead, wanting to pay attention to where she was going, in case she needed to make a rapid exit at any point.
(Oh nice! Happy late birthday aha and I'm the 24th)
The streets twisted and turned with houses lining each side along with corner stores as they got closer to the middle of the town. Larger buildings could be seen in the distance. The city center. The orphanage was a large building. Old, but still in very good condition for what it was, as were most of the buildings around. It was a dark oak building with a large garden, surprising for how little space there was in the area. It looked to be two or three stories high as well, standing out with the other smaller houses around.
(Eyy, ty! xD That's pretty cool ^^)
Ranir raised an eyebrow at the structure, not expecting something so…nice. She wasn't sure what she had been expecting, but the building wasn't the threatening structure she'd been afraid of.
"What a lovely garden," became her only comment as she paused momentarily to take it all in. "You live here?"
Will raised a brow with a small hum and a nod, "Yeah, lived here since before I can remember," He shrugged. Johnathon had always prided on the building. On how he was able to take care of the kids that lived here. And Will had a small sense of pride as well, "Me and some of the older kids take care of the garden. When the younger ones aren't pulling out the flowers."
"Interesting," Ranir said quietly, almost to herself. It was all so very different from what she was familiar with. Everything from the architecture to Will's seeming complacency with his position at this orphanage were strange and almost hostile to her.
"Don't you wish you had a family?" she asked bluntly, not caring if she sounded insensitive.
That made him stop in his tracks. Half way to the door and for a moment he felt like his heart stopped at the question. What orphan wouldn't want a family? It was his biggest wish and dream. To have someone to call mum or dad and a permanent room and house that he could call his and not someone else's, "I- yes, of course I do. What person in my position wouldn't want a family?"
(Hey! I don't know if you're at all interested in continuing this, and I totally get it if not, I really vanished there. A lot of personal stuff happened. Some really bad things went down and I just was off the internet for quite a while. But if you want to, I'm trying to come back to Notebook just a little bit, and I would be down to kepp going with this.
Up to you tho!)
(Hey man, i've been away too it's all good:) im happy to restart this/continue, but I'm sorry if replies are a bit slow for a while. i hope you're okay!)
(Hey, glad to hear from you! No worries about gaps in replies, I'm still slow myself ^^ Take all the time you need :) I'm doing pretty good, happily.)
That made him stop in his tracks. Half way to the door and for a moment he felt like his heart stopped at the question. What orphan wouldn't want a family? It was his biggest wish and dream. To have someone to call mum or dad and a permanent room and house that he could call his and not someone else's, "I- yes, of course I do. What person in my position wouldn't want a family?"
"You just sound so…" Ranir shrugged, not sure how to explain it. "Ok with it all. You're not upset? I would be. I have been. Why doesn't it bother you more? Or do you just not show it?"
She didn't really care that she was drilling him, even before her current mess she'd always been blunt and forward. Perhaps a part of her wanted to make sure it didn't bother him, just in case…
Just in case what? she asked herself. Just in case you adopt him?
That wasn't happening. She didn't need that kind of pain in her life. She blinked at Will, unsure what response she wanted from him.
