forum One-On-One Anyone?// PG-13//Any Genre

Started January 22, 2019 by @Toxic_Persephone group

tune

I like it!

Nice! We have that part out. How should our characters meet?

Idrm! Maybe out on the streets though not somewhere terribly public cause I feel like Marcus probably isn't out a lot? But he's your character so I don't know

Lowkey fell asleep

He's really not out very much. Unless its in the alleys. Could have Lilly bump into him on his way to a gang meeting. He's usually pretty beat up too.

Alright. Do you want to start?

//Ah sure! Please excuse my writing, it might be a bit rough, I've had little to no sleep//

The air was cold and crisp this evening. Lighter had to rub his hands together to keep them warm. He missed the heat the ground had provided. Up in the floating cities it got cold and rather hard to breath. Tonight was no exception to that. He groaned, slipping between two buildings.

Out of the street lights it felt unsafe. New Jordan was just that kind of city. He cursed under his breath, leaning against a building. It was too quiet tonight. Shouldn't at least Marx be up and out?

Glancing around, Lighter couldn't shake the feeling he was being either followed, or watched. He pulled his lighter from his pocket, igniting it. It was something.

(Nah you're fine!!

Lillian speed-walked along the streets, tightening her coat around her. Dusk lay freshly fallen, and a thin layer of fog coated the pavements. She focused on the music blasting into her ears, looking straight head, wanting to get home.
Her phone buzzed: Nathan.
Speed up. Molly's not happy.
Sighing loudly, shaking off the cold, she broke into a jog, looking down at her feet.

Fire enchanted him. The small light it gave off was enough to give him chills. Or was it the chill seeping into his bones? He didn't know. The fire was extinguished and he moved to carry on. The gang was waiting. He didn't have time to self harm.

Within a few moments of exiting the alley, Lighter had already collided with someone. He blinked, shocked out of his mind. Pain flared in his abdomen, the result of his broken rib his father had given him.

Lillian fell backwards, winded. "Christ, look where you're going!" she snapped and looked up at the stranger she'd ran into. A relatively young ginger man stood in front of her, covered from head to toe in bruises and cuts. She took a step back, surprised.
"Um, sorry." She then noticed he was painfully thin. "You alright?" she asked nonchalantly.

Lighter was thrown off by her tone. He took a step back, an arm instinctively covering his face. He was used to being hit when someone snapped at him. Her apology made him cringe. "I'm fine…" He mumbled, looking down at his feet.

Lili's heart dropped at the man's move to shield himself. "I'm sorry I snapped?"
He looked nervous, uncomfortable. He looked away from her, shuffled his feet.
"I'm sorry for snapping, I'm-" she reconsidered her words. "Was. Was in a rush. I'm Lili."

“It’s fine.” He repeated the phrase again, under his breath. He was weary of her kindness. “They call me Lighter.”

He glanced down the alley, worried. Marx wouldn’t be too happy if he missed today’s meeting. Then again, he might forgive him this one time.

Lillian couldn't help but be bothered by the countless injuries he sported. "Are you sure okay?" she gave a dry nod towards his cuts and bruises.

“Yes, I am.” This time his voice was harsh. Lighter’s entire life had been filled with violence. He had no idea how to act around this female. “They just need treated.”

"OK, well, get them treated," Lili advised seriously. Slightly intimidated by his harsh tone, she started to back away; she couldn't be sure how this would end.

He nodded softly. Seeing her weariness of him changed his attitude a bit.

“Ah, don’t leave yet.” He said suddenly, biting his lip. He didn’t want her out alone here. Especially with Marx around. “There is a gang that hangs around here. Don’t get in trouble.”

There is. Lili heard it. She turned back around to face him. "I heard about them. Have you every actually seen them?"

He nodded. Dont tell her. “I’ve seen them a few times.” He lied. He hadn’t only seen them, he was one of them. He hid his wrist, where they had marked him a part of the gang with a blade and a few scars. “I’ve ran into them a few times. I know the safer sections of the city, however. I don’t want you thrown off the edge.” He mumbled. Once broken out of his shell, he was rather kind.

A gentle smile split her face. "Thanks. I've been around here a few times but early in the day, so no real risk. I've never really seen them though. My mom's ridiculously protective."

“It really isn’t smart to be out here right now.” He said firmly, folding his arms. “I’ll help you but I do need to know which direction you’re going in.”

Taken aback, Lili took a second to answer. "Sure. I'm heading North, towards Eglinton Road."

His mood had changed quicker than the cars that had passed. She hadn’t hit him so she was alright for now. “And you chose to walk straight through here? Geez.” He cursed under his breath, rubbing at a bruise just above his left cheek.

Easily offended, Lili took a step back. "Well I'm not exactly a defenceless child. I've learned to take care of myself."

Lighter glanced at her. He growled lowly and pulled his lighter from his pocket. He gave it a few clicks, rather upset at the moment. “Could you defend yourself against a whole gang?” He asked, knowing fully that he could’ve been the one to have to pin her down if Marx were to see her. “Or me?” He wouldn’t harm her, but he would scare her a little. He grabbed her wrist, pulling her close to him. “What if I were only out here to capture girls like you?”

(sorry)
Lili silently swallowed down her intimidation. She held still, the point of contact between them burning, demanding attention. She wouldn't give in.
"Well we'd all be screwed, wouldn't we?" she answered quietly.

//You’re alright.//

“We all would… yes.” For a moment, Lighter grew weary of their stillness. To him, the demanding space was terrifying. He’d refuse to close the distance, to let her get any closer to him.

He released her suddenly, dipping his head. “Sorry for that. I wouldn’t actually hurt you but I was proving a point. I’m probably the smallest of-“ He cut himself off. Too close. “I can’t even win against them.”

Attempting to clear her head, Lili was too distracted to catch his slip up.
"I'll take your word for it." She dusted her coat off and looked up at Lighter.
"Well, let's move. The sooner we get away from here the better. Those gang-associated assholes won't wait for us to leave."

He cringed at her words. He deserved that. Pretending that he wasn’t one of those gang-associated assholes was indeed an asshole move. “Y-Yeah.”

He started forwards, hands in his pocket. Lighter could really go for a cigarette at the moment. He had promised himself he would quit but it was harder than he thought.