Our story begins on a clear summer day in the City, right by the sea and a perfect place for tourists to get stuck, for much too long, simply enjoying themselves until their budget runs out and they get stranded, or worse. But Draco Starflower was no tourist, she had a mission to get to. From a trusted source, she’d heard there was a fire elemental lurking around the city, and she needed to contact them and figure out a way to get a new generation of Fire elementals rolling to restore to greatness that what was and that what could be. At least, that’s what her dead father thought. Thanks a lot, dead Dad.
She walked along the Carver’s strip mall carefully, sensing they’d be somewhere around here. Their energy was strong, almost like the combined energy of about three people, and she stopped. Three? This had to be wrong, her sources said only one…. it didn’t matter. She had to find whoever was the newest Fire elemental, no matter how many there were.
A man shouted as a little red haired boy ran off, looking both proud of himself and panicked. He'd shoved a bunch of Miscellaneous candy into his hoodie pocket and seemed to be trying to make away with it, but being seen and pursued hadn't been a part of his plan. He yelped as he tripped and skidded onto the pavement, small whispers of fire dancing around him more insistently on the ground as his heartbeat quickened.
(Might reply in a few hours)
Dusk bounced on the balls of his feet in anticipation. He waited in the checkout line of the game store, a Rubik’s cube in a plastic bag between his fingers. He finally found enough money to buy the thing. It was amazing how many coins people dropped in that darn furniture store.
And yes, he didn’t buy the food that was now sitting in the backpack on his shoulders, but he figured a Rubik’s cube was the only thing worth getting through legal means. Besides, Dawn would’ve like it too.
Still, a sliver of worry and annoyance nagged at him that usually came with venturing beyond the safety of the furniture store. His white hair made it easy for him to be recognized, and he didn’t want to be taken away again. Even if he felt confined to this line of stores, there’s gotta be a chance Dawn might walk in one day, right?
Buying the cube was quick and almost painless. He was almost surprised at its mundanity. He exited the game store with the cube in his backpack, just in time to see a red-headed boy racing toward him.
(Stalking because this is adorable.)
Draco ran towards the small redheaded boy who had been chased, scooping him up and dragging him along with her. “Come on, idiot. You’re just who I need, and frankly it’s about time too.” she said, holding one tiny hand in her comparatively larger and stronger one tightly. “You’re a Fire elemental, yes? Well so am I, and I need your help. You’ve discovered the Flame Within, if I’m not mistaken.”
"H-Hey! Who are you? Where are you taking me? Can we get snacks on the way?" Clayton asked, seeming startled at first, but soon easing back into his usual personality when he was away from the shop owner that he'd stolen the candy from. He stuck a piece of the aforementioned candy into his mouth as the unfamiliar woman dragged him along.
Dusk watched the strange boy and woman, his feet frozen to the spot. He had half a mind to go back inside the game store and avoid whatever was going on, but something the woman said made him stay. Fire elemental? That sounded like what he could do… was the lady saying she could do what he could do?
He had a hard time believing it. He’d barely registered the situation unfolding before him. Silently, he began to step back into the game store.
“I’m taking you just far away enough to talk. If you want food, eat what you stole, you little rat.” she snarled, a little too tired for the boy’s shenanigans. She really just wanted to get home to take a bath, to be truthful, not deal with someone else’s snotty kid. “Where are your parents, even?”
"They're dead." Clayton said simply, sticking a bit more candy in his mouth as he walked alongside Draco. "Have been for a while. I live alone now. Why do you think I'm stealing candy?" His stomach growled a bit and he huffed. "Besides the fact that it's kinda fun to steal stuff."
“You could always panhandle. It isn’t that hard, I did it after my parents died. I can still remember my mother’s entrails, strewn across the lawn… anyways, what’s it to you? You’re a child, you don’t know things. Look, I’m sorry you’re in a difficult situation, but we need to talk. I’ll get you some McDonalds or something later, okay? Okay.” she assured, dragging him to the back corner of an alleyway.
Clayton paled a bit at the morbid description and looked away, fidgeting with the fabric of his shirt. "Why would you wanna talk to me? I'm just a stupid fire orphan thief dumbass." He stuck another piece of candy in his mouth, glad to be eating anything at all, honestly. "Why're you looking for random kids in the first place, huh? You're basically kidnapping me. I could scream and they'll come and arrest you."
And again, Dusk was frozen to his spot. There’d been another homeless kid living around here? He’d thought he’d find out by now. Then again, he’d thought he’d be spotted right about now too. But, Dusk thought, he was only noticed for his looks, and he kept to himself. They hadn’t taken a glance in his direction, and he wasn’t keen on attracting attention.
A thought occurred to him. He went back inside the game store, waiting until the boy and the lady passed.
“No, because I can fight, and usually I can fight well. I have power, I’m pretty rich from what I’ve invested over the years. According to the world, I’m Clayton Redwing, the latest in a family stretching back generations, inheriting quite a big allowance. Really, it’s just me. However, I-“ she passed the game store, sensing… something. “And I’m not kidnapping you. Once we’ve chatted, I’ll let you decide what to do with your life, okay? I do have a house though, and good food, and I’d be willing to share.”
"But that's my name…" Clayton mumbled to himself, obviously confused. "How do you know my name? Why do you know my name?" He perked up a bit at the mention of a house and food, though. Honestly, he didn't have anything to lose, so what harm could come from going with a strange lady offering him food who knew a concerning amount of information about him? Having not had his parents around for quite some time, he couldn't see anything wrong with this plan.
Elliot crept out of a storm drain and onto the sidewalk cautiously. They had just heard people running past chasing after a tiny boy, so they doubted they could steal from the usual store at the moment. Even if they were smart about their thievery like usual. Buy something cheap with the little money they had, and walk out the store with five times the amount in their pocket, as just walking in and out of the store didn't look all too credible.
They decided to see if they could find another store to pull the stunt with down the street, and briskly walked. All the other shoppes seemed useless, game store, furniture store (though it was a useful place to sleep at night), even a liquor store. Not one of them was useful at that moment. They began to feel hopeless and tears threatened to fall. They felt flames flicker at their fingertips with the rushing emotions, but they quickly clasped their hands together in hopes to put it out. Their head wasn't clear, but the caustic gas forming in their mind was enough to make them take off running. Without a destination, at that. Though even while directionless, they hoped to find something.
“How convenient that it’s also you name. I’m really Draco, after the dragons of old. But you can call me nothing, because I don’t trust your mouth with my name.” she snapped, stop. She didn’t have all day, but it was a powerful energy and she could swear it was coming from that shop.
"Uh… R-Right…" Clayton stuck close to the woman's side, humming softly to himself. A car breezed by and he tensed up a bit, flames licking his skin. He seemed to have little to no control over his powers, the fire spurred on by his emotions alone. "Where are we going?"
Dusk’s brow furrowed. From his vantage point, he could see the strange lady’s right half of her face and body, and could see that she stopped. Did she see him go in? He hoped she would just walk right by so he could follow them. He didn’t move from his spot, undecided and wanting to see what the lady would do.
“First, I’m going to see what I’m sensing here, and then to my car, to home. I’ll either get you some food on the way, or make you fried rice at home, sticking with my original dinner plans for the week.” she offered, trying to be a bit kinder.
"Okay." Clayton seemed to be at least satisfied with the answer, although he was still a bit confused. When Draco moved, he walked with her, secretly glad to have someone with him for once. He wouldn't admit it, but he did get rather lonely sometimes living all by himself.
“Stay here. Or follow me, I don’t care, just don’t make any noise. I’m going into this shop, I think I’ve found something. Or… someone.” she said, walking into the store and stalking around with precision.
Clayton hummed softly to himself as he trailed after Draco, exploring the shop and occasionally slipping something small into his pockets. He feigned innocence whenever anyone neared him, grinning brightly all the while.
Dusk wasn’t sure why he was hiding. He wasn’t afraid of the lady; she wasn’t like those people in suits and nice clothes who took Dawn away. Maybe because he found it fun.
He slipped behind an aisle with many action titles lining the shelves. He always liked looking at the art on the boxes and things here occasionally. His mind was drifted to what might happen if he was caught, but for some reason, he didn’t want to think about it.
(Y’know, it would be funny if Clay spotted him before Draco did)
(Maybe aha, I don't wanna leave starlight behind tho)
(Yeah yeah, tbh I’m worried my reply sort of made them uninspired or something idk haha)
(Nah they're just not super active sometimes from what I can tell ^^;)
