[AC] Counting Stars [1-on-1 rp]

Subject: Re: [AC] Counting Stars [1-on-1 rp] Mon Mar 17, 2014 7:34 pm

Rue followed after Manuel when he started off. She had little trouble keeping up, noting that he'd slowed his pace a tad. She appreciated that he did so, showing that he'd been listening when she spoken up about it.

He pointed out several things to her and when she asked more about them, he did his best to explain. Havana was foreign to her. She wanted to learn as much as she could about it, especially since it would be her home now.

Rue blinked, sparing him a glance when he spoke up. It was true enough and no doubt easy to pick out, given how she'd acted. She was curious by nature. If she had some leeway to see or learn something new, she'd take it.

"Twelve years of looking at fields and trees will do that to a person," she replied lightly. "We were pretty isolated out in the country. I wanted to leave but I never really had the means or the money."

Rue knew of a whole world outside her door but wasn't getting anywhere to see it. That often left her anxious of her home. Now, time travel or no, she was able to take in some place new. It did leave her excited, drew her out of her shell a little bit.

She started forward again then, allowing Manuel to lead on when she did so. Havana was lively and while she wasn't entirely used to it, she wasn't too uncomfortable either. As long as there was no cause for alarm, she would be alright.

----[x]----

Il Lupo wasn't sure if Rekka had gone back to her room yet and found the doll there. At some point or another, he figured he would hear about it. Then again, perhaps not. Rekka hadn't been in much of a sharing mood as of late.

The thought was shaken away however. He didn't know why that little animal doll was so important to her. It all went back to needing something of her own, he figured. She had nothing here and what he took was the last straw for her. Giving something back would do little harm at this point.

He wandered down the halls, hands tucked behind his back. He hadn't seen hint nor hair of her all day. At some point, she'd have to go back to that room.

Il Lupo tried not to dwell on why he was so anxious to see her reaction. Perhaps he simply wanted to see her do something rather than sulk the days away. Getting something out of her, even anger, was better than nothing at all.

He didn't want to admit that her shutting away her emotions had left him baffled. Still, it had and he was doing what he could to fix it.

Il Lupo paused near her room, the door left ajar. He peered in, catching her there. She held the doll close to her, almost looking as if she half expected it to disappear. A smirk tugged at his lips though he said nothing to interrupt her. At this point, he knew she would feel him there. Somehow she always did.

Subject: Re: [AC] Counting Stars [1-on-1 rp] Mon Mar 17, 2014 8:29 pm

Rue had blinked up at him, a little surprised. It took her a moment to answer him, her eyebrows knitted together for a brief second. The place she described wasn’t one that was very interesting to picture. In fact it would stand to reason that she might want to leave and see something new.

Manuel spared a nod as he answered her, “I suppose one might tire of such sights.”

They lingered a moment before he’d lead them off again to show her the other colorful places of Havana. It was by great luck she’d arrived here and not on some abandoned island though if she was aware of that or not was another matter entirely. Perhaps it was not a thought she wanted to indulge in.

Occasionally Rue would ask questions and he would answer but for the moment she seemed content just to observe it all. If she was content with the way things were as they walked then Manuel would not break the cycle they were in now. Perhaps she had thoughts that shouldn’t be interrupted.

Their pace had slowed considerably at some point, mostly for the sake of her knee. Manuel wasn’t sure how much she could take even with her brace. Rue had not spoken up about it either and so all he could do was guess.

“I hope you are finding Havana agreeable,” he said at some point when she’d taken to observing another large building, “considering it seems to be your home now.”

----[x]----

Rekka wasn’t sure how long she stood there, baffled as to how Chespin had gotten back to her. Anyone who had enough weight to throw around wasn’t anyone Rekka would peg as giving it back. Even her bag had been taken and that was the least important thing out of everything she’d had after all.

Her brow had furrowed at some point, unable to come up with an answer. She drew Chespin away from where she’d brought him to her lips in thought, a habit she had when she really got into what she was doing or deep in thought. It had been a long time since she’d done either since arriving here however.

The feeling of eyes on her caught her attention eventually, that familiar prickling feeling the telltale sign. It had becoming alarmingly normal though there was little Rekka could do about it. Most people didn’t bother to listen to her.

She wasn’t sure what possessed her to look up and see who it was this time. It was the first time in nearly two weeks that she’d cared about much of anything even minutely. The door had been left open, there hadn’t been a reason to close it when she’d intended to come and go. Il Lupo was there, face shadowed by that ever present hood of his and yet there was a smirk playing on his lips.

“Do you need something?” she wondered. She didn’t quite notice that she wasn’t averting her eyes form him, her curiosity on the return of the toy in her hands keeping her preoccupied from such observations.

He might take this as an invitation to come in though Rekka found she didn’t quite care. Curiosity was still burning in her at the reappearance of Chespin and it left her a little distracted.

Subject: Re: [AC] Counting Stars [1-on-1 rp] Tue Mar 18, 2014 12:05 am

The response was a simple one though her own description was simple as well. If she got it in her head, she would draw what her home looked like. She preferred it that way, being able to easily show things than explain them.

She kept at Manuel's side, ignoring any pain that might shoot through her knee. Rue wasn't sure if it would get used to this humidity or not. Only a day had passed, after all.

There was little conversation, only a few questions here and there. Rue was a introvert kind of person, content in observing. Her gaze didn't linger on any nasty sights however, once passing gallows. She had to remind herself that this was a time when hangings were common.

When he spoke again, she bobbed her head in a nod. "I'm a little concerned about the humidity," she replied quickly. She placed her hands behind her back, cupping her elbows. "It's never been good on my knee but there's little I can do about that. I enjoy the sights though and maybe given some time, I'll find a little more to like about it."

Rue hadn't been expecting any of this so adjusting would take time. Regardless of that fact, she would do what she could to remain content her. She knew homesickness would be inevitable. Regardless, she'd try to remain optimistic if she was able to.

"What brought you here, Manuel?" she inquired after, sparing a quick glance his way. She hadn't asked much about him since the day before. His answers were rather simple ones, seeming to feel no need to go into detail. She was curious however and that curiosity was rarely quashed.

----[x]----

She was quiet for a long time, simply taking in that little animal doll of hers. Il Lupo couldn't begin to explain what it was. He'd never seen any animal like it, after all.

Eventually she felt his gaze on her and turned. For once since the weeks she'd withdrawn into herself, she met his gaze. Il Lupo felt a little rush of pride in him though it didn't show. If anything it was an improvement, one that he had drawn out of her.

The question was a quick one. He motioned toward her little doll then before his hand fell back to his side, "that little doll was hard to get back, you know?" he explained.

In truth, it hadn't been. He had enough in ranking that it made it quite simple. Rekka didn't have to know that however and he had no intention of telling her. If she figured it out at one point or another, she was free to call him out on it.

"I suppose it pays, however," he carried on, placing his hands behind his back. "At least you look a fair bit happier."

If anything, she couldn't deny that. The relief was there and he could see it, provided there was confusion there as well. Il Lupo didn't need to give any answers as to why he had done it. He simply had and hoped that she wouldn't make a fuss over the act.

Subject: Re: [AC] Counting Stars [1-on-1 rp] Tue Mar 18, 2014 3:37 pm

The day was passing slowly though this was nothing new to Manuel. As someone who’d grown to be patient, watching over his coffee plants more days than not, it was merely something of a familiarity in his life. He did have to wonder how Rue took it. She didn’t seem to mind but in the days that came she might grow impatient for something to happen. In the end they would just need to see what happened.

Finally he brought about the topic of what she thought of this place as a whole. Rue would be spending quite a bit of time here so she might as well get to know the place and come to like it. Though she hadn’t shown any negativity towards much of anything she could have been hiding a thought or two.

She spoke of the humidity being a problem but nothing more. Manuel spared a nod glad to know that nothing too serious had followed. Weather might always be a problem no matter where one was.

“At least you enjoy the sights,” he pointed out. Considering she would be seeing a lot of them it would be better than not liking what she saw at all.

A moment or two passed before Rue was asking about himself again. He smiled a little, shaking his head. That trinket on his hat swayed again, a familiar motion to him by now though occasionally he caught Rue watching it move. He gestured to her when he spoke though the answer would not be what she would expect, he was sure.

“There were many reasons at the time though many I’ve forgotten by now.” That was something of a lie, he reflected even when Rue tossed him a skeptical look.

----[x]----

Il Lupo seemed to straighten, drawing his shoulders back a bit when she turned to him. It might have been a trick of the mind though Rekka couldn’t be sure. She didn’t have the chance to figure it out or not before he was speaking, gesturing towards her or maybe it was the toy he meant to point at.

There was something in his voice that had been missing the rare few times he actually bothered to come visit her over the last couple of weeks. It wasn’t that relentlessly mocking tone he’d originally had with her but there was more feeling to it. Maybe Rekka was just reading too much into it, mistaking what could simply just be amusement as something else.

Her brow puckered, turning to blink down at Chespin again. It smiled lifelessly back at her as it had been made to do. Still, the sight of it and the feel of it in her hands was a comfort in itself. She couldn’t be sure that it was a hard endeavor or not but whatever his reasons he’d gotten it back.

Before she had a chance to ask why he’d gone out of his way to do that when he’d been the one to take everything in the first place Il Lupo had spoken, drawing her gaze back to him. For a moment she could only blink at him. Did she look happier? It was hard to tell after the last few weeks.

“Do I?” she wondered. It was hard to imagine now but then she wasn’t always a great judge of what she was feeling either.

She shifted, turning towards Il Lupo a little more though she noticeably did not put Chespin down. She was half worried it would be snatched away again if she let it out of her sight but carrying it around everywhere seemed silly and childish. It left her conflicted, uncertain of what to do at all.

Subject: Re: [AC] Counting Stars [1-on-1 rp] Wed Mar 19, 2014 12:40 am

Rue found herself studying him on and off when her gaze wasn't on something else. If Manuel took notice of this, he didn't make mention of it. She was merely curious and his answers weren't exactly informative.

Still, that drew her curiosity. Rue just wanted to learn more about him, about anything if she was able. Perhaps through observing, she'd be able to.

His response was simple enough and she nodded in agreement. She was finding that he was a man of few words, it seemed, not that she minded that.

Rue wasn't sure what she expected in answer to her question. Not much, considering the day before he kept things simple. Still, she tipped her head, watching as a small smile tugged at his lips. It was almost gentle though she was discovering this man seemed to be just that.

Rue resisted pouting at the lack of an answer. She wasn't sure if he was telling the truth or just being vague on purpose. She couldn't find reason to complain however.

"I see," she replied simply then, "did you sail a lot before this point then? What's that like?"

Rue couldn't deny her curiosity despite her fear of the water. She admired it from afar and that was enough for her. She still worried about having to sail herself but until that came up, she wouldn't think about it.

----[x]----

She took a long moment to study him, much to his surprise. These last couple of weeks, she was more than content just to look away. Having her gaze fixated at him was a bit of a good change.

Rekka was quiet, looking at the strange doll again. She studied it, seeming to feel comfortable with it nearby. Il Lupo wouldn't inquire how something so childish could such a comfort. It was hers and he would leave it at that.

Eventually, she spoke up, her attention drawn to him again. Il Lupo resisted any snarky reply for the moment. It was for the best. He didn't want to cause her to withdraw into herself again.

"You do," he answered carefully. "I can only hope it is up from here on out."

He spared a glance at that odd stuffed doll again. The animal, whatever kind it was, was completely foreign to him. Was it something that she was more familiar with, perhaps from her own home?

"I must say, that little thing is quite odd," he pointed out, sparing a nod toward the doll. "What in the world is it?"

Il Lupo wasn't sure if he saw correctly or not but he could have sworn some amusement danced on her features. It was difficult to tell however, given she normally kept a rather blank expression these days.

Subject: Re: [AC] Counting Stars [1-on-1 rp] Wed Mar 19, 2014 1:52 pm

It wasn't hard to see that the more Manuel kept the conversation from himself the more Rue pushed for information about him. Perhaps she wasn't even trying to be subtle about it, pushing for as much information as she could get. He shook his head at that. Never before had someone been this adamant about knowing him and so soon to boot.

She had grown thoughtful again perhaps thinking of something else to ask him. The sights around them seemed to be forgotten for the time being. Perhaps if something nearby happened to catch her eye it might break the trend but for now Manuel would endure the questions.

Glancing her way proved that she was pouting at him and though he shook his head and scoffed in amusement a smile tugged at his lips. Rue was not at all subtle. At this point he very well could have continued to brush aside her questions just to see how else she tried to sway him to answer.

"Come now," Manuel said, gesturing to her, "you are supposed to be growing acquainted with Havana."

Rue didn't seem to appreciate that though Manuel paid it little attention. The better she knew Havana now the less issues might arise if something happened later. He'd rather her not get into trouble because she was paying more attention to himself than to the places around her.

----[x]----

It was quiet in that stretch of time before Rekka spoke. She couldn't begin to guess what Il Lupo was trying to do now, it was such a one-eighty from what he'd been like in that first week or so. Maybe it had something to do with the marriage that had been arranged or perhaps Gian had pushed him into this. A thoughtful frown tugged at her lips with those thoughts.

Il Lupo had continued to say she was looking better though she still didn't feel like it. There wasn't much of a point in saying that though. If nothing else they'd both see in time. Besides, she wasn't much in the mood to start an argument over something trivial like this.

"We'll see," she murmured, offering a small shrug.

There was a brief bit of silence once more. She couldn't begin to figure out what was on Il Lupo's mind in that time. The hood that shadowed his face made it difficult to tell what his entire expression was when he was still a fair distance away. Truthfully, Rekka wasn't sure if she'd be able to gauge what was on his mind even if he wasn't.

The question wasn't so much a surprise as Rekka had half-expected it. There would be nothing like this in the world for centuries after all, of course he'd be curious as to what it was supposed to be. Still, it really drove home the fact that she'd never be able to play Pokémon ever again among other games. If it hadn't been for that thought she might have found Il Lupo's curiosity about the Chespin toy in her hands a little funny.

"It's nothing, just a toy," Rekka told him, reluctantly placing the toy on the dresser top. Even she had to admit that carrying it around all day would be childish.

Subject: Re: [AC] Counting Stars [1-on-1 rp] Wed Mar 19, 2014 10:40 pm

As she was coming to expect, he didn't answer her again. Instead, he tried to direct her attention around them. If anything, there might have been a point to that. She did need to know this place if it was to be her home.

Still, it didn't please her to be brushed off so easily and she found herself pouting again. A scoff left him at that. She was never one about subtly when it came to her emotions, not anymore. Unless she was particularly upset, she was more or less an open book.

All of it was pushed aside, her gaze wandering again. Someone was playing a violin though she couldn't place where. She perked up a little at the sound, hoping to see the player somewhere.

Rue reached out, tugging carefully at his sleeve to gather his attention again, "maybe we could find that violinist?" she suggested.

Even just watching for a little bit would prove to be satisfying. She didn't need learn right away or get a teacher. She was simply fascinated with the song that she could hear.

----[x]----

Her response was quiet for quite some time. Il Lupo was getting used to this kind of pace however. She'd been quiet for the past few weeks. It was when she spoke that she had been a rarity most days.

Her reply was a short one and he offered a shrug in response. It was a mere hope that she broke out of her shell. All of this stress couldn't be good on her, Il Lupo could admit that much.

"I am sure, my dear," he replied quietly.

It was strange feeling so quiet. This wasn't in Il Lupo's nature but if it helped, he would force himself to be a little softer. If she ever inquired why, perhaps he would explain.

She glanced back at the doll before she crossed the room and sat it on the dresser. Il Lupo didn't rush for explanation, not like he normally would have. Instead he forced himself to be patient and wait on her reply. Eventually she did, her words simple enough.

He offered a small nod in response, "quite the strange little thing," he commented afterward.

Il Lupo paused then, glancing into the room. It was still a mess, as it had been left from days before. He resisted a shake of his head at that. Who knew such a scrawny girl could cause this much damage?

"I could help you pick some of this mess up," he offered, motioning around them. "It may make moving around a tad easier."

He wouldn't push if she declined. It was her choice after all and he was finding more and more that was important to her. If she was content having choices, he would give them to her as they carried on.

Subject: Re: [AC] Counting Stars [1-on-1 rp] Thu Mar 20, 2014 2:33 am

From somewhere nearby someone had picked up a violin. Manuel couldn't be sure who though in truth it didn't really matter much, many people learned to play if they had the means to. The two had grown quiet by the time the music reached them, the song one that Manuel was familiar with though couldn't place the name of. Considering Rue's odd situation he couldn't be sure if it was one she knew or not.

Their steps had slowed by this time. Manuel had grown concerned about her knee even if she hadn't asked to stop and take a rest yet. For all he knew it was aching miserably for her and she was merely biting back mentioning anything of it. There were many who were proud like this after all. He'd glanced at her once or twice but she seemed fine if not a little moody when he didn't answer her questions in a way she liked.

He raised an eyebrow when she took to tugging at his sleeve. She seemed almost hesitant on the matter, maybe she figured he'd deny this. A shrug was offered, he didn't see any harm in it especially if it kept her happy.

"I don't see why not," he said, gesturing for her to lead the way. It wasn't far judging by the sound of the music.

Their pace was considerably quicker now and it was easy to see that she was eager to watch and listen to the man playing. She really did love the violin. It was rather cute how eager it made Rue and he hoped that wouldn't change in time. If she had something to get excited about it would give her something to hold onto in any trying days ahead.

----[x]----

It was odd hearing Il Lupo so soft spoken. Yet again she had to wonder why he was at this when he clearly hadn't shown any sort of patience with or compassion for her a few weeks ago. The sudden change in that trend was jarring especially so when Rekka could find no discernable reason for it. Asking him what was going on was always a possibility but she couldn't be sure he'd be truthful.

Even odder were the pet names he was taking to using. They weren't exactly affectionate but they weren't mocking like the original "little lamb" one he'd started with. Still, it was a nice change but Rekka wondered how long it would stay that way.

She hummed in answer, unsure of what to say. It was partly this that left her so quiet for the last few weeks, that uncertainty. There was little reason for her to speak up most times and even when it felt like she should Rekka had been hard pressed to find something to say. It was always like this when she drew into herself.

She'd done little to explain what Chespin was. Would he even begin to understand what an interactive game was if she'd bothered to talk about it? Rekka still wasn't comfortable with the idea of handing over such time sensitive information either. Video games wouldn't exist anytime soon and pushing the creation date forward on that sort of thing might mess with all sorts of other unforeseeable things in the process.

Il Lupo was offering to help pick up the mess she'd made nearly two weeks ago. Rekka had little incentive to get around to cleaning it up. Mostly she'd just been saving it for when she was particularly against the idea of sitting around in the middle of the night, waiting for sleep to claim her. She shook her head, it wasn't up to Il Lupo to clean up her messes.

"No, it's fine," she said finally. For a minute longer she said nothing else, merely conflicted with the idea of confiding in Il Lupo no matter how trivial the thing was. Still... "I hate this room a lot."

If she were being entirely truthful she hated the entire place.

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Manuel's pace was slowing and she could only assume it was out of concern for her knee. It ached a little though only particular steps shot pain down her leg. She didn't want to push herself too much.

It hadn't taken long after she'd gathered his attention did he answer her. She grinned up at him with the answer and took the lead easily after that. She never knew anyone who played the violin so being able to witness someone playing here was a bit exciting.

Rue picked up her pace, fully aware of the pain in her knee complaining with the motion. She would worry about any after effects later, as she always did. As long as she had time to sit about later on, she would be fine.

It didn't take them long to find the violinist. A small group of people had stopped, watching the man play and dance. He'd pulled himself onto a table, a sight hard to miss.

Rue paused, unable to wipe the smile off her face. She wanted to play like that too, if she ever got the chance. It was strange to know she might have it soon. Quite a few things she'd wanted to try were put in the back seat if only because her job was in the way. Now, with the lack of things too do, perhaps she would find ways to focus on things she wanted to try.

She was able to take solace in the sound of a cheery song, the first time she really felt settled since waking up here in Havana. It was a nice change, nearly feeling normal compared to all the strange happenings around her.

----[x]----

Rekka seemed to be mulling a thing or two over. Whether it was the change in his behavior or something else, he could only assume. Il Lupo wouldn't begrudge her this. It would take time to repair what he had done, after all. Rushing things could only make them worse.

Shortly she hummed in answer, her gaze fixated on something else for a time. He didn't try to push or change the pace. If she needed to take her time, he would allow it, however impatient it made him.

Il Lupo stepped into the room, his gaze wandering. The damages were minimal, things that could easily be replaced. Regardless of this, she had denied any help. He spared a brief nod in response.

It was her next words that left him a little torn as to what to say. She didn't like this room, no doubt hated this place. Il Lupo couldn't be sure if he could fix that for her.

A frown tugged at his lips briefly, trying to find the right thing to say. He shook his head, at a bit of a loss.

"I am sorry," he replied, another shake of his head following, "perhaps it would be better if you chose a room you would like?"

In the very least, it was an offer and she could find something more to her liking. She couldn't leave this place, as true as that was. Any other area she would be sent to wouldn't be an improvement either. She merely had to work with what she could get.

Subject: Re: [AC] Counting Stars [1-on-1 rp] Thu Mar 20, 2014 9:17 pm

He'd only thought on it for a moment before giving his go ahead to find the violinist that had her attention. Rue was grinning up at him brightly before bounding ahead of him. Manuel allowed an amused scoff to escape him before he followed after, having to pick up his pace to do keep up. He wouldn't have imagined anyone but children would be this excited to watch someone play. Even most children weren't impressed, more willing to run off and play imagination with their friends or pets.

There was a crowd hovering nearby and from the wooden porch with peeling paint Manuel could make out the man with the violin. Rue was making a beeline for this place, making room for herself off to the side. The man had gotten himself quite a bit of attention and some were even throwing a bit of coin into an upturned hat for him.

Even as Manuel caught up a few people had drifted away only to be replaced by another young couple. For a moment Manuel wondered how long Rue wished to stay here and watch. This kind of a sight was usual for Manuel though she was clearly enamored by seeing this man play and dance.

Glancing at her proved that she was still grinning widely. Manuel shifted his weight, rolling his shoulders—might as well make himself comfortable here. The song soon drew to an end as he did this though it was only a few seconds later did a new one kick up, one just as upbeat as the last. In the very least it was some outgoing music.

He stood back silently for however long it took Rue to tire of the music. From the looks of it, it wouldn't be anytime soon and he would wait patiently. There was no need to rush, after all.

----[x]----

She'd taken to studying the broken things around her. Many she hadn't meant to break in that fevered search for her bag weeks ago. Things had been tossed down in such a rush that she'd hardly paid attention to the state of things at the time. Even now she didn't have much interest in really taking stock of it all.

She saw Il Lupo make his way in from the corner of her eye, even his steps seemed hesitant. Maybe he half expected her to push him back out or something. That was a silly notion, Rekka didn't have much power behind her to make anyone leave unless she took to using something as a weapon to do so.

The quiet stretched on for some time, Il Lupo still keeping his distance from her. It was lonely, having everyone so far off from her but at the same time there wasn't anyone she really could connect with in this time either. Besides, she'd pushed them away in the last few weeks, getting close to them would just raise expectations that she'd spill what she knew she was certain of it.

In wasn't until Il Lupo shook his head, the movement catching her eye, did anything change after he declaration. There was no mockery or derision in his voice though it didn't help matters either, she'd still be in this place she hated no matter what room she was left to sleep in. Rekka knew better than to expect the latter at this point. She sighed through her nose in answer.

"No, just forget about it. It's not important," she said finally. A change of rooms wouldn't get rid of the feeling of disdain.

She couldn't begin to figure out what Il Lupo thought about that. Whatever motivations and reasons he had for this new more cautious behavior was a mystery to her. Rekka could guess but that didn't mean that she'd ever come to the correct conclusion unless he felt the need to tell her. She shook the thoughts away for the time being. Il Lupo didn't seem like the type of man to come seeking her out for no reason.

"Did you need something?"

Subject: Re: [AC] Counting Stars [1-on-1 rp] Fri Mar 21, 2014 4:36 pm

Rue stayed there for quite some time, listening as the man played one song into the next. For most, these seemed to be sights very familiar. Some didn't linger too long while others simply passed by.

Rue didn't quite mind them or their reasoning to move on. She had always loved music and was raised on it. Being able to see someone preform, even in this way, was a treat for her. In time, maybe it would become familiar to her as well. She didn't dwell on that thought so much, simply trying to enjoy the sight and sound.

Manuel had remained off to the side, never rushing her away or pointing out that they'd stayed a long while. She couldn't begin to figure out what was on his mind or if he was merely doing this to keep her happy. Maybe it was for the best that way. If anything, he held her curiosity.

It was only when she shifted her weight, pain shooting down her leg, did she decide it was best to move away from this place. She needed to find a place to rest for a bit, otherwise risk her leg giving out under her.

She trotted back to Manuel's side, sparing a small smile, "I might need to sit down for a bit," she explained a moment after.

Rue had always known her limits when it came to her knee. With the humidity in the air, however, she was going to have to figure out how long or short she'd be able to stay on her feet.

----[x]----

Again, she studied the area of the room. Il Lupo left her to it, waiting to see if the offer he'd made was favorable or not. Rekka was still in a rather bad state and he wouldn't rush her if he could help it.

Eventually, she shook her head and answered him again. Just like before, the answer was a very short one. It was almost like she wasn't trying to fix her situation. More or less, she left it in it's current state.

Il Lupo frowned, sparing a quick glance around the room. It wasn't suitable for her like this but she decided against cleaning it. For the moment, he'd leave it as is.

His gaze drew back to her when she spoke up again, asking why he was here. A short hum left him at that. He stepped forward, reaching out for her. Il Lupo took notice to her flinching away. He ran a hand through her hair before he let his hand fall back to his side.

"Nothing, little lamb," he replied quickly, stepping back, "just ensuring that you are well."

Whatever she thought of the motion was left a mystery to him. Il Lupo could place others well but Rekka was so withdrawn into herself that it was becoming harder to tell what she might be thinking.

Subject: Re: [AC] Counting Stars [1-on-1 rp] Fri Mar 21, 2014 8:15 pm

Manuel had given her space, standing a fair distance away so that he was out of the way of others. Many came and went, watching this man play and dance for a few minutes before leaving. Any who felt the need to spare him any bit of money did so before they departed though he hardly seemed to notice. For the best, Manuel figured, else he throw off his own rhythm.

For a long time Rue remained there, watching this man with a large grin on her face. Manuel had to wonder what the appeal was though maybe there was something familiar or exciting about it to her. It wasn't as if Manuel could guess from experience, their situations were far too different to be able to guess why she thought or did what she did. In the end he could only make assumptions on his observations and by what she told him.

Eventually she'd turned to him admitting that she needed to rest. Sparing a nod he glanced around for someplace near though from the looks of it they'd need to seek one out. It wasn't as if they could just stop on someone's porch without warning.

"We will need to find a suitable place," he mentioned out loud, "perhaps the nearby square will have a place for you to sit."

With that said he started them off. It would only be a few streets over though he wasn't sure if that would be straining for her knee or not. She didn't seem like she was too far gone but who knew? Some were better at hiding it than others, Manuel would keep an eye out on her in due time. Everyone had a tell and he would find out what Rue's was in time.

"You've spent quite a bit of time just watching and listening," he mentioned, glancing up at the sky. The sun had moved quite a bit in that time, drifting closer towards the horizon.

----[x]----

Rekka couldn't begin to guess what Il Lupo thought on anything that pertained to this situation. She wasn't easy to get along with, she was aware of that but even more so now than before. There was a reason for that, she liked to think. Anyone in her situation would be difficult to work with, distressed over it all.

He'd waited for her answer quietly, just like before. Eventually she'd answered and though she couldn't be sure it didn't seem like Il Lupo quite liked the answer she gave. What had he expected, that a change in rooms would make everything better? She resisted shaking her head at that thought.

It wasn't until she asked what he had in mind coming to see her did the silence break again. He'd taken another step closer, reaching out to her before he actually said anything. Even when Rekka jerked away from his hand he didn't withdraw it, instead he'd carried on to run his hand through her hair. It was a brief thing, his gloved fingers trailing through her hair effortlessly, and then he'd stepped back as if he hadn't done a thing.

Her heart felt like it flip-flopped in her chest though whether or not it was a pleasant feeling Rekka wasn't sure. Brow furrowing, she glanced up at Il Lupo again as she spoke. It was an innocent enough answer though it was the action before it that left her confused. She wouldn't have thought he'd change his behavior much because of a marriage announcement but then the only side of him she really knew was that overly-cocky side.

"I see," she said finally, if only for something to say, "I'm well enough."

That was something of a lie. In the past two weeks she'd gotten even less sleep than usual and it must have showed. Then again no one had said anything about it either. Rekka was beyond questioning it, it never gave her any answers to.

Subject: Re: [AC] Counting Stars [1-on-1 rp] Fri Mar 21, 2014 10:09 pm

Manuel's gaze drifted briefly, perhaps searching out a place to sit for a while. It wasn't long before he started forward, adopting a slow pace. He mentioned a place not far and Rue spared a nod. He knew this place more so than she had.

Her gaze fell onto this and that, trying to ignore the pain. It wasn't as bad as it could have been, in all honesty. She'd experienced much worse with just work in general.

He spoke again, drawing her attention. Rue hummed in response, tipping her head back. She hadn't noticed the time pass but then again, it wasn't as if she had a clock to look at or worry about the time.

"Did I?" she inquired, turning her gaze ahead of them. She smiled a little, "I'm sorry, I tend to get lost in music," she rubbed the back of her neck, trying to ignore the sweat there before she continued, "admittedly, I'm not much of a dancer either. I'd have rather not embarrassed myself."

She figured her knee wouldn't have been able to take it anyways. That much strain would have left her leg useless after some time. Rue would rather avoid that or any hassle after the fact. She didn't actually warm to the feeling to being carried about, especially by someone she hardly knew.

It didn't take terribly long before he'd found a place to sit down. She was glad to be off her feet, rubbing her knee as if that might help. It never did, more or less just habit now. Rue wished it didn't have to be this way, that she could have gotten it fixed. The lack of money or insurance kept her from that however.

----[x]----

The conflict on her expression was apparent. His actions had been simple ones, strange for him, perhaps for her as well. She seemed to expect him to be egotistical or overbearing. He could pull back, he just didn't do it often.

He placed his hands behind his back, straitening his posture a little. In a short time, she finally replied. He knew that wasn't true, she wasn't fine. Regardless, no one had pointed his out.

Il Lupo reached out again, placing his index finger under her chin. He raised her head a tad, quickly taking notice to the bags under her eyes. Her eyes still looked puffy, maybe having cried on and off.

"Little lamb, you are not well," he replied, tipping his head to one side. He let his hand fall back to his side before he continued, "have you been sleeping?"

Il Lupo took the time to really study her. She'd been a scrawny one but she looked a fair bit skinnier. Could she bring herself to eat or drink in these last couple of weeks? Was she risking her health entirely?

He took a step forward, careful of her reaction. If she didn't want him any closer, she would say so. Something told him that she would not push him away however. No one really cared to be alone for this long. It was becoming obvious that she needed someone near to her, no matter who it was.

Subject: Re: [AC] Counting Stars [1-on-1 rp] Sat Mar 22, 2014 12:54 am

Rue seemed surprised that she'd spent as long as she had watching that man. Perhaps time had gotten away from her in her glee. At the very least she was happy for the time being and that made things easier on everyone. Hilary would be content with that, not having to deal with a moody woman through the night later.

"You had," he confirmed. Manuel waited patiently for her to speak up, she seemed to feel the need to explain things to him though really it was unnecessary. Yet again if it kept her content then there was no reason to tell her such things. Instead, he said "at least you are aware of yourself and your limits."

He gestured ahead of them, to the little square he'd led them to. Here there were several areas for people to just sit and rest while some vendors had set up shop here. If Rue grew hungry he might be able to spare a bit of reales to get them something though he was running low as of late. Sugar plantations were where the money was not in coffee plant. All the same he preferred his quiet little farm out on the outskirts of Havana.

Rue had plopped down as soon as she was able, looking relieved to be off of her feet. Manuel followed suit a little more carefully, sitting on the hard seat. It was better than nothing. Rolling his shoulders he sat back, glancing around at the people that passed them by. None of them were the kind to catch attention to themselves and yet from the corner of his eye he could spy Rue watching them just as he was.

"You seem to have a great many interests," he pointed out, "should I expect any surprises in the coming days?"

It was something of a light prod. Rue had done nothing to catch either of them off guard after her strange attire, items and story. Her as a person was a rather down-to-earth individual and it made it easy to lead her around and get to know her despite her odd origins.

----[x]----

Again there was a moment of nothing being said, nothing but quiet between them. It was easy to hear the rustling of clothes when one of them shifted around a lot. Rekka could only wait and wonder what he was still doing here. He'd come and checked up on her if that's what he'd really come to do so why still linger here?

Startled, her heart felt like it skipped a beat when he reached out to her again, tipping her chin up. She couldn't be sure what he was looking for or maybe he just wanted her to meet his gaze for some reason. Even now his touch was gentle, the worn leather glove soft against her jaw line as he inspected her.

Rekka blinked as he lowered his hand again. Was it really that obvious? She hadn't exactly looked hard enough in the mirror most days, so used to her own appearance that it didn't matter much. Here she'd thought it only been obvious to her that she'd been missing sleep.

"Yes," she argued simply pausing afterwards. She glanced away, leaning back on the dresser behind her a little. A moment after she admitted "a little."

Il Lupo drew closer still in that time. Though Rekka fidgeted, unsure of what to do, she didn't move to slide away from him or to push him back. There wasn't much point to right now no matter if she felt like she should. She watched him from behind her bangs, wondering still what he was up to. Was he really concerned about her as a person or was he up to something else?

"It's fine, really," she tried to assure. Her words were far too soft and there was little force or confidence behind them to really make it sound convincing. "I've had less."

Subject: Re: [AC] Counting Stars [1-on-1 rp] Sun Mar 23, 2014 12:29 am

Rue ran a hand through her hair and she was finding more and more that she was glad it was cut so short. She hoped to keep it this way, unsure of what people did in terms of hair cuts in this time.

She watched the people mill around or stop at a stand. Most of the chatter was meaningless, several voices becoming one big sound. It was interesting to see so many people milling around, so far from her own era.

It was only when he spoke up again did she glance back at him. The prod was a light one, if anything, and she spared a small smile.

"Kept me busy," she replied, leaning her back against the wall behind them. Life had been a little mundane and she had never known what to do with herself in terms of a career. She had more or less just set out to be a jack of all trades, having knowledge in quite a few things that interested her. The mention of surprises left a bit of a wider smile tugging at her lips, "I don't know," she carried on after, her tone light, "maybe."

She wasn't one for surprises but she had her moments. For the most part, she'd been a rather predictable one unless she was angry or upset. It was only than that she could become a little bit of a loose canon.

In the distance, the sound of a bell rang out. Rue lifted her head, listening to the sound of it. The church back home had a bell that used to ring at noon and seven but at some point, the church stopped using it.

Rue didn't mind the quiet, though it really wasn't as such. So many people talking and there was a lot to witness. Rue's attention had bounced from place to place at this point, trying to take it all in.

----[x]----

Il Lupo tried not to let the silence or the short answers bother him. This had been the pattern for weeks now, less so with her speaking. If anything, the talk and the fidgety behavior was a change of pace. If he could further improvement, he would make attempts to.

It was obvious that she was a little surprised he had caught on to her exhaustion. She must have believed she was hiding it rather well. For most people here, that was not the case. Her moods and wariness were simply not mentioned.

"Is there anything I can do to help you sleep?" he inquired after a long moment.

He couldn't think of anything that would help, not in terms of medicine. Talking with Malfatto about these things could be a risk in itself. The man was dangerous, more so than most Il Lupo had come to know.

It was a thought he had to shake away, his attention turning to her again. He tipped his head to one side when she spoke. She had less? So why was she not taking the opportunity to take more now that she was here? He doubted he would receive an answer if he asked.

"Would you like to get something to eat?" he suggested, motioning toward her. "I could have something prepared for you, if you'd like."

Rekka had to be starving herself at this rate. It was obvious that her health was suffering due to all of this. Il Lupo didn't care to think that he was the cause of this woman's sorry state. Regardless he had been and he could only try to fix it now.

Subject: Re: [AC] Counting Stars [1-on-1 rp] Sun Mar 23, 2014 1:56 am

From the corner of his eye Manuel noted the way that Rue took to running her fingers through her hair. She'd done that often throughout the day, combing it out of her face. It was rather short for a woman's, even many men had longer hair then she did. Perhaps the styles had changed radically as things were known to do, still it was odd to see and grow used to.

When he made conversation and she replied Manuel nodded to show he was listening. He'd still had his gaze on those around them, careful to note who was where and doing what. So far as he knew the assassins were not aware of Rue and her origins and he'd prefer it to remain that way. They didn't need Hilary's home being stormed or broken into if they saw a need to silence or steal away Rue.

He scoffed though it was more in good nature than in annoyance. Surprises weren't things he liked though he'd had his fair share of nasty surprises on the battlefield and out at sea. Such things had a tendency to ruin them for a man.

"In time I suppose I might find out what other mysteries you might hold," he teased though he was well aware that it might not have come across that way. He tended to speak a little dryly or that his accent could mask the tone in his voice if it was too subtle for others.

Rue was leaning back now though Manuel had taken to leaning forward, elbows resting on his thighs. The sun still beat down on them though it wasn't nearly as strong as earlier. Soon enough candles and lamps would be lit to see by though Havana would not quiet for several hours after sunset. Many enjoyed the early night for as long as they could before they turned in.

The quiet between them seemed to be accepted. Manuel was thankful for it, there wasn't always a need for constant conversation though some people were inclined to disagree. He preferred to dwell on things in the silences and observe if he could help it. With Rue he was able as she seemed to sit back and let him break the silences more oft than not.

----[x]----

Rekka wasn't sure what made her fidget so much. Maybe it was Il Lupo's sudden change in behavior towards her or maybe it was the fact that he was fussing over her now. She didn't want to be fussed over like this. Bizarrely enough she wanted her old life back however much she'd hated it. At least in that one she'd been making some amount of progress on bettering her life. Here she'd been shoved into a slot that didn't fit her and practically been told to fit it without argument.

In the quiet that had followed she'd ducked her head again, staring off to the side. Il Lupo hadn't stepped any closer than he already had and he didn't seem to have it in mind to either. At least this way she could hide the fact that she wasn't getting enough sleep.

At Il Lupo's question she offered a half-hearted shrug. Medicines weren't nearly as effective as they would be and even then over the counter stuff hadn't worked for her insomnia even when she wasn't stressed out. Unless he planned on wearing her out until she was even more exhausted there wasn't much she could think of.

Eventually the topic of food was brought up. She fussed at the folds of her dress, another one that Fiora had dropped off claiming that she no longer wore. As dull an orange as it was Rekka could see why. For the moment that was a fleeting thought before Il Lupo's most recent offer was focused on again. It wasn't like she was eating any less than she ever had, most days before she'd arrived in Italy in another time she'd had to eat little. Still, it must have been worrying for others after seeing her eat at least three meals a day before the straw that broke the camel's back had arose. Maybe she'd lost some weight again not that she could ever tell by looking in the mirror, to her she'd always been scrawny and bony.

"You don't have to make me your burden," she muttered finally, reaching out to place her hand on his chest as if to push him away. The clothes he wore were soft to the touch and no doubt sturdy, he dressed so nicely for this time that Rekka would be kidding herself if she thought he were poor. These were passing observations, merely a simple distraction for herself.

In truth she was worried that the only reason Il Lupo had changed his behavior was because of a guilty conscience or because of that arranged marriage. If he was only doing this to ease the situation for himself then Rekka wasn't so sure what to think or expect of him in the long run. If he was going to try to make nice now then she'd rather it be because he saw her as a person and not just a means to ease the situation on himself.

"If Gian put you up to this..." She didn't finish that statement. It was hard to imagine easily flustered Gian convincing anyone as stubborn and cocky as Il Lupo to do anything but who knew?

Subject: Re: [AC] Counting Stars [1-on-1 rp] Sun Mar 23, 2014 1:50 pm

Rue spared a wider smile at the light prod. It was hard to tell when he was teasing or not, his tone sounding a little dry. She was used to this kind of humor though, often resorting to it herself and that made it easier to pick out.

She quiet, settling back against the wall, watching people mill about or walk on by. Manuel seemed to be doing much the same, a little more inventive however.

The quiet gave her time to mull things over. If anything, she was making the best of a bad situation. Things could have been worse at this point and she was well aware of that. There were still worries of what was to come but for the moment, the here and now seemed fine.

Rue wondered about Rekka however. Was she still safe at home or somewhere here? By this point, they probably would have heard word by now if she was. Hilary had been quick to pick Rue out so Rekka would have been much the same.

If nothing at all, Rue just hoped her friend was safe and out of harms way. That would give her less to worry about in the long run. Not knowing didn't help either, however.

She tried to shake the thought away, tapping her thumb against her knee in a bid to keep her hand busy. It helped in terms of clearing her head a bit, sparing another glance around.

People still milled around this place despite it being early evening. Most in her time would have been heading inside for dinner, only straying out again for a little while. It was interesting to see the change of pace but mostly, it left her distraction from her thoughts.

----[x]----

Il Lupo waited patiently, waiting for her to speak. Instead, she averted her gaze and fidgeted again. The state she was in wasn't improving with his offers, leaving him anxious. A hard frown tugged at his lips, feeling himself growing a tad impatient.

She shook her head, only offering a shrug in answer. There was little he could do to push her into taking medicine or eat. Rekka valued her choices and he would not violate that for the moment.

Rekka reached out, gently pushing him back. He tipped his head before he shook it. Annoyance welled up in him, especially now that she was bringing up Gian. It was true the other man had encouraged the softer behavior. Il Lupo came here on his own terms however.

"For god's sake, Rekka, you're going to kill yourself," he hissed, "is that what you want?"

Of course she had threatened it weeks before. If anything, that could have been watched. Instead, it was more like she was content in slowly letting her body starve.

"If Gian put me up to this, you will do what? You can hardly bring yourself to walk about much less pose a threat."

Il Lupo stepped back, waving off his frustrations. They had been building for some time, no doubt with many as well. No one had stopped to protest her behavior. It was about time that someone did.

Subject: Re: [AC] Counting Stars [1-on-1 rp] Sun Mar 23, 2014 3:39 pm

At the very least Rue had smiled at him. If his dry humor didn't offend her then they'd be fine he figured. In time they might be able to see what humor she had as well though Manuel saw no need to rush things to get to that point. The Templars had had many people who had valuable information among their ranks in the past and they'd long since learned that treating them more kindly netted more positive results. Patience was a virtue indeed.

It was an interesting change of pace to just sit in silence and watch those around them. Rue seemed to be fascinated for reasons that differed from Manuel's. While he observed for information and for their own safety Rue must have been watching them all out of sheer fascination and curiosity. She'd expressed such things earlier and the things she'd shared surely showed how things would change in time to come.

At some point he caught her tapping her thumb along her knee from the corner of his eye. Manuel shook his head. It seemed like she was one who needed something to keep herself occupied or she would grow fidgety. In time that might change as she grew accustomed to their way of life and the differences in eras.

"If you grow bored let me know," he offered at some point, "we'll need to head back to Hilary's sooner rather than later anyways. Another round of nine men's morris might keep you busy."

Either that or they could see about art supplies for her. Manuel had never really dabbled himself and feared that such things might be expensive however. With any luck Hilary might have some things tucked away for her to use anyways. The man was educated and as such he carried a many great things in his home that could be used for art or writing.

For now they sat, content were they were. At least Manuel was content, the humid air doing little to bother him. Occasionally it seemed like Rue had troubles breathing but she otherwise said nothing on the matter. He promised himself to keep an eye out for that.

----[x]----

It didn't take long for Il Lupo to snap at her. Honestly she'd been wondering how long his patience would last. She still didn't meet his gaze even as he did so. Il Lupo hadn't raised his voice, not entirely, and that was a surprise. It still left her feeling as if they felt she should be feeling proud or happy or content all of the things that were the furthest from her in that time.

Even when he'd finished he remained though for what Rekka couldn't say. She would have thought he'd leave like he had before, done with her for the time being until he felt the need to come bother her again. Even more surprising was when Rekka spoke up, resentment stirring in her chest yet again.

"Maybe it is! And what are you going to do about it? Tie me down and force feed me medicines and food? Seemed like viable option to you a few weeks ago!"

If Il Lupo was surprised by the sudden outburst Rekka didn't notice. She pushed herself away from the dresser, everything that had built up weighing heavily in her chest and she found it hard to stand still. Already more was on the tip of her tongue, ready to spill out at a moment's notice. And spill out they did, Rekka gesturing in frustration and pacing as she did so.

"Why you or Gian seem to think that all I need is sleep and food is baffling! Do you not understand just what kind of a situation I am in? Do you really not get it?" She paused as if waiting for an answer. There was little time given for Il Lupo to actually respond however before she was off again, speaking over him if he'd even attempt to answer. "Without so much as a courtesy call I lost everything—my home, my friends, my family! Everything I've ever known is just gone! I can't read the books I liked or hear my favorite songs because they just don't exist anymore! And now I'm stuck with people who think that I just need to forget that all of that is gone and that I need to get married and be guarded and watched all the time!"

There was another pause that followed as Rekka couldn't stand still, her hands coming briefly to her forehead as if to ward off another headache before she was gesturing with them again. Tears had sprang to her eyes at some point during her outburst though she did little to wipe them away. In that time the anger had ebbed away just as quickly as it had come leaving her feeling helpless.

"I just w-wanna go home and I can't," she finished shakily, feeling lost. All she could do was stand there now, head bowed again and trying to ignore the fact that she was crying again.

Subject: Re: [AC] Counting Stars [1-on-1 rp] Sun Mar 23, 2014 5:11 pm

Rue's gaze never really settled on one thing in particular. It shifted here and there, watching people pass by. There were couples and kids, all kinds of them. Some had animals trailing along their side. She saw one man with a colorful bird perched on his shoulder.

If Manuel noticed this behavior, he didn't mention it. Rue figured he had long ago having already admitted that she was relatively curious of this era. She didn't know a lot about this era so taking the opportunity to learn and observed seemed like a good idea.

She brought her fist to her mouth, a cough leaving her before her hand fell back into her lap. The humidity was a tad unbearable and always had been for her. She hated summers for this reason unless a year the air was drier. Here, that didn't seem it would happen. Rue worried a tad about her breathing, already having trouble, but like most things she figured she'd just get used to it.

When he spoke, she glanced at him again. He seemed content in the silence though Rue couldn't begin to wonder what might be on his mind. Perhaps that would change with time.

"Hmm, I'd like that," she replied, trying to ignore having to clear her throat before she spoke. She never had asthma, at least not to her knowledge, so she could only assume she was simply not used to the humidity.

They sat for a while longer before she did just that and asked to return to Hilary's. She could only assume that it could be dangerous at night to make Manuel mention returning sooner rather than later. Rue didn't argue on that point. If it was safer, she'd do what she was told.

----[x]----

Rekka didn't look at him, her gaze remaining fixated on something else entirely. While this did not surprise him, he still felt ignored. Rekka's situation would not improve if she didn't let it.

She was silent for a long while, refusing to look at him. His patience was dwindling at that. Was ignoring it all going to make this better? He couldn't imagine it ever would, no matter how hard she tried to ignore the situation.

Soon enough, she was speaking up again, her tone annoyed and shaky. She pushed herself from the dresser, showing some amount of force that she had not shown in weeks. Bottled up emotions would exploded at some point or another.

He was quiet, allowing her to vent uninterrupted. If this is what she needed off her chest, who was he to stop her. At the moment, all he was was something to vent her anger at. She left him no way to get word in edge wise and so, there was no point in trying.

Several minutes passed by before she had finished. Already, she was sniffling, fighting off tears. A shot pang ran through him and he shook his head.

Il Lupo puffed out a heavy sigh, at a loss as to what to say. There were no comforts from her time here and little that he could do to help that. The most he could provide was creature comforts but even those had been tossed to the side.

"You are right, you can not return home..." he answered carefully, "an I can not fix that. You've lost more than you can gain here and I am sorry. But there are some willing to reach out to you and you simply ignore them. It is no wonder they have given up."

Even still, she was quiet with him. He couldn't imagine what more he could say. Anything too far would upset her, even if annoyance swirled in him. He sighed through his nose, watching her in this sorry state.

"You have opportunity here as well," he finally carried on softly, "you need only to take it."

Il Lupo wasn't sure if it would help but giving her something, anything, at this point was better than nothing at all. If she took it maybe she'd get better or maybe she'd stay in this state. He could only assume at this point.

Subject: Re: [AC] Counting Stars [1-on-1 rp] Sun Mar 23, 2014 6:05 pm

Manuel couldn't guess as to how long they sat there now. Rue seemed content in doing things in large stretches of time though Manuel couldn't say why this was. Perhaps it was just something she did though surely she could space things out.

Eventually she had expressed interest in heading back to Hilary's for the night. Nodding, he'd stood gesturing for her to follow. Manuel wasn't sure if she knew the way yet or not, it had only been about two days since they'd met. It would be best to keep someone with her until she could defend herself or know where to turn to for help.

"Then let us be on our way, little bunny," he said as he started them off.

It wouldn't be a long walk though their pace was slowed yet again for Rue's convenience. No need pushing her when her knee had forced her to sit for awhile. He had no way of knowing if it was better or not yet anyways. As they walked she still took in everything even as the sky darkened and shadows deepened.

Manuel chuckled, "your curiosity is becoming insatiable it seems."

It was just a simple observation though in time that curiosity in her might die down as things grew familiar. It would merely be waiting for such a time though Manuel figured at this right it might be awhile longer. If nothing else she'd be eager to learn in that time.

----[x]----

It was quiet for a long time after she'd finished, instead trying to fight back the tears that had come. It did her little good and already she was sniffling, tears streaming down her face. She hated it, shame welling up in chest for allowing herself to cry like this again much less in front of somebody. All she could do was wait, head bowed, hand to her mouth to at least try to muffle herself.

Eventually Il Lupo replied though even his words did little to help. The reminders just sat even heavier on her shoulders adding to the weight that was already there. The opportunities he spoke of did little to ease her. What he spoke of were for a side she cared little about, for a means she couldn't bring herself to support. Was he even really aware of that?

Rekka couldn't find it in her to say anything else, all she could do was stand and wait for Il Lupo to leave or approach her. She didn't want to talk anymore finding it difficult to even find anything to say. It must have been pathetic to see her like this, alone and sobbing like this.

Before Il Lupo could leave Rekka forced herself to reach out, hesitantly taking a hold of his sleeve. It was difficult, wanting these people to leave her alone and not wanting to be left on her own at the same time. Things grew all the more complex when she didn't want to hear talking and that seemed to be all anyone kept trying to get her to do.

"You're not helping," she forced out, sounding as shaky as she felt.

She did and said nothing more, merely waited for Il Lupo's response. She felt shameful and embarrassed to just stand there crying and maybe a little selfish to try to keep Il Lupo near despite the fact that he was nowhere close to the people she really wanted. All the same she wanted to be held by someone even if she couldn't bring herself to ask.

Subject: Re: [AC] Counting Stars [1-on-1 rp] Sun Mar 23, 2014 7:52 pm

After some time, they got moving again. Her knee felt a little stiff after sitting but with a little movement, it would soon complain again. That was normal and she'd been long since used to it.

Rue kept her pace with Manuel's, slowed as it was, just to make sure she wouldn't get lost. She often glanced around, partly afraid she'd lose him if she lingered too long. She didn't quite know the way back to Hilary's either. It was a thought that she pushed aside.

The pet name had risen again and she was finding she liked it. Being compared to a rabbit was something of a first but from him it didn't seem so bad.

Her gaze continued to wander. She even tipped her head back a little once, catching sight of stars dotting the skies. If they were somewhere a little darker, she knew there would be thousands of them. She was anxious to see that sight.

He chuckled, drawing her attention again. It hadn't taken him long to mention her curiosity. A bashful grin tugged at her lips. It was strange how easy she was finding it to smile but tried not to question it.

"It rarely ever does," she answered simply, a bump in her tone.

That much was true for her, even in her era. If she grew interested in something, she'd delve into it as much as she could. Until she exhausted what she could learn, she would find something else. In this way, she had known quite a bit that wasn't common knowledge in her time. She always felt proud of herself because of that.

----[x]----

Rekka had said nothing in return to his words. He could only assume what was on her mind as she stood there and sobbed. She ducked her head, hiding her face away from him. If she felt embarrassed or awkward, she hadn't said so. Perhaps she felt her pride was just as hurt.

For a long moment, he debated leaving her to this state. Once more, he wasn't really fixing anything. Then again, he wasn't sure if she wanted anything fixed. She had remained introvert and withdrawn.

He was about to walk away when she reached out, tugging at his sleeve. This action halted him in his tracks and he spared a glance back at her. Her head was still ducked but despite that, she was trying to reach out to him.

Il Lupo halted in his tracks, shifting his weight. For a long moment, he remained still a little unsure of what to do. Eventually, he heaved a heavy sigh, taking a few steps forward.

He reached out, wrapping his arms around her. Despite how she immediately tensed, he tugged her close and rested his chin atop her head. If she wanted to reach out to someone, he could provide that much. She hadn't been doing so in a long while, after all.

"Then tell me how I can help, little lamb," he pressed a moment after.

Il Lupo could have sworn he could feel her heart pounding. Regardless, it was something he dismissed for the moment. She was feeling awkward enough he wouldn't prod her just to get a reaction.

Subject: Re: [AC] Counting Stars [1-on-1 rp] Sun Mar 23, 2014 10:21 pm

If he wasn't mistaken Rue seemed quite pleased with the little pet name he'd attached to her. But then she'd been so flighty and nervous when they'd first met it had fit much like the hares that skirted around some islands. She might have been aware of that and thus was why she was fond of the name however.

Manuel also noted the little limp she had no doubt because of her knee. It might have grown more pained or stiff during their time seated though she seemed to be handling it for now. He'd still keep an eye out just in case however. There was no need to assume things after all.

"Well, that'll be something to look for," he pointed out, more to himself than to her. Mostly he spoke up to keep the conversation going for a time.

It would just be a road or two now and they'd reach Hilary's. Whether or not Hilary was there yet was another matter entirely, Manuel couldn't say that he knew what Hilary's usual schedule was with running the arms race against the assassins here. There had been no large commotion about the city at least and so the man should be alive and well. At least that was the hope.

Rue didn't seem to worry much about Hilary but then she wasn't aware of his position and what he did either. Perhaps that was for the best. The last thing they needed was for Rue to be fretting over things that happened daily. In due time she might learn but for now she needed to adjust.

----[x]----

She wasn't sure what Il Lupo had in mind to do now only that she'd reached out before he could do anything. She'd heard him sigh though she wasn't sure why that was. Maybe he was done with her for awhile and had been intent on leaving until she'd reached for him. Rekka didn't dwell on it long, trying to stop sniffling and sobbing as it was.

Though she'd been wanting someone to hold her it was a surprise when Il Lupo actually did just that. He tugged her close, his chin resting on top of her head as if this was normal behavior. Despite it being what she wanted Rekka couldn't help but to tense, a small sound escaping her that was quickly muffled by her hand and his chest.

He was warm and though her sobs had yet to stop it at least felt nice. She choked back another sob, her head already throbbing from crying. It didn't take much of it to leave her feeling more miserable than before and now was no exception to that. No doubt she had to look like a hot mess.

"I don't-" she stopped, sniffling again.

Hesitantly she returned the hug, tangling her fingers in his clothes as if afraid he would just leave at a moment's notice. For the moment Il Lupo was all she had even if he was insufferable. At the moment Rekka was sure she'd have hugged anyone if they had done this, at least she was able to hide her red and blotchy face away in his shoulder.

"I don't know," she finally admitted.

Subject: Re: [AC] Counting Stars [1-on-1 rp] Sun Mar 23, 2014 11:17 pm

Rue ignored the slight limp in her leg. It wasn't as if it was giving way under her so for the time, she wouldn't worry about it. She'd simply needed to baby it for a bit.

His response was a simple one though she was discovering that was normally the case. If anything, there were some quirks she was picking up about him.

"Of course," she replied, her tone a little light, "if I could learn everything, I would. Unfortunately, I doubt I'll get that far."

If anything, it was a tad amusing when she spoke up about it. She had a vast interest in many things and was curious. She just wished to expand her view. This would give her some amount of reason not to worry about this era or being stuck here. She would miss home, family, and friends but stressing over it all wasn't going to bring them back or send her home.

The walk wasn't taking them too long. When she glanced around again, she was picking out some things that were familiar. A few trips through this place and maybe she wouldn't get lost.

She tipped her head back again, trying to catch the sight of the stars. With torches being lit, it drown out the evening sky much like her own era. She hoped that would not always be a problem. Rue had always wanted to see the night sky without lights drowning out all of the stars.

"Is it darker on your farm?" she inquired then, turning her attention toward him briefly, "I'd like to see the stars better some time. All kinds of lights drown them out in my time."

----[x]----

It took her a long moment for her to actually respond to the embrace. Il Lupo remained patient. With this one, it simply seemed to take some time for her. It didn't stop her crying though that hadn't surprised him in the slightest.

Eventually, she wasn't so tense and she buried her face in his shoulder. She sobbed a little harder, her body shaking with emotion. He would wait until these emotions passed. She'd bottled up her emotions for weeks, the least he could do was spare a little time.

Il Lupo ran his hand through her hair or along her back. If it helped calm her, he would do this for a while. He wasn't sure rocking her would help, given she'd complained about headaches before.

Her reply was shaky and he partly expected the words that followed. She really didn't know what she wanted in the end of things.

"It seems we are both a little at a loss," he answered after a moment, "I apologize that I can not fix things for you."

Il Lupo wasn't even sure how she got here. Whether it was the Apple or some other means, it was a mystery. She might never return home or see things that she considered 'normal' again. That was a sad thought though there was little that could be done about it.

"At least you are content where you are now," he brought up, his tone a little bit lighter. If anything, that seemed true. She had yet to pull away and even seemed to tighten her grip around him.

Subject: Re: [AC] Counting Stars [1-on-1 rp] Sun Mar 23, 2014 11:50 pm

Manuel scoffed in answer more so to show that he was listening than any other reason. There as little to say to that sentiment. If she wanted to learn everything who was he to tell her otherwise? If nothing else that endeavor would keep her busy in the days to come. Surely Hilary had a book or two she could learn from when everyone was busy.

For several minutes they were quiet, merely walking. He'd spared a glance her way to see her tipping her head back to see the sky. There wasn't a reason to mimic her actions, Manuel could already guess that she was eyeing the stars high above. Perhaps she'd like to dabble in some astronomy though Manuel wasn't sure who would have books on that subject.

She spoke up again asking about his farm. There was little hesitation from him on the matter. It was enough when he had people come and go on the farm during the day but at night when his guards were on high alert? He couldn't risk her being targeted because they were doing their jobs.

"My farm is not suitable for night time visitors, little bunny," he told her, "the guards do their job well, you see."

If she didn't understand he would have to explain further though she was a smart girl. He hoped that it would be a simple case to seer her away. Besides he had some rather incriminating things hidden about his home from his past. He'd rather not anything come to light without his approval or word on the matter because she'd run into anything he still had a hold of.

----[x]----

Rekka eventually became aware of the fact that Il Lupo had taken to running his hand through her hair or rubbing her back though how long he'd taken to it wasn't something she could say. She'd be lying if she said that the gestures weren't appreciated even if he had been an insufferable jerk and stolen her things just a few short weeks ago. Bringing that up now wasn't on her mind however.

Even when the sobs had finally lessened and then subsided Rekka kept her face buried in his shoulder. It was bad enough that he'd seen her crying at all, he didn't need to see the aftermath. She wasn't a pretty crier at all.

He was apologizing again though it'd do little good for her in the long run. She didn't point that out. Any want to argue just didn't exist for the time being and besides that'd just make her headache worse. Even if she still harbored a bit of resentment for him for what he'd done this was the best she had. That reminder was enough to keep her quiet on the matter.

At his next comment she was silent only a moment longer before she muttered "I guess." All the same she tightened her hold on him, half afraid that he was ready to pull away. Still he sounded—what? happy?—content himself though Rekka couldn't say why that might be.

Another long moment seemed to pass in silence. Rekka didn't have a lot on her mind in that time, merely trying to calm down further and hope that the evidence that she'd been crying wouldn't be as noticeable when Il Lupo did eventually pull away. Still, a worry nagged at the back of her mind slowly worming its way to the forefront of her thoughts. If nothing was said what would Il Lupo do? He had a penchant of saying the wrong thing already and setting her off as it was...

"I really hate orange," she muttered dully. It might have been obvious that she was just talking to talk though all the same that sentiment was true. Still, it wasn't like anyone had asked her what kind of colors or outfits she liked and so she'd been stuck with ones that she didn't think were all that flattering on her.

Subject: Re: [AC] Counting Stars [1-on-1 rp] Mon Mar 24, 2014 6:45 pm

Rue had to wonder about seeing the constellations here. Would they be easier to pick out in this sky than the one back home? She could only assume and until it was rather dark, she would wait and see.

The scoff didn't escape her and she grinned all the same. If anything, he listened to her odd rambles. Some found her interests tiring. Even her old employer had eventually told Rue that there interests were rather far apart. Rue made sure not to speak up about things that her employer hadn't shown interest in.

Rue's gaze fell forward again as she waited on him to speak up. He took a long moment, a bit of a change of pace, she'd noticed. She'd only really known him for a day but she'd picked up on his easy answers rather quickly.

She blinked up at him when he did reply. It was easy to connect the dots. She recalled coffee farmers even in her time having to heavily guard their crops in other countries. It was a strange bit of information but one she was glad to know.

"Oh, I see," she answered, sparing a small nod, "I understand."

Here, he probably had pirates to worry about or common thieves. It was strange to think about pirates attacking or causing havoc over crops but that's how the times worked, she guessed.

If anything, she would like to avoid being harmed or shot over something so innocent.

----[x]----

He couldn't count the seconds and minutes that had passed. Il Lupo didn't rush her or push her away and she seemed content to remain where she was. Her sobs eventually calmed with time but she refused to let go. Whether she was afraid he would disappear or something else, he couldn't begin to guess.

Whatever was on her mind was left silent. She'd taken to this mentality for weeks now and he doubted she would break it. Perhaps in time she would. Il Lupo could only assume with this one, having already witnessed a range of emotions from her.

She didn't seem inclined to break the silence. For a long while, they simply remained this way. A simple answer here and there was the most he was provided with before she quieted.

He hummed in a brief response, waiting to hear if she said anything more. Eventually she had and Il Lupo had to resist a snort in amusement. It was hard not to, such a serious conversation turned to something so simple.

"And what colors are you fond of?" he inquired, in the least make an attempt to know her. Most of the dresses she was given were dull oranges or browns. Perhaps she was looking for something more her taste.

He ran a thumb over her shoulder, making small circles until she decided to answer. He had little doubt that once more, it would be a short one, as many had already been.

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