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

Subject: Re: [AC] Counting Stars [1-on-1 rp] Mon Mar 24, 2014 9:31 pm

Manuel wasn't sure how long it took Rue to answer. She seemed to be mulling over many things even as her eyes strayed up to the sky again. If she was looking for certain constellations or just admiring the stars as they appeared he couldn't say for sure. Perhaps it was a little of both. He shook the thought away for now, pointing out stars while they walked would almost guarantee they'd trip over someone or something.

Eventually she gave up the idea of visiting his farm at night. At the very least there would be no accidents because of that happening now. Guards could grow paranoid at night when sounds seemed louder and shadows could hide any manner of thing. It was best not to tempt fate.

The walk back was done in silence from there not that it was a long stretch of it. Hilary's home was empty for the time being though perhaps the other man was finishing things up. Manuel wouldn't make any promises about this however, for all he knew Hilary could be out and about on a long mission for the day, tracking down assassins or information.

Pushing his way inside carefully, so as not to trip over anything, he started forward looking for a candle or a lamp and some matches. There would be no need to sit around in the dark, nothing could be done then and something told Manuel that Rue wouldn't quite appreciate that. It took a long while, having no idea where Hilary kept such things during the day but eventually he found something. The oil lamp would throw off a fair amount of light to see by.

"Anything on your mind?" he finally asked her, striking up conversation once more.

----[x]----

Rekka had no idea how much time passed like that though eventually she'd stopped crying. Her runny nose grew stuffy and her head throbbed despite the quiet around them. Il Lupo had remained quiet in that time. The only time she'd let go of him in that time was to wipe at her nose, the least she could do was try not to snot all over his clothes even if she still felt like he kind of deserved it.

When she did speak up, her voice muffled, she could swear he was amused. Rekka could hear it in his voice even as he took to tracing circles over her shoulder. It was a comforting thing though she didn't mention this out loud.

Even if she was the one to bring up the conversation she didn't answer right away, sniffling again. This time it was more in effort to clear her nose. She didn't like not being able to being able to breath properly. Hopefully she wouldn't grow upset again anytime soon so that she could calm down further. Then again she knew she was ridiculously sensitive right now despite the fact that she hated that fact.

"Red," she murmured, feeling silly. Il Lupo seemed fond of that color himself and that didn't even make mention of the sudden change in conversation. The way Rekka figured it was either this or risk another upsetting topic.

She could only wait to see what he said or did now. So far he'd proven to have very little tact though for all she knew he might have been stepping on egg shells now. No one else had come to find either of them and it wasn't like that would change soon. For the most part Il Lupo seemed to have free reign to go about his missions and objectives as he pleased unless something pressing arose.

Subject: Re: [AC] Counting Stars [1-on-1 rp] Mon Mar 24, 2014 10:43 pm

If anything, the answer was accepted simply after that. Rue felt he had a valid point and it was simply another thing she would have to learn about this time. People had to guard their livelihood.

The walk back to Hilary's wasn't long but it was quiet. Rue had taken to trying to pick out the sounds in the night, some animal calls that she didn't recognize. That would be another thing she would have to look into. The animals here were no doubt different from what she was used to seeing.

When they had gotten back to Hilary's home, it was still dark. Instead, Rue had to stop herself from instinctively reaching for a light switch. If Manuel noticed this, even in the dark, he didn't mention it for the moment. He seemed more focused on finding something to light the dark.

Eventually, he lit an oil lamp. Rue cast a curious glance toward it. She had owned an old one but never used it. Even when the power went out back home, it normally sat useless in favor of flashlights and candles.

He spoke up after the thing was lit, catching her attention, "lots of things," she answered with a slight smile, "too many to say though mostly how I got here. I don't think I'll be finding an answer to that anytime soon."

Rue started forward, casting a glance around Hilary's home. She wondered where the man could be but didn't ask. She knew an extent of what the Templar's did.

"It's going to take a while to get used to this kind of dark," she brought up after a moment.

Dark shadows still danced on the walls and no doubt, candle light would do less than the lights she had at home. If anything, she didn't have to worry about wasting energy or anything of the sort. She figured there were some up sides to this time to combat the bad.

----[x]----

Rekka was still quiet, only pulling away here and there to swipe at her eyes or nose. He said nothing on the matter but found it a tad amusing. She looked so much like a child in those moments and he couldn't help but feel amusement well up in him.

If anything, she had stopped crying. He hoped this would be an improvement in the coming days. Il Lupo could only assume how she felt or if she still disliked him. That kind of hate didn't dwindle so easily.

She didn't seem willing to pull away and he didn't push her away either. He simply allowed her to bury her face back into his shoulder. It was doing him no harm and he partly knew that he had pushed her to this state. It was the least he could allow.

An eyebrow rose when she answered his question. Red seemed fitting for her after witnessing her temper. Perhaps it would look better on her as well.

"Red is a lovely color," he answered lightly, "perhaps I can find some dresses in red. I think they may look quite lovely on you."

Il Lupo couldn't be sure if the compliment would help her or not. If anything, it was something nice and she might take some solace in it. He would only try at this rate, whether he failed or not.

"I do not suppose you could protest that, hmm?" he prodded a little lighter.

Perhaps a little teasing could bring her spirits up. If she reacted favorably, he would continue these little prods. He would be careful not to over step the lines however. Pushing her over the edge was something he would rather avoid.

Subject: Re: [AC] Counting Stars [1-on-1 rp] Mon Mar 24, 2014 11:34 pm

It had been hard to tell what she'd done when they'd walked in, Manuel had only caught the motion from the corner of his eye and the darkness made things difficult. From the looks of things she'd been seeking something along the wall but for what he couldn't say. It had only been a second before Rue had dropped her hand however, following him further inside and waiting.

The oil lamp made the shadows dance along the walls, brightening the place up nicely. He spared a smile to Rue as he gestured for them to sit. There was no more reason to remain standing about as they waited for Hilary to return home. Until that time Manuel would remain so that Rue had someone to keep an eye on her.

His eyebrow rose when she mentioned the oil lamp. Was it not bright enough for her? The thought was an odd one considering how far along they'd come along to light homes and cities after dark. Yet again Manuel had to silently marvel at how things must have changed even still. Then again with more found from the Ones Who Came Before there was still so much more to advance to.

"Is this not bright enough for you then?" he wondered, gesturing to the lamp. The little flame inside flickered.

Even just learning about the little things like this would come in handy. Perhaps the way things were lit in her time, in times to come, would be something she might sketch out for the grand master to view. The thought was almost exciting, unable to think about how any of it might look.

----[x]----

Face still buried against his shoulder, Rekka couldn't tell how he reacted to that simple answer. Maybe he thought the answer was somehow amusing even if Rekka couldn't see how it might be. She didn't have to wonder for long though.

The idea that he might go out of his way to find her something to wear in red was a surprising one or maybe he was just offering to keep her content. All the same she could safely say she hadn't been expecting it. Rekka didn't know what to say to that or if she could even trust he'd pull through on that maybe. She wouldn't be mentioning that thought however.

"You'd just go and do it anyways if I did," she mumbled. It wasn't so much an accusation as it was a fact. Il Lupo seemed to have enough pull to just do whatever he pleased for the most part, why would something this small be any different? All the same if he did Rekka wouldn't complain.

The compliment was strange coming from Il Lupo and yet it didn't sound insincere either. If she didn't have so much weighing down on her chest she might have been a little flattered. If he kept on like this she might end up forgiving him sooner rather than later but that all depended on if he reverted back to that original behavior of his or not.

Yet again Rekka had to wonder about Il Lupo's change of heart where she was concerned. The only logical answers she could come to were Gian pushing him to this or because of the marriage. It was probably an inconsequential thing to think about and yet she couldn't shake the curiosity away. Whatever the answer was it was important to her.

Some time passed before she could work up the nerve to ask however. In a way she was worried about what the answer would be.

"Why are you doing this?" she wondered softly. A moment after she worried that her words had been too quiet and muffled to be heard but Rekka couldn't bring herself to ask again.

Subject: Re: [AC] Counting Stars [1-on-1 rp] Tue Mar 25, 2014 12:20 am

Rue sat down after he'd motioned for her too. She was still a guest in this home and felt as such. At times, she might come off as a little awkward, having to settle into things before she grew comfortable.

Manuel was quiet for several moments after she'd mentioned the dark. Already, she was already trying to find ways to explain electricity and how much light really was in her time. It wasn't something she found easy, the technical side of things leaving her a little unsure.

"Oh, no, it's fine," she explained, waving her hand briefly before it settled into her lap, "it's a little hard to explain...We don't use oil lamps or candles, something called electricity replaces those around eighteen seventy nine."

Rue rubbed the back of her neck, trying to figure out how to further explain these things. She could only assume that she would have to explain things like this more and more, after all.

"It could easily light up this entire room with one fixture rather than one small lamp. There were a lot of lights on the streets too, kept things rather bright. Unless you were far out in the country or some remote area, it was never really dark."

She glanced at the little lamp again, knowing the thing would suffice for the time but when those lights went out, she got nervous. She was so used to having some form of light, inside or outside.

"It's a little nerve wracking is all," she added shortly after, "some of those things were second nature so the change is a little jarring."

As unexpected as it was, she felt she had a reason to be nervous about these things. It wasn't as if she, or anyone from her time, would have been prepared. Those creature comforts were long behind her now and she would have to adjust with time. She hoped she could manage it, in the end of things.

----[x]----

Il Lupo left his chin to rest on her head, taking to toying with her hair. If she liked the feel of this, she didn't show it. Rekka hadn't lifted her head from his shoulder much to tell.

She answered and a chuckle left him at that. Even if she was angry with him, she at least knew a thing or two about him. He would have done it even if she had told him not to. In that sense, perhaps it annoyed her or perhaps he was merely predictable.

"Now, now, I must be slipping," he joked lightly, a little at his own expense, "I would have thought I was a tad subtler than that."

She didn't respond to the compliment though he wasn't quite expecting her to either. Rekka might have still felt an amount of weight on her shoulders and reacting so simply to his flattery would have surprised him. Regardless he did not press her into any more either.

It was silent for a few moments, allowing her to mull over things quietly. He could only assume what might be on her mind at this point. Maybe she was curious of why he'd taken up this behavior, maybe not.

Eventually, she asked however, and he hummed in response. He took a long moment before he would answer, trying to find the right words. He had to settle on something otherwise risk Rekka growing withdrawn.

"I suppose to make up for what I have done," he replied after a long moment, "I have done enough damage though I doubt I can make up for it."

It was a simple confession and maybe she wouldn't care for it. He could only assume at this point. Rekka was a little bit unpredictable at this time. Who knew, perhaps she would be yelling at him again.

Subject: Re: [AC] Counting Stars [1-on-1 rp] Tue Mar 25, 2014 12:01 pm

Manuel waited, taking notice to how she fidgeted in her seat before she answered. When she did he was no closer to understand what she meant than he had been with his own assumptions. Electricity? The only thing that came to mind were the lightning storms and that seemed like a difficult thing to try to harness. No one could predict when lightning struck, after all.

A shake of his head and a wave of his hand followed this thought. "I see," he said either way. Something told him that her trying to explain it further would change his understanding on the matter.

Rue was speaking again, her voice shaky as she stared at the oil lamp. Yet again she was nervous about things that Manuel couldn't comprehend that she'd lost. She'd been like this on and off though so far she had had no breakdown. Honestly, Manuel was waiting for one. No one suffered through such a drastic change so whole. Nonetheless he kept those thoughts to himself.

"As one would assume they'd be," he answered, leaning back, "you speak of such strange things that they are hard to imagine however."

Perhaps it would always be that way. It was not like he had any basis for comparison when she spoke of such strange things like these light fixtures of hers. Manuel didn't think that would ever change no matter how she took to explaining thing or doodled them. Everything was just too far along from what he knew.

----[x]----

Il Lupo remained, holding her even now as he rested his chin on her head again. Despite who it was the feeling of someone just holding her was comforting and warm. He was trying to lighten things again, it was easy to tell when he talked. Rekka wasn't so sure she fully appreciated that but then she hadn't just stopped disliking him either because of this and her mood wasn't exactly salvaged entirely.

She scoffed quietly. Il Lupo being subtle was hard to imagine with the way he strutted about and did as he pleased. She didn't bother pointing that out however.

She mulled over the situation further as time passed. His fingers toyed and fussed with her hair in that time. It had been a long time since anyone had played with her hair and she'd forgotten how much she'd liked the feeling. Closing her eyes she sighed into his shoulder.

When she asked about why he was up to this it took a long moment for him to answer. Rekka's frown deepened in that time, worry swirling in her chest. Would she get an answer? It was seeming like she wouldn't though why she couldn't say. Embarrassment or secrecy could be possible answers though she wasn't sure why either of those would be necessary. It wasn't like Rekka could do much against him anyways.

Finally Il Lupo answered her. The reply seemed much more genuine than she had been expecting. Despite the fact that she'd rather hide her face until she was sure it wasn't so red and blotchy she pulled away enough to scowl at him, jerking her finger at him.

"You've got no one to blame but yourself for that," she scolded. Still feeling indignant but unsure of what to do with herself otherwise, she rested her forehead against his shoulder again despite the dampspot from where she'd been crying.

Subject: Re: [AC] Counting Stars [1-on-1 rp] Tue Mar 25, 2014 9:53 pm

Rue wasn't sure if he or anyone would truly understand the technology of her time. Maybe that was for the best really. What she said and what she didn't say mattered now. Creating a butterfly effect did worry though she could only assume how that might work in the end.

She leaned back, if anything just glad to be off her feet. The shadows danced on the walls unnaturally and at times, that drew her attention. She hadn't been afraid of the dark in a long while. This kind of dark however, was a tad unsettling.

"I can't imagine I'll be making them terribly clear," she answered after he'd spoken, "that's why I like drawing. At least I can tell more through a picture than through my words."

Rue fell quiet for a short time, thinking of home briefly. She wondered if her mom was upset or if she was looking for her now. What about her sisters and brothers, what did they think? These thoughts were hard to shake when they wormed their way into her head. These were thoughts she would try to push away for the time being.

"What does Hilary do, to be out late?" she inquired instead. She didn't know the mans patterns and if he would be out for long stretches of time, she at least wanted to make note of it.

----[x]----

The most he earned in return was a scoff. This didn't deter him, honestly. She might have expected that or perhaps not. Il Lupo couldn't really say he knew for sure. He didn't linger on it or worry about it.

If anything, she had relaxed in the time that he had held her. If this is what made her feel better, all she needed to do was ask. He might not have offered this kind of affection weeks before but with what was weighing on her after, well, he had made an exception.

She was quiet after he had answered, shifting only slightly to move her head. She rested her forehead on his shoulder rather than burying her face there. Il Lupo hummed when she finally spoke up.

"Truth be told," he answered, "but the most I can do is try and fix it."

For Il Lupo, that was more than he could have admitted doing for anyone else. Why Rekka effected him, made him feel so guilty, he could only assume. He tried to stop questioning it in the end of things.

"I do hope that I am making some progress," he pressed, his tone a little bit light. While he wasn't sure, he could at least play it off as a bit of a joke. If she didn't appreciate it, he would pull back again. That seemed like the best thing.

Subject: Re: [AC] Counting Stars [1-on-1 rp] Wed Mar 26, 2014 1:27 am

Rue seemed to be growing comfortable again, perhaps being out of the salty, humid air did her some good. Still, he couldn't imagine it was a terribly big change but then Manuel wasn't affected by it as badly as she seemed to be. Perhaps that was why he didn't notice any subtler changes, his body had no reaction either way.

At the very least she understood that what things she spoke about were incomprehensible to him. At least with the odd things that she'd had they'd been able to touch and experiment with them. This electricity business was all just a concept to him. Even with time Manuel wasn't sure if he'd be able to fully comprehend such things.

"Well by all means I will await to see what you create," he teased with a flourish of his hand.

It had grown quiet after that, her reply one that proved she didn't mind a bit of teasing here or there. For that he was grateful, no need getting up in arms over something so small. It wasn't as if he was out to annoy her or insult her after all. Then again some people were just overly sensitive, Manuel had learned that the hard way years ago.

Eventually Rue asked about Hilary's tasks about Havana. He paused, bringing his fingertips together in though. He'd leaned back in his seat at some point, comfortable where he was. Even though he did not like the direction this was going he saw no need to indicate as such and so he didn't move, merely offered a shrug.

"That is not my place to tell you, little bunny," Manuel stated.

----[x]----

Despite herself she'd started pouting, feeling indignant. If he got the chance he might have picked at her for it, assuming she'd let him see her doing so. It was becoming clear that he was doing what he could to try to lighten the mood more and more. She supposed she couldn't blame him for that though.

It was only then did she pull away, just enough to cross her arms over her chest and, she hoped, glare at him. Rekka knew that she was probably pouting still even if the thought she had was a serious topic. It would be a lie to say she wasn't worried about the arrangement that had been made between him and her, after all.

"That depends on if you decide to be an asshole again or not!" she pointed out, when she carried on she took to muttering under her breath, "especially so since it looks like I'm stuck with you either way."

Even if the marriage was something that wouldn't happen for several months that time could very well come quicker than she'd like. The best they could really do was get to know each other and get along, at worst they would have to tolerate each other. Rekka never thought she'd be stuck in some loveless marriage and yet now it seemed like that was a very real possibility.

Her temper had flared several times though more oft than not Rekka had tried to ignore things or not to let things escalate when things came to Il Lupo. All the same she was a rather passive person despite being easily annoyed or impatient at times. Even now that was no different.

Glancing away, absolutely sure she was pouting now she said, "but we'll see..."

Subject: Re: [AC] Counting Stars [1-on-1 rp] Wed Mar 26, 2014 3:27 pm

Rue couldn't help but smile at the light teasing. It was nice to find he was an easy going one, able to pick and prod when he felt the need. It was a familiar feeling given she often did the same with her friends.

"I'll have to aim to impress then," she answered lightly.

Manuel seemed to appreciate the fact that she had a sense of humor. Some were too easily offended and she knew that as well as anyone. Even in her own era, people had to walk on egg shells just to make sure not to offend. Many of them got far too huffy for the smallest things.

It was quiet for a few moments after she had asked her next question. Rue waited patiently though she wondered if she would get a response out of him. Manuel seemed to hesitant between answers that he felt she might not need.

When he did answer, she spared a small nod, "fair enough," she answered. For all she knew, she was sticking her nose in business it didn't belong.

Rue was quiet and could still hear the sounds outside. People did not return inside just because it had grown dark. For her, it was a little strange so used to the quiet at this hour.

"I'm definitely going to miss the quiet," she brought up after a moment, sparing a glance back at him. She tipped her head slightly, studying him for a brief moment, "you should let me draw you."

----[x]----

She took a long moment to answer and if he could see her face, he wondered if she'd be pouting or angry. It was difficult to tell when she didn't say anything in return. If anything, he could have judged her mood on that alone.

She eventually pulled herself away from him, crossing her arms over her chest. His brow rose when she glared up at him, a notable pout on her expression now.

When she spoke up, it was surprisingly loud, catching him a little off guard. A chuckle passed his lips soon becoming a bit of a laugh. He waved this off easily, shaking his head.

"I will try to control myself, my little lamb," he answers lightly, "I assure you, I really am trying."

He was speaking the truth, even if she didn't believe it. That was it though, she could have been doubting him. Il Lupo didn't expect to gain her trust right away. Still, he was making an attempt.

The muttering caught his attention and he offered an amused smile, "for the both of us, we can only try," he replied, motioning to her.

Rekka still pouted at him. He reached out, ruffling her hair carefully. She didn't flinch away this time, not like before. If he had to guess, she quite liked the motion, not that she was mentioning this.

"Yes, I am sure we will," he prodded in return.

Subject: Re: [AC] Counting Stars [1-on-1 rp] Thu Mar 27, 2014 5:56 pm

Rue seemed intent to do her best with whatever she drew. Manuel didn't know what kind of skill she had with the craft however and only time would tell if she had a talent or not. There was no need to mention that however lest he start a fight in the matter. Some took great pride in skills that were not honed.

For the time being they'd grown quiet. Manuel took the time to just rest much like he would have back on his farm on the porch. It was a great many day where he'd spend some time there merely watching and listening. Not a lot happened though that was the appeal for him. He got enough action on his missions when he was called upon.

His thoughts were broken when she spoke up again. It had been a short thing, asking about Hilary's work. At the very least she let the topic go when he did not give her a satisfactory answer. In that way she would stay out of trouble more often, sticking her nose into such business could be dangerous for her or even drive her to the assassins if she saw them as unfavorable for what they did.

There was only a bit of time that passed before she spoke again. His eyes darted to her, an eyebrow raised at the sentiment. Was this too quiet for her? It was odd to think of it like that when out on his farm it was even quieter but for the nightly sounds of the animals in the area.

"Is that so?" He didn't get an answer before she was talking of drawing him. Manuel furrowed his brow, taken aback by the idea. He waved her off, a shake of the head following afterwards. "I don't suppose that I could talk you out of that idea, could I?"

----[x]----

He'd looked surprised for all of a few seconds before he was laughing. Rekka wasn't sure what was so funny, was he just laughing at her? She couldn't imagine that her behavior was anything to laugh at. That thought didn't improve her mood any, that was for sure.

All the same he was promising to be on his better behavior around her. As she'd muttered under her breath, they would see if that held true or not. Whether Il Lupo was a man of his word wasn't something that she could say she knew about.

She didn't meet his gaze again just yet. Her face must have still been blotchy from crying and she knew that she was still pouting anyways. Though Il Lupo was probably already well aware of these two things she still felt the need to try to hide them. In a way it made herself feel a little better, not much but enough to matter to her.

Her hair being toyed with again wasn't what she expected and she jerked a little, eyes closed as he ruffled it like some kid's. When Il Lupo had drawn his hand away she reached up to fix her hair. It was a greasy mess, it wasn't like she could get a bath as often as she'd liked after all. Maybe she'd see if she couldn't sneak one in later tonight. She always had liked a hot bath to calm herself when she was upset or angry.

"Well... If the big bad wolf behaves himself than you'll have nothing to worry about then," she muttered again.

Rekka could only figure that if he was being truthful than that was that. In a way it was fair enough to assume that. He'd had no promises to keep when it concerned her so it wasn't like she had any experience dealing with his word only his attitude had been what she'd come to know.

Subject: Re: [AC] Counting Stars [1-on-1 rp] Fri Mar 28, 2014 12:37 am

Rue leaned back in the chair, trying to ignore the lack of anything to do. If anything, at this hour she would have been talking to Rekka or playing video games. With so little to do now, it was a strange change of pace and left her a little antsy.

He didn't speak up much, easily just waved her off and left it at that. She didn't mind it though. There were worse things and it wasn't as if he was out to try and upset her.

Her attention fell onto him when he spoke. Blinking, a grin stretched over her lips before she offered a shrug, "maybe," she answered simply.

If anything, she could try to draw when he wasn't looking or resort to her memory. It was a little difficult doing it the other way but sometimes, it worked out well. It just all depended on how many times she'd see him.

She rubbed the back of her neck then, "I won't if you don't want me to," she relented easily after. Some just didn't care for that kind of thing.

----[x]----

Rekka didn't seem to appreciate his laughter. It wasn't something that bothered him. In these weeks, she'd been so down that it was hard to really get anything out of her. The sudden change was nice to see.

She was muttering again and refused to meet his gaze. Her face was blotchy, eyes red. That was the hardest he'd seen her cry. If anything at all, it was better to get those bottled up feelings out.

He placed his hands behind his back, straightening himself up a little. He felt like there was some kind of improvement, whether Rekka was willing to admit that or not.

"I promise," he replied, raising a hand slightly, "my word is my bond."

Whether Rekka believed that or not remained to be seen. He could only assume what was going through her mind as she studied him. Il Lupo didn't ask, simply waited to see what she might say.

Subject: Re: [AC] Counting Stars [1-on-1 rp] Sat Apr 05, 2014 1:56 am

Rue had grinned at him though it was only a few seconds later that she was assuring him that she wouldn't if Manuel told her not to. He offered a shrug. He was not her master or boss, merely someone who was watching over her alongside Hilary. It wasn't like just one man could always be there to take that job upon themselves, not with the lives they led.

"Do as you please so long as it does not attract trouble," he advised.

They'd grown silent after that and Manuel had taken to watching the flickering shadows. During the times when he'd glanced Rue's way he occasionally caught her eyeing those same shadows with a wariness one would give to a violent drunk or a wild animal. In a way it was odd to see, so used to them as he was.

Time passed slowly in this manner. Rue looked to be lost in thought and Manuel would not break her from them unless it was called for. If she was not given time to reflect and sort things out it might end up badly later, whether for himself or for Hilary. Manuel would rather avoid such situations if it could be helped.

Only when Hilary had returned home did Manuel bid his goodbyes for the night. It would be a short trip back to his farm, the paths in Havana familiar to him. There were many still out and about, especially nearer to the taverns though Manuel stayed out of trouble. He was good at avoiding it nowadays.

----[x]----

She had glanced away when she muttered and still didn't meet his gaze again. For the most part he still seemed like he was amused, undeterred by her behavior yet again. At the very least he wasn't being overbearing again. She had to keep reminding herself to look at the small things though whether or not that was very effective depended on what she was actually looking at or experiencing.

Only when he'd spoken up again, assuring her that his promises were worth something did she glance at him again. For a moment she said nothing she just studied him from the corner of her eye. Il Lupo seemed to be waiting again though she wasn't sure what kind of a response he hoped for. Eventually she shook her head and offered a shrug.

She shuffled her weight from foot to foot. What was he still he for? He hadn't said anything more and it wasn't like Rekka had much to do. For the most part he was the one that came to try and get information from her though that wasn't to say others didn't try. Il Lupo being here for something other than picking at her or trying to get her to answer relentless questions was an odd thought.

"Now what?" she wondered finally, sounding as if even that wasn't what she'd wanted to ask. Truthfully it wasn't. There were a lot of things on her mind that pertained to them but for the moment Rekka couldn't bring herself to voice any of them. In a way she was a little scared about what answers she might get. For now she could at least pretend to be ignorant on the matter of the upcoming marriage unless forced to think about it. She could at least afford a few weeks of that behavior, she figured.

The most she could do was wait now. Rekka realized she was doing that a lot lately.

[[OOC: I figure we can set up a timeskip for Manuel, Hilary and Rue's ends, kind of have some time where Manuel is away like we'd talked about a few weeks ago.]]

Subject: Re: [AC] Counting Stars [1-on-1 rp] Sat Apr 05, 2014 3:38 pm

The evening had more or less remained in silence after that. Rue didn't mind it instead focusing on sorting her thoughts. While she generally tried to be optimistic about all of this, viewing it as an opportunity to learn, she had still lost her family, friends, and everything she'd grown comfortable with in her time.

It hadn't been long after did Hilary return and Manuel bid a good night. Rue dismissed herself to bed as well. There was little reason to stay up anymore, not when she had so little to do. Reading by the oil lamps light would just aid in giving her a headache.

After that, the weeks passed slowly. She'd seen little of Manuel, the man apparently on some kind of task. Most days, her company was Hilary or other Templars who came and went. Some simply poked about because they were curious of her. She liked to think that she'd gotten to know Hilary a little better in the weeks that had passed.

Nothing had entirely been smooth sailing despite the activities during the day. She spent most of it drawing when she could think of little things in her time. If she wasn't doing that, she was reading or wandering. Her knee hadn't given out but the humidity often made it sore especially so when it rained.

During the night, the thoughts of home wormed her way into her head. Those nights, she found herself unable to hold in her emotions and broke down. She preferred it this way, never quite so comfortable with crying in front of others. If anyone had noticed, she didn't linger on it very long.

Now she sat about, her knee throbbing again. She had parchment laying in front of her, drawing scrawled on all of these pieces of paper. Her hands were dirtied, charcoal covering them. She did her best not to try and wipe them on her clothing, dresses and the like provided over the days. She didn't want to ruin them.

Rue sat back, heaving a sigh. She wiped at her cheek with the back of her hand. If charcoal smudged there, it went ignored. Most of these things did when she was drawing.

----[x]----

Rekka was quiet again and she didn't meet his gaze. He hoped that these things would be an improvement but had to remained himself to be patient. In time, she would settle into something better. If she didn't, he could only assume how she may act later on down the road.

Il Lupo shifted his weight a little, waiting on her to speak. She didn't bring up whether she believed him or not. His promise could have fallen on deaf ears for all he knew. Until she reacted, he could only assume what was going through her mind.

He watched her as she shuffled her weight again, looking smaller than she actually was. Il Lupo didn't pretend he understood her situation or her feelings. If she wished to share anything of them, he would listen. For the time being, he could only wait.

When she did speak up, he could only provide a shrug of his shoulders. He had come here to make sure she was alright but he hadn't expected to stay this long. Rekka was content remaining withdrawn into herself. He didn't think she would say much to him much less cry as she had.

"Anything you wish," he replied, taking a step back. He kicked some object out of his way before he lifted his head again, "I do mean what I said. I will try not to be such a bother to you in the future."

It would be difficult and Il Lupo knew he would be pick and prod at her if he could. He couldn't stand this kind of sulking all of the time. She needed someone to pick her up and if he noticed that, he'd take it upon himself to do as such. As long as he didn't push too far or mock her, he figured there would be favorable results.

He sighed through his nose, sparing a glance around. A shake of his finally followed before he plowed on, "if you wish to talk, I will try to listen. I may never understand you or your era but talking and venting helps."

Il Lupo waited then, unsure of what he might get in response to those words. If she ignored them again or didn't say anything, he wouldn't push her. Despite what she might have believed, he was learning. That was the most he could offer for the time being.

Subject: Re: [AC] Counting Stars [1-on-1 rp] Sun Apr 06, 2014 12:56 am

The days passed normally for Hilary. Rue living in his home became normality though many seemed to find a reason to come and poke about the place to get even just a glimpse of her. It might have been a little amusing at first but Hilary had come to grow annoyed by this, only when someone took it in their hands to watch for her wellbeing did Hilary spare any time for them if that was only what they'd come to see him about. He still had his own duties to see to after all, especially now that Manuel had gone on his own mission for the time being.

That day was a gloomy one, gray skies cast above them and kept many indoors in case of rain. Hilary had no reason to be out and about and so was inside, studying information he'd come to gather from the assassin he'd manage to catch and kill days before. Nearby Rue sat, sketching those odd things once more, charcoal smeared over her fingers and face.

Hilary shook his head as she smeared more of her cheek. She didn't seem to notice. A moment passed before he leaned back in his seat, heaving a sigh. He'd been sitting for so long that he was beginning to feel restless.

"You're making a mess of yourself again, Rue," he pointed out, catching her attention.

Rue blinked up at him for a moment before shaking off his words. She seemed to be less excitable these days though perhaps she missed Manuel or maybe it was the routine they'd settled into. Lifestyles had a tendency to drag on someone after awhile, perhaps she was more susceptible to such things due to what she lost by arriving here.

"You seem subdued today," Hilary said, attempting at some form of conversation. He wasn't sure when Manuel would be back to help keep things light-hearted. Sometimes Hilary was a little too busy to extend the effort, after all.

----[x]----

Il Lupo didn't take long to answer, shrugging before he'd even spoken up. Rekka frowned at that, she'd been hoping he at least had something in mind. Anything would be better than being left to dwell on her thoughts again. That's all she could do lately and it was beginning to drive her up a wall. When she tried to distract herself from them it didn't do her much good.

It must have been obvious how little she believed in his promises with the way he was reassuring her again. Rekka fidgeted again, unsure of how to respond to that. It was more than obvious that he'd have to work at it to gain any of her trust anyways.

She must have taken too long to answer because he was offering to just talk if she felt like it. That was the last thing on her mind, she wouldn't even know where to begin anyways. Something told her that Il Lupo might not even understand what she might want to talk about too. Rekka shook her head, denying the offer.

Silence followed awhile longer. Il Lupo had taken to nudging things around on the floor with the toe of his boot, perhaps out of boredom or to give her some kind of a hint that the room really needed cleaning. Though she'd gotten the hint she saw little reason to go about doing that now.

"I don't really want to be here," she admitted finally, briefly meeting his gaze, "even if it's just for a little while..."

It had been a long while since she'd been out of this building at all. Rekka hadn't seen much of a need to go out in the yard or gardens either if she was just going to be dogged every step she took. Because of that she'd only been away from the place twice since arriving in Rome. If nothing else, getting away from this place might help clear her head for at least a little while.

Subject: Re: [AC] Counting Stars [1-on-1 rp] Mon Apr 07, 2014 5:37 pm

Conversation was little though Rue was getting used to that. Hilary was busy with whatever he did. She hadn't found out what that was yet and she didn't try to find out. She wasn't going to put her nose in business that wasn't her own.

She glanced out the window, noting the way the wind was picking up. Rue wondered if it would storm and how those were like here. She had only heard about storms nearer the ocean. The valley she lived in had some bad storms but nothing like the ones that could hit the coast, or so she had been told.

Aside from the wind howling, the silence worn on. She was surprised when Hilary broke that trend, rarely doing it most days, engrossed in his work. Rue blinked at him before she glanced down at her hands. Indeed, they were dark, residue from the charcoal stuck to them. No doubt it was on her face as well, otherwise he probably wouldn't have pointed it out.

"I've managed worse," she answered, a bit of a bump to her tone. She briefly wondered if it did bother him or if it was merely something he pointed out. When she painted, she did have a habit of ignoring her clothing and dressed down because of it.

Outside, she swore she could hear a rumble and paused only briefly to listen. Only after did she pick up the flat stone she used to sharpen the charcoal she had, a grove in the middle to do just that, and started to run a piece along it.

He spoke up again, brief as it was, and Rue shrugged a shoulder in response. "Gloomy day," she replied simply.

She left out more details than she probably should have. Most days she would have been focusing on work or attending to some sort of hobby. It wasn't as if she was lacking in anything to do in her era. Here, she was at a loss of what to do with herself and simply did things to pass the time. It was very strange for her and settling in a place were she had so little to do or worry about was as jarring as waking up in this time itself.

----[x]----

Il Lupo waited patiently for her to answer him. It was obvious she was thinking things through though occasionally she fidgeted. He noticed this out of the corner of his eye, his attention mostly on the room around them.

He was going to have to earn her trust though he wasn't sure how he would manage that. Her moods swayed and there was still quite a bit she didn't want to open up about. Il Lupo wasn't exactly a patient man with most things but if he had to be, he'd force himself to remain that way.

He lifted his head again when she spoke up. She didn't want to be here? Well, that was an easy fix for a short time, a walk around the area might do her some good. The last time she'd done that was with Gian when Il Lupo had taken the opportunity to steal her belongings.

"We could go for a walk," he suggested, motioning toward the door, "perhaps you have a place you fancy?"

If Gian had pointed out anything that she liked, maybe she would like to see more of it. Il Lupo could only assume how far he had taken her.

"If it will help you clear your head, I suppose we could stay out a little after dark," he continued, "the festivities can be quite a sight during that time."

People were active during the day but at night, shows and street performers started to mill about the area. For him, they were familiar sights but for her they might be something new, something to get excited about. Il Lupo had little worry over the threat of assassin's. It wasn't as if they had caught wind of her existence as it was.

Only when she made her decision would he start toward the door again. The offer was there, she need only to take it if she wanted to.

Subject: Re: [AC] Counting Stars [1-on-1 rp] Tue Apr 08, 2014 2:04 am

It took Rue a moment or so before she'd turned to him, blinking and looking as if she wasn't aware of her messes. Only a passing glance was spared at her hands before she'd shrugged this news off. Perhaps she had done as she'd claimed, made larger messes. It wasn't as if Hilary would know.

"Is that right?" he wondered lightly, not really expecting an answer, "I wonder what you might have accomplished with such messes if you'd been given paints instead."

When he'd pointed out her quiet behavior today she merely shrugged him off. Perhaps she just felt the need to take this time to quiet down and reflect or maybe it really was the weather like she claimed. Hilary wouldn't pry too much into it if she wasn't spiraling into a mood. For the most part she was still rather amicable about things.

"Yes, looks like it might only grow worse as the day passes," Hilary said, glancing out the nearest window. Raindrops had yet to fall but that didn't mean they wouldn't soon enough. In fact he was expecting rain to come sooner or later.

A moment passed where Hilary rolled his shoulders. If it wasn't this bad out he might have gone to take a stroll about Havana but surely even the assassins would have bunkered down to wait out the weather. There was no way they'd try to launch any sort of attack on them or to get after Rue. Rhona might have grown close to realize that someone important was being kept here but Hilary knew her to be less reckless than that.

Shaking the thoughts away he gestured to Rue. She seemed as if she had nothing better to do today as well given the weather. "I do believe that Manuel should be returning to day or tomorrow," Hilary told her, watching her face light up. Was she even aware that she had brightened so quickly?

----[x]----

Il Lupo's attention seemed to stray as well in the silence that had followed. Only when she'd spoken up had he turned to her again. Was he looking around at the mess she'd made again? Rekka didn't see anything else he might have been looking at.

It didn't take him long to answer her, offering to take her on a walk. Even if it was a short one it would be better than nothing if it meant getting off this place's property for a bit. So long as Il Lupo upheld his end of the promise Rekka figured it couldn't hurt for him to be the one escorting her around. If she was lucky he might take her out farther into Rome than Gian had too.

"I've only been outside this place twice," she told him, "how could I have a preferred spot?"

Despite her response Il Lupo was already leading the way down the hall. Rekka trailed along a step or two behind him though once they were off the property she might end up glued to his side. Even Gian had seemed to stick closer to her side when he'd escorted her around. Rekka tried not to think about that too much, all too aware of how valuable she supposedly was.

Her thoughts were broken when Il Lupo spoke up again, mentioning staying out longer than she would have expected. It was still only early afternoon, after all. Even then there was the mention of something that might happen after the sun set. If there was it never happened where she could get a good look from any of the windows here but then it wasn't like there was any sort of a city planner and so buildings didn't seem to have any sort of rhyme or reason as to where they were placed too.

"What are you talking about?" Rekka wondered, brow furrowed.

It wasn't like everything she'd experienced in those games that were now a reality for her would be what she'd see or experience here but she would have expected something like this to be present. Then again, console memory constraints had been a thing to consider as video games had developed... or rather, would develop. Rekka shook the thoughts away before she could further any of them.

Subject: Re: [AC] Counting Stars [1-on-1 rp] Wed Apr 09, 2014 2:28 pm

Rue spared a small smile in response. It was probably best that paints weren't provided. She didn't want to ruin the clothing she'd been given.

"That would have been a terrible idea," she replied. If anything, she was conscious of everything she'd been given and was taking some pains not to ruin them.

She glanced out the window again, trying to catch anyone out and about. It seemed most had ventured in for the time being, waiting for the storm to pass. Rue wasn't certain of weather here, so for all she knew when it rained, it poured.

Rue's gaze wandered away from that to the drawing in front of her. She'd taken the time to draw the Golden Gate Bridge or what she remembered, seeing pictures of it. She wanted to give a better idea of how these things were built and safe in her time to avoid bridges like these collapsing as many of the early ones had.

"Do the storms get that bad here?" she asked, curious of the weather patterns. It was humid enough to let her know it rained often but as for storms, she had little idea.

She started sketching again, waiting on an answer. For a moment, it was quiet and she could see him rolling his shoulders. Hilary wasn't often sitting about this long, Rue had noticed. He was normally out and about, attending to whatever he needed to do. Much of that was still a mystery to her however.

When he spoke up about Manuel, she lifted her head. She wasn't sure what feeling washed over her, relief or excitement. It was something odd and she tried not to question it.

"Really?" she replied, shifting in her seat slightly. Now that she knew, she was anxious to see him again. She didn't know why that was, Rue had liked being around him, but she never felt so light to know someone was coming back home, "I'm glad to hear that."

----[x]----

Without any word or argument, Il Lupo started out the door and down the hall. If she followed, then she would have something to do for the day and coming evening. It would do her some good to get some air as it was.

Il Lupo waved off her words easily. It seemed Gian hadn't gotten around to showing her quite a bit and it wasn't as if she'd left in the weeks, sulking instead. Up until this point, he hadn't really believed she had much of an interest in the things around her.

"Then you will find something today," he announced instead, shooting a quick glance over his shoulder.

There was a lot to see and something would not doubt fit her fancy once they explored. These things might have been familiar to him but to her, well he expected to see some interesting results.

He didn't look at her even when she expressed confusion. A short chuckle left him, shaking his head. He motioned toward her then, wondering what kind of expression had crossed her features. He wouldn't look for the time being.

"There are many little festivities," he answered. "It's very rare that it is quiet during the night. You simply need to know where to go."

Il Lupo finally sparing a glance, an amused smile tugging at his lips watching the doubt and confusion swirl on her features. It was strange finding amusement when he wasn't simply prodding people.

"Do not doubt me, little lamb," he pressed lightly, "I know my way about."

Subject: Re: [AC] Counting Stars [1-on-1 rp] Wed Apr 09, 2014 7:08 pm

Hilary hummed, a brief nod acting as his answer to her. So she would have been just as messy with paints as she was with the charcoal. At least now Hilary had some warning if she tried to pick any paints up. He'd rather not have to scrap paint off of his floor if he could avoid it.

He'd turned then, picking up the papers before him. While he scanned the information over them it was only half complete. Parts of it were coded or maybe he was just missing something from an earlier message. A frown tugged at his lips with that thought. If he was missing something then this code would be incomplete...

"Hmm?" he wondered as he turned towards Rue yet again. She'd spoken up and it took a second or so before he realized what she'd asked. "Ah, yes, sometimes they do. Damages can be quite a problem if they get bad enough."

It had been awhile since the last major storm though it was difficult to predict when they would hit as well. The most warning one got was the way the air felt or the clouds that could be spotted beforehand. Even then it often wasn't enough. Perhaps things would change one day and they'd have a more reliable method of reading weather. Until then they got by as best they could.

When he'd answered he'd turned away once more, back to the papers. Ignoring them would do little good, after all. All the same he was fairly good at multitasking and the pitiful excuse for a break might help him make a breakthrough later.

At the mention of Manuel's return soon it was easy to hear the change in her voice. Excitement had caused her to raise her voice, sounding eager. Hilary chuckled, shaking his head at that. Rue really was a transparent woman, easy to read despite her oddities. He wondered if she was well aware of that or not.

----[x]----

Rekka's brow furrowed at the way he seemed so confident about finding at least one place she might prefer. Eventually she shook her head at this. There wasn't much point in arguing or questioning it, besides any place was better than this one.

He hadn't elaborated on what festivities he was talking about and Rekka had to wonder if he did that on purpose. If he wasn't forthright with information than it might keep her talking, maybe that was his line of thinking. Or maybe Il Lupo was just being coy because he could be. He had a penchant for picking at people and this very well could be a way to do that without resorting to outright mocking her.

A chuckle was her answer at first when she'd asked about it and even when he did speak up it didn't shed any light on the situation. When he received no answer from her Il Lupo spared a glance her way. It was easy to see the amusement he felt, the way the corners of his lips tugged up even if his eyes were still shadowed by that hood he wore.

"You have enough of an ego that it wouldn't matter much if I do or not," she pointed out simply.

Besides, even if she didn't say it she was well aware of what he was capable of. In a way she was a little jealous of the way he was able to monkey around and perform parkour while she was stuck on the ground. She had a feeling she'd just get shot down if she wanted to do any of that and if they didn't deny her they might put her to work for them.

"Speaking of, you're getting confident again," Rekka said, wondering why that was. Then again he knew things she didn't about Rome and what went on within its streets.

Subject: Re: [AC] Counting Stars [1-on-1 rp] Sat Apr 12, 2014 12:48 am

She glanced at him briefly before she turned back to her own work. Rue had no inkling as to what had caught his attention. He'd been working for what seemed like hours and it was honestly a surprise to see him sitting still for so long.

Rue didn't ask, sure she'd get nothing in reply to shed light on whatever he was doing. Instead, she focused on her drawings again, trying to avoid swiping at her face too often.

She was a little glad to know how the storms worked her. While Hilary's answer was a simple one, she could imagine what the damages might be like. Even in her era, storms could do massive damage in a little amount of time.

With that answers, it felt silent again. A short chuckle left him, catching her attention momentarily before she dipped her head, trying to ignore the heat on her cheeks. She was transparent and she knew it but she was rather happy knowing Manuel was coming back. Why she did, she had plenty of time to ponder over it if she wanted to.

The afternoon passed much in the manner. Only when Rue felt she had a sufficient amount of drawings did she break, cleaning up a bit before she started to watch the rain fall outside. It poured down heavily and the wind had picked up. The sound of thunder rumbled on occasion, lightning flashing in the sky before the loud sounds. Somehow it was strangely relaxing for her.

The storm seemed to refuse to pass over, leaving Rue to wonder how long they could go on. She also wondered if Manuel had gotten caught in it, if that would delay him. Rue had to shake those thoughts away however. She really couldn't understand why she felt so excited.

----[x]----

Whatever she thought, he could only assume. Il Lupo wasn't pushing in a way to get answers out of her. Her thoughts could remain her own until she decided to speak up about them. The most he could figure was she might have been confused by his words and motives.

As they moved down the halls, a few others spared a glance their way. Seeing Rekka out and about seemed so rare now, so no doubt they were curious. Il Lupo simply ignored them as they passed by.

Rekka was quiet for a long few minutes. In that time, he had lead them toward the doorway and outside. The air was comfortable, early afternoon passing by slowly. Some lingered about, others looked a tad lazy.

He hummed, sparing a glance her way again after she spoke. Il Lupo snorted in amusement, a small smirk tugging at his lips. While it was true, he wouldn't admit to it.

"Oh, you wound me, my little lamb," he replied. "Surely I've a little charm to balance that 'ego' out?"

Il Lupo didn't expect to get a positive reply if any came at all. She was already shooting him a look and he remained himself to try and subdue his prods. He didn't want to inadvertently push her away again.

Instead, he kept moving forward, glancing about the large buildings surrounding. They were familiar to him, having scaled many of them in the past. He caught Rekka glancing around, studying them herself. He had to wonder where she was originally from for these buildings to catch her attention.

He waved her words off easily, a chuckle passing as he did so. "I would not be me if I wasn't a little confident," he noted in return. "Perhaps it will grow on you in time, hmmm?"

Subject: Re: [AC] Counting Stars [1-on-1 rp] Sat Apr 12, 2014 11:12 pm

Manuel had hoped that the storm would have kept at bay until he'd been able to duck inside and out of it. It was with great effort that he kept his straw hat from blowing away on the wind upon his return to Havana. While he'd been to a nearby island it had only netted him so much information to bring back.

Shoulders hunched and head bowed Manuel pushed his way down the streets and did his best to ignore the blustery wind. A hand to his hat kept it planted firmly on his head though if he so much as loosened his grip he knew it would be flying out of his grasp. Manuel would rather avoid loosing it and so he made sure not to let this happen.

Hilary's home came into view and he made a beeline for it. Surely the man would not mind Manuel bunking there for the duration of this weather and if nothing else he might learn something of Rue again. She had a great many things kept away from them all, he was sure.

Once at the door he pounded the side of his fist hard into the wood and waited. Even with the buildings sheltering him from the wind it did little good, each gust still managed to try to teeter him off of his feet. Relief flooded through him when Hilary answered the door, looking annoyed that anyone was there at all. The expression disappeared soon enough before he was gesturing for Manuel to come inside.

"Well, Rue will be quite pleased now," Hilary said as they headed to the living quarters.

Manuel allowed a chuckle to pass his lips, "is that right?" He did not receive an answer from Hilary as they stepped into the other room. Rue was already waiting, perhaps curious as to who had arrived at Hilary's home in this weather. Manuel spared a smile and a nod of his head before he said "it has been awhile, has it not?"

----[x]----

Rekka didn't put much stock into the glances sent her way as they headed outside. She'd kept to herself and even though she was trailing along after Il Lupo that didn't mean she was about to start going out of her way to keep tabs on what everyone else was doing. She noticed one or two turning away from her though otherwise said or did nothing to indicate they were about to approach her anyways.

Outside it was easy to put those things behind her. Only when the guards outside the gates had drawn into view did she tentatively shift closer to Il Lupo's side. The last thing she needed was to be taken back because they thought she was up to something sneaky.

He still sounded happy enough as he retorted quite quickly. It wasn't so surprising anymore that he was able to do that, he always seemed to have an answer for everything. For a moment she debated on not answering at all, if neither of them exercised any self control they might just end up with her mood soured again and wanting nothing but to be left alone. It seemed, more and more, that Il Lupo and Gian didn't want that though Rekka wasn't sure if the reasons were the same for them or not.

"If there is I've yet to see it," she said finally, muttering as she took to observing the buildings around them. They were all ones she could see from the property and the out of the windows but at least it gave her something else to focus on rather than Il Lupo.

A few minutes passed before she'd pointed out how quickly he was regaining his confidence on the matter. Back in her room he'd almost seemed careful around her, especially so when he spoke. Perhaps he felt more at home now that she wasn't bawling. Rekka couldn't fault him if that was the case, she was less than tactful and found herself awkward around people who were crying too.

"We'll see," she relented finally.

Subject: Re: [AC] Counting Stars [1-on-1 rp] Sun Apr 13, 2014 4:11 pm

Rue had spent quite a bit of time staring out of the window, watching the rain fall and the wind tug at the trees. The knock on Hilary's door easily caught her attention.

She waited patiently, wondering if it was just someone looking for shelter in this storm. Rue couldn't blame them if they were, she would have probably done much of the same.

A few moments passed, Rue waiting to see who might have come all this way. Her curiosity melted away when Hilary returned, Manuel following behind. A smile tugged at her lips, feeling an odd bit of relief that he'd come back.

"Yes, it has," she replied lightly, "how have you been?"

Rue was still uncertain of where he had to go or for what reason. There were quite a few things that she wasn't informed of and she tried not to question that. It could nag at her at times though she left it in the back of her head.

Outside, the sound of thunder cracking loudly again made her flinch slightly. She shifted, trying to ignore that awkwardness that washed over her because of it. She'd thought she had gotten over thunder startling her. Old habits and fears seemed to linger, regardless of her age.

----[x]----

Il Lupo didn't mind the lack of reply or anything of the such. Getting her out and about was a victory in and of itself. These last few weeks had been tiring for all of them. This was an improvement and he hoped it would stay that way.

He didn't miss the way she had shifted closer to him, as hesitant as that action was. If it made her feel safe, in some odd way or another, he would allow it. Silently, he took a fair bit of amusement out of it.

He wasn't sure if he'd get an answer to his words or not. Rekka seemed content in either ignoring them all together, though he tried not to be bothered by this. He wondered how long it would be until he considered it annoying again.

Il Lupo snorted in response, picking up his pace a little. She would match his eventually and if she thought about darting off, he at least still had an eye on her.

"You will see them in time," he boasted a little. Whether that was true or not remained to be seen however.

Il Lupo only slowed his pace when Rekka showed interest in something. For all intents and purposes, he was partly letting her take some form of lead. If she wanted to stop and look at something, she could. She merely needed to take the chance and do so.

He smirked a little at her answer. That wasn't a 'no', after all and he silently took amusement out of it.

Subject: Re: [AC] Counting Stars [1-on-1 rp] Mon Apr 14, 2014 12:00 am

Manuel took to shifting from foot to foot. It had started to rain while he'd come to Hilary's and he hadn't escaped getting soaked by it. It hadn't been a drizzle, not with those clouds and the wind. In the end of things he was lucky to not have lost his hat in the gusts.

"I have been better but then so has the weather," Manuel said, nodding his head towards the door. He worried what his crops might end up looking like if the fields flooded too much.

"Crops have survived worse, I am sure," Hilary scoffed dismissively as he made his way towards a nearby table. Already there was an oil lamp lit on it. Documents of some sort were scatted over its surface to boot.

"Yes, that does not stop the concern that has settled, however," Manuel answered easily.

He removed his hat and attempted to brush away the water that still clung to it. It didn't do much good though he tried all the same. As he did this he moved towards the nearest seat and took it upon himself to make himself comfortable. There was on use standing around and it wasn't as if he was drenched so thoroughly that it would take long to dry.

When he deemed his hat dry enough he placed it back on his head, ignoring the way the trinket swayed yet again with the movement. It was a familiar thing to him, after all. Nearby Rue still sat, papers of her own scattered about the table she'd seated herself in front of. A passing glance gave Manuel an idea of what she had been up to.

"Things have been well then?" he wondered.

----[x]----

Once they'd exited the property's gates Il Lupo had noticeably picked up his pace. This was a far cry from the way Gian had taken to escorting her, their pace even and allowing for her to take it all in as they walked. Even so it wasn't to quick for Rekka to keep up with him even if his strides were longer than hers.

She hummed in answer to his confident words. If he had it in mind to be charming then she had yet to see it. Whether or not Il Lupo actually would do such things would be seen though Rekka wasn't sure if she was looking forward to that or not. In the end of it she decided it was something to be ambivalent about. Until he did anything charming it didn't matter much.

As he led her about Rome Rekka took notice to a thing or two; while she'd expected him to be leading her around Rekka was a little surprised to find he slowed or stopped when she did, her attention on something or other. He never said anything about it, merely waited for her to either start walking or to speed up again. It was still strange to see him doing anything nice and this left her wondering about him again even when she was trying to take in what she could see of Rome and its people.

She wasn't sure how much time was spent like this, just walking and taking in the sights. It couldn't have been long with how high the sun still hung in the sky, beating down on them all and warming the day. At the very least it was warm, she reasoned. Il Lupo hadn't taken to needling her again either and that was a plus.

The more she looked at these tall buildings the more the idea of parkour nagged at her. She'd loved climbing but had never had the chance to actually try free running. It wasn't until she'd halted them again, staring up at another tall building she didn't know the name of that she considered it again. It wasn't like she'd be able to do any of that now, considering the dress she wore but still...

"Il Lupo?" she started, grasping at her elbow. This was something she did just to keep herself occupied however momentarily it was. "Would it be too much to ask to free run sometime?"

Subject: Re: [AC] Counting Stars [1-on-1 rp] Mon Apr 14, 2014 8:07 pm

Rue found she was unable to wipe the smile off of her face. It wasn't as if she'd complain about that or the fact she was easy to read. In the passed few weeks, with how things settled for her, she couldn't remember smiling so brightly. Why or how he'd manage to drag it out of her again, she tried not to linger on.

A short few words were exchanged, Manuel worried over his crops. Rue knew it was his livelihood and no doubt, worry would settle in. Like Hilary had said, she had known plants survived worse things but that didn't brush away any worries.

Rue studied his face for a moment when he removed his hat. The brim of it was so wide, it made it easy to hid his face away. This was the first time Rue had gotten a good look at Manuel's face and hair without it being covered away. He was a handsome man, she could easily admit that to herself.

Just as quickly as the hat had come off did it go right back on his head when he was satisfied. Rue finally pulled her gaze away, afraid she might have been caught staring. She fingered through the parchment in front of her, going through drawings again.

When Manuel spoke, she lifted her head again. Hilary didn't answer right away though that was becoming common. He was engrossed in those papers and she could only assume what was on them.

"I'd certainly like to think they've gone well," she answered finally. Aside from rough nights when she was alone, there hadn't been many problems for her and she was thankful for that fact. Rue toyed with a piece of charcoal, ignoring the fact that her fingers were soon dirtied again. "It's been quiet aside from the occasional visitor."

Hilary had put a stop to most of that rather quickly. A lot of those 'occasional visitors' only stopped by to get a glimpse of her. While she put up with it, trying to remain chipper and patient, it got tiring fast. Hilary seemed to hold somewhat of the same sentiment.

----[x]----

Il Lupo had evened out his pace so Rekka could look about. The minutes passed by slowly for him but Rekka seemed to enjoy taking in the sights. She never asked questions and so, he didn't explain what she was looking at or what buildings were. If she wanted to know, she'd say something about it eventually.

She was quiet as ever, maybe mulling over things. If she didn't bring them up, he'd leave her to it. He wouldn't begrudge her the chance to clear her head. For the time being, it might have been the best thing for her.

He often caught her looking at the tall building however. She didn't express any fear of how high they were. More over, she looked like she wanted to scale those heights. He tried not to smirk at that thought.

It was shortly after his thoughts were confirmed when she grasped his elbow, halting him. Il Lupo's gaze fell onto her when he spoke. Amusement danced on his features and he spared her a quick nod.

"Well, certainly not in the clothes you are in now," he answered. She seemed to have expected that much and brushed it off, "but I can see if I can find something a little more suitable."

If this was what she wanted to take interest in, he'd teach her if need be. In time, the skills she might gain from him could be put to good use. That was, of course, if she swayed to their side.

"Do you have any experience?" he inquired, a little curious, "or are you just a lover of risk taking?"

Subject: Re: [AC] Counting Stars [1-on-1 rp] Tue Apr 15, 2014 1:10 pm

It wasn't hard to figure out why the feeling of being stared at needled at him while he tended to his hat. Hilary had turned away to see to whatever documents he had scattered about that table leaving only Rue. From the corners of his eyes he could see her, watching him from where she sat. Manuel said and did nothing in return.

When he returned his hat to its proper place and took a seat Rue took to shuffling her own papers around, perhaps embarrassed. Manuel left her to such things even if he was curious of what she'd sketched there. They were not for his eyes, after all.

"As well as they can be with those who are too curious for their own good sniffing about," Hilary had answered after Rue did. It wasn't so much a surprise that there were those who were curious had come to get a glimpse of Rue. Still, Manuel imagined it would be a touch annoying.

"I see," he replied, "I would hope they would not be too persistent."

If nothing else Rue didn't seem too bothered by it or if she was she kept that information secret. Manuel would not pry, surely they had enough of that from their visitors in the time he'd been away. There'd be plenty of time to catch up anyways, especially if they all chose only to speak of more pleasant things for the time being.

For now Manuel merely wanted to get comfortable. He'd had a bit of running about to do on that last island. Nasty business that had been considering the assassin had been a rather cowardly fellow, leading Manuel on a wild goose chase or two during his stay there. He'd prefer not to recount that tale unless he had to.

----[x]----

It wasn't until Rekka had spoken up did Il Lupo stop. From the look of things he seemed to have been ready to start them off again before she'd said anything. At least he wasn't brushing her aside even if he looked amused by her request. She couldn't be sure of it, still eyeing the buildings around them, but he might have been studying her again.

She scoffed at the mention of her attire. Of course she hadn't meant to get right to it today, she wasn't up for that much activity just yet. No, her motivation for much of anything was still rather low. Even just walking around like this was tiring but then she had been crying just a short while ago and that was always a tiring affair in itself.

Her hand fell back to her side. The request seemed to have sparked Il Lupo's curiosity about her if his questions were anything to go by. True, knowing if she had a little experience might have been helpful but the other question? No, that seemed more like he was fishing for information now. Rekka debated on whether or not to answer that for a moment. What did it matter if she liked to take risks or not?

Eventually she relented and said "I only ever lived out by fields." She left out the part where most people who attempted free running in the city often ended up having the cops called on them. Too many people were paranoid over anyone having a bit of fun that wasn't seen as normal.

It took Rekka a moment to realize that this was the first time she'd told Il Lupo anything about herself or where she'd come from. The information was a harmless piece however, it wasn't like he'd be able to glean much about the future from it. There were fields all over Italy if the games were anything to go by. Of course now she'd have to worry about renewing his attempts to glean anything more important from her.

Subject: Re: [AC] Counting Stars [1-on-1 rp] Wed Apr 16, 2014 12:55 pm

Rue was quiet, leaving the parchment be for the time being. It was amazing that she'd gotten so excited over Manuel's return but had no idea what to say. Just seeing him around again seemed like enough to keep her content.

Hilary confirmed her words shortly after though he didn't seem to be as annoyed as when those people had stopped by. Rue simply figured since the visit had been put to a stop, there was little need to be annoyed.

"It wasn't so horrible," she replied. "But I've never actually been fussed over like that before either."

Certain, that had never been the case at home. Here, the Templars found her so odd, she was something to be marveled. It was jarring at first but Rue quickly grew used to and accepted it. Nonetheless, it did wear on her patience a little.

Rue spared a small smile, shaking it off rather easily. It was becoming routine anyways. She still had to go about explaining quite a few things about the things she drew anyways.

----[x]----

Rekka was quiet, seeming to mull over what to say. Il Lupo didn't push for any answers if she didn't want to give them. He'd long since learned doing that could only cause her to withdraw more.

Her gaze was downcast for a long few moments before her answer finally slipped out. It wasn't at all detailed and Il Lupo tried not to mind that. Regardless, she would have to fess up about a few things eventually.

"Fields, hmm?" he answered after a long moment. "That sounds very dull."

It was no wonder she was studying the buildings so often when she had a moment. Il Lupo couldn't imagine remaining in fields for so long, that sight would grow tiring no doubt.

A moment later, he started forward again, motioning for her to follow. If she had no experience, he wondered how this would go when she took up free running. If anything, she didn't seem frightened or nervous about the idea.

"I am sure we can make it work," he carried on. "It is no so difficult when you have a little feel for it."

Of course, injury was a very real thing as well. He would keep it in mind to take things slow for her when they did start.

Subject: Re: [AC] Counting Stars [1-on-1 rp] Wed Apr 16, 2014 9:40 pm

Manuel merely offered a nod in answer to Rue. It wasn't as if he knew any of what her life had been like before she'd arrived here, after all. For all he knew they could be lies or truth. In the end of things it didn't matter much either way, not this time. There were surely better topics to bring up anyways rather than to remain on this one.

Already Hilary had grown absorbed in what he was doing. From the looks of things he'd been at it for some time though Manuel wasn't sure what was on those papers. If Hilary had anything else to add it had gone forgotten for the moment.

"I am sure things were not that bad," he said simply. Whether he spoke of those visitors or Rue's past was left unclear, however.

He shifted in his seat, trying to get comfortable. He wasn't about to move to one of the better chairs as his clothes were still damp; that in part was why he was so uncomfortable, his clothes sticking to him. Manuel wouldn't bother asking Hilary to spare some clothes as it wouldn't be long before his own dried anyways. It would just be sticking it out for now.

"How have things gone past your visitors?" Manuel wondered. If nothing else it might give him some insight as to how the days had come to be for these two. From the looks of it Hilary was driven in what he did anyways so that left Rue's scheduling of events nowadays.

----[x]----

Rekka couldn't begin to guess what was on Il Lupo's mind at the moment. In a way she wasn't sure she wanted to now either, what with everything that was happening. If he had any reservations he hadn't said anything about them after all. It was hard to discern where he stood on the matter of that marriage and whether or not he was as bothered by it as she was.

She tried to shake those thoughts, frustrated that even now, when the topic wasn't even at hand, that it had wormed its way back to her mind unbidden like that. She tried to focus on the idea of free running again. At least that would be a welcome distraction when she could actually get started.

"More than you know," she agreed. The conversation, as little as it was, was a good distraction for the moment too.

There was a moment of silence before Il Lupo started them off again, ignoring the crowds around them. Rome was packed, barely much space to make due with on these main roads but there wasn't much they could do about it. Such a big city as this, it was bound to be busy. It made it hard to keep much distance between herself and Il Lupo, however, and perhaps the man was all too aware of that. For all she knew he preferred it that way to make sure she couldn't run off easily.

So, Rekka had to take it upon herself to stick close to Il Lupo's side. She'd rather not be accused of something she wasn't up to just because of the crowds around them being hard to get through. Besides, even if they were in a place where people dressed nicely and lived in large homes Rekka was well aware of what kind of dangers could hide in Rome. How many more might exist wasn't something she could say for sure, however.

Sparing a discreet glance at him, it didn't seem that he minded this though that hood still shadowed quite a bit. She wasn't even sure if he was leading her around on any sort of set path or not. Maybe he was just wandering to pass the time for the both of them.

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