Trading Secrets
| Trading Secrets | |
|---|---|
I'm Pretty Sure I'm Human | |
| Players |
Arnaud and Five have a Talk, in which secrets are shared, promises made and friendship blooms. |
Arnaud is haunting Auburn Gresham again this evening, main reason being he wants to find Five - or rather, that she will find him as she said she would, and because he needs to harvest glamour. He steps out of a club and takes a deep breath of the chilly autumn air, relieved to be out of there; harvesting in clubs is easy, but it's also enervating. He glances up and down the street and moves to the side of the entrance, hunching in his worn leather jacket. Taking out the cigarettes, he stares at the pack for a moment and then pockets it again, exchanging it for a red lolipop. Color change in his chosen treat, it seems. After getting out all of her emotions in a constructive (okay maybe more destructive) manner, Five is true to her word and makes her way back to Auburn Gresham. Wearing her usual dark and oversized clothing, she already naturally blends into her environment. When she's /trying/ to not be seen? She's like a ghost. The mortal doesn't want to run into any more trouble without talking to some people first. And on her list is Arnaud! Eventually she manages to find the Changeling, very carefully just watching him from a safe distance for a few minutes. Sure, she's brave enough to leap onto a freaky monster but has hesitation talking to her monstrous friend. After a few slow breaths and the gathering of some courage, she slinks over toward Arnaud. "Hey," she greets him as casually as she can as she seemingly sudden appears next to him. Arnaud doesn't notice her, she's good at the sneaky stuff, so even with his enhanced senses he is oblivious and is just hanging around like a delinquent, eating a lolipop. He's got a thoughtful expression, or perhaps blank, staring at a neon sign on the opposite side of the street. So, when she slinks over he startles and pulls the red candy out of his mouth, giving her an intense scrutiny. However, he can't read people unless they literally punch him or tell him what is going on, so her casual greeting is taken as her being just fine. "Hi Shorty. Want a lolipop?" He gives her his best smile, which just makes him seem more menacing. He needs to work on those. Five gives the offered lollipop a long look instead of staring at Arnaud. Eventually, she takes it but doesn't pop it into her mouth just yet. A cautious and somewhat wary gaze peers around the around before eventually settling back on the Changeling. "Is... is it okay to... talk here?" she questions, raising her brow at the man. Arnaud is strangely relaxed, but he is watching her very closely. "Absolutely not, there's people everywhere," he replies, and he reaches for her arm to grab it if she allows, and not tight enough to cause harm; he starts moving down the street towards anywhere more private than outside a club. "If you ask some, nowhere is safe. SOME people are just crazy careful." He pauses, glancing at her. "I should learn some from them. See what happened? Trouble. Also, it didn't even taste good, complete waste of effort." There's a slight jump as he grabs her arm, a mixture of the suddenness of it and well, she /did/ see him eat somebody recently. Still, she seems to trust him enough that there's no real hesitation as he starts to lead her along. Brows furrow as she listens to him, a small frown touching the edges of her lips. When he pauses, she peers up at him, her expression having changed from cautious to sympathetic. Slightly. "Not a waste... you... helped save us from," The mortal pauses as well briefly. "... Whatever that thing was." "Listen - I was stupid, and I--" Arnaud stops and glances at her, his lips thinning and jaw tightening; he doesn't finish the sentence, instead just grunting something unintelligible and moving onwards. The area isn't filled with private places to talk, but he has a solution. Arnaud steers them into an alley, and points to a ladder high up that goes up to a roof. "Let's go up there, I'll lift you up and jump up after," he suggests. "It's nice up there." He lowers down to offer his hands as leverage to hike her up. For a mortal that just saw the Changeling devouring a monster, she /does/ seem to be pretty trusting of him. Or maybe she doesn't feel like she has the right to judge someone over what they are. And he's probably not going to eat /her/, right? That's what she keeps telling herself in her head! After giving Arnaud a nod, Five easily hops up onto his hand and hops up as best as she can on the ladder. Even though she knows he doesn't need it, there's a pause, then an offer of her own hand to help pull him up. Either way, they're soon climbing up the ladder and up onto the roof! The mortal is quiet for many long moments, pensive as she peers out at the view rather than her friend. But, it doesn't take long before she's turned her green-eyed gaze back to him. "I don't like that," she states. But she remembers Arnaud isn't a mind reader so she adds, "You calling yourself stupid. Don't do that." Arnaud jumps up, grabs the lower rung of the ladder and her offered hand. He seems entirely trusting of her, in turn - or maybe he's just luring her into a TRAP. If so, it's a pretty dumb trap, cause she can still scream from the top of the roof which isn't even that high up. Up there is a flat area and some old plastic chairs, lots of cigarette butts and a few dead plants. He crunches the last of his lolipop and throws the stick to join the cigarettes, then turns to face her as she looks at him. His eyebrows go up at her approach, and he blinks a few times in surprise. He takes a deep breath and does it his own way; he isn't one to beat around the bush, after all. "I was stupid cause you got scared. You called me a friend, and then I scared you. I didn't even have to bite, it was just reflexive." He grimaces and runs a hand through his hair - and though she can't see it, he's pushing some of his locks behind his horns. "So... It seems you know a thing or two already. I sorted out the remains of that thing, and I got to sort this situation out too. You got any suggestions?" Once Arnaud begins speaking, Fives focus doesn't leave him. She takes a few steps his way, sliding her hands into her pockets. "You... Yeah, I was scared... But not of you, specifically? Maybe in the moment." A pause before she adds, "It's very jarring realizing that /you're/ not the most dangerous thing in the city, you know?" She seems to be referring to herself. Arnaud snorts in disbelief and amusement. "I think you are plenty scary. You got any idea how nervous I've been the last twenty four hours? You got a definite nose for trouble, and there's people like me that are plenty scared of that. Besides, you are a great fighter." He raises his hand to pat her on the head, but pulls it back awkwardly. Something about patting her on the head after those words just seems wrong, even to him, Mr. No-Social-Skills. He takes a deep breath and thinks hard. "Anyway. I'm sorry. Also, you can't tell anyone what I did. Promise?" Everything that Arnaud tells her has started to cause her to become a little nervous. Not of him, necessarily (okay she's definitely nervous but at least that's a step up from being scared!), but the situation that he's pointed out to her. Lips purse as she considers him, brows furrowing some as she mulls over whatever is on her mind. "I... have to show you something." A pause before she corrects herself to her more truthful thoughts. "/Want/ to show you." She raises a brow. "I can keep your secrets... if you help keep mine?" Arnaud is a Beast, and isn't particularly good at making people promise things, but even a broken clock is right two times a day, usually. Her turning things around on him has him totally off track, having arrogantly assumed she'd just promise and then he'd seal things and if more trouble arose, handle it in the future. He scratches the side of his neck, head tilting. Trading one secret for another is another way to keep things, well, secret. Least in his head, it is. "Alright. Deal." The young woman nods and takes a few large steps away from him. For his sake. Five gives him one last quick glance, very unsure if what she's about to do is wise or not. It seems like the best idea in the moment, so she goes with it. Slowly her gaze drifts towards her hands as she lifts her hands about shoulder height. There's a slow and subtle movement of her fingers, a slow wave that goes from her pinkies to her thumbs. Her eyes close for a moment, then it happens in an instant. Flames appear in the middle of her hands, an energy manifested seemingly out of nowhere. No lighters or matches in sight. It's small at first, but then she spreads out her hands and the fire grows with it. Wider and higher until the flame is over half as big as she is. Opening her eyes, she keeps the flame there and watches the Changeling for his reaction. Arnaud crosses his arms over his chest and watches her with rapt attention. He had no particular expectations, but what follows was most definitely not part of any. Even for the Lost, this is spectacular, and something few of them can master; his jaw drops and his arms fall down. Then he points at her, stunned silent, trying to formulate words. The other hand rubs at his eyes to make sure he isn't seeing things (which happens, he's a PTSD Lost with Faerie magic, sometimes you literally can't trust what you see). He stays at a healthy distance, because he might be fairly resilient, but he's not fire-proof. "...what even are you?" The question causes a narrowing of her brows, but she doesn't answer immediately. Instead, Five does her best to keep control of the fire. There's something about the way she interacts with the flame, enticed by her own creation, almost like the proverbial moth. But, this situation is serious. More slow movements of her hands as she attempts to snuff the summoned flame. At first it barely moves and Five frowns. With a bit more oomph! and a quick, more drastic clasping of her hands, she manages to disappear the flames in her palms. "I'm pretty sure I'm human." Though there is just the ever slight hint of uncertainty. "I don't really remember... much. Before coming here." Arnaud shies away a half step, when the flames are moving and she is frowning like that. The irony of it isn't lost on him; he's a 'dragon', but he's afraid of fire. He snorts amusedly to himself, then steps in close to her when the flames move away, leaning in to literally sniff at her as if wanting to check if he can smell something odd, apart from possible burnt hair that is. "Human," he echoes and straightens up, baffled, awed, confused and maybe even a little scared. "A human with memory loss and the ability to make and control fire?" Part of that screams Elemental to him, but then where is her mien? He scratches his head, trying to remember what he has been taught about the world of the supernaturals, but this is the first time he hears about this. Same with that Thing they fought yesterday. He slaps his face again, just to be sure this isn't a dream, and to kick-start his brain again. "Uh... just to be clear, I don't eat people. So, whatever you think that my secret is, that's not it. I just, uh, got very strong teeth." He winces. This is hard, he can't really explain things in a good way without revealing a bunch of other things. "Anyway. We shared secrets, if any of us talk, the other can talk, and then we'll both die cause someone will find us and punish us." Five manages to remain pretty stoic until he sniffs her. Sure, she can't help but tense up a bit, there's also a flicker of... amusement? in her eyes. With the potential paranoia starting to heighten again, she can't help but take a quick glance around, as if soemone might already be in the shadows waiting and watching for either of them to slip up. "I won't tell anyone /your/ secrets." A beat before she remembers to add, "Promise." Another few moments pass as she considers something, then she slowly offers a hand out to him. She's seen other people do it. "But..." With her other hand, she reaches into her pocket, the noise of some change heard before she pulls out something. It's not offered to him but she holds up on of those awesome coins for him to see. "Will you tell me more about /these/?" A brow raises at him. Arnaud assumes she wants to shake his hand, so he takes her and pumps it a few times. "Right. You promised. I promise. All normal promises, for now." He doesn't elaborate but the way he looks at her, all somber and serious, suggests she might've gotten off lightly in all of this. He drops her hand and looks down at what she's holding out. He blinks owlishly, then throws his arms out and makes a frustrated noise up at the sky. "Why. WHY!" he complains. Then he jabs a finger at her shoulder, not hard, just enough to be felt. "Where did you get that?!" Now it's her turn to be surprised, Five not having expected his reaction. But she's quickly realizing she shouldn't try to expect things. The surprise turns more to something akin of shame or embarassment, maybe even guilt. "There... there was an incident. Not long after I got here," she starts, unable to help but frown. "Bad situation that got worse when I..." Her gaze drifts down from the Changeling, looking down at the ground. "Sometimes the fire gets out of control." Arnaud starts pacing about, and now he lights up a cigarette - offering her one again, he seems to have forgotten she literally didn't know how to smoke. "You give me headaches. I'm new in Chicago too you know, so I -- Anyway, that coin, you found it? Did you kill someone and take it?" He doesn't ask that accusingly, more curious. He's probably the worst (or best, depending on point of view), to ask about the coins, because he's not very subtle and a terrible liar. "Eh, just keep that coin. You can use it to ask people for favors. Even me. I mean, people like me. Not average Joe on the street or anything." He stops pacing and points at her. "But if you do, you draw attention, and people will start wondering who you are, and then before you know it you're dead in a ditch." "Someone saw the aftermath and kinda... helped? Gave me some of these and said they could help get me out of trouble." Five shrugs her shoulders lightly as she thinks of how she's only found /more/ trouble since getting to Chicago. Slipping the coin back into her pocket, she lifts her eyes back up to look at Arnaud. "People like you?" she questions curiously as he gives a hint of his own supernatural nature. A few steps are taken in his direction, brows raising as she lets her gaze wander over him. "... You're still my friend even if you're a people eater. Biter. Whatever." "Right. It can help you get out of trouble or get you in more trouble. Chose wisely how to use it," Arnaud suggests, his lips quirking into a lopsided and peculiar smile. He puffs on his cigarette, and blows the smoke away from her as she comes closer. There's a glower and a narrowing of eyes as she calls him a people eater, but he doesn't protest verbally - instead he nods slowly at her. "You know that saying. A good friend helps you bury the corpse? Something like that. Well, we killed something together and I got rid of the corpse." Definitely the most normal things friends do, right? He perks up and pats her on the head, grinning. "Shorty - you're alright." What one might find condescending, Five instead finds endearing. The mortal can't help but perk up, even smile back at him when she gets pat on the head. "Never heard that saying. But, I'll help with the body next time." Yes, next time. Because it seems that people like them can't escape the trouble that lurks in the city. "I'm hungry. I have like, a couple bucks and I saw some very cheap tacos down there somewhere. You in?" Arnaud definitely doesn't do it to be condescending. It's a sign of endearment, as far as he goes with that, or the best he knows how to. "You can even use that coin to get rid of it, if knowing who to ask," he tells her helpfully, and turns to head back down from the roof. "I'm in, I'm starving. There's this guy who sells cheap phones not far from here, I think they're stolen. Let's get you one of those. There is no chance in hell I'll run around looking for you if wanting to reach you - friend." With a smile on her lips and their troubles able to be put aside, even if only temporarily, Five is back in the high spirits that most are used to seeing her in. "Yes, it'd be good to get one! I have so many numbers from people." Then she gives him a bit of a mischievous look that sparks in her brightened eyes. "And if we get caught then we get to see who's the quickest." With that said, the pair bound off from the roof top to enjoy thievery and tacos on the rest of their evening! | |