Adventure is Out There

@discountindiana​

“I’ve visited a few times before, but I’ve never had the opportunity to properly explore,” she was saying as they arrived at the Azuria Ruins. 

Calvin, her employee, co-worker and old friend, had agreed to accompany her to visit the ruins. They were both adventurers at heart and spent a lot of time in each other’s company due to work. It was through this that they’d become good friends. But as fate would have it, they had actually met before, a long time ago. 

They’d both been interested in an ancient digsite that had been discovered in a town far north and had struck up a convenient friendship. She’d remembered that he mentioned he was from a place called Arcadia, but she would have never imagined that she would meet him again here. He didn’t seem like the type, like her, to stay in one place for too long.

“It’s been years since I’ve been here...” Calvin spoke in response, looking around at all of the ruins before him, “Feels a bit nostalgic...”

Part of him never expected to be back on Arcadia, poking around at the same ruins he explored in his youth. He left Arcadia soon after he graduated high school, and he never thought about returning. Honestly, it was only fate that brought him back to his home island, and it was only nostalgia that kept him from wandering off yet again.

And in that same vein, he supposed it was fate that he had seen Lily again. In his lifetime, seeing anyone more than once was a genuine rarity. He would meet some at a dig site and never see them again. It was nice, to be honest. Especially to spend time with a friend who appreciated exploration as much as he did.

“Wonder if everythin’ is still in tact...” Calvin mused, leading the way through the ruins, “At the very least...looks like they’ve been keepin’ it be.” Good. He knew that some people liked doing something disgraceful to old ruins, not caring a single bit about the history that lived in them. Thankfully, Arcadia always seemed to hold an appreciation.

Iris certainly hadn’t had any such thoughts as the ones Klaus was concerned with - it hadn’t crossed her mind that he would, either. So she simply smiled at him instead. “Nice to see I’m not the only one who enjoys the library enough to be here on a day off.”

Of course, she’d just been passing through the aisle on her way back to the cookbooks, but a quick glance told her roughly where she was. “…finding everything you need?”

Klaus chuckled, “Yes, I do enjoy perusing the shelves when I have the time...and aren’t working.” Though he couldn’t help but take a glance during his hours, though. At the very least, re-shelving books gave him an opportunity to see what he would like to try reading next, if he hadn’t already set it aside for himself. 

Keira shook her head and took a moment to write another reply. She wasn’t sure why a stranger would stay to watch over someone like her, but she made it a point to let them know that they didn’t need to. Although she appreciated the concern, she didn’t need it.

╔═════ ☽༓‧͙･⁺˚*･‧͙ ༓☾ ══════╗             I don’t have either.       Thank you, but you don’t                have to stay. ╚═════ ☽༓‧͙･⁺˚*･‧͙ ༓☾ ══════╝

Klaus blinked, looking over the note as a frown crossed his face. No family or friends? Surely, she must have someone that she would want to contact. 

Though...he was hardly one to talk, at that point. It wasn’t as though he had family or friends to keep in contact with, either. In a situation like this, he would probably go on alone, as well. Though, that was hardly fitting for a young lady. He was older and long past his prime, so it was alright for him to be more of a lone wolf. 

Alicia fell into the steps of the dance with ease, not a second of hesitation or doubt. She never liked being lead, in any aspect, but for the sake of the dance and ending it sooner, she figured it wouldn’t hurt this once. And being that he so confidently started it, she was curious if he’d be able to keep it up. It was more often than not that she watched others stumbled over themselves - especially in her presence. He had yet to, but it was only a matter of time.

“That is true, but the last wolf was rather disappointing,” she stated, eyes looking over Klaus. “And besides, where else would I be able to give everyone the gift of me in this gown?” Her eyes that once looked him over moved to look over herself. A smile forming at how she looked in her black lace, form-fitted gown. “It’s a special treat for everyone in attendance.”

Well...she certainly said something correct every now and then. It was one thing he couldn’t deny. Alicia was a beautiful woman, and her attire for the evening was...quite captivating. If he knew any less about the woman, then she would certainly be a sight to admire...

Which is why he had to remind himself to fix his wandering eyes, looking back up to her face and nothing more.

Keira had been in the town long enough to know that nothing good would come from her trying to communicate with a stranger. More so in the sense that it was near impossible when there was no common ground; such as the other knowing sign language. So she did what she could in the moment and looked around in hopes that a forgetful doctor or nurse might have left a pen and some paper lying around. Luckily for her, whoever had settled her in did just that. 

Grabbing the paper pad and pen off the table beside her bed, she wrote down her name and nothing more.

╔═════ ☽༓‧͙･⁺˚*･‧͙ ༓☾ ══════╗                     Keira. ╚═════ ☽༓‧͙･⁺˚*･‧͙ ༓☾ ══════╝

Klaus waited for a moment, growing a little more confused when she chose to look around rather than answer his question. Was she being stubborn? Did she not want to speak to a stranger? He wouldn’t judge her if she did, especially with the way he looked. Perhaps he would get a younger doctor or nurse, someone with a friendlier looking face than he did...

But then she picked up a spare pen and paper pad, and wrote her name for him.

Oh.

Keira didn’t do much other than stare. Moments ago she could have sworn she had made her way back to the mines, yet, where she rested was definitely not the mines. She took a few more moments to look around the room, then the man that stood in front of her. He had raven-black hair with striking gold eyes; a combination that wasn’t very common.

Pushing herself up, she sat in bed and shook her head. She felt fine. For now. Once again she had run into a stranger without her board meaning there was no way for her to comfortably speak with them. Keira sighed, the look she gave him saying all. Who are you?

Her confused expression only made him feel a little more concerned. Of course she would be confused, to wake up in an unfamiliar place. He took in a deep breath, attempting to look as friendly as possible. Which, albeit, was a difficult thing due to his more (in his eyes) rough appearance.

“You disappoint me in every conversation,” she smiled. But it was true. She had sensed something in him when they first met, yet, all he gave her was the polite, gentlemanly disposition. It was incredibly boring. Unfortunately for her, he was the best candidate out of the volunteers and being that she had the money ready to spend and the idea of participating for once, she had to do something. On the brighter side of it all, it could have been worse for her. She could have ended up with one of the other volunteers.

As he led them to the dance floor and positioned himself properly, she took the liberty to close the distance between them a little more. Alicia didn’t have a problem with physical touch and with the way he spoke, she wouldn’t be able to hear him over the music anyway. Which, when she thought about it, might have been a good thing. It was rare that he said anything of interest.

“Of course I do.“ Why would she be here if she didn’t? “Only idiots attend a ball without knowing how to dance. Though I must say, their pathetic attempts do serve to amuse me.”

Of course she got closer to him. However, he didn’t make a move to widen the gap. Klaus just smiled politely, attempting to at least provide the image of a decent host towards the woman who spent so much money for his company. 

•｡ ღ 𝓕aintly did his words convey to her fragmented conscience. She utilized her strength, albeit virtually absent, to lift herself off the ground and sit upright; her eyes in a daze, she could hardly register her whereabouts or nearby surroundings. Vividly did the colors of her extravagant necklace gleam and shimmer - so beautifully - underneath the sunlight, whereas her amethyst eyes - wide like a doe in the headlights - were vacant. Moments later, the young woman gathered the motivation to turn her head, albeit incompletely, toward the voice calling out to her; it was like a sound echoing in a vast abyss but from where it came from was distinct and, ultimately, lost.

“𝒴ou’re,” Sofia hardly opened her mouth to speak, much less put forth effort into raising her volume so that she was audible; nevertheless, she paused and parted her lips once more. 

“𝓕ine.” 

“Fine?” Klaus could hardly believe that at all. The more she moved to speak and sit up, the less fine she seemed. Nothing seemed physically wrong, aside from the injury she seemed to have, but..something seemed off. It felt almost as though he were speaking to a doll.

Open

Slowly, her eyes fluttered open and the blur of a light filled her vision. It took a few seconds before her eyes adjusted and everything came into focus. The room was unfamiliar and vague memories of what happened started to come together the longer she was awake. Keira sat up on the bed and ran her fingers over the sheets. …She was awake. But how?

Klaus had found the poor girl passed out during his patrol through Leuda, and had been quick to carry her over to the hospital as soon as he could. And while he could have left to continue his patrol for the day...several things concerned him. So, he called into the police station and remained, deciding to stay if she came to, and to check-in if she didn’t by the time night fell.

Thankfully, he didn’t have to wait long.