s o n g b i r d

    HOLY F -- S ---  

Corvo’s suddenly confronted by a young woman with a wriggling little something in her hands. At first he thinks it’s a rat, but, no, it’s something else. 

A bat. Not something one would usually care for… but he supposed that this woman liked animals. That she’d tear the skirt of her dress for one indicated as much.

Then there’s her nervous nature…

“Don’t worry. That’s par the course for this city.” He’s seen—and done—stranger, really. It’s almost a relief to be asked something so mundane.

“And as for your question… no, I’m not very sure. Sector 5 has no shortage of shops and things, so you might want to look there.” He peers downwards, at the animal in her hands. “Where did you find it?”

      Oh, he was pretty nice or at least polite. That settled her nerves almost instantly but she didn’t really register anything he said.  Sector 5? Where was that? There was sectors? A blank expression soon took over her facial features, trying to dig up some sort of information about the place she had lived in for a couple of months now.  

      ‘ Found it in an alleyway,  got tangled in a net someone threw out... ‘ The female muttered, eyes gazing around the area. Now that she thinks about it, where was she? Her train of thought was immediately stopped when she felt the retaliation of the animal in her hands decease, setting her into panic mode again.  ‘  AHHHH -- I need to go. I need to help this animal.’

     Shuffling past the male, she went on ahead for about 50 yards before pausing in her tracks again. Head turning side to side frantically, hands carefully holding the animal securely in front of her.  Which way does she go? Left or right? Straight ahead? If her hands were not occupied she’d probably be pulling a few strands of her hair out. Why was she bad with directions? Why was the only thing she was good at involved singing?

      It didn’t matter how much she tried to ignore or how much she tried to avoid but when she saw someone looking sad, she couldn’t help but have the urge to... help.  There was a pretty lady sat on a bench, her hair was so bright, so red. Much more vibrant than her own, black, plenty of dead ends. She really should look after it more. 

   ‘  U-uumm.. Excuse me.’  Alex murmured, finally gaining the courage to go over to the female. Her right hand soon extending outwards in front of her, holding out a small origami flower. To be honest she couldn’t afford flowers but she could make something. It was in the shape of a lilly.  ‘ Pretty flower for a pretty girl? ‘ She wanted to compliment her, but it sounded like she was questioning herself instead. 

       If there was a GOD out there, why did he let her get into these kinds of situations. She just wanted to go for a normal walk, to enjoy the sunshine and the morning dew but she couldn’t have that. Oh no, she had trip over something and onto to someone.

    Her hands landing in  a position that will not benefit her in anyway or form. Alex’s lips parted for a brief moment, staring at the look of disbelief on the female’s face below her. One of her hand had landed on something that  shouldn’t be touched unless given permission too. Why did it have to land on her chest of all things? 

Hellboy didn’t  pay any mind to the girl as she approached. His tail was curled around one of his ankles so that it was out of the walk way. Mostly for his own sake and not for anyone tripping over it. It wasn’t the most pleasant feeling to have it get stepped on, after all.

His stone hand was reaching into the box of kittens, a testament to how much control he had over the appendage as he scratched a stone finger gingerly across the tops of their heads…and they were purring. He’d always had a soft spot for animals, especially cats.

He tensed just for a moment when he heard the scream from his right, tail curling near the tip. Slowly, he tilted his head to regard the woman and raised a brow before simply sighing and moving to stand upright. The kittens hoisting themselves up to stand on hindlegs and stare up at him almost pleadingly.

“Was just passin’ by. Happened to see ‘em then. Wish I could take ‘em home with me but…don’t really live by myself and I don’t think my roommates are the types to care for pets.” If he was bothered by her squeal of fear, he didn’t show it. “It’s a shame, really. These fellas are a cute bunch. Real affectionate too. You givin’ ‘em away? Or did you come to check ‘em out too?” He said, frowning a bit as he looked down at the little scamps.

     Fear soon dispersed after she watched the way the kittens looked at him and the way he was handling himself. Maybe she was a little too paranoid but that wasn’t something she could help after being through the things she had. Especially in Ergastulum..  

        ‘ Oh.. Don’t mind me, I just came to check on them. ‘  Peering over at the kittens then back to the stranger, she lifted up a small white bag. ‘ I brought food for them, they seem old enough to manage some small biscuits and milk. ‘ 

       There was only three kittens, so buying food didn’t burn a whole in her wallet yet, but if she didn’t find them owners soon, they just might.  ‘Moving closer to the box, she crouched down beside it, moving her free hand to stroke one of the kittens. Much to her dismay she was greeted with hiss, causing her hand to halt. Did she smell weird? Did they just not like the look of her ? She couldn’t help but pout. ‘ .. Animals don’t seem to like me very much, especially cats... ‘  

    A light hum emitted from the female, as she watched her friend drift around the room. It was still a little baffling that her first friend here was a mermaid a giant one at that. How she made that friend was questionable.  ( Honestly she just wanted to forget the embarrassing incident at the public baths. )  

    Eyes slowly turned to the mermaids tail. It was such a pretty color. Purple and blue. Sharley what a beautiful individual anyway. As the female looked her way, Alex promptly turned her own head in another direction, pretending she wasn’t looking. Now that she thinks about it? Was it rude of her to stare ? Especially at her tail... Was that indecent?   Lips curled inwards, as she debated whether there was a double standard. Mermaids and humans, they deserve to be treated the same right?  Still...  she couldn’t help but stare.

   Nothing wrong with admiring right? Not like she was having indecent thoughts... Her attention was quickly drawn to the new vase of flowers on the counter, which instantly gave her an idea. Plucking a few flowers from the bunch she began entwining the stems together.  Making  a wreath of some sorts. Blue orbs darted back and forth between her friend to make sure she wasn’t looking her way and to compare... size. 

   Once it was done, she gave herself a little nod, moving out of her seat. Holding her creation behind her back, she slowly moved over to Sharley, making sure to no disturb what she was doing. Whiles she wasn’t looking she placed the floral wreath around the edge of her tail, tying it lose so it wasn’t too tight or that it wouldn’t irritate her skin.  

   This city always managed to surprise her, then again it wasn’t a difficult task. She was easily startled, this time by a strange ... person? A lot bigger than what she was and ... completely red? Sitting by the box of kittens that she checked on daily. There was a small squeal from the female, but she quickly covered her mouth not wanting to disturb the individual but it seems it was too late for that. 

“Well, their loss. How ‘bout you be my date, good-lookin’? You, me, and those tasty cakes of yours are gonna have a grand ol’ time. What do ya say? Ehhh? Ehhhh?”

It was a strange coincidence that he was standing directly in front of the bag of apples that were hurtling down the hill. As they rolled to a stop in front of him, Allen gently picked up the apples and dusted them off with his sleeve. There were a few dents in them, but they were still edible.

Looking up at a girl standing at the peak of the hill, he waved. “Are these apples yours?” He called out.

        A sigh escaped the female, watching the apples roll down the hill. Why her? Why did she have bad luck? Was she just a magnet for it? Noticing another individual pick up the apples, which has conveniently hurled towards them, she hurried down the hill after them, calling out in return,  ‘ They are! I’m terribly sorry! ‘   

“Nope. It’s gonna be me, the couch, a sappy movie, all the discount chocolate I can buy, and a box of tissues. What about you? I bet you’ve got guys deckin’ each other to get a shot at being your date.”