our sins are drowned

Hugh quirked his brow, watching as the boy stumbled through his words. “Well, I mean, it is rather odd to find you in a dark alley way on the side of my home, but if you say the stars brought you here, I can’t contend with the star reading.” 

“Yes.” Nee let out a breath, smiling brightly. “Definitely! Star reading, a thing which I can do.” He couldn’t. He’d always tried looking at the stars, but, they weren’t much other than cool little dots to him. “You know how stars are about alleys. Love ‘em dark and... near populated areas.”

“ The stars, huh? Next time I think you should think of a better excuse. “ Nate rolled his eyes.” Maybe something like I lost my cellphone and came to see if it was here or something better i don’t know. So what are you actually doing in my studio?”

Didn’t nail it. “I-- Kind of just wanted to look around?” He tried. “Sorry, I didn’t know what it was, and I probably confused it for some place else, and then I realized it was a photography place! Which is like, super cool; really super cool, and I wanted to look around. Not touch anything! Just... look?”

Romilly looked at the confused and breathless man in front of her and frowned, concern over his well being overwhelming the shock she had experienced just a moment before. “Are you quite alright? You seem to be a bit out of it, do you need help?”

Nee sighed, and tried flashing a smile. “I’m fine-- really, really bad with directions, but, fine. Sometimes I just go out for something, forget about it, and... wander? Are you alright-- I’m really sorry, I kind of end up running into people like this too often.” 

Romilly jumped nearly half a foot out of her seat and turned behind her. “You really shouldn’t sneak up on people like that!” 

“I wasn’t aware I was sneaking, sorry.” Nee said, a little breathless. “I was-- jogging? Running. Not from anything, just because it gets me places faster, usually. When I know where I’m going, which... I don’t anymore. I think I’m lost?” 

‘Excuse me, you couldn’t tell me where the, erm–… damn, what’s it called?’

“See, it depends, because to answer that, I’d have to know if I’m thinking what you’re thinking, and I don’t know if I’m thinking what you’re thinking, because I’m-- a little psychic, but not that psychic, ‘cause how cool would that be? I mean, like, it would make conversations so much easier, and-- sorry, I got off track. Are you looking for a... shop?”