[closed]

[ardor]

Who: Kallen Kouzuki (ardor) and The Rookie (helljumper)
What: Morning runs and an unexpected reunion
When: Morning of October 3
Where: In the city
Rating: PG/PG-13

[Footsteps hit the road in a steady rhythm as she jogs down the city street, legs propelling her forward. She expertly weaves through the crowds, making sure to not to collide with anyone. Those townspeople there often should be used to the sight of the redhead who lives in the castle. It's like that every morning, same time, same route, same jogger, same determined expression.

She stops every now and then, to take a drink from her water bottle or to catch her breath, but it's never for more than a minute or two. The longer she stops, the harder it'll be to start again, so she keeps moving forward, not looking around at anything. Her eyes stay straight ahead. Turning a corner, she makes her way on to another familiar street in the arts district. Lined with houses and shops, she spares none of them a glance. It's not interesting to her anymore.

It's a routine, plain and simple. It keeps her focused on the path in front of her. Things don't surprise her this way, not really. There's the occasional dog or cat on the road, but it's something she can easily avoid.

There's nothing to upset her rhythm.

Most of the time, at least.]

Comments

[helljumper]

[The sudden yoink backwards might catch Kallen's attention then, as a firm hand moved to tug her wrist and pull her out of the way from a falling sign. Bumping her ever so lightly into the man currently turning to yell up at the worker from his spot on the ground.]

I told you, you should have let me handle it! [There's another quick exchanging of words between the two of them, mostly involving a few lighthearted insults, before Rookie turns his attention back down to the woman with a smile and - stops short. Briefly, of course, because there was something tugging at the back of his mind that had been growing stronger ever since his encounter with a friend a few days earlier.

And that in itself made him both wary, but curious.]

... You all right, miss?

[ardor]

Ah-- [Kallen attempts to say something in response to the wrist grab, but the yank backwards cuts off any words that might have been forming. She wants to look at the person she bumps into, yet the clatter of the wooden sign on the street behind her causes her to stare there first.]

That was... [Now, she glances up at the man who pulled her out of harm's way, only to find him bantering with the sign hanger. His voice and appearance cause her to freeze, backing away a few steps until he looks at her in return.

That does it. Her eyes widen, and she stares at him, hesitant and almost, almost fearful. The hair, the eyes, the face, the voice, all of it fits, especially the feeling she got when she bumped him. It's all too familiar to her, and she can't find words, not for this occasion. She swallows and blinks, trying her best to comprehend this. Things are so surreal, even for Paradisa and all its magic.

He asked if she was okay. She needs to respond. Her brain's telling her as much, so she nods, forcing words to come out of her suddenly dry mouth.]

Fine-- I'm fine. Thank you for... that. I should-- I need to go.

[Fight or flight? Kallen's normally the former, but for once in her life, she feels the need to run, to make sure she doesn't lose it right in the middle of the city. So she turns, and begins to move, to run back the way she came.]