I'm looking for a place to start

[hallawoodgirl]

Things had been okay so far that day. It wasn’t too cold for fall, it wasn’t too wet or icy, which for the city was saying something. Ferona was actually hopeful that she’d be able to get a place to sleep; the shelters tended to be fairly quiet when the weather was nice like this- people wanted to continue their panhandling, maybe even catch the after last call crowds coming out of the bars. She wasn’t bold enough to want to do that though, not wanting to risk some drunkard taking offence to her existence just because she was an elf.

But of course the mild weather didn’t keep. She supposed she could thank her lucky stars that it wasn’t raining at least, but the biting wind definitely wasn’t helping things. She shifted her hat so that the ratty wool would protect her ears, zipping up her coat as she moved into one of the alcoves of a shop, closed for business. But she knew the couple who owned it, and so long as she wasn’t leaving trash around they didn’t mind her sitting under their awning on occasion to get out from wind or rain. Neither of which were new to her, but the cold? That certainly was, and she bundled back a bit farther, clutching her pack as if it would stave off the wind, wishing not for the first time and certainly not for the last that her clothing was a little better suited for the cold.

Not many paid her mind as she sat back against the brick, knees drawn up and pack set securely in her lap. Some noticed her but said nothing, tugging their coat collars up higher, or becoming mysteriously fixated on a text as they hurried along. Some didn’t notice her at all, like she was invisible, something she’d gotten used to in a way. It wasn’t like she was the only person out tonight like this, just seeking a place to avoid the wind, watching as they already dark sky was going even blacker as clouds were starting to roll in, and soon enough?

The small girl just groaned as she heard the first drops, fat and heavy on the aluminum above her, letting her head drop against her knees.

Wasn’t it just her luck. Rain.

Comments

[maladgogo]

A sentiment echoed by many out this evening. It was already cold enough, nobody needed this as well.

It wasn't long before she was joined by another, tall and hooded, face obscured by deep shadows and faded black cloth. His hands were stuffed deep into his jacket pockets to keep warm, and it seemed that for now, he was ignoring her as well. Then the thunder cracked almost directly overhead, and he flinched.

"Muh'fuckin' weather has it out for us, m' brother," he said absently, turning his face half toward her. His nose was about the only thing visible around his hood at the moment, but his voice held a trace of a smile. He didn't have anything to offer, or he might have done just that.

[hallawoodgirl]

It wasn’t that uncommon to be joined in a hidey-hole when the weather went to hell. She’d only been in town for a few weeks, but she’d started to come to know the others who weren’t too crazy or too much trouble. And really it wasn’t like it was her awning, there was plenty of room.

And she knew logically that he didn’t mean anything by calling her ‘brother’, wearing clothing that was too big and an oversized coat didn’t help matters even if she was standing straight. But it still stung, a slight guarded cast to the small smile she cast his way.

“Sister maybe, but yeah… here I was thinking it might be a half-decent night out…” No big deal. Just a normal correction like anyone would have made. Unable to help the uncertain fidgeting with the plastic-wrapped bag strapped to the front of her pack, slim but wider than the pack itself. Protected from the wet by the plastic, but she couldn’t help but feel anxious about what the weather conditions would do to the contents as time passed.

“Too bad I’m not a seer, or I wouldn’t be out in this mess.”

[maladgogo]

"Sorry 'bout that, lil' mama," he replied easily, then went on, "yeah I was thinkin' the sub line bein' down wasn't gonna be any fuckin' trouble, it bein' mild n' shit like it has been lately, then suddenly it gettin' all fuckin' chilly n' wet, makin' me regret not wearin' thicker socks."

He looked down at the toes of his sneakers, skating shoes that had seen better days. The sole of one was coming away from it, in need of gluing. The rain was starting to come down hard enough that it was coming in under their shelter just a bit.

"Ay, you got somewhere warm to be after it lets up? Know some shelters 'round here, might be able t' take you in on short notice." Probably not, though. Not with how many would have flooded in as soon as the temperature dropped.

[hallawoodgirl]

She settled somewhat at the apology with a small nod, watching as the rain was coming down even harder.

"...I'll be alright..." A small shrug as she shifted to stand once she noticed the rainwater seeping over the pavement, shifting her pack in her arms. Of course the more crowded a shelter was the more risky it was; she'd been warned by another girl she'd shared a meal with when she'd first gotten to the city. Robbery and assault were common and as a girl, she'd certainly be seen as an easy target. Not that she knew where she'd go, but shelters were definitely a no-go on a night like tonight.

"Here." She dug through her pack to come up with the sandwich she'd been given not long ago, not piping hot anymore but it was something simple, and still warm from being in her bag. Slinging her bag over her shoulder to unwrap it, taking one of the halves and offering it in the man's direction. "Looks like ham and cheese tonight. Still warm even."

[maladgogo]

Even when she stood up she was so much shorter than him, and he was vaguely amused by that. He shrugged the pack around his shoulder a little more comfortably up, but paused when she offered her sandwich. It was tempting, for sure, especially in this cold, but he held up a hand.

"Nah mama, but thanks. Already ate not too long ago. Well, 'less you feel like tradin'." With that he reached into his bag, unzipping the top of it and plucking out a tupperware that had been tucked in between his books and the side of the bag. It was a casserole, also still warm, though not quite steaming. There had been more in the container before, but apparently he'd filled up before he could finish it. "'s tater tots n' shit, dunno how you feel about it but it's fillin' as hell."

[hallawoodgirl]

She watched curiously when he pulled the container out, nodding a bit in acceptance at the offer of a trade when he said what it was. Offering over the sandwich half with a soft, amused laugh.

"I don't think I've ever met anyone that doesn't like tater tots." It'd be a good meal for later, and would definitely keep better than part of a sandwich. "So a trade sounds good to me!"

Ignore the little jump and squeak at the next roll of thunder that seemed to accompany a sheet of rain that almost hid things across the street from how heavy it was. If it was going to storm like this, it was going to be a long night...

"W-what's your name anyways? I'm Ferona." Distraction through chit-chat? Distraction through chit-chat.

And well, she always did like meeting people, so why not take advantage of the situation?

[maladgogo]

This rain needed to not. Where had the sunshine from today gone? It had been nice walking weather, up until it just suddenly wasn't. He pouted out at it, until she asked his name. He held out a hand after tucking the sandwich into the top of his back to keep from dropping or squishing it. Large, long-fingered and dark-skinned, with a few scars here and there, burns or thin lines made by blades.

"Folks call me Guy." Gee, with a hard G. "Some folks have troubles pronouncin' m' proper name correct, so we stick wit' that. Good t' meet you, miss Ferona."

Another peal of thunder, and he shuddered. "Fuckin' cold. Ain't used t' this shit. Lived down south m' while life up t' now."

[hallawoodgirl]

The container of leftovers disappeared into her pack, after which she accepted the offered hand to shake in her own, smaller and without those scars that had her internally wondering what might have caused them.

"Nice to meet you, Guy." Releasing his hand with a low noise of displeasure at the continued storm, tugging her hat down a bit more securely, unable to help but shiver at an especially sharp gust of wind that came under their little shelter.

"I know what you mean." Conversation was a good distraction from the cold that had her bouncing lightly on her heels to try and get her blood moving a little more, pack on her shoulder so she could jam her hands into her pockets. "I lived down in Georgia up until about a month ago."

It wasn't that odd, there were plenty of 'traditionalist' elves that liked the rural areas down south, and even those that weren't as hardline about things tended not to stray too far north, not with how cold it got. No real harm in saying a state, she knew there were more than her own family's little group in the area, and no real link to them and a pale little elf-girl called 'Ferona'.

[maladgogo]

"Yeah? I come up from South Carolina for school. Long way from family, up here."

Guy looked out at the rain, finally starting to lighten up a bit after the torrential downpour. It was still heavy, still freezing, and he flexed his fingers to try and retain some movement and warmth in them. He wouldn't even be able to call his roommate and be heard around all of this.

"Shit...tempted to just stick some plastic on m' shit n' book it home. Can't stay out here the whole night."

[hallawoodgirl]

"It is..." Both good and bad; for everything that happened, she did miss her family, or at least she missed what they had been.

And it did seem the rain was settling into something of a steady downpour than the torrential flooding that it had been moments earlier, but the wind didn't seem to be letting up, Ferona hunkering back against the wall shoulders lifting with a noise of unpleasant surprise at the chill. Definitely not used to cold like this, that was for certain.

"...Might not be a bad idea... no way of telling if it'll calm down more or not." Despite only having just met Guy she couldn't help but be a bit disappointed that he might be leaving. He seemed nice enough, and she liked the company, to say nothing of feeling safer with someone else around.