forum Sine Morte | one on one | closed

Started September 23, 2022 by @Mojack group

tune

Terminus? I haven’t heard of that city before. There was a brief flash of uncertainty on his face, but he quickly became neutral once more. “No, no relatives,” Arthur answered. That part was not a lie. “And no hospital, either. I’ll be fine.” All he had to do was wait for adrenaline to wear off - which should be soon - and the healing would begin. For a man with half of his right arm chopped off, he seemed oddly calm.
As she explained to him - then asked his name, Arthur stayed silent for a little bit, internally debating. Here would be the truth - his pursuers knew his name, so any doubts he had would certainly be cleared up right now.

“My name is…” He paused. “My name is Arthur Korecki. And I know I am a stranger, but would it be too much for me to ask for yours as well?” He carefully watched her for any visible reaction to his name, anything that would set off a red flag.

Ava blinked. No relatives was normal, Terminus wasn't the biggest city and maybe the stranger wasn't from the area or even the country! The hospital bit.. Not so normal. The man was just.. So calm! His arm was gone. Not cut, not broken, just- Gone.. Well, parts of it anyways. Which somehow made the whole thing worse. She didn't have time to continue internally debating with herself if the guy was insane or just in shock, because he spoke again after a moments hesitation.

“My name is…” He paused. “My name is Arthur Korecki. And I know I am a stranger, but would it be too much for me to ask for yours as well?”

Ava-Mai couldn't help but pause, he spoke so formally! He kinda sounded vaguely like someone she'd met at a ren-fair a few years back, but the tiniest bit more casual. Without all the words like 'knaves' and 'honor' and 'peasants'. The woman searched her mind for anything familiar.. And came up blank. Her face showed nothing but mild confusion, and then excitement as she spoke. Mai was a very animated person, if you tied her hands behind her back she wouldn't be able to speak, she motioned far too much with her hands.

"Oh! Arthur! Like the aardvark or pendragon? Er- Nevermind." Again, Mai kicked herself mentally in the shins, her imaginary legs were getting quite the collection of bruises at this rate.
She should give a fake name! Wayyy safer! This guy was obviously unstable-

"My name's Ava-Mai! Pleasure to meet you Mr. Korecki." … Dammit-

Trying to clear up her own awkwardness, the pink haired woman motioned at the open car door again, looking vaguely like she was a dealer trying to sell the piece of junk.

((Sorry for no reply! I have a unit in class that I’m falling slightly behind in that I’m trying to keep up with.))

Arthur watched, but nothing set off any alarms to him. That he could see, anyways. He was aware that he wasn’t the best ‘people-reader,’ even if he was above average. Still, he leaned even more to the thought that this woman had nothing to do with what had just went down.
When she spoke - as though comparing his name to something, a thought in the back of his mind seemed to reach forwards. Something…from his first life? It was foggy. Both the fact that he had so many new memories over the ones from his first life, and the fact that he’d lost blood. Incredibly resilient or not, brain fog was still a thing for him.
“Uh. Huh.” He mumbled out, dropping his primarily ‘I’m relaxed, I know what to do,’ act for just a brief few seconds, as though something had caught him off guard.
But he quickly recomposed himself.

“Pleasure to meet you too, then.” He dipped his head slightly, as though bowing - but not a full, deep bow.
He glanced at the vehicle, then walked forwards. At his height of 5’8”, getting in wasn’t too difficult. “Interesting automobile,” he commented, sliding into the backseat, glancing around.

Mai let out a tiny breath of relief, feeling like she'd passed a test she didn't know she was taking. The mans moment of unfocused eyes had frightened her, though she would never admit it out loud and she briefly had another internal debate about letting him into her car. She didn't get to make a decision, as her new friend Arthur made one for her, getting in the back seat, his eyes taking in her..
How did he put it? "Interesting automobile"?

The girl paused again, nibbling on her bottom lip in her indecision. Mai didn't pride herself in her ability to understand people, to look in their eyes and see their thoughts, she struggled enough getting through a conversation. Yet.. The moment had passed, she had been committed to her decision, no going back now.
Ava got into the drivers seat, quietly sending a prayer to any god listening to make sure the car actually started. Maybe it was karma for her arguably good deed of helping a random guy, but the car started, sputtering back to life, the engine starting.

The pink haired woman let out a breath of relief, sinking into the chair. Before she sat up, smiling just a bit too widely to try and hide her nerves. With one hand she took the car out of park and with the other adjusted the rear view mirror to get a better look at Arthur, making sure she could keep an eye on him during the drive. Mai's voice took on a nasally quality and as her hands hit the steering wheel she started to speak.

"Alright passengers. Please keep your.. er- arm and legs inside the vehicle at all times. Remember safety instructions and keep buckled up unless pulled into a complete stop away from any oncoming traffic. Be safe and enjoy the ride!" And with that, she pulled slowly back onto the road, still no cars in sight, but the start of a city just within view.

For a while the car was silent, but the inside of her skull was not. You shouldn't bug the guy- You just met and he's injured or wounded or dying or crazy or something.. The good rational brain was speaking. A smaller voice chimed in, quieter, yet more demanding. But it could be fun. She kept glancing at the back seat, one of her legs bouncing slightly. Her nervous energy was too much to contain for the moment and she would have put on some music, but like the air conditioning and the clock, the radio was very busted. It made nothing but crackling sounds and the wailing of what might have once been a pop singer, while they where being put into a meat grinder. Not fun for a road trip.

Fiddling with the mirror again, Mai finally gave up her inner fight, caving to atleast ask Arthur some questions.

"Sooo- Can I ask some questions or do you want to play eye-spy or something?"