Young-Jae almost choked on his macaroni when he heard his cellphone ring. Swallowing his food and picking up his phone off of the glass table beside his couch.
"Hello?"
He says into the phone, the same monotone voice as last time while setting down his bowl, turning down the volume of his tv.
“Hello. I know we weren’t introduced earlier but you gave me and Rune your card and jacket before leaving.” She explained, keeping Rune in sight. “I hope this isn’t presumptuous of me, but can you help us?” She tried to keep calm but her nerves were surely turning her eyes a nervous yellow.
Rune examined her new outfit. While her new friend was busy on the phone she trailed away to a shiny object that had caught her attention. She knelt down and picked up the small piece of glass. She marveled at it and stood back up to scamper back to her and show her friend the piece, “Shiny” she whispered.
Sitting back in his chair, grinning to himself.
"What do you need help with? Food, shelter, clothes…. money?"
He says now fixing more food. Rice and noodles, they would probably like that…. wouldn't they?
He was sure they would. Beggars can't be choosers.
Her eyes widened at the piece of glass in Rune’s hands.
Lowering the mouthpiece, her voice took a note of urgent concern, “Yes, shiny but also sharp. You could get hurt.”
Returning to the call, “Well, I think Rune might need help with all of those. Her mind seems very child-like. I honestly don’t know how much of this world she understands.”
Rune squinted, looking back down at the shiny. She kept it in her hands as she went to go find something else just as interested. She knelt beside the pile of rocks, taking one out at a time and setting them aside.
"Okay…..do you want me to pick her up?"
He says while waiting for water to boil.
"If so just send me your location and i can come and take care of her"
He wasn't overjoyed to be taking care of a random girl who knows like nothing about the world itself apparently, but he must admit, he's glad that he was the one taking care of her instead of corrupt humans.
She bit her lip in thought, watching Rune sort through a small pile of rocks meticulously. If she looked at Rune in just the right light she could see strands of iridescent blues and violet in her wild mess of hair.
“Would it be too much trouble for you to pick up both of us? I know I don’t really know her but I almost feel responsible for her.”
Oh Stars above! Did I just become a mother?
Clearing her throat she continued, “And I admit I am curious about you as well. It’s not every day you see someone on this world with wings… and making no effort to hide them either.”
"Don't forget the third eye…. And yeah i can"
He liked his third eye a lot more than his wings. He had no idea why, but he did.
"Okay send me your location, I'm coming…. Do you need shelter to? Or are you her friend?"
He says, getting into his fancy white car. The seats were bright red and gold. The steering wheel white and cold. Driving down the highway, keeping an eye out for two odd looking girls, waiting for her to send their location.
Rune set the piece of glass aside to examine an abandoned marble. She held it tightly in her palm, devising to keep this for her collection. She stood back up and walked over to show off her new find, “It’s a shiny!” Was her first full sentence she’d spoken since she met either of them, “I keep it. I keep it, I keep it.”
This day is just full of surprises. I doubt they’ll believe this report.
“A third eye! You are definitely not from this world either, then! I don’t know how I missed that when we met.” Her own eyes turned a mirthful purple. “I do have shelter but… I suppose you could say I’m a friend… she seems to trust me at least.”
She smiled as Rune rushed over to show off her newest treasure.
“You’re smarter than you look aren’t you, Rune.” She commented, hearing her first full sentence. “Yes, you can keep your shiny.”
She chuckled slightly returning to the call, “Ah, I apologize. I’ll send you our coordinates right away.”
"Okay….. Can you plea- oh nvm looks to your side"
He found her beside a tree, the two girls were there. He steps out of his car, ruffling his white blue hair, shutting the door behind him.
"Well…. So much for your location….get in"
Rune looked up to the car, shoulders hunched. She remembered that man with wings…she missed her wings. She frowned at the memory and huddled closer to the pretty purple-eyed lady.
Following his directions, it was easy to spot him standing in front of a nice white vehicle. She felt her face warm slightly at her forgetfulness.
“Come on Rune. It’s ok. Let’s get you taken care of.” Wrapping her arm around the girl, guiding her to their transportation.
“I apologize for my negligence in not telling you our location. Though I am glad you were able to find us so quickly.”
Now that she knew he had it, it was easy to spot his third eye.
He looked at the girls, opening the back seats. His bags were in the front. Letting them get in the car, he sits in his seat, starting the car. Once the girls are in, he starts to drive. Every now and then looking back at the girls… He felt a little weird. He's never helped anyone before, but there's a first time for everything.
Thought the vehicle was very nice, the quiet was making her uncomfortable. … Perhaps it was simply not knowing each other. An introduction was still very much over due.
“You’re not much for conversation off the phone, are you?” Was her weak attempt to break the ice.
She cleared her throat with an awkward chuckle, eyes changing to a nervous orange-yellow. “I know it’s a bit late for this but, what is your name? We both already know Rune’s and I’ll answer to Samara … or Mercy.”
“Mercy.” Rune decides that was easier to say as she was preoccupied pressing all the buttons she found. She was especially entranced by the button that rolled the windows up and down. That, and the light, which she incessantly turned on and off.
Young-Jae pet out a sigh before answering.
"No…im not unless I have to, in which this case… I guess I do. I'm Young-Jae, and you shall call me nothing but that."
He says as he pulls into his drive in. Pulling the doors open for the ladies, they made their way inside.
"Sit if you like"
He didn't really know what to talk to other humans. Walking to the stove after setting his keys on the hooks beside the door, he dished up noodles and rice, handing it to the two.
"I hope you like it… It took forever to cook… Well, mostly rice."
He says as he sits down and starts eating another bowl.
"Do you need different clothes? I would like my coat back to."
He says as he finishes the food up rather quickly.
Mercy nodded at Young-Jae, respecting his preference for quiet, though it was hard not to laugh at Rune’s child-like antics.
Once they arrived, at what the shapeshifting girl presumed was Young-Jae’s residency, she was happily impressed. It was much nicer than the other dwellings she had seen on this world.
“Thank you again for your generosity.” She said accepting the food, her eyes returning to a calm hazel. “I’m sure Rune will need the clothes. The blanket outfit I made can only last so long.”
He quickly gets up and walks into his bedroom, returning with a huge box of fancy, high-quality expensive clothes, that he had no interest in. He didn't look very good in female clothes. Setting the box on the table for the girls to look through.
"You guys can go to the extra bedroom in the back. It also has a restroom so…you guys can sleep and get changed in there."
He says politely. If people were watching this they would probably think he was their butler.
Rune stuffed her whole arm into the box, “They are shiny!” She beamed, taking one out at a time to examine each and every sequin on each and every sleeve, “I want this.” She decided, pulling out a soft, black, shimmery robe with plastic jewels lining the cuffs. She buried her face in the fabric and screamed. Probably from happiness..or excitement.
Rune’s scream startled Mercy a bit but watching her joyful actions were reassuring.
“That’s very nice, Rune. But you’ll need something to wear underneath it.” She wasn’t very used to taking the lead, being more comfortable as an observer, but Rune still had a lot to learn. Her own lunch finished, she helped Rune look through the large box.
“Where do you get all these clothes?” She asked, briefly holding up a cute skirt. Continuing to search she found a full silver sequence tank top and a dark blue knee length skirt. “Here Rune, lets try these on you.”
"Fashion industry… That's where I work. Do you not know who I am?"
He put his hands in his pockets after setting his bowl in the sink. Then coming out of the kitchen.
Mercy tilted her head slightly, trying to remember if she did have any recollection about the man.
“I don’t believe I do. If I had known someone like you was here; I would have attempted to find you sooner.” She gave an apologetic shrug with her answer. “I didn’t come to this world to study their style of clothing anyway.”
"Good point."
He says as he picks up Mercys bowl, putting it in the sink, starting to wash it.
"Okay um… so do you watch tv, pick up magazines… or even glance at them in stores?"
He asked her. He was really famous, he couldn't believe she didn't know of him.