OPEN

[ghostling]

Date & Time: 1/4; afternoon
Location: Around the Hold
Characters: Ghost and ANYONE
Summary: Ghost is out and about, mostly sulking and trying to avoid people.
Warnings: Uh, depends on who shows up?

[Since the whole deal with Koltira, Ghost has mostly been holed up in her room. She's barely left it. But even she gets a little stir-crazy so she decided to go for a walk. A task easier said than done given the damaged state of her helmet. With it no longer functioning properly she couldn't wear it. Not wearing it means people will know what she looks like. What she sounds like.

That definitely leaves the Network out of question. At least in person she can give a false name. There's only two people, aside from maybe her roommates, that know what she really looks and sounds like.

She's completely bundled up, arms and hands completely covered. Her face mostly hidden behind a scarf and the shadow of her hood. It would have to do. Although the faint glow of her eyes wasn't hard to miss.

For the most part she's just out trying to get some "fresh" air while avoiding as many people as possible. Although avoiding people isn't easy. Eventually she settles down on a bench in what she assumes passes for a park. At least the pastime of people watching never goes out of style.]

Comments

[vaudevil]

[Treadmills aren't really Lee's thing. He prefers scenery and a change of it. Miserable weather or not, it was out and away from the Hold where he takes his jogs. A mile into his run, he sees the park and a familiar feeling comes over him. He knows this person.

He slows his run into a light jog and makes his approach.]

Oh, there you are. I've been wondering where you have been hiding. I hadn't seen you around lately. Is everything okay?

[He's accustomed to her habits so the helmet isn't in question yet.]

Or are you being a bit antisocial?

[He smirks and takes a seat next to her.]

[ghostling]

[Ghost smiles behind the scarf covering face as Lee settles beside her.]

M'always antisocial. [She's completely ignoring the question about everything being okay, unless he pushes it.]

[vaudevil]

[He chuckles. While it's true he's been a bit unsociable himself with work to be done but there's always time for a friend or two...in more ways than one.]

I thought you would say that.

[He leans forward slightly so he could keep his gaze on Ghost.]

I suppose some things are constant, but why are you hiding your beautiful face? It's just us.

[ghostling]

[Why does he have to say things like that? She looks away then around.]

Ain' jus' us here.

[But the fact remains there's one else around to recognize her. And that's not something she can argue, not that it'll stop her.]

You're jus' bein' a flatterer anyway.

[vaudevil]

Am I? I thought I was being sincere at the masquerade. You don't need to keep wearing it.

[He looks around for a brief moment and then back to Ghost as he leans back some.]

I don't flatter and I certainly don't use flattery for any gain. I speak the truth and if I happen to like what I see, I say it.

[He leans his head back with a sigh.]

There are so many here that cannot accept their beauty. What is so hard with saying thank you?

[ghostling]

[She gives a soft sigh and pulls her scarf down from around her face. She cringes a bit at the loss of warmth.]

Maybe they're jus' used t' hearin' that they're a freak or bein' treated like they're diseased.

[vaudevil]

But you're not. I don't think the Initiative would take in lepers.

[He smiles a bit with her compliance but he's still waiting for those two words. He shrugs with a soft laugh.]

Besides, no one is a bigger freak than me. Seriously, the problems faced here is that not many are told the positive side of matters. They hear a lot of the negative which can affect the way they see themselves. But what do I know. I'm a scientist, more specifically, an engineer.

[ghostling]

They don' have control o'er their machine so I wouldn' say that. But thank y'anyway.

[She looks back over at him, pushing her hood back a bit so her face isn't completely in shadow any longer.]

Thing is y'don' look like a freak. Nor d'ya have a connection t' powers that basically make you...death incarnate.

[strategic_guile]

[Woman sitting alone bundle up on a bench? And with glowing eyes? Hah. That doesn't deter Blaine from wandering over and sitting on the bench with a comfortable amount of distance between them. It helps that there aren't any other benches around to make his proximity totally unnecessary.

He has on jeans, boots, a coat and a scarf but no hat. It's cold, but it doesn't bother him as much as it does her, apparently. Under his arm is a thermos that he pulls out.]

Want something warm to drink?

[ghostling]

[The cold doesn't actually bother her that much. Why should it when she can't get sick? But hey, if that's what people think then that works for her.

She turns her head slowly and eyes him for a moment before shaking her head. Drinks from random strangers are never a good idea.]

[vaudevil]

That's so much better. I can now see your eyes.

[Lee laughs again, and he's glad that she's at least showing her face a bit more even though he could see the glow from them before.]

Yes, that is true that I'm not powered by some magic or tied to some ability that would, as you say, make me a freak, but I am a freak of a different sense of the word.

My brother has said it to me more than once and was pretty disgusted by it, but I think it goes without saying that I like to look at the world as a place of learning and loving than a prison.

[ghostling]

[She hates not being able to hide behind her mask. She hates people being able to actually see her expression. She does her best to not roll her eyes but it's a hard urge to fight.]

Long as y'happy.

[She raises a gloved hand to tuck some of escaping hair back into her hood.]

Learnin' I can understand. Lovin'...no.

[vaudevil]

Why not?

[It's an honest question. Thankfully he doesn't catch her disinterest but the fact remains that he's trying to push a little to get her to open up.]

My happiness is irrelevant at this point. It's about you now.

[strategic_guile]

[You figure it might, when someone bundles up so completely. He doesn't know she wants to hide her face, so he comes to the next logical conclusion. It's cold as hell outside.

The slow head turn with the glowing eyes are a bit disconcerting, but he doesn't flinch or show any outwards signs that it bothers him. Instead he continues to undo the top and pour some steaming coffee into it. Coffee and what passed for bourbon. He smiles as he takes a sip.]

I didn't poison it.

[ghostling]

Because it jus' ain' something I get. [That seems a sufficient answer to her. Then again she's not used to giving more details without someone prying.

She just doesn't get the opening up thing.]

[ghostling]

[Anything alcoholic might as well be poison to her. Mind altering substances lead to her being unable to keep her arms in existence and then well...things get awkward.]

An' m'supposed to trust the words of a complete stranger? [She's trying to keep the accent out of her voice but it's hard.]

[strategic_guile]

[Ahh, warmth from the inside and going down. Cold days and hot liquids were the best. He let out a content sigh.]

I hope we won't stay complete strangers, even if you don't trust my offerings.

[He offers a lip quirk.] I'm Blaine.

[vaudevil]

[That is something that Lee can't understand. How can she not get love? Okay, this is something that he has to ask. Everyone has a libido, don't they?]

You don't have that stirring? You must at least feel something. I could show you how but I will not if you don't want me to. Someone like you should not be so closed off. That can't be healthy.

[ghostling]

Maybe I got allergies. [Perfectly legitimate excuse.

And crap...names. Which to give? Which to give?]

Ciara.

[ghostling]

[They're going to talk about this aren't they? They're going to enter the uncomfortable territory that Ghost much prefers to avoid.

She scowls, brow knitting as her face heats up. She gives a loud huff and turns away while pulling her hood back over her face in an attempt to hide her embarrassment.]

A-ain' like that! [Stay calm Ghost, focus. She can't get worked up or goodbye arms.]

I do I just ain'... [She shrugs without finishing the thought, she can't handle this kind of conversation right now.]

[vaudevil]

[Her expression is cute to Lee but at least he has a better idea. That huff makes him grin.]

Ah, so you choose not to. That's a shame. Someday you may and when it comes, don't fight it. You may lose a good opportunity.

[He smirked and winked then changed the subject.]

Well, aside from that, I found something interesting. Have you spoken with anyone from the Defense Coalition?

[ghostling]

I ain' like e'eryone else. I can't jus' give in. I can't risk losin' control. [She drops her gaze and sighs. At least he's moving onto a new subject.]

No I haven't. Why?

[vaudevil]

[It's a sad thing to hear on Lee's end. He can't imagine why, but this isn't his life to force his ideals on and he values Ghost too much to force like that. Still, it makes his heart sink some.

He changes gears and it shows with a less predatory tone.]

I suggest you do sometime. I found that they are trying to help reestablish order in this chaos and it's worth a listen. Fiona is a good ally to make and I do recommend you speak with her.

Another is Duncan. He's an intelligent man with a good mind for discussion. He is not afraid to ask questions and not afraid to speak his mind. He's worth speaking with when you have the chance.

Both could use the help in finding good people to aid in our cause to a better life.

[ghostling]

Dunno if y'noticed but I ain' so good at talkin' to people. [At least not as long as she can't hide.]

[vaudevil]

Yes, I noticed.

[His voice softens. He has hoped that she would have gone out of her shell a bit more but then she would lose her anonymity and that could be a disaster.]

Have you tried?