11-28-2014, 05:56 PM
Asha looked at Nox oddly as he admitted wanting to be far away from the ambulance when it arrived, but not with much accusation. Her uncle had been of a similar disposition, with stark mistrust of those in the regular channels of authority. He hadn't been a bad man, just one with unique views on justice, and inevitably his views coloured Asha's own. She did not regret the accomplice car jacker's broken leg, for instance, but she was not sure she'd have had the stomach to meter out such retribution herself.
"No. Me either,"
she agreed blandly. One thing her uncle had always insisted upon for both of them, but especially her, was the preservation of anonymity. Don't make waves. Don't bring attention to yourself. They'd never had an explicit conversation as to why, but she of course had an idea as to his concerns, and took them seriously enough to maintain them even after he'd gone. It was natural anyway after all this time. And aside from that, she was very ready to be away from the pain of the man's broken leg.
As such Asha delighted in the brief flash of Elias' surprise at her request, both as a distraction and for its own sake. It was like dropping rocks in a still pool of water just to watch the ripples, all the more enjoyable because she was the only one who could sense the nuances. Though she hadn't expected him to agree so readily. The handshake she was a little less enthused about, but at least his hands were mostly covered. What little she sensed in the flicker of his fingertips was stolid, hardly intrusive, but she slipped her hand free quickly anyway. Still smiling widely, but quick about the touch.
She didn't need the social cues to understand Nox's joke; the mirth hung off him, infecting her in the process. So of course she laughed, though probably more from the feeling than the words. It felt good anyway, to shuck off the misery like old skin. Actually, she was fairly sure neither of them posed a threat. Nothing in their emotions hinted as such, and she wasn't quite so foolish as to go off with strangers she didn't trust. Or had reason to mistrust anyway. She shoved her hands into her coat pocket while Nox made the call, and though she stared some way off distant, she did listen to the side of the conversation she could hear. It was her immediate future after all, and she had no idea what she'd do if Nox's friend refused to help her.
Fortunately she at least won a little luck from today.
Asha snorted laughter at the offered arm, and didn't take it, though clearly it was not out of offence. She just didn't want to be that close. Neither of the two's company was particularly taxing, but she preferred distance with strangers whose emotions might fluctuate in ways she could not predict. For that same reason she was rather glad this Aria was described as cold, and therefore not likely to molly coddle over the fact Asha was essentially homeless. Distant was fine. Distant was good. Though...
"Armed to the tooth?"
Her brows rose. She glanced at Elias, but was compelled to curiosity anyway.
"My first day in Moscow, a man was shot in the cafe I was in. Is this city really so dangerous?"
She sounded more inquisitive than afraid, as she trotted in the direction led.
"No. Me either,"
she agreed blandly. One thing her uncle had always insisted upon for both of them, but especially her, was the preservation of anonymity. Don't make waves. Don't bring attention to yourself. They'd never had an explicit conversation as to why, but she of course had an idea as to his concerns, and took them seriously enough to maintain them even after he'd gone. It was natural anyway after all this time. And aside from that, she was very ready to be away from the pain of the man's broken leg.
As such Asha delighted in the brief flash of Elias' surprise at her request, both as a distraction and for its own sake. It was like dropping rocks in a still pool of water just to watch the ripples, all the more enjoyable because she was the only one who could sense the nuances. Though she hadn't expected him to agree so readily. The handshake she was a little less enthused about, but at least his hands were mostly covered. What little she sensed in the flicker of his fingertips was stolid, hardly intrusive, but she slipped her hand free quickly anyway. Still smiling widely, but quick about the touch.
She didn't need the social cues to understand Nox's joke; the mirth hung off him, infecting her in the process. So of course she laughed, though probably more from the feeling than the words. It felt good anyway, to shuck off the misery like old skin. Actually, she was fairly sure neither of them posed a threat. Nothing in their emotions hinted as such, and she wasn't quite so foolish as to go off with strangers she didn't trust. Or had reason to mistrust anyway. She shoved her hands into her coat pocket while Nox made the call, and though she stared some way off distant, she did listen to the side of the conversation she could hear. It was her immediate future after all, and she had no idea what she'd do if Nox's friend refused to help her.
Fortunately she at least won a little luck from today.
Asha snorted laughter at the offered arm, and didn't take it, though clearly it was not out of offence. She just didn't want to be that close. Neither of the two's company was particularly taxing, but she preferred distance with strangers whose emotions might fluctuate in ways she could not predict. For that same reason she was rather glad this Aria was described as cold, and therefore not likely to molly coddle over the fact Asha was essentially homeless. Distant was fine. Distant was good. Though...
"Armed to the tooth?"
Her brows rose. She glanced at Elias, but was compelled to curiosity anyway.
"My first day in Moscow, a man was shot in the cafe I was in. Is this city really so dangerous?"
She sounded more inquisitive than afraid, as she trotted in the direction led.