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Post by endlessinfinity on Jan 22, 2012 18:46:00 GMT -5
hopes on hold, lack of interest exposed; It was Sunday—the day before all hell would break loose and everyone would have to return to school. Kira didn’t mind school, honest! But just like the next person, all the work and stress annoyed her. After all, stress damages beauty! Ever since winter break, she had not heard from her parents either. Most importantly, they were her source of money—tuition, clothing, food, and relatively everything you could imagine. Her phone bills and class dues were consistently paid, but just like the next girl, she lived and breathed shopping. Looking through her stores where money should be, she emitted a little squeak. ”All of it? How could it have all vanished?” Scratching her head in retrospect, she did recall her last mall visit…
Okay, it was decided. Off to the mall she was headed! No, not to purchase more clothing (although that would delight her immensely), but to collect job applications and see who is hiring. Not exactly the ideal way to be spending her fleeting hours of freedom, but hey, at least she was getting to go to the mall! Texting a few amiable prospects, she inquired if they could drive her to the mall. Most of her friends were being difficult; [”Sorry Kira, but I REALLY have to study..”] or [”I’m kinda busy with..well, you know who. Bye.] It slightly irritated her, but finally she got a willing candidate; a senior whom she had recently met (sketchy, isn’t it?) said he had to work this afternoon anyway, so giving her a lift would be no problem. Perfect!
In a half hour’s time, she had on a comfortable tee, black skinny jeans, and her wonderfully pink Sperry’s. Grabbing her black bag from her desk, she tossed in a few essentials; her phone, lip gloss, et cetera—even some scarce bills of cash. Before heading out the door, she grabbed a hoodie, assuming the weather was still fairly chilly.
As she as she stepped outside, her presumptions confirmed themselves. Zipping it up three-fourths of the way, she dug her hands into the pockets of her sweatshirt. She should have known better, really, since she was never a fan of the cold. A car horn directed her attention towards the sidewalk. ”Hello!” She said cheerfully, hopping into the boy’s car. The drive was short, less than ten minutes; nevertheless, Kira filled the void with clever remarks and interesting chatter to keep her driver interested. Upon their arrival to the mall,, the car stopped in front of the main doors. ”Ill be back in a few hours,” [/i] he called out the window, continuing to drive around the building and park. Entering the vast building, it was a more comfortable temperature, so Kira unzipped her sweatshirt to reveal her t-shirt once more. The task of the day: visit as many stores as possible and try to find a job, just so she could have some extra money under her belt in case she needed it. Easy enough, right? ”Just as long as I don’t get distracted..” she thought grimly, already hanging her shoulders in defeat. Snapping back to her senses, she moved out of the doorway to prevent from blocking traffic. For a Sunday afternoon, the mall was surprisingly lively. She hadn’t planned to meet anyone, but with her luck, someone would probably stop her eventually. [/div] all hands damage our determined eyes ~ OUTFIT; click! TAG(S); Joshua! WORD#; 555. © Vika.[/center] |
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Post by JOSHUA DONOVAN DALE on Jan 23, 2012 17:08:38 GMT -5
Joshua knew that something was off the moment he pulled into the parking lot of the well-known candy shop, noticing that the windows were dark and the usual line-up extending onto the sidewalk was not there. They sold the best fudge and cupcakes in town and so, naturally, it was a favourite place of his when he wanted to pick up something sweet. Not satisfied with the simple answer that it was shut—it was usually open at this time—Joshua got out of the car and wandered close enough to read a note pinned behind the door. 'We're sorry,' it read, 'Our store will be closed for the week due to outside interference. Return on—' He read no further, sighing and shoving his hands into the pockets of his jeans. Guess I'm not getting that fudge. He was slightly disappointed but understood that the store was run by an old woman and her daughter alone. It was a busy place and if a problem came up with one of them, the other had to take a break from work as well. He'd gotten on well with the elderly woman and had been civil enough with her daughter, as well, though they hadn't spoken nearly as much.
A cool breeze brought with it the smell of rain and spring and Joshua paused for a moment to savour it, silently celebrating the end of the chilly winter months. Spring was his favourite season of the four and the fact that it included his birthday was even better. He glanced at the sky for a moment, trying to decide whether or not it looked as if it would rain. Not that he minded, as Josh enjoyed the rain as much as he liked spring, but he did wonder how soaked he was going to get if he walked along the road looking for another place to get his sugar fix. Wait a minute... doesn't the mall have a candy shop? He vaguely remembered stopping at one during a trip with Annabel. Joshua and his sister did not go to the mall very often, preferring the extravagant and over-priced shops on the main street near the upper-class neighbourhood. There were a lot of boutiques and stores that sold strictly designer brands, as well as fancy diners and places like the candy shop he'd just went to.
Getting back into the car, Joshua turned on the radio on his way to Maple Hollow's mall. The place had been in operation for years but it had expanded when the tiny town grew into a small city housing both elementals and mortals alike. They'd replaced the sign from the one he'd seen as a kid, as well. It was much fancier and none of the bright neon letters had gone out. He checked the map once he'd gotten inside and located the store without much difficulty, relieved to find it both open and devoid of a line. He did not mind waiting in line and certainly wouldn't be rude enough to cut in front of someone else but it would still be an inconvenience. He got two full bricks of fudge as well as various other sweets, looking to stock up on his supply. He was aware of the fact that he lived with Nell now and he couldn't fit everything he usually liked to buy in her apartment but thankfully candy was relatively small and tended to vanish quickly around Joshua. He'd share if she wanted him to, as well.
Not expecting to bump into anyone he knew here, as the chances were usually less likely in the upper-class area, Joshua was surprised when he caught sight of Kira. They weren't facing the same direction and so he didn't bother waving, instead pausing to see if she was accompanied by anyone else. It certainly didn't look like she had company and so he strode over to her and tapped her on the shoulder. "Hey there," he greeted. Though Josh didn't bother with a smile, his general poise and tone of voice was friendly. The lack of smiling could be a bit off-putting at first but most people accustomed to it easily enough. He just wasn't big on the gesture. "What are you here for? It certainly doesn't look like a fun outing with friends." He held up his own bag containing the candy and marked with the shops logo in order to explain the same in kind.
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Post by endlessinfinity on Jan 26, 2012 17:24:35 GMT -5
hopes on hold, lack of interest exposed; A low grumble in Kira’s stomach caused her to emit a nearly audible groan from her lips. ”I should’ve eaten before I left…” she thought to herself, hanging her head in defeat. The smell of various foods wafted in her direction, basically taunting her to buy something. It was the unfortunate irony that she was trying to save money, rather than spend it. Glancing around, Kira skimmed over menus viewed behind glass windows as she passed by. Everything seemed so expensive! Having a guilty pleasure for fast food was a tragic habit of hers. ”Spending a few dollars shouldn’t hurt…”
Approaching yet another window, a quaint Chinese restaurant caught Kira’s attention. It had been the longest time since she had an oriental meal, so this would be her chance! At the expensive of five dollars, that is. Entering, she waited in line until she was called to the counter. ”Hi,” she casually greeted the cashier, “I’d like one order of sweet and sour pork, as well as a small drink.” When given the final amount, she handed over a five-dollar bill and took a bag that contained her food. Stopping for a few minutes, she laid her food and beverage out on the table. Enjoying her leisure time, she was in no hurry to finish her food.
About ten minutes later, she got up, pushed in her chair, and tossed her trash in the garbage. What now? That was the question. Jump hunting was more boring than she had imagined. Mindlessly entering various chain stores, several applications were gathered and tucked inside her bag. Checking the time on her phone, she was disheartened to discovered she still had quite a bit of time to kill.
Suddenly, she heard someone speaking right behind her. ”Hey there.” [/i] A baritone voice caught her attention as she simultaneously felt a light tap on the shoulder. Reflexes got the best of her, causing Kira to jump a little bit. Luckily she was done with her food and drink, otherwise she probably would have spilled it on someone. ”Hey, Josh!” Her voice was bright with cheerful surprise—at least she wasn’t feeling like a total loser anymore. ”What are you doing here? It’s hard to believe you ever ventured from the library,” she joked. It was true, though. In the past few months, Kira had seen Josh in the library more often then she had seen him anywhere else. Holding up his bag indicated an answer to her question, at least. ”Mmm, candy? Lucky guy. I had some very cheap Chinese for lunch. Who knows what they put in that stuff.”Then, she heard him inquire about her business here. In disdain, she spoke while rolling her eyes slightly. ”Oh, me? Well, attempted job hunting. I’m sure you can guess how well that is going.” She made it clear she wasn’t enjoying herself, but at least she wasn’t roaming around like a loner any more. [/div] all hands damage our determined eyes ~ OUTFIT; click! TAG(S); Joshua! WORD#; 490. © Vika.[/center] |
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Post by JOSHUA DONOVAN DALE on Jan 27, 2012 19:43:29 GMT -5
[Josh's voice is actually of average pitch, it's not deep or high or anything like that xD]
As someone who was not very jumpy at all, Josh was often surprised by the reactions of others. He blinked, offering her a brief smile and a, "Sorry, did I startle you?" Apologies were rare for Josh, but only when they actually mattered. He had no problems apologising when he nearly closed a door on someone or accidentally frightened them but if he'd done something serious to hurt their feelings, he couldn't apologise to save his life. His pride was too much for that. His closest friends and Nell were perhaps the only exceptions to this rule and it had lost him a lot of friends. He hadn't even apologised to Harley—the two had came to an unspoken agreement on their fight.
Josh was briefly amused by her comment about libraries, though a slight shift in his expression was the only indication. He didn't laugh or even smile but the fact that he did not look offended suggested that he did understand it was a joke. "I don't blame you for that belief." He did enjoy the library a lot and it was certainly the place you'd usually find him. He always seemed to be there when someone was looking for him during school hours that didn't include class. Heck, sometimes he even spent his lunch break studying in the library. His spare periods were usually spent there, too. History section, third floor, the table by the window that overlooks the grounds. It was his 'spot' in the place. He liked the window because of the sunlight streaming in even in wintertime, illuminating the pages with its natural light and warming the area in the summer. "Even the ground hog has to venture from his hole some time," he remarked.
"Other than this," he held up the bag again in explanation, "I wasn't here for much. I was just leaving, actually, but then I saw you and decided to chat." He might have been a solitary creature but he was not entirely unfriendly. Josh had both his inner circle and then a small handful of people whom he found himself getting along with. Hanging around with the friendly Earths and Waters had definitely helped to soften him to conversation. They expected people to be friendly and amiable and he didn't want to endanger his position in their alliance. That wasn't to say he wouldn't politely decline conversation if he wasn't in the mood, for he would, he was just getting used to doing that less and less. Still as secretive as ever, just less standoffish about it. "Are you on your way out as well? I hope I'm not interrupting a girl's night out or anything." Now he chuckled, albeit briefly. It was mostly a joke but it was also his way of wondering whether Kira had arrived alone. She'd need to break away from conversation to meet her friends if she had, wouldn't she? He wouldn't be rude and hold her back.
Like most people, Joshua was aware of theories involving fast food and its contents. It didn't stop him from the occasional splurge at Dairy Queen or New York Fries but thankfully he was a vegetarian and didn't need to worry about the meat. "Why order it, then?" he asked, confused. "Why not get something better?" Having grown up rich, Joshua took a lot of things for granted. He didn't immediately assume that not everyone had the money to waste on expensive and high end food or clothing. His insensitivity was not just relating to empathy but ordinary, every day things as well. His interest was sparked when Kira mentioned job hunting, however. "Sounds like it's not going well. Why's that?" He hated prying but she'd opened up the subject and he hoped she didn't mind. There was always the option to withhold information when it came to Josh, seeing as he himself was secretive and wouldn't mind. "Is nowhere hiring, or just nowhere good?"
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Post by endlessinfinity on Feb 3, 2012 15:30:38 GMT -5
[super sorry for the lateness ><'] hopes on hold, lack of interest exposed; Girls were jumpy by nature; it was just something about them. Kira tolerated scary movies exceptionally well, yet a mere tap on the shoulder caused her to nearly jump out of her skin. His apology caught her off guard, knowing he wasn’t the type who made a habit out of saying sorry. She gave him credit for that quality, though; saying sorry can be overkill if it is used too frequently. ”It’s fine, don’t sweat it,” Offering a smile of assurance, she wanted to confirm that she was fine, and not a fragile wallflower or something of the sort.
Seeing that he had not made much of a comment about her library joke, she made a note to self: ”Avoid sarcasm in the future…” She just shrugged it off and briefly acknowledged his comment with a slight dip of her head. A few moments later, his groundhog comment oddly amused her. ”Nice comparison, actually,” she said through her breezy laugh. Kira was a sucker for cheesy analogies and things of the sort, so this was right up her alley.
Following up the gesture of lifting the bag once more, she remarked with, ”Hopefully all that candy isn’t for you. I’d hate to see what all those sweets would do to a person.” If she had been feeling exceptionally talkative, she would imply that he should share some, but knowing from past experiences, guys aren’t really that best at picking up implications. Presumably, Josh would have ended up being no different. She did feel content that he had actually spoken to her; the only real connections they have had, had been via Nell, study sessions in the campus library, or casually passing each other. It wasn’t very often a Fire went out of his or her way to speak to a Water, and she appreciated the thought that went into it. Kira was pleased that at least some decent people existed—from other mishaps, Fire girls ended up being quite catty.
"Are you on your way out as well? I hope I'm not interrupting a girl's night out or anything."
The next comment he offered caused Kira to roll her eyes a bit, but not in a disrespectful way. It was merely to show her apathy to the subject at hand. ”I hadn’t anything planned as of yet,” she said, being truthful. Everyone seemed exceptionally preoccupied today with one thing or another. No homework had to be done, so that freed up a huge chunk of her day. ”I’ve just been waiting around for my ride, if he ever even comes back.” Checking the time, she calculated that the other guy would be getting of work in another hour or two yet. Time was passing so slowly.
When it had been inquired why she had not ordered anything better, Kira’s hands raised in front of her, palms outward, in a defensive stance. ”Food is food.” It made enough sense, didn’t it? It was the mall, not a gourmet restaurant that one would spend fifty dollars on just one sitting. ”If I had any more money, I’d have gotten a good burger or something.” The mall had an excellent burger stand, and just the thought of them could make your mouth water. Her money statement was rather open-ended, so she followed it up with clarification. ”I only have a few bucks left, anyhow.” A few bucks, meaning two. Most of the cash she ever had came from her parents, who felt the best they could do was send her loads of money to make up for their absence. However, when the money stops, that’s when problems come about.
Shifting directions to the topic of job hunting, she shuddered and felt somewhat bitter towards the subject. ”A little of both.” It was mostly the latter, but her pickiness would soon have to be tossed to the side. ”A few places seem decent, but some others…well..” She drifted off, thinking of a satisfactory was to get her point across. ”Let’s just say if I took a job at that Chinese place, I don’t think I’d get that stench off of me for weeks. The thought disturbed her and she wouldn’t be able to stand such food ever again. Ideally, working at a clothing store would be her choice, but the hours were quite touchy. ”Besides, I don’t have much of a resume created.” She had worked jobs in the past, such as a housecleaning one she kept for a few months. That reason, above all, was what would probably prohibit her from finding a good job.
all hands damage our determined eyes ~ OUTFIT; click! TAG(S); Joshua! WORD#; 762. © Vika. |
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Post by JOSHUA DONOVAN DALE on Feb 4, 2012 15:25:30 GMT -5
[It's fine, I haven't had internet access anyway until now~]
Though he wasn't all that terrible at picking up on subtle implications, he didn't realise that Kira had been thinking of making some when she mentioned the candy. He pondered the remark for a moment, wondering whether or not it was something he should take offence to, then decided that it wasn't and twitched his lips into a half-smile. "Most of it, though I do share with Nell." He bought the candy for himself but he was not the type to protest if his girlfriend took a shine to any of it. He didn't share his candy stash with friends unless they asked or he was feeling particularly generous and so it didn't cross his mind to offer any to Kira. He'd grown up with the habit of never really sharing with others and having most of his possessions to himself. His parents were rich and thus even though he had a younger sibling, they both got what they wanted without interfering with one another. Josh didn't even need a job to get what he wanted from life. Instead, he had several credit cards and a seemingly limitless amount of money in the bank to pay them off. It was a good deal for him but it did make for a very frivolous person that was often insensitive to the qualms of those less fortunate.
The graduate frowned as she mentioned a ride. "Was he supposed to be back by now?" he wondered, as she hadn't mentioned as much. "I could volunteer if he doesn't show." His car was the perfect example of his luxurious lifestyle but he did not keep her in the garage to be shown off like a trophy but never driven. What was the point in buying an expensive sports car if it was just going to sit in a driveway all of its life? Besides, Josh enjoyed driving around the city and it wouldn't be any skin off his back to give a friend a ride. He wondered if Kira had come here with a boyfriend or relative or whether it was just one of her ordinary friends. Getting a lift from a near-stranger wasn't even a possibility in his mind, mainly because of his trust issues and his wariness around most people. He'd relied on his parents until he was old enough to get his own licence and then he'd been on his own from there.
Noting the defensive stance that Kira had taken, Josh wondered if he'd crossed some sort of line with the question. He made a mental note to be more careful with what he asked in the future, knowing that some people, like himself, were not as receptive to being questioned. "To each their own." He didn't really agree but he also didn't want to start some sort of an argument. Then she mentioned money and her predicament became a little more clear to him, though he couldn't relate at the moment. The only time he'd come close to struggling had been when his parents had kicked him out and severed his access to the family funds. At the time, however, he'd gotten a job and managed to support himself. It hadn't been the best money but he was a busybody that had seized any possible chance at overtime or extra days in the shop for more money at the end of the week. That had been the definition of 'struggling' to Josh and he hadn't even been in dire straights. He would probably die if he had to live a poor man's life.
At any rate, he respected the fact that she was trying to get a job to make her own money. Sucks she's finding it so difficult, though, he sympathized briefly. "What about any of the stores that don't serve food?" He didn't know if any were hiring, having never went job-hunting in a mall before. His only jobs had been at the hospital and the tattoo parlour—the first hadn't been a real job, anyway. Volunteer work looked good on an application for medical school and with a father that owned a hospital, it hadn't been hard to secure a position. "That bites. Well, you have to start somewhere, right?" No one started out with job experience and so it would be downright foolish of a place to assume that everyone knew what they were doing. It was especially ridiculous when fast food restaurants and the like expected past experience—how they ever found applicants was beyond him. He knew he'd never work in a place like that.
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Post by endlessinfinity on Feb 5, 2012 18:18:56 GMT -5
hopes on hold, lack of interest exposed; Though she desired some initially, Kira ignored her body’s craving for sweets. ”You know how it is, girls love their candy.” A major weakness, that’s for sure. She always kept a stash of food under her bed back at her dorm, so it wouldn’t end up being much of a loss. Usually she stocked up monthly, having enough snacks to last her for those few weeks. If it weren’t for her weekly exercise routines, she wouldn’t be as fit as she was now. Eating chips while studying or having a late-night cookie craving would have left its mark by now.
Once again glancing down at the time, she noted there was still some time left before her ride would—hopefully—return. ”There’s still some time yet before his shift is over.” She didn’t sound overly sure of herself, but hopefully it wouldn’t be noticeable enough to make him doubtful. ”Thanks for the offer. I’d hate to pass up the offer, considering what a nice car you have.” In the past she had taken notice of the sports car of his, being parked around places at the Academy time and time again. ”What kind is it?” She was quite envious; not necessarily of its type, but the mere fact that he had a car. Having a license was pointless if a car wasn’t owned. Supposedly Kira would be getting one for her seventeenth birthday, but considering how unreliable her parents can be at times, she wasn’t really counting on it.
Little did Josh know, but Kira came from a well-off family. Her mother a nurse and father a lawyer, money was never a problem. However, since being at the Academy, access to family money was difficult to get to without parental assistance and it becomes a frustrating problem when her parents fail to send their usual monthly sum of money through the mail. Perhaps it was a signal to become more dependent, but whatever it was, was a real inconvenience. That’s when her weaknesses showed; though her relationship with her parents was detached, Kira still heavily depended on them to take care of her. It was only a matter of time before she would need to take care of herself anyway. She made her reply short and sweet: ”Family complications. Money cut-off. Tough break.” Her choice of words was specific enough that it shouldn’t have needed any more clarification.
Due to the tight job market, Kira was forced to lower her standards, which were usually higher. Fast food wasn’t her thing, and she decided she would probably only work in that market if it was a nice, well-kept restaurant. No one wants to be seen working at a sleazy Burger King joint. ”I was hoping for retail.” Though the mall may not be the best place for job hunting, it was definitely full of chain stores. Finding opening at said chain stores however was a bit more daunting than it sounded. ”I’ll figure it out. I’ll probably keep looking a bit yet, perhaps in downtown or something.” There was always the music store or the quaint coffee shop; she made frequent appearances in both, so snagging a position might be a bit easier. Some parts of a job were common sense and wouldn’t require much training. Minimum wage working is said to be a bear and that’s the only thing she dreaded. Hearing tales from her friends, she learned which places to steer clear from.
all hands damage our determined eyes ~ OUTFIT; click! TAG(S); Joshua! WORD#; 574. © Vika. |
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Post by JOSHUA DONOVAN DALE on Feb 5, 2012 23:15:06 GMT -5
Never one to doubt a person unless he had good reason to, Joshua did not detect the note of uncertainty in Kira's voice. Instead he merely nodded, lips twitching briefly in amusement when she mentioned his car. He might not have been the type to brag or flaunt the wealth of his family but he definitely did love Harper dearly. She was his pride and joy and there was nothing quite like cruising around town and revelling in the stares she attracted. "I'm sure she's flattered by your interest," he said, and though he sounded as serious as always the fact that he was acting like his car could feel pegged it as either a joke or a temporary lapse in his usual rationality. Anyone that knew Josh would also know better than to assume the latter. "Lamborghini, an Aventador," he told her. He didn't bother to specify that it was an LP700-4 complete with an onboard computer, heated seats, automatic air-conditioning, the like. The scissor doors were a personal favourite. However, Josh figured that Kira wasn't a car geek and so he spared her the spiel and merely gave the recognisable brand and model. "Well, if your ride doesn't show, the offer's available."
He lifted his head slightly in silent acknowledgement of her words, not prying any further into the 'family complications'. He didn't know whether or not she'd had a falling out or whether money was tight, he knew very little about the Water elemental and her heritage. Even if he had, the likelihood that Josh would intrude on such boundaries was slim. He'd always had a certain respect for the privacy of others and the only thing he expected was the same courtesy in return. As Kira had never offended him by trying to get the inside info about his life, he hadn't run into any problems with her. She also hadn't done anything to set off his temper—an accomplishment, seeing who he was. Fires weren't known for their sweet and loving natures. They also weren't usually as bubbly and outgoing as Waters but he did not mind their sociable personalities. Perhaps at first, but he'd warmed up to them once he'd accepted that there was really no going back to his old alliance and the familiarity of it.
"Good luck," he wished her earnestly, hoping that she managed to find the sort of job she was looking for. He remembered the hellish experiences he'd lived through when it came to the tattoo parlour and he wouldn't wish it on a friend or acquaintance. Maybe an enemy. Joshua was not exactly the most sadistic person in the world but nor was he empathetic and forgiving. If you managed to cross some sort of a line with him and made a rival out of the Fire, he wouldn't wish to make your life easier. "Have you ever had a job before?" he wondered, recalling what she'd said about her resume. A lot of teenagers got part-time jobs when they were sick of relying on their parents but there were some that preferred to focus more on studying or a social life. He had been neither of those—he'd focused on studying and volunteering, always wanting to keep busy. Everyone was different. "You're a junior, right?" He spoke suddenly, as he'd been trying to recall an age in his head. He was good at remembering information once he'd learned it, at least.
Since it didn't really make sense for the two of them to stand in the same spot for ages, Joshua slowly started in no general direction, taking his time so as to let Kira catch on to the idea that he wanted to walk around. He liked to poke around and peruse the shops in the mall that he didn't often go to, especially if they held any manner of weird items and objects. There was an occult shop in the Hollow (though not in the mall) that he'd always been curious about but never stopped by. He did not believe in the occult or anything similar, it was merely an intellectual intrigue that drew him to certain things. "Still hunting, or is that you done for the day?" He wouldn't mind stopping in at all the different stores with her to check if they were hiring—he had nothing better to do. Kira's company was better than no company at all. He was a solitary creature by choice at times but that didn't mean he hated socialising with others. "I've got time to kill. I haven't got anywhere to be in particular so I could probably stick around until we find out if your ride is going to show. Or I could give you my number and you could call if you needed a lift." He shrugged, unsure of whether she wanted the extended company.
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