Closed 🌺 Exploration [Voice Testing]

[unknownmoirai]

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She didn't know what to make of this place. The world was paved and bordered with cement while tall buildings set in the skyline. She's been traveling for awhile now but each new city and each new town surprised her. This one was no different. She paused by the park, watching as the children played and smiled. The world was a mixture of dark and light, with buildings blotting out the sun but laughter filling the sweet crisp air. It was a balance that she couldn't disrupt nor did she attempt to try.

There was something here, hidden beneath the city... a story that had to be told and she was searching for it.

It was a tiring walk and she didn't have money for a hotel. She found a seat on a park bench, watching as people past and sirens echoed through the city. A fountain bubbled and curled in front of her while a man with a violin began to play. She didn't have the money she needed but she pulled out a dollar and set it in the violinist's case before retaking her seat on the bench.

Her long hair was tied in two pigtails while a warm jacket covered her shoulders. She didn't need the jacket but there was something comforting in the weight of the material against her skin. A shadow fell over her and her chin lifted. "Can I help you?"


[ooc: wild card for anywhere else in any city/town/whatever.]

Comments

[not_so_smooth]

"Huh? What? Me?" Sam asked, spinning around in a circle to look behind him to see if the very pretty girl was talking to someone else. If she was she was talking to someone that Sam couldn't see. And he wasn't completely willing to discount that she was talking to someone else because... he was the guy with a robot car so he couldn't really judge. Much. He couldn't judge much because he still judged a tiny bit.

But he also judged because she was really, really attractive so he automatically judged her as awesome. Because... because that's just how he was.

"I, uh. I don't think so? I mean maybe. Maybe you could if I needed help? But I don't. Need help. But maybe you could if I did."

[intulpable]

Cooper had been getting to know the city where the Bureau had assigned him, himself, taking a walk through the park with a cup of coffee from a nearby cafe. He'd been walking for quite a while, though: which was how he'd come to be standing near her.

"May I share your bench for a moment? I just need to sit for a little while."

[unknownmoirai]

Her mouth curved into a small smile at the way his words jumbled and twisted together. She could already tell that he was sweet. "It's fine if you don't. I wasn't sure if I was in your way." Her seat could have been claimed in the short time that she went to tip the violinist and she'd never have known.

"Would you like to join me? It's a nice day to sit outside and enjoy the weather." Her eyes dropped to the second of the bench that stretched out next to her.

[unknownmoirai]

"Of course." Her voice was gentle, musical and sweet. It eased the tension from the area and lightened the air as if the notes continued to resonate invisibly around them. She didn't have to shift far to get out of his way but she did slide an inch or two in order to give him enough room without feeling claustrophobic.

"It's a lovely day out." It's chilly but the air was crisp and sweet.

It was a nice day as long as she was able to enjoy the outside air. She really didn't like the rain though from time to time she'd find herself closing her eyes and listening to its cadence.

[godsinsolence]

Someone was in town. It happened often enough to be no big deal: angels descending to deliver visions or minor miracles. Errands, basically. Zed had been down here long enough to realize they weren't concerned with him. So long as he kept his head down and didn't interfere with their business, he was worth less notice than an insect.

But he always knew when they were around. There'd be a tingling at the back of his neck, sometimes an ache in the scars around his shoulder blades. At least it never lasted long.

Except when it did. This one was hanging around, and it had been going for long enough to put Zed on edge. What in God's name - literally - was it up to?

He didn't know her until he saw her. When he did, he knew right away. And he still wasn't prepared for the moment she looked up at him and spoke. Could she tell he was fallen, or would he appear to be just an ordinary human to her? On the outside, he looked like a young punk: half-worn-out shoes, skinny jeans, and a long, loose coat.

She'd asked him a question. Zed said the first thing that popped into his head.

"Spare fifty cents for the bus?"

[unknownmoirai]

Her features softened and she pulled out a small bag of coins. She didn't have a lot of money but that didn't matter to her. Two quarters rolled onto her palm and she held them out to Zed with her usual placid expression. "Here." She dropped the coins into his hand before returning the small bag to her jacket pocket.

"Are you sure that's all you need?" Her eyes were light and warm but the colors shifted between green and blue.

She could tell that there was something more to Zed and she had her suspicions but it didn't really matter. If he needed help then she'd offer it, even if she didn't have any way to really help him.

It was just how she was.

[intulpable]

He noticed the change, his intuition picking up on the fact that something very unique and wonderful was at play, here. He gave it over to the day and the new city, and the sunshine, for the time being, and helped himself to a seat with a bright smile, keeping a polite distance between them.

"Thank you very much. And yes, it certainly is. A wonderful day to get out and about, and learn the lay of the land. Do you live here? Or are you just visiting?"

[unknownmoirai]

"Visiting." Her reply was conversational and open. "I'm looking for something and I am hoping that it's in this city." She wouldn't tell anyone what she was looking for but she saw no point in lying about it. Her sister might be somewhere in this city.

She turned to look at him, the light color of her eyes shifting between green and blue as she spoke. "What about you?" It sounded like he was visiting the city but she didn't want to assume.

[godsinsolence]

Zed rolled the quarters around in his hand while he looked back at her. His own eyes were a gentle, hazel brown. The way she was looking at him... it definitely seemed like she could tell.

Well, if she couldn't, she probably thought he was just some homeless kid. So maybe she was about to think he was a crazy homeless kid. He could live with that.

"Are you an angel of the Lord?"

[unknownmoirai]

"No, not exactly." She shook her head and turned her attention back towards the park. There were two young kids playing hopscotch while their mother sat nearby reading a newspaper. The violinist had switched to a lighter, warmer song that naturally lifted the spirit of those listening.

It was a little bit of a complicated question for her but either way, she was far removed from the politics of heaven. "We all have those we look up to. I am not so high." It was the best answer he was going to get out of her.

"You don't need to worry about me. I'm sure I'll be out of your city in time. I hope you'll be alright with me staying here for a little bit."

Staying being a relative term since she's yet to find a place to stay.

[godsinsolence]

Some angels of Heaven got off on being more cryptic than they needed to be, but they couldn't lie. Even with that not exactly attached, no meant no. Which meant that Zed had a lot less to worry about than he'd thought.

"My city?" Those owlish eyes of his blinked, the line of his mouth softened in quiet amusement. "Nah. I — I just live here..."

He was still weighing the coins in his palm. He could actually use them, but it felt disingenuous, the way he'd asked for them. While he was no longer bound to truthfulness, old habits died hard. So he stayed like that, for now, holding the quarters in his palm. Not offering to give them back, but not pocketing them either. It gave him something to do, anyway, worrying them around with his thumb.

"Honestly, I was wondering if there was some reason I should be getting out."

[not_so_smooth]

Okay, she was laughing at him a bit. Or smiling at least but girls liked guys that could make them smile, right? Plus it was a really pretty smile. Like... the prettiest smile ever? So yeah, he'd take that.

"Join you? Yeah, of course. Definitely. I- I would love to sit here with you," he said, quickly sitting down before she could change her mind. Sam was pretty sure at any moment her huge, muscle-bound boyfriend that was probably also really into MMA would come along and ask him what he was doing but until then he'd enjoy her company. "So are you here just relaxing? Maybe going on a walk with your boyfriend? If you have a boyfriend."

[unknownmoirai]

She made sure that there was room for him on the bench before shifting so that she could speak politely to Sam but continue looking out over the park. The chilly air bit lightly at her nose and she found her smile softening.

"No." she didn't really understand his train of thought. "I'm alone. I just wanted to see the park. I travel a lot and I'm in this city for a little while." It wasn't the kind of life that lent itself to being a relationship nor did she think that there was a relationship out there for her. She had to find her sister, everything else had to be secondary to that...

"It's really beautiful here. I'm beginning to really like this city."

[unknownmoirai]

"It's your home. Isn't it?" She lifted her chin and met his gaze with a soft smile. "It's alright. Nothing bad will happen to you. I don't want that. I'm afraid that I can't tell you why I am here but it might be for nothing at all."

The wind picks up and the young angel lifts her hand into the air to catch a daisy as it flew towards her. "While I am here. You're welcome to call on me. I might not be able to help but I try too." She pinched the stem of the flower between her thumb and forefinger and idly spun it.

She didn't lie but it wasn't because she couldn't. That was simply how she was and what she believed. There was good in everyone, it didn't matter what race you were.

[godsinsolence]

He watched her catch and spin the flower — it was enough of a distraction to snap him out of his indecisive trance. His fingers closed around the quarters and slipped them into his pocket with the rest of his spare change.

There'd definitely been a change in the air since they'd started talking. The violinist was carrying on with that uplifting tune, and now flowers were getting caught on the wind. Zed let it put him at ease. He held out his hand toward her again, but this time for a shake.

"I'm Zed. Sorry for being weird — too much experience with Heaven's emissaries."

[unknownmoirai]

She placed the daisy gently on her lap and took his hand. "It's nice to meet you Zed and I understand you worry but I'm not exactly Heaven's emissary." Her expression saddened but there was an unmistakable strength and warmth in her eyes.

"Like you, I have no home to go back too. I have not lost my way or my wings but my path is different." She picked the Daisy back up but just held it safely in her palm.

"I know that it's like to be on your own. It isn't easy and I would never ask you to trust me."

[godsinsolence]

Zed spread his hands. Now that he knew she wasn't here on Heaven business, he was a lot more relaxed.

"This doesn't have to be an interrogation. One question, though... do you have a name?"

Asked like he actually wasn't sure. He'd never met an angel who wasn't — or hadn't been, at some point — aligned with Heaven. Maybe they didn't have names.

[unknownmoirai]

She shook her head. "No. I don't." Names were designed to label and define. There was no purpose of having a label when you didn't need those definitions. That was her home was like and she missed it but she also knew that she couldn't go back there.

Even if she found her sister, she'd be too changed by the world around her.

"Where did the name Zed come from?"

[not_so_smooth]

“Oh, that’s cool. Very cool. I’m here for college. To go to it. I mean I am going to it,” Sam said, fiddling a bit awkwardly with his hands as he rambled. And he wasn’t ramble because she was basically perfect, although it was kind of that too, but because that’s just about how he had ever single conversation in his life.

“So, since you’re new and here for just a little bit. I was wondering if you maybe wanted to go to a party with me? It’s later tonight. You don’t have to, I know you just met me but I promise I’m not some creep or anything. I’m Sam, Sam Witwicky.”

[unknownmoirai]

"A party?" She was rarely surprised but she hadn't expected that. "I'd love to." She paused thoughtfully. "Would you be taking me?" She hoped that what she was wearing was okay because she didn't have any other clothes.

"It's nice to meet you Sam." Parities were very rare in her life and she was looking forward to it. She wondered what it'd be like. Angel hadn't gotten to go to college.

[not_so_smooth]

"Yeah, just one of those... hanging out at a frat things? If you're into that. If you're not into that we can do something else? If you want to do something else we can do that," Sam said, acting like them hanging out was a foregone conclusion. That was probably a bit creepy but he was just over eager and she seemed really nice.

"And yeah, I would. If you're cool with that. And it's nice to meet you too.... whoever you are?"

[unknownmoirai]

"I um..." Her lips pressed lightly together and as she met his gaze she looked uncharacteristically nervous. "I don't have a name." She paused thoughtfully. "I can call me Angel?" She didn't know if he'd go for that since it sounded like a fairly unusual name.

"Oh, But I'd love to go to a party with you. I think it'd be fun."

[intulpable]

"I'm on an assignment, for the fine people I work for. Looking for something, too, as a matter of fact." A missing boy, to be exact. He'd disappeared a few states away, but evidence had started to point across state lines, which meant it was time for the FBI to get involved. And the clock was ticking. He had a feeling he might need a miracle or two to come out of this with the boy alive.

"Excuse me for saying so, but your eyes are absolutely striking."

[godsinsolence]

"Zedriel. The rage and fury of the Lord, once upon a time. More recently: God's insolence."

Zed shrugged a shoulder - like it was all old news. No big deal. He moved to sit down on the other end of the bench, and leaned back with both hands in the pockets of his coat. He shifted a little to get comfortable against the back rest.

"You said I'd be welcome to call on you...? What for?"

[unknownmoirai]

"Zedriel." She repeated in a soft voice. "It's a beautiful name."

Sometimes she wanted a name but it was always a passing fancy. Not all angel's were meant to have names but she'd been in the human realm for over six years and... it was lonely. There wasn't anyone who understood her situation and at times that loneliness was crushing.

"If you needed help with anything." She paused thoughtfully. "There isn't a lot I can do but I'd like to do what I can wherever I go."