For historicallyloaded - An OS AU of Epic Proportions. . .

[oftheleyline]

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"Look up at the stars not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you
see, and wonder about what makes the universe exist. Be curious."

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[oftheleyline]

[The days have run together, she finds. Mornings and afternoons indiscernible from nighttime escapades and even later midnights when she cannot find rest or slumber. Gene and the rest of the crew for the Outlaw Star have taken to their new life on Heifong remarkably well. She supposes in many ways it hasn't been different from Sentinel III. Gene and Jim always waiting for the 'big one' to come in, arguing over practicality for practicality's sake. Melfina always in the kitchen, finding that it's the safest place for her when she's not navigating the XGP. Suzuka and Aisha doing things probably the way they should have been done all along.

It's always an adventure.

Today is a rare one. Melfina having the opportunity to visit the market without escort. She doesn't feel she needs it anymore. There's nothing about her that would possibly set anyone else off and as far as she's aware, the MacDougall brothers haven't been sighted since the recent space race. Even then...

She frowns for just a moment, finding her reflection in glass. Behind it, just a colour somewhere between blue and green that makes her think.

Melfina wonders what her purpose is. Surely not just to spend life in a kitchen cooking. Where does she belong? Why are there answers for other terrans, but not for her? What makes her so different and when will she find that answer?

Maybe today is not the one she'll find out. And maybe it's not the time to be thinking about it.]

Oh— [She begins as she turns, making the slightest shoulder check.] —If I'm late, they'll go hungry.

[She doubts she can trust the rest of them to make anything. Maybe Suzuka, but she'd likely let the rest starve.]

[historicallyloaded]

[ Relocating to Heifong took some adjustment for Brickston; his father recently murdered by a political rival who had suspected ties to Space Pirates, his mother sent him away to a different system for his own safety. He enrolled into one of Heifong's most prestigious academies for science and engineering and was supposed to be a good boy. He was supposed keep his pretty blonde little head down and make his mother proud... for but someone who only ever knew his own privilege yet detested the rigid oppressiveness of upper class society he now had the opportunity for real independence and personal ambition.

He was not supposed to accidentally pick fights with the upper classmen by pointing out how their thesis on mana was incorrectly sourced and therefor completely objectively wrong. In front of all the other alumni. It earned him respect and ire all at once and the not-so-subtle promise for an after-school beating. Look, he can't be blamed for being more studious than them! Or more nimble than them as his lanky legs carried him through the market, weaving and squirming through the crowd while uttering apologies. ]

BRICKSTON BARTHOLOMEW PENDERYN YOU PONCY PRICK, GET BACK HERE! [ The voice of a classmate booms through the crowd, built like a Ctarl-Ctarl who subsisted on nothing but meat. Two of his buddies flank his sides, all adorned with the same school uniform as he. He needs to give them the slip. ]

Shouldn't you be re-writing your thesis?! [ Brickston is a mere 5'7'' and thin, build for finesse and not at all stamina. The most intimidating thing about him is his sassy mouth, or perhaps the eyepatch that covers a glaring scar that cuts across his eye and nose. Despite that lack of depth perception he manages to spot Melfina taking interest in one of the glass panes of the shop. He's not sure why he picked her, in all his fraught desperation, other than her cloak-styled outfit looked to be appropriate cover and she also the least intimidating looking person nearby.

He runs up to her and flips up the backside of her cloak and cowers under it, fingertips gently placed on her shoulder blades for the bare minimum of personal space this guise could afford, feet positioned precisely in the shadow of her legs. He desperately hopes she isn't going to scream or slap him which would give him away, easily. ]

Shh— shh, please I beg of you, I- I know this is unorthodox and intrusive and I'm very sorry— I've no intention to hurt you, but let me hide here for a tick while those brutes run by.

[oftheleyline]

[...Certainly, it's not the first time a big to-do has gone down in Heifong. In fact, usually when there's something big going on, it's because the crew of the Outlaw Star has caused it. If Melfina had a bit more shame, she might be a touch embarrassed. Instead, in some ways, she remains oblivious. Innocently so. Annoying to some, surely. It's a wonder Gene and the others have been so patient.

It makes her think there's something more to it. There could be. Hilda, after all, never was able to tell her more about herself, despite the idea that she wanted to.

For just a moment, long enough to distract her from the very real idea that cooking is very much her important role with her company, she winds up with a sudden extra person taking shelter in her cloak. She's not even sure what exactly's happening until she feels the fingertips curling over her shoulders. The voice is different, not the strange one Harry's had when speaking to her.

But there is something. Something about it. Him. It's a him. She can tell by the voice. Something she can't quite put her finger on. Not quite yet.]

Uhm—

[He's the source of the spectacle. It's kind of nice not to be the centre of attention. Melfina decides to keep it that way the wisest course of action is to stay as she is. She does not, in fact, scream or smack him, or anything else like that. In fact, she might be handling all of this a little too well.

Probably because life with Gene has taught her to only expect the unexpected. But on the other hand, knowing that trouble seems to follow them...

It'd be unwise to assume things will always be safe or as straight forward as they appear.]

Well. Uhm. Okay.

[Instead of causing anything that she feels would be particularly conspicuous, she watches two well-dressed individuals go weaving to and fro through Heifong's most dedicated patrons, responsible in part for the planet's booming economy. They're as loud as they were when they were shouting the name, who she can deduce is probably the same young man using her as a hiding place.]

...I think they're gone.

[Unless they come back for a second time through. Probably not unlikely at some point.]

[historicallyloaded]

Are they? [ He whispers, not really wanting to come out of his shelter for a few extra moments, still trying to catch his breath in a way that's both quiet and unintrusive on her back. He's so close to her why did he do this.

...probably because it worked. Because he's smart and he'd gamble on it working. Slowly he peaks out from under her cloak and slinks out. ]

Oh, thank heavens...

[ He tries to regain his composure by sweeping the bangs out of his face. They predictably fall right back where they were. He straightens his back and smiles at her, brows furrowed apologetically, trying to mind his manners. ]

And thank you... miss?

[oftheleyline]

[Melfina doesn't respond immediately, mostly because she isn't sure she's right or not. It would be just her luck for him to come out of hiding right as they're making a second go around, which would likely result in her getting caught in the crossfire. Just for one day, it'd be nice if there could be something akin to a boring day.

Or at least something a little less exciting.

When it seems the coast is truly clear, he begins to make his way out and it doesn't take her long to try righting herself again. She doubts he left much of it out of place, but it's not every day she's playing shelter for someone.]

They might come back, though.

[Less a 'might' and more like a probably.

He turns his attention onto her as she's finishing putting the pieces of her composure back together.]

I'm called Melfina.

[She leans over to get a better look at him. He's unfamiliar. Maybe a resident of Heifong. Human? She can't tell that either. After all, she looks human. It's not as though anyone would know the truth just by looking at her. What does it mean to be human anyway?]

Are you okay?

[historicallyloaded]

Probably. [ He verbalizes her thought, trying to not let worry creep in his voice as his gaze momentarily goes past hers and scans the crowd in a moment of doubt.

Despite the anxiety he's not one to rush manners. ]

Yes, thanks to you miss Melfina.

I am in your debt. [ He rubs the back of his neck. ] Might have to deal with them tomorrow but it'll be on more fair terms, I think.

[ During school hours, he means. Until they're not school hours anymore. Oh hell. ]

Could I um... I'd love to repay you for you kindness, if it's not— not um, a bother. At this particular moment. Or the next.

[ He titters, trying to not be imposing, trying to not oblige his own nervousness, trying to not admit he'd feel phenomenally better continuing to be around her for reasons he can't quite explain. ]

What were you doing, if you don't mind me asking?

[oftheleyline]

[There are many ideas presented in his response that she isn't quite sure how to interpret. In her debt? She'd never. Repayment? It's not as though she did a job or anything like that.]

Oh, that's not necessary...

[Is it rude to turn that down? Maybe. These are not the kinds of conversations she's used to having. And generally if they come up, there's someone else from the XGP who can weigh in and be the conversational expert. She is coming to discover just how poor she is at this.

Before she can sink any further into those thoughts, however, his question grabs her. She looks back to the window and the clothes and trinkets on the other side.]

Well, I was supposed to be going to the market to get things for dinner. I was just looking at things in here. Trying to imagine what they might look like on me?

[Her eyebrows raise. It sounds almost silly when she says it, that sliver of uncertainty in her tone, as if she's never much thought about things like that.]

[historicallyloaded]

[ The uncertainty of her own actions is curious to him, like she's trying to figure herself while in the midst of doing things. In any other situation he might find it with some measure of suspicion but because she'd done him a great favor he feels compelled to help out in any way, even if it's figuring something out as simple as an outfit.

Additionally, it might be beneficial for his own sake to seek sanctuary inside the shop for a little while. Begrudgingly he relents to that and moves for the door, holding it open for her while, gesturing. ]

Why imagine when you could try it out?

[oftheleyline]

[She hardly needs to continue before Melfina watches him open the door for her. There isn’t a lot of suspicion that crosses her mind. Plenty of people have done like things for her. Usually when she’s holding something, but it’s generally the same idea. What does cause her to pause instead of immediately taking him up on his offer is the idea that if she’s too late getting back to the XGP, that will cause some undue concern.

Probably.

She can just imagine what it’d be like having a Ctarl-Ctarl tear up the streets looking for her. Aisha can’t seem to do anything quietly and the whole point is to stop bringing negative public attention to them. To Melfina, perhaps, in particular, who can’t seem to very well defend herself.]

Well— [It’s not like she wasn’t looking. How much harm could it really do?] —Maybe I can look for a little bit longer.

[She offers him an appreciative dip of the head and carefully passes through, folding her hands together as she takes a slow gander at what the store itself has to offer. It’s mostly trinkets and baubles. Earrings. Necklaces. Pendants. Brooches. There are some shoes and other accoutrements too, like purses and hairpieces, but it does seem to largely to be jewellery.

It’s a lot to take in. Melfina wonders where to start, which leads her to examining some rather run-of-the-mill simple hairbands that would, frankly, look laughable in her hair with the way it falls.]

Hm… Not sure about these.

[She puts one on anyway and turns to Brickston.]

…What do you think?

[historicallyloaded]

[ Normally Brickston is mindful and considerate, especially if someone else's time is on the proverbial table, but this is an unfortunate situation where he'd personally benefit from stalling and lingering as much as possible. He'll have to be careful about this and decide where any real risk lays or if he's just over worrying about a problem that isn't rightly hers in the first place.

For what it's worth, he finds finds his own distractions between all the accessories and clothes. When she inquires about her headband he turns around with a floppy fiddler cap on his head, just a little too big. He thumbs the rim up as it threatens to slide over his brow to get a better gander at what she's wearing. He smirks but politely refrains from laughing. ]

Think you might have the opposite problem I do right now with this. [ Too small, he means. ]

Here— [ He takes the cap off and puts it back, then quickly peruses the hair accessories. He hones in on a white daisy hair clip and presents it to her. ]

How about this?

[oftheleyline]

[He looks—

She can't help the soft laugh that escapes her then, which feels almost foreign to issue. She doesn't do very much of that, does she? The laughing thing. In a way, it reminds her how much she questions so much of what she does, and so much of what she's capable of. She can stand here in this boutique with him and still doesn't really know anything about herself. What she likes. What she wants. What her favourite colour is.]

Oh. I think you're right.

[It doesn't take her long to put back the hairband she's been eyeing and when he offers her the clip, she looks it over with a softened fondness. Not too large. Not too small. Just enough to be...

Well. It looks endearing.

As she accepts it, she turns to the smaller mounted mirror and holds it up to one side, as if she's trying to imagine what it'll look like more properly.]

This is cute. This suits me better. I don't know if I've seen these kinds of flowers before.

[historicallyloaded]

[ That soft laugh sounds so lovely to his ears, puts him at ease. ] Bellis perennis, if I recall. I've seen far more in flower shops that I have in the wild. [ He opens his mouth to continue but closest it, backtracks on himself. ] Ah um... actually that's a lie— I- I don't think I've ever seen any in the wild, ha ha. [ The reason for that— ]

Not that I um... go out there much. Got to focus on my studies and all. Make something of myself and not embarrass the Penderyn name.

[ Congratulations, Melfina is in the presence of a huge nerd. With a penchant for getting into trouble with his peers, but that's neither here nor there right now. Just him, her, and this cute flower accessory.

In effort to not invite conversation on the Penderyn name he just dropped, and with no small tone of weariness in it, he changes the subject back around. ]

It looks good on you. ...Would you like it?

[oftheleyline]

Bellis perennis...

[Melfina takes some time, maybe more than she ought to, admiring her reflection. Well, trying to. The way she smiles is a little unsure. It grows and falls and grows and falls, a cycle back and forth that seems a touch silly in retrospect, though she doesn't seem to be paying much attention to that. What she's probably doing is probably making a note to look up the type of flower he's made mention of.

When he speaks up again, she finds herself looking back over to him, carefully holding the hairpiece in her hand. Studies. Yes, she guesses that would explain the matching uniforms. She's never gone to a 'school,' however, or anything like that. All of her knowledge comes from whatever she can get from databases and library archives that Gilliam doesn't mind pulling up for her.

Before she even gets a chance to question the name, he moves right along. Melfina blinks rapidly and she laughs a little, though with the same uncertainty.]

Oh, I couldn't. Maybe I'll come back later if I change my mind.

[What would the others think, she wonders? Would they like it...? Would they think it looks good on her?]