2019-09-04 - Keeping it Real

It's nothing fancy, but seems like a good enough place. At least that is what's going through Malachi's mind as he closes his eyes. Enjoying the drizzle. Feeling something off but not quite able to figure it out. This entire town is a bit off to be fair, having just arrived in town. A hand run through his tiny afro curls. Wearing a black leather jacket and dark blue jeans, with black boots. Taking a moment to take in his surroundings. Noting each detail. Always good at the lay of the land type of things. Letting out a deep breath.

Lyric is seated out on her front deck porch. The steps mostly because the awning above her head keeps her from getting rained on. She spent a lot of time outside the trailer and in the yard. She had been weeding the end of the trailer where she was trying to make a small garden before it had started raining. Now she is just waiting it out.

The new and unfamiliar face catches her attention and she lifts her hand in greeting. "I don't guess I've seen you around here?" Giving him a curious look.

Malachi does glance over. studying her curiously for a moment. A brief smile as he moves in her direction. "Yeah, just moved here. So probably haven't." A brow raised though. He has been through before, so you never know. "I' Malachi. Or Mal I guess." Shrugging some at that. The rain making his t-shirt underneath the opened jacket stick a bit to him.

"I like Malachi better." Lyric is nothing if not bluntly honest. "You can come under the awning instead of just getting wet. So you just moved here?" There's a sad shake of her head. "I'm sorry to hear that. Once people move they can't ever leave. We're Hotel California."

Malachi nods, "Well, go with Malachi if you want." He assures her as he step closer. "So do I, actually." His voice a bit light but with a hint of a raspy sound to it. Chuckling as he listens, "Just wanted to study this place, went through as a kid. Almost thought you were someone I saw here from back then." Shaking his head some though. Stepping up to where she is. "Oh, thought I was giving someone a good picture to take, or draw. You know that whole artistic stuff." He suggests, joking more than anything.

"Am I? I may be, I've lived here all my life. I've lived here in the trailer park most of it even when I was in foster care." Lyric studies him a moment. "Did your friend have a friend named Lizzy?" Lizzy was her imaginary friend from childhood. She laughs a little. "Well, I'm not an artist like drawing. But I am a musoc one."

Malachi shrugs. "No clue. Possible. Didn't really get a chance to talk. Just watched each other from a far. Still, left an impression." Probably because of the glimmer, which does make similar people stand out. With their both seeming quite prominent. "Ah, Well. Drawing in a different manner I guess." Getting closer. There is a strap showing under the jacket. He doesn't seem to be threatening though, allowing her some space. "Thanks for letting me stay here." Studying her for another moment. "So, other than a friend called Lizzy, I assume you are not Lizzy." Tilting his head to see if she will offer a name.

"Maybe. I'm not sure. Maybe it was someone else. How old were you? How old was the other person?" Lyric smiles, curious about his secret friend. Lyric notices the strap beneath the jacket and squints at him. She'd seen guns before she knew how they worked. It doesn't really alarm her though. She does get out her phone and send out a text. "No, I'm not Lizzy. I'm Lyric." Her phone rests now on her knee. "How come you have a gun?"

(TXT to Geoff) Lyric: Hi, what's up?

"Around 8? The other person seemed to be in a similar age." Malachi says. Watching as she squints and sends off a text and then the question. "Oh, cop." He explains. "Just transferred. Just a traffic cop though, for now. Sorry." He offers. "Pleasure to meet you though, Lyric. I like that." Tilting his head. "I hope you don't mind?"

Eight. Lizzy was still with her then, protecting her the way she always had. "You're a cop? Am I in trouble for something?" Not figuring she was, but you never know. "It's nice to meet you too, Malachi. I'm kind of glad you made your way back into town. Except sometimes it's not good. There have been murders lately. A whole lot of them." Her phone is given another look and she sends out one more text, but it remains silent. There's a sigh and she shrugs, sliding it back into her pocket. "Guys don't know what they want. Or if it's not you, they just keep you hangin' on instead of just tellin' you."

(TXT to Geoff) Lyric: I guess you're busy. Let me know when you're not so we can talk. I just want you to let me know what you want.

If Lizzy was or was not, would be hard for him to say. He was just driving by in a car at a gas station. Probably a lot of people around. "I doubt you are in trouble, unless you have something you want to tell." He offers and smiles. "Thanks, and I guess murders is a good reason for a cop to roll in." Furrowing his brows. "I'm sorry. Sounds like a dick move." He suggests. "Want me to harass someone? I mean, need to keep neighbors happy." Taking note of which hand is used most often for the pocket, and other small details. Such as how she stand. Favoring one leg or not. "I'd flirt, but seems you have way too much of that as is."

Lyric points down the way to the key-lime green trailer. "He lives over there, his name is Geoff. But I think I got my answer." Currently she is seated on her steps so not favoring any leg over the other. When she texted, it was right handed mostly. "Don't harass him. That wouldn't be good." She studies him a moment. "Are you hinting that you want to flirt with me but saying I get too much flirting to begin with?"

Malachi smiles, "I see. Sorry." He says. Nodding about not harrassing, before sitting. "Am I wrong? And also, don't think you actually want me to flirt right now?" Studying her some. "Sorry if I'm blunt, I like seeing and understanding things, so I say what I see."

"Don't be sorry I don't mind. I really don't, I'm better than for someone to do that to." Lyric shrugs, not really seeming to mind. "I prefer blunt, but yeah. Now I know I made other bad decisions leading up today. I could have had the perfect boyfriend." She smiles though. "At least he has someone to be happy with. So you're a cop. I work at a strip club."

Malachi nods slowly, "Fair." As for having the perfect boyfriend. "Geoff?" He asks, perhaps trying to pry a little bit. "I see. What do you do? You did mention music. So, handling music or dancing to it?" He asks curiously.

"No, Ice is his name. We're in the same band. But I pushed one of the other girls to him instead." Lyric smiles despite the words. "I'm a DJ there but since I'm not with a boyfriend or anything, I guess I could dance. But I'm not brave enough to do that. I'll do it on amateur night at least."

Malachi ahs, "Deflective behavior?" He suggests. "Thinking you don't deserve, or perhaps scared of, getting something good." He suggests. Another nod. "Ah, cool. So in a band and being a DJ. Living the dream." He suggests. Leaning back some. "So, when's amateur night?" He asks a bit teasingly.

"I don't know. I never really had a real boyfriend. Just like, guys pretend and then sleep with me and then ghost on me. It's happened twice now." Lyric shrugs and leans back against the step behind her, elbows on there. "But it's fine, everything happens for a reason. I'm super glad that Ice and Park will be happy they both deserve it."

"I think if I really want something though, some day, I'll just go for it instead of waiting for things like that, that happened. I don't even have to have a guy in my life to be happy. I don't need a knight in armor or anything. I can rescue myself."

Malachi nods and sighs. "I'm sorry about that." Raising a brow. "Are you happy about that though?" He asks. Shifting to watch her. "Probably don't need it. Doesn't mean you don't want it. I've stayed around alone a lot. First thing is saving oneself, the other is making one happy. Or you spend your days chasing shadows." In his case, occasionally real shadows. Sighing as he pushes to rise. "If you ever feel like having a drink, or just need to talk. Find me. Or ones you feel better and don't need a knight. I'm happy to flirt." He half jests.

"Happy about what? Ice and Park? Oh yes, I wasn't in love or anything, he was just super sweet and seemed to really care. I don't get that much. I never have. My mom died a long time ago and I never knew my dad or who he even us." Lyric still wears a smile despite everything. "There are shadows and sometimes they find me or I find them. When I find them, I face them unless I can hide. When the shadows killed my mom, Lizzy and me were hiding under the trailer so they wouldn't find us too. We stayed there a really long time so we wouldn't be found. We didn't know when it was safe to come out." Her smile doesn't falter, she just laughs. "I'm glad you're honest. I don't mind if you flirt, but don't be serious about me, okay? I just want to be fair to you too, and honest."

Malachi nods slowly. "I see. Still, you immediately went there in your head instead of elsewhere." Shrugging. "Ah." Furrowing his brows as she goes on. "I try to put similar behind bars. Those that you can. The others. Well, I guess slowly but steadily we find ways." Smiling in return. "Well then, you're cute. And if it was you I saw back then. At least I know." Winking. "I do what I feel like. Besides, I bring enough shit with me as is, so you're better off not being serious." Looking around. "I should head to my place, set things up. Thanks though. Now I know a neighbor at least."