2019-10-23 - The Walk Homeward

Pretty much went like she thought. Not like she'd gone out of here way to find people to hang out with in town, so that party was almost painful. At least people seemed to like her costume. Sure, she used it at her last Comic Con trip, but people didn't need to know that.

So she walked toward home, and she pondered. Abitha still had the cup in her hand, about three quarters of its contents missing, the slow meandering of her steps a good indication where it had gone. She seems thoughtful, watching the ground in front of her as she goes. She stretches out one of her hands in front of her, looking at the gauntlet. Her fingers were cold, but the costume was still pretty warm. Good thinking on her part really. Probably would have been the wrong night for a Psylocke or a Scarlet Witch.

Malachi did notice, but a lot of people around and a lot of things going on. So when walking along home and he spots Abitha as she wanders alone, it makes him increase the pace some. But as to not seem like a stalker or serial killer, he does call out. "Hey. Quake, wait up." If he recognizes her from any con, it doesn't show. "Didn't know you would be heading this way as well, should had said something." Half jest, as they barely talked.

Drawn from her inner thoughts, Abitha looks in a random direction first, as if she were wondering where the noise came from, then she stops and looks back toward Malachi. She blinks, raises an eyebrow, not seeming all that suspicious. This was a smaller town, anyways, and he didn't look too murdery. "Hey Gambit." One eye seems to narrow a bit as she contemplates his words, "I guess I deserved that." This gets a bit of a self deprecating smirk on her face, "I get that a lot, actually." On the street, in plain sight, she just raises her cup and sips while he catches up.

Malachi smiles softly, "I'm just joking. It was as much on me." He assures her. Nudging her, if she allows. "I'm Malachi." He offers to her. "Did you make it for the party?" Asked about the outfit. "Also, I'm just glad to get someone to walk with."

He catches her on a good day, or at least on a good drink, and she pushes back with her elbow playfully, a grin made at him, "Mac," Abitha answers, "And nah, I had this one lying around." She looks around as they walk, "Cause it's so dangerous around here? I heard some crazy stuff about the frogs." The way she raises her arms in mock terror, she doesn't really sound like she believes it.

Malachi shrugs, "Can be." Sighing some, not having been there for the frog thing. "A lot of weird things going on. I'm a cop." He admits. As for her having the outfit laying around, he nods. "Ah, I see. Well, it is quite nice. I was pondering Blade, but ended up with this." He says and chuckles. "Nice meeting you, Mac."

Her eyes slowly go from the street to him, the playful grin sobering a bit, maybe getting a bit more guilty. The hand with her cup slowly creeps to the far side of her body. "Thanks. I mean, I did make it, just a couple months back. Blade, huh? The comic book version or Wesley Snipes?" She had not seemed all that talkative, and suddenly she was just all running on and making conversation. Nothing suspicious about that! She looks straight ahead, eyes a little wider, walking on down the street casual as ever.

Malachi had some to drink, but seems to be doing okay enough. "Neat. You're really good." He assures her, nodding about his outfit. "Indeed, or more the new one. Looking forward to it. Good pick for an actor as well." Offered and a smile on his lips still. Looking ahead, moving a bit away to allow her some room, noticing her reaction and slight nervousness, or what could be nervousness at least. "Where are you off to?"

"Wait, what?" Her phone is out almost instantly, and she's googling, blinking, face underlit by the screen and in honest wonder, "They're rebooting Blade? Is nothing sacred?" Abitha looks sideways at Malachi, distracted from hiding her illegal public drinking with more relevant concerns, "You're right, I love that guy." She had a picture of Ali up on her phone, and she was looking back at it, scrolling through an article. "Dammit, Marvel, stop taking all my money."

Malachi chuckles and nods, "Yeah, they are good at that." He agrees. Not seeming to point out the public drinking. More concerned with making sure she get home safely. "Thought you said it was sacred?" He teases. Since she changed her mind quickly. Taking out his deck of cards, that he never got to show at the party. He bend one of them, which make it slowly start to glow. Seemingly a glow stick in the form of a playing card. Grinning some at that. "If you want I can walk you home before I go? I just live over there." Gesturing towards the mobile homes.

Abitha shrugs lightly, having missed the point at the mobile homes in her distraction. She slips the phone away into one of the little utility pouches on her belt. The offer sets her... offguard? "Oh, uh..." she has to think for a moment, having to change gears mentally, looking around, "Sure? I uh... live down Spruce." She points, then is distracted with the card trick, "How...? That is a badass prop to go with a Gambit costume, holy hell." She smirks at him, "And I mean, sacred in the way of, think of all those shitty 90's Vampire movies. Blade was like ultra-violence chic!"

Malachi grins and nods about the movie. "I see." As for her reaction, he nods. "Just wanting to make sure that you're safe. Slightly intoxicated, young woman. You never know." And he would feel horrible having to work a case on whodunnit to her. "I found it online. So bought some. Didn't think it would arrive in time." He admits. "Hopefully it will do the old movies justice." Malachi and Abitha walking along the street. There may or may not be an ambulance driving by them, who knows.

If there was an ambulance, Abitha would definitely be distracted by the lights as well, looking a bit confused as they would drive past. She does continue to joke that everyone seems to think things are dangerous around here, and she has no inkling as to why. She glances to Malachi, "Look here, 'occifer'." she waits a beat, letting the joke go over with a dumb grin, "You don't look any older than I do." After a brief consideration, she drains the last mouthful of her cup and tosses it in a waste can they pass. Hands free, she seems to fidget with her exposed fingers, probably the cold. They were approaching the shop, and her steps were slowing. The neons were still on and emitted a soft glow into the street.

Malachi grins at her, "Fair point. But you are still young and cute, and people can take advantage of that." He points out. Though a bit amused at the joke. Looking towards her shop, raising a brow. "You run your own place?" Asked. Perhaps noticing the fidgeting, but not sure how to help out. "Cold?"

She has to fish around in her pouches, the brisk air making finding things by feel interesting. Between the obvious compliment and the question, which she assumed to be from surprise, she seemed to get a little more awkward, maybe blushing, but the hues of the neons made it hard to tell. "Yes, and yeah, a little... You game?"

Malachi smiles, some. "Seems we are already here, else I'd offer jacket or such." As for blushing, hard to tell. But if there is any change in her behavior or voice, he might notice. "Not a lot, I admit. Not that I am against it, just never done a lot of it. More read comics and such." He explains. Since she is home he does stop. "I should probably start leaving. Glad that you got home safe. Quake. Mac." Grinning some. Unless she stop him, will take a step back, ready to leave.

Abitha slips the key into the front door thoughtfully, unlocking it, then turning to Malachi, "I don't seem to meet a lot of people that are really into it around here, but thankfully, there's enough kids and whatnot to pay the bills. And yeah, home safe. Thanks, Malachi... Mal?" She ventures experimentally, "It was nice to meet you. And uh... Thanks for not busting me for... yaknow..." Her eyes roll off to the side innocently, toward the discarded cup. She bounces on the balls of her feet, hands clasped behind her, for all appearances, still a whole ball of awkward. "But yeah... If you ever wanna stop by, I got like... everything."

Malachi chuckles. "I do enjoy gaming at times, just haven't done a lot of it." He points out. "And no worries, you're just enjoying yourself." He offers and smiles. Letting her call him whatever she wants. "Nice meeting you." A smile and a nod to her. "I might come by sometime." He assures her. Bowing. "I could take your number though? I mean, just in case I need it before dropping by." He suggests. "Means I also can ask you before I show up."

"Oh! Yeah!" she says quickly, off-kilter. Clearly this was a good idea to her, and she hoped she didn't sound to eager. Or weird. Keep it cool, Mac. She fumbles around to get her phone out again, trying to find some way to write it, then realizing she was a dunce and holding the heel of her hand against her temple in a bit of a self-reprimand. Smiling, she unlocks her phone and holds it in both hands, though a little unsteadily with the big gloves and the cold fingers. Yeah, that was the reason. "Just gimme yours and I can shoot you a text."

Malachi smiles and nods. Taking out his phone and giving her his number. "Sounds good." He offers and smiles. Waiting for the text to come in. "You do have a neat place." He assures her. "I don't want to keep you out here too long though if you are cold." He tells her, an easy smile on his lips.

The text is literally as soon as she can enter the number and type Mac with a geeky-glasses face emoji. Yes, she's that awkward. "You're not keeping me... I mean... I own the place. You... thirstyy?" She ventures curiously, the last syllable drawn out questioningly, cocking her head to one side, eyes squinting a bit, trying to seem casual and going way past it to 'extra'. She'd drank at the party, she wasn't sure she'd seen him do so. "Yaknow, since you walked me home. In thanks."

Malachi smiles and chuckles. Adding her on his contacts list. About to head off, then the offer. Raising a brow, the pause and such making it sound weird perhaps. But then she goes on. Having him nod slowly. "I suppose it would be rude to say no to such an offer. But only one or two before I need to go." He says and smiles to her. Hands going into his pockets to follow her in.

Breaking into a grin, Abitha pulls the door open and leads him into the shop proper, locking up behind her as they go.