|breathing's.overrated| [Lookin' for Holly]

[Luca]

There was no denying it.

Luca Tanner looked (and felt) completely out of place. He stood to the side of a smooth, cobbled road- each stone immaculate, with hints of quartz at the surface. People rushed past him, their heads down- he stood head and shoulders over some. Luca looked intimidating. Not only was he tall and solidly built, but he had not shaved for at least a week, and the clothes he wore were still soot-blackened and singed from the morning's work in the forge. The middle-class merchants and tradesmen in their clean, crisp outfits- bright colours and swirling fabrics- were a world apart from him, the assistant metalworker from the forge four streets away.

Ordinarily, Luca would not be here. Not at this time of the day. Luca was a night owl, always had been. But his master had sent him to the Mithran temple to deliver a package- one Luca had already dutifully presented to the priests. Now he passed by the square in front of the Temple District. In his opinion he couldn't return fast enough.

The people, they're crowding, why are they crowding? Why are they here? They're crowding me icantbreathecantbreathe need to move away, away, cantbreathe... CANTBREATHEHe inhaled deeply, his slate eyes starting to show panic.

He was terrified of enclosed spaces, of crowds. The business of the Temple District was too much for him today, with his emotions already swirling after being in such close proximity to the stables. Luca stumbled, then pivoted on his heel and strode purposefully towards the square. He turned just before the entrance, managing ten more metres before collapsing onto a bench, partially secluded from the bustling square.

He needed to catch his breath. Inwardly, beyond the initial terror, Luca was furious. Furious at himself. You're weak, just a boy, like your brother...can't even handle a Mithros-d**ned street. Get over yourself. His knuckles were white from where he gripped the seat.

[Jazz]

Holly, too, was unused to crowds. But this was rather because Holly didn't live in the city - and although the McKaylen apiary was only half an hour out of Corus by foot, there was a huge difference. Once Holly settled in to the hustle and bustle of the city, however, she felt she rather enjoyed it. After doing her rounds, Holly decided to wnder around the Temple District, since she was already there. It made perfect sense. She liked the Temple District. Sure, it was busy, but it was kept clean and most of the people were very nice. So, swinging her significantly lighter basket, that she never seemed to be without, and whistling softly under her breath, Holly made her way through the religious area.

It was a pleasant day, not too hot or cold. Holly's hair was tied back to stop the soft breeze from messing it up. It had finally stopped raining so her skirts, today a dark green, would not get splattered with mud. Smiling absent mindedly, Holly turned into the next street and was rather surprised when someone, coming from the other direction and walking with a sort of forced purpose, collapsed into a bench near her and was now gripping the seat and breathing heavily. He was much taller than Holly's mere 5", and was slightly intimidating, but he looked to be in real distress.

As she neared him, she saw that he was about her own age, or slightly older. She also faintly recognized him, but Holly was a girl about town. Holly recognized everyone. She was slightly scared, but it didn't stop her - he looked as though he'd seen a ghost. "Look, I'm sorry to just approach you like this, but are you alright?" she asked, concerned. She didn't want to have to witness a heart attack, or the like. "Only you look like you were having some sort of attack." Even though Holly knew the city well, no one had ever told the country girl not approach men who were clearly in some sort of panic, and ask them if they were alright.

[Luca]

Such weakness, you'll never turn out right, you're an anomaly...scared of crowds? What a freak. Ooh look, Luca! A box! It's going to hurt you, oooh, it's so scary! Help me, help me!

He shook his head furiously, trying to clear his head of the thoughts that were flying around his mind, too fast for him to comprehend. It was always like this, when Luca was near crowds. In the headquarters, back in Port Legann, it was fine. The pub itself had been roomy, and he knew everyone- and they knew to keep just a bit of a distance away, even if they weren't sure why. But here...the women, coming far too close to him, the children running into him as they raced across the square...In his mind his brothers endless taunts circled. Just like his brother, probing his weak spots and attacking with a gleeful ferocity. Throwing him into a box, shutting the lid, sitting on it...it had felt like days in there. He closed his eyes, concentrating on the magic he could always feel in his veins- especially when his adrenalin was high. Calm down. He's not anywhere near you. You're fine, you're fine. Taking deep breaths, he focused on pacifying his magic. He couldn't afford to lose control, not any more than he already had.

"Look, I'm sorry to just approach you like this, but are you alright? Only you look like you were having some sort of attack."

Grey eyes snapped open, and Luca was already on his feet, halfway towards the stranger before the rational part of his mind comprehended that the stranger was in fact, a woman. One rather diminutive in stature, and peering at him with what was apparently a genuinely concerned look. Still breathing hard, he fought harder than ever against the animalistic side of him which was primed for a fight. She's only a girl, Luca, are you listening? She doesn't mean any harm. You don't know her, she doesn't know you. Just because she's a stranger doesn't mean you need to get your hackles up.

"I'm fine," he said, gruffly. None of your business. No, be polite. "Just a bad day, that's all." Luca carefully smiled at her, trying not to flash his dimples. He hated looking soft, feeling soft. And this woman, whoever she was, had just seen him at his weakest. Enough to make him wary of her.

He supposed that decorum required him to make conversation. He wasn't quite sure about that. But, Luca grudgingly had to admit that it would have taken guts, for a little slip of a thing like her to approach a man like him, with sweat pouring down his face and a wild look in his eyes. That, or ignorance. It meant that she merited at least a passable attempt. "Thanks for asking, though. Doubt the priests would have liked a man like me in their square. Bit of a sweet, and I'll be fine.

[Jazz]

She mentally winced as his eyes flew open, and he made to stand up, but he seemed to rethink and sunk back into the bench. He smiled at her, but to Holly it seemed forced. He was still breathing heavily, and he looked... well, peaky. There was no other word. The stranger, who was incredibly tall, replied, but in a gruff, snappish tone.

"I'm fine. Just a bad day, that's all."

"Oh." Holly somehow managerd to convey her doubt without meaning to, however, by raising an eyebrow in a partularly sceptical manner. Oh, Holly hadn't meant to show her disbelief, but she'd always worn her heart on her sleeve. Her facial expressions spoke volumes more than her words did. Now that she'd asserted that he was alright (by his books anyway), it was a bit akward. She hadn't been in this sitaution before, and the silence hung in the air. It was, well, akward. She was just about to take her leaves when the man spoke up again.

"Thanks for asking, though. Doubt the priests would have liked a man like me in their square. Bit of a sweet, and I'll be fine."

Holly hesitated for a second. She wasn't smiling anymore, and she was feeling a bit uncomfortable, and the man, stand-offish a moment ago, was initiating conversation. It wasn't expected. "Er, it was no problem, really," she replied, once again smiling. Not absent-mindedly, like she had been a moment ago, but timidly, carefully. A man like him? she wondered. What on earth did he mean? She wasn't going to ask, though. But he mentioned something sweet... "I have honey," she offered, more confidently, "You can have some..."

[Luca]

"Oh."

It was fascinating how in one syllable the young woman had somehow managed to express complete and utter disbelief. Here was a girl who clearly had not had much to do with his type, or much to do with anything rough at all. She contorted her face into a most interesting, sceptical expression. She's not trying to put you down, mate, he told himself firmly. Luca supposed he didn't really look alright, but he was beginning to calm, now, away from the encroaching hordes. But what was he supposed to say, really? What did she expect? Actually miss, I feel awful. I hate crowds, you see, claustrophobic since I was five?. No, that kind of almost chatty response would just display more weakness, and he hated giving out any sort of personal information. Not that the girl would be particularly interested, anyway.

"Er, it was no problem, really."

Apparently Luca had caught her off guard. Well, she'd caught him unawares. Lucky she was a girl, really, otherwise she would be in trouble. Luca couldn't afford rumours about his weak points circulating in Corus.

Her smile was back, a shyer smile than before- she was wary now. With the reappearance of such a sweet expression, Luca felt the corners of his lips slowly curving into a mirror expression. It was contagious. Furious with his treacherous mouth, he fought it, giving just a half smile. He probably looked ridiculous, not that he cared.

"I have honey," she offered, more confidently, "You can have some..."

His eyes flashed at the sound of the word honey. It was like music to his ears. Back in Port Legann, where his fellows had been addicted to narcotics, he had found the sweet substance irresistible. The only thing that could calm him down. Luca hoped the craving wasn't showing. He could feel the rapid changes of expression- a smile, a flash of craving so common in addicts, then an attempt at schooling his features. Little did the girl know how an innocent offer had awakened his senses. Be polite.

"I'd love a little if it's no trouble. You're a godsend."

[Jazz]

Holly's own smile grew as he realized he was smiling slightly, and tried to stop. he ended up with a sort of half-smile plastered on his face. It was a bit sweet, really. She was now sure she'd seen him before, but she wasn't sure where. It was starting to annoy her, not knowing who he was, but she wasn't going to ask. She'd already invaded his privacy once, and he hadn't been particularly happy. She doubted he'd take it well if she enquired after his name, without being asked first. Again, the man began to smile, and again he tried to stop himself. She wondered why; there was nothing against a smile.

"I'd love a little if it's no trouble. You're a godsend."

Holly shook her head, taking the basket of her shoulder, replying, "Oh, it isn't any trouble at all." The basket was a deep and narrow affair, woven from straw. She always had one with her on market days; locals who knew her stopped her in the street and asked after the price. She always had a few of everything in there, but what was she going to say? "Sir, we have honeycomb, pure honey, sweetend honey, and a range of other products, which would you prefer?"? No. Extracting a small pot of honey, the pure good stuff, Holly mutely handed to to him. The lid was emblazoned with a small honeybee next to a larger, golden "M". The stuff sold fast and well, and the potter's were happy to do the small picture in exchange for some honey.