New York || Day 1

[imaginationswoes]

[Running is the current plan but it isn't going well. She's constantly getting lost and she's reminded again and again that she's never been out of her small town alone. She misses her family and her friends but more than that she is really missing a warm bed. Her feet continue forward, the tall buildings towering on either side of her. It's impressive, as far as cities go, but its to close together.

To much can go wrong.

She must of made a wrong turn because Airy finds herself walking along a very shady part of town. Winter is setting in but she thinks of warmth and she manages to keep herself heated. She has a backpack around her shoulders and it looks like she's wearing a uniform: white button down, green pleated skirt, black jacket and a matching tie. It's most definitely giving some of the people here the wrong idea.]

Shit.

[Airy whispers softly under her breath, a puff of white leaving her warm lips. When she spots two men pointing towards her she runs. Her feet fly across the street and she's about 75% sure they weren't following her. Mist descends on the area and Airy one again curses under her breath. She's only getting more lost at this rate and running around New York after midnight isn't on her to do list.]

Comments

[imaginationswoes]

[Airy watches him and notes that, yes, sunlight will hurt him. He hadn't really said so before and she tries to keep the thought of sunshine away from her mind so she doesn't go creating the sun in the car while traveling down a highway.

Due to her efforts to not focus on it, she started focusing on something else and in her lap sat a little puppy that barked at Antonio with a gleeful chirp sounding more like a bird than a dog. The dog also had a pair of wings that formed out of white feathers.]

Ah sorry... [About the thing in her lap.] I can promise that I won't drag you into the sun at least.

[Airy doesn't even have the strength to drag him.]

[charitaslamia]

[He blinks at the creature in her lap before turning back to the road.]

I'll hold you to that.

Do you often think of winged dogs?

[imaginationswoes]

Nope.

[She tries to wave it away but it chirps again. She closes her eyes and eventually her lap is empty once more.]

A lot of my illusions... when I don't actively try and stop it, are more abstract.

[charitaslamia]

Ah, I see. [He nods his appreciation.] You have a vivid imagination. You should never stifle that.

[As they entered the city, it quickly because obvious why it was considered the city that never slept. It was just as alive as if it were the middle of the day. There was even an attendant in the parking garage as he pulled in.]

[imaginationswoes]

Well stifling is all I've been trying to do since... you know.

[She grows quiet after that and looks out the window. She grabs her backpack and pulls it into her lap.

Airy's eyes try and take in everything at once and succeeds in making herself dizzy. She does however look at the attendant curiously but then realizes that she's staring and that's rude.]

[charitaslamia]

[Antonio bids a greeting to the parking attendant as they leave the garage and leads the way to the door of the building, waving to night security, who greets him by name and doesn't seem to think it's odd Antonio's coming in at such an odd hour.

The guard does raise an eyebrow at Airy, but greets her as well, before Antonio heads to the elevator.]

I understand, but you shouldn't lose sight of it, either.

[imaginationswoes]

[Airy is almost sad to leave the warmth of the car but at least it means she might be able to sleep in a bed tonight. She slips on her backpack and makes sure to grab the BurgerKing bag so that his car doesn't smell like french fries come morning.

She gives the guard a wave and a smile as she walks behind Antonio as if it's the most normal thing ever.]

I guess but then I wouldn't be... [Her voice trails off again and it's clear she has no idea how to describe herself. She doesn't think she's dangerous but she also has a feeling she can hurt people if she tried or was scared.]

Well, I'd get into less trouble. [All Airy wants is to be normal and return to the life she knows and loved. She had been happy then.]

[charitaslamia]

And just how much trouble has it gotten you into, I wonder. [He left the elevator to it's calming music and waited for her to illustrate.]

[imaginationswoes]

[Airy gives him a flat stare. She's sure that he can imagine what she's been through and as if her mind is taunting her a shadow appears along the elevator wall. It's a figure much like Airy's and it's running, the shadow behind it isn't discernible before Airy forcibly wills the imagine away by thinking of something else.

Instead the elevator is raining glitter.]

What do you think?

[She doesn't really want moments of her life played out in shadows like a TV. Her fingers wrap around her straps and she stifles a yawn.]

[charitaslamia]

[His eyes darted to the shadows, but then he was covered in glitter, at least briefly.]

I can see how it may annoy some people.

[He shook his head to clear his hair of the glitter and lead the way to his apartment quietly. It was the middle of the night, after all.]

But I'm aware you can't help it.

[And he opens the door, holding it for her.]

[imaginationswoes]

[Airy nods and with the motion the glitter vanishes. She steps forward keeping her expression relaxed while wishing that annoying people was all she was worried about.]

Sorry, it at least goes away.

[charitaslamia]

[He shakes his head as he opens the door to the apartment, holding it for her to enter first.]

There's nothing you need apologize for.

[imaginationswoes]

[Airy walks in and then stops.]

Whoa...

[The word leaves her lips without much forethought. She then realizes that she's standing in the door way and quickly steps forward. It's big and there doesn't seem to be too much stuff around to clutter it the place. She peers out the large windows which is probably the scene that you'd find on a postcard.]

I guess you're bedroom doesn't have... [She waves a hand at the window.] ...windows.

[charitaslamia]

It does, actually. I appreciate the view, but it also has storm shutters.

[He moves into the apartment behind her and closes the door.]

Would you like something to drink, or would you like me to show you to your room? Ah! [He smiles.] But I was supposed to show you mine, wasn't I?

[imaginationswoes]

[She can't keep a straight face at his last comment. Her expression broke into a nervous grin.]

Ah yeah, if that's still okay. Then we can stop at my room... not that you have to come with. I can follow directions.

[Airy can't make anything she says sound right.]

After you. [She bows her head and stands out of the way so she can fall instep behind him and follow.]

[charitaslamia]

Airy, I'm very old. I don't quickly change my mind.

[He smiles.]

Up this way, and in the back.

[He heads to the small spiraling staircase that lead to the upstairs of his loft apartment.]

[imaginationswoes]

[It's good to know that Antonio isn't one to change his mind. Airy usually decides things on impulse, at least large important decisions, and it usually works out well.

She pads behind him, her boots clicking softly on the hard floor. She looks down to see if she's made a mess before looking up at Antonio.]

Should I have taken off my shoes?

[charitaslamia]

[He shakes his head, chuckling slightly.]

It's quite alright.

[He moves to the back of the upper platform, opening the farthest door and pushing it open to reveal a relatively plain bedroom, all things considered, though one wall is lined nearly completely with brimming bookshelves and a very comfy looking chair there, and hung on the wall is a large framed blueprint that probably looks like Greek to most people.]

Well, here you have it: the den of a vampire. Are you frightened yet?

[imaginationswoes]

[Airy peeks in, her body leaning forward while her hair slid off her shoulder and in front of her. Her fingers held onto the frame of the door keeping her hanging position steady as she peered around the room.

Her emerald gaze flicks around the room before glancing up at Antonio.] A little bit.

[Except her tone is light and she steps inside to look at the collection of books. It's impressive but then she realizes that she's probably spending a little to long in a boys room.]

Ah, I should head to bed and let you do... whatever it is you do at night.

[Like wander around alleyways and find strange girls.]

[charitaslamia]

[Antonio chuckles, content to let her wonder, even though he was most likely simply going to go continue to work on a project that was due next week.]

Yes, you must be exhausted. This way.

[The guest room was off to the right from Antonio's, though closer to the balcony.]

Make yourself at home.

[imaginationswoes]

[Airy pushes the door open to the room and inspects it curiously. It's also empty and it doesn't look like anyone has stayed their recently; that or one of the two who live here is very good at cleaning.

She shrugs her backpack off her shoulder and places it on the bed. It's only then that she turns towards Antonio and the door.]

I'm going to change but in case you're worried... [She pauses trying to think of the right words to say.] ...what I mean is... my imagination sometimes comes out at night... so I'll leave the door unlocked. In case you hear something or get worried.

[Airy doesn't really know what happens when she sleeps.]

[charitaslamia]

[He inclines his head.]

Sleep well. I'll keep a lookout for anything strange.

[imaginationswoes]

[Airy nods her head before turning away from the door and going through her pack. She waits until Antonio steps away before pulling her shirt over her head and pulling a loose white T-shirt over her frame. She slips out of her pants and then pushes her bag to the floor before climbing in bed. She has her phone clutched between her fingers even though the little device has lost it's use and power.

She rests her head against the pillow and feels sleep take her over like a blanket being pulled over her shoulders. Her breathing becomes steady and within the shadows of the room scenes begin to play.

There are horses and knights, monsters and magic as it clashes and swirls into darkness. Small crystal fireflies and butterflies flutter around the room spreading shining specs of silver from their wings. An hour into her sleep brings a soft dusting of snow which covers her blankets and forces Airy to pull the blankets tighter around her thin frame. The snow is replaced by stars dotting the ceiling and then falling into flames against the shadows of the walls.]