What They Appear

[holiday_pirner]

She had woken up late, still a little fuzzy headed from the night before. Her first task upon waking was to down a bottle of water, then flop in front of the television and try not to revisit previous events.

After a good amount of vegetating, Holly had made herself some dinner. The brunette was too lazy to change out of her pajamas, so she just pretended she had the confidence to make fuzzy bunnies fashionable. She lugged the full bag of garbage down three flights of stairs and out back.

"Shit, where do they keep the bins?"

This was her first time throwing out trash in her new apartment, and it was hard to orientate herself in the pitch darkness. She grabbed her lighter, flicking it to illuminate her way. It wasn't until after the black bag had been discarded when she heard the noise.

The scuffing of shoes against concrete as they neared her. Holly whirled around.

Comments

[birthright_npc]

"That was unfortunate. I regret that you had to see that. But her death was out of my hands. Protecting her wasn't within the parameters of my mission. Protecting you is."

Smoke from his cigarette drifted upwards in a thin stream. He'd smoked his way through half of it. He would have one more, then keep his hand away from the pack. He might not quit smoking, but discipline was important.

"I did wonder why I was sent to watch a civilian. Now that I've trailed you for a while, I think I understand."

[holiday_pirner]

She nodded in feigned understanding. "I see. You didn't help her because you weren't told to. Gotcha." She looked away, exhaling a stream of blue-grey smoke.

She was quietly starting to put the pieces together. If her suspicions were correct, Holly had a long distance phone call to make.

"You know, you sound sort of like a robot when you speak. And understand what, exactly?"

[birthright_npc]

He might have smiled, or maybe it was just an illusion because of the lack of light. The hand without the cigarette in it ran over his military haircut, battle-hardened fingers touching brown strands. The tip of his cigarette smoldered on, and he took it out of his mouth again to keep the smoke out of his eyes.

"That you're determined to kill yourself, of course."

He wondered in some distant corner of his mind if anyone had said it to her so baldly before, if they'd pointed out her self-destructive streak. Soldiers grew reckless after long periods at war. This girl had never been at war, not really. He wondered where the urge had come from.

"Unfortunately, you're rather out of luck. My job is to stop that from happening."

[holiday_pirner]

"I am not suicidal." Holly knew for a fact she wasn't, because she had tested herself against the Beck's scale out of curiosity.

"How do you figure that? Because I smoke? Drink? Maybe sometimes use a little drugs?" The brunette realized she wasn't helping her own case. "Or do you mean because I fraternize with a, gasp, vampire?"

She swept her hands apart. "Because in case you hadn't noticed, he wasn't the one to attack me in a dark alleyway. Oh, and if you even think about hurting him, I'll...I'll...well, I don't know what yet, but it'll be bad."

[birthright_npc]

Now he did smile, just a bit, but the look in his eyes remained cool. "Who you fraternize with is your concern," he said calmly. "I find it questionable, but as long as you're not in danger, my hand will be stayed."

His index finger lifted in a gesture that said 'wait', and he dropped the spent smoke to the concrete and put it out with the toe of his boot. "However. Don't let him deceive you. He may behave as if his humanity's intact, but he's still a predator. If I believe your life is in peril because of him, I won't hesitate."

He shrugged when he finished speaking, the coat shifting on his shoulders. The cigarette pack made a second appearance, and he lit up with a thoughtful expression on his face. He'd spoken with her for too long. He should return to the shadows, out of sight. She could be aware of his presence, but his aim was not to socialize.

"Rhys."

[holiday_pirner]

Holly frowned at this appraisal. Daniel wasn't a predator. He was the guy who ordered her Chinese takeaway. Made her laugh. Some truths were too uncomfortable to handle. They threatened to blow everything open.

"Is that your name or your model ID? I'm sorry. Believe me when I say I really can't help it." She tossed her cigarette, too, watched it land among what remained of her attacker.

Is that what her father had felt like? Knowing it was the end, and she had been almost certain that it was hers. She shivered again.

"Do you ever get tired of me doing these things?" That was an odd notion to Holly, that her actions still, after nearly everyone in her life faded away, effected someone other than her.

[birthright_npc]

"You behave recklessly," Rhys said evenly, but there was no censure in his tone. "Like a child who doesn't know any better. But I have the feeling that you do know better. Why you don't seem to care is another matter, and not one I can help you with. I'm just here to protect you."

There was a noise from above on the fire escape, and metal stairs creaked as someone else began to make their way down. Did people usually wait until this hour to chuck their trash? If he had been the type to do so, he would have chuckled at the coincidence.

"You should go back inside. Put some ice on that lip. And make sure your windows are locked."

[holiday_pirner]

She bristled at being compared to a child, but kept it in check. There was no use going off again. She looked toward the source of the noise, still jumpy in her skin.

"Okay, Rhys. I'll do that."

Holly fished her keys out of her pocket. "Keep fighting the good fight." The brunette gave him an ironic smile before turning and heading inside.

[birthright_npc]

Rhys watched her disappear into the building, then looked placidly at the last of the ashes where they'd scattered. His coat flapped open briefly as he turned and began to walk towards the street, displaying the crossbow. He closed it with a smooth gesture, buttoned it shut.

He should catch a quick bite to eat, then a few hours of sleep. He would be back at his post later. In case she needed him again.