It's Not Mine

[Richard Maddox]

Finally they arrived. A playground. Broken. Rusted. Ruined. She let go of his hand. Richard's eyes wandered. Followed the line of rust. All the signs of decay. There was a history here. A story to the ruin. She found it her first week. A spot most ignored. A spot she cherished. Or so it sounded. From the way she spoke. The way she looked back at him and smiled. The light in her eyes. Richard understood, or at least thought he could.

"It is." He agreed. He approached the remnants. Remains of something likely filled with sound. Filled with life. Now dead. Hauntingly, almost. Richard's mind absorbed it. Already a world before him was born. He traced the rust lightly. Observed ever detail with intensity. "It's a story untold." He said, looking back to her. He met her gaze. "Perhaps a place forgotten. But not without it's own history." He looked around once more. "It only makes it more remarkable for those able to find it." He met her gaze again. "Thank you."

[Emma Delacroix]

He got it. He understood. She didn't have to say it and yet it was as if he'd read her mind. The deep, dark corners of it and he understood it perfectly. She watched him, still leaned over the fence, her blue eyes studying his posture and her mind absorbing every word.

"Yeah," she finally said, a smile tugging at the corner of her eyes. He thanked her then. She wasn't sure what, exactly, she'd done, but her smile grew and she shrugged sheepishly. "You seemed like the person who enjoys the simplicity of solitude too," she added as her eyes moved around the old playground ones more. "I suppose it was only fair to bring you here." Though, she had no idea where she was bringing him until they'd stepped outside. He didn't need to know that, though.

[Richard Maddox]

She was observing him now. Listening to his every word. It was odd. Different. Something he wasn't used too. If they met again, Richard doubted he would ever get used to it. She smiled. Again he marveled. How was he getting so many from her? In the span of a day, he'd gotten more than he had in years. He wasn't used to this. These reactions. This long of a conversation. Richard didn't know whether he should like it or not.

Her posture changed. She seemed almost sheepish. She claimed he seemed to type to enjoy this. The rust. The forgotten spot. With all its history. It was only fair to bring him her. He followed her eyes around the playground. He didn't know if it was fair. Yet he knew that he was pleased. Which startled him. Yet made him thank her. "You're right." He said. "I do enjoy it. But now I feel I should do something in return. To make it a fair trade."

[Emma Delacroix]

Blue eyes darted back to him. With a tilted head, the blonde contemplated his words, then the grin returned. The pleased grin. "Is that an offer for a second date?" she asked, this time without missing a beat. Still, it was a nice trade. She wouldn't mind meeting him again. He was an interesting character. Far more interesting than most people she'd met thus far.

And that was saying a lot, given that Emma was a bartender, she met new people all the time. "You don't owe me anything, but I'm going to accept either way," she added as she pushed herself away from the fence and stepped into the grass covered surface of the playground.

[Richard Maddox]

Another question. A second date. Richard turned his head and met her gaze. She was grinning again. He wasn't sure if she was being serious. "So this counts as the first?" Richard didn't know. Anything remotely related to romance was beyond his understanding. He knew how to write it. Not experience it. Yet there was something special about this. He wasn't sure what but he could feel it. She'd taken him to this spot. Stolen him from a bookstore. While they were still complete strangers to each other. Well not quite. They knew each others' names now.

He didn't owe her, yet she accepted. The odd remark almost made him smile. Almost. Instead he followed her into the playground. Right into its rusted core. He felt like he was stepping into a heart. Unbeating, but a heart nonetheless. It was fascinating. he could stop his eyes from roaming. Yet he didn't forget her. That wasn't possible now. "I'm not exactly sure what to trade you for this."

[Emma Delacroix]

"Of course," she replied, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. Now, Emma wasn't one for romance herself. She was a flight risk, but that didn't mean one couldn't enjoy life without things growing messy and complicated. She'd been upfront with him this whole time. And she saw no reason to stop being exactly that.

Walking over to the swing, she tested it before sitting down. Her fingers lacing around the chain as she started swinging her feet back and forth, the swing itself moving gently in the cool air. "I'm sure you'll figure it out," she replied, her blue eyes fixated on his. There was no pressure unless he wanted there to be.

[Richard Maddox]

Of course. She said that as if it was obvious. Richard took another look around the playground. This time he did smile. yet again it was faint. Yet again it was gone the same moment it was there. Richard wasn't accustom to dates. Only had the faintest knowledge of the stereotypes. Movies. Dinner. Occasionally something different. Yet this was different. Right past the norm. Yet Richard didn't. He was actually pleased by it, if anything. Which was surprising. But somehow made sense with her. "Then I suppose it would be the second."

With the words, he knew there came a promise. Whether or not he kept it was up to him. The fact he had that power was intriguing. But this whole situation was exactly that. Intriguing. Different. She went over to the swing. He sat down on the one beside her. It held his weight, but he did not swing. He'd been given another test already. To figure it out. "You're putting a lot of faith in me." He replied. "What I decide could be boring in comparison to this."

[Emma Delacroix]

Once again the pleased smile reached the blonde's expression. "Good that," she said, nodding her head as if agreeing with herself. He was a lot easier to get along with know than what he'd been the first time she'd asked. Then again, now he knew she was being serious and now he also knew that she wasn't some kind of creepy serial killer. Well, at least she hoped that he knew.

She stared up at the dark sky as he spoke, nodding at his words, but also contemplating them. "I am," she said. "But I also think said faith has been proven, simply by the fact that you're here." She looked over at him then. "And I doubt it would be boring. If this encounter has shown me anything thus far, I think it'll only get more interesting."

[Richard Maddox]

Again she smiled. This time pleased. Richard still didn't know what he was doing to earn them. He was starting to not care as much. She was her own mystery. Operated by her own rules. Richard had no clue what they were. he wasn't about to question them. That would be hypocritical, considering he was much the same. Another fact that surprised him. Another fact that made him think. he was learning so much, but didn't know what to do with the information.

She looked up. Seemed to contemplate. Whether it was his words or the stars, he couldn't tell. Yet she answered. Said the faith was proven. Proven by his mere presence with her. That their encounter was bound to be interesting. The shock showed then. His expression couldn't hide it. But soon it was gone. Replaced by thought. Replaced by debate. What would he do? Now, he still wasn't sure. But he could come up with something. "Then I'll save it for next time we meet."

[Emma Delacroix]

She saw the fleeting expression of shock dancing around in his eyes. Perhaps it was a lot more odd to her than what it should have been, but then again, this man, this seemingly strange person she'd met only a short while ago hadn't portrayed a whole lot of emotions. Perhaps that was why she caught on it. He looked much better when engulfed in his emotions rather than this stoic expression he seemingly carried around. It suited him. Not shock itself, but emotion. It made him look a lot more alive.

"Good that," she replied again and turned her gaze upwards once more. So, there would be a next time. A small promise that could be broken just like that. Though, the blonde had a feeling it wouldn't be. Though, perhaps that was simply her hoping.

[Richard Maddox]

She looked up again. His gaze followed hers. It was easy for him to get lost in the sky. It was a painting. Ever shifting. Always beautiful. Always out of reach. He never knew which he preferred. The night or the day. Both held somehing different. So did the time in between. It was never the same though. Something he would marvel at. Wonder. Enjoy.

He stayed like that for a while. Time passed. He wasn't sure how much. Eventually reality came back. Called to him. Made him remember she was still there. It was getting late. He couldn't keep her there. He was already awed he'd stayed by her side for so long. That never happened. His meetings were short. Forgettable. Not like this. "It's getting late." An obvious statement.

[Emma Delacroix]

She nodded slowly before looking down at the watch claiming her wrist. "Yeah," she said. Though, she still had some time left before her shift. She always seemed to. The hours between her shifts seemed to almost last forever. Then again, she supposed that was what happened when you had nothing else to do.

Still, the blonde could take a hint, so she rose to her feet. "Let me walk you back to where we met," she announced. It wasn't just for the sake of being polite or doing the right thing. For once, Emma wanted to do what she wanted, not what she had to.

[Richard Maddox]

She glanced at a watch. Clearly she had somewhere to be. Richard should've known. She seemed like someone with plans. Yet she'd explored the bookstore for no reason at all. She was a conundrum. Someone Richard couldn't get. In any sense. Yet that had to be why he was out here. With her. In a rusty playground. Anyone else, Richard was sure he'd have said no.

She got up. Insisted on walking him back. She'd surprised him again. Richard was coming to expect that. He didn't ask why. She'd established that she did what she wanted. So he assumed this was it. "Ok." He replied before heading out of the little spot of secrets. He would remember that place. It would be hard to forget now. Especially associated with her.

[Emma Delacroix]

A nod and then she jerked her thumb over her shoulder, gesturing for them to walk back towards the gate. "Good that," she mused, more so to herself than to him. He'd agreed to let her walk him back, much as he'd agreed to follow her here. It was a strange notion, really. Trust.

It was also unfamiliar to her. But here she was, walking alone in the darkness with a complete stranger. And she was content with that. At least, for the time being.

[Richard Maddox]

They walked in silence. Most would find that odd. Richard found it comforting. He found her comforting. Or close to it. She was easy to be around, which stunned him to a degree. He was used to isolation. Being alone. He enjoyed it. Yet she proved good company. The only company he'd found himself enjoying. At least he thought. He didn't feel a need to leave. An urge to get away. If anything he was dragging his feet on he way back. Almost reluctant. Almost.

They made it back. He observed the store. Then he observed her. A stranger he'd gone on an adventure with. A stranger that had made him ask so many questions. And recieve many in return. He was curious. He found himself wanting to know more. He rarely cared about what other people thought. Yet she was drawing his attention. Like a magnet. "I guess this is goodbye then. Until next time."