Preston Forest Shopping Center
The Preston Forest Shopping Center is large and classy. The entrance is open and spacious, a rectangular fountain surrounded by potted trees leading up the middle of the mall, with pathways on either side for shoppers. One can easily see both floors from here and the lighting is amazing - beside the typical electric bulbs, the roof is comprised of glass allowing the sunlight to filter in.
Shops and businesses spread out here both east and west as well as to the back of the mall. Hidden away in the back corner one can find the escalator to the second story, as well as washrooms and a bank of payphones.
It's early afternoon on a Wednesday. With school out, there's plenty of people hanging out at the mall, shopping, window shopping, or what have you. Especially with the Fourth of July fast approaching. For his own part, Skylar is making is way down one hallway of the mall, approaching the Pet Store. Upon approaching said store, he doesn't go in at first, but stands in front of the window, looking at the pets displayed within, and acclamating himself to the sound of birds and dogs and other animals that comes from within.
~*~
Early afternoon is early morning for someone that worked at the village yesterday for her mother, then all night at the pharmacy. Alexa has barely gotten dressed and stumbled out of bed when she remembered that one of the girls at work has a birthday. This means a jaunt to the mall to pick up a small trinket or a nice bubble bath set. With no makeup on and her hair just twisted back she makes her way through the mall. This particular look happens to make her look a bit younger than she is. Provided no one runs up to her and tells her she looks like a dead woman, she will remain in cheerful spirits.
A pause is had near the pet store. Not too close in case the poltergeist acts up. Today there are ferrets in the window. She can't help laughing as they run in continual circles chasing one another. Rolling into balls and bowling at each other. Standing on their hind legs then quickly swishing their long tails.
~*~
Skylar himself is rather entranced by said ferrets - at least until he hears a laugh behind him. The glance over his shoulder is instinctive, an easy smile on his face as he can relate to the humor found in the small, rambunctious animals. However, the smile widens as familiarity spreads to his eyes. "El… Alexa, hello." Five years of habbit is hard to beat, but he tries. "How are you?" He himself looks a bit tired as well - though perhaps it is less noticeable on him, since he has been like that the last few times Alexa has seen him.
~*~
"Sky." Alexa blinks as though she's seeing something that's not really there, then smiles. "Much better today, unless you intend on telling me I look like someone who's not me." She likely sounds crazy. "I'd love to get a pair of those but I don't think I should." For reasons she's not mentioning.
~*~
"Well, actually, yes, now that you mention it," Sky says slowly, his brow furrowing in thought before nodding slowly. "There's this lady apothecarist named Elysia. Utterly enchanting, breaks all the knight's hearts…" He chuckles, smiling. "Sorry… is everything ok? Someone using a cheesy pickup line on you?" Beat. "Besides what I just said. I was just teasing." Sky then follows her gaze to the ferrets. "Why not? If you want to, you should."
~*~
At least Skylar's tease gets a laugh. Much nicer than being accused of being someone dead. "I don't know. There was this creepy guy at the village yesterday. Telling me how I looked just like someone he met, who died shortly later. Came off as some sort of weird serial killer." Shivering involuntarily, Alexa rubs her arms. "The ferrets? The poltergeist might bother them. Mom might flip if the poltergeist actually killed something." Now she really does sound as though she's insane. To alleviate this, she asks, "Just which knight's heart have I broken?"
~*~
"Oh, wow. I'm sorry Alexa… did you talk to security or anyone? And what did he look like? I can keep an eye out for him when I'm working." They may only be SCA acquaintances at the moment, but Skylar isn't the type to just let something like that go. "And… wait, what? Poltergeist?" he asks, giving Alexa a searching look - trying to tell if she's joking or not. However, he does force a smile after, saying, "Well, I couldn't name names. It would be utterly ungentleman of me. But I've heard the name Elysia mentioned at fighting practice many a time… which I probably should have warned you of in advance. But not to worry, if you do end up coming, I'll make sure to keep the boys in line." Of course, some of the 'boys' are older then him, but that's besides the point.
~*~
"He was tall. Blue eyes. Brown hair. He seemed to be a quiet type at first." Alexa frowns, knowing that's not a very good description of the man. "Silly men. All because I refuse to dance with them." Giving her head a shake, she laughs. "The truth is, I likely would if I had any ability to do so without killing their feet, but the dances are just beyond me." She has a tendency to be klutzy. "We have a poltergeist. It's been around for years. No matter where we move it finds us."
~*~
"Hmm. Did you get a name, by any chance?" Skylar asks. Because no, that isn't a terribly useful description, without any more clues. "And, well, can you blame them? Not only are you an attractive young woman, but you maintain an air of mystery, and in their eyes at least play 'hard to get'. Besides, I am sure there are many young knights who are willing to take the occassional bruising or broken toe to be near someone they admire." Sky knows that from his own experience. "Really, a… huh." Skylar frowns briefly, before offering a somewhat inadequate, "Well, I'm sorry about that." He'll have to ask his friend the witch about that - perhaps she can help.
~*~
"I was not about to ask some creepy stalker serial killer for a name." That conversation would have gone over well. "An air of mystery? Me?" Alexa bats her lashes at him several times as she blinks. Quiet she would agree with, but mysterious? Not her. "I'll make sure to be careful if I come out to see you practice. Chances are with my luck one of them will lose a toe or an eye and then no one would say anything nice about me again." In the window, the ferrets are diving at each other from shelves. This gets another laugh. "Me too, but there's not much we can do. Mom's spoken to everyone she can. I'm sure there's some old video somewhere. Back in Georgia."
~*~
"Ok, well, that's a good point," Sky says with a rueful chuckle. He then shakes his head. "You really are convinced you're that dangerous, hrm? Well, we'll just have to fix that." Clearly, the offer to practice with him is still open. Skylar watches Alexa out of the corner of his eye for a moment, watching her watch the ferrets - and thinking about this poltergeist problem. But he's not about to promise hope in case there is none - especially if she's been looking for a cure for such a long time. Instead, he says, "Would you like to come inside the pet store with me? I could use a woman's opinion of what kind of rabbit to get for a friend. She's never had a pet before, and generally dislikes animals, but she likes rabbits."
~*~
Alexa glances quickly at the shop, then back to Skylar. Under her breath she mutters, "I swear if you hurt the animals I'm getting myself committed. Rubber walls. No furniture. What fun for you then, hmm?" The dark moment passes and she smiles. Surely the poltergeist won't bother her now. "I've never chosen a pet before so I'm not sure what help I'd be, but I'll try." Even though she seems a tad insane. "Does she have a color preference? You could start with that. Then choose a suiting personality I suppose."
~*~
Skylar smiles when Alexa agrees, and if he notices the talking under her breath, he doesn't show it. Instead, he leads the way in to the pet store, trying to spot where the rabbits are kept. "Well… the only color I know for sure that she likes is purple. And something tells me they are probably out of purple rabbit." A fair bet.
~*~
"You could maybe dye the rabbit purple, though I think that may harm the animal." Alexa follows toward the rabbits. Then she stares down at the cages. Watching them. "Maybe you could find one that has a quirky look. A strange spot? One floppy ear? Something to distinguish it other than color?" She poises herself to tap the cage until she catches sight of the "Do not tap the cages" sign. Someone rarely enters stores with small creatures.
~*~
"Yeah, I don't think I need to add PETA to my mortal enemies list," Skylar notes with a wry grin. He examines the rabbits alongside Alexa, looking from one to another. "Hmm. Well, if possible, I'd like to get the cutest, most adorable one there is. I need to encourage my friend's softer side." Pause. "Though she'd probably appreciate a more fearsome or grumpy looking rabbit."
~*~
Crouching down, Alexa frowns. Determining the cutest one is going to be difficult. "Fluffy or sleek? Pronounced ears or floppy ones?" Too much thought is needed to find one. "Softer side?" She considers. "Not the girl you were with at the feast then? I liked her. She seemed really nice, and a little hurt that you ran off after someone else."
~*~
"No, the one I ran after, actually. And I know she was… I apologized to her already. I'm not that type of guy, normally. Both Paige and my other friend Quinn are important to me, and I had wanted them to meet… but by the time I had dragged Quinn back, Paige was gone." Se la vie. Skylar looks at the different rabbits for a moment, then points to one. "What about that one, with the big ears." Pause. "Well, the bigger ears." The rabbit is small, tan and brown, with huge eyes and ears that are practically the size of it's small body.
~*~
"Girls are very strange creatures, Skylar. I was of the opinion that both might like you and that may be a problem. Perhaps they don't wish to meet other girls that have feelings for you?" Alexa considers herself a safe person. A bystander. She's nice, and sweet to most, but she's not quite at the point of looking to settle down. Besides which, most men wouldn't understand the issue with the poltergeist. "I think that one is very cute. Not a mean streak in it. If you wish to soften someone toward a rabbit that one would do it."
~*~
"Yes, that one is probably best," Sky agrees after hearing Alexa's opinion. He waves over to a clerk, who quickly comes to fetch the rabbit, and Sky points out a suitable cage as well. As the clerk is readying both rabbit and cage, Sky moves to pick out some suitable rabbit toys, food, and everything the rabbit will need for the first part of it's transition. "And you may be right. It was never my intention, of course, just been looking for friends…" He's clearly not really looking to settle down either. "But that doesn't mean I should have ignored the feelings of others. Thank you for the advice."
~*~
"I think it's hard sometimes is all. I've never been in that situation myself. Friends are good things to have definitely, but just watch yourself. Girls have a tendency to fall for friends, I think. I saw it a lot in college." Alexa seems very gentle as she says this. Not trying to hurt him with her words, just converse. "You'll want a cage. Probably best to get a hutch. Easier to get the rabbit in and out of based on design." She points to one made of wood, then glances at her watch. "I hate to advise and run but I need to pick out a gift for a coworker before my shift." Even though she doesn't start until midnight, she has to be in early for the little birthday bash and cake. "I'll see you again soon though? When the practice is?"
~*~
"Guys have that same tendancy," Skylar says with a chuckle. "Life and love are just complicated that way." He shrugs, not seeming offended or hurt by her words. Just the opposite. "Thank you. For all the advice. And yes, I'm looking forward to it. Have a good shift. And thanks again, Alexa."
