Hunger and annoyance [complete]

[ticking]

The park was empty; except for a single short-headed blond girl sitting on one of the only remaining bench’s on the far end of the play area. At first glance the girl looked innocent enough, dressed in clothing reasonable for the weather of the city as it never seemed to be hot or cold just this strange luck warm temperature. At closer inspection one would be able to see the girl was not as innocent as she first looked, her large blue eyes were set into a frown, her lips curved into a straight and pointy line of annoyance and if you looked slightly behind her you might be able to spot a glimmer of silver. Moreover, if you were stupid enough to lean in even more with curiosity you would see this ‘innocent’ girl liked to carry around a weapon. A gun to be more exact, a desert eagle.

Elisa lazed in the rotting park bench letting out a large grunt as her stomach rumbled. When was the last time she had eaten? 3 maybe 5 days? Rummaging her hand into her pants pocket, she swore as she felt not coin what so ever. That annoying fight yesterday with those two boys must have sent the coins flying. Thankfully, she had given them each a bloody nose before they had managed to run away but had obviously failed to realize the reduced weight in her pockets.

“Great.” She grumbled, rolling her head back and looking up into the grey and cloudy sky, “No food and no money. Perfect.”

[=TRACKALACKA]

Sneaking around the mangled park was what was pretty much a walking bobbing pin. With his wild black hair and stick-like body which an observer would be concerned to think as anorexia, Harvey was looking somewhere for food. Although his body, because of what he was, could process food in the most effective way possible, that didn't mean he could live without it. Of course, the idea of looking for food in a ripped up park is rather ridiculous, but Harvey wasn't looking for food there; rather, he was just passing through so he could search in a better place.

His permanent grin stretched across his face as he stepped over the ditches and holes from the beating the park had taken. As he did so his stomach made a faint gurgle, and he patted it with his hand. "Don't worry, my dear. I will find something to satisfy you," he said to it, and continued on. Up ahead he saw a park bench with someone sitting in it. He didn't really care. His stomach made another hungry snarl and he stopped. "Honestly, darling, if you're doing to be that impatient I might as well make you wait." He laughed to himself then started walking again.

Oh wait.

He stopped and looked at the figure on the park bench. Oculi or human, surely, they must be generous enough to grant him, if only a morsel, of food? But what if it's like the humans who killed Han-- Don't think of that. He told himself, repressing the memory as he had done countless times before. He took a deep breath then approached this person. He discovered it to be female, and judging by her marked and beat up skin, she was not a nice one. Most likely human. The odds weren't so great, but it was too late to turn back now.

"Pardon me, darling," Harvey said as politely as he could, "Do you by any chance have any food? I haven't eaten anything in what I believe to be days, and, well, at this point I'm in need of some sort of fuel. It doesn't have to be much, of course. But if you do, are you willing to share?"

[ticking]

Elisa didn’t register the voice at first, her eyes still glued to the sky. Then slowly, the words reverberated around her cranium and started to process in her mind. With deliberate slowness, Elisa lifted her head from the bench and looked at the man who had spoken. The first thing she noticed was the grin threatening to overflow his lips, that annoying smile of someone, who in her eyes, thought they were better than everyone else. He was taller than her, with a mop of hair that looked like it dangerously needed a good cut. Strangely, he seemed thinner than she did with a quite handsome face and eyes that were a warm chestnut brown.

“And who the hell are you?” Her irritation was increased by a ten-fold by her hunger. She was practically baring her teeth at him, something about him was annoying her to the very core. Maybe it was because of his smile, his sudden want to talk to her or she just wanted to be angry with someone but regardless Elisa was not happy. “No scratch that.” She continued, standing up abruptly, “I don’t give a damn.” She glared at him, narrowing her eyes to sapphire slits before grapping the pencil that had fallen out of her pocket and storming away.

Why couldn’t people just leave her alone! She didn’t want to talk to anyone. Why the heck couldn’t people just go on with their own lives and leave her out of it because she didn’t want to be a part of it! Her feet stopped suddenly as she clenched her fingers around the pencil. “It’s all their fault…” she whispered sharply, feeling her shoulders start to shake.

[=TRACKALACKA]

“And who the hell are you?” The girl said. Harvey was preparing to answer when she quickly added, “No scratch that; I don't give a damn." and stood up. A pencil dropped, which she picked up then stomped away. Harvey watched her with wide eyes, not expecting that kind of reaction. Well. He was expecting one of two things; an angry decline followed by swearing and yelling to send him away, or a kind yes in which he would get food. Not the person storming away as if he had just hurt her feelings.

Then the girl stopped, and Harvey heard her mutter something, but he couldn't quite catch it. She seemed frozen or something. Unsure what to do, Harvey just kind of watched while sitting down on the bench. Was she shaking? Why would she be shaking? Did he hit a nerve? He looked around, feeling awkward. His stomach made a soft gurgle, which distracted him for a moment, which led to him finally speaking.

"Darling, are you all right?" He asked cautiously. This girl seemed quite hot-headed; Harvey didn't want to set her off. "You appear to be in some distress. Is there something wrong?"

[ticking]

Her shoulders stopped as she clutched each of them with her opposite hands, looking like she was hugging herself for a moment. “Stop.” She growled to herself. Breathing in and out slowly Elisa got her composure back and turned to face the man who was now sitting on the bench she had stormed away from. He was watching her with what seemed like a mixture of confusion and concern.

‘Concern?’ Elisa scoffed to herself, ‘probably just thinks I’m crazy.’


Sighing loudly, she ran a hand through her mat of hair and looked at the man more closely. Did he actually give a damn? No, of course he didn’t, why would he? Then again, if he didn’t why would he bother asking? A trick perhaps? But what could he get from that? He was skinner than her and looked just as hungry as herself. It was obvious now that she had no food so why hadn’t he left? ‘Tread carefully’ she muttered to herself.

“Yes. I’m fine. I’m sorry for exploding out on you. I’m just hungry I guess….”

[=TRACKALACKA]

To his surprise the girl turned and came back. She apologized and told him she was also hungry. "Well, m'dear, I am too, so I can relate," Harvey chuckled. He took in the girl's appearance; short matted red hair, a smattering of freckles and striking blue eyes. Perhaps not as attractive as the girls Harvey had grown up with, but she was attractive in her own way. In some cases Harvey preferred that more.

Grinning again, he got up from the bench and approached her. "My name's Harvey," he introduced, "Since, well, before you seemed keen to know who I was. Though, truly, just saying my name doesn't reveal who I am, but I suppose it is a start." He chuckled and looked up at the sky. It was grey and cloudy--as it had been throughout the entire war. Had he ever seen a blue sky? Maybe glimpses. In all the books he read the sky was usually described as blue. He decided he would like to see that. Realizing he had left his train of thought, he looked back at the girl, blinking. "A-anyway, darling, I do so wonder what your beautiful name is?" He said.

[ticking]

Despite herself, Elisa felt a small shot of blush shot up her face. He was a smooth talker and most boys she knew just told her to bugger off when she tried to talk to her. For a moment, she was lost in this unfamiliar feeling and then suddenly her mind gave her a quick slap. Coughing, to reaffirm her composure Elisa tore her eyes away from his and grumbled her name. Her whole body was telling her to run, to hide, and to get away from this man but at the same time her brain and heart were wishing to have a conversation with a human again after so many weeks. Ever since her mother….

“What brings you to this charming city?” Elisa questioned, crossing her arms and lowering her gaze back to his and holding it hard, “You don’t look like you’re from around here.” she eyed his clothing with intrigue but didn’t let more than her questioning tone let him know how much she was curious. Showing too much emotion was a dangerous thing to do in these times.

[=TRACKALACKA]

Harvey's grin broadened when the girl revealed her name, Elisa. He honestly wasn't expecting a reply. For a moment he thought he saw the girl blush, but it was soon gone. It could have been her freckles. Was it her freckles. Harvey was lost in lost as he pondered this for a moment when Elisa asked him a question about what brought him to the city. He snapped out of thought and met her strong gaze.

What to say?

Was she one of those humans, who hated his kind? His kind. Bah, he didn't like to associate with them. He couldn't help but be what he was, but... he'd much rather be a human. They were far more interesting... Just not the humans who killed-- He quickly looked away before the memory could resurface. The matching blue eyes of Elisa didn't help. He took a deep breath then replied. "I--I wasn't born here." He said carefully. "My old... home was destroyed, so now I'm just trying to find a place to fit in. Though; I never really liked my old home. Frankly it was pretty bland." He looked back at Elisa. "I-I'm not sure if I should say more, darling. Things can get pretty complicated if I go into detail."

[ticking]

She held his gaze for a while longer before letting it go, “I know what it’s like to lose your home.” She said, looking up so she didn’t let the emotions that were starting to creep up take over. Elisa could still smell the burning wood, the sound of ‘its’ screams. Shaking her head Elisa gave a weak smile at the man, “Well, either way, you’re stuck here like the rest of us-“she stopped abruptly, her whole body freezing and her eyes widening.

There had been the sound of a twig crushing under something. Elisa held her breath and made a motion to Harvey to keep quite. Reaching behind her she slowly slipped out desert eagle and cocked it. Bracing herself, she turned and walked to where she thought the noise had come from. Lifting some tree branch’s Elisa ducked under them and crept into the bush. Another snap. She stopped and held her breath. She stood completely still under, she thought the thing must have past and continued on.

As she passed from one tree to another, she noticed with a note of revolution there was blood splattered on the ground. Elisa took another step and stepped on something soft and fluffy, she let out a scream and jumped back, stumbling on the leaf-ridden ground and falling to her behind. Her hands luckily stayed in her hands and she pointed it shakily at the thing she had trodden over. Her face dropped. A dead bunny. Probably no older than a few months lay there, bloody seeping from it’s beautiful white fur and it’s eyes glazed over.

It twitched and with a pang, Elisa realized the poor creature was still alive. Whatever had tried to kill it had not finished it off properly. Biting her lip Elisa pointed her gun at the sobbing thing, her hands shaking, debating whether or not she should end it’s miserable life. If she didn’t it would bleed out to death slowly and painfully. Closing her eyes and looking away Elisa whispered, “I’m sorry” and shot. The gun threw her backwards and she only just managed to stop herself from collapsing. Tears started to spill from her eyes but she wiped them away quickly and tried her best to put on a hard face.

Picking herself carefully, Elisa tucked her gun back into her pants and gently picked up a few leaves from the ground and leaning forward on her knees placed them over the bunny’s bloody form. Saying a quite prayer, she stood and looked solemnly down at the animal.

[=TRACKALACKA]

Harvey froze as he also heard the sound, and carefully watched as Elisa approached whatever made the sound. He heard rustling as she disappeared behind the trees, and was about to join her when there was a gun shot. Harvey nearly jumped out of his boots, and he quickly ran to whatever was going on. He was surprised to find Elisa leaning over a dead rabbit and covering it with leaves. She straightened but continued to look at the animal, wiping her tears. Harley paused, staring at Elisa then the dead rabbit. At first he thought she had shot it for food (something he would have done) but after a minute he realized it was some other reason, because she was sad (and not skinning the rabbit and collecting the meat).

He took a step closer. "M'dear, what happ--?"

Harvey was interrupted by a second gunfire; the bullet whizzing by not even a metre away. He froze. Elisa's shot must have attracted the attention of others. But what others? Humans? Oculi? Enemies? There was rustling and footsteps which sounded not far off. Harley quickly turned to Elisa.

"Darling, I think we had better run--"

He was interrupted a second time, but this time by voices: "Who's there?" called a powerful male voice. "Who's there?"

Harley froze again and hoped they were humans. He could deal with humans. Enemies? Them too, but they might endanger Elisa. But he hoped to God that they weren't Oculi. Especially the stuck up we're-better-than-anything-else kind. To his luck, three figures emerged, two male and one female, and judging by their rugged appearance were most likely humans. Their leader's hard expression softened when he saw Elisa, but he kept a suspicious eye on Harley. He returned it with his usual smile, and though he never found humans a challenge, for some reason his heart was pounding faster than usual.

[ticking]

“What the bloody hell is goin’ on Elisa?” one of the boy’s said, the one not trying to shot a hole through Havery’s head with his eyes. “You can’t just bloody leave camp all alone!”

Elisa’s sad expression snapped off her face faster than a fat man hitting the floor, “Camp?” She said, taking a step towards the man, “You mean that hell hole!” She let out a bitter and dark laugh, “Don’t make me laugh! I don’t want to sleep with dead bodies by my side!”

“Elisa-“ the other man tried but she did seem to hear him.

“You can’t just expect me to sit around and do nothing Tom! People are dying!” She took another step forward and grabbed the man by the scruff of his neck, “We’re all going to die and I would rather not do it next to dead bodies.”

The other boy, Tom met her gaze head on, like he was used to her attitude, “Vince is boss we swore to follow him.”

Elisa didn’t say anything but let out another animal like sound effect.

“Elisa.” The other man said again silence enveloping the group, “Let him go.”

Snarling her teeth at Tom she growled something only for his ears to hear and let him go, giving him a kick in the gut as he staggered backwards. Tom fell over and let out a mixture of profanities and other choice words. Elisa kicked some leaves at him as the female ran over to help him up but Tom pushed her helping hands away. Vince was just watching her. She stared back but letting out a scoff and rolling her eyes.

She turned back to Harvey, her eyes enraged and walked towards him seeing him stiffen as she got closer. “Let’s go.” She said, grabbing him by the wrist and pulling him behind her. The leader of the trio let out a yell at Elisa and Elisa screamed back a response, lifting up two fingers and giving him a lovely two finger salute.

[=TRACKALACKA]

Harvey still had the event replaying in his head as he was dragged away by Elisa. Wh-what? Was all his mind could process. Tom--hell hole--Vince--gut kick--what? Was he walking?

Was she holding his hand?

Harvey looked down. No, wrist. Pretty close, though. He looked at Elisa's determined face as she continued to storm away with him in tow. He couldn't help but silently laugh to himself. He glanced over his shoulder at Elisa's fellow soldiers, who remained where they were. He really couldn't believe they put up with these kind of actions from her. He gave them a little apologetic wave then turned his focus back on Elisa. Not only could he not believe her teammates allowed her to act like that, but he couldn't believe she acted like it in the first place. Yes, it was a war, and emotions were running wild, but surely one should treat their fellow comrades with respect...?

Well. He didn't treat the other Oculi with respect. But that was because they didn't deserve any.

Hannah didn't deserve respect?
Shut it.

He closed his eyes and the memory vanished, and he laughed again. He manoeuvred his hand so that it gripped Elisa's, and he stepped in front of her to stop her. "Look, darling, I can understand your anger, but you should really join your teammates," he told her. "They need you, and must have been out looking for you. I think that is reason enough to go back with them."

[ticking]

Elisa blinked. Then suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere she let out a loud and obnoxious laugh. “Teammates?” she said between laughs, “You really aren’t from around here are you?” Wiping the tears of laughter out of her eyes Elisa looked back at Harvey who didn’t look amused in the slightest.

She arched an eyebrow, “You really don’t get it do you? Yes, we may have ONCE been comrades but that was before the real war broke out. Battle changes people.” A flicker of a emotion flashed through her eyes at these words but vanished so quickly it was like it was never there to begin with. “Look, I don’t know why I’m telling you this but I’ll give you the short story. After my mum died, I was alone, wandering the streets with just myself and my gun. Vince helped me out when I was being mugged by some boys in an alley and I guess you can say I fell for him at that moment. For months, I would refuse to separate from him. Over time, we meet up with Tom and Lucy. They were like a family for me. For a time.” Her expression tightened and her eyes darkened, ‘and then we meet them. Bloody oculi lab had exploded and were wreaking havoc all over the city. I told Vince we should run, avoid them but he went running off by himself. The next day he came back battered and bloody and refused to tell me what happened. I left the next morning.”

The grip around her hands lessened slightly and Elisa ripped her hands out of his. “Look, it’s better you don’t stay alone but I don’t think I’ll be a great traveling partner. I tend to get….you know….a bit passionate about stuff….” She gave a sheepish smile. “It was nice meeting you and all but I think it’s best if we separate. Nothing good will come from hanging around me.”

[=TRACKALACKA]

Harvey was unsure what to do or think as Elisa burst out laughing, but listened intently when she explained about her past with the other soldiers. As he would expect from any soldier, her story wasn't a happy one, though he secretly envied humans who had pasts which were interesting to tell. What was his past? Locked up in a lab pretty much all this life? Yeah, that. But then Elisa mentioned, with much scorn, the "bloody Oculi lab", which caused Harvey to wince internally. She definitely was one of those humans. Retaining his grin, but feeling crushed inside, Harvey was about to speak when Elisa ripped her hand free of his and said he should leave.

He really should. If he stuck around long enough for it to be dark, she would discover what he really--wait, no, no. Was he worrying? He never cared about humans! In all technicality, he is human! So why should he be worried about them? Why should they hate him? Why should they kill him like--

"I-I understand," Harvey spluttered, forcing the words out before any kind of memory could surface. "Er, what I mean is, doll, I can see what you mean. War is not a time to let things become complicated. Perhaps at another time, darling. But not today and now." He smiled.

[ticking]

Elisa smiled weakly again, “Things have already become complicated in this place.” Rising her eyes to the sky she let out a deep sigh and pushed a strand of dirty ginger hair out of her face. “It used to be so easy. Now everything has just gone to hell.” Lowering her head she glanced around the park area, the beautiful green grass was ripped up and muddy, the play area where children would once scream and laugh with one another looked more like a death trap, the walk way was falling apart and of course the bench’s were rotting.

“Well, it was nice while lasted.” Elisa said, side glancing Harvey, “Try not to die hey?” Patting him on the shoulder she started down the opposite way she had come. Not idea where her feet were leading her but wishing to just be away from this place she let them plod on.

The boy, Harvey, looked like he could look after himself and he wasn’t an idiot. Still, she felt a bit of unease leaving him to the park by himself. What if one of the violent Oculi came when he had his back turned? For a second she was tempted to turn back but forced herself not to. No, ignore him. It’s better this way. And so Elisa continued down the broken pathway stuffing her hands into her pockets and hunching her back, feeling worse than when she had first came to the park.