Land of Hope (Mature/AU/CC/UC/Slash)

[magikhands]

Michael

Crap...what should I do? Should I try to keep following her or admit that I am? She's already figured out that she was being followed, if she is a chosen one, then she won't lead me to the others if she believes that there is danger. But then, if I tell her...she'll probably won't take me to the others either.

"It's not a problem." I say letting my expression soften. I can't help it. Watching her green eyes sparkle in the sun has me boggle brained. How in the world can I concentrate when she's looking at me? "Here...let me help you." I offer reaching out to take a bag. I saw the variety of items she had in them and from the amount, I know they have got to be a little burdensome.

[StormWolfstone]

~Maria~

"It's not a problem." The stranger says and I see his expression soften before he speaks again, "Here...let me help you." He reaches out to take a bag and I'm half tempted... no more then half tempted to let him. However, I hesitate for a moment before I allow him to take one of them and simply look at him.

Damn, how am I going to do this? "Alright... for a little bit. They are a bit heavy..." I say, unable to take my eyes off of him. I guess it wouldn't hurt to let him help until I actually reach the trail that will take me across the plains toward our hideout.

"Umm... what's your name?" I ask, wanting to be able to put a name with the face if this mysterious stranger whom I was certain I wouldn't see again once I got away. Though, a part of me was certainly not looking forward to that prospect at the moment.

[magikhands]

Michael

Maria lets me take a bag but I can see her hesitation. I bite back a smile, not wanting to show my egerness.

"Umm... what's your name?"

"Michael." I reply. I don't offer a last name, for it would do no good. I no longer exist since being exiled from my home, neither do Tess, Max, or Isabel for that matter.

I shift the bag to one of my hips so it's easier to carry and look around. "So which way do we go?" I ask, curious as to which direction she was truly heading.

[StormWolfstone]

~Maria~

"Michael." His name is offered and I can't help but smile. It seems to suit him and now I can't help but wonder if I will see Michael again. I watch as he shifts the bag and glances around before questioning, "So which way do we go?"

A part of me says that I should fake my destination, yet something else fights against that. With a sigh, I motion toward the plains that surround this side of town, "The towns edge." I comment, quietly. And then after a moment of being silent as I begin walking, I ask, "So, what happened to the girl you were with?"

I can't help but wonder if that girl has some sort of tie to him and then I tell myself that even if she does, I shouldn't care. I don't have time to worry about men, I have training to continue and battles to prepare for.

What would Liz and the others say if they saw her talking to a guy without a reason? How would they feel if she spent too much time with him? Yet, she couldn't help but feel torn. She knew that he couldn't be one of the darksiders, simply because she was certain she'd be feeling a warning rush through her, but could he still be a danger to her existance?

[magikhands]

Michael

I fall into step beside her as we head toward the edge of town. I can't help but feel...comfortable? I don't know if that's the right word for it but it seems to fit.

"So, what happened to the girl you were with?"

"Tess?" I nearly forgot Maria had seen her with me. When in thunder is my brain? I've never acted this way before. "Oh, she went to go find our other friends. I'm going to meet up with them later." I respond hoping that I haven't given too much away since I'm still not sure if she's one of the ones we are looking for.

I know she's not a darksider. I can feel it. Besides...if she were one of my brother's people then I'd be dead right now. Or maybe she's leading me into a trap? I mentally shake the thoughts from my head. No, I trust my first instincts with her. Maria is one of the chosen. Now, if only I can make sure.

"What about you? Did you come alone? I mean, there's a lot of stuff here, surely for more than one. No one came to help you carry all of this back?" I ask prying for information.

[StormWolfstone]

~Maria~


"Tess?" That's a name I doubt I'll ever forget hearing now. I wait for him to continue, wondering if he's going to be honest with me or not. "Oh, she went to go find our other friends. I'm going to meet up with them later."

"What about you? Did you come alone? I mean, there's a lot of stuff here, surely for more than one. No one came to help you carry all of this back?" He asks and I can't help but tense slightly.

"Michael..." I can't help but test out the sound of his name as I begin, "I just happened to draw the short end and had to do shopping duty for myself and my friends." I give a slight laugh, hoping it doesn't sound as nervous as I'm feeling. "It seems to be a natural thing that I end up having the honor of getting the food at least twice a month. If it's not me then it's... the other girl in our group." Damn, I'd almost given away her name. Granted, a name wasn't much... but if he was somehow a danger... which in my gut I didn't think he was... a name could be dangerous.

Be careful, Maria. Don't give away too much. I tell myself mentally. "I'm used to it though, it just means I can make certain that we get the proper nutrition instead of all sorts of junk foods." I add, laughing a little.

[magikhands]

Michael

"I know what you mean." I chuckle thinking of some of the food Tess brings when she gets food for us all. "I tend to like fruit but the others...not as much as me."

I tread on cautious ground, trying to dig for information but not giving myself away in the process. I know my brother will try just about anything to get to me...even harming those who barely know me if he thinks it will effect me. Max, Isabel, and Tess are the only ones I know that can fight Nicholas and protect themselves. He's strong...but I like to think I'm stronger.

"So what's on the menu?" I ask off-handedly. I like listening to her voice and think that maybe if I keep her talking, she won't try to ditch me before we reach her destination.

[StormWolfstone]

~Maria~

"I know what you mean." Michael chuckles and I have to admit I like the sound. Okay... so I admit I'm beginning to like more about the guy. "I tend to like fruit but the others...not as much as me."

I nod, laughing at that because the guy's usually hate when I bring home only the vegetables and fruits, with a light amount of meat. "So what's on the menu?"

"Oh, just some tangelo's, apples and then some vegetables. I did get a bit more meat then normal, but the guy's will eat that more then I will. I'm thinking of making a stew when I get back home. The guy's will be disappointed when they find that I haven't gotten anything that's bad for them." I turn to look at him with a smile, finding myself relaxing a bit more as we talk.

"What would you say is your favorite fruit?" I ask, curious to learn more about him, even the mundane things.

[magikhands]

Michael

"Definately the targonberry." I say with a smile remembering how good the one I had earlier tasted. "They are so juicy and when I eat them, they make my tongue tingle."

I look over and see her watching me. She looks more relaxed and am glad. "What about you? What is your favorite?" Yep, I think, she's warming up to me. We are at the town's edge now and she's not yet told me good-bye.

[StormWolfstone]

~Maria~


"Definately the targonberry." Michael replies and I see him smile. His smile was melting a great deal of my reserve. "They are so juicy and when I eat them, they make my tongue tingle." I can't help but laugh at that explanation.

"What about you? What is your favorite?" He questions and I take a moment to think, trying to get my thoughts off of how his lips lift as he smiles and the other thoughts that suddenly rushed through my mind.

"I can't really decide. On one hand, tangelo's because they are sweet and juicy and yet on the other hand I like the Dragon Fruit because it's got a semi-sweet taste and yet slightly bitter. Of course, I had to purchase some of that as well because it makes some wonderful pie." I respond finally, unable to stop from talking to him, even to an extent of probably talking to fast. "There was a time when I hated the idea of cooking, but now with all these fruits at my disposal after not being able to get them often, I love it."