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

[magikhands]

Michael

I can't explain how Maria's smile makes me feel. Maybe like floating on air? Or maybe just an out of body feeling? I don't know but I like it. Her voice is like a songbird, soothing and enchanted. I can't help but be drawn into her web even as her speed picks up and her excitement shows. I feel myself smiling wider, not remembering the last time I've used this many muscles in my face for so long.

"Mmmm...I like pie. They all sound delicious." I say. "I'm sure you're a great cook."

We keep walking into the plains until we come to a small path...one that's easily missed if you aren't looking for it. A little farther...I can sense that we are close.

[StormWolfstone]

~Maria~

"Mmmm...I like pie. They all sound delicious." Michael responds and I can't help but smile. "I'm sure you're a great cook." At his compliment I find myself blushing and look away, only then to notice how close we are to the others. Damn!

"Maria! I was just coming to find out if you'd gotten lost." I look over and see Liz walking from the trees nearby and sigh, feeling relief and yet uncertainty.

"This gentleman helped me to carry the groceries. I was just about to take over and finish the journey on my own, Liz." I respond and then clamp my lips shut.

Liz looks over Michael and then looks at me with a look I know well. She's not very happy with me. "I guess I should be grateful that you didn't come to any harm since allowing a man to travel with you unescorted through such an area can often be inviting danger." I hear the warning in her tone and find myself sighing.

Turning to Michael I give him a slight smile, "Thank you for the assistance as well as the company. It was a pleasure talking with you." I tell him as I reach to get the other bag from him, knowing that Liz isn't going to come any closer unless it's necessary.

"Maybe I'll see you the next time I'm in town." I tell Michael, though not making any move to leave.

"Just hurry up, Maria. We've got to have dinner and get back on our schedule." Liz adds and I watch her walk back along through the trees, avoiding the path that would actually lead straight into the glen where we often practice.

"I'll be along, don't worry. It wouldn't do to be rude after he came all this way so kindly." I say to her retreating back before looking back at Michael.

[magikhands]

Michael

"Maria! I was just coming to find out if you'd gotten lost." A dark haired girl says coming out from a bushel of trees. She catches my attention and I can see that she's very sceptical of my presence. I am too of hers.

Maria sighs then says, "This gentleman helped me to carry the groceries. I was just about to take over and finish the journey on my own, Liz."

Crap, I'm about to lose my chance of finding out where she was going. Things were going so smoothly too.

"I guess I should be grateful that you didn't come to any harm since allowing a man to travel with you unescorted through such an area can often be inviting danger." The new woman says and I narrow my gaze on her. Her voice is clearly stern toward Maria and I can't stop the protectiveness that comes over me. I have to stop myself from stepping in front of Maria and telling this newcomer off. I can't believe that she would think that having me along would invite danger...ok, maybe it does considering who I am...but still.

She turns to me with a slight smile, "Thank you for the assistance as well as the company. It was a pleasure talking with you. She reaches for the bag I held. "Maybe I'll see you the next time I'm in town." She says but doesn't move.

"Just hurry up, Maria. We've got to have dinner and get back on our schedule." The dark haired girl says as she turns away and starts walking back to the trees. Is that the way to their home? Surely they wouldn't be that obvious if they were the chosen ones...would they?

"I'll be along, don't worry. It wouldn't do to be rude after he came all this way so kindly."

I smile at her words. Yes, I did come quite a way with her. I'm hoping Tess and the others are trailing not far from me. If not, I'll have to find a way to follow them then go back.

I look toward the retreating woman. "I'm sorry if I got you in some trouble. I only wanted to help." You intrigue me...I wanted to know more, I think to myself.

[magikhands]

ooc: I'll be back with a Max and maybe Alphonse later today or maybe tomorrow - depends on how much partying I do...

Happy New Years!

[StormWolfstone]

~Maria~


Michael smiles at my words and then comments, "I'm sorry if I got you in some trouble. I only wanted to help."

"I know. It's alright. I can handle Liz. She's just very protective of me and the others. We're all we have." I tell him with a smile as I turn to walk away and then turn back again, "Thanks again." Walking into the trees, following the same path that Liz had taken, I concentrate lightly, knowing that the light breeze I use will help cover my tracks and I'm certain Liz had already been using her power to use the earth to cover her tracks.

Somehow, I am certain that Michael is still near, but as I turn to see where I'd walked, the trees are the only company I have. I didn't go too far before I am joined by Liz who takes one of the bags from me and I stay quiet, knowing that she's going to say something whether I like it or not.

"Maria, we have to be more careful. We can't afford to let anyone get close. Not now, not with everything we have to prepare for. Why did you do that?"

"Liz... I know I screwed up... but I... I was enjoying the company, the chance to talk to someone different. Besides, he was harmless. He was nice and I hope that the next time I'm in the city, I see him again." I reply, being honest about my thoughts.

"Maria..." Liz shakes her head, "We can't afford the risks. Next time we have a shopping need, I'm going to ask Kyle or Alex to go. You're going to have to stay hidden for a while." I sighed, knowing that she wasn't going to like hearing what I was going to say next.

"Liz... I think we should get Alex and Kyle... there's something I need to tell all of you and I'd rather get it over with at one time." I say and she nods, simply going silent. Damn! Damn! I messed up badly.

[magikhands]

Michael

I watch Maria walk away and my chest suddenly tightens. Somehow I knew that if I didn't find out where she was going that I'd not see her for a long time. I didn't like how the other woman was looking at me, like we'd done something wrong. All we were doing was talking...ok, I had another agenda but that didn't mean I wasn't enjoying my time with her.

As soon as she starts through the trees, I race toward that direction. I can't let them go...not yet. I have to see where they are going, then I'll go back and get the others.

I stay hidden, behind the trees and far enough where hopefully she won't detect my presence. I try to follow her trail and am amazed to find that there is none. That's alright...for some reason, I know she's gone this way.

Once I get Maria in my sights again, I see that the other woman has joined her. They are talking...more like the dark haired one is lecturing, but I can't make out what they are discussing. Slipping a little farther back, I stealthily make may way after them.

[Anna-Liisa]

ooc: Oh, we need Jack and Daniela now that Nicole isn't playing anymore. I can temp Jack if you want me to...

And I think I'm still waiting for an Alex reply, am I wrong?
And Erika and Tamara will be posted once I have time to write them. I still have a week of vacation, so....I'll try and do it before it ends.

[magikhands]

ooc: I can help out with Daniella if no one volunteers

Max

Walking out of the Inn, I decide to find Isabel. I don't know where Michael and Tess ran off too but Isabel, I can always find her at the Library, right where we left her earlier. Sometimes we have to pry her away.

Taking a glance around the crowded streets, I head toward Isabel.

ooc: I know it's lame but it's all I've got for now.

[Fehr'sBear]

(sorry about that ^^ sorta forgot )

Alex

"It's just... Fire and some hot kissing with a cool looking person. That's all." Kyle says, and I'm about to reply, wondering what on earth makes hot kissing with a cool looking person wierd when he changes the subject.

Obviously he doesn't want to talk about it, so I let it alone. Chances are it'll come up again anyways. Kyle knows he can trust me, and if he really wants me to know, he'll tell me.

"Listen, maybe we should go find Maria. She hasn't returned yet...You know, it's not safe in the city, since the dark-siders might be anywhere." I scramble up from where I was sitting and dust the dirt off of my pants quickly.

"That's a good idea. I mean, she has been gone a while, and I've been getting these sort of...uneasy feelings lately, ya know?" I start back down the hill.

"Coming?"

[Anna-Liisa]

thanks Magik. I put you as temp ^^. Now I'll start reading what I've missed so I can think about the replies.