((A continuation of the story with Lizbeth and Mordecai, moved here from the Midnight Diner topic when they left.))
Mordecai wrote:
The filthy conditions behind the restaurant hadn't even fazed the German. Not only because of his years spent around similarly decorated establishments, but also because his sense of smell had declined drastically at one point in his life. So he breathed that tainted air with gusto, hardly smelling the trash and whatever other mysterious substances that lined the still-wet pavement.
Peering at the doe again, he did see that the fur seemed just about as thick as a wild animal's, which would keep her plenty warm. He hadn't been sure whether the transformation into a partial-human had negated the effectiveness of her natural coat. "Alright," he replied slowly, deciding that her lingering shivers were more likely due to the excitement from before, "if you insist. But if you need, you may haff my coat." Leaving it at that didn't feel good according to the values he'd lived by since he was a boy. There was a shivering lady--a doe, sure, but still a lady--and he was the one wearing the coat? It just wasn't right. But he wouldn't press the issue for now.
Just before the ruckus began within that diner after the two had left, one of the men in black had growled, "Where are you going? Are you insane?!" and then they both were challenged by the cooks, and the shouting and cursing commenced.
While Mordecai couldn't tell what was being said in there exactly, he could hear that people were shouting. He paused, tempted to go back to see what was happening and whether he might be of some help again. He was looking at the diner as Lizbeth grasped one of his long arms with her furred hand, surprising him slightly even though he'd already almost offered it. The man allowed it in a respectful manner, holding it steady for her in case support was needed, but assuming nothing else of the action. His eyes left the diner and landed on the doe, being reminded that he'd taken up another duty already--escorting this unique woman safely home. The diner would have to sort out its own problems now.
"A fine plan," he agreed as he walked along with her toward the buildings she'd indicated, very much looking forward to the idea of a 'hidden' place, "I imagine zhis vas all a bit upsetting for you. But I sink you handled it in excellent fashion." When he said that, he was thinking of that determined, almost dangerous look in her eyes when she had sat next to Kris, glaring at his father. The drunk was probably lucky, unbeknownst to him, that Mordecai had gotten to him before the doe decided to take action in defense of the boy.
The middle-aged man was then quiet for a while. He still had questions that he had been hoping to ask since their conversation in the booth, but his mind was already whirring with other thoughts that had to be sorted through, which were unrelated to what had happened in the diner. He wasn't coming down from any sort of adrenaline rush, having been plenty calm in dealing with Kris' father since it was a scene he was quite familiar with in more than one way.
As they walked, he was constantly looking around them, moving only his eyes as much as possible although he often turned his head to check behind them. His shoulders tensed up as they approached every corner or large object that he couldn't see around, relaxing only when they passed them.
But his facial expression and fairly deep voice were calm when he spoke at one point, not long after the walk began. "I vas vondering. Vhat brought you to zhat diner in ze first place, if you do not mind my inquisitiveness? It just does not seem like a place you might prefer to relax. Especially not viss how comfortable your home sounds." Plus, he remembered her saying that it was her first time there in spite of living in the area for a few years.
Peering at the doe again, he did see that the fur seemed just about as thick as a wild animal's, which would keep her plenty warm. He hadn't been sure whether the transformation into a partial-human had negated the effectiveness of her natural coat. "Alright," he replied slowly, deciding that her lingering shivers were more likely due to the excitement from before, "if you insist. But if you need, you may haff my coat." Leaving it at that didn't feel good according to the values he'd lived by since he was a boy. There was a shivering lady--a doe, sure, but still a lady--and he was the one wearing the coat? It just wasn't right. But he wouldn't press the issue for now.
Just before the ruckus began within that diner after the two had left, one of the men in black had growled, "Where are you going? Are you insane?!" and then they both were challenged by the cooks, and the shouting and cursing commenced.
While Mordecai couldn't tell what was being said in there exactly, he could hear that people were shouting. He paused, tempted to go back to see what was happening and whether he might be of some help again. He was looking at the diner as Lizbeth grasped one of his long arms with her furred hand, surprising him slightly even though he'd already almost offered it. The man allowed it in a respectful manner, holding it steady for her in case support was needed, but assuming nothing else of the action. His eyes left the diner and landed on the doe, being reminded that he'd taken up another duty already--escorting this unique woman safely home. The diner would have to sort out its own problems now.
"A fine plan," he agreed as he walked along with her toward the buildings she'd indicated, very much looking forward to the idea of a 'hidden' place, "I imagine zhis vas all a bit upsetting for you. But I sink you handled it in excellent fashion." When he said that, he was thinking of that determined, almost dangerous look in her eyes when she had sat next to Kris, glaring at his father. The drunk was probably lucky, unbeknownst to him, that Mordecai had gotten to him before the doe decided to take action in defense of the boy.
The middle-aged man was then quiet for a while. He still had questions that he had been hoping to ask since their conversation in the booth, but his mind was already whirring with other thoughts that had to be sorted through, which were unrelated to what had happened in the diner. He wasn't coming down from any sort of adrenaline rush, having been plenty calm in dealing with Kris' father since it was a scene he was quite familiar with in more than one way.
As they walked, he was constantly looking around them, moving only his eyes as much as possible although he often turned his head to check behind them. His shoulders tensed up as they approached every corner or large object that he couldn't see around, relaxing only when they passed them.
But his facial expression and fairly deep voice were calm when he spoke at one point, not long after the walk began. "I vas vondering. Vhat brought you to zhat diner in ze first place, if you do not mind my inquisitiveness? It just does not seem like a place you might prefer to relax. Especially not viss how comfortable your home sounds." Plus, he remembered her saying that it was her first time there in spite of living in the area for a few years.
Holding the arm of that unknown man, even if she knew that he is safe, is something very unusual for this doe. But this had two reasons for Lizbeth, one being a support for her, she still felt weak. She came to the Diner to shelter from the pouring rain and illness showed its nose, quite invasive illness. All the action and ups and downs in her emotional living took much energy, Lizbeth was exhausted and her body trembles. To save the kid from being beaten up, the deer had activated her reserve of physical stamina, that reserve that is deployed in extreme situations. The fact that she had to 'flee', if ever it should be revealed as a flee, through a kitchen and backdoor of a restaurant, didn't help much to regenerate her health. Lizbeth was effectively at the end of the roll, so a supporting arm was more than necessary to walk home.
The second reason however was more subtle, more of a help for Mordecai. As that puzzle of misunderstandings fitted together whilst her hooves slithered over that kitchen floor, Lizbeth deducted that this German man was the suspect, and that a hidden place could be very fancy for him. Even if she didn't know what he has possibly done. Grabbing his arm and almost dragging him away was maybe the best she could do to prevent him going back into the lion's den and do a possible mistake. Even if she just assumed this man to do a stupidity by returning.
So there she was, walking towards her little Eden, a big man at her arm. Her idea of going towards her place was genuinely accepted and his behavior during the walk told Lizbeth that it was true, he was the one being watched, he was the 'suspect'. But still she doesn't know all, who are these men? Lizbeth knows a little bit of this town and she takes an itinerary where cars don't fit, as she believes that van to be part of the show. The words of Mordecai made Lizbeth smile, she was almost praised for her behavior, a behavior she always had and was rather instinctive than wanted. Mordecai should have seen the eyes of Maxwell, her father, when this one almost stabbed a wolf with his antlers.
"Thank you" are the only words she could speak upon his statement, "it was all very exhausting". Lizbeth just kept walking straight home, no look around, no thought about those left behind at that diner, as long as that kid was safe.
While they both pass a small alley, a venelle you better avoid when it's dark, Mordecai asked for her intention why she entered that diner.
"Yesterday I was late, I went to Marge's after having been at the library and that herbalist made me taste new teas she found. Very delightful, but we lost notion of time and the weather changed too rapidly. So I found myself running through a pouring cold rain, the one you normally shelter from. But I was already tired and wanted to reach secure home quickly, I didn't. I found shelter at the diner just before my body would collapse out of cold. My fur was soaking wet and I was in middle of town, so impossible to take off any clothing. My vest sticked to my fur and just broke my ability to heat up. That diner was my almost last chance, I was lucky to find a heated place. I even fell asleep." Lizbeth looks for a short moment at the man next to her, maybe in unconscious need of understanding, as she omitted in her fatigue to explain that Marge is the town herbalist and that she started to learn to read at the library downtown.
"My home is my little Eden, but it might not be the most comfortable in your eyes. It's a small hut, in the middle of the forest, spartiate and without modern comfort like electricity and running water. But it's my home in the midst of the place I was born, my forest. I am a deer, yes, with a humanized body, but still a deer and my home is a mix of both worlds, human and animal. I just feel good there."
Around both, the houses start to shrink, becoming more single-family homes than large apartment buildings, the lake approaches inevitably, pursuers seem not to be present. Concrete makes place for lawns and trees, they are at edge of town. The smell of the forest, that typical smell nature produces after the rain, made Lizbeth's nostrils flare, the odor of home, her odor. That smell is like an invigorating balm, giving the doe's muscles enough energy to reach her wanted goal, home. "We arrive soon, I can smell it" she smiles.
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