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Jane:
Jane was on a run through the park, something that was at this point more habit than exercise. She hadn't missed a run before without a serious medical excuse and no reason to start missing now, so she'd laced up her running shoes with her sweatpants, t-shirt with a zip-up hoodie over it and tied her hair back in a ponytail and gotten to it. And now, she ran at a pace that was faster than most people could manage to sustain, but for her it wasn't taxing even into her fifth mile.
Avery:
Avery was sitting under a tree, always trees. The shade was nice and it let you enjoy the sun without being blinded by it. They had a blanket under them, a number of different pencils and pens, and were drawing the skyline above the park. A nice reflection of nature below and steel above.
He stops for a minute at a strange sound, hand going towards his hip where a knife was hidden. Now this might sound crazy...but I think theres a metal person approaching.
Jane:
She kept on running. Jane wasn't unaccustomed to seeing people chilling out in the park and drawing. What she was unaccustomed to seeing was one of them reaching for something on her approach. She slowed, which is to say she entered into a light jog as she passed, keeping an eye on this one. Probably wouldn't be trouble, but could still be a nuisance...
Avery:
Avery's head tilts as she approaches, listening. A confused look on his face as she gets closer. The hand doesn't move from the hip, and their sketchbook is now in their lap. Their movements are graceful, almost weirdly so, as their other hand turns into a wave at the passing runner.
Jane:
She waves back. And now she herself is confused by their confusion. "Hello?" She said with a raised eyebrow and curious expression.
Avery:
Avery looks around, seeing, and more importantly hearing, no one else too close. That was both concerning and a relief in its own right. Where were we again? RIGHT! The weird person.
"Um...hi? Sorry?" Great start Avery. "Your footsteps just sounded weird." Put down the shovel Avery. "And I thought you might be weird too." Gosh darn it Avery.
Jane:
She came to a stop nearby. "I'm used to running to a set tempo, maybe I was being a bit too precise." She chuckled, "Weird? I mean, weird's relative. Weird for you might be normal for me."
Avery:
Avery shrugs, hand moving away from their side and back towards their sketchbook. Still tense but not ready for the other person to attack him. He backpedals a bit to try to seem more normal.
"Footsteps tend to echo on the path, the echo was just weird I guess? I guess I'm pretty weird too?"
Jane:
"You're weird to yourself or weird compared to others?" She tilted her head, looking at Avery.
Avery:
Avery looks genuinely confused for a moment, thinking like this was a super important question. "Can it be both? I think it's both?"
Jane:
She smirked, "Heh, I kinda felt like that once. Getting used to being weird is tough. Don't worry, soon you'll just be weird to others." She came in a bit closer, her eyes scanning for signs of agitation or other red flags about the stranger even as she joked.
Avery:
Avery nods, giving a big smile. "Being weird can be a lot. Normal people are boring though."
Avery swayed a little bit as they talked, anxiety clear in the small figure. Theres a nervousness thats best described as a prey animal near a predator, ready to jump up and run if things go poorly. While watching them, theres a jerky quality to their movements, a bit too fast for most people to do. The little bit of nerves bringing the strange closer to the surface.
Jane:
Jane's movements are controlled, disciplined. There's a rough, powerful elegance to how she moves, and a degree of efficiency, evident since she was running even as she settled in to take a seat. "But I'm not boring, hmm? I've got interesting footsteps. My Reeboks are pretty normal, though."
Avery:
Avery gives a little laugh, it has a strange croak like undertone to it. "No, no you are quite interesting. But not the Reeboks no. What can I call you?"
Jane:
"Let's go with Jane." A playful smirk, "Plain ol' Jane, nothin' weird about her." Except the fact she was running a strong pace and yet is barely sweating.
Lav (She/Faer) -Klaire/Avery — Yesterday at 2:03 PM
Avery smiles. "Jane is a good name. My name is Avery. I do think there is some weird about you. But you also seem strong, do you run a lot?"
Jane:
Jane nodded, "Oh yeah, ever since I was in school. Love to run, live to run. A big plus for someone who works as a medic. What about you?"
Avery:
Avery nods. "I don't like running, I like the air more." Avery pauses for an unreasonable amount of time. "Um... gliding, yes. Sorry."
A quick glance to her face. "You said you were a medic?"
Jane:
"Yes. Army trained me up, now I'm a paramedic. Work the ER at Einstein." She smiled, "You seem a bit anxious about something. Everything okay? I don't scare you, do I?"
Avery:
"That sounds really cool...I'm just an artist." Avery seems even more nervous at the question, then figures that might as well get over it.
"Yes... you do. Most things scare me."
Jane:
She shook her head, "Just an artist? Eh, that's something a lot of people aspire to. More than a 'just'. Be proud of that." She looked to Avery, "And you don't have be scared of me. All I want to do is help people."
Avery:
"Im still relearning everything. So yes... just." Avery closes his sketchbook. He continues a bit quieter.
"It is not to when you creak with every movement, I'm glad you just want to help."
Jane:
"Well, I'm sure you do better than you think. How often do you go gliding?"
Avery:
Avery smiles. "Most days, when I can. Do you go in the air at all?"
Jane:
A broad cheshire cat grin crossed Jane's face, "In a manner of speaking. I've been known to do some daredevil things."
Avery:
Avery's head tilts. "What do you mean?"
Jane:
"Freerunning rooftops and jumping between buildings. Get a lot of air that way." Jane chuckled, "Probably not the same as gliding around, but as close as I'll be getting."
Avery:
Avery nods. "I guess it's similar? Not quite the same. It's freeing being in the air."
Jane:
"Oh yeah? Where do you go flying?"
Avery:
Avery pauses. "Um..." Its not followed by an actual answer.
Jane:
"Oooh!" She jumps in, "There was that one time I jumped out of a helicopter. Outside of training, an actual thing. That was pretty cool."
Avery:
Avery nods. "That sounds pretty cool. That's probably pretty close to the feeling."
Jane:
Jane gets back up and stretches her legs, "Still think I can run faster than most birds fly, though. Maybe as far, too."
Avery:
Avery looks indignant, almost arguing outright but stopping themselves. "Most birds can go pretty far, you sure you can?"
Jane:
"Depends on the bird, I guess. I compete against a Falcon, that's a wrap, no shot." She shakes her head, "But an Oriole? Maybe."
Avery:
"Falcons are predators. They are fast but don't need to travel far. There's always prey." Avery pauses, trying to think. "Other birds are better at distances. It would be unfair to challenge a fish to climb a tree, yes?"
Jane:
"Suppose so. What bird were you thinking of?" She started stretching her arms now.
Avery:
Avery shifts nervously. "Ravens. Ravens use thermals to stay airborne, their wings catch much of the updraft and they can fly long distances with little energy. Theres also a lot of other birds like that too."
Jane:
Jane rubs her chin and thinks that one over, "Aaahh, I have to admit I don't know much about birds." She pauses, "They your, uhh.. favorite birds?"
Avery:
"I like birds. I know a lot from... gliding." Avery nods. "I do like them. Corvids as a whole but especially ravens."
Jane:
Jane looks off to the side for a moment and she seems to space out for a moment before looking back to Avery, "Aha. Ravens are pretty cool. None of them have ever pooped on me or my stuff, which is not what I can say for pigeons." She rolls her eyes and chuckles.
Avery:
Avery's face sours. "Pigeons suck. I don't like them. But yes, ravens are the best." A proud grin that she agrees.
Jane:
"Well, hey. You got a number or something? Would love to watch you go gliding some time, maybe we could hang out and be weird together." Jane does one last bit of stretching..
Avery:
Avery shakes his head. "I'm sorry, I don't like giving out my number. It makes me feel anxious. But...sure, if we meet again we can...'hang out and be weird'?"
Jane:
"Alright. You can catch me running around town pretty much every day." She gives a thumbs up of approval, "We're bound to bump into each other again between your gliding and my running."
Avery:
Avery smiles. "If you run around town, I'll likely see you. I draw a lot. Take care Jane. Enjoy the rest of your run."
Jane:
Jane gives a wave and gets back to running!
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