( Avery didn't sacrifice himself. Avery died defending his husband. Defending the both of them, if he were to think about it. But, when you're dead, you don't get to think about it. You're dead. Your legacy is what you left behind and that includes a found family he'd do anything for. So, when his eyes flicker open at the sound of a voice he doesn't recognize, he can only think about -- Vegas - and then, )
Elton.
( One hand flat against the ground, he lifts his head up off the ground. He flips his body around, drops his lower back against the surface below him and he kicks to his feet. The adrenaline takes over before her words become clearer and he realizes he doesn't recognize his surroundings. His husband isn't here. There's just this girl. But, that girl is producing light from her hands.
He brings his hands down, slightly, trying to shake out the sudden spike in action. His instincts kick in. This doesn't feel dangerous. And, she's not one of the witches who'd attacked them.
It's as if the lights around her hands are actually - well, they don't seem like a weapon. His breathing returns to normal and he lowers his hands completely to get a better look at their surroundings. )
[Something they have in common, and now she doesn't have to hedge around it. She's never been very good at hedging. She's also still sure, however, that it sounds a bit different coming from someone maybe fifteen years younger than you. They're both far too young to have died though. That much is certain.
She pushes back up onto her feet, giving him his space before offering an awkward smile, baubles of light still illuminating the space around them.]
I'm afraid I am not Elton. But I am Elsie. Elsie Alston.
[She sticks out a hand in greeting, doing her best to seem calm even if she's not.]
( But, it was up there. He gets a look at their surroundings before turning to face her. )
Zian. But, everyone calls me Avery. ( Assimilation and all that. He'll take her hand though. ) Weird to make your acquaintance. Any chance we're in Las Vegas?
[Likely as evidenced by her very British accent. She likely would have been at some point had she lived, but her mother was never really one for traveling to America.
But she glances around at the chilly London weather and shrugs.]
But it does feel a little cold and green for Vegas, no?
( He doesn't know her, so he doesn't say it out loud. But if Elton did something he fucking shouldn't have in all this. Dark magic. Sold his soul. He's going to kill him. And what good would it have been. )
But, we should. Let's start walking. Try not to act like people that are suddenly alive.
[What kind is to be determined. Elsie is a little more hesitant to assume the worst - she will believe that even more so when she learns how long it's been since she died. But she also thinks that the circumstances of her death would defer any bad behavior on her family's part.
That being said, she waves her hands delicately, letting the baubles of light rise ahead of them so that they can see in front of them as they walk.]
Have you spent time in England before?
[It seems like a good puzzle to solve - how two seemingly disparate people wound up getting resurrected together at the same time.]
Or, more infernal. The magic that did this? I wouldn't trust. Who would do this for you?
( It's the kind that worries him, like Elsie. )
Yes, actually. A friend made it big in London. I try to go once a year or when a job takes me there. My husband... ( Is alive, gods willing. ) has a big, raucous family, so sometimes I leave him to his own devices. I fear what he's gotten into without me.
( Or, if he's the reason Avery is back. But, what would his connection to Elsie be? )
[Elsie stalls at the first question, because sure, there is an answer to that. But he wouldn't. Neither he nor her mother would do that to her, given how she died.]
I don't think they would do that to me. And it depends on how long I've been dead. But I have a twin brother, and my mother is still alive. She is a powerful witch, but he doesn't have magic anymore.
[Because it's complicated and a long story.
But she is pleased to hear about his friend in London, that's certainly a good place to start. And she does also hope that his husband is alive. But when he says the name "Azumas," something about that does ping (15).]
The name does sound familiar. Is that your family?
Ah. Well, Jack did go to school with an Asa Azuma. Unsure if he's related to your Azumas, but Jack liked him well enough. We met once when our boarding schools had a joint event.
[Gender exclusive schools meant she didn't spend much time with Asa, he seemed like he was a good friend to her brother and that's what matters.
What she doesn't realize is that she's giving away that she's been dead a very long time.]
Before she can comment on Asa's life choices further, however, they find themselves coming to the edge of a park. The street lights allow them to see, so she douses the orbs, and she glances through the city with a frown.]
I do think this is London.
[She leans forward, seeing a familiar shop on the street corner and she brightens.]
Oh! I know where we are. We're not far from my father's firm.
[Only it's not necessarily her father's firm anymore but she doesn't know that yet. Details.]
[That being said, if he wants to check out the date, there is magazine stand on the street that might have a daily tabloid of some kind with the date.]
[No newspapers, but he can check the dates on the magazines that will put them in roughly April of the year after he died. He can gauge that he's been dead roughly less than a year.
As Elsie slows to also look, her face pales some.]
I suppose we should probably be more careful with me.
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Elton.
( One hand flat against the ground, he lifts his head up off the ground. He flips his body around, drops his lower back against the surface below him and he kicks to his feet. The adrenaline takes over before her words become clearer and he realizes he doesn't recognize his surroundings. His husband isn't here. There's just this girl. But, that girl is producing light from her hands.
He brings his hands down, slightly, trying to shake out the sudden spike in action. His instincts kick in. This doesn't feel dangerous. And, she's not one of the witches who'd attacked them.
It's as if the lights around her hands are actually - well, they don't seem like a weapon. His breathing returns to normal and he lowers his hands completely to get a better look at their surroundings. )
I'm - alive.
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[Something they have in common, and now she doesn't have to hedge around it. She's never been very good at hedging. She's also still sure, however, that it sounds a bit different coming from someone maybe fifteen years younger than you. They're both far too young to have died though. That much is certain.
She pushes back up onto her feet, giving him his space before offering an awkward smile, baubles of light still illuminating the space around them.]
I'm afraid I am not Elton. But I am Elsie. Elsie Alston.
[She sticks out a hand in greeting, doing her best to seem calm even if she's not.]
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( But, it was up there. He gets a look at their surroundings before turning to face her. )
Zian. But, everyone calls me Avery. ( Assimilation and all that. He'll take her hand though. ) Weird to make your acquaintance. Any chance we're in Las Vegas?
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[Likely as evidenced by her very British accent. She likely would have been at some point had she lived, but her mother was never really one for traveling to America.
But she glances around at the chilly London weather and shrugs.]
But it does feel a little cold and green for Vegas, no?
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( Which means he's probably in England. They are. He's not alone. )
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[There's no real landmarks nearby that she could see. Nothing familiar or that indicates that they're close to Cheetham.]
Perhaps if we start walking we could find a road? Perhaps someone will be able to tell us where we are.
[And depending on who they're closest too, tap whatever friends they have to.]
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( He doesn't know her, so he doesn't say it out loud. But if Elton did something he fucking shouldn't have in all this. Dark magic. Sold his soul. He's going to kill him. And what good would it have been. )
But, we should. Let's start walking. Try not to act like people that are suddenly alive.
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[What kind is to be determined. Elsie is a little more hesitant to assume the worst - she will believe that even more so when she learns how long it's been since she died. But she also thinks that the circumstances of her death would defer any bad behavior on her family's part.
That being said, she waves her hands delicately, letting the baubles of light rise ahead of them so that they can see in front of them as they walk.]
Have you spent time in England before?
[It seems like a good puzzle to solve - how two seemingly disparate people wound up getting resurrected together at the same time.]
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( It's the kind that worries him, like Elsie. )
Yes, actually. A friend made it big in London. I try to go once a year or when a job takes me there. My husband... ( Is alive, gods willing. ) has a big, raucous family, so sometimes I leave him to his own devices. I fear what he's gotten into without me.
( Or, if he's the reason Avery is back. But, what would his connection to Elsie be? )
Do you know the Azumas?
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I don't think they would do that to me. And it depends on how long I've been dead. But I have a twin brother, and my mother is still alive. She is a powerful witch, but he doesn't have magic anymore.
[Because it's complicated and a long story.
But she is pleased to hear about his friend in London, that's certainly a good place to start. And she does also hope that his husband is alive. But when he says the name "Azumas," something about that does ping (15).]
The name does sound familiar. Is that your family?
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In-laws. And then some. I'm also in business with them.
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[Gender exclusive schools meant she didn't spend much time with Asa, he seemed like he was a good friend to her brother and that's what matters.
What she doesn't realize is that she's giving away that she's been dead a very long time.]
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( He got away from the business side of the family business. )
If you ask him, he's the black sheep.
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[Jack also sees himself as the black sheep, but she knows that he will do what's expected for his family, whatever it takes.]
A California beach town does sound like it would suit him though.
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( Even though he is an exemplary Azuma, Liena doesn't think so. )
I think if he could, he'd only surf, drink beer, and stay away from the fray.
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Before she can comment on Asa's life choices further, however, they find themselves coming to the edge of a park. The street lights allow them to see, so she douses the orbs, and she glances through the city with a frown.]
I do think this is London.
[She leans forward, seeing a familiar shop on the street corner and she brightens.]
Oh! I know where we are. We're not far from my father's firm.
[Only it's not necessarily her father's firm anymore but she doesn't know that yet. Details.]
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( Or, wonder. )
He's a lawyer?
( And, okay, so they're in familiar territory for her. But, why is he here? )
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[It seems like it's been quite some time, but she didn't spend much time in London, if she's honest.]
It's this way. If nothing else, they'll probably let us use a phone at least.
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( And it worries him, now. He'd like to find something that will show him the date. )
Or, have access to the date. Will you being there be a shock?
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[After all, they are back from the dead.]
I'm sure it'd be a shock to your family as well.
[That being said, if he wants to check out the date, there is magazine stand on the street that might have a daily tabloid of some kind with the date.]
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( And the answers. He agrees. )
Quite.
( Oh, as he passes it, he will, scanning the magazines or for a newspaper. (5, LOL) )
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As Elsie slows to also look, her face pales some.]
I suppose we should probably be more careful with me.
[As she has been dead a good fifteen years.]
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( He deserves to see her. )
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It's probably more likely him at the firm than my father.
[But yes, that's a good plan.]
Perhaps I wait in the lobby and you gauge ... how complicated this will be?
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( He holds the magazine out. He's not worried about stealing from a magazine cart this late, not when they need to not make a big scene. )
To cover your face.
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