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Looking back, going out late on a Saturday night was not the best idea Rebecca had had. Despite the nip in the air, people were still out and about, sometimes more congested with groups of people than the streets that catered to the night owls of the world. Neon signs screamed the names of different places, asaulting or dazzling people's eyes as they passed.

At least it was better near a park, not hands in her pockets and elbows tucked in at her sides out of habit. She didn' thave a specific spot in mind, not yet; her cabin fever had demanded that she got out of her apartment, not what she did with her time.

“Ugh.” She wrinkled her nose at her own indecision and stepped into the park, glancing back over her shoulder as she did so. Her dissatisfaction earned her a few odd looks, but the young woman ignored them.

This was living the dream. Really.

[Alice Morrow]

Paladin Am I more than you bargained for yet? + @rebecca + wearing

This week had not been ideal from the start. Alice was not particularly interested in fashion, but Stephen was and so she'd attended in a show of support for her friend. His show had probably been the least dull of all of them, but she wasn't sure if that was because of the actual clothes involved or because of his status as her oldest friend. Right now it was a tie in her mind, though tipping slowly over to the latter. He had been busy this week, and so she hadn't been able to spend much time with him. Hadn't been able to spend much time with anyone. She might have spent a great deal of time living alone, but she didn't like to be alone, especially since she had grown accustomed to having a flatmate. Ashley wasn't here though, and Alice had to find something to do since Stephen had something more interesting to fill his time with. It had seemed the right time for some sightseeing, late at night, when everything was shut, and she couldn't get into clubs… She was too annoyed to have considered that when she went out, so she headed to the one thing she was sure would still be open. Central Park. She was on her phone, texting the guy she had met the other night., when she walked right into someone else. Fortunately she was quick enough to not absorb the force of the impact, that might have led to a few questions. "Shit, I'm so sorry, I totally wasn't looking where I was going."

© seadra of gs

[Deleted]

While used to being aware of the people around her, the person who collided with her from behind was a surprise. There was a light behind her, not bright and moving closer, then the sense of another body touching hers. It was enough for Rebecca to jump like a scalded cat , complete with a hiss as she sucked in a gasp between her teeth as she took large step away from the person. Spinning on her heel, she found herself staring at a young woman already apologizing for bumping into her.

“No, really?” she snapped, hands clutching the inside of her pockets. At least the blue-haired seemed aware of that, too. Dark eyes swept over the woman who had been absorbed in what was on her phone, another habit that reassured her that nothing seemed damaged.

“You might want to watch it next time.” She rolled her shoulders back, keeping distance between them. Still, better to ask and know for sure what worried about her.

“You good?” She tugged her sleeves down further as she spoke, grateful for long gloves and New York winters.

[Alice Morrow]

Paladin Am I more than you bargained for yet? + @rebecca + wearing

"Yeah I know," she waved the phone in her hand, "Met a guy last night, got a little absorbed..." She looked apologetic. The reaction of the other woman had seemed a little out of proportion. After all, Alice hadn't exactly walked into her hard, she'd been dawdling along while tapping on her phone. It certainly hadn't warranted the cat with it's tail trodden on reaction. The change into sudden concern was even more strange. A moment ago she'd been barking at Alice in anger at her clumsiness, now she seemed sincere in checking that she was OK. Alice gave her a questioning look. "Yeah... I'm fine. Are you OK, I didn't think I hit you that hard or anything, but y'know how it is, like, don't know my own strength." She was sure that she hadn't used her power by accident. Not that it should have produced such a reaction, more knocked them over, or made them question why the impact had produced no effect. She'd noticed that people tended to brush off minor uses of it. If it didn't make sense in their understanding of the Universe they just pretended it hadn't happened. Like some sort of mental survival instinct. It must be much harder now that metahumans were public knowledge.

© seadra of gs

[Deleted]

The knowledge she had overrated was now more than just gnawing at the back of her brain. Rebecca bit the inside of her cheek to keep herself from grimacing, but it did nothing to help the sour taste in her mouth. A dozen excuses tumbled over each other in her mind as the girl asked if she was okay. Normal things to say to a reaction that hadn't been.

"It's fine, I'm not that fragile." She rolled her shoulders back one at a time as she spoke in an effort to release the tension. "Just in my own world, I guess." One that did not include meeting a certain guy the night before.

"Enjoy the new guy." Her hands slid back into her pockets as she spoke. She wasn't concerned over who he was or if they'd enjoyed themselves; if she was absorbed in him, that was something to go off of.

[Alice Morrow]

Paladin Am I more than you bargained for yet? + @rebecca + wearing

The older woman had clearly been shaken by the collision, minor though it had been. Perhaps Alice should have used her power, she might not even have felt it then, only the barest brush of contact. Although she'd reacted with such ferocity that the blue haired teen couldn't help but wonder if something else was going on. "At least let me buy you a coffee or a pretzel or something to make it up to you. This is my first time in New York so I've gotta try one of the pretzels, oooh, or a hot dog! They're in like every movie and every TV show!" Shrugging, Alice slipped the phone back into her pocket, which was an effort in itself. "It can wait." Saying that had been a greater effort. "I' can catch up with him anytime, but now I've met an actual New Yorker. I think…" She paused in her rambling, "Are you actually from New York?" It would be pretty embarrassing if she wasn't, but it wouldn't be the end of the world. Perhaps they could explore the city together? Or, more likely, have their coffee and then part ways. "I'm Alice by the way. Total tourist, in case I hadn't made that super clear already."

© seadra of gs