Ask Accidents Happen

[Lucian Belgrave]

"THIEF!"

"HE'S A THIEF! STOP HIM!"

Three burly men chased the padawan through a packed merchant street. Crowds of people formed around the stalls that lined every inch of the street, the air smoggy from barbecue and cigarras, while local music echoed down the entire lane. Lucian would admit to himself that this time he may have bitten off more than he could chew. Once again, he snuck out of the Starlight Beacon, the process being rather mundane for him and all the more enticing for it to happen again. Even with the gardens and temple there, all he saw again and again were white walls, and it drove him crazy, at least until he snuck out.

Lucian speared through the crowds as he tried to use his hands to prevent any serious damage by tackling someone. The occasional curse or insult was thrown at him, but he only shouted out, "Sorry!" as he sprinted past. When he came across a clump of people too thick, he deviated and angled right, specifically right into the table. Reacting quickly, he dropped to the ground and slid under it, the pants of his outfit preventing any burns. The people sitting at the table quickly pushed their chairs out of the way to not be hit, conveniently clearing the way for him underneath.

Right when he passed the table, though, he found that he was about to slide right into another one hosting a family. Thinking quickly again, Lucian opened his palm against the ground and produced a quick application of the force to propel him up. To everyone around him, it simply appeared as if he made an incredible leap to land on top of the table, plates and food scattering everywhere.

Lucian balanced himself on top of the table before he spun on his heel to face the three men still pushing through the crowd. Both his arms spread wide as he said in a pseudo-shocked tone, "Come on, boys! The sign said, "Take a sample'!" In one of his hands would be a massive turkey leg that he had snatched from a stall. Before he could explain any further, he had to suddenly duck as a kitchen knife soared right past his head and stuck into one of the nearby signs. Lucian hopped off the table quickly and began to run again, with the family pelting him with food until he turned the corner.

The padawan ran down a new street that was still part of the market, as stalls had sprouted up everywhere. There was a small break in the crowd ahead, and he took the chance to glance behind him to see where his pursuers were—a rookie mistake. Not even able to stop or cushion himself in the slightest, he wholly slammed into someone and toppled over into the road, his vision spinning in circles as he tumbled. Lucian completely lost the location of his turkey leg as well.

When he finally came to a stop, dirt and scuff marks covering his clothes, he spun around to see the woman he had trucked. Completely forgetting about the men, he slid over to the girl before asking and helping up, "You okay?!"

@GABA

 

[Theia Durand]

Theia was uncertain what was happening as she felt herself suddenly become weightless, her feet leaving the ground before she suddenly made contact with the stone street with her bottom. The impact caused her to bounce an additional foot backwards, she also bit her tongue in the process and as she blinked, feeling a moment of disorientation. The girl inhaled deeply, feeling something pop atop of her head and into her lap. Holding up the turkey leg and looking around to spot the most logical explanation for this bizarre incident, she caught sight of a guy leaning over her, asking if she were okay. "I...I think so..." Theia was still entirely very confused, but as he helped her up to her feet, her mind was starting to clear, and she looked down at the turkey leg she was still grasping before making a face of disgust and dropping it.

Wiping her hand on the leg of her pant, she looked back the guy who nearly towered over her and then she glanced around him as she heard someone yelling about a thief. "Are they looking for you?" she asked him, but didn't wait for a response as she took him by the wrist and pulled him to an alley, leading him back to the busy market, "I know a place you can lay low." she told him. However, she was well unaware of just how many were after this guy and this was certainly not a way to stay out of trouble as ordered by her mom. It was becoming clear that trouble seemed to find her often and it was hard not to ignore it especially if it just runs into you.

Theia didn't bother to stop and look to see just how far the thugs were to catching up to them, hoping her new companion would do that for her. It would be clear to Lucian that this gal knew the area pretty well as she was able to get through one of the busiest sections of town without issue.

@Orbit

 

[Lucian Belgrave]

Lucian was thankful that Theia appeared to be telling the truth after his own preliminary scan of her to double-check. "Good," he replied earnestly as he took a step back from her to give her some personal space. Confusion spread across his face when she made a disgusted one shortly after, his eyes flicking low at the cause of her reaction. When he saw the turkey leg was safe and sound, miraculously, his eyes widened and his mouth opened in shock, believing it all had been a lost cause.

To his utter surprise again, Theia tried to drop the piece of perfectly good food onto the ground. Almost as immediately as her fingers let go of the leg, his hand would shoot out to catch it with a secure grip. "Whoa!" he exclaimed, unable to comprehend how the girl was just about to make this entire effort pointless for him. Lucian stood back up to his full height before making a pointed look at her and saying, "Let's not be wasteful." That had been one of the core tenants on the farm.

Lucian glanced down the street from where he came, opening his mouth to answer her question at first before suddenly feeling a pull on his wrist. Not really having any better plan, his feet began to move as he ran away with her. She'd pull him sharply into an alley and then onto another street, the conviction she walked with telling him all he needed to know that he was the only one lost here. The first question that popped into his head that he blurted out was, "Where are we going?" All he could do was hope this wasn't a mistake and that she actually knew what she was doing. The girl's fiery hair stood out like a beacon as it reflected the sun's rays, making her stand out like a beacon even amongst the crowd.

Then the second and probably more important question popped into his head, which he asked, "Why are you helping me?" Lucian replayed the event and could only see him completely trucking the girl and not deserving of any help whatsoever. When he glanced behind them, he saw that the three men were still eager and on the chase. Before she could really answer, Theia would begin to feel the padawan try to pull past her with his long stride, murmuring, "Time to go, time to go."

 

[Theia Durand]

Theia wasn't really sure where she was going, but knew of some spaces where they could disappear until trouble blew over. However, when he asked her why she was helping him, the redhead slowed her pace, giving him a look of bewilderment then a coy grin, "Because its driving those idiots absolutely crazy that they can't get you-" her words cut off when he started to run past her, informing it was a bit more urgent as his pace picked up.

The redhead did well to keep up, displaying clear athleticism, and even grace as she was able to dodge curves and obstacles on her path. "C'mon this way," she said slowing her pace and swinging her backpack off her shoulders to give to him, "Hold this..." she said leading him as she forced herself into a more normal stroll up some old stone steps into an even older stone building. The smell of old papers and books would immediately hit as she opened the door into the library.

"Hi Theia, back again? Must be a slow day." greeted the Wroonian librarian at the desk as she easily recognized the girl from her frequent visits. The teen grinned and let out a long sigh, her heart still beating quickly against her chest.

"Really slow, Mama has been in meetings all day." she said, waving to Lucian to follow her as they went further into the library, towers of bookshelves easily shielding the two from their pursuers.

@Orbit

 

[Lucian Belgrave]

Theia's answer was certainly one way to put it; the shop owners screams resonated down the entire street to support her statement. He had no idea whether it was the honest truth, but her words nonetheless made a quick grin crack across his face before they had to speed up, the reasoning being similar to what he probably would have made in the situation. There was nothing wrong with participating in a little chaos.

Despite his stride at first outpacing her, she caught up fast and then led the way once more, with Lucian being the one who almost had difficulty keeping up with her at first. His eyebrow arched when she offered him the backpack, but he didn't question it as he slid one of the straps onto his shoulder. If she was willing to rescue him without even a hint of who he was, then the least he could do was carry her shit.

When she eventually directed them into the library, the smell of paper and the atmosphere of studious minds slammed right into him. Lucian's gaze at first went to her questioningly before he spun fully around on his heel as he walked, taking in the almost infinite amount of bookshelves that stared back at him. "Fuck me, I snuck out to escape libraries," he murmured more to himself, once more chalking up his circumstances to the galaxy's twisted sense of humor.

After Theia had the conversation with the librarian, Lucian was waiting there awkwardly at first; he just gave a slow wave to the woman before following after his guide. As they delved further into the labyrinth of knowledge, the Padawan caught an empty study room out of the corner of his eye and stopped in place. He let out a short whistle to catch Theia's attention, which he was promptly shushed for, and apologized quickly with a whispered, "Sorry." Instead of whistling again, he waved for her to follow before splitting to claim the room himself.

 

[Theia Durand]

Theia stopped mid-step when she heard the whistle and was about to reprimand whoever just made such a sharp and loud noise within the library only to realize it was her new companion. However, some others were around and heard it also, hearing the hushes and Theia quickly followed him when he waved, showing the study room. The redhead looked around, just to make sure they weren't followed by the guys who had been chasing him and went into the small room. Inside were a table, a couple chairs, and a writing board on the wall; the girl pulled out a chair and flopped down, seemingly exhausted by the spurt.

"Dude, don't touch any of the books until you wash your hands, if someone had seen that turkey leg, we would be kicked out so quick." she told him and reached over to grab her backpack and took out her holopad.

Theia eyed him for a moment, trying to think of what to ask first, seeming she had so many questions, "Those guys seemed hell-bent on catching you, do you always have issues with them?" she asked.

@Orbit

 

[Lucian Belgrave]

In the space less then half a minute, he was chided for the turkey leg he brought in. Exhaling what would have been his reply, he slumped into a chair as well and started to take large bites out of the snack. There was no way he was tossing it, and all that was really left as an option was for him to eat it as quickly as possible. While she messed with her holopad, he'd be eyeing her as well, but too occupied with finishing his meal for the day to say anything.

By the time she asked her question, Lucian had gotten to the bone and nibbled on it at first before proceeding to use it almost as a wand, pointing to Theia and then the direction of locations outside the library when he spoke of them. "I wouldn't say always; this was the first day we met. I saw that their little market stall had a sign that said, "'free sample."' A nonchalant shrug was given as he explained the catalyst behind the chase: "So I came around for one sample, then two, then three." A genuine laugh rumbled out of him as he appeared to be just having fun with it all.

Lucian stood up from the chair, switching his seat to the table as he rested his feet on the chair, half turning toward Theia. "Your turn now. Why help me? If I remember correctly, I absolutely trucked the shit out of you." He thought the reaction would have resembled something more akin to screams and scraps, but he enjoyed this surprise. Theia would then suddenly be able to see through his eyes the gears spinning in his head, a worried look splashing onto his face as he asked, "You aren't like some mob boss kid or something, are you? About to have me owe you a favor or some shit like that?"

 

[Theia Durand]

The teens' face contorted with bewilderment or perhaps a mix of disgust and surprise that he had devoured the turkey leg in such a short moment of time. He went on to describe how he acquired such a treat for himself and she would admit she had probably done the same when she'd seen free samples of ice cream at booths back at her home. Regardless, she thought the guys chasing him seemed to be overreacting to someone about her age taking one turkey leg. Perhaps they deserved to be outsmarted by the pair as they waited it out in the library. He didn't linger long on his own adventure before turning back to herself and her reason to help him.

Theia quirked and eyebrow in response, she already told him, but maybe he forgot and the girl shrugged. "I said it would annoy them, and that seemed more fun." she then grinned, however, he would follow it up by asking who she was... a mob boss kid? Owing a favor?

"A favor? I didn't think of it but that sounds like a good idea." Theia leaned forward, catching the worry in his voice, "Like the type of favor where if I need something in a pinch, you'd help me?" she asked him, tapping her cheek in thought with her finger as though she were conjuring ideas. "That might come in handy. Don't worry, I ain't no mob boss kid, so it won't be something crazy... I think..." though with her luck lately, it seemed like she was developing a knack for running into unintentional trouble.

@Orbit