It's night again, Vo does seem to have a perchance for it. Or atleast that's when he works, clad in that well used janitor's uniform. Tonight it's one of the local supermarkets in the town that's the destination. And as perhaps has become tradition by now Avalon's brought him a meal. He's not really thanked her for it yet, or commented much about it at all. But he eats, in that creepy way he does. Tonight is another one of those, and he's currently with a mop slowly cleaning his way down aisle four with the meal set atop of the glass fridge display.
Avalon is certainly making a habit of bringing Vo something to eat. Tonight, it's a pot roast with all of the fixings to go with it. Somehow, seeing him eat meat? It's a little less disturbing than watching him shred a poor defenseless marshmallow with those rows of teeth. The witch is sitting on the end of the checkout counter, feet dangling. Snow boots still worn, and unfortunately leaving a small puddle of melting slush beneath her. Jacket off, she sips at a cup of tea, a thermos set behind her. Just watching him, with that quiet interest. Still trying to figure him out.
Long dark hair covers his face most of the time to one degree or another, his work as a janitor is .. passable, shall we say. Hardly something he is putting effort into, most of that roast has already been eaten by now. "Anything new then?" he finally asks, his voice hollow, wet, but and there is some mild resignation in his tone. As if he's started to give up the idea that she is gonna give up on this.
Stubborn. Determined. It all depends on who is asked. But Avalon is certainly that. Feet swing, back and forth, an idle little motion as her head bobs to the music that plays quietly overhead. "Mmm. All's been quiet. Which, you know, is always a little concerning. But I guess it's good that no one's ended up slaughtered in the woods or something." She shrugs her shoulder. "Traditions to uphold, coming up. The Nail Up, now that the First Snow passed a while back."
Those black eyes just gives her a brief look, blank and largely lacking in what one would call expression. "The Nail Up? Putting a man on a cross?" the wet sound of the mop swooshing over the floor as he continues his slow lazy work. The lights are only on where they are, most turned off during the night.
There's a delicate snort, and a shake of her head. "No, not that. No hanged man for this one." Avalon sets down her tea cup, runs her fingers through her hair. "If you're in town between now and then, you'll notice it. The blacksmith hard at work. Forge ringing out, with iron being beaten. Happens every year. Everyone goes to get a piece of work, to hang. More, depending on how much they know. When I had a dog when I was a kid, even he got a bit to put on his collar. For luck, they tell the outsiders."
A tilt of his head, Vo blinks a few times. Something he never seems to do otherwise before he nods. "Makes sense. And what are you getting? If this depends on how much you know." the question half a test, half a teasing mockery.
There's the perk of interest, as Vo blinks. Something she's not seen - that she wasn't even sure he could do. It takes her a second, to answer the question. "A set of chimes forged, for the door into the cafe. One for the apartment above. I don't do it over every window, every chimney, like some might. One good, big piece of iron. Maybe something for my keys. I try to balance cautious and paranoid." The little wrinkle of her nose, at that mockery.
He nods a little, running one hand back through his dark hair, fingers much too long before he straightens up to hid towering height. "Do you think it works?" a mild curiosity there too. But not too long after it there's the sound of a door opening in the way way back, but sounds carry longer at night. As if someone just stepped in through the staff's entrance.
His straightening makes Avalon have to crane her neck a bit, to keep looking at his face. "I don't know. It could just be superstition. But...it doesn't hurt. A little bit of caution, a lot of hope." Her voice goes softer when that door opens, and there's the hint she'd say more, if she was certain that they were still alone. Flicking her gaze up, to the lights, to see if more come on.
Vo's stood straight and looks out towards the back of the store, there's not exactly tension to him. But he's attentive shall we say, until there is a call as lights begin to turn on due to movement. "Hey! I know you're in here shithead!" the voice of an angry man, and shuffling feet suggesting more than one.
Now, that has Avalon straightening as well, her brows lifting. There's that little trickle of the start of fear, and she looks to Vo. "Are you who they're looking for?," she whispers, concern there. Reaching back, and grabbing her thermos, closing the top. Save the tea? Sliding off of the counter, with a quiet thud and the gentle splash in her puddle of half-melted slush.
Vo stands there standing still, likely for a few more moments longer than he ought to. Pitch black eyes on the door to the back "Yes." he finally says simply "Not everyone runs from what they fear Avalon." mused as if it's some joke there. He turns to look around them, even as they hear the footsteps and more lights turn on until the door opens and a trio of young men clad in winter jackets step into the market.
Avalon's lips quirk, just a little. Because she's certainly guilty of not running, sometimes. But that edge of fear grows a bit sharper, changing her breathing. "Something tells me that they don't want just an apology for whatever it is they're upset over." Quiet, still. And all but clutching that thermos. Those mis-matched eyes of her looking around quickly. Tense, like a bunny. Maybe this time, she will run.
The trio stops for a moment to stare down Vo, to them afterall he just looks like some skinny tall guy. A brief look is given to Avalon, but it's hardly lingering. "Knew we'd find you here you motherfucker." one, in a red jacket announces to the world at large. Vo wrinkles his nose, a look to Avalon. "We should probably go." said in that same hollow wet voice.
Avalon looks over the trio, grip on the thermos white-knuckle tight. Their glance to her might be brief, but hers lingers. Watching the way they stand, move. Vo's voice brings a little shiver, and she takes a step towards him. If her alliance wasn't clear, it is there. "I'm not exactly the brawling type," she agrees, with a nod. "Go."
A faint nod as Vo begins to slowly move, leaving the mop right there on the floor. And the sound of it hitting it seems to be what sets things in motion, two of the young men starting to go down the aisles to get their hands on the two, while the third remains by the door. Which supposedly is the only way out not locked. Once behind a row, Vo crouches down just a little a she gestures for Avalon to follow him, quiet steps.
Avalon does leave her cup behind, but not the thermos or her jacket. She slides into that quietly enough, leaving it unzipped. It's the snow boots that do her in, though. The squeak of wet soles against freshly mopped floor is a thing that echoes in the nearly empty grocery store. A wince, and an apologetic look. "Just go," she whispers to him. "I'll meet you at my place."
Squeek, shoes against the floor and a shout follows. "Behind here!" one calls out, just on the other side of the shelf. Vo just gives Avalon a look at that, it's blank, as he often seems to be. Before he lurches out with a foot, giving the shelf a hard kick. Thump, and then slowly it begins to fall and then quickly. The clamor of items hitting the floor heard, before the pained grunt of a man as he gets it atop of him. "Come." Vo begins to walk quicker now, no point hiding afterall. Leaving a mess like this.
Not only does Avalon look apologetic, but she looks embarrassed as Vo looks at her. Blank as that look may be. 'Oh no', she mouths as he kicks the shelf over, and a wince as it falls, collides with the man that was pursuing them. Not enough sympathy, though, to stop from following behind Vo. Squeaksqueaksqueak. It's a good thing that they're not trying to sneak, any more.
"Help!" one guy calls out, there is some pain there so that shelf must've hit him pretty bad. Cans and packages rolling across the floor. More footsteps as the other two start to run to help the other guy. Lucky for the duo, as they find the door no longer locked. And Vo quickly steps out it, and further to flee the scene of the crime.
A quick glance back over her shoulder. But the other guy has people to help him. He's still talking, which means he's still conscious, so. Avalon follows behind Vo, not nearly as quick or as long-legged as he, but at least tries to keep up. Still clutching that thermos, and still anything far from stealthy.
Once outside Vo quickly goes to close the door, digging out a few keys from his pocket and locks the door. Seems he left it unlocked, in all likelihood so that Avalon could sneak in on him in her usual manner. "Leave a call to the cops about a breakin." he suggests to her, that same lack of .. emotion in his voice.
If Avalon's realized that he's leaving doors unlocked for her, so that she can sneak in and bring him dinner and company, she doesn't comment on it. At least not right now. She gives him a bit of a look of her own, before she's digging out her cellphone to do just that. The non-emergency line for the local police department called, and a moment spent on the phone. Yes, a loud bang and some shouting at the grocery store. Sounds suspicious! Then, after that's done, she looks up to him. "Right. It'll take them a bit. Let's not be here." Nevermind the teacup she left behind. Or his mostly-eaten lunch. At least one of them was supposed to be there.
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