Just Chillin' (Lillith)

[Taj Merripen]

Taj lay back in the grass, taking in the scenery. It was only recently he'd started coming regularly to Phoenix Park to clear his head. Before the fae arrived en masse, the place had always been a bit too busy for Taj's tastes. Of course, Taj had ventured out to the Park before; while the center was outrageously crowded in normal times, there was a nice clearing a little ways into one of the wooded areas.

That was where he was now. Taj didn't really have any particular reason for being here except for the fact the place had a calming effect on him. Taj was feeling a little stressed about the fae and humans lately; he wanted to stay out of it, but the skirmishes every now and then threatened his neutrality. Being here, away from humans and fae alike, melted his worries away, at least for a time.

He'd actually brought a book along. Though most people thought otherwise, Taj actually didn't mind reading. At first, reading had just been a way to get good grades and get into school. Now, it was a past-time he hardly ever got to indulge in anymore, especially now that work seemed to finally be adjusting to the fae-ridden times.

Taj was just about to fish the book out of the pack he'd brought with him when he heard a rustling in the trees. Hoping against hope it was just an animal, Taj called out, "Anyone there?"

[Lillith Morgan]

Lillith had her book, she had her hot chocolate, and she had a mission. After the past few days, she was determined to spend some quality alone-time reading in Phoenix. Her store being out of commission for three straight days due to an annoying electricity outage, along with cold and flurries? First there was all the money she'd lost, not to mention the fact that she seriously didn't like cold. And there was that one incident last Friday....

Today was much warmer though, and sunny - absolutely perfect to take a day to relax. She had her assistants running the bookstore for the day, so she could afford to do so.

What struck her most upon arriving at Phoenix Park was the sheer emptiness of the place. She was so used to hearing music coming from the commons, or hearing sounds of the zoo.. but now? Not many people at all could be seen, and many of the zoo animals were eerily quiet, as if they knew something was very wrong in their city. It was truly a pity, and the thing was it didn't have to be that way... why couldn't everyone come to an agreement?

At least she had a choice of places to sit and read. The wooded areas called to her though, and she veered off the designated pathways to slowly wander through the trees as she drank her hot chocolate. First finish up her deliciously warm drink, then she'd pick a spot to read. It was actually pretty enjoyable to just wander and let her thoughts flow.

"Anyone there?"

The voice made Lillith jump; she hadn't realized there was anyone remotely close to her. Walking around a clump of bushes, she saw a man about her age sitting with a book. "Hey there, sorry to disturb you. I was coming out to do the exact same thing, it's the perfect place to read. Mind if I join you?" Giving the man a friendly smile, she dropped her purse to the ground and sat down, leaning against a thick stump that had little things growing from it.

[Taj Merripen]

Taj saw that the intruder was indeed a someone and not a something and inwardly groaned. There went his peace and quiet for the day. Well, perhaps he could get her to leave? The girl didn't look like much and would probably scare easily. She probably was a completely normal human, in fact.

While the very back part of Taj's mind wanted to just shift and scare her off that way, it was anything but subtle or practical. He'd have to settle with words. Such a shame, too. Taj hadn't gotten a chance to fly around recently. After that guy had caught him shifting back that one night, he'd been extremely cautious about where and when he shifted.

Turning his attention back to the blonde girl, Taj said, "You say you're sorry for disturbing me and ask if I mind if you stay, yet sit down without hearing my reply? You see, I do mind if you join me. My calling out anyone there was anything but an invitation. I was hoping the noises I heard were that of an animal's." Taj then smirked and continued, "Though you sure do look like one. Anyways, this is one of the few decent places in this Park, and I definitely do not want someone to "join me" as you put it."

[Lillith Morgan]

An animal? She looked like an animal?! Oh, he'd struck a nerve with Lillith alright. She hadn't been expecting a hostile response at all, after all who couldn't help but enjoy a fellow book-lover's company? Apparently not this guy though.

Crossing her arms, Lillith shot him a hostile glare. "Excuse me? I hope I did not just hear you say I look like an animal. That was seriously uncalled for, all you had to do was politely ask if I could read somewhere else." Everything was seriously rude, but the animal comment? That topped the cake.

She glared at him for another moment, then suddenly smirked. "Though... if I look like an animal, what does that make you? The horses petu- ass?" Crap, and crap again. She'd almost said petunia instead of ass. There was that nasty little habit of hers popping up... she hoped he hadn't noticed her slipup. Or realized what it meant.

Hopefully he wouldn't, most people had no idea. She was trying to break the habit... but after eighteen years of growing up and using innocent-sounding words in place of cursewords? It was pretty hard to stop doing, and using innocent words around her parents was a whole lot better than getting her mouth washed out with soap. Then again, it had a habit of getting her teased too, which she hated.

But back to the moment. He had another thing coming if he thought she would just up and leave. She didn't think so, not at all and not after the way he'd spoken to her. I do not look like an animal, thank you very much. "I think I'll stay right where I'm at, and you can move yourself if it so bothers you. Like you said, it's one of the better spots in the park, and I don't see why it can't be shared."