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Life in Stagfort hardly appealed to most, but for those who appreciated the small town feel, minimalism, and the natural world, it didn't seem too bad. For Rya, life in London starkly contrasted her life today, and while she didn't believe she'd enjoy it in the long run, the little city held her tightly. Most people hated the rain; she grew up with it.
The skies were dark but thunder had yet to crack, so the Brit ventured out to the shops near downtown, window shopping for her own amusement. She preferred walking around with her hands in her pockets, shoulder strap bag bouncing against her hip, and glancing occasionally into the windows of shops that were far from her price range. As she walked, Rya noted few people were in the streets due to the impending rain, or so she assumed.
It wasn't until she saw an impeccably dressed blonde coming from a shop a few feet ahead that she pulled the headphones from her ears. "Carter?" It very well could have been someone else, but she figured she'd call out just in case. "Carter!"
Moving into his own home was a different kind of experience for Carter. Usually he didn't have to worry about how to handle everything that coincided with having his very own property unattached to either of his parents. He had his bedroom sorted, and for the most part he had the bare necessities sorted, but there were still a lot of things missing.
He stepped out of a furniture store and checked his phone briefly before he heard his name. The call made him turn around completely, eyes catching sight of a familiar individual who'd called out to him. He hadn't seen her since that night at the bar, and given the lack of ways to communicate, he hadn't heard from her either.
"Hey!" He called back, raising his hand in a quick wave before he took steps towards her.
Her eyes did not fail her, it seemed, when the familiar figure turned to face and move towards her. The earbuds that draped from Rya's hands were rolled up and placed in her bag while she met him halfway, glad to meet him in relatively neutral territory where alcohol didn't cloud her mind or general judgement. Their last meeting was something worthy of forgetting, if her memory served her right.
"Surprised you're out," She said simply, but her lips turned upward into an amused smile. "It's about to rain."
Carter had thought about her a little in the time since he’d last seen her. She didn’t exactly hit it off with Isaac, but then, most stubborn and headstrong people clashed with the man he called a friend. It had been funny to watch for Carter.
But this was entirely different. No harsh club lighting and no drinks flowing. It was like being back to normal. The steps towards her were fast and only took seconds. She was already being funny.
“Worse things could happen than getting a little wet.” He replied, a grin turning his features instantly. “I suppose you couldn’t care less. You’re probably praying for it to fall.”
The last time she stood person to person with Carter like this had to be years prior. Rya changed significantly, or so she liked to think. She assumed the Terrakinetic had also, seeing as he came back. She doubted she'd ever see him again. But here they stood, thunder close to cracking, speaking as if nothing had changed.
The Brit scoffed, "Am I really that predictable?" It was no secret she loved water, she hoped it poured. "I'd be offended, but you aren't wrong."
"So, shopping?" She inquired, knowing that the Chevalier very well knew what he wanted so she assumed the trip was purposeful.
"A love of water might be the only predictable thing about you." Carter explained with care. Far be it for him to paint her in any different way than exactly what she was.
When she asked, he glanced back at where he'd come from. Empty handed, or so it would likely seem.
"I need a couch." He admitted then, looking towards her again. "I've lived here for months and I still don't have one."
Carter at least understood the tenderness she showed when it came to water, but his comment amused her as Rya heard it often. "Good way to redeem yourself." She exhaled lightly on a laugh.
She followed his gaze to a furniture shop. In the window sat a piece that seemed worth three times her entire being, but she said nothing. "A couch?"
"Did you buy an unfurnished apartment then?" One could only assume, though the idea that he bought the home really did solidify his presence in Stagfort for longer than a few months, though he very well could have rented. Regardless, Rya could hardly complain.
With her question, Carter nodded once. It seemed ridiculous to live somewhere without somewhere for people to sit for months, but he was fortunate enough not to have any real company there.
"Unfurnished, yes." He admitted with ease. Aside from the bed he needed and the other necessities, the only other things he'd obtained were painting supplies. "Apartment, no. I have a house, but it's not anywhere near the heart of the city."
The side of Rya's hand moved upward to rest above her upper lip, fingers slack but covering enough of her mouth so that her lips were no longer visible. "A house?" The surprise laced her tone, but otherwise her eyes showed no ill emotion. "Well congratulations, then." What did someone say to another who purchased a house?
Thunder boomed, and her hand fell. "So does this mean that I'll be seeing a lot more of you around town?" It didn't hurt to ask.
Carter didn't need to see the curve her lips might have taken to know she was surprised. Her tone of voice gave it all away, but it was also clear she didn't necessarily think it was a bad idea.
"Thank you." He replied, bound to be polite when it was given first.
"You should do. I moved my college courses here, too, so I'm studying full time." A house was one thing, but he needed reason to agree to fully living there. "If you're on campus, that is."
Rya made just enough to rent her own apartment. It had taken a while of saving, and continual months of budgeting, but the Brit left the dorms for a more... comfortable alternative. 700 square feet of space was plenty for herself. Plenty. It still was difficult to imagine living on her own in a house.
“Im still finishing up my degree, yeah, so it’s very well possible,” Rya said, “So there is really no way to escape me now.” On that note, she laughed, though she knew she was far from obligated to his company. Thunder rumbled once more, and lightning soon followed. Her fingers twitched.
At the news that she was at the college too, Carter couldn't help but smile. He liked the small sense of normality this place gave him despite how new it really was to all of them.
The sound of the impending storm still didn't really seem to phase him; he continued to ignore it without a second thought now that his attention was on her.
"My dear; did you ever really think I was trying to escape you?"
"No, but I won't ever have to, will I, Blondie?" Rya always found the act of getting to know someone to be tedious, filled with small talk and uncomfortable silence. Carter reminded her how easy conversation could be, regardless of how long they'd been apart.
At this point in the conversation, Rya felt the rain would fall soon, and figured she could offer up a bit of a warning. "I'd give it a few minutes, but this rain will really start going." If the Terrakinetic didn't wish to get soaked, now would be the time to leave. Something inside of her, however, wished he decided not to.
Despite it not being his preferred element, Carter saw no worry in the impending storm. She seemed quick to suddenly want to warn him, but her wording was almost confusing. Daring, even.
"Should I set myself up to stand beneath it with you?" He asked. She looked like she'd actually enjoy that. Carter knew it wouldn't be the first time she'd aimlessly stood beneath the rain.
This would be a moment when a jacket hood would go up for a normal individual, at minimum. She remained settled in place, blue eyes settled on the figure in front of her. His inquiry could widen her smirk to a grin, but she refrained, opting to shrug instead.
“Up to you,” she said, “But then again, there are worse things than getting a little wet.”
