[PP-F1] The Little Bird with the Big Song

[Jenna 0]

"This is so unfair!" Jenna exclaimed, her fist clenched to her side as she stomped through the cobblestone streets. Players who saw her, quickly stepped out of the way either out of concern for her rage, or concern they might hurt something so small.

"Hey little girl, you okay?" one of the other players asked. Jenna stopped in her tracks and jabbed a finger toward the source of the question.

"No! I'm not okay you nosy jerky jerk!" Jenna replied with a fury.

"Aw, it's okay kiddo. You just have to tough it-- YEOUCH!!"

Jenna's small foot firmly planted into the player's shin, doing absolutely no damage, but enough knockback to rattle the guy.

"I'm not a kid! I don't need your help, jerk! I'm fine my myself!" Jenna shouted before turning to leave the man rubbing at his leg. She crossed her arms over her chest and continued to storm northbound toward the gates.

"I hate this game! I hate this place! I hate everything about this! It's not fair! I finally had a chance to be normal! I hate this!" Jenna internally screamed.

Finally, near the north gate of the Town of Beginnings, the brunette found herself a bench and tossed herself onto it. She needed some time to cool down, level out, and think of the best way to hurry and beat this stupid game so she could beat the tar out of the game designer. As she settled herself into place, her legs dangled just shy of touching the ground. Her deep blue eyes gazed at the tiny gap between shoe and cobblestone and a shimmer wet her lashes.

"Just like the real world," she muttered softly with a waver in her tone.

Shadowed by the massive walls that divided the fields from the safe zone, the little brunette cupped her face with her tiny hands. Golden brown locks of her hair flowed around her shoulders and over her face. Her chest felt heavy and despite her efforts to remain strong, the tears fell from her eyes.

"I hate this place..." she sobbed.

Edited March 7, 2016 by Jenna

[Zero 0]

Another day, another walk, these were Zero’s thoughts as he slowly trekked through the first floor’s fields. Small parties of players glanced at the platinum haired young man as they walked passed him and farmed the mobs in the nearby areas, straying from his path as they felt something was off about him. He quietly pulled up his coats hood, hiding his face slightly, and slipped his hands into the coat’s pockets.

“Stir clear of that guy, he’s a high level player. Watch how he carries himself, not a care that he’s strolling out in the open like that plus the feeling he gives off. Only monster players act like that, better to not risk making him mad.” A player warned his party in a low voice.

Zero grinned slightly overhearing part of the warning, but decided to ignore them and moved on his merry way. He glanced at the gate to Starting City with slight hesitation. He rarely ventured into settlements while it was day time, specially one’s with Starting City’s population. His eyes peered at the gate as he stood below it then lowered to gaze at the traffic of players coming and going, feeling slightly sick from the amount of people.

He sighed as the sounds of indistinguishable talking revolved around him, gritting his teeth as he pushed passed the crowds. His eyes caught sight of what seemed to be an empty bench, and he immediately moved over to it. He sat down just then realizing he was not actually alone on the bench, on the opposite side sat a small girl who looked like she had a rough day.

His hands slipped out of his pockets and pulled his hood back, the young man now leaning back against the bench. “I can’t stand Starting City’s crowds at this hour, knew I should have come when it was night time like I usually do.” He scratched his head hoping she would engage the conversation, she was rather cute though he hoped her age was not as low as she appeared to be. Because she was kind of his type.

[Jenna 0]

The bench creaked as another person sat down beside her. Jenna's soft weeping stopped and she lowered her hands to see who it was. She saw a boy, roughly the same age as the people in her senior class. He had to be close to her age.

Not that he'd be able to tell.

Jenna swallowed as she nuzzled her eyes dry with the crook of her hand. While she could erase the tears, the slight redness and puffiness would remain.

“I can’t stand Starting City’s crowds at this hour, knew I should have come when it was night time like I usually do.” he spoke.

"Is he speaking to me?" she thought. "Or is he just speaking out loud like I'm not even here?"

More familiar with being the latter, Jenna hung her head.

"I really hate this place just as much as I hate the real world," she quietly mumbled, nearly impossible to hear over the ambient racket of the high noon rush. She huffed as the usual facade of anger washed over the fragile, insecurities below.

"Y'know," she began, pointing a small finger toward the relaxed stranger. "It's incredibly rude to sit down next to someone without asking!"

From an outside perspective, Jenna looked like a child trying to scold an adult. In fact, one of the players in the distance nudged his buddy and pointed at her. Together they shared an "awww" followed by a laugh. Luckily, Jenna missed the exchange. Had she seen it, more shins would have suffered her wrath.

 

[Zero 0]

The situation had not exactly turned out as he had hoped, finding the person beside him to be much more difficult than expected. He did not glance at her when she spoke, but simply leaned forward, hands together and fingers intertwined he gently rest his head on it.

“I really hate this place just as much as I hate the real world.” It was barely understandable due to the sounds of the passing crowds, then came the real problem with this girl. She turned to Zero and proceeded to scold him as if he were a small child.

His eyes turned towards her as she pointed at him and proceeded to yell at him, letting out a slight sigh. He gazed at the players that had been making remarks towards the small female and glared at them for a second before leaning back on the bench. He turned his head towards her direction and scratched his head. “I apologize young miss, did not intend to anger you or be rude.”

The platinum haired young man pushed his hair back and smiled at her slightly, offering his hand. “How about we start over? I’m Zero. May I have the honor of hearing your name young lady?”

[Jenna 0]

"Where do you find the nerve to..." Jenna began to retort, her words trailing off as he spoke. His expression remained sincere, not a hint of pity or condescending admiration. She even watched his sharp eyes deter a pair of players which were in the midst of laughing in her direction. She had seen it before, onlookers that found her ire to be something of humor. They adverted their gaze from him and nudged one another out the gate toward the fields. Her sharp blue eyes trailed from the players back to the stranger in disbelief, her finger still rudely jammed in his direction.

"Did he just...?" Jenna lowered her finger slowly and shook her head at the thought.

Then, instead of just getting up or calling her some derogatory term, he offered his hand. At first, Jenna looked to him with a raised brow. What'd he want? Why was he acting so nice? Was he some kind of creeper?

His eyes and warm smile said differently.

Jenna wasn't sure how to react. The brunette adverted her gaze from him, lips slightly pursed together in a half shy, half still angry manner.

"I-I'm Jenna..." she replied in a mousy tone while taking his hand. Compared to her own, it completely engulfed hers. Embarassed and both frustrated and the sight, she quickly pulled her hand back into her lap.

There was a moment of silence as the teen struggled to think of small talk. She grew so accustomed to keeping to herself or pushing away people that treated her differently, normal interaction wasn't her strong suit. Especially with someone she didn't know and using such chivalry.

"S-sorry for yelling at you like that..." she finally muttered, but the apology felt strange to her. So, she added, "It still is rude to just sit down next to a stranger... Just so you know..."

She still kept her gaze away from the boy, struggling with whether to be angry or cordial.

Edited March 9, 2016 by Jenna

[Zero 0]

A sense of relief came over Zero when the situation between them seemed to defuse, finding the girl’s rather appealing mature nature to cause him a form of delight. Her demeanor calmed down and she seemed willing to give him a chance, taking his hand and willing to start over. He noted her notice of the players who had been poking fun at her, but did not pursue further.

He found her change in tone somewhat adorable and how she retreated her hand away from his more so. “A sublime pleasure Jenna, glad to be acquainted with you.” The young man watched her quietly for a few moments before he leaned his head back on the bench and let out a small sigh.

His eyes watched the clouds drift by as the apology came, his mouth forming a smile without his notice. “Don’t worry, you were completely in the right on that.” He glanced at her and smiled more sincerely. “Besides I don’t mind getting scolded by an attractive young lady, but I do apologize once more for rudely sitting without asking.” He stretched his arms and sat up straight, facing her direction.

“The only reason you yelled is probably due to having to deal with idiots like the ones from a moment ago, looking down on you for your physical appearance and not giving you the time of day.” His words seemed like they carried more than just observations in them, like experience was also present within them. “If you want Jenna, I can just go and let you be. I’d rather not be a hindrance to you more so than I already have been.”

[Jenna 0]

"Sublime? Attractive? Lady?!"

Jenna's cheeks heated as he spoke. Part of her wanted to start yapping at him for acting so silly or like some kind old man talking to a girl. No one in her class used that kind of language except for Professor Yukitawa or the B-2 Class Rep. Jenna flustered more at the thought of the B-2 Class Rep, Hitoru Yoshida. She tried so hard to get his attention, but compared to the other girls...

"My appearance?" she repeated, falling out of her spinning thoughts. Jenna looked to the pale haired man, her face still rosy from the unusual compliments of the stranger. Just hearing him mention her appearance tempered her into a fit, but the confusion of how to respond to him fizzled out her tiny rage.  

He asked if she wanted him to leave. Her mouth opened, eyes wide at him, but the words caught on the tip of her tongue.

"I don't need anyone here! I'm better off alone! I mean, he's not entirely terrible... H-he did call me a lady..." 

"N-No," she stammered as she adverted her gaze. Her brows scrunched as though she was upset, but she kept swinging her legs nervously. "You can sit here if you like..."

She wanted to be mad at him. Mad was easier. He didn't do anything wrong. Well, not yet. I mean, she was over reacting earlier, right? This was a public bench afterall...