(Untitled)

[smartas]

George isn't a fan of change.

She didn't like it when she died 7 years ago and she certainly doesn't like it now, being in a completely unfamiliar place. Actually, she almost hates it. After 7 goddamn years, she still has those moments where it's just too difficult to accept. And then of course when she's in the middle of getting the hang of this

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[kick_ash]

Curiosity is said to have led to one mostly dead feline, but that wasn't an adage that ever seemed to slow Ashley down. Not only because she was raised by a woman that stopped at no less than finding a complete answer, no matter the cost, but also because she just wasn't a huge fan of cats. That meant the more she learned from others in Chicago, the more she wanted to find out.

She hadn't given up the tactile look of her clothing, but in deference to the radical element, she at least didn't seem to have a gun on her. At last not openly showing. She was trying to find the Conrad, or what remained of it when she saw the blonde woman.

Wariness crept over Ashley's features, thoughts of the hateful and the cleverly disguised in the back of her mind as she gave a nod in greeting. If Martha hadn't willingly said hi to Ashley, she'd still be wandering the streets after all.

[smartas]

George doesn't know what to do. She doesn't know where to go. She doesn't know how she ended up at Chicago and she just doesn't know anymore. There are answers that will reach her eventually, but she needs to find them. On her own? She doesn't know, nor does it matter after her eye catches a someone. An unfamiliar someone, but she's there.

There's a tiny pause that feels as though it lasts minutes.

"Hi," she finally says quietly, emotionless, acknowledging the nod.

[kick_ash]

If it hadn't been for the greetings, Ashley would have kept going and prayed she didn't end up being followed. That changed though when the girl said hi.

Slowing her gait, Ash circumspectly put her hand behind her. She finally paused, head cocking to one side.

"You looking for something?" Maybe not the most welcoming of greetings but she couldn't just assume the girl was new because she wasn't hurrying to or from somewhere. Some people actually had to stop and smell the roses in Chicago, right?

[smartas]

"I-..." George stops herself for a moment. She... what, exactly? "I don't know." She tilts her head down only slightly and awkwardly looks up every once in a while, making sure she keeps some sort of eye-contact. She needs to hold on to this person somehow, which is actually really quite strange; she sees someone she doesn't know she can trust in a place she's never been.

"I think that I'm lost."

But still. She doesn't want to be alone right now. Not here.

She hates this.

[kick_ash]

The words were a flash to a week earlier when Ashley had arrived in Chicago, remembering saying almost exactly the same thing to the first person she saw as well. Yet it was the girl's reaction that had Ashley moving a few steps closer. Maybe she was being a sucker, but she was willing to take the chance to help.

"Not exactly lost,' she said, making a face. "Unless you like started out in Chicago and banged your head and forgot. Where'd you come from,' she asked, a bit brusque but trying to make sure this girl wasn't just actually and honestly lost.

[smartas]

"Seattle." Her answer came quickly but she hasn't given it much thought to be surprised over it.

George wants things to speed up, though. She wants to feel okay and she wants to talk and maybe even meet someone interesting. Maybe the woman in front of her could be that interesting person.
Suddenly, the arms that hold so close to her body loosen and she feels her chin rise slightly. "Are you from here?" There was a hint of force in her words. She's trying to be social. She really is trying.

[kick_ash]

Seattle. With that admission, Ashley couldn't help but nod and there was a bit of sympathy to it.

"No, I'm not from here either. The place... It's got this crack in time or something. They call it a rift," she explained, realizing she really needed to get someone to explain it all to her again. When she wasn't in shock and panic and might remember the finer points.

"I was in Prague when I got yanked here. There's some people local, though I don't know if that's the safest route. Some people here aren't really a fan of those of us that come through the rift," she admitted, giving a moment to look around. She stuck out her hand. "I'm Ashley, by the way."

[smartas]

George notices the hand before accepting it, "George." Curious George, if you will. There are many things in Ashley's small line of words that caught her attention. It seems almost as though she's... dreaming. Or something.

"So I went through some rift," yup, she understands that one, "but what about other people? Did they come through the rift? Why don't they like us? What the fuck did I do to them?" It isn't about being comfortable asking questions anymore. Now, for George, it's about getting the answers.

[kick_ash]

A brow arched at the name but she smiled widely. "Nice to meetcha, though I wish we hadn't. Wouldn't wish this on my worse enemy,' she said, voice cheerfully despite the harshness of those words.

"That's what they call it. A rift. Like a gap in time. People just kind of slip through. Some come through. Others are locals, I guess. Least that's what they tell me. Then there's..." Oh yeah, this wasn't going to get easier. "There's angels and demons too. Though from what I hear they're pretty much like everyone else, but I haven't met one face to face."

She sighed, trying to think of all the things she'd been told. "You didn't do anything. They're prejudice. Maybe they don't get all super powery like wanderers do." She paused and winced. She should have eased into that. "Yeah so... Uhmmm, I suck at this."

[smartas]

George stares at the blonde as she absorbs the information she's receiving. "Super powery?" If she hadn't died 7 years ago, she wouldn't believe this absurdity. But now she realizes that anything is possible. Anything can happen. Even to her... especially to her.

"Do you have super powers?"

[kick_ash]

Yeah, she was sucking at this. The thought was there to drag George to Martha, who had done awesome with this, and make her do it but if this was home, Ashley would learn to suck up her uncertainty and do the right thing.

"I don't. Not yet. I'm assured they'll come though. I've been told of shapeshifters and the like though. It's different for everyone."

[smartas]

"Fucked up," she whispers to herself, her stare glued to the ground. She's trying to think, but she's not even sure what exactly it is she's trying to think up. She feels so unorganized, which says a lot considering she isn't exactly the type to sort out her own crap.

George pulls her glance back up to the woman and tilts her head slightly, "do you live around here?"

[kick_ash]

Yeah, Ashley was determined there needed to be a welcoming committee. Or at least a pamphlet so people like her weren't screwing things up for people. That didn't mean she'd stop trying though, determined to be helpful.

"Oh yeah. Sure. There's Kashtta Tower. I think that's the name of the place. Seriously, so should have thought of that,' she said, giving a nod to indicate direction. "Big place down there. It's actually the best place I could think to get you. I'll walk with you down, if you want."

[smartas]

This was all beginning to seem so familiar.

She finds herself in a completely different situation and she meets someone almost instantly. Someone who's willing to help her out with the confusion that came with said situation. And now --if she says yes--, this person is going to lead her to a better place.

This feels like... wait. Is she a reaper anymore?

Without a word, George nodded shyly.
"Yeah," she said. "I do want that."

[kick_ash]

Ashley couldn't help but grin. She was used to taking care of business and helping at least let her get close to that.

"Cool. Come on this way then,' she said, giving a nod of her head and starting that way. "They seem cool there, so far. Though I have to tell you that the place puts the creep into... well creepy. Haunted or something. I don't even know but you can't miss it."

[smartas]

George scoffs in the smug way that she does, "I can do creepy." And off she follows.

It's moments like this that can easily have someone --a reaper someone to be more specific-- mistaken being undead for a ghost. She may truly be feeling positive right about now, but that's highly unlikely.

She doesn't want to feel scared and lonely and just completely miserable. No. She's going to do things differently this time, have a different attitude.

Well... at least that's the false confidence mask she chooses to wear.