A joke back along with a name had Toby smiling before he even thought anything of it. “While Bleeding heart jumper man sounds like a great superhero name. Toby is just fine, it is what my friends tend to call me,” he offered easily. “Seeing as how you are new in this part of town and we are…well…stuck with one another so we can be considered friends, yeah?” Then as an afterthought, “Or is that too much for you to handle, Lily?” Tobias asked cautiously. “I don’t want to put undo pressure on you now.”<br/><br/>He was extremely cautious. For a glimmer of a moment, he seemed to reply to her with an air of ease, lapsing into the friendly conversation as easily as if they'd known each other for longer. Her joke was well received, some of the awkward feelings leaving as he replied and she felt her smile growing as, for that moment, she felt normal. But, just as easily as the friendly chatter came, so did his backtracking to make sure that she was comfortable. A small laugh fell freely, shaking her head. "That's not too much pressure. We can consider each other friends for the short while we'll be together, definitely," Lily assured him. "I don't feel pressured at all."<br/><br/>Tobias smiled, “Then as a friend, I want to invite you to lunch. I know that I need to eat and I’m going to figure that you may need to eat too? So, lunch and then bus stop?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">Her eyes widened a bit, surprised at the generous offer, but with the sun rising high in the sky and the air becoming hotter, a break might be nice. And who knew when she'd be able to eat once they parted. "...That would actually be wonderful, and extremely kind of you, thank you," Lily replied, smiling broadly enough to be seen crinkling the corners of her eyes. "I don't know when I'll be able to pay you back, but if I come back to the area, I could return the favor?" While she had no intentions of coming back, no matter how nice he was, the idea was a nice one to think about.</span><br/><br/>“I know of a place that is, quiet, small and blissfully air conditioned...” he began, making small talk because not saying anything to her seemed weird to him. “Not to mention their pizza is pretty good too. Its kind of like a Mom and Pop place, which is what I like best about it” the familiarity and comforting feelings that he associated with the place brought an energy to his voice and a smile to his lips. The smile came easy to his lips and it looked good on him. Talking about something that he knew and was familiar with, helped to put him at ease with the whole lying thing.<br/><br/>It was like a physical affliction and damn near painful to him. Making his whole body go into panic mode like that in front of Lily, troubled and embarrassed him. Maybe while they were eating he could take a couple of his pills, something to take the edge off of how he was feeling. Though he did not like the slightly zombie feeling that they gave him, that numbness and detachment. It was not much but being a trained soldier, he liked being at a hundred percent. Ready and prepared to handle whatever situation might arise.<br/><br/>The trip to the pizza parlor was uneventful, though that could be largely due to the fact that Tobias took the less scenic route. Not liking crowds of people, he choose to avoid them as often as possible. Living in the city often meant having to deal with large crowds, but Tobias was not one to just admit defeat. So, he took the time to explore the city and map out the fastest though less crowded routes to the places he needed to get to. Which is why they were able to travel the streets without seeing or meeting more than perhaps 3 other people before they finally reached their destination.<br/><br/>The rich smell of baking cheese, tomatoes, fresh bread and spices filled the air. Making Tobias's stomach grumble in appreciation.<br/><br/>“Mmm...just smell that...” he said stopping out front of the little “hole in the wall” type place, “Smells good yes?” he asked Lily with a smile before nodding to the door. “Come on. Let’s get something to eat,” getting to the door before her he opened it and held it open for her to go in first, him following close behind her once she entered.<br/><br/>“TOBY!” shouted a jovial man from behind a counter, the wrinkles in his face belaying his age though his demeanor was definitely more that of a younger man.<br/><br/>Tobias gave a big smile and proudly went over to shake hands with the other man, “Samuele! How have you been?” he asked the other man who was already looking past him at Lily.<br/><br/>“Can't complain. I have my health, my business...” though the old man was cut off from a female voice from the back.<br/><br/>“Is that Tobias?!” the door, that must have led to the kitchen is pushed open as a tall woman who carried herself with an air of pride and dignity came out. “There he is...come here so that I can look at you,” she says holding her arms out to him like he was her long lost son.<br/><br/>Samuele and Angela Ragusa, were a friendly couple in their 50's who had opened a pizzeria sometime in their 30's. They have raised three sons and a daughter, now they just work together in their pizzeria, with no plans of retiring as they both enjoy it too much. He was a large man, matching Tobias in height and girth, though age had caught up to him and he was more round in the mid-section. Despite this fact he was a strong man, who was not afraid to throw his weight around when he felt the need. He had begun to go bald and now is sporting a shaved head, which his wife actually likes because it brings out his rich caramel eyes which are his best feature to her.<br/><br/>Angela was alike in her husband in terms of being tall, though she stopped at about a good 6 feet even and was on the thin side. She was a proud woman who stood by her beliefs and her opinions, ready to fight and or argue a point into the grave if need be. With a natural motherly aura she treats everyone like her child and immediately puts people at ease when they are around her.<br/><br/>“Come sit sit. It has been a while since we have seen you Toby, we were getting worried...” Angela said as she led him to his usual table in the back. “Who is your friend? How are you going to just let her stand there and not introduce us?” Angela chastised him as Samuele just chuckled.<br/><br/>“Um well, just been busy with work and that is Lily....” Tobias explained himself, the smile still on his face as he allowed Angela to seat him.<br/><br/>“Lily. Such a pretty name, bet it goes with a pretty face. Come child sit and relax” Angela said moving to partially guide Lily to the table like she had Tobias.<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">Following suit, she stayed a few steps behind out of habit. At her old compound, she had to follow five steps behind the leader, while two escorts followed on either side and another five steps behind. Lily kept glancing around her, expecting them to come out of nowhere and steer her back to her room...But they never came. Instead, she simply walked behind him, taking in the scents of the city. While she couldn't place any of it, it was all mouth-watering, and her stomach had begun to growl almost painfully. Pressing her hands into her stomach, she paused, stopping dead in the middle of the sidewalk as he halted in front of her, holding open the door. She stood there for a while, contemplating what it would mean to walk in. <span style="font-style: italic">If I got too close and skin where to show, and his hand brushed against it...But then if I didn't, they'd stand there awkwardly until he demanded to know why I wouldn't move...Explaining wouldn't go over well... "Oh, by the way, if you touch my skin, you die." ...Yeah, that'd go over as well as adultery. ...What if I go through but I'm extremely careful? ...I can't see around corners...What if someone else comes through and the same thing happens? ...Why couldn't he just go in first and clear the path?! Because that would be far too easy...</span> Finally, as the waves of food convinced her to dart inside, stepping immediately to the side and pressing her back against a wall. No sooner had she moved, did the sound of a booming voice sound out. <br/><br/>Eyes blinking, she almost wished she could shrink into the back somehow, despite the attention not being on her. One thing she'd not heard a lot of...was yelling. Even as a child growing up, she'd never been yelled at. It was always a stern, yet clinical tone of voice addressing her. After she'd killed one of her attendants accidentally, at six years old, all that was uttered was a comment about how there are rules for a reason. That was the final day she'd stopped pushing her sleeves up. It was too risky. Another voice joined the banter, one that eerily matched the voice she often heard for the elder mothers in her books. The women who looked after either hero or heroin, offering advice when not asked, but always being right in their grasp of how the world worked. Eyeing her curiously from her wall, she felt a small smile growing on her lips, albeit a sad one. She'd have given anything to have a mother like that...a mother at all. Yet, already grown up, Lily had accepted she'd never have one. Some things were better left off in books.<br/><br/> It was as Tobias was being led away from her that she checked back into the conversation, actually investing in the words being said. She'd almost forgotten she'd have to go through the meeting process, that she couldn't just hide and observe. Nodding as Toby told them her name, she felt the smile growing as Angela gave her a compliment, the first compliment she'd ever heard. A blush grew on her cheeks, adding quite the extra 'healthy glow' to her features, as she lowered her head and sat two chairs over from Toby. Settling down, she noticed the change in temperature. No longer was sweat dripping down her nose, but instead Lily felt almost comfortable. Almost. The unnatural amount of layers she had on kept her from being completely, as the temperature regulation had been a lot colder all her life, allowing her to wear the extra layers. Pushing those thoughts aside, she fiddled with her fingers nervously, clenching and unclenching her hands before glancing around at the group. And then the awkward silence. <br/><br/>For yet another span of time that seemed far too long, nothing was said. She couldn't think of anything to contribute right then, not knowing where to even begin making small talk, and feeling like she was intruding. Her stomach growled again, enough that she could feel the fabric over her stomach vibrating ever-so-slightly as she was once again reminded she'd not eaten for that day, or the day before. Though she didn't have any money, so she wasn't going to be. <span style="font-style: italic">Maybe I just need some fresh air,</span> she thought as the waves of woosiness started to kick in, though she wouldn't give in. If she could handle the heat, she could handle the hunger. Forcing them back for the time being, she shifted in her chair, her neck audibly cracking as she rolled her head a bit to try and relieve the growing tension from her nerves. Loosing a quiet laugh, one filled with her uncertainty, she tried to grasp onto something to talk about. <br/><br/>Anything. Just to fill the void. Mouth opening and closing, no sound came out. It was like all words suddenly escaped her and nothing but hot air was left in its place. Eyes blinking, she tried to force out the words, but then gave up in a small huff, staring pointedly at the table, hoping the topic would somehow shift back to Tobias and his whereabouts.</span><br/><br/>Angela smiled kindly at Lily, reaching to pat her gloved hand, “Its ok deary” is all she said before switching her focus to Tobias who was signally Samuele for a pizza. “So, where really have you been?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">Jumping under the touch of the woman, her hand instinctively jerked back. It wasn't that she could do anything through her clothing, but more out of reflex she didn't like to be touched. No matter how many books she read, a simple hand touching her could kill them...That's not something you shake just because a layer's been added.</span><br/><br/>Tobias blushed a bit as he was questioned, “Angela....I told you work...” he said as he scratched at the back of his head, rocking back in his chair, a subconscious manner of trying to physically escape the situation.<br/><br/>“Sit up straight and stop playing in your chair. I keep telling you that you are going to rock back too far and hurt yourself” Angela chastised him, making Tobias rock forward instantly, his chair connecting with the floor with an audible Clank<br/><br/>“Yes ma'am” Tobias said sitting straight in his chair and making sure to keep his elbows off the table.<br/><br/>Angela just smiled, leaning down to kiss him on the forehead, “You know I worry about you is all” she says brushing back his hair. “Alright. I will stop pestering you. I'll get you and your lovely friend something to drink. Pepsi right?” she asked starting to move away.<br/><br/>“And some water. Really hot today...” he said wanting the water mostly for Lily, as he figured she had sweat a good deal and would need to replenish herself. Survival training 101. When they were alone he smiled, “Sorry about that... she gets worried about me if I don't check in like once a week” he cleared his throat nervously and shrugged. “So, I hope you like just plain cheese on your pizza? Its what I usually get...” he rambled on a bit. Though watching her sit there bundled up made him feel warm and had to resist the urge to remove the top half of his jumper.<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">What'd she mean by that? she wondered, watching the older woman wander off to get them Pepsi. Whatever the heck that is, came an after thought. Her attention turning fully back to Tobias, she shook her head, resting her chin on her gloved hand so as to better resist the fidgeting. <br/><br/>"Cheese is good," Lily replied almost confidently. Cheese was something she recognized and felt proud in that realization. She'd not had too much in the way of recognizable cheese, but that didn't matter. If cheese was being used, at least she could have a "slightly" more accurate depiction of the mystery food that was pizza. Pepsi, for the time being, would remain a mystery. "And don't apologize...It's better to have someone worrying after you than not," she reasoned, her heart panging for a moment in longing, disappearing as quickly as it'd come.<br/><br/>"Will you excuse me?"<br/><br/>No sooner had the words left her mouth, was she pushing away from the table, walking quickly for the door she assumed was the bathroom. Locked firmly behind her, she pressed her back against the door, head drooped tiredly. Pulling her scarf off, she dropped it haphazardly to the floor, lifting her hood off as she stumbled to the sink to splash water on her face. Tired eyes stared back at her in the reflection of the small mirror, the water dripping down her smooth cheeks. Loosing a sigh, she started to walk back for the door only to halt again.<br/><br/>Turning slowly to look at herself again, her hands hastily moved to her hair, fluffing it out, and fixing her matted bangs. Convincing herself she looked halfway decent, she picked up her scarf, unlocked the door and stepped out, moving slowly back to the table.<br/></span>