Crazy Eddie gave a subtle little shudder as his pierced benefactor flicked her lighter to life. As she extended its flame towards him a shadow passed behind his eyes and he blew it out with a puff of his fetid breath. Her words of rebuke for his crassness made him smile a crooked toothed grin and her firm shove rocked him back and made him step back so as not to topple over like a bowling pin after a strike. As the tenor of her words shifted from belligerent to dismissive it might register for her that when she pushed the crazy man back he was surprisingly solid and sturdy under all the clothes he wore, giving her an inkling about the true strength he possessed.<br/><br/>"My story?? Girlie, there's no 'Once upon a time,' or '... and they lived happily...' Even when Eddie doesn't get you something dies... The evil... It drip drip drips into you like an invisible rain that only falls where water doesn't dare go... And then... Never the same, and you know it too the day the Zippo Raid gets them so good ain't no need for glad bags and all you do is smile..." rambles Crazy Eddie in a raspy, distant tone. As he spoke his hands balled into fists so tightly the dirty, ragged nails of his right hand cut into his own flesh and his blood slowly pooled in his palm.<br/><br/>Her eyes meet those out 'the artist' in those long moments her haze lingered upon him. He probably was in his mid-late twenties but had a quiet self confidence that lent him an air of wisdom beyond his years. Nothing in him seemed uncomfortable about having her eyes on him nor was he at all sheepish about her knowing he was looking at her and seeing more then most do when their eyes fall on her. Something in his eyes mirrored hers, it was as if, with a glance, he was saying,<span style="font-style: italic">yes...and so are you.... </span>Just before she looked away his lips curled into a challenging smile that brought an impish cast to his face ads she returned her attention to her homeless friend.