<div style="text-align: center;"><a class="postlink" href="http://s300.photobucket.com/user/SociallyToxicBeauty/media/f9baa897-e285-4e2a-92b5-e0eb263a67ea.jpg.html"></a><a class="postlink" href="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn24/SociallyToxicBeauty/f9baa897-e285-4e2a-92b5-e0eb263a67ea.jpg">[ img ]</a><br/><br/><span style="color: #408000"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;">Alida</span></span></span></div><br/><br/>Alida was happy to have learned something from Izu, even if it was only about what the tiny creature was called. She thought 'sparrow' was a pretty word and she vowed to use it any time she could.<span style="color: #BF0000">"Judging by that reaction, I take it you don't have air planes where you're from...?" </span>It sounded like a question, but Alida had a hard time figuring out what he said. She could only assume it was about the loud noise she had covered her ears for. Izu grumbled out a few more words, helping Alida to her feet. She followed him rather mindlessly, trusting him to take her to where ever. She was dismayed, however, to find he was just bringing her back inside.<br/><br/><span style="color: #408000">"Nid, nid, nid!" </span>she repeated unhappily as she tried to avoid going back in.<span style="color: #BF0000">"I don't want to hear it...You look like you could cut diamonds..."</span>he replied to her, pointedly looking at her chest. She looked down to find her nipples rather pebbled and hard, but she didn't understand what that had to do with anything. She frowned and looked back up at Izu, who only kept pulling her along.<br/><br/>It didn't take much time to get back inside and Alida stood in the room with a rather dejected look on her face. While it was much more comfortable in terms of temperature, she felt ridiculously confined. She wanted sunshine and light. Izu, she had determined, did not like such things for whatever reason. Distantly she wondered if that was why he was so pale.<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF0000">"Hey, free-loader."</span><br/><br/>Alida looked at Izu as she realized he was trying to get her attention. She frowned at whatever he had called her, recognizing that his tone did not indicate any sort of affection, but rather annoyance.<span style="color: #408000">"Alida!" </span>she corrected him immediately with a huff, deciding she rather not be called anything she didn't understand. He ignored her, continuing with whatever he had planned to say. From what she could tell from his signals, he wanted her to do something for him--but she didn't really know what. He was an odd man, she'd give him that.<br/><br/>Suddenly, and likely without real thinking, Alida wrapped her arms around Izu's middle, hugging him as if he were some long lost friend. She wasn't sure what he was going on about or why he was upset, but hugs had always made her feel better. Maybe they would make him feel better too. For some reason, despite Izu's extremely rough exterior, Alida found herself unknowingly relaxing against him. Her eyes closed and she snuggled closer to him, his warmth and smell wrapping around her. She gave a soft, satisfied sigh, a tiny smile gracing her lips.<br/><br/>While Izu seemed to be absurdly skinny, Alida could feel the muscles beneath his clothing. He had much more strength than the men from her home and she wondered what kind of world he lived in that it was necessary to be in such a physical condition. She continued to compare Izu to the men she knew and started to become sad as she was reminded that she'd likely never see any of them or her friends and family again. Even if she managed to get back to her home, she wasn't sure there really was a home to get back to anymore. It was likely all destroyed--she was likely the only survivor.<br/><br/>She had unconsciously clutched Izu a little tighter, trying to find comfort. She turned her head some, causing her short hair to hide her face from Izu's view. He was a grumpy bastard, but damn she felt so safe.