The thick dark auburn mass hung over her shoulder and down over the chest of her white wife beater type tank top. A ice blue button down shirt with the sleeves rolled up to the elbows hung open and untucked. The jeans hugged her flared hips and flared out over the leather sandals she wore on her small feet. A blue almost the same color as her shirt winked from under the jeans as she walked, as her toenails were almost the same color as her shirt. As to what she was doing? Well she was shopping, kinda. More like window shopping. She was strolling along the shops and around Jackson Square. She had nothing better to do today and well, since she didn't know anyone it seemed like the best course of action on her part.
She hated being cooped up indoors, maybe that's why she had a job with the local Zoo. One of them anyway. It was one thing to be in India and have to wear a Sari most of the time. It was always interesting learning how to warp one's self in a Sari as well. While she had brought a few of her favorites with her she didn't wear them unless she really felt like it, or her mother was visiting. She didn't she her mother visiting anytime soon so she was sure she was safe. The only other issue was her being a kitten. She didn't know any of the protocols for being a leopard. All she knew was she was one and that she had to keep it a secret from people. Blocking power that came off her was not something she realized she could even do. She was learning little things though, like how to keep the beast at bay around other animals, and to cover her nose around strong scents like bleach.
She stepped inside the Cajun Clothing Company store to look around for a bit. Her fingers dancing over racks as she found something she might be interested in. She pulled a blue jean skirt off the rack that had a fabric and lace hem around the skirt. It was cute. Maybe. She draped it over her arm to try on in a few minutes. One thing she hated about clothes shopping was being short. Standing only 5 feet and 1 inches made buying average or even petite clothes difficult. Good thing she knew how to sew, something her mother had taught her. She started to hum as she continued to look and rummage through the store.
The man took the cigarette from his mouth, letting the last of the smoke blow through his nose before tossing the butt into a nearby trash can. He told himself that he should have just stayed put for once, that Mississippi had more than enough work there and that he was stupid for wanting to pack up and move again...if throwing all of his clothes in a duffel bag and hitchiking is what one would call 'packing and moving'. Through it all, however, Zachary Mathias Sullivan had convinced himself that it would be better here. Walking down yet another crowded street, however, he was beginning to have his doubts.
"I can't believe this..." Zack mumbled to himself, fishing through the pockets of his navy-blue hooded sweatshirt for another cigarette. "So many bars and hotels in this town...and not one so far's got a 'vacancy' or 'now hiring' sign in a window or nothin'." The small time jobs he'd been in and out of for the past four years had led him about as far down south as he cared to go. He had managed to grab a couple applications for places, but he didn't have high hopes for those concidering the looks he got on the way out. He didn't blame them, of course. His pants had holes at the knees, the hoodie had several small cuts around it, and his hair was more of a greasy rats nest than is usually was. Hell, his boots and the duffel bag slung across his back were the only decent looking things on him. At least he had a razor packed away for when he found enough time to shave.
Zack stopped for a moment, finally finding the lighter he had been hunting for. He pressed himself against the glass window of a store, using one hand to shield the lighter from the wind as he lit up another cigarette. He took a long drag from it, allowing himself to relax against the window and let his feet rest a bit. He reached down into a pant pocket, bringing out a folded up application. "Let's see what we got here..." He continued to mumble, the newly lit cigarette being held steady in the corner of his mouth.
The application was for a fast food place he had found earlier that afternoon. Previous work experience? "Plenty, no doubt about that..." He thought aloud, thinking of what he'd put down once he found a motel for the night. Current place of residency? "I've got enough money to make a deposit somewhere. That'll work itself out." Have you ever been convicted of a felony? "...It's always somthin', isn't it?" He scowled at the application, folding it back up. "Oh hell, they won't care. Noplace else did. It'll be fine." Zack closed his eyes, taking another hit off of the cigarette and letting his feet rest for the first time that day. "...It'll be fine."
Holding out the skirt she scrutinized it and debated all the work she was going to have to do if she bought it. The fabiric and lace ruffled hem would have to come off and then be sewn back on to keep the look, but would it look right once it was shorted? Blowing out a sigh she set the skirt back on the rack and went to look at a few shirts. She'd probably end up with the skirt anyway, but she wanted to think it over more. She wasn't really a skirt type girl. With her height she hated wearing them, what she loved was jeans. Jeans were an easy fix and didn't make her feel like a complete idiot wearing them.
Three shirts were purchased and she left the shop without thinking of the skirt again which meant she didn't really need it anyway. she shifted the shopping bag on her arm and exited the shop. Cigarette smoke assaulted her nose and a voice had her head snapping up before she ran head long into the young man leaned against the store window. She stopped and blinked for a moment before offering a bright smile as she blocked out the urge to smack the lite cancer stick from his hand. "Whoops, almost didn't see you there." He certainly looked like he had seen better days, which tugged at her heart for a moment before her eyes spied the application.
One thing she knew for sure he looked like he could use a warm meal and a bed. But, she wasn't going to make it seem like she pitied him, she hated pity from anyone, and she figured that most people down on their luck hated it to. Then again maybe it was just her. She looked up at him slightly, her big golden brown olive shaped eyes watching him a moment before she asked. "New to New Orleans?" If she hazarded a guess she'd say yes.
The cigarette hung loosely from his mouth as his arms dropped to the sides, one still holding the half folded application. He pushed himself as far back against the window as his bag would allow, trying his best to not obstruct the flow of pedestrians around him. He began shutting out the sounds around him, not quite meditating but still drifting deeper into relaxation. "Yes sir," Zack continued to mumble, "This is the li-"
Zack stopped to catch himself, the force of the woman running into him knocking him off balance. He used one hand to steady himself on the window and used the other to catch the cigarette falling from his mouth, just to show the world where his priorities were. He shook his head as he put the smoking stick back in his mouth where it belonged, listening to the woman apologize.
"No, no, it's fine. I shouln't have been standing in the middle of the road anyway." He looked up, his baby blue eyes meeting hers. 'Oh hell', he started to think to himself, 'why couldn't this happen when I had a clean pair of clothes?' She was way to upscale for him, at least in his current state. He took a moment to look around the people and stores around him, realizing for the first time today how nice everyone else looked in comparison.
His attention snapped back to the woman in front of him, not expecting the smile she was giving him. He nodded, stuffing the application back into his pants pocket. "Nah," He responded, trying his best to sound like a stereotypical millionarre, "I just got so tired and bored of my mansion up in the hills that I gave it to my servants and decided to live amongst the common folk." He smiled as he tried to gague her response. Everyone back in Mississippi was a jokester in some way, but he still wasn't sure how he should conduct himself here. Figured the best way to find out was to try it first hand. "Yah, I just came in this morning. Lovely city."
-- Edited by ZACHARY SULLIVAN on Tuesday 15th of March 2011 01:22:09 PM
Nula upscale? She would have laughed if he said that out loud. And then she laughed at his mansion joke and nodded. "Oh, same here. The servants can be so bothersome and annoying sometimes." The playful smile spread her lips and reach her eyes as her golden eyes looked back at him. "Really? I just got in a few days ago. So far I am loving the city." She shifted her bags on her arm and looked down the street and then back to him.
"So, I was going to grab something to eat. Would you like to join me?" She motioned to the Brewhouse restaurant down the street from them and gave him a bright smile once again. She didn't want to eat alone and she figured he was here so why not ask. She should be use to doing things alone, she'd been doing things like that for years. But, now that she was in the states to change a few things about how she was. This included meeting new people and possibly making friends.
"I'm Anula, you can call me Nula." She even offered her hand in greeting as she said her name. "I promise I don't bite." Was said as a joke, though if he knew what she was he'd probably freak out at her little joke. Shifting the bags in her hands she adjusted her purse strap on her shoulder. "Consider the dinner offer a Welcome to town dinner type of thing."
