Sketching (Open)

[annaharper]

Anna was not sure what had led her to the park that morning. All she knew was that she was currently lounging on a bench with her sketchpad and taking note of the different types of coats that wandered by. Her eyes traced the lines of each collar and each sleeve with little regard for the person wearing said coat. She simply was interested in them. Her main focus was in the blend of colors and tailored cuts that defined the fashions of the season. Anna had to say she loved fall and winter if only because it offered the options of layers.

Dressed in her own fitted pea coat, Anna was perfectly content to spend the whole day sketching out design ideas while stealing little snippets of what she saw. A angular fit here, a small pocket there. All becoming integrated into whatever she let settle on her pad. She used a pencil of course, erasing was a natural part of the process. Anna had to stretch her hand every now and then to avoid the cold weather making them stiff. She also concentrated on her bright red scarf and with a small gesture had it tighten itself around her neck more snugly to ward off a chill. All this she did without even touching it. Sometimes her ability came quite in handy when she didn't want to stop sketching to adjust her own clothing.

Anna's hair stayed perfectly in place curled and pinned back away from her eyes which darted from person to person quickly and barely looked back down at her drawing. Although she was far more relaxed then when she was not working, her posture said she was still aware that anyone could be watching her. It was a posture that spoke of years perfecting the very way she sat. It also did not convey friendliness and spoke more of detached interest. Anna was here to work and hopefully find something her boss would like, not socialize with the ordinary and boring folks who also found themselves in a park on a cold November day. Although in her bright scarlet scarf and clean white coat, she certainly called attention to herself.

[will]

Ah, it was good to get out of the house. He had never felt more cooped up in his life being stuck with the Brotherhood but what could he do? He hoped that by helping them he would be able to keep his family safe, he wanted a world where humans could no longer fear his own kind but at what cost? Sometimes he questioned his reasons for being with Magneto but there wasn't much he could do about it now. Either way, just being able to get out on his own was enough- he had never been very good at sitting about not doing anything, he always had to be on the move.

Looking about the park in interest he wondered what had brought him to such a place before deciding it didn't really matter all that much. It was outdoors and he had yet to actually visit it properly despite having lived in the area for a good few months already. Well, he had never had any reason to come here he should say as he was usually busy doing things for the Brotherhood- his ability made it very easy to get about without being seen and frankly one didn't need a key to get into a locked room if the room itself was in the dark. In other words he made quite a good thief, even if he hated having to label himself as such. Walking along the wide path he moved easily around those who chose to walk directly in his path, his hands stuffed deep into the pockets of his trench coat although it did nothing to keep the cold from his fingers. He would have to consider replacing it at some point or other but this had been a gift from his sister before he had left and he had worn it ever since- it certainly showed...It was faded and the hem was slightly tattered in places and it was very out of fashion compared to those that others about him wore but he really didn't care.

It was as he was walking, his head filled with thoughts of his parents that he spied the woman in white sitting on a bench all on her own. The part of him that liked meeting new people longed to ask why she was sitting apart from everyone else but the part of him that loathed those who could live so freely in the light was too strong and his eyes moved to look forward again, walking past her before he came to a stop at a bench a little further down from her own. With a sigh he sat down, his legs suddenly very tired. He was starting to feel old... all the travelling he had done was starting to catch up on him and if anyone so much as mentioned the fact that wrinkles were slowly but surely appearing around his eyes and the grey hairs on his head he would hit them. He didn't want to be reminded he was getting older. It was bad enough he was starting to feel it, let alone see it.

[annaharper]

Anna dismissed Will only two seconds after spotting him. She found his coat to be of no interest and quickly moved on. However, she found her eyes returning to the well loved edges and the minute places where the fabric spoke of much use. Anna couldn't help but pause her sketching of her newest ideas to instead draw the outline of a trench coat. Anna was not a stranger to this type of draw. Her abilities made it so that there were some articles of clothing that could have a certain pull to them if they carried significance to their owner. Anna had once caught herself staring at an old woman's hat once and not understanding just why he couldn't look away.

Inwardly Anna knew she might appear a bit odd now that she was examining this coat and apparently watching this stranger. It was a testament to her strong will that she managed to blink a few times and tone down her stare slightly. In order to try and take her mind of the fabric, Anna instead looked at the wearer. He was older then her, but not by much. He also seemed to be rather solitary, but Anna figured she might just be over analyzing things. She found herself a bit amused by her ability to get carried away simply because she liked someone's coat. It wasn't in style, but the fabric had personality.

Anna found herself getting up and was five steps toward where the man had sat down before she realized she had no good reason to start a conversation. Anna was normally too haughty to approach someone she didn't know, but nevertheless she walked until she stood in front of the stranger with her sketchbook held loosely at her side.

"I like your coat." Anna spoke without any hurried tones or clipped words like she tended to use on a daily basis. The comfortable feeling the coat held was very calming. Anna wondered if perhaps it was a bad thing that a piece of clothing could have such an effect on her. Then again, it isn't as if someone would ever find this out. Anna was pretty sure she wouldn't go around telling everyone about her strange little quirk. It might be useful at work, but she knew that her career would go nowhere if people found out she was different. Anna could care less about the whole political implications or mutant rights, she just wanted to get ahead in the world. It was this clear ambition that had lead to her keeping her abilities from even her family.

[will]

Now comfortably seated on the bench (despite being a little cold), Will tilted his head back so he could stare up between the branches of the trees above him. Closing his eyes for a moment or two he let out a loud sigh before lifting his hand to his head, running his fingers through his hair causing some of it to stick up in slightly odd angles but since he wasn't too fussed over his appearance these days it didn't phase him in the least...afterall, what was the point in looking good when you had no one to impress? He wasn't about to dress up for the likes of Toad or Blob for example and unless he was needed for some sort of mission that required being in polite society he just tended to walk about in his jeans and a top- like today. Smart black jeans and a skin tight black top was all he wore apart from his coat so it was no wonder he was a little cold but it didn't matter, he would survive.

"I like your coat."

"Huh?" His thoughts were broken when the woman's voice cut through them and his eyes opened involuntary to see who had spoken to him. Moving his head back down he looked at the woman in the white coat he had passed not even ten minutes ago. What was she doing over here? The way she had been sitting on her bench had practically screamed that she wanted to be left alone and yet she had come over here?

"Thanks?" He had hadn't meant for it to come out as a question but she had thrown him slightly by coming over and talking to him and frankly who liked old coats? Even he had considered replacing it but simply couldn't let go of the memories it held. It wasn't healthy but what was he going to do? Pray he forgot about the last several years? Not bloody likely. "Do y'always admire coats that are long past their expiry date?" If she did she was suddenly quite interesting in his eyes, if only because it was completely odd and out of the blue for someone to say such a thing in the middle of the park. It would make a nice change to talk to someone new although there was still that part of him that just wanted to be left alone. How could he sit here like there was nothing going on? Like he was 'normal'? He would never be normal.

[annaharper]

Anna didn't mind the cold much in general since it gave her an opportunity to wear layers which only added more choices to her wardrobe. She was always perfectly put together from her coat to her snug and very expensive boots. Anna liked to think it was merely because she enjoyed fashion, but she knew it also was her first line of defense against feeling vulnerable in any way. The more put together her outfit, the more stable she felt. Although she would never be caught dead in the casual look the stranger had, she could still see the appeal. It must be really comfortable at least. And Anna was also still partial to the jacket.

"A good coat doesn't have an expiration date." Anna replied simply. She was a bit put off by the idea that people would simply throw clothes out when done with them. Anna had never once gotten rid of something she could make into something else or donate. She knew it was a bit silly and that her closet would look like an episode of hoarders, but she couldn't bear to repay years of good wear with so little thanks. Anna also realized that she was starting to sound like an old cat lady but with clothes. She reminded herself to do something about that at a later date.

"I'm sorry if I am coming off a bit rude, I was simply admiring it's make." Anna said without the slightest hint she actually meant it. She only said it to have something to say that didn't make her out to be some weird stalker. In fact, Anna rarely ever cared if she came out as rude to people she just met, but she was feeling particularly nice today. However, despite the awkward situation she had set herself up in, she showed no outward signs of being anything other then calm. At least her emotional control still left her with that comfort.

[will]

"I'm sorry if I am coming off a bit rude, I was simply admiring it's make."

Well, there wasn't much he could say to that was there? Although he hadn't thought her rude, just silly for even coming over here in the first place since it was making both of them highly uncomfortable. He himself had never been good with talking to strangers as he often turned himself away from the idea of getting close to anyone- after what had happened back home he had simply formed the idea that with his curse he should never get close to anyone again...no one should have to be stuck with a man like him around, he only ever seemed to bring bad luck and darkness to the lives about him. He was of course completely paranoid about his whole power but he couldn't help it. He had spent the last several years on his own, forcing himself away from most physical and mental contact so having to make small talk was in itself a miracle for him. He didn't know her story but it was more than obvious she didn't know what to say either. Despite the fact she had come over here in the first place.

He eventually shrugged slightly before tilting his head slightly to his left side where there was room for her to sit down. "Why not have a seat?" He asked as he moved over slightly, allowing her all the room she could possibly want. If she was going to attempt to talk to him in this weird little conversation then he wanted to be able to look at her without straining his neck- he wasn't used to having to look up at people. Or talking to them.

Whilst waiting for her to sit down a the thought that perhaps she might like to actually inspect his coat popped into his head. It was a random thought and a complete testiment to the fact that he had no idea what he was supposed to say- although this time he would blame it on the fact that a pretty woman was talking to him as he was really starting to overuse his mutant power excuse. If there was anything that threw him off more than the normal chit chat most people used to get through their day it was having to create chit chat with someone who was attractive. It was like your brain shut down...it was highly embarassing. Alas he didn't care if it was stupid or right he just did it. Standing up he shrugged the coat off before holding it out to her.

"T'was a gift," He did well to keep the pain out of his voice although it was still ever so slightly there and anyone who actually listened to what was being said would actually pick up on it- although the last person to have picked up on it had been a little off the mark. They had thought it had been a past lover to give it him when in fact it had been his baby sister. An easy mistake to make he supposed as no one actually knew about his family. It was far better for him to keep those memories locked up tight in his head. Locking those thoughts away swiftly he shivered ever so slightly as the cold air hit his bare arms but he was from Scotland and if he couldn't handle a little bit of cold he was a poor excuse for a Scot.

[annaharper]

Ann heard him offer her a seat and nodded. She was grateful for the slight abatement of the awkwardness and settled onto the bench with little ado. Anna rested her sketchbook on her lap with the page of coat sketches still flipped open. Every now and then along the drawings were brief notes in a messy scrawl of letters that was near illegible for most people. Anna was never one to write very neatly and had always preferred electronic means of communication, even if it made her seem a bit cold and distant.

Anna had never had real trouble with talking to people besides the fact that she saw no real purpose to it most of the time. Working as the personal assistant for a designer meant one had to get used to speaking with important and often very influential clients. Not the mention that Anna's parents had been wealthy and she was used to conversations with others at her level. What Anna had trouble with was actually connecting to anyone. When the pleasantries of high society were taken away, Anna felt a bit hung out to dry. It wasn't that her mind stopped working so much as it decided that she didn't need coherent thoughts. Most of the time he just avoided meaningful conversation like the plague.

"Oh, thank you." Anna said and took the coat with gentle hands that held it as if it were made of glass. Outwardly she peered closer at it while she let her abilities stretch out invisibly over it to take in every stitch. It definitely had sentimental value and Anna couldn't help but tighten a few threads here and there so that it would last longer. Anna put it up to her want to save such a well made garment, but perhaps she was being a bit sentimental herself. Anna took a moment to feel out the coat once more before handing it back. She peered at the man again and smiled for perhaps the first time all day.

"A sibling perhaps?" The gift was from someone close, but Anna couldn't see a girlfriend that meant enough to make the coat matter choose a coat for a gift. Then again, Anna could be wrong.

[will]

William had never seen someone so enraptured with such an old piece of clothing before. He knew many women (and men, he wasn't going to be sexist on this one) could spend hours looking for the right piece of clothing for a night out or even just for every day use but never had he seen someone pay such close attention to something that was over five years old at least...Ok so it had held up for a good long time but it was still weird. Not that he was going to say anything about it to her as he wasn't rude. Distant perhaps but his mother had taught him better than that and she would kill him if she knew he had been rude to a young lady.

Sharon had bought the coat before she had known of his plan to leave and he had it on good authority she had spent a small fortune on it- despite it having been in the sale at the time. It had been a christmas gift and as it turned out a leavers present as well. She had cried her eyes out giving it to him and he wasn't too ashamed to admit that he had been in the same state. He had never wanted to leave home, not really. He had been quite happy settling down in their small town until such a time came that he had to take over the family farm but he had never planned on leaving Scotland, let alone travel the world in search of a new home and a place that would accept him for who he was.

Turning his head to the side he took his eyes off her for a moment so he could look about him in interest although they were quickly drawn to a couple a little further down the path from where he stood. He watched as they held one anothers hand and a small smile very nearly settled on his lips when a small girl came crashing through a pile of leaves before running into her mother's arms. He was a little envious of that small family. He would never know what it was like to walk through a place like this with someone he cared about. Not with the life he lead anyway. It would always be too dangerous for him to be with someone and he would never be able to be with a human as his team mates would never allow such a thing. And there was the fact that he didn't believe anyone could love and care for someone who lived most of his life in the dark.

With a sigh he turned back to the woman just as she was handing his coat back to him. "A sibling perhaps?" He accepted the coat with a small grimace for a smile. Damn. He hadn't meant to be so obvious about it. Pulling it back on he pulled it tight about his body before sitting back down next to her, crossing his legs automatically and folding his arms to keep the chill at bay- Scottish or not it was bloody cold and he didn't want to be sick.

"Aye," He finally gave a nod, staring ahead of him as he was too scared that looking at her right now would result in an awkward moment of him trying not to tear up like a child. "My sister. T'was a leaving gift."

[annaharper]

Anna knew the feeling of being away from family. Although she still saw her father every now and then, they were not close by any means of the word. Since her mother died, Anna and her father had barely spoken past the obligatory greetings and goodbyes when their paths crossed. He had set up her own trust fund so that she didn't even need to come to him for money. In fact, the most contact Anna had had with her father recently was when he helped her get her current job.

Anna was much closer with her brother Charlie. However, he worked on the other side of the country running that branch of her father's business. Anna only saw him during the rare trips he made to New York. It was not easy being away from the only person she felt she could actually talk to. Anna had no keepsakes she kept, but she did think about her brother often. She was reminded of him in small ways that made her resolve to find a way to visit soon, or at least beg him to come home for he holiday season.

Anna followed the man's eyes as he watched the young family. Anna felt the beginnings of another smile as she took in the happiness of the child and her parents. Anna did like children. They were easier to understand then adults. She found that she minded very little when she had to watch her boss's children at work and always found ways to keep them amused. Anna sometimes would wonder if she would ever have a family of her own, but could not really picture it. She found that her ambitions as far as her career went would not allow for such things. It left her a bit melancholy, but she had known when she chose her path that it would take certain sacrifices.

The man seemed cold and Anna found herself wondering why he had not planned for the weather. The coat may hold sentimental value, but that was no reason not to layer. Anna shook the thoughts away since it was really none of her business.
"I see. Have you been away from home long?"

[will]

He would have to get up at some point soon and head to the nearest cafe to get a good cup of tea, he was starting to get cold although he would hang about here for a little longer before he did so as he didn't really want to just get up and leave in the middle of their strange little conversation. Besides he wasn't so cold that he couldn't hold on a little longer- it was colder back home in the middle of winter. He had spent a whole week stuck in the snow with only a sleeping bag and the clothes on his back- of course he had soon learnt that it was better to just move on than stick about as that had been just after he had left his home for the first time...there had been a part of him that hadn't been able to just up and leave after all that time. It had been the hardest thing he had ever had to do but there was a part of him that knew it had been the right thing to do.

"I see. Have you been away from home long?"

He winced. There was the question that was bound to have turned up in this whole thing. Most people avoided asking it because they didn't know to and that was the way he liked to keep it. The less people knew about his past the easier it was to move on when it came to leaving. He had lost count of the amount of people he had met on his travels and had forgotten nearly every one of them once he had moved on to the next town- it was better that way, to forget the faces before he had time to learn them. And he had never allowed anyone to know the truth of his being a traveller. He wondered briefly if he should tell her. He could lie about it but his reaction had given him away before he could ever open his mouth- anything he said now would be so obvious a lie.

He went back to staring at the little family and allowed his mind to drift once again, not answering the woman just yet, unsure of how to go about such a painful truth. He had to answer her of course but it was still so hard even after such a long time. He hadn't even written or spoken to his parents that day and it was only through stalking his sister's Facebook that he even had any idea that everything was still ok back home- he had told Sharon that if there was any ever need for him to come home she need only ask...she was the only one to know that he kept an eye on things and she quite often updated her status as saying she missed him. It was a kind thought of hers but it still hurt.

"A while?" It came out as a question as in truth he really didn't know. He hadn't really kept on top of how many years and months it had been since he had left and instead chose to think of himself as being a little timeless in that respect- if he didn't keep track then he wouldn't need to think about it properly. "At least five years...maybe more." He admitted finally. "I don't keep track."

[annaharper]

Anna might have been more concerned with how rude she might be coming off as, but she was not used to having to be polite to people she didn't know. It was a character flaw that was probably common in people who had never wanted for anything and had been raised to think that they had a right to anything they set their eyes on. Anna had been working on overcoming that illusion, but she still had a ways to go. Even so, she could tell the man was cold and peered around for a cafe or something else of the sort while she waited for an answer.

Anna noticed the reaction to her question but didn't comment on it. If it was a sore subject then she wouldn't poke her nose into it. She had experience dealing with that type of thing. After her mother had died, people had constantly wanted her to talk about it to air out her feelings. Anna had been convinced that all she wanted to do was move on and not talk to random people about how upset she was. It had seemed that everyone had suddenly been concerned with her when before they had never really cared to listen. Often, Anna had hid behind her brother and father so that she could finally be left alone.

When he did answer, Anna turned her face back to watch him. She recognized the look of loss and nodded without speaking at first. She wondered if there was even anything to say to that. She decided that anything she could say wouldn't help him nor would make her seem any less irritating. So Anna settled on something she knew was neutral enough to suit her purposes. She found herself intrigued and curious about the man with the coat she liked.

"You're cold." Came out as a blank statement and not a question. Anna gestured toward the end of the park and a small cafe that was open.
"Coffee or tea? It will do wonders."

[will]

Will wondered briefly if perhaps she had jumped to the conclusion that his family were dead. Those who found out the truth of his traveling assumed that the only reason he had left such a place was because his family had left this world and he had had no choice but to leave- they were half right of course, he had left because he hadn't much choice in the matter but to even suggest that they were gone! No, the thought was unbearable. Although it did tend to avoid the rest of the questions he might have been asked...and that was a bonus. Sort of. Sometimes he missed being able to talk about his home but it was the price he had paid to keep them safe and not talking about it allowed him to keep himself to himself.

Good grief he though to himself. He really was starting to lose his marbles...not talking about his family a good thing? It might be true that he found it less painful but at the end of the day he was locking all that pain and lonliness inside of him and that couldn't be healthy. He did wish that he would one day be able to move on from such a thing but at the moment it seemed like an impossible dream as one simply couldn't forget memories....unless he found a telepath to lock them away. But that wasn't an option.

"You're cold. Coffee or tea? It will do wonders."

He moved his eyes to look at her again having found that he had turned his attention away from her slightly when he had been thinking about his parents and sister. Again. He really needed to work on that. It simply wouldn't do to keep letting his mind get distracted by memories he was trying to keep buried, and it was incredibly rude of him not to pay attention to his companion. Especially one who didn't seem to be the type to go about randomly talking to strange men like himself. Bringing his hand back up to his head again he ran his fingers through his hair so that the bits of hair that had stuck up before was now swept back down into place before he forced himself to his feet. "Sure, a wee bit of coffee will work wonders." He pulled his coat up around his shoulders a little more, turning his collar up before turning to the woman and holding out his hand to her, a small smile on his face- ever the gentleman. "I'll buy."

[annaharper]

Anna was not disinclined to talk about her family, it just didn't come up much in conversation. However, all the talk about family had hers in the forefront of her mind. Anna decided that she would call her brother later. She found herself thinking of him as she examined her new acquaintance. She could only imagine what Charlie would say if he were here. She think it would be something along the lines of, 'If you don't at least ask for his number, I will'. Anna almost laughed out loud at the very thought of her brother actually saying that without an ounce of tact, but she kept quiet and decided laughing out loud in public for no known reason was not the best option at the moment.

Anna took the offered hand and stood up from the bench easily. Her sketch pad she flipped closed with her unoccupied hand. She couldn't help but try to inconspicuously straighten out her pants as she got up to make sure they were straight. It was a habit of hers and with a small flick of a finger on the hand clutching the book, she willed out any small wrinkles while continuing to smile.

"Very gallant, but why don't we put it on my boss's tab? She's been a right wretch this week and I'm sure she wouldn't mind." Anna spoke with a conspiratorial whisper and a small wink. She loved going out on her boss's money. She had plenty of her own to spend, but it gave her a small bit of happiness to get back at the neurotic woman she worked for who loved to make her jump through hoops. It was a tad catty but Anna never claimed to be a good person.

"I'm Anna by the way."

[will]

Will barely needed to pull the woman to her feet, she did most of the work herself and what weight she leant on him he barely noticed it- she was awfully light in that case although he didn't mind one way or the other, he would have been quite happy to help her to her feet without her needing to do anything but that was just the way he had been brought up. His mother would be disappointed if she ever found out if he hadn't been a gentleman to a lady so when she said he was gallant he couldn't help the small smile that stretched over his face. "My ma will be glad to here that," He commented before letting go of her hand (having forgotten for a moment or two that he was holding it), "She would have hated learning all her teachin' was for nothing."

At her declaration of putting the bill on her boss' tab he couldn't help giving out a small bark of laughter as he stuck his hands into his pockets before sticking out his elbow slightly allowing her access to slip her arm through his own if she so wished. "Thats a good plan," He praised her on it. He wished he could do such a thing but he didn't think Magneto would approve of him even attempting it...and he didn't really fancy trying it either. He wasn't that daft afterall. "Alas i wouldn't dare such a thing with me own boss, he wouldna take kind to it at all."

"I'm Anna by the way."

Ah so he had a name to go with the face. Good. It was awkward enough having a conversation like theirs and to not know the others name was even worse! He was glad he didn't have to keep referring to her as 'the woman' in his head any longer and besides it was a rather pretty name although he certainly wasn't about to come out with such a cheesy line as 'a pretty name to suit a pretty woman'...that wasn't his style at all.

"Me name is William," He told her, his smile still on his lips. He was suddenly very glad she had come over to talk to him although he would probably never understand why she had liked his coat so much.

[annaharper]

Anna smiled when he mentioned his mother. She wasn't used to hearing men speak like that and it was rather endearing. It was nice to know chivalry wasn't completely dead.
"I think your lessons more then paid off." She said rather flippantly. She was glad her other comment about her boss had gotten a laugh. She found that she was enjoying the conversation more then she had expected when she had found herself wandering over. Perhaps the coat was a sign that she needed more interactions with actual people who were not co-workers.

Anna let her arm link with his as they started to head towards the cafe. She laughed when he spoke of his own boss and wondered what he did for a living.
"Overbearing boss? It must be a requirement to be scary in order to have employees now a days." She said. Anna decided she could wait to ask about his work. For now she was enjoying the light conversation for the fact that she felt at ease and not pressured like with most people. In fact, she was starting to think that perhaps the coat wasn't the only thing that was relaxing. The man was at ease and had a calming presence if only because she didn't feel the need to impress him like she did when she was a work.

So his name was William. Anna considered it and decided it fit him quite well. It was good to have a name to call him now.
"Well William, I do believe we will get along famously." Anna remarked with another smile. She walked with the light steps of someone who had few real worries. Sure she had problems as everyone did, but Anna liked to keep above them and remain in good spirits. Her mother had always told her as a little girl that proper ladies looked as if they carried only feathers even if they carried the world on their shoulders. Anna could remember practicing walking like she held only feathers for a week afterwards only to be more secretive about the matter when her brother had started to make fun of her for it. Nevertheless, Anna had grown up knowing just how to push away any troubles she might have and work around them with a smile. Now she walked and for once did not have to push any weight away. It was nice to merely have a nice day and meet a stranger whom expected nothing of her.