Off To Wonderland (Open)

[Aiden Devereaux]

Once Elijah made his request, Aiden eyed the material on the cart. “The same, except, you know, with onions, ketchup and some of that meat sauce.” He couldn’t help a smart ass mouth. It was the way he always had been with his friends and they all just gave it right back at him. Not to mention all the crowds he had become involved with since all had the same issue. He looked to Elijah and smirked. “This Miss USA requires tons of calories and fat.” Aiden always had a healthy appetite and appreciated a thick meal. Despite this not being a real meal, he counted it anyways.

Aiden withdrew his money and paid the man, turning away from the cart with a quick thank you as he handed them their order. Instantly he was shoving it in his mouth and inhaling it. Miraculously, no meat sauce dripped on him. “Hrmeph-“ Cutting himself off, he swallowed before trying again. “Sorry. Bad habit. Everyone appreciates good old Southern Hospitality, especially this guy.” A thumb jabbed at his own chest briefly before he took another bite. “I suppose everyone needs it at some point, but just be careful. Not everyone know the limit and it quickly turns into taking advantage.” He eyed him for a second. “Especially a nice guy like you.”

Nervously he chuckled. “Now, now. Before you come to any conclusions, I mean that nicely. You seem like you can take perfectly good care of yourself, and I don’t think you have a mask on. But others do and they’re masters at deception. I’d just hate to see my knight in shining armor get the wrong end of the stick. I appreciate your southern nature and I just also happen to have some of my own.” In another bite, the hot dog was gone. He had begun to lecture and hadn’t meant to. The guy intimidated him at first, for what reason Aiden still was not sure. But he had known the guy for a total of 5 minutes and already became a nagging mother.

[Elijah Kuhn]

Elijah ate his hotdog. Albeit, slowly. It was almost disgusting to him, eating the food. He had always loved hotdogs when he was growing up. It saddened him now that he didn't like them anymore. Elijah found it easier to convince himself that it was only because his taste buds had changed rather than the fact that it was no longer nutritious for him. That sort of thing was a very difficult concept for him to grasp, having grown up as a good church going boy.

The whole idea of what he was now was hard to admit to. Worse, he knew he couldn't trust himself around his family. It was impossible to explain to his mother, so he never tried. That hurt, that he couldn't tell his mother what was wrong with him. But, such was life. Elijah had screwed up majorly before he'd left his family. It was easy for him to convince them that he had left because of that.

He looked at Aiden as the man told him to be careful with whom he was kind to. Elijah smiled broadly, holding the laughter back. Oh little did the man understand. "No, no. Don't worry about me, Aiden. I'm smart with whom I offer my aid to. There are certain people who could make me angry. Those people aren't offered anything. As far as I can tell so far, I won't get angry because of you. Let's... Okay, I can totally handle myself. Promise. Even a gun can't stop me when I'm mad. Think of me as Snake Eyes from G.I. Joe. I won't hurt anybody until they mess with me the wrong way. Then, I'm your worst nightmare."

[Aiden Devereaux]

The humor showed in Elijah’s eyes but Aiden didn’t take offense. Generally, when someone was amused by his serious words, it irked him. But he had set himself up for this one and so far, Elijah had been entirely kind… except his greeting. Aiden was still trying to figure that one out. He wiped his hands on the napkin given to him with his food. No, Elijah would have to do something seriously messed up to get on Aiden’s nerves.

Even though something about him made the hairs on the back of his neck stand and spark, Aiden was slowly overcoming that feeling. The knot in the pit of his stomach was easing with the passing moments. He didn’t care to admit to people when he was scared, let alone of another person, but he had been scared of Elijah. It seemed odd though, the man hadn’t done anything to ignite it. His approach was less than desirable, but that wasn’t unheard of either. It was just bold of him.

Elijah’s defense was expected and Aiden couldn’t help but smile weakly with his hands in his pockets, watching his feet as he walked. A brow quickly quirked. A gun couldn’t stop him, eh? Finally he snorted with his own amusement. “Ok, Superman. Just don’t you be doing anything rash to prove that statement. I’ll take your word for it.” He paused before continuing. “So. How long have you been in this fair city, eh? And why leave the comfort of the South?”

[Elijah Kuhn]

"I've been in New York for just about a year and a half now. Every day has me wishing I was back in Missouri, y'know? This place is too cold all the time. Whether it is the people or the weather. It's always cold here. I like it back home where you can walk over to any neighbor's house and get served some sweet tea and cornbread. Good people, they are. Always making sure that everyone is taken care of."

"But, I kind of had to move. Back home, I wasn't exactly appreciated. The white folk down South still hate us, y'know. Still make it plenty clear that they do. I went to a mostly white school back in the day. So, the rest of my family did too. One day my brothers and I decided to walk from work over to the school and pick up the children. Not a bad idea in and of its self, but it got to be bad."

Elijah sighed and looked out in the park. There were families, of course, playing in the field. Frisbees wheeled through the sky like birds while the people beneath them tried desperately to catch the discs. He sniffed. Of course he was holding back emotion now, but the sniff had become a part of him. No longer did it signal an emotional crisis, or an allergy attack. Since the animal came, he just did it naturally now.

"There were a bunch of senior white boys at the high school. They were pickin' on my little brother, y'know? Calling him a nigger and other offensive words. Now, my brothers all were pretty calm about this, but I couldn't handle it. I was older, I was bigger than them. Why should they act like I couldn't hurt them? So, I walked up to one of the hicks, and gave the little shit a good shove."

"The kid fell back and his buddies got real defensive real quick. My brother, Adam, was trying to keep me back. Didn't want me to get hurt, I suppose. Well, I don't know which of us started it, but the knives were pulled. Three guys against just me. My brothers joined in. Everyone kept their weapons on their person back then, y'know? Just how it was."

"Well, the only person who really suffered any wounds was my brother. Fuckin' white trash hit his femoral artery. The kid freaked out and dropped his knife, his friends booked it, and I tackled the shit face. My younger brother had a hell of a time pulling me off of the kid before the cops got there. Skull fracture by the time I was done with the kid."

Elijah sniffed again and looked back at Aiden now. "See, after I spent my time for assault, I had to leave. I'd started the fight. The fight that killed my big brother. Mama still loved me. That woman... God bless her heart. She couldn't hate any one of her children no matter what. But, I couldn't stay. I had to move on. Haven't gone back yet... Kinda upsettin' to me, but I call every week an' all..."

[Aiden Devereaux]

Hands still deep within his pockets, his eyes still adverted to the ground, he listened intently to Elijah’s story. Every now and then, he displayed the appropriate cringe or concerned glance. One thing he had learned long ago was never give too much into one’s pass. Just because they give the information freely doesn’t mean squat. Not everyone liked too much sympathy or emotion in response. For Aiden, he felt embarrassment and resentment to himself if someone showed him sympathy of his past. Besides, it was common rule to outcasts, a criminal didn’t share their deepest darkest past with another criminal, so there were very few aware of Aiden’s origins.

It was odd though, hearing his story. It was like something from the plantation days and slavery, segregation and discrimination. Though, he supposed it never had all really ended. Not fully. North was much more lenient, but the South, he could see why they still hung to it. They were sore losers. Still, it was an interesting cultural lesson.

A hand came up to scratch the side of his head, allowing more locks to fall in his face as they passed the people through the park. “I’m not usually one to pry and I do appreciate you’re friendliness of sharing something important to you, but I just want you to know something.” He paused and looked up at Elijah fully once more. “It takes someone of true courage to defend your family and friends. You stuck up for your rights and no one should be afraid to do that. And after hearing what you’ve said about that mother of yours, she should still love you, and the fact she does unconditionally says a lot. She believe in your cause so you should too.” He shrugged his shoulders. “And I’m sorry for your loss.”

Clearing his throat, he continued. “But hey. Maybe you’re needed for something else and that’s why you’re here.” Aiden was never one for the ‘meant to be’ crap or ‘everything had a reason’, but in this case, maybe that was something Elijah may believe in and need to hear from someone else. A perspective that has no bias to his situation. At the same time, it may all come crashing back into his face with a fist. At least he tried. With that thought, he cringed slightly, expecting that hit any moment.

He never should have talked out of line. It wasn’t like him to show sympathy so readily or push into someone else’s personal life. Besides, he had no place or understanding for Elijah’s situation. His own was so vastly different and the circumstance incomparable. It wasn’t until much later Aiden had cause physical damage to someone and that was after his wanted status. He became a criminal well after he was named one. Elijah did his time, and his actions were for honor. Aiden’s were to survive, yes, but cowardly.