((ooc: Continued from First Days and Marble Protection for Verdy))

Her feet pounded against the concrete and slapped as she crossed roads. She had to get away. As the park approached she glanced around and slowed her strides. Her breaths came in gasps and she looked around nervously before entering the most famous park in the world.

The willow sat alone, it's wide branches spreading out to fall in gently waving sheets. It was a nice tree, peaceful and calm. The fact that it shared a name with her, or her with it, made it only more appealing. She tightened her bag straps and ducked under the screen into the cool upturned-bowl of the tree.

The seat of her jeans found the ground with a soft noise. They had just been dry cleaned that morning, but already had faint blood spatters as well as the rough patches where she fell on her knees. Now there was probably grass stains on her rear as well. Never mind.

The warm summer breeze whistled through the fronds and ruffled her hair, the tips a perfect match to the manicured grass. Leaning her back against the crumpled old trunk she was reminded of a childhood movie. 'Was I too rude Mother Willow? Was it wrong to be so scared?" There was no answer but the continued rustling and whispers of the warm air. 'Next time, the very next mutant I see, I will not freak out, no matter how strange they look. I promise Mother Willow, I promise' Her eyes closed slowly and her hand relaxed a little around the marbles.

The skunk seemed a bit confused but walked up to the girl and pulled a peice from the drumstick backing up a few steps, keeping a slight distence between the two but still in arms reach. Solkat was simply unused to being fed by other people. Solkat smiled scratching the skunk behind the ear. Then Mercury came and Aura smiled, she liked the big red guys a lot, they were kind and had always been nice to her, but they also held a level of power that Aura could only fantasize about and often did. Then the girl booked, running in terror and Aura looked around for a possible reason on what had scared her. Maybe their was a human around? She thought but then the lady had not seemed very scared of humans before.

Aura looked back at Mercury confused unaware of just how scary people might find the giant red man. Aura was unsure if they should go after her or not, after all she might think they were stalking her like that other lady. "Do we go after her?" Aura asked immediately looking to mercury for direction. In truth she had trouble telling many of the clones apart, but either way the usually knew what to do in these situations, she hoped. "She did seem very scared of something" Aura said the confusion in her voice evident even as the girls fleeing form continued to fade from their sight. Running a hand through her hair she walked out the still open doors, shaking her head with a sad sigh. It was disappointing the girl might not be staying with them, she really did want to get to know her better.

Something about today had dragged her from inside, told her that the day was to precious to be wasted indoors. Her eyes studied a few joggers as they passed, calmly taking both of their inquisitive glances. It was something she had gotten used to fairly quickly here, after all- their stares weren't as bad as the walls that had been her prison for most of her life.

She dropped her gaze to palm another gloved handful of bread crust, before tossing it out quickly to the waiting pigeons in front of her. They cooed happily, waiting for her to retract her arm before they dove on on the food greedily. With a small smile, she watched them. Wondering at their ways. She couldn't understand why something with wings would purposely bound itself to the ground- only using such a blessing to escape from those who would do it harm. Were she in their shoes, she would use those wings to carry herself to far off places... so she could see and experience the world on her own- instead of through the TV or internet.

A sigh left her, and she flung the rest of the bread to the waiting birds, peering out from under her hood as she stood, tossed the empty paper bag in the trash can, and continued onward. The path she was on was fairly deserted- safe from those prying eyes who would surely do her harm... But at the same time it gave her the freedom to walk amongst people without having to fully hide within the shadows. She liked places like this best. According to her research of this particular park, it was fairly bust at certain parts of the day- and at times like this, rather deserted. Her eyes rose to the sky, eyeballing the clouds above as she walked and immersed herself in her thoughts.

Verdigris Willow's eyes popped open and met wide blue ones staring at her. The poking finger at her shoulder withdrew and a small pouted mouth opened, displaying pearly white teeth in tiny rows.

"Why are you sleeping?"

Verdigris pressed against the tree trunk nervously. Children asked too many questions, they knew too much. They also smelled funny. Like sleep and cookies.

"Because I was tired."

She stood and stretched her neck, glancing down, surprised that the small girl was still standing there. Children usually avoided her, just as she avoided them. A distant voice called and the girl dashed off.

"Bye!"

Verdigris lifted a hand politely, years of isolation had not yet destroyed her manners. She watched through the green screen as the blonde head bobbed off into the distance. A long stretch and several vertebrae cracks later and Verdigris emerged from her green haven to survey the park.

A figure around her own height caught her attention. Green seemed to be the word of the moment, Verdy knew that her own names meant different types of green, and the grass of the park was that over-watered green that so often came with public places. But nothing quite compared to the skin of the girl before her. Her fingers flew to the green and black earrings in her right ear and twisted them each once.

A promise is a promise, even if it is only made to a tree, and the promise to be nice to the very next mutant seemed to be put to the test sooner than she had expected. Then again, it wasn't like the tree could follow her, force her to hold up to her promise. But guilt was something she already had too much of in her life and even adding something as small as this would be unwise.

She decided to take the cowards way out, walking toward the girl she altered her course slightly to cross paths in front of the mutant girl. If she made a move and the girl ignored her, she would take it as a sign from the tree that she didn't have to keep her promise.

A polite nod and a smile, small enough to not be creepy or mis-interpretable. There, the deed was done.

Her day dreams were disbanded when a figure crossed before her, her eyes foucused- locking onto the girl from behind her shades.

Was that... a nod? She paused and took a second to ponder the nod, before it registered and she knew that it was a greeting of sorts. Short and polite. She nodded back, and made to continue on her way-

"Nice weather today, no?"

The words leaving her lips caught her by surprise. Apparently the need for contact with real, live people was stronger that she had first given it credit. Though her words seemed a bit heavy, an accent of sorts, her reply greeting was short and friendly right back. Nothing bad could come from it, right? so why not.

She finished the greeting with a small smile, her eyes curious as they studied the Grey figure in front of her.

Damn stubborn tree powers. With all their tree-ness. And their powerness... It was apparently time to engage in that strange thing so coveted by many, and indulged in by most. Conversation.

~"Nice weather today, no?"

Verdigris slowed to a halt, not so sudden as to jarr her still sore knees, but swiftly enough that she was facing the mutant with enough distance to be able to swiftly fire a projectile and flee while still remaining out of grabbing range, or chewing range which seemed more likely with the glint of teeth reminiscent of a small warthog.

Ah well, each to their own. Some people had green tips, multiple piercings, a missing fingernail and holes in their palms. Others apparently had green skin and biiig munchers.

"Well, yes, it is a nice day, good for snoozing..."

A moment of contemplation, consideration, decisiveness. Who was she to go against the demands of the all knowing tree.

"Verdigris, Verdigris Willow."

The tree never said she couldn't be prepared. A quiet pair of fingers quietly jiggled some marbles out of the bag and into the middle of her palm, her hand closed tightly around them as she smiled in what she distantly remembered as being friendly. She needed James for things like this, he was so much better at being social. The thought was quickly squashed. She had not spoken to her best friend in years, there was no point in longing for him to come to her rescue and show her how to be friendly. She would just have to wing it.

A nice day for snoozing... Well, she couldn't entirely disagree... she probably would have fallen asleep had she not ventured outside. Tilting her head a bit, she found herself a bit confused by the girl. She seemed open... friendly, and yet... there was a bit of stiffness about her, a touch of wary- Andrea could relate.

"Verdigris, Verdigris Willow."

And yet she was so outward...

"Andrea Gorgon, a pleasure to meet you."

She made no move to offer a hand to shake- she was wary of such an action, and was still not fully used to people offering it yet. No, she found this small exchange of words a lot more comforting. No bodily contact required. Spotting a few wriggling strands of hair that were trying to break out of their hooded prison, she tucked them away quickly before depositing her hand back at her side. Her attention moved back to the girl before her- and to her sudden lack of things to say. What was one supposed to say when a chance meeting such as this happened? Neither of them new each other save for names...

"Do you come here often?" Again, she found herself surprised as the question seemed to decide on its own to exit her mind. Perhaps she was better at this sort of thing than she gave herself credit for?...

Naw...

She must have just eaten something that was past its due date. A momentary burst of courage that would later turn into a horrid stomach ache and many, many trips to the bathroom...

~"A pleasure to meet you."

"And you, Andrea"

Her palms were still a touch on the sore side for her handshaking habit, besides apparently it was not a very feminine thing to do. And the interest of the lesbian in the showers and the inconvenient bounce residing on her chest only confirmed the fact that she was, in fact, female. Bah, who needs gender stereotypes anyway. She recalled from a time where the 'names and meanings' was the most innocent book in the doctors surgery that Andrea meant 'manly' and the irony of Verdigris meeting someone of that name, at the very moment she was cursing her own gender, was not lost on her.

~"So, do you come here often?"

Verdigris blinked, was that just a pickup line? Apparently she was not the only one who was open to same gender relationships. Either that or this Andrea was just as awkward at conversations as Verdy herself.

"Uh, yeah, I'm here more often than not. But hey, I've got nowhere else to be and I know a stall nearby that makes a mean coffee and donuts if you're interested."

There, that was an offer and completely non-weird... right? No need to mention that she knew the quality of the donuts from pilfered bags or skillful trash-removal, yes, that would definitely put a damper on the outing. Her right hand entered her pocket nervously and felt around, she had been saving some loose change for just such emergencies as this, and she could probably squeeze out one coffee and even a donut from the change she had 'found' most recently.

"Uh, yeah, I'm here more often than not. But hey, I've got nowhere else to be and I know a stall nearby that makes a mean coffee and donuts if you're interested."

Andrea tilted her head a little, wondering at the question. An offer to join someone for coffee and donuts?... No, it was more than that. It was the very first offer, ever, that she had heard sent her way.... or, perhaps it wasn't. Maybe it was one of those offers people gave out in hopes that you were in a hurry... or that by chance you didn't like coffee and donuts?

Naw. She was just thinking much to far into it- as usual.

After shuffling around in her pocket for a moment, she felt her small wallet and estimated how much money she had on her. The small bag of bread crumbs hadn't cost much, and she hadn't eaten lunch yet- so why not?

"it's been a long time since i've had a donut..." And even longer since she had last tried a cup of coffee. "Sure, It sounds like an adventure."

Adventures. Adventures were what she used to have at home, before the fateful day her power manifested itself. Or, more likely, before her brother and his friends were attacked by an uncontrolled mutant and one of them killed. It had been a long time since she had spoken to anyone over and above what was strictly necessary, so the thought of an adventure had drifted from her mind in the hustle and bustle of fighting constantly to survive.

"I love adventures. I'll be captain, you be first mate."

Pillaging through one of her deep pockets she pulled out two paper napkins, only slightly smeared, and stared at them.

"Let's see if I can still do this..."

A fold here, a crease there. All together and a little flip and voila, there was a pirate hat. After placing the hat on her head she repeated the actions and offered the second hat to this new green friend.

"On-wards, in search of treasures and sustenance matey... Arrh"

This was weird on so, so many levels. Not least of which was how much this was actually enjoyable. She couldn't recall the actual day nominated as 'international talk like a pirate day' but she figured it was close enough to be a plausible excuse. Andrea? Well, she was apparently a very sea-sick sea dog. There was nothing these days that could not be achieved with the right equipment and know how.

"Erh, if anyone asks, we're on our way to a dress up party yes?"

After a moment's pause to claim a suitable sword from the sticks that littered the ground she set off in a distinct swagger Jack Sparrow himself would have been proud of. Not all treasure is silver and gold mate. And donuts were definitely up on the 'desirables' list.

Resisting the urge to clap her hands together cheerfully. It had been a while since she had played any resemblance of a make believe game- well, aside from that online site she had recently discovered... one which gave her the freedom to create her own character and act on whimsical and magical ideas.

"Aye aye captain!" She threw a fist in the air dramatically, ignoring a pair of pigeons as they flew off in a panicked manner. Sudden movements seemed to do that to them a lot...

She watched in avid fascination as Verdy muttered and folded her two napkins into small, Pirate hat look-a-likes. When she was handed one, her eyes widened far beyond the point of resembling saucers. She felt... oddly honored! and she hadn't even had to force some poor soul to walk the plank in order to earn her hat!

For the first time in a long, long time, a cheeky grin spread across her face- thickened and elongated canines gleaming in the meager light her hood allowed.

"On-wards, in search of treasures and sustenance matey... Arrh"

A nod was all the answer she would receive, and Andrea hurriedly picked out own mock sword and followed suit. Her feet set off after her Captains, slow enough to not out pace her- for a captain always needed to be in front- but fast enough not to get left behind.

"Arr!!"

Somewhere, Black Beard himself was turning over in his grave...

Their hats donned, their swords chosen and their pirate speech in full fledged swing the two sailed toward the swaggy of loot, also known as "Danny's donuts".

Claiming an empty island (pish, who called them tables anymore?) with the symbolic stabbing of her sword into the earth she approached him who dared call himself gov'ner of this here place.

"Half a dozen plain cinnomons please."

There be no harm in avoiding alarming the residents of this place who would in turn alert the authorities. She hated authorities. Always trying to convince her to be a privateer, or at worst a 'proper lady', ward of the state or some such nonsence.

Clutching the hot paper sack of treasure she handed over the meanger pile of treasure and accepted her change. Making her way over to the table she plopped down and began to nibble the deep fried cinnomon goodness.

"So, what be your history matey? You be far from your home town? What's with your skin tone? Thats one hell of a bad tan."

She gave a start.

"No pressure of course, I mean I don't really like talking about my people. Or my hair for that matter."

Toying with her "sword" proved entertaining for a while, until her new acquaintance came back- her treasure in tow. She blew a stray wisp of hair from her eyes and tucked her legs up against the table, her feet waggling around below absently.

"So, what be your history matey? You be far from your home town? What's with your skin tone? Thats one hell of a bad tan."

Quirking an eyebrow didn't alleviate her momentary confusion. So many questions... did she had enough time- or breath- to answer them all? Her lips pursed as she thought of a way to explain things in proper Pirate talk.

"I be from beyond the vast ocean...er..." Maaaaybe she shouldn't even try. "... From Greece, actually." Now, next question, her skin tone. An obvious question... one she hadn't heard in a long time however. " As for my skin, i was born this way, er, matey..."

She grinned sheepishly, scratching at the back of her head as she eyed a couple of people passing, fresh coffee in hand. Coffee... her own treasure perhaps? "Be right back." Andrea stood swiftly and moved off to wait in line behind the one customer who happened to be buying some sort of pink donut. When her turn finally came, she ordered whatever sounded the sweetest off of the menu, dragging out her wallet to pay.

"Actually, could you make that two?" She smiled a bit, dropping her change into a tip bucket off to the side. With the warmth of the cups in her hands, she moved back to table and resumed her old position- sliding one of the steaming cups Verdi's way.

"I figured it would be nice to try something new with someone new?" She smiled and took a sip of her drink, feeling like she was on top of the world- until the bitterness of the coffee hit the back of her throat at full force.

It took all of her strength to keep from retching and remain smiling- even if she did turn a couple of shades greener.

"Aye, I be from off shore too, Hawaii be my previous port, haven't been there though for nigh on three years now."

She watched as the green skinned crew walked towards the counter and ordered a beverage. Nibbling a doughy circle she considered her new friend of sorts. It was an awkward relationship, but the girl seemed very friendly, tusks and all. She glanced away as the girl returned to their little island. It be rude to stare.

Coffee, the liquid energy as she had so often heard it called. It smelled good, tasted bad, but did the job for keeping a half asleep mutant on their feet. It was also very, very addictive. She took the offered cup and inhaled deeply.

"To new things then mate."

She tipped her beverage respectfully towards the other girl and took a sip. The hot liquid was sugar laden and laced with chocolate, yet she could not restrain her self from laughing at the girls grimace of horror at the bitter taste of coffee beans. Bad idea with a mouthful of burning coffee. She coughed and spluttered between chuckles before finally clearing the last dregs of coffee from her windpipes allowed her to speak.

"Not a big coffee drinker eh mate? Maybe rum be more suited to yer tastes."

She offered the open bag of donuts by pushing them towards the other girl nobly, nothing worse than a mouthful of coffee unprepared. Except perhaps a lungful of coffee unprepared. Definitely worse.

"So, you reside nearby Andrea mate? Or just dropping by for the tourism side of things?"

"Not a big coffee drinker eh mate? Maybe rum be more suited to yer tastes."

She acted on the offer quickly, snatching up one of the crunchy, sweet pastries to sink her pearly canines into. The flood of sugar and cinnamon hit her almost as hard as the Bitterness of the coffee had. Her eyes widened considerably, locking on the food item as her eyebrows nearly disappeared into her hairline. She completely forgot her manners, and for a few stunned moments she simply sat there and chewed in silence.

"So, you reside nearby Andrea mate? Or just dropping by for the tourism side of things?"

Blinking, Andrea wiped her crumb covered lips with her coat sleeve. She finished the rest of her treat quickly and let her gloved hands wander down to the warmth of her coffee cup.

"Actually, i do. I just moved into a nice place down the street...eh, a school. They help...er...people like me."

Andrea resisted the urge to scratch at the back of her head sheepishly, before settling on turning her attention to the people around her. "I'll be staying here for a while, matey. What about you? Do you live around this area as well?" She shifted her gaze back to her new acquaintance, a small curious smile streatching her lips against her teeth.