You fight like a kitten! [PRIVATE]

I walked into the arena, ukelele in hand. I didn't see anyone there at first, so I sat down in the corner and tuned my ukelele flat. I played a couple of songs, and then notices some movement. I sat up and squinted, and I saw a girl slashing at one of the dummies. Her back was to me. She didn't seem to have a sword or dagger in her hand, so out of curiousity, I walked up to her and, thinking for a moment (something I don't often do) I stopped, walked in front of her, and said "Hi." I noticed she had gloves on her hands, that looked like little claws.

The girl turned around to face me. She was pretty, a little alternative, but still cute. Her claw-things were full of stuffing from the dummies. The other girl blushed. "Hello. I'm Aurora" I started twisting my hands together and avoiding eye contact. I noticed her look at my ukelele. "Gift from my mom. It's always in tune. It's pretty great." The girl spoke so softly, I almost didn't hear her. "It's a cloudy, wet day. I assumed no one would be here, and it's outdoors, so I can sing as loud as I want." I giggled, then reminded myself to stay cool. I scratched the back of my neck and started tapping the rhythm to one of my songs on the body of the ukelele. My eye's wandered for a moment, trying to find the right note. I hummed a little melody that my dad used to sing to me. I smiled at the bittersweet memory.

I felt like I should have shaken her hand, but those gloves... "Well, Astrid, I have an older one back at the cabin if you would like to learn sometime." I smiled. Goddess of Cats. Bassinet? Something like that. I played with my rainbow hair. twisting it and braiding it, like I do when I get nervous. "I, uh, just got back from Olympus. My mom is Mousika, Horai of Music." I didn't mention that I was her only kid, and I was stuck in the "Other Gods" cabin. "Why not? You're quite good." I pulled out the small braid in my hair, and began fishtailing it.

Geez. The girl had sharp teeth. I started to reach up, to touch her, then held back. She didn't seem like one to be touched. I smiled when she said she wanted to. I was observant enough to notice that she didn't seem like one to play music. "Well, thank you. It's kinda in my blood." I noticed her stare down and blush. She was really cute when she looked vulnerable. Those claws and piercings made her look a bit unapproachable. I rubbed my temples. Get yourself together Aurora. I looked at her apologetically. "Sorry, just a bit of a headache. So, uh, what do you like to do for fun? I mean, besides tear dummies apart? And don't worry I won't tell anyone." I spouted it all at once, speaking really fast.

She took off her gloves, revealing delicate hands, much like my own. My fingertips were a bit more calloused though. I reached out to shake her hand. I looked at my own hands, at the peeling rainbow nail polish. I smile a bit. "I love to read too! Favorite author? Mine's John Green." She looked more confident in herself. I did too. "Well, obviously I do a lot of music. Its a niche." I pulled a face, hoping to make her laugh. I read a lot of magazines about guys flirting with girls, so why can't it work with girls flirting with girls?

I studied her eyes. They were big and green with yellow spots. "Oh, so your into the horror stuff. Ok. Never really been my thing. Not a big adrenaline junkie." I started to play with my hair, like I do when I get nervous. I twisted it around my finger and began absent mindedly braiding and unbraiding it. Not into romance? That was a disappointment. I was beginning to like this girl. She studied me with those big eyes of hers. I observed that she wasn't the laughing sort. I'd have to get to her a different way. "Do you ever like, I don't know, read or write, uh, poetry? Orsomthingofthesort?" I added quickly. I didn't know if she understood me.

Astrid tried not to laugh. I too stifled a giggle. I covered my mouth, and put my hand down. I took a deep breath. "Sorry. I asked if you ever read or write poetry. I talk fast when I'm nervous." I began tapping a repetitive rhythm on my jeans. Her tone was a bit mocking, but I shrugged it off. I began humming a tune to go with the tapping. I looked at her apologetically. "Sorry. I have a lot nervous habits." I smiled awkwardly, and then cringed at myself. I tried to laugh it off, but was still feeling really anxious.

I blinked a couple of times. Did I actually have something in common with this girl? "Edgar Allen Poe is my all-time favorite. A little dark, a little gloomy, and always full of symbolism." I grinned, starting to relax a bit. I realized how pretty Astrid was. Maybe all her piercings weren't as scary as I thought they were. I took a deep breath. "Ok, this might sound weird, coming from a complete stranger and all, but you're really pretty." I assumed she wasn't used to hearing that. I gave her a small smile.

I smiled again. She seemed shocked that I would give her a compliment like that. "Yeah. I mean like beautiful." I saw her as a person, even though she seemed to be a cat sometimes. She wasn't a person to be judged or feared because of who she was and I kinda loved her for it. I smiled at her comment. "Well, thank you. But my one friend back home was like you, and in my own personal opinion, she was gorgeous." I put my always cold hands against her hot cheeks.

I left my hands on her face for bit, then pulled away. "You're welcome." I stood there awkwardly for a moment, then smiled my moviestar smile. I stuck my hands in the pockets of my sweatshirt and found my ukelele strap. I realized my instrument was laying on the ground. I picked it up and attached the strap. I slung it across my back. I ran my hands through my hair, trying to think of something to say. Not really much to ease into. "Ok, this is sudden, but what's your favorite color? I can't stand silence." I gave her an apologetic smile, and shrugged.

I smiled a bit. It was no surprise to me that her favorite was black. She sounded a bit flighty, and I guess I did too. I grinned for real. "Watcha thinkin bout?" I said, purposefully shortening my words to sound cute. I gave a small chuckle. Astrid was kinda cute, but I fall in love in way too easily. I needed to calm down, and tone back the cute.

I studied Astrid a little more closely. She seemed like one to like darker, morbid things, unlike myself, who is bubbly and loud. I knew that opposites attract, but I didn't know it was like this. I was a bit surprised at her question. She didn't usually reciprocate like that. "Oh, I don't know. Sometimes, I just think off into space, and write a new song. Ya know?" I was too uncomfortable telling her about what I was actually thinking about. I actually began crafting a new melody in my head, and started humming it.