Return of a Princess (Nydanna & Falcon]

[Falcon]

[Fieldbox=Loren, darkolivegreen]
Loren listened intently as Ridley explained about the house and neighborhood, he frowned in concern when the elder elf cautioned him about the other house and who might be there, and he felt some relief in the idea that Ridley might stick around the first day or so before leaving.

Loren knew well that the entire mission was up to him to achieve. He would succeed or fail alone, but to have someone that first day as he got oriented, it was like having an ore to grasp during a storm on the lake. Loren only hoped that when the time came to drop the ore he would be capable of paddling on his own. He also hoped that Ridley didn't catch on too quickly to his misgivings, if at all. Loren was supposed to be capable and strong, or at least appear to be.

"If you think I could benefit from the trip around the city -- " Loren started in answer. He didn't finish, but it was clear he was leaving the choice up to Ridley.

The idea of new friends was a hard one for Loren to grasp. He knew Ridley was right and he'd need companionship, but it would be a short term friendship, it had to be, and it would all be based on the lie that he was human. Perhaps it would be better just to let things play out.

Loren's worries were more or less shoved to the back of his mind as they entered the city, however. He had never seen something like this. Even the images he'd seen on the TV were nothing that could prepare him.

Loren's first impression on New York was a wall of grey, occasionally broken up by a bit of brown or rust. Buildings so huge they seemed to extend forever. The little pops of color were far and few between and usually seemed to mark a shop or business, or occasionally a sign advertising something, and some of those advertisements were . . . well no one should be allowed out in public wearing so little, never mind having their photo plastered up for all to see.

His second impression was the rush. People going everywhere, walking as if their lives depended on being on time. Cars in lines that hardly seemed to move, lights changing constantly, horns blaring, drivers yelling, movement that never seemed to cease . . .

"Who in their right mind would want to live here?" Loren breathed quietly knowing very well that there might be some people on the bus that intended to do just that. "A person can hardly think in this mess!"

And then the bus was pulling into the station and Loren was in for something akin to full sensory overload. He thought for a moment that the portal might have been better. He had thought the first bus station must be standard, but this one seemed to be ten times that size. People everywhere, baggage all over, and nothing that seemed to be a place of calm in the human storm.

[/fieldbox]

 

[ᴛᴏᴄᴋᴀ]

[fieldbox= Ridley, #27a194] The bus ride went smoother than Ridley could have hoped, and without anything eventful that might have made Loren nervous. Taking the elf to New York was certainly going to be an eye opener, but it was something that needed to be done to give him a true feel for what the human world was like at its worst. People were rude, constantly rushing about as if their lives and what was unfolding in them was the only thing of significance. They barely stopped to watch where they were going, eyes always glued to their phones and mobile devices. There was no respect for the world, or their environment; the complete opposite of elven nature. Trees were merely obstacles that got in the way of construction. Water was important, but not nearly enough to keep the rivers and lakes clean of pollution and rubbish. The human world was amazing in its technological evolution, but pathetically selfish in its destruction of the world around them.

New York was the breeding grounds of the worst of the worst. It was dangerous, and Ridley knew that there was a high likelihood that he and Loren may be forced to defend themselves at some point. He hoped not, but Ridley would feel better knowing that Loren could handle himself should the worst happen while he was not around. Loren was trained, all guardians were. Physically defending himself would not be the issue. The issue would come when Loren had to pull back his punches rather than relying on his strength as he normally would. One false move and a fight of self-defense could easily turn into a crime if he was not careful.

The first thing that hit Ridley once he vacated the bus was the smell. He had always hated the smell of cities. The pollution, the scent of hundreds of humans boxed in together, conjoined with the odors of various foods, all of it was enough to turn Ridley's stomach. He preferred the suburbs and the country, but could not avoid their brief detour in the bustling city. Ridley didn't let his disgust show on his face though. No, he had learned some time ago to mask his disgust, and curb his impulse to retch. Like everything else, it had taken training, many months of sitting himself down in whatever city he could get to. He could not shut off his senses, but he could at least pretend that he could.

"Yes, it seems like a decent day to take a quick look around." Ridley proclaimed the moment they were off the bus. "We'll get a locker at the station to secure your stuff, and then we can take a tour. Anything in particular you'd like to see?" It was a small test, one that he was certain Loren would pass. He'd been exposed to enough human media that he should be familiar with some of the major landmarks, at least enough that he wouldn't look completely stumped if they were mentioned in a conversation.

Ridley led the way into the bus station, his voice dropping down to a whisper. "You may want to pull out your phone and start taking pictures of yourself at random places. It's some strange habit that humans have. Whatever you think is odd, snap a picture of it….don't ask me, I'll never understand it."

Now it was time to really start treating the guardian like a teenager, which was actually a lot harder than Ridley would have thought. Loren went through more training and education than even he himself had, which put the younger elf on an even higher level. Plus, he was the princess' guardian, which was a very big deal. Now he was going to have to treat him like a kid, all to keep up the act. At least they were tourists here, and that meant that he could be a bit out of character for a father.

It didn't take long for Ridley to secure a locker and once Loren had his stuff tucked away inside, he made sure to lock it up tight and deposit the key in his pocket. While in there he grabbed his wallet and after some digging around in it pulled out a few bills to pass along to Loren. "Take this in case we somehow manage to get split up. If that happens just catch a cab back here and wait for me." He certainly hoped it wouldn't happen, but anything was possible in the city. "So, where to? It's your first time here. You pick where we go."[/fieldbox]

 

[Falcon]

[Fieldbox=Loren, darkolivegreen]
Loren had the hardest time simply standing in one place to gawk at the chaos around him. Perhaps it made him look more like a tourist, at least he hoped it did, but there was nothing positive in the reasons he was looking. He was, for lack of a better word, shell-shocked. That humans could live this way, could choose to live this way, it was almost unnerving. No amount of television and other human media had prepared him for this.

Yet he managed to pull himself together long enough to think of a place or two he should visit if only to say he had. Though later Loren was forced to admit his choices were based on what he thought the calmer, more pleasant, locations would be.

"The metropolitan museum of Art," He started carefully, "Lady liberty, or the metropolitan library-- if we have time." The last thing on the list was primarily because Loren was highly curious to see if there was some sort of hidden secret collection inside. Granted he knew better than to assume the truth of that particular TV show, but it was an interesting thought.

"If we do get separated, shouldn't I just text you?" Loren queried as he stuffed the cash in his billfold and waited for Ridley to catch them a cab. It had felt odd to leave his belongings in the locker, but he did have his wallet and phone if anything happened. It had been logical to assume Ridley had his own. "I mean if we're in the same building it should just be a matter of meeting at the reception desk . . ."

The young elf trailed off as a yellow cab zipped up and pulled alongside the curb, the cabby obviously waiting for them to get in.

"Where to, boys?" a slightly accented voice sailed back to them from a slightly portly man with salt and pepper hair and a ready smile. When the address was given the cabby smiled. "First time in the city, eh?"

Loren had to bite his tongue from replying that it was his first time in this world.
[/fieldbox]

 

[ᴛᴏᴄᴋᴀ]

[fieldbox= Ridley, #27a194] The city was a maze, chaotic with its throngs of visitors and residents alike, and the elaborate structures that often times blocked the sky from view. Ridley wasn't quite thinking of that as he slid into the backseat of the cab beside Loren, but of how easily it would be for anyone elven and human alike to blend in, hidden in plain sight. New York was the perfect hiding spot, a place where no one batted an eye at the unusual, and it wasn't uncommon to encounter things that would have most people scratching their heads. He was distracted by his thoughts, barely listening as the younger guardian questioned his plan, and made a valid point that he had easily overlooked. Eventually Ridley shook his head to clear his mind, giving Loren a shrug and finally responding to the cabbie.

"It's his first time here, so he's the boss. I'm just the bank." He responded with a preoccupied smile, his eyes soon turning toward the window, watching those they passed with a sense of suspicion. He was anxious to get out of the city where anyone could be a potential enemy and there was no way to truly defend themselves without drawing the attention of the law. "The reception desk will work if we are in the same building, if not, we'll follow the other plan." Ridley forced his mind to go at ease, reminding himself that if the king's men were in the city, they would have already made headlines by now. They weren't nearly as well versed with the human world as Windmorrow, and they certainly had a penchant for attempting revealing their strengths over the humans. He made a mental note to himself to scan the headlines a bit more thoroughly when he got back to his post, but for now he would try not to dwell on the improbable.

Loren had passed his first test which wasn't very difficult all things considered. He knew enough to throw out some names, and after their short detour was over, hopefully have enough description to convince others he knew what he was talking about. Still, Ridley worried if it would be enough. He considered taking the younger elf to an amusement park, or one of the malls where teenagers flocked to do nothing more than stare at things they couldn't afford and eat disgusting food. There was the whole vegan lifestyle which would certainly make Loren's life among the human's a bit more understandable, but then again, how was he going to fit in if he didn't gorge himself on deep fried foods laddened with grease? How human's managed to survive on their diets was beyond him, but that wasn't his concern.

"Perhaps after the museum we can stop for a bite to eat." This trip had been meant to prepare Loren for what he was getting into, so it would be better for his first meal to be in a place that he would not become a familiar face. "Pizza?" He looked over at Loren with an arched brow, hoping that the young man would be able to catch the subtle suggestion behind his question. Pizza wasn't too horrible. Even he could appreciate a slice or two if it was prepared well. It was a common food, one that everyone knew of and ate from time to time, and it gave Loren an easy reply if he was ever forced into a situation where he needed to make a suggestion. Ridley realized with his thoughts that Loren wasn't going to ever be fully prepared for his task, not when his life had been spent in Windmorrow with only the media to educate him. A month wasn't a long time, a blink of an eye in their life spans, yet it was an eternity when dealing with the unknown.

"We should probably stop and get a coffee as well." Another thing that teenagers seemed to be quite fond of. Ridley couldn't stand the drink personally, but this wasn't about him assimilating into a new world. He was simply making helpful suggestions to help Loren blend in, whether the guardian followed through or not was entirely up to him.

Once the cab pulled up to their destination, Ridley dug into his wallet to withdraw the money, sliding it through the window to the cabbie before sliding out of the vehicle and waiting for Loren. "Don't forget your phone…..and to take as many pictures with yourself standing in front of everything as possible." He paused, another realization dawning on him. "Did they have you set up social media accounts before you left? Every teenager has that damn Facebook….and the one where they post pointless pictures….Instagraph? Something like that. You should considered making those. Jocelyn might request that information once the two of you interact."[/fieldbox]

 

[Falcon]

[Fieldbox=Loren, darkolivegreen]
"Pizza sounds good," Loren managed in a nonchalant sort of voice that barely concealed how excited he was at eating a dish that had been so prevalent over the human media. truth was they had made it look so good that he could hardly wait for a chance to try it. "Though to be honest I'd rather have a soda than coffee."

Soda, particularly cola, was another thing he was itching to try. In fact, Loren sort of had a whole list of human foods he wanted at least a taste of if he ever got the chance on this side of tings. Then again, he had a whole month to work through it.

Loren may have been excited by the prospect of human food and various famous sites, but Ridley's various instructions were starting to wear on him. it was all well and good, but Loren was beginning to feel like he wasn't trusted to know the very thing he had spent his life training for. This was Loren's task, sink or swim, and the longer Ridley went on the more Loren began to wonder if he doubted the headmaster's choice. It was beginning to look like he was going to have to prove himself to Ridley. The question was how though.

"Instagram, and no I don't have one." Loren answered after a moment. " Wasn't entirely sure of what my cover name was going to be, and fake accounts are too easy to figure out once they start trying to talk to people on your friends list. If she asks i'll tell her I prefer old fashioned texting --"

Perhaps it wasn't the most practical response, but before Loren could expand too much he found himself thoroughly distracted by what the museum had to offer. With all their trashy music, nosy cities, loud motor vehicles, complete disregard for their environment, and odd behavior, human did have one thing in their favor. They knew how to make art.

The halls filled with exhibits, statues and paintings, the people milling about talking in hushed tones as they admired the work, it was easy to with that all of what had seen of human society could be like this.

Loren moved from one room to the the other, biding his time at each place before moving on. Yet he did remember Ridley's caution against getting separated, and so stayed just enough ahead to have some thinking time for himself without being entirely out of sight.

[/fieldbox]

 

[ᴛᴏᴄᴋᴀ]

[fieldbox= Ridley, #27a194] Ridley hadn't intended to sound completely overbearing, and his advice was meant to be helpful. He simply could not shake the thought that perhaps the task was too much for Loren, who until this moment had never viewed the human world outside of a television. It wasn't just the princess' impression of the younger guardian that troubled Ridley so, but how an outsider would view him. If he stood out too much, looked a little too curious about everything he saw or amazed at a new discovery, it would be evident that he did not belong, and if the king's men were around they would understand who and what he was. It would not take them long to piece together who Jocelyn was, and that would make getting her out all the more difficult. Were it not for the fact that they had no clue where the king's men were, Ridley might not have given much thought to Loren's behavior at all. The princess herself was rather strange to her peers after all, having someone else in a similar situation might put her at ease around Loren.

He remained very much lost in his thoughts as the younger elf went on his little excursion, looking more like a child who had just been let out of the house for the first time than a teenager of this day and age. It couldn't be helped, and Ridley wasn't in the mood to try and correct his behavior. He was still trying to guess where the enemy was, and exactly what they might be doing. The queen had her allies in the human world, not enough that elves could run freely without disguise, but enough that they received what they needed and had the freedom to make short ventures out into the world from time to time. Was it possible that the king possessed allies as well? There was a time he had access to the human world, and from what little he knew, he had gone out a few times without the queen at his side. Could he have made deals then?

Ridley was still troubled when they finally came to the end of the exhibits, the older elf contemplating how long they should remain in the city before heading to their final stop. Loren was smart enough to know not to draw attention to himself in any way, which made his job much easier. He still felt that they would stand among the humans if anyone were to examine and analyze their behaviors too closely. New York was a great place to test things out, but when the community got smaller, and there was less cover to hide their differences. Standing out in a crowd would work against their cause. The human factor wasn't the problem, only the unknown enemy out in a world that was still vastly unexplored to either of them was the problem.

"Let's go head out for some lunch. We can make one more stop then we should probably get on the road." The ride to their last stop wasn't terribly long, but he did wish to get there with plenty of weekend to spare. Loren would have the chance to explore, and hopefully a chance to get an encounter their princess. Ridley had hope that the girl would act differently outside of school than inside, which would give Loren the opportunity to assess the best way to get close to her. Either way, even if the princess wasn't outside, the younger guardian could map out the neighborhood and get a feel for ways around. He could also take some time to teach Loren how to drive. He hoped that it wouldn't be necessary but it would be a safety net in case of an emergency.

As they left the museum, Ridley didn't bother hailing a cab, motioning for Loren to follow along behind him. "So pizza? And might I suggest…." He paused, about to throw in what he thought was going to be some helpful advice, but decided against it. "You try some ice cream while we're out as well." He left it off at that, giving Loren the chance to prove that his concerns were for not. "Any idea what other place you want to visit before we go? I doubt we'll be able to find anything that's not too crowded. The weekends here are a nightmare to navigate through. We'll probably want to get on the road a few hours past five though. We'll be doing more sitting than driving during rush hour."[/fieldbox]

 

[Falcon]

[Fieldbox=Loren, darkolivegreen]
"Pizza and ice-cream sound good to me," Loren answered with a grin. Truth was he'd been hoping to try those before getting too involved in the human world. If he understood correctly those were some of the main staples of the teenage-human diet and Loren wanted to be sure he could temper his reaction to the food appropriately. No matter what he actually thought of the meal. He needed to know what it tasted like before he got into a crowded group.

Pizza, Loren decided some time later as they ate, was not nearly as good as ice cream. Oh it was decent enough, it had good flavor, but he preferred his veggies fresh for the most part, and baked cheese tended to get all oily. Still, he could see why the humans liked it. A quick meal that encompassed all the food groups, it was a good alternative for a busy person on the run. At least he thought that was it.

Ice-cream on the other hand, the ice-cream was pure heaven. Or perhaps it was the flavor he'd gotten. Loren always had liked Mint, and chilled and mixed with a vanilla cream, this was definitely going on the to have again list. Maybe next time he'd try some of the other flavors. The berries all looked good --

But they were not in the city to eat the food. Though perhaps the food might be the cities one redeeming quality next to the art collection.
They were in the city to look like normal human tourists and do normal human things so that Loren himself could get some practice in a place where any oddities could be explained away with a smile and an accent. It had been brilliant of Ridley to think it up that way.

"If we only have one more stop today then perhaps we should see the Empire State building, if it's not too crowded?" He offered the suggestion as he finished his ice-cream. Granted there were a lot more places he could think of, and a lot more places he'd rather see instead, but Loren had the feeling that the empire state building was one of those places he was expected to try to see at least once.

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