[Hungary] Lost Again It Seems (Hungary~~)

[Liechtenstein]

(A thread Hungary and I have been working on~)

It was funny how life tended to repeat itself. When she had been young, barely old enough to remember, Vash had found her while she had been roaming the streets - or rather she had found him and he took her away from that life. Then after she foolishly decided to set out on her own to search for her missing brother she had met Captain Kirkland while roaming the streets completely lost and he'd taken her to the Grim. And here she was again, wandering the streets of some Hungarian town unsure of where to go or what to do. It was funny how often she ended up alone and lost. Though this time Lily wondered if she would find anyone to help her.

How had it ended up this way? She had been happy on the Grim. But then she had to go along with one of James's silly ideas of following the Captain to one of his secret meetings (because curiosity had gotten the better of her). That had let to a fight, and she had been handed to mysterious package the Captain had received and told to hide and go back to the Grim. She had run, but ended up hiding from pursuers. She could still remember how terrifying it had been. When she had finally found her way back to the docks (a good few days later admittedly) the Grim was gone.

The Captain wouldn't just abandon her? No, of course not. So that could only mean something had to have happened. Try as she might the thoughts of something dreadful happening to her friends on the Grim persisted. Even when she managed to earn passage on another ship, and then another. She kept her ears out for news on the Grim while continuing her foolish search for Vash. All of which had now lead to her current situation. She was lost, hungry, and terribly alone having no real idea what to do or where to go.

Sitting against a shop wall she pulled her knees into her chest, letting the blonde fringe fall into her eyes as she bit her lip. Maybe she should just go home and wait for Vash's return, but did she even know the way home now? Would home even still be there?[/color]

Times had been rather rough the last few months for a certain Hungarian Duchess. Elizaveta had been on the run - her fortunes and lands confiscated from her as she was accused of helping and harboring pirates. Which she had not - all this had been an elaborate ruse and revenge from a former suitor who hadn't been able to take no for an answer.

Which brought her to her present situation. Dressed as a man, chest bound, sword strapped to her side as she left the house of another noble who had hired "him" out as a professional bodyguard and as the entertainment at a party - swordfights were coming back as all the rage for entertainment. Fashionable hat set on top of her high ponytail, swagger firmly in place, the rodent who wanted to call her his fiancé would never be able to find her this way, while she pursued her revenge.

And when she got it, oh it would be swift and painful.

Out of the corner of her eye she caught sight of something pink and blond - a young lady with her head in her hands sitting off to the side of the street. Slowing her walk, Elizaveta couldn't help but feel sorry for the young thing. This certainly wasn't the normal place for young ladies to be found. Unable to help herself, Elizaveta stepped closer, unclasping her cloak from her shoulders and tossing it around the young ladies. The color clashed with the pink of her dress, but she looked cold - she needed it more than the Hungarian. "Hallo there, sweeting. Need some help?"

The sudden weight around her shoulders made Lily jump. A cloak, she registered, someone was giving her their cloak? She blinked, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand before lifting her gaze.

For a long while she just stared at the young man who was in front of her. Lily wasn't sure what to do exactly, ducking her head shyly, tugging the cloak around herself a bit more. It was cold, she hadn't managed to save any money to buy a new coat or her own cloak. "I-I'm a bit lost." She answered, still looking down shyly.

Lily hated that she always seemed to need help, always seemed to need protecting. She had wanted to grow stronger while on the Grim, while traveling. But it didn't feel like she had gotten any stronger. If anything she just seemed to be a burden. [/color]

Clucking her tongue, Elizaveta pulled a handkerchief out of her pocket, holding it out for the poor girl. "Here you go - dry your eyes. I can help you find your way, if you want." Offering the girl a friendly smile and a wink, she continued, "Or at least a meal and a friendlier face than you'll find in these parts. I'm Elizaveta. And you?"

Hesitantly she accepted the handkerchief, tilting her head at the name. Elizaveta didn't sound like a male name. Rather a name of a woman. Could that mean..?

It would be rude to ask though, or assume. The offer of a meal caused her stomach to growl, and Lily's face to flush. She looked down again, trying to hide her face behind long bangs. "That... That is very kind of you to offer..." [/color]

Offering the young lady a hand to help her up, Elizaveta was secretly amused at herself. Such a gentleman she was. "Think nothing of it, dear. I must admit, I spend a fair bit of time being nosy and fussing over anyone that allows me to."

Bringing the girl to her feet, Elizaveta straightened the cloak so it fell properly across her shoulders and closed the clasp above her shoulder to keep it from falling off. "There now - is there anything you fancy to eat? I know this quiet pub down by the dockside that makes a delicious stew and even some old Hungarian traditional foods."

Again she couldn't help but hesitate, remember the old lectures she use to receive from Vash about trusting strangers. Not that that had stopped her in the past, she thought with the tiniest of smiles. She accepted the hand, standing with a bit of help and watching as Elizaveta fussed over the cloak and clasp. Lily couldn't help but find her words true.

Again her stomach growled at the mention of stew and Hungarian foods and again she felt herself flush, looking down. As kind as the offer was, Lily wasn't sure she had much money to spare. "That sounds very nice, but I don't have very much money right now..."[/color]

With a faint snort, Elizaveta couldn't help but reach over and ruffle the girls blond locks. "Sweetie, I wouldn't offer to feed you if I expected you to pay for it." Honestly, how did a person get to be so adorable?

"So don't you worry about that. And while we eat we can have a nice long chat as to why you're wandering about by yourself at such a young age."

Her eyes widened slightly as she looked up after her hair was ruffled. Part of her wanted to protest allowing Elizaveta to buy her a mail. The hunger however made her close her mouth. And the following comment made her look down at her feet, almost ashamed.

"I-I'm not that young..." She would be seventeen sometime soon after all... [/color]

[Arthur Kirkland]

"Uh huh. You may be older than I think, but that doesn't mean you don't look too young and innocent to be walking about with an escort." Elizaveta said that as her eyes lifted above the young blonds head to see a man, just barely hidden in the shadows of the next eyeing the pretty girl with what was a very inappropriate expression. Catching his eye briefly, she flicked her eyes down and pulled a mere inch of live steel out of its sheath.

It was amazing how fast a person would run away when threatened by someone who just exuded confidence.

"Now, lets be off, shall we?" she offered a crooked arm for the younger lady to hold on to. "It isn't too far."

[Liechtenstein]

Young and innocent – Lily supposed that was how everyone saw her. She half wondered how Elizaveta would react to learn she had been a pirate on The Grim… Even if Lily had hardly really done anything “pirate”-y, or at least compared to other crew members. That was in the past though, as much as it hurt to know she would possibly never see the friends she had met again.

Her eye caught sight of the steel, and then she couldn’t help but look over her shoulder. Just in time to watch a man rush down the street and away from where they were standing. She hardly had time to dwell on what that meant as Elizaveta spoke up. With a tiny sigh she accepted the offered arm. For some reason she just knew the Hungarian would not take ‘no’ for an answer. ”Um, thank you very much…” [/color]

[Arthur Kirkland]

It didn't take long to get down to the docks - and the delicious smells of the pub greeted them on the street outside. It wasn't the kind of eaterie that catered to the sailors that came and went on a daily basis - Elizaveta had found those to be smoky and filled with drunkards and noise all day and night. Not her prefered cup of tea, though experiences like that were certainly a lot of fun when you want to go out and have a good time while getting completely drunk (and the men there were so friendly with each other...), it wasn't the kind of place to go when you wanted a good meal and a chance to converse.

"Right in here, young lady." she grinned hearing her own stomach growl at the smells. "I think its safe to say we could both wrap ourselves around a good meal. And then after, perhaps we should discuss your situation a bit." Elizaveta quirked an eyebrow, remembering that despite the girls innocent looks, she had avoided giving her her name and any information other than she was lost.

Belatedly, Elizaveta wondered if maybe the girl was a trap from the Admiral. She hoped not, but she was ready for the eventuality of seeing soldiers burst through the doors - this pub not only had delicious food, but it was run by a close friend of hers. A close friend with a secret escape tunnel that he would be more than happy to let her use.

Speaking of friends- "Vayta! Good to see you again, my dear boy! the mousy older man came up to them and shook her hand, giving her a friendly wink. "Shall I assume you and your friend would like a private table?" he asked, scratching behind his ear - which was their quiet signal for asking if there was trouble.

"That would be grand, my good sir." she wrinkled her nose - the signal for "not now". "Though you can keep your matchmaking assumptions to yourself - yes I see that gleam in your eye. This young lady is not my date, thank you very much." she snorted as he rolled his eyes and turned to lead them to an enclosed table, muttering about he can always dream and how he wished someone would make an honest man out of her.

[Liechtenstein]

Following Elizaveta she couldn’t help but look around the docks as they strolled through it. She supposed any normal girl would feel wary around the area – especially with all of the drunkards around – but Lily had grown at least partially accustomed to this kind of scene. It reminded her of many times when she would accompany one of her crewmates to shop or pick something up.

Her stomach growled when she caught whiff of the delicious smells, an embarrassed flush spreading across her cheeks. When Elizaveta stated they were here she nodded, shifting uneasily. Maybe there would be a way to sneak off before they discussed the situation; but that would be incredibly rude, and Elizaveta had been nothing but nice to her so far.

She blinked at the man who was speaking to Elizaveta, a friend she assumed. Oh… Elizaveta was a boy? But Lily had been certain that Elizaveta was a female name. Was she mistaken? It seemed like-

”Da-Date!?” She squeaked out, turning bright red and waving her hands in front of her, shaking her head frantically. ’”N-No!”

When both turned to look at her, she ducked her head. Her face hadn’t felt this warm in a long while. Lily remained quiet as she followed, taking a seat at the table and mumbling a soft ‘thank you’. [/color]