Feathers and Stone [Flynn]

[LIAM AVERY]

Liam hadn't meant to come here, but his feet failed to consult with his head. The tree was beautiful the healed crack giving it the air of mystery. Liam often wondered if that crack were pried open, would the guardians of Scriptor Bay return to their original forms and their original realms? What a sight that would be...

Liam knew it wasn't possible of course. His mother had told him the legend enough that he knew what would happen if the crack were ever opened again. How many people would die this time, lose their lives to the abyss within the tree? There were so many questions that could not be answered, all because of this tree's existence. If it weren't for this tree, for the Native American that unleashed its evil, Liam would not be here today. It was the light of the full moon that quelled the evil inside the tree, sending the spirits forth to heal the tree. So did that mean that he, as a Gargoyle and a guardian spirit, was inherently good? Because from what he had seen of other Gargoyles, that wasn't necessarily true.

These thoughts always came to his mind when was standing here before the Tree of Enlightenment. Liam's mind never stopped moving. His mother called it a blessing and a curse. He was brilliant, that much he knew, but he over-analyzed everything. It was impossible to shut it off.

As he stood considering the tree, his hand following along the crack gently, he heard something snap behind him. Turning to look, he found a woman standing there. Quickly he assessed her, it being habit for him, and he could see the slight lump on her back beneath her clothes. He had an inkling of what she was and why she was here, but he only nodded to her, letting his hand fall from the bark of the tree. It was strange for an Avisaille to be out at night, but he did not question it. He simply looked back to the tree, wondering if he should stay or go to give the woman privacy. Liam would wait for her to make a move to decide.

[FLYNN YOUNG]

Leaving work late was never ideal for Flynn. She didn't like to walk home when the sun had already set but she couldn't say no when the store owner asked if she could stay and close up shop that night. The owners were an older married couple who lived above the store and although they were some of the kindest people she knew, they often times struggled to keep trustworthy employees. So Flynn did all that she could to keep them happy and make sure that she still had a job. It wasn't an extravagant job, but that was why she enjoyed it.

Deciding to take a shortcut she hurried across the street, checking both ways to be sure that no cars were coming beforehand and then cutting through the grassy area that was near the tree. Not just any tree this was, but the tree of enlightenment. A tree that as the myths told had once been a portal that had been cracked open and her kind thrown through. The girl's bright and curious eyes landed on it as she suddenly forgot that she was in a hurry to head home.

Flynn went off course and headed straight for the brilliant tree, deciding that if she just took a few minutes to gaze at it and allow herself to be swallowed into deep thought that it wouldn't do any harm. It was already dark out and although she wasn't a fan of the dark she felt comfort in the presence of the tree. As she neared the tree she could see that she wasn't the only one who had gotten the idea to bask in the presence of the tree that night. The snap of the twig under her foot caused her to gasp and drop her purse, startled by the eerily loud sound. It was almost too quiet out there that night and the sound seemed to cut through and break away the silence as she heard a car drive by not long after.

Meeting the eyes of the stranger who had clearly turned when he'd heard the same sound that startled her she offered an apologetic smile before she bent down to pick up her bag and toss the few assorted items that spilled out back in. Flynn had always been one to wear loose fitted clothing and layering up so that it was easier for her to keep her wings concealed. Tonight had been no different, though she hadn't expected to run into anyone and she hadn't been wearing her harness. Her wings twitched gently when she had bent down and the collar of her shirt moved just enough to make them a bit awkward.

Standing back up she straightened her top and smoothed the fabric over her stomach to keep it from getting wrinkled. Fortunately for Flynn her wings were dark and they were difficult to see with such a lack of lighting in the park area.

"I'm so sorry!" She breathed out the apology quickly as if she had interrupted the stranger from something important. Chancing another step forward she offered yet another smile to him but this time it changed. There was no longer the apologetic look across her face but one of curiosity.

"I hope I didn't disturb you. I was just passing through and thought I would stop a moment." If he wanted to be left alone then Flynn would gladly leave without another word. But because she was the curious one and always so polite she had to at least say something, even if it would only be small talk.

[LIAM AVERY]

When Liam noticed she had dropped her purse, he made a move to help her grab her things. She seemed to be doing fine, so he stood back by the tree, trying not to startle her. It seemed she was just as intent on not startling him, which made him raise a brow slightly. Her apology was unnecessary, but he didn't say so. He just watched her silently since she was still talking. She seemed almost nervous, something he was rather used to making people feel, but it wasn't because of anything he had done. She seemed nervous about something else. Perhaps it was the dark. Avisaille didn't like the night, from what he understood, and he was certain now she was an Avisaille. The slight twitch of her wings beneath her shirt when she bent to retrieve her belongings did not escape his eye.

"I hope I didn't disturb you. I was just passing through and thought I would stop for a moment."

He shook his head with the faintest smile, trying to be polite. The woman seemed a little jumpy, and he didn't want to give her more cause to fret by frowning and staying silent. "You didn't disturb me," he assured. "The Tree is public property. You're welcome to admire it too."

Seeing her in the dim light, Liam was struck by her features. He didn't normally notice women, but this one was exceptionally beautiful. She was willowy, almost the same height as him, with long brown hair, but what he noticed most were her eyes. Her eyes were large, almond-shaped, and appeared very blue, even in the darkness. His admiration was that of an artist's, looking but never with the expectation of touching, as it was for all the women he encountered. All of this ran through his mind in a manner of seconds, before he made things awkward in the silence.

"It's rather late to be passing through, don't you think?" he commented with his small smile. It was enough to be noticeable, and it wasn't unfriendly. Sometimes he just wasn't sure how to act around others.

[FLYNN YOUNG]

"The Tree is public property. You're welcome to admire it too."

Flynn felt so silly in that moment! She smiled bashfully to the stranger and nodded her head. Of course she knew it was public property, but sometimes she preferred to stand there alone and gaze at the tree. That way if she said something silly she could simply giggle and wave it off. But with someone there it made her look like she was a little off. Not that Flynn minded what others thought of her. She was happy and satisfied with herself and that was all that mattered.

She got over her foolishness quickly however and moved closer to the tree so she could get a better look up at its branches. It cast shadows through the park, blocking out any of the lights coming from the other side of it. Although the dark didn't normally have her jumpy it was a bit nippy that night and that must have been what had her on edge.

"It's rather late to be passing through, don't you think?"

His words cut through the silence once more and her large eyes fell on the stranger, her mouth curving up into that soft smile once more. Flynn was a friendly, kind soul. She got along with almost anyone and trusted people so quickly. It had gotten her hurt a few times but she always got back up again.

"I was on my way home from work. It's close enough to walk and I don't own a car. I just got out late and you never know what's out at night.. so." She trailed off quietly and pushed the strap of her purse back up on her shoulder before clamping her hands together in front of her body. Although Flynn didn't consider herself tall she knew she was a little above average for women and could look at him almost at eye level. He was quite handsome, even in such bad lighting!

"Do you come to the tree often?" Her curiosity always got the best of her and although she wasn't a chatty person she enjoyed listening to others talk. And she always encouraged them to do the speaking by asking questions and giving them her undivided attention. This stranger was no different.

[LIAM AVERY]

Liam was surprised at himself. He didn’t normally notice when women were “cute,” but the way this woman trailed off what she was saying and clasped her hands tightly in front of her…that was cute. The smile that tugged at the corners of his mouth found its way there of its own accord. He had to admit, part of the reason he didn’t find himself around people a lot was because it made him uncomfortable to make them nervous. But this woman, though she was nervous in her actions, didn’t make him feel uncomfortable. In fact, he felt cool and collected in comparison to this woman.

”Do you come to the tree often?”

The question snapped him out of his thoughts and his found his eyes wandering back to the tree. Did he come here often? “I suppose so,” he answered aloud, pondering. “Most of the time, though, I don’t mean to end up here. I just find my way here somehow. It’s very calming to me. And I find the legend of it very interesting.” Once again his hand ran along the crack in the tree, tracing it from waist to shoulder height. “It makes me wonder what would happen if the crack in the tree opened again.” His eyes came back to her face and he extended a hand, stepping closer to her.

“William Avery. You can call me Liam,” he offered, the trace of a smile still on his face. He didn’t often extend his hand to strangers, but she seemed kind and he felt he should reciprocate her kindness. His mother had taught him at least that much. “Do you come to the tree often?” he reflected back to her. Liam found himself mildly curious about an Avisaille who stopped by the tree after dark.

[FLYNN YOUNG]

“I suppose so,”

I've never seen him, Flynn thought to herself as she listened to him, nodding her head to show that she understood. Maybe he only came at night? She didn't stop to gaze at the tree usually at night, always finding its true beauty better seen in the early hours of the day when the sun was still rising. The whole world looked beautiful and peaceful when the sun came up in the morning and she had the best view from her apartment's balcony.

“Most of the time, though, I don’t mean to end up here. I just find my way here somehow. It’s very calming to me. And I find the legend of it very interesting.”


"Oh!" She sounded a little too surprised and started to grow even more curious. How much did this stranger know about the legends? Flynn never spoke of them unless the subject was brought up by another and even then she hardly said more than a few words on the matter. Flynn didn't like to disclose too much since she knew that not everyone she met would be an Avisaille like herself. In fact, she knew quite a few who weren't!

“It makes me wonder what would happen if the crack in the tree opened again.”

Her eyes grew just slightly and her neck craned to the left to try and get a good view of his hand tracing the spot where the tree had 'split open'. She knew it were true but the humans didn't. And she was beginning to see a pattern in the words he said and his mannerisms. She'd only been spoken for him for a brief moment but already she was picking up on things. The way he seemed so calm and so sure speaking and saying little things about the supposed myth.

When his hand extended her entire demeanor seemed to warm up. This stranger now had a name, and she surely wouldn't forget it! Liam.

“Do you come to the tree often?”

Flynn managed to unclasp her hands and reach up to give his hand a very kind and gentle shake. Everything about Flynn was gentle, from the clothes she wore to her smile all the way to the way she shook a person's hand. She'd heard that you needed a firm handshake but she found it to be the sort of thing that caused rivalry. She didn't care who had the firmest handshake just as long as they were kind. "My name's Flynn.. Young." She felt silly saying her last name but he had told her his and she found it only fair.

"Usually I come during the day. I work at the thrift store down the street so it's a short walk. I take my lunches here usually." She told him with a little nod of her head. And her mind trailed to what he'd been saying about the crack in the tree. Did he truly believe that the tree had opened up? Was there more to Mr. William Avery than she was seeing? Of course there was, she hardly knew him! It was so silly of her to even think that.

"You believe the tree opened? That's fascinating. I've heard scientist explain it as a strike of lightning, and of course science believes that over time it just happened to cave in on itself, which is why it looks the way it does." Flynn didn't even hesitate as she stepped closer to him and reached out to run her own fingers along the tree's 'scar' as she liked to call it.

"Some people just don't believe that there is real magic in the world." Her eyes moved back to him and she couldn't help but smile before looking away almost as if she had suddenly become shy. This human being seemed so kind and so interested. A part of her just wanted to open up and tell all about the tree. But surely that was a bad idea.

[LIAM AVERY]

Flynn. What an odd name. But it somehow suited the woman. It was as different as her looks, and it made her stand out all the more in Liam's mind. Even more, her handshake was so soft and gentle that when she took his hand, he felt he squeezed too hard. Her hand was soft, but all women's hands were soft compared to his. Yet, there was a warmth there too. He couldn't understand why the sensation lingered, though. It made him feel silly.

She said she usually came here during the day, over her lunches, and he imagined her sitting in the shade of the tree, the sunlight all around her, as she ate her lunch. Sunlight...he was filled with a kind of envy that he would never see that. He shook his head a little at the image and the envy it struck. What was wrong with him? Was it just the fact that Flynn was here or was it just this evening making him think odd things? And acting odd...smiling and all of that...Now he was getting uncomfortable, not used to feeling silly.

"You believe the tree opened?"

Liam was amused at her trying to play down the legend of the tree, spouting off scientific theories on how the crack came to be. He knew just what she was, but she obviously hadn't come to any conclusions about him except that he was human. Should he let the illusion continue? As he was pondering this, she stepped closer suddenly, running her hand along the crack as he had. She smelled like flowers and sunshine. Sunshine? Is that what that smell was? He didn't really know what sunshine smelled like, but she smelled warm, like he knew the sun felt. His mind reeled a little, not knowing why he suddenly felt slightly off balance, but he didn't move away. His feet wanted to, but he was defying them right now, trying to convince himself he was fine, that this woman didn't have any effect on him. No woman but his mother had ever had an effect on him.

"Some people just don't believe that there is real magic in the world." Her smile was sweet, shy, and so were her eyes. It almost made him want to believe in magic. But wasn't their existence magic in a way? They wouldn't be in this realm without magic. A small smile came creeping back to his face. It was ironic that a sort of "magical" being didn't really believe in magic; but maybe he should. "I guess people like us have to believe in magic," he said aloud. There was no sense in playing coy. Flynn should know what he was to level the playing ground. His eyes met hers again. "I'm a Gargoyle. And you're an Avisaille, right? I saw your wings twitch when you picked up your stuff off the ground." He looked back to the tree, moving on from the subject.

"I find it interesting how little humans admit is possible. Like the scientists trying to explain the crack in this tree. Science can be liberating in its own way, but it's so limiting too. Those explanations don't allow for the idea that the tree actually opened and resealed itself, which we know is what happened. It also doesn't allow for ghosts or aliens, and yet there's ever-mounting evidence that those things exist. Maybe the next thing we'll learn is dragons and unicorns are real." He ended with an amused smile on his face and then he realized he was rambling and saying whatever came into his head. It didn't really bother him, but he knew he had a tendency to lose others' attention. "Sorry if I'm boring you," he said, glancing to her. He wondered if his eccentricity would chase her off.

[FLYNN YOUNG]

"I guess people like us have to believe in magic."

The statement through Flynn off for a moment and she tilted her head to the side. What did he mean by people like us? It was rather odd for him to say that sort of thing. Was he a fellow Avisaille that recognized her? She didn't recall seeing him around, and although she didn't know every Avisaille out there she could recall faces quite well. His wasn't one that she remembered.

"I'm a Gargoyle. And you're an Avisaille, right? I saw your wings twitch when you picked up your stuff off the ground."

Oh! The female's eyes couldn't have gotten any wider if she tried, but her face did pale and her lips parted as if she weren't only shocked but a little terrified as well. Except the terror disappeared shortly and was replaced by that curiosity that was always there in her eyes. Flynn was always such a curious one, wanting more and more knowledge! She had heard that there were Gargoyles but never had she actually met one!

As the male rambled and ranted she listened, licking her lips and nodding her head to show that she was in fact still hearing him. Her eyes moved over him, letting them scan him from head to toe as if she were expecting knowledge to seep out of his pores for her to soak in through her eyes.

"Sorry if I'm boring you."

Of course he wasn't boring her! When her eyes locked onto his she felt herself growing confident and reached out to touch his arm. She'd shook his hand but hadn't picked up on how tough his skin felt. She didn't make any attempt to squeeze or remove her hand. She just kept her hand rested on his arm and watched him, trying to figure out what his features were telling her about him. Was he relaxed, calm and complacent? Or would he stiffen up and get uncomfortable? Or perhaps find her silly and jerk away? There were so many outcomes and Flynn was open to learn from him. Were Gargoyles truly different than the Avisaille.

"You don't bore me, you're so fascinating! You must let me buy you a coffee. Or tea, maybe? Some water? I want to hear everything about you. About your kind, I've never met a.. a Gargoyle before!" The excitement was too much for Flynn to even attempt to hide.

[LIAM AVERY]

Liam almost flinched when Flynn reached for him. He wasn't used to people touching him. But he didn't; instead, he watched her with surprise before glancing down at her hand. It was really soft. As soft as her voice and looks. Though he tensed a little under her hand, for the most part he was so surprised by the action, he didn't have time to really process it.

"You don't bore me, you're so fascinating! You must let me buy you a coffee. Or tea, maybe? Some water? I want to hear everything about you. About your kind, I've never met a...a Gargoyle before!"

Liam felt...flattered. He couldn't remember the last time he felt that way. Here was this...frankly, beautiful woman calling him fascinating. She was genuinely interested in everything he had to say, it seemed. It made him smile a little when she so eagerly offered him coffee, tea, or water, and he was sure if he requested hard liquor, she would oblige. Of course, he wouldn't ask that. Alcohol did nothing for him except in copious amounts, and he didn't enjoy it for the taste either. But coffee...He doubted it would warm him more than her hand on his arm, but it did sound nice. It wasn't terribly late, and the tea shop over on Peanut Street might still be open.

"I could use a cup of coffee," he said pleasantly. He didn't know what he had said or done to make Flynn so interested in him, but it made him feel almost...important. Different than the kind of importance he felt on the job or as a Guardian in the Gargoyle community. Flynn made him feel important as a person. It wasn't often people called him fascinating. At least, not to his face. And to be honest, he was just as interested in her.

He began a leisurely pace in the direction of Peanut Street, making sure she followed him. He wanted to know more about her, though. "Avisailles have to go on a journey, right? Where did you go?" he asked with a small but kind smile. Liam had never been outside of Scriptor Bay, and while part of him had wanted to become an Adventurer and explore the world, it wasn't in his cards. He wanted to know what Flynn had seen, though, what she had learned from other cultures.

[FLYNN YOUNG]

"I could use a cup of coffee,"

Flynn's face lit up as if he had just told her the most exciting news! Of course, it wasn't that she was excited about him wanting coffee, but more so the fact that it meant she would be able to sit down with him and have the right amount of time to delve in new knowledge and absorb it like a sponge. And so she started to walk, one foot in front of the other with a light grace about her, away from the tree with hope that he too would follow. And soon she realized that she was the one following him, not that she paid it any mind. She was too interested in what he had to say to care who followed who. She was almost certain that the cafe would still be open and although their coffee was ordinary it offered a nice warm place with peace and quiet.

"Avisailles have to go on a journey, right? Where did you go?"

Oh dear! This man knew more about her kind than she thought. Although she had been sure that Gargoyles were truly out there, she had never met another of her kind that had met one. It was so thrilling! This would be something to surely tell Griffin about!

"I went all over. London, France, Italy.. the places where everyone hopes to one day go. But I particularly enjoyed going to Africa. Egypt was beautiful and the jungles further south were breathtaking!" Flynn enjoyed the hot weather that came with that continent. She'd spent most of her time there, soaking up the heat and brilliant sun that always seemed to shine down in the deserts. She thought about travelling again, maybe someday in the future. She had plenty of time to, but not the funds. Or at least not yet. She wasn't one to save money. Then again, that was probably because she worked jobs where she made just enough to pay her bills and buy groceries. It was just enough to make her happy.

"I've only ever heard stories of gargoyles. That you're only around at night and sleep during the day. Is this true? Goodness, do you age like we do?" Flynn had to contain herself, trying not to ask too many questions at once. There were so many to ask but she didn't want to sound overly curious. That could be a bad thing.

[LIAM AVERY]

Liam liked hearing about her travels. Not only had Flynn been to Europe, but she had been to Africa. Egypt and further south...Liam envied her. As a Gargoyle, and more specifically as a Guardian, he couldn't leave Scriptor Bay for long. In fact, the Council preferred he didn't leave at all. His place was here, protecting as he always had and probably always would. Still, that didn't make him any less unhappy that he had never seen the cathedrals of Europe where he could blend in with the best of the Grotesques during the day. Flynn must have loved all of the sunshine in Africa, the heat and the unusual wildlife. Liam found this thought odd, well aware that he didn't really know this woman, and yet he was still making assumptions about her. As an Avisaille, though, it was more than likely she preferred the sunshine. From the tone of her skin, she did. Liam had to look away, suddenly self-conscious about staring.

"I've only ever heard stories of gargoyles. That you're only around at night and sleep during the day. Is this true? Goodness, do you age like we do?"

Liam's eyes turned back to hers with this barrage of questions and his smile was genuine. She was like a child, curious about everything. It was very similar to his own curiosity, he just didn't express his with the same excitement. "Well, it's true we're only in this form at night, but I'm not sure I would call what happens to use during the day sleeping. We just turn to stone. While it's restful sleep implies some sort of consciousness. I don' think I've ever had a thought or a dream when I'm a statue, so I don't think there's any consciousness there. And as for aging, we age even slower than Avisailles. I'm actually 89 years old," he explained. Liam smirked at revealing his age, something he didn't do very often. Flynn wasn't a threat, but he was still very wary of revealing his true age to anyone out of habit.

His blue eyes found hers again, a small smile still on his lips. Flynn was interesting in how almost childlike she was in her curiosity. Most Avisailles, from his understanding were very serious, but she seemed so light-hearted. He was glad his feet carried him to the tree tonight. First the spunky Harley and now Flynn. Perhaps his mother was trying to send him a message from beyond the grave. The thought was amusing. "Any more questions?" he encouraged mildly. Questions never bothered him; it was just wrong answers that bothered him. He was willing to answer whatever questions she threw at him.

[FLYNN YOUNG]

"Well, it's true we're only in this form at night, but I'm not sure I would call what happens to use during the day sleeping. We just turn to stone. While it's restful sleep implies some sort of consciousness. I don' think I've ever had a thought or a dream when I'm a statue, so I don't think there's any consciousness there. And as for aging, we age even slower than Avisailles. I'm actually 89 years old,"

Flynn listened to everything that Liam had to say so intently that she had forgotten where they were going for a moment and nearly veered off course. Upon this realization she almost collided with the man but stopped herself short and then pointed off to the left a little. "The cafe is that way." She said and gave a little laugh that made her shy away a bit.

"Any more questions?"

Goodness were there more! Flynn loved to soak up all the knowledge she could and she had every intention of absorbing as much information as he would allow. "Tons!" She exclaimed with a bright smile that showed in those large eyes of hers.

"Going back to magic, it's incredible how we all came to be here. We're told the stories of the great tree and how we must protect it. Yet nothing ever comes out of it or threatens the life that we've made here for ourselves. I do often times wonder if the tree would ever open again and if it did, what would we do?"

Now it seemed to be Flynn's turn to ramble. "I'm sorry, I know there was a point in there somewhere but I seem to have lost it." And then there was that laugh again as she dismissed it with a wave of her hand.

"So what is it that you do in the city? It must be difficult to obtain a job when you can only work at night?"

[LIAM AVERY]

Liam was still smiling at Flynn nearly colliding with him. He didn't classify anyone or anything as cute, normally, but that's what Flynn was. Cute. He knew when he got back to his apartment, he would be appalled at his reaction to her. But for now, he was telling the sensible part of him to shut up. And when she smiled so wide saying, "Tons!" in answer to his question, he just let it be, smiling a little more. His face was going to start hurting pretty soon if he kept smiling. He tried not to think of his mother's reaction to this situation. He could see her now, smirking at his silly smiling.

"Going back to magic, it's incredible how we all came to be here. We're told the stories of the great tree and how we must protect it. Yet nothing ever comes out of it or threatens the life that we've made here for ourselves. I do often times wonder if the tree would ever open again and if it did, what would we do? ...I'm sorry, I know there was a point in there somewhere but I seem to have lost it."

Liam chuckled a little at Flynn losing her point. "It's okay," he said in his quiet voice. "I was actually thinking something similar before you walked up at the tree. There's so many questions around the tree that we just can't seem to answer." Perhaps Flynn was as inquisitive as he was. She seemed smart and perceptive and willing to learn anything. There more they talked, the more he liked Flynn. But liked her strictly in the, "She's interesting," sense...or at least that's what he told himself.

"So what is it that you do in the city? It must be difficult to obtain a job when you can only work at night."

He considered her for a moment before answering, out of habit. It wasn't that he didn't trust her or anything, that was just the way he was. "I'm a part time criminologist for the Scriptor Bay Police Department. They're pretty flexible about when I come in, as long as I get my work completed. My bigger job though is working as a Guardian for the Council and for Scriptor Bay. Gargoyles are picky about how much time us Guardians have to spend with the Council," he explained softly. He turned his eyes back to Flynn's, wondering why he found them so striking. "Why do you work in a thrift store? You sound like you could be a scholar of some sort," he asked, giving her a pleasant compliment at the end. It was true, though. With her curiosity, she would make a great researcher, perhaps working in anthropology.

[FLYNN YOUNG]

"Why do you work in a thrift store? You sound like you could be a scholar of some sort,"

The question threw the Avisaille girl off a bit and her eyes diverted from his to look at the ground in front of her as they walked almost as if she were suddenly conscious that she might trip if she didn't. "Well I've held different jobs over the years." Flynn began to explain, as if to say that the vintage store wasn't the only place that she had worked at. And although Flynn had the knowledge and the passion to be a scholar, she didn't have the proper personality. Or at least in her own eyes.

"I prefer jobs that make it easy for someone like me to stay invisible. And I do it because it's fun and simple. The hours aren't too strenuous so I still have plenty of free time on my hands while making sure I pay my bills on time." She smiled as if this were sort of funny, but it was true. She didn't want to make a lot of money. If she could live in her apartment for free then she wouldn't hold a job at all! But unfortunately that wasn't the case.

"And people don't notice as much that you haven't aged in ten years when you work in such a job. Also the owners are an elderly couple so their eye sight isn't what it was ten years ago." The couple who lived above the vintage shop were coming up on their eighties, and although she had worked for them for several years already, they didn't notice how her physical appearance hadn't changed. And it wasn't as if they had an established clientele. The customers were never the same.

Liam's mentioning of the Gargoyle council didn't go unnoticed with Flynn. She'd merely gotten sidetracked with the question that he'd asked her, but she brought herself back to talking about him and his kind. "And that sounds almost sad. The way that you're tied to your guardian duties. Are there not enough gargoyles? There are always Avisaille in the city and there are always Avisaille travelling." It just seemed so odd to be stuck in one place all your life. Especially when your life was so long.

When they came up out of the park and to the sidewalk Flynn glanced both ways showing that she was cautious before stepping down onto the black road. The cafe was just across the street now and as no cars were going they wouldn't have to stop and wait. Although it was still early in the night, because of daylight savings it got dark later at night. So it actually was late for Flynn and she knew that coffee wasn't going to be an option for her. Otherwise she'd be up until unknown hours prancing around her apartment full of life and caffeine. She decided it would be wise to have tea tonight.

[LIAM AVERY]

Liam found Flynn's reasons for working in the job she did interesting. He could understand wanting to be invisible, preferring to stay out of the limelight himself. And he didn't mind free time either. It left more time to study something new, learn about something else, or refresh his knowledge on an old topic. That was part of why he only had a part time job. The other reason came from her lips. "And people don't notice as much that you haven't aged in ten years when you work in such as job." Liam smiled broadly, amused by the way she said. That was precisely why he remained part time at the precinct. If he only came in a couple times a week, then it was less likely they would wonder how he found the fountain of youth. She changed the subject abruptly, and they were again talking about him, instead of the other way around.

"And that sounds almost sad. The way that you're tied to your guardian duties. Are there not enough gargoyles? There are always Avisaille in the city and there are always Avisaille travelling."

Her rightfully innocent question brought a smile to his slightly weathered face, amused. Just as he was about to answer, they reached the road, and he watched her look both ways before stepping out into the street. She was so childlike. With her wings, he could picture her as a cherub, innocent, playful and forever childlike. It was endearing. He had to remind himself that she had asked a question.

"It's not that there aren't enough gargoyles in Scriptor Bay," he began. "There are plenty of us. But travelling is for Adventurers. And when I say Adventurers, I don't mean like Indiana Jones. There are three different paths a gargoyle can take when he or she comes of age: Adventurer, Politician, or Guardian. The Adventurers go out and explore the world and observe humans, reporting back their findings. They're the only ones who really travel in our society. Politicians run the Council and Guardians protect human and gargoyle society. I'm Guardian class, so I'm required to stay here and protect. It might be a little disappointing, but I learned a long time ago to accept that I would never see the world outside of Scriptor Bay, and I'm okay with that. Besides, how far can you really travel when you turn to stone every day." He finished with an amused smile once more, looking down at her walking beside him. In his mind they made an odd pair, but perhaps that wasn't the case. Anybody passing by wouldn't know how very different they were; they would just see a tired looking man walking beside a beautiful woman. Maybe that in itself made them odd.

When they came to the door of the shop, Liam held the door open for Flynn with a small smile, and he followed her in, the smell of tea, coffee, and soap mingling in the warm air. It was a strange combination but it worked. He decided from the smell alone he wanted coffee. Looking down at Flynn, he asked, "What would you like?"