Casually in a Dark Alleyway

It was first week of the year, and Hunter was already back to working long hours. With the start of a new school semester bringing band auditions and New Years resolutions to learn instruments, Hunter was a busy bee in his field. Easily losing track of time, and constantly forgetting he lived a bit further away, many nights ended with Hunter walking back to his apartment in the dark alleyways of Rice Bluff.

Tonight was a typical night for the working Hopper, having spent long hours in a school tuning and cleaning instruments for the returning students. Hunter didn't bother heading home until it was very late, carrying the rest of his work to finish at home.

Dark, taking a quick shortcut through a seemingly abandoned alleyway, Hunter felt he was losing his grip on his work toolbox containing instrument strings, music pads, wax, reeds, etc. Rounding a corner, he bumped into a stranger, and the poorly held items flew, somehow managing to hang on to the flute case he was carrying under his arm.

"Sorry!" He exclaimed quickly, looking up from his scattered mess on the ground to see if this person was alright.

Irene had left the ramshackle building she stayed in. One night was all she wanted; some peace and quiet, alone with pleasant memories. She yearned for a break from her reality.

She sat silently in a lonely alley she found. Her body was propped up against a cool brick wall. Pink eyes stared blankly at nothing it seemed, but in her mind she watched a happy little scene.

The girl at the breakfast table, but she paid no mind to her food. She was being entertained by what Irene always thought to be her father. They were playing with the stuffed bear, making it dance between the platters of food. The room filled with laughter.

This was one of Irene’s favorite memories. And it was gone too soon. The warm, welcoming home was replaced with the dimly lit alley.

A ringing pierced her ears, and her vision went blurry. Irene stood mindlessly with a groan, and took a few clumsy steps forward. Just as she came round the corner, something collided with her; a man. His muffled voice made her heart skip a beat. The apology did nothing to soothe her.

She stumbled backward with a gasp and dropped her teddy bear at his feet in the process.

---

side effects gonna last for 5 minutes

Two bodies collided, but neither seemed to be massive enough to steamroll through the other party.

Instead, items fell, the musician losing everything but his flute, and the strange girl lost... her teddy bear???

He wasn't sure what to attempt grabbing as everything landed around them and instead he just let everything fall! Looking at the person he nearly knocked over he was a little confused to find someone looking so lost and confused? Their eyes screamed supernatural and he hesitated.

"Hey-sorry, you okay?" He questioned, trying to pick up the teddy bear.

Whatever was said was completely lost in a garble of white noise. His form, however, was not completely lost to distortion. Irene sharply sucked her breath when a hand was extended her way.

Her gaze quickly left him and latched onto a reed that had fell from his toolbox. She lifted her own hand, her palm opened briefly before closing shut. The reed flowered and split at the ends. Small chips of it flew out, and they striked the wall but nothing hit the man.

She hoped the small explosion would be enough to keep him away, or else the budding headache would’ve been for nothing.

---

miss and now she can’t hear for a lil longer ): (9 minutes)

Hunter was not a violent person. In fact, so averse to any harsh actions, many people in his life assumed he didn't even know HOW to fight (they'd be correct). This seemed hardly the situation to change that, although the sudden explosion of the small reed had him taking a step back to shield himself.

His brown eyes looked quickly to locate her after they reacted to the flying little instrument pieces. There were no words to be spoken, he had asked her if she was alright, but she responded with violence. Fearing he might've somehow looked like a threat, he took a step backward again, but wouldn't be leaving without his beloved tool box.

For now, he just stared at her, trying to figure out the next move.

He was forced back from the blast, just as she so hastily planned. But it wasn’t quite enough to send him running. She did, however, notice he’d taken an additional step back. It’s a start.

Irene took in a deep, uneven breath. She had meant to take a small step forward, but the weight in her head made her lurch forward. Palms met cement, and her wince made her ears ring. While one hand supported her weight, the other blindly searched the ground for her bear. Unfortunately it was closer to the stranger than it was to her.

He had hopped he wouldn't look like a threat to her, feeling terrible for scaring her into such violence.

Suddenly she was attempting to step forward but collapsed.

"Hey-are you alright???" He mumbled questioningly, quickly stepping toward her again, squatting down next to her, but afraid to reach out an touch.

Should he call someone?

Even as he crouched to her level, he was hardly heard. A nauseated moan was the only response he’d get.

Irene’s arm retracted back to her side as she leaned back on the wall. Abandoning her mission to retrieve the bear for now, she kept an eye on the stranger. Or rather a blocky form she assumed to be him.

That moan didn't sound good.

His honey-colored eyes focused on her and then on the bear.

"Is there someone I should call...?" Pulling his phone out, maybe she had a friend nearby, or maybe he should be ringing a professional???

She retracted back as the man reached into his pocket and pulled something out. The idea of using her power again crossed her mind, but only briefly. Another sharp pain pierced through her a skull. A warning she heeds.

Irene signed something along the lines of leave me alone. But it was no more than weak hand gestures before they fell to her side again.

He pulled out his phone, ready to make the call to some emergency service when he noticed the signs. Hunter wasn't some sign language genius, but he did get the signs for 'me' and 'leave', and he paused.

Oh, was she deaf? Had he been inconsiderate.

Hunter pulled the phone away from him and typed out a quick message:'Are You Okay' before showing it to her.

Irene tensed up when he reached for something, even more so when he pulled it out. She forced her eyes towards it, wanting to use her power again. But she couldn’t muster up the strength nor focus to do so. Lucky little phone.

She hadn’t known what it was until its white light blinded her. Irene backed away with a wince, blinked a few times, then hesitantly leaned forward.

Even after a minute of squinting at the screen, she couldn’t translate what was typed out on her own. A combination of poor eyesight and a pounding headache was to blame. So she copied the text and pasted it into a google translate window she’d opened. She had just enough time to scroll down to Portuguese, reread, and lean back with an affirmative nod.

Hunter held his breath as he waited for her to read, waiting for a reaction, fearing she might lash out again. He held himself still, watching her search something else, fearing to exhale.

Finally she nodded. Communication success!

His lungs heaved an exhale and he brought a hand to his chest, pulling the phone back to type another message before handing it back.

Should I call anyone for you?