|
|
Post by Spyra Areleous on Feb 20, 2010 22:19:25 GMT -5
Finally, Spyra had a day off. Well, from the morning/afternoon job. She would still have to get to her evening/night gig later on. But the day was young; only ten in the morning in fact. And Spyra had been awake for five hours already. Her brother had woken her while getting ready to go to work and she had had the lingering fingers of a dream tickling her palms. So she had just tied her hair up and gotten straight onto the typewriter. After a good three hours of exploring a fantasy realm of her own creation called Iden and the illegal affair between the crown prince of the country Lutrin and the crown princess of the country Kantyanin, Spyra decided to get washed and dressed and go out for something to eat. Stepping into the summer air was like no other thing, especially in New York City. The atmosphere was alive with all the activity and heat and it made Spyra's heart sing and nerves jump. After a great breakfast at some little bakery, she had made her way off to her favorite bookstore. Slipping inside, she immediately headed toward the classics section, fingers skipping over Bronte, Bradbury and Fitzgerald. The cashier called her attention, asking if she needed help finding anything. She shook her head, offering a smile as she tucked her sunglasses to rest on the crown of her head. "No thanks; just browsing." |
|
|
|
Post by Robin on Feb 21, 2010 13:51:05 GMT -5
A peculiar sight strolled down the street. It had been about two entire months since Robin had stepped from his apartment. He had been solving another one of his theories. Now, he was heading to the bookstore for something to entertain him, happily greeting everyone on the way with the tip of his hat. They pretty much just stared at him like he was crazy.
Then again, he did look rather strange. He waltzed into the bookstore, tucking his cane beneath his arm and greeting the worker with a rather charming smile and then walked over to his usual section. He picked up his pipe, sticking it in mouth as if it were lit. "Let's see, Pharaohs...Pharaohs..where are you....ah!" He snatched the book as soon as found it and then grabbed a couple others near by until he about seven different books.
At that moment, he managed to go running right into Spyra as he was trying to pass by her. "Whoops. I'm sorry."
[/blockquote][/font] |
|
|
|
Post by Spyra Areleous on Feb 21, 2010 14:56:56 GMT -5
Spyra wished, not for the first time, that Fitzgerald had written more novels. Making a face, she slipped Tender is the Night back onto the shelf, slipping The Beautiful and the Damned on top of her pile. She had two other books, The Martian Chronicles -Bradbury, of course- and Heinlein's Stranger in a Strange Land -an old favorite that she had just never owned. Altogether, a good group. Happy with her finally selections, Spyra turned to head for the cashier's counter.
Of course, she had the luck of running straight into another patron. "Malaka!" she cursed at herself in Greek. Her books clattered to the ground and she swore again. She really should pick her head up every once in awhile. Waving off his apology, she shook her head. But Gods, he was pretty... "No, it's my fault, really," she insisted. "Sorry about that. I should look where I'm going, yeah?" She slipped him a quick smile before crouching to retrieve her books.
|
|
|
|
Post by Robin on Feb 21, 2010 15:14:06 GMT -5
"No, it's my fault, really," she insisted. "Sorry about that. I should look where I'm going, yeah?"
"It perfectly alright, miss. I take full account of bumping into you. I probably shouldn't carry so many books." He said with a grand smile. He tucked his books under his arm and then helped stack up hers. Suddenly, he paused and muttered softly as if in thought, "Malaka....hmmm," His head shot up and he looked at her with a raised brow. "Greek? Is it not?" He questioned with that thick British accent of his. He looked rather curious. Which was true. He was increasingly curious about this girl. Honestly, how often do you meet someone who speaks Greek? Not very often. Of course, Robin didn't speak it fluently, but he could pick it out of a crowd if ever there was one.
[/blockquote][/font] |
|
|
|
Post by Spyra Areleous on Feb 21, 2010 15:25:10 GMT -5
"It perfectly alright, miss. I take full account of bumping into you. I probably shouldn't carry so many books."
She grinned to him as he helped her with her books, before rising. "S'all good. And thanks, for the help." She glanced at the spines of the books he was carrying, eyebrow raising with good-natured curiosity. "Ancient Egypt?" she asked. He was probably studying it or something. With that accent and those books, he just screamed Ivy League scholar or research assistant to some high-end museum or something. Either way, Spyra was a bit of an anglophile. It was more the culture and music and slang, but she did so love an English accent....
"Malaka....hmmm. Greek? Is it not?"
Spyra looked up, pleasantly surprised. She always blushed a little, but that was just because of what the Greek term meant. It was common for Greek people to use it between each other as a friendly jibe. But to a stranger... Well, Spyra just hoped he realized that she had been cursing at herself and her own stupidity, not him.
But still, she was intrigued. Other than the guys running the few gyro shops in town (and a few of those were Pakistani, even), she had yet to meet anyone who could speak or even recognize Greek. "Nai," she answered in the Greek affirmative. "Do you speak Elliniká?" She used the native term for the language, falling into it easily.
Spyra didn't carry an accent but she and her brother spoke an odd mixture of Greek and English when at home together so she knew it easily. They wanted to keep the language alive between them; made them a little less homesick really.
|
|
|
|
Post by Robin on Feb 21, 2010 16:10:06 GMT -5
"Egypt. Yes. I'm studying it for a....my inner-cranial methods. Well, they're more like theories, but...they are, um difficult to explain. ." He said rather quickly. He chuckled a bit nervously as he stood. His eyes darted to the side for a moment as he found a book on something about mining. Quickly, he snatched it and stuffed it beneath his arm with the others.
"Do you speak Elliniká?"
"Unfortunately I don't speak it but I can pick out a few words. I studied it during some case including a large and rather unnatural lost vase. At least, I think it was Greek...it might have been Persian...or maybe it was Roman...No, I'm sure it was Greek." He gave a shy smile and then realized that he had not started out this correctly. He held out his hand quickly and stood up straight. "The name's Hoode. Robin Hoode....and yes that seriously is my name, as amusing as it sounds."
[/blockquote][/font] |
|
|
|
Post by Spyra Areleous on Feb 21, 2010 16:22:54 GMT -5
Spyra raised an eye as he spoke about why he was studying Egypt. Researcher. She figured. Either way, he seemed a little nervous and cagey about whatever his "theories" were. Spyra nodded once and just left it at that. If he didn't want to talk about something than that was fine. And, well, it all sounded a bit complicated to her. "Inner-cranial" sounded like something her brother babbled about when talking about his rounds at the hospital: Intracranial hematomas and intracranial pressure leading to a case of cistern obliteration and thus death. All of that made her own brain feel as if it would explode. She didn't really see what any of that had to do with Egypt though, so perhaps it was something entirely different.
"Unfortunately I don't speak it but I can pick out a few words. I studied it during some case including a large and rather unnatural lost vase. At least, I think it was Greek...it might have been Persian...or maybe it was Roman...No, I'm sure it was Greek."
She smiled back, only a little disappointed. It would have been nice to know someone else who spoke her language but maybe it was better that he didn't. It was something of a "thing" between her and her brother, strengthened their bond. They had created their own blend of Greek and English (which her brother had affectionately dubbed "Ellin-glish"), something that was just theirs, that only they knew.
"The name's Hoode. Robin Hoode....and yes that seriously is my name, as amusing as it sounds."
Spyra chuckled fondly, shaking her head. What was up with her and the guys with the pun-tastic names? Robin Hoode and Jude Carter. Both English legends, even. Although, that's where the similarities stopped, really. Spyra thought Jude was a little more her type with his bad-boy flair but then she was just being judgmental. This Robin could give her just as much of a thrill. If he was even interested in anything like that anyway.
"Have you got a band of 'Merry Men' hiding around somewhere?" she teased gently. Taking his hand, she shook it easily, struggling only a bit with her books. "Very nice to meet you, Robin." Coming up to the register, she exchanged her money for the books, offering the cashier a friendly smile."And my name is just as amusing, really: Spyridoula Areleous. But, please; just Spyra is fine."
|
|
|
|
Post by Robin on Feb 21, 2010 16:54:11 GMT -5
Robin wasn't much of a bad boy. But he was handy with a number of weapons, as well as that "figurative" weapon. He had only two women that he could remember their names, but he was sure there must of been a couple more for those times when he got dreadfully drunk. However, he was certainly a thrilling person. Of course, he tended to tone it down in places where he could knock anything over. In a book store, there were too many places where he could knock things over.
"And my name is just as amusing, really: Spyridoula Areleous. But, please; just Spyra is fine."
"Spyridoula. Isn't that quite the exotic name? Spyra. Brilliant name indeed! Feminine form of Spyridon. It means Spirit, am I correct?" He questioned with rather cheery eyes. Yes, he quite liked it. Especially since he had heard it before and actually remembered the definition of it. She definitely looked like she had good spirit. Robin took a second moment to gaze at her. Actually, she was rather attractive. He wasn't going to say that out loud of course, but still it was a fact.
[/blockquote][/font] |
|
|
|
Post by Spyra Areleous on Feb 21, 2010 19:31:23 GMT -5
"Spyridoula. Isn't that quite the exotic name? Spyra. Brilliant name indeed! Feminine form of Spyridon. It means Spirit, am I correct?"
Well, if he wasn't just the walking encyclopedia... "Yeah. Yeah, I guess so. Mamá says she named me it because I screamed and screamed when I was first born; said that showed her that I was gonna be a 'spirited' child." She grinned, a little embarrassed. "All I know is that no teacher ever pronounced it correctly and it was torture trying to spell it at only seven." She giggled a little, remembering the song she and Elias had made up to help her get all the letters right.
"I've grown to love it though. Well, 'Spyra,' anyway. 'Spyridoula' is still a bit much for me."
|
|
|
|
Post by Robin on Feb 22, 2010 16:27:50 GMT -5
"All I know is that no teacher ever pronounced it correctly and it was torture trying to spell it at only seven."
He chuckled, gathering his books up to get ready to hand them to the cashier. "Well, I must say that's probably much better than growing up with the name of a famous character. The school kids sure had their fun with mine." He said with a shake of the head and then smiled at her. She seemed like a very nice girl. To his surprised, he hadn't even asked for her age, but he figured he could probably guess. Then again, it didn't much matter to him. Robin decided once he got these books out, he'd probably ask her out to something.
[/blockquote][/font] |
|
|
|
Post by Spyra Areleous on Feb 22, 2010 16:39:53 GMT -5
"Well, I must say that's probably much better than growing up with the name of a famous character. The school kids sure had their fun with mine."
Spyra chuckled softly at that, nodding. "Well, how could they not?" She could just imagine the ridicule he must have gotten. She hadn't gotten teasing so much, just odd glances and declarations that she would be called "Spyra" and nothing else. "I just had the trouble of everyone butchering pronunciation; never any jokes really." He was nice. Educated, at the very least. And so, so very nice to look at. She briefly considered his age. Older than her for sure. Probably not by more than five or six years. No trouble for her there.
"Did you grow up in England?" she asked.
She shouldn't have.
She barely knew the man; what she was doing asking him about his life and such? Honestly, she just really needed to learn how to connect her mouth to her brain. Chuckling softly, she tried to hide the blush rising on her cheeks with her hair. "Sorry, hope that wasn't too forward," she said lightly, still grinning. "If it was just ignore the question."
Stupid Spyra.
|
|
|
|
Post by Robin on Feb 22, 2010 17:41:56 GMT -5
"Did you grow up in England?"
Did he? Did he ever! He spent so much time in London. In fact, he knew it better than the back of his hand. Of course, that had been a while back. He had after all, been in New York for little over six months. He figured with everything cooling down, there'd probably be many problems that needed dealing with. And he loved dealing with various problems.
"Sorry, hope that wasn't too forward," she said lightly, still grinning. "If it was just ignore the question."
"No, it was absolutely fine. In fact, I figured you'd eventually ask. Well, the answer is yes. In the heart of London, actually." He replied with a smile, remembering it for a moment. Yes, that had been where he had found Irene. Of course, today he left the little girl back in his apartment, since she tended to have a fondness to eating books. The bookstore was a risky place for him to take her. He managed to return back into reality and then tipped his head. "I'm guessing you lived in Greece some time during your life?" He implied questionably.
[/blockquote][/font] |
|
|
|
Post by Spyra Areleous on Feb 23, 2010 16:54:22 GMT -5
"No, it was absolutely fine. In fact, I figured you'd eventually ask. Well, the answer is yes. In the heart of London, actually."
Oh, it was absolutely fine. That was good then. And he had grown up in London, interesting. She was already calculating a character based on him in her head. It would be this Robin, but younger. Having adventures in London. Sort of an Oliver Twist without the orphan plot. A Clockwork Orange without all the rape and murder and political commentary...
"That must've been interesting," she said with a smile. "I've always wanted to see London but I've never really had the opportunity." Well, she had had the opportunity once. A student embassador program in freshman year had invited her to London for two month in the summer. But her family hadn't been able to afford it so Spyra had missed out.
"I'm guessing you lived in Greece some time during your life?"
Spyra shook her head, a little regretfully. "Not really, no. Newark was always been home, until New York was, is. I've visited Greece enough times though." Every other summer since she had been born with a few other trips interspersed, in fact. Her parents her wanted to be close to her culture. It was the same reason, unless they had company, no one in the house was allowed to speak anything other than Greek.
"It's so gorgeous there," she added a little absently. She could still remember the sights, the smell, the feel of being in Greece. The country had its very own essence and atmosphere that, if you were there, you couldn't escape. And once you left, it stuck with you, lingering.
|
|
|
|
Post by Robin on Mar 3, 2010 20:16:16 GMT -5
"I've always wanted to see London but I've never really had the opportunity."
"Well, sometime I'll take you there and--" He cut off and realized how forward that had been. Robin swallowed and then regained his composure. He let her speak about what he had asked before then, pretending as though he had never said those earlier words.
"Not really, no. Newark was always been home, until New York was, is. I've visited Greece enough times though." "It's so gorgeous there,"
Unfortunately, he had only been to Greece once, but he knew how Gorgeous it had been. He had never really been to Newark...in fact, he wasn't even sure in what region it resided in. But it didn't matter to him. He took his books from the cashier lady and then took a look towards the exit door. "I've been to Greece once, and I agree. It is very beautiful. It seems our time is slowly coming to an end now isn't it?"
[/blockquote][/font] |
|
|
|
Post by Spyra Areleous on Mar 5, 2010 20:57:10 GMT -5
"Well, sometime I'll take you there and--"
Spyra blushed at his suggestion and ducked her head to hide it. And she had been the one worried about being to forward with him... Well, she truly would like to visit London. And, hell, who knew where this was gonna end up going? But for now she would just roll with the here and now.
"I've been to Greece once, and I agree. It is very beautiful. It seems our time is slowly coming to an end now isn't it?"
A soft smile came to Spyra's face as she reminisced over her visits to what her father and brothers called "the Motherland." "Yeah. Prettiest place on the planet," she concluded. She headed to the door with him and grinned at his last question. "I suppose it is," she agreed. "Where are you headed though? I don't really have a destination..." She left the ball in his court. If he wanted to extend their time together, he could indicate that to her.
|
|
