If her head wasnโt already tilted, she wouldโve tilted it again, returning his slow blink. Confusion settled in. โI didnโt know you were, to be honest. Iโm from Tempo, though, itโs just the closest place I can think of.โ Mostly because she didnโt actually know where anything else was. A laugh escapes her then, and she dips her head apologetically. โOh geez! I promise Iโm not a creep. Really Iโm being honest. Itโs kinda complicated but Tempo is actuallyโฆ the only place I really know of. Iโve got some really bad memory problems.โ
Mood intact, though, her smile returns back upwards onto him. โAhh, archeologist, I see. Well it sounds pretty fun, you know, job hazards aside.โ She glances back at the shattered light on the ground. โI bet you see lots of nice places like this then, right? I mean despite the weird feeling itโs kind ofโฆโ The guardian fishes for the right word, taking in the scenery with a sparkle in her eyes. โPretty. I like it. Especially all the flowers everywhere.โ To prove her point she reaches to pluck a small wildflower springing up from the floor, examining it before offering it over to him. โI canโt exactly imagine what youโd hope to find in this kind of place, especially this late at night, but I hope you find whatever it is.โ
She seemed surprised by his agreement though. โOh wow, so you can feel it too? Thatโs a first. I wonder whatโs causing it.โ
Arthur rubbed at his neck with his prosthetic, rocking on the balls of his feet for a beat. โHa, yeah. Itโs pretty interesting. I at least get to learn a lot about people long gone who arenโt likeโ going to be made into an attraction. And I get to see a lot of interesting places.โ And he could help find them, and put them to rest properly, and pass on what he needed to help them move on. Sometimes the job could be dangerous, but most of the time it was justโ nice. Nice to see someone get to rest or get to unlive on in peace, rather than trapped in place, stuck in this loop of being hurt, alone, angry and scared.
He shook his head to focus. โIt is pretty. Kinda give me hope.โ It was silly, though and he squeezed the nape of his neck before letting go. His prosthetic went to his pocket instead, to keep from fidgeting. โThanks. Iโm sure Iโll find what Iโm looking for. Are you going to stick around? Seems pretty hazardous to go wandering in the woods at night. We do get some cougars around here when theyโre hungry and stuff. But I have my van around, if you want a lift back to Tempo instead.โ
โOhโ but to what you said. About memory stuff. Thatโs rough.โ He offered her a look of sympathy. โSorry, weโre far enough out I thought it was odd, but if Tempoโs all you know, then thatโsโ honestly more than fair to assume.โ He shrugged, before offering his right hand to her. โBesides, canโt fault my savior for a struggle I do know personally to some degree. Plus, Iโm more happy I donโt have a light fixture in my noggin, so you donโt need to worry any. Ah butโHi. Arthur Kingsmen. Thatโs my name.โ