Kazuma really hated it. Ever since he was a young boy, he hated it. When he's playing alone but contented and it comes, he groans inwardly. When he sees other people producing it animatedly, he winces uncomfortably. When it destroys his relaxation time, he gets annoyed. That's just how much he loved his silence and hated the 'it' that breaks it, noise. Particularly noises that comes from the mouth of others.

Right now, he is really pissed. He was currently sitting in the riverside, closed eyes, and was enjoying the silence that is present, oh sorry, WAS present. A few minutes ago, he felt someone sitting down right beside him. He didn't know what he/she wanted but as long as the silence around them isn't broken, he didn't care. Just his luck, soon after thinking that, she started talking to him. At first it was a soft whisper but it was gradually becoming louder the longer they sat there. He wanted to reprimand her, he figured out his companion's gender as soon as she talked, but that would make him seem like he acknowledges her presence and he didn't want her thinking that. He tried ignoring her and tried blocking out the noises she made and he thought it was successful until she talked again. He inwardly sighed, know what? Screw this! Screw him acknowledging her if he talked. He can't take it anymore. So he relunctantly opened his eyes and faced her.

Lacie wondered if she would bump into Arthur one more time as she walked passed the river. She wanted to ask him some more about Oak or wasn't it him that told her that? She shrugged and kicked at a little pebble next to the river. She looked up to see two people, she didn't know what hour it was but the guy didn't look very happy with the girl. She wondered if she should step in, incase something would happen. She didn't like strangers, definitely not she had met a lot lately and well she met more people to figure out the way the world works. This was actually the only reason why she hanged out with strangers and apparently she knew to pick out the right ones or they would pick out her. Like Liston and Arthur. Alek, Judina, Troy, Kon, LeeAnn. Although the last one she had found a bit weird. The Divine was punishing her so Lacie wanted to stay far away from her.

Lacie thought she recognized the girl from one of her days working at the welcome committee but she wasn't sure. She walked past them at first, there wasn't much to go and it wasn't really warm here, she turned her heel and looked a little bored, "Oh hi Lacie, come sit with us." She looked up to the girl that sat next to a boy and she waved at Lacie, the red head wasn't so sure what to think, she wasn't even sure what the girl her name was. She shrugged and walked to the two of them, "Hello." She said, it didn't look as if Megan (was that her name?) knew this guy but she seemed to talk a lot about nothing, the weather, the area, the jobs in Orchidia, Orchidia and she was really a blabbermouth that Lacie remained standing with a surprised expression. Did this kid never shut up?

"Could you shut up?" He sharply said. The girl beside him looked a bit taken aback by his sudden outburst. Not wanting her to be hurt (He was irritated yes but he wasn't THAT rude to make a girl cry) or at least to lessen his rudeness, he quickly added. "Please?". He quickly regretted his decision though, because after he said one of the "magic words", the girl's face quickly light up and introduced herself. "My name's Megan. What's yours?". Instead of answering though, Kazuma just gave her a deadpan look. "Didn't you hear what I said?" His patience was continuously thinning. "You said please." came her witty reply. He was about to retort back when suddenly she looked away from him and called out: "Oh hi Lacie, come sit with us.". He followed Megan's gaze and his eyes landed on a beautiful(He wouldn't admit that out loud) doll-faced, orange-haired girl that seems to carry a "high-class" aura around her. He watched the girl greet them (or was it just the girl beside him), shrugged her shoulders then sat beside them. 'Great! Just great! Another one!' he sighed. Megan began to talk again about various stuffs he didn't get since he wasn't listening as he focused his gaze back on the river, to the soft waves it produces. He didn't noticed that Megan has long stopped talking and he only did when suddenly she stood up, said her goodbyes and walked away. He stared at her retreating back for a moment before looking at the classy girl that was a few meters apart from him. Just great! First Megan annoyed him to death that he was forced to confront her despite his reluctance and then she called out to the girl beside him right now and after a few moments, left her...with him? Truth was, he was more than glad that the girl left but he just wished she didn't left him with a stranger in the process. He facepalmed. 'Could this day get any worse?' he thought. He calmed down and looked at the river again but someone, somewhere out there must be messing with his head because he caught himself looking at the girl from the corner of his eyes every damn second. 'What is it with her that makes me want to engage in a conversation with her?' He thought before scratching the thought quickly. No! He wouldn't! He liked his silence. He liked not talking, much less engaging in a conversation. But why is he feeling this way? There's just something about the girl, something that had effect on him. Soon, he couldn't keep it in anymore and he fell to the temptation. "Uh.." He said softly but due to the silence that surrounded them, it came out much louder.

Lacie rolled her eyes again when Megan left. This girl, was more annoying than Lacie could remember. The Divine would punish her, she would probably fall face flat somewhere or lose money, anything would be fine because she needed to be punished. Lacie liked the river bank and thus she didn't move immediately even though she hadn't said anything but hello to the guy that she was left with now. She thought he wanted to say something to her and turned her doll like face to look at him, she gave a smile. Was he nervous because of her? She turned to look back at the river, "It's beautiful here isn't it?" was all she said, she had no idea what he wanted to say but she wanted to make it less awkward for him. Megan would have probably said enough. She didn't like people that kept talking and talking especially when it was about nothing.

Ooc: sorry for the short post

"Uh..." He stopped. He can't seem to think of what he wanted to say next. I mean, he can't just admit (especially to himself) that he didn't have anything to say and just wanted to get her attention, right? He bit the inside of his cheeks and continued to glance at her from his peripheral view. This was the first time that he wished he wasn't awkward with conversations. Seriously, he was frustrated! He was mentally scolding himself when she suddenly looked at him and gave him a smile. He felt like electricity was flowing through his veins. It immediately went away however when she turned to look back at the river. He felt slightly disappointed. 'Wait what!? Why am I disappointed!?'. He was brought out of his thoughts when he heard her voice. "It's beautiful here isn't it?" He didn't know why, but her voice calmed him down and gave him enough confidence to be able to reply without stuttering despite how nervous he was. "Yeah, it is. I often come here to relax. Sitting here just feeling the soft breeze and looking at the river current reflecting the sunlight. It just washes away all your worries and helps you forget all the stress built up inside, you know?" 'Alright here we go, one more push!'

He faced her fully this time, a small smile adorning his face as he offered his hand to shake. "I'm Kazuma by the way, you are?"

Before he even got an answer, someone called out to him. When he turned to the direction of the said person, he was immediately reminded that they should be traveling to Magnolia right now. He cursed silently before looking back at the girl who made him feel all sorts of emotions- most notably, nervousness. "I...gotta go. I'll see you later." he dejectedly muttered as he soon turned away and trek to his companion. Every step he took away made him feel the regret of not knowing the girl better. 'I didn't even got her name' he sighed
[exit]

She had told him it was beautiful here and he explained what he liked about it, and she nodded. It indeed was a very nice place and he was totally right, he even told his name. She couldn't help but smile again, "My name is Lacie." she said but not long after that she heard his name being called out. He had to go, and while he got up she remained seated. "Oh that's okay." It wasn't as if he had to be there because she was there. She waved him goodbye, and couldn't help but chuckle a bit when he was out of earshot. She found him interesting, the divine would make sure that they would meet again at some point. She wouldn't wait too long to get up and walk back to the inn where she stayed. She had to make plans to leave Orchidia, she wasn't entirely sure yet where she would go but she would have to go at some point, otherwise, she still wouldn't see much of the world.

Exit.