Lonesome Dogs [Lola/Zari]

[Zari A'Soul]

"Ugh." The single breath of irritation escaped Zari's lips as he was now sitting in the train leaving Harujion. He had spent the last three days there and yet it was a lack luster experience. As he leaned into the walking isle, he thought about the experience that led to his current mood.

Things never seemed as easy as Zari would hope for. All though he made it into the city in time to restock on his already limited supplies, he was missing a few. A few vials, two or so rolls of bandages and a new bag. A rather irritated and just plain grumpy frown was stamped across his lips as the sun of day was declining from it's apex. The clouds were off in the sea as people rushed past each other. Bumping into Zari without the simplest apology as he made his way a few steps away from the train station. Twas to be his first time on the locomotive. Standing on the platform, he looked back and forth at the long metal vehicle. Yet before he stepped on he paused. The healer could have sworn he felt someone grabbing at his robes. Or his bag. Was someone stealing his stuff? Time for mister badguy. "Oi! Get out of here you trashy piece of trash!" Ugh, nice one. Moron. Zari turned to look at the presence that had been following behind him. Ashamed to find a filthy child with a bowl in her hand. Torn garbs for clothes and black nails from dirt. She began crying and running way. To which Zari lowered his head and began to shed a single tear in pain.

How could he say that to a little, apparently homeless girl!?  The man had to be mad on the inside. Maybe a devil was taking over his soul. Yeah that was the only logical explanation. Nothing more. Him being an actual asshat? Not possible. "I'm an evil bastard." he muttered under his breath. And as an evil bastard, he carried all his bags with him, piling them on the seat beside him. Not letting anyone sit beside him. Probably might irritate someone.

[Lola]

What a terrible city! Lola had been here for barely a day and already she couldn’t wait to get out, and that was saying something since she traveled a long way by boat to get here. Not that the trip wasn’t entertaining, there were kids on board that she befriended and had a good time with. It was the lack of nature for a long period of time that bugged her about boats, just water and sky for days on end. The morning the boat arrived she had a falling out with the parents. She actually wanted all the kids to stick together when the family’s wanted to go their separate ways, just because she didn’t want to part with any of them. She had made such a scene that the guards had to take her away and detained her until noon.

She was released under the guarantee that she would stay away from those families, which greatly upset her, feeling like a great injustice had been done to her. Bitter, sad, and misunderstood she wondered the city for the remains of the day, looking for comfort and friendship. Instead, she received rejection. Everyone in this town was either mean or busy, making her doubt that any of them even know the meaning of friendship. Never before had a city made her feel so unwelcome, and as much as she enjoyed having solid ground under her feet again she didn’t want to stay a moment longer. Thankfully there was a train station in this hellhole of a town so she didn’t have to take the boat again.

This shitty day was coming to an end, and on that thought she boarded the train, her hopes high for whichever town it was headed to and positive that any place would have nicer people than Harujion. Though just as she set foot in the train she heard a man behind her scold someone. Curious to what was going on she looked, only to see a little homeless girl run off in tears. What a jerk! This behavior only confirmed her thoughts about the town. The entering area of the train was square, it had collapsible chairs mounted against the wall and a door that led to a toilet. This was where people could sit if they had a bicycle or other large transportation items. She turned left into the seating area, which was a long narrow hall with seats on the left and right, all facing the same direction until the center, which was the only location in the train where seats were facing each other. Being the most spacious seats they were of course the first to be taken, thus she ended up sitting down by herself with an empty spot beside her.

All humans appeared to be this way. There were two seats next to each other, but every human aimed for two empty seats so that they could sit in solitude. She could never understand this antisocial behavior, not until now. Her mood was so foul that she didn’t even want to attempt sitting beside another, not in the mood for any more rejection or hostility. And yet the longer her loneliness resumed the more it ate away at her, gnarling her teeth as she sat with her arms crossed.
As luck would have it that hostile man from before took a seat behind her, she could hear it by his footsteps and the sound of his apparel and luggage as he sat down.

It didn’t take long for her to lose her ability of sitting quietly by herself, so desperate for affection that even an argument seemed better than this silence. She got up from her seat and turned around, glaring down at Zari with a frown, her hands placed firmly on her hips. “You know! That wasn’t very nice of you! Calling that girl a piece of trash!”

[Zari A'Soul]

Perhaps the train ride would allow Zari the chance to think back on his rather villainous and horrible reaction. The longer he did think about it, the longer he would realize that the healer might not totally be at fault for it. To be honest he did not know it was a little girl just begging for some change. Though he theorized she was steadily picking through his pockets while following him. Only to be rightfully scolded at, once the man caught her. Yeah, that was it...Nope. He still couldn't find a reason for such an action.  With a sigh of sadness, the healer leaned the other way to grab hold of his bag. Wishing to look through it for some sweets he hid away for such traumatic times such at this one. And in the end he would have popped a few chocolate balls into his mouth and forgiven himself.

However before Zari was even able to reach into the bag the bark of a woman called forth his full attention. Or was this the bark of a dog? A dog-woman!? Zari's green eye looked over the individual whom started to yell at him. For the most part she was a normal and fairly fit woman. Though the part, or parts, that took his immediate attention were the additions of a dog tail and ears. Just who was this woman and why was she yelling at him? "The girl?" He repeated after her in a mutter. He did't think anyone would have seen him do that. Yet this woman evidently did. And as he expected, he came off as an asshole. The same as everyone in this city. 

For a second, Zari hiccuped as though he was going to let a whimper or shed another tear. Though he gave Lola glare at the same moment and tried to pull off a smirk. "So you saw that huh?" the one-eyed-appearing man asked before crossing his arms and raising his chin. "Well it ain't any of your business, little pup." A false chuckle escaped his throat as he turned to face the window. The grip on his arm became a little tighter. Why are you bringing that up? The thought passed through his mind. Please just ignore it. I already know that. Turning to face Lola once more, the lad pointed at her. "You want a piece too? Huh? Is that it?" 

The murmurings of other passengers finally began. A few viewing the two as just a pair of noisy hooligans. And others Zari heard painted him as some sort of villain. First hearing about how he yelled at a girl. And was now picking a fight with Lola. It all crushed his already bruised heart. In his younger years, he would have started to tear up when the Celestial Spirit called him out.

[Lola]

L-little pup!? How dare he! I’m just as human as- Almost as human as he is! She felt her rage grow, gnarling her teeth with her mouth closed, trying to contain herself from yelling at him for the attitude he was having. It didn’t help that he continued to provoke her, asking her if she desired the same treatment he gave the little girl. “Of course not you big jerk!”

She couldn’t understand how anyone could be so nasty, he was clearly not bothered by how he treated the girl, and now he was even picking a fight with her! “Why don’t you just stay in this stupid town, where you belong! With all the other gloomy bastards! No need to spread your nastiness across the globe!”

Ironically enough the train whistle sounded after she suggested it, causing the train to announce its destination and departure, the doors now closed and won’t be opened again until the next stop. She looked at the train ceiling where the announcements came from, and then back at Zari. What a jerk. I’m sure he doesn’t even know the meaning of the word friend. I bet he’s been alone all his life with an attitude like that!

Her resentful thoughts calmed her down a little, relating to what it’s like to have no friends, even though she was nice enough to deserve them and he wasn’t in her opinion. She crossed her arms and pouted, looking to the side to avoid eye contact. After all, she did just yell some awful things to him herself. “Well, looks like it’s too late for that now. What’s your deal anyway, why do you have to be so mean?”

[Zari A'Soul]

Oh how funny this must be to watch from afar set seat. Zari just stared at her the moment she recommended that he stay on within the city. This city which he hated due to it's size of nasty attitudes and behaviors. He rushed to think of a comeback that would fit the situation but found himself wanting. About to turn red with embarrassment, the train whistle blew and door closed. A wild smirk and genuine chuckle escaped his lips before he covered his mouth. "Wow. Not that is just awesome timing." He muttered as his body twitched to his effort of holding in his laugh. With Lola just standing there a little dumbfounded, Zari crossed his own arms. Looks like I might just manage to get this argument over with. And then, my candy!

Before he was able to continue his gloating, Lola asked Zari what is problem is. Why is he being such a jerk. For a moment his face and breath were held in place. Three seconds of complete stillness and silence before he frown and turned to the window again. He huff at her question with flared nostrils. It was a good question. Why? Even throughout his few years in Fiore there had never been a real reason to continue acting like such a bad person. Though for some reason, he felt like he was on a slippery slope which he might not get off of. He watched as the train started to jerk forward harshly. The sound of the engines whistling and metallic tracks grinding against the treads of the train. 

"Because." He said plainly in a sad voice. He turned back to face Lola with a sorrowful frown. "I thought she was a thief trying to steal the little money I have left." His expressions began to turn as the front he displayed slowly melted from one of a tough, soul-less man. Into that of a man filled with regret. "I didn't see she was just a little girl because of all my bags. They blocked my view. When she ran away..." Zari felt a pinch in his chest. "I felt so bad. And just wanted you to stop mentioning it." An actual tear emerged from his left eye. 

[Lola]

When the man explained that it was all a big misunderstanding Lola felt regretful for the way she had acted. She had been so upset about this lousy day that she assumed the worst in the people around her. And now she had managed to upset the only kind person she had met since she was separated from the children. Her small ears folded downward a little and she averted her eyes, looking to the side with a pout. The volume of her voice dropped severely, knowing she had made a mistake to mention the little girl. “Why didn’t you just say so from the beginning..”

It wasn’t really a question, more like a statement. Her gaze returned to him, now clearly feeling sorry for him as she noticed he had shed a tear. She got onto her seat with her knees and leaned her hands against the leaning, only her head and hands visible at the top of the seat. “Please don’t feel bad, everyone can make silly mistakes like that. I’m the one who should be feeling bad.. I had a bad day and I took it out on you, I shouldn’t have done that.”

She tilted her head down, looking guilty and full of regret for a while. Finally she peeked at him to read his expression, hoping to receive a glimpse of forgiveness. Whatever she read was good enough for her to qualify as such, her complexion instantly cheering up, yet a trace of insecurity still visible. “Can we forget about what happened and start over?”

That said she stretched out her arm over the leaning of the chair, a cheerful smile now brightening up the room. “I’m Lola, nice to meet you!”

[Zari A'Soul]

Well at least this woman was acknowledging her mistake of attacking him. Though it was hard for him to feel anywhere near able to explain his situation. How is he suppose to just say, oh I thought she was a thief, when you are assaulting him and blaming him? Zari felt like he was being attacked by the Inquisition. However he looked back at Lola when she began to apologize for her actions. The man unfolded his arms and took in a deep breath before sinking into his chair. "It seems everyone was having a bad day." Zari muttered under his breath. For a moment there was nothing once more. Silence and motionless sitting. He thought it would remain that way for the whole train ride. 

But then Lola turned back around to face the stranger that was Zari. Seemingly wishing to no longer be strangers. Nor allow that past misunderstanding cripple the chances of a new bond. As someone whom thought in a similar manner years ago Zari would acknowledge her efforts with a growing grin. His eyes would grow soft and his face relaxed. Leaning forward, Zari took Lola's hand into his own. Clasping both around it. "It is a pleasure Lola. I'm Zari A'Soul. And I wish for nothing but good vibes from now on." Zari would then take back his hand before throwing it into his bag. After a brief few seconds he pulled it back out, now holding two small wrapped candies. "Would you like one?" he asked. "I got them at the last second before heading to the station. So I don't really know the flavor." 

Keeping one candy on his left hand Zari placed an end of the twisted wrapper of the second candy in his mouth before pulling on it with his right hand. As it did so, the wrapper was undone and fell into Zari's hand. The lad with silver hair popped the chocolate ball into his mouth before he grew a face of disgust. "Ew. Seaweed flavor?" As his teeth crunched down on the hard and almost stale candy, he wished to lower the window and throw it out. "So foul." He muttered and turned to Lola. "Speaking of which, what brought you to the city in the first place?"

[Lola]

Getting offered a candy was the last thing she had expected out of today. She happily accepted the candy, using both her hands to unwrap it before thanking him and sticking it into her mouth. Lola had lemon, making her squeeze her eyes from the surprisingly sour flavor, but actually liked it as she got more used to it. She couldn’t help but be a little amused at his response to the foul flavor of his candy, but she kept any comments to herself. When Zari asked her about her business here her tail started wagging, happy that someone had finally taken an interest in her after all those rejections today. Not that the wagging was visible to him from the way she was sitting though.

She popped the hard candy to her left cheek in order to speak, visibly happy. “Nothing much! I travel a lot, but this is definitely a place I will be avoiding from now on. And you? Wait, don’t answer that!”

She got up from her seat and started sucking candy again, then walked over to his seat and grabbed his items without even asking permission for it. She took a seat next to him, placing his items on her lap before resuming the conversation. Her mouth was still full as she talked, impeding her speech “There, now we can talk! What brought you here?”

She had to look up even while sitting down, the man incredibly tall compared to her. She was in a happy place: she had candy, a nice person to talk to, and the possibility of making a new friend.

[Zari A'Soul]

It seemed that Lola had gotten the better of the two candies. In a way that made Zari sad since he had to now deal with the nasty flavor that would haunt his tongue for hours and perhaps the coming days. Though as the pain and disgust diminished similar to the pain on his face, the healer was able to smile and be in good spirits. Knowing that the being he was now attempting to befriend had the better candy. And she was also a traveler like himself. Though this information did come with a level of surprise. With the lack of gear or bags on her person. Though then again not every traveled with all their belongings. Or even had a need for much. Though Lola would find that he had a decent amount of items within his few bags. When she rushed into his seating row, Zari thought of helping her take a seat. Most people would protest but he didn't. Lola seemed to be far to energetic and vocal for him to stop her.

But there would not have been any point to it anyways. However he was a little worried about his items. Taking one of the more important bags himself, Zari rested it on his lap. Now that they were fully settled, he turned to Lola with a smile. "Well you see Miss Lola I am also a traveler. Though instead of a lot, I am always on the road. I was in this dump of negativity to restock on my supplies. " He opened the bag now in his lap and displayed the contents. A number of vials and bandages. "I have been trained in medicine. So I go around as a male nurse, a freelance medic, or other such things for money. Or when I see someone in need I just do my thing." He then closed the bag and locked the hinges with a twist. In all retrospect he did not seem the type to ever look like a healer or doctor. What with his eye-patch and the front he placed up before. 

"I sometimes get surprised at the lack of medical professionals within Fiore. Been here for only five years and I knew three times as many doctors in my village than I have met throughout the Kingdom." Zari said with a disappointing sigh. It was a sad truth which he thought of rarely. Perhaps one day he should train others.

It was a this point that Zari's train of thought crashed into another rail. This is the longest he has had a conversation with anyone. Like, in years. Normally he did his job and went on. What was he supposed to ask or talk to Lola about?! "Ugh." he stammered. "So you travel you say. Where you from? Never seen an dog-woman before." The man attempted to poke Lola's right dog ear with his left index finger. 

[Lola]

Miss Lola. She thought, amused at the word play. When she saw the contents of the bag she was happily surprised. He was a really tall guy so she expected him to be tough, though him being a medic meant he was actually very smart and controlled. She looked up to him with admiration now. “That’s amazing. You can help so many people, it’s almost like being a superhero”

He continued to talk about the limited amount of doctors available to the kingdom, something she had never even thought about. Spirits generally didn’t get sick the way humans did, so she had known only good health for as long as she lived. “Really? I never knew.. That’s pretty bad. Thank goodness for you then”

Still captivated with her potential new friend her eyes didn’t wander a second, her mind fuzzy yet excited. It was almost like being in a trance, so focused on the other that she forgot to think about questions to ask him to keep the conversation going. But she was roughly pushed out of her comfort zone when asked about her ethnicity, her mood switching abruptly from being on cloud nine, to shock, to sorrow. She averted her gaze, looking at the bag on her lap with an angry frown, making her hands into fists. “Nowhere. It’s not important..”

The spirit world, she hated it. She hated spirits, she hated contracts, and most of all she hated celestial wizards. She didn’t want to belong there, or abide by its rules, if anything she wanted to be human and live in the human world. So badly that it almost cost her her life. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

She averted her gaze, then calmed herself down, her hands relaxing. She forced a smile back on her face and looked at Zari again. “What do you like to do for fun? Maybe I know it, and if I don’t that’s even better, you can teach me, I love learning new games!”

[Zari A'Soul]

Zari was surprised by Lola's gawking stare. He had never thought that his knowledge of medicine would gather such a long blank gaze from someone. She had gone as far as to call Zari a superhero! Though one could say that the thought was childish, the man took it with the most amount of pride possible. He filled him with a sort of glee that came around only rarely and scarcely. A smile crept along his lips. His face brightened.

However when she turned away from him and displayed a feeling of unease towards his question Zari looked upon her quizzically. Though it appeared that Lola was uncomfortable with the subject, it was her words that finalized Zari's opinion on the subject.  Perhaps he will stay away from it. He wouldn't want people to start asking him where he was from. And whom his people were. Considering they were all wiped out. Even his wife. The thought burned his very soul for a moment before taking in a deep sigh. "Sorry for asking." he muttered under his breath with an air of regret filling it. He looked back up to Lola with her false smile. Could he already have burned a new bridge of friendship?

"Fun?" He asked and tapped his temple. "I don't really know. I travel by myself so I just read alot or work on maintaining the condition of my equipment. Though I guess I know a few ways to play poker. And ugh." The busybody attempted to think of anything else. "I think that is it really. I can be pretty boring at times. Though I guess you are probably very versed in ways to pass the time."Zari smiled, hoping to get away from his last paining question.

[Lola]

Poker sounded exciting, though she didn’t know what it was, the gambling scene entirely new to her. And although he didn’t mention anything that would qualify to her as a group activity, she didn’t want to believe he was as boring a person he thought he was. He was right to think she was versed in the ways of fun, group activities being her favorite. Though what she herself enjoyed wasn’t nearly as important as what her friends enjoyed, their favorite thing to do becoming her own. If polishing equipment brought Zari joy, then Lola would be happy to do it. She got excited about the assumption he made. “That’s true! I know a lot of fun games, I can teach you if you like. But I’m sure you must know the most basic ones!”

She lifted the bag off her lap and piled it onto his lap, then got on her knees on the seat and leaned over him to look through the window. “Like, I spy with my little eye! You must know that one.”

Looking through the window made her ears perk up and tail wag with excitement, this was a thing she enjoyed when traveling, to look out of the window. Of course she preferred to focus her attention on potential friends, but those weren’t always around. She then moved back in upright position again, sitting on her knees on the seat with her hands resting on her lap. “But if you think I spy is childish, how about truth or dare? We don’t have to play a game, if you prefer to talk we can talk.”

She wanted to comply with whatever Zari desired on this train ride, but she had no idea what he preferred to do. “Either way I want to learn more about you.”

[Zari A'Soul]

The basic ones. Indeed Zari knew a few of the most childish games. Such as Patty Cake and I Spy. However seeing Lola grow in excitement was a treat for the man. Seeing the spirit in high spirits brought a new brightness upon the clerics face. His lips curled as he saw her look out the window. She brought an aspect into his life that he felt was missing. Simple companionship? A younger sister figure? Who could say for sure save the gods. He held onto his bags and tilted his head slightly. The motion of her wagging tail bright a chuckle up through his throat. Not out of mockery, but of entertainment. Perhaps he could find a role for her other than train-ride company. 
 
Lola went on to further cement her wishes. Claiming that just getting to know Zari would do her well. "Fair enough." The man said before taking in a deep breath. "I can accommodate for such a request. But I gotta ask you why you want to know about me?" It was a harmless request. Not everyday the man had an adorable girl acting so friendly. One could be suspicious about it. But who would want to trick Zari? No one. No one would was his enemy and he left before he could make lasting friends. He looked back to Lola and waved his hand. "Forget about that. I am happy either way."

With a light tug at his eyepatch, the cover came off. Revealing his crimson eye. Perhaps it was not rare of a sight. But it held a sinister feeling to it. "Well first off I am not really blind in this eye. But it does look really mean and scary. So I keep it covered. He quickly placed the patch back on his eye. "We can play truth or dare. That could be a fun game. Though please be easy on me. I am not very good at it." Zari clasped his hands like a man pleading with a smile.

[Lola]

The sudden revealing of the eye beneath the eyepatch took Lola by surprise. She expected either a closed eye with a scar or an empty socket, but a red eye? She had never met anyone with red eyes before, so it definitely caught her attention. She didn’t know what to think of it, so when Zari gave his own opinion on it she decided to agree. Copying what her friends liked and believed was part of her dedication to them, and right now she wanted Zari to be her friend. She nodded with a serious look on her face when he placed his eyepatch back in position.

Now it was time for truth or dare! Lola chuckled at the man’s plea to go easy on him and moved back into a normal sitting position. Her tail now still as it was pressed against the leaning. She looked at him with anticipation, eager to know what he was going to choose. “Okay! I promise. Truth or dare?”

This was exciting, if he chose dare that would bring for a lot of interesting options since they were in a public area. Though she didn’t want to scare him off so she wouldn’t ask anything over the top like asking a stranger for a kiss. And truth was interesting no matter if they were alone or in a public place.

[Zari A'Soul]

Though Lola held a surprised face, Zari was not surprised at all by her. It was an expected reaction. Though it still kinda bothered him to a moderate degree. She was so serious one moment and then full of fun and laughter the next. Truly she was a mysterious entity. But that is probably what drew Zari to Lola. She was like, well, a dog in many ways. Willing and waiting for his next input and ready to entertain both him and herself.

Rubbing his chin in thought, Zari held onto a nervious smile. It was big with excitement, yet also worry that Lola might make him do something outrageous. "I pick...Dare." He said it with confidence and conviction. He crossed his arms and closed his eye as he waited for her dare. "I might have said to go easy on me. But I am not a weak bellied person. Bring it on my dear Lola."

Perhaps he should start planning what he would do with her. What kind of thing is suitable for a dare? And what question is appropriate for a truth? He already knew to stay away from her origins. That would be rude. Maybe he  would have to wait in order to think about it. In the worst case he would have to possibly find a way to get revenge due to the dare.