The bell over the door rang as Alia stepped into the street side shop. She wore lose jeans for once and a white t-shirt and a gray silken vest over it unbuttoned. Black semi-high heeled boots were hidden underneath the bottom of her jeans (well the heels anyways). Blonde hair was tied back in a ponytail.

”Afternoon. Anything you are looking for in particular?” The sales lady behind the counter asked her almost instantly as she set foot in the shop. Perhaps she had not sold anything today and was getting desperate to sell something. She offered a smile to the lady politely.

”Just looking right now, but if I find something I will definitely buy it.” A little flicker of hope graced the saleswoman’s face. The store was filled will all sorts of things. It was quite eclectic, not concentrating on any particular scheme for items to sell. It looked as if anything she found cheap she would stick a label on it, for a higher price of course, and stick on the shelf.

After several minutes of skimming the shelves her emerald eyes caught sight of something that reflected against the sunlight seeping into the store windows. She reached up to get it and pulled it off the shelf. It was a necklace and a pretty one at that. It’s silver chain held a single charm. It was a two dimensional shape of a Chinese dragon wrapping around some symbol. It was only about a half inch big in width, but still was beautiful nonetheless. It looked like solid crystal, but with such a cheap price she knew it to be fake. Still, she wouldn’t mind buying it. She took it and headed over to the counter.

”I’ll buy this.” She smiled at her as she got into her purse and pulled out how much money it cost.

”Thank you very much. Would you like it in a bag?” The lady asked trying to peer through her thick framed glasses.

”No thanks. I’m going to wear it.” The lady handed it back to her and she put it around her neck and walked out of the store. Alia stopped a little further down the street when she saw a street bench. She sat down and looked at her new ‘dollar store’ necklace. Of course she had enough money to buy one that was real crystal, but why would she? This one looked just as nice and was definitely a better price.

Leaning over to her purse she pulled out a small book that was, of course, about computers. She crossed her legs, opened the book and began to read it. It was a pleasant day outside and great for reading. No need to stay indoors.

Of course there was reason for Lucifer to stay indoors at this point (i.e. Kaldun), but he wasn't. No, he was strolling the sidewalks of Elm Street, hands in the pockets of his well worn, too baggy blue jeans. The ends were frayed, the pants were spattered with blood and bleach stains, they had long since faded to a light blue, and there were an array of holes in them (including the gaping ones in the knees).

Beneath the clothing, there were scars almost everywhere, and some of them were visible. Among the scars, there were also large bruises and gashes trailing everywhere on his body. Down his legs and arms, near his collar bone, on his chest, on his shoulders... everywhere. And for every cut there were at least two more bruises.

His face, the pretty and delicate thing that it was was also cut, and his lip was split. He was covered in blood, all of it his own. But he didn't care... it was normal, why should he care?

He'd long since forgot any familiar faces, because it was useless to hope to find one nowadays. He had to always be on the lookout now, never giving his bright, neon green eyes the rest they needed.

His hair was in his face, a mixture of dark and light browns, with hints of reds in there. It had grown a lot longer and he cut it himself, so his rather long forelock covered most of his left eye.

The shirt he was wearing was all black, aside from the white name 'John Mayer' printed onto it in cursive.

He looked, in a word, pitiful, like he was dragging on in life, about to stumble and hit the sidewalk at any moment. He wanted to collapse, but he didn't.

His sickly pale skin was touched by the sunlight as he walked, but his head was down, looking at his shuffling feet.

She has been reading for quite some time and the streets were starting to become less crowded than they were before. Alia lifted her arm up so that she could check the time on her watch; 7:10 p.m. Shops were going to be closing around eight which was probably the reason why most people were leaving the streets.

Alia closed her book and uncrossed her legs. She gently slid her book into her purse so that it would wrinkle the pages. Eyes scanned her surroundings before landing on a figure across the street. The man looked torn up and beaten. Her eyes grew wide as she realized blood stains were on his jeans and scars were evident on any place not covered by clothing. Hair covered his face though from her view and could not tell it was Lucifer yet.

”You okay!?” She asked with a bit of anxiety. Of course he didn’t look okay, but she still said it. Her heart started to beat a little faster. What could have happened to the poor man?

You okay?!

Lucifer looked up at those words, turning in the direction he'd heard a voice. "Nein, niemand kann mir mehr helfen... Alles ist zu Ende..." He stood there for a moment, mumbling the words quietly. She might not have been able to hear them, given he was just talking to himself in a rather sorrowful and morose tone.

He made a feeble attempt to push hair out of his eyes so he could see better. It revealed more blood.

He didn't recognize Alia's face just yet, therefore frowned.

"Not really. But thanks for asking." He said a tad louder, and the words were in English this time, ringing out with a thick German accent.

(Translation: No, nobody can help me... Everything is over...)

Alia strained to hear what the other was saying, but could not make out anything she knew of. She stood up and slung her purse over her shoulder. As he pushed hair out his eyes more blood became apparent as well as whom it was. Eyes went wide once more as she looked over Lucifer. She couldn’t believe it. How did he end up in such a horrible state.

As soon as he said he wasn’t okay she rushed over to him. ”Lucifer? Lucifer what happened to you?!” She quickly drew some gauze from her purse (she always kept some handing in case of emergencies due to where she worked.) and gently began to pat some of the blood off his face. She had panic in her eyes. What could have happened to him in the time they last spoke with one another?

She could remember a distinct conversation with them about how he wanted her to stay away, that he had an illness. But this could not be caused by an illness. This was something else and it frightened her.

"It's... it's nothing. You shouldn't fuss so much." He had now recognized the face as Alia, and now just looked at her.

Oh gods, Alia... it's been many moons... many many moons since I last saw you. I'm sorry..

She obviously wasn't used to the sight of blood like he was. He'd become so used to it he practically bathed in it. It's a wonder he's not anemic now.

His skin was an unnatural pale and just now as he stood there doing nothing, he felt suddenly very heavy. His knees gave, and he just... fell.

"Augh, damn it. Here, here.. I'm sorry."

”Like hell it’s nothing.” And obviously at this moment her proper self was lacking. It was a rarity for her to cuss, even if as little as hell. He looked so frail and yet he tried to make it seem like nothing. Cuts all over his body as well as bruises.

Then his legs gave way and she reacted by grabbing him near the shoulders underneath his arms to make sure he didn’t hurt himself anymore than he already was. She slowly let him slink to the ground, which wasn’t that hard. He didn’t weigh much at all and it worried her.

”There’s no reason to be sorry.” She tried to figure out what to do. Alia wasn’t about to let him stay here alone.

”Why don’t you come back to my house? At least you can get cleaned up some.” She was trying no to freak out on him. However her heart still pounded and adrenaline was pulsating in her veins higher than normal. She sat down on the curb next to him.

"I..." he paused and frowned. He wanted to accept, but he was so afraid... so afraid he'd hurt her. No, not himself... Kaldun. He was so afraid Kaldun would hurt her if he decided to come out and play. He didn't want her to be hurt.

"I..." he was going to say he was all right. But that would be a lie, wouldn't it? And he didn't like how she'd dealt with his lie last time. And she didn't seem to care what he said, for his wounds were enough evidence.

"I... it's okay. You don't have to. I.. I can get up."

Her eyebrows went up into a worried look and her eyes held a sense of sadness in them as she listened to him stutter. It sounded like something was still wrong. The reason why she had stayed away from him so long.

”It’s not okay. Please. Come back to my apartment until you are feeling better.” She still persisted and her hand gently reached for his. She gripped it in a caring way, not wanting to see him get hurt any further than he already was.

He felt her hand there, gripping his in a caring way. He let out a shaky breath and closed his eyes, frowning. "I... I.." He seemed to not be able to find the words he wanted to say. He couldn't figure out what i t was he was supposed to be saying, or wanted to say in the first place.

"I just... don't want you to get hurt.."

She watched as he closed his eyes. For some reason he couldn’t talk, other than to keep saying he didn’t want her to get hurt or that she basically shouldn’t help him.

”I think your more hurt right now. I’ll talk my chances.” She offered a smile and let go of his hand. She stood up and headed over to a street side trash can and disposed of the bloody guaze. Then she returned to Lucifer, standing beside him. She reached out one hand for him to grab a hold of if he wanted to get up.

”Come on. We can head back to my apartment, get you cleaned up and perhaps get you something to eat. I won’t take no for an answer.” She hoped he would quit trying to push her away. What ever this illness was that could hurt others, it wasn’t right for him to have to push others away. Being alone can be, well, lonely. She knew from experience from living alone.

He bit his lip, trying not to repeat himself again. He just... couldn't live with himself if Kaldun hurt another person who wanted to be friends with him. Kaldun had even hurt Bomani, Lucifer's roommate, so badly that he had to be sent to the hospital for a few days. And it was all his fault.... all his fault that he hurt him. Or was it... all Kaldun's fault? Still, it was he who did it, no matter if Kaldun had possessed him or not. Lucifer had almost killed him with his own two hands. How could he take the chance of hurting yet another person?

He looked up to her when she said she wouldn't take no for an answer. She said she'd take her chances, but Lucifer wasn't quite so sure he wanted to take his chances.

He took the offered hand and attempted to stand. "I'm sorry," he apologized again. He did that a lot recently.

She put her weight into pulling him up as he took her hand; which wasn’t that much as he hardly weighed anything in her opinion. It felt like he hadn’t had a descent meal in several days.

”You can stop apologizing now and just come with me.” She smiled to him and started to walk back to her house without letting his hand go. That way he had no choice but to come with her.

She was correct in her guess that he hadn't eaten a decent meal in days. He'd not even eaten a meal, nevermind a decent one, for a while. He'd starved himself for more than a normal human being should starve themself, and he'd escaped death far too many times to count. His scars were evidence of that.

"All right," he said quietly, walking with her despite wanting to turn around the other way and leave. He tried not to lean on her.

((I'm going to make a new post at her apartment.))