Template:Featured Articles/12-2023
There was a clang and a clatter behind Ilyanna to punctuate this statement, and the brief flash of something not quite human shaped running across the welcome courtyard. Whatever it was, it caught his attention enough to lead toward a distracted glance away from the Center's guest. "Huh. Costumes get more creative every year." Illyana recognized the brief glimpse of purple and red. She hadn't brought any of the lesser demons topside with her, but this was a good night for that particular one. "Trickster imps. Mostly a nuisance, they're obnoxious about holidays like this. They'll probably make a mess, get hopped up on consuming the chaos energy." All of this was said matter-of-factly, as if demons running around was a perfectly normal sight. "I suppose all children are sometimes imps. Little demons." The man seemed stuck on the rest of that statement, however, as if he was unsure exactly how to proceed on whether she knew that child or how casually she considered them "obnoxious." This only lasted a second, though, before he chucked that inconvenient and worrisome thought into a bin and tapped near his left eye conspiratorially. "Don't worry, you have me! I'm anti-chaos, certified — well, in one dimension. I'm Arthur." "Yes..." Illyana responded somewhat hesitantly. Probably best to let Arthur keep his idea of children instead of literal demons tonight. She'd make sure they were rounded up tomorrow if they'd decided to linger. "I am Lyana." Well, a partial truth. She'd pronounced it with a bit of a rush, the sound coming out more 'Lana' than 'Yana', but it was sufficiently close to not repeat herself. "Only one dimension? How many have you been in?" "One more than I imagined, let me tell you, Lana." He somehow managed to pronounce her name exactly as she had said it, rushed and all. Yet his genuine energy invited absolutely no doubt that this "Arthur" would dream of lying. "But I'm the worst host. What did you need to know?" Illyana shook her head. "Nothing that can't wait for my contact tomorrow," she replied honestly. A slight jostle from behind alerted her to the small line starting to form, and she gave Arthur a small, genuine smile, drawn in by the bright energy he radiated. She handed over another crumpled bill. "Another worm cake, please? It was nice to meet you." "Consider it my pleasure, Yana. I've always been more for treats vs. tricks." He handed her two gummy cakes, just for good measure, with a wink. "Happy Halloween.” |
