Re: The antique store: Ella & Will
Repose hadn't used to go in for colorful so much. There had been a steady stream of new and novelty perhaps meant that they weren't so ingrained in disliking anything that was also novel. Or so Will hoped, not least because he dragged outside into Repose like a dog bringing home carrion. She might not have been beautiful, Ella, but beautiful was mistrustful anyhow, in his experience 'beautiful' was untouchable. Ordinary was untouchable as far as Will was concerned, but they were usually less obvious about it. She had a lovely voice and the accent peeked out from behind the unusual words as well.
She was gratifingly un-dismissive of his complete incapability to scoop, wanted to or not and Will was no idiot. He knew himself to be hardly a knight at all, let alone a white one and if he'd had any armor at all it would be dented. Even if the flattery slid somewhere clear of the mark; Will didn't acknowledge it because he didn't know what it looked like.
"What does your friend do? Did they move here for a particular purpose? It must be a close friendship, if you're all set to move across the country after them." Will wasn't exactly all information, but he did sound wistful enough after friendship that bound you in that tightly. It sounded like a friendship worth having, after all.
"It's lovely to meet you, but no, nothing. You shouldn't have to repay kindness anyway, or it isn't kind at all." And she wasn't exactly heavy even if she wasn't light. The flower-shop loomed and it was a pleasant sort of occupation, Will imagined. Green and clean and people bought flowers for other people or themselves, it was hard to imagine a bad reason for buying blooms.
"I hope you're not badly hurt. We can find you some ice?"