Re: Axel: Eli & Mao
“Issat for Elliot or Elias?” Mao asked, the corner of his lips ticking upward a few more degrees at the chilly touch of the man’s hand. Curiouser and curiouser… He gave Eli a good hearty handshake like a total 80s businessman. “I’ll be right here. Right, right, here.”
He motioned for his potential protege to go on and get his skates, watching him intently from behind his sunglasses. Flashing lights reflected off the tinted glass, all bright splashes of color, like exploding galaxies in a rainbow universe. Mao slid them up as Eli returned, resting the shades on top of his head. He had taken to wearing sunglasses to hide any strangeness that might happen with his eyes without his knowing. These days they had a habit of turning tawny orange gold, his pupils all slitted and vertical like. Some people would find that very creepy, though Mao thought it very, very cool. For now, though, they were normal, as dark as the undyed parts of his black and fuschia hair.
“Are you ready? Need some help?” He reached out, hands extended so that Eli could grab hold if he so wished. There would be no hesitating allowed here. Out of the frying pan and into the fire. Mao was a tiny thing, but he was strong, far stronger than anyone his size had the right to be. He’d have no problem hauling Eli up to his feet and keeping him there.