Reflections (Albrecht/Red)

"When are we doing something exciting again...?"

"Why are you asking me, I don't control what we're asked to do you know."

"Yes but I'm getting impatient..."

Red would sigh and pull her headphones up from around her neck to place on her ears. It had been quite a while now since she had joined the cadets, not that she felt like she had done much for them yet aside from some basic training. Perhaps it was due to the nature of her power, she could see that being reasonable. It was clear to her that her power was quite a bit different from most at the cadets, the only person she'd seen that was like her was that Arctic girl, though even then she hadn't seen her much. She didn't blame them though, there was definitely something vicious about her other self, something she'd have to learn how to control better.

For now though, the red hooded girl simply took a walk down the streets on Sunlake Palms. It had felt like far too long since she had just gone out and spent some time to herself. She had her music to work on, her little sister to look after and now her cadet work to worry about. So whilst she had the chance, she'd take the opportunity to get some peace and reflect on what had happened the past couple weeks. It was still all so hard to believe, but she was at least beginning to come to terms with it all... She hoped at least.

The knight walked around, dragging around a beat up and dusty Chopper bike and a cart filled with assorted items. Albrecht figured he needed a hobby, and a vehicle to move around Endymion faster. He figured that after his fight with the Gambler. He didn't get there fast enough and after he fight his mind was consumed by his hatred for the clown. So, with his cadet salary he had brought an old motorbike, paint and any missing or broken parts it might had. For once while in solitude his thoughts were not of violence or slaughter, but how he'd go about fixing it and what kind of paint job he'd give it afterwards.

Eventually while on his walk he picked upon a familiar face walking in the opposite direction as he was. A cadet, one that he had met when he first got to Endymion and then never saw again. "... Hey. I believe we met each other before." He spoke to the girl not too far away from him.

Regardless of how she felt, the music helped. Not only did it make her feel more relaxed, it drowned out the nagging parts of the voice in her head. The parts that told her what she was doing was wrong, that she'd made a mistake and the part that was hungry for more. Though there was no point worrying over it too much, what happened has happened now, she couldn't just go and take it back. At least she had a way to keep her sister safe now.

As the hooded girl kept walking, she'd briefly look up as she thought she heard something and catch sight of a guy walking along a motor bike. Not initially realizing they were talking to her, or who it was, she looked back away, took a couple more steps forward then paused. Wait, was that...? Turning back around to look at the guy properly, Red would quickly pull her hood down to then be able to carefully take her headphones off her ears. "Oh, hey it's you! Sorry, didn't recognize you at first, did you say something? I can barely hear anything when I have these things on." She'd say in an apologetic tone as she flicked her headphones. "How you been since we last met though?" Last time she remembered seeing him was being surprised when he was the one she was helping join the cadets after meeting him at the train station not too long beforehand. Man, she hadn't talked to anyone who knew about her power whilst outside yet. It almost felt kinda awkward, like did he judge her for it or not?

The girl seemed lost in thought, or perhaps in the songs she seems to listen often in her headphones. She was there too when he first awakened, she and Arctic could turn into beasts to do battle. The knight had reservations about such powers, too similar to the demons he seeks to exterminate. But they could be something else, in a way Albrecht himself had a form of minor shapeshifting. Maybe they just had a really advanced ability in it. He did not know, perhaps the Prince held the answers. Though even as the Lion pondered, he kept a straight face without emoting much.

"Not really. I just said hey." The knight shrugged. "I'm still getting used to life in Endymion, American culture is very different from back home. Fighting a lot of demons as well." He replied, there was a hint of grin on his face when he spoke of killing the hell spawn. "Its Red, correct? I don't think i ever thanked you for aiding on my first day as a Cadet. So, thank you." A brief pause, with a stern stare analyzing her.
"Uhm.. How have you been?"

"Heh, yeah I can imagine. Must be weird to be constantly surrounded by things you aren't used to. Can't say I'm not feeling that kinda thing towards joining the Cadets if I'm honest." The girl smiled weakly, her life had changed a lot since joining the Cadets and she could only see it changing more as time went on. Though she'd have to try to make the best of it for now. "Actually... I don't think I ever asked, where is it that you're from originally? If you don't mind me asking, of course." She'd question, both out of curiosity and to try and change the subject a bit. Though it would seem the topic wasn't as easily lost as she'd hoped. "Yep, that's me." Red would reply simply to Albrecht making sure he had her name right before continuing. "Heh, don't mention it. I kinda needed the practice, still don't really feel like I've improved all that much since then. Wish I could be a bigger help."

"Yes, strive to be better... Rise to the top of the pack... There, together, we can feast on demon blood whenever we want..."

The hooded girl would bring one hand up to her forehead and rub her head slightly as if she had a headache as the voice spoke to her. Lowering her hand again and shaking her head softly when she was asked how she was. "A little lost myself. Unsure of what's best to focus on in life and the sorts. Though I highly doubt you want to hear my life story. I'm healthy and have my family still to look out for me, so it could be worse I suppose." Red began, sounding quite defeated at first before seemingly trying to pick herself back up midway through her sentences. "Just taking things one day at a time. Things'll get better, I'm sure."

"I'm from Germany, transferred to Seven Stars. Catholic Church wanted to help boost the strength of the cadet force." Albrecht replied, Red was a cadet as well and right now there weren't any civilians around to peep in. Hm... If you ever need training i'm willing to go demon hunting with you. Or spar if you need some experience with melee combat." He added, Albrecht still needed to grow stronger himself, so demon hunting with another cadet would be mutually beneficial.

She seemed like she had things bothering her, but Albrecht was not fit to aid her with that. In fact, he had his own inner thoughts plaguing him. "I'm in a similar position to be honest. Its why i decided to do something with my free time." His gaze would direct to the old chopper motorbike.

"Germany, huh?" Red would let a small crack of a laugh come through her troubled mood. "Funny, I actually wanted to go there when I was younger. Or, well, I wanted to travel a lot when I was little. Germany just stood out as apparently I have old family ties there myself." Not that it was anything recent, probably great great grandparents. Though the history was still interesting and simply exploring a new culture seemed like a pleasant thing to do. It was a shame it was a lot more difficult to do that kinda thing these days...

"Oh?" Honestly apart of the reason she hadn't been practicing more was because she was scared of what might happen if things go wrong, having someone else around to keep a check on her sounded like it'd help a lot more than trying to figure everything out on her own. "You know what? That sounds wonderful. As long as you have the time to spare, I would really appreciate the help." The hooded girl would smile more genuinely before looking toward the old motorbike Albrecht motioned towards. "Oh yeah, having something to take your mind off of things every so often really helps. I do that with my music, playing usually calms me down a lot. Though if I tucked myself away and just played all day, nothing would ever get done, need to face reality eventually. Heh."

"Germany is nice." The knight stated, it was not perfect and changed a lot thanks to the divide. But it was his homeland and there was a lot to enjoy. For one the beer there was superior, and Albrecht preferred a colder climate, also American culture was different from what he was accustomed to. People were too informal over here but he is learning how to stand it. "Family? That's... surprising."

"I'm always willing to aid a fellow cadet. I'll bring someone else along if you don't mind, her name is Athena." Albrecht stated, outsider as he may be he feels compelled to be helpful towards his colleagues. She spoke of having spent the day playing music, but that at some point she had to face reality. Although he preferred something more physical, it did resonate. And she was right that you had to face your problems. "I see. I want to try and get this motorcycle to work, then i'll paint it. It will be a pass time and useful later."