My Feet Are Still On The Ground

Autumn didn't heave a care in the world today. She'd said hi to Julie-Pierre and made sure Gregory was sent in the right direction. She had already gotten her supplies over the summer. So there was nothing left to do.

So she walked around the wizarding area of Paris, not doing anything of importance. She'd looked around in shops and had people-watched. And she found herself bored.

So she had wandered into Whisper Alley. She had been curious last year, and had taken a couple steps inside, but she didn't explore. She decided that she was mature enough to take a few more steps inside, so she planned on doing so.

She had walked into the darkened area and had decided to keep going.

She had walked for awhile and had passed clusters of odd looking buildings and smaller streets that connected to the main street that she had been following. She didn't feel ill-at-ease in the slightest.

Until a hand gripped her shoulder and spun her around. She looked up at Osmund, "Hi?" she said as a question.

Whisper Alley was a shithole infamous to Osmund since he spent the past few years living in an apartment in it and oftentimes crashing in the streets when he was too wasted or high to find his way back. Osmund was glad that those days were dwindling to an end, as he took up residence with Linette Puchard. However, he couldn't seem to shake the shady streets, as he couldn't seem to shake the drugs. He wasn't as bad as he used to be, but still needed his fix every now and then. He always found himself down the dark alley in his free time. He didn't even know why at this point. It was like he belonged there, which was a pitiful thought all things considered. He used to be so promising.

The blonde haired man walked aimlessly. He just didn't want to be home at that moment. Not with Linette and the crying baby. He had put a silencing charm on his room, which helped him sleep, but once the sun was up, he was forced to move about the restless house of a howling child. He found it better to make himself spare since Linette was determined to raise her daughter without the help of any man and Oz wasn't particularly fond about stepping in as a sudo-father either.

He didn't expect anything to become of his walk besides maybe getting harassed by a few passerbyers, but that was all normal to him now, until he spotted familiar auburn hair. It had been a year since he had last seen the young witch, but he remembered her well. He never really encountered children anymore, always being part of a more mature scene. Her presence there bothered him. She was a bit naïve and most definitely too young to be this far down Whisper Alley. Osmund knew he had to say something to her. He raced after her and placed a hand on her shoulder as he caught up with the young witch.

"What the hell-?" He was out of breath. He really did smoke too much. "Do you think you're doing down here?" He had half the mind to grab the girl's hand and walk her out of the alleyway right then and there.

Autumn wasn't really thinking about anything. But if she were thinking, she supposed that maybe she didn't think she wouldn't see anyone of interest down here. Or maybe she would've thought something rebellious.

His question was harsh enough for her to want to give him a smart-alec answer, but she bit her tongue. She thought of saying what are you doing here, but that would be disrespectful. Autumn knew better than to be rude to an adult. Adults could do whatever they want. That was probably what the word meant anyway.

"I don't know. Walking around, I guess," she answered, She didn't say it to be smart, but stating the obvious always sounded that way. She felt kind of embarrassed. Though she didn't know why. She wasn't doing anything to feel guilty or ashamed about. Or at least she didn't think she was.

"You look tired," she commented, not quite sure what to say.

Osmund stared at the girl in disbelief. "This alleyway can be dangerous enough for a grown man like me to be walking alone, let alone a child like you!" He scolded. "Clearly you weren't thinking at all!" He yelled. He didn't know why, but it really upset him that Autumn didn't seem to have a grasp of how much danger she could find herself in if she continued behavior like that. She was just some strange girl he had met, yet he cared about her welfare greatly enough that it made him upset.

He sighed heavily and then took her hand. "C'mon. I'm going to escort you to wherever you need to be right now. I want to make sure you get out of this alleyway safe," He told her, pausing in his tracks as she commented that he looked tired. "Yeah, being an adult does that to you. It's all hardship, no joy. Don't grow up," He told her, still sounding pissy, though he ended up chuckling at his own words, breaking his tough guy act. At least she would be safe now.

"Then wh-" she stopped herself. It was none of her business. She didn't need to be a brat. Osmund was just concerned or something.

"I am thinking," she defended, "Just about other things." Did he really think that she wasn't thinking?

But she wasn't thinking. But she wasn't going to admit that. She had a lot on her mind. She deserved to have a chance to think about nothing.

"That's the problem," Autumn replied after Osmund took her hand. "I don't have to be anywhere. And I'm not happy about it."

She ignored the "don't grow up" comment. She wanted to be taller, so she had to become an adult for that.

She wanted to laugh when she heard him laugh. It was such an odd thing to hear. It didn't match his behavior at all. She smiled, but suppressed her giggle. He'd probably be mad at her because, maybe, she wasn't supposed to hear it.

"Why are you tired? Are you the 'not sleeping' type of tired or the 'I don't want to do anything or talk to people' kind of tired?" she asked, bringing the subject up again. She felt like she was a bit of both at the moment. Even though she was okay with talking to Osmund. Everyone else seemed to be annoying her.