[6.22.2013]
I saw him running. So happy about it, yet from what was trailing behind him, one would think the exact opposite. I too felt a smile edge my lips. But I was weird and saw beauty in the frightening.
It had rows and rows and /rows/ of teeth. Walking on four legs, a free set scraping at the sidewalk and windows. I moved out of the way as the man passed by, dressed in a tweed coat and suspenders. I should have complimented him on the fabulous bow tie. Instead, I took action. I didn't have a whole lot of time to think things through, but I had rope. I don't usually carry rope around with me, but dad was doing a side job. I couldn't remember why he needed it but it worked nicely wrapped around a post. Looping and holding it tight against a lamp post I held on as the creature ran straight into it. The jerk of the catch nearly yanked me to the ground. I barely caught myself. Letting out a yelp, I pulled back. It snarled and faced me. Oh. Maybe I should have thought a little longer.
It lunged. stopped only by the rope which it had tangled itself in. I fell backwards, quickly scrambling to my feet. I should have run, but I was only a sprinter, I wouldn't get very far. Instead, I kind of just made a long string of evasive maneuvers. They weren't very useful but just enough to keep me alive. The claws and teeth were just as beautiful up close as they were before, just a bit more... dangerous. It took a lash at my leg, taking a large chunk of flesh.
"HOLY-" I hissed, limping back fast. I fell again, scrambling backwards. It was dead set on getting rid of me.
Well this was indeed a random end. I thought about how maybe I lived a good life as I waited for an arm ripped off or my core punctured by talon. Instead, I heard a shrill electronic noise, yelping, and a zap.
Opening one eye, I observed no more monster, but a woosh of smoke, and the tweed gentleman. He was more out of breath than I, but the smile never left his face. Goofy. That's how I could describe it. He laughed.
"Oh that was brilliant! Thank you!" He said with a British accent.
"You didn't kill it did you?" I asked. The smile grew wider as he shook his head.
"Nah, just sent it back where it belongs." He pointed upwards. "Lar'upa quadrant five's gonna keep a better hold on her now." He was very confident in his statement. "You need to keep better track of your limbs." He added.
Looking at my calf-which was indeed spilling quite a bit of blood. my eyebrows raised.
"Oh." Was all I could say. It took another moment for the pain to really settle in. I wheezed. "ow." The man pulled a long long bandage from his inside pocket. Like seriously a lot longer than I expected. Deep pockets indeed.
"You shouldn't get involved with random people's monsters." He said, wrapping my leg. I laughed a little.
"You shouldn't have walked your monster in this area. Don't you know Asheville is the weird capital in the world?"
"I've heard it once or twice." He finished up with my leg. "Probably best if you don't walk on that for a few days." He pulled out a small device and pointed it at my leg. It made that electronic noise I heard before. Glowing a wonderfully vibrant green. It extended with a pop and he observed it carefully.
"Yes. 4 days at most."
"Cool beans. That is a very fancy device you have there." I commented.
"Sonic!" He piped up. I raised eyebrows and gave an amused expression. As if addressing a child.
"Oh, how exciting~ I bet it has a beautiful singing voice." He laughed.
"Maybe so I've never tried it that way before!" He helped me up, I winced at the pain. Ah yes. It would be difficult to help dad now.
"Ah." I wheezed. "This is not going to be a fun week. You wouldn't happen to have a time machine would you? I could use a few backwards days to heal. I'm sure I could successfully avoid myself." I joked.
"Overlapping time line? Interesting way to recover." Balancing on my good foot, I brushed off my suit jacket.
"Great for vacations I hear." He looked me in the eyes, then at my outfit. Sad that I ruined a perfectly good pair of skinny jeans. Or maybe they were now more fashionable since covered in blood. My converses might not recover either.
"Actually." A light went off in his uniquely shaped head. Kind of square, rounded off. Funny. But human all the same. "I know a place where you could get healed in a few hours. One place will do it in seconds, but me and the cats don't see eye to eye anymore." He trailed off on his own thoughts.
"You're not gonna sell me weed or anything right?"
"Why would I do that?" He looked at me with a truly questioning face. Innocent and very offended at the thought. Well pardon me Mr. Bow tie. I shrugged.
"Most fancy things are illusions of grandeur here." I stated. "Or something of the sniffable/smokable sort. Didn't plan on swinging that way last I checked."
"Smart" He said, pointing his sonic thing at me. "Sobriety is important." Well now he sounds like those "Don't do drugs" kinda guys. Good I suppose. But I knew better.
"What if I did though?"
"Did what?" I asked.
"Have a time machine?"
"Well.. I'd have to get a background check, and then talk to my parents, and-" The phone rang. "Speaking of which" I answered the phone. "Hi." I chirped to my dad on the other end. He proceeded to ask where I was, in his usual way. Making it seem like a joke, but yet, still always my fault. I explained that I had a pedestrian accident, but he seemed to think it was just me being clumsy. He never said it outright, but I always had the feeling he was disappointed in my short comings, and wanted more from my success. Finishing the call, he told me to forget going to work if I didn't feel well. But I could hear the tone in his voice. Well. That was wonderful.
"Apologies." I stated, looking back at the tweed man. "I believe we're done here sir. Am i good enough to drive?" Those happier feelings I had were gone. Well. Not completely, but a great deal of frustration covered them pretty good. The tweed gentleman looked at me, scanning my expression with his eyes. I forced a smile, no need for the foreigner to get worried about little old me. I'D BE FINE.
"Yes." He said as he kept a thinking face. "Your leg should manage. And I suppose we are. Thanks again~" I nodded.
"No problem, bro. Have a wonderful life."
With a turn of the heel, I limped off. I tried not to limp, but it was difficult. I had only gone a few blocks, I could see my car in the distance. Little white thing. Just sitting there. He was patient with me and my inconsistent driving skills. Hopefully I wouldn't kill myself driving.
It was when I pulled out my keys, flipping them out of my bag, that I heard a familiar voice.
"WAIT" It called. I looked up, and around me. It was the tweed man. Though he must have taken the scenic route, with thorns and bushes, because he was all sorts of torn up. Out of breath, he pointed a finger.
"I (breath) lied (gasp). (wheeze)no driving" I blinked, looked towards my car and then back at the man.
"Well okay then." He pulled from his coat a licences plate and handed it to me. It was beaten up badly, and were those burns? I limped over to the back of my car, comparing the numbers.
They were the same. I raised my eyebrows slowly, and turned to the man.
"Thank you, Mr. Bow tie."
"Call me (gasp) the Doctor" I looked at him, and then at my car. It was calling my name. I gave my baby a pat.
"Sorry, Treble." I frowned. The Doctor man stood up straight, trying to breathe again. I waited a bit, folding my arms.
"So Mr. Doctor."
"Just Doctor is fine."
"Mr. Just Doctor. I take it this is the proof of that time machine you so conveniently had on hand."
"It does space too." He added."I could get you back right here, all healed up and ready to go help your dad~"
"mm.. Strange British man. I'm afraid I'm still not quite convinced."
"I saved you from a potential crash." He pointed out in slight desperation.
"Finicky aren't you? As you originally stated I'd be fine."
"I was wrong, and I fixed it. Time traveler!" He pointed out.
"I'm needed here."
"But do you need to be here?" I tilted my head at his statement. "Think about it. Think. Back to the last time you had time to yourself. Isn't easy is it?" He stated. Great now he was getting all deep on me. "But you don't like to take risks. You have control of your life and that's the way you like it. Even if, something else seems much more exciting, you know where you're safe." He looked at me, like he was really reading me. It was unnerving, unsettling, and caught me off guard. "Or rather, they are safe." He took a step closer and his voice hushed. "They will be alright." He nodded at me, with the most earnest face I had seen in a long time. "And you will be too. I promise." I opened my mouth, but the witty comebacks did not show up. "It's just one trip. Think of it as thanks for the help-or rather "sorry". For the leg thing."
Ah. This was indeed a dilemma. It wasn't like I didn't need a get away. But with a complete stranger? what would dad think?
Then again. Dad didn't really seem to have any other reaction to my life choices but disappointment. So. If he was telling the truth, maybe dad wouldn't have to know at all. And if he was lying... chances are I'd die or be kidnapped. Eh. At this point. I was caring less and less. I could handle myself. I think I could make it...
I held tight to that there licence plate. That was my time travel proof. A small piece of metal deciding my fate with a adorably dressed stranger. Hah. My life.
"Okay." I held my breath. "One trip. Anything suspicious and I pepper spray your face."