"We're here," Christopher announced. "Leave anything lethal you might have, outside yourself, by the door or in the car. Don't touch anything, don't say anything. You are a guest, and I expect you to treat their abode with respect."
"Damn, alright," Neo mumbled. "Whatever you say."
Christopher gave him a glare before he exited the car. Neo followed suit. They made their way to a small house, a tiny garden in the front lawn of an abundance of flowers. The windows were illuminated with light in the dusk of night and there was the sound of a record player inside. Neo could tell because it skipped every so often, only to soon be fixed.
Christopher knocked on the door, waiting for a few moments as shuffling could be heard from the other side. A young individual answered the door, slightly smaller than Neo with bright lavender hair and black roots. Their green eyes rested on Christopher in confusion before they smiled and embraced him. Neo watched in confusion,
figuring that Christopher only cared about Quilliene and nobody else. So it was strange to see him actually hug someone.
After a moment, they released each other, the person still not speaking as they opened the door wider. Christopher nodded to Neo to follow before entering, and he went after. Neo kept his hands in his pockets as he slid inside, glancing at the individual. He was curious, but not enough to make Christopher pissed by talking. The person closed the door behind them, and the prince turned to them as they lowered the volume of the record player.
"This is an associate of mine," He said to them. "He works under my sister as her personal bodyguard. He refers to himself as Neo." He turned to him next. "Neo, this is Lilac. They are a… lifelong partner. They are mute due to a deformity of their vocal cords."
Neo seemed to get the hint of what he meant by lifelong partner, and Christopher obtained a dangerous threatening look in his eyes. Lilac held out their hand to Neo, and he glanced at the prince, to which the individual did the same. He shook his head silently, and the person proceeded to bow instead.
"Neo is a dangerous man," Christopher explained. "Best not to come in contact with him." Lilac gave a concerned look. "Nevermind that. Lilac, we need some help. Neo, give them the newspaper and riddle."
He frowned, hesitating before pulling out both pieces of paper. Holding them out, they seemed to notice his tense posture and took them carefully. They travelled over to a table and spread them out, looking between each. For a moment, they stood there, then turned to them and waved their hands around in what had to be sign language. Christopher nodded, and they looked at Neo before signing again. He frowned, glancing at the prince, who raised a curious eyebrow. Neo couldn't read sign language. He never bothered to learn.
"They say you have the face of a man searching for himself," Christopher said.
Neo's eyebrows shot up. "What?"
Lilac left the room quickly. Christopher crossed his arms, thinking hard, and Neo stared off in confusion. A man… searching for himself? Well, he couldn't say they were wrong. They had to be a great judge of character if they could tell that about him, though. What it meant, he wasn't quite sure yet.
They returned with something in their hands - a notepad and a pen. Proceeding towards Neo, they took back up the newspaper and riddle, handing all of the items to him. He frowned, glancing at Christopher, but they seemed adamant that he took them. Neo stared at the pad, then warily picked it from their hands. There was something written on the first page in fancy lettering.
You look like you have many thoughts up in there.
You should write them down.
It helps.