I'll walk you home (Adania)

[Niklaas de Vries]

By this time, the Vortex had almost completely cleared out. It was late, almost midnight by Niklaas' watch, and the responsible people had gone home while the lazier (perhaps even drunk) stragglers stayed behind and drained whatever remained of their wallets on alcohol and snacks. The previous bartender had turned in hours ago, and his replacement seemed just about ready to leave as he listened to a patron ramble on and on about this and that. His co-players had packed up and left, each bidding Niklaas their own farewells of tired “See you tomorrows”, and yet the Dutchman remained, playing more out of muscle memory than anything else. A mellow, song that he had memorized a long, long time ago. It seemed fitting for this humid, lethargic London evening.

He reached into the ashtray on top of the piano as his little song came to and end and took a drag, his free hand mechanically trilling out the last few remaining notes. Only a few of the remaining patrons bothered to applaud him, more out of common courtesy than anything else. They had been clapping after each song the entire night; it was practically hardwired into their hazy, tired, drunken minds by this point. His watch clicked midnight, closing time, and he finally decided that it was time to get home. Rising, he took up his ashtray and brushed off some of the scattered ash before dumping the tray, and the butt he was absently chewing on, having since smoked the thing for all it had left to offer, into the nearest bin. Collecting his saxophone case and giving bidding the bartender -who was currently patting some sobbing man on the back and looking like he would rather be anywhere else- goodnight. On his way out, however, he spotted a familiar face; a young woman sitting alone at one of the back tables. Her name was Adania, she was Indonesian, in university, and had a last name Niklaas couldn't even hope to pronounce correctly --Dutch accent aside. And... that was about all he knew. She was just this cute, shy, awkward girl who came around every night and sat at the exact same table. Didn’t she have any friends or, hell, even a boyfriend to spend her time with? Even if she did, it really wasn’t any of Niklaas’ business.

He cleared his throat before speaking,“we’re closing. You better start heading home before it gets too late.”

[Deleted]

terima kasih banyak! On her table was her homework, laid out forgotten while her eyes were fixed to the stage. Ada had stopped writing formulas and working on imaginary numbers to watch the musicians perform. There's something in their music that never failed to lift her mood, giving her an excuse to forget the properties of electromagnetic waves for a moment. Well, she could not think about her homework when the music is working its magic on her. Ada was not a person who likes to going out late, especially with the amount of homework she needed to finish each week. Few weeks ago, some of her seniors had taken her to Vortex, showing her the club. Back when her family was still rich, Ada had seen jazz performances - even the best ones in Asia. That's why she immediately realized that the club did have great musicians, and the best of them all was a tall man named Niklaas. He's the reason why she came back often to the club, it also served as an ideal studying place. Ada always chose the table in the corner, slightly unnoticed by the other guests, working with physics assignment until the European stepped up on the stage. Then she would stop, for the magic only works when Niklaas is playing, putting an enchantment on her tired brain, lulling it to rest. She hated it when he stopped his magic. She hated the fact that she had to pack her bag and leave. She still wanted to listen and if she could, Ada will ask him to play another song. Of course it was merely a dream that never bloomed into reality... until tonight. Ada didn't know why he didn't stop playing, but she didn't care. Many things she didn't aware of: people leaving, people cleaning, people bidding good bye to each other. Ada kept staring at the stage, unaware that people had left, the magic was still strong in her mind-- "...start heading home before it gets too late.” --then it ceased abruptly. "Huh?" Ada blinked and turned her head - which she immediately regretted. Her eyes met Niklaas' himself. She had no idea when did he leave the stage and move to her table, but that was least of her concern. "It's... it's late?" Ada broke the eye contact to check her phone. It's already past midnight. "S-sorry, I didn't realize it's already late..." Ada quickly rose from her seat and put all her things - papers, pencil, calculator - to her bag. The young woman hoped Niklaas didn't see her blushing cheeks. "I'm going to miss the bus..." she muttered to herself.

MADE BY MINNIE OF BACK TO NEVERLAND

[Niklaas de Vries]

If Adania had been anyone else, Niklaas would have rolled his eyes at the complete disregard to what was going on around her. Lost in her own little world. Glancing down at the scattered mess of papers that nearly covered the entire surface of the table, however, he could give her a pass. He had experienced the "joys" of university school work, and had fallen asleep in is fair share of coffee shops when trying to finish everything in one night. He quirked a brow as the mumble of Adania missing her bus, and sneered internally. Not at her, but at the devil-may-care schedule of the night buses of London. They seemed to come and go whenever they wanted, regardless of whatever was printed on the schedule, like the dirvers didn't even give a fuck so late at night. Now Niklaas didn;t have a problem with the night busses, he was a grown ass man who was taller than most native Londoners. Adania, though... well, how far away could she live? It wouldn't be that far out of the way for him, could it? Even if it was, maybe they would be lucky and catch one of the night busses without being completely ignored by the driver, or stormed on. "I can walk with you," Niklaas proposed, shifting slightly. "If you want me to. I mean," he laughed faintly. "An older guy offering to walk a younger girl home? Has 'creeper' written all over it, don't you think?" Was it better, or worse, that he admitted to sounding like a creeper? Hopefully she wouldn't take it the wrong way.

MADE BY AMLIN OF BTN AND GANGNAM-STYLE

[Deleted]

terima kasih banyak! She didn't know if there's any bus from here to Imperial College at this late. Sure she could take the train, but she doubt it would be safe for her going to the station alone. Ada zipped her bag and hugged it, turning to face the musician who was just offered to walk her home. Her cheeks instantly got warmer again, so she had to look away. The little voice in her heart encouraged her to accept it immediately, but her brain said otherwise. Walking alone looking for bus would improve the possibility of her getting mugged - or worse. On the other hand, Ada didn't know Niklaas more than just someone who worked at the Vortex. His last sentence, however, did justify what her brain had said. Think, Ada, think. This was her only chance to get someone accompanies her home since Ada barely knew anyone else in the club. It didn't prove that Niklaas will not attempt to do something suspicious to her, though. Well, if he does... at least she knew his name and his workplace. Seriously, she had to stop going out so late. Apparently Ada had a tendency to attract... creepy-ish people. She still remembered the last time she gone out late before tonight - that, unsurprisingly, didn't end well. The young woman let out a soft laugh. "You don't look like a... 'creeper' to me," she replied, half-lying. Now that he mentioned it, he did sounded a bit like creeper, but the Indonesian didn't want him to know her opinion. "I live at the college dorm and it's quite far from here. Do you think there are buses still operating this late?" even though she considered taking a bus - if there was any - Ada still doubted her own safety in that public transportation.

MADE BY MINNIE OF BACK TO NEVERLAND

[Niklaas de Vries]

Memo to self: Try to not come off as a creeper to the patrons. Specifically the young female ones. It was bad for business.

Niklaas had freaked the girl out; that much was obvious by her body language. Even if his offer had been worded in exactly the wrong way, he practically towered over Adania, being over a full foot taller than she was. It would surprise him if she didn’t show up as often after tonight.Not that the loss of one local would affect the club as a whole; not even a by marginal amount. Rather, Niklaas’ boss wouldn’t keep him around if rumors of the Dutchman taking girls home with him at night started circulating. He needed this job (even if the pay could be a lot better), and finding another one with a bad reputation hanging over his head would be hell. He didn’t feel like going back to his previous “job” either, not after all the bullshit that came along with it. With a sigh he ran a hand through his hair, caring little about the style at this point.

“I was just offering. You can go alone, if you’re more comfortable with that.” Niklaas said simply. Might as well back out of this before he dug himself into an even deeper hole. “As for the buses, I’ve heard they’re usually ten or twenty minutes late. Depends on how soon you want to get home, supposedly. I really wouldn’t know.” He replied, slinging the case over his shoulder and brushing past the girl. “Whatever you do, good luck getting back before too long.” He left the building with that. Walking his bike home would be a pain in the ass, anyway. Her declining saved him the time and effort, really.

ELECTRIC OF GS AND BTN

[Deleted]

terima kasih banyak! Ada didn't mean to refuse his offer, no. So why he thought she did? Did he think she just subtly insulted him? The student was stunned in a sudden realization. She shouldn't have taken his joke seriously! She just had some doubts because they were practically strangers to each other, and strangers usually didn't offer to walk her home. On the other hand, Ada felt they were not really a stranger. She's a frequent customer, so the Dutch musician might have become familiar with her face. Maybe she even standing out from the other female customers, considering that Ada always showed up in a casual attire instead of fancy clothes. "I'm sorry..." she began, but Niklaas had started leaving her. Ada quickly followed him, trying to match his longer footsteps. "I didn't mean to... refuse your offer. I never went out until this late, and I will very appreciate it if you accompany me back to the dormitory." Going home alone would make her a vulnerable target for thieves. At least, with him nearby, they would have to think twice before trying to snatch her bag. Niklaas looked strong enough to knock out someone as big as her Russian acquaintance. Hm, it would be interesting if these two met... "It would make me feel safer," she added, immediately stopping her wandering thoughts. Ada stared at her shoes, nervously tugging her hair. "B-but if you want to go home soon, it's okay. I'll be careful and keep myself safe." Although she did want his company, Ada didn't want to appear as a pushy and demanding person. That would leave a bad impression on him. Ada pulled her jacket's zip up and adjusted her bag, ready to bid goodbye and left if the man decided to leave without her. But the worry feeling in her heart were growing even bigger...

MADE BY MINNIE OF BACK TO NEVERLAND

[Niklaas de Vries]

If Adania hadn't spoken up, he would have assumed that she was just gathering her things to head back home. When she did, it was clearly addressing him; “I didn't mean to... refuse your offer.” Didn't mean to refuse his offer? It was a simple yes or no question. She was making it sound like she had offended him somehow. Okay, granted, maybe his final comment to her was came out a little sharper than he intended, but that was more a force of habit than anything. “I never went out until this late, and I will very appreciate it if you accompany me back to the dormitory. It would make me feel safer," she continued once she had caught up. Niklaas looked over his shoulder at her as he secured his sax in the back basket of his bike. Couldn't she have said that in the club? Intimidated and scared or no, she could still say what she meant- couldn't she?

Cultural differences, Niklaas reminded himself. Not everyone could be as bold and direct as the Dutch (although that would make everything so much easier). "B-but if you want to go home soon, it's okay. I'll be careful and keep myself safe." Adania finished hastily-- nervously. Could a girl like this really defend herself? Granted, London was a safe enough city, what were the odds that this night would be any different? The Dutchman drummed his fingers against the handlebar of his bike in contemplation.

Look at it this way, his mind supplied casually. She'll owe you after this, right? That was true, but what could a university girl offer him? Not money, since he knew from experience the nightmare university life was for a wallet. Finally, he decided that she would owe him a favor sometime in the future. That was fair enough. “I'll come, since you seem to want me to, if it's too far out of my way, I'll work something out.” It would be a major pain in the ass, yes, if it turned out her university was far out of his way. Strangely Niklaas didn't find it annoying as he normally would. Maybe it was something that came with growing up as the oldest child in the family. A long buried big brother instinct rearing its head after several years. Or something to that effect.

ELECTRIC OF GS AND BTN

[Deleted]

terima kasih banyak! Ugh. Why did she have to be so awkward and timid? She finally got a chance to talk to him; he even offered to walk her home and she was about to screw it up. This was so embarrassing. Ada really needed to brush up her social skills. The ones she had learned during high end parties were somewhat useless among the commoners. But if she spent more time socializing, she wouldn't have enough time to study. Unless, of course, she's hanging out with the diligent ones or joined a study group. Niklaas already had his bike out. Her shoulders slumped more and her brain already going through self defense tips for women. Ada wished she didn't stop training her martial arts skill; it could be useful in this situation. The Indonesian student kept her gaze on the bike's wheel until Niklaas spoke up. “I'll come, since you seem to want me to, if it's too far out of my way, I'll work something out.” She couldn't believe her own hearing. He really agreed! Ada grinned and let out a relieved sigh. "Th-thank you very much," came her muttered response, cheeks reddening out of joy and coldness. She began to lead him towards the nearest bus stop. "I live in Imperial College's student dormitory. Hopefully it's not too far from your place." And if it was too far, Ada would feel a bit guilty for bothering him. It's really nice of him to walk her home, yet she wouldn't give him anything more than a thank you. The Indonesian kept glancing at the road, hoping to see bus headlights showing up around the corner. Hugging her bag tightly, she turned to face Niklaas. "S-so, where do you live? Is it far from here?" Since he went to work by his bike, Ada thought it might not that far. She wasn't one for small talk, but it'd be awkward if they stayed silent during the trip. Also, by keeping herself silent, it would leave a negative impression to him, which was something she didn't want.

MADE BY MINNIE OF BACK TO NEVERLAND