"No, I'm pretty sure I'm probably going to die, like, literally just fall over and die by the time exams are done", the honey-blonde woman says with an almost exasperated tone as into the phone held up to her ear she sits there on the bus as it lurches forward after having stopped to allow a handful of passengers and fellow college peers of Elain's to depart, likely heading home to throw themselves into those sometimes ridiculously thick books on the various subjects that the entire university would be testing its students on. Or maybe run a few errands, then dive into their studies. Maybe even just contemplate how much more stress and agony their desired career was really worth, possibly trying to decide if it was worth all the student loans and years of working just to try and pay it all off. For now though, the young woman was hardly paying any mind to the people that climbed on or off the public form of transportation."Well, just think of it like this, Ellie: Spring break is almost here and we'll be able to take it easy for a few weeks", replies the brunette that Elain had managed to make a friend in when the two practically collided as they'd been rushing to class down one of the halls in the commons building on campus. Then again, it was barely a challenge for Elain to befriend just about anyone - or anything - that would dare to give her a friendly smile or warm greeting. If healing hadn't been the gift she was given the day she'd taken on her family's tradition only ever expected of the men to follow, she was certain that making friends would have been her superpower in another walk of life. It certainly paid that she was gifted with that ability to heal just about any wound or broken bone, even if she felt absolutely nauseated afterwards, but there'd been a time or two in the past that she'd been grateful for it all the same. Besides, that infinitely warm friendliness resonated so deeply within her, it was probably strong enough to be considered a superpower.

A giggle trickles over her lips as she ushers a soft sigh, eyes of early morning frost gazing out the window from where she sat, watching the buildings and the people that the bus passed by."I know, but still. If I have to study this hard for my next math class, I'm gonna lose it. I hate numbers. They're so complicated", she complains into her phone, the young woman on the other end laughing gently at the honey-blonde's clear dislike for fractions and statistics."Well, if you want a study buddy, just text me. I don't mind helping with those villainous numbers. But you have to help me with this research paper if you're gonna make me into your personal unpaid tutor", came the amused voice of the woman as she teased, Elain easily able to hear the laughter in her friend's words that only encourages that bright smile to find her lips."That's a deal I can definitely live with. Okay, well, my stop is up next so I'm gonna let you go tackle those books. I'll see you in class Friday, Gwen", she says warmly as the bus began to slow once more, pulling over to the familiar stop on the eastern side of Sacrosanct, preparing herself to stand and walk down the crowded aisle."Okay. Oh, and if you're still planning to stop by that bakery, you should grab something for me and bring it Friday. I've been dying to try something from there, everyone in school is raving about it", Gwen says excitedly. Despite the name for from being something attention-grabbing, everyone on campus only ever seemed to rant about how perfectly fresh and well-made everything was there, that it was THE must try place if one had a hankering for anything baked, regardless of what it was, sweet or savory.

From all that Elain had heard, The Bakery had everything from freshly baked and sliced breads the the most amazing and beautifully decorated cakes worthy of being put in those cook books and magazines. So, naturally, Elain wanted to go and see for herself. Especially since even her best friend Vhal had nothing but good to say about the newest establishment in Sacrosanct, and anything that the white-haired woman got excited about must really be amazing."You got it!", Elain replied with just about as much excitement as Gwen before the two exchanged goodbyes and, the honey-blonde hanging up her smartphone before slipping the into the front pocket of her faded blue boot cut jeans, prepares herself to stand from her seat as glacier eyes spot her stop just ahead. When the bus lurches to that not-so-smooth stop, Elain quickly rises out of her seat and waits patiently for the passengers walking towards the exit to move past her before bringing up the tail-end of the line. As she always does, she gives a warm smile to the bus driver who had that usual scowl on his face, like he absolutely hated his job."Have a good day, sir!", she says to him brightly, hardly bothered by his grumpy "hrmph", not even bothering to look her way or try and smile back. That was something she was used to by now since she and her big brother had moved here to this new world that she couldn't be happier to have found. Sure, the people here certainly lacked that warmth and familiarity that she'd been used to, having lived out the first eighteen and a half years on the outskirts of that same small city only a fraction of the size that Sacrosanct was, but in that typical Ellie fashion, that would hardly stop her from shining her own light with that small hope that just maybe she might make someone else's day a little brighter.

Shifting the strap of the messenger bag that was slung across her shoulder before shoving her hands into the fleece pockets of her favorite pale-yellow hoodie, she finds the corner of Main Street and 145th Avenue, icy blue gaze immediately spotting the wide-open glass window littered with cakes and pies on display. Peering through, she can see that the morning rush had long since been and gone, considering that the time on her phone had read 2:37pm when she'd last checked it, but still The Bakery was teeming with business. Those shelves were getting increasingly empty, so she eagerly sees herself inside, reaching for that handle and opening the door to let an elderly couple through, smiling brightly to them as they thanked her."You're welcome", she responds reflexively, though it wasn't in that same monotone "I'm just saying it because I was raised to" way. No, as was simply her nature, it was kind and bright. Stepping into the bakery, she is greeted by a sudden burst of warmth and the mouth-watering smells of various baked treats and breads. She moves to stand in front of the glass case at the front counter, glacier blue eyes taking in those delightfully decorated cakes and cookie trays half empty. Should I get something to go with dinner... or dessert? She's suddenly so unsure of what she wanted, almost wanting to buy several things, but she is quick to remind herself that she still had to walk the rest of the way home. Cookies it is. Lazarus likes sweets more anyway. As she waits for her turn to order, she turns to watch the man behind the counter as he assisted an older woman with her order. It was the way that he spoke, his accent different from anything she'd heard before, that drew her attention to him, the honey-blonde woman trying her best not to just blatantly stare at him. Gosh, he's cute. And he seemed so friendly! Like, genuinely friendly, not that type of smile and tone that suggested he was only acting the way he was because of a paycheck.

It was a nice change of pace for Elain. This city needed more people that were kind, not so caught up in that metaphorical fast lane of life with their faces stuck in their phones or eyes planted firmly on the ground in that less than welcoming demeanor. There were many times that Elain had been so tempted to just tap on someone's shoulder and give them a compliment on how she liked their shoes or their jacket. Anything to get a smile from them, maybe try and spark a little more life to those eyes that just seemed so... lost? Maybe lost wasn't the right word. She wasn't sure exactly what the "right" word was, but every time, she would hesitate. It wasn't out of fear, but more just respect for those nameless strangers that seemed like all they really needed was for someone to be kind to them, even if they weren't being kind to those around them. When her turn finally comes, she walks up to the counter, offering that radiant smile to the handsome guy with that well-groomed loose-curled dark hair and earthen eyes. She was almost surprised at how warm those eyes of his were, and of course it only had her own eyes shining happily in return."Hello! I'd like a dozen of the peanut butter chocolate chip cookies, and a dozen of those snickerdoodles please!", she says brightly to him then before looking down to reach into her messenger bag and pull out her wallet, quickly looking back up to him."You can put them all in the same box, too. I have a little bit of a walk ahead of me", she adds quickly to keep him from reaching for that second box. She glances at his apron to find that nametag there just below his shoulder before meeting his gaze once again."I like your name. Ludovino... I haven't heard of that one before. I'm Elain. Staying busy?", she continues again, hardly stopping to think if he would give her an odd look like so many people did as she watches him place the cookies in the white thin cardboard box.