Elain knew that she was different, that many might argue that her way of seeing this world she lived in was anything but accurate or even wise, but where was the happiness to life if one did not stop and slow down for at least a small moment? Of course, she knew that not everyone thought about such things. If anything, there was a frightening number of people within Sacrosanct that didn't seem to care about the world they lived in, about those that surrounded them. Elain knew this truth - even if she didn't like it - and she accepted it for what it was in the end, though that definitely didn't mean that she had to live like most everyone else. No, she wasn't blind to the reality that refused to be ignored, wasn't oblivious to the icy indifference that only ever seemed determined to drain the color out of her world. Perhaps that really was just how "life in the fast lane" was, everyone rushing around to get from one place to another with an ultimate goal in mind as one would place on their head those metaphorical blinders, keeping themselves from seeing anything other than the object of their desire and unrelenting ambition. It seemed like such a lonely lifestyle to her, living only to work each and every day towards one thing and one thing alone. Did they not stop to enjoy the smaller things, like a rainbow after a summer shower or how the songbirds would dance and sing to each other on a crisp spring morning? Maybe that was why city living seemed so cold and uncaring, almost everyone going about their own business without so much as stopping to share a friendly greeting for even just a moment or two. Yes, Elain had her own dreams and aspirations, wanting to one day become a teacher for young children. Yes, she worked hard on her studies and gave one-hundred percent when it came to those grueling exams that ate up so many hours in her day and on some days, she barely had a moment to simply enjoy yet another day gifted to her, but that didn't mean that she wouldn't find a time to stop and enjoy those small moments so many people didn't take the time to notice. Even if it meant just sitting there at her desk in her bedroom to stare idly outside and watch the rain fall down over the city, relishing in the gentle pitter-patter of raindrops on her window, the honey-blonde woman would always make time to really live.

For Elain, it wasn't about how fast one moved through life, but rather it was how full one made their each and every day that measured a life well-lived. After all, there was no promise in making it through to another day, so she would rather live her today like there wasn't going to be a tomorrow instead of thinking that there would always be another moment in time where she could do things differently. She would rather treat every sunrise and sunset like it would be her last. She would rather give a kind word to a stranger walking beside her than stand in distant silence and know that today could very well be their last. Perhaps that was why she would never stop in those small little compliments that she could freely give to those around her. There was no telling when they might not be there, no telling if that one breath they took would be their last and suddenly the life would be stolen away by the hands of whatever force, fate, or god one might believe in. She couldn't stand the thought that her words could have been the very last someone might hear, and she believed that everyone should depart from this mortal walk of life knowing that there was someone out there that cared. Where no one else would care, Elain would. That was why she would never leave the house without making sure that Lazarus knew she loved him. No, he never returned those words, hardly even musing her by returning a tight hug she would wrap him up in before either she left for school or he left to do those things he took pleasure in despite knowing how much she wished that he would stop. She couldn't even imagine the damage that all the alcohol was doing to him, and she worried about him each and every night when she came home and he wasn't there, but she also knew that she couldn't tell him how to live his life just as he truly couldn't tell the honey-blonde woman how to live hers. If this was Ludo's last day here on this earth, then she wanted for it to be one that he could remember in his final moments and maybe, just maybe, the last thing he might get to feel was some vague happiness or warmth. If she had to be the last face someone saw, the last voice someone heard, she wanted it to be something good.

The honey-blonde woman can't help but give the Italian man a girlish giggle as his rich chuckle falls into the cold air in time with her own melodic notes, the two of them clearly sharing a familiar air that Elain missed feeling in the presence of others. She couldn't help but give him that cheeky smile as he told her that they would have to wait and see if he might one day be able to show her Naples, and in truth, she hardly doubted that he would ever take her there, but the actual technicality of such a farfetched thing was hardly worth concerning themselves with. It was meant more as a playful tease, and she was fairly certain that Ludo knew that much, but all the same she could only imagine how much fun the pair would have strolling through those old cobblestone streets of the more worn and authentic parts of that world-renowned city. When his own accented words reach out to her, those glacier blue eyes meet with those warm earthen hues of his own as she finds that familiarity only reaffirmed in his agreement to how she felt about Sacrosanct. In the end, it was the one place that she called home, but it had yet to really feel like home. Since meeting and befriending Vhalla and Beylani, it felt a little more like how things did back in Fairfield, but there was still that certain something missing. She wasn't quite sure what it was yet, but she had a feeling that the silent sea of strangers walking the streets in front of and behind her might have something to do with it. She missed warm and friendly faces without names. There was a comfort that came with knowing that even if one being didn't know another, there was still someone that might help with anything that might arise. Here, she couldn't help but feel like this truly was a "dog eat dog world". When he tells Ellie that it made him feel better to know that he wasn't alone in that sense of alienation, she can't help but give him another radiant smile, eyes of early morning frost sparkling happily up at him."I'm glad that I could help you feel better, Ludo. If you ever need someone to talk to, I promise I'll listen. I'm a good listener", she replies warmly to him as she reaches out with her free hand to place it gently on his arm as if to show him that she absolutely meant it. Especially if he lived in Hawthorne Village. The simple idea of having a friendly neighbor practically had her dancing on clouds in her own little Ellie world.

Her query on if he also attended Sacrosanct University brings a laugh from the man and she finds herself laughing effortlessly with him before giving him a playful smile."You're never too old for getting a better education, silly", she teases brightly, the young woman knowing entirely well that some careers took many, many years of classes and several degrees just to begin that first step into working that profession one desired. It was never too late to chase a dream, as far as she was concerned. Besides, she'd seen much older people one campus than Ludo, but she hardly says any of these wild and scatter-brained thoughts that nearly run rampant through her mind. She wasn't sure if the Italian man would appreciate her rambling on and on like she was so very capable of doing. When they step into the little coffee shop after he tries to insist on paying for her drink, they make their way up towards the counter where she contemplates what it was that sounded good for a chilly late afternoon. He teases her about her decision, Ellie in turn wrinkling her nose as though she caught a whiff of something unpleasant, though that playful look continues to illuminate her features."That's some bitter stuff! I'm love sweet things. Obviously", she teases him easily back before smiling at him. When they move up to the counter to place their order, she is about to reach into her messenger bag, but before she can even slip her hand under the fold of the polyester, Ludo is insistently sliding the ten dollar bill towards the cashier, giving her that smile she absolutely couldn't get enough of."You're an insistent one, aren't you?", she says teasingly before her gaze softens."Thank you, Ludo", she adds gently as she gives him a genuine and soft smile. They walk back out onto the icy sidewalk, the hot paper cup held gently in both hands as she took that first sip. Oh my goodness! This is delicious! Those accented words pull Ellie's attention away from that perfectly steamed and prepared beverage warming her from head to toe, beaming a radiant smile at Ludo."I would absolutely love that, Ludo", she says warmly as she takes yet another sip of that warm drink. His next string of words has her giggling sweetly to the man before looking back up to him."It's amazing! Just what I needed I think", she answers happily, enjoying that toasty sensation that wraps around her better than the hoodie seemed to.

It almost made her sad as they walked in that comfortable silence and companionship of one another when they did finally make it to Hawthorne Village. Almost reflexively, she glances around them to make sure that she didn't see Lazarus. For the dark hunter to be out in broad daylight like this was rare, but whenever he felt like she was taking too long to come home, he would always resort to tracking her, and the last thing that she wanted was for Lazarus to see her with Ludo. That wouldn't be good. They come to a stop in front of one of the townhouses only several residences away, her own home perhaps hardly on the other side of the block. Did they call it a block if it was more or less like an apartment complex? His words pull her from that random little thought and she gives him a cheeky smile once again."You can bet on it. Heck, you might not even be able to get rid of me now", she teases brightly before another soft note of laughter falls easily from her lips. She reaches into her bag then and tears a corner of her English homework off, retrieving a pen from the side pocket and, after writing on it, gives it to Ludo as she takes the cookies from him."This is my cell phone number, so you can call or text me for that 'next time', okay? Don't forget about me", she says playfully before situating the box of cookies in her arm and her hot coco in the other."Bye, Ludo! I had fun. Can't wait to do this again", she says sweetly to him as she turns and walks further down the street. Would that 'next time' be like... a date? Nah, probably not. Which is fine, either way. She can't help the smile that dances on her lips, contentedly walking the rest of the way home alone. She was just thrilled that she'd made a new friend. And who knows, maybe something more waited around that figurative corner! Whatever was in store, she could hardly wait to find out.