Oliver Burton

Abigal blinked at him with those big, wide adorable eyes of hers. She blinked at him as if trying to mirror his own blank stare, yet it hardly possessed the same effect. She was far too innocent for that. He had somehow found himself with his back against the wall by a terrorizing woman and even more frightening panda form. He had admitted that they were friends and why, he wasn't entirely sure. She had completely disturbed his valuable quietude and chased away his entire meal, she even assaulted him. It was enough for him to deem her presence abrasive and even offensive to his very well being. And yet his rough exterior that could make grown men in the business room cower, he seems to melt a little at those grumpy edges. Who would have thought he could be such a pushover to such a little woman? He couldn't dare take away that glee that found her features and look very similar to a look of absolute fear upon his own. What had he gotten himself into? He hardly knew and that terrified him. Yet, what was the worst thing that could happen from this very scenario? She had miraculously found a soft spot within this irritable bear, so very much like his sister could disarm him.

Oliver was quite opinionated of that conversation about fish. Fish were not friends, the words left almost far too callused from his lips. That comment alone seemed to draw out an annoyed, rare spark within her hazel eyes. The sound that left her lips was all he needed to know that she hardly agreed with that statement. It was then replaced with a rather defeated pout, even if she refused to fully believe him. Could they be both? Perhaps when it came to Abigail he would not doubt her capabilities. She had managed to waltz right passed all his defenses and parked herself there. "Perhaps for you they can, but for me, Miss Abigail. Strictly breakfast, lunch, or dinner." Then again, polar bears were opportunistic eaters, he would be happy to eat just about anything placed in front of him.

He didn't budge, at least not in this, his stern nutmeg hued eyed reflected that. Stubborn. She may have tricked him into joining her to a... shudder.. supermarket. But she could not and will not convince the man that fish could be friends. Ridiculousness! He would not befriend his food, not ever. He nearly huffs. Maybe she would one day see reason. It seemed as likely as her actually catching a fish. Regardless, something he said seemed to coax her out of that pouty resolve and she perked up in way that reminded him of her panda form. To teach this woman how to fish was like teaching a child high on sugar to sit still!

He didn't elaborate when he accidently allowed those words to slip.. Unless... She was far to quick for him to brush over his error. She might as well have been a panda shark who had tasted blood in the water. He seemed to freeze slightly but recovered quickly. Again, that unfaltering façade of the businessman returned. How disarming she was, he hardly knew how to deal with her. How much she reminded him of his sister. "You would need to try fishing not within the water but outside of it.." He was referring to the yacht he kept just outside the city limits. Another thing he had neglected, the boat itself was cared for but he neglected himself and his own wellbeing. He knew he was so wrapped up in work and those hunters that were still hot on his trail. Time for such trivial pursuits seemed irresponsible.

She suddenly became distracted, peering just behind him to the outside world. The view was spectacular if you liked that sort of thing. It was his only window to the outside he could allow some days, it was a damn shame. It wasn't all that difficult for the disarming woman to lure him out of the stuffy office and into freedom. True freedom would not be in this city, he had accepted this. But he was hungry, and he wanted to eat, now. He caved to her desires to leave, today at least he was willing to leave the corporate world behind. He ushered her outside of the office, it took every ounce of his composure to not race her to that park, so he could stuff his face with that take out. His stomach groaned its protest. He held the bags that contained the food which only tortured the man further. It took every last ounce of willpower to not bury his face in salmon. Was that the bear talking? It had to be.

He needed to keep distracted from that food that tugged the lines to his hungry stomach. He posed the delighted woman a question, after all it was a little disturbing at how easily she tracked him with barely a name. Her response was not one he expected. He smelled??? That kind of wounded his pride a bit, a clear frown took over the dark-haired man's face. NO ONE ever told him he smelled, he took pride in keeping himself clean, he was the kind of man that took a shower every day. However, Abigail was quick to assure him claiming that she didn't mean it in that way. However, smelling woodsy like sandalwood was hardly a bad thing to smell like at all, it seemed to appease his worries that he smelled like he hadn't showered in weeks. Who would want to smell like that? Certainly not him, bear, human, or otherwise.

She declared with honesty poking her nose in a gesture he finds rather adorable as she spoke the words that she in truth liked his scent. "In that case that is what truly matters in the world." He grumbled in the same tone he often reserved for bantering with his sister, he even felt the pangs of nostalgia grip him tightly as though he could be carried away to another place, another time. He seemed to shake his head to rid the nagging feeling, a feeling he couldn't quite understand.

As they exited the building into the great big city he drew in a breath and instantly it felt as though a massive weight lifted from his weary burdened shoulder. It felt good to use his limbs to see something other than those same four walls. Apparently, the sentiment was echoed by the woman who nearly skipped through the sidewalk at his side, he could practically feel all that bound up energy swelling within her. The sun made her reddened locks nearly take a life of its own, one could even see the undertones of a rich mahogany underneath the dark thick expanse of hair upon his own head. A small declaration rolled off his tongue and it provoked a giggle from the woman. Her response caused a small grin to tug at the corner of his lips, he shook his head as faint semblance of a laugh escaped him. A sound that was more like air huffing passed his lips and yet it was almost a full-on laugh. She certainly was a confident little ball of energy he mused. He stole a sideways glance as they walked, she eyed every single person they passed with a wide eyed curiosity. So unhindered with the weight of the world, he almost found himself envious of that carefreeness, as he had never felt that way on his own. He could hardly help that question escape him. "How do you do it? Seem so unburdened by the weight of the world?" His voice seemed softer as though that hardened edge seem to wither at the edges slightly.

It didn't take long to get to the park and a sense of relief flooded him, it meant he got to eat. His pace seemed to increase provoked from that eagerness to happily fill his empty belly with apology food. He wasn't sure if he could reject that offer even if he wanted to. A gasp escaped the woman at his side and he nearly froze in place as if expecting something terrible to happen, as though a nefarious force of nature was going to sweep them off the plains of existence. He looked around him as if scanning for something unusual, something to shatter this short reprieve. Nothing. No strange prying eyes or a threat looming in the distance. Her voice broke the sudden tension. She was just excited! A sigh escaped him, releasing breath he wasn't aware he was holding. "Yes, here we are, little bit." But before he could say another word she was already on her toes, excitement flashing like beacons of hope within her hazel eyes. LOOK she exclaimed with a positive glee. He wasn't quite sure what he was looking at, he looked with a casual indifference seeing nothing at all. What could make her so excited? Puzzled he tipped his head and furrowed his brows in way that mirrored his confusion. DUCKS! She exclaimed as though she had never once laid eyes on those feathery creatures in her life. He was still caught off guard at how excitable she truly was over ducks of all creatures. "You might have better luck making friends with the ducks over the fish." He admitted.

"Pick your spot.. preferably somewhere where there isn't duck feces." He scrunched his nose as they crossed a pathway into the park. There was a herd of pigeons cooing, trying to pick at some garbage some person that was too lazy to throw away. It irked him to no end, made his skin prickle with agitation. The garbage was just a few steps away and they couldn't be bothered to throw it away. Who were filthier? The animals picking at garbage or the people that couldn't be bothered to preserve a tiny slice of Eden within the wasteland of this city?

"Ducks are delicious.. But they are a pain to catch.. Maybe you would have better luck trying to catch one of those." Although he highly doubted it, they were crafty considering they could fly. "After lunch though.. I am starving." He admitted, he was sure he could devour the whole meal in under a minute. With some food in his belly maybe it would have elevated his grumpy mood a little and then he could finally entertain what she was so burning to ask.