Walls

It wasn't that he was uncomfortable being alone - he didn't mind it so much. But that was likely because he was used to it, rather than because he desired it. So the warmth of the sun's light was an okay friend to have by his standards, though its company was considerably quieter than what he'd had in the past. Stepping carefully through the grass, he might have continued on, never knowing another watched him in the shadow of the wall if not for the sound of chill words slicing through the cold air.

Mikhail turned quickly, his blue eyes wide in surprise. He would blame the deafness in one ear for his lack of awareness, but in truth his mind had wandered a little farther than he should have allowed it. Now he moved with a deliberate slowness toward the figure who had spoken. She was small - several inches shorter than himself. But alas, he was all legs, so he supposed that counted for little. Her eyes were blue - not unlike his own - but he noted the similarities ended there, as a wall of another kind presented itself within hers. It was a guardedness he had not seen in some time... but that was hardly fair to say when it had been so long since he'd encountered another.

As he drew nearer and the shock left his features, a natural and undeniable warmth entered his eyes, the very antithesis of their cold color. He was only glad he'd heard her - he would have felt rather stupid if he'd had to ask her to repeat herself, given her words had been rather on the less-than-friendly side. He took her words as meaning she had wanted to be alone and that she was frustrated with the presence of another. Mikhail said nothing to suggest her words had upset them (if in fact they had at all)... he had every right to be here as well. Instead a wan smile spread across his maw and he stopped his steady approach. He stood tall - out of reach of any abrupt attack - but with a demeanor that suggested he himself was no threat: his head lowered slightly, shoulders slouched casually... but in spite of it a certain dignity remained in the tilt of his chin.

"Ach, is that not so often the way of things, Fr?ulein? After all, I am here." It was a choice to take her words well; another may have taken offense. But not Mikhail. Not today. "I find just because it is dismal does not mean it is so empty here," his head tilted peculiarly - primarily because his hearing was off, but also because he was sussing the woman up. She provided no name and her demeanor was icier than the air here. In his experience, such a front was only put up when one had experienced pain of some sort. But then, he would admit his experience may not be complete.

Righting himself, Mikhail chuckled softly. "But where are my manners? My name is Mikhail. Might I have the privilege of knowing your name in return?" While he asked politely, in reality he expected a response. So he waited, his blue eyes never leaving the woman.