American Woman[Joli, Solomon]

As usual, Solomon was experiencing a relatively routine day so far, observing nothing but the constant hustle and bustle playing out around him in this vibrant section of the city. With such ideal weather, there were certainly a variety of events he could indulge in, and since he no longer had to account for being wholly focused on his duty as a Vandenreich member, the free reign allowed to him meant there were opportunities to participate almost anywhere his heart desired.

In truth, he intended to relax for a change. No intense training. No overzealous desire to run headfirst into an opponent several leagues above his station. His aim was solely to enjoy himself and interact with any civilians willing to engage him in conversation. Even better, there was currently a lively celebration being held in the downtown sector of the City. Johnathan Walker II, a close peer of his and fellow footsoldier in the Sternritter, thought it fitting to honor and celebrate the City of Light's longevity, their strength, and the civilians who held so much faith in them.

He offered to assist the man's efforts with his funds, promptly dismissed by his friend who often reminded him he was a little too trigger-happy with his funds. That still lingered somewhat, but Solomon understood the notion well enough to accept it. From his point of view, his friend succeded without missing a beat. With exceptional decorations that didn't appear overbearing or sickeningly extravagant, and a gathering of civilians indulging in cheer and food alike, to say nothing of the fun target games for the children, Solomon's worries that it might go south were unfounded. That brought him no small amount of joy, but now that he's here, he's wondering what to engage in first. Target practice could be fun, but then the food smelled pretty enticing as well. Or did he try something else altogether? Decisions, decisions...

"Hm?"

Azure eyes recognized a blonde-haired woman walking in the small distance. Not exactly proximity, to be certain, but distant enough from the numerous partygoers occupying the area. There was some small similarity about her that he couldn't quite pinpoint. He had never met her before, certainly, but he couldn't shake his curiosity about her now.

Observing her quietly, it'd be foolish to overlook the natural attractiveness in her countenance. A striking appearance that could be found on whatever most considered supermodels these days. Additionally, she appeared to look somewhat disoriented by the large gathering, evident in the way she rubbed at the back of her head.

His helpful nature guided him ever closer away from the celebration for a moment, Solomon growing curious as to whether she felt discomfort among so many individuals or if she was simply relaxing, enjoying her own solitude away from the liveliness playing around amongst them. From behind, he called out to the woman with a wave, a polite smile dancing along the corners of his mouth, offering a can of soda pop as a way of introducing himself.

"I don't mean to interrupt your train of thought, miss, but I couldn't help but notice you walking by with some level of discomfort in your expression. As a proud member of this city, it is my sincere hope to ensure everyone is enjoying themselves to some degree or another. And, I couldn't help but notice you appearing a little troubled? I don't know every civilian like the back of my hand, but you seem new. My name is Solomon Richter. If there's anything at all I can assist with, I'm all ears."

He hoped that he had avoided coming across as overly formal. First impressions, though not a death knell for him, were always ideal when aiming to form bonds with others outside of his peers.

"Host? I suppose you could say something like that. One of my friends wanted to celebrate this city's perseverance and how we've all managed to survive after everything we've been through..."

Solomon chuckled softly. Someone from the States, hm? He wondered about what part she descended from. So many of the Vandenreich's members came from different walks of life, and others were entirely different races altogether. He never expressed it vocally, but he was quite thankful for that since it allowed him to learn more about the world and others as a whole, but that was neither here nor there. When she took the drink, he took a minute to turn his gaze back to the other partygoers.

"Alas, there is no club nearby. We're merely celebrating today, and I'm tasked with making sure everything goes well. Honestly? It''s no different from bodyguard duty, really. Nothing too different from what I engage in as a member of the Vandenreich. No, I simply wanted to make sure you were alright since you looked a little uncomfortable from my perspective. Though, now that you've explained yourself, I can see why being around so many people might feel overwhelming. Have you been experiencing any form of headache lately?"

He wondered about the level of her reikaku, her ability to sense and see spirits. Was she closer to a normal human, perhaps? Or one on the cusp of discovering their abilities?

"Weirder energies... Ah, I believe you may be referring to some of the other races - namely arrancar - who've taken residence here."

Solomon was no stranger to this city. He was well aware of its residents and those allowed to enter this bright metropolis. He could imagine how jarring that might be for a newcomer, if not odd. Depending on how long she had been here, there was also the recent lockdown... but he brushed that thought from his mind as he nodded his head.

Minor headaches didn't sound too compromising. From the way she expressed herself so far, it didn't appear as though she was going through any crippling effects. That was a relief. He wouldn't pressure the subject, but he offered his assistance, anyway. That was simply who he was at heart, after all.

"That's a relief. As long as you say you're alright, I'll take your word for it, miss. With the different races here, I can imagine it isn't always easy, especially if one is in the process of developing their spirit sense. If you ever need any assistance with that, I'm always somewhere around the city on duty. I'll gladly lend a hand and introduce you to others who might be able to help. I know our Steingruft division could probably invent an item that could help if it ever gets out of hand."

Solomon decided to take a seat on the bench as he posed another question.

"If you don't mind my asking, what led you to the City of Lights? Vacation? A new place to call home?"

"Honestly? I can't blame you. It was a little difficult for me to adapt myself to these surroundings as well. I can't exactly imagine most being comfortable with the idea of living in the middle of such a large body of water."

Solomon was mindful enough to recognize that. In truth, wondered about the feasibility of this city remaining here in the long term. Through one cruel stroke of fate or another, this city always seemed to find itself mired in some form of conflict or another. If everyone needed to evacuate, how would they even begin to reasonably do that?

The city itself was a lovely place, and it was home to pleasant individuals. Some even supported their cause without aligning themselves with the Vandenreich directly. All things considered, everything was fine in a vacuum, but what about the future? Hearing her next words, he turned his gaze returned to the partygoers she was referring to.

"Yeah. I didn't expect this many people, but... as a result of what's been going on in Africa, we've welcomed some new residents into the city who are looking for a fresh start away from the conflict. Of course, if you wish to join the festivities, then I'll gladly show you around. As they say, the more the merrier."