A City Story, Day 4

[Anwen]

"For crying out loud! Are you crazy!?! You're lucky I was waiting around to see what you'd do, Dolphin-Boy." Aria had transferred the violin to her left hand, and had grabbed Dolphin-Boy by the wrist. She put him on the ground and let go, flying up out of reach again. "You are a very interesting guy! What name do you prefer? Because it's either Dolphin-Boy or Mr. Blueberry until you tell me what your name is."

[Cytherea]

"Because it's either Dolphin-Boy or Mr. Blueberry until you tell me what your name is."

"Call me what you want, you feather-brained criminal." he spat. He wouldn't raise his voice, not yet, but now it was getting dangerously low. "Give me back my violin. NOW."

[Anwen]

"OOOoooo! Scary." She said in a mocking tone. "What're you gonna do, throw your bow at me?"

[Cytherea]

"What're you gonna do, throw your bow at me?" She said in a mocking tone.

"Mr. Blueberry has a heart and cares for his violin; and his bow. I know what you're thinking. I have a heart? Well, yes I do, feather-brain. I care for that violin, almost more than I love myself and care for myself. It's obvious that you don't have a heart, and have grown used to being a spoiled brat. I am capable of loving something. Though my capability is small and rather shattered, I am capable. I doubt you've ever loved something as much as I have loved this violin. You don't quite seem talented enough to love something that strongly." he wasn't pausing for breaths, but his words came strongly and filled with anger. "Break or scratch that violin, and I'll kill you."

[Anwen]

Aria became very quiet and intense. When she's really angry, she won't yell. "Me, spoiled? I've never, in my entire life, been shown kindness from anyone but a doctor and my family. Who does you think you are, saying I don't have a heart when you only love a well crafted piece of wood? I loved my family. I can love people." She looked down at him. "The only reason I haven't broken this instrument yet is because I love the music that comes out of it." A shadow of sorrow flitted across her face before her anger hardened it again. "Here. I'll never understand how someone so cold can make me love his playing." She dropped the violin carefully in his arms and began to fly slowly to the park.

[Cytherea]

"Here. I'll never understand how someone so cold can make me love his playing." She dropped the violin carefully in his arms and began to fly slowly to the park.

"So cold?" he echoed hollowly. "You know why I'm so cold?" he said, not sure if she was still flying away or even listening to him. He looked down at his violin, and for the first time in his life that he could remember, he started to cry. He picked up his bow and started playing, without looking at the notes he was hitting, but still playing beautifully. Tears coursed down his cheeks.

"I am... so cold..." he said, his voice sounding completely broken. "From my life. The only place I've been accepted, is home. I have no friends. Outside my family, you're the first one I've talked to for a few years." His playing grew louder and louder, and as quick as lightning. His fingers and the bow moved in a blur. "I've learned to enjoy the solitude. It's swallowed me, encased me in it." his violin strings looked ready to burst.

And suddenly, he stopped.

[Anwen]

Wait. Is he, saying something? Aria stopped flying away and swiveled her ears back.

"I am... so cold... From my life. The only place I've been accepted, is home. I have no friends. Outside my family, you're the first one I've talked to for a few years." He said, in a way that told her that he was crying.

But he was playing.

Aria came back to just behind where he stood, and danced all her anger and frustration out. And when he stopped, she stood behind him and said, "I think we're both alone. We've both never had friends. The main difference is that you have shut yourself out of the world with ice. And I'm protecting myself from hurt with fire." She smiled sadly, even though he couldn't see her.

[Cytherea]

"I think we're both alone. We've both never had friends. The main difference is that you have shut yourself out of the world with ice. And I'm protecting myself from hurt with fire."

Alex didn't turn around, and instead stopped his tears; he didn't know why he was even crying them.

"I enjoy my solitude." he said, his own voice ringing with the forced lie. "I have accepted it. It's where I belong."

He looked sadly down at his violin.

"Alone."

[Lithium]

Cheiko looked away. "I was never interested in going to college. Matthew allowed Missy and I to go get our teaching degrees so we would at least have something to support ourselves by, should the money dry up." She shrugged. "But thanks for the complement. What about you? Have you been to college?"

She looked down at her empty plate of Gyoza, and wondered if that was just the appetizer. I'm already stuffed!

Missy

Missy sat in front of the television with her Miso soup and Shrimp Tempura take-out as she watched an old classic show she had never seen before called Doctor Who. At first, she laughed at the cheesy special effects, but by this second episode, she was in love with the Doctor and was hoping Rose and him would end up together.

Good thing I'll have something to keep my mind off of... She stopped. I can't even think about him. I just...

Her portable vibrated in her bathrobe pocket and she pulled it out.

Untraceable Sender? That's not a good sign.

She opened the message and nearly dropped the electronic box into her soup.

Hello, Mistalyn Fletcher. Do not be alarmed, but we are currently caring for you recently exiled brother. We understand that your received messages and outgoing messages are probably traced and read, so do not reply. We may be sending you more information, should you find a way to communicate with us that you received our message and are interested in saving your brother. I repeat, DO NOT REPLY. Sincerely, A Friend.

[Cytherea]

"But thanks for the complement. What about you? Have you been to college?"

"Yeah, but just so I could get a decent job. My family is already rich, but I had never intended to have to use my degrees so instantly. I barely finished college when the whole estate and my father's job were left to me." his eyes grew slightly darker. "It's always been work, work, work; everyday. That's why, when I heard about that party, I just had to go." He smiled. "And if I hadn't gone, I wouldn't have met you, or been having this lovely lunch today."

[Lithium]

Cheiko grinned. "I'm glad I was able to meet you as well."

"Would you like to order your meal or dessert?" Mai asked as she came up to the table. "Hotaru left, by the way. You shouldn't have to deal with––"

"Mai! I thought I told you I was going to be––" Hotaru stopped short as she looked from Cheiko to Jason and back again. "Oh. I'll be in the kitchen."

Cheiko looked at her lap and hunched her shoulders, trying to hold in her bitterness and tears.

It's not my fault Matthew chose me over you! It's not my fault!

[Cytherea]

"Oh. I'll be in the kitchen." Hotaru said. Jason saw Cheiko's shoulders slump as she stared at her lap; what he could see of her face was at the brink of tears.

"Hey, you okay?" he asked. He reached his arm out and put his hand on her shoulder, comfortingly.

[Zinna]

Mandi

"Here's the library," Mandi said going into the next room. It was a ten foot ceiling with every wall covered in shelves full of books. She gestured to two red padded chairs and a bowl of sweets on a nearby coffee table.

She heard the doorbell ring and Mrs. Jras say that she will answer it.

Tito

Tito rang the bell of the Jras residence. Mrs. Jras answered.

"Ah thank you for coming on such short notice Mr. Inderados. Please come in." She guided him to the parlor.

"What needs fixing Mrs. Jras?" Tito asked.

Mrs. Jras smiled slightly, "Nothing today, but I need you to get me some information on a certain person for me."

"I can only do so much Mrs. Jras because I don't have much money..."

"You will be paid well for this. I know that you have your sources so you can do this. I need you to find some information on a certain Shawlin Hynour."

"I can do that for the usual fee."

Mrs. Jras answered without a smile, "You will have it and a little more. This man is currently with my daughter. You can go and meet him now."

"Yes ma'am. Thank you ma'am." Tito gave a brief bow.

He entered the library.

[Cytherea]

Someone else had entered the library; a young man. Shawlin smiled at him.

"Hi, what's your name?" he said. He stepped forward to shake his hand. "My name is Shawlin."

[Zinna]

Tito and Mandi

"My name is Shawlin."

Tito extended his hand saying, "Tito Inderados."

Mandi slunk into a corner. She had watched Tito many times doing odd jobs around the house and had always been afraid of his power.

Tito glanced at her, "Good morning Miss Jras."

[Lithium]

Cheiko nodded and looked up. Another crash of thunder boomed overhead and rain drummed on the roof.

Mai looked from one to the other. "Are you interested in anything else?"

[Cytherea]

Jason

"No thank you, Mai." he said. He was still worried about Cheiko, but smiled at Mai. "The appetizer was enough for me. Are you done eating, Cheiko?"

Something's making her sad. I hope it wasn't me...

Shawlin

Shawlin saw Mandi slowly shift away into a corner. He could sense the tension in the air between Tito and Mandi, and it concerned him.

"So, Mandi and I were just about to delve into a few books. Would you like to join us, if you have the time?"

[Anwen]

"Alone."

Aria's head snapped up at this. "You don't believe that and neither do I. Everyone needs someone else." She turned away a moment. "Even me." she said quietly.

[Lithium]

Cheiko nodded. "Yeah. I'm full. Thanks, Mai."

Mai nodded and smiled broadly. "Just come back to the kitchen to talk to Papa before you leave."

Cheiko nodded again and Mai flounced off, her almost skipping adding to her girlish innocence.

"It's hard to believe she's 18 already," Cheiko said thoughtfully.

[Zinna]

Tito

"So, Mandi and I were just about to delve into a few books. Would you like to join us, if you have the time?"

"No thanks. I have a job to do. Good day Miss Jras, Shawlin." Tito nodded his head slightly and left. He went to the front door where Mrs. Jras was waiting.

"Are you ready? Can you do the job?"

Tito nodded, "I can. It will be done by tomorrow. Good day." He left for home.

[Cytherea]

Jason

"Really? She's 18?" He let his breath out slowly. "She seems like a wonderful sister."

Jason tried to keep his focus on Cheiko, but the room had sights and smells that were seeming to try to pull him away. Some of the people were distracting as well. Especially a tall, dark haired brunette who had just walked in. Jason was sure he was hyperventilating, and quickly looked away from her.

Not her. Anyone but her. Please don't ruin this date. Please... please just stay away. Don't recognize me. He thought forcefully in his mind. Don't sit in that table right behind us.

Of course, she did.

She sat so that she was facing Jason, and he looked down at his hands. He couldn't look at Cheiko, because then he knew the brunette would recognize him at the sight of his face.

"Hey Cheiko." Jason said, still looking at his hands. He could feel the pressure rising in him, the feeling of utter need to escape the room. "Let's go say hi to your parents."

Shawlin

"No thanks. I have a job to do. Good day Miss Jras, Shawlin." Tito nodded his head slightly and left.

"Oh, okay, then." Shawlin said. He turned to Mandi and grinned at her. "Do you want to help me write my book? I could use a feminine touch here and there."

Alex

"Everyone needs someone else." She turned away a moment, and Alex barely heard her say, "Even me."

Finally, he turned towards her. His face was still stern, and his eyes were still glacier cold, except that, maybe it wasn't entirely visible, but a small, warm feeling slowly started to melt the ice. Even if it was slow, it was steady. His face looked kinder, and his eyes seemed to gain a lost fire.

And he did something he hadn't done in years.

He smiled.

[Lithium]

Cheiko smiled and nodded. "Sure."

She tried not to notice the way Jason had tensed up as he noticed the brunette. Maybe a past flame... whatever.

Standing up, she pushed her chair back in and took Jason's hand. "Let's go meet my mum and dad."

[Cytherea]

Standing up, Cheiko pushed her chair back in and took Jason's hand. "Let's go meet my mum and dad."

Jason was so relieved to leave the room, that he hoped he wasn't squeezing her hand tightly. He risked a glance behind him at the brunette, and was shocked to see her staring at him. She was smiling, twirling her lip-gloss between her fingers in a sort of way that made you think when she uncapped the lip-gloss, a needle would pop out, ready and waiting to puncture someone. Jason quickly turned his head.

It's alright. She can't do anything to me anymore. It's obvious she... he turned his head again, and she was still smiling. Yeah, it's obvious she still detests me.

[Lithium]

"Papa? Mum?" Cheiko asked as they approached the kitchen. "It's me, Cheiko."

"Cheiko? Already?" A middle aged woman with graying hair asked. She wore a red kimono and rushed forward to envelop Cheiko in a tight hug. "Oh, we've missed you so much. It's been a long, long time."

"Yeah. I bet you've had such a rough time, going to parties and having the best of the best and––"

"Hold your tongue, Hotaru," Mrs. Sonoda said sharply. "Bitterness harms the vessel that holds it, more than what it is poured onto."

"Whatever," Hotaru said. "I see she's got herself a Royale boyfriend.

Cheiko wilted.

"Leave if you can find nothing civil to say."

"I was being civil, Mother."

"Hush. Go wait on your customers or I will put you on busing duty."

"Whatever." Hotaru left with a flip of her hair.

"I am very sorry, Cheiko. Your sister has been very bitter since you were chosen over her. It has made her a rather unpleasant person."

Cheiko nodded. "Yeah."

"Who is this handsome young man?"

[Cytherea]

"Who is this handsome young man?"

"Uh, my name's Jason. Jason Underhill." Jason said with a slight blush, which rarely happened to him. "I met Cheiko at a party last night, and asked her if she wanted to go out with me today." He grinned at the parents. "We both happened to agree on your restaurant."