In the Streets–– Day 1 (February 2, 2317)

[Lithium]

Camri shook her head and pulled her hood closer. The November air was just a bit nippy for her. She smiled, then started into a jog.

Suddenly, a man came out of a house right in front of her. Unable to stop, she tumbled right into him.

She hopped right up and brushed herself off, "Oh! I am so sorry!"

[Misty]

George's expression hardened as he met the newcomer's glare, staring daggers back into his eyes. The little dweeb thought to play the innocenece card, but George wouldn't be fooled by that. The wimp obviously knew that the money had to belong to someone, and who more logically than the one who had dropped.

He most likely didn't know, and if he had probably wouldn't care, but Jordan worked hard for every penny she had. What work did that freeloader have to show for anything he owned? He didn't even have the decency to fight for it; he was a coward. He just hoped to sneak up unnoticed, grab and run. What dignity was there what-so-ever in that?

And then he didn't have the follow-up dignity to return the money if he wasn't going to fight for it. He just tossed it on the ground. It made George sick.

"Here." John held his cupped hands out to Jordan, a pile of money in his palms. "You might wanna put it somewhere safe," he suggested with a shrug. "Maybe yo pockets somethin'."


(Ya'll, I just wanna let you know that George is pretty heartless to those he disapproves of. He will passionately protect and care for someone he loves, but likewise he will passionately despise and abuse-you might say-those he doesn't like. He's the toughest of the family, fairly angry and occassionally mean. Joey's the shy one. Jacques's the serious one. John's the nice one. Analise is the caring one. So, don't take anything personally.)

[Hwin]

"Thanks John." Jordan returned, her normal self finally returning after the incident, stuffed the money into her deep pockets, clinking as they hit eachother. "You too George, I sure could never have scared of that guy." She breathed hard. "I donno, I just get freaked out when some stranger goes after my stuff...not very Subterrean of me." Jordan thought about George and John. George was never at a lose for words, and would stand up to someone twice his size and John could keep things smooth and always kept his top. Pushing back her long brown hair, Jordan returned to cleaning up her money before another Subterrean could get to it. "Gee, I donno know if we'll be able to make it to the movie..."
__________
Tucker looked at Rab. It wasn't hard to see that he must have been a royale at one point in life. His way of talking, clothing and almost personality was much different then that of a Subterrean. "Don't take me the wrong way." Tucker began. "I don't got much towards Royales in the first place. E'cept when they try to go around making fun of our "lowly lives". But why on earth would you want to leave a life where you had every thing you could have asked for?" Again, Tucker slightly paused taking a quick breath. "When you had family?"

[Anwen]

"You're a very handsome young man," Lita said, with mock seriousness. "How old'r you?" Young children always lightened her mood. They were so innocent and sweet! Well, most of them anyway. She just wanted to sweep Joey up in a hug!

That other boy, Jacques, had something against her. She had no clue why. Why does he seem so jumpy? She wondered. I don't look that frightful today!

[Kabitha]

Rab sighed. "Some family. My father never really liked me because I wasn't good at football, and my mother just had party's all day it seemed.... And things...... Well..... People can have to many things you know. Besides all the other Royales I met were all like my mom. Lots of parties." He sighed again. "Too much parties."

[Misty]

"Not everyone on the streets gotta be grit," George replied to Jordan; it was really the guy's responsibility to be tough anyway. Girls had to be tough to an extent, enough to defend themselves if need be. But if they lost their soft side there would be no distinction.

"Don't matter," John added. "They gottanother showing after."

"C'mon," George lead the way, striding down the street as he headed for the movies. It was a run down little building that resembled an old drama theater. It was ugly and poor looking on the outside, but on the inside it was kept at top performing condition with walls painted red, seats of maroon velvet, and black carpets kept well vacuumed and clean. It was a hidden jewel amongst the rubbish.

~~~~~

"I'm... I'm five," Joey answered, hesitating only out of bashfulness. "But soon my birfday will come an' I'll be... be six! And den my next birfday will come an' I'll be seven! An' Jacques says when I'm big enough I ken go on a rumble wif him!"

Whaaa..? Analise glanced back at Jacques, her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Who'd been talking to little Joey that way and getting him into the idea of joining the street gangs in their violence? He didn't look back at her, his body tense. She didn't want to believe. Long since, Jacques had promised not to be involved with the Sharks anymore. He was dedicated to living a straight life-working for what he got, protecting his true family, and avoiding that type of danger.

[Anwen]

"Really? I thought for sure that you were at least ten!"
Lita shifted her gaze to Analise. She seemed rather startled at the mention of a 'rumble.' Her eyes had flickered to Jacques with a look of confusion. Strange, Jerek used to mention rumbles every once in a while. At times when the ground was perfectly stable too... "Analise," She began, hesitated, and continued. "What is Joey talking about? That is, how does one go on a 'rumble'?"

[Misty]

Analise stared into the fire, contemplating an answer. She didn't want to tell Litonya what it was and have her start to disapprove of Jacques because Joey had said it was Jacques who had said it to him. Not only had he simply mentioned it, he'd promised Joey a chance to participate in it. Rumbles, being weaponless, weren't a bad way to battle; it was somewhat cool set, simply a fist exchange. In the end, no one died. But it lead to harder anger and using weapons and more violence and killings.

"I gotta go," Jacques said from his shadowy corner. He strode across the room and unlocked the door without looking back. He paused there. "I'll be back late." With that, he swung the door open, stepped outside, and shut it behind him.

"Be careful!" Analise called after him, unsure whether he had heard before the door closed or not. She turned back to Litonya. "A rumble is a gang gathering." The filtered answer.

[Hwin]

Jordan soaked in everything about the big theater. This was one of the few places left that a Subterrean could go to enjoy themselfs. Paying for her ticket she found seats and waited for John and George to do the same. She fingered the soft velvet of the chairs and kicked off her loosly tied sneakers, letting her feet sink into the warm carpet.

[Hwin]

Before Tucker could produce a answer to Rab's outburst, he found that they had already made it to Jordans place. "Well, here we are." He said as he opened the door, gesturing for Rab to enter.
It was anything but fancy. Inside an small, old, beaten down shop. In the right corner hung a thin sheet, which a worn matress hid on the floor behind it. Tarp lined the roof so not to let water in during a storm, and to keep out the heat. A small chipped and cracked table stood in the middle of the room, pushed a bit off to the left. Around it was three old chairs, one was missing its back-rest. Laying in the middle of the room, under the table, sat a rug. But, unlike the rest of the poorly fernished and dull room, this rug was bright and vivid, consisting of greens, blues, yellows and purples. It, Tucker knew, was one of the few things Jordan had been able to carry from her Aunts old house. In the winter it also worked well as an extra cover at night for warmth. Tucker had helped gather most of Jordan's belongings and helped set them up with her, along with the tub sitting behind the door for washing and the small shelves that lined a portion of the narrow walls.
Really, the "house" wasn't all that bad. There was not a single mouse or bug in sight. The floor was swept clean and the windows washed to let in sunlight.
"This is it, nothen fancy like your used to. But theirs a roof, and thats really all that matters."
Before Rab could have had time to answer, Tucker began putting together places for them to sleep in the empty corner left. (Knowing that Jordan would be perfectly fine with another person staying for a bit.)

[Misty]

George gave the cashier lady his money in exchange for two tickets, a bag of popcorn, and a coke. He and John handed it off to the guy that stood at the podium in front of the room and joined Jordan. George sat down beside her, and John sat down on the other side of him.

"You can have some if you want," George offered, tilting the bag in her direction to clarify. Then the lights started flashing bright and dark across the room as the picture on the screen began to change, illuminating their faces in various colors and lights, and the movie started. George allowed himself to get swallowed up in the movie as he automatically ate the popcorn like a robot, hardly tasting it.

“George,” a voice hissed in his ear, causing him to jump as it jerked him from the virtual world the movie had sucked him up in and to spill some popcorn. “C'mon, Romeo, let’s get outta here.”

Jacques… The call of belonging. The call of family. The call of the gang. It was a sound he couldn't ignore. He had a duty, responsibility to the gang. And he couldn't let them down.

Glancing over, George met John's gaze, an exchange of a knowing glance. Then he glanced over at Jordan who appeared oblivious to anything that was going on outside of the movie. He almost wished he could go back into that zone. But that wasn't an option.

"Jordan," George set his hand on her shoulder to get her attention, his voice softening throughout the course of his speech. "I gotta go, but I'll see you again soon." He gazed deep into her hazel eyes, brushing the hair on her right side that came close to covering her eyes back behind her ear. "I promise." He thought about giving her a peck on the cheek, but he decided against it. That might make her uneasy.

Standing, George joined Jacques, and the brothers strode from the theater where they met four other guys who had been leaning against the wall just outside the theater waiting for them.

(John is still behind with Jordan, George gave the popcorn to Jordan, the drink is in the cupholder, just fyi)

[Kabitha]

Rab looked around. "It looks great. Thanks for letting me sleep here." He smiled. Out of the cold. Finally.

[Anwen]

Lita started at Analise's answer. A gang? How could...? She was interrupted in her thoughts as she saw how dark it was out. "Oh my!" She said, standing up. "I'm sorry Analise, I need to get home now." She smiled. "It was nice to see you again!"

[Misty]

Analise watched the motionless door, unable to set her mind on anything but the anxiety she felt for her brothers. John had already come home, saying George was out with Jacques. Joey was sleeping in her lap, the warmth of his body a comfort against her chest. Bandit lay at her feet, eyes closed in interupted slumber. The fire crackled, sending shadows dancing eerily across the walls, and a log snapped in half, sending sparks flickering up the sooty chimney.

She was tired, it was true. The day had warn her out as usual, and she knew that she would have to rise early the next morning for work. But she couldn't sleep, not with Jacques and George still out there in the streets. Jacques had sworn not to go out to gang affairs anymore, but Analise knew it was hard for someone to break away from a group that held a chain on them. He was thrown into the streets from birth, so how was he to end up any different? Who was there to take in a loner out on the streets but more guys? How was he to cope differently? Who was there to care whether he survived or not?

She did. She only wished Jacques could see that that was enough, and George too. He was following right in Jacques's footsteps; maybe more so, she thought. Jacques tended to be cool and collected, thinking before acting. George was hot and passionate, doing before thinking. George's chains would bind themselves far tighter than Jacques' ever did. And there was nothing she could do about it. They would do what they would. Perhaps one day they might work things out the right way.

[Hwin]

Jordan, having left the theater some time ago, had taken the long way home and was still walking. Tugging her jacket farther around her, she trugged on. "It better not snow anytime soon." Jordan softly whispered to herself. It was a pain to have wet jeans and feet, and a cold face, it hurt to think about it. As she passed all the fimiliar shops Jordan couldn't stop thinking about why George had to leave so suddenly. The voice must have been Jacques. But what about the other guys? And where was he going? These thoughts huanted her the whole way home. But when she made it to her place she noticed the lamps where lit. A sharp chill ran up her spine. Running out towards the back, Jordan carfully stood on her toes inorder to see through the high window. "Tucker!" Dropping, Jordan ran through the door.

"Your back!" She pushed her brown hair away from her face and ran into Tucker with a hug.

"Hey squirt, miss me?" Tucker said, returning the friendly hug.

Nodding her head in reply, Jordan noticed another person in the corner. Guessing him to be Tucker's friend, she turned and smiled at him.
"Hi, I'm Jordan...one of Tucker's pals. Who are you?"

[Misty]

Analise jumped, a painful jolt coursing through her chest as resounding thuds filtered through the door.

Bandit's snapped to attention at her feet, instantly jumping up into a sit as he turned his eyes on the door.

Gently lifting Joey's head, she replaced her lap with a small pillow, gingerly standing. She almost didn't grab the knife on her way over, nearly positive that it must be Jacques and George; but, hesitating, Analise finally grabbed the knife, flipped it open, and headed for the door, Bandit at her heels. Better safe than sorry, she thought. She would rather be caught too prepared and unnecessarily armed than unarmed when she might need to be.

She flipped the blade out and grabbed the hilt firmly in her hands, her thumb pressed against the blade as it ran down the side. If she happened to need to use it, the way she held it would aid in accuracy, sureness, and power.

Unlocking the door, Analise clutched the knife harder, turned the knob, and opened it a crack.

Someone outside moaned.

Analise opened the door the rest of the way to see George and Jacques standing in front of her. She barely had time to vaguely notice that George's lip was swollen, and blood was trickling down his chin. Jacques swayed in front of her, his eyes looking distant, and then he fell. Letting out a squeaky, "Ack!" of surprise, Analise threw the knife to the side and wrapped her arms around Jacques's shoulders, his body bowing out like a banana as he was tall, and his shoulders were typically at the height of her head. George plodded forward with a slight limp, grabbed Jacques's arm, and pulled it over his neck. Analise pulled Jacques's other arm over her neck like he did, and the two pulled him into the house, his feet dragging across the floor behind them.

"Joey," Analise directed her brother, who was awake and was now peering over the back of the couch at them with wide eyes, "Get up an' close the door."

Scrambling to his feet, all traces of sleep gone, he scurried to the door and shut it. The lock clicked.

"Dey targeted 'im," George said as he and Analise pulled Jacques up onto the couch. He was so much heavier than Analise had ever tried to assume he was; it was like dragging a bag of rocks, he was dead limp. But still conscious. She could see that he could see what was going on around him. "I don' undershtand why," he continued, his speech somewhat slurred as he spoke around his fat lip. "I tried'a stop dem, but dey ignored me. Jush' kep' goin' aroun'."

"Wha's goin' on," John's voice joined the group. One look at the answer, and he whirled around. "I'll get de first aid kit."

"Tisn't so bad," Analise said, keeping her voice even. She knelt at Jacques's side to get a closer lip. His right eye was swelling nearly shut, the skin darkening around it. There was a gash across his eyebrow on that side. There was another bruise blossoming on his left cheek. "I'll take care of this," she assured him, brushing her finger down the right side of her face, her cool fingers against his burning face.

John returned, dropping the small plastic box by her side and kneeling to open it for her.

Shuffling through the supplies, Analise tended to the cut, cleaning it with anticeptic, drying lightly, applying neosporin, and taping the gash shut with a butterfly bandaid. They were supposed to work as well as stitches.

"There'ya'go." She patted him on the shoulder, and his good eyebrow twitched.

"It hurts to breathe," he sighed with a shallow breath, his speech soft and distorted from pain.

George hid his face in shame as Analise pulled Jacques's shirt up and gasped. The skin across his chest and stomach was colored with splotches of purple, brown, and blue. His chest rose and fell in quick shallow rises. He was trying not to stretch the tortured skin as much as possible. And that most likely wasn't the only thing bruised. Some ribs probably were too. She turned her gaze on George, expression hard.

"Dey liked'a punch just fine," George offered, "but dey enjoyed kicking even more."

And most likely they weren't in fuzzy house slippers.

"Jacques, I'm callin' Isaac," Analise said. "You ain't workin' t'morrow." His eyebrows wrinkled in protest, and then he winces, straightening his face back to an emotionless mask. He couldn't protest. His face hurt too much to show expression, his chest hurt too much to speak, and his body probably hurt too much to move. He had to accept the fact. He didn't have the ability to work tomorrow, whether he wanted to or not.

Leaving the boys all with a cup of warm sweet tea, her supposed antidote for everything, and a plate of warm 'grilled' cheese, Analise went to her room to try and get as much rest as she could in the few hours she had left before work.

[Kabitha]

Rab smiled back at the girl. "I'm Rab, thanks for letting me stay here, Jordan."