The Streets, Day 2 (02-03-2317)

[Cytherea]

Camri helped Sydny to his feet, and he stood, a bit wobbly now. After all the excitement, he felt tired and injured again. He took a step and glanced at Camri.
"Do you mind if I lean on you?"
She shrugged, and he put his arm around her shoulders for support. He tried not to grimace as he walked, but what Jubin said was true. The injury he had received from the other thug had reopened his old wound from many years ago.
That had been a close call. Jubin nearly did kill me that day, and I've never fully recovered. I hope this wound doesn't kill me.
"Camri, I really am sorry for everything. If I hadn't run into you, then none of this would have ever happened. And now, this injury in my chest has reopened an old injury, that nearly killed me before. I hope your sister can help, because otherwise, the wound will... well, it'll kill me this time."

Cassandra stiffened as the footsteps got closer and closer. She glared angrily at where the footsteps were coming from.
I can't even have a moment to cry, for the love of pete! But that's all the better. I don't know why I'm crying like such a ninny.
She stood up and tried to wipe away her tears, but it was hard since she was still crying. She didn't know (or barely care) what whoever was coming was going to do to her.
She'd face them anyway.

[Lithium]

Camri

Camri rolled her eyes. "Quit being melodramatic. I don't let anyone die on my watch and it's not like your internal organs are falling out. We've had that before and my sister brought the poor guy through it. He does complain of often having indigestion, though. She might've put them back in when they were a bit twisted up."

Sydny leaned against her and Camri sighed. "It would probably be better if I carried you. I mean, you're not that heavy and I've carried bigger."

She let go of him, leaned over and put her over one of her shoulders. She groaned with the weight. He's heavier than I thought. But no going back, now.

Shoving the alleyway door open, she pushed into the sunlight and began to slowly make her way to the street. She could feel the blood from his wound soaking into the cotton of her shirt. She sighed again and kept going.

Matty
Matthew paused in his walking and turned. Sniffling? From an alleyway? Alleyways don't cry. He looked down the alleyway, which were lined with several dumpsters and a rusted-out disused hovercar that had once been painted a shining chrome-blue.

I'd better look and see what's going on.

He strode into the alleyway, passed the first dumpster and looked behind it.

What the–– A teenaged girl with a dirty, tear-stained face looked up defiantly at him. He closed out the emotions from his features like he was closing a window on the desktop of his computer. All that was left was the twist of a smile, to let her know he was friendly, and the protective glance of an older brother.

"Are you all right, Miss? I'd say, judging by your attire, you're a long way from home. Do you need some help? I'm Glen, by the way. Glen Beckenhild."

Ah, my street name. It's nice to use it again. I hate having to bear the burden of people gawking or looking awkwardly at me.

[Cytherea]

Cassandra stared at the young man.
He can't be a thug. He's too handsome for that. But they can't all be ugly, can they? The baker probably sent him to trick me into coming back with him.
"Are you alright, Miss? I'd say, judging by your attire, you're a long way from home. Do you need some help? I'm Glen, by the way. Glen Beckenhild."
Miss? Miss??!!!
Casandra tried to keep her glare strong, but tears just kept coming. What she had meant to be a harsh remark came out in a terribly girlish sob.
Finally, able to stand him no longer, she flung herself into his arms.
"Take me back to that rotten baker, since that's what you're here for! I don't care anymore! Just get it done with!"

Sydny wished he was walking.
He knew it was hard for Camri to carry him, but also the way she was carrying him jostled him with every step.
"You're right. I'm never melocramatic, or melodramanitic, or whatever it was. It sounds terrible. Life is so much better when..." Camri landed harder than she had meant to as she ran, and he tried not to groan. "When you accept happy little things." he said weakly.
She didn't say anything, and Sydny felt ignored. They continued running and groaning, until Sydny couldn't take it anymore.
"Hey, you know, I think I can walk, if it's not much farther. I don't want indigestion without my internal organs falling out."

[Lithium]

Camri
"Hey, you know, I think I can walk, if it's not much farther. I don't want indigestion without my internal organs falling out."

Camri laughed. "It's about twelve blocks away. Think you can make it?"

She let him off of her back and to the ground.

Matthew
"Take me back to that rotten baker, since that's what you're here for! I don't care anymore! Just get it done with!" The girl said after standing up and throwing herself into his arms.

"It's all right, Miss. Take it easy." He took hold of her upper arms and held her out at arm's length. "I'm not here because of any baker. I'm here because I heard a damsel in distress and found I couldn't resist the urge to play the hero. And what a fine figure you cut for a damsel. Most heroes can only hope that the woman they rescue will be wealthy and at least fair looking. But I must have rescued the goddess of beauty herself."

He looked her over again. "Yes, you're quite far from home. I'd say you live on the other side of town–– the Royale section. I can take you back there as your escort. It's dangerous in these parts."

[Cytherea]

"Twelve blocks? Eh... well, why not? Exercise is good."
As they walked, Sydny tried to keep his balance, and he thought more about Camri.
I wonder if she really is a Royale in disguise. She cuts the descriptions, though she's not that silly like some of them are. What did she say she did again?
"So, you said you were a... ladies maid?"

If this guy wasn't so persuasive and handsome, (and if she wasn't in such a state) Cassandra would've blown up.
That's the third time he's called me miss! And then, goddess of beauty and damsel! Who does this guy think he is?
"Listen, I'm no goddess, I'm no damsel, and I'm no miss! If you want to call me anything, call me Cassandra. And yes, I am far from what used to be my home, and I haven't eaten in two days, and I think it's starting to get to me!" One of her silky red locks fell over her shoulder. He still held her out at arm's length.
"I can take you back there as your escort. It's dangerous in these parts." Cassandra remembered his words. Take her back?
"Take me back? To where? I'm homeless now! And I've got no home to return to, at least that wants me. Also, I can handle dangerous parts of Subterria, just not the others parts. And why are you here anyway if the baker didn't send you?"

[Anwen]

Will couldn't see much from inside the truck, but, since he got out every couple of minutes, that didn't matter much. There had been an increase in mail ever since a Miss Fletcher had moved into the city. It had been all over the news, and it seemed that there was at least one package for her every day. The next stop, The Fletcher Mansion.

__________________________________

Litonya stormed out of Peterson house, still flushed and unhappy. Why! she screamed in her head. Why did Jerek ever get tangled up in that nonsense! She was losing hairpins quickly, as she ran as fast as she could from that place. Finally, her updo became completely undone and her lush shining hair tumbled around her ankles. She came to a hill and stood, looking down on Subterria, her hair blowing in the chill wind all about her. Bringing silent tears to her eyes as she cooled the fire of her anger and shock.

Why do you stand far off, oh God my Lord?

Lita startled herself with the phrase, part of Psalm 10, that she began singing softly, quaveringly. She continued it, however, and threw herself into it, swept away by the perfectness of it.

And why in times of trouble do You hide?
The wicked in their hate cannot afford
To spare the poor from persecuting pride.
Let them be caught as all their schemes collide.
He boasts of lust which from his heart arises;
He blesses greedy men and God despises.

The wicked gloat, and in their pride of face,
Will not seek after God or think of Him.
Their ways are always grievous to His grace,
And all His judgments seen as blurred and dim.
They puff at coming dangers fell and grim,
As in their hearts they say they can’t be shaken,
And claim they cannot be in troubles taken.

Their mouths are full of cursing and deceit,
And under their vain tongues is mischief wrought.
Their words seek ways soon to defraud and cheat;
They lurk in alleys and from hiding sought
The blood of innocents; the poor are caught
They lie in wait, their nets are laid down slowly;
They set their traps; they scheme to catch the lowly.

They crouch beside their traps and are disgraced.
They wait to catch the poor by their own hand,
And say within their hearts, “God hides His face,
He has forgotten us; our schemes will stand.
For God will never see what we have planned.”
Arise, our Lord and God, bring Your salvation
And save the humble from humiliation

Why do the wicked thus condemn the Lord?
Why do they think He will not judge their sin?
Our God has seen it all and lifts His sword;
God marks the mischief and the spite within
Their evil hearts – His judgments soon begin.
O God the wicked scorn all true repentance.
The fatherless rely upon Your sentence.
O God, come down and break their evil arms.
Seek out their sins and chase them all away.
The Lord is king, and freed from all alarms
We rest in Him; the heathen fade away.
O Lord, You always hear the humble pray
As You prepare their hearts for Your own blessing.
You hear their cry and judge all vain oppressing.

[Lithium]

Camri
"So, you said you were a... lady's maid?"

"Yup. And a part time landscaper. Just when the old gardener needs some help transplanting some new purple roses or something. Why?"

Camri lead him down the street, took a left and continued down. "My house is on this street."

Matty
Matthew resisted the urge to become cross. No emotion. No emotion. You don't even know this girl.

"So are you one of those Royales who feels bad about living so pretty and so you turn from your life of privilege and become a Subterrean? That doesn't normally work out. You poor souls can't take care of yourselves unless you've been trained and grown accustomed to a life in the streets."

He ran his fingers through his hair. "Sorry. That was impolite. I meant take you to where I live so you can get a decent meal and have a nice rest. I don't normally live there. I've got... a full-time job that I practically have to live at. You'd have the whole house to yourself. I could bring you food."

(When are we going to wrap this day up?)

[Cytherea]

"Oh, I just don't know much about you, I guess. Though you shouldn't ask me what I do. I'm afraid it'll crack you up.
She looked at him strangely. Her face indicated, Alright, I'm not asking with words. Sydny sighed.
"Alright, I'll tell you." he paused for a moment before continuing. "I babysit."

"So are you one of those Royales who feels bad about living so pretty and so you turn from your life of privilege and become a Subterrean? That doesn't normally work out. You poor souls can't take care of yourselves unless you've been trained and grown accustomed to a life in the streets."
Cassandra was astonished. Most boys she met never were that straightforward. For once in her life she was speechless. Her quietness must have gotten him upset, because he quickly apologized as he ran his fingers through his hair.
"Sorry. That was impolite. I meant take you to where I live so you can get a decent meal and have a nice rest. I don't normally live there. I've got... a full-time job that I practically have to live at. You'd have the whole house to yourself. I could bring you food."
"Food..." she said, still in a daze. She quickly snapped herself out of it. "That'd be wonderful. But first, I have to clarify something to you. I didn't run away from my home because I was sick of so many privileges and things. I ran away because my family didn't love me nor want me. In fact, nobody does."

[Lithium]

Camri
"I babysit."

Camri crushed her urge to laugh by quickly saying, "I've heard stranger. And, my sister is technically a black-market doctor. Being a Subterrean, she's not allowed to provide healthcare to anyone. So I would appreciate it if you didn't tell anyone else about her work."

They walked a ways longer (well, Sydny more limped and lurched, but, anyways...) until they reached a shabby, red-brick apartment complex.

"Oh, crud! I forgot about the stairs. The elevator has been broken for weeks now and since we've only got one or two trained and inexpensive electricians, they haven't been able to come out yet."

She looked up. "We live on the second floor."

Matty
"I have to clarify something to you. I didn't run away from my home because I was sick of so many privileges and things. I ran away because my family didn't love me nor want me. In fact, nobody does."

Matthew resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "Okay, I doubt that. I'm sure they care very much for you, even if they don't understand you. And, why else would you run to Subterria? I mean, you could have arranged to stay with a friend at a flat. Unless you're one of those kids who didn't make any. But then again, you could have saved your allowance and then rented one. Or asked to move out. Or go to the university."

He looked her over again, then let go of her. "I'm sorry. I'm babbling now. It doesn't really matter, though. You're here now and there's no way I can force you to go back against your will and I'm not going to waste any energy trying to convince you. So, hows about I drop you off at my place, run out to get you some things and then we can have some dinner together and you can enlighten me about who you are."

He walked down the alleyway, reached the end of it, just near the street and then looked back at her. "Well, you coming, Cassandra?"

[Cytherea]

Two stories?! Oh no, I've been holding out for a while, and now I'm doomed! But I can't let her know that. Then she'll carry me up again, and... ugh, I don't want to be jostled anymore, and I know it's hard for her to carry me.
"Don't worry. I'll make it up."
They slowly started up the stairs. With every step, Sydny regretted ever choosing to walk up them. Camri carrying him would even be better than this, but he had already decided to walk/crawl up them, and he was determined to accomplish his goal.
They climbed for what seemed like a decade, until they finally reached the top. Sydny felt dizzy, and when he stood up (he'd resorted more to the crawling up than the walking) he nearly threw up. He jerked forward to where Camri was leading him, and she unlocked one of the doors. To Sydny there was halls and halls of doors, and they were spinning. She opened the door and walked inside. Sydny stumbled after her.
"Camri! You're back! How..." her sister stopped when she saw Sydny.
"Pleased to meet you..." Sydny said, holding out his hand for her to shake it. She couldn't because his hand shook and jerked all over the place.
I can't believe I feel so tired. I don't think... I don't think I can stay awake. I don't think I can move...
Sydny was wrong, because he lurched forward onto their floor, unconscious.

"Well, you coming, Cassandra?"
Cassandra glanced once more about the alley before slowly walking towards him. Something just didn't seem right about it all. Something didn't seem right about Glen.
Nobody invites you to their house like that. Nobody's that nice. So why is he?
She followed him through some twists and turns, and didn't try to memorize any of it. She remembered him say something about food, and it was almost all she could think about now.
At least when I was living with my parents I was fed, even if the food tasted bland. Those evenings were terrible. Not a word was said to me by either of my parents, except for please and thank you. I wonder why Glen didn't believe me?
They finally reached what was his house, she supposed, because he stopped and unlocked the door. They walked inside and he flicked the lights on.
The house, for a Subterrean home, anyway, was pretty sweet. The light was bright, the table and chairs were well made, and the windows were sturdy. (The window thought brought back some bad memories that included soggy bread.)
"Nice place." she muttered.

[Lithium]

***I'm going to make a character bio for Sol as well***

Camri
There was a boy. Passed out in Camri's house. She held her head in her hands and sighed.

Sol pursed her lips. "I'm not going to ask how this happened until we get him situated. Then I expect you to tell me everything."

"Yeah, yeah." She waved her twin away. "Help me move him into our bedroom, will you? He can stay here and you can watch him. I'll sleep in Mom's room."

Sol nodded, then picked up Sydny's feet. Camri wrapped her arms under and around his and picked up her end.

"Ready? Move."

They shuffled their way into a small bedroom with two large windows that took up a whole wall and went from ceiling to floor. They were covered with some thin curtains.

"Here we are, Sydny," Camri murmured. "You'll be nice and taken care of now."

“Are there any wounds on his back or posterior?” Sol asked as she unbuttoned what was left of his shirt.

“No.” Camri’s head spun as nausea overtook her. She clenched her chest and kept down the bile. "Just there. He said it was an old wound that just got opened up."

"Yes, I'd say that's right. It's severed along parts of the scar tissue and the scarring is puckered, but somewhat faded, suggesting it was old and probably not stitched up properly."

"Yeah, that's nice. Can you fix him up now, Sol. You know how I feel about blood."

"All right. You can leave."

Camri left the room, closed the door and leaned up against the wall. Oh, God Almighty, why did you make me so terrified of blood?

The sun quickly set on the house and the streets lights flooded on before she heard a moan from their room.

"Camri! I'm not done stitching! Grab the local anesthetic!"

Camri ran to the closet while Sol tried to reassure Sydny. She pulled out a little clear bottle and a fresh syringe.

She opened the door to the bedroom. The blood was mostly cleared from the wound and it was partly stitched.

Sydny moaned a bit more as Sol finished one of her stitches.

"Thanks Camri."

Matty

"Nice place," Cassandra murmured.

"Thanks. I had to work hard for it."

Matty turned from the window overlooking the street and said to her, "I don't have much food here and I'm thinking you need some clothes and some basics. So I'm going to run out for a bit. I have an extra bedroom, furnished, that you can use." He nodded towards the door on the left. "And I keep my door locked when I'm not in it, so don't even think of looking through my stuff.

He smiled warmly at her, then went to the door again. He turned around and tossed her a key. "You'll need this. It's the spare, but I'll make another one when I'm out. I should be back soon."

Matthew closed the door behind him and walked down the street and into the nearest convenience store.

[Cytherea]

Sydny jolted forward. Someone had just injected him with a needle. He despised needles.
"Hey, hey, calm down. You need to lie still, and let me finish what I'm doing. The more you move, the harder it'll be for me to finish, okay?"
Sydny swallowed down his anxiety the best he could.
"What did you give me?" he finally managed, with a cough.
"Anesthetic. It'll numb you so that you don't feel pain."
"Oh..."
Sure enough, Sydny couldn't feel anything in his body hardly at all after a few moments. He tried to look around the room.
"Where's... where's Camri?"
(hope you don't mind, but I used Sol a bit, so I could continue)

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, I keep it locked." Cassandra said, imitating his voice. "Don't even think about going in there. Ha! He even gave me the key!"
She walked to the door leading to his room. She stuck it into the lock, and was about to turn it when she felt a nagging feeling that she'd never experienced before.
"Well..." she said to herself. "Maybe later."
She left the key in the lock and explored the rest of the house. When she found the bathroom, she quickly took a shower and dressed in some of Glen's clothes.
"There's nothing else, except my old ones, and they defeat the purpose of even getting clean in the first place."
She started walking into the kitchen, and as she passed, she eyed the key in the door again. She was thinking about looking inside, but again felt that feeling. Instead she just continued into the kitchen. She looked inside the fridge.
"Well, it's not much, like he said, but at least it's decent. He even has bacon and eggs in here!"
She took them out of the fridge and eyed it curiously.
"He has been so nice to me, I'll do something out of my character, and be nice to him, and cook for him. I'll make eggs and bacon." she said, with a determined smile. She got a skillet and put it on the stove and turned the heat on.
She cracked the eggs into the skillet and then cut the bacon.
When she returned to the eggs, she could barely get them off the bottom of the pan, and when she did, they were black on the other side.
"Oh drat. I hope he likes them a bit over done."
She fried the bacon when she got the eggs out of the skillet. Then she set the table with plates, napkins, and forks. She rushed into the kitchen when she smelt something strange, and quickly turned off the stove. She pried the burnt-to-a-crisp bacon from the skillet and put some on each of their plates. Then she put the plates out on the table.
"He'll be so happy." she said. She glanced at the key once more, and was thinking once again about unlocking it and going inside when the door opened and Glen walked in.

[Lithium]

(Don’t worry about it. She’s not an offical character yet. In fact, I can just leave her like this and we can both make her speak.)

Camri
“Where’s Camri?”

Sol sighed. “Between you and me, she can’t stand medical procedures. Or doctors. She likes me well enough, but…” She smiled. “Anyways, I’m almost done. Then you can get some rest. You’ll need to stay here for a few days so I can be sure you don’t get blood poisoning.”

Delicately poking through the skin with her needle, Sol finished the stitching neatly and efficiently. “67 stitches. Not quite a record, but some of the most I’ve given.”

She put away her things. “Now you try to get some rest. I’ve got to interrogate my sister.”

Sol left the room and commenced a rather loud and one-sided conversation with her sister.

“What do you mean you ran into the Coppers? Again!? Camri, I told you! Never use the same tactic twice in a row. Or the same hiding place. You’ve probably put this boy in danger!”

“Well he was kind of already in danger on his own,” Camri muttered. “He doesn’t need any help from me in the area of making trouble.”

Sol quieted down. “He seems like a nice boy. We’ll need to move the bookcase in front of his door anyways.”

Camri rolled her eyes. “Sydny’s not like that.”

Sol shrugged. “All right, then.”

Matty
The acrid stench of burnt… Bacon? Burnt bacon? And… eggs? wafted through the room and Matthew wrinkled his nose. He strode into the kitchen and set down his bags.

“Thank you for not burning the house down, but you obviously know nothing about cooking.” Matthew smiled. “No offense or anything.”

He opened the paper bag and took things out of it. “Eggs. Milk. Bread. Apples. Oranges. Lunchmeat.” He looked up. “I didn’t know if you were one of those people who doesn’t eat ham, so I got turkey, too.” He set the things in the fridge. “Cheddar cheese. Butter. Lettuce. Ramen. You can’t screw up Ramen. It’s kind of impossible.”

He came to the bottom of the bag and dumped out the black and white plaid pajamas he had bought and the toothbrush, toothpaste and hairbrush.

“If you need a comb, I’ve already got one. I don’t really have enough hair for a hairbrush though. And here’re some pajamas. I see you’re wearing my clothes. They don’t quite fit, but no matter. We can get you some girl’s clothes in the morning.”

He turned and looked at the front door. “Oh! I forgot to lock it. Can’t do that in a neighborhood like this.”

Matthew walked up to it, locked it, then turned around. His piercing blue eyes focused in on the key still in the lock on the door.

“Tempting, right? Very tempting to look through a room someone says don’t look into. Don’t you agree?”

He took the key from the lock and handed it to her. “I wouldn’t blame you for not trusting me, Cassandra. In fact, I’m surprised you didn’t go in.”

[Cytherea]

When Sydny awoke, he still felt tired. He didn't remember falling asleep, but here he was waking up.
He lay in the bed he was on, and tried to get up. When he tried, he felt tired all over again, and decided not to. He just laid there for a while, until boredom almost took him to sleep, when someone came into the room. Whoever it was saw he was awake and sat down in a chair beside the bed.
"How do you feel?"
"Tired." Sydny managed a smile at the girl. "I presume you're Camri's sister. What's your name?"
"It's Sol."
"I've heard that you know a lot about medicine. I understand I have you to thank for my life. And Camri as well. Where is she anyway? There's not any blood now!"
"Oh, I'll send her up." a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. "It probably won't take too much convincing."

“Thank you for not burning the house down, but you obviously know nothing about cooking.” Matthew smiled. “No offense or anything.”
Cassandra bit down on her lip, hard. She tasted blood in her mouth, but still kept biting it.
All the work I did. Everything I tried to make nice. Even how nice I've been. It's all just a scam, and so's he! I can't believe I was so naive to not have looked through his junk!
He said some more, though she wasn't listening. He unpacked a the bag he had brought with him, but she didn't see the items. She felt the hot, shameful tears long to roll down her cheeks.
Everywhere I go people see me as a failure! I know he's just pretending to be nice. But yelling at him won't help, though he deserves it.
Slowly, Cassandra started cleaning up the table. She picked up the plates and napkins and forks and walked into the kitchen without saying a word. She threw the bacon and eggs she had worked hard to make into the trash and gingerly washed the plates and put them away. She thought about cleaning the skillet, but decided not to when she saw how burnt it had become.
She walked back out into the main room with a rag and wiped down the table, still not speaking.
I guess I'll just have to get used to this. Solitude. No yelling. Just boredom. Cassandra thought as she walked back into the kitchen with the rag she decided she might as well work on the skillet since she had so much time, and started cleaning it.
She heard Glen walk and stand in the doorway. She just kept cleaning.

[Lithium]

Camri
Sol exited the bedroom and walked into the living room where Camri was slumped over on the couch. Her eyes were closed.

Putting one hand on her shoulder, Sol woke Camri and said, "Sydny would like to talk to you."

"What?" Camri's eyes flew open and she stood up quickly. "Is everything all right? I don't have to consult an undertaker or find his parents?"

"No to the undertaker, yes to finding his parents. He can't go with you, so you'll have to get his address."

Camri walked down the hall into the bedroom and sat down in the chair next to Sydny. "What's up?"

Matthew
"Oh, you're crying. I've hurt your feelings." Matthew studied her closely from his spot next to his door. "I must have forgotten to warn you that I have poor people skills and my tact isn't what it's supposed to be. I'm pretty blunt and if I hurt your feelings or criticize something, I don't normally mean that you've done something wrong or should feel ashamed. I mean, sulking and pitying yourself just won't cut it. You've got to improve."

He paused. "That was wrong, too. If you can't tell, I have a difficult time speaking with those of the opposite gender who tend to be... what shall we call it so I don't offend you further? Not emotional. Not... oh, what's the point? I can't be PC. And if you're going to live like a Subterrean, that's almost the first lesson. Don't expect people to be delicate about your feelings."

Walking over to the fridge to pull out some bread, cheese, meat and lettuce, he started to assemble a sandwich for himself. "Can you make your own? Maybe I can send a girl over to help teach you how to cook. You meet plenty of nice people around here, if you know where to look. Oh! And if you need any help, just ring next door. I mean the house, not the apartment complex. Don't go over there. Apartments tend to be rough. Anyways, in the house next door, there's a young man who will normally be around to help you. His name's Gage. He's engaged to this wonderful young lady named Sol Brighton. I think their nuptials are coming up, actually. Maybe you could go with me to the wedding."

He laughed at himself. "And now I'm babbling again. I tend to think out loud. Sorry." He smiled his warmest and most charming smile towards her, then picked up his sandwich, sat down and started to eat.

"By the by, I noticed that you did a fantastic job setting the table. Do you also know how to do dishes? Maybe you could try to get a job at a local eats. They have some nice ones in lower Royalia. You wouldn't have to worry about getting accosted by enamored young gentlemen. And they couldn't refuse to hire you. You're too pretty. You'd be a fantastic asset to them. Oh! Second lesson in Subterrean living: play everything to your strengths."

[Anwen]

Lita surprised herself with her vehemence as the end of her song. She quickly and deftly braided her hair so that it would be out of the way, and put it up inside her hood. She walked through the lazy part of the afternoon, where Royales got out of school and she needed to help with putting everything away, and taking charge of Patrick again. She came in through the back door just as the O'Shea troop of kids came through the front, chattering excitedly about school. Lita hung up her coat and left the back mudroom, grabbing a couple hairpins in the bathroom on her way to the parlor. The O'Shea kids turned to Lita when she came in and started babbling about the school. "What happened?" Lita said once they had calmed down.

"The High-school burned down!"

[Cytherea]

Camri walked down the hall into the bedroom and sat down in the chair next to Sydny. "What's up?"
"Well... not much."
Camri looked at him and her eyes basically said, So, why did you want to see me?
"I... I guess I don't have much to talk about, but for thanking you for taking me all the way to your home."
She didn't say anything, but Sol did, who had just entered into the room.
"We really should contact your parents, Sydny. They should know about your condition and take you home."
Sydny didn't say anything for a long while.
"Well, that'll be mighty hard, seeing as their dead."

Walking over to the fridge to pull out some bread, cheese, meat and lettuce, he started to assemble a sandwich for himself. "Can you make your own? Maybe I can send a girl over to help teach you how to cook. You meet plenty of nice people around here, if you know where to look. Oh! And if you need any help, just ring next door. I mean the house, not the apartment complex. Don't go over there. Apartments tend to be rough. Anyways, in the house next door, there's a young man who will normally be around to help you. His name's Gage. He's engaged to this wonderful young lady named Sol Brighton. I think their nuptials are coming up, actually. Maybe you could go with me to the wedding."
He laughed at himself. "And now I'm babbling again. I tend to think out loud. Sorry." He smiled his warmest and most charming smile towards her, then picked up his sandwich, sat down and started to eat.
Cassandra grabbed a plate and quickly made herself a sandwich, consisting of the things Glen's had, though it didn't look much like Glen's did.
I can't even make a decent sandwich!
She took her plate and sat down across from him. She eyed him cautiously.
"By the by, I noticed that you did a fantastic job setting the table. Do you also know how to do dishes? Maybe you could try to get a job at a local eats. They have some nice ones in lower Royalia. You wouldn't have to worry about getting accosted by enamored young gentlemen. And they couldn't refuse to hire you. You're too pretty. You'd be a fantastic asset to them. Oh! Second lesson in Subterrean living: play everything to your strengths."
"There's something..." Cassandra chewed her bite of sandwich slowly. "There's something wrong with you." she put her sandwich down on her plate, already half of it gone. "No Subterrean is like you, and even I who hasn't met very many Subterreans can see the difference." she leaned across the table towards him, her face close to his. "You. Don't. Talk. Like. A. Subterrean."

[Lithium]

Camri
"Well, that'll be mighty hard, seeing as they're dead."

Sol gasped and Camri looked away.

"I am so sorry! How insensitive of me!" Sol exclaimed.

Camri waited a bit for Sol to calm down, then said, "Who do we need to notify so nobody worries? Do you take care of anyone? Does anyone take care of you?"

Matty
"No Subterrean is like you, and even I who hasn't met very man Subterreans can see the difference." She leaned across the table towards him, her face close to his. "You. Don't. Talk. Like. A. Subterrean."

Matthew raised one of his eyebrows. "Not all Subterreans talk like the stereotype you see in movies. A lot of that is just nonsense. I just happen to use a higher form of vocabulary. My job requires it."

He took another huge bite of his sandwich and made eye contact with her. "I would appreciate it if you didn't pry into my personal life. I will not be giving you any information, nor will anyone whom you meet be able or at leave to give you information. If that doesn't suit you, you can take your leave and have to find your own food."

[Cytherea]

"Well, I have a good friend, but he's awfully busy. He has a pretty well paying job, too, but his shifts are long and hard, and his boss has high standards. I know if you asked him, he would certainly let me stay at his house, but I'm afraid he might lose his job if he's slaving over me all day until his shift. Besides him, and you," he said to Camri, taking her hand, (not discrediting Sol on purpose, but just forgetting she was there). "I have no one else."
Camri blushed a little bit, and Sol quickly took over.
"Sydny, you're in no condition to go anywhere. You need to rest. Don't get stressed out, okay? Camri and I'll figure out what to do."

He took another huge bite of his sandwich and made eye contact with her. "I would appreciate it if you didn't pry into my personal life. I will not be giving you any information, nor will anyone whom you meet be able or at leave to give you information. If that doesn't suit you, you can take your leave and have to find your own food."
Cassandra sat back down in her chair, throwing up her arms in exasperation.
"Well whatever you say, however "pretty" I may be, I get discredited. I don't know why you don't believe me about my parents, because it's the truth, why you're hiding something, and why I never unlocked your door and looked through every item of yours! I was so naive!"

[Lithium]

Camri
“Yeah. Sol and I have got your back. Where does your friend live so we can drop a note to him?”

“Oh! Maybe I can stop in and see if he’s at home on my way to Gage’s house!” Sol said excitedly. “If it’s on the way of course.”

“You’re going to Gage’s house?”

“Yeah. We have to finish planning the honeymoon. I’m thinking we should borrow a cab and… oh. I forgot. Sydny? Can you tell me where your friend lives?”

Matty
"Well whatever you say, however "pretty" I may be, I get discredited. I don't know why you don't believe me about my parents, because it's the truth, why you're hiding something, and why I never unlocked your door and looked through every item of yours! I was so naive!"

“Huh. Possibly. I have very few things to hide from you, but they may be revealed in time.” Matthew paused and shoved the rest of his sandwich into his mouth, chewed and swallowed. “When you prove you can be trusted. I will tell you: I have people looking to kill me, so I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t go around asking about me or telling anyone what I look like. To them, I’m a criminal.”

He turned away and muttered bitterly, “A criminal for taking up my birthright and providing for my family.”

Going to the sink, Matty rinsed his dish. "Anyways, here's another rule for you. Call it the third rule in being a Subterrean: You can no longer afford self-pity. So I'd suggest forgetting all about your parents and everybody who ever said anything that drove you to choosing this."

He look up at her and smiled. "You're not worthless and you're not a waste of anyone's time. It is truly a pleasure to meet your acquaintance. I think you're fantastic. You're just different. And you need to find your gift and passion. Do you have anything you're particularly proud of?"

[Cytherea]

(Sorry, I have to consult with Anwen where Will lives!)

He look up at her and smiled. "You're not worthless and you're not a waste of anyone's time. It is truly a pleasure to meet your acquaintance. I think you're fantastic. You're just different. And you need to find your gift and passion. Do you have anything you're particularly proud of?"
Cassandra for once felt comfortable and smiled, an actual smile, not a forced one.
"Yeah, I do. They're my only thing I'm really proud of, but they're out there. I made them myself."
She picked up her plate and rinsed it off as well. Now that he was encouraging her and not acting immensely mysterious and foreboding, she felt at ease. She couldn't help but smile again.
"Normally I don't say this, but I know I was acting horrible before." she put her chin up. "After all, no self-pity now. But..." she considered something for a moment. "I don't know if I should reveal what I'm proud of yet. Over time."
She took his plate from his hands and dried both of them.
"And thank you for buying me those things." she put the plates away. "And another thing," she said, spinning around to face him, she waved her finger in front of his face. "Don't expect me to be so nice tomorrow. I don't know why I am right now, but I'm not used to it at all."
She walked into the dining room and picked up the pajamas.
"Another thing you somehow got right about me." she said with a little head shake and another smile. "I love plaid."

[Lithium]

Matty
"Another think you somehow got right about me." Cassandra smiled and shook her head an infinitesimal amount. "I love plaid."

Matthew laughed. "How did I know? I must be psychic or something!" He opened the dishwasher and set his plate inside, then looked at his watch. "Oh, dang. It's nearly 10! How the time flies. I'm gonna hit the sack. I've got a heavy work load tomorrow."

He went to his room, pulled out his key and unlocked it, then turned to Cassandra. "Good night. Sleep well."

Disappearing into his room, Matthew closed the door behind him. All you could hear was the rustle of fabric as he changed into a pair of pajama bottoms and then the rustle of sheets as he crawled into bed.

(That's it for Matty for this forum day.)

[Cytherea]

“Yeah. We have to finish planning the honeymoon. I’m thinking we should borrow a cab and… oh. I forgot. Sydny? Can you tell me where your friend lives?”
"Sure." Sydny tried to readjust in the bed, and Sol quickly propped a pillow up for him. "Thanks. So, he lives in a sort of mottled green colored house on the street where I ran into Camri. From where I was standing. He has an afternoon shift, so it's probably almost over by now. He'll just be finishing up his last rounds. Though, I think you could catch him tomorrow morning, too, since it's getting kind of late." he looked back at Sol, as if more thoroughly comprehending what she had said. "Honeymoon? Are you engaged?"

He went to his room, pulled out his key and unlocked it, then turned to Cassandra. "Good night. Sleep well."
Cassandra looked around the room she was standing in. She took the pajamas and changed in the bathroom, a little glad to be out of Glen's clothes. The pajamas were nice, and not too scratchy.
This'll be my best night ever since I left home. I'm full, I'm clean, and I'm able to sleep inside. Of course, I think he only has one bedroom, so I'm glad he has a couch, at least.
She found a blanket and snuggled onto the couch. It was an old sofa, but it was long and comfortable, which was what she liked the most about it. Her long, red, smooth tresses fell over the side of the couch gracefully (which she would have quickly fixed, had she not been nearly asleep already).
I wonder what I'll do tomorrow. I could try cooking again. I'm sure I could do better if I'm here all day and have more time. Of course... Cassandra interrupted herself as she yawned. Glen'll get upset again. But never mind what gets him mad. I'm going t learn how to cook. I will... she yawned again. Her eyelids grew heavy.
"I'll learn..."

[Anwen]

Will walked home in the twilight, aching after a long day of packages. There had been more sirens than normal and they had had to pull over for quite a while while ambulances and firetrucks zoomed by. He had a late dinner with Zane, his driver, consisting of cheap burgers and fries and pop. As he turned into the street where that blonde had run into Sydny, he chuckled as he saw that there was still a forgotten apple that had rolled into a corner.

However, his pale blue eyes turned hard when he saw blood smeared on the apple and, something else.

A scrap of cloth, dyed copper.

[Lithium]

Camri
"Honeymoon? Are you engaged?"

Sol blushed. "Yeah. It's been almost a year now. We got engaged after high school. Gage has just been getting everything settled and stable."

"She's quite the lucky young woman," Camri said. "Anyways, I'll escort Sol to Gage's house, then look for your friend. What's his name?"

(Camri will go out to find Will and then we can close the day.)