Just The Streets, Day 3 (02/04/2317)

[Lithium]

Matthew
Matty rolled over as he started to wake up. He read the numbers on his clock. 4:26. I'd better get up and get moving.

He hauled himself out of bed, pulled on some street clothes, went into the kitchen and left a note for Cassandra.

Will be back soon. Maybe around 4. Food in fridge. Gage is next door if you need anything. His fiance, Sol, might be in so feel free to ask her for help as well.

He slipped out the front door, made sure it was locked, then ran out into the fog and gloom of the early Subterria morning.

[Cytherea]

He was falling, farther and farther from reach. Cassandra stretched out her arm and tried to grab their hand, but he kept falling. She couldn't make out his features, but she could feel the urgency of the person calling out to her.
Finally, she grabbed the person's hand, and held tightly. She pulled with all her might, but the person fell even faster.
Suddenly, she was wrenched from them, and landed, hard, upon a rock. She pushed herself to the edge of the boulder and saw the person falling even farther, barely a speck now. She reached out with her hand, and, suddenly, the rock tipped forward and she slipped off, falling through black, endless nothingness. Ground suddenly loomed at her, and she braced herself for the impact. It would come in a few seconds... three... two... one!
Cassandra fell down upon the floor. She was breathing hard, but she pushed herself up.
"It's that same dream... again." she pushed her hair from her worried face. "Why do I keep having it! I can never save that person."
Shaking it off as best she could, she went and found more of Glen's clothes.
"I need to wash my other ones, though I don't know how."
She walked into the kitchen and saw a piece of paper on the counter. She picked it up and quickly read it.
Will be back soon. Maybe around 4. Food in fridge. Gage is next door if you need anything. His fiance, Sol, might be in so feel free to ask her for help as well.
"Hmm. I told myself I was going to learn to cook, so I might as well learn today." she looked in the fridge. "I'll probably need more eggs, though. I'll have something simple for breakfast."
She had another sandwich and then got on with her morning. The house soon smelled of burnt eggs, but by the end of the carton she had successfully made a good egg. As she advanced on to bacon, she carefully surveyed the house.
There was no one there. She closed the drapes, sighed, and then slowly started to sing. It was a sweet song, at least with her voice. One of her nurse maids when she was younger who had actually been rather nice to her taught her the simple song, and Cassandra had made it her own with flourishes and descants. Her voice was beautiful, which was why she never sang in front of anybody. She knew basically no songs besides the childhood ones she had been taught, and those were few.
She continued to sing her song and cut the bacon, and her cooking was actually improving.

[Lithium]

Matthew
Someone was singing. No. Not someone. An angel was singing in his home. What in all of OnNa...? How is this...?

He walked into the kitchen and found Cassandra making bacon. The air smelled distinctly acrid with burned food stuffs.

"I'm... uh, home." He ran his fingers through his hair. "I kind of forgot nobody was going into work today. I needn't have bothered. But... I did need to check in. Anyways! How about, once you master the art of bacon cooking, you and I can go and find you some proper girl's clothes. I don't think mine quite suit you."

Matty studied her slight form encased in his clothing. It was draped around her, the sleeves much too big, the pant legs far too long.

"Why didn't you mention you could sing like that? Thousands of girls would kill for a voice like yours. It's better than Quinn Tesler's. And I know she's a bad comparison. Disappeared... The government officials said she went stark, raving mad." He shrugged. "She was nice... a nice girl."

He shook his head. "Sorry. Anyways, just let me know when you're ready."

[Cytherea]

Cassandra nearly jumped out of her skin when she heard Glen's voice. She whirled around, her voice cut off suddenly.
"Why didn't you mention you could sing like that? Thousands of girls would kill for a voice like yours. It's better than Quinn Tesler's. And I know she's a bad comparison. Disappeared... The government officials said she went stark, raving mad." He shrugged. "She was nice... a nice girl."
"I... I..." Cassandra couldn't think. Never had anyone caught her singing before. She turned back to her bacon. "I never wanted more attention. At least not from the lazy boys in Royalia. They were already making fools out of themselves over me, and it always got me upset. My nurse maid thought I had a nice voice, but my mother..." she bit her lip, and then looked back at Glen. "Well, she never really appreciated my nurse maid's opinion." then, under her breath, she said, "Or mine."
There was a silence and Cassandra took the bacon from the pan. She put it onto a plate with her good egg on it and walked to Glen.
"Here. I made them." She handed the plate to him and waited expectantly. "Well, go on! Try them!" she said, indicating the plate. "They won't kill you this time!"

[Lithium]

Matty
"Well, she never really appreciated my nurse maid's opinion." Then, she muttered, "Or mine."

There was a silence and Cassandra took the bacon from the pan. She put it onto a plate with her good egg on it and walked to Glen.

"Here. I made them." Cassandra handed the plate to him and waited expectantly. "Well, go on! Try them! They won't kill you this time!"

Matthew laughed. "No one has ever said that to me before. But they sure do look good. Not even a touch of brown." He looked up at her. "You sure you don't want any. If not, I'll be glad to eat all of it."


Sighed deeply as he took a seat at the table, he said, "Anyways, your mother doesn't matter now. There's no point in running away from a poisonous influence if you're just going to let it affect you no matter where you are. Just forget about the people who don't appreciate you. If you make it big, they'll come crawling back, trying to make friends with you. They're the worst sort of people in this world. My father used to call them bootlicker-noseturners. It's kind of an old term, but he got it from his father, so..." He smiled.

[Cytherea]

They're the worst sort of people in this world. My father used to call them bootlicker-noseturners. It's kind of an old term, but he got it from his father, so..." He smiled.
Cassandra sat down across from him, but didn't smile.
"Well, everybody I knew when I was younger called the Subterreans fish guts from the overturned bucket, and that was just one!" she sighed. "Glen, have you ever wanted to be a Royale?"

[Lithium]

Matty
"Glen, have you ever wanted to be a Royale?" Cassandra asked him with a sigh.

Matty stopped chewing and looked up at her. "Full Royale? No. Not really. I mean, except for the opportunity to gain wealth and power, Royales aren't any better than Subterreans. In fact, if we could get some equality among the two groups, we might be able to fix the problems. But the cultures are so different. It's like right after the civil war in the 19th century, when the USA was still around. The blacks were freed from their slave masters, but the segregation was just getting started. It's not as bad as that yet, since we pretty much stay away from each other but..."

He stopped. "Sorry. That was way too long. If you didn't catch it, I'm only part Royale. My mother was a Subterrean. She died when I was rather young, so my father looked after me until he died. That's probably why I seem much different from other Subterreans."

[Cytherea]

"I've always felt more like a Subterrean than a Royale. My family has always been filthy rich, and my father works at a real estate corporation, but I got tired of having everything I needed whenever I needed it. Though..." she stopped and looked down. She folded her hands in her lap and sighed. "Never mind. Just... never mind. Uh, how are the eggs and bacon?" she stood up, walked into the kitchen, and poured a cup of water. She handed it to Glen. "I didn't learn how to make coffee yet."

[Lithium]

Matthew
"Uh, how're the eggs and bacon?" Cassandra asked. She poured a glass of water and handed it to him. "I didn't learn how to make coffee yet."

Matthew smiled. "They're good. And, do you drink coffee? I don't normally do so. I can run out and get some while you're trying on clothing."

Camri
Camri yawned deeply and looked over at her sister and her mother, sleeping peacefully in their bed. Both were still sound asleep. Sol's gentle honey-colored hair, far from Camri's peroxide-dyed white, fell in gentle waves around her peaceful face.

Putting her hands behind her head and leaning back against the pillow, Camri sighed deeply and studied the cracks in the ceiling. A cars rushed past on the street below as the sun peeped into the city below. The market-men and women were already shouting out their wares on on the market street two blocks away.

Feeling thirsty, she gently rolled out of bed, trying to not wake Sol or their mom, and left the room to go to the kitchen. She poured herself some water, drained the glass, then poured another and began to drink that too. Her stomach rumbled.

"I need sustinance," she muttered.

[Cytherea]

Glen smiled. "They're good. And, do you drink coffee? I don't normally do so. I can run out and get some while you're trying on clothing."
"Oh, you don't need to. I'll be fine." she smiled. "I'll be ready to leave whenever you are."

Sydny had barely slept. Something had been bothering him the whole night, besides his injury. His lids felt heavy, but he couldn't stop thinking.
I wish I could fall asleep. I'm so tired... but I can't. It's already morning. Why do I keep thinking about her? Ms. Mercaniule is anything from "sweet dreams".
He heard someone else walking around, and started to get out of the bed, before remembering that he was wounded. The night had been long and lonely, and he was hoping to see someone else besides people in his head. He sighed and slowly sunk back into the bed, too injured and tired to even stand up all the way.
I hope they don't go about their duties today and let me sleep. I know sleep is good for me, but I'm not getting any. And Ms. Mercaniule is, for some reason, stuck in my head. I'll be doomed if I keep thinking about her all day. All night was bad enough.

[Lithium]

Matthew
"Then we have no time to waste! I'll grab a sweatshirt for you and we can go." Matty rushed to his room, rummaged through some drawers, came running out to the basket of clean laundry and started rifling through it until he came up with a white and navy pull over sweat shirt. He tossed it Cassandra, bounded up, grabbed his wallet and jacket, opened the front door and turned around, a smile on his face.

"Well, you coming then?"

Camri
Camri heard the rustle of sheets from her room and remembered. Oh, right! We have guests. She grabbed a clean glass, poured some orange juice into it and crept into her room.

Sydny was wide awake. She smiled, then frowned. He had dark circles under his eyes. She looked at Will, who had stayed over and taken the other bed to keep Sydny company. He was still sleeping.

"Rough night sleeping?" Camri asked with a whisper. "Doctors can be stupid like that. They tell you to get rest when it's nearly impossible to. You can get some pain meds from Sol when she gets up." She set the juice on the side table next to him. "Need anything?"

[Cytherea]

"Well, you coming then?" Glen said to her with another smile. Cassandra pulled the jacket over her head, shook her hair out from under the hood, and then walked to the door. She smiled back.
"Of course I am, you dummy."
She walked through the door and into the chilly outside world. Glen locked the door behind him.
"So, I suppose you know your way around here pretty well. Where do we go first?"

"Rough night sleeping?" Camri asked with a whisper. "Doctors can be stupid like that. They tell you to get rest when it's nearly impossible to. You can get some pain meds from Sol when she gets up." She set the juice on the side table next to him. "Need anything?""I just got it." Sydny said. He took the juice and was about to drink but a worried look crossed his face, and he smelled the orange liquid. Relieved, he took a sip. "That sure beats perfume." he took another drink and then put the cup down. He sighed. "Yeah, I didn't sleep at all last night. I kept thinking about... nah. I don't have to worry you about anything unnecessary."

[Lithium]

Matty
"So, I suppose you know your way around here pretty well. Where do we go first?" Cassandra asked Matthew as they strolled into the icy street.

"Not sure. The best stores are where Sub-Jayye and Sub-Poplar meet. It's not too far away and it shouldn't be too expensive. Not that I can't afford it but..." He shrugged. "I like to save money where ever I can. How's about we hit the Sub-Jayye Outlet and see what's there. I'm pretty sure there's a shoe store. And some... clothing stores."

He scratched his head. "Not really sure..." He shrugged. "Anyways, follow me."

Taking her hand in his, he ran down the street, cutting through the people who crowded around stands for gamblers and charlatans. He rolled his eyes. Waste of time and money.

Camri
Camri shrugged. "If you need to get something off your chest, by all means, tell me. I can take it."

[Anwen]

Will rolled over in bed. No, I don't want to get up yet. He heard voices. "Yeah, I didn't sleep at all last night. I kept thinking about... nah. I don't have to worry you about anything unnecessary."

"If you need to get something off your chest, by all means, tell me. I can take it."

Well, the first voice was Puck's. The second voice was harder to remember; soft and low, probably trying not to wake him up. It was that girl... what was her name? Carmen, Carrie, Cam... Camri! He sat upright, taking in his surroundings and remembering last night. He looked over at Camri and Puck, his tousled brown hair falling almost into his eyes.

[Lithium]

Camri
Will sat up in bed and Camri turned to greet him. "'Morning! Mind getting up and helping me make breakfast for everyone? My sister is going to have to go to work in an hour or two and I'll need some help with the cooking for five of us."

She turned to Sydny. "Sorry. You'll probably just need to tell me later."

[Cytherea]

Glen grabbed Cassandra's hand and started running through the crowded streets. Some boys stared at Cassandra, but she ignored them and followed Glen closely.
After running for a while, Glen stopped in front of a building that was sort of classy, but still obviously Subterrean. He walked inside and Cassandra followed.
"Good morning! What may I do for you?" the lady asked from behind the counter. "We've a special today on lady's jeans."

Camri turned to Sydny. "Sorry. You'll probably just need to tell me later."
"Okay." Sydny said, a bit disappointed. He had wanted to talk to someone, or at least hear someone else's voice, but Camri and Will walked to the kitchen to make breakfast. Sydny took the glass of orange juice and drank it slowly and looked outside.
Even though early February, the weather was beautiful. There was a soft blanket of snow, but winter couldn't stop the sun from sending a little bit of warmth down through it's golden rays.
"What a great day to be stuck in bed."

[Lithium]

Matthew
"Good morning! What may I do for you?" the lady asked from behind the counter. "We've a special today on lady's jeans."

Matt smiled. "Perfect. Thank you." He turned to Cassandra. "Now, I'll agree to just about anything, as long as it's modest, it looks nice on you and it isn't frivolous. I guess you can get one party dress, but, I'm not sure when you'll get to use it." He smiled. "Maybe at Sol's wedding or––"

Something in his pocket vibrated. He winced. "I know it's old-fashioned, but I've got something against sticking things in your ears." He pulled a touch-screened phone out of his pocket and answered it. "What's up? Uh-huh. No. I don't think we should go. Chieko wants to go? You want to?" He paused, thinking. "All right, sweetheart. We can go. I'll... I'll dress up." He looked over at Cassandra, then back at the floor. "All right! See you tonight. Yes, I love you too."

He hung up the phone and pushed it back into his pocket. "Sorry, Cassandra. After we do some shopping, I need to tell you something, then take you into Royalia. And, yes, I have a pass into it. I'll explain when I... when I explain everything." He ran his fingers through his hair. Gosh, she'd going to hate me. And there goes our trust. Or what little we had.

"Go on! Pick what you want and try it on."

Camri
Sol rolled out of bed, careful not to jostle her mother, who was sitting up in bed, reading. People were moving pans and pots in the kitchen rather loudly.

She got out of the bedroom and went into the kitchen to find Camri and Will.

"Camri! You? Cooking? What has gotten into you? You know that's my job," she chided. "You go in and keep Sydny company. I'll take over from here. Will, could you grab the eggs? They're in the fridge."

Camri sighed, went back to Sydny's room and knocked on the door. She opened it and peeked her head in. "Can I come in. I've been instructed to keep you company. You can tell me now."

[Cytherea]

"All right! See you tonight. Yes, I love you too."
Cassandra eyed him carefully.
Ah, so he has a girl. That's good for him. She's a lucky girl.
Cassandra was shocked at herself for thinking that, but before she could really expand on it, Glen turned to her.
"Sorry, Cassandra. After we do some shopping, I need to tell you something, then take you into Royalia. And, yes, I have a pass into it. I'll explain when I... when I explain everything." He ran his fingers through his hair. "Go on! Pick what you want and try it on."
Cassandra walked to the jean section and found some dark blue jeans that were 20% off, studied them, and then decided she might as well try them. She found a form fitting yet modest v-necked shirt that was a beautiful purple.
"May I try these on?" she asked the lady.
"Of course."
The woman led her to a dressing room and Cassandra quickly put the clothes on. They fit her wonderfully, and exaggerated her curves and her slender form, which she wasn't overly excited about. She shrugged and walked out of the dressing room and over to Glen.
"How do they look?"

Sydny heard a soft knock on the door and looked up quickly as Camri peeked inside the room. "Can I come in? I've been instructed to keep you company. You can tell me now."
"Instructed? It shouldn't be a chore."
Camri came into the room and sat beside him.
"Now, about the thing from earlier..." Sydny's smile faded and he actually looked serious. "You remember I asked you not to go to the yellow house?"

[Anwen]

Will grabbed the eggs as Sol had dictated. He smiled. "So, you normally do most of the cooking around here?" He put the eggs on the counter next to her, shaking his unevenly-cut, brown hair away from his face. "I wanted to thank you for taking care of Pu- Sydny for me. Last time I had to do it myself."

[Lithium]

Matthew
Cassandra came out of the dressing room in a simple purple v-neck and jeans, but Matthew felt like someone had just stolen his breath and hidden it from him. Wow! I mean, I guess I noticed already but... wow. She's beautiful.

"How do they look?"

"Great!" He nodded and smiled to prevent himself from blushing in embarrassment. "That looks nice on you. Do you want to get some more in that color? Anything else? I mean, you're going to need more than just one pair of jeans and a shirt..."

Camri
"Yeah," Camri replied. "I remember. And no, seeing you isn't a chore. I'm sorry if I sounded like that."

Sol smiled warmly at Will. "It's not a problem. I'm glad we could help. I was trained by one of the best Subterrean doctors. I mean... I guess not really doctor. Black market doctor." She cracked the eggs, whisked them and poured them into the hot pan. "I wish that still wasn't illegal. I mean, this is the 24th century."

[Cytherea]

"That looks nice on you. Do you want to get some more in that color? Anything else? I mean, you're going to need more than just one pair of jeans and a shirt..."
Cassandra's shoulders drooped slightly. She had never liked shopping for clothes, and that's why her mother normally bought things that she thought were nice for her.
"Ur... I'm not the best at choosing clothes. Can you choose some things you'd like me to wear instead?"

"Yeah," Camri replied. "I remember. And no, seeing you isn't a chore. I'm sorry if I sounded like that."
Sydny smiled.
"I didn't mean to put you on the spot. Sorry." he repositioned himself in his bed and then looked her in the eye. "So, about the yellow house. The person who lives inside it, Ms. Mercaniule, is... well..." he bit his lip before continuing, and then said the words in a rush. "She's a drug dealer, and is in link with one group of thugs, the same one Jubin is in." His eyes darkened. "She tries to grab as many people as she can when they walk the streets at nighttime and try her newest drug or vaccine on them. She's a big asset for the... Coppers, I believe?" Sydny groaned slightly. Saying so much had made him feel sort of weak.

[Lithium]

Matthew
Matty steeled himself and nodded. "All right. But I'm not sure if I'll pick what you want."

He went out into the store, grabbed some jeans in the size Cassandra had grabbed, then some capri pants, a pair of shorts, some more simple v-necks and then some blouses. He ran back over with his huge pile of clothing and handed them to her. "I hope they work for you."

Camri
"Oh." Camri looked away. "I didn't know she was still around. I thought they had... retired... her." She shrugged. "She was there when I used to be a Copper. I'm done with it now, but she was... I understand why you told me not to. Thanks." She studied his face a bit. "You look like you're still suffering from blood-loss. That'll be lack of oxygen, which means less energy. I'll ask Sol where she keeps the pain meds."

Camri stood up and went to the kitchen. "Hey, Sol? Where are the pain pills?"

"Up in my closet, in the blue shoebox."

Camri nodded, then went back into the room and opened the closet. "Anything else?"

[Cytherea]

Glen handed her a pile of clothes. She stumbled to the dressing room and tried them on and then showed Glen.
When she had reached the end of the pile, she thought she would drop from trying on so many clothes and from getting the same reaction from Glen so many times. She tried on the last outfit, a long pair of jeans and a light blue blouse, and when she was showing Glen, someone else came in. The lady behind the counter gave a little squeak, grabbed the money from the cashier, and locked herself in the dressing room. The man looked angry, and was about to go after her, when he saw Cassandra.
"Yo, babycakes!"
Cassandra turned away and started counting how many things she had found to get, but the man ran forward and grabbed her by the arm.
"Hey, you're too pretty to be hanging out with rabble like him." he said, indicating Glen.

Camri nodded, then went back into the room and opened the closet. "Anything else?"
"I'm... I'm not sure. How long are you staying here today?"

[Lithium]

Matthew
A man had walked in. The bad sort of man. The sort of man that made cashiers tense in fear, then grab the money from the cash register and run for it. Quite literally.

Matthew frowned and tensed himself. He didn't like the way that man was looking at Cassandra.

"Yo, babycakes!" the man shouted. Cassandra turned away. Matthew didn't like the way he was talking to her.

The man grabbed Cassandra by the arm. "Hey, you're too pretty to be hanging out with rabble like him."

Matthew pushed the man away from Cassandra and went up to his full 6' 4" height as he edged the man into a corner. "Don't touch her. Touch her again and you will regret it. You will regret ever entering this store. You will regret waking up this morning." He clenched his fist. "Do you get my drift? Now get out of this store and go bother other people who will be afraid of your nonsense."

"Well, I should take this girl with me. You're obviously violent and shouldn't be trusted around a girl like this." He tried to dart around Matthew. Matthew quickly jabbed him in the gut and the man went down. "Don't mess with me. Don't mess with her."

He picked the man up, carried him to the door, set him on his feet, then pushed him into the flow of people.

"Hey, Cassandra? You all right?" Matthew asked. "You ready to go check out?"

Camri
"I'm... I'm not sure. How long are you staying here today?"

Camri checked the clock, then a wave of terror ran through her. "Crud! I should have left five minutes ago! I've got to run, now! I should be back around four."

She handed Sydny the pain pill she had retrieved, then dashed out the door. "I've got to go! Bye! Oh! Archer might be dropping by later. He had another fight last night."

Sol shook her head. "All right. Work well!"

Camri exited the house.

[Cytherea]

"Don't mess with me. Don't mess with her." Glen kicked the guy out, and then turned back to Cassandra. "Hey, Cassandra? You all right?" Glen asked. "You ready to go check out?"
Cassandra sheathed her knives she had instinctively pulled out in a second. No one had ever done anything like that, and she was expecting to defend herself.
"Yeah... I'm fine." she looked at her arm that was a bit red, but not serious. "I just... that's never happened to me before. I mean, no one's ever defended me. Why did you?"

(Sydny will respond when they have breakfast!)