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

[Cytherea]

Sydny continued to eat as he heard the static report. There wasn't much to hear, but what he did hear didn't sound too good.

"They're probably blocking most radio transmissions," Archer said quietly.

"Who?" Camri demanded, turning to Archer.

"The Ambian I.S.es. Haven't you been keeping up with the news? They've finally overthrown their oppressive government. They were going to march on OnNa, but they're trying to work out some kind of peace treaty."

"A peace treaty?" Sydny said, incredulously. "Really? So that means... no war, right?" he said hopefully.

[Lithium]

Archer

Archer shrugged. "You can never be sure with politicians. But, probably. If all goes well."

"If all goes well? Meaning we don't offend them?" Camri demanded. "If they go back on their word... I'll join up. I swear I will join up and fight them."

"Hush, Camri," Sol said quietly as she returned from putting the kitten in the bedroom. "Don't talk about things like that."

"You know I will, though, Sol." Camri pulled her hair out of her eyes and turned to Archer. "Will you fight if it comes to it."

Archer smiled wryly. "If it comes to it."

[Cytherea]

Sydny felt a lump form in his throat as he heard them talking.

War? Even Camri would fight? What does that mean for me? I suppose if war does break out, I should fight. A small jolt of pain went through him, reminding him of his wound, and realization struck him. But with this injury, I would only hinder the army. If war does come about... I'll be forgotten.

He slowly pushed himself up from the table and walked down the stairs to the door. He opened it and walked outside.

The air was cold, and it whipped at him bitterly. He let his breath out that was in a moment lost in the wind, and sunk onto a bench outside the apartment.

"I don't want to be forgotten now that I've finally made more friends. But I do get forgotten. Will's the only one who remembers me, and takes the effort and time to see me."

He looked around at the empty street. The air continued to snatch his breath away, but he didn't shiver.

"Will says I'm optimistic, but I don't feel optimistic. I feel... I feel like a pessimist. I feel like someone who says things and does things to break other people down, and make them feel awkward or bad. I feel cruel." he buried his head in his hands and tried to sort out his thoughts.

[Anwen]

Aria walked down the sidewalk, her feet making little to no sound as she searched for a rumored doctor. The cut didn't hamper her movements yet, since it was just a shallow slash in her side. She didn't want it to get infected though, so here she was, searching for a doctor that may or may not exist. Scanning the streets ahead, and listening closely, she heard someone say, "I feel cruel."

Aria came over and saw a blonde guy who seemed to be upset over something. Well, if he feels cruel, than no wonder. He looks like he's had treatment lately, I'm sure that he knows where that doctor is.

"Excuse me, sorry to break your little pity-party, but could you direct me to the doctor?"

[Cytherea]

Sydny glanced up slowly at the new voice. There was a girl with blonde hair, and the features of what he presumed was an elf. He smiled at her.

"Oh I don't mind. It needed to be broken anyway." he sighed. "Being serious for so long really took it out of me."

[Lithium]

Sol came rushing outside. "Sydny! You should come back in–– it's freezing out here! Oh!" She turned to the girl standing beside him. "Hello! How can we help you?"

"Sol? Is Sydny all right?" Camri came outside. "Oh, Sydny. Come on, bud." Camri leaned over and had him wrap on arm over her shoulder as she supported his walk back inside. "I hope I didn't upset you. I can be... aggressive... about things."

[Cytherea]

"Ah, well... no prob. I was just considering the chance that..." He looked away, the beginnings of a worried frown starting to form on his face, but then turned his face back to her. He smiled warmly. "Well, that I'd be a bit forgotten if war does come about. I... I wouldn't be able to fight, not with this stupid gash, anyways." he laughed harshly. "Sol getting married, and you and everybody else going off to war... I'd be back where I started when my parents were murdered. Alone. Will would be gone, and you would be too, and so would anybody else I liked." he looked to the floor, and then continued. "Really, I don't know why I exist. Only to make people laugh, at least, that seems to be my occupation. I love doing it, and I suppose it is my nature, but when there's nobody to amuse..." he paused, then smiled again. "Guess people always find me fun to beat up."

[Lithium]

"Yes, yes you sort of are," Camri said with a wry smile on her lips. "You've got to stop comparing yourself to others and thinking like that. I mean, if you don't try to think realistically, there's no point, but you should always hope for the best. I mean, that gash will be completely healed in a few weeks from now, and you'd be able to join up then. It's all good."

[Cytherea]

Sydny

"Well..."

Sydny bit his lip to stop himself.

There's no need to worry her. I know the truth, and I'll bet Sol does too. She's a skilled doctor. She knows it, just like I do, but she hasn't said anything yet to me about it. She's probably clinging onto a hope that it isn't true, but she's trying to delay the inevitable.

They reached the apartment door and Sydny stepped away from Camri.

"I... I think I should go rest. Good night."

Sydny walked into his room, shut the door, and lay on his bed. He stared at the ceiling.

Hopefully tomorrow I'll be myself, but now it's sunk in. I know this wound won't fully heal. The first time I was injured there, it nearly killed me. Now... I'll be an invalid.

He covered his face with his covers, and tried to fall asleep, but again, his thoughts strayed away, and sleep was impossible.


Olivia

"So..." Olivia said, clasping her hands. Sol and Camri had just ran out after Sydny, leaving her and Archer in the apartment. "How's your wound healing? Was your arm badly injured?"

[Anwen]

Aria looked at the young woman who had addressed her. "My name is Aria. I am looking for a doctor." She looked closely her and asked, "do you know where I could find one?" She moved her arm slightly to reveal her freshly bleeding cut, careful not to move so much as to reveal the feathers under her cloak.

[Cytherea]

Endosi

Endosi knew better than to walk in Subterria after dark, especially after a long day, but she had no choice.

When she had gotten back from the O'Shea's party, her parents had told her that one of her best friends living in Subterria (that had no choice but to move when his father lost his only job and had some terrible encounters with thugs), had gotten very sick with a new illness, called the pink-pox-flu. She'd hurried off into Subterria. Her parents couldn't go with her because her father had an extremely important meeting he and his wife had to attend to.

And so she was alone. In the Subterria darkness.

(will continue later, have to go now)

[Lithium]

"It was on my stomach, and I'm sure its healing fine," Archer said bluntly. He looked at Olivia again and softened. "But... thanks for the concern, anyways."

Camri and Sydny came stumbling inside, talking. He said something that made Camri smile, which made Archer smile.

They're cute together. He'd be good for her. Better than me.

A darkness passed over Sydny's face as he went back into the patient's room and Archer frowned, then turned to Camri. "Everything all right?"

Camri nodded. "I think so. I think there's something he isn't telling me, but..." She shrugged. "Whatever."

Sol

"I'm a doctor. My name is Sol Brighton. That looks bad. How about you come inside and I'll see what I can do." She smiled warmly at the girl and gestured for her to follow her. "What's your name, by the way? Just so I know what to call you while I'm treating you."

[Cytherea]

Camri and Sydny came in and Sydny walked to the patient room. Archer frowned.

"Everything all right?" he asked Camri.

Camri nodded. "I think so. I think there's something he isn't telling me, but..." She shrugged. "Whatever."

Olivia looked towards the door that Sydny had shut behind him and a thoughtful look crossed her face.

"He's probably fine. Just tired." she turned to Camri. "Oh, where's Sol?"

[Lithium]

Camri shrugged. "Talking to some girl who was standing outside. Probably another patient. She had really interesting eyes. They were... almost unnatural. I'd never seen anything like it other than in... oh, where..." She frowned in though, then snapped her fingers. "I got it! They were like a hawk's. Weird, right?"

Archer stiffened. "A... hawk's?"

Camri nodded and rolled her eyes. "I just said that, Archer."

"Did you see her ears?"

"Why? Is that important?"

Archer shook his head. "Nevermind."

[Anwen]

"Aria. Just call me Aria."

She followed Sol up to an apartment. Sol opened the door and Aria blinked in surprise. Then she smiled.

"So, Rough & Tumble, you're here too. Do you remember me?"

[Lithium]

Archer cursed under his breath, but in his mind he was cursing at the top of his lungs.

He looked over at her and said, "Ariel Danser. Long time no see. Strange we should meet up in a black-market hospital, right? We used to think we were impervious. Oh, and I've still got the scars. Do you still have the wings?"

Camri froze. "This is... this is...?" She looked at him quizzically.

He nodded, then remembered that Olivia was still in the room. "Crud. Olivia, I'm sorry to get you involved in this. You should probably leave now and forget this ever happened."

[Cytherea]

"Crud. Olivia, I'm sorry to get you involved in this. You should probably leave now and forget this ever happened."

Olivia shrugged, and pushed a strand of hair from her face.

"I hear what I hear, and leave when I choose." she crossed her arms. "I get involved into things easily, too. But it's OK." she put her hands out and then stretched flexibly. "I know when I'm not wanted."

She grabbed her light blue jacket and quickly zipped it up.

"Bye guys. Thanks for dinner, Sol."

She walked out, stepped down the stairs, and then out of the apartment.

"That was rude. I feel bad now, but that... that..." she sighed and calmed herself as she started to walk. Her breath was white as she exhaled. "Archer just got me upset. Things would have just gone downhill from there if I had stayed."

She walked more, and slowly her anger dissipated.

"I should turn around and apologize."

"Ah, that would be a mistake, dearie."

Olivia spun around as she heard a voice. It was soft and beautiful, and tinkled like a bell. She had to look hard, but she finally saw a figure in the dark. The women walked towards her.

"Who are you?" Olivia asked, taking a step back.

"My name is Esmeralda. Esmeralda Mercaniule. I've come..." she slowly advanced towards Olivia. "To give you an offer."

"I'm not interested." Olivia said firmly. She knew how marketers always gave the most ridiculous offers, and prices.

"Oh, but I'm afraid you can't resist this one." Esmeralda Mercaniule said. In the folds of her long sleeves she was holding something, but Olivia couldn't tell what. She took another step back. Esmeralda took two towards her.

Suddenly, Olivia turned and ran as fast as she could. She sprinted from Esmeralda, putting all her strength into every stride.

"Hey, stop it!"

A man lunged into her path, and she tried to skid around him. He punched her in the face and sent her flying backwards. He slowly walked towards her when she didn't move.

"She's out cold." he said with a satisfied grunt. "We'll be ready to-"

He was stopped as Olivia kicked his feet out from under him in a fast, hard kick. She made her hands into a large fist, and hit the man's back, hard, knocking him onto his stomach.

Olivia wiped the blood from her mouth on her sleeve. Her cream-blue jacket smeared with red stains.

"Good show."

Olivia turned around quickly, but before she could do anything, Esmeralda had clamped a cloth over her nose. In a few seconds, Olivia fought for consciousness, but slowly gave in, and passed out.

"Reybin, get this jacket off her." she said with distaste. "I need to operate on her."

'Reybin' quickly pushed himself up with a few grunts and groans of pain, but unzipped Olivia's jacket and threw it into the snow.

"Now let's hurry." Esmeralda said. "Carry her. We've got a few hours before the chloroform wears off."

[Anwen]

Aria saw the confusion in the one girl's face as the other left the room. In answer to Rough & Tumble's question, she unfastened her cloak, unveiling her shining, golden wings. "Oh yes, I've still got them."
"How would I get rid of them, cut them off?" she murmured under her breath.

"It seems you've made some friends here. Strange... doesn't seem like the thing you'd be able to do easily. Oh," She added as an after-thought, "I go by Aria now."

[Lithium]

Camri

Camri had followed after Olivia after giving Archer and hard, cool glare. Boys come and go, but friends have got to stick together.

She raced after her.

Olivia was stopped by an old woman from a.... yellow house? Camri froze in shock.

The woman reached out for Olivia. Camri stayed right around the corner. A man appeared and knocked Olivia down. It looked like she was out.

Suddenly, the man was down, but Olivia was in the woman's grasp, as she was knocked out with chloroform in a cloth.

The woman said something Camri couldn't quite make out, but the man got up and removed the jacket.

Finally feeling brave enough, Camri stepped out of the shadows. "Let her go!"

Their heads turned to her and she clenched her fists.

"I said, let her go!"

Archer & Sol

"Yeah. Seems strange. To you. They're good people. And, I go by Archer, now. Archer Nelson."

"Archer," Sol said quietly. "I think you hurt Olivia's feelings."

"Sorry," he said gruffly, in a more "whatever" voice. "I didn't want her to get involved in the past. It's a dangerous place for people like us." He gestured to himself and Aria.

"Anyways, you can catch up later. Aria, how's about we go into the patient's room and get that cut looked at."

(I'm thinking Sydny needs to see Aria's wings so that he can be prepared for when Camri gets turned into an I.S. But, it's up to you Cytherea.)

[Cytherea]

"I said, let her go!"

"And how do you know we're not doing her a favor?" Esmeralda asked. Slowly, she walked towards Camri. "Is she your friend? When we found her she was upset. My, yes. She almost turned around to walk back from wherever she came from to apologize." She was getting closer and closer to Camri, but her voice was soft, and soothing, almost commanding Camri to stay. "A pretty little thing like her shouldn't wander around in Subterria after dark." She was a few steps away. "And, neither should you."

Esmeralda hit Camri in the head with her head, in a quick, perfectly-executed move.

Sydny

"Ohhh...." Sydny groaned. "I can't fall asleep. Maybe Sol has some pain medication she can give me."

Sydny slowly got out of his bed, his chest crying out in protest. He walked to the door and opened it.

"Ah... uh, I missed something..." he said. The girl from before now had golden wings, and Camri and Olivia were nowhere to be seen. He walked over to Sol.

"Eh, do you have some pain medications?"

[Lithium]

(End of Camri's Day)

Sol & Archer

"Uh... yeah," Sol said before she ran to the closet and rummaged through the pill box, trying to find an open bottle of pain medicine. She pulled a bottle out and handed it to Sydny. "Here. Take three. I know it says two, but a doctor can prescribe more, if needed."

She grabbed a gigantic first aide kit and hauled it out of the room to leave Sydny in peace.

"All right, Aria. Would you mind taking a seat on the couch so I can take a good look at that cut? How old is it and how did you get it?"

[Lithium]

~End of Day 3~