Just the Streets, Day Four (February 5, 2317)

[Cytherea]

"Now, what age are you both and where do you live, if you don’t mind my asking.” Tucker’s eyes shined.

"I'm 18 as well!" Rosie said with a smile. "I live... mainly in alleyways." she tried not to let her twinge of sadness erase her smile. "But I get along."

[Hwin]

Clover:

"I'm seventeen and, like Rosie, I also stay in alleyways most of the time." Clover shuddered. "I used to have a home...a long time ago."

Tucker:

Tucker studied them both and found he was rather impressed. He already found it difficult to get along and make a living without a warm home to come back to every night, but how two girls did it? He couldn't imagine. Looking to Rosie, Tucker could make out a hint of unhappiness in her face. He felt the urge to cheer her up in some way. "Do you mind if I come walk with you both?" Tucker waited for their response, hoping they wouldn't mind.

[Cytherea]

"Do you mind if I come walk with you both?"

Rosie smiled.

"I don't mind at all!" she realized she'd wanted him to, and felt a surge of excitement. "I'd love it if you would."

[Hwin]

"I don't mind at all!" she realized she'd wanted him to, and felt a surge of excitement. "I'd love it if you would."

"Yes, we would enjoy the company!" Clover chimed in.

Tucker felt his heart lift. "Great! I'll be right out, I just want to thank someone."

As he turned around, Clover called from the window. "Just take your time!"

Walking to where Will and Endosi where, Tucker found them both in conversation. Not wanting to interrupt, Tucker found some pencil and paper sitting on a counter and wrote out a note.

Will,
Thank you so much for helping me out this past night! I can't describe how grateful I am. I won't ever forget it and maybe I'll be able to return the favors sometime soon. Let's not lose contact? I'll be around.
Thanks again for everything,
Tucker

Closing the door behind him, Tucker took a deep breath in. It felt good to be back outside, where everything was so open. A little ways down the walk, Rosie and Clover were waiting by the window. "Hello again! Shall we walk?" Tucker grinned, walking towards them.

[Cytherea]

"Hello again! Shall we walk?" Tucker grinned, walking towards them.

Rosie smiled back and happily nodded.

"So Tucker," she began as they started to walk. "What's your life story? You don't have to tell us if you don't feel comfortable about it. I understand."

[Lithium]

Archer shrugged. "I honestly don't like being a killer when I actually like the people I'm playing with. I like being the cop better."

Sol brought the two quiches out from the kitchen. "All right, one is ham, cheddar and broccoli and the other is classic Swiss and bacon. We've got plenty, so eat your fill."

She set the plate of quiche down on the table and took her seat. "Who would like to pray?"

"How's Mom?" Camri asked. "Is she––"

"I... I have to take Mom to this medical center the Red Cross is doing. They... they promise they'll take care of her and give her the medicine she needs." Sol tried to hold in tears as she looked at her lap.

Camri's face lost its cheerfulness as she said, "That would explain the quiche."

[Cytherea]

Sydny felt his spirits going down, as he could tell Camri's were. He wanted to say something that would liven her up, but he had absolutely no idea what to say. He didn't want to accidentally offend her.

"I haven't met your mother." he said. "Is she ill?"

[Hwin]

Tucker:

"So Tucker," she began as they started to walk. "What's your life story? You don't have to tell us if you don't feel comfortable about it. I understand."


"No, I'll tell you, although there isn't really much to tell." Tucker let out a long sigh. "When I was young, sevenish, my parents left me in an ally. They promised to come back, so I waited and waited. Finally, I just gave up and left." Tucker paused before going on. He still felt hurt deep inside from his parents. "Anyways, I learned the ways of the streets pretty quickly and now spend my time moving from place to place and trying to find odd jobs to earn money. So, I suppose that's my life story. What about you two?" Tucker asked, brightening up.

[Cytherea]

"When I was two months old," Rosie began. "My parents had to go to Ambia. They left me with my grandmother, but never came back. Not deliberately, I think. They just... weren't allowed back, I guess. When I was 13, my grandmother died, and I had to live on my own. I've been living on my own, moving from place to place for about 5 years now." she forced a smile. "But it's not too bad. I mean, I'm still alive, so it can't be too bad. Normally I just have to go with one meal a day, sometimes none. People don't like hiring me either." her blue eyes stared off into the distance, far away.

[Lithium]

Camri silently nodded. "She overworked herself. We're not quite sure what's wrong. It probably has something to do with stress. I mean, raising two girls as a single mother with an already weak constitution just took it out of her. She's pretty much bed-ridden and we have to spend a lot of money on heating the place because she catches chills easily. We love her so dearly, though. Archer is like a son to her."

"Yeah," Archer said gruffly, a silent shadow moving over his face. "Closest person to a mother I've ever had."

[Cytherea]

Sydny's mind fell back to a few years ago, when he had had a loving family. His parents had been such good people.

Until Jubin killed them. All for that little, stupid piece of land. But maybe it wasn't just that. Sydny suddenly felt a chill run down his back. Did they have something else against my parents? Against my family? Are they still looking for vengeance?

"Hey Sydny." Olivia said, shaking his arm. "What's wrong? You look like you've just seen a ghost!"

"Nothing." Sydny mumbled, though his thoughts were still on Jubin. "It's nothing."

[Hwin]

Clover:

Clover gave Rosie a reassuring hug. "Well, I guess it's my turn. I lived with my mom and dad but when I was twelve my mom died and later that year my dad died of grief. Because I couldn't afford to keep the house I was forced to live on the streets. It was scary and still is, but ever since I met Rosie things didn't seem so bad. She's a wonderful friend." Clover sighed, "We've all lost our parents some time and way or another and live on the streets."

Tucker:

"I'm so sorry for both of your loses. I can't help to admit that the fact that you two can stay alive and earn your keep on the streets is rather impressive." He remembered the look in Rosie's eyes and couldn't help but to give her shoulders a comforting squeeze. "Maybe we should get to know each other some more?" He looked down into Rosie's pretty blue eyes and smiled.

Clover couldn't help but to smile at the two.

[Cytherea]

Tucker gave Rosie's shoulders a comforting squeeze. She felt her blood pressure rising, and a spring of excitement formed within her.

"Maybe we should get to know each other some more?" He looked down into Rosie's pretty blue eyes and smiled.

Rosie smiled back, her joy taking over. She wanted to throw her arms around his neck and hug him, but she blushed at the idea.

"I'd like that." she said. She looked up into his eyes, and felt another surge of excitement run through her.

[Hwin]

The more they walked and talked the more Tucker found he liked Rosie, especially her sweet smile and her even sweeter personality.

"Well, you two seem to be getting along quite nicely," Clover laughed, pleasantly, noting the joy in her friend's voice as she spoke to Tucker. "Maybe Tucker would like to know our hobbies, Rosie, I guess what we like to do when we have the time. You first, Rosie?"

[Cytherea]

"Maybe Tucker would like to know our hobbies, Rosie, I guess what we like to do when we have the time. You first, Rosie?"

Rosie smiled at her friend.

"Thanks, Clover." she looked at Tucker. "I don't really have any books, but I love reading when I can. I really love animals, especially the small, adorable fluffy ones." she laughed and pointed to a fluffy orange cat walking by. "Like cats."

[Zinna]

Rollo

"Alright, what kinds of cheese are there, Robin?"

Rollo turned down another street. "Oh, every kind you can think of, but I think we should pick up Saben. He loves the cheese shop. You're not allergic to cheese are you?" He stopped in front of a small but clean living unit.

[Lithium]

Sol looked up. "You do look pale, Sydny. You shouldn't get too excited about anything. You could..." She trailed off.

"So when do we need to transport Mom?" Camri asked.

"Probably in an hour. It's nearly 3 in the afternoon."

[Cytherea]

"You shouldn't get too excited about anything. You could..." Sol trailed off. Sydny felt the same disappointment start to grow within him.

I could have a heart attack. Or I might possibly die.

"So when do we need to transport Mom?" Camri asked.

"Probably in an hour. It's nearly 3 in the afternoon."

"Three already?" Olivia said with a start. "My goodness, the day went by fast! Maybe it's because I'm unemployed now."

[Anwen]

"Oh no, I like cheese. No allergies or anything." She smiled. "And I'd love to meet your brother."

_____________________________________

"I don't mind you kissing my forehead." Endosi told him. He looked back at her, smiling awkwardly. Thank you.

"So," Will said, trying to change the subject, "do you have any hobbies?"

[Lithium]

Camri laughed, then stopped short. "Oh, crud. I need to start looking for a job tomorrow." She turned to Olivia. "Maybe we can look for a job together. Get one at the same place. I'm hoping for another house job. Maybe a gardening job. I need to get some color before the summer..."

"Wait–– three, already? I need to get going," Archer said quickly. He went to get up, then stopped. "Wait a second. You still don't know anything about being an I.S. do you?"

Camri shook her head. "Guess not."

"I should stay to teach you..."

"You could come back after. You'll need Sol to give you some first aid, anyways."

[Hwin]

Tucker laughed along with Rosie. "What about you, Clover?"

"Well," Clover began, "I like to draw a lot. It's just a way to let go I guess." She grinned and turned to Tucker. "Ok, your turn, Tucker!”

"I enjoy playing piano, although I don't have very much time to. I should take you both to meet Mrs. Kay sometime. She taught me piano when I was young and I'm sure she'd love you. "

[Cytherea]

Endosi

"So," Will said, trying to change the subject, "do you have any hobbies?"

"Ur, well, yes... I do." she said slowly. "I- I'm a Royale, you see, and... and, um, I just transferred to a new school. I guess if it counts as a hobby, I'm training to be a doctor."

Olivia and Sydny

"You could come back after. You'll need Sol to give you some first aid, anyways."

"I should get going as well." Olivia said. "I'm going to be busy tomorrow, and I have things to do at home. I have a few orphaned kids who are probably depending on me for dinner tonight, just like always. I gotta go throw together whatever I can for them to eat."

Rosie

"I should take you both to meet Mrs. Kay sometime. She taught me piano when I was young and I'm sure she'd love you. "

"The piano?" Rosie said with delight. She clasped her hands together. "I love the music the piano can make. Do you play, Tucker?" she asked, smiling up at him. "I'm sure you'd play wonderfully. I believe that for a lovely, even expensive, instrument to sound beautiful, the person playing must enjoy and put their energy into their playing. It's the same when I get beat up. Normally I can tell when the thugs want my money, or when they just feel like beating me up for no reason." She smiled again. "And now I know that thugs usually beat you up for both reasons! When they want your money, they're actually more frightened. Otherwise, they just want to vent their anger or frustration on somebody else. Like me."

[Lithium]

"If you're on my way, I can drop you off at your house. It's dangerous on the streets right now," Archer offered. "I mean, I've got a few hours, and walking will be a good warm up to my warm up."

Camri smiled and looked at her feet. Don't get jealous. He's already rejected you. He's already rejected you so many times. Why? Why now? I'm just as much an I.S. as she is. I–– No, Camri. She's your best friend. You don't get jealous. You get supportive.

[Hwin]

“I do play,” Tucker answered, smiling at Rosie’s delight but frowned as she went on. Thugs and getting beat up? It wasn't that Tucker didn't believe they couldn't handle themselves on the street but it just sounded terrible. But then again, the streets were a very dangerous place to live and it really was not all that unusual.

Clover silently nodded in agreement with Rosie.

“I remember getting beat up as a kid…probably some of my worst childhood memories.” Tucker sighed.

[Cytherea]

Olivia and Sydny

"I mean, I've got a few hours, and walking will be a good warm up to my warm up." Archer said.

Olivia was about to reply eagerly, but she saw Camri look at her feet.

Oh. I get it.

"Well, if it's on your way, anyway." she said with a shrug. "Doesn't matter to me."

I hope she doesn't think I'm trying to get him to notice me. What an awful situation! I don't want to be rude and tell him to walk home without me if we're walking by my house anyway, but I don't want to hurt Camri's feelings...

"Hey Sol? Camri?" Sydny called from the kitchen where he was washing the dishes. His voice sounded quite faint. "Could you grab another one of those pain killers? I think I'm losing the ability to multitask; like, breathe and stand."

Rosie

“I remember getting beat up as a kid…probably some of my worst childhood memories.” Tucker sighed.

"I'm so sorry." Rosie said. Her eyes drooped slightly, creating a very, very sad, innocent look on her face. "I don't think anyone living on the streets can escape the bullying. I got my left ear chopped off one very awful day. That's probably why I'm standing so close to you, Tucker." she said with a slight blush. "It's hard to hear, sometimes, when you have only one ear."

Despite all the effort to smile, her eyes started to water up. Just thinking about that day... it made her want to keep running. Running from the world.