Ben and Camille: Underdog Totally ignorant of the conversation that had been going on she interrupted, "You guys making tacos!? Yum! Mom never makes homemade tacos. We always get the pre-made restaurant kind." Camille wrinkled her nose as she called over her shoulder. "You want some, you're going to have to find some plates. I thought I saw a package of paper ones in the pantry." She put shredded lettuce into a pile as she shook off the memories. No need to keep bringing up the negative. "But enough about me," Baley said, turning to Ben. "I've been wonderin'...how long have you two known each other?" Ben paused with his slicing, memories flitting across his mind's eye. "I've known Camille since we were kids. She was eight and I was ten. It was my first day at Grygla Public. I saw Bandi Preweitt and her friends go after Cam. A situation that wasn't all that different from today, actually. She was one of the littlest kid's on the playground. Well, anyway, Bandi knocked Cam flat and since it wasn't a fair fight, I knocked Bandi flat." He grinned at the memory. "I gave Cam a hand up and she slugged me. But I learned that true gentlemen don't hit girls. Both of us ended up in the office. Camille because of a pair of broken glasses and me because of black eye. I sat behind her in Miss Wilmont's class. Since she was an odd duck out and I was new, it made sense that we joined forces. She has been my right hand ever since." His eyes were dark with emotion. "Once we were done with high school our paths split. She got a full scholarship to the U of M Duluth, and I joined the Marines. I served four years and went to school on the GI bill, while she went after a Masters. We saw each other on holidays and occasionally over the summers, but most of the time it was like two ships passing in the night. She has only been back in Grygla full time since May. This is the most time I've spent with her since she was your age."
Baley: Good Ol' Wet Fun Baley struggled to get a piece of shriveled lettuce off her wet glove as she nodded in polite response. "Weird how everything is happenin' today," Baley said. "You and Camille havin' the opportunity to talk, this bein' the day I was in town, everyone conveniently bein' at the wrong place at the wrong time, makin' everything fall into place somehow. It strikes me as kinda odd..." her voice trailed off as she noticed Shyla relaxing at the table. Baley quickly dismissed her previous thought as another idea formed in its place. The idea that was just too good to pass up. "Hey Shy, when ya get those plates, you'll probably need to find some paper towels too..." Baley said. Suddenly, she flicked her wet hands. Water droplets landed on Shy's face and with them, the annoying piece of lettuce. Baley's belly laugh echoed around the kitchen. Inside, she hoped Shy wouldn't take it the wrong way, but at least it would get her moving. She did it all the time to tease her siblings. "Thanks for your help, Shy!" Baley said, grinning.
Shyla "Thanks for your help, Shy!" Baley said as she laughed her head off. Shyla's eyes crossed as she looked down at the peice of wet lettuce that had landed on her nose. She glared momentarily at Baley before picking it off and wiping it on Baley's face. "Thanks, but I'm not a lettuce fan." She said with a smile as she turned and headed to the pantry. The pantry was dark and full of cobwebs. Shy shuddered at the thought of spiders but managed to grab a bag full of paper plates and roll of paper towels. As she headed back she began to get a sickingly familiar feeling. She stood still for moment, hoping her watch/regulator would be able to handle her body's electrical build up. A moment later her regulator beeped confirming it had taken care of the excess electricity. She sighed in relief. Close call. It was possible she would have a mini-seizure after this but it likely wouldn't be more than a space-out or stomach ache. Things she could easily hide. Unlike Baley's or Camille's side effects, she could usually keep hers hidden. Aside from her Uncle, Camille and Dr. Eva, no one else even knew about her seizures. For this she was glad. If anyone in the racing community found out, she'd lose her license to ride or even drive probably. Then she wouldn't be able to get to the nationals like she'd been dreaming about for so long. Her abilities and their side effects had to remain hidden. Her future in motorcross racing depended on it. Shyla appeared in the doorway of the kitchen and held up the items. "Found them! But that pantry is full of spiders...next time you get to..." Shy didn't finish her sentance, instead she seemed to be staring off into space. Before Camille and Baley had time to respond to her sudden silence she blinked tiredly and began moving again, placing the items on an empty counter. "So, what were talking about?" Shy asked leaning on the counter.
Gabriel Reeve Gabe looked up, leaning against the wall across from Liriope. The corner of his mouth quirked in an odd expression as he watched the girls, "I'm never going to understand how people can live in such crowded and loud places. . ." he muttered under his breath, his blue eyes flicking through shadows and pinning a mouse. They flared gold momentarily and the mouse bolted outside before Gabe returned to normal. Better to send animals away from a place where they would be hurt -at least give them a chance. "Lir -i don't mean to offend but where did you come from?" he asked, glancing curiously at the other guy.
Camille: Food's On Before Camille and Baley had time to respond to her sudden silence she blinked tiredly and began moving again, placing the items on an empty counter. "So, what were talking about?" Shy asked leaning on the counter. "Just a little history." Ben replied, feeling a tinge of guilt for boring Baley out of her mind. Plopping the lid back on the hamburger, Camille knew a diversion tact when she saw on. "I don't think I'm the only one who has been pushing the envelope too far today, Shy. How bad is it?" She asked as she turned off the burner and dumped the meat into a bowl. "Food's ready if you want it!" Camille yelled poking her head back into the hall.
Liriope "Lir -i don't mean to offend but where did you come from?" he asked, glancing curiously at the other guy. For a moment, all Liriope coudl do was stare at Gabreil. Sexy Gabe is talking to me!, he thought giddily. Finally he cleared his throat and stretched out his long legs, trying to act cool. "Well, I was in a band in New York", Liriope said. "We were doing really good, getting gigs like every other week. We even got a song played on the radio. And then we got signed by this major recording company, the one that produces that Gaga Lady. Y'know, the one that does weird stuff that no one understands?" He said that in a respectful way, he hoped to be an artist one day that could break the mold and do things other people couldn't rap their brains around. "Anyway", Liriope continued, "we were hitting the road and practicing some songs in the bus, when everyone got on me for not remembering my cues. They called me lazy and childish and all kinds of names. So, finally, they booted me out." His voice got thick for a moment, but he cleared his throat and rushed on. "So yeah, our lead singer Undive threw a couple hundreds at me so I wouldn't be living on the street and stranded me in Grygla. I was the bass guitar player", he added. When his sad story was done, he stared down at his hands, feeling down in the dumps.
Shyla and Camille "I don't think I'm the only one who has been pushing the envelope too far today, Shy. How bad is it?" Camille asked. "What? The food?" Shy replied, diverting the question, though she knew full well what Camille was asking. "I don't know, I haven't tried it yet. But I'm guessing home-made is alot better than resturant food." "Don't try and fob me off, Shy." Camille fired back, exasperation in her tone. "I'm no fool. Out of all of us, you probably have one of the toughest drawbacks to deal with. Maybe you should let Doc Eva take a look at you after dinner." Shy grumbled under her breath and rested her head on her arms. "It's not like she can do anything. Trust me, my Uncle and I tried. But..." She frowned as she thought back to the memories. "The medicine just made me sick...and I couldn't ride and worse, I couldn't teleport." Shyla suddenly straightened and shrugged her shoulders, "Besides...I'm fine. It's nothing I can't handle." Even as she said this though a hint of fear shone in her eyes. Fear of what might happen if she kept teleporting so frequently. Concern was etched in Camille's gamine face. "Well, give the beaming a rest until tomorrow at least." Ben, who had been watching the pair, heaped his plate full. "Wow, Little Napoleon surrendering. Never thought I would live to see the day." Camille shot him a warning glare, and returned her attention to Shy. "Get something to eat. It will probably help." She shot a glance in Baley's direction, as well. "You too, Baley. There is plenty to go around. Besides, I need an outside opinion on this recipe." Shyla smiled as she grabbed a plate of food. It felt good to know someone other than her uncle and rarely seen parents worried about her a bit. Though she would never admit it out loud. Where Camille had just once been an aquaintence and the bookstore keeper, she was becoming a friend and, apparently, an ally against an unknown enemy.
Baley: Pile of Questions Camille shot a glance in Baley's direction, as well. "You too, Baley. There is plenty to go around. Besides, I need an outside opinion on this recipe." "Don't mind if I do..." Baley replied. Getting to eat first never happened with her monster brothers. As she began to make her taco, thoughts turned in her mind about Shy and Camille's odd conversation. What had all that been about? Of course they had been talking about a side effect, but the aura in the room hadn't been the greatest. For once, she had sensed a lingering fear; one that she hadn't been involved in. Was it something that serious? Possibly life-threatening? Shy had mentioned medicine. Baley understood that. She took pain killer everyday, but it never hampered her own ability. She distinctly remembered Shy saying the opposite... Probably was none of her business, but her questions still remained. Just a little more to add to the growin' pile of questions, Baley thought and took a handful of lettuce to top off her full taco, ready to dig in. "Thanks, Camille." Baley said with a genuine smile as she passed her by. She peeked down the hallway, catching a far away glimpse of Liriope and the others. "Ya'll better hurry! The food isn't gonna be cold, it's gonna be gone!" Baley shouted. Too bad she didn't have a dinner bell, that would've been fun with these folks.
Sheena was hungry and the food was tempting. Sh hadn't eaten since yesterday, but upon coming to the kitchen and seeing all the people their she decided against it. The group of people made her uncomfortable and pushed her back into her shell. So even though she was hungry she didn't eat. Instead with out looking at anyone directly she walked through the kitchen and out the door. Alone at last, the very thing that caused her so much pain she was now utterly addicted to. Just her on the lonely porch, but deep inside. The human part of her wanted to go in, to chat and befriend. By now this part of her was a feeble suggestion, a whisper barely worthy of mention.
Gabreil Reeve Gabe just barely managed to hide that fact that his face was burning up form the way Liriope had looked at him. The ex-rocker continued on with his story though, and didn't seem to notice Gabe when he shifted uncomfortably until his face was cast in shadow by his bangs to hide his expression. "Guess we both had hard times." he mumbled, "After my brother . . . the incident, i was kept under surveilance by the cops and a lot of other people. They thought i might be a murderer in the making or something." "I never got caught for anything else, and i kept my powers down-pat for many years, but then a few months back a guy was robbing the bank i was in a the time . . ." Gabe shuddered, "If you can see into people's pasts and know what they've done . . . It can drive you insane. After I . . . stopped him I ran, and that's how i came to be here -I doubt that I'll ever be able to get away from the newspapers now." Gabriel pulled out the newspaper he had pocketed and tossed it over to Lir -the headline standing out plain as day: Man commits Suicide in Federal Bank. A harsh chuckle escaped him before he could help it, "He abused his own family, stole from his parents, killed a child. He deserved it."
Camille: Olive Branch So even though she was hungry she didn't eat. Instead with out looking at anyone directly she walked through the kitchen and out the door. Camille heard the kitchen door close as Sheena's shadow passed across the window. Heaping a paper plate full, she followed her footfalls silent on the porch. She didn't say anything, just set the plate down next to the reclusive widow before she returned to the kitchen. Ben handed Camille her own plate as she claimed a spot on the counter. "What was that all about?" He asked. "Call it an olive branch." She said, before borrowing one of Shy's diversion techniques. "So how are the tacos?" Ben took a huge bite, grinning like a fool. Camille laughed.
Liriope Liriope looked over the newspaper Gabe had given him. "Yeah, looks like we've both seen some troubles", he commented. To himself, Liriope thought, It's kidn of weird that he carries this article around with him. He probably needs to let go and move on to get better. He decide to change the subject to lighten the mood. "So, how do you feel about getting some tacos? I'm kind of full from my candy bar and a pizza I ate earlier, I don't really eat that much." Liriope turned to the fire and snuck glances at Gabreil through his curtain of floppy hair. Did Gabe like him or did he think he was annoying? Did he just blush or was that just a trick of the light? Why am I doing al this internal questioning?! I never did any of this before, if I wanted someone I would just go for them, or they would flirt with me. Suck it up, Liriope! Liriope shook back his shoulder-length hair and stood up, holding out his hand to Gabe and giving him his best smoldering glare and a cocky grin. "Wanna go check out those tacos, dude?", he asked, his pale grey eyes turning bright green and blue.
Gabreil Reeve Gabe gave Liriope a slight smile, taking his hand and allowing himself to be pulled off the wall, "Just so long as it isn't filled with jalapenos -last time i tried some i swear my mouth caught on fire." he joked. Releif washed over him as the bad memories fled back to their hiding places in his mind, and Gabe relaxed a bit, "Sorry if i freaked you out -one of the things that my power does to me is make me keep memories from people i control. Most of the time its bad ones, so figures it would put me in a foul mood."
Eva, the inquisitor One by one, the exceptionals left the room in a mass exodus to the kitchen, until at last Eva was alone with the two gentlemen who'd summoned her here. And Ina. And the ghostly visitor. She was only interested in three of the four. "Ina, don't you want to join the others in the kitchen?" Eva asked, with a hint of genuine concern in her voice. "Surely, you're hungry..." The girl shook her head. "Thirsty?" Eva tried. The girl shook her head. "Would you like a hug?" That did the trick. The girl glared at Eva for a moment, as if wondering if she was serious or mocking her, then stood up and trudged off to the kitchen, leaving the three adults alone. She was only gone a few seconds before Eva's 'I-care-about-you-more-than-anyone-else-in-the-world' face vanished and was instantly replaced by her usual 'let's-get-down-to-business' face. Her eyes were cold as she zeroed in on Lawrence. The doctor stood up, grabbed a chair from a dusty corner of the room and hauled it over to him, so they could sit face-to face. She found the casual couch-talk tiresome. "Which of you is in charge here?" she said as she planted herself before Lawrece, arms folded, legs crossed and even sterner than she usually was. "I have questions and would like to know who to address them to, so who is it? You? Him? 'Her?'"
Ina Holt & Lawrence Ina left the room, but didn't enter the kitchen. She shuffled into the bathroom, and closed the door; pulling off her torn garments. She pulled a towel from the rack, and wet it with warm water. She dabbed at the scrapes on her legs, wincing in pain as the rough towel came in contact. When she'd cleaned the dirt from herself, she pulled on the clothes Lawrence had given to her. They were quite a few sizes too big, but stayed on. She placed trembling hands on either side of the sink, and stared at her reflection. I don't want to do this. She thought. Her blue eye stared back at her, watery, scared, shaking. Her black eye stared back defiantly, filled with its strange liquid, and ready for action. She wished she had never met these people. She'd been happy just living her life normally. She didn't want to go fight a war. She didn't want to put her life on the line. What was she supposed to say to her parents? Gee sorry, have to go to Minneapolis with some strangers; also, I might die. Suddenly she remembered. Baley doesn't want to join this fight either. She didn't want to return home. Not yet. Maybe I could stay with her for a little while... It would be a lot to ask from her, but Ina was willing to try. She pulled open the door, and walked slowly into the kitchen. Before she'd even entered, she was met with a wall of sound. She winced as she walked in, pushing past people to get to an empty area. She flicked through drawers as she went, taking anything that caught her eye. Knives, a file, and a tenderizer all disappeared as she casually walked by. She wiped the green ooze from her eye, and turned to face the crowd. "Where are the cups?" She asked. ---- "Which of you is in charge here?" Eva said, sitting herself seriously in front of Lawrence, "I have questions and would like to know who to address them to, so who is it? You? Him? 'Her?'" "Ah, we're finally getting serious," Lawrence said, placing his hands on the back of the chair Eva had pushed to him, "Roland and I tend to the Exceptionals here, but we do not run Eximius. She and Dirk ran Eximius, but with Dirk's death it's now just her. If you want to talk to her, why don't you chase her out with your beast that's hiding in the wall?" "No need," Roland said, pointing to the corner. She had emerged fully, crouched low to the ground. She was nearly as tall as Lawrence, but half his width. Her crooked naked body was mostly hidden by her disgusting black hair, which fell to the ground, and trailed behind her. Her shoulders rose and fell in quick succession, as she stared unblinkingly at Eva through her hair. "If She tries to enter her body," Lawrence said, sounding concerned as She scuttled toward where they sat, "Don't fight her, you won't win. If you want to talk, it'll have to happen." He leaned in closer, and whispered into Eva's ear so only she could hear, "Tell your beast to stand by. She trusts Roland and myself, but she's still very unpredictable with others."
Camille and Ben: Nervous Habit. "Where are the cups?" She asked. "Cupboard next to the sink on the left." Camille chimed in from her perch on the counter top. "We have milk, water, or there are also a few cans of pop in the fridge." Beneath the cover of chatter, Camille studied the girl, who was by far, the youngest of their group. She had change clothes since leaving the den, Camille noted. "There's plenty of food to go around, Ina. Help yourself." She said with a genuine smile. "I cook when I get upset," she added, sheepishly. "I don't know why, but it helps calm me down." Ben grinned, giving Camille a cheeky wink. "Remind me to keep you off kilter, I'll never have to do take out again." Camille slugged his shoulder. "Ow.." He said, with a wince. Camille arched an eye brow. Ben recalled himself, saying to Ina. "We're gonna drop Baley off on the way back into town, we can drop you off, as well, that is if you girls don't want to go to the Cities."
Shyla "Hey Dr. Eva!" Shy exclaimed as she came back into the living room. In her hand was a plate of tacos. One of which was half-eaten. "You've got to try these tacos! They're so much better than....what the crap!" She exlaimed as she caught sight of the woman-like creature near Roland and Lawrence. "Who...what...don't tell me that's the 'She' you've been talking about." She said without thinking. The woman was seriously creepy.
Liriope To Gabe, Liriope said, "Oh please, don't apologize for being traumatized. It's makes you way more interesting then these other dweebs." He winked and led the way into the kitchen where he hovered by the counter and picked at bits and scraps of lettuce. He eyed Ben and Camille, not sure if they were enemies or friends after all the fussing they had done. Finally, Liriope decided it was time to bury the hatchet. "I'll be right back, pretty boy", Liriope said, patting Gabe's cheek before he skipped over to where Cam and Ben were standing. "Hey guys", Liriope said, his mouth stretching in his trademark swarthy grin. "I just wanted to say I'm cool with you if you're cool with me. I really don't have any problems with pigs--I mean, cops--I just don't like authorative figures, even if they do ride bikes like a mailman." He winked at Ben to show him that he was just joking. "And you too Camille, you just remind me of my fussy little mom in a way, she was always nagging me. But I'm willing to let it all go. Whaddaya say, dudes? We cool, to the max?"
Camille: Translations "Hey guys", Liriope said, his mouth stretching in his trademark swarthy grin. "I just wanted to say I'm cool with you if you're cool with me. I really don't have any problems with pigs--I mean, cops--I just don't like authorative figures, even if they do ride bikes like a mailman." He winked at Ben to show him that he was just joking. "And you too Camille, you just remind me of my fussy little mom in a way, she was always nagging me. But I'm willing to let it all go. Whaddaya say, dudes? We cool, to the max?" Camille blinked, pushing her glasses back up her nose. "Was that English?" She asked, a merry twinkle in her eyes. "You're different, Liriope. I'll give you that. I don't understand you one little bit, so yes, we're square." With a wry smile she added. "Help yourself to the food. I don't feed people I don't like. And as far as the nagging goes, I'm the youngest of five overachieving kids, it's an inherited trait. You think I'm bad, you should hear my mom..."
Liriope Liriope burs tout laughing like a maniac, slapping the tabletop and clutching his sides. "You're too funny!", he laughed, wiping real tears from his eyes. "Yeah, thanks for the food, I'm not hungry much--I'm kinda used to having like half a meal and a few snacks a day--but I appreciate it, sistah girl." He had an urge to pat her shoulder, but he resisted. He didn't know if Ben was okay with that, after all, they seemed to have something going on and he hadn't said anything about Liriope's apology so far. "So, Ben. How are we, cool or hot...?" He waggled his brows suggestively, grinning even wider. He was only joshing, Ben was too stuffy for his tastes. He also meant to tease Ben as much as he could, afdter what the bike cop had done to Teddy for jus tleaning on him. Liriope didn't like guys who treated people like that, and if that was who Ben was as a person, then they could never get along. And that would honestly be okay, Liriope didn't believe in getting along with every busybody--what was life if you didn't make a splash and make a few enemies?
Ben: On the Level "So, Ben. How are we, cool or hot...?" He waggled his brows suggestively, grinning even wider. Ben leaned against the counter, his gaze fixed on Camille's animated face. His own features softened. "I was a bit harsh earlier. We're cool, but no more grand theft auto..." He said, his expression stern. "All right?" He rubbed the back of his neck. "It has been a weird assed day. Between Camille's mad starts..." He said, planting a kiss on her cheek. "No offense, Cami" Ben whispered in her ear, before continuing. "Mix in Teddy's antics, the crime wave, the disappearing populace, and the fire. Well, my sense of humor got lost somewhere along the way."
Eva, the inquisition "Ah, we're finally getting serious," Lawrence said. "Roland and I tend to the Exceptionals here, but we do not run Eximius. She and Dirk ran Eximius, but with Dirk's death it's now just her. If you want to talk to her, why don't you chase her out with your beast that's hiding in the wall?" Eva merely frowned at him. Gehenna wasn’t a hunting dog, for chasing wild animals out of the underbrush. Frankly, she took offense to his insinuation of such a thing and was about to give him a piece of her mind… "No need," Roland said before she could begin. He pointed to the corner, where their guest had finally appeared in full. Eva’s frown persisted. "If She tries to enter her body, don't fight her, you won't win,” Lawrence explained. “If you want to talk, it'll have to happen." He leaned in closer, and whispered into Eva's ear so only she could hear, "Tell your beast to stand by. She trusts Roland and myself, but she's still very unpredictable with others." “He’s always on standby,” Eva said. “We live by the same doctrine. When I am calm, he is calm. Presently, I am quite calm.” "Hey Dr. Eva!" Shy exclaimed as she crossed the threshold. "You've got to try these tacos! They're so much better than....what the crap! Who...what...don't tell me that's the 'She' you've been talking about." “Refrain from asking rhetorical questions, please,” Eva said flatly, without so much as a glance at Shyla. “You know exactly who this is. We spent the better half of ten minutes discussing the matter, did we not?” Oops, that was a rhetorical question. “Give us a moment, please,” Eva said with a dismissive wave. “I’m about to have a heart-to-heart with our guest…” She returned her full attention to Lawrence. "Or perhaps we’re the guests,” Eva concluded. “Either way, I have only three questions, and you’ve already answered the first. A wise man once told me anything with two heads is a monster. I find this holds true 99% of the time, so I had to make sure this organization isn’t a two-headed monster. “Now that that’s been sorted out, I need to know what the head is thinking…” the doctor finally looked to Her and peered into the inky depths of those dark eyes. “My second question, if you see fit to answer it, is simple: what do you want from us? Lawrence insists we aren’t soldiers, but it’s quite clear you’re at war. If not soldiers, then what?” She waited for an answer, whatever way it might come.
Liriope Liriope tapped his lips with a long finger thoughtfully. "Well, ya better learn to deal, dude. Something tells me things are gonna get worse, way worse, before they get better. Something has to be done to fix whats going on, our people are being harvested for their DNA, it's just not right. And it looks like it is up to us to do something about it...before they come for us." Liriope was about to say toodles and head back to sexy Gabe, when he saw pink-violet sparkles sink through the ceiling and swirl over the gound like a dustwind. A musical voice said, "Liriope...Liriope...what the heck is going on?!" Liriope sighed and slapped his forehead. "Aunt Nixes, I'm fine, you don't have to worry", Liriope said. "You didn't have to come back from your afterlife to check up on me." The swirling sparkles formed a column of blazing fuschia light that formed into a hunched old woman with a bonewhite cane and horned spectacles. She wore a flower patterned dress and her full white hair was braided and piled on her head. "Ohhh...I think I did have to come", Aunt Nixes warbled, her sharp eyes surveying the room. "I've been getting some really weird vibrations, little nephew, I don't like it one whit. I'm here to watch over you, whether you like it or not..." With that, the tiny old lady burst into a myriad of pink-purple sparkles once again and drifted back up through the ceiling. "That's my dead aunt", Liriope said, grinning. "As you can probably tell, she doesn't know how to move on, he he..."
Baley Baley blinked as the ghostly figure vanished, her face the picture of confusion. I must be gettin' tired. Well, Ma always says good food puts ya to sleep, she thought as she tried to brush away the illusion. And the awkwardness which now leveled to ten. Maybe eleven, just because of the words 'dead aunt'. While finishing her last bite, Baley caught sight of Ina who had finally joined the party. Since bumping into her earlier, she couldn't figure the girl out. Actually, she knew nothing about Ina at all, besides the way she carried herself with her no-play attitude. By that, Baley could tell Ina was strong. Stronger than most might think. Keeping her gaze on Ina, Baley walked over to lean up against the counter. Briefly her eyes shifted to Officer Hanson. "Thanks for the kind offer, Ben." Baley said with a smile. "I can't imagine what my parents are thinkin' right now. I'm actually not lookin' forward to that lecture...so yeah, feel free to stay here as long as ya'll like. No hurry." Her smile lowered to a frown as she looked back at Ina. "So...Ina, about this talk of city hoppin'. I take it that ya don't wanna go either? What are your thoughts about...all this?" Baley asked, a hint of concern in her voice. "I'd kinda like to know."
Ina Holt "We're gonna drop Baley off on the way back into town, we can drop you off, as well, that is if you girls don't want to go to the Cities." Ina sipped her water as she stood alone in her corner. She was off-put by the apparition of Liriope's dead aunt. The longer she stayed with this group, the more frightened she became. There were people who wanted to kill her for who she was, for what she could do. She opened and clenched her hands, thinking of all the times she'd used her ability in front of others, and not considering the ramifications. "So...Ina, about this talk of city hoppin'. I take it that ya don't wanna go either? What are your thoughts about...all this?" Baley asked, joining her in her corner, "I'd kinda like to know." "All this?" Ina said, trying to hide the shake in her voice, as she passed an unsteady hand across her eyes, "Oh-uh..." She broke off, biting her lips, "I just- I just need some time to take it in." She paused, and took a deep breath. The cold dead face of She was stuck in the forefront of her mind. An Exceptional like herself, but forced to fight for her life every waking second. Was that what lay in her future too? What about her parents? Would they get caught in the crossfire? The memory of those emotionless, soulless black eyes bored into her, warning of what her life could become. "No," She croaked, her bottled emotions leaking through the cracks in her demeanor. She took another sip of water, "I-I don't want to go. I can't go home though! W-what if they follow me there?" She bit her lips tightly to keep them from trembling, "I don't know what to do, Baley!"
