|
Post by Happy Medium on Oct 14, 2010 19:38:49 GMT -5
Sofi lay down on her bed, stirring up dust and stray hairs into the stingy air. Her one-windowed room felt...lonely. Wind made the long, rugged curtains fly across the walls, and rose petals lifted into the air and flitted around her face and the ceiling. It smelled good.
Sitting up, she reached for her brown, wooden hairbrush and attempted to smooth out her tangles and knots. Her hair shined when it was brushed, like the new hot sun risen outside. Sofi decided to look for Erika.
It was strangely cold in the hallways. Goosebumps collected like ants around her wrists and ankles. She pulled her striped sweater sleeves over her hands and sighed. Erika was always with someone else, nowadays. Maybe she should leave her and that someone else alone together for some peace.
|
|
|
Post by klinneah on Oct 14, 2010 21:18:14 GMT -5
((Isn't Sofi blind? How does she know what things look like?))
"Papa?" she asked after a little silence, and a few more survivors had come into the commons and pulled breakfast seemingly out of nowhere. (She knew where it came from, but never seemed to be looking when it was served.)
"Hm?" He didn't look up from the book.
"Why Mama? Why Anina? Why da terrible world?" She blinked back tears - the longer she spoke, the more choked her voice became. Her father looked on with a sorrowful expression.
"Things just happen," he said finally. "Just happen, no reason. Just happen." He set the book aside, and rested his elbows on the white folding table. "Things happen, we cry, more things happen. What can we do? Just let happen."
"Do you believe in God, papa?" Tears were streaming down her face even as she tried not to cry. She moved to wipe them away, but her father took her hand, pulled her into his chest, and began rocking her back and forth like he'd done when she was a small child and he had less gray in his hair. She sobbed into his shirt.
"Da," he said softly, stroking her face. "God loves you. God loves Mama. God loves Anina. God loves them. Don't worry. They are in heaven now," he whispered as he cried his own tears.
"They are in heaven now."
|
|
Last Resort.
Junior Member
"Cause I'm losing my sight, losing my mind. Wish somebody would tell me I'm fine."
Posts: 67
|
Post by Last Resort. on Oct 14, 2010 22:56:46 GMT -5
After a while of remembering the good old times of kindergarten, Erika stood up from Kaen, causing his arm to fall down to his side. He stood up next to Erika.
"Something wrong?" he asked, kind of worried since Erika usually doesn't break away like that.
"I feel like I've been ignoring Sofi. I mean, when you left me she was all I had after that." She whispered, bringing back painful memories like the sharp dagger she also hid from May. "I need to go find her. She's like a sister."
Erika began to walk away, then smiled to herself as another pair of basketball shoes followed close behind her.
"No offense, Kaen, but I need to see Sofi alone," Erika sighed.
"Okay, I'll be in my room if you need me, Erika," he murmured, gave Erika a quick and warm hug before setting off in the opposite direction.
It took Erika a while to recover from the reminiscing, recover from the hug, recover from the best hours of her life. The determination to see Sofi drove her to start walking again.
"I love you," she whispered so quietly that no one heard it.
It felt good to get it out, even if no one heard it.
|
|
|
Post by Happy Medium on Oct 14, 2010 23:14:24 GMT -5
[[Sofi is blind, but I'm telling this from MY point of view, not hers.]]
|
|
|
Post by klinneah on Oct 15, 2010 12:58:48 GMT -5
((Let's take this to OoC.))
May was getting pissed. Jared was pointedly ignoring her, and nothing she said or did made any difference to the cold stare he was giving the potato planter. He finished with the potatoes and moved on to the squash, which were covered in bugs. Scowling, he reached under the cabinet, grabbed the jar of DE, and sprinkled it on the bug-infested plants. He picked up the potato sack and stalked out without looking or speaking to May. She fluffed her hair and returned to worrying over the scraggly tomatoes.
Jared barely noticed that the tables were filling up fast with survivors looking for breakfast, just strode purposefully to the back where there was a tiny kitchen with a wood-burning stove and a few pots and pans. 'We need to expand,' he thought. 'We're too crowded. There's too many people to feed. Maybe I should talk to May...apologize...or Veronica...or maybe Elsbeth...' He shook his head to clear his mind and went to work washing and slicing potatoes.
|
|
Last Resort.
Junior Member
"Cause I'm losing my sight, losing my mind. Wish somebody would tell me I'm fine."
Posts: 67
|
Post by Last Resort. on Oct 15, 2010 19:13:47 GMT -5
Erika looked through the weaving halls as she searched for Sofi. She began to wonder if anyone else wanted the warehouse to expand? She probably wasn't the only one. Other people, especially May's childrens, had hopes and dreams.
Then weird, bold, amazing thoughts swirled in her mind all of a sudden. What if there was a bigger place? What if some of the people sent off and explored? She knew she was willing to risk her life, and probably Kaen, but who would back her up? Sofi? Vanessa? May?
She shook her head vigoroiusly to try and shoo thoughts away, nearing stumbling to the ground. Her first task was to find Sofi. -- Kaen made his way slowly to his room. Why hadn't he told Erika he loved her? Why did he just run off? Why did he only hug her? Aggraveted by his thoughts and just the whole situation, he slammed his door and kicked his bed, then fell to the floor. He was too occupied for breakfast. Tears streamed from his eyes like Erika would never see. He grabbed his tan pillow from his shaken bed.
"Why didn't I tell her anything?" he screamed into the pillow, staining it with the salt water. "I love her!"
After he screamed, he began to cry. Kaen prayed to God no one would hear.
--
"Sofi?" Erika called through the halls.
She passed by a hallway filled with footsteps, but when she glanced through the hall, she saw Benjamin doing his rounds, strolling away from her. Sighing, Erika continued to look for Sofi. She felt like she had been neglecting her lately, and she missed her. After she passed another intersection, light footsteps that could only be Sofi's reached her ears. Erika turned down the hallway and smiled, then started walking in her direction.
"Sofi.." she whispered in a warm breath and Erika embraced her.
|
|
|
Post by klinneah on Oct 17, 2010 11:45:16 GMT -5
((Please don't double post. There is a 'modify' button.))
The sizzle of oil soon dominated the small kitchen, and Veronica and George walked in expectantly.
"Hash browns again?" George asked. Veronica scowled. "I thought we had them yesterday."
"I have to do something with all these potatoes," Jared said with a small smile. "We've had too many to plant already."
Veronica put her hands on her hips. "But we barely have enough food as it is. So the solution to that is 'eat more'? I don't think so."
Jared was silent for a moment, stirred the hash browns, and said, "I've been thinking the same thing. We can't let anyone go hungry, but we don't have enough food. So why don't we send some people to another safe place? They'd have their own food, their own power supply -"
George cut him off. "But where are we going to send them? We don't know of any other places near here where there's an eternal wellspring of magical energy like what's under this place! We'd have to search the continent, and believe me, that would be suicide! But trust me, if we wanted to get rid of people, all we have to do is make them leave. No big deal, just tell them they're going to a new safe place, and poof, they're gone." Veronica stabbed a finger at Jared, but before she could speak he held up his hand.
"I know you're going to have complaints, but let's talk about this at the meeting today, okay? I'm still thinking about my idea myself, and I don't want to burn breakfast fending off vultures."
George looked murderous, but Veronica took his arm and led him out of the kitchen. Jared sighed; he had a lot of thinking to do.
((So, there's a meeting today! Second level meeting room, 3:00 sharp {that's in-universe time, so I'll let you know when it's coming}. Be there! Jared's going to propose his idea, and May has an announcement! Stay tuned!))
|
|
Last Resort.
Junior Member
"Cause I'm losing my sight, losing my mind. Wish somebody would tell me I'm fine."
Posts: 67
|
Post by Last Resort. on Oct 19, 2010 17:30:08 GMT -5
Kaen threw his pillow back onto his bed, where it slammed the wall before sitting on the bed. Why was he crying over Erika? Why didn't he just confess? Why was love so hard? These questions and more flew through his mind as he pulled himself on his bed and wiped his tears away. A few short gasps escaped from him, but all in all he tried to keep quiet. He glanced at the small framed picture of his family on the chestnut side table, which only distressed him more. He half wished he could die, just not bother with anything anymore. He just hurt too much. Although, if he died, what would Erika do? Mope? Forget? Kill herself? Kaen shook his head vigorously. He needed food in his stomach to help his mind, even though he knew nothing but Erika could help him. He stood up and shakily shuffled to the door, opening it and closing it silently.
"I love you," he whispered after he looked around and didn't see anyone. No one had to hear it, but he just had to say it.
|
|
|
Post by klinneah on Oct 27, 2010 14:23:38 GMT -5
Jared glanced at the clock - nearly 8:00. Scowling, he took a large spoon and started scooping the fried potatoes onto a plate. Topping it off with cold sausage he pulled out of the cooler under the counter - the fridge had sputtered to an early death just two weeks before - and set the plate on the window-counter. Someone came and grabbed it as soon as it appeared.
'They all look so downtrodden,' he thought morbidly. 'Some of these people have been here for years. They've seen it all - death, devastation, starvation. Nobody should have to go through what we endure every day.' As more and more people trickled into the commons, some looking horribly skeletal, he wondered again how feasible a second stronghold would be. They'd need supplies, people, a generator, but first and foremost a place to go. He daydreamed as he worked, trying to think of a place that would be suitable.
|
|
Last Resort.
Junior Member
"Cause I'm losing my sight, losing my mind. Wish somebody would tell me I'm fine."
Posts: 67
|
Post by Last Resort. on Oct 27, 2010 17:09:20 GMT -5
Erika and Sofi finished the small reunion and hugged again when Erika realized she kind of had ditched Kaen. It seemed like all Erika ever did anymore was feel sorry for this or feel bad about that. She could never keep a strong balance on anything anymore.
"Sofi, I love ya and all, but I'm starving, I think Kaen's starving, and I'm pretty sure you are as well," she laughed, trying to dull the serious tone of wanting to find Kaen.
Erika knew Kaen would actually be heading to the commons. Food used to always satisfy him back when they were young. Younger. Whatever.
"Actually," Erika recovered, "I should probably get to the commons. I'm so hungry I could eat a horse. Kaen will probably be there, too, and I need to talk to him. Wanna walk together to the commons, Sofi?"
|
|
|
Post by klinneah on Nov 6, 2010 19:39:23 GMT -5
Ness looked up from her father's arms at the clock. Nearly 8:05 and breakfast wasn't nearly over. Thankfully nobody was staring; random bursts of crying and sudden breakdowns were everyday occurences. Why, just yesterday two full-grown men had been reduced to sobbing like babies on the anniversary of their wife's death or their child's taking. Nobody batted an eyelash at this sort of thing; it was par for the course. When you were stranded in the only safe place in the world, with dangers all around, having had to battle your way through nightmares worse than the end of the world and death itself - well, of course you'd be battered to tears by the end of it. That was the point of this place, to give everyone left a chance to build something from the ashes.
Her father wiped the tears from her face. "You feel better now, ja?" he asked, smiling a little.
"Feel better now, ja," she replied with a twitch of her lips. No smile yet. It was a little game between them that had started when she was young. One day, after she'd cried particularly hard - maybe one of those mean school boys had pushed her down, she didn't remember - she'd asked why she was crying. He'd told her "When you cry, you fell better afterward. You feel better now, ja?" And when she finished crying, she replied, "I feel better now, ja."
Getting up from the table (she didn't fail to kiss her father on the cheek and say "BRB") she walked to the counter and asked for two breakfasts. Jared, on kitchen duty today, looked suitably ticked off by her request, but produced the plates of hash browns, cold sausage, and syrup-drenched peaches from a can.
|
|
Last Resort.
Junior Member
"Cause I'm losing my sight, losing my mind. Wish somebody would tell me I'm fine."
Posts: 67
|
Post by Last Resort. on Nov 9, 2010 18:52:49 GMT -5
Erika took a deep breath of breakfast as she waltzed into the room. The hashbrowns smelled like they normally did; crisp and warm. She felt like she was in a better mood than normal. Normally, she'd be stalking around, sitting in a corner, maybe even skipping breakfast. She felt... different. Erika just couldn't explain it.
She spotted Ness with her father, and a slight flame of jealousy sparked in her chest. Ness was the only one with a father alive 'round these parts, and Erika knew Ness knew she was totally lucky. Instead of feeding the flame with more and more reasoning, she smiled in their general direction, not expecting anything back. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Kaen in the corner table, glancing over at Erika and slightly guestering. Practially skipping, she made her way to Kaen and slid into a chair, making it almost topple over.
"Hey you look like you're in a better mood than normal," Kaen uttered with a smile, shoving a plate he had saved for her.
"I am. I've kinda realized that we're lucky to have found the Twilight Crusaders." she made a point. "I mean, we could've been..." she lowered her voice "Dead, or even a Shadowling."
"Yeah, we are lucky," he agreed vaguely, twirling an extra fork in his hand. "If you want the fork, ya gotta get it, Erika."
Laughing, she swiped the fork from his hand with ease, then picked at the practially frozen sausage. She wanted to save the hashbrowns for last. They'd still be warm by the time she finished the peaches and sausage.
"Is this even real meat?" Erika wondered aloud, breaking a sausage in half when she tried to stab it.
"Don't know. And I don't think I want to," Kaen teased her for thinking aloud.
Blushing, she scooped up a piece of sausage and managed to barely choke it down. When she turned to see where Sofi was, she saw her at the door. Erika began to motion, then remembered Sofi was blind. Slightly blushing, she stood and took Sofi's hand and led her to the table where Erika was sitting with Kaen, then proceeded to grab a plate for her. As she sat the plate in front of her, Erika twirled a fork in her hand for her, then stabbed the fork into the hashbrowns.
"Eat up, toots," Erika said, then continued on the mystery sausage.
|
|
|
Post by Happy Medium on Nov 11, 2010 21:59:15 GMT -5
Sofi blinked from the seemingly random embrace of her friend. She didn't know where it came from, maybe another out-of-the-blue moment. She also mentioned Kaen...Kaen...she had heard that name before, but who did it belong to? Sofi racked her brain as she walked slowly down the hallway, but the harder she tried to remember, whoever Kaen was, his face was becoming more distant by the minute. Sofi sighed and gave up. She walked to the commons, far behind Erika.
The room was slightly humid, so Sofi saved her breath and didn't say a word. Erika was sitting at the far end of the room at a metal table, and she was with someone. Kaen, perhaps. She felt tension in the vibrations through the floor. This man must be pretty special to Erika. Sofi felt her way through the maze of tables and chairs, she could avoid most of them because they put pressure on the concrete, where she could feel it. However, she still stumbled at one point or another. She smelled food closer...to her left...the room was hotter in that direction, too. Her stomach growled.
|
|
|
Post by klinneah on Nov 15, 2010 16:12:54 GMT -5
Ness brought breakfast to her father, who was staring out of a small window set in the opposite wall. The thin layer of snow outside had melted a little, but she still wasn't sure about any of the plants. The tomatoes for sure wouldn't make it. The squash could probably stand a few more days, but hopefully someone was picking them.
"What's got you down, papa?" she asked as she tucked into the cold sausage. It tasted rubbery and fake, like it had been sitting in the cooler for too long and had gone slightly bad. Grimacing, she gulped it down as quickly as she could and started on the peaches. They tasted canned, but not stale.
"Nothing, dear. Papa was just thinking." He didn't seem to notice his food, and only looked around by the time she had finished the peaches and started on the still-warm hash browns.
"What are you thinking 'bout, papa? Is it Mama again?" she asked, leaning onto his shoulder. He shook his head, "no," then looked down and saw the food. He beamed.
"Vannie, you got food."
"The sausage is terrible," she said quickly, grimacing. He laughed and ate the sausage.
The clock read 8:07.
|
|
Last Resort.
Junior Member
"Cause I'm losing my sight, losing my mind. Wish somebody would tell me I'm fine."
Posts: 67
|
Post by Last Resort. on Nov 15, 2010 19:30:30 GMT -5
Erika finally finished the sausage and moved to the peaches. She missed the days when her mother would preserve peaches and sprinkle them with sugar. After these thoughts, she bit into a seemingly cold peach and shuddered. Her thoughts made her realize these peaches sucked eggs. Hm. Eggs. She missed when her father would make all different kinds of eggs, then dress them up with exotic spices. Some of the spices she never heard of! Erika swallowed the rest of the one peach still laying on her fork, leaned back in the chair and glanced out the window. Before she realized it, her gaze was firmly locked on the window. The snow glistened and reflected the bits of light left in the sky. Hm. Snow. She remembered the days when her baby sister would peg her with snowballs and giggle with delight and satisfaction.
"What are ya thinking about, Erika?" Kaen asked, snapping in front of her face.
Hm. Thinking. She remembered the days when her father would help with Algebra and say 'Think, Erika. Use your big noggin with the big brain inside. That brain your mother and I are paying to fill.' She turned to Kaen and, without saying another word, stabbed and consumed another peach. Hm. Stabbed. She remembered the days when she read murder mysteries her older brother would have her figure out when he came home from college. Hm. College. She remembered the days when she would read through all of the colleges with her grandpa. Hm. Grandpa. She remembered the days when..
"Erika!" Kaen exclaimed, slightly shaking Erika's shoulder to snap her out of whatever trance she was in now.
"Huh, what?" she asked in a tizzy.
"Just eat, Erika," Kaen laughed as he grabbed her wrist, twisted it and stabbed another peach.
"Fine, fine.. I've just been thinking about..." Erika was interupted by her arm being controlled by Kaen and prompting a peach slice into her mouth.
She shooed his hand away and chewed quickly, trying not to laugh. Hm. Laugh. She remembered the days when her brother would make her laugh so hard, she had to leave to go and change her pants then come back and hear the rest of the story or whatever it was. Hm. Pants. She remembered the days when her grandmother would sew custom designs on her jeans and skirts. Hm. Designs. Erika remembered the days when she would draw through class and her face would turn red when the teacher called on her and she didn't know the answer. Hm.
Why does everything make me remember the better days all the time now? Erika thought.
Why?
|
|