And here's the next chapter (after how long?). The only thing I can say is, like I said, this fic would take a while. And I've finally gotten around to re-playing Tales of Legendia (I suppose, as motivation for this). That and I'm in a really, really bad mood right now. Not sure why though, which isn't good o.o but since writing helps with that, and this is what I felt like writing, here it is. Enjoy!
And of course Thanks SO VERY MUCH to ReveredMage, LittleLinor, Dark- Phantasma, and Angelic'O'Wings for reviewing the last chapter! –hugs them-
:Evening:02:
(Harriet's POV)
I walked in right when she had to say that. And here I thought I could compose myself well enough that nothing they could say—no questions they could ask—would faze me enough to let it slip why I had been crying. Or at least, the real reason, anyway.
Norma just grinned back at me before standing up, "Hattie!" She greeted with a way too friendly smile, "Yup we're talkin' about information dealing. Why don't you come join us? I'm sure you're learning enough about it just from being around town."
"Well," I hesitated, suddenly too aware that I was the nicest dressed one in the room besides dad, "L-Let me get…changed first. Then I'll come down." I was losing composure. Fast. I barely made it past the door leading to the stairs before one of those aftershock sobs wracked through me.
"Harriet?" And dad noticed. I heard him get up and I quickly headed for the stairs. I managed to get up the first flight before he opened the door, "Harriet? Are you okay?" He asked, concern filling every word.
I couldn't look at him, but I managed to nod my head, "Just…thinking."
"About what?"
"I just…visited Madame Musette's grave and…" I hesitated, thinking up something to say, "A-And…I was just remembering…things."
I could tell he wanted to ask what things but either he knew I wouldn't answer him—which I wouldn't—or he knew he had more important things to attend to, but he simply nods his head and turns away, "Come down when you're ready."
I wanted to ask 'Ready for what?' But it would've been pointless—he was trying to be nice—he knew I had been crying, or at least really upset, right when he saw my face. So instead of responding I just continued up the stairs until I was safely in my room with the door shut, and locked.
I quickly and deftly undid the clasps at the front of my dress before untying the bow in the back and letting the dress sag loosely on my shoulders. I slipped my arms out easily, letting the dress fall down to pool around my ankles before turning to the mirror embedded drawers of my recently bought dresser. I tugged the doors open easily, before thumbing through the contents. I quickly chose a loose, plain button down shirt, with a black vest, and a pair of white tights, brown shorts, and finally, some embroidered slippers that I had gotten from Madame Musette as a present.
I changed quickly before checking myself in the mirror. The first thing I noticed was the necklace—the other half of the seashell that Jay had given me on my thirteenth birthday. My reflection touched it gently as a sad smile crossed its face, before it slowly tucked it away underneath its blouse. Once out of view I turned away, picking up my dress and folding it neatly before hanging it on the back of the chair in front of my makeup table—again recently bought, though I hardly ever used it.
Then, slowly, I made my way across the room, back to my door, but right as I was about to unlock it someone started banging on it, "Hattie! Hattie! We need your help!" It was Norma, she sounded desperate. I quickly unlocked the door and she nearly fell in, "Thanks for opening—was wondering what was takin' you so…" she trailed off as she finally looked up at me. Her eyes traveled up, then down, then she let out a low whistle, "Wowie, don't you look cute? A real lady can pull of anything!" I flushed at the comment but quickly shook my head, instead, helping her up.
"What did you need help with?" I asked, hoping my voice sounded normal enough.
And thankfully it did. Or else she was just being nice enough not to notice if it cracked or went to high, "Well I don't know what happened between you an' him," I could only guess at who she meant by that, "but your dad's freakin' out again."
"You knew he was though," I felt my voice rise an octave and quickly cleared it before continuing, "If you…want…J-J—him—to help, then of course dad's going to be mad."
"But did you ever try tellin' him--?"
"About how everything's a misunderstanding?" She nodded her head, "I tried. He wouldn't listen. I…it's sort of my fault that he won't—I mean…with what happened…when he, um, what you saw…" I felt my cheeks grow hot even at the mentioning of something that happened almost two years ago—or was it two years ago? I couldn't even remember anymore—but she seemed to get what I meant.
"Well yeah you did kinda run your mouth a bit. But anyone would after somethin' like that," she scratched the back of her head, trying her best to be sympathetic, but failing just from the fact of her being, well, Norma, "And I'd be really loony if I said he should up an' forget about that—since I'm guessing he can't—but I mean—you're his daughter—snap 'im outta it!"
Yup, she was Norma alright. Unable to be sympathetic, but able to understand just about anything you threw at her…and still able to make the weirdest mistakes, "Really—what did you say?"
She laughed nervously, looking everywhere but at me, "Th-That he needed to get over his little… 'I hate him' thing. Except in more, ah, flower, and not-as-nice terms."
I shook my head from side to side, "You're even stupider than Moses."
"An' why the hell does everyone keep callin' me stupid?!" I blinked and looked past Norma at the tall—well, taller than I was used to—man standing at the top of the stairs.
"I—" I didn't know why I had called him stupid in the first place, and now I couldn't even think of a response.
Thankfully Norma noticed and had one more than ready to go, "Well you certainly aren't as bright as the average person, but then maybe that's a good thing." The angry look on Moses' face softened a little at that, in fact he almost looked embarrassed.
"Well at least I ain't dumb in the area's that're important," he finally said, scratching the back of his head before trying to grin at us, "like a guy I know, anyway," I had the feeling he was talking about Jay when he said that.
"True, true," Norma agreed, "But that guy's smart in some areas that none of us even tread in, so we need his help—if not now, then eventually. You have to understand," she was being careful with her words—and for once it seemed she was actually doing some good by it, "do you understand?" She wasn't being mean, or forceful either. Just questioning. That was it.
It seemed to have the desired effect, though, because it actually made Moses think before answering, "Yeah, I get it. Once we leave town we'll prob'ly run into 'im anyway. Since we'll be travelin' around a lot, most likely. A-An' it'd probably make things easier if we…did…sorta talk to 'im, but," his one good eye dulled for a moment, "Will 'e help? Will 'e actually help us? Tha's what I'm worried about. An' if does, will we have ta pay 'im back?"
"Oh," Norma shook her head from side to side before smiling sweetly up at the red-head, "I think, y'know, him being him and all, he probably's already worked all the fine details out. For all we know he could be waiting for us."
"We just have to calm my dad down first." I added on—not as a mean to damper the mood, but it seemed like it anyway. The looks on their faces though, were priceless. But all the while I had to wonder, faintly, if—if he really was just waiting out there for us to come and talk to him. To ask him to help us. Then I had to wonder, 'Did Norma blackmail him…?'
I doubted I'd get my answer.
:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:
(Jay's POV)
I shivered as the water lapped at my bare-feet and the salty ocean air whipped at my hair and I had to vainly wonder if coming here had been worth it. The ocean was good for thinking. It calmed me. But at a time like this, I was more likely to get a cold from it, than to actually get anything more useful out of it.
I sneezed as if to prove more of a point that I shouldn't be here. Then I shivered again, 'Why is it so cold?' I pessimistically thought, brushing my bangs out of my eyes as another cold gust of wind pushed them in my eyes, 'It's almost summer. Yes the sea can be cold, but not the wind.' I shivered again before sliding off the boulder I had been sitting on. The water receded enough so that I could walk on the wet sand up to the dry part of the beach, so I didn't have to worry about getting my pants wet—that would be annoying—until I arrived at where I had kicked my shoes off, on the dirt path leading back to Werites Beacon.
I sneezed again, 'Am I coming down with something?' I asked myself, picking up my shoes but not bothering to put them back on, 'A summer cold? I hate those.' I let out a sigh and began to walk up the dirt path, ignoring the slight pain of walking on small pieces of rock, gravel, and other natural debris. I was halfway up the path when I sneezed again, this time hard enough that it made me stop and grimace.
I walked over to one of the nearby pools of water and looked down in it, my face was slightly pink from the cold wind, but other than that I looked as I usually did, 'But then you can never tell with a—'
That's when I saw something, glittering in the fading sunlight, over at the other end of the small pool. I set my shoes down and slowly walked along the edge until I reached the side it was on. Then I looked down, and there, sitting on the very bottom of the small pool, was a ring. A silver ring with diamonds—or some clear crystal-like stone—embedded in it.
"Who could have left this here?" I wondered aloud as I reached down in the semi-icy water and scooped the ring out. It definitely looked expensive, like something Norma would love to sell for about double the price, "Is this something she dropped?" I highly doubted it. But then again—she could be clumsy…
'You found my ring!' Jumped at the sound of a woman's voice—an eerily familiar woman's voice that sounded like it was right next to my ear. But when I turned to look, I was still alone.
"What…?" I looked back down at the ring again, watching as the fading rays of sunlight glinted off the stone in odd angles before I slipped it quickly in my pocket, "I must be imagining things," I shook my head quickly, clearing my thoughts, before standing up once more. Now was not the time to be hallucinating—or getting sick—or having to explain why I had chosen the Spring—when it was only accessable through the town—
'Norma should still be distracting them.' I let out a sigh, shivering again as another gust of wind blew in from behind me, 'I should be able to get out without them seeing me.'
But I knew I couldn't go far. I had agreed to help, after all. Norma would hold me to it, for better or for worse. Most likely worse. And I didn't want to think of what she could come up with. Not that it bothered me, no. I could probably pull myself out of it—I had before. But it was, well, Norma, after all.
She could come up with the strangest things.
Strangest most awkward most—I hate you, but I can't but I'll try to anyway—situations that—
I let out a forceful sneeze, one that actually made my nose hurt, "Either someone's continually talking about me on purpose, or I really am getting sick." I pinched my nose, blinking back the forced-on tears, before continuing again.
Even if I did get sick, I'd still have to help.
'But that Bandit would be worried.' I knew he'd have to be. Even if he thought I was the scum-of-the-earth at this point, to be around so much sickness—to watch so many of his own men die—and then to see someone sick—of course he'd worry. He couldn't be apathetic. No. that just wasn't—
'That would truly mean I was away for too long.' Which I knew anyway, but not really. If that made sense. Which it didn't, but again did.
I shivered again, and quickened my pace, 'Thinking about time—the sun's gone down. They might not look for me if the sun's gone down.'
Almost hypocritically, however, I heard a noise. Then a shout, then another shout, followed by a loud call—and a question, and a—
"You're an idiot!"
And a
"Will ya stop callin' me a damn idiot?" I paused, at that one spot, overlooking Werites Beacon. I could easily hide. Easily. I knew the voices all too well—and they were coming this way.
Norma, for whatever reason, thought I'd be here.
"Norma are you sure?" I heard Will's voice, echoing, followed shortly by Chloe's
"How could he possibly be here?" She sounded tensed, "The only way he could reach the spring is if he went through the town, right?"
"That's the only way I know." Shirley murmured, "What about you, Senel?"
"Only way I know, too. Will?"
There was a pause, "Well, there could be other ways—even now, we haven't explored this ship fully. It's too dangerous to alone."
Not exactly. Not if you're strong enough.
I knew all too well that wasn't my voice in my head. But I ignored it.
"Weeelll, then wouldn't it make sense that he'd find one?" Norma. Trying to be as overly cheerful as possible—as always. As always. I felt my mouth twitch. They were close now. Unbelievably close, they'd come up the hill and I'd be in plain sight.
"Ya but I still—you sure he'd be here?" before the idiot could even get a full sentence out, his lap-dog was butting him off.
"I'd think he'd be smart enough not to get so close to the place he's been banned from." The venom was so noticeably there, and the almost-awkward—should have been silence—was all too clear a notion to it.
But of course, Norma being Norma, couldn't stand a silence like that, "Oh hush Green." What a creative nickname—"haven't you ever heard that hidin' in the place you're most wanted is always a good thing?"
"no." More than one person answered that.
"You'd get caught that much easier." That was Chloe.
I saw the top of Norma's head coming up the steep path, "It's reverse psychology! You'd think that, yeah! But they'd be looking everywhere else first! So it's only natural that he'd choose here!" Then, abruptly—almost like she knew I was staring right at her—she turned…
And almost tripped, but caught herself, grinning, "In fact I-spy with my little eye someone who looks very, very familiar!"
The onslaught silence was nearly deafening.
:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:
(Senel's POV)
I didn't like it.
I hadn't known what to expect when Norma issued the 'follow-the-leader' mentality, but I knew I wouldn't like the result of it. The result that lead us away from the direction I thought we'd go in. I didn't think Jay would be that obvious. Moses was the obvious one—in all his candor, and bluntness and all—
But not Jay.
Unless he really changed. Which I gave him the benefit of a doubt for, many times. Almost proved himself, but not in the direction I wanted. Which is why I didn't like this to begin with.
I also didn't like the silence that stretched between us, like a rift filled with that disgusting peanut butter concoction that I swear I still couldn't get out of my mouth—even a full two years later.
'Please dear God—Nerifes—whatever—let Harriet be better at cooking the next time we're forced to try her food.'
But now wasn't the time to be thinking about something trivial like that. Honestly, now wasn't the time to be thinking anything. We had agreed to follow Norma. Check. We followed her. We had agreed to this deal of information—somehow, not sure how—without even giving our consent. Check. That was done.
And now we're standing here, him plain in sight. And Norma was about to get us to work with him. Without saying a word.
I highly doubted it would work.
"JJ!" She called out, a grin clear in her words, "You actually showed up!" I couldn't help but notice that he had dropped his shoes on the ground next to him, and he was barefoot. Not that that mattered, but it made me wonder just what he had been doing before now. Norma didn't seem bothered by his appearance at all, and instead pranced practically right up to him and—
He stepped aside swiftly—limberly, nothing like the movements I had remembered from fighting along side him—before she could latch herself onto him.
"Norma," he stated smoothly, and that was probably another shock in and of itself. He—he definitely was Jay, but his voice…sounded like Jay's but also like—"You knew I was here."
"Of course!" She grinned, unfazed by his obvious avoidance of her, "Cuz you're just predictable that way!"
He scowled, faintly, but for some reason it seemed only like that on the surface, "Of course you did." He looked past her for an instant and, quickly, I saw Harriet shift her eyes away. He didn't seem particularly bothered by this response, but all the same it looked like it bothered him. He wasted no time on it, though, and instead, brought his gaze to us, "Everyone. I see you brought…everyone."
So we were one now. Like we had been the 'group' before.
"Yup! But today's just a greetin'," It was almost like she was trying to reassure him, "A formal, y'know 'we're working together now', kind of deal." She attempted to cling onto him again, but again he swiftly dodged. This made her pout, "So—so—we're all gonna work togethhhher, okay?"
"Really." Will murmured, pushing his glasses up his nose before taking a solid step forward, "I suppose we don't have much choice in the matter, do we?" Instinctively I knew this wasn't going to turn out well. Shirley guessed it as well, and shifted, closer, to me. Chloe, too, noticed, and tensed, dropping her hand from fiddling with her hair.
"I can't say I'm too thrilled with this," Will continued, now standing directly in front of him—making us all see just how short he still was—shoulders stiff and rigid, "But I suppose when it comes down to it, some barriers have to be crossed." He extended a hand, almost mechanically, across the distance between them.
"When it comes down to it," Jay mimicked, "barriers aren't what matter. It's getting done, what needs to get done." He reached out, and clasped Will's hand easily in his own, "And I will be more than happy to lend my services."
Hadn't expected him to say that though.
:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:
(Chloe's POV)
Ignore it. Ignore it. Ignore it.
Now wasn't the time—ignore it.
But I couldn't, not with alarms ringing on and off in my head. Something about this seemed too distant to be trusted. Too weak to even attempt to cross, too rapid to try to swim—don't think about that either—through. The worst part about it, though, was the weakness was us.
He was not who I thought he was. He had not changed in the way I thought he did. But of course, I should have known that. 'After all, I only heard from spoken mouth what he had done.' And that opinion would be biased no matter which way one cut it.
Will didn't trust.
Jay didn't, well, care that Will didn't trust. But I could tell—for all the honor codes he could have broken in the past, he was upholding it now. I could tell it in his words. He would do his job. He would do it to the best of his ability, as he always had before. We could trust him at least that much.
But Will. Whatever Will had to do—whatever he made any of us do—couldn't be trusted. Because he didn't trust. And it was so horribly confusing and weak, and they noticed too. Shirley, nervous, seeking Senel—Coolidge, I hastily reminded myself—as protection, and Senel noticing this all too clearly. He'd play his role.
But not in helping Jay. He would help Moses—we all would, but not Jay.
I knew I should think the same. As long as the information was there—found, easily accessible—there wasn't a problem. Right? Wrong. I couldn't—my honor wouldn't allow it. Even if Will told—ordered—told us to—to abandon…to not listen—I couldn't ignore it.
He would keep his word.
And we would end up not.
Ignore it. My mind nearly screamed. But I knew I couldn't.
An honorable man must always be helped, when doing an honorable deed. For all that Jay was probably—and I knew Norma most likely had a hand in this—forced into this role, he would fulfill it.
'Oh who am I kidding?' I relaxed my shoulders, slightly, 'I'll just keep repeating myself till I go crazy.' I let out a silent sigh, closing my eyes briefly, 'For all that he's done. For all that he's done, I'll hold it to him now.'
So I decided to speak up, "Then I suppose we'll hold each other to our word then."
He seemed mildly surprised to hear me speak, but none the less nodded his head, "Of course. Information Dealing is my specialty. I find the information, and you use it in anyway you deem necessary."
"Oh, but we'll help of course!" Norma butted in, "Even if you're the best in the world, there's no way in heck you'd be able to do everything yourself."
"Don't undermine my capabilities please." It almost sounded like he was teasing her, though.
"Who said I was, JJ?" she whapped him hard on the shoulder, but he didn't seem to even flinch, "We're workin' together for the time bein' so it makes sense that we'd help, right?" for whatever reason, she was directing that at me.
Like she got it.
Which she probably did.
"Searching the Main Land would be hard by oneself," I agreed, hesitantly aware that now all eyes were on me.
Will shot me a look that I didn't particularly like, but it was almost canceled out by Shirley's worried one, followed by Senel's caution, Sandor's disbelief—still, at the fact that he was right there—Csaba's equally harsh glare, and…Harriet's relief.
I let out a sigh, "We're going to help. Of course we're going to help, Sandor," he perked up at the mention of his name, "and his…family," I saw him smile, faintly, "depend on it. An honest man to an Honest deed."
I saw faint amusement on his face before he replied, "Honest, hmm? Of course," he closed his eyes, lips twitching, "No one likes to hear a story of tragedy. It's already written too much in our histories."
"I think we all know that by now," Will grated out.
"So," Jay opened his eyes, reflecting a hidden emotion that I couldn't even begin to read, "if all goes well, and we do what we need to do, this won't be one of them." Then he paused, sighing, "But of course, we don't know that yet."
Suddenly, Sandor laughed, "An' right when I think yer about ta say somethin' hopeful for once, ya go and shoot it down." He was trying to smile at Jay, he really was.
But all I saw was pain—quick, and fleeting—across his face, mirrored in the slight widening of purple eyes, and the sudden need to look away.
'Misunderstanding.'
Hadn't Norma used that word?
I shook my head, 'No.' the fragments of conversations—the dealings that he had done, and the bloodshed—'It's almost ironic.'
He was doing an honorable deed. It was like he was trying to redeem himself. But I knew even asking for that much was, well, too much. This was Jay, after all.
"Mm, well what can I say," said man spoke, finally, "it's in my personality, bandit," whatever pain had been there, was now gone, wiped clean with a smirk, "what more do you expect?"
:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:
(Moses' POV)
I didn't get it. Hell, I knew I was stupid, that could be the damn reason for it. But really, how the hell could I not get my own actions. How—or why, prob'ly—did I open my damn mouth and say anythin'?
An' why the hell did he go an' say that, like we were best buds again? How the hell could he got off doin' that? Why? Or…How? Or—'ah hell, I don't know anymore.'
I was so damn hell confused, and Csaba was tryin' ta get me ta stop talkin. But I couldn't, "Guess it's too much ta hope for a bit of change." Still joking. Still trying not to let him get to me.
"It depends on the kind of change you hoped for." Still with that smirk. Still with the damn familiarity—still.
Shit.
Didn't know if that was a good thing or not, "Eh, one can hope can't they?" I didn't even know what the hell I was saying anymore. Hell I knew it wouldn't do any good in th' long run.
Hell I knew it.
But t'hell with it all.
"Depends on what you hope for." T'hell with the—wait. Why did he—"But regardless of that, don't you think we should move somewhere else? It is getting late."
"Well then," Norma spoke up, grinning, "Why don't we move this to Teach's place?" Her eyes narrowed like she was darin' him to say no.
:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:
(Jay's POV)
"After all, it is the most convenient. We all know where it is, and it's in Werites Beacon—the only city on the Legacy. Whaddya say?" Actually I was pretty sure I already knew what he was going to say. No. Regardless of how many times I had actually visited the town—unseen, of course—without their knowledge, that wouldn't matter.
To them I had never stepped foot in the town since he exiled me. And even now, I highly doubted he'd let me step foot in it. He wasn't one to go back on his decisions easily.
I had to give Norma credit, though, for all her air-headedness, she had a point. Werites Beacon was the best meeting point, all things aside. It was enough to make Will hesitate. Long enough, for him to actually get a few thoughts in. Hopefully reasonable, but where Harriet was concerned, probably more biased than she'd want.
"I…don't know." A safe answer, not an all out no, like I had half-expected, "For tonight, fine, but," he hesitated, "no longer than tonight."
He was acting as if I was going to get angry at him for saying no. I had already broken the exile—like he had, when his wife died—I had no reason to get angry over something this..this petty.
"Fine," I closed my eyes, but I could feel him relax, "to your place, I presume? Lead the way."
He hesitated again, when I opened my eyes, "ah, y-yes. Let's…go."
He was worried, hesitant, he did not want to lead me back into town. Where he had exiled me. Maybe he was even thinking of his own time, when he was exiled. Maybe. Perhaps, but he was telling himself that this was different. Yes. So much different than Amelia's parents, who exiled him for kidnapping her.
'Well I did screw up.' I watched as he placed a hand firmly on Harriet's shoulder, 'to put it bluntly. I can understand that but—it's not like I—'
"Aww, is JJ suuuuulking?" I jolted when I felt Norma's arms wrap, casually, around my shoulders.
"I have no reason to be." I answered back, quickly, not much louder than a hiss, as I tried to shrug her off.
"Of course you don't." she smiled in the 'I just blackmailed you' sort of way of hers, before letting go, "So let's go go goooo!" and suddenly she was up front, next to Will, and Chloe, and Senel and—
I was trailing behind.
And Csaba, for worse intentions, most likely, couldn't seem to stop glancing at me. Then at Moses. Only to have Moses notice and say, "Quit worryin'" in that relaxed sort of way of his, which completely contradicted the expression on his face.
That was probably my fault. In fact, I was almost certain it was.
But I couldn't say a word, not before we were back at the towns entrance, with them. And they were standing there, on either side—Chloe, Senel, Shirley, Moses—Will, Harriet, Norma, Csaba—like this was some sort of corrination ceremony. Like I would be burned and denied passage into the 'Holy Land' of Werites Beacon, if I stepped over the threshold.
Oh how horribly, horribly ironic. No. I wasn't being sarcastic. Not at all.
:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:
(Csaba's POV)
He was acting like he hadn't done a thing. And Moses was letting him get away with it. Letting him, dammit. I knew this wouldn't turn out good, and it wasn't.
"It's been a while since you've been t'town, hasn't it?" Norma piped up from next to me, "I'd say let's take a look around, for your sake but—"
"I highly doubt I'm missing anything." He cut her off, eyes narrowing as he walked past us, easily—too easily—and stepped into the city. The first time in how many years? I couldn't remember anymore. He then turned, swiftly, and stared back at us, like he knew why we were standing there, "Well?" he stepped to the side, and almost instantaneously, everyone moved.
Or everyone except me, and Moses, anyway. Trying to get through the door like there was some damn monster was about to come barrling out of the spring to attack us. No. The monster was already in the city. What's worse—we allowed him in ourselves.
"Wah—" suddenly Harriet—the poor girl—stumbled forward
"Harriet?!" Will whipped around, he had tried to drag her through quickly, but of course she'd lose her footing.
I didn't know her that well, but even I knew she had balance trouble. Along with the cooking trouble. And the anger management trouble. And the 'I hate you Will' trouble, that still lingered even after all these years—
But then the monster caught her.
:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:
(Harriet's POV)
I tried to pull my hand out of his grip, but he wouldn't let me. He knew I was probably going to stop—which I wasn't, why I would even after what he said, I didn't know—so his grip had been tighter than usual. I had been going to say something, but then he loosened it. I thought it was okay.
But then I go and do the most un-lady like thing ever. Well, not ever, but it was pretty clumsy, and that had been my New Years resolution—don't be clumsy. Tripping on an elevated piece of wood that made up the bottom half of the gate, was included. Or I'd like to think it was.
I had expected to fall, to embarrass myself in front of him, like I had done by crying earlier—but—but—
He went and caught me.
'Now what?'
"Harriet!" Dad just finally noticed that I had let go of his hand, and he was turning, and he was seeing this and he was, of course, going to ask if I was okay.
But Jay beat him to it, "Are you okay?" with him, though, I knew he meant more than that. He was asking about earlier too, and I knew he could see how puffy my eyes were, even in the fading light.
I exhaled as he helped me straighten up, "Y-Yeah," then I tried to smile, "I just tripped. Thank…thank you though." Then I turned to dad, telling him the exact same thing, "I'm fine."
For a moment dad looked relieved, before tensing again, and opening his mouth, obviously not liking the fact that Jay still had one hand on me. He closed his mouth, though, when Jay's hand immediately left my shoulder.
"Be more careful then." It was a warning, a cold one, but it was reminiscent of something…a conversation, held, before, back when everything was still nice and good and--
Two could play at this game, "Oh don't worry, I will be."
His eyes lit up for a split second, and he almost smirked, but dropped it at the last second, instead, turning to look at Will again, a silent cue for me to stop and to go back to my dad.
Like I didn't—couldn't—ever belong to him. The idiot.
"Wowie, so even little Hattie is clumsy from time to time," Norma whistled, taking a step next to me, before falling in place beside Jay, "That's no good, that's definitely no good!"
"I'd ask why but,"
"Save it." That was, surprisingly, Csaba, sounding much more tense than dad looked, "This is—I mean—"
"Much more important." I was sure if looks could kill Jay would have been dead. But then, looks never did bother Jay so much. "I believe we all understand that, Norma?"
Norma visibly flinched, before laughing, "Aww, okay, okay, teasing later then."
"Yes, later."
"Yup, much later."
I could almost hear the coming on of another inside joke—between them, me excluded—and I wanted—wanted to know what it was.
But. Wait. I was supposed to be angry at him. Or. Not. But. At least a little more—
I stopped, blinking, when I realized that dad had fallen behind—and that, oh, everyone had started walking—
"Harriet."
"Yes daddy?" He was a sucker for that word, and I knew it.
"Are you sure you're okay? You—"
I shook my head, "I'm fine, dad." It didn't seem like the word would get me anywhere, "I just tripped."
He didn't look like he entirely believed me.
"It's the law of gravity, whatever goes up, must come down." Okay, it wasn't exactly the law of gravity, but, "I mean—I was going to trip sometime, and you kinda just…let go so suddenly," and now I was blaming it on him without entirely meaning to.
He sighed, giving up, not loudly, but close enough, "Fine. I'll believe you, for now, but," he gave me a warning look, "I want you to stay away from Jay."
My natural response would've been why, but I could feel the tears, still in the back of my throat, at the mention of him, "I think. I might. Just for you, daddy. But if he helps us," I closed one eye, stepping ahead of him for a second, "I might just have to talk to him, okay?"
Great. Now I was asking permission.
"I would like it if you didn't."
"of course."
:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:
(Will's POV)
She laughed, and sounded so much like her mother. "I'm being serious, Harriet." She glanced back at me and smiled.
"I know."
But she couldn't possibly, "Harriet—"
"Teach! Hattie, we're going to your house! Don't ya think it'd be a little off if you weren't there?" Norma called from one of the many bridges scattered around the town.
"She has a point, dad," Harriet murmured before calling back, "We're coming!" then she glanced back at me, "Or at least I am. Dad, how long do you wanna stand here, in the dark?"
I sighed, "No, no I'm coming to."
"Then we best catch up."
I nodded my head, mutely, and watched as she began walking again, speeding up slightly, until she reached the bridge, where Norma and…Chloe, were still waiting. She said something to them, which Norma replied to, and Chloe smiled at, before the smile turned to a grimace, and then Norma, gripping Harriet's arm, suddenly, dashed off—
"Be care—" I couldn't even get that much out, as I watched them both stumble, for a moment, before righting themselves.
I was close enough now that I could hear Chloe's loud, collective sigh, "She hasn't grown up, even after all these years." Then she turned to me, "Raynard."
I smiled, "Norma will be Norma, I suppose."
"I concur," she shook her head softly, "but really, she's how old now? Twenty Four?"
I didn't think too long on that, "Around there."
"She needs to act like an adult, preferably sooner, rather than later." We started off again, "We need as much help as we can get, and we can't just leave her behind because of her childish antics."
that made me laugh, "But you know, even you had your moments." She turned her head away, slightly, in embarrassment, "and besides, you're only one year older than she is."
"S-So?" she quickened her pace enough so that I was no longer walking beside her, "Are you saying I'm—"
"Acting so much older than her." I cut her off, "And we'll need both of you."
Finally, my house was coming into view, with the same outrageously present stone pillars, and the same blue flowers, and the same name plate, door, and—
It was welcoming.
So was, oddly, the crowd at the door.
"Hey teach!" It was Norma again, rushing up to us, "Next time you decide to dwaddle, at least give Hattie the key!" Then, with arms crossed, she said, almost to herself, but loud enough for Chloe and I to hear, "But since when did you lock your door?"
"Since I had a reason to." I answered, in a hushed tone.
That seemed to sober her up some, but not enough, it seemed. Not enough.
"I see," she turned around, "Well Teach is here now!" She announced.
"I think we see that, Norma," Senel droned, hand, protectively resting on Shirley's hip, and her, blushing.
How nice.
I couldn't help but smile at the site, "Yes, yes, the 'old man' is here," they parted to let me to the door, and I quickly brought out the key, unlocking the door before opening it, loudly, with a creak.
"Hey JJ," again, Norma, stated from somewhere behind me as I stepped in through the entryway, and then through the main door to the living room, "It's been a while since you've been to Teach's house, too."
"And?" he sounded, for lack of a better word, bored.
"Well, I can't say much changed but," I could almost hear the smirk in her words, "He has brandy now!"
"What?" That was Harriet, "Oh! You mean that stuff in that bottle—"
"That you aren't allowed to touch." I cut her off, shooting her a glance from over my shoulder. I had expected her to immediately say 'I haven't' or some other variation of that, but—
Instead she almost looked apologetic.
"You…haven't touched it, have you?"
She wiped the look immediately off her face, "Nope! Definitely haven't!"
'Why oh why don't I believe you though?'
"You really haven't."
"Didn't I just say—"
"Well then why don't you have some?" Norma cut her off, "Just this once, eh? I mean, we're all here after how long?"
"No."
It almost surprised me to hear another voice, in the exact same tone.
It almost surprised me that it was Jay.
He glanced at me for a moment, before coughing lightly, "Besides, aren't we here to discuss something of…much more importance?"
"But who says we can't have a few drinks while discussing it? I don't know about you but this isn't exactly the easiest thing to talk about." She was trying to come up with some sort of excuse, I could hear it, and it definitely wasn't working.
"It's because it's not easy to talk about that we most likely shouldn't, besides, I'm sure nearly everyone here besides myself, has been 'clued in' on the situation. So all that's left is to plan."
"But you don't know—" Csaba started, almost sounding like he had to force the words out of his mouth.
He gave him the strangest look, then, that made me realize—possibly a little more, than all those times before—what a valuable asset he would be. "That the Bandit Tribe is being afflicted by a horrible, and previously unnamed disease, which you came all the way to Werites Beacon, asking everyone for help, because there seems to be no cure for it." At our, regrettably, dumbfounded expressions he let out a sigh, shrugged his shoulders and shook his head, "Isn't that the reason why you called me here?" He shot Norma a look, who tried to return it, but faltered at the last second.
"Well yeah," Moses spoke up, finally, "I guess it is." He was looking him dead in the eyes but, unlike Norma, he didn't look away. Not even when Jay chose to return the glance.
"Exactly." Finally he took the initiative to look away, "So shouldn't we get started?"
:End Evening: 02:
Well this chapter definitely was a lot harder to write than the last one (not counting the fact that it's been a long time since I last worked on it, obviously putting a damper on how well things flowed together, or not), but I'm happy with it overall. It's also a bit shorter than the last chapter, switches POVs that much more often, but eh, it got what I needed it to get done.
And of course, have questions? Comments? CC? (because heck this is still a long chapter, and I probably haven't looked at it as closely as I could have) Send it via Review!
-Till the Next Chapter
Harmony283
