A little shorter this time, but for your reading pleasure, I have added a few recognizable extras X3
If you wanna be part too, (we are in serious need of extra people) give a name (first and last preferably) that can represent you. It'd be fun if you gave both a male and a female name, because we seem to lack men too xP
In general, we need extras. GO EXTRAS! Details on their character/behavior'd be good.
People who were present in HIVE belong to Walden.
la.
They arrived at the kitchen. The boy sat at a wooden table, fiddling with a rabbit bone and looking quite satisfied.
"Hey, kid."
The child looked up at Laura. "Do you have a name?" Laura asked.
The boy shook his head.
"You don't remember?"
The boy shook his head again.
"Oh. Well then, can you talk?"
This was responded to with a shrug and a shake of the head.
"Well, we obviously have some work to do if you're staying. My name is Laura Brand. Laura. That's just for reference, mind you. Many people here don't trust you, myself included."
The boy nodded. Laura turned on her heel and gestured for him to follow. Before he did, though, the boy grabbed a notebook from the shelf and a pencil, both of which he shoved into the over-sized pockets in the clothes he was given.
"So you can write?" Laura asked, mentally chiding herself for not asking the boy preemptively.
The boy nodded. "What's your name?" Laura asked.
It was then that the child shook his head.
Laura sighed. "You don't have one. That's just great."
The way Laura was talking, the child wondered if he had done anything wrong. The man who had found him outside had treated him with brisk action, but showed concern nonetheless. The large man who had given him food was firm but kind, teaching him how to eat properly and making sure that he was comfortable. The woman Jana was truly sweet as she helped him into new clothes, though she spoke of things he couldn't understand.
This woman, though... Laura Brand... seemed neither concerned with his welfare nor kind to him. She was asking him questions so brusquely that the child felt bad each time he failed to answer properly. He had no voice to answer with, to be fair, but the tone the woman took with him caused a sinking feeling in the child's stomach.
Laura looked down at the child, suddenly seeing his fearful eyes.
Perfect, Brand. Just perfect. Now look what you've done; he's gonna cry. Chided the memory of Shelby's voice.
Ever since they'd gone underground, Laura was always like this. She got things done. She was strict with people, but that was only to keep things in order. She was fair, and people knew she had to keep things this way.
But then, she realized, the boy didn't know.
He, unlike the other children present in the refugee camp, was not taught to get used to Laura's method of leadership. First impressions were important, and Laura had just scared this child half to death on hers.
She rubbed her forehead and brought her hand to the bridge of her nose.
"Um... kid... little boy... Are you comfortable?" She asked carefully. The boy looked up at her with wide eyes. "I'm sorry if I sounded... well... disapproving. Unkind. I apologize for my behavior." She said.
She knelt to level with him, showing him a smile that she remembered she could do when she spent time with friends. "It's very dangerous everyday, and I only wanted to keep things in check. It's not common for someone to come to our camp from the outside, especially if they're alone. Most of the survivors of the Overlord takeover gathered into different refuges. We keep in touch with each other at times."
The child listened carefully, nodding as she explained.
"To be frank, we're just suspicious. You understand? It's been my job to be suspicious for years now, and it's what's been keeping a number of us alive. We don't want you to feel like you're not welcome, but you have to give us the chance to make sure."
"Is that... okay?" She asked. The boy nodded understandingly.
Laura smiled, for real. "Well while you're here, though, we're going to need to give you a name." She said.
She pretended to think for a moment. The first thing that came into her mind was probably the perfect thing, but she had her doubts if she should give him that name at all.
Decisions, decisions. Laura sighed.
Wing entered the cafeteria, the largest chamber in the entire refuge. It could house the entire camp, as it served its purpose to feed it. Today, the chamber was half-filled with scattered members. Adults originating from H.I.V.E. sat with their children or old friends, eating a stew made from Wing's massacre of rabbits.
Caroline chased Kellie J. across the room, brushing past Wing as she gave chase to the one who had stolen her beloved Shugo Chara manga.
"You'd think they'd behave, what with mummy dearest finishing her job for the day." Rose commented from the next table. The assistant head botanist greeted Wing in earnest before returning to her meal, catching both Caroline and Kellie as they ran back past her.
"You two sit or else you'll get the business end of Dignity's light blade shoved up your—"
"Two more batches! The end-shifters are coming in in a few minutes!"
The assigned cooks hurried around the kitchen, a number of others bringing the enormous pans. Everyone did their part for the little colony, and there was no exception in the enormous family.
Wing sat down beside Nigel, the latter taking care of some records while eating an unusually long and twisted banana, about twenty inches, twisted over itself like a ram's horn.
"Trying to be subtle, I see." Wing quipped. "Ha. Ha. You intending to torture me too?" Nigel said, obviously not in a better mood.
"Just coming for a bite." Wing defended. "Laura again?" He added. "Laura, yes. She wanted to take care of the kid for the day, and Laura doesn't trust Rogers enough to make her do IMPORTANT fucking paperwork." Nigel replied.
"Aren't you glad she trusts you?" Wing murmured, amused. "Now, not so much. She doesn't trust anybody, Wing, aside from you or my husband. Even some of the others from the old days don't even count on the list we're apparently part of." Nigel said, sorting the papers one-handed.
"Only since..." Wing stopped.
Nigel stopped as well, knowing what Wing meant.
There was silence between them for a moment, the kind impermeable even by the buzzing noise of the cafeteria.
"Where did you say Laura went?" Wing asked, changing the subject.
"Either to the lab or the memorials." Nigel replied, returning to his task.
Wing stood up. "Aren't you going to eat?" Nigel asked.
Wing took the quarter-eaten banana from his hand and took off.
8D
I like reviews. As such, they make me write.
