Whoo-hoo!
Robin gets stuck in Interlaken for 20 days that the police couldn't even find they're prey! xD
Enjoy!
Slowly cruising down Beatenberg strasse before entering the district of Unternsee in Bern, Robin felt his throat and stomach hold an sinking feeling like knots tied together that was refusing to disappear from his depressed and traumatized state since yesterday's mad escape from the Wiltzwil prison.
Biting his lip in a quiver, he tried his best not to break down into a sob as he shoulder parked near a grassy curb, hitting the parking break while leaving the engine running, stepping out and resting his back against the side of the vehicle, the knots tightening inside his throat and stomach increased as he started panting heavily in shock.
The feeling of Gaius getting killed by the guards were just not true!
Maybe it was just a dream that eluded him out of his traumatized state.
But amnesia forced him to remember this memory, constantly playing like a death scene in a movie, the tramutization of re-playing the scene in his mind got him to drop on his hands and knees, and start crawling around his Touran, continuously muttering "Gaius is not dead" over and over like a crazy mentally illed tactician.
After circling 5 times, Robin halted infront of his beloved car and stood up with difficulty, heart beating in shocking whines as the knots in his throat and stomach bit back an untangle of relievement.
Closing his eyes to feel relaxed, he laid back against the hood, opening them again to stare at the clouds slowly drifting west as tears slowly trailed down his cheeks.
No wonder Naga was there to help him escape from this whole troubling dilemma.
Sighing while wiping his cheek, Robin decided to climb back in his Touran, and re-join Scheidgasse-strasse with an easy cruise.
Crossing over River Aare, he turned left sharply before approaching a mini round-about, Helvatiastrasse leading him to Höheweg-strasse, the same road where the AweSomE cast and Team Aquila took to drive towards the EDM stage.
Unaware of the stage's location opposite of the direction he was driving to, Robin sighed and decided to park beside a Hooters restaurant, killing the engine while adjusting the AC, his mind racking towards the location Shulk messaged him a few days ago.
With his almond brown eyes screwed shut in an intense amount of thinking, the effect of it got him softly yelping towards the wave of pain that ran lightly through his head, his eyes re-opening to strike the Nav screen as a possible helpful tool.
I could possibly use that to find the stage's location.
It was well worth a try.
Clicking the power knob, the screen quietly greeted him with the VW logo followed by it's motto "Das Auto." before it moved to it's safety screen concerning the use of it's radio, nav, and settings.
A second later, loud music erupting from the side speakers in the doors got him jumping out his skin in shock for he didn't like his surroundings to get too boisterous.
Ever since he stole this Touran, he clearly didn't turn the radio since he awoke mysteriously in Bionis.
With his fingers rotating the knob, his ears fearfully listened into a local Bernese news station concerning two escapees from the Wiltzwil prison last night.
Gulping in fear, Robin quickly clicked the Nav button before the reporter could mention his name, relieved at the sight of a map of his current location.
Was it Seestrasse 145 Interlaken?
That had to be it according to Shulk's text message.
Carefully entering in the address, index finger tapping the letters on the screen, he tapped SEARCH.
Just when his moment of hope arrived, a knock on the window interrupted his search.
Flicking the window switch, Robin almost wanted to agape at the sight of a brown haired girl, young in her 20's, hair tied in a pony tail while wearing a Hooters cotton visor cap, fully dressed in white short sleeved top and orange skirt accompanied by orange long leggers along with skates.
Cupped in her right hand was a freshly made cherry shake while her left carefully balanced a ceramic plate of BBQ chicken wings.
"Welcome to Hooters! My name is Anna! How may I help you?"
That white smile got Robin almost studdering with an awkward start, "Um... I'll take the shake please?"
"You know? I'm the only one in the Shepherds to work at Hooters here." Anna jabbed, carefully handing him the cherry shake in a glass cup along with a few napkins. "It's surprising you should know who I really am, Robin."
He almost spat out the cherry that topped the shake, "Anna? What in the name of Naga are you doing here? Working at Hooters?"
Anna pouted, clearly un-amused towards her friend's roar of laughter, "What are you doing here with an vacuum as your friend?"
That got Rob to halt into realization and blush in embarrassment. Moving the vacuum behind the front seats, Anna's confusion greatly ascended as she raised her eyebrow towards the ivy printed mattress strewn with a textile bag, neck pillow, Rubbermaid bucket toppled to the side, Broom handle and mop head, empty boxes of Blueberry pies, and a Kid's jacket. "Heh, I needed some company with me."
"Don't tell me you're alone! What about the other Shepherds?" Anna asked, unaware of the tactician's escape from the police and all of the crime dilemma.
"Still in contact with Gaius."
"Yuck, that lousy Thief? He never does anything except pick-pocket the Trick or Treat stash from everyone in AJRA!" Anna set down the plate of wings on his lap, "Here, since you're alone, I might accompany you into some of our Hooters specials."
Robin blushed and kindly declined as he quickly finished the wings and the shake in one gulp before maintaining a tiny burp that interrupted his offer, "No th-anks."
Anna gladly giggled as she leaned her arms on the sill of the driver's door. "Olivia might be worried about you but all I wanted to say was...the Outrealm gate in Jura is currently closed and they're thinking of using the same style of time traveling for their other tunnel, project CERN in the Invisible Kingdom. The reason why I couldn't stay in Ylisse is because I got kicked out of project CERN after trying to reveal the secrets of the opening ceremony of the Gotthard tunnel that ran from Lagdou to Valdek to Crimea. That's when I had to quit my job and come all the way here to work as a waitress at Hooters." Sighing with a glum face, she wondered how Robin got into Interlaken so quickly. "An EDM event?"
"Yeah, Shulk texted me about it a few days ago concerning the party. He told me I should arrive at Seastrasse 145." Robin meekly replied while blinking in concern.
"Hmm... I might have to say it's located on the right side of the street. Stage you say? Well, good luck Rob. May we see each other in Shepherds' Garrison (Rathaus City Hall)." Anna then left him a bill concerning their first meet up in Interlaken without charging him for any free deals that were given to him already.
"Bye." Robin smiled as he folded up the white strip of paper and leaned back to relax.
I never thought I would meet Anna here. Gods, it's such a blessing to meet my fellow Shepherd friends in many different places across AJRA.
Reminding himself not to cause his 6th driving mistake, Robin carefully backed up from the Hooters parking lot and into the main road. (A/N: Robin! You should never back up into the main road! You might get killed! xD)
Once the street was clear, he seized his chance to follow a dull blue 04 Citroen Xsara towards the destination, only for the end of the road to be closed due to a clean up site of debris and dusty smoke everywhere.
Was there a battle between the Smash Teams while I wasn't around?
As much as Robin highly despised EDM, he decided to let go of the fact that Shulk still didn't respond to the party's conclusion.
Sighing while deep in thought, he decided to follow the road which led him to Postgasse-strasse, a lovely neighborhood filled with typical brown roofed houses laced with white concrete and wood, dotted with green window paned frames and small ceramic pots of orchids getting a tan under the sun.
Giving way to a gold colored 05' VW Polo, Robin parked the Touran near a short studded wooden fence framing a small backyard infront of the house.
Killing the engine while adjusting the AC, he thought about buying some food for himself since begging from strangers was clearly not a must thing to do on his shopping list.
Let's see... I need Bread, Milk, Cheese, Meat...
Jotting down the items, Robin paused to think about what more he needed to add when a kid's yell broke through his thoughts.
Setting down the pen and pad on the center console, his white brows furrowed in heartwarming concern towards two young girls at 7 years of age, thier hands wrapped around the diamond shaped holes of the criss-crossed fence while holding a small ball.
Flicking the window switch to the passenger door, he smiled, "May I help you?"
"Können Sie mit uns spielen? Wir brauchen einen dritten Spieler. (Can you play with us? We need a third player.)" one of the girls pouted while rocking back and forth against the fence on her toes, the grass trickling her barefeet.
And that was when Robin needed to grasp his German more than he would ever think of using it at times like these.
"Sicher, nur für ein paar Minuten. (Sure, only for a few minutes.)" Robin accepted their offer as the girls yelled in happiness and started jumping up and down.
Climbing out of the vehicle, Robin paused to blow out the short sting of pain that lured his back and carefully walked around his Touran to enter in thier yard.
The first girl immediately shook hands with him, "Mein Name ist Isabell Schürter und das hier ist mein Freund Kiana Ogi. Wie heißt du, Herr? (My name is Isabell Schürter and this here is my friend Kiana Ogi. What's your name, mister?)"
The sheer sweetness of their faces got the tactician's cheeks to blush red, "Robin. Robin Delahaye."
"Komm schon! Auf was wartest du? Sie können Torwart sein, während Kiana den Ball zu mir schlägt dann habe ich es im Tor kicken. Können Sie das tun? (Come on! What are you waiting for? You can be goalie while Kiana kicks the ball to me then I kick it in the goal. Can you do that?)" Isabell explained while Robin shrugged, "Alright."
He walked over to the small Crane makeshift goal, the navy blue net glistening under the sun.
Robin gulped and glanced towards the windows of Isabell's house, making sure that none of her parents were crazily thinking that a stranger was here to either play with them or kidnap them to another Kanton.
Sure Bernese people were weird, but Robin has grown to the fact of getting used to the atmosphere here.
Looks of hate and odd awkward confusion from the elders and the sheer cuteness from the small kids.
"Achtung! (Watch out, mister!)" Kiana warned as she passed the ball towards Isabell, who came speeding towards him until the ball flew for the post and collided against his thigh, the nerves leading up to the spine sending out a short shockwave of pain.
But as brave as he was, Robin grunted while gritting his teeth, not showing out his true identity of himself towards these young children who just wanted to play with him. "I'm fine."
The girls shrugged with no clue off of their shoulders, not bothering to ask what he said in English.
Isabell then switched activities and held out a jump rope for Robin to hold, taking the other end while walking opposite from him, "In Ordnung, Kiana will Seil zu springen, während ihre Lieblings lieder zu singen. Kannst du das Herr tun? (Alright, Kiana wants to jump rope while singing her faviourite Rhyme. Can you do that mister?)"
Gosh, all of these are so easy to follow, they don't even notice they're playing with a criminal! At least children are more tolerable to be around with then those snobby elders and police hogs.
Isabell and Kiana giggled as they got prepared to sing the rhyme together.
"Wenig Robin-Rot-Brust,
Sitzen auf einer Stange,
Niddle, Noddle ging den Kopf.
Und Poop ging sein Loch!"
(Little Robin Red breast,
Sitting on a pole,
Nidde, Noddle, Went his head.
And poop went his Hole!)
Just at the end of the Rhyme, the girls plopped down in laughter, Robin following after.
"Lustige huh? (Funny, huh?)" Kiara laughed as they sat for more laughter and fun, Robin nodded in agreement.
They later stood up and brought a pair of paddles and ping pong balls.
Robin wished he could stay longer but he had to move on.
"Lassen Sie uns jetzt Paddle Ball spielen. Ich gebe es zu Kiara dann Kiara zu Robin nachgibt, dann Robin es mir zurück gibt. Okay? (Let's play paddle ball now. I give it to Kiara then Kiara gives to Robin, then Robin gives it back to me. Okay?)" With Isabell handing out the third paddle to his hands, they both stood in the shape of a triangle.
On the first swing, Kiara missed and hurled the ball towards the birdhouse perched beside the windowsill of the shed, a european brown red breasted robin sensing it's sudden disturbance.
"Schau mal! Es ist ein Rotkehlchen! (Look! It's a robin!)"Isabell gasped, pointing towards the bird who flew towards the sky.
Just by the sight of the symbolism of freedom that spelled depression over the tactician, Robin kneeled down while his heart sank along with tears slowly ran down his cheeks, biting back quiet sobs.
"Was ist los Mister? (What's wrong Mister?)" Kiara asked while placing a hand on his back, confused at what he was wailing for.
Wiping his tears away, Robin turned away and held his invisible sobs in his heart, "Nichts. (Nothing)."
"Warte ab! Dies sollte Sie aufheitern! (Wait! This should cheer you up!)" Isabell ran back into her house to get something.
Kiara glanced towards the slide in patio door which was supposed to open for her friend to come back.
5 minutes later, Isabell came panting with a piece of paper in her hands, the wind assaulting the white leaf while she ran full speed towards him with a finishing breath, "Das ist für dich! (This is for you!)"
Grabbing the paper with a sniffle, it was a drawing of them playing soccer, jump roping, and paddle ball together in crayons. "Thanks."
"Ist er ok? (Is he okay?)" Kiara whispered in suspicion towards her friend who merely shrugged, "Ich weiß es nicht (I don't know)"
Robin then stood up and sighed, "Thanks for the offer of letting me play with you but I have to go."
Cue two heads tilting in confusion.
"Was? (What?)" Kiara insisted with a squint to her eyes.
Robin then groaned and repeated it in german, "Danke für das Angebot von mir mit Ihnen zu lassen spielen, aber ich muss gehen."
Isabell then looked at Kiara with a pout.
"Tchuss (Bye)." the girls murmured, waving their hands slowly from side to side and wondering why their friend was acting low after Isabell went in to retrieve her drawing.
The tactician stepped into his Touran and closed the door, staring at the drawing.
Just the artistic expression of a child's drawing really made Robin to sob again, clutching the paper close to his heart.
One that he will never forget.
Wiping his tears away, he continued to drive down Postgasse-strasse, using the side mirror to see the girls running back into the house for lunch time.
Just like the Old Generation.
Passing by City Hotel Oberland, Robin's stomach began to softly growl in uncomfort as he cruised down Waldegg-strasse in order to aim for that Lidl shown on the nav screen.
It was pretty much a typical day around the parking lot of Lidl.
Re-visiting the AweSomE cast's faviourite grocery store was pretty much an amazing memory considering they still haven't built one in Virginia Beach. But on the other hand, it was painful too because it was a huge reminder on how he missed them so much.
Parking next to a 2013 Opel Zafira with a difficult sigh, Robin killed the engine and stepped out, only for his eyes to meet with a lousy young smoker who kept an eye on the tactician for minutes before using spare change to unlock the shopping cart and wheel it towards the entrance.
A blast of AC whipped against his face in relief as Robin walked around, his almond eyes following the list's item.
Bread. Right.
Jogging over to the bakery section, (he was careful not to slip over the plastic Hazard sign set in the middle of the aisle), he licked his lips towards the various breads in all shapes and sizes he could find. Dropping the Feroxi Appenzell Nussli crossaint in the cart, he decided to go for some meat he could top with his bread. Darting for the meat section, he picked a few packs of Maestade Lyoner and streichwurst from the refrigerated shelf and dropped them in the cart.
He wasn't sure where he could find some cooking pans from but the St. Feroxi Bratwurst marked 30% off was a well worth choice for his shopping session.
Now to complete my delicious sandwich.
Heading over to the commercial freezers where it held out all types of meat cut into slices or sold as whole, his almond brown eyes glistened in surprise towards the only Aluminum tube of Thomy Mayonnaise left on the small wired basket just above the fresh slices of duck.
He grabbed it before a lady wheeling a baby carriage could stash the lone prize.
The next category on his shopping list were beverages. Something that was entirely the most important life surviving tool of his life. Eyeing the Alcoholic beverages such as fruitful wine to Calanda Beer and Graffenwalder Beer, the official drink of the World Tour 2017 EDM yacht event hosted by Shulk, clearly steered him away from the cans and bottles, his mind created a smart move for once that he would not fall drunk during his escape.
In a blink of an eye, he spotted stacks of 5 liter bottles of Saskia Mineral water priced for 1 off each.
But it was clear to his common sense that haggling all of the 1.5 liter bottles from a public vending machine could quickly eat up his spare change, so why not haul all of the huge bunk of water in his Touran during his escape? It was well worth a try and he could endlessly re-fill it into a used bottle abused near the city park's bench.
Lifting the bottle with difficulty, Robin's spine eerily sensed his surroundings to vanish every shopper away except for him...
and a young black Labrador sitting infront of his cart, tilting his head in confusion while biting back a whine for his attention, eagerly wagging it's tail for a reply.
Robin blinked in confusion at how it was possible for a four legged animal to waltz into the store alone, probably hungry during his lonely escape.
Sighing, Robin looked around and softly said, "Hey, buddy. I wonder where you came from. But just go back to where your owner is mourning for you. I clearly have no right to take in rouge pets like you."
The dog licked his lips and barked once towards the end of the aisle.
Dumbstruck at how it even got here, Robin thought of his two Newfoundies Morgan and Morrigan back when he attended UNY (Universität Ylisse), the dogs now given away to Cordelia under care since he was too busy on the job and clearly didn't have time to hold their leashes whenever they went for walks.
Strange. No name.
The blue collar to the dog's neck gave away it's name clinking twice against the upper ring.
Bailey.
"You know my list?" Robin questioned the dog as it happily barked once and led him towards the appliances aisle, the tactician dumbfounded towards the sight of Silvercrest Coolboxes stacked on sale for 19 franks.
"But, this isn't on my shopping list." Robin raised an eyebrow in confusion as he gaped at the list.
The dog really was predicting his mind!
Perhaps Naga is really helping him out!
"Gosh, Bailey. You're a miracle." Robin kneeled down and hugged the dog.
Standing up, he found one of the employees power washing the floor with a huge Hako machine, a sharpied 1974 marked onto it but made no complaint about bringing pets to a grocery store.
Bailey barked once for Robin's attention as he bounded towards the aisle of body care ranging from perfumes to and cremes and Toothbrushes.
Halting at several packages of Signal toothbrushes and paste for sale, he picked both items from the rack and lobbed them into the cart, the dog whipping up on his heels while placing his paws at the edge of the wired cart, making sure the tactician had everything he needed.
Robin chuckled, finding his miracle to act extremely funny. Just for a reward for finding this lone dog in this store, he secretly stashed a bag of Orlando doggy snack treats, choosing the pig's ears to his heart's consent.
Bailey came back with a basket of remaining groceries that was not bought yet, the handle tight around his jaws.
Robin almost wanted to take this dog in as his helpful guide, "Bailey, that really makes me want to accept all of those offers you're giving me but I'll just take the OJ, alright?"
Bailey refused and barked while placing a paw on the basket, urging his new owner to take in the completed items that made the tactician's shopping days gradually shorten.
Heaving a sigh, Robin inspected W5 lemon Dishsoap, Yum Yum instant noodles, Vitasia Oyster Sauce, Ordex plastic forks, and Solevita Orange Juice now added into the shopping cart from the empty blue basket.
How in planet Mira was a dog able to transport the items from a basket to a shopping cart in a flash!?
Perplexed at the strange commotion, it would have made a great Youtube hit for something that amazing.
But Robin had no time for he had to move on.
Whistling for the dog to bound over, he was met by the cashier who scanned all of the groceries while whipping out a friendly smile, "That dog. Is it yours?"
Since the owner posted many flyers of a missing black dog around Interlaken, Robin's face was stumped from the sudden question while he gave out his first 1000 frank bill as a major change.
He anxiously lied and blew a nervous sigh, "Temporarily speaking, yes."
Glad to go through the pets in stores issue, the cashier accepted his reply, "Just be sure to stay safe."
"Thanks." Robin smiled as he waved in farewell and wheeled the cart outside, buttons on the keyfob ordering the rear tailgate to rise up, Bailey's new home acclaimed as his paws trumped on the Ivy-printed mattress and his nose dug into the Rubbermaid bucket in concern.
"Hey boy, that's my personal stuff." Robin grabbed the bucket out of the way as he began loading it with the small items of his.
It was then that the dog licked his lips towards the Orlando doggy snack treats, sealed from the basket.
"Want one? I'm pretty sure that way your owner might come and find you." ripping the corner, the delicious treat in his hands made Bailey's eyes water with hunger for the homesome snack. "Good luck, Bailey! Stay safe!"
Flinging the treat towards the other side of the lot where it landed behind a Lidl Volvo 18 wheeler truck, the dog ran with dear life towards it's heavenly item, leaving Robin to blow out a sigh and load the rest of the items into the rear of his Touran.
Thank Naga for the dog as my guide.
Robin yawned after his first few minutes on the road, driving down General Guisan-strasse in boredom until his almond eyes fearfully struck the orange lettering of MIGROS he greatly despised.
Must get away from that.
Breathing in fear, he calmed down towards a roadary, the circle empty with the absence of his driving mistakes.
Glancing quickly at the fuel meter, the needle lazily fell towards the letter E.
Must re-fuel if I want to continue my escape.
Riding down state road 9, he traveled down Hoheweg strasse, his eyelids slowly lowering shut from the lethargy driving he did 24/7.
Spotting a Coop Pronto gas station, Robin eagerly shook himself awake and turned right into the lot, neatly parking next to an available fuel tank.
Getting out with a shiver, Robin stared ahead at the building still open.
Swallowing with a shaky sigh, he hesitated whether he should pay for the gas or not.
He was lucky on the safe spot at Lidl but he might not trust a gas station for sure in the use of the money he stole from that cursed M store.
Grabbing the Fuel handle from it's lever marked "Bleifrei 95 (Diesel)", Robin shrugged in nervousness and inserted the nozzle in the side of the minivan.
Whistling while his eyes watched the prices rise high in accordance to the size of his tank, Robin felt the trigger click once as the meter stopped at 80.95 franks.
This was do or die time.
Pay for it or not?
Unaware of the manager in the store supervising the criminal with a security camera, the tactician made his final decision as he removed the nozzle and returned it to it's lever.
As quick as his Thoron spell move, Robin dashed into the driver's seat of the Touran and started the engine. At the same time he skiddaddled here, without letting manager notice his third act of his crimes.
It later ended with an escaping white mini van and the very cross manager spitting out remarks towards the fifth time of un-paid fuel in this location.
Robin sighed while covering his face with his hands, not even believing his heart that he successfully re-fueled his Touran without paying the price.
With his ears still active for any police sirens, his fired up backlashes of three crimes in a row did him some good into surviving an eternity in Interlaken.
With the final growl of his stomach wailing for food, Robin sighed and shoulder parked next the grassy curb, until the front bumper of his Touran caught him to gasp in surprise and check out the deadly moment of someone run over.
But thankfully it turned out to be an object, getting moon baked under the evening cool winds of Interlaken.
Thank Naga I didn't turn my fourth crime into a murder.
Instead, it was a discarded Jetbag Family 455 travel roof box, the owner unaware of it's condition not broken at all.
Perplexed at the thought of a travel box discarded here, Robin shrugged and decided to empty the rear of his minivan by picking up it's the light gray shell of the heavy box and lobbed it on the roof of his Touran with difficulty, finding it a great item to store whatever junk was taking up his sleeping space.
Carefully squeezing the textile bag filled with unused clothes, his Electrolux Vaccum, Rubbermaid bucket, and mop head/broom handle in the box, Robin smiled in satisfaction, closed the box, and climbed down from the open window passenger door as a stepstool, his mind racking to resume his path of escape.
Getting into the rear while closing the tailgate, Robin settled in by sitting criss-crossed on the mattress, glad to see just his neck pillow, covers, and his grocery items in view.
Time to eat...and sleep.
Carefully pulling out the items, he followed his mind into building the most delicious sandwich ever.
Almost wishing that he and the Shepherds ate this instead of bear meat (Lissa was right about the food chain getting meddled and messed up) got him thinking about them. How would it be if he returned to the Shepherds as Anna had promised?
Chewing slowly in deep thought, Robin thought about meeting up with fish freak and working out a plan to escape AJRA together. But it was clear to him that he had to stay away from him since he used the tactician as a working slave for most of the times.
So it was better to be accompanied by the AweSomE cast.
Finishing up the last piece, he was about to dig in for some fresh bottled water when he held up the items that Bailey suggested him to get.
That dog was pretty smart whenever it came to getting hungry in the future.
Perhaps it was for later,he really had to thank the dog for THAT.
Sighing, he placed the items back and grabbed his pillow, the thick cushion snugging his neck as he pulled the covers on top of him.
Noticing a black shirt left alone from the textile bag currently locked up in the roof box, Robin sighed and reached in, his hands feeling the white printed outlines of the vector robin bird breaking free, now torn and shredded from the SWAT guards harshly changed his clothes into the orange uniform.
Clutching the shirt close to his face, tears burned in to the fabric as Robin lightly sobbed about his past, completely unaware of a red Seat Ibiza and ice-blue Honda CRV flying over Interlaken towards the halidom of Ylisse.
Another Long Chapter!
*whistles* I wish I had that dog for my shopping trip! xD
Next chappie we come back to Shulk, Lucina, and fish freak! xD
Falco276 out! :D