Blood Rust

[Purize]

~Blood Rust~

 
​

This world is cold, dark and crumbling. We have destroyed it with our own ignorance. In this world, The ancient cities still live with a dim glow. The smog and pollutants in the air constantly block out the sun leaving the Earth to fend for it's self. There are no flora or fauna to lift the thick atmosphere. Natural life is gone, leaving only humankind and dark creatures mutated by radiation in it's midst.


People now walk around, as pompous and snooty as ever. The time period has been named "The Steampunk Era". Since everything is old, yet futuristic. A real-life dystopia. Gears and guns are all the rage, and it certainly doesn't help the crime rate. It's not all bad though, The fashion of this time era is elegant in it's own way as people fully embrace the situation they've stuck themselves in.


A good hundred or so years ago, six large generators were created to produce artificial oxygen to allow the remaining life to survive. These generators float high in the sky, almost past the point of vision through the thick layers of smog, and are scattered great lengths away from each other. They are anchored to the ground by thick steel cables and every 10 years they are cranked back down to the surface for maintenance. Despite this, the generators continue to malfunction and sometimes even create a toxic poison that spreads through the air causing an illness know as Blood Rust. This disease causes the blood in the victims veins to oxidize and turn the iron in their blood, to rust. All cases are fatal and there is no known cure for the disease.


Rumors say that someone somewhere is tampering with the generators and intentionally causing the mayhem. However, without any evidence or a way to reach the generators except for every ten years, the accusation remains a rumor. Just a few years ago the first case of Blood Rust appeared, and since then, there have been more and more cases, and anyone who doesn't contract the disease still has a harder time breathing due to the increasingly defective generators. If someone doesn't do something to solve this new world wide epidemic, then world will finally have succeeded in ending, leaving no life to carry on in it's dust.


((Plz post your character info in the "Character Sign-Up" tab. ))

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[Zotohxan]

((Ermagerd, yus ;-;


Just..


Yes.))

 

[Purize]

I shuffle along the sidewalk on a dark street. It's late at night so there aren't many people out and about. Not that I minded the dark, or the absence or people. Everything was dark these days anyway. Day and night, dark, dark, dark. "Dark dark dark!" I chuckle to myself and watch a small shadow scurry off behind a pile of scrap and rubble in a side alley. The street lamps cast a faint glow onto the pavement around me. The lights mismatched, some a soft blue, others a soft yellow. That bothered me, but not enough for me to do anything drastic about it. "Waste of effort fussing over lights." I muttered grudgingly too myself as I took a turn. Around the curve more city stretched out before me. Rusty tower-like buildings crammed together in isles to the sides of the streets. This was the city of Markarth. It was an old dump just like the rest of them. The only city worth looking twice at was Solitude. Solitude indeed. There, the buildings actually shined. They were well kept and weren't caked with rust and dirt. That's where I was headed. I'd been wandering for quite some time now. The days have run together into weeks and months. I only stopped when I got hungry or sleepy.


My stomach growled in response to the thought of food and I growled back at it. "There's nothing nearby," I said to my stomach."You'll have to be good and wait until I can spot a place to rest as well." As I said this my eyes wandered the expanse of street before me. There were plenty of alleys between stacks of buildings to dart into and search for something in the disposal bins... but I bet they'd already be picked clean in this part of the city. This was the slummiest part. You could tell by the way the trash flowed carelessly into the streets and the glow of lit barrels illuminated the ends of some alleys were the beggars huddled in their rags. They were the kings of the disposal bins here and wouldn't likely share with someone like me.


So I trudged on. I chuckled into the dark and looked up at the empty smog-ridden sky. "Nothing to be done about it~" I almost sang the words. It was my favorite phrase after all.

 

[Zotohxan]

"Solitude"... Both the name of my city, and the description of my life. I stare up into the sky, desperately wishing to see some stars for once in my life, though I know I'll never have the joy. Humankind killed off all natural joys long ago, and now all that lies above us is a cloud of toxins, and the generators giving us artificial sustenance. Despite knowing all this, though, I can't help the uncontrollable desire to one day see something twinkling in the sky.


I read about them once, long ago... Ever since then, I've had a rather significant affinity toward those far-off wonders.


" I've always felt calm when looking at the stars... When I was younger, I believed that the stars were the new bodies of all those who've left us, watching over us and showing themselves during the darkness of night to give us at least the tiniest light of happiness." I smile to myself as I quote the words I'd read, the words which have stayed with me and made me believe that there could be something beyond this world.. ""Wishing upon a star", I've heard that so many times... The stars give so many hope, wishing upon them does nothing, right? It's the belief that something will become by wishing to them that does it... You don't even realize, but as soon as you wish, your entire being begins to work together with the universe to make it so..." That quote had come a little later. I can still distinctly remember the font in which the words were printed, looped about and randomly broken with aged ink. "Those souls in the stars work with us to show us that we can do it... They make us happy, by showing us that we can make ourselves happy."


The woman who wrote those words, I don't know her name.. But the journal passed down through my family's generations is hers, so somewhere back in my ancestry, she is there. She is the one I hold upon the highest pedestal, higher even than my own mother. But that's a story for another time.


Behind me I hear the clicking sounds of a lock, the one on my front door to be more precise. That means my room mate is home, and also means it's time for me to head back inside. So, I quickly step off the balcony of our apartment and lock the glass doors, walking into the living room just as Jenia walks in with a most exasperated expression.


My feet then walk me to the older girl, her slightly greying hair falling messily from the tight bun at the top of her head. "Tough day at work?" She nods, throwing her plaid bag onto the couch right before removing her black and grey coat to reveal her baby blue uniform. "Yeah... Six more cases of blood rust. Can you believe it?! This is just getting ridiculous.." I let out a soft sigh and nod, knowing firsthand just how ridiculous the disease can be.

 

[Purize]

I kept walking on and on until, before I even know it, I was out of the city. I had meant to find a place to sleep for the night but I wasn't about to turn around and search for a spot... No... I had to keep going forward. There is nothing ever left for me back there, anything behind me stays behind. Just like them?





My mind reeled at the thought, making my head spin. I lost my balance and my knees buckled from under me. I grunted as my striped stockings hit the dirt road. I gasped for a proper breath and fought to keep that string of thoughts from surfacing further. I couldn't think of it, I wouldn't think of it. "Nothing.... to be... done about it." I rasped the phrase and struggled upright again. I felt almost foolish for falling. "How dramatic, Dandelion." I said, rolling my eyes.


I started on my path again. There was nothing to be seen for miles in any direction except for the dirt road stretching on forever and the slowly fading city of Markarth behind me. I was getting closer. I got closer with every city. Every step. "Tik tok, Tik tok. I spent to long in that rat hole of a city. Onward to Solitude." I chuckled again to myself. My body slowly grew tired and weary and my stomach growled on despite my threats and promises. I listened intently to the gentle jingle of my ring of silver keys on my left side, and swayed along to the rhythm of the sloshing of dark liquid in the bottle suspended on my dress to the right. The sounds kept my company in the dark. More than anything else in this damned world did anyway.


Another painful growl of complaint from my belly, causing my to glare defiantly into the dark abyss around me. (No streetlights illuminated a path here after all.) "Now what have I told you? I'm not stopping. You can gripe and moan 'till the sun comes back but we won't stop again until we reach Solitude." Belly of course complained and I sighed, caving to sympathy. "I know, it's hard. It'll be alright soon enough though." It shut up finally, though I suspected my stomach had just occupied itself with eating its own lining. That's what it felt like anyway.


After possibly hours of walking, the sky started to slowly lighten ever so slightly, turning it to a dark, murky, yellowy-brown color. It still looked like it was night time, and that would be as bright as the world would ever get again, but it was enough to tell me a new day was approaching.

 

[Zotohxan]

"Oh, Amara, did you happen to get what we needed from the store? I'd really hate to send you to the Center... Again." Her words cause in my a physical reaction of panic. My palms begin to sweat, my fine hairs standing on end while those upon my head simply tense and prickle. My stomach gives a dramatic flip, quite an impressive feat, and one I may have commended it on if not for the situation in which it had arisen. The "Center" was what Jenia called our apartment complex's basement... While that in and of itself may not sound enough to cause such apprehension for even a simple yes or no answer on my part, believe me.. Anyone who has experienced the Center could tell you as well as I.. It's hell.


"Y-Yes..! Of course I did.. Hours ago, really. I stayed under budget, and I got everything on the list. Including some things for next week, just in case we're a bit short on money." Her silver eyes roam my body up and down, settling on my own blue orbs after several trips. A sound drips from her cracked lips, falling into the stagnant air and creating a ripple straight into my already uneasy body. The sound was one I could never describe, but always sent a shiver down my spine.. Perhaps it was just an excess release of air from her lungs, being pushed out and filtering through her teeth to make a mindless noise.. But I've always thought there was something deeper, and it was almost as bad as the Center.


Without another word to me, she waves a dismissive hand and walks away. Toward her bedroom she traveled, her feet landing heavy against our wooden floor as the gears sewn to her coat drag against it. After the slamming of her door, my own lungs finally allow me to release the tense breath I'd held through our entire encounter. I'm always far too afraid to so much breath wrong around that woman, so oftentimes I just simply don't.


Deciding I'd need to go out now if I wished any time to myself today, I turn and trudge off to my own room where I begin searching through my ruffled duffle for something decent to wear.

 

[Purize]

Something Sprung up in the distance. A little civilization. A town perhaps, but certainly not Solitude. It's buildings were more like short squat bunkers rather than the stack city towers of Markarth. As I got closer, I realized it was too small to even really be considered a town. An outpost. An intrigued smile perched on my face. No telling what sort of outpost it was. Maybe one full of Raiders and bandits, or perhaps a simple band of outcasts and travelers holing up in a saloon...


It wasn't well guarded. Nothing stood at the open gates in the metal wire mesh fence. There were no barbs coiled above the top to keep things out... or in. There were no watch towers stationed by husky men with beady eyes. And it was eerily silent. Most everything was at the crack of dawn.


I stepped through the gates of the outpost without hesitation, welcoming the silence and absence of presence. However... i'd have to wait until there were people out and about before I could walk into a saloon or bar or whatever sort of trade establishment they had in this run down scrap yard. I saw a few buildings that may have been living quarters, but as I got deeper into the surrounding area I saw there were, in fact, a few shops and taverns. By the looks of it, this was an outpost of outcasts... and travelers. Lucky for them.


I found a large crate at the side of one building and climbed inside. It was spacey with my slim and tiny frame hidden inside it and quite cozy. Nothing but a long forgotten layer rubble lay inside. I lean my head back against a metal wall and sighed as I allowed myself to relax. A finger traced the creases an depression in the metal, occasionally chipping of a flake of peeling rust. My body felt weary and tired, but I knew I wouldn't sleep. Not here anyway. I would simply rest until people began bustling around outside and opened up their shops. After that I'd get supplies and be on my way again.

 

[Zotohxan]

Within a few minutes I've pulled together an outfit consisting of a dark grey top covered from my underbust to waist by a rust-colored corset, pants vertically stripped with tan and black; so tight they could ass as if painted onto my skin. Black boots reach from my feet up to my knees, a shining leather material contrast to the softness of the rest of my outfit. On my right arm I dawn several bands, under which I hold money and any important cards or the like which I may come across. Across the room from my wardrobe I walk to the large lounge chair, picking up the waist-length brown jacket, though it's sleeves are no wider than my tank top's, in which I place a knife in the pockets of either side; better safe than sorry. Just to the left of this, I pick up my copper necklace and put it on. What once belonged to my sister, now gave me a sense of closeness to my passed kin. I spare the brown/black hat a single glance before shrugging and passing it by. I grab a two spare rubbers from my nightstand, tying my hair into groups upon both shoulders. Fingerless gloves consisting of varying shades of tan color are then pulled onto either hand, my left gaining a new watch as well. The loops on my pants then become a necessity as I crave a bit more familial closeness, and hook on my father's old pocket watch.


I turn to my right and look into the mirror, gauging my appearance before deciding that I'm well enough to go out. I had several things to do today, I think it'd be in my best interest to hurry it along before Jenia awakens and finds me gone. This means, I have roughly five hours to do as I please.


"Perhaps today I'll actually find something worth while."


With those rather hopeless words spoken, I let out a sigh and turn to exit my bedroom. I take only a moment to assure my prison-master's unconscious state, then quickly make my way out the front door. Racing down the hallways, seven flights of stairs until I've reached the lobby, then another 1000 feet until the streets. My own makeshift freedom.

Spoiler

 

[Purize]

Not a too much later the hum of people awaking and milling about to start their day filled the dank air. I took a quick peek over the top edge of the metal crate and when I decided the coast was clear, I crawled out and casually walked to the dirt path that snaked it's way around the outpost. I got a variety of looks from people as I passed by: Curiosity, suspicion, distaste... hunger. I kept walking though. I got those looks wherever I went. There would always be the curious, the paranoid, the snooty and the kind of person a girl wouldn't want to be alone at night with in a dark ally.


I stopped at a little building with old metal walls and a shingled roof with holes in it. A piece of plastic was set in front of the building that read: Shopp


They were a letter off from spelling the word correctly, but I didn't care what sort of education they had as long as they could give me what I wanted. I pulled open the metal door and it groaned in protest. A throaty chuckle sounded behind a dark counter. " Well look 'ere. We don't get many ladies through these parts. What can-I-do fur ya, missy?" A muscled man with a long black shaggy beard leaned over the counter, allowing a little bit of light to filter over his face, just enough to see his yellow rotted teeth through his smiling mouth and an almost patronizing look on his face.


I didn't like being patronized.


I give a thin, amused smile and tilted my head. "I need food and a pack of AP."

Spoiler

AP stands for Aqua Pura with literally means Pure Water in Latin. The reason it isn't just called "water" in this post-apocalyptic world is because it is manufactured water, not naturally found. (Since everything 'natural' is now polluted.) So AP is made in factories around the world and are massively fortified for several reasons.


1. AP can be a little pricey since the factories are high-patience, meaning people may try to steal some or take over the facility.


2. The process of making water isn't just 2 hydrogen and one oxygen. You can put a bunch of hydrogen and oxygen in a box and hope they play nice but that won't make water. You need a spark or some sort of ignition. The problem with that is, it's an explosive reaction. The product is water of course, no other waste or toxic anything, but the process is deadly even on a small scale. So, the factories run deep underground and are made of very strong materials to try to resist and absorb the release of energy from the reaction.


The energy from this reaction is also partially used to power cities with electricity... like a different sort of hydroelectric dam, however it's hard to harness this energy so it's not widely used. (Of course this is all Scy-fy. It works in theory, but these factories could never be supported in real life.)

The man snorts and crosses his arms as he leans on the counter. "Look 'ere missy. You may not have noticed this joint ain't exactly runnin' so well. Traders don't come 'ere very often and they most certainly carry AP along these roads. We have Formamide and liquid-A though if your really thirsty." He smiled wickedly. "Among other things if you're really thirsty...."

Spoiler

Liquid-A is liquid Ammonium, (Ammonia condensed from it's normal gaseous state into liquid.) You can drink it, and it smells awful, but it'll sure leave you with some nasty side-effects, especially long-term. And Formamide is no better. Who knows what the initial effects are, but long-term it will cause birth defects among other things.

I ignored his last comment, keeping my face dangerous and unamused. "What about food?" He frowned, seeming almost disappointed that I hadn't reacted to anything he'd said."Well..." He turned to look over the shelves along the walls behind the counter. Most where filled with junk, or were just broken. "We 'ave some carper's meat... and some dried gilling."


I held back a look of annoyance. "One of each."


He raised an eyebrow and got two small boxes from one shelf and tossed them lightly onto the counter. "Fitty Credits." He grumbled.


I presumed me meant 'Fifty' and dug into a hidden pocket in my dress to pull out five round chip-like objects and placed them on the counter. Fifty credits wasn't too much, but it was worth more than carper's meat and dried gilling. He was lucky I hadn't eaten in a while.


He took the credits and shoved them into his own pocket and I took the two boxes. I checked inside both of them before turning to leave the shop. No one tried to scam me and lived, and I always checked.


He shook his head at me and called, "Nice doin' bidness with yah, missy." as I left. I turned onto the dirt road again, keeping the boxes in one hand at my side. Again I got the looks from the settlers but I payed no one no mind as I continued to the other side of the outpost where there was another open fence gate. Once I was maybe a good mile away from the danky outpost I opened one box and stared at a mysterious piece of meat I knew as carper. Carpers were a sort of reptilian creature distorted by the effects of radiation. I had no idea what they once were, but I knew that they were a common pest in today's world. They made a good sort of food though, I suppose. If you had nothing else to eat and a means to counter the radiation, like RadAway or RadX. I had those things for emergencies though so I figured that eating this crud wouldn't be too bad.


I ate the carper meat slowly, despite the fact I was starving. Eating fast when you were starving could make you sick or give you a stomach ache at best. Though I learned from past experiences that if you went too long without eating then suddenly ate a lot of food, it would kill you. I wasn't quite sure about the biology behind that but the fact was enough to keep me eating slow no matter what. When the carper was gone, I dropped the box on the ground and pulled out the one with the dried gilling. I once heard it compared to 'beef jerkey' but I'd never seen a beef or a gilling to know what they meant. Like the carper, it was radiated food.


Just as was finishing up the strip of gilling, the shadows of several buildings began to loom upward on the horizon.


Solitude.


It's city lights shown brighter than the other cities. It's buildings taller. It's streets cleaner and paved. Even while it was still crammed and greedily took up a good deal of space as the population expanded... it was nothing short of impressive. All cities were ruled by a Master. I'd heard that the Master of Solitude, Salazar Flint, had a mental disorder known as OCD and was born into an Aristocratic family. Any mention of a Master would normally make me sneer in disgust... but I suppose by bias for this new-found haven left me giving him the benefit-of-the-doubt. Which I never did. Ever.


I paused a moment outside the city limits, once I reached them, and stood there looking up at the marble-like towers. Rather than metal, this was a city mostly made of stone. The City of Stone: Solitude. The very thing I've been searching for so many years. It took my breath away, and for just a moment, I felt calm. I had achieved one of my main goals. It felt good...


Now, I stepped through the stone archway leading into the city and was almost intimidated by it's appearance. Everything was so well put together... not falling apart... not decaying like everything else in this filthy world. The people around me were all heavily clothed in quality steampunk sort of fashions. Lights glowed from inside of shop through crystal-clear glass. The steady rumble of hover-trains on tracks hundreds of feet above my head zoomed on constantly. I stuck close to the walls, scared and excited at the same time, feeling like a child. I didn't cope well with change, it was noisy and crowded and it all made me nervous... but I was excited. I wasn't like myself. Normally I strolled confidently through streets and allies, unafraid and undaunted... but I needed to get used to this before I could to that here.

 

[Zotohxan]

The moment my boot-clad feet hit the paved sidewalk, I take in a deep breath of artificial air and let it out with a smile. Sometimes the air gives a little sting to my lungs, but today it seems fine... At least I know I've not got blood rust or anything; that'd be awful.


I walk along, thankfully not catching the eye of any other passer-bys as I make my way toward the market. There's a few things I've got to get for myself, and there's no way I could even humor the idea of getting those along with Jenia's stuff... She'd send me to the Center and throw away the key!


...And I'm not even kidding.. She's done it before, so I have absolutely no doubt that she would do it again.


After a moment, I take in a deep breath and shake my head clear of such thoughts. True or not, I don't need to be thinking about that sort of thing. It's those thoughts which make me turn straight around and go back 'home', no matter how badly I need something, or how much I want to just be free for a few hours.. My only few hours.

 

[Purize]

Once I got my bearings, things here were a lot less disorienting. I didn't need to slink along the stores anymore or cower when someone looked at me. It was like taking a cold bath. After you were in it for a little while you got used to the temperature.


So... now that I was here, what would I do? I realized suddenly, I'd never planned ahead that far. My main goal was getting here, but now... I was here. Now what? I suppose I should purchase a residence and get settled, but this idea made me cringe. I'd been traveling, never staying in the same place twice, for years now. Suddenly just stopping here seemed wrong. Though... there was a reason I came here. I suppose I could deal with that first...

 

[Zotohxan]

The general marketplace was only about ten blocks from my apartment, only taking me fifteen minutes, on a good day, to walk. I smile to all the merchants, greetings them cheerfully despite their sour expressions. I've never really understood how people could get any real business when theyre always frowning and sulking in some dark corner of their shop. Especially when there are other vendors, like my friend Aleia, who always have a smile and are genuinely interested in helping customers and selling goods at reasonable prices, rather than screwing them over to make a quick buck.


So, as usual, Aleia is my first stop. Her small shop, wedged in the alley between two others of significantly larger sizes, has always been my favorite. She sells all sorts of handmade jewelry and scented toiletries like soap, perfume, shampoo, lotions, and lots more. She doesn't get a lot of business, just because her location isnt exactly ideal, but that doesnt make her quality or mood any worse.


I enter the red-brick, grey-doored building, searching around the organized space for the black haired beauty also known as my best friend.


"Oh! I didn't know you were coming today!" I hear her excited voice call from behind me, causing me to turn and spot her behind a couple boxes of clothing she'd apparently made the past week. "Yep! I got away for a few hours, and figured I'd come surprise you." She giggles happily, skillfully avoiding the topic of my dearest guardian as she rushes over and gives me a hug, her golden brown eyes shining with excitement.


Aleia doesn't get much business, or visitors in general.. So I know how much she appreciates me coming to see her, even for just ten minutes a week. That way she's not quite as lonely.

 

[Purize]

As I walk along the sidewalk now, I take in the buzz of city life around me. It was still dark, granted, it was always dark everywhere, but it was rather busy...the tell-tale sign of simulated daytime.


Suddenly, as I was marveling at a neon-lit sign, I heard a terrible raspy cough come from a dark corner leading into an alleyway. The sound sent chills up my spine and sounded way too familiar... I turned slowly to see a lone crumpled figure, his body racketing with each ragged cough. I tried not to pay attention to the dark suspicious stains on the cement in front of the man. I was evident, though, that he had Blood Rust. Though I knew it wasn't contagious, I found myself backing away.


No... no not again.





I ran. My legs spring to life suddenly, before I could even think about it, and carried me as far away from that man as I could go. And as I went, I clapped my hands hard against each side of my head to try desperately to keep those thoughts away... I couldn't think about it... I couldn't...


I bumped into several people and kept going without so much as an apology. Suddenly everything seemed very claustrophobic. It was hard to breath, no... It hurt to breathe. Because with each breathe I knew that threat still lingered. Maybe not for me, but for everyone around me. Anyone I could or would get close to, anyone at all was at risk for falling ill to the disease. That fact was my single greatest fear.

 

[Zotohxan]

I pull back from the hug and smile to my friend, patting her shoulders before pulling away completely. "So, how's business been lately?" Aleia's former smile falters to a look of uncertainty and sadness, "Well, as I'm sure you've noticed, a lot more people have been getting sick, lately... And that's a lot of people who can't afford to buy anything new." She lowers her head, playing with the hem of her old, stained apron. "No one even notices this shop, anymore... Chances are, I'll be closing up shop soon enough."


My brows furrow together, a frown on my face, "No! You can't... Your shop is the best, Aleia! We can.. Make fliers or something, right? Make people know about this place?" She laughs, though it's far from being one of humor. "Stop, Amarisa.. I appreciate you wanting to help, but there's just.. There's no way. Things aren't how they used to be, and this is just.. How things are now." She gives me a smile, placing her hand lightly on my shoulder before nodding her head toward the door. "Now. Go get what you need, alright? I'll be fine here."


I find myself hesitating, eyebrows still tight together as I debate actually leaving or not. I don't want my friend to be alone, but.. At the same time, I sort of know that's exactly what she needs right now. So, I give her one last hug, and a kiss on the cheek, before turning and heading toward the door once more.

 

[Purize]

My ran slowed to a walk when I calmed down a bit, and when I looked around, I realized I was lost. This was unfamiliar territory... I didn't know this city all that well yet. From the looks of it, though, I was in some sort of shopping center. There were shops and stalls surrounding the little area, and buzzing with people. I still felt really edgy, and much as I hated to admit it, I was scared. The man with Blood Rust had sent me into a sort of delirious state of fear that I was just starting to calm down from... though being surrounded by so many people now didn't exactly help. There weren't many places to hide and I didn't know which way I came in, nor which way I could leave. I just stood there near the center, hugging myself tightly and looking around with a sort of dazed and somewhat overwhelmed look on my face.

 

[Zotohxan]

As I leave Aleia's shop and enter the shopping district once more, I smile to a few passing people before heading toward the quilting shop. Since Earth's natural resources were destroyed long ago, most things which were once made of cotton or cotton by-products, were now created using a sort of manipulable plastic. Of course it wasn't the best at insulation, but that only worked better for them, helping to sell more... Though, one shop in particular sells them rather cheap, so I suppose it's not too bad.


However, my journey is halted as I notice a girl staring around with quite the look on her face. I could only assume she wasn't from around here, and was surprised by what she found; perhaps lost, as well. Me, being who I am, used to try and help people often... But these days, so it seems, people aren't too fond of being stopped in the street, or even offered help to carry their groceries or be told directions... But still, I couldn't find it in myself not to, most of the time.


So, despite my fear of this girl possibly being violent or cruel toward me, I walk forward and give her a gentle smile, and a wave. "Hey.. You alright? Do you need me to help you find someplace?"

 

[Purize]

I hear a voice and stiffen. Surely that wasn't directed towards me... no one ever willingly walks up and talks to me... I even preferred it that way. I turned to see a girl walking towards me with a friendly smile and wave. Honestly, I was dumbfounded. She was actually talking to me. I even checked behind me to see if any matching friendly face was waving back, but no such phantom appeared. I bunched up my shoulders defensively, even if she didn't come off as threatening, I was still a bit panicky. I wasn't about to be rude and run off however. Not like I knew where to go anyhow...


My eyes darted crazily from the girl to empty space, not liking looking anyone directly in the eyes. "I suppose.... Dandelion is a bit lost." As much as I hate to admit it... I thought to myself again. I opened my mouth to explain I got into this mess when running away... but then I didn't want to admit I was running from something as well. All I could do at the moment was hope I didn't scare the girl off with my crazy before I found a way out.

 

[Zotohxan]

I notice how the strange-seeming girl began looking around, as if I couldn't have possibly been talking to her... It made me sad, but also curious. "Dandelion is a bit lost." I hear those words, and one of my eyebrows quirk upward. Was she referring to herself, as if she were someone else? In... Third person, I believe it's called..?


I don't focus on this too long as I take a single step closer to her, keeping my arms by my sides, and my voice calm; my whole demeanour, hopefully, nonthreatening. "And you're Dandelion, I take it?" I keep my curiosity as low as I can, hoping not to make her feel awkward or nervous about talking to me... "Can I help you find someplace?"

 

[Purize]

I carefully watch the girl take a step forward. It would have made me uncomfortable if she weren't acting so genuinely friendly. Though, when she asked if I was Dandelion I couldn't help but laugh a little. I desperately fight down my smile and try to be serious. "My name is not Dandelion, no, no. Just a little nickname." I suddenly felt a little embarrassed, A part of me knew I wasn't like others, and that most people didn't give everything a nickname like I tended to.... I held my chin up though and looked around again quickly, ensuring that I was hopelessly lost and needed help.


Human interaction be damned.... it wasn't my strong suit.


"But yes... I'm a bit lost..." My voice got a little quieter, as if admitting some sort of sin. "One could say I'm new here..."

 

[Zotohxan]

I smile softly and nod. Despite my confusion over what the girl's name may be, and why she'd called herself Dandelion when that wasn't her name, I decide to just help her. Obviously she was ashamed to have not been from Solitude. I gently reach out and put my hand on her shoulder, the smile on my face turning to an understanding one. "Hey, that's not a big deal.Where do you need to get to? I'll gladly help you find it."

 

[Purize]

I bite my tongue hard when she touches me to keep myself from reacting in some negative way. I was unpredictable even to myself sometimes... She would help me find where I needed to go, I'd have to keep myself in check the whole rest of my stay in this City... I look up at the girl curiously "Dandelion's searching for the grand Hospital of Solitude... She must find the lead researcher of.... of..." I twitched and looked away, after the scene I'd just witnessed it was hard to even stammer out the name. "I just need to find him...." I then realized that I may not even be able to complete that task today. I felt hunger begin to gnaw at my stomach again, and I felt weary and slightly light headed. "No.... no no.... Nevermind that today. Could you just guide Dandelion out of the market...? I need to find a place to stay for a bit...."

 

[Zotohxan]

"Dandelion" certainly seemed an interesting character... She seemed so set on where she needed to go, but then changed it. And honestly, it sort of seemed like she was unsure of where she'd needed to go before, anyway. But, either way, I nod to her. "Hotels around here are quite expensive, but I've got a friend you could probably stay with. Her name is Aelia, and she runs a shop around here. I'm sure she wouldn't mind you staying with her."

 

[Purize]

Both the ideas "hotel" and "a friend you could stay with" brought goosebumps to pop up all over my skin. I suppose I couldn't be picky... but even so...


Trying not to grimace too outwardly, I look around the market again, deciding to ignore her offer for now. "And the way out...?" Th market seemed to get busier by the moment... it felt as if the walls of people became more and more dense... and claustrophobic.

 

[Zotohxan]

Realizing it was probably the crowds which Dandelion didn't like, I give a sympathetic smile and gesture toward the break in buildings, a small alleyway which lead toward the residential part of Solitude. "It's just through there. At this time of day, there won't be too many people out and about." I glance down at the watch hanging on my waist, my heart racing as I see that I've only a half hour before I've got to get back... Jenia would be waking up then, and I can not be missing.


"It's only about a five minute walk to get to the hotels area. I can quickly show you, if you'd like?"

 

[Purize]

I look up at the girl, feeling much calmer just being out of the market area, and frown a bit. "Someone looks like they're in a tid-bit of a hurry... Dandelion should be fine on her own." I pause for a moment and give the girl a small smile, the sort of smile I hadn't made in a long time.... Everyone is surviving for themselves these days... not usually giving a damn about others. I could understand why since I do the same, but this girl went completely out of her way to help me, not to mention she must have to be somewhere... the least I could do was smile.


"The help is much appreciated. Next time we meet, i'll have to give you a nickname...." I chuckle to myself and begin to walk off down the small alley.