Jylat - Streets

[Yolanda Riona]

[Let's get things rolling. Sorry for the long wait.]

Sunlight dappled the soft, almost rural area of Jylat, touching down on the small town marketplace where Rios now wandered. It'd been a good two weeks since he'd been sent to the hospital and he was still recovering. If it wasn't due to Laurelle's immediate treatment, he probably wouldn't have been in as good condition as he was. Two big, old crutches carried his weight across town. His left ankle had been gashed and swollen, but safe to say, it was fairing better than his right. A cast held the left's twin taunt yet and it itched and even burned sometimes. Rios felt just a tinge luckier each time it did. Painful as it was, the darn thing was still attached and that's all that mattered.

He'd set out early that morning for groceries. Of course, Dromar and the others wouldn't have usually approved of it. Safe to say, it was near impossible to do it on his own, what, with his crippled appendages. Rios had brought along some volunteers though and so while he was on list duty, they carried the wares. He was actually just in the middle of checking off a few things when he looked up at his companions.

"Well, it looks like we have just about everything. I mean we're still missing eggs, but nothing we can do about that. A bad shipment is a bad shipment."

[Dan Dark]

['ey, no need for you to be aplogizing. If anything, I probably should be. >> I should've come up with something a while ago to get my character back into the story. <<;;]

"Yeah, guess so. Pity, though. Know they can be important. But yeah, like you said, nothing we can really do about it."

The blue fox shrugs slightly and gives a small nod of agreement as well, whilst he shifts the weight of the paper grocery bags in his arms. It's not too terribly heavy, of course, and being able to put some of the bulkier items into his bookbag certainly helped, but even so, the weight is enough that he'll be glad when they get back and he can put them down. He's not going to complain, though - he had volunteered to help, after all. And.. well, it was the least he could do.

In the days since Capitol, Dan had tagged along on the trip to Jylat, and decided to stick around. Initially it had simply been because he was concerned about Jodie; after everything they had been through, he felt there was some sort of a connection there. Of what sort, he couldn't say - he really hadn't know her long enough to say if there was even a friendship - but nonetheless, he felt some sort of.. loyalty, perhaps? Whatever one might want to call it, he wouldn't of felt right leaving with her still in the state she's in.

Admittedly, though, he also had a second reason, though it's one he's reluctant to admit, even to himself. That being that he doesn't really have any idea what else to do. He had intended to hang around Capitol City for a while when he got that position working with the newspaper, but now...? ... And, not to mention, but his motorcycle had been left behind during the initial evacuation; a minor loss, definitely, when compared to what others have gone through in the days since.... but, even so.. without it, his mobility is rather limited.

But, alas. He'd have to figure something out sooner or later. For the time being, the Kadins had been kind enough to let him stay, but he didn't want to wear out his welcome. Hence part of why he had volunteered to help with the groceries; it's not much, admittedly, but, at least it's something to help out.

[Yolanda Riona]

"Oh well. Hey though. That means we can spend the rest on something else. Essy and Crosis said they wouldn't mind."

By "wouldn't mind", Esmeralda had more or less jumped at them, preaching that money was no object; they had tons of it anyway. Rios still felt a little awkward from the earlier encounter. The dragoness sure knew how to exaggerate. Her long since retired profession shone through her words.

Rios continued down the main street now, only stopping here and there whenever something faintly peaked his interest. Nothing in particular really caught his eyes though. He was quickly beginning to understand why Dromar had left Jylat for the city. It certainly was a mundane place to live! Homesickness had eaten away at him to the point where he'd become insensitive to it though. Instead, clear frustration sunk into his brows.

[Laurelle]

Laurelle wanders along behind the group, shading her eyes with a paw, and hefting a bag of items on her bag.

The last few weeks had been both a dream and a nightmare. On the one hand, she felt like here was a place she knew well, for the first time since leaving home. She was also strongly aware of the bond between her and the others, and she was so happy to have been able to help them. In whatever way she could. It had been the first time she'd flown solo, and she is quietly proud of what she achieved. On the flip side, what circumstances. Such injuries. A healer's job is never one which lends itself to pride, a job well done still results in pain for the injured one. She still spends time with Rios, but much less now, working on his painful, swollen legs and trying to help his flesh to grow back strongly. This trip is also a pleasure for her, to see him walking. She'd doubted it could happen, but he'd put his whole self into it, supported so well by his family.

However, as these thoughts tumble inside her head, professional pride, nightmare memories and emotions colliding, she's watching Rios. Watching his steps, his bearing, gauging his pain with her attuned senses. Ready to intervene, but holding back to allow him pride and to succeed alone. It's a big step.

Just like all of them. Big steps, huge leaps. She'll never be the same again. She knows in the crucible of emergency she can remain calm, to put others first. Now she's helping them to process their emotions, but subtly. By watching, listening. Not probing, but there.

The guilt stings her. She is just living here out of charity really, but she's been told not to think like that countless times. Her family, many of her brothers are injured, her sisters scared. There were two deaths. Her mother told her not to come home, that travelling wasn't safe. That she was needed and wanted where she was. That they'd be thinking of her, but sometimes all Laurelle can think of are her family, and how she should be home, treating them. Not that she could make it in time, they'd be recovering by the time she got all the way back home. Here is the place to be. And friends make the load lighter. So do calls. And letters. She's couldn't have done more, but how can she avoid blaming herself for being in the wrong country?

Pushing all of that out of her mind, and taking a deep clensing breath, she looks forward to Rios, smiling at his eagerness to recover, his spirit and great inner strength. Just like his sister.

[Yolanda Riona]

[Hey, Dan. We're waiting on you. ^^]

[Dan Dark]

[Gah... I was afraid of that. >> I dunno what to say... <<;; Well then. Sorry for the wait, guys.]

Dan nods slightly in response to Rios' comment. "Suppose so. Any ideas as to what, though?" The question is openly directed towards both Rios and Laurelle, and it seems apparent that he doesn't have anything particular in mind. That's partly because he hadn't much thought about it, but he's also a bit uncertain about the notion since it isn't his money. Granted, Esmeralda had been pretty clear that they shouldn't worry about it, but, even so, he finds the idea a bit awkward, and, frankly, her insistence that it isn't an issue had only further thrown him off. Especially since he still doesn't really know them that well.

[Yolanda Riona]

Rios stalled again in mid-awkward-stride, raising his head towards the sky. Haloed by the mountains that tucked in the valley, it almost seemed captured by the small town, stalling it as a small town did. Making it lazy, stretching the day on forever. 'What a boring place' mumbled through his thoughts. He breathed in the freshness of Jylat, missing the smell of car exhaust, sizzling hot dogs, and sewers wrapped in one go. It wasn't the most pleasant scent, but it was that of home.

His attention turned to the others briefly at best. Laurelle seemed just as caught up in thought as he did, although he exchanged a slippery smile. Their little field medic hadn't really mentioned much about her problems as he could rightly recall, but he'd caught on enough-- or at least thought he did. Him, his sister, and Dromar had been very lucky. No word had yet reached the general public on what happened to those captured by the invaders and the casualty marks were set painfully high. A lot home served little in comparison to lost loves, friends, relatives....

The only one he really begged to question was Dan. He hadn't said a word. But then, the fox was of very few in the first place. Unless Rios mentioned games. Then, he'd be off without a second thought, which was fine by Rios. He could relate. Too bad he lost all his or otherwise Rios would probably have spent bonding time sweeping the floor with him. Not much else was up his sleeve.

And then he saw it.

"Check it out! Comic books!"

Rios darted over. Or as much as one could dart on two overbearing crutches with a pair of battered legs.

[Laurelle]

Smiling at the impetuous youth, Laurelle hurries after him. He obviously couldn't be too badly aching if he could go after the comics like that!

[Dan Dark]

"Heh. Comics, eh?" Dan smiles slightly, amused to see Rios so suddenly excited, and, admittedly, a bit interested himself; he can't remember the last time he'd ever wandered into a comic store. Which is a little bit odd, really. He'd never been one to be terribly obsessed with comics, even when he was younger, but even so, they've always been entertaining, and it's always interesting to see what one can wander across in such a specialty shop. He hesitates a moment before following Rios and Laurelle towards the store, though, thinking. They still have the groceries they'd just picked up with them, but.. with Rios still in the shape he is, it might not be practical to go all the way back to the house, drop the stuff off, and come back. So...

"'ey, Rios? Did we pick up anything frozen, or that we'd need to get back right away? I'm going to guess they'll be expecting us back soon..ish regardless, but, if there wasn't anything like that..? Well... We probably could get away with looking around a little bit then, couldn't we?"

[Yolanda Riona]

"Come on, Dan. Don't be such a stiff! It'll only take a minute. Really!"

Rios immediately darted to the display specifically labeled "New Arrivals" and skimmed over the section. It didn't take long for him to yank out one entitled Adventures in Time & Space. He flipped from one psychedelic colored page to the next before reshelving it and moving along to another section. Eventually, he found what he was looking for. OIRAM printed in bold letters hung under a colorful, action-packed display of a big, bad man in red taking on a treacherous looking creature that looked almost like a dragon.

"Alright! I've been waiting for #100 to come out for ages!"

He tucked it carefully under his arm before heading over to the register to pay. The Rottweiler clerk looked at him and just rolled her eyes as he handed her his prized book. She scanned it quick and dropped it on the counter for him to pluck back up as she read his total.

"150 rings please."

Rios wiggled a hand through his right pocket before presenting the clerk with the money.

"You need a receipt?"

"Oh, yeah. I guess I do."

An awkward silence fit between them as they waited for the sheet to finish printing. She tore it not a second later after it had finished and handed it to Rios roughly.

"Have a nice day."

It was Rios' turn to roll his eyes. But he wasn't all that unhappy. After all, he'd gotten the latest issue of OIRAM. Day couldn'tget any better than that, could it?