People Don't You Understand / The Child Needs a Helping Hand

[bingobangobongo]

[It was warm -- that's why he chose it. Someone had told him it was all right. No one lived there, and sure, lots of squatters had claimed many of the rooms of the closely guarded secret, but the attic still had some space. He might find room to rest for the night there, assuming the secret hadn't gotten to many other ears in the time it had gotten to his.]

[It was a treacherous climb up the rickety ladder, especially with a heavy bag in hand, but the warmth and being out of the blistering wind made it all worth it.]

[There was a candle in the middle of the attic, burning low to the ground. Everything else was pitch to his eyes, dark and oily and mysteriously black. Good. He could get some sleep.]

Comments

[anekanta.livejournal.com]

[She'd seen the same thing at the train station and the library, but it all meant nothing to her. Her knowledge of the geography of her own frakking planet was spotty at best - how Al expected her to glean a working knowledge of the map before her was beyond her.

Still...] Thanks. [She hit the cigarette and handed it over a final time. Figuring she had nothing to lose, she looked back down at the map.] You picked a destination, or are you just gonna walk 'til you hit an ocean?

[bingo-faced.livejournal.com]

I've got it all worked out. [Al crouched by the edge of the map and pointed out Southern California, circled in red.]

[anekanta.livejournal.com]

You walkin' there? [It seemed an awful long way off to Kara, but then, she'd traveled a greater distance in mere moments, so who was she to cast stones?]

[bingo-faced.livejournal.com]

Until I can get something faster.

[anekanta.livejournal.com]

[Not that sounded promising, and she brightened, drawing closer to the map to peer at it, as though she could wish a car into being just by looking hard enough.] What'd you have in mind?

[bingo-faced.livejournal.com]

Probably a motorcycle. A Harley, maybe. But I've gotta get outta the snow before that's a worthwhile investment. [He couldn't imagine pushing a bike all those miles, no thanks.]

[anekanta.livejournal.com]

You're gonna buy one? [Looks up at him, her eyes bright. Oh, how she wished she could be as sure she'd survive the damn cold as he seemed to be.]

[bingo-faced.livejournal.com]

[He shrugged.] Guess so. [He couldn't envision himself with the opportunity to steal one, or the desire to do so when he really thought on it.] It's better that way. Then no one can take it away.

[The cigarette was long gone, so he toed the remains out on the floor.]

[anekanta.livejournal.com]

[Kara only envisioned herself boosting a car or a bike - she wouldn't know any other way to afford one. She certainly had to hand it to the kid: he was determined.]

Well, don't go lettin' anyone rook ya, all right? [At this little gem of advice he doesn't need, she offers her hand again, guessing he's gonna scoot.]

[bingo-faced.livejournal.com]

[He considered the offer a moment and then reached out, giving her a chilled but firm handshake.] I'll be fine, but thanks. [And he meant it that time.]

[Al quickly gathered his things and packed them neatly back into his bag. Already, he was unimpressed by how little he had left since only just leaving. It would have to do. He'd always made it work before.]

[So, he shoulders his pack, gives her a wave, a "See ya 'round," and heads for the hole leading down to the floor below. Whiiiiich, of course, isn't exactly how Al expected to see it. He shook his head.]

...they took the ladder.

[anekanta.livejournal.com]

What? They... son of a bitch. [Kara stands and joins him, peering down into the gloom. She can make out the ladder canted against the wall. She knows from experience, no amount of shouting will get anyone to help, so she kneels down at the edge, nodding toward Al.] Toss your bag down.

[bingo-faced.livejournal.com]

Uh uh. [He had too much in the bag he didn't want roughed up, even if they were all pretty rugged objects to begin with.] If I can go down first, will you drop it down to me? [Though, it was one hell of a drop...]

[anekanta.livejournal.com]

I could, yeah, if I thought you could get down on your own. [Kara rolls her eyes. Having had this happen to her before, she knew she could get down on her own, though - she was just trying to simplify things. But as ever, boys were dumb, and she had to rely on herself to get things done.

She turns onto her belly, scooting into the hole until she's dangling about three feet from the floor below. She reaches for the top of a broken old sideboard she'd placed there intentionally with her booted toes, getting her feet under her enough to let go of the upper floor. Once she's safely down, she collects the ladder and moves it back into position.] Now will you drop your bag down? I'll catch it.

[bingo-faced.livejournal.com]

[Girls. Al shakes his head and tries not to sigh.] Fine. [Her methods made little sense to him since he was the one leaving and would have to get down anyway. Positioning himself in a crouch at the edge of the opening, he dangled the bag as far down as his arms could reach.] Got it?

[anekanta.livejournal.com]

[Has it.] Yup.

[bingo-faced.livejournal.com]

[Once free of that worry, Calavicci scooted to the edge, held on, and dangled before dropping heavily to the floor.] Thanks for your help. [He glanced around at the few people laying around, then back to Kara, taking his pack from here.] Guess maybe I'll see you 'round some time. If I'm back this way or somethin'.

[anekanta.livejournal.com]

[She pulls a face at him - she went to all the trouble to retrieve the ladder and her jumped down anyway? Stupid.] I doubt it, kid. Good luck, huh?

[bingo-faced.livejournal.com]

Yeah, you, too. [But he was lingering because, hello, companionship? Al's social and he was finding it hard to live without those connections already.]

[anekanta.livejournal.com]

[Lifts her eyebrow when he doesn't immediately set off for the downstairs.] You waitin' on an invitation? [At that, a gust of wind threatens to shake the house off its foundation. Kara pulls a face and shivers.] 'Cause I hate to say it, but that's probably the best you're gonna get.

[bingo-faced.livejournal.com]

Yeah. I mean no! No. I'm going. [Ha! He's going. Watch him go. Charlie Brownin' it outta there.]

[anekanta.livejournal.com]

[Watching him go, looking like he was headed for the gallows, tugs at her heart. He hadn't even seemed to want to talk to her, but he had shared what little food he had without asking anything in return. She got the impression there was something more to him than just another homeless kid in a dirty city.

Still, she had to save herself before she could start crusading for the rest of the world, so she ascends into her haven, meaning to pack up. As soon as she gets up there, she notices something out of place - his little rose plate, cleaned of the supper she'd taken from it last night.

She picks it up, cringing when the sleet begins to strike the roof harder. Kara glances at the ladder, at the gaping window letting the driving weather in, and then back at the ladder.] Frak! [She crosses to the ladder and scrambles down, pounding down the stairs to just catch him at the door.]

Here. [She lifts her chin, thrusting the plate at him. Now that she'd done it, she felt stupid for chasing him with a plate, but she thought maybe it held some meaning to him. Color touches her cheeks, but she forces herself to meet his eyes.] Thought you might need this.

[bingo-faced.livejournal.com]

[He takes the plate as if he couldn't imagine how he'd forgotten it and then smiled at her.] Hey, thanks.

[Al tapped the plate against his hand, looking thoughtfully distant for a moment. He cast a glance towards the stairs, then the door, and back to her.]

You really wanna stick around here, Kara?

[anekanta.livejournal.com]

No, but I don't wanna go out there, either.

[bingo-faced.livejournal.com]

Gotta go sometime. It's easy to get caught up on tomorrows. [And that actually made him smile!]

[anekanta.livejournal.com]

[Looks out the door, seeming to consider the bleak picture it painted. Truthfully, it wasn't any colder out there than inside - it was just wetter and windier. But he was right and she shrugged, looking back to him.] You want some company, then? [Hurries on to add:] For a little bit?