damned_institute | Day 28: Germaine Street

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Day 28: Germaine Street

Rhode didn't want to have to let go of Allen, not ever. It could be forever before she was able to be with him again! But the nurses were persistent in moving her off the big yellow thing, as was Allen for getting away from her. Even outside of the building, people were just determined to keep her from being with him! It wasn't fair!

Once off the bus and shivering just slightly from the crisp fall air, Rhode was handed a small booklet of what the nurse called "coupons". It took some explaining, but Rhode was eventually able to understand that the thin pieces of paper in the book were supposed to be used like money here. She wasn't at all accustomed to buying things for herself; that was supposed to be the Earl's job. When Rhode expressed this problem, the nurse only gave her a sad smile and patter her in the direction of the buildings.

"Why don't you go find something fun to do? There's a toy store just around the corner there. Don't worry about being alone though, we're all here to keep an eye on you. If anything happens, just come get one of us," the nurse explained, nodding to the staff members that were set to parole the town for any problems their more unruly patents could cause.

So, they were all going to be watched even though they could roam about freely? Rhode took a look back towards the yellow things but was unable to pick out Allen from the mess of patients. In a few moments, she probably wouldn't be able to find him at all or for the rest of the day. Should she just resign herself to that for now and use the small bit of freedom to her advantage? Being with Allen was important, and a lot of fun but...

She glanced down at the coupons again, smiled up at the nurse as best she could, and gave a quick, "Okay!" before running off as suggested.

A small bit of freedom was bound to make her feel better. Maybe she could use it to remind herself of how she was supposed to handle Allen Walker, an exorcist. This town did have a similar air to that of the Rewinding Town, after all.

[went here]

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Shadow climbed off the metal carriage rubbing his side. The nurse had poked him until he had gotten up. Didn't they see he wasn't feeling well? Maybe if they had moved a bit slower he wouldn't have gotten sick on the floor after they had practically kicked Valyn off first.

He spotted Val talking to a pretty red head in a skirt. It was a strange sight to see Valyn talking to a girl with an almost easy smile on his face. That must mean the woman had to have been...

Shadow whistled as he approached, looking at Shana approvingly. "Look at you in a skirt," he smiled, hoping he wasn't as pale as he felt. "I'd say these strange clothes work well for you. Too bad we can't all say that." He tugged his jacket over his thin t-shirt, shivering. It was a bit chilly and he almost wished he had a heavier shirt then the thin white one he was wearing.

Keman had been very eager indeed to get off that bus. Not only was Lust starting to make him very depressed, she had also started...touching him again. And making him really, really uncomfortable.

The rush of cold air outside the 'bus' helped clear his head. He wandered aimlessly for a bit, glad of the sweatshirt the nurses had insisted he wear. It was rather chilly out. He stuck his hands in the large...pouch on its front and found that it, too, was lined with the same fuzzy cotton material as the rest of the hoodie. Convenient, that.

Hearing his name, he turned around to find Valyn and...

Fire and Rain, that was Shana. In a skirt.

Valyn and Shadow (who had just joined them) had obviously noticed the same thing, because they actually seemed to be noticing her gender, for once. Noticing it more, anyway.

Keman grinned. That wouldn't do at all.

Running up to them, he picked up his sister and twirled her around.

"Is this my little sister?" he laughed. "It can't be Shana, looking so lady-like. Shana would never agree to wear something so...respectable." Keman put his foster-sister down and twisted his face into an exaggerated frown. "Who are you and what have you done with Lashana?"

Shana had started blushing at Valyn and Shadow's comments about her outfit, glancing down and wondering what the big deal was. It was a skirt. Okay, so she never would have worn one back home, but did it really make that big of a difference? Maybe she'd have to find a way to wear one more often, if this was the reaction she got...

Then she gave a squeak of surprise as she was lifted off her feet and twirled in a tight circle. Laughing, she tried to wriggle free, her cheeks turning a deeper shade of red as she hoped her skirt hadn't flown up as far as it had felt it did.

"Keman, put me down!" she protested in embarrassment. "Blame the nurses. This respectable thing is overrated anyway. As if having bared legs is appropriate dress for a chilly day!"

She hoped someone would change the topic of conversation before her face got any redder. She wasn't used to their attention being focused fully on her.

Valyn did the polite thing and looked away when Shana's skirt rose up, baring far more of her legs than he was comfortable seeing.

"It is something of a shock," he pointed out. "You wear it well, Shana. And come now, Shadow. You hardly need clothes to look fetching." He tucked his thumbs into his pockets, standing with an unconscious grace that harkened back to his elven training.

"I suppose we should start exploring early, to get as much done as possible," he pointed out.

Shadow coughed, biting back a comment that he was definitely much more fetching without clothing. There were more important matters then light banter and-

Hello, that was Shana's leg...

Shadow shook his head, clearing his thoughts. "Yes, exploring," he said, nodding at Valyn. "How were we splitting up again?"

Because he was still holding Shana, Keman didn't notice the way her skirt fluttered...but everyone else in the vicinity probably did.

He did notice, however, the palm he got to the face when his sister started to flail. "Ow! Hey!"

He set her down a little more gently than he'd picked her up and rubbed his injured nose. "That's no way to treat your loving older brother," he said mournfully. Honestly. Foster-siblings these days! "But Valyn's right, you know." The dragon gave her a quick hug around the shoulders. "You look beautiful, Shana. And you two!" He gestured to Mero and Valyn with a rather amused smile. "I'm not entirely sure what to make of what you're wearing. That doesn't look very warm, Shadow."

As for how they were splitting up...

"I thought it was going to be me and Shana, and you and Valyn." Keman shrugged. "But do we want to split up now, or later?"

"That's what you get for sneaking up on me," Shana informed her brother with an amused huff as she set about straightening her clothing once more. It was surprisingly comfortable, once you got used to the lack of material on your legs. Still, it would make most of her lifestyle back home awkward if she did half of what she did in a skirt.

Still she was inexplicably pleased by their compliments, and smiled at the three boys, cheeks a light red as she tucked a stray curl behind her ear. "Thank you for that, at least."

Not really caring how they split up, as long as they got something accomplished, she tucked her hands behind her back, shifting comfortably as she glanced between them, content to let someone else make this particular decision.

"I suppose there's no need to split up right now," Valyn said, fighting the flush that threatened when he realized exactly what he'd said. "It's early. The nurses don't seem to care who's wandering off with who."

He glanced at his cousin and winked, feeling much more relaxed as he stepped up to a leadership position. "I think my dear cousin here is simply feigning a lapse in memory in hopes of a chance to whisk away the pretty girl in our midst. Though I do have to ask... what exactly are some of these vouchers for?" He held up the little booklet of parchment.

"Two of them seem to be for food, one for a massage - I'm not certain how they handle massages on this world - but what are the other two?"

"Me? Steal the pretty girl away? Val, what sort of person do you take me for?" Mero snickered, nudging Valyn's shoulder. He knew exactly what sort of person Valyn took him for which was why he made the comment in the first place.

Shadow looked at the brightly colored slips of paper and shrugged. "Facial and manicure," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Well, the one that says manicure has a picture of a ladies hands on it. Perhaps it's some sort of name for the harem here? Strange they would give everyone a voucher, though."

"You'd better not steal her, Mero Jenner," Keman warned, wagging a finger at the halfblood. "Otherwise, you rogue, you knave, you'll have me to deal with. I shall defend my sister's honor to the last!"

Or not. His over-exaggerated hand gesture almost overbalanced him. He grabbed Shana's arm at the last minute and barely saved himself from landing on his ass.

Okay. That was enough silliness for now.

Keman blinked at the voucher that Shadow held. "Maybe it's...an egalitarian harem?"

"A what?" Shana blinked at her brother. Why did everyone know more about harems than she did? Not that she especially wanted to know about harems, but it was just the principle of the matter.

"Aren't manicures and pedicures mostly for females anyway?" she inquired, glancing through the colorful scraps of paper she'd been given. "Why did they give vouchers to you three? At least there's ones for meals as well."

She ignored their ridiculous talk about anyone stealing her away, dismissing it for the joke she was sure it was.

"A harem that serves both men and women," Valyn answered, pondering. "I don't think they have harems on this world. They don't seem to on worlds similar to it, from what I've heard. And I think you'd be more likely to get a massage in a harem, anyway." He held up a hand and nodded at Shana's comment.

"Oh, it's when they buff and clip your nails, isn't it?" He didn't know what that was called, just that he had people to do it for him. Usually Shadow. He glanced down at his nails, which were broken and dull. Perhaps having them seen to wouldn't be a bad idea.

"I'm still not clear on what a 'facial' is, though."

"If it has to do with a harem, or something like a harem, I don't think I want to know," Shadow commented, wrinkling his nose. "Besides, they seem like distractions that will keep us from exploring the village. Unless, of course, you were looking for a massage and some pampering."

He looked over at Valyn curiously. The elf had been 'roughing' it for awhile now. Shadow was certain a little bit of pampering would probably make him feel like the elf lord that he was. "We can, if you'd like," he said to Valyn. "Perhaps it wouldn't be that distracting."

Keman turned a little pink. "I'm going to have to agree with Shadow. I don't want to go to a harem, either." But...Valyn had a point. This didn't seem like the kind of place that would have a harem. It was almost too...wholesome for that.

He exchanged a brief look with Shana and turned away, laughing. Oh, poor Valyn, with his unbuffed nails. Life was so hard.

"Sure," he laughed. "I'd like to see how that goes."

Shana flicked a skeptical glance between all three of them, looking as if she thought they'd all gone a little insane. "Are you serious? We have one day of freedom out in... wherever this is... and you want to go get pampered and get your nails done?"

"Shana, I've nearly died more times than I can count, my vocal chords are never going to heal properly, I'm covered in scars, and I've been showering with strange men for weeks. I wouldn't mind a small bit of relaxation while I have the opportunity." Valyn shrugged. "Besides, we have all day. There's only so much exploration and information gathering we can manage."

Honestly, it wasn't as though he was considering abandoning their plans. But a small break here and there wouldn't be detrimental.

Showering with strange men, eh? Shadow would have to ask Valyn about that later. "It's settled then," he announced with a smile. "We'll stop by this manicure place and see what sort of things they have to offer."

Shadow nudged Shana and winked at her. "Besides, wouldn't you like to see what it's like to be waited on?"

While masquerading as an elf, Keman had played the part of the younger son of a retainer...fairly low on the proverbial totem pole in elvish society. It had made him practically invisible in the city, but it had exempted him from many of the activities that the High Lords of the powerful Clans enjoyed.

Like...getting their nails done, apparently.

He had to admit, he was intrigued. But it seemed so...pointless.

"Why would I want that when I can do things fine myself?" Shana rolled her eyes in exasperation. "Getting my nails done is going to do me little good unless they can sharpen them to the point of being able to stab something next time the monsters come out. You boys can go get pampered. I'm going to wander around twon and see if I can find anything useful, or if the people here know anything."

"Because sometimes it can be a very relaxing experience," Valyn pointed out. "And ancestors know there isn't much of a chance for relaxing in this place. And I've been told repeatedly, by a great number of people, that I need to relax."

He paused, glancing from Shadow to Shana. Regardless of the fact that Shadow had given him contradicting advice that hadn't helped at all, he knew he had to talk to Shana.

Maybe it was best to get it out of the way.

"But it isn't something I'm in an immediate rush to do. If you're going to go wandering, I'll go with you." He cleared his throat, staring at a spot somewhere beyond Shana's head. "I'd like to talk to you, actually. If no one objects?"

As much as Shadow didn't want to be separated from Valyn he knew what the elf was trying to do and he wasn't going to stick his nose where it didn't belong. Not yet, anyway. "It's fine," Shadow grinned, walking over to Keman and throwing his arm around the dragon's shoulders. "Keman and I will adventure into the unknown and see exactly what this facial is. I've always wondered what it would be like to be on the opposite side of the pampering."

Keman grinned. Valyn alone with his sister? Hilarity could only ensue. Plus...he had a feeling that he knew what the elf wanted to talk to Shana about. Maybe he'd told Shadow what he suspected regarding Serina Daeth, and Shadow had convinced him to tell her.

Well, Keman could hope, anyway.

He blinked when Mero put his arm around his shoulders. "I...I suppose."

Shana looked as uncertain about all this as Keman sounded, but she glanced between her foster brother and Shadow for a moment before glancing over at Valyn, looking slightly hesitant.

"Alright," she finally agreed, giving a slight nod. She hoped he wasn't about to lecture her for something again. Whenever he separated her from the others to "talk", she always ended up angry with him.

...At least he couldn't handfast her to Shadow again.

"Good. Thank you." Valyn just nodded. He was starting to get an idea of what he could say, to put this to rest in a way that didn't lead to anyone feeling uncomfortable or hurt.

"We'll catch up with you later, then. Keman, try and keep my cousin out of trouble, will you?" He raised an eyebrow in Shadow's direction, knowing full well if he wanted to get himself into trouble of any sort, he would.

"Shana? If you would do me the honor?" In a courtly gesture, Valyn offered her his arm. He was going to be a gentleman, and he was going to be polite and courteous. Even if it killed him.

"Have fun!" Shadow called after them, waving. He kept his arm tight on Keman's shoulders, indicating that there was more going on in the half-blood's mind then pondering nail care in a strange land. The moment that he was certain Valyn and Shana were a good distance away he pulled Keman over to the side of the road, keeping his voice low just in case.

"Here's the plan, Keman," he said with a grin. "You and I both know the odds of Valyn and Shana's little 'discussion' ending well. A betting man would never take those odds. So, to make sure that Valyn doesn't end up with his head in one of the trash bins on the side of the road, you and I are going to follow after them. Discretely, of course. If either of them found us spying... well, it'll be our heads in the bin. Think you could handle a little espionage?"

Day 28: Germaine Street

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