Posts by Dawns Edge

(Hue-hue. :3 )

Mrs. Leopold wondered what the girl had meant when she talked about Damaris saving her life. She didn't ask, however, thinking how it couldn't have been such a big thing. Probably an expression or...maybe from the crazy traffic? She shook away the thoughts.
When Melody started her introduction, she looked up at her and listened carefully. Nodding at every word. But then she stopped right there in the middle of a sentence and Mrs. Leopold understood it was the awkward position any quiet child went through.
Damaris also understood and therefore broke in, "She's an amazing actress." He told his mother, gulping down a spoon full of soup.
"Oh really?" Mrs. Leopold asked him curiously.
"Oh, yeah. Mind blowing actress. Phenomenal skills!" He chimed on, eating continuously.
"That's wonderful!" Mrs. Leopold was impressed, "I was always passionate about the amazing skills of a good actor. " She looked back at Melody with a new found fondness.
"Why don't you show her?"
"You can?!"
"Yeah! Act something!" They both looked at her expectantly, wide eyes full of wonder. That was the moment where they looked entirely related.

(Oh look. We've swapped places. :P)

Damaris enjoyed how she blushed every now and then. He paused eating and gave his complete attention to Melody.
"Imitate me!" He suggested happily.
Mrs. Leopold was excited about the act but her face fell when Damaris gave his idea. She gave him a hard look and said sarcastically, "I'm afraid that's not possible. An act of an ignorant annoying boy can't be played by a sweet darling like Melody."
"Hey, I'm sweet too." Damaris added seriously.
"Shush. Let me give you two the roles." She said thoughtfully, thinking about something easy for both of them.
"All right. How about, um, an act of a maiden from old times-"
"Who's finding her true love-" Damaris interrupted.
"No. Who's lost her baby camel-"
"Really? A camel?"
"Stop interrupting, Damaris." His mother warned, "Okay, so she's lost her baby camel and she seeks the help of a farmer."
"But instead meets this charming young man who totally helps her out."
"You're the farmer, Damaris."
"What? No! I am the charming young man."
"You're a poor stable boy, then."
"That's not fair."
"With a broken tooth and a weary smile."
"I think a farmer will suffice."
"All right then! If you two mess up, I will come in." His mother smiled at them both.
Damaris interrupted again, "Okay, but is the farmer boy a charming young man?"
"Damaris-"
"He better be." He nodded to himself.
"All right, Melody. You can start." His mother said, ignoring Damaris who was up from his chair and had worn a basket on his head.

(Why, isn't that sad.)

Mrs. Leoplold went silent to watch as she acted. Damaris on the other hand, gave a haughty look when she spoke. "I suppose the wolves took it." He said ambitiously, "They love fresh meat after all-"
"Damaris!" His mother interrupted.
"Hey, let me be the mean farmer."
"No. You're a good farmer. Quit ruining it!"
Damaris faced Melody again. "That's unfortunate for a young maiden like you." He said sadly, frowning his brows. "I must say, I happened to see a camel hop around the fields..." He placed a hand over his forehead and looked in a certain direction. "To the left maybe? But you shouldn't walk these lands on your own. The devils of the night are never too merciful." He said, trying to muster a worried face.

(Me neither. I have no idea where we're going with this.)

"I have never refused a hopeless fellow, so indeed I shall!" He accepted, looking along with her to the fields.
His mother was greatly enjoying the acting they were performing in her very own kitchen. Sh felt like a director and a producer now, so she took out a plate and waved it once. "Cut!"
"Skip the time now." She smiled eagerly and waved the plate again. "Take 2!" She laughed softly at her own self and crossed her hands once again.
Damaris took a few steps ahead and took off his hat, gasping dramatically as he looked down on the plain floor. He looked back in horror and hissed, "I'm afraid...but..." He trailed off, looking back on the floor. Damaris had decided earlier that the baby camel was to die. He didn't want to act holding an invisible baby camel and give it to Melody. Also, he wanted his character to be more important than some non-existent camel. "The camel...he's been...The wolves..." He whispered and stepped back.
"It's a horrid sight. I insist you don't look." He said to Melody.

(I have no clue either. To be honest, I wasn't expecting Melody to accept. But this indicates that she's feeling comfortable with them so that's a good sign.)

"You speak the truth, the wolves are on their way I'm sure." He answered in a hurry and turning around just in time to run from the 'wolves'. When they were back a few steps in the pretend farm, he stopped and took off his hat again.
"You're wise, oh young maiden." He begin sadly, "I truly grieve for your loss. But I have to inquire something that's been troubling this young farmer's mind for a while." He spoke and took a step forth, speaking slowly, "Tell me, maiden..." He paused. "Am I a charming young man?"
After a minute of shock, Mrs. Leopold burst into laughter, waving her plate and clapping appreciatively.

(XD)

"Well, that was brilliant!" Mrs. Leopold exclaimed just as Damaris happily took his seat back, after a few minutes of chuckling.
"How come you never introduced her before?" Mrs. Leopold asked Damaris. She had enjoyed the act enough to regret not having it recorded somehow. Perhaps her son really had interesting friends after all, but she had developed a sudden likeness for the girl now.
"That's most likely because I happen to meet her today." He said in an obvious tone and continued twirling his spoon in the soup.
"Ah, that's fortunate. Melody, I have to say, this meeting has been pleasant."
"Oh, wow. Don't go so formal now."
Mrs. Leopold sighed dreamily, "I always wanted a daughter too." She was smiling brightly now, reminiscing her dreams that never really came true.
"You know, Melody, when Damaris wasn't born-" She started with a new interest.
"You don't have to tell her that!" Damaris objected, suddenly uninterested in the soup.
"Oh shush you. I can tell her anything I like. So, when Damaris was not born-"
"Melody, don't listen to that." He looked at Melody with a seriously troubled expression.
"His father and I had a bet-"
"Oh God." Damaris held his head in his hands.
"A bet on what I would possibly have. A girl or a boy." His mother remembered that day clearly and explained, "So I said it's a girl. And I really wished I'd win. He promised me a trip to Hawaii. " She chuckled. "From his own money, of course. But I didn't promise him that. Instead."
Damaris was technically glaring at the table now, cursing life and feeling embarrassed.
"Instead I promised, if I lose...I would dress the baby like a girl for two weeks." She eyes had a sudden twinkle in her eyes now, but Damaris had placed his head on the table in defeat.
"And we did it!" Mrs. Leopold continued. "Oh, he looked-"
"I think that's enough humiliation for one day-" Damaris muttered to the table.
"I've got pictures!" Mrs. Leopold cried and Damaris shot right up from the table in horror.
"No, you wouldn't." He hissed.
"Oh, sure I will. Won't you like to see the pictures, Melody sweetie?"
"No, she wouldn't. She isn't interested. Are you? No, she's not!"

"Yes, but she used them to black mail me once!" Damaris protested.
"That wasn't black mail." His mother waved a hand, standing up and wondering where she had stored the pictures.
At Melody's question, his mother smiled back, "Ah yes. He always has been like this." She shook her head, "From the day he started speaking. He was a little dramatic rabbit who knew how to manipulate people." She then sat down on the chair and Damaris heaved a sigh of relief.
"Sometimes, I used to pick him up and look sadder than ever," She said softly, "And he would crack up the biggest smile ever and try to cheer me up!" She mused, "Even if he was crying himself. He'd take my cheeks and pull them apart to make me smile." She cackled, looking at Damaris who was grinning now. "Just like that." She pointed at him and looked back at Melody. She just held her face for a while and tilted her head. It was good to think about all the good memories.
After a minute or two she perked up, "Now, where was I...? The pictures, yes?"

"Now, don't get under his influence, Melody." She said after hearing the confused reply.
"I'm right here, y'knooow..." Damaris added, hearing them talk about him was sort of...weird. Though he didn't mind, at least his mother wasn't scolding or threatening him anymore.
Mrs. Leopold stood up and checked their bowls, "Have you finished eating? I'm giving you both 5 minutes. Chop chop!" She announced and collected the other utensils, washing them up nearby. She hadn't yet given up the idea of showing the pictures so she mused about them and quickly settled the kitchen till they were done.

Damaris finished his soup after a few minutes, happily relishing the last spoonfulls. It was a fun dinner, after a day full of greeting death multiple times and getting locked up. He wondered when he was going to explain everything to his mother, who probably had no idea and had long forgotten his late arrival. But he waited, for now, as everything seemed to be cheerful.
Mrs. Leopold stood behind Melody and peeked at her bowl, shaking her head dismissively. "Come on, now! Finish it up." She clicked her tongue. "On a count till twenty!" She said loudly, ready to count back to one from twenty and let her finish in the given time.
"Mother, she's our guest. Please remember." Damaris said, trying to make her realize that Melody wasn't a kindergarten student.
"Ah, yes..." Mrs. Leopold muttered, sitting down beside Melody. Since she didn't really have anything else to talk about, she focused on the food to pass the time. "You have to finish it. Or the rats will come at night and take you to their clock tower."
Damaris realized she was still treating her like she treated him sometimes out of nowhere. Mrs. Leopold liked to say all the things she would to a younger version of him, at times.
"Mom."
"It doesn't matter really. But they grow in size at night and turn into monsters." She was amused by now. Repeating the story she'd recited to many children was fun.
"Mom. That's extremely weird."
"You should be glad I'm not doing the boat thing." His mother warned, eyeing back at Damaris.

"Well, I'm glad you've so graciously accepted the weirdness of this household." Damaris commented, slightly relieved in a way.
"Indeed!" Mrs. Leopold replied to his observation and then continued talking to Melody, "Oh, it's nothing. I'd just take the spoon and pretend it's a boat and treat you like a toddler as if the boat's going in your mouth." She looked at her finished soup. "But I'm afraid we can't demonstrate that anymore." She smiled and took the bowl, going to the sink to wash it off.
When she was done, she stepped towards the door and looked back, "Now let me show you those pictures, Melody. Come 'ere." She led the way to her room while Damaris shot right up to go before her. Although, he knew there was no use really and no one could stop her once she had planned something.
As for Mrs. Leopold, she was busy thinking about the guest room to be prepared for. She had completed all the chores when Damaris was absent, and so she was glad she had finished cleaning the guest room as well. Now all it needed was probably a blanket, or two, or more...It was pouring outside after all.

(Hooow are we going to explain the whole experiment thing? )

Damaris slipped inside his mother's room, obviously not knowing wherever the pictures could be. Even if his room was a complete mess, he knew where everything was. But this perfectly cleaned room looked like a maze to him. He jumped over towards the cabinet and tried to look for them, failing miserably.
"Not there! I put my things in a safe place." Mrs. Leopold said as she followed inside.
"At least let ME see them beforehand." He said, planning to remove the stupid ones.
"Na-uh. Back away please." His mother patted his shoulder to have the cupboard exposed. She unlocked a lower drawer, and reaching inside pulled out a memory card. Fixing it inside her phone, she sat back happily to relive her memories. Damaris slumped down next to her as she viewed the first photograph. It was of a year old boy, crawling out of an enormous Easter egg.

(I realized, they probably don't have picture albums anympre. Plus, I have no idea what I'm doing. Plus, I REALLY WANT TO SKIP TO RELLE RUNNING AWAY. Ahem, ksorry.
And yaas. But how is that going to start? I mean, can't we skip it too...? Like, in the end the whole family is just quiet and gasping? *so dramatic* )

(I'm bored. I'm skipping nao. We can get back to these two and backtrack a bit.)
(--->Dramatic post incoming.)

Icy cold wind clawed at her bare skin, which happened to be her face and a single hand at the moment. She wondered whatever the hell the people in the commercials tried to represent when a woman's hair flew back every single time in a shampoo's advertisement. Because right now, her hair were a sparrow's nest and she had to pull her hoodie closer to prevent it from being blown away again.
In the meantime though, she didn't notice the few drops of rain getting caught up in a gust of air. It was fortunate for her to reach her home right when the heavier clouds took over. Ringing the doorbell, she had waited patiently, but hadn't quite prepared herself for what followed.
The lock clicked open, sounding quite like ones she had opened several times that day and she forced those thoughts away for a while. A figure emerged covered in shawls, uncombed hair giving a messy look, a lost state clouding over her face as she looked up. Her eyes were slightly red and she had the most distorted look on her face. Which seemed to disappear in a second although the weariness remained.
"ELLA!" Her mother cried, taking her daughter in a choking embrace. But Veleda wasn't able to remove her mother's earlier stage out of her mind.
She was crying., she gathered. And hugged back almost as tightly.
"Where did you go?!" Her mother hissed, patting Veleda's sparrow nest and taking her face in her hands. Veleda saw the tears building in the elder female's eyes. Her mother had always been possessive of her daughter, she was always the emotional one but that one fear had completely crippled her faith in hope. That one fear which never really left her. "I thought I lost..."
"Never." Veleda interrupted, the thought of the files in the last room taking over her. As long as she knew the truth, she wasn't going to be dying in ignorance as a result of some experiment. Perhaps murdered. Better to murder before getting murdered. But she looked back in her mother's eyes and shook away the thoughts. What would she do without me? She couldn't bear the thoughts of ever losing her one and only reason to live for. And it was the same for the other.
"Cheer up, momma!" Veleda wiped the tears off her mother's eyes. "I came to have some coffee, not tears!"
A gasp left the other, "What happened to your hand!?" Veleda sighed. Apparently, mothers can detect even the slightest change of moment, no matter how deep the situation is.
"Broken."
"Again?"
"Again."
Her mother sighed dismissively, "What did you do?" Taking the hand in hers and patting it softly.
"Hey, I thought we were having a lovely moment here." Veleda smiled, "I am breaking bones all the time. Nothing new in that."
But her mother took her to the kitchen and opened up her first aid box, persistent to hear Veleda's journey. Veleda on the other hand pondered over what was best not said, but she couldn't really hide all of it. And the curious kitty in her sort of took over when she started her tale in the most vigorous way possible. Adding twists here and there. Already planning to not mention the file of the second Wild. The story made the cleaning up of her wound slightly bearable. Her mother had been completely bewildered in the beginning, but she sort of got used to the whole idea after a while. But every now and then she would look up with the most horrified expressions and go back to wiping the blood.
There was a gasp and a frown every single time Veleda mentioned the metallic voice. Her mother had stopped for the first few minutes to simply drink in the idea of a secret floor in the facility. And now it didn't seem to be impossible.
After a few minutes, her wrist and a bit of her palm was covered in a bandage making her fingers and polished nails visible. She looked at her hand proudly, thinking, 'Another injury in a week! Dad must be proud.'
Her mother looked at her skeptically, a worried look on her face. "Well...?" She still wanted to hear the end of the story and she wanted the end of the story to be something like, 'I' kidding, mom.' But sadly that wasn't the case.
"Well...What?" Veleda asked.
"That's it?"
Veleda nodded. And her mother was disappointed. Silence lingered for a few minutes. Still not believing all of it, she caught her breath and sighed once again. She looked at the table and seemed to travel somewhere else, coming back with a stronger gaze.
"Who was that boy?"
"What-who?" Veleda was waiting for a strategy , to hear her say something ideal and the best plan anyone could think of.
"The boy who was with you, the red-haired one." Her mother persisted.
"How is that important?" Veleda retorted.
"It's important! You were together, don't you see? If any of you will be followed, the other will be found easily."
"So I just have to go off and murder him then." Veleda shrugged, "Sounds simple."
"No!" Her mother was infuriated.
"They can't get to me through him, mom. He doesn't know anything about me. He isn't a stalke-" Now that might be wrong. "-Er. Er..erm. " She cleared her throat. "What do you want me to do?"
"All we know is that there is something peculiar going on-"
"Something crazy as shiz, killing-machines-killing-off-teenagers-making-human-pies you mean."
Her mother cringed at the response and straightened. "For all we know, the scientists are hiding something dangerous."
"They sure as hell are."
"And you and that boy are the only ones who are aware of it, who have escaped, are free."
"Sounds about right."
"They will come for you. If there is something they want to hide so badly, they will try to remove any evidences left. Now there is a big proof of their activities and a living one at that."
"Let them come." Veleda answered angrily, thinking about the files again. She wanted to face them, beat them up, even though it was the most childish thing to think of.
"Veleda Aven, this is important." And Veleda knew it was. It was always important when her mother called her full name.
"What are you asking me to do, mom?" She asked patiently.
"It's raining." Her mother looked at the windows, twisting her fingers around each other. She heaved a breath and looked up, "You must leave when it stops raining."
Veleda blinked, unable to catch up. But from the sad look her mother was giving, it was easy to understand she had meant what she said.
Veleda gasped, mouth hanging low, "WOAH. WHAAAAAA-" She started.
"ELLA!"
"I AM NOT GOING ANYWHERE! OW!" She shook a fist in the air, regretting it the second later.
"You can't stay here. Not with the danger-"
"I can't believe you! I can't leave you! Don't you understand? How will, what will you, no!"
"Ella, calm down. You have to go. Or else, you'll be found."
"I am not going anywhere!" She protested, almost in tears now, "Can't you see? That's exactly what they want!" They want to separate us. They are killing us just by that. Can't you understand?
"Why can't you? This is for your own safety, your.life.is.in.danger." Her mother said aloud.
"WELL GOODLUCK WITH THAT. LET'S SEE HOW YOU ARE ABLE TO SAVE ME BY GETTING ME AWAY FROM YOU!" Veleda shot up, yelling and heaving long breaths.
"You are being childish now!" Her mother scolded one last time, irked by Veleda's stubbornness and hyper tantrum.
Her mother got up and held her hand, looking straight in her eyes she said sternly. "I can't lose another child." Perhaps that was the worst thing to say, perhaps the best, but it was enough for Veleda to come to reason with her mother's plan. She was right. A number of armed creeps against a wild teenager might not have favoured Veleda any how. She realized it was best to plan better. To plan precisely and get to the bottom of the whole thing. But before that, she needed escape.

Her mother repressed the remorse of her daughter's permanent disappearance from her life and instead helped to pack her things. She was sure to give her all the supplies which were needed, food, clothes, first aid box, almost all the money she had in store and a couple of blankets as well. Veleda hadn't spoken since their last conversation, she just quietly packed her guitar, a flute and a few notebooks and pens. She sat by the window and watched the rain splatter against the glass, her mother shuffling everything in a back like an expert. Veleda simply felt lost and didn't feel like expressing anything. So she took out her guitar and played, while her mother sat down with her to listen to the music one last time. The music she had cursed all her life was sounding surprisingly pleasant now. Her hand moved through Veleda's hair, combing them slightly.
Veleda couldn't stay cold with her mother anymore, so she sang her a song. A happy family song about going to the sea and playing at a beach. And they waited, wearing sad smiles, for the rain to finally bid goodbye.
(Ooooh long post.)

She was escorted under two umbrella's by her mother at her side to the train station. They had taken a taxi and a bus and walked the paths that led to the underground system. It was a network of busy trains going throughout the city 24/7 and they got the ticket easily. Now all they had to do was wait for the train to arrive. And waiting, for Veleda was an extremely hard thing to do. They settled together on a bench, Veleda still holding the black umbrella dramatically over them.
Their faces hidden beneath, only the long overcoats visible, she smirked at her mother. "Let them think we're a busy couple."
Her mother shared a chuckle and sighed for the 100th time that day. "Thirty minutes..." She muttered, tapping her fingers on her knee. Just thirty minutes till they were separated for who knew how long. She sighed, biting back tears.
"Come with me." Veleda pestered.
"Oh not again!" Her mother waved a hand at her.
"Come on, me and you. It'd be like a world tour."
"I'm too old for that!"
"Mooooom-"
"You know what?" Her mother stood up, "I should probably go or you'd succeed in changing my mind." She said, crossing her arms and wiping her eyes once again.
"I happen to be great at influencing minds. Pleeeeeeease." Veleda looked up from under her umbrella. Her mother was the only person who ever got to listen to her 'please' and a pout but this time she was refused.
"No."
Veleda stood up and her mother gave her a last hug, "Take care of yourself. Go as far away as possible. Make friends. Try not to end up killing them." She whispered.
"I can try." Veleda smiled, "Don't stay all alone. You should go live with Miss Murphy, she's nice and friendly. And..." It was better for her mother to shift from the house with so many sad memories anyway, "Don't ever cry again."
"I can try." Her mother answered with a last look of sorrow but shook it away and kissed her daughter's forehead.

Twenty minutes later, the rain still hadn't stopped, the umbrella frozen in her hand on top of her head, and her mother had gone away. Gripping the stick tightly, she made sure it covered her whole so anybody unlucky enough to be out at the time would not be able to see her. She pulled her legs up on the bench and hugged her knees, sniffling a faint sob. She felt the kind of solitude she had never felt before. Felt like the world had suddenly grown too big.

'Father.
Sister.
And now mother.
It seems like everyone is just... disappearing.'

(Yarp. I is evil. Zinnie: Ruining OC's happiness since the beginning of time. 8) NO REGRETS.)

Time seems to pass slower when you have nothing really to do than wait for something to happen. Veleda had been in the same position for a very long time, her body felt numb and almost dead. She perked up and pressed her eyes against her knees, not wanting to use her hands to clear off any stupid liquid. She hated when that happened. She stretched her hands in front of her and then her legs, not caring what anyone around would think, if any one was around that is. And that's when she heard the incoming train. Checking the strap around her waist of her guitar, she stood up.
'Looks like we're on our own, eh?' She thought to the instrument. Covering her head with her beloved hoodie, she picked up her stuff and got it loaded. Choosing an empty compartment and switching open her umbrella inside so no one could dare enter. She crossed her legs on the seat and stared out the window, not liking the view, she stared outside the compartment instead. There were different kinds of people coming in, but none of them looked interesting. So she went back inside and sat, leaning against the window.

For a realist like Mr Leopold, it didn't really take much time to understand a situation. In fact, he simply looked at the fretting woman to calm her soul and come to a good enough decision which was for the teenagers to leave. Damaris had explained everything along with the help of Melody to his parents. After which Mrs.Leopold had simply given a horrified look to her husband, who was in some sort of trance for while.
Half an hour later, Mrs. Leoplold had packed the both of them every single thing they could possibly need. Making a special bag for Melody and filling it with her newest clothes so the girl didn't have any problems with that. She also topped a box with treats and easy to cook meals, giving Damaris constant advises to take care of both of them or she'd come right after him with a saucepan to hit him with. Damaris did notice how his parents weren't leaving each other's side the whole time. The distant father wasn't really distant after all, even if he showed lack of emotions most of the times.
Mrs. Leopold had reached up all the way to Damaris' head and ruffled his hair, muttering advises. She couldn't believe how the baby in the pictures had gotten so old so quick and was leaving now.
She had then turned to Melody and outright hugged her tight. If it was in her own hands, she would gladly go with them and live off somewhere and pretend Melody was always a part of the family. But her husband had cautioned, it wouldn't be a good choice to travel all the way together and Damaris preferred the parents to pretend not knowing anything.
"Stay together!" She had said with a worn smile at the door of the house, "Don't leave each other's side! And stay safe." She looked at Damaris who was busy opening the umbrella, and said promptly, "You better take care of her."
" 'Course I will! She's my maiden now." He grinned and shared the knowing smile with the other two. His father completely not getting the joke and looking at them in confusion.
"Take care of yourself!" She repeated.
"Back at ya, mum." He said, looking behind her at the house he was leaving. Memorizing everything in his head for the last time.
Hid father had looked at them with an uncertainty, not too sure if the very same irresponsible boy could survive out on his own. He was pretty sure Damaris would run out of everything, or get robbed off while dozing off somewhere..."Don't wander off. If anything comes up, you know how to contact me."
Damaris nodded and shook hands with him, "Psst, dad, I think you should start getting home early now. You don't have anyone to ignore anymore."
"Oh shut it!" His mother shoved him softly.
"I am kidding!"
Gulping a sob, she said, "And get out!" But his father had given the smile he never really had before, it seemed like something back from the old memories.
"Take care, son." He had said and had nodded at Melody and back at Damaris. And that was goodbye.

They reached the train station at the sound of the certain thunderous feeling they gave underground. They weren't sure if they had missed it or were exactly on time, so they took off under a single umbrella, not too fast though with the heavy bags they carried. As it turned out, the train had just arrived, so Damaris led Melody along with himself as they bought the tickets. There weren't many people on the train so they didn't really have a problem with choosing a compartment. Damaris led inside, opening up doors and apologizing to the ones that were occupied. Until he opened one and almost apologized, but then he realized the doorway was closed off. By an umbrella. A freaking umbrella.
He peeked through the bottom and looked at the figure sitting beside a window. The whole compartment was taken by only one person and a huge umbrella.
Damaris wasn't sure if there were any other empty compartments around. He also wasn't sure if Melody would be comfortable with them in one compartment, he surely didn't want to invade anyone's privacy. So he thought it would be better if they got in with someone else.
"Should we?" He whispered to Melody, looking at the lone figure who didn't seem to notice their presence.

(I thought so too, but it would've been a little too obvious. =p)

Veleda was peacefully busy cursing time and the engines and the annoying vibrations but she was disturbed by the sound of an opening door. Which she happily ignored, because it wasn't the first time someone had tried to get inside and had been driven away after a first look at the umbrella. She mused about the weather and the rain and how her mother would be home by now. Maybe asleep, maybe just walking around the house or sitting in Veleda's room. She hoped she was asleep, sleep was better than mourning which her mother seemed to do very often.
But then again, she heard the sound of muffled footsteps and a faint, 'Hello.' More footsteps followed and she realized she had more than one company to bear. Not moving the slightest bit, her eyes traveled sideways to acknowledge the newbies.
"Um, hello." A male voice continued, "We hope you don't have a problem...There aren't many empty compartments around here."
"Well, I certainly can't toss you out the window..." Veleda muttered to herself, still looking outside.
"I'm sorry?" The reply came he probably couldn't hear her.
In the seat right in front, two people sat, her peripheral vision blurring their faces. Must I move? She thought with a mental groan and turned to face them. A guy and a girl, basically her own age sat together.
"Oh, look. More teenagers. This must be my lucky day." She said, raising a brow at them both. Siblings maybe? She couldn't guess. They did have the same hair colour. But their ages were almost the same. Twins? Nah.
"It's nice to meet you too." The guy answered in a tone exactly opposite to hers. Why was it that she was suddenly meeting friendly people around?
Veleda shrugged, not knowing what to say. Though she was curious to know more about them, but that only meant communication and she didn't really want that right now. Also, if she was to communicate, she would have to reveal something about her as well. They probably felt the same anyway.
"That's a strange umbrella." They guy commented.
"It was meant to be a sign of unwelcoming. Looks like some people can't get it."
"If you have a problem, we can leave-"
"Oh no. Stay. Please." Veleda gave them the biggest elasticated smile she could make. She wanted to know more about these 'strange two teenagers travelling on their own'. She had her reasons for being in the train but what were theirs? She was going to ask them something when the door opened once again. This time as well, she didn't turn around to see who it was, hoping they'd leave but unlike her wishes someone came by and sat with her.
She breathed in and started with clenched teeth, "I completely fail to understand why people do NOT get the meaning of a freaking umbrella in the doorway! Are they blind or are they-WHAT IN THE-" She whisked around furiously and gasped, glaring at the guy on her left. He certainly looked a hell lot like the one she'd had her life and death circumstances with. She was just staring wildly at him for a while, but then she raised a hand and smacked off his hoodie. Revealing red hair.
"Are you kidding me?!" She gaped, rising on her knees on the seat and simply collecting all the reasons in the world for this little freak to be beside her.

"The heck man? This isn't funny. You're freaking me out." Veleda grumbled, still a little unable to accept his presence. Too many coincidences for one day. Then she realized something was missing exactly when he mentioned the blue mustache.
"Oh I see you've removed my fabulous mustache and the artistic signature. No wonder you look more of a loser now," She remarked, casually sitting like she was before and crossing her legs. He was probably there for the very same reason then. Though she never had expected to meet him again, she had to admit she liked ordering people around.
At his question, she pulled her hoodie and covered half of her face with her bangs. "Oh I was just called upon by the forces of evil to aid them against a sorcerer." Then looking at him with one eye she asked, "And you, oh failure of a soldier? What are you doing in these dangerous lands?"

His eyes met with Melody's, knowing very well that she was wondering the same questions as him. Damaris watched as the two continued their conversation. He had expected another unfriendly response in the beginning but was slightly surprised by the change of atmosphere. Both of them seemed to know each other well. Well enough to insult each other, he realized. But the other didn't have any problem with that. They were now sharing dramatic views, the girl refusing to reveal anything outright. He was enjoying it to be honest. And wondered if it was just luck that had brought the 4 of them together.

Veleda realized it was probably not nice to insult him in front of people. Sure, she didn't feel at all sorry to have said anything but she still felt their 'insulting-each-other-till-one-of-them-changes-the-topic' attitude was kind of a personal thing. So she avoided that for now.
"Ha! You still going on about that, huh punk?" Veleda smirked, eyeing him mockingly. "I am still the Captain, now that you're back to interfere with my life. Don't let me remind you again." She added with a glare.

Damaris was amused but couldn't really stay quite anymore. It felt like the two had completely forgotten where they were and he couldn't grasp what they were even talking about. He cleared his throat and remarked, "So I take it you two know each other?"
The girl turned to face him and shrugged. "Yeah, we were on the brink of murdering each other multiple times today." She said normally, clearing off the hair from her face.
"And so I thought." Damaris smiled.
"How about you two?" The girl asked and then looked at Melody in concern. After a few seconds she asked slowly, "Can you talk?"

"Excuse you." Veleda ignored his glare and carried on.
Veleda remembered the first faint hello, which was probably from the girl. It looked like her comment was slightly offensive but the girl continued on a different topic so Veleda was able to skip an apology.
"Meh. Yeah. We kinda just met today. In...well certain circumstances." Veleda cleared her throat. She didn't know if she really hated Ryan really. He was actually the only unrelated human she had the tendency to bear for one whole day. Does that mean she was fond of him? Even though they continuously blew holes in each other's ego? Maybe that was just how their 'unannounced alliance' was.

Damaris had tried to hide a grin after Melody's sarcastic remark. But had probably failed, who knew. After her answer, he was surprised how it was possible for the two to have just met today and still be on that level of frankness. It also looked like the girl didn't completely want to share how they met.
"And yet you seem to have been in each other's company for quite a while."

Veleda glanced at Ryan with a 'I-thought-so-too' look and returned her attention to the two. Who were now smiling equally.
"Just today." Damaris finished. "It was kind of a coincidence really. But the circumstances that followed were quite..."

"...you two came to know each other?" He ended, questioning them. It was kind of normal for him to be doing what he was. He didn't even realize he was doing it until his mother had given them the weird knowing smile back when they were telling their story. "Though I can say it wouldn't have been as weird as..."

Veleda shared another glance with Ryan and back at the busy duo. They seemed to be lost in their casual co-introduction. It was kind of fun to see two people talk like that. They definitely shared one brain.