Killed them? What kind of creatures are they? Astrid was always inside by nightfall.
"What are they like? What do they look like?"
Astrid cringed when she remembered seeing the wound on her arm.
"Will that ever heal?"
She didn't realize it yet, but every answer from Juniper only generated further questions from Astrid. Her curiosity only grew hungrier with each question that spilled from her lips as they grew closer to the floating city she had pointed to earlier.
“There are a lot of different types the one I’ve seen the most act kind of like big cats used to. They’re all mutated and gross. They kind of look like someone took a bunch of bodies and sewed them together.” Juniper scowled. “They smell like it too. Big and hungry. I don’t think they can actually see out of their eyes. I think they move around with smell and sound.”
She would answer every question accordingly, allowing the girl to quench her curiosity. “I’m sure it’ll heal eventually. If I ever let it rest for a moment.”
Astrid smiled softly, already growing tired from the walking. Her break did not do much for her, but she had to get to the house before the sun set. The creatures that Juniper explained piqued Astrid's curiosity, but she couldn't pull out her sketchbook just yet; not while they were walking.
"Jesse might be able to help with the wound. He's not an expert, but…I mean he's still alive and fully functioning, so clearly he hasn't failed yet."
(I’ll be back, I’ve got work)
Juniper bit her lip, her eyes wandering to the city as it neared. She would kill to make it up there one day. “I’d love to see if he could help. It’s really bothering me.” She murmured, pausing when they reached the floating city’s edge. “Around here?” She asked softly.
It wasn’t that she was afraid to meet this new person. No it was more of a fear that Astrid was somehow going to end up as a bad guy. That Juniper was walking into a trap.
(Alrighty see ya later)
Astrid realized how close they had gotten, and perked up in attention.
"Yeah, it's closer to the edge of the city, over here on the right, then a few more turns."
Astrid's eyes followed her feet, a little nervous that Jesse might be angry. He's got a bit of a hot temper, but Astrid hoped that he'd keep his chill around Juniper. Jesse and Astrid never really interacted this much with other people, so she's not sure how he'd react. Though, she decided against telling Juniper about that in fear that she'd scare Juniper away.
(IM BACK. MY FEET ARE KILLING ME.)
Juniper watched the world below with a bright curiosity. She might have been an artist if it weren’t for her current situation. “Alright, want to lead the way?” She asked with a small smile. “Would on foot be better?”
Juniper glanced up, taking in the features of the other female. She really hadn’t had much contact with someone so friendly. It was a nice change.
( AH IM SORRY )
Astrid nodded hesitantly as she walked in front of Juniper, gazing down at the now familiar path that led to her house. The walk would feel shorter now, since she's more acquainted with the surroundings.
"I think so, the buildings become more scarce when we get closer to my house. It's more rural."
As they reach the neighborhood, Astrid takes off her jacket and ties it around her waist, the uncomfortable warmth of the sunset starting to affect her.
(AHHHH YOURE OK)
“Ah, then we should probably get down.” She murmured in response, eyes narrowed at the ground. This side of town was safe. She knew that much.
Even though the heat of the sun grew worse, Juniper made no move to take off her sweat shirt. Instead she seemed to shrink into it, biting her lip. It was uncomfortable. But she wouldn’t take it off until she had to.
“How much Farther?”
"We're almost there," Astrid murmurs, straining her neck out to see the house in the distance. The sun was pretty low by now, Astrid wasn't sure she'd avoid Jesse's overprotective lecture. As the distance closed, Astrid turned to Juniper.
"Jesse might be angry because I was out so late, but don't take anything he says personally. He's genuinely a good person, or at least he tries to be."
Astrid sighed heavily, turning back to approach the beat up, run-down house.
Juniper let out a long sigh, eyeing the setting sun. It would go from hot to absolutly freezing when the sun would disappear behind the horizon. She wasn’t worried about that, however. In the distant she could already hear the sound of the creatures. Their shrill cackles sent shivers up her spine. “Good…” she replied, biting her lip.
At Astrid’s remark about Jesse, Juniper grinned. “I believe you. You haven’t killed me yet so so far I trust you.” Was it a lie? Not quite. Was it partially untrue? Maybe.
As Astrid reached the front door, it swings open, hitting the wall inside. A boy around Astrid's age and about the same height, whose features nearly matched Astrids; warm dark skin, naturally dark brown hair and nervous green eyes, stormed out.
"Get inside, quick, it's already nightfa-" He pauses, locking eyes with Juniper. He exchanges glances with Astrid, seeing her sheepish face portray hope. He stiffens and nods his head for Juniper to follow as he nudges Astrid closer to the front door.
Juniper snickered. His expression was worth just sitting there. She nodded softly at him, looking around their surroundings.
Once she was granted permission to enter, Juniper followed the two, immediately sitting down next to the door and pulling open the bag of food. She cried in relief.
Jesse shut the door, immediately whispering to Astrid with panic in his voice.
"You brought a stranger home?! Do you know how dangerous the civilians are here?"
"She's not dangerous, she's a friend."
Jesse closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, trying to calm himself down as he looks over at Juniper.
"She needs her arm fixed up."
Astrid utters to Jesse as he shoots you a sympathetic glare.
"What happened?" He muttered apprehensively.
Juniper listened in, catching as much as she could. It wasn’t much but she already knew what they were talking about.
Her eyes glanced over at the two, gently settling and pushing the bag away. She stood, walking to the two.
A hand was stuck out for him to take. “Juniper Dale. Trust me, if I were dangerous, your sister wouldn’t be here.”
Jesse holds Juniper's arm gently, but tenses up when he hears Juniper's last remark.
"If you even think about touching Astrid, I'll do worse than those creatures."
He snaps, adding a cold emphasis on the last word.
Astrid, who had disappeared down the hall, returned with a handful of pillows and blankets. Jesse's stress-filled sigh filled the air as Astrid set up a make-shift bed area on the floor.
"One night, and then you're leaving."
Jesse demanded, earning a refute from Astrid.
"At least three nights, c'mon Jesse."
He sighed, exchanging glances with Juniper and Astrid, his reluctance evident in his forced nod as he shoots another glare at Juniper.
"Fine, but I'm keeping a close eye on you. If you steal one thing, you're out."
(So sorry, I had friends over.)
Juniper returned his cold look, something in her eyes growing dark. It vanished when Astrid returned. He wouldn’t do anything to her while she was around.
“I only need a night. I’ll be gone before you even wake up.” Juniper promised as she pulled her arm from his grasp. She didn’t trust him to actually help her. He was rather unfriendly towards her. “Nothing will be stolen, nothing will be touched.”
She felt a pang if regret at her words. Some deep part of her wished she could stay with the friendly Astrid. Some human part of her yearned for physical and social contact. But she couldn’t afford any emotions. They held her back.
So it would be only one night she stayed with the two. No bonds would be made, no feelings for the two. No friends, no regrets, no hurt.
(It's fine! I myself have a lot going on so responses might start slowing down at this point)
Jesse glanced at Astrid's gleeful smile and rolled his eyes, unable to refute her when she's in such a good mood. Astrid grinned as she sat on her knees next to Juniper's makeshift bed.
"So, how do you survive out there? With no place to live, and the creatures roaming around?"
As she spoke this Jesse threw on a coat, grabbed a baseball bat, and uttered, "I'll be back in a bit. Stay inside." Before exiting the house. Astrid only half responded, as if those words are something she hears every night.
(Take your time! You’re alright! I understand being busy. Now I’m about to graduate I don’t have anything to do.)
Juniper tilted her head at Astrid’s question. “It’s not easy. It’s mostly the less relationships you create, the better off you are. I steal a lot… I’m not proud of it but I’m not going to to change anything. Stealing, running, and hiding.” She replied softly, frowning. She watched Jesse leave.
(Ah, I'm graduating this year and mildly panicking bc yeah, I'm hopefully gonna have a job,,,but other than that,,,,,i won't…have homework,,,,and that'll be so weird)
Astrid looked to the ground as she listened to Juniper's response, pulling out the sketchbook in her bag and scribbling what she remembered of the view from the rooftops.
"What's wrong with stealing? If you think about it, you're only taking what you deserve. You deserve to live, other people have so much they could throw away what we need to survive, so you're not really taking too much, right?"
She thought long and hard about the buildings and the rooftops. Even though she felt sick to the stomach from thinking about being up that high, something inside her felt relieved that she survived.
"If Jesse was more trusting, I'd let you live here. You'd only do what you can to survive, just like us, so what's the problem with that?"
(Sorry, has a dentist appointment. I’m still high on laughing gas Ahahahaha)
“It’s turned me into what you call a monster.” She replied softly, lifting her arm to stare at the wound. She never had it fixed. With a loud sigh, she moved to the door, opening it to look around. “Ever watched someone die?” She asked suddenly, scowling as she shut the door.
Juniper moved to her bag of food, pulling some bread out of it and a rather bruised apple. She hungrily tore into the bread, sighing happily.
(But oof I get that feeling. It’s stressful to graduate isn’t it? I have a month.)
(Me, sobbing bc i can barely write without laughing gas to begin with and ur over here casually posting gr8 responses)
Astrid falls quiet at Juniper's words, a sick feeling welling up in her stomach. She could feel herself falling into the hole of reaching a breakdown, but she couldn't just have one in front of Juniper, she doesn't deserve to deal with Astrid like that, right?
Astrid panics, the time for her to answer grows longer, which almost itself answers her question. The only thing that Astrid could think to say is 'I don't know' but even that isn't an efficient answer. She closes her eyes, trying to think of anything except the memory that flooded her mind.
(Nah faaam. You’re amazing at writing. XD I’m flattered tho. Thanks. And sorry, I fell asleep XD)
Juniper looks up at her, biting her lip. “I’m not going to hurt you, if that’s what you’re afraid of.” She murmured before staring down at her feet. “I’ve killed to live… it was all self defense, really. I didn’t mean to.” It sounded more like she was trying to convince herself of those words instead of Astrid.
“I never wanted to hurt anybody.” She whispered.
(D'awwww thank u I'm usually picky with RPs but I'm already enjoying this one uwu)
Astrid lowered her head, a certain darkness layering her face as she tightens her fist, the pencil shaking against the pressure on the paper. Her breathing grew quicker as she noticed her hand started to shake, like shivering in the cold, stuck in a snowstorm, trapped in a blizzard, except instead of cold she's overheating, sweating, the blood rushing everywhere in her body. It was building up, she could tell, but she just couldn't let it happen in front of Juniper. Something inside her reached its hand out, like a desperate attempt at a call for help. It reached through her throat and slipped off of her tongue, her voice trembling and broken, as if holding back tears.
"I just want my parents back. I just want my parents back. I want my brothers back. I want my family back."
(Haha! I’m enjoying it too. It’s fun! Sorry for the wait, It’s actually like 9pm over here XD.)
Juniper looked over at Astrid, awkwardly falling silent. She wasn’t sure what to do or what to say. She herself had never met her parents. She never had siblings as far as she was concerned. She couldn’t relate… and yet, the girl found herself walking over to Astrid and wrapping her arms around her in a hug that was comforting and kind. “It’s alright… I promise you it’ll all work out for you and your brother. Your family may not be complete, but it’s still here…” she murmured, shifting away awkwardly.
Juniper dug through her bag, pulling out a few fruits and vegetables. They were moved to Astrid’s bag of food. The girl worked silently before she herself returned to her corner, fixing up the blankets for her makeshift bed. “May I take the three nights…?” She asked suddenly. “I have nowhere to go… I just don’t think your brother likes me very much… nor does he want me to stay.”
(You're fine! It's 10:30 here so i'll either stay up regretably late or log off in half an hour, haha)
The hug, miraculously enough, calmed Astrid down enough that she could return to a normal pace of breath. From there, she repeated a method of closing her eyes and quietly humming to herself, reaching the point of serenity. At Juniper's request, Astrid shot up, beaming.
"Of course you can! And Jesse doesn't dislike you, he's like that with everyone. He probably wouldn't have let you stay if you were a guy though."
Astrid's talking helped ease her stress, so she continued.
"After what happened to our brother, Jesse felt forced to build up a ton of walls in order to protect me."
Astrid stood and walked to the kitchen, pouring two glasses of water.
"That's why he's so overprotective and quick to judge. In his mind, he has to be."
Astrid offers a glass of water to Juniper, a gentle smile peaking through Astrid's nervous face.
