Small Town Girl Meets Harper Rock.

[Kairi]

Kairi stepped off the train in Harper Rock. This wasn't her final destination but a pit stop during a long journey. She was only planning to stay within city limits for a few hours until the next train pulled out. She had been sent away from home. It wasn't that her family no longer loved her or wanted her, in fact it was just the opposite, but the gnawing feeling in her gut refused to let her see that truth. She hadn't wanted to go, to leave behind the life she knew. She was an adult now, not a child to be pushed and pulled by her elder generations. If she hadn't relied on them for certain necessities, she would have stood much firmer on staying. Even now they had supplied her with nothing but what it would require to get where she was going, hoping it would keep her from derailing on her trip, or worse, running altogether.

Her parents had told her nothing about who she was, what she could do, at least not while she was growing up. These gifts she had were lost on her. She wasn't important, destined to be great. She was a small town girl and enjoyed it. If she were honest, she hadn't aspired to be anything else. Her dreams as a young girl were even small town dreams. She would be a waitress and marry the gorgeous local doctor, quit working and raise lovely children. She would spend her days baking cookies, planting flowers, and gossiping with her neighbors. That’s what life was for her. That’s the dream she had. That’s exactly what was stolen from her. Now she was being sent to some ‘family friend’ she had never heard of, to learn about gifts she didn't know she had, in a city she had never been to. Joy.

She paced the streets, backpack in tow, killing time before the train arrived. The streets were nothing like home. From a stranger’s perspective, crime was definitely persistent around her, by any comparison to her hometown. Cops patrolled the streets, abandoned buildings littered the surroundings. She felt uncomfortable in her own skin just being here. She pulled her hoodie over her head, hoping to blend the best she could. Settling on a bench, she picked up a random pamphlet and started to read. Solace. A single moment was all it took for her to realize the possibilities. She could escape her journey. Who would think to look for her here? If she could survive, that is. A moment of inflated ego took over. She had powers. Powers she could use to keep herself safe. Little did she know…

She noted the address and got directions from a bystander, apparently waiting for a local transport. The walk was long, but with every step her courage grew. She would need to learn how to control these gifts, but if Solace was anything like what she read, it would give her a temporary safe place and maybe even a little cash to get started. A mantra played over and over in her head, ‘You can do this. You are tough. Leave behind that hometown girl, Kairi’. She would show everyone what she was capable of. She wasn't a small town child anymore and it was time to stop acting like one.

She arrived outside of Solace and stood, drumming up the last ounce of courage she needed to step through the doors.

[Robert Pratt]

Belle was outside in the garden, tending to her plants in the last of the light of day. Humming softly to herself she picked a couple of leaves from the plants that were just beginning to sprout, so that they would grow in the way she wanted. Weeds were doing their best to try and take over every day, but she was out there fighting back and pulling every single one that poked it's head above the soil. She'd had a lovely day to herself, and was just beginning the nightshift with an easy job before things got interesting as they often did around here. A movement out of the corner of her eye caught her attention and made her stand up to have a look. Her hands rested on the small of her back as she leant back and let her bones crack with a gentle 'oof'. She was after all, in her early 70's and her body wasn't what it used to be. She shuffled a couple of steps to her left and managed to spot a woman, or maybe a girl, walking through the woods on the other side of the trees. She picked up her basket and filled it with her gardening gloves and tools and then made her way around to the front door of the building to see if the woman had been passing, or coming in.

As she rounded the corner of the building, she saw the woman standing there with her backpack - as if bracing herself before walking in, or debating whether or not to go in. Belle put her usual, friendly smile on her face and walked over to the girl with a wave.

"Helloooooooooooo there!"

She called out on her way over.

"Are you ok there? Wanting to come in?"

She walked right up to her and pushed the left side of the double doors open, walking in and then holding it open for her. The girl seemed to dither for a moment, but Belle's attention was taken for a moment by a couple of kids bombing around inside and screaming at each other.

"Peter.... Jackie....."

It was all that was needed, because Belle had the respect of everyone there - and she had that tone that only a Granny could, and which made everyone stop and pay attention. The two children halted what they were doing and stood there looking ashamed. However, Belle just grinned at them and winked.

"Why don't you nip into the shop and tell Betty that I said you could each have one piece of candy each eh? Since you were so good and stopped when I said to. Because I know you won't play up again, not when your Mum is trying to study. Right?"

The kids just nodded there heads and then legged it off to the left and into the shop - where Betty was ready and waiting for them, having heard everything. Belle turned back to look for the new girl and found her inside, so let the door close behind her, turning on the smile again.

"So Mrs. What brings you to Solace?"

She let her eyes cast over to the backpack and then back to the girls face again.

"Planning on staying with us for a bit? You are of course, more than welcome if you're in need. Have you problems? I mean.... anything I need to know, about someone coming looking for you? Just so we know what to say to who to keep you safe. If that's what's wrong. Oh! Listen to me, I'm prattling away. I'm so sorry. I do tend to gush a little bit now and again when I meet new people. So, anyways. Hi. I'm Belle. And you are?"

She finally shut up, and stood waiting, and smiling.

[Kairi]

Kairi was startled out of her efforts toward courage to step through the door. Looking toward the direction of the voice, she was surprised by the older lady, working in flowers and for a moment her whole body relaxed in relief. The garden, the dirt, the voice of an older, gentler woman brought her back home for just a few seconds. It quickly passed as she came back to the moment, snapped out of it at the chiding of children nearby. Suddenly she felt like a goof, standing there, looking ragged, tired and dirty. The train ride had been brutal to her typically spritely and energetic appearance. She couldn’t help but smile at the kids, quickly minding their manners before the woman began to speak to her again. The barrage of questions caused Kairi to chew at her bottom lip, realizing she hadn’t any story that would make sense to a stranger.

“Uh,” she spoke softly, relieved that the woman continued to carry on, buying her some time to think quick on her feet. A feeling of concern tugged at her as the woman asked about someone coming to look for her. It wasn’t as evil as the words implied, but she did fear one day her parents would show and drag her away. Again the mantra played over in her head, she as not a child anymore.

Quickly she spat out the words, “No no, nothing like that. I just….,” she paused and looked up at the building, “I’m just travelling a long way from home. Afraid I missed my train and have little to spend on a proper hotel.” Ugh, that didn’t sound right. She wanted to stay, at least for a while, at least until she decided a plan. “I, thought maybe I could stay a few days.” Her voice feigned that of an adult, responsible for her own choices, “I decided I’d like to see more of the world. Get away from the small town and experience life.” She nodded, feeling more in control and confident. Not too hard, she could fake it. Right?

“I’d be glad to work. I’ll do anything, cook, help in the garden, tend to the kids, anything at all.” The words spilled from her mouth like vomit, “I’m good at lots of stuff. Worked back home since I was 13 in the shop and helping at the diner. I’ll learn anything I need to. I don’t want to be a burden. I just found this pamphlet on a bench, though maybe…,” her voice trailed off, grabbing ahold of the control again to let the woman speak, or respond, or do something that would make Kairi feel less like the fool she felt to be.

[Robert Pratt]

Belle smiled at the girl as she looked her over and nodded. The way she looked, the hesitancy in her answers, the words spilling from her lips and the changing of the story, the almost desparation that oozed from her as she tried to make herself seem useful and an asset - it all screamed runaway to Belle. However, that was exactly the reason that Solace was here, to help look after and protect those in need - whatever the reason was for someone being in need. There was no way she'd let the girl stay on the streets, definitely not these streets, with what lurked in the night. She just walked up to the girl and took her bag from her and slung it onto her back with an ease that didn't match her age. With a very friendly smile, she passed off her basket of herbs and vegetables to another employee and then took the girl's hand.

"Well, I guess we'd better get you set up in a room then eh? Especially if you're going to be so helpful around here!"

She grinned and began to lead her through the main room and towards the stairs.

"My name's Belle. What should we call you while you're with us?"

She said in a friendly manner, giving the girl the opportunity to give a false name without having to lie and say it was her real name, if she wanted. Belle had plenty of experience with runaways, and she knew that there were ways to build trust on both sides. Once they were up the stairs, Belle had a quick look at the sign in sheet and then put the name the girl had given her against one of the rooms and drew a line down, marking it for the next month as taken.

"That's not a time limit ok? That's not saying you can only stay a month. That's just giving you a month to decide what you want to do. If you choose to stay longer, then just mark off another month or two. You're welcome to stay as long as you need. Ok?"

She took the girl around the corridor, pointing out the bathrooms to her.

"They're communal I'm afraid. Robert thought it best to do communal bathrooms as it gave more room for rooms, and more living space within the rooms themselves you see."

Around the first corner, she came to a door and punched in he code for the door lock, opening it up and walking in, holding the door open for the girl to follow.

"Your code is 9513, it changes after each person leaves, and all the rooms are different. So you've nothing to worry about if you think people might walk in on you by accident or something. It's also been thoroughly cleaned and tidied, the bedding is fresh as are the flowers."

She smiled and set the bag down on the bed before heading for the door. However she stopped beside the girl and suddenly gave her a great big, comforting hug - drawing her down to kiss her cheek in a very 'granny' way.

"Now dear, why dont you freshen yourself up - there are towels in the bottom drawer there for you to use - and then come on downstairs again? Unless you just want to sleep? If you do, then we can just have a chat about a job and things tomorrow. Either is good - I'll speak to Robert and arrange whatever it is you'd prefer."

She gave the girl's hands a squeeze and looked into her face with a smile, waiting for an answer.