City Upside Down [Marleigh]

[Arun (DELETED 9048)]

WEARING

The days were no longer freezing. In fact, they were positively balmy, for the native Canadian. Arun was not native to Canada and he was still adjusting to the temperatures; Winter was near impossible, and Summer was… well, it was okay. They’d come to the city because the brothers were near inseparable, and Vas figured he could play music anywhere. Arun had come because he had issues. Growing pains, as it were, which he still had failed to figure out.

Sure, he’d realised eventually that he was what they classed a ‘sorcerer’, but he had no idea where the power had come from, or why. And now, with the zombies making the city a danger zone even during the day rather than just at night, when the vampires roamed, he understood a little of the ‘why’. Only a little, about why his power seemed stronger when here, in Harper Rock. The magic near crackled in the air, like a constant static electricity clinging to his skin.

He’d found it easier to control said crackle by looking inward; he’d started to practice yoga, though the place he’d gone to practice yoga had shut down, given it was within the zone most affected by the widening rift. It was time to do some exploring to try and find somewhere new, as Arun Dumitrescu was reluctant to leave the city that he thought might give him some answers. For whatever inexplicable reason, he felt as if he belonged here.

Vas wasn’t so sure, but not wanting to leave his little brother behind on his own, he stayed. Arun didn’t quite know what to feel about that, hoping that nothing happened to his wayward, free-spirited brother. Anxiety was a common monkey on Arun’s back and he needed a way to release it, to work through it. And so he walked.

The sorcerer’s walk was clipped and quick, hasty as he banked left as he headed for the Wickbridge train station. Thankfully, the trains were all still running.

It was safe and secure inside that carriage, albeit quiet. Peak hour traffic didn’t really exist in Harper Rock anymore, though it was barely 3pm yet. A weekend. The weekend crowds weren’t filled with hyper children and families doing fun things, for which Arun was secretly glad. An ad on Google had informed him of a place in the older part of town. Cherrydale. It was the furthest from the rift, so there was less chance it had closed down.

It wasn’t too long after that he was exiting the Cherrydale train station, staring at his phone as he tried to figure out directions. First, he started to go the wrong way. Then, his phone lost GPS signal when he thought he was heading in the right direction; he slammed the side of his phone against his palm, as if that might dislodge something inside so that it might work again.

Eventually, he found what he thought was the right address. Except when he walked inside, it looked… well, not like a yoga place. But yoga was often held in odd places, so long as there was space and a little tranquility. Still, he approached the nearest and first person he spotted.

”Excuse me… is there a yoga class held here…?” he asked, holding up his phone to show the business advertisement and the address attached to it, which he was 70% certain was this address.

[Marleigh (DELETED 10186)]

.::WEARING::.

In Harper Rock, one too many businesses had floundered in the recent weeks and shut their doors. Boarded up the windows. Closed up and simply...left. Walking down the street, one could pass any number of abandoned storefronts where previously prospering businesses had made the ultimate decision to try their hand somewhere new. Somewhere that wasn’t infested with the walking dead and nightstalking predators that topped the food chain. Maybe they were the smart ones, leaving before things got too hectic or worse, they ended up the next zombie happy meal. And then, there were those few people that chose to start new here. In Harper Rock. Now nationally recognized as ‘Undead Capital of Canada.’ Or, at least, that’s what Marleigh liked to call it, she being one of the few who had made the decision to settle, rather than pack up and leave.

It had been a spur of the moment decision, one that she had hardly thought all the way through, but it still hadn’t lessened her determination to make it work. She had been trained to deal with the circumstances, relentlessly. Tirelessly. Until Chevy had deemed her ‘capable enough’ to handle herself in a tough spot. It didn’t help that the man was her father in all but name, and so it gave him reason to be that much tougher on her. Demanding more when she truly believed she had nothing left to give.

’It was never just about you.’ Her mentors voice filled her head so strongly that her lips took a downturn, the frown clouding her entire expression.

”I’m sorry, but why do you look like a girl that just swallowed something foul?” The soft, but accusing tone filtered gradually into Marleigh’s thoughts, followed by the silent count of her own heartbeat. One...two...three… Only then did she turn, meeting the incredulous expression on Lyra’s face. ”I mean, do you really see what you’re looking at? Marleigh, you did it. It’s here, it your’s.” Lyra paused, tilting her head toward the unassuming brick walls of the building before them. ”We already have three families waiting to move into the house, and this was the last step. Everyone will be here to start tomorrow.”

Marleigh tore her eyes away from her sister, taking in the exterior of the storefront. There was nothing special about it, with two large potted plants flagging either side of the door and the elegant (but unfinished) sign above it, with only the vague outlines of the lettering that would soon spell out ‘Passages’ as the mutually (or not-so-mutually) agreed upon name for their shelter. As more were forced to flee from the areas immediately surrounding the Quarantine Zone, families were being displaced and with little more option than to pack what little they can and find a way out, or try to relocate in a city gone mad. Or, maybe it always was… In any case, Passages was meant to be that transition. The safe harbor until decisions could be made. But, this? This was simply the office in which they’d run the business aspects, mere blocks away from the old farmhouse property renovated into a space capable of housing four families at a time, depending on family size.

It was a long time before Marleigh realized she’d never answered, glancing at Lyra with a quirked eyebrow. As if she had expected her older sister to fill the silence with some comment, Lyra sighed, fingers wrapping around a wrist to drag the other woman inside the dimly lit seating area, an open, but empty receptionist desk a short distance away that marked the separation of two seperate hallways. ”Do you think we should do a sidewalk sign for the after school program?”

Her lips parted to reply, only to find herself interrupted. Glancing over her shoulder for the owner of the voice, her attention settled on the man as she blinked in surprise once. Then, twice. Oh, well...if by yoga, you would like to fold yourself neatly enough to meditate in a child’s playhouse to the sound of adolescent screaming, then...sure. We could offer you a class or two?” Lyra snorted. Though it was posed as a question, Marleigh quickly adopted a small, apologetic smile at the poor guy for having a joke at his expense and she stepped closer to inspect the advertisement.

”Well, you’re on the right street, but...I think you’re looking for the place a few buildings down? Maybe..?” Marleigh took a step back, shoulders lifting slowly, only to fall back down and a bit of a wrinkle to the bridge of her nose. ”I’m sorry, we’re...just opening up and I’m a little unfamiliar with the other businesses along the street.”

Glancing to her sibling, Mar ran a hand through her vibrant locks, hesitating for the span of a breath before continuing, ”I could...take you to where I think you’re meant to be, though, if you’d like?”

[Arun (DELETED 9048)]

Arun was confused.

He hadn’t been listening to the conversation between the two women and was unaware of the context that the joke had been uttered from. He thought that he ought to laugh, even if he did not understand it; he started to, but only managed a small smile, his wide eyes blinking as he glanced over the bright-haired woman’s shoulder to the space beyond. Yes, it did indeed seem unfinished, and given her answer he assumed that he was, in fact, in the wrong place.

Arun had often been considered a little eccentric by those that knew him; shy as all hell, and awkward because of it. He was okay in social situations and if someone shoved him into a retail space and told him to sell the products therein, he’d have been okay, too. It was something about masks, and wearing different ones for different occupations. Social etiquette, however, was not high on the stargazer’s list of skills. That was all his brother’s forte, and unfortunately Arun couldn’t take his brother with him wherever he went.

Or fortunately, as fate would have it. Arun still remembered the terrible ‘date night’ Vasilii had tricked him into; speed dating. It was worse than a blind date because it was numerous blind dates all rolled into one. It hadn’t gone well. It definitely hadn’t gone as Vasilii had planned. Arun was still single, a state of fact that Vasilii wondered would last until the day his brother died. If he were here right now? There was no doubt he’d be pushing Arun at the two women, flirting with them and trying to convince one of them to take his poor brother out and give him a good time.

Arun wasn’t thinking about that. He was only thinking about yoga, and the fact that he was going to be late. Or worse still, that he had the right place and the yoga studio was gone. And then he’d have to find somewhere new. Maybe he should open one of his own… No. That wouldn’t work. He laughed at the thought—but too little, too late. The joke that had been uttered by one of the women had passed, and she’d already finished offering to try help Arun find where he needed to be. The laughter was out of place. He cleared his throat.

”Oh. Ah… thank you. Yes? I guess…?” he said. He wasn’t sure that he needed the help, but a second pair of eyes wouldn’t hurt. And then she and her business partner might know what was down the street. If anyone else happened to wander in looking for a yoga studio, they’d be able to help them out.

”What are you opening…?” he asked, gesturing to the building around them. Curious, too—so that, whatever this business may be, he’d know where it was should he ever have need of it in the future.