The Adorable Archfae - vol. 01

You mumble incoherent rants to yourself as you walk down the streets during this sweltering heat wave and are forced to see so many air conditioners hanging on the windowsills of wonderfully cooled down apartments. Some people just don't know how good they have it. You continue along the street with no clear destination in mind while trying to avoid direction sunlight for just a little while. As you turn the corner you come across a busy street filled with people who aren't wealthy enough to afford air conditioning and have to find more creative ways to beat the heat.

Smiling kids are running up and down the street as water flies into the air from a popped fire hydrant. They dance, laugh, and chase each other without a care in the world. Even some of the parents join in, while others keep to the shade of the sidewalk and joke around with each other. It is an all around jubilant atmosphere. All except one little boy who holds a mostly untouched melting popsicle and seems transfixed by the water draining into the sewer.

You can't help but wonder exactly what the kid is seeing; especially after remembering the rumors you have been hearing about some strange man recruiting people and taking them deep underground beneath the streets of Crowfall. In addition to the extensive sewer system, the city is home to a very robust subway network. Practically every square inch of Crowfall has tunnels below it. While you initially wrote off the rumors as silly a conspiracy theory, the existence of this network of tunnels does at least make it possible.

"Eric, time to come in." A woman shouts and the kid snaps out of it. "Let's get you cleaned up in time for dinner." The kid smiles when he remember he has a popsicle. He greedily tries to devour it and winches at the ice cream headache before running back inside.

You can't help but look down through the sewer grate, but don't see anything that would have captured the kid's attention so vividly. There are still a few hours before the sun goes down and a relative escape from the heat can rush over the city.

What are your plans for the rest of the evening and going into the night?

She didn't care. She shouldn't care. It wasn't any of her business. Except that damn fairy had had to die and make her business. As she stares at the drain she tries to think like a kid, but that time was far gone. He probably wasn't aware of light reflections or something. Probably.

She tugs her beanie down, as if it would help with the heat. The weight of the circlet underneath was ever present. She should try and give it away. Except part of her already let her know that wouldn't work. She was stuck with it. For now.

She sighs and makes a mental note of the house. Perhaps she could catch the boy at some point, ask what he had seen. If not she would be the victim of endless nagging from Magpie. For now though she needed shelter. The heat made it even more urgent. Hopefully she would find a place we air conditions, or at least a freezer she could sleep by.

She tells herself she is purely looking for signs that a house is inhabited for a time so she could break in and squat, yet her eyes keep flicking around, at people, at side alleys, at drains Just in case something was up. Not that she cared.

The sun slowly drops in the sky but the heat is stubborn and doesn't seem to abate at all. The streets are pretty lively because of it though. Those without air conditioning don't want to be cooped up inside and it is pretty easy to tell which houses have people home too, because of the sound of the AC motors running at full blast.

What does catch your eye is two kids walking hurriedly down the street. The older boy is probably about 15 while his little sister is maybe 6 or 7. She is way, way too overdressed for the weather; wearing a big, baggy windbreaker. You watch as they pair walks up to a fresh fruits and veggies stand. The boy stands so he is blocking the shop keep's vision as the little girls gingerly reaches out her hands and pockets as much food as she can. The boy keeps talking about being given a chance to work for the shop keep until the little girl gives him a pat on the leg, the signal that she's done, and he abruptly cuts off his speech and thanks the man for his time before he can even get a reply.

The pair turns to walk away but the little girl doesn't move as the two of you make direct eye contact. Like a deer in headlights, her eyes go wide. She knows you saw everything and freezes. Her brother tries to get her to walk, pulling her by the hand but she doesn't budge. When the apple falls out of her jacket pocket they both freeze.

"Hey!" The shop keep shouts. "You filthy kids, get back here!" Finally the girl snaps out of it and runs alongside her brother down the nearest alleyway.

It was the perfect opportunity. She waits for the shopkeeper to run after the kids, she can move in and grab wahtever hse want. Perfect opportunity, she could have food for a while.She would be fine. The kids may not.

'Ah fuck' She grumbles to herself before she starts to run towards the ally. 'I'll get them mister, watch your store' She calls out. She slows her run the second she is sure she is out of sight.

Yo. Just wanna talk. I don't care 'bout some missing carrots or apples o whatever. He can afford to miss a few. She calls towards the fleeing bodies.

The kids slow down to a jog before turning to face you. The older brother shields his sister, placing himself between you and her.

"What do you want?" he asks while trying to sound tough. "Look, we don't want any trouble, ok? We're just hungry. Our mom got sick and money is tight."

The little girl pokes her head out from around her brother to get a look at you, and then darts back into cover.

The fear in the little girl's face fades away as she realizes you mean them no harm. Her older brother remains suspicious. "Its not that I don't want help. Obviously we're desperate, but excuse me for not trusting you right now. There hasn't exactly been a lot of people jumping in line to help us out. I can't take any risk that would leave my mom and sister on their own. Right now, you're sounding an awful lot like the last bunch of Micah's men that tried to talk me into joining them. If you got handouts, I'll take whatever you're giving, but if you're trying to recruit me again, the answer is still no."

'I mean if you trusted me straight away I'd call you an idiot.' She leans back against the all, crossing her arms. 'Who's this Micha? I assure you have no intention of making a crew.'

"You haven't heard of him? Where you from? I feel like his people have approached everyone in the neighborhood. I've never met Micah, himself. I don't know anyone that has. His people show up offering promises of a better life and talk about how Micah is going to 'cast off the shackles and free us from the oppressors.' Even an idiot like me is smart enough to not fall for that crap. But I know people who did join up. Haven't seen any of them sense."

"That's because they moved on to a better life, son." A small group of men step out from around the corner behind the brother and sister. The pair jumps at the intrusion and the brother rapidly shifts his sister around so she is now shielded from the new comers instead of from you. The little girl turns and looks to you with fear in her eyes once more. Her grip on her brother's hand is turning his fingers white.

"Look, I already told you guys I'm not interested. Why don't--"

"And that is your choice. But we can't have you out here slinging mud around about Micah and what w're trying to do." The leader of the group, who is doing all of the talking, tilts his head to the side so he can see around the boy and get a better look at you. "I don't believe we've met before. Do you have a few minutes to talk?"

'Wait, he's one of those strangers dragging people underground? Was thinkin those were just the latest urban legend' Preferable to a flying fairy at least. She was still dreading the moment that rumour started flying.

As the men turned up she immediately straightens up, ready to engage in fight or flight. 'Depends on what you want to say. I don't think much of people who scare kids.' Only because it meant they could be dangerous to her as well of course.

The new arrival smirks at your comment. "Micah is most certainly not the one responsible for the dragging people into the god forsaken tunnels beneath Crowfall. That is exactly the type of evil we are trying to combat in order to give this fine city back to the people that sacrifice so much to keep it running." The man and his cronies begin to walk down the alley, aiming to breeze right past the young man and his sister as if they weren't even there. To everyone's surprise, the brother steps forward to block their path.

The two of them lock eyes for a moment before Micach's mouthpiece holds up his hands as if to say 'I'm not looking for a fight.'

"I feel like tensions are running unnecessarily high. And besides that, a dank alleyway is no place for a civilized discussion. Why don't I take us all out for dinner and we can talk things over like rational adults?"

'That's exactly what someone who;s boss is dragging people into godforskaen tunnels would say.' Lex does not relax, eyes trying to take in the men, keeping and eye out for any openings if they decide they aren't happy with no.

'Unfortunately I am not a rational adult, that's why I'm out here.' The offer of food was appealing, but she;d find some eventually and it was an easy way for a trap. She doubted someone looking after a girl so old would turn down such offers unless there was a genuine concern.

'Tell you what, you give me the quick version of the pitch, then I decide if I meet up with you on a different night for a longer chat, after I make sure these two are safe.'

The man smiles at your offer and in unison the men behind him mimic the same used car salesman smile. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a business card. "You don't seem to be in the most receptive of moods tonight. How about you contact me at your convenience. We can meet when and wherever you want. And of course, I will fit the bill." He holds the card before his lips and blows outward. The business card floats up and over the two kids before fluttering and falling at your feet face up. It is a blank white card with a phone number in solid black letters. No name or address. "I look forward to hearing from you." The group of men then turn and begin to walk away. Just as the reach the corner, the leader turns and looks directly at the older brother. "Offer still stands for you too, Brian."

Brian's hand tightens it grip on his sister's hand until the men are completely gone. Brian then turns and addresses you while looking at his feet. "Umm, thanks for backing me up there."

'Flashy.' She speaks deadpan, but does pick the card up. 'I'll thinking about it' It's clear from her tone theres no promises. She needs to figure out whats up first.

'Eh, I just hate it when people try and one-up my offer to give help' She responds to the boy, Brian he was called, as she stretches, finally relaxes. 'So what's their deal and why is it a bad one?'

"I wish I knew all the details myself. That's the third time they've come to see me like that, showing up seemingly out of nowhere." Brian's head is darting back and forth as if he expects them to show up right behind him at any second.

"The first time I thought they were creepy and said no. The second time, I was with my buddy Todd. We took them up on their offer and they bought us dinner. Talked about brotherhood and taking back the streets from people that sit in mansions and count money all day. They said if we came with them we could make a difference. All sounded like bullsh--" he looks down at his sister and bites his tongue.

"All sounded like, umm, total phooey. But Todd was super into it. Kept trying to convince me to join up with him. I haven't seen him in a month. I went to talk to his parents and they slammed the door in my face. Wouldn't say a word to me. None of my others friends have seen him either. A few nights ago I--" he takes another look at his sister's face with is increasing so more and more fear.

"I gotta get her home, fed, and into bed. You, uh. Man, I don't know the correct way to say this, but you don't look like you're doing a lot better than we are. You can crash on our couch if you want. Not like mom will notice. I don't think she knows what her own name is most of the time anymore... I hope you don't think I'm hitting on you or something... oh god, that sounded super awkward, didn't it? I'm sorry..." His sister starts laughing.

"Ohhhhh, Brian has a cruuuusssssh."

"Shut up, Brie!" The little girl just keeps laughing and Brian can't bring himself to look you in the eye.

'Huh. Perhaps worthwhile looking into a free meal at least then' She looks at the card. Magpie had better not learn of this. They would insist she agree to go along with it and see where the kids were taken. Or worse go themselves.

'I get the sentiment, but I find those preaching it only want to take the mansions for themselves and use us lot as fodder.' If she could find the men perhaps she could follow them, see where they went, better than willing walking into the lions den. Wait no. This wasn't her problem to deal with.

She breaks out of her thoughts at the offer, which just causes a smirk, even with Brian's awkwardness. 'I've been at this gig for a while, I'm fine. Though not used to crashing on a sofa while others are in the house..maybe one night. Though I still need to find you two..me that food.'

Brie gives a little sheepish smile and opens up her windbreaker to reveal their haul for the night. It seems they have sewn in some makeshift pockets and they are packed the nines with stolen food. Most of it is junk food, but there is also the small bit of fruit stolen from the vendor earlier that Brie managed to hold onto. "I told him I didn't want to go after the apples. Bleh. We got more than enough. But nooooo. He doesn't listen to anything I say."

"We can't live off of Cheetos and chocolate, Brie." The little girl just rolls her eyes and closes the jacket back up. "Her skill at picking this stuff off unnoticed seems to be directly tied to how tasty the food we're trying to get is. Isn't that right, you little pig." Brie sticks her tongue out at her brother and he rolls his eyes in return. "We haven't had a real meal in a few days. Just this kind of stuff. You know anyplace we could get something good without having to sell our souls to Micah?"

'Annoyingly he has a point.' She grins at Brie. 'Even though they are boring.'

'Yep' She keeps grinning as she gestures to various houses. 'If you meant a place that didn't involve breaking and entering, they sometimes crop up, but eventually they go away again. Giving food away to us 'lazy lot' isn't profitable.

"Yeah, I've tried some soup kitchens and food banks. They are a total joke in this town. You're more likely to get a knuckle sandwich than a BLT. So screw it, I'm in. Let me take Brie home and then you can show me how it's done." Brie tries to put up a fight about coming along, but eventually gives in when Brian tells her she can eat as much of the junk food as she wants until he gets back. You walk with them back to their apartment building and wait outside while he runs Brie upstairs.

Not 10 seconds after they go inside you hear the sound of sneakers smacking rapidly into puddles coming up from the sewer drain. You take a step into the street and peer into the darkness below just in time to see the blur of a person run past which is then followed by a dozen or more dark shapes chasing after it.

'Of bloody course.' She shouldn't have thought being able to get an easy bed for the night would be easy. Of course she could just ignore it. She didn't even know if the person needed help. Brian would wonder where she went.

Yet even as her brain tried to argue ignorance her feet were moving. She would just check it out, not necessarily intervene, she told her self even as she tried to identify the figures she was chasing.