[About Requiem: she last posted on PPT on the 24th of June. She had the chance to post on Turie again but did not and has not since been online. The decision is up to you, GC.]
Mina glanced at all those squad members present. None of them struck her as particularly interesting or normal and she did not care to learn more about them when they would be squashed up in a jeep. No thank you, she would talk to them later. For now, that lonely corner far away from everyone else at the back looked good.
Squeezing herself into the seat, she realised what a mistake that was. When they got out of the jeep, she would be the last one and might miss out on whatever was going to happen. But it was too late to change seats now: Karmina, the last to get on, moved towards the empty seat next to Mina and the doors were shut. There weren't anymore seats left for Mina to choose again.
Looking straight out the window, she tried not to look at Karmina. Karmina was creepy. She was staring straight ahead at nothing and through everything and everyone. How could someone just look through something solid the way she did? It was like there was no world around her. Mina had a nagging suspicion that even if the Loner Girl looked her way, she wouldn't see her. The feeling of not existing wasn't an exciting proposal to the girl, so Mina continued to stare out the window as best as she could.
Glancing up only once, she noted that Karmina's eyes were red. Had she been crying? Mina glanced away quickly again, unable to believe that this emotionless girl would be able to cry at all. It wasn't that people didn't have feelings, just that Karmina didn't. No one had ever seen Karmina laugh or smile, even less anger or cry. Yesterday was the first time Mina had ever seen her talk to anyone and even then the flickers of emotions were temporary and passing.
The trip to Adaley was not long. True to her predictions, Mina was the last to get off. The bags on the back were her own. She looked up to see the Songstress walk quietly into the hotel with her black bag on her back. Sighing, Mina collected her items.
Although fifty gold pieces was a lot of money, ten gold pieces was also a huge amount. A fifth of their money gone in one night, she realised. If we use it at this rate, it will be gone within five days.
Karmina gave it three days before the money was used up and no hopes whatsoever that anyone would supply them with money. She had too much experience in disappointment and reliance to know that one should not rely on anyone for anything. Most of this had been forgotten in school, but now they were on their own she recalled all this quickly and analytically.
She looked at the hotel with distaste. According to her calculations, they would use twenty gold pieces before they set off on their journey, a whole two fifths of their money. Ten to the lodging and another ten to dinner, breakfast and food supplies for the trip. If the others were as insane as they had the potential to be - she trusted no one but herself on the topic of money - then they might want to stay another night. No, they had to go, and go quickly.
They would obviously have to make plans for tonight. Mind whirring frantically, Karmina was checking in when Mina came up behind her. The concierge smiled politely. "Are you two misses together?" she asked. Karmina looked behind her to see who she was talking about. She didn't recognise the girl, except that she was one of her Squad.
Mina did not like the thought of rooming with this particular girl. True, she was now looking at Mina instead of through, a big improvement. Still, who knew what Karmina did at night? Remembering that she too had her secret movements at night, she felt guilty and blushed a little. There was no one else to room with, everyone else in a different place.
"Do you mind if I room with you?" Mina asked.
Turning back towards the concierge, Karmina said, "We're together."
She got two room keys. Handing one to Mina, Karmina led the way towards their room. Placing the card key on the lock, it shone green and the door opened. Karmina picked the bed nearest the window, as was her custom, and placed her bag by the foot of the bed.
Nice of her not to ask me what I want, Mina thought tartly. At least I got the one closer to the door. Releasing her luggage with relief, she straightened up and wondered what to say now. "Lunch then?" she asked at last. Everyone else was going.
Loner Girl was looking at Mina unblinkingly. "Later," she said quietly. "You go."
Scowling, Mina did go, but not without grabbing her sphere and tucking it safe within the folds of her clothes.
Within the restaurant, she sat at a two-person table, determined not to join anyone. She wasn't sure why she was feeling so anti-social. It's Loner Girl's aura rubbing off on me, she thought ruefully. Iaran and Karmina both exasparated and annoyed her badly. She had had to sit next to one who didn't see anything and although not next to Iaran, she could definitely hear her hyper, light-hearted chatter non-stop the whole way. How did anyone manage to put up with her?
They're both weird, she decided. Ordering a crispy chicken sandwich and a chocolate mousse with a drink of chocolate milk, she settled back into her comfortable chair to enjoy her first time in a posh hotel.

Last edited by Lillie on Fri Jul 02, 2004 10:55 am, edited 1 time in total.
|