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.
(Me tooo tbh haha)
Juniper had no idea what caused her to change her mind so quickly. Something about this brother and sister drew her in. Maybe it was because they were a family, or maybe just because they offered shealter. Or maybe it was the fact that Juniper did not want to be alone anymore. She couldn’t handle it. She needed someone to talk to and confide in, to help her heal her wounds and give her small smiles and laughs. She needed human contact.
“It’s a good thing I’m female then.” She said with a laugh, winking. She watched Astrid with an air of slight joy, taking the water from her and gulping it down. She hadn’t had fresh water in so long. It felt so good to drink it up. “Thank you…” She murmured. “Mm, I don’t blame him. I not only look like a wreck, I’m also a stranger he’s never seen before.”
Astrid found herself lost in thought as she went back in the transcript of Juniper's conversation. Something stuck out in her mind, and the curiosity to learn more scratched at Astrid's skin.
"For the record, I don't think you're a monster."
Something in Astrid pushed her to look further up at Juniper. Nerves and shyness darted through her body, making her blushing evident, but Astrid forced herself anyways, as her eyes reached Juniper's, and Astrid gave a sheepish smile, almost immediately breaking eye contact before she melted.
(Yeah, I'm gonna sign off for tonight. Talk to ya tomorrow then! Goodnight )
(Ahaha I fell asleep. But have a late good night.)
Juniper glanced up at Astrid at her words, curiosity lining her face. “You don’t? Why not?” She murmured, her eyes suddenly narrowing. Her expression softened when Astrid made eye contact, leaving her feeling rather relaxed. “Do you see me as a street rat then? A theif?” The words were not harsh nor rude. In fact, they sounded almost curious in the good way.
“Am I a stranger with a good sense of luck?”
(Ahaha you're fine:) )
Astrid shook her head at Juniper's suggestions. She didn't like the way Juniper saw herself, it reminded her of how Jesse thought of himself. Maybe that's why Jesse closed off his heart to Juniper initially; he saw himself in her.
"You're fighting for your most basic right; to live. When all the odds are stacked against you, you hold on for dear life and you do what you can to live. The real street rats are the ones who have deprived the neighborhoods from their right to live. The thieves are the people who have taken our basic needs to live and used it to fill their gluttony."
Astrid sighed as she took another sip of the water, sitting down at the small round table that only had two chairs.
"You're not a monster. You're a warrior."
Juniper sighed softly as she listened. This girl was hopeful. She admired that in her. “There is truth in those words.” She mumbled, shifting her weight slightly. “I don’t want to believe I’m a monster but I just can’t help it.” She murmured.
Her hands shook slightly as she lifted the cup. “Could I get more? I don’t want to run you dry so I don’t mind if you say no.” She murmured.
"Of course you can," Astrid chimed, filling her cup with more water as she returns to the table. As she handed the cup, Jesse opened and walked through the door. He paused to look at Juniper and Astrid for a second, but he quickly returned to taking off his jacket, setting down his bloodied and worn-down bat, and approach the table with a sack of mysterious contents.
Juniper eyed the bat, a soft look of concern flashing across her face. She growled under her breath and took the water offered her. It too was gulped down quickly. “Jesse, right?” She asked softly, offering him a smile. “Juniper Dale.” She stuck her hand out for him to shake, sleeve pulled back so as to not alarm him.
( ah sorry for the late response! tryna do homework and am getting so off track lol )
Jesse turns to Juniper, eyeing her vaguely, but relaxing his stiff body language for a moment to shake her hand.
"How'd you meet Astrid?"
He murmurs, pulling random bits of junk- other than the occasional valuable item- from the bag and setting them on the table as Astrid picks them up and examines them. First she picked up a dirty shirt, probably big enough to fit Jesse. Then she picked up a half-empty matchbox.
(Ahaha It’s ok. I had a class.)
Juniper flashed him a small smile. “She bumped into me while they were handing out supplies and food. I took a liking to her and she to me.” She laughed softly, glancing at the items on the table. She eyed the matchbox, nodding towards it. “I will be staying all three nights she offered. I won’t steal anything but I do ask if you are willing to give up those matches.” Her eyes flickered to his face, taking in his features.
Jesse glanced at the matchbox in Astrid's hands, as if he himself forgot he had them. Hesitant, he turned back to Juniper.
"What do you need em for?"
Astrid set down the box and reached into the bag, pulling out other various things and fidgeting with them, this whole series of events practically a daily occurrence for her, seeing as how comfortable and relaxed she had become.
“To light fires.” He said as almost as if it were common sense. “I travel town to town. Fire keeps the creatures away.” She murmured, shivering. “Less chance of me dying.” She watched Astrid with a small smile. “I’ll visit every now and then, bring back stuff for you two “
Astrid smiled weakly, not daring to lock eyes with her again as she looks over at Jesse, who seemed to grow a bit flustered.
"Promise me you'll stay a warrior and won't become a real street rat."
She whispered, earning a confused glance from Jesse, but he tried to brush it off as he left down the hall.
"I'm going to bed, goodnight Astrid, stay safe."
Juniper grinned. “Of course I will. I won’t become like the others.” She told the girl with a large smile upon her face.
It fell when the brother spoke. She still hadn’t got an answer to her question. “Mm, you wouldn’t mind if I take the matchbox would you?” Juniper turned to Astrid, the question directed at her. “Or I’ll take a few matches from it and leave you with the rest. I can strike them on other things.”
Juniper was getting a little too comfortable here. She knew she would be in for it when she caught platonic feelings. But for now, she’d stay. And she would return, like a cat bringing presents so she could stay for other nights.
Astrid grinned and nudged the box of matches toward her on the table.
"Actually, you can take whatever you need from this bag. Jesse goes out every night and snatches what he can find, but only he goes out at night because it's too dangerous for me. I'm sure he's already forgotten what he grabbed so anything you take he won't notice."
Astrid leaned back in her chair, the sleepiness starting to rise in her.
