[.}Woe.Is.Tea{.]

[WT]

(OOC- As in, "woe is me." Get it? XD Sorry, really bad pun, but I couldn't resist.)

It was a gray day, and therefore a quiet one; the streets were nearly empty, the atmosphere inside the shops and restaurants quiet. Despite the inconvenience of having to braid her hair instead of throwing it into a ponytail- it frizzed horribly on days like this, unless she braided it- Cadia appreciated that; she enjoyed being able to sit at the table, quietly sipping her tea, and not ache fiercely to be out in the woods- where, honestly, she would spend all her time if she could.

But you couldn’t get good tea in the forest. You just couldn’t.

One would not, on their first evaluation, pick Cadia as one to like tea. Tea was something that calm people liked- or, if it was caffinated, tired people. Cadia was not a calm and serene sort, nor was she usually tired; when it came to sleep she had a frightening ability to run on next to nothing, using it only when she began running on fumes and awakening as soon as she had enough energy to function normally- which usually only took about four or five hours, if that.

But she did. If there was one thing humans had done right, it was tea, and so she was perfectly content to sit here, staring into space and thinking about nothing as she finished her ginger scone and sipped away at another cup of Turkish mint tea.

The television in the corner of the shop flickered on, and Cadia hissed softly in annoyance. Yet again, another repeat of the opening ceremonies was showing. She was starting to get really, really sick of this; honestly, you’d think that by the time people had the costumes, floats, faces, gestures, and attitudes of every single tribute memorized, they’d stop showing the stupid thing. But no, they were subjecting everyone to more cheering, more smiling and waving, more trumpets and sullen-looking tributes.

With an exasperated snort, Cadia stood, teapot in one hand and cup in the other, and made her way toward the door.

“Hey! I need those!”

Rolling her eyes, Cadia turned and glanced at the shop owner, who was walking toward her and glaring. It was actually a somewhat impressive glare- a notable feat, given that this was Cadia he was glaring at- so instead of flinging her knife at him, the girl pulled some coins out of her pocket and thrust them at him. “Is this enough?” she asked shortly, her voice sharp and blunt.

From the look on his face, he wasn’t, but her tone was enough to dissuade any argument. The shopkeeper took her money, and Cadia turned and slipped out the door.

It had been cloudy when she walked in, and now a light mist was falling- not enough to be called rain, but enough to chase what was left of the people inside. Cadia wouldn’t have minded- she was used to wet weather, having slept in the open during enough of it, and in any case she would rather be cold than hot any day- but the moment she left the safety of the tea shop’s awning, the droplets began falling into her tea. She retreated back under the canvas, scowling at the rain.

Well. This was a problem.

She could dart across the street to the buildings on the other side, but there was no way she could make it all the way home hunched over her cup, and with her other hand occupied by the teapot, she couldn’t just cover it. Besides, even if she did, rain would undoubtedly find its way between her fingers, and the tea would be diluted anyway. At least the pot would be alright- the top had a rubber seal, and the spout had a cap. Snap the cap on, and it was effectively airtight.

But that didn’t solve her problem.

She considered pouring the tea in her cup into the pot, but it was a no-go; she had just gotten a refill, and it was too full. Go figure.

There was only one thing to do: finish this cup, and then hurry home as quickly as possible.

Which left her standing in front of a shop in the middle of the town square, where anyone might come along and try to talk to her- or attack her. And she had no free hands with which to pull out her knife.

At least there weren’t many people...

[Aura]

Lunaria

Grey is definitely not my favorite color. Even if I spend my days trying to think about my own preferences, it's still a fact of life. It's just not a color I like, and today it is especially apparent. This morning, I had woken in hope of sunshine, but the grey light let me down. After doing my chores (and avoiding my mom - she wasn't in a very good mood again), I sat down on a stool nearby the window and looked out. Work for today had been cancelled, and it was one of the dreaded times where I had to be alone because no one really wanted to do anything. That's where I am now, sitting on that stool. My hand reaches out and rests on the glass that I had just cleaned. It's cold to the touch, and I shiver a little bit. It's cold like my mother's heart, I think viciously before chiding myself and saying, She works as hard as she can, and you know it. Be grateful for what you have. You're such an ungrateful brat. I sigh. That little voice is right - I need to be more grateful.

The little voice proceeds to tell me everything I've been doing wrong in the last week. It's like a ritual - whenever I'm alone, this is what I come up with to think about. I'm not saying it's all bad, though - I've changed myself for the better because of that little voice. It's just a pity that I can't ever seem to think of anything but negative thoughts about myself. Any other thoughts seem to be repulsed and never come into my mind. I sigh again. When will it end?

Trying to change my chain of thought, I wrench myself out of my reverie and contemplate the colors of grey days. For some reason, everything seems bland and unhappy on these days. I wonder why. Rain is so beautiful when it comes. Perhaps it's simply because there has to be unhappy things for us to recognize the happy things.

"Lunaria!" My mother's voice, for once cheerful, wafts into the room I'm in. "Coming, Mom!" I shout back. Obligingly, I grab my umbrella before going to where she is. She probably wants me to run errands. When I arrive in the room I'm in, I see for a moment the woman that I remember from distant childhood memories - happy, carefree, and full of laughter. "Will you run some errands for me?" She hands me a list of things I need to get. Not really having a choice, I say, "Yeah, sure!" Smiling, I go outdoors, still holding the umbrella.

Walking down the street, I see the first store I need to go into. Quickly, I'm in and out. No matter how quick I am, though, by the time I leave it's started raining. The sound of raindrops hitting the pavement fills my ears, and I break into a smile. What a lovely surprise! Even if it is wet, it's still gorgeous. Setting my bag down, I open the extra - large umbrella we have. Surprisingly, it's of really good quality, so I don't even get wet as I walk down the street. However, my eyes suddenly see a girl standing outside a store with a teapot in one hand and a teacup in the other. How interesting. I've never meet anyone who likes tea before. Besides, she really looks like she's at a loss of what to do. Probably, I figure, she doesn't want to get wet or something. Well, there's room enough under the umbrella. I walk over, calling cheerfully, "Excuse me! Hi." Here, I smile at her. "Would you like to use my umbrella? It's pretty wet out today."

[WT]

(OOC- Sorry I took so long! I didn't realize it had been replied to. <.< >.> *is stupid*)

For a little while, Cadia allowed herself to be optimistic about the fact that no one would approach her. After all, it was a pretty nasty day- that hadn't changed, and it didn't look like it was going to, at least not anytime soon. Which meant that all the people were still holed up in their homes or the shops or wherever it was that they happened to go to when it was cold and wet and generally miserable outside. She was almost finished with this cup, and once she was done she could go home and ignore the fact that other people even existed, let alone that there was a chance she might have to talk to them.

She was down the the last three or four swallows when the voice showed up out of nowhere.

Cadia's body, ignoring the fact that she wsa holding hot tea, did what it always did when she was caught by surprise: it twisted around to face the stranger, at the same time throwing itself away from the possible source of danger in what ought to be an extremely awkward jump- but usually wasn't, because Cadia wasn't known for making awkward movements. Unfortunately for Cadia, despite the fact that her reflexes apparently didn't know, she knew full well the consequences of leaping around while carrying something hot; in light of this knowledge, she tried to stop herself, but was only partly successful. The result was that as well as breifly stumbling, the teenager managed to slosh what was left of her tea onto her hand.

Her very hot tea.

She cursed. Twice. Loudly.

Turning her attention to the stranger- a girl who was probably about her age, although Cadia wasn't about to ask because she really didn't care- the feral girl scowled. Idiot girl, staring at her grinning like that. Why did so many annoying people have to be so bloody good-natured about it? "What," she asked crossly, "makes you think that I need help? Or, for that matter, that she would do something as stupid as sharing an umbrella- it was a large umbrella, granter, but it was still an umbrella, and being under it at the same time as the stranger would bring them far too close. It would be appallingly easy, at that proximity, for the stranger to slip a knife between her ribs, or stab her with the metal ends of the umbrella, or suffocate her with the plastic part, or any number of equally unpleasant things. Cadia wasn't that stupid.

"And yes," she added wryly, rolling her eyes a little but not taking her eyes off the stranger. It is, in fact, wet, though I never would have noticed had you not pointed it out. That is such a brilliant observation on your part. Who would have guessed that liquid water is wet?" She raised her eyebrows and stared pointedly, her expression emphasizing the sarcasm.

Cadia had little use for idiots, and even less desire to spend time around them. Especially when her hand was throbbing like bloody murder- which, just for the record, was also the stranger's fault.

It was just gonna be one of those days, wasn't it?

[Aura]

OOC: Sorry about the delay. xD I've been so busy lately.

Lunaria

The girl seems to have fabulous reflexes, because almost immediately after I've spoken she turns around. I think she's not used to having a cup of tea in her hand, though, because she doesn't seem to remember it being there. I'm not really surprised when it splashes all over her hand, but she seems incredibly angry. She curses twice and very loudly. Biting my lip, I realize that it must have been hot, like all tea is. Mentally, I kick myself for not even thinking about that. You shouldn't have surprised her like that, I scold myself. How stupid can I really be?

She appears to have read my thoughts, because almost immediately after I think that she says coldly, "What makes you think that I need help?" I can tell that she doesn't feel the idea of getting under the umbrella with me is very appealing. Perhaps she doesn't like sympathy? I can't finish my a ssessment of her quite yet, though, because she goes on to continue to point out how stupid I was by approaching her in the first place. "And yes, it is, in fact, wet, though I never would have noticed had you not pointed it out. That is such a brilliant observation on your part. Who would have guessed that liquid water is wet?" Rolling her eyes at me, she refocuses her attention on her hand, or that's what it looks like, anyways.

I decide that, if I'm going to get along with her, I better apologize right away and try and make her day a little bit better by taking a look at her hand...or something. "You're right; I shouldn't have suggested that; it was a stupid thing to say, wasn't it?" Smiling kindly at her, I continue, "Look, I'm sorry about your hand. That must have really hurt. It's completely my fault." I sigh. "I really shouldn't have come up behind you and surprised you like that. I'm so thoughtless."

Everything I'm saying is true; I really do feel like it's all my fault, although I'm a little bothered by her reaction to my trying to help her earlier. Usually, people appreciate having someone offer to help, but maybe she just prefers to be independent...making a mental note, I move a little closer, trying to take a look at her hand. "You know, I can help you with that if it's hurting too badly. I know how to work with burns."

[WT]

Wow.

Oh, dear.

The problem with Cadia- or one of her problems, anyway- was that she had no idea how to deal with nice people. She wasn’t used to random strangers being kind; she certainly wasn’t, and the only person that had even truly been nice to her was the original Cadia, who was dead now, unfortunately for the universe. Her parents had loved her, but it had turned out to be a twisted love, born more of ambition than actual parental attachment. And people she met on the street- well, she just didn’t give them a chance to be kind. She snarled at them or pulled her knife on them, and they either pulled out their own blade and started fighting, or ran off like the pathetic wretches they were.

They were not- she did not allow them to be- nice.

What on all the green bloody Earth was she supposed to do with someone like this?

To give herself a few moments of stalling, she blinked mournfully into the teacup, then tipped the last few drops- the ones that hadn’t spilled onto her hand- into her mouth. What a waste. At least she still had the pot- if it didn’t get cold, which it didn’t seem likely to do, even considering the weather. It must have been insulated better than she had thought- no wonder the shopkeeper had been reluctant to part with it...

Jerking herself out of useless thoughts before they could cause her to lose focus on the strange girl- it wouldn’t do to get wrapped up in thoughts with someone standing so close- she gathered her fraying attention back together.

Ordinarily, she would just scream at the other teenager and stalk off- now the tea was gone (or, more to the point, the cup was empty), so there was no danger on that count. However, even Cadia felt a little bad about shouting at someone who was obviously trying so hard to be helpful... and on another level, something about this girl- her selflessness-bordering-on-idiocy, probably- reminded her of her old friend, and she was loathe both to remain around and to leave such a potent reminder.

“Thanks,” she said, managing to mask the grudging tone of her voice fairly well, “but I can deal with it.” Cadia was no stranger to burns; along with scrapes, bruises, and all sorts of other injuries, they were an occupational hazard of living in the wild for over a year (actually, Cadia was constantly managing to come by all sorts of injuries, most of which she didn’t remember the origin of, but that was another story). This one actually wasn’t all that bad; it had just been unexpected, and was extraordinarily annoying.

”Why are you so nice?”

The plaintive question was out of her mouth before she could think about it, and she scowled at herself. One of these days she would have to fix that habit. But it had been a question she had often asked the original Cadia, and one which, as Lalik, she had never been able to understand the answer to, especially since the answer seemed to change every time it was asked. Maybe- maybe now, she could understand...

Even if this was a different nice person, it was worth sticking around to find out.

[Aura]

Lunaria

For a moment, this girl seems like she's at a loss of what to do. Is she surprised that I'm trying to be helpful? Well, it's not like most people aren't usually surprised when they talk to me, or even when I talk to them. Vaguely, I remember the conversation in the orchards with Judson, when I ask him if he wants to talk about what he hasn't even mentioned, and the way he was a little weirded out but ended up telling me the story of his life anyways. Maybe it's similar to that.

I watch her patiently as she finishes the last drops in her teacup (an interesting action, since she's already spilled the majority onto her hand), and then she finally says, “Thanks, but I can deal with it.” Although she manages to mask it well, her tone is slightly grudging - but only slightly. I decide to let it slide. After all, I am some random stranger that just walked up to her a few seconds ago. Once more, I smile at her kindly and prepare to be on my way and bid farewell when she asks, "Why are you so nice?"

Why am I so nice? The question now places me in the same situation she was in just a moment before. Why am I so nice? It's not like I haven't been asked that question before - I have, plenty of times. It's just...I never know how to answer them. I guess being nice is just a part of who I am, but I told someone that once and it wasn't nearly enough to satisfy them. Floundering, I try to figure out what to tell her. I suppose I can think of a why, although it might be hard for her to understand, as so many others seem to have trouble as well.

"Ummm..." Gosh. I must sound so incredibly stupid right now. "Well...I'm always trying to think of other people and what they want and how I can brighten their day. Usually, all they need is a kind word to help them along, or maybe a smile." I realize I must not be making much sense, because I'm starting to beat around the bush a little bit, trying to explain a mannerism I really don't understand. "All-in-all..." I flounder again, wondering how I should conclude my four-sentence speech. "I just want other people to be happy." Finally done, I kick myself mentally for being so stupid. Why can't I ever just say what I mean instead of stuttering like an idiot?

Oh, wait. I can't just leave that hanging. What should I say? I blurt out the first thing that comes to mind. "Why do you want to know?" At least I managed to not make it sound confrontational, more curious.

[WT]

(OOC- Sorry I’ve taken so long. D= I’ve been so busy... I’m so, so sorry!

And sorry it’s short. I’m being chased off to bed soon and wanted to get this up in time. ><)

The stranger seemed disoriented by the question, and Cadia smiled faintly. She had seen that expression before, the first few times that she had asked the question, and while her friend had eventually grown used to it, it was still an endearingly familiar look of confusion.

She laughed, and for once it wasn't forced or sarcastic- it was a normal laughing, gentle rather than mocking, the sort that she hadn't heard from herself in years. Surprised, she stopped, frowning, then slowly relaxed and offered the stranger an apologetic smile. She hadn't been laughing at her, after all- well, she had, but it had been her similarity to Cadia that surprised Lalik (she tended to think of herself as Lalik when thinking about the original Cadia, despite having taken her friend's name), rather than her actions in and of themselves. ”Sorry,” she said, the word disconcertingly unfamiliar on her tounge, but still being said, which was more than most people could honestly say they’d heard. ”I didn’t mean to- you remind me of someone.”

Suddenly sad, she blinked a few times, surprised to find a lump in her throat. She missed Cadia. Missed her badly. Biting her lip, she blinked a little more rapidly- she had already let her attention drift once during this conversation; she wouldn’t make the mistake of doing it again. You- you just never knew...

She stares disbelievingly at the bottle of pills, hardly daring to believe it. A sudden, horrifying thought strikes her, and of its own accord Lalik’s body takes over, dragging her to the fireplace, to the charred bits of paper in the corner. Her hands, shaking but not stopping, even though she tells them to, reach in, past the still-flickering embers, and pull them out.

It’s mostly destroyed, but she can still make out her mother’s distinctive scrawl. “next week... money...” a figure was named, something smeared but large. “Cadia... die... Lalik can’t keep... the girl has to die...”

Cadia.

The people you trusted were the ones most likely to destroy you.

Suddenly brusque again, Lalik- Cadia, she reminded herself sternly- didn’t turn her back, but she did lift her head again and take a step away. ”Why do you care?” she shot back, eyes narrowed suspiciously.

She wouldn’t tell this girl anything else about herself. She couldn’t.

It was too dangerous.