Everywhere and Nowhere

“No. No, it ain’t bloody acceptable. At all.” His fingers go for a pack of cigarettes in his pocket. He doesn’t light up though, not in her presence. “But if wot you say’s true- and I don’t see why it wouldn’ be, I saw the bloody place die off an’ perk back up with me own eyes- we don’t got much of a choice but to give it a shot. But I WILL be watching people. Like a bloody HAWK. An’ I’m sorry, but I can’t be held responsible for the consequences they put on themselves if they put a toe outta line. I’m not taking chances. Not with this place, and not with you. Wot happened before- it ain’t happening again on my watch.”

Sylvie watches him steadily for a moment, then gives a small nod.

“I understand. But will you go to me first, if it is at all possible? I trust you -- you know I do -- but if you have concerns about any person, please talk to me if you can. As I said, I will listen.”

As grim as the subject is, she can’t help but feel touched. Rico is something like a son to her, and his protectiveness is his way of caring.

Indeed, the smile falls away, his mouth setting into a grim line. “…c’mon inside, Syl.” His dwelling is comfortable enough, if not somewhat messy. Baby sits in the middle of the living room on a spread of cardboard, surrounded by various parts that Rico had found. He was always looking for ways to improve his beloved bike, and every so often he found something shinier or more powerful that would work on her. By this point, she was truly one of a kind.

He gestures her to a couch, and sits in a chair across.

“…you probably know I’m gonna say this, but I don’t think it’s a good idea. At all. Not after last time, Syl.”

“I know, love. And you must know that I do not say this lightly.” She takes the offered seat, hands folded calmly on her lap. “I do not like it, but I believe it may be necessary for our survival. Please listen to me.”

Sylvie breathes in slowly, trying to line up her words. This is something that she has not told anyone in the Enclave until this very moment.

“You remember, of course, when the Enclave was dying. We had no idea then what may have caused it, but I noticed that it healed after others crossed over into our world. Powerful others.”

She glances into Rico’s face to make sure he’s paying attention, then continues.

She would trust him with her life. Heaven knows he’d already saved it once before.

Indeed, the smile falls away, his mouth setting into a grim line. “…c’mon inside, Syl.” His dwelling is comfortable enough, if not somewhat messy. Baby sits in the middle of the living room on a spread of cardboard, surrounded by various parts that Rico had found. He was always looking for ways to improve his beloved bike, and every so often he found something shinier or more powerful that would work on her. By this point, she was truly one of a kind.

He gestures her to a couch, and sits in a chair across.

“…you probably know I’m gonna say this, but I don’t think it’s a good idea. At all. Not after last time, Syl.”

“I know, love. And you must know that I do not say this lightly.” She takes the offered seat, hands folded calmly on her lap. “I do not like it, but I believe it may be necessary for our survival. Please listen to me.”

Sylvie breathes in slowly, trying to line up her words. This is something that she has not told anyone in the Enclave until this very moment.

“You remember, of course, when the Enclave was dying. We had no idea then what may have caused it, but I noticed that it healed after others crossed over into our world. Powerful others.”

She glances into Rico’s face to make sure he’s paying attention, then continues.

He was not going to like this.

Sylvie exhaled, pausing with her hand raised. He would be absolutely right under any other circumstance, likely with any other candidate. After all, he’d been right on the money before, and her failure to heed his warnings had left one dead and nearly destroyed everyone else. But this was different.

At least, she hoped it was.

No, he’s definitely not going to like this. She regrets losing that smile of his -- heaven knows it’s rare enough as it is -- but this is important.

“Yes…” Elsbeth pulled nervously at the front of her shirt. “My name is Elsbeth… Are you Sylvie?”

Martina had mentioned the name before. And this woman carried with her an air of authority somehow, beneath the gentle exterior.

“Uh… thanks for letting me stay here. I probably would have frozen to death if I didn’t find your… Enclave.”

“Yes. I am Sylvie. It is a pleasure, Miss Elsbeth.” A distinct French accent was present in the woman’s speech. “I apologize for being forward, but… you arrived just last night, yes? Do you have any idea of how the Enclave’s state might have changed after you arrived?”

Sylvie couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but something about this girl’s energies struck her as unusual.

For a moment, only the sound of rushing water from the nearby river could be heard.

“You were caught in a storm before you came here. What do you intend to do once it is safe to travel again?”

“I need to get back. Yue’s got to be worried sick by now. To say nothing of what my other friends might think…”

“I hope that you will at least allow us to provide breakfast for you first.” Inwardly, she was relieved that Elsbeth’s first inclination was to return home. The last time someone had announced intentions to stay on the first visit... it had not ended well.

“Yes…” Elsbeth pulled nervously at the front of her shirt. “My name is Elsbeth… Are you Sylvie?”

Martina had mentioned the name before. And this woman carried with her an air of authority somehow, beneath the gentle exterior.

“Uh… thanks for letting me stay here. I probably would have frozen to death if I didn’t find your… Enclave.”

“Yes. I am Sylvie. It is a pleasure, Miss Elsbeth.” A distinct French accent was present in the woman’s speech. “I apologize for being forward, but… you arrived just last night, yes? Do you have any idea of how the Enclave’s state might have changed after you arrived?”

Sylvie couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but something about this girl’s energies struck her as unusual.

For a moment, only the sound of rushing water from the nearby river could be heard.

“You were caught in a storm before you came here. What do you intend to do once it is safe to travel again?”

“Yes…” Elsbeth pulled nervously at the front of her shirt. “My name is Elsbeth… Are you Sylvie?”

Martina had mentioned the name before. And this woman carried with her an air of authority somehow, beneath the gentle exterior.

“Uh… thanks for letting me stay here. I probably would have frozen to death if I didn’t find your… Enclave.”

“Yes. I am Sylvie. It is a pleasure, Miss Elsbeth.” A distinct French accent was present in the woman’s speech. “I apologize for being forward, but... you arrived just last night, yes? Do you have any idea of how the Enclave’s state might have changed after you arrived?”

Sylvie couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but something about this girl’s energies struck her as unusual.

She was standing just outside of the doorway, clearly having just emerged from the little shelter. Kayra had made those tiny houses, patching them together out of whatever she could find, and Sylvie had always marveled at her ingenuity.

Movement in the corner of her eye alerted her to someone approaching; a small, thin woman with a long mane of nearly-white hair. She was a bit older than Karl, Elsbeth estimated, but there was a kind of tranquil agelessness about her as well.

[PREVIOUS]

There was a groan of protest inside, but a few seconds later, Sylvie answered the door, wrapped in a dressing gown and blinking the sleep from her eyes.

“Rico, what–” she began before the rest of her sentence dropped away at the sight before her and she gasped, staring at the light that now cascaded over the trees.

The sense of relief cloaking the younger man is utterly palpable. He wasn’t going to be left here alone. As independent as he could be, that was the last thing he wanted.

“Thank goodness,” she said. “Let us hope that whatever it was does not happen again.” She turned to acknowledge Martina, who had clattered down the stairs nearby.

“Hi Sylvie. I’d try to help work it out, but I gotta get to school.” Martina scooped up her backpack. “I left some supplies in the bar, though maybe we’ll start finding things in here again now it’s back to working. Oh, and I almost forgot-- “ She pointed towards the small hut where she usually slept on occasions she spent the night. “There’s someone new here. She wandered in last night from a blizzard. So you might want to talk to her.”

“New?” Sylvie asked in confusion. “But we have not had a stranger here in..”

“Months, I know,” Martina replied. “I thought it was weird too, but you’re gonna have to talk to her. I’ll be back later!”

Sylvie watched her run towards the exit to her world, and turned to Rico, eyebrows furrowed.

[PREVIOUS]

There was a groan of protest inside, but a few seconds later, Sylvie answered the door, wrapped in a dressing gown and blinking the sleep from her eyes.

“Rico, what--” she began before the rest of her sentence dropped away at the sight before her and she gasped, staring at the light that now cascaded over the trees.