The Wheel Turns

"...eh. I needed to get a better roof anyway." Even shrugs.

 

Arie reddens again, this time trying to cover by starting to relieve Legion of some of those clothing items. She grabs the first jacket her fingers reach and thrusts it at Nul, then grabs some sweatpants that, if she pulls the drawstring really tight, might not actually fall off of her.

 

Legion tugs Even over, mumbling at him, and Nul and Arie catch 'so, wait. what;s this memory thing? Why can you remember something I can't?' as a key topic of conversation.

 

Nul starts to pull the jacket on, but stops when he hears what the others are saying.

"I'm pretty sure you two are the people Mutt won't shut up about," he says awkwardly.

 

Legion and Even both look at Nul, speaking in an eerie unison. "...what?"

 

"Uh." It's too late now to not say anything. "Legion and Even. The people who took them in back wherever we were. I think I met you, too, but I don't think it was for very long."

 

The two look at each other, then Nul. "....really?"

 

"That's what Mutt said."

 

Legion crosses her arms. "....this is ridiculous. H o w can everyone remember so many things?" She shakes her head, stomping over to pull on her boots.

 

"Because that's how things work, Lee." Even pinches the bridge of his nose. "...anyway, which direction are you from?"

 

Arie... isn't actually at all sure of that; mindless panic isn't great for keeping your bearings. She looks up at the roughly patched hole, which doesn't present much in the way of clues. Then she looks around, trying to work out which direction she was facing when she fell, but the memory of that moment is all of the terror and the sickening drop and not of any visual details.

Arie shrinks down into the hooded coat she just donned. She's the only one who remembers having lived around here her whole life and she still can't figure out which way home is. Stupid. Useless.

 

"There's probably still footprints," Nul points out. "We could try and follow those."

 

"...how about a street name?" Even smiles slightly, glancing at Legion, who blinks, then nods.

 

"...yeah. If you know the streets, I've got this town pretty well-mapped..." Legion shoves her hands into her pockets. "...been something to do."

 

"Oh. It's Riverdale," says Arie, slightly muffled by the hood. (Also by the fact she's mumbling a little, just as embarrassed as before.)

She grabs the thickest-looking socks she can see and starts putting those on. It makes a great excuse not to look anyone in the eye.

 

Legion pulls on a ratty, light coat and boots. "Cool."

 

"...Lee, don't bring the rifle."

 

"...what if there's a rabbit, or something we can eat?"

 

"...we don't need more. We're fine." Even smirks.

 

Nul finishes messing with the boots he's wearing and stands up. "Let's just go."