Zan
I look at Lottie “I really really can’t deal with spiders” I say giving her an apologetic look along with a shiver before glancing at where the huge beast was now climbing up the wall “It’s trying to claim the room I’m sure of it!”
“Sorry I didn’t mean to pull you away from your room, is yours as bad as this one?” maybe I had gone for the wrong room, I know they said these have been unused but still I didn’t expect it to be this dusty.
DANNI
Zane comes and introduces himself and I nod, surprised as he explains that he’s from another tribe and they’ve been getting letters telling them to leave. It all seemed to weird, why on Earth did someone want us back so desperately.
Cloe comments about choosing a room and I nod, I felt like that was all I was doing at the moment, a nodding dog toy only able to nod and sit waiting for the world to fall apart.
’Yes, finding a room seems like a good idea,’ I comment, I wasn’t really ready to see who else had returned, silently praying that I would at least get a little longer before having to see Bray and Amber, because I knew at some point that hell would happen…
Bending down I pick up my bag, ’I guess it’s a free for all, first come first served so to speak.’ I give Cloe and her friends a small smile before looking around at the empty shops, the sooner I made a decision the better.
Zane
“Just as a warning these rooms haven’t been touched in years, so whichever you go for, be prepared for the mess” I say before turning and heading towards the sewer deciding I may as well wait outside near the sewer entrance, it will be easier to vet people coming rather then risking random strangers seeing the easy access to the mall.
lottie
I wrinkle my nose a bit at the sound of spiders “I don’t blame you, I can handle a few depending on the size but still they can stay outside” I also looked up and saw it and my nose scrunched up again. “Eww” was the sound that came out.
I shook my head and looked at Zandra again, **“No worries, yeah… I would say it’s not that much difference. It really looks like no one has set their feet inside that room for a long time so I’m gonna have to figure it out with sheets and stuff because I’m not sleeping in that”**oh god the musty smell it must have.
Cloe
I actually didn’t want to think about who it could be anymore, just because it was kinda scary. Scarier than actually being back at the mall. I also wanted to rest a bit now so finding a room felt like a good idea, I did hope some bigger room was available because we could not stay in the size I had last time I lived here. I could with Tink but the boys…yeah no.
Lifting up my bag and looking at the other three with a nod I then turned back to Danni. “It seems like so, almost a little like when we first came here” I smiled softly remembering that, and then let out a laugh. “Anyone but the workshop that is back then” That had always been Jack’s room and it would feel weird to see someone else there but that’s life.
I started walking a bit and soon saw that Headspace was free and I knew it was kinda a big room, “We can stay here” I say to Tink and the boys. "It’s big enough for us, we just need to fix it up and fix the sleeping arrangement and spcae."
Zan
I sigh “I’m not into the whole girl jobs and guy jobs but I’d happily have a guy come in and get rid of the spiders” I laugh lightly.
“We’re probably best shaking the sheets and duvets out near the fountain and then sweeping up all the mess, the room, those rooms are too enclosed to do it in the rooms” I suggest to Lottie “Though really washing them properly is needed” I tell her “I suppose we better get back to it otherwise we’ll be sleeping in the cafe tonight”
Lottie
I laugh a little ”Maybe if we Ask nicely someone Will help us with it” if i was able to avoid handling spiders or other bugs I’m good.
I nodded my head agreeing with her, ”Yeah Thats the best. Im gonna go back to cleaning a little more and then take out the sheets” Washing the sheets but also myself would be needed after all of this. ”I’ll better get to it then” i say smiling and giving zandra a wave before going to fix my own room.
Andy
Carefully Tally and I begin to sort through the room we had chosen, Rossini Shoes. It was packed to the rafters full of crap. Tally’s first priority is to get Leo settled, in a box! I guess that will do for now. Tally mentions of Amber’s child, she was pregnant when her and Bray were banished from the city before the plane people arrived. “Tally, who knows it has been over 17 years. Did Amber and Bray ever return to the Mall? Maybe Amber didn’t make it? What if she lost the baby? We are clueless to what happened here and to the city after our lucky escape…” She then looks up at me about to say something back but we both then hear a loud ‘fuck’ come from one of the rooms nearby, behind the staircase. "Hold that thought… Let me see if I can help."
Getting out of the room proved to be quite difficult, I was concerned we wouldn’t have a bed for the night at this rate. But I had to help, I hadn’t exactly made a good first impression…
I head in the direction of the ‘fuck’ and see Lottie walking away from Zandra. "Everything okay here Zandra? Was it you that shouted ‘fuck’? I came as quick as I could… These rooms are like a mine field…"
Zan
I wave bye to lottie before turning my attention back to the task at hand then Andy appeared to find out what was going on “Yeah it was” I pause “I have an unwelcome lodger who really needs evicting and any of its friends” I tell him motioning to the wall “I really really can’t deal with spiders” I add looking at Andy for a moment before turning back to the wall.
“I know we’ve just met, but how do you feel about being a spider catcher?” I didn’t dare move my eyes off the wall for more then a second or two incase it scuttled away.
Andy
I learn it had been Zandra and now I knew why. There was a big bastard spider hanging out on the wall in her room. I didn’t have a problem with spiders. Back in the caravan we had different ones renting space out all the time… For a split second she takes her eyes off the creature but instantly looks back at the spider and asks how do I feel about being a spider catcher? Her eyes were locked and her frame still.
"Sure Zandra. No problem at all. In my old digs they had shares…" I smile a little. “I will be right back, don’t move a muscle.” I knew fully well she wasn’t going to, but I just couldn’t help myself. Once a cheeky chappie, always a cheeky chappie.
I decide against using anything from the cafeteria as that was the Serpents and used. I rummage through the room we had chosen. Leo was still in his box but I couldn’t see Tally amongst the carnage but she must have been somewhere in the room… “Tal, I have been appointed the spider catcher, I will be back soon.” I spot a murky glass on the window ledge and a magazine scrunched up in the corner below. It’s a dirty mag. The woman on the front was very crunched and faded. Probably last read by the slimeball Lex. But it will do. I didn’t want to leave Zandra any longer.
I return to her. Frozen still on the spot. The spider still in position. “I have nothing fancy to suck the spiders up with but the good old glass and magazine should do the trick. Is there anything you could do in the meantime? I just think maybe it’s not the best idea for you to hang around here…” There was no guarantee I would be successful in removing every spider without them running in the direction of Zandra… "Maybe let Lottie know that I can do her room next if she wants?"
Lex
I listen as Ryan and Alice talk about the origans of the letters, they go on about Ellie and the letter “L”… That leaves me extremely confused… We start walking slowly to the mall… Kc skating beside us… I have no idea who or why they are sending letters to us… I just stay quiet and let them talk…
Salene
There’s a scream and I see Andy come out of his and Tally’s room going towards the scream… Dee looks puzzled… Ecoiv smiles and wanders off with her bag of cleaning stuff, she’s going to help Tally clean her room…
"Bet they found a spider" I whisper to Dee
I remember how Zandra didn’t like mice and creepy crawlies…
"Let’s check out our room" Dee smiles
She links her arm through mine and leads me into the room we chose…
"Wow" She coughs "It’s dusty in here"
"I imagine these rooms haven’t been used in forever"
I pull some candles from my bag and set them up to light the room, then we quickly set about moving things and trying to see if we have any beds to sleep on…
Tally
I look up from behind the stack of old shoe boxes, hearing Andy. “Spider catcher?” I mutter. "Sure. More impress the ladies and get a good mark in their books…"
I chuckle at Leo in his box, who blinks sleepily at me. "Your uncle likes being chivalrous…"
I look to the dourframe as a soft knock sounbds up. I breath, realising it’s Eciov (once things havd calmed down I so need to ask about that name!) with a broom, towels and a small bucket of water. I am happy she dared taking it. After the speech before of water and stuff being tight, I wouldn’t have dared. But we need some wet cleaning!
"Thank you… Are you sure you can help me?" She nods “Happy to hrlp. My people settle up camp up on the roof. Your brother is playing spiderman… So let me help here! You’ve got a baby to look after…”’
She looks in the box and I ready myself for betting laughed at or being told off. But she just smiles and bops Leos nose. " I was told Brady slept in in a basket when she was so young…"
I smile back and her and nod. "Yeah… I remembered that too. That has to do for now…"
I point at the wall "See… There are pallets stashed up. Andy and I can make a bed on those with the blankets and pillows. I think once back the days someone must have stayed in here… Would you wipe the floor, while I move out the boxes of stuff we don’t need?"
She dies the good old thump up at me and so we start our tasks…
@permission to have Eciov move and say a few words by @Jack
Zan
Once Andy returns back to my room and heads over to the wall I nod “That sounds good to me, thanks your a star!” I say gratefully and quickly stepping out my room.
I breath a sigh of relief and head over to where I saw Lottie go “Andy is clearing away the spiders, he is happy to do your room to” I tell with a smile and a quick glance around her room “I think these rooms just became a dumping ground for everything and anything”
Kc
“The city is a mess, can you imagine what Amber’s reaction will be if she comes back” I laugh for a moment then stop “Wait you don’t think it’s her sending the letters do you? Wanting everyone back to clean up the city”
I’d be fuming if the reason everyone going back is for manual labour, though I was definitely up for a reunion party.
Andy
Zandra thanks me and makes a swift exit. But where was I going to put the spiders after I had caught them? Luckily I spot a plastic container just inside Zandra’s bedroom.
So I begin, starting with Zandra’s bestie…
“I wanna be the very best. Like no one ever was. To catch them is my real test. To rehome them is my cause. I will travel across the mall. Climbing high and wide. Gotta catch 'em all.”
I was on a roll. Up and down like a whore’s drawers I was as I went through the Superette.
Glass over spider. In comes the naked succubus over the top, (the dirty mag). Hold in place, move lid from container. And PLOP. Replace lid. And repeat.
As I went through the room I had actually helped Zandra out more than just eliminating the spiders as I was making it way easier for her to go through things as I stacked boxes etc as I went around.
“SPIDERBUSTER!”
Cloe
I along with the other three had started to clean up the room, this was not the room I used to sleep in but in a way it reminded me of the very first night in the mall. Me and Patsy sharing a room with Salene for a little time, with that memory in mind I told the others I would be right back.
I had to see her again, I hadn’t seen Salene after we had arrived inside the Mall. I walked to the other side of the fountain where I thought I heard noises and gently knocked. "Salene? you there?"
Salene
I’m laughing with Dee, she sat on a chair but neither of us realised unstable it was and she now lays in a weird position on her back with her legs in the air… I want to help her so much but neither can stop laughing, I eventually pull her to her feet, she gives me a nudge for laughing…
"Stop it" she pouts playfully "My butt hurts now"
That starts us off laughing again…
"Safe to say that chair is broken"
"Just glad it was me and not some one like Tally with Leo"
"That’s true"
We move the broken chair to the discard pile by the door then we move some fabric…
"Maybe we can make this into something for Leo, sheets or something" Dee smiles as shr places it on the keep pile…
As I go to show Dee something a voice catches our attention… Smiling I look into the face of Cloe, it’s been a while, she’s grown up into a beautiful woman…
"Cloe" I grin "Come in"
"Just avoid the chairs in here" Dee laughs
(Feel free to have Salene and Cloe hug)
Eciov
My mop was going like the clappers! Tally was routing through and moving the boxes like she had a rocket stuck up her ass. There were some heavier boxes/items that I assisted her with which broke my mopping motion, but the last thing I wanted was her back to go. She needed to be fighting fit for her little cub who was thoroughly enjoying his time in the box. He made funny noises as we went.
Every Mall Rat had known or at least heard of ‘the almighty Amber’ so I begin a conversation about her. We were both privy of where we came in the timeline of the Mall Rats. “I wonder if Amber and baby Bray were the last mother and baby here before they had to leave… You could well be the first mother and baby to step back into the Mall since… The new owner’s must somehow play safe when they you know…” It felt weird talking about you know considering I hadn’t even done you know…
Tally
I stop moving crates and boxes as Eciov speaks about Amber. "She got a boy? So they returned here? I tell you, we were outraged whrn Ebony went and banished Bray and pregnant Amber. Witch she was… Probably still is…"
I look at my son “You know…pregnancy isn’t something you can plan. Or really stop from happening. Not nowadays. Maybe it’s the city though. Or the bad nourishment around here… Or guys are just good in pulling out before…” I shrug at her, confused about the clueless look she gives me…
Cloe
Seeing Salene again made me smile, I already felt teary eyed but then I also saw Dee. “Dee? you’re here as well?” ohh my heart felt like it could burst with some happiness. I was though still sad that some of our friends didn’t seem to be here, ohh how it would feel to see Patsy again but right now I was still happy.
I hurried my in to give Salene a hug, “I’ve missed you, you too Dee” I say as I pull back and look at the two women. “How have you been?”