Mall Rats Return

Mall Rats Return
339

Tally

Cloe somehow seems to struggle to really place me. No offense taken here, it was really a short time we have been living here together.

I nod when she asks if I have a brother. “Twinbrother. Andy. He is here somewhere chasing spiders away… So he’s the man if you need help with that. And… Well… We had an older brother too. Ned. Sorry… I don’t know exactly if you were here during the whole kidnap drama. No topic for now even. It’s confusing to be here and not knowing anything about each other at all somehow…”

I stop myself from speaking on. “There will be time to talk I guess, but right now there is probably more to talk about organizing life.”

@Tribelover @Jack

340

Lex

KC leans into me and mentions that Alice and Ellie don’t look alike when this serpent guy tells us theres someone who looks like Alice with a baby… I watch Alice go down the ladder, Ryan follows her, Kc changes his skates to shoes then he follows… I stand at the sewer entrance and look down when Alice shouts

"You coming in today, or are you afraid of the big bad sewers?”

I look at the serpent guy who smirks at me… He said 7 or 8 mall rats had come back but not who they were… I swallow, could Taisan be in there, I’ve not seen her since the technos took her… Are we still even married after 20 years… Taking a breath I look down…

“Fi fi fo fum” I whisper “Ready or not, here I come”

I climb up onto the edge of the sewer and lower myself inside, kicking myself in my head… Don’t be such a chicken… I can face these people, sure they didnt like me much but they were family once… I jump of the last rung to where Alice, Ryan and KC wait… Safety in numbers i guess…

“I’m here” I sigh

I then follow behind the others as we make our way into the mall

1 Like
341

Kc

I grin when Lex finially comes down “Alright lets get moving there, i am starving hopefully they have good waiting for us” i tell the group. Now we’re here I just want to get in and honestly I dont feel like its a trap, I like the oddly familiar feeling of being here.

342

Ryan

I hadn’t really thought out how it would be being back at the Mall, I had been nervous and I did become more nervous the closer we got. “Maybe it is Amber and Bray who’s had a hand in this, it does give out those vibes, and Ebony…well she can be unpredictable so I wouldn’t put it past her.” But the thought of an enemy? that was more nerve-wracking if anything.

Soon after KC joins us and Alice calls out to Lex who hadn’t come down yet. I smile when he comes down, “Nice to join us buddy” I say to him before dropping my arms to my sides. “Not to be that guy but… I agree with KC. I’m kinda hungry”

343

Lottie

I shrug a little as well and look off before I look at him again “I’ll give you that, I don’t know if I can trust someone with too many secrets and pretenses. It’s a recipe for hurt and disaster” I didn’t stay serious for too long until he called himself too awesome and I let out a laugh. “You’re too awesome huh?” I put a hand gently over my lips and shook my head. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to laugh but… it’s been a while since I’ve met someone with so much confident… it’s admirable in ways”

344

Cloe

I looked back and forward from Salene to Mouse now Eciov and Tally, I was starting to get overwhelmed. It was a situation that had been waiting to happen. When she mentioned Andy the name sounded familiar, but only because I put it together with Tally’s name otherwise I don’t think I would have known it.

I opened and closed my mouth trying to find the words, Ned… no it didn’t sound familiar but was it before I got back, or did I just not remember. I didn’t speak on that part of the subject and I just nodded my head trying to smile a little, “Y.yeah I guess we’ll be here for a little while so there will be time to talk”

1 Like
345

Luc

“See, startes with you admiring me and next you’ll be head over heels before you know it” I grin “See this is good, banter is honestly how we live in this place” I tell her. It was true, we weren’t overally serious day to day.

I glance around the mall, everyone seems to be getting on well, Jaz was very well stuck in which didnt surprise me “God I am starving”

346

Tally

Something seems off with Cloe. I remember her as confident teenage girl. Though she just had returned from the choosen mines, she stood her ground and wouldn’t just nod her head to everything the older ones said.

She’d be one of the last I’d be expecting to be unsure to be back here. Afterall she was there when the Mall Rats came into being.

But fair enough…years have passed. Who knows what she’s seen and been through.

It wonders ne even a little… Why they all come separately? Cloe and Sal have always been close. Sure… Tribes change. Some leave. Some come. But I really wonder. The Mall Rats seem to have fallen apart. Are we maybe here in some weird… Finding back together to the ond spirit? Oh gracious… Tai-San? Please don’t let it be her calling us back for some weird esoteric soul journey?!

“We’ll be staying in Rossini’s shoes over there…” I feel kinda silly to point a way for Cloe. She lived here longer then I did.

Leo gets a impatient, turning his head here snd there. “Yes sweetheart… So much to see I know. Well…” I turn my head to Sal "What do you think of offering to make some food up? I don’t know if there us a cook among them… But nonbetheless… It’s more then twenty per so by here now. And who knows if there are more showing up today…I feel like helping to prepare the fresh things we brought would be a good sign to our hosts… "

@Tribelover15 @Salene

1 Like
347

Alice

I chuckle as both KC and Ryan mention they are hungry. Guys… always thinking with their stomach.
“You’re always hungry Ryan” I say with a smile, while I can’t really disagree with them.

“Well, guess there’s only one way to find out who is and isn’t here” I say as I make my way to the entrance.
It’s crazy how long ago we where all here, yet somehow nothing feels like it’s changed. Well… with the exception of me not wanting to give KC swimming lessons in the sewers today… though ofcourse, the day isn’t over yet, so who knows…

I barge through the door and make my way in, loudly announcing my presence, still certain my sister must be here.

“Ellie? Ellie?! Guess who’s back!”

1 Like
348

Lottie

“Wow, head over heels? I think you’re getting way ahead of yourself” I said shaking my head with a slight smile on my face. I nod my head a little, “Good, I’m not serious all the time because honestly, that’s too boring”

I was starting to feel slightly better about being back in this mall despite still much confusion going on and these guys didn’t seem so bad the more time went on. Again this was still day one but I guess that’s a good sign if things are going well. “You’re not alone” I started off saying before I thought I heard someone call out and looked towards the sewer entrance. “Did someone just shout?”

@Zandra

349

Luc

“I cant help it, its my confidence” I said smugly I was about to comment back when i heard a voice shouting as well “Looks like there are more of you guys arriving” I comment and head towards the voice, standing there like a giant was a ginger haired woman “You guys like your gingers don’t you” I dont think I’d seen so many gingers in one place before.

“I dont think an Ellie has arrived here?” I say questionly, though i remember all the names they had given us it didn’t sound familiar.

1 Like
350

Cloe

It had been so many years since my memories had fully effekted me this much. Before i could just not think about them and get confused of what i remembered and didnt.

”Thats lovely, ill be staying in headspace so you are all free to visit. Dont mind Radar though, he just is that grumpy” i Said to everyone in the room with a small smile.

At the talk of food i reliazed i hadnt eaten in many hours and was starving. ”Food sounds really good at this point” i commented myself before hearing someone shout, did somene shout out ellies name? ”Um excuase me” i Said before walking out, the voice sounded older but still familiar. I found my feet walking towards the door that i came through before with my heart beating before stopping and let out a gasp seeing some people i never thought i would see again. My hands flew to my mouth and my eyes went glossy.

2 Likes
351

Lottie

”Hmm i guess I’ll give you credit for it” not many had that level if confident and it deserved some level of credit. I blink looking back at Luc, ”Sounds like it” i wondered if there were any one i knew.

I had walked behind Luc out if curioisty and then the name Ellie was beeing said. ”Ellie? No i havent seen her yet, not in years in fact” i Said to both him and the redheaded woman.

352

Tally

Cloe tells me to feel free visit her room also. She says the guy with her is grumpy. Can manage that. Better grumpy then an idiot…

She agrees about the food and just when I am about to ask Salene again a shout rings through the air. Someone shouts for… Ellie?

This voice… Cloe is first to head towards it, but I follow on her heels.

There she is…fierce and straight forward like she always has been. “Alice…” I whisper, relief washing over me. When Alice is here… The place seems way more welcoming and safe…

There is other people with her. Lex…? I don’t know the other guy… And a younger one. Wait? WTF? IS THAT KC?! :open_mouth:

@everyone around there

1 Like
353

Salene

There’s so much to say, so much to talk about but I can’t find the words, I’m happy knowing Cloe grew up to be an amazing young woman, I’m so very proud of who she has become… I can’t say to much I guess being alone for so many years has affected me bring around people, these people were my family, it feels like I’m looking at strangers and we have only just met, I let Cloe, Tally and Ecoiv talk as Dee and I shift some things around trying hard to see if we can make up a bed some how… As much as I would prefer my own space and bed if all we can manage is to share then I will share a bed with Dee… Needs must come before convienience…

Cloe smiles and tells us to feel free to stop by her room, when some ones belly rumbles and she leaves to go in search of food… The sound of some one calling for Ellie has me pause and look at Dee, she is looking at me…

“That sounded like…” Dee says quietly

“Alice?” I smile finishing her sentance… “It can’t be”

We follow Cloe and then Tally and Mouse out of the room, I freeze, my heart banging so hard in my chest I’m sure Dee can see it… I swallow…

“Salene” Dee says quietly

In front of us I see Alice, Lex, KC and… and… Ryan… It can’t be, he cant be here…

“Salene” Dee whispers “Are you okay?”

I shake my head and run back to the room, Dee follows me…

“God, your shaking” Dee says

She wraps her arms around me and pulls me to a hug as I stand there almost stunned and frozen, never did I think Ryan would come back to the Mall, after the Chosen took him all those years ago I had expected him to come home, I went looking for him after Bray brought home a lead from Pony Joe, I never found him…

3 Likes
354

DANNI

I don’t know how long I sit there, lost in my own pain, but the sound of someone yelling brings me back to the moment. Hastily wiping my face I take a second to compose myself before walking to the door of the shop.

Pausing against the door frame I take a moment to look at the new people arriving. It takes a moment for me to place them, age having changed their features but after a second… Alice?

I don’t say anything, just watch quietly. It had been so long and my brain was struggling to comprehend the reality of the situation. Why had we all been called back here… what was the purpose of all this?

355

CALLAN

I’m rudely awoken from my nap by someone yelling, honestly if this was what these people were going to be like the baby suddenly seemed to be the least of our worries. Hopefully Alix and Bekah were back, or on their way back, with additional supplies because it sounded like our mall was quickly filling up with additional bodies. We’d probably have to have a chat, within the serpents, about allowing them upstairs rooms if there were too many of them, although I could imagine that would go down like a lead balloon.

Sighing I get out of bed and run a hand through my hair before heading to the top of the stairs and looking down at the congregation of people. God they were multiplying!

1 Like
356

Kc

I looked around at everyone, lots of familiar faces yet different “This is freaky” I say to the group and walk further towards the others “Alright you lot! Long time no see” It felt so weird seeing everyone as actual adults though I wasn’t quite sure what to do with myself, it’s not like we can just wander around, it wasn’t our home anymore.

“So eh… Any grub?” I ask to whoever was listening.

357

Patsy.
I balance Aurora on my hip and I nod to Brady. “lets do that, lets find some shelter” I agree with Brady as I hold Aurora close to me. I can feel that shes shivering. “mommy Im cold” she sobs. She burries her head in my chest. I start walking as I balance my daughter on my hip. We need to find somewhere dry so we can get warm and get some heat back.

“What about the top there?” Im not sure if its a building but it seems like it.

@Trudy

358

Zan

Hearing more voices arrive I make the decision to close my door and continue working on the room, I was not in a rush for any reunions, it felt so weird being here and I couldn’t let my guard down though speaking with Danni earlier about potentially finding a bar was definitely a high light so far. I wondered if she was hiding away like I was.

Grabbing an old top, I started wiping up the mirror on the set of drawers, every girl needed a decent mirror and once this one was all cleaned up it would be perfect.