[Action]

[nowcomeforth]

[It doesn't matter where you are in Aliunde today, if you are outdoors or even just watching out a window, at some point a very tiny little blond will be sweeping in front of you. Or raking leaves. Or picking things up. Or washing things. Because it's the little details that count, and if a place is going to be successful and pleasant looking it

Comments

[action]

[clockwrkangel]

[[Funny that, here's a girl with the same idea. She's in the shopping district, sweeping up around shops that had been broken into during the blackout. She's cleaning the streets and just making herself useful in general. Of course, she's also eyeing the shops, seeing which ones can still be broken into.]]

[action]

[nowcomeforth]

[He nods over at her after a moment, it's nice to see other people putting in effort for the greater good. Especially when there's still a lot of work that needs to be done.]

[action]

[clockwrkangel]

[[She eventually takes a break, tying off a trash bag full of debris.]]

Heya, [[She calls out to him, holding up a bottle of water as an offer.]]

[action]

[nowcomeforth]

[He's struggling a bit, clearly tired, and when she offers the water to him he looks entirely grateful. And he sets his broom aside, and comes over to her.] Thank you, miss. I really do need this now.

[action]

[clockwrkangel]

[[She pulls another bottle of water out of her bag for herself, and leans against the wall.]]

It's hard work, isn't it? But everybody's gotta work together to make this place nice.

[[She may be being honest, she may be playing for sympathy about what a ~helpful angel~ she is.]]

[action]

[nowcomeforth]

[He opens it with slightly shaking hands, and takes a large gulp. And then nods again, expression sweet.]

That's it, exactly. We must all come together and assist each other, or Aliunde is doomed to crumble further from lack of care.

[Oh, she's got him convinced already. And if anyone was to ask him, he'd speak warmly of her.]

[action]

[clockwrkangel]

We all did, but...it was just for a day. I'm still helping out, though. I mean...I know I won't be able to once papa starts sending me to school, but...

[[Apparently she'd rather clean the streets than go to school. And isn't she a tragic little angel?]]

[action]

[nowcomeforth]

It's easy to forget to assist when there is not organization, and events to remind one to do so.

[Yup. Tragic indeed. Clearly she's an absolute sweetheart.]

It's noble that you'd wish to help still, I'm sure that your father must be proud of you for such devotion to this cause. But an education is invaluable.

[action]

[clockwrkangel]

Everybody says that, but except for the one teacher I talked to, I don't think so. Who needs to learn boring and stupid facts that nobody cares about? You'll just forget 'em later. I'd rather learn something useful.

[action]

[nowcomeforth]

Everything you learn is useful! No matter how mundane or pointless, it has a value and purpose in the future. It doesn't seem that way now, but eventually all have to provide for themselves. And what you learn in your youth will assist you later on, so poverty and want do not overtake you. Nothing good comes from ignorance, nothing at all.

[He remembers his tutors, the people who allowed him such powerful information when the poor were unable to gain education at all. And he rather values the power of knowledge.]

What would you desire to learn, though? What is useful to you?

[action]

[clockwrkangel]

Things that help you, not stupid little details that make you sound like a nerd. Like how to cook, how to fight, how to feed a family on twenty bucks a month.

Things like that.

[action]

[nowcomeforth]

Sound like a what? [You've lost him, Becca.] But those are all useful things, and helpful. And easily enough learned, with some effort. But twenty dollars isn't nearly enough to feed a person on properly, much less a entire family. With education you're able to open up more opportunities.

[action]

[clockwrkangel]

A nerd, y'know. Somebody who learns stuff just to be bitchy about how much smarter than everyone else they are.

And I could feed me and Alex on twenty bucks a month. ...Usually just Alex, though. But that was all the money we had.

[[Isn't it so tragic what hardships she had to live through?]]

[action]

[nowcomeforth]

[...Well, he was not expecting a foul mouth. But he simply nods.] Little details are important, but none should flaunt knowledge that way.

It is a pity. It can be done, but I cannot imagine it being done properly. You must have been deprived indeed.

[Just because he's been homeless for years doesn't mean the memories of wealth are gone from his mind. He still considers himself to have been very blessed, and it hurts him to find that others have gone without. And leaves him feeling a bit guilty somehow.]

Where was your father during this time? Were you separated?

[action]

[clockwrkangel]

My papa's not my father. My father died when I was little. My papa takes care of me now.

[[Just...forget that she forgot to censor her mouth. Tragic angel routine, remember? Tragic angel.]]

[action]

[nowcomeforth]

[Not forgetting that, sorry. But he smiles so sweetly, her papa must be a wonderful man indeed. The loss of his own father still stings and pulls at his heart, so he's feeling rather sympathetic towards Becca now.]

He sounds like a good man.