Day 49: Early Afternoon - Main Street

[hes_deadjim]

Other than catch a glimpse of a few book spines and the first floor, McCoy hadn't gotten the chance check out the store fully. He'd still managed to uncover a few interesting things before he left. It wasn't exactly the answer, or even close to it, about how to get out of here, or what they had planned for them, or even who these people really were

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[exbride]

Anthy had been on her own since noon, but she felt accomplished about where she'd left her last conversation with Utena. Now she had assurance that the prince-girl would protect herself in case of another dire situation during the nightshift. Even if it meant that Anthy ended up shouldering a personal crisis alone, she was too much used to that for the idea to really disturb her.

Now, about that rebel boy. If they could escape from Landel's sooner rather than later, the precautions might not even be necessary. She wandered from shop to shop, peeking into the windows, but she knew better to assume that he would be somewhere as busy as Main Street.

Maybe she could ask a fellow patient about the rest of Doyleton ... Anthy's eyes scanned the streets for someone to approach as she walked through.

[Minato!]

[foolishmessiah]

Minato managed to wheedle out a refill of his soda before heading out of Tasty Burger, wandering around the block of Bohr and Wicker before ending up back on Main Street. Though the rain should have made the entire trip miserable, Minato found himself not minding it at all; he was outside, walking on his own, and deciding where he got to go within the town.

There were also less townspeople shooting him dirty and wary looks, now that the rain encouraged people to move inside.

He shook his paper cup as he started hearing the straining sound of the straw searching for more soda between the gaps of crushed ice. Done already? Now he would have to find a trashcan. The teen stopped on the sidewalk, glancing around for a place to dispose of the cup.

Just a little way down the street, there was a garbage that a girl was passing by. Minato headed in that direction.

[exbride]

With the rain coming down a little harder, Anthy had to peek around the large hood shrouding much of her face to look for a potential guide. She noticed a boy walking her way and deduced that he wasn't one of the townspeople from his demeanor alone. Slowing her gait, she stopped at his side when he reached the trashcan.

"Excuse me," she began, her tone layered with that carefully crafted, soft politeness as a default when approaching strangers. "You're from Landel's, aren't you? May I ask for your help?"

With any luck, he was an old regular. Maybe he knew the best hiding spots in Doyleton. Maybe he was fresh meat like her. Either way, there was strength in numbers, and she had information (for the fleeting moment) she was sure would interest most people stuck in Landel's.

[foolishmessiah]

The girl had stopped to speak with him as he dropped the empty cup in the trash. Minato adjusted his hood and slipped his hands into his pants pockets, studying the girl. She looked younger than him, but spoke politely and softly, as if preparing for a negative response.

He nodded in both greeting and affirmation, head tilted slightly in askance. When did he ever turn away from someone asking for help? "What do you need help with?" Usually he wouldn't voice the question, waiting instead for the other person to explain, but the girl's tone made him feel that the best choice would be to speak a little more than he normally did.

[exbride]

Anthy glanced up at the stranger and smiled in a manner that might be called perfunctory. It was still a habit of hers, the friendliness without any of the warmth. At some point she was going to have to work on adjusting that since there was little need for it now that she was out of Ohtori. It wasn't -- well, it just wasn't necessary anymore.

Except old habits died hard.

"Ah, are you familiar with this town? This is my first visit and I'm looking for something."

[foolishmessiah]

Another first-time visitor. Leon had helped him get a feeling of just how chaotic Doyleton could get once night fell, but there wasn't much else he had learned about the area.

...At least he had walked around a portion of the town already, even if he hadn't looked at the individual stores? Not that he expected to remember everything he saw by the next time they visited Doyleton.

If there was a next time.

"I'm new too." The boy didn't shake his head at the question, his expression still fairly closed. "But I've been walking around all day." His tone conveyed that he was willing to help.