(Untitled)

[amazonofthe21st]

Rachel has been busy. Actually, Rachel hasn't been seen much around Metropolis. In fact, Rachel hasn't been seen much of anywhere... aside from DetroitShe comes back to the apartment in Metropolis at night, because Tobias sleeps there, too, and would worry if she didn't. And while she's never seen him, Rachel has a sneaking suspicion that she's

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[no_guardian_i]

The problem with staying in a city you've never been to in your entire life is that you really have no clue whatsoever where anything is. Food, medicine, entertainment, transportation, clothing and more. Ichigo has no clue where to find any of these things, and since Jane works odd hours and Ichigo sleeps half the day away anyways, he doesn't really have anybody to help him. Today, he's decided to help himself, perhaps forgetting that while he may be able to speak it, reading English is NOT one of his strong points.

It's funny how much less fun exploring can be when you're tired, alone and more than a little nervous. Still, it's something Ichigo needs to do. Staying indoors all day is only going to make him want to sleep, and Ichigo does not want to sleep these days. So Ichigo finds himself out exploring Metropolis today, trying to remember where he's going even as he becomes more and more hopelessly lost. By the time he stumbles upon the drug store, he's not sure he'll ever find his way back, but he carries on nonetheless.

After a tentative look through the window, Ichigo pushes open the half-broken door and walks inside. The little bell above the doorway chimes as he enters, causing him to jump halfway out of his skin before he realizes what made the sound. Taking a calming breath, he walks further into the store, his stomach growling for food.

[amazonofthe21st]

The bell doesn't startle her that much but Rachel still hears it loud and clearr.

Which means that, by the time she pokes her head out of the pharmacy, she's fully dressed again, wound hidden behind thickly taped gauze and her t-shirt.

The newcomer is watched for a moment but as soon as she realizes how jumpy he is, Rachel decides not to let him see her first.

"Looking for something?"

Though this probably doesn't help his nerves any.

[no_guardian_i]

That assumption is correct. Ichigo jumps for a second time, relaxing a bit when he catches sight of her. She doesn't seem to be brandishing a weapon, unlike many people he passes on the street, so that's a plus.

"N-no," he says, "Just looking. Is this your store?"

Maybe she's just a really bad owner, maybe she's just a looter. Who knows?

[amazonofthe21st]

No weapon. Just a woman, tall and willowy, though the way she carries herself doesn't look anything like 'powerless.'

Rachel shakes her head, blonde hair waving, but the wrinkle between her eyebrows doesn't ease, watching him. "No. I'm shopping."

Sorta.

[no_guardian_i]

"Oh. Okay." Ichigo still isn't sure of how to deal with people from this world, but in general staying out of their way seems to keep them relatively happy. "Me too, I guess. Is that a pharmacy back there?"

He gestures towards the back of the store, trying to figure out if his suspicions are correct. It looks like some kind of pharmacy, but not being able to read the language makes it difficult to tell if any of the signs are particularly helpful.

[amazonofthe21st]

Considering Rachel is standing just under the big sign that proclaims in red "PHARMACY"...

Her eyes narrow on him. Confusion and suspicion that he's messing with her, as Rachel glances up at said sign, and points to it.

"Yeah."

The duh is implicit.

[no_guardian_i]

Well somebody here looks pretty stupid.

"Sorry," he says, looking up at the sign and trying to memorize the word for later. "I can't read English, so it's kind hard for me to figure out signs and stuff here."

It's not like reading Japanese will help him much in this world, considering how screwed most of it was when he was there.

[amazonofthe21st]

Aaaaand somebody feels like a giant bitch.

"Oh," says Rachel, stubbornly ignoring the flush of her face and glancing up at the sign again. "Well, um... yeah, this is the pharmacy. Uh, maybe if you tell me what you're looking for, I can tell you where it is."

And save face. If it's possible at this point.

[no_guardian_i]

"I'm not really sure. Some antiseptic, I guess. I was just exploring the city, but if I can find something while I'm here I might as well try."

He's not the doctor his father was is, but he's smart enough to know that an infection can kill just as well as a wound.

"You don't need to help me, though. There's probably none left anyways." He doesn't want her to help him out of pity. Being illiterate is something he's still getting used to, and he doesn't want anybody to feel bad for him.

[amazonofthe21st]

"There is, actually."

Because she'd been stocking up on it in the back.

"Here," Rachel says, turning her back on him to move back into the little room. A handful of alcohol wipes are shoved into a plastic bag, along with a few packets of sterile needles for stitches. Only part of the delivery is out of actual charity, though, or apology for inadvertently calling him stupid.

The real reason why Rachel hands the plastic bag over is because she's seen what the monsters (and humans) of this world can do, and if there's supplies to spare, then she'll spare them.

[no_guardian_i]

He takes the bag with a quiet word of thanks, opening it up to see what she's found. There's more than he thought there would be, which is certainly a good thing, but he wonders if there aren't hospitals or doctors that need it as well.

He'll have to ask Jane when he gets back.

"What're you here for? Same thing?"

[amazonofthe21st]

"Supplies," Rachel agrees with a nod.

No need to be specific, or lets strangers know that she's injured.

"Is that all you needed?"

[no_guardian_i]

He nods, casting a glance around for anything useful. He could use a new backpack for his clothes, but he doesn't see one here.

"Yeah, this should do it. Thanks for your help." He turns to leave, walking as far as the door before he stops and turns again. "Um, do you know if there's a clinic or something nearby? I was thinking of lending a hand."

Jane's been generous enough to him, so he may as well try to give back.

[amazonofthe21st]

Rachel-- hesitates.

But not for long. He's still a stranger, and in this world, she's not letting someone she doesn't know come anywhere near her when she's injured.

"Not here, that I know of. Maybe back in Smallville, at the farm. They're more established there."

[no_guardian_i]

"The farm?"

Jane mentioned a farm, but only in passing, and she often speaks much faster than his brain can keep up.

"Where's that?"

[amazonofthe21st]

"Smallville," Rachel repeats, not unkindly, and gives him a direction and amount of driving time it would take to get there. "It's pretty... noticeable. Farm house, bunker, huge ship with sails in the back."