Complete - A Detour in Boston

Hyperloop was pretty fast wasn't it? Next thing she knew, Chelsea was in Boston. The girl made her way out of the station. The moment she was outsid,e her head turned swiftly left and right, her twin tails flaring about a bit in the wind. It was pretty windy today. A chill one too. Boo... almost time for a scarf. Her eyes scanned the city streets. This was the place Terrasphere first appeared wasn't it? She was not sure but that game might have something to do with the murders. Which means it was connected to her parents. Her family dabbled with VR because well... everyone wanted to even if the law said otherwise. Although they never developed any full games nor to Chelsea's knowledge did they have anything like Terrapshere in the works. Surely her father would have let her beta test it or even alpha test if that was the case. Nope! Never happened.

She decided to get a Uber to her destination. Originally she had a very ambitious objective here. One that if she tripped... could land her in juvenile hall or worse. She knew that but still... it was what she had to do or she would roll around in bed restless forever and a day! Her driver picked her up shortly after arriving. It was so important that she kept her self made mission a secret or poof, right off back to her aunt's. She spent the entire time in the backseat fiddling with her holographic web pages. Checking out things and figuring out what to do first. She had not been in Boston in a awhile. It was her hometown after all so she decided to go somewhere her parents would take her sometimes.

The car drove up to the large mega mall. She got out and stared up at it with a sad smile for a while. Then nodded and headed inside. She used to get her clothes here sometimes. Toys when she was younger. Especially stuff like mini mech robots and various other computerized toys. It was a very high end shopping area and even if better could be purchased online or custom made... it was fun to be here with her family. She would use this. Use this reminder to motivate herself to not care about risk for now.

Chelsea went about a bit of a tour to relieve herself of her thoughts. She was home again... maybe kinda sorta... whatever... hmph!

 

Sabine waved off-handedly as her father's car pulled away from the curb outside the food court entrance to the mall. He'd headed to Boston to drop by one of the construction projects he'd been saddled with and managed to convince her out of the house for a while. The blonde scratched the back of her head with a sigh, nails tugging at the strands pulled back into a loose bun, and pulled out her phone to set a couple of alarms. It wouldn't do to get too distracted, even if she'd likely have hours before he was done and ready to pick her up.

The cold nipped at her nose and ears and drove her inside finally. The crowds were intimidating and the sheer size of the building and connected businesses around it didn't help. She was used to mountains, woods, and jungles... not ones of concrete and steel. Terrasphere had helped in a lot of ways since her fall, but it had given her an escape. She hadn't had time to acclimate to the crowded east coast cities.

A few shoulders jostled her as she struggled through the tides of people coming and going, but never once did an eye stray her way. The only bonus to losing herself in the big city was that even being a six foot tall woman boasting facial scars wasn't enough to drag anyone out of their own little worlds. At least people somewhat recognized other living beings around them. New York had been bizarre. So many people and never once had she felt as alone as she did there.

Sabine huffed as she hopped up onto the toes of her left foot to peer over the sea of heads moving here and there to find a map of some sort. She needed a "You are Here" and any place that sold clothes. Well, sensible clothes.

She found it, the sea of people moving by seamlessly and talking to the point of incoherent babble, and didn't recognize half the names on it. "That is the least fucking helpful..." The blonde glanced around into the scattered crowd with a sigh. Maybe she could guilt someone into helping if she looked like a lost tourist, which she wasn't but could admit was close enough, or a lost cripple, which was perfectly on the money now wasn't it. She tried not to loathe herself for that.

"Umm, pardon me, ma'am?" She reached out, not touching but trying to catch the attention of a passing stranger who didn't look to be in too much of a rush anywhere specific.

 

Even with all the people. Chelsea had little trouble keeping cool. Other than the cold of fall that it is. Being brought up to be a leader as a heiress to her company... or what was her company anyway, helped her with handling crowds. It did not mean she liked it though. The memories of her family was enough of a reason to be here. If nothing else.

"Umm, pardon me, ma'am?"

Huh? Ma'am? Chelsea almost did not respond to it, simply because she did not think it was directed at her. Being fifteen pretty much set you up to be called miss, young lady, girl or if you were a rude jerk... kid. Hmmmm, well it was kind of respectful so she will give this person the time of day. Turning her head slightly to see, her eyes met with just a bosom. Blushing some she shook her head in embarrassment of the awkwardness. Her eyes shifted upwards. Well she was pretty tall wasn't she? Chelsea shifted her lip to the side slightly as she gazed up at the blonde. Her look was of someone who usually doesn't like to talk to others but just so happened to toss a bone out.

"Yes?"

Then Chelsea noticed the woman's scars and general handicapped look. This person was really out of place in a mall like this. She must have been from out of town... oh right sigh, Chelsea herself was a out of towner now, yeesh. If only she would be returning to the Nexon Estate after this instead of sneaking into a .... never mind that all now! Well maybe she could help her out some if she was lost but there were other things she had to do so...

"Can I help you ma'am?"

She returned the same manner of address. Seeing that injured leg made Chelsea realize just how poor medical technology was. She would definitely make it so everyone could afford cybernetic enhancements in the future! Well, if she ever had a company like Nexus again at her disposal. Maintaining a cold look she did not extend any further offers of assistance. It was not worth it to help a stranger unless she openly needed it. Just being injured and out of place did not necessarily mean the woman was helpless.

Although why she was talking to her in the first place was still a mystery and not one Chelsea was all that invested into at this moment.

@Gwyn ap Herne

 

Sabine cursed herself for managing to snag, out of all the gathered people bustling about their day, an actual child. Worse yet was that said child looked far more comfortable there than she did. At least she had stopped and seemed to be polite enough. There was the nagging awareness that people up north seemed predisposed to hating small talk and strangers both, but she would take what she could get.

"I'm sorry to bother, but do you know where I can... well, shop for clothes? 'bout anywhere will do, I just don't-" she gestured at the map to her side with a sigh. "-know what half of these are, to be honest."

Oh, she sounded like an idiot, didn't she? Twenty years of life and countless national parks and it was a mall that she got lost in. Trailheads she could understand, but the sheer size of the mall and the options listed were frankly overwhelming to try to comprehend.

"I don't really know my way around here or what kind of clothes any of these places even have. Just... regular stuff?" Definitely sounded like an idiot. Sabine straightened up and forced herself to quit biting at the inside of her cheek from her nerves. "Half my clothes don't fit anymore and the other half apparently 'make you look like a butch lumberjack, Sabine' according to friends and family. Which is an insult, I'm pretty sure."

 

Clothes? Chelsea continued to just stare as people passed by around them. For an adult, this lady was lacking in much of the um... experience department? This place was obviously not aimed at the lower or middle class. Chelsea would have just told her that and moved on if not for the fact she was hurt. Sigh... fine! Waste of time, this was supposed to be her private moment to reflect. Who knew how long before she had another chance. Stupid giantess cripple woman! That was not very nice was it? Boo...

"This place is not charitable with it's prices. You might have a great deal of trouble finding something you can afford. "

She revealed her name to be Sabine, not that it really mattered all that much. Chelsea would like to go about her day not deal with lost and confused adults going places they should not. Yeesh. Although a butch lumberjack? The teen's stoic and mildly annoyed look almost had to laugh at that one. She now had images of this woman with a large axe and surrounded by giant oak trees. Somehow that was pretty funny. Chelsea rarely laughed. Before she lost everything that she cared for she was not one who laughed a lot, but now she really lacked that ability. There was little she could find funny anymore. This woman at least gave her a amusing image to entertain.

"Yes, probably?"

The girl did her best to not feel for the woman but decided to give a helping hand anyway. Chelsea did not want to leave any regrets in her mind especially with her task later tonight. The lady could use a great deal of fashion advice too. That was her aunt's thing though not hers. Chelsea now had to pretend she was a trendy fashionista when she was more of a tech geek then anything else. Oh the over expectations placed upon a teenage girl! She could have been straight with her... but then the woman would have been left to the wolves here. This place had no respect for those with small change and no prestige.

"Perhaps a short walk around the place will be good. Your wardrobe is.... in need of updating for sure. I suppose La Perla or Riccardi is out of the question... hmmm well. I think there is a store here with a lesser price tag... maybe."

She put her hand to her chin and looked around with her brows furrowed. Her eyes shifting left and right.

"Let's go look then. If you see a store that interest you, please point it out."

Yeesh. Now her trip down memory lane had a unwanted passenger. How on earth could doing this ever benefit her? It was not like she would ever see this Sabine person again. Wast of time!

@Gwyn ap Herne

 

Sabine blinked widely at the young girl as she mentioned the prices. There was a time when that was entirely true, of course, but while her medical expenses were high she didn't have to pay for it, her apartment, or what things she needed. To help with the rehabilitation, her father had paid for most things and her mother paid for her housing itself. Some pittance that was thrown her way to make her feel better about being mostly absent from her daughter's life despite having a close relationship with the other two. Sabine tried not to be bitter. At least in the game world, she never had to worry about money.

"I've got a fair bit saved up so I'm not too worried. Don't spend it on much else," she laughed lightly and gestured at her leg.

She couldn't quite tell if the girl was warring with herself over helping or trying not to make an impolite comment. She wasn't good with facial tells, but it seemed like a face Alix would make her way before snorting and having to leave to prevent either a fight or a laughing fit. Younger sisters were brats. She only had one, but one was enough to know.

"I would appreciate the help, but if you have places to be I don't want to keep you. It's been quite a few years since I've been to any malls, much less one this huge." She paused for a moment in thought. "Might want to check a gaming store if there's one here too." She spent a lot of time in Terrasphere, but it wouldn't hurt to check out some other VR games now that she was so used to playing in them. There was certainly a time she'd never have shared a thought toward more nerdy pursuits. How things changed.

"Please, lead the way. Don't worry about walking too slow, I can keep up for a while." With that the blonde bit down on the inside of her lip and resigned herself to walking at the same gait as her temporary companion. She'd have an hour or two before her leg tried to maul her nerves to death for the strain. Until then? She could manage. She'd managed worse... like her hounds actually mauling her legs. That hadn't been fun in the least. "And thank you for your help-" Oh, right. "That's rude to not introduce yourself, right? Fuck, sorry. Sabine, Sabine Bertrand." Fuck, she cussed in front of a child. She could almost feel Kyupin's scowl burning holes in her back.

 

This woman had savings? Well alright. Chelsea was not going to pry into this person's life. Just as she was about turn away and lead her through the mall. Sabine made the usual kind of comment of 'you don't have too'. Yeesh, then why ask in the first place? There is nothing wrong with needing a hand. Chelsea was not so uncaring to just drop this injured person, just that she did indeed have other more pressing matters to attend to. However this killed two birds with one stone since she could get her nostalgia trip out of the way.... even if it is tainted by this company.

A game store? Oh... video games probably. Sigh, Chelsea did not ever really get into them. Even though she was a tech head. Few video games were mature enough, and anyway... she would prefer to fulfill her dreams and aspirations of bringing what everyone would consider mere science fiction into reality. A age of space cruisers, mechas and cybernetic humans! Every passing day the world headed closer but she wanted to help get there faster. So she could live in the era of such things. So with that... who needed a silly fantasy game? Someone who had lost hope of reality that's who... hmmm. Well, that was not Chelsea was it?

As they went along the woman continued to talk . Chelsea originally had intended to just show her a few places and then hopefully separate. However, she found herself telling Sabine more than she had expected. In front of each store. Chelsea ran off what they sold, the kinds of people who entered and other things. Several times bringing up her parents. This was not like her. It was because of the double meaning of this tour for her. Luckily Chelsea was able to not spill her last name or her family business into any part of the tour.

"...And that's the game store right over there."

Chelsea made a uninterested thrust of a thumb as they went along. It was not a place she visited much so she had few memories to relieve. She would simply just walk by, ignoring it. Whether Sabine decided to head in was up to her. Hopefully this would separate them. Chelsea was unaware that she appreciated the company. The girl had little time to spend with other people, and was slowly alienating more and more with her personal obsession for her investigation. Regardless it was far too soon for her to open up to a stranger. She just wanted to help her and be done with it.

@Gwyn ap Herne

 

Following the girl around wasn't too great a task. Her hip was quick to remind her of its distaste in the whole venture, but the sharp bites of pinched and damaged nerves or the marrow-deep ache of newly healed fractures accompanied her every few steps. She nodded along and make a few sparse comments or questions about the various stores she was toted about to visit. Sabine took care to remember places that sounded more in line with her own tastes and preferences, or people she didn't mind sharing air with for a bit, as well as noting to avoid ones a bit more... over the top or pretentious.

She did find herself eyeing one of the more formal stores. Sabine bet she'd look damn good in a well-fitted suit, shoulders and musculature a bit too broad for most dresses. The blonde didn't have too much to do with things that cast aside utility after all.

They moved on and Sabine occasionally found herself entirely caught up in the little stories or mentions of the girl's parents. She sounded awful familiar with the mall so it made sense she'd likely visited with them often. Or been dropped off like Sabine had not long before. She was too old for mall trips with friends and had never been the type for it either. She also hadn't spent much quality time with her parents out of the house unless they were attending a game for whatever sport she'd taken up.

Sabine offered her own little moments that fit well with what her guide offered up from her life, but she took care to back off quick. It felt like neither of them got to just... talk much.

Finally, they reached the end of the route and she smiled down at the other, offering her hand. "Thank you, honestly. You'd think at my age I wouldn't be a disaster, but here we are." She snorted, getting onto herself lightly. It didn't bother her much. Well, not this part of it. Her eyes drifted over to the sights and sounds of the game store with a wry expression. "Never thought I'd need help getting around a mall. National parks? No worries. Anything more than three shops in a strip mall? Absolutely lost."

She grinned and lowered her voice some as if to stage-whisper, "Never figured myself the gaming type either, but it helps." Sabine shrugged and tapped her hip lightly with the tips of her fingers in a drumming pattern. "Cabin fever's a killer."

"I won't keep you any longer though, unless you're interested in something in there. I'm not sure anything they have will live up to Astorea's lot though. Bunch of idiots they are, but it's never a dull moment. Could definitely use something for better neck support though..." She hummed as she looked over the windows. Sabine shook herself some and glanced back at the other. She realized belatedly that the girl reminded her of Alix in a way. For all she'd talked, she'd never really said anything. Sabine would feel awful if she held the poor girl hostage any longer, but she wasn't going to send her off in the event she had nowhere else to be that wasn't alone.

If she did go? Well, Sabine was more than accustomed to temporary alliances at the campsite before different trailheads called them on their way to tred different places.

 

Congratulations!

Thread Completed

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