But after a brief acquaintance, it just wasn't meant to be. Maybe it's just that boys really don't understand girls. Maybe it's just the "time of the Virus" that gets to us now & then. Maybe Rook was just too logical & Lily was just too emotional. *sigh* Whatever it was, it happened fast. One minute they were together, the next Rook was walking away. Here follows a condensed version of what went down. O_O
Adventures
December 2010
Rook: Maggie said you were a member of a tribe. What's that like?
Lily: The Misfits. I was a street kid scrounging for food when Arianna found me. I don't think I'd be alive if it wasn't for her. The Misfits are my family.
Rook: *thoughtful* It's rare a tribe has a girl leader. We seen tribes all over, and mostly they weren't good things. They bullied people, got power by violence or controlling something valuable like water or food, you know? *shakes his head* From what I've seen, the world'd be better off without tribes.
Lily: That's your opinion. The tribes of Fort River came together and rid the city of a common enemy. The Misfits are respected for our generosity and compassion, not for power or strength.
Rook: Well yeah, it's my opinion. But it's based on things I've seen. Lily, aside from the Misfits, what are Fort River tribes like? Can you name...I dunno, three? Three tribes not known as much for fighting as for anything else?
Lily: *sadly* You must have seen a lot of bad things in your lifetime. Hmm...let's see, there's the River Rats, and Big Sis and her kids...no I can't.
Rook: We saw a lot, especially right after the Virus. Families are great things, but mostly tribes haven't been families. They've been private armies.
*Rook shoved his hands deeper in his pockets. He didn't understand Lily's anger.*
Rook: Lots of people sleep in the streets, Lily. And maybe there's less fighting because of that fight club over in the factory district? I heard Baz and Logan say it's a real butcher shop.
Lily: If people are sleeping in the streets, it's their choice. People who go fight in the club make that choice too. Fort River tribes don't fight over power, food or anything else. *tears begin to fill her eyes and she shouts at him* IT'S MY HOME YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. If Fort River is such a bad place, why are you and your stupid friends still here?
Rook: Why are you getting upset? I didn't say it was your fault--jeez, it's nobody's fault, Lily. That's just the way the world is. *frowns* And my friends aren't dumb, especially my brother.
Lily: *wipes at her face* Upset? You basically just said my home is a rotten terrible place. And the cause is my family, my tribe and the other tribes.
Rook: I didn't say that! Even if your tribe wiped out a whole 'nother tribe--the Grimms? *shrugs and seems at a loss for more words* It must've needed doing, I guess?
*Lily's hand goes to her throat and the fading scar from the Dealer's knife.* No, Rook, that wasn't something that needed to happen. It just did.
*Lily begins to walk down the street. Rook followed after her.*
Rook: Why are you acting like this, Lily? I don't understand.
Lily: That's right, you don't understand. You never will, so just drop it.
*Rook slowed, letting the distance grow as Lily kept walking. He watched her stiff back and shook his head.* This is wrong. This is very wrong.
*But he didn't know what was wrong, so he didn't know how to make it right with Lily. He hardly knew her. Rook stopped and took a deep breath. Then he turned around and started walking back to Home.*
-Chyna
Photo source: copyright Cloud-9 "The Tribe"
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