Mivuli

Closed.

Ming Hua/Noah

With the items in his bag rattling behind him, Ming Hua strode through the door Emma opened for him, eyes panning the interior of the house - welcoming, cosy, and something Ming Hua thought would be nice to return to everyday, in stark contrast with the austere decor Mrs Rochester favoured so dearly. Behind him, Emma called for her mother and brother. When a boy's voice answered sharply, he jumped and turned.

A boy - Alex, wasn't it? - who looked at his wit's end and visibly unnerved seemed to emerge from the shadows by the doorway. "Where the hell have you been and who is that?" His eyes looked wild, and Ming Hua's palms immediately snapped up to his ears in a peaceful offering.

Before Ming Hua could reply, Emma made the introductions, and then promptly left the two to their own devices. While he lowered his hands to his sides once more, Ming Hua's eyes trailed Emma's figure climbing the stairs, before they slid back to Alexander. Ah, an older brother. And one who didn't look very pleased, what with the strange turn of events that had been popping out at them from behind all corners of the town. Ming Hua wasn't about to flatter himself into thinking it had to do with his abrupt entrance in their lives. "My real name's Ming Hua, but call me Noah. I don't think we've met," he clarified. Ming Hua had heard of Alex in school - the boy was a prominent figure around the social circles - but Ming Hua hadn't quite established much of a reputation for himself, except among teachers as an untameable child. "I just met Emma at the beach about fifteen minutes ago." He paused awkwardly. "Nice girl."

Suddenly, he perked. "Did you come from the high school? Do you know what's happening over there?"

Closed.

Ming Hua/Noah

Despite the sinking feeling that persisted in his gut, Ming Hua smiled at Emma. "I take it back, you're not that much of a mermaid after all." Jumping on his toes lightly to shake off the tremor in his legs, he jabbed his thumb down the street. "I just need to grab a bag and food." There was no reason to go into apocalyptic-mode, Ming Hua recognised that. But hell if he wasn't going to take precautions. "And my phone," he added as an afterthought, patting his drenched but blissfully empty pocket. Nodding his head down one way, he began to jog. "Come on, I'll make it snappy."

Ming Hua wanted to sprint - his legs had always had too much energy, ready to carry him lengths away from angry merchants, and teachers exasperated with his restlessness - but he made sure to keep pace with Emma. In a town as small as San Perdido, it took just under four minutes to reach the Rochesters' home. And in a town as quiet as San Perdido, the doors were always left open.

The Rochesters' house was a modest two-storey building, with white-washed walls and a large oak door that Ming Hua bound through. He grabbed a towel that had been left folded from the pile of clean laundry and tossed it over his shoulder to Emma. "Here," he said. "Dry off. Mrs Rochester will kill me if we leave water stains. I'll grab my things, you can make yourself at home." Wasn't a lot of time for that, but what the heck? It wasn't like Emma was going to find his baby pictures put on proud display on the walls. He had none.

Ming Hua climbed the stairs two at a time, and took a satchel from his room, slipping his phone inside after glancing at its screen for a second. He thundered down to the ground floor again, zipped through the kitchen for some dry foods, and plucked the spare key hanging on the coat rack. He would lock up when they left. Things were getting strange and open doors were just an invitation for trouble. "All set," he called to Emma. "And you're right; the phones don't have service."

Closed.

Ming Hua/Noah

"Good thing my dad taught me," the girl said. Ming Hua released the breath he had been holding as the boat purred to life. Yes, very good.

As Emma took to the wheel, Ming Hua scrutinised her carefully. The thing about living on the streets, was that you were downright invisible. The street vendors knew street kids darted around like bullets and stray dogs, so they didn't bother to look. The passers-by and tourists who happened onto the lane looked away, out of discomfort, and a distinct sense of remorse that they were wealthier, had a home to return to. As though pity were scathing. Which meant a lot of Ming Hua's time as a kid had been spent staring unabashedly at people who preferred to think he was not there. Covertly - because civilians didn't seem to like being stared at, as he had had to learn - Ming Hua's eyes grazed over Emma, the open theatric play of emotion on her face, and the way her grip tightened over the wheel. He watched her throat work to swallow, and wondered what on Earth she had to feel guilty for.

But then the boat began to move and Ming Hua was fixed where he sat, feeling his face turn to whey. The boat was caught in a lull, constantly rocking as it drove against the current toward land. Which seemed so far away now.

When at last the boat beached itself, Ming Hua clambered out to sprawl on his back on the sand. He peered up at the sun, blinding himself. "That guy that was hollering at us is gone." Ming Hua gave a cursory glance around the beach, and saw that Emma was right. Reaching out for his sneakers where he had chucked them, he belched, feeling sick. He would never get on a boat again.

Ming Hua rolled onto his side, and propped himself up on an arm. His gaze returned to Emma, who looked less...conflicted now. But Ming Hua wondered how many layers he would have to peel back just to find again what he had just seen. "We should find other people then." He thought of Mrs Rochester and grimaced. Maybe he would just head to the high school. Or would he need an explanation and supplies from her home? "You've got family you need to get in touch with?" Pulling on his shoes, his eyes didn't leave Emma's. Not until he had pulled himself back onto his feet - which felt unsteady, an unsettling sensation.

He couldn't fathom why Emma would feel guilty. But he softened his gaze, to say simply. "'Twasn't your fault. And nobody's dead yet."

Closed.

@Penguin Sorry, sorry, I was away on camp a while back! I'll type out a response as soon as I can!

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@HushedWhispers I'm so sorry to hear that... It must be horrible for you right now. We'll wait for you, take all the time you need!

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I'll be away from Friday to Sunday. I'll have Internet, with possibly enough time to read posts but not make them.

Game of Thrones: The Long Night

@Ruby Yes, I discussed it with @MrDidact before posting the CS (:

Game of Thrones: The Long Night

Let me know if something's fallen between the cracks for me; like a CS I missed, or a PM I missed, etc.

@Ruby

Is Tayila all right?

Closed.

Still here too!

Game of Thrones: The Long Night

Left a CS!