Rory
Rory watched in silent amusement as Ronin put things more clearly for Remi, and while there was a lightness to the exchange—even in Remi's response, rolling his eyes while seeming to shrug it off—Rory figured it was genuine care. It was strange to watch two old friends, with their own habits and security in their interactions. It made him feel even more like the stranger, when it was them who had come to this place, and not the other way around.
He figured the difference was unity. While he'd heard the talk go around town that not everyone was from this Northaven, they all shared something: they had been deposited here. The Naturals had, perhaps, had unity when the calamity had first happened, but they had lost it. They weren't in this together in any way. They all just happened to live here and happened to have no way out.
"I live on the border between the fields and the woodlands, near the Outskirts. Just look for goats," he responded to Ronin's question, thinking it was probably safe to tell them where he lived. And if they showed up when his sister was home and he wasn't, well, perhaps she'd thank him for the opportunity to meet two handsome men. Maybe it'd take her mind off things. Or maybe she'd just take it out on him later. Depended on her mood, really.
The idea that Ronin had included him in the suggestion to head for the Atheneum felt both weird and good—honestly, what about being included by people who seem important and good doesn't make you, too, feel good? Yet he looked for a way out of it in his mind. Rory wasn't great with the written language, and he'd hate to come there and then confess that he was useless.
Fortunately, Remi saved him. "That sounds like a good idea," Rory agreed rather brightly.
He figured the difference was unity. While he'd heard the talk go around town that not everyone was from this Northaven, they all shared something: they had been deposited here. The Naturals had, perhaps, had unity when the calamity had first happened, but they had lost it. They weren't in this together in any way. They all just happened to live here and happened to have no way out.
"I live on the border between the fields and the woodlands, near the Outskirts. Just look for goats," he responded to Ronin's question, thinking it was probably safe to tell them where he lived. And if they showed up when his sister was home and he wasn't, well, perhaps she'd thank him for the opportunity to meet two handsome men. Maybe it'd take her mind off things. Or maybe she'd just take it out on him later. Depended on her mood, really.
The idea that Ronin had included him in the suggestion to head for the Atheneum felt both weird and good—honestly, what about being included by people who seem important and good doesn't make you, too, feel good? Yet he looked for a way out of it in his mind. Rory wasn't great with the written language, and he'd hate to come there and then confess that he was useless.
Fortunately, Remi saved him. "That sounds like a good idea," Rory agreed rather brightly.
