Solemn Thought (Open)

Nola walked slowly through the Plaza, not even sure why she was there. Maybe she was tired of being alone? Maybe just missed being outside? Whatever the reason she found herself leaving the comfort of her house for the heart of the town. A dying town, with dying kids. She looked around the heart of the town solemnly, slowly being reminded why she didn't like to come out anymore.

The area was filthy and run down, littered with garbage. Kids sat on the curbs and corners, looking like death warmed over. Some were sitting their with empty looks in their eyes, some were high, some where crying quietly. The place looked like a war zone. No, more like a....concentration camp. After all, they were just prisoners of the FAYZ, unable to fight back against their captor.

Nola caught sight of a girl--she was probably about twelve--crying, clutching her knee, which looked to be bruised with a large gash across it. Not for the first time, Nola felt a pang of guilt. After, her mother was--had been?--a surgeon, a woman obsessed with her own occupation resulting in Nola gleaning plenty of medical tips off the woman. The fourteen year old knew she probably knew more about medical treatment than anyone in the FAYZ. But she hadn't let anyone know this yet, and for that Nola felt deep guilt. She knew there was plenty of basic medical supplies laying around, especially at her house, just waiting for use.

It was even worse when Nola realized she had no excuse for not helping. Unlike most kids, who were busy trying to find basic materials like food, water, and shelter, Nola's powers insured her protection and food. After all, she could freeze a seagull straight out of the air from thirty feet away. And better yet, keep her meat frozen for long periods of time. Although, she hadn't let anyone know about this ability for fear of being persecuted. Another selfish mistake.

Sighing, Nola looked at the crying girl, and finally she cracked. She began walking over to the girl, who looked up sharply at Nola, wary. Nola just held up her hands in the universal sign for "peace, I mean no harm." She crouched down to be eye level with the girl.

"What happened?" she asked quietly, calmly. The girl's lower lip started to tremble.

"I fell on the rocks at the beach. It hurts when I walk, I don't know what to do with it," she replied in a shaky voice. Nola just nodded calmly.

"It's not as bad as it looks. It's not bleeding anymore, and that's a really good sign. You just need to clean it off with some fresh water--boiled would be the best--and apply some alcohol. Don't use peroxide for something this deep, though. Make sure you apply the alcohol on it, don't skip that part cause it hurts. You don't want it getting infected, that would just make everything worse. After you clean it try and find some bandages to put over it, make some if you need too. Change them once a day and keep them clean and dry. When the skin's mostly healed over try and air it out, it'll help it heal faster." Nola finished. The girl stared at her for a moment, confused.

"Why are you telling me this?" she asked. Nola raised an eyebrow.

"Would you have rather I not tell you?" she shot back. Slowly the girl shook her head "No." Nola nodded, content. "Now, go get it done," she shooed. "Leaving it bandaged is screaming an invitation for infection," Nola chided. The girl got up slowly and then turned, headed, presumably, back home. Nola watched the girl go, wondering what consequences she might have just unleashed. God help me.

[OOC: Slight god mod on Nola's reaction. Is it okay? You suggested she didn't want anyone to know what she knew anyway. Also sorry for the short post]

Richard didn't let the new voice interrupt his thought. "Sure." He he said blandly. He didn't need company, but as long as she diddn't distract him with anything pointless, like how much she missed her mummy, it would be fine. How would he find people to harbour certain roles? Maybe ask them tosign up or...

"You just need to clean it off with some fresh water--boiled would be the best--and apply some alcohol. Don't use peroxide for something..." Richards head snapped up and his eyes eagerly search the crowd for the knowledgable voice. Someone with medical knowledge is within this crowd! He thought. Whoever it was would have to take the role of FAYZ Doctor. He would make sure.

An extremely thin girl with long night black hair. She had said it and from the way she looked back at him when they locked eyes, she hadn't been planning on demonstrating her expertise. Without a seconds thought Richard was up and moving toward her, as non threateningly as possible. He had never see the girl before, but then again he still had to learn the names of all the kids in the FAYZ.

"Hey." He said to her as he drew closer. "What's your name?"

((LOL! No, it's no problem. I was hoping you'd over hear the convo anyway and approach.))

Nola was turning around, ready to go home when she locked eyes with a boy. A boy she knew in fact. It was Richard Staine, the elected leader of the FAYZ. And she just knew by the look on his face that he'd overheard. Her feelings were confirmed when he started moving towards her, causing her to tense, despite his not threatening body language. Nola's jaw clenched as the boy asked for her name. She was thinking about just turning and leaving--she didn't really want to go through this right now--but she knew he'd find out her name eventually and... Don't I owe him the chance? I've hidden for so long, I've been afraid, a coward....No more hiding. No more. She bit her lip and then sighed.

"My name is Nola Hollow," she replied evenly, looking the boy in the eye.

Nola Hollow...

Nola Hollow: FAYZ Doctor. Richard liked the sound of that, then again he was desperate for a Doctor and would like the sound of anyone's name. After such a long time of trying to find someone with medical expertise, he had found this dark haired girl. He had put up posters! He had announced it in public! Why had she not come forward when she could help so many people? It was pure selfishness and Richard was very annoyed at her meekness. He calmed himself down in seconds.

Having crushing responsiblity over hundreds of kids' well being... Being pressured to know everything ther was to now... The potential hate you would get if you made a mistake... Richard was the FAYZ leader but he did not think he could handle a job that pressuring. Richard had felt the unease and dubious feelings of doctors before the FAYZ, and they had been professionals. An untrained kid, it would be an unbareable.

He could sense the unease in the girl infront of him like a strong tug at his stomach and thought it may be better to negate it, for his sake more than hers. "Hi Nola, I'm Richard." He said with a smile. He extended a hand toward the girl. In the FAYZ people hardly took the time for such formalities, and hand shaking was a tradition almost entirly forgotten by the children, who had not done it much in the first place. As soon as she touched his hand. he would gradually influence her to be more at ease and less nervous and frightened. "You seem to know a lot about First Aid, and I need someone like that to run the hospital. Interested?"

Nola looked at the hand extended in front of her. She hesitated, but as she did she kept imagining the sight of all the kids she's seen hurt. The way their faces had crumpled with fear at gashes and sometimes jammed or broken fingers. She thought of the stories of the few kids who'd died of beatings in the early days of the FAYZ, and the few kids who died of infections and fevers. What it must be like to die here, never even knowing why all this happened...?

Nola swallowed hard, remembering the frantically happy cards and letters her mother had received from the people--and family of those people--whose lives she saved. Right then, Nola ached for her mother. Despite all the bad air between them, the woman was still her mother. The woman who'd lived her job, but had spent time with her daughter, bonding in the only way she knew how. Nola's mother had let her daughter practice suturing raw chicken, or injecting them with needles full of water, or simply practicing first aid. It was strange, but it had been how her mother bonded.

Now Nola knew she could put the lessons to go use. She was scared. It wasn't all thanks and warmth when it came to doctors. She's seen a lot of hate mail directed at her mother, along with nasty phone calls, along with the thank you cards. When people could be saved, the ones left behind needed someone to blame. That blame usually went to the doctors.....But Nola knew it would be worth it. Saving lives was more important than avoiding negative attention. Living in the FAYZ was teaching her that. Watching kids die, was teaching her that.

Slowly she extended her hand and grasped the boys, giving him a firm shake. The old custom felt nice and civil compared to the brutality that usually ran rampant. Physical contact period was grounding, reminding her how she had once viewed people as potential friends instead of potential threats.

"Very," Nola replied evenly, holding her head high, straightening her usually slumped shoulders.

[Kinda short sorry!]

"Excellent." Richard said with a smile. I've finally found you!

Richard mentally ticked a check box. He had his healer. Quickly he tried to registered the supplies he could manage to give her for the hospital without the rest of the FAYZ feeling the strain. She would need bandages, ice packs, a medical book to refer to... Maybe a search for home first aid kits? He considered. That seemed to be the best option.

Back to Nola.

He looked at her for a few and then, dragging her along, brought her to the bench he was sitting on. "Come one." He said as nicely as he could. He stood on the bench, tring to gain height over the people of the plaza. Leadership 101: Gain height and distance from the crowd. He had read that in a book in the now abandoned library.

"Children of the FAYZ!" He shouted dramatically. A few perplexed faces turned to face him. "I give you Nola Hollow, our new Doctor." At that he touched her shoulder in indication and he then tried to push a feeling of confidence into her mix of emotions. They all looked at her, sizing her up, trying to see if she even looked like a doctor. Richard looked at her, encouraging her to say a few words, although it wasn't necessary. What else did she have to say?

Nola looked out at the children a bit nervously. However, after a moment she straightened her shoulders and lifted her head. She'd never been one to be intimidated by what others thought, she didn't plan to start now. Richard looked at her like he wanted her to say something. She didn't know what to say, so she just turned to the crowd and lifted a hand, giving a stern nod. She figured if she was gonna be a doctor, she better act professional. Really, her head wasn't in getting good PR points. She didn't care what the kids thought, she was all they had. Instead she was mentally going over supplies she's need, her head already turning to her job.

Her home supply of medical supply was low, but most likely better than anything anyone else had. But still, she's have to reserve the the materials for the very worse injuries. However a lot of homemade supplies would be useful. She glanced a Richard and knew she'd have to make a list of things she needed for him later. A little part of her suddenly felt better at having a purpose in the FAYZ, at helping out. She was even a little excited to begin her job. She smiled, a bit bitterly. Looks like I'm turning into my mother...

The children of the FAYZ stared blankly at their new doctor. Richard wasn't expecting defeaning applause or everyone to suddenly be happy. Afterall, she still had to prove herself to everyone, but there was plenty of opportunity for that. Richard took her away from the gaze of the crowd and started to talk to her seriously. His bland and analytical face returned as he began discussing essentials with her. "Now you need quite a lot of medical equipment i take it." He said. "So I propose you get together a few FAYZ kids and get themall to raid houses. ALmost every house has a first aid kit. Also the library has alot of books on..." He trailed off as the shouting of two kids became more prominent.

He turned around quickish to see what the comotion was all about. Two young boys, ravenous with hungerand thirst, were seemingly debating on who owned a bottle of water. It began as a simple argument, then a violent debate, then fists started to fly. Richard started to walk forward, rubbing his hands together. Maybe he would need to negate their hostile attitude. But someone else beat him there, the girl on the bench. After a little struggle, she restrained one boy and solved the argument. Richard raised an eyebrow in surprise. Well... Talk about two birds with one stone. He said with disbelief.

He couldn't remember the girls name. Tisha... Taylor... Tyler! That was it. Tyler Bennett. He whistled sharply to get her attention. "Tyler! Come over here!" He shouted and walked back over to Nola. "Okay, now there are two of you." Nola, FAYZ Doctor and Tyler, FAYZ Sheriff. He was making things happen finally. "Tyler, you are now the FAYZ Sheriff." He paused to look at both the girls. "Any objections?"

Kai Stryke had been sitting in the Town Plaza, on a bench that was rather isolated from the rest of the groups located in the area. She had been staring at each and every person who passed by, silently fantasizing about the turn outs of they're each individual deaths. In one or two of them, she'd imagined ending them herself, brutally, she always made sure her imagination illustrated such things in color.

She sat with her legs crossed, without blinking, just staring at everybody, not really anything for her to do other than wonder morbidly. She didn't have any close, or even, distant friends. Really she rarely talked to anybody, unless there was a strong need for her to do so. Quite a few people who had passed by her bench had stared at her, since she was sitting as still as a statue, she did that well, since she spent a lot of time sitting and writing, or drawing, whatever she felt suitable for the gruesome images going through her head at that point in time.

Her hands were burning a bright blue, and she made an effort to turn them back to normal. When she zoned out too much, that happened. Or when she got over-excited, that happened. Imagining the deaths of strangers made her excited. She sighed as she stood from the bench and began her walk through the plaza, just going in circles, seeing if anything interesting would come her way.

Her small dagger was in her pocket, point up, so she wouldn't accidentally cut her leg with it. She smiled at it, although she'd never actually gotten the chance to use it on a person, if she was met with a situation in which she had to, she wouldn't hesitate to do so. She grinned as she walked on, she'd gotten away with tons of other things, why not murder? The little voices in her head all said it was okay, so why shouldn't she?

Aliya Dante looked up to the announcement of the new FAYZ doctor. She nodded approvingly; a doctor was something they'd needed for a long time, one of the most important things, and it had been bothering her that they'd been without one. Her eyes flickered as she spotted the fight break out over the bottle of water. She was a safe distance away, keeping herself from the majority of people, as she usually did, but she was close enough to see the scuffle and then see the girl, Aliya didn't know her name, as she broke it up. She raised an eyebrow but moved no closer.

She sighed, and looked down as she began making small twists of blackness curl across her hands. She really did have some good ideas, and she'd even been organizing them on her computer. But she was generally a loner, or at least she didn't like to initiate conversation with people. She stared as her arms were laced with dark designs, and then, with a start, realized what she had been doing and froze. She quickly stopped using her power.

She hadn't told anyone about her power, which wasn't really surprising considering that she didn't talk to people much. But that wasn't the only reason. She knew that there had to be some normals who were resenting people with powers. She wasn't stupid; she didn't want to place herself in the middle of that. She would much rather remain unnoticed than to be the target of attack. Also, if it came to it, she would much rather be underestimated than overestimated in a fight.

She looked around and was relieved; no one had been paying her much attention, which meant that no one had seen her use her power. She smiled slightly, leaned against a nearby building, thinking about what it would be like to be a key player in the FAYZ. It would probably mean less sleep, less free time. But then, what did she even do in her free time? Nothing much, just think and read, if there was something to read. So would it really cost her that much?
She shook herself and wondered why she was even thinking about it. It wasn't as if it were something she'd be facing in the near future; after all, she was just a random girl, someone no one minded at all, someone no one even noticed at all.

She curled her hands into fists and continued to survey the scene in front of her, vaguely tracing the shape of the pocketknife in her pocket. It was much more a nostalgic thing for her than it was a weapon. She'd never been good with hurting people, and she doubted she could do it unless she absolutely had to. But her father had given her the knife, and though she hid it very well, she really did miss her parents. So she carried it at all times, for memories's sake, and who really knew? Maybe she would have to use it someday.

She frowned at the possibility and withdrew her hand, wondering what to do next.

Avril looked at the package in her hand. The small, white box wrapped in this plastic, with a gold design around the edges and black font, look actually quite attractive. What was inside? Less so. It was a packet of cigarettes she’d taken away from some child who’d found them in his mothers handbag. He probably wasn’t really all that young, but he surely looked it. Even still, Avril refused to let him keep them.

That was the sort of thing Avril did – she’d never ever apply for the job of being in charge, or anything too heavy, but she’d do tiny things that nobody would really care about, because she knew it mattered. Sure, she’d help out when she was asked, but the only reason she wouldn’t want to be given a job with lots of responsibility was because she knew she could only do small things, and if she ever went for anything bigger than what she was already doing, she’d screw up big time.

She looked up when she heard the voice of Richard Staine – the FAYZ leader, whom Avril made a note to remember the name and face of – announcing who the new FAYZ doctor was. When she looked around, it seemed as though she was the only one slightly uplifted by this. A lot of other people should have been, too, considering quite as few of them enjoyed putting people in conditions where they’d have to see a doctor.

She say him talking to another girl then after, and, curious as she was, tried to listen, before she realised it was actually wrong to do that, no matter what they were talking about. She guessed, and the first thing that came up was that he was giving the other girl a job too. The next was that they were in some sort of a relationship. Stupid Avril, always doing that. This was why she kept quiet for a lot of the time, because she knew if she said what first came to mind, she’d sound incredibly stupid or weird. It was like a disability, she was unable to think properly on the spot without sounding dumb. A thousand different conclusions came to mind, and she’d have to take a few seconds the pick the one that sounded the most realistic, which was why people did still see her as intelligent and reasonable – which she was – but quiet.

She bit her lip, lost as to what to do next.

Nola had been talking to Richard about organizing medical supplies when a sight had broken out. She had thought for a moment that Richard was going to have to break it up when suddenly a pretty brown haired girl had stepped in and forced the two boys apart. Richard had quickly called her over--calling her Tyler--before offering a job as "town deputy." Tyler--who seemed very cocky to Nola--had accepted. Nola was slightly relieved--they needed someone to keep order--but also slightly worried. I hope this girl won't abuse her power.... Sighing Nola shook her head. I'll have to let Richard worried about that.... The ice user turned to the boy in question.

"Richard, before I go round up kids to fetch supplies, I'm gonna need a place to work. It needs to have space, cabinets, places for patients to sleep, a place to wash clothes and equipment. And preferably electricity, if you know anywhere with backup generators...." Nola trailed off.

Richard put his hand on the new FAYZ Doctor's shoulder. "Everything can be negotiated at the upcoming council meeting." A split second desicion really. With the enrolement of two important jobs, a meeting was needed to sort everybody and everything out. The list Nola had come up with had surprised Richard slightly. Almost as if she had planned for this... He thought curiously. Most likely it was just in her nature to be this well organised. Hopefully. He then regarded Tyler's comment. "Yes. We do need a sheriff." He said with a knowing smile.

Again, someone who seemed to already know his next move. It seemed that not all kids in the FAYZ were wandering around aimlessly, hoping someone else would take action. Some came looking for the responsibility and were willing to try and make a change. Interesting... He noted. Very out of character for adolescents.

"Okay," He began, aiming what he said at both of the girls. "On the 11th we will have the first Perdido Beach Council meeting. As the FAYZ Doctor and Sheriff, you will both have to decided what provisions you need, how many people you need and anything of concern. We will decide our plan of action to better the lives of the kids in the FAYZ among other things. Understood?" He looked at them expectantly. Hopefully they wouldn't find him too demanding and up-in-your-face, but they did sign up for this with their actions. Rule 1 of the FAYZ, Richard thought with humour. No good deed goes unnoticed.

Raimundo Stryder walked through the crowd of kids, taller than most of them, seeing as most of them were around Seven or Eight years old. He practically waded his way through until he could see the leader. Richard his name was, the self proclaimed leader of Perdido Beach, standing on a higher platform to make himself look tall and mighty. Raimundo's first impression was that this guy was clearly intelligent, far more intelligent than him. Clearly he had guts, as no one else volunteered to take charge.

"What's gonna happen to the people with powers? The mutants?" Raimundo asked, calling out from the crowd with a slightly spiteful edge to his voice, the fact was, he was intimidated by these mutants... Who knew what they could do or achieve? They could be dangerous. More importantly, the power could go to their heads, which could be disastrous for the rest of them.

Most people were either standing aimlessly in the street, watching Richard speak or messing about with cars or power tools. Raimundo raised an eyebrow, he was still waiting for an answer from 'The Leader'. In Ray's eyes, he wasn't leader until he proved himself, to everyone. What if this Richard guy had a power himself, they only knew of a few people who had powers, that healer girl especially. Why was this guy so confident? Did he know something the rest of them didn't?

[Srry for skipping to my go but I just wanted to combat Ray's assault. x3]

A shout from the crowd, obviously directed toward him. He turned toward the whinning voice, not that this guys voice was particularly high and shrill, but nowadays every voice seemed whinny and petty to him. I want this and I want that. Is there anything they didn't want? The verbal assault had come from one of the eldest kids in the FAYZ. He looked around Richard's age and was blond haired, blue eyed and very very impertinent. Richard wasn't demanding everyones complete respect straight away, respect was something that had to be earned by showing you are capable, but still there was a way you spoke to people in authority.

"The mutants?" Richard questioned raising an eyebrow. "I don't see what they are doing wrong. Nothing needs to be done about them, wouldn't you agree?" He flashed the boy a smile at the end of his sentence to try and subdue any hostility that may have come across. It was interesting, no one in the FAYZ knew that Richard himself was a 'freak'. I hate that word... He thought to himself. In essence, the 'freaks' were the result of the most evolved kids, the ones who's bodies had adapted and improved to the environment. 'Freak'or 'mutant' was just a derogatory term used by those who weren't fortunate enough to develop an extra sensory ablity.

He waiting for the boy to answer him.

Alda crossed her arms across her chest slowing down to a moderate pace as she neared the town plaza. She pursed her lips, mildly intrigued. She didn't know anyone in this town. Which was not a good thing. In a small town everyone knew everyone, surely she would stick out like a sore thumb around all these kids who probably knew each other since kindergarten, especially in her private school uniform; blue button-up, khaki shirt, knee high white socks and a navy blue cardigan with the school crest, but unfortunately and uniform and one of the few clothes she brought with her on this 'weekend trip' to her father's house.

New York was a big, big, town. When she went on the subway, she never saw the same faces twice.

She looked up at the boy shouting at the crowd, trying to find order in chaos. She wondered if he was voted in, or if he was simply the oldest. She looked around at the crowd, no one looked as if they were very far into their adolescent years. There were even toddlers.

What's gonna happen to the people with powers? The mutants? she heard. She looked up again, she had to look up all the time most people were taller than her, but this boy was so much more taller than her, she almost cowered when she bumped into him. But she didn't. If she was a lesser person, she would have cowered. His voice was booming and he could easily be a head or more taller than her. The people with powers, he said with malice in his voice. She held her head up high, looked down her nose at the taller boy. Don't disappear, she willed herself, Just don't.

Raimundo felt someone bump into him, he looked at the girl, she was smaller than him, "Watch it!" He said, she was looking up at him with an odd look, strange girl, he shook his head and then reverted his attention to Richard, who was answering his question. "The Mutants?". Ray felt that was an acceptable name for the kids with powers, Mutant, Mutated Person. He could call them Freaks, because that's what they were in reality. "I don't see what they're doing wrong" It wasn't a case of what they were doing wrong, it was what they could do wrong. "Nothing needs to be done about them" Pfft, a weak statement, of course something needed to be done, what was to stop these freaks from killing? Or taking over?

"Wouldn't you agree?"
Ray stepped forward, out of the crowd and answered, "No, I don't agree, these freaks are dangerous! What if they decide that they don't need to do what we say... What if they rebel? What then Leader?" Ray said, concerned for his friends, his classmates, who without protection, or some sort of guarantee from Richard, could be in danger. Sure, it sounded aggressive, like he was picking on Richard, but in reality, he was just looking out for his friends.

Alda huffed. "Well, I suppose chivalry is dead." She snapped at him, hands on her hips, she drew herself up to her full height. "Maybe next time, you can politely excuse a lady instead of snarling at her, you inbred brute. Just a thought," she sneered.

She pointed her nose in the air, but unable to move more than 3 steps because of all the kids that had packed into the town hall, she simply turned her back to him, focusing her attention to the chaos that was ensuing.

Nola narrowed her eyes at the boy in the crowd who was bashing the mutants. She didn't like where he was heading with his statements, didn't like the trouble he was stirring up. Nervousness churned in her stomach and she forced herself to keep calm and prevent frost from forming on her hands and keep her breath from coming out in icy puffs, which it had been known to do when she was emotional. She lifted her head and turned towards the boy, black eyes glaring.

"The only kid causing trouble here is you!"she spat. "The mutants have done nothing, there kids just like you or me. You may even know them! And what if the normal kids rebel? They're dangerous too, with guns and knives, and all kinds of weapons. Any of us can be dangerous here. That's why we need to look at things carefully, stay organized, use rules, and be fair. Not jump to conclusions like you're doing!"

((I love Ray! It gives us some great tension! Kudos to whoever is playing him....))

Alda's eyes shot to the girl who had spoken up against the idiot that snapped at her. She could almost smile. The girl seemed sure of herself, head strong even. Kids apparently knew her, though obviously she didn't. She little boy next to started crying. Alda cringed. She was all to familiar with a baby's cries. She knelt down and picked him up. He stopped crying immediately.

"There, there," she said. she gave him a ring pop, her sister had given it to her as she boarded the plane, it seemed like so long ago. The little boy grinned, jumped out of her arms and ran away giddily, but not before planting a sloppy kiss on her cheek. She smiled. She wasn't really good with children, they infuriated her to no end, but no child could cry with candy.

Quickly, she turned to the action ahead of her, hoping to catch names and observe the town and its kids more. She hadn't ventured out of the forest and it was time she made herself part of this society.