Shapeshifter's Underground (Somewhere under London)

Cynder looked around momentarily before finding a sheet of paper and a pencil and writing down in fancy, but cartoonish, handwriting-

Your lips are as easy to read as a book, dummy.

-I read a note.- "How about we start with a note sayin' 'Thanks for bringin' me here and effectively savin' my ass, Joachim'?"

Cynder scribble down another note, a Smug look on her face.

I'm sorry, I can't hear you.


A pause, she scowled, rolled her eyes, and wrote down something else.
But thanks anyway. I guess you did save my skin. Where's Descole?

"That bastard is back at school, and from what I hear, one of the Strayer bros beat him."

Cynder blinked and nodded, pulling the pad to her lap and writing rapidly.

He is. He was ordered by Head Auror Cayden to watch me in case I did anything rash.... please tell me he or the Strayers know you brought me here?

"Oh.. crap..."

"Umm... let's just say that I did..."

Cynder slumped slightly, expression going dark.

She sketched a little skull on the paper, mouthing wordlessly.
'I'm dead..'

-I sigh- "Okay look, I don't usually play errand boy, but I can go tell Artemis or whoever I have you here and we'll be all square, a'ight?"

Cynder gave a weak smile.

She held up the new note, which had a little scribbled heart in the corner.

You're a life saver, Joa~
Sorry for being so rude, before.

The girl stood weakly and hugged the boy momentarily, before separating, an honest look in her eyes.

-I look at her surprised.-

"You don't gotta apologize for bein' rude... only ones who ain't rude to me, are my sister, Saph... and ya uncle..."

"So yeah..." -I turn around and look at her with almost sad eyes.- "Don't go outta ya way to be kind to me..."

Cynder blinked, forced by a sudden ill feeling in the bottom of her stomach to sit down.

The new note she held up was different, and though she couldn't use her own voice to get the boy's attention, she slapped the paper loudly against her leg before holding it up again.

I'm not. It was cruel of me not to be, I was just scared and upset. Thank you for bringing me here.

"D..don't worry about it." -I say as I start walking away. What was it with this girl? One minute she's all sarcastic and the next shes all nice? Women, I guess.-

"Well I'll go tell Arty... cause frankly.. Descole scares the hell outta me!" -I say and laugh a little.-

Cynder nodded quietly.
A new note was held up quickly

As long as news reaches Descole, or that it's mailed to Cayden. Thanks, Joa.

"Friends call me Chimmy there, sleepin' beauty..." -I say as I smirk and walk out.-

Cynder watched the boy go quietly before laying back down, spent in energy, and dozed off into a deep sleep.

-Well... I better be appre... no, you know what? I did it. I did it, I did my job, that's enough for me. I joined up with Ged for exactly this. To have a purpose, and now I got one. No complaints.-

"Cynda'... I told one of the Strayers. Ya know, the silent, bossy one..."

Cynder stirred and rolled to her side to look at Joa.
Her hearing was still awful, but... had she... actually heard a little bit?

It had been like a whisper.

She took the pad of paper with a pencil and wrote down, yawning, but grinning,

You told Crest? Oh! Thank you... Chimmy~

The girl had gone from what looked like pure exhaustion to relieved joy.

"See? I do grow on people..." -I smirk a but as I say this jokingly.-

There's light, goodness, and a chance to be likable in everyone. It just takes a bit of time to find it.

The girl held up this new note and nodded firmly, as if to assure she had written it.

... Even Descole.

"Ummm... Yeah, here's where GED and I differ. Frankly I don't have any hope for the prick, but Ged seems to think there's SOMETHING!"

Cynder sighed wordlessly as always, turning the paper toward her before holding out for him to read again.

He's been hurt badly.

"So did Top and I, but we turned out A'ight!"

There seemed an air of knowing around the girl.
As if she was suppressing something she knew best be kept a secret, but that she wished to yell out loud.

He listened to the women he loved die while he couldn't do anything. While he was forced to do nothing for her.

-I sigh, I swear to god, this is why I can never be a hero.-

"Look my job is to make sure your alright, just try and help me out a little and don't do anything stupid, okay?"

Silence, Cynder seemed to try and search Joa, but gave up gently.

Fine. Ged's glad you brought me here. He saw me a bit earlier today, and wanted to thank you. He's gone somewhere, but he didn't tell me.

She sighed again and folded her arms, looking dully at the bed which she was laying on, wishing she had enough strength now to stand.