🌼 006

[determines]

[the text coming from Astor's account is short and to the point:]

caught by cops their goin 2 take phone

worldhop??

[attached is a quickly-snapped picture of two street signs at an intersection]

rite here orlando fl hurry

Comments

text;

[likethetragedy]

[What even... okay this is fixable unlike everything else that is going on today.]

I'll get a worldhop. Give me two minutes.

text;

[determines]

dont have 2 mins

[action forever]

[likethetragedy]

[Yeah Elektra is taking that to assume she's in some type of mortal danger and hurried it up to about thirty seconds. We're not questioning how so enjoy Elektra showing up out of nowhere.]

[action forever]

[determines]

[Astor is sitting in the back of a police car while two officers stand about ten feet away talking to a store owner; the officer in the driver's seat is busy with his radio]

[spotting Elektra, Astor waves to get her attention, jerking her head in the police's direction and mouthing TALK TO THEM]

[they're not going to release her into the custody of a stranger, but Astor still ~*believes*~; Elektra's awesome and obviously that means she can save her from two hours of boredom in police custody while waiting for her grandparents to show up]

[likethetragedy]

[If there's one thing Elektra is good at it's lying. She nods in Astor's direction and saunters up to chat with the officers without missing a beat. She doesn't even let Astor's clear jump up in age distract her. Her story is simple and close to what the truth was once to Elektra. She's an old friend of Rita's visiting from out of town who wanted to keep Astor company until a guardian showed up. Being vague and familiar with how Astor's world is in this time frame works in her favor.

Soon she's heading over to Astor hoping to get some blanks filled in.]

[determines]

[when she sees Elektra coming over, Astor leans forward to say something to the policeman in the front seat; he shakes his head, and she rolls her eyes and drops back, arms crossed]

[he unlocks the opposite passenger door from inside, so that Elektra can slide in and sit with her]

[likethetragedy]

[Elektra slides in, making sure to give a quick thanks to the officer and before offering a sympathetic smile to Astor.]

So what's going on?

[determines]

He said I couldn't get out of the car.

[she knows full well that that's not what Elektra meant]

[likethetragedy]

Well yes. He has to assume you'll run away. [She says it like it's obviously crazy leap to make. Never mind the fact Elektra would do it in a heartbeat if this was her world.]

What else?

[determines]

I'm not going to run away.

[but she would if she could; police custody suuuucks]

It's just stuff.

[so informative]

[likethetragedy]

So you're not going to tell me about that stuff? [She shrugs. It doesn't really matter to her. Elektra can wait out the next two hours though she doubts it will be necessary.]

Okay. I guess I could tell you about my day instead or we can sit here bored. Which one would you like?

[determines]

You can tell me. I don't want to just sit here until this asshole cop takes me back--

[still on his radio; the officer shoots her a warning look; she glares back but stops that line of talk, turning back to focus on Elektra]

... Busy day?

[maybe after Elektra opens up a little, she will too]

[likethetragedy]

[Elektra nods and does her best to look apologetic about Astor's behavior.]

You could say that. It started off normally until I found out a friend of mine fell into a coma and another got into trouble. I'm not sure how I'm going to help either of them.

[It's honest enough given current company. She trusts Astor to fill in the blanks about it being community members.]

[determines]

I know you're talking about me.

[for the second one, anyway]

[likethetragedy]

I'm talking about my co-worker Arthur. Have you met him? You could live a hundred years and not get into half the trouble that man gets into.

[determines]

[she's both glad you're not talking about her... and "omg why are you not talking about me, I'm in trouble too!!!"]

[welcome to teenage Astor]

What did he do?

[likethetragedy]

He has something other people want among other things. [That are highly illegal and would sound insane to our friend over here.] Arthur makes a lot of bad decisions.

[determines]

Maybe he's really fine and everyone else is just overreacting.

[likethetragedy]

That could be it. [It's not remotely, but she's pretty sure Astor is talking about herself a little.]

I hope it's the case. I really want him to make it.

[determines]

[she's a teenager; she's always talking about herself a little]

Doesn't it piss him off that you're pushing at him?

[likethetragedy]

I think he's more frustrated with life than me worrying about him.

[determines]

[Astor snorts; rolls her eyes]

You can be frustrated about both.

[likethetragedy]

Think I should stop to save him the frustration?

[determines]

Sometimes you're really bad about minding your own fucking business.

[Video]

[becomethemask]

[Why is there so many children in this place? And cops? Have one that look slightly worried.]

What happened? Are you okay?

[Video; several hours later]

[determines]

[have a teenage girl looking back at you]

I'm fine.

[Video]

[becomethemask]

Good to know.

Are you still arrested?

[Video]

[determines]

My grandparents picked me up.

... Who are you?

[Video]

[becomethemask]

Sounds like a much better place than a police station.

I'm Blake, new to this place. [He smiles.] And you are?

[Video]

[determines]

Have you ever been grounded at your grandparents' house?

-- I'm Astor.

[Video]

[becomethemask]

My parent died when I was much younger than you and I didn't had grandparents back then either...so,no I didn't.

It's nice to meet you Astor.

[Video]

[determines]

Who did you live with?

[Video]

[becomethemask]

I was under foster parents’s care but not long after that I was finally sent to a boy’s home. It was good place, much better than I expected. I still visit them often.

[Video]

[determines]

A boy's home, like, an orphanage?

[Video]

[becomethemask]

Exactly like that, yes. Things weren't always easy for me but I discovered that it really gets better with time. [Or at least that's what people likes to hear. It works for some.]

[Video]

[determines]

That's total crap.

[yep, she's blunt]

I thought someone like you would figure that out.