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Post by Zeronone on Jan 4, 2024 14:41:08 GMT -7
Robbie bent down, taking her hand he gave it a soft shake as he smiled at her. His eyes full of sympathy and something else, a shared knowing of pain.
"Klara, one thing I have learned in my years on this Earth is that people say mean things when they are afraid. And people get afraid when anything new or different or special comes along. They hide behind mean words to mask their own insecurity. You are not evil, you are not devil spawn, you are not a freak or weird or bad or evil. You are a kid who can do amazing things."
He stood up, smiling down at her question he tilted his head as he thought about it. He had been told what he was once, but it hadn't really meant anything to him.
"Let's say I am an agent of punishment for those in charge. Up or down is debatable but all I know is that I punish the wicked and protect the good. And tonight, the good I protected... was you. Which meant someone up there thinks you are a good person. And isn't their opinion worth more?"
Robbie wasn't really sure he believed fully in what he was saying. He knew there was a hell and a heaven. Eli had kind of admitted to that. But something besides Eli had brought him here this night. It was obvious she put more stock in faith than he did with her mentioning God and the Devil. But for now, if it made her smile, it was worth it.
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Post by Gummy on Jan 4, 2024 15:00:49 GMT -7
Klara did look a little better with the words he was saying as she sniffed once more.
"It does. God has sent people in the past to save me. I didn't listen at first and then I did."
She thought for a few seconds.
"I'm alright. Sometimes people are just wrong. I'm learning that now people are a little more tollerable but are still not entirely accepting but that is our choice. Our free will is the gift we were given. I think I'll stick to main streets from now on."
In the distance there was the sound of sirens and it made her flinch.
"I disagree with one thing. I'm not a kid. I'm trying to be with Molly but it's hard. I know too much and she knows too little. How can I keep being a kid when I know I have committed the biggest sin of disobeying my husband? For he is the head of my house and only God is above him?"
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Post by Zeronone on Jan 4, 2024 15:06:17 GMT -7
Robbie smiled as he saw her looking better, poor kid had gone through too much. He nodded, knowing what it was like to have someone try and help you only for you to push them away. The regret it came with but you learned from past mistakes.
"People change over time, they learn new things, see new things and grow from them. People take time to change and become accepting but there are always those out there that are forward thinkers. Who see the world of what it can be rather than what it is."
He heard the sirens and turned his head towards them, focusing until her words drove him back with a crunch. His head snapping over to look at her. He looked closely to make sure he hadn't mistaken her for a little person who was actually an adult. No, she was definitely a kid and a young one. Hell, Gabe was older than her.
"Klara, I apologize because I was kind of focusing on those sirens. Say again, did you say husband?"
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Post by Gummy on Jan 4, 2024 15:21:07 GMT -7
Klara knew what he meant. Some people changed for good others for evil but then there was also the social norm and what was accepted and that changed slower. For her though it had changed a lot and very fast. Lesbians and gays were shunned and imprisoned in her time but now they were just a part of society as married people were.
It still felt slightly wrong for her to see Nico kiss and that was something which challenged her core. Yet, it was something to accept. God said to love one another and so she had to believe now that it was acceptable. There was protection from illnesses which could be passed along that wasn't availble in the bible. Medical care was better... for the most part so people lived longer.
Then she responded by simply nodding to Robbie.
"Yes. It was all legal. My mother gave permission."
There was also no ring on her finger.
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Post by Zeronone on Jan 4, 2024 15:25:16 GMT -7
Robbie stared down, a look of confusion on his face as he considered her words. He had heard of the child bride thing but that was like super old school. That or weird cult stuff which wasn't good either. He looked down but she didn't have a ring. Could she be lying? No, he didn't get the liar feeling type from her. That was super weird, he looked around just to buy himself a little time to think. Any guy who married a child regardless of permission was some kind of sicko. And this only God above him sounded like brainwashing. He put a smile back to hide his thoughts.
"Well, Miss Klara then. Look, it is very dangerous and has gotten dark. How about I drive you home? I got a burger in the front seat with your name on it. I would love to meet this husband of yours. And break his creep face in! That last part ran through his mind, he could almost feel Eli pulling at the chain.
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Post by Gummy on Jan 4, 2024 15:33:21 GMT -7
Klara looked down at the floor a little more gloomy. She was also shivering now from both shock and cold.
"You can't take me fully home, my friends might not like it. We are trying to keep low key. A lift would be nice and I am hungry. Burger sounds great. Although..."
She was tempted to say no but that would mean talking to the police about what had happened and how was she going to explain why she was in the alley on her own and they would then take her to an orphanage and she really didn't like that idea. She got up.
"I'll come with you. I don't want to talk to the police. You can't meet my husband. He's been dead for over ninety years."
That was one thing she had looked at was his death. She didn't care if he had remarried or not. It didn't matter. History had said she had died in the fire along with several others who had gone missing. When in fact she had time travelled.
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Post by Zeronone on Jan 4, 2024 15:38:59 GMT -7
He stared at her for a moment before nodding, the Runaways. She had asked if he knew them, he had guessed they had been kids who ran away from home. She pretty much confirmed that. He took a step to the side and led her out of the alley towards his car.
"I won't pry, I know what it is like not having anyone and I don't want your friends to feel unsafe. I will take you as far as I can."
From there things just got weirder, he understood not wanting to talk to the cops. He really didn't either, kind of hard to explain a dead man in a dumpster with fiery holes for eyes. Her other mention, the ninety years thing, threw him. He looked down at her, an eyebrow raising but saved it till they were at his car. He opened the passanger door for her, handing her the bag with the burger and fries and closed it. Walking around, he climbed in and sat down.
After a moment he turned towards her, a questioning look on his face. "Hey Klara, I'm sorry, I don't mean to pry. You just said Ninety years, that timeline doesn't really add up. Are you really a kid or are you just messing with me? If it's the latter, you don't have to lie."
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Post by Gummy on Jan 4, 2024 15:46:25 GMT -7
Klara smiled a true smile at Robbie. As he tried to make her not lie but she wasn't lying.
"Oh he did die over ninety years ago. I am classed as a kid as I've only live for 12 years. But... I was born in 1897. I kinda time traveled. Well... no kinda. I did time travel. My friends brought me here. It's so amazing now. I love the clothes. So I'm not lying. It's just my friends brought me here after they saved me twice. The first time was in a factory fire but I didn't know it was them until later. They gave me the time to escape. The second time was to bring me here. That was after my husband beat me up. So.... I looked up my husband and found out when he had died. It helped a little."
She took a big bite of the burger and started to feel warmer in the car.
"Thanks for the lift. Just go straight until you reach the run down area."
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Post by Zeronone on Jan 4, 2024 15:52:31 GMT -7
Robbie stared at her for a long moment as he drove. Time Travel? I mean why the hell not. He was hanging with a sicko serial killer who died ten years ago. Time travel... sure why not. He thought about it for a minute. 1897, well that would explain the child bride thing, back then it was pretty normal for little kids to get married. But still that was messed up. He looked around as they entered a run down and dangerous part of New York. Whoever these kids were they had to be tough in order to live here.
He stopped the car and turned towards Klara, his blood boiling at her admitting her husband beat her up. A different fire burning in his stomach before a sinister laugh echoed through his mind.
"Hey Robbie, how about a little trip with the young lady. She says the old man is dead, let's find out. A trip to the Pit!"
Robbie gritted his teeth, but he wasn't dismissing the idea. In fact, his fingers were tapping his steering wheel as he thought about it. A trip down to hell to see if an abusive child marrying prick was roasting in the seven layers. He looked over at Klara and cleared his throat. "Hey Klara, quick question. You said your husband died, if he was beating you I doubt he walked through the pearly gates. ....Want to see if we can find out?"
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Post by Gummy on Jan 5, 2024 12:33:15 GMT -7
Klara looked at Robbie, the whole thought of knowing for certain what hell was like probably wasn't something for her to see. Not at that point in time. Knowing that there was a hell meant there had to be a heaven otherwise what was the point. She wondered if her mother was there and that made her think of all the others she had known.
"He wasn't a bad man! He took me in when no one else wanted me. All I had to do was be a good wife. Earn money, clean the house, cook. The normal stuff. It was my fault that I was cursed with being a mutant. They blamed me."
The weight of the world was on her shoulders and she felt it.
"I bet they even blamed the fire on me. I was one of the four who were deemed dead. All the people I got to know here in America, they are all gone. All died. If I look up one what is to stop me looking for others? There is no one from my family who are still alive. Some were taken in the Great war and again in the Second World War. I should have been there. I should have lived through it but I didn't. I'm here."
She hadn't told any of her friends this. She knew he wasn't a good man but the rest was all true. She had told herself it all just to survive.
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Post by Zeronone on Jan 5, 2024 15:17:10 GMT -7
Robbie listened, giving her the ear, she needed so badly. He knew what it was like not having anyone to talk to about the stuff troubling you and this kid needed that. "Klara, you weren't unwanted. People just didn't know much about mutants in your time. Today we have so many types running around that a lot of people have just seen it as normal to see someone shoot lasers or summon lightning or yes, grow plants. It wasn't your fault for any of it, you are just Klara. Not a mistake, not a problem, not different. You are what you were meant to be, and doesn't it say that God has a plan, and we are made in his image? If he didn't want you to have these abilities, would you have them?"
Robbie had never been much of a believer in heaven and hell, God or the Devil. I mean, beings like Hercules and Thor from mythology were gods. After becoming the Rider however there wasn't really a way to deny it. He did believe but he didn't really worship. Could a rider even be saved? Didn't matter, he did it for Gabe, all for Gabe.
He reached over and gently laid his hand on top of her head, ruffling her hair in a big brother way. "Hey, I am sorry your family is gone. But blood doesn't make family you know, the people you meet in your life and love. That is family, blood is just the easiest way for a family to be formed. But it sounds like those other Runaways love you and see you as a member of their family. As for the time travel and wars, I am glad you didn't have to experience that. It was really bad. Be here, be present now. Live in this moment and not the past ones."
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Post by Gummy on Jan 5, 2024 15:27:59 GMT -7
Klara nodded to his question. God always had plans. The world was beautiful and she helped it heal. She helped.... It was like she had suddenly been shouted at. Something told her that was the plan for her to be here and now. Not in the past but in the time when the world and nature needed her most.
She giggled a little as her hair was ruffled a smile breaking out as she ate the last chips/fries.
"I still can't get over these fries! No wonder there are so many large people about. Wait! Did I eat your dinner? I'm sorry."
She felt a little guilty that she had eaten the burger and fries. It was just lovely.
"I don't think I am ready to see hell. If you do find him or know of him then... just tell him... tell him....."
What could she say? What could she tell the man that beat her for doing minor things wrong or for not having enough alcohol on the shelf. Could she possibly forgive him? If it wasn't for him she wouldn't be here. Would that forgiveness mean he then got to go to heaven? What if his punishment was to have an image of her beating him? What if he had carried on to abuse other kids? She had never looked him up, just the date he died.
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Post by Zeronone on Jan 5, 2024 15:46:41 GMT -7
Robbie watched her, seeing the change coming and her smile causing him to smile. Klara was a good kid, maybe misplaced in time but she had a good heart, and something told him she was where she was supposed to be. He watched her gorge down the food and laughed when she apologized, waving his hand. "Actually I bought it for my little brother but didn't realize what time it was. He already ate and it was pretty much left overs for a lunch or something tomorrow. I rather you have it then me put on another burger worth of weight."
As she stumbled over what she wanted him to say he watched her, that guy sounded like a real piece of work. Maybe it was worth a trip to hell to see how the guy ended up? But then again, he didn't have a personal stake in it. "Tell you what, Klara. If I do run into him and he is still alive and needs penance, I will give it to him. But you don't have to carry that demon around anymore, you are free of him and all his evil. Now, look forward instead of back and make the most of your life, I have a feeling you are destined for great things."
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Post by Gummy on Jan 6, 2024 7:17:14 GMT -7
Klara licked her fingers letting out a soft sigh then laughed looking up at the sky out the window.
"Thank you. Tell your little brother it was delicious!"
She thought about it all then nodded.
"God will judge. I know you may have fire in you but fire can be a cleanser. Wild fires can be good for new growth. Where I grew up, after the trees were felled the land was scorched. It was sad but the new life was stronger for the death of the old. If you get the feeling of something and need to protect the pure of heart. That is good. I believe you are who you are meant to be too."
She looked over to him with sparkling eyes.
"I found out the sun is a huge mass of fire, if we didn't have it the plants wouldn't have the strength to grow. I have a feeling I am here to help the world heal and grow. You are here to help people live. I can't talk to my friends about this as they don't understand but I think you do."
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Post by Zeronone on Jan 9, 2024 7:34:10 GMT -7
Robbie chuckled and gave a nod. "I will indeed tell him. Maybe I should bring him around, introduce you to him. He needs a friend and I think you and your friends would be great for him. Good kids, though I would prefer if you were all not living in this dangerous part of the city. I have an apartment if you kids want to crash there. I promise I won't turn you in, you are all free to live your lives your way."
He considered what she said, his head turning to look at the night sky out the window. A hissing laughter echoed in his mind, and he pushed it away. He was doing his best to keep Eli from spouting some weird crap. The kid needed safety, not nightmares. He took a deep breath and turned back with a smile.
"I think we are both necessary, we were meant to be here, and I was meant to meet you. Fire is a tool like any other, it can help or harm depending on those that wield it. But what you do, Klara. You give life, you create not destroy. And that is a true gift, for it means you can make the world better just by being you. I know the time you came from was a harsh one, this time isn't much better depending on who you meet. But it has so much potential to be better and it has people like you that will make it better. And the people like me keep the bad ones from messing with those like you."
He reached over ruffling her hair.
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