"Just that we need to pick stuff up in the city once we clear out of here," R.D. said, glancing back at the girl. "And his usual impatience to get going. Not that I can blame him, really, after yesterday."

"Well, let's go, then," Helena said. She raised a finger. "Oh, while we're at it, I need to pick up some more clothes. And a purse."

"Why?" Matt asked. "What's wrong with keeping the stuff in the sack?"

"My stuff keeps mixing with your stuff, so I wanted to get a purse I'd keep in there so that doesn't happen."

Matt folded his arms. "Do you really need a purse? Jotaro's paying for this stuff, so we can only get the essentials right now."

"Then I hope he has enough for feminine stuff," Helena said, her lips souring. "I need that too."

"...fair enough."

"... couldn't you just share Alasea's purse?" R.D. asked, raising an eyebrow. "Her's has the same dimensional pocket deal that my satchel does, and I doubt she'd let me or Matt put our things in there."

"I don't want my stuff to mix with anyone's stuff," Helena said.

Matt slapped R.D. on the shoulder. "It's a girl thing. You wouldn't understand."

"You probably don't understand it yourself," Hugo said.

"I don't recall asking you, Hugo." Matt pulled his hand away and slipped both of them into his pockets. "Anyway, let's do what we need to do, then get out of here. We'll see about the purse."

Helena just kept her arms folded, remained silent.

Three hours later, Alasea had been released from the hospital's care, presumably to be transferred over to another hospital that her wealthy family had contributed to (or so the hospital staff believed, thanks to Matt's bullshit). She had dressed in a simple sundress of thin violet cotton, and sandals, which would have allowed those around her to spot the thick white bandage wrapped tightly around her leg.

She was sitting down in a wheelchair, with a blanket draped over her legs, looking the perfect part of a girl trying to act cheerful despite suffering. For the most part, R.D. just found it strange to see Alasea wearing something other than her usual black and red clothing. She and the others were waiting for Jotaro to bring the truck around so they could leave.

Edited by RisingDragon on October 31, 2009 at 19:33:47.

As Jotaro brought the truck in, the waiting medical staff helped Alasea get into the front seat with the aid of crutches and their own strong arms. The rest of the group piled into the trunk, and after Jotaro told the staff he would be back to visit Joseph and Holly, they pulled out and drove off.

"Sorry for the wait, guys," Alasea apologized as she made herself comfortable in passenger seat. She had pulled back the rear cab window so they could all communicate.

"It's all right," Matt said. "Just be sure to get that healed up as quick as you can."

"I'll try. My power just isn't that strong without the Pillar here," Alasea said, frowning a bit. She looked over at Jotaro, and asked, "How's your family doing? Have they woken up yet?"

"No," he said, staying stone-focused on the road.

"Really?" Alasea commented as she turned her gaze back to the windshield. "That's strange. I'd have thought they'd have woken up by now."

R.D.'s frown only deepened.

"That demon didn't hold back," Jotaro said. "They're still alive, but I'm not surprised that they're still out."

Matt leaned against the metal seperating the trunk from the front of the vehicle. "Well, I hope they get better, man. It's kind of our fault, really, so I feel kinda bad about it."

"Don't worry about it."

The rest of the trip into the city was made in silence. Alasea went to dozing; an aftereffect of the drugs used on her for her surgery, and R.D.'s guilt at bringing his grudge with Re-Tuul to this dimension kept his mouth shut.

Deep in the city, they stopped at a large department store. Matt echoed a concern for leaving Alasea in the car, but Hugo pulled through with an option Matt hadn't seen before - a variation on his Lift Option that folded into a energy-panelled chair. (Readjusting the blanket over Alasea's legs helped conceal the strange technology, plus the Option unfurled wheels that would allow the chair to roll without using the hover functions.)

With that they entered the store and split up to fetch what they needed.

Alasea giggled a bit as Helena pushed her through the aisles. "I'm not used to this kind of treatment," she said, looking over her shoulder. "Sorry if I'm being a burden. How's your leg doing today?"

"I've got all the feeling back into it now," Helena said. "It works just like my other one...but it still feels weird. That it grew back, that is." They turned a corner, pacing their way between racks of female clothing. "What about you? Is your leg doing better?"

"Its still sore. Its not nearly as bad as it was before, but its gonna keep hurting until I can fully heal it," Alasea replied. They stopped occasionally between the racks, looking at certain articles of clothing more carefully. "Hopefully I'll have my energy back soon. I'm just not that powerful without the Pillar of Dawn."

"I just wish I could help out," Helena said, taking a floppy white sun hat off a hook. "The dragons said I can control the forces of nature, but so far, all I can do is burn things. If I could control the elements like Matt could, then maybe I could heal you."

She put the hat on her head and turned around for Alasea to see. "I also don't have problems with touching other people."

"Well, its only been a day or two before you learned you'd develop that power," Alasea pointed out while running a hand over one particular blouse. "Even my power didn't come to me all at once. Just give it a little time."

"All right." She took the hat off and put it back on the hook. "Eh, maybe I'll get that later...if the next world has a store like this. Are you going to see if you can get that blouse? Matt may not want you to get it, but I bet you can persuade R.D. to talk to him."

"Ah."

Her hand jerked away from the cloth at Helena's statement. "Actually... I don't think I could," she said, a rueful smile on her face. "R.D. and I... aren't on speaking terms right now."

"What? When did this happen?"

Alasea shook his head. "Don't you remember?" she asked, looking at the other teenager. "You were there when I yelled at him aboard the Ragnarok."

With a sigh, she let her hand fall to her lap, and with her good foot, pushed herself back from the clothes rack. "He doesn't hold a conversation with me anymore, doesn't call me Alli anymore. Really, he only speaks to me when it pertains to our quest... can't really say I blame him. He doesn't even remember having a family and I used that against him. He's always been pretty sore about his amnesia."

Helena took the handles of the chair. "Hey, you were angry about your father. You just couldn't help yourself." She pushed Alasea away from the clothing and back out into the open floor. "I bet he's over it already. I can talk to him if you want. Or maybe get Matt to do it. Sound good?"

"No, that's okay. We'll talk when we're ready to talk," Alasea said, trailing off a bit before she spoke again. "I know I was mad about what happened to Father... but still. I've always been like this and its always given me nothing but trouble. I shouldn't have said such a mean thing to him. Jared had to talk to me about it before we left for this dimension."

"So that's what he was talking about," Helena said. They turned a corner and rolled towards the electronics section, passing by bathroom wares. "Still, you've got to talk to him. The sooner you can clear the air, the sooner you'll lift the tension." She glanced down another aisle lined with coffee machines and pans as they went by. "Which I need to do with Matt."

Alasea nodded at that, and looked back over her shoulder at the girl. "When you do, just keep in mind that he wasn't trying to hurt you with what he wasn't telling you."

"I know. But it still bugs the hell out of me."

They found Matt at one of the kiosks, playing some action game on a console wired between the glass-paneled shelves. Helena's arms tensed as she straightened up. "Whatever happened to getting just what we need?"

"I already got my stuff," Matt said without looking. He lifted a plastic shopping bag, weighed down with boxes. "R.D. and the others are getting the rest."

"Will they be back soon?" Alasea asked.

"R.D.'ll call me when he's done," Matt said. "Did you get all your stuff?"

"I was heading back towards the front to get the feminine stuff," Helena said. "Sure you don't need anything else?"

"Nah, I'm good."