Ne Humanus Crede [Finished]

[Jett Tsar]

And fooled he was.

Jett's manners and emotions and sensitivities and kindness lurched at the woman before him. Here she was, sitting in the field, broken, and nobody had known the better. That's why the disabled had guide kids to help them around everywhere they went. Sometimes the elders felt degraded and refused the aid, but they usually always turned up in an embarrassing situation like this girl. Exactly why companions were necessary.

Jett considered his options. Not helping her was out of the question. But to what extent would he extend his hand? In a place like this it could easily be bitten off. Should he simply get her to the infirmary or somewhere where she was comfortable and then take off? There was always the possibility that she would consider that rude. Jett didn't want enemies. But however thoughtful the idea might be, he had no desire to strap himself to this woman (metaphorically) and become her little helper.

Though her smiles and slanted eyes were things he wouldn't mind being around all day long.

"Alright, I can get you there." Jett told her shortly, obviously thinking on other things. He pushed himself to his feet and then assessed the situation. He didn't want to hurt her in the process of helping. "Just...tap me when you feel pain and I'll stop what I'm doing." He bent over the woman and reached down to her, planning to slip his forearms beneath her arms and lift her onto her good leg facing him, so that she'd have shoulders to hang onto or a chest to lean against.

[Alexandria Lang]

Though Alexandria wasn’t exactly fond of the way she was pulled from the ground like an idiot child who had taken a tumble on the playground, it was certainly preferable to being picked up completely. She hadn’t been carried around a great many times, but it had happened on a couple of occasions, none of which she remembered fondly. There was something just insulting about being transported in such a manner; it likely had something to do with no longer being in control, but she couldn’t be entirely certain.

Carefully, she sought her balance, her right leg bent just slightly to hover off of the ground. Whatever pain she'd felt in it earlier had faded into a dull, barely noticeable ache, but an ache nevertheless. She'd likely be feeling it for a day or two after the fact. Fun.

Now that she was no longer grounded, she had a much better sense of herself and her surroundings. Her clothing wasn't nearly as ruined as she had originally suspected; though it was streaked with dirt and bits of plants, it was minimal. A good wash would easily get rid of the filth. The faint tickle of ants skittering across her back was still present, but she could deal with that once this ordeal was over with.

The man who was aiding her was much... taller than she'd expected. Looking up at him, she estimated that he had to tower over her by at least half a foot. Not to mention, he was probably a few years younger than she was.

That in mind, she flashed another grateful smile in his direction, then glanced over her shoulder in the direction of the compounds. Getting over there would likely take longer than she was comfortable with, but it was certainly better than staying in the same spot. Already, she was planning out what she would do once over there; likely, he would transport her to whatever medical facility they possessed, where she could probably acquire a new cane. Knowing people and the way they always felt so damned guilty - not to mention the fact that he seemed to be reading into her smiles and gestures just as far as she’d expected - Alex suspected that her “rescuer” would try and linger around her for a while. (Or, possibly, it could be just the opposite, and he’d feel awkward enough to try and slip away as soon as possible. That could work, as well, and would probably be much less bothersome.) Once the whole business was over with, she would be free to continue with her end plan to escape, only with slightly different means.

She would strike up friendships and alliances of pure convenience, and use the freaks here, as she was using this one, to accomplish her goals. The time to avoid them was over; now, she would use everything and everyone at her disposal to gain a small following of trust, and possibly even affection. She would do whatever it took to get what she wanted, sacrifice everything and everyone - excluding herself, of course - to get out of this prison. And this was merely one of the first steps.

Awkwardly, she reached out to grasp the man’s arm and lean against him, certain that if he were to suddenly step away or shirk her off, she’d go tumbling into the grass once more. However, she had severe doubts that he’d do something of that nature, considering the past several minutes of interaction.

[Jett Tsar]

Jett was careful with the woman, touching her as if she were made of china. For all he knew, she could have been. Just the other day he'd witnessed the death of a mutant whose skin was apparently made of glass. The man had been tottering carefully around when a blocky man with spiked black hair had unintentionally shouldered him. Without warning the man who'd been hit just shattered. As simple as that. It had been a beautiful death, however unfortunate.

Well then, there didn't seem to be any sense behind talking. She couldn't hear him anyway. So then, if Jett wanted to communicate with her he resolved to attempt to sign, using motions that she would be familiar with. There wasn't much to say to her now.

Taking the girl's wrist, he placed her hand on his back as he bent over to retrieve the cane. He couldn't very well just let her go to pick it up, now could he? Jett got both pieces of it, taking advantage of his long arms and not having to move. He straightened slowly, slipping his arm under her's so that she could wrap it around his neck.

With his open hand he motioned for them to turn around with his finger, and then he began to move. If she slipped he was ready to catch her, though he couldn't promise to keep her weight off her hurt leg.

Once facing the compounds, Jett began to move them forward, thinking about how much easier carrying her in his arms would be.

[Alexandria Lang]

Alexandria’s forehead wrinkled in confusion as he moved to retrieve her snapped cane from its resting place on the ground. Whatever good would that do? The device was broken; what use could it possibly have now, other than kindling? She would simply acquire a new one. Surely this hole wasn’t so under-supplied that such a thing was out of the question and repair was her only option.

As the man straightened up, Alex slipped her arm across his shoulders and loosely around his neck. What she wouldn’t have given to be a few inches taller at that point; it would have certainly made such a feat much easier. Regardless, it was nothing she could control and nothing to complain to herself about. She had much bigger issues than something so petty and useless.

Another wave of temporary confusion drifted over her as he gestured that the two were about to turn. What use could that possibly have? She was mute, not deaf, and that fact had been made obvious enough. She had responded to almost everything he'd said, even when she'd not been looking at him. But then again, he hadn't quite proven to be an intelligent individual in the minutes she'd known him.

Ah, well. At the very least, he wouldn't be trying to strike up a one-sided conversation with her as they staggered toward the compounds and the freaks in the distance.

[Jett Tsar]

And stagger they did. Though the journey, if you could call it that, was tremulous, Jett pursued. For the poor woman's sake. He would see her to safety and then head to the market to meet Benedict. Or maybe he'd wash in the river. He could do whatever he wanted. The world was at his fingertips. At least, what was caged in Freakopolis with him.

That was enough to earn a smile.

Jett left the woman at the infirmary and headed his own way, picking up his previous merry tune.