HEREBIS ISLAND
Nuri: are you excited?
Kaya: yes. It's been a while since I've been here.
Rho: this is where your grandfather was born, right?
Kaya: yes, he was buried here. Last time I was here was when it was his funeral. He always wanted to be buried here.
Rho: do you want us to come with you?
Kaya: I have to do this alone, but feel free to look around, I'll join you later.
Ace leaves the room and looks around.
She ignores the others because she is ashamed of how she treated them, and is not ready to talk. Gets off the ship.
Nigel: where are you going?
Ace: if you even have to ask that, then you don't even know me.
She said a bit cold but calm. She keeps walking.
Rin goes after her, but Nigel stops him.
Nigel: don't worry, I'll keep an eye on her.
Rin: What makes you think she'll let you do that?
Nigel: let's be real, she won't let any of us be by her side, but she was there for me when we fought Sorious, and she had my back, I owe her the same.
He got off the ship.
Nigel: don't worry, she'll be safe.
He looked at Rin. Rin nodded, and Nigel left.
Kaya: well, he's the only one who hasn't tried to talk to her yet, who knows, maybe he'll succeed.
Nuri: or she will kill him and get even worse.
Rho: have a little more faith.
Nuri: shall we too?
Rin: I'll stay here a little longer to train.
Nuri: of course...
Kaya: I'll show you around first before I go visit grandpa.
Rho nodded, and they got off the ship. Rin stays to practice his fighting. Ace walks and looks for a bar, Nigel is behind her, keeping his distance and following her. She stops and turns around
Ace: what do you think you're doing?
Nigel: just looking for a good bar.
Ace: if you think I'm going to talk about anything, you're wrong.
Nigel: I just want to have a drink, that's all.
Ace looked at him and turned and continued walking, Nigel following her. She enters the bar and sits down at the bar, Nigel sits down as well, but he sits a few places away.
Bartender: what can I get you?
Ace: anything that is strong.
Bartender: I have the perfect drink for you.
He pours some whiskey into her glass.
Bartender: this is the strongest we have.
Ace: you can leave the bottle.
The barman nodded and left her the bottle and walked away.
She takes a sip of her drink and looks at Nigel drinking his drink, not even looking at her, just sitting there. She looked away and continued to drink.
Rho Nuri and Kaya
Kaya: I hope you managed to catch everything.
Rho: we did, don't worry.
Kaya: I hope it's saffron season, I haven't seen those flowers in a long time.
Nuri: oh yes, I almost forgot what your favourite flower is.
Rho: why are those your favourite flowers?
Kaya: when I was little, whenever my grandfather went for a walk in the forest without me, he would always pick that flower for me.
Rho: That's really sweet.
Kaya: so I'll leave you for now, see you later?
Rho: don't worry, we'll manage, just go.
Kaya: see you later
Nuri: bye.
Nuri and Rho remain.
Nuri: what do you want to do?
Rho: I thought I'd visit the library first.
Nuri: the library? Well that sounds...boring.
Rho: see ya.
She talked cold and started to walk.
Nuri: wait! Maybe we could do something together?
Rho: what do you want to do?
Nuri: Kaya mentioned that they have a board game workshop, what do you say?
Rho: That sounds... childish.
Nuri: it's no wonder we don't hang out that much...
He said quietly to himself
Rho: did you say something?
Nuri: I said maybe we can find something in common.
Rho: I'm sure we have something in common...
Nuri: yes...
Awkward silence
Rho: how about a museum?
Nuri: pass, how about swimming pools?
Rho: I'd rather not.
They stop and think.
Rho: how about the theater?
Nuri: you say theater, it's actually not a bad idea.
Rho: the theater should be... in this direction.
She starts to move
Nuri: did you know how I used to wanted to be an actor.
Rho: Really?
Nuri: yes, I even went to auditions.
Rho: have you acted anywhere?
Nuri: only at school, but that didn't go well...
Rho: why?
Nuri: I set the stage on fire...
Rho: you had powers then?
Nuri: powers? No...
She looked at him confused
On the other side... Kaya moves through the streets and looks around, happy to be here again. She looks around at people walking, not much has changed. While she was walking, she heard something in one of the streets.
One young man (teen) held Atlas, while the third one hit him. (they are all teens)
H: this will teach you not to mess with us.
Atlas is trying not to scream.
Atlas: It's not my problem that you can't keep your girlfriend.
Bully hits him again.
H: say it again if you dare!
Atlas: you're a coward.
H swings again to hit him but Kaya stops him with her power, she wraps her tattoos around him (in physical form they look like strings), his wrist and pulls,
Kaya: how original, three against one.
H: this is no place for a little girl like you, so I advise you to forget what you saw and get lost.
Kaya: little girl? I bet I'm older than all of you.
She talked very calm, she was not intimidated at all.
Atlas: don't be crazy, get out of here!
Kaya: I'm not leaving here until you leave him alone. She tells H and other bullies.
They all laugh.
H: and how do you intend to stop us?
Kaya: you don't want to listen to me? Okay, don't say later that I didn't give you a chance...
H: big words for such a little girl, do you want to play? Don't worry, I'll show you how.
Grabs her hand.
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Kaya: ccc, I wouldn't do that if I were you...
She talked calm, but her eyes became serious.
Atlas: you are crazy! Get out while you can!
Kaya: shut up, this is getting personal now.
She uses her powers and wraps him in her tattoos and squeezes him, he lets go of her hand.
H: how did you do that?
Kaya: that's not all I can do.
She lifts him into the air
Kaya: Apologize!
The other two attack her, she lets him go for a while, but gets rid of them with her powers. One of them she hit strongly with her powers, the other she kicked away. Kaya turned to the Atlas.
Kaya: don't just stand there, do something!
Atlas jumps in and hits one of them.
Kaya: nice one...
H attacks. Atlas dodges and hits him. Kaya attacks another.
Kaya: it's nice to be home...
She said like she really meant it. And she threw one of them against the wall. Atlas collides with H. The other two try to run away and she pulls them back with her powers.
Kaya: no, no, no, no, you're not leaving here until you apologize!
Both of them: WE ARE SORRY!
Kaya: and you will never do it again?
They shake their heads and she lets them go
Kaya: ok then.
They run away, only H remains. He looks at the two of them fighting and Atlas is in the lead.
Kaya: wow, you're actually really good.
Atlas hits him once more and he falls to the floor. Kaya stands next to Atlas.
Kaya: excuse me...
He looks at them and hesitates, looks at them angrily.
Kaya: I said to apologize... she stared at him with her tattoos raised in the air.
H: okay! Sorry!
He said mad. Kaya retreated. H gets up from the floor and runs away
Kaya: thugs... she turns to Atlas. Are you ok?
Atlas: there were better days, he coughed.
Kaya: we should clean you up.
Atlas: it's okay, I'll be fine... but I'm curious, who are you crazy girl?
Kaya: crazy? Oh, forgive me, please, what should have I done? Leave you there?
Atlas laughed
Atlas: thank you for jumping in.
Kaya: no problem.
Kaya watches him.
Kaya: You should go for a check up. I have some medicine that might help you.
She starts searching the bag.
Atlas: it's fine, my father is a doctor, so I'm already familiar with the procedure...
Kaya: so you often injure yourself huh?
Atlas: you could say that.
Kaya: by the way, I am Kaya.
Atlas: Atlas.
Kaya: let me help you walk home.
Atlas: I would appreciate it.
She put his hand on her shoulder and they left the street.
Ace and Nigel
Ace is still sitting at the bar, almost done with the bottle. She is playing with a dagger that belonged to Aaron. Someone sits down next to her.
R: Why is such a beautiful girl sitting alone?
She ignores him
R: looks like you've had a lot to drink, why don't you come with me, it's not very safe here for such a beautiful girl, especially drunk...
She gets annoyed and stabs the dagger hard on the table, between his fingers
Ace: ha, looks like I am drunk, I missed.
He looked at her in shock, mad, confused.
R: you are crazy!
He got up and left. Nigel came and sat next to her. Ace is silent.
Nigel: I hope you won’t try to kill me just for sitting here.
Ace: don't annoy me and you're safe.
She drinks. she is calm, steady.
Nigel: I like the dagger, where did you get it?
Ace: from an old friend.
Nigel: where is he now?
Ace is petrified.
Ace: He's dead, just like you will be if you continue with these questions. I already told Rin, I don't need anyone's help, no shoulder to cry on, I just need peace.
Nigel: I know, that's what I told them too.
She looked at him.
Nigel: look, I didn't come here because I think you need help or that you can't do something on your own. You're smart enough to take care of yourself, and if you need peace and space, I respect that, and if you want me to leave, just say and I'll leave without a problem because you don't need anyone to look after you. You're Ace, you're one of the strongest people I know, and nothing, not even one bad day, can change that.
She sits and listens to him, says nothing. He leans back a bit.
Nigel: you're not any weaker if you feel pain sometimes, but you're not any stronger if you reject the people you love because of that pain.
She's still listening to him, and she looks like she's relaxed a little more, she doesn't seem so serious anymore, she seems more broken.
Nigel: and trust me I understand. I understand that you just need some time for yourself, and that doesn't mean that you care less, you just need to put some things in order in your head, and that's completely normal.
Ace: and all this time I thought Rin was our psychiatrist... How wrong was I...
She said that sarcastically. Nigel laughed.
Nigel: I'm your friend, just like them. I am your friend no matter if I sit on that chair over there or this one. You don't have to talk, of course you can if you want, but you don't have to, we're still your friends.
Ace: I'm not sure I'm the best friend to have.
Nigel: you're kidding me? You are the best friend to have. You are always ready to fight and to protect the ones you love, you always have alcohol with you, and you are always but always... honest.
She looked at him. He leaned on the bar, and took his beer.
Nigel: you are a person who will either give an honest answer or say nothing. And that is a very good quality.
Ace takes a break. She leans back and crosses her arms.
Ace: why are you telling me all this?
Nigel: because I can no longer watch the idiots of our friends who are forcing you to talk, because you don't owe anyone anything. Another reason is because I consider you a very good friend. Ever since Sorious appeared, you've shown how you have my back, and how you trust me. Just by trying to convince the others not to get involved, you showed me that you believed in me, and you knew it was my struggle that I wanted to go through alone, and I respect that.
Ace: yes, but in the end I didn't manage to talk them out...
Nigel: that doesn't matter, you tried. You also knew that they are kind of people who will definitely do their own thing and get involved, because that's how they show their way of friendship. And that's okay.
Ace: I have to admit, it's nice to talk to someone who actually understands you.
She leans forward again and takes a few sips of her beer.
Nigel: if we're being honest, I have to tell you that I haven't felt this comfortable and relaxed while talking to someone in a long time.
Ace: Really? What about Rho? I thought you two were close.
Nigel laughed.
Nigel: yes, but I look at her differently, and with you, I somehow see you more like a... bro.
Ace: bro?
She raised an eyebrow
Nigel: well you know, you're always drinking, you're a fighter, you're badass, you like to fool around, take risks, and you even have a dude attitude. I don't know, I just see you as a bro.
Ace: I'm definitely a bigger man than most men.
She said calm, unbothered and continued to drink.
Nigel: see, that comment didn't even make you angry. It is pleasant to be in your company, life-threatening, but pleasant.
She laughed a little.
Nigel: I knew you didn't forget to smile.
Ace: thank you.
Nigel: for what?
Ace: we had a conversation where I didn't have to share anything personal, and where you never once asked me what was bothering me or what my problem was. You didn't start any fights with me, you didn't treat me like I was a little child, and most of all I appreciate that you didn't look at me the way everyone else looks at me.
Nigel: what look?
Ace: with a pity.
Nigel: don't ever look at me with that look, I won't look at you either.
Ace: deal.
Nigel: now, I have a more serious question for you.
Ace: shoot.
Nigel looks at her almost empty bottle
Nigel: how are you not drunk yet?
She laughs and drinks even more.
Nigel: you know what.
He raised his hand and ordered another bottle. For both him and her.
Nigel: Bartender, give us another shot!
Nigel: we're not leaving here until I see you drunk.
Ace: is that a challenge?
Nigel: you could say that. So far, I have never seen you drunk, not even once and you drink the most. I want to know what your limit is.
Ace: I accept the challenge. They both start to drink.
Rho and Nuri enter the theater and take their seats.
Nuri: I haven't been to the theater for a long time.
Rho: same.
Nuri: when was the first time you went to the theater and how was it for you?
Rho thought
Rho: the first time I went to the theater... I was 15 years old, I snuck out and went alone.
Nuri: why were you alone?
Rho: because I wasn't allowed to go to the theater, I was never allowed to do anything that wasn't on the schedule that I had to strictly follow. I rarely got the chance to be alone, but that night, for the first time in my life, everything came together, and I got an hour that was only mine and which I could do as I pleased. It was the best hour of my life.
Nuri looks at her in amazement
Nuri: I'm not even sure how to react to that...
Rho: What?
Nuri: you must had really strict parents?
Rho: It was normal for me. Only after a long time I begin to see that something was wrong with it.
Nuri: of course, I mean controlling someone like that and keeping them in prison, why wouldn't something be right with that...
He says sarcastically to himself.
Rho: what did you say?
Nuri: I just said I'm glad you got away from it.
Rho: Me too. How was your first time in the theater?
Nuri: I think I was 9 years old when I entered the theater for the first time. It seemed so magical to me at the time... one of my fondest memories was in theaters. After that, I often went to the theater with my mother, we fell in love with this type of art. It was another thing we shared.
Rho: that is nice
Nuri: and I've never had a bad time in any theater.
Rho: Then we have to continue the tradition.
Nuri laughed
Kaya
Kaya helped Atlas to his house. His mother came out of the house.
Mom: What happened?
Atlas: I'm fine...
Mom: no, you're not well... you said you won't get into fights anymore.
Atlas: I know...
Mom turned to Kaya
Mom: thank you for bringing him here. I don’t believe how we met...
Kaya: no ma'am, I'm Kaya.
Mom: I'm Lily, nice to meet you.
She turned back to the Atlas.
Mom: father is home, hurry up so he can check on you.
Atlas nodded and went into the house.
Mom: And what really happened?
Kaya: I was in the hallway and I heard his voice and saw how three boys were harassing him, so I decided to help.
Mom: you are really brave Kaya.
Kaya: thank you.
Mom: I hope you're hungry, I'm just preparing lunch.
Kaya: thank you but...
Mom: I insist that you join us for lunch, we have to repay you somehow.
She was really nice to Kaya.
Kaya: well, I could eat. She smiles.
Mom: great, follow me.
They enter the house
Kaya: you have a wonderful home.
Mom: thank you. Make yourself comfortable.
She sits down on the couch. At that moment, Atlas and his father came out
His father: if you continue like this, we will soon run out of medicine.
They joked.
Atlas: how many times you said it so far, it should have come true by now.
The father wanted to say something but saw Kaya.
Atlas: oh yes and this is Kaya, I told you about her.
Father is still watching. Kaya stood up and held out her hand.
Kaya: I'm Kaya, nice to meet you
Father: Kaya...
He just stands there, petrified, and Kaya slightly removes her hand.
Kaya: did I say something wrong or did I break your father somehow?
She whispered to the Atlas
Atlas: I'm not sure... hey, dad? What's going on?
Father: oh my god... so you're Kaya?
Kaya looks confused
Kaya: yes...
Father: you've grown so much.
Kaya: sorry, I'm confused.
Dad: I believe you knew my father, his name was Arthur.
Kaya is surprised.
Kaya: Theo?
Theo nodded.
Atlas: what's going on?
Theo: you managed to find your relative Atlas.
Atlas: relative?
Theo: yes... I can't believe my niece is standing in front of me.
Kaya is lost.
Kaya: I've heard a lot about you.
Theo: me too... Is it okay if I hug you?
Kaya laughed
Kaya: of course!
They hugged each other.
Kaya: I knew I had an uncle, but I never expected to meet you. And besides that, I also have a relative I definitely didn't know about.
Mom: lunch is ready.
She looks at them as she steps inside the room where they all were standing.
Mom: what? Did I miss something?
Everyone is sitting at the table, there is food in front of them and they are laughing
Kaya: oh yes, I actually heard about that story before, he often liked to talk about it.
Theo: did he tell you how he once locked the house as a joke so he couldn't get in because I broke curfew, and he planned to keep me outside for an hour to learn his lesson but then he fell asleep so I stayed out all day.
Kaya laughs.
Kaya: no, he never told me that, probably because he messed up in that story.
Theo: but that's why the next day he took me wherever I wanted, we had a wonderful day, but after that I started being late at home again, and came back very late, so the next time he intentionally left me out all night.
Kaya laughs.
Atlas: You would never do that to me, would you?
Theo: just don't be late... he laughs
Atlas: I feel bad I never met him...
Kaya: Arthur was really a story of his own, he was the best person in the world, of course until you step on his bum, but even then he gives in.
Theo: I believe he was much gentler with you than he was with me, after all, you are his granddaughter.
Kaya: well when I hear your stories, definitely yes. He never locked me out.
Lily: it's a small world, I'm so happy to finally meet you.
Kaya: too. If you don't mind me asking... why did you lose contact for so many years?
Theo: well, somehow it all started when I started studying medicine, so we were distant, and even when I came back, we had a lot of fights for a while because we had different views... and somehow we lost contact over time.
Kaya: I'm sorry...
Theo: Me too. The worst thing is that I never apologized to him for everything. Years passed, I lived my life, he lived his... and when I heard how he passed away... I felt like the worst person in the world. I wish I had seen him at least one more time before he died.
His wife put her hand on his.
Kaya: I'm sorry, but you should know that he really loved you very much...he talked about you often, and he was always really proud of you.
Theo: Really?
Kaya: yes, actually...
She searches through his bag and pulls out a small wooden toy.
Kaya: I think this belongs to you.
She handed him a wooden toy and he took it easily.
Theo: I haven't seen this in years... he shed a tear.
Atlas: what is it?
Theo: Your grandfather made this for me when I was a kid. A new toy came on the market that I really wanted, but we didn't have enough money for such things, so he made me this. And to this day, this is the best toy I've ever owned.
Atlas: Grandpa really knew how to make something out of wood.
Theo: he was a really skilled man, he could make something out of nothing.
Kaya: yes, that's true.
Lily: honey, haven't you saved any pictures from before?
Theo: oh yeah, I have a few pictures of him when he was a lot younger, do you want to see them.
Kaya: of course!
Theo: I'll bring them now. He got up and went to look through the pictures.
Kaya turns to the atlas: are you better?
Atlas: yes, I'm better.
Kaya: do those boys always tease you like that?
Lily: almost every day.
Kaya: why is that?
Atlas: it all started when I started hanging out with Sara... he seems to have a problem with that.
Kaya: is she his girlfriend?
Atlas: no, but he keeps bothering her, and I can't just sit back and watch it...
Lily: then you should learn to fight better... she laughs slightly.
Kaya laughed too.
Kaya: Do you like that girl?
Atlas blushed.
Atlas: no...
Lily: he never stops talking about her.
Atlas: Mom!
Lily: I'm just telling the truth. He is head over heels in love with her.
Atlas: that's not true...
Kaya laughs.
Kaya: it's okay, there's no shame in that. And good job for standing up for yourself and for her.
Atlas: yes, yes...
Theo soon returned with a box of pictures.
Theo: this is all I have.
Kaya looks at the pictures.
Kaya: she looks really happy here...
She looks further.
Kaya: is this little Atlas? She laughs.
Kaya: who is angry with us in the picture because he dropped a ball of ice cream on the floor...she laughs.
Kaya: You really were a tight-lipped kid, weren't you?
Atlas: shut up.
Kaya: oh on this one we have a little naked Atlas.
Atlas: Give it to me!
Everyone laughs.
Rho and Nuri.
They are leaving the theater.
Nuri: the show was great! And what a plot.
Rho: I agree, I definitely did not expect such a turn. They were brother and sister the whole time.
Nuri: and that scene when she cried and sang because she felt so trapped... I have to admit, I shed a tear myself.
Rho: a tear? You let the whole flood go. You cried louder than her!
Nuri: I couldn't help myself.
They continued to talk about the show. At that moment, a girl with a hood was passing by, her face was not visible, and she bumped into Nuri.
Rikka: sorry.
she said more quietly, not showing her face and just continued walking. Nuri just looked at her, he didn't even have time to say anything because she walked away.
Rho looks at her and then at Nuri.
Rho: is everything okay?
Nuri: yes, yes... I just have some kind of strange feeling about that girl, I can't explain it to you.
Rho: well, she's definitely gone.
Nuri: it doesn't even matter . Do you want to talk about the show? Because I have a lot of comments.
Rho: definitely.
Nuri: how about the third scene?
Rho: the scene with Elizabeth?
He nodded his head. And they keep talking about it and walking.
Rikka watches them from the shadows and stares at the c6 she stole from them and then disappears.
