ɪɴᴄᴀʀɴᴀᴛᴇs 〈 Ω 〉 ᴀᴅᴠᴀɴᴄᴇᴅ ʀᴘ discussion

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P O U N D L A N D   S H O P ;

the city of theobury — ʟᴀɴᴄᴀsʜɪʀᴇ,
ᴇɴɢʟᴀɴᴅ, ᴜɴɪᴛᴇᴅ ᴋɪɴɢᴅᴏᴍ, ᴇᴜʀᴏᴘᴇ

Lips pursed and eyes set on the list she had prepared, Cara paused at the entrance of Poundland. At the sound of someone clearing their throat to catch her attention, she stepped to the side and uttered an apology. A sigh left her lips and she shoved the list back into her pocket while rifling through her bag with her free hand for her purse. She, despite not wanting to, had to get this shopping done if she was going to relax later on.

Oren glanced behind him at his brothers nervously as they approached the shop. They were low on money, and the only option was to find a store that would let them work, or at least get food that was a bit old or didn't look right for cheap. They weren't above eating misshapen banana's or apples, or scraping mold off bread before toasting and eating it. They couldn't afford to be picky, after all. He was glad that he had washed their clothes the day before, even if they were starting to get threadbare and over worn. He was worrying about clothes too, thinking ahead to the winter already. The abandoned house they were at wouldn't be warm enough. They would need more clothes and blankets but he wasn't sure how he could get more for his brothers. He would willingly be cold if it meant they would stay warm.

Katio stalked along behind Oren, a scowl on his face as always. He hated when they had to do this, to beg for work to pay for their food. He hated people, and hated even more when he had to rely on them for food for his brothers. He wanted to be the one they had to rely on, not these strangers. His scowl deepened as someone brushed by him, a growl rumbling from within his chest that quieted when Oren glared at him. He knew he wasn't supposed to growl, or hint at anything else that made them different, that made their parents leave, but he couldn't help it. It was his job to protect them.


Liam skipped along cheerily as his brothers walked along with him. He wondered what they would eat tonight as he bounced along. He giggled as he bounced and skipped along happily. He wasn't paying attention to where he was going as he hummed a song, and ended up smacking right into a lady who was standing in front of the store, falling over with a yelp.

Katio immediately moved to help Liam, eyes dark as a growl rumbled up from his chest, furious at this woman for pushing Liam over, which was what he had seen (even if it wasn't what happened).

Oren jumped in before Katio could open his mouth, clapping a hand over his mouth with a glare before saying quickly and politely, "I'm terribly sorry for my brother running into you, ma'am. He doesn't really pay attention to where he is going sometimes."

[ I am a horrendous human being ]

Cara turned, feeling something collide with her. Not so much collide as bounce of her lower body, but it was still pretty noticeable, no less. Brows raised and lips parted to ask if everything was alright, she was stopped by the sight of not one, but three positively adorable boys. They looked, to be precise, exactly the same, and yet not. One was angry, the other looked about close to tears, and the last more concerned about what the first would do. Adorable.

"It's perfectly alright," she dismissed, smiling and shrugging. What was the point of getting upset over a small child? She expected, though, that his rump had to hurt quite a bit. The pavement had to be quite hard, and cold, on his backside when he fell. "Is your brother alright? Sounded like it hurt."

At this point, she'd bent over slightly to be more at their eye level. There wasn't her usual grin, but a small smile of apology as well. Because, let's be honest, she was at fault for standing in the way. She really should have just gone in, like a normal person, rather than hover by the door and double check a list that she'd already checked three times before leaving the house.

[psh no your not]
Liam was sniffling and rubbing at his rear with his hands after Katio hauled him back up to his feet, and at her question, Katio shoved Liam behind his back protectively, eyes narrowing at her as if she had just asked to take Liam away. "He's fine." he said curtly.

Oren wanted to growl at Katio. Here was a lady who instead of yelling at them was being nice and he was going to ruin it with his attitude. "I do believe that he will be quite alright, a little bruising will be at the worst, though I'm sure it will be nothing we can't han-"

"Bubby! I got a boo-boo on my butt!" Liam said, turning to show them after pulling his shorts and underwear down to show the scrape on his cheek.

"Liam! Pull your bottoms up!" Oren sputtered, trying to hide his brothers rear from the ladies sight as his face flushed in embarrassment. They may have been born at the same time, but Liam was still in a way, the youngest of the three, having not had to grow up fast like he and Katio did, since they had done it to protect Liam, basically.

Cara watched as the one that appeared to be the youngest of the bunch pulled down his shorts to show off a small red scrape across his bum. She struggled not to laugh, though did smile a little wider. "You know, if you kiss it, it'll be better," she suggested with a small shrug, brows raised, "That's what my mommy used to do for me when I got a nasty scrape." Distractions usually worked, she found, with small children.

"One time, I fell out a tree and there a big cut on my leg. I was screaming and crying, and she just popped a kiss on it and it all better." She nodded matter-of-factly, hands on her hips with a particularly smug look on her face. "She did the same to all my brothers and sisters, and it worked every time."

Katio glanced at Liam and pulled a face. "There is no way I would ever kiss his bum!" he declared, crossing his arms over his chest stubbornly. "Bums are gross cause poo comes out there." he added matter of factly.

Oren wanted to facepalm. But then he blinked up at her in surprise at her story. "It works every time?!" he asked, surprised at this new knowledge. He still had many parenting secrets to learn it seemed, if he wanted to do good by his brothers. Still....he had to agree with Katio on the whole 'not kissing his rear' bit.

"Not actually kiss his bum," Cara giggled, quite pleased with their reaction. She glad to see that they weren't all too peeved by what had happened. "You kiss your hand instead; I'd never tell you to kiss a bum." At this, she pulled a face similar to Katio's and shuddered. "That'd be disgusting!"

Liam giggled as he looked up at Cara as Katio pulled his bottoms back up. "You're silly. I like you." he declared, then glanced to the side and said, "Do you like her too, Luke?" He tilted his head to listen and grinned. "Luke likes you too!"

Oren was grateful for Liam's innocence in that moment. To a normal adult, the assumption that he was speaking to an imaginary friend would be made. Only Oren and Katio knew he was speaking to the dead. "Ah....well, that does make sense to kiss the hand rather than the actual ah...rear, as it were." he said with a small laugh.

Katio grumbled darkly as he tugged Liam's bottoms back up, glancing at Cara warily before looking to where Liam had when he spoke. He knew what his brother could see, even when he could not. His gaze returned to Cara after a moment, as if challenging her to ask who Liam was speaking to.

For a moment, Cara was puzzled by the mention of a fourth person. But, then, she had only to see that innocent little grin of Liam. An imaginary friend, she assumed. She remembered when she had one, way back when. This made her grin grow just slightly wider than before as she directed her gaze to where Liam had looked only a moment before. "Well, thank y', Luke and Liam," she stated, "I like y'all, too." Her Southern drawl touching her voice, she had to check to be sure that she didn't bring up some colloquial phrase they might not have known.

She had to say, Oren and Katio seemed far more mature than any other child their age that she'd ever seen. She couldn't even say she was that well behaved, even with a heavy instilling of manners. She could say her please, thank you, no ma'am, yes ma'am, but she was never one to sit still. But, then again, neither could any of her siblings.

Oren glanced back at Katio and Liam for a moment, then back up at Cara with a smile. "I daresay that since we are continuing this conversation, ma'am, that some introductions are in order. My name is Oren, I'm the oldest, this is Katio, and this is Liam, the youngest. We're triplets." he said, indicating each of his brothers when he spoke.

Liam grinned up at Cara. "What's your name?" he asked, bouncing over to her to look at her with big eyes. "Is it something pretty? I bet it is!"

Katio stood off to the side with his arms crossed over his chest and a scowl on his face. He didn't approve of them talking to this woman. What if she found out they were living on their own? What if she took them to foster care and got them separated? What if she took them and only adopted Liam for herself because he's 'so cute'? He couldn't abide the thought of them being separated. He'd fight them all first.

Triplets, huh. No wonder they'd looked so similar. She couldn't say that she hadn't suspected as much, but it wasn't anything too major. She had siblings that were triplets, but then again, they all looked exactly like one another. "My name's Caramine, but just call me Cara," she replied, "I don't think it's too pretty, but pretty enough, if you ask me."

Though, now she was thinking of why the three boys were out on their own. It didn't look like they'd been sent out on an errand of some sort. She, when she had been fairly young and sent on a five mile hike to the market for something, usually would be bursting with energy at the thought of seeming a little older. While Liam had enough of it, they also didn't look like they were holding any money. So, why would they be out unattended?

"By the way, boys, where's your Mama," she asked, head cocked to the side.

Oren gave a small bow and said, "It is very nice to meet you Cara." he smiled up at her as he straightened, though it faded when she asked the question of where their mother was. Oren flashed Katio a glare since he knew that Katio would snarl, then looked at Liam to see that (thankfully) he was not paying attention. He looked up at Cara again and tried to think up a reasonable excuse for why they were on their own. Before he could, Katio butted in.

"Why you gotta ask? She obviously ain't here," he snapped hotly, glaring up at her.

"Katio!" Oren snapped, pushing him away as he stomped closer. "Back off and cool down." he ordered, his voice deadly calm.

Katio glared for a long moment, fuming at the mention of the mother who had abandoned them for being different, growled low in his throat, but couldn't go against Oren and he stalked off again with a snarl.

Turning around again, Oren said softly, "I'm terribly sorry. He doesn't ah....well....." he looked away at the ground, at a loss for words.

Cara's smile evaporated, and any hint of friendliness left her face. What replaced it was a blank mask. She didn't have much of an inkling as to why Katio would make such an outburst, but then he didn't seem to like her much. "I'm asking because three boys your age shouldn't be without an adult on the streets," she stated curtly, standing upright now, "If that's how you treat those who show concern, I wonder what you do with people who wouldn't look at you twice." The short flash of indignation disappeared as quickly as it came, leaving her with the sigh that parted her lips.

Expression shifting once more, she looked towards Oren. Placing a hand on his head, she allowed another smile to appear. "It's alright," she assured, feeling a little guilty herself. She shouldn't have asked, she supposed. But, at least now she knew better, right? That was her problem: prying into the business of others. Too nosy for her own good. She'd probably end up in a similar situation soon enough; she always did.

"That was my fault."

Liam bounced around happily in the background, trying to catch a butterfly that was just out of reach. His eyes were bright with enthusiasm and while he seemed unaware of everything, Katio wasn't. He stood not too far from Liam and kept an eye on him while Oren spoke to that woman he didn't like(though really that's not saying much since he hates everyone but his brothers)

Oren looked up at her with a small smile. "I-its alright....Katio doesn't like anyone but me and Liam. Don't take his words to heart, its just how he is now." he said softly. He wished he could say why Katio acted like that, but he couldn't risk losing his brothers or being sent somewhere they would or could end up separated from the others.

Cara's gaze strayed toward the boy in question, her lips pursed. She shouldn't have gotten upset; it'd been clear that the boy had plenty of animosity to spare towards others. Especially the way he had looked close to assaulting her. She wondered why he was this way, mostly when Oren had tagged on the "how he is now." What could happened to the three of them to change a boy so much?

She didn't ask, not wanting to have a similar episode to the one that had just occurred. "Well, it does look he cares quite a bit for you both," she remarked, "I guess I'd be the same with my family, if they were here."

Oren nodded repeatedly. "Yes, he loves us both very much and would do anything to keep us safe." he said to Cara, glad she at least somewhat understood, even if he couldn't say why fully.

Liam suddenly ran over to them with his hands wrapped around something. "Lookit! Lookit! I caughtededed somefin!" he exclaimed, hardly able to hold still in his excitement.