Innocence is Cheap

[Amour]

Work at the happiest, most amazing smelling place in Disenchanted. Get off early and go to a little corner shop to get the best falafel in all of Romachille. Do a little window shopping. Perfect.

Maybe too perfect? Either way, it's a fairly typical day in the life of Alice Rose Zipporah. Settling under a tree to down her delicious chickpea treat, she reflected on this a bit. Deep inside, this outside perfection disturbed her a bit, like there was a deeper chaos behind it. But it only disturbed her a bit, as it was a fleeting thought in her cheerful mind. Alice Rose's pale brown eyes wandered around, watching the eccentric people who came to the market, people dressed in dirty rags, high-end designer pieces, and those in between who simply dressed as they pleased. Watching people and animals interact was a hobby of hers, and if she had gotten to finish college, she might have been an anthropologist. She loved observing, guessing as to what happened and what might happen. "Those two are ex-lovers." "That one has a drug problem" And so on and so forth, and even though it was never confirmed, Alice Rose was always right. Maybe she could have been a psychiatrist, too.

"Oh, hello, kitty!" She said through a mouthful of falafel, as she spotted one of the districts many strays coming towards her. It bounded right up and started rubbing it's head on her hand, making Alice Rose break out in one of her wide, charming smiles. She scratched behind the cat's beige ears, oohing and aahing at how amazingly cute it was. She was such a sucker for cute, fuzzy things. After finishing her falafel and a few minutes of playing with the cat as if she herself were still a child(including one badly thought-out kiss on the cat's forehead), she noticed a small, indiscreet white triangle on one of the cat's forepaw.

"Hey...wait...Rayne!" She immediately put the cat back down in the grass, a blush rising to her cheeks. Rayne Zyth would never let her live this down if he had a say in things.

[Stray]

How great it felt to move freely, without the hassle of a restraining collar or leash. The boy, well, man rather, stretched his arms, flexing his fingers and shaking out his limbs. His bright hazel eyes shimmered as he looked around from where he sat, cross legged, on a bench, picking at the remains of a veggie-burger. His lightly tanned features and dark hair didn't attract any ateention, nor did the beige hat on his head, placed at a jaunty angle. However, a few looks were pressed to the lonely looking guy on the bench that sat in a lose shirt and tight black pants, mostly due to the heavy eyeliner he wore. Absently, he folded the wrapper up, then rubbed the back of his right hand with the palm of his left, block the view to the rough triangle scar there for an accident as a kid.

What, you ask how he knows what wearing a collar or a leash feels like? Well, fear not, it's nothing all that horrible, it's just that most kids can't resist the adorable gaze of a puppy or kitten. You see, Rayne Zyth, for that he was, has an odd thing about him... at will, he can change into any beast imaginable by scientists, be it cute as a kitten or fierce as a leopard. Just simply never a spider, since he's scared of them.

He threw the bright yellow wrapper into the nearest trash bin, then put his hands in his pockets, wandering the streets. He passed many people, not giving much thought to any of them at all. However, something caught his eye halfway up a street... A plastic bag caught on a fire escape, whipping in the breeze. Ducking quickly into the shadows on the alley, he took in a sharp breath, interlocking his hands horizontally in from of his stomach, right hand above his left. He concentrated, then released his breath quickly with a chuff of air. A crack sound filled the air, and dust was thrown up in a tiny whirlwind. Out of it came the tiny figure of a sneezing beige and white kitten, it's eyes ringed with black. Churning it's paws, it let out a fitful mew and leapt, with much effort, the the first step of the fire escape stairs. In a matter of seconds, and with much work, it stood, it's fur stuck out slightly fearfully, on the highest point. Taking a breath to calm it's nerves, the little cat threw itself at the white bag, and sank it's claws in. Its intent, of course, was to use it's momentum to swing itself back up to the platform, however, the plan was not swell through out. The handle of the bag snapped, and the little cat was sent towards the ground.

Throwing it's weight to it's paws, it bent it's knees instinctively, letting go of the bag. It landed hard on the lid of a closed dumpster, the wave of pain being thrown throughout it's body, and easily dealing with the pain. It yowled in agony, however, and bolted out of the alley, it's paws pitter-pattering against the cement. It came out on a street, where, acrossed the two-laned road full of traffic, sat a girl it knew. A purr much to large for it filled his chest and the little cat flicked it's head both ways and quickly pelted acrossed the street, hissing as it did, ears pressed to it's skull. Barely able to get out of the way of a car, it licked it's paw to calm itself out of habit and lunged towards the girl.

He threw himself at her hand, his purr a dry chuckle to himself. The girl complied, petting the little cat, all untill it laid down on it's side. The girl leaned forward and planted a soft kiss on it's forehead. And then quickly noticed her mistake.

"Hey... wait... Rayne!"

The snicker of a purr increased in volume, and, with a crack and a stir of leaves, the man from before lay on the grass, facing up towards the sky. A smile played on his lips.

"Rosie, Rosie, dear, when will you learn? You don't kiss the kitties, and you don't kiss me. I'm sorry; I know you want to, but you're going to make me straight, dear," he laughed again, a merry sound, before breathing in deeply, inhaling the heavy smell of sopas and perfumes that covered his friend. Just as she smelled always of those products the shop she worked at sold, he always smelled like, well, sweat. Working out on the street all day made it like that.

[Amour]

Alice Rose started a bit at the crack that meant that her friend was changing back to his normal state, but she got over it quickly. She glared down at the short boy, who was staring right back at her with the most calm and relaxed smile ever. It was driving her insane.

"Rosie, Rosie, dear, when will you learn? You don't kiss the kitties, and you don't kiss me. I'm sorry; I know you want to, but you're going to make me straight, dear," He said nonchalantly.

Alice Rose plopped herself down next to Rayne and stuck her tongue out at him. "Well, you made me do it. You know I'm a sucker for things fluffy and cute." She pretty much knew her whole face should be bright red by now. She could feel the blush from her toenails to her hairline. If she burst into flame right at that moment, it wouldn't surprise her much.

"He's gay, for God's sake!" "Well, I didn't know it was him..." Oh, now she's got voices in her head. That's a sign of absolute sanity.

"Um, so, how's life?" She asked in a voice she really hoped made her sound as if she wasn't going to bite his head off for embarrassing her. She leaned back against the tree, smoothing out her printed tunic, and kind of wishing that Rayne would turn back into that adorable kitten. He was so much less annoying as an animal.

[Stray]

Somehow, even in his human form, Rayne managed to let out a strained laughed that sounded like a purr, maybe even a bark. He noticed the dull pink tinge her cheeks took, and tried not to laugh even more at her expense. He flicked his gaze back to the sky, looking up at the soft clouds. He kept one hand under his head as he stretched the other above his head, as if trying to reach the clouds, and then let it fall onto his flat stomach. His hat had fallen askew, and the hand he was laying on reached out for it awkwardly. He licked his lips out of habit, locking his jaw and stretching one of his many tattoos, this one on his neck.

"Um, so, how's life?"

"You mean since you asked me three days ago?" He tried to hide the ghost of the laugh on his thin lips, failing. "About the same. Been doing about the same stuff. Still don't have a place, but, eh, I like sleeping where I fall..." He trailed off. Before they had been pulled into the book, Rayne had lived i the same manner - pretty much homeless. He'd ran away from a bad home situation, and had kept in touch only with Alice Rose. He was used to it and enjoyed it, and he'd set up a temporary home in a broken down subway station where no more people stopped. The only way to get in was to very very small - about the size of a mouse. A pile of blankets served as his bed, and he had a backpack full of foods - bread, veggies and fruit, and druit juice, due to that he was vegan. And then, there was his prized postion - his guitar, that was used to collect any money he got. It was in perfect shape, always.

Come to think of it, he didn't think he'd mentioned his job or housing to 'Rosie.' Oh-no. "I-it's not a problem, though..."

[Amour]

"You mean since you asked me three days ago?" Joked Rayne, being the silly kid he could be at some times.

"Hmph. What an exaggeration. I didn't even see you three days ago." Alice Rose said, playfully.

"About the same. Been doing about the same stuff. Still don't have a place, but, eh, I like sleeping where I fall..." He continued rather non-chalantly. It took a while for Alice Rose to take in the words, but when she finally comprehended, her heart practically skipped a beat.

"What do you mean, you don't have a place? Have you been sleeping on the street all this time?!" It sounded as if she were shrieking, her voice was so alarmed. How come she never knew about this? They had to have come upon the topic before...

Settling and thinking about it a bit, Alice Rose came upon a plan that seemed decent to her. "Well, that won't do at all. I have an extra room..." The implication was obvious.

Getting up and adjusting her tunic and leggings for comfort, Alice Rose grabbed Rayne's hand and tried to pull him up from his relaxed position in the grass.

"Come on! You can get your stuff and get settled at my place."

[Stray]

"The hell you didn't, woman!" Rayne said the words playfully enough. He was sure they had talked. However, he didn't press the matter, since once she forgot something, nothing made it come back.

He knew the words that had been a mistake would end up a serious downfall to him. Alice Rose, Rosie to him, was a do-gooder. She would give the last scrap of food she owned to anyone that needed it, and would give all her money to any little child on the street. Well, basically, to her, that is exactly what he was. Younger than her a few good years, she often referred to him as a kid, even with his protests. And he was indeed on the street; or, rather under it. She didn't care that he was Rayne, he believed, it was as simple as the fact that she knew he could not 'fully provide for himself.'

However, she knew not of his situation. Being of no true form, he could live with animals, which he did. Rats, stray cats and dogs, and any other assortment of vermin or unwanted animals were led to his underground palace, the words of his kindness to them and their kin passing from mouth to mouth between the animal community. He often tended their hurts and found them homes, except for the rats. They and the mice lived with him always in the underground. But he didn't mind them, in fact, they made for excellent company, as he could understand what they said. Often, they could even help him with his music. He believed it a blessing to live where he did.

"What do you mean, you don't have a place? Have you been sleeping on the street all this time?!"

"Not exactly," he quipped. He refused to live with her. He'd feel like a burden, and, as he was part animal now, he could easily fend for himself. Easily enough, he could eat the many nuts and berries of the woods outside town, and travel their easily on the wings of a sparrow, or take up temporary residence with a pack of stray dogs.

"Well, that won't do at all. I have an extra room..." Her words were like a death sentence. No more sleeping under the stars, no more curling up with kittens, no more bouncing nuts off lovers' heads in the park and running away chattering at his own game. No, his animal fun would be limited to her clock, since he'd feel bad for waking her. "Come on! You can get your stuff and get settled at my place."


"No, Alice, I won't do it!" The fact that he called her 'Alice' instead of Rosie made it apparent that he was upset. Denying her help, he got to his feet alone. He looked her in the eyes, a bit of a feat. "Just come to the place I've been staying, Alice Rose, and you'll see why I can't go. Don't feel bad; it's not that I don't want to stay with you, but I have friends where I am that need me. You can get by, they need my help. Please, come see them?" His voice strained his desperate plea. It was obvious that it meant a lot to him that she come meet his friends.

Deep down within, he hoped they would calm her down.

[Amour]

"No, Alice, I won't do it!" Just the mere fact that Rayne had used her real name made Alice stop in her tracks, and turn at him with a surprised -and slightly hurt- expression on her face.

"What do you mean 'You won't'?" She said, confused.

"Just come to the place I've been staying, Alice Rose, and you'll see why I can't go. Don't feel bad; it's not that I don't want to stay with you, but I have friends where I am that need me. You can get by, they need my help. Please, come see them?"

The only way the response that Alice Rose made could be properly portrayed would be with a "...". She silently followed him back past all the shops on the street, even her own workplace. She was somewhat hurt by his refusal to live with her, but even more confused.

Where would he stay where people needed him to take care of them? Unless he lives with a gang of hobos. Well, knowing(or more like, not knowing) how spontaneous Rayne could be, that is a possibility...



"So...where are we going?" They had come to a more run-down part of town, and it was kind of scaring Alice Rose. It wasn't as bright and cheery as the Market District she was used to. Most of the buildings looked like they would be dangerous to occupy, and no one on the street was chatting happily the way they did around her house. Instead, there were whispered conversations here and there, which she assumed, even in her naivete, were drug deals. The few people on the street eyed her nice clothing and appearance, and she almost thought she could see them sum her up as a particularly wealthy girl who had gone "slumming". She edged a little closer to her friend out of fear.

"Do you really live here, Rayne? It's so...depressing."