Observing the beings movements as it remained tucked away in its corner, Alem did not flinch at her hair’s extension. Retrieving what he had presented to her resulted in a hasty consumption, and by the very end of her quick indulgence no core had remained. He’d be glad to note, however, that at least she did not try eating his canteen. He knelt down slowly and retrieved it, gently rocking it to ascertain something that was more than obvious by now. Nothing remained. His focus went back towards the being again, with much more notice given to her distorted voice. Raising her clawed, disfigured hands did little more than raise more questions as to what she could be, and how such a thing like this existed. Based on her lack of care when it came to the light, it didn’t appear that this being, this ‘Asahina’, was fearful of its touch. Asahina’s introduction had been brief and lightly packed with her perspective of the world now. No hope. Nothing to believe in. Life has dealt her what appeared a cruel and unhappy hand, something Alem was very much familiar with. 

[b]“A true monster would not sulk in solitude – you are in deep pain, but that pain will heal as long as you do not surrender yourself to this fate.”[/b] The young man gently offered these words to her, hoping that it might encourage her to seek a better living than what she was going through now. With the bone-dry canteen in his left hand idle, Alem would carefully kneel and set it down before reaching to the string that drew his cloak together. Quickly undoing it, he stood and approached Asahina very slowly, bringing the cloak forward. [b]“I have suffered, as you have.”[/b] Alem trusted Asahina to recognize he was a threat, but not a threat she wished to provoke. He gently draped it over her chest and settled it around her neck. Her back pressed against the wall did not allow him to bind it traditionally, so this would need to be the alternative. [b]“The difference between you and I is that I did not have someone to look at me and see my worth, I had to see it for myself.”[/b] Drawing back, Alem showed his hands to her and slowly stepped away, effectively dropping his own guard in front of her. 

When he was several steps away and beside the curtain that he entered through, his humble appearance was laid bare before her eyes. Perhaps she would understand that his privileges in life were not many, that even without wealth in abundance strewn across his form he might still be able to help someone who needs him. The cloak on his back was hers, for now. 

[b]“I will leave that with you as a sign of trust. If that as well as the food and water have not done so, I will also leave this.”[/b] From behind his back Alem drew a holstered dagger and lightly set it down beside the empty canteen. Revealing he was armed the entire time may cause her some discomfort, but the truth and his concern might outweigh the revelation. Alem’s only weapon in view now was his own mind, and the deep golden eyes that looked to Asahina’s own. [b]“I have a friend I can reach out to for some spare clothes. It will not be the garbs of a royal princess, but it will do well to cover you. You cannot go outside nude, no matter your current condition. A lady must show dignity, even at her lowest point.” [/b]

The shade of unnatural darkness that coated Asahina’s body did not mask the truth from Alem, and Asahina’s method of coping with his discovery was ignored. He turned his back to her, and peeled the curtain apart. [b]“Five minutes. Remain here.”[/b] He requested, before he would leave the domicile and return to Aseela waiting patiently outside. Taking her by the reins, he had turned her around and began to guide her back to Salima, who was the woman in question. In a short time Alem had made his way back to her. The children were outside, three young girls and two young boys. They were dressed as could be expected, decorated with crude pants and shirts designed with similar shades of brown. Each of them had an apple or a pear. 

[b]“Alem!!”[/b] They called upon one of the children noticing the familiar steps of Aseela trekking through the streets. The children moved to surround him, prompting Alem to stop his walking and soften his stare. 

Salima had approached. [b]“I thought it’d be a little longer than several minutes before you had come by again. Is everything okay?”[/b]

[b]“Do you have a spare feminine outfit? An acquaintance of mine I’ve run into is in desperate need.”[/b] Alem responded.

[b]“Well, of course. You said desperate, so I am guessing that size will not necessarily matter?”[/b]

[b]“Correct,”[/b] Alem replied immediately. Salima understood the situation and did not bother getting too deep in his business, something he was very thankful for. [b]“Please hurry. She is nervous.”[/b]

[b]“Of course, of course!”[/b] Salima snapped her fingers at the children. [b]“Come, come, inside! Alem is very busy. Did any of you say thank you?”[/b]

The children were disappointed with having to return inside, but quickly turned around at Salima’s reminder.[b] “Thank you Alem!”[/b] they said in unison. Alem had nodded, and the children had returned inside, satisfied. Salima was quick to join them, raising a forefinger up to Alem, implying that she’d just be a minute. 

Alem idly patted Aseela’s neck and waited, glancing over his shoulder and hoping that girl, Asahina, would be remaining put.

~-~

Lin was impressed by the stranger’s manners and willingness to cooperate. His gratitude came in the form of a fair explanation as to why he was in that factory, obviously finding no reason to really lie about it. Finer details were glanced over, understandable considering the knowledge of what he was trying to do wasn’t exactly something they all had a right to know. The group he mentioned related to his friends had made Lin wonder if he was talking about the Unbound, but there was no making certain. She wasn’t much of a recruitment officer, but she was a good friend and she knew that much. As he continued on, she shivered and glanced at his arm for a split-second, forced to glance back up at him moments after. Self-inflicted injury out of desperation to survive. He jumped into bad odds with enemies he didn’t know, and did what he had to do to get out of it. Expressing a mix of curiosity and concern, Lin smiled faintly at his thanks, leaving him to his consideration of joining the group. 

Leaving him to the sustenance of the apple she handed him, her gaze broke momentarily to Shizuka who had taken one and thanked her. Lin smiled wide and revealed the whites of her teeth to her, always fond of Shizuka’s casualness of these situations. The idea of a secret base didn’t seem so secret when it came to her. Looking back to the red-haired stranger, Lin too noticed the change in him. [b]“It must be his arm. Shizuka, let’s get him taken care of. He’s a really nice person, I think he’d make a good friend to have.”[/b] She expressed with utmost confidence. The stranger appeared out of it, and likely too in pain to really focus on what they were saying with such a battered up arm. Pain numbed the senses and made one vulnerable, it was, quite frankly, a miracle he was even enduring such an injury like that. 

[b]“There’s a lot I want to talk to him about, but first things first. Help him and lead on!”[/b] Lin brought her spare arm under the arm already handling the apples, eager to get moving. 

~-~

Who was Jasmine? Aladdin? 

All Rika could recognize before coming over was Lin’s well-being of concern, and honestly the girl was pretty fine from where Rika was standing. With the mention of a place to regroup, Rika shrugged her shoulders and didn’t bother questioning it. The rebels were scattered, but it was not much of a surprise to learn that they’d have a place in Agrabah somewhere. Its security and reliability on the other hand was another story entirely, but that was for another time and place. Ace selected them to go together while Shizuka had gone to the others, leaving out Coriander who was likely sulking over the fact everyone realized what a total dick he was. Rika followed Ace closely, traveling down an alleyway. However, even the shade of the alley wasn’t enough to shield them from the humidity of this place. Her jacket was beginning to stick to her arms.

[b]“Fucking Agrabah…”[/b] she mumbled again, already loathing her stay. What she needed were a change of clothes, and quickly. Ace chose to take the time they had alone to talk about her comments before, and throw in a little bit of a thanks for her selflessness. Rika scoffed quietly, hands moving to her hips. [b]“You didn’t argue with that prick about letting Shizuka come with me. It’s not her fault at all, I’m just better as a solo operative, no one can do what I do and that’s why I always do things by myself. Plus, yeah, you failed to do a good background check on your ‘trustworthy’ pal there, but I was the one not being trusted.”[/b] She rolled her eyes. [b]“I’ll admit though, what a way to throw suspicion off of himself …until he was dumb enough to just spill it out in the open for Lin to hear that and all.” [/b]

Rika thought to Lin and Shizuka, and to that guy she asked Lin to talk to who was pretty beaten up. Lastly, she considered Ace.[b] “In an ideal world we’d all be able to do this day in and day out, but we’re not soldiers …let everyone get some food and water. Whatever you hope to gain by finding that girl in the core, will have to wait. We still have a couple advantages, one being me.” [/b]