Fictober: Day 15!
Original list here, and I’m tracking my progress here.
I wasn’t expecting on adding Timber, but here he is. Love my boy.
Day 15: Meluna & Timber: “not interested, thank you”
Meluna hurried across the street with a box of scraps in her arms. Behind her, the old merchant tried to call for her attention, his words starting and failing, dying with a stammer in his throat. "Miss!" he tried finally, but Meluna was already too late for it to make a difference. She dropped the first load on the bed of the truck and then doubled back for the rest. This spurred the man into trying again.
"I have a dolly!" he insisted.
"That's okay."
She flashed him a quick smile, but her face melted back into the same, contemplative neutrality it had before. She was running over the map in her head, trying to see if there were any shortcuts she could take to get to her next destination. She was already thirty minutes late, and if she didn't leave soon, she would be pushing it. She dropped the second box with a groan before slamming the heavy metal door closed. It creaked loudly. Meluna made a note to have her brother deal with it later. She jogged back across the street, already digging into her pocket to pull a handful of gil out of her pocket.
"Four fifty-six, right?"
"A-about that," the man started. He pushed up his glasses and looked up at her at an angle. "You're with the Everetts. Right?"
Meluna's fingers froze; she flicked her gaze to the man. Her posture deflated. She let out a steady sigh; the tension eased out of her shoulders. She left like Cloud. "I'm Meluna Everett," she explained, allowing a small but genuine smile to settle over her lips. She was so tired.
The man, thankfully, wasn't as winded! He brightened up and held out a hand. "Two fifty it is then."
She frowned. "That's... only a little over half. Why the cut?"
"You've already helped me more than enough! My son was here before. You helped us repair the buildings on Bakery Street. You saved my business! And to think with me offloading these scraps, you're helping someone else." He motioned with his hand, fingers curling this time. "It's all I can do to show my good faith. I'll tuck this little bit away for a rainy day."
Meluna blinked at him before handing over three hundred gil. "Here. In case it's ever more than a drizzle."
He took the money between a shake of hands, and then Meluna was on her way. She drove a bit faster than she ordinarily would have, but she really needed to close the gap. While on the road, she rolled up her window and radioed her brother.
"Eeeello, ello?"
"Hey, Tree Trunk. Listen." She leaned her head back and stared down her nose towards the road. "I'm on my way right now. Are you still en route?"
"Taking a detour around Edge right now. I should make it before daybreak."
She whistled. "Camp longer if you need to. Don't speed like I am."
"I was gonna say. I thought you would have finished by now."
She waved a hand in the air, even if he couldn't see it. She spoke again, fixing her posture as she did. "I got caught up talking with some Shinra goon about repairing their operations. He was adamant that the President would appreciate our contribution." She snorted. "Not interested."
"Ha, right...? Must've not known we've already done our part for Rufus."
"And if he wants anything else, the head honcho can come talk to us himself!"
Timber laughed. "He's not gonna do that."
Meluna thumbed down to let the static fill the air as she thought. She released the talk button, sighed, and then shook her head quietly. Pressing down again, she said,
"He really won't... Anyway, I'm running late. Have they been in contact with you?"
"Not yet. I'm keeping a look out."
"Who're you riding with?"
"Steiner."
"Tell 'im I said hi. I'll let you go."
"Be safe, sis. See you in a bit."
"You too. Over and out."
She hooked the comm back onto the console and let out a long sigh. If she played her cards right, she would only be thirty minutes later. Hopefully, nothing tried to rush the truck while she was on the road. Meluna cranked down the truck window and propped her elbow in the space. As she rested her cheek against her half-curled fist. Thirty or so minutes with nothing but her thoughts. Feeling the breeze against her skin and seeing the oranges and purples that dusted over the horizon, she let out a content sigh.Well. At least the drive wouldn't be all that bad.