Ambassador of Quan

Summer 2021, Week 4, Saturday evening

Henry Park, The Wards

Storyteller

Henry Park was filled with more down-on-their-luck patrons than usual thanks to the sunny weather and warm temperatures of Summer. Every bench was claimed when the sun set, and most of the trees too. A few tents were propped up alongside the paths with cooking stoves burning outside them. In a corner of the park sat a young girl, a blanket wrapped around her for comfort more than warmth. Her eyes stared off in the distance as her stomach growled.

Greg

"You're a hard one to find, Rachel." The big man limped out of the shadows of the night and closer to her. Slowing when her eyes locked onto his, he held up his hands and sat a decent distance away.

Rachel - R1 Pather

"I heard you, you know?"

Greg

"I know." The two of them sat in silence for a few minutes, the night alive around them.

Rachel - R1 Pather

"Yes."

Greg

Taking out a sandwich he had prepared from his coat pocket, he handed it over to the girl who snatched it up and tore it out of the wrapper.

Rachel - R1 Pather

Between bites she contemplated his request. "Why should I?" She said, mouth full of food. Delicious, glorious food. "All you guys did is treat me like shit. Like a thing to be used."

Greg

Pain and regret crossed his features. And Rachel could tell it was true regret. "We did. And I stood by and let it happen. I'm sorry for that, Rachel. I really am. I was...blinded. Beholden, you know? Lucius he...he changed at the end."

Rachel - R1 Pather

"And you've changed now?"

Greg

"No. I don't think so. Not yet at least. I'm more trying to take care of who I can while I have a chance to. And the way things used to be, we didn't let none of ours live out on the streets starvin'."

Rachel - R1 Pather

"It's better than dying out here I guess." She said, standing up and grabbing her blanket. "Lead the way...Boss."

Greg

He stood with her, his frame dwarfing hers, and let a small smile show as he wrapped one arm gently around her shoulders. "I'm not the Boss, kid. I'm just the...Caretaker of the lost kids for right now. Until we can all figure out a place we belong."

Rachel - R1 Pather

She had a question in her mind, the one that was always on her mind. Will I be kept safe? And she heard the answer in his without needing to prompt it. Bolt had changed in the last days, Greg was right about that. But the reason Rachel had gone with him was for security. Listening to Greg's thoughts now, she couldn't help but wonder if she had mistaken who the security really came from. Leaning into the big man, they walked down the park path, not a single dangerous look or thought thrown Rachel's way with Greg around.

Type

Record, Historical

Medium

Digital Recording, Text

Authoring Date

July 17, 2021