S a l e t é I V

XXXIX - Sanctuaire - Dix

When Spears had returned, not long after Cassia had spent her few minutes with Sunshine, he brought with him some conflicting emotions. 

She'd been back with her friends after fetching them some cushions that Chief had kindly donated, the boy's entrance going unnoticed by no one.

"How'd it go? Did you find anything?" Sleeves asked, practically jumping to her feet as the sound of him making his way up to the main chamber gave away his arrival. 

Cassia followed, more so because she was worried that she would pester him, the others all watching from where they were.

"Sorry. No one had anything." He replied, his attention firmly upon Cassia as he revealed what he deemed to be his lack of success, something that she instead viewed as bad luck that was out of his hands. 

She may not have blamed him to any extent, but there was no hiding her disappointment.

"Hey, listen."

He lowered himself down to her level upon witnessing the downturn in her gaze, his move making her look back to him as he swiftly buried his own frustrations in favour of addressing her.

"I'll get you a bottle or two before you're back here tomorrow, alright? I'm telling you, I will. So don't go worrying, okay?"

"But you - "

"No buts. I'll get my mits on something."

He'd been firm without sounding harsh, such a tone letting her know that arguing would have been a fruitless endeavour. He hadn't needed to relay the news to Monet, the girl in red having heard their exchange after she'd turned his way to acknowledge his arrival, the older lass already covering the distance to stand with them both.

"I know that trying to dissuade you would be pointless." She began, Cassia only noticing her appearance now that she'd spoken due to how she'd been stood with her back to her, the young man becoming aware of her sooner as Sleeves stepped aside.

"But please, don't do anything foolish. Your wellbeing is more important than your pride."

"Yeah, well what about your wellbeing, huh? I ain't gonna let you go thirsty, and that's all there is to it."

As much as she feared the possible trouble he could have gotten himself into whilst trying to help alleviate their situation, at the same time, she couldn't deny her gratitude.

"What are you gonna do now? You gonna head back, or have another look around? There's still the junkyard." He said as he straightened up again.

"We really should get back." Monet replied, her decision one that Cassia supported.

"Mmh, the others get worried when we're away for too long." She added.

"Don't let them panic or nothing either. We'll figure this out." He said to them both, looking between them, that firmer note returning.

After saying their goodbyes for the day to their friends, Cassia receiving one last hug from Sleeves to send her on her way, the time came for them to make their departure. 

Part of her wished that they could steal Sleeves away, and take her back to the warehouse so that they could have those hugs on hand at all times, but it wouldn't have been fair to deprive the other factory children of her talents. That and someone had to keep an eye on Shipshape, and Spears.

Cassia did her best to think lighter thoughts as she left with Monet, clinging to her optimism for as long as possible. Despite her best efforts, there was no shaking the image of a bottle and a half that was now cemented in her mind.