Rise & Fall

Newsworthy

POV - Cleo

Several days had passed and It wasn't long until April eventually lost the supposed job she picked up, something 'bout a Freddy Faz-hare? Cleo didn't know, it all sounded like some crazed mystic spirit possession but she didn't comment. Lord knows they had enough haunted pizzerias in the Hidden CIty.

Instead both Frida and Cleo took advantage of her free schedule and continued their plan by constantly inviting her to hang out. However upon asking what happened regarding her speedy firing their new friend's response was unexpected. She seemed...quiet. Unprepared to disclose any details as her voice trailed off while stumbling through what definitely was a cover story.

"Oh you know me—something just um. Well I uh- you um. My friends—" It was a trash fire of an excuse that ended with her hands at her hips, lips drawing a line and nodding along as if she also was trying to believe herself.

Though both Cleo and Frida stopped trying to pry about the situation after the fifth attempt, the only logical explanation being the turtles were there and she dare not speak about them at least no yet. However It was clear she wasn't going to crack by simple peer pressure. It was strange, don't all teenagers give into peer pressure? Wasn't it considered a 'thing' you do? It's just more proof that April was close with these turtles, if going against natural teenage psychology to protect them, had anything to say about it. Regardless if the two just play the waiting game they can infiltrate her 'inner circle' and naturally be introduced to the turtles with no fuss.

Sadly, Cleo had nothing to back that theory up, being a 'teenager' was never really her job. She'd tried speaking to Frida about it but god knows that didn't go well considering her youngest sister brushed off his hypothesis and kept telling Cleo not to worry.

Whatever. That didn't matter now.

Cleo had transformed his own little area in the corner of the alleyway where they took refuge. A 'den' as his loving sister had called it.

The place was a cozy area with torn up blankets that were set up like a bird's nest. Curled comfortably with two ends tucked into each other. Several parts scattered across the sides of the blanket ends. Wires lingered around the outskirts on the damp rocks and Cleo found herself crouched to the side. Tinkering with something they foraged from the trash.

Now that he was alone his mind was calmer he could hear himself think. Frida had been overjoyed to take most 'shifts' with April, getting to know her and digging for answers, Cleo would have to talk with their sister. It seemed as if there was an actual friendship blooming and they would need to remind Frida that this was an infiltration, and to not get attached.

"—Filling in for the completely forgotten Warren Stone," Cleo perked their head up and listened closer to the once broken radio. "The search for missing hypnotist, Mezmo-Ron and his hippopotamus Doug, continues." Their eyes rolled at the useless information, but decided to continue listening in, in case anything interesting was reported. Whether it was drama or petty news politics. "In unrelated news, a monster hippo in a magician's tuxedo is terrorizing local magicians," Eyes lifted from the object as it slid slowly from their hands. Making a silent 'clunk' sound when carefully making contact with the floor. "And stealing their trick animals. And with no animals, there's no magic."

Cleo brought a careful hand to the still running radio and turned the handle to the side. Hearing as the news reporter's voice faded into white noise as they thought.

He turned around, body shifting. Gaining a full side view of their temporary home base. Locked in an intense staring contest with the torn blanket that lay at his feet he allowed his thoughts to drift elsewhere. Unconsciously bringing his hands to grasp the nearest object, that just so happened to be one of his tessen, and playing with it. Hardly processing that he had stood up by now, his mind halted with an idea.