Land Down Under (KJDarKnight & Treasure)

She smiled when he came to help her get the bed put together for him. It wasn't much but it was something anyway. She would have to see if she could get another mattress or something more comfortable anyway.

When they finished she sat on the side of her bed, a bit worn out from the effort. She still needed time to fully recover

--

"The judgment Gray" she sighed heavily "forget it...you don't understand"
 
Badru looked at Little Water Droplet, his eyes even with hers while he was on his knees and she sat. Actually, he was still slightly taller than her. These poor grounders were so... low! It was fascinating. How tiny were their babies?

~~

"I certainly cannot understand if you do not explain," Gray pointed out with a slight smile. "You tell me you are being judged, but I do not know why. Because you are a single mother? Because you got hurt? Because you are devoted enough to your child to come pick him up?"
 
She smiled thinking tbe exact opposite. Top dwellers were so big! It had to get cumbersome but of course after going put there it made sense why they were so much taller. Everything up there was so big.

"So.." she pulled out her paper and scanned over the words "You..hungry?" She asked him and looked up to see if he nodded or not

--

"No that's.." she shook her head "I mean of I were to go there looking like this? Obviously abused....they would judge me. Most of them already know about my ex...they would know I let this happen again....that's when I'd get the judgement...right now they just feel bad for me and that's bad enough" she tried again to explain
 
He dipped his head. He could eat. He wasn't sure what kind of food these grounders ate, but it was probably eatable.

~~

Gray touched her check gently. "Look, I cannot claim to know exactly how you feel, but I do know you are being too hard on yourself. Yes, this happened, yes you might have been able to do more, but that is not the focus. You were beaten into submission by a piece of sackless shit who broke your will as well as your body. You tried to leave, and that was brave and smart, but you would not let others help you while you were weak because you were ashamed of your weakness. No, weakness is not exactly desireable, but it is nothing to be ashamed of. All you need is someone to help you build yourself back up, and then I think you could take that creep on and win. You are three times the man he is, and you aren't even a man! You are like... like a machine that has been kicked, smacked relentlessly with a hammer, and never oiled. Why should you be ashamed of what someone else did? You just need someone to replace a cog here and there, give you some oil, and a good polish."
 
Misty smiled and got up again, putting the paper back in her pocket before she headed back into the kitchen to see what she had. Probably not a lot. She needed to do some shopping for certain but that could wait. For now she searched through the cupboards and found something easy to make. A couple of packaged meals that just needed water to hydrate and then heating up. Soup would have to do today and hopefully it would be enpugh for him..she never did like shopping, so many people in the market level

--

Pepper paid close attention to his little speech and he signed it. She hardly knew what to say when he finished. A whole mix of emotions stirred inside her.

"I...." she fumbled "I don't know what to say" she finally said
 
Badru followed her and watched as she got out what looked to him like little bags of plastic. Did grounders really eat plastic? He'd thought that was just a myth! But he reserved judgement until he tasted it.

~

"Say you will let me help you remember how amazing you are. Since you cannot remember, I will remember for you and help you," Gray said with a gentle smile.
 
Whence it started steaming it didn't smell half bad. Rehydrated vegetables and protien cubes that were supposedly flavored like meat but she had never had actual meat so didn't know how accurate that was.

She got out bowls and spoons and che ked her small ice box to see if she had any flat bread. No luck there..but she did have a container of cold water so she got that out and poured a couple glasses and set those put too before dinally serving a bowl for him, about a package and a half worth, and a smaller portion for herself

The only table she had was the coffee table so they had to sit on the floor or the couch. She chose to sit on tbe floor because she couldn't hold the bowl in one hand now and eat with the other with her arm in a sling

--

Pepper nodded alright...I can do that" she nodded and offered a small smile. She felt she didn't deserve a friend like him but she was glad she had him
 
Badru sat cross-legged on the floor, completely comfortable. Where he came from, there was not much by way of chairs or taller tables, not because they didn't know how to make or use them, but because no one saw the point. Only rich people indulged in furniture you sat on a lot because everyone else was busy doing and working.
Cautiously, he picked up his bowl and took a deep breath, smelling all the flavors within. It still held a lingering scent of plastic, but other than that it seemed okay. He waited to see Little Water Droplet eating before he took a bite. It reminded him of late winter shortly before spring when all fresh food was nothing but memories and they were down to eating jerky and freeze dried foods. Not particularly tasty, but nutritious. Is this all Grounders had to eat? No wonder they stayed tiny and lacked passion.

~

Gray smiled and touched her shoulder gently. "You are too good a friend to lose like this. To that thing who dares call himself a man."
 
Misty seemed happy that it looked like he more or less liked the food she had made for him. She knew it wasn't the best but it was food. Tomorrow she would have to go to market. Get him some clothes too...or maybe order some special made..she doubted any vendor would have something big enough for him

Maybe tonight she could sit with him and try to learn more of his language and maybe start to teach him theirs

--

Pepper smiled a little "thanks Gray....you're not going to lose me. Promise"
 
Badru finished his food in what felt like three bites. He tied his bowl and then took it to the kitchen, setting it carefully next to the sink. He wasn't certain what the protocol of washing dishes, so he returned, his footsteps thumping as he walked. He knelt by the table and waited patiently for Little Water Droplet to finish.

~

Gray smiled. "I have a minute. Would you like to go down to my house? Or do you like sleeping on the floor?"
 
Misty soon enough finished her meal too and took it to the sink. Proved a bit challenging to wash the bowls and spoons with one hand though. She didn't complain though

--

"We can go down" she answered with a faint nod, still a bit sleepy and very glad she didn't have to go into work today
 
Badru watched her for a moment then quietly stepped in. He had everything washed in no time flat and set it aside to dry properly. There. That was one task down. Now what? He was starting to wish he had a chore list or something.

~~

Gray offered her a hand up then shimmied down the ladder with ease. His house was actually a little place tucked under the ladder, hidden in the shadows. He had never actually taken anyone home before. A few people knew where he lived, but he'd never brought them home. The house looked like rock, but was actually carefully painted wood and metal. The door sat at an angle, making finding it even more difficult. He opened the door and reached inside to turn on a light. Even with the light on, the place was dimly lit. It was not much bigger than Pepper's place, but it felt larger as everything was hidden away in slim cupboards, and the bed was nowhere in sight. Gray kicked off his shoes and indicated for Pepper to do the same before stepping down into a bed of moss that made up much of his floors. Natural woods, stones, and plants made up the entirety of his decore, and somehow he had managed to turn even the plants into something practical.
 
Misty gratefully let him take over and wiped down the counter while he did that. There wasn't much to do chore wise. It was a small place.

She checked the time though. She took out the paper again "you want...learn speak my word?" Shr read. Getting better at pronouncing already

--

Pepper couldn't help but stare as she looked around and wiggled her toes on the soft moss "Gray..this...this is amazing" she breathed in a hushed tone as if speaking would ruin the effect
 
Badru inclined his head. That would be handy.

~~

Gray smiled as he walked in and placed his bag on a table that had been made of winding roots that grew from the back of the small space. "Thank you. It suits me," he signed. "Let me get out the bed." He stepped onto the table, using it as a step stool to reach a high cupboard where he drew out a futon, blankets, and a pillow all neatly folded away. These he laid on the moss and straightened out. "Here!"
 
She smiled and headed into the living room to sit with him. She would start with the words she knew and had been using then they could start naming things around the house and teach each other.

(Kinda brush over? Focus on Pepper and Gray foe a bit? Then Misty can show up later)

--

Pepper was still aee struck, she had never seen a plant at all so it was pretty incredible to her "h..how did you do all this?" She looked back at him
 
(Sounds good.)

Badru patiently sat next to the small women, letting her teach him and he attempted to teach her. It looked like he was going to be here for a while. That did not seem like such a bad idea.

~~

Gray shrugged as he pulled up a chair - again made of woven roots and padded with what looked like moss - and signed to her. "Everyone gets so fixed on what we do not have, on the darkness and cramped lifestyles we lead, we forget to look into the shadows for the beauty hidden there. These roots reach deep, and it is not difficult to get them or train them down as I have. The moss and other plants I found in the cave systems only a little closer to the surface. They need only a bit of light, and they flourish. There are mushrooms in the other room, as well, but I keep that door closed as it is very humid."
 
She smiled at his words. "You have....I don't know the appropriate words but for lack of a better way to explain...a way of saying it...a real eye for the unique and beautiful" she said as she took a seat
 
Gray smiled at her, pleased. "Thank you. Anyway, the kitchen is there, I am sure that is obvious, and you are free to help yourself to anything you need for as long as you are here. If you need to go shop for anything, I can reimburse you for whatever you need to buy. I keep the bed up there when not using it, I have books in that cupboard, and lots of odds and ends in the others. Feel free to investigate. I do not mind."
 
"I have my own money I can buy things to help out while I'm here" she insisted. Howver long that was. She honesy wasn't sure how long it would be before she would feel comfortable going home "it's the least I can do for your help so don't argue" she added "anyway I don't want to keep you from your work..."
 
Gray wrinkled his nose. "But if you are going to do all the work of making the food, why can't I help by spending the money?" he bargained. "After all, I am a terrible cook."
 
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