Country Mouse Goes to the Big City (Private; Attn FNC)

[Abetton]

ooc: This is a one-on-one private RP between me and Free Norfolk City you are free to read along if you like but please, no posting.



With her pink rolling suitcase in tow, Eris Maxwell a girl from the country land duchy of Lillah in the heart of Abetton fresh off her flight from, where was it again? She kind of lost track, between layovers, transfers and delays plus a brief overnight stay so she could see her dad who was working overseas at the moment she finally made it to Free Nofrolk City, the airport at least, what was it called? She also forgot really she kind of stood out here, she was from the countryside, only time she really went to the city was to see her dad, and then again big city Sauville was nothing like this. She was here to be an exchange student, really at the insistence of her mom to really get out there and see something of the world, but she was just fine in her little humble abode, cute quaint cottage back home but then again like her mom, she wanted to be a teacher when she "grew up" so well what's not to say her mom doesn't have a good point in having her try something new. Just wish her bestie back home, Toni could be here. Hope she was doing well right now, but seemed winters were usually the time things were quite and tame for her farmer BFF. Looking at her phone she did wonder if she should try to call her, but what time was it even there right now? She...didn't know...gee seems there's a lot of things she didn't know. Buying a drink from one of the vending machines scattered about the airport now all she could do was wait, uh should she stand outside the terminal and wait for someone to pick her up? Maybe she should have made a big sign saying "Hi, i'm Eris" or maybe her host family would.

She also had something of a country accent, gee would she get made fun of it for that? She was from a real tiny tiny country rural town, her class only had about a dozen students in total and that was kids her age and her mom was the only other teacher in that school so yeah she was just a simple country mouse now in a very large city. She really hoped she wouldn't have to try to find her way around the city on her own, that prospect was plenty scary. But for now, here she stood, long red hair, cute pink summertime dress, big rolling suitcase by the side. She now stood and waited.

[Free Norfolk City]

"You and the boys "working" late again?"
"No, not this time, babe." He gives her a good pat on the butt. "Turns out Boss Mom needs me around for something."
"This mean I won't see ya t'nite?"
He puts his hand on her cheek for a moment. "Probably not, but keep it warm, eh? You never know."
He gives her another pat as she walks out, and he shakes his head as he closes the door behind her.
"I swear. I don't know how I'm supposed to keep her interested when I've always gotta do shit."
His name is Zayden Nydam, but people who know him call him 'Zay. He's just watched the love of his life (well, he'd like to think so), Nadia Felix, walk out of the 'ol hideout; well, one of them anyways. There were numerous such places scattered throughout the city state, and they were often used for anything from the exchanging of illicit goods and services to looking for somewhere to just chill, especially when one's parents get nervous around the discussion of one's hormones.
Your hormones.
"More like Whoremones, in her case," he chuckles to himself.
So, why did he turn her down?
Well, it's simple.
"Some foreign exchange student is coming here," Zayden thought to himself. "I think she's from this joint called Abetton."
He didn't particularly have any interest in it, but he recalled it was his mother's idea. She said it would do the family some good to learn from different cultures.
"That's what we have the internet for," Zayden said.
"It's not the same, and you know that."
"Enlighten me."
"Zayden, we've been over this before."
"Right, right..."
"I doubt Nadia is that insatiable that she can't wait for you."
You don't know Nadia, Mom, he thought with a slight chuckle; see, he had been conscripted into meeting Eris at the airport the following day, because everyone else was tasked with getting everything ready for her stay.
"Please, don't mess this up," Mrs. Nydam told him. "Our reputation as a family is at stake here."
"Yeah, yeah..." Zayden would murmur as he'd head upstairs in their quaint, albeit cliche, suburban home in the district of Pleasantview to relax, to mull things over.
Plus, Nadia was sending some risque pictures again.
Nadia wasn't his first, but he wanted her to be the last. There was something about her that kept him interested beyond the times they'd hook up.
He believed he had found his soulmate, something he used to belittle others for believing in.
But he worried that with his parents cramping his style so much, she'd move on.
And then what would he do?
Sure, he had had his fair share of gals, but it wasn't like they were lining up for him regardless.
"Fuckin' hell," he'd murmur thoughtfully as he saw Nadia's latest round of pictures. "She really misses me that much?"
But he knew he couldn't circumvent the iron law of Mom.
Tomorrow, he'd meet this Eris character at the airport, and hopefully she wouldn't be too much of a hassle.

---

Located in the district of Cottonhills, Cottonhills International Airport, oftentimes referred to by locals simply as Cottonhills, was where Eris had found herself. It was here that you could see so many people from all over the world, hearing a variety of different languages. It was at this airport that Zayden saw his oldest (they were roughly the same age) sister off as she went to Abetton to live with the Maxwell family, but this story is not about hers, which would be more suitable for a different thread, if at all. He saw her off because his parents expected him to, even though she had told 'em she didn't mind if he didn't show.

"Besides, I already know y'all got my back," she'd tell her mother after giving her a big 'ol hug. "Trust me, it's intuition."

He wondered how the people of Abetton would take to someone like her.

Nevermind, Zayden thought to himself, now's not the time to wax and wane over such things. He came here with a purpose, and it wasn't just to see the lonely housewife he had just hooked up with catch her flight to parts unknown. He rationalized the fact that he had slept with someone other than Nadia as that they hadn't made things official yet, so it's not like it was a big deal. He thought (well, he assumed, as such young men are won't to do) that she was doing likewise, and as cliche as it may sounds, it aggravated him quite a bit.

But again, he knew he had to stay focused. He had to find where the little runt had gone off to. After all, Cottonhills saw a lot of traffic, and there were a lot of people today.

A lot.

"Such a nice view," he'd say too, ogling some of the women around, but alas, he knew what he came here for.

And soon enough, he found her.

Lugging her cute little pink suitcase around, asking around for directions but finding nothing. Initially, when his mother told him about the presence of an exchange student in their home, Zayden hoped she'd be hot, and open to being shown a different side of local hospitality.

Alas, she was just some snot nosed kid, and Zayden's interest plummeted. Still, he went along with it because he knew Mom had him by the balls...

"Well, here goes nothing," he murmured before unclenching his fists and walking in a steadfast manner in Eris' direction, dodging the usual vendors who'd run around the joint, hitting up tourists and returning locals alike, before intercepting her.

"Excuse me," he'd ask, as politely as he could muster, which to be fair, was quite a bit. "You're the Maxwell girl, yeah? Eris Maxwell? I've been sent to collect."

To ensure her cooperation, he took out his wallet and flashed a picture of his family, underneath the school portrait of Nadia he kept there.

"You've probably been told about this, but I'm the boy here," he says, pointing himself out in the portrait. Just another suburban family outside their house. "Call me Zaydan. Sorry this isn't much of a meet-and-greet, but the rest are busy getting ready for your arrival. Well, I said we were already ready, but Mom, she likes to change things on short notice. A lot. So, yeah. Come with me, I'll take you there."

To my little slice of hell, he thought wryly to himself.

"Make sure you stick close too," Zayden told her. "You can get...."

That's when his phone rang. Figures, he thought as he pulled it out to see who it was.

Nadia, he thought. She was texting to ask how the meetup with "the new kid" went.

"It just started," he quickly texted back. "So far, so...okay?"

Putting his phone away, he returned his attention to Eris.

"...lost. Yeah. Cottonhills is, as you can see, a big 'ol place. Now c'mon, let's go."

And off they went.

[Abetton]

Zayden may be a tad disappointed that their new guest for the next month wasn't a bombshell but still pretty young, young enough to still not really have much interest in dating yet. When he introduced himself to her showing everything that verified he was part of the family she was supposed to be in "Yes that's me, Eris Maxwell." To be exact, Eris Elizabeth Maxwell her full name but that really isn't important in the here and now for her, she was used to that when her mom was angry with her though and this is what it kind of felt like, even though she fully agreed to this, why did it feel like her mom just shoved her off to boarding school suddenly? No, it was likely just travel jitters, early homesickness, and jet lag making her think that. And again, this was only for a month not like forever. "ah good to meet you, Zayden." She nodded with her head swooping her red hair in the process. She was here by herself, a strange girl in a strange land but she'd make the most of it. Meanwhile her counterpart no doubt was heading off to Abetton a story for another day.

She continued towing her suitcase behind her following him through the crowded airport, a series of twists and turns weaving between people, it's kind of a miracle she kept up with him at all. Yikes it was crowded here, not even Sauville was this insane and Sauville was the largest city in Abetton. Anyway, outside at last, bright sun, not bad for such a large city you'd expect a lot more haze and smog and into a taxi cab. Woah how long a trip was this and who was paying for it? Hopefully her host family. Mean as that is to say, daughter of a divorced mother who teaches in a rural school, it's not like there's a lot of money between her and her mom. Monetary wealth is fleeting though as her mom would always tell her, find wealth in a fulfilling life and those cliches. Her father would be more "Money makes the world go round and one can't live off of rich experiences. Maybe he's right, but it's little wonder her parents divorced.

The cab ride still didn't talk much as she watched the scenery of the city race by in her window. It was quite a sight to see, such a vast endless city with so many parts and sections, again nothing like Sauville and a far cry from Larissa, which is where she was actually from, Sauville just being the capital of all Abetton. Not the closet city, that would be Arisse the actual Duchy Capital of home, and Arisse was nice but Sauville was where you'd go to really be of the world. Anyway, she observed buildings that seemed to stretch endlessly into the sky, endless sea of cars, goodness didn't anyone take the train around here? Few in Abetton owned cars, even way out in the boonies where she lived, you took buss, train or even taxis like this in the city. Cars were either luxury items or something for businesses and government offices to use more than ordinary folks. Biking, walking, also good alternatives. Well guess she'd get use to it. Cotton Hills is where she was going right? That's what he said, that invoked cotton fields, mmmm her best friend Toni did say Cotton was likely the crop her family would be growing this coming season. But a large city like this she had a hard time seeing there really being any arable land for farming or really any kind of rural areas in general so maybe just trees with white pedals that kind of seem cottony, maybe? Mmmm what would her new home be like?

Well the large city of endless skyscrapers peeled away to smaller dwellings, rows of tidy little houses stacked together in even rows, lovely manicured patches of grass, some with vibrant gardens others with unique decorations, largely painted in the same scheme of easy neutral colors, but once in a while one house would stand out with some off the wall color scheme. Well here was her place at last, after the lengthy ride which was nice and easy but still good to get out stretch her legs and of course go use the little girl's room at some point.

[Free Norfolk City]

Nadia Felix was stashing a magazine of questionable morals behind her back when her mother poked her head into her bedroom door to check up on her.
"You're doing your homework, right?" Mrs. Felix asked.
"Already done, Mom," Nadia replied.
"It better be. It may not look like it around this district, but in this house..."
"Mom, we live in an apartment. It's not a house, let alone ours."
"Don't sass me, young lady. You know exactly what I mean."
Nadia shrugged.
"And promise me you've gotten that latest boy you're seeing's to be trusted. You know damn well that those uppity suburban folks will bail the second the test shows a positive."
"Mom, I'm not..."
"What? You're not what?"
"I'm not stupid."
That's how Nadia liked to put it. She was someone who liked to experience things, that much was certain, but she wasn't stupid; she wasn't about to just damn the consequences and let some guy...
"I don't know what I did wrong."
"Mom, that's just it. You didn't do..."
"But in this....within these walls, anyway...."
"Mom."
"Just promise me you'll be careful, okay? I have enough to worry about without you..."
It wasn't like her family was down in the dumps, per se. Sure, they lived in Shaiburg, but it wasn't like they were totally poor. They were just financially challenged, like her father liked to say.
"Imagine what he would say, if he heard what you just told me right now."
Mr. Felix was working in the Esvanovian colony, as a proud employee of the Monmouth Bay Trading Company. The pay was decent; not so decent that the family could move to a better district, but enough that the rent and other essentials were covered.
But only just, which was why Mrs. Felix did some odd jobs now and then to supplement their income.
"And why I expect you to not frittle away your education on boys and dope," Mrs. Felix told her daughter. "Your father and I want you to be something other than just another statistic."
Nadia nodded affirmatively. "Mom, my grades are hardly so bad that you need to give me that kinda talk."
Mrs. Felix eventually left, and in doing so, allowed Nadia to reach for her phone, and send off a saucy text to Zayden, who recieved it right as the taxi driver pulled up. As Zayden opened the front door, he heard the unmistakeable sounds of Ngombian radio. The driver spoke in a thick accent, and he warmly welcomed Zayden and Eris inside his vehicle; his broad smile showed a mouth full of cracked and rotten teeth. As noted, the radio was set to a station in a language foreign to even Zayden, and the cab smelled of incense, cigarettes and wet dog. One could look at the picture of the driver on the laminated label on the back of his seat that showed the wrinkles by his eyes, that made him look like he was laughing and crying simultaneously.
"Where to?" he asked Zayden.
"Pleasantview," Zayden told him. "And make it snappy, will ya?"
The Ngombian man nodded profusely. "Yes, yes, right away."
Zayden had given the generic courtesies to Eris, but otherwise did not talk much to her. There was nothing much to say, he felt. He hated that she was just some punk kid—not someone closer to his age, whom he could do something with; if not a young girl to sleep with, then a young man to get into some trouble with—that Eris was a little girl meant he could do neither. When he saw Nadia texted him again, that's when he adjusted himself to be able to look at it without Eris being able to see; seeing that Zayden was ignoring the young girl, the Ngombian man decided to ask her, "Say, you're not from these parts, are you? I can tell—I can always tell when my customers come from elsewhere."
If Eris had studied the Crystal Castle Republic before arrival, she'd have learned that the Ngombians were a confederation of tribes and clans, and many sub-tribes and sub-clans too, that all lived together on the island of, well, Ngombia. It was a very large and spacious island, but while the coast had been settled and colonized by Garbanians, the inland jungles were still rather undeveloped, with many uncontacted peoples dwelling within; only every blue moon or so did the Garbanians ever attempt to penetrate the voracious flora and fauna, but failed to do much other than extend the road network just a little bit more and hook up with barely clothed women at the behest of tribal chiefs to whom the idea that it could be another century seemed impossible. And it was when Garbania controlled what would become the Republic that many Ngombians immigrated—to such an extent that the district of Beulahdale, named for the province of Beulahland in Ngombia, was established upon independence.
The taxi driver said he lived there, but the money he made was sent back to his family in Ngombia.
"Ngombia is a beautiful island," he says. "Aboo gliada da yagee moo amoogee woogayo—it is full of so much..."
"So why did you leave it then?" asked Zayden, suddenly. "Why come here?"
"The same reason many of us do!" laughed the taxi driver. "To make money!"
Zayden recalled Nadia had some Ngombian blood in her veins, and it showed in certain ways that he kept to himself, for Eris did not need to hear it.
"How much money do you make?" asked Zayden.
"Enough!"
It would take some time to get from Cottonhills to Pleasantview, and as the taxi driver drove, he pointed out various landmarks for Eris.
"She's not from here," Zayden told him. "She's from Abetton."
"Abetton, huh?"
"Yeah. You heard of it?"
The Ngombian shrugged. "I hear of many places. Many, many places."
He adjusted the idol that hung on his rear-view mirror, adjusting it ever so slightly to look at Eris.
"I nearly mistook her for a Garbanian, what with the red hair and all! You, boy, you remember your lessons, right? About how my people called 'em red hairs...?"
Zayden nodded silently.
"They came to our island and booted out the Mareylanders..."
"Don't go boring the girl now—she's here to get more than just shit she could read in any 'ol book."
"Hey, I'm just making conversation, hyuk! Ain't like either of you could talk about something like what's on this here radio..."
"That reminds me..."
But before he could finish that, his phone went off again.
"Nevermind, I gotta take this," Zayden says, and he answered it, speaking in Norfolkite. As he did so, the Ngombian looked back at Eris.
"Abetton, was it? I have never been to Abetton. I suspect you have never been to Ngombia. What is Abetton like? Do herds of beautiful wild ponies run free across the plains too?"

[Abetton]

As far as Eris was concerned, Zayden was a bit standoffish with her, or maybe just shy? Some of the boys in her class were kind of the same to be fair, her mom did always say get to know a person before you have them all figured out. Still she was strugling to find really any way to break the ice, plus he seemed to be having a conversation with their driver. Was this usual for drivers to talk to their passengers? She really didn't know, she never took taxis, always trains or of course was driven places or rode her own bicycle or walked, simple as that.

Snapping back when asked about Abetton "Huh? Oh uh ya, that's right. I'm from Abetton. Afraid I haven't been to Ngombia, sir, just here is my first real time overseas. And well you're not far off with that guess. Not so much ponies but horses are pretty common in the rural parts, especially where I'm from."

[Free Norfolk City]

Snapping back when asked about Abetton "Huh? Oh uh ya, that's right. I'm from Abetton. Afraid I haven't been to Ngombia, sir, just here is my first real time overseas. And well you're not far off with that guess. Not so much ponies but horses are pretty common in the rural parts, especially where I'm from."

"I have never been to Abetton, not at all!" laughed the cab driver. "I have only gone back to Mama Ngombia when it's a holiday. It can be pretty hot over there this time of year! It..."
That's when he noticed the cordless phone was ringing. "Excuse me, but I must take this."
What he ended up saying was quite strange, to say the least: "The Lawkniss Monstuh was awedegwee caught. Yo thawts...I dwant do doh doo dondonkomo. Dondonkomo. Awwww, dum on! Your ducking me!"
He spoke of chicky chi mein and ton ton thoup, of ticky my tain on the Tunnimo tuhnpike. Ngombians spoke a strange creole at times, leftovers from the Mareyland regime of old.
"Daaaats it! My teenis… oh yeaaa. Martinez? Hmm."
Then, once this surreal conversation concluded, he returned his attention back to his charges.
"Sorry about that, miss. I have a lot of things to deal with, you understand. A lot of things! Heh heh heh."
Zayden asked, "How much more of this, exactly?"
"Not too long, no, no, the traffic will clear up eventually, yes, yes. You know how traffic is, yes? I am sure your little friend here doesn't have to worry about traffic in the country."
Zayden looked over to Eris, then, after taking a quick peek out his window. "This is gonna be a while, so if you're looking for something to do....ugh, you might as well...."
That's when the car suddenly jerked, and the Ngombian cab driver started laughing his ass off, because apparently traffic was advancing in that old time way where you never quite knew how idiotic some other drivers would be on the road. He was laughing in his native tongue while Zayden was looking for his phone; had Eris noticed, it was not only right in front of her, but a picture (clothed, but a tad risque nonetheless) of a young woman was on the screen, as well as some text in the Norfolkite language indicating that they were chatting on the other end...
"Damn it, where's my bloody phone?" sighed Zayden. "Where's my...."

[Abetton]

As he started talking about his homeland, no doubt interesting she felt but still it was hard to pay attention between the scenery outside and well now the cab ride she was starting to get a bit queasy not helped with the motion, and now the jerking. Now on his phone, that seems kind of dangerous. Gee a bus driver will hardly talk to you much less answer a phone call like this. Hectic big city life she had to guess. Her eyes were catching sight of the meter, woah the price seemed to be going up and up, hope she didn't have to pay for it. Now the driver dropped his phone

Seeing it fall down landing at her feet she picked it up, catching sight of well it made her blush to say the least. "Uh here, mister, please take it." She wanted to tell him to also please just focus on driving but she was a kid he was grownup he might get angry and stop the cab right here and let her out and then what? Yikes she didn't want to chance it she just handed it up without adding in the extra bit. Sitting back in her seat her eyes fell on Zayden. All she could really tell was he was much older than her, maybe he could be like her big bro while she was here? She was an only child so it'd be different, only child unless you count her friend's little brother in some ways like a little bro to her but uh not the same. Still he also looked a bit annoyed in a way. Well, teenagers after a lot more independence, to a degree, maybe he had plans and he had to escort her. Gee, she should have just taken the liaison offered as apart of this exchange program but she insisted she'd be picked up by her host family.

[Free Norfolk City]

While traffic in Free Norfolk City can be quite meddlesome at times, especially during cold snaps in the winter, it tends to fluctuate, and just as Zayden snatched his phone back from Eris, the cab driver began to laugh ecstatically as the traffic began to clear, and he could start driving again. We'll be there in no time, he told his passengers, apologizing repeatedly for the delay. Zayden rolled his eyes and looked out the window, while the cab driver started singing under his breath along with the radio, occassionally breaking into commenting about some such segment in between songs; of course, it was all in his native tongue, one that neither Zayden nor Eris likely spoke all that well, but it seemed whatever was being said, he was quite happy with it.

Soon enough, they were in Pleasantview. Most people would've agreed that it was a rather lovely, quaint district, but Zayden seemed rather detached, as if he would rather be anywhere else than here, with the generic McHouses and their freshly manicured lawns and gardens all aligned one after the other, in row upon row. Sometimes, you'd see children playing, elders chatting, dogs barking, cats grooming, and both Zayden and the cab driver took a glance at what appeared to be a pretty woman exercising. It did not take much longer for them to arrive at their destination.

"Home sweet fuckin' home," Zayden murmured drolly as he paid the cab driver the fare before he stepped out of the vehicle, seeing his mother hastily walking out with three girls of varying age close behind. These were the Nydam sisters, whose presence in his life Zayden didn't seem to tolerate. He wouldn't admit it, he was too proud to, but he wished he had a brother, because with his father working in the Esvanovian colony, it was quite isolating to be the only man in a house full of women. He put on as good a face as he could and helped Eris with her luggage while his mother proceeded to welcome her.

"Welcome to the city, let alone our home," Mrs. Nydam told Eris curtly. "You must be Eris; it's so nice to finally meet you. I hope your trip was pleasant...?"

If Eris looked around, she would have noticed that 'Casa Nydam' was a rather big, spacious house; it had six bedrooms, and both the front and back yards were roomy. An apple tree in the backyard was home to a treehouse, as well as a swing set and a fort made out of painted and drawn upon cardboard. Birds chirped, and one could hear the rusting of the leaves and distant barking. There was also a little grave too, with the memorial stone bearing the name Pongo.

"But before you get settled in, I'd like you to meet the rest of my family. I hope Zayden has been a gracious host thus far...?"

Zayden rolled his eyes again as his face was buried in his phone; no doubt, he was busily texting Nadia.

Mrs. Nydam sighed as she gestured to the girls behind her.

"These are my daughters, your host sisters. They'll help you get adjusted and settled."

The first to come forward introduced herself as Nanalyn, age fourteen, right as what sounded like thunder began to rumble in the sky. The faint scent of rain could be picked up, too. Nanalyn seemed to be holding what appeared to be a sketchbook, and although her face was buried in it, her mother didn't seem to mind it as much as she had Zayden. Nanalyn seemed alright with Eris, though she spoke in short, choppy sentences, seemingly preoccupied with whatever she was sketching in her book.

Then came Ulévie, age twelve. She seemed to be the most excited of the three, as if her mother had told her a girl her age would be staying with them. She took Eris by the hand and told her that she was really happy to finally meet her, but before she could drag Eris away, likely to her bedroom where she'd show her her various collections, the youngest at eight, little Rhéanne, introduced herself with a similar passion, grabbing Eris' other hand.

Eris hadn't even moved either way before the holds were released, as Mrs. Nydam entrusted Nanalyn to show Eris to her room while she corraled both younger girls rather irritably, having noticed Zayden had long fled the scene.

"Don't mind them," Nanalyn told Eris as she led her inside the house, chock full of pictures and portraits that adorned practically every concievable inch of wall. "They tend to be clingy, but if you don't give in to either, they'll eventually find something, or someone, else to squabble over."

Most notably among the aforementioned items was the family portrait that hung over the fireplace, which included two other members of the family. Nanalyn, whose book was only just finally under her arm, gestured to the older man in the portrait.

"That's Dad. He's working in Esvanovia, so you'll likely be back in Abetton by the time he comes home," Nanalyn said. She gave Eris the details rather briefly, namely that he worked for the Monmouth Bay Trading Company.

"And that there's Alizée," said Nanalyn. "Yep, she's the one who chose to wear her finest attire for a punk rock concert that day."

While Nanalyn and her other sisters wore "family portrait appropriate," for lack of a better term, attire, Alizée decided she'd opt for something you'd expect to wear in a mosh pit. She was seventeen, like Zayden, and it was her bedroom, Nanalyn told Eris, that she'd be using during her stay.

"Don't worry," Nanalyn told her as she led Eris inside the room, "Nothing in here will bite; she told them not to."

Alizée's room was a messy, yet an aesthetically pleasing one; there were band posters all over the walls, as well as a corkboard over her bed upon which she had pinned pictures she had taken with her numerous friends, both male and female alike, making all sorts of silly faces and poses. The floor is scattered with clothes, papers, and boxes. Pictures hang from the ceiling with the help of strings, and one that's signed Maydolna Meunier nearly taps Eris on the head as Nanalyn shows her around.

"That's our mom," Nanalyn says. "She found an old picture of Mom in a magazine and kept it for posterity. Anyways, once you unpack, meet me down in the kitchen. I feel like we should scrounge us up some grub before the tour continues; I'm sure you're probably hungry too."

And, with that, Nanalyn left, leaving Eris all alone in Alizée's room; the door closing behind her revealed a poster of what appeared to be the frontwoman of an old time alt-rock band, coupled with a pair of pictures on each side; to the left was a picture of Alizée and a couple friends outside a club, and the other was of them with the frontwoman and her band backstage.

In all, now it was up to Eris to decide where to go first. Probably where the food was, especially as the vague sound of a microwave beeping could be heard.

[Abetton]

At long last it was their final destination, Pleasentview. Different from the long rolling pastures of her hometown, this was a big place with a lot of nice looking houses neatly aligned in rows all having relatively same looking designs, paint jobs, architecture and of course landscapes. Sure variations were abound here and there, some had vibrant gardens others had a few little plants here and there, some had decorations or signs for brands, businesses and what not. Sure was different all right, nothing like home. But people were out and about, that's good. She heard grumpy elders in her home town say these places are just mini islands where people kept to themselves, never ventured outside, but seems like that wasn't as much the case. Zayden muttered something that sounded rather well a bit strong for her young ears but oh well. Meeting her Host Mother for the first time, she addressed Eris rather curtly...Oof that didn't bode well already. "Uh, yes ma'am." I didn't feel the need to go through the details, she didn't seem in the mood. Maybe she was having a bad day? Even her own mom who was always warm, loving, caring, supportive had bad days so let's not be so quick to judgement right? Besides the long endless cab ride, it wasn't THAT bad. I mean a few planes here and there but it was alright. This place was massive, Eris felt like she'd get lost in here. Her whole country cottage could probably fit into this first floor space, and her dad's rather high end apartment in Sauville could probably fit on the second floor alone. That apple tree she could spot looked like the kind of tree she and her friend Toni might ride bikes too on Toni's farmland or somewhere along the rural dirt road. A tree house too? Like the ones some of the boys had built. This is a nice place for sure. Zayden didn't seem too interested in Eris beyond getting her here, oh well. Again a simple, "Yes ma'am." Still rather flat, she still felt kind of on edge. New place and a Host she couldn't quite get a strong read on.

The rest of the family were introduced to her, Nanalyn 14 older than her so probably not going to be up for hanging around a kid. Thunder sounded off, oh a storm, Eris thought. She packed her gear along too but likely wouldn't need it now, thankfully being safe and dry indoors. Nanalyn also seemed like she was drawing, maybe she'd still be willing to show some of her art? Eris wasn't much an artist, a doodler sure like any kid her age would do. Ulévie was next, closer to her age and seemed the most delighted to see her, which made Eris smile more. Finally there was Rhéanne, age 8, she was adorable, the age of Toni's little brother it seemed. "Hehe hi there." She greeted with a nervous giggle. Nanalyn was charged with helping Eris settle in, guess the oldest girl she probably has a little more responsibility. Zayden seemed to vanish but again that's to be expected, she could imagine last thing he wanted to do was spend the day with her. A bit family portrait hung, seems like a really nice family but she hadn't see signs of their father yet, maybe he's at work? Nanalyn quickly answered that thought for Eris, seemed like she wouldn't get to meet him after all. Maybe that's why the Missus of the house was a tad irritable, having to watch after five children and now a foreign exchange student, it must be overwhelming. She was also somewhat introduced to Alizée via the picture, wait so that's FIVE children? Granted two are late teens but still it's a lot for one person. And Alizée seemed just a little scary...Punk wasn't much of a thing in Abetton or it was probably just for city kids. Nothing will bite she told them not too... Wait, what? Eris wasn't sure what she was walking into now but this was Alizée's room, decorated with posters over the whitewashed walls, different than her own bedroom back home for sure. She sure had a lot of friends too. More amazing was their mom too was among the photos cut from a magazine. Amazing! Her mom a simple school teacher nothing like that. Nanalyn left Eris alone to unpack her stuff. It felt a bit strange now, she was occupying someone else's room, she would have been happy to share with somebody rather than force them out but well it is what it is for now.

With the rain she changed from her cute pink sundress to something a little more reasonable, a simple long sleeved white buttoned blouse long black skirt that went to her knees she checked her hair a little, things looked fine she ventured out from the bedroom down the stairs just following sounds and smells to find the kitchen. She was getting her apatite back after the long cab ride here, maybe a light meal would do her good.

[Free Norfolk City]

Mrs. Nydam spotted Eris walking into the kitchen, well stocked as it was with all sorts of goodies, both foreign and domestic; there were also pictures on the walls, and not only that, but there were also some stuck to the fridge of the juvenile variety, too. It really was like any other suburban household, right down to the nude photo of you when you were three in the downstairs bathroom, the one that guests would use. Well, Mrs. Nydam was just that kinda mom, you know. Full of all these embarassing anecdotes she'd tell her friends 'round the block, and you'd hope she had spared you the indignity; rather, that she hadn't told the worst among 'em. Well, Mrs. Nydam was busy prepping dinner when Eris walked in.

"Oh, Eris," Mrs. Nydam said, turning down the kitchen radio to a low hum; it was some general station: news, traffic, weather, that kinda thing. So far, there was nothing out of the ordinary. "I hope you've been making yourself at home - I hope Nanalyn was also a gracious hostess. I told my girls that they should treat you as if you were another sister."

"Mm-hmm, Katasean chicken with pea pods," Mrs. Nydam told her, albeit without moving her eyes from the chicken she was cutting up. "It's a recipe I found on the internet. It sounds like it'll be delicious and filling; I don't know about you, but my daughters sure can eat a lot. Oh, I took the liberty of looking over your dossier. Good to know you're not allergic to anything; still, though, let me know if there's anything you particularly don't fancy, or do. This country is a prosperous one; the markets here sell just about anything, so it won't be difficult to procure you anything you'd like. Heh, within reason, of course. We're not poor, but we're not rich, either."

Mrs. Nydam reached for various jars and containers, and started throwing a bit of each into a bowl, and started to stir in a firm, but casual, manner.

"Don't feel afraid to ask if there's anything you need," she continued. "We want to make sure your time here is a happy, joyful time. You're not just here to study, you're here to experience something new and exciting, y'know? Dopey, maybe, but I promised those folks in the program we'd do our part, and that's what we'll do. Once dinner's done, you can watch something on the telly. Wrestlefest XL is this weekend, and we're gonna order it, so if you're into wrestling, feel free to watch along. Oh, maybe play a game or two with one of the girls. They've got the latest consoles, y'know."

Had Eris looked around enough, she'd have noticed a vintage poster of Ice Cold Stephanie Austen, said to be one of the greatest (female) wrestlers of all time; the poster was something out of the nineties, portraying various events in the career of Austen such as her controversial defeat of her biggest rival Dwayna Jeanson at Wrestlefest XVII or when she was the Queen of the Ring for the first time, launching her career into superstardom almost overnight. Of course, there were other posters too, like of alternative rock bands, certain celebrities, and one of her school softball team after winning the championship.

"I hope Alizee's room isn't too unnerving for you," Mrs. Nydam went on. "I made sure she at least tried to tidy it up before she left. Anyways, feel free to poke around the fridge for something to eat, drink, whatever. Dinner won't be too long, and I'll let you know when it's done; other than that, feel free to look around, explore, relax. Our home is your home, so don't feel afraid to settle in. Let us know if you'll need anything."

Oddly enough, she didn't seem to mention Zayden. Perhaps she knew that he wouldn't be sticking around much, especially with that Felix girl he was always cavorting with.

"I hope she's not in a family kinda way," Mrs. Nydam reflected. "Because then Zayden will have to get a job and never go to college!"

[Abetton]

Eris's adventure through the strange home albeit a small one, now found it at a stop in the kitchen. There was her new host mother again. "Yes ma'am, I'm doing well." Eris replied pretty simply, then with a small giggle "Well I'd say it's a bit much for me but I'll be okay," She probably did have certain foods she didn't like or liked better but it'd be very rude to decline the food on her plate of her hosts. She kept that manner to herself. Right now whatever was being cooked up was smelling delicious and already she was hungry. "I don't suppose I could be of help? I often help my own mom cook dinner for the two of us, I wouldn't mind doing it here." Well she would hate to be a freeloader too, again even if this was a student guest exchange kind of deal, she should mind her manners while here and reflect the best her parents have raised her to be, right?

[Free Norfolk City]

"Well, I don't suppose why not?" Mrs. Nydam said, gesturing to the various tools and instruments of the culinary arts. "You can just follow my lead - I've decided that since you'll be staying with us, we'll start things off with a neutral dish: a nice orange-thyme beef stew. You're not allergic to anything, are you? I'll be damned if I suffer a casualty." Mrs. Nydam shook her head. She knew she'd never live it down around here if her rivals heard of such a calamity in her house. "Don't worry, we'll have something a fair bit more....interesting later on. Just remember to wash all the dishes you use as you go. It keeps things from getting cluttered, or worse." After all, it takes just one moment for everything to go horribly wrong, as evidenced by all those reruns of that creepy PSA on the telly. "If you need any help, feel free to ask. It never hurts to. We'll also have some side dishes I think you'll enjoy, and the dessert, but only after you've finished your meal. We don't waste food around here." She explained that Norfolkites ate a variety of side dishes, but tonight's would be fresh cheese curds and hot cornbread with hazelnuts and apple baked into it that you could dip into the stew; for dessert, there'd be butter pie, described as being like a sweet buttery ice cream on a stick with syrup in the centre.

So, some time passed, and it seemed like Eris was doing quite well.

"I'm sure your mother must appreciate the help. I certainly do. Can you set the table? Also, if you see anyone, tell 'em they might as well take their seats. You can sit where Alizee would sit, but before you do, would you mind helping me serve dinner too? If you'd like to. I don't want you to think you'll do everything around here. We all pitch in around here."

[Abetton]

"Yes ma'am." Eris would pretty much respond to every thing asked of her or any question directed at her. She indeed helped her mom with cooking, cleaning, dishes, everything. It was just the two of them in the middle of nowhere so she really had to. Now when she was with her dad, she seldom had to lift a finger much to her mom's chagrin. Placing plates, silverware, napkins, place mats the whole nine yards. Still, not having to do everything here was of comfort to Eris. She didn't mind helping out but being in a foreign country was already hard enough without having to also do a bunch of extra domestic chores on top of everything. "I'm pretty rough and tough, Ma'am." She smiled, "I help my mom and I help on my neighbor's farm all the time. Just part of a small rural community I'm from." She set down the last knife and fork "And there, it's perfect."

[Free Norfolk City]

"Yes ma'am." Eris would pretty much respond to every thing asked of her or any question directed at her. She indeed helped her mom with cooking, cleaning, dishes, everything. It was just the two of them in the middle of nowhere so she really had to. Now when she was with her dad, she seldom had to lift a finger much to her mom's chagrin. Placing plates, silverware, napkins, place mats the whole nine yards. Still, not having to do everything here was of comfort to Eris. She didn't mind helping out but being in a foreign country was already hard enough without having to also do a bunch of extra domestic chores on top of everything. "I'm pretty rough and tough, Ma'am." She smiled, "I help my mom and I help on my neighbor's farm all the time. Just part of a small rural community I'm from." She set down the last knife and fork "And there, it's perfect."

Mrs. Nydam chuckled lightly as she poured herself a dry sherry. "Don't go calling me ma'am. It's not necessary. Mrs. Nydam is more than sufficient."
She took a sip of her drink, then sighed wistfully as she surveyed Eris at work. She appreciated it, though she made sure to note, both to Eris and herself, that her children all pitched in, too. "Even my son, who I'll make sure gives you your due respect as our guest here."
That's when she gestured to the food.
"Katasean chicken with pea pods," she mused, taking a little time to test for taste. "And it's as good as always. I actually drew it out of a hat, so to speak. For drinks, we have everything from water to juices and soda. Take your pick in the fridge, over there. Nanalyn's big on the apple soda, though, so make sure you get some when you can. Now, if you excuse me, I have to summon the others."
Using one of those newfangled gizmos, as Eris might've been prone to call it, in a firm, but fair, sort of tone and in her native tongue, Mrs. Nydam summoned her children to come and eat.
"For the record," she added to Eris, then, as the predictable sounds of hungry, feuding children became louder and louder, "We're not particularly religious here, but if you'd like to say grace or whatever, feel free to."
Once everyone was seated, Mrs. Nydam broke into the time honored tradition of asking everyone about their day, thus far. Her son, of course, spoke the least, especially knowing how his mother felt about Nadia; he subtly let out a sigh of relief when his mother looked to Eris and said, "As cliche as it is, it's still something I think that'll help bring us all together: so, Eris, tell us about yourself. You said you were from Abetton, right?"
"Abetton," Nanalyn said. "I know that place. They went to war with Vajas, right?"
Mrs. Nydam sighed. "Nanalyn, I appreciate you pay attention in your classes, but maybe we shouldn't be dreging up such things at the dinner table?"
"My bad, Mom," she said.
"It's alright, dear. Besides, there's likely a lot more to Abetton than something even most Vajasians have moved on from. Isn't that right, Eris?"

[Abetton]

Mrs. Nydam was very sweet, Eris was already taking a shine to her. "Yes, Ma'am, uh Mrs. Nydam. I don't suppose you have milk do you? Otherwise juice is always nice, thank you. Grace isn't much of a thing in Abetton either" She said when they sat down to dinner and the offer came up, "We may say something along the line of Thanks for the food or like that." Now she had to a chance to tell about herself, "Oh, not that exciting but well, I live on a small farm with my mom in the Abetton countryside. My mom is more a teacher, the farming is just a little extra side income I guess but we do all right for ourselves. Don't worry much about the whole war, it's ancient history as far as we in Abetton feel. We learn it in school sure, but we just learn the facts, dates and that, pretty easy. Oh and well I wanna be a teacher just like my mom. It's a big reason why I'm here, Mom thinks it'll help me far down the line when I'm ready to go to university. I suppose that's really all about me you might need to know but if there's anything more I can tell about Abetton I'm always happy to answer. It's my home after all so I love it!"

[Free Norfolk City]

"Save it for dinner, dear," Mrs. Nydam said. "I think it would make for riveting dinner discussion, especially for my children. I'm sure they'll appreciate your stories." She muttered something in Norfolkite that seemed to sound like she expected them to. "Now then, I think I can handle things from here; why don't you go take your seat at the table; pick yourself something to drink from the fridge on the way over, and don't be shy - take what you want. There's pop, juice, water, the usual." With that said, Mrs. Nydam returned to work, fiddling with her phone which she used to connect to a speaker to play some music that sounded really poppish, to say the least.

Upon opening the fridge, Eris would have found beverages such as cans of banana soda, a jug of kiwi strawberry juice, and what appeared to be a half-drank bottle of a clear apple flavored juice with chewy, tender coconut gel inside. There was also a jug of milk, as well as various condiments, packaged leftovers, and slices of cheese and lunchmeat, among other things. Upon arriving at the table, she would have been greeted with a table big enough to hold five people, with the walls covered to the brim in family photos, some of which looked like they were old, depicting even older people; one of them even seemed to depict Mr. Nydam himself next to a frail old man in a wheelchair in front of a lavish palacial garden fountain; despite his condition, the old man seemed just as positively radiant as Mr. Nydam appeared, both looking as if they had just made a pretty big business arrangement.

It did not take long, then, for the speakers around the house to blare, in Norfolkite, that dinner was ready, and soon enough, bickering and arguing, Eris' host sisters came barrelling down the stairs, barging past her to take their seats at the dinner table.

"You can sit in Alizee's seat, dear. Nobody will mind," Mrs. Nydam had told her as Nanalyn and Laylithe, the littlest sister, came running down the stairs, pushing and grappling with one another, shouting and hollering, at least until Mrs. Nydam told them to knock it off, firmly and authoritatively, in their native Norfolkite tongue; they each took their seats, and waited on their mother to dish out the food.

Well, she would have, had it not been for her sole son's absence from the table. "That boy ain't right, I swear...where is he?" she murmured icily under her breath. "Maybe he's talking to that slut again. Damn it, that girl's gonna get in a family way and Zayden will have to get a job and never go to college!"

She quickly recomposed herself once she realized Eris might've overheard her.

"Eris, sit at Alizee's seat," Mrs. Nydam called out from the kitchen. There was no sight of Zayden just yet, whose seat was right next to Alizee's. "We have assigned seats to avoid issues."

Mrs. Nydam sat at one end of the table, but Mr. Nydam's was, of course, empty, at the other end. Her host sisters sometimes glanced at it.

Eventually, just in the nick of time, Zayden came downstairs right as Mrs. Nydam was finishing up. He took his seat, seemingly ignoring Eris, and looked like he'd rather be anywhere else.

As Mrs. Nydam served the meal, she said, "Now I know normally I'd ask everyone how their day's gone, but since we have a guest, I think it's only fitting we start with her telling us all about her home country."

"Ugh, a history lesson, really?" Zayden grumbled.

"Zayden! Show some respect! Eris is our guest."

"Ugh, whatever."

Mrs. Nydam shook her head before turning back to Eris. "Don't mind him, dear. I won't let him make you feel unwelcome."

"Yeah, Mom's right," Nanalyn told him. "You should stop being such a jerk."

"Maybe you should stop being such a little priss," rebuked Zayden.

"That's enough, you two," Mrs. Nydam said. "You two really need to get along more. Remember what your father said? This family is all we've got, and we have to stick together. Now let's all be quiet and let Eris talk. If she's comfortable. We're not gonna put her on the spot, okay?"

Her host sisters nodded affirmatively, while Zayden poked and prodded at his food, as if hoping time would speed up.

"Whenever you're ready, dear," Mrs. Nydam told Eris. "No rush, no biggie..."

[Abetton]

Eris giggled, nobody wanted a history lesson, sure, understandable. Even with her desires to be a teacher like her mom she would try to keep it simple and short. "Abetton is a large beautiful place. It has probably a bit more of a rural farming reputation because of the middlelands, which is where I'm from, but there's lots of big cities too, you know? Sauville of course the capital is massive, it's such a great place to visit too. I go there every few months when I go visit my dad. You can see the historic districts, which still have their centuries old buildings and architecture of the times, the newer districts where all the modern and finance buildings are. Big mountains if you like the mountains, want to hike or climb or just be in nature, rolling plains, again that's where I'm from is the plains. All the way up to where we border with Katase which is also a pretty little duchy in of itself. Only place I haven't been actually is Port Serenity, which is on the southern coast. I promise I won't give a long history lesson, but did you know Port Serenity was once a leased city to the Phibeta Kingdom? All the more reason I want to go, want to see what influences they've left behind and what has been sinced shaped by Abettonians or hurricanes I guess."

[Free Norfolk City]

"Wow, that's, like, exciting, or something, innit?" Zayden replied, irreverently, sighing drearily. All he knew about Abetton was that his forefathers had enlisted in the Garbanian Army to go to war, blah blah blah. He never really liked school, especially when he and Nadia would get hauled into the office, time and time again.

"Show some respect to our guest, will ya?" snapped Mrs. Nydam.

"Whatever," Zayden grumbled. As he took a couple bites of his meal, he added, "Mom, this doesn't taste as good as your normal cooking."

"Why you gotta be such a jerk?" complained Nanalyn.

"Now hold on," Mrs. Nydam said. "What do you mean by that, Zayden?"

Zayden shrugged. "I don't know. It just doesn't."

Mrs. Nydam sighed. "Well, we did have some work done on the kitchen not too long ago."

"Well, I think it's delicious," Nanalyn contended.

"Thank you, honey," Mrs. Nydam said before turning to Eris. "So, Eris, what do you think of tonight's meal? I used an authentic Katasean recipe...."

"Mom, can I be excused?" asked Zayden.

"What for? Don't you want to get to know our guest?"

Zayden shook his head. "I would prefer not to."

Mrs. Nydam sighed again. "Oh, at least tell me how school went?"

"I don't really want to talk about it. Can I be excused?"

"Zayden, this is the only time I get to see you. Can't you just endure a few more minutes at the table with me?"

"That's ridiculous," sneered Zayden. "First, you force me to move to this stupid place, and now you won't let me leave the dinner table?"

"I understand how you feel," Mrs. Nydam said, "But this is important for me. And trust me, when you're my age, you'll understand just how important it is for you, too."

Laylithe, on the other hand, was silently gnawing on some chicken. She'd eat just about anything, y'know.

"Fine," Zayden muttered. "What do you want to know?"

"Make any new friends?" asked Mrs. Nydam.

"Mom, please. Most of 'em are total losers. There's a couple people that seem pretty cool, though."

"Oh, really? Were any of them cute girls?" asked Mrs. Nydam.

"Mom, we've been through this. I'm not ditching Nadia."

"Fine, fine. Can you tell us about these cool people?"

"Well, there is this teaching assistant that seems really, er, eager in one of my classes. I don't know why, who wants to be some desk jockey, right?"

"Yeah," Nanalyn said. "Even worse is if you end up a pump jockey working for tips."

Laylithe giggled innocently. "Pump jockey! Works for tips!"

"None of you will end up a jockey of anything, not in this house, not under my watch," Mrs. Nydam firmly asserted. "Your father and I didn't raise you to end up getting jobs. You'll be getting careers, damn it. So, Zayden, this teaching assistant? I think it's good news; if you make friends with her, she might be able to help you improve your grades."

"Mom, he'd actually have to go to class to do that," quipped Nanalyn.

"Shut up, bitch," sneered Zayden.

"Don't talk to your sister like that," Mrs. Nydam scolded. "And Nanalyn, quit trying to get under your brother's skin."

"Look, can I go? Or do I still gotta serve some time? I need to meet my old friends online," Zayden said.

"Is it so hard to talk to us? Fine, I guess you can go," Mrs. Nydam said. "But take your dish to the sink and rinse it off first, okay?"

As he left, she turned to Eris and said, "My apologies for you having to see all of that. Be rest assured that this family isn't a complete mess. So, Eris, are you looking forward to your first day of school next week?"

[Abetton]

Things were getting a big awkward with the conversation between the mom and Zayden who was none too interested in what Eris had to say. I mean country girl versus big city boy, what did she have to offer, it was difficult for her to not sympathize a little. Mentions of Abetton's war came up, well that's history she knew well, they learned it in school, plus her mom's a teacher how could she not. Eris kept quiet in the conversation between Mrs. Nydam and Zayden, it wasn't her place for sure to but in, though him getting up from the table without both the family being done was certainly foreign to her. Granted it was just her and her mom but still, she was expected to remain and chat at the table regardless if she finished first. But again, not her place to contradict or say otherwise so she just sat and ate her meal. As the family meal came to a close, Eris did offer to help clean up, but Mrs. Nydam said, nay, demanded otherwise. "Darling, you're a guest here, there's really no need. It's sweet of you to offer but please just relax." Mrs. Nydam gently told Eris and well that was that. With that, Eris took time to shower and set herself for bed eventually as the rainy evening dolled on. Slipping into her powdered blue nightgown that reached to her ankles and brushing her fiery red hair. It's funny, red heads always are stereotyped as being temperamental but Eris was anything but. Sweet, and polite but sure like any school girl had her silly side and times where she could act out. This wasn't one of those night but still.

As she let out a yawn and began her shuffle to her bedroom away from bedroom for the night a couple of her host sisters had a desire to chat. An only child, she did wonder what it was like to have sisters so it was hard to refuse. Putting the little yawn aside, it's not like she was that tired and the storm was putting her a bit on edge tonight anyway.

[Free Norfolk City]

Zayden didn't particularly appreciate Eris' presence in his home, but as he knew that his mother wouldn't tolerate any dissent, he cut his losses; he spirited himself up to his bedroom, which was adorned with everything you'd expect from the bedroom of a young man on the cusp of adulthood: rock band posters, images of favorite Selkie babes in various states of undress, and most of all, the corkboard where he had pinned pictures of himself with his girlfriend, Nadia, who was online, waiting for him to get on. They both had webcams, and he was quite happy, despite his inner discontent, to see her looking as beautiful as ever. Unlike other countries, such as Mareyland, interracial relationships (he white, she black) did not particularly bother anyone in Norfolkite society. Everyone remembered that many Ngombian soldiers took up Norfolkite wives during the Vajas War; plus, the city was once a Garbanian colony, and the colonies were usually dumping grounds for the xenophobic Garbanians to put their minorities in; Ngombians, like Nadia, were among the very privileged few to avoid such treatment; in fact, Ngombia nowadays was little more than a expansion of metropolitan Garbania; it was no longer a colony of Garbania, it was Garbania.

The people. of course, had voted for this, way back in '55; Marcelo Kouoru, the "father of modern Ngombia," had filed all the paperwork, and the vast majority of Ngombians were staunchly loyal to Garbania, like a schoolgirl would be to her senpai. Only those Ngombians who had bravely defected to the Norfolkite cause, in a schism that still has effects in the modern era, refused to.

Ngombians like Nadia's foremothers, who had lived and worked in Free Norfolk City. Her father was Norfolkite, however. He loved his wife and daughter dearly, and tried to reassure the former that he would return as soon as possible. With her mother relaxing after a hard day's work in front of the television, watching news coverage of the Vice President's visit to Ogtogo, Nadia got on her webcam, and smiled sweetly, perhaps too sweetly, when she saw Zayden turn his own; of course, it didn't surprise her that the first thing he complained about was Eris; Zayden was never one to like a change in routine.

"Don't worry about it, babe," Nadia types back. "It's not like she's gonna stay there."

Nadia teased him that Alizee (her amiga, her partner in crime) would've found his impotent rage a real hoot. No doubt, she would've remembered to leave a little note behind for Eris, giving her instructions (don't touch this, don't open that) and would have had no problem with the arrangement; after all, Nadia said, she seemed to be adapting quite nicely in Abetton, living in a quaint town not too far from the border with Vajas, where bygones were bygones except among internet trolls who loved to spam Abettonese streamers and VTubers with references to the war, a war that Norfolkites young and old recalled had shaped their country despite it being so far away.

"Whatever," Zayden says. "I ain't on here for that shit."

"My, oh, my," Nadia giggles; by now, they're video chatting. "Alizee's right, you really do need a chill pill."

"No, a chill suppository," Alizee says from her (well, Eris') bedroom in Abetton. "Anywho, how's my picture coming in? The internet out here is kinda spotty."

"You're fine, babe," Nadia tells her. "So, how's the Little Cabin on the Plains larp going?"

Alizee chuckled. "It's not as bad as you'd think. There's a lotta cute guys here."

"Oh, really?"

"Lotta pretty girls, too."

Zayden couldn't help but smirk. Nadia and Alizee were, after all, the kinda girls who didn't mind putting on a little show.

Of course, he asked them not to, tonight, much to his chagrin.

"You never know when that little brat will come in and annoy me," Zayden said.

Alizee rolled her eyes. "Come on, bro. She can't be that bad. What, did you wanna go to Abetton instead of me?"

"And shovel fucking pig shit? Fuck that."

"Actually, they have me on milking duty."

The three were all talking so much and were so absorbed in their conversation that they didn't notice the weather beginning to sour outside. The storm clouds were beginning to take shape, and the hustle and bustle of the nightlife was beginning to notice. If Eris paid attention, it wouldn't take long for her to hear the soft, at first, crackle of thunder, see the brief, at first, flash of lightning; the pitter patter of the rain, the clitter-clatter of the hail, both hitting the window simultaneously. The whole of the room was lit up, at times; she could, if she paid attention, hear Mrs. Nydam moving around the house, muttering about having to make sure all the windows were shut; once she made sure, she returned to the warmth of her comfortable old bed, only to look forlornly at the side where her husband once was, pining for his embrace.

The storm lasted the whole of the night, but did not seem to affect the nightlife too badly; the morning news reported the usual stories: crimes here, celebrities spotted there, President Kindrakewich announcing something big and exciting about the talks in Potens.

"I know she'll do what needs to be done," Mrs. Nydam said as she served breakfast, which consisted of bacon, syrup and margarine topped waffles. "That's why I voted for her. Because she will make Norfolk great again."

She looked to the chlldren, then, and said, "You all best be at school on time, you hear me? That means especially you, Zayden. I don't want to hear from the principal you've been playing hookey with that Felix girl again."

"Whatever," deadpanned Zayden. "It's not like I'm learning anything, anyway."

Mrs. Nydam shook her head, and then looked over to Eris. "Eris, you're new here, so how'd you like if I gave you a ride to school? At least until you know how to get from point A to point B."

Nanalyn nodded agreeingly. "Yeah, Eris, you probably would get lost taking the bus."

Laylithe giggled. "I did, once!"

"And you nearly gave me a heart attack, you little rascal," chuckled Mrs. Nydam as she rustled Laylithe's hair. "So, Eris, would you be okay with that?"

"No, let her take the bus," Zayden said. "Maybe she'll get so lost, we don't have to have her around no more."

"For the love of...."

"Besides," Nanalyn told Eris, "I can show you this really cool mobile game. It's made by Quasar Games, I think. You hear of them?"

Laylithe bounced about in her chair. "Yeah! It's, like, really, really, really cool and stuff!"

[Abetton]

The faint conversations of Zayden could be heard, it was enough to give Eris the curiously peak into the door to see he was web chatting with a couple of other girls, though from her distance she couldn't make out who they were and with him wearing headphones she really couldn't hear the other end but she figured they were most likely friends of his. No way she knew one of the girls on the other end was at this very moment in her room on her little farmstead in her little town. Well that was enough snooping right now she scurried off to her bedroom as a vicious storm really kicked into high gear. Wow it was like being home yet not at the same time and it was kind of scary. She was still a child granted but also being away from home and not knowing her mom was just a door away made it feel a just that more unsettled. What would the weather be like tomorrow? She honestly didn't know, she tried to look up the weather but her app was still set to Abetton as default where it was set to be lovely weather, unlike here now. Well she prepared for this, unpacking everything she needed, still trying to not disturb the original occupant's stuff.

A long yellow raincoat, rain hat, boots, yeah she was crazy prepared but you have to be when you live so rural and the nearest mega market is a town over. She also unpacked her uniform, a long blue pinafore dress, all the girls in Abetton wore them to school, from elementary through high school. Usually though there are exceptions, elementary age children like Eris wear blue, middle school wear brown and high school wear black but again there are exceptions where colors might be different. Actually where she's from, middle and high school are just one single secondary school 8-12 so it's just one standard dress uniform across the board. But that was a ways off for her so blue it was. She carefully pressed on her uniform, it was late she really hated to trouble the Missus for an iron at this time of night so she used some tricks her mom taught her how to get wrinkles out in a pinch. "There good as new." She never had the foresight to ask if the schools required uniforms or not, she was so used to it she didn't even think of it not being a thing.

Last but not least her favorite teddy bear how could she not? Snug and comforting as she slid under the covers to settle down for the night, it'd been a long day she had school first thing. Eris's phone chimed with her alarm first thing which made her stir a few times, she did hit snooze a couple of times, dealing with jet lag and everything else was making it tough but finally she slogged herself out of bed, taking care of her bedhead hair. It was still pouring rain, wow wild, well again she was well prepared for this with her full rain gear at least, of course it was getting on in the morning she had no idea what time breakfast was served so without really dressing, it was a bit embarrassing to still go down in her nighty rather than get fully dressed for the day she quickly went to have breakfast with the family and at least nobody seemed to mind. "I wouldn't mind a ride but I hope it doesn't put you out. I'm so used to walking to school, only my mom takes the car. Even in the rain I do." She smiles and shrugs at that.

[Free Norfolk City]

"Trust me, kid," Mrs. Nydam tells her. "You're gonna be very glad you let me give you a lift. I don't know about Abetton, but 'round here, the traffic here can be rough, very rough, especially in this weather."

"My mom's right," Nanalyn said. "You'd be much better off with us."

"Yeah!" beamed Laylithe. "Much, much, very much!"

Once breakfast was done, and Zayden opted to take his own way to school ("It better not happen to have a detour," Mrs. Nydam barked at him. "You know what I mean, Zayden!"), Mrs. Nydam hastily made sure everyone else was accounted for and dressed for the weather before leading them to the car. There were two in the garage, but Mrs. Nydam pointed out that the other one belonged to the man of the house, so it wouldn't be used right now. For a moment, she pined for her man, but then shook it off and reoriented herself accordingly.

With Nanalyn and Laylithe playing on the former's phone with Eris, Mrs. Nydam decided to turn the radio to a talk show. The hosts were talking about President Kindrakewich's decision to recognize the independence of South Darolia, wherever that was—but more importantly was the big announcement that the Emperor and Empress of Garbania themselves would be visiting Free Norfolk City.

"Wow," Mrs. Nydam murmured, but audibly enough for Eris to hear, "They haven't visited this place since 1660, I think."

Nanalyn's ears immediately perked up. "Woah, really? Are we gonna be able to see them, Mom?"

"Ha!" Mrs. Nydam said. "Can you imagine the amount of people we'd have to get through just to catch so much as a freaking glimpse?"

"Awww, man!" Nanalyn lamented, pouting hard. "But it's not every day the Emperor and Empress bother to visit!"

"Since when did you become such a monarchist?"

"I'm just saying it's not every day someone that important visits! Who knows when it'll happen again?"

"Fair point. I'll see what I can do, kiddo. I can't make any promises, though."

If Eris was listening to any of this, she might've caught the radio hosts giving "those who might not be aware of the long, winding history" the details: Free Norfolk City was once a colony of the Garbanians, who governed it from 1555 to 1868, punctured as it was by numerous incidents such as the Prayer Book Riot of 1666, the "auspicious agitations" of 1863, the last ditch efforts to "avoid a great and terrible calamity we will rue for generations" in 1867 and, one year later, the infamous Shaiburg Massacre of 1868.

"During the eighteen sixties," a host concluded, "During a time of great social, economic and political upheaval, a group of people from various social backgrounds would leave their mark on history. The end result of their efforts was the end of Garbanian colonial rule, and the beginning of Norfolkite independence; of course, they have left us with a complex history full of revisionism, bias, misinformation and missing material; although not quite the perfect heroes as they are often portrayed as, they all deserve an equal place in Norfolk's history; consider, for example, the Dread Wolves. They were known for their ruthless tactics used in response to the increasing violence committed by radical elements of the political spectrum in Garbania, and those who came here to establish a new branch were no exception. Everyone lived under the sword..."

"Politics is a dirty game," Mrs. Nydam muttered. "Played with the lives of warriors, and the innocent."

Of course, she was quoting President Lanthier, the first Norfolkite president; a statue of whom, mounted on horseback and armed with unsheathed sword in the direction of Vajas, she drove past. Lanthier had been, after all, the reluctant leader; having spent his whole life in the trenches of war, how could he have dealt with those of politics? But he did, and so many people thanked him for it; it was not uncommon, if Eris paid attention, to see his image on everything from tee shirts to currency. He was essentially the original Norfolkite, though one should use such a title cautiously, since "Norfolkites" existed long before him.

Mrs. Nydam, knowing that the infamous commute from the 'suburb' to the 'inner city,' for lack of better terms would keep them stuck for quite some time, pointed out various historical landmarks that they were driving past, which would no doubt be visited by the foreign monarchs: various houses where some such important person once lived, the Christian chapels under the jurisdiction of the Moravians or ACORN—an older version of Catholicism, pickled in time and preserved by those who clung to the faith of their forefathers from way back in 1066; saints with names like Æthelburh, Æthelthryth, Æthelwine, Avbur and Beornstan, long forgotten elsewhere, were still venerated in these houses of the Lord. There were also, of course, secular establishments like grocery stores and fast food joints—

"Mama," asked Laylithe, gesturing to what appeared to be a mobile convoy of housewives. "Why do those people have all that stuff in their carts?"

Mrs. Nydam looked real quick before saying, "Oh, those are Ngombians, dear. They buy a lot in bulk to send back in special boxes to Ngombia—a lot of things we take for granted here sometimes don't exist in Ngombia."

"I've always wanted to visit Ngombia," Nanalyn said. "Oh, and you know, someday I would like to travel through Thairabia and see those pyramids."

Mrs. Nydam looked over at Eris at a red light, and said, "Next to Garbania, Free Norfolk City has the world's largest Ngombian diaspora community. They're a very friendly and hard working bunch, never had a problem with 'em."

"Zayden's girlfriend's Ngombian," Nanalyn pointed out. "But I don't know what she sees in that loser."

"Nanalyn, we've been through this—your brother's not a loser. He's just a bit lost and confused right now," Mrs. Nydam said. Deciding to cut this short, she looked back to Eris and said, "Many Ngombians come here for work, and send a cut of their earnings, along with those boxes, back home to their families. I've never been there myself, but my husband—he's told me about his time there. Did you know that most of the interior is off limits except to researchers? It's because a lot of uncontacted, or simply "undercontacted" tribes, live in there, and they don't want them to get sick from diseases they've never experienced, or risk fighting with more "settled" peoples along the coast."

Nanalyn nods agreeingly. "I wonder what it'd be like to live that sorta life."

"You'd be begging for modern living, kiddo," laughed Mrs. Nydam, driving past what appeared to be a group of old men playing cards out in the rain: a common sight, especially in places like coffeehouses, their televisions playing the latest sports highlights such as a soccer match between Ngombia and Norfolk, with the former winning by a score of three to two. There was also a Katasean restaurant, which Mrs. Nydam said she'd been thinking of getting takeout from there tonight; that, or pizza from Thayer's, a prominent pizza chain in Norfolk.

"My husband used to do consulting for them," she explained to Eris. "We still have a lot of the free merch and other such "swag" they used to give him. Very good pizza, too, of course. Good, good, very good."

But just before they reached the school, Mrs. Nydam made sure to point out one of Norfolk's most defining features: the humble ballpark. No, not the fancy schmancy ones that the big leaguers played in, but those that kids tended to play at. Nanalyn said she could take Eris there sometime to play ball with her friends. Baseball was, after all, bigger than Jesus 'round here, and as if on cue, the radio hosts shifted from history to baseball, with Mrs. Nydam making the occassional remark about some such player or ball club, but by then, they arrived at their destination, and Mrs. Nydam turned off the radio.

"You kids be on your best behaviour today, okay?" Mrs. Nydam said, a bit more sternly than she'd have liked, in hindsight. "That's especially what I want from you, Laylithe. You need to remember that you're here to learn, not fool around."

Laylithe pouted, but feebly acknowledged her mother's order.

"If you need anything, don't hesitate to call; you too, Eris. I gave you my number, right? Nanalyn can give you it if you need."

As Nanalyn got out of the car, she noticed Laylithe was off running somewhere or other, and inadvertedly she left Eris behind, and soon enough, with Mrs. Nydam driving off, she was all alone in the rather chilling rain. The school building was impressively built, one of those old time buildings from the fifties that was being renovated every so often. The Norfolkite flag waved furiously in the gust of wind that seemed to, as if on cue, hit.

When Eris went inside, she would have been confronted by the sight of so many students and faculty going to and fro, the walls adorned with dopey motivationals, student artwork, and posters advertising upcoming events, chief among them being the opportunity to enter a competition to find whom would represent the school, from each grade, at the impending visit of the Garbanian monarchs. The school's main office had a portrait, framed upon the wall, of President Kindrakewich; there, she would have found a receptionist named Anette Kaye Blythe. No doubt, she had handled many questions from students new and old, making sure Principal Kirkland wasn't too burdened on his end. He was a fixture in the school district, and had certainly earned his stripes. It was he who chose the office's aesthetic; prim and proper, but with nods to the charges whom they managed: tokens of respect and friendship from students old and new, as well as framed portraits from visits from government bigwigs, celebrities, and other notables. The trophy case alone was considerably impressive, and had both a boys and girls' wing.

But most of all, the building was big; big, big, very big—so big, in fact, that it must've been quite daunting to see up close and personal for the foreign kid from Abetton, especially when the bell rang, and everyone began to go to where their schedules had called them to. The hallways were long and wide, and the lockers numerous, and even moreso were the various displays showcasing the talents of the students—but soon enough, she would find her class where the walls were even more so adorned, the students' eyes were locked on her, and the teacher took one good look at her before saying, in a firm but friendly manner, "Are you lost, miss? Do you know which class you have, or....?"

[Abetton]

True, Eris is not in the countryside anymore, but the big city. While she had walked around Sauville before, that was usually the more pedestrian friendly areas what does she really know about life here so what else is there to do but take the offer of a ride. Well a rainy start to her school day here is sure to be a memorable one. Suited up for the rain and ready to go, even if she had a ride well she still had to step into the rain sooner or later. The ride was pleasant, radio had news and music the family chatted a bit about current events. Talks about seeing royalty, Eris herself had seen some of the local lords and ladies of her region but never the actual Abetton royals. Was she pro or anti, she was kind of young to really think hard about that, she's grown up in a monarchy so she's used to it but no strong opinions either way. At last their school and what a school, her school probably could fit within this school and still have space leftover! It was pretty wild inside with a great amount of students, again just not used to this from her rural school which had just over a dozen students in all and a couple teachers. She really is in the city now! She found herself just soaking in the sights it didn't even occur to he rto question was her school uniform even needed. I mean it's a fairly generic dress it could easily pass off as someone dressing a bit nicer but all the other kids were dressed casually, but again she sort of just didn't notice.

The bell ringing sort of snapped her back to reality then made her realize oh she had to go to class but where was class? She had stuck the class list in her pocket but oh dear it was in her jacket pocket so now the paper was soaked. Someone though seemed to be here to rescue her, "Ah yeah, I'm exchange student here, I had my classes written down but I didn't really take care to not put in my coat pocket."

[Free Norfolk City]

Kirsten Durstling looked over the newcomer—she deduced quickly that this must've been the Abettonese foreign exchange student that the principal had told her about sometime ago. It was obvious this was the case, because the school crest was still boldly visible on the front, and this meant that the poor girl hadn't yet realized that she didn't exactly have to be so prim and proper. The other students in the room were silent, or whispering amongst themselves about the newcomer—after all, all they had learned thus far about Abetton was that it was once the enemy of Norfolk, back when they had to read those stuffy textbook entries about how Norfolkite men bravely set sail to do war upon them, and how many came back angry they hadn't gotten anything out of it other than PTSD and lost friends. Of course, the textbooks had presented the conflict as unbiased as was possible; Abettonese culture was quite popular, anyhow, and many people appreciated the myriad imports, such as those foreign animated programs on television and streaming services.

Once the whispering became soft speaking, that's when Kirsten waved her hand about to silence them. They all obliged, and looked once more at the sopping wet foreigner. Surrounded by so many heads and bodies, it was no doubt intimidating, and this was something Kirsten knew she had to attend to, and promptly.

"Ah, you must be Eris, right?" she said. "We've been expecting you. Why don't you introduce yourself real quick to the class, and then go freshen up? After all, we wouldn't want you to catch a chill, and I'm sure you'd love to get out of that drenched coat."

The other students seemed to understand her predicament too, keeping silent and respectfully, curiously so. There were students of all kinds, representing the melting pot of friendship that was this country. The murals on the walls depicting the various cultures that inhabited Norfolk, including Abettonese, testified to this in great, meticulous detail, a tribute to the hard work and curiosity employed by the students of Kirsten's class.

"When you come back," Kirsten went on. "We'll get you up to speed in no time with our lessons, and please, don't feel you have to rush back. Take as much time as you need to. Just remember that this is a supportive, inclusive school, and we all want what's best for you."

The other students seemed to nod understandingly, having recieved much the same speech themselves. What must they have all been thinking? Well, only one way to find out, right?

[Abetton]

It was pretty amazing, this one class probably would be the three classes of her own school combined but again that's what one would expect from a countryside area like her. Her eyes transfixed mostly on the teacher, Ms. Durstling she still hadn't really noticed or yet absorb she was was kind of overdressed in her proper pinafore. "Yes, Ma'am." She turned to face the class, she was a sight in her raincoat still, just open now showing the flashes of her pinafore underneath, which would be most certainly visible when she was able to take it off and join the class properly. Now she finally noticed, wow nobody was really "dressed" dressed like her that is, clothing styles of all kinds were on display, hair styles of all kinds on display! She was way overdressed probably in comparison but nobody told her, and she never thought to ask she wasn't required to be in uniform, it was just so ingrained in her since first grade that it was second nature. "My name is Eris, I'm from a small farm near the town of Fallbell which is only about 100 people in total. So it's really tiny compared to this place. Honestly this one class is probably the extent of my whole school's student body in completion. My mom is a teacher and I want to be one like her too and that is why I'm here, thank you." She gave a little curtsy to some polite applause then at the advice of Ms. Durstling went along to the restroom.


"I won't be long, I promise." Even though she was told to take her time what time but she really didn't need that much time. Just to shed her wet coat and dry her lovely red hair but really she was used to weather like this back home. Early spring in the heartland had downpours, freak sudden hailstorms, tornadoes even, here this was just a ordinary wet day. Taking a few moments in the restroom she did take the time to get dried off, her coat certainly did keep her dry but even then she still had to take care of her hair and face. Too young for makeup by her mother's rules it wasn't too bad just a nice easy dabbing with a few towels. She wondered how her counterpart in Abetton was doing, did she make the same silly mistake and show up out of uniform? No way her mom would let it happen but it was an amusing thought of her headmistress freaking out and she would if she saw this class but she wasn't one to mind. Maybe tomorrow she'd dress more casually but for today she was here as she was and that's just fine. Gathering her things she returned to her classroom.