DATE: December 16, 2001 CAST: Basil, Sienna and Terry Terry's Apartment A small, inelegant room of cardboard. Although it's kept relatively clean, its previous occupants must have had less than good hygiene, judging from the various faded stains on the walls and floor. There's very little furniture in sight, apart from shelves made from wafer thin cardboard and a small, equally thin cardboard box for storage. Inside the austere room, apart from the Kleenex and food storage, are two of its residents, namely Terry the grasshopper and her ant ward, Sienna. The latter is seated on the floor, staring at a textbook with a look of glazed boredom -- an indication of something educational yet utterly, mind numbingly boring. Terry is sorting through some papers of some sort, but she glances at the ant from time to time, perhaps to see how he's drudging through the material. Basil makes his way into the building with a mild limping trot, but it has little effect on his overall mood. That one of pure excitability. Freedom is just a short time away. But before he does, it's only proper to offer the appreciation to the individuals who were so kind as to give Walter and him a place to stay. But the thought of Walter does dampen his spirits a little. A few exclamations of pain are issued as the sore foot is unwantedly used. "Ouch!" Is winced out once as he enters the apartment. "Terry? Sienna?" He calls out intending to get their attention. "I... Ooo, my foot. It looks like I've found a way back to my old colony! I'm finally going home!" And it clearly shows. Terry's gaze is jolted toward the entrance as Basil arrives. Immediately the papers are shoved away without a second glance. The injury does not escape the grasshopper's notice, and is in fact central to the first question: "What happened to your foot?" She takes a step forward, pausing after hearing this other bit of news. Concern is washed away by surprise -- or perhaps it's more accurate to say, incredulity. "You have? How?" The textbook falls to the ground in an instant -- not because Sienna is startled by the interruption, no. He's simply glad for any reasonable diversion from the dry material. "Does that mean you're leaving?" the kid asks skeptically. This is quite a mix of emotions going on right now. Okay, foot first. "While I was heading to work just a few minutes ago, I was first confronted by Enzo, then this grasshopper, they chased me into this alleyway, or at least it seemed that way at first." A few gasps of air are obtained before he continues. "As I was trying to escape, Enzo tripped me and as I tumbled to the ground, my foot was injured.." This situation doesn't keep his spirits down. "It turns out that the grasshopper has been out liberating ants from various slave labor camps and plantations through out the area. He's been going back and fourth between here an Ant Island, my home." Terry's expression is instantly one of displeasure when Enzo is mentioned, probably because she's become acquainted with the mosquito's not-quite-harmless "antics." The reaction transmutes to mild confusion at the end of this explanation. "I see." Silence. "Are you sure this grasshopper was speaking the truth? I've never known Enzo to have good intentions, and if he was in this 'liberator's' company..." "Yeah, but slavers aren't *that* roundabout, are they?" Sienna interjects, apparently already catching on to Terry's suspicion, that the liberator might be a slaver instead. Basil realizes that they never admitted to either Terry or Sienna that they were escapees from the plantation. But after a moment's thought, and a rubbing of the back of his neck methodically, (That he must have picked up sub-consciously from Walter.) He decides to not make any mention of it, if possible. "I *too* was really skeptical at first. Figured that it was a decoy to fool me into going with him. But after mentioning the colony, he told me that it was Willow, a person I knew from back home, that sent him out to find me." Mentioning the female ants name brings an even broader smile. That seems to do the trick in dismissing Terry's initial suspicions (or at least most visible traces of it). "I suppose that's plausible, then." The grasshopper smiles, or at least, that's what she tries to do; the intention, however, does not factor into the result. "And far better than simply moving into another apartment. I'm happy for you." Sienna is at first content to quietly listen to this particular exchange, though he screws his visage up into a look of perplexity, for whatever reason. "Yeah, I've been, I should say Walter and I' have been offered a chance to escape to the colony before, but it was from an odd blue hopper. I wasn't about to simply go with him without some real proof." The countenance of Basil drops dramatically at the mention of Walter. It's now even more marked since if Walter had stayed around for just another couple of weeks, his life would be in a much better predicament. Basil then absentmindedly mutters: "Walter, I hope your'e okay." Without realizing if what was said was heard by the other room occupants. He then notices the other ant's expression. "Is something wrong, Sienna?" "Huh? Oh, nothin'," Sienna mutters -- which is obviously not true. He picks up his textbook between two fingers, as if he doesn't like touching the thing, and stores it away when he thinks Terry isn't looking. This doesn't go unobserved, but Terry decides not to pursue the matter. Instead she re-focuses a steady gaze on Basil. "He might come back," she offers, without sounding particularly hopeful. "In which case, we'll know to send him to this... Ant Island." "Yeah, I hope so too." Basil has at this point scanned the side wall, a little lost in thought, that is until Terry mentions Ant Island. "Yeah. Oh, the grasshopper, Quatre, I think his name was, is going to look for him as soon as I get back home. But anyway. I wanted to thank both of you, especially you Terry, for allowing, us to stay here." Basil's voice softens several decibels in tone. "I suspect that if you hadn't, we very likely would not have survived to this point. Thanks for what you've done for Walter and me." A warm hand is offered to Terry, followed by a couple of sniffs. As rough as the city has been, he will miss them both. Basil then looks over toward Sienna. "You too pal. I appreciate everything you've done as well." Terry simply nods in response. She sees Basil's proffered hand, but doesn't reach for it. Instead she says, "Basil, there's something I'd like you to do for me -- him, most of all." Her eyes become dim, overlaid with a liquid sheen of emotion as she passes a look to Sienna. Swallowing hard, she looks away from both ants. "Take Sienna with you." The request is barely audible, as though it struggled its way out. Sienna's reaction could be classified as 'knee-jerk', as he hears this staggering request. The small ant leaps to his feet, eyes wide, mouth open in shock as he stares at his caretaker with immeasurable disbelief -- and then, betrayal. "*What?!*" Basil looks at Terry with a slight bit of hurt when she doesn't take his hand, but along with her request, he sees the emotion filling her countenance. His vision begins to blur as well, and gives a slow nod and his response. "I understand. Yeah, don't mind taking him back with me. Either I or someone on the colony can watch after him." Basil then pauses to take in a few deep breaths then hears Sienna's retort. "I'm sure you won't agree with either Terry or myself, Sienna. But it probably would be best for you to come back to the island with us." Two against one... that doesn't bode well. Sienna flits his gaze from Terry, to Basil, and back again. The look of betrayal and hurt is joined and then overwhelmed by a rush of anger. He takes several deep breaths before retorting, "I'm *not* going! I'm not going to live in any colony, I've always lived here, and I'm not going." Interestingly, the 'you can't make me!' argument is not included here. "Sienna..." Terry's dismal gaze is suddenly firm as she regards the contrary ant. At least there's no need to convince Basil of the matter -- Sienna will be difficult enough. "I don't want you to grow up in a place like this. The city has only been getting worse, not better. The bigoted threats, the rumors of slaver activity... and you saw that antlion." She nods significantly at Basil. "I can't shield you from everything. You'll... be safer on a colony with your own kind." Terry is clearly struggling to maintain her composure, and possibly even enumerating all these points for her sake as much as Sienna's. Yup, pretty much the response he was expecting. Basil walks over to Sienna, hoping to calm him down and to offer a little encouragement. "Sienna, Terry is right. It's getting too dangerous for ants to live here. And I know how hard it is to leave your old home. In fact, I had to a year ago when I left *my* old home for Ant Island." He then looks to Terry, and gives a reaffirming expression. "Besides, I don't see why she can't come and visit you now and then. I'll be sure to give Queen Atta Terry's description, and when she knows how I took shelter here, she'll trust her. I have little doubt. It's dreadfully hard to make your point when your only argument is something along the lines of 'I don't want to' in the face of perfectly rational arguments that are dead-set against your own. It doesn't seem to improve Sienna's disposition any. He glares straight up at Basil and Terry, hands balled up into fists, but... his mind just can't squeeze out a good retort. Nothing. Blank. "I'll get my things," he snaps; then he turns, quite abruptly, and marches to the next room. The mention of possibly being able to visit Ant Island doesn't seem to have much affect on Terry. If it does, there's no visual indication of it. She watches Sienna leave the room from the corner of her eye, sorrow and even some pity evident. Heaving a shaky sigh, she drifts over towards the window, saying nothing for the time being. It's kinda hard to say a whole lot under such circumstances. And as much as Basil would like to offer a few words of encouragement, he has little experience in such matters, or so he supposes. However, he makes an effort anyway. "Well, that went about as well as I imagined." He offers awkwardly as Terry goes over to the window. A few firm swallows are made then Basil manages to make his way over to where she is standing, despite his injured foot. "I'm sure the colony will take good care of him. They are a caring group of ants. . ." Basil then goes back in his mind of certain ants, okay one named Holly anyway, which in despite of, agrees with Terry's decision. "He'll be in good hands, and I hope you *do* get a chance to come visit now and then." Terry glances down at the ant momentarily. Despite all this, her expression remains unchanged. "I know. I wouldn't let him go with just anyone. That's not what I'm worried about." She looks away and focuses her gaze on something beyond the city view just outside the window -- something that isn't really there. "I just hope he'll understand and forgive me someday." The door to the next room swings open abruptly as Sienna stalks back inside, this time a small bundle in his possession, easily carried in one hand. Without passing a glance to either Basil or Terry, he moves for the exit. Basil nods and gives a sympathetic look. He too remembers when his mom did stuff or asked of him things he didn't understand, that he does now. But this he knows is a pretty big thing to try to get over. "Well, often times in life we have a hard time seeing things from another perspective. I was separated from my first home and family because of my arrogance and lack of perspective..." At this point Basil watches Sienna emerge from the other room, and does not continue that sentence. "Well, Terry. Thanks again, for taking Walter and me in, and I think everything will work out." He passes a sympathetic smile to Terry, then hobbles over to the door where Sienna is standing. "The hopper' who'll be taking us to the colony should be here any time now. Oh, and Terry? Would you give my regards to Enzo? And tell him I hope Muffin doesn't get him." Which is offered with no sincerity whatsoever. But rather a hearty snicker. Very slight curiosity emerges in Terry's expression as Basil begins to explain the reason for being forced away from his home, but as he breaks off, she doesn't pursue the subject. She raises an eyeridge at being told to give *anything* to Enzo. "You lie," she states; although dry, there is nothing challenging in the tone, and she continues, "Enzo will be lucky if someone doesn't throw him at Muffin one of these days." The way she emphasizes certain key words suggests she could very well be that someone. Terry regards Sienna suddenly. Swallowing hard, she starts to say something to him, but the young ant won't have any of it. Sienna stomps outside without a word. "Well, I am incorrigible!" Responds Basil with a bit of a chuckle, but quickly he gives a somewhat emotion filled smile. Then watches Sienna leave without a word to Terry. Imagining how painful this must be for her, he has no desire to drag this out any longer than necessary. "Thanks Terry. I owe you a great deal." He then waves weakly and awaits any final response before leaving. Terry watches despondently as Sienna leaves, just like that. No 'goodbye' or anything? Not even 'I hope I never see you again'? Ow. She inhales sharply and squeezes her eyes shut, reopening them only when Basil gives one last word of thanks. "You don't owe me anything," she murmurs. "Just take care of yourself... and watch out for him." With that, she turns away just as the tears rain down, and disappears into the next room. "I will." Is sincerely offered as he watches Terry leave for the other room. After she leaves, Basil is filled with sympathy and remorse that the parting of ways can't be done under better circumstances. He's never been a parent, but the pain he sees *is* felt, and a few tears fill his eyes as well. It would be really easy to storm out and give Sienna a piece of his mind, but knows that will only make things worse. Especially if Terry should hear their words outside in the hallway. With that, he departs. [END LOG] Next Log: Homecoming Return to: Muted Identity logs.

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