•Everybody's Doing It

Posted: **Mon Jul 09, 2018 3:47 pm**

Aidyn Silverton didn't see all the fuss over living on Earth.

There were nice places here and there. Europe was pleasant, with its rolling hills and historic architecture. Africa too was impressive, the way it had built up so quickly in this new age, being a taste of futurism on Caelian Hill that even the colonies couldn't compare to on average. A nice place to visit, but to live? The thought gave the young man a chill up his spine as he stepped out into the street. The street of this place, which was a nice, big, bloated, decrepit reminder why 'visit' was the operative word that went through his mind. This dust bowl was hot, it was dry, and there was nothing forgiving about it. Even with his so-called superior genetics, keeping his pale skin resistant to combustion under the sun, Aidyn could not handle the oppressive temperature for long. No sooner had he left the building he had just finished business in did the sharply-dressed Coordinator eyeball the first place that looked like a restaurant and retreated to air conditioning.

Not about to wait for a table or anything else of the sort, Aidyn gave a pleasant smile and wave to the receptionist only to walk right by him entirely. He instead went straight to the fairly unoccupied bar and took a seat at a stool closest to the windows. The bartender barely had to say a word; his approach was enough for Aidyn to give him a smile and nod. "Water for now, and a menu, if you could."

Posted: **Mon Jul 09, 2018 4:11 pm**

"I'm so hungry, Susie," Caroline whined, but the girls knew this tactic. She didn't want to leave the planet yet, even though they had what they came for, despite all the awful sidetracking, "Can't we at least eat something before we go?"

Susan frowned. Sure, Earth was nice enough and it had been fun, but she was getting restless and wanted to leave now. Besides, she knew Philippa and Elizabeth hated this planet, and may very well have a conniption if they didn't leave soon.

"Actually, food may be a good idea before we leave," Josephine said, much to Susan's chagrin, "It'll calm everyone down before we go."

Philippa raised her arms in defeated frustration, "Fine! But we're leaving right after." She looked to Elizabeth for backup, who was only staring at the wide expanse of the sky with a frown. She didn't blame her. It was pretty unsettling.

"Oh, thank you Pippa!" Caroline gushed, preparing to dash to the nearest God-forsaken watering hole before Philippa seized her sister's wrist, and the girl let out a flummoxed whimper.

"No, I get to choose, if we have to eat on this shabby rock again." Philippa hissed, her eyes scanning the street for anything suitable to women of their station, at least. Her eyes fell on a restaurant that looked respectable enough, and motioned for her sisters to follow. Philippa was about to address the receptionist (who appeared quite taken aback by the identicality of the new guests) when Caroline raced for the bar, Elizabeth dutifully on her heels to keep the girl out of trouble. Susan looked to the receptionist apologetically before the remaining women followed their sisters further into the establishment.

Caroline seated herself right next to some poor young man who was minding his own business near the window, straightening her skirts and looking over his shoulder at the menu before him, "Hello!" She said brightly, much too obnoxiously for such harrowing heat, "Do you know if the food here is any good?"

Philippa was behind her sister then, giving her a small tut, "Stop bothering people." she said, looking to Aidyn then, eyes scanning him for a moment. He seemed... not quite the kind of person she was expecting to see on Earth, "I'm terribly sorry for my sister, Sir."

The remaining quintuplets saw fit to surround the young man as they took seats at the bar, a few patrons already giving the group a few odd looks, the quintet of sisters certainly drawing more than a little attention no matter where they happened to wander. They seemed used to the staring.

Posted: **Tue Jul 10, 2018 11:14 pm**

Aidyn was very much focused on the menu while the horde swarmed in and barely even acknowledged it. Sure, he noticed the gaggle of women in his periphery, but had barely the focus to recognize that they were all so samey. His eyes were going up and down the options, deciding if the air conditioning made it feel okay enough to eat something as hot as some of the choices, or if he should just stick to a salad. Before he could decide, his quiet time at the bar would come to an abrupt end.

While he didn't completely leap from his stool, the silver-haired man did whip his head around a bit fast as he found himself yanked from his zoning out with a young woman invading his personal space. He took a moment to even respond to the girl, even his enhanced mind needing to react to social shock. No sooner was he forming words that a girl who was apparently her twin interjected.

"It's no problem," he said, addressing them in opposite order, "just took me by surprise, that's all. Honestly, I'm not from around here, so I am the last person to make suggestions on the selection..." Aidyn turned back to look at the menu, thinking he could at least play along, and that's when he saw the triplet to his left. He stopped for a good moment, meeting eyes with her, allowing her to practically watch the cogs clanking along in his brain. But it was fleeting, and he finished his rotation to pick the menu back up. Of course, that was when he noticed the quartuplet and quintuplet on his right who had already taken seats.

Was he being pranked? Was this some strange, elaborate ruse? This place was practically a third world country, right? Were they going to try and steal from him? Rip him off? Thank goodness he didn't have anything in his hands, just had to keep a spatial note of the items in his pockets.

"Wow, there's... a lot of you, isn't there?"

Posted: **Wed Jul 11, 2018 9:24 am**

It was Elizabeth's eyes the silver haired young man's gaze caught when he turned to his left. She had taken the seat opposite Caroline, flanking the man, to be sure-- but really it was to keep an eye on her sister. Her exuberance could be annoying, frankly, and Elizabeth realised this as surely as Philippa did, and as surely as their other sisters did not. She was used to the surprise and stares of others when the five traveled in a group despite the comfort she felt when they were all together, but she had never been forced to endure such reaction so close after sitting beside people.

The first thing Elizabeth noticed was that the man's eyes were blue. The deep, clear azure of a clear sky during the summer, and it was intense. The expression on his face was calm and his demeanor gentlemanly, but only Elizabeth held his gaze so completely as he pieced together the reality of their presence surrounding him. She could almost see the thought process working itself around the almost unnatural sameness of Elizabeth and her sisters, and she shuddered a little under the heavy scrutiny. She broke eye contact, finally, looking timidly down to his menu. She wasn't interested in the contents, but she couldn't bring herself to focus on his attention any longer. An embarrassed flush coloured her cheeks, and she tucked a lock of pink hair behind her ear in timid withdrawal.

"Oh yes!" said Caroline cheerfully, only vaguely listening to Philippa's chiding, "My name is Caroline."

The introduction was sweet, polite, and she began to gesture all around to her sisters, "This is Josephine." She waved a hand beside her, "And Philippa," She said motioning behind him, "Elizabeth," To his left, "And Susan." Beside her. Philippa's frown was set in a disapproving frown at the eagerness of Caroline's introduction. She wanted to eat and get the hell off this awful planet, not make friends. Grumbling, she took the seat farthest from everyone, empty beside Susan, "We've never been to Earth before, you know," She continued to chatter away, "So we don't know a lot about this place or its cuisine."

Cuisine. This place? Could it even be called that. Philippa, Josephine and Elizabeth had to fight not to roll their eyes at the suggestion, "Maybe you shouldn't be so chipper, Carrie," Elizabeth suggested smoothly, acknowledging her sister's ability to try patience, "I'm sorry, we'll be out of your way after lunch." it was an apology, and Elizabeth shifted nervously in her seat, fiddling with the chiffon of her dress absently. Her thigh pressed against the man's once, an accident of course, and she flinched and quickly rectified her position. She didn't look at him.

"Well I'm hungry anyway," Susan said, her lax personality easily disarming Caroline's saccharine exuberance, "Maybe we can all share something."