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A priestess? She had not mentioned that. "Every one should want to help a person, the role shouldn't be assigned to just one person. This is Post-War times, you would think we would all want to help people." Charlie crossed her legs, leaning back on her arms to continue looking at the fire. Alone? She was requesting Charlie himself join her? Another small smile. "I'd be more than happy to join you, Mada. And thank you very much for the meal." Taking the bowl and spoon he ate calmly, enjoying the flavor. Just because she had cooked this didn't mean he'd always eat like this. it was certainly better threneating beans for the past week. "If you can make plants grow, is that..." He paused, unsure how to word it. "Is that what the war gave you? The ability to grow plants?"

"Rather useful, yes." he responded, continuing to eat. Parsley? Was she talking to herself? Charlie thought the meal tasted grand, like a five-star restaurant that used to exist. He'd long since forgotten the name, but the glass doors outline by black wood, inside a metal bench and a podium for the hostess stuck in his mind. The scents were gone, the noise was muffled, but the glass door outlined by black wood stayed in his mind. The teen wasn't even sure what sort of food that place sold, but he felt that this stew would belong there. "Oh, no, it doesn't bother me." was the quiet response. But it did. Charlie was used to being alone, she would sit and listen for any noises, angry noises, the wind, the creaking of metal skeletons protruding from the ground, and best of all, the noise of the earth turning. it might have been a fragment of her imagination, or a hallucination, but the silence she felt was calming. And then there was Mada, humming away, disturbing the peaceful silence with a hum that was, to Charlie, the equivalent of a mosquito buzzing around beside her ear. "What are you singing? It's a rather nice tune." He couldn't help but wonder what sort of nightmares she had, but luckily she'd been wearing gloves when they shook hands, so he couldn't see them.

"I always thought I was a good liar. Perhaps another talent is reading people's thoughts." He suggested, looking surprised at the second helping but ate it. He didn't know when he'd eat such good food again, best to fatten up now. "Some of the best music is created as you go along. it's still a nice piece, Mada." She complimented with a nod, finishing her second serving. "I'm filled, thank you very much for the stew. You're an excellent cook."

"I'm good at scavenging, perhaps I could help you find ingredients." Charlie responded, enjoying the bitter aftertaste of the meal. it wasn't beans, that's why it was so enjoyable. But how old was Mada? She looked rather mature for her age, but who wouldn't. "Oh, no I don't, but I can sleep just fine on the ground, thanks." he said. "May I help you carry things inside? You've cooked me a meal and even let me have seconds." he explained. The building would indeed protect them from the elements, and it smelled like a dust storm was coming.

Charlie gathered the rest of Mada's things and followed her inside, watching as she set her things down before setting the rest down as well, making it easy to get to. Right in the corner by the fire escape door. Es-cah-pay, what movie was that from? Removing the bag from his hip he lid down on the floor, putting it under his head and lying there. No stars, no moon, no clouds, but no wind either. "You too, Mada." he responded, closing his eyes. he could hear it, the silence, and no annoying gnat in his ear. Such a pleasant sound, silence.

Charlie's sleep was dreamless if not partially awake. The world turning, crickets, dust blowing, wind howling, plants gently shaking in the wind, but a new sound filled her ears tonight. Breathing, a heartbeat, the smallest shifts of movement from a human that was no more then two feet away. Why was it comforting? So he focused on that, the beating, the breathing, it was rhythmic. It was like that for the night, soon other sounds, birds signalling it was morning, then the heartbeat quickened. The blanket soon covered her and silver eyes just barely cracked open. A foreign feeling, one of long ago. "I said I wasn't going to use it" he muttered.

Kindness must have come with being a priestess, someone stroking his hair, odd, though not completely unwelcomed. Removing his hands from his stomach he brought the blanket up a bit more, eyes closing again. There were a lot of shadows in this building, silent, but always there. It unnerved the teen. A can fell, making the other flinch. A can In a clothing store? He opened his eyes and sat up. A nightmare? Or had he fallen into one of his own illusions again? Glancing back Mada was against the wall, tightly cocooned in her blanket, asleep. Why would there be a can in a clothing store? Standing up he walked toward the noise, hearing it continuously rolling. This had to be a nightmare, though he had to admit the can was a new touch.

And there it was, rolling in a circle, over, and over again. "That's not good." Then something wrapped around his mouth and nose, charlie soon gasping, trying to breathe and pull it off. "Whaaaat are you AFRAID offf?" A voice hissed in his ear, continuing to choke him. He turned his head to look back, the clohtes having come to life before something on his leg made him scream in paid. The can was attacking! Charlie couldn't waste another minute. he pulled the knife from his hip, it having been resting inside his pants, the handle underneath his shirt and quickly stabbed himself in the leg.

A yell ofpain maid Charlie refocus, silver eyes darting to and for as she realized she was sitting up, covered in sweat, and the intense pain throbbing in her thigh. The sunlight was now well inside the building, Charlie unable to stop her heavy breathing as she looked around. The clothes, the clothes had come alive. Forgetting the knife the person clawed at his own clothes, proving to himself they weren't alive before trembling. "I'm awake, okay? yes. See it's daylight." And he continued to claws and grip at the cloth on his shoulders. he was okay. He'd escaped again.