Asphere and Solja Meet Elaina

It’s dark outside,
the streets of London are empty and a serene atmosphere lies above the city.
That is until running foot steps are emerging. A delicate young woman with long
blue hair runs through the dark alleyways with pure terror in her eyes.

A gang of
filthy muggers are following her, their knifes shining in the moonlight.
“C’mon, don’t run away sweetheart! We just want to have a lil fun!”

She runs
faster, her lungs are burning and she was panting loudly. She couldn’t think
straight anymore her only goal was to get away as fast as possible.

Suddenly she
stopped. Right before her eyes was the ship canal of the Thames, only a low
railing was keeping her from falling into the water 3 meters below.

“Oh no… nonononono!”
she panted scared.

/Yeah, well…
That’s inconvenient./ a voice inside her head said bluntly. /Told you, you
should have let me run!/

The woman
tensed in fear when she heard deep laughter behind her. “End of the line,
sweetheart…”

**Ms Elaina Hyde:** \*Elaina
had been walking down the street, coming from the bad part of town. She had to
get a new dagger, her favorite one disappeared. Whoever stole it was going to
have the new one in their chest. But anyways! She heard a voice and frowned,
following it and watching from around a corner. It didn't look like this was
just a friendly game of tag... But she didn't do anything. Yet.\*

**SoljaGold:**  "Pl-please let me go..." Asphere asked with a
thin voice while backing of. She came closer to the railing.
/Now that's just ridiculous! Do you really think that they will listen to
THAT?/ Solja huffed.
One of the muggers grabbed her arm. "Now stand still!" He pulled at
Aspheres hair and she let out a scream.
"Ahh! No! Please!"
Solja growled inside her head.

**Ms Elaina Hyde:**  \**oh, hair pulling. That's no good at all.* Elaina
thought, wincing. She stepped out, her new dagger hidden in her pocket and her
hood on. An eerie giggle echoed down the street\* hello mister... Do you wanna
play a game? It's called tag... And I'm it.
**SoljaGold:**  "What?" They turned their heads annoyed at the
distraction but didn't let go of their prey.
Aspheres eyes where flickering slightly between violet and white, her fingers
twitching.
Desperately she looked at the stranger.
"What are ye doin' here girl? Ye better get away and shut yer lil mouth
about this right here!"

**Ms Elaina Hyde:**  \*she growled, her green eyes glinting, and she glared\*
I *said*, I'm *it*. \*she pulled out her knife\* that
means *run*.

**SoljaGold:**  "Ha, she wants to play!" one of them laughed.
"Let's go!" another one shouted and a few of them ran at her while
the boss still got Asphere in his tight grip.
"And ye better not move, sweetheart!" he said. "Or else this hurts
more than it has to!"
He lands a hit on Aspheres head knocking her uncounsious.

**Ms Elaina Hyde:**  \*Elaina winced when all the guys came at her, now a
little less confident\* shoulda brought my cane... \*she slashed at one man's
arm\*

**SoljaGold:**  They keep slashing their knifes at her terribly fast.
Those muggers are definitley experienced at handling them.
The boss of them chuckled satisfied when he saw that Asphere wasn't moving
anymore. He was about so let her fall down at the ground to join his gang when
a hand grabbed his wrist.
He turned around just to stare in two white glowing eyes.
"...BAD... IDEA... A\*\*HOLE"

**Ms Elaina Hyde:**  \*Elaina backed up, cursing repeatedly under her breath.
She needed her sword!\* hey, hey. Why're you trying to kill a little girl? I
just wanted to play!

**SoljaGold:**  A minion chuckled. "We want to play too! But we play
at our OWN rules!"
The other ones laughed too but stopped when they heard a scream behind them.
Their leader fell down, his neck at an awkward position. A woman with wild
golden hair moved towards them smiling softly.
"I think that little girl is right." she said. "The ones that
need to run are YOU!"
**Ms Elaina Hyde:**  \*Elaina seemed to not care that the other girl just
disappeared\* Yeah. \*She smiled gratefully at the girl\*

**SoljaGold:**  Before they could even react Solja quickly reached out
for the nearby mugger and ran two of her fingers through his eyesockets. When
he started screaming she put her thumb inside his mouth, holding his head like
a bowling ball.
Her arm tensed and she crushed his face in her hand. He fell down with blood
oozing out his head.
Suddenly the other men seemed intimidated and backed of.
"Guys, we better get away..." one of them wimpered.
They started to run into different directions, one of them screaming:
"Thats insane! That's a maniac!!"
Solja smiled satisfied and shaked her bloody hand through the air in attempt to
clean it.
"Words don't help here, girl. You have to show them what you got."
she said.

**Ms Elaina Hyde:**  ... Ew... \*she stared, then nodded\* right... I just
didn't have my sword... I should've brought it, but I was buying a new knife...
If I had my sword I would've been able to fight better. I'm Elaina Hyde. What's
your name?

**SoljaGold:**  "Oh. Well, everybody has a favourite weapon I
guess." Solja shrugged.
"Call me Solja. You really have guts to intervene and confront those
jerks. I guess I have to thank you."

**Ms Elaina Hyde:**  Oh. Well, I didn't do much... Just distracted them I
guess..

**SoljaGold:**  "It was enough for me to... uh, step in. So you did
help." Solja encourages her. She looked in the sky. "Damn, it's late.
And our bagage got lost while running. That's just perfect!"

**Ms Elaina Hyde:**  Oh, you can come to where I live! Ever heard of the
society of arcane scientists?

**SoljaGold:**  Solja blinked in surprise. "No, I didn't. Sounds
interesting though."

**Ms Elaina Hyde:**  I'm sure the other lodgers won't mind someone staying a
few nights while they get their stuff together... Where are you from?

**SoljaGold:**  "We-...I'm from Germany, I came by ship just today and
wanted to move here. The atmosphere of London always got me and I'm an artist,
so..." Solja fell silent for a moment.
/Asphere?/ No answer.
/Asphere?!/ Still nothing.
/Damn, she's out like a light.../ She cursed unter her breath.
"Well, anyway... I wanted to look for a job when I got here and live in an
inn for some time, but without any money... it would be nice to have a place to
sleep." Solja smiled, this time genuinely friendly.

**Ms Elaina Hyde:**  Oh, we'd be happy to have you, I'm sure. I'm not the
leader or anything...

**SoljaGold:**  "Oh, ok." she said. "Then you lead me
there and I ask them. Who is in charge of this place?"

**Ms Elaina Hyde:**  Um... I'm not exactly sure. But come on. \*starts walking\*

**SoljaGold:**  Solja followed her.

**Ms Elaina Hyde:**  \*they get to the building and she opens the door\* here it
is...

**SoljaGold:**  Ms Elaina Hyde • 18 days ago
"Alright." Solja said and looked around
for a moment. "Is anybody here? It's to quiet. Well, it IS night after
all..."

**Ms Elaina Hyde:**  \*Elaina laughed\* yeah... They're all asleep.

**SoljaGold:**  "Sooo, what shall we do now? Just wake them
up?" she asked.

**Ms Elaina Hyde:**  I'm sure we can just put you in a room and explain
tomorrow.

**SoljaGold:**  Solja yawns. "Alright then. Lead the way."

**Ms Elaina Hyde:**  \*She goes to a room and opens the door, smiling\*

**SoljaGold:**  Solja looked in and saw a small cozy room. She walked up
to the bed and sat down. "Comfy! Thanks girl, I...think I'll...
just..."
A second later she fell back and started snoring loudly.

**Ms Elaina Hyde:**  Elaina... \*smiles and goes into her own room\*

**SoljaGold:** It was the next day after arriving at the society
and Asphere was silently walking through some small hallway. She had no idea
where other people might be and was a little lost in this huge building. One
part of her wanted to meet the others, but she was afraid that they might not like
a stranger living here...

**Ms Elaina**
Hyde:**\*Elaina looked up and smiled\* Um, hi! I don't think we've**
met. \*she stood and held her hand out\* I'm Elaina Hyde. You're that girl from
the other night...

**SoljaGold:**  "Uaah!"
Asphere didn't see her and was startled for a moment. "Ah, yes. Thank you
for helping me and leading my... uh, friend here. My Name is Asphere, nice to
meet you!"

**Ms Elaina**
Hyde:**The pleasure is mine, miss Asphere! Do you need help**
finding your way around? Do you even remember what happened? \*she knew that she
probably did, but she wasn't sure, since she didn't remember what her Hyde did\*

**SoljaGold:**  "Uhm,
I... didn't remember actually, but was filled in by Solja..." It was weird
for her to talk about her Hyde like this. She never could in the past.
"I-...I try to find my way to the kitchen actually. I haven't eaten since
I was on the ship..."

**Ms Elaina**
Hyde:**Oh, it's this way. \*stands and starts walking down the**
hall\*

**SoljaGold:**  "Thank
you." Asphere started following her. She wondered why Elaina didn't ask
about her changing into another person. She definitely saw it and handled it
like a normal thing. Was that common around here? Asphere really wanted to ask
but couldn't do it.
Solja frowned. Maybe she could use a little push in the right direction here.
"Hey, girl!" Asphere suddenly said in another voice. "Why are
you not wondering about the whole two-person-thing?"
A second later Asphere clapsed her hands before her mouth with a shocked expression
on her face.

**Ms Elaina**
Hyde:**\*Elaina frowned and looked at her, then smiled\* oh,**
because I have a Hyde too. So does my best friend... And a few other people
here.

**SoljaGold:**  It took
her a few seconds to pull herself together and respond: "Oh, so it is
normal." She said smiling nervously.
/Solja!/, she thought. /Why did you do that?!/
/You needed the help, duh!/, Solja replied shrugging.
They finally reached the kitchen.

**Ms Elaina**
Hyde:**Yeah, at least here. \*she smiled\* here's the kitchen!**

**SoljaGold:**  "Thank
you again." Asphere said. "Can I just uhm, take something from here,
or do I have to ask for permission?"
/Oh, for god's sake!/ Solja groaned.
All of the sudden her body changed without much effort at all and the taller
woman jumped right at the fridge. "FOOOOOOD!"

**Ms Elaina**
Hyde:**\*she jumped, startled, and laughed\* well them.**

**SoljaGold:**  Solja
practically stuck her head inside the fridge grabbing everything she could like
a starving animal.
Then she suddenly turned around looking at Elaina.
"Want something too?" she asked holding out some cheese in a weird
attempt to be polite.

**Ms Elaina**
Hyde:**\*giggles\* sure**

**SoljaGold:**  Solja
grinned. "You're cool. I like you." She continued stuffing her face
with food.

**Ms Elaina**
Hyde:**\*She blushed and laughed, eating the piece of cheese\* I**
like you too. Don't eat all of it, everyone else needs food too!

**SoljaGold:**  "Humpfh?"
She went motionless for a second, then rolled with her eyes and nodded.
Hints on her own bad behaviour always got Asphere anxious and that goes on Soljas
nerves. So she's doing her best to eat civilized.

**Ms Elaina**
Hyde:**\*smiles and sits on the floor, despite there being a**
table\*

**SoljaGold:**  Solja
finished eating and looked at Elaina curiously. "Sooo... you say there are
a lot of scientists here? What are they researching on?"

**Ms Elaina**
Hyde:**They're researching all sorts of things! Like chemicals**
and medicine and... My favorite~... Candy...~ \*she says the last word with a
dreamy sigh\*

**SoljaGold:**  "Oooh,
Candy?" Solja asked with shining eyes. She had a sweet tooth herself.
"I have to visit whoever makes them someday! Well, anyway... I'm starting
to like this place. And since Asphere is researching on stuff too... so I think
I want to stay here!"

**Ms Elaina**
Hyde:**\*gasps\* you want to stay here?! We can be bffs!!!**
**SoljaGold:**  She
laughed in sympathy. "Would be nice, but I only make friends if I can
really trust somebody. Hope you don't mind." She leans against the fridge
and grinned. "We really got to the right place here! I guess it was worth
it being almost mugged!"

**Ms Elaina**
Hyde:**Oh, I get it. \*smiles\***

**SoljaGold:**  "So,
is there a place where the other guys hang around? I wanna meet some
people!"

**Ms Elaina**
Hyde:**Oh, sure! The others could be anywhere... In their rooms,**
outside... And... I'm too awkward to call some sort of meeting so you can see
them all... Usually I would ask Helen...

**SoljaGold:**  "Huh,
alright. Asphere wouldn't be comfortable with a meeting just for her, so I
guess I'll go to my room again and make myself a home. I will meet them sooner
or later." Solja stood up and goes to the door. "See you later,
Elaina."

**Ms Elaina**
Hyde:**Seeya, Solja! \*she goes to her room and gets her secret candy**
stash she had to Hyde from Helen because Helen always took her candy if she had
more than a few pieces...\*

## Obtained From

Introduction of Asphere and Solja(finally!)