The Descendants

[LunarScorpio]

The wind caressed her cheeks gently, bringing a pink tint to them as she stood before the glass building containing the one and only Liberty Bell. Her brown eyes scanned the inside of the building, taking note of the metal detectors within the building before one was able to move to the bell. ‘Do they really think someone’s going to try to steal it? That’d be impossible, wouldn’t it?’ She thought to herself as she continued to gaze inside of the building. There was no getting through there with the object she currently possessed hidden away in her backpack. There were metal detectors and guards checking bags, there’s no way she’d get through, would she? She could try, but did she really want to? She shook her head slowly and sighed as she brushed a strand of her dark brown hair from her face. It wasn’t worth going to jail, she would simply have to find something else to do while in the Philadelphia.

It wasn’t as if that was her main objective anyway, how she knew that she was still unsure. She knew where she was supposed to go, but she was avoiding it for the time being. Why would anyone have an urge to go to Independence Hall anyway? It was insane really and it wasn’t as if she had never been there before. Living in Pennsylvania that was one of the only trips schools ever provided on a yearly basis. If not in the spring then in the fall and if not in the fall then in the spring that was just the way things were. It seemed that they really felt the need to shove Pennsylvania’s history down the student’s throats. So, why was she back there once more of her own free will? Because something or someone was telling her to, that’s why. She didn’t know what it was, but it wanted her there and she was unable to do anything but comply.

She stared past the building which help, what seemed to be, the sacred bell. What did that hall now hold for her? Hundreds of years ago it held the document that was signed giving her, her independence, but what now? Was it about to take it away from her? The thought sent a chill down her spine and cause goosebumps to arise on her skin. She pulled her black jacket closer, zipping it to her chin so her red tank top could no longer be seen. She stuffed her hands into the pockets of her dark blue jeans before beginning to walk back to the nearby sidewalk. There was no escaping the inevitable right? She figured she might as well get it over and done with before the last bus back to her home took off. Otherwise, she’d be stuck in Philly with no way back home, unless she called home or one of her friends, though she doubted anyone wanted to pick her up.

No one even knew she was there; it had been so spontaneous that she had forgotten to tell anyone. She was surprised she had remembered the keys to get back into her home and her cell phone just in case of an emergency. Her wallet with all the money she had along with credit cards, IDs, and all the other essentials were always stored in her backpack, which she had grown accustomed to bringing everywhere with her. It was never heavy and it was the perfect size to hold her dual-bladed twin swords. She had, once upon a time, carried around a purse but she never had one big enough for her swords and when walking around campus on your own, you always wanted some sort of protection, especially if you had night classes. Though, it was a pain in the ass when trying to go see historical things that were surrounded by guards and metal detectors. She was sure the guards would have mistaken it as a regular baton, but she really didn’t want to try and explain it to them if they had in fact realized that it was more than a simple baton.

She walked down the sidewalk, her eyes darting around, more than likely making her look suspicious of something though she had done nothing wrong. But that was the way she was, she liked to watch and analyze those around here and that required looking around as if someone were following you. She came to a halt where the sidewalk ended and looked both ways, like a good little girl, before crossing the street. She took her bottom lip into her mouth and chewed on it gently as she looked to the large building. She had noticed as she had moved closer to it, the call to be there seemed to intensify. “This is stupid,” she said once she released her lip. She turned to walk away, but guilt swept through her. It felt like a ton of bricks had just been settled on her shoulders as she stood there froze, much like the statue of the first president of the United States, George Washington. What was this sudden feeling of guilt? Why would she even feel guilty for not taking a look around the building? Her gut was telling her to get the hell out of there, but her mind was telling her that she had no choice but to stay.

“You really are taking away my freedom aren’t you?” She asked curiously as she looked back to the building. She heaved a sigh before turning back around and making her way to George Washington’s statue. She looked up at his face and titled her head slightly to the side. “What am I getting myself into?” She asked the man before her, though she knew that she wouldn’t get an answer. She shook her head before looking around. It was peculiarly empty on the streets that morning; usually people were pushing one another to see the Liberty Bell or Independence Hall. Perhaps because it was a Sunday morning, people were still in bed or at church, at least that was her guess. She moved away from the front entrance of the building and walked behind the building. Maybe there was some sort of clue as to why she was there hidden somewhere. A low growl of frustration escaped her lips as she stopped in the middle of the small courtyard. ‘This isn’t one of your books, nothing that exciting will ever happen to you,’ she scolded herself before turning back to the building.

Her arm crossed over her chest as she stared up at the large clock wondering what she should do next. In the back of her mind she could still feel the nagging of whatever it was that had brought her there. “Might as well go inside,” she muttered to herself before making her way back out to the front of the building. She was happy it was one of those days that you didn’t need a ticket to enter the Hall. You could simply walk in and do as you please, well, within limits of course. Though, at the moment it didn’t seem as if anyone was giving a tour let along watching the building from within. She made her way up the couple of stairs before turning back to the statue. She almost hoped he would then answer her previous question, but she knew she was simply being stupid once more as she turned and entered the building.

Her sneakers made a soft shuffling noise as she made her way into the lobby. She looked around though she had been there a few times before. It never cease to amaze her how large it actually was inside. She looked over to the staircase which was to her right, wondering if she should go up the stairs or remain on the first floor. But something deep within the back of her mind told her to remain on the first floor, so she began exploring it, looking into different rooms before she had come across one clad in green. She walked in slowly and looked around trying to remember what the tour lady had told her the last time she had gone there. If she remembered correctly, it was the room that they had signed the Declaration of Independence. A small smile formed on her lips before she looked around, trying to figure out if anyone else was around or would be watching her. But still, it seemed as if there wasn’t a guard in sight, which had struck her as odd, but she didn’t question it.

She sat on the guard rail and swung her legs over it before she made her way through the room. She had always wanted to get a better look of what was beyond the rail, but had never had the chance considering she was always with some sort of group which would never allow it. Upon further examination she took note of the dust on some of the books, which caused a sly smile to form on her lips. ‘Serenity A. Brant’ She scribbled in the dust. She looked down at her work, a smile still on her lips, but it soon faded knowing she would have to erase it. She wasn’t in the mood to get in trouble, so with a sigh, Serenity erased her name from the book and went back to the guard rail where she took a seat, legs still on the wrong side, looking around the old room as if waiting for something to happen. She had gotten the feeling that she needed to stay put and that’s what she was going to do, at least for the time being.

[Regicidal]

Why are you standing here, Isaak?

The thought seemed distant as Tolsen stood a the curb, looking up the main walkway to the entrance of Independence Hall. How it was he had come all the way from L.A. California to Philadelphia was still a mystery to him. Which was disturbing to say the least, as the only time Isaak ever made unruly and strange decisions was when he couldn't control his temper. So to find himself three thousand miles away from his L.A. home was strange. Especially since he had no compelling urge to see this place. Hell, he had been here before on a school trip long enough ago for the memory to be a fuzzy recollection. Isaak shook his head, pushing the thought to another compartment of his mind so he could look at it later in more detail. The memory of his school trip had nothing to do with the fact that he was standing where he was now. A quick glance behind him confirmed that the taxi had long since driven off.

There's a plane ticket in your pocket.

That was a good point. His mind felt empty, as thought the reasons he had given for leaving work and coming to Philadelphia were a mystery even to him. Even if he did know that he had told the lawyers of the firm he worked with that he was just taking a holiday to check out the east coast. Check out the east coast? The face he made at his own thoughts was mimicking that of the face his boss had made. But, even so, seeing as he wasn't legally bound to the firm, there was no way they were going to stop him. There were plenty of psychologists on the west coast that they could consult for their cases. It just so happened that Isaak was one of very few that wouldn't be swayed by emotions. Either way, he was outed for work, and he was here. And, as he fished the plane ticket from his pocket, this was the first place he had come. The landing was in Philly, and that had been an hour ago. There wasn't anywhere else that was sensible for him to visit... But why?

Ah, there it was. A tug at the back of his mind urging him towards the hall. Just for the sake of argument, he willed himself forward, walking calmly, the loose legs of his khaki cargo pants brushing against each other as he did. His shoes gave muted thumps on the white concrete blocks, a slightly chilly breeze picking up his navy blue overshirt and flapping it behind him, chilling his chest through a black t-shirt. It was hardly attire that one would expect a man who frequented court rooms to wear, but given how much he despised suits with their restraining necklines and fitted texture, it made sense to him.

As he carried himself to the doors of the redbrick building, he thanked whatever powers that be that the building wasn't secured with metal detectors and enhanced security as most of America's other monuments were. Apparently they weren't afraid of a gunfight breaking out in an old brick building that only served as a monument, and not a place of political importance any more. Isaak replaced the plane ticket in his pocket before reaching up and raking his fingers through his hair, tucking his bangs behind each ear absently as he made his way down the bland halls of the building, ignoring the little plaques bearing information on the building. He knew the important stuff, and didn't really care about the rest. But where was he going? Where was this niggled at the back of his mind taking him to? He discarded the questions. He was about to find out either way, so they didn't matter. He just hoped that whatever reason he was here didn't take longer than a few days, after all, he hadn't brought any luggage with him.

It wasn't more than a few moments before he found himself stepping into the room that had made Independence Hall famous. The room where the declaration had been signed. Nostalgia seeped from everything in the room, and strangely, as soon as he stepped into the room with it's guard rail blocking honest people from the exhibit, he felt like he was where he needed to be. No longer distant, he felt like he was brought back to reality.

Isaak Tolsen shook his head visibly this time, shaking away the fog as it were. In this reality, he scanned the room until his gaze landed on a tan-skinned woman with curly black hair. Or was it lighter than that? He didn't bother the question any further before walking into the room and leaning his hip on the guard rail. The woman's feet were on the opposite side of the railing, evident that she had been walking through the exhibit. A rail meant for honest tourist. A smirk turned the corners of his lips up as he watched her for a moment. Something about her clicked in his mind, like she was feeling the same urge to be here that he was. It was both confusing and fascinating at the same time.

"Y'know they put the rail there for a reason," he said quietly in a non-threatening tone. It's not like I care, anyways. No worries. The thought finished his sentence, and it was directed towards her, but of course. Others couldn't hear his thoughts. Still though, the way she seemed to fit into his mind was astounding.

[Inerio]

"You really are taking away my freedom aren't you?" Dingo sulked as she trudged behind her grandmother, Willow, suitcase in hand. The older woman, in her sixties, turned around and scowled at her. That was all of Willow's face she got to see before she turned back around and her long white hair. Which wasn't exactly fun to talk to. Dingo sighed, pouted, and continued forward.

Since she was on break at school Willow had decieded it would be a dandy idea for them to go on a little trip to Philadelphia. Okay, so the trip was Willow's idea. Dingo chose Philadelphia. Why she had no idea. She could have gone somewhere interesting like Fiji or Rome. No, instead she choose Philadelphia. Dingo shook her head, she so obviously was beginning to lack common sense too. Yet, despite her unenthusiastic mannerisms being in Phili felt right. She felt like she was supposed to be there. At the same time, there was an uncontrollable yearning to move, to deviate from the path that led to the hotel and go elsewhere.

Dingo wasn't foolish enough to deviate from Willow's watchful eye though. The old woman wouldn't tolerate her precious granddaughter up and meandering about all willy nilly. Once the pair had gotten unpacked she would then have freedom. Until then she'd have to continue pulling along heavy suitcases and bearing the burden of ten pound back packs and bags slung over her shoulder. Meanwhile her grandmother, who was in perfect health, carried nothing. It wasn't in Dingo's nature to impose physical work onto people, but she'd have liked it if her dear old granny carried at least one goddamn bag. Not to say that such a thing made Dingo hate her grandmother. No, it probably just made the woman all the more memorable.

After a grueling degree of walking which in Dingo's opinion felt like a nightmarish eternity, the two made it to their hotel rooms. The bags which Dingo had been carrying made a heavy thud before her grandmother's door and the young woman let out a relieved sigh at the new found light feeling she had.

"I'm going to take a nap hun." Willow grinned at Dingo, picking up her bags so that she could move them a minuscule few feet into her room. "Don't get lost if you go outside." She teased before walking into the room.

"That was one time! Once!" Dingo grumbled at her grandmother's reference to the time she'd found herself lost in Hoboken when visiting her aunt. Once inside the sanctuary of her hotel room Dingo made quick work of getting off her clothes that she'd worn on the ride there. Old sweat pants and a ripped Batman wife beater certainly weren't something one should wear for too long in public. Dingo had been a tomboy when she was younger, not a slob.

The usual dark skinny jeans, and vans replaced stained sweats and a black and white stripped sweater which was much too baggy hung over her torso down to her mid calf. Dingo slung her purse over her shoulder and headed out to face Philadelphia. Perhaps whatever force had caused her to travel there would also tell her where she was to go next. She nodded in silent agreement with herself as she entered the elevator, her finger flicking the stub of a pigtail she'd tied her hair into.

Feet hit pavement in an almost rhythmical tandem. Dingo walked, her head almost in the clouds as she let intuition guide her. She wouldn't get lost this time, she knew she wouldn't. Time passed and her "The Hush Sound" playlist went into a loop. Eventually she found her destination, or at least she hoped it was. Independence Hall. Saying she enjoyed the Civil War era of American history would be a lie, Dingo had preferred the Prohibition era. It didn't matter though, she had a feeling she wasn't there to learn anyway. And, if she was there to learn, it certainly wasn't going to be about the Declaration of Independence. She'd found herself in the room where a bunch of men in powdered wigs had gathered round to sign a piece of paper. Now, Dingo was aware of the historical significance. However, that didn't make her any more fond of the era or the history tests she had to take regarding it.

Inside the room Dingo found two other people there. What surprised her was that she wasn't surprised that they were there. Though, why she was surprised she wasn't surprised and why she needed to feel surprised in the first place didn't click. In fact, the more times she used to word surprise in her mind she felt herself becoming even more baffled. Dingo shifted her weight to her right leg and crossed her arms, biting her tongue and staring at the two. A blonde, no, very blond man and curly haired woman.

"Are you two here for the same reason I am?" She asked. In truth, she wasn't sure what she mean by her inquiry. How could they be there for the same reason she was if she wasn't even completely sure why she'd gone there either. Feeling sheepish she let out a small chuckle and scratched the back of her neck. "Actually, forget that." She muttered, biting her lower lip and looking at the floor.

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