Rose wasn't sure about returning to the socialist meetings. She strongly supported the cause, but she wasn't sure it was illegal. And then there was the issue of that one guy that was a bit of a creep. Yet she had gone at last. The good thing about working for a lonely sulking bachelor was that she was less busy than she used to be in York. She did not even have to cook anymore, since Mr. Meijer had hired a cook quite soon after her arrival. Did he think she was too busy? She didn't complain. 

People were still drizzling in, and Rose felt somewhat uncomfortable, because she didn't know anyone. When she spotted Benny, she approached him. She still didn't know what to think of him, but they had made peace, and she was desperate to look social and integrated. "Hey..." she said.

Benny was just standing off to the side, not looking quite talkative. He glanced over when Rose spoke and smirked. "Didn't think you'd pop in again. I was actually certain you'd gotten cold feet. Been busy, then?" His head cocked to the side as he looked at her. "I've been busy myself. But I try to when I can figure out when they will be."

"I have," she said, looking around her. "Have I missed owt?"

Benny shook his head. "Nah, he riles us up about how great it'll be after the revolution and drink. Not much actual planning or the like."

Rose frowned. "That's a waste of valuable time." she said a little annoyed.

Benny shook his head and smiled. "Not at all, long as people still keep meeting up and they can keep getting them excited, it buys them time. If they are going to do something. Otherwise, yeah it's a waste but the dumber people in the lot don't think about that part. At least not yet."

Rose wasn't satisfied. "Do they actually have a plan?"

The sailor shrugged and folded his arms. "I've no idea. But they are educated so they should have a better idea than us. If you have any ideas I'm sure you can make suggestions."

That shut Rose up. She blushed. "No..." she muttered. "Not really..."

He eyed her and smirked. "I wasn't trying to embarrass you. It isn't easy to come up with a plan. That's probably why they are buying time. Anyone is free to make suggestions though. If I had any good ones, I've had said it by now. And believe me, I've been trying.'

"I just hope its nowt violent..." Rose said with a little frown. She would certainly pull out then.

Benny rose his brow and smirked. "You think those in charge are gonna just drop down all easy and peaceful like?"

"We could... make them aware of how bad our circumstances are...." she herself wasn't convinced. But how could she justify violence? She would get arrested. And worse.

Benny stared then laughed and wrapped her up into a hug. "You are so preciously innocent! Assuming they don't already know."

Rose froze up when he pulled her into a hug. "I'm not innocent!" she said in a small voice, while carefully trying to pull away.

Benny laughed letting her go. "Oh yeah? Prove it?"

Rose relaxed and folded her arms. "I already have. I hit you, remember? I can be violent if I have to."

Benny giggled covering his mouth. "Even a child can do that. Doesn't mean they are more experienced in the world for it."

Rose frowned. "I'm experienced in the world." she argued, a bit sulky. "I've lived in York!"

Ben looked impressed. "Oh? Have you now? And you didn't go there and spend a few months sticking between an apartment and a market?"

Rose bit her tongue and looked at him sourly. "I've explored the town." she said. On her free days.

Benny tilted his head. "What's the worst thing you've seen or over heard?"

Rose thought, looked embarrassed and cast her eyes down. "I can't say."

Benny smiled and nudged her shoulder. "Don't feel bad. Feel happy. You shouldn't have to feel bad you havne't personally experienced suffering. So many aren't so lucky. I'm sure you will in time.'

Rose frowned and looked up. "Ye think I haven't. Ye think I would be 'ere if I hadn't?"

Benny nodded. "I am not saying you hadn't had a hard life. I've seen your family. There's some darkness there, even if you don't admit it. But just about everyone suffers a little.'

She scoffed. "So then why are we here, eh? If we're doomed to suffer?" For some reason, he had managed to get her angry very quickly.

Benny shrugged. "Better to try than to take it lying down, right?"

Rose was still irritated. "We would have suffered a whole lot less if we had better healthcare and living conditions, and the rich didn't exploit us."

Benny nodded. "That's why we are here. To lessen our suffering, though we will still suffer a little, even if we get our way. People will suffer family trouble, heart ache, injury, illness. It can't be avoided."

"It can up to some extent." Rose said bitterly.

Coming to think of it... perhaps a little violence against those rich bastards wasn't wrong.

Benny nodded. "Of course! Fight for your rights to equality and to be treated as good as the rich. Let them have their mansions, but let you be guaranteed food and enough money for medicine when its essential. I believe everyone should have that." And that those rich bastards suffered terribly.

Rose nodded. She bit her lip. "I think a bit of redistribution of money couldn't help. Now the rich people exploit the poor..."

"That's why we should take the money and redistribute it ourselves. Like.. Robin Hood."

Rose suddenly laughed. "Ye sound like my little brother. He's playin' at bein' Robin Hood all t' time!"

Benny smirked. "Good for your brother. I hope it works out. It can be dangerous."

"Oh he's just playin'" and Rose preferred it that way.

The man shrugged. "For now. WHo knows if he'll take it seriously when he grows up. I mean, you're here aren't you?"

That gave her pause. Maybe she should forbid Bram to play Robin Hood. "I don't want 'im to get hurt..." she said slowly.

Benny shrugged. "He could get hurt no matter what. It could be, what we are doing here today, leads to a tomorrow where he don't get hurt. I know you wanna protect your folk but sometimes people will go their own way."

"Aye..." She said slowly. She still preferred it if some other kid got hurt to build that world. "Aren't you worried?"

Benny rose a brow. "About what?"

"Gettin' hurt?"

Benny shrugged. "I've been hurt before. I've been hurt a lot. At least here, it'd have a point. And there's a chance... no matter how small.. that I won't get hurt and I'll make the world a better place. Worth the risk I think."

Rose gave him a look of concern. "I... hope it works out..."

Benny matched her look. "No idea. Better to relax and not think about it or go home."

She nodded, still nervous, but she tried not to show it.

Benny looked curious and smirked. He gripped her shoulder before patting it. "Relax."

She nodded again. "It's just..." she looked around. "It's so rebellious... i'n't it?" And then she admitted: "I ain't ne'er done owt rebellious in me life... not really..."

Benny stifled a laugh. "Rebellions tend to be so." He shrugged and looked at the cheering crowd. "Yeah but things don't change without a little shaking to the status quo."