Doll

You're little again! Oh, but--no, she probably doesn't remember that...

Hey, do you need help, Freckles?

From:

[There's a squeak of surprise and the device drops with a clatter. After a moment or so she picks it up again.]

What's this thing doin'...I ain't that little! An' my name is Doll, not Freckles!

From:

It's a thing that you talk to people on, and--sorry! You're not little at all. Slip of the tongue, there.

[little wave] Hi. Sorry about that. I'm Penny.

[ooc: -.- It's storming like crazy, fff. Must go, but I'll be back! Sorry!]

From:

Don't make sense, 'ow can ya talk t'people on a box? [staring at the video and self-consciously smoothing down her left fringe.]

...'ello.

((ooc: it's fine, take care!))

From:

[A man in a crumpled baseball cap stopped before the youth. As he declined his gaze the front of his headgear cast a shadow over his upper countenance. He was smiling, but his lip was bruised, and an empty cavity glared at the top row of his teeth. He did not recognize the young Freckles for the performer he held in slight acquaintance.]

Poverty has no end.

From:

[She looks up as his shadow falls across her - she's seen people in far worse states when she used to live on the streets and does nothing but move protectively closer to the food she'd gathered, not answering because right now she's on her own.]

From:

[His open smile regressed to a pursed smirk. Toshi crouched heavily at her feet, some object or other colliding within the interior of his coat with a metallic clink. He nonchalantly extended arm and pursed a lock of her hair between two digits. He lifted it to divulge a wound.]

You're lucky, you know... men will not attempt to turn you out.

From:

[She's motionless as he moves nearer to her, but as he lifts her hair she scrambles away backwards, one hand clamped to the left side of her face, hiding her scars.]

Leave me 'lone...I ain't doin' anythin'!

From:

You are taking up space, [Toshiya countered, his arm suspended in the air where it upheld her strands. He retracted it, palm falling upon his knee, drumming a quartet of pensive taps as his eyes stared.]

You're, probably... gonna croak on these streets. How about it, would you like me to end it for you - quickly?

From:

No I ain't! [On her feet, looking furious]

I've got a place an' people waitin' fer me, I just need t'find the way back! Even got myself work t'do!

From:

It's simple physics. You are, and so am I...

[The man didn't rise. His blackened eyes scrutinized her deposition, then his neck lulled, his demeanor expressing a vague consent. Toshi pushed a hand into an inner pocket in his black coat.]

...

[His hand tentatively lingered in his clothing, then migrated to the outer pocket instead. Toshi produced two yellow coins and tossed them to the floor at the girl's feet. He straightened his posture and set off.]

From:

[Her small shoulders are still set in determination, and only relax once he's turned away from her and started moving away.

She's not too proud to shun any form of help while she still doesn't know how to get back to the workhouse, and once he's sufficiently far away she picks up the coins, slipping them into a pocket to give to Beast later. She's feeling strangely relieved and as though she just went through a very close call with danger.]

From:

It's... magic?

Are you okay, Doll?

From:

Magic ain't real, is it? [doubtful look on her face]

Yeah...'m waitin' fer my friend t'come back.

From:

[argh, caught in a lie!] Maybe it does... just not here. The box-thing is wires and a battery and I don't know what else or how it works, so it might as well be magic.

Will you be okay waiting by yourself?

From:

[laughing a little] Magic sounds more likely'n that.

I...think so?

From:

Honestly? I think I understand magic more than technology, so I'm with you.

Okay... good. If you're sure.

From:

Don't really understand either of 'em...

...woulda talk t'me till she's 'ere?

From:

So long as the people who use both of them know what they're doing, I think that's good enough.

Sure! What do you like to talk about?

From:

Yeah, guess so!

...dunno. We're gonna be startin' a circus soon.

From:

That sounds neat. What kind of circus act do you do, Doll?

From:

Not sure yet! Goin' t'try lot of stuff. Maybe jugglin'...or the tightrope!

From:

Juggling would be cool. I dated a guy who could juggle five things at once... I mean, that was his only talent, so I guess he wasn't that great, but it was pretty impressive.

You look like a tightrope walker to me.

From:

'd like t'be able ta juggle properly! Guess I'll 'ave t'learn all sorts of new things.

D'ya really think so?

From: