31 tightropes walked - accidental video

[freckleddoll]

[Doll's half-lying on the sofa, Tiger in her lap as she absent-mindedly pets his head, talking to him - or maybe just talking to herself. But talking to yourself is easier with company.]

's the last day to write that up for them, Tiger. But what could I even say? I ain't good at writin', or at puttin' words together like that, makin' 'em make sense. At least it's a word I don't need a dictionary for this time. Or any kind of explainin'.

[Grimacing, but it smooths out into a smile down at the puppy as he licks her hand.]

I think it's crueller'n a curse anyway, tellin' us to write about pain. Like they don't know it'd make us all 'ave to remember what it means to us.

It used to get so bad, after days without food, it'd feel like your insides were tryin' to eat you. It'd be freezin' outside too, an' most times we didn't 'ave a spare rag between us to keep warm. Was too small an' too slow to get things any way else, an' if they caught us they'd beat us an' then everythin' would 'urt. Couldn't even do that much for the others, gettin' 'em somethin' to eat since most of 'em couldn't walk or carry stuff... Used to 'urt too, when they'd call us names for bein' orphans, or 'cause...they didn't like the look of us. Different kind of pain, that. Didn't 'urt as much as everythin' else though, but it was still pretty bad.

Maybe the only good thing about pain is it makes you appreciate some things more when you finally 'ave 'em. Makes you see what's really important. But it doesn't stop, not really. Every time you think it's goin' to stop then somethin' worse comes along... Or it feels like it. Nothin' could really be worse'n back then.

[Tiger whines; she'd been holding him too tightly, and now she lets go with a apologetic scratching between his ears.]

Sorry, boy. Shouldn't complain, should I? It ain't all that bad 'ere, ain't bad at all most days. If only Beast an' Joker an' the rest were around too.

Come on, let's take you out for a walk. Any of the others 'eard me maudlin' like this, they'd never stand for it.

[Getting up and knocking the communicator over as she does so, cutting off the recording.]

Comments

[innocentxcharm.livejournal.com]

......Puppies are better than pain!

[freckleddoll]

[long silence as she realized that everything she said just got posted on the Network. But she manages to get a smile on her face for Florian.]

Puppies are better'n a lot of things, don't you think? Want to come an' play with Tiger some time, Florian?

[innocentxcharm.livejournal.com]

Yeah! There's lots and lots of things that aren't as good as puppies. I wanna play Hide 'n Seek with Tiger! Can we do that?

[freckleddoll]

Course we can! You'll 'ave to 'ide really well though, 'e can smell people out just about anywhere.

[innocentxcharm.livejournal.com]

I'll hide really super well! And then when 'e finds me we can play chase!

[freckleddoll]

Chase is one of 'is favourite games, it is. 'm sure 'e'd like that.

[risetwice.livejournal.com]

Maybe they'll have another word. A better one than pain.

[freckleddoll]

[nodding, slowly.] Maybe they will. I 'ope so...

Probably not, though, knowin' them.

[backseatangel.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry you had that life.

[freckleddoll]

I didn't...I didn't mean to go on about it like that. 'm luckier'n a lot of people, really. Still got my family even if they ain't 'ere, 'm still alive. 've got friends. It ain't as bad as it sounded.

[backseatangel.livejournal.com]

That's alright. And you're doing fine here.

[freckleddoll]

Yeah, I am. Really am.

...what about you, Anna? Ain't spoken to ya for a while.

[backseatangel.livejournal.com]

If you see Sam Winchester... keep your distance.

[freckleddoll]

Why, what's wrong with 'im?

[horrible-penny.livejournal.com]

[Doll might already know that this has gone public, but it still doesn't seem like the kind of thing that she would like to talk about. ...Or if she does want to talk about it, it'll be in her own time. Penny doesn't reply, but Doll might well find a plate of freshly-baked cookies waiting for her after her walk with Tiger.]

[freckleddoll]

[She has indeed noticed by now, but at least finding those cookies when she gets back home makes her smile. See, it's another thing to be grateful for, having someone like Penny around.

The only thing better than cookies is sharing them with a friend, and she picks up the plate and looks to see that Tiger is following her - and of course he is, she's got food in her hands - and goes to find Penny.]

[horrible-penny.livejournal.com]

[Penny is in her room cleaning out the cage that Babbage and Cabbage share. John the Akita is sitting on her bed, watching her with too-intelligent eyes. The dog cocks his head to look Doll and Tiger over.]

Freckles! Hey. You and Tiger have a nice walk?

[freckleddoll]

[Doll grins at Penny as Tiger tries climbing onto the bed to play with John before Doll scoops him underneath an arm, holding the cookies out of reach in her other hand. Let's not bother the new addition to the household too much.]

Yeah, we did! You left me these? Thanks, Penny.

[horrible-penny.livejournal.com]

Good!

[John eyes Tiger warily. He still isn't entirely used to sharing a home with another dog. Penny sets the lid back on the cage.]

You're welcome! I thought you could use a little cheering up, maybe. Everyone's kind of down this week, I think.

[freckleddoll]

Nah, I'm alright, really! But they look great, thought you'd like some too.

[And Tiger and John each get one to keep them quiet until they get used to each other being in the same room.]

D'you need 'elp with any of that?

[everhoping.livejournal.com]

What are you writing, Doll?

[freckleddoll]

Wasn't really writin' anythin'...

[everhoping.livejournal.com]

But it's for the... deities, isn't it?

[freckleddoll]

No, I ain't...I mean I decided not to do it this time.

[everhoping.livejournal.com]

I didn't do it either.