LOG: Dead End

[quicksmiles_nimblefingers]

Who: Abigail (Original), any and all
What: Fleeing from a variety of small crimes.
Where: Market District, Street Markets Day Two
When: 5/20, Morning and Afternoon
Warnings: None?

There are times where no matter how hard she tries, things just don't go her way. She'd thought the open air markets had been a good place a few days ago. She'd lifted money from some people, had food with others, and so despite her normal reservations, she opted to repeat the trip.

First rule of thieving: don't hit the same place twice in a short period of time.

Abby should have remembered that. Today she hasn't. Today is one epic failure after another, and if not for the fact that she needs to eat tonight, she'd probably give up, throw in the towel, and slink back to her safe spot.

Instead she's rushing through the crowd, trying not to get caught by the man searching for her, much less relinquish her pathetic take for the day.

Comments

[oquirrh_at_the_wheel]

"We can ask," Oquirrh says. "And if they have whipped cream, I might even have to get one."

[quicksmiles_nimblefingers]

"What's whipped cream?" Abby asks, pausing to look at Oquirrh in confusion.

[oquirrh_at_the_wheel]

"It's--" She thinks for a minute. "It's like ice cream but lighter and more fluffy." She points at the image of a sundae on a poster. "That decorative white stuff, see?"

[quicksmiles_nimblefingers]

"Why?" Abby asks, frowning at the poster. Why is this a thing?

"What does it taste like?"

[oquirrh_at_the_wheel]

"It's kind of like vanilla ice cream," Oquirrh says. "Here, I'll get a sundae and you can try some. What kind of cone did you want?"

[quicksmiles_nimblefingers]

"That sounds okay. And like I said, I want one with chocolate on it," Abby grins, bouncing to the counter. She giggles as she looks at the display of ice creams. "Is that the one I want?"

[oquirrh_at_the_wheel]

"Butter pecan? It's the right name," She says. To the clerk, she asks, "Can we have samples?" She accepts the small spoons and hands one to the girl.

[quicksmiles_nimblefingers]

"Samples?" Abby asks. That's a thing? She takes the spoon and waits, excited. She can try the ice cream first to make sure she likes it?!

[oquirrh_at_the_wheel]

Oquirrh sticks the spoon in her mouth. Just what the day calls for. "Okay, I definitely want a two-scoop butter pecan sundae," she tells the clerk. "And hers is on me."

[quicksmiles_nimblefingers]

It takes like childhood, and it's amazing. So she hums happily at the flavor. "I want two scoop cone, one of the ones with chocolate on it. And butter pecan too."

This is just the best thing ever.

[oquirrh_at_the_wheel]

"With a cherry on top, please," Oquirrh adds, "right?" She hands a credit chip to the clerk.

[quicksmiles_nimblefingers]

"Right," Abby chirps cheerfully. She doesn't think she's smiled so wide or so genuine for a very long time. It's like... wow.

[oquirrh_at_the_wheel]

The clerk scoops up their ice cream. Oquirrh hands over the ice cream cone before accepting her sundae and credit chip.

"Still have your sample spoon?" she asks. "Feel free to try some of my whipped cream."

[quicksmiles_nimblefingers]

Abby cheerfully reaches out, scooping up some of the whipped cream before bouncing over to a table. She happily licks up the whipped cream. Oh wow, this is amazing.

"And people can just eat this?"

[oquirrh_at_the_wheel]

"Well, they usually have it as a topping," she says, "on ice cream or pies and such. But it's really good on its own, too." She scoops up a bite of her own (with ice cream, of course).

[quicksmiles_nimblefingers]

"So... why you doing this?" Abby asks after a few licks of her cone.

[oquirrh_at_the_wheel]

Oquirrh shrugs, trying to act casual. "Because I was a street kid once," she says. "I saw too many thugs like that guy. And if somebody hadn't helped me, I wouldn't have made it." She blushes. "Not that I don't think you will. I just--wanted to do something nice while I was at it."

It's like what Washington said on Monday. They do their jobs because, deep down, they really just want to help people.

[quicksmiles_nimblefingers]

"I'm not stupid," Abby says, voice still cheerful. "My chances? They ain't great. But I get through day by day. And sometimes I let people help. Which is stupid."

She's had too many people screw her. She's going to keep fighting anyway.

[oquirrh_at_the_wheel]

Oquirrh knows what she means. "Day by day," she agrees. "You're doing it right."

"And I know you don't want to trust people, but--here." She slips a business card out of her pocket. It bears her street name and a russet version of her snowflake mark. "You ever need help, even groceries or a bed for the night, feel free to call and I'll come, soon as I can. No charge, no strings attached."

[quicksmiles_nimblefingers]

Abby pushes the card back. Because someone buying you ice cream is one thing. Trusting someone like that?

Smells trap to her.

"You're fucking kidding, right? You expect me to believe that? No one helps beyond a meal."

[oquirrh_at_the_wheel]

"Some do. You know how I got off the streets? A woman caught me in her garage and hired me instead of turning me in. I can't do that," she says. "You don't want my life. But that doesn't mean I don't want to help. Look, you can throw it away as soon as I'm gone."

[quicksmiles_nimblefingers]

"Not taking it," Abby insists. "Because people like you, shit, I try calling and next thing I know I'm being lured in and you're selling me to slavers. Not happening."

[oquirrh_at_the_wheel]

"You don't know slavery until you've lived in Sidewinder," Oquirrh says, her voice dangerously low. "And I would never do that. Not to anyone."

[quicksmiles_nimblefingers]

"What you say and do are two different things," Abby points out.

"Now, I'm gonna take my ice cream and get out of here. And if you follow, I'll so totally scream."

[oquirrh_at_the_wheel]

"Good luck to you," Oquirrh says. She sits back to enjoy her sundae.

She tried, and that's what counts, right?