gunsforhire | LOG: Dead End

Entry tags:

LOG: Dead End

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.

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"Gotta love rice and beans. Plenty of protein and filler," she said. It was hard not to feel full afterwards.

She looked up at the waitress. "For right now we'll take the vat-beef chimichanga, some pollo burritos, and enchiladas, but with mild salsa? Want anything else right now?" She said, looking at Abby.

That seems like a lot of food, so she shakes her head. "No, that's great, Rox."

So much food. Of course, she doesn't know how big burritos or enchiladas were. But the picture of the chimichanga on the menu was big. Like, plate sized.

Roxy nodded. "And water please," she said. If Abby wanted something special, she'll say something, but always good to have fresh, clean water.

Abby waits until the lady leaves before she relaxes again. "That's... Is that a lot of food you ordered? You really didn't have to. I mean, lunch is awesome and all, but do I need to point out that you saved me and not the other way around?"

And she can't afford it. Maybe she's going to take some back to that 'grif' person.

Roxy huffed, looking amused. She looked at Abby with a raised eyebrow. "You know, everyone keeps doing that. Like y'all are shocked by some generosity," she said, and then there was a bit of melancholy in her tone. "Kinda depressin', actually."

She shrugged. "I've never understood why peeps wouldn't help when they could. Even if it didn't do a lot, even a lil extra help managed to make things as a whole a bit more bearable. So...when I can, I do. And way I see it, I dun have to pay rent, I dun have a whole lot in extra expenses, and I do work that gets me a p good paycheck, so why not?"

"You must be from off planet," Abby sighs. "That isn't how Adaptive works, you see? Living here is supposed to be more expensive than other planets. Cause of the clouds. I've heard there are places where you don't need helmets, and doors don't have airlocks."

The idea is mind blowing. Abby looks toward her own helmet, little better than a filter. "It's not easy, okay? When you lose one bit of your support, it can all fall apart under you. Some people? They get poor enough that when their helmets break they either cannot head outside anymore, or they die. It's simple."

"Way off planet," Roxy said. "And it's true. Didn't need a helmet or even a gas mask for the most part," she said.

And it's the fact she's not wearing her helmet it's easier to see. How her eyes just kind of....go dead. There's still a smile on her face, but it doesn't show anywhere else. "Yeah, I get that. Real easy to die when you lose the support, death clouds or not. Sometimes it's just the dumbest luck that you find a way to survive." Even if she didn't want to.

"But that's why I like to make it simple. It's too much work to be bitter and hateful and stingy. Tiring. So not gonna."

Abby hesitates for a moment before reaching out to touch Roxy's hand.

"If it helps, for even a moment, you're doing a lot to help my life. I mean... I came in here with you. Trust ain't easy for street rats, so this is a big step. See where your niceness helps?"

She's too good of a person, Abby decides, to not actually smile. Like, not in her eyes smile.

She blinks and the life is back in her eyes, even if there's mild confusion as she looks at their hands. Then another smile spreads across her face, small, but genuine.

"What I live for, tbh," she said. "If you want, I could help ya more. Ya could even teach me a few things if freebies make you that unsure," she said.

"You don't want the things I can teach if you're comfortable enough to help other people," Abby says simply. She pulls her hand away and reaches for the chips. If she can fill up a lot on this she can take more home.

"Thieves aren't appreciated on the streets. Some people will beat you. Some... some people die. But it's the life you have, so you do it."

"A gang of six dudes tried to shank me a few weeks ago when I was out for a walk," Roxy said. "I broke several arms, legs, and one helmet," she added as she reached for a chip after Abby. "That is the advantage of knowin' yer own momentum, ya can figure out how to be tiny, and still break shit."

"I ain't worried 'bout my safety. But I am interested in expanding skills, always. So if you're willing to teach me, I'd love to, but it won't decide whether or not I offer ya help."

"You got attacked because you're small and look like an easy target. I can teach you to sneak, but I have a feeling that with your jumping I can't teach you much of that."

Abby shakes her head. "People hurt you for stealing, Rox. I can't do that to you."

"Not good with crowds. I know there should be some 'hide by being obvious,' but got like zero exp with that," she said. "Mostly deserted building is p easy."

She laughed, she just...she couldn't help it. "Sorry, just...I apparently can be hurt for being an easy target, and I still won. But fine, if ya ain't comfortable, that's fine. Had to try though."

"Crowds I can teach you," Abby grins. "Hell, some things are easier to learn when you've got two people around. Even now a pair of girls giggling together are assumed to be gossiping or talking about cute boys, and not seen as a threat."

Dude maybe... she could use Roxy to increase her takes? No, she can't risk the other girl when she's clearly got something stable. Quick, change subjects...

"You've got really pretty contacts."

Roxy cackled at that. "Wow, seriously? Man, I'm all for that. Both real and fake, both sound fun," she said. She certainly wouldn't be against increasing her take.

And it's not like her 'stable' was exactly legal. Well, one was, the other was highly illegal.

"Contacts?" She said, looking down. Contacts, did she have a phone out? Why-oh, no, wait. "Oh! You mean my eyes? Nah, that's just their color."

"What?" Abby asks, shocked enough to put down the chip she is holding. "Those... your eyes are actually that pretty?"

Wow, imagine having such pretty eyes all the time. That's just insane!

Roxy nodded. "Yep! Bit of weird gene things happening, so my whole family got really pretty, vivid eyes."

"Well they look good," Abby answers, returning her attention to the chips.

Don't get fond, she reminds herself. People aren't like that. Out of sight and she'll be out of mind.

"Thank you. I like your eyes too. Like a dark amber," she said. Because when Roxy says someone's pretty, she means it. Really all the girls deserve all the compliments.

"Of course you like them," Abby insists. "I'm the cutest person, like, ever."

Live it.

"Certainly the cutest in this universe," she agreed.

Abby laughs. That is a weird thing to say, but she'll take it. "The cute helps, when your helmet is off. People trust it more. I guess there is an assumption that pretty people can't be dirt poor."

"Really? Weird. Know a lot of pretty peeps who are poor," Roxy said with a thoughtful frown. Assumptions were WEIRD.

"None as pretty as me. In this universe," Abby laughs, more than willing to use Roxy's stipulation.

"Oh, defs. Real pretty, but ain't your pretty," Roxy said as the waiter returned with their drinks.

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