The Greatest Show on Earth - or Something.
Who: Pepper and Louise
Where: Sixth Street Bridge
When: Morning
pepper had been meaning to hit up Dutch's place for some work and, even better, some pay. She wasn't proud - she'd push a broom around if there was something in it for her. But it had been raining yesterday - and then there had been rumours of a killer out there. Not just people getting killed, shit, that happened all the damn time, fights, hits, murders for some reason or another, but word was that this was different. This was a killer - there wasn't some reason or other behind it, or if there was, it was something that wasn't, like, normal 'pissed off the wrong mob guy' or 'had an argument with her boyfriend' or some kind of turf war. Least, from the bits that Pepper'd been overhearing, that what it sounded like anyhows. So, pepper was staying put for now. She felt safe, here under the bridge - it was the nearest place she had to somewhere she could call home. And today she had a prime spot, sat on a pile of crates, near enough to the oil drum fire a couple of the guys had going to be warm, but far enough away that she didn't have to put up with their comments or conversation. Not that she minded talking to people, in fact she was looking out for some company, but those guys were idiots - one of them was the reason she'd shaved all her hair off and he was forever making jibes at her about it. Whatever, she wasn't into all that.
So, she sat and watched the people coming and going, the most interesting show their was. Who needed a movie theatre anyhow?
(open)
..
Louise had gotten an early start to the day after having actually gotten a reasonable amount of sleep for once. Reading the papers as she walked by the newsstand had left her more than a bit cold, however. There was a killer on the loose, and not the usual sort of "didn't pay their debts" or "got on the wrong side of the Russians" killer. This was pretty brutal, even for them. Grabbing some breakfast on the way, she headed down to the Bridge. Some people might not have given the people down there a second thought, but Louise had always had a soft spot for people like that. There but for the grace of God and all that.
She smiled as she walked up and saw Pepper sitting there people-watching. She'd always liked the kid, and sometimes wished she could so more for her. She grinned and gave a couple of chirps as she got close to the kid. "Hey, Pepper," Louise said with a couple of twitches of her head. "How's tricks?" She pulled an apple out of her pocket. "Breakfast?" she asked, offering it to her.
.
Pepper grinned as she saw Louise approach and hopped down off her box, taking the apple as though she'd been expecting it. "Birdy! How's it going? Here, well, same old same old, you know. George was around talking to the sky a while ago - you should have seen him, right real drama it was. I think the sky was talking back. or, I think George thought it was anyhow. But he's gone now, so, yeah - you working today?" she asked, rambling the questions off in quick succession.
..
Louise smiled as Pepper took the apple from her. She liked the kid- Pepper was one of the few people in town who could keep up with her energy, not to mention one of the few who didn't even flinch at her "eccentricities." "I'm doing pretty good, thanks," she said with a chirp and a clear of her throat. "Just thought I'd- chirp! -come down and see how everyone was doing!" She pulled the long coat around her a little. The rain had stopped, but damn, this was still some cold weather. She was really ready to run around barefoot again.
"Dutch has me coming in for a little-little while to clean up, then the usual- chirp!" she snapped her fingers. "-usual shift at One More Round tonight-night." She reached up with her bad hand and brushed some of her hair out of her face. "Sorry I missed George, though! He's always got the most-most interesting stories!" She turned and watched the people going by for a moment. "Anything else interesting going on around here? You been staying-staying out of trouble?" She barked at her shoulder, twitching her head to the left as she did.
"Dutch? Oh! I met him the
"Dutch? Oh! I met him the other day and he offered me a job at his shop. I was gonna go down there today, but you know, sometimes life gets in the way," Pepper said, breezily, not willing to ever put voice to the fact that the reason she'd not gone down was that she was scared to do so. Pepper didn't admit fear easily, that was for sure. "But yeah, you know me - always stay out of trouble if I can help it," Pepper added, biting into the apple as she ignored the sounds and stutters from Louise. Everyone had their ticks, nobody down here was entirely 'normal', and Pepper had long ago decided that the best way to deal with the unusual things people did and said was to simply ignore them where possible.
..
Louise smiled at Pepper's comment about staying out of trouble. She knew all too well that it was impossible to stay completely out of trouble when you were out on the streets, but hey, you do what you have to do. "I know what you mean, yeah." She cleared her throat and twitched her head a couple of times. "But you should come on down when you get-get-get the chance. chirp! Dutch is a good guy, he'd treat you right. Cock! Cock in my ass!" Louise also liked that no one down here cared about her issues. It made her almost feel normal. "But yeah, you should-should totally come by this after-afternoon. Even if Dutch isn't there, I- chirp! -bet I could find something for you to do." She smiled. "And don't worry, I'd make sure you got paid for it."
She didn't want to mention the elephant in the room- or under the bridge, as the case may be- but she still had this urge to keep an eye on her friends. "So, uh," she gave a quick bark to her shoulder again. "Everything all right down here? Everybody-body keeping an eye on each other?" She sat down next to where Pepper had been sitting and chirped a little.
P epper nodded. "Yeah,
P epper nodded. "Yeah, everyone down here's fine - we look out for each other," she confirmed. Which was why she was still here, even though she'd shied away from going to Dutch's. She felt safe here - she knew everyone, she knew the people, she knew the faces and they'd look out for her. They wouldn't let anything happen to her. Or so she'd like to believe, anyhow. "And I might come by - no promises though!!"
..
Louise smiled with a few extra blinks. "-though. Great, good. And if you come by- chirp! -you know I won't be hard to find!" She laughed and snapped her fingers again. "Just follow the Birdy noises!" She looked around, seeing if anyone else was around. She didn't mind helping some people out, like Pepper, or George, or a few of the ones she knew, but she didn't want to broadcast what she was doing next. "You need anything?" She asked, reaching into her coat pocket. "I-I mean, I got a little extra if-if you need it."
Pepper was tempted, but she
Pepper was tempted, but she hesitated, then shook her head. "No - I'm good, but thanks. And, if I need anything, I know where to find you, right?" she said, cheerfully - Pepper wasn't one who liked to admit weakness, and whilst she'd accept gifts if they were right there, she didn't like being beholden to people for future needs.
..
Louise smiled and put her wallet back in her pocket. "Okie dokie," she said with a couple of twitches. She hoped the kid came by, but knew enough to know that Pepper would do what she wanted, what she felt she needed to do. "Well, I should probably-probably be getting to work myself," she said with a couple of chirps. She put her hand on Pepper's shoulder. "Be careful, okay? And seriously, if you-if you need anything, let me know, ok?" Louise knew she probably wouldn't, but she wanted her to know she was welcome. Hell, if she thought Pepper would accept it, she'd gladly let her stay with her. "And say hi to cock! George for me!" she said as she turned to leave.