Something close to happy is suddenly mine...

[stillaboyscout]

It should be said that there is never actually a quiet day in Chicago. Ever. Somewhere, always, something is happening, and invariably that something has to do with explosives. It is Chicago, after all.

But there are a lot of people in Chicago, and so specific people can have quiet days. Take Michael Vaughn for instance, currently out and about

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[sittinontrains]

Jamal spots Chance, and then sneaks up behind the tree that she's leaned against with two hot dogs in his hands. The hot dog man is being nice today, remembering their experience together on the streets of Chicago, and how Jamal seems to have an in with a dangerous behemoth. He gets close to the tree until he's pressed against the bark on the other side, and then he grins at his stealthy movements.

"Boo!"

[teenytinyteme]

Chance jumps.

"Jesusfuck what the hell?" she spits out before seeing who it is. And then she relaxes. "Oh. You!" Her face breaks out into a grin, a real grin. "Come here, you," she says, opening her arms wide.

She intends to hug him. She's missed her little fellow-homeless-person-buddy-guy-old-pal. Or something.

[sittinontrains]

Jamal's grin manages to widen when he sees that he has managed to sneak up on her. His skills of stealth have greatly increased! ...or something. He feels like that's what it means.

"Me," he agrees with a cheerful noise, and then launches himself into her arms wrapping his own limbs around her neck.

Jamal likes hugs. He doesn't get them often, but they are nice.

[teenytinyteme]

Chance smiles and hugs him for a little bit, shifting from side to side with him in her arms. She looks down at him and grins.

"What are you doing here?" she asks. "Are those hot dogs?" she grins. "You haven't been stealing again, have you?"

Not that she particularly cares one way or another. It's the way she makes her living, after all, if you can call it a living.

[sittinontrains]

"No. Hot dog man gives me free hot dogs when he is not angry. He and Tall Guy fought these people together and I helped so he gives me free hot dogs."

Jamal grins at her and holds one of the hot dogs out to her.

"I do not need to steal. I have ideas." He taps at his forehead. "I learn from man in tree. I make money."

[teenytinyteme]

Chance just blinks at him for a moment. "Free hot dogs?" she asks, because the idea of free things that you do not steal is... mindboggling, really.

"You're making money?" she demands. "And you're not stealing it. What is this, some kind of really sweet begging gig? Who's the man in the tree? And who's the Tall Guy?"

She's so, SO very confused right now.

[sittinontrains]

"Yes. I stole from hot dog man, and then he chased me through the streets! But Tall Guy stopped him, and then they turned into monsters and fought, but people with guns came and started with shooting! So I helped let them know the people were coming! So. Hot dog man lets me have hot dogs. And Tall Guy lets me take baths in his jacuzzi so I can be clean."

Jamal nods. Through this whole ramble, he is using his hands and feet and every part of his body to show her just went down. It all makes perfect sense to him, and he doesn't understand how any of it can be the least bit confusing!

Typical kid.

"Yes. You sing and do musics, but man in tree said to do bets, too. So I bet what I can't lose! Lots of money!"

[teenytinyteme]

"Holy shit, man," Chance says, shaking her head. "Monsters and people with guns? And a jacuzzi? Clearly I have to get a gig like yours. Because free hot dogs and baths? I haven't taken a bath in ages." Which she's wiling to admit freely because it's not like she cares. She does wash herself sometimes, in public bathrooms and stuff, but she knows she can't get everything.

"You bet?" Chance raises an eyebrow. "Like, in casinos and stuff? Man." She shakes her head again. This is all crazy. And she thought her life was strange.