monsters still in our time

[beanshield]

In Grant Park, somewhere far from the crucifixion site, far enough that you can't even see the yellow police tape, Bean is sitting at a table. On and beneath the table are boxes and boxes of T-shirts, in all different sizes and colors. All of them have the phrase "Wanderer? Fine by me" printed in bold letters on the fronts. Bean herself is wearing

Comments

[thehighestwing]

Normally, Phoebe Donovan is all excitement and bounce.

Today she's sad, and still a little scared. She still stops at the table with the scattered t-shirts. Because it's fine by her, too. Her ward is a wanderer. They're people, too and she doesn't get it. She tries, she tries hard to understand how things like this can happen and she doesn't.

"These are really pretty," Phoebe whispers to the girl, eying one of the beaded amulets.

[beanshield]

Bean looks up at the girl and smiles. A customer! A sympathizer!

"Thank you! They're good luck charms, I guess. Um, those are five dollars each, and then the T-shirts are four dollars each. Although I've just sorta been giving them away to people who don't have, you know, cash or checks on them and stuff. Supporting people's more important than money!" Bean bobs her head as if to emphasize the point.

[thehighestwing]

Phoebe lets out a small hee because even if the whole matter is totally depressing the smile and the energy is sort of contagious.

"And dudes and dudettes here need all the luck they can get, for serious." Phoebe bites her lip as she looks down at the beaded amulets again. "I've got money, it's okies. I'll take two luck charms, I think? I have a ward and maybe he'd like one."

Not that it'll protect him the way she's supposed to even if she's stupidly young to have a ward in the first place. "Do you need help selling stuff? I mean, I'm not really doing anything right now and this is a good idea."

[beanshield]

"They really do. I just wish I could churn these out, like assembly line them or something, you know? But then I guess they wouldn't wor--I mean, they wouldn't be as, you know, personal and handmade and all." No sense in letting it slip that the good luck charms really do work. She's pretty sure the CLF and their friends would take an interest in that; and anyway, the amulets will work even if people don't really believe in them.

"Your ward? You mean...like a sidekick or something?" The only time Bean has heard the word "ward" used in reference to a person is in comic books.

She smiles brightly. "Sure! That'd be great! I mean, if you want to. Or if you even want to take a bunch and distribute them around your school or something."

[thehighestwing]

Phoebe doesn't notice any sort of slip, if there was one. She's not the most observant of girls. She needs to be hit with a sledgehammer sometimes. "I still think it's totes cool and brave of you to do this."

She tilts her head, laughing. "Eep, no! Ward as in, he's someone I'm supposed to look after and take care of. I'm a guardian angel, trufax."

"I don't mind staying and helping! I don't have anything to do right now and this is actually important!" And after she's done laughing she gives the other girl a dubious look. "Besides, aren't you worried I might never come back and keep the money or something?"

[beanshield]

Bean blushes deeply. "I don't know about 'brave'...i-it was just sort of an idea I had."

Bean's mouth forms a perfect O as she stares at the girl. "Oh, wow! A guardian angel? That's so amazing! I've met angels and all around here, but never a guardian angel. I didn't know they were real! Hee, that's really awesome!"

"Oh, well, I don't really mind about the money. I mean, I've been giving some of these away for free. Anyway, I have a part-time job so it's all good. But yeah! If you want to help, that'd be great!"

[thehighestwing]

Phoebe doesn't push it, but she still thinks it's brave. "Awesome idea, then!"

"Yah, a guardian angel. It's awesome cuz I love having a purpose and taking care of someone but it's also totally scary," Phoebe admits to her. "I wasn't supposed to get a ward for years and years and suddenly whoop, there it is! I blame the Rift. Just 'cause."

Phoebe sidles up to the table with a little bounce and twirl, the sadness dispelling for a minute in favor of enthusiasm. "I'd be glad to help! THERE IS NO I IN TEAMWORK." Hi, she's really enthusiastic. "Let's do this! For the great justice!"

[beanshield]

Bean just beams a little at that, still blushing.

"Wow...that's really amazing. That's gotta be a lot of responsibility. How long do you get a, um, ward for? Or is it like, a 'your entire life!' thing?"

Bean blinks a little at the display of energy, but then she's smiling. A kindred spirit! She throws up both hands and gives a little "woo!" "Alright, awesome, yay! By the power of Grayskull, we'll sell shirts until--until--until something!" Not the best ending, but oh well.

[thehighestwing]

"An entire life sort of thing!" Phoebe answers. "Basically I watch over him until he dies or I die for him."

She gives a little nod, and even though it might seem like an overwhelming or scary thing, she feels it's her calling. She feels it to her very bones, she does.

"Hee. You're funny. I like you. Have I told you my name already? I don't remember. I have like, the attention span of a fruit fly. I'M PHOEBE."

[beanshield]

"Wow. That's really noble! Although I guess that would suck if like you couldn't get along or something." Never mind that the concept of full time, whole-life commitments at Bean's age seem astronomical and rather terrifying.

Bean beams. "I like you too! Hi, Phoebe! I'm Bean! And this is Potato." She gestures at Potato, who is watching Phoebe with what can only be described as an "oh god another one" expression. "...You know I only just realized this but introducing ourselves like that makes us sound like dinner..."

[thehighestwing]

"Dude, it totally would. Luckily Peter's one of those good guys with a heart of gold, yanno? Wants to save the world and stuffies. So while he does I'm gonna make sure he doesn't get into too much trouble and save him when I have to!"

Phoebe twirls her way closer. "AWW! Nice to meet ya both! Potato is a cutie! And now that you mention it I am kinda hungry. Would you like a hot dog? I know there was a vendor nearby. I know lots of people are all ew, those hot dogs but they're actually kinda good!"

[beanshield]

"Aw, that's great. Peter sounds like a good guy! It's lucky that you like each other and want to help people and all, like, having common interests sort of."

Potato looks a little mulish at being called cute, but Bean just giggles. "Nice to meet you too! And oh man, I love hot dogs. I think the ones in New York were better but the Chicago ones are pretty epic too." She digs some money out of her wallet, since she needs to hold onto the T-shirt money for change. "Um, I like them with everything on them, even those weird onions!"