lost as fast as was found

[singsing_a_song]

Meggie sits in the back of the car, staring out the window. The car isn't familiar - she should probably be in a car seat but it's not like the social worker in the driver's seat has one for her - and neither is the scenery outside. But the situation is, almost to a point where it's comforting. Meggie is so, so used to being taken away from one

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[ripsouthearts]

Ran likes Grant Park, and on the occasions when he's not stalking Molly, he hangs out there, watching the ducks and sitting on a bench. He especially likes relaxing there because Molly isn't there. He supposes he could be worse off, Molly at least doesn't care about his less than nice tendencies and his inability to socialize without biting someone's head off

[singsing_a_song]

Well that's not going to make a traumatized seven-year-old calm down, now is it?

But it might confuse her just a bit more.

Meggie unfurls from the little ball she's drawn herself into just a little and peeks over her arm. She's stopped screaming vocally, though small sobs still tear from her chest and tears still stream down her face. And the wails her mind is producing come to a momentary halt.

She stares for a moment. If his screaming doesn't stop momentarily, well, she'll start up again. The noises she can produces are significantly more powerful and painful than anything a person might be able to produce with his voice. And if he doesn't stop - well, she's going to throw a tantrum, and she won't hesitate to make this strange man's ears bleed like she's done to too many people before.

[ripsouthearts]

He stops as soon as she does, and steps back. He hadn't really expected that to work, but now that it has, he's quite proud of himself. He doesn't dislike children, they're actually the one subgroup of humans he does like. He finds their big heads endearing and the sounds of their voices soothing. He's not quite sure how that works, because he hates adult women, but children, children he likes.

He steps back a few more times to give her space, and knelt so he can talk to her at her level. If it works, he's going to try it. Not that he's had much experience with small children. He just knows he likes them.

"Are you lost?" he asks, smiling slightly at her.

[singsing_a_song]

Meggie stays where she is - despite the fact that yes, they're in the middle of the street - and gazes warily over her arm. She's still tensed to start screaming again, still crying a little, and there's a panicked, high-pitched trilling tune floating around them.

Honestly, she doesn't know if she's lost. She doesn't really know what's going on.

"I don't know," she chokes out, pressing her face back to her knees.

[ripsouthearts]

"Well... when was the last time you saw them? he asks. Normally he'd just say screw this and leave her be, but he has that stupid softness for small children that he can't get over. Maybe it's his own shitty childhood. He just doesn't want another kid to go through what he had to.

He begins looking around for a frantic mother, even though he doesn't want to talk to one. When he sees nothing he turns back to her, holding out his hand. "I guess we could go looking?"

[singsing_a_song]

"We were in the car and something hit us and Miss Harper was gone and I was falling - "

She lets out another sob and a wail or two encase them for a moment, but it dies down when he holds out his hand.

She accepts it and stands up, wiping at her face but still sniffling.

[ripsouthearts]

He's always been amazed by the size of children's hands next to his own. He's not exactly huge himself, being barely over five and a half feet tall and underweight, but his hand still dwarfs hers. He smiles down at her in a way he hopes is comforting and begins heading in the direction of the tower.

He knows that at least, that's where people who end up here go. He doesn't have to go there himself, belonging to Molly and all, but he can take the kid there. He certainly can't take care of her.

He loves kids and all, but he's not crazy enough to believe he can take care of one. She'd have to live off creamers and bagel bites. Not exactly nutritious. "I'm sorry," he mutters, skipping slightly. "That's not fun. I'm going to take you to a place that helps...um... wanderers."

[singsing_a_song]

Meggie is mostly quiet as they walk along. She continues to sniffle a little, and a warbling little high-pitched tune follows them.

Meggie wouldn't refuse some bagel bites, even if she couldn't survive on them.

"What's a wanderer?" Meggie asks.

She likes asking questions, and she'll keep going until she's given a satisfactory answer.