The autumn has come, and with it the temperatures have dropped and the winds have picked up. The trees in the City, small but thriving now, get red and gold and brown edges to some of their leaves, and...well, there are no birds to fly South, and no South to fly to, but you get the idea
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He comes from between some tents, to dodge any possible cover charge, and so he sees Charlotte, Harley and April first. There's a moment where his brain kicks in with some ugly memories, but Charlotte alone is all right. He always felt bad for her, and wonders what's become of her since the little group left the city.
Since he's standing there watching them, and he's a head taller than anybody else, they might notice him too.
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Then she notices Rat and bites her lip, hesitating. She didn't really want to be recognized, but of the little group she ran into before, Rat is the most innocuous. She lifts a hand in a slight wave, face blank.
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He weaves through the crowd to meet them both, giving a slight wave back, but when he reaches them he's uncharacteristically awkward. "Hey Harley, er... Charlotte. I guess this place is a good draw..." He'd find a corner and start busking if he wasn't afraid of getting in trouble for it.
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"I am sure your guardian would love a gold fish," Harley replies softly. She glances between the two of them, hoping someone helps her out from feeling lost. April just tugs on Charlotte's sleeve and points to a smaller fish in the middle of the area. "That one?"
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She notices Harley's glance and tries to look reassuring. "We have met once before, under...less than ideal circumstances, yes." The 'yes' on the end of her sentences appears to be more a speech habit than anything else.
Then April tugs on her sleeve and points, and the girl blinks. It takes her a moment to understand what she is being told, but then she breaks into a genuine smile, less self-conscious than the one before. Maybe she has a soft spot for other children? "Very well. I will make an attempt."
She turns toward the fish and pitches the penny gently. It does a couple flips in the air and lands neatly in the indicated bowl. Only someone looking very closely would notice the little telekinetic push it recieved in mid-air. No one ever told Charlotte that using tuning to win games is technically cheating.
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April gives a giggle, hiding her smile behind a hand. "Thank you."
Turning her attention back to Charlotte, Harley asks, "You mentioned you were visiting from the Nexus? It is no wonder you seemed unique to the other Dark City residents."
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She smiles at April again. "You are welcome, yes."
"I do not object to you joining us, Mr. Rathbone. I have a stuffed toy I brought with me, but if you insist, I will not refuse your offer."
Then she looks up at Harley, mildly surprised again. "You...are familiar with the Nexus? I am from another version of this City. It is destroyed now. I am, in short, a hybrid of human and Stranger. I would like to pretend to be an ordinary child today, however, inasmuch as I can. I mean this place no harm."
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Then relizing she missed accepting Marcus's presence, she offers her arm to him. "Oh yes. Please do join us?"
And then she returns her attention to the last question. "Well I myself am from the Nexus. Not from this City or another version of it. Someplace else. And my dear, you are free to be a child as much as you desire. I shall let no one know you are more than as you appear. As I do for April."
April stares at the goldfish in amazement. "Fishie."
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She flashes an awkward smile at Harley, not quite as comfortable with her as with April, but warming up to her. "Thank you. I am grateful to meet people here who are willing to accept what I am, yes."
She holds the bowl out to let April get a better look at the fish. "Fish, yes. Goldfish."
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Harley nods with an appreciative smile to Rat's look. resting her head on his shoulder for a moment.
April looks around the carnival with excitment. She points to a booth where one can shoot ducks to win stuffed toys. "That one!"
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Following April's gaze, she looks over the toys hanging at the duck shooting booth. There's an array of kitties, bears, bunnies, monkeys, and assorted others. She nods in agreement.
((Going to bed now, but I will catch up tomorrow. Thanks for playing! :3))
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