In need of a home (introduction)

[crimson_sugar]

There might be, on the stairs of the Mansion, a young woman, proud and determined, a shivering little girl clinging to her skirts.

She isn’t pretty per say, no, the young woman is not, but there is charm and grace in the way she holds herself, willfulness and a sense of education, even if her accent, when she speaks, though polished it may seem, is

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[thornofcamorr]

Locke steps out the front door and closes it behind him, on his way out to look for Valen, looking better than he has...well, since he arrived at the Mansion. And so when he turns around and sees a woman and a young child looking confused, he sweeps an elegant bow, though there's a touch of the mocking in it, as it should be. "Madames, you look a trifle lost."

[crimson_sugar]

“Only a trifle,” Sugar chuckles, and the bow earns him an amused, if wary grin from the child. “though if you find us lost, you might not be so yourself….” She stands, prompting a shivering Sophie to follow her lead. A small curtsy, as is wont in the Victorian age, and the child awkwardly bobs one as well.
“You bow funny, sir,” she enunciates properly.

Sugar looks at Sophie, bemused. This is the first time she is not, well, fearful and crying in front of strangers.

[thornofcamorr]

"I am rarely lost," he says with a broad grin, inviting her to believe the lie. He gives Sophie a special grin. "It's more fun my way. You should try it sometime."

[crimson_sugar]

Sophie blushes, hides behind Sugar, but keeps looking at Locke with intrigued, devouring eyes.

The older girl laughs, lightly. "Quite a feat," she says, smiling. "You know, far and few between are those who win her heart so easily."

Well. Locke is being remarkably charming, this morning.

[thornofcamorr]

He's practicing, because this is one of the more important acts he needs to put on. Anita's seen the Locke broken by the loss of everything that matters, but this Locke has two friends who know him too well that he has to be strong for.

He looks amused, eyes crinkling, for more than one reason. "Then I'm pleased I may have managed it," he says simply. Locke does have a soft spot for children, especially scrawny, unattractive ones.

[crimson_sugar]

Self-identification, Cyrano would say.

"And will you not decline your name, for your little admirer?" Sugar teases, charming herself, sweet like her name and elegant, even if she isn't beautiful, never will be beautiful like Phedre.

[thornofcamorr]

And he'd be right, too. Locke was a scrawny, underfed, dirty little brat not so long ago. With his death hanging over his head.

"By no means," he says with another grin. "Tavrin Callas."

It's so easy to get back into the habit of lying. It's just easier then telling the truth sometimes.

[crimson_sugar]

"Miss Sugar," she says, bobs a curtsy, imitated by Sophie. She smiles and moves with sophistication - all perfected in front of her mirror, and her accent, though good enough for My Fair Lady, might have a relent of cockney - if only very little. "My ward, Sophie Reichert." Here's the lie. It's Rackham. The name flows flawlessly from her lips, though, and the girl doesn't react to it.

Sophie, from her hideout, blushes more, and mouths his name. Tavrin. It's odd and interesting.

T: Oh dear. Interesting indeed. We will see if TAVRIN picks on HER lie. Though, heck, he is an epic liar - and so is she.

[thornofcamorr]

Locke eyes her, lifts his eyebrows slightly, and notes the fact that she just lied about her ward's last name. Curious. He doesn't mention it, though. "Welcome, I suppose, if that's the correct way to introduce this place, to the Mansion, dames Sophie and Sugar."

[crimson_sugar]

"Many thanks, Mr. Callas." A smile. "I suppose you are from Milano?" Because Sugar used to read the gazette every day. She knows names and has some culture. Much more than your average streetwalker, and actually more than some ladies.

[thornofcamorr]

Well - it's so easy to get back into the habit. He leans back on his heels, completely relaxed, and starts lying. "I am," easily, "Though I haven't lived there for quite some time. I've been travelling."

[crimson_sugar]

"Oh, travelling, have you?" Interestedly. Sophie tugs at Sugar, and once she's got her attention, she says, really cute, "I want to know where!"

[thornofcamorr]

Locke leans back against the wall and flicks some hair out of his face. "The States, mostly," he says, hunting through his memory for places Anita's mentioned. "Some of Europe, though. Avoiding Italy." A slightly conspiratorial smile. "I'm not very popular there right now."

Italy. That's where Anita thought he was from too. Curious.

[crimson_sugar]

That's because Callas is an Italian name, like Maria Callas, the great opera singer of the 60's. Sugar never heard of her, clearly, but she still know name origins.

"The States, sir?" Because yes, they're independent by Sugar's time, but no-one refers to America like that.

Sophie is listening, enraptured.

[thornofcamorr]

He doesn't know that, though, so he breezes ahead. "Yeah. America." He grins, slightly. "Interesting place."

[crimson_sugar]

“Really?” She cocks her head to the side, clearly interested. “How so?”

Sophie actually imitates Sugar’s posture.