Uncrackplotted (open)

[mancalledspade]

The curse had worn off so gradually, he barely noticed as it did. One day, when he saw, really saw, a nice pair of legs walk by, it hit him that he was back to normal. On one level, at least

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[queen_oracle]

Mickle's home again, and preparing herself for spring by getting mud between her toes and petals in her hair, and by running around in the clear, clean air.

In this manner, she almost crashes into him, but stops and tumbles sideways at the last minute, head over heels, with a gleeful whoop.

[mancalledspade]

He smiles, wry, like most of his smiles are. "Easy, precious. You alright there?"

[queen_oracle]

"I'm fine!" She springs to her feet, laughing. "Sorry about that."

[mancalledspade]

His smile widens just a bit. "No harm done. Leastwise not to me. Where's the fire?"

[queen_oracle]

"Hopefully there isn't one," innocently. "I'm just enjoying the weather. I can't wait for it to get properly warm. Winter's so grey and drowsy."

[mancalledspade]

He ashes his cigarette. "It's always kind of gray, where I'm from. Can't say I've ever had this much fresh air in my life."

[queen_oracle]

"Oh, that's no good." She runs her hands through her hair and then stretches her arms up into the breeze, curling and clasping her hands together. "I grew up in a city, and it was smelly and close and horrible. I wasn't happy properly until we started travelling."

[mancalledspade]

"Hey now. I happen to be fond of my smelly, close, horrible city." He offers a hand. "Sam Spade."

[queen_oracle]

She shakes it. "I'm Mickle."

[mancalledspade]

"So, which smelly, horrible city were you from?"

[queen_oracle]

"Well, lots. I grew up in the Fingers and then went to a Corrective School in Marianstat, and then ran away to Born, and then ended up back in Marianstat for a long time."

[mancalledspade]

"Nope. Three for three. But then, I'd bet you haven't heard of San Fransisco either, so I guess we're even."

[queen_oracle]

A sparkle. "Well, you're wrong. I told you I travelled."

[mancalledspade]

"To California? Serves me right for making assumptions."

[queen_oracle]

"I've never actually been, though. We just went somewhere near it. California was nice." She laughs. "And so hot. I thought we were going to burn up."

[mancalledspade]

"Must've been down south. My city's warmer than here in the winter, but ain't such a huge change."