poly_chromatic | accidental video/action:

Entry tags:

firestarter - charlie mcgee

accidental video/action:

[Insomnia and late nights at work don't mix so it should surprise no one when Charlie dozed off at her desk at the Dragon late last night. Waking up the next morning, however, was not the Charlie the City recognizes unless they looked very carefully.

The Charlie that woke up was smaller, younger by almost ten years. And blonde. And she doesn't remember the City at all.

That was why when the feed does kick on, it shows, from a very strange angle (probably a jacket pocket or something) a young girl peeking around a corner very carefully. Her back is against a wall and everything is being studied very carefully.

Her expression is confusion, concern and a stubborn determination the older Charlie possesses. She even has older Charlie's backpack over her shoulder and her tiny fist is curled around a handful of coins she found within. When she was sure it was okay to, she stepped out of the alley onto the sidewalk and made her way to the nearest clothing store, still wearing the clothes she fell asleep in.

She'll be found almost anywhere in the Cit. Probably not the Underground and certainly not places kids should go. And she hasn't noticed the device in her pocket switched on. She just thought it was a camera and was going to sell it.]

[ooc: grab bag weekend. charlie will be a child for the duration with absolutely no city memories. and replies will be coming from split_the_world]

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I don't know anyone named Arthur. [Merlin she met earlier. So, Charlie's convinced herself that this is a dream. Fine, weird talking dream kitty. Charlie reaches over, petting the kitten very carefully.] You're not gonna bite if I pick you up, are you?

[The purring intensifies when she pets him, and Ken nuzzles her hand with his fluffy head.]

No, not at all. You're one of my favorite people. [If she hadn't pet him, he was about to snuggle her ankles. Ken isn't terribly fond of the urges, but at least Charlie is someone he knows. It'll be alright.]

Okay. Good. [And up Ken goes, Charlie cradling him carefully. She supports what needs to be supported and there's a protective hunch to the way she holds him. It's instinctual.]

So, where shuld we go?

[Ken's still a fairly small cat, so he's not heavy, and fits pretty well in her arms. Snuggling in.] Well, if you turn right on this street, and then left at the next block it should take you to a safe place. [Their home. Except...he's a cat, and the distance is a bit longer than that. And who knows who might pick them up along the way.]

Okay.

[She trusts you, Kenny-cat. So she starts walking. It's crowded but she makes it a point to just not bump into anyone, even going so far as to lean away from the people asking if she's lost. She doesn't answer them, just frowns and continues on.

Right...left and she stops in front of the house, staring up at it.]

Do you live here?

Well, I'm from somewhere else entirely. But right now, this place is my home.

[Charlie might not realize what Ken's just admitted to right now, but he's certain she will as an adult once more. He's never told her that before, but yes, she's helped him find a home in this place.]

[She will question it when she's older. Nicely. Over cookies. In the mean time, have something for Ken to be concerned about when things are normal again.]

Does that mean it's safe? And the people inside are nice? Real Nice. Not that creepy kind of Nice that isn't real at all.

Is that the kind of nice you're used to? [It already concerns him, though he isn't sure how much she would be willing to talk about it.]

But yes. They're very nice. Honestly nice. And they take care of anyone who lives here.

[No answer to that question which is an answer itself, isn't it? Instead, she takes a few hesitant steps towards the house and then stops.]

I don't feel right going in there just yet. It feels like intruding.

[Enough of one, especially for Ken, who would frown, if he wasn't a cat. Instead he just purrs for her.]

You're not intruding. I live there and I'm inviting you in. But if you would feel safer looking around a little longer, I don't see why we can't. [If he's with her, he can help protect her, at least.]

[She takes another step towards the house and then turns away from it, still carrying the cat.]

I want to look around some more.

[That's not her house, so she thinks, and even if Ken is inviting her in, she just doesn't want to go near it.]

That's alright. As long as you take me with you.

[His little kittenish paws are kneading at her, careful not to include the claws.]

[Hey, look! Charlie's smiling at the cat, snuggling him carefully.] Are you kidding? I'm not letting you out of my sight.

[Low, rumbling purr.] Good. Then we can go many places. Just not the Underground. That's not a safe place.

[Aww, that's the best sound.] Where do you want to go?

[Home. So he doesn't answer truthfully.]

No place in particular. This is your first time seeing this place, right? Why don't you just pick any direction. I can get us home after.

[As unusual as these weekends can be, Doc is unaffected and therefore going about his business amid the talking animals, flying people, adult children, people in the wrong bodies, and everything else the City's thrown at them this month.

At his side, leashless but never straying far, is his shaggy dog, Everett, who is quite excited at both the little girl and the cat that he spots as they turn a corner. He barks to alert Doc to their presence, excitedly not aggressively, and wags his tail, panting at them. Even if he's not about to go chasing the cat, Doc shushes him anyway. No way that they'll know the dog means them no harm.]

Shh, shh, calm down, boy. Calm.

[He stops, kneeling to pat the dog's head, as he looks up to smile at Charlie and Ken - though he has no idea who they are.]

Quite sorry about that, if he startled you! I'm afraid he's a bit excitable.

[Charlie's immediate thought is to wrap her arms around the kitten protectively, watching the dog. The man has him under control, though, so she's...okay. She relaxes just a tiny bit, watching the doctor warily.]

It's okay.

[Still sort of wary. New adults always had Charlie a bit on edge.]

What's his name?

[It's a good thing Charlie wrapped around Ken tightly, as his first instinct was to panic - little cat heart beating rapidly - and flee. He attempted as much, panting in Charlie's arms for a moment.]

Doctor Brown?

[He hoped he wasn't cursed.]

[Certain that Everett is calmed, he stands and his smile widens at Charlie. He can tell she's wary, of course, so he does keep his distance.]

This is Everett -- and really, I can assure you, he's entirely harmless.

[And... then the cat speaks. Well. That shouldn't be all that surprising, but his brow does furrow a bit.]

Ken?

Hi, Everett. [She's not gonna pet the dog yet. That'd mean letting go of Ken who she's trying to calm with petting and rocking slightly. And then she looks at the cat in surprise.]

You know him?

[Unasked question; Does that mean he's okay?]

Yes. [He says that to them both, calming. There's no more purring, but he isn't struggling to get free any longer, at least.] What does Everett think of cats?

Doctor Brown is a good friend of mine. A safe person. [Someone you can trust. Yes, he's okay.]

Well, I can't say I've seen him interact with cats previously, but he does seem to be more eager to make friends than to attack.

[Well, the identity of the cat settled, he's a bit curious as to who the child is Ken is speaking to. He offers a little bow to her, his friendliest smile still in place.]

At your service, my dear - any friend of Ken's is most certainly a friend of mine.

[She trusted Ken and if Ken said this adult was a good adult, she'd believe him. So, her hand extends (all while accidentally letting Ken's back legs go for a second) and she introduces herself.]

I'm Charlie.

[And just as it is when she's an adult, she might feel warmer than most.]

[She definitely was warm, but for Ken as a cat out in the cold weather? It felt nice, even with his fur. When the hold moved, he slipped a little, giving everyone wide eyes. He didn't complain, though - she was young.]

We were just wandering around a bit. Charlie didn't feel like going home with me quite yet.

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