Action

[trenchknives]

[Jimmy has always enjoyed reading, but maybe not quite this much. As he's wandering down the street, he's so focused on his book that he's not looking where he's going, and yes, he might be getting in other peoples' way.

If he bumps into someone, though, they'll find that he doesn't snap at them and tell them to watch where they're going. Instead, he simply tries to draw them into a conversation about literature.

And it looks like he's walking without any trace of a limp whatsoever... strange...]

[[Jimmy has been affected by the Years That Never Were curse! And he'd really like to run into you today.]]

Comments

[anunluckypenny]

[Penny's out and uncursed. She does, of course, notice Jimmy when he wanders by.

The lack of a limp is what immediately draws her attention.]

Hey, Jimmy! You look like you're doing... really well.

[Action]

[pinokosthewife]

Waaah! [You just sent one tiny nurse to the ground. She rubs at her bottom in pain, before pointing at him angrily.] Hey, hey, watch where you're going, bub!

[trenchknives]

Hey, Penny!

[He grins at her, folding down the edge of one of the pages of his book and sticking it into his jacket.]

Yeah, I'm doin' great. How're you?

Re: [Action]

[trenchknives]

Oh, shit, sorry!

[He immediately offers her a hand, looking contrite.]

I was just concentratin' on my book so much. You okay?

[Action]

[pinokosthewife]

[She stops glaring, pouting for a moment, before accepting the offered hand and getting to her feet. She brushes the dirt off her overall-skirt.]

Pinoko is fine, thank goodnesh! [She's satisfied with his apology, now reverting to her usual, curious state. She stands on tip-toe, trying to sneak a peak at the book.]

What are you reading that's got you sho intereshted, Mishter?

Re: [Action]

[trenchknives]

It's a book called The Jungle, by Upton Sinclair. I read it in college, but I thought I'd read it again, see what I thought of it. It's real fascinatin'.

[He shows it to her, smiling.]

[Action]

[pinokosthewife]

The Jungle? [She looks at the cover.]

Is thish an animal book, Mishter?

Re: [Action]

[trenchknives]

[He laughs.]

No, no. I mean, the title kinda sounds like it would be, but it's more about... it's kinda a social study of the US 'n how messed up stuff is for poor people.

[Action]

[pinokosthewife]

Ooh, it shounds like a good book, Mishter!

Will you read shome of it to Pinoko?

[She looks for a relatively clean patch of the ground to sit on, drawing her legs up and wrapping her arms around them, listening attentively.]

Re: [Action]

[trenchknives]

Well, sure, if you're really interested.

[He sits down on the ground across from her and turns to the first page.]

It'll make more sense if I start from the beginnin'.

[He begins to read. His reading voice isn't great, and he stumbles over some of the words, but he's obviously passionate about the subject.]

[Action]

[pinokosthewife]

[She listened carefully, but the prose was too dense and the foreign names too strange. Hither-and-thither, yeah, like her brain!

She looks confused, but doesn't tell him to stop reading.]

Re: [Action]

[trenchknives]

[After reading a bit more, though, he sets the book down and looks at her almost apologetically.]

I know a lotta people find it a little wordy.

[Action]

[pinokosthewife]

Ah, don't apologize, don't apologize! It's alright. [She waves her hands dismissively, with a polite smile on her face that's a bit strained.]

Pinoko's more of a right reader anyway... Pinocchio's more than long enough for me! [Pinoko, the phrase you're looking for is light reader.]

Pinoko's shorry she couldn't really get much out of it, but she's sure it's a good book! She hopes you'll find shomebody to read wordy books with, Mishter. You're a niche pershon.

Re: [Action]

[trenchknives]

Yeah, it's a good book, but I know what you mean. Sometimes shorter books're better.

[He puts the book back into his jacket to keep it safe.]

So I guess your name's Pinoko, then?

[Action]

[pinokosthewife]

[She sighs in relief, happy she didn't hurt his feelings.]

That's my name, don't wear it out!

[You're doing a fine job of that all by yourself, Pinoko.]

Re: [Action]

[trenchknives]

Well, it's nice to meet ya. I'm Jimmy.

[anunluckypenny]

["Alarmed" isn't the correct answer. She should be glad that Jimmy's in such a great mood, no worried!]

I'm great too. You know... same old, same old.

[trenchknives]

Yeah? That's good -- you deserve to be happy.

[She should probably be worried. This is far too cheerful for him.]

[anunluckypenny]

Oh. Thanks, Jimmy.

[You are Jimmy, aren't you? You're sure? Another guy with your face didn't drop in?]

What're you reading?

[trenchknives]

[Oh, yes, he's definitely Jimmy. Just a far too well-adjusted Jimmy. He pulls the book out of his jacket again to show it to her.]

It's called The Jungle. It's by Upton Sinclair. Maybe you've read it? I read it for the first time in college, but I thought I'd take another look at it, see what I thought of it.

[spotlighted]

((yeah okay I caved, it will be interesting to see what happens if she runs into him uncursed after this ;; ))

[Ruby's out grocery shopping, on her way back to her apartment with both arms wrapped around a very full brown paper bag. She's not really looking where she's going, either, her head's firmly in the clouds with her excitement at being asked to work more hours - all the dresses she'll buy or make and show off, new numbers she could work into her set, the thrill of having an audience again and being able to concentrate on doing something that she loves for a living; after the fiasco in which she'd had to leave her last job back in New York, she could scarcely believe it.

She doesn't notice that she's walked right into someone, not until the contents of the bag go flying out over the sidewalk.]

[trenchknives]

[If Jimmy had been paying attention to where he'd been going, he would have seen the woman walking the other way down the sidewalk towards him, and would have been able to avoid walking right into her. As it was, he was staring at his book so intently that when he runs into her, it takes him a moment to notice what happens. When he does, though, he's embarrassed.]

Oh, shit! Sorry!

[He sees her groceries scattered on the sidewalk and bends down to begin scooping them up.]

[Action]

[pinokosthewife]

I'm Pinoko! Dr. Black Jack's wife, it's niche to meet you!

[She gets up to curtsey!]

Re: [Action]

[trenchknives]

Dr. Black Jack? I don't think I've met him.

[He grins as her curtsey, finding it charming.]

[spotlighted]

[Ruby lets out a squeal as the groceries tumble from her hands, stepping to one side so that a melon doesn't land on her foot, but it just falls to the sidewalk instead, smashing on the concrete. She drops to her knees, grabbing at what she can before it rolls away too far.]

Oh! No, it was my fault, I wasn't looking. I'm so sorry!