The Ink Spot, Sunday

[theworst_verine]

Well, someone woke up not themselves yesterday and then spent way too long trying to get out of the apartment to find food that wasn't a thing of mustard in the fridge. Logan, please just get your life together. For yourself if nothing else!

But he'd managed to find a book store and the whole walk had taken it out of him. So he, James, was just going to settle in with a book as he considered what to do next. Since there was absolutely no supervision going on.

[open!]

Comments

[fears_no_one]

Flint came down from his apartment upstairs and spotted the urchin. "Who the hell are you?" he demanded harshly.

Flint was amazing with children.

[theworst_verine]

"James?" he said, for sure hiding behind a book. "Sir."

The door was open! You couldn't say he was breaking in or anything!

[fears_no_one]

The "sir" appeased Flint slightly. "And where did you come from, James? I haven't seen you before."

[theworst_verine]

"I woke up here. Sir." Well. "In a boarding house?"

It seemed like it might have been one. So many different rooms.

"Or perhaps it was a hotel?"

[fears_no_one]

"Alone," Flint asked, "or with other children?"

Were you in an orphanage Flint hadn't heard of, James?

[theworst_verine]

How dare you! He wasn't an orphan yet!

"Alone," he confirmed. "There were other people in different rooms, but if they were servants, they didn't answer when I called."

[fears_no_one]

"Maybe they just don't like you," was Flint's helpful reply to a literal child.

[theworst_verine]

"...do you think so?"

WOW, FLINT. WOW.

[fears_no_one]

MURDEROUS HEARTLESS PIRATE.

"Are you usually kind to them?" Flint asked.

[theworst_verine]

"Yes!" He was a little, wealthy lad in the 1800s. Ehhhh.

[fears_no_one]

Flint didn't look all that convinced, but he also had resting "what the fuck is wrong with you" face.

"Do you have a job?"

Very normal thing to ask!

[theworst_verine]

"No?" James said like that was just a weird prospect. His poor, delicate hands were went for work.

[fears_no_one]

"Whyever not?" Flint asked. "You must provide something of use to your family."

Maybe don't take advice from a man who'd been sent to sea way too early.

[theworst_verine]

"I'll take over my father's business," James said with a little nod. "With my brother."

[fears_no_one]

"What is your father's business?" Flint asked.

[theworst_verine]

"Lumber," James said with the full confidence of a child who really didn't know any details.

[fears_no_one]

"Ahh," Flint said. "There's good money in lumber."

You know, building ships. In the 1700s.

[theworst_verine]

James nodded along with that because clearly Flint understood. "Maybe I'm meant to attend school here?"

And not live a light of murder and trauma.

[fears_no_one]

"Perhaps," Flint said. "Can you read?" He assumed yes because of the comments about servants, but maybe they hadn't tried yet?

[noonedecidesmyfate]

A whole building full of books! This was wonderful. This would be an excellent place for Belle to start her adventures. Maybe there was a book of maps to lead her on the way!

"Hello!" she called out as she poked her head inside. "I need books!"

She did not, in fact, need books. She'd woken up surrounded by plenty of books.

[theworst_verine]

James peered over his own book, looking around for whoever might help the girl. Because clearly it wasn't him. Employment such as that was for the lower class someone else.

"I don't think anyone is in for that," he ventured.

[noonedecidesmyfate]

"Papa can pay for them later," Belle said. "I can leave a note for the shopkeeper. Or I could just borrow them and bring them back or maybe I can just read here. I was planning on an adventure."

Since there were no adults around to tell her not to.

"Would you like to come on an adventure?"

[theworst_verine]

"I think I'm already on an adventure," James replied, giving it a thought. "I wouldn't be here otherwise."

Also, he was a sickly little lad.

[noonedecidesmyfate]

"You don't look like you're on an adventure," Belle said. "You look like you're just sitting here."

[theworst_verine]

"I'm at a bookstore." Which was clearly an adventure. "I'm not allowed out much. My father..."

He was worried about that fragile, fragile health.

[noonedecidesmyfate]

"Books are like adventures but not quite as good," Belle said.

Seasoned adventurer that she clearly was.

"Oh, my papa doesn't like me to take adventures either but he isn't here so today is a good day to have an adventure, don't you think?"

[theworst_verine]

That there? Some Victor talk.

"Maybe?" No, no. An adventure would end in weird bone claws and accidental murder.

[noonedecidesmyfate]

"It could be a small adventure," Belle offered.

No need for murder! That could wait.

[theworst_verine]

It was always a murder.

"Would it involve being out late?"

[noonedecidesmyfate]

"We could have a daylight adventure," Belle allowed. "And then be back for supper?"

Or maybe ice cream!

[fears_no_one]

"You may not get them sticky," Flint said in a very firm voice.

[noonedecidesmyfate]

"Of course not," Belle said, offended. "I'm not sticky!"

She hadn't started the adventure yet. She might get sticky later.

[fears_no_one]

"All children are sticky," Flint declared.

[noonedecidesmyfate]

Belle stood up to her full height (which was not very high). "I am not sticky!"

She held out her hands towards Flint. "See? Perfectly clean! I wouldn't come looking at the books if I were sticky they might get ruined!"

[fears_no_one]

"This is correct, they would be," Flint said. "And since they are my books, I must protect them."

Flint was still slightly confused by the "people give him money, he gives them a book" concept.

[noonedecidesmyfate]

"Like treasure?" Belle asked, eyes wide. "Are the books your treasure? Like a dragon?"

Or a pirate captain maybe?

[fears_no_one]

"Exactly like a dragon," Flint said. "I'll eat little girls right up in they ruin my books."

Very normal interaction here, Flint.

[noonedecidesmyfate]

"Can you breathe fire?" Belle asked, stepping closer because that was a totally reasonable reaction to a man saying he'd eat you up.

"You'd have to be very careful not to burn your books. That would ruin them more than I ever could!"

[fears_no_one]

"I'm very careful with fire," Flint told her.

[noonedecidesmyfate]

"A dragon would have to be very good with fire," Belle said. "But you don't look like the dragons in the stories I've read."

[fears_no_one]

"Well, no one asked us what we looked like," Flint told her. "They just invented something."

[noonedecidesmyfate]

"Can you fly?" Belle wanted to know. "And what is your name mister dragon, sir? I'm Belle, from the Marchlands in the Kingdom of Misthaven."

[fears_no_one]

"Call me Flint," Flint said. "And I can fly, on occasion."

When he turned into a parrot. This stupid island.

[noonedecidesmyfate]

"Oh, like to start a fire!" Belle beamed up at him. That was a clever name and dragons were meant to be clever so clearly he really was a dragon. And it explained the hair!

"I would like to fly. It seems wondrous."

[fears_no_one]

"It's not entirely terrible," Flint agreed.