[open] You're lost, little girl

[petitfairy]

Date & Time: January 19th-31st
Location: The housing complex, the Hold, some random alleyways, etc.
Characters: kid!Sheryl Nome and YOU
Summary: A little girl wanders around Exsilium and gets lost a lot. Spoilers: she turns into a pop star ten years later.
Warnings: SO MUCH SAD

OPTION A: January 19th, right outside the Hold and alleyways
[Sheryl Nome is no stranger to murky skies and dark buildings towering over her like creepy monsters from nightmares; in fact, she can describe what they look like even as she closes her eyes. Lifeless, dull, dreary, unsettling. This place may not be Galaxy, but the similarities are too apparent that she might as well be at the slums by now. Heck, it even rains just like back home. To a seven-year-old girl who lived through that, it's jarring.

Clutching a newspaper over her head, she toddles around, eyes shifting from one side to the next as she appears frightened, her jaw tightly clenched. Despite how hard she's shivering and how unhealthily skinny she looked, she keeps walking across the sidewalk, trying her best to fight back tears. Dark smudges are all over her cheeks and legs, and her dress looks ragged from constant wear. Under close inspection, bruises can be seen on her knees. As for her hair, it's no longer a vibrant shade of pink — like she's been trapped in ash.

To anyone who once met her as a teenage idol singer with a confident stride, they may be able to spot similarities in appearances, mainly from the face and hairstyle. Don't mind her as she eventually bumps into someone without looking, causing her to fall on her back and yelp out loud. Shielding herself with both arms, she squirms to back away.]

Ah! I-I'm sorry...! Please don't hurt me!

OPTION B: January 20th-beyond, inside the apartment and the Hold
[After finally becoming accustomed to indoors, little Sheryl takes her time to explore her surroundings. Eyes widened, she winds up sneaking inside various rooms unsupervised, curiosity getting the best of her. As she continues with the tour, she keeps her hand pressed against her stomach, looking worried that she may not find some food on time. She doesn't have any money on hand, and she feels bad asking the people she'd already met for snacks. Additionally, she's still painfully shy around other Transports in general, fearing that she'll stumble upon a dangerous kind.

This girl may be little, but she thinks she can fend for herself for a while. No big deal, right?

Sheryl can also be seen at the training room/makeshift daycare center either A) painting some pictures, B) playing with a huge teddy bear, or C) making a mess. Bother/play with her?]

OPTION C: January 21st-beyond, wherever
[Feel free to make up any scenario! She could be wherever your character is located.]

(OOC: Action or prose is fine by me!)

Comments

[lepetitvoleur]

_{( Remy just nods, at that, taking her very seriously. The smile shifts to something neutrally pleasant, and he keeps his hands out, palms up, as if to prove he means her no harm. )}

Y'could go inside. It's dry in there, too.

[petitfairy]

[She forms an "O" shape with her lips as though she understands his gesture, then turns her head to look around, still fidgeting but not as much as before.]

I can?

[She gathers her arms to hug herself, both hands rubbing against her forearms in an attempt to warm them up.]

Someone told me about a place I could go to. It's called, umm... [Think Sheryl, think!] a Transport place, I think.

[lepetitvoleur]

C'est vrai--that's right. _{( He smiles at her, again, and then gestures back towards the Hold. )}

Could prob'ly even get something ta eat there, if you want. _{( He tilts his head, as though noticing that she's trying to warm up, and then sheds the coat he's wearing over his clothes and holds it out to her with one hand. )}

[petitfairy]

[Was that French she heard just now? The phrase may be short, but it's surprisingly poignant to her, a faint reminder of her parents who taught her to speak the language. With that, Sheryl blinks rapidly to prevent tears from spilling out, then immediately rubs her eyes so Remy won't have to see her cry.]

I'll be okay! I just need to find somewhere warm, that place I said earlier, so...

[She simply trails off once she sees the jacket in his hand, frowning a little as she finally takes closer steps towards him.]

Won't you be cold?

[lepetitvoleur]

_{( He gives her a look, like he doesn't believe she'll be alright on her own, but doesn't say anything. Instead, he just shakes his head vigorously at her question. )}

'Course not. It's alright, petite, I wouldn't offer if I needed it m'self.

[petitfairy]

[A moment of hesitation later, Sheryl stretches her arms and grabs on to the jacket, draping it over her shoulders. A word is right at the tip of her tongue, feeling self-conscious, but she thinks it's better left said. So in a soft, quiet tone, she manages to murmur it out.]

Merci.

[lepetitvoleur]

Pas de quoi.

_{( The response comes automatically, but he's grinning. He doesn't know if he should push things, because she seems so skittish, but eventually he decides to add: )}

My name's Remy. What's yours?

[petitfairy]

[Just as automatic is the tiny smile that now appears on Sheryl's face, and with a slight dip of her head, bashful as usual:]

Sheryl. Um, it's nice to meet you.

[lepetitvoleur]

The pleasure is all mine. _{( Another dip of his head, there. )}

Y'know, if you're goin' inside, I could escort you.

[petitfairy]

Really? I don't mind...

[She tilts her head for a second before pointing at the building nearby.]

Is this where we're going?

[lepetitvoleur]

That's right. _{( A vigorous nod, and then he holds out a hand. )}

Shall we, mam'selle?

[petitfairy]

[Slowly, she stretches her hand and carefully holds on to his with a light grip.]

Okay. [A nervous smile appears before nodding.] Then let's go inside.

[lepetitvoleur]

Anything'll be better than the rain, no?

_{( He holds her hand with a gentle but solid touch, leading in such a way that he's at her side instead of in front of her. )}