[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

[petitfairy]

[Speaking of the weapons room, Sheryl happens to stop just a few feet away from that area, tilting her head from one to the next in awe. As someone who likes to explore her surroundings, she's very tempted to head inside, eyes widening in sheer wonder at the length. In fact, she starts to take her small steps towards the room, one foot already over the boundaries...

Only for her to be suddenly coaxed away from the room and towards the daycare center, various screams and laughter slowly filling her ears. Sheryl quickly tilts her head up at the man, a look of bafflement all over her face. Just like typical behavior of a possibly too curious child, she pouts.]

H-Hey...! I was just exploring.

[strategic_guile]

[Blaine gives her a warm smile. Oh, he knows how children's 'exploring' goes. She was a few years younger than his own son, but he was by no means swayed into thinking she would get into any less trouble.]

I know. There were a lot of things in that room, right? But those things are too big for you to handle right now.

[Which was technically true for just about everything in that room. Her hands were too small to hold anything but the smallest of weapons, and he wasn't about to start teaching her how to handle throwing knives or anything, even if he knew how to properly use them himself.]

[petitfairy]

[Don't mind Sheryl as she eyes Blaine owlishly with a slight cant of her head. She's very curious! Perhaps too much so...]

What do you mean too big?

[Oh. That's when she glances at the large swords and knives hung on the wall. They sure look dangerous for a young girl who never saw them before, and she gulps a little at the image, curling her fingers together with a slight nod of her head.]

M-Maybe I should stay away from those things...

[strategic_guile]

[He gives her a soft smile and offers his hand to her.] For now. If you want to try when you're older, it would be okay as long as someone taught you. It's always good to know how to defend yourself.

[petitfairy]

[A faint smile appears in her face, a hint of nervousness at that as well, and she takes his hand in a gently grip. She's been here long enough not to feel so withdrawn anymore.]

Defend myself? I'd like to learn that someday.

[She's very tiny, after all.]

[strategic_guile]

[He gives the small hand an encouraging squeeze as they walk.] When you get older, if you're still here, I can teach you. My name is Blaine. What's yours?

[petitfairy]

[She shifts her gaze upon the daycare center, then back at him, her free hand toying on her dress.]

Sheryl. [Bowing her head down, she murmurs softly.] Um, it's nice to meet you.

[strategic_guile]

[He lets her hand slip from his and crouches down.] It's good to meet you, too, Sheryl.

[He gives her a warm smile.] Make sure you behave.