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Post by Nance Sikes on Jan 5, 2009 16:40:26 GMT -5
*Nance ducked out of a doorway, re-arranging her clothes as she dashed after a lumbering dockworker who'd preceded her.*
"Oy! I said ten! You agreed!"
"And you were complete shit," *spat the man.*
"TEN!" *she demanded, grabbing his arm, her eyes near-black with fury.*
"Leave me alone or I'll take back the five I was good enough to give you and have had you for nothing, you filthy hussy."
"Why you--!"
*Nance beat her scrawny fists against his chest, managing to sink her teeth into his wrist as he tried to hold her off. He gave a roar and hurled her against the cobblestones. She lay stunned, the wind knocked out of her by the fall, and could scarcely draw breath, much less fend the man off as he deprived her of the five francs he'd given her before, prying them from her curled fingers.*
"N-no..." *she gasped weakly.*
"And let that--be a lesson to you," *he snarled, landing a heavy kick in her ribs before he sauntered off once more. Nance desperately sucked in a breath before pain overwhelmed her and she lost all consciousness.*
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Donavan
- Ingenious Pilot -
The eyes are the windows to the soul.
Posts: 229
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Post by Donavan on Jan 5, 2009 16:46:51 GMT -5
*Donavan had ducked outside to catch his breath. Montmarte was a good place to gain recognition as an artist, but there was a general unsavoriness about its patrons that smothered him readily. He hadn't seen the altercation, only the crumpled shadow of a girl a bit further down from him. Cautiously he headed towards her. Realizing that she was in pain, he picked up his speed and was at her side before he was able to recognize her, bruises starting to color her skin.*
"Miss...are you...is there anything I can do?" *He offered gently, holding his hand out to her, testing the waters between them before touching her.*
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Post by Nance Sikes on Jan 5, 2009 16:52:25 GMT -5
*Vaguely, Nance remembered the boy, and something in her chest tightened, though her vision was still blurred and his voice seemed faint over the pounding in her head. She drew a wheezing breath, coughed, and whispered.*
"No."
I'm fine. I don't need any help. Not from anyone. This will pass.
*Nance regained more consciousness, though her pain became more excruciating than the numbing ache it had been when she first woke at the sound of his voice. She tasted blood, and angry tears gathered in her eyes.*
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Donavan
- Ingenious Pilot -
The eyes are the windows to the soul.
Posts: 229
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Post by Donavan on Jan 5, 2009 17:11:11 GMT -5
*Only then did he recognize her and his posture softened.*
"Hey now..." *He offered soothingly.* "It's all right. About before. But...you really should have a doctor look at you. I'll take you...if you'll let me." *The hint of a supportive smile peeked in the corner of his mouth.*
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Post by Nance Sikes on Jan 5, 2009 17:15:06 GMT -5
*She shook her head weakly, pushing at the ground as she tried to sit up.*
"No doctor would see me. Please--"
*She wiped away her tears, wincing with the motion but her expression falling back into a cold and emotionless stare.*
"...do not trouble yourself."
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Donavan
- Ingenious Pilot -
The eyes are the windows to the soul.
Posts: 229
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Post by Donavan on Jan 5, 2009 17:20:01 GMT -5
*Donavan sighed softly, rocking back on his heels as he crouched near her. She was so...perplexing. It exasperated him into blatant honesty.*
"Why are you so determined to not let me help you? What did I ever do to earn your scorn?"
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Post by Nance Sikes on Jan 5, 2009 17:21:53 GMT -5
*Nance's brow furrowed.*
"No one ever helps me. Not for free."
*She managed to get to her feet, cradling her arms close to her body, half-hugging herself gingerly as she stooped like a bent old woman, her posture twisted with the pain rocketing through her ribcage with every heartbeat, every breath.*
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Donavan
- Ingenious Pilot -
The eyes are the windows to the soul.
Posts: 229
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Post by Donavan on Jan 5, 2009 17:31:16 GMT -5
*Donavan pursed his lips briefly, his eyes gentle before he offered out his hand, as if in introduction.*
"Then I guess that makes me 'no one'." *His pale eyes employed her, take a chance, just this once.*
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Post by Nance Sikes on Jan 5, 2009 17:36:21 GMT -5
*Her eyes locked with his, and her breath hitched painfully in her side.*
What harm could it do? How much worse could the day become?
*The tip of her tongue found the tender split in her lower lip, tanging of blood.
Life...death...did it matter anymore, when there was so much pain and fear in living?
Her hand twitched as she extended it, trembling visibly before it seemed to fall like a leaf into his grasp.*
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Donavan
- Ingenious Pilot -
The eyes are the windows to the soul.
Posts: 229
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Post by Donavan on Jan 5, 2009 17:54:43 GMT -5
*It was a big step and Donavan wanted to show her it was not in vain. His hand was gentle but firm, supporting her as he tried to help her up.*
"Can you walk? Or do you need me to carry you?" *He queried gently.*
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Post by Nance Sikes on Jan 5, 2009 17:57:49 GMT -5
"I can--I can walk. Slowly, but I can," *she said through gritted teeth, determined to hold back, though she had already given up so much in trusting this man.*
Dear God, what am I doing?
*She pushed the thought away, trying not to think about anything for the moment but putting one foot in front of the other.*
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Donavan
- Ingenious Pilot -
The eyes are the windows to the soul.
Posts: 229
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Post by Donavan on Jan 5, 2009 18:14:17 GMT -5
"Here then..." *Donavan started, helping her slowly to the street.*
"Let me call a cab."
*He lifted his hand, even as he was calculating the coin in his new purse. It would be enough. It had to be.*
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Post by Nance Sikes on Jan 5, 2009 18:28:47 GMT -5
"No...no, that's too much...I can't repay you...anything. H-he..."
*She shrugged.*
"He took my money."
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Donavan
- Ingenious Pilot -
The eyes are the windows to the soul.
Posts: 229
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Post by Donavan on Jan 5, 2009 18:41:29 GMT -5
*Donavan shook his head as the hansom pulled up.*
"Please, it's really quite all right." *He opened the door and offered a hand to help her up.*
"There's no reason to be aggravating any damage that brute might have done. Best to see you there in short order."
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Post by Nance Sikes on Jan 6, 2009 3:37:54 GMT -5
"Where--where are you taking me?" *she asked, already in the carriage before the familiar creeping fear took hold of her heart. Too late now--and she wondered whether to scream or not.*
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