Boonapping! Home Team

[wheatencrown]

Cruella is not moving anywhere unless they say and she is surrounded on all sides by people who care about Boo-AndrAIa, Enzo, Coreen and Demeter herself.

Comments

[obsessedwithfur.livejournal.com]

He frowns and shakes his head.
"We didn't do that. We didn't get the job till after that."

[wheatencrown]

"Child, your Boss cannot know what is happening here unless you tell him for he is not All Seeing."

[coreenfennel.livejournal.com]

"And if you help us out, I'm sure we can find suitable means to help you out."

[notascreensaver]

She nods at Coreen's statement, releasing her hold Shorty. It's not like he's going anywhere in a hurry, right?

"That's right, Kiddo; you scratch our backs, we scratch yours."

Slowly, she crouches down to Shorty's level as best she can with the thorns in the way.

"What did Cruella tell you about this place?"

[wheatencrown]

As they talk, Demeter whispers to the thorns and they subside and then disappear since the boy doesn't appear to be as much of a danger as Cruella.

[obsessedwithfur.livejournal.com]

He turns toward Demeter and nods.
"Thank ya kindly, ma'am."

He looks at his feet thoughtfully.
"In da briefing she said the closet went to someplace else. That was where the girl came from and where people would be comin to get her from. The Boss wanted me to go through 'n keep an eye on the lady - make sure we didn't lose our payday.
Den she said there'd be weird people here, sayin all sorts of things, but they wouldn't be hurtin me since I look so young. I'm use'ta knowin how'ta deal with people and The Boss knew I'd be good at playin the part. 's all."

[notascreensaver]

AndrAIa listens to all this patiently, nodding when appropriate.

"From what I can tell, you're a smart kid, Shorty, you shouldn't be mixed up in any of this business."

She stops her hand mid-motion from giving the kid's hat and hair an affectionate tussle.

"How'd you end up in all this in the first place?"

[obsessedwithfur.livejournal.com]

"The Boss found me when I's livin on the street." Shorty's lookin past AndrAIa now, his voice rougher and quieter than it was a minute ago. "Guess he saw somethin in me.. he took me in. I hadn't had a good meal in months when he found me. Hadn't.."

There's a pause then until Shorty remembers there are other people around. He glances back at AndrAIa and continues.
"I didn't know his business til after."

[notascreensaver]

The Game sprite gives Shorty's shoulder a gentle squeeze along with a soft, understanding smile.

"You did what you had to in order to survive. I've been there, I understand."

[obsessedwithfur.livejournal.com]

He shrugs and his voice and posturing become more Tough Guy.

"It's what it is. Ain't no big thang."

[a1enzo]

Enzo's anger has pretty much drained, hearing this.

"Sorry, man," he says, although he knows it's wholly inadequate. "You don't have to keep doing it, though. There's all kinds of other ways..."

[obsessedwithfur.livejournal.com]

Shorty looks at Enzo uncertainly.

"What'cha talkin about?"

[a1enzo]

"Well, my girlfriend... didn't have anywhere, either. So she lived here. For two years, 'til she found a family."

Of course, she was specifically hiding from someone, and her 'new' family was pretty much guaranteed. But it's just an example.

[notascreensaver]

"A friend of mine was in a bad place back in her world. After being here a while, she decided to move to another. She's much happier there."

Beat.

"This place is connected to hundreds of worlds," she elaborates. "Yours isn't the only one and if you want a new start, all you have to do is ask."

[obsessedwithfur.livejournal.com]

Shorty laughs - a harsh sound.

"I can't make it in my own world. Sendin me in another won't be any better."

[notascreensaver]

AndrAIa shares a quick look with her brother-in-law.

"Well...if you don't mind cars and motorbikes, and being digital, I could always use an extra hand back home at my shop. Feel up for trying that out?"

[a1enzo]

"My sister runs the whole city," Enzo puts in. "If she says you get a home, you get a home."

[obsessedwithfur.livejournal.com]

Shorty looks from one to the other, uncertainty all over his face.
"I..don't know.."

[notascreensaver]

Shorty's shoulder gets another squeeze from AndrAIa.

"You don't have to stay there if you don't like it. Just...try it out for a while?"

[obsessedwithfur.livejournal.com]

Shorty shakes his head and takes a step back with his hands raised.
"Look, guys, you're bein all kind of nice and all, but I'm not from a third world country or nothin. I don't need savin!"

[a1enzo]

"You'll be missing out, dude," Enzo declares, and, leaning closer, informs Shorty in a whisper, "She always dresses like that. Just sayin'."

[notascreensaver]

If AndrAIa heard Enzo's whispered words, she gives no sign of having done so.

"I'm not saying you do, Shorty, we're just offering you a place to stay if you wanted out and needed someplace to start fresh."

[obsessedwithfur.livejournal.com]

Shorty takes off his cap and runs his fingers through his really long hair.

"I'm not goin back t'how it was.

I'm not!." He's lookin at them as if daring them to disagree.

[a1enzo]

"Duh! She's offering you a job, dude! We're trying to help, not make it worse."

[notascreensaver]

"Enzo, hush," she interjects with an exasperated tone.

Using a much softer tone now, she turns her attention back to Shorty.

"No one's saying you have to go back to how it was, sweetheart. You'll have a good, honest job, a roof over your head and people looking out for your well being."

Beat.

"I know what you have back with that Boss of yours is what you know, but why don't you give us a chance?"