<> <> <> (Tell me when I do stuff?) <> "Hello, me dearie, how is ye today?" <> * Rochelle looks up at her, pulling the phones from her ears. "Oh, hey Mad. Not hungover, which is pretty good. How're you?" "I'm just fine, me dearie, jes fine. But yer a'missin' the prime beggin' hours, before all the attendees get drunk, see?" "What say ye and me go down to the corner of Clinton and 67th, park our bums and be watchin' traffic?" * Rochelle blinks, then digs in her pocket for her watch - the band's broken. "Oh, yeah." She pauses, tilts her head, then nods. "Sure. It's not like I was doing anything anyway." She stops her player and sets it aside. <> * Rochelle snatches her jacket and climbs out her box. <> * Rochelle stretches, looking around. <> <> * Rochelle smiles a little and waves back. <> Everyone's in a good mood today. <> <> "Aye, Sangria-Beltane's infective. Everything seems brighter, and everyone's more generous." * Rochelle nods, almost absently. "Yeah, I think I get it." <> * Rochelle grins, despite herself. Something's going to happen. "Aaah, years and years they've held this, and I never get tired of it. Makes me feel like a little girl, it does!" Really? Didja go to every one? "Aye, never missed one. The best candy in the world, it had. And prob'ly still has!" * Rochelle pulls her windbreaker around herself. "Maybe you can get some tonight." <> "Aye, if I get a credit or two, I just might. Pity I ha' not more teeth to chew it with, eh? Eh?" <> * Rochelle ignores the cackling. "Y'could get hard candy." "Aye, aye." * Rochelle brushes her bangs out of her face. "How 'bout, if I get enough, I'll buy you some. It can be... a present, or somethin'." <> <> * Rochelle scans the people. A setting sun is no problem for her. "Oh, how lovely. Such a nice girlie, ye are." <> Yeah, I guess so. <> <> "There's MAGIC in that smell, lassie." * Rochelle looks over at Hettie with a small smile, not caring about the people shoving her aside. "Yeah, there is. It's too bad this has to end." A tiny thought occurs to her: how easy it would be for someone to pick her pocket like this... if she had anything worth taking besides a partially broken watch. <> "Aye, perfect spot." * Rochelle removes her jacket, placing it next to Hettie, and has a seat. She looks down at her hands, then presses them against her pockets. "I... oh, damn." "Forgot your hat, dearie? Hold on, I might have a bit." <> "Right!" <> * Rochelle looks thoroughly embarrassed as she accepts it and places it next to her. "Thanks, Mad." (*snicker* That's the downside.) * Rochelle closes her eyes and takes a deep breath, fingers drumming on her knee. <> * Rochelle opens them, glances at her cap, and tries to relax. She leans back against the wall and looks to the moon. <> * Rochelle flicks her eyes to him when that happens, and can't turn away. She just stares. Her mouth begins to move, and she stops herself before she could finish. <> * Rochelle surreptitiously slips credits from her hat into her pocket when it gets a little too full. She glances down at Hettie. <> <> * Rochelle watches him walk. She considers getting to her feet, but he's swallowed before she can put thought to action. <> * Rochelle shakes her head. "This is..." She digs in her pocket and produces a stub of a pencil and a small pad of paper, and starts jotting down brief descriptions of each of them. <> * Rochelle adds Kat at the bottom, and glances down at her cap. She makes another money transfer, starts to get to her feet, and pauses. She sits back down. <> (So it's like Roch is seeing *through* the crowd? They're not next to her or anything.) (No. It's breaks in the people that allow you to see deeper into the throng. Savvy?) (*thumbs up* Gotcha.) * Rochelle picks up the pad in almost a daze, scrawling her down. <> * Rochelle blinks. <> "Good pickin's, innit, dearie?" * Rochelle rubs the right side of her head with one hand, smoothly sliding the pad out of Hettie's sight with the other. "Yeah, it is. I guess I can get you some candy after all." <> * Rochelle chuckles a little, picking the pad up and adding the latest gentlemen, along with the words: What I want to know is, if they're so important and see me, why don't they get it over with and give me money? * Rochelle flips the page and starts a horribly pointless game of dots with herself while still skimming the crowd. <> <> * Rochelle blinks, but doesn't show surprise out of that. She closes the pad and tucks it away, along with her pencil. (They're all together, then?) (Yup.) <> "So, Rochelle, you're our last stop tonight. How are things?" * Rochelle looks at the boy. "How do you know me?" she asks, in a mildly curious tone. "I know a lot of people, Rochelle, and you're one of the more important ones. I bet you've seen them all tonight, haven't you?" Them? I'm not sure who you're talking about. It's Sangria-Beltane and all. "Oh, you'd have noticed these, I'm sure. They'd have stood out, so to speak, kind of like I and my friends do." <> * Rochelle 's eyes widen before she settles into an easy smile. "Maybe. Who are you?" "Call me Anders, but don't tell the others, they'll learn in due time." <> "For see, you'll be seeing them soon, too." <> * Rochelle stares, and this time she makes no effort to really hide her surprise. She reaches out to touch the mirror, then pulls her hand back. "I can keep a secret. What do you want?" <> "Attend this auction. Your table number is on the card, and they'll let you in with no fuss." <> "That's all." * Rochelle takes the card. "I'll see you later." It's not really a question. "You most certainly will." <> * Rochelle watches them go, then looks down at her card, flipping it over in her hands. <> "Eh? What'd I miss, dearie... oh, my!" <> * Rochelle blinks. "What?" She looks up at Hettie. * Rochelle follows the pointing finger to the chit, picking it up. "Holy shit!" "Now, dearie, didn't I say it was the best spot?" * Rochelle closes her hand around the chit. "Yeah, you did. I'm never doubtin' you again." <> <>