( closed ) i don't give a damn 'bout my reputation

[quivers]

Who: kate bishop & baby laura
Where: trashy parts of town
When: early morning 5/27
What: laura has trash duty and kate's a supportive roommate.
Warnings: probably an angry child
[Closed]

[ She shields her eyes as she peeks to the sun, squinting as the bright beam blinds her momentarily. It's hot out, but with the usual wet weather of the month, this makes for a nice change. Kate preferred the sun to the rain anyway, or at least that's how she remembers it.

A hand gloved in plastic reaches down to pick up another crumpled napkin, tossing it into the bag dragged along the gravel as she glances to her side. Down to her side, really, since her company is a lot smaller than she's used to. Though with Laura, it's easy to forget she's a child. ]

It's not that bad. People here are so prissy about keeping things clean that they pretty much gave you a free pass here.

[ Says the girl who chose to do this voluntarily. ]

Comments

[shoplifter]

[She gives Kate such a look, like — don't you make me lump you with them. But it's a relatively harmless bit of sass as she reaches down to pick up a cup. Maybe someone had a party over here, because it's a little worse off than the rest of this damned town. Better than wandering and finding trash piles, Kate's right.

Meanwhile, Laura may or may not be looking at her knuckles, considering something.

Probably something unorthodox in trash cleaning methods.]

They're afraid of us being ourselves.

[quivers]

[ She's used to that look. Because it's everyone's look back in their house, as if innate bitterness coursed through the very pipes of that building. Kate's done alright so far, she thinks, since she doesn't naturally scowl in response to everything. Not yet, anyway.

The comment had been an attempt to make Laura feel better, but she's not disappointed when it fails since it was a long shot anyway.

Laura does succeed at getting Kate's attention though, who pauses in her step at the statement. The taller girl frowns, gloved thumb scratching at her chin. ]

And you're sure you know who that is? [ It's almost a question more for herself. Things had been weird lately, really weird, to the point that certain things stopped making sense. Things that should be normal like her hobbies, her habits, her family. But that's the sort of thing she shouldn't be asking. Especially not out loud.

Quickly, she adds, with a shrug, trying to play it off as a casual conversation. One that obviously isn't. ] I mean, for your age. I had no idea when I was a kid.

[shoplifter]

[She considers the question for a moment.

Everything asked of her, it seems she always gives it her full intensity.]

I know the me I know... is not the me the town tells me.

I do not belong with -- the other children.

[They may be watching, may find another thing to pin on her, but she doesn't care much.]

[quivers]

[ That statement speaks to her far more than it probably should. The me I know is not the me the town tells me. She's felt it too, like a swelling at her very core. Things not feeling right here, not feeling right there. A constant pecking of emotions that gave rise to more questions than answers.

She steps closer to Laura, squatting down to level herself better with her. ]

I think we're natural rebels, you and I. [ Except Laura was probably smarter than her. Braver. She felt like she might've been brave once. She tries to be careful with her words. ] The kind that ... don't fit.

[shoplifter]

[Laura smiles thinly; it's a rare thing, a Laura smile, and it doesn't last long, but it's there.]

The kind that... pick up trash.

[quivers]

[ It's small, but she sees it. And that in itself prompts Kate's own smile, much wider and obvious than Laura's, in her own shameless sort of way. ]

Speaking of trash — [ She squats down, raising a mischievous brow. ] Did they tell you specifically where to dump all of this when you were done?

[shoplifter]

[............. Oh, oh you sneaky snake.

Look at the assholish smile that spreads across her face.]

... They just said to pick it up.

[quivers]

[ It sure is good to have someone on the same wavelength as her. Even if that someone is several feet shorter. That's fine.

Kate holds her grin, straightening herself as she shrugs. ]

Guess we're gonna just have to drop this off where it belongs, right? [ wink wink ] Ready?

[shoplifter]

[She gives the most certain head nod of all head nods, holding the bags up with sinister intention.

Hell yeah, she is.]