estdeus_innobis | Hey look out for that movin' van...

Sunday, early afternoon, February 7 Main Street, and then in the Whitechapel Inn I pulled my hood up around my face as the afternoon wind blustered. Dragging my trunk behind me, I squinted around. Vision had never quite been my strong suit, but of course Pa had seen to it that I hadn't had cause for super-sharp eyes. The town seemed to be a bit deserted, shops seemed open but not many people were out buying. I frowned. It was a Sunday, wasn't it? Didn't town folk go out and buy pretty things on Sundays 'stead of going to church? Ma had made me swore not to slack on my religious obligations but I could already see that going to have a tea at, what was it called, the Dormouse, would be tons more interesting than reading my red leather book. Now, where was this place? The Whitechapel Inn. Ma had told me that Whitechapel was the name of a sleazy part of London before the disaster, but the inn was decked out proper, and to ask for the Vicomte when I got there. Valmont, his name was. Well, May (that's my sister, she's left at home 'cause she's a bit too much of a whipper-snapper to come with me) said that he was probably loads more good looking than Pa or our neighbor from five miles down the lane, Mr. Tarny, because he was a Vicomte and we have to capitalize his name and that I should write her and let her know right quick after meeting him and tell her everything about him, especially if he's married. I've a hunch that May wants the Vicomte to play the lead in her dizzying fantasies, which is just how May is. Haven't ever been one for all that pink-colored fluff, myself. I don't even really like talking to people if I can help it but Pa says that since I'm set up to be a waitress I'd better learn quick. My trunk's getting heavy and I just want to find the place already, I've been walking all day. Finally, a few store fronts down, I spot it, and I speed up. Tossing myself inside, I take a deep breath for a minute and straight my shoulders. Can't have me lookin' like a vagabond when I've come here for work, now can I?

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Meant ta come by an' talk ta Miss Marsh, see how she's doin'. Understand she's bin steppin' out with the Heuer, an' thought I'd... well, guess I thought I'd ask, an' see how the family was holdin' up. What with Heuer--Karl, I mean, not Frederick that she's seein'--still gettin' over havin' his skull cracked by Thiess.

Thinkin' maybe I might ask Stoner or Granger ta keep an eye on the mood a' the bar, too. Things have bin feeling like they're ready ta get a bit ugly, like findin' a wasp's nest in the middle of a hay bale.

I swear ta Christ the Carpenter, I think I coulda saved so much trouble by not trustin' the Beddau woman. God pounds his nails, okay. Don't think there's anything about her bein' required ta go around yankin' them half out and leavin' them crooked ta boot. Shoulda locked her up. But she went down Silk Road lookin' a bloody mess, and that bad wasp feeling would flare up at the idea of lockin' up a scared townie woman when Donner hasn't bin tried yet...

Hell. I don't like any of this. Mab said she wasn't a flight risk and she came by ta give a statement this morning, but I still--

And I am so wrapped up in all this that I damn near walk right into the young lady standin' right inside the door. Do a quick two-step and manage ta not trip inta her.

"I'm sorry, miss," I say, reaching up to touch-- Dammit. Lost my hat runnin' drunks home last night (don't wanna lock 'em up near Donner right now unless I have to), and haven't found the damn thing yet. Something's probably dragged it off to nest in, and if I'm lucky it's a bird. "Didn't see you there--I was kinda wool-gatherin', an' I am sorry." Hold out my hand. "'m Deputy Hollow. Welcome to Excolo."

I start at the door opening and swing around to see a tall, rough-looking man reach up and touch his, well, I guess he'd be touching his hat if he had one, but it's just soft blonde hair up there, and he looks a bit embarrassed about it. Man needs a new hat, I'd venture, and of course there must be someone in town who makes 'em, right?

"I'm sorry, miss," he says, and I blush. Miss? Ain't nobody's ever called me "miss." Makes me feel all gooey inside, which is new and not a bad feeling. "Didn't see you there--I was kinda wool-gatherin', an' I am sorry." He holds out his hand, like a proper gent should, and I can't contain a smile. Even though he seems rough, he's also kind, which is funny. "'m Deputy Hollow. Welcome to Excolo."

I blink at him in the half-light of the place, of course it's dim light with all the clouds hanging 'round. "Deputy?" I ask. I grin a bit. "If you're a deputy, where's your hat? Don't all deputies and men of the law have to wear hats, don't it say somewhere in the rulebook?" Maybe I can help him look for a new hat, I think. After I get lodging somewhere, of course.

"Say, do you know if I can perhaps take a room here? Only I'm looking for work and it'd be just swell to have a room to come back to at night, after I've done my searches, like." Deputy Hollow makes me feel safe, he's a lawman after all, he should.

"Deputy?" she says, smiling a bit. "If you're a deputy, where's your hat? Don't all deputies and men of the law have to wear hats, don't it say somewhere in the rulebook?"

"'fraid I seem ta have misplaced mine, miss," I say, smilin' apologetically. Somehow while I was pullin' apart a coupla rowdy drunks in the street out here last night is not seemin' a good piece of information ta add. "Happens more often than I'd like, but Ma-- the Sheriff's pretty good about not requirin' it."

"Say, do you know if I can perhaps take a room here?" she says, then explains, "Only I'm looking for work and it'd be just swell to have a room to come back to at night, after I've done my searches, like."

"You should be able to, miss," I say. "Mister Laclos rents them, an' I'm guessin' that someone headin' out after market may've left one free. There's other places, too, if you're plannin' on settlin' in an' want more'n a room later." Sentinel House (http://community.livejournal.com/excolo_ooc/1081234.html#sentinel%20house) an' the Hastur buildin' (http://community.livejournal.com/excolo_ooc/1087466.html#hastur%20house), at least... "C'n I ask why you came ta Excolo?" I ask politely.

I smile wider at him as he explains that he's lost his hat, and that the Sherriff doesn't mind so much if he doesn't have one. That settles it, then, we're going to go find him a proper hat when he's got a free moment. One word sounds like "Ma"-- is his ma the sherriff, then? Ain't never heard of a woman runnin' a town, but I'm sure it could happen, and why not, if she does a good job and all? 'Course, I'm too shy to ask him that, so I just twirl a strand of hair 'round my fingers and listen to what he's got to say about the rooms. It'd sure be nice to have somewhere to rest my head.

"Where does Mister Laclos live?" I ask. "All I know is that I'm meant to go to the Whitechapel Inn, Pa said that they'd most likely have a room for me."

I take a breath when he asks me why I came to Excolo. "Just wanted to get out and make somethin' of myself, like," I say, dropping the strand of hair from my fingers. "I've got a sister and she's real sweet, but a bit fluffy in the head, so Ma and Pa are keepin' her 'round the farm for another year or two so she can get some sense in her head. I was hopin' to waitress at a restaurant, make some good money there, an' then maybe sell my knitted things." I pull my latest creation out of my bag, a bright orange and red scarf from the family sheep Dina. "This'll keep you mighty warm come winter." I smile; it's a well made scarf, with good heat in.

"I've never met a Deputy before," I say. "Do you like bein' a Deputy?"

"Where does Mister Laclos live?" she says. "All I know is that I'm meant to go to the Whitechapel Inn, Pa said that they'd most likely have a room for me." Kinda wish her folks had told her a bit more, but what she has heard's pretty sound.

"Mister Laclos lives here at the Inn," I say, "but I ain't sure he's up yet; you c'n talk ta Miss Butler (http://community.livejournal.com/excolo_ooc/1087466.html#whitechapel%20inn) 'bout rentin' a room, though." I imagine she'll be 'round shortly enough.

Explains she just wanted ta get out and grow up, and I understand. "I was hopin' to waitress at a restaurant, make some good money there, an' then maybe sell my knitted things," she says, pulling out a scarf that's all harvest colours. "This'll keep you mighty warm come winter."

"Might could do well with that," I acknowledge, dipping my head. "There's a market in town Saturdays. Even if you ain't sure 'bout settin' up a stall, you could maybe share space with one a' the other people."

"I've never met a Deputy before," she says, smilin' up at me. "Do you like bein' a Deputy?" an' I can't help but grin.

"Very much, miss," I say. "Sheriff Devarn was kind enough ta take me on when I came ta town. It's decent work." Best work I could have, really.

I light up when I hear that there's a market in town on Saturdays. "It's good to know!" I say excitedly. "I'll have to seek out some people who'll be workin' and see if I can, I dunno, trade space with 'em or somethin'."

He grins at me when he says that he likes bein' a Deputy and I smile back. It's good when someone likes their job, it's what I came to town to be able to do. "I don't wanna take up too much of your time then," I say. "But please stop down the market if you get a moment or two some Saturday, I'd be quite pleased to see you." Dropping him a quick curtsy, I walk off towards the Inn's front door, humming.

Hey look out for that movin' van...

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