birdkiddie | First, in which Angel arrives

[The camera doesn't show anything but blue for a moment, then you see the mansion from above and a flash of something that looks like a giant dove. The camera is high up in the air, and the direction is clear. It comes from up and is headed down ...just that there is something in the way. A head, to be exact. Blond curls. The journal bounces off it and falls deeper, passing the face of a little girl that is stuck somewhere between fear, confusion, alertness and tiredness. Her eyes are hollow and smudged with purple rings, and one whole side of her face is a single bruise. And then there is only white cloth and the view of the mansion as the journal falls further and rotates.

It falls, and falls, and then you there are suddenly fingers around it and it is turned around to face the child from before. All you can see the arms that are full of burn marks and little wounds where needles have been inserted into her arms. There also is something that looks like an IV on her arm. If you look closer, you will see white feathers behind her back. Or maybe on her back.

She silently examines the journal, the little face tense, and after a few moments she switches on the audio.]

Max. Gazzy. Fang, Iggy, Nudge. Are you here?

Jeb. Was that you?

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[He blinks at her and then smiles back a little.] Yeah, okay.

Edited 2010-01-19 00:46 (UTC)

I can take care of myself. I just need help with the buttons. And the shoelaces, sometimes.

[He nods as they keep climbing. She probably can take care of herself--at least she's wary of strangers--but that doesn't mean he won't be worried or keep an eye out for her.]

If you need help, you can ask me.

[And~ they get up to the tenth floor.]

Thank you.

[Points at the next door.]

Is that one free?

I don't know. We can check.

[He goes over to the door with her and knocks. When no one answers, he opens it and looks in.]

Looks like it's free.

[She laughs and runs into the room, whirling around and the walking up to the closet, pulling the door open and peeking inside.]

How do you do this?

[He follows her over to the closet and gently pushes the door closed again.]

Think of something you want from in there. Give it a minute, then open it up and look inside.

Sometimes you have to try a couple times for it to get it right.

[She stares at the closet for a bit, the opens it and slips inside to pick up the dress that lies inside. After a few moments she just tosses it into the middle of the room and tries again. And again. In the end, there is a huge pile of dresses.]

Thi is fun!

[Gokudera watches, smiling a little. Then he remembers how Hong Kong can't get fireworks from the closets anymore and he puts out a hand to stop her from continuing.]

Don't overdo it.

[She whirls around and starts to pick up the dresses and drop them, searching for one that she wants to wear now.]

How often can I do it?

It's probably best to only do it when you need to. This place likes to mess with people, so if you ask for something too often, it might stop giving it to you.

But I need clothes.

[Slight protest in her voice.]

Yeah, but you don't need new ones every day, right? It's not like you can't re-use them.

They don't vanish the way they appeared?

Not generally, no.

...then...

[She thinks for a moment, turns to the closet and shouts]

POPCORN!

[He blinks in surprise and then laughs a little despite himself.]

There's a kitchen for that kind of stuff, y'know.

[They get showered with popcorn anyway. Angel hold out her hands, standing there a bit like a girl in the snow.]

[He can't help but be amused, which isn't a common emotion for him.]

So you think you'll be okay up here?

I will.

[She'll miss the flock, and worry about them, but this is way better than where she was before. Then, she bends down to pick up one of the dresses.]

Can you stay for a moment and help me with the buttons?

Yeah, sure.

[She slips the white gown off and the dress on in no time and then steps towards Gokudera so he can do the buttons.]

[He looks away politely while she changes, then kneels down to button the dress up for her.]

You can hang onto my sweatshirt if you need to. I can get another one easy.

[He wouldn't have needed to, she isn't used to people looking away.]

Thank you. ...Can I get another one from the closet? Maybe one with horses or puppies on it?