[ Action, Video, and Voice! ] Good Golly, Miss Molly .001

[talentsgirl]

[Molly woke up on her side, in pain, and cold.

That's strange. I wasn't asleep a moment ago. Was I?

Also, her brain felt fuzzy. That wouldn't do. Deep breaths, Molly, and she remained still and safe for a moment - movement was a tell, and until she had her focus back she wasn't going to do anything until she was sure she could hide. Then slowly, Molly sat up.]

Woah.

[She was on top of a tree house. In what looked like a tree village, no less. And where the heck were her clothes?]

Let me guess. I'm not in Kansas anymore.

[Molly twisted around to try to see the source of pain on her back, only for bright pink to meet her eye - a single pink wing! With a blue one to match. Oh. Hahahahahaha, this must be a dream. She gave a light tug on one of her wings and the dull pain turned into a shooting one which made her grit her teeth against the sudden flare behind her eyes. OK, girl. The wings stay on. And if this was an illusion, it was a hell of one to sustain that much pain. She glanced around, found, and opened the journal.

Huh.]

...a magic book with my name on it. That's not at all suspicious. Well, I guess I'm already through the looking glass...

Hello, in the book! I'm looking for a white rabbit, he was supposed to give me the time. Or maybe the place? Either way, I'm late for an important date.

[No time to say hello, goodbye... either way, she couldn't sit around waiting for the magic book to talk back. Magic didn't work that way. And it was still here, she could feel it humming but... faint. And very much like it was through a looking glass. Strange.

Either way, she wasn't one to just sit around in a tower - or a treehouse - and wait to be rescued. She held the book carefully opened by inserting one finger in it and closing the book around it in case of a response, not knowing that flashes of video could escape through it as well, and began to make her way down as best as she could in a dress entirely too short for her long legs and thin enough to hint at just how low the thorn tattoo starting high at her neckline curved down. Time to wander the forest in hope of... something. Some kind of clue or direction.]

[Part the Second: Or if you'd rather not rescue/inform a New Feather]

[Clothed in jeans a light jacket, and boots, one tall young lady is poking about all the shops in the square. Maybe you'll run into her there?]

Comments

[ action ]

[greenjacketed]

You were in trouble. From the elements. From this odd place. He scowled a little and sought the pommel of his sword for some sort of reassurance. Just resting his palm on it. That's all.

"Miss Molly, then."

[ action ]

[talentsgirl]

She gave him a look that signaled she wasn't done talking to him about that 'miss' moniker, but she wasn't about to argue nonsense with a man who had his hand on the hilt of his sword who wasn't her father. She recognizes that tell - familiarity, reassurance, readiness.

Okay, to business, then. "So there's a village somewhere near? Would you mind if I borrowed your coat until I get some more decent clothes?"

[ action ]

[greenjacketed]

"I wouldn't have it another way."

He turned to face the direction he'd come from. "As long as you wouldn't mind the company."

[ action ]

[talentsgirl]

"Not at all," she smiled at him. "Just - excuse me for a moment, will you?"

And then she turned around, giving him her back. There wasn't a lot of this dress to rip, but it was made of fairly flimsy material and Molly was a strong girl.

At least, the hemline was just a few inches short of decent on the Charity Carpenter scale. It would be a few inches short of decent on the Molly Carpenter scale by the time she was done, but she'd have strips that she could tie around her feet for however long the walk back to the village was. And when she was done, she could just button up his coat.

And so the sound of ripping material filled the forest.

[ action ]

[greenjacketed]

He craned his neck a moment. Curious -- and free to exhibit curiousity outside of her sight.

But then came the noise. "Bloody hell, woman. What are you up to?" The sound of it shocked him straight out of his decorum.

[ action ]

[talentsgirl]

"I'm going to make socks," her tone is perfectly matter-of-fact. "Or - moccasins, or whatever wrapping strips of cloth around my feet should be called. Don't worry, I'm not using your coat."

There's no way her feet wouldn't be a bloody, bruised mess after five minutes of walking on a forest floor, otherwise. And she didn't want to risk an infection or not being able to run in a strange place like this.

One last rip and Molly was satisfied with the length of material she has in her hands. She sliped her arms through his sleeves, which flop a bit uselessly as although they're nearly of a height he's still a sight broader than she is, but she shoved up the ends of the sleeves and got to work fastening the coat. She winced when the coat came into more direct contact with her wings, but gritted her teeth against the pain.

[ action ]

[greenjacketed]

Gently, even with his rougher accent: "I could've just carried you, Miss."

[ action ] 1/2

[talentsgirl]

That startled a laugh out of her, and Molly turned her head over her shoulder to stare at him, smiling and a little wide-eyed. "Seriously?"

[ action ]

[talentsgirl]

...he did look serious. Oh dear. Um. Wow-but-no. She gentled her tone. "Thank you, but I never would have thought to ask that of you - or anyone. I can walk."

She waved the white strips of her dress at him with one hand. "This will just help."

[ action ]

[greenjacketed]

"I can hardly think of a finer sacrifice for such undergarments."

Because that was what the little white dress was to him, you see. And perhaps he could indeed think of a better sacrifice.

Pokerface.

[ action ]

[talentsgirl]

She wasn't sure she quite liked the thought of him thinking she'd just waved her undergarments at him, but Molly just decides to douse the whole thing with practicality. So she shrugged, "Whatever works, right?"

And after returning to buttoning up his coat, though she does leave the button closest to her neck opened, Molly goes to find a friend log or something to sit down. She takes a moment to settle the coat around her before she does, since the dress is now very short underneath the coat and she wants to make sure she's still sitting on it instead of his coat when she sits... and success!

[ action ]

[greenjacketed]

"You're a resourceful one, Miss Molly."

[ action ]

[talentsgirl]

"Molly," she said, tossing her hair over one shoulder, a cascade of green and blue, so she can look up at him as she bends down to wrap her feet. "And what should I call you, Major Richard Sharpe?"

She did her best not to say it with his inflections. Names - true names - had power. And he had so carelessly given her all of his, she could taste it on her tongue.

[ action ]

[greenjacketed]

Decoum dictated that he remain Major. Most likely. But she was so vibrant, he could barely help himself: "Richard'll do. If Molly will."

[ action ]

[talentsgirl]

A short nod, "Richard, then."

And finishing tying the scraps of cloth around her feet, Molly stands, brushing her hands against the side of his coat in a business-like manner before reclaiming her journal. "All right - which way to the village?"

wow my typo.

[greenjacketed]

"I shall take point."

He jerked his head in one direction and began a slow, easy step. Accommodating for her foot situation.

hardly noticed!

[talentsgirl]

"All right."

This was - better, if not entirely painless. She winced a little. At least his coat was warm.

[greenjacketed]

His steps were very prim. He was rough around his edges but his posture was erect. Years of drills and parade marches and life as a private kept him well-standing.

"They say the housing's free, there."

[talentsgirl]

"'They say?'" She glanced over at him. "You said you got here yesterday - where did you stay?"

[greenjacketed]

Miss Katara would be so disappointed. Sharpe had done as any rifleman would have done -- find a dip in the woods, use your coat and pack blanket. Deal with the cold. He'd slept through many a snowy night in the war. Once you got into those mountains...

"Ain't important, lass. But there's a sort of welcoming inn where they'll take you, I suppose."

[talentsgirl]

"That's good to know..." she let his dodge go, but filed it away, concentrating on where she's stepping. She avoided the little stones, the upturned roots as best she could. "And the clothes? They're free too?"

Not that his greatcoat isn't great and all, but until she has her feet completely underneath her, Molly would prefer to be wearing boots. And pants. And a bra... wow, she really hopes they have bras here. If the way Richard speaks is any indication, that's the age of corsets and that would just be a pain.

[greenjacketed]

"Indeed, Miss Molly." Oh look. He's back to that. "No money nor bartering goods needed."

[talentsgirl]

She noticed. And she's not sure what she wants to do about it yet, or what brought it on and so she just grumbled, "Good, because-" I don't have a stitch on me, but considering that particular reaction wasn't the one that she wanted to suss out, Molly modified her statement. "-I'm not in any position to pay anyone back right now."

And she watched him out of the corner of her eye.

[greenjacketed]

"You and I both."

For he suspected that this was the sort of town where London bankers feared to tread. His treasures from India, a year's salary in French gold, and other saved and pinched riches were well outside of his grasp. Not that Sharpe was a spender. Lord, no.

"But I've been assured that we are to be provided for, here."

[talentsgirl]

"Assured by whom?" She flicked a glance up at his face and then back down to her feet. "The guide?"