Molly Toombs
Sunday wasn't the kind of night for
clubs and bars, that's not where Molly was going to be found tonight.
She was downtown because she had picked up a daytime shift to cover for
someone who had wanted to spend the Easter holiday weekend with their
family. She'd just gotten off work and was making her way home.
Rather
than walking home in her scrubs, Molly had changed into clothes she had
brought from home. She wore a pair of snug black pants with a light
blue-and-white striped blouse on as well. Brown sandals on her feet, a
silver talisman hung from around her neck and a tote bag at her hip.
Red hair was bound up and away from her face, too worn from a long day
at work to look anything but mussed when left down now.
The
streets were fairly empty, even though the sun only just set perhaps two
hours ago or so. It was a Sunday, work and school respectively started
up in the morning and many were tired from eating much Easter ham. It
was for this reason that Molly didn't have headphones or earbuds to feed
music to her. She wanted to be able to hear if something was going to
try and creep up on her.
Bo
Oh if only it were so
easy, not everything creeped or slinked through the shadows, not
everything that was dangerous chose the indirect route. Some of the
biggest threats in this city seemed like the most benign and beatific
creatures in existence, at least until they barred their fangs and
flashed their powers. The most dangerous predators were the ones who
never were...until it was too late.
But Molly didn't have to worry
about Bo, oh no Bo couldn't hurt a fly..or so it seemed really, and she
didn't have to keep herself on high alert to sight the young woman as
she came bee-bopping along the street. Knee high boots clomped and
stamped along the concrete and her green T-shirt with purple pant's
certainly did nothing to camouflage her amongst the myriad greys of the
concrete jungle.
Her hair still held those silver blue lines, the
most prominent being the strands where her bangs met the rest of her
hair and the look on her face became one of surprised amusement as she
almost ran smack into the night nurse. She stopped dead in her tracks at
no more then five paces from her, and eyed her mischeviously for the
briefest of moments before grinning wide and raising a hand to wave.
"Sup Mol doll?" She called in greeting. "Fancy meetin you here."
Molly Toombs
Bo
was impossible to miss-- she would be even if the street they were on
wasn't virtually empty at this current time, even if she hadn't come
around the corner to nearly step directly into Molly physically. The
nurse sucked in a small, quick inhale of surprise and her hands lifted
from where they had been at her sides to hover near her chest, palms
out, a reflexive position of defense and catching yourself if you think
you're going to run into something or fall down.
Thankfully, she
didn't fall or hit into Bo. But she did have a moment of utter
confusion when the woman she'd almost run into greeted her by name.
Molly was about to apologize absently and be on her way, not immediately
recognizing the person in front of her. When her name came up as a
greeting, though, Molly stopped and blinked and looked back into the
younger woman's face.
It takes a second, but recognition flashes
and Molly's expression tightens a little in the corners, flashes grim
behind the eyes just for a second before that smooths over for something
that tiptoed between the lines of business-like and polite but
gracefully, openly cautious at the same time. Like a diplomat. Or a
politician, maybe.
"Yes, of all the coincidences," she agreed in a
pleasant enough tone. "I'm sorry, I don't know if I ever had the
chance to catch your name amid the... excitement.... from back that long
ago." Her eyebrows, a light and natural red now that she didn't pencil
them any longer, raised curiously on her face, and she stood straight
and faced Bo directly, both of her hands coming to rest loosely holding
the strap of her bag in front of her chest.
Bo
Bo
watched as Molly's features hardened slightly, going on the defensive
perhaps, or just preparing for any kind of onslaught which might come of
it. Bo for her part seemed to open up more, holding her arms out from
her sides as if there were nothing to hide, nothing to conceal and she
laughed gently as she nodded her head.
"Oh yeah the big ho down at
the pawn shop of 2013, what a ruckus that was." She says with a
horrible cowgirl accent before shaking her head and holding out a hand.
"Call me Bo, nice to finally meet ya, you know...without the snarling,
posturing dispositions of our benefactors at large." She said with a
gentle tilt of he head.
"So what you up to Mol Doll? Big plans for tonight?" She asks looking the woman over. "Or ya just headed back to the crash pad?"
Molly Toombs
Whatever
it was that Molly may have actually been up to (on her way home after a
long day at work, to let her puppy outside for a walk and piss before
calling it a night) she wasn't doing it any longer. She stood still,
and her posture suggested that she was planted in place for this
conversation. She wasn't in the walking and talking mood right now,
apparently.
"Good to meet you, Bo," Molly provided, her words slow
and a bit cautious like most of the rest of her was, even if the other
woman was open in body language and tone alike. If Bo was watchful and
attentive, she may see something flicker in Molly's eyes at the mention
of 'benefactors at large'. It's quick and fleeting, whatever it is, and
the nurse masked it by glancing up the sidewalk in the direction she
had been headed when asked about her plans.
Bo's looking over
Molly tells her that the mortal woman is still in good health, despite
the odds being stacked against her. She seemed a bit tired, but who
wasn't these days? That aside there was warmth to her skin and a
natural flush to her freckled cheeks, and her build was both healthy and
ample as well. It would leave some to puzzle what her secret was that
kept her safe and well and alive.
"I was just heading home. Yourself?"
Bo
"Ohh
you know this and that, mostly breaking curfew cause well..I needed
to." Bo shrugs at that. "Just couldn't hang around and wait for further
word about whats going on. So I figured I'd get myself some fresh air."
She gestures around at her surroundings then, that big ol energetic
smile still blazing away upon her face.
Molly continued to be
careful, continued to be wary of the woman who, while was the same
height as her, was willowy in comparison, probably the sort of girl she
could easily take in a fight, especially as Molly has no doubt had to
deal with some really ornery characters in her tenure at the hospital.
But
Bo offers her a way out, should she desire it and she steps aside and
gestures past herself. "Hey sorry I'm sure theres been all kinds of
things said about me, some true some false no doubt as well. So if you
wanna walk on by like this never happened be my guest. I'll go grab my
slushee and forget I ever saw ya. No muss, no fuss, all back of the
bus." Her smile held as she waited then, waited to see if Molly did
indeed want to move on, or if she might take a chance and stand too.
Quite often those seperated by the ideals of others had more in common then one might think.
Molly Toombs
Though
Bo had stepped aside and offered Molly the chance to continue on, the
nurse didn't begin to walk again. Her sandals stayed planted where they
were on the ground, and her brow flexed in some sort of empathetic
reaction or another to what was being said. She didn't look too much
softer or warmer when she spoke next, the fact that she did make a point
to clarify had to at least say something.
"I haven't heard
anybody say anything about you. I'm just a bit... careful. Considering
what all occurred the last time I saw you, and the people I saw you
with--..." She trailed off with a shrug, moved a hand to make a
dismissive gesture, then continued on. That was neither here nor there,
as far as she was concerned.
What she was more interested in was...
"Further word? I'm curious to know... what was the word that came before that?"
Bo
Molly
wasn't going anywhere, she was firmly planted to the spot, like some
growing oak tree that would someday engulf even the spot where Bo stood.
But where Molly was like the oak tree, Bo might be more like the
squirrel, she was moving again, stepping suddenly back before Molly and
thrusting a hip to one side as she folded her arms before her, grinning
impishly as she said. "Who want's to know huh?" She asked before
chuckling and waving a hand.
"The word before that? To put it
eloquently, was shit be cray cray, batten down the hatches matey's the
shit storms a comin!" Bo saluted briefly before she tilted her head with
a dubious look. "Yet we haven't seen a storm, and nothings really come
of that whole night." She moves a finger in a circular motion.
"Kinda
the way it goes around her, though I DID get myself a swanky new ring."
She said holding up her hand to show the old piece of golden jewelry.
"But thats neither here nor there."
Molly Toombs
Initially,
Molly was presented with the question of who was asking. She looked a
little taken aback, but Bo was chuckling and moving on, answering the
question posed before Molly had a chance to verbally react. So, instead
of needing to explain that she was curious for herself and her own
sake, Molly was quiet and listened to what the girl with blue-silver
streaks in her hair had to say.
She confirmed that there was a
crazy shit storm on the way, but that it hadn't struck yet. Like how
Yellowstone was supposed to explode but still remained intact.
"Hmm,"
the nurse hummed thoughtfully while considering the ring that was shown
off, then shifted clear blue eyes up the arm to Bo's face once more.
"Did
you hear what kind of storm to expect? Or what caused this storm to
show up on the radar, so to speak?" She spoke deliberately, and the way
that the second question was ended made it feel as though Molly had
wanted to say more but stopped herself. She was beginning to bubble a
little, just under the skin, with the opportunity to sniff about for
more details and information. She couldn't just blurt all of her
questions out at once, though. She had to pace herself and gauge what
response just a few questions to begin with received.
Bo
"Oh
its old news girl. Hell this storms been brewing since last year at
least, probably longer for all i know. Haven't really been apart of the
scene all that long." She shrugged. "Far as I know its something to do
with some really big, really bad mother hubbard coming back from a long
nap or something." She shrugged at that. "I don't really have all the
details sadly."
She stretched her arms out before her then, her
palms turned outwards as the fingers laced together to get the maximum
effect out of the motion. She sighed gently before she shook out her
hands and placed them upon her hips once more.
"So I've been told
to stay close and keep all our friends close too. But I'm a wanderer,
and thus what has brought us together here and now. Which I think is
pretty hunky dory, someone like you has be tough as nails to hang around
Flood, or at least as slippery as a greased up piglet." She chuckled
before she caught herself and coughed. "Not..that your a piglet,
or..greasy or anything...or....you know what? Just forget my whole line
of descriptives there, yeah...please?"
Molly Toombs
"Old
news is still pretty new when the ears hearing it are fresh." Her tone
was thoughtful and contemplative as it has been so far. Bo had
stretched her arms, shaken her hands and planted them back on her hips
once more. Molly stayed right where she had been, hands loose on the
strap in front of her full chest.
When accused of being either
tough or slippery or greasy, something to that effect, Molly's eyebrows
raised but she didn't look offended. Rather, her lips pressed together
to contain and control a small bit of a grin-- maybe she was a little
flattered instead of insulted? More than that, she was pleased to be
hearing that the person whose name protected hers like an umbrella (or
shadow) was known for being tough shit, and she liked knowing that there
was concern for some 'Mother Hubbard' returning.
These were all
topics that she'd have to look into a little deeper, perhaps ask those
that would have more insight into the matter when she could find a time
appropriate to delve.
Ultimately, Molly chuckled just a little,
and shook her head. "Don't worry about it," she advised Bo. Whatever
foot-in-mouth feeling the Ghouled young woman was experiencing, Molly
dismissed it as unnecessary. "Frankly, I'd be more worried about
finding out more about precisely what kind of shit is going to be
hitting the fan when this Mother Hubbard person wakes back up." The
look Molly gave Bo now was something close to but not quite fully
fledged as scrutiny. "What happens if you try and ask directly about
it? Do they just tell you to nevermind, or what?"
Bo
Bo
is told not to worry about it, and any concern that was present upon
the ghoul's features melted like snow on a warm summers day. The smile
returned, now simply bright and energetic much as the rest of the girl
was, a direct contrast to Molly's more insulated and measured responses.
One might wonder how vampires could keep up with her.
It's Bo's
turn to look quizzical when Molly asks if they try to keep her in the
dark and she actually takes a moment to consider her response before
shaking her head. "Not my Kali at least, she likes me informed, likes me
in the know. Others though." She shrugged. "Some of em from what I've
heard like to blindfold ya nice and tightly, keep you deaf mute and dumb
if it suits their purposes. So I'd say it depends on who your dealin
with."
She tilts her head. "What does Flood do when you ask to
many questions?" She inquires now, seeking her own comparisons, after
all it wasn't like she knew to many other ghouls with which to compare
notes on the nature of their existences.
Molly Toombs
Not my Kali, she likes me informed, likes me in the know. This
detail has Molly's eyes bright, like they get when she's pretty sure
that she's gleaning useful bits of information that will buy more time
to her life, add more value to her overall worth. If she could make
herself a font of useful detail, then it's better to keep her intact
than it is to bring her harm, isn't it?
So, she may want to sniff
and see if Kali was up to sharing. Certainly, Molly had understood on
the spot in that moment why Kali would have chased her off rather than
shared any of the discovery. It didn't take much time or thought for
Molly to realize it was a good sign that she was chased away-- that
meant Kali was comfortable with Molly knowing as much as she did. She
wouldn't have to worry about that set of claws coming for her neck
because she knew too much, not anytime soon.
And, from the sound
of how Bo was talking, it seemed that she and 'her Kali' found Molly to
be protected under Flood's name. Seeing this in play had the gears in
Molly's mind whirling away.
Not whirling too quickly to drown out
the questions posed for her, though. Molly was learning that it was
only fair to share information in exchange for what you were given, and
courtesy went a long way in this world (her mother would be pleased to
know that lesson in particular was being abided by, though to know the
details behind the situation would no doubt leave her pale and sick).
"I
haven't gotten to that point with him," she stated simply, shrugging
her shoulders. Apparently there wasn't any such thing as 'too many
questions' with Flood, that or Molly was very good at reading where the
line of patience was drawn before she put her toes on it.
"But I didn't know about this... storm cloud, I guess. He'd not mentioned it."
Bo
Had
Bo just betrayed her domitor? Some might say yes. Saying anything that
might give away the inner workings of the relationship between ghoul and
master might be seen as a betrayal for such information could be used
against them. Could be turned back upon them and see to the lighting of
their funeral pyre's. But Bo believed in their strength and found such
things unconcerning. If someone wanted to hurt them, really hurt them
they would find a way regardless and so she spoke freely...to a point
anyways.
She received some equal information back however learning
that Flood was equally open with his information at least to Molly. She
filed that away as well, because you never did know when such things
might come in handy.
"Well aren't we just the lucky pair then." Bo
says with a warm grin as she gestured between them. "Don't think I
could stand being in the dark, especially not when theres already plenty
of dark to go around, hell theres enough for the whole planet and then
some." She shook her head, as if marvelling at some fact that she did
not bother to share.
"You probably just haven't asked the right
questions, or maybe it just doesn't involve you?" Bo offered. "Counter
intuitive I know to what we both just said, but they seem to think like
that sometimes."
Molly Toombs
"We must be," came
the agreement. The longer that Molly talked with Bo, the more that her
posture relaxed. It was a gradual thing, but by this point Bo could
notice at least that Molly wasn't standing with her feet so firm on the
ground or her spine so stiff. She was standing more comfortably, and
the corners of her mouth and eyes were less tight than they had been.
This felt less like testing to see if the cat would hiss and bite or let
the hand pet them and more like having a conversation now.
Molly
adjusted her hands on the tote bag strap, glanced past her own shoulder
to ensure the sidewalk was still largely vacant (it was), then
continued.
"Perhaps. Or it may be an effort to shelter-- the less
you know the less danger you're in in this case, maybe?" She shrugged
one shoulder and curved the corner of her mouth into a bit of a grin.
"I'm not about to try and look too deep into the mind of one of Them.
It's safer on the outside looking in-- there's a strong risk of falling
over the railing if you lean to look too deep."
She shifted her
weight between her feet now, moved as though she was about to get
going. Returning movement and blood to her feet and legs to prepare to
walk once more. "It's been a delightful and informative talk, Bo. I
hope to see you around more, but I should be getting home now."
Bo
There
conversation was at an end, but at least it would go out on a better
note then it started, Molly had loosened up, maybe it was because Bo had
fed her curiosity, or it might simply be because she wasn't perceived
as a threat anymore. Regardless it was a better situation, one more
likely to garner repeat performances, and Bo...well Bo always liked that
sort of idea.
"Aight well if you gotta jet? At least lets trade
digits, maybe sometime down the line we can be the peeps that stop any
real shit storm from hitting the fan huh? Or at least between Kali and
Flood." She offered, and she would stick to it, offering her digits in
return for Mollys before she would step aside just as she had before and
allow the nurse to walk on.
"Nice to meet ya Moll Doll, for reals
this time. Just remember stay off the menu, probably the best advice
you'll ever get, and trust me...its harder then you think to manage." At
that Bo started off on her own, heading down the street in the same
direction she had been going previously, off to do or find god knows
what.
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