ApparitionsStalkTheNight 0.5

[23:15:14] <GMOwen> The year is 1816.  England, the heart of the British Empire, in the midst of the glorious Industrial Revolution.  Behold Nottingham, the fabled hamlet of the legendary Robin Hood and his merry men, now burgeoning with growth.  But as the town’s size exceeds its design, a shadow grows as the slums on the edge of town grow larger and larger.  A sad effect of the “glorious revolution”.
[23:15:18] <GMOwen> Between the slums and the city, there is a brick building:  St. Thomas’ Orphanage.  The caretakers are bearable, but the food is meager and bland, the trappings bare, and the quarters filled beyond bursting with unwanted children.
[23:15:22] <GMOwen> A young girl of thirteen sits in the small courtyard outside the orphanage.  She is gaunt and pale-faced, wearing brown clothes three sizes too big for her; her strange pink hair is filthy and almost grey with dust.  She sits on a stone bench, staring at the sky with sad, wide eyes…
[00:04:53] * Magda walks out of the door leading to the orphanage. She's definitely better-dressed and looks more well-fed than any child who lives there, which alone makes her look strange and out of place. She also looks well-taken-care-of: her clothes are clean (except for a dark stain on the hem of her dress), her hair is long, clean, and nicely done up, and she wears an expression somewhere between satisfaction and haughtiness.
[00:06:42] * Phrine doesn't realize that the strange girl is even there.  Her head is in the clouds, and she's grown used to ignoring the sad world around her.
[00:06:59] * Magda takes care to shut the door silently behind her, as though she were skulking about in the night, rather than in broad daylight. Quite frankly, she looks suspicious as hell. Not to mention that her pale skin looks very unusual in comparison to the normal Englishman's skin tone.
[00:07:14] * Phrine looks at the grey sky and wonders if angels dress in grey for grey days and white for white days...
[00:08:02] * Phrine and the strange girl have the entire courtyard to themselves, though it is unusual for this time of day in the early afternoon.
[00:09:35] * Phrine leans back and lays on the bench, looking straight up at the sky with her arms behind her head.
[00:10:32] <Phrine> "...Someday I'll get to fly in the clouds too...  Just, gotta... imagine, harder..."
[00:10:44] * Phrine mutters various daydreams to herself.
[00:12:53] * Magda takes a look around the courtyard, sees nobody but the girl on the bench, and sighs in relief. Good. Whatever Father Marcus does in the next hour or two, he'll be doing roaring drunk and half out of his mind. Silly old bastard didn't even HAVE a granddaughter, but inconvenient little details like that are easily brushed aside in a mark's head if you get them early.
[00:13:38] * Magda starts to skip merrily out of the courtyard.
[00:13:46] * Magda ...
[00:14:03] * Magda stops. The hell is with her hair?
[00:14:31] * Phrine starts whisper-singing an old folk tune to herself...
[00:16:52] <Phrine> "...again, and again, will we see you, then when~?"
[00:21:21] * Magda looks around to double-check, but nope, nobody's around. She's still good. Having confirmed the lack of others, Magda walks over to the girl, and frowns at her.
[00:22:32] * Phrine is not blind, and looks with semi-glassy eyes at the girl.  How beautiful...
[00:22:53] * Magda reaches out for a small strand of this girl's hair. She's GOT to see if it's real or not.
[00:24:17] * Phrine has no objections.  She reaches out to do the same, but her depth perception is way off and she grabs at air.
[00:25:29] <Phrine> "...shinyyy~..."
[00:26:22] * Magda doesn't even notice her trying, and instead tugs on the strand, holding it out. Leaning closer, she peers at the roots.
[00:26:31] <Magda> Hmm. Is real.
[00:27:46] * Magda lets go, and looks down at the girl herself. Apparently she's a mental invalid... Well, more than people normally are, at any rate.
[00:28:42] * Magda 's eyes widen suddenly, and a grin splits her face. It's a delighted sort of smile.
[00:29:16] * Phrine clambers back to a sitting stance, arms draped over her raised knees.  She stares at this stranger.
[00:29:27] <Phrine> "...H-Hi."
[00:29:30] <Magda> Aha~ You are more than they, I see!
[00:39:41] * Phrine looks at her potatosack-like clothes.
[00:30:23] <Phrine> "I...am...?"
[00:30:42] * Magda curtsies slightly, something she reserves for the few she regards as equals or her betters.
[00:31:51] <Magda> Good day, young lady. You are very ...more, yes.
[00:32:10] * Magda places a hand to her breast.
[00:32:14] <Magda> Am called Magda. And you?
[00:33:12] * Magda 's voice is definitely not that of a local. It's very accented. Not a Frenchman, and not a Spaniard. Something even further.
[00:33:34] * Phrine contemplates the question.  She doesn't talk very good...
[00:33:50] * Phrine shrugs and tilts her head.
[00:34:18] <Phrine> "Am, called Phrine?  I, guess... You're very pretty~"
[00:37:20] <Phrine> "You're new... I think."
[00:40:00] * Phrine focuses a little more on the girl.  She's getting... "those feelings" again...
[00:40:30] * Magda preens.
[00:40:51] <Magda> It is good that you notice such a thing, Miss... Phrine?
[00:41:48] * Magda has a little trouble pronouncing it. Not a local name, is it?
[00:42:13] <Magda> However, is not good that to live in... this.
[00:42:31] * Phrine looks around at "this".
[00:42:37] * Magda waves a hand at the orphanage in general, with an expression of distaste.
[00:44:21] <Phrine> "I don't, I... wait, uhhh... this?"
[00:45:13] * Phrine scratches her head.  She's only a kid, after all.
[00:46:22] * Magda frowns for a moment, wishing a pox upon the English peasantry.
[00:46:48] * Magda extends her hand, at last.
[00:47:05] <Magda> One who is more naturally deserves more.
[00:47:35] <Magda> Come. Shall show you proper way of living.
[00:47:35] * Phrine observes the hand.  It's so... clean.  She looks at her own.  So... filthy.
[00:49:13] * Phrine pulls her hand back for very silly reasons.
[00:50:06] <Phrine> "N-No, I'll... I haven't had a bath in, i-in... You'll get dirty..."
[00:51:21] * Phrine tries to wipe her hand on her shirt, which is just as dirty.
[00:53:26] <Magda> Cleaning is part.
[00:54:58] * Magda shrugs. Normally, she would throw off a beggar's hand, but because Phrine is special, like her, it's okay. After all, she's a person; she just happens to not look much like one.
[00:55:56] * Phrine doesn't understand; her confusion is mixed with her childish timidity of meeting strangers.
[00:56:35] <Phrine> "Whu...puh.  Part...?"
[00:58:24] <Phrine> "Who... ARE, you...?"
[01:02:44] * Phrine is an accepting girl, but... always questioning, wondering... daydreams bring her so many unanswered questions...
[01:02:45] <Magda> Magda Ilyana, daughter of Andrei Guriya. Is not important; 'Magda' is fine.
[01:03:01] * Magda takes her hand.
[01:03:20] <Magda> You have living to do. Is time for beginning it.
[01:03:56] <Magda> Being here, this is not living.
[01:04:47] <Magda> Ugly grey pit, filled with English? This is not living.
[01:05:00] * Phrine feels the soft skin of this girl.  So soft, so clean... yet she pulls her hand away again.
[01:05:11] * Magda looks at her again, and decides to try this from a different angle.
[01:05:25] <Magda> You are hungry?
[01:05:53] * Phrine hears the word "hungry".
[01:06:21] <Phrine> "I-I... Yes.  Y-yes, very..."
[01:07:56] * Phrine is never not hungry, but... well, you get used to the status quo after a while.
[01:11:20] * Magda 's grin splits wide again. Success!
[01:11:50] <Magda> Good! Let us find inn. We shall have splendid feast!
[01:11:58] <Magda> Have talked with Father Marcus; he does not object.
[01:12:17] * Magda is telling the truth, very technically.
[01:13:01] <Phrine> "I... uhh, I, guess?  We'll be right back, won't we...?"
[01:13:59] * Magda looks at her again, and taps her chin.
[01:14:07] * Phrine shuffles her feet and looks down.
[01:15:16] * Magda .oO(...Maybe it's best not to do everything at once. This girl seems a bit dim. Can't fill her head with too many thoughts, because you'd just trip over them in the bad light.)
[01:15:30] <Magda> Of course.
[01:17:26] * Phrine nods quietly.
[01:17:48] <Phrine> "You... gotta stay, 'cause... maybe you'll get, 'dopted..."
[01:18:01] * Phrine talks to herself more than Megda when she says this.
[01:20:17] * Magda has seen Nottingham, and doesn't think that's bloody likely. It wouldn't be nice to say such a thing to her, though.
[01:27:37] <Magda> So, let us be going, then?
[01:30:29] * Phrine nods and finally stands up.  She's quite tall for her age, but her saggy clothes make her look utterly pathetic.
[01:31:07] * Magda takes Phrine's hand yet again, holding it a little tighter so that she can't pull away as easily.
[01:31:38] * Phrine tries to pull away at first, but later gives up.  This, isn't SO bad... she's still got "that feeling" though...
[01:32:02] <Magda> I know of good place. Is in city.
[01:32:55] * Phrine nods, trying to smile.
[01:33:24] <Phrine> "Oooo~... I've never been there...  Is it pretty like you?"
[01:33:56] * Magda blushes a little.
[01:34:59] <Magda> Aha, is not pretty, no. But is warm, clean, and food is superb. ...For English.
[01:36:06] <Phrine> "Clean... clean is nice~  Like you~"
[01:39:22] * Magda takes Phrine down the street a few blocks, heading towards the city proper. Strangely, nobody really thinks much of seeing what appears to be a foreign noble child walking around without an adult, let alone that she's leading a scrawny, odd-looking girl who seems to be straight out of the poorhouse.
[01:39:42] * Magda ...In fact, nobody takes notice of them at all.
[01:40:27] * Phrine looks around in awe at the city.  So many people, so many shapes and colors and smells...
[01:40:49] * Magda And yet, somehow, they just step out of the way of the pair without really thinking about it.
[01:40:51] <Phrine> "It's...big~"
[01:41:03] <Phrine> "There's...there's so MUCH..."
[01:41:13] * Magda After about ten minutes of walking, a coach driver trundles down the cobbles in their direction. Magda stops walking, and looks at the driver, saying but a word or two.
[01:42:05] * Magda shrugs.
[01:42:29] <Magda> See one English town, seen all. Perhaps not London.
[01:43:19] * Magda He doesn't appear to notice the two girls, but reins in the team, and pulls over to the sidewalk where they stand.
[01:43:42] * Magda opens the door for Phrine, and motions her in.
[01:45:17] * Phrine is on Cloud Nine right about now, just drifting along.  So many new things~...
[01:45:36] <Phrine> "Oh, th-thanks you, Magada-miss..."
[01:46:45] * Magda nods, casually accepting the thanks.
[01:47:05] * Magda To the driver, she says:
[01:48:11] <Magda> The Golden Given, Hodgewood Lane, The Cups. No rush.
[01:49:20] * Magda then hops in, and closes the door behind her. Above, the driver cracks his whip, and the horses start clip-clopping again as they pull away from the curb.
[01:49:48] * Phrine thinks all those names sound positively lovely.
[01:50:03] <Phrine> "It's... it's like a dream~... But, not..."
[01:51:41] * Magda sits across from Phrine, and is pleased to see her looking happier. Or at the very least, more lively. Anything beats "five minutes away from comatose," which is about where the girl looked to be when she first saw her on the bench.
[01:53:24] <Magda> Mmm... Can sympathize, yes.
[01:53:46] <Magda> Felt similar when first visiting Izhevsk.
[01:54:26] <Phrine> "God bless you~"
[01:54:30] * Phrine smiles.
[01:55:06] <Phrine> "I dunno waht that means~"
[01:55:13] * Magda takes the non sequitir in stride.
[01:56:21] <Magda> Already have blessings, but is nice to have more.
[01:57:01] <Phrine> "Blessings you is for the sneezings!"
[01:57:30] <Magda> 'Sneeze'?
[01:57:41] * Phrine tries to remember the words...
[01:57:56] <Magda> What means this 'sneeze'?
[01:58:01] <Phrine> "Dhumm, the... Izzenvuhzek!  Kachoo!"
[01:58:21] * Phrine actually sneezes there; dusty hair and dusty clothes, go figure.
[01:59:25] * Phrine sniffles and wipes her nose, making her sneeze again.
[02:02:38] * Magda 's head jerks back reflexively. Then she offers Phrine her handkerchief.
[02:02:48] <Phrine> "Nyugh, th-thorry..."
[02:03:31] * Phrine accepts the kerchief, but again is awed by it.  So silky and white... She dirties it merely by touching it.
[02:03:45] <Magda> Izhevsk? Is city nearest to my village.
[02:06:29] * Phrine listens while holding the kerchief.  She... she can't use it.  It's too beautiful.
[02:08:17] * Magda motions her to use it.
[02:08:26] <Magda> Have extras. Is not problem.
[02:09:10] <Phrine> "For... for, me...?"
[02:11:46] * Magda nods.
[02:11:59] <Phrine> "I... Th...thh..."
[02:13:05] * Phrine starts to cry.  It's just...
[02:14:54] * Phrine wants to dab the tears away, but she just can't soil the handkerchief.
[02:16:52] <Phrine> "So... l-lucky~..."
[02:19:07] * Phrine can't help it; she dives forwards and hugs Magda.
[02:19:22] =-= Magda is now known as Kalkinkittan
[02:19:42] <Kalkinkittan> ...So this is moe power, huh?
[02:19:53] <Kalkinkittan> It's really something....
[02:20:06] <Owen> !
[02:20:09] <Owen> GAH.
[02:20:15] * Owen clutches heart.
[02:20:34] <Owen> I'm putting that in the official logs.  BECAUSE.
[02:20:40] =-= Kalkinkittan is now known as Magda
[02:20:51] * Magda sighs, contemplating whether or not to embrace this girl, but is met halfway by the oncoming and completely unexpected hug.
[02:20:59] <Magda> Ah!
[02:21:32] <Phrine> "Y-You're... you... So, n-nice~..."
[02:21:54] <Phrine> "Friend.  Best friend."
[02:22:52] * Magda shrugs mentally. Well, that works, too.
[02:23:06] * Magda smiles and hugs her back.
[02:24:41] <Magda> ...Da. Is good to have friends.
[02:24:48] * Magda speaks honestly when she says that.
[02:27:42] * Phrine nods, rubbing her dusty, teary cheek into Magda's.
[02:27:52] <Phrine> "D-Da... Is, good."
[02:32:00] * Magda would normally feel annoyed or mocked when people do that... but considering it's Phrine, she lets it slide.
[02:36:32] <GMOwen> [The budding friends then spent a month together in Nottingham, enjoying the best of times,  at which point they went their separate ways for some unknown reason and Phrine wound up right back at the orphanage, where she rotted for eight more years until someone had the common decency to turn her from one of the world's most pathetic orphans into one of the world's more pathetic vampires.  The End.]