thedarkfields | [Text]

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Hey people. All this nonsense talk of dreams aside...

I'm looking to hire some one for a few hours, light work, nothing illegal, at least its only vaguely illegal. You're end of the deal would be on the up and up. Must be a good shopper and willing to look the other way.

[ All this typed up on one with one hand while he wrestled a small girl he had tucked up under the other arm down the sidewalk and right past the world's least observant cop. She was tiny and wearing only a potato ack that had been fashioned into some sort of dress, a street kid who even while she was being carried away very few paid attention to. ]

Oh, also female. Very important that you have to be female. It will never work if you aren't. I've tried.

If you are interested send a prompt reply otherwise I'll have to think up something else.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Something lowlier perhaps? A jester?

[he's just teasing him]

What the hell did you do? Mr. Crowley! If I find you've hurt someone I will give you such a clout round the ear!

[ Such a face scrunched up demonic face was pulled at that comment that the kid he was toting briefly forgot her peril and laughed.

Then the tease faded leaving Fell's written threat which some how stung worse than any ear boxing he might have received. ]

I haven't hurt anyone. It's not that kind of caper. It's more... relocating goods.

What goods are you relocating. I don't trust anything you say with the word good in it for some reason.

[he sniffs]

I insist you come tell me in person! I shan't sleep until you do!

Oh you insist?

[ Why was that so appealing? ]

I don't even know where you live.

I know a little duck that says otherwise.

And I've yet to properly thank my mysterious malefactor so you'll have to do.

Come by at three?

[ CAUGHT! He had been sloppy, obviously... maybe on purpose. How does one go about thanking a mysterious malefactor and why did he want to know so badly? ]

3. I should be able to find a brat sitter by then.

I didn't know you had children!

[it's a shock. And not a pleasant one. But of course someone as handsome as Mr. Crowley would]

Is there a Ms. Crowley? Would she approve?

No it is best you keep your eye on them. We can meet at a more convenient time perhaps.

I don't have kids!

[ Only a quick elbow jab to the arm reminded him of his new acquisition. ]

I just picked one up... I thought you insisted on hearing about this in person?

Picked one up? What on earth do you mean you picked one up? You can't just simply pluck one off the street! Why did you? Their parents must be worried sick! Put them back this instant!

Why not?

[ One could almost hear the shrug through the screen. ]

She was just laying around out there, pretending to be crippled, it's not like anyone is going to notice she is gone. She doesn't have any parents Fell. She is a street kid and a robber... If I didn't nick her the coppers would have eventually.

So you plan to reform her?

[that makes him smile though he tries to fight it]

Very well. Bring her along and I'll inspect the both of you. Make sure she's washed up properly. After all, I don't give audience to just anyone.

[honestly he would give audience to her if they were both covered in manure, he just wants to see how Mr. Crowley rises to the challenge.]

I plan to keep her from stealing from me again.

[ If that was some what similar to reforming her then it was being done for purely selfish reasons and not some misplaced sentiment... just because she was cold, hungry, and Crowley had lived through the same terrible upbringing. Those weren't factors in this at all! ]

She won't remember to use the right fork.

[ Who ever could? Inspection failed! ]

Until then.

It seems to me that if you are not careful, she will steal something of greater value.

[Mr. Crowley's heart, he means, though it is already too late for that]

I shall be here.

[and here he is. Upon arrival to the town house they are ushered up the stairs by a bored looking butler to the master suite. Fell has never left bed. Well he is feeling a bit on the ill side. And he is tucked in under a magnificent quilt and an even more magnificent bedrobe draped around his form. When he sees them, he beams]

Well then! Just in time for tea!

[ By the time they arrived the little street rat had been wrangled into something which now resembled a little girl with her hair curled and her potato sack outfit swapped for something more like that a princess would wear...
Though walking into the room to be greeted by their host who was wearing that maybe Fell actually was the Princess. ]

I don't like tea.

[ The little girl said with a pout to which Crowley had a quick reply. ]

Fine. We'll give you hot water and sugar.

[ He left her there by the door way to mingle around, maybe break something too expensive to replace or bounce on some priceless furniture somewhere as little hellions are want to do, as he paced around Fell's bed. ]

Have you been sleeping all afternoon?

[he positively beamed when he saw the little girl. Well! He could tell that she had had a hard life. Well he had seen many children that had and it was in the eyes. But she had cleaned up nicely even if she looked ready to steal anything not nailed down which was fine. He doubted she had a proclivity for books]

I'm sure cook has a little feast set out for you, dear girl, if you care to go to the kitchen. Cookies and cakes and milk and all manner of lovely things. [and cook had and actually delighted to create for children so it all worked out. In a minute his butler would bring the tea things with a dash of spirit should Mr. Crowley like to imbibe.

He winced a little at the question]

Well, in fact, yes. Well not sleeping but you know, relaxing. Catching up on my reading and that. I ought to get out of bed and do things. I ought to be productive. [he sighed] There is so much to do. [but bed was so warm. He sneezed delicately in a hanky and fixed Mr. Crowley with soulful blue eyes]

I do like cookies and cake! I think. We never have those... but the milk we steal from old Miss Hanger's cow is good!

[ She took off for the bedroom door, only stopping once she reached for the knob just in case that other guy, Crowley decided to stop her running off again. To her surprise he didn't. He merely nodded and gave a word of instruction to the butler. ]

Just keep Annabelle in sight. She has this bad habit of trying to slip away with things. Brat will steal this place blind if you let her and I don't want to have to chase her down again.

[ She was a handful but one that skipped quiet happily down the hall after the Butler to where ever the kitchen was in this huge palace! ]

What's to do? You live in the lap of luxury. If I were you I would stay in bed all day, eating bon bons, washing them down with some vino, and listening to radio shows.

Oh well it doesn't matter if a few things go amiss. I certainly can afford to replace anything needful. Though I do appreciate you trying to break her free of her habit.

Annabelle is it? What a lovely little name. You know, Mr. Crowley, you seem to have a way with children. [he chuckled a bit at the man's words.]

There is plenty to do. So much to do. You have no idea the expectations that are on me from my family and myself. But in the grand scheme of things, I oughtn't complain being as blessed as I am.

That aside Mr. Crowley. [he patted the bedspread] How did you acquire her. Tell me everything.

[ He had a rough way of speaking to kids. Crowley assumed that's what Fell meant by that little giggle but this here was a rough kid. Rough kids understood rough talk. He ought to know as he used to be one himself not that this was information he was ready to volunteer.

That little welcoming pat of the bedspread did look inviting and he found himself, a bit too eagerly, climbing into bed beside Fell to take up residence on his extra set of plush pillows. ]

She and a group of her friends snatched some lettuce from me a few weeks ago. This is payback for that. Snatched the little brat off the street when she was alone and now I'm going to domesticate her. We've already found a pair of suckers that might be willing to take her in.

[ He practically sank into the down of the pillows as he turned to lean an elbow against them to better take in the adorably wholesome face of his host. ]

You didn't ask me up here to talk about the kid though did you?

[not so wholesome as all that! A flush pinkened his cheeks at Mr. Crowley lying so close. He had meant for the man to sit, not lounge like a serpent upon the duvet and pillows. What would Bartlet the Butler think of this. Well he was a man of discretion so probably not much but goodness, how bold]

Oh well, your poor lettuce. Surely that's a small infraction-- but on the other hand, a life on the streets is such a hard one. I do wonder if she'd be able to leave you so readily. [he might find it difficult...

He pushed those thoughts from his mind and sank himself into the pillows, a bit further still so he was looking up at Mr. Crowley, tracing his eyes over the angle of his jaw and the shadow where his hair fell against his neck]

Whatever else might I have called you up for but to give accounts of your shenaniganery? [he clicked his tongue] Surely you don't suspect I had an ulterior motive.

[ Hopefully the stuffy Butler would be thoroughly scandalized! Crowley would take a good deal of wicked joy out of sending one of the straight-laced servants awkwardly scooting back out of the room. ]

Why wouldn't she? Nice older people, they will likely spoil her rotten... what more could a kid want?

[ That faint blush of color in Fell's cheeks gave him a healthy glow that seemed to even pinken his lips, daring even more boldness which for the moment lay very carefully restrained. ]

Since you didn't show up for New Year's drinks ay my place I wondered if I was going to fast for you. Am I, Princess?

[ This time the nickname felt a good deal more natural owing in no small part to the regal setting they found themselves in and the feathered ruffles of Fell's nightwear. ]

Or maybe you've grown bored of all this predictability and could use something more reckless?

Freedom for one. But well, who knows. I bet once she is safe and happy she will find freedom in that as well.

[he was secretly glad he wouldn't have to share Mr. Crowley with her, though he wouldn't begrudge it of course. Though, sharing. He wasn't doing a very good job of even spending time with him.]

Oh well, I unfortunately had family business to attend to in town. I received quite a lashing for shirking my duty. My cousins, you see, are very formidable and I do not want them to come over and 'check on my progress' . Why, they'd never leave. By the time I remembered it was well past midnight and I was quite exhausted, Mr. Crowley.

[he smiled thinly and tugged and adjusted Mr. Crowley's collar absently]

I'm afraid I won't be very good company to you.

She will have freedom from want. No more going to sleep on an empty stomach in some freezing cold back alley. A home. Every orphan wants to feel like they belong some where.

[ He certainly had as a youth which was why he had made up all those lies about his rich family, his inventor father and his beautiful, practically an actress mother. It was a fantasy life that he had never actually had.

Crowley's smile was a good deal warmer, very nearly predatory, as Fell tugged away at his collar straightening and preening it like they were an item or something.]

Why not?

That's certainly true. It may surprise you to know that when I was very young I was raised for a few years by the poorest of the poor. Apparently my parents had died of some disease and the village took care of me until I was collected. Still I was treated like a prince I imagine so I wouldn't know what want feels like. I am glad you are doing such a thing for her. You are quite a decent man, shockingly.

[he said it with a bit of a smirk of his own before it faded]

Well as you can see-- today's lie in is a bit abnormal in my life. Usually I am quite busy and cannot always abscond into the wilds with a handsome rake. Much as I'd like to.

I didn't know that. You were raised in a small village?

[ One couldn't tell that by looking at him now but maybe that accounted for some of his more charitable works. If anyone here was the good and decent sort it was more Fell than Crowley. ]

Anyway I don't see why your cousins need to be so intimidating. You needn't even be here when they show up. What could they do about it?

Mm. It was a beautiful place, lush and tropical, a Garden of Eden in a hectic world. [he smiled a bit at the memory] I don't recall much and, frankly it's hard to remember ever being a child-- do you find that? But I used to wander through the foliage and look for snakes. My favorite was a little black one, about as long as my arm, that liked to hide under rocks.

[he found himself absently playing with the coils of Mr. Crowley's thin scarf, winding it about his fingers]

It's about honor, Mr. Crowley. It's about not disgracing the family name for my Grandmother's sake if nothing else.

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