EP: Kate Barlow | Main Bar, Library (age spell plot)

[ikissdhimbck]

It had been a quiet day for Kate when the loud BWA-BOOOOOOOM shook the bar. She'd just settled down after her nightly chores in the stables, easing the tension out of her back in an armchair by the fire, sipping on a hot tea with bourbon in.

(It's getting close to All Hallows' Eve, and that's making her anxious.)

However, she didn't have all that long to think about the approaching holiday before she was seeing the room from an even lower vantage point, face scrunched in distaste at the liquor on her tongue. She blinked at the teacup and quickly set it down, jumped to her feet, and looked around the strange room.

" ... Daddy?"

Kate Barlow, aged twelve, was off in search of her father.

What she found instead were the libraries.


Now, far calmer, a young Kate sits amid a pile of books, occasionally sweeping cautious glances around the room. She's finding the words of Jules Verne to be a comfort at present. Clearly she slipped and bumped her head during chores, or stumbled onto a glorious vessel somewhere in deep space. She isn't quite sure what to make of it right now, but anywhere with an endless supply of science fiction can't be all that bad.


[ooc: open forever! you may find Kate in the library or the main bar. if your character wants to be in on a heist, they can take this opportunity to meet Kate. the actual heist will happen in a later post, so it's not required you tag this one (I'll update all interested parties once it's all in place). if you'd like me to send Kate round to one of your posts, just let me know!

tiny!tag: age spell plot]

Comments

[filemyclaim]

"Just a little," she says,sounding sheepish. "They say I hafta do my fair share. If I don't do my lessons, I get one across the knuckles, but that's all."

They're not really mean people, they just need her to produce.

Dixie scrambles on up next to Kate, clambering against the seat, listening intently.

[ikissdhimbck]

Kate considers this very seriously for a moment, and nods.

"It's important you do your chores and help out. Jus' so long as they ain't being cruel to you. I think it certainly calls for a whoopie pie, though. We'll find the icebox when the story is over, all right?"

She makes room for the little girl, retrieving the right book from her stacks.

"My name's Katherine, what's yours?"

[filemyclaim]

"I try!" she says. "They're just real boring sometimes. My brain goes all over thinking about other things." She grins. "I've never had one cold before! Yes please! And my name's Myra," she adds. "Myra Symons."

[ikissdhimbck]

Kate giggles.

"Pleased to make your acquaintance, Myra Symons."

She cracks open the bound volume and finds the right story.

"Once upon a time ... "

[filemyclaim]

It's a really good story, too.

A beautiful one.

Dix is just beaming by the time it's over, too.

"But I always wanted to know what happens after the happily after." She admits, finishing the caramel. Then, through stuffed teeth, "do they have babies? Does the prince stay around?"

[ikissdhimbck]

Kate blinks.

"Where would he go? Off t'war?"

[filemyclaim]

Dixie frowns. "Princes don't always stay around," she says. "Sometimes, they go away, too, just like everybody else."

[ikissdhimbck]

Kate frowns.

"Did somebody leave you?"

[filemyclaim]

She frowns.

"My real mama and daddy. They died a long time ago. So long ago, I almost can't remember 'em anymore."

[ikissdhimbck]

"I'm sorry."

She's real quiet. Reaching out, she pulls Myra a little closer.

"My mama died, too. Four years ago."

[filemyclaim]

Dixie pouts thoughtfully, gives her a nod, resting her chin against the younger woman's side. "I miss 'em sometimes. I've had two more mommies since but nobody's ever been like my real mommy." Then she asks, "do you miss your mommy?"

[ikissdhimbck]

She purses her lips, a serious set to her brow. After a moment, she nods.

"Very much. She was as sweet as a spring mornin'. My daddy an' I do all right just the two of us, but he misses her, too."

[filemyclaim]

Dixie burrows firmly into Kate's side. She only really misses her own mommy when it's a very dark night and she's feeling particularly lonesome. "I'm sorry she had to go away."

She means it sincerely, too.

[ikissdhimbck]

It's strange having a little body snuggled up beside her. However, it's the good kind of strange. Kate keeps her arm around Dixie's shoulders, a touch protective even at this age.

"Thank you. I'm sorry your mama an' daddy had t'go away, too. I hope the folks who have you now are real nice."

Switching her for not working and telling her not to spoil her supper with sweets aside.

[filemyclaim]

"It's okay," says Dixie. "they really, really are, even tho they're strict."

[ikissdhimbck]

Kate's thoughtful for a moment.

"Maybe that's the happily ever after part, then. The prince an' the princess get married, an' live a good life together. An' if they're lucky, they get a real nice li'l girl, an' they all live together in their castle."

She smiles, a touch wry even at her young age.

"Or maybe we jus' gotta make the best of it."

[filemyclaim]

"I think that's what I'd like," Dixie drawls thoughtfully. "A really happy ending."

That'd be better than settling, by a mile.

[ikissdhimbck]

"Then that's what you'll have."

She sounds utterly confident about this. At this age, Kate oozes optimism and a stubborn will to make things just how they're supposed to be. They wouldn't dare turn out otherwise.

She gives Myra one last squeeze, and peers over her shoulder to get a good look at her face.

"C'mon. Let's go see 'bout havin' a snack."

[filemyclaim]

Which just makes tiny Dixie appreciate Kate's authoritarianism all the more.

She eagerly takes the older girls' hand and follows her away.