limping-poet

[limping-poet]

That's really cute. She's gonna grow up knowing a lot of things with you teaching her about stuff with the toys you make.

Oh, uh, hi Al!

What.. brings you to the tailor’s?

(Charlie’s sticking his tongue out and trying to make some baby clothes.)

Lou's jacket's just coming apart now and I've tried patching it, but I think it's just going to need a whole new arm at this point and I'm no good at sewing things like that. I was wondering if you could maybe teach me and help me out? I- I can pay you....

[limping-poet]

Yeah, me too. That looks tasty. You must be eating pretty well lately huh? Word on the street is that your dad and grandpa are pretty good at cooking.

Oh, uh, hi Al!

What.. brings you to the tailor’s?

(Charlie’s sticking his tongue out and trying to make some baby clothes.)

Lou's jacket's just coming apart now and I've tried patching it, but I think it's just going to need a whole new arm at this point and I'm no good at sewing things like that. I was wondering if you could maybe teach me and help me out? I- I can pay you....

[limping-poet]

[He hops over the counter and crouches down beside Elizabeth.]

Hi there Lizzy. Having a good morning?

Oh, uh, hi Al!

What.. brings you to the tailor’s?

(Charlie’s sticking his tongue out and trying to make some baby clothes.)

Lou's jacket's just coming apart now and I've tried patching it, but I think it's just going to need a whole new arm at this point and I'm no good at sewing things like that. I was wondering if you could maybe teach me and help me out? I- I can pay you....

[limping-poet]

Okay. I understand.

(Alice is out on the docks, handing over a stack of neutral cloth, presumably for making clothes, to an older woman. The woman bows her head in thanks and walks away after receiving it. Alice adjusts her stance to begin walking back down the dock to the shop.)

(After only a couple steps, someone calls out to her, walking on the dock in her direction. She stops in her tracks before backing up a bit.)

Alice! I haven't seen you in a while. Can you believe your boss banned me from the shop over a broken ornament? (He's smiling, but it looks disingenuous and almost off-putting.)

... [It's nice to see you again. And yes, I'm very sorry he went that far.]

Oh really? It's nice to see me again? You know, with how sour you'd gotten, I'm surprised you'd say that now.

[I'm sorry.]

Hah! Sure you are. (He steps closer. She steps back.) Listen, I fucking know you're hiding something. Those aren't just prosthetics, are they? Fine, you can keep your damned secret.

[What?]

(A group of tall, muscular men come down the dock, stopping to stand behind Bertrand. They're blocking Alice's way off the dock. She's maybe only a half meter away from the end of the dock. Bertrand steps towards her again, making her step back.)

[What do you want from me? I didn't do anything to you.]

Perhaps I didn't mean it when I said you could keep your secret. Does it count if I meant that it'll stay a secret for... maybe the next couple minutes?

(Alice's hands move up, but Bertrand grabs the front of her shirt before she can move to push him away. He's a bit unstable with his limp, but his arms work fine. He shoves her off the end of the dock. She hits the water with a large splash and begins to sink.)

@limping-poet

[limping-poet]

Orion. Okay.

I'm sorry about your writing stuff. I-uh- I might have a spare pad and some charcoal I can drop by the draper's when you're fixed if you'd want that.

(Alice is out on the docks, handing over a stack of neutral cloth, presumably for making clothes, to an older woman. The woman bows her head in thanks and walks away after receiving it. Alice adjusts her stance to begin walking back down the dock to the shop.)

(After only a couple steps, someone calls out to her, walking on the dock in her direction. She stops in her tracks before backing up a bit.)

Alice! I haven't seen you in a while. Can you believe your boss banned me from the shop over a broken ornament? (He's smiling, but it looks disingenuous and almost off-putting.)

... [It's nice to see you again. And yes, I'm very sorry he went that far.]

Oh really? It's nice to see me again? You know, with how sour you'd gotten, I'm surprised you'd say that now.

[I'm sorry.]

Hah! Sure you are. (He steps closer. She steps back.) Listen, I fucking know you're hiding something. Those aren't just prosthetics, are they? Fine, you can keep your damned secret.

[What?]

(A group of tall, muscular men come down the dock, stopping to stand behind Bertrand. They're blocking Alice's way off the dock. She's maybe only a half meter away from the end of the dock. Bertrand steps towards her again, making her step back.)

[What do you want from me? I didn't do anything to you.]

Perhaps I didn't mean it when I said you could keep your secret. Does it count if I meant that it'll stay a secret for... maybe the next couple minutes?

(Alice's hands move up, but Bertrand grabs the front of her shirt before she can move to push him away. He's a bit unstable with his limp, but his arms work fine. He shoves her off the end of the dock. She hits the water with a large splash and begins to sink.)

@limping-poet

[limping-poet]

Yeah, I think I'd like to do that.

Oh, uh, hi Al!

What.. brings you to the tailor’s?

(Charlie’s sticking his tongue out and trying to make some baby clothes.)

Lou's jacket's just coming apart now and I've tried patching it, but I think it's just going to need a whole new arm at this point and I'm no good at sewing things like that. I was wondering if you could maybe teach me and help me out? I- I can pay you....

[limping-poet]

[He's clearly worried as well, but he doesn't seem horrified or scared by her appearance.]

It's alright. Who do I need to take you to?

[He sets her down on one of the benches, helps her to sit up, and hands her a list of the staff and household members at the manor so that she can point.]

(Alice is out on the docks, handing over a stack of neutral cloth, presumably for making clothes, to an older woman. The woman bows her head in thanks and walks away after receiving it. Alice adjusts her stance to begin walking back down the dock to the shop.)

(After only a couple steps, someone calls out to her, walking on the dock in her direction. She stops in her tracks before backing up a bit.)

Alice! I haven't seen you in a while. Can you believe your boss banned me from the shop over a broken ornament? (He's smiling, but it looks disingenuous and almost off-putting.)

... [It's nice to see you again. And yes, I'm very sorry he went that far.]

Oh really? It's nice to see me again? You know, with how sour you'd gotten, I'm surprised you'd say that now.

[I'm sorry.]

Hah! Sure you are. (He steps closer. She steps back.) Listen, I fucking know you're hiding something. Those aren't just prosthetics, are they? Fine, you can keep your damned secret.

[What?]

(A group of tall, muscular men come down the dock, stopping to stand behind Bertrand. They're blocking Alice's way off the dock. She's maybe only a half meter away from the end of the dock. Bertrand steps towards her again, making her step back.)

[What do you want from me? I didn't do anything to you.]

Perhaps I didn't mean it when I said you could keep your secret. Does it count if I meant that it'll stay a secret for... maybe the next couple minutes?

(Alice's hands move up, but Bertrand grabs the front of her shirt before she can move to push him away. He's a bit unstable with his limp, but his arms work fine. He shoves her off the end of the dock. She hits the water with a large splash and begins to sink.)

@limping-poet

[limping-poet]

Helps to keep her head warm and the sun off her face. I know it's silly, but stuff like that is just kind of what you do with babies. At least, that's what my mom used to say.

Oh, uh, hi Al!

What.. brings you to the tailor’s?

(Charlie’s sticking his tongue out and trying to make some baby clothes.)

Lou's jacket's just coming apart now and I've tried patching it, but I think it's just going to need a whole new arm at this point and I'm no good at sewing things like that. I was wondering if you could maybe teach me and help me out? I- I can pay you....

[limping-poet]

[This can't be right. She's too independent, too lucid to be a construct.]

[But here she is.]

[He hurries to the manor, shielding her body from everyone else's view as best he can.]

(Alice is out on the docks, handing over a stack of neutral cloth, presumably for making clothes, to an older woman. The woman bows her head in thanks and walks away after receiving it. Alice adjusts her stance to begin walking back down the dock to the shop.)

(After only a couple steps, someone calls out to her, walking on the dock in her direction. She stops in her tracks before backing up a bit.)

Alice! I haven't seen you in a while. Can you believe your boss banned me from the shop over a broken ornament? (He's smiling, but it looks disingenuous and almost off-putting.)

... [It's nice to see you again. And yes, I'm very sorry he went that far.]

Oh really? It's nice to see me again? You know, with how sour you'd gotten, I'm surprised you'd say that now.

[I'm sorry.]

Hah! Sure you are. (He steps closer. She steps back.) Listen, I fucking know you're hiding something. Those aren't just prosthetics, are they? Fine, you can keep your damned secret.

[What?]

(A group of tall, muscular men come down the dock, stopping to stand behind Bertrand. They're blocking Alice's way off the dock. She's maybe only a half meter away from the end of the dock. Bertrand steps towards her again, making her step back.)

[What do you want from me? I didn't do anything to you.]

Perhaps I didn't mean it when I said you could keep your secret. Does it count if I meant that it'll stay a secret for... maybe the next couple minutes?

(Alice's hands move up, but Bertrand grabs the front of her shirt before she can move to push him away. He's a bit unstable with his limp, but his arms work fine. He shoves her off the end of the dock. She hits the water with a large splash and begins to sink.)

@limping-poet

[limping-poet]

I think you're already doing a good job keeping her hair back in pigtails. Little gal's not going to have much hair to do anything with for a little while, but once you hit a year old and she's gotten mad about bonnets, you can probably try little braids or a tiny bun. I can teach you then if you'd like.

Oh, uh, hi Al!

What.. brings you to the tailor’s?

(Charlie’s sticking his tongue out and trying to make some baby clothes.)

Lou's jacket's just coming apart now and I've tried patching it, but I think it's just going to need a whole new arm at this point and I'm no good at sewing things like that. I was wondering if you could maybe teach me and help me out? I- I can pay you....

[limping-poet]

[He nods.]

Okay. I'll take you there.

[He picks her up gently, struggling a bit, but doing his best to keep her steady.]

(Alice is out on the docks, handing over a stack of neutral cloth, presumably for making clothes, to an older woman. The woman bows her head in thanks and walks away after receiving it. Alice adjusts her stance to begin walking back down the dock to the shop.)

(After only a couple steps, someone calls out to her, walking on the dock in her direction. She stops in her tracks before backing up a bit.)

Alice! I haven't seen you in a while. Can you believe your boss banned me from the shop over a broken ornament? (He's smiling, but it looks disingenuous and almost off-putting.)

... [It's nice to see you again. And yes, I'm very sorry he went that far.]

Oh really? It's nice to see me again? You know, with how sour you'd gotten, I'm surprised you'd say that now.

[I'm sorry.]

Hah! Sure you are. (He steps closer. She steps back.) Listen, I fucking know you're hiding something. Those aren't just prosthetics, are they? Fine, you can keep your damned secret.

[What?]

(A group of tall, muscular men come down the dock, stopping to stand behind Bertrand. They're blocking Alice's way off the dock. She's maybe only a half meter away from the end of the dock. Bertrand steps towards her again, making her step back.)

[What do you want from me? I didn't do anything to you.]

Perhaps I didn't mean it when I said you could keep your secret. Does it count if I meant that it'll stay a secret for... maybe the next couple minutes?

(Alice's hands move up, but Bertrand grabs the front of her shirt before she can move to push him away. He's a bit unstable with his limp, but his arms work fine. He shoves her off the end of the dock. She hits the water with a large splash and begins to sink.)

@limping-poet

[limping-poet]

No problem.

[It takes a moment for the dots to connect. It makes sense. God dammit. It makes too much sense.]

Is there someone who does your repairs?

(Alice is out on the docks, handing over a stack of neutral cloth, presumably for making clothes, to an older woman. The woman bows her head in thanks and walks away after receiving it. Alice adjusts her stance to begin walking back down the dock to the shop.)

(After only a couple steps, someone calls out to her, walking on the dock in her direction. She stops in her tracks before backing up a bit.)

Alice! I haven't seen you in a while. Can you believe your boss banned me from the shop over a broken ornament? (He's smiling, but it looks disingenuous and almost off-putting.)

... [It's nice to see you again. And yes, I'm very sorry he went that far.]

Oh really? It's nice to see me again? You know, with how sour you'd gotten, I'm surprised you'd say that now.

[I'm sorry.]

Hah! Sure you are. (He steps closer. She steps back.) Listen, I fucking know you're hiding something. Those aren't just prosthetics, are they? Fine, you can keep your damned secret.

[What?]

(A group of tall, muscular men come down the dock, stopping to stand behind Bertrand. They're blocking Alice's way off the dock. She's maybe only a half meter away from the end of the dock. Bertrand steps towards her again, making her step back.)

[What do you want from me? I didn't do anything to you.]

Perhaps I didn't mean it when I said you could keep your secret. Does it count if I meant that it'll stay a secret for... maybe the next couple minutes?

(Alice's hands move up, but Bertrand grabs the front of her shirt before she can move to push him away. He's a bit unstable with his limp, but his arms work fine. He shoves her off the end of the dock. She hits the water with a large splash and begins to sink.)

@limping-poet

[limping-poet]

[He laughs.]

You know she might like hearing about how you make stuff too or talking through what you're doing with her too. Or just rambling about anything in general.

Oh, uh, hi Al!

What.. brings you to the tailor’s?

(Charlie’s sticking his tongue out and trying to make some baby clothes.)

Lou's jacket's just coming apart now and I've tried patching it, but I think it's just going to need a whole new arm at this point and I'm no good at sewing things like that. I was wondering if you could maybe teach me and help me out? I- I can pay you....

[limping-poet]

Sometimes. I also tell them about my sibling and the rest of the city and the books I've been reading about them. I- uh- I give them names too and sometimes sketch them like they're important people.

Oh, uh, hi Al!

What.. brings you to the tailor’s?

(Charlie’s sticking his tongue out and trying to make some baby clothes.)

Lou's jacket's just coming apart now and I've tried patching it, but I think it's just going to need a whole new arm at this point and I'm no good at sewing things like that. I was wondering if you could maybe teach me and help me out? I- I can pay you....

[limping-poet]

Shut up, Bertrand.

[He pulls him into the water, not even sparing him a second glance.]

[He runs to check on Alice, pulling the water from her system.]

[She's oddly mechanical, but it's just got to be the extensive prosthetics. Bad things happened down here. Not unlike what Bertrand tried to do to her.]

(Alice is out on the docks, handing over a stack of neutral cloth, presumably for making clothes, to an older woman. The woman bows her head in thanks and walks away after receiving it. Alice adjusts her stance to begin walking back down the dock to the shop.)

(After only a couple steps, someone calls out to her, walking on the dock in her direction. She stops in her tracks before backing up a bit.)

Alice! I haven't seen you in a while. Can you believe your boss banned me from the shop over a broken ornament? (He's smiling, but it looks disingenuous and almost off-putting.)

... [It's nice to see you again. And yes, I'm very sorry he went that far.]

Oh really? It's nice to see me again? You know, with how sour you'd gotten, I'm surprised you'd say that now.

[I'm sorry.]

Hah! Sure you are. (He steps closer. She steps back.) Listen, I fucking know you're hiding something. Those aren't just prosthetics, are they? Fine, you can keep your damned secret.

[What?]

(A group of tall, muscular men come down the dock, stopping to stand behind Bertrand. They're blocking Alice's way off the dock. She's maybe only a half meter away from the end of the dock. Bertrand steps towards her again, making her step back.)

[What do you want from me? I didn't do anything to you.]

Perhaps I didn't mean it when I said you could keep your secret. Does it count if I meant that it'll stay a secret for... maybe the next couple minutes?

(Alice's hands move up, but Bertrand grabs the front of her shirt before she can move to push him away. He's a bit unstable with his limp, but his arms work fine. He shoves her off the end of the dock. She hits the water with a large splash and begins to sink.)

@limping-poet

[limping-poet]

[He'd been out near the docks running an errand.]

[He hears the sounds of the scuffle and comes running. He sees Alice in the water and Bertrand and the other men nearby.]

What the fuck are you doing?!

[He puts what he thinks the pieces are together quickly enough and uses his magic to control the water at the docks, pulling each of the men into the water one by one and getting Alice out of the water and onto one of the docks away from Bertrand.]

(Alice is out on the docks, handing over a stack of neutral cloth, presumably for making clothes, to an older woman. The woman bows her head in thanks and walks away after receiving it. Alice adjusts her stance to begin walking back down the dock to the shop.)

(After only a couple steps, someone calls out to her, walking on the dock in her direction. She stops in her tracks before backing up a bit.)

Alice! I haven't seen you in a while. Can you believe your boss banned me from the shop over a broken ornament? (He's smiling, but it looks disingenuous and almost off-putting.)

... [It's nice to see you again. And yes, I'm very sorry he went that far.]

Oh really? It's nice to see me again? You know, with how sour you'd gotten, I'm surprised you'd say that now.

[I'm sorry.]

Hah! Sure you are. (He steps closer. She steps back.) Listen, I fucking know you're hiding something. Those aren't just prosthetics, are they? Fine, you can keep your damned secret.

[What?]

(A group of tall, muscular men come down the dock, stopping to stand behind Bertrand. They're blocking Alice's way off the dock. She's maybe only a half meter away from the end of the dock. Bertrand steps towards her again, making her step back.)

[What do you want from me? I didn't do anything to you.]

Perhaps I didn't mean it when I said you could keep your secret. Does it count if I meant that it'll stay a secret for... maybe the next couple minutes?

(Alice's hands move up, but Bertrand grabs the front of her shirt before she can move to push him away. He's a bit unstable with his limp, but his arms work fine. He shoves her off the end of the dock. She hits the water with a large splash and begins to sink.)

@limping-poet

[limping-poet]

Well, talking to them helps them to develop a better understanding of tone and get them started on learning bits and pieces of their vocabulary. They don't always understand the words, but they can read the emotions behind what you say so if I say something like I love you, she won't know the words, but she can feel the love behind it. It's a little like talking to plants and I've been doing a lot of that lately...

Oh, uh, hi Al!

What.. brings you to the tailor’s?

(Charlie’s sticking his tongue out and trying to make some baby clothes.)

Lou's jacket's just coming apart now and I've tried patching it, but I think it's just going to need a whole new arm at this point and I'm no good at sewing things like that. I was wondering if you could maybe teach me and help me out? I- I can pay you....