|
Post by Cres on Mar 29, 2006 13:44:37 GMT -5
The 12-year-old girl was sitting alone on the front lawn of the MacDamon house, a stick in her hand and a beach ball in front of her, rolling the ball back and forth with the stick. There was a look of utter depression on her face. Every now and then there could be heard a scream of a young boy and other loud noises from the house behind her. The two boys were undoubtedly running around, playing something violent and breaking things again. They didn't really listen to their mother, and Rowan was out doing grocery shopping, so there was no one around to tell them off decently.
Muriel sighed and furrowed her brows, leaning her other cheek on the other knee, bent against her chest. She had never felt this bad since her father had died. When Halloween had started to close in Muriel had been exhilarated, as she had been planning her costume this year for months beforehand. She had even selected the fabric from among the old fabrics her mother had given her to use for making doll clothes and such, and she had started to sew, too. The dress was now done, but she had nowhere to go in it anymore.
Or more precisely, she didn't want to. She didn't want to be just another girl in some obscure Indian costume. She wanted to be an Indian warrior princess. And what was a warrior princess without a nice headband - she had found the perfect one from a store, even - and a bow and some arrows? And she couldn't get those. When she had gone to ask for money from her mother that morning she had told her that there was no money. It was simply not fair. Her brothers had got their costumes just because they were younger.
"Halloween isn't little kids' celebration," she muttered to herself and glanced over her shoulder to the house with a poisonous look in her eyes. Then her expression drooped again and she sighed, turning to fiddle with the ball again. It looked as though there wasn't going to be a Halloween for her this time.
[[Princi welcome at any point. I thought it'd be best if Rowan wasn't with her so he's away doing grocery shopping. ^-^]]
|
|
|
Post by Kat on Mar 29, 2006 23:00:12 GMT -5
The leash held loosely in her hand, Princess rounded the corner onto the street she lived on, her black cocker spaniel Gloomy merrily walking along ahead of her. The walk had been a joyous one, the cool breeze in the October air refreshing. As she neared her house she instinctively looked at the house next door, hoping Rowan wouldn't be anywhere in sight as she wasn't feeling like putting on her loving front at the moment. Halloween was too near and it was getting harder for her to keep up the charade. Rowan was nowhere in sight, but the person who was made Princess frown a little.
Walking onto the lawn and studying the bored look of her boyfriend's little sister, Princess walked up to where Muriel was sitting and lowered herself to the ground to sit next to the girl.
"Hey you, any reason you're looking so depressed?" The concern in her voice was honest for once. She had really come to like the younger girl. Seeing how rough it was on her to live with three brothers and a stressed-out mother had really drawn out Princess' usually dormant sense of sympathy. The only thing worrying her about dumping Rowan was the effect it might have on Muriel. She'd miss the kid if things got ugly.
|
|
|
Post by Cres on Mar 30, 2006 1:07:08 GMT -5
Muriel looked up from the ball, only noticing Princess when she was right next to her and sat down. She had to smile a little when the cocker spaniel came sniffing her, and pushed the ball aside and threw the stick from her hand to be able to scratch the dog from behind the ears. She looked at Princess with a joyless smile and shrugged.
"Ach it's nuthin' I guess," she said. She opened her mouth, then hesitated a bit. She wasn't sure what Princess thought about Halloween and seeing as she looked up to the older girl, she didn't want to sound childish complaining about not getting all accessories for her costume, so she needed to find out her thoughts first. "Are ye goin' tae dress up fer 'alloween?"
|
|
|
Post by Kat on Mar 30, 2006 13:13:42 GMT -5
"Are you kidding? Of course I am! In fact I'm going over to a friend's place tonight so she can finish fitting my outfit. A few of us have decided to have a little theme this year. My friend Ace is dressing up like an Egyptian pharoah, his best friend is going to be a gladiator to protect the royalty, and I'm going to be his little Egyptian servant girl! The costumes are awesome, they were all done by my friend Sparky. She made us everything and also found us super cool jewlery and stuff to match. I'm wearing it to school on Friday, and then to a party that night. I'll stop by and show it off to you though, I look so awesome in it." She grinned and leaned back on her hands, looking at Muriel with a curious eye.
"So what about you? You better be dressing up." She smiled and wondered if maybe Muriel was hitting the age where she would start thinking that dressing up was stupid. Or maybe she had hit the age where her mother thought her dressing up was stupid. She hoped the second option wasn't the one.
|
|
|
Post by Cres on Mar 31, 2006 8:47:50 GMT -5
Muriel was relieved to hear that Princess was so enthusiastic about dressing up, so much in fact that she started smiling as she listened to her. However, when Princess asked her question, the younger girl looked away and shuffled the heel of her other foot a little against the grass, seeming a bit embarrassed.
"Nae," she said. "I dun't... I dun't know if I will. I mean, I'd like tae... bu' I can't buy the stuff I'd need fer the dress. I've sewn it already an' all." She looked at Princess, a fire in her eyes now, as she heated up for the topic again. "Bu' mum says that she dun't have the money, and still she bought me brothers costumes! I dun't think it's fair!" She looked down and pouted. "Bu' she's sayin' I'm too auld already, I shaldn't mind. Rowie gets tae dress up only 'cos he's going as William Wallace, an' we dun't have tae buy anythin' fer it."
|
|
|
Post by Kat on Mar 31, 2006 12:39:56 GMT -5
Princess listened as Muriel complained about her mother and her double standards, having guessed correctly after all. Mrs. MacDamon was a nice lady, but she was a little too serious and not quite fun enough for Princess' tastes. But she was happy when she realized the only issue was money. Her uncle had a lot of money and her bank account was quite stuffed as it is from not only his money, but also the insurance after her mother passed away. She could certainly donate a bit of it for a good cause.
"Wow, that really sucks. I don't get parents who act like Halloween is only for little kids. Everyone should enjoy the day, it's supposed to be fun. Even if she can't afford to buy you stuff, she should at least be more sympathetic to your wants, instead of telling you that you're too old. That's pretty mean." She tried not to sound too angry about it, after all she didn't want to insult the woman. She just wanted to keep Muriel on her side.
"What's your costume, anyway? And what exactly do you need that she won't buy you?" She wondered if she should offer to take Muriel out to buy her everything, or if she should just buy it all for her and surprise her. Maybe surprise her in front of her mother. Whatever might help her continue to look good for the family would definitely help in the long run.
**So do you think Princi should tell her and take her out to buy everything, or just go out and buy her the stuff and drop it off after school the next day? Let me know! I was also thinking, since Muriel mentioned wanting a bow and arrow, would she be interested in taking lessons? Maybe Princess could sign her up for lessons so her bow and arrows won't go to waste, it would probably make her even better in Muriel's eyes :D **
|
|
|
Post by Cres on Mar 31, 2006 12:58:04 GMT -5
[[Ooh, I don't know! I hadn't thought that far ahead! *lol* Hmm. I think that she could do it either way, though the whole taking her to shopping would probably work better for the whole bonding thing, and also if they come home together and Muriel's all like "look what Princess bought for me", her mother can't refuse on the "we don't accept mercy gifts" excuse (which she might because she's got a pride thing and will likely feel really bad when she realises how much the whole thing really meant to Muriel). As for the bow and arrows, it'd be awesome if Princess got lessons for her!!! She'd absolutely love it, it'd totally work in Princi's benefit. ]] Muriel felt a little better when Princess took her side. Rowan hadn't really cared, he'd just explained to her carefully that they didn't really have the money and that he was sorry but there was nothing they could do, and he hadn't obviously realised what a big deal it was to her. And the younger brothers had of course only gloated. Princess was the first to really sympathise, and it made Muriel feel good. In many ways, she was beginning to think of Princess as the older sister she had always wanted. "What's your costume, anyway? And what exactly do you need that she won't buy you?"Muriel smiled in a way she hoped to be regal and straightened her back, trying to appear as princess-like as she could. "An Indian warrior princess," she said proudly. "Ye ken, Pocahontas-style. Well, though nae Pocahontas, she wasnae warrior, but ye ken wha' I mean." She slouched her shoulders again in a bit depressed way. "Aye, I've got the skirt an' the shirt done already, too. Bu' I dun't 'ave moccasins, headband, feathers or weapons. Ye ken warrior princess isnae warrior wi'out weapons. I was thinkin' bow an' arrows, I dinnae think they wald cost sae much." She kicked a rogue stone off the lawn with one foot, looking rather grumpy.
|
|
|
Post by Kat on Mar 31, 2006 18:14:46 GMT -5
**Yay! I was hoping you'd like the idea of Princess taking her out shopping and the lessons, Princess really wants to bond with Muriel while she can, hehe**
Princess couldn't help but smile as she listened to Muriel talk about her costume, definitely deciding that she wanted to take the girl out and buy her everything she needed. Glancing at her watch and seeing that it was only 4:45, definitely early enough to take Muriel out for a while, she looked at the younger girl and grinned.
"You know, you're right. You totally need all of that stuff if you're going to be a real Indian warrior princess. If your mom won't buy it for you, then I will." She sat up straight, an excited grin on her face. "What do you say we go shopping now? Do you know exactly what you want? There are a lot of cool little shops downtown where we might be able to find you some cool accessories, I could call Sparky, she knows all the coolest shops downtown for this stuff. Plus she knows all the people who work at the shops, so she could like, get us discounts even. What do you think?" She hoped Muriel was nothing like her mother and would accept her offer. She knew if she asked Mrs MacDamon, the woman wouldn't hesitate in saying no.
|
|
|
Post by Cres on Apr 1, 2006 23:56:19 GMT -5
[[I'm really anxious to see how it'll turn out between them after Princi and Rowie break up ^-^]]
Muriel's eyes lit up like two little stars at Princess's offer. She straightened her back at once and rolled over on her knees to face Princess, almost clapping her hands with excitement.
"O'me God, really?" she exclaimed, jumping up and down a little. She had no patience for silly considerations of accepting alms and stuff, like her mother would have seen it. She didn't consider it pride, to her it was just plain stupid. "Tha' wald be sae cool! I'll luv ye ferever fer it!"
She recalled her mother and glanced toward the house. There were still noises of boys running round and, likely, breaking things. Muriel turned back to Princess and smiled.
"Ach I dun't have tae tell mum I'm goin'. She knows I run 'round bu' I ne'er get meself intae trouble sae it's okay."
She stood up.
[[shall we leave it here? Or do you want to continue for the shopping? Hehe, either way's fine with me.]]
|
|
|
Post by Kat on Apr 2, 2006 1:29:33 GMT -5
**I guess we could continue it for a little while at least, I quite like playing them together, I hardly ever get to play a nice Princess, hehe!**
Seeing how happy her suggestion made Muriel, Princess was pleased she'd made it. She was even happier when the girl said that she wouldn't need to tell her mother. Pushing herself up off the ground, Princess stood up and pulled gently on Gloomy.
"Excellent, let's go drop the dog off and then we can head downtown. It should be fun, after all we haven't really had the chance to hang out together yet." She smiled at Muriel, then led the way over to her house next door, opening the front door and letting Gloomy off the leash. She grabbed her purse and car keys off the shelf, not bothering to tell her uncle she was going out. He was expecting her to be out for the evening anyway.
She pressed the unlock button and walked over to the car, opening the door and sliding into the driver's seat. The only thing in life she had ever been aggressive about doing was getting her license and she was glad for it, since she was now in the second part of the graduated system, able to drive on her own with friends. She waited until Muriel got in the car before keying up the ignition, wondering if the girl liked any kind of music in particular, or if she should use her older female influence to get Muriel into the music she herself enjoyed.
"So, anything you feel like listening to? Any kind of music you don't like?" She looked next to her at Muriel, a smile on her face.
|
|
|
Post by Cres on Apr 3, 2006 22:44:14 GMT -5
Muriel followed Princess into the car and climbed onto the front seat. She smiled to the older girl while buckling her seatbelt and pulling the door closed after her.
"Oh, I dunno, anythin's fyne I guess," she replied. "I haven't made up me mind yet. Samplin', ye know." She made a face. "Just sae lang as it's nae bagpipes. I get that enough wi' Rowan."
|
|
|
Post by Kat on Apr 14, 2006 9:23:45 GMT -5
Princess laughed, having to agree. She'd been forced to endure bagpipes with Rowan as well. "Don't worry, I'm not really a bagpipe person." She slid in a Sneaker Pimps cd, deciding not to get into anything too heavy just yet. She pulled out of the driveway, driving past the school toward the expressway that would lead them into downtown.
"So, how are you adjusting to life here anyway? Making friends at school? Any guys obsessing over you yet?" Princess winked at her before looking back at the road, enjoying herself. She just hoped again that Muriel would still talk to her once she broke up with her brother.
|
|
|
Post by Cres on Apr 14, 2006 9:34:29 GMT -5
Muriel, who was not a very big twelve-year-old, waved her feet back and forth in the beat of the music [[I'm going out on a limb here and assume that there's a beat in this music, haha]] and looked out of the window, her head pressed against the seat. She listened to the music curiously and, quite out of context, it occurred to her what a shock it would be to her mother if she one day came home with a bunch of metal band cds, or something like that. The thought made her grin. Princess's question about boys made the grin drop, however, and her expression turned to a half a pout.
"Nae," she said. "They keep makin' fun o' me b'cause I'm related tae them Jekyll'n'Hyde. Or wait, make that twa Hydes, that's what they are."
|
|
|
Post by Kat on Apr 14, 2006 9:50:07 GMT -5
(I sent you some SP stuff on one of the cd's, the random inspiration; the singer has Sunny's voice; and omg Princess is getting so protective, hehe:)
Princess was saddened to hear that Muriel's time hadn't been too happy yet, especially due to younger brothers. "Well that's crap! God, kids can be so stupid. Just because you have little hellions for brothers," she looked at Muriel and grinned, "that's no reason for them to treat you badly. Maybe they just need to see that certain older, cooler people love to hang around with you. Maybe I should come pick you up after school one day or something, this way I can get a look at them too."
She watched the road a moment before looking back at Muriel. She wanted to do something to help the kid out. She knew what it was like to be an outsider at school, that's what things had been like for her after her father had died. She didn't want Muriel to follow anywhere near the same path she had, or do anything she had done for attention. She deserved better.
|
|
|
Post by Cres on Apr 17, 2006 1:19:49 GMT -5
[[oooh yeah yeah, that's true! You know I seriously need to pay more attention to band names. I'm just weird in that if I don't have the full cd of some band I tend to forget its name. >.< I'm stupid. Anyway, yay for protectiveness!!! I foresee a super interesting relationship here. ^-^]]
Muriel's face lit up when Princess took her side so strongly, and even promised to come by. In her opinion that would definitely make a difference, not only because Princess was a senior, but also because she was, in Muriel's opinion, the coolest ever. At the back of her mind she wished that she and Rowan never broke up, and decided that if Rowan mucked this one up, she'd kick his ass.
"Tha' wald be sae great!" She nodded eagerly and then realised she was being slightly immature, bouncing on her bench like that. Quickly she leaned back, trying to look cool and relaxed. "That'd bloody shake 'em," she added, then giggled a bit. Her mother didn't like it when she used such language, but she didn't really care.
She looked at Princess with her eyes shining with enthusiasm.
"Sae where we goin' first?"
[[sorry if this takes time sometimes. I keep having hard time adjusting to Muriel's energetic-ness though I love rp'ing her. *lol*]]
|
|