originally posted in:The New Dojo
[i]The girl had a bloody, cut open cheek. She was barely councious from the hit.[/i]
English
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"Oh goddammit... Fûcking... Why today?" [b]I pull out some healing powder from my left coat pocket, and rub it into the wound. That would fix that, but that wouldn't fix my ruined public image. People were staring, I could tell. I shake her shoulder.[/b] "Hey, kiddo. You okay?" [b]My voice no longer had distress or anger, it was now a gentle one.[/b]
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[i]She quickly scoots away from him and curls up into a ball with her tail covering her face.[/i]
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"Listen, listen. I ain't gonna hurt you. Well, not anymore than I've already done. I didn't mean to. Muscle reflex, okay? You're okay. I fixed up your cheek. Hey, what's someone like you doin out here? Shouldn't you be out with your parents?" [b]I noticed how young she looked. I'd say 16, max.[/b]
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[i]She was actually 17 about to be 18. She just curled even more and whimpered like a scared puppy.[/i]
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[b]I tried my best to put on a comforting tone.[/b] "Hey. Listen. It's all okay now. I ain't gonna hurt you, okay? Was a mistake. You're okay."
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[i]She slowly uncurled, but didn't look at the man as she shook in fear.[/i]
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"It's fine. You're fine, okay? Look at me, okay? I ain't gonna do nothin to hurt ya." [b]I take my helmet off.[/b]
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[i]She glanced at him for a split second before looking away and for that split second he saw bright, sparkly blue eyes. She was now on her hands and knees.[/i]
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"Hey, are you hurt? I don't know how hard I hit ya... Anything broken? Sprained?"
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[i]She shook her head and stood up. Her legs were wobbly and her balance poor.[/i]
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[b]I walked over to her very slowly, as not to startle her. She was damn lucky that punch didn't break her job. Guess God was smiling on her today. Felt like he was shitting on me.[/b] "What's your name? Mine's Grant."
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[i]She tried to step away from Grant, but instead fell again. This time she cut her lower thigh on a nearby table on the way down.[/i]
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"Damn, kid. Slow down and stop getting messed up." [b]I get some more healing powder out, and pack it on to the wound. I then got up, and stuck my hand out.[/b] "Here, let me help you up."
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[i]She flinches from the hand moving towards her. She slowly gets up on her own again, leaning on a table for support.[/i]
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"Listen, kiddo. Let me help you out. Why were you stealing that gun? Money? I can give you some money, kid. I've got too much than I know what to do with. First, though, what's your name?"
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[i]The girl's voice is barely loud enough to hear.[/i] "...Artemis..."
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"Artemis, turn and look at me, alright? I ain't gonna hurt you."
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[i]Artemis looks up a bit, but doesn't look Grant in the eye. She starts to cover her face with her tail.[/i]
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"What currency do you want? Caps? Dollars? Legion Denarii?" [b]I begin to rifle through my pockets, looking for my wallet.[/b]
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[i]Her voice was extremely quiet.[/i] "Anything..."
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"Well okay." [b]I find my wallet, and pull a wad of cash out, pretty hefty. I hand it to her.[/b] "That's about... 5000 dollars, I think. Not that much to me, but you look like you need it. Where's your parents, kid?"
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[i]She looks at the money happily, but at the mention her parents she gets upset.[/i] "At the den. Probably happy I'm gone."
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"What do you mean? You and your parents having problems?"
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[i]She starts to tear up.[/i] "Problems? Yeah, me."
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"Damn, kid. Parents disown you or somethin? Same thing happened to me, before I joined up with the NCR."