trepidations

[ivegotmypride]

She hadn't needed to use the gun. The next person to walk through the door had been Bill. Nancy'd sorted it out- he'd already agreed to keep her secret long before. Nancy knew, definitively, he was on her side. He hated the old bastard, and he knew what the man did to girls, same as he knew what he did to boys, and he knew what the street was to Nancy.

So Bill had let Jackie stay at their flat for the night- though he got his bed make no mistake. Nancy'd set up as best a spot as she could for Jackie to curl up, and even so she'd fallen asleep with the other girl in her lap, once more. But they couldn't hide away for ever, Bill'd told them that flat out. They had to return to the den. Pretend everything was normal, test the waters and see what Jem'd done told everyone.

She'd hoped, now that they'd had time to cool, she would not have need to bring the pistol along, tucked into her basket like it was nothing.

Comments

[ivegotmypride]

“You tell me how many years you’ve been selling yourself on the street, then you tell me how safe she’d be. Go on,” she looks at him with cold eyes,: daring him.

[knowntoherfriends]

"Nancy," Fagin tried on a different tact, consoling and kind. "You know what the lads will be like, you know they don't like being out done."

[ivegotmypride]

“The lads have been outdone by her for years! This ain’t any different.”

[knowntoherfriends]

"They didn't know she was a girl!" Fagin said in a serious tone. "That changes everything."

[ivegotmypride]

“They’ll just have to work harder then.” She smirked. “And you won’t be letting them touch her.”

[knowntoherfriends]

"I can try," Fagin tilted his head. "I'm an old man, I can't do much against all those young lads..."

[ivegotmypride]

“You tell em Bill won’t stand for it. That’ll put fear in em.”

[knowntoherfriends]

Fagin stilled at that, as if he had not considered Bill being on their side instead of on his. He gave a small nod.

"Of course, of course, they will listen to Bill."

[ivegotmypride]

It’s an easy mistake to make. Assuming Bill would blindly take Fagin’s side. But when Nancy explained it the ars ago, he’d promised his assistance.

“And if they don’t listen to him, they can listen to me chopping their little cocks off.”

[knowntoherfriends]

"Now, that's a bit far."

[ivegotmypride]

“It’ll get them to keep themselves to themselves.” She crosses her arms and leans against one of the tables in the den. “she don’t have what I had.” Nancy had Bill to keep others off of her.

[knowntoherfriends]

"She could if she didn't reject Jem."

[ivegotmypride]

“She don’t want him. He took her, weren’t anything there like Bill and I.” Bill had taken her against this very table.

[knowntoherfriends]

"Could just be playin' hard to get, I understand young Jem wasn't exactly a gentleman about it all," Fagin shook his head. "Boys will be boys, but he will treat her right. I've reminded him of his manners."

[ivegotmypride]

“That’s for Dodger to decide.”

[knowntoherfriends]

There was a pause, as if Fagin wanted to say otherwise, before changing my mind.

"As you say, my dear, as you say."

[ivegotmypride]

“What?” Che challenges. She knew the crook too well to let it sit like that

[knowntoherfriends]

"I didn't say anything, my dear," was Fagin's reply. "As you say, it's up to the Dodger to decide."

[ivegotmypride]

Nancy crosses and uncrosses her arms. “You didn’t have to. You’re thinking it. You’re up to something, you devil you. Don’t think you’ve got me fooled.”

[knowntoherfriends]

"Honestly, such suspicion. It's not good for you."

[ivegotmypride]

“Like you’ve any idea what’s good for me.” She rolled her eyes, using the movement to turn and grab on to the nearest bottle of whiskey. Time for a drink.

[knowntoherfriends]

"You talk that way to the one who raised you up, sheer cheek."

[ivegotmypride]

Nancy rolls her eyes as she drinks.

“You’re the one what taught me.”

Which, come to think of it, was a big difference between her and Dodger. Fagin set her and Bill up from the beginning, encouraging her to go sit on his lap, to try to impress him. Dodger didn’t have that with Jem. She was her own person.

[knowntoherfriends]

"Exactly, show some respect."

Fagin didn't seem all that pleased - it was rather like he was thinking he should have been encouraging Dodger to try to impress one of other lads. As it stood, he didn't have much leverage.

"... Still, Jem does have a soft spot for her."

[ivegotmypride]

Nancy laughs short and hard. Bill’s loathing of the man had bled into Nancy, playing on thoughts and doubts she’d already had. Now, we’ll... fuck Fagin.

“A soft spot? That’s what you’re calling it? Do you know what he bloody did to her?”