footsteps on the stairs
Feb. 3rd, 2019 08:49 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
She'd been too late.
That was exactly what she realized when she'd opened the door. The second the door was open she could feel something was off in the air. She took a few tentative steps into the den and called out, "Oi! Who's about?" a customary way to greet the denizens of the den.
She already had a very strong idea who was about. And she didn't like it.
That was exactly what she realized when she'd opened the door. The second the door was open she could feel something was off in the air. She took a few tentative steps into the den and called out, "Oi! Who's about?" a customary way to greet the denizens of the den.
She already had a very strong idea who was about. And she didn't like it.
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Date: 2019-02-04 11:35 am (UTC)Jem was still about, and he walked towards the door with a swagger.
"Alright Nance, can't hang about. Got stuff to be doing."
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Date: 2019-02-04 04:14 pm (UTC)She frowned at the lad, but nodded. "Go get and earn your keep," she said, waving him out the door. "Anyone else about?"
Jem said they were all out, right before he shut the door behind him. Frowning, Nancy began to look around. It wasn't very long before she found the girl, curled up and shaking. Nancy didn't waste a second, dropping to her knees, and pulling Jackie toward her. "Jackie-- he didn't--" he did. They both knew it.
Jackie couldn't stay here.
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Date: 2019-02-04 04:38 pm (UTC)"...He knows."
It's all she could say.
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Date: 2019-02-04 04:43 pm (UTC)"Hush," she says softly, reaching up to gently stroke Jackie's hair. She had to calm her, first, then they could take action. Whatever those would be. The first, she knew, was to get Jackie out of here. It wasn't safe for her anymore.
She presses Jackie's head to her chest, a position most of the boys coveted. She'll let Jackie take her time, tell her what happened if she can. Then she's got to get the girl to her flat. It was the only safe space she knew of.
"I'm here, I'll take good care of you, Jacks."
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Date: 2019-02-04 05:05 pm (UTC)She wonders if she'll bruise.
"He knows, Nance."
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Date: 2019-02-04 05:44 pm (UTC)"I know, love, I know," she said, rocking back and fourth just slightly. Jem knew, so it was only a matter of time before the others did. Before Fagin learned what it was that Nancy'd done. What she'd been doing for years. You didn't keep secrets from Fagin, that was the rule. She'd done more than that. She'd actively, as Fagin would say, cheated him out of his earnings. She'd lied and kept up the charade.
There would be consequences. She knew that. But there were things far more important.
"We're going to get you out of here, alright?"
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Date: 2019-02-04 06:10 pm (UTC)Jackie didn't want that to be her life. She was scared for that to be her life. She nodded at Nancy's statement, still clinging and shaking but not crying. She wouldn't cry, not in the den.
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Date: 2019-02-04 08:19 pm (UTC)"C'mon. Let's get you out of here, then. Can you walk, love?" She keeps her tone light and comforting, ever the maternal figure in the lives of those around her. She didn't think she'd be able to carry her all the way to Bethnal Green, and running to get Bill wasn't even an option. She didn't know where he was, precisely, and he didn't take kindly to being interrupted. She was going to need him to be on her side for this, there was no need to rock the boat.
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Date: 2019-02-04 09:06 pm (UTC)Could she? She didn't know. She unwound herself slowly from around Nancy, pushing herself to her feet. Yes, her legs could hold her. Her fist went up to scrub at her eyes, trying to remove any signs of tears, before moving to grab her hat and fix it back on her head. She was the Artful Dodger. The Artful Dodger didn't cry. They faced things head on.
"I c'n walk."
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Date: 2019-02-04 09:07 pm (UTC)"Good. Let's get you back to my flat, first. You'll be safe there." For now.
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Date: 2019-02-04 09:16 pm (UTC)"Jem goes there, so does Fagin," she said, her words sounding panicked. "They'll find me."
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Date: 2019-02-05 02:58 am (UTC)At least Jem was smaller than Bill had been, she couldn't help but think.
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Date: 2019-02-05 05:56 pm (UTC)Well, she had no reason not to believe Nancy's word here. All things considered, the flat was safer than the den. For now.
"C'n we go?"
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Date: 2019-02-05 06:40 pm (UTC)Nancy takes the lead, bringing the two of them through side-streets that members of the gang would not likely be hiding in. The side streets also helped with their shortcuts, and it wasn't long before the two of them were climbing the stairs up to the flat.
"I'll get you some gin," Nancy said as she unlocked the door and ushered Jackie in, locking the door promptly behind her. After that, she closed the shutters. Give them some privacy.
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Date: 2019-02-05 07:37 pm (UTC)What was she going to do now? Now that Jem knew, the others would know. Mouse, Charley... they'd all treat her different. She wouldn't be the Artful Dodger, not to them anymore.
She looked up slowly. "...What?"
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Date: 2019-02-05 11:41 pm (UTC)They were here. They were safe. Jackie could relax here, though she was sure that was the last thing the younger girl felt she'd be able to do. Nancy takes a bottle off the shelf and comes down to sit next to Jackie. She takes a swig then offers the bottle to the girl.
"Take your time. Drink as much as you want."
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Date: 2019-02-06 02:08 pm (UTC)How old had she been?
"...How long till they find me?"
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Date: 2019-02-06 02:36 pm (UTC)“Oi! Stop thinking like that, Jackie. They’re not going to touch a hair on your head, I’ll make sure of that.” She was firm in her words.
“And I’ll chop Jem’s cock off myself.”
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Date: 2019-02-06 02:44 pm (UTC)And then there was a moment of stillness.
And then she was crying.
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Date: 2019-02-06 02:59 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-02-06 03:11 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-02-06 03:44 pm (UTC)Jem would want claim on Jackie now- same as Bill had Nancy. They’d all seen it. But she wouldn’t let that happen.
“It ain’t your fault.”
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Date: 2019-02-06 03:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-02-06 03:57 pm (UTC)“I promise, Jackie. We’ll- we can get you out of London. Bet’s got family in Reading.” Dodger was going to hate the suggestion.
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Date: 2019-02-06 04:10 pm (UTC)"I ain't leaving, an' I ain't being his."
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