Chapter Text
==>Tomois Rinoca | 8 Sweeps | Lower slums of Battery City
“What are you doing there?”
The voice took him by surprise and Tomie jerked himself around so fast that he could practically hear his neck crack. His pulse beat hard in his ears and he clutched the stolen bag to his thin chest with whitened knuckles and a single eye wide as can be. That single eye fixated on the intruder standing at the entrance of his little... shack. If you could call it that.
The new troll, on the other hand, just seemed mildly amused at his panic.
The troll was short. A little bottom heavy too, with a long, shapeless shirt that was damp with the drizzle of rain and her long, long hair seemed to frizz around her in the humidity. It made her look a little bit grungier than she probably was - but not nearly as grungy as Tomie knew he was.
It’s been almost a perigree and a half since he came to the city and he couldn’t lie, it had been… it had been a little hard. All of the precious silvers he stole from his tormentor was already gone and not all of it was turned into money in his pockets. Someone stole a good chunk of the goods he had stolen on his second week and the rest that he had… wasn’t much.
Tomie ran out of money pretty quickly here. Faster than he expected, honestly, and that’s how he ended up here, cowering in the back of a shed in the rain with a bag he was trying to press into his ribcage and a strange troll who tapped her feet at him.
The oliveblood eyed him up a bit queerly and she folded her arms. Fear sparked through his chest and he couldn't help but glance around quickly, his heartrate picking up speed. He recognized that pout and that disappointment - the last time he saw it, he had dogs set on him and the feel of dog teeth pulling at skin wasn't something he was keen on experiencing again. He had to escape. Oh, Messiahs, he had to escape now -
“Don’t do that, “ She said suddenly, noticing his looks. It made him pause and it broke the thoughts running through his heads. He wasn't in a swamp anymore, he was in... a city. With someone who didn't have dogs at her command. It's enough to help calm him down - if only marginally. “It’s fine, look, I’m not about to go and turn you in.”
Tomie stared at her. Then, he glanced down at the purse in his hands. Oh. He nearly forgot about the purse. But if she wasn't here to turn her in or get it back, then what on Alternia was she here for…?
She huffed and shifted again, taking a few slow, measured steps forward. It takes everything in his being not to sprint. “I saw you take that, “ She said after a moment, slow and measured as she watched him. Watching, watching for any sort of sign of him bolting for it. He shifted again uneasily, and she stopped. The sound of rain dripped around them as they stared at each other silently.
The troll must have seen the wariness and fear on his face. She sighed again and unfolded her arms to hold her hands up in a gesture of good will. “… Hey. I’m not going to hurt you you know. I just - I just wanted to talk.” She paused, and after a moment of silence and stillness on his part, she continued. “Stijon and I - My friend, he’s here too but he didn’t want to scare you - we saw how you pulled that car open. You’re pretty good with your hands, aren’t you?”
Tomie hesitated and his chin ducked down so he could look at his own fingers. He… supposed so? But it wasn’t so much as him being good at it as it was just, something he could innately do. He could never really explain it well, but it was just a thing he could do. He didn't think it was impressive at least. But maybe other trolls here in the city thought otherwise?
The olive noticed his hesitation and took another cautious step forward, her head tilted to the side to catch his eye.
“… You look hungry.“ He looked up at that, studying the sympathetic look on her face. “You know, if you’re looking for a bite to eat, I could help you. My friend can too. We have food we can share. A hot meal and - “ She stopped and gestured at the ratty tarp Tomie had draped over the holes of the abandoned shed he was taking shelter in. “- Someplace warm and less wet.” The girl paused again to watch him. Then, she held out her hand, nice and slow.
Tomie eyed her hand up.
“… Who are you?” He croaked out with a voice rough from disuse. He doesn't reach for her hand at first. It takes a moment to think it over, swallowing that rock lodged in his throat and trying to feel out if he should run. But, he's always been an impulsive troll and this person... She didn't seem too bad. Taking a few cautious steps forward, he swung the purse over a shoulder as he got closer to her, one shaking hand hovering at his side.
She smiled as she watched his fingers slowly reach for hers. “A friend, if you want it. A friend who could probably use some good thieving fingers like yours and pay you in someplace safe to be and food to eat if you want it.” His cold fingers made contact with her warm ones, and she gave them a soft little squeeze. It's enough to calm the tremors down and ease the fear still sitting in his chest.
“But you can call me Moirah.”