Window Table

[Malleus]

The table isn't very big but if you like to people watch, this is the table for you.

[Street]

Street liked the window booth. She enjoyed watching the people pass the window, going on about their buisness. And plus, if she saw someone with something that caught her eye, she could watch them for a good while. Street sighed and began to hum a song Asher had taught her. She was rather fond of Asher-he was good lad, even if he was strange.

Street straightened up suddenly, she saw someone coming into the resturant. He was tall and good-looking, but who was he? Street followed him with her large grey eyes. She hummed a little as she waited for him to enter the resturant completely. She smiled slightly, thinking of the other boys she had met so far-if this one kept with the pattern, it'd be a rather good day. Street finally threw caution to the wind and waved at him. "Lookin' for a table?"

[Malleus]

Malleus's walked through the maze of tables trying to find a table that wasn't taken or maybe someone he knew who wouldn't mind him dropping in on their meal. It served him right to come here at noon. All of the working joes had their lunch break around this time and every Midtown newsie knew to come an hour or so early or late if they wanted to miss the rush but he'd been on a roll with selling and now that all his papes were sold he was just too hungry to wait another hour to get food. He was just about ready to give up and sit on the floor if he had to when he saw a girl wave at him from across the room "Lookin' for a table?" she asked and he replied promptly with a grateful smile and a nod. "Thanks, I was startin' ta think that I'd have to sit in someone's lap" he joked, making his way over to the booth and sitting down. "I'm Malleus" he stated genially, holding his hand out for the girl to shake.

[Street]

Malleus's walked through the maze of tables trying to find a table that wasn't taken or maybe someone he knew who wouldn't mind him dropping in on their meal. It served him right to come here at noon. All of the working joes had their lunch break around this time and every Midtown newsie knew to come an hour or so early or late if they wanted to miss the rush but he'd been on a roll with selling and now that all his papes were sold he was just too hungry to wait another hour to get food. He was just about ready to give up and sit on the floor if he had to when he saw a girl wave at him from across the room "Lookin' for a table?" she asked and he replied promptly with a grateful smile and a nod. "Thanks, I was startin' ta think that I'd have to sit in someone's lap" he joked, making his way over to the booth and sitting down. "I'm Malleus" he stated genially, holding his hand out for the girl to shake.

The boy came over. "Hello, Malleus. I'm Street." She shook his hand. "Hey, I think I've seen ya around before... Are ya the Midtown leader?" She asked curiously, tilting her head. "It's a bit crowded in here, ain't it? I probably would've passed this place up if I wasn't so tired of walkin'. When I came in here, there was only a few people-but it suddenly filled up." Street shook her head. "Sorry, I'm babblin' ain't I?" She laughed and smiled. "How's Midtown treatin' ya?" She asked him, before taking a small sip from the glass in front of her.

[Malleus]

"Hello, Malleus. I'm Street. Hey, I think I've seen ya around before... Are ya the Midtown leader?"

Malleus gave a short nod in response "the one and only" he replied with a smile "and you're the new bronx leader ain't ya?" he asked with a chuckle in his voice. "I heard about how ya got the leadership. Just goes ta show what a lousy poker player I am. Goldie wins against me all the time." he added with a charming smile. "but it serves her right for bettin' wit' such high stakes."

"It's a bit crowded in here, ain't it? I probably would've passed this place up if I wasn't so tired of walkin'. When I came in here, there was only a few people-but it suddenly filled up. Sorry, I'm babblin' ain't I? How's Midtown treatin' ya?"

He ran a hand through his hair and smiled amusedly as he thought of how to word his response. "Well...it's pretty much the same as always. I guess you already discovered the endless joys of being a leader for ya'self by now, huh?" he asked her, his tone full of a playful sarcasm. Being a leader definitely wasn't always all it was made out to be. All in all it was a good gig but you had to be the right kind of person to get by in a role like that and he couldn't be sure yet if she was that kind of person. After all, she didn't exactly win the position based on merit.

((sorry it took me so long to reply. If I leave the computer for more than five minutes it becomes fair game for my mom and she can take awhile to get off.))

[Street]

Malleus gave a short nod in response "the one and only" he replied with a smile "and you're the new bronx leader ain't ya?" he asked with a chuckle in his voice. "I heard about how ya got the leadership. Just goes ta show what a lousy poker player I am. Goldie wins against me all the time." he added with a charming smile. "but it serves her right for bettin' wit' such high stakes."

"Yeah, she thought I was just another kid wantin' ta gamble. But she learned a lesson, I suppose. If someone asks ya ta gamble for a leadership position, ya gotta say no." Street shook her head. "I felt bad for her, she looked really sad when she realized she had lost." She shrugged.

He ran a hand through his hair and smiled amusedly as he thought of how to word his response. "Well...it's pretty much the same as always. I guess you already discovered the endless joys of being a leader for ya'self by now, huh?" he asked her, his tone full of a playful sarcasm. Being a leader definitely wasn't always all it was made out to be. All in all it was a good gig but you had to be the right kind of person to get by in a role like that and he couldn't be sure yet if she was that kind of person. After all, she didn't exactly win the position based on merit.

"Oh, I'm discoverin' a lot lately. Like the fact that if ya somethin'-even as a joke-the kids under ya take it literally. Why, I told two boys ta play poker ta solve their problems and they did! Sat right there at my desk and played poker!" Street laughed. "It was certainly a sight ta behold." Street tilted her head. "Ya know, I've heard from Spot and Poet and Jack and Hawkeye about how they feel about me becomin' leader, but I haven't heard anythin' from ya. You're a quiet one, ain't ya?" Street asked. "Me, I can't be quiet for a dollar." She smiled, chuckling slightly. People-mostly Spot-always said she talked too much.

[Malleus]

"Yeah, she thought I was just another kid wantin' ta gamble. But she learned a lesson, I suppose. If someone asks ya ta gamble for a leadership position, ya gotta say noI felt bad for her, she looked really sad when she realized she had lost."

Malleus let out a jovial chuckle. "I bet she did, I'd be upset too if I lost all I'd worked for in a split second but ya shouldn't a' felt bad. It was her fault she made such a dumbass move. you jus' did what was in ya' best interest. There's no shame in that." Just about then, the waitress walked by and his eyes followed her (or rather, a certain part of her) as she passed and continued to make her way through the aisles.

"Oh, I'm discoverin' a lot lately. Like the fact that if ya somethin'-even as a joke-the kids under ya take it literally. Why, I told two boys ta play poker ta solve their problems and they did! Sat right there at my desk and played poker! It was certainly a sight ta behold. Ya know, I've heard from Spot and Poet and Jack and Hawkeye about how they feel about me becomin' leader, but I haven't heard anythin' from ya. You're a quiet one, ain't ya? Me, I can't be quiet for a dollar."

His eyes snapped back as quickly as they had strayed and a vague hint of embarassment and even shame was evident in his voice as he clumsily replied to her comment which he had clearly only been half listening to. "Yeah, dat sure does sound like somethin'" he gave a uncomfortable chuckle as he shifted in his seat "But...uhh, I really ain't had time ta really get a sense of ya, y'know." he continued, beginning to recover his confidence "Folks like Spot an' the others tend ta jump the gun a bit when it comes ta judgements but I'd rather give ya a chance ta show ya' stuff before I write ya off. I have ta say ya are a bit young but so is Spot an' he's a great leader. My respect ain't somethin' I give lightly, but neither is my disapproval." his expression intesified as he looked accross the table at Street. "So far ya ain't doin' so bad so don't let the other leaders get ya down but ya can't get cocky either. One tough thing 'bout bein' a leader is that ya can't allow ya'self a weak moment or a bad day." his eyes flicked guiltily over at the waitress. "Ya gotta do whatever it takes ta make sure that ya never miss a beat no matter how hard it might be. If you can manage that, then you can gain and maintain my respect" he finished, leaning back a bit and giving his new colleague another charming smile to break the tension, "Don't worry, though, I don't mean to make it out like it's a death sentence, it just ain't the cakewalk folks tend ta think it is. There are perks to it. That said, how're ya likin' ya' new room?" he asked, his tone now positively jovial once again.

[Street]

Street smiled. "I know I shouldn't feel bad, it's just well, Goldie seems like a good girl. Though, I got my revenge for her cussin' me out. Sent her a little present ta take care off." Street sighed happily. "Yeah, them other leaders sure do jump the gun. Why, I went ta talk ta Poet and she told me I should confront Spot about how he's been treatin' me! Now, I couldn't do that... He'd skin me alive, for sure."

Street followed his eyes. She looked thoroughly amused and didn't seem to mine that he was only half-listening to her. She smiled impishly and replied, "No, I ain't gonna show my weakness or bad days ta them. I have lots of weaknesses, like gamblin', but I never have a bad day. I guess it just isn't in me ta have a bad day." She shrugged. "I bet ya got a lot of weaknesses too, huh?" She flickered her eyes knowingly to the waitress. "Yeah, she's nice lookin'. Do ya think guys would look at me that way, if things were different?" She looked down at her less then adequate chest. Then she smiled at him blissfully unaware of embarassment.

"I'm glad ta know that you're gonna get ta know me before ya judge me. Some people can't see the tree for the forest, if ya know what I mean." Street shrugged. "Though, I don't know if I wanna be a tree. I guess it's more like, they can't see the dust for the mess. Or the people for the city." She chuckled slightly. "About the room," She looked down guiltily. "I'm sure it's real nice and all, but I use it as an office instead of a bedroom. I can stand sleepin' in crowded places... Makes me all nervous. Anywhere with lots of people makes me nervous. It gets hard ta breath, ya know?" She pointed to her chest, trying to show him what happened when she was in a crowded place. "It reminds me of the orphanage and all the screamin' kids." She shook her head in disbelief, like she couldn't believe a place that horrible existed.

[Malleus]

"I know I shouldn't feel bad, it's just well, Goldie seems like a good girl. Though, I got my revenge for her cussin' me out. Sent her a little present ta take care of."

"Yeah, I heard about that" Malleus chuckled at the thought of Goldie trying to deal with a little baby waddling around everywhere "Better make sure she don't drown it or nothin' I mean, I like little kids okay, but I ain't even sure I would deal with one that don' even really talk yet." maybe it was a little overdramatic to suggest that Goldie might actually kill the kid but he honestly didn't see how anyone could manage with something so small so energetic and tempramental twenty four seven without losing their minds.

"Yeah, them other leaders sure do jump the gun. Why, I went ta talk ta Poet and she told me I should confront Spot about how he's been treatin' me! Now, I couldn't do that... He'd skin me alive, for sure."

He gave a small shrug "look at it this way, though. If ya survive, he'll prolly get off ya' back for awhile" To tell the truth, he couldn't necessarily be sure of that. In fact, it was quiye possible that, if she stood up to Spot, he'd only ride her harder but, if she didn't shed have no cahance of gaining his respect. It was a gamble he would be willing to make in her position. Hell, if she couldn't even stand up to the other leaders, she'd never have the nerve to keep a bunch of rowdy boys in line if they really had a mind to go against her.

"No, I ain't gonna show my weakness or bad days ta them. I have lots of weaknesses, like gamblin', but I never have a bad day. I guess it just isn't in me ta have a bad day. I bet ya got a lot of weaknesses too, huh?" She flickered her eyes knowingly to the waitress. "Yeah, she's nice lookin'. Do ya think guys would look at me that way, if things were different?"

His eyes widened in surprise at her comment and he thanked God that he hadn't gotten his food yet or he might have choked on it. "Well..." he began, not exactly sure what to tell her. "Ya look jus' fine now. I'm sure guys already look at ya like that." It was true that she was still a bit young and not necessarily as.. developed as some others but she really was nice-looking "I mean, I bet guys your age..." his voice dropped off uncomfortably and he glanced over his shoulder at nothing in particularly. "Y'know, it ain't really the lookin' that gets me in trouble, y'know" he changed the subject, preferring pretty much any other topic over the current one. Even his own personal weaknesses were a more preferable topic of discussion. "See, when I was younger, I spent a lotta time tryin' ta catch up ta my reputation an' in that process, I kinda lost the ability ta look but not touch for a little while...if ya knwow what I mean. A few years back it got so bad I didn't even really care if they wanted it or not..." his eyes flickered downward slightly. Maybe he was wrong, maybe he would rather talk about her looks over this. Most of the other leaders had already known what he had done beacuse they had been around when he had done them. He figured she had to find out anyhow but then again.. "never got caught or nothin' and nobody got hurt too bad but still.." he added quickly "now, I just try to stick ta watchin' y'know...till I get married. I'm catholic so... I guess that was what I was s'posed ta do anyhow, huh?" he gave a short, humorless laugh.

"About the room. I'm sure it's real nice and all, but I use it as an office instead of a bedroom. I can stand sleepin' in crowded places... Makes me all nervous. Anywhere with lots of people makes me nervous. It gets hard ta breathe, ya know? It reminds me of the orphanage and all the screamin' kids."

He gave a knowing nod and fiddled a bit with a napkin at the corner of the table "I guess it's like that wit' most of us. Me, I can't stand stayin' somewhere wit'ot a bunch a' people. See, I grew up wit' my pop 'fore I came up here an' back then, the only time I didn't get beat like a rented mule was when folks was stayin' over." A look of excited realization came over his features just as he finished his sentance and when hye spoke again his voice was almost cheerful "While we're talkin' about ancient history, I got somethon ta tell ya. It prolly don't mean much ta ya 'cause ya' only known me for a few minutes but I like ta start off of a the right foot wit' all da other leaders. So.." he paused for dramatic effect, a broad smile on his handsome face "I'm gonna tell ya a secret dat only da other leaders know about me." he leaned in toward her and motioned for her to do the same. "My real name ain't Malleus" he whispered, still smiling "People only thought so 'cause It was scratched on da name of my book when I came up here. But if they'd bothered ta look inside the cover they'd a' noticed that it was jus' da title 'a the book." he laughed amusedly and leaned in a little bit more now speaking directly into her ear "I jus' went along wit' it 'cause Malleus Maleficarum sounds a whole lot better than Edwin Seagraves" he pulled back, hi expression hardening only slightly "Ya can't tell anyone though, half my reputation comes from my name and from that book. It's real important all right?"

[Street]

Street watched him scrambled with amusement. "Sure, sure. Guys my age, well I ain't inta that yet. It's just I see some of them other girls-like Mittens and Poet-and they're all curvy and stuff." She sketched a curvacious woman in the air. "Ya know... I actually don't know what ya mean by the whole 'look and don't touch' thing. I'm fifteen remember?" She teased, winking. "I mean, I've heard of Spot's exploits, but never yours. You're a sly devil, ain't ya?" She asked, grinning.

"Hmm... I never had a family. Not for long anyways." She shrugged. "Really? I would have never expected that. Edwin?" She looked thoughtful. "Yeah, Malleus is much better, even if I have trouble pronouncin' it. I'll tell ya a secret then. My real name's Rosalind Love. I don't know why, either. But... I'm like ya, I get my reputation from my nickname. I got the nickname Street 'cause one-I live on the street and two-I ain't too smart upstairs." She pointed to her head. "But I'm street-wise, ya know? I say a lot of stuff that's nonsense ta others but makes sense ta me. Perfect sense." She nodded. "I promise, I won't tell anyone. Not a soul." Her small face became serious-as serious as it could be anyway-and she drew a cross over her heart. "I cross my heart and hope ta die." She smiled. "About the Catholic thing, I know nothin' about that kind of thing. I don't have a religion, not one that I know of anyways." She shrugged. "We had Sunday school and Church at the orphanage but I never listened-I didn't want ta. So, I just do what my heart tells me. I don't want ta prove all them people right who think girls on the street just get inta 'serious trouble'. I want ta prove 'em wrong, ya know?" She tilted her head, her eyes following his movements like cat.

[Malleus]

"Yeah well, take it from me. the guys your age are probably the best guys ta go wit' for now." he suggested, a desparately uncomfortable look on his face. "The...curves...an' stuff...that'll come with time." his darted around nervously. "and as for my exploits" he laughed, utterly relieved by the chance to change the subject. "ya probably wouldn'ta heard about 'em considering that they ended when I was about your age. and, to be honest, I don't think it really counts as sly when the girl is crying and screaming for you to let her go." he gave a slight shrug and deirected his gaze at his hands "That's why I stopped doing it. Or at least tried.. I can't say I haven't succumbed a few times" he gave what was meant to be a good humored chuckle "The flesh is weak" he shrugged again, glancing back up at Street.

Malleus nodded "Well, I'd say I have trouble pronoucin' your name too but it'd make me look like a moron... no fair." he joked, flashing her a smile " but, honestly, I get what ya mean about the whole street smart thing. I don't got more than a fourth grade education but ya'd hard pressed ta find someone who'd honestly try ta call me an idiot. that may jus' be 'cause they think I'll kill 'em" he gave a wry grin "but I'd like ta think it's more than that" He shrugged at what she said about 'the whole catholic thing' as she put it. "Hey, to each his own. my ma was catholic. Always took me an my pop ta mass on sunday. My pop stopped goin' after she died." he gave a little shrug "But I still go. Mostly 'cause it me feel close ta her, y'know. She woulda wanted it an' all. An' best of all, I just gotta go ta confession an' as long as I try not ta do the sin again, I'm off the hook." he chuckled, a broad smile spreading across his face "Pretty good deal. huh?" he ran a hand though his hair and glanced over his shoulder at the counter "wonder what's holdin' up the waitress" he commented in an off handed manner. "I know it's busy but Lizzie's usually pretty quick regardless"

[Street]

Street grinned. "The guys my age are, Spot-and he's been lookin' at that Ace girl," Her voice sounded slightly bitter, but then became cheerful again. "There's Asher-but he's um... well..." How did she explain Asher and Tyler? "There's Mush-whose datin' my sister Ophelia. And then there's Levi. He gets around alot, plus, he almost accidently killed me. Cut me right across the stomach." She drew a line acrosss her stomach, near her belly button. "I got involved in a fight between him and Mush." She shook her head. "Oh! I forgot about Sean! But he's just like Levi, ya know..." SHe shrugged. "I don't really mind."

She nodded. "That's more of an education then I got... That does sound like a good deal, if ya sin alot. I don't know the sins, so then I can't commit them right?" She asked him, tilting her head. "Yer Mamma would be proud of you." Street smiled brightly. "Lizzie? Oh, the waitress. Right. I dunno, maybe she's oc-cupied." She said softly, shrugging. "Hey, I was wonderin'... Did ya notice anythin' strange lately?"

[Malleus]

Malleus shrugged and gave a little chuckle "Well, I'd definitely avoid Spot if I were you and Mush is a good guy but if he's datin' ya' sister, I'd avoid him too. I don't know dis Sean guy, but you could try him an' if that don't work out, ya oughta remember there's a lotta guy's your age who ya don't know." He was glad to help out but there was no denying that It was kind of uncomfortable talking about boys with a fifteen year old girl and in a public place no less.

he smiled amusedly at her comment "Well, ya can still commit 'em. They're pretty much common sense, though. Y'know? Stealin', sex before marriage, stuff like that." He shrugged "But I don' think ya gotta worry too much. The way I see it, rule are more like guidelines, even holy ones. Ain't too many folks who's agree wit' me but..." he shrugged again "See, I mostly avoid the stuff what'll mess things up for other folks, y'know." he added, chuckling "Maybe that means I ain't the best catholic but I don't got time ta worry 'bout that."

He raised an eyebrow at her question, "What d'ya mean strange?" He couldn't think of anything paticularly out of place that had happened lately. But strange was never good. especially when it was mentioined so late in a conversation.

[Street]

Street looked horiffied. "Stealin's a sin? What am I gonna do?" She cried, then she realized something. "Oh, yeah... I don't believe in that stuff." She chuckled nervously. "I figure, I'll only be friends with boys for now..." She shrugged. "Makes my life simpler, overall. All them older girls have too much stuff goin' on with 'em. I'm fine the way I am, thank ya very much." She nodded for emphasis.

Street bit her lip nervously. How much should she say? "Well... Like don't ya ever just not feel right when ya go outside? Usually, I'm fine bein' outside. But now, I feel like somethin's waitin', watchin' me. Somethin' that I don't like. And with them attacks that are goin' on? Like Poet... Ya found her, didn't ya? And... The same guy almost got Asher the other day-I told him he's not allowed ta go around with Tyler, Levi, or Sean anymore. But, I'm still worried. Not about myself, but about Asher and Tyler and Goldie and Bairn and everybody else in my borough, and in every other borough." She shook her head. "It's like waitin' for a storm that ya know is either gonna pass over ya, or is gonna be really bad." She shivered. "Plus, winter ain't gonna be good this year. Many kids are gonna fade away." Street sighed. She never said die or died or death in general. It was to final, she said fade... Because even if they were buried under the ground, their impressions never quite faded from her mind.