36th of Achtus, 2718 Night
Lee was really bloody cold. She wore all her layers, but 3 threadbare outfits, a sweater, and a poor-quality winter jacket didn't do much to fend off the bitter Achtus cold. She had stolen some winter weather wear, but it was too cold for the discarded clothing to do much good.
Normally, she'd be curled up inside her bedroll at this time of night, especially since the good squats went quickly in weather like this. But she had decided to leave in the next couple days, which meant she needed to try to find a few more marks. So, instead of being curled up and at least partially comfortable, she stood in an alley by the Toy Lantern, blowing on her fingers and stomping her feet to keep them from going numb as she waited for someone drunk enough to be a good mark.
Once again, she kicked herself for not leaving town sooner, when she wouldn't have had to worry about traveling in the bitter cold. But she didn't want to leave the only town she knew and the town where her father was buried. But she knew the Seventen were cracking down hard on wicks. She had thought she would be safe until spring, but when Seventen paddy wagons started making frequent rounds in "her" part of the Dives, she knew it was time to leave.
Better she leave on her terms rather than be kicked out or thrown back into a factory.
She thought about reaching out to Abélard for a writ, but she was afraid to do that. She knew that Abélard wasn't fond of wicks and she wasn't sure how dedicated the man would be to the city-wide ban that the High Judge had placed on them. He knew she was a wick, and Lee didn't want to end up being thrown back into a factory "for her own safety". And if she was honest with herself, she felt like she had let Abélard down by not leaving Vienda. He had told her to leave. But she didn't listen.
"Alioe, please. Give me a little bit more time. Please," Lee muttered as she stomped and paced, her eyes intently watching the door to the Toy Lantern. "I just need a few more forts and then I'll leave, I promise."
Lee wasn't a devout Circleist, though she was known to slip into the bigger temples when they opened their doors for the homeless on the coldest nights. The temples had been opened more often this winter than in any other winter she remembered. But, even though she appreciated the warmth she got there, she didn't go there often. She never felt that she could sleep peacefully in the temples, knowing that the other homeless would be eyeing her bedroll and backpack. She was unwilling to risk her things, knowing that not having a bedroll or the extra layers of clothing would kill her in this weather.
Onna's head appeared over Lee's shoulder and she chirruped in her ear. That was the other reason she didn't leave the bedroll behind. Lee reached up and scratched the ferret's head. "Back in the bedroll, Onna. You'll freeze out here," Lee ordered the ferret, who nipped her ear playfully before backing back into the bedroll.
Lee thought about her upcoming travels, her stomach roiling at the thought. She wasn't sure she'd survive to Old Rose Harbor, so her plans had changed. She was heading for Brunnhold, instead. She'd stay there at least until spring. She wasn't sure how far the trip would be – Abélard hadn't instructed her in figuring out the distances on the map and her math skills stopped at simple addition and subtraction. She could figure out money, but that was about it. But the distance on the map between Vienda and Brunnhold was shorter than it was to Old Rose Harbor.
But she still had to find a few more marks.
Lee was brought of her thoughts as the door to the tavern opened once more and the most beautiful person Lee had ever seen came out, stumbling slightly. Lee followed after him… her… them on cat's paws, eyes wide as she silently took them in. Lee got lost in watching the creature who, while obviously drunk, still had a grace about them. By the time Lee was brought back to reality, the person was getting ready to enter another building.
"Tocks," Lee swore. She abandoned all semblance of sneaking, rushing up and sticking her hand in one of person's pockets, hoping beyond hope that it was one that had the money in it. "Sorry!" she whispered before turning and running away.
Then she slipped on the ice, her feet flying behind her as she did a full-on faceplant. Her head bounced off the cobblestones and she felt something crack in her face as she saw stars. She groaned and tried to stand up, her feet and hands scrabbling at the ice like a turtle whose feet were too short to fully gain traction.
"Well, tocks," she swore.