DARWING in the STREETS {roxanne}

[neo]

The town square of Billet Doux was busy with people as they walk about going on with their day. As people walked past they did not seem to notice the young looking man who was sitting on one of the many benches with a sketchbook out in front of him drawing away. Yet he would have stick out with the dog ears on his head and the tail that was sticking out behind the bench a bit. You see this young man was not a normal young man he was paperjast of course no who walked by knew that they just walked past without giving him a glance. This artist name was Neo Cornett he really did not care that people were not paying any attention that was better for him to get his work done. Drawing was one of the many things he enjoy doing he could spend hours just drawing away not noticing anything going on around him. He love art very much it was the one thing he was happy that he had learn it and a talent for it. The art skill he had gained had been nurture by his dead master who had taught him everything he knew. Neo missed her very much, but knew he could not dwell on the past.

So now he was just focused on his drawing right which today he was drawing an image of his dead master. Yes he could still remember what she looked like even though it had been so long since she die. The pencil he was using to draw was being held in left hand as it moved across the paper. His violet colored eyes glued to page as he drew each line of the face of his dead master. He wanted to make sure that he got each one right. Yet with his memory he was sure he would not mess up the drawing. With his stroke of his pencil he could remember all the memories he had of being with his master. There were so many good ones that he had with her that were each important to him. Yes he had truly loved his master and sure he knew he had just been a replacement for her dead love. Yet that had not bother him at all since he had been very loyal to his mater yet that loyalty was more than just his DNA it was really real loyalty and love. Sure he knew he could never create a family of his own yet with his master he had truly loved her and missed her every day

As he continued to draw he was getting closer to finish he had finished drawing the face and the eyes now he was working on the hair. The ears on the top of his head twitched back and forth listing to the sounds of the people. He could hear some people whispering about him wondering what one of those things was doing out on its own. Neo knew that they were talking about him since it was rare to see a paperjast out on his own without someone. Yet he was no longer a pet to someone he was free to be out on his own. Still he knew he need to be careful since there those that would hunt and hurt paperjast. Though he was not too worried about anything happening to him right now. Neo stopped the pencil in his hand for a minute to stop to look at his drawing it was coming along really well he was almost done with his drawing. Knowing that he was close to being done made his tail wag a bit since he always loved to finish a drawing. It annoyed him when he did not finish a drawing since he did not like to leave his work unfinished. So he started to draw again his ears still listing to the sounds of people just wondering if anything would stop his attention from finishing his art work.

word count: 672
tag: Roxanne
comment: started

[roxanne]

Roxanne was out in the town of Billet Doux once again by herself. Alphonse, the one whom she had decided would be her new master had business to do and he did not wish for her company during that time. She didn’t mind; she just sat where he had told her to and waited there, patiently, on a bench that was near a shop. She was nervous to be in such a big down but knowing that her master would come back for her-yes yes, he did not intend to drop her like an old sock, she knew it! He always let her follow him so it wouldn’t be the case. From time to time, the insecurity would come back and hit her and she would worry, her kitty ears moving back and forth as she listened closely to the people chatting as she was expecting for her master to come. Her legs weren’t touching the floor as she was a petite paperjast and she let her legs swing and kick the air here and there. She rarely spoke but remained cautious of what people were doing around her. Too many times she had been teased by humans and other creatures and it was precisely why she was following that one man, Alphonse was his name; he had protected her from a group who wanted to hurt her and she decided to tag along.

The young girl sniffled the air however when she smelled the yummy cakes from the bakery. That was the shop she was sitting near. It smelled good, her stomach growled but she never stole, she wasn’t a bad pet. She was a good one who did things for her master. However, she heard tension from the shop and two kids walked out only to toss a bag on the bench next to her. She blinked watching them running away and looked at the bag. What was in it? Being curious, she didn’t resist to the temptation and peeked in it- there was bread, fresh pastries and various cookies. Her lips formed an ‘o’, maybe they had tried to steal it, she was better to give it back to its owner. It would be money loss for them otherwise. It was why she grabbed the bag.

The man who worked there however, thought she was with the kids, for she looked like one and went to her, snatching it away from her violently, thus catching her by surprise. She gasped softly, frightened by the sudden gesture of the man. “I do not want to see you near this shop again! Thief!” he called out. She shook her head. She wasn’t the thief! “Paperjasts like you shouldn’t roam around in the street, they are pets!” he raged as he raised his hand to slap her. She backed away slightly, hitting a passenger who pushed her to the grown. She gasped and fell back, wincing silently. “Go away or I call the navy!” he continued approaching her, which she backed away but hit the wall of the next basement. She closed her eyes tightly and brought her hands to her face in order to protect herself. Why people were always mean to her? She meant no harm...

[/justify]

[neo]

Neo was still sitting on the bench drawing away trying to finish up his drawing. He was adding the finishing touch to his drawing. Stopping he took a moment to look at his work the drawing had come out quite well he though. To him it felt like he had done a good job making the picture on the paper look like his master. Still though staring at the drawing on the paper made him miss he more so he closed his sketch book and moved his gaze up. His ears and his nose twitched at all the sounds and smells around. People just seemed so lively today as they went about there business. Neo never was one to be in a hurry no he like to take things slow. Since it took time to make good art work if he hurried through it would not turn out as well. Since he finished he need to find something else to do now so he diced he would stand up and stretch his legs now. He made his way through the crowd being careful not to bump into anyone. Yes having dog DNA made it easy for him to avoid bumping into people.

Still though he could fell people staring at him as he past them and hear them whispering he deiced not to let it bother him. As he walked past a bakery just as two kids with a large sack ran out. The watched as the bag landed on a bench near a young looking girl smelling the air he could smell the scent of the food in the bag. It seemed the girl had noticed to then the scent of he caught his nose she was a jast like though he could smell the scent of a feline on her. So she was created with feline DNA though that had no effect on him being dog since had long learn to control his urge to chase cats. The girl was looking at the bag and then picked up and started to head toward the shop. It seemed she had deiced to return the bag to the rightful owner. That seemed like the best thing to do since well the food did not belong to anyone since it had been stolen. As she reached the door the owner of the bakery came out though he did not look too happy at all.

“Go away or I call the navy!” Neo herd him say to the girl which scared her causing her to back up to the near by wall. Neo could see that man hat a roiling pin in his hand moving quickly using his fast speed he was standing between the girl and the baker. "Whoa lets not be hasty here she was not the one that stole that food it was two kids." Neo said. The he reached into his pocket and took out a small back of doubloons money he had earn from selling some his art. Tossing at the baker he caught it and then just stared at Neo with confused look. "That should be more than enough to pay for whats in the bag." he said. The Baker just nod his head and walked away going back into his shop. With him gone Neo turn around to look at the girl now. "Umm he gone now its safe if want to eat any of that food you can," Neo said to her. Yes that had seemed like the logical move to pay for the food before someone had gotten hurt. The smell of the bake good was really nice better than some of the other smells he had smelled out in the world since his nose was really strong. Sometimes his scenes could be overwhelmed and that was not fun for him. "Oh yes I am Neo by the way and you are he?"asked her with a smile holding his sketch book under his right arm as he waited for her reply.

word count: 669
tag: Roxanne
comment: replied

[roxanne]

Roxanne was expecting to be hit by now, as if it hadn’t happened ever since she had been in the streets. She didn’t understand about how people would be so cruel to people like her moreover, she had done nothing wrong! And yet, they still considered her as if she was nothing more than a pet. She understood that she was built to satisfy her master back then and she also understood that she had to consider herself lucky for not having a mean one seeing how people were treating her now. She didn’t steal; her intentions were good and they still did not believe her sayings. Why was that? Was it because she was nothing more than a pet? She closed her eyes tightly as she heard the man yelling still but something caught her attention.

She smelt the air and sensed she wasn’t the only one of her own kind. Was someone...taking her defense? She slowly opened her eyes to notice the other paperjast, standing in front of her, now being between her and the man who wanted to cause her harm. Her eyes widened at first; how could he think that he could counter a human while they were supposed to be lower than them? Feared appeared into her eyes and she hid her face in her hands once again but as soon as she didn’t hear any hits, she reopened them. The boy had money? How could a paperjast have money? Was his master good to him? She froze as she remembered of Alphonse. She didn’t want to worry him; he was so kind letting her follow him and not to be alone anymore, she didn’t want to be a burden for the fallen.

If he paid for the bag, did it mean that it was his now and not anymore to the shop owner’s? Roxanne paused as the paperjast kindly gave her the bag and blinked a couple of time before smiling and nodding at him. She wasn’t one who spoke much to stranger, even people of her race; she was very shy and cautious even towards this admirable paperjast who had just saved her life. She laughed slightly before digging into the bag. The fresh smile of pastries was getting her tummy to growl a little but she wanted to wait for her master to come so she would share with him. However, since Neo was the one who paid for them...she dug in and pulled one out for him. She didn’t know if it was his favorite but he did seem hungry as well.

She didn’t mean to be rude however when he presented himself, but she still didn’t speak and instead smiled at him and extended her hand that wasn’t holding onto the bag, in a way of greeting.

[/justify]

[neo]

Neo was still quite as he waited for her to reply to him. Yes well from the way she had reacted to being almost hit by the shop owner made him think she was easily startled by things. He was use to interacting with people a skill he had gain from spending time with his master out in public. His master had no problem taking him out in public and acting how she would have with anyone else. She also not be afraid to even act lovey dovey with him in public not caring the looks that people had given her for doing so. Still he had not mind it no he had truly loved his master with his heart in more than just her being his master in the way someone truly loved another person. Those things were just memories for him now to just remember his master by still though he was not over her being gone which was event by the drawing he had done earlier. Neo master would always hold an important place in his heart no matter how much he knew he need to move on from her he just could not at least not yet.

Neo then herd her laugh a bit as she dug into the bag pulling a pastry out hold out to him. Was she offering to share with him well they did smell good to him with his strong nose. Also he was a bit hungry since he had not eaten any food yet today since usually worrying about food was not a top priority for him. Usually he was always too busy working on some art to care about eating also though it was hard for him to get food since some place were reluctant to serve food to a paperjast. Yes many few them as an abomination something that should not be in this world. Yet well not matter how people view him and his race he felt as real as any other person since had feelings and emotions and could think for himself. Neo knew that there were some jast who were not created so lovingly by their masters some were created to fight or for other things. Though he was one of the lucky ones that had also not been capture by jast hunters and forced into slavery. Neo was glade for that and he would be sure to not let that happen.

Neo reached out and took the food from her to start eating it. Moving it to his mouth he took a bite it tasted really good. As he eat it he noticed she had stuck her hand for him to shake in a greeting so using his free hand he shook her hand. Then moving he sat on the ground next to her finishing eating the pastry. It was good he knew one would be enough for him for now. Plush he had bought the other ones for her and would her enjoy eating them. Maybe she would share them with her master if she had one since he was not sure if she was like him did not have a master. That seemed to be a common thing for jast to become free from one mast roam around free until they were caught and forced onto another master. Moving his left hand to his pocket he took out the pencil in it and decided he would start drawing something new. Yet he was not quite sure what he would draw now. Looking over at her it came to him he would draw here. Yes she was well very cute and inspired him to want to draw her since was sure no one could resist her cuteness, Though not only was she cute he did have to say she was very beautiful and anyone would be attracted to her. So opening his sketchbook flipping to a blank page he started to draw her. Neo was quiet now not too worried about making her tell him her name no for now he was focused on drawing her. So the pencil moved across the paper in his left hand as he drew he just wonder if she would notice that he was drawing her.

word count: 709
tag; roxanne
comment: replied hope you like it

[roxanne]

Her previous master didn’t have problem taking her out but Roxanne was easily frightened by things. She wasn’t made to stick around by herself; she was created to pay company to someone who needed support and someone as cute as she was. She had never been aware that her appearance might attract other people; most of the time, they treated her like dust knowing that she was nothing but a pet. But pets were there for good things now weren’t they? So why were they treated like nothing? She didn’t understand the concept quite well. Not that she would bother herself wondering about it anyways. She was safe now despite the fact that the man had almost hit her. It wasn’t new to her, to see people do that, and to her even. Ever since she had been in the streets... only now that she was with Alphonse, people seemed to treat her better, which made her happy. It was why she wanted to make her new master happy. He was always so nice to her! She smiled slightly at the thought as she was sitting down next to Neo now, not speaking much as she would usually do.

It took her time to get used to someone. She wasn’t the kind of pet who would usually go to others; she was always hiding behind her master or the people she knew well, fearing what these new people might do to her. She still didn’t trust fully Neo but as she saw him returning back to drawing, she returned her attention back to the street, watching people as she would do before. At least, now, she had someone to help her, during the time she’d have to wait for her master. That was when she started feeling bad for not telling him at least her name. She paused, turning her attention back to the male paperjast as he focused on his drawing still.

“...Roxanne.” she finally said, with a very soft and small voice that was inaudible to others. “M-my name is Roxanne.” She said, blushing slightly as she looked away. It wasn’t often that she would speak and she was always terribly shy and awkward whenever it happened. She played with her fingers as she placed the bag of pastries onto her knees.

She didn’t dare to look what he was drawing, thinking that it might be personal and she wasn’t the one to peek on people’s work unless they asked her to. She still gave him a small smile before she would return her attention to the people. At least, she had told him her name, it was the least she could do.

[neo]

The pencil in Neo left hand continue to move across page as he continue to draw her. Yes he was just off in his own world when he was focused on drawing. Drawing would just take over when he really want to draw something that interest him like she did. Neo was just curious about her since it was rare for him to see another paperjaster out on it own with out a master. Usually they were always with someone unless they were like him had no master of there own. Yet there times he did fell lonely with out having his master any more he guessed that was normal with you had been with someone for so long and then they were gone from you life. Though he had made a pretty decent go of it on his own with out anyone else helping he was able to make a living using his art skill. Yet he did also have another talent he could play piano and that was able to give him work though it was much harder to find work doing that. Mostly he would play in some bars and other place in the area if they would let him some of them were reluctant to let a paperjaster play music.

Yet when they did they were glade they did since his music would attract people to come and listen to see where the music was coming from. When that happen he usually paid a little more than he expected. So his life was quite enjoyable even if he was a lone a lot. As he continued to draw he would occasionally look up at her to make sure he was getting the details of her face right. Again her face was very cute. Yes it just was one of those face you could just help to want to look at. Neo then was surprised when he herd her finally speck to him. “...Roxanne.” he herd her say with a shy soft voice. Luck for him the dog ears on top his head could pick up her voice most people would not have been able to hear her voice. “M-my name is Roxanne.” she said again this time he noticed her blush. The blush on her face made her look even more cute and he deiced he would add it to the drawing. So he continued to draw Roxanne as the pencil in his left hand continued to move across the paper.

Neo was was getting close to getting finished with the drawing now. Roxanne had gone back to being quiet and seem to be looking at what he was drawing. That would make it a surprise when he finished the drawing. He just finishing up last details of the drawing when he finished. The pencil in his left hand stopped and he he looked down at the drawing he had just finished. it had come out really well and the little detail of adding to her face by having the blush made it look even better. Neo then turn to look at Roxanne who was still quiet. "I finished the drawing would like to see it." Neo said to her as he turn it so she would be able to she what he had been drawing. Now she would see that he had been drawing her and just wounder how she would react to it he hoped she would not be upset about him having drawn her. That was the last thing he wanted was to upset her by having drawn her and that she would not like. Yet she would see that he was very talented at art which well something that made him proud since it had taken a lot of work he though to get as good as he was. Now Neo was quiet as he waited for some reaction from Roxanne about his drawing her he just hopped she like it.

word count: 670
tag: Roxanne
comment: hope you like it