Downstairs -- The Front Desk

[Administrator]

Say hi to Kloppman!

[mabel]

While Mabel has always had a penchant for the melodramatics, she was sure that no one could deny how miserably hot it was outdoors. The city grime seemed to hang in the air like a veil and attach itself to every innocent passerby.

With a wheeze, Mabel dropped her luggage on the wooden floor of the Manhattan lodging house. Having only just arrived at her new “home, sweet home”, Mabel already wanted out. Alas, there was no turning back now—she set out to get a job and it was a job she was going to get.

She delicately pulled her (once) pristine white gloves from her hands, wiping a sleeve across her flushed forehead. Her now gloveless fingers undid the blue silk tie of her obnoxiously large sun hat.

Leaving her bags where she had discarded them on the floor, Mabel approached the vacant front desk. She drummed her fingers impatiently against the worn wood.

“Hello?” Mabel called out, unsure of how the “checking-in process” went.

[chaos]

((New Day))

Chaos sauntered in and sat down in a ratty chair. She waited impatiently for someone to notice her. She wasn't earning any money just sitting here waiting for someone to show up. She wanted to get back onto the streets to sell papes.

[spook]

Labs growled as she banged through the front door of the lodging house, chasing after her cat.

"Mouse, git back he-ah!" she yelped. "Sit! Stay, you flea-bitten feline!"

Said feline ignored his human and leapt lightly up onto the mantle over the fireplace across the room. With one final growl, Labs collapsed into an empy chair, glaring at the animal. The cat just yawned.

[chaos]

Chaos glanced up and smiled. Finally, someone to talk with. Chaos rose and walked over to the new girl. "Hey, how ah ya?"

[spook]

Labs' eyes slid over to the other girl. "I been bettah. I jus' had tah get a cat, yah know? I coulda gotta a dog. Woulda listened bettah den dat stuboahn thing ovah dere." she grumbled, still not ready to get over her anger.

[chaos]

Chaos chuckled. She had heard that before. "Mouse's its name?" she asked, not waiting for an answer. Chaos crept over to where the cat was waiting. "Mouse, kitty, kitty, kitty."

[spook]

The cat hissed and batted its paw at the stranger, no-too-pleased to be disturbed. Labs shook her head.

"He's crabby. I'd be careful if I was you."

[starlight]

Starlight walked into the Downstairs area of the Manhattan Lodging House and smiled. He tossed his long amber hair and chuckled lightly, taking in the familliar surroundings. He absolutely loved coming up here to visit. He looked over and saw two young ladies, one who had been looking at a cat it seemed and the other who was sitting in a chair. He really didnt know if he should walk over to where they were and introduce himself, many people never took kindly to his rather feminine appearance.
He spoke to himelf quietly, his slight English accent hinting his words.

"Hmm...they seem like an interesting lot"

[shiner]

((New day))

Lara merely started at the older oy for a moment. Her cover was blown anyway, "Uh, Lara. Lara Rippy." She let the door swing closed, and set her suitcase down, holding out her hand for him to shake.

She couldn't help but smile, though she winced slightly. Her black eye was quite fresh. "You ran all the way from Queens? What on earth for?"

[Avalanche]

"Ta beat my old record!" he said as he put his hands on the knees breathing heavily. "I didn't run the whole way, jogged and walked some of it. Beat a friend of mine's record too," he said chuckling. "Anywhat, I didn't mean ta startle ya. Or..." he looked her over, "blow ya cover... did I?" he asked quiter, "I mean, did I blow ya cover? I'm just... well I notice things and... I'm sorry," he said still keeping his voice low.

[shiner]

Lara shrugged, her smile still there, though he hadn't noticed her extended hand. She picked up her suitcase again, "It does say newsboys lodging house... Is it that obvious though?" She pulled her hat a little lower, "Do you live here? If it isn't strictly for newsboys maybe they're not too strict on having girls here too..." She looked around, it seemed no one else was around. "Who's the owner?"

[Avalanche]

Avalanche chuckled. "...you must think me the most impolite gentleman in alla New York City..." He stood up straight and smiled. "M'name's Avalanche... or that's all I go by anymore," he said with a smirk. "Naw, I dun live here, but I know almost everyone who does! Kloppman owns da joint, and I'm sure he'd be happy ta letcha stay. There's othah goils around here too. I mean, unless ya'd rathah stay in a all goils place, then there's one of them down in Bronx. Would ya like ta sit down?" he then asked as he indicated the chairs sitting around the room.

[shiner]

"Avalanche," She chuckled a little and sat down, keeping her suitcase close, but setting it beside her, "Thank you... Well... I think I'd rather stay here. I'm not farmiliar at all with the Bronx. I mean not enough to live there... Or anywhere else, really." She gave a sheepish smile, "So how did you come up with a name like that?"

[Avalanche]

"Alright, well if you insist," he chuckled. "Manhattan's a great place. Jack'll take care of ya."

"How did I get a name like Avalanche? How does any good kid get a good nickname? For what he's known for. I had people tell me that I can shout so loud, if I stand on the Brooklyn Bridge and yell into the water, they can hear me in Manhattan," he said chuckling. "If I really wanna be, I can be real loud. A lotta people think that if I was anywhere near a mountain or somethin'... I'd... cause an Avalanche," he said with a smirk.

It was then he got a clear look at her face. "Hey... hey you alright? You got a nice bruise on ya eye... either that or you ran into a show girl, and never got her all washed off."