A Crossroads Between Realities

*Considering where they are, it wouldn't be that unlikely if they had sizes for hobbits, dwarves, pixies and gnomes. In any case, he's gotten by so far on whatever he could steal from the goblins and some 600-year-old scraps of his original clothing. In short, he will not care what he gets as long as it keeps him warm.*

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[Oh, Alice figures they must have something -- it's figuring out where it is that's the trick. Even if Smeagol doesn't care, she does -- at the very least, she wants something he can move around in! So into the racks she goes, looking for -- well, she guesses she'll know it when she sees it]

[Victor, meanwhile, is still looking a little closer to the main aisle, checking a few patterns as he looks over at Smeagol] Anything catch your eye?

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*He shakes his head. All the clothing on display is reminding him of how unrecognizable he would be now to anyone who knew him the last time he had clothes that were all his own; he's getting a bit shy.* Can't remember what Smeagol used to wear.

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Oh. [Victor nods, a bit sadly] Well -- we'll find something for you.

[Indeed, they seem to be on the verge of doing so, judging by Alice's pleased "Aha!" a minute later. She emerges from the racks with some smallish sweaters in a few different shades -- red, blue, green, yellow] Here we are! Nice and soft too. [She presents them to Smeagol for inspection]

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*He seems to like blue. Yellow is much too bright, too much like sunlight, and he's seen enough blood to shy away from red as well. Green he's neutral on, but somewhere deep in his heart blue means going fishing or swimming in the Anduin five hundred years ago.* Them. I want them. They're nice.

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[Alice nods, smiling] Blue, huh? Good choice. [she'll go put the others away]

[Victor cranes his head, looking over the racks] Some new trousers to match wouldn't go amiss, would they?

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Yes, yes. We does our best, but pocketses and things rip open eventually. *He reaches into the remnant of a pocket to show off a smooth stone, a bone fishhook and a couple of shells.* Don't want to lose my nice things, precious. Lossst enough.

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[Victor nods at the little collection] Of course you don't. The fact that you were able to keep those in any sort of repair over the years is impressive.

[Alice returns from the racks] Well, these are all tops -- trousers and such should be this way. [she'll lead the way over to the racks of pants, which, again, come in all styles and colors] Now we just need to find something that looks decent with blue. . .

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We had much time to kill. Fixing thingses was one of the better uses of it.

*He cares more about them being sturdy and having pockets than the color, really, so he just goes with black. He's used to things that are black.*

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[Victor nods again] Yes, I suppose you did. We'll find something with nice deep pockets.

[Black's a good, serviceable color, to be sure. Alice finds something in the appropriate size, with large pockets and solid seams -- he may not be climbing through caves and mountains right now, but better not to get something that'll wear out in just a minute] There! A full outfit!

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*Now to explain . . . pretty much the entire concept of having to pay for things.*

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[Well, they already took a crack at explaining money to him. . .Victor rubs the back of his head] So, um -- remember how we said that there's this special thing called "money" that you can trade to people to get other things from them? This is -- one of those situations.

[Alice, reassuringly] We can cover these, but it's probably a good idea if you get an idea of how these transactions work.

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Oh, that. Smeagol understands, he's thinking. Yes, yes. We don't know how we're going to acquire any, but we won't have to use it often.

No, we can go without. This is more than we need, the Men are too kind. *You can just hear the capitalization of 'Men' when he speaks, the way that Man does not mean man.*

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[Victor drums his fingers on the side of his face thoughtfully] Well, it's generally a case of you do something for someone else -- usually something they don't want or can't do themselves -- and they give you the money in exchange. And given we have stores and the like in the Nexus, there must be people looking for others to work. . .

[Alice tilts her head] Would be a shame to pick those out and not get them. And when you've been deprived of kindness for a good chunk of your life, you like to spread it around. [at least, she does]

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Praps we shall find some work to do, then? Yesss, praps.

We did not do ssso well at that. Learned to hurt everyone worse instead.

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[Victor nods] Perhaps. Catching fish for people, maybe?

[Alice scrunches up her face] Right. . .well, everyone reacts in different ways. And no one can deny I've had an easier time of it than you, even with Rutledge and all its horrors. [with an encouraging look] But there's still time to learn.

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People want fish? Yesss, I can do fish. Smeagol can certainly do fish!

Nice lady it is, my Precious. Not that we've met many ladieses to compare her to. Just the warm clothing is better than most. Too good for poor Smeagol, gollum.

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[Victor, smiling] Yes, people want fish. My birth parents made their fortune by sticking fish into cans. I'm sure you can manage to make what you need with the fresh stuff.

[Alice frowns slightly] I do try. . .why would it be "too good" for you? You're the one in most need of it. It should be just right.

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Fish. In canses. *Why would you do such a thing to a fish?*

Not a nice person is Smeagol, is he? Killed Deagol, he did, and strangled orcses. Thief, sssneak, wretch. *There's something unpleasant indeed in his expression for a moment, before he's back to himself like someone flipped a switch.* Yet wretches are the most in need, Precious, are they not? Yesss, nice lady isss right.

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[Victor, biting back a smile] Well, it keeps them fresher for longer -- at least, that was William's big line. It worked for him.

[Alice eyes Smeagol for a minute as he flips between his two sides -- interesting] Well, if you count all the creatures I killed in Wonderland, I might not be the best person either. But yes, you're right. You may have darkness in your past, but -- that's the past. The Nexus is good for second chances.

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People who want fresh fishes ought to go catch them.

It isss a long passst, and poor Smeagol is tired. Yes, yesss. Smeagol will endure. He's always endured, so I have. We was a better person once. Long ago, when light wasss not a thing to fear. My birthday present was better than the light! No. No, it wasn't. And it wasn't our birthday present, either. Was. Came to you on your birthday, didn't it? Not a very good present. Best present. Terrible.

We would like a second chance.

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[Victor shrugs] Not everyone lives near water. Can't catch a fish if you can't get to the fish.

[Alice observes Smeagol's argument with himself] Seems like you're of two minds on the subject. At least you seem united on a second chance.

[Victor nods] Well, this is a good start, right? Food, clothes, hopefully a chair. . .

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If you have no water you die. *Smirk.* After a while.

We are of two mindses ever. *He shakes his head.* Smeagol very much wants a second chance. Gollum is weak now, faded without the Precious whole he is, and ssso he bides his time. I know things now that Gollum would rather have kept to himself. That the One kept to itself, praps. Knowing helps Smeagol. But Gollum waitses, yes, and our fingers itch to be grasping.

Yes, we wanted a chair. So nice, the Men.

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[Victor, making faces as he tries to think of a way to explain] I -- have you heard of "plumbing" before?

[Alice, taking the easier route] People can have water brought to their houses via pipes, but it generally doesn't come with fish in it. Hence the need to buy it from someone else. [her expression grows concerned as he talks about Smeagol and Gollum and of being of two minds] So that "Precious" essentially created a whole other personality? Well then. [between that and the sheer amount of time he hung onto it, it's a wonder he's in as good of shape as he is!] It sounds like Gollum has had his time to go around grasping. Smeagol deserves his turn, so to speak.

[Victor, smiling] We're doing our best! Furniture was up another floor, right Alice?

[Alice, nodding] Yes, there should be some stairs. . .or an escalator. [for Smeagol's benefit] Moving stairs -- they take you up with them.

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