after school walking home fresh dirt under my fingernails;

[stuckfingers.livejournal.com]

WHO: TODD AND RORSCHACH. 8|
WHERE: Central Park.
WHEN: Saturday, May 30, late evening.
WARNINGS: Possible violence.
SUMMARY: Todd's picking pockets. Rorschach is so not cool with this.
FORMAT: *noms*

Like taking candy from a baby. Cakewalk. A walk in the park.

Literally a walk in the park - Central, like old times, even though it wasn't the same park he remembered. There were little differences, but most of the old hiding spots were the same, and people were just as stupid as always.

One hand in the pocket, brush past, pull it out, bump and go. Hop away if you have to, but try not to, because in this city it don't take people by surprise no more, it's just wrong. Like a puppy or something smashed in the road.

But slimier.

So it was maybe the fourth wallet of the day, collected a hundred bucks, could go for more. Much more. It was really petty change but that was what Todd liked. Petty. It was good. He'd keep going. Just an ordinary boy.

Comments

[reactionary.livejournal.com]

Godzilla's reign was being countered by the supers, and Rorschach had fled the scene. As much as he didn't want to, it would be both impossible to talk some sense into anyone and stupid to stick around with the massive amount of chaos, piling higher and higher as more capes jumped in. If Godzilla were to die today, Rorschach at least didn't want to watch.

So he left. The vigilante was walking a random direction, trying to locate the street to lead him back to his most-occupied rooftop. Decided to cut through the park for a more scenic walk, even though he'd be scribbling in his notebook 50% of the way.

Except when he noticed a rather suspicious-looking individual walking around about ten yards ahead of him. He knew a pickpocket when he saw one, and began to trail him, watching for another obvious attempt.

[stuckfingers.livejournal.com]

Todd didn't notice the guy. Hell, he only noticed targets when he got like this - jocks and pretty girls, mostly jocks, that followed each other around in packs like animals. Todd picked them off one by one.

One time he wasn't so clever, a little clumsy, and bumped the guy a little hard, had to run kinda fast to get away, but he dealt - by running straight past some weirdo in a mask. He stopped for a second, stared. No idea what that guy was on, but it was nuts - that mask always moving, shifting, something nauseating and fucked up. He didn't know what he saw.

But he knew the guy saw him.

With a quick spin on his heel, he turned and hopped into the bushes at top speed, hoping to all things that might be looking down on him that that creep didn't try to follow.

[reactionary.livejournal.com]

The kid was bound to attempt it again, and there he did. Rorschach watched his fault like a hawk, and he was on it almost instantly, speeding up his walk as Toad went for the bushes.

Mere shrubbery was hardly enough to keep him at bay. As Rorschach approached the spot Toad had dove into, he grabbed at the foliage roughly and pulled it, dug through it like some kind of badger. A menagerie of insects were disturbed, falling and scrabbling upon him, but he seemed not to notice as he attempted to find the thief.

[stuckfingers.livejournal.com]

In a different situation it'd be a buffet, but in this second Todd smelled something wrong from this guy, some kind of instinct that freaked him the hell out, and he scrambled to get away.

But of course he tripped. It was Todd. Of course he'd trip.

[reactionary.livejournal.com]

Seizing the opportunity at the kid's misstep, Rorschach shoved his way into the bushes and grabbed his collar, simultaneously breaking out of the shrubs and pulling him roughly along with.

"Stealing. Bad."

He didn't let his vicegrip go from Toad's shirt, expecting him to hand the wallets over.

[stuckfingers.livejournal.com]

It wasn't like this was the first time he'd been dragged along by his shirt, but Todd was freaking out just a little. Still, he wasn't about to give up what was rightfully his. Finders keepers, right?

"So?" he squealed, squirming in Rorschach's grip. "I don't give a fuck!"

[reactionary.livejournal.com]

Just another brat who thought the world owed them a huge favor, he supposed. Still, Rorschach would hold back with the bone-breakage and generally serious injury. He was just a kid. They often did stupid things. Nonetheless, he yanked Toad backward, trying to cease his escape efforts.

"Give wallets. Now."

[stuckfingers.livejournal.com]

He couldn't get out of this guy's grasp no matter what he did, no matter how he squirmed. Hurling curses at him, Todd considered his options.

He could either give the wallets over or get his face broken in. That was the vibe he was getting. So, sulkily, he put his hand in his pocket and handed them over. He wasn't willing to fight this guy.

[reactionary.livejournal.com]

Rorschach took them quickly, placing them in his own pockets, mask shifting slowly. He'd probably just turn these in as lost and found, not caring to find the owners personally.

"Hrm. Don't do again."

He turned briskly to leave, although it seemed obvious that he wasn't going to just exit without trailing the kid a bit further. Just to make sure he'd heed his words.

[stuckfingers.livejournal.com]

"Yeah?" Todd shot after. "Well, why not, huh? You got a problem with what I do? You some kind of superhero?"

He was pissed. That was his take. Didn't matter that he had part of the money still in his pocket - it was his. And this guy -

"Who the hell are you, anyway?" he snapped.

[reactionary.livejournal.com]

"Vigilante. Rorschach."

He glanced over his shoulder at this, staring the kid down.

[stuckfingers.livejournal.com]

"So what's gonna stop me stealing more shit later?" Todd shot back, cockiness overtaking his fear. Just 'cause this guy caught him once didn't mean it'd happen again. He'd be more careful next time.

Way more careful, with this freak hanging around.