friends in highly low places {OPEN}

[Darling]

It was raining that afternoon on Staten Island. But Darling didn't seem to mind much. She walked along the sands of Midland Beach with the wet pounding down on her with little sign that she felt anything. Her hands were brushing against her skirt. Her blouse hung on her frame like a sheet on the line to dry, with only portions sticking to her skin so far.

Sticking to her face were wet wisps of brown hair. Her usually electric blue eyes were dulled and almost reflected boredom. Darling's feet were bare, her shoes left several feet back in the sand, now probably soaked through.

In her mind, a date loomed like a threat. Her birthday. Thirty-two days away, and she wasn't happy about it. In thirty-two days she'd be eighteen years old and most likely have to start looking for a job somewhere. More than likely she'd end up somewhere she didn't want to be or married. Each option that popped into her mind was less appealing than the last, and eventually she had to stop thinking of possible futures.

Darling stopped in her tracks and looked up at the sky, listening to thunder rolling overhead. A ghost of a smile flickered on her lips for a few moments before it vanished, replaced by the earlier frown. Maybe if she stood there long enough the rain would wash away three or so years from her appearance.

[Peep]

Peep had been lounging on a small sand dune, sleeping as usual, trying to stay away from some younger Staten Islanders that were harassing him. Ever since he'd become leader, he had had small newsies coming up to him and waking him up from his naps. Before, they had not even glanced at him. Now he could not get them to stay away. Even if they were cute, they still needed to learn to keep their space.

But the rain was like the younger kids, it had woken him up from his sleep. And he had actually been sleeping deeply. He stood, stretched, his white shirt almost soaked through, though his knee length brown pants were in better condition. He must have been laying there for a while. Peep looked down at his sandy feet. Why wasn't he wearing shoes? Oh, he'd taken them off.

Peep yawned and stretched his hand out to search for the pair of shoes that should be laying beside him. Peep's eyes snapped open. They. Were. Gone. Peep sighed, stood, brushed the sand off himself, out of his bleach blonde hair and started walking down the beach. He shoved his hands in his pockets, kicked at the sand, and didn't notice the girl walking toward him until it was almost too late.

She was just standing there. Peep looked around uncomfortably. "Um... You do know it's raining, right?" Peep asked uncertainly. Maybe he was imagining it and some kids had just poured water on him... Or maybe she really was standing in the rain. "It's a nice day, except for the rain, of course." He said, trying to be friendly. "I'm Peep." He said.

[Darling]

Darling tensed a little when someone spoke nearby, asking her if she knew it was raining. She didn't tear her attention from the sky as she replied, "I know. I just like the feel of it."

He then introduced himself and she diverted her gaze to look at him. She knew who he was now that she'd heard the name. Peep. The new leader. Her new leader. She wondered for a moment if he even knew who she was or if he knew she was in his borough. She smirked, pulled some of her hair off her face, tucked it behind her ear and placed a hand on her hip. Once again she examined him after backing up a step. She spoke again, in response to his name, "Darling."

The brunette cleared her throat, now folding her arms loosely over her chest, "You're the new leader, right?" she clarified, tilting her head a bit.

[Peep]

Peep looked up at the sky also. "The feel of it, huh?" He asked softly, closing his eyes and letting the rain fall onto his skin. "It does feel nice, actually." He said, opening his eyes and looking at her. When she said her name was Darling, he had a sudden mind blast. "I know you! You're a Staten Islander, your name was in for consideration, right?" He said, smiling gently. He let her back up all she wanted. He did not care. It was better then being in his face.

Peep sighed, and ran a hand through his hair, making it stand up straight. "Yeah, I'm the new leader. Proud of it too. I probably don't look like much, huh?" He said, trying to crack a joke. He let his smile fade as he looked at his toes, then he glanced at her. "So, Darling, you haven't seen my shoes had you? I fell asleep and it seems someone stole them. I'm thinking that pickpocket Buttons, or maybe one of the Midtown pickpockets, or maybe just some wanderer. Don't care really, but shoes are expensive."

Peep sighed, pulled his shirt off his skin, but it did not work. It just stuck more. He raised his eyebrows and he looked out over the ocean, enjoying the sound of the waves, the peacefulness of it all. Peep enjoyed calm things, he was a calm person and they fit his personality.

[Darling]

Darling gave a weak smile when he brought up her name being up for consideration of leader. "Yeah, I was. Don't know what I was thinkin'. I couldn't of been leader if I tried," she chuckled, trying to pass off her defeat with grace. She really wasn't at all sure what had passed through her mind when she'd wanted to be leader. Maybe a reason to stay or a feeling of accomplishment. Not that it mattered now. So far Peep was making a great leader. At least it wasn't Missy, who Darling was alright with but didn't want to see as leader purely because she didn't like her method of doing things sometimes.

"From what I can tell you're doin' alright as leader," Darling began with a shrug, then looked around the beach. Then she shook her head. "Haven't seen your shoes. Left mine a while back in the sand. But who knows, ya may find 'em soon enough."

[Peep]

Peep smiled warmheartedly. "You might have made a great leader, if you had given yourself a chance. Plus, I may need a second." He said, trying to drop a light hint. He gestured to her. "Never know." He said, shrugging. Peep had thought about the others who had been up for consideration. Darling, who seemed alright to him; Jumper, who was nice but almost completely insane; and Missy, who seemed to close to criminals for his liking, but hey, he had no solid proof.

When Darling completemented him, he blushed deeply, his whole face going red, even into his hair line. "Ah... Well..." He said, not sure how to reply, so he let the matter drop. Eventually, the heat faded from his face. However, it faded slowly, painfully slow.

"M-my shoes?" He asked wildly, confused at the sudden turn of the conversation. "What about my shoes?" He demanded, completely forgetting they were lost, then he looked down. "Oh. Never mind. I hope I find them. They were very comfortable like." He sighed, rubbing his arms, slightly chilled now. "Do you come here often?" Peep asked, after the question left his mouth, he could have smacked himself. It sounded like a bad pick up line. "No, you don't have to answer that. None of my business." he said, shaking his head slowly.