The Empires discussion

Market

Mae rummaged through the trash cans, for food. Her dirty cap pulled over her long blond hair.

Lacy walked through the Market, eyes cast down. She went to a stand and bought some fruit and bread. She needed it to last a week.
As she walked back, she saw the little girl going through the trashcan. She walked over slowly and held out some of the bread to her.
"Here sweetie, you need it more than I do." Lacy said gently.

Mae looked up at the woman, afraid. She looked at the bread then the woman's kind eyes. She shook her head, she could take from someone who worked hard for their money to but food. But her stomach rumbled disagreeing.

Lacy opened her bag,
"I have enough, see? Its ok." She held the bread out again.

"I'm Lacy." She told the girl.

"Mae." The little girl whispered before taking the bread in her dirty hands, and began eating.

"Mae. That's a pretty name. Wheres your family, Mae?" Lacy crouched down.

Mae stopped eating, her appetite lost. She sat on the ground and cried softly. She wanted her mommy back.

Lacy reached out to Mae.
"Oh sweetheart im sorry. Do you have any brothers or sisters?"

Mae shrunk away and pulled her knees to her chest, wanting to disappear. She shook her head, "I have a friend, Latara, she watches over me but.." More tears fell from Mae's eyes, "I can't find her."

"Shhh. Where are you living?" Lacy asked gently. She hoped the girl wasn't homeless.

"No home. No one wants me." Mae whispered sadly.

"Im sure that's not true." Lacy shook her head and stood up.
"I think I want you. You wanna come to my house?" Lacy asked and held out her hand.

Mae looked at the older girl's hand. Did she really want her? Or was she just going to hurt her? Mae wanted a family badly, but was afraid.

"I live by myself, its about time that I had a friend. So Mae do you wanna come over to my house?" Lacy tried again

Mae nodded and grabbed Lacy's hand.

Lacy smiled and led her slowly toward her house down the road.

((Cont at Lacys house...))

Lacy had the blanket Aaron had made in her bag and some money.
"What do you think Mae?"

"It looks pretty. Are you selling it?" Mae asked remembering watching people trade from the shadows in the alleys.

"Yep. I make things. Thats how i get money." Lacy explained.

She sold the blanket in under 20 minutes.
"Ok what do you want for food?" She asked her group

"Orange?" Mae asked remembering Latara stealing one for her once.

Lacy nodded. She bought bread, eggs, apples, oranges and other fruits. She also bought nuts and spices. And some chocolate as a treat.
"Got everything." She announced

Mae had wondered off to look at the dog cages. She smiling at the puppies.

Aaron nodded, "Then we should head back." Before anyone notice him here.

"Mae! I'll let you play with the puppies later. C'mon." Lacy said and grabbed her hand. She grabbed Aaron's with her free hand, since all the food was in her backpack

Mae frowned and whined, "But Lacy......"

"I promise. Later." Lacy felt bad. Maybe she'd get the girls a dog later

Mae pouted but kept walking with Lacy.

(Cont at L's house?)

((kk))

Mae held Lacy's hand tightly not wanting to get lost

Lacy went up to the first clothing shop.
"Mae what do you want? Shirts, dresses, what?"

"Shirts." she shrugged busy looking around

"OK you look around." Lacy decided to let her pick

Mae nodded and ran around grabbing stuff she thought was cute until she couldn't carry anymore and ran back to Lacy her arms full.

Lacy raised an eyebrow and flagged down a saleslady.
"How much is all this?"

the sales clerk checked the prices.
"130$"
Lacy looked at Ace. ."Does 25% cover that?"

"He gave a thousand." she said

"Jesus." She muttered.
"Just give me the 130$ and you take the rest." She decided

Ace handed her the $130. "We still need to shop for you."

Lacy paid for Mae's clothes and handed her the shopping bag.
"Do we really have to?"

Mae smiled, "Yes. You should get something too."

"Fine. Lead on." She told them both, not really caring

Ace led her to a dress shop and Mae ran her around the room going from dress to dress.

"You're kidding. A dress?" Lacy looked around with dread

"You will look so pretty." Mae bounced up and down. "Please?One dress then all the boy clothes you want."

"They aren't boys clothes." She mumbled.
"Fine. Go wild. Find me something."

Mae smiled and dragged Lacy around the store to all the pretty dresses she saw

Lacy looked at each, making a face

"Come on." Mae shook her, "You have to pick,"

"That one." She pointed at a random one

Mae ran over and brought back a blue dress.