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Hatch's Hot Dog Stand, Midtown Manhattan, 2:27 AM.
Oh, hallelujah! Somewhere in this infernal concrete jungle lies a /proper/ hot dog stand. One that understands that chili is not a condiment, but a necessity!
Aquiring a pair of wax-paper wrapped dogs, a green-glass bottle of Coke and a bag of Fritos, Amber settles against the side of her truck to tuck in.
*
A hand is working at her face. Currently it is trying to work out if it can push the sleep outta it and onto the pavement. However the hand contorts the features, the affect doesn't seem to be lasting and eventually Eva gives in and yawns as she walks along the pavement. The smell of food finds her eyes drawn to the cart like it were a magnet. Her hands cease what they were doing and check her pockets. The single note she brings out and quarter just find her giving a sigh and looking in the direction of you. Her fingers shove the money back into her pockets and she wraps her arms back around her in a self-hug. "Are they as good as they look?" she asks of you.
*
"Ain't sure yet, miss.", Amber replies, unwrapping dog number one. "Smells mighty fine, though. Don't see no beans in th' chili.", she adds, appraising her dog. "Yeller mustard, onions, don't see any problems as of yet.", the young woman smiles. Setting her dog on the tailgate of her truck, she pauses to tip her hat before resuming her late night dinner.
*
Fingers just scratch at her cheek a little. It appears Eva's resting face is perturb. When she is actually talking she's more animated. "Is it a hotdog without beans in the chili?" she inquires dubiously. A longer look at you has her cocking her head off at the angle. "Haven't I seen you somewhere before. You look familiar? Are you a dancer?"
*
"Highly unlikely, miss.", Amber replies, "Only been in th' city fer a few months.", she adds. "An', heh, I'm th' least closest thing t' a dancer you're apt to meet.", she chuckles, smiling friendly-like. "Now, if'n you'll 'scuse me f' eatin' in front of ya, got a powerful hunger goin'. Long night.", she says, then takes a prodigious bite out of her chili dog. "Mmm…Yepper, that's the stuff….", she sighs, satisfied.
*
"Oh eat away." Eva looks on down the street in the direction she was heading. "Just trying to avoid the Landlord." she admits explaining the reluctance that was beginning to line through her body. "I swear they've got eyes and ears in the back of their head some nights." she exhales, pushing air out like she'd never have need fo it again. "What brought you to the city?"
*
Eva's perturbation is not beyond Amber's notice, though she does pause to finish eating her first chili dog before asking. "Somethin' wrong, miss?", she asks, body language starting to go from 'relaxed' to 'potential problem'. "Who's this Landlord feller?", she inquires, starting to look around cautiously. "Somebody tryin' t' hurt ya?", she asks, voice dropping to a near whisper. "If that's so, don't answer, don't nod, just, with no fanfare, slip into th' truck."
*
"Nah. No trouble as such. Just always hard to get the rent paid on time and I worry…" She unfolds her arms and sinks her hands down to her sides so the fingers can patter-tap the anxiety away. "That the next step is the street. It is stressful. Ya'know. " she looks at your trunk and finds herself half grinning. "I bet your trunk has more room than the hole we're staying in though." the fact makes her half laugh. "It was good of you to offer though. I'm Eva by the way."
*
"Shee-it…you got me nervous fer a second there.", Amber sighs, shaking her head. "Thought you was in a spot. I'm Ember.", she says, offering her hand. "Pleased t'meetcha."
"You go on an' take that other dog, now.",she smiles. "Y'bound t' be hungry, believe me, been there before. More than a few times.", she sighs.
*
The hand is taken, her own shake gentle and telling that the nights cold had chilled her. "Nice to meet you Ember and thank you. I really apprecaite it." taking the dog she looks at it alittle longer before digging in. In the end she'll only eat half of it, and stow it away but for now she's just savouring the rich flavors working across her tongue. "You know. For no bean's its not half bad." she observes.
*
Amber watches Eva stash the rest of her dog and nods slowly. "Yeah, done that a time or two myself.", she says quietly. "How 'come you're on th' streets, miss, if I might inquire?"
*
"Just avoid heading home. I had hoped to earn a few more bills tonight but… things just didn't go my way." Eva wrinkles her nose. "Rents overdue, so really I'm just avoiding the landlord." and her gaze wanders back to the hotdog cart. This time she cases it and ends the thought with slow sigh. "Anyway. I should get on going. Thanks for the 'dog. It was kind of you."
*
Amber stops her, gently, but firmly by the shoulder. "You take this.", she says, pressing a hundred dollar bill into her hand like David Coppperfield. "And you get your ass off the streets miss.", she says firmly. "Been where you're standin', ain't no kinda' way t' live.", she adds. "An' get yourself more supper.", she adds, gently pointing the girl towards the hot dog stand. "You be safe, now. Y'hear? I'll be comin' back t' check.".
*
Eva 's easly enough spun about. Her first thought was… Was it real? Probably not the most gracious of thoughts to have first up, but it gets held upto the street lamp to check how good a forgery it was. Eva blinks a few times then sucks air inwards drawing her cheeks into a soft hollow. She'snot in a place to argue. The fingers curl around into a tight fist promising it will launch at anyone who tries to take it from her.
"Woah. Thanks." But she's backed off a little, just in case you change your mind. "Westchester. Ember. Got it. Be safe. Gottit." she says quick fire. While you gesture to the hot dog stand, she makes to split with the cash you've given her. Feet hit the pavement like rain as she pelts along its surface. If you're wanting your money back, its just haul'n arse off, down the street and off into an alleyway.
*
"An' there but for the grace a' God, go I." Amber sighs, watching Eva disappear into the night. And watches, and watches until Eva's all but a memory.
"Okay, Bertha.", she says, piling into her truck. "I just won you enough money to set you right, don't let me down now.", she says. Closing her eyes, she twists the ignition, and is rewarded. "Good girl, that's my good, good girl.", she sighs, patting the steering wheel before setting off into traffic.
*