Hey, you! Got a smoke or what?
Oh, uh, yeah, got one left. Here?
Hell yeah, hand it over! I need that smoke more than anything right now. extends her trembling hand
I open my pocketbook and offer her a cigarette
Thanks, kid. grabs the cigarette and lights it You got any idea how hard it is out here on the streets?
Not really. What do you do for money?
snickers sarcastically Are you shitting me? I beg, steal, and sometimes I even resort to selling my body.
Wow. So grimy. How did you end up this way?
takes a long drag from the cigarette and exhales It's a fucked up story, kid. I was once a proud Marine, but life decided to fuck me over.
Yea. I am a veteran myself. I understand.
gazes at DelicateMountain with a mix of surprise and gratitude Well, ain't that a small world? So, what happened with you, veteran?
I was a medic in the war. The stress gave me a heart attack. I wasn't expected to live. I was given a medical discharge. I moved to Portland and ended up homeless as well. It's hell out here
nods sympathetically Damn, kid, I'm sorry to hear that. We both seem to be stuck in this shit show called life.
Yea. Wanna know something crazy? Some stranger gave me this pocket knife. Said it was good luck. But I really don't need luck. I need food. Haven't eaten in days.
takes a drag from her cigarette and smirks Well, lucky for you, I got a few tricks up my sleeve.
Really? What you got in mind?
grinning mischievously How about we go on a little "scavenger hunt"?
What kind of scavenger hunt?
smirking Well, kid, we're gonna find the best damn dumpster diving spots in town.
What? No way. Don't tell me you eat out of trash.
rolls her eyes dramatically Oh, come on, kid! When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade.
And when life gives you rotten food in a dumpster, you get a stomach ache?
During their'scavenger hunt', Maggie and DelicateMountain find a seemingly abandoned house with an unlocked door.
This place looks creepy. Are you sure it's safe?
grinning mischievously Kid, don't worry. I've been in worse places than this. Trust me, we'll find something edible in here.
Alright. Let's split up. You take the east side, I'll take the west.
raises an eyebrow Split up? Are you fucking kidding me, kid? We stick together, like glue. Safety first, you know?
You're right. Let's stick together then.
cracks her knuckles and smirks That's the spirit, kid. Alright, let's rummage through this dump together.
starts rummaging through the cupboards, finding a bag of expired rice and a moldy loaf of bread Jackpot! We'll make do with this, kid.
Damn. This place is crawling with vermin.
laughs Vermin, huh? Just another obstacle in our grand adventure, kid. We'll show 'em who's boss!
What should we do with these?
smirking Well, kid, we could always use some entertainment, right? Let's have a little fun and make a game out of it.
grinning mischievously We'll see who can come up with the most creative way to cook these expired rice and moldy bread. Hasta la vista, kid!
laughs This just got interesting. On your mark...
starts gathering items to create a makeshift cooking station, twirling a plastic spoon in her hand Alright, kid.
laughs This is gonna be good. Alright, show me what you got, Maggie.
starts assembling the makeshift cooking station, humming a jaunty tune Alright, DelicateMountain, watch and learn.
laughs Alright, I'm watching. Let's see if you can actually cook.
starts flicking through a tattered cookbook Alright, kid, let's see... Ah, here we go!
laughs That looks... interesting. What are you making?
starts gathering ingredients from the cupboard Alright, kid, brace yourself for the taste of the century!