"I don't do green," Allegra drawled. "Strictly a black-and-blue kind of girl, that's me."
There were times when Allegra looked at her supposed-grandfather and thought, goof. And there were time she looked at him and thought, that's my Pappy. And there were times when she looked at him--really looked at him--looked at the muscles in his hands, the stone and soot on his skin, the tendons of his neck, the cut of his face, the level of his eyes, and thought, this is town is absolutely fucking dumb. Because how could anyone, much less a whole town of anyone's, looks at this man, this rough, steady, brilliant man and think him human? How could any person be that completely stupidly blind?
"Jam?" She held up one of the jars, spoon included. "Dunno what flavor it is, but it is flavorful. Like August in a can."
She dipped a thumb into the other jar--heh, if Mommy could see her now, the bitch--and licked off the sweet goop without a glimmer of shame. "How come you never took the money? I mean, my first year here, all that damage. I know Han--the Baku bitch offered to reimburse you. And don't say it's 'cause you had work enough to cover the cost: you didn't do shit for the first three months I arrived and you had to refund money for orders previously taken. I know. I stole your agent's accounts books. Tell him to upgrade the office locks, by the way; they're pure shit." She looked at him, lazy and fierce. "So. How come? Can't be because you liked me, not then. Hell, remember what I called you those first few weeks? And the hand gestures? 'Cause, anyway, you should collect that cash. I won't hold it against ya. In fact, seriously, do it: rob her blind and buy a garden."
OOC: Sorry! Impromptu Ally/Zoe/Pappy past history info creation! Beat me! With fish! Later!