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Charlie didn't know she was slightly undersized from someone who was twelve. She'd never been around enough children to know. She also didn't know it wasn't normal for a twelve year old to still carry a very worn doll with her out in public. If she had, she wouldn't have cared. Baadollie was her oldest friend and comforted when she was unsure or frightened. And she still was unsure of herself when she was out with other people. Humans.
Public.
She could hear the telepathic chatter inside the closed grocery store as they took inventory of what they could take and what they needed, occasionally checking in with her to make sure she was doing ok outside. It was little more than a quiet mental background noise, grounding in the pressing noise of the city.
Noise and lights and Charlotte made faces like her shoes were too tight as she struggled to cope with the mental load. Clutched tight against her chest, her chin on her dolls head, she rocked slightly, unaware the shadows of the others inside the store could be seen back lit against the shades of the window.
Public.
She could hear the telepathic chatter inside the closed grocery store as they took inventory of what they could take and what they needed, occasionally checking in with her to make sure she was doing ok outside. It was little more than a quiet mental background noise, grounding in the pressing noise of the city.
Noise and lights and Charlotte made faces like her shoes were too tight as she struggled to cope with the mental load. Clutched tight against her chest, her chin on her dolls head, she rocked slightly, unaware the shadows of the others inside the store could be seen back lit against the shades of the window.
