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Post by Meadowlark on Jan 13, 2011 18:47:02 GMT -8
Griddlebone stormed into the Red Ribbon, her bright green skirt whipping around her as she made her way directly to where she knew the Madame was during the day. She didn't bother with knocking, anyone who'd been in contact with her in the last week and a half knew she was in a mood over something. She still had no idea how to respond to the revelation and realization of eleven days prior. The door banged against the wall as she shoved it aside, dropping the flier on the desk. "What is this garbage?"
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Post by spiderbear on Jan 13, 2011 18:57:39 GMT -8
Grizabella, in all her aging glory, turned lazily toward the mirror of the dresser. Her office, usually parted from the back dressing rooms of the Burlesque House (if it could be called that, considering it moonlit as a bordello) with an equally old pink blanket had fallen, the older Madame drawn to the gaudy mirrors like a fly to honey. Grizabella pat her time ravaged paws to the powder puff sitting thickly in talcum-like foundation, bringing some to her wrinkled face and gently dusting some to her mouth to masquerade as the markings of a milk-mouth. She preened her eyelashes, coating them thickly in near-dry mascara, glancing at the white queen in the mirror with a relaxed sort of nonchalance.
"Business, darling. You know how it is this time of year for the girls. Winters on the docks can be cold." She swirled some powder into a small finger bowl, toying with the shady goop it made, before coating her whiskers in it, making them stand brighter upon her face.
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Post by Meadowlark on Jan 13, 2011 19:03:10 GMT -8
Griddlebone's lip curled at that. "If I've told you and your girls once I've told you a hundred times, stay the hell away from the Fishbone." Her disgust with the business here, and with the aging queen before her was evident in her expression, anger the primary emotion in her tone.
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Post by spiderbear on Jan 13, 2011 19:06:55 GMT -8
"I've told you once, a thousand times dear," Grizabella paused her melancholy preening long enough to eye Griddlebone with a regretful sort of look plastered over her time-fallen features. "Your business need not interfere with the family's." She opened her mouth slightly as she plucked a stray whisker, combing them back with her forepaws.
"Afterall, however much it was your choice to leave, it is our choice to offer service the same to all."
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Post by Meadowlark on Jan 13, 2011 19:09:54 GMT -8
"I catch any of your girls around my place I'll toss 'em in the river myself, Grizabella." The younger queen growled.
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Post by spiderbear on Jan 13, 2011 19:16:23 GMT -8
"Darling, you really shouldn't swim in winter; you'll catch cold." Grizabella's tone had dropped to a precociously chastising one, her expression somewhat proud as she stood, her feathery dressing gown adorned heavily and moving like a sheath of deep red mist around her as she moved to take her seat at her desk, passing the younger queen with little thought to her movement. The old Madame fished a cigarette from her drawer, placing it in a long, dainty holder which managed to somehow transport her back to her younger days - her suburban days, her watery blue eyes misting over with some lost memory.
"I thought you weren't going to come visit anymore..." Grizabella pulled out her aged red leather chair, breathing her bleak sentiment out with somewhat of a sigh; laying a paw to steady herself on the wood edge of the desk and coughing from the strain of merely meandering down to a sit.
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Post by Meadowlark on Jan 13, 2011 19:19:44 GMT -8
"This isn't a social call. Tell your girls the Fishbone's off-limits for 'em. You get plenty of johns in here without looking for 'em there." Grids watched the older queen, her green eyes following each movement, frowning very very slightly at the sound of the cough.
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Post by spiderbear on Jan 13, 2011 19:23:16 GMT -8
Grizabella stared off into space beyond the desk, her brow cracking some, her expression almost vulnerable for a moment before she managed to slowly blink her way back to reality.
"I set no boundaries on my girls for their business," Grizabella heaved a slight breath in, something rattling her from the inside out, but she took little notice as she pulled a heavy drag from her smoke, "You know that best of anyone. I merely provide the girls venue for their own solicitations."
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Post by Meadowlark on Jan 13, 2011 19:29:11 GMT -8
"Alright, if you won't listen to me about that then listen to this. You care about those girls you'd be wise to keep 'em away from the Fishbone. A lot of the johns there ain't the sort that'll treat them nicely if you know what I mean."
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Post by spiderbear on Jan 13, 2011 19:31:55 GMT -8
"Ruffians." Grizabella barked a sudden cough, the smoke of her ciggarette swirling around her.
"I don't know why you would willingly hole yourself up with..." She barked another, shorter, sharper cough, looking more age-ravaged then ever. "The likes of them. Your dresser is still here." She eyed the younger queen, her statement hoarse, though calm and placid in its meeting.
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Post by Meadowlark on Jan 13, 2011 19:36:45 GMT -8
Griddlebone drew herself up, her paws smoothing down the front of her blouse. "I don't hole myself up. I actually get out. I also don't spend my evenings and nights dancing for their pleasure. I've got dignity left to me that those girls of yours won't by the time they're done here."
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Post by spiderbear on Jan 13, 2011 19:48:23 GMT -8
"No one chooses this life, Griddlebone" Grizabella cleared her cough-thickened throat, leaning back gently in the old seat, her gaze on Griddlebone slightly chastising in a way that both mocked and shamed the white queen. "Those who choose to have dignity are those never forced to lose it." Her expression was grave, usually misty gaze gracve and sobered, as if Griddlebone's comments served her, and all those she had once called family, a great injustice.
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Post by Meadowlark on Jan 13, 2011 19:51:51 GMT -8
The white queen snarled. "How dare you! You don't even know what dignity is anymore, you've been without it so long. Well, I'm still young enough to remember how to hold my head up and have pride in who I am. You'll corrupt every single one of these girls unless they leave you like anycat with any sense ever did. They'll end up just like you."
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Post by spiderbear on Jan 13, 2011 19:57:20 GMT -8
Grizabella drew herself up from the chair, despite her pride, struggling noticeably to force the motion in the opposition of basic gravity.
"I wouldn't wish it on anyone." Grizabella appeared to flash with some sort of wounded look, though her tone was as hard and vapid as she could muster in her particular brand of bleakness. She seemed to pace herself towards the dressers, pressing an open paw on the nearest one as she felt a cough broach her throat. The Once-Glamorous queen paused slightly, her ego bruised, but her bite still pushing her forward; she crushed her ciggarette into the nearest glass dresser-set, ash tainting the otherwise pretty antiquity, turning her back on Griddlebone symbolically as she started towards the back stage door.
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Post by Meadowlark on Jan 13, 2011 20:02:14 GMT -8
The old queen had nerve, that was sure, but Grids would be damned before she admitted she still held admiration for the faded beauty. "Take care of them--better than you have some int he past." The white queen said, her mind flickering to queens she'd known during her time there, as she turned to leave the way she'd come, her lush white tail sweeping behind her.
[THREAD END]
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