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Post by wolfiso on Jan 8, 2012 17:21:43 GMT -8
Victoria felt the warmth of the speak wash over her as she entered, and she sighed like a child against their mother's embrace.
The simile occurred to her as she did it and something in her throat seemed to close up. Doors shut in her mind and she looked down the line of people pressing against the bar, or against each other out on the dance floor.
The color and noise of the speak, and the simple press of people against her personal space: that was why she'd come.
She was wearing the same dress now that she'd worn the last time she came here. With Mistoffelees. That was a rosy memory, that jarred with the knowledge that lurked at the back of her mind. She knew she shouldn't be out like this. If any of the matrons at church knew she wasn't wearing head to toe black they'd probably shun her for years.
She couldn't though. The silence of the house since the boarder had quit a month ago was bad enough, but now- she shied away from the rest of that thought and made her silent way to the bar. She pulled out the coins and waited for the bartender to have a moment to tend to her.
There was a slight chance she'd run into Mistoffolees here. Frankly, she wasn't sure if she preferred her company anonymous right now or actually wanted to talk. She'd brought her notebook with the intention of finding a corner and working on poetry.
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Post by victoriousscarf on Jan 8, 2012 19:39:14 GMT -8
The song on stage ended, and the music groups switched for the next set. Carefully making sure his fiddle went away for the moment, Alonzo slipped out, weaving his way toward the bar, wanting a drink to calm his nerves. He loved music, he did, but having quite so many cats looking at him at one time was hard.
Pausing when he reached the bar, a grin spread over his face on spotting a white queen. "Victoria! Is that you?"
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Post by wolfiso on Jan 8, 2012 19:52:16 GMT -8
Victoria turned, hearing her voice. She recognized the Tom before her, and something about his smile made her stomach flop and she wasn't sure how she felt about that. She waved in his direction, mustering up a broken smile.
The bartender was quick and she didn't see him take her money, but her hand had a drink in it now. She took a drink from it.
She remembered this Tom. She didn't meet too many people, and meeting Alonzo had been a memorable incident. She'd mentioned meeting him to her mother the other day.
She took another drink.
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Post by victoriousscarf on Jan 8, 2012 20:15:26 GMT -8
Finally reaching her, Alonzo leaned against the bar. "I didn't know you came here. I know I haven't been at church the last few weeks--trying to settle into a new schedule, but how are you doing?" he was beaming so happily he was entirely missing any cues she might have been giving off.
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Post by wolfiso on Jan 8, 2012 20:39:10 GMT -8
If he hasn't been at church he hasn't heard the news. She realized very quickly. I won't get that pitying look.
She turned and kept that smile going as hard as she could. "I'm okay." She said, knowing it was mostly a lie. "So what are you doing here?"
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Post by victoriousscarf on Jan 8, 2012 20:53:04 GMT -8
"Well, I work here now," he beamed. "I play the fiddle most nights. It's nice but a lot later than I'm used to my night life being. What brings you here?"
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Post by wolfiso on Jan 8, 2012 21:05:53 GMT -8
Her mind blanked. She couldn't think of a good reason. "Wanted a drink." She heard herself say and immediately regretted it. That made no sense. "I mean- uh- you know. Wanted to get out of the- uh- the house." She snapped her mouth shut and hoped he didn't ask why.
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Post by victoriousscarf on Jan 8, 2012 22:15:19 GMT -8
He beamed again and nodded. "Well, getting out of the house makes sense. It's hard sometimes, only going to work and then back home. Getting out and having some fun is good, right?"
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Post by wolfiso on Jan 8, 2012 22:19:05 GMT -8
Work. Right. She hadn't thought about Mr. Seidensticker's disappearance since New Years, when the woman in charge of the offices at the courthouse had quietly told Victoria that the office was being given to someone else.
She took another drink, finishing off the glass and wondering how it had gotten empty so quickly. "Right."
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Post by victoriousscarf on Jan 9, 2012 0:22:28 GMT -8
Tilting his head he paused, finally paying attention to her. "Hey, is everything okay with you? You look a little down."
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Post by wolfiso on Jan 9, 2012 13:21:15 GMT -8
"'m just...tired, I guess." Victoria said, though if she hadn't leaned into Alonzo's personal space, the words might have been too quiet to hear. She swayed back out of his space again and looked around the room. "It's too quiet everywhere else."
Something in the back of her mind, past the woolen feeling that hung behind her eyes, some instinct told her that maybe she'd had enough to drink now.
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Post by victoriousscarf on Jan 9, 2012 15:34:25 GMT -8
Alonzo looked her over with a slight frown. "Hey, you sure you're okay? Too much to drink or something?"
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Post by wolfiso on Jan 9, 2012 20:33:01 GMT -8
Victoria didn't say anything, too afraid that between the alcohol and not having any better answers she'd give it away. She pushed the glass away from herself.
But wait a minute. Something said in the back of her mind. Didn't he lose his mother too? Maybe he'll understand
She propped her chin on one fist, hoping to regain some stability by bracing herself against the bar and looked at him. And if you don't like that option, the voice continued you never did find out if he can dance.
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Post by victoriousscarf on Jan 10, 2012 10:53:55 GMT -8
"Okay, really not being reassuring on the whole convincing me you're okay bit," he said, voice softening slightly as he leaned a bit closer. "Really. What's going on?"
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Post by wolfiso on Jan 10, 2012 12:18:58 GMT -8
"Mom died." She mumbled, looking away. "Didn' wan-want you to p-p-p-pity me." She put her forehead down against the bar, if she looked at her own feet then she wouldn't see his face.
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