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Post by Executus Gira on Mar 26, 2018 5:45:37 GMT
Molly smiled, and waved as Sam left for the inn/bar hybrid. Once she was out of sight, the grip on Demmy's shoulder tightened, and the girl winced under it.. but not as much as the glare she was getting from Molly. "What the hell is wrong with you, Demmy? No, please tell me, what the hell is going on? First Vee, then Sam, and now the bath owner. Are you just angry at everyone today?"
Demmy's hand reached back, and pried Molly's grip off of her. The girl tried to place it back on, but Demmy was holding her hand fast. " I don't know what you're talking about. Vee I meant no offense toward, and you know that. She just handled it like a baby and ran. Sam and that old woman... just don't like my sense of humor."
"That is not your sense of humor, at least not what I know it to be! You were grumpy with people, but not morbid about it or that insensitive."
"Molly-"
"You just..." Molly finally managed to snap her hand out of Demmy's. " It's like you love riling people just for the sake of it. You did it with Heather, but at least there, it made sense because she was riling you up as well. But complete strangers, people who it would be better to get their trust and understanding than alienate and scare off? I can tell just by how she acts around you Sam thinks you're some kind of monster hellbent on making Alex's life hell, and that's not who you are!"
Molly turned, and stamped her foot against the ground. "When I first met you, you were on the ground, bleeding and in desperate need of help. I do not regret standing up against that freak of nature woman to save your life, even after all the craziness between you and Heather. I do not regret taking you in, and being your friend, but this hostility with others needs to end. I can't bear seeing people look at you and thinking you're a troll or a menace that needs to be restrained or worse. What if you go over the line about Alex, and Sam puts a bullet in your head to protect him?"
Now Demmy walked up to Molly. Any sense of humor or enjoyment she had on her face was gone. " Molly, that won't ha-"
"Will it? Will it really? Because as far as I can tell, she's this close to killing you in your sleep to make sure her friends aren't harmed by you." Molly brought her fingers up not even a centimeter from each other to illustrate it to Demmy. "If she does that... I don't know what I'd do. I don't want to think wrong of you, Demmy, but I also don't want you to end up dead because you went too far." Molly's eyes were moistening, and she knew it, but was trying her hardest to not wipe them away, but keep her eyes firmly on Demmy.
"So please... when we get back there to the bar, apologize to Sam. And I mean it. Give her a sincere, honest to god apology. To her and Alex. Apologize for the way you've acted to her and to Vee, and show that you mean it. I'll know if you did by asking her, and by how you work tomorrow."
The taller, white haired woman couldn't keep her gaze on Molly any further. She glanced away, and let out a long, painful sigh. "It really hurts you that much, doesn't it? I had no idea... and to think I knew you well enough.. But fine. I'll give her an apology, for everything I've done today. I give this as a member of the Cheshire Cafe."
Only now did Molly wipe her tears away, and a smile came to her face. "Thank you. I needed to hear that from you, with no strings or half truths attached... and please, don't give her the same kind of apology you gave to Heather that one time. Funny though it was to show her your panties, I really don't think Sam would take well to it, and it's just... creepy and wrong."
Despite her cheeks being puffed out for most of the chat, Demmy let them deflate, and chuckled. "Yeah, she probably wouldn't. But... gods, that was funny. After she replaced the hand washing soap with vaseline, and I hid her car keys in the coffee powder, the only apology I give her... something she never wanted."
"It was dumb, and wrong, but her face when she stormed out of the office. I think she was redder than the tomatoes back at mom's house." Now molly was laughing. "Let's get back to the bar, and fast. I'll wait in the room while you apologize."
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Post by Executus Gira on Mar 27, 2018 0:17:57 GMT
"Yeah, let's get going." Demmy chuckled. If there was anything that made her happy, it was poking fun at Heather, and seeing that smile on Molly's face. She turned and started the walk back to the bar...
Something caught her leg, and the next thing Demmy knew, her face and her teeth had hit the concrete.
"Oops. You need to watch where your feet go, Demmy."
Demmy's eyes widened. She recognized that damn haughty voice. The white haired woman twisted to look back as she rose to her feet, and as she expected, was a sight she had desperately hoped to never see in this world. Standing to the side of Molly, apparently having snuck up while they had been talking to each other, was another girl, this one as tall as she was. She wore a large pair of glasses, and her eyes were a deep crimson red that matched her maid outfit. Her hair was short and brown, but bunched up into twin buns on the top of the head. "Seriously, you can't be so clumsy now. You're in a brand new world, and you are still tripping over the must mundane things. What a klutz."
"H-Heather?!" Molly staggered back, hands over her mouth. She as well hadn't expected to see her co-worker here. "How... When-"
"I've been here for several days. Got a job at that lovely Violet Bar, and today was my day off. I thought I recognized the two of you, so I waited outside while attending to some chores, and lo and behold, you come out talking shit about me. It hurts my feelings to be spoken so low, so I decided to give you both a professional hand." Her eyes leered down at Demmy . "Especially little Mrs.Loose Foot here."
Demmy was trying her hardest to not growl, but she was failing miserably at it. Her lips parted into a snarl as she approached Heather. " Got anything better to say than belittling everyone else?! Or do I need to staple that mouth of yours shut?"
Heather didn't back down, but brought her own face right up to Demmy's. Their foreheads were planted against each other. "That's rich, coming from the bitch with no sense of modesty and her own hate boner for everything that's not hers. You never were a people person, Demmy. At least I can be."
"And who's the rotten brat that keeps bringing out feral pets that are illegal just to make my life a living hell? Or ran through five boyfriends in three months? Let me give you a hint, you bun haired bimbo, it's not me."
"Enough, both of you!" Molly's shout caused both of them to turn to her. The smaller woman was fuming, and pushed them away from each other. "I have had it up to my NECK with your petty rivalry back home, and I am NOT in the mood for it here! We have far more pressing matters to attend to than ripping into each other! I might not be your current boss, but I can make an educated guess Wisma won't tolerate this. It's late, I am tired, and if I hear any more barking and hissing at each other, I will personally ask for her to have both of you relegated to trash sorting duty!Do I make myself clear?"
The two women looked back at each other, and shook their heads at the same time. "Well, I'll try... but well see who fires the first shot." Demmy responded.
"Don't blame me if my hand slips." Heather teased, before she walked back toward the bar, laughing. "Enjoy Mival, Drudemy!"
Even as she left, Demmy was shaking. "I said I would apologize to Sam... but can I do so tomorrow? I can't say anything nice right now." She hissed through gritted teeth.
Molly sighed. "She may be gone in the morning, but... if we're up early, and she is as well... we can try. And Demmy, please don't stoop down to Heather's level. I know you're mad she's here, but it's for the best. If we're all together, we can all try and find a way out of here. Besides, it seems like she was warped to a time period earlier than we were, so that's something."
"Yeah... it sure is." Demmy sighed. She started the trudge toward the bar, with Molly by her side to help her along...
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Post by Stage on Mar 27, 2018 4:20:53 GMT
The two were greeted by a familiar voice as they entered the Violet Inn.
"Molly! Demmy!" Alex smiled. His expression soured as he saw the state of the taller woman. "A- Are you okay?"
He stood shoulder to shoulder with Sam, who now bore an adhesive strip and a subtle glow on her cheek. Alex had been late in rejoining them because he had sought something to tend to her injury, however slight it was.
The four were alone downstairs. Or almost alone. A few stranglers drank quietly in dim corners, not wishing to be disturbed, and Heather hovered at the far side of the bar. Wisma could be heard, though not seen, in the back room.
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Post by Orcus on his Throne on Mar 27, 2018 4:25:15 GMT
"Oh hey!" An unknown voice stated. A slim figure emerged from the back corner, who Sam recognized as Boris. "Good to see you two finally made it back. How was the bath?"
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Post by Executus Gira on Mar 27, 2018 4:38:01 GMT
"The bath was wonderful!" Molly answered back. "And we're fine. Just... didn't expect to run into an old acquaintance of ours there."
"Yeah... we weren't." Demmy looked down, but a jab in the side brought her eyes back up to face Sam. Realizing she wasn't going to be let out since the opportunity was right there, Demmy cleared her throat. "Sam, and Alex. My behavior around the two of you, and toward Vee, hasn't been the best in the world. I've teased, taunted, and insulted on varying degrees the three of you, at times not even intending to in the case of Vee. It's how I like to be at times, but, clearly it was generating tension and hostility. Molly was scared this was going to end with a bullet in my head in my sleep, and the last thing I need is for her to worry her head off about me. I just can't bear the thought, and neither can I one with having the entire world turned against me."
She sighed. "I guess... I'm just trying to say, sorry for last night, Alex. And sorry for all of today, Sam. We got off on the wrong foot, and I caused you both grief and unnecessary worry and turmoil. Even if it changes nothing, even if it's an apology too late... it would put this poor old sinner's mind at ease, and her insightful friend's mind as well."
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Post by Stage on Mar 27, 2018 5:15:26 GMT
Sam, who had been thanking Boris for helping Alex find their room, turned curiously when Demmy called her name. Alex also gave her his attention, his eyes going wide with shock as she spoke. Sam's face remained impassive throughout.
When the tall woman finished speaking, there was a weighty silence. Alex looked as if he wanted to speak, but his hesitance and numerous glances at Sam hinted that he feared it was not yet his place to.
Thus, it came down to Sam.
"..."
"If we're being honest with each other," she said finally, after a seconds-long eternity. "I don't like you. Moreover, I don't trust you."
Alex's face scrunched in concern. He threw apologetic eyes towards Molly and Demmy, and opened his mouth to speak, but-
"That doesn't mean I was going to murder you in your sleep though."
Sam's tone was identical, but her face had changed. It was gentler perhaps. Maybe even slightly embarrassed, as if she was abashed that was the impression she had given off.
"I protect and serve," she continued, tone faltering as well now. She averted her amber eyes from them. "I'm not some... assassin."
"That mean apology accepted," Alex spoke up at last. He was grinning warmly. "And that she's sorry too. And, u- uh... same for me. Vee really wasn't your fault by the way. It was just... bad timing is all. She was on a downswing."
His face lit up suddenly. "Oh! By the way, I've told Sam this already, but she had been by the airship terminal. I missed her though. She should be in London by now."
Sam muttered, "You mean in a bar."
"Be nice," Alex chided gently, pressing tighter against Sam. This silenced her, a subtle, warm stiffening overtaking her. A similar warmth washed over Alex.
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Post by Executus Gira on Mar 27, 2018 23:21:54 GMT
It was a long sigh of relief that came out from Molly. "Thank you. Just... thank you both. And it's good to know Vee's alright, even if it is her drinking away her sorrows. I hope she doesn't get sick from it."
"What I'm going to get sick from, is seeing this sorry excuse of a pity party going on." Heather's voice interrupted Demmy as she had been about to speak out. The glasses wearing girl walked past them with both her hands over her throat as if she was choking on something. " I'm not in the mood for weirdos and idiots being weirdos and idiots, so I'm getting the hell out of dodge and back to bed. Also, Drudgemy's apologies are about as worthwhile as eating dog shit mixed with camel shit, if you can comprehend that."
Demmy's face was bright red with anger now, and she stepped forward to chase down Heather as she left, but was held back by a hand from Molly. "Don't bother. She's not worth it." She whispered into her ear...
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Post by Orcus on his Throne on Mar 27, 2018 23:24:46 GMT
"Alright alright, keep it calm in here you guys," Boris stated, finally chiming into the conversation. "If you've got a problem with something, at least have the courtesy to take it outside. Okay?"
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Post by Stage on Mar 27, 2018 23:25:31 GMT
Sam scoffed. "Another 'friend' you made?" she asked with an eyebrow raised towards Demmy.
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Post by Executus Gira on Mar 27, 2018 23:38:42 GMT
The only response Heather gave to Boris before she ascended the stairs was a middle finger aimed at him.
"Um, a former co-worker of mine from back at the cafe. Her name's Heather, and... she never liked Demmy."
"It goes beyond that." Demmy added in. "She hates me for reasons I honestly don't know. She tracked down my address and mailed an entire hive of giant wasps from Japan to me, and one time tried to sneak in a Tasmanian Devil into the cafe to screw with me. I was hoping she wouldn't be here, but... the gods hate me."
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Post by Orcus on his Throne on Mar 27, 2018 23:41:06 GMT
Boris seemed shocked by this revelation. "Remind me again why you put up with her?"
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Post by Stage on Mar 28, 2018 0:49:50 GMT
"To keep her job I hope," a low voice said.
Wisma emerged from the back room, brown, wavy hair down and a hand-rolled cigarette between her lips. Her vest was gone, and she instead wore a fine, silk blouse through which her hard, wiry frame could be assessed. A golden serpent or dragon curled around one sleeve. Its reflective outline seemed to slither and wind as she moved, making its snout appear to nuzzle the stump of her missing hand ruefully.
"Fight in your own time," she told Demmy plainly. "Do it on my time and you're fired. That goes for Chaves too before you ask."
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Post by Executus Gira on Mar 28, 2018 1:04:47 GMT
Demmy gave a solid nod to her. "Yes, Ma'am." she said. She had already planned on doing her best to not pick a fight with Heather for Molly's sake, but Wisma's threat was just cementing that fact. There was also something in her voice, something which Molly noticed seemed to set Demmy on edge.
"As will I." Molly answered as well. "As for why I put up with her... when she wasn't trying to tear into Demmy, she was a hard honest worker, moreso than anyone else in the cafe for that matter. The problem was... just trying to get her to focus on that work, and not bring in a new invasive species."
She looked back at Wisma. "I love that blouse on you. It looks lovely."
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Post by Orcus on his Throne on Mar 28, 2018 1:29:14 GMT
"Speaking of time," Boris chimed in, turning to face Wisma. "What hours are these two lovely ladies going to be working? Morning shift? Nighttime?"
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Post by Stage on Mar 28, 2018 2:47:25 GMT
"Good to know it was worth the trouble of getting," Wisma noted dully before she glanced at Boris with her eerie, transcendent eyes. "They're replacing Cormac and Delahaye on the evening shift."
A yawn very nearly interrupted her. Alex blushed delicately. "S- Sorry. I didn't realize how tired I was..."
"Ready to head upstairs then?" Sam asked him.
"Yeah. Goodnight, you two."
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Post by Executus Gira on Mar 28, 2018 2:54:53 GMT
"Evening shift, then." Molly nodded. She looked over at Demmy. "Remember, evening shift. Please don't sleep in to the point we miss it."
"That'll depend on how the night goes... and the morning."
Molly groaned, before looked back at Alex. "Good night, you two. Hopefully you have a well day tomorrow."
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Post by Stage on Mar 28, 2018 3:21:23 GMT
Alex, who had been oddly quiet until his unexpected yawn, glanced at Sam. "Y... Yeah. I hope too."
Only sparing a terse, "Night" for Molly and Boris, Sam lead the way upstairs. Alex followed.
Wisma too began to vacate, giving her three employees businesslike nods as she left.
"I don't care what you do after hours, but don't disturb guests and be on time."
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Post by Orcus on his Throne on Mar 28, 2018 3:44:02 GMT
"Sleep well, you two," Boris said to the duo before chuckling aloud. He then turned back towards Molly and Demmy, a smile plastered on his face. "Those two got it in for each other, don't they?"
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Post by Executus Gira on Mar 28, 2018 4:12:23 GMT
Molly blushed, and rubbed the back of her head. "Well, when you put it that way, I guess they do... They are good friends after all."
"Honestly, I think it's more than that." Demmy's sleazy smile returned. "They're interested... at least Sam to Alex."
"And what about you, Boris?" Molly asked him. "Anything you're up to?"
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Post by Stage on Mar 28, 2018 4:13:50 GMT
Upstairs, Sam could not help but let out a small, weary sigh as she closed the door behind Alex. She was quite sleepy- she turned in early, slept deeply, and rose with the sun, so this was unusually late for her- but that was not the problem.
She did not often let such things get to her, but it had undoubtedly been a long day. The last twelve hours had been thoroughly exhaustive. Both psychically and...
Amber eyes moved towards Alex's back as he examined their room.
Emotionally.
"W... We really are sharing a room, huh?" Alex asked with a nervous laugh. He cleared his throat and looked sheepish soon after. "S- Sorry."
"It's fine," Sam shrugged. "Do you want the bed?"
He did not answer.
"Alex?"
"W- What? Sorry, I- Sam. I, um..."
"I'm fine sleeping somewhere else if that's what you're worried about."
She had known he was worried about something for quite a while now. She spent more time that she would ever admit studying his face, so she knew its inner workings. His usually expression was flat and dour, and it likely looked bored to those who did not know him, but it meant that he was eagerly absorbing everything that happened around him. His current expression, however, was slightly knitted. Compressed. His mouth formed what seemed to be a small smile, but that was merely how the contours of his face shaped it when his brow was folded in troubled thought. Something had been on his mind since she had met him downstairs.
“N- No, it's that that. It's... Sam, I'm tired-”
“You said," she cut him off. "Go to bed, Alex.”
The suggestion was flat and uninterested in tone, but there was the ghost of a smirk on her face. It was a sight Alex had only seen a few times before. He loved it. He loved-
...
“No, Sam, I meant... I'm tired of this." It was him who was not smiling for once. "This... distance.”
That rare, perfect, beautiful smile wilted, and the part of Alex that cherished such moments so much died with it.
“I don't know what you mean,” Sam lied.
“I think you do. Because I think... I- I think you feel the same way as I do.”
When she spoke next, it was almost a plea. “Alex, don't.”
“Sam, I... I've always know you're amazing, but today... today I realized you're irreplaceable. I need you. I can't imagine not having you.”
“Alex, no-”
“Sam, I... I lov-”
“STOP!”
And he did. He had never heard her so panicked before. Her amber eyes were wide and he swore he could see her heart thumping through her heaving shoulders. It was amazing, and awful. He wished he could take it in forever.
Sam reached out, hands trembling, and grasped his shoulders. Her face was paler than normal. “Alex, you can't."
A head of reddish hair leaned into bis chest, muffling her voice. "I can't. Not here.”
“H... Here as in the bar?" he ventured hopefully. Part of him wanted to wrap his arm around her. It wanted it so desperately. "Sam, I... I know you still don't like Demmy, but-”
Amber eyes rose. “No, Alex. Here. This place. This... this isn't home.”
Alex's heart shudder. A sudden weight clung to it, dragging it bumpily towards his gut. “W- We could be each others' homes.”
“No, we can't." She released his shoulders and stepped back. He wanted to follow, to reclaim her touch. "That would just be a distraction. All I need to worry about is keeping you safe.”
“J- Just a..? Sam, I... I don't believe that. I can't believe that! And I... I don't think you can either. Sam, if... if you don't feel the same way, then just say so, b- but I think you do-”
“Alex, I can't.”
“But why?” he asked, his voice hoarse and his eyes hollow.
“I already told you. I want you and Bahn safe, not happy.”
“I can be both! We can be both, Sam.”
“This isn't on the table. The answer is 'no.'”
There was a long, heavy silence. The warmth that had connected them only minutes ago had dissipated. The air between them was now sterile and static.
"Sam," he finally said. There was something inescapably caught in the back of his throat, anchored to his heart. "Is.. is this about Chris and Hadge?”
Amber eyes, dead with joyless stubbornness, lit up with a small fury. “No, this isn't about them! It's... it's it's about me. I was their captain.”
“Sam-”
“And I'm your captain too. And nothing else.”
“Sam-!”
"I've already lost men, Alex. Friends. I'm not going to lose... something more."
"So... that's it? You'd rather be unhappy now than... risk being unhappy later?"
Sam did not answer right away. “You said you were tired. Get some rest, Alex.”
“N- No, I'm not done talking about this-”
“Alex." Her tone was final and her face was hardened. "Go get some rest.”
Alex opened his mouth to say something, to shout, to do anyth ing, but he had to stop. If he did not, he was sure he would have sobbed instead. “Fine. I'll find somewhere to sleep so you can take the bed.”
“You take the bed.”
“Sam, you're hurt.”
“I'm scratched.”
“Sa-”
“Go to sleep, Salman.”
“Okay," Alex broke. His already slender frame seemed as if it would crumple at a touch. "Goodnight, Sam.”
Numbly, he staggered towards the bed and slid into- no, onto it. He did not bother to remove his shoes or cover up.
Sam, meanwhile, stalked to a comfortably looking sofa chair and folded herself into it. Her back was to Alex and the bed.
As each pretended to sleep, knowing they could not, they realized the warmth between then had been replaced by a chill.
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