Wings (December catch-all)

[wolfmarked]

Mama told me not to waste my life
Department store, Havering, December 5th

"I fuckin' hate winter."

Skip isn't directing the comment at anyone in particular, no, but she isn't keeping the thought to herself, either. Every so often, she pulls out a hanger, examines the piece of clothing... then puts it back. She sighs, flicking through a few more.

"Is it impossible to find something cute this season?"

At an end cap, she finds stockings. Thigh high, decently thick. And in a few different colours.

"See, this is what I'm talkin' about," she says, cheerfully.


Don't let what they say keep you up at night
Jolly Roger, all December

"C'mon, c'mon, break it up."

Her voice was easy enough as she stepped around the bar, waving off the two who were about to start going at it. There was always something, but, well, around the holidays it wasn't hard to wave off people by reminding them about their families. After all, she wanted to get through this with as little drama as possible. Everyone had a little more to deal with around this time of year, so she could try to lessen it.

And, then, she looked up when someone came in.

An easy smile, a push of her hair -- just a single strand that had come loose -- and a remark. "C'mon in. Grab a seat, an' I'll get you a drink."


Then they can walk on by
Southwark, mid December

Every day of classes before exams, Skip can be found at a coffee shop down the street from the University of Art. More than once, she has a portfolio and pictures spread out on an inside table, choosing them carefully, as well as the order to put them in.

Every afternoon after exams, Skip goes to a little diner she knows for a cup of soup. Just a little something to keep out the chill. Her book bag goes down every time with a thump, and she always sits at the counter, usually without asking if the seat is taken or not.


And I can't hear a sound
for Nancy, December 14th

Meeting with Nancy wasn't an unusual thing. After all, a regular at a bar -- both front and back room -- and a waitress who now got to moonlight as a bartender would know each other. And two girls like them? Well. Skip liked having someone to hang out with. They both got it.

Today, she smiled as she came into the restaurant. Her treat, she'd promised Nancy. It was a decent place. Nothing too upscale but somewhere nice and cozy for them to talk.

"First things first." She produces a small little box, done up in green wrapping paper with a red bow. "Happy Christmas."

But it was Skip. Just doing something nice... wasn't her style, even if she didn't mean for it to be like that.

"Now. Mind if I ask a little favour? I'm looking for a Christmas gift for someone."


Walk, walk on over there
North Pole, December 19th

She isn't going home for Christmas. Skip decided that long ago, and her father made it official this morning. It's safer for her to have her 'flat' at her aunt's place than to be in the house with her father and brothers for Christmas.

So she gets to spend Christmas basically alone. At least she has Christmas Eve plans, even if she hasn't made the person they're with aware.

But that's a week away. Which is why she's at the North Pole tonight.

She has high red stockings on with white heels. Unremarkably, her skirt is short but full, red and trimmed with white fur. Her shirt has long sleeves, but it's also red and trimmed at the cuffs and collar with white fur. It's entirely sheer, and her shirt underneath is white and a corset top, complete with red lace sleeves just off her shoulders.

When she drinks, she doesn't sit, instead just leaning against the bar. When she dances, she's always looking for a partner. Anyone who looks like they might be playing wallflower is fair game to be pulled into the fray.


Your words don't mean a thing
Birkbeck Tavern, December 26th

"Oh, God damn it! You gotta be blind! What the fuck kinda call was that?"

Boxing Day means one thing-- sports.

Specifically rugby, for Skip. She's got a Munster match on one of the pub TVs. For some reason, no one wanted to argue with her when she started demanding it, getting in her one opponent's face even though he was twice her size. Since then, she's gotten quite a few people pulled into it. Though they've got plenty of other games to be interested in.

"That's what I'm talkin' about! Oh, c'mon! Don' just let him--"

Then, on a shot of one of the players, she grins to herself and takes a drink of the pint in front of her.

"Fuck. Still way too hot."

Comments

[stauncherhearted]

Actually going out with Skip was something new and exciting. Her widening social circle was always appreciated, especially when it involved members of other factions. Or, at least, people she didn't have to hide the supernatural aspect of her life from. Skip was easy to talk to, and, well, she got it. She didn't have to hide anything about her life from her. There was a reason Nancy wasn't up-front about job to most people. But meeting her while she was on the clock was a good way to make sure you knew that part about her. Arthur, for instance, had met her when she'd tried to pick him up.

Nancy gasps, accepting the small gift. "Skip! You shouldn't have- I didn't get you anything; now I just feel awful." She gave a sympathetic smile. "By Christmas, you'll have a proper gift, I promise." Whatever it was, she'd figure it out. Now, for the fun part: opening the gift.

And there was a catch. Nancy raised an eyebrow, but kept opening the gift. "Bribing me? Alright, what is it? No promises yet."

[wolfmarked]

"I wouldn' call it bribing. Just buttering up," Skip said with a grin. After all, she was willing to pay, so it wasn't really a bribe. And even so, well. It wasn't like she was asking for someone's head on a pike.

"I'd like t' buy a piece of moonlight jewellery for someone. A guy. Just somethin' small, easy to conceal, you know. An'... well. Kinda figured you were the best to ask first."

Even if she couldn't make it or didn't have any, she might know where to send Skip. "Cost isn't an issue. I can get the money from Daddy. But. Yeah. Just kinda need help on another gift."

The present she'd offered, though, was a set of two bracelets. One had a small, handwritten tag on it that said 'real' while the other didn't. The 'real' bracelet had a silver chain and several blue topaz stones on it. The other was silver in colour but not actually silver, and it had dark red stones around it.

[stauncherhearted]

As Skip is explaining what she wants, Nancy's busy holding up both of the bracelets, looking at them carefully. "Oh my goodness- Skip, these are beautiful! And thank you, for the note, too." So she knew what she could actually wear out working. Or what she couldn't wear in various other situations. "That's gonna make things a whole lot easier." She speaks warmly, before sliding both of them on to her wrist, holding the up to get her approval.

"So that's not even buttering me up- this is a genuine gift, because you'd be paying for the moonlight jewelry. I'd be more than happy to make it. Preferences for types of jewelry, anything specific?" She could figure out cost later.

[wolfmarked]

"It's gotta be something easy for him to leave on during sex." Her grin says that's for purely personal reasons. That Nancy likes the gift? Only adds to it. After all, she doesn't actually need most of her tips, since her school and room are all paid for by someone else. And she gets a pretty decent allowance from her dad.

With Nancy, well... Girl friends can swap this kind of information. Not like either of them are going to judge each other about sex of all things.

"I think him being able to use those teeth and claws? Would make things even more fun."

[stauncherhearted]

Seriously. No judging here. Nancy makes her living from sex, after all.

She raises an eyebrow. "So wolves can get just as kinky as vamps, good to know." She'd never had teeth or claws involved in bed, when it came to werewolves in her bed. With vampires, feeding and sex so often went hand-in-hand. Done correctly, being fed off of could be better than an orgasm.

"This is for a guy you like?"

[wolfmarked]

"Not like he can hurt me." Well. No. That's not the right way to put it. "Pass it on, I mean. A bite's a bite, but I'm already one, technically, so... no harm, y'know?"

Anyone else, well. They get bit, they kill, they transform. And that is highly illegal.

"But yeah. Sorta 'friends with benefits' situation. An' he so needs to learn t' loosen up."

[stauncherhearted]

"I hear ya." Turning into a vampire was far more complicated than a werewolf bite, which she found oddly fitting. She let people feed off of her, but she refused to drink their blood. There was a limit she tried to keep herself to, and her clients respected that. They got what they paid for, nothing more, nothing less.

"Alright, that can be done, with any luck. Sex is good for that."

Jolly Roger, December 20th

[youronlylaw]

James starts undoing his coat once the door closes behind him and smiles back at her as he walks in. He won't try to kiss her or anything - not on the clock - but he will privately think to himself she looks very pretty tonight.

"Thanks."

Once he's at the bar, he orders a hot toddy. Just because it's fucking cold out and he needs something to warm his bones. As he does, he slides a package over the counter towards her.

"Got you something."

He may have gone and looked up online what would flatter her coloring the most, but he wanted her to actually like his first (official) present.

[wolfmarked]

At work, Skip is... Well. She's never quite professional. Not unless she's at a gallery. But she's a little more reserved. Which isn't to say she doesn't lean over her male patrons a little more, rest her weight against their table, and other such things. She does, but it's nowhere near as pronounced at it might be.

After James has his drink, she slips the unopened package behind the bar, out of sight, before doing her rounds. Satisfied that no one needs anything right away, she returns and pulls it out again.

"Huh. So you did." She flashes a smile. He doesn't need to know she got him something too. Not yet. She opens the box and can't help but smile. "Very pretty."

To make her point, she takes it out of the box and fastens it around her neck.

[youronlylaw]

James looks much too pleased as she puts on the jewelry. Maybe it's a wolf thing, but he practically puffs up with pride at seeing it around her neck only a few seconds after she opened it up.

"Actual effort went into finding that, be careful."

[wolfmarked]

Skip smirks just a little as she sees his expression change. She shifts her hair to suit it better and tilts her head just a little.

"Well, I'd hope you put effort into it. Can' jus' give a girl any ol' necklace. You're too smart for that."

[youronlylaw]

"My sisters would never let me hear the end of it."

And that's where he takes another drink because he just brought up family like this is a thing they do - talking about mundane crap. They have sex, that's pretty much the sum of their relationship. Why does he think he can talk about family?

[wolfmarked]

"Sisters, huh?" Family? Family is safe. She likes to talk about her family, and she always likes hearing about other people. Tells her a lot, what they talk about. What they don't says even more. "How many y' got?"

Southwark, Dec. 10

[protagonized]

Simon is only a matter of months away from graduating, and his dissertation is quickly taking over his life. The last several days have been a complete and total blur. He doesn't remember the last time he slept in his own bed; after work he usually just heads back to his flat long enough to shower, shave, and grab a change of clothes before heading back to the lab to verify data and check on his bacteria colony.

He needs a break.

He puts on his running gear and heads toward the river, crossing into Southwark at the Millenium Bridge. The cold wind rips through his supposedly weatherproof exercise gear, but he doesn't mind. It's keeping him awake.

He stops when it starts to rain. He's been out more than an hour now, and even though it's only 3:30, it's already almost completely dark. Chilled through, he steps into a cafe for a cup of something hot before he makes his way back to the Tube station--in a few minutes it'll be entirely too dark to head back on foot.

He's just finished ordering a hot chocolate and a cookie when he spots a very familiar red head at the counter.

London can't be this small, can it?

"...Hi. I'm really not stalking you, you know."

[wolfmarked]

Skip can't help but laugh a little as her soup is put in front of her.

"Really? That's too bad. I wouldn' mind seein' more of you."

It's easy to say, and she flashes a wide smile. If she really thought he was a stalker, she'd have a much more violent reaction. She has done exactly that. But this man? Not a threat in the slightest.

"Take a seat," she says with a gesture. "Jus' gettin' something t' eat after class, y'know?"

[protagonized]

Simon smiles and takes a sip of his cocoa. "The feeling's mutual."

He takes a seat next to her, stretching his long legs. He's missed being around her. She's more excitement than he can usually handle, and yet he feels calmer around her. Possibly because she's the only girl he hasn't had to lie to before.

They're both freaks. And that's refreshing.

"I'm trying to clear my head. My dissertation's turning into a clusterfuck and I have to get so much more done before we're off for Christmas that I don't know how I'll manage. How's Uni treating you?"

[wolfmarked]

"Finals, portfolio, all that bullshit. Still, ain' doin' too bad." After all, it's the nature of the beast. School is school. But--

Her smile widens a little.

"Dissertation, huh? Some kinda genius? Or you jus' older than y' look?"

[protagonized]

"I'm twenty-two," Simon points out, "so not really. Just finishing up with my degree is all. I'm studying biology and bio-medical engineering at University College London."

He has the good sense not to point out that he is, in fact, actually a genius. He has the MENSA membership to prove it.

[wolfmarked]

"So, a fuckin' genius then." She grins, leaning toward him. "Now, that? That's pretty cool. What're you plannin' t' do?"

Jolly Roger - Mid December

[tearmeanewone]

Elizabeth has been out of town for almost a month and a half now, and the return she'd had that first night had been... rough, to say the least. But things seem quiet now, and she's returned to her classes and to attempting a social life. She remembered meeting Skip at this place that night she'd been slipped something, and it seems both necessary and safe for her to go out for once.

When she comes through the door and sees Skip, Elizabeth waves a little, vaguely wondering if she would remember her despite how long it's been. Friends are a little hard for her still.

[wolfmarked]

Skip gives a nod of her at first, to acknowledge she saw the wave. After a few minutes of tending to the orders she already has, she slips over and grins. At first glance, she hadn't recognised the girl, but, well. Pretty hard to forget someone who'd been drugged by an asshole. Who she'd found and sent her brother after. But this girl doesn't need to know that.

"Hey. Been awhile. You holdin' up okay?"

[tearmeanewone]

"It has, yes," Elizabeth admits with a little wince. "I had to go home for a few weeks-- I'm sorry, I should have texted you considering you offered to take me out."

But she couldn't have risked it. Disappearing meant disappearing, not carrying on text conversations while in hiding.

"How about you? Holidays treating you well?"

[wolfmarked]

"Not goin' home for Christmas, which is kinda weird, but I don' mind too much. Plenty more trouble I can get into here, y'know?"

She grins as she says it. After all, Christmas 'with the family'? Not really something she cares about.

[tearmeanewone]

"Oh," Elizabeth looks a little surprised by that-- she thought everybody always went home for Christmas without exception. But after the initial surprise, she smiles. "Neither am I," she says with a little shrug and a shake of her head. "So I guess we can get into trouble together?"

[wolfmarked]

"Jus' one of those years, y'know? Plans refuse t' work out an' all."

Or, rather, there was a full moon on Christmas night, so tempers were already going to be high Christmas Eve, and... the likelihood of something happening? Well. It just wasn't worth the risks.

"But yeah. We can do somethin' if y' like."