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

[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."

[tearmeanewone]

"Don't I know the feeling." All of her roommates were going away for the holiday and Booker... well, she hadn't heard from him since she'd arrived safely in London. So she's alone-- unless she wanted to spend Christmas studying at the Circle with Norrell. What a cheery thought.

"I think it's high time I got my head out of books for once. And the spirit of the holiday is encouraging me to do just that-- if that makes sense."

[wolfmarked]

"Got Christmas Eve plans, but come mornin', we can hit the town. Not gonna be much t' hit, but--"

She shrugs. And then grins.

"Always some party or 'nother t' go to. I can see 'bout findin' us a good one. Where nothin'll happen t' you."

Because, well, she remembers the last time. And she knows a lot of people freak out about that kind of thing and let it totally change what they do.

[tearmeanewone]

Elizabeth actually looks a little embarrassed by the reassurance. That's more of a humiliation than anything else now-- how dumb was going to an unfamiliar pub by yourself and taking an open drink from a stranger?

Experience had taught her this, of course, and then her university student-safety lectures had reinforced it in words.

"Ha, yeah, but you'll be around, right? So obviously I'd be fine." And now she's not at all afraid to punch somebody in the nose for trying to mess with her. "What kinds of parties are thrown on Christmas Day anyway? Should I find something festive to wear?"

[wolfmarked]

The reply? Just makes Skip grins. "That's th' attitude," she almost chirps. This? This is her kind of girl.

"Depends on what kinda party y' want me t' find. 'Cause I can find any kind. An' we'll definitely go shoppin' before it."

[tearmeanewone]

The reassurance makes Elizabeth grin back, more confident about this particular foray into social life. She can do this, if Skip is giving her the thumbs-up so to speak Elizabeth can do this.

"I don't know..." What kinds of parties were there? "Something with dancing? I haven't been to one like that, but I've been kind of itching to see one." That would mean fun shopping, probably. Something glitzy...

[wolfmarked]

"Oh, I can find one of those no sweat." That's exactly her kind of place. Drinks, loud music, flashing lights. With so many people that almost everyone gets lost.

"We'll get y' somethin' to really stand out."

[tearmeanewone]

Something sparks in Elizabeth's eyes when she starts imagining what Skip could find her that 'stands out'. Something she'd probably never have worn in Columbia, or picked for herself here. This is exciting-- she can literally do anything she likes, technically, if only for Christmas.

"...something with sequins? I see a lot of things with sequins when I'm window shopping recently."

[wolfmarked]

"It's not a Christmas party outfit if it doesn' have sparkles."

That, Skip is sure, is a written law somewhere. If it isn't, it should be. It deserves to be.

"An' if you get good stockings, y' don' have t' worry 'bout skirt length."

[tearmeanewone]

...woah.

Elizabeth actually blushes at the thought of wearing a miniskirt. This is territory previously thought to be completely off-limits, not because anyone had ever told her not to, but because she just... never had.

"You mean... if they're not transparent...?"

[wolfmarked]

"If you're gonna go transparent, don' bother with 'em. Jus' too cold usually t' go without 'em in winter."

Which it's pretty plain to tell is one of the highlights of why Skip hates winter. It limits the clothing she can wear with any practicality.

[tearmeanewone]

"N-no I don't think I can go without them!" And show all of her leg? Oh no. She'd die of embarrassment first. "But what's considered the 'right' stocking to go with a, um, shorter skirt?"

Help her Skip, this girl knows nothing about clothes not given to her by a faceless caretaker.

[wolfmarked]

"We'll work y' up t' that," Skip answers, waving off the idea. Plenty of time there. They still have all winter to bundle up.

"Somethin' thick. Keeps y' warm. We'll add that t' the shopping list, yeah?"

[tearmeanewone]

Elizabeth nods, understanding immediately. "Right, yes, shopping list!" She pulls out her phone (brand new since last Skip saw her) and starts a checklist.

"Stockings... thick. Right, got it!"

[wolfmarked]

"Don' worry. You stick with me? I'll make sure you're the second-best lookin' girl there."

[tearmeanewone]

"You being the first, I'm guessing?" Elizabeth grins as she looks up from her phone from making a note. She's fine with that, honestly. Elizabeth sees herself as pretty plain, and Skip has that whole red-hair-and-enthusiasm thing going.

[wolfmarked]

"Of course. I never settle for anything less."

She can't help but laugh as she says it, but... Well. A jovial tone doesn't mean she's not serious.

[tearmeanewone]

"I hope someday you can teach me that confidence," Elizabeth laughs with her and looks around the pub. "Any chance a timid girl can get a fortifying meal? There's nothing in my dorm, I ate the last granola bar this afternoon."

[wolfmarked]

"Comin' up."

The pub might not serve the best food, but it's hot, quick, and filling. Just the way she likes a lot of things. Might be why she takes to the place so well. Not long after, she slides a burger in front of Liz and grins.

"As for confidence? Trust me. Two things to it: y' gotta look th' part, an' y' gotta act the part. Do that? An' it comes fast."