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."

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.

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."

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.