walking with strangers (March & April Catch-All)

[stauncherhearted]

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catch-all for march & april for nancy.
PM me or plurk me for specific starters!
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[aglaochartos]

He was on his third cup of coffee, black, when he noticed the cafe was getting slightly too crowded. Seats were filling quickly and people were requesting to share tables-- not something he was fond of, but better than returning to his flat, where the light wasn't strong enough to supplement reading. Rather than leave his partner up to fate, he'd gather his things and relocate, after a quick assessment of the room.

One table, for two, with a young women that wasn't half so loud as the other rabble, who also had been taking her time and didn't look like she might be on the move before he could finish his reading.

Heading over to that table, coffee in one hand, book underneath the opposite arm, he'd present the stilted request: "May I?"

[stauncherhearted]

Nancy looked up from her tablet- she was killing time before she needed to get ready for work, and it was always nice to get out of her flat. As lovely as the new one was in Enfield, it wasn't hers. Lord Coward had been far too kind to her, giving her one of his properties after she'd been evicted from her own flat.

Fucking Fagin. She knew he hadn't taken well to being slighted, but she hadn't expected the full level of retaliation from the fae. The hospital was one thing. Losing her flat was another entirely.

"Hmm?" She asked, pushing a lock of hair behind her ear, the brace still on her wrist perfectly visible. At least her bruises had faded. "Oh, yes, of course." She gestures at the empty chair across from her. "Getting busy, isn't it?" There was magic about this man.

[aglaochartos]

Something about wounded birds was always... calming, somehow. Not enchanting, exactly, but Henry felt an immediate fondness towards women who had been broken in a way he typically could not feel for anything else. It struck some protective chord deep in his chest, generally dormant, and made him more disposed to listen, learn, and like; much akin to a Greek tragedy, someone had to be inhuman not to feel anything at all when faced with something lovely and cracked. Even if that feeling were dull, like in an echo chamber far away, it was still something.

The bruises, with his poor eyesight, he'd have yet to noticed; the brace, however, made him more lenient towards the idea that this might be someone worth speaking to. Pain and regrowth were what made individuals human, after all.

A nod, in thanks, and going to sit. Placing the coffee down a little roughly, as if he could not quite help it, but the books were placed more tenderly on the table top before he turned his eyes back to her.

"Too crowded." He agreed... or stated, depending on her opinion of busy places. "But there's something nice about small shops, when individual voices become a chorus." The background noise was near deafening now, but it was so much better than hearing individual conversations. Old women whining, children pouting, men snickering.

[stauncherhearted]

The coffee hit the table and Nancy made a small face, pursing her lower lip just slightly at the noise. She leaned forward, to see if the coffee had spilled. Nothing. So she said nothing about the matter.

"There is, isn't there?" She smiled around the space fondly. "I just moved to the area, I'm trying to get a good sense of what's what yet. But I do like this one." But they were supposed to be talking about voices. "But I think I like it better when it's a bit quieter." And here they were, adding to the noise. Oh well, he was handsome enough she didn't mind a bit of conversation. She was only killing time, after all.

[aglaochartos]

"New to the area...?" He let the question taper off, earnest, inquisitive, but not pressing. She sounded English, so he wasn't sure if she meant to London, or to this part of the great web of the city. Either way, he wasn't especially good at fishing for conversation, but he made for a willing listener. Listening was the least he could do, after intruding upon her space-- but softly enough so that she could choose to ignore the question or cut if off quickly, if she'd rather be left in silence and felt the intrusion acutely.

[outstandingbalance]

Natasha finds herself in another bar. It's the fourth night in a row, and maybe she should examine what that means and whether or not it's a good idea but it's not going to happen now. This time, she's landed in a real dive. Not a loud, rowdy dive. No, it's the kind of place where people go to quietly cultivate their personal drinking problems. Some on their own, others in small groups, two or three people grumbling over their beers.

It suits Natasha's mood.

She puts herself at the bar and orders herself a scotch, which sits before her untouched for half an hour. It's not what she wants, and it shows.

[stauncherhearted]

This place is perfect. it's the sort of place you can find some lonely guy to take back to a hotel room. Granted, any place was that sort of place. Sad people who wanted company. Honestly, it was fun when they just wanted to talk and they paid for company. But she wasn't picky.

First things first- she strides over to the bar, a few feet from Natasha and makes to order. "I'll have a gin on the rocks." She glances over towards Natasha. "The liquor that bad here?" She gestures at the glass.

[outstandingbalance]

Natasha circles the rim of her glass with one finger at the question, toying briefly with possible answers before she settles on, "I couldn't say." Honesty. Sort of.

She studies the other woman in a quick glance. The hair gets a second look and a faint smile. Her neck also gets a second look, but it's less amusing.

"I can let you know when I find out for sure, but I think it's about the same everywhere."

[stauncherhearted]

She knows that look. She's seen it for years. The one that suggests that she's hungry.

"Well we'll have to see," she says. "At least it's straight from a bottle." Her gin is set down in front of her, and Nancy wastes no time in taking a sip. "Not bad." But.

"But I'm sure these drinks aren't what you really want."

[outstandingbalance]

Natasha picks up her scotch, rolling the glass between her fingers and watching it swirl as she considers how she'll deny that. She can't do it honestly and tell the truth, though lying is an option. She could take a drink, but her lack of enthusiasm would almost certainly show. Even she's not that good of a liar.

Finally she sighs shallowly and sets the glass back down.

"Sometimes what we want and what we want aren't exactly in line," she says. It's less a denial and more a dodge, recognizing that they both know she doesn't want alcohol but willing to leave it at that.

[falsify]

So, Nancy has a new place. It was a bit of a surprise, that Fagin would be quite so petty as to throw her out when she's hardly gone and turned her back on him, but the old man always has been the controlling sort.

Least she landed on her feet though, eh?

It raises a few questions, certainly, but moreover Eames has been so busy all month, he's long overdue to pay her a visit and congratulate her on the new place. He arrives, an expensive bottle of gin in hand for Nancy, and a bag of the fancier cat treats for Juliet - the cat almost certainly won't appreciate the extravagance, but Eames doesn't do small when it comes to gifts - and knocks on the door. Politely waiting for an answer because he's a decent person.

[stauncherhearted]

Nancy answers the door promptly. her place is better than the last- a bit brighter, a bit more open. but it fits her lifestyle and she doesn't have to worry about rent thanks to her benefactor. She'll miss him, because Lord Coward had been nothing but good to her, and it had been nice, for a time, to have the police in her pocket, as Kenzi put it.

but everything changes.

Her bruises are gone now, as March draws to a close and April arrives, her brace gone. She's healed well from the ordeal, and now all that's left is healing the rift with Fagin. He's a bastard,
everyone knows it. but she was still involved. she always would be. it was a fact. no matter what she did, she doubted she'd be able to sever ties with him until one of them was dead.

"Eames!" She greets him with a smile and a hug. "look at- oh you shouldn't have! come in, I'll pour us a glass." Juliet mews from the window sill. hi, Eames

[falsify]

Eames smiles in return and hugs her back with an arm for a good moment before he pulls back to hand over the bottle. He steps in and closes the door behind him, wandering over to greet Juliet with all the chin scratches she can handle.

"I thought about a plant, but gin seems like a better gift all around," he says from his new home by the windowsill. Who wants to be tied to looking after house plants? No one.

[stauncherhearted]

"Gin is always a better gift," she tells him, moving around her flat to get them some glasses for the gin. or they can pass the bottle back and fourth, but she'd like to pretend she's somewhat classy.

Juliet is as happy as a clam, currently, with her new bff Eames.

"Look at you two," she Nancy's back with the gin in glasses by the time Juliet has taken a seat on Eames' lap. "Hold up-" and she really just has to take a picture, sorry darling. "Perfect. She's finally getting used to her new place- poor girl was living at my old doorstep for a few days."

[falsify]

By the time Nancy comes back with the glasses, Eames has Juliet curled up in possession of one of his hands and the two are deep in conversation. Mostly about how he'd like his hand back at aome point. Thankfully Eames detests baby voices and the like, so mostly it has the effect of being a little like trying to engage a baby in deep conversation.

He does not at all look pleased about the photo, but he doesn't try to ruin it at least. Rewarding Juliet with some belly scratches from his trapped hand for successfully trapping him in an adorable situation.

"Homesick, were you?" Eames murmurs to the cat in a tone that might even be a little sympathetic. Nancy doesn't get any such consideration when Eames looks up at her with a raised eyebrow, "I hope that photo's not going to show up in any inboxes."

April 6th, evening

[acrookedchild]

There's a knock at the door.

Things might be in motion. They are in her brain. Ideas and ways to get around the sanction of non-aggression Sylvia forced her into. She'd talked to one party, but there were other things to consider. Matters that were beginning to be talked about. She had a dream of an idea. But she needed one sister's approval, first.

"Hey. It's Abby," she calls through the door.

[stauncherhearted]

"Abby?" Nancy's getting ready for work when the knock on her new door rings out. She checks the peep-hole before letting her in.

"Hey- I was just getting ready for work. Come in." It was nice working on her own schedule, all things considered. "Do you want some tea? Something to eat?"

[acrookedchild]

"Oh! Sorry! I can come back another time. Wanted to chat about something."

Something, by the way she says it, she's taking pretty seriously. But it's not something she wants to rush through. Especially with Nancy. They need to actually talk about this.

[stauncherhearted]

Well then.

Nancy shakes her head. "No, no- I can be late, I don't exactly have a set schedule or anything." She'd never actually told Abigail what she did. Which... She probably should, given that Abby was now working closely with Norrell... But now wasn't the time to discuss that.

"Come in, let me get some tea going, then." At least she didn't look like an idiot with one eye of makeup done. She dreaded the day that happened.

[acrookedchild]

Abby comes into the flat, pushing the door shut behind her. She smiles a little, wary at least a bit. But... They were friends. At the very least, they were that, and they could talk.

"I just wanted to chat a bit. About something I was discussing with James Memon. East End's alpha."

April 15th, late afternoon

[wolfmarked]

[True to her word, Skip is at Nancy's door within forty-five minutes of her text. With her is a carrier of multiple kinds of liquor.

A few good knocks is all she gives.]

[stauncherhearted]

[Nancy answers the door, clad in a t-shirt, skinny jeans, and no socks. Her toenails are painted a dark purple that stands out against her pale skin on small feet. It may be the first time Skip's ever seen Nancy not dressed up, she doesn't know.]

Hey! Welcome! [She greets her with a hug and ushers her inside.] Let me take your coat, or some of these drinks. [Always so helpful.]

[wolfmarked]

[Skip smiles a bit. After all, it's good to see Nancy. Even if it had taken her awhile to reach out after the Valentine's mess.

At least they were both alive.

She offers the bag of liquor.]

There y' go.

Hope y' don' mind me droppin' by.

[stauncherhearted]

[She didn't blame her, not at all. That was a mess, her life with Fagin had been even more of a mess. They both had their lives.]

Thanks.

[She accepts the bag and walks to the living room.]

No, not at all. I was in tonight. [She gestures at a few of the books she'd gotten her hands on. Research. About werewolf curses.]

Have a seat, what do you want to start with, love?

[wolfmarked]

Let's start with the vodka. It's that kind of night.

[Easy enough to say, especially to someone like Nancy.]

Got somethin' I wanted t' ask about you. Might be too personal. So feel free t' tell me t' go t' Hell.