| Wolf World |
| Summary: | Wolf gets a chance to talk to Clifton about the events at the Gallows, and his photo. She gives him a warning: Those who like their reality as presented should disembark here. As quickly as she starts to let him in to her world, Lillie shows up and things get saucy. Which is also part of Wolf's world. |
| Date: | 1942.02.01 |
| Related: | None |
| Players: |
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Wolf has been hitting the books, mostly holed up in her room. She rubs her eyes as she comes into the diner. "If I'd wanted a college education, I'd have gone to college. She smiles at the waitress. "Coffee, please, Ma'am, and keep it coming. They're going to want my exam results postmarked by tomorrow." Her stomach rumbles, and Wolf considers, then adds, "And maybe some of that corned beef hash. With some vegetables if you have 'em. Out of a can is fine."
It wasn't long after Wolf made her way to find a seat that the diner door opened again, this time Clifton stepping inside. Fingers interlace as his arms stretch lazily over his head, cracking his fingers with the action before looking around for a spot. His gaze lands on Wolf and a grin spreads, "Hey!" Stepping over to where she is, the young man adjusts the strap of his satchel across his shoulder. "How ya been?"
Wolf blinks and looks over at Clifton, and gives him a warm, friendly Raphael smile. The photographer has apparently made an impression, and it's a good one. "I've had my nose in my books pretty much since the events of the other night." She motions toward the table that the waitress has gotten her. "Join me? There're some things I'd like to bend your ear about."
"Oh? Sure thing." Taking a seat across from her, Clifton sets his bag on the seat beside him "What's up?"
Wolf looks around herself conspiritorially and leans close to Clifton. "What do you make of that thing we saw at the Gallows?"
Clifton lofts a brow "That thing? It was eerie as hell…had a foul odor and all around was unpleasant. Or what do you mean?"
Wolf 's scent is of sandalwood, patchouli, flowers, and citrus as she leans close. Not a particularly subtle perfume, nor an understated one, but she's used it sparingly so that it travels only as far as her body heat. "Do you know what it was?"
Nostrils pick up the scent as she leans closer, inhaling it as his form relaxes a bit. It was a pleasant scent. Not overpowering either. "I've heard some theories thrown around. Why? Do you have one?" Clifton looks to her.
Wolf quirks a smile. "'Course I have a theory. I'm more interested in yours. I'd be especially interested in a photo of the thing, if there was one." She stirs cream, no sugar into her coffee, and adds a splash, just a little, of rye to it.
Clifton chuckles "I can't say I really have a concrete one…and you and everybody in town is interested in that photo" he laughs. "Guess I better see if it managed to develop or not."
Wolf sips her coffee. She runs her finger around the lip, and the smile fades a little. "I have a pretty good idea of what it was. I've been studying its kind lately. Let me say this first." She runs her finger around the rim of the mug again. "If the idea that everything in the world happens accordin' to science…even if we don't know all the science… is important to you, you should do your best to forget the whole business. Chalk it up to a little ergot poisoning, or formaldahyde in the drinks they serve there, or somesuch. It could be those things."
Clifton laughs at that "I appreciate you dancing around it for the sake of what you must perceive is my delicate nature…but I can handle it. Just tell me." Ordering a black coffee and some food from the waitress, he looks back to Wolf and waits.
Wolf shakes her head a little sadly. "Once you develop that picture, you might as well have taken a snapshot of a mafia don or somesuch. Once you're in this, there ain't no way to really get out of it that I've found. Beware. It's a lonely life." She offers her flask to Clifton.
The double doors leading into the kitchen swing open, the smell of grease and fine down-home food exhaling into the diner. The girl that strides through, looking slightly tired after a busy day, looks forward to the luxury of a bath when she finally gets home! Lillie, having spent her shift in the kitchen this afternoon, does not wear her typical perfume…. no, that's been traded for scents of bacon, molasses and coffee! Ain't that just classy? Long story short, in order to pick up more hours so that all of the waitresses can get their share, the little Irish lass has volunteered to help in the kitchen when needed. Many plates have passed through today, bearing her efficient and tasty fare.
But Lillie… is done. She feels grimy and gross but satisfied. Slender fingers pinch a hairnet from her temples, allowing a coil of wavy hair to bounce down past her shoulder blades. With little hope, she nonetheless smooths her uniform and makes her way out from behind the counter with a cup of coffee for herself. Doe eyes skim through those assembled, and should she be glanced at the tired but nonetheless cordial Lillie shall smile a hello.
"Alright…so I'm in it. Now…" Clifton takes the flask, "Mind giving me a little more info?" He gives a sniff to the flask, curious what she had in it, "Whiskey. Excellent." He then takes a drink.
Wolf looks up at Lillie and smiles, and subtly (she hopes) holds up one finger to Clifton. "Hello."
The Empath is just about to continue on, for her coffee is in a to-go cup, when she is spoken to! She pauses just alongside where both Wolf and Clifton are seated, and smiles ruefully. "Hallo," The young lady blinks once, her memory being plucked to place the woman before her in the Woolworths, a couple of weeks back. "We met once at the store, aye? Soap. Raphael, was it?" Lillie smiles then, "I hope the afternoon finds you both well. Don't let me interrupt you." She concurs, looking next to Clifton. "Good afternoon t'you, sir." Is offered next, genuinely kind.
Clifton lofts a brow as he is shushed with the finger, but when Wolf greets Lillie he understands. Turning back in his seat enough to face her, he offers a wave. "Heya!" He gives his usual grin. Ah the good old Walker charm…or…whatever it was.
Wolf smiles. She's very guarded, emotionally, as though talking about something deeply personal… or perhaps dangerous and secret. She feels very, very exposed, even if she doesn't let on to Clifton or, she thinks, to Lillie. There's something tangled and conflicted about Raphael, aka Wolf. She nods. "Soap, yes. I bought the lilac one. It's been delightful in my bath at night.
A quick blink.. there's something in Clifton's manner that feels /vaguely/ familiar; the way he issues his greeting. It's in the grin. It's enough to broaden her smile just the tiniest bit. "D'you both have everything that you need here?" She asks in her singsong, accented voice. Even off-shift now, Lillie wants to please… but somehow they look content enough. Having only lived in the town for about four months, with her circles extending mostly between work and home, Lillie actually knows very little about the Walkers, despite already having met one other charming (blind) rascal from their brood. Therefore her greeting of Clifton is without prejudice.
She takes care around Wolf, another underlying sense telling her to be considerate. While given to 'tuning in' to feelings, Lillie does her best not to pry too deeply. There's something raw, here; wary. A carefully-guarded, complex feeling.. Lillie takes a deep breath through her nose to ground herself. "I am glad. I may very well go get some, myself, so I will no longer smell like a used frying pan."
"Do we have every…what? Are you hearing this?" Clifton chuckles, shaking his head "No. You're done for the day. Take a load off and sit down." Smirking then "Maybe I should apply to work here. Smelling like a frying pan actually sounds appealing…" Depending on what was cooked in it that is!
Wolf pushes the far chair out with the toe of her boot and leans back to sip her coffee some more. She chuckles lightly and shakes her head. "I've worked a kitchen once or twice. I understand completely. I had to use lemon juice nights to get the stink of fish out of my skin." Well, that, or she just changed skins somewhere along the way. Even if it's only for a moment, when she switches, the new one always comes out fresh as a daisy. Her body underneath was still exhausted, but that's a different matter entirely. "Lillie. Is your name, as I recall." She rubs the back of her neck. "Land-sakes I need to sit up straighter when I'm studying." She smiles as her corned beef hash is brought out. "Thanks ma'am."
The young lady blushes.. "Habit, y'see." She replies to Clifton's observation. "I typically waitress, so it's just…" She shrugs then, finishes off with laughter. "Yes, habit. I'd better stop, or I'll get the daggers from m'coworker over there." Lillie indicates the other waitress on shift. She looks again to Clifton, "Really now? I think the smell of cooked back-bacon is infused in each and every pore. I'll have the neighborhood dogs following me home." Lillie jests, eyes glinting with mirth. "I thank you all the same, mister….? May I ask of your name?"
Stepping aside as the waitress returns with the plate of corned beef hash, Lillie waits to respond to Wolf until her co-worker bustles off. "Ohh, my word. I understand that completely. And—-" She eyes the chair that has been pushed out. She was about to depart and leave the two to their chat, but somehow settling her tired bones into the seat for even ten minutes sounds blissful. Lillie does just that, giving both a very grateful look. "Aye, Lillie, the very same. Sit up straight is right, Mammy used to give me holy hell for slouching over my books, back home. Plays hell on your neck, miss." She muses, still trying to reign her senses in. Wolf looks settled, but something happening beneath tells another story.
Clifton smiles as Lillie decides to stay, glad to see her giving her feet a chance to rest. Before long his own food and coffee are brought, "I'm Clifton by the way…nice to meet you, Lillie" he offers a nod to her before taking a long drink from his coffee mug. He then grins a bit "Ya know…if you ladies are that sore, I've been told I give amazing massages. Just saying…"
Wolf Spocks an eyebrow, even though the actor who will eventually do it is only 11 just now. She smiles, and that might be a tiny bit of a blush. "Is that a fact?"
Grateful for the stable surface beneath her butt, Lillie takes this moment to draw deeply from her coffee. It is in this moment, once Clifton admits to a certain talent, that the Irish woman sputters and chokes on her drink and sits blushing behind the cup, peering up from beneath her lashes and allowing herself a chuckle. 'Raphael' asks the perfect question, and she waits quietly for the answer. She sure is red!
"Honestly? I don't know…" Clifton laughs "but I definitely haven't had any complaints!" Well at least he was honest. "It pains me to see two beautiful women in such terrible pain. What can I say? I'm a bleeding heart…" With Lillie's reaction he grins, looking over to her "It's alright. I always take the ladies' breath away…" While an obvious flirt, the cocky comments are said with an obvious humor to his tone.
Wolf finishes her coffee and tucks into her hash. "Runnin' your hands all over a woman's body ain't a bad way to start." She chuckles and eats quietly, trying not to imagine it.
"A flirt, I see." Lillie chimes, still pink in her cheekbones and along the tips of her ears. "I will offer a… hm.. a raincheque. For now, I will enjoy this coffee and hopefully not be intruding upon a conversation that you two were having earlier. Thanks again for this chance to rest m'feet before pounding the pavement to get home. I won't be long."
Wolf laughs softly and shakes her head. "You do court trouble, don't you?" She looks Clifton in the eye. "Alright. I got no particular virtue to protect, and I ain't had a massage in years and years. When and where?"
Clifton gives a nod to Wolf "Indeed it ain't…" See! He could get used to this southern talk. Butchering the English language already! Looking to Lillie he makes a mock disappointed face "But it's not even raining!" Ah well he wouldn't push it. After all, he wasn't a total ass. Just a slight one. Only as needed…mostly. "Oh?" Wolf's words get his attention again and the grin spreads back on his features. "Lady's choice?" Such a gentleman!
Wolf smiles a little, the expression almost wolfish - so to speak - for her normally sweet Raphael face. "Oh definitely my room, then. It's easiest that way. People may talk, but I've probably done everything they can imagine and a whole lot more besides."
At that, Clifton can't help but laugh fully. Taking a moment to recover he looks to Wolf. "Where there ya go then. I gotta say…I respect a woman who speaks her mind and isn't afraid to be honest." Picking up his coffee mug again he nods "Just say when." He'd then give a glance over to Lillie "Sorry…feel free to tell us if we're too much."
Wolf gets her second cup of coffee and smiles at the waitress. "Thank you." Again cream and rye go in it. She sobers at the "speak your mind" and "honest" comments. "I ain't been honest with you yet. Makes you think I'll be honest with you without my clothes on?"
"Worry not," Comes the genuinely amused reply. "I may be the color of a cooked lobster but I'm not quite a prude." Another relaxed sip. In all honesty, Lillie is appreciating the back-and-forth that she sat herself down into the middle of; it's refreshing after a busy day. "Make sure the old girls don't hear you, they'll ruin you in the gossip mill." Lillie whispers, laughter in her tone. She drops back into her relaxed silence, resting one leg over the other and feeling her feet throb in her shoes.
"You can be honest about some things without being honest about everything." A shrug is given before Clifton starts in on his food. "You seem so keen to think I've been truthful? Or shall we build or scandalous massage sessions on a thrilling foundation of lies and deceit?"
Clifton smirks over to Lillie and gives a nod at her reassurance "But what if I like the gossip?"
Wolf nods, both to Millie and to Clifton. "Welcome to my life." It's not said quite as lightly as she might want, but she sips her boozy coffee anyway. A massage would be nice.
"I'll drink to that?" He said, but given that she has the flask all Clifton has is a coffee mug. So he raises it and takes a drink.
Wolf gets a notepad out of her purse and writes down an address and a phone number. "Whenever is convenient. Call to make sure I'm in. If a man answers, don't worry about it. We study together. That's all." She gets up and wobbles a bit, then raises her mug to toast Clifton, before finishing off her coffee. She pays her tab, tips well. "Y'all take care."