(1942-03-08) Mixed Feelings... and Drinks
Mixed Feelings… and Drinks
Summary: Clifton and Lillie discuss recent events at the Gallows, both good and bad. And there's rum. Lots of rum.
Date: 1942-03-08
Related: Related Logs (Say None if there aren't any; don't leave blank. You have to use full URLs, like http://mushname.wikidot.com/logtitle)
Players:
clifton..lucietta..

The Gallows, Higsi
Wed Mar 08, 1942


Toward the back is the requisite wooden bar with a mirror on the wall behind it that has been polished to a nice shine. A line of cushioned bar stools sit in front of the bar just waiting to be used. Tables and chairs dot the rest of the bar.

Weather:
It is winter. The weather is cool and drizzling.


Clifton was back at the Gallows tonight. After what happened last night one might wonder why he wasn't avoiding the place like the plague. However, Clif wasn't the sort to be scared away and honestly…chances are if death struck here already it was less likely to do so again anytime soon. Hopefully. Either way, the Walker set right back at the same spot at the bar as before. Drinking another glass of whiskey. Maybe he was just a glutton for punishment.

<FS3> Lillie rolls Empath: Great Success.

Now whatever could have happened here, last night? Lillie truly has no idea, given that she was not here — perhaps a good thing — and at home working on her own machinations! Turns out these machinations have been fruitful and Miss O'Clery is waltzing in to have herself a celebratory drink! Worry not, she's not the raucous sort; as for coming out after dark on her own, /well/, life can't stop altogether! There are usually other young ladies here, more often than not leaving in groups… she'll just tag along with a crew of 'em when the night is over and get home that way.

Lillie just can't stay in tonight, when she's feeling so… hopeful. Taking a 'hopeful' mood to a bar isn't normally the best call, but really? She just wants a /drink/. She IS Irish, afterall!

The door opens up, marking the Empath's entry into the Gallows. Big green eyes scan the room for a seat, or someone who may be known to her, as she removes her longcoat. Slender and graceful in a fitted pencil skirt and ruffled short-sleeved blouse, Lillie spies one such familiar figure. Silently, she makes her way over, and Clifton may or may not notice her right off.

"Hallo Clif," There's a smile in her tone as she places an order with the bartender.

Clifton was lost in thought about something, gaze focused down into his glass of whiskey. However, at the familiar voice and greeting, the Walker would glance up from his glass and over to the Irish lass! "Hey, Lillie." A smile is offered.

Once in proximity to Clifton, Lillie feels it; a tightening in her chest, a jittery, fluttery apprehension in her gut. Her brow furrows and she goes silent for a moment, even as the bartender tries to get her attention. Her eyes lock onto the side of Clifton's face, and her fingers knit together anxiously. What the—-

Why is Clifton feeling this way? Lillie blinks hard, wrests herself out of it… elects for a strong rum and coke over piddly wine. THe simple and strong drink is slid over to her and the woman nods to a stool. "May I join you?"

Clifton does loft a brow at the strong drink order from Lillie, but at her inquiry the Walker smirks "Sure, pull up a stool." With that his foot catches the under rail of the stool next to his, sliding it out for her. "That's an awful big step up from wine. Everything alright?" His thoughts go briefly to what Clyde had told him about her, but as far as he was concerned it was up to her to bring that topic up between the two of them. He'd at least show that respect.

Oh, how Lillie wishes she could give the /true/ answer: get enough of a buzz on, and the sense is dampened a bit. It'd be so much easier than dishing out little white lies… but then again she's a bad liar. Everything shows in her eyes, and there's a brief flash of distress before it's quickly and efficiently squashed down. Her lips twitch once, pull into a grin. "I'm fine, I truly am. I felt like something different.. I've had something go /right/ for a change so I think a faster avenue to feeling really good is par for t'course tonight."

Ugh, that even felt flimsy… but it's partly true! Lillie hoists herself up onto the stool beside Clifton and takes a coy sip of the strong mixed drink. Woo. This.. will be a sipper.. but it sure tastes good.

"What's been afoot in your world, lately?"

Clifton lofts a brow again, looking over to Lillie as he raises his glass again. "I won't push it…but just so you're aware…you're a lousy bullshitter. So you might want to work on that if you are gonna try that line with Jesse…" Taking a drink then he'd set the glass back down on the bar after, eyeing her. "Something go right? How so? If you don't mind me asking…and as long as it doesn't have to do with kissing my cousin…" He smirks, recalling their last conversation.

Cough. Cough from the burn of the liquor, from the surprise at Clifton's words. She should have known better; surely Clyde would pass word on to his kin. Her brow furrows, and before she can continue on with the earnest answer to the question she looks sideward to the young man. "I'm sorry Clifton." She clears her throat, holding the glass in her lap. She's still aware of the tension in his body but knows that it's not necessarily directed at her. It's only fair that she field /his/ question first.

"You don't think I'm crazy, do you? Surely then, Clyde told you about… what I've been doing."

Looking at the woman a bit odd at her apology, but Clifton just shrugs. "What Clyde told me and what we talk about don't have to overlap if you don't want it to." He takes another drink, giving her a sincere look then and his tension would actually fade for a brief moment. "To answer your question though. No…I don't think you're crazy."

"No, I want to be straight with you.. I don't want to lie to people I consider my friends." Lillie says softly, cradling her drink. And frankly, it feels good to be out with it. "I'm not here to drink away terrible thoughts regarding that, but it /is/ true. I see those things, and I never thought I would admit it to Clyde of all folks. I.. started telling Jesse, even before that. But I was just so scared of being sent off to the padded cell.." Lillie admits with a sad smile. "So there y'have it. I don't know where to go from here with it, knowing that strange man from my vision could be out there."

A slow, hearty sip of the drink. Ahhhh~! She feels the ebbing of Clif's tension, but she can't help but address that next. "You seem… is something up? I'm getting a sense that you're.. tense." She takes a risk in admitting to some of what she feels, but hey.. she's concerned!

Clifton offers a bit of a chuckle, "Yeah…I gotta say. I'm surprised you came out with that to Clyde, but hey…if you trusted him then that's what matters right?" With her worried question, he shakes his head "I'll be fine. Just on edge given what happened here last night. That's all."

Okay.. this calls for a stronger.. /stronger/ hit of her drink. Lillie does just that, and quickly regrets in. She exhales in a snarl, eyes squeezing shut as her chest burns… but is soon replaced by a rather pleasant burn in her stomach. Something happened here last night? Taking a deep breath, the Irish girl fixes Clif with a worried look. "What… what happened here, last night? Were you hurt at all?"

"Ah…yeah. Sorry." Clifton reaches a hand up and rubs the back of his neck. "No I'm fine. Just somebody else died. Like the woman…in the alley." With a nod and motion to the bar tender, another drink like the one she had would be placed by Lillie. This might be a two-drink conversation for the woman.

Blink. Even though the rum has begun to infuse the young woman with a comfortable buzz, her face drops. Eyes seem larger in her face. "Oh, no…" She whispers, making no bones about grabbing up the glass and tucking into the second drink. Suddenly the effects of the first one are null and void. This could get bad or worse! Lillie watches Clifton closely. "Any idea who it was? W—was it here in the /bar/? Out back?"

Clifton wouldn't let her get completely trashed…unless she wanted to, but he also figured the circumstances warranted a little liquid courage for the woman. "Here in the bar. Right over there" he nods to the table where it happened "Some guy named Billie was playing cards with his friends. Lights started flickering…then went out completely. When they came back on he was…mummified." The Walker sighs, shaking his head "Nobody had a chance to see anything. I don't know what happened." Clifton looks back to her, "So yeah…tonight's a night for drinks." That said he raises his glass, offering her a 'cheers' moment before taking another drink.

"Jesus.." Lillie whispers, glancing toward the very table where 'Billie' bit it. It's still too soon to really detect anything; that is a mercy. Regardless, Lillie squeezes her eyes shut, breaks her gaze from said table, and seems to focus a little too hard on Clifton. No, not enough to be creepy; this is to ground herself and push the location of Billie's death from her mind. But… the gooseflesh gives rise along her arms and collar, her pupils dilate. Lillie rubs her eyes with the heels of her palms and quickly slams a quarter of the rum and coke. C'mon, c'mon… get back here buzz.

"That is awful. I… okay, I understand now. I see the need for another drink.." She admits, heart throbbing in her chest. Her sense, egged on by her deep jolt of fear, begins to flail and 'reach out' into the room as if it manifested feelers. Lillie begins to feel emotions trickling in; many of them are 'fuzzy' due to their bearers being in various levels of inebriation. Others are heavy and anxious, and now she knows why. She lifts her glass and clinks it against Clifton's, but her expression looks off. She goes out of her way /not/ to look at the table where Billie died. "Cheers." She says gently.

"I.. came here to celebrate. I'm on the way to getting myself a house. My own house."

Oh yeah. She was definitely getting a buzz on. Once he realizes that Clifton's glass is set down, empty, but he doesn't request a refill. Instead pushing it off to the side as Lillie rambles on. Her last words do have him giving a genuine smile then "Really? That's great, Lillie!" He pushes her drink closer to her "Next one is on me. As a congratulations." The Walker shakes his head "Enough down talk. This is officially a celebration now! You hear that?" He looks over to the barkeep and points "Keep em coming! We got ourselves a homeowner over here!"

See, Lillie can't chicken out and request wine now. She isn't just a pretty face, she knows that mixing booze will fuck you right on up. Electing not to puke out of both ends tomorrow, she decides that one more rum and coke couldn't hurt. As the haze settles over her that little bit more, the sense begins to waver.. it quiets down. Suddenly it's easier to neglect it; now she just has to be careful not to get intoxicated. Lillie clears her throat softly, watching her empty glasses getting cleared away and a third being pushed over. "Thank you," She starts, blushes deeply. "I think this will be the clincher. I really shouldn't take on too much." Lillie says quickly, but Clifton's enthusiasm is catching. "Now, it's not official yet.. I'm actually talking to the family of the people who owned the place—-"

Blink. Grabs up the third rum and coke, takes another dainty sip. No more gulps. "It's not a done deal, but it's progress. It's something I /need/ to do." Lillie admits, her lilt streeeetching a bit; the accent seems heavier. She needs to slow down. "I will let you know if it /really/ happens. Then I will need more prints to decorate with."

Clifton listens and nods along, "Nah you gotta go into it positively! You're gonna get it!" He then laughs at her request for more prints. "All the prints you want! Just let me know. I can even take some specific shots if you have anything in mind. Like a decorating theme or something."

How can she be down in the dumps over Billie with this wonderful chap beside her? Lillie gazes into the winking dark liquid in the glass, the corners of her lips trembling as she tries to bite back the smile. "Thank you Clifton." She says again, looking up briefly… almost shyly. "I needed that push. I keep thinking it's foolish of me to leave what I have; it's a /good/ thing… but.. I need my space. I want to stay in Higsi. I have a nestegg, and it was originally going to be for… school.. or whatever." She takes another slow sip of her drink. "But I need to, /want/ to stay here. And I want to make a home."

That proclamation made, Lillie looks up again and sets the glass down on the counter. "Once the dust settles I will think more on what I would like, and let you know. I would like that, very much." Lillie smiles earnestly, though her eyes are a /bit/ glazed. But, surprising fact: the little Empath sure can hold her booze.

"Walkers will be welcome. Always."

Clifton grins "That's great, Lillie. I mean it. I'm really happy for you." Well hey this was a good pick me up for him too! Sharing in a friend's excitement helped ease his own tensions. "I'm sure Jesse will be glad to know he's always welcome at your house" Clif gives a sly smirk.

Gah. Lillie's not so fuzzy that she cannot blush, and she does so deeply. "Oh hey, now," The Irish girl holds up a hand. "I may be wanting to get to know Jesse more.. most definitely," Blush blush blush. "But I'm not fixing to make a love nest!" Blush. "He needs to get to know me too before—-" Blush.

Gah Clifton.

Lillie slams the rest of her drink in one fell swoop. Her eyes squeeze shut; the bartender made that one strong. But she can't help that shy little smile, a palm rubbing her face. "I mean it. But yes, Jesse will always be welcome. /And/ his kin. And if the birds want to squawk about it, thinking I'm.. oh, bloody hell." Lillie blinks hard as another full glass appears in front of her.

BLUSH.

Clifton laughs out right at that. A good deep genuine laugh. Between her reaction and what she was saying, coupled with all the built up tension as of late, it all released for a moment. Yeah. Turns out coming back to the Gallows had been a good call. "Glad I could help. Now…on with the celebrating!"

Unless otherwise stated, the content of this page is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License