(1942-03-09) There's Something About Miss Higgins
There's Something About Miss Higgins
Summary: Clyde asks Lillie a favor, then things get a tiny bit awkward.
Date: 1942-03-09
Related: Forbidden Fruit
Players:
clyde..lucietta..

Cherokee and Pine, Higsi
Thu Mar 09, 1942


A family diner and Piggly Wiggly grocery store fill the last business spaces on Pine Street before it comes to an end at Cherokee Road. The land here slopes gently toward the river to the South, moving uphill as Cherokee Road heads northward. On each side of Cherokee Road are middle-class homes and neighborhoods.

The largest of the homes in this area is the Cooper Mansion. The Cooper Mansion sits off Cherokee Road down a long gravel driveway with a gas lamp that burns beside it at the road. The mansion itself is a stone-masoned, three-story house with a tin roof, featuring two large fireplace chimneys and a two-car carport. The design is simple and square, with a Juliet balcony over the green front door and matching green shutters decorating the windows. It is well cared for and in excellent condition, though it could use remodeling to bring the exterior up to date for the modern 1940s.

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


Clyde was up and off the mountain before the sun was even peeking over the horizon. The Alpha has a lot to do today. A list long enough that he's only now come walking down the road, peering into store windows as he does. that's odd enough, the Walker isn't usually a shopper for anything but the very basics. But today he's walking, hands shoved into the pocket of his worn jacket, hair covered by that old knit cap that's also seen better days. A cigarette hangs from his lips, smoke trail following behind him as he goes.

<FS3> Lillie rolls Empath: Good Success.

See, this happens to be one of Lillie's talents it seems. No, not seeing into the past; no, not tuning into and reflecting peoples' feelings. It's the ability to pick a random street in Higsi and walk down it, either ahead of or in front of Clyde Walker! But hey, at least it's during the day… and what a day it is! Clear (albeit cool), with a beautiful swath of morning sunlight waking Higsi up on this standard issue, clear winter morning. And here we have Lillie, barely showing a dent following a /slightly/ late evening at the Gallows celebrating her kinda-sorta success. Mind you, she was informed of a death at the Gallows the night prior but with Clifton's help, her spirits stayed buoyed.

Along with rum and coke. A lot of rum and coke…. and barely a hangover. Don't let dainty little Lillie fool you, she's an Irish boozetank.

She's out shopping for groceries, wrapped in her snug, dark coat and a froth of swishing ivory skirts, emerald green ribbon dancing in loose hair. She /looks/ as cheerful and hopeful as she feels today… though the thin tendril of cigarette smoke catches her attention as it floats past her head. A squinting look reveals the source, and Lillie continues along after Clyde at a respectful clip. "Clyde Walker~" She sings out in greeting. She's in a very good mood, it appears.

Immediately the man clamps down on some emotion. It' snow a mix of a bunch of stuff, some stressful, some just enjoying the day too. Seems while he didn't get as much sleep as he wanted, he got a full belly, which can elevate a lot of grumpiness. His hand comes out and he takes a drag, "Lillie." Dark eyes glance down at the woman before darting away, "Workin'?" Not that he ever goes into the dinner, too much money.

There it is again.. that swinging door. Maybe Lillie should tell the guy she can feel what he's simmering away with, but that might be too much. There's enough there for the Empath to surmise: the stress, the acknowledgement of a beautiful morning… but a note of tiredness. A bad night's rest? She's been around Clyde, too, when he was hungry… hangry? That's not there. Good, good; we're off to a good start here. Lillie, these cards now picked and close to her chest, strides along until she catches up to him, meeting his glance with her own politely friendly gaze.

"This afternoon, I will be. Second shift." Lillie answers with a broad smile, a paper bag held in one arm… just a few things. "How are you doing? You're on the move early." She inquires and observes, glancing skyward to see the coils of cigarette smoke rising. She wonders to herself: how terrifying would this man be without nicotine?

Clyde grunts, very cordial like. He glances around, always alert for something. The question isn't answered but he responds to her second statement, "Got work to do. Hoping to save up enough to get new chicken wire." They have chickens? To answer her unspoken question, probably very terrifying. But onto a different topic, "Can I ask you a favor?" He sounds uncomfortable even asking for one, much less whatever it is.

The young lady slows her gait a bit, her neck craning toward the bay window of the antique store. She can just /feel/ the energy coming from that place; one step through that threshold and heaven only knows what would catch her. It's a tantalizing and frightening thought. Lillie turns back to Clyde once he answers her and quickly moves to catch up to him again, her smart little Oxfords beating a staccato on the sidewalk. Chicken wire? She files that away, seeing as how she has been maintaining her promise to never trek into the hills. That doesn't stop her from speculating on what and where the Walkers call home.

So they have chickens…? Do they work a farm, then…? Huh. Lillie's eyes, clear and bright as sea glass, convey her thought process and attentiveness. "A favor?" Blink. A chance to /help/? She nods her head quickly, tresses bouncing. "Of course. What can I do for you?"

Somehow her eagerness makes him grimace. "It's right dumb. Elizabeth Higgins got some bird brained idea that she needs to come up into Walker land. I don't know if she thinks she's being cheeky, or if she's daft. But she don't listen to me none." He tried, if he catches her again, he's going to need to really scare her. And that's actually, despite what some folks thing, not on his list of favorite things to do. The smoke is finished off and he crushes it underneath his foot as he walks. A quick glance, but then he looks away from her. "Bernice been nattering. Saying things. Be aware."

Blink… oh! Lillie's brow furrows.. there's a name she hasn't heard in awhile, and a face that hasn't graced the diner in an equally extensive amount of time. She listens quietly as they walk, the Empath's expression becoming more-and-more unnerved as the situation is laid out to her. She remembers, now, the feeling of being snared and how long she waited (it wasn't too long but it /felt/ like an eternity) for help. She knows there's an assortment of predators up there that can cause trouble… but to be a girl on one's own, treading that path. Lillie doesn't know the /true/ nature of the danger, but she can sense it.

"Clyde," The Irishwoman says gently, "Wait. Stop." She needs to know more; a lithe hand reaches out by impulse and if she can manage it, tries to catch Walker's elbow. This could go either way. Should Clyde concede and look to her, he will be met with a direct and surprisingly intense gaze from her doe eyes.

"I understand, but I need more. What is up there on your land that is so terrible? Cougars? Coyotes… wolves?" Lillie asks. "If I'm to talk to her, I need more, Clyde. A—and… as for Bernice…"

Her features redden and her eyes practically glow. "I'm not worried about her."

There's tension in the alpha's body, even through the coat Lillie can feel it. He stops though and turns that intense gaze on her. Dark eyes narrow, "She nearly got attacked by a cougar once. Don't know why she needs more reason that that." His nose wrinkles, which would probably be considered cute on anyone else, "There's more Walkers up there than just the three of us. With guns. We don't like people on our land." It's not the guns he's worried about, but guns should hopefully convey the threat level. The reddening is noted, and he smirks, enjoying it, "She got you with the wrong Walker boy. You might wanna worry about it some."

Hm.. was this a good idea? Anyway it got him to stop and listen to her, though the stare that he pins her with is a /bit/ scary. When the nose wrinkles though, that kinda strikes Lillie between the eyes…. the cute wrinkle paired with the black deathgaze is such a hilarious oxymoron that were it a person of lesser resolve in her shoes, the resulting laughter would mean trouble. But Lillie, she's /used/ to squashing down reactions… but it's not lost on her. Poor, poor Clyde. "I see… she is very much a softhearted girl. That can cloud sense…" Blink, she smiles then and rubs the back of her neck. "Kettle calling the pot black, aye..?" She whispers, eyes glittering with mirth… but only just.

"Guns.." The Empath trails off. Okay, that carries it home… "Territorial with guns." She echoes, already planning what to say to Elizabeth. Something else is naggling at her; it's that current of danger that she /always/ feels running low and deep within each of them: Clyde, Jesse, Clifton. Her sense whispers to her, provocatively… there's more. No, she has /no/ clue on what the true threat is, but why does she feel as if there's more to it?

One brow quirking at Clyde's smirk, Lillie tilts her head just so. "What—-? You mean… who? I know she… wait…" Her eyes narrow, and the blush deepens. "Doesn't she have anything better to do? If I call on Elizabeth, Bernice will have me on the spit!" She hugs her groceries. "So.. who.. I could have sworn she was meaning Jesse?"

Clyde grumbles, "More like soft-headed. She gonna get hurt, an cause me a heap of headache." The whisper tease has him roll his eyes. If she only knew. The rolling eyes gives him the opportunity to glance around, he seems on edge. Well, as much as he normally is anymore. Things weren't always this tense in Higsi. The tripping over words has that smirk staying up. He'd be right handsome if he did that more than frown. "Bernice would probably fall over dead if she weren't yapping about someone." He doesn't clarify, just shakes his head, the ends of his curls peeking out from his hat and hugging the edge. "Don't know if Jesse cares bout such things, but there's gonan be confussion." Again, that weird flash of Clyde crushing something down. "Go get your foods home before you crush em all."

Oh sweet Jesus..

The crushing down of emotions, again. Throughout it all, Lillie has kept her fingers on the pulse of Clyde's emotional responses, running parallel to what he says to her. Again, that avoidance… is it something /she's/ doing or saying? Lillie watches him outright, brow furrowed, a tiny twitch in her neck as she swallows hard. "I will see what I can do, Clyde. I don't want her to get hurt, and I don't want you boys holding the bag if something DOES happen." Lillie says gently, honest-to-goodness care in her tone. She's at the point with the Walkers that she does know of, that she knows how to show that care properly. Or so she thinks.

Regarding the handsome bit, were Lillie to know Clyde just a bit more, that would be something she'd suggest to him! Smile more! It's a bit too personal for her to be giving suggestions on how to attract a ladyfriend, but the thought has crossed her mind. It's lonely keeping a family afloat. But as she's standing there trying to understand the fluctuations of Walker's emotions.. suddenly it hits her.

The redness returns, now enveloping her neck and whatever measure beyond. "Oh God." She leans in, looking apologetic. "Has she… has she mistaken me with you? I'm so sorry, if so! I don't want to embarrass—-"

Impulse squeeze to bag. Crick.

Hey look, something is wet along the bottom of her paper grocery bag. c.c

Clyde nods and actually, "It's appreciated." His head snaps up and he's now frowning, "What?" She sees things, right? Turning that red and calling out to god can't be a good sign. He tenses, like he's going to reach out to steady her, but then she's clarifying. Strangely (or maybe not) a flash of hurt is there and then pushed down (he must have so many crushed emotions in the pit of his stomach). "Stop. You're breaking your food." He shakes his head, "Get home before you leak everywhere." He's got work to do, kin to feed.

Oh, the hurt was noted, and that is what steadies Lillie. She clears her throat gently, "Clyde." She says pointedly again, brow furrowed. "I… I meant, in regards to you. If you were embarrassed or bothered in any way… my coming in here and stirring the pot, giving that old girl something to chew on." She says quickly, giving zero fucks if she makes herself too obvious in trying to quell that stab of hurt that was deeply hidden. She suddenly does not want him to think that /she/ is embarrassed by Bernice's assumption. She reaches out again to touch the man's shoulder reassuringly, hand hovers. "I don't want to give you anymore trouble that what I've already brought forth. It's.. nothing against you. You're such a hard worker, only wanting to do right by your kin.. that's very admirable."

Cough. Lillie continues to ignore her seeping parcel… give her a sec, she'll catch onto that soon.

"I am not embarrassed… and I will be the first person to /tell/ her that if she asks. And—-" Blink. Plop. The corner of the bag gives way a tiny bit due to saturation and an egg yolk plops onto the sidewalk. "Oh, shit."

The first to pull away, he doesn't want to be touched. "It weren't nothin." Right, hard worker. he should get to what he does best. Part of that is frowning. Step one, accomplished! He really doesn't want to have this conversation, and maybe God heard Lillie call out earlier, because the leaky egg saves him. "Told you." And then like the knight in shining armor he is, he turns to leave. Better to be a jerk than be pitied.

Well there goes her designs on trying to bake a cake for Josie's card game! Granted it won't be Bernice-level of mastery but she's no slouch in the kitchen… Lillie eyes the gelatinous yellow glob on the sidewalk, her lips a flat, disgruntled line. Her own nose wrinkles, but there's nothing threatening about it… she really has to stop crushing her groceries in fits of emotion. She just has to do it to a bag in Jesse's company, and she'll have the whole set. u.u;

The Empath watches Clyde stalk off, wondering if she went a bit too far. She doesn't hold it against him for him to walk away like that, but Lillie sure feels bad. "I'll do my best." Comes the reassurance, again. But that can be meant on many different levels.

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