(1942-04-30) Feelin' Pretty
Feelin' Pretty
Summary: Rollers, perms, Little Women references and Walkers. How the hell does /this/ work?
Date: 1942-04-30
Related: None
Players:
clifton..kathleen..

Main and Pine, Higsi
Sun Apr 30, 1942


The further one goes north up Main Street, the less residential it becomes and more commercial. Each side of the street is lined with a long row of various types of businesses, a bakery, small bookstore, hardware store and a few offices as well. A few cars or trucks are parked diagonally in front of various places. It is quite common to see townsfolk walking around from place to place or a few of them standing outside a business chatting.

Weather:
It is spring. The weather is warm and clear.


What a beauty of an evening… clear skies, a sun that is low in the sky but still around for a couple of hours yet, a lovely warmth that causes many to shed their coats and or sweaters and lay bare winter-pale skin…. with decency, of course. It's the sort of spring weather that holds the promise of the heat of Higsi's summer… just wait. For now though? It's bearable and lovely, in the way that only spring can be. Two in particular are enjoying it, at this very moment, out on the front porch of their family home. Said porch was the pride and joy of Basil Wright, built and shored up right when the house was completed. Many, many folks were entertained on this generous veranda… nowadays, it's just Kitty and Maddie.

Speak of the devil, they're relaxing out on the step. Kitty seated on the second-to-last stair, Maddie happily perched behind her and brushing out her sister's hair. Kitty will undoubtedly be left with God-only-knows for a style, but it feels nice to be touched. Moments like this are far and few, where she can be sister instead of mom /and/ dad.

It was the kind of day where Clifton just needed to get out and clear his mind. Granted, a lot of days were like that for the Walkers, but today found Clif just needing…company too. No not that kind! He was homesick. Missing his family in New York and with recent communications, it had left him even more conflicted and homesick. So it was no surprise that his wanderings took him somewhere familiar with people he considered friends. Kitty and Maddie.

For all he knew he could be coming by at a bad time, but as he gets closer to the house he sees Kitty on the porch in the middle of her hair appointment. Walking to the end of the sidewalk, he stops at the end where they can see him but he is still waiting for the invite to actually approach. "Aw shucks. Here I was hoping to get an appointment at the Wright Hair Salon but I see the amazing stylist Maddie is already booked!"

Two peas in a pod, these two. Kitty and Maddie look more alike when the former is /relaxed/, her eyes closed to content slits as her scalp is massaged and tresses played with. There, one can surmise that the elder Wright's eyes are blue like her sister's and there, without her snarky gaze looking out upon the world, she looks almost softer in repose. Intuitively, Maddie just knows that she is doing Kathleen an incredibly important service, her small deft fingers knitting through hair that is also blonde, but darker than her own. Kitty is lost in reverie, but Madeline is aware of the street and who is coming.

"Clifton!" The girl's cheerful voice cuts over her sister's head, causing whiskey-gold eyes to open quickly. Maybe Kitty was /dozing/ a bit, even, and she looks into the street blearily for a moment or two. Huh.. oh! Recognizing her friend, Kitty's lips curl into a grin. "Hey Clif," She offers, leaning back and causing Maddie to squawk. "C'mon up and set, if ya want. Get a few bows put in, maybe a perm and set."

"Kitty!" Maddie exclaims, red-faced at both Clifton's play talk, and her sister inviting him to have his hair done! She does-so-does-NOT-maybe-so wants to play with Clif's hair!

Clifton can't help but grin at Maddie's excitement. "Maddie!" he yells back with his own excitement. Watching Kitty's attention snap open and onto him, Clif chuckles. "Hey, Kat." The offer does have him walking up the sidewalk, "You sure? I don't want to interrupt a girls' night, but I must admit. My hair HAS been a wreck lately and I just don't know what to do with it anymore." When he reaches the steps, Maddie gets a small exaggerated frown from Clif "Can you help me, Maddie? Can you help my hair!?"

The preteen squirms, fretting in the way that a girl whose little heart knows no bounds can. As noted, Maddie hasn't the hangups of family notoriety; until she enters the catty world of adolescence — and hopefully Kathleen's armor that she prepares for her will protect her from that — she will harbour no ill opinion of the Walkers. Clifton is anything but the hulking mountain beastmen that some townfolk liken them to… all there is to Maddie, for now, is innocence. That innocence flutters when both Kitty and Clif tease her goodnaturedly.

"Oh, um… I only have…" Blush. "I can brush it? But there's bows… but those aren't for mens' hair!" Maddie exclaims with all of the authority in her small body, her cute Southern accent in a flap. Her cheeks? Red as tomatoes.

"I'm sure he'd like it just fine, get yer tools and give that boy's hair a nice brush." Kitty nudges, glancing down toward CLif's mock desperation. "Look at 'im.. he's in a state."

Maddie stands up quickly and is running into the house with a flounce, "I'll get my things…!" She cries over a shoulder. Kitty watches, and laughs quietly… looks to Clif.

"Well, now yer fucked."

"Well I'm a man and I want bows…so bows are just fine for men's hair as far as I'm concerned" he says with a matter of fact nod. Watching the girl's display or urgency and watching her run inside to fetch the emergency hair kit, Clifton smirks and looks over to Kitty "Trust me. I've had worse." Coming and sitting on the last step to let Kathleen keep her space, he looks back over his shoulder to her while they wait for Maddie to return. "Life been treating you well I hope?" His bag is set down on the ground next to his feet.

The woman snorts laughter… doesn't giggle behind a hand, doesn't titter… snorts. Her palm comes up to cup over her mouth, an impish look in her golden eyes. "Yer funeral. She thinks yer really needing /help/…. far as I'm concerned, it saves ME from the treatment. Better hope she ain't too heavy with the bobby pins." She says casually, listening to the door close behind the effervescent girl and shuffling slightly on her arse so she can face Walker. "I'm doin' well, I suppose. Been busy with work, and fixin' the fallout from the big blow. Most of it, been doin' for free." She says matter-of-factly. "Some folk cain't afford otherwise."

Silence from the house… Maddie is digging. Getting ALL THE SUPPLIES.

Kathleen looks at Clif's bag, then his face. "What 'bout yerself? Everythin' okay with yer cousin? He out of the pen?"

Clifton gives a nod as he listens to her "That's real nice of you to help. I'm glad you and Maddie fared alright in the storm too. It was a bad one…" His gaze goes back to the house a moment, a half smirk as he tries to imagine the arsenal of supplies being built up by the girl. "Me?" His attention is back on Kathleen and he gives another nod "Yeah. Clyde is out. Took them long enough…assholes."

"We lucked out, but I think my Pa is keeping an eye on us. I ain't a religious woman, but he'd be hard-pressed to see his house get creamed by a twister." Kathleen remarks fondly of her long-dead father. "We had good luck in a bad situation, so I just cain't sit and be content with it. Others got hit… any tradesman would do th'same." She admits.. trades/man/; she's proudly counting herself into that category.

A /thump/ inside of the foyer; the sound of a couple dozen bobbles scattering across the floor. "Oh Christ.. she's bringin' the barrettes… yer in for it now." She says in an afterthought, then squints at Clif in earnest.

"Glad t'hear…. but /you/. What about /you/? Are you doin' ok?"

Clifton looks back at the house and then to her "I'm glad you're both alright. I don't doubt for a second it was your father." Because why not? The thump inside and Kitty's explanation just gets Clifton to laugh, running a hand back through his hair "Ah it's alright. She'll probably know better what to do with it than I do. Hell most days I consider it good luck if it just lays right…" He shrugs with her question "I'm good. Been homesick for New York a bit, but that's to be expected. Doesn't mean it's easy…"

It takes a few minutes for the young girl to rearrange her /Professional/ set. Kathleen senses this and uses the confidentiality to her favor, watching Clif levelly. "We're fine.. always fine, my friend. Hope ya don't burn too many thoughts worryin' about that." She says quietly, the warm wind flickering her Maddie-tousled hair further. She looks every bit the country bumpkin, lean muscled legs bare to mid-thigh in a pair of denim shorts, upper body draped in a tasteful blouse. Clif speaks of missing his home and Kitty leans forward a bit, breath smelling vaguely of lemonade.. maybe a /tad/ spiked. But her eyes are clear.

"Y'sent letters? Been in contact? Should never be stuck lonesome for yer kin…. it's kin, right? Got brothers or sisters back there?"

Clifton nods "Yeah…kin. I've been sending letters, but…" He sighs, rubbing the back of his neck a moment "letters aren't as good as in person. Just having a hard time adjusting I guess, but don't let me worry you." He gives Kitty a reassuring Walker grin "I'll be fine. We Walkers always are."

"But y'ain't hearing back on those letters as quickly as y'would like, huh?" Kathleen asks quietly, brow furrowed. "I cain't imagine what it'd be like. I had my people around me, til'… everything happened. Now there's just Maddie. Where's New York anyway? 'Cross this country? If she were there, and I was here… cain't imagine…" She trails off, and sets a slender hand upon Walker's shoulder. Squeezes reassuringly.. Kitty isn't huggy, so this is the best it gets. "Y'get lonesome, come here anytime. Sometimes babygirl is here, sometimes she's with a friend. Don't do a person good to be lonesome for long—-"

Through the door bursts Maddie! Resplendent and giddy in her pretty dress, a flower-print makeup bag hugged to her chest. "I found everything!" She exclaims, breaking into the private moment. She sounds so /urgent/, as if about to go forth to perform heart surgery!

Clifton nods with a furrowed brow "Yeah…it's pretty far…" Especially considering what folks in Higsi were used to as far as 'distance'. "Thanks, Kat. That means a lot…" He wouldn't admit that was part of what drew him out here tonight. Something familiar that was away from all the craziness that had been going on lately. Somewhere that still felt welcoming. Speaking of welcoming, Maddie's proclamation and return has the Walker grinning again. Whether or not he was used to being around kids, his attention was turned fully to the girl as she made her way over. "Alright well let's get to it! I'm in desperate need of a make over!"

She may be prickly, but Kitty has a fairly 'welcoming' space. She watches Clifton again, even as Maddie announces her arrival. "Y'ever need a place to breathe, I have it." A pause, and she holds up a hand. "Ain't asking you to shack up… I got rooms to let, two of them. I have people coming and going, but I wouldn't charge ya. Things get hectic up on that hill, or yer needing to cool yer jets, yer always welcome."

Now Maddie is traipsing down the steps and she unabashedly plops herself down behind Clifton. Note, too: she changed her outfit and did up her own hair! Prettied herself up…! Ooooh!

"Y'gotta keep your head still, and not turn it around too much… and don't ask what I'm doing, it's a surprise!" Madeline exclaims, having not heard Kathleen's offer. She plunks down the bag of artillery and opens it up, revealing a terrifying plethora of colors, fabrics, barrettes… hoo boy. She picks up a fine-toothed comb and unabashedly gets to work brushing Clifton's hair. It's not a terrible feeling, and there is a deftness to the child's hand that /could/ be a glimmer of what she does in the future.

Kathleen watches, golden eyes pensive and amused.

Clifton is about to respond to Kitty's offer…when Maddie returns. So he just settles for a smile "Thanks." When Maddie sits behind him and gives him his orders Clif just blinks "Right…" Turning to face straight ahead, suddenly his posture straightened and him looking almost afraid to move, he side glances over to Kitty and can't help but give a small smirk and chuckle that shakes his shoulders lightly. "I trust you, Maddie. Style away!" When her hands start to comb through his hair he closes his eyes against what he expects to be a tug or pain, but instead…there's not. His form relaxes some and his eyes stay closed for the moment as he actually seems to enjoy having somebody play with his hair.

The elder Wright is watching this, noting; watching Clifton's relaxed expression, and also Maddie's… /focused/. She's actually taking care in these matters and the woman thinks to herself that beauty school may be something to save up for. Maddie loves pretty things, and making them pretty.

"This is my first time working on a man's hair! It feels just as soft as a proper lady's!" Maddie exclaims in wonder, blushing as she combs this way and that. "But you need a proper haircut! I can't do /that/… Kitty will kill me."

Kathleen snickers, and unfurls her legs in front of herself, enjoying the patch of sunlight on her shins. Every bit of her just /looks/ relaxed, and content… especially seeing her sister relaxed, and Clifton actually comfortable. If there are gossips around to see Walker seated on the Wright porch, getting his hair brushed, it doesn't matter to her. The child's happiness is obvious. "Kitty," Madeline declares imperiously. "Please pass me the water bottle, and the rollers!"

Kitty bawls laughter into the front yard, at that.

Clifton 's eyes snap open at the mention of water and rollers. Well…if nothing else maybe it'd give Clyde a good laugh? The Alpha could probably use it with everything that had gone on lately. "So. Maddie. How have you been? Still…up to the usual stuff?" He had no idea what that stuff was, but hey he was trying!

As Kathleen snorts laughter beside them, she nonetheless hands the professional her tools. Maddie begins spritzing Clifton's hair to moisten it, and with the utmost care will begin cinching rollers into his tresses. There's enough to get the curlers in good and tight, and by the time she progresses there will be a fair amount of them. Sunlight, low in the early evening sky, creeps in to flood the three of them, glaring upon Walker's head as it slowly fills up with rollers. Maddie blushes with pleasure, "This is good! The heat from the sun will help them /take/…!"

Kathleen quirks one brow, reaching the end of the roller pile. She then looks at Clifton's scalp, and rubs the back of her own head thoughtfully. Her grin is wide and wry as he is a good sport and makes small talk with the child.

"I'm great! I got a B in reading and felt really bad because Miss Williams is so swell. So I want to do better and have been studying. Y'ever read 'Little Women'? I so love it, and love that Miss Williams got us onto it. My friends and I love the book and we like to talk about which sister we'd be. They think I'd be more like Amy but I think I'm more Beth—-" Maddie prattles on, primping Clifton's hair.

Kathleen stares, coughs hard into a palm.

Clifton lets himself be 'styled' by the girl, shooting the occasional joking glare over to Kathleen as she laughs. "A B is still pretty good, but I think it's great you want to try and get a better grade. Miss Williams sounds like she is teaching you a lot." He then chuckles a bit "Yeah I've read Little Women. I think you're DEFINITELY Beth." His gaze then shoots over to Kitty again "Who would your sister be? I could see her being Jo…but she might be Meg too."

"See! You're so right! I'm not like Amy.. she was too…" Madeline trails off, unable to say anything mean.. even about a character in a book! But she blushes, coloring again. "I am so Beth! She was so sweet, it's just a tragedy how she died! I don't intend to do /that/ but I really feel as if I'm like her!" She exclaims, giving the tightened rollers a measured glance. "Miss Williams is a real treat. She's the /prettiest/ teacher I ever met. I didn't think teachers could be so pretty! I always thought they were old—-"

Word of matching Kathleen to one of the Little Women personalities strikes Maddie dumb, and she nods quickly. "/Definitely/ Jo!" She exclaims, but tilts her head. "But Kitty doesn't wanna get married like Jo did."

Kathleen pipes up, "Jo should've gone on to wrestle bears or somethin', not marry her writin' teacher. I ain't Jo."

Clifton thinks on that a moment "Well she can still be Jo and just not get married. Same as you're Beth. You don't have to be exactly like the character or do what they did to see yourself as them…right?" He thinks for a moment "Who would I be?"

"Laurie, of course," Maddie chimes.. not even caring that this character was the 'rich' boy. To her, this is a compliment of the highest order. "He was handsome, and smart, and caring! He's the best kind to be!" She exclaims, passionately.

"Amy marries Laurie." Kathleen remarks slyly, remembering Maddie's admittance to being compared to that one character. The girl brushes furiously, turning to her. "Kitty! You're being beastly! I'm Beth!" Blush blush blush. Kathleen tosses her head back, baring white teeth and laughing deeply.

Clifton actually has to stop himself from laughing out right at the idea of Laurie. Not that he wasn't flattered, but the world Laurie came from was just so different from his own. Still, he does give a grin "I like Laurie. I'll take it." With Kathleen's teasing of Maddie though he shoots the woman a look. Last thing he needed was being in the middle of some schoolgirl crush argument! "Well remember. I don't have to be just like the character. I'm like your sister, Maddie. I don't have plans to marry either. So I can still be Laurie."

As if happening upon a huge realization, Maddie humns softly to herself. "I suppose you're right.. and they're only characters in a book. You're much more interesting than Laurie." She says matter-of-factly, and taps the rollers. Hair feels dry! With an excited giggle Maddie begins to unfurl the curlers.. and dear sweet Jesus, they /took/. At least for a little while, thanks to the heat of the sun and the tight hold… Clifton will have ringlets!!

Kathleen claps both hands over her face and snerks once, and looks back at the two. "Well holy shit—-"

"SHH! It's /shoot/, Kitty.. remember we were gonna work on your cussing!" Maddie snaps, removing more rollers. Boing boing.

"Ain't you beautiful.." Kitty smiles at Clifton, and digs into the bag to see—-ow! Maddie slaps her hand away!

When the rollers are pulled out he can practically feel the hair sproing as the curls break free! With both of the reactions from the Wright sisters, the Walker reaches into the bag by his feet and pulls out his camera. Grinning a bit Clifton holds it out to Kathleen "Here, Kat. Take a picture. I don't have many of myself and I definitely want this one…"

After insisting that Clifton give her a point-by-point tutorial in how to point, focus and click… Kathleen shall nervously — yes, /nervously/ … she IS capable of it — heft up Clifton's pride and joy and take a couple of shots of his hairstyle. Now it's her turn to wear an expression of absolute concentration as she dreads handling something so precious. Almost reverently, Kathleen will hand the camera back afterwards.. and only then will she dissolve into the cackles that shake her shoulders.

"You sure are a good sport—" Kitty starts.

"You're /beautiful/…!" Madeline flutters.

Clifton takes the camera back and puts it into his bag, grinning at both of their reactions. "Why thank you. I FEEL beautiful!" He says before giving an exaggerated toss of his hair. "I couldn't have asked for a better stylist. Thank you, Maddie."

This child, she /glows/. Like a true professional she's collecting up her rollers, her spray bottle and combs, and she goes about organizing them into her bag. "All in a day's work," She chirps. Watching Clifton toss his ringlets with a deep look of pride, Madeline stands up and hugs her bag. "Excuse me, I must put away my things~!" She says pertly, and turning on a heel she practically dances into the house.

All Clifton is left with, is cackling Kathleen. But she, too, sobers a bit and smiles honestly. "Thanks for that… ya may have just made her week. We're coming up on a bit of a hard time, so it'll keep her spirits up some. Pa died in May, so that time is always harder than most."

Watching Maddie head back into the house, the smile on his face is genuine and light hearted as he's glad he could make the girl happy. Once she's inside, his attention is back to Kitty and Clifton frowns a bit as she explains. "I'm sorry. If there's anything else you need or anything else you think will help her…let me know. I know that has to be a hard time. For both of you."

"She'll be just fine.. y'just keep doin' what yer doin'. Stopping by on occasion, but only when it suits ya, always helps. Looks like y'needed the pick-me-up as well." Kathleen observes, rolling her shoulders and enjoying the crack of her neck. Why is she always so stiff?! Comes from contorting into weird spots. "We ain't the only ones to fall on hard times, that little girl is a tough little chick. Just ya see, she'll come out of everything alright."

She blinks, watching Clifton for a time. "What's say I get a couple of beer, y'can set however much longer y'see fit, and we can listen to th' crickets before yer off on yer way."

Clifton nods "I'll definitely do that." Then, with her offer of beer, his eyes try to glance up at the curls on top of his head "Yeah…guess it'll give at least some of this time to settle down. While I appreciate it…I can just imagine Clyde's laughter echoing into the night" he smirks. The idea of what people in town might say apparently wasn't even a concern on his mind.

The carpenter barks laughter, pleased that the man will sit awhile longer.. no frills, no strings. Her method of comfort and easing stress extends into other avenues aside from.. um.. 'hikes'. Meaning, it doesn't always have to go that way. Kathleen unfurls her long form and stretches, gesturing with a nod to the door. "Ya wait right here, I'll be out with the brew. Gonna get the little miss ready for bed, won't be long at all." She promises, ambling into the house.

Upon returning, Clifton may be pleased to see that Kathleen is good for sitting, and never in a hurry to fill silences with small talk. She's good at hiking, yes.. but she's especially good at /being/.

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