(1944-02-13) Reconnecting
Reconnecting
Summary: Constance Styne and Lillie O'Clery catch up a bit over tea. The latter just… has an odd (unintentional) way of finding such company.
Date: 1944-02-13
Related: NA
Players:
constance..lucietta..

Town Square, Higsi
Wed Feb 13, 1944


A lot of work has been put into the town square, which is actually more of a circle really. A street makes a one way circle around a large round grassy area with a staute of a local civil war hero overlooking a duckpond. Lining the other side of the street are various businesses as well as the large court house and the local church.

Weather:
It is winter. The weather is cold and raining.

===

<FS3> Lillie rolls Empath: Good Success.

It's not been an easy morning for Lillie O'Clery. She's been having so many good days without her sense haranguing her like a mad hornet.. it's only natural (and unnatural) that it all catch up to her at the moment where it's least convenient. It doesn't help that she hasn't been sleeping nicely… she has long, long run out of that glorious sleeping tincture that Leona Styne kept giving her. Live has been busy, even for a maid living on her own in the boonies. With the boarding house, Tilda, helping her brother adjust, along with her own 'project'.. Lillie hasn't been sleeping.

It is a cool, rainy late morning in Higsi. At this hour, people are yet going about their business. Though some slow in their gait to observe.. someone. Seated on the bench close to the civil war hero statue. This isn't a peaceful bit of body language but rather, the look of a woman who has gone into a faint and landed there. Lillie stares ahead at the street, but she looks murky. Not seeing what is truly in front of her.

It's Wednesday, and like clockwork Constance is heading to the diner to order lunch for the staff at the clinic, and maybe have a spot of tea on this cold, rainy day. Over her uniform she wears a dove gray frockcoat and an umbrella is held open over her head to block the sprinkling rain. As she makes her way over to the diner she spots the brooding Lillie and finds it odd for the usually cheerful woman.

After a moment of pondering her options she settles on heading over to where Lillie has parked herself. She is an emotional calm in a storm of various emotions of other people coming and going. Does she have an emotion outside of the occasional curious one? "Miss O'Cleary, are you alright?" There might be a twinge of concern, but if there is it is phantom like. She holds out the umbrella to shield the other woman from the sprinkle.

She looks broody, doesn't she? Upon closer inspection though there is a.. 'distant' look to her features. It's like she is trying to find her way back from somewhere and thank goodness, people don't opt to get too close. Not yet. This only just happened about three minutes ago.. but what was 'this'? Enough to wind her anyway. But then as the sense continues to mentally hold her hostage, along comes…. an oasis. Seriously. That's what Constance is for an Empath who is having a fit.

Though it's not as intense as it can be, the empathy has been spurned by a brush with retrocognition… just a simple, nondescript vision on her way into town that made her dizzy. Then everything kinda went nuts. But now? Constance's calm sense of emotional 'nothingness' washes over Lillie as a salve would a burn. Her lashes flutter and she breathes in deep, seeming to jolt back into reality. She looks up at the nurse's calm, clinical voice and watches her for a few seconds.

"Oh.. oh.. Nurse Styne. Forgive me-" She tries to sit up. "I fell into a faint. What a terrible place to do it… I promise, I am not going derelict, making benches my home." She glows with embarrassment.

"Or in your case sat in a faint?" From where Constance stands there doesn't seem to have been any actual falling involved. With an umbrella taking up one hand she has the remove her glove with her teeth, which she does with little trepidation. "You look a little pale, and when was the last time you had a full nights sleep?" She reaches a hand out to feel Lillie's forehead, checking for a fever obviously. "Perhaps we should get you some hot tea and some warm soup at the diner?"

Her forehead feels cool.. mercifully nothing burning there. Which is peculiar. She's a bit wan but nothing terrifically worrisome. Her pupils, oddly enough, are somewhat dilated even in the watery light of the rainy afternoon. Lillie studies Constance's face for all of 10 seconds, drinks in the silence of her emotional landscape.. comes back. Her cheeks begin to retain color that isn't borne of just a blush and she sighs gently. Her heart pounds though; the thought of disclosing her condition to a medical professional, even one such as Constance, terrifies her. "I have been getting about four hours most nights. I am up a lot." She admits, raindrops glistening in her lashes. "IT has been awhile since I've been restful. I used to take a certain type of tea that Miss Leona created for me and that helped.. but I've not seen her in a very long while."

At mention of soup… Lillie's stomach growls. Rather audibly. "I guess this is a bad way to seek luncheon companions, yes?" A tired, wry smile.

Constance is really good at eye contact, she returns the gaze, unblinking even, and is unfazed by it. She could probably stare down a Walker and have the same emotional detachment she has now. "Leona has had to leave town, unfortunate as that is." The concern she has for her cousin is there, felt briefly and then it is pushed away. "I will send her a telegram today requesting her formu… recipe for the tea." Satisfied that Lillie isn't feverish she pulls the glove back on as she nods "It is an unorthodox method of getting a lunch companion, but thankfully I am not someone you are seeking to impress." She then gestures to the diner "Shall we?"

Funny thing, Lillie has stared down Walkers before.. and the resulting emotional thrum from that was terrifying. Props to Constance were she to do that and not feel a thing! Her fine features fall at the mention of Leona being gone. "I am sorry.. her homestead sure looks lonesome." That scary, scary home for an Empath.. beyond all the hominess. But it's honest worry in her expression; a tempering of earnest emotion joining Constance's lack of such. Did she feel the concern? Lillie just reads between the lines. "I understand some things.. occurred. I hope, truly, that your cousin will be alright. Please send her my regards. If we could get the recipe for that draught I would be most grateful.. but her care is far more important."

At the gesture toward Sisters — ah, Sisters — Lillie smiles wanly.. though color is returning. "I could use a bite. Let's get in before we're drenched in the drizzle." She concedes, and with a bit of a sway — rectified swiftly — she makes for her former workplace. "Have you been keeping well?"

Not being an empath certainly helps in staring contests. It gives Constance a distinct advantage over Lillie. "We are hoping she will be well too." We being her family of course. She is unsure how much Lillie knows of her cousin's condition, but she isn't about to spill the beans. "Leona and I have similar, hobbies." She nods at her word choice, hobbies work. "I should be able to replicate the drought with no problems." She feels confident in her skills. "I am well." The Styne woman always is, in a physical fashion at least, she hasn't been sick at least. She holds the umbrella over them both as the walk to the diner

All Lillie recalled was Leona being 'ill' with a physically exhausting condition. Of course she does not know how difficult it truly was! Still, her bleeding heart hurts for the veterinarian but she sees fit not to go on asking about personal family matters. As they walk toward the diner Lillie looks positively grateful, "I appreciate that. My mind just never stops… what she was giving me is neither addictive nor, I suspect, dangerous." Said in earnest. "I would be pleased to even pay you for your services. Having to brew draught takes time and you're a busy nurse in the middle of influenza season."

Into Sisters they stroll and Lillie pauses, giving the place a onceover and — as always — feeling as if she is a universe away from the girl she had been when she started here. "Heavens, it's always like this… I come here, habit makes me wish to make sure the coffee station is in top form. You never forget your first job in a new town." Offered as she holds the door open for Constance.

===

Sister's Diner, Higsi

Being the most popular diner in town this place is usually pretty busy during the morning and lunch hours. It closes up at 2:00 pm though, so if it is after that time, don't expect any service…or for anyone to be here at all.

The diner isn't a large one, for seating there is a row of booths that line the windows looking out over the town square and there is the counter with its red upholstered backless stools. The other side of the counter is the usual diner stuff, coffee , drink dispensers, the wide window which the plated prepared food is set for the wait staff to take to customers.

On the wall near the entrance is a chalkboard which lists the days specials.

===

As they enter the diner the umbrella is folded and set in the rack and her frock and gloves come off. "I have an inkling of an idea of what she was giving you." Constance wasn't worried about anything like that. "I'm still doing that job, over 15 years now." what? was she 12 when she became a nurse?

One can see Lillie doing the math, and trying to equate Constance's lovely, youthful face to what the subtraction is telling her. Her very-green eyes widen briefly, only to soften with a touch of awe. "Do you prefer a booth?" Asks the Empath as she pushes her hair back and behind her ears. The length of it, left free without styling, hangs in an auburn swath. Lillie ain't got no time for fingerwaves. Somehow the fey look suits her though. She goes with Constance's preferences for seating and begins pulling off her damp coat. Beneath it is a long sage green dress with a tidy collar, elbow-length sleeves and a knee-length gored skirt. It fits trim and tidy and looks to be newer.

"You must have been brilliant as a student, then… had you started very young? For you don't look a day over twenty-five." She compliments.. there's not a speck of sarcasm in her tone. Lillie is curious. She waves, "Hi Becky!" To the waitress watching them both.

"A booth would be lovely." she answers as she sits gracefully on one side. "I have been under my grandfather's tutelage since I have been eight." everyone in town is well aware of how he dotes on her and how she reciprocates that. The compliment has her nodding "Thank you. The Styne's have always been graceful when it comes to aging." she greets the waitress and hands her over the order for the clinic before ordering a pot of tea for the both of them. "You hardly look to be in your 20s yourself."

A booth it is! Becky comes over to see to the two; Lillie (an old co-worker and once a source of Becky's constant gossip fix) is given the obligatory kind greeting and 'hi how are you honey?' but of course the gossipy waitress will defer completely to Constance, wishing to impress. Maybe she just really, really wants some tips on how to look so ageless! Or endear herself to the nurse with the stately family connections. Either way, that's the fastest pot of tea to be brought to a table.. ever.

Lillie watches it all with amusement, feeling that butterfly of Becky's anxiety echoing in her own tuning fork of a mind. Poor girl, so afraid of aging and wilting. Becky then takes the clinic order and marches off with militant precision, after waiting to see if Lillie and Constance require much else.

A little blush, "Really? Thank you, kindly.. I feel as if I'm in my fifties today though. It's been a busy, busy haul.. I think I am truly mad. How has your Grampa been?" What a fascinating term with which to refer to Dr. Styne, whom in his professionalism doesn't strike many as a 'Grampa'.. more like 'Grandfather'. Lillie's Irish lilt only makes the affectation sound warmer.

There are no beauty tips forthcoming from Constance. Those are things she keeps firmly held to her chest. "Thank you Ms. Becky." the Styne woman is all cool politeness to the waitress, it is genuine though. She is all about being proper, which has lead a number if town ladies to stick the stuck up label on her. One Constance sees no need to rip off.

The term grandpa makes her chuckle with amusement. That is something she has never called him "I think you are the first person to call him something like that." she has always called him grandfather "We is quite well. Thank you. And how is Ms. Tilda?

Well, the Irish woman has enough labels on her to pass off as luggage on a locomotive, enroute to the next city. Since coming to Higsi and doing, well, what Lillie does… the town ladies have had their way with her in spades. Judging by how Lillie is sitting here, still shining from that strange talent in her psychic's brain and having sat in the drizzle for awhile… she gives zero effs. Becky noticed her slightly bedraggled look in contrast to the clean and cool Nurse Styne. Some of the biddies who saw her on the bench, too, enter the diner for tea and a sandwich and give the Empath a look.

Lillie, content in her lot in life, just goes on as normal. "Truly? Well, I guess you're right.. he is really stately. He definitely is meant to be Grandfather." Said with a look of pleasure. Her expression falls some as talk goes to Matilda Barnes. "Age is not being kind to her wits, miss… I'm trying my best to slow it by keeping her busy. But in her 83rd year she is entering.. a fog."

The nurses give a damn must of short circuited a long time ago, for when the other ladies enter she ignored them with the attitude that that have labeled her with. Not a single emotion ruffles her calm mind as she pours the steeped tea for the pair of them. "He is. Though I would pay to see his reaction to you calling him that." oh there is a bit of curious amusement that breezes by. "My younger brother called him gramps once. The reaction was, shall we say, apoplectic."

The Empath sings laughter forth, "Truly! Well, I don't know.. he would probably think me to be as mad as they have coined me, to waltz up to him and call him that." Lillie admits fondly. She's come across Dr. Styne for only a handful of appointments: mostly having had to do with Josie when she lived in town, and lately for Tilda. The amusing mental image of Dr. Styne going medieval on his grandson over a moniker that tickles most familial old men pink serves to pull Lillie out of the doldrum surrounding Tilda. She smiles her thanks to Constance for pouring and takes up her mug carefully. Despite word surrounding her, Lillie has fantastic manners.

"Speaking of brothers.. my older brother came to Higsi in January. A war injury." An affected look, "He was sent home via honorable discharge and came out here to check on me. After all he's been through. You might see him in town.. we look alike, to a degree.. but he is incredibly Irish."

Constance could be exaggerating the reaction of her grandfather, things like that are subjective to a certain degree. Sipping at her tea she listens attentively to Lillie an eyebrow lifting at the mention of a brother. "You do have to introduce me to him." she nods with a frown at the ear wound story. She spent a few months over in Europe last year as a nurse on the front lines, she knows all about war and the injuries that can come out of it. "Grandfather is doing wonders with wound rehabilitation. Bring him by the clinic, perhaps we can help." she continues to sip her tea and then waves Becky over to give their order so that can. Ithaca get to eating. From the looks Lillie certainly needs it.

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