t (alwaysonmytoes) wrote in _fracture_, @ 2014-01-25 03:18:00 |
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Entry tags: | alyssa, chapter 1, sullivan, the regent hotel |
Waiting for Godot
Who: Alyssa and Sullivan
When: Afternoon
Where: Lobby
Alyssa was sitting cross-legged on a couch or something. She wasn't sure what it was because it was so retro that she couldn't be sure it wasn't an ottoman or something. Whatever it was she was looking stoic. Her focus was on the front door. She was hoping someone came in through it because she'd tried going out and had ended up in the strangest places. Three times. She'd even tried climbing out through the internal courtyard and found herself in a stairwell. She probably should have freaked out or something. And she had. Internally. But she wasn't used to letting anyone see that side of her. So she sat calmly, hoping someone, anyone would appear. And that they would have some idea of how to get out of this place.
What she would do if no one came... or if someone did come but had no ideas? Well, she didn't know. For now she was hopeful. She had classes at 4 today. Tiny ballerinas no older than 6 who couldn't be let down. She needed to get back to them. There were a million other things she needed to get back to as well, but the little girls were her only focus. That was all she could handle.
Sullivan had left his room and wandered for a bit, though not without purpose. He was ultimately going to end up at the main desk to see who, if anyone, was on call in this shambles of a hotel and why they'd called him here. Or kidnapped him, which was more accurate.
Pulling at his sleek, gray suit jacket to straighten it out, he started walking and then tucked his hands into the pockets of his slacks. When he got to the lobby, though, he saw a girl sitting on an ottoman…or something. Maybe she worked here? She didn't really look like she was doing much working though. Approaching carefully, Sullivan tried for a smile. "You don't happen to work here, do you?"
When Alyssa heard someone speak she immediately transferred her attention from the front door and turned it almost confusedly toward the speaker. She blinked to return herself to the present and get herself out of her head enough to answer.
"I, oh, uh no," she replied and unfolded her legs from beneath her, gracefully sliding to her feet in one fluid movement. Her pale blue skirt swirled around her legs as she held out her hand almost formally. "I'm Alyssa Coventry. I'm not sure where we are but I do know we can't leave. And the woman at the front desk is extremely unhelpful." She shot a look of annoyance toward the front desk which she actually couldn't see from where she was. She had purposely chosen a place to sit where she wouldn't have to see the woman.
Well, that answered two of his questions. Who she was and how helpful the staff here would be. Taking her hand, he gave her a better smile, one more charming than before, and shook her hand. "Sullivan," He answered, thinking he'd prefer to get out of the formal dual-name introduction if it meant she would be a little less formal too. "Well, it's as least nice to know that someone else is here that is experiencing the same thing as me. Have you tried to leave?" He asked, nodding toward the door.
Alyssa gave his hand a gentle squeeze before withdrawing hers. "Nice to meet you, Sullivan," she said in as pleasant a tone as she could muster. The freak out on the inside was threatening at the corners of her voice. She cleared her throat and her eyes widened slightly when he asked if she'd tried to leave. "Yes, numerous times. Each time I try to go outside I end up back inside. Somewhere different every time." It had been quite embarrassing to end up in someone's room. While he was changing clothes. He'd at least been friendly about it. "Did you just arrive?"
Well, that was certainly not a good thing. Sullivan didn't like the idea that people were very specifically trying to leave and just...couldn't get out. "Just now heading down to the lobby, I guess," He answered her question. Concern started to show on his features. "...This doesn't seem good." He looked back at Alyssa and studied her again for a moment. "Why are you waiting in the lobby if you can't leave?"
Alyssa nodded and pushed pale blonde hair behind her ear. It was sort of a nervous movement, her hand apparently shaking. She put it back to her side quickly. "It's not good. I was hoping that someone would come in through the door and maybe they'd know how to get back out. Or perhaps someone would come to tell us something more about what's going on. I didn't know where else to be, I guess." She studied his concerned expression and tried to calm herself rather than go further toward being out of control.
She was obviously shaken and he instantly felt like he needed to find a way to help. Gently he reached out and placed a hand on the small of her back, trying to guide her away from the door. "Why don't we try and find a kitchen in this place, get some water?" Sitting there, staring at the door, couldn't be doing any good for her. "Where are you from, Alyssa?"
Her expression brightened some at the suggestion of finding the kitchen and getting some water. That would calm her nerves some, she knew. "Yes, we should do that. Though I've been all over I think and haven't seen one. Maybe you'll have better luck. You're not shaking like a leaf," she said with a little laugh. She let him lead her, thankful for someone else to do the thinking for the moment. She was out of ideas. "I'm from Connecticut. Hartford. What about you?" she asked, focusing on small talk and feeling herself calm even more.
"Out west. I don't know that I could handle being in the cold of Connecticut, what with all the snow. I'm not at home if I don't see a cactus," Sullivan said, offering his arm to Alyssa as they walked. She seemed to need the distraction and he was happy to provide it. She was a lovely girl and it helped keep his head on straight, to have someone else to care for. "What do you do back in Hartford, Alyssa?"
Alyssa could feel what he was doing, especially since he kept using her name. It was nice and she took his arm when he offered it, even giving a soft giggle when he mentioned not being at home unless he saw cactus. "I don't know what I would do without the changing seasons. Life wouldn't be as colorful, I think." She glanced over at Sullivan, her movements becoming less nervous and more graceful as she calmed, and gave a slight shrug. "I teach ballet to little girls at my mother's studio. I actually have classes today so I was hoping to get back… What do you do out west?" she asked quickly to keep from thinking on the fact she couldn't get back yet.
A ballet teacher to little girls. She sounded perfect, exactly the kind of girl you'd bring home to Mom. Which weren't the kids of girls he'd been interested in recently but she was sweet and he felt like he just…couldn't leave her right now. "A ballet teacher. No wonder you're so graceful," He said, smiling at her again. "Me? I'm a businessman. I work at a venture capitalist firm. I like to say that I play a part in making dreams come true…"
Alyssa's cheeks turned slightly pink at being complimented on her grace. She'd always had a difficult time accepting compliments because most, where she'd grown up, weren't genuine. "Thank you. It's just a side effect of having to be flexible and fluid for hours," she explained. Her face brightened at his description of what he did. "Oh really? So you're like that star in the sky that people make wishes on? What dreams have you made come true do you think?"
"Well, that is a very nice way of thinking of it," He said, smiling at the thought himself. Like the wishing star in the sky. It was pleasant in a way that took away all the unpleasantries of his job. "Well, I choose to help technology companies if I can. Their reach is further than others and proving technology to people who don't usually get it is a passion of mine." He shrugged a little, looking back at her. "Tell me more about being a ballerina. It's obviously something I don't know much about." But he wouldn't mind hearing more about that being flexible for hours on end thing.
Alyssa nodded, feeling almost back to her usual self though finding herself very intrigued by Sullivan and his work. It seemed a lot more interesting than dancing with children. "Oh, technology. That's something I know very little about but I find it fascinating all the varying things that technology can do and the doors it seems to open." She smiled a bit at the idea he had a passion for something very other-centered. She wished she had a passion for anything. "It's hard work and challenging," she said of ballet, feeling some nostalgia for her days of studying it at the academy. "Your feet are always a mess but there's a freedom in it too sometimes. And if you have the right partner? You can bring joy and tears, love and loss to hundreds of people."
"Perhaps you'll dance for me then," He said, smiling back at Alyssa as they stumbled upon not a kitchen, but a water fountain. This wasn't ideal at all, but maybe it would do. It would have to do, for now. Stepping to the side, he smiled. "If I had glasses, I'd toast. But maybe I'll just hold the button for you and say...To finding our way out of here, with new friends in tow," He said, holding the button down for her.
Alyssa nodded again. "I'm sure I could do that." It had been a long time since she'd danced for someone other than a child. She found herself giggling at him when they found the water fountain, her fingers to her lips. The entire idea was creative and humorous. "Thank you kindly, sir," she said and glided to the fountain. Pulling her pale hair back behind her head she said, "To new friends and to getting back to reality." Then she sipped from the fountain. After a moment she stepped back to allow him to drink if he wanted. "Thank you," she said again, though this time she was more thanking him for helping her calm down.
Sullivan gave her a softer smile and nodded. "Anytime. Anytime you want a friend to toast with at the water fountain, you come find me," He said, leaning in and taking a sip of it himself. Not an ideal water situation, but he'd have to get used to it apparently. And he could, though hopefully not for long. Hopefully they could find a way out of here sooner rather than later.