Liliana Castle | Sunna (solsken) wrote in paxletalelogs, @ 2011-09-19 13:01:00 |
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Entry tags: | baron samedi, sunna |
she said “feed me flowers”
Who: Julian and Lily
What: A random meeting.
Where: CASKET
When: 6:04 pm
Notes: Gdoc Holder Completed!
Lily had spent a week pretending not to think of the odd video she and her brother had received in the mail. It seemed that her brother had forgotten about it entirely, which made Lily happy and comforted her slightly, but she still couldn’t seem to shake the imagery out of her mind. It didn’t help that she still had the overwhelming apprehension that someone was watching her when she was out but Lily was becoming quite skilled at lying to herself- that feeling surely was brought on simply from over thinking the video.
Still, it weighed on her and finally Lily reached a breaking point. Stressed from worrying she decided to pay a visit to CASKET once more. She couldn’t help but like the atmosphere. Maybe it was due to the frequent visits of other people from her apartment but she certainly felt a sense of kinship with her neighbors.
Wearing a white pinstripe sundress and her hair falling in the sun kissed mass of curls around her shoulders, Lily slipped into the club just as the sun was beginning to set. Happy hour had passed and it was too early for the night time rush, leaving the club relatively empty, just as Lily wished for it to be.
Slipping on to one of the stools at the bar, Lily began to play with her mother’s necklace as she stared off with a small frown on her face. The bartender was busy with a group of happy hour customers who were slightly too happy, which was fine for Lily, she was lost to her own thoughts anyway.
Julian had decided to take a break from his backroom work - the one aspect of the business he had never come to enjoy was the tedious amounts of writing and numbers, along with forms and permits and other papers that had to be maintained, signed, submitted, and deposited in various places and copied to numerous people.
Having been at such things for over a few hours (early in the day, when there had been few people, he found it best to get such things under his belt - then he could spend the rest of the evening fraternizing with his customers), he leaned back in the leather-bound chair in his office, raising his hands above his head, hands laced together as he stretched. Then with a soft push on the armrests, he was standing, through the door of the room and out into the main area of the club.
It was sparsely populated, but that was fine - he would use the time to get a drink and say hello to a few people, ensure that they were stocked for once people started rushing in during the later hours. As he approached the bar, he noted a very attractive cascade of reddish-gold curls, the person to whom they were attached wearing a fetching pin-striped dress that outlined her hour glass figure. Having found a good place to start with his socialization, he slipped in next to her and waved at Ysolde.
“My usual, and another for the lady, whatever she’s having. How are you this evening?” He looked down to look the woman in the eye, recognition hitting him squarely in the face. “Ms. Castle! I’m glad you decided to stop by again.” He held out his hand as though he were offering a handshake.
Lily blinked a few times as she pulled herself out of where ever she went. Somewhere deep in her mind where images of people she never wanted to see were in crowds and frightening videos arrived in the mail. Letting out a small breath she smiled, although it didn’t reach her eyes, and with a final thought of what weighed upon her passing she took the hand that was offered to her. “Julian, isn’t it?” She asked with a growing smile. “You can just call me Lily, Ms. Castle sounds so formal.”
Letting go of her mother’s necklace she took her hand and swept back her thick hair from her face. “I’m all right, how are you? I’ll... just have a dry martini, thank you.” She glanced at the bartender and gave another smile as she pushed her thoughts away even further.
Ysolde mixed up a rum and coke for Julian and then quickly threw together the martini, sliding both in front of the appropriate people on small, white square napkins. Julian flashed her a quick smile, his eyes flicking from her to Lily in a quick moment.
“It does, doesn’t it? But it pays to keep the formalities - this day and age, you give a young woman a compliment and she slaps you with a sexual harassment charge,” he replied, sinking down to the soft cushion of the stools in front of the bar. One leg bent and hung from its brother’s knee, Julian’s back straight as his hand cupped the glass that had been delivered to him. The smile he offered Lily was cleanly white, though not in a faux, Hollywood sense. Something about it didn’t quite reach his eyes.
“And how are you this evening, Lily?” He sounded her name out as though he were tasting it, those same eyes watching and parsing every little movement she made as though looking for something.
Lily smiled shyly, her eyes lowering to her drink which she accepted and brought to her lips. She let him wait, giving the momentary pause to feel him out, and then slowly turned her blue eyes to meet his. “I’m okay, just came here to... I don’t know, get away for a few minutes.” Almost immediately she looked embarrassed and reached a hand towards Julian, the tips of her long fingers touching his arm lightly. “I’m sorry, that sounded rude. It’s just that I don’t really drink so I tend to stay away from places that serve liquor. It’s just a once in awhile type of thing. Having a drink, that is, and I really do like it here. I like showing support to people who are essentially neighbors.”
She smiled sweetly, slowly pulling back her hand and placing it on her dress covered thigh. “It’s, ah... it’s been a little stressful at home. So, getting away for a few minutes is nice.” She shifted in her chair and gazed at Julian. A quick way to push off her troubles would be to focus on something new. Julian was something new. “I hope I’m not keeping you though. I know you have this place to run.”
Julian raised a hand, waving away her implied apology.
“Believe me, I’d much rather be spending my time with a beautiful woman than with a stack of forms that all need my signature for whatever reason,” he replied, smiling easily. He took a careful drink, turning his attention back to Lily all within a matter of moments.
“And please, don’t apologize for finding my club something of a haven. I intended it for people to have a good time - it started there, and blossomed to so much more. Who am I to stifle it’s potential?” The hand raised in gesticulation, as though offering a question mark, then lightly reached out to brush her arm in the softest of touches. “What floor do you live on, if you don’t mind me asking?”
Lily didn’t realize right away that she leaned towards his touch, if only slightly, but what she did realize was how pleasant it was speaking with him despite that they had only talked for a few moments. “I live on the sixth floor with my brother. What floor do you live on? I can’t recall if you had told me the first time we had met. I haven’t seen you at the apartments at all. We must always be missing one another.”
She gave him a dazzling smile and sipped her drink. Despite the numb feeling from all that had been going on she was really enjoying this and her smile nearly reached her eyes.
“The fourth,” he answered easily, falling into the niceties of making small talk. It was still hell of a lot better than being trapped back in his office. For a moment Julian studied the contours of Lily’s face - a youthful visage, plump cheeks and a rosy complexion, but underneath... Julian could still see it. Whether it was a sense born of his time working in his father’s funeral home or some other weird quirk, he could see the heaviness on her; he just knew that she’d lost someone important. But as usual, once he had the information, he never quite knew what to do with it. He quickly caught himself and his mouth curved.
“And I would love to spend more time at that gorgeous building that I’m paying such good money to have a little piece of, but...well, maybe I’m a little controlling, but I like to be sure that this place is running smooth, all the time.” The fingers on his glass rubbed the rim, drawing lazy circles as he slowly turned the glass. “I’m sure you know what I mean - everyone’s got a little something that they need to be sure of.”
Lily first thought of her brother who she always wanted to make sure was taken care of. In a way, that was where she made sure things were ‘running smoothly’. When she would enter her yoga classes she wanted them to run smoothly as well, however upon leaving the classroom she would leave the stresses of work behind. But still, she understood where Julian was coming from and gave him a reassuring gaze. “Have you ever considered bringing on an assistant manager or someone so that you can have some time off? I understand wanting to make sure everything runs appropriately, it just seems like a lot of work and you certainly deserve time off. This place is beautiful, you’ve earned it.”
She sipped at her drink and her curls fell forward and down the front of her chest. Whatever thoughts or feelings Julian had didn’t come across his face clearly enough for Lily to catch it. Absentmindedly her free hand went back to her neck, clasping the charm from her mothers necklace and playing with it gently.
He had been offered the idea of an assistant before - and he had one, sort of. They were just...going through difficult times, but Julian wasn’t going to bring up the subject of his divorce unless he absolutely had to. His eyes settled on the necklace she was playing with, a gorgeous little piece of jewelry that he could just tell probably belonged to whomever this lovely young lady had lost.
“That’s a beautiful pendant. Where did you get it?”
Lily perked up, a small, nearly private smile flashing across her face as she glanced down at the charm. “The necklace was my mother’s. It was a favorite of hers and she left it to me when she passed.” She pushed back her hair and lifted the charm in her hand, it sparkling in the low light as she displayed it to Julian. Aside from her brother, people rarely took notice of her necklace, but she appreciated Julian’s watchful eye.
He gave a slow nod, the pieces falling into place. Eyes inspected the pendant, a hand reached out politely as though to cup it, but fell away for politeness’ sake. “It’s as beautiful as the young lady who’s wearing it,” he remarked cheekily, taking another sip of his drink to wet his throat.
“How long ago did she pass, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“I was seven,” Lily replied softly, her cheeks colored from the compliment Julian had paid her. “Pretty young but I remember her clearly.” What Lily left off was that while her mother was alive it was the happiest and most simple part of her childhood. How could she forget that? When her mother died she was suddenly forced to grow up. She didn’t regret helping raise her brother but she still was nervous that she did it incorrectly, still worried that she hadn’t kept him safe, and that worry had only grown with recent events.
A hand came to gently rest on Lily’s shoulder. “I’m terribly sorry for your loss - especially something like that. No matter how old you are, it’s still a difficult thing to adjust to.” The hand lingered for a moment before falling away and settling in Julian’s lap. This was all too reminiscent of his father’s place of business - not that he ever intended to keep such things out of CASKET. Rather, he wanted a place where people could come, with their worries or their happiness, and fill up the club with such emotions, drain themselves to be born anew.
“But you have something to remember her by. And I’m sure other family as well?”
Lily reached for Julian’s hand and gave it a quick squeeze, “Thank you, that means a lot.” Her eyes were sincere and she gave a small nod before pulling away. “Yes, I have my brother and we lived with our aunt for a long time. Now my brother and I are living together out here. I don’t know what I would do without him.” She smiled, nearly like a proud parent which came close to the relationship she had with Max. Focusing on Julian she continued, “Do you have family here? Or where ever you call your hometown?”
He flashed a smile of strong, white teeth. “Born and raised in Oakland, so this isn’t too far away from the family. Two older brothers, both still working with our Pop.” He didn’t let on through his easygoing attitude how rickety the situation was with his own father, or that he and his brothers had never been that close. Julian didn’t quite feel jealousy over his immediate assumption of the relationship between Lily and her brother, but he was curious.
“Must be difficult, living with a sibling.”
“Oh, it’s nice that you’re close enough to visit home,” Lily replied with another smile. “My aunt is on the east coast so it’s sort of a trip to make it out there.” She swung her long legs back and forth lightly as they dangled from the bar stool and took a sip of her drink before continuing. “Living with my brother isn’t bad. We’re used to it I suppose and I guess we’re rather close. He has his room, I have mine, and we have pretty much opposite schedules so it works out.”
He inclined his head, giving a shallow nod. “Sounds nice. Must make it difficult when you have, ah, friends over, though.” Julian gave a sharp grin, burying it in his drink as he carefully prodded around the subject. A beautiful young woman like Lily probably had no end of suitors, and not that Julian had anything to say about that or was making himself available as such, but he was always so curious regarding every aspect of the lives of others.
Lily smiled into her drink, a secretive and mischievous smile, and looked up at Julian through her dark eyelashes and falling curls. “We make it work. That part of my life is definitely separated from my life with my brother as much as possible.” She laughed and smiled at Julian before taking another sip of her drink. It was slowly beginning to hit her, the alcohol, and it made her warmer and happier than she had been before Julian sat down with her.
He gave a little laugh, fingers tracing around his glass. “Well, good for you. Though I assume there are still some run ins, those things can’t be helped.” The assumptions he’d made about Lily and her brother slacked off, his jealousy cooling. Never had he necessarily desired such a relationship with his own siblings - he had plenty of hangers on, and his own issues to deal with - but he had to acknowledge that he missed something of that closeness dearly. He had had it, and then something had killed it. Julian was still trying to figure out that cause.
“Good for you, though - it seems like you have everything under control. Is there anything else you need while you’re here?” He polished off the last of his rum, setting the empty glass where Ysolde would be able to grab it.
“No, I’m good,” Lily said with a grin and lifting her glass as if to acknowledge just how good she was. “This really is a great place, Julian, I do enjoy coming here. And the drinks are rather perfect. I needed to get away and take my mind off of things and I’ve done it here and you’re to thank. So thank you.”
He waved his hands again, rising from the stool. “Any time, Lily, any time. I love spending time with patrons and neighbors alike,” he replied with a grin. Touching her shoulder once more, he glanced at Ysolde and asked for her to place the rest of Lily’s tab on the house, whatever more she might end up drinking. “Just make sure to call a cab, or have us call you one.” Gently clapping Lily on the shoulder, he turned away and started making his way through the somewhat grown crowd, crying out in excited surprise every time he came upon another familiar face.