... (foreverwild) wrote in the_dome, @ 2013-11-04 08:53:00 |
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Entry tags: | 04-13-2017, frankie, frankie and gin, gin |
Hauntable
Who: Frankie and Gin
When: Early evening
Where: Encore
Frankie had finished up her duties on the ranch a little later than usual, but with the Boss Man indisposed, so to speak, she hadn’t thought anyone really minded it, since her job hadn’t held anyone up from leaving for the day. She knew of the barn dance going on at… well, the barn. A barn, and Frankie thought about checking it out herself. She was even dressed in conjunction with the theme, with her jeans and red, flannel shirt that clashed horribly with her hair. Of course, Frankie considered it a non-conformist fashion statement. Quirky, if you will.
But instead of heading for the barn after cleaning up, Frankie wandered in the direction of Encore. She hadn’t seen Gin in a day or so, and Frankie thought it was her friendly duty to invite Gin along, if she wanted to go. Getting to Encore took a bit longer than it probably should have, as Frankie was distracted by a couple of shops along the way and found herself browsing a bit before remembering her intended destination.
She opened the door to Encore, stepping inside and immediately scanning the place for her friend. “Gin?”
Gin had run the gamut of emotions this afternoon and it had propelled her into working. She’d all but given over her store to her paintings even though it was meant to be a second hand shop. Every wall space was covered with the haunting images of Cody in the nightmare settings. Though now her mind was awash with the ideas for her new study of Cody. And Ember apparently. She was haunted again but this time it was a more positive haunting. One that meant she wasn’t working feverishly but at a more leisurely pace, enjoying herself rather than filling some mad compulsion.
She almost missed the sound of someone calling her name and her heart skipped a beat at the thought it might be Cody, back for a completion of their conversation. But she was not in the least disappointed to see Frankie, a broad smile filling her face which bore the smudges of red and blue paint she’d gotten there when trying to brush her hair out of her face. She quickly wiped her hands on her smock and took it off, flinging it onto an overstuffed ottoman. “Hey there! How’s it going, Frankie? And don’t you look nice!”
It wasn't surprising to see Gin with paint on her face. That seemed to be the norm for her friend, actually, and hey, at least it wasn't horse or cattle manure like Frankie sometimes had to scrub off at night. "Psh," Frankie said, wandering over to Gin to take a look at her painting. "Nice. I look nice. I guess that's better than 'what's that brown stain on your knee?', but I'd much rather look fantastic. Of course if I wanted to look fantastic, I would have worn something else, huh? I think flannel and denim rarely make it to a higher tier of fashion appreciation. They're perpetually stuck in the nice category. And yeah, that's right. I just used the word perpetually," Frankie said with a nod before grinning. "What're you painting now? Because it looks like your shop has become some kind of crazed art gallery."
Gin was glad Frankie had come in now rather than earlier. Now her mind was in a place to appreciate Frankie's garrulous manner. She giggled and twirled her finger, asking Frankie to turn around so she could see the entire ensemble. "I think perhaps I could bump you up to fantastic since you don't even remotely smell like a cow pat." Gin glanced around the gallery of nightmares and nodded. She probably should take a lot of them down now. The most vulnerable of them at the very least. "I've finished that particular study but I'm starting a new one with the same guy. His name is Cody and he's a ghost," she said with eyes slightly wide as though she were telling campfire stories.
Frankie twirled, arms up in a dazzling pose until she faced Gin again. Then she lowered her arms, brushing her hair back behind her ears as her attention went back to the painting. "Well, soap is quite the marvel, I've got to say. Though honestly, it's like, you chuck enough cow, or horse poo over the course of a day and your fingers still smell, even after scrubbing them raw. Nothing sends the boys running faster than witnessing you smelling your fingers in the market, or in the park while you try to figure out if the lily scented soap actually did it's job or not." She placed her hands on her hips, her eyes squinting as if she were observing Gin's painting like a critic. "A ghost named Cody. Like, a super real ghost?" Frankie asked, ticking her gaze from the canvas to Gin's face. She knew about the ghosts in town, because you had to be totally blind and narrow minded not to see them. And Frankie had always believed in otherworldly things, even before the dome. "This creepy, scary ghost is named Cody? That's... not at all a creepy, scary name. Could he be Lucius, or... crap, what's about creepy name? Well, you know." She waved her hand dismissively. "Is he your new muse?"
Gin grinned as Frankie twirled and nodded affirmatively. "Yes, definitely fabulous." She had smelled Frankie herself after a day at the farm and she wrinkled her nose. "No kidding. Guys tend to think doing those sorts of things are weird. But I'm surprised you actually can still smell anything after spending all day around it. Your boss ought to provide face masks or something!" Not that she could smell even a faint trace of it right now with the scent of her oil paints and turpentine. She was getting so low on canvas and trying to find more would be difficult, she knew. She wasn't thinking about it right now though. She giggled at Frankie's assessment of Cody's name. She hadn't even thought about the fact that it was not a typical ghosty type name at all. But then Cody wasn't a typical ghost. "Maybe he should be called Lucifer or Ichabod. Lucius would work too! Hm." She tapped her lower lip with one finger then shrugged and chuckled. "He is my muse, so it seems. An unwilling one apparently but he fascinates me. He has a friend named Ember who visited me too today. She's a ghost as well. I should be more creeped out by this, shouldn't I?"
"Ooh, Ichabod is a good one, but then I would think of the Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and remember that Ichabod's not really a scary name at all. It's stuck somewhere between sounding too proper, and too nerdy. Which, based on these paintings? Cody is neither. Although, man, that’s a good book, isn’t it? Sleepy Hollow, with the bridge and the pumpkin, and the headless horseman? I wonder if they have that at the library. I should go see when I have the chance. Just have to make sure not to pee myself in bed if I’m reading it at night and hear the horses out in the barn." Frankie paused and then looked at Gin with a raised brow, her train of thought shifting abruptly. "Two ghosts, huh? I guess you could be creeped out, if they give you a reason to be creeped out. You would know better than anyone, huh? As long as they're not violent, or trying to hurt you, maybe it's not so bad to have ghostly muses. The paintings are freaky, but they're pretty amazing, so I say go with it. Just don't get hurt, or anything."
Gin couldn't help but giggle at Frankie's tangent onto Sleepy Hollow. Gosh the girl made her feel better just by being here and talking; a positive connection. "No, no," Gin tried to get out between giggles. "Read that one during the day. Last thing you need to do is pee your bed!" She could just imagine that conversation if someone happened upon Frankie while she was trying to bring her sheets to the laundry room in the middle of the night. She sobered from her laughter to continue the conversation though she felt herself relaxing so much that she was feeling almost peaceful inside. "Thank you! Oh no, I don't think either one of them really would hurt anyone. They do present such sadness though. They're the ones who are haunted, I think. But enough of me and my ghosts! Tell me. Who are you meeting at the dance? Anyone special? Any cowboys?"
"God, I could only imagine what the other boarders or ranch hands would do to me if they found out I wet my bed. They would never let me forget it. I would end up with some kind of horrible nickname like Pissy McPeesinherbed!" Frankie sighed loudly before she turned back to the painting. "Enough of your ghosts? It sounds like you've got some ghost harem going for you now. I'm a little jealous! Am I not hauntable enough? You would tell me if I wasn't hauntable enough, wouldn't you? Maybe it's my hair. Or the manure stenched fingertips." Frankie lifted her fingers to her nose again, and twitched her lips thoughtfully. "Nah, that smells like the soap, so maybe i'm good. Yeah, but no, no cowboys looking my way, sadly. Honestly, I think they all just see me as a guy with boobs. Which is cool, because at least I get a little respect." She grinned at Gin. "I haven't been on a date in forever, but to be fair, I haven't really had any interest. I think there's maybe two men in the dome who I might jump in front of and dance around a bit to get their attention, but I'm not sure that would actually work. Which is a shame, because I've got an old pair of tap shoes in my closet that are just completely useless right now."
That was too much and Gin started giggling again, trying to say the name out loud but failing somewhat except in fits and starts. "Piss… Pi… Pissy… McPee…McPeesin… Oh good gracious!" Gin pressed her hands to her stomach which was beginning to ache a little from the giggling. Not that she minded. Frankie was exactly what she'd needed this evening. "Ghost harem, oh no. Neither one of them wants to be a bedfellow. That I know of! And I'm not even sure Cody will come back." She appraised Frankie as though seriously thinking about her hauntability. "I think you're very hauntable. I know I'd haunt you if I were a ghost. I'd want to see you pee your pants!" she said with a look of pure mischief that dissolved back into a grin as Frankie sniffed her fingers and widened as she said she was a guy with boobs. "Well you certainly don't look even remotely like a guy right now! You're going to make some heads turn, girl. Who are these two guys? Dish!"
Frankie couldn't help but laugh with Gin. Not because she thought her joke was that funny, but because Gin's laughter was a bit contagious and she couldn't help herself. Plus, it felt good to have those kind of giggles every now and then. Some people took themselves way too seriously. "No, really, it's funny to think about, but I have to imagine wetting the bed is pretty gross! I don't want any ghosts coming into my room, ever, thank you very much. Mostly because I don't want to have to go to Riley and tell him I need a new mattress because I couldn't control my bladder!" Her giggles died off a bit before she rested both hands loosely on her hips and shook her head a little, gaze falling back on the painting. Frankie was starting to think maybe she should buy one to hang up in her room at the ranch. Not any of the scary ones, because then she wouldn't be able to sleep. "I don't know. It's silly. I mean, you've seen attractive people before. Sometimes all it is, is walking by and thinking, hey, that guy's pretty cute! And then that's usually it. I mean, there might be a guy or two at the ranch I've fantasized rolling around in the hay with, but it's a messy thing, crushing on co-workers. And boss man is apparently married, which was like... yeah. Oh, and that Patrick O'Reilly at the pub? He's nice to look at when I go in there and drink. But I'd definitely have to wear my tap shoes and do a number for him to look. Maybe jazz hands." She wiggled her fingers for a moment before pausing and lifting a brow. "Why are we talking about this again? What about your love life? You ought to be painting nudes of some gorgeous person, not scary ghosts named Cody."
Gin shook her head, trying not to get dragged back into the giggles at the idea of Frankie telling Riley she needed a new mattress. She could just picture him trying to be a gentleman about it but not really knowing what to do with that. "Mm yes, Riley Pollard is definitely a fine specimen of a man. If he weren't married to my best friend I'd be making a play, I'm sure." And she might have if he'd been her type but she was pretty sure he wasn't. "Patrick O'Reilly, yeah. He is rather dreamy but he never seems to look, does he? I dare you to get those tap shoes on and do a number for him! I'd pay to see that happen. Yes, please!" She giggled at the image and wondered for possibly the hundredth time what Patrick O'Reilly's story was. Or any of the O'Reillys really. How'd such a large family manage to have so many surviving members when some people barely made it out alive themselves? She shook her head, not wanting to think about that when she was enjoying herself with Frankie. "My love life? Please. I have a crush on a million different people but nobody serious." Wouldn't she love that though. She needed it. It was partially the reason for all of these paintings and her obsession with Cody.
"He never looks," Frankie said with exasperation, as if finally finding someone who agreed with her. "I mean, I can go in there and talk all night with Lochlan. He's easy to chat up. Patrick's all..." She hunched her shoulders and kept her eyes averted from Gin while pretending to do things. "You know. Which is fine. I probably go in there too much anyway, and when I drink, I tend to talk a lot. But anyway, it's my own fault for being too chicken to bid on him at that man meat auction. If I do decide to put on a dance show at the pub, I'll be sure to invite you. We'll have great fun. Maybe you can sing while I dance and it'll be a team effort!" Some people might have been joking, but it was something Frankie was likely to do if she thought it might get a smile out of someone. "I like hearing about your crushes though," Frankie continued. "Crushes are the best. Do you want to hit up this barn dance with me? We can drink and drool over all the lovely people stuffing their face with barbeque and square dancing."
Gin giggled. "Good grief, Lochlan is a rascal! That guy is trouble on legs but he sure can tell a story. But yeah, Patrick's just like that!" she said with another giggle. "Like the tall, dark, and moody type. Dark and broody. Makes you want to know what's going on underneath it all. Did you see the little girl who did bid on him at the auction. She was so young! I wonder what made her decide to do that. Do you think she got any details from him?" Gin couldn't help but grin at the idea of them making a team effort to get Patrick O'Reilly's attention. She knew that if she agreed there would definitely come a time when she was called on to perform this feat. "You're on, I'm so there for that!" She considered briefly taking up Frankie's offer of going to the barn dance but, while she really had needed this interlude of laughter and good conversation, she was still raw from the realizations she'd had when she'd spoken with Cody earlier. "Another time, okay? I'd love to swap info on crushes but I have this idea running around my head and I don't think I'd be any fun out and about, you know?"
“Who wouldn’t want dark and broody?” Frankie asked with a loud sigh. “I didn’t see who bid on him, actually. I didn’t stick around as long as I probably should have. I didn’t even bid on anyone. Maybe next time. But who knows what she managed to get out of him, if anything. Somehow I doubt one date led to a swapping of life stories.” Although for Frankie, one drink could lead to a long, drawn out version of her own life story. But was only because she liked to talk, and she always loved seeing what new exaggerations she could come up with to make it more exciting. And since Gin agreed to singing for their tap dancing extravaganza, Frankie beamed and reached out to tug playfully at Gin’s sleeve. “I’m holding you to that. We’ll be fantastic! People will want to book us for birthday parties and bat mitzvahs and bar mitzvahs and all kinds of mitzvahs! And I totally understand needing to work out your muse. If I get lucky, or just have a really good burger, I’ll let you know.”
"She was really pretty but really young. You're probably right though. A guy who never looks isn't likely to spill to a girl half his age over one date for charity. Still, it could've been fun to grill her. I think she runs the glass blowing shop." Gin couldn't imagine what Patrick O'Reilly's response would be to their "extravaganza" in his pub. The idea of it made her grin though. Even if he was horrified it would be so worth it to get him to look up from his duties for a few minutes. "Could you see us at a party for 13 year olds? That sounds horrible!" she said but she was laughing because she wasn't sure what to think about kids. Not that age anyway. She adored Lia's daughter to bits but the little munchkin was well behaved and a long way off from teenage melodrama. "Oh you know I want the details. Especially if you have a really good burger. If you have one of those I fully expect you to bring me one on your way home. But uh not if you're getting lucky as well." She grinned, laughing a little at the idea of Frankie asking a guy to wait a sec so she could bring Gin a hamburger.
"Hey! I think thirteen year olds would love us! We're pretty and flashy and we smile a lot." She lifted her fingers to poke them in her cheeks as she grinned. "Or I guess we should just stick to the patrons of O'Reilly's, who no doubt need some entertainment while they're gettin wasted. We'll see. All we can do go where the music and dancing takes us!" She lowered her hands and then sighed. She was flying solo tonight! Which wasn't so bad. Frankie tended to have fun no matter what she did, or who she was with. "I'll definitely get you a burger on my way out! I'm betting I'll be returning to my room alone tonight, so don't worry about having to make small talk when any potential hunky company when I stop by later." Frankie leaned in to plant a loud, smacking kiss on Gin's cheek. "Have fun, okay? If you change your mind, come around to the barn and find me. If not, I'll see you later."
Gin mirrored the face Frankie made, poking her own cheeks as she grinned. "You're a goose and you pull me into the wildest things. For which I whole-heartedly thank you!" She'd had some pretty fun adventures thanks to agreeing to do something with Frankie. "Too right about that! Who knows though. You might actually catch Patrick O'Reilly's attention and he could give you an ongoing gig!" Wouldn't that be something. Song and dance a la Frankie at the pub. Nightly! "I'm looking forward to that. I haven't really eaten all day. But if you manage to find potential hunky company, don't you dare stop by here! You go get your groove on," she said and wiggled her hips playfully and then giggled at that loud kiss. "I'll work on the fun part. It'll be tough once you're gone but I'll manage." She winked. "Get out of here and have some of your own fun!"
“Ha! Yeah, we’ll see about that,” Frankie said. Somehow she doubted Patrick O’Reilly would be amused by anyone dancing in his pub. Well, tap dancing anyway. But it was still fun to imagine, and who knew? Enough drinks and Frankie might give it a go anyway. “Oh, don’t worry about it! If some hunky guy really wants to come home with me, he won’t mind if we make a quick stop. Because he’ll be gorgeous, and sweet and completely understanding that a girl needs meat! Uh, hamburger meat. Well, that meat too, but not in this context. You know what I mean.” She turned to head out of the shop, doing her best not to look at the scarier paintings, because… yeah, no need to frighten Riley with news that she peed her bed from fright! “See you later, Gin! Be good!”
Gin burst out laughing over the entire “meat” statement. Oh it felt good to smile and laugh after the last few days. Next time she got into that big of a funk she was calling Frankie immediately for a girls’ night or something. “Whatever meat comes through my door, I’m sure I’ll enjoy it. In some context or another!” She giggled at that, shaking her head. It was fun to imagine again what potential hunky company she might find when she finally stepped out of her head once more. “Later, honey,” she called and waved. “Be bad!”