tampered | (no subject)

(no subject)

When; Sunday, April 27th
Rating; PG for now.
Characters; Cain Hargreaves (

misterblackbird) and Scarlett O'Hara (

andyouarenolady)
Summary; Two Victorians meet one fine evening at the Lux.
Log;

It was late in the evening and Scarlett was putting the last stack of paper away where it belonged. She was done with her work for today and she dreaded it. Memories of the day before were still too fresh in her mind; work had provided an acceptable distraction. Returning to her lonely apartment was the last thing she wanted now.

Thus, as she stood in the back door's frame, hesitating a moment, she looked over to the bar with longing. A shot of brandy or two would be heavenly right now, and as an employee, she could probably get a discount. The Lux had its share of customers today, so she would be in good company. Shoving any and all uncomfortable thoughts to the well-used back room of her mind, she went to the bar and ordered her brandy.

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It wasn't so much the drink that lured him out as much as it was simply going out itself. Another day of hiding out in the opera house basements, trying to keep safe from one explosion or another--how many times had they done that now? At least four or five times. Of course the City could mend itself well enough after something like that, but those caught in the midst of it were sometimes not quite so lucky. Brilliant of the City to decided they all needed to play at going to war, and some seemed to take the idea rather to extremes, even if they weren't cursed at all. But it was over now, and he was glad to be able to go out that night, even if it was a Sunday. (No one seemed to keep to any sort of rules about Sundays in the City, for good or ill.)

So then the question was where to go. Not the Raven or anywhere so intense as that, that was ridiculous. The music at Lux wasn't always to his taste, but it was more pleasant than most of the other options, and a bit more refined too. So, Lux, then, and he set out, still with his top hat and cane.

He was glad to get out for the evening, and, truly, it seemed more than a few others agreed. Perhaps everyone could do with a bit of time between curses to breathe. The streets were busy, but not crowded, as was Lux itself.

A woman was lingering in the doorway a moment, only a moment, before she vanished back inside. She had a certain air about her, and clothing that spoke of another era--familiar, in a certain way, from portraits and photographs of ten years before his birth or so. How strange. One might even call her out of place in Lux.

He didn't follow her exactly, but how interesting to find someone like that standing in the very doorway where he intended to go.

He stepped inside and proceeded to the bar himself, still watching for her.

The first shot of brandy hit her with a familiar sensation of warmth burning down her throat and deep into her body, and she could not help but think that there was a definite advantage to working at a place such as this. She should be ashamed to have stooped so low, she knew, but she had already owned a saloon - so why not work in a similar facility? After all, she needed money, and needed it badly. Yesterday had made that clear once again - but she would not think of that, she would not. With haste, she ordered a refill.

Had she paid any heed to her surroundings, she would have noticed the young man who had just entered the Lux; as it were, she was too focused on herself and her own problems to do so.

Oh ho, there she was, at the bar, and drinking like a fish at that.

So now who was she? Why such familiar clothing, perhaps a decade or two older than his own?

All right, easily done, if one just approach the bar and stand nearby--conversation was bound to begin. She was older than he, he felt certain, but that didn't undo the possibility of conversation. He was more curious about the familiar air about her than anything.

And it was dessert-time, or thereabouts, so he ordered claret and stood by to wait for it, watching the lady who drank like a man from the corner of his eye.

It took her a while to notice she was being watched, and, tipsy as she was, it happened rather by accident as she turned around to look about her surroundings. Not that he was being obvious about it; and yet she was certain that this young man - more like a boy, really - had been watching her. She didn't find him to be very handsome, his boyish- or even effeminate-looking face and all-too slim stature prevented that. But he had a way of carrying himself and an air about him that suited him well and told her he was probably of noble descent. Funny how after all that happened, the markings of gentility were still so deeply instilled within her that she recognized them immediately.

Futhermore, she noticed his clothing - a little strangely designed, but definitely more familiar than what most of the customers at the Lux wore.

Either way, her curiosity was piqued, and she could use company - distraction. So she once again used her Southern Belle manners, not heartfelt, but a routine, to make idle conversation. She smiled, letting her dimples show, and gave him a look, saying: "And what is a handsome young man such as you doing at this modest location today?"

He nodded in response, smiling over his glass. She seemed well-bred at that, even if she was drinking in public. But if she was of another world, then perhaps it didn't matter quite so much. A dimpled smile, and she knew how to use it too. Really, she seemed quite charming.

"The same as you, I believe," he began, gesturing to her glass.

"I admit, I'm quite curious about you. And I don't believe we've been introduced."

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