06-01-2017, 06:25 AM
Caution flew to the wind. Natalie downed her glass and signalled for another. It softened the sharp edges of her thoughts, which might make them tolerable but no less pleasant. I should have stayed in Africa. At least the distractions there were constructive. St James' blood-soaked walls haunted her as much as that last earnest look Azu had given her. But Ola had urged her home. It hadn't even been the plea to convince her to leave. Selfishness brought her to Russia and probably trapped her here too, at least for now. She wondered how long it'd take for the paperwork to process. Her mother would be disappointed she'd not presented herself straight away, but really that was the last of her concerns. Her father's face flashed amongst her thoughts, but oh - that pain was too sharp, and carried with it a tide of anger. She let it go. Swallowed more drink.
Beside her the woman swivelled to take in the rest of the bar. Natalie only studied the contents of her glass. One day, she would see the school rebuilt. The promise soothed at least some of her guilts. She straightened, searched her pocket for a card to pay for the drinks.
"You've been stood up?"
she suggested mildly. The words were curt enough to be cruel, though she didn't really mean them as such. Her lips quirked at the idea of stopping time, but she didn't agree. Instead she gave a dry, unimpressed laugh. "Maybe there is. Who fucking knows these days."
The rest of the alcohol burned. She stood, warmth coursing the length of her limbs, but she felt steady enough. After a moment anyway. "I need somewhere with music."
That she said anything of her intentions at all was an invitation of sorts, though she only glanced at the other woman briefly before making her way back outside.
Beside her the woman swivelled to take in the rest of the bar. Natalie only studied the contents of her glass. One day, she would see the school rebuilt. The promise soothed at least some of her guilts. She straightened, searched her pocket for a card to pay for the drinks.
"You've been stood up?"
she suggested mildly. The words were curt enough to be cruel, though she didn't really mean them as such. Her lips quirked at the idea of stopping time, but she didn't agree. Instead she gave a dry, unimpressed laugh. "Maybe there is. Who fucking knows these days."
The rest of the alcohol burned. She stood, warmth coursing the length of her limbs, but she felt steady enough. After a moment anyway. "I need somewhere with music."
That she said anything of her intentions at all was an invitation of sorts, though she only glanced at the other woman briefly before making her way back outside.