To Call or Not To [open]

[Moore]

"BURY HIM MOORE!"

Time and again Moore sent his fists flying with utterly crisp and precise strikes; hands soaring through the air within perfect arcing angles. All the while he could still hear her at his not-truly-there-corner. There were no such things as corners within street fights. It's these bare-knuckle fights that are reminiscent of those of the Irish travellers, and all the while he can hear her.

Rhiannon.

How long had they been apart of one another? It seems far too long now. It seems that she had nearly, and truly, had become a part of him. That without her he wasn't reaching his true potentional. Mayhap that had been the same once upon a time ago too when he had been a Cinderella man and Shamus had been at his corner. Now, though, he had her.

Years as lost and wasted as fresh rain falling on oily city streets.

Each minute and hour, and even each day and week passing to each month. It seemed that time passed and with each night came the money that the two often pored over and split without shame. All the while Moore dominated as he had within his youth. He became the Iceman as he had once been; a knock out artist that slugs with lightning reflexes.

Moore became a name to be remembered and reckoned with. He became known and for one reason only and that's the fact that he flitted from one back alley brawl to the next with his eye on naught else but the purse. Now, for a sudden change, his life was back on track and money was back within his pocket. There was even food on his table and his apartment was clean; oh, and a new apartment at that. Alongside the fact that he had furniture now too. Things were finally coming together and now Moore could only idly wonder whether or not others still recall him.

Others.

That meant those who knew little of what he did or watched him. Oh, he had met Adeline through a brawl once but not performing for cash. As for Kali? He met her within a diner alongside Tarquin. He could still recall the stroll they had taken once before. Then there was Rhiannon. She filled the role of Shamus and filled the role of his partner. She helped with everything when she couldand because of her his life was back to moving. Sometimes leaving the decisions within the hands of another helped. Who didn't like having a manager?

It's strange to be at the top of the food chain once more. Yet, the difference now was that he wasn't apart of anything professional. He did show for wear though; bruises and scrapes, and cuts, even. That was making little mention of his honed form too as Moore had taken to conditioning as he had once before; exercising at nigh every moment and eating well.

Truly, he's turned around.

Yet, tonight was different as he settled upon the stoop of the brownstone with his fingers nestled upon a small note. It held a handful of numbers - Tarquin, Adeline and Kali Le Fai Myst. It had been some time since he had seen any of them or even spoken to either. He had half a mind to call one or the other to talk with. Maybe that would shuffle things about to stir this night toward something more fun filled than the churning beginning deep within his gut.

It's one of those nights or so he tells himself.

"Bugger," he grunts and wrinkles his nose as he eyes each number. All the while his elbows brace upon his knees and chin tucks toward his chest as he simply sits there upon the stoop. He couldn't help but think and wrestle with his thoughts. What would Tarquin say if he were to call? He was unsure. What of Adeline? He wasn't sure of that either. It was much the same with Kali, and Rhiannon was undoubtedly shopping now with her cut of the loot.

Where did that leave him?

[Adeline]

Adeline sneezes.

There’s a saying about sneezes, well, maybe not so much a saying as it is simply an old wives tale. It supposedly means that someone is thinking of you. The same goes for burning ears, or is that talking about you? Whatever the case, Addi’s ears aren’t exactly ablaze with heat. Nah, she’s fine. Except that thought comes to her mind.

Who would be thinking of her? There was only a small handful of folks who she knew well enough to be pondering her presence with any sort of depth. There was her step-brother; Brady. Did he even think about her anymore? The two had known one another for decades now, just short of all their lives. Though it’d been a while since she’d lest spoke to him, let alone since the two of them last saw each other. Maybe she should call him sometime soon. Or she should simply take a trip up to Alaska, of course that could be more a burden than a trip of pleasure.

Miss Graham bites to her lower lip. The small girl is hesitant to admit to such, but she missed that horrid horrid man that was her step brother. They’d spent far too much time together and having gone so long without seeing him was getting to her. Despite not being blood related, he was truly the only family Adeline had left. Not to mention one of the few friends she actually could rely upon.

Oh, sure, there was Thaddeus, though the two had a brief falling out, only to recently reconnect. He was definitely a good friend, and perhaps she should have put more effort into getting into contact with him during their brief stint apart. Well, it’s a little too late to be rethinking things. And there was Derrick, more a good acquaintance than anything else, the two had met upon chance, not once but twice, and Adeline was almost shocked to find a surprisingly normal man behind that almost awkward and bashful guise. And then there was Julian, most definitely a handsome man who seemed to frequent her bedroom more often than the two of them did anything else. Though she was fine with that, she supposes.

Except for the fact that Adeline, for whatever reason, had problems with keeping hold of friends. Her nose wrinkles with this thought and almost hesitantly Miss Graham tugs that telltale white headset from upon that pretty head of hers. There was a time when people clambered to see her. When people admired her, and even some nerds wanted to be like her. Though that was all in the past, and Adeline was left to fending for herself. Oh how the mighty have fallen. Quietly Adeline leans forth to thumb off her 360 before shuffling to her feet.

“Mm,” Adeline grunts, shuffling toward her nook of a kitchen so she may retrieve her phone, if only to shuffle through the numbers. Alexandra? Adeline had met the blonde at the mall, the same day Derrick and herself had come into contact. Without even a hint of hesitance Miss Graham simply deletes the woman’s number. A bit of pruning always made a person feel better, for whatever reason. Adeline can’t quite put her finger on.

Quietly Adeline scrolls down the short list of numbers. Brady, Brady’s mother, Derrick, Her old booking agent, among other folk from the gaming circuit. Then there was Moore - Julian, rather - would he even remember her? One quick call before deleting his number wouldn’t hurt, would it? If he didn’t answer she’d simply delete it, and, well, if he did, maybe she’d be able to coax him into going out for the evening.

Almost anxiously Adeline depresses the send key, lifting the phone toward her ear to listen to that hollow ringing.

[Moore]

He hadn't exactly expected to hear his phone chirp. It had though and who else but one of the three people he had been thinking of calling. Adeline. He found that out soon enough when reaching for the chirping-and-vibrating cellular within his back pocket. He thumbs the clam-shell design open only to nudge such against his brow. How long now?

He couldn't recall the last time he had spoken properly with Adeline or even with the other two. He'd have to reconnect with them eventually though and assure himself of the bonds still there between them all. He hoped Tarquin would still be a friend - It certainly helped to have a male friend. As for Kali? Ah, she's a lovely woman and certainly kind enough to be of note.

Adeline though...well, what could he say?

He thumbs the send button to accept the call and soon nudges the clam-shell up and against his ear. Then there's the few hiss-and-pops that establish the connection and he could hear or at least her breath to say the very least. Yet, he's first to speak, of course. That sounded right for him. Always throw first and ask questions later.

"Miss Graham," Moore greets her well enough.

"I would have thought you'd forgotten me by now," he says but that seemed to be more teasing than actual truth. "But I suppose we are a guilty pleasure for one another and enablers, no?" He asks of her before his mouth spreads within a widening smile that she couldn't see. He shakes his head and lifts his freehand to brush fingers within his hair. All the while his elbow braces against her knee and he leans forward whilst his freehand keeps his phone pressed to his ear.

"I was actually thinking of calling you, you know. It's been a while," he murmurs and wrinkles his nose before frowning somewhat. Did that really matter? He wasn't so very sure. Yet, he knew it was never too late to mend things and assure a semblance of friendship between them.

"How have you been?"

[Adeline]

For a short lived moment Adeline reconsiders. The small woman brings the phone from her ear to stare upon the lit screen. She could just hang up, and if he called her back she could always just pretend like she accidentally pocket dialed the young man. Technology was funny like that, or so it seemed. For some reason she felt the anxiety that a teenage girl would when calling her crush. There was always that chance at being denied. If she simply hung up that wouldn’t prove a problem.

But no, it was too late, and he was answering the phone; ’Miss Graham,’ That was, in fact, her, “Julian?” Adeline replies dumbly, silently chastising herself for such a ridiculous retort. “How could I forget you?” she’s quick to cover up her little faux paw. How could she forget him, the two of them had woken up upon the floor of her living room. She’d demanded he leave, and he’d done just about everything but! It was hard to forget someone like that, to say the least.

“I’m actually alright,” Adeline murmurs, drawing her thumbnail along the caulking of her countertop, “Hey,” she interrupts any further thoughts he may have of holding a conversation over the phone, “Are you busy?” she asks quickly before a “Do you think you want to go get drinks. Or supper. Or something?” Adeline craves human contact, for whatever reason. Blame her feminine whims. Whatever the case was, she’d much rather go out and do something than sit at her kitchen counter, picking out the caulking and holding an all too awkward phone conversation.

Thankfully he agreed, though Adeline still had no clue as to her preference of activities, or his for that matter. Addi hadn’t waited for a decision and instead offered up an “I’ll meet you at Terpsichore station, and we can decide from there?” Okay, okay, “Alright, see you in a few. Buh-bye,” Addi utters, thumbing the phone off before simply stuffing such into her pocket.

It was a jacket and a pair of oxford heels later that Adeline was out the door and heading toward the nearest train station to meet up with Julian.

The transportation was unreliable, at best, though she managed to make the best of them, if only by pressing her backside upon the nearest wall, lest someone cop a feel. Not that Adeline ever fully expected that to happen. Whatever the case, the train ride wasn’t exactly a long one, thankfully, and Adeline was soon stepping onto the platform that was Terpsichore. All that was left was a waiting game.

[Moore]

Julian wasn't so well with phone conversations. He often preferred actual human contact than anything over technology proper. Maybe that's because he was without such things for the majority of his childhood and experienced life first hand more than anything else. That's not to say that others were within the wrong for savoring such things! Albeit even Adeline seemed eager to move onto bigger and better things other than a talk over the phone.

"Oh," Moore begins and wrinkles his nose somewhat. Was he busy? Not exactly. Rhiannon hadn't exactly booked any gigs for him. Yeah, things had come to the point that fights were called gigs more than anything else. The truth was, was that no one was within his realm; no one could stand with him. Yeah, they may think they could up until the cold reality of pain was blossoming and Moore was tearing down one gladiator after another.

So, Moore's answer was simple enough, truly.

"I'm not busy. Yeah, I'll meet you there. Bye."

That was that.

The truth was, was that Moore felt a semblance of excitement thrumming throughout him. He was eager to see Adeline more for the fact that he did like her. She's a spunky sort with an eager smile and playfulness about her that belonged to a kitten. Yet, she had a wicked tongue and side of her that could be considered boyish. Enough to soften her feminine wiles but drag a man deep. Yeah, he had been there before and never regretted the warmth of her bed.

Luckily for Moore, though, was the fact that he needed to do very little other than get off of his rump and saunter toward the nearest station; after all, he was already dressed, and fashionably enough, or so he'd say. Between his groomed beard and stubble to the tousled sable tresses, and even the clean clothes beneath - stone-washed denim pants, a button-down pinstriped shirt and worn shoes - Moore's well between rugged and fashionable alongside the abused and supple leather of his coat.

The train ride wasn't so very harsh or horrid. It wasn't on the scale of New York City but certainly not as bad as transportation back at California. Oh, and certainly not on the scale of the metro of the United Kingdom. It was there though and well enough to get from one place to another. Either way, Moore was soon arriving at Terpsichore, and he was eager to use that height of six-foot-two to peer over the heads of the many citizens. As for Adeline? Ah, she wasn't so hard to find!

You see, Adeline had a way of standing out. She wouldn't confess to such and Moore was partly sure she didn't even know it herself. Yet, she did. It's not the fact that she's attractive though because most people within the city were. Yeah, that's the truth of things. It's more the way she carries herself than anything and Moore never forgot a face. Not once.

So, he's soon stepping off the next train and within moments he's using that six-foot-two-even height of his to peer over the heads of Ravenblack's lovely lifeblood. Within moments he found her standing amidst the all and within another moment she'd feel his hand upon the small of her back and his face tipping enough so he may look down onto her own; his body drawing close.

"Miss Graham!"

Blessed reunion.

[Adeline]

Her lips purse as she loiters there. So obviously in the center of everyone, though looking all too lost to make any sort of spectacle of herself. She’s simply there, as many others were in that moment. She couldn’t possibly be the only one awaiting another in fact.

Eagerly the woman surveys the crowd. She’d not suggested a rendezvous time, for the simple fact that the RavenBlack city transportation system seemed to run on it’s own clock. And Adeline hadn’t quite figured out how that clocked worked yet. Maybe some day. Though it wasn’t absolutely necessary, she rarely ever used the damn thing for the simple fact that Adeline lived pretty central to the whole of things, a few blocks walk - or run when it was raining - from the strip mall where she held employment at Game Stop.

Maybe Adeline wouldn’t mention her minimum wage job when Julian arrived. It was embarrassing to work in a store that constantly smelled like ass, even for the boyish Adeline. Even moreso for the fact that at one point she’d been paid to play those damned games, and now she was doing her best to pawn them off on near everyone else. Well, maybe not her best, despite being a people-person, or at least somewhat of a people-person, Adeline didn’t care for the job, she found it obnoxious as a whole, not to mention the fact that customers seemed to avoid her for the simple fact that she was a woman, and women apparently know less about games and consoles, and accessories and the like than men did.

Their loss.

Still, it was only moments after her arrival that she felt a warming hand upon the small of her back, even through the considerable padding of her winter jacket. Her head lolls, and cocks to peer back upon the figure looming above. Handsome is a word that comes to mind, and ruggedly so. Almost wolfish in his mannerisms with that easy sort of look, though he’d tumbled out of bed and went out on the town with naught but a quick combing of his fingers through his hair. You couldn’t pay money for looks like that.

“Addi,” she’s quick to correct, before, “Julian,” she coos, just to be an imp. That easy smile curves upon the soft expanse of her young mouth, before she’s turning more fully to face the young man, “It’s good to see you again,” Adeline confesses, that smile only widening to present an expanse of well cared for teeth. Her father had paid good money for those teeth, or at least that’s what he’d reminded her, time and time again. If they’d cost so damned much, why not show them off?

“Let’s get out of this place, it smells like a Game Stop down here,” Adeline urges, taking a step forth to lead the way. She tosses a quick glance over her shoulder just to be sure he was tagging along.

Things were certainly looking up.

[Moore]

She seemed eager to correct him and Julian was much the same way to say the very least. "It's Moore." He corrects her easily enough and with a wry smile at that. He's certain she would recall such from the first time they met. He certainly did and he certainly could recall throwing fists for her personally simply out of protection more than anything else. He certainly wasn't a white knight but did have his own moments.

"I'd hope so."

She was happy to see him or so he thinks. If she wasn't then certainly she wouldn't have called him. It certainly was soothing to know there was still a semblance of connection with the outside world beyond his apartment and the back alleyways of Ravenblack proper though. The truth was, was that she brought a semblance of cheer to his otherwise dreary world of blood, sweat and tears.

"I wouldn't know."

Julian had never been to a Game Stop before. Yeah, that's almost unbelievable considering the far advancements of technology nowadays especially within the gaming market. That and the fact that Adeline was apart of that whole lifestyle. That's not the same for Moore though to be quite honest.

"Maybe we should fetch a few drinks, huh?" He questions of her with a wrinkle of his nose. "Have a bit of fun and paint the town red. It's been a while since I've gone to a club of any sort. Unless you'd rather be classy and head to a restaurant?" He asks of her. All the while his hand settles upon the small of her back to nudge her forth and lead her along with ease. It wasn't long until they were leaving the station.

[Adeline]

“Whatever,” Adeline replies, knowing all too well she’d call him Julian if she damn well wanted to. Just as heaven knew he’d call her Graham if damn well wanted! Still, she hoped he wouldn’t, being referred to as her surname was, well… It was almost awkward, Though Julian was his first name, so it shouldn’t be as awkward, right? Julian was such a nice name, too.

Though it wouldn’t matter. Get enough drinks in the two of them and they didn’t seem to care which portion of their name they were titled/ Probably because, if Adeline had recalled correctly, all their drunken sort of exploits ended up with at the very least their pants off. Sometimes their shirts. Though the shirts were always optional, but always a welcomed sort of plus. Julian did have a nice body, after all, and Adeline hadn’t so much minded oggling that young man.

Whatever, though, Adeline is pretty sure Julian wouldn’t hit her simply for calling him by his first name.

“We both know I’m about as classy as it gets, Moore,” Adeline points out with a wry grin, “So I say we fuck the restaurant and lets get something to drink.” If they got hungry the two of them could always find some sort of street vendor with that greasy sort of food, which could soak up any sort of morning-after illness, or it would simply bring on the sickness all the quicker. It was certainly a coin toss with those foods. “Any place in mind?” Addi asks of him.

If Adeline knew men, and she does know men pretty well, she’d be willing to bet that he didn’t have a joint in mind. Still, she finds herself brushing back dark hair and fumbling to keep up with the press of his hand on the small of her back, “I want a girly drink,” she muses aloud. How long had it been since she’d last had a mixed drink? Ages it seemed. When she was around men she drank what they drank.

Suddenly it occurs to Adeline that she has very few female friends, and perhaps the only potential female friend she’d met had been deleted from her phone’s database not eve ten minutes ago.

Men suited her better, anyway.

“Maybe not,” Adeline finally confesses before shaking off that thought, “how have things been going for you?” Adeline asks of him. It truly had been ages since the two had last come in contact.

[Moore]

"Language, Miss Graham."

Yeah, what did Moore care about language? He cared very little and that's the truth to say the very least. He drank as hard as any other and cursed like a sailor too. That, and he came from a harsh background where swearing was done like second nature. It wasn't something uncommon but his mother certainly didn't appreciate such foul oaths uttered within her own homestead. So, yes, Moore did know a semblance of care with the words that were tossed around with ease.

"Mm, we can head to the Owl and Thistle. It's a decent pub. I've been there a few times so far!" Yeah, and the last time had been with him drunk off of his ass when he had met a certain man by the name of Derrick and a certain woman by the name of Piper. It had been a brief encounter though and nothing beyond that. He wouldn't call such entirely unmemorable though.

So, maybe Moore would surprise her when he did offer her up an establishment that the two may venture to. He even pinches an eye shut within thought as he gauges the distance from here to there. They would be able to walk that easily enough or so he decides. He says as much as his hand smooths along the small of her back to guide her forth.

"Let's walk. Ah, a girly drink, Adeline? You never seemed the type!" He states with a laugh and wrinkle of his nose. Yeah, she really didn't. After all, she was rather a tomboy more than anything else and rather amusing alongside men. He could hardly picture her being the "girly girl." Her query, though, was what put a hitch within their current conversation. It wasn't too horrid though.

"The truth? Honestly, things have been well. They have been looking pretty up since someone has been helping me onto my feet." It's a confession but he doesn't say much else; after all, what he was doing wasn't entirely honest work whatsoever. He was doing rather illegal things; beating men half to death with his bare knuckles. That, though, never stopped him.

"I feel like my old self now," he confesses. Isn't that the truth? Ha! "What about yourself?" He shows a semblance of genuine interest in her then and there. Who could blame him? He smiles wide and pinches an eye shut. "Any video game circuits?" He questions with a perk of his brow albeit he hardly knew how that worked. Then again, she probably hardly knew how fighting worked. Especially more so the illegal kind.

[Adeline]

“Yes, Mister Moore,” Adeline sighs out in a grumble, sounding all too exasperated. No one was really a fan of being scolded, especially Adeline, and even moreso when it was for such a silly thing. Then again, cussing seemed to be a big deal in some households. When Adeline and her father had lived alone, their’s wasn’t one of them. Hell, where did Julian think she’d learned how to cuss?

Owl and Thistle. So they walk, and Adeline is by no means pressed to keep up with him, especially in those going-out heels she’d pulled on before taking those first steps out of her door. And if there was one thing that seemed to be impossible - not to mention painful - it was running in high heels. Though it would seem Julian was merciful tonight, even if unbeknownst to him.

All was good with him, or so it seemed, and that was truly good to hear. After all, tonight hadn’t been the best of nights for Miss Graham, and things seemed to be looking up, if even a slight. “I’m glad,” Adeline echoes her thoughts, “Suppose you’re all three-piece suits, and beating women off with sticks, now,” Addi teases him, offering up a warming sort of grin.

But what of her? Was she back into gaming? Perhaps this question best be avoided. Would Julian mock her for taking that step down in the world? Maybe not, after all, Moore himself seemed to have fallen on his ass, albeit temporarily. Still, Adeline had proved time and again that she could hang with the boys, and boys seemed to be notoriously ruthless with one another, even if they were simply teasing. Still, Adeline was, in fact, a woman and as such, Adeline was prone to having her feelings hurt.

Still, Adeline’s sure she’ll have a worse time if she doesn’t answer, “Nah,” she confesses with a purse to her soft lips and a crinkle to the bridge of her nose those freckles of hers scrunching generously, “I think I’ve sort of taken a step back in life,” she finally confesses, lifting a hand to finger through her hair almost awkwardly, “I work at a fuc-- a frickin’ game stop now,” she grumbles, gaze shifting to peer downwards in an almost shy manner. Embarrassment is the word for it.

Adeline lifts her shoulders to a lazy sort of shrug, though her downfall weren’t any sort of big deal. It wasn’t.

[Moore]

"I wouldn't go that far, Adeline, but I'm definitely more well off than I was before." It's a confession to say the very least. Rhiannon had been part of the reason for that as she had connected him back with fighting more properly and had begun to create the firm backbone that Shamus had once been for him. It was more professional than anything but that's not to say that he and Rhiannon weren't close. They needed to be for anything to work. It had been the same with Shamus, who had been much like a father to him; most trainers were to fighters, truly.

Yeah, he wasn't beating off women with sticks but that's not to say he wasn't getting attention. The problem with women now, though, was the fact Rhiannon was there and despite her small size, she was as vicious as a snake whenever other women drew near. It didn't matter to him though, to say the very least, Moore could last without touching a woman. In fact, he had done that often enough within his youth. The truth was, was that a fighter was more pure without the release of sexual tension, but damn, Moore nigh demanded that eventually.

It wasn't long until Adeline was confessing that she worked at a Gamestop. He hadn't ever been to one but he had seen the stores. So, she had taken a step back within her life and he felt sympathy for her. He had been there; in fact, he had been there only a few months beforehand until Rhiannon had stepped back within his life and struck him back in line. He frowns somewhat. "Maybe things will come together, eh? You never know when there can be a tournament of some sort. They still hold those, right?" Yeah, they did. Major League Gaming. It was most likely more lively than boxing was nowadays, especially with the sudden popularity of mixed martial arts.

"Well, the Owl and Thistle doesn't have any games, but I think they might have a billiards table if I last recall. Anyway, you may be able to beat me at a game, but definitely not at that," he says simply and grins down at her with a sidelong glance. "What do ya say?" He asks of her with a raised brow. He was undoubtedly attempting to cheer up her and bring some semblance of joy within the moment. Who could blame him? No one really enjoyed working retail. Not that he had ever been legitimately apart of retail, but he could still sympathetize to an extent.

It wasn't long until the Owl and Thistle came into view though, and so lovely did she look standing out upon a clean street corner with the curb empty of any vehicles besides the passing taxi cabs that were undoubtedly awaiting for drunken patrons to stumble on out. Moore sets a hand upon the small of Adeline's back and he leads her forth to the door, and within moments he pushed such open and led her within to become one with the thrumming sound of music, pounding hands and feet, and the cries of men and women over the din talking loudly and singing.

The Owl and Thistle was alive and they were apart of it.

[Adeline]

“I dunno,” Adeline utters quickly when he speaks of those open tournaments. Of course Adeline knew about those tournaments, and of course she knew that more often than not open ones were still held so anybody may whittle their way to the top. One of the dew nice things about gaming is a geek is a geek is a geek, no matter how famous you got, and it seemed that all was still at least somewhat equal. Still, it was obvious Adeline didn’t wish to speak on this topic any longer.

There was no need to dwell on something which she was no longer a part of, and probably wouldn’t be a part of for the rest of her life. She’d be fine, though, though at the moment Moore seemed to unintentionally be poking at an open wound. Though there was no room for Miss Graham to be upset with much of anything, throughout her time spent with Julian she’d shown very little in the way of vulnerability, and she knew more often than not, she was viewed as some sort of a tom boy. And boy’s don’t cry, especially over video games.

Quietly Adeline pulls herself up and out of that imaginary gutter which she seemed to oh so willingly have thrown herself into, “I don’t think I can beat you at that, Julian,” Adeline assures him, “I’m not that coordinated,” and with that statement came an almost grand and flailing gesture, though somehow that may display her lack of coordination. Perhaps had she fallen down, it would have, though more than likely it simply made her look like some sort of moron. Adeline didn’t care, though. She’s pretty sure there’s nothing sacred between the two of them anyway.

“Of course that’s not to say I won’t give it a go,” she reasons thereafter, pinching a single dark eye shut.

And then they were there, and within the thick of it all, and there’s no doubt in Adeline’s mind why she doesn’t frequent pubs alone any longer, it was simply a cesspool of uncertainty. Still, she should probably get out more often, maybe start hanging out in the grocery store, to pick up some recent divorcee who’s buying about twenty too many frozen dinners.

“You’re buying, right?” she asks of him, then, one of those easy smiles taking form upon those soft lips of hers, all the while those small hands of hers tuck within the confines of her pockets with an attempt at a coaxing little bat to her lashes. How could he possibly deny her? Adeline, of all people!

Adeline presses easily on his side then, half avoiding the touch of others, and half seeking that familiar scent of his.