[Day 5 - LE] Honor your King (Social Thread)

[Tiffani]

Tiffani receives her drink from the bartender - a drink that has an evil red color to it as if putting a match to it would blow up the entire bar. She drops a few bills on the bar, takes a drink, and closes her eyes for a moment.

"I haven't had one of these since ... before." She tells Gray as if the cat-creature hadn't said anything at all. "Heh, some friends took me out for my Sweet Sixteen - I had one too many of these and I threw up all over the bar." Her eyes have a certain faraway look to them, a faint little smile on her face. "I never thought I'd live that down. I'm not so sure I ever did ..."

She blinks a few times, the distant look fading as she turns around and faces Gray directly, one hand on her drink, the other habitually pulling at a loose spiral of hair hanging over her forehead.

"Gray ... you know, I've never, you know ... been with anyone. At all. Ever. I don't mean just lovemaking, either. I mean ... at all. I have never been kissed, I've never been touched in any intimate way - and no, I've never even held hands with another guy. I know that might be too much information from someone you just met, but being pretty is no guarantee of finding someone - just as not being pretty is no guarantee that you won't."

She takes a deep breath and exhales with a slight tremor in her breathing. "I'm sorry ... I think it is I who insulted you ... even if neither of us realizes the insult. It wasn't you at all - and it certainly wasn't because of what you look like. No ... it's just that I'm rather used to bringing people together and, once I do, I suddenly find myself ignored. So, I just figured it would happen again."

[Gray]

"Heh. I know a little something about Arcadia messing up your teenage years." Gray chuckles to himself. "Imagine puberty, but doing it in the body of a cat. I'd say that it was awkward, but seeing myself start it, hah!" Gray shakes his head. Suddenly realizing that he's left something out. "Oh, She left a Fetch for my parents. My the guess, it's hitting about thirteen...maybe fourteen now"

Gray laps at his White Russian with his tongue before reaching over and gently nudging Tiffani's chin. "Well, if we both insulted each other without the other realizing it, I don't think there's anything for us to apologize for. But, come on? You...ignored?" Gray flashes a smile that betrays only a glimmer of hunger.

[Tiffani]

Tiffani takes a small sip of her drink, staring at it for a moment as if she could find the secrets of the universe at the bottom of her glass.

"Yep ... I got ignored all the time. I don't think it was deliberate, mind you. I was just ... how to put it .. just an oversight. I was everyone's big sister, confidant, crying shoulder, counselor, advisor, and go-to girl when someone had a secret they wanted to unload. But I was never anyone's love interest let alone girlfriend."

She feels the spot where Gray touched her chin, seeming dazed for a moment, before shrugging one of her dainty shoulders.

"All of that was ... you know ... before. I just don't want to be pigeon-holed into that role again, the person no one can date because everyone needs her for one thing or another."

She gives Gray a disarming little smile, however, and says, "But yeah, you're right ... I'm sure we can just put any potential insults behind us. I hate grudges, ya know? Ugly things ... "

But that smile drops away, her skin turning as white as a ghost. "Oh no ... Gray ... I haven't contacted my old family at all. They're back in England so when I ended up here, I just thought ... but ... my god, what if the Fae put a fetch in my place, too? I never even thought to find out!"

She looks positively scared out of her wits at just the thought of it, let alone if it were reality.

[Gray]

Nice going ya idjit. The water now thoroughly dousing that direction, Gray becomes Somber.

"Tiff. Tiffani." Gray offers a deep sigh. "A Fetch ain't the worst thing that can happen. Believe me, I've thought of going home. But...how do I explain? Being gone. Coming back. Why there's a me of the right age over there and here I am in late 30s at best. "

"And even if they did believe me, or believe a lie I tell...we're changed. And the more I hang around, the more I put them at risk." Gray tentatively reaches over to put a hand in her shoulder. "Not to say it can't be done. Jus'...dont run off half cocked on it."

Gray downs the rest of his drink and gestures the bartender to bring another round for the pair of them.

"Jesus, that got real o'clock. I think we need these"

[Tiffani]

Tiffani reaches up and puts her hand over Gray's. He can feel a slight tremor in her touch.

"Yeah ...I mean, I already decided to just let my family alone."

She wraps her fingers around the cold glass of the new drink with her other hand and takes a few sips, closes her eyes, and takes a couple of deep, calming breaths.

"And for the same reasons. Even if there wasn't a fetch involved, what can I do? Ring the doorbell and tell my parents that their 50 year-old daughter is back - except I'm still not a day over 18? Right ... that will go over swimmingly, I'll wager. They'll probably slam the door in my face. I've been gone for over three decades so ... yeah, I'm sure they've buried me by now. And there's a file somewhere with my name on it sitting in the cold case section of the local police department - disappeared without a trace and presumed dead."

Another couple of drinks.

"Are you going to that Autumn Court thinga-ma-jig out in the bayou?"

[Triss Bakowski]

TB just smiled at being recognized and then sipped her margarita too shy to actually say anything in the presence of Bowie and Craig and also a bit more tipsy than expected.

[Bowie]

Bowie just listened and then said, "Let the past go, it does no good to dig up old skeletons when they are best left buried. Just my thoughts."

[Gray]

Tiffani reaches up and puts her hand over Gray's. He can feel a slight tremor in her touch.

"Yeah ...I mean, I already decided to just let my family alone."

She wraps her fingers around the cold glass of the new drink with her other hand and takes a few sips, closes her eyes, and takes a couple of deep, calming breaths.

"And for the same reasons. Even if there wasn't a fetch involved, what can I do? Ring the doorbell and tell my parents that their 50 year-old daughter is back - except I'm still not a day over 18? Right ... that will go over swimmingly, I'll wager. They'll probably slam the door in my face. I've been gone for over three decades so ... yeah, I'm sure they've buried me by now. And there's a file somewhere with my name on it sitting in the cold case section of the local police department - disappeared without a trace and presumed dead."

Another couple of drinks.

"Are you going to that Autumn Court thinga-ma-jig out in the bayou?"

"You could...pretend to be your own daughter, I suppose." Gray muses. "I am sure that if you get some help around here you could dummy up something about how she...you, ran away, had youself, and you've spent all these years trying to track them down. I'm not saying it's easy, and it would mean living a lie, and all the other shit I mentioned before, but..."

Gray quirks into a smile. " We'd hate to lose you too soon. We've only just met you, and hell yes I'm going to the bayou later. I hope to see you there."

[Tiffani]

Tiffani just shakes her head.

"I hadn't thought of the idea of pretending to be my own daughter - but as you said, it would be living a lie. I would only be replacing one fetch with another, if you take my meaning."

She heard Bowie behind her, so she swiveled on her barstool so that both Gray and Bowie were in her field of view.

"Oh, hey there, Bowie. I do agree with you up to a point - but - that's not such an easy thing to do. To just leave the skeletons buried. Oh, I've already decided to do that, which is why I'm here now and making no attempt to return to England or contact anyone I used to know. In essence, I'm the buried skeleton and I'm allowing myself to stay in the ground ... metaphorically speaking."

Tiffani gives Bowie a wan little smile. "You can join us if you wish to," she says, jerking her head toward an empty bar stool.

Then, to Gray, she says, "Yeah, I'll be going. I'm not entirely sure, but I think it's there where I'll be officially made a member of the Autumn Court. At least, that was the implication I received from the king. I could be wrong, but ... eh, who knows. But I'll be there nonetheless. She looks at the watch on her wrist - opposite the wrist where she wears a silver charm bracelet with several dangling charms that tinkle softly when she moves.

And yes ... her watch is a Swatch Watch, a very trendy, popular brand during the 80's. What's more, her watch is a rare Kiki Picasso watch of which only 120 were made. If only she knew they are worth some $22,000 to a collector, but in 1985 when she bought hers for a measly 115 pounds, who knew they would become so valuable?

After checking the time on her rather valuable watch - not that it looks valuable - she says, "In fact, I should probably go soon since I want to stop back at Chantelle's place before heading to the bayou. But I will see you there if you're going."

She turns slightly to address Bowie. "Are you a member of the Autumn Court? I don't know who is who yet, but ... just wondering."

[Bowie]

"Just passing through for the celebration," he said honestly.

"Just a few days here in Minuit, sadly."