Margot Greene

"Live Your Life To The Fullest." - Margot Greene, resident Wild Child.

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Homecoming - Roni & Margot

[ashesofrobinjrmills-blog]

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Roni quietly snorted to herself as she finished stirring the eggs. Margot gave her mother a five minutes conversation? Roni put her money on five seconds. God… Kelly really messed up her mind that she was now thinking all those horrible things on the one person who once was the best friend she ever had. But seeing her again, hearing exactly what she thought of her and her life decisions only reminded Roni why they went on their separate ways. And, honestly, she was better off without her now. Having Kelly back in the Heights might be harder than she expected.

“If things go too wrong, you can always blame me, kid,” Roni joked, reaching for a plate and cutlery before serving Margot with her food. She wasn’t totally joking though, part of her was serious enough. It was a win-win situation, wasn’t it? Kelly already hated her and blamed her for Margot’s departure, nothing would change that, and Roni knew Margot was a good kid who still loved her despite her mother. Surely she could put on a little show for her mother if it came to this.

Leaning against the counter, she looked at the girl and smiled. “And now that we got one problem solved with some food,” she said, “Do you want anything else? Is there anything else that you need?” Roni asked, implying she wasn’t talking about just the food anymore. She had a feeling there was more going on than what Margot let on, so Roni intended to make it perfectly clear that whatever she needed, Margot could count on her.

Margot laughed lightly. “Thanks, Roni. It’s always nice having a scapegoat on hand.” She nudged her playfully with her elbow. “But honestly, I wouldn’t want to use you like that. I never liked lying to mum, even when I did, so if it comes down to it then I’ll just lay it out straight for her. She needs to cool it and step off or I might be leaving for good next time.” That was all rubbish. Margot didn’t have anywhere to go and any threats were all empty. But her mother didn’t need to know any of that.

As Roni handed her the finished meal, Margot didn’t hesitate to dig in. She was starving and barely paused to chew properly. Was it just her imagination or was Roni’s cooking even better than when she last had some of it? It had been a while but seriously, this meal was delicious!

When Roni suddenly asked her if she wanted or needed anything else, Margot paused mid bite. She swallowed what was left in her mouth and suddenly no longer felt quite as hungry as she had. She lowered his fork and stirred the rest of her meal slowly in silence, mixing it together and playing with it. After a second she shyly shrugged.

“Well...” She started nervously. She really didn’t want to inconvenience Roni any further than she already had but she was pretty desperate.

[saviorinashes-blog]

Those Diner Days || OPEN

“There’s no cheese on these fries!”

Odette sighs, eyes screwing shut and fist balling at her side as she resists the urge to pinch the bridge of her nose. Or punch the guy in his, she’s really not picky. “Seriously?” she mutters under her breath.

This man didn’t ask for cheese on his fries. She knows this for a fact. She knows this because she has an excellent memory and an even greater ability to tell when she’s being lied to. But she doesn’t say any of that. She’s pretty sure The Wonderful Wizard that runs the Emerald Diner wouldn’t approve, and she can’t exactly risk pissing off management.

So, instead, she settles on a, “Right,” and “Coming right up.” Somehow managing to keep herself from rolling her eyes. It’s a feat. She might reward herself with her own order of cheese fries later.

Plate of fries in hand, she makes her way back to the kitchen window, sliding it towards the chef. “Need cheese on these fries.”

“But that wasn’t the order!” she hears called from the back.

“I know,” she sighs.

“Smile,” The Wizard (okay, that’s probably not his actual name, but it is what she calls him in her head to keep herself sane) reminds from over her shoulder, pointing at his cheeks as he demonstrates a smile that actually more resembles a sneer. In return, Odette flashes him an overtly fake smile, and that seems to be good enough because he offers a thumbs up before turning away. Awesome.

“Order up!” The fries appear by her side again, this time with cheese, and  Odette manages to offer the cook a small genuine smile of thanks before picking up the order.

“Here goes nothing.” If he tells her he ordered gravy, she might just rage quit. But when she returns to the counter… Mr. Cheese fries is gone. Not even leaving a tip for her time in his wake. Asshole. 

“Oh come on,” she sighs, glaring down at the order of fries for a long moment. Her expression softens as she lifts her head to regard the person only other person at the counter, sitting just three stools away. “Cheese fries?” she asks, gesturing from the plate to the patron. No reason they should go to waste, right?

[ashesofrobinjrmills-blog]

When Margot entered the diner that morning, she had spent the first few minutes trying to figure out if this place was new or if she’d just never visited it before leaving the Heights. In the end she was still puzzling it as her hands reached automatically for her phone only to stop when she remembered it was busted and tossed in with the rest of Roni’s rubbish. She needed to find an electronic store and get it replaced soon. She also needed to figure out a way to send her number to her mother, Roni and... Well just them two. Everyone else could get stuffed for all she cared. If it weren’t for the fact that she had no idea her mother or Roni’s numbers off by heart (curse technology for being so good you didn’t need to remember numbers any more), she might have thought it was a good thing to lose her old phone like that.

At least a certain someone couldn’t bother her any more. Then again, she thought as she took a seat on the closest stool to continue her deep thought, they hadn’t really tried contacting her for a few days now. Maybe they had finally given up and were just going to let her be. God Margot hoped it was true. The last thing she needed was for them to come stalking her here and causing more trouble than they already had in the past.

At that moment her thoughts were interrupted by the waitress. She was a pretty blonde woman that Margot had never encountered before - did that mean this place was new or just the staff? For a moment she stared at her blankly before Margot realised she was offering her the food. Instantly Margot’s stomach gave the slightest rumble, as if daring her to refuse.

“Uh. How much?” Margot asked. Because damn they looked tasty. But the money she had borrowed from Roni was already running thin after she had brought herself a new - more appropriate - wardrobe for the breezy weather. As it was, she was already trying to figure out if she could afford a new phone or a new pair of shoes for work. At least until her shifts at Roni started putting some notes in her pocket again for both.

[regularqueenroni]

Homecoming - Roni & Margot

[ashesofrobinjrmills-blog]

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Cracking the eggs open and into the pan, Roni started to prepare the meal. It’s been years since she cooked for anyone but herself, and even then, she mostly lived on alcohol and junk. It was a nice change to have Margot back there again, it almost felt like the good old times.

Well, almost, given the fact that back in the good days, Roni and Kelly were nearly inseparable.

Speaking of her ex-best friend, Margot’s question had caught Roni unprepared.

“Well, your mom still blames me for everything that goes wrong in her life even today, as expected, so I’d say she’s doing really great,” Roni couldn’t help but blurt, not because she was angry with Margot for the question but because she was still full of rage and raw emotions after her meeting with Kelly. And now, being asked how the woman was doing…

Oh, damn. That really was an inappropriate answer, wasn’t it…? Roni looked up from the frying pan at Margot. Even after the mother and daughter fallout, the girl was still genuinely concerned about her. And of course she would be, Margot was a good kid, better than she’d ever been. Once Roni decided to cut all contacts with her own family all those years ago and travel around, she never looked back again.

Clearing her throat, the nearly-burned eggs brought Roni’s attention back to the pan and she stirred them for a few moments longer before she spoke again. “She misses you. That’s the one thing I’m sure about.”

At Roni’s outburst Margot felt herself grow quiet and stared silently down at the food in front of her, rolling some of it between her hands. Some years ago she probably would have joined in, laughing at her mothers expense and thriving off of all the memories of how annoying and smothering she was and how she just needed to lay off them both. In fact she probably said some of the nastiest things when she and Roni had a few drinks and really got going... But things were somehow different now.

Maybe it was her time away. Maybe she was romanticising a lot of her life under her mother because part of her had forgotten how bad it could be but she felt a sudden weight leaning down on her and it didn’t feel right to join in on the usual mother bashing like she normally would. The truth was, she didn’t even know why she had brought her up again. Especially when she knew how hard it was for Roni. As much as Margot truly loved her mother, the fact that she always gave Roni a hard time for her problems was pretty clear even to Margot before she left. And it was unfair too, considering how lovely Roni was all the time. Unlike her own mother, Roni actually listened to Margot and even understood some of her feelings of being restless and irritable. She helped her work through them and gave her the idea to travel to find her true self!

Then again... Look how well that turned out. Maybe if Margot had just listened to her mother then things would have turned out differently. Maybe...

No. Margot was not going to do that. She was not going to regret the life choices that she had made or the things she had seen and done. That was one of the few things Margot had always promised herself. To never second guess her choices because she couldn’t undo them once they were made and there was no point crying over the past when there was so much future to look forward to.

“Yeah well, I’ll see her soon enough.” Margot said, shrugging and not admitting the truth. That she missed her mother to. “Then we’ll see how much she misses me after we’ve had a five minute conversation with one another.” Margot doubt anyone would be unable to guess how that would end.

[regularqueenroni]

Homecoming - Roni & Margot

[ashesofrobinjrmills-blog]

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Roni didn’t turn back to see Margot’s reaction to the news she just broke to her. She knew it mustn’t be easy to hear that she, of all people, almost gave in to Belfrey but the bar owner was dead serious about her intentions not to let that woman, or anyone else, bully her again.

As she entered the kitchen, Roni grabbed a big trash bag and threw away the empty bottles she was holding. Margot had already joined her, she just noticed, and thank God she didn’t seem to bother with any more questions about the Belfrey issue.

“Uh, yeah, come here,” Roni replied, placing the empty tray down on the counter before she headed for the fridge. “I’ll fix you some eggs, but take a look and see if there’s anything else you’d like,” she said as she took out two eggs—the last ones in her fridge. She really needed to order more groceries. “I just got my vegetables supply this morning, fresh and tasty, you should have some.”

Margot grinned at her before she wandered over and began looking over what Roni had to offer. She was absolutely starving, but almost to the point where she didn’t feel like eating any more and that left her feeling almost sick.

However she was never not one to take advantage when people offered her anything in life and so quickly picked out some fresh pieces that Roni had more of than others. After all, even when she took advantage, she wasn’t going to go crazy on a friends kind offer. Especially while she still had no money to pay her back for it.

Yeah, Margot was going to do her best not to think about that right now. If she did then she probably really would be sick from the nerves knotting inside of her.

Instead she glanced around the room, thinking at how long it had been since she had been anywhere near here. It was still so strange being back again. After all this time, after so long of travelling from one place to another...

“Roni... How is mum? Like, how is she really? I mean... I dunno.” Margot sighed. She felt the start of a headache throbbing along her temple.

[leiandcharles]

[regularqueenroni]

Homecoming - Roni & Margot

[ashesofrobinjrmills-blog]

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Despite her attempt to keep a serious face and make sure her request was clear enough, Roni couldn’t contain the smile as Margot laughed in relief. She was clearly nervous to hear she wanted to lay out a condition in order for her to stay, and maybe the nerves were justified—the bartender could truly be strict when necessary, but not now. Not when the sweetest kid she’d known for such a long time needed her.

Margot’s promise to pay back for everything in return wasn’t such an unreasonable idea. She didn’t want to put any pressure on the girl or give her a specific time frame for that and quite honestly, Roni was more than willing to provide her with everything she needed for now. But Margot wasn’t the only one who knew better than to argue—Roni knew better than trying that with Margot as well, so she kept her mouth shut and simply nodded her approval. The girl just agreed to stay with her for an unknown period of time, and Roni would totally take that win right now.

At the mention of Belfrey, Roni tensed. “Good ol’ Belfrey, eh? Actually, you’re not too far from the truth, I… nearly did,” her voice lowered as she admitted it out loud, feeling such shame and self-hate for what nearly happened the night she almost sold the place to Victoria. “But there’s nothing to worry about, because I won’t let her bully me around anymore so I guess you’re stuck with me,” she winked. That was as much as Roni was willing to provide right now. She wasn’t going to tell Margot about her little secret mission to take down the woman. The less she knew, the better.

“Anyway,” she said, attempting to avoid any further interrogation about Belfrey. “Let’s get you some food, yeah?” Roni picked up the tray filled with empty bottles she gathered up before and started to head for the kitchen.

When Roni mentioned how she nearly sold the bar to Belfrey, Margot was left speechless. Had she had a drink in hand or in her mouth, she would have spat it all over the counter top in shock. Despite saying she was worried about it, Margot had never truly believed that Roni would ever even think about selling her bar to that itch with a B. Margot couldn’t help but be thankful that it was only a ‘nearly’ but she still found herself feeling strangely uneasy by the idea at the same time. If Belfrey could get to Roni...

As Roni made her way into the kitchen, Margot left her bags behind and followed her. She hovered by the doorway, unsure if she should help or just pull herself onto a nearby counter and watch her in silence. It had been ages since she had let someone else cook for her but she didn’t want to appear rude and stuck up by making Roni do it by herself.

“Is there anything I can do?” She asked finally, walking up to her.

[regularqueenroni]

Homecoming - Roni & Margot

[ashesofrobinjrmills-blog]

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“That’s what I thought,” Roni teased the girl after her empty stomach basically spoke for itself. Any other person would probably suggest food before putting any alcohol into the system but Roni wasn’t just any other person. And by the looks of it, Margot really needed that shot. It was more than just her mother, she could tell, and maybe whatever was weighing on her mind explained her sudden reappearance in town but Roni didn’t try to pry. Margot knew she could trust her and Roni had to trust her in return. She’d stay out of it until Margot was ready to approach her.

Roni patted Margot’s arm with a smile before she gathered up a few empty bottles and glasses from the countertop into a tray. She was about to head into the kitchen to get the food done when Margot leaned over the counter like she was about to ask for something, and Roni could basically hear the question before it was even asked.

Honestly, if Margot hadn’t asked for it first, she eventually would have offered it herself.

A smile spread over her lips again and Roni’s reply was almost immediate, not having to think about it for even a split second. “You don’t even have to ask, kid,” she said, before her face quickly wore a serious expression. “But,” Roni leaned against the counter so she could be at eye level with the girl. “I have one condition.” She held Margot’s gaze for a few moments, wanting to make sure she understood she wouldn’t take no for an answer. “You are not leaving at such an ungodly hour, not tomorrow and not even the next day. Crash with me for as long as you need, alright?”

When Roni had said there was a condition to her being able to stay, Margot’s heart did a little leap in her chest. She felt her body tense and prepared herself for the worst - though she wasn’t sure what the worst was at this point. After everything she had been through, all the crap she had endured, she found herself wondering if maybe things here had changed more than she realised.  People changed all the time, so it was possible that even those she thought she knew well had gone through their own crap since she had left town. Maybe Roni had to deal with her own stuff and it had made her a little stricter, maybe even tougher...

And then Roni laid out her deal for her and Margot let out a bright laugh. Both in relief and at herself for being stupid. She was letting her own nerves make her think the worst out of one of the best people. Of course Roni wasn’t like that. Nothing could make her anything other than the wonderful person that she so naturally was.

“Well, I know better than to argue with you,” Margot grinned at her. “It’s a deal. Thanks, Roni. I owe you big time. And I promise, I’ll pay you back for everything once I get back on my feet.” She sighed and sat back. “Things are probably gonna be crazy for the first few days. I admit, I was worried I was going to come back and find you had packed up and moved on, run out by Belfrey or someone.”

[regularqueenroni]

Homecoming - Roni & Margot

[ashesofrobinjrmills-blog]

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The girl’s mumble didn’t go unnoticed and by the way she quickly gulped down her drink, which normally would have been a good sign, Roni had a feeling she wasn’t in the mood for that drink, or any more of that, any longer. Shit. She really should have kept her mouth shut at least for now.

“If your mom is going to have someone’s head bitten off, it’s going to be mine. I think you’re safe,” she said, and well, she might have survived that first unpleasant meeting with Kelly but in an inconvenient turn of events, the former-friends were going to see each other around the gym now quite a lot. Or at least, until Roni managed to gather all the dirt she needed on Belfrey and get the hell out of there, never having to set foot in that dreadful place ever again. Until then, she could only hope she’d manage to avoid the hot-tempered redhead. Roni was pretty sure Kelly wasn’t joking when she threatened she might mistake her face with a punching bag.

Maybe she should talk to her mom, Margot, but ultimately, it was her own decision to make. They’ve both put it off for way too long, and seeing as both women were sticking around for a while (at least, she hoped Margot wasn’t going to leave again too soon,) it would surely make things less stressful for the girl. And maybe Kelly would calm the hell down as well.

Roni still felt pretty awful at her failed welcome back greeting, so she inched closer, leaning against the bar. “Hey, look,” she placed her palm over Margot’s arm and gave her a warm smile. “Why don’t we forget about that right now and I’ll fix you something to eat, hmm?”

Margot was lost in thought - wondering what an encounter with her mother would really be like and worrying news of what she’d been up to would reach her before she could explain herself, no doubt making things worse for them - when Roni offered to make her something to eat. As if in answer to the question, her stomach let out a loud grumble and groan that echoed in the silence and Margot blushed, resting a hand over her stomach and smiling shyly. It seemed she wasn’t thirsty but she sure could do with a meal. When was the last time she ate anything proper?

“That would be lovely, thanks!” Margot beamed.

After that she fell quiet for a moment, looking down at her bags at her feet and rolling her eyes at the mess of them. She really might as well just get rid of the lot and start afresh. But if she was going to do that she was going to need some money, and if she was going to get money then she was going to need a job from someone willing to pay her.

If Margot could, she’d love to have her dream job back and return to working in this very bar. But how could she just bring that request up out of the blue? That would make her seem so selfish. It would make it seem like she was just coming to see her to get her old job back and that wasn’t true. She came to see Roni because she missed her.

So instead of asking about that, Margot leaned forward on the counter. “Roni, I’m so glad to see you again but I need to ask a favour... It’s late and I want to prepare myself for seeing mum again, so do you think I could crash with you tonight? Just for tonight. I’ll get going tomorrow, crack of dawn, I promise.”

[ashesofrobinjrmills-blog]

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[ashesofrobinjrmills-blog]

Homecoming - Roni & Chloe

[ashesofrobinjrmills-blog]

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Roni snorted at Lo’s dramatic reply about her love life. It was nice to know the girl cared for her and wanted her to be happy. Truthfully though, Roni didn’t need a partner for that. She had her bar, her friends, and… disregarding Belfrey (could she get off her back for just one second?), Roni was happy and satisfied with her life, despite the tough bumps she managed to leave in the past.

Not that she was going to object it if the opportunity ever knocked on her door. Roni wasn’t totally against the idea to find love again, but she wasn’t particularly looking for it.

At the mention of Kelly, Chloe’s face fell at once and she set the untouched alcohol back on the counter. Damn. Great one, Roni. She had to go there and ruin a perfect reunion… She could punch herself!

“Oh God, I totally blew the moment, didn’t I?” she grunted. “I’m sorry, Lo. I thought it’s best to just drop the bomb and let you hear it from me before you two clash.”

Maybe it wasn’t completely appropriate to come between the mother and daughter like this, not when they had the chance to patch things up, but despite what her ex-friend might think now, Roni truly cared for Lo. Kelly was like her own sister once, back before it all went to hell, and it surely felt like Roni was Chloe’s fun Auntie at times. But there was also a deeper connection than that… almost maternal, and the need to love and protect that girl was always strong, for as long as she could remember.

And it all just made Kelly’s words from their last meeting stung even more—calling Roni irresponsible and undeserving of her own child, without truly knowing the hell she’d been through when she tried to adopt before.

“No, it’s fine.” Lo said quickly. “I’m glad you told me. Like you said, I’d rather hear it from you than run into her on the streets unexpectedly. That would cause quite a scene, I’m sure. At least this way I can prepare myself.” She lowered her voice and mumbled; “Get ready to have my head bitten off. And that’s if I’m lucky.”

Suddenly she didn’t want to have a drink at all. Her stomach was knotted as she thought of what her mother would say once she saw her again. At best she would just tell her off for not staying in contact, but at worse she would give her a right screaming in the middle of the street and go on and on even if Lo tried to stop her. If Lo wasn’t still so annoyed with her mothers attitude, she might have admitted that she could have called her once or twice in between her travels, but at the same time, she knew how any of those phone calls would end. And it wouldn’t be with ‘I Love Yous’.

Lo forced herself to throw back her drink quickly. She really didn’t want it, but she felt if she ignored it, considering it was Roni who had gotten it for her. She didn’t want to let her mother ruin her good time with an old friend. Even if, now, she began replaying possible scenarios in her head and making herself feel sick with nerves.

“Maybe I should go to her...” Lo said quietly. “Just get it over and done with...”

Ugh, she was not looking forward to that. She also wasn’t sure how she was going to explain to her mother that she was currently broke and homeless. Though, if she had any luck, then she might be able to avoid telling her anything. It could be a quick get in, say hi, get out kind of situation if Lo minded herself.

[ashesofrobinjrmills-blog]

Homecoming - Roni & Chloe

[ashesofrobinjrmills-blog]

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Picking up the nearest tequila bottle, Roni smiled as she listened to Chloe gushing over her travelling experience and she was truly happy for the girl. She remembered what it was like, those days before she decided to settle in Hyperion Heights; the adventures, the freedom—Roni loved the life she built for herself here, but she had to admit, no feeling could ever match it. And seeing Chloe so cheerful like this, she knew she’d made the right decision by encouraging her to do so. Even if it costed Roni her best friend.

Speaking of her ex-best friend, she should probably tell Chloe her mother was around. Roni knew how tensed their relationship was and it would be better if it came from her before she ran into the woman in the middle of the street.

It was good to hear Chloe enjoyed being back home, though. Roni missed the sweet and cheeky girl more than she could possibly know. “I’ve missed you too, kid, but don’t push your luck with interrogations about my love life,” she laughed as she poured the alcohol into their glasses. Except for once, long before she even came to town, her love life had been nothing more than one mistake after the other. At least on that matter, Chloe hadn’t missed a thing.

As for town… sometimes it felt as if not much had changed since Chloe left and yet, everything had. The community was changing, and not thanks to Victoria Belfrey, who was now desperately trying to get hold of her bar—her home, but none of it seemed to matter right now. Roni didn’t want Chloe to worry about her or the business. She’d find a way to handle Victoria with the help of Detective Rogers and the newcomer kid, Henry.

“I, uh… actually… had a run-in with your mother the other day,” Roni let out a tight smile, picked up her glass and sighed. “Apparently, she’s back in town and you can probably imagine just how well that meeting went,” rolling her eyes, she downed her shot.

Lo beamed at Roni as she poured the drinks, leaning against the side of the counter and laughing at the way she dodged the question about her love life. It was a real shame, since Roni was such a lovely and fun person. She really did deserve someone special in her life. Someone who could make her as happy as she always made everyone else. Lo made a mental note to encourage her to go out and meet some new people while she was here. Maybe Lo could even join her. It had been a while since she had had a date of her own. She was getting rusty and even if they didn’t meet people, it might be nice to have a night on the town...

Ugh, no. Well, maybe one day, but for now Lo still needed to settle down. She still didn’t have a place to stay, or any money for going out. She needed to stop and take things easy, at least until she was settled and was comfortably back on her feet again.

“Shame,” Lo tutted dramatically, still grinning as she accepted her glass. “Such a waste.”

It really did feel like old times. Sitting here with Roni in her bar. Empty apart from the two of them so with all the privacy they’d ever want. Man, Lo really did miss this place. Not nearly as much as she missed Roni, but she’d be lying if she said she didn’t enjoy being back in a familiar setting. Lo started to raise her glass in a ‘cheers’ gesture, wishing she could live in this moment for as long as possible.

And then the moment was ruined.

“Oh.” Lo mumbled, setting her drink back down on the counter, untouched. She’d assumed her mother was still out of the Heights which was why she was so confident about coming back. Lo though she wouldn’t want to come back, that she’d be happy just doing her own thing and being a complete and utter bore with whatever poor sod she managed to get her hands on. “Yeah, I can imagine.” Lo grumbled. She remembered the last time she’d been present around the two of them. Her mother seemed to blame Roni for every decision Lo made, like the younger girl was incapable of thinking for herself. Though she did wonder what they could argue about when Lo was no longer around to be an available excuse.

Well that just went and ruined her happy homecoming.

[andheyfordavyjones]

I know what you’re thinking. Is the arrow really enchanted, or am I just that good? Though I may just be a middling witch, I seem to have a knack for this archery thing. Do you want to find out?

[ashesofrobinjrmills-blog]

Homecoming - Roni & Chloe

[ashesofrobinjrmills-blog]

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Roni looked down as Lo presented her the bags. A light shoulder bag, a plastic one which looked like it was about to rip apart any moment now, and a purse. The girl was carrying so little that Roni assumed the rest of her stuff were laying around somewhere, waiting to be picked up and she was ready to storm out of this door right now and get it for her.

For a moment, she thought Lo might be joking but then thinking about the days she herself used to move around on her own—she knew that carrying too much was always a hassle. At some point, you had to give up on something.

“You’re not joking, are you…” Roni sighed when the bags hit the floor loudly. She quickly took off her own leather jacket and wrapped it around Chloe, which left Roni with nothing but a thin tank, but right now, the girl needed it more than her.

Roni picked up the bags from the floor and headed behind the bar. “We’ll have to get you some clothes later,” she said as she sorted everything in a safe place while Chloe got the chance to warm up and catch up with the bartender. She took out two glasses and put them on the counter, where an empty seat in front of her was waiting for Chloe.

“For now, I want to hear everything! How are you?”

Part of Lo wanted to be honourable and insist that she give the jacket back - it didn’t seem fair that Roni should be cold in her place - but a bigger part of Lo was damp and cold and tired. So she accepted the jacket with a grateful smile, doing it up tightly over her and sitting down, hunching over slightly and wishing she could pull her legs up onto the seat with her but she was just so tired and didn’t want to risk face planting it if she lost her balance. Especially not in front of Roni.

She didn’t mention to Roni that she had no money for clothes. If she was careful, maybe she could get a job and save up enough that Roni would have no idea how close Lo came to being truly desperate. For some reason, it just meant a lot that Roni thought she was as cool and well put together as she always thought Roni was.

And then Roni asked to hear everything... Oh boy...

“Well, I’m good!” Lo said brightly.

It was only a half lie, really. She was doing good... Now at least. Or as good as someone in her situation could be doing but Roni didn’t need to hear the gory details about how truly and badly she had screwed up.

“I’m really good I just... Well, I’ve been exploring the world. Just like you told me!” She grinned at her excitedly. “You wouldn’t believe some of the things I’ve seen and the people I met! It’s been amazing. Honestly, getting away from mum and just doing my own thing was the greatest move of my life. I’ve never felt so free and... I mean, you know how they talk about how stress can cut your life in half? Well, at this rate, my life should be doubled!” Okay, her story was getting a little close to lying now and she tried to reel it in. “But I have to admit. It’s not bad being back here. Especially to see you. I’ve missed you so much, Roni.” She paused, glancing around the bar before looking back at the older woman. “Tell me about town. I mean, what’s changed since I’ve been gone? What’s new? How are you?” She leaned forward and grinned, cheekily. “Any changes to the old love life?”

[queenofglassbeliever]

The Mills Ladies and their names.

[ashesofrobinjrmills-blog]

Homecoming - Roni & Chloe

[ashesofrobinjrmills-blog]

regularqueenroni:

Even if Roni wanted to let go of the girl, she couldn’t, and that smile on her face lingered as Chloe kept her hands on her arms—a gesture which she gladly returned. The intensity of their embrace brought back old memories of the day Chloe left town with her mother. The poor girl was holding onto her as if her life depended on it then. And in a way, Roni supposed it truly was. Kelly was taking her daughter away from everything she knew and loved, away from her, without a second thought about how it could affect her.

Seeing Chloe so heartbroken that day still pained her.

“I’ve missed you too, look at you!” she exclaimed, taking a long moment to just observe her. She’d grown up so much since Roni last saw her and it nearly brought tears to her eyes. Having her back there felt like a family reunion of some sort. They weren’t related, granted, but the relationship and quick bond Roni and Chloe had formed surely felt like that.

Roni was about to make one of those corny comments on how grown up she was now (since when did she sound anything like an old aunt??) when she realized Chloe was standing there in a light silk top that had half cropped sleeves, and she was shaking.

Gazing out of the window, Roni saw the gloomy rainy skies outside. “You’re freezing, Lo! Come here,” she said, gently rubbing her palms against her arms as she lead Chloe away from the door and the stormy weather that was quickly approaching. “Where’s all your stuff? Do you want me to bring you some of your warmer clothes to change?”

Lo was still grinning when Roni noticed her very thin attire. She hadn’t noticed how badly she was still shaking but now she couldn’t keep from hunching into herself slightly in an attempt to stay warm, resisting the urge to wrap her arms around herself. Still, she was relieved when Roni began to lead her further into the bar and away from the door. Even shut, she still felt like she could feel the breeze running down the back of her neck meanwhile the bar felt like a hot sauna in comparison.

“Um,” Lo said, blushing slightly as she lifted the bags up for display. “This is all my stuff.”

In the end Lo had made the journey with a light brown shoulder bag her mother had gotten her for school that was currently stuffed with her night clothes and accessories, a plastic carrier bag that was mostly fallen to pieces in her hand and stuffed with the few day clothes she still owned, and a black shiny leather purse that held her phone with no battery life or charger, her empty purse, her small travelling make up bag, and a couple of magazines she had managed to pick up along the way.

“So uh, a jacket would be really nice, actually.” Lo nodded, dropping all of her bags onto the floor loudly. She didn’t care about anything inside. The only breakable was her phone and that was pretty useless at the moment anyway until she could get a charger, and even then it might not be chargeable any more.

But that was a worry for another time.

[ashesofrobinjrmills-blog]

Homecoming - Roni & Chloe

[ashesofrobinjrmills-blog]

regularqueenroni:

Busy days. Roni didn’t get much of those lately, and she was pretty sure a certain Belfrey ensured to keep it that way. Not that she cared. Of course, it meant less money but she’d finally stood up against Victoria Belfrey and told her to shove it. Some would say it wasn’t a very smart decision, but she was proud of it—it was probably the best decision she’d ever made, honestly.

Today had started as one of those typical slow days.

Roni was trying to keep herself busy around the place, walking back and forth from her storage into the keg room, and back behind the bar to get a few more shots when all she truly wanted was going out there and investigate, find anything against Belfrey.

At least the alcohol was good enough to dull her senses; enough to make her stop thinking about one redhead who was back in town… another person who’d do anything to make her life a living hell. Wonderful.

She just returned from the keg room, where Roni also had a few of her best vodkas hidden, was about to open and pour herself one of those extremely expensive bottles when she noticed the figure standing still next to the door.

“Oh my God,” she let out a quiet whisper, putting down the glass in her hand before Roni left the counter (and the few customers that were actually there, waiting to order.)

For a moment, she thought she was just too drunk (which was impossible. Her alcohol tolerance was much higher than that). She hasn’t seen this kid in years and there she was, right in front of her eyes. When that kind of unexpected surprise walked into her bar, maybe today would turn out to be even more bearable than she’d expected.

“Lo!” She quickly walked towards the girl with open arms and the biggest smile on her face. “Oh my God, it’s so good to see you!” Roni said as she wrapped her arms around the girl.

True, her relationship with Chloe’s mother had taken a bad turn when they last saw each other, but this kid always held a special place in her heart. And Roni had never, not even once, regretted taking Lo’s side and encouraging her to spread her wings and explore the world.

When Lo saw Roni walk in from the back, she felt herself burst into a grin. In fact she was smiling so much that he cheeks began to ache but she couldn’t stop, even more so when she saw the older woman’s lips move in a shocked whisper of surprise. She couldn’t quite make out what she said but she had a pretty good idea what it was about. And yeah, there was also a little feeling of relief that Roni as was still here and that Lo hadn’t walked in to find someone else now owned one of the happiest places of her life.

Lo laughed aloud when Roni rushed forward and hugged her and quickly returned the embrace, squeezing slightly and clinging on for longer than she would anyone else. Everything about her was so familiar and warm that she very nearly was on the verge of happy tears. And she was so reluctant to let go that even when she did, she keep a hand on Roni’s forearms, lightly keeping her from stepping too far away.

“It’s good to see you too, Roni.” Lo beamed. Her aching feet and the chills over her arms and legs were completely forgotten now. “I’ve missed you so much!”

Roni, like the rest of this place, didn’t look any different from when Lo had last seen her. That had been a pretty sorrowful day. Lo still remembered storming through the door and screaming about how her wicked mother was for forcing her to move out of the Heights just so she could keep her away from Roni and the bar she’d worked so hard to earn her place in. She’d gotten herself so worked up about it, close to smashing things when Roni finally helped to calm her down. Even so, when she had said her goodbyes she’d been more miserable than ever before, which made her all the more furious at her mother. Even now, after all this time had passed, Lo still felt a burning rage at the way her mother had tried to control her in the sneakiest of ways - like separating her from the people she cared about.

[ashesofrobinjrmills-blog]

Homecoming - Roni & Chloe

The rain was just beginning to fall when Lo made it to the bar. It felt like she had been walking for hours and her feet were killing her. She was looking forward to peeling them off and kicking back for the night but before that she was going to need to actually find a place. Years ago she and her mother had shared a home right here in town but Lo had no idea what had happened to it since they left. And money was a bit of an issue. She'd spent the last bits of change on her bus journey which meant she couldn't afford to pay for a hotel.

That was where Roni came in. Good old Roni. She'd been on Lo's side from the very beginning. In fact, most of Lo's life decisions had come from Roni one way or another. Roni had made her realise that an education was useless in todays world - all an employer wanted was experience - as well as pointing out just how much stress could kill years off your life. And you only have one. So might as well live like it.

That was Lo's new life moto now. Live Life To The Fullest. Because you only get once chance at it.

Yeah, Roni had always looked out for Lo and helped her. Lo just hoped she was still there. For all she knew, she could have packed up and left by now. Maybe gone to see the world like she had always encouraged Lo to, during their shifts together. Lo hoped not. It would really suck coming back here and being unable to find that familiar friendly face waiting.

Lo hesitated for just a second before she slipped inside through the door. She shivered slightly as she stepped in from the cold wind into the warm air. Not the first time did she feel very bitter about losing most of her wardrobe, which included almost all of her jackets, leaving her only in a silk summer top with half cropped sleeves. Well, a day of shopping was just another thing to add to the list. For now she looked around at the open space. Roni's was almost exactly as she remembered it. Despite her original resistance to come back, Lo felt herself smiling. Out of the whole town, this was the place she missed the most.