the cradle of humankind || james & queenie
Queenie had to leave home for a while, the lodgers and her parents were on mushrooms, and creepy Colin the nudist had been hanging around her, attempting to flirt his way into her bedroom. After that she’d grabbed her jacket and stormed out, heading somewhere uptown because she was fairly certain she wouldn’t run into anyone she knew there. The walk took a while, she’d slowed down the further she was from home, and soon she was stood outside some expensive buildings she could never afford. Still, she wanted to look and see what they went for, to see what ridiculous sum she would have to save to. Just as she was starting to get her phone out, a man spoke in her direction. Queenie looked behind her, thinking he was blocking the view of one of his friends but there was no one there. A little shocked, she looked back to him and nodded. “Yeah. You?” Queenie cringed, realising he wasn’t actually asking if she was alright, but that he was getting her attention, saying hello.
Hook cracked a grin as she answered him, but just nodded, taking a couple steps closer to her. “Yeah, I’m alright,” he took another drag before dropping it to the ground and toeing out the ember. “What’s your name?” He asked, and then, getting straight to the point, added, “And can I take you to dinner?” He watched her carefully, waiting to read her body language.