True Variety

Mumu associated with fortyhqs. Assortment of muses present. Pick your poison. Even the most ambitious and successful souls need a bit of R&R. And some are just trying to make a living.

[retiredvariety]

fatelincs​ / lizzie.

“Come now Alastair, if I wanted to stare you’d have never noticed I was here,” Lizzie teased gently but she knew that it was likely a sore spot for him. “I wanted to take my car out but I haven’t driven it since last time I was home and that was, oh god that’d have been July. I was hoping you’d give it a once over for me?”

maybe if they weren’t a constant remind of what he lost, they wouldn’t bother him so much. but they were there, every day, reminding him of the man that had marred his face and taken his family for his own. ❝ of course, lass. whatever ye need. ah’ll let a beauty like ye stare at me all day. ❞ the smile didn’t reach his eyes, but it was there, tugging at his scars as he moved from around the counter. ❝ would nae want ye runnin’ into trouble, love. ❞

[retiredvariety]

scarredelweiss​ / scarlett.

Well, well, well. Wasn’t this a surprising turn of events. Scarlett bit back her smirk before her bold gaze met the new general practitioner in town. However, not much about the tortured look on his face had changed from their last encounter so the woman raised an almost amused eyebrow at him. “From the looks of it, I should be asking you the same question,” she remarked lightly before taking a deep breath. “I’ve been experiencing neck pain and I hate it, I hate feeling weak.”

it took a moment to put a name to the face. plus, she wasn’t wearing nearly as much the last time he’d seen her. was it in miami? la? he’d had his practice in a few places, so it was hard to remember where it was that he’d seen her. but it was definitely good to see her again. he wondered if she’d be interested in a stroll down memory lane.   ❝ scarlett, right? we meet again. ❞ chuckling, he gave a slight shrug. ❝ i don’t think now’s the time to tell you all about my problems. maybe over a drink? ❞ at her complaint, he tilted his head and moved forward, reaching for the area in question. ❝ feels like tension. i can suggest a good chiropractor and some muscle relaxers to release the stiff muscles. you’ll feel better in no time, ❞ he explained, his hand lingering on her neck a little longer before he stepped away. ❝ though i legally can’t recommend mixing muscle relaxers with alcohol. perhaps dinner instead? ❞

[littlelottieofthevalley]

Location-The Cave Bar @fortyhqstarter​

Midge chuckled as she scrolled aimlessly through her feed, her petite Mary-Jane clad feet swinging back and forth under the barstool she was neatly perched upon. Today was just one of those days where Midge needed a tall drink of something in a lowkey environment. While she was normally inclined to go to Safe Haven, she felt that The Cave suited her current needs best. She’d been there for only about ten minutes or so, but it was rather slow, so Midge was determining whether or not to polish off her beverage and head home. Her decision was made, however, when someone came up to the bar a couple stools down from her. “I’ll get whatever they’re having,” Midge chirped politely as she waved to the bartender, “Just put it on my tab.” Turning to her new friend, she offered them a kind smile. “You look like you could use something as much as I do.”

[retiredvariety]

bars were his usual playground. moving back to florida, it was assumed he’d pick up his old practice in miami. but leaving his ex-wife in california, his most recent wife. . .it was better. it was better that he make the new life in elmerton. he had his son with him, his other two children grown and living their own lives. so his youngest, wesley, could grow up in a safer, smaller environment. what was most amusing was that the one child he did raise was the only one that wasn’t his. the blonde, pale, green-eyed child stood out next to him. but he never cared. from the time he knew his fling was pregnant, he’d been a father. as soon as the surprise wore off after he pulled wes from his mother, he’d decided to keep being his father. ❝ a lady after my heart. you buy all the single men around here a drink? ❞ he asked with a teasing smile as he sipped at the remaining liquid in his glass. ❝ i could. they found my wife’s body this morning. i’m flying her home to put her to rest. ❞ the reasons behind her demise were not his fault, at least not directly, but it was still a guilt that he carried. and it felt so weird to say. the stranger was the first person there he’d told but it was like he couldn’t stop the words from escaping. ❝ why are you drinking it all away? ❞

[sanguinecharm]

WHAT HAD LED HER TO RETURN , WITH A SENSE OF FINALITY HOVERING OVER HER HEAD ? SHE WASN’T SURE YET.

“ it’s a touch strange , being back in that place you half-grew up in … you know ? ” 

because cassie hadn’t been back in elmerton long ; she’d left when her high school group had went its separate ways , her homeland ( and oxford university ) calling her name , and she had made a career in london rather than returning to america ; she’d spent the past while familiarising herself with all the changes , unsure on her feet , thinking of the moment she’d have to confront people she used to know.

[retiredvariety]

❝ my sentiments exactly. ❞ josefine smiled slightly as she studied her old high school friend. it wasn’t as though she’d been back very long either. long enough to find some clients and friends, but it didn’t ease that loneliness within her. ❝ what’s brought you back, cassie? ❞ she wondered, head tilting. it’d been a long time since she’d seen the other woman and she wondered how the other had been holding up. the beauty was as she’d always been, striking and breath-taking. ❝ not to say that i’m not happy to see you. i am. ❞

[retiredvariety]

fatelincs​ / lizzie.

“Well then he’s an idiot and clearly needs to be taught the error of his ways.” Lizzie teased right back giving a small shrug at Kat’s words. She was about to say she hoped the life style change would continue when the glass was passed to her and she sipped at it instead. This lead her to choking slightly as she took in what Kat had just said. She should have known better than to come to her friend’s bar; the woman was far too observant for her own good. When she’d managed to sort herself out she straightened slightly. “12 weeks, but I swear Kat you can’t tell anyone. It’s too early and the last thing I want is the whole of fucking Elmerton knowing.”

❝ that’s my man you’re talking about, girlie. careful. but don’t worry, i’ll teach him when i get home. ❞ laughing, she winked at lizzie as she went back to tending the bar. that choke made kat feel bad for a moment, it wasn’t the reaction she’d wanted. and then she was glad that she wasn’t the one drinking anything because she would’ve been choking. ❝ holy shit. i thought you were in recovery. . . you’re pregnant? ❞ she hissed, her voice dropping at the last two words so no one could overhear. umber eyes widened as she took that information in. ❝ that why you’re here? what the fuck, lizzie? why didn’t you tell someone? you can’t go through this alone! dammit. you need a friend, now more than ever. ❞ kat paused to take a breath before looking curiously at her old friend. ❝ what about the father? ❞

[retiredvariety]

aaronstein​ / aaron.

“Wow, always so nice to see you, Chibs.” He teased the other man, walking inside the auto shop. “As much as I love coming her to hear that sexy accent of yours, my car ran out of gasoline a few miles from here, need to fill the jerrycan.”

the male’s words brought a laugh from the scot.  ❝ thought ye were another housewife lookin’ fer a freak ta ride. apron don’t suit ye, brother. ❞ sighing, he shook his head and motioned to the tow truck outside. ❝ can or the truck, yer choice. we’ll get ye runnin’ after the ladies again. ❞

[schemerville]

where: elmerton primary and elementary school

who: camellia + OPEN @fortyhqstarter​

Ever since Camellia became a mother, some of downtime activities became rather interesting. There were school trips to chaperone, extracurricular club events, fundraisers, charity events, and competitions to name a few. Today’s activity happens to be a paint project organized by her daughter’s high school. Camellia was not all too pleased at having been roped into this latest act of volunteerism, as she initially had other plans. Unfortunately, the Fashion Designer could not get out of this one, nor did she particularly want to. This mood shift was engineered by certain factors, well, namely one; her pride and joy– Mia. Her fifteen year old was the brains of the operation for today’s event. Weeks ago the art club that Mia is a member of  took her idea, which flourished into a creative initiative; the painting of a new mural at the Elmerton Primary and Elementary School. 

Camellia glanced down at her relaxed fit ensemble, only to huff at the state of her attire. “This is nuts! How is there more paint on me than on this wall?” Of course she was exaggerating, but for someone like Camellia who valued appearances above all, the few splotches of paint here were expected considering the task at hand. However, it’s totally out of character for miss prim and proper. Camellia’s complaint didn’t go unnoticed by her daughter who rolled her eyes, then promptly smirked to herself as she hatched a plan. 

Camellia yelped when a fresh splatter of paint landed on her. The action was quickly followed by snickering and then full-on laughter by the culprit– her daughter. “Mia Antonia Brandt!” Mouth agape and ready to retaliate, Camellia dipped her brush into the paint tray. 

“What!? I didn’t do anything,” she cheekily protested. Amidst attempts to restrain her laughter, Mia slowly began to step out of mother’s range, before spinning on her heel to flee the scene. The fifteen year old darted off just as Camellia swung her arm with the paint laden brush in the teen’s direction. “That’s right, you better run!” Brat. 

[retiredvariety]

his own child was taken from him, long ago, when he was first given his scars. she grew up into an intelligent and vibrant young woman, but he didn’t get to see it. just the few images he was tortured with over the years, a few short meetings an ocean away. he couldn’t force her to come back with him, her life was there, so the remains of her teenage years were spent there, with her mother, who remarried. again. it was almost funny, that their marriage was never ended or annulled, yet she just kept moving on to new dangerous men. then she had the nerve to tell alastair that he was dangerous, that he didn’t deserve to know his child. 

before he moved to florida to retire, he’d always helped out with schools, raising money. it was different when he did it with the club, helping locals with their charities. but he couldn’t help wanting to be of assistance. even then. what else did he have to do? he worked on less and less cars, he had mechanics for that. and the shop pretty much ran itself most days. so when he heard that they needed help with a mural, he found some time to kill there. 

the paint flying at him made him laugh, brushing it off his face as he looked to the culprit.  ❝ ye might take an eye out, lass. careful with that brush. ❞ he paid no attention to the teen that had run past him, but he figured that was who the woman had been yelling at. 

❝ looks like ye could use a hand there. ❞ taking off his leather gloves, he cracked his knuckles a few times before shoving them in his pocket and moving over to pick up a brush of his own. ❝ ye know yer supposed ta paint tha wall, right? ❞ he teased with a wink as he looked at her paint-decorated clothes.

[retiredvariety]

mrsnadia​ / nadia.

“Most people don’t know what they really want,” Nadia countered. She tried to let go of everything, and think of what she really truly wanted in her life, but the true answers were buried under shouts of Xanax! and Tequila! 

“I normally don’t have limits. Under usual circumstances, I’m open to anything. Of course now, everything’s different.”

She’d have to tell her, she knew that. If any of this was going to work, she was going to actually have to say the words out loud. She was suddenly nauseous.

“Roleplay sounds perfect,” she said, procrastinating, “I wanted to be an actress when I was younger. Would have been a great one, too.”

She let the words hang in the air for a moment before finally coming out with it. All one breath, all one word, she spoke the words for the very first time. “Also-I’m-two-months-pregnant.”

❝ most of the time, you’d be correct, yes. i know what i want. i think the toughest decision i have is at the coffee shop. maybe it’s the choices i’ve made, but i don’t have any problems deciding what i want in life. ❞ those were desires and internal shouting that she could understand. ❝ so these aren’t normal circumstances for you anymore? ❞ that piqued her interest, making josefine curious what the other woman could have going on in her life. ❝ roleplay is a great way to leave our current situations, be the people we want, even for a moment. i look forward to testing your acting skills. ❞ chuckling, she sipped at her coffee, tepid at best, but it was caffeine and she was going to have it anyways. the dark liquid nearly choked her at the other’s admission. that was two pregnant clients, she was starting to wonder what was in the water and if she needed to be more careful.  ❝ that does limit some things, and i’ll need to you to be very vocal about your limits, safe words. the last thing i want is to put additional strain on your body. ❞ licking the coffee from her red-stained lips, she set the cup aside, lest there were any more surprises. ❝ i’d congratulate you, but i’m not sure you’d appreciate that. ❞

[retiredvariety]

sanguinecharm​ / florence.

OF LATE , THERE WAS A BIZARRE BEAUTY TO THE INFERNAL ; BUT OF COURSE, THIS COULD BE FLORENCE RESIGNING TO ( AND RATIONALISING ) WHERE SHE WAS — UNDOUBTEDLY — GOING.

         well , not undoubtedly. it was florence villiers-whiteley’s enduring life philosophy that the world ( & its too impulsive tendencies ) could stand to exhibit a modicum more doubt , and so she doubted practically everything ; to her , it was a simultaneous olympic endurance sport & intellectualist pursuit. 

THE THREE EXCEPTIONS TO THIS DOCTRINE :

that her fiancée loved her ;

that she returned this love in kind ;

and that there was no other route out of her marriage , no other way to ensure her prosperity and her safety with her truest love , than to murder her husband , roman villiers.

such a thing as murder bonded deeply at the soul , even a method so quiet and bloodless as the one she had employed , and the nature of this inexplicable & deep-set bond had left her atheist beliefs … wavering. yet this ‘ wavering ’ status had been so for the seven years since she had killed roman , so there was no expectation that she’d be repenting for her sins any time soon.

“ no, ” florence’s gaze affixed itself onto her glass , attentive and yet distant somehow before she set it down with the liquid undisturbed. the condescension stirred something within her , something deep and furious , but in the end she’d decided upon the truth ; or the truth that everyone knew — gazing through a glass darkly — and had unerringly believed for the seven years past. somehow her tone had twisted anger into a practiced hurt , teeth pulling at her lower lip until it flushed with colour. “ she’s just … asking about her father , and what the bloody hell do you tell a kid about someone they don’t remember ? ”

before meeting her now-fiancée , florence had genuinely loved roman. 

georgiana had been born a handful of months before her father’s demise , and it was necessary to have it over and done , out of compassion for the child lest she forge an attachment to him. out of compassion for roman — or that was how she justified it to herself , when she laid there in the night — because he struggled with the concept of fatherhood ( she’d never met most of his messed up family , but they were furious when everything was left to her in the will ) and some … melancholy she had never truly been able to put a patch on. 

“ no , shit — ” she shook her head , tears ( genuine , but they were tears of frustration and not upset ) springing to her eyes. “ no, i can see what you think and …i don’t mean to get touchy. she’s an angel , and my fiancée’s been a veritable saint. of course i’m lucky to have both of them. and i’m not perfect , but she’s all roman and sometimes … it’s difficult to look at. you know ? ”

the last thing she was trying to do was make the other woman cry. but she couldn’t help the irritation she’d felt at someone complaining over a child. it was a blessing that she’d longed for, that she’d craved, but she’d never had the chance. things just hadn’t worked out with her ex-husband and it wasn’t exactly something that would happen accidentally with her current lovers. so she really was just angry at herself, that she hadn’t even tried. and here she was, taking that out on a perfectly innocent little lush. her eyes drifted over the other woman. those cheekbones, that jaw, those hooded eyes. everything about the other woman screamed gorgeous and seductive. so seeing tears form in those eyes, it made her sigh and hate herself for bringing it up, just a touch. 

❝ the truth? or as much as you think that they could handle? i mean, the kid’s gotta find out about him at some point. you can’t leave her wondering about that part of her forever. she’s gonna feel half-empty. i’m sure she just wants to hear about the times that you had together, what he was like. ❞

what the woman had gone through, done, that poor girl had grown up bereft of, it wasn’t something that dominique could ever imagine. she knew her parents, she knew her life, she had no mysteries. so what would that poor girl grow up like? not knowing about her father, missing a huge piece of herself. 

❝ then be careful complaining about the near-holy people you’ve been blessed to have in your life. i didn’t mean to upset you, i just. . .can’t stand anyone that doesn’t appreciate the blessings that they’ve been given. whatever happened between you and this ‘roman’, it’s not fair to put it on her. i’m sure she’s having a hard enough time trying to fill in the missing pieces of herself where her father should’ve been. ❞ it was something she knew from watching her friends self-destruct, their daddy issues, and something that she’d always been grateful she never went through herself.   

[retiredvariety]

@scarredelweiss​

her heels clicked on the pavement as she shifted her weight from one foot to the other. azure gaze flitting to the other person made her crimson lips curl up into a smile. ❝ would you like one? ❞ she purred, gaze taking in her appearance before returning to her face once more. at least she could appreciate the beauty before her. ❝ i ducked out for a smoke. there’ll be a big muscled wall chasing after me soon enough. a few stolen moments though, you know? ❞

[retiredvariety]

fatelincs​ / lizzie.

“No I suppose most pregnant ladies will have some other method of satisfying those particular needs,” Lizzie said with a soft chuckle feeling far more at ease now and she gave a small nod. “I work until 5 most nights, but I can start whenever. Is there something I’m meant to call you?”

a chuckle escaped at the other woman’s response. it was true, most pregnant women generally had a baby daddy to help with such things. if not a partner or spouse. ❝ no shame in getting what we need elsewhere, ❞ she half sang. ❝ we can work out an exact schedule. i want to be sure that you’re getting all the time and attention you need after all. ❞ at the question, josefine tapped her lips in thought. ❝ mistress is the generally accepted term, but i am open to suggestions. is there something that would help with fulfilling your needs? some role you might need me to take on? ❞ it wasn’t completely unheard of, but she’d also be sure that the other woman would have to say it with respect, as was the norm. 

[sanguinecharm]

IF YOU WERE BORN WITHOUT WINGS , DO NOTHING TO PREVENT THEM FROM GROWING.

     — it’s one of those pithy aphorisms by a questionable author ( though the history of this originator of a dynasty , to this day enjoying the heights of fashion celebrity even five decades deep in her six-foot grave ) that , unfortunately , happen to make some degree of sense if you squint. words blur just barely into new context & colour , and suddenly … you understand. or perhaps the thought process riley leigh was experiencing — break-neck , race-track speed , thundering pulse ; she was ayrton senna in san marino , and we know how that story ended — made no sense at all. who knew at this point whether the thoughts were hers or the hallucinogen ?

( to roll was to fly ; to grow those wings and escape the mundane. and truly riley could use being in a club , but that came with a good deal too many risks. )

“ shit. hey — tell you what. ” when riley’s eyes landed upon alistair ( and the tell-tale bottle of amber liquid his hand fisted around ) her visage first expressed surprise , and then her lips pulled into a hazy grin. “ i won’t tell if you don’t. ”

                                        @retiredvariety​.

[retiredvariety]

it was all too much. he had been doing so well. . .again. how many times was this that he’d fallen off the wagon? he had no room to judge another for their doing the same. well, to be fair, she hadn’t fallen off the same wagon as he had. it wasn’t alcohol he smelled as he neared the familiar female. ❝ do nae worry, love. yer secrets safe wit me. ❞ if he remembered it in the morning. ❝ what ye got, lass? this ain’t doin’ it fer me anymore, ❞ alaister explained, nearly dropping the bottle as he motioned with it. 

who could blame him for losing the ongoing battle? his estranged wife had remarried. . .again. the first time, he could forgive her for, she’d had no say in the matter and he’d wanted her to survive. but now? he’d killed to keep her safe, he fought to try and get her back. yet she moved on once more. had another father come in to finish raising his daughter. alastair could count on one hand the amount of times he’d seen his daughter, gotten to hold her or talk to her. and now another man was going to play father to her. the old man’s heart was breaking all over again, the scars on his face aching in memory of the last time he lost his family and his face was disfigured. he needed something to go on. 

❝ could use somethin’ ta be sure ah forget tonight. ❞

[retiredvariety]

scarredelweiss​ / scarlett.

“You’ve captured all of my attention,” she began with a slight smile gracing her lips. “So quite frankly, I don’t see why they wouldn’t be paying attention to you, even after all this time.” Scarlett propped her chin in the palm of her right hand, not bothering to follow Dominique’s gaze to whatever minor celebrity she gestured towards. The other offered a short explanation and Scar gave a nod in response but she also didn’t fail to notice the change in Dominique’s voice. Fair enough,” a beat. “I take it you’re happy? In retirement,”

❝ i’m honored to have all of your attention on me. does that happen often? ❞ domi chuckled as she looked over at the other female, not wanting to look around at the other patrons any longer. really, she wanted to go home and curl up with her lovers and just relax. that didn’t seem like it’d be happening right then. hopefully soon though. ❝ retirement suits me. i still work, i just . . .don’t use my face any longer. ❞ she’d taken a job at the radio station to keep herself busy, to amuse herself. never did she realize how much she’d love it! ❝ what about yourself? retired already? ❞

[retiredvariety]

fatelincs​ / lizzie.

“Well I suppose you would be a bit of a hypocrite if you didn’t at least welcome those who want to settle here,” Lizzie said with a small chuckle. She hadn’t expected to come back to Elmerton, not at this age anyway. “So how long have you been living here then?”

❝ no, we can’t have that. i can’t be a hypocrite! ❞ laughing, domi shook her head. that wasn’t a label she wanted to have associated with her name. there were enough others as it was. ❝ about seven years. i needed a fresh start after the divorce. what about you? ❞ 

[retiredvariety]

fatelincs​ / lizzie.

“You always did know just what to say,” Lizzie chuckled softly. She adored being back home, even if it wasn’t how she had expected to find herself home. “Nothing bad, just a little lifestyle change that’s all. Go on then make me your favourite virgin drink,”

❝ not sure memphis always feels that way, ❞ she joked. it was good to see lizzie around, katrina was always missing her friends, the people that she’d felt so comfortable losing herself in a good time with. ❝ lifestyle change, huh? i don’t want to see you back here asking for a real drink then. well, my bank account would, ❞ katrina teased. ❝ alright, gorgeous. ❞ it took her longer to decide what virgin drink she liked than it did to make it. but she finally decided and set a roy rogers down before her. ❝ coke, grenadine, and a cherry. a glorified cherry coke. it was the first thing i thought of that wasn’t just tonic water or sweet & sour mix. ❞ shrugging, she leaned on the counter and smirked at her old friend. ❝ i’m on to you, ❞ she half-sang. ❝ only two kinds of people come in here and order a virgin drink after being one of my drinking buddies: those in recovery and abstaining, or pregnant women. how long? ❞ what katrina meant was how long she’d been sober since she assumed that lizzie was in aa. she never thought her friend would be pregnant. 

[retiredvariety]

@fortyhqstarter​

rubbing a hand over his face, julian sighed. it wasn’t like he was that far from the hell of a life that he’d walked away from. all he wanted was a fresh start, to forget the pain of his childhood, losing his son, his fiancee leaving him at the altar and marrying his other son. . .a new start was in order. ❝ i’m dr. julian waterford, i’ve taken over as the general practitioner here, ❞ he introduced himself as he walked into the examination room. ❝ what seems to be bothering you today? ❞ julian asked as he leaned against the counter.

[retiredvariety]

@fortyhqstarter​

❝ what seems ta be the problem? ❞ he gruffed out, stabbing the cigarette out as he watched the others milling about with vague interest. ❝ car trouble? pump broken? just wanna stare? ❞ the latter was something that he hated with a fiery passion. those scars were something he wish he could forget, what they reminded him happened all those years ago.