#chat ||

[lilymorecu]

@collicr

IT was early, very early in fact. that rare hour that came even after the early morning stragglers drunkenly stumble their way back to any place that resembled home after a full night’s pub crawl. lily’s band, which consisted of only herself and the bar’s regular pianist (so really, just her and a pianist) were the last to leave and after a sudden spell of generosity, she told him she would stay back to lock up. so she was the only one left behind, struggling with a key that refused to fulfill its one role. for no real reason, she spared a glance at the mouth of the alleyway and that was when she spotted him. smoke swirled around his head like a fog, his face lit up with every inhale. at this time, were they any other person lily might have had the smarts to be afraid. with him, she could not think to do anything else but greet him with a smile. “bonsoir monsieur,” she cooed, hoping to catch his attention. “you look like someone who could use a happy tune.”

[lilymorecu]

@t0ddt

LILY was singing for a crowd of five-- six, if you counted the man behind the bar. she had sung for more, and she had sung for less, but somehow she was always singing in the same bar. different names of course; different locations, different owners, but always the same. the same red alcohol soaked carpet, the same dingy light with that one that was on the brink of a blowout but never quite blowing out, and the same smell of cigarette that seemed to be a permanent fixture in every corner of the room. it welcomed patrons of all sorts, so long as they paid for their drinks, which was perhaps why she always liked these bars over their more selective counterparts. and lily sang with the hope that her song might lift up at least one spirit every time she came, so she came as often as she could. 

it wasn’t as if she was paid particularly well for her time. none of them were, which was why that night, she was singing against a backing track that was beginning to stutter in the middle of her verse, the machine struggling against the strain of the age-old sound system in desperate need of an upgrade. with a loud pop, the music ceased all at once and lily was left trying to keep the song going against the clanging of glass and the hiss of pans and fryers from the kitchen. from the corner of the bar, she heard someone cough. if the people didn’t notice her before they were now. and she was trying to keep going as best as she could, but there her own voice was beginning to waver, and it was clear that she was struggling too. 

[melkorkamurtagh]

With the bar temporarily closed, Mel was the only one that had been inside, taking her time to slowly work through the vast amount of paperwork in Killian’s office.  She had managed to put about half of it into specific piles when she decided to call it quits for the night, gathering her belongings and making sure everything was sturdy on the desk.  When she stood and turned towards the door, she stopped when she saw Killian standing in the doorway.  “I was not expecting to see you.”

@call-me-hook

[melkorkamurtagh]

Mel steeled herself for whatever reaction she was going to get from Pollux when he saw her as she made her way towards the stables, Olafr bouncing excitedly by her side.  He had missed the stables, and she felt bad for depriving him for so long, but she had not been ready to face her friend when she knew how protective he was of her.  Walking into the building, she held Olafr’s hand and looked around before calling out, “Pollux?”

@oldestandwisesttwin

[melkorkamurtagh]

After a few days without word from Killian, she figured the deed was done.  The Jolly Roger would either end up under new management or be closed forever.  Either way, she needed a new job.  Walking into Underworld, she tried to remain stoic but confident.  She had more experience now as a dancer, but if she looked sad or scared or anything less than what she knew she was capable of on stage, she would have to look elsewhere for a job.  Chances were if it came to that, she would not be able to go to nursing school.  She made her way to the bar and called out to a man nearby, asking, “Excuse me.  Do you know where the owner or manager is?”

@abrimstonecosmos

[melkorkamurtagh]

It had been a few days since Killian had sent his... concerning text messages warning her away.  She wasn’t sure what was going on, but she was growing sick from her worry.  Deciding she couldn’t take much more, she asked her neighbor to keep an eye and an ear out for Olafr, then made her way to the Jolly Roger.  She checked in there first, then decided to go up to the apartment in her search for Killian.  Stepping inside, she gasped at the disarray the home was in, then looked around before calling out, “Killian?  Are you in here?”

@peterthelost

[melkorkamurtagh]

After her third dance of the night to only a hand full of patrons, Mel made her way to the bar where she found Killian.  “I am sure the slow business is simply due to the reopening.  Once it becomes just another bar, our regular patrons will return,” she added in means of comfort.

@call-me-hook