#pippaxchris

[dancepippadance]

take me away

All the times that she had spent daydreaming and thinking, well, not recently, but a long time ago she had a very active imagination and he might have played a starring role or two. But for the moment, her buzz was acute as she threw back the rest of her second drink. On an empty stomach, it didn’t take much. Even on a regular night with a full dinner, it still wouldn’t have taken much at all. And tonight she needed that little bit of courage. It propelled her up off the stool and away from the bar, looping her arm through is in the playful way one might with a close friend. But really, she enjoyed his strength. The lingering scent of oil on his coat, likely from bring hung up in the shop.

“I don’t care. Somewhere we can talk?” she asked, hinting that she’d like somewhere quiet. “I wouldn’t mind getting another drink though,” Pippa said. “I don’t really get much of a chance to go out so I usually take advantage of it.” She leaned against him, reaching for her coat and slipping it on. She had to untangle herself from his arm and she did so, heading towards the door. Something just felt right about this. She nodded towards her friend, raising a hand, hoping Alina wouldn’t question it, or worry about coming with.

[dancepippadance]

take me away

She hadn’t meant to make him feel sad. Instead, she had only wanted to be honest. He had asked how she was and she’d felt compelled to be truthful with Christopher. Afterall, they knew each other. Not well, but close enough association that lying or fabricating were stupid. She was certain that it was better to just be honest. It was the best policy and she had nothing to hide from him. She wanted him to know the truth. Pippa couldn’t quite put her finger on why, but she felt as if she really wanted to pour her soul out to him.

Just as he mentioned food, her stomach grumbled. She smiled and nodded.

“Food would be great,” she replied nodding and taking another sip of her drink. “That’s okay. I think she might have met up with someone she knows. We can ask if you want?” the redhead offered. Pippa didn’t want to seem to eager, but she was. It was hard not to be drawn to him, not to fall back into the daydreams of her youth. Daydreams that included his arms around her, his lips on hers, and well… a few more activities as well.

[mechwalker-blog1]

take me away

The life she was secretly breathing into him was pulled away all too quickly. Though his heart beat, it slowed its activity as he looked into her eyes. To hear such a beautiful young lady was not ‘great’ was disheartening, but the reality of it all? Who truly was ‘great?’ In a silent understanding of exactly what she meant with out actually knowing the story, he nodded. Whether her and her husband were happy or not was none of his concern, but he certainly would not refuse her had she needed an estranged shoulder to cry on or an ear into which she would vent her frustrations... Christopher detected some sort of sadness lingering with in her; he was no mind reader, but his time spent resting years ago after his surgery had allowed him time to observe others and their body language.

Flashes of Miranda’s face, blue eyes and blond hair, shot through his entire body. Suddenly, the man felt as if he had joined Pippa on her plane of “alright.” “Well, I’m sure Alina is a riot... Always has been...” The words trailed off. The brother felt an automatic responsibility to look around the room for his fairy of a sister, but his muscles refused him. Christopher could not miss one moment of staring into this woman’s eyes. There was something about her... There had always been something about her that had nipped at his interests. In being a respectful older brother, he maintained any sort of distance from his sister’s friends. When they were younger, who knew just how it would end; he would not have been able to forgive himself had the two not remained friends thanks to some failing out or a meaningless rumor another person had began. He managed to pull away from their dance of a gaze for just a moment, to take a quick look around the room. “You know,” He looked down at his wrist watch. “It isn’t too late yet, not for this old man to head home... Would you want to grab a bite to eat?” He paused. She was married... How would he react if he had a wife and she had been out with a male counterpart? Then again, the two had known each other for a while. It was not as though he was soliciting her for a date, or for a romp around any sort of bedroom. Honestly, truthfully, he wanted to catch up. “Alina can join us if it makes you more comfortable?”

[dancepippadance]

take me away [a secret place]

The boobs appeared in front of her again. It was weird that she would think of that way, but the cleavage was extreme. She sidled up next to the man who she’d been enjoying a parlay of words with, offering her further refreshment. Pippa agreed, glancing to her left and right. The blonde gave no indication of who bought her the drink. To her left were several couples fully engaged in their conversation; to her right, was a gaggle of people holding fives, tens, and twenties. But just beyond that... was that? She hadn’t seen him for several years; he’d aged and it suited him. She smiled, nodding in his direction, the smile widening as she watched him respond to her. She shook her head, the smile sinking back in, a pleased expression on her face. The redhead nodded once, an invitation. Join me, she seemed to be saying. Her eyes swayed; the dance began. 

[mechwalker-blog1]

take me away

It was not that he particularly enjoyed drinking anymore, but it was the best way to calm his nerves in the midst of a large crowd. Whiskey still burned as it slid down his throat and it still caused him to sweat bullets after the third iced glass. Taking the last swig from his current glass, he lightly sat it back down atop the napkin at the bar and caught the eye on the female bartender to order just one more. As Christopher moved to preposition himself in his chair, the red head at the other side of the bar caught his eye. She was familiar, even from ten feet away. Her porcelain face and unique ginger hair had never changed, though she was a bit older than the last time he truly had seen her; his sister Alina and the young lady had been friends since they were younger. Naturally, he could recall seeing her with his sister, but could not recall particulars about her... at least not in the moment he had seen her just a moment ago. Blinking, only to realize he could have been caught staring had he continued on a moment more, Christopher cleared his throat. A nervous knot had crept back up his wind pipe in those couple of moments. With out thinking in silence once more, he nonchalantly waved down the female behind the bar and asked her to order the red head another cup of whatever she wanted; the bartender smiled, nodded, and proceeded down to the young lady. Christopher quickly downed his whiskey on the rocks, attempted to relax into his chair, and waited to see if the female would, on the off chance he was lucky enough, acknowledge him.

[dancepippadance]

take me away [a secret place]

It was very clear that life did not always turn out the way one might want it to. Phillippa Marjorie McKay was no exception to that rule. She'd never dreamed that she would be married at twenty; now ever so much more than just a sliver beyond unhappily at 26. Sometimes it was almost as if she lived two lives; the one she imagined for herself in her head that still just might become a reality, and the reality that was not even close to living up to the daydream. When Mick had first entered her life, he'd been mysterious and passionate and a little possessive. None of these things had really bothered her to begin with, not the way that they might have had she sat down to think about it. She didn't think about whether [i]she[/i] was happy or not. Instead, she focused her energy on others and that kept her out of the house and more than a little sane. It also kept her busy and not pondering her current life situation was further made her feel happy.

Most of her time Pippa kept busy by collecting project after project that would keep her away from the house: volunteering with the local high school's dance team, offering ballroom dance lessons at the senior center, teaching the homecoming court a choreographed waltz to surprise the student body at the pep assembly, working with the musical and the show choir, and even starting to record some simple lessons to upload on YouTube. Anything and everything she could think of, she did. She even picked up a direct sales business selling purses and totes to ladies in the community. Whatever she could think of, she did it to stay away from home.

But she worked too hard, a point that her best friend was constantly pointing out to her. She needed to go out and have fun; to become more than just a constant flurry of activity and business. She was glorifying never being home; none of it was fun, but that didn't stop her from cramming her calendar full of activities just so she didn't have to sit down and think. Thinking was dangerous, as was asking dangerous questions and her friend was good at making suppositions and helping her realize where her weaknesses may lie. She'd been pushing her off for this very reason; it was too dangerous to talk about feelings, feeling them was plenty danger enough.

So tonight wasn't really about talking, at least not serious-type conversation. Instead, they were grabbing dinner somewhere, preferably somewhere loud that discouraged serious conversation or at least somewhere quick with delicious food. And then they were going out - drinking, dancing, perhaps whatever might come to mind. It was to be the simple staple in what a stereotypical girl's night might be, but she was satisfied with just that. She rarely had a moment for quiet contemplation so when her friend disappeared to the bathroom and didn't return, and Pippa spied her chatting with a handsome blonde in the corner, the redhead stayed at the bar and continued to sip her cocktail.

It was nice to have a moment to enjoy the night. She'd check on her friend, eventually. And certainly, all would be well. For the moment, she simply stood and pondered. There were seven days until Christmas after all; there was a lot of mental shopping to be done. She refused to pull out her phone; that would truly be rude. Besides, the bartender was actually chatting tonight and he was fairly easy on the eye. It didn't matter that he was probably gay. She needed light conversation and this was definitely it. 

Word Count: 615

Outfit: http://www.polyvore.com/holiday_party/set?id=184845241