Chapter 3: Vivienne
Summary: Alfie’s a man with simple needs and a straightforward business logic but when a famous singer catches his attention and he catches hers in return he begins to wonder what’s really best for his life and what the fuck he’s done with the mess he’s created in his neck of the woods. Camden Town, London centric. (also I’m Lana Del Rey trash and she pretty much helped me make this, thank you queen)
Word count: 1,469
Pairing: Alfie Solomons x OC, (eventual Arthur Shelby x different OC)
AO3: [HERE]
Ch. 1 [post] [ao3] Ch. 2 [post] [ao3]
Masterlist – Ask Box
I hear the birds on the summer breeze
I drive fast, I am alone at midnight
Been trying hard not to get into trouble
But I, I've got a war in my mind
- LDR
Vivienne performed the rest of her tenure at Hempstead’s Paradise with Alfie in the crowd. She sang to him every night, but he would leave the applauding crowd before she could get off the stage. Vivienne was still happy that he would show up to watch her perform, but the fact that he left before she could even try to speak to him was a clear rejection of her.
She mulled it over in her head the first week after she had met him, and disappointment bothered her immensely, but when the second week rolled around she had come to terms with it. She was still pleased that he came to watch her of course, but she could not even sense a possible friendship.
Vivienne had entered the church after the mass had ended. She sat in the back, at the end of the pew, hoping not to be bothered. She felt a darkness swelling inside her and she knew nowhere to turn to.
She loved to sing but was that really her purpose?
She could sing forever, she loved it after all, but she couldn’t be the object of everyone’s desire forever, she didn’t want that.
She just wanted one person to love her in the end, just one.
She felt alone.
Bruce was there of course, but she couldn’t consider him in the way she wanted to consider someone. After the brief time she spent in the church she took her time to walk back to the Savoy Hotel. She had no plans for the next day and she was enjoying being outside on her own. She walked down a busy street with many street vendors selling apples and an assortment of vegetables, and then she came across a bakery. The blue sign above the shop read “Veronika’s Bakery” in curly letters. For a split second Vivienne wondered if the bakery was owned by Mr. Solomons, she had been walking for a while and she knew that he owned a bakery, but it took her less time to shut the thought down.
She went inside and noticed the calming shades of blue on the wall. There was a portrait of a middle-aged woman on one wall, with small Russian text beneath it. Directly in front of the portrait, there was a display of baked goods, a wooden cash register, and two ladies behind it all.
Vivienne greeted them kindly before she dipped her head down to look at the concealed glass displays of freshly baked goods. She could smell the sugars, jams, and wheat. It made her feel strangely at home, though she never knew any home, to begin with. Let alone one that smelled so freshly of baked bread and pastries.
“Can I have five scones please?” Vivienne had not lifted her head yet. She took a quick glance at the shortcake in the corner. It had an incredible looking strawberry on top, but Vivienne thought best not to buy too much.
When she looked up both girls were looking at her with awestruck. The one furthest from the exit stared at Vivienne with eyes wide and the one next to her, closest to the door, took a quick glance at the window. Vivienne followed her gaze toward the window and noticed a man in a bowler hat and thick black moustache. Vivienne gulped and shook her resolve in place. She opted for the serene look that she often sported.
She cleared her throat, hoping to finally catch the girls’ attention.
“You’re— You’re Vivienne Kelly?” The wide-eyed girl stammered.
“Yes, I am. Can I have five scones, dear?” They both rushed to grab the scones for her. Vivienne was no longer sure if their strangeness was caused by the man that occasionally glanced inside the bakery or the fact that she was Vivienne Kelly.
“Here you are, Miss Kelly. No charge.” She said carefully. The other girl tried to smile at her as she said so.
“Oh, I can’t possibly.” Vivienne couldn’t understand why they were being so strange. Was it really the man standing outside?
“It’s no worry miss.” The girl with the strained smile offered.
“Well, at least let us give you something for your kindness. Put it in your pockets, alright?” She took a pound out for each girl from her handbag and walked around the display to give it to them personally. A pound each was a probably a little too generous as they were part-time shop girls, but Vivienne did have a bad feeling about the man outside.
“You’re very kind Miss Kelly,” the other girl gave her a genuine smile.
“Thank you for the scones girls.” Vivienne took her bag of scones, put her handbag snuggly in the crook of her elbow, and proceeded to leave. When she passed the man in the bowler hat, she passed him with the most haughty look she could muster, her nose in the air, her lips pursed, and her eyes lazy. He didn’t even bother to look at her, and that was Vivienne’s cue to continue her trip back to her hotel as quickly as she could in case the man followed her.
When she got back to the hotel she ordered strawberry jam to her room and sat down at a table on the balcony of her room. Only the top floor had balconies for each of its suites. Vivienne sat down for some leisure time. She covered her scones in strawberry jam, they were quite lovely to taste, and then she began to read her mail. There were several love letters, a few job offers that she left for Bruce to look over in a separate pile and then another letter that didn’t fit either category.
Vivienne’s heart fluttered at the touch of the slightly yellow paper. ‘Annie Clayton’ was scribbled in the corner. Vivienne quickly opened the letter to see what her closest and oldest friend had to say.
Viv,
I have to say I was quite disappointed you didn’t write to me during your last month in America. I was also expecting a gift if I’m completely honest with you. But, I’m happy to hear you’re back. Are you going to tell me about America? I hope you will drop by for tea, whenever you’re in Birmingham for one of your shows.
I also bought your last record. It was absolutely beautiful, honestly. I’m so proud of you Viv, you’ve really done it for us, orphan girls. I love you to bits, but if you don’t come to visit me when you’re in Birmingham next we're going to have to talk. Ha!
I was also meaning to tell you, Marjorie passed two weeks ago. The funeral was as sad as any other funeral. I miss her, and I’m sure you miss her too. She left her six-year-old son behind, remember him? His name is Simon, he’s a good boy, but the instability and his mum passing has been hard on him. He spent a few days with me, and the rest he spent with his aunt. His aunt seemed nice, so I let him stay, it was getting hard on me to take care of him, and I’m sure Marjorie would have preferred his family to take care of him. But I do kind of miss the little boy, he was entertaining.
Rupert left a month ago too, I caught him with a woman at a bar. He had the audacity, didn’t he? But I got the house, so I guess things are fine with me, but I am kind of lonely. So, I really hope you’ll be coming by soon.
Miss you too bits, Viv!
Annie
The letter was a lot longer than Annie’s usual letters, perhaps it was because Vivienne had neglected her best friend during her last month in America. The most dreadful month of her life, she had stupidly shut out her best friend. But she was back and content in England, and she knew now that she couldn’t shut out Annie. She was the only solid and unchanging thing in her life. They had been in the same orphanage together, they had grown up together, done everything together, they were more like sisters than any other pair of biological sisters out there. So Vivienne made a mental note to ask Bruce where her next venues were. She wanted to be in Birmingham to see Annie as soon as she could.
Vivienne cleaned up her mess putting everything back inside the suite and then went in search of a fountain pen and a sheet of notepaper. When she got a hold of her items she went back out to the balcony and sat down, soaking in what was left of the sunlight.
