The older one

She is just another Frey. Never going to be anything but just another Frey. That suits her fine. RP Blog for Serra Frey on Blood and Glory RP.

[twinfreygirl]

Gone to find a place for us to hide (Doreah Jones and Serra Frey; September 14)

[ddoreah-deactivated20130802]

"I do, I love it to bits," she says. She knows it must seem strange that a simple secretarial job could make her so happy, but she doesn’t think that adding ‘it’s a step up from prostitution’ is a very good idea. At all: she doesn’t want Serra to hate her.

"Yeah, yeah - I’m a born Londoner," she confirms, nodding her head. When she’s asked what she does for fun, she bites her lip for a few moments. “I don’t really do a lot, honestly. I usually just read," she admits, shrugging. It’s what you do when you don’t have many friends; read. “Although I know of a few nightclubs" - she’s had to take a few of the customers who paid a lot to them, before she fucked them - “and there’s a really nice coffee shop just down the road from where I live. Those are pretty much the only places I go."

[twinfreygirl]

Serra smiles back.  She can't really imagine that being a secretary would be anything close to interesting, but Doreah seems so honestly excited about it and that joy is infectious.  "I suppose you must like it then.  That's good.  I'm glad."

And she is glad, honestly so.  It's nice to see somebody with a bit of joy around, there's so little of that lately.  Everyone's so gloomy, Serra knows that she is a bit as well, and someone so honestly glad, for something as simple as a job, is a wonderful thing.  She must have been unemployed, Serra thinks, to be so thankful for a job.  There's a lot of unemployment going around lately as well.  Serra thinks she should be more happy as well, to have a steady job.

"I was amazed the first time I came to London.  It's the biggest city I've ever been to.  Not a big traveller, me."  She leans back in the seat, still smiling, her mind wandering.  "I was nine and it was the most intimidating place in the world.  Didn't come back until college.  Living here full time the magic sort of wears off.  But that's fine. I like it a lot."  She focuses her attention back toward Doreah.  "I like to read too.  Lived in the library when I was a teenager.  That and the pool and the track.  Except when my sister would drag me out and make me do things with her."

She's surprised.  She didn't take Doreah as...intellectual, at first, but people can surprise her, she thinks.  "I've found a few bars, just visiting mostly.  I've gone back to one in particular that I like a bit."  She tilts her head to the side.  "That coffee shop sounds nice.  Bit addicted to caffeine myself."  She motions down to her cup.  "Clearly."  She wonders if it would be a bit foreword to ask for Doreah's number, and resists doing so.  "I've just started using this train.  Are you on here often?"  Probably not, since she just got her job recently, but maybe she will be on there often.  Serra thinks it'd be nice to ride to work with someone.

[valdling-blog]

(gasoline, saccharin) | val & serra | sept. 4th

[valdling-blog]

She scribbles her number down on the back of a discarded receipt and slides it over to Serra with a smile. “We’ll have to find a local adventure to have.”

Out of the corner of her eye Val notices one of her regular patrons (already about six drinks in at this point in the night) vying for her attention and decides she’d better go deal with him before the lewd or offensive comments begin. For all her complaints, Val’s job is actually a very easy one, and her boss is incredibly lenient — but she does have to work, after all. “I’ve got to go take care of this one,” she rolls her eyes at Serra, “but I’ll talk to you soon, yeah?”

[twinfreygirl]

Val raises a glass to her and Serra thinks that toasting has to be the most ridiculous thing any person has ever invented.  Honoring a person with alcohol.  It’s like bowing to a person with a glass.  But she toasts Val back.  Her drink is drained and she’s really done for the night.

Val says she’s sort of wants to stay put and sometimes Serra is the opposite.  Sometimes she wants to have adventures, to feel the freedom some of her cousins have.  That’s the only way she’s ever really envied her cousins.  She’s always been better than them in every other way.  But, Serra thinks, Sarra has that spirit too.  She’s the type of person who would pick up what they have and go to have adventures.

“Ah, no adventures in London.  At least not now.”  Serra shrugs.  ”But there are movies and parks.  And bars.”  Serra nods, once, and smiles.  ”We should do something sometime.”  Serra doesn’t know if she’s asking her out or just suggesting going out.  The more she thinks about it, the more she thinks she’s asking the latter.

Val tells her they’ll talk soon and Serra nods.  ”Good luck with that one.”  She jerks her head toward the very drunk man at the other end of the bar, grabs her purse, heading out the door.  It’s too cold outside for so early into fall, and she rubs her arms absently.  She should go home.  It’s been a good night.

[twinfreygirl]

Gone to find a place for us to hide (Doreah Jones and Serra Frey; September 14)

[ddoreah-deactivated20130802]

Doreah smiles wider when the woman - Serra - introduces herself. “That’s a lovely name,” she tells her, before announcing her own. “I’m Doreah.” She’s always liked her name - it’s individual, and it’s got a nice ring to it, she thinks. Like Serra’s has, too.

Doreah wonders what kind of teacher Serra is, but decides not to ask. She thinks it’d be pushing too far to ask a stranger whether she teachers primary school or secondary school, and if it’s secondary to ask what subject she specialises in. Doreah’s curious, though. Maybe later on in the journey, she thinks. Maybe when they know more about each other than just their names. If they learn more, that is - Serra could stop talking to her at any time, she reminds herself.

[twinfreygirl]

She expected her to be a secretary.  Serra doesn't know why, but it's what she expected and she's not certain if that's a good thing or a bad thing.  Either way, Doreah seems incredibly cheerful about a really crappy job and Serra can't figure out why.  Maybe Doreah's always this cheerful about everything.  That's a nice thought.  She seems unnaturally so for so early in the morning, but Serra's never been much of a morning person and maybe Doreah just is.

Doreah complements her name and Serra's smile widens.  "My name's lovely?  What about yours?  I don't think I've ever met anyone named Doreah before and it's such a pretty name."  The other girl seems to have no desire to control their conversation.  Doreah is looking at her rather expectantly and Serra searches for some sort of topic, because she wants to talk to this woman, really she does, but she's not good at starting these types of things, she always leaves that up to someone else.

"I teach Year Eight.  Heading to class right now.  Sometimes I love it and sometimes I really really hate it."  She leans back against the seat behind her.  "And you?  Do you like your job?  It sounds like you do."  Serra can't imagine ever enjoying working as a secretary, it seems dull and she doesn't like the idea of taking so many orders from a person, but there are many types of people in the world.

"So I haven't been living here--in London--all that long.  Were you born here, or what?"  That's such an awkward question.   She searches her mind for something else, something more interesting.  "Also never seem to know where to hang out here.  Lot easier when I had a bunch of family around.  What do you do generally?  I mean--for fun?"

[valdling-blog]

(gasoline, saccharin) | val & serra | sept. 4th

[valdling-blog]

While Serra writes down her number, Val takes another swig of her beer, smiling to herself. It’s always been easy for her to make friends, when she’s wanted, and she thinks she might even keep this one. “Sure,” she says, snatching the slip of paper from Serra and tucking it into her back pocket. “Why not? As long as we don’t have to hang around here — I’m game.”

[twinfreygirl]

"Competitive."  Serra gives a small, short laugh.  "Yes, I know all about that.  Sarra and I spent our entire childhood trying to beat each other in anything and everything.  Board games and races and swimming contests..."  Serra loved swimming so much.  She misses it more than she expected she would when she moved down here.  There aren't many lakes in London, and if she misses anything, she misses that.

Serra stirs her tiny stick in her drink and watches it swirl.  "I've never really been the adventurous type.  Pretty much just stuck to the way things are.  You seem much more the type to go off on that kinda thing though.  And good for you."  She raises her glass up like she's giving a toast.  "May you find people that give you interesting stories and may you have amazing adventures in, I don't know, Scotland.  Or Asia.  Or Narnia.  Or wherever people go to have interesting adventures."

Serra sits back and drains her glass and then sets it down.  She doesn't think she'll have any more tonight.  Doesn't exactly feel comfortable enough with the state of her car to actually drink more.  She smiles as Val gives Serra her number.  I'll be nice, she thinks, to have someone to hang out with or talk to or anything at all like that.  "Sure.  That sounds good.  Let's do something, sometime."

[twinfreygirl]

Gone to find a place for us to hide (Doreah Jones and Serra Frey; September 14)

[ddoreah-deactivated20130802]

She nabbed the seat before anyone else could, and her smile widened when the person she’d sat next to began talking to her. Doreah, despite her past, liked people. Even the people who’d treated her badly had given her something good in the end: she’d learned some valuable things from her bad experiences, and even more from her good ones, so she always made an effort to talk to them when she could.

She was about to strike up a conversation when her briefcase slipped from her fingers. Rolling her eyes at herself, she bent over to pick it up, but the woman next to her had beaten her to it. Doreah took it from her the woman who looked about her age, if not a little younger, with a bright smile. “Thanks,” she told her, both for picking it up and for the compliment. “I’m working for the Targaryens, no doubt you’ve heard of them?” Everyone knew of the Targaryens and the other big, well known families. “Hey, don’t apologise - I’m always up for a chat,” she said, her smile widening.

[twinfreygirl]

Serra's rather glad she rode the train today.  There's something fairly nice, to see a bunch of people all together and just watch them go about their lives.  Makes a nice change from playing baby sitter to thirteen year olds.  Makes her think that there are some people in the world with some sort of concept of maturity.  Serra really thinks she needs to spend more time around adults.  She's try to do so sometime.  

Serra picks up the bag gingerly as she hands it back.  The other woman gives her a wide grin as Serra hands her the bag, which Serra returns immediately with a closed-liped smile.  The woman takes the bag gently, tucking it against her side a bit forcefully, as if she was insuring it would not fall again.  Serra slides a bit over in her seat so she's only a seat away from the woman.  Makes it easier to talk.

Her eyes wander over an idea and she sees a name.  Doreah.  That's pretty.  "The Targaryens?  Well, I should think so.  That must be a very interesting job."  From what Serra knows, though, most of them are basically completely insane, especially the youngest boy, so she assumes the job must be different in far more than one way.  Working for a powerful family would always be notable, but working for people with a series of mental problems would make things twice as interesting, if not always in good ways.

Doreah seems nice, though, so Serra hopes that her job is with someone decent.  Serra's not met many nice politicians, so she wonders what Doreah does there.  Is she a secretary?  A public relations person?  The more she thinks about it, the more it seems like Doreah could do anything for them.  "Can I ask?  What do you do?  I mean, specifically, for them.  Are you an assistant or something?"

The train lurches and Serra holds onto the bottom of her seat and makes a grab for her coffee, picking it up before it could spill over through the slit in the cover.  She takes a sip and puts it back down and then turns back toward her companion.  "I don't do anything as interesting as that.  Schoolteacher, me.  Oh."  Serra's eyes widen like she forgot to say this earlier.  "Haven't introduced myself.  I'm Serra.  Serra Frey."  She sticks her hand out toward Doreah.  "And what's your name?"

[twinfreygirl]

Gone to find a place for us to hide (Doreah Jones and Serra Frey; September 14)

Serra doesn't usually take the train to work, but her car has been making funny noises in the morning and shut down completely in the middle of the street last week, and she would rather not take any risks.  The train is fine, anyway.  Takes her almost directly to the school and there's nothing particularly wrong with riding in one, though she's not certain that she'd feel as comfortable as some people who are asleep.  She's pretty sure that one old lady missed her stop.

Serra takes a sip of her coffee and let's out a sigh.  She wonders how people ever survived without coffee.  Serra's never exactly been a morning person, though she woke up early as a teen to jog or swim.  She really does love to swim and she feels a bit of a pang for that old lake that she and Cersei used to swim in before suppressing it immediately.  Not much point in thinking of that.

It's seven o'clock in the morning and the train stops and several people bustle out while many more get in, looking wearing completely different expressions of beleaguered, tired, and nearly sunny.  A woman in a dark business suit with a cup of coffee in one hand and a briefcase in the other sits down next to Serra, smoothing her skirt down with one hand.  She looks rather different from most people on the train, just her expression.  She seems almost happy to be going to work and a smile slips onto Serra's face.

Serra doesn't slide closer to the woman, but she turns her body a bit to the side so she's halfway facing her.  The lady fumbles with her briefcase for a few seconds before it drops to the ground and Serra sweeps down to pick it up, handing it to the woman.  "This is a nice bag.  Where you off to?"  Serra gives her a small smile.  "Sorry.  Train rides can be rather dull if you don't have anyone to talk to."

[twinfreygirl]

And I'm unaware of the limits I'm hitting (Gendry Waters and Serra Frey, July 12th)

Serra's has to admit, she's been a bit restless lately.  Lonely too, but she doesn't really want to admit that.  Tonight's date, however, was probably the most miserable experience she's had in a while and she couldn't even drink.  Some part of the back of her head goes Serra.  You have to drive.  You can't drink and she wants to find that part of her brain and beat it to death with a shovel.

She turns up the radio, some irritating hard-rock song pounding in the speakers.  Whatever.  It'll keep her awake, and that's what's important.  She's so tired and so irritated with everything that she almost doesn't notice some black haired kid walk out in the middle of the road.  Like a moron.  

"Shit."  Serra slams on the breaks, hard.  She hardly even saw him.  What was he doing, walking out in the middle of the road?  Is he suicidal?  Or just a completely moron?  Serra's stopped in the middle of the road, but she hardly even cares.  She's furious and worried all at once and she untangles her seatbelt and pushes it back, opening the door and almost tripping on the way out of the car.

Serra slams her door closed, about really to curse the kid out, but then a horrible, sicking worry that she might have actually hit him clouds her mind.  What if she did?  Would he press charges?  It wasn't her fault.  And what if he was seriously hurt?  Even if it was his fault, she doesn't want to hurt anyone.

She approaches, slowly, seeing that he actually is ok, but her anger is gone and she's no real need to yell at him, anyway.  He also seems older, up close.  So, some idiot adult rather than a kid.  "Hey.  You ok kid?"

[valdling-blog]

(gasoline, saccharin) | val & serra | sept. 4th

[valdling-blog]

“Don’t be silly,” she finally says, after Serra’s finished. “I asked. And between the two of us — I never ask unless I’m curious. I don’t have time for small talk.” She smiles.

“Sometimes, though…” Val trails off. Shrugs. “I don’t know. Sometimes people surprise you. Like you. I certainly didn’t expect anyone to save me from this dull night.”

[twinfreygirl]

"Yeah.  My sister taught me how.  She loved the play pool and, it's pretty fun.  She liked darts better, mostly because I always beat her at pool."  Sarra likes loosing almost as much as Serra does.  That is always fun, in a sibling.  Made their childhood a bit more competitive, but that was always something Serra enjoyed about her sister.  Something that she misses, too.

Val grabs another drink as Serra sips down her second.  She wonders if she can chance a third or switch to something else.  She does have to drive home and she would really hate to get in trouble right before school starts, but she sort of wants another and she certainly wants to stay here longer.  She sets her drink back on the table and tucks her hair behind her ears, feeling a bit sleepy.  "You seem like a curious sort of person.  That's good!  Though I'm not sure why you became a bartender if you don't like smalltalk."  Serra gives a short laugh.

"Well, I'm glad you enjoy talking to me."  Serra smiles much more openly this time then looks back down at her drink.  She reaches into her purse and fishes out a pad of paper and a pencil and scribbles down her number.  "I think I'm pretty fond of you as well.  You'll give me a call sometime, won't you?"  She holds the paper out, tentatively, willing Val to take it.  Even if Val isn't interested in her, and she might not be, Serra would still really like a chance to get to talk to her more.

[valdling-blog]

(gasoline, saccharin) | val & serra | sept. 4th

[valdling-blog]

“Strange family?” she asks instead. Her eyes flash. “Strange how? I like strange. Elaborate.”

“I’m from Scotland,” Val nods, “and I did most of my traveling before moving here. Around Europe mostly yeah — I’d like to see the States someday. You’re not interested?” She pauses, tipping the beer bottle between her fingers. “You’re wrong, though. The places are different. It’s the people that are the same.”

[twinfreygirl]

Serra laughs as Val talks about bar fights.  "You know, there is very little that is more fun than watching people beat each other up.  Also, that is a totally legitimate reason to take a job.  Far more so than why I became a teacher."  Serra takes a sip of her drink and glances around the almost empty bar.  "I'll defiantly have to come some time when there are enough people to have a fight.  Also, when there's enough people to play pool.  I really do like playing pool."

"Strange.  Yes.  Perhaps not the right word.  Maybe batshit insane.  Or too large for their own good."  Serra laughs and sets down her drink.  "Alright.  Once upon a time (and now I suppose, he's still alive) there was a man named Walder Frey and was either incredibly horny or he had some grand Darwinian plan that I cannot possibly understand.  I don't know.  Either way, he went and got married a bunch of times, I don't know how many, like six or eight or nine or something.  I don't really care.  And with each wife he had something like two or three kids who, in turn, had a shit load of grandkids."

Serra tries to take another of her drink and finds the cup disappointingly empty.  "Ah.  Could you make another one?  I need to be considerably more drunk to have this conversation."  Val takes her cup and Serra continues.  "I'm one of the grandkids from his third wife.  Now, you would think we would all ignore the rest of our very large family, but it seems there is a need in the Frey family to all kiss up to Walder Frey, who has a very large inheritance that needs to be given to someone, since he is gonna die soon."

Val hands her back her drink.  "See now, I don't really talk to much of my family anymore, cept my twin who's up in Scotland.  I've been trying to talk to my little sister, Cersei--yeah, I know--but I'm not sure how much she wants to talk to me."  Serra smiles at Val.  "Sorry about that.  Sure you didn't wanna hear all that."

She stirs her drink with a tiny plastic spoon.  "People are all the same.  Yeah, I'm sure that's true."

[clamatoisnotalcohol]

Lindsey Shaw

[valdling-blog]

(gasoline, saccharin) | val & serra | sept. 4th

[valdling-blog]

Val laughs, leaning in, squinting. “I hate questions,” she says — though her tone indicates no such thing. “But I’ll make an exception for you. Business classes, mainly. Management. I’m not that interested in it, but — hey, what can you do? I’m not terrible at it, and I don’t want to be stuck here forever.” She could think of worse things, truthfully, but Val was taught to have higher expectations for herself. Though the path she took wasn’t the path her family had laid out or assumed for her, she hadn’t given up just because they maybe thought she had.

“Where are you from then?” Val asks, taking another moment to study the girl in front of her as well as consider the question. Does she like it? Does she miss Scotland? Yeah, she figures, she does, at times, but she’s not about to admit that to a complete stranger. A weakness is a weakness. She calculates, decides to smile. “Little over a year for myself as well, but I’ve been traveling a while. I like it. I’m happy. What would be the point, otherwise?”

[twinfreygirl]

“You like it.  You like watching fights.”  Serra smiles, low and almost to herself.  Of course she does.  Val comes across as rather fearless, the type that would prefer a life watching drunk men punching each other rather then staring at an empty bar.  She probably loves it.  She probably became a bartender because she wants to watch people just let go of themselves.  She must hate it right now.  Serra wants to see her in her element.  Where everything around her goes insane.  ”Well then.  I’ll just have to come around on a more exciting night.”

“Exceptions are awfully nice.  Whatever did I do to win your favor?”  Serra takes another sip of her drink and smiles to herself.  ”Still, I’d rather not take advantage.  I’ll try and stop asking questions.  Though it’s a little hard to resist.”  Serra wonders what Val would be like in business.  She’s pretty and charming, which can certainly get a person rather far in that type of world, but Serra wonders if a business job would be interesting at all for her.  ”I think you might be good at marketing.  You seem pretty persuasive.”

“I’m from northern England.  Sheffield.  Way up almost to Scotland.  That’s where you’re from, I’m guessing?  You sound Scottish, at least.”  Serra’s eyes focus on her drink then back to the bartender.  ”Most Freys are from there.  We’re a pretty strange family.  I left about as quick as I could.”

“You travel.”  She’d guess that Val is the type that likes to travel.  ”I’ve never done that much, but it certainly sounds exciting.  Where do you go?  Around Europe?  Elsewhere?”  Serra looks at her drink a little regretfully.  ”Never been out of the country, myself.  But that’s not really such a problem.  Can’t image most places are too much different.”  She tilts her head back.  ”But then, I don’t travel.”

[cynthea-frey-blog]

lost in the pages of self made cages / september 2nd / serra & cynthea

[cynthea-frey-blog]

“I know”, she replies when Serra talks about the Freys. “We were always at the big events - Walder’s birthday and Christmas and all of that, but it was like meeting a bunch of strangers. I guess everyone feels like that in our family…” She looks outside the window for a moment. “But there were always these groups inside the family that seemed to stick together, little families of their own. It was like standing in front of a locked door and looking in through the window.” She shakes her head and smiles. “Whatever, you know what I mean.”

“I’m just here until next week”, she goes on, “I have university to get back to… but if you showed be around a bit more, that would be really great… I’ve been to London so many times and yet it feels like I don’t know it at all.”

[twinfreygirl]

"Most extended family are strangers to one another and this is far more true for Freys as there are quite a bit more of us."  Serra takes a sip of coffee and looks at her cousin, who is looking out the window.  She makes her voice lighter, trying to get her cousin from wherever she just went.  Serra knows that look and it's not one she would wish on her kindhearted cousin.  "Besides, all and all we're a rather nasty bunch," Serra laughs, keeping her voice still light and open, "so I'd be strange if we got along in the first place.  Small groups or not."

"I--" she hesitates, "I don't really get along with two many of my relatives.  Even the ones that are actually close to me.  Close in a blood way, I mean.  I haven't much been in contact with my family in a few year, except my twin, and she's in Scotland right now so..."  She wonders why she is telling Cynthea all this.  But she is her cousin, and if there is someone Serra can possibly talk to about this, it would be a member of the Frey family.  At least she would understand.

"I'm actually looking for my sister.  I mean, I know where she is, but..."  Serra shakes her head.  "Ah, this doesn't make any sense."  Serra takes a bite of her sandwich and realizes this lunch is ending far quicker then she would have hoped.  "I would love to show you around.  There's this really cool movie theater about a block from my house, where they show just about everything: old movies, new movies, all that.  I'll take you there sometime, in exchange for the concert tickets."  Serra smiles back at her.  "It's nice...to be around a family member that I'm actually able to get along with.  I feel like I have to pay you back for that, in a weird way, too."

[valdling-blog]

(gasoline, saccharin) | val & serra | sept. 4th

[valdling-blog]

It makes sense. When you’re younger, people are always telling you to follow your bliss and to dream big and find your true passion in life, but they always make it sound a lot easier than it actually is. Growing up in an environment that was so politically oriented, Val quickly found not that she didn’t fit in, but that she didn’t particularly enjoy it. So in a way, she did the exact opposite of Serra — she ran the other way. Not that it got her very far. It seems the end result is kind of the same: working a job she doesn’t care for either way. 

“At least it’s a noble job.” She meets Serra’s eyes again and smiles, flipping her hair back out of her face. “No one can talk shit about teachers — not unless they want to go home with a black eye,” she says, grabbing herself a glass from under the bar and putting it under the tap. She hasn’t really had a drink on the job in weeks, but the bar’s not getting any more crowded, and the company’s not so bad, so she figures — why not? She deserves a Blue Moon every once in a while.

“I’ve always been really good at dealing with pervy old men and breaking up fights, so — here I am,” Val smirks, holding up her beer into a mock toast. 

Serra is clearly taken aback by Val’s student status, and her smirk deepens. “Twenty-four,” she replies slowly, still smiling. “Hackney.” A tilt of the head. “Any more questions?”

[twinfreygirl]

Serra laughs at Val's response.  "Black eye?  I can't punch students, though I'll admit, sometimes it is an appealing prospect."  Serra leans against her right hand, watching as Val takes a bottle out from under the bar, open up, and drink.  "I'm sure you are.  You must get a lot of that, in here."  Serra looks around.  "Seems pretty quiet.  Are there a lot of fights?"  She raises her hand and toasts Val back, taking a swish of her drink and feeling the alcohol drop down in the back of her throat.

Serra relaxes when Val mentions her age.  "Me too.  I went to college a little early, so I got out a little early.  Family--things.  What do you take?"  Serra laughs a little.  "Suppose that was another question.  So yes, guess I had more questions."  Serra fishes the other cherry out of her drink and eats it, still looking at Val, but not entirely sure what else to say.  She thinks the girl might have an accent but can't exactly place where from.  Serra's always sounded like a Frey and she wonders if Val's from any particular family.  Not that family matters anything at all.

"I haven't been living in London for long.  Little over a year and I recently changed apartments, so I've only actually been here for three months.  So I can't say I know much about the area, except what I've found on accident.  Like this place.  It's nice here, though it's your workplace, so I'm sure you have a different perspective."  Serra shifts agin, this time foreword.  "Do you like it here?  Where you are, in everything?"

[cersei-frey-blog]

ugliest town in the old world | serra & cersei [june 2007]

[cersei-frey-blog]

“Pffft,” Cersei half-snorts as Serra’s about to waste time looking for a swimsuit, looking for flipflops, looking for a beach towel when they could just go right now! “I’m just gonna go,” she says, already turning to walk down the steps to the lawn. It’ll be a bit of a walk but the pond’s within ten minutes and hopefully their cousins won’t be there. She feels restless and sticky with summer heat, and she gathers up her hair, lifting it off her neck as she walks, not turning to see if Serra’s following.

Of course, Cersei would really like to fuss around with computer (alright, it was Malwyn’s computer, he got it for being the oldest boy, but c’mon, Cersei was the only one who knew how to use it and use it well) but it was fighting a virus, undoubtedly caused by Malwyn or one of their cousins trying to download a porno or something. Cersei could probably deal with the virus in short time, she was probably good enough, but she really didn’t feel like being cooped up inside all day.

Further away from the house, it’s quieter and her hair falls down her back, sweaty and curled from the heat. It’s rare to be alone at the Twins and even now, her sister is coming along. Usually Sarra would be with them, the two never seemed to be any place without the other. “No Sarra today?” she asks, glancing over her shoulder.

[twinfreygirl]

Cersei scoffs at the idea of a swim suit and just takes off.  Serra watches her and her eyebrows narrow and then she sighs and follows her little sister.  "What are we supposed to do?  Swim in our bra and underwear?  Or in our clothes.  Neither seems like a good idea, Cersei."  But Serra still follows her down the path and toward the lake.  She also kinda wants to just go swimming now.

Serra thinks its pretty nice outside.  She likes being outside more then inside, which is always crowded with so many relatives all wanting to do different things.  Outside, she can practice soccer or go swimming and really both are far more preferable then anything else she could possibly do at the Twins.  Cersei has her computer and Sarra has the town and her parties, but Serra has the outdoors.

"Sarra's off doing something.  I'm not her keeper.  She just takes off sometimes."  Serra frowns.  "We don't do everything together."  Though it is strange, for her to not even know where her twin is.  Usually, even when Sarra takes off on her own, Serra at least knows where she is, but that's not the case today and Serra is actually a little concerned.  Not that she has any reason to be.  Sarra does what she wants, and doesn't need anybody looking behind her.

They reach the water and Serra looks at her sister, who seems so completely peaceful.  She wonders how Cersei gets to that point, the point where she can just let everything else go and enjoy herself.  Serra looks back out over the lake.  "It's so nice here.  I love this."

[valdling-blog]

(gasoline, saccharin) | val & serra | sept. 4th

[valdling-blog]

“Just Val,” she replies simply, watching Serra drink and making no effort to hide the fact that she is doing exactly that. There is, after all, nothing else to do, and Val has never been the type to shy away from direct eye contact. She’s already decided she likes the girl, anyway — it’s obvious she’s quick on the pick-up, especially when it comes to Val’s habits. She lets Serra’s second question slide right by her, (she hadn’t made it up, no, but there’s no need to divulge — Serra can think she’s creative if she likes), giving her a non-revealing smile instead.

The next bit makes her laugh though — a genuine one, throwing her head back. “I’ll toast you to that. A teacher, huh? Sounds like a blast,” she says, pronouncing “blast” in a way that indicates that it really does not, in fact, sound anything of the sort. “What made you decide to go into such a lucrative business, what with your aversion to children and all?” 

Another one shouldered shrug (these are a habit of hers). What does she do? Val’s sure she used to have hobbies, used to have interests… yet the past year or so of her life seems bland and uninspiring when she takes the time to reflect on it. Must be why she avoids doing so. “I go to school. I go out every once in a while, when I have a night off. Actually,” she says, leaning in conspiratorially, “I’m kind of boring.” 

[twinfreygirl]

Serra laughs along with Val.  "Quite.  The summer off is not worth the problems.  Trust me."  She stirs her drink, thinking for a moment.  "I mean--it's not an aversion or anything.  I like kids, though teenagers can be such utter brats.  But teaching's all I've ever been good at."  That was how she got into this in the first place.  It's always been so easy. "Tutoring my little siblings back in high school, I went and figured, why not go and do it for a living?  I was always pretty smart, I like to think at least, but never had any particular talents, so I figure I'd do what I always did."

She shrugs.  "Makes it easier.  Teachings not so bad.  I just really don't want to go back to work."  Serra laughs out loud and bright.  "I suppose bartending must be kinda similar.  Dealing with a bunch of overgrown children with even less inhibitions then actual teenagers."  She leans her head on her hand.  "Got a lot of respect for you.  Dealing with all of this.  And you think teaching's bad."

Serra sits up straight at the next thing Val says.  "You're still--a student.  In college?  I mean--"  Serra is discomforted, uncertain how to proceed.  "How old are you, then?"  She assumed that they were around the same age and feels a little wrong.  Not that they couldn't still be the same age--Serra graduated from college pretty early--but the word student makes her feel kinda weird.  But Val looks around the same age as her and it certainly at least an adult, working in a bar, so it can't be all that bad.  She relaxes a bit and her smile returns and she looks back at Val.  "Ah.  Suppose it doesn't matter.  Do you live around here?"

[valdling-blog]

(gasoline, saccharin) | val & serra | sept. 4th

[valdling-blog]

Val snorts, giving the girl a one shouldered shrug, not yet moving away. “It might seem farfetched to you, given that I work at a bar, but I can relate.” The fact of the matter is, aside from the occasional shot with a patron, Val hardly drinks on the job; and, when she’s not working she’s usually too sick of the smell of alcohol to even enjoy a glass of wine on her own. Same goes for social interaction: too busy working, too sick of everyone at work to enjoy their company. 

Her customer leans forward instead of shrinking back from her, and she’s already winning points in Val’s book. She smiles again before she can help it. Two smiles on a Tuesday night. Not bad, she thinks — nearly says.

“Something sweet,” Val repeats. “I got you, Serra.” And just like that, she gets to work — 1 part coconut rum, 2 parts pineapple juice, a splash or two of cranberry — wordlessly pouring, shaking, focused, throwing Serra a glance every once in a while (who is — she has to admit — not at all bad to look at, even under the unflattering bar light, a warm smile and gorgeous eyes), still withholding her name (as well as the name of the drink). She throws it all together in a glass with some ice and a few cherries, popping one in her mouth, and slides it over to Serra. 

“I’m Val.”

[twinfreygirl]

The bartender turns around and starts making her drink and Serra glances around the bar quickly.  It's pretty empty, but has a nice, quiet feel to it and Serra thinks that she might want to go here again.  There's a dart board hanging in the corner with little red and blue darts and Serra sort of wants to play but also really wants to sit here and talk with the girl in front of her.  She looks back in front of her and thinks she catches the bartender's eyes as she looks back and her and Serra lowers her gaze, smiling.

The girl turns back with Serra's drink.  "Val," Serra nods once.  "That's an awfully pretty name.  Is it short for something, or are you just Val?"  She takes a sip of her drink and tastes some sort of coconut and she looks up and meets Val's eyes.  They are shockingly blue.  "I like this.  I like it a lot."  Her smile turns more into a smirk.  "I'd ask you what it is, but I doubt you'd tell me."  If Val wanted her to know, she would have told her outright, when she said her name.  "Did you just make this up?  Because it really is very good."  Serra takes a longer sip.

"So, you're a bartender that doesn't drink and doesn't socialize.  I'm a teacher that doesn't like children all the much.  I think we should be held up as perfect examples of our jobs.  Don't you?"  Serra fishes a cherry out of her drink with her straw and pops it in her mouth.  She pulls the stem off and drops it on the napkin in front of her.  "So, Val.  What sort of things do you do when you're not bartendering?"  She drums her fingers against the counter and looks back up into her eyes.

[twinfreygirl]

phone call --> serra frey, cersei frey, september 7, 5 p.m.

[cersei-frey-blog]

[She already knows she won’t go into the FA while on the phone with her sister. Cersei bites her lip as Serra explains why she called and she vaguely wonders at the fact that Serra had kept her phone number after all these years. Maybe Serra didn’t want to cut herself off as much as she claimed she did.

And then Serra says she wants to see her. Stopped by her apartment.]

Oh. Well, umm. Yeah, Mari’s only staying until school starts up. 

[Cersei stares at her feet. She wore closed toe pumps today, the black squeaky clean and reflecting the light from the nearby lamppost. She doesn’t feel any taller in them, not now.]

Why?

[twinfreygirl]

[Serra nods at Cersei's explanation.  It makes sense that Mari would stay till school starts. Would she live in a dorm?  Then she suddenly realizes that, of course, Cersei can't see her while she's on the phone and she says,] That...that makes sense.

[Cersei asks why and Serra closes her eyes.  She has been dreading this, dreading it from the moment she decided to seek Cersei out.]  I've wanted to talk to you--to everyone--for the longest time.  But there has always been something getting in the way.  Something other then the fight.

I mean, I never wanted to break off from the whole family, but it seemed that way, and I was away at college and never saw anybody, but I was still with Sarra, of course, and that seemed like enough.

[Serra takes a deep breath and continues.]  And last year--last year I moved to London and I wanted to, I wanted to get in touch with you and Ami and everyone, but I was starting teaching at school and Sarra was away and it felt like there was nothing I could do to meet you about that.

Sarra's in Scotland right now.  And, while I was separated from her, I started thinking that it is important.  To be with family.  To reconnect with family, you know?  Because Sarra was my only family for the longest time, but I want to see you, sister.  Because you're family and I'm separated from my family.

Do you want to see me?  At all?