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Post by Colette on Mar 7, 2010 17:06:42 GMT -5
If onlyBoom boom bangWith everything that had happened in the last month.. she needed this. Needed alcohol, needed a night out away from everything. It'd been almost a week since Charles was buried, and the sadness had been buried deep down inside of her.
It seemed everyone was going through a change. Laura had grown rather quiet since their return back from Rome. Now here was Colette, dressed in something she had never.. even dreamed of dressing in.
Music blared from the jukebox as she sat at the bar. She let out a sigh, downing the rest of her black&blue. Maybe it was the alcohol getting to her, cause it was getting hot. Slightly buzzed, she took off her jacket, standing up and laying it on her seat.
Might be the drinks. That was her third now. Music was getting to her. A slow smile spread across her face as she moved to music near the bar.
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Post by Mal Shiften on Mar 7, 2010 17:18:51 GMT -5
Malcolm let out a sigh, running a hand through his hair. He was pumped. He hadn't fought in nearly a week and all the energy was pent-up inside him. Even after that night a few days ago; with Andi... Malcolm smirked at the memory. Yeah, that had been awesome. Good thing she had understood the whole "nothing serious" business too. Thank god, Mal had been in too many awkward morning-after situations. Moving down the bar, Malcolm filled a few orders as he went. He grinned to the familiar faces, especially the pretty female ones. Coming to the end of the bar, he reached a particular woman who had caught his eye. She had come in earlier that night and was working on her third drink. She danced a little in her seat and it brought a smile to his face. Approaching her, Mal motioned to her nearly-empty glass. "Can I fill y' up?" he asked, kneading the rag through his hands a little.
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Post by Colette on Mar 7, 2010 17:23:54 GMT -5
"Can I fill y' up?"
She laughed, knowing she had gotten caught dancing in her seat. She shook her head, hair flying a bit. "Yes please." She chuckled, smiling up at him. whoa. She breathed out. "Anyone ever tell you, that you got some beautiful eyes?" She asked, tilting her head.
Okay, sign number one just passed. Colette was losing it for sure now. Hitting on a guy in a bar? That was not like her, at all. But she had to admit, it felt good. Felt good to just let it all go. To not worry over everything for once in her life.
The twins were at home with Laura and Nat. Everything was.. shitty. But hey, no one's life was perfect.
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Post by Mal Shiften on Mar 7, 2010 17:44:05 GMT -5
Mal topped her off and was about to move away when her gaze caught him. She was wide-eyed looking at him and he smiled awkwardly. Okay, what? Instinctively, he reached up to fix his hair, thinking that the reason for her stare.
"Anyone ever tell you, that you got some beautiful eyes?"
Said eyes crinkled into a grin as he chuckled softly. Oh yeah, just about every woman he ever took home as well as many others. But no need to give her that tale. "Only my mother," he replied, softening his smile to something a little more genuine. "So, thank you," he added, shooting a wink to her.
He was going to ask why he hadn't seen her in the bar before, had the words on the tip of his tongue, when the guy next to her (klutzy fool but nice enough; he came in fairly regularly) tipped his beer over with a misplaced elbow. It was headed to land right in the woman's lap when Mal reached out, snatching the bottle with his super-human-speed.
Righting it, he spared an amused look to the woman before clinking the beer in front og the guy. "Watch your drink, Danny," he warned the guy, smirking. "Almost landing on this pretty lady's lap."
Danny apologized sincerely to her before getting back into his discussion with another customer. Mal rolled his eyes at the man's clumsiness and passed a smile to the woman. "He's a klutz but he means well," he said in Danny's favor.
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Post by Colette on Mar 8, 2010 5:36:04 GMT -5
"Only my mother," he replied, softening his smile to something a little more genuine. "So, thank you,"
She smiled, nodding as she picked up the drink. "Well, your welcome." She said, shaking her head as a soft laugh escaped. It grew quiet a moment, but she didn't mind. The next thing she knew the man (danny) sitting beside her knocked over his drink. A gasp escaped her as she readied her hand to freeze the liquid before it continued it's course. But just as she did, the bartender (mutantly fast) grabbed the bottle and put it upright.
"Watch your drink, Danny," he warned the guy, smirking. "Almost landing on this pretty lady's lap."
She smiled at him before turning to the man who had knocked it over. "It's fine, really. Least it didn't actually land in my lap." She grinned. Her head turned back to Mal as a smirk spread across her lips. "Nice speed there mister." She said, giving a wink.
"He's a klutz but he means well,"
She gave a nod, a smile still present. She wagered that in her mind for a split second. All this smiling, and laughing. It was all from the alcohol. There was no way in hell she'd be able to smile without it. Because really there's nothing to smile about. I cheated, my husband dies, my daughter gets seriously injured.. really, nothing to smile about. She thought to herself. She shook her head a tad, clearing it from her thoughts. Tonight, she just wanted to forget, if only it was just for one night...
"Well, to tell you the truth, I'm pretty clumsy myself." She said, smiling at both of the men.
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Post by Mal Shiften on Mar 8, 2010 18:12:32 GMT -5
"Nice speed there mister."
Malcolm chuckled and nodded a little. "Yeah, well. I'm a mutant, so." Malcolm didn't mind admiting his status freely. About half the guys he fought with were mutants and they all used their powers to their advantage. Besides that, Blue Moon was a pretty open space. Angels and mutants were among their patrons so Mal wasn't really worried about prejudice or anything.
"Well, to tell you the truth, I'm pretty clumsy myself."
"Are you?" Malcolm asked with a grin, now well aware that he was flirting actively. "Doesn't seem like it." Then he recalled the rather off-balance way she had been swaying earlier. "Well, when you're sober at least." He laughed softly, just teasing.
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Post by Colette on Mar 8, 2010 18:18:50 GMT -5
"Yeah, well. I'm a mutant, so."
She picked up her drink, swirling it around in it's glass a moment. A sly smile spread across her face as she stared at him, bringing the cup closer to her lips. "Join the club." She quipped, taking a drink finally before resting the cup back on the counter.
She wasn't sure if he knew who she was or not. In all honesty, she was hoping she could lay low. And again, the saying popped into her head. If only for a night.. She leaned against the bar, resting her chin in her palm.
"Are you?" Malcolm asked with a grin, now well aware that he was flirting actively. "Doesn't seem like it." Then he recalled the rather off-balance way she had been swaying earlier. "Well, when you're sober at least."
She chuckled, grinning back at him. "Mhm, sometimes. I'm more clumsy with the little things." She paused, taking another drink. "Y'know. Misplacing things and such." She waved her hand on, smiling.
She tilted her head again, smile ever present. "So what's your name, mister? Unless you prefer me calling you mister. Or bartender.." She teased.
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Post by Mal Shiften on Mar 10, 2010 15:46:48 GMT -5
"Join the club."
Mal smiled a little crookedly at that, nodding. "Well all right then." That was nice to know. And it kind of figured. Mutants in the City tended to gravitate toward the same places. Just like China Town and Little Italy and such. Guess they were just more comfortable with their own kind. Either way, Mal didn't mind. He liked them all alike: humans, mutants, angels; made no difference to him.
"So what's your name, mister? Unless you prefer me calling you mister. Or bartender.."
Malcolm chuckled earthily, shaking his head a little. "Malcolm," he answered. "Malcolm Shiften. But feel free to call me Mal," he offered. Leaning a little against the bar-counter, he leveled his eyes with hers. "And what about you, huh?" he asked, smile laying smooth on his face.
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Post by Colette on Mar 12, 2010 19:10:19 GMT -5
"Well all right then."
She smiled softly, as she swirled her glass in her hand. Her wall had diminished. It was like she had to start all over again. It was like that a lot in her life. When something tragic, or stressful got to her, that mental block for telepathy dissipated completely. So here she was, sitting here smiling. While all the while she could hear everything he thought. And agreed to a lot of it. Mutants did tend to generate near others; where they felt more welcomed.
Suppose that's why I'm here? She questioned, brows furrowed a moment as she took a quick look around. "Malcolm. Malcolm Shiften. But feel free to call me Mal," She shot him a smile, taking a drink before speaking. "And what about you, huh?"
It was an instinctual reaction with a man with that kind of a smile. She let out a soft sigh, leaning into the palm of her hand, her cheek resting against it. "I would be of no interest." She grinned, shaking her head. Laughing softly as she took another drink.
"But if you really must know." She paused, leaning forward. "Colette. Colette F-" She paused, her face pulling a blank. "Um, Colette Richards.. now. I guess would be the right way to say it.. or is it.. again?" It was rhetorical of course. But she had that look about her that sorta wanted to know.
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Post by Mal Shiften on Mar 13, 2010 3:26:34 GMT -5
"I would be of no interest."
"Oh, I disagree," Malcolm said, crooked smile well in place. "You are of very much interest." Bar-tender instincts were kicking in and said that this patron had something on her mind. And then man instincts were kicking in and said that this woman had been hurt and was still working through it. Well, either way, he was interested and wanted to know more. Which was very odd for Malcolm.
Usually he wanted to know more to let the girl know he was interested; to solidify the possibility of not going home alone that night. But this time it was different. He was genuinely interested in learning more about this woman. (First of all, she was a woman. Most certainly not a girl.) He truly wanted to listen to her and hear what she wanted to say and try to help it.
Very odd for him.
But if you really must know."
"Oh, I must, I must," Malcolm assured her, still grinning softly. Unless of course she didn't want to tell him.
"Colette. Colette F-- Um, Colette Richards.. now. I guess would be the right way to say it.. or is it.. again?"
He listened as she struggled briefly with the last name and thought maybe she was passing him a fake one. Girls sometimes did that, just looking for an anonymous night. But then again, this was a woman... No, she had probably just recently changed her last name and wasn't sure which to use. Well, to "say it again" meant that she had changed her name back from something else. So she had gotten a divorce?
Malcolm's smile softened a little and he nodded once in acknowledgment. "Nice to meet you Colette Richards," he told her. He wanted to gently approach the topic of the last-name-change but wasn't quite sure how... He decided upon honesty with a bit of a tease. "Y'know, usually when girls struggle with their last name it's 'cause they're givin' me a fake one."
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Post by Colette on Mar 13, 2010 4:38:22 GMT -5
"Oh, I disagree," Malcolm said, crooked smile well in place. "You are of very much interest."
Her eyes sparkled as she smiled back at him, giving a nod. "Mhm. If you say so, Mal." She teased with a smile, her head dropping. Some of her hair fell down in her face, as a hand reached up and brushed it behind her ear.
"Oh, I must, I must,"
She laughed out loud, and at the same time asked herself when the last time she laughed was..? Was it bad if she didn't know the answer to that? She shook the thoughts away with another drink.
"Nice to meet you Colette Richards. Y'know, usually when girls struggle with their last name it's 'cause they're givin' me a fake one."
She smiled softly, perking a brow. "Back at ya, Mal." Her head dipped slightly at his statement that followed suit. "Mmm." She paused, giving a nod before shaking her head. "Y'know, I wish that was the case." She sighed, taking another drink. "But it's not."
She needed to get use to saying it. She was no longer Colette Fox. She was Colette Richards; widow. Coming to that conclusion, she downed the rest of her drink before speaking softly. "My.. husband died."
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Post by Mal Shiften on Mar 13, 2010 4:50:01 GMT -5
He liked her laugh. She had the way of laughing as if she was surprised every time. As if she had expected anyone to take the time to make her laugh. Well, Mal was always pretty good at pulling laughs from people otherwise uninclined toward cheerfulness. His mother, for one. And, apparently, Colette.
The laughter died away though and something went dark in her eyes. Mal leaned in a little closer, curious but not just for curiosity's sake. Inhaling, he listened as she seemed to explain the sudden shift in demeanor.
"Back at ya, Mal... Mmm. Y'know, I wish that was the case. But it's not."
Well, that was good to know; that she wasn't giving him a false name. He hadn't really though that anyway. But he was still wondering on what the real reason was, if it was divorce after all. That would certainly be cause for all the sudden seriousness.
"My.. husband died."
Well, fuckin' 'ey. Mal let out a soft exhale, shaking his head. "Don't I feel like the biggest asshole in the bar," he murmured by way of an apology. Shit, here he was trying to hit on the woman and flirting and she had a dead husband. Mal had been so wrapped in his conversation with her he hadn't even managed to clock her ring finger. Glancing there now, discreetly, he saw it filled and his heart sunk a little. Not (just) for the loss of hus quarry but more in sadness for this woman. She had obviously loved her husband... And now he was dead. Mal was reminded of his mother a little bit...
"Shit, I'm sorry," Mal breathed out to her. He hated that, saying 'I'm sorry' to someone who had lost someone. But he had never been able to think of a replacement so 'I'm sorry' would have to do. "Was a lucky guy," he added on a whim, giving her a gentle, small smile. Guy had to be lucky with this one as his wife.
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Post by Colette on Mar 13, 2010 5:00:32 GMT -5
"Don't I feel like the biggest asshole in the bar,"
As much as she wanted to laugh, she knew the timing was off. She smiled at him though, and placed a hand over his, giving it a gentle pat. "No you're not." She told him easily, shaking her head.
"Shit, I'm sorry, Was a lucky guy,"
She smiled, her eyes getting glazed over as she looked off to no where particular. Yeah.. If he was so lucky.. Why didn't he listen to me? Why didn't he stay when I asked him to stay..? She cleared her throat, sliding her empty glass towards him. "Thanks." She said, offering a small smile back.
"Thus." She held up a finger. "The night out." She smiled, folding her hands on the bar and leaning forward slightly. "Ya gettin' slow on me, Mal?" Her eyes inclined to the glass, as she beamed another smile.
It was all she could do.
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Post by Mal Shiften on Mar 13, 2010 5:08:52 GMT -5
"No you're not."
Mal returned the gentle smile, enjoying the slight weight of her hand over his. Still felt like a idiot though. Wasn't fair, really, for someone as young and pretty as her to already be a widow.
"Thus." She held up a finger. "The night out." She smiled, folding her hands on the bar and leaning forward slightly. "Ya gettin' slow on me, Mal?"
Malcolm laughed shortly at that, shaking his head. "Oh no. Not me; never slow." Grinning softly, he filled her, not quite as full as the last time. She was getting loaded quick and he didn't begrudge her her right to get drunk. But he wasn't about to let her get alcohol poisoning or anything.
"Did..." He paused briefly to clear his throat. "Did he leave y' with kids?" He asked the question carefully, knowing that it could be sore subject. And hey, if it was or if she didn't want to talk about it, he would let it alone. Mal was a bar-tended and knew how to roll with ther conversational punches.
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Post by Colette on Mar 13, 2010 5:16:45 GMT -5
There was something in his laughter. It made her smile widen, her dimples showing slightly. "Oh no. Not me; never slow." She gave a few nods. "Good to know." She laughed softly, looking down at her glass as he poured her another.
"Did..." He paused briefly to clear his throat. "Did he leave y' with kids?"
Her mind instantly flashed to the last thing they had said to each other. How she said she was a single mother, and how it would be nice to know about it, all things considered. And how he said he wanted to be everything to his kids.. after this last job. She took in a breath. Wasn't enough time.
Her hand reached up, scratching at a corner of her forehead. "Yeah." She smiled, letting out a airy laugh. "A girl, on the verge of a teenager, and twins. Six month old twins." Her eyes looked back up to his, wondering why he had asked, but didn't want to ask.
At least, not now.
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Post by Mal Shiften on Mar 13, 2010 5:26:28 GMT -5
"Yeah." She smiled, letting out a airy laugh. "A girl, on the verge of a teenager, and twins. Six month old twins."
Malcolm smiled fondly a little at the thought of her kids. Shit, three of them. And two of 'em still babies. Had to be hard on her, working that out alone. Well, obviously she wasn't alone. She was here tonight, out, so there had to be someone around helping her, watching the kids that night. That was good. Mal's mom had just had herself after Pops had died. But he was the only one she was dealing with after all...
"'On the verge of a teenager,' huh?" Mal repeated. "I was about the same age when I lost my dad, little younger." Must be hard on the girl; knew it had been hard on him.
"Twins?" He blew out a slow breath. "God bless y'. Whatcha got? I mean, gender-wise?" Twins. Malcolm couldn't imagine dealing with twins. Couldn't imagine having kids at all, really. But he guessed it would be nice... Still though, twins? That had to get hectic.
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Post by Colette on Mar 13, 2010 5:33:47 GMT -5
"'On the verge of a teenager,' huh?" Mal repeated. "I was about the same age when I lost my dad, little younger."
She gave a nod. She wanted to say "Sorry for your loss." But knew it wasn't the best thing to say. Cause losing someone you loved.. it hurts to hear someone say that, or "He/She's in a better place now." When did living without her become a better place? She placed her hand back over his. "I'm sorry." She breathed out softly. "But yeah. Twelve. She was a handful.. Ever since the--accident.. She really hasn't been herself."
"Twins?" He blew out a slow breath. "God bless y'. Whatcha got? I mean, gender-wise?"
She let out a soft chuckle, placing a hand to her cheek. "A boy and a girl. All together. That's Laura, Parker, and Eliza." She smiled fondly. She reached for her drink and took a sip. "It gets stressful at times." She nodded, realizing she had just spoke aloud about his thoughts. She closed her eyes a moment, wincing. "Sorry."
Though he probably had no idea what she was talking about...
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Post by Mal Shiften on Mar 13, 2010 5:44:18 GMT -5
"I'm sorry."
He nodded his thanks, not wanting to think on it. He had moved on from the death of his father awhile ago. He still missed the man like crazy but the grief wasn't a part of his everyday life anymore.
"But yeah. Twelve. She was a handful.. Ever since the--accident.. She really hasn't been herself."
Malcolm nodded again, mouth twisted a little. He had gotten a little out of control after as well. But his behavior had been the product of anger; anger toward just about everyone and thing. He picked up that Colette's daughter's situation was probably a little different. But he wouldn't ask about that unless she prompted it. He thought that step would be a bit too far in the direction of prying.
"A boy and a girl. All together. That's Laura, Parker, and Eliza." She smiled fondly. She reached for her drink and took a sip. "It gets stressful at times."
Laura, Parker, Eliza. Pretty names, all of them. He was just chuckling and nodding his agreement with her statement of stress when she apologized. His brow wrinkled a little, thinking of what she was apologzing for. Then he realized how her comment had been rather in synch with his thoughts of twins and it dawned on him.
Smiling a little, he shook his head. "You just... S'all right. I got a friend who's a telepath. She slips up sometimes too." He passed a beaming smile her way to show it really didn't matter to him. He was a pretty open guy, anyway. And after Shekinah had caught him about a month ago replaying a particularly "fun" night there was really nothing to mortify him further.
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Post by Colette on Mar 13, 2010 5:53:34 GMT -5
"You just... S'all right. I got a friend who's a telepath. She slips up sometimes too."
She smiled. "It's just with everything happening. I don't have a firm grasp on it. And I know some people hate when--y'know." She chuckled, looking down in her drink. "But I have to say, it's nice. Not having to keep that wall up twenty-four-seven." She smirked, taking a sip.
The alcohol was starting to get to her, and so was the slow song that was playing. She tried her damnedest to block the song out. But it seemed.. everything it sang, was sung for her. If no one knew me, they'd think I was conceded or something. She smiled to herself, running her finger around the rim of the glass.
"So." She said, looking up. "You know my name, that I'm a--widow, and that I have three kids." She smiled. "And yet, all I know about you is that your name is Malcom, and you're a bartender here."
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Post by Mal Shiften on Mar 13, 2010 6:00:26 GMT -5
"But I have to say, it's nice. Not having to keep that wall up twenty-four-seven."
Malcolm smirked, nodding. "I can imagine. Well, feel free to let your walls down around me anytime you like." It was a bit of a line but also a true offer. Malcolm would never survive if he always had to hold up something like that, those walls, every second of his life.
"You know my name, that I'm a--widow, and that I have three kids." She smiled. "And yet, all I know about you is that your name is Malcom, and you're a bartender here."
Mal chuckled a little at that and then shrugged. "Not true. You know that I lost my dad, that I'm a mutant." He grinned a bit as he added, repeating her earlier compliment, "That I 'have got some beautiful eyes. But, well, what else would you like to know?"
Didn't have much to tell really. No family, other than his Mom (and the stepdad if you counted him which Mal really didn't). Only other thing that was really of interest would probably be the fighting.
And that he was growing attracted to the adorable smashed woman before him, but that was something she didn't need to know right then.
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