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Post by W.R. Lawrence on Mar 9, 2016 20:46:01 GMT -5
"I supposed I should." he says rising quickly. "Without killing yourself? What happened?" Lawrence asked while checking the room over.
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Post by The Fixer on Mar 9, 2016 20:55:42 GMT -5
"Wait. You didn't leave the door rigged with a gun to take off the head of whoever walked through the door?" She looks at the gun in her hand now, thinking she just contaminated any evidence they could have pulled off of it. "Well dammit!" She turns the gun in her hand, passing it to him on her finger. "This isn't yours?" Before he can move anywhere, she says, "Don't touch the dresser!!! That's where I found it propped with a thread strung to the deadbolt. It went taught when I unlocked the door. Something stopped me before I swing it open. I ran my hand up the edge of the door to check to make sure you hadn't set anything up to protect against intrusions and found it. I managed to get it unhooked and released the tension without killing myself. I thought you had set it up." She looks at the floor waiting for him to start yelling at her for contaminating potential evidence, already swearing at herself for disturbing it when she heard someone moving down the hall. "Way to go idiot," she thinks. "Not even a day in and you've already screwed this up."
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Post by W.R. Lawrence on Mar 9, 2016 21:05:22 GMT -5
"It's alright," Lawrence says calmingly. "Seeing as how Smith had my hotel room number in that matchbook, this was his Plan B in case he lost me again." Lawrence reasoned. Seeing nothing else out of place in the room he walks over to Clue. Reaching down he takes her hands in his, "Hey, don't worry about it. I'm just glad you are alright. We'll be more careful next time. Truly it's my fault, I nearly got you killed thinking I was doing the right thing by sending you away. I guess we both learned a bit today." he whispered taking time to straighten the rumpled collar on her blazer.
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Post by The Fixer on Mar 9, 2016 21:46:37 GMT -5
"Thanks. Truly." She turns away and walks to the window, absently crossing her arms and hugging herself a little. "It's been quite the day", she says, in a quiet voice staring. Her nerves are a little frayed, she's running on sleep fumes and now she's in a room with a man she barely knows. What a day!! A yawn escapes and she covers it with her hand. The kind of yawn that makes your eyes water and your body collectively shudder from lack of sleep. She turns back to Lawrence. "So, what now?"
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Post by W.R. Lawrence on Mar 9, 2016 21:53:02 GMT -5
"Well we both need a change of clothes. Let's go next door and sort that out. Afterwards we'll come back here. The bed is yours and I'll take the watch while you rest. In the meantime let's see how your fashion skills hold out." Lawrence said with a wide grin. Offering his arm he says "Off we go then."
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Post by The Fixer on Mar 9, 2016 23:25:47 GMT -5
Taking his arm she stops him a second to look him dead in the eye, "I hope you are ready for this because I'm getting tired and with tired comes a little crank and shopping, hard as this is to believe, is not something I do often, and never when I'm not in the mood. You've been warned." With that, she gives him a smug little smile and sets off for the door, thinking "bloody hell man, who in their right mind shops at this ungodly hour if the night! It does need to get done but Lordy! Ones fashion sense is always greatly compromised when one is bone tired." Muttering under her breath without realizing it, she says "we'll get this done and get back here and then I'll reward myself after what will probably be a whine session of shopping, with a glorious shower and a few hours sleep. I swear, if hear him say "but it's not green...or khaki...or black" (mocking his tone the way women mock men), I think i might just shoot him myself and take my chances..."
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Post by W.R. Lawrence on Mar 10, 2016 6:12:27 GMT -5
Walking down the stairway back into the night outside he says, "I know you are a bit irritated with me for dragging you back out tonight but I thought it best to get this done while it's dark and we can still move with some ease." Peering out through the open door he checks the street. "Perfect, no one about." he says quietly Walking along the street in silence both of them keep watch for anyone who might be following. With no one in pursuit and nothing of interest noted on the walk in, Lawrence opens the door for Clue remains behind for a moment to ensure they aren't followed. Making his way into the brightly lit store his eyes need a moment to adjust Clue is just ahead and he rejoins her. "Almost too much to choose from." he says looking around bewildered.
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Post by The Fixer on Mar 10, 2016 9:02:44 GMT -5
Clue, choosing to ignore the last statement from Lawrence, finds the salesman half asleep, dozing on a stool behind the counter, propped dangerously close to falling over, on a small column holding up the second floor, and decorated will all sorts of accessories. Being in no mood for the trip, and feeling the tired saturating her bones, she raps on the counter to wake the man up. "Sorry to interrupt your sleep, but we are going to need a little help here." The salesman opens his eyes to fully take in the pair now standing before him. He looks them both up and down, nods curtly, and replies "Yes indeed!" He points to Lawrence, "Sir, please, make yourself comfortable in the dressing room on the left." The salesman turns to Clue with one of those eye-rolling looks that says "I see we have our work cut out for us". Clue says to the man "Everything in his size, that you've got. Versatile, 3 outfits total, and one should be a suit. I view everything." The clerk nods knowingly, and hurries around the shop gathering everything. Lawrence can only gape at the stuff the man has grabbed and is now pushing into his arms with a flick of his wrist, dismissing him to the dressing room to get started.
Leaving them to it, Clue takes a moment to actually look around the store. Touching fabrics as she goes. Taking a silent moment to take in the rich, vivid electric blue of a dress that happens to be her exact size. She pulls herself away and picks up 3 T shirts - black, white and deep red, 4 pairs of jeans in various styles, a white button-down collared shirt, black trousers and matching blazer - that are somehow a different colour black than the outfit she already has on, a beautiful tan leather jacket, and that blue dress. Just then she hears someone clear their throat and looks back across the small shop at Lawrence, standing with the look of a lost puppy on his face, the clerk beaming beside him at his clever choice of outfit - black slacks, black sport coat, white button down shirt, and a tye in a blue and yellow paisley. Clue ponders for a second...
Then says, "Lose the tye, keep the rest, though the slacks aren't quite right. What's next?"
- - - - -
Clue says to Lawrence after 45 minutes "Stop whining! I know it isn't that dull green you usually wear, the blue isn't for girls, and yes you did need to get the orange T-shirt!" In the end, Lawrence is walking away with 2 pairs of jeans, the black sport coat, black slacks, a black leather jacket, a white button-down, black button-down and a blue/grey button-down shirt, white, black and orange T-shirts, and an emerald green pull over sweater. A pair of black oxfords, brown oxfords and running shoes he insisted on. He handled his own undergarments and sleep wear and a just-in-case-because-I-want-it set of workout gear. For her trouble, Clue is parting with 2 pairs of jeans, black slacks, blazer, T-shirts in white, black, and red, button-down shirts in white and emerald green, a pair of light khakis, the beautiful tan leather jacket, the electric blue dress, her own undergarments, sleep-wear and a purple cardigan she fell in love with. And one pair of hell-raiser flat black boots that Lawrence insisted she *had* to get so she had sensible footwear for what was coming. All in all, it's as much wardrobe as either of them would need and in less time than she thought it would take.
The salesman was beaming like a Cheshire cat. After settling up and loading Lawrence up with the bags, she turns to him and says, "15 minutes to spare, my friend! And just enough time to hit the 24-hour Drug Store next door to handle the few extra items we'll need." Looking like a cat that swallowed a canary, especially seeing that Lawrence is having a hard time figuring out what just happened to him, she heads for the door.
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Post by W.R. Lawrence on Mar 10, 2016 13:57:51 GMT -5
Dazed, confused and loaded with bags Lawrence moves quickly to keep pace. He remembers nothing from the moment he entered the store but somehow he's got new clothes and Clue is 10 feet ahead of him headed for the door. Struggling to juggle all the bags he mutters to himself, "This must be what its like to be married." Catching her just outside she heads into the pharmacy next door where they take a moment to grab some basic things. After settling up they return to the street and walk back towards the inn. Lawrence strains to contain all the bags as they make their way back up stairs. After checking the sticker he had put on the door to ensure it hadn't been visited Lawrence drags himself and his heavy load inside the room and drops it and himself on the couch. "Phew, he sighs. Quite a day."
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Post by The Fixer on Mar 10, 2016 14:38:36 GMT -5
"Yes it has been quite a day." She begins rummaging through the bags, sorting items, and putting others away in the dresser drawers,and hanging items in the closet. She manages to get at least most if put away in short order, fatigued herself. She turns to Lawrence, to ask if he requires use of the bathroom. Seeing the glazed eyes of a man who has lost about an hour of his night, and the bewildered look on his face still, she assumes the answer is no. "I warned you this was going to be a task and not a leisurely activity", she says to him, collecting the various pots and potions that will help scrape off the past two days, her muscles relax and provide her some sense of normalcy. "I'm going to take a shower and then pour myself into bed", stiffling yet another yawn, "I'll be out in about 15 minutes." She leaves Lawrence blinking after her, and sets up her items in the bathroom. Making quick work of her outfit, she turns on the taps to wait for the warm/hot water. Cleansing off what little makeup she was wearing, she takes a moment to think about the activities of the past two days. Letting her mind wander, she steps into the water stream. Bracing her hands on the shower wall, she simply stands and lets the water sluice over her tired body. Trying to turn off her brain, she utilizes the soap and shampoo to finish scrubbing the wear and tear off, and to allow her to freshen up in the process. Finishing up with the shower, she grabs the nearby towels to make quick work of drying off. Wiping off a spot on the mirror, she realizes the tired is seeping out in her eyes now too. Utilizing those potions and pots, and giving her teeth a refreshing brush, she dresses in the two-piece satin pants and shirt she chose at the store, she pulls on the robe she indulged in as well. Smelling of the peach and vanilla lotion she used, she takes a moment to rest against the door. This is a bit of an experience already, having essentially a stranger sharing a room with her, when they weren't even married. "A fine time to be worried about what her mother would think", she laughs a little. Taking a second to look around the bathroom, putting the items away in the cabinet behind the mirror, she collects her clothing, and a hair brush, and opens the door, letting the steam and smells escape with her.
She takes a quick look at Lawrence, discovering he appears to have gathered himself. She retrieves the laundry bag from the closet and neatly places her clothing in it, returning it to the closet. She looks over at him, smiles and says "All yours, Lawrence. I do hope I haven't maimed you from our shopping trip. I did warn you it wasn't a sport I regularly participate in."
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Post by W.R. Lawrence on Mar 10, 2016 16:07:56 GMT -5
Nodding silently he trudges into the bathroom and take a nice hot shower. As the dirt and stress fall away from him he feels better. "I'd better get right I've got the watch tonight" he thinks. Turning the hot water off he is hit with ice cold water. "Damn that's cold!" he swears. Now completely awake and shivering a bit he climbs out of the shower and stands before the mirror. "You are a wreck old boy." he whispers to himself. Still a bit unnerved from observing Smith's suicide his eyes are a touch sadder than normal and looking more grey. Not wanting to look anymore and quite sore from all of the day's activity he dresses in a t-shirt and pair of shorts and shuts off the light. "Thanks for that." he says to Clue who he soon realizes is already passed out on the bed. Working quietly he covers her with a blanket and steals a quick look at her while she sleeps. "She sleeps so peacefully" he thinks to himself. He hasn't had a decent night of sleep in ages. "By product of a tortured soul." he laments to no one in particular. He quietly tiptoes out of the room and closes the door. After placing his laundry in its bag he grabs the Webley from its holster and sets it on the end table next to his chair. He writes in his journal for a short time and when the yawing becomes too much he decides to call it a night. He arranges his rucksack like a pillow on the cold floor and lies down in front of the outer door. "Anyone trying to sneak in will wake me." He surmises. Laying the Webley near his head he falls asleep within minutes. To tired for even the ghosts of campaigns past to haunt him tonight.
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Post by The Fixer on Mar 10, 2016 20:25:53 GMT -5
The dream sucked her in. The smells, the scene, the people and dialogue all familiar. Always the same. She knows what happens next. She knows and no matter how hard she tries, there's nothing that will change what is about to happen. Her brain only lets her get so far before it kicks in and sends her flying and then falling trying to wake her up so it doesn't relive it again. If someone were watching her sleep, they'd see her struggling against something unknown and already crying. The muttering still incoherent. In her head she's shouting at the people to do something, anything to stop the death that's about to happen. She's pleading and begging him to stop. To make it stop. Anything to make it stop. She's trying everything she can think of. The dream morphs a little with each new thing her subconscious tries, the dream keeps morphing trying to protect her. She's back to flying again knowing he can't touch her up there. Then suddenly she's screaming and waking up. Having no idea where she is....,
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Post by W.R. Lawrence on Mar 10, 2016 20:41:21 GMT -5
Having barely closed his eyes, a scream startles him full awake. Snatching the Webley off the floor he bounds back to the bedroom. Shoving the door open he sees no one, except Clue sitting in the bed wide eyed. Lowering the pistol he drops it on the chair so as not to frighten her any more than she already is. "What's wrong?" he asks looking very worried.
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Post by The Fixer on Mar 10, 2016 20:44:52 GMT -5
She's looking straight at someone but it isn't Lawrence. He's standing there asking what's wrong and she's still pleading for him to stay away. It's audible and pitiful. She's crying and begging and backing up against the headboard trying to make herself small. "Please don't. Please stop. Please..."
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Post by W.R. Lawrence on Mar 10, 2016 20:56:02 GMT -5
Looking behind him Lawrence sees no one. Looking back at her he isn't sure what to do. "What is it you are supposed to do when this happens? Are you supposed to wake them or not?" he thinks As it continues he decides to try and wake her and hopefully not be shot in the process. Turning on the light to do everything he can to make sure she knows its him. He walks in, hands up. "Clue, it's me Lawrence, Wake up! Wake up your having a nightmare!" Reaching her bedside he reaches out and touches her shoulder. Shaking her gently he says "Come on now, wake up!"
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