notfaking_it

Entry tags:

gathering

May 4

When their roles are posted, Lily smiles knowingly at Nina across the small crowd of mostly disappointed dancers, then crosses over to her and tells her they're going to have a party to celebrate. She tells Nina to invite whoever she wants, says she'll host it, it'll happen this weekend, then she disappears to make plans. She leaves Nina without time to protest on purpose.

On the night of the party, she has drinks and food set out in her kitchen. She's invited most of the people she knows and even a few she doesn't -- dancers, mostly, because she doesn't want to leave them out -- and there's already music playing even before anyone has arrived. The intention is to be casual, relaxed, but there are pills in Lily's pocket, for anyone who knows her well enough to ask, for anyone she thinks might need to relax a little.

Nina's doing better now, but Lily has no problem helping her come out of her shell if it comes to that. And she has no problem helping anyone else either.

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"Really?" Lily asks, arching an eyebrow, surprised by the offer. "Mid-June, but I can let you know the times and dates closer to the opening. I'll even give you a comp ticket so you can come for free, just in case you hate it." She loves the ballet, loves dancing more than anything, loves watching almost as much, but she knows it isn't for everyone.

"You know what, if you can make that two tickets, I bet Elizabeth'll like it, even if I hate it." And that right there would be worth any boredom he might have. The kid deserves some time on the town, safe, supervised time on the town. She's picking up a lot, but he knows she's never lived in any city, especially not one like this.

"She likes dancing."

"I can do that," Lily says, lighting up in a smile again. "So you found your Elizabeth, then?" She didn't have a hand in it at all, but she's glad to hear it all the same. He'd seemed so concerned about her that first day and it's nice to know that at least one thing has gone right for him since his arrival.

"She showed up here a few days ago." And as much as he hates that she's trapped in this new cage, he's glad he's at least here to keep an eye on her. Kid never gets a break and for the first time in a long time he feels something like... affection for her. He wants to protect her. Needs to. She's still somebody's daughter if not Comstock's.

Damn, why does his head hurt all of a sudden?

Rubbing his temple, he still manages to smile, "She's getting used to the place."

"That's good to hear," she says, and she means it. Darrow can be an adjustment for most people, but she can't imagine what it's like for someone from a completely different time and although she doesn't know Elizabeth at all, she can tell Booker cares for her. "I'll have to meet her sometime."

Though she has to wonder if Booker would appreciate her influence.

"I think she'll like having people to meet." Not that he isn't going to keep an eye on it. He wants to make sure she's making the right friends and not getting in trouble.

"She had a... let's just call it a sheltered childhood."

"All the more reason for her to have a friend who might be a little less... sheltered," she answers, one corner of her mouth lifting into a smile. She's far from sheltered herself, having been on her own since she was seventeen, pushing herself into the world of dancing at any cost. "Especially with some of the people out on these streets, pointing guns at people just trying to help them," she teases.

"Hey, now, I was having a very bad day. And I didn't shoot you, did I?" He's teasing, a smile on his face. He knew she wasn't holding it against him, but he could poke some fun if he wants to. She seems to be a nice gal, even if she was forward.

"I need to make it up to you?"

Not even a week ago, she might have made a suggestive comment or asked him to take her out for a drink, but she finds herself unable to do so now and she knows it's because Delta's here, standing not far away. She doesn't dwell on that for long.

"You came to my party," she says, smiling a little. "If my very sweet friend Nina comes over to talk to you and you're nice to her, I'll consider us even."

"Nina, hm? I'll have to keep an eye out." While he enjoys his nice drink. Sure are a bewildering amount of them at this party, he's never seen so many kinds. But then he's always been just a beer and whisky man himself, so he's not an expert on the fancier things.

"Anything I need to know about her?"

"She's dancing the role of the prince to my Sleeping Beauty," Lily says. "And she likes to talk about dancing. A lot." Sometimes she thinks Nina uses it as a security blanket of sorts. She doesn't have to be Nina so long as she can be the dancer.

"And she's shy," she adds, smiling again. "Try not to scare her."

"I'll do my best, but I can't make any promises. Least I didn't come armed?" He opens the jacket he's wearing so she can see inside. For once, no guns. Although there was a razor-sharp knife in his boot.

No sense being crazy.

"Well, wasn't that sweet of you," Lily says, laughing as she examines the inside of his jacket. Just because he's not carrying any guns doesn't mean he's completely unarmed, but she appreciates it anyway. "So at least I know no one's going to leave my party in an ambulance. Probably."

"Long as everyone plays as nice as you, I don't think we'll have a problem." He looks down at her as she examines his coat, wondering what in the hell he's doing. This kind of socializing, it isn't him. Never was. She's a pretty girl, but she's out of his league by a mile and more.

Maybe he should just go home and stay sober for a night.

"My friends are all very well behaved, I promise," she says, but there's something in her tone and in her smile that says otherwise. Even if her friends are usually well behaved, Lily knows she isn't, which is part of what makes parties like this so much fun.

"Except maybe that one," she says, pointing to one of the dancers. "She's terrible."

"I didn't say I wanted well-behaved, kid, I'm just looking for nice." He smirks over the rim of his drink as he looks around the room, eyes falling on the dancer she points out.

"That one, huh? Guess I'll have to be careful."

"You're right, there is a difference," she agrees, returning his smirk. For the most part, though she's sure some might disagree, she's perfectly nice, if not always well-behaved. "She's not the only one, most dancers have their little rebellions. I think it's compensation for having to be so rigid the rest of the time."

Rigid control? Sounds like how Elizabeth was raised, locked up in her tower like some kind of princess. Hell, is she going to have a little rebellion, too? He's not sure he can handle that, he can barely handle her as she is. He's not father material, never has been.

Feeling a spike of pain in his skull, he closes his eyes for a moment, pressing the bridge of his thumb with his fingers. Hasn't had a pain like that since Finkton.

He needs another drink. "Can I get you a refill, Lily?"

"Yeah," she says, watching as he closes his eyes. "I'll come with you. Are you okay?" He looks like he might have a headache and she has more than enough advil stashed in her bathroom if he needs it. The drink will probably only make it worse, but she's not about to tell him he can't drink.

"Do you need a painkiller?" she asks. "I can grab you something."

"No, ma'am, I'll be fine." The last thing he wants is to be thinking about these damn headaches again. Gone as soon as they arrive and damn if he knows what's triggering them.

The pain's already subsiding (thank God it didn't come with a nosebleed this time) and he motions to her hand again. "How about that drink, huh?"

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May 4

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