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Post by Lyra Newbury on Jan 20, 2017 15:27:16 GMT -5
She wanted to believe Vanessa. Lyra was clinging to the hope that one day Julian would realize that her accident wasn't his fault, that he didn't have to be afraid of her dying like Belle, and the he would come back. He just needed time. Wasn't that what Mason had told her? Julian needed time and he needed to paint. Then he would come back and they could be happy again.
Lyra gave a faint smile at the idea that they would be together again. But something about Vanessa's convictions caught Lyra's attention. Was she being sympathetic (without giving her that look that everyone else seemed to give her, that look that she hated) or did she know about lost loves, too? Lyra didn't have time to pull herself together and ask before Vanessa excused herself and made her way to the stage.
Her song was uplifting though still a little sad. But it didn't make Lyra cry like Vanessa's first song had. She felt better and when the song ended Lyra clapped for her new friend.
"You really do have such a lovely voice," she complimented. "I felt like you were singing to someone special." She was hinting, instead of jumping out with the question she had meant to ask earlier.
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Post by Vanessa VanRyan on Jan 20, 2017 15:49:58 GMT -5
Vanessa felt ill. The bourbon never had sat well with her, though Wes could drink it like water. Her heart was heavy, it snuck up on her listening to Lyra's story, remembering how in love she had been with her own fiance.
"Thank you." she said softly, "I sing for Wes." she said automatically, though a moment later she was surprised she had said it. Early in her career as Wes had been promoting her singing, other managers had attempted to sign her, they had an image of her success, but she told them that she sang for Wes. He was part of the deal, and he was her manager.
She sobered. "It's getting late."
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Post by Lyra Newbury on Jan 20, 2017 15:56:23 GMT -5
Wes. Vanessa had a Wes and Lyra had been too caught up with Julian to notice. She kicked herself mentally for not thinking to ask anything about Vanessa sooner. She was selfish, she needed to work on that.
"Oh, yeah, sorry. You've been working all day. You probably want to get home." She looked around to see if Vanessa's friend had come in to escort Vanessa home again.
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Post by Vanessa VanRyan on Jan 20, 2017 16:02:45 GMT -5
"Nah. I'm good for a while. Derek isn't here anyway, he must have got caught up." she smiled, "Which means there's time for another song." she nudged her new friend.
She didn't want to think about Wes. She would. Later. Alone. Where she could cry a million tears she had already cried, but while she had the company she would make the most of it.
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Post by Lyra Newbury on Jan 20, 2017 16:19:32 GMT -5
"Oh really? What are you singing this time?" she asked, deflecting the gentle nudges to get back on stage. She sighed. "I don't know if I can do another. I don't want to think about Julian anymore."
Her heart was heavy and the only songs that came to mind elicited a swelling of emotions in her chest. If she chose something it would be sad, she would cry, then she'd have to drink more and already she wasn't sure if she was going to be able to apparate to Sam's safely. She'd probably need to call a carriage. She certainly couldn't stay at her flat, not for a very long time.
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Post by Vanessa VanRyan on Jan 20, 2017 23:24:13 GMT -5
"Yes you do." Vanessa said with sad smile, "I'm not saying to drown in misery for the rest of your life. But it just happened. You need to wallow. You need to take another shot, and get up there and sing your misery out." she said encouragingly.
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Post by Lyra Newbury on Jan 21, 2017 0:00:56 GMT -5
Lyra sighed heavily, her shoulders falling forward as she did so. Vanessa seemed to be the only person who understood. Everyone else, while sympathetic, wanted Lyra to make peace and move on. She knew that she should move on, but she didn't want to and Vanessa's endorsement of wallowing was exactly what she wanted to hear. If not what she needed to hear.
She nodded and took another shot, then headed up to the stage. She waited for a moment as the other singer finished their song. She clapped out of politeness though the song was too peppy for her current tastes. She grasped the microphone and waited for the music to start.
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Post by Vanessa VanRyan on Jan 21, 2017 0:46:04 GMT -5
Lyra was doing better, it took a few songs to hear yourself and get used to the mic, but alcohol was a great confidence booster. Vanessa clapped loudly for her friend as she finished the song.
"We'll make a regular of you yet." Vanessa smiled. She brightened when she saw Derek.
"Oh look, our ride's here!"
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Post by Lyra Newbury on Jan 21, 2017 0:55:47 GMT -5
Lyra stepped down from the stage, feeling better than she had before. She still thought of Julian as she sang and it caused her voice to stick in her throat and tears to roll down her cheeks but now as she came back to the table she didn't feel the immediate need to drink.
She had only just walked up to the table when Vanessa commented on her handsome friend's arrival. She looked past the brunette to see Derek and was instantly reminded that he was indeed very attractive. Then she felt wretched for thinking such a thing when Julian was out there, loving her from afar. Having no desire to go back to her flat, she didn't consider that Derek and Vanessa might try to walk her home as they had before. Lyra hadn't mentioned earlier that she was staying with Samantha for the time being, she was too busy sharing every single detail of her love for Julian.
"Well, have a good night then," she said to Vanessa as Derek approached them. "I'm sure I'll be back soon." Very soon. Vanessa made Lyra feel normal for missing Julian so deeply, she would need to be around that more often.
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Post by Vanessa VanRyan on Jan 21, 2017 1:26:10 GMT -5
"Wait, where are you going?" Vanessa asked with a frown as Lyra made to leave, "I figured we'd all walk home together."
"'Fraid not V." Derek said overhearing her. He looked worse for the wear in many ways, but the deep concern in his eyes worried her.
"What happened to you? And what's going on?"
Derek leaned in to whisper a few things to Vanessa in private.
"It'll be fine, you can stay at the estate with my brother."
Vanessa made a face, "Derek...I really don't want to impose..."
"I can get you a room at the Avalon."
"Are you kidding, one night there is three times what I make in a week." she said not necessarily over-exaggerating either.
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Post by Lyra Newbury on Jan 21, 2017 1:38:36 GMT -5
Lyra hesitated and started to explain that she wasn't staying at her flat for the time being, when Derek spoke instead. She tried not to listen in on their conversation, but she didn't try too hard.
"Actually," she chimed in. "I'm staying with a friend for a while, you know, because of..." Lyra looked sheepishly at Vanessa, deciding that Derek probably didn't want to hear about her troubles with Julian when he was clearly dealing with his own issues. "Anyway, if you need a place to stay my flat's free. I know my house elf would be happy for the company." Lyra had made Samantha agree to take Mimsy, but as Lyra was not staying with Samantha she had yet to pull the trigger on that deal. She didn't want Mimsy to fuss over her as she knew the elf would, so Mimsy was staying at the apartment alone. Other witches might not have cared about the feelings of a house elf, but Lyra liked the little thing and felt bad for leaving her in limbo.
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Post by Derek Burke on Jan 21, 2017 1:50:05 GMT -5
Derek nodded. Vanessa wasn't safe at Derek's. He had already spoken to his brother, which was not in the least bit fun, about taking extra precautions, but he realized he would need to protect his new young ward as well.
Vanessa bit her bottom lip troubled. Derek simply said that it wasn't safe at his place for the time being. Vanessa knew enough to respect Derek's words, but she was at a loss for a living situation. She had been sleeping at Stu's so obviously she was rather desperate for a home though she had other places to stay. Derek's had been perfect. She thought about the hotel, but it really was too expensive for her and she would hate to be indebted to Derek for that as well. Now Lyra was offering up her place and Vanessa was loathe to make that kind of an impression on her new friend, but what choice did she have?
"If you're absolutely sure, and I'll clean and cook...or whatever you need." she was quick to offer.
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Post by Lyra Newbury on Jan 21, 2017 2:01:24 GMT -5
Lyra smiled at the offer, her first real smile of the night. "That's sort of the whole point of having a house elf. Mimsy will take care of all of that. That was the whole reason Julian got her for me. He said it was just a coincidence but I'm pretty sure he knew I couldn't handle taking care of myself." Her smile faltered at the thought of Julian and again at how he had spoiled her.
"Julian put all the protective charms you could want on the place. It's really very safe. There's even a brand new door." Nik had inspected it himself. "Come on, I'll show you where everything is." Quickly. She didn't want to spend too much time there without someone to calm her down in case...when she started getting worked up.
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Post by Derek Burke on Jan 21, 2017 2:06:56 GMT -5
"I'll walk you." Derek said in a slightly protective and hovering sort of way which told Vanessa something bad had happened.
"A-alright then." she said with a nod. She went to retrieve her coat while Lyra paid her tab and then walked with them back to Lyra's apartment.
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Post by Lyra Newbury on Jan 21, 2017 2:15:48 GMT -5
"Are you coming inside?" she asked Derek in an inviting tone as she unlocked the door to her flat. Her hands shook a little but otherwise she was too focused on Vanessa and Derek to think about Julian. Derek looked a little banged up and as they had walked down the street Lyra noted that he appeared on guard.
She pushed open the door and was instantly greeted by Mimsy, who's huge orb-like eyes were filled with excitement at seeing Lyra. Lyra forced a smile. "Mimsy, this is Vanessa. She's going to be staying here a while. And this is Derek, he's a friend. Can you get us some tea?" Lyra didn't particularly want any tea right now, and had only made the request to keep the elf out of her way until she left, but she suddenly realized that she'd had far too much alcohol and some strong tea might help sober her up.
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Post by Derek Burke on Jan 21, 2017 2:41:04 GMT -5
Derek stepped inside Lyra's flat and relaxed just a bit. He checked the security charms and frowned almost, "You weren't kidding about security here."
He knew it wasn't standard for the apartments. Either Lyra's boyfriend was paranoid, or there was a reason for such precautions. At any rate it was safer than his apartment at the moment.
"Thank you so much Lyra, really this is very kind of you." Vanessa said stepping inside.
"Hello Mimsy." Vanessa smiled widely at the elf. She hadn't had contact with a house elf since she left home. Only rich houses had them. She spoke then without thinking, "Oh she's darling." Vanessa said of Mimsy, "Nalo would wait at home for me too."
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Post by Lyra Newbury on Jan 21, 2017 3:06:23 GMT -5
When Mimsy was gone Lyra's forced pleasant expression faded. "She's a good elf," Lyra said of Mimsy, almost a little saddened at the thought. Mimsy was a good elf and Lyra had left her alone all this time and was in deals to give her away. If only she didn't remind Lyra of Julian so much.
"Here, I'll get you a key." Lyra went over to a drawer on the table near the sofa. She rummaged through the mess until she found a small brass key. "They're enchanted so you can't duplicate them." Another one of Julian's precautions.
"The kitchen's through there," she said, pointing toward the doorway where Mimsy had disappeared only a few moments ago. "Help yourself to whatever you'd like. Mimsy goes shopping every week but she'll make a special run if there's something else you want." She hesitated. "But...um...there's a bottle of wine...You know what I'm just going to take it with me," she said hesitantly. On the day that Julian broke her heart Lyra had sent Mimsy out to track down his favorite wine. It was extraordinarily expensive and difficult to locate as it was a vintage wine and Lyra had asked Mimsy if possible to get two bottles. One she kept at her flat, thinking there would be many more reasons in their future to uncork it for him. The other she had taken with her to see Julian, but ended up leaving it shattered on the floor when she saw Julian with...
Lyra tucked her chin down as she went in to the kitchen quickly and grabbed the bottle of wine. She reemerged soon after, hugging the bottle like a life line with a few new tears sitting in her eyes waiting to fall. "Bedroom," she said with a false smile as she continued the tour.
"The bedroom is in here, as is the bathroom." It was her first time seeing the bathroom since her accident. She stared at the spotless tile floor, using what she was told of the night to picture Julian holding her bloodied body. Lyra quickly turned away only to be met with the portrait Julian had painted for her. Her chest began to rise and fall with short, shallow breaths.
Still hugging Julian's wine she moved swiftly to the portrait and pulled it off the wall. She needed to take these back to him. Back to his house. She couldn't keep them.
Now ladened with wine and a large portrait Lyra rushed back into the living room. Tears were falling freely. "There's um...a projector in the closet....and um..." She couldn't bear it any longer. Lyra turned on her heel and headed for the door, nearly trampling Mimsy in the process. She wrenched the front door open and ran out into the hallway.
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Post by Derek Burke on Jan 21, 2017 3:16:38 GMT -5
Vanessa didn't know what to say. There were no words for heartbreak.
"I'm sure I'll find every-" she said but was cut off by Lyra running out the door. Vanessa hit Derek's shoulder and made a motion for him to go after her, which he did.
"Hey...I'm not sure what went on back there, but it's not safe. Let me walk you to your place, uh where are you staying? Or if you'd rather at least let me get you a carriage. It's the least I can do for all your help tonight."
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Post by Lyra Newbury on Jan 21, 2017 3:31:59 GMT -5
At this point Lyra was sobbing. She was leaning up against the wall trying to stop herself and having absolutely no luck. When Derek came out to meet her there was a sense of shame added on top of her sorrow. She leaned her portrait up against the wall and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.
"I'm fine," she said, looking at her feet. "I was going to call a carriage." He was sweet to offer.
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Post by Derek Burke on Jan 21, 2017 3:38:03 GMT -5
"Allow me." he said quickly sending his patronus off. Within minutes an elegant black carriage with a 'B' boldly engraved on the side pulled up to the apartment complex.
Vanessa didn't want to overwhelm her friend, but at the same time wanted to make sure she got to her destination safely. She was still chewing on her lip whether or not to go after Lyra. Instead she turned and comforted the house elf, "It's alright Mimsy. Derek will take care of her."
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