23 april, 2003 - hedley and sulane ... .. .

Session Start: Wed Apr 23 00:00:09 2003
Session Ident: #apt*311
[00:00] * Now talking in #apt*311
[00:00] * Hedley ([email protected]) has joined #apt*311
[00:00] * Vialweh is now known as sulane|palona
[00:00] * sulane|palona sets mode: +o Hedley

[00:04] <sulane|palona> he strolled off of the elevator humming 'another one bites the dust.'
he had a cigarette hanging on his lower lip, embers turning orange as he puffs on it, now ..
peering at one of the photographs on red, squinting at its angle. his big hands adjust the
frame, righting it. he's in his late forties, but his face seems younger than that .. his eyes
are cold and hard, a little protrusive and a little too blue. as a matter of fact, they were
sulane's color blue .. so stark in his face, leather tan face. he could have been handsome if
his features, his posture, his body weren't hung with such easy aggression. plain cruelty. he
wandered to the door at length, his leather jacket rustling. he peered into the peep hole and
he rang the bell.

[00:13] <Hedley> Glass doors were split down the middle; a breeze bled between, making ghosts
out of shirred fabrics hung beside. A portrait of old Hollywood, in ragtag fashion finds from
clever boutiques. Liquid diet...martini in one hand, opposite fingers finding purchase upon an
olive [one of three in the glass] drenched in vodka. Liquor dribbled down knuckled, lifted...
suckled, bitten. Ashtray graveyard hosted a cigarette ignored, burning down to filtered waste.
The noise interrupted thoughts gone astray. Features sulked, shoulders sagged beneath a
button-up shirt lacking fastenings, tucked away into jeans' slung low upon hips, while tails
escaped such binding. A dawdling trek, crossing living space sterile and white. Knob turned,
door thrown ajar. "What the fuck do you want?" Grey-greens stared out of focus, narrowed.

[00:22] <sulane|palona> "looking lovely as ever, hedley," the man drawled in a muddled
southern accent, very probably feigned .. nevertheless, he affected it most of the time and
butchered it always. "grace in there?" he stood on the toes of his heavy boots, looking over
her head and into the apartment. he tugged the cigarette from his lip and he tapped the ashes
onto the carpet. twin whorls of smoke rose, tiny black stains appear.

[00:26] <Hedley> "Who the fuck's Grace?" Shouldering the doorframe, providing a physical block
for views and passages. Hip jutted with the lean, bare toes pointed the same direction. Frayed
denim swept carpet, too long for a short build. Gaze found and followed the fall of ash. Stares
remained fixed upon the marks...black and grey juxtaposed, breaking into pristine fibers. "No,
no...fuck that. Who the fuck are -you-?" Crawling, sights returned to meet glacial blues.

[00:33] <sulane|palona> he chuckled to himself and it was unkind, gravelled, low in his chest.
beneath the jacket, a taut black t-shirt .. his jeans fit well, just loose enough. they were
clean - he smelled like barbasol and menthols, strong and squared-off shoulders. his knuckles
are raw. "i'm grace's father, james. now. you wanna let me in, gin-baby, or am i gonna have to
invite myself .. " he adjusted his stance and he came a little closer, rolling his shoulders
backward. subtly, his attitude shifted. his empty hand balled itself into a fist.

[00:41] <Hedley> "First of all, it's vodka. I don't do gin. Secondly, you've got the wrong
fuckin' apartment. -Grace- doesn't live here." A sip, olive sucked in meanwhile, held between
teeth bared. Pierced. Immobile in the doorway, fist or no, she was a crazy fuck after all.
Inebriation bought courage for fragility's sake. Chin rose with the Marlboro man's shift,
closer crept, to steady a glare. Clearer then, the fog. Su's eyes were staring back from a
weathered face. "Now back the fuck off." He'd called her Hedley. He recognized her, despite her
own naivete.

[00:45] <sulane|palona> he shook his head and he was leaning now, in, closer to her face. his
brows hoisted right up into his brow, and it rumpled deeply. arctic blonde. "listen here,
little lady. i don't wanna have to get rough with you." his attention slid down her body and
back up again. his knuckles popped. in all other ways he was genteel .. a faux southern
gentleman, nearly good looking, his smile would have been engaging if it hadn't been feral.
sulane isn't in the house. she'd gone out for a tube of red two hours ago. maybe she'd stopped
for coffee. "i know she lives here, my good little whore. where's she up to, you point me in
the right direction."

[00:52] <Hedley> Threatened. Hedley didn't take kindly to threats. Tossed back, the remains of
the martini, the last olive gone as well. Empty glass wielded, lifted to just beneath his chin.
Cool pressure applied. "You mean Su. She's out...doing whatever the hell she does when she's
out. I don't keep tabs, I'm not her fuckin' pimp." Cold, calculated upon suspicion alone. Whore.
Good little whore. She promised to quit that shit. Tongue flickered, escaped past a pout, only
to offer a trace. Wet. "Try calling next time." Final. Stares said leave.

[00:57] <sulane|palona> his hand shot outward, and it would attempt to get her by the throat,
right up underneath her chin - big hands, raw and rough hands. if he managed to get hold of
her he'd give her a good shove inside - and if the safety chain isn't on, he'll muscle himself
inside along with her. his push is savage enough, perhaps, to put her to the floor.

[01:03] <Hedley> No chain, the door had been flung wide. Taken in tow, pushed, pressed within
to stumble. Caught by sofa table, metal and glass angled into kidneys. Stemware fell, saved by
carpet, lush. Sprawled, slowly righting form. Bared neck marked by redness; fingers crept to
sooth flesh, gaze shot for the phone upon the bar, a dash away. Misdirection. A cell was finding
its way into opposite hand pressed for balance to furniture. "sulane isn't her name. her
fucking mother named her that, i didn't name her that. stupid fucking name." he marched at
her and he'd reach for her upper arms, pinching them into his grip - evenly. calmly hurting
her if he managed, holding her shoulders up very close to her ears. "now you see heah, hedley.
i *have* called, i *have* left messages, and *grace* doesn't return my favors. she hangs up on
me. you know why that is .. ?"

[01:13] <Hedley> Pulled, pinched from tabletop lean to straighten fully. Fingers curled about
palm-sized phone. Like a ragdoll, shoulders rose easily. Nostrils flared, but breaths came past
parted lips. "You're barking up the wrong fuckin' tree, man. I don't know her business...don't
cross that line. Personal shit is personal shit. Don't ask, don't tell." Paled visibly, Hedley
looked wild. Glassy eyes were wide, hair mussed by gel, shirt tugged out of place.

[01:16] <sulane|palona> he shook her and he put his nose to her nose. he squashed cartilidge
out of shape, he breathed on her mouth and he was hissing, very carefully enraged. "i think
you know. i think you know because if you don't tell me right now, i'm gonna find out what
you're made of. hm?" he said with little reserve, maybe forcing her face to tip backward.

[01:22] <Hedley> "I'd tell you, if I knew, just so you'd leave me the fuck alone." Even words
spat through clenched teeth. Body bowed, pressed back. Eyes lidded, too close for staring and
she didn't like his breath. "I can lie to you, though, if bullshit makes you feel better."
Balance was a burden, dizzied by drink and circumstance.

[01:30] <sulane|palona> he looked into her eyes awhile. his gaze is stony, unsoft, grey in
aspect like cigarette smoke .. as muderous .. he releases her with a little push and he shakes
out the arms of his jacket with an audible snap. "you tell her i'll be back. and she'd better
be here with my *MON-EYY,* or i'm gonna *cut* her. you heah me? .. made me drop my cigarette.
bitch." he hauled back to catch her in the cheek with his blistered knuckles.

[01:40] <Hedley> Steady stares returned unflinchingly, broken only by release allowed. A
stumble stopped again by the narrow table behind, held hostage to proximity. Caught by force,
head jerked away with cheek flaming red and the corner of her mouth broken. Copper taste flooded
senses, off guard, unsuspecting. Money and knives. Flesh burned by design, stinging as eyes did
amidst shock and hurt.

[01:47] <sulane|palona> he was lighting another cigarette, leaving by the time she was wobbling
toward recovery. his boots fell heavily, even on the thick carpet .. a stronger, more solid
man than he seems. tall and annoyed. "byebye, hedley," he murmured, turning the corner into
the hallway. leaving the door open. "maybe i will call first .. mm .. you tell grace to pick
up her goddamn phone." 'ding' went the elevator. a surprised noise. some scuffling.

[01:55] <Hedley> Fingers pressed to lips, pulled away to find them bearing gifts of crimson
blooms. Tasted with a tongue, that cut, lapping at the corner. Eyes followed that retreat
finally, finding relief in the sound of the elevator's arrival. Bare feet were uncooperative,
shaken. She needed to slam that door, to lock each latch in turn. But she wouldn't. Couldn't.
Fumbling fingers found the phone in hand and hit 7 to dial for Sulane. She sunk to sit upon the
carpet and turned stares to the bar and the vodka waiting.

[01:58] <sulane|palona> out in the hallway, there is a bright and very cheery ringing. it's
muffled by the noise of the elevator closing. sulane doesn't pick up. distinctly, the tiny
chamber slipping downward floors. ding. ding. ding ..

[02:02] <Hedley> The elevator hadn't come to pick -him- up. It had come to deliver Su -home-.
Phoenix rose from ashes, darting for the door, running through and into metal doors closing. A
fist banged against them. Bare feet turned away, just long enough to reach inside and take keys
and purse. Shoes forgotten along with vodka. She'd take the stairs. "Pick up Su...pick up,
goddamn you."

[02:07] <sulane|palona> click. "helloooo hedley. your friendly neighborhood jack-knife here,
and look. *sulane.* squeak, sulane." a muffled shreal and then a voice, widening, as though
a hand had come free of a mouth. "stay home, hedley, stay home! i'll be back tonight, just - "
rattles, crackles.

[02:11] <Hedley> Tearing down steps, two at a time, no care for falling. Not now, not now.
Ignore the heights, the depths, the damage. "SU!! No, no...wait. Wait. Hello? Hello? I have the
money." Exit door passed through in a rush, shirt-tails flapping, too much flesh showing for the
lobby. Aimed to cut them off with her debit card.

[02:14] <sulane|palona> "it's not really about the money, hedley. it's about the stupid japs.
didn't we already say goodbye?" cracklecrackle. there is no click of hanging up, just a thump
as though the phone had been dropped .. the noise of footsteps and sulane howling just one
obscenity - then savage whispering. ding.

[02:18] <Hedley> "Hello?!? Sulane?" Thud. Louder in her ear. Her friend's voice, steps, whispers
...the elevator. She'd beat them. The phone was useless, but she made a beeline past people
giving her odd looks, surviving offhanded comments about -that- photographer on the third floor.
Eccentric. Insane. Worried, now. Metal doors watched, which one?

[02:22] <sulane|palona> they struggled off of the elevator nearest the door. struggled for a
moment and then sulane went stiff, eyes turning wild over the lobby .. stare fastened to hedley,
she shook her head. her back arced. james had her by a wrist. his thumb rested on - or
twisted into - her pulse. another man stood by the door and he, too, had his eye on hedley.

[02:28] <Hedley> Helpless, for wont of a scream to alert security which died in her throat,
thought better of. Eyes pleaded with those strange faces. "Don't hurt her...don't hurt her..."
Breathless whispers falling upon deaf ears. A step nearer, then two. Caution overcame and
wrought her stilled by painter's shaking head. Why didn't you tell me. Why wouldn't you let me
help you. But she'd had troubles of her own, blinded by has-beens and what-might-have-beens.
Anger laced with fear and frustration. Red cheek ignored, numb to everything else, save this.
"Olive juice."

[02:34] <sulane|palona> the man at the door was broad. no neck - a metallica t-shirt and a
pair of ratty grey-black levi's. not quite the sort of person that hung out in their lobby ..
but he took a step foward when he saw hedley appear and fret at james - at sulane - the latter
of which was being marched ahead by the former, toward out. sulane held up two fingers. two
hours, peace, what .. ? 'i love you, too,' she mouthed. the door shhed open.

[02:43] <Hedley> Grey-greens shifted between no neck and Su. Another step. Her look changed
from worry to confusion, brow furrowing, head shaking. Two...two what? "Su?" Arms went wide,
palms held up, phone and purse in hand. Toes curled against cold tiles. There was a sinking
feeling, and if she knew how to pray, she might have fallen to knees right then and there.
Another step...waiting, figuring the Metallica fan would follow those two out. Then she'd
follow, for a glimpse at their car...their direction. Something. How could she just let her go?
Why wasn't her money good enough?

[02:47] <sulane|palona> sulane: a double-take as she passes hedley, near enough to see the
blood on her lip and the knuckle-prints in her cheek. sulane gives a squeal and a tall-girl
flail, but james reins her in .. new york sensibilities prevent any who'd been watching from
getting involved. metallica man does indeed follow, but only after a gimlet glance to hedley ..
a warning look, warding her off. out on the sidewalk, shrieks .. "HOW DARE YOU .. ! HOW DARE
YOU TOUCH HER! MOTHER*FUCKE-" a thin, leanly muscled arm wrenched and bent up behind her back so far that sulane gives a writhe. no neck is hailing a cab. he's thumbing up his pants,
peering at sulane in a dumb, hungry way.

[02:54] <Hedley> The doors closed. A thin, invisible wall between people and worlds. Rushed, to
press face and hands to the glass. For Sulane's sake, she didn't follow, but Hedley wasn't sure
that she'd made the right decision. A relaxing evening had turned out wrong. All -wrong-. White
carpets bore the stains, the burns. How could you? There were no lies, simply no clear truths.
And in the end, Hedley couldn't protect her. If anything happened, she'd have blood on her hands
for the second time. Let them stare, she'd folded. The count began; seconds, minutes, hours...
for a return. She was crazy, no one would say a thing.

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