01-19-2018, 10:30 AM
A woman pulled up. Blonde and slender and immaculately dressed.
"Walking over this in bare feet hasn't been my finest idea, but I'll live."
She'd already refused Jared's assistance and the ambulance's aid and didn't intend to make a fuss. Not that the kindness was not appreciated. In fact the warmth was like walking into a field of nectar-filled flowers, as if the woman's gentleness was a tangible thing. No wonder Jared seemed relieved to see her.
Her only qualm was looking into that pristine interior and considering just how filthy she was in comparison -- this woman clearly had some wealth to her name. But Natalie was simply too tired to linger over niceties like dripping blood on the elegant leather. She could always pay for the dry-cleaning.
"Since the drama is finally over, I will take my leave."
Alvis had settled back into himself; unobtrusive in that slightly unsettling way she remembered from years back. Definitely not an art dealer, or not only. But like everything associated with the memory of her father, she kept those questions at arm's distance. He seemed to feel the same way because he did not glance down at her, just levelled a look on Jared as though bequeathing the promise of her safety into his hands now.
Natalie rolled her eyes and limped her way over to the car.
"Natalie Grey,"
she told the woman as she eased herself in. She didn't offer her hand, since it was rusted with blood, but she did slip back into the comfort of formality like old armour. She was on rote now, mind spinning in the background with all those little puzzle pieces. It felt surprisingly nice to sit down.
"Walking over this in bare feet hasn't been my finest idea, but I'll live."
She'd already refused Jared's assistance and the ambulance's aid and didn't intend to make a fuss. Not that the kindness was not appreciated. In fact the warmth was like walking into a field of nectar-filled flowers, as if the woman's gentleness was a tangible thing. No wonder Jared seemed relieved to see her.
Her only qualm was looking into that pristine interior and considering just how filthy she was in comparison -- this woman clearly had some wealth to her name. But Natalie was simply too tired to linger over niceties like dripping blood on the elegant leather. She could always pay for the dry-cleaning.
"Since the drama is finally over, I will take my leave."
Alvis had settled back into himself; unobtrusive in that slightly unsettling way she remembered from years back. Definitely not an art dealer, or not only. But like everything associated with the memory of her father, she kept those questions at arm's distance. He seemed to feel the same way because he did not glance down at her, just levelled a look on Jared as though bequeathing the promise of her safety into his hands now.
Natalie rolled her eyes and limped her way over to the car.
"Natalie Grey,"
she told the woman as she eased herself in. She didn't offer her hand, since it was rusted with blood, but she did slip back into the comfort of formality like old armour. She was on rote now, mind spinning in the background with all those little puzzle pieces. It felt surprisingly nice to sit down.