don't blame it on me

[gevurah]

WHO: KATE and YOU
WHERE: various locations
WHEN: Nov. 4th – 8th
WARNINGS: tba
SUMMARY: a failed attempt at a "normal" life and bad habits have a way of returning.
FORMAT: tagger's choice


➊ liquor store ( early evening )

[ She tells herself this isn't what Helena or hell, even her father wouldn't want to see her like this, but she doesn't feel ready to put on the uniform again. She feels less and less worthy of it each day and it's tearing her apart from the inside, so she does the only thing she remembers on how to fill that void.

And they don't have any beer in the home.

So Kate ventures down the aisles of the liquor store, scoping out the different brands and bottles. Maybe something new will catch her eye, though it's only with a small sliver of hope; she's always been fond of whiskey and has rarely deviated from it. ]


➋ a bar or club ( late evening / night )

[ Unsurprisingly, she spends more time in the bars lately. She needs to fill up her hours somehow; barhopping it is. When she's not having a drink with attractive women she's chatted up and exchanged numbers with (if she hasn't already left with one), she's joined the crowd in the middle of the room to dance until she can't feel her heels anymore. The energy in the room is almost electric and she soaks it up, drowning out all the things weighing on her mind without a second thought. ]


➌ the park ( daytime )

[ When she doesn't get a chance to sleep in, she's hauled out the apartment by their large black dog and toward the park so Schnitzel can get her daily exercise. She's half-convinced the dog is purposely trying to enforce a regiment for Kate herself.

They trek up the pathway into the park and when they've settled into a clearing, she undoes the leash and watches Schnitzel run around, jumping after piles of leaves with her tag waving excitedly. Kate occasionally throws a disk that she zips after and brings back to her, sitting obediently until Kate throws it once more.

Underneath dark shades her eyes sting, still trying to adjust to the morning light. In spite of the shades, it's hard to miss the shock of red hair seated alone on one of the benches, oddly isolated from everyone else playing with their kids and dogs in the area. ]

Comments

barrrrr

[ecphrasis]

[It's been a while since Molly has gone to a bar alone. She used to go with Zee, but since she had left the bar scene just hadn't appealed to her much. But now that Sherlock and John were gone... well, it just seemed right. Somehow.

Maybe she was just in a mood to feel sad for herself.

And so she's found herself at the bar after work. She's even dressed herself up a little since she doesn't have to be in early tomorrow ("dressed up" meaning jeans and a shirt that is covered neither in cat hair nor bodily fluids from the clinic). She has a glass of wine in front of her as she sits in a little corner table, staring glumly at the people dancing. If Zatanna were here, they would be out there. She shakes her head, taking a gulp of wine and urging herself not to think of her lost friends. It won't do her any good.]

[gevurah]

[ She's gone at many things alone before and still does; being a one woman party doesn't bother her much... sometimes. There are plenty of excitable people tonight she could leave with, maybe head on down to a bar down the street and again and again until it was time for the morning crowd to get to work.

She recognizes Molly even from across the bar. She thinks of Sherlock and John and their departure and her heart sinks into her stomach. But she thinks about Molly, who is a close associate of the two. She remembers frightening her that one time in the lab and decides she owes her something for it.

She eventually slips next to Molly, a friendly demeanor and sudden interest in her in place. ]

Looking a bit too lonely over here.

[ecphrasis]

[The wine is almost gone and Molly is feeling a little better about her life. She's a doctor, so of course she knows that it's just different chemicals in her brain being stimulated and blocked, but that doesn't matter right now. Not feeling sorry for herself and her dwindling list of friends is what matters.

It's easy for her to jump a little when Kate sits beside her, and she just barely misses tipping over her wine glass. Shock is evident on her face, but she manages to close her mouth and take a breath before smiling.]

Do I? Sorry, didn't mean to. It's just--you know, things. Thinking about them.

[gevurah]

[ She has to wonder who drinks wine at a bar, but Molly strikes her as a classy kind of lady who prefers red.

The smile on Kate's face doesn't fade, but she does tilt her head curiously. ]

Them?

➊

[withamask]

[ With her return from Capers, Renee has been coping with a loss of her own. Instead of stopping by a bar, she opts to visit the store for her alcohol. She wants this to be a quick visit; the last thing she needs is to run into someone she knows.

And, of course, that's just what happens. As she reaches for a bottle resting on one of the shelves, she notices Kate browsing the aisles a few feet away.

Great. ]

[gevurah]

[ She hasn't picked up a single bottle yet and she realizes once again she's wasting time in the day. That's all she does now when she's not working, try to fill that void.

As she turns to head down the aisle, she sees Renee and freezes in place.

Though she's relieved to see her in one piece (those off world adventures were always problematic), her shoulders still sag a little with a quiet sigh. ]

Welcome back.

[withamask]

[ She nods numbly, her hand falling to her side. What is there to say? ]

Hey.

[gevurah]

[ She almost wants to tell Renee she shouldn't be in here, surrounded and tempted by her favourite vice, but she restrains herself by reminding herself Renee doesn't have the same experiences she had the last time she was here. ]

When did you get back?

1.

[retropolis]

[ Nelson's become a bit of a connesuier in alcohol since growing older, which is something of a well-kept secret although not really. He drinks sometimes with dinner, but always kept the minibar at home well-stocked with harder liquor so that a quick drink was always at hand: just add ice.

It's not something that's changed in the City; it's a comfort, familiar by now, and what else does he have to do with his downtime except drink? He's not at that age where he has to be on duty 24/7 anymore, and that's even less of a problem here. Hooded Junior is tied up outside, leash knotted expertly around a meter, as Nelson inspects a bottle of brandy.

He sees Kate out of the corner of his eye, that red hair impossible to mistake, and by then it's too late to pretend he doesn't see her. ]

Oh-- um. Hello.

[ It's awkward. How long has it been? ]

[gevurah]

[ She seems more than surprised to see him for some reason indiscernible to herself. It has been a while and she hasn't made it a priority to seek him out. While she respects his service and thinks of him as rather polite man, a couple of his comments the last time they had spoken had been... odd.

Didn't jive with her all too well. ]

Hello, Sir.

[ She may have let part of herself go for the time being, but she knows when to show her respect. ]

[retropolis]

Uh--

[ He looks at the bottle in his hand before he lowers it and replaces it on the shelf, eying a whiskey also worth inspecting. He leaves it for now, flicking his gaze back toward Kate sheepishly. He manages a smile. ]

What brings you out tonight? I wasn't expecting to run into anyone I knew.

[gevurah]

Restocking mostly.

[ But her hands are still empty. Most people walk into the liquor store, pick out what they want and are done with it. Kate doesn't mean to linger, but...

She hates being in the apartment sometimes, the sharp reminder it's not home suddenly heavier than usual. Then there's Nill and Kate not knowing how to talk to her properly since returning. ]

What's your poison?

3.

[acrossyourpath]

[ Felicia is no morning person by any stretch of the term, but she is easily restless. Now that she isn't going out in costume quite as much, the energy she'd normally expend at night keeps her up, waiting until the light begins to rise so she can get out of the house and do something.

Going to the park is always easy. It's always there, and there aren't as many people around at this time of morning but enough to watch, to keep things interesting.

Seeing a familiar face, she sits down on the otherwise empty bench. ]

Morning. You're up early.

[gevurah]

[ She blinks owlishly a few times behind her shades, eyelids still heavy with fatigue. When she cants her head to see Felicia, though she's registered the voice, she looks on with an expression of genuine surprise; she doesn't think she's ever seen Felicia out this early in the two years she's known her. ]

Morning. Could say the same for you.

[ Schnitzel comes trotting back with the throwing disk in her mouth and sets it down in Kate's lap before seating herself neatly before the two, waiting for Kate to toss it again. ]

[acrossyourpath]

Mm. Couldn't sleep.

[ Which is a simplified explanation, but not untrue either. Felicia leans forward over her knees for a moment before changing her mind and leaning back instead, arms folding over the back of the bench at her elbows. She looks at Kate curiously, noting the sunglasses. ]

Not hungover, are you?

[gevurah]

No, just a late night.

[ At least she takes care to wash herself of the mixture of alcohol and sweat from the clubs, even carrying breath mints around to mask the scent in case it's still there in the morning.

She flicks her wrist and the disk spins through the air, Schnitzel tearing off after it. ]

Dogs, you know?

[ She brought her in, she knows it's simply her job to walk the dog when Nill is still sleeping. ]

1.

[guestlectures]

[It's going to be another long night in for Alana, so she's down at the liquor store picking up a little something to help her get through it.

It's also a reward for recovering from whatever it was that affected her in Capers.

She's browsing the more expensive wines when she spots what she thinks is a familiar face.]

Kate... right?

[gevurah]

[ She's checking out a bottle of Maker's Mark when Alana approaches her. Her expressions lights up instantly; this is a pleasant surprise. ]

Dr. Bloom, hello.

3; nov. 8th

[viced]

[ Daytime in the park is (mostly) a bad place to be, but mayors have things they have to do in the park, like ribbon cuttings, and things that really just need the official seal of mayoral approval to get done. He hates it, but there's nothing to do but deal.

Afterward, of course, is when he's really accessible. He's strolling along the sidewalk, security detail giving the wide berth they know he needs, even while they look for any sign of trouble. He could've gone back to the office -- he needs to go back to the office, but taking the twenty minutes to do a full walk of the park is good for him, hell, Bradbury would probably be proud of him for actually getting some goddamn exercise, but he doesn't think on that for long.

He does, however, notice Kate -- and a moment later, notice her dog.

Who is giving him the stinkeye, of course it fucking is. He gives her a wave, walking along, recognizing her, but not approaching any closer than to say "afternoon", even while he steps to the furthest side of the path, giving the dog an even wider berth.

He and animals? Really didn't get along. Actually, they downright hated him. ]

[gevurah]

[ Schnitzel is a well trained dog, so the low growl she emits from deep in her throat alarms Kate. The large dog doesn't move toward Mitch, but her stance is both defensive and threatening. Kate's quick to get off the bench and hurry up between the two. ]

Heel.

[ She looks at the dog once and she obeys, ceasing her growls.

From behind her sunglasses she surveys Mitch. She's never been too fond of him, mostly due to his backing of Harvey Dent during his lawyer stint. While her intense dislike (seething hatred really) for Dent outweighs the disappointment and dislike she holds toward Mitch, she's not here to pick fights.

But she does think she should have let Schnitzel scare Mitch some. ]

Sorry about that.

[viced]

[ He winced, still taking a few steps back from the dog. He was very, very well aware of his reputation with the animal kingdom, and had even gone out of his way to be pretty safe, considering the atmosphere of the City.

But he was also met with her -- Kate Kane -- but he didn't think about the things he knew. Or at least, he didn't dwell on them.

He never did, of course. Or he'd gotten into the habit of not doing it, avoiding thinking of them in ink and panels, and instead as flesh and bone. He did know she didn't like him, but that was pretty par for the course.

He was a politician, that was par for the course. ]

It's, ah, alright. Animals fucking hate me, it's a miracle she's just doing that.

[ He pointed at the dog with his hand, keeping it close to his body, not reaching out. Everything in his body said that he was on high alert. Very obviously the kind of person that was intimately used to this kind of treatment from them. ]

[gevurah]

[ She leans down to reattach the leash to Schnitzel's collar, only granting her a short amount of the leash that way she sticks close enough to avoid snapping at Mitch's feet if she suddenly feels the urge to. She's never seen the dog act like this before anyone who wasn't a threat.

Maybe like master, like dog. ]

She's trained. [ A beat. ] Out for a walk, Mayor Hundred?

( bar )

[detriments]

[Maybe it was only coincidence, maybe it was intended to happen. God knows Christine rarely lets things fall to chance, but curiosity is a force that draws her in as strongly as any other. That could be why she's here, that could be why she's in the middle of a crowd that can't quite compare to how exquisitely she dresses and makes herself known, bright and chunky earrings announcing wealth and style in a manner that makes more than a couple of bystanders pay for her drinks and try to garner her attention. To no avail, of course.

The redhead reminds her of someone from home. Isabelle's assistant, with bright red, shortly cut hair and a strong resentment and resolve in her bright eyes. Christine knew very well what she wanted, and the way she thought she could hide it only made her all the more pathetic. The thought amuses her, and so she waits for Kate to approach the counter to speak up, fingers toying with the lip of her glass.]

Don't tell me: you're mending a broken heart.

[gevurah]

[ When Kate's eyes land on Christine, there's a glint of pleasant surprise in her eyes. She hasn't noticed the other until now and she likes what she sees. She succumbs to temptation, pushing guilty thoughts about Helena aside and she rotates her form to show Christine's captured her undivided attention. ]

I'll tell you if you let me buy you a drink.

[detriments]

My, you certainly don't waste any time, do you.

[By the sound of her tone, Christine seems to like that. There's no criticism in her gaze.]

Do I get your name first, at least?