Cordelia Rockwell

✉️ [>Kiernan] So, wait. Are you friends, or are you ‘friends’ ?

✖️[>Kiernan] Like. You can have him if you want.

“If it isn’t allowed, I’ll make it so. Besides, I’ve got a huge desk that I sit at all day. Surely they won’t care if I drag another person along.” Andie said, smiling at the girl. Suddenly they were on stage, the light on them, and Andie shook her head with a deep breath. Being in the public eye made her nervous, especially given the ever-growing anxiety she experienced since coming home from the war. But nevertheless, if this was going to make her friend happy, she would do it - sweaty palms and all.

She took the microphone Cee had handed her and squinted passed the lights that were on them. Listening as Cee began singing, Andie laughed a little bit into the microphone and began singing herself.

“No escape from reality. Open your eyes, look up to the skies, and see…”

As far as a hype man, Cee was still riding the sugar high. Casting a reassuring smile to her friend, and even giving her had a squeeze of confidence. When it came to her turn, Cordelia lipped the words ‘you’re doing great!’ with as much gusto as she could whip up. At one time she might have been nervous about making a fool in front of strangers in a cafe, but now she was at the peak of not giving a shit.

She sang the next set of lyrics out with a cheeky grin. Only because in neither sense was she ever a poor boy.

It had became abundantly clear now that coming had been the wrong decision. Cordelia. The name ran in her ears just as the word wife did over and over again. Maybe it was a different Cordelia that was new to town. That could of been possible, but not likely. How did one stop an oncoming panic attack? It was her. It was his wife. Her stomach turned inside of her. Her palms began to sweat. How old did Duke think this girl was before he married her? God, all of this was too hard to handle, especially here in public. “Wow, did it get hot in here?” Kiernan fanned herself with her hand as she tried to slow down her breathing. 

Doing her best not to fidget in her own skin, Kiernan turned back to the woman or girl or young woman - whatever she was. “Oh it’s it’s totally okay. Yeah, no pastry. It’s fine. I’m okay. No big deal. Totally a hundred percent fine.” Super good under-pressure. “You have pretty hair.” 

The reaction from the other wasn’t expected, and quite honestly it made her uncomfortable. Cordelia was left to her own thoughts on what exactly would flicker such a switch. A hand rose upwards to slowly trace over the tubes. That had to be the reason right? The woman was treating her like a contagious disease cancer patient. Cee’s expression hardened feeling the tears collect in her eyes. “You don’t have to do that..” 

“... Pretend you’re hot to excuse yourself” She commented quietly with a shake of her head. “People like you are what’s wrong with the world. I’m not contagious & even if I were I’m a human being too.” Misreading the situation altogether. 

Cordelia shook her head slowly twisting the knob on the tank to release more oxygen into her lungs. Then the strangeness evolved when her hair was commented on, and she blinked to the other woman taken aback. “T-thank you....?” Was she hitting on her? Was she a lesbian? The more she stood there in front of the woman the more out of place she felt. She probably should have scattered away, but she was stubborn in her ways. “Please make up your mind. Are you hitting on me or are you just an asshole?”

Bennett took a long, hard breath in before he started. He knew giving the intimate details of the relationship he had once had with this woman’s brother wasn’t going to be easy, especially given the way it had all ended. But he was prepared to if it was what she wanted.

“We dated, in the past. For a few years. It was… I had never had that kind of connection with someone before. But it scared me half to death, so I pulled the ripcord. I left, told him it was getting too serious for me. It hurt him, badly. It hurt me too.” There was a gentle look on Bennett’s face, one that he often got when speaking about the man he had once loved. He always did and probably always would have a soft spot for Rich Rockwell. “So when I came back to Bayfield, I joined the fire department because I figured I would love it, but I would also get to see him. Didn’t go so well.” He swallowed, looking at the woman in front of him.

“I hate that I hurt him. He was… is someone I never, ever want to see hurting. But I fucked that up.” Leaning back in his chair, the man rubbed his sweaty palms over his pants, taking in a deep breath as he finished talking.

Few years. The phrase taunted her and put her in realistic times. Perhaps it was wrong to drop into Richie’s business now that he had gotten himself established. “That’s a cowardly thing to do. You don’t always have to run, but I can’t judge.” Because here she was a runaway if one were to ask the Rockwell’s. “Are you still scared of your feelings for him?” Cordelia asked to the point keeping her glossy eyes on Bennett’s face. 

She wasn’t as good at reading people as she thought she was. However, the man didn’t know a damn thing about her and that might come in handy. “Didn’t go so well here? At the firestation? Is that because it opened up the feelings from before with your running away?” The young woman almost feeling the likeness to a journalist,  but she was just trying to understand what time her brother had invested in Bennett. Silently she would of course feel a pit of envy. 

“Be careful, the name. Does that mean you at least apologized?”

Bennett found his cheeks becoming flushed as the woman he was speaking to brought up Rich. Of course, they were trying to keep their illicit affair on the down low, but there were prying eyes everywhere in Bayfield. He cleared his throat before shaking his head. “Not back together. Just… messing around.” A gentle shrug fell from his shoulders as he took yet another sip from his coffee, trying to help the lump that had formed in his throat. “Hey, I don’t know, I’m bad at guessing ages. Just thought I’d ask.”

The comment made her twitch just because she never wanted to picture her brother just messing around with someone. She took a deep breath, before she spoke to Bennett once more. “My promise at the fire station still stands if you break him. Understand?” Being more animated with her small threat by making a throat cutting motion. “Are you just saying that? You would be honest with me right?” Cordelia supposed since he had been opened with Rich that she wouldn’t need to question if he were honest. “Would you card me if I tried to buy cough syrup?” 

“Oh I like everything, really.” James answered with a shrug. “Jazz helps me focus, classical gets me calm enough that I can sleep, but I have an affinity for alternative and all things indie rock as well.” He laughed. “I guess the only thing I’ve never been a fan of is soprano opera, but I guess that can be an aquired taste. Everything else is good, provided it has a decent lyrical quality.” That or it didn’t have lyrics at all. His playlist was long and random, it was something he didn’t show people unless they really wanted to get to know him. 

James listened to her with a smile on his face. The mention of Christmas reminded him of when Christmases were still good with his family. Since he became an adult, he really only went to his parent’s house for Jacqui. Being in Bayfield now, he didn’t think he would ever return to Minnesota. He was more than happy to just spend it with his sisters. “That sounds amazing. I always wanted to go to Italy.” If he would’ve continued to kiss his parents’ asses he likely would have had the opportunity, but they didn’t deserve it and he was content to save up to travel on his own.

James was refreshing to Cordelia. Someone that didn’t demand the mainstream golden oldies was alright in her book. She tutted a bit in thought as she rolled over to the aisle that held most of the classical musical albums. “Hmm let’s see. Are you a fan of Henry Purcell? Hmm actually maybe not you said not so opera like. The Fairy Queen album we have might get on your nerves.” Cee leaned forward thumbing through the albums scanning over the titles closely. Igor Stravinsky isn’t too bad, and no overlaying opera singers in this album with Yvonne Loriod. Petrouchka!” Cordelia exclaimed finally grabbing onto the album and handing it towards him. “You can play it here if you want to see if it suits what you’re looking for.” 

Cordelia clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth thinking about the other albums and ones she might be able to recommend. As far as indie rock, I like to listen to SPINN. Have you heard of them? They’re relatively new on the scene I think. I would recommend the album Who You Are.” She blinks slowly and licks her lips lost in brief thought. “Oh sorry if I start rambling.” The laughter slightly more uneasy than it should have been .”You’ve never been to Italy before? I probably won’t be going to see my nonna soon either, but I would definitely recommend the trip if you save up.”

✖️[>that one guy] you know what’s a really stupid name? Nicholas. Why do all the families in New York, Florida, & California have like five thousand children named Nicholas. Seriously that name is sooo 1800’s. All the Nicholas’s now a days have really symmetrical ugly faces.....Mafankulo! ..:...That’s your name. ......OH MY GOD.

☠️[>that one guy] Did you insult Richie? I’m going to shove your promo album Intro culo di mammata. vai a farti fottere. I will make sure the sharks rip you limb from limb. Ci vediamo domani. :)

✉ [>Richie] Do you think we can feel our eyelids just before we die?

✖️[>Richie] I miss mom. Do you think she misses us?

☠️ [>Richie]. Cazzo Madre di Dio! Se sento il martello pneumatico attraverso il muro ancora una volta. I’m going to hammer your door shut with my tank.

A gray question that seems to stump her for several minutes. There were layers and obligations to this question. Ones that she didn’t necessarily feel like loosening in her mind. The word ‘want’ was traded around her mind on a complex chessboard.

“Yes.” The expression on her face somber as if the answer should have been something else.

@dukeleith

“Yes.” Revenge was always a dish best served cold, but the warmth of the smile it brought to her lips was just as diabolical.

“No. “ Its a quick response, and there are more words she would want to add. Has she wanted to escape her family completely, she would have never sought Rich out. “I love my brother.”

@rich-rockwell

Cordelia hummed positioning the name badge on her button up shirt.  Burrowing further into her coat as she wheeled in the direction of the police station. The Record shop would be good with Frankie in charge for a bit, and she was due for some more quality time with Andie. Cee rolled into the police station and suddenly felt overwhelmed at all the officers walking about.

She admittedly felt guilty, even though she hadn’t done any underhanded things in awhile. What the hell was she going to do? Turn herself in for manipulating Richie to do her laundry, because his way was better than her way? The young woman chastised herself wordlessly until she got close enough to the officer at the front desk. “Yes, I’m here for -” Her words lodged in her throat when the burly man ignored her and instead called out. “Leith! Dropped some reports on your desk.” 

Her husband was here? Cordelia wondered if she had the strength to quickly scamper off somewhere and hide. However she was thoroughly confused when Duke was nowhere in sight. Perhaps it was a coincidence? Was she losing her mind? Clearing her throat she folded her arms at the desk, brunette curls bouncing from one shoulder to the other. “Pardon?” The girl’s annoyance grew when the man sat himself behind the desk being the most largest unhelpful sod in here. 

“Excuse me? Hello?” Had she lost her voice when she came in here. Finally she rose her voice as far as her lungs would allow her. “Leith?! Where?!” The man behind the desk stared at her as if she had unceremoniously grew three heads of Hydra in the span of a few seconds.  

Cordelia plopped herself down into a booth after getting some fresh air from outside. Trying to balance the intake into her lungs. At first she had thought the booth was unoccupied, but it proved she was wrong. There was one person she saw rather frequent in town at the record shop. Hell, they even sold some of his promotions at the shop. For the life of Cordelia Rockwell she could never remember the guy’s name. She cleared her throat with a slow friendly smile. “Oh hello...” 

Shit. What was his name? Man guy. No that’s ridiculous. Man guy. For a second she’s flustered, “Guy man.” Blinking rapidly she felt the heat rise to her cheeks as she coughs. “Man guy.” That wasn’t any better. Where was that blasted leprechaun? Surely this was how you lost customers and vendors alike. Damn. His name started with a vowel right? A guy man. “guy man that comes to the record shop.” Oh for the love of god, why was she still saying that?!

“Hansel? Gretel? Monty..Man Guy... Noah..”

Then it hit her like a ton of bricks, “Man guy..Umm.. Marcello. Is this seat taken?” She asked without a skip of a beat as if she hadn’t just butchered the poor sod’s name like ten times.