Legacy

Trying to listen to the instructions she was being given the brunette just nodded, still scrabbling through her make up bag, hands shaking violently. “I came from a shoot…I was in Paris…I just came straight here…” Explaining vaguely knowing full well the other was probably thinking terrible things about her by now. A washed up druggy rich kid, not someone she wanted to hang around anymore, that would make sense. Hell it would be valid. “Right, a slap on the wrist.” Waiting for the switchboard to be called she twisted her fingers together, not needing to pretend to cry because the tears were already coming thanks to genuine fear and stress - so overwhelmed by the whole thing. It felt like something that was happening to her rather than something Zadie had been actively engaged in but…was this her fault? Had she bought shit gear? Hearing someone come onto the line she came in and out of focus as June explained was was going on, thin figure trembling as she looked everywhere apart from the body on the floor, throat thick with guilty tears.  They had been friends, not close friends they only knew each other from a couple of parties and shoots, but that didn’t mean her life had no value to Zadie. No one was that cold. People were coming into the room, cops, asking her questions as she sobbed her way through trying to answer, glancing over at June every so often just needing to know she was there. Something comforting even if this was the last time they ever spent a second in each others company she was so blessed her friend…former friend…was here.

Minutes turned to hours, and with the police, the hotel management and so many more people present, June kept the facade of a terrified girl up. She knew the police officers could easily look up her record of odd misdemeanors, but they were nothing compared to this- or everything the brunette had done in the past. However, as they were eventually told to leave, with a promise to come to the police station the next day for further questioning should that be needed, June was relieved. They had survived the day, she hadn't been searched, and they were free to go, for now. The management and the police remained in the room as the two girls were ushered out, and for the first time that evening, June was uncertain. Would this be it, would their weird reunion after nearly a decade come to an end, and the two wouldn't see each other again? Oddly enough, June didn't want it. She didn't want to let Zadie go just like that, disappear once more, probably to never reappear again. But then again, would Zadie even want to be around her again? Or, at all? "I, uh- I need to go change from the uniform. Probably burn it too." She'd only hope that it wouldn't be taken as some twisted form of evidence. Still, June glanced over at Zadie, unsure of the other's next steps. "I guess... this is it, then?"

Minutes turned to hours, and with the police, the hotel management and so many more people present, June kept the facade of a terrified girl up. She knew the police officers could easily look up her record of odd misdemeanors, but they were nothing compared to this- or everything the brunette had done in the past. However, as they were eventually told to leave, with a promise to come to the police station the next day for further questioning should that be needed, June was relieved. They had survived the day, she hadn't been searched, and they were free to go, for now. The management and the police remained in the room as the two girls were ushered out, and for the first time that evening, June was uncertain. Would this be it, would their weird reunion after nearly a decade come to an end, and the two wouldn't see each other again? Oddly enough, June didn't want it. She didn't want to let Zadie go just like that, disappear once more, probably to never reappear again. But then again, would Zadie even want to be around her again? Or, at all? "I, uh- I need to go change from the uniform. Probably burn it too." She'd only hope that it wouldn't be taken as some twisted form of evidence. Still, June glanced over at Zadie, unsure of the other's next steps. "I guess... this is it, then?"

As she followed June, she couldn’t help but just watch her, hating that she’d wanted to spend more time with her again and do everything all over. June was the one that got away, and the one that made Airi feel more feelings that she ever wanted to feel. She hadn’t ever expected it, and now, she didn’t want June to know that there were still so many feelings there, that she wasn’t sure would go away. “I’m free for the rest of the day, so I’m all yours, okay?”

"Aww, all mine! Is that a promise you're willing to keep?" June couldn't help but nudge the girl as they walked. It would be easy to pull the other into an embrace and get closer than just friends did, but all of it was in the past... at least, June had to remind herself that. They had their fun, so much fun, but it all had to be in the past. Because they decided so. And, surely, that was the right way to go about it... right? "Then we're gonna drink, and annoy the tourists who just want the authentic London experience. How's that for a plan?"

"Aww, all mine! Is that a promise you're willing to keep?" June couldn't help but nudge the girl as they walked. It would be easy to pull the other into an embrace and get closer than just friends did, but all of it was in the past... at least, June had to remind herself that. They had their fun, so much fun, but it all had to be in the past. Because they decided so. And, surely, that was the right way to go about it... right? "Then we're gonna drink, and annoy the tourists who just want the authentic London experience. How's that for a plan?"

He could barely walk in a straight line, he was too busy rubbing his eyes and sipping his coffee. But he managed to find the station and wait for the train to show up.His eyes slowly drifted closed as he leaned against one of the pillars, only opening them again when he heard the sound of the train pulling into the station. The place was barren, few people around and nobody exiting the train that had just opened its doors. He hoped that he could make it the few stops to the hospital without crashing on the seats.There was only one person in his car, and though he had planned on being the studious stranger and ignoring her entirely as public transportation demanded, he noticed all too quickly that she looked injured. She also looked vaguely familiar, though he couldn’t quite place where he might know her from. He brushed that aside, realizing that whether or not he knew her mattered little in comparison to her injury. “Hey uh- you okay?” his voice caught, not used to talking to strangers outside of the hospital. But the scene effectively worked as an adrenaline shot for Mickey, and he was pretty sure that he didn’t need to worry about falling asleep, “I’m uh- well I’m not a doctor, actually. But I am close-ish. I’m like, doctor adjacent.” Mickey rambled on, realizing that someone injured and alone on a train would not care about his qualifications at the moment, “Anyways- I can help. The hospital is only a couple stops away. I can take a look and get you there.”

Finally, she focused on the stranger, who didn't look like that much of a stranger, but June couldn't really put her finger on it. Had she spoken to him before? "What's doctor adjacent? Do you just stand there and practice the ridiculous handwriting, or do you do actual work?" Why was she even so hostile? No one really spoke to each other on the tube, and this was weird, especially so late in the night. He seemed like he was trying to help, and while June couldn't really be picky about it, she was still wary of it. What were the odds that he somehow knew the ones she was running from, and this was some kind of trap? Maybe that was why he was so familiar. Then again, there was something about him, something almost innocent, that screamed otherwise. Not to mention, that bloody accent. She couldn't pinpoint it properly, but that was another point towards him potentially not being all that dangerous. What tourists would get involved in shady stuff? "I'm not going to the hospital. I have more chances to survive by just letting this... be. Whatever this is." It had to be a dislocated shoulder, or maybe more, she couldn't really tell. "People don't talk to each other on the tube, you know."

Finally, she focused on the stranger, who didn't look like that much of a stranger, but June couldn't really put her finger on it. Had she spoken to him before? "What's doctor adjacent? Do you just stand there and practice the ridiculous handwriting, or do you do actual work?" Why was she even so hostile? No one really spoke to each other on the tube, and this was weird, especially so late in the night. He seemed like he was trying to help, and while June couldn't really be picky about it, she was still wary of it. What were the odds that he somehow knew the ones she was running from, and this was some kind of trap? Maybe that was why he was so familiar. Then again, there was something about him, something almost innocent, that screamed otherwise. Not to mention, that bloody accent. She couldn't pinpoint it properly, but that was another point towards him potentially not being all that dangerous. What tourists would get involved in shady stuff? "I'm not going to the hospital. I have more chances to survive by just letting this... be. Whatever this is." It had to be a dislocated shoulder, or maybe more, she couldn't really tell. "People don't talk to each other on the tube, you know."

As soon as her eyes clapped on the body they were swivelled away again, retching quietly as she pressed the back of her hand to her mouth to suppress herself from throwing up from the fear undulating through her body. No idea how June was keeping herself together so well but that thought had yet to even cross her mind thanks to being so preoccupied by keeping herself from actually passing out in the middle of the room, only to be left laying by an actual body. Totally dead. The words bounced off the walls and into Zadie’s ears with a acidic ferocity that made her feel like the rug had been pulled out from underneath her, she was Alice in Wonderland falling down the rabbit hole, but she wasn’t headed for a magical feast for the senses, she was heading to prison. “Innocent thing…they are..yes…I was…they are…” Hovering on the spot for a second as she tried to get her body to answer to the instructions she was giving it, before skittering over to her bag on shaky legs, pulling out a designer make up bag that held various different drugs including another small bag of what she had handed over to her friend. Former friend. Well no they were still friends she was just no longer…fuck. Fuck. “These. And somewhere she had a bag too, I don’t know where it went, I don’t know where she put it.” It could have fallen under the nearby sofa, she could have shoved it into her pocket, the was literally no way of Zadie knowing thanks to not having been in the room when she’d taken them. Swallowing she fell to her knees starting to pat her hands around looking for the telltale sign of plastic under her fingers that would signify the empty baggy. 

"You are innocent. Got it? No ifs or buts, nothing. You did nothing wrong. You went out to get shampoo and ran into me, when we came into the room cause you forgot the key, we found her not breathing. Nothing helped. It was too late." She knew she was still being harsh, but Zadie was unraveling right in front of her eyes. Leaving the dead body behind, June hurried over to Zadie as she fell to her knees, quickly taking the makeup bag from her. "Shit, you don't pack light, do you? What the hell were you planning on doing here?" June couldn't help but sound surprised before quickly hiding the bag in the layers of her clothes for now. It wasn't the best hiding spot, but if she could just get it into her trolley while the police were here, they'd be fine. Then, whatever happened to it, didn't matter, although, by the sound of it, she wouldn't have been surprised if some of it was tampered with. Who was Zadie rowing with if her drugs were most likely messed with? It surely was a story for another day, but for now, they had to act fact. Naturally, it didn't help that neither could spot the little baggie. "Leave it. It's her bag, and we'll make sure they know it was her bag. The worst that can happen to you is you get a slap on the wrist for knowing about the drugs, got it?" She had to act rationally because she couldn't expect Zadie to do so. "I will call switchboard now, got it? Panic, cry, whatever works. That's fine. But stick to the story, and we'll be out of here in no time."

"You are innocent. Got it? No ifs or buts, nothing. You did nothing wrong. You went out to get shampoo and ran into me, when we came into the room cause you forgot the key, we found her not breathing. Nothing helped. It was too late." She knew she was still being harsh, but Zadie was unraveling right in front of her eyes. Leaving the dead body behind, June hurried over to Zadie as she fell to her knees, quickly taking the makeup bag from her. "Shit, you don't pack light, do you? What the hell were you planning on doing here?" June couldn't help but sound surprised before quickly hiding the bag in the layers of her clothes for now. It wasn't the best hiding spot, but if she could just get it into her trolley while the police were here, they'd be fine. Then, whatever happened to it, didn't matter, although, by the sound of it, she wouldn't have been surprised if some of it was tampered with. Who was Zadie rowing with if her drugs were most likely messed with? It surely was a story for another day, but for now, they had to act fact. Naturally, it didn't help that neither could spot the little baggie. "Leave it. It's her bag, and we'll make sure they know it was her bag. The worst that can happen to you is you get a slap on the wrist for knowing about the drugs, got it?" She had to act rationally because she couldn't expect Zadie to do so. "I will call switchboard now, got it? Panic, cry, whatever works. That's fine. But stick to the story, and we'll be out of here in no time."

A shrug lifts her shoulders and she lets out a little snort of amusement, "True enough. Side sweeping those who deserve it is an art, though. I'm going to assume you wouldn't do that to someone like me. I don't think I've done much to earn your ire." A pause, her tone faux-serious but with a lilt of amusement, "Unless that's exactly why you're here? To make me think it's not what you want but absolutely be here to take revenge on me for something?"

"No, no! I might not be the brightest one in the room, but I'm not that stupid." She shrugged off the accusation, the smile remaining on June's face. Maybe she'd come across some entitled prick who was begging for it later on in the day; London was full of surprises and opportunities. "Would there be anything I need to take revenge on, though? Now you've got me interested."

"Of course you're not." June dismissed it with a smile, although the tone of her voice wasn't a mean one. There was something so adorably innocent about the blonde next to her, she wondered sometimes how could anyone grow up to be like that in a place like this. Surely, London was dark and cruel to everyone, and not just to certain unlucky people? "You know what? That's fine with me. You can get whatever you like in a place like that too, I'm sure. Although, wouldn't you want to celebrate the potential of getting to see Queen Bey?"

"Of course you're not." June dismissed it with a smile, although the tone of her voice wasn't a mean one. There was something so adorably innocent about the blonde next to her, she wondered sometimes how could anyone grow up to be like that in a place like this. Surely, London was dark and cruel to everyone, and not just to certain unlucky people? "You know what? That's fine with me. You can get whatever you like in a place like that too, I'm sure. Although, wouldn't you want to celebrate the potential of getting to see Queen Bey?"

She felt as if there was something off about June. Not necessarily WRONG but slightly off-center. A sort of coloring outside of the lines to create a new picture scenario. She had no idea how to even broach it, but she knew that if she just walked off like a bitch she'd think about it for the rest of the night and it'd annoy her.

So instead, "Why do you think people wouldn't side-sweep you? Have you not met the caliber of people that exist right now?"

She wondered idly if June had low self-esteem, which brought her mind immediately to Evie... though Evie's moral compass always pushed further north than her mother or, by her own admission, June's. She pondered asking what the girl was listening to but didn't want to derail... she wanted to know WHY she didn't think she could get hurt in that manner.

"Many reasons. I don't exactly look like someone worth that, right?" She considered that as a compliment to herself; after all, June's job, at times, was to disappear in the crowds, become unwanted, someone who didn't catch anyone's attention. It was a fine line to navigate without ruining one's self-esteem, and while she had every right to succumb to it, she fought hard against it. If she didn't have confidence, then what did she have? "Or, you know, if I wanna play all tough and badass, and whatever kids here call it, maybe I'm the one side-sweeping others."

“How? How? She’s dead.” Zadie hissed in a shaking voice, even the smile from her best friend … former best friend… not helping right now. She wanted to be anywhere else but here so she could pretend this wasn’t happening. Valium and vodka herself into oblivion to transport her psyche into a different dimension where she wasn’t standing outside the room holding a dead body, let alone at her hand. “I’m sure…” Her voice a whisper as she tried to follow along with the instructions she was being given, nodding even though none of it was actually sticking. Shampoo? Did her hair look dirty or something? No…no that wasn’t the point right now. For once in Zadie’s life the stakes were so much higher than cosmetic ranking. Her heart was hammering so hard in her chest it might as well be literally rattling her ribcage like an overexcited alarm clock. Well, this was certainly a wake up call of a kind. In some sick twisted fucking way.  Following June into the room after the click of the keycard opening the door sounded deafening in her heightened state of panic, her blink seeming to sync up with the sound. Everything crashing around her head. “Oh fuck.” She choked out through a strangled sob as the sight of the body came into view.  “I will not survive in prison, i am not built for prison.”

June expected to see the body, given everything Zadie had managed to tell her. It wasn’t even the first time she was seeing a body. But it still made her wince, or maybe it was that terrifying gasp that came from Zadie’s mouth. The model wasn’t made for this world, she didn’t belong there; but June did. This was her life, this was what she was used to, so, closing the door once both of them were in, she went over to the girl, shaking her a few times despite the very obvious signs that there was no life left in those open, empty eyes. “Totally dead.” She agreed, looking around the room. “We’ll need to call the operator, get them to call the police. Do the whole innocent thing, got it? Where are the drugs? Is there anything in your bag? Where you the one to bring them in?” She fired off one question after another, as if they were discussing some camping trip.

June expected to see the body, given everything Zadie had managed to tell her. It wasn’t even the first time she was seeing a body. But it still made her wince, or maybe it was that terrifying gasp that came from Zadie’s mouth. The model wasn’t made for this world, she didn’t belong there; but June did. This was her life, this was what she was used to, so, closing the door once both of them were in, she went over to the girl, shaking her a few times despite the very obvious signs that there was no life left in those open, empty eyes. “Totally dead.” She agreed, looking around the room. “We’ll need to call the operator, get them to call the police. Do the whole innocent thing, got it? Where are the drugs? Is there anything in your bag? Where you the one to bring them in?” She fired off one question after another, as if they were discussing some camping trip.

“Hey.” She greeted the other with a smile, the way Airi’s cheeks had turned a brighter shade not going unnoticed. It was cute, how she managed to remain so adorable even so many years later. Was there a better person to run into on a day like that? Probably not. “A while? I was beginning to think you’ve forgotten my phone number? Or my socials. Or you became far too famous for poor old me.” June teased the other light-heartedly as she motioned for Airi to follow her to find just the right place  to get drinks.

“Hey.” She greeted the other with a smile, the way Airi’s cheeks had turned a brighter shade not going unnoticed. It was cute, how she managed to remain so adorable even so many years later. Was there a better person to run into on a day like that? Probably not. “A while? I was beginning to think you’ve forgotten my phone number? Or my socials. Or you became far too famous for poor old me.” June teased the other light-heartedly as she motioned for Airi to follow her to find just the right place  to get drinks.

“Everything’s over-fucking-priced here, but I’d go for anything. Think any of these places do some decent Irish coffee? That would be good.” June suggested as they walked, observing each passing window as if hoping it would somehow give her the answer to her never ending questions.

“Everything’s over-fucking-priced here, but I’d go for anything. Think any of these places do some decent Irish coffee? That would be good.” June suggested as they walked, observing each passing window as if hoping it would somehow give her the answer to her never ending questions.

“It’s fine, fine, fine.” Her breathy echo of the words communicating how un-fine the girl felt right now, eyes wide with the panic. Searching in the other’s for some sign of everything being ‘fine’ but failing miserably. She was in such a state of shock it hadn’t even registered how … June didn’t seem as alarmed by the news she’d been given as Zadie might have expected. ”Okay, okay the room. We have to go back in the room. 421.” The suite she’d hurtled out of not long ago, except the door had swung closed behind her and she’d not had the foresight or rational thinking to bring a key with her. Zadie had just wanted to get away from the situation so bad she’d been on autopilot. “Fuck! I left the key inside.” 

“It will be fine. Right now, it’s bloody shit-show. But we’ll get through it, right?” June insisted with a small smile, in hopes that it would somehow cheer Zadie up, even if the chances were more than minimal. At least, she still kept her mind clear, refusing to focus on the growing panic and instead trying to figure it all out. “421. Okay. Let’s go there and get this fixed.” She turned to walk, only to pause a moment later, when Zadie dropped another revelation. “You sure? Definitely? Fuck.” There was no reason to panic, not yet. She just had to get a little more creative. “Okay... when they ask, you came out to look for something... shampoo, for all I fucking care. Left your key behind, ran into me, and when we got in, that girl was... whatever happened to her.” June nodded along to her story, because they had to come up with something reasonable, and quickly. “Thank fucking god I have a master key.” She had to, as a housekeeper. It was dangerous to use it now, but there was no other option, and with a nod towards Zadie, she accepted the inevitable, walking towards the room.

“It will be fine. Right now, it’s bloody shit-show. But we’ll get through it, right?” June insisted with a small smile, in hopes that it would somehow cheer Zadie up, even if the chances were more than minimal. At least, she still kept her mind clear, refusing to focus on the growing panic and instead trying to figure it all out. “421. Okay. Let’s go there and get this fixed.” She turned to walk, only to pause a moment later, when Zadie dropped another revelation. “You sure? Definitely? Fuck.” There was no reason to panic, not yet. She just had to get a little more creative. “Okay... when they ask, you came out to look for something... shampoo, for all I fucking care. Left your key behind, ran into me, and when we got in, that girl was... whatever happened to her.” June nodded along to her story, because they had to come up with something reasonable, and quickly. “Thank fucking god I have a master key.” She had to, as a housekeeper. It was dangerous to use it now, but there was no other option, and with a nod towards Zadie, she accepted the inevitable, walking towards the room.

The query was posed with a lofted brow and a soft lilt to her voice. Sometimes she could easily slip into a conversation with someone but at this point she felt as if perhaps June had something else on her mind. That, and she seemed kind of jumpy considering... asking if they were good made it sound like she often found herself in situations where there needed to be that kind of clarification.

"That being said... you don't want to get yourself side-swiped by someone so I'd recommend turning the volume up and hanging them around your neck so you can still hear the music but are aware of your surroundings?" Adeline's head tilted... June sort of reminded her of her daughter for a moment and it made her own expression soften just slightly.

“Fair point. Although, that’s really sweet of you to assume anyone would be willing to side-sweep me.” A grin was quickly back on June’s face, even as she faced the woman so high up the hierarchy. She should’ve stepped back, maybe made a curtsy or so, but instead, she remained at a polite distance. Surely, that was decent enough? June was never good with pleasantries. “That’s a fun way of doing it, though. Almost like having music blasting on your phone, just a little less douchey. You definitely okay though, right? No harm done?”

As hands came up to cup her cheeks she managed to focus in on the other girls face, frantic gaze locking in on June’s eyes. It helped a little, the familiarity of what she was seeing allowing her to calm her breathing a little more, though a small whimper of panic was still coming from her throat. What had she done? The last fifteen minutes felt like they had been a nightmare, she should be waking up just about now. Realising this wasn’t real. Except it was, and Zadie was terrified. “Mine…it’s my room. I don’t know. It’s my room. We were having a staycation. I didn’t want to…” How was she meant to explain they were staying in a hotel because a modelling company had offered to pay for one and despite Zadie living in a huge apartment in Notting Hill, she had accepted just because. “I don’t know if they know. I swear I didn’t do anything, it was what she took, what we were going to take. I was going to, but I went to the bathroom.” Her twisted expression of sheer terror not leaving for even a second. “Don’t leave me, please. JJ, don’t leave me with her.”   

“I won’t leave. I’ll stay here, okay? It’s fine.” And June would be lying if she said that the nickname didn’t sent a pang at her heart, being all too familiar. Could she really so easily forget the years of being alone, pain of being kept apart, even if she was just as much at fault as Zadie was? Turns out, she could. “It’ll all be fine. But we have to get to the room, okay? Check on her. Make sure... make sure there’s nothing there that could point a finger at you, okay? We’ll go together, I won’t leave your side.”

“I won’t leave. I’ll stay here, okay? It’s fine.” And June would be lying if she said that the nickname didn’t sent a pang at her heart, being all too familiar. Could she really so easily forget the years of being alone, pain of being kept apart, even if she was just as much at fault as Zadie was? Turns out, she could. “It’ll all be fine. But we have to get to the room, okay? Check on her. Make sure... make sure there’s nothing there that could point a finger at you, okay? We’ll go together, I won’t leave your side.”

“She was…I went into to the bathroom to pee and then when I came back she was just…foaming at the mouth. Like she was having a seizer or something. In the room…” pointing back at the suite she’d just burst out of explaining herself incredibly badly in broken pathetic excuses for sentences that didn’t really explain anything at all. She tried to take a couple of breaths but they came more as ragged as she panted, eyes welling up with tears. “Please I didn’t know this was…help me…I didn’t do it…please help…” 

“Hey, hey! Listen to me. Take a deep breath, okay?” She moved her hands to Zadie’s cheeks, making sure she would be focusing on her only. There was nothing calm about what the girl was telling her, but June knew they had to act quick. Shit. Since when was Zadie doing drugs? How fucked up was this world she was living in? “We need to go back and check on her, okay? It’ll all be fine, just a quick check. Is it her room or yours? Does anyone know you’re here?”

“Hey, hey! Listen to me. Take a deep breath, okay?” She moved her hands to Zadie’s cheeks, making sure she would be focusing on her only. There was nothing calm about what the girl was telling her, but June knew they had to act quick. Shit. Since when was Zadie doing drugs? How fucked up was this world she was living in? “We need to go back and check on her, okay? It’ll all be fine, just a quick check. Is it her room or yours? Does anyone know you’re here?”