Tick tock || Gage and Beth
twistedxsolitude:
Beth wondered sometimes whether she trusted her own instinct that little bit too much. It wasn’t as if she was right one hundred percent of the time. Yet she had handed the watch over to Gage and went with her gut feeling. She did know that there was always a chance she would never see the guy again—but if not, then he sure as hell deserved an award in sincerity because he came across as completely genuine. Which was actually quite difficult sometimes for Beth—she didn’t trust that easily at all. However, there was something about the guy and she was willing to go with her own judgement about him. Which was a good job really because she was expecting him to return it sooner.
Not too concerned yet though, the brunette decided she would give it three or four more days and if she didn’t see Gage again, would resign herself to the fact that her instincts had indeed been wrong.
Tending to the bar and serving drinks for the next few hours, seemed to go by pretty fast. Beth cocked her brow as she glanced at the time and gave a pursed smile.
”I’m outta here.”
She wasn’t entirely sure where she was going—maybe the number six—maybe the Snake eyes or even just hanging around outside. Although it was damn cold and there was more chance of a fight ensuing when you were knocking about on the streets. There seemed to be a no holds barred thing going off and if someone took a dislike to you and they had the nerve, then some would think nothing of pulling a knife. Sometimes it was because people were hungry and desperate, Beth could understand this reason more. Hunger and sleep deprivation did strange things to the mind, made your fighting instinct come out and those who wouldn’t dream of violence would suddenly use every piece of force they had within them.
"You look tired Beth, not looking that good tonight."
The doorman was smirking at his own words. Beth had found him to be this way since she had given him a hard time once over his presumptuous attitude. Now he just thought sarcasm was the best way—only she fed off of it.
"And you look like an asshat..only trouble is, I will be refreshed and back to my awesome self come tomorrow—but you will always be a fuckin’ punkass."
She tapped his cheek just to add to the insult and this time she smirked back at him, as well as throwing in a wink.
"Yeah yeah—funny aint ya. Oh and there’s some guy waitin’ over there to see ya. More fool him."
Beth cocked a brow and let the last part of his comment pass without any comeback. Instead she walked closer to the figure. It was as she approached him, the familiar face came into view and Beth let a grin form on her lips.
"Well well…Howdy there partner. Glad to see you are a man of your word. How you doin’ darlin?"
☽ - — "Hello, m-miss B-beth..."
Gage returned the smile with one of his own - and he'd heard the little interlude - had already been grinning slightly at the sharp tongue and cutting words the bartender-come-fighter offered in return. But it was the smile that brightened his mood, seemed to shake off the gloom of the back alley and bring a warmth that was at all odds with the constant drizzle of rain.
"I'm s-sorry that it took so long to r-return your w-watch... I w-was... Uh, I got sick - b-but it's okay, I'm f-fine n-now... N-not sick."
The latter words were added quickly, just in case she thought he might have something unfortunate or contagious. Even something as innocuous as a cold in Purgatory could be fatal - especially for those living on the streets, or hungry, with weakened bodies and fragile minds - not that Beth was either of those things - but still... It wasn't something that was desirable, even for those of a more stolid constitution.
And his own constitution was somewhat - improved - beyond the last time he'd spoken with the woman. And such a blessing was hindsight, or in this case, insight. He at least, understood now - that moment of - choice... Or at least, it had been a choice for him - not so much for her, and something which didn't result in quite the same oppression from the gifter to the gifted. Knew what it was like to have that desire to - l i v e - to persist, to exist, and to be willing to pay a price for it. Though again, the price he'd paid wasn't really comparable...
It was a sad thing then, that as much as he wanted to talk to her about it - ask her about it - find out more from someone, if not in the 'same' situation as him, then at least one so similar - but... Lips remained silent. She was - Liliths... In so much as he hated the word 'pet' - he could at least see now how it had come about. That the Princes and the Fallen seemed to use their... Gifts... As a mechanism of control, a lack of choice - a sense of owing, or belonging to... No less that he was now bonded to Ray... And while Beth didn't seem wholly enamoured with the prospect of being a Prince's pet, perhaps those loyalties were still strong enough - even for self-protection. To have someone bonded to an Arc... Plenty of leverage and a pretty good bargaining chip - so... No... And it was - a sad thing...
"It's ff-fixed... Uh, your w-watch... It's ff-fixed." Another flash of a smile, then eyes flicked upwards, not really wanting to take the newly repaired piece out for examination in the damp that pervaded the air.
"W-would you like to go somewhere and I c-can show you? Or... D-do you just w-want to take it and look at it later? I know you've just ff-finished w-work so... If you're tired and you'd r-rather just.. Y'know?"
Not stupendously elegant, but he had enjoyed his last conversation with Beth. He wouldn't mind so much is she just wanted to leave - but it might be nice, to exchange a few words...


















