Kate wanders downstairs, tiredly running a hand through her hair. The instant she reaches the landing, she finds her fingers brushing cold fiberglass rather than soft hair
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Her lips curl wryly. She hasn't had time to order herself a stiff drink yet, though when she sees Coral and hears Guppy's hushed words she does her best at putting on a bright expression.
There are dark circles under her eyes, and she looks a little worn out. These are things a little'un shouldn't notice, hopefully.
"Miss Coral, you're jus' as cute as a lil' button. Hello, Alex. No costume tonight?"
"It - It isn't the other dreams I'm worried about."
Otherwise she would have mentioned them first.
"My life is always threatened, in or outside the door. I don't always see my daddy walkin' and breathin', though. That's a little less par for the course."
They seem to have been exempted from the costumes. Well, except for Coral, who has got a jumper hand knitted like a pumpkin.
"I'm working on showing Fry that costumes aren't scary." he whispers.
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There are dark circles under her eyes, and she looks a little worn out. These are things a little'un shouldn't notice, hopefully.
"Miss Coral, you're jus' as cute as a lil' button. Hello, Alex. No costume tonight?"
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"I don't like costumes." Alex says. "They make people look bad."
"Well people wear different clothes all the time." Guppy says.
Fry nods. Annoying that people do that, too.
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"I think, as far as Miss Bar's concerned, people are supposed to look funny."
Her voice is a little stronger than usual. Same Texas drawl, but without the mannered gentleness.
"Or be confused. One or the other."
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Fry tries to look inside the pockets on Kate's legs. Then he gets something out of his pocket and tries to put it in there.
"Is that a snail?" Guppy asks, suspiciously.
"...Yes."
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She gives Fry a reassuring smile. It isn't that she doesn't appreciate the sentiment.
She glances up at Guppy. There's a definite pause before she answers him.
"Yeah. Yeah, fine. No broken bones or bruises."
She smiles tightly.
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"Where did you get this?" he asks. "This isn't one of yours."
Fry shrugs. He doesn't know the other kid's name. It's not important. He got a snail.
Guppy looks back up at Kate. "If you want to chat without little ears, I can drop these two home, it's no trouble."
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She doesn't say anything. She just purses her lips, and nods. Once.
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"Okay kids, it's time to go apple bobbing with Mummy. Say goodbye to Kate, and I'll come join you in a minute."
"Bye bye." Coral says.
"Bye Kate." Fry says.
Guppy takes both kids back, then comes back and sits with her.
"What's up?"
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Kate smiles, and salutes as they go. While Guppy is gone she orders a bottle of whiskey, and takes a seat at the Bar.
"It's just, ah. I haven't been sleepin' all that well. I dreamt about my daddy last night."
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She doesn't say anything else, because her face should say it all. Eyes dark and sunken, weary lines, and a dullness to her eyes.
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He's tempted to hug her, but he's not sure if she'd flinch.
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She shrugs.
"Lotta the same. Dyin', mostly."
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Dreams about his own father tend to be of the nightmare variety.
"And I'm sorry, that sounds very stressful. Is your life threatened right outside the door at the moment?"
Since her life is always, to a degree, threatened.
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"It - It isn't the other dreams I'm worried about."
Otherwise she would have mentioned them first.
"My life is always threatened, in or outside the door. I don't always see my daddy walkin' and breathin', though. That's a little less par for the course."
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