Alone, again.

[victoria_gray]

after thisVictoria went back to her room without fuss. No point in making a scene or inviting people to ask her "what's wrong" by crying. She just kept her arms crossed and stared at the numbers on the elevator, stepping off without hesitation when it reached her floor. As she walked into the empty, poorly lit room she jammed her toe, hopping to

Comments

[alan_shore]

It's late when, distressingly sober, he returns to the hotel. He waits impatiently for the elevator--the aspect of his former house he misses most consisently is the front door, the immediacy of the privacy it offered--and takes it to the third floor. He's tired, tired enough that if pressed he'll admit to the cause being work.

He spots the light on in Victoria's room and raps on the door.

[victoria_gray]

She doesn't jump up right away, she's not expecting anyone. The last visitor wasn't pleasant so she checks the spy hole before opening the door. She opens it and steps aside to let him in. "Hi, how're you?" She regrets not getting drunk at exactly this moment.

[alan_shore]

She's been crying. It takes not a moment to realize it--he's more familiar with the symptoms than most. He hesitates in the doorway. "Is something wrong."

[victoria_gray]

For a moment she wonders what the neutral answer would be but she doesn't really feel like talking about it later. She purses her lips and nods. "Ray paid me a surprise visit today."

[alan_shore]

He looks at her, then nods back. "May I come in?"

[victoria_gray]

"Of course." She turns on the lights and walks directly over to the bar. "Do you want a drink?"

[alan_shore]

"A drink would be sublime." He ventures into the room, closing the door and quietly setting his briefcase to the side of it.

[victoria_gray]

She pours his glass half full, because that's how everyone else does it. Then pours one for herself. "You never answered me."

[alan_shore]

He raises his eyebrows. "About?"

[victoria_gray]

She hands him his drink and sits down. "How are you?"

[alan_shore]

He gives a brief smile of thanks and takes a seat next to her. "I'm well. And you?"

[victoria_gray]

She can't really bring herself to smile so she just replies, "I've been better."

[alan_shore]

"What'd he say," he asks softly, swirling the liquid in his glass. He recalls instructing Ray in the art of the breakup all too well, and what else could this be?

[victoria_gray]

She smiles now only to add effect. "He's in love with someone else." She takes a drink but pauses before laughing. "But the good news is, he'd like to stay friends."

[alan_shore]

In love. He nearly repeats the words in disbelief. Then he nearly inquires as to why Ray's allowing such an obstacle to impede his social life. Instead he swallows, swallows again, this time liquor rather than air, and says, "I'm sorry. I can't imagine how devastated you must feel."

He can, but that's hardly the point.

[victoria_gray]

She blinks slowly and then just leaves her eyes closed. "I am." There's no point in admitting it but she doesn't care.

"I don't think it would have been so bad if he hadn't brought said 'lover' to my hotel."