Away From Here- Chapter 15.
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Chapter 15.
The Ankora Party.
The Ankora Party is called such because, as the name implies, it is held at Ankora’s, and is, in fact, a party.
Ankora's café had opened exactly a week before Christmas, so, every year, Frederic and Annie hold a party to celebrate, and merge it with the sparkling luminosity of Christmas lights and decorations- to create one hell of a party.
The pair only invite a select few; some of their most valued customers and their family, including Freddie's big sister, Louisa, who always seems a little drunk, even when she hasn't touched a drop of alcohol, Tom, her husband and god knows who else. Mara was never very good at remembering the names. All she knows is that she and Whiz are invited every year, along with Simon Petes from The Central Banking Agency that's in here every night, drinking away him sorrows at the slow decline in bank usage as Internet banking becomes more and more popular and Alice Appelby from the shop next door, who always buys her lunch in Ankoras and wears the shortest pink skirts you've ever seen.
Not that Mara’s been looking... well, not recently, anyway.
The three of them enter from the cold, ignoring the sign on the door that proclaims the café to be closed, the door swinging shut with a clang behind them and sending in a chilling breeze that seems to be lost amongst the hustle and bustle of the celebrations. All beverages are free on a night like this, and the man himself is stood behind the counter, grinning at them from ear to ear, a pair of reindeer antlers perched on his blonde head. He beckons them over as the three of them peel off their coats to reveal their finest fabric outfits, something that Mara had been surprised by, seeming as Whiz and Shannon usually wear plastic without a second thought.
“Hey, Freddie!” she says, tossing him her coat, which he catches and drops behind the counter, so she doesn’t lose it. The other two deposit theirs in much the same way.
“Mara and Shannon, always pleasure,” he says, with a smile at the two women, who looks between each other. He turns back to Whiz. “A pleasure to see you again, Liam, for a bit there I thought something nasty'd happened t’ ya!” he says, clapping the other man on the shoulder.
Whiz just shrugs and Mara chuckles. “Nah, can't get rid of Whiz that easily!” she says, smiling at him.
“Shall I get you the usual party drinks?” he asks them, looking between Mara and Whiz. They nod and he turns to Shannon. “And for you, Miss Mole?” he asks, Shannon looks slightly flustered at the use of such a title and shakes her head.
“I'll just have what she's having.”
Freddie laughs. “A very fine choice.” He turns to grab a set of glasses only to pause and listen to the music that's playing the background. He shakes his head. "Annie!" he calls- into the crowd. There's a pause before they see the tall form of Annie push her way out, clad in a tight bright red dress and a pair of black high heels, a Santa hat perched on the top of her head.
“Yeah Dad?” she asks, tottering over to them.
Mara smirks. “Looking good, Annie,” the other woman says. Annie just glances at her and shakes her head, with smile, as though this is something that happens all the time before turning back to her father.
“What's up?” she asks the man.
“I thought I said to put the Mariah Carey CD in,” he says as he grabs a bottle from under the bar. “This doesn't sound like her at all in fact... Wait, what in the world is this?!” He asks, listening to techno layered music playing in the din.
“It's Janara's new Christmas album,” she tells him as she beats her head in time to the fast rhythms.
Freddie shakes his head. “I'm not ever going to ask.”
Mara chuckles and pats his shoulder. “Maybe that's for the best.”
“You're telling me.”
Mara grins and turns on a boot-clad heel and looks to her friends, clapping her hands together as Freddie pours the drinks. “Right, let's do this thing!”
The party’s being going on for a few hours, and Mara’s feeling very slightly tipsy. She knows exactly what’s going on, she just feel like much of it doesn’t really matter, the world seemingly softened by the alcohol in her veins.
She’s dancing with someone who she thinks she met last time. Normally she’d be dancing with Whiz, but he went to get something to drink and hadn’t returned, so she’s still dancing. That is until she feels a tap on her shoulder.
“What’s up Shan?” she says, not stopping dancing.
“Can I talk to you?”
“Sure.”
The party went the same way the party always goes in Whiz's opinion, cheery, jovial- and full of alcohol. Frederic is just the gift that keeps on giving when it comes to Christmas parties and he’s pretty sure they've all had their fair share of daily units or whatever it is that they're calling it now. Everyone is looking very drunk, dancing around like they haven't a care in the world, even as the tracks change past Janara's album (which has come up how many times now in the past few hours?) onto some other strangely obscure pieces that Whiz doesn't recognise. Whiz joined them, just for a little bit, but he's never been much of a dancer without Mara around to bully him into it.
As the party rolls around to midnight, it begins to wind down a little, people start clustering on some of the comfortable seating that's been tucked around, right into the corners, for just such situations, and the dancers that are still going are beginning to slow down, moving into slower songs, their arms wrapped around each other like octopuses.
Whiz just sighs and shifts on his stool, sipping at his drink. Normally he'd be dancing with Mara right about now, the two of them still jiving like mad people even though the party's winding down, and he had been for a little while, but he’d gone to get another drink, and returned just in time to see Mara lead Shannon away from the dance floor.
So, now, instead, he's sat on the stool, moping around while Mara goes off to some dark crevice to do god knows what.
Whiz scrubs his hand across his face, taking another sip of drink. It could be a long night.
Tucked round the corner of the café floor is a mall door, marked with the symbols for toilets on them. Just behind said is a small passageway that leads towards the toilets. It’s completely deserted as Mara pulls them into it, shielding them from the music and the lights.
The music is nothing but a dull beat behind them and Mara gives Shannon a slightly intoxicated smile and she crosses her arms over chest, feeling nervousness bubble in the pit of her stomach.
Maybe she had too much alcohol, maybe that’s why she’s choosing now of all times to start up this conversation with the other woman. Maybe this is actually a really, really bad idea and she should just back out right this second.
But her week is quickly drawing to a close, and she needs to give Natalie an answer soon. And anyway, maybe the other woman will be easier to sway while slightly drunk.
She can only hope.
“So,” Mara says, drawing out the ‘O’ and leaning back against the wall. “What's going on, Shan?” She’s not slurring at all, maybe she’s not drunk enough for this conversation?
Maybe Shannon isn’t either.
She mentally reprimands herself. She’s started this, so she might as well finish it now.
So she takes a deep breath and lowers her arms, attempting to stand in a non-threatening manner.
“I have to ask you something,” Shannon tells the other woman, picking her words carefully.
Mara raises an eyebrow, looking very interested all of a sudden. “Oh really, and what would that be?” she asks the woman, her casual tone not reflecting the look in her eyes at all.
Shannon takes another deep breath and prepares to explain. “I’ve been sent to make you an offer, and see if you’ll accept it.”
“Wait... you were sent? By who? Why?!” Mara asks, her voice a mixture of frustration and confusion.
Shannon looks her in the eyes. “I was sent by a Central Agency,” she tells her, slowly, Mara’s eyes go wide, but Shannon ignores them. “They want your help on a project, Mara, only you will do.”
Mara blinks at her, utterly confused, her eyes a little frantic. “B-b-but why do you they want me?” she stumbles out, staring at the other woman with wide-eyes.
“Because you’re the finest runner the city has ever seen. They need you for this project.”
“But what project?!” Mara exclaims. “Which Agency are you even talking about?”
Shannon looks her straight in the eyes. “Mara, I was sent by The Central Agency for Spatial Development.” Mara goes stock still and Shannon can tell that Mara knows what Agency she’s talking about, what that Agency is capable of. “They have a job for you, an important job. The project can’t go ahead without you, and they know it. They’re willing to give you whatever you want in return.” Shannon explains, her voice carefully level. “What they’re suggesting is-”
“I’ll do it.”
This cuts Shannon off immediately, blinking rapidly as she takes in what the other woman just said. “But you don’t even know what it is yet...”
Mara shakes her head. “It doesn’t matter. I know what those people are capable of- and I want to be a part of it.”
“Well, that’s... that’s brilliant! I’ll get on to them right away!” she says, marvelling at how easy that was. She smiles at the other woman, but doesn’t really take in the fact the other doesn’t return it.
“I’ll do it,” the woman repeats, slowly. “But only if they can find a place for Whiz.”
Shannon stomach sinks.
There’s always a catch, isn’t there?
“Look... Mara..” she begins, in an attempt to change the other’s mind. After all, Salvador is worth nothing to them, he’s not intelligent enough to work for the Agencies. In Shannon’s opinion he’s not to be trusted.
“No,” Mara says, cutting straight across her. “You said they’d give me whatever I wanted, and I want him. I won’t go without him.”
Shannon sighs, she’s learnt in the short time she’s known Mara that she won’t give up, not without one hell of a fight. And it’s not a fight Shannon is willing to fight, not when she’s this close to getting Mara, to getting her place the Agency building blocks.
So she nods. “I’ll talk to Miss Ashcroft tonight, and I’ll get back to you tomorrow, along with all the information you need, should you finally decide you want to do it.”
Mara grins at her, barely restrained excitement causing her to bouncing up and down in her boots. “Sounds like one hell of a plan to me.”
Mara escorts Shannon to the door a little while later, the other excusing herself with the fact that she’s going to have to get up early tomorrow if she wants to catch Natalie on her day off. The two of them collect Shannon’s coat from Freddie, who watches them with a slightly arched eyebrow that Mara ignores.
Now they’re stood, Shannon wrapped up tightly, gloves on and everything and Mara smiles, still looking at her, slightly shocked, which reflects exactly how she feels on the inside, although she’s not quite sure how to process everything just yet.
“So, you really are serious about all this? About what The Agency want?” Mara asks. Shannon nods.
“I am,” she replies, simply.
“Good, I’d hate for you to suddenly shout April fool’s,” Mara says, with a little laugh.
Shannon laughs a little. “I promise not to.” She fiddles with her gloves for a moment. “So... I will talk to on vid as soon as I can,” Shannon says, about to push open the door, only to have someone whistle at the pair, they turn to see Annie grinning at them, not even swaying on her high heels.
Together, they look at to see a piece of greenery hanging, innocently, above them. They look to each other, then to Annie.
“I knew there was a reason I put that up there,” Annie says, happily. She claps her hands together when neither move. “C’mon, it’s bad luck not to kiss under the mistletoe!” she tells them, brightly.
Mara looks to Shannon, a smirk playing across her lips. “And we certainly wouldn’t want anything to go wrong with the project, would we?” she asks, a little teasing, leaning forwards, a different kind of excitement bubbling in her chest.
“I suppose not...” the other says, softly.
“Glad we can agree on that,” Mara says before leaning forward and kissing her, softly.
The kiss only lasts for a moment before Mara leans back and smiles at her, feeling her stomach fluttering as she takes in Shannon’s still closed eyes. She brushes her hand down the other woman's face. “I’ll see you tomorrow,” she tells the woman.
“Yeah,” Shannon says, softly, before snapping up and looking at Mara, looking almost... guilty? “I mean, yes, of course.”
And with that’s she’s gone, the door sending a chill across Mara as it closes.
She watches her, brushing her fingers across her lips. “I think I’m in love.”
Annie just snorts slightly, under her breath.
Whiz comes out from next to the Christmas tree, from where he’s been fiddling with the stereo system set into the wall (so that’s why it’s been playing the damned album every hour or so!) on special request of Annie, who had disappeared not long after that, saying that her dad had needed to talk to her and that was really grateful for everything he was doing.
He’s finally finished now. He grins triumphantly at his work, leaning back onto his haunches, before pushing himself to his feet in a smooth motion with a burst of rare grace and brushing of the dust (which isn’t really there at all, Frederic is so paranoid about germs he’d never let his floor get into that state, but it seems like the right thing to do.)
This warrants another drink, he decides, although maybe he’ll stick to the non-alcoholics now since his opticals are beginning to get a little bit skewed, although that could just be his imagination. He’s just heading across to the bar, settling himself on a stool and getting ready to order a drink when he hears a whistle. He turns- just in time to see Mara lean in and...
And kiss Shannon.
On the lips. Under the mistletoe.
Whiz feels something drop out of his gut and hit the floor, breaking into shards at his feet.
He turns to Frederic, who doesn’t seem to notice anything, probably a little drunk himself and says, “The usual party drink, make it extra strong.”
Next Chapter>>
Chapter 15.
The Ankora Party.
The Ankora Party is called such because, as the name implies, it is held at Ankora’s, and is, in fact, a party.
Ankora's café had opened exactly a week before Christmas, so, every year, Frederic and Annie hold a party to celebrate, and merge it with the sparkling luminosity of Christmas lights and decorations- to create one hell of a party.
The pair only invite a select few; some of their most valued customers and their family, including Freddie's big sister, Louisa, who always seems a little drunk, even when she hasn't touched a drop of alcohol, Tom, her husband and god knows who else. Mara was never very good at remembering the names. All she knows is that she and Whiz are invited every year, along with Simon Petes from The Central Banking Agency that's in here every night, drinking away him sorrows at the slow decline in bank usage as Internet banking becomes more and more popular and Alice Appelby from the shop next door, who always buys her lunch in Ankoras and wears the shortest pink skirts you've ever seen.
Not that Mara’s been looking... well, not recently, anyway.
The three of them enter from the cold, ignoring the sign on the door that proclaims the café to be closed, the door swinging shut with a clang behind them and sending in a chilling breeze that seems to be lost amongst the hustle and bustle of the celebrations. All beverages are free on a night like this, and the man himself is stood behind the counter, grinning at them from ear to ear, a pair of reindeer antlers perched on his blonde head. He beckons them over as the three of them peel off their coats to reveal their finest fabric outfits, something that Mara had been surprised by, seeming as Whiz and Shannon usually wear plastic without a second thought.
“Hey, Freddie!” she says, tossing him her coat, which he catches and drops behind the counter, so she doesn’t lose it. The other two deposit theirs in much the same way.
“Mara and Shannon, always pleasure,” he says, with a smile at the two women, who looks between each other. He turns back to Whiz. “A pleasure to see you again, Liam, for a bit there I thought something nasty'd happened t’ ya!” he says, clapping the other man on the shoulder.
Whiz just shrugs and Mara chuckles. “Nah, can't get rid of Whiz that easily!” she says, smiling at him.
“Shall I get you the usual party drinks?” he asks them, looking between Mara and Whiz. They nod and he turns to Shannon. “And for you, Miss Mole?” he asks, Shannon looks slightly flustered at the use of such a title and shakes her head.
“I'll just have what she's having.”
Freddie laughs. “A very fine choice.” He turns to grab a set of glasses only to pause and listen to the music that's playing the background. He shakes his head. "Annie!" he calls- into the crowd. There's a pause before they see the tall form of Annie push her way out, clad in a tight bright red dress and a pair of black high heels, a Santa hat perched on the top of her head.
“Yeah Dad?” she asks, tottering over to them.
Mara smirks. “Looking good, Annie,” the other woman says. Annie just glances at her and shakes her head, with smile, as though this is something that happens all the time before turning back to her father.
“What's up?” she asks the man.
“I thought I said to put the Mariah Carey CD in,” he says as he grabs a bottle from under the bar. “This doesn't sound like her at all in fact... Wait, what in the world is this?!” He asks, listening to techno layered music playing in the din.
“It's Janara's new Christmas album,” she tells him as she beats her head in time to the fast rhythms.
Freddie shakes his head. “I'm not ever going to ask.”
Mara chuckles and pats his shoulder. “Maybe that's for the best.”
“You're telling me.”
Mara grins and turns on a boot-clad heel and looks to her friends, clapping her hands together as Freddie pours the drinks. “Right, let's do this thing!”
The party’s being going on for a few hours, and Mara’s feeling very slightly tipsy. She knows exactly what’s going on, she just feel like much of it doesn’t really matter, the world seemingly softened by the alcohol in her veins.
She’s dancing with someone who she thinks she met last time. Normally she’d be dancing with Whiz, but he went to get something to drink and hadn’t returned, so she’s still dancing. That is until she feels a tap on her shoulder.
“What’s up Shan?” she says, not stopping dancing.
“Can I talk to you?”
“Sure.”
The party went the same way the party always goes in Whiz's opinion, cheery, jovial- and full of alcohol. Frederic is just the gift that keeps on giving when it comes to Christmas parties and he’s pretty sure they've all had their fair share of daily units or whatever it is that they're calling it now. Everyone is looking very drunk, dancing around like they haven't a care in the world, even as the tracks change past Janara's album (which has come up how many times now in the past few hours?) onto some other strangely obscure pieces that Whiz doesn't recognise. Whiz joined them, just for a little bit, but he's never been much of a dancer without Mara around to bully him into it.
As the party rolls around to midnight, it begins to wind down a little, people start clustering on some of the comfortable seating that's been tucked around, right into the corners, for just such situations, and the dancers that are still going are beginning to slow down, moving into slower songs, their arms wrapped around each other like octopuses.
Whiz just sighs and shifts on his stool, sipping at his drink. Normally he'd be dancing with Mara right about now, the two of them still jiving like mad people even though the party's winding down, and he had been for a little while, but he’d gone to get another drink, and returned just in time to see Mara lead Shannon away from the dance floor.
So, now, instead, he's sat on the stool, moping around while Mara goes off to some dark crevice to do god knows what.
Whiz scrubs his hand across his face, taking another sip of drink. It could be a long night.
Tucked round the corner of the café floor is a mall door, marked with the symbols for toilets on them. Just behind said is a small passageway that leads towards the toilets. It’s completely deserted as Mara pulls them into it, shielding them from the music and the lights.
The music is nothing but a dull beat behind them and Mara gives Shannon a slightly intoxicated smile and she crosses her arms over chest, feeling nervousness bubble in the pit of her stomach.
Maybe she had too much alcohol, maybe that’s why she’s choosing now of all times to start up this conversation with the other woman. Maybe this is actually a really, really bad idea and she should just back out right this second.
But her week is quickly drawing to a close, and she needs to give Natalie an answer soon. And anyway, maybe the other woman will be easier to sway while slightly drunk.
She can only hope.
“So,” Mara says, drawing out the ‘O’ and leaning back against the wall. “What's going on, Shan?” She’s not slurring at all, maybe she’s not drunk enough for this conversation?
Maybe Shannon isn’t either.
She mentally reprimands herself. She’s started this, so she might as well finish it now.
So she takes a deep breath and lowers her arms, attempting to stand in a non-threatening manner.
“I have to ask you something,” Shannon tells the other woman, picking her words carefully.
Mara raises an eyebrow, looking very interested all of a sudden. “Oh really, and what would that be?” she asks the woman, her casual tone not reflecting the look in her eyes at all.
Shannon takes another deep breath and prepares to explain. “I’ve been sent to make you an offer, and see if you’ll accept it.”
“Wait... you were sent? By who? Why?!” Mara asks, her voice a mixture of frustration and confusion.
Shannon looks her in the eyes. “I was sent by a Central Agency,” she tells her, slowly, Mara’s eyes go wide, but Shannon ignores them. “They want your help on a project, Mara, only you will do.”
Mara blinks at her, utterly confused, her eyes a little frantic. “B-b-but why do you they want me?” she stumbles out, staring at the other woman with wide-eyes.
“Because you’re the finest runner the city has ever seen. They need you for this project.”
“But what project?!” Mara exclaims. “Which Agency are you even talking about?”
Shannon looks her straight in the eyes. “Mara, I was sent by The Central Agency for Spatial Development.” Mara goes stock still and Shannon can tell that Mara knows what Agency she’s talking about, what that Agency is capable of. “They have a job for you, an important job. The project can’t go ahead without you, and they know it. They’re willing to give you whatever you want in return.” Shannon explains, her voice carefully level. “What they’re suggesting is-”
“I’ll do it.”
This cuts Shannon off immediately, blinking rapidly as she takes in what the other woman just said. “But you don’t even know what it is yet...”
Mara shakes her head. “It doesn’t matter. I know what those people are capable of- and I want to be a part of it.”
“Well, that’s... that’s brilliant! I’ll get on to them right away!” she says, marvelling at how easy that was. She smiles at the other woman, but doesn’t really take in the fact the other doesn’t return it.
“I’ll do it,” the woman repeats, slowly. “But only if they can find a place for Whiz.”
Shannon stomach sinks.
There’s always a catch, isn’t there?
“Look... Mara..” she begins, in an attempt to change the other’s mind. After all, Salvador is worth nothing to them, he’s not intelligent enough to work for the Agencies. In Shannon’s opinion he’s not to be trusted.
“No,” Mara says, cutting straight across her. “You said they’d give me whatever I wanted, and I want him. I won’t go without him.”
Shannon sighs, she’s learnt in the short time she’s known Mara that she won’t give up, not without one hell of a fight. And it’s not a fight Shannon is willing to fight, not when she’s this close to getting Mara, to getting her place the Agency building blocks.
So she nods. “I’ll talk to Miss Ashcroft tonight, and I’ll get back to you tomorrow, along with all the information you need, should you finally decide you want to do it.”
Mara grins at her, barely restrained excitement causing her to bouncing up and down in her boots. “Sounds like one hell of a plan to me.”
Mara escorts Shannon to the door a little while later, the other excusing herself with the fact that she’s going to have to get up early tomorrow if she wants to catch Natalie on her day off. The two of them collect Shannon’s coat from Freddie, who watches them with a slightly arched eyebrow that Mara ignores.
Now they’re stood, Shannon wrapped up tightly, gloves on and everything and Mara smiles, still looking at her, slightly shocked, which reflects exactly how she feels on the inside, although she’s not quite sure how to process everything just yet.
“So, you really are serious about all this? About what The Agency want?” Mara asks. Shannon nods.
“I am,” she replies, simply.
“Good, I’d hate for you to suddenly shout April fool’s,” Mara says, with a little laugh.
Shannon laughs a little. “I promise not to.” She fiddles with her gloves for a moment. “So... I will talk to on vid as soon as I can,” Shannon says, about to push open the door, only to have someone whistle at the pair, they turn to see Annie grinning at them, not even swaying on her high heels.
Together, they look at to see a piece of greenery hanging, innocently, above them. They look to each other, then to Annie.
“I knew there was a reason I put that up there,” Annie says, happily. She claps her hands together when neither move. “C’mon, it’s bad luck not to kiss under the mistletoe!” she tells them, brightly.
Mara looks to Shannon, a smirk playing across her lips. “And we certainly wouldn’t want anything to go wrong with the project, would we?” she asks, a little teasing, leaning forwards, a different kind of excitement bubbling in her chest.
“I suppose not...” the other says, softly.
“Glad we can agree on that,” Mara says before leaning forward and kissing her, softly.
The kiss only lasts for a moment before Mara leans back and smiles at her, feeling her stomach fluttering as she takes in Shannon’s still closed eyes. She brushes her hand down the other woman's face. “I’ll see you tomorrow,” she tells the woman.
“Yeah,” Shannon says, softly, before snapping up and looking at Mara, looking almost... guilty? “I mean, yes, of course.”
And with that’s she’s gone, the door sending a chill across Mara as it closes.
She watches her, brushing her fingers across her lips. “I think I’m in love.”
Annie just snorts slightly, under her breath.
Whiz comes out from next to the Christmas tree, from where he’s been fiddling with the stereo system set into the wall (so that’s why it’s been playing the damned album every hour or so!) on special request of Annie, who had disappeared not long after that, saying that her dad had needed to talk to her and that was really grateful for everything he was doing.
He’s finally finished now. He grins triumphantly at his work, leaning back onto his haunches, before pushing himself to his feet in a smooth motion with a burst of rare grace and brushing of the dust (which isn’t really there at all, Frederic is so paranoid about germs he’d never let his floor get into that state, but it seems like the right thing to do.)
This warrants another drink, he decides, although maybe he’ll stick to the non-alcoholics now since his opticals are beginning to get a little bit skewed, although that could just be his imagination. He’s just heading across to the bar, settling himself on a stool and getting ready to order a drink when he hears a whistle. He turns- just in time to see Mara lean in and...
And kiss Shannon.
On the lips. Under the mistletoe.
Whiz feels something drop out of his gut and hit the floor, breaking into shards at his feet.
He turns to Frederic, who doesn’t seem to notice anything, probably a little drunk himself and says, “The usual party drink, make it extra strong.”
Next Chapter>>