Home Front 1942: The Second Act

[Maid of Marvels]

It's summer of 1942 in the New England town of Fair Harbor, and the War is getting serious. Many young men are already in uniform, rationing is getting more and more stringent and new war related industries are coming to town.

Fair Harbor, a small coastal town before the war, is seeing the effects of the conflict. Patterson's Shipyard has tripled in size and is running three shifts. A new Coast Guard station has been opened and 30 miles away at Fort Butler the Army is training flyers for the 8th Air Force. Port facilities are being expanded at an amazing pace. The USO is in full operation, scrap metal drives are being undertaken. There is talk of a new aircraft engine assembly plant moving into town.

The place is really humming!

To date, Davy Moore, the son of Jack Becker's former supervisor, has been rescued after being taken hostage by a German Uboat survivor who has subsequently been killed by Earl Talbrut. Life in Fair Harbor goes on, as they prepare to open their homes to the crew of the USS Quincy.

The OOC will be kept alive to discuss issues and plot developments related to the playing thread. OOC: HOMEFRONT 1942 Casting Call

For those of you who would like to read the original (though that is not a prerequisite to play in this chapter of the story) here is the link to HOME FRONT42...The Play!

 

[Maid of Marvels]

Toni Moore

Toni pushed off against the floorboards of the porch and let go, setting the glider rocking as she nestled against Jack.

"Sure was one hell of a day, wasn't it?" she asked as he wrapped his arms around her, breathing in the fragrance of her freshly washed hair.

"Mmhmm... But it's over now, doll. Most of it anyhow."

Toni closed her eyes and thought about the things that had been happening in quiet, sleepy, normally very boring Fair Harbor lately. First on her mind was her brother Frankie who had gotten his papers to report for duty. And her friend Claire who had just learned that her fiance had been killed in action. She knew it was selfish, but she was glad that Jack wasn't joining up any time soon. But nothing was going to happen to Frankie. Right? Right!

Pleasant thoughts, Antonia, she admonished herself. Besides, there was the dance on the weekend to worry about. Toni went over the last minute stuff she had to do tomorrow and thought maybe she'd give Mitzie a call to give her a hand. Maybe they could even drop in on Claire. Some good old fashioned girl talk might be just what the doctor ordered.

"Damn, Jack. I wish you didn't have to go on that welding job just now," Toni grumbled, suddenly remembering the phone call he had gotten earlier from the shipyard.

"Hush, Kitten. I'll be back before you know it. Besides, I'm not leaving til tomorrow," Jack whispered as he turned her in his arms and kissed her in a way that made her forget everything else.

 

[Guest]

Marie & Maisy Taylor

Marie Taylor sat with her daughter Maisy on the front porch. They sat in companionable silence, both intent on the sewing they had in their laps before them.

Both women looked remarkably similar. Maisy was only 5'2" with straight golden blonde hair the exact shade of her mother's. Her big blue eyes looked even bluer with the light tan she'd acquired during the Summer. She was slender and was the picture of health. She'd been head cheerleader almost the entire time she'd been at high school. She was the envy of most girls who thought she had it all. She had the looks and the brains and she was dating Frankie, the school’s football captain. All Maisy really wanted though was Frank. To get married, settle in a nice house somewhere in Fair Harbour, have kids. Just like her mother.

Marie looked more like Maisy's older sister than her mother. She had kept her svelte figure and although she had laugh lines around her eyes she still drew a few glances from the gentlemen in town.

The air was warm and each was lost in her thoughts.

Marie wondered when her husband would finally be home. It seemed like every time he told her he'd be home it was followed up with a phone call to tell her he'd been unavoidably detained again. His work for the war effort was making him as scarce as the soldiers themselves.

She sighed, not realising she'd verbalised her frustration.

Maisy was thinking about Frank. Her boyfriend had only just told her he was off to war. He hadn't really told her he'd even enlisted, only that he was thinking about it. That hurt more than anything, that he’d felt he couldn't tell her. So now because of a delay in the delivery of the letter, he was due to ship out tomorrow.

Only yesterday she'd heard that Claire had received news of the death of her fiance. She realised now, that as much as she wanted to believe all was well in the world, the harsh reality was that men were out there dying. Frank was going out there to join them. It irked her too that he was so raring keen to go. What was so bad about Fair Harbour that he felt he needed to leave it prematurely? That he had to leave her?

She mimicked her mother now. Sighing heavily. Her heart wasn’t in the sewing before her. It was her dress for the dance. She was fixing up an old dress of her mother’s. The pattern of the material was dated, but in good condition. With a few tucks here and there she could make it look a little more 'now'. Beside her, her mother was repairing one of her own dresses. At least she'd have company at the dance. Who knew if Frankie would even go with her now?

 

[Tibxo]

Frank Jnr

He lies there, fully clothed, on his bed, in the security of the darkness surrounding him. Just like he did when he was younger, he stares at the dark ceiling, his mind trying to conjure up all manner of images. This time, they do not come.

What has he done?

In his hand, he can feel the envelope carrying his call up papers. Until now, it had been like a dream. Something that is going to happen later on. But now, he knows that "later on" is going to be two days time!

TWO DAYS!!!

Couldn't have they given him more time?

Two days!!!

But even though he feels the fear, there is excitement too. Excitement for him to go and fight for his country. To kick the evil Nazis' butts. To see the world and then come home a hero.

He would come back! He knows he will!

Slowly, as his mind begins to accept the news, he feels the fear starting to evaporate.

He will be okay! And there is so much to see!

Feeling better, he pulls himself up and switch on the lamp. He opens up the envelope and takes out the piece of paper within it. Unfolding it, he quickly scans the page.

The day after tomorrow! He is going to war the day after tomorrow!

A knock on the door dispels his thoughts...

 

[Thor's Hammer]

Colonel Thor

......sweat dripping from my eyes, I watched the 'brown bar' line up the approach to Fort Butler AAF. This must be the 425th student I have run a check ride for in the last six months. As the commander, I do not have to fly at all, but I love the feel of the B-17 as it lumbers through the sky. My 7th request for transfer to the 8th Air Force is in the 'mill.' The other seven yielded a "You are too important to the war effort where you are, Colonel."

..........'it appears that we will, yet again, escape death,' I thought, as the second John looked like he would land without mishap. A moment of sadness coursed through my system. Based on the statistics from our daylight bombing in Europe, he would have about one chance in four of never seeing the USA again......

With a 'thump' the wheels touched down and we taxied to the parking revetment area.....

OOC: I just saw that Fair Harbor was alive again....and thought I would 'fly by.'

 

[Yoc]

Deak

( OOC: Thanks for popping in, Thor. )

From his room window, Deak could see the occupants of the porch outside very easily. It is a warm muddy evening despite the rain earlier and he can feel the heat pressing into his skin. He watches as the two women go about their sowing.

Sowing! Ha!

He sneers as he watches his stepmother, acting so casually as she sits there as if it is just another day.

She wasn't like that a few hours ago! He thinks to himself, remembering how she had reacted when he literally took her in his bed. He feels himself harden slightly at the memory of her soft naked body against his.

What would his "dad" say if he knew that his wife had fucked him like some whore off the street?

His eyes then flick to his stepsister.

Dear, sweet, Maisy. How pretty she looks!

Though he had enjoyed his stepmother, his body reacts more violently as he looks as his stepsister. Inside him, he feels the hunger starting to grow. He has had a thing for her ever since he had met her. But is she interested in him?

No!!!

Instead, she sees him as the 'big brother' she has never had.

No, she is 'in love' with that Moore kid!

But he will only be around for a short while and then she will be his. That's if he wants to wait until the kid leaves to join up. In his mind's eye, he can see Frankie Moore lying on the pavement, his head smashed in. He smiles at the thought.

Stepping away from the window, he puts on some clothes and goes downstairs to join the women...

 

[Moneytalks]

Maisy & Marie

"Mum," Maisy finally broke the silence.

"Mmmm?" Marie murmured in reply.

"Do you think maybe Claire might like some visitors?"

Marie let the sewing drop to her lap as she focused on her daughter's questioning face. She smiled seeing the sincerity there.

"I don't know honey, I can't begin to imagine what she's really going through right now. It's so tragic, why, only last week I recall her telling me of their plans for the wedding." She bit her bottom lip as she felt sorrow for the poor girl.

Maisy put aside her own sewing to squeeze her mother's hand.

"Mum, it'll be okay. Maybe we can take her some of the cherry pie from last night. I'm sure eating is probably the last thing on her mind, but it might cheer her up a bit."

Marie smiled back at her daughter. Here at least the line between mother and daughter was clear. Maisy was as sweet and honest as she'd always been, even after the shocking news of Frankie's imminent departure. Deak on the other hand. Marie shuddered a little at the memory that she'd tried so hard to block from her mind. Deak frightened her, almost as much as her response to him. She felt so dirty, so ashamed.

Maisy mistook the shudder for her mother's sadness about Claire. "Mum, you don't have to come if you think it will be too much for you."

"No, no, you're right dear. She needs her friends love and support now. We'll go right now okay?"

Maisy smiled, putting away their needles and threads in the sewing box on the porch and shaking out the dress. She held it up against her stomach so that the slight flare of the pale blue material skirt could be seen. "What do you think?" She laughed, "it could almost pass as couture huh?" She giggled and her mother managed to laugh with her.

 

[Yoc]

Deak

"What are you guys laughing at?" Deak asks as he walks onto the porch.

He notices that his stepmother clams up and looks away. Maisy acts completely differently and gives him a warm smile.

He sits down next to them...

 

[Messalina]

Grace Anderson

Grace Anderson wasn't what she would consider beautiful, but she had a great smile and an outgoing personality; always ready to offer a friendly word or a shoulder to lean on. She had considered selling the Tradewinds Bar when her husband died ten years ago, but their savings had been almost non-existent and she really didn't know how else to support herself and their son. Fair Harbor wasn't exactly the business hub of the area and there were few opportunities for women to earn a living.

The women of Fair Harbor were beginning to take up the slack, working at Patterson's Ship Yard and Sinclair Aviation, as more and more of the men and boys from the area headed overseas. It was a time of social change on a major scale. Not everyone would go to fight, but everyone would contribute to the war effort.

Looking around at the folks who had become friends as well as customers over time, Grace was glad that she hadn't. Besides, it gave her something to keep her busy now that Mike was grown and gone off to war.

The Tradewinds was busy for a Tuesday night. Between the boys from the Quincy and locals, Grace had her hands full. One thing the War hadn't dulled was a person's need to relax after a long day's work... Even the Chief of Police.

Grace smoothed her fingers over her hair and smiled. "Evenin', Earl," she greeted him as he eased onto a stool in front of her.

 

[Guest]

Marie & Maisy...

"What are you guys laughing at?" Deak asks as he walks onto the porch.

He notices that his stepmother clams up and looks away. Maisy acts completely differently and gives him a warm smile.

He sits down next to them...

Maisy smiles warmly at Deacon. Her big brother. She'd always wanted a big brother. Someone she could look up to and depend on. Perhaps she felt the need for someone like Deacon in her life especially so, with her father constantly away on business. Somehow having Deacon around made her miss her father less.

"Deak! Finally you're up!" She grinned, dropping her dress onto the swing chair and bouncing over to him for a hug. "I thought you were going to sleep the whole day away." She chirpped. "Mom and I were just finishing our dresses for the dance tonight, and we're thinking of paying Claire a visit to cheer her up a bit, you want to come with us?"

She stepped away from him and look at his face with sisterly concern. "How's your face Deak? It looks pretty bad."

Marie finally managed to regain her composure. She had to snap out of this she thought. She couldn't keep acting like a scared mouse every time her step son entered the room. She was his mother after all. Somehow she had to put that disasterous accident behind her.

"Yes Deacon, maybe we should put something on that eye?"

 

[ariosto]

The bus carrying Jack back to Boston was running on bad tires and just west of Providence in the twilight of evening it suffered it's second blow out.
The husky welder took advantage of the unexpected stop to use the payphone in the diner across the street.
He was feeling pretty good. He'd miss Fair Harbor during the next 4 weeks and especially Toni but the emergency job at Beth Steele was paying $3.50 an hour, almost twice what he was making at Pattersons.

"Hello..."
Davy had answered on the other end.

"Hi Davy, it's Jack. I forgot to tell Toni something. Is she around?"

After a short pause the boy told him that Toni wasn't there
"Sorry Jack, she's out...I don't think she'll be home till pretty late."

Out!? she'd told him that she'd be home all evening.
"Yeah, well...ok. Well I'll see you all tomorrow then."

When he took his seat back on the 'Grayhound' he wasn't feeling quite as happy as he'd been before the call.
There were lots of reasons why his girl would be out late on a Friday night...weren't there?

 

[Yoc]

Deak

"Yes Deacon, maybe we should put something on that eye?"

He likes the timid way in which his stepmother talk to him.

"It's okay, Mom." He sees that the emphasis is not lost on her. "It's not too bad."

Then turning back to Maisy, he remembers that she has invited him to go along with them to see some broad.

"Yeah! Why not? Got nothing better to do." He grins and is rewarded with another hug from his sister...

 

[mr spikey]

Professor Taylor

I entered into the Tradewinds, unusually busy for a Tuesday. I walked up to the bar and ordered a pint. The Police Chief sat at the bar talking to Grace Anderson. I smiled at her and asked for the usual. She smiled back sweetly and brought me my beer.
I settled in on my stool and tried to quietly unwind. I can hear several conversations going on around me, as I close my eyes in an attempt to reduce my tension headache. Summer has been unusually warm this year and it is going by too fast. Soon, the students will be back in school. Summers always went by too fast.

 

[captainb]

Earl Talbrut

Technically, Earl was off duty. He was paid for X number of hours per week and overtime pay didn't exist for him. He'd gone home to change out of his uniform, but the fact that his badge now lay on his dresser and his shirt was white instead of blue didn't change how he felt. You can't be off duty from life, and to Earl being a policeman was his life.

But sometimes you just had to let life drift, no matter what the demands. Sitting at the Tradewinds bar and letting the hum of the customers and the music flow around and through him was a catharsis. The place served as an escape from life. Maybe not for everyone (after all, Grace didn't spend her off hours here), but for Earl a few hours inside was enough to recharge his batteries and wash away the thoughts of the street.

He watched Grace through the mirror behind the bar as she traded conversation with the regulars. The locals had greeted him warmly when he came in, enough to please him and yet make him uneasy that he somehow seemed more important because he'd killed the kraut. It would have been easier to swallow without the trail of destruction the spy had left behind. The doctor said that Maggie was recovering well enough. The news about her husband's death hadn't devastated her the way Earl had thought it might. Especially considering where his body had been found. His mouth twisted at the thought, remembering Sophie lying in a coma and Houser in intensive care with a bullet hole in his gut.

"Most people drink the whiskey before the ice melts," said Grace as she lifted the watery mixture out of his hands and tossed it in the sink. She filled a fresh tumbler with ice and a splash of JD, setting it on the coaster before him. He smiled at her, grateful to be broken out of his reverie.

"Thanks, Grace," he said with a shrug. "Just been a long coupla days." She nodded in silent empathy as he sipped at the drink. He knew she would always have an ear to lend him if needed. But the thought of that alone was enough that he didn't need to follow through on the offer. Not now, at any rate. It was good just to watch her going about her routine with the customers. He always seemed to discover something new that she must have always been doing. He watched her profile as she efficiently handled the orders, and took a few glances at her backside in the mirror, too. She was a fine looking woman, he thought not for the first time.

He saw Taylor come in and Grace bring him a beer almost before he could ask for it. The sight gave him a curious warmth, almost a satisfaction. He pondered this and took another sip, letting the sweet burn slide down his throat.

"'Evening, professor," he said as he cracked open a peanut and slid the bowl over. "Those sailors still scaring away the fish?"

 

[mr spikey]

Professor Taylor

I was brought out of my trance-like state, as I heard Earl asking me about my fishing. I reached for the peanuts in the bowl that slid towards me and said " Yes, bloody hell. The yanks are everywhere and I can't catch a damn thing."
I broke open a shell and asked " How are you this evening, Earl?Catch any criminals or the like today?"

 

[Moneytalks]

Marie & Maisy

"Maisy," Marie spoke up suddenly, "if your brother is willing to go with you, maybe I'll stay home and iron these dresses. Your dad might phone today, and I don't want to miss the call."

Maisy instantly showed her daughterly concern.

"Sure mum, I understand, I'm sorry I didn't think of it myself. I'm sure dad WILL call today, give him my love won't you?"

Marie managed a wan smile at her daughter before she quickly gathered up their dresses and scurried into the house. She came out not much later to hand Maisy the cherry pie from the night before wrapped in a cloth carrier, before once again disappering inside. "Thanks Mom!" Maisy shouted through the closed door.

"Mum sure has been acting strange lately Deak." Maisy murmered, "I think she's missing dad way more than she let's on. I hope the dance will help cheer her up. Are you gonna be taking anyone special?" She asked with a smile. She carried the pie carefully in her arms they moved off the front porch and onto the street. Maisy leading the way.

 

[Tibxo]

Deak

"Mom sure has been acting strange lately, Deak." His stepsister tells him. "I think she's missing Dad way more than she let's on."

If only she really knew the truth. How would you feel, sis, if you found out that your dear mom had acted like a whore and fucked your loving stepbrother?

He hides the sneer as she waffles on.

"I hope the dance will help cheer her up. Are you gonna be taking anyone special?" She gives him that innocent smile of hers.

"Dunno." He says, suddenly realising that she had asked him a question. "Hey! I just had a thought. Why don't I take Mom? I know she has been down about Dad and since she doesn't have a date."

"Oh really, Deak?" She beams at him. "That would be so great of you and I know it would cheer her up."

Would it? He wonders, seeing how she is acting in front of him at the moment. She may say 'No'.

"I tell you what. Can you ask her when we get back?"...

 

[Maid of Marvels]

Toni Moore

Toni let herself into Frankie's room, barely able to discern his shape on the bed through the darkness.

"Whatcha doin' laying here in the dark?" She turned on the lamp and sat down on the edge of the bed next to her little brother. Well, not so little anymore. Old enough to go off and fight in a war, but she didn't want to think about that just now.

"Where does the time go? It seems that I was changing your saggy diapers not so long ago and now look at you. A grown man." Toni grinned and ruffled her brother's hair.

"Jesus, Tone! Do you have to say things like that?" he protested half-heartedly.

"Sure do. And as long as I am seven years older than you, I'll continue to do so. Now get up and keep me company. Jack's out of town, Davy and mom still aren't home from Mrs. Porter's house and I am bored to tears."

Toni stood and pulled at Frankie's arm. "It's just you and me, kiddo. Let's go get some ice cream."

 

[ariosto]

Old man Patterson would think he was crazy. He'd begged him for a week to give him leave to take the job at Bethlehem Steele and now here he was back in Fair Harbor. Of course he could still go up to Boston tomorrow or even on Sunday and make the 7am work whistle...he could that is assuming all was okay back at home.

The bus crested the hill and the now familiar town lay before him.
Home?...sure, sure it was. As good a home as any he'd ever had and this one had come complete with Toni.
Familiar streets, shops, lights, drifted by the window.
They passed the diner and he saw Earl and Grace talking inside with someone.
As the bus rounded the corner and slowed for the stop, Jack swore he saw Toni arm in arm with a young man walking in the opposite direction, back towards the diner.
His heart sank...it was dark, the streets were crowded with liberty men off the Quincy maybe he was mistaken...maybe.

A slow sad smile played on his lips. How many times had fate dealt him a bad hand. This was just another one.

The bus stopped at the brightly lit station and he hauled himself slowly from his seat...pondered buying another ticket to Quincy...
No, the next bus would be in the morning.
What he needed right now was a drink.
Stepping off the platform he headed towards the Tradewinds Bar and a small dose of oblivian.

 

[Gareman]

Johnny Bell Returns

Tossing the large canvas sack over his shoulder, Johnny walks slowly down the gangway. It seems like forever since he'd left Fair Harbor and from the looks of things, the place had grown up almost as much as he had.

The last time he'd been on this soil, he'd sworn he would never return. There would never be a reason to come back to a place that had made him feel so out-of-place...so inferior. But here he was, drawn back by some unknown force. Even now he really didn't know why he had returned. Just the smell of the place made him remember the teasing he had been subjected to as a child. His skin crawled as the memories filled his mind.

Maybe that was exactly why he had returned...maybe it was the last fear he hadn't conquered....or maybe there was another reason....

 

[Tibxo]

Frank Jnr

Knowing that he doesn't stand a chance, Frank allows himself to be dragged out of his room and ultimately out of the house.

He looks at his sister as they make for the diner. As far as older sisters go, she isn't too bad. Bossy perhaps but all sisters are.

Completely oblivious to her brother's scrunity, Toni goes on about what is happening at Fair Harbor, how she is missing Jack and can't wait for him to return. In fact that she talks to him about everything and anything. All except his call up to the army. Young though he is, the boy realises that she is finding it hard to accept that he will be going off to fight for his country in a short few days.

Arriving at the diner, he sees that it is heaving. Being one of the only social spots in the small town. However, there is still a table free which they quickly occupy...

 

[Messalina]

Grace

Grace went about her business, leaving the Chief of Police to talk with Professor Taylor while she waited on customers and stopped to chat here and there along the way. Every so often she found herself glancing toward him and listening for the sound of his voice in snippets of conversation. They were talking about fishing now. A good thing, she thought to herself. He really did need to relax more.

They had known each other for years, but only on a social level, never really getting closer than an occasional church supper or lately, a fund raiser. Well, and for the fact that he came into the Tradewinds more than a few times a week. More and more often these days, now that she thought about it.

Grace looked into the mirror behind the bar, catching his eye. She thought she saw the shadow of something dark and sad flicker over his face for a moment, but whatever it was was quickly replaced with a smile in return to hers. He looked good when he smiled, though that didn't seem to be often with all that had been going on in Fair Harbor this past week.

Turning around, she walked back over to him. "Ready for another one, Cap?" she asked, already pouring one out. "I know you had quite a day today. Did you remember to eat anything?"

 

[Guest]

Maisy...

"Dunno." He says, suddenly realising that she had asked him a question. "Hey! I just had a thought. Why don't I take Mom? I know she has been down about Dad and since she doesn't have a date."

"Oh really, Deak?" She beams at him. "That would be so great of you and I know it would cheer her up."

Would it? He wonders, seeing how she is acting in front of him at the moment. She may say 'No'.

"I tell you what. Can you ask her when we get back?"...

Maisy smiles up at her big brother.

"You know, you can be soooo adorable sometimes. I would never have thought you'd be too shy to ask mom yourself." Her eyes twinkled with delight at her imagined 'big brother's' sensitivity.

"She's going to be so pleased. Practically all the family together celebrating." She sighed, slightly melancholy as she thought of her father.

They finally arrived at Claire's house. After knocking on the door Claire's father answered the door and told them that Claire was working at the Diner that day. Maisy gave the pie to Claire's father and received admiration for it and thanks. Maisy blushed, telling him it wasn't necessary to thank her.

Finally after they had chatted for a while Deak and her managed to take their leave.

"He's such a lovely man, don't you think Deak?" She asked, not really waiting for an answer.

"We should go down to The Diner and say 'hi' at least. Plus I would love to have one of those ice-cream sundaes. They're soooo sublime!" She chattered on, impulsively hugging her brother's arm as they walked towards West Broad Street. Maisy wasn't paying too much attention to the route they were taking. It was the middle of the day and even the rough neighbourhood was considered fairly safe during they day, but usually Maisy avoided it if possible. Today she had too much on her mind and she felt safe with Deakon.

They walked past the Tradewinds Bar and were about to turn into the boulevard, which would take them to The Diner when Maisy noticed someone familiar through the window of the bar.

"Odd," she murmured, "I could have sworn Toni mentioning Jack was away in Boston for several weeks." She frowned then shrugged. She'd never seen the inside of a bar and it never occurred to her to enter one now. Add to that, she didn't really know Jack all that well. Before they could walk any further three rough looking types approached them.

"Well, well, well! Lookie here, ain't you a sweet piece of work honey!" The larger of the three leered at Maisy. Maisy looked at the boy in surprise. He was tall, perhaps several inches taller than Deakon, and he looked mean and grubby. She couldn't fathom his age because he looked so street wise it had added premature age to the look in his eyes. She clung to Deakon's arm to give herself confidence.

 

[captainb]

Earl

Earl chatted idly with Taylor about fishing and the weather, not really thinking about the subject. This kind of interaction was good: minimal thought involved, just a relaxing chat with a friend. He'd seen Jack come into the bar in the mirror, and let his gaze drift toward the welder every few minutes. His dislike of the man seemed less important now, almost irrelevant. He'd certainly showed his mettle at Claire's. Earl allowed that he might have been a bit unfair to the man. But changing one's gut feeling was hard work.

"Ready for another one, Cap?" He looked up at Grace and grinned as she set the glass in front of him. She was the only one who called him that; everyone else called him Chief or Talbrut or Earl, not counting whatever was said behind his back. It was his rank, but anyone else who said it would have received a (gentle) correction. "I know you had quite a day today," she continued with a glance over his shoulder. "Did you remember to eat anything?"

He nodded, not really certain. "Oh, I grabbed something earlier, but I s'pose I could use a little something to settle the whiskey. Any recommendations?" he said with a smile.

She leaned toward him, resting her forearms on the counter. Her eyes glinted in the subdued lighting. "Depends. What are you in the mood for?"

He cocked an eyebrow in mock surprise, then his gaze shifted to the mirror behind her as voices suddenly rose outside.

 

[Tibxo]

Deak

Ignoring Maisy's grip on his arm, Deak looks at each of the three boys in turn.

"Oh don't be scared, sweet thing. We ain't gonna hurt you. Ain't we, boys?" The largest of the boys sneers, showing off a large gap in his teeth.

Deak checks him out. Taller though the boy is, Deak is thicker built. Up to this point, they haven't even taken any notice of him. Not only is that stupid but it makes him mad. He doesn't like being ignored.

"Get lost, pal." Deak warns.

For the first time, the big kid looks at him.

"This don't concern you. I suggest you get and leave the girl to us."

Deak feels his heckles rising. No-one talks to him like that.

"Are you deaf?" The big rough moves menacingly towards them only to be stopped by a vicious blow to his stomach. Keeling over in pain and shock, another blow to the back of the head sends the boy to his knees.

"Not so tough now, are you punk?" Deak growls, feeling the rush through his body as he dealt out the blows. He turns to the other two who just stand there, dazed.

"Do you want some?" He growls. Though there are two of them and one of him, the two toughs decide to turn and run. Leaving their comrade at Deak's mercy.

"Deak, let's get out of here." Maisy squeaks, grabbing his arm. For a moment, Deak resists as he looks down at the tough and he is filled with the urge to boot his face. But one look at Maisy's pale face tells him that it will do him more good if he gets her away from there. Turning his back, he follows her back towards the bar.

Neither see the tough slowly get up to his feet...