Wild Orchids

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December 31st

Maria was lost. She was lost in her mind and she was lost in her emotions. So here she was, late in the evening on the last night of a difficult year full of highs and lows for the young woman. Some people were about celebrating New Year's Eve. The would-be starlet, however, was not in the mood for a party. She had been invited to several, if for nothing other than a last ditch effort on the part of the wives that belonged to the firm she had worked for to make her feel less desolate at this supposedly happy time of the year.

She missed her family, she wanted nothing more than to talk with her now dead brother or to finally find her highschool sweet heart after his time in the war. The secretary needed someone to comfort her, alas, here she was in the middle of Washington D.C. staring out across the Potomac River as a ferry lazily pushed against the current.

Pulling her coat around her tighter to prevent the cold air from cutting against her fair skin, Miss Grace began walking some more, her fashionable pumps clicking against the hardpack as she tried to figure where she was going to go. Kicking a pebble into the water she continued onward for a while until she almost felt tired enough to hail a taxi to bring her home. However, as she did so, she looked up and caught sight of the lights and glitter of the cinema.

"I could watch a movie..." Or two. It was a double feature, and just what she needed to take the edge off this atrocious past two weeks. As she approached, and took the time into consideration, she realized she had already missed the featured film. Wild Orchids was the second though. A romantic melodrama, and almost a silent film. It was one of the strange films that came right at the cusp between silent and talkies. There was some sound, the most profound of which being a crowd and some clapping as well as a slamming door all to punctuate the actions that were occuring on screen. Plus, there was always the music.

Maria approached the teller window and handed over the five cash before heading in and grabbing a bag of popcorn and lemonade from the stand. "Happy New Years." She said to the girl behind the counter as she picked up her movie snacks and headed into the darkened theatre just in time to see the beginning of the flick in the abandoned theatre.

"Just as well..." She said under her breath as she moved through the aisle toward the front of the theatre where she counted back seven rows on the left hand side. It might be seen as a peculiar habit, but she always did it, and then she took her seat two seats in from the aisle, she hated to be right on the edge.

Settling into a comfortable position, Maria crossed her legs and then set the popcorn on her lap while shrugging off her coat leaving her in a dark skirt reaching to just below the knee and a white button up. The Catholic girl took a sip of her soda before starting in on one of the kernels of fluffy buttered corn. Overhead the screen lit up with the ship setting off for Java with Greta Garbo's character, Lillie onboard.

Maria smiled and rested her head against the back of the seat, reflecting on her past as much as watching the film. She was thinking of all the people she had wanted to see since she was in D.C. and yet hadn't. In addition to that, she was thinking of what she was going to do now that she had lost her job. There was only so long she was going to make it. Her boss had paid for her next month's rent, so she had that atleast, but beyond that? She decided she didn't want to think of it as she ate another piece of popcorn.

--Maria Grace

The almost-eldritch glittering of the cinema was truly impressive- the glow of the screen always awe-inspiring by virtue of the technological prowess required to create such a marvel. The lovely starlet on the screen looking, at the moment, rather saddened- tragedy lighting upon her countenance, filling every inch of her face. This was melodrama- and it was, in its own way, quite beautiful. The rawness and overaccentuation of raw human emotion was always endearing in its own way.

Maria's view of the movie was interrupted, though, as a rather imposing man cut before her, eyes dark and nose rather large. His hair was black and slicked back, as was fashionable in those times. He looked rather wealthy and well-dressed, to be sure, but there was a sleeziness about him, a sense of grim foreboding. Of course, Maria- being familiar with politics to the degree that she was- would recognize the man only vaguely. He was not exactly among the upper echelons of politics, yet, but he was a rising star within his own party. The name, though escaped her. Nickleson? Richard M Nickleson? Could that be right?

Something to that effect- his nose and beady eyes regarding the young Massachusetts girl intently as he moved past. "Move, lady. I don't have all day." The words were spoken in a kind of drawling accent that Maria would not be capable of immediately recognizing. There was a woman at his arm-- a woman who was decidedly younger than him. In fact, while the other man looked to be about 35, the woman was perhaps 18, if that. She giggled ferociously- as if it were her pastime, blonde hair continuously being pushed back behind her ear. She seemed a bimbo, and she was most definitely not Mister Nickleson's wife... not that this was especially surprising, in a city like D.C.

What was surprising, perhaps, was the moment that came only a few minutes after the two had passed Maria and were seated- and the sounds of soulful kissing came from the pair, his face planted firmly over the blonde youth's, her arms wrapping almost comically around the powerful politician.

Surely not a comfortable situation to be found in, by any stretch of the imagination.

--Aenigma

Koast grumbled as we walked the streets. That taxi driver gouged me, he had to have� stupid jerk If it wouldn�t have been a futile effort, he would have sneered back at the driver. Instead he simply settled to check the straps on his backpack, already confidant of the contents within. Maybe it hadn�t been the best of ideas to try and hail a cab while in his ratty attire� Ah forget it, what happened is already past.

Koast looked around the street, and then began plotting his course of actions in the city. It took a bit of effort to concentrate though. He kept getting lost in taking in the sights of DC. It took him a bit of effort, but he managed to get his mind straight. I need to find a place for the night, and I will need to find a job� That is a lot easier said than done�

Koast couldn�t help but remember the time he had in Virginia. It was strange, but he could swear the time he spent there might have not been that bad. It seemed more of a thing of curiosity that he came to D.C., an interesting thought to him considering his wanderlust practically brought him to Virginia from Massachusetts on foot.

Koast then let out a big yawn and couldn�t help himself from stretching. Ok, that topic was boring. Lets look into that place to stay.

Koast spent a good deal of time just walking around the city, taking in all the sites and learning the layout. All the while he could hear a voice in the back of his head telling him �You expect to get an apartment at this time of night?� The thought stopped him dead in his tracks as he let out a sigh.

It took all his mental willpower to not let any of this father�s �encouraging� remarks to slip into his memory, but it didn�t take long as a new sight definitely helped him clear his mind.

A movie cinema� its been a little while since I have been in one of those� I am sure I can take this� little break to see just one movie�

Alexi walked up to the entrance almost like a moth flies to the flame. He didn�t make much of the title, Wild Orchids, but then again he never did. He always watched the movies to be lost in the story, finer details were irrelevant to him. And, as the last of Koast�s resistance, like he was resisting in the first place, melted away he walked up to the front counter and handed over the cash.

He walked into the theatre almost in a trance, not bothering to get any drinks or popcorn, he never really bought much anyway. When he got to the theatre, his trance was abruptly broken by the sounds of a couple passionately� doing their thing. Koast wouldn�t have thought much of it, if it wasn�t for the fact that in the lighting, the man involved in the kissing looked to be an unwrapped mummy. Or at least he did to him.

Koast took the seat closest to the doorway, as was his habit and started watching the movie. It didn�t matter much to him that he had missed a bit of it, now was just as good of a time as any to be lost in the story� or would be if that blasted geezer and his floozy would stop making all that noise!

Koast turned over his shoulder to case the theatre, trying to see now how on earth anyone would be tolerating that kind of behavior when he noticed something that seemed to be plucked right out of his own memories.

It was different, it couldn�t have been, but it maybe, maybe it was, he hadn�t seen her in over a year, but to the best of his ability, in this light, it seemed like it was her up near the back of the theatre, sitting almost precisely where she always had.

It can�t be� is that Maria?

--Alexandyr

Maria was completely enrapt by the sights upon the great screen as the black and white flashed over the face of Greta Garbo putting her in the role of the exotic wife. The sultery star was everything that Maria wanted to be. Oh to be rich.. oh to be famous. She imagined herself in the role, and already, as she sat back, she was mouthing the words to the overly acted piece. Perhaps she had seen this one a few too many times. It was probably due to the fact that she so involved with what she was watching that she didn't notice the approach of the politician or his accessory.

"Hmm? What? Oh." She scooted back in her seat. A whole damn theatre... empty even... and they two of them need to sit in my aisle? Her eyes rolled slightly as the giggling girl passed by her knees, her back pressed up against the backrest of her seat as much as it could be. "Sorry." She mousily said, her Catholic manners still firmly in place, even if inwardly she cursed.

But as the man went by her, and she got an image of his profile she realized she had seen him before. Nickleson..? Why did that seem incorrect? She would have to look into it later, for now she was wishing that the sound track of the film could be turned up a notch or two so that the sickening sucking sounds would be drowned out. Loudly she sipped her soda and then filled her mouth with popcorn, hoping to crunch away the added auditory effects, however, it didn't help much.

Immerse yourself in the movie.. you've dealt with worse distractions. She took another handful of popcorn and began to munch. Jesus, Mary and Joseph! "Excuse me, I'm sorry, but you are being terribly loud, could you possibly keep it down a bit?"

It was ironic in a way, the movie portraying an unhappy wife, turning from her husband and seeking out the Javanese lover, and here was a married man, cheating on his wife during the film. The only difference was that Lillie was quite unhappy with her relationship... this greedy politician was just looking for some action on the side, with a girl that was younger than Maria herself.

The secretary smiled at the thought of Mrs. Nickerson doing something as brazen as the lead in the film once finding out about such an affair. I'd almost pay to see a old woman with an elephant rifle chasing that bimbo... She shook her head and then looked back at the screen. The girl had noticed that someone else was sitting closer to the screen, she hadn't seen them enter, but now she was regretting sitting in her routine spot.

--Maria Grace

Mister Nickerson coughed a bit, looking quite uncomfortable at Maria's words- his eyes blazing like twin shards of coal, though he said nothing immediately. It seemed he was afraid of causing too big a scene, at the moment- understandable if one knew who he was, and what he stood to lose- but was content to glower with impotent irritation at Miss Grace.

The woman, for her part, was another story.

Staring hideously at Maria, lips curled in a soft sneer. "What's the matter, honey? Jealous that you can't get any, so you spend your infertile life praying that you were a starlet?" She smiled, as if her own star were on its meteoric rise. "I know people like you. Frustrated with your own incapability to get a man, so you take it out on everyone around you. Well, I'm not going to listen to your whims, or my name isn't Dolores Sutt--"

By that point, Mister Nickerson had clamped a hand over the young woman's mouth and had consolingly touched her arm, smiling forcedly at Maria. "I'm sorry... I think my... friend... has had too many drinks, and I'd better take her home." The last spoken with emphasis as he positively glared at both Maria and Dolores, though more frustratedly at the latter. "Good day, miss."

And then they were sliding down the hallway, having a muttered squabble- apparently, from the tone and sound of their voices.

--Aenigma

Koast listened to the exchange, completely wordless as the tension rose drastically and at the same time dropped as the old man clamped his hand over the bimbo�s face. He could feel his anger rise at everything those two were saying to her, but was especially thankful when the pair began to leave. Something was odd about the old man, something seemed, well, odd. Odd enough that Koast made sure to get himself a good look at the man�s face before he disappeared.

Koast thought for a moment and mulled what he had heard through his head. Ok, no more doubt, that WAS Maria�

He sat there for a few minutes, mulling over in his head what to do next. I haven�t seen Maria in, what, about a year� What is she doing here? And then, what am I going to say? Do I just walk up to her and say hello, act like we used to? No, I never did that easily anyway� Maybe I should have a plan, like look like I am heading back and drop something� ah screw it.

Koast turned around, making sure to swallow any apprehension, because hell, he hadn�t seen her in a year, and had left rather abruptly� I think my cheeks are steeled for a slap, I hope.

�Maria? Hey is that you?� Koast could feel his heart somewhat jump into his throat, all hinging on whatever her reaction would be. She probably was the closest thing to a friend he had ever had, so he really hoped he didn�t have to endure a slap to the face.

--Alexandyr

Maria looked at the woman with contempt. Such a sad slut... She didn't voice that comment, however, rather relying on her good Christian morals to keep herself in check. Not that it was easy, this skinny little bimbo was calling her out on what was supposed to be a fun evening out at the movies. As the politician placed his hand over her sneering lips, the girl felt a wash of relief, atleast that torrent of insults had been snubbed. As they passed by she returned the glare with equalled ferosity.

Stupid people getting in my face when I'm just trying to have a nice night out. She rolled her eyes and then turned her attention back to the screen, and had another piece of the popped corn. The black, white, and grays flashed across the screen, covering her in the dim haze of the larger than life film. She chewed vigorously, somewhat getting out her tension through the crunching and as some approached she nearly died of annoyance.

"Listen I'm sorry if I disrupted your --" She had begun speaking at the same time he had, but had still heard what he said, and as she realized what he said she paused and actually looked up at him from her seat, two spaces in, as he stood in the aisle. "Koast?" Maria stared up at him dumbly. "Hi." The actress finally said, as she tried to think of what else she could possibly say to the guy that she hadn't seen in a year. Has it been that long? "I was just thinking about you." Stalker... "--Because! I was coming into the movies, and thinking of seeing this one with you before." She said uncomfortably as she dug herself further into her padded chair.

"I -- uhm. Do you want to sit down? Sorry, you should be just standing their in the aisle." The girl reached over and picked up her jacket that was laying on the seat next to her. "How have you been? - And where did you go? You left so suddenly, I thought I would hear from you again or something, but never did." For the moment, the movie had faded into the background.

--Maria Grace

Ahhh hell, I did not think this through, that question is a given� Koast swallowed a bit before giving his answer, he couldn�t spill his guts about the situation, for very good reasons that he would figure out later. However he did owe her something, she was pretty much his only friend. But what to say� �I� I had to go attend to some family matters. I decided to take some career advice from my father��

The memory flitted in his head completely unbidden. �You are coming with us and enlisting in the service, or god help me, you are going out onto the street!� Oh yeah, some advice�

Koast almost shuddered to himself at the memory, but quickly moved past it. �I have been alright. I have just been moving across the country, just taking in all the sights and everything around me.� Mostly because all of it was so boring Koast made sure to only think to himself. It was definitely strange talking to Maria again, it had been ages, and he so desperately wanted to write her while he was aimlessly wandering, but he had never been one for addresses�

�What about you? How have you been? And what have you been up to?� Koast almost spurted out, not wanting to dwell on his thoughts long enough to come to any embarrassing conclusions. A blush I want not to grace my cheeks, heh Koast was still somewhat stunned to just run into Maria, the thoughts of the aggravating old man having completely left his mind.

--Alexandyr

"Oh? Carreer advice?" She looked at him with some lacking of assurance. "I thought your pops was in the military though." If the pale girl could've blanched any whiter, it was luckily barely noticable in the bare lighting of the cinema. "You.. you didn't go to war, did you?" She thought of her brother, he had been her closest confidant, and then of her beau, both lost to her because of a large scale game of chess. The notion of war appalled her, and she thought Koast was not the type to go into the army.

But as he spoke further, saying he had been travelling over their country, she was a bit relieved. "I'd like to see more of the US." She said. "Certain things, you know? I guess not all of it, but it would be nice to go see the Pacific and maybe down south, except not in the middle of the summer, I hear it gets really hot. I don't think I could handle that. Too much of a New England girl." She smiled. "But that's just me, I guess."

"Me?" Just watching as my life crumples around me and starring roles pass me by... "Not much, either. Mostly recouperating from the war, I guess. So many of our boys were lost, I hope that it doesn't come to fighting again, ever. Peace would do us all well --" She paused and looked up at him.

"Are you going to sit down, or what?" Maria asked, motioning to the seat once again. "You're making me nervous standing in the aisle like that. Promise I won't bite." She laughed and waited for him to sit. "Popcorn?" With a fair smooth skinned hand she lifted the paper container and offered him some of the buttered snack.

Whether he took some or not she set it back down in her lap afterwards, cradling the food between her thigh and the arm rest of the chair she was in. Her right leg, crossed over her leg, bounced a bit, in beat with the music of the movie, as it continued to play in the background of their conversation. This had happened before, they would finded themselves immersed in some sort of a story and completely forget that they had paid to watch something in the theatre. Other times, though, they silently watched the film.

Now was much more about the two of them, though, so it made sense, having not seen one another for about a year made it so that people needed to make up for lost time. Maria, really, had a lot she could talk about, but most of the things that had happened in the past year had been the most traumatic of her entire life, and it definately wasn't light conversation by any means.

Reaching into the small paper bag Maria pulled out a piece of the popcorn. "I just got fired, though." She said and nodded, then licked her full lips to get the remnants of the salt from them. "I guess that's a bit more than 'nothing much', eh?" The Catholic girl laughed a bit, that way you do when you are trying to make light of a situation. "Yeah. I was working as a secretary, for this big law firm... then the lawyer did something." She shrugged. "So I lost my job."

She popped another crunchy piece into her mouth only to have it result in a kernel getting lodged between her backteeth. Damni -- darn.. it... Need to stop cussing so much. Since being in the city, Boston first, and then DC, she had found she had picked up several un-Christian habits, one of which being swearing. "I think that's probably my most exciting tid-bit. That and this..." She looked around the empty theatre. "I'm really glad I ran into you, I haven't seen anyone from up north in a while, since I moved here, none of my family or anything. A familiar face is very nice." She nodded in emphasis and then took a sip of her soda to try to wash down the kernel. "To think I wasn't even planning on going to the movies, I sort of just ended up here while walking."

--Maria Grace

Koast felt somewhat chagrined and felt himself almost blush a bit. �Sure, I will sit down. But I am still not too certain that you aren�t a biter.� Lame joke. Very lame joke, however it would make more sense for me to blush at a lame joke than it would to be just standing in the aisle like an idiot He ducked past her as quickly, and inelegantly, as he could and plopped himself down on the seat next to her. He made the proverbial bull look like a surgeon with his exploits, but he didn�t care� well until the next time he stumbled into someone.

He shuffled around a bit,, almost preening to get himself situated properly into the seat, the antithesis to his previous performance. It always amused him to think of how conflicting those behaviors seemed to those around him, well, save Maria. She never did seem to notice or care about that specific peculiarity of his, something that he couldn�t believe he had forgotten. It really has been a year hasn�t it?

Koast looked up at Maria and remembered what she had been saying before his acrobatic display. Taking a piece of the proffered salt encrusted, buttered, crunchy treat, Koast thought to himself a moment before responding. �Yes, I do think you are right that things are better at a peaceful state. However, not everything can return to a peaceful state��

Koast thought a bit to himself about his family situation. He did not miss his father at all, but that was not the issue. His mother had always been there for him, and she had always been quite useful as a source of guidance. Now there was little chances to ever return home to her. Especially now that the war has ended and Koast had not done �his civic duty�. His father would never let him come back. Not that he wanted to return, but he knew that with just his father, it must be miserable for his mother� What am I doing thinking about this. Snap out of the heavy stuff.

� From the frying pan into the fryer� Koast thought to himself as he heard Maria tell him about her employment woes. �I am sorry Maria, that must be quite frustrating to lose your job out of under you like that. Especially if it brought you out here.� Koast was definitely sympathetic, although he didn�t quite understand what it was like for her. He had never stayed long enough with one job for it to even consider firing him. It was an alien concept to him, so strange.

�You know, that is the oddest thing too.� He said after she mentioned just wandering in. �That is exactly what I did. I was more looking for a place to stay instead of a movie, but I just couldn�t help myself.� Koast noticed that Maria now had a bit of an air of consternation about her, or at least it seemed like that. He couldn�t quite place it, so he settled for just popping another handful of popcorn into his mouth. These things do have some sharp kernels, if one got in my teeth I would be after it for ages.

--Alexandyr

"Haha. No, I promise I'll hold back." She grinned. Maria pulled her crossed leg as close to her as she could as he passed, both for his ease and to make sure he didn't bump into it. When Koast took a piece of the popcorn she spoke again. "Good, eh? Not as good as the stuff back home, it's got that fake butter stuff on it, but it's alright, and better than some of the other kinds I've had." She shrugged losely.

"It's especially frustrating with it being right after Christmas. I sent presents back to my family -- you know, brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, leaves me a bit short-changed. I wish I could have had some more warning, atleast to prep my finances."

Maria had been more than generous, but that was because she was doing so well in the city. It would've been wiser to just send regular gifts, not over the top presents, especially to the children, but she wanted as much to share as to prove to everyone that she was doing well in her new life, and that she could take care of herself. It seemed like a wasted, and innapropriate gesture now.

"Must be kismet then." She said and tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear. "You don't have anywhere to stay?" Maria was already beginning to regret having touched that subject. Oh, don't be so conservative, no one is going to say anything, he can sleep on the couch... "I have an apartment, right near by, if you need somewhere, until you get settled, well.. I've got a couch atleast." The actress smiled. "I can't really vouch for it's comfort. I've never slept on it, but it's a pull-out, and I would guess it would be better than the street, or having to pay for an inn."

Christian morals, be a good neighbor. "So, you're welcome to stay with me."

It was then that the frustration at the kernal got to her. "Oh.. for the love of.." She looked up at him and smiled with a slight blush. "Ever get a popcorn kernal stuck in your teeth?" She giggled a bit. "It's totally stuck." She opened her mouth a bit, it was obvious she was trying to work at it with her tongue, which wasn't the most ladylike thing. One of her brows raised slightly as she concentrated. "Screw it." She sighed and looked at him. "I'll get it later, when I brush my teeth or something."

"So, what do you say, sleep on my couch?"

--Maria Grace

Koast nodded sympathetically. �Yeah, I know the feeling about money. It always seems that you never have what you need.� Christmas? When was that? Spending most of your time traveling does not quite lend to keeping track of the days. I think this is the first Christmas I have ever forgotten�

Koast�s reverie was interrupted by the most unusual thing he had heard in a long time.

"So, you're welcome to stay with me."

Koast felt himself choking back a little on a lump in his throat. Now of course it was quite a legitimate offer, they had been friends for a good time before he had to leave, and he did need a place to stay. And she is quite right about it being better than any Inn I would find� However, this was still a woman offering him a room. One that in all likelihood was single, as no guy that he could think of would allow his significant other to let a guy like him stay. And the fact she was decently attractive� Wait, what was that one? Oh yeah, she was decently shy and conservative. That must have been it.

Well, I have no reason to not accept, although it will be very weird, but hell, why not. I need a place to stay.

�Well, I guess that your pull out couch will be acceptable for tonight. This really is strange, like that kidwit thing you were talking about.� Koast laughed to himself a little, �I arrive in D.C. for the first time ever and run into you.� He downed another handful of the popcorn, eager to spit out another thing to change the subject for the time being. �Yeah I have gotten some kernels in my teeth pretty good before. Only brushing has really been able to get them out for me.�

--Alexandyr

"Isn't that the truth? Money." She shook her head. "Someday, I'm going to be rich, and I won't have to worry about it." Maria smiled.

"Oh, it'll be acceptable, eh? I'm not coercing you King Koast." She replied jokingly. "It isn't that bad. It's a comfortable couch atleast. I usually lay on it to read and it hasn't attacked me yet." The Christian girl laughed a bit.

"Kidwit?" She laughed and put her hand on her stomach. "Kismet." The actress continued laughing. "It's like fate. Things that are predestined and meant to happen." She bit her lip and tried to stop laughing. A deep, but content, sigh fell from her lips as she looked at him. "Kis - met." She repeated. "I have an advantage, I just read an article about serendipity and other kinds of fate."

Maria smiled and then looked up at the screen as he spoke of the kernal. "Yeah. I'll get it out eventually. Stupid popcorn." She let the silence befall them for a few minutes, maybe all the way up to fifteen or twenty as she watched the silent film play out the melodrama on screen. Music played in the background as words appeared on screen to push the topic.

"Thanks." She said, not looking at him, but continuing to watch the movie. "I haven't laughed in a while."

--Maria Grace

�Ahh, well, I uh� Koast stammered a bit, �I didn�t mean it that way.� He grumbled to her King Koast commenting, sticking his tongue out at her as he grumbled. His groans soon become mewlings as he started to recede into the theatre chair.

�Kidwit kismet potato potahto.� He mumbled, hoping that attention was adequately drawn away from his most likely blushing face. �Yes. You do have an advantage there. Meh.�

Koast looked up and watched the screen, absorbing the images before him. The flickering silver danced before him, looking just as precious as the metal. He didn�t really see much of what the images contained. He never really did. It wasn�t about the movie to him anyway. Feeling the images, the emotions and feelings wash towards him, the tide of events lifting him and pulling him out with it. It was a journey of sights, the music punctuating the activities as his greedy eyes absorbed every moment.

And then it also was always about the company. The movies were alright the first time he watched them by himself, however all the subsequent viewings were stale without the right company. I really have missed Maria haven�t I?

He looked over after she broke the silence, somewhat taken aback by the statement. �It is always good to laugh, good for the heart.� He wanted to ask why though, why she hadn�t laughed in a while. However this was not the place. Well, not unless she decided it was the place. Always seems to work that way at least�

--Alexandyr

Now the only members of the audience, the picture show flickered without regard to the couple as they quietly bantered in the seats below. Greta Garbo's passionate performance climaxed in the tiger hunt sequence. The rage of the lover and the catostophic ends to temptation.

As the film began to wrap up and the duo found themselves in the story once more, the beautifully familiar profile of Garbo washed the screen. Her gray, white, and black hair perfect, despite the crescendo of the story.

Very suddenly, and clearly, Great Garbo looked into the theater poised, still, and coldly quiet. She stared, unblinking at the two with no expression or motion.

The film flickered, skipped some frames before the picture proceeded once more as if nothing happened.

--Laveaux 22:21, 12 December 2005 (CST)

Maria nodded silently, obviously not wanting to delve into any personal conversations. Atleast, not yet. They had just started talking again, she didn't feel comfortable really saying much about it. That, and, well, it was one hell of a mood killer, especially when they were just chatting and watching a movie. Serious talk was best saved for serious situations.

The Catholic girl continued to watch the movie, unwaiveringly as the tiger presented itself before the Prince and threatened to eat him. He pulled his gun, nothing happened. As always, her heart raced a bit, thinking of him being unable to pull the trigger. But, of course, as she already knew, Greta's husband had fiddled with it. She was fixated until the screen flickered and cut ahead. "Hmm. That was weird." She commented dryly. "You know.. pay to see a movie and things like that happen." Maria sighed.

Quietly she allowed the rest of the movie to finish. There wasn't much more beyond the climax anyhow, as it was in many films. Looking over to Koast she smiled. "Ready to head out of here?" The credits started listing down the screen. "My place isn't too far, easy walk. If I can do it in heels, you'll be fine." She stood up and fixed her skirt, brushing a popcorn piece off of her lap. Picking up her jacket she tossed it over her arm and picked up her purse as well before heading out into the aisle.

It took just a few minutes before they reached the front door. Setting her purse down she slipped on her warm coat. The winter air was harsh, not as bad as in New England, but it was something needing to get used to, especially after being in a heated theatre for a good while. Buttoning the jacket, she picked up her purse and slid on some gloves. "Alright." Maria nodded. "Let's get on then." She stepped out into the air and watched her breath plume out infront of her.

"So what have you been doing for work?" She asked curiously as they walked along.

--Maria Grace

Koast sat watching the movie, absorbing the flow only for it to be broken abruptly by the skip in the movie. He could feel himself nearly growling at the thought of it for a moment, just a moment however, and then his irritation began to fade. He looked over to Maria and nodded. �Yeah, it is really annoying when stuff like that happens. You would think they would make sure it wouldn�t, seeing as how they are paid for this.�

The movie ended and Koast almost felt himself give out a sigh. Probably one of those contented sighs he thought to himself, reviewing pleasantly his company for the first time in too long of a time.

He looked over at Maria�s question. �Why certainly my dear.� He said with a little bit of a laugh. He looked down after her comment and sized up her heals, �Those don�t look that big at all. Whining about nothing.� Koast gave her a wink as he followed behind her, attempting to steel himself for the weather outside. I don�t like the cold. I don�t like the cold. I don�t like the bloody cold!

Weather back in California was never quite as cold as this� Koast often thought of his home back there. He had always missed his life, his place in the world, back there. It always seemed that he belonged there, no matter where he traveled it seemed that the only place he was ever accepted was back in California. He looked over at Maria briefly and looked forward again, the hint of a smile on his face, easily written off to a good mood. Koast felt almost in a state of shock on his luck, to randomly find the one person he had felt accepted with, and didn�t care how much of a sore thumb he was.

He looked up at her question and shrugged briefly. �I pretty much have been doing any job that is willing to take someone quickly. I have ended up doing a lot of retail work, customer service, that stuff. Not really stuff I enjoy, but it pays the bills and gives me a bank account.�

Koast yawned briefly, randomly scratching his chin as he looked over to Maria. �What about you? A lot must have happened since I left.�

--Alexandyr

"Yeah, I'd like to see you try walking in heels." She commented.

"Well, that sort of work should be pretty easy to find in a place like DC, that's for sure. I bet you'll have lots of luck. Out early tomorrow and you'll be all set finding something." She nodded. "But, if you don't like it, then I'm sure you could find plenty of other things to do, too. There's a lot here in the city, a lot more than in rural Massachusetts, and I can't account for California, but there is plenty enough here, and I bet there is something you could find to thrive in. It's just a matter of finding your niche."

Maria seemed quite sure of this idea, of everyone having a place, really. But, in this sense, that he could atleast find a job that he enjoyed.

"Me?" The brunetted looked over to him as if weighing her words. "Not really." She shrugged. "Like I said, moved down here for work. Before that I was living in Boston for a bit. That was amazing. It's one thing to go into the hub for a day of sightseeing, but another to live there. DC is the same. I think I'm still somewhat in awe of being here. Big pond for such a little fish." She said and laughed lightly, but there was a melancholy about her, hanging in the air, in her voice.

The Catholic had been hurt, and scarred, and it showed in her eyes, in a darkness that had settled into them that hadn't been there before, somehow replacing the bright and sunny countenance she had had when he first met her. Like so many emotional wounds it was difficult to place, but there was something there. She continued on as if it didn't exist and smiled. "There are a lot of oppertinuties here though. I'm hoping to stumble into one. I think I'll be going out tomorrow on the job hunt too. Hopefully we'll both be lucky." Pointing to a street on the right she broke into their conversation: "Down this way." She took the right and continued walking, her heels clicking on the concrete.

Koast had known she had been dating someone her senior year, she had talked about him often enough. They were the it couple that year. Voted into the superlatives as the best couple, and always seen holding hands. Her parents and his parents, both, were hoping for a proposal. Maria was, too. Anthony Guidano. Good Italian stock, or atleast that's what her father said. "It's not much of an apartment, but it's good enough for a single person. There are some other places available nearby, I've seen them in the paper. You could find one for pretty short money."

--Maria Grace

�Yeah, you never know. I may be able to find a niche.� Koast said, speaking the words but not really believing them. Koast doubted at times there was a niche for him out here. Almost doubted if there was a niche for him anywhere. But that wasn�t really the reason he hadn�t been searching for a niche. He couldn�t quite place it, but he never had wanted to find something for him, he never wanted to find something with any permanency. The thought of any degree of permanency scared him. Badly. So much so that he let out a visible shudder. �Gah, sorry, I am not quite used to the colder weather yet.� He said with a shy smile, hoping he didn�t sound too fake.

Koast was somewhat derailed from his own thoughts by the tail of Maria�s comment. It seemed somewhat� off, from what he could remember, but he just couldn�t place it. �Well, for having spent some time out here and still being in one piece, I think that this little fish has done quite well for herself. I definitely think that is something to be proud of.�

Koast smiled at her, attempting to encourage the more positive upswing she was taking. He couldn�t place it, but it seemed that something quite serious had been lurking in the background, he couldn�t place what it was, but it didn�t quite seem to be the right time for that. Everything seemed somewhat tenuous to him at the moment, and it didn�t quite strike him that it would be safe waters just yet. He made himself look thoughtful at her comment, �Yeah, I would imagine in a larger city like this there has to be opportunities. And I doubt you will need to stumble into anything.� Koast chuckled briefly, more to himself than anyone, �It is always comforting to know that you aren�t the only one on the hunt. I do hope that we both find something. It definitely gives one something to fill the days with.�

Koast nodded a bit, remembering how most of his apartments in the past had barely qualified as studio, and at least one was only a 50 square foot attic.

And to think, I never knew before then I was claustrophobic�

�I think that your apartment is going to be just fine. I think it is going to be quite fine.� He said, keeping himself from laughing.

--Alexandyr

"You'd think after that time up in Mass that you would be plenty used to the cold weather." She said jokingly, not realizing there was anything deeper to the involuntary shiver. "That's what you get for travelling away from it to warmer locations. To me, DC is pratically balmy." Maria laughed.

"Let's hope so, here we are." She said as they approached a simple brownstone building of three stories. Six steps lead up to the front door, to which Maria pulled out a set of keys from her purse to unlock. Once inside they were met with a warmed hallway. Quietly she shut the door behind them and turned the lock once again. "Be quiet, I think everyone else is in bed already..." She whispered and then stepped up the stairs. Almost with movie clarity one of the steps creaked. Maria bit her lip and did her best not to laugh considering the irony of just having said to be quiet.

As they reached the second floor landing the young woman moved over to a door upon which the number two hung. Her keys found their way to the second lock and they were soon inside. "Make sure you lock it behind you." Maria flicked on a light on the wall and illuminated the simple entry room.

The telltale couch, patterned in green fabrics with a embroidered overlayer of pink flowers, was common enough in it's design and indeed looked comfortable to sit on. A radio sat on the other side of the room on a table with a record player aside it. Maria had a good collection of music which took up several rows on a bookcase. Above the records were books as well, many of which had been given to her over the years. "Welcome to my home." She turned around and smiled, a backdrop of the green painted walls behind her.

"The kitchen is over there." The Catholic pointed to the right where an open doorway lead into a cabinetted room. "And the bathroom is right down there." She nudged her head further down the hall where a slightly adjar door rested. "And, if you need me, my bedroom is right there." A fully open door lead from the living room into her own room, but he couldn't see inside thanks to still standing by the door as well as the fact that there was no light on inside the room.

"Are you hungry or anything? I could make something, or a drink maybe?" She asked, ever the proper hostess.

--Maria Grace

Koast smiled at Maria and tuck his tongue out at her, playing up her assumption as she didn�t seem to notice his true shudder. �Of course I went to warmer locations. Warmer is better. And you have always been crazy with your temperatures anyway.� Koast grinned at her playfully, all the while attempting to stave off actually succumbing to the cold.

Koast nodded at her and made sure to slow himself down, as boards had a nasty habit of creaking. Proof of point in the matter, was when Maria set off the board herself. Koast made sure not to say anything, it would be better that way. It would be much better if he just gave her the smuggest look he could muster. It will be much better this way, heh

Koast nodded, not quite wanting to speak until he was inside the apartment, as it allowed him to rub it in just that much more effectively. Koast made sure to move into the apartment and lock the door with exaggerated slowness, grinning at Maria the entire time.

Koast appraised the apartment before him, especially the couch, with a critical eye. The green on pink clashed with the d�cor, the veneer with the fascia argued with the� Oopse, guess I didn�t know as many of those fancy terms as I thought� �The couch definitely looks comfortable, if only a little�� Koast turned around to see Maria almost� pose it seemed against the wall. He could only stand there and blink initially. �You look like something right out of a movie�� He had to rub his eyes for a moment to make sure he was actually seeing what he thought.

He followed her with his eyes as she pointed out the rest of the intricacies to her apartment, and the strangest thought occurred to him. Didn�t she� wait yeah, didn�t she used to have a boyfriend? Koast looked around again, and noted the significant lack of any male influence upon her apartment. It was far too clean for one thing, and far too� colorful. Hmm, wonder what happened to them. Oh well, now doesn�t strike me as a good time.

Koast looked up at the offer. �Umm, sure. What do you have?�

--Alexandyr