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Post by Shane Lawson on May 13, 2008 3:59:57 GMT -5
"Oh right, uhm.." The Bartender fell silent for a moment, knowing Masters had stepped out for a few moments. "Well, Have a look around.. Hell work the room if you want." he laughed a bit, not caring really what she did. "if you need something just let me know.. Oh and the boss should be back in a bit.." and with that he went back to serving customers drinks while a fit of curses and yelling broke out from the direction of the poker tables. "Oh Oops.. I won again? Fancy that." The man said retorting the protests of the others in his deep Southern Accent. "Perhaps Poker just isn't you game Conrad?" he said shrugging before raking in his winnings. Whether or not he had won fair or square didn't matter, people had a habbit of accusing those who won quite often of cheating either way and sometimes Halden knew when to retire from the table for a few drinks. "If you'll all kindly excuse me." Collecting his winnings he got up from the table, much to the relief/dismay of the other players who continued to gripe about him even as he made his way to the bar.
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Post by kitastrophe on May 13, 2008 4:06:57 GMT -5
Shaking off her expectations of seeing the man with whom she'd been so taken with that afternoon, Katie chuckled and nodded to Lewis, leaving the bar to stop by the tables, smiling playfully at the gentleman who caught her eye as she weaved amongst them, bantering with them, touching their shoulders and teasing them into ordering something. Every now and again she would head back to the bar to fill her tray.
As she moved back and forth, she kept a sharp eye out for those spending more money than others, and at least attempted to favor them. A gentleman moving away from a table with a lot of money caught her attention and she sidled up to him.
"What's your pleasure, sir?" This cleancut fox looked like a top shelf sort of fellow, and she was willing to gamble a few minutes of her time and attention for a chance at a wealthy regular.
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Post by Shane Lawson on May 13, 2008 4:17:05 GMT -5
"A drink will do just kindly." The man responded without missing a beat, it wasn't a surprise that she was now probably trying to 'chat' him up. Just a method of getting the customers money that just happened to be easy on the eyes. But of all people he knew the trade quite well, a few of his 'companions' had used similar tactics in cons they'd ran and so he knew how to handle their schemes without losing his shirt. "What about yours?' A sly smirk appearing on his face as he took his time sizing her up, and making no effort to conceal it either. "Barkeep, Your best whiskey please, Thank you good Sir.." He choked a bit, coughing a few times before settling again.
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Post by kitastrophe on May 13, 2008 4:21:09 GMT -5
Katie resisted the urge to roll her eyes and winked at him. "Why I don't know what on earth you could be thinkin' of, sir, I was only attempting to take care of your drink..." She protested innocently before smiling teasingly at him. As Lewis brought him his whiskey, she nodded to him. "Well I see you're ....taken care of, for the now. Don't be shy if ye need anything else." She chuckled as she continued making the rounds.
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Post by Shane Lawson on May 13, 2008 4:29:43 GMT -5
The man chuckled lightly over his drink, "I'm sure." He shook his head before taking a swig from his cup and settling in to watch the crowd for a few moments. Out of the corner of his eye he spotted the man he knew to be Elliot Masters, ah they'd had a few choice words over his presence in the Ambrosia Club a week or two ago. Not that Halden cared really, Masters or the men he employeed didnt imtimidate him in the least bit and if anything he usually attracted attetion to himself.. As he did now by holding his drink up to Masters while smirking from ear to ear.
And Masters noticed, the look of displeasure on his face was quite obvious.'What the blazes is he doing here?" he muttered under his breath, unaware that Kate was even here as he waltzed through the bar towards the back, though it took only a split second distraction for him to collid into the girl once agian. "Oh I... " his eyes focused on her, immediately realizing who she was despite how dressed up she was now. "Oh, I'm glad to see you were able to make it so early.." Again an uncomfortable edge crept into his voice, unsure of what to say to her.
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Post by kitastrophe on May 13, 2008 4:34:45 GMT -5
It wasn't the first time someone had bumped into her this evening, before of course the drunken revelry of the miners and cowboys around her could get raucous and disturb her path between the tables at times, so it was with a light laugh she turned around to forgive the man, which died when she saw who had bumped into her. Her eyes lit with recognition and she smiled before she could supress the urge, and this was followed by a blush as she straightened, clutching the back of a nearby chair for something to do. "Ah, well yes, it's a busy night and we're doing quite well..."
She bit her lip again, forgetting for a moment that they were surrounded by customers until a crash jerked her out of her idiocy and she shook herself. "I-I need to get back to that table, these are their drinks" She gestured to the somewhat shaken tray she was still balancing against her hip, and glanced back at him, reluctant to step away.
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Post by Shane Lawson on May 13, 2008 4:38:42 GMT -5
"And already to work I see." He responded approvingly, a bit surprised that she'd decided to dive right in so soon. "I'm quite pleased." It was then that he noticed her cheeks changing into a deeper shade of red. ".. Don't let me keep you of course, but since you're not offically 'on' tonight.. Feel free to come by my table if you like.." Was he baiting her? Perhaps, the suggestion was deliberate and he was curious to find out more about this woman. But saying nothing more he tipped his hat to her before stepping around her and crossing the short distance to his table.
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Post by kitastrophe on May 13, 2008 4:43:00 GMT -5
"Oh, of course..." She swallowed, and turned, glad to have something to do immediately, she strode over to where the impatient cowboys were awaiting their refills of alcohol, and turned on her automatic charm for them, pleased to have clients so easily pleased, she ignored a swat to her bottom as she headed back for the bar. Maybe twenty minutes passed this way, as she couldn't keep her glance from trailing over to the table where Masters was seated, torn between a desire to learn why he effected her so and fear of being seen through yet again...
Finally curiosity, as it is so often the case with females, got the better of her, and fortifying herself with a pair of drinks, she approached his table, fixing a polite smile on her face. "That offer still good, sir?" She asked cheerfully, offering him one of the glasses she carried.
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Post by Shane Lawson on May 13, 2008 4:52:12 GMT -5
Over the course of the twenty minutes or so he'd made his rounds around the bar a couple of times, seeing friends and associates while conducting some important business in between. But he'd finally returned to his table, and perhaps the timing was just right. Elliot looked up at her with a small smile creasing his lips. "Of course it is, would a gentlemen ever withdrawl such an offer to a lovely young woman?" He stood from his seat and gestured for a chair. "Please, have a seat."
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Post by kitastrophe on May 13, 2008 4:57:14 GMT -5
Katie smiled and sank into the offered chair, crossing her ankles and sighing with relief. She was greatly enjoying her work, but could not deny that she would need to purchase more comfortable shoes if this was to be any example of what she would expect on a nightly basis. "Thank you." She wanted to say more but could think of nothing, just stared at her drink, an oddly reflective smile upon her face, as she glanced up at him. "Uhm, so... it's a great job."
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Post by Shane Lawson on May 13, 2008 5:06:06 GMT -5
The man chuckled a bit at her attempt to make small talk. There was an akwardness there between them, one he couldn't explain. Taking a moment to nurse his whiskey, an uncomfortable silence crept over the table and he made an attempt to break it as soon as humanlly possible. "How'd you end up in this corner of the west anyway?" Even he realized a question like that was a bit.. Random at this moment.
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Post by kitastrophe on May 13, 2008 5:15:20 GMT -5
"Oh.. well, it's, ...complicated." Kit took a sip of her drink, and looked up, shrugging slightly. "I had health complications in the north, and with politics being the way they are, moving down south was simply not a favorable option. The idea of being away from the sophistication of a city appealed, too, you know... so I thought I'd move around until I found something i liked. You know, like here."
She wished she had thought to prepare a better story than that, but truly she had not anticipated the desire to answer such questions. Had a stranger asked her that she could have laughingly brushed off the query, but here a virtual stranger enquired and she felt she owed him some semblence of an answer. now why was that, katie parrish? foolish, foolish child...
Katie cleared her throat and took a deep breath. "So, ahh...yourself? Tis a long way westward, after all." She fingered her collar, absentmindedly fastening and unfastening the highest button as she watched his reaction to both her answer and her query...
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Post by Shane Lawson on May 13, 2008 5:32:40 GMT -5
"Right.." Masters sat with his arms folded over his chest, the man had known liars and thieves and of course been one all of his life and he knew usually when someone wasn't telling the truth. And this just felt wrong, as if she was making her story up as she went along, but he didn't press her on it, it was her business and hers alone unless it interfered with his interests. The question was redirected towards him, but it was possibly even more appropriate for her to ask him then the other way around because he was an awfully long way from home. Elliot simply smiled at her, and told her the story he'd told many times before.
Though he was impressed that she even knew he was from another land, most people didn't even know there was an Australia "So very true, But I came here for the same reason that many others did." That was partly true "I came here to seek a better life, escape the complications and hardships of the outback and make a new start for myself.. The land of opertunity they told me, so I came.. and started a new life." He said shrugging, The way he saw it he was telling a lie wrapped in the truth, skating over the reasons he'd been forced to flee his homeland and come here. But the difference between him and her? He told his better and more convincing. "I suppose we're both here on the same mission then?"
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Post by kitastrophe on May 13, 2008 5:40:41 GMT -5
Katie smiled coyly and raised her glass. "To a new start, and brighter futures." She offered, and drank deeply. before setting her glass down. Nothing before this day should matter ever again, she thought hopefully - and perhaps wistfully - to herself. Could her past really be only that? She wondered if he had guessed her origins as well and suddenly found it hard to meet his eyes.
"You know, this town is perfect for me. Lost Haven... for someone who wants to get lost in a safe place and just...live..." Exhaustion, alcohol, the strong desire to trust somebody, at the moment, these factors were all stronger than the screaming in her head to get up, go back to her false smile and her work, and never connect.
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Post by Shane Lawson on May 13, 2008 5:48:54 GMT -5
Elliot closed his eyes and took a deep gulp from the glass, enjoying the intoxicating taste and burning sensation as he guzzled it down. "mmm... a fine toast.." he murmured before catching her eyes in his gaze. His gaze searched the depths of her deep blue eyes, himself wondering just what drove this woman and what she really wanted. "Many people come here everyday to get lost, Most of my men are running from something." Given the way she spoke, he knew there was something more to this woman that she didn't want him to know about. "I would say Lost Haven is quite a safe bet.."
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