Manhattan - Midtown
Midtown is filled with things for both the New Yorker and tourist to do. A fairly elite business district in Manhattan, it features many expensive restaurants and buildings. The most prominent location here would be Times Square with its brightly lit neon and LED signage, making it one of New York's most iconic images.
Rockefeller Center can also be found here, and is nearly a city in and of itself. The TKTS booth is nearby, hawking discounted theater tickets for Broadway shows. The theater district itself is within walking distance, and there's always subways and busses carrying people wherever else they may want to go.
Characters
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| Bridget Bishop | Gabriel Howe |
Girls' night! It is a tradition, after all. It's almost a little more difficult these days, what with sales increasing and Brooke being always ever so busy. Still Bridget makes sure that she sees her sister at least once a week. She's moved all the way here to look after her, after all, and that's what she's going to do. Well, that and her mother really wants more gossip about the new man in her sister's life.
The dinner has gone well, as usual, and she's even had two glasses of wine. She's wearing a simple black dress with a lightweight wrap. She's not looking overly fancy, just appropriate. The time for goodbyes always comes, however, and soon she parts ways with her sister.
Bridget walks down the street and attempts to locate a free taxi. While she honestly should just go home there is still a ton of work to do back at her store. The Garment District will be her destination, as soon as she can find a ride.
**
Manhattan at night. It's an experience that few other things can compare to. The sights, the smells, the simple energy that fills the place. It's been a long time, and then, he was mortal. Now, there are so many new layers to explore. Even with a mission so important it brought him back to this place of shame and rejection, this man from the past has opted to walk tonight, take it all in. Was that store there before? That couple… honestly, people talk like that in public? Even if they do not realize others can hear them… Get a room. And that smell. Even amongst all the rest, it stands out. So unique. It brings back memories of a girl he once knew. The girl. Almost…
His steps draw him closer, unwittingly. There. That woman. That is where it comes from. She is… no. Almost. Older. Could it be? He is caught there, held in the web that is the scent of her, the sight of her. He gets closer, but still lingers in the shadows. He can smell the wine on her breath, the food she just ate. But more then that, despite all the new things, despite the time, it is still… "Rene." Wait, how did he get closer to her? She will have heard that.
The man standing there, unlike her, is unmistakingly Gabriel Howe. When they knew eachother, he looked a little older then his mid twenties. Now… he looks quite a bit younger then his late thirties. Those sharp bluish grey eyes, that strong jaw, the way a smile plays at his lips, held there like a secret just for the two of them. The only thing that is different, really, is the suit. Sharp, clean lines. Very precise. He never liked wearing those.
**
Holding my last breathe. Safe inside myself.
The lyrics of the Evanescence song begins to play from inside of her purse which holds her cell phone. The ringing causes her to pause in her steps and dig for the small device. She's just left her sister but she's hoping that everything is okay. This is her distraction.
The distraction is almost enough that she doesn't hear her name. The name spoken almost sounds familiar but it's a memory from so long ago that she eagerly dismisses it. Once so she looks towards the source, not wishing to be rude to someone looking for her attention.
Are all my thoughts of you.
The phone continues to ring as her eyes lock on the man before her. Sweet raptured light. She doesn't move, she doesn't speak, she almost doesn't even breathe. All she can do is stare. It looks just /like/ him, but it can't be. That was over a decade ago.
It ends here tonight. The call then goes to voicemail.
**
It's funny what a memory, come up upon you unawares, can do. Certain things rush up to become crystal clear, like it is happening in the same moment as this one. The way they used to make eachother laugh. Those awkward moments when they tried to figure out what the other one was thinking. The feel of their hands entwined together. It's all there, in his eyes.
At the same time, other things fade away, forgotten completely, at least in this moment. The feelings he felt when he knew she wasn't coming. The… no. The thought is not even there right now. All that is left is the good, sweet memories that belong to this woman, his… "Rene."
The name is said again, tasting like honey on his lips, a taste he shares with her. So caught up in the good memories, he does not stop to think. He simply moves, his hand going to her's, pulling her to him, his lips seeking out her's… right here, on the sidewalk, in front of everyone.
**
The cellphone drops to the ground cracking the screen. His movements are so fluid, so fast. He's stronger, so confident in what he's doing. It /seems/ like the same man she knew, the man that was forced to leave, but it just can't be. He can't be here, and he can't be so young.
There is no return to the kiss. For all she knows this is some stranger, or stalker, someone she doesn't even know. His strength is determined as she does attempt to push away but isn't able to do so as easily as she normally would.
While out on this street, out in public, she dare not cry for help or attempt to call upon magic. Truth be told, Bridget isn't exactly sure what to do at the moment. She's still convinced that Gabriel is in front of her, but she knows this isn't possible.
**
The memory is strong, nearly overwhelming… but even then, there are things that can cut through it like a hot knife through butter. The look of denial he sees in her eyes, where he once saw love and trust. The way she struggles to move away where once she came rushing towards him. The way her lips are still, where once they eagerly rushed to meet hers.
His grip slackens immediately, and he moves back from her. Reality sinks in, cold and sharp down his spine. The smile that played secretly along his lips is gone, the warmth in his eyes cooling in temperature. He stares at her, for a moment, as the rest of the memories come back to him now.
Stooping down, he picks up her phone, and offers it to her. "I am sorry, Rene," he tells her, quietly. "I did not mean to startle you."
**
She stares right back, cautious and curious. It isn't until he actually speaks that she finally begins to register it all. Even though he's offering her the cell phone back she doesn't take it. It begins to ring again and she still doesn't take it. In fact, Bridget takes a step back and actually gasps.
"You - you're not supposed to be here. If you get caught." Immediately she shakes her head, trying to get the thought to disappear. "No, you can't get caught. You /have/ to leave." There is concern in her expression, honest and genuine, but it doesn't completely mask the shock and confusion.
"I won't say anything, I won't, but you should … " Finally, she can't take it anymore. "… you /should/ be older. Either that or I'm really not aging well." It isn't an attempt to be funny. She simply isn't sure what to do.
**
"What can they do that hasn't already been done, Rene?" Gabriel asks her. It comes out harsher then he means it to, but he doesn't call the words back. He looks down at the phone as it continues to ring, only looking up when it stops again.
"I can't leave," he tells her, in a softer, more even tone. His expression is mostly unreadable. Perhaps it's the time spent apart, or something else, but he is harder to read now then the Gabe she once knew so well. "Not yet, anyways."
He studies her for a moment longer, her phone all but forgotten in his hand. The lie that he's prepared for just such an occassion comes to his lips, faltering only for a heartbeat, before he lets them loose into the night air. As much as he hates to lie to her, he doesn't have a choice. "I'm a lawyer now, Rene. My clients… they prefer someone a bit younger, more confident looking. It was worth the expense." It's for her own protection. That's what he tells himself. Nothing to do with how she might look at him, if she knew the truth. Not that he cares. No. She did not choose him. He doesn't owe her anything.
Despite the inner tormoil, his expression remains calm as still water, the words never hesitating as he tells them to her.
**
Slowly she reaches out for her phone and grabs it. She doesn't even inspect it nor notice the broken screen. Even as he explains himself she remains cautious. Bridget isn't honestly afraid of being seen with him. She wasn't then and she sure as hell isn't now. She's more dealing with the things that she's been trying to forget for the last decade.
"That seems a bit excessive," the careful witch speaks softly. "Even for you. There had to have been something else." She doesn't fully understand any of it. All she knows is that he's standing right in front of her, looking no different.
"I can keep quiet about it, but I can't stop them from finding out." Yes, she's actually trying to look out for him. Here she is, standing before him, aged and still no rings on her fingers. She likely is the last one that should be looking out for anyone. "And I don't think that I can stop them from doing anything."
**
That's the problem with lies. They have holes in them, even when told with a straight face and even tone. The Gabe that Bridget knew would never get plastic surgery. But then, he probably wouldn't have become a lawyer after everything his mother and the Coven did. Still, perhaps if you just let a lie rest, it becomes more believable. So for now, he doesn't address it further.
"My mother is dead, Rene," he says instead, quietly revealing the purpose of his mission here. Or at least part of it. "I'm here to set things in order."
Even as he reveals this, his light eyes study Bridget carefully. Partly to see how much she knows. The rest… the rest is just taking her in. What has changed. What has remained the same. And yes, his eyes move to her finger, ever so quickly. But whatever he feels about what he finds, or the lack there of…
it all stays locked away behind that now cool expression.
**
The news actually comes as a shock to her. She's been away for the weekend and only recently returned. Catching up on current events wasn't a priority and it wasn't brought up over dinner. It isn't as if she has the highest level of fondness for the woman; she did send her son away for seemingly nothing. Yet she was a high ranking member of the Coven, and more importantly mother to her former lover.
A hand covers her mouth as she considers the news. "I'm so sorry, Gabriel." Her words are sincere, moreso than they ought to be considering how she left him stranded. "I've been away. I hadn't heard." At least she doesn't have to worry about Victoria turning him in, but that's far from the most important part.
"If you need any help with this, just let me know. I can possibly get places you might not be able to." The rest of The Coven likely won't be as forgiving as she is to see him.
**
Bridget's original reaction caused Gabriel to cool, to become still. But that is nothing compared with the stillness that fills him now at her reaction. Her concern. Her… Bridget-ness. He stares at her for a long moment, in utter silence. Finally, almost inexplicably, he raises an arm, as if signaling to someone.
Despite the odd gesture, which he continues to hold, he says two words, words that hold an echo of the warmth with which he first greeted her. "Thank you." It's a quiet thing, the smile that follows. A sad thing. He nods, then, acknowledging everything she has said, everything between them. And then… "Your cab is here."
And indeed, somehow, Gabe happened to know that an empty cab was nearby. Or maybe he just got lucky. But when Bridget turns, she'll see that her ex has indeed flagged her down a taxi. And, when she turns back to him…
He's gone.
