PURGATORIO » Places

         

The doors slammed ahead of him. It took him a second to realize that someone was walking towards him. Asking if he had a lighter. Nuko startled a little, if only because he was surprised anyone would approach him. He had a reputation of being a shitty sonofabitch to be around—too much trouble to rub shoulders with at least. Besides, he didn’t look too good right now. Busted lip, grass-stained jeans. Looking like he dragged himself out of the gutters. But here she was. A girl. Brown-haired and bright-eyed. Unfamiliar to him, which was weird because they lived in a particularly small town. He made a humming noise of assent and stepped away from the wall, “Yeah, sure.”

Jae hadn’t responded yet. Maybe he wasn’t even planning to show up after all. He’d said he would, but now he wasn’t sure. Staying put outside beat wandering around inside. Bumping into familiar faces didn’t sound too appealing. Besides, it was damn stuffy in there. He didn’t doubt that there’d be drunk girls stumbling around in knife-like heels, clasped in tight-knit groups… screeching how this was their favorite song. He fished the bullet-shaped lighter from his pocket and held it out to her. But instead of handing it over, Nuko poised his thumb across the flicker. Ready to light it. If it was at all something strange to do for someone he’d never met, he didn’t give any indication he cared.

A slight grin cracked across his lips, dragging the scar back and revealing teeth.

“Someone already ruined yer’ shirt in there, eh?”

Even if he looked amused, he hadn’t laughed. This girl—she was a stranger. The more he looked at her, the more he thought that she just didn’t seem the type to be around these parts. He’d been here long enough to know. She wasn't stumbling down the stairs with an entourage of girls in tow, head-thrown back; cackling. Sure, there was plenty of smokers in there, but he knew most of them. Probably gave them smokes at some point. Seemed like he was always outside of whatever event was happening. Close enough to feel the heat, but far enough not to be involved. If she’d been living here for awhile, he was sure he would’ve seen her. Or at least heard about her from Jae. Maybe Jason... if they still talked. His tone come out in a lazy drawl.

“M’names Nuko.”

         

It took some time before Deli started to feel comfortable amongst the growing crowd. She was thankful the corner she was in gave her a little bit of comfort. Everyone around her was laughing and talking, pretty much everyone seemed to know one another making her feel like the odd man out the more she just stood around. Suddenly she started to think that tonight wasn’t the night to gather information, she might be better off to leave for now. Honestly she wasn’t entirely sure how to go about the whole situation, taking her phone out of her pocket Deli knitted her eyebrows at the zero notifications. The officer that had put the damn idea into her head hadn’t gotten back to her since she got to town which did nothing but frustrate her with a low grumble she shoved her phone back away. Taking a sip from her drink, she let out a low sigh due to her thoughts before a small group of girls suddenly approached her, “You look lonely!” One of them screeched tipsily at her before latching an arm into one of her own. It took her by surprise and at first she wanted to run away but in mere minutes they were all talking, they bombarded her with questions about her past. Deli kept it fairly vague not wanted them to associate her with grandparents just yet.


The conversation was going well until one of the girls turned oddly causing her drink to spill onto Deli’s shirt. “I am so sorry!” Immediately the other reached out trying to do whatever could be done in order to fix the problem but it had already soured her mood.


“It’s okay, don’t worry about it.” Pushing the girl’s hands away gently she just continued to smile, trying her hardest not to tell her off about watching her inability to hold her liquor. “I’m just going to get some air.” Quickly Deli got away from the situation entirely mumbling under her breath the whole time. Going outside subdued her anger the second the cool fresh air hit her nose. Reaching into her over shirt pocket, the anger came back when she realized the spilled drink ruined the pack of matches she had. With a cigarette in her hand her eyes darted around, mostly everyone had started to filter back inside but the smell of smoke was coming from somewhere. Following it she saw a man leaning against the brick wall of the building, “Can I borrow your lighter?” Calling out, she walked over to him with a small smile.