Realistic or Modern Spellbound

[xrakkax]

Avril, unmoved so far, flicked her tongue. The boa squeezed into a tighter knot, her unblinking eyes trained on Willow, and then shifted to the approaching person behind her. Theo came up and clasped his hands on Willow's shoulders, "Very good." He praised quickly. They were too near Jovan for a longer interaction. Theo hoped his light touch was enough communication. No one was perfect, she had been working hard all day, and the child was particularly obtuse. Theo knew what would have happened if Jovan had confronted the boy. There may have been yelling, and not just at the kid.

Watching Willow, instead of coming over got Theo thinking. It hadn't been something Theo thought through before-- to examine the person of his affection in these scenarios--but to his delight, it showed some good results. Theo entertained a peculiar idea that popped in his head. For the rest of the day, he considered how to go about these experimental sessions brewing in his head.

As for Molly, she didn't quite have patience with children. Once or twice she openly berated a phone-enslaved mother or father who neglected to stop their children from running wild. "Discipline them all you like, but keep them from knocking over chairs and racing in circles!" Molly said, putting down a plate in front of the parents. "As far as I'm concerned, a good pat on the butt and a couple of tears shed are better than raising tiny monsters!" This had come off abrasively at first, but Molly had no malice in her tone. In response to blushing and a harsh word or two, she'd say "Look I get it. You don't want to look like bad parents if you give your kid a sharp dressing-down, and you don't want anyone calling CPS because you grabbed your kids arm a little too firmly in your haste to stop them from running into a customers table. But in case you haven't noticed, this is the Old Bear. A crying kid or two isn't our problem, and neither is a sore butt. Please keep your kids in their seats and with as little thrown food, and kitchenware, as possible inside. If you need it, we got outside seating and a strong fence where they can run in circles." After the initial introduction to this side of Molly, they concluded she wasn't personally going after them.

Even a parent or two snapped out of their phones, once they saw what Willow said, and warned their kids about a bear on the wall lookin' hungry, any time a kid stepped a little far out of line. Theo looked over at Jovan. The older man observed his waitresses with a content 'hmph'.

 

[Soliloquy]

Willow had been watching the child return to their table, seeming quite humbled by her slightly exaggerated lie, folding her arms over her chest in a bit of self pride. It had been a form of work, after all hadn't it? She'd successfully stopped him from terrorizing poor Avril, and probably prevented a few other headaches for herself later in the meal. With her attention elsewhere, the sudden hands on her shoulders made her jump visibly, exhaling sharply before she heard Theo's familiar and almost comforting voice.

"Uh, thanks?" she said with a nervous chuckle, unsure how to take the comment, although he said it in a rather positive light. "As long as his parents don't turn around and short one of us a tip." Granted, they were all doing fairly well enough of late that one bad table wasn't going to hamper too much, or so she hoped.

Things were slow enough for a few minutes, everyone seeming content or handled by Molly already. Sparing a moment to flash Theo a smile, relaxing and letting her arms fall to her sides. "So, impressed with my ability to lie to a child, huh?" she asked him, eyes twinkling as she spent a little too much time appreciating how close he was.

 

[xrakkax]

"Lie? Pfft." Theo waved his hand. "We call 'little stories', is no same thing." Theo offered, shoulders scrunched and hands flared. "But, no 'impressed', just good." He teased. "Threat with Avril would be better." He gave his idea of how he would have gone about it. "Is alive, is right here." Theo gestured to the snake. "But bear still good!"

 

[Soliloquy]

She couldn't help but laugh as he tried to play off her threatening a child in such a nonchalant manner. "True, but everyone's afraid of being eaten by a bear. Not every kid fears snakes," she pointed out.

Hunching over, she lightly stroked the side of the glass closest to Avrils snout. "Besides, he was a bit of a rotten one. I wouldn't want this poor girl to get a stomach ace, right Avril?" She told the caged creature. "I think that eaten by a snake can be reserved for future boyfriends who misbehave instead." Straightening up, she gave Theo a small shrug of innocence before leaving him with that thought as she returned to her tables.

 

[xrakkax]

The not so subtle hint cracked his grin like the boyish egghead he was, and Theo let the adorable threat stand without a word. His delight was far too powerful to be given to snappy comebacks. Thankfully he didn't, because what seconds he had to turn and go back to work, he saw Jovan just about turn his attention to them. One breath of a moment could have spelled doom in the form of a glare or bark from his uncle.

Like the other days at the Old Bear the night ended pretty smoothly. A Babushka or two baited Jovan, here and there Molly got caught up in chatting with the patrons and kept a balance of work and winks. Doors shut, money counted. Theo asked them to wait a moment while he got something from the back. A moment later the Russian Casanova walked out with two hoops the size of your hand. Each had a pattern woven to a hole the size of a quarter in the center. Long feathers, white with black tips, trailed the hoop like a tale on a kite.

Theo held them up to the girls, "Will catch nightmares." Theo said, handing one over to Willow. Then to Molly he said, "Just in case, eh?"

Molly took it with a chuckle. "Sure, why not?"

"And, the salves." Theo took those from his pocket for them.

"Now that's what I'm talkin' about." Molly dropped it into her purse next to the stack of the days wage.

 

[Soliloquy]

Willow accepted the dreamcatcher, holding it up to the light to examine it. Free hand slid along the longest feather before looking to Theo and accepting the salve. Similar to Molly, it found its place tucked away for now.

"Catching nightmares? Does that mean in Russian you call them nightmare catchers instead of dreamcatchers?" She inquired, although she wasn't exactly looking for a history lesson. No, that night she was much more eager to find her way home and to bed. The continued long days were starting to drain and she hadn't been as generous with the soothing salve as she had been on afternoons past.

 

[xrakkax]

"No word in Russian." Theo admitted. "Is new to us."

Micha added, "Strange tradition, but works."

Molly had no word on the matter. They were the kind of people who hated Mondays and celebrated odd holidays. Molly half-expected to see them knock on wood three times and toss salt over their shoulders. "Well, strange or not, thanks I s'pose!" Molly smiled.

Theo appeared pleased they were accepting of his trinkets. "Please, I escort to car." It was a habit of Theo's to open their doors. Molly learned from Jovan that men in Russia were culturally expected to show women respect in this way. A special kind of smile for Willow crept to his lips, for although this was a public nicety, it was also common for dating couples. "Tomorrow is Friday. Weekend is different. Late work night, remember. Saturday late start. Sunday early start, early end. Remeber, okay?"

 

[Soliloquy]

For as many syllables and harsh consonances as their language seemed to have, it was hard to believe there wasn't a word that crossed over. Then again, she knew enough from basic schooling that the concept of a dream catcher came from Native Americans, so on the other side of the world it wasn't so far-fetched for the word to miss the travel. That and clearly they understood the concept, and if anything calling it a nightmare catcher made more sense given the mythology around it. She let the catcher fall to her side while the others spoke, shrugging her shoulders.

"Well, whatever you'd like to call it, thank you for it," she told him with a smile before accepting the offer of an escort. Sure, it was a short walk and well-enough lit that there weren't many threats, but she still appreciated the offer and a bit of time out from under Uncle Jovan's eyes.

At the side of the broken down Honda while they were given a bit of privacy from dear Molly, she turned back to listen to his reminder of the work schedule. Admittedly, she had completely forgotten about the hour change, so it was probably a good thing he had reminded her. "So much for a chance to do things on the weekend," she joked lightly. "I'll see you tomorrow, though?"

 

[xrakkax]

"Of course!" Theo lightly tapped his curled finger against Willow's chin. "Have goodnight."

"Bye Theo!" Molly called from the drivers seat.

"Bye Molly." Theo answered. "Have goodnight too!" The Russian man waved at the car as it pulled away.

Molly, amused, pulled out the catcher from her purse. "How silly. But so cute!" She twanged the threads with one hand while the other steered the car. "What is this? Feels weird." Molly rubbed the string between her fingers.

 

[Soliloquy]

An automatic sigh of content left her as Theo made his departure. There was just something about being in his present that just felt so natural; so...right. Whether that was a genuine feeling or just the fog of crush would be undetermined for the time being. For now she'd just smile and take it as it was.

Nearly collapsed in the passenger seat, Willow barely managed to buckle herself in before the struggling Honda took off on it's nightly journey. At Molly's investigation, she mimicked the action, rubbing the string lightly. Her nose scrunched up and she quickly wiped her fingers on her pants. "Not string... But I don't know if I want to know what it is," she said with a shrug. "I accidentally saw some of the ingredients your lover boy uses in the kitchen. It might taste amazing but you do -not- want to know what is in it."

 

[xrakkax]

"Oh stars, is it that bad? Uh-- wait, don't say. I think I need to keep my mind off of it. The thought of me eating gross food will make me hurl for sure." Molly laughed, a slight waver in her voice. There was nothing like her imagination that could cause her tummy to roil. "Maybe we can cook them breakfast one morning. We're not terrible cooks. What do you think?" Molly nudged her friend's elbow with her own.

 

[Soliloquy]

She respected her friend's request not to go listing the questionable ingredients that ended with a delicious meal. Wasn't there some saying about not questioning butchers or cooks? Either way, she chewed on Molly's offer to reverse rolls and feed the family.

"We aren't terrible, but we also aren't fantastic," she pointed out realistically. "Plus our food never leaves us so refreshed and ready to go for twelve hours. It wouldn't hurt though. I could whip up my grandma's old egg bake and bring it in some time. Unless you mean actually cooking there?" The second seemed like something that Micha might object to.

 

[xrakkax]

"Oh stars, not cooking there! Micha is a monster about not peeking in the kitchen. I half expected him to swat me like I did you." A small smile flit on her lips in memory of that towel-twirly. "Probably some artist-only superiority complex." Eyes up in contemplation. Molly brought her thoughts to the present once again. "I just thought it'd be nice. Maybe for a day that we aren't expected so early. I think Saturday is a late start. Maybe we can cook up a lunch at home and bring it over. In any case, I'm grateful. Monday is gonna be the best shopping spree! And I won't feel worried about rent. Things are lookin' up, Willow." And although Molly didn't believe any mumbo jumbo about dreamcatchers, she did feel a sense of calm. "See you tomorrow?"

 

[Soliloquy]

Molly raised a fair point that cooking at the restaurant seemed to be out of the question. It was probably for the best; she wasn't sure how she'd feel about having anyone in the family close around while she was doing her medicore attempts at cooking. Well, aside from Theo, although the idea of her and him in a kitchen alone sparked an abundance of thoughts that involved less and less cooking, earning a soft pink blush from her.

Molly speaking again cleared her thoughts, Willow in turn clearing her throat. "Sounds like a plan, Saturday," she confirmed as she pulled herself and the dreamcatcher out of the car, giving her friend a quick wave. "Tomorrow! Have a good night, Molls." Turning on her heels, she headed inside for her normal ritual of a late bite to eat, relaxation and collapsing in bed, although she found when alone she was once again day dreaming (despite the lack of day) of just what cooking with the smooth talking Russian could be like.

 

[xrakkax]

Driving home without Willow sank Molly's stomach. Seemed like things were just better when another person was around. Even the overly flirty Micha would have been welcome. At night, especially. Molly looked up once she parked her car. Dark clouds signaled summer rains. She reached into the glovebox and pulled out a roll of duct tape. Two strips of withered silver tape at the corner of her passenger-side windshield peeled back easy. Molly wiped the dust away before slapping on the new tape on. Two squeaks of her fingers later and she felt secure. As secure as she can be, with tape keeping rain from getting into her car.

A glance around cleared her worry of black feathered fowl. None in sight, Molly went up to her room. Once inside Molly went about prepping for bed. Although she thought it was a goofy gift, Molly hung the dreamcatcher above her headboard. Molly slipped into her sheets. One or two glances for comfort eased her mind and she closed her eyes.


The alarm going off stirred Molly awake. A bop to the unfortunately necessary machine ceased its relentless beeping. Molly popped an eye open. Happily, she felt rested. Getting up did not drain her brain. It was like she charged up on coffee through the night and didn't feel the need to drink any today. Whatever was in that salve worked! Molly got to Willow in record time.

HONK!

"Woo! C'mon down, girl. Friday is our long day!" Molly shouted from her window. A grumpy looking woman peeked through the blinds of what would be the bedroom. "Sorry Mrs. Kowalski!" Molly giggled, sucking in her lips.

 

[Soliloquy]

September 22nd 2017
​

A nuisance beeping tore Willow from her peaceful dreams, dark chocolate eyes fluttering open to be met with an odd angle of a feather dangling from the dream catcher just above her head. The corner of her lips curled up in a soft smile as she convinced her body to move, silencing her alarm and moving to get ready. Even though she was enjoying the land of the subconscious and it's unexplained visions within, she didn't find that being awake was unwanted. She was well-rested and ready to face the day. Before long, she was freshly showered, dressed in a pale pink button down blouse and reliable pair of jeans, still pulling her hair up in a ponytail while she was heading out of her apartment building and clambering into the waiting Honda.

"Jeez, woman calm down," she teased Molly, raising a brow as she examined her friend, fingers still flying about to twist about the elastic tie and secure her hair up for the hours of work ahead. "Someone's over here all bright eyed and bushy tailed. Are you just that eager to go see your sweet eager boy, or is there something going on that I don't know about yet?"

 

[xrakkax]

"Oh stars, Willow, I can't tell you just how amazing my sleep was last night, it was the best! No crow in sight." Molly wiggled happily in her seat. "And Micha is much more eager to see me than I am to see him, just sayin'." She stuck out her tongue playfully. They took off down the road. Molly blasted bluegrass music in the cool morning. Soon the sun would sip up all that cold. "How was your sleep-- oh, hey, also, it's Friday. That means one more week until you and your man-bun can be official. Excited??" Molly nudged her friend with her elbow. "You have to tell me all the details of how he asks you out and if you did it instead, and when and where and-- just all of it!" Molly giggled.

 

[Soliloquy]

The good news that her friend was not back to her nightmares was a relief. As long as Willow had known Molly Malone,she had never known her to show any resemblance of fear like that. Her superstitious moments were one thing, but the morning prior, she was properly upset. Anything to put their lives back to any sort of normal was more than welcomed in her book, even if the Russian family might have unorthodox measures to achieve it.

"You can say what you want, but I'm pretty sure if he wasn't around to follow you like a lost puppy one day you'd be at a loss," was all she'd say to that remark, not wanting to stir the pot that was heating up just fine on it's own. If she were feeling like pushing Molly a bit, she'd point out that so far he'd already proven a better boyfriend than any of her ex's without being in the role, but it was too nice of a day to leave the blonde in a plucky mood.

Then again, maybe that'd be better than having to face twenty questions of her and Theo's pending relationship. The tiniest part of her feared that talking about it was going to jinx it. After all, she was pretty sure that there'd never been anyone willing to wait that long for her, at least not to her knowledge. "I'm sure you'll hear all about it, you snoopy gossip," she said with a chuckle, settling back. "Heck, he's even a bit of a showman, maybe it'll happen at the pub. Wouldn't that be a story to tell?"

 

[xrakkax]

True enough, the point made about Mich was hard to brush off. A thought to chew on for the future. As for the last, Molly tapped her wheel, "Stars, Come to think of it, if Theo didn't do a show-and-tell, I would doubt his conviction." Another thought came to mind, one rarely touched upon, but Molly did occasionally wonder. "Willow, just asking, but if it is really serious with Theo. . .would you bring him to meet the parents?" And the brother, and the nearly stranged family-- at least estranged in Molly's mind. Molly herself recalls meeting them only a couple of times.

 

[Soliloquy]

As the subject turned to her family, Willow visibly withdrew slightly. It was a sensitive subject, as Molly was well aware, and coupled with the idea of her blossoming relationship with Theo left a sour taste in her mouth. It didn't take much calculation to know that he'd likely not live up to their expectations, if for nothing else than the simple reason that they had not picked him out for her. She was constantly fighting against them growing up, wanting so badly to be her own person when all they expected and demanded was for her to be a slave to them and their business.

"I don't know, Molls," she mumbled, reaching up and rubbing the back of her neck where a nonexistent kink longed to form at the thought of how stressful that could be. "I mean, of course I would want them to meet him, I just don't think it'd be any time soon at all. They aren't exactly pleased with the 'tantrum' of me moving out here and would probably just view him as another middle finger salute, you know? Maybe if we are serious and once everything is serious, I just.. I just don't want them to have a chance to ruin my happiness."

It felt broody and moody to say the least and she hated hearing it out loud, but it was how they left her after all their conversations. She hadn't done a single thing wrong or immoral, but here she was the proverbial black sheep of the family. It was that disapproval that made her so determined to keep at things herself, even if rocky. "But enough of that, we'll scare him out of it I'm sure," she chortled, shaking her head and looking off as they drew near the pub. "What about you? would you bring Micha to meet the folks? I'm sure he wouldn't make that awkward or anything."

 

[xrakkax]

Somberly Molly gave a pat on her friend's shoulder. “I understand.” Oh, the whole thing with their controlling behaviors really buttered her Texas toast. But as hot-headed Molly could get thinking, and ranting, on what she’d say given the chance to defend Willow in front of them, she did her best not to make a fuss. If nothing else but for Willow’s sake.

At the last, Molly spoffed, thinking of his presumptuous grins and bold Russian gestures. “Oh stars, if I ever did get that serious with the guy, I hope he did know what’s best. Pa isn’t a General in the Marines for nothin’, let me tell you-- Oh yeah!” Molly blinked, hazardly rechecking her phone. “Pa is coming for a three-week visit. He doesn’t know when, sometime in the next three months. Say’s he wants to meet up with us for some grub when he arrives. This isn’t a vacation, but it will be nice to see him again. Before he has to go back to whatever godforsaken part of the world good ole Uncle Sam points to.” Molly slowed to a halt once they arrived at the Old Bear.

 

[Soliloquy]

Willow accepted the sympathy from her dear friend, although she wasn't going to dwell on it. She planned to continue living her life as she chose to, not how her parents would have had it written. That may or may not have included the flirtatious Russian man that she knew was waiting for her. Putting her family behind her in the conversation she changed gears to focus on Molly's. "Oh that's great news! I know it's been awhile since he's been in town," she sported excitement for her dear friend. Unlike her own family, Willow had gotten along with Molly's stern albeit entertaining father on multiple occasions.

"Somewhere to eat, huh?" She glanced over at the entrance to the Old Bear before they turned the corner to enter the parking lot. "I think I know somewhere. You'd just have to risk your dear father meeting the next important man in your life," she jested, although she liked to hope that Micha would have been on his best behavior if such occasion were to take place.

 

[xrakkax]

Molly tapped her wheel thoughtfully, guessing her friend's mind. A wicked smile spread over her face. “Well now, that’s an idea.” And for a couple of reasons, one being Micha, but also Molly knew just how her Pa had embraced her best friend in her life. “Pa’s is like to give Theo a once over too.” She pointed out. “But you know, I think that I am curious about how Pa will be with Jovan.” In truth, the two men were quite similar, now she thought about it. They’ll find out if that was a good thing.

 

[Soliloquy]

Just idea of General Mallone going toe-to-toe with Jovan was enough to make Willow chuckle as she got out of the car. "Somehow that just sounds like two angry grizzlies growling at each other in my head," she confessed lingering a moment out in the early morning sun, she couldn't help but grin. She felt fortunate, a feeling that had escaped her for the last few years, and she truly hoped that wouldn't be changing. "Okay, enough family talk, I'm starved and a little apprehensive to see what their idea of a long day will be."

 

[xrakkax]

The image had Molly laughing, and she hooped her arm with Willows. At the mention of food Molly needed no further urging. "Oh, I bet you're starved." She winked, hoping the tease wasn't lost on her friend. Molly sighed happily to feel the AC had been switched out for some heat. Early mornings needed a touch of it before the Texas sun blared down. The beginning of Fall couldn't come fast enough!

Like always the tables were brought together to form a setting fit for several people. And like always Micha was eager to impress. Curious, though, that only Bandit sat where Theo would have been. Before a question of his absence could be made the roguish Russian's motorcycle could be heard parking in the back. Two wags of Bear's tail and Theo came from the back of the pub. The man had a backpack strapped to him. The size of it had his silhouette resembling the Hunchback of Notre Dame.

Theo's eyes lit up to see Willow coming to the table. "Ah! I made it in time." Theo walked around the end and pulled out the chair for the woman he was sweet on. Then he dropped the backpack. The thud had the water in their glasses rippling. "How is sleeping?" He asked, both putting food on his plate and pulling out a green book with the words 'Nelsons Pediatric 21st Edition' written in unattractive blocky white letters across the cover.