Side Alley

[Administrator]

It can get a bit creepy here... and for good reason. Some of the people and things back here are not the kindest in the world.

[Daisy O'Connor]

<New Day - Reserved for Lord Byron>

The the bright, garish light of day the side alley that ran along the King's Highway apartment building separating it from the one beside it wasn't nearly as creepy. Which was why Daisy elected to head down it towards the door at the back of the building, with her arms full of her daily purchases it provided easier and closer access to her apartment. She had some sense, Daisy mused as she juggled the small loaf of bread and the basket containing a wide range of vegetables as she moved down the alley. She wasn't likely to be found back here when the sun sat low in the sky and the shadows stretched out and spread over the dingy bricks and cloaked the tiny space in darkness.

But now at midday, with the sun high in the sky and the yellow light finding some of the tinier crevices, Daisy felt safe enough to walk along the alley. As was her nature, she hummed softly under her breath as she mentally planned out meals for the next few nights, the ingredients in her arms and the few staples in her kitchen would be more than sufficient. It was perhaps one of Daisy's favorite things in the world, creating in the kitchen, and now she had lads to cook for, other than the ones that traipsed through McGinty's on a regular basis, and it made her heart sing. Switching to a different tune, Daisy navigated the alley with small steps as she considered once again talking with Red about possibly baking some pies to sell at McGinty's, all the while moving towards the door.

[Lord Byron Hastings]

Byron sat on the ground in the side alley, an open book--Shakespeare's Twelfth Night--sitting in his lap. He and Avalanche were supposed to meet up out here in a bit, so he decided to take advantage of the light and silence. He was so wrapped up in the love triangle developing between Olivia, the Duke, and Viola/Cesario that he hadn't noticed he wasn't alone in the alley any longer. Hearing the ground being disturb by someone walking towards him, he looked up spotting a pretty blonde girl coming his way, struggling with some things in her arms.

Byron quickly stood up--setting his book down on the doorstep--and made his way over to her. He pulled the cap off his head and bowed his head out of courtesy. "Pardon me, miss. May I help you with your parcels?"

[Daisy O'Connor]

Daisy had been so lost in her own thoughts and her view partly blocked by her packages that she didn't even see the young man until he was standing in front of her, head bowed. "Oh!" She said, laughing a little as she clutched at the basket that threatened to slip from her grasp as she jumped. "I'm so sorry, I didn't even see you there." Looking down at the items in her hands and then up at the man before her she studied him for a moment - Daisy trusted her gut, she always had and it was one of the things that had helped her survive in Brooklyn as long as she had. And she had a rather good feeling about this man, he seemed nice enough and he wasn't leering like some men were prone to doing - which generally earned most a kind smile and curt rebuff of their offer of help.

But instead she smiled a little more widely and held out the carefully wrapped package of bread, allowing her to settle the basket more easily in her arms. "Thank you, sir, that is very kind of you." Gallantry was rare on the streets, particularly this side of Brooklyn and though Daisy was certain she could have manged just fine, she saw no need to turn down the help when it was offered.

[Lord Byron Hastings]

Byron stood up straight and placed his hat back on his head, before taking the wrapped package she held out to him. Upon closer inspection of the girl before him, he realized she looked a little familiar but he couldn't quite recall where he had seen her before. He concluded from her appearance in this alley that she probably lived in one of the buildings on either side of them but he was positive that he hadn't seen her while visiting Avalanche and there weren't too many places in Brooklyn that he frequented.

Following her down the alley, Byron cleared his throat. "S'cuse me, Love, but have we met before? Your face--I'm sure I've seen you somewhere before, but I'm not in Brooklyn too much."

[Daisy O'Connor]

At his question, Daisy stopped short and studied his face, scanning through her own memory as she found his features to be rather familiar as well. She had a fine enough memory for things, but people she remembered better than most, perhaps because she was such a people person - putting light in someone's eyes was one of life' s - and Daisy's, greatest pleasures. "McGinty's," She said finally with a warm smile, placing the handsome face and green eyes with one she had seen often at the pub where she worked, charming the girls who stopped in or worked there. "I work at McGinty's and have seen you there myself."

That matter settled, Daisy began moving down the alley again, heading towards the door ahead on their right, which would lead up the back of the building and with easy access to her own apartment. "Thank you again for your kind offer," Daisy said, glancing back at him over her shoulder. "I would have managed alright but it never hurts to have four hands, they do seem to manage a whole lot better than two."

[Lord Byron Hastings]

Byron smiled, "That's right you're one of the barmaids." Now that he had a place to go with the face, he could recall seeing the pretty blonde on most of his trips to McGinty's. She always seemed to have a cheerful disposition and greeted everyone with a smile.

"It was nothing any other gent wouldn't do, Miss." Byron trailed after the girl down the alley towards the door leading up to Avalanche's place. She must live there as well, he thought to himself. "Allow me," he offered, making his way ahead of her towards the door--stopping briefly to pick up the worn book he had discarded on the doorstep, and tucking it under his arm--and opened it for her, holding the door open so she could walk through easily. "So you live here too?" He asked, shutting the door behind him. Byron looked up at her and smiled, "One of me mates lives here as well. That's actually why I was sitting outside; waiting for him to return."

[Daisy O'Connor]

"I think you know as well as I that a gentleman can be hard to find in certain parts of this city," Daisy said with a smile, she didn't mind the fact so much as she knew people had their reasons for being unwilling to put themselves out. Which was one of the many reasons that Daisy made an attempt to grace everyone that crossed her path with a kind word and cheerful smile, no matter their reaction - for even that most downtrodden and hardest soul deserved a little bit of light as far as Daisy was concerned. But still, she appreciated those moments when the kindness was returned and as such she graced the young man with another smile as she edged through the door and out fo the sun.

"Aye, just up a few floors and I'll be at my door," Daisy said in reply to his comment that she lived here and her brow furrowed as he mentioned a friend. "Who is it that you are waiting for? I can't say that I know a great many people in this building as there are so many and people are constantly coming and going. But perhaps we might have crossed paths, this friend of yours and I," Daisy suggested, knowing in truth it wasn't likely that she'd know the name of his friend when he said it. Other than Jerry and Jensen, Daisy didn't know a great many of her neighbors and what contact she did have was limited to short greetings and no names. Which reminded her - "I'm Daisy," She announced frowning a little when she realized that she couldn't offer him a hand with her arms full and had to settle for an incline of her head.