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Post by Holly Cleary on Jun 27, 2011 22:37:26 GMT -7
Holly Cleary fit in with the decor.
It was part of the reason that Hallow had sent her to scout out the vampires, to see who would best fit their plans, as it were. Holly looked like a fangbanger, plain and simple, with her goth clothing and dyed black hair. It hadn't taken much searching in Holly's closet to pull out the corset and black leather pants ensemble, and she practically blended in with the wallpaper as she lounged near the door. Every so often she would move, a finger tapping in time to the music, or her pale blue eyes shifting from one thing to another.
She wasn't used to going unnoticed, and it was obvious in the way she kept shifting uncomfortably from foot to foot, as if she wasn't quite sure of just who she was. Still, Hallow had decreed that it be Holly here tonight, and she wasn't going to leave until she had something worth giving her coven master. The only problem was, the vampires looked every bit as bored as Holly did, since there was a strict "no biting" policy inside the club's walls.
Maybe I should stir something up....
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Post by Hoyt Fortenberry on Jun 28, 2011 6:58:49 GMT -7
Things hadn't been going so well lately between Jessica and Hoyt, not since Jessica had moved in with him. Things were slowly going downhill, night by night, and Hoyt was wondering if he had made the right decision in buying a house and inviting Jessica to live with him. At first it was great, but he noticed Jessica was changing and as much as he loved her it killed him inside that he didn't completely trust her.
Maybe it was because she was a vampire, maybe she wasn't changing at all - maybe she was just becoming what she really was. However, it wasn't like Hoyt really had anybody to talk too - he would be damned if he went to his mother and he hadn't been talking to Jason as much since Jason had joined the police force. Nope, Hoyt was completely on his own and he was falling fast.
Back to that trust thing. Was that why he was there tonight? He had had another argument with Jessica after getting in a fight with the picket line outside the other night. Jessica had taken the truck, saying she was going to get some Advil for his pain but she had been gone for far too long and Hoyt was starting to worry. Even though his thoughts immediately went to Fangtasia and that boy he saw making eyes with her the other night he tried to convince himself he was being ridiculous in thinking she went there instead. Jessica would never betray him like that.. right?
He wasn't completely sure, not with how things had been going down hill lately. That was why he was in the taxi, his body tense as the taxi approached the parking lot and he saw his truck parked outside. Hoyt was feeling so many things - anger, jealously, disappointment, but most of all betrayal. He practically threw the money at the cab driver and stormed past the picket line, ignoring the annoying little chat that flowed from the picketers mouth's like venom. He had only one thing on his mind as he brushed past the bodyguard and heading inside - and that was finding Jessica.
It was the usual crowd at Fangtasia, but he couldn't see Jessica standing anywhere in the crowd. There was one familiar face he saw, and that was Sookie Stackhouse coming out of the bathroom. He bolted for her, finding it hard to keep his anger in tact, if anyone knew where Jessica was - it was Sookie. Sookie spotted him right away, her eyes wide and Hoyt knew something was up.
"Where is Jessica, Sookie?!"
Sookie didn't need to read Hoyt's mind to know what Hoyt was thinking. Hoyt's voice was risen and was demanding, a trait that was almost foreign coming from him.
"Listen, Hoyt, I can't prepare you for anything, but Jessica she - "
Sookie couldn't come up with an excuse for Jessica, everything that was coming up in Sookie's mind to say just sounded like word vomit. Hoyt noticed that Sookie was blocking the way to the bathroom and Hoyt breathed heavily as he looked toward the door.
"She is in there, isn't she Sookie?"
Hoyt moved to brush past Sookie and Sookie tried to stop him, to little prevail.
"Hoyt, wait!"
But it was too late, Hoyt burst through the door just as the bathroom stall door opened and Jessica popped up - followed by the dazed eyes of the boy from the night before. Hoyt stood there, dumbfounded as Jessica brought her hand to her mouth.
"Oh god, Hoyt - -"
Hoyt had saw everything, the blood might have dried on the boy's neck but the two puncture holes were undeniable.
"So my blood isn't good enough for you anymore? What, was the grocery store sold out of Advil?"
Sookie was behind Hoyt, and immediately Jessica shifted blame to Sookie.
"Sookie, you traitor, why did you tell him I was in here?"
"Jessica! Don't you dare blame me for any of this, I tried to tell you what you were doing was wrong!"
Jessica was frantic, and had approached Hoyt to try and comfort him. Her hands went for his face, but his hands had grabbed her wrists as he took an abrupt step back from her. This cold gesture had hurt Jessica immediately, blood tears running down her pale cheeks.
"Please Hoyt! This.. this was a mistake. I'm sorry! I lost control, I was feeling horrible! I love you! I promise it won't happen again!"
But Hoyt's usually soft blue eyes were now cold and hardened.
"You are right it was a mistake. It was a mistake that I ever let you move in with me Jessica. It was a mistake that I ever thought you would be the same sweet girl I met a year ago. You have changed Jessica, I never thought you would do this to me but this obviously means I am not good enough for you anymore. You can keep your blood bag over there, and I'm sure there are plenty more boys that would be more than happy to donate to you, you cold and heartless - -"
Bitch. He wanted to say it, but he couldn't bring himself too.
"I want you out of my house. I want you out of my life."
"Hoyt! Come on, I know you don't mean that!"
"It is too late Jessica. Go home with your little blood bag over there, he obviously was worth losing me for."
Hoyt was out of the bathroom, letting it slam behind him. He left Sookie and Jessica standing in the bathroom alone as he made his way back through the crowd. Trying to hide his emotions, trying not to burst into tears in front of anyone in that room. All he was thinking was that he needed to get away.. and forget about Jessica forever.
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Post by Holly Cleary on Jun 28, 2011 8:51:35 GMT -7
For the time that she had been there, Holly had watched many people come and go inside of the club, each occurrence usually more mundane than the last. One didn't need to be able to read minds to know that the only thing people were thinking about were sex and thrills, and usually the idea was hand in hand. How sad were these people, Holly wondered, that they came here looking for sex with the thought in mind that their partner may or may not kill them? That that was a turn on for fangbangers at all disgusted Holly, and made her stomach knot uncomfortably. She had seen far too many things in her short lifetime to ever be attracted to anything like that. Then again, after her short, three hour relationship with the last man that laid hands on her, Holly was more than willing to never trust men again.
Unbidden, thoughts of her son came to her mind, and Holly raised a hand to her eyes, rubbing them as sudden exhaustion set in. She really needed to call Cody, to let him know that his mama was off changing the world for him- but she had a feeling he wouldn't understand. She wasn't going to win mother of the year award anytime soon, not after the way she had left him. How could they not see it was for the better? It wasn't the therapy Liz had wanted her to get- Holly mistrusted therapists as much as she mistrusted men- but it was something, something that made Holly feel more like herself. No mother should look at her son and be instantly transported somewhere else, somewhere darker, to the night he was conceived... Distance and Hallow were Holly's therapy, and though they might not be conventional, they were working for her.
Speaking of Hallow...
She blinked a few times, coming out of her mental reverie and reassessing the crowd. Not many had joined the previous group, just another woman in a black dress that was three times too small, her fat rolls spilling over the back as if to advertise "I make more blood than these skinny ones, pick me!" and a tall, boyish faced man that looked like he meant business... but that wasn't what caught her attention. On his neck were two fairly recent vampire bites. Well that could prove to be interesting. Holly downed her drink and placed the empty glass on the counter, watching as he began to argue with a pretty blonde. She couldn't hear the words over the music, and she slowly began to sidle forward, unnoticed in the drama unfolding.
It could never be said that Holly wasn't adventurous, and that she had a very strong sense of catlike curiosity, because as the man pushed his way into the ladies room, Holly followed.
The blonde he had been talking to previously gave her a look, but Holly shrugged. "Bathroom." She said neutrally, locking herself in the last stall. She listened as the argument ensued, gleaning from the conversation that her mark was dating a vampire- and wasn't happy at all that she was drinking from another source, so to speak. Holly scrunched her nose- she could sympathize with the poor guy. After an appropriate amount of time had passed, Holly considered her curiosity assuaged, and she pressed down the lever on the toilet with her foot. She washed her hands unobstrusively at the sink while the couple continued to fight, and let herself out. No matter how badly she felt for the boy, this wasn't something that would interest Hallow. She'd have to look elsewhere.
She had resumed her spot at the bar when she saw him leave the restroom, and she raised her head slightly to read his face. The poor guy looked sincerely crushed, and something inside Holly stirred. Maybe it was comradeship, since she knew as well as any that the opposite sex would tear you to pieces, or maybe it was guilt, for having been witness to such a private moment, but either way, she heard her own voice yell out, "Hey!"
What was she doing? Her heart began to pick up pace, and for a moment, she wondered if she was nearly as stupidly addicted to suffering as these fangbangers that surrounded her. "I couldn't help but overhear..." She nodded her head to the bathroom, her blue eyes wide like a deer in the headlights. "Can I buy you a drink?
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Post by Hoyt Fortenberry on Jun 28, 2011 20:38:09 GMT -7
"Hey!"
There was a lot of things on Hoyt Fortenberry's mind at that moment and he had been surprised that he picked the voice out of the crowd and even more surprised that he somehow knew she was calling out to him. He had stopped in his tracks and turned toward her, his immediate thought going to how visually striking she was - and for a brief moment he forgot he was leaving the bar in the first place.
"Uh, me?"
He tilted his head slightly, pointing to himself as if he had to emphasize the point she was talking to him.
"I couldn't help but overhear..."
Hoyt took in a deep breath, shoving his hands into the pockets of his blue jeans. The look on his face was one of embarrassment and slight shame. He hadn't realized that anyone else was in there besides Sookie, Jessica, and the blood bag. "Yeah well, I am sorry you had to hear that."
"Can I buy you a drink?
Hoyt was a little surprised, he looked toward her and then looked back toward the bathroom before looking back at her. "I don't think so, I mean thank you but all I want to do is go for a good long drive and forget this night even happened" Hoyt eased away from her, heading toward the door when he stopped and stood there for a moment.
He thought about it, even considered asking her to go for a drive with him - which was crazy, so he quickly threw that idea out the window. He felt compelled to look over his shoulder, spotting Jessica heading out the back door before she looked at him once more and rushed out the door. A heavy sigh left his lips, she was probably heading back to the house to pack up her stuff and the last thing he wanted to do was argue more that night. With that thought in his head he turned back to Holly and walked toward her, slipping in the seat beside her.
"On second thought, I think a drink would be really good right now. That is, if the offer is still open." As far as he was concerned, anybody's company was better than Jessica's right then - and at least this company wasn't a vampires. Hoyt was really sick of vampires.
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Post by Holly Cleary on Jun 28, 2011 22:03:11 GMT -7
“Uh, me?”
Holly raised her brows. Just who else did he think she was talking to? She was staring at him, she was thinking about him (and therefore mentally projecting her will toward him,) she was all but on her knees begging him- not that that was ever something she would do. She didn’t need anything from this man she didn’t know. She didn’t even really know why she was talking to him. “Yes,” she said with a faint air of impatience. “You.”
"Yeah well, I am sorry you had to hear that."
The look on his face puzzled her. He looked ashamed, embarrassed even- but why? From what little of the conversation- all right, fight- she had overheard, he was the victim in the situation. Wasn’t the victim never to blame? How many times had that been said to Holly, after all? The victim is never at fault, the victim is golden, the victim is all but holy…. Blah, blah, blah. In the end, the victim was the one with the scars, the one with the nightmares, the one that was left with shattered pieces of normal life that didn’t fit together anymore. Surely he knew that? “Don’t apologize to me.” She said a little more firmly than she meant, and looked away. What was she doing?
"I don't think so, I mean thank you but all I want to do is go for a good long drive and forget this night even happened"
Holly shrugged, though she breathed a silent sigh of relief. “Well, have a good night.” She said, turning on her barstool so her back was to him. She wasn’t sure what had made her crazy enough to call out to him- despite whatever was happening between him and her girlfriend, there was no future for the two of them. Holly didn’t have time for friends, and was it even possible to be friends with guys? The last time she had tried, after all, it had got her locked up in a dark storeroom and a child nine months later. If that was friendship, fuck if Holly wanted anything to do with it. This one wouldn’t be any better.
She had just ordered herself another drink (the last before she called it a night and returned, empty handed, to Hallow,) when a voice cut into her thoughts, making her jump slightly and slosh alcohol on the wood grain of the bar.
"On second thought, I think a drink would be really good right now. That is, if the offer is still open."
“Sure…” She said slowly, willing her pulse to slow to normal. “Of course it is. Welcome back.” She carefully set her glass down and folded her arms on the bar, watching him. “I’m Holly, by the way.” She didn’t offer her hand to shake, but she did give him a small smile.
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Post by Hoyt Fortenberry on Jun 29, 2011 6:45:46 GMT -7
Hoyt hadn't meant to startle her, and the moment she jumped and the alcohol sloshed onto the wood grain bar he was immediately close to her. His hand on her shoulder instinctively as the other hand reached for a napkin and cleaned the mess up for her. "Ah! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you, let me help you get this cleaned up"
Hoyt didn't even realize he had put his hand on her shoulder, until the mess was cleaned up and he blushed slightly before easing his hand away. "Uh.. and sorry about the hand as well. I didn't mean to cross any personal boundaries" By this point Hoyt was stumbling over his own words and decided that just sitting down would be the best option to take right then. This was what made him different, at least different from Jason Stackhouse - Jason would of passed it off as a chance to push a touch a little bit further while Hoyt sincerely apologized and made a mental note to try and keep his hands to himself.
... even if it was just a honest mistake.
“Of course it is. Welcome back.”
He nodded, glancing toward the bartender and ordering a beer before turning his attention back to Holly.
"I really didn't feel like going home. I really thought what Jess and I had was real. I never thought she would do something like that to me. “I’m Holly, by the way.” "Sure, lately we have been having our problems but I thought my blood would be enough for her. I guess it isn't really her fault, she is a vampire and she just can't control the urges and - "
And Hoyt was rambling about Jessica again. He had done the same when Jason brought two girls over from Merlotte's - dog psychologists if Hoyt remembered right. He had stop talking mid-speech when he realized that somewhere in the middle of his ramble the woman had introduced herself. He swallowed, reaching for the neck of the beer bottle to wash his mouth out with the amber liquid.
"Hoyt. My name is Hoyt Fortenberry."
Hoyt "I'm just a dumb idiot who got replaced with a blood bag" Fortenberry. He felt like he was a wearing a big flashing sign above his head.
"Listen, why don't I cover this round? It was my fault you lost half your drink"
He was already digging through his pocket, taking out a twenty dollar bill and putting it on the counter. He was planning on staying for at least another round.
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Post by Holly Cleary on Jun 29, 2011 8:13:12 GMT -7
"Ah! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you, let me help you get this cleaned up"
Holly barely heard the words as she just suddenly stopped. Stopped breathing, stopped moving, stopped everything the second his hand made contact with her shoulder. To say that Holly had never exactly been warm and fuzzy towards personal contact wouldn’t be far from the mark, but given her latest history, the idea of any strange man coming within ten feet of her was stressful. Granted, he couldn’t possibly have known what he was doing to her right then, but that didn’t make it any easier on Holly.
"Uh.. and sorry about the hand as well. I didn't mean to cross any personal boundaries.”
She took in a breath when his hand dropped away, a little color returning to her bloodless face as she shook her head. “No,” she said breathlessly. “It’s… it’s fine.” She didn’t feel fine. Her mind had returned to that storeroom, the dark, the noises…. Goddess, she sent a silent plea, please make it all stop.
Once again in control of herself, she flicked a glance at him. He was blushing, and he seemed sincere enough in his apologies… but that never meant anything. They were in a room full of vampires, and she could tell by the stare that the bartender was giving her that at least he could smell her fear. She needed to calm down.
"I really didn't feel like going home. I really thought what Jess and I had was real. I never thought she would do something like that to me. Sure, lately we have been having our problems but I thought my blood would be enough for her. I guess it isn't really her fault, she is a vampire and she just can't control the urges and - "
She took a drink, draining the little liquid that was still in her glass. She was hardly the person to seek for relationship advice, so she simply let him go on for as long as he wanted to while she took catalogue of just what the hell she thought she was doing. Was this her mind’s perverse way of doing charity? Karma points? The fact that she didn’t know her own motivations bothered her. She was rarely one to be considered vague.
"Hoyt. My name is Hoyt Fortenberry."
“Hoyt.” She said, rolling the name over her tongue and then nodded. He wasn’t lying. “A pleasure, given the circumstances.”
A fine pair we make- the girl who can barely stand without cowering, and the boy who gets dumped in a public restroom. Wow, definite cast-offs of society. Her own grim humor made her smile, just slightly. Holly rarely found anything funny anymore. "Listen, why don't I cover this round? It was my fault you lost half your drink"
“If you insist.” After all, it would probably take about three more drinks to convince her heart to actually start beating again.
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Post by Hoyt Fortenberry on Jun 29, 2011 16:47:44 GMT -7
Had Hoyt actually been thinking about anything besides what happened in the restroom a mere ten minutes ago he probably would of noticed how much his touch really had bothered her. Had he of noticed he would of tried to console her, apologized even more, and tried to make it up to her - maybe by sitting at the next stool or by shutting up about his now ex girlfriend. However, Hoyt hadn't, and the apology simply because he was a gentlemen would have to suffice.
After his ramble and after he had introduced himself the air had seemed to clear for Hoyt, the bartender had refilled Holly's drink when she said it was alright and Hoyt once again had his attention on the woman beside him. It was time to talk about something else - other than Jessica Hamby.
"Are you from around here? I am actually from Bon Temps but I don't think I've seen you around"
Talking to Holly was definitely helping the situation, helping him forget about the circumstances at least for the time being. Besides, who would ever argue with the opportunity to get to know such a stunning woman? Even as he sat there, drinking his beer, he felt like something was different about her, special even - but there was one thing he had to ask her just to make sure.
"And um, you ain't, well you know, with one of them? Not that it would make me not want to talk to you or anything, I just don't want anybody get all territorial because I am talking to you. Getting beat up once a week is enough for me"
He knew how some vampires were like, and heck he knew what people were like as well - his still healing face proved that. Hoyt definitely wasn't use to this kind of lifestyle and after everything that had happened he wondered if something was telling him it was darn time to make a change.
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Post by Holly Cleary on Jun 29, 2011 20:33:14 GMT -7
“Thank you.” Holly said lightly with a nod to the bartender, taking a sip of her drink. It was a deep pink in color, almost purple, and she let her eyes focus on nothing else for a moment as she made herself relax. He wasn’t David. And even if he was, she was smarter, faster, stronger than she had been last time. Holly would not allow herself to be the victim again.
She could feel him watching her, but for as long as possible, Holly wouldn’t make eye contact. It was a nice trick, a way to remain invisible… which she wanted desperately right then, when she was feeling so vulnerable.
"Are you from around here? I am actually from Bon Temps but I don't think I've seen you around"
She did look up at that, shaking her head slowly. “I moved her a month and a half ago from New Orleans. I live in Shreveport now.” She had been to Bon Temps, what, once? It hadn’t been anything worth bragging about, necessarily. Just another small, sleepy town in a world full of them. It would be a nice place to live, if she had a family to care for, or a job, or something. Then again, she did have both of those things… and still, here she was in a city. “Were you born there?” She asked curiously. It seemed like the sort of place where one, once there, never left.
"And um, you ain't, well you know, with one of them? Not that it would make me not want to talk to you or anything, I just don't want anybody get all territorial because I am talking to you. Getting beat up once a week is enough for me"
It took her a moment to realize just what he was talking about- who was “them?” She frowned, taking the cherry out of her glass and biting it off the stem. “The vampires, you mean?” She asked finally, then shook her head, depositing the cherry stem on her napkin. “No. I’m not with anyone right now.” That was the easiest way to put it, anyway. A lot easier than explaining her sordid past and how the very thought of dating made her want to break out in hives. “Trust me, no one will beat you up for my sake, even if they were with me like that.”
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Post by Hoyt Fortenberry on Jun 30, 2011 16:40:13 GMT -7
“I moved here a month and a half ago from New Orleans. I live in Shreveport now.”
Hoyt nodded as he took a sip of his drink, he was more familiar with Shreveport than he was with New Orleans because he had never actually been to New Orleans.
"New Orleans seems like a nice place, I have never been past Shreveport and the only reason I have ever come to Shreveport was for Jessica. Guess I really don't get out much."
“Were you born there?”
Hoyt nodded. "Born and raised, Bon Temps is the kind of town where if you are born there you stay there. Very few have ever left, the curse of Bon Temps I guess, nobody really has inhibitions outside of our small town" Just look at his mother...
After all, up until he met Jessica Hoyt's life had been really boring. He lived with his mother, he worked at the same job for the last four years, he had the same best friend and went to the same old places. When the topic changed to vampires and Holly mentioned she wasn't with anyone, Hoyt had a funny feeling in the pit of his stomach. He knew he shouldn't be thinking about anyone else, even if it was a presumably innocent feeling of attraction, especially when the break up with Jessica was so fresh.
“Trust me, no one will beat you up for my sake, even if they were with me like that.”
"Well, that is a damned shame. I would beat someone up for you."
It just came out of his mouth, with little fore thought. Hoyt swallowed, blushing slightly as he took another sip of his beer.
"What I mean is that you are a nice person, I can tell, just had some bad breaks like most of us poor smucks have had in life. And you are very pretty, I bet you have a lot of stories to tell. I would beat up somebody for you"
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Post by Holly Cleary on Jun 30, 2011 17:22:52 GMT -7
"New Orleans seems like a nice place, I have never been past Shreveport and the only reason I have ever come to Shreveport was for Jessica. Guess I really don't get out much."
“New Orleans is… one of a kind, to say the least.” Where else could one go to have a twenty-four hour party without fear of being picked up by the cops? She raised a hand to push a piece of hair out of her face before resting her chin on her palm. Surprising to some, she was sure, she hadn’t often gone out while living in New Orleans. Sure, there was the occasional stepping, or even jaunts down to the boardwalk, but Holly was more of a homebody than her goth demeanor gave away. She wanted nothing more than to stay home with her family and friends… which called to mind Cody again, and she shook her head. Thoughts of her son made her wonder if she was doing the right thing by staying here with Hallow while he was with Liz. “Nothing wrong with that. Home is where the heart is, right?” She stated with a melancholy smile.
"Born and raised, Bon Temps is the kind of town where if you are born there you stay there. Very few have ever left, the curse of Bon Temps I guess, nobody really has inhibitions outside of our small town"
“Must be a good place to raise a family, then, if so many people are staying.” Perhaps it would be something to look into, once Holly got things right in her own head. She couldn’t let Liz raise her son forever.
"Well, that is a damned shame. I would beat someone up for you."
That certainly made Holly raise her head as she stared at him. She hadn’t wanted to lead him on, and she was beginning to get the sneaky suspicion that maybe he had the wrong idea. “I’m sorry, I…”
"What I mean is that you are a nice person, I can tell, just had some bad breaks like most of us poor smucks have had in life. And you are very pretty, I bet you have a lot of stories to tell. I would beat up somebody for you"
“Oh.” She could feel the blood rushing to her cheeks, and for a moment, she had no idea what to say. “Thank you. That’s rather kind of you.” And so far off the mark. If only you knew. “You don’t seem too bad yourself. Just a bit unlucky.”
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Post by Hoyt Fortenberry on Jun 30, 2011 19:53:47 GMT -7
“New Orleans is… one of a kind, to say the least.”
"I bet, to be honest with you I don't think I could handle the excitement and festivities of Mardi Gras. Can't dance, can't sing, but I sure know how to swing a shovel on the road crew"
Picturing himself among the crowd, watching the parade and shouting at the top of his lungs just didn't fit with him. Maybe for once in a lifetime experience, maybe - depending on who he was going with. He just wasn't the party kind of guy, he more was entertaining the idea of playing country music from his truck and sitting on the tail gate while looking at the stars. Now that was his kind of night out.
“Nothing wrong with that. Home is where the heart is, right?” He laughed slightly, taking another gulp of beer as he shrugged. "I don't know if it is that, or people just don't know anything else. You would understand what that means if you ever visited Hot Shot"
When she mentioned that Bon Temps must of been a good place to raise a family he pretty much agreed. He didn't mind the town, really, even if there were a lot of weird things in the town. Bon Temps just seemed to draw the unusual which made Hoyt wonder if he was just as unusual as those he kept company with.
Hoyt had actually seen her blush after he went on about how he perceived her and he found her even more endearing. In all honesty, he was completely certain he could spend all night talking to this woman if she would let him.
“Thank you. That’s rather kind of you.” He had finished his last sip of beer, sliding it over to the bartender and shaking his head when the bartender offered him another. He was going to have to drive home after all, and Hoyt wasn't one to be irresponsible enough to drink and drive.
“You don’t seem too bad yourself. Just a bit unlucky.”
"I don't know about unlucky. I mean, if you are talking about what happened in the bathroom I would guess so. I thought I was lucky meeting Jessica, and in a way I guess I am. I will always care about her and she will always have a part of my heart, I just don't think I can ever forgive her. Things were going down hill fast and this was pretty much her and I hitting a big brick wall"
Hoyt slid off his chair, stretching slightly as he looked around the bar and looked back at her.
"Did you feel like getting out of here? Maybe I could give you a ride home? Just seems a bit weird for me to be in here without Jessica and I kind of feel like we both could still use somebody to talk too."
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Post by Holly Cleary on Jun 30, 2011 20:56:56 GMT -7
"I bet, to be honest with you I don't think I could handle the excitement and festivities of Mardi Gras. Can't dance, can't sing, but I sure know how to swing a shovel on the road crew"
“I used to really like it, when I was younger.” She shrugged, more than a little amused by how easily this stranger made her open up and talk to him. Most people by now would have been dismissed, or she would have sidled away, but here she was- still at the bar, still talking to him. He was just so easy to talk to- she felt like she could tell him anything, and he wouldn’t judge her for it.
And that was a dangerous feeling, she knew from past experience.
“It’s a lot more fun if you go with friends. You know, someone you can elbow and ask if someone really did just throw their underwear off a balcony.” She shrugged, pushing her glass away so the bartender would take it. “The last couple of years I spent it indoors. I didn’t really feel much like celebrating.”
"I don't know if it is that, or people just don't know anything else. You would understand what that means if you ever visited Hot Shot"
“I’ll take your word for it.” She had never been to Hot Shot, but she had heard it as the brunt of too many jokes not to get the idea that it wasn’t somewhere she wanted to be.
"I don't know about unlucky. I mean, if you are talking about what happened in the bathroom I would guess so. I thought I was lucky meeting Jessica, and in a way I guess I am. I will always care about her and she will always have a part of my heart, I just don't think I can ever forgive her. Things were going down hill fast and this was pretty much her and I hitting a big brick wall"
“I’m sorry, again, for… well, for that.” She said sincerely, surprised that she actually meant it. It wasn’t like she had witnessed someone die, after all. People broke up all the time, and yet, she genuinely hurt for this poor guy. He seemed really nice, and had she met him before… well, before, she might have flirted with him and tried to win him for herself.
She watched him slide off of his seat, sure that this was where they would part. For a few minutes, Holly had been able to relax, to forget about her problems, and she wasn’t sure how she could thank this virtual stranger for that. She doubted they would ever see each other again, and yet he had made such a major difference in her day.
And then he opened a door for her.
"Did you feel like getting out of here? Maybe I could give you a ride home? Just seems a bit weird for me to be in here without Jessica and I kind of feel like we both could still use somebody to talk too."
Holly didn’t make a habit of going off with strange men, that much was for certain, but something about this guy made her wish she did. Hallow was always telling her to be more assertive, to take what she wanted- and Holly very much wanted the security she felt with this guy. How could she ever conquer her fears if she didn’t face them?
Her tongue was stuck to the roof of her mouth, but she nodded, swallowing. She slid off of her stool, folding her arms across her chest defensively, and she peered up at him. He was much taller than she was, she thought absently. Much nicer, too.
“If it’s not too much trouble, I’d appreciate that.” She said quietly.
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Post by Hoyt Fortenberry on Jul 1, 2011 8:55:03 GMT -7
“I used to really like it, when I was younger.”
"I guess that is what happens when we grow up, we just don't look at some things the same way any more."
There were a lot of things that Hoyt use to like that he eventually let go of. Being raised by an overprotective mother who still saw him as her 'little boy' didn't exactly make things easy. His mother often kept getting things for him for Christmas that he would of liked back when he was thirteen, not when he was in his twenties. That reminded him of the even bigger kick to his ass being the fact that poor Tommy Mickens had been taken in by his mother. The thought made him sick to his stomach and he avoided thinking about it as much as possible. The two people he couldn't stand on this earth the most were a mere fifteen minutes away from his house, though part of him hoped that Tommy was conning his mother to teach her a lesson.
“I’m sorry, again, for… well, for that.”
"Thank you."
To be honest, Hoyt wasn't expecting Holly to agree to go with him but he figured he would try anyway. The worst she could say was no and he would just go home and hope that Jessica was done packing up her things.
““If it’s not too much trouble, I’d appreciate that.”
"It's fine, I understand"
Okay, so he was really expecting her to turn him down. It took him a minute to realize that she had actually said yes and he had looked down at her before scratching the back of his head. "Oh, sorry about that, I didn't realize you actually said yes. Well, let's get going - my truck is parked right outside"
At least he expected it to be there, he hadn't expected Jessica to take it or anything - she could run faster than his truck could drive anyway. Hoyt held the door open for Holly when they left Fangtasia, clenching his teeth as the picketers seemed to chant louder when he was outside. He recognized them all, especially the guy that had provoked him the other night.
"That's right fangbanger, you better walk the other way before I give you another shiner!"
Hoyt gritted his teeth as he glared toward the guy - the only reason why the guy was able to give Hoyt a shiner was because all of his buddies jumped him. Hoyt and the guy both knew he wouldn't stand a chance against Hoyt. Hoyt instinctively reached for Holly's hand to guide her through the crowd, shielding her in such a way that if the morons decided to attack him again it would be him getting the shots and it would give her enough time to get away.
They didn't, their attention taken away as another person entered the bar. Once they were free of the crowd Hoyt lead Holly to his truck and unlocked the passenger side first, opening the door for her.
"Ever since that vampire killed that reporter on national television it has been like this - and it is getting worse. I don't have a problem with most people but I don't know how the hell those people get away with calling themselves Christians"
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Post by Holly Cleary on Jul 1, 2011 9:14:53 GMT -7
"I guess that is what happens when we grow up, we just don't look at some things the same way any more."
“Ain’t that the truth.” As a child, she had never looked at anyone with suspicion, not at first, anyway. Holly had never been shy, and she had been the type of child that would go up to anyone and ask what they were doing, why they were doing it, whatever she had felt like asking. At the time, she hadn’t realized that such curiosity was rather rude, but people had humored her. Such was the luxury of youth. Now as an adult, she saw monsters in every shadow, in the most innocent of gestures. Fuck David for making her so scared of everything.
And Goddess bless Hallow for helping her find her way back.
"Thank you."
She shrugged.
"It's fine, I understand"
Her puzzled expression must have jarred something in his mind, because he backtracked.
"Oh, sorry about that, I didn't realize you actually said yes. Well, let's get going - my truck is parked right outside"
Why wouldn’t she? Holly opened her mouth to ask, but then shut it. It was probably better if she didn’t ask, because then her mind would start working again and would make her back out. Perhaps there was something to this alcohol thing after all. “All right.” She said cautiously.
You’re a witch, Holly. He’s not. You have the advantage here. The voice in her head sounded suspiciously like Hallow, and Holly shook her head. She wasn’t sure what Hallow would make of her current exchange with Hoyt, and the last thing Holly wanted was to lose her mentor’s good favor. Hallow was one of the few people Holly had left in this world. Her opinion mattered over all else.
"That's right fangbanger, you better walk the other way before I give you another shiner!"
Holly stopped where she was, assessing the crowd of picketers with a hard to read expression. If she wanted, she could probably shut them all up right then and there, but what would be the advantage? More would appear to take their place, sooner or later, and then they’d have fuel for their anger. It was better to just leave them be… no matter how irritating they were.
She was jolted from her contemplations when Hoyt took her hand, and she slowly extracted it. “I’m sorry. I can’t.” She said quietly, not even sure he heard her over the noise the crowd was watching. The truth was, she was sorry- she wished she could be that girl for him, not the shell of the one that she really was. She glanced over her shoulder at the picketers one last time as he held the truck door open for her. She could tell they really bothered him, and the guy had mentioned that they had fought previously… but why? Hoyt didn’t seem like the type to lose his temper and come to blows with anyone. Remember the problem with assuming, Holly? The cruel voice said again, and she looked away, out the window. She still had the scars from the last time she had made assumptions.
"Ever since that vampire killed that reporter on national television it has been like this - and it is getting worse. I don't have a problem with most people but I don't know how the hell those people get away with calling themselves Christians"
Holly did, but she wasn’t very well going to start a religious debate in such an enclosed space with a stranger. “Don’t blame the faith, blame the people.” She responded, echoing words she had heard Hallow say. How many people thought she was a devil worshipper, or that she sacrificed kittens because they were ignorant of the wiccan faith? Holly wasn’t in the broom closet, so to speak, but she didn’t openly broadcast what she was, either. She had had enough drama in her life. “Hate has a funny way of leeching into everything, regardless of what god one believes in.”
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