JJ HART
Human
Posts: 59
Played by:
Ange
Last seen Nov 17, 2024 18:04:49 GMT
|
Post by JJ HART on Apr 10, 2023 19:31:07 GMT
Reaching for her hand, those pale, delicate fingers tipped in deep red polish, JJ tried to pull the brunette back to the stool where she’d been perched when he’d arrived. ”Come on, Sadie. One drink. I’ll keep my hands to myself, won’t even open my mouth.” He clung onto her while he swiped a finger on his other hand in an X over his heart, adding to the promise with a little twist of his fingers in front of pursed lips. Choir boy wasn’t a look that usually worked on him, but it didn’t stop him from trying. Every now and then one of them fell for it – although his batting average lately was bloody pathetic.
Her heard her humming, felt hopeful right up until she tugged her hand free. She scrubbed her hands over her face the minute she was free of them, her cursing muffled by her palms. ”Third time’s the charm, love!” he called after her. The second was definitely a bust as bad as the first. The bar door slammed shut behind her, but didn’t entirely hide the roar of frustration that came from the other side.
JJ turned back to the bar, huffing out a laugh as the bartender approached with brows raised. He brought his hands up, spreading them out like he could ward off the accusation that it had really had anything to do with him. ”Don’t ask me,” he snorted. He pasted that smile back on though, guile shining right through at the woman as he lifted his glass and shook it at her. ”Another double, please darlin’.” She was narrowing her eyes at him like she knew it was all bullshit, but she headed off to fetch him another vodka and coke at least. If this was the Ruby Slipper he’d likely have had to offer up a kidney first, as some sort of loan against him not causing shit in there again. Get in one single fight and they never forgot it.
Puffing out his breath, he slouched back against the bar, draining the watery last couple of mouthfuls from his glass. A blob of ice slithered between his teeth, gave way in a single crunch as he glanced around the place. In comparison to the club it was practically dead in here. People were tucked away in quiet little knots – a couple sat by the fireplace, three blokes heading for the doors that led out onto the porch, their laughter about as lively as it was gonna get in here. Jesus, if he’d wanted to feel like he was in a morgue he’d have stayed in the office instead of escaping for some air and …
Nope, this last drink was it. He didn’t care if that great ape at the doors of the club tried turning him away, he wasn’t about to stay here, especially not now his one chance of entertainment had bolted again.
The empty glass was swept off the bar, his fresh one set down. ”Thanks love. Let’s round it up.” He fished his card out of his wallet, sliding it across the bar. She winged a brow at him, but just waved as she passed it back a moment later. Sad sacks taking up space at her bar might’ve been a nightly occurrence, his striking out providing no more excitement than a cheer going up from the pool table tucked away at the far end of the bar.
He slid down off his stool, slipping into his jacket before he grabbed his glass and followed in the wake of the three blokes that had slipped outside. He’d knock it back out there, if he found something to stop him falling comatose, then maybe he’d stay. Chances of that were about as slim as Sadie coming back though.
Winter had started to pull its vanishing act, but there was still a nip in the air as he stepped out into the sheltered little area. Tables lined the space, benches up against the rails on the outside, steps going down from either side. The blokes who’d walked out were sat at one end, one of them with eyes on a brunette mid-way along. JJ shot the bloke a smirk as he glanced his way. Was he gonna feel like an arsehole for peeing in some jerk’s Cheerios? Nah. If he struck out there was always the club – like he’d said, third time lucky.
Sipping from his drink, he drifted closer, tilting his head as he spotted her empty glass. The charm was back, the smile broad and warm. ”Looks like you’re running a little low. You want another? I was gonna grab myself one…” Bullshit, but half of what remained in his glass disappeared in a gulp as a shadow slanted across him. JJ half turned towards the bloke who obviously decided he’d overstepped. ”Something up?” he asked the bloke. He squared his shoulders, standing between the brunette and the no-necked thing in front of him. Someone had been hitting the gym just a little too hard, all puffed up, his brain probably atrophied in compensation for those traps.
|
|
LOTTIE CHRISTMAS
Psychic
Posts: 50
Age:
31
Occupation:
Housekeeper
Status:
Divorced
Played by:
Jodi
rule #1 never be #2.
Last seen Nov 12, 2024 16:36:14 GMT
|
Post by LOTTIE CHRISTMAS on May 10, 2023 11:03:00 GMT
He apologised to her as she was leaving but that was about it. Lottie expected at least one apology text to come through, but nothing. Radio silence. She wanted him to beg her for forgiveness, promising he’d do better next time and if that happened there was a ridiculously strong chance she’d accept his apology and fall back into his arms. There were moments she considered texting him, but Viv had told her for even thinking of doing that. Apparently it was time for Lottie to stand on her own two feet, instead of having someone constantly supporting her. Viv had that job throughout their childhood until Lottie met Freddie, then he was the one holding her up and telling her what decisions to make. So far though she hated this independence thing. She thought she was doing a good thing by getting a job at the hotel, but then Lucky went and ruined it, insisting Grey was a piece of trash. Lottie was stuck between a rock and a hard place. Catia obviously thought Grey was a decent person but then on the other hand she had Lucky telling her something different. This is where she needed Viv. Viv would tell her what to do. Maybe she should call Viv and ask her what to do. Or she could slope off to the bar and enjoy a Bellini, but her hopes were dashed when the big bartender working told her they didn’t serve those. Lottie’s eyes scanned the menu frantically, their cocktail selection was limited. No Misomas either. They had lots of beer and cider to choose from, but she didn’t even know where to start. Freddie was usually in charge of this. So, she played it safe with a gin and tonic. It didn’t satisfy her the way a Bellini would have but it was a minor thing in the grand scheme of things. She had bigger things to worry about, like filing for a divorce. The information online was overwhelming, but she wanted to make sure she was the one to kick it all off. Freddie wasn’t allowed to be the one announcing a divorce, it had to be Lottie. Lottie slid her drink off the bar and headed back outside, taking a small sip as she found herself a table. Within seconds though she was lonely and reached for her phone, sending Lucky a text message to meet her at the bar. She clung onto her phone waiting for a response, but the status stayed as delivered. She sent a text to Catia too, but nothing. With a quiet sigh she pulled her eyes away from her phone, observing the people sitting outside. There was one man who kept looking her way, but Lottie’s eyes darted away from him Then a shadow cast over her table and she glanced up. It was another man, offering her a drink. “Oh.” The straw fell from her mouth as she glanced down at her empty glass, not even realising she had nervously finished her drink. “Yes please.” She broke into a wide smile as she placed her glass down on the table. Lottie’s attention drifted to the other man standing behind them, as her heart sank as she dreaded the idea of a brawl breaking out because the guy jacked up on steroids wanted to buy her a drink first. “I’d like a gin and tonic please.” She announced to the man standing closer to her. JJ HART
|
|
JJ HART
Human
Posts: 59
Played by:
Ange
Last seen Nov 17, 2024 18:04:49 GMT
|
Post by JJ HART on Jun 4, 2023 20:13:07 GMT
A night with Sadie – alright, a couple of hours at best – would’ve been a way to keep himself out of trouble temporarily in a way that taking that blonde from outside the hotel home and hiking his wife up on the bathroom counter at the museum hadn’t done. By now you’d have thought he’d learned his lesson about not mixing business and pleasure, but he’d gone right back there for a third time after Lucy had been packed off to bed. He’d muffled Lucky with his mouth, with his fingers – it hadn’t stopped her drawing more promises out of him though. Strolling out in the small hours of the morning, before the kid had got up (with his wallet back in his pocket), he’d practically felt his wife’s fingers holding on tight to his short and curlies. At some point that business was coming back to bite him again.
What he needed was a woman not tied up with Maddox, someone who wouldn’t draw those promises out of him when his grip on his self-control was at its lowest ebb and he’d do anything, say anything to just be able to let go of it entirely. He’d busted out with Sadie though. It was fucking sad, JJ thought with a puff as he abandoned the bar area with his glass in hand. This was what you got for staying put in a town where just about everybody seemed to be connected. Maddox and his little spider’s web of connections should’ve been what made him, but instead it’d become the mill stone around his neck that he couldn't get a grip on.
Lamenting the quietness of the bar – the bollocks all it was doing to get him to forget those promises – he’d headed towards the porch. There was plenty of vodka at home if that was gonna be his only mistress for the night. TV didn’t tend to do anything for him, but he’d give it a go at leaving him brain dead for a bit. Options, options, hello…
She was better than what passed for the nightly news here. A pretty brunette who more than gave Sadie a run for her money. This one wasn’t cursing his very existence as she looked up at him. JJ brightened his smile, dialling the smug down a little as he turned it on her rather than the gorilla he was already pissing off. Well, he shoulda made a move first then, shouldn’t he. Blue eyes dropped to her lips as she glanced down into her glass. Probably a gin and tonic, although it might’ve been a vodka and lemonade, something pale and tangy, and likely still to be lingering if he ended up tasting her. Politely, he lifted his gaze the minute she looked back up at him, catching the start of that wide smile as he did so. ”Fantastic,” he murmured, mentally rubbing his hands together.
If the Thing here hadn’t come to lurk over his shoulder he might’ve nipped back in on his own, or even just cracked the door to get that hipster bloke who was usually behind the bar to bring a couple out to them, but there he was, all hulky and ready to turn him into a stain on the floor, JJ’s lips tipped back up at the corners. ”I wouldn’t if I was you. I’d toddle back to your mates before you embarrass yourself.” Anticipating a swing for the back of his head – he’d had enough land over the years to know well enough to hunch his shoulders to make a smaller target of it. ”How ‘bout we head inside to get it, love?” Without trouble following them.
He caught the door as it swung open again, and there was the blonde who owned the place. JJ smiled beatifically at her, then glanced over his shoulder at the little gang, the hulk not having moved. ”There you go mate, another round for ya. Tell you what, lemme put it on my tab.” He nodded to the owner and then wriggled in the door, the brunette’s hand in his. At the bar again, he huffed out his breath in a faint laugh. ”Looks like there was a little competition, understandably. A woman like you’s gotta be fighting ‘em off. Alright mate,” he murmured, switching his attention back to the bloke behind the bar. ”Can I get this lovely lady a G’n’T, a double, and another vodka and coke for me, thanks.” He hadn’t made it so far then, but maybe after this one he’d be able to whisper a little of that charm in her ear and they’d slip out of there, laughing over the near miss as they went back to his place … or hers, he wasn’t fussy.
|
|
LOTTIE CHRISTMAS
Psychic
Posts: 50
Age:
31
Occupation:
Housekeeper
Status:
Divorced
Played by:
Jodi
rule #1 never be #2.
Last seen Nov 12, 2024 16:36:14 GMT
|
Post by LOTTIE CHRISTMAS on Jul 5, 2023 18:29:58 GMT
She’d always crumbled at the attention from men. It was a problem in her younger years and her mom insisted she grow out of it and she did, temporarily. Freddie gave her all the attention she needed and sometimes more, but she was back to the start. Viv told Lottie she needed to spend some time alone, find herself again or something corny. She wasn’t ready to get back on the horse, at all, given her heart was in pieces. That didn’t mean she couldn’t window shop though, especially when a hunky looking man offers to buy you a drink. As the man disappeared she got her phone out to text Lucky to tell her to hold off on coming to the bar because a nice man had just offered to buy her a drink, not that Lottie had even opened her previous message. Now her main mission was to not get drunk and make a fool of herself. They didn't call her lightweight Lottie for nothing. If this stranger piled her with enough gin and tonics she’d be crying on his shoulder, bringing a storm with her leaving all the customers running inside for cover. With a bright smile she nodded in response to the man’s suggestion to head inside. At least if she did have a breakdown they’d be sheltered from the rain. She got to her feet and followed him back inside, clutching onto her empty glass in one hand and her other locked with the stranger as he guided them both inside. This was exactly how Freddie made her feel. Protected and safe. The awful looking man outside didn’t follow the pair in, thankfully, resulting in a weight lifting off Lottie’s chest. As soon as they reached the bar she placed her glass down on the countertop as the man spoke. Heat rushed to her cheeks as she laughed nervously, “Thanks for dealing with him.” Ugh, why did her heart skip a beat when he referred to her as a lovely lady. Had she learnt nothing from her younger years? It was never her intention to crumble in the hands of men after a few compliments, but she did. “And thank you for the drink.” She turned her attention fully to him, studying his face for a moment. God, he was super attractive. Maybe he had his beer goggles on, driving him towards her. “I’m Lottie.” She picked her freshly poured drink up off the bar, placing the straw in her mouth gently, flashing a quick smile at the man before taking a small sip of alcohol. JJ HART
|
|
JJ HART
Human
Posts: 59
Played by:
Ange
Last seen Nov 17, 2024 18:04:49 GMT
|
Post by JJ HART on Aug 9, 2023 18:08:10 GMT
Being allergic to monogamy and choosing not to be in a monogamous relationship were two very different things. He’d done the whole one woman at one time committed thing in the past. You tethered yourself to them, it was mutually enjoyable for both, but when you had to stretch that cord that thin by flying across the world for work for months, nobody was having much fun anymore. It was better to be honest up front, to make it clear that the job was gonna come first, especially if there was the gold band circling it. You went where you were told and in his case that always meant making his situation clear to anybody who might’ve been looking for something a little more serious than some mutually enjoyable time spent horizontal … or propped on a counter in the women’s bathroom at the museum.
Maybe there was a little string tying him to his wife now, but they’d not said the sort of words that would’ve brought monogamy into it. She’d have like cackled as his attempt to hit on Sadie had failed. She might’ve been a bit more pissed about this second one but as JJ stood there, staring down a bloke who probably thought he could snap him in two like a toothpick. He almost cackled himself at that. Unfortunately for the troll, he wasn’t as soft or as daft as he looked. With the boss lady involved his competition would have to be touched in the head to try and push it further. Best bit was, he lnow looked like a hero for chasing him off.
JJ smoothed his free hand down his chest as he slithered up to the bar, using the tether of their linked fingers to draw the brunette in with him. They honestly should’ve pinned a badge on his chest for that one. ”My pleasure love.” Woulda been his displeasure if the bruiser had decided to keep pushing it, no matter how quick you could swing, you were still likely to take a few lumps – like he had from Remzi when the two of them had gotten all snarled up at the club. The corners of his lips tugged higher, thankfully without the sting of a split lip. It’d taken days for that to fade the last time, the curse slipping out every time a stray emotion had the wound popping open and lacing his mouth with the taste of his own blood.
”That’s my pleasure too,” he assured her as her gratitude spilled over again. JJ winked at her before propping his narrowing hips back against the stool behind him. Under the lights in here she was even prettier, there was a gleam on her brown hair, he’d lay money on it feeling like silk around his hands once he got them in it. In here he could see her eyes were green too – a combination that seemed to be following him ar0und these days. They weren’t as shrewd as his wife’s though, there was something softer about them, like a forest after the rain, leaves all misty.
As she introduced herself, JJ aborted his reach for his own drink and brushed his hand down the front of his t-shirt before he offered it to her. It wasn’t like he’d been scrabbling around in the dirt before he’d gone out on the porch, but the move was ingrained from places he’d been where grubby was the default. ”Pleasure to meet ya, Lottie. I’m JJ.” He huffed out a faint trace of amusement before he reached for his drink. ”I wasn’t sure if you had company or not at first. Couldn’t imagine someone like you being here on your own.” She was certainly pretty enough that she didn’t have to be. ”Little night out? Or just a drink or two on the way home?” AKA would she wanna linger here all night or could he get that one down her neck quickly before they got out of there. His own drink was rapidly vanishing down his throat with that first long gulp, the guileless look remaining on his face as he swallowed.
|
|
LOTTIE CHRISTMAS
Psychic
Posts: 50
Age:
31
Occupation:
Housekeeper
Status:
Divorced
Played by:
Jodi
rule #1 never be #2.
Last seen Nov 12, 2024 16:36:14 GMT
|
Post by LOTTIE CHRISTMAS on Aug 17, 2023 16:24:46 GMT
Violence was never the answer in Lottie’s world. If a fight broke out between the two men in front of her she would have dashed back inside where it was safe. Confrontation made her feel uncomfortable, like a wool sweater stuck to her skin, constantly trying to pull it away. It was easier to keep quiet and agree. There was a backbone somewhere in there though, as she stood up for herself when Freddie’s side piece came swinging at her because she wasn’t about to let some trashy bitch beat on her in her front garden. Then again, maybe there was a small part of her that would have enjoyed two men fighting because of her. Maybe the same sense of pride Freddie felt when he came home to find Lottie swinging at his mistress. The English accent had gone completely unnoticed by Lottie within the first few minutes of speaking to the man, probably because she was so wrapped in with the drama that had just happened outside (although it was barely drama, but in Lottie’s mind it was) or maybe it went completely over her head along with everything else in her life. It was like information went in one ear and straight out the other, with her absorbing absolutely nothing. But her ears pricked when he referred to her as ‘love.’ It was like the English men in the movies, but she’d never actually met one. No one visited Brownsburg, the place was filled with locals, but then again why was he visiting Mystic Falls? She was struggling to get her head around the fact people were choosing to come to Mystic Falls. Yes it was pretty and the people were nice, but it wasn’t like New York or LA. She assumed that’s where all British people went when they came to America. JJ. That was easy enough for her to remember. She repeated it a few times in her head in the hopes it stuck, but found herself daydreaming about JJ instead. There were a few red flags with JJ, but Lottie was the queen at ignoring those flags. They all just appeared green until someone told her they were red and explained to her why they were red. Viv saw them all with Freddie, but Lottie was oblivious. “Oh…” She laughed nervously, “I’m here alone… I know that’s kind of sad… I promise I’m not some loser with no friends.” Well, in Mystic Falls she certainly was a loser with no friends. The only people she had were Lucky and Catia, but neither of them replied to her. “Just a few drinks before heading home… I doubt this town offers much in terms of a night out?” It seemed to be somewhat lacking in that air, not that Lottie was a wild party animal though, but maybe she could be one now she was single. “I’m new to town.” She added as she picked her drink up to take another small sip. “Are you English?” There was hesitation in her voice as she asked, knowing there was a chance he could be Irish or maybe Australian. JJ HART
|
|
JJ HART
Human
Posts: 59
Played by:
Ange
Last seen Nov 17, 2024 18:04:49 GMT
|
Post by JJ HART on Sept 20, 2023 18:28:34 GMT
Mystic Falls wasn’t exactly London when it came to the nightlife. You could go to the centre of London every night for a week and spend the entire time pub hopping and not stumble on the same pub twice. The place was a warren of pokey little streets that hadn’t changed much since Jack the Ripper was sashaying down them. Places that had an inch thick layer of old beer gumming up the floor and geezers propping up the bar who probably were old enough to have tipped their hats to Jack as he’d wandered out with one of his ladies. Each of them had their stories, their regulars, their type when it came to newcomers shuffling in.
Soho had been his haunt when he was working for Channel 4. Zipping over on the tube after a day in the trenches (so to speak – the offices had always seemed more d0g-eat-dog than the actual battle field) or hooking a cab as it’d zipped back towards the train station. It was a shit hole for the most part, the seediness of all them clubs rubbing off on the pubs that were littered around the tangle of streets. By the time dark fell on the weekends those streets would be clogged enough with boozers that you could spit and hit a half dozen at once. That didn’t bother the tourists none and, shallow as it was, that’d been his sort then. Hollering his name into their ears, inevitably getting anything but JJ whispered back when, after another cab ride after, he was either pissing off his own neighbours, or some miserable old bugger who had the hotel room next door. It didn’t matter that he was on his own 90 percent of the time, only that he was so bloody easy to pick up.
JJ figured this time had been the same. Striking out on Sadie just the preview to the rest of his night. He was a lone bloke in one of the few places you could go for a little fun in this town and he’d played the white knight, that had to make him just as irresistible as the accent did, right? Pile on a little charm and it was almost a sure thing that both of their nights were gonna end up a lot better. JJ pursed his lips, offering up a look that was coyly sympathetic. ”If that’s sad, then it was sad for me too. I wasn’t here with anyone. Doesn’t mean neither one of us has got friends, just means that we were in the right spot to make a new one tonight.” A friend with benefits that was. The fact that there were probably only a handful of people in town he’d have put on his very short list of friends to start with wasn’t here nor there.
Swallowing his mouthful quickly, JJ snorted at her question. He looked around the bar and then back at her – it was probably bad form slagging off the place you were standing in, but honestly, this wasn’t party central. ”This is about as good as it gets if you’re just looking for a club. You want something more exciting, there’s the Ruby Slipper club. It’s got music and dancing at least.” And bar fights if you wanted to stir some shit up with the lughead sitting next to you. JJ knuckled his mouth, remembering the way that lughead had kicked the shit out of him. Yeah, maybe the club weren’t such a good idea – even if he and Remzi had patched it up afterwards.
He set his glass down on the bar and grinned charmingly at her. ”That makes two of us.” If you could call a year new – which some around here probably did. ”You’ve got a good ear. I’m from London. I wanna hear about you though. How about we get out of here, pop open a bottle of wine back at my place and you can tell me all about yourself.” Most women seemed to like to talk about themselves, filling any silence with that babble he half shut out. A small price to be paid for what you got when you managed to sssh ‘em.
|
|
LOTTIE CHRISTMAS
Psychic
Posts: 50
Age:
31
Occupation:
Housekeeper
Status:
Divorced
Played by:
Jodi
rule #1 never be #2.
Last seen Nov 12, 2024 16:36:14 GMT
|
Post by LOTTIE CHRISTMAS on Oct 19, 2023 23:17:16 GMT
At first she thought to herself she wasn’t used to men approaching her in bars, but then it dawned on her she never went to bars when she was married to Freddie. Her whole life was devoted to him. They did everything together, they even shared the same friends. One of those cringey couples that lived in each other's back pockets, until Freddie was living in someone else's. When they announced their split it felt like she lost all her friends at the same time, even though he was the one who cheated because they were all his friends in the first place. Lottie was just an add on to the group, only there because of Freddie. Yet she promised JJ she had friends. Well, Lucky, Catia and Viv were her friends. “Wait… no I didn’t mean you were sad for being here alone I just… sorry I say the wrong things sometimes.” She admitted sadly. Her voice engaged before her brain. A brain that barely functioned. “But yes. A great place to make new friends!” Wait, had he just told her he wanted to be friends with her? Was it really that easy to make friends in Mystic Falls? Oh she hoped so. Music and dancing piqued her interest, but she needed to drink a few more gin and tonics (one) before she’d brave the dance floor. She’d walked past the Ruby Slipper club a few times but it looked like it was full of young people. It was a place she was scared to go alone, but now her new friend JJ could accompany her one time. “That sounds like a fun place.” She hadn’t been clubbing since she was a teenager. Oh God, what would she even wear? Did people still dress up to go out? It was all a foreign world to her, but one she was keen to get involved in. A new era was pending for Lotite, but she hadn’t decided which era it was going to be yet. She was desperate to rebuild her life along with herself, wiping away any memories of her marriage, which was impossible with the divorce looming over her. She’d left her mom to deal with the majority of that though, signing and dating whatever paperwork was needed to get it over with. The smile grew on Lottie’s face when JJ told her he was new as well. “Two newbies.” For a place so boring Mystic Falls sure did draw people in. “London?” She asked excitedly. Wow. That was where the Royal family lived and there was that big clock, Big Bob. She’d always dreamt of going to England, but Freddie was never keen. He lived and breathed Brownsburg. In her new era she could visit England and her new friend JJ could show her around. “Um.” She peered down into her drink, there was one sip left so she quickly finished it. “Sure! But I’ll warn you now my life ain’t that interesting.” It was fairly boring, especially compared to someone from London. Lottie was excited to get back to his apartment and ask him lots of questions about England, like did they really drink tea every single day? She jumped down off the stool, following JJ out of the bar and back to his apartment, talking non-stop the whole journey back. JJ HART - the end!
|
|