Devious Journal Entry

♌: -After the death of her husband she had been forced to drop her slow going career in journalism and take up multiple jobs just to pay the bills and keep a roof over her head. Luckily the night club just several blocks over was calling out for just about anybody who was in need for some payed work and Meulin had quickly taken up as many positions within said club as they would give to a single applicant. This meant that she was in charge of cleaning up the mess their customers left behind after the end of the night, bringing them out an ash tray if they were to ask for one, and help the only other bartender in the joint to dish out the seemingly never ending drinks. Between the small breaks granted whenever one of the performers walked out on stage Meulin would dry off the freshly cleaned glasses and watch with amazement as they dancers moved across the stage with such confidence and grace. Right now one of her favorites were coming out and by the roaring of the crowd she wasn't alone with this opinion.-

♈: With the slow music building up, Damara's movements only matched it. Fanning now between grace and elegance to lust and desire. With a single hand she could tease the crowd, offering to show what was underneath the kimono only to deny. Her dance offered a story of struggle and being stuck in one place, but soon as the rising intensity of the music her dancing became speratic and trapped. Then on the final solo instrument as the top of her kimono came undone, her nipples cover in tape; she walked to the center. Her body ragged,tired, her breaths heavy; she lifted up her hand and removed the curly black hair extension revealing shortened somewhat botched hair. She smeared her make up, and death dropped to the ground ending her performance. A roar of applause erupted as behind the curtain she gets up and leaved the stage.

♈: *leaves

♌: When the performance was finished and the lights dimmed down so the dancer on stage could leave and the next could come out Meulin found herself clapping along with the audience, that is until the rush came back for refills and she had to snap herself out of trance like state of awe and get back to work. After about twenty minutes of mixing different types of liquors together and restocking their glass supply the next dancer came out, promptly making the entire crowd flood back to their seats. Meulin glanced over at the dozens upon dozens of dirty glances lining up and down the bar counter, groaning to herself before bringing them all to the sink and washing them out.

♈: Half an hour passed and it seemed like patron population would not go extinct anytime soon. In the hallways a silent figure moves from the dressing rooms to the main bar. With her kimono now switched out for uniform, her shoes flat, and make-up scrubbed thoroughly off she entered the bar and started taking drink orders. The place was severely understaffed, and no matter how tired anybody was; if the boss asked you to jump well you would..him. Damara deeply yawned exhausted, but couldn't go home yet due to the busy night. She made cocktails and shots, and even nodded at the dumbness of the patrons. She finally wobbled over to Meulin and dropped dishes in the sink." They jus keep coming.." She muttered loudly. Even with living in the states for so long, Damara still had hints of her Engrish accent.

♌: By this time Meulin was finishing her sixth set of dishes when she heard the comment coming from beside her. When she saw the fresh stack of dirtied dishes she just about cried at the thought of how much more were to come. As she squirted more dish soap onto the now falling apart sponge she looked over at the other and gave her a sympathetic nod. "It's like a never ending stream of drunk morons pouring through here. This place should have closed hours ago, I don't understand why the boss is allowing them to stay for so long! If this keeps up we're all going to be sleeping on our feet." She scrubs away at the dried liquor stains on the inside of each glass, trying to get them as spotless as she can before the rush comes back over.

♈: "Because the customer arways right..always..ugh!" She steamed, as she scrubbed the glasses. With an almost sympathetic gesture, she lightly patted Meulins back." Crosing..Closing time is here soon. no worry.." She sighed. She really needed smoking break. Time was something she didn't have, and she hated having to take this from the boss. Most of the workers had families, she had a daughter waiting for her at her apartment with a babysitter that will now have to be paid overtime. With another gruff sigh, she walked back out serving an taking orders. If this kept up, drastic measures would be taken..and hoped it wouldnt.

♌: Meulin gave her a lopsided smile in return for the gesture, nodding her head as she talked and giving her a small wave of farewell as she left her side to go and pay mind to the customers slurring for somebody to take more of their orders. It took forever to finish the back that the other had given her and by the time she was finished her hands were turning a raw pink color and her fingers were starting to lock up after staying in place for so long. She spent the remaining few minutes she had left flexing them inwards and outwards to get them back in working order before the next, and hopefully final, rush of men and a few women came back over.

♈: After what felt like an eternity, the people finally started to leave or at least be escorted out. Clean up became easier and less stressful now that the customers were gone. With mops, brooms, and bleach, and of course the bar itself being cleaned the place began to look respectable again. Damara was on her thinnest rope and was about to lose her temper but kept her calm facade." These special nights..I no like. Too tiring.." She stretched and cracked her back.

♌: Meulin finished drying off the top of the counter by the time her co worker started to speak again. "I agree. This should be a once a year ordeal, if we don't i'll end up having to call this place my new home so I don't end up coming in late." She unties her apron and tosses it underneath the counter, starting to gather up all of her belongings, placing them into her messenger bag before slipping on her olive colored trench coat. "It looks like iv'e finished my chores for the night, do you need any help with your area before I head out? I wouldn't mind lending a hand or two. That way we both can get out of here before it starts nearing three in the morning."

♈: "I love that..thank you.." She gave her slight nod as she cleaned. The area itself was not bad, but it still took time. But thanks to Meulins help, they were out by at least 2:30. Still to late for Damara's taste, but beggars couldn't be choosers. As the last of the servers left, Damara and Meulin were the last out; Damara locking up. The crisp night was chilly, with a light snow glistening from the silver strands of light the moon gave. Damara looked around and began to dig in her purse." Hey..uh.." She gestured to Meulin." You..smoke?" She took out a pack.

♌: Meulin buttoned up her trench coat just below her neck, looking down at the already opened pack of cigarettes being handed over to her. She hesitated for a moment before plucking one out of the box. "I usually don't but I need something to get me destressed." She stuck the cigarette butt between her lips and fished out her lighter, flicking open the top and beginning it to life with a swipe of her thumb. Holding the flame over the other end of the ciagarette she took a couple of puffs before offering it over to the other, flame still glowing despite the mild breeze rolling in. "What's your name? I don't think we've ever had the pleasure of formally meeting one another."

♈: Damara took out another cigarette and burned it using Meulins. She took a long drag of it and let the smoke slowly dissipate from her breath. She waved her hand, gesturing for her to keep it." Damara. Damara Megido, And you..?" She asked as they began to walk into the night. It was pretty dark, even with the few lights that helped illuminate the small path on the sidewalk.

♌: "Meulin Lejion. It's nice to meet you, Damara. How long have you been working at the night club for? I haven't seen you around but that may be because I always have my head bent towards the sink's drain, are you just one of the waitress? Or do other odd jobs around the place?" She took a few long drags from the cigarettes, exhaling the smoke just as slowly as they passed building after building.

♈: " I dancer. But rearry..really I do too much for cheap bastard." She shrugged and took another puff." And nice to formerly meet you too. I see you work a lot like me.." She chuckled, a bit bitterly."Are you just bartender or do too much?" She asked.

♌: "I do too much I guess, or at least too much as to what they're paying me for. I do bartending, dish work, after hours clean up duty, and I waitress." Soon enough she's finished her cigarette, flicking it into the nearest trashcan. "But you say you're a dancer? Funny, I don't ever recall seeing you on stage! What do you usually go by? Do you have any favorites? Personally, my favorite is the Handmaid. I love how elegant she is and the way she carries herself, kind of like a queen! You know?"

♈: "I do not care much for her.." She shrugged." And oh god, you too huh. Want to know kicker, over heard boss man say something about serving food to make experiences." She flicked her cigarette and quickly grabbed another one, not before kicking some snow out of frustration." rike crean-up is easy Uhghhh!" she had troubles lighting it but still succeeded after a few min. She took deep breath and a few puffs in between." Kuhuhuh..joke on him I only can make tea and bottle mirk..milk." She looked back at Meulin." Sorry..anger management.."

♌: "Oh don't worry about it! I can understand where you're coming from, I use to be quite the hot head myself before I came across my significant other one day. If you would like some pointers I would be more than happy to give you some! I know it can be difficult to keep your rage under control but after a certain amount of time you don't have to watch it anymore. Though I don't think i'll be able to keep up with the job any longer if it means that I have to just about ten times the more dishes than I already do now! I think I might just have to go look for another job if it comes down to that."

♈: " I wish the same, but I stuck.." She shrugged." And oh you have a rover..lover." she chuckled." How inconvenient, i joke of course..they nice?" She asked . She also couldnt help but laugh at the idea of this woman having a temper, but it also wasnt uncommon. Damara like Meulin, she seemed overly realistic and really after two years of paranoia, it was nice to talk to someone not trying to kill her. At least to her knowledge. .

♌: "He was incredibly nice. In fact I don't think I have ever came across a more kind and compassionate soul in all my life. He was far too good for me and still to this day I wonder how in the world I got so lucky as to win over his affections!" She paused for a moment. "Though he's dead now, murdered by a group of mobsters while coming back from his job as a preacher."

♈: " I..so sorry to hear that." She paused." Stuff like that..arways hard.." She lifted her hand and patted Meulins."do you have little ones?" She asked tilting her head.

♌: "I have two but, I wasn't able to provide them the life they need so I sent one to his brother and the other to an old childhood friend I grew up with. He turned out to be a private investigator so I know that she will be safe with him and my son is just like my husband's brother, ornery and loud. I think that they're get along just fine but as of right now I need to save up money so I can at least feed them and put a roof over their heads when they come to visit me on the weekends."

♈: " heh i have little one. Just a babe, turning one soon.." She smiles as they make to a crossroad. Damara looked down as one went into an alleyway, she stopped. " I can wait and call a cab for you. Nice gesture." She plucked out her phone. After a few min, she put it down and looked back up to the moon." They sound nice..Your children..how old?"

♌: "They're just a year apart, one's four and the other is three. Oh! Wait! I think I have a picture of them on me somewhere." She searches through her pocket and brings out a crumpled picture. She holds it out in front of the other. "Karkat is four and Nepeta is three and that handsome man right next of them is my late husband. Do you have any pictures of your baby? I would love to see what she looks like!"

♈: She looked over the pictures and to the man who was her husband. He seemed almost familiar, but she couldn't place it. The two were very adorable though and she couldn't help but smile. Out of her bag she grabbed her wallet and showed Meulin." Her name is Aradia, she's curious one.." She laughed." And was the person who save me." She brought the picture to her lips and kissed it." Everything I do now..I do for her."

♌: Meulin smiled back at her, eyes squinting together. "She has to be one of the most precious things I have ever laid eyes on! I can tell by that picture alone that she must be a good baby, doesn't cry too much, only spits up every now and again, a real breath of fresh air! I remember when Karkat we brought home he would not stop crying for days at a time, I don't think I have ever been that tired in my entire life or ever will be again. Yup, he sure was a fussy little guy but I love him all the same. It's wonderful to hear about how much your daughter means to you though, really warms my heart."

♈: "I respect you very much.What you say you did..for your children.." She reached out her hand gently grasped her shoulder." It was not easy. You are good person..and mother.." Damara then put back the wallet and picture." I do hope to tark again tomorrow..talk."

♌: "Oh my gosh, you are just too kind! I have to say that I return the respect! I know it can be hard working under you-know-who but you do it for your daughter and that's just about the best you can do for her as a mother right now. If I find more decent, even better paying job i'll be sure to fill out an application for you as well! You certainly deserve it. Also, you don't need to worry about correcting yourself around me. I don't mind it one bit, talk however you like."

♈: " heh Thank you.." She smiled. As she was about to take out another cigarette a cab came." Ah Your ride here." She scooted Meulin in and got in herself." Where do you live?" She asked now getting comfy away from the cold night air.

♌: "Oh!" Before she even knew what was going on she was tossed into the cab, Damara following suit. "I just live a few blocks from here, sort of in the bad part of town so I understand if you would want to keep some distance. You know, just in case? I wouldn't want anything bad happen to you, especially when you've been so nice to me! I really feel obligated to pay you for both of our trips back home. Do you mind if I were to do so?"

♈: "I do too..It no safe. And I usually get cab at this time." She gave some money to the cab driver and directions." I live just a little farther up the road, so we can drop you off first."

♌: "Uhm, okay. I just. Wow. You're a really good person and I know that I keep saying that over and over but I just can't get over how kind you are. Honestly! Hey, what are you doing tomorrow after work?"

♈: " It is no probrem. Rearry. I be good friend er..try." she mused." And probary try to get off soon as possible.." She said rubbing her own neck." Why what about you?" She questioned back.

♌: "I wasn't really up to anything in particular but I just wanted to know if you and Aradia would like to come out and join me for the last meal of the day! I would love to see your baby girl in person and i'll even pay for the meal since you paid for the cab ride. You don't have to accept my offer if you're busy with other things but I thought it would be a nice way to repay you for what you've done for me tonight."

♈: " Well I would like that.." She finally corrected herself. As the cab finally made it to Meulins Apartments, Damara watched and waved making sure she would be inside and safe."We do dinner tomorow.." She called out. She then proceeded to tell the driver to take her home, where she could pay the babysitter and lay down to get off her feet. Her baby was tucked quietly in her crib, with the tiniest of snores leaving her.

♌: -Meulin waved right back at her and entered her home once the cab was out of site. After setting her keys aside and relocking the door behind her she went to her answering machine and was delighted to see that both of her children left behind small messages about their days. Time skip twenty minutes into the future and Meulin was out cold, snoring peacefully.-

♈: The next night was no different, though due to the staff complaints and the dancers almost not coming to work at all. The place was packed, and drinks were being ordered specially. Everyone was being pulled every which way. It would also be another night where the Handmaid makes another appearance.