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perfectworrytitle: North Winds (1/?)
verse: Cactus Flower
community:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
writerverse
prompt: Phase #4: Track B: Challenge #33: Weekly Quick Fic ("in the snow" and "midnight")
word count: 318
rating: G
summary: In which a stranger arrives, seeking something and knowing too much.
Jude Marden blew into town on the north winds in the weeks leading up to Christmas. He stumbled in through the saloon doors in the early hours of morning long before the sun rises, bringing in with him a blast of freezing air and a flurry of snowflakes.
Mariel spun towards the sudden chill. "We're closed," she said, before Jude had a chance to speak. Pale moonlight still filtered in through the windows, illuminating the stranger's flaxen hair. He looked familiar, although Mariel couldn't say why.
"It's freezing out there," said the stranger, voice muffled by the scarf over his face. Mariel heard the note of panic in his voice, although he tried to hide it.
"So it is," said Mariel. She shrugged and returned to cleaning the bar.
"I'm looking for someone," continued the stranger, undeterred.
"You won't find them here at this hour," said Mariel. "We're closed."
She turned away, as if by ignoring him she might make him disappear.
It didn't work.
"Gabriel Aldreich," said the stranger. Mariel stood suddenly and nearly dropped the bottle in her hands at that. "I hear tell he lives in this town."
She turned again to face the stranger, scrutinizing his features in the dim light.
"They told me you would know where to find him, Mrs. Delacroix." said the stranger. "Am I wrong?"
Mariel willed herself not to react to her name. The stranger intended to shock her with what he knew. It had worked when he mentioned Gabriel, but she was prepared for it this time and did not so much as blink. She stared him down until he turned his head to the side, breaking eye contact after an eternity had passed between them.
"No," she said. "What business do you have with Mr. Aldreich?"
"I lost something a long time ago," said the stranger. "I have reason to believe it is in his care."
verse: Cactus Flower
community:
writerverse prompt: Phase #4: Track B: Challenge #33: Weekly Quick Fic ("in the snow" and "midnight")
word count: 318
rating: G
summary: In which a stranger arrives, seeking something and knowing too much.
Jude Marden blew into town on the north winds in the weeks leading up to Christmas. He stumbled in through the saloon doors in the early hours of morning long before the sun rises, bringing in with him a blast of freezing air and a flurry of snowflakes.
Mariel spun towards the sudden chill. "We're closed," she said, before Jude had a chance to speak. Pale moonlight still filtered in through the windows, illuminating the stranger's flaxen hair. He looked familiar, although Mariel couldn't say why.
"It's freezing out there," said the stranger, voice muffled by the scarf over his face. Mariel heard the note of panic in his voice, although he tried to hide it.
"So it is," said Mariel. She shrugged and returned to cleaning the bar.
"I'm looking for someone," continued the stranger, undeterred.
"You won't find them here at this hour," said Mariel. "We're closed."
She turned away, as if by ignoring him she might make him disappear.
It didn't work.
"Gabriel Aldreich," said the stranger. Mariel stood suddenly and nearly dropped the bottle in her hands at that. "I hear tell he lives in this town."
She turned again to face the stranger, scrutinizing his features in the dim light.
"They told me you would know where to find him, Mrs. Delacroix." said the stranger. "Am I wrong?"
Mariel willed herself not to react to her name. The stranger intended to shock her with what he knew. It had worked when he mentioned Gabriel, but she was prepared for it this time and did not so much as blink. She stared him down until he turned his head to the side, breaking eye contact after an eternity had passed between them.
"No," she said. "What business do you have with Mr. Aldreich?"
"I lost something a long time ago," said the stranger. "I have reason to believe it is in his care."
