Author's Note: What a lovely reaction to the first drabble – as well as more requests. I like requests. Requests will make Picture's Worth grow very large. And, look, I'm actually getting close to my self-imposed 1,000 word limit :)
This next drabble was written for Hair (of the NML). She wanted a romantic/dramatic/humorous drabble featuring Blink and an OC of her own design; for the challenge, she chose "somewhat challenging": "Just give Blink his Saturday night that he so desperately wants".
So, did I rise up to the challenge? Let me know in a review hint, hint, nudge, nudge
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Title: Phantom Lovers
Featuring: Kid Blink/Marguerite Strong
Challenge: a summary challenge – Blink and his Saturday night with the Mayor's daughter
Word Count: 1,012 – I'm getting there
Written For: Hair
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PHANTOM LOVERS
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The first time he saw her he was sitting across the way from Mayor William Strong's manor home. He found he liked the quiet that surrounded the estate; as long as he stayed a street's distance away, the police didn't charge him with loitering. Whenever he could sneak away from the boys down at the lodging house, whenever they didn't notice that the boy with the patch was missing, Kid Blink walked across the city to spend his Saturday evenings with his phantom lover: the Mayor's daughter.
He had, of course, never met the famed daughter. Miss Strong spent much of the year at a prim and proper boarding school out of New York. But, ever since the passing of Mrs. Strong, the girl was spending much more time at home with her busy father. It was those brief glimpses of a tall and slender figure silhouetted against her window that brought Blink back to his designated street corner. This was the closest to her he would ever get.
It was on that same corner that he met her. A phantom lover like no other…
He had glimpsed her hurrying down the street and, for once, he was able to tear his eyes away from the stately building. She's beautiful, he thought as he took her in. His one good eye followed her and he saw that she was as tall and slender as his dream girl. She had long brown hair that swayed with ever feverish step and he fought the temptation to rush over to her and run his dirty hands through it. It looks so soft…
Remembering his manners, he jumped to his feet and removed his brown newsboy cap as she passed. Her deep blue eyes fell on him for a moment and he could have sworn a dainty smile crossed her lips before she was gone.
He continued to watch the Mayor's house every Saturday that he could just like before. The only difference now was this: Kid Blink was searching for his new phantom lover – the mystery girl with the smile. He had seen her there before; he would continue to return to the same spot until he saw her again.
The next time he saw her she was walking at a slower pace. He saw her approaching a block away and was prepared when she passed him. He had removed his cap and had patted his dirty-blonde hair down in an attempt to look much more kempt. This time, before she continue on her way, she smiled and spoke to him. "Evening."
That one word was magic and he almost was caught off-guard that she would actually speak to him. He recovered, though, and before she get far enough away, he called out to her, "What's yer name?"
"Marguerite."
Marguerite. The entire way back to Duane Street he practiced saying her name. Marguerite. A name like that just rolled right off of his tongue.
He was now finding that every Saturday he was making excuses in order to be waiting on his corner. He had seen her twice more since then and had learned that she lived with her father and was from Manhattan. She always answered his questions quickly before hurrying away with a silly grin on her face.
The next time he saw her she was waiting for him on his corner. She kept turning around nervously but grinned when she saw him approach.
Blink could not believe his luck. He hurriedly removed his cap and lowered his gaze. "Evenin', Marguerite."
"Evening." Her voice was just as magical then as it was the first time she spoke to him.
It was quiet for a moment before he dared a glance up. She still appeared nervous but happy nonetheless. He took heart in her appearance and, without thinking, asked her to dinner. "I mean, if you ain't got nothing better to do," he added quickly, waiting for the inevitable decline of his invitation.
But she didn't decline. "I'd love to…Blink," she answered, resuming her dainty smile as she said his now. He was grinning now. He had introduced himself at their third meeting – he felt she was at a disadvantage what with him knowing her name and her not knowing his – but she had yet to address him with the nickname. "But first…"
His heart sank. He should have known better. Phantom lovers are made that way… "Yeah, Marguerite?"
Her nervousness came back and she glanced behind her so that she was looking at the Mayor's mansion. "I feel like I should tell you – It didn't seem right for me to not… My name – my name is Marguerite Strong." She looked back at him expectantly. Obviously this brief statement was what was causing her to be so nervous.
Marguerite… Strong. It took a moment for her confession to make any sort of sense to him. But, when it did, he had only one thing to say.
"Well look at that. I guess I got a whole mess of Saturday nights with the Mayor's daughter an' I just didn't know it," he said, trying to hold back a laugh. And failing. He started to laugh with Marguerite hesitantly joining in.
When he stopped, she looked at him briefly. "So, it doesn't mean anything to you that my father's the Mayor?"
"Not at all," he replied. "Does it matter that I'm a newsie?"
She blushed slightly and ducked her head. "I saw you watching across the street when I was upstairs. Ever Saturday, you were there and I found it intriguing. When Father was busy, I would sneak out and walk the block to see how close I could get to a real Manhattan newsie. I never thought you'd be so nice. Or," she said, looking up shyly, "that I'd like one so much."
Phantom lovers be damned, he thought and reached out to take her hand. She extended her smooth one and he began to lead Marguerite down the street in order to begin their evening out. It's much better to have the real thing.
