A pale fist connects with Alastor's chin, while another hits his gut, and the last hits him right in the crotch. He's not holding back, however, he lands a few on the other three guys, but nowhere near causing the same amount of damage as they did to him. One came from behind him, wrapping their arms around his throat, he searched for air for a few, until landing a kick in the assailant's crotch. Alastor reaches out to land another punch, getting his skin slit by one of the men's knives, he cries out in pain as the punches continue on. He was completely unaware of his surroundings until he heard a voice calling.
"Alastor? What are you doing? Alastor? Alastor!"
The moment he saw her, all of it came rushing back. He wanted so badly to be angry with her, but looking at her beautiful face, he just couldn't.
"What's going on here? Leave him alone!"
"Stay out of it broad,"
That fired Alastor up and he landed his bloody fist on the guy's face
"Alastor, come on. Please?" she stares into his eyes and he spits the blood out of his mouth, choosing to walk away after the guys got one last hit to the shin
"That's what I thought! And you!" The leader points at Vera "Watch yourself, Jane, next time to stop us from taking our cut, we might end up taking the cut outta you, dollface!" He winks at her, thrusting towards her as she grimaces at their lewd gestures. Alastor's expression darkens.
"Hear that boy?!" they call after them "We all gon' take a piece of her!" He points to himself and his friends "1,2,3! Take her from the back. Though I might wanna see that pretty face!" Their voices get quieter as Vera and Alastor increase the distance between the two groups. Vera turns to him
"Why were you fighting?"
He scowls, not responding at first "They said Maman would make a pretty tree ornament,"
Vera doesn't understand immediately, but gets it within a few moments "Oh," she says with a blank face
"Yeah,"
She looks at his bleeding hand "We ought to go to your mama-"
"No!" She stops to look at him "I can't let her know I've been fighting again." He mumbles
"All right then, I suppose that I could fix you up, but I don't have much experience with boys."
"Where have you been anyway? Feel like I haven't seen you in forever," he asks once they get to her room. She pulls out her first aid and sewing supplies.
She rolls her eyes, while she bandages his knuckles "It's only been 2 years. And my daddy said that I wasn't allowed to come the past two because I needed to focus on my schoolwork."
He furrows his brow "I thought you were grown," he smirks
"College," she says like it's obvious
"Oooh you a college girl," he wiggles his eyebrows
She blushes "Well, I did just graduate. And now, my daddy says after Mardi Gras I can head off to LA!"
"Ah, that's right. You wanna be an 'actress'" he speaks teasingly
She stares at him, offense taken "And you wanna be on the radio." she spits back, her voice full of venom "I don't see why you think your dream is more reachable than mine."
He stares down at his bloody hand as she cleans it "I don't."
"Then why do you keep mocking me?"
"Oh, darlin' I'm not mocking you. I just think that radio is a superior medium."
"And why is that?"
"Because all that matters is the voice. If you've got the voice, people will listen. You can be successful, no matter what you look like." He watches her place the hydrogen peroxide on his wound and he hisses with pain.
"Sorry," she looks a bit sheepish
"Anyway, with movies and plays, you gotta look exactly how they want. That's unrealistic. Well, I mean not for you, since you're a regular Sheba. But for folks like me, we wouldn't exactly fit on the movie screens."
She's taken back a bit by his compliment, but she doesn't show it "You think you're ugly?"
"That's not what I said."
"You said I'm a regular Sheba when you're a Sheik!" she prepares the needle for the amateur stitches she was about to give him.
Alastor wiggles his eyebrows "You think I'm sexy?" he leans in toward her
She giggles and pushes him back, "You have to stay still. Here, gimme your hand." He places it in her hand and she starts to sew up the gash. Alastor tried to hide the pain, but each wince made it clear how he was feeling when the needle pierced his flesh. "Sorry," she said again
"It's alright darlin' it's not your fault I busted my hand."
"No, I mean…I'm sorry for not writing to you, and not coming since 2 years ago. I bet you thought I forgot about you." He had thought that, but he chose to stay silent instead of responding. When she finished sewing up the wound and knotting it, she held his hand in both of hers "I'd never forget you." she said
There's a beat of silence, where he stares at her and she stares at his hand that she continues to hold, before she clears her throat and drops it, causing him to wince once more. She looks apologetic and reaches for him, but pulls back at the last second. Alastor clears his throat and breaks the silence.
"Ugh, I would hate for Maman to see me like this," he turns his hands over, looking at the crudely stitched-up gash on his otherwise smooth skin
"Maybe wear some gloves then," she chides him. Vera reaches into a drawer on her nightstand, pulling out a pair of black gloves and handing them to him. He looks skeptical "They're made of the best material. They stretch! Try them!"
Alastor takes them cautiously and looks them over. He looks up at Vera and back down at the gloves, thinking about whether this was a good idea, but considering he had no other options and nothing else to lose, he slid the gloves onto his hands. Surprisingly they did fit. Either these gloves were as stretchy as Vera claimed, or he had some seriously small hands.
"Thank you," he said
"See? Perfect fit."
He reaches for her hand and intertwines his fingers with hers "So is this,"
He leans toward her large pink lips and she lightly pushes his chest with her gloved hand "Um, bank's closed, Alastor" she chuckles
Alastor moves back only a few inches, staring at her with relaxed, lidded eyes "Cash or check?"
Vera blushes furiously "Excuse me?" She giggles "How do you know there will be another chance?"
"Don't pretend like you don't think about me."
She glances around the room "I don't know what you're talking about," blushing harder
Alastor raises an eyebrow, his mouth harboring a giant smirk "Don't tell me you forgot. Last time you came, I took you in the woods…"
She waves her hands in front of her face, trying not to smile "Don't remind me."
He scooches closer "Why not? It's such a…pleasant…memory" he leans in again and finally his lips catch hers in a small kiss, then back in for a longer one. She rests her hands on his chest, sliding them up to his shoulders and neck. As they're necking, his hand slides up to her breasts and he takes one, squeezing it. Vera moans quietly as he massages it, occasionally feeling her nipple through the fabric.
The sound of footsteps is heard coming up the staircase and Vera gently pushes Alastor, whispering "Someone's coming,"
"So?" he pulls her closer to him by her waist, making her giggle while he kisses her cheek and jaw
She pushes him "I'm serious," she says between giggles
"You don't sound like you're serious Miss Giggles," he tickles her further
"Alastor stop!"
"I hope it's not your father!" he whispers
The doorknob turns "Young lady we do not lock doors," Cassius says on the other side
"Now you have to hide," she whispers
"I do?" he asks, like a jerk
"Stop! This is serious!" she playfully slaps his chest while whispering
Cassius turns the knob further "Vera, what are you doing in there? Open the door! Vera!"
"I can't have boys in my room. Hide in the closet,"
"Alright…" he allows himself to be pushed into the closet
He watches through the crack as Vera undoes her clothing slightly, pulling it off her arms. Alastor feels a throbbing in his crotch as he watches her peel away the layers.
"Vera!"
She opens the door a crack "Yes Daddy?"
"What's going on in here?" he asks with a scowl
"I was trying to get dressed, I got dirty on my walk so I had to change clothes. Did you need something?"
He looks past her in the room "I heard some…noises in here, I thought you might be up to something…inappropriate,"
"No, it's just me,"
Her father purses, his lips "Remind me to check you out. That whole 'talking to yourself' thing makes you sound screwy," and he walks away
"Oh my," Alastor speaks from the closet when she goes to open it, "I thought he'd never leave,"
"You almost got us caught!" She slaps his chest
"Aww," he purrs "Scared Daddy would think I was defiling his daughter?" he gives her an evil grin "Already did that,"
She blushes "Enough games! You need to leave,"
"Do you really want me to leave?" He leans down toward her, his grin stretching the ends of his face
"You need to leave," she says, not looking directly at him
"Alright, alright," he puts his hands up "I will just be out in your backyard..working, as always,"
"Go! Shoo!" she whisked him out before anyone else could catch them.
Alastor was crouched down, examining each individual flower, their stems and petals when Vera snuck up to him and spoke.
"You ever been to a party?"
He is caught off-guard by her voice to the point where he falls over, she giggles at the sight and he is mixed with a sense of humiliation and adoration, quite confusing for him. He stands and dusts himself off, replying "I've been to my mother's birthday party. Is that what you're getting at?" with his brow furrowed
She shakes her head "No, I meant a cocktail party. Like the ones you see in films? Where they dress all ritzy and dolled up, and drink margaritas and of course, cocktails?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about,"
"You've never seen a film?"
"Once. After Maman saved up,"
Vera purses her lips "Hmm," she leans her weight on one leg "Would you like to attend one?"
"A film?" he raised his brow "I don't know, I have much work to be done-"
"No! A party!" Vera smirks
"A party?" Alastor almost laughs in her face "Oh, definitely not,"
Vera looks perplexed "And why not?"
"I am not going to a party surrounded by a bunch of fat cats in suits, looking down on me,"
She rolls her eyes "My father is bringing me as a networking opportunity, you should come too!"
Alastor's complexion is touched with a hint of pink "I don't think I would fit in very well there," he replied simmering with anger at his situation
Vera's eyes are filled with confusion "Do you not still want to work in radio? To be a radio star?" She asked her tone dripping with wonder
"Yes," he mumbles
"Then come with me. I will not take no for an answer." She stands her ground, with her arms crossed
"I'm not sure doll, am I even allowed?"
"Oh I'll take care of that, don't you worry about it." She winks at him
He stares at her apprehensively "I suppose,"
She startles him again while he is cutting grass by hand, almost chopping off his own finger.
"Guess what?"
He jumps back "You must stop doing that!" he sounds deeply irritated when saying this
She leans back and crosses her arms "Would you like to hear it or not?
He stands and sighs "Go ahead,"
Vera giggles and jumps up and down "Your attendance was approved!" she grins at him
"Hmm? Oh, the party, wonderful," he offers a false grin "However, I did just realize that I do not have the proper attire to attend. I do not own a suit," he offers
"Okay! I'll get you one!"
His grin falls slightly "I could not ask you to do that,"
"You're not," she asserts "We will pay your mother to make you one," she claps once
His smile falls completely "Do not make her do that, she has more important things to do,"
Vera raises her brow "Like her job? Which is to make what she's paid to?"
"For her clients,"
"That's us!" she tilts her head
He squints at her, his expression darkening, but she seems not to notice "You're doing it for me,"
"I'm doing it for me," she gives him a sly smirk
"Yes because a woman needs a suit," he spits sarcastically
She rolls her eyes again "You are my plus one, this is for me,"
"I suppose," the confidence in his voice dropped. This would be an amazing opportunity, but to wear his mother's labor? He would be o better than Vera's father, or any of the other customers who requested work from them. Would he become the fat cat?
"Have we reached an understanding?"
"We have," he states plainly
The door to the backyard was open so that all could- of Vera's kin - could see out.
"Son!" Mr. Bates called from inside "I'm sure you've got more work to do, don't you little Fontenot?"
Alastor's eyes set in his head darkly, as he stares at him through his dark lashes, as Mr. Bates stares him down.
"Vera, I have something for you sweetheart!" she brightens up at the thought of a gift "But you must come inside to receive it!"
"Is it my gown?!"
"I'm not sure, you'll have to come inside and see," he sings
She runs towards her father with glee "Oh!" she turns back to Alastor "It's tomorrow night!" and runs inside the house, her father slamming the door behind her, as the rain starts pouring down, Cassius stares as Vera opens the parcel, fully expecting the work to be finished.
"It was so nice of Miss Vera to invite you, don't you think baby?" May asks as she threads the final part of his suit together. She looks up at him "Alastor? What's eating you?"
A deep scowl is present on his face, the storm in his mind evident. "It doesn't feel right,"
"What doesn't feel right?" she stands up
"Them having you make this for me, so I can stand around begging for some from these narcissistic high-brow men and women. It's like we're objects to them!" he crosses his arms,
May waves him off "Oh don't be silly Alastor! This is an amazing opportunity for you! Miss Vera is so thoughtful to think of your dreams when attending this party, and Mr. Bates is so considerate to allow you to attend. They didn't have to pick you," she fixes his collar and tilts her head "This could do wonders for you Alastor. You could end up a big-shot radio host because of this night. I know you've got what it takes," she pinches his cheek
"Maman," he laughs and swats her hand away "I'm a man now,"
"You wouldn't know it living here with me," she laughs "When you get big you can move out and live on your own. And you can stop picking and pruning flowers for your Mama. Besides, you'll always be my baby," she smiles warmly
"I told you, I don't like leaving you alone,"
"Sure, that's why,"
"Besides we don't have the money for that kind of transition at the moment,"
"But you will, after tonight" May hands him a box
He looks it over "What's this?"
"I think, that since Miss Vera was so kind as to invite you to this party, you should bring her a gift,"
He opens the box and smiles, looking up at his mother "Of course Maman,"
Alastor fiddled with his tie during his trek to the Bates' vacation home. The bow tie fit him well, but his neck was not used to the sudden constriction. His hands trembled, almost dropping the box twice. He thought about this chance and all the ways he could mess it up. The chances that he would regret it were astronomical. He walked up to the front of the house and saw Mr. Bates and Vera standing in front of a car. Mr. Bates in a navy blue upper-class suit and Vera in a gorgeous extravagant cocktail gown in light pink. When he approached, Vera's lips pulled back into a large grin, while Mr. Bates's remained a tight line.
Alastor opened his mouth, but his words were stolen by Vera and her beauty.
"Hi," she says in a low velvety voice
"Salutations," he spoke breathlessly, staring at her in awe
Mr. Bates clears his throat "The car has been waiting," he turns to his daughter "Shall we?"
"Of course, Daddy," she turns to Alastor "Come then," she enters the car and he follows her
The ride is quiet and tension-filled before Vera speaks again "Your mother made you a very nice suit. You clean up very well," she glances at him
"Hmm, I suppose I look quite well in it," he looks down at himself giving her a small smile
"I guess May hasn't quite learned how to make hats," Mr. Bates commented from the front seat
"Daddy hats are for older men,"
"Ugh, you think I'm old?" he asks playfully
"Yes," she answers laughing
Alasstor sits, fiddling with the box not knowing what to say
"Hello Alastor?" she calls for his attention "Bonjour," she glances at him with lidded eyes
"Bonjou cher" he responds, deep and silky
She giggles "What is 'cher'?"
"It's just a Creole term of endearment. Would you prefer I call you, 'my dear'?"
"No, I like it. 'Cher'," she smiles
He grins widely "This is for you," he hands her the box he'd been holding, and his smile brightens seeing her face as she opens it.
"Oh my goodness! Is this a corsage?"
He nods "Indeed it is,"
She tries to fasten onto herself but fails miserably.
"If I may?" he reaches over to help her fasten the flower to her dress
"Doesn't really match the dress now does it?" Mr. Bates called again
"Daddy, I love it! It's so gorgeous!"
"Alright alright,"
Alastor leans back in his seat, unsure of how the rest of the evening would go. Walking into the venue was just as nerve-wracking as he thought that it would be. All the rich people stared at him as if he were an animal, something to tame or even worse, something meant to entertain them. He was silent as the Bates's were greeted, he was no longer Alastor, he was simply '+1'.
"Cassius! My dear friend, so good to see you!" one of the men embraced him with a handshake
"Stanley, my good man, how have you been?"
"Not too shabby, I invested in some promising stock these past few months. But you know all the hub of the women and the coloreds asking 'rights this' and 'rights that", you must know how it is Cassius,"
Mr. Bates nods "I do indeed, which I raise my daughters up the right way. By you remember, my eldest daughter Vera?"
The man turns to Vera "Vera? This is Vera?"
"Hello,"
"Last time I saw you you were about 10?"
"Oh, 10 and a half, as she always said," he chuckles
"My my, you've grown into such a lovely young woman, do you have an intended?"
"She does not,"
"Is she looking?" They cackled
Vera looks around in confusion. She whispers to her father "I do not understand,"
Mr. Bates grabs her arm "Shh,"
"Cassius come and see the other fellows,"
He turns back to his daughter "Go around and introduce yourself, and mind your manners, young lady," and like that, he is whisked away
Vera turns around and is startled to see Alastor behind her "You were so quiet, I forgot you were there,"
"Oh no, just observing," he offered
Observing indeed. Observing how these fat cats felt about and treated ladies and colored folk like himself. How they treated the help. If he was meant to fit in and network with these people, then this was a lost cause.
"May I have a drink?" she asks one of the men carrying glasses on plates. He hands her one, "Two actually, one for my friend here?" Alastor reaches for the glass cautiously as the server gives him an unwelcoming look. "Thank you,"
They can feel it, they can see it, they can smell it. They know I don't belong here, I don't know how they know it or how they can tell, but they know it, everyone knows it and I'm the fool staying here knowing that I don't belong.
"Are you okay?" she asks him, noticing his wandering eyes and his shaking hands
"I'm just fine my dear," he lies "The party is lovely,"
"Drink," she tells him "One glass will calm your nerves,"
"I shouldn't,"
"But you should," she presses onto his arm, pushing it up towards his mouth
"You are trying to get me in trouble, Miss Bates,"
"I am trying to get you to let your walls down,"
"You're trying to get me to break the law,"
She flutters her lashes "No one here is going to tell,"
"Well if they did I'd have to kill them,"
She laughs and he similarly smiles "Watch," she takes her drink and downs it in one go, placing the empty glass on a counter "See?"
He sighs "Fine," and swallows it down, the warmth rushing all over him
Vera leans into him "Now how do you feel?"
"The same," he chuckles
"Just wait,"
Within the hour the drink had taken its toll on Alastor, his grin took up his entire face as he listened and watched people move to the gorgeous tones of the jazz music being played by the band.
"Someone looks happy," Vera glides around to the front of him
He shrugs "I suppose I am…enjoying myself,"
"Enough to dance with me?"
He blinks behind his lenses and stares into hers "Sure, why not?" he takes her hand, leading her to the middle of the dance floor, grasping her tightly as he leads her, moving to the music. He is quite light on his feet, in a way that she could not imagine, she is stunned by his dancing ability and finds herself charmed further by the garden boy.
"And you said you've never been to a party,"
"Not these kind, my dear,"
"You've been dancing with older ladies? Hmm, you might make me jealous," she smirks
His eyebrows raise with intrigue "You jealous? Why is that?"
"I suppose because this is how I have to find out that I'm not your only dance partner,"
"You know you can dance with me anytime you want," his grin is bright and charming, a wide white grin that had her heart doing flips inside of her chest. His eyes were unmoving and bore directly into her, causing her cheeks to redden and her eyes to avert from him. As his fingers were about to turn her chin back to his face she heard a masculine voice calling her name.
"Vera!" She turns towards it seeing a face familiar to her "Oh Vera is that you?"
She pulls away from Alastor, eager to stop feeling exposed and vulnerable, but his hand remains on her waist. Vera pushes a piece of her hair behind her ear.
"Sonny?" she asked stunned
"Vera!" he approaches her with his arms open and she embraces him, fully removing herself from Alastor's grip.
"Oh my goodness, I didn't see you when you first came in, so I thought you hadn't come!"
"You can't get rid of me that easily!"
They laugh like old friends as Alastor looks the man up and down, he's tall and thin. Pale, with short blonde hair and a large nose. Alastor wasn't exactly sure how to feel, all he knew was that he wanted this man to disappear immediately
"So Vera who's this youngster I saw you getting cozy with on the dance floor?"
"Well, do you remember the promising young man that I wrote to you about?"
"Oh, right Alastar? Alastore? Where is he?" he looks around
Vera sarcastically gestures toward Alastor "Alastor, pleasure to be meeting you, sir. Quite a pleasure," Alastor sticks his hand out to the man to shake. Sonny takes it and shakes it with wide eyes.
"Oh! Alastor, what an…interesting suit you have on," Sonny looks him up and down
Before Alastor can scowl, Vera interjects "Alastor is very passionate about radio,"
"Oh? Listen to the radio quite a lot? Interested in my work, huh?"
Alastor's eyes popped, he finally understood what Vera was doing by introducing him to this man, she was networking for him. "Yes indeed sir. I believe radio is the future!"
"Well, you are very right about that. I want to bring radio to future generations, making sure that it lasts,"
"Genius idea sir," Alastor replies humbly
"I was pretty much the brains behind the beginning of radio,"
"Now don't con him, Sonny,"
Sonny waves her off "Oh I'm just teasing. Well, you two have a great night. Vera, tell your father I said hello," he turns to leave
"Wait, Sonny!"
"Hmm?" he turns back around
"Remember how I told you that he has a really dynamic personality?"
"Uh huh?" Sonny raises an eyebrow
"Perfect for a…radio show host…?"
Sonny sighs into his hands "Vera, may I speak with you for a moment?" he places a hand on her waist and pulls her off to the side.
Alastor fiddles with his fingers as he watches the two of them converse across the bar. Conversing, about him. His heart begins palpitating and he can't control his own thoughts. They would never want me. What am I doing here? Why did I let her convince me to come here? What a ridiculous dream.
"Vera,"
"Yes?"
Sonny sighs once more "I understand that you'd like to help your little 'friend'…but I will explain something that you as a lady would not know. You cannot have nobodies coming from nowhere as part of your business. It's just bad press, what would the papers say?"
"That you're revolutionary for turning this 'nobody' into a 'somebody'? Besides, every somebody was a nobody at one point,"
"Ah, but the difference is…those nobodies were able to pay to get themselves where they are. I cannot just have anyone on the radio, especially someone who looks like their mother still dresses them,"
They both glance over at Alastor, who fiddles with his fingers, looking down.
"I thought radio wasn't about looks,"
"You have to see the bigger picture, it's not just about radio. It's about being around the right people to get the radio where I want it to be. I want to move forward, not backward,"
"Is it not progressive for you to have the first local station to have a colored man on your broadcast? Let alone have his own show?" she stares him down
He ponders Vera's words, looking back and forth between her and Alastor "Fine." he saunters back over to the young man "You young man, will report to WWL at 8 pm sharp. You will have six seconds, you will wow me with those six seconds or it's not happening. And you," he gestures for Vera to come to him "If he does not wow me in those 6 seconds, it will cost you your acting career, you won't even have a chance to have a career, and your father will be done. Do we have an understanding?"
Vera's wide grin falls "Yes," she says solemnly
"Great, have a good evening" he tilts his hat to the young lady and exits the party, pushing past Cassius who looks over and scowls in Alastor's direction.
Alastor has no control over his thoughts or body once again but is on the opposite side of the spectrum. He doesn't move when Cassius sees him, when Vera approaches him, or when she starts speaking.
"So…I believe thanks are in order?" She leans on the table near him
He snaps back at attention, rolling his eyes "Thank you,"
"You're welcome, I just put a lot on the line for you," she speaks as though this was not a big deal
"Well, thank you. I appreciate it,"
"Seriously, everything we've worked for depends on you,"
He lids his eyes "That is a lot of pressure,"
"Indeed," she stares up at him, eyes boring into his now. At this moment he was the one who wanted to shirk away from the gaze, but there he stayed captivated by her gaze, at least until feeling a large and heavy hand fall on his shoulder.
"Vera, how is your night going, sweetheart? Drawing a lot of attention to yourself huh, son?" He turns to Alastor, who pulls away from his touch
"Cassius, I didn't know you dabbled in charity work," A woman passed by, placing her hand on the man's arm.
"Vera, did you have enough fun tonight?"
"I was meant to speak to Shannon tonight, but I cannot find her,"
"Yes, you know she's busy with her baby,"
"That's right, she did have a baby," she remembers
"I think It is time for us to turn in, do you not agree?"
Vera pouts "Oh father," she whines
"Now now, do not pout. It is unbecoming of a lady,"
Alastor feels as though he's floating on air when he speaks "I believe that Vera handled herself with the utmost amount of poise and grace tonight. She is a young adult, and she can stay out for a few more hours in my opinion,"
Vera turns to her father with hopeful eyes and a grin, silently pleading.
"Return to the car Vera,"
Her grin drops and she turns her nose up "I will pout all I please," she walks out, pushing past her father
Alastor begins to follow her toward the car when he is stopped by Cassius's hand on his chest "You, come with me,"
Cassius leads Alastor out the door, but far away from the car that Vera waits in.
"Is there something you need sir?" Alastor falsifies humility, smirking all the while
"Cut the shit,"
Alastor's grin gets wider, though he pretends to try to hide it "I'm sorry?"
"You should be. You should be very sorry. I don't know who you think you are, but you and your mother are this close to being unemployed. Then you can go from living in a shack to living on the street. Wouldn't that be fun? Don't you love the music?" he asks passive-aggressively
Alastor's grin falls at the threatening of his mother "How dare you threaten my mother?" he scowls, his expression turning dark
"Aww, I didn't know the poor had feelings," Cassius looks smug "Listen to me, boy. You can be as much of a smartass as you like, but you and your other will always live in that shack. You are here because of me. I could tell them all about you, truth or lies, you are here because I am respected, with my word, you and your mother could end up hanging from trees like ornaments. So watch who you're speaking to, and who you contradict," The flames in Alastor's chest burned brightly and angrily, his fingers making a fist "And one last thing, stay away from my daughter," he walks toward the car where Vera waits, "Enjoy the walk home," he says before entering the car
"Where's Alastor?"
"He wanted to take a walk to clear his mind,"
The engine revs up and pulls away, leaving Alastor standing as it begins to rain again.
"Lovely," he spits
With his hair and his clothes stuck to his body, Alastor trudges on his way back home, hearing the familiar voices of some idiots he'd met before.
"Hey boy!" they called out following him, whistling and taunting him "Hey! Where's your little Jane? Huh?"
Alastor trudges forward, it was all he could do to not react. He was almost home, and then he could peel off these shoes and this suit and wallow in his own misery.
"Hey, boy! Hey!" they whistle "Hey negro! See that's what happens when they get right, they forget how to show respect," he spits and throws a beer can at Alastor, who stops and readjusts his jaw, allowing them to catch up
"Hey boy," he hears the man flip open his knife "thick you too good to speak?"
"We gon' have to teach you a lesson?"
The knife guy chuckles "I could take it out of that pretty little doll you was with last time? Where she at? Huh? She not gon' save you?"
"Or we could take outta his motha'"
The guys start laughing as the rage builds up inside Alastor, and he loses control of his body and thoughts for the third time that night, grabbing the man's knife and stabbing him repeatedly, splattering his blood all over his suit and skin as the man falls to the ground, bleeding out. The others stand and watch as both twitch, the man in pain and Alastor in anger.
"Why you fucking-" another guy runs up toward him, but Alastor counters by slitting his throat, the third man jumps, tackling Alastor from behind and taking him to the ground.
They roll around on the grass, Alastor struggling, as the man tries to choke him, punching and hitting him in the gut and wrapping his hands around his neck and squeezing, Alastor kicks backward, in the third man's shin and he falls back to the ground as Alastor falls to his knees, searching the grass for the knife, finding it right as the last man goes to pounce on him. He rolls from under his spot, getting onto his feet and plunging the knife into his back over and over and over again. Hearing his spine crunch and his organs splatter, he digs the knife in and twists, taking pleasure in the eradication of scum life, the power coursing through his veins. He kept going long after the man had stopped moving, and when he finished, Alastor took a deep breath, finally feeling in control once again.