I DO NOT OWN THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS AND SNAKES. SHOUTOUT TO PHOWARD FOR ALLOWING ME TO BORROW ELEMENTS FROM THEIR STORIES.
FACE CLAIMS
ENOCH ELDRIDGE- DAVID HARBOUR
Howell house. Logan, West Virginia. A month later.
After about a month of living in West Virginia, Coriolanus Snow felt as though he was finally starting to grasp how life worked around these parts. He had become a permanent fixture at the auto shop and Mr. Howell had taught Coryo how to change tires and handle some of the machinery. To everyone at the shop, it seemed as though Coryo was an honest guy who loved working on cars. To be honest, Coryo fucking miserable in that shop; not that he'd ever let the guys know it.
He hated coming home to Lucy Grey Baird smelling like oil; his uniform covered in grease. The work was for uneducated saps with nothing better to do with their lives, fixing cars for other people was beneath him and it was just eating him up inside. He was grateful to the Howells for taking him and Lucy Grey in of course; without their help, he and his songbird would more likely than not have froze to death. But graditude didn't change the fact that Coryo was a Snow, like his father before him. He was meant for far better things than being a grease monkey in some run down shop in a 1 horse town like Logan.
At least Lucy Grey was finding happiness in their new life. Esther Howell absolutely adored Lucy Grey and the feeling was mutual. Esther had taken to calling Lucy Grey her sister and Lucy Grey enjoyed having a surrogate sister. She still missed the Covey and Maude Ivory especially. Ruth Howell herself had come to look at the young woman as another daughter. It seemed as though the only Howell who didn't love them was Samuel. To be fair, he liked Lucy Grey just fine, but every time he locked eyes with Coryo, it was like he'd seen some kind of darkness in him.
Coryo and Lucy Grey had slowly but surely began to integrate themselves into the community. They'd accompany the Howell family to the store, to school events, even to church. Joshua, being the God fearing man that he was, made an effort to get them into Christianity.
Lucy Grey had always believed that there was some sort of higher power in the world. She didn't know if she believed in the Christian faith, but after the pastor had told her about Jesus Christ, she thought that it was a "beautiful story, if nothing else". Coryo on the other hand was a devout atheist, but he picked up pretty quick that if you didn't believe in God, you weren't thought of very highly around those parts, so every Sunday, he played the role of the born again Christian to perfection. Lucy Grey knew he was putting on a show and while she was uneasy about it, she chalked it up to her capitol boy trying to fit in with the people he cared about.
S.E. Livery Inc. Logan, West Virginia.
"We probably should have done this sooner, to be honest." Joshua said as he looked at Coryo and Lucy Grey in the seats of his truck. Eventually, the Howells realized that their guests couldn't make it very far without ID's. Coryo insisted that he and Lucy Grey had discarded their important documents after a job in the army had gone wrong, so going through official channels was out of the question.
Luckily, Joshua knew of someone who could help. According to him, Enoch Eldridge was the most successful livestock broker in West Virginia and he had the ability to make things happen when he wanted to.
"So, what's this Enoch fella like?" Lucy Grey inquired as Joshua drove her and Coryo into town.
"His family's been big in West Virginia for almost a hundred years." Mr. Howell explained as they pulled into a large building that looked like an office and a barn combined. "His great grand daddy was Governor back in the 1900's and a state senator in the 20's. Enoch's got connections and he ain't afraid to use 'em." The 3 got out of the truck and went inside the livery. The office aspect was classical country with wooden decor and deer heads and antlers mounted on the walls.
"We're here to see Enoch Eldridge." Joshua told the secretary as she motioned for them to take a seat while she paged her boss. A few minutes later, a hairy looking man with a beer belly, dressed up like a modern day cowboy came walking into the foyer.
"Josh Howell, how the Hell are ya?" Enoch asked as he shook the man's hand.
"Business is good, can't complain." Joshua said as he motioned to the couple. "This here is Coriolanus Snow and Lucy Grey Baird. They're guests in my house and Coryo's been working at the auto shop."
"Interesting names." Enoch said as he shook both of their hands. "What brings you to my Livery?"
"I think it's better if we discuss that in private." Coryo said as Mr. Eldridge motioned for the blonde to follow him back to his personal office. It was a pretty cozy set up with comfy leather chairs, a cherry oak desk with 2 large pictures in it: one was a color photo with Enoch surrounded by people Coryo assumed were his family. The other was a black and white photo of a couple who looked like something out of a western play: the man had neck long hair and a goatee to match while the lady had lob raven hair, porcelain skin and was breathtakingly beautiful.
"Mr. Eldridge, Lucy Grey and I have been living...off the grid for a long time." Coryo said, phrasing his words carefully. "We want to get our lives started, but to do that, we need all the important documents, birth certificates, driver's licenses, diplomas, etc."
"And you don't have all these things because?" Enoch asked with a raised eye brow as he poured himself a glass of whiskey on the rocks.
"I shouldn't be telling you this...but I'm an army veteran and I've been conduction secret missions on behalf of the US government." Snow lied as he had been researching the US military in his spare time. "Unfortunately, my last mission ended in a bad note and the powers that be sought to erase Lucy Grey and myself from existence. I'm afraid that I can't tell you anymore than that."
"I understand Coriolanus and I won't press the matter further. I can get you and your gal fake documents; I know people who can make terrific fakes. Come back in a couple of weeks and I'll have 'em ready." Enoch promised as he downed his whiskey.
"We would greatly appreciate it. How much would it cost?" Coryo inquired.
"Normally, it would be expensive...but I have another method of payment. One day and that day may not come, I'm gonna call on you to do me a favor and you'll be there to help me." Enoch replied as he looked at the young man in front of him. Coryo didn't like the idea of owing anyone anything, but if that's what it took to get what he and Lucy Grey needed, so be it.
"I agree." Coryo replied as he saw Enoch eyeing him up and down.
"I hope you don't mind me saying so, but you seem too refined to be slaving away at Howell's auto shop." Enoch remarked as Snow offered him a slick smile.
"I don't plan to be there much longer." Coryo assured the livestock broker as he left his office.
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