We'll Meet Again

Chapter Nine: I'm Making Believe

Alastor woke with a start sitting up awkwardly. His lower back and shoulders screamed in protest of the harsh treatment he had subjected them to. It took several minutes to remember where he was, who he was with, and how exactly he ended up there. It was still dark out so he fumbled for the light switch. Vox groaned and sat up just before the light in the room clicked on. He blinked into the brightness and rubbed his eyes feeling discomfort similar to Alastor's. Alastor peered across the parlor at his mantel clock and felt panic rise within him. He let out a curse and rushed upstairs. Vox was confused at first, but a closer inspection of the clock revealed that Alastor had all of thirty minutes to be dressed and at the studio. He stood from his place on the couch stretching. His spine crackled as he twisted and flexed to work the kinks out. Alastor came back down the stairs taking the steps two at a time. His hair wasn't quite right and his tie was crooked. Vox smiled and chuckled in amusement as he rushed into the foyer for his shoes and coat. He followed him, taking his coat off the hook and holding it out patiently as Alastor tugged on and tied his shoes. He stood and dipped one arm then the other into the coat then turned to look Vox in the eye. Vox smiled at him and reached out adjusting his tie. With it sorted, he ran his fingers through Alastor's hair pushing it off to the side and into place. Alastor seemed surprised at his affectionate touch.

"Beautiful as always Alastor. Now hurry before you have a reason to blame me for being late to work."

Alastor grinned and planted a quick kiss on his lips before turning to rush out the door. Vox deflated as he disappeared through the door, sore and exhausted. He wanted badly to lay down and catch a bit more sleep but he had plans today, and his time to implement them was growing short. He sat a few things in the house to order that had been left from the day before. Afterward, he showered and planned, there was only one piece of this puzzle left to chance and he hadn't worked out how to change that. Showered and dressed he headed downstairs and looked around Alastor's phone table for what he hoped would be the missing link. He had almost given up and had resorted to riffeling through the drawer when he came upon an old planner. He opened it and skimmed feeling bad at the intrusion but desperate. There it was, in Alastor's lovely cursive hand, Mimzy's full name and address. He grabbed the phone and dialed the operator, he recited the name and address and she bid him to give her a moment. He sweated over the pause, worried she might have moved since this information was taken down, but after a moment that felt like hours, she returned with the three words he had been hoping for, "Connecting you now." Mimzy sounded tired and he worried he had woken her but he was out of options.

"Hello? Mimzy speaking. How can I help you?"

"Mimzy, It's Vox, Alastor's friend from out of town. I hope I didn't wake you."

She paused, he wondered if she was trying to remember or cursing him to herself.

"Of course sweetheart, and not at all. I was just makin' my mornin' coffee. What can I do for you?"

He sighed and crossed his fingers like a superstitious child.

"I was hoping you might have time to talk this morning. I was hoping you might be able to tell me more about Alastor."

She paused for a while and he heard her sip at a liquid, her coffee he guessed.

"Sure hunny, lemme give you my address and you head on over. We'll see if I can't help you along. But be ready to answer as much as you ask."

He smiled and clenched his fist in victory.

"No problem Mimzy, I'll be right over."

She recited the address he already had in front of him in Alastor's planner, and bid him goodbye for now. He wasted no time slipping into his coat and shoes and heading to her place.