We'll Meet Again

Chapter Ten: I'm Beginning To See The Light

Despite his late arrival, Alastor's broadcast went well. He was not as well prepared as he preferred when he first went live but he managed well enough. Most of that came down to his secretary who was probably going to be finding a tidy bonus in her next check. She realized he was late and reformatted his notes to highlight the things he had to know before he went live. He signed off on the next day's musical selection and placed it in the appropriate place on his way out the door. He was surprised to find Mimzy waiting for him just outside. She stepped up and enveloped him in one of her customary hugs.

"Oh, hello Mimzy. I am surprised to see you but it is a pleasure as always."

She released him from the tight hug and waived his pleasantries off.

"You no good flatterer you, you'll make a girl blush. You busy? I was hoping you might want to have lunch at my place and catch up?"

He buried his frustration in a smile and tried to sound pleasant.

"I am not sure that is polite, I do have a guest after all."

She seemed completely undeterred by this.

"Call'em and let'em know then. You look like you need a break anyway. You been followin' him around like a shadow since he got here."

Alastor gritted his teeth but it was clear to him Mimzy wasn't interested in taking no for an answer. It would be better to placate her than upset her.

"Alright, I suppose I could drop by for lunch and a chat but I really can not get caught up."

She grinned and put her arm around his back, incapable of reaching his shoulders, and led him away towards a nearby streetcar.

"I wouldn't dream of keepin' ya away from bein' board at home ya Bluenose Son of a bitch."

She punctuated her last few words by poking him in the chest with each before pulling him onto the car.

They grabbed sandwiches on the way, Alastor had long known the horrors of Mimzy's halfhearted attempts at cooking. On arriving they took their lunch at her kitchen table which Alastor found odd. Ever the socialite she usually preferred to be at a restaurant or sitting on the porch so her neighbors would be sure to see she had friends over. Alastor excused himself briefly to call home and let Vox know he would be a bit and was surprised when no one answered. He shrugged it off as one more eccentricity of an already badly out-of-sorts day and returned to his lunch. He swallowed some pride with his first bite and decided to get owed apologies out of the way first.

"Mimzy, I owe you an apology I fear. I was a little terse with you the last time we met for lunch."

She waved it off dismissively.

"Think nothin' of it Alastor, water under the bridge. Just tell me if I was right or not 'cause I am dyin' for details."

He sighed and took a deliberate bite of his sandwich taking his time chewing. He carefully avoided eye contact while he considered the repercussions of telling her more than she needed to know. Mimzy was a friend, and trustworthy, with a secret anyway. However, this was a sensitive matter that was complicated enough without her beaky nose in it. All that aside though, he had no one else to talk to about this kind of thing and he was in desperate need of advice. He was already well out of his depth and only sinking.

"Alright, I require your dubious expertise anyway so, yes Mimzy it appears you were correct."

She squealed in genuine delight and pounded the table with her fist a few times.

"I fuckin' knew it. I told you that boy was a dandy Alastor. Oh, good for you hunny. What's the scoop on that situation?"

He pushed the sandwich aside suddenly not so hungry. Placing both elbows on the table he leaned forward cupping his head in both hands and looking at her from between. It was an almost comical show of stress from someone she had barely ever seen so much as flinch.

"I have no idea. I don't have a clue what I'm doing. He won't get out of my head long enough for me to think."

She giggled at him. She tried to stop herself but failed. It was the least composed she had ever seen him, and she had seen him drunk. She put her sandwich down and stood stepping to him and hugging him.

"Alastor sweetie, it's okay. You're kinda freakin' out on me hunny. Calm down a little and talk to me. Let's start with what's happened so far."

He leaned into her embrace gratefully. Once released he took a moment to compose himself. When she was fairly sure he was okay she took her seat and urged him on.

"Well, we kissed, and we talked. I just...don't know how to work through how I feel about it."

She nodded along listening intently. There was a full thirty-second pause to be sure he was finished before she responded.

"Alright, let's start with the kiss. How did it make you feel Alastor? Describe it to me the best you can."

He seemed to think it over carefully before responding.

"Well, it made me feel a little drunk, a little dizzy, and warm. Like a warm finger running up my spine spreading a fire as it went. I... I did not want to stop."

He seemed a little surprised at that last revelation. Mimzy favored him with a gentle smile.

"That sounds wonderful sweetheart. Very poetic, and very romantic. I didn't think you had it in ya. Now, what did ya talk about?"

He ran his fingers through his hair and sat back in the chair.

"I told him I enjoyed it. That I had never done anything like it before. But, I also warned him that I didn't know how much I would realistically be comfortable with, or how much he could expect."

She nodded in seeming approval.

"Good, you told him it was new to you. You told him you liked it, and most important you told him that you didn't know what might make you uncomfortable. Now, what did he have to say about all that?"

He mulled the question over. He wanted to get as close to verbatim as possible. He did not know what minute detail might be important that he missed.

"Well, I believe he said that it was okay, and to take as much time as I needed. He also seemed pretty eager to continue but he seemed to let it go pretty easy."

Her smile only widened and she looked genuinely touched.

"Sounds like you found a great guy there Alastor, I'm jealous. Tell you what, lemme grab the cards and you can tell me more over a few games of gin rummy."

He was reluctant to be kept longer but she was insistent. They finished their sandwiches and talked over cards. Mimzy constantly doing her best to divert his attention from the time. It wasn't hard to keep his attention honestly. She had a very good idea of how long it took him to get from her place to his. Right at five, she made a show of looking over at the clock and reacting in feigned surprise.

"Would you look at the time! That poor boy is gonna be starvin' as well as his ears burnin'. You better run on sweetie."

Alastor did a full double-take of the wall clock and cursed at its persistent message. He stood in a rush and moved to receive the hug Mimzy offered as he did.

"Go get him Alastor. He is good for you, and you need someone in your life other than little ol' me."

He returned the hug fiercely with her words of encouragement.

"I think you might be right about that as well Mimzy. I am going to do my best."

She walked him to the door and helped him into his coat. She smiled and waved goodbye as he hurried towards the streetcar. As soon as he was far enough down the street not to notice, she rushed into the phone and asked to be connected to his home number. Vox answered on the second ring. He sounded exhausted but pleased.

"Alastor's residence, how can I help you?"

She wasted no time with pleasantries.

"He just left my place on his way to you. Ya got about thirty minutes so I hope you're ready."

She was very pleased at the ease of his reply.

"I've got it Mimzy, thanks for the heads up."

She wished him luck and they said their brief goodbyes. She was satisfied she had done all she could to help him, help them both really. The rest was up to them but she sincerely hoped it worked out for them.