Chapter Text
December 1930
─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───
Tiny shards of white dust-like particles fall from the sky as Miranda walks. The crunch of the snow sounded beneath her feet while she walks, her gloved hands remaining in her pocket to keep them warm. She looks around, seeing some people were busy shoveling pathways to keep the roads clear of more snow.
Numerous hues of lights and decorations were scattered over the area, as it was yet another Christmas season. December was her favorite month, one she always looked forward to, especially because Eva adores the snow and would sometimes spend hours outside, unconcerned about contracting hypothermia as long as she was having fun. But that was before; now that her darling daughter has died, she abstains from all festivals - it tears her heart to see mothers spending time with their daughters, as she used to have her own.
Miranda sighs and walks away from the crowd, feeling envious that she no longer had someone to enjoy the holidays with. As she turned her head, a plume of smoke wafted into her face, forcing her to absorb the cigarette's foul odor.
She used her hand to fan the smoke and turned to face the man who was strolling alongside her. Miranda glared at the man, who instantly looked at her with suspicious eyes - Miranda immediately yanked the cigarette stick from his mouth and threw it away.
"Why did you do that?"
"As I previously stated, I despise the smell of smoke," she rolled her eyes. "How dare you blast smoke directly into my face?"
"I'm sorry," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "I promise it will never happen again."
Miranda scoffs and turns to the right, where a little structure with brilliant lights on the exterior has been constructed. She pulled the establishment's door open and entered - the aromas of booze, coffee, and milk swirled around her nose as she entered. There were people seated at tables and a few on bar stools - this was her all-time favorite pub, where she went every Saturday to drink or listen to the band performing on stage.
"Miranda," the man says, tapping her arm.
She shifted her gaze away from him and raised an eyebrow at him.
"Are you going to stand here or are you going to sit?" He chuckles. "You're blocking the door."
She rolled her eyes once more and approached the bar seat, where she was met by a voluptuous man with a brilliant smile on his lips.
"Miranda! It's great to see you again; I haven't seen you for a month and I nearly assumed you'd moved away," he remarked as he approached her.
"It's great to see you as well, Duke," she said with a small smile on her lips.
"Ah! Spencer, you're here too!"
Spencer smiled and saluted Duke with his two index fingers. "I'll have my usual, thanks."
"No problem," he winks. "How about you, Miranda?"
"Brandy will be alright," she responds, her elbows reclining against the bar table.
"Coming right up," the Duke said as he turned away and began preparing their drinks.
Miranda looks around the stage and watched four men prepare their instruments. She lifts and eyebrow and turns to face the Duke who lay a glass of brandy in front of her.
"Why are there four men at the stage? Aren't the band all girls?" She asks as she raises the glass of brandy to her lips.
"The all girls band left and went to perform in another pub. Those are the new ones, they just started to perform here this month," he answers.
"So they've been here for a month then?" The Duke nodded in response. "They're all boys?"
[Brief note: play the song attached in the link below.] Before the Duke could respond, music began to play, which was then combined with an angelic female voice. Miranda raised her head to see who was singing and there she was - a woman dressed in a white gown, with a fur scarf that covered her chest and draped down her body; she also had a huge brimmed white hat with a black feather affixed over her head. She held the mic in her hand, gracefully looked out over the crowd as she sang the song smoothly.
"Who is this woman?" Spencer inquired, his mouth slightly open in shock.
"That is Miss D, the band's vocalist," Duke responds. "Miss D and the Pallboys are their name."
"She is gorgeous," he whistled. "I'm curious whether she'll entertain once she's through."
"Bad news for you, she doesn't entertain guys or people," the Duke quips. "When the show is done, she is typically the one who returns home immediately while the other members stays. She's not much of a people person."
"Until when do they sing here?" Miranda inquires.
"Nine, that is their final song of the evening."
Miranda nods and takes another swig from her brandy. She kept her gaze fixed on the stage, where she came into contact with the singer's - Miss D's - eyes. She blinks her eyes slowly, and when she opens them, Miss D's eyes are still fixed on hers. The singer smiled at her, almost smirking while she continues the song.
Miranda swallows the booze down her throat, maintaining eye contact with Miss D the entire time. She took note of her figure, pale skin, jet black hair that was curled on the bottom and was arm length, and - of course - her lovely crimson lips that complemented her skin. Spencer was right about one thing - she is stunning, and despite her best efforts, she is unable to break eye contact with her for reasons she does not understand.
A small tap on the shoulder prompted her to turn around, breaking her eye contact with Miss D, which had become almost irritating. "What?" As she turned to confront Spencer, she snapped.
"Relax, what did I even do to make you mad?" He puffed and reattached the lapels of his coat. "In any case, I'm going to leave you for the evening. I forgot that I still have a parcel at the train station to wait for."
Miranda made no response and instead turned to face Miss D on the stage, whose eyes began to twinkle as they locked gazes once more. She held the drink in her palms and swirled the liquid around the lip of the glass. Miss D's voice was calming - she could listen to her all day even if she just rants about trivial matters and she will be unconcerned, to put it mildly.
"Odd thinking," Miranda had pondered.
She scratched her head and drank nearly half of her glass before setting it down and averting her gaze as she listened to the song come to a close. Alcohol must be making its way into her system, as she was earlier thinking nonsense, which is bad. She shook her head and drank the entire glass, returning it to the table.
"Another, please," she pleaded, wiping her mouth with the table napkin.
The Duke nodded, removing the glass from the table and turning away to re-prepare her drink.
Miranda scratches her brow as she waits - the pub's scent abruptly changed to vanilla and flowers, prompting her head to turn. She came dangerously close to collapsing into her seat the moment her head turned - but she was thankful she didn't.
"Hello," her crimson lips smiled sweetly at her as she wriggled her fingers in the manner of a hand wave.
"Hello," Miranda says as she clears her throat and gives her a nod.
Miss D took a seat beside her on the stool. The Duke turned around and his eyes widened the moment he. saw her.
"What brings you here, Miss D?" He smiled as he handed Miranda the glass.
"Could I please have some tea? My throat is in desperate need of some warmth as a result of all the singing," she smiled.
"Please wait," the Duke says, nodding and turning his back once more.
"Thank you," she answers as she uses her index gloved finger to draw invisible objects on the table.
Miranda gave her a short glance before resuming her drink.
"I've never seen you here before," Miss D said, causing Miranda's head to turn. "Are you a tourist?"
"No," she responds swiftly. "I come here, every Saturday."
"Really? How come I haven't seen you at any of our performances?"
"I was away for a month and returned yesterday."
"That explains it," she grins.
"Yes," Miranda says, and their eyes meet once again.
She noticed Miss D's eyes for the first time - they were golden amber and glistened like gems. Too beautiful to even look away.
"You have lovely eyes," Miss D remarks as she draws her face closer. "It compliments your beautiful face."
The Duke whirled around, his eyes widening as he took in the stance of the two women. He cleared his throat, fearful of disturbing them. "Here's your cup of tea."
Miss D stepped back and faced the Duke. "Thank you," she said, opening her purse and placing paper bills on the table.
The Duke accepted the money with a raised eyebrow. "You gave me an excessive amount."
"No, that's the correct amount. I'm footing for the beautiful lady's drink," she smirked and brought the cup to her lips, taking a swallow of the hot tea.
Miranda's eyes glisten with mirth. How is it that this woman can sip freshly brewed tea as if it were nothing? What sort of tongue does she possess?
"We have another show coming up this Saturday; you may compensate me by attending," Miss D winks at Miranda as she exits the stool.
Miranda's lips parted in surprise as she stood there watching the woman go away. This was a first - she made no attempt to decline.
"She likes you," the Duke remarked as he took Miss D's cup and saucer.
"What in the world was that?" Miranda asks herself.
─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───
I know the song is not from the 19th but I just find Lady D singing it. Anyway, this is only a one shot since my crazy mind wanted to make this and I ship them!! That's it, bye-bye! Xoxo Szen.
The song;; https://youtu.be/cAvMGWLZCHA