alannajackson:

((OOC I’m changing posting style— the astrics are driving me batty))

Lanna looked over at the woman and her face softened, she’d never really noticed the burns but that was probably because she just noticed Jennie herself. The woman had given the young southern belle a comfort she hadn’t realized she’d needed. It was a motherly touch, she never really had that even at home. “I really don’t know I— I’m trying to find out what I want. If I go back to Savannah my future is already decided.” And if she stayed she wouldn’t have any money but maybe she’d find some kind of happiness.

Jennie pursed her lips, holding up another dress as she listened to Alanna. “I have no patience for other people trying to decide my future. Never did, never will.” She smiled over at the younger girl as she hung up the dress. “You’ll figure it out eventually, dearie. And you have time, you’re still young.” She picked up a pair of bloomers, finding the hole, then sits down to sew in a patch. Jennie didn’t like to think about it, but it was hard, seeing these young girls in a place like this. Not so much the costume shop girls - they at least were out of the way and learning useful skills, so maybe they could get out of here. But the girls on the second floor… They could be doing so much more. But they were here and Jennie wasn’t paid to feel sorry for the girls. 

alannajackson:

jenniehull:

Oh, you know. Thinking they’re better than the rest of us because they dance on the stages. Oh, some of them will take to you, you’re such a sweet thing. *shrugs, concentrating on her sewing* And sorry, dear, I forget you’re not from Manhattan. Five Points, it’s a slum on the Lower East Side. Nasty place, don’t set foot there if you can help it. *knots the thread and snips it off, poking the needle back into the pincushion* Oh, sure, it was scary. I was fourteen and the Points was all I’d ever known. But I got a nice respectable job, a lady’s maid, so I was moving up in the world. It was hard to leave my ma… *bites her lip as she folds the skirt and resumes sorting through the pile of clothes* But Ma wanted me to have a better lot in life. I couldn’t really look back, you know? 

*sews quietly and listens, nodding, looks up at her and watches as she ties off the stone and puts on another. sparkly things, so many stones* Yeah, I do. I really know what it’s like not to be able to go home, New York was so different when I got here. I only… I only ever knew the boarding school mama wanted me to go to.. *swallows,always a nervous little thing, shrugs her shoulders and keeps focused on what she’s doing* Think… you got everything out of life you wanted? You seem so happy…

*glances over at Alanna and nods, but doesn’t ask questions. She figures Alanna would tell her if she wanted her to know* Hmm. I don’t know. I was able to work for myself after I left the lady, able to work as a seamstress and make dresses and such for well-off folk. Or, I was able to do that for a while. *sighs, moving to hang a dress so it won’t wrinkle* I try to stay happy, dearie, it’s no use being sad. I can’t say I got everything out of life I wanted… I did want a husband, but after the fire… *gestures vaguely at the old burn scars on her face and neck. Laughs a bit* But, aside from that, I’ve done well for myself. *shrugs* What about you, dear? You must want something beyond this place.

alannajackson:

jenniehull:

Mhmm. *holds up a skirt, checking for the holes, then notices a rip in the waistband* I think this is Ali’s…. *nods to Alanna* I think I know what you mean…. Of course, I grew up in the Points, but I got out of there nearly…. Oh, twenty years ago. Probably nothing like where you come from, dear. But I dare say you’ll get used to it here eventually. *sits down and threads a needle to stitch up the tear* I’m sure you’ll make friends eventually. The girls in the cafe are nice, not as… as proud as some of the dancers. 

Proud? *pulls her feet under her and, starts sewing another stone into place, small smile* The Points? I don’t… know what that’s like… *goes quiet for a moment as she sews, humming just a bit before she replies again* I don’t.. know really. Not the kind of person these girls normally deal with.. might not take to me…. *sweet little southern thing truthfully, wouldn’t hurt a fly, but tough in her own way.* Was it scary? Goin’ on your own?

Oh, you know. Thinking they’re better than the rest of us because they dance on the stages. Oh, some of them will take to you, you’re such a sweet thing. *shrugs, concentrating on her sewing* And sorry, dear, I forget you’re not from Manhattan. Five Points, it’s a slum on the Lower East Side. Nasty place, don’t set foot there if you can help it. *knots the thread and snips it off, poking the needle back into the pincushion* Oh, sure, it was scary. I was fourteen and the Points was all I’d ever known. But I got a nice respectable job, a lady’s maid, so I was moving up in the world. It was hard to leave my ma… *bites her lip as she folds the skirt and resumes sorting through the pile of clothes* But Ma wanted me to have a better lot in life. I couldn’t really look back, you know? 

alannajackson:

jenniehull:

alannajackson:

*chuckles* I almost feel guilty designing these things, but it makes the customers happy. Poor girls. *scrutinizes the dress, then nods* Yes, I think that’s Nevada’s. One of the main stage girls, at least, and that’s not Rayna’s. *bustles over to her own work table, sorting through the pile of costumes that need repairing as she talks* How are you, dear? Adjusting well? 

They’re pretty but — they make good money with it… *smiles softly and looks at the pretty dress, though it’s skimpier than she’s used too the girl starts working on putting the stones back in place, looks up at Jennie and smiles* I’m tryin.. different from school an’ back home… not used to so many men around or the kind of talk I hear but I’m tryin’ to adjust to it.. *sheltered southern belle from a wealthy family working at a dance hall…* I keep to myself mostly…

Mhmm. *holds up a skirt, checking for the holes, then notices a rip in the waistband* I think this is Ali’s…. *nods to Alanna* I think I know what you mean…. Of course, I grew up in the Points, but I got out of there nearly…. Oh, twenty years ago. Probably nothing like where you come from, dear. But I dare say you’ll get used to it here eventually. *sits down and threads a needle to stitch up the tear* I’m sure you’ll make friends eventually. The girls in the cafe are nice, not as… as proud as some of the dancers. 

alannajackson:

jenniehull:

alannajackson:

*shoves the fabric under the sewing machine and just sings away to herself, shoving hair off of her face* I think it’s about fixed… the tear I mean… I need to replace some of the stones though.. lost a few…

Oh, there you are, dear. Good, that dress needed fixing. Honestly, the rate at which these girls rip their dresses. I suppose it’s probably not the girls, more likely their customers, but really. *shakes her head, then pauses* Although, you can hardly call most of them dresses…. *shakes her head again* Sorry, sugar, I’m rambling. Almost done with that? 

*grins at jennie as she rambles, kind of enjoys it and chuckles* hardly a slip of cloth, my mama would roll over in her grave.. be a scandal all over Savannah.. *nods her head and grabs a needle and thread, the stones* Almost just a few left to replace… this is… Nevada’s right? *still learning names*

*chuckles* I almost feel guilty designing these things, but it makes the customers happy. Poor girls. *scrutinizes the dress, then nods* Yes, I think that’s Nevada’s. One of the main stage girls, at least, and that’s not Rayna’s. *bustles over to her own work table, sorting through the pile of costumes that need repairing as she talks* How are you, dear? Adjusting well? 

alannajackson:

*shoves the fabric under the sewing machine and just sings away to herself, shoving hair off of her face* I think it’s about fixed… the tear I mean… I need to replace some of the stones though.. lost a few…

Oh, there you are, dear. Good, that dress needed fixing. Honestly, the rate at which these girls rip their dresses. I suppose it’s probably not the girls, more likely their customers, but really. *shakes her head, then pauses* Although, you can hardly call most of them dresses…. *shakes her head again* Sorry, sugar, I’m rambling. Almost done with that? 

ignacioarroyo:

jenniehull:

This darn new area. It means new outfits and new designs and we have nothing that can possibly be refurbished to look like the “Wild West”. Lito, dear, you had better appreciate all the time I’m putting into this. 

I was going to put the bartenders in sombreros and ponchos, but I’d rather not make Ignacio any more sullen than he already is. It’s not good for business. Dearie, when you have a moment, do come upstairs for a fitting? I promise, it’s not a sombrero. 

*shrugs* I certainly hope not. *heads upstairs to the costume area*

Oh, good, there you are. Here, go behind that curtain and try these on, dear. *hands over leather chaps and a plaid shirt* They go over your pants, all right hun? 

This darn new area. It means new outfits and new designs and we have nothing that can possibly be refurbished to look like the “Wild West”. Lito, dear, you had better appreciate all the time I’m putting into this. 

I was going to put the bartenders in sombreros and ponchos, but I’d rather not make Ignacio any more sullen than he already is. It’s not good for business. Dearie, when you have a moment, do come upstairs for a fitting? I promise, it’s not a sombrero.