RP With Eleanor Bishop

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One might assume that Alfred Pennyworth, with his sharp looking suit and polite manners, would stick out at a prison but it's actually quite the opposite. He moves through it with a sort of calm assurance, like a man who is walking through a place he's been before and is no stranger to the rules or customs.

The time he spent in jail was not in America, it was back in England and while it thankfully wasn't for very long it goes a long way to giving him the aura of someone not to be messed with. Something the other inmates can sense and when he passes by their cells they don't mock him, only glance up for a moment as he goes by towards the visiting center.

The guard gives him a small, respectful nod and opens the door for him and it is only now that his heart starts to pound. It's not from being in a prison, it's from the woman sitting in the center of the room waiting for him.

Even now, years later and under rather bad circumstance, she takes his breath away.

"Hello, Ellie." He says, calling her by his old nickname for her.

Comments

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"I know, what a terrible torture," she joked, sounding calm and collected, pretending most of her attention was focused on her drink.

But her little smile spoke for itself.

"You know, you're probably the one man I've ever truly trusted in my life. Even more than Derek."

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That little Mona Lisa smile of hers, so subtle that if you didn't catch it you'd think she was ignoring you. But he knows better.

"I'm honored to have that trust." Truly he is and he will never betray it.

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"I never stopped--"

And yet, she thinks it twice before she speaks too much. Yes, she might have a firey temper like Kate does, but Eleanor knows when to bite her tongue before she speaks too much."

"I never stopped caring about you, my dear friend."

At least that smile is less subtle now. Closer, to what it once was back when Eleanor had no reasons to censor herself.

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That slight hitch in her sentence feels like a hand squeezing his heart and he reaches over to brush back a lock of her hair.

"Nor I you, Ellie."

Nor will he ever give up on her, even if she gives up on herself he will be there to help pull her out of it.

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For a moment, there's a brief peek at the sadness she once felt, how heartbroken she had felt stepping into the airport, ready to take that flight back home. It was a feeling that always caught up with her whenever she remembered those days.

Back then she had told herself, she had told Alfred himself that she would come back to visit soon. It would only take a few months. But those months grew longer and she met Derek soon after. Then she became a mom. Some years later, her visits were reduced to days, only enough time to take care of business.

"I'm sorry I didn't visit more often."

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"I'm sorry I didn't either."

Because it wasn't all on her, he could have come over to visit as well. But the sad fact was that they both had lives to live and while he had missed her terribly there were points in his that he was glad she wasn't around to see. Dangerous parts where he slept better knowing she was safe in America with a man who up until now he thought wouldn't ever get her involved in some of the dangers he dealt with.

"I always knew you were there though." He says softly, "Being on the other side of the world doesn't change that."

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"Under the same stars," she repeats the quote they once shared, decades ago, to try and make the sour taste of being apart a little more manageable. Now, Eleanor thought of those words with a sense of innocence she feels is long gone for her, wondering if Alfred feels the same way.

In a way, they had both been idealists back in the day.

"It's strange, how things can change so much over the years while others remain the same." Feelings, for instance.

She is well aware of why he is helping her, why he still hopes the Eleanor he once loved is not completely lost. Eleanor herself wonders about that sometimes. Is she still, somehow, still there?

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"Yes, under the same stars." He echoes softly, thinking back about the same memories that she is. They weren't just empty words though, there were many times after she had left London that he would sit and stare up at the night's sky and think of her.

"Strange but comforting sometimes."

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She can't help herself. The chains of her cuffs rattle as Eleanor reaches up to caress his cheek, same as she's done it so many times before, so many years ago.

"Do you ever wonder... What if things had worked out differently between us?"

Does she have any regrets? No. Not completely. The path she took gave Eleanor the most precious person in her life: her daughter.

But things could have been different if she had indeed reached out earlier.

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He places his hand over hers, keeping it in place against his cheek. Even in prison her hands are warm and welcome against his skin.

"Course I have."

Many times, but much like her he has no regrets. Not when she has been blessed with a daughter and he a son.

"Have you?"

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Eleanor's thumb traces his cheekbone. The little lines that are now there but weren't before. They give him character, are testimony of the many laughs and frowns over the years, of a well lived life.

A life she sometimes wished they had shared.

"Sometimes," she confesses. "Sometimes I think nobody has ever understood me like you do."

And this is proof of that. Even at her lowest, Alfred is here by her side.

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Those lines crease up against her fingers as a warm smile spreads across his face, "To be fair I have known you longer than most."

A pause as that smile creeps up into something a little more sly, "And I've seen you pull some stunts that nobody would believe. Remember that time you hot wired that cherry red Ferrari in London?"

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Her hand turns to clasp Alfred's as a heartfelt laugh escapes her lips. Goodness, when was the last time she actually laughed? It feels like forever.

"Well, what's a girl supposed to do? I never thought I'd hate the chance to sit in one again. Let alone drive one." She squeezed his hand, her smile showing a little slyness of her own. "Besides, it's not like you were an angel yourself. Remember when you pretended to be the owner of that club, kicked those rich kids out and then took their bottles?"

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The sound of her laugh fills his heart up with warmth and he laces his fingers through hers.

"Driving isn't the only thing you wanted to do in that car." He adds before chuckling and offering her a little shrug. "And to be fair, those rich plonkers deserved it. They were mistreating the staff and acting rude to everyone."

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"And doing it was divine," Eleanor agrees, leaning in as she emphasizes that last word. She still remembers their awkward fumbling, climbing and moving around. Perhaps a few unintended elbowing involved. But it was some of the best sex, certainly the most fun she's ever had.

"I wonder how long it took them to notice that stain."

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Her comment catches him off guard and he erupts with laughter.

"You cheeky minx." He says and impulsively leans in to kiss her cheek.

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Even though her toothy grin says it all, Eleanor has the decency to at least pretend to be coy as she lowers her gaze. It helps, the fact that the sudden kiss did catch her by surprise, taking her truly aback as if talking about old memories had only been a taste of it.

"And we wonder how I ended up here."

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The reminder that she is in prison kills some of their laughter and seems to remind the guards that they only have so much time, one of them clears his throat and Alfred gives him a nod.

"Well hopefully you won't be for much longer." He says, a pang of sadness hitting his heart at the fact he has to leave her.

"Shall I return next week? For more tea and to collect any letters you want to send?"

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Alfred's visit has been like a light in a realm of darkness. In all honesty, Eleanor can't remember even smiling since that horrible night, since arriving to this place. Stripped, searched, thrown in a uniform and a cell. Having destroyed her own life and her relationship with her daughter.

Her smile is once more stolen away and she can do little but give a curt nod.

At his question, she gives his hand a squeeze while her free hand reaches for his arm. "I would love that."

ooc: end this thread here?

[flippin_peachy]

"Then I shall return next week." He says and leans in to hug her.

"And I'll make sure to bring more Jaffa cakes."

ooc: Yeah, sounds good! uuugh these two!! THE FEELS <333

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Reckless as she has once been, Eleanor has learned to restrain herself a long time ago. Becoming a mother has certainly helped with that.

And so, despite of how she's desperate to hold as tight as possible to him, to silently tell him she doesn't want to let go, she doesn't.

She doesn't turn her face to find his lips, to kiss him like they once did. Like she's missed as time passed by. Like she needs to right now.

"I can't wait."

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Ooc: SO MANY FEELS!!! I love it!
Also imagine the look on Kate's face if her mom gets out of jail and proceeds to smooch Alfred

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ooc: All of theeeem!!!
LMAO I can't stop thinking about that because I'm low-key hoping it happens.

What if for a family dinner of partner introductions, Eleanor brings Alfred and Kate brings Ed? XD

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ooc: Hahaha the most awkward dinner ever
XD

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ooc: Eleanor wondering why her ex/new partner is playing the overprotective dad part already by punching Ed on the face, lol.