Hope and Sue: Meeting in the Mall

[x-invisiblegirl.livejournal.com]

Sue come across Hope having a problem in the mall and the girls spend some time talking.

SMACK

With a resounding slap, Hope made the small group around her fall silent. "You should know that is no way to treat a lady, sir." While her words were polite, the tone of her voice was absolutely icy and her eyes were shooting fire.

Sue had been spent the day just window shopping at the mall. It wasn't often Sue got to just be an average girl doing normal things. She'd never had the opportunity before she arrived at the mansion, and now she didn't take any classes at the high-school or spend anytime with students who didn't live at the mansion. That was why she always looked forward to the weekend so she could disappear off into town to go window shopping in a mall and just relax. The blonde was sitting on the edge of the fountain by the food-court kicking her feet in the against the side of her erstwhile seat and people watching as shoppers hurried by intent of their own lives while she could just sit here relaxing. It was only natural that her eye would be attracted to the growing crowd of laughing teenagers who had started to congregate at one end of the food court. With a mental shrug Sue pushed herself off the fountain and started to push through the crowd, her natural curiosity piqued by the thought of what they were all watching.

Hope pinned her gaze to the group surrounding them, trying to catch their eyes as much as possible. "And you louts should be ashamed. One does not stand and stare while someone is misbehaving like that..." She fell silent as her eyes met a pair of familiar pale blue eyes.

It was Hope, prim proper ladylike Hope Abbott standing in the middle of the crowd some kind of stain on her dress, a tray of spilled food at her feet and her hair normally perfectly coiffed hair loose and in disarray. and Hope was...glaring at and lecturing the crowd, the brunette had done the near impossible; Sue just blinked at the scene owlishly as she struggled to comprehend the scene. What was Hope doing?

"We are all going to stand here and stare?" Hope's gaze swept further over the crowd, her voice still icy. "My, my, I would have said you were all owls, but that is an insult to the owls."

Sue pushed her way to the front of the the crowd, pulling up short of entering into the space in the middle. A faint smile played across her lips, she'd never seen this side of Hope before, she was acting confident enough to handle the crowd and the group of teens she'd been arguing with. "You tell them," she muttered encouragement to the girl in front of her.

"Now, if you will excuse me. I have better things to do then waste my time here." Hope quickly met Sue's eyes and made to step over to her, only for the guy who initially had 'bumped into her' and caused her tray to turn over to step in front of her.

"You are not going anywhere."

"I beg your pardon? I have somewhere else to be I am afraid. Now, if you would be so kind to let me pass." Hope stepped to the side and around him.

The smile slipped off Sue's face as she saw the boy turn and shove his hand out knocking Hope back, "I said you ain't going anywhere," he repeated, "you don't get to just spout out all high and mighty like you always do and walk away after that little miss I'm so special." He drew back his hand to push her again, but before he could do anything he felt some resistance on his arm. A petite blonde in a miniskirt he didn't know had linked their arms together and now was leaning closer to him. "You don't really wanna do that," Sue said smiling at him, "There are so many better things to do."

As she spoke Sue swiveled, her hip bumping into him knocking the jerk off balance and her foot 'accidentally' sweeping his out and depositing him unceremoniously on the remnants of Hope's plate. "Oops," Sue leaned down the smile never leaving her face but no longer reaching her eyes, eyes that were now as cold as ice. "Stay down, and leave my friend alone." she whispered in his ear a barely restrained current of anger simmering in her voice, "Or I'll more than just embarrass you little boy."  Straightening up Sue ignored the crowd and stepped delicately past the sprawling boy and held out her hand to Hope.

"Well, I am guessing he is where he belongs now." Hope looked back and forth a few times between the guy on the floor and Sue holding out her hand, faint astonishment shining in her eyes. When she one of the other guys in the group ball his fists, she leaned close to Sue and hissed: "I think this would be an excellent moment to get out of here." With those words she slipped her hand in Sue's.

Sue followed Hope's gaze back to the newly belligerent teen, taking note of his clenched fists and the angry look in his eyes. Turning her back on the group Sue nodded at Hope and started for the exit, "Yeah, that seems like a good plan, lets get outta here."

"Before the situation turns far more serious." Hope followed Sue through the crowd, easily scooping up her purse and bags.

"He, you are not going anywhere!" Someone shouted behind them.

"Definitely time to get out of here." Hope said hurriedly, throwing a quick glance over her shoulder.

Sue's eyes flicked around the mall; this wasn't exactly how she had planned on spending her day, running from a pack of angry teenagers she didn't know. They just needed somewhere out of sight....there. Sue yanked Hope to the side passing between 2 carts and down behind them. Hunkering close to Hope Sue threw a forcefield up cloaking the two girls as they heard slap of feet as their pursuers passed by still searching for them. The girls could hear the teenagers pause confused by the sudden disappearance of their targets before the sound of their footsteps receded into the distance. Sue let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding and dropped the forcefield with a sigh. "Urrgh, I feel like I need a shower now," she complained thinking about the jerk she'd left on the floor "Are you ok?"

"Yes, I am well. Thank you for your help, Sue." Hope smiled at her. "I am not entirely sure I would have gotten away safely otherwise. Except by maybe playing Casper." She smiled a little mischievously, the ice quickly fading from her eyes. Then she looked down her dress and frowned a little. "And though I might not need a shower, I think I might need to find a place where I can change. I think I have something in my bags."

"You didn't have to cozy up to the slimeball back there either," Sue pointed out as she stood up, "I swear I can still smell the stink coming off him," she complained as she glanced around checking they were in the clear before looking down at Hope and remembering the stain on her dress for the first time. "uh, yeah you really don't wanna walk around with a great big stain like that. Someone might recognize you, well there's probably a toilet somewhere around here you could use to change, or maybe a dressing room on one of the department stores?" she amended seeing the look on Hope's face.

"If you don't mind, I'd prefer the department store." Hope put forward while examining her dress. "And I think I might just drop this of a the dry cleaners before this stain sets fully. Perhaps that store will work for our needs?" She started making her way to the store she had pointed out. "And hopefully they will leave us alone there."

"Sure if you want," Sue replied following Hope, "I think we're pretty safe now. It's not like anyone wants to cause a scene inside a shop with all the attendants and customers around."

The blonde looked around the store as they walked in, "Well they're not gonna let you use the changing rooms unless you're trying something on," she noted, "We should probably find you something to take in with you." Sue said considering hope before a wicked smile blossomed on her face. "What do you think about a nice bikini?"

"The weather is still far too wintery. Perhaps later when spring is in bloom. But I am certainly open to some exploration. This is not a shop where I come very often."

"It's never too cold to look at bikini's," Sue told Hope with a grin, she'd been trying to get a reaction from the other girl but Hope didn't seem to be rising to the bait. "You never know when you'll come across something you like." She cast her eye around the store critically, "They don't really have anything that you'd normally wear. What about a pair of jeans or something? You can't really go wrong with denim."

"Hmm." Hope looked thoughtful. "I have been playing with the idea of getting a jeans skirt perhaps? For somewhat more casual days?"

"Having something more relaxed couldn't hurt to have in your closet," Sue agreed as she started towards the clothes racks. Maybe if Hope had a few less formal clothes to wear she could loosen up a little more. "See anything that catches your eye?" she asked as she started leafing through the available clothes.

She stepped over to a rack where various skirts hung that weren't of the miniskirt variation. "Perhaps one of these." Suddenly she just had to giggle a little as she riffled through the skirts. "I am wondering if they are still looking us or if they have found other entertainment."

"I'm sure they found something else to occupy them, guys like that have a short attention span. As long as we don't go looking for them they'll probably just forget about us." Or not, it seemed like the other kids had a problem with Hope that went beyond just a run in at the food court. Sue made a note to ask Hope about it later, after they'd both managed to calm down. She ran an eye over the rack of skirts Hope was browsing through, "Are you sure you don't want anything more modern?" she asked idly, "I don't think I've ever seen you in a short skirt or even a pair of jeans."

"I have never been comfortable in jeans. Nether in short skirts for that matter. Both were not really done when I grew up." Her mother had always said both were not ladylike. And short skirts were for... well... easy girls as she had always delicately expressed it. Hope pulled out A-line skirt and held it in front of her. "What do you think?"

"Well as long as you're comfortable with what you wear," besides Hope was buying a denim skirt so that was a step in the right direction. "Hmmm," Sue temporized holding the skirt up to Hope, "It's still kinda formal," she finally replied handing the skirt back to Hope. "Why not try something like..." Sue turned to the rack quickly discarding a pile of skirts as she looked fora  better option. "Here we go, what about this one?" she asked triumphantly holding up a pencil skirt to Hope with a bright smile and ignoring the pointed glare of the sales assistant who was hovering nearby.

"Hmm." Hope took the skirt and eyed it critically. It was a little tighter then what she'd normally wear, but she liked the dark color and simple cut. And it was not too short. "I definitely am going to give it a try."

If anything Sue's grin actually got bigger, "Call me Sue Storm Super Shopper." she crowed holding her hands up in victory and spinning around. her celebration however brought the sales assistant into her field of vision and Sue followed her gaze to the pile of discarded skirts. The blonde turned her happiest and most charming smile on the saleswoman eliciting a sympathetic smile as Sue gathered up the skirts and started slotting them back on the rack. "I think the changing rooms are probably in the back, Sue noted as the last skirt went back on the rack. "It's kinda like we're exploring some new country." she told Hope squinting towards the back of the store to try and figure out which direction they should head in.

"And I will at least have the chance to change." Hope threw another quick look at the stain now hidden by her coat. "I think I have sweater that should work." She looked around for a moment, then stopped the sign. "Luckily they have maps in this shop. The changing rooms are that way."

"Spoilsport! I was so looking forward to doing my Indiana Jones impression to." Sue teased with a smile before following Hope to the back of the store.

***

"They have excellent coffee here in many different varieties." Hope explained as she and Sue entered the coffee shop. She still felt a little uneasy in the tighter then usual skirt, but it looked great with the sweater she had bought earlier and the belt with the large clasp. "I hope you are fond of it."

"Sure, who doesn't love coffee," Sue replied staring in amazement at the drink names written on the board. She knew the names of every element in the periodic table, was fully capable of translating into binary and  could even understand it when her father's scientists started getting lost in the realms of pure theoretical physics, but the names of the various coffees had always seemed like gobbledygook to her.

Hope giggled a little when she saw Sue's stunned look at the complicated names on the board. "They also have simpler versions of the coffee species. They just don't advertise it as much. What do you normally prefer?"

"Umm the black gold that normally comes out of the machine in the kitchen," Sue admitted, "When I go to Starbucks I just get a plain coffee or green tea. Why...what do you normally get?"

"I generally prefer some variation of cappuccino. Normally just plain works, but sometimes I prefer to get creative." Hope studied the boards a little for herself, then guided Sue towards one of the tables. "They will come to us."

"Ok I'll admit this place is a lot nicer than Starbucks," Sue told Hope as dropped their bags at a table. The blonde sank down into her chair with a sigh and glanced at the menu, "So how adventurous are you feeling today?"

"I think I am feeling very adventurous today." Hope said, but she was not looking at Sue. Instead she was looking at the waitress coming towards them with an angry look in her eyes, though the rest of her face remained fairly neutral. After the girl had greeted them, Hope smiled brightly when she gave her order: "I would like a half-caff, sugar-free, almond cappuccino with a double shot of caramel syrup, cinnamon and nutmeg. And if possible I'd like the nutmeg grated fresh please."

Sue looked up from the menu she'd be browsing, "And I'll try a Flat White with semi-skimmed milk and some of that shaved dark chocolate on top please. And we'll take two of your strawberry tarts please." She looked over at Hope grinning, if that was the game hope wanted to play then Sue'd give it her best shot too. The blondes grin faded perceptibly as she took in Hope's focus on their server and the storm brewing in the other girls eyes. "All right what was that?" she asked in a whisper once they were alone again.

"That should at least take her an attempt or two to brew up correctly." Hope said with some satisfaction in her voice. "Oh, you were saying?" She backtracked for a moment and lowered her voice when she replied. "Oh, we ran in each other earlier and she made some remarks that are not suitable to repeat in polite company."

"She did what? When?" Sue demanded turning to look at the waitress the smile completely fading from her face. "This doesn't have anything to do with those jerks from earlier, does it?"

"She was part of the group and made some remarks at the start." Hope confirmed. "I asked her to refrain from her remarks, after which her boyfriend took offense and sent my clothes to the dry cleaner."

"Is that why they were picking on you earlier then?" Sue asked her eye's resembling ice now. "What did they say? I can't imagine you doing anything to annoy someone on purpose."

"It was nothing specific. Just having to do with a friend of theirs." Hope was careful to keep it general.

Sue looked skeptically at Hope, "That was it? Just something between you and a friend of theirs? That doesn't seem like the kind of thing that would make you slap someone."

"They were rather angry about something I have done, if I understood correctly." Hope explained shortly, still refusing to go into the particulars of the matter.

"What on earth did you do this guy?" Sue asked before she shrugged, "People can get really pissed about the smallest things, and tend to react without thinking. You can't really go around slapping everyone who does. So, how do you like your new outfit?"

"I do like the outfit a lot." Hope replied calmly, if a slightly annoyed. "And it’s not quite what I did to that guy, but rather what I did to a friend of the girl we just ordered from." She indicated the waitress with a nod. “At least, according to them.”

"I'm glad, you look a lot more relaxed now than you normally do." Sue replied before she leaned forward. "Ok so you and a friend of theirs got into it and now they’re taking it out on you?" Sue shook her head, “It doesn’t really sound like you to do anything that would get them so riled up, Hope.”

Hope let out a long sigh. "Apparently it does when you talk to their manager." She fell silent while another waitress delivered the complicated coffees and tarts to their table, but picked up the thread again as soon as she left. "I addressed certain issues with her customer service and this seemed to have gotten her into trouble. They took exception to that."

Sue echoed Hope’s sigh, “So you knew that she worked here and you still came back now after the whole scene they caused in the food court.” Sue gave Hope an appraising look, “I don’t know if you’re incredibly brave or just plain crazy.”

“It is my favorite place to go after shopping and I addressed a legitimate need with her manager. That her friends took exception to this, is not going to stop me from getting a cappuccino.” Hope simply explained as she took a sip from her coffee. “She actually made this one quite well though.” She pushed a some hair away from her face, so different from her usual braid or updo. “If I am going to wear it like this more often, I do need to invest in a few clips to keep it out my face.”

“You have heard of asking for trouble before haven’t you?” Sue asked with a laugh, “I’ve decided, you definitely count as incredibly brave, and stubborn.” she told the other girl with a smile. “Hopefully you won’t have much more with them,” the blonde looked critically at Hope’s hair. “If you really plan to wear your hair down like this then I can take you to my stylist in the city if you want. She could do something with it so it doesn't keep falling in your face like that.”

“I will certainly keep the idea in mind.” Hope smiled back and pushed the hair out of her face once more. “And if those creatures didn’t do me in, I am not letting those louts do me in either.” The littlest bit of insecurity flashed in her eyes though at those strong words.

At the mention of the Slendermen a look of pain passed over Sue’s face for a moment, just a fleeting second of time, so fast you could barely tell she’d reacted. “You certainly didn’t let them stop you,” she agreed, “We pretty much had to lift you off ‘your mother’. If you keep that up I don’t think anyone is gonna want to mess with you.”

A similar look of pain flashed over Hope’s face at the reminder of her ‘mother’, but she recovered just as quickly. “Why, thank you.” Hope pulled out her best impression of a Southern Belle in an attempt to light the seriousness of the talk and giggled.

Sue shook her head and sighed in mock exasperation, “Wait, so you’re a Southern Belle now? Don’t you need to have your hair all done up and be in one of those frilly dresses with a fan?” she asked with a laugh tracing shapes in the air. “You don’t have one of those dresses hidden away somewhere do you?”

“Not tucked away unfortunately, but I have worn something very similar for a recital around Christmas with a Charles Dickens theme. They are very beautiful, but not easy to wear. Just remember to take small steps and breath not too deeply.” Hope grinned and continued with a wink. “Still, it can make you feel a little like you did when you dressed up as a child and pretended you were a princess.”  

“Sounds like something my grandma wishes she could get me to wear,” Sue groused, purposely slouching in her chair in unconscious reaction, “She’s always throwing parties for her ‘friends’ and their families or calling them round for tea. I like the dressing up part when I get to choose the dresses, but god some of those people are soo boring! All they wanna talk about is the latest gossip or ‘Daddy said this’ and ‘mummy said that’.”

“My mother is fond of those occasions as well. I generally have no issues with them and even enjoy them, but I learned to find a few topics that our guests and I both enjoyed and stayed informed of them. Art or music often worked quite well.” Hope easily shared her tactics. “Perhaps that will work in the future?”

Sue shrugged, “I dunno, art and music have never been my real strong suit. Now if they wanted to talk about robots or the latest images from the hubble space telescope, that would be totally different.” She grinned at Hope, “I don’t think finding common ground with these kids is really possible, all they wanna do is be told how awesome they are. But get grandma away from them and she knows all the gossip. She loves to talk all about the guys who show up at the parties, one time there was this senators kid there and all I could think about was grandma telling me he still wet the bed while he was talking. I ended up breaking down into hysterics in front of everyone. I think it’s her way of keeping me away from all the gold diggers who used to come around.”

Hope had to giggle at the comment about the senator’s kid: “I guess I was mostly lucky the people shared those interests. In other occasions I have found that Jane Austen was right: the weather can be a fascinating subject to talk about.”

If it was possible Sue actually slumped lower in her chair, “Oh god, the weather talk, how many ways can people find to say that’s it’s hot outside? Actually I’m being just a little unfair,” she admitted to Hope as she sat back up, “they aren’t all boring. There are a few exceptions to the rule scattered around, but most of the people you meet are either shallow or manipulative. Sometimes,” the blonde whispered leaning forward as if impart a great secret, “they’re both.” She leaned back with a wide grin on her face.

“Oh, please don’t mention it. Those times it’s often just the best to sit, smile and nod. Or read the Weather Channel webpage beforehand, find out some disaster, mention that and they will start talking about a family member, friend or acquaintance who had that disaster happen as well.”

“That’s a pretty good idea, load up with ammo before you go in; seems like more effort than they’re worth though. I normally spend those conversations making faces at Johnny and Grandma,” Sue paused to turn a puppy dog look on Hope, “or getting them to make fools of themselves.”

“I can imagine the last to be very satisfying, but in the long run it’s counterproductive. Especially if you keep running into the same people. They tend to get vengeful.” Hope replied thoughtfully. “Just laying low is preferable in my opinion.”

“Not if they don’t realize,” Sue pointed out, “It takes a little more effort but it’s worth it. Besides you know what they’re like, sometimes you just really wanna poke holes in their egos and deflate them just a little bit. I swear I’m good most of the time. Scouts honor.”

“Sometimes it’s oh so tempting.” Hope concurred with her. “But perhaps...” She thought about the suggestion she was to make for a bit. “”We can learn from each other. The larger ones arsenal, the better.”

Sue regarded Hope in surprised, “Perhaps...” she replied hesitantly, she wasn’t sure how much of Hope’s passive attitude she could bring herself to use. On the other hand she knew there were plenty of smart people at society events her usual amusements wouldn’t work on. “Maybe you can teach me to take it a little more seriously,” Sue acknowledged, “I know it annoys Grandma when I don’t.”

“Later, when you run your father’s business, those things can be important to make connections. I was always taught it was one of the essential duties of a wife to create the social possibilities for this and to further those connections.” Hope shrugged a little. “I figure it might be equally important for a business owner to that him- or herself.”.

"It really depends on the business owner," Sue argued. "I'm pretty sure someone like Emma Frost or my dad doesn’t have to worry about making nice with people. They’re at the top of their fields, people tend to come to them rather than the other way round.” The blonde sighed, “just have to spend years getting there in the first place.”

“I do not have much experience in that area, but I would think so. And if you start out yourself, even in your father’s place, I think it would be far easier if your relations were friendly instead of adversarial... Even if it’s only on the surface...” Hope added, thinking about some of her mother’s friends.

“Yeah, although if I even have to do business with Mr I’m a senator’s son aren’t I awesome you can worship me now then I can’t promise that he’s walking away unscathed.” Sue warned with a giggle. “Being an adult’s gotta suck if you have to be nice to people you don’t like.”