#girl who is also drawing art that is completely incomprehensible unless you have read her lore posts LMAO

[skitskatdacat63]

Girl who starts a drawing project at 12:30 am on a school night

[chnat0wn]

Black Irises

Relationship: Alfie Solomons/Original Female Character

03. Precious Doll

Eleven years earlier.

  Deborah opened her eyes, meeting the dark ceiling of her bedroom. She frowned, wondering if what he was hearing was some sort of hallucination. It seemed to her that something from time to time slammed into the window. Short pauses divided the sounds of quiet, single taps.

She took the quilt away from her legs and left the bed. She went to the window with a slow step and opened it without hesitation. Right after that, she looked at the street hidden in the dark. Her eyes got used to the darkness, since she was moving without the light from the awakening. Thanks to this she was able to see the silhouette nearby. She frowned.

“Alfie?” she whispered, but loud enough for him to hear her. Deborah's bedroom was on the first floor. “What are you doing here?” she asked, smiling broadly. She wasn't sure if his appearance was a good idea. However, she couldn't help but smile at the sight of Alfie. She felt a strange warmth, happiness and incomprehensible excitement.

“I missed you too much, I’m afraid.” he shrugged helplessly. “Come ‘ere, doll. I would like to ‘ave a better view of you.”

“Are you joking? My father will kill you. And then he'll kill me.” she raised her eyebrows with conviction. But one Alfie's smile was enough for Deborah to make a quick decision. She laughed, shaking her head, then closed the window. Putting on something more decent than a nightgown would take too much time, so she grabbed a warm sweater and also shoes and went quietly down.

Deborah could understand why Alfie preferred to meet her at night. She could expected this from the very beginning, when mister Solomons expressed his dissatisfaction due to Alfie and Deborah's closeness that day at his studio. He didn't like the fact that these two were alone in one room. Deborah knew it was hard for Jewish boys in this regard - there was a rule that Deborah couldn't understand. She was almost certain that Alfie's father was restricting his son as Halacha required.

Deborah got out of the house, gently closing the door behind her. She looked at the waiting Alfie and once again smiled extremely wide.

“Hi there.” she whispered. The area was exceptionally quiet. Deborah bet it was three in the morning.

“Good evening. ‘ello.” he said. He made a few unhurried steps toward her. He looked at her exposed legs and shook his head slowly, taking a deep breath. He was one of the few who didn't react to seeing a scrap of flesh like animals. Alfie was composed, and even if he liked Deborah for obvious reasons, he didn't show it in a way that would offend her. He had never been with any woman before, but he could say that he loved the human body. He has saw it in paintings, and he couldn't pass art indifferently.

“I didn’t have that much time.” Deborah rolled her eyes. “Dad will be up soon. And I told you what he will do when he sees us together...” she paused, raising her eyebrows meaningfully.

“Enough talk, in this case.” he stated and turned away, moving forward along the sidewalk. Deborah pulled her sweater tighter and followed him, then catching up with him.

  *

  Alfie knew the area much better than Deborah. She didn't live here as long as he did, and she never felt the need to reviewed the places the town offered. Most often she traveled with her father to Birmingham or sat over books, deepening the art of reading.

They went to calmer regions where there was a much smaller number of people. Meadows, lonely copses and the beach - they created a wonderful landscape, as well as an ideal place to be. It was the beach that was the destination Alfie chose. Before entering the sand, Deborah took off her shoes and let her feet submerge in cool, golden grains. A light wind was blowing her hair, reaching to the edge of her nightgown, setting the fabric in motion. The shimmering waves were hitting the shore calmly.

“This is...” Deborah took a deep breath. She was not sure if she could express in words what she felt about the beauty of the place. “Breathtaking.”

Alfie appeared next to her. He also looked at the distant horizon and smiled gently. Deborah glanced at him - she had seen so many of his smiles, but this one was different from every others. That smile expressed calmness, and Alfie seemed rested having it on his face.

“And that’s why I wanted to take you ‘ere, right?” Alfie said. He took off his coat, which he had worn - even summer mornings were chilly - and threw it on the sand. He pointed at his creation as if it was a magic trick, and Deborah laughed, shaking her head.

They both sat on a makeshift blanket. Alfie stretched out his legs and rested his elbows on the sand somewhere behind his back. Deborah had been seeing him in slightly different ways. He worked in a shop where he was sitting at the table, repairing jewelry. And in the company of his father, he was walking straight and listened attentively to all teachings and commands. But now she had a entirely different Alfie beside - completely happy, relaxed Alfie.

Deborah crossed her legs and leaned over the edge of the coat. She sank her hand in the sand and grabbed some of it. Just after that the sand poured out through her fingers.

“Alfie?” she spoke, this time drawing unidentified shapes on a soft surface.

“Yeah, sweetheart?” he took a curious look at her. Deborah also glanced at him and smiled softly.

“Do you think you can foretell the future?”

“Nah. I don't 'fink so.” he frowned. Deborah was silent for a moment, then laid back on her side, never taking her eyes off Alfie. Now he was looking down at her.

“Have you ever tried?” she asked, raising an eyebrow. Alfie parted his lips, but eventually gave up. He only shook his head. “Try now. Close your eyes.” she instructed. Alfie blinked several times, looking at Deborah, as if she told him to do something ridiculous. “Off you go.” she pressed on. Alfie decided to fulfill her request. He smiled with slight amusement. Deborah also lifted the corners of her mouth. She rested on her elbow so that she was at the same height as Alfie.” What do you see?

Alfie let the air out from between his lips and frowned. Then he lifted his chin a little, as if he actually saw something. Deborah watched him with the same smile as before.

“I see a girl. A woman.” he said after some thought. “But she is blonde.” he added in a serious tone. Then he opened one eye and, unable to resist, widen his lips in a bright smile.

“Bloody clairvoyant.” Deborah shook her head and pinched Alfie's cheek. He laughed, rubbing a bit sore place. “I can not believe I intended to give you a reward.” she sighed theatrically.

“Give me a what?” Alfie raised his eyebrows.

“It seems to me that you'll never know.” she shrugged and turned her gaze to the sea. “Unless...” she smiled maliciously, then looked at Alfie again. “Unless you ask nicely.”

“Mphm, I see...” he narrowed his eyes and nodded slowly. “Please. Tell me, my precious doll. My little Debee.”

Deborah smiled with superiority. She moved closer to Alfie's face. She glanced at his lips, then looked into his eyes. Alfie held his breath, too enchanted by the nearness of Deborah. Soon, she kissed his lips lightly, barely perceptible, until she clung to them for longer. They were as soft as she expected. Alfie put his hand on her cheek, and then he slipped it into Deborah's hair.

  *

Now.

  Biagio left early in the morning. He didn't inform Deborah when he'll return, but it didn't belong to her worries. She was only thinking about the fact that in a few hours she would have to see Alfie. On the one hand, she was excited in some way - she missed him, she missed the sense of security that was associated with his presence.

Taking advantage of her husband's absence, Deborah put a little more effort into preparation. She didn't want to seduce Alfie, none of these things. She just liked to look good. She liked her body, she liked to show it, until Biagio began to leave effects of punishment on it.

She put on a flowery dress, since the spring weather allowed her to reveal a bit of her body. She hid the fading bruises and used her favorite perfume - a gift from Ada. She left her hair in their natural disarray. Deborah considered whether she should bring Benjamin with her. She was afraid to leave him alone, although she fully trusted every member of the service. She usually took him with her everywhere. With the exception for the evening meetings with Ada. She knew, however, that introducing the boy to Alfie wouldn't be the best move.

She said good-bye to Benjamin. She kissed his cheeks, and barely let her out of her embrace. She promised to come back as soon as possible, but Benjamin didn't seem particularly sad about it.

“Alrightie.” he said. “I will be waiting for you here, if you want!” he offered cheerfully.

“There's no need, Benny.” she smiled, stroking his cheek again. “Just don't go too far away from home, okay? Edith will keep an eye on you.”

Benjamin nodded, and Deborah made one more kiss, this time on the boy's forehead. She reached for her coat and beret, and left the house. Jeffrey was already waiting in the car. Deborah let out a sigh of relief when she saw him. He was the only member of the Biagio's mafia, whom she had any sympathy for.

“So where are we going?” he asked, opening the door to Deborah. She frowned. She was sure that Biagio had informed the right people about everything.

“To Camden Town.”

  *

Eleven years earlier.

  Alfie took his hand from Deborah's eyes, so she automatically looked at what was just in front of her. Alfie kept a possible place and activities, which he planned for their meeting, in a secret.

“What is this?” she asked with a wide smile, looking at Alfie standing behind her.

“This, my dear, ‘s a car.” he replied in a haughty tone, and Deborah rolled her eyes and poked him with her elbow.

“I know what it is.” she corrected, unable to stop a smile. “But... what for?”

“Get in.” he instructed. “Behind the wheel.”

Deborah looked at Alfie, frowning. Her lips parted, and for a long moment she stared at him without saying a word. She didn't even know where she should start. So far she was sure that Alfie wouldn't surprise her anymore. But he did. Almost every day.

Deborah approached the Ford T. She studied the vehicle and disbelievingly ran her hand over the black car body.

“And you will let me drive this thing?” Deborah blinked several times to ward off the tears. She felt touched by Alfie's gesture.

“‘Course I’ll let you drive this thing.” he said confidently. Then he looked at Deborah's face with obvious concern. “What happened, doll?” he asked, placing his hands on her cheeks.

“I have no idea.” she shrugged, sniffing. “It's just... nobody has ever done such a thing for me.”

“I just want to show you somfing. Teach you new things. 'Cause why wouldn't I?” he smiled warmly and kissed tenderly top of Deborah's nose.

“No, it's something bigger than this.” she shook her head. “You let me drive. You let me take control. And I'm... a woman.”

Alfie smiled softly and shook his head almost imperceptibly. He brushed off the strands of hair that were sticking to Deborah's wet cheeks, then stroked her skin with his thumbs.

“You are a woman. A mad one.” he stated.

  *

Now.

  Jeffrey's grunt snatched Deborah from the depths of her memories. She looked at the driver a bit more soberly.

“We are here.”

“Thank you, Jeffrey.” she replied and left the car.

Alfie Solomons' bakery was a sizeable red brick building, like most of the constructions in this area. It wasn't the most interesting object Deborah ever seen, but she wanted to be inside as soon as possible. She was full of several conflicting feelings - she wanted to see Alfie, but at the same time she prayed that he would be busy enough to cancel the meeting. Then Biagio could meet him personally.

Deborah approached the entrance. Jeffrey was walking right past her, looking around. He was there as protection, but Deborah doubted that anyone would attack her. They both went inside. Deborah glanced around the first room. It was a narrow, long corridor with the doors on each side of the walls. A tall man with a mild, bit scared face came out of one of rooms behind these doors.

“Can I help you..?” he asked suspiciously. Jeffrey took a breath before the intended explanations, but Deborah cleared her throat.

“Deborah Castellano.” she introduced herself and held out a hand toward the man. He shook it uncertainly. “I came to mister Solomons. By the order of Biagio Castellano.” she explained, refraining from rolling her eyes. She doubted that the man was afraid in any way, but Deborah wanted to do everything to make him feel a bit more comfortable. So she smiled warmly.

Another door opened. Alfie Solomons appeared in the hallway himself. He frowned, albeit Deborah thought his expression accompanies him constantly. He pursed his lips, his nostrils widened with a deep breath. He stroked his beard.

“Let ‘em in, Ollie.” he waved his hand indifferently. Deborah moved ahead without hesitation, even if she couldn't look at Alfie's face without burning feeling inside of her. So she looked down, going through to his office. As Jeffrey approached the entrance, Alfie folded his arms and slowly looked up until he stuck it in Jeffrey's face. “Ya stay ‘ere, sweetie. Yeah?” he smiled insincerely. Without waiting for Jeffrey's reply, he returned to the room and closed the door behind him. “Fucking colossus.”

Deborah looked around again. With the change of the surroundings, she felt an increasing need to get acquainted with it. Alfie's office didn't stand out from anything special, but Deborah would spend long hours in it.

“What are you doing ‘ere?” he asked, staring at her like at a creature that simply does not exist. Deborah turned and looked at him. Alfie's astonishment confirmed her belief that Biagio hadn't informed anyone of his replacement.

“I came for some... papers?” she said hesitantly. “Biagio-...”

“Biagio.” Alfie repeated. “Right.”

He went to the desk and pulled out one of the drawers. He didn't have to rummage in it, after a while he got out a pile of papers. Deborah watched him. His silhouette, movements, concentrated face expression. She noticed some changes not only on his face, but also in his behavior. In the past he seemed much calmer, now he looked as if something was constantly bothering him. Wanting to turn her thoughts a bit, she drew attention to his hands. To rings that decorated his fingers. He never wore them before. But in the accompaniment of jewelry and small tattoos Alfie's hands looked fabulous.

“There ya go. Yer fucking papers.” he put them on the desk, before he took his place. Deborah glanced at the pages, but she dared not reach for them. Not when Alfie looked at her... in this way. “Ya alright?” he asked, stroking his beard again.

Deborah blinked several times. She didn't know what Alfie meant. She pouted her lips to make a question, but quickly remembered that she had lost consciousness during their last meeting. She sighed heavily and nodded.

“Yes. Yes...” she cleared her throat. “Everything's fine, I'm just...”

“Ya were just exhausted, that’s all.” he finished for her. “And little achy. Or am I blind? Ya must really love him, right, if ya let him do ‘his things to you, mate.” he smiled broadly and shook his head in amusement. Deborah didn't even understand why his words affected her in some way. She looked away and took an uneven breath. “And you will cry now? Don’t act like a little girl. Fucking ‘ell.”

“What is your problem, Alfie? Maybe you'll feel better if we talk about it. You know, solve this together.” she asked with unwanted but involuntary sarcasm, even if she came here with a friendly attitude. At least she tried. “You blaming me for how we both ended up? Or what is it?”

“And ‘ow did we end up? Enlighten me.” he opened his eyes wider. “I, darling, I am a free man. I can do what I fucking want, yeah? And you...” he paused and eyed Deborah with disgust. “You are just a toy. A worthless thing for another fucking wop.”

Deborah parted her lips, staring at him. She expected a lot, but never thought that she would hear something like that. Not from a man she trusted. But it was a long time ago, and Alfie certainly wasn't the same person she remembered.

“What the hell happened to you? You were sweet. And charming. And now? Where is my Alfie?” she threw out of herself under the influence of emotions. If she thought about it longer, these words would never leave her mouth. Alfie wasn't hers anymore.

“Yer Alfie, eh? He’s fucking dead, mate.” he replied expressionless. Deborah moistened her lips and shook her head. She was aware that she was too emotionally unstable right now to speak with any sense. She stood up suddenly.

“You were completely different last time I saw you.”

“You were completely in love with me last time I saw you.” he said indifferently. Deborah didn't say a word. She clenched her lips and headed to the exit from Alfie's office.

  *

  After returning home, Deborah couldn't find the right place for herself. The memory of Alfie was destroyed and replaced by a rotten, disgusting man whom she never wanted to know.

She left the documents in the Biagio office, then made the call to Ada's house. She wasn't sure what she needed now. However, the company sounded good enough.

“Ada, thank God.” she sighed heavily.

“Debby.” she said surprised. “Something happened?”

Deborah fell silent. What actually happened? She couldn't answer that question to herself, let alone someone who did not even know the situation. Although Deborah had been friends with Ada from a long time, she never told her about Alfie.

“Can we come to your place? Biagio has left, I am alone and...”

“Of course! We always got room for you.” Ada said straight away. “Polly will be delighted. She hasn't seen you for a long time.”

“I can’t wait to see you.” she smiled with difficulty. Benjamin appeared at the entrance to the room. “Listen, Ada” she cleared her throat. “I gotta go. We'll be there soon, okay?”

“Just be careful.” she said. Deborah nodded, and despite the fact that Ada couldn’t see it, she hung up.

Benjamin went into the room when he realized that his mother had finished the conversation. He stared worriedly at Deborah's face, frowning.

“Mum? You were crying?” he asked, tilting his head. “Don't be sad.” he grabbed her hand. Deborah smiled and stroked the boy's cheek.

“I am not.” she denied, shaking her head. She got up from her seat and knelt before her son. “We'll visit aunt Polly and Ada, what do you say?” she raised an eyebrow. Benjamin nodded hurriedly, but his face remained unchanged. “Let's pack your things, alright?”