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perfectisme-georgette · 5 years ago

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Empire State Of Mind || Pageant Mermaid

Summary: Georgette is forced to make a trip to New York City and meet with her old lawyer to learn of some new developments. Melody came along as wonderful support for her friend.

Trigger Warnings: None. The word rape is mentioned a few times but there are no details written about it at all.

Date: Early July 2019

@melody-the-unwritten

GEORGETTE:

New York City was buzzing alive: cars honking, people milling, kids shouting, and stray cats and dogs stalking about. It was early, a bright eight am morning, but this is “the city that never sleeps,” it will always be brimming with life. Countless of tall buildings were being passed by the screen of the tainted car glass window as Georgette turned in her seat to face Melody.

She wondered if her friend was feeling the weight of jet-lag. The blonde often used to in red-eye trips such as this one, but now… well, she didn’t have the need for any sleep, so jet-lag was a thing of the past for her.

“All of our luggage is being sent straight to the hotel room. I was hoping to make that our first stop, but Cassandra was urgent with the fact of having her office our first stop once landing.”

She figured she would allow Melody to get some rest while she went out and did business matters so that her poor friend didn’t have to stick around for all that. Then they would visit Cassandra and do all the tourist things after the lawyer visit. Of course, that wasn’t going to be the plan, but the blonde had hoped.

“She wanted me there before the media got wind that I’m in the city because they will find out soon enough.”

It hadn’t become public knowledge of when Georgette was going to be here. It was done purposely as the blonde took precise and careful measures to make sure her date of arrival would not leak out to the public. She wanted to keep it that way for as long as she could so that Melody wouldn’t get too bombarded with everything all at once. Paparazzi wasn’t a thing most people were familiar with.

“Are you tired?”

MELODY:

Melody was wide awake.

Really.

No Melody was crashing even in the car but the city was so lively and noisy and it was wonderful in a lot of ways. The thing was Melody didn’t want to sleep. But it didn’t help that it was a lot later then it was here.

“I am not used to traveling, or at least it’s been awhile since I have and wow everything is so.. Loud.” Melody whispered turning to face Georgette. “But I’m good with just following. I’m not about to fall asleep on you any time soon.”

GEORGETTE:

Georgette couldn’t help but laugh upon hearing the description used of Melody about the city. It was spot on and the blonde couldn’t have said it better herself.

“And it’s like this twenty-four hours a day. This is the city that never sleeps.”

The blonde was relieved to hear though that Melody was doing well for the most part and that she’ll be able to stick it out. It would be best for her in the long run anyway. Jetlagged weans itself off faster if one was able to remain awake until it was time to sleep on the day of landing.

The car soon came to a full stop and Georgette knew they had arrived at their destination. Thankfully, the meeting was taking place at Cassandra’s office and not the precinct. It would’ve been dreadful for Melody to have to follow her into a police station. There was a knock on the car door and Georgette knew that was security signaling an okay to step out of the vehicle.

The blonde looked at Melody while slipping on some sunglasses.

“It shouldn’t be too horrible right now.” And she was referring to paparazzi. “My trip hasn’t been released to anyone, but I still have security around because well… the paparazzi eventually finds out about everything so I can’t guarantee how it will be once we are out of the office.”

As Georgette finished with her warning statement she stepped out of the car and as promised the trip into the building was a smooth one.

MELODY:

Melody had nearly forgotten the pair of sunglasses on her head but she blamed that on the lack of sleep. She would blame a lot of that including the tightness of her chest since she didn't know what she was getting herself into.

Still, Melody was always there for her friends. So with a nod, she placed her sunglasses on to protect from the glare of the sun and slipped into the building beside Georgie.

"I don't get it really. What's the point of following you around. What do they even think they are going to gain from it?"

GEORGETTE:

“A good picture.” Georgette began to explain as they both entered into the building and was lead in the direction of Cassandra’s office.

“If they can get a good picture, especially of one of me now entering a lawyer’s building, that would be juicy news. They can then sell the picture at high rates to magazine publishers.”

It was always about the money in the end. Soon both girls had entered the office, Georgette’s eyes falling over the two women that were already present. One had long dark locks, which was Cassandra seated behind the desk. The other had platinum blonde curls with red swollen eyes seated on one of the chairs present: Tiffany.

Tiffany had been crying when her gaze shifted over to Georgette and then to Melody with a questioning look. Georgette paid her no mind. If she had headed to her warning long ago Tiffany would have never been involved in this mess.

“It’s a pleasure to see you once again, Ms. Midler.”

Cassandra removed herself from behind her desk to step towards Georgette with an extended hand for which the blonde very gently and carefully took. Her vision then landed over Melody with the same questioning look Tiffany had.

“This is Melody, a dear friend of mine and who I would like present.”

Georgette explained. Tiffany quirked a brow at the announcement shooting Georgette a glare but Cassandra merely nodded her head and returned back to her desk.

“Very well. All that will be stated here will not be a private matter, so it is nice meeting you, Ms. Melody. Please, take a seat and make yourselves comfortable. Would anyone like some water before we begin?”

MELODY:

A good picture. That still didn't make sense to her. Sure Melody understood paparazzi and that they made money on this. But she was a woman dealing with something and meeting a lawyer. Which was completely the right thing to do.

They needed to just leave her alone.

Melody, however, knew she could yell and scream until the cows came home. That wouldn't fix anything. She was here for support and not to make anything worse.

Instead, she took a deep breath offering a smile to each woman in turn and shook Cassandra's hand. If anything melody was a business professional that could do this and she looked over to Georgie to offer a smile. Not only could melody handle this. She knew Georgie could too.

Taking a seat Melody thanked the lawyer but refused the water. (Bad move for a mermaid who just got off a red-eye flight but hey she never said she was smart). "I'm truly here just to offer support and help if I can so please let me know if I can help in any way."

GEORGETTE:

Georgette took her seat, very glad to see Melody standing her ground. It brought a satisfying grin to the blonde’s lips even as Casandra began to speak and say words which would certainly change the environment of everything.

“As I am sure everyone is aware in this room, Howard’s lawyers have been at work to receive a date so that they may be able to gain an appeal.”

The re-telling of this news went and got Tiffany more upset as she started sniffling, eyes swelling up with a fresh set of tears and disgusting snot dripping off her nose. Georgette, however, remained stoic. There were no emotions on her features. She was indifferent and quiet.

“I have gained news that they have received their date. It’s set for the end of July. What this means presently is that both parties, myself and Howard’s lawyers have to complete written briefs. They will be trying to explain that the legal court committed legal errors that had an impact on the case’s decision and I will be doing the opposite.”

Those words did cause a flare of a sting to Georgette. She knew her ex, Ryan, was running all of this, even if Cassandra may not know, and he would certainly go after her witness as evidence to win this appeal. It sounded like him, even if she wasn’t aware of the written details.

“An oral argument before a panel of three judges may be required if the written briefs were not enough and after that, a decision will be made.”

Cassandra allowed for a brief pause of silence for which Tiffany broke down into even more tears. The woman was looking so pathetic. It took every ounce of self-control Georgette had not to roll her eyes at the moment.

“If the judges were to rule in favor of an appeal, my suggestion at this point will be to gain a restriction order, but I assure you that my office and I will do everything possible to assure that they will not win this appeal.”

MELODY:

When Melody was seated and figured she could give a look to the blonde she did. She tried to look at Tiffany and see anything about her that could be good? Melody after all already had that conversation with Georgette on whether or not they liked the girl.

Melody just truly hated the fact this conversation was even happening. She went through one trial with her cousin and now had to watch this one too.

“What is the timeline on something like this? How long would it be that Georgette is needed here or when is it appropriate to look into a restraining order.”

GEORGETTE:

Georgette couldn’t help but smile as she listened to the questions Melody was asking. Her friend kept surprising her. The blonde had assumed that she would’ve been a quiet figure in all of this, just a presence she should be able to have for support. This surprise, however, delighted the blonde.

Cassandra took a moment to place together an answer sweeping a look over all the women present in the room.

“We have the date set for the appeal our written briefs and if needed, oral arguments will occur on that day. The judges will then deliberate on the ruling. I cannot give a definitive timeline for the deliberation but once the ruling has been spoken, I would then push for a restraining order if the ruling was not in our favor. If we have reached that bridge I will then need Ms. Midler present to begin those proceedings.”

“I’m not exactly sure if I will incline towards getting a restraining order,” Georgette announced leaving a flabbergasted Tiffany staring at her in shock.

See, Georgette had done her research regarding a restraining order. “I feel that it’s counterintuitive. I will have to give my address of residency and all the areas I frequent on a daily basis. I understand that’s needed so that the other party knows where not to go, but that’s also basically handing them a detailed road map to myself.”

And Georgette has taken great care not to share where she lived to the public. She never had her location setting on in her phone and always rejected questions concerning her whereabouts. She would never feel safe if Howard knew her address, she would NEVER feel safe if Ryan found out too.

Besides, she lived in Swynlake. Hopefully, neither men would never have a reason to travel there. Her location truly was the one thing Georgette had that Ryan didn’t and there was no way in hell she was willing to hand that over.

MELODY:

Melody was trying to remember everything that she could when it came to restraining orders though admittedly it wasn't much. She knew what she knew about law from one class and suits. That's was it.

But if Georgie didn't want one there had to be a reason outside of the fact that she was now basically physically indestructible. The mind wasn't as easy to protect.

Thankfully she didn't have to think about it for long. "If he doesn't know where you live right now I'd say we're still off to a good start. My accent might give it away a little but England is a large place it could be anywhere in there. And I can just not speak while we're around them to avoid any clues. Oh, I wonder if I can manage an American accent." Melody probably wouldn't be good enough to keep it up the entire time. Then she blushed because she had gotten off-topic.

GEORGETTE:

Georgette simply smiled as she listened to Melody ramble off and figure out ways as to not give clues to their current residency. It was so sweet of her to worry, and Georgette was grateful for that because she didn’t have many people in her life who truly cared about her.

What the blonde wasn’t saying though was how she would never allow Melody to get close to either of the men. Georgette would rather face what she had to face alone then have either men anywhere near her.

Tiffany well ... the blonde really didn’t care about what she would do, or if she got close to those men again. She had placed herself into this mess even against all the warnings Georgette had given her previously.

And Georgette knew Tiffany was getting the sense of that.

Cassandra at this point was looking at Georgette with an arched brow before dismissing the look and simply going with a nod of her head instead.

“Very well, there will be time to think about your choice while we await the appeal date and then the concluding judgment. As of now, I simply wanted to make the information available to both of you so that both will be well informed about what is going on and what can be done moving forward. Are there any questions I can answer at this time?”

MELODY:

Melody blushed once she realized she had been rambling. She had been trying to seem as professional as possible but the thing was Georgie was more than capable of handling everything and that put Melody as ease. At ease enough that she was rambling.

Fun.

No matter what she was going to be there for Georgie if she needed her and heaven help them if Melody ever called in the help of the town. Ask her cousins. Ask Simba and potentially they could have all of Swynlake's help.

Turning her attention back from her friend melody looked at Cassandra with a smile. "Not for me no. Georgette?"

GEORGETTE:

Georgette stood up at this point giving a shake of her head. “No, I think I have heard all that was needed to be heard. I assume you will notify us once you get word of the judges ruling?”

Cassandra nodded looking at both Georgette and Tiffany now. “You two will be the first to be notified by my office.”

Once Georgette got confirmation from Cassandra she gestured towards Melody so that both may leave the office. She no longer wanted to be stuck inside those four walls. She wanted out. She wanted to be away from all of this even in her own thoughts. This rape has tormented her far enough already and she could care less about waving formal goodbyes to Tiffany.

When the office door opened, the blonde's security team once again took their positions moving ahead of the two girls and walking towards the exit.

“You might want to slip on some glasses,” Georgette warned Melody before heading outside. She herself wasn’t going to bother, there wouldn’t be much of any point.

Soon enough, the pair of them were out of the doors to the building. There were hoards of paparazzi already mounding around snapping pictures and yelling out questions hoping that Georgette would answer. Had she heard about the appeal? How was she feeling? When did she get in? What was she going to do about this new development? And on and on it went. Georgette didn’t answer any of the thrown questions. Instead, she made sure to keep walking straight and keeping to herself. She knew one slip up could cause severe damage and she was not ready to have that all go wildly public.

Thankfully, with tremendous aid from security, both girls were able to reach their ride.

“Well, that was fun.”

MELODY:

Standing Melody brushed off her dress and offered a smile to Cassandra but not Tiffany. She had asked Georgie earlier if they liked her. And no the girls did not like her. Even if Melody had empathy toward her that didn’t mean she had to be nice to her.

She did listen though she pulled on her sunglasses and stayed close to Georgie and one of the security guards. Taking hold of one of their arms because the last thing Melody needed to do was to trip over her own two feet and fall down.

And by holding onto them she could hide her nerves from the shouting and all the voices around them.

She was more than thankful to escape to the car and slide in. “Damn girl. That was crazy.” Melody mumbled looking out the dark windows. “They don’t stop.”

GEORGETTE:

Georgette got herself settled on her seat offering a bit of a chuckle as she nodded her head at Melody.

“I’m very sorry about that. I probably should have prepared you a little more.”

In all honesty, the blonde had thought about doing so, but she figured it would’ve made Melody more nervous than anything else. The best way to experience the hecticness that surrounded a socialite was simply to jump right in.

It made Georgette momentarily wonder how Hercules would feel about all of that.

“But no they don’t, especially if they are able to gain a juicy story. It’s something I like a lot about Swynlake, I don’t have to deal with any of this.”

The car was off moving through the crowded roads of the city.

“Are you hungry? We can stop somewhere to eat first if you’d like. If not we can stop by the hotel to drop off our things and then eat. Afterward, I’ll take you around the city so that you can get to know it. Don’t worry all the places we go to are reserved and off for the public so that we don’t get harassed by paparazzi.”

MELODY:

"Are these pictures really going to end up in newspapers? Spouting headlines like Georgette back in town. Etc etc." Would she be front-page news and what would that be like. Melody didn't think she would like it.

"Can we stop at the hotel first? I think I want to at least get out of these clothes." Melody requested tugging through her brunette hair. What did she look like to all those people?

Did she care? She would say that she didn't but she wasn't quite sure how true that would be.

GEORGETTE:

“Most likely,” Georgette answered very matter of factly. “The title will probably sound far more ridiculous than that, but they’ll manage to get something out of this visit in the front page.”

In a distant past, Georgette used to adore seeing herself in the flashing lights of the front page. It meant people were talking about her, that she was the main center of publicity. She was who everyone was adoring and wishing to be. Georgette lived for that sort of attention and back in that distant past, everything was perfect.

There had been nothing wrong with her glamorous and luxurious life.

Now, the tables have drastically turned. She didn’t care half as much if she made it to the front page because she never knew what opinion would be spoken of her. Her reputation had gotten tarnished with all the rumors falsely spread about her rape. Even with Howard being found guilty, and her reputation mending because of those turn of events, people still spoke ill of Georgette.

Georgette took great care to knock extra gently on the glass pane that separated the driver from herself and Melody. She was successful in not causing it to break into a dozen pieces and had gotten the attention of their driver.

“To the hotel please.” She directed, now turning her attention back to Melody. “We can rest for a bit as I’m sure you must be jet-lagged and then we can enjoy the city and all it has to offer.”

#melodyoceana #bdrpmelody #pageant mermaid #empire state of mind

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