How Abrupt

Who: Nate and Maddy
Where: Outside The Kitten Club
When: Evening

Maddy was emotionally numb. She wasn't sure why she hadn't been crying. That was, as had been pointed out to her, her usual reaction to things. Just numb and twisted and empty feeling. It didn't help that when she went into work, she was politely told by the manager that with the winter music festival, it wasn't a good thing to have her working and that perhaps it would just be best if she no longer did work there. She wasn't eighteen after all and with the Drake currently closed because of the fire, they had plenty of legal people on the job market.

He'd given her money to last her for the rest of the month and offered to call her a cab, his dime, and Maddy simply nodded her consent. She was outside waiting for said cab, her worn pea coat wrapped around her. At least she was outside the Kitten and wouldn't be mistaken for a working girl.

Numb. She felt so numb. She really was a horrible friend and her first birthday wish had come true, hadn't it? She should just go to Dodge and tell him that he didn't want her help because she was selfish and self-centered and he was trying to move on from being like that. She'd give him her regards, she'd find Ethan and say good bye, and maybe what would be best for everyone would to just... end it. Go to sleep and not wake up.

That was an unsettingly appealing idea right now.

Nate had been having a good time inside the Kitten Club. he'd really gone to town tonight, dressed in an immaculately tailored tuxedo which showed off his frame to best advantage, his blonde hair swept back from his face, rather than in it's usual casually tussled mess. It was intriguing, seeing the Kitten Club for once being the centre of attention for the city, rather than the Drake and he thought the place wore it well. It did, however, mean that the building was crowded and, eventually, he decided to step outside for a few minutes, just for some air.

He caught sight of the thin, pale-looking girl standing at the curb side, hugging her coat round her and looking miserable and, of course, made a beeline for her. All friendly and smiles, Nate was pretty much attracted to human misery, though he never actually let that slip. "Leaving so soon?" he asked her, as though he'd mistaken her for one of the guest who'd been inside.

Maddy turned her head a little and looked over at the boy who'd asked her the question. He felt out of the place, in Maddy's head, in relation to the Kitten, but then again, she wasn't used to seeing people decked to their nines that weren't performing. He also didn't seem that much older than her either.

"I got overwhelmed by all the excitement," Maddy said, her voice lacking it's usual charm that she'd put on for patrons. At least in the dim light of the sidewalk, she looked like she might be a patron. A poorer one, perhaps, because she hadn't worn her nice blue coat or her gloves, but her hair was pulled up nicely and she'd put black pencil around her eyes, so she at least looked a little dressed up.

Nate doubted very much that she'd been a guest at the rather upmarket party being held at the Club tonight, given the way she was dressed, but he'd approached her on that basis, so he wasn't going to betray that now. "Sorry to hear that - still, it's a shame to leave so early. You sure you won't come back in? Let me buy you a drink?" he offered, giving her a winsome smile.

She'd been around Dodge enough to recognize when someone was starting to flirt with her. There was a definite familiarity in the casual offer he gave and as appealing as a drink might sound... "I'm underage," she said, figuring that might cover enough bases that either might get him to leave or at least avoid any awkward questions.

Nate chuckled a little. "That doesn't matter," he said, with confidence. if he couldn't manage to procure a couple of drinks regardless of age, he'd be ashamed of himself.

"I got laid off because I'm underage. I'm pretty damn sure that means that I'm not meant to come into the establishment either," she snapped, showing some real, genuine emotion at the moment. Just a little bit of that anger she had. Who did this guy think he was?

Nate raised an eyebrow. "Did you lie about your age when you got the job?" he asked her, keeping up the friendly tone despite the way she was acting. Though really, if she kept that up, better entertainment could be found elsewhere. he wasn't that desperate for company that he'd put up with bitchiness.

If it had been any other day, if the issues with Roy hadn't come to a head, Maddy would've been better company but it wasn't the case here. "You know what? It's none of your damn business, alright?" Forget this. Forget waiting for a cab. She was going to go and contemplate her potential suicide on a walk instead of waiting for some cab. Maddy just... didn't know where to go. But away from this guy seemed good and she turned on her heel, a bit of a Doll girl flounce in it even.

Nate blinked and shook his head, turning away from her and heading back inside the club, leaving her behind. After all, he had no reason to stay where he clearly wasn't wanted. Maybe he could find some better company back inside.