Margaret Washington-Bedingfield

The secret of staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age.

2008-04-22T22:31:12Z

Margaret walked into the Zone a little early for her shift. It was her birthday, but since she'd just started she really couldn't see asking for the day off. Anyway, it wasn't like Bradley was home to celebrate with her. So she wasn't expecting anything like what she saw when she took her sunglasses off.

The band was set up with DG at the mic. There was a small stack of gifts on a table near the stage and Sophie was making her way out of the small kitchen with a cake, a number 23 candle lit sitting on top. Her steps slowed as she neared the stage and Raul counted off on his sticks. Wyatt played a quick chord on his guitar and Glitch picked up on the keyboard. With a rousing chorus of 'Happy Birthday' out of the way, Margaret blew out the candle and hopped up onto the stage.

"Thanks guys, I thought I was going to have to wait till Bradley got home to celebrate. But this is really awesome." She hugged each band member in turn and wasn't surprised when Glitch took a swat at her rear.

"That's only one. We've got all evening and 22 more to deliver Dollface. Happy Birthday." He said smugly, darting away from her to stand behind Wyatt. As if he'd offer protection.

If you make it plain you like people, it's hard for them to resist liking you back.

2008-04-22T03:29:29Z

Ethan's sleeping in today, so Sophie has a cup of coffee and the newspaper all to herself. She stares out the sunny window, feeling the warmth deep down in her bones, when there's a knock on the door.

Moira had, yet again, snuck into her daughter's apartment and left her a tray of strawberry-rhubarb jam doughnuts. Margaret hopes that she won't be waking Sophie or Ethan when she knocks but figures that the doughnuts and fresh coffee will be a good apology. She smiles as the door opens.

"Margaret Washington-Bedingfield, get your butt in here--" Sophie pulls her inside, into a big hug. "What occasions the visit, sweetheart?"

Margaret circumnavigates the doughnuts and the coffee around Sophie to return the hug. "My mother snuck into my apartment and left me doughnuts. And I just wanted to say thank you for your patience last night."

Some of the doughnuts get squished, but it's a really good hug, so it all turns out okay. "You were great," Sophie says seriously, drawing back. "I mean it. You're going to be very, very good at your job. Just... ah... let me make the highballs for a couple of days..."

Margaret laughs at that, her cheeks turning a slight pink. "Agreed. So what's up with DG being the only one who can order limes?" She releases Sophie and readjusts her grip on the containers. "And thank you."

"Come in, sit down." Sophie gestures to the table. "It's a long story..."

There's a clumping overhead, a thud-thud-thud down the stairs, and a tousled head appears near the breakfast table. "Mom, I had a weird dream," Ethan announces, trying to snag a doughnut.

"I'd love to hear it. Henry, for some reason, said that she was the only one who could do it. I swear that I was close to signing a statement saying that I wasn't able to and she was." She bites into a doughnut and makes a mental note to thank her mom. "These are my favorite." Margaret watches as Ethan enters the room and quiets down. She figures that Sophie should make the introductions.

Sophie smiles and shakes her head. "You'd best ask D.G. herself. It's... like I said, it's a long story."

Ethan waves cheerfully at Sophie as he clambers up onto the chair. "Hi, lady. Can I have a doughnut?"

"Ethan--" Sophie begins, facepalming.

Margaret nods and twirls her coffee stick around some. "I'll be sure to do that." She watches as Ethan climbs onto the chair. "Hi, boy. You're going to have to ask your mom about that."

"You need to ask her politely," Sophie says firmly, which earns a big gap-toothed smile in Margaret's direction and a, "May I have a doughnut, please?"

"So what do you like about the job so far?" Sophie continues, sipping at her own coffee.

"Go ahead." She gestures to the box and then turns to Sophie, a questioning look on her face. "Neither of you are allergic to strawberries or rhubarb?" Off of Sophie's shake of her head, she contemplates the question before her. "You know, I don't know. Ask me again in two weeks." Margaret turns the question back on Sophie. "What do you like about it?"

"I like listening to the music," Sophie says with a smile over the rim of her mug. "And our regulars. It's a family atmosphere--did you get to meet anybody from the band?"

"Very briefly," she answers, "Glitch did some rather interesting introductions to them then I got a crash course in bartending from DG. The bar opened after that and the next time I could talk to any of them, Wyatt and DG were off doing heaven only knows what and Glitch, Raoul and Conor were discussing something of great importance." Margaret tips her head, an eyebrow quirking. "Though I did get a drink from a regular. I think."

"From who?" Sophie's senses are instantly alert.

"He was tall - six foot four. Dark brown hair, fantastic green eyes, and very skinny." Margaret's biting her lip, trying to picture the guy. "Esther gave him a wave so that's why I'm assuming he's a regular."

TBC

All weddings are similar, but every marriage is different.

2008-04-21T07:40:13Z

*The first lj-cut is found on top of Henry's desk, stuck inside DG and Sophie's purses, on top of Raoul's (btw, how are we spelling that?) drum set, taped to Wyatt's microphone, lying on top of Glitch's guitar and on Conor's stool behind the sound equipment.

*All I have to say is that Glitch may not want to eat any cake. For reasons only known to myself and queen_kiwi... Who I swear I will get on here as soon as she shows up.

Margaret debated not writing down a postscript then decided her sanity was more than worth it. If she had to spend an entire day with her entire extended family, then she was inviting people that may or may not make fun of her for said family. Besides, it would give her a chance to learn more about everyone at the bar. It was a rather informal setting and besides, who better than the bartenders of The Outer Zone to know how alcohol affected people? And this way, she could just do a mass introduction of Bradley to them.

This could be fun. Right?

*Oh, and if you want to post people's reactions, feel free.

*One more thing - Since I'm ~~too lazy~~ too busy to make another invitation, pretend that there's another one attached with directions and information for the Holiday Inn - Manassas, explaining that there's a discount if you mention that you're with the Washington-Bedingfield party.

*Also keep in mind, Henry and Moira's immediate family (Eric [Harriet {wife} and Lucy {19 month old daughter}], Janel, Margaret, and Trevor) is considered very small. There is a reason why I decided on having The Mangolia Room as the chosen venue. *cough*

*Everyone is ~~wanted~~ ~~expected~~ hopefully showing up and joining the happy festivities.

Sisters function as safety nets in a chaotic world simply by being there for each other.

2008-04-10T21:31:25Z

to: Janel Washington-Bedingfield, thenurseishere@gmail.com
from: Margaret Washington-Bedingfield, theenglishmajor1986@gmail.com
date: April 10, 20--, 1:18 pm
subject: Elder sisters never can do younger ones justice!
mailed-by: gmail.com

Write a wise saying and your name will live forever.

2008-04-08T04:20:53Z

Title: Margaret, meet Protection Detail. (Otherwise known as Margaret's First Day.)
Author: willow_fae_20
Rating: PG
Summary: "No, DG, we’ve got plenty of limes as far as I know. I wanted to let you know that I finally managed to hire another bartender. Her name is Margaret, and she’s willing to start tonight."
Disclaimer: See profile and Universal Disclaimer.

“My god, does no one answer the freakin’ phone around here?” DG asked as it started ringing again. “And why in the world do you people not have an answering machine?” She finally managed to locate the cordless phone under a pile of sheet music. It was Henry from The Zone.

“Did I forget to get limes again? Why is it that I’m the only person working there that can get the damned things?” DG asked.

“No, DG, we’ve got plenty of limes as far as I know. I wanted to let you know that I finally managed to hire another bartender. Her name is Margaret, and she’s willing to start tonight. So I want the band here early so they can meet her. Hopefully get any sophomoric teasing out of the way early.” Henry replied wondering, not for the first time about his employee’s sanity. Limes, really?

“Don’t worry we’ll all be there by seven o’clock. Wyatt and Glitch got new strings and they want to tune them ‘in the environment’, whatever that’s about. And they’ll be on their best behavior. Is this one going to last longer then a month, and not flake when it comes to crowds?” DG asked, cursing their last new hire under her breath.

“I think Margaret will work out just fine. I’ll see you at seven then. One of these days you’ll have to tell me why exactly Ambrose goes by Glitch. I’ve only ever heard the other band members and now you call him that.” Henry said, his curiosity having got the best of him.

“If I told you, I’m afraid I’d have to kill you. No, seriously I’m not even really sure what the whole story behind the nickname is. Maybe when we make it big and someone writes a tell-all about us, it’ll be in there. Speaking of making it big, I thought I saw the guy from Mystic Man Prods there last weekend. Was I seeing things?” DG asked, having only just then remembered the man paying extra special attention to their final set.

“No, you weren’t seeing things. He’s been coming almost every weekend for the past month. I think he heard about the ‘80’s show you guys put on and wanted to see what you were made of. Anyway I’ll see you around seven then.” Henry said; hearing the back door opening - that would be their liquor delivery.

“Who was that, doll?” Glitch asked coming out of the kitchen, with a plate of bagel bites in hand.

“Henry from the Zone. He hired a new bar back and wants us all there at seven to meet her. And before you ask that’s all I know about her.” D.G. could see the questions forming in her friend’s head from across the room.

“Oh good, that’ll free you up to sing with us more.” Glitch said, flopping down on the couch with little grace.

The guys were up on stage tuning their guitars while Raul was working a new set of sticks over with a lighter. DG would never understand the superstitions and rituals of musicians. She was getting the bar restocked and slicing fruit; figuring if everything was set up then she could work with Margaret (she was fully intending to shorten that once she got a feel for the girl) for the first hour or so, then be able to spend some time on stage. Henry was telling DG what Margaret had told him about Addison’s when the doors opened admitting the woman herself. She strode over to the bar with her head held high, exuding self-confidence. ‘Good,’ DG thought to herself, ‘if she can handle herself around the guys she’ll be fine.’

“Ah, Margaret you’re on time. You can stow your bag behind the bar and I’ll introduce you to everyone.” Henry said, standing to greet the woman. “First off, this is DG. She’ll be working with you for a little while to start the evening.” DG wiped her hands on a bar cloth and shook Margaret’s hand and came around the long bar to gather the band.

“Hi, Margaret, it’s great to meet you. It’ll be even better to see you working, give me a chance to get out from behind the bar. Come on up to the stage, I’ll introduce you to the guys.” DG said, leading the way across the club floor. “Henry told me absolutely nothing about you, so you’ll have to fill me in.” As they made their way to the mid-sized stage Margaret told DG a little bit about herself; feeling like she was interviewing a second time. By the time they got to the stage she felt like DG and she would get along well. DG hoisted herself onto the stage watching as Margaret did the same with a fluid grace. She could be a dancer, DG idly thought.

“Hey guys knock off the racket and come meet Margaret. She’s the new bar back Henry hired.” DG laughed at the grumbles she received in response to her mocking.

“I’ll give you racket. Heya Dollface, you can call me Glitch - just don’t ask why. It’s a nickname I’ve had forever.” Glitch said, taking Margaret’s hand and spinning her in a full circle.

“It’s nice to meet you, Glitch.” Margaret said, regaining her breath from the impromptu spin.

“This fine figure of manhood is Wyatt Cain, but he’s taken and straight, damn it all.” The last bit was said in a conspiratorial whisper that everyone heard. Glitch angled his head to indicate that D.G. and Wyatt were an item. “And this is Raul, don’t worry he doesn’t bite much.” Margaret felt almost as if she were intruding on a small family but hoped that she’d be accepted into it quickly.

“Well it’s nice to meet you all. And as far as ‘being taken’ goes, my boyfriend is currently deployed but hopefully he’ll be back by the end of the month.” She said, shaking Wyatt’s hand. Raul took her hand and made a theatrical deep bow, bestowing a kiss upon the hand before stepping away. “I’ll let you all get back to practicing, and familiarize myself with the set-up of the bar. I’m really looking forward to getting to know you all.” Margaret said, hopping off the stage.

“She seems nice enough. I think she’ll do just fine. I’m not going to call her Margaret though. She’ll just have to live with Dollface.” Glitch said, picking up his guitar, getting back to tuning the new strings.

Words, once they are printed, have a life of their own.

2008-03-18T06:44:02Z

At least this time it was only an overnight stay. Not having a job and trying to figure out how I'm going to keep paying for my apartment, gas, meds, car repairs, and student loans along with trying to actually find a job and worrying about Bradley just pushed me into a crisis. I should have known it was going to happen. One good thing about all this is at least I had a crisis at my parents' house and they, out of anyone besides Dr. Reynolds, know what to do. Plus they had said earlier that evening they would pay for the hydrocortisone and fludrocortisone. That's a weight off my shoulders.

I have an interview for a bartender position at The Outer Zone later today. Here's hoping this ones goes well.

Her dad always said that dressing up for an interview helped. But since this particular interview was taking place at a bar, could she appear in jeans and a t-shirt? Asking around and Googling didn’t help answer her question. So Margaret wore what she always wore for interviews – black pants, black boots, and a white button-front shirt with a navy blue tank top peeking out. Her heeled boots made a tapping against the cement that calmed her, oddly enough. Going into a crisis during the middle of an interview wouldn’t impress her future potential boss.

Reaching the front doors of The Zone, she pushed the door on her right open. Stepping in, she slid her sunglasses off her face and into her purse. Walking further into the bar, Margaret cast an eye around. It was bigger than what she expected it to be. Granted the only times she had stepped into The Zone was when it was opened and packed. Reaching the middle of the room, she stopped. How much farther should she penetrate? Should she stay here and wait for someone to come and find her? Or should she go find an office or better yet, a person? Her internal argument was settled when a gray haired man came out of the back room.

“Hi.” Margaret said brightly. “I’m looking for Henry. I have an interview with him at two.” He looked at her closely for a moment before realization broke on his face.

“Margaret Washington-Bedingfield.” He said, a slight question in his voice.

“Yes, sir.” A smile broke on her face.

“That’s quite a mouthful there.”

Margaret laughed. “That it is.”

Henry took her back to his office – which could be nicely described as an over sized closet. It was full of posters advertising bands, paperwork for various functions and a few empty boxes of Jack Daniels and Jose Cuervo. The interview went well, Margaret thought. He had quizzed her on several drinks and what she would do with a drunken person. She didn’t tell him what Eric told her; Margaret figured that aggravated assault wouldn’t make a good impression.

Then came the part of the interview she hated with a passion and didn't like to give at all. Henry’s face closed up as she described her diagnosis of Addison disease and what it all meant. This was the part that usually had employers marking a big fat ‘no’ next to her name. Henry nodded after she finished her speech and leaned back in his chair.

To Margaret’s utter shock and surprise, Henry offered her a job on the site. Tonight if she could make it. Margaret hurriedly said yes and the next two hours were spent haggling out forms, details, and her duties.

“Tonight’s going to be one of our busy nights.” Henry explained, leaning further back in his chair. “Protection Detail’s playing here and they draw a crowd. So wear comfortable shoes. Be here at seven and I’ll introduce you to everyone then. PD should be here by then too.”

“All right, I’ll be here with comfortable shoes on.” Margaret replied, standing up and extending a hand. Henry’s handshake was firm but his hands were dry.

Margaret left his office cool, calm, and collected. It wasn’t until she made it to her car that she performed a little victory dance.

It was six fifty nine when Margaret walked in. Henry was talking to a young female behind the bar while the stage was abuzz with activity.

“Margaret!” Henry had to shout because the drummer on stage decided to get in a little practice performing a solo. “I’ve got some people I want you to meet.”

Some people make headlines while others make history.

2008-03-18T04:53:13Z

History: Margaret was born on April 22, 1986 at 3:33 a.m. to Henry and Moira Washington. She is Henry and Moira’s third child and youngest daughter.

She went to James Polk Elementary School and attended Preble High School where she graduated in the top five percent of her graduating class of 237.

When she was nine, she was diagnosed with Addison's disease. The death of her grandmother led to this diagnosis.

During high school, she was part of the choir system all four years. She was also on the cheer leading squad her freshman through junior years. Her senior year, she had a crisis with her Addison’s disease during the week of cheer leading tryouts and ended up in the hospital for five days.

She dated off and on throughout high school, her longest relationship being eight months. The relationship broke up when he graduated from Preble and went to Oxford.

Margaret attended the local state university where she graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in English. She’s not entirely certain what she wants to do at this point in her life or as her brother Trevor says, “What do you do with a B.A. in English?”

She met her current boyfriend, Bradley Janney, at a mutual friend’s birthday party. They were both single at the time and hit it off rather well considering their eight year age difference.

Margaret was sitting at breakfast one day, nursing a cup of coffee and looking through the local Want Ad section of the paper when an ad for The Outer Zone caught her eye. They were advertising for a full time bartender. She circled it along with some other options and stopped by on the way to another interview for an application at The Zone. ~~At time of writing, she has an in person interview scheduled with Henry.~~ At time of writing, she's currently working as a bartender at The Zone and working at Banana Republic.

Relationships:
Henry: Margaret is most definitely a daddy's girl. She loves her dad dearly and the two get along famously.
Moira: Margaret loves her mother but this mother and daughter duo would probably get along better if they weren't so similar in personality.
Eric: Margaret and Eric aren't as close as Margaret is with her other siblings but Eric's taught her 15 ways to kill a person.
Janel: Margaret and Janel are best friends as well as sisters. Janel was the first person to meet Bradley. Accidentally. There's a story behind that. ~~A story that the player hasn't come up with yet.~~
Trevor: Trevor and Margaret like to tease, poke and pick on each other all the time. Anyone out of their family circle would probably say that these two have a intense dislike for each other but the circle knows that these two probably get along a little too well.

More coming soon

The character of every act depends upon the circumstances in which it is done.

2008-03-18T04:45:27Z

CHARACTER INFORMATION
Real Name: Margaret Elisabeth Washington-Bedingfield
Nicknames/Aliases: Call her anything but Margaret and she will hunt you down like the dog you are.
Gender: Female
Age: 22
Physical Description: Brown hair, brown eyes, 5'8"
Unique Features: She has a line of five stars on her left hipbone. The stars symbolize her family. She also has some random chicken pox scars across her body from when she was five.
Date of Birth: April 24, 1986
Birth Location: Central City, Massachusetts
Family: Father: Henry Bedingfield (54, owner and operator of Barnett Moving Systems-affiliated with United Van Lines.)

Mother: Moira Washington (53, romance novel writer under the name of Eden Pauling.)

Brother: Eric (age: 27, child psychologist for the FBI, married to Harriet, New York Times sports writer, one daughter named Lucy aged nineteen months.)

Sister: Janel (age: 25, RN at St. Vincent’s Manhattan in their Stroke Center.)

Brother: Trevor (age: 21, currently enrolled in Harvard School of Dental Medicine. Graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in pre-medicine.)

Boyfriend: Bradley Lowe (age: 30, currently deployed as a Navy Seal on the Horn of Africa.)

Residence: A studio apartment located twenty minutes away from the bar.
Profession(s) Held: Formerly a college student who worked as an RA and in the campus book store. In high school, she worked at Galvan’s-a mom and pop restaurant that was famous for its broasted chicken and baklava.
Employment: Currently working as a bartender at The Outer Zone and as a clerk at Banana Republic.
Physical Strengths: Margaret runs five miles every day almost without fail.
Physical Weaknesses: She was diagnosed with Addison’s disease when she was nine. For more information on Addison’s disease please see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Addison%27s_disease
http://www.umm.edu/endocrin/addison.htm
http://wrongdiagnosis.com/a/addisons_disease/intro.htm
Personality: Margaret is practical, reliable, patient, persistent, determined, strong-willed, solid, affectionate, warm-hearted and trustworthy with a firm sense of values. But with her strong will and firm sense of values, she can be stubborn and inflexible in her opinions. She can also get possessive and jealous. At times she’s lazy, self-indulgent and greedy – the last items especially when it comes to shoes.