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Post by featherleg on Jan 20, 2021 23:58:33 GMT -5
MistyWhile Lucas scrolled through his phone, Selena thought over his question as she leaned her chin onto her right hand, the arm propped against the table. She was about to speak up but he had found what he was looking for in the meantime. Her gaze followed his hand as he named each individual in the photo, chuckling at him having to state where he was despite being the easiest for her to recognize. “That’s a pretty large friend group. You all seem so happy together.” Selena smiled as she looked over the photo, trying her best to pick up on details on each of his friends that, hopefully, would help her down the line when they did eventually meet. “Well, I am your sister, so let’s get one question out of the way first. Is there anyone in your group that you fancy?”
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Post by Misty on Jan 21, 2021 10:31:42 GMT -5
“It is,” Lucas agreed. “But we’ve had time to build it, too.” They has added to it over the decades, either when Lucas found someone he vibed with or someone in the group started dating someone. Of course, everyone had friends outside the group as well, but this group was closest friends. “No, there’s no one in the group that I like.” Kat and Flynn were together, and he had never seen Oceana as a romantic partner. In his long life, he had never met another vampire he clicked with romantically, but he had made some good friends. All but Aika were in the group picture he had just shown Selena. featherleg
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Post by featherleg on Jan 21, 2021 15:08:57 GMT -5
Selena nodded as she leaned back into the booths seating. "Got it. I've never found myself in the position to really date anyone. Court duties and all, plus...well, after looking over peoples portfolios for decades, I guess my views on them became a bit jaded." She let out a short sigh, her gaze dropping downward and fixating on her hands, which rested folded on the table. "Being the right hand of a Court ruler made me view people differently for a spell. Not that that was Dasco's fault, mind you. We often argued about our stances on individuals and groups." Shaking her head in dismal, she waved their waiter over. Seeing that Lucas had written his order prior to taking his phone out, she handed the piece of paper to their waiter who nodded to the two before heading back to start working on it for them. Misty
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Post by Misty on Jan 21, 2021 20:25:46 GMT -5
“Now that you’ve been away from Court for a while, do you think you’d consider dating if you found the right person?” For Lucas, the answer was yes, but he hadn’t met very many people who could be the right person for him to date and, eventually, live a long life with. “For me, I think I would if I happened to meet them. I’m not too interested in trying to find them right now, though.” He didn’t feel as if he absolutely needed to be in a relationship, especially since he wasn’t lonely in Embra. He had Aika and now Selena to hang out with in the city, and his other friends were only a phone call or text message away if he wanted to talk to them. featherleg
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Post by featherleg on Jan 21, 2021 23:59:06 GMT -5
She looked up at him briefly, eyes narrowed at the question before they drifted downwards again. There was a tangible silence before she spoke up, her chin resting in her palm. "That...depends. I know far too many individuals in the Court, and they all see me as my former self. Undoing that perception would take time and energy that I currently find...undesirable." She frowned to herself as she gazed at her brother. "To be honest, I don't know who or what the right person or relationship is for me. I have a schedule and reputation to maintain, as well as a lifespan that makes looking for romantic partners outside of the Court next to impossible. It...would take quite a lot for me to suddenly change my mind and seek someone out like that." She glanced up from her brother as their waiter returned, placing their drinks and food orders on the table before leaving the two alone again. Selena was about to take a sip of her drink before she paused and set the cup down. “Odd request, but would you mind taking a photo of us? You could send it to your friends while I call the Court to let them know we’re attending the gala, with company of course.” Misty
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Post by mintedstar/fur on Jan 22, 2021 1:59:04 GMT -5
(So I'm starting school in a couple days, so I may be spotty.)
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Post by mintedstar/fur on Jan 22, 2021 2:47:58 GMT -5
Auransky featherleg Tom looked like he wanted to place his head in his hands or a similar action. Likely due to consternation. Whoever the constantly talking man was, he really wished he'd shut up. His explanation, for starters, wasn't helping. "Glad to hear she's worried about her family," he said with a sigh, looking up through his eyelashes at Derrick, as if that would somehow make everything seem a bit better. "I personally don't think the interrogation is heading in quite the right direction though. Need some help? You're all asking why I'm here. I'll say it again. I was following him." He nodded toward Rowlin. "There isn't more too it. So. Say I'm interrogating me. I've given the same answer several times. Either I'm an idiot or I'm hiding something. But, if it's the latter, then boy was I easily caught. Deary me, breaking into a second floor window when there's clearly a lot of people about. Surely only an idiot would do that. Now we've come back to the same result. An idiot. And then you should be asking this: What did the idiot think was entertaining enough to follow Rowlin for?" He tapped his foot against the floor, looking impatient. "Then I would have answered you: Oh, I don't know. The guy looked like he got electrocuted once, that seems pretty sus. Maybe I just wanted to tag along to see if he had any other interesting stories." Tom vaguely shrugged his shoulders. "Then I get thrown into a who knows what pocket dimension for my troubles, so surprise surprise, I turn out to be right. First mistake though ... honestly ... if I was a danger at all ... wouldn't I have more on me than my cellphone and my wallet? Yes? Well, you didn't check that either. So I guess I'll tell you I just have my cellphone and my wallet. Conclusion? I did it for a laugh! Call the cops if you like, I've been there before. Life sentencing for some fool of a thrill-seeker though? Gee are you all bored." The more he talked the more he sounded very salty. "So there you have it. I interrogated myself better than any of you managed to do out of the three people who've thus far shared a single word with me. Anything else I can help with?"
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Post by Misty on Jan 22, 2021 21:00:59 GMT -5
Lucas nodded as Selena explained. “Fair enough.” He understood the lifespan related issues when it came to dating. He had tried dating a couple times thinking it wouldn’t be an issue, but it had quickly become one for him. “But I do really hope all my friends can make it to the gala. I’m already excited for them to meet you.” Even though he didn’t yet know the gala date and it hadn’t yet been officially planned, it seemed as if the gala was going to happen soon. Some of Lucas’ friends spent periods of time traveling, and those plans were often made months in advance. The gala was last minute in comparison. “And I’m certain they’ll all be excited to meet you. They know how important the idea of family is to me.” For Lucas, family didn’t end in blood. His friends were as much his family as Selena was. “I don’t mind.” Everyone would be curious about Selena, and Lucas hoped the picture of them together would satisfy everyone’s curiosity until they were finally able to meet at the gala. “Did you want me to take it now or wait until we’ve finished our drinks?” Hot coffee was meant to be drank while it was hot, after all. featherleg
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Post by featherleg on Jan 22, 2021 21:24:05 GMT -5
“Well, I hope I can live up to their expectations. If we’re attending one of the summer galas they’ll have a month or two to prepare for it. I can even put in a word to make sure the event occurs in a timeframe that suits them.” She knew Dasco wouldn’t refute her opinions on the matter if it meant her and Lucas spending time at one of his events. He did offer a celebration for them, not for anyone else. Therefore, their input would outweigh anyone elses on the matter, she was sure. “We can take it after considering we drove all the way here for it.” Selena lifted her mug and held it out towards him in a gesture for a toast between them. “To a fresh start, for both of us.” Misty
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Post by Misty on Jan 22, 2021 22:09:21 GMT -5
“Let me see when they’re all available to come visit.” Lucas sent a text message to their group and set it aside. It didn’t take long for everyone to start responding... or question why he wanted to know their availability. He responded vaguely, mentioning something about Court and a gala and how he wanted to attend and hoped they would attend with him. The answer seemed to satisfy his friends’ curiosity for the time being, so they went back to discussing dates. Lucas picked up his mug as well and held it toward Selena, the mugs clinking as they made contact. “To a fresh start,” he repeated before withdrawing his mug and taking a sip of the mocha drink. He looked down at his phone. The most recent messages all said something along the lines of “works for me.” “It seems they’ve settled on a couple of dates that would work for them to visit. The first is in a couple of weeks.” featherleg
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Post by featherleg on Jan 23, 2021 0:06:14 GMT -5
Selena pulled back her drink as well and took a sip of her latte, savoring the sweet and slightly bitter taste of the matcha. Noticing Lucas’ phone lighting up from the barrage of texts being sent his way, she couldn’t help but laugh a little bit at how fast his friends were when it came to discussing the topic. “I didn’t expect an answer so quickly. Give me just a moment then.” Grabbing her phone from her purse, she scrolled through her contacts before settling on a number. She waited patiently with the phone up to her ear. A few seconds later, it seemed that her contact picked up the phone as she began speaking. “Hello, yes, Jerome?...Oh no, trust me it’s fine. I was just stopping by earlier today to assist my brother, there’s no need to bring up paperwork or apologies right now....well, on the topic of finding my brother, I was hoping you would relay a message for me...to the Lord of the Court....please tell him that Lucas and myself along with his companions wish to attend a gala in our honor....yes, date and schedule wise after the First of the upcoming month….oh, feel free to send nine invitations to my abode, I’ll see that they’re delivered accordingly...no that’s all Jerome...thank you so much. That will be all for now.” Having ended the call, she placed her phone to the side and proceeded to enjoy the meal with her brother. -------------------------- Sitting in a finely lit office room, Dasco was going over his schedule for the next month when suddenly, his phone started ringing. I thought all my meetings were done for the day. Normally, calls to his office phone were only meant as reminders that he had a meeting with someone in an hour or so, and would detail a briefing on who he was meeting with along with potential notes that usually were left out of meeting documents. Picking up the phone, he spun in his office chair to face away from his desk and outwards towards the window that gave him a view of the ocean that surrounded his Court. “Yes, what is it?....Oh?...She called herself?...They both want to attend? With his dearest friends?...No, this works out perfectly….And the date?...Understood, I’ll have to discuss this with Ms. Grey...Thank you Jerome, sir.” Spinning back to his desk, he hung up his office phone as a sly grin began to form on his face. He drummed his fingers on the table as he thought over the news he just heard before pushing himself out of his chair. Grabbing what appeared to be a delivery box filled with books, he sauntered out of his office and made his way down the hall to the opposite end. Dasco glanced behind him, making sure no one else was loitering in the hallway before opening the door to Hannah’s office, locking eyes with her the moment he entered. “Good afternoon, my dear. How is your work going on this fine day?” Closing the door behind him, he made his way over to her desk, setting the box he was holding down prior to sitting on the edge of her work station. Misty
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Post by Misty on Jan 23, 2021 14:18:56 GMT -5
“Apparently all they needed to hear was ‘gala’ and get a halfway decent explanation about why I wanted to go with them for them to decide on a date they could all visit.” Lucas sipped at his drink as Selena spoke on the phone. After they finished their drinks and cookies, Lucas said, “Scoot over a little so I can take this picture without all the dishes getting in the way.” The picture would be much nicer that way. ~~~ “Most people who write about magic theory should not be writing about magic theory.” Hannah removed a sticky note from the stack of sticky notes and placed it at the top of the page she had been reading when Dasco entered her office. She split her work time between doing research for him and doing research for herself. So far, she had no new potential solutions for her own magic issues. She spun in her chair to look at him before crossing her legs at her knees and resting one elbow on her desk, her hand cupping a cheek. She eyed the box he had set down. “I see you’ve been busy shopping.” featherleg
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Post by featherleg on Jan 23, 2021 15:47:33 GMT -5
“Oh, of course!” Selena scooted down in the booth to allow him space to sit next to her. “Do you and your friends have a signature pose we could do? I...really don’t take pictures of myself that often. Wouldn’t want to appear stiff to them, you know?” For all the confidence she had displayed since the two reconnected, it seemed a bit odd that something like taking a photo would trip her up. Although, it made sense. Selena came from a world based on routine, schedule, knowing what to say and how to say it. Leaning into Lucas’ world, which was much more sporadic and casual was cause enough to make her ask such a question. --------------------------- Dasco snickered as he lightly shook his head. “I’m sorry to hear that their writing is not up to your standards. Perhaps I should attempt contacting Mrs.Akiyama in the near future, see what her current recommendations are.” Though he doubted she would answer his call, Dasco knew that Celestia was just as critical about authors in the world of magic and magic theory as Hannah was. “Ah, yes! I wanted to make sure everything was here first before bringing you such a gift.” He took out a few tomes from the box and placed them on the desk between himself and her. “These should help progress your research in terms of ice and frost magic, if I am not mistaken. The rest of the box includes continuations of the authors and their studies that were missing from your collection. I believe a couple may even be first editions.” Dasco nonchalantly leaned against the stack of books he had set on the desk as he gazed down at Hannah with a smile. “I do hope they please you.” Misty
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Post by Misty on Jan 23, 2021 21:26:40 GMT -5
Lucas slid into the booth next to Selena. “I wouldn’t say there’s a signature pose that we do. We just smile for the camera, maybe throw our arms around each other. Try not to overthink it, okay?” If Selena overthought her pose, she would look stiff and unnatural. If she relaxed and just smiled, the picture would turn out nice. He took out his phone and flipped the camera around so it was facing them. He smiled, and after Selena did the same, he took a couple of pictures. He handed his phone over. “Do you like any of these? If you don’t, we can take more.” ~~~ “I don’t believe our interests in magic and magic theory align, so I don’t think her recommendations will be of much help.” The last Hannah knew, Celestia wasn’t interested in ice and frost magic. After all, Celestia didn’t have the problem that Hannah had. “That’s so very thoughtful of you to bring me a gift to assist in my search.” The titles of the tomes intrigued her. Perhaps one of them had a solid lead for her. Hannah pursed her lips before she stood and brushed her hands over her short skirt to smooth it out. She moved to stand in front of the box and leaned over to see what else was inside it. She reached inside and took out a small paperback book. On the cover was a man and a woman. She was dressed in form fitting clothes that indicated the setting of the book, but he was dressed in pants. His shirt was nowhere to be seen. She opened the book to the publication information page. Sure enough, the book was a first edition. “This is absolutely vital to my studies. I trust that everything else in the box is similar?” She hadn’t looked through the other books remaining in the box, but she knew Dasco well. The other books in the box had to be romance novels. featherleg
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Post by featherleg on Jan 23, 2021 23:08:50 GMT -5
No overthinking, got it. Selena thought to herself as she nodded to her brother, making sure to lean into the frame so she wouldn’t get cut out of the frame but also hopefully to show that the two were comfortable around each other. After he had taken the first few snapshots of them and handed his phone over to her, she scrolled through them before landing on one that made her smile softly. “This one.” She held his phone out towards him, showing one that had his arm lightly draped over her shoulders while she posed with her right pointer finger pressed against her chin as they both smiled at the camera. “We really look like siblings, huh?” They shared a lot of the same features such as their hair and eye color as well as other things like their nose structure, but to finally see the two together in a photo that was in the present? It only solidified the moment more for them both. --------------------------------- “Well, we won’t know unless we ask the Enchantress herself. But, if you feel it’s not worth your time, then it’s not worth mine.” He lightly shrugged before grinning towards her as she looked over the tomes. “Your personal research means just as much if not more to me than the work you do for the Court, dear. Any assistance I can provide for you, I will gladly give.” His eyes followed her as she left her chair and stood in front of the gaze and examined one of the novels that had been sitting towards the top. “Absolutely, Hannah. I ordered all of them myself to ensure the highest quality that could be delivered. Although, it would sadden me to see all of these fine goods just sit in that box, considering that your office library is, well”, he glanced over his shoulder towards the massive bookshelves that were filled to the brim with books, “overrun at the moment. Luckily for you, I foresaw this error and know exactly how to fix it.” Pushing himself off of the desk, he gingerly removed the book from her hands before placing it back in the box. Cradling the box in his left arm, his right hand intertwined with her left as he looked at her with a gleam in his eyes. “If my lady permits, a brief stroll would allow you to see the solution I worked on.” Misty
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Post by Misty on Jan 24, 2021 0:34:05 GMT -5
“That’s perfect.” Lucas quite liked the picture Selena had selected as her favorite. He took his phone back and favorited the photo before deleting the others he had taken without bothering to look at them. “We really do.” Would it have been obvious Hannah was their sibling as well if she had been present for the photo and wanted a relationship with them? It was clear Lucas and Selena were brother and sister with their similar hair colors, nearly identical eye colors, and matching facial features. But did it matter if Hannah shared the similarities? She had made her attitude clear. “They’re going to pester me for hours about you.” ~~~ “The tomes you’ve just brought might be promising. If they don’t produce any leads, I might consider asking her for advice.” Might was the key word. Hannah’s pride made asking for help from anyone difficult, save for Dasco. Her research was something she preferred to keep quiet. “I’m hoping I find an answer that will benefit us all.” “Should I assume that you had to search for the top ten romance novels released this year before ordering them?” As if Dasco hadn’t caught her reading romance novels at work or asked who her favorite romance authors were last week. Who her favorite authors were in general. What genres she liked to read. What special books she was just dying to own. He had asked all sorts of questions while she was supposed to be working - not that she had minded the distractions. “I do have a home lib-” Hannah stopped as she realized he hadn’t finished speaking quite her. “What the hell did you do?” She asked softly as the pseudo-professional conversation between them became more personal, more intimate. “Your lady-” Oh how she loved that nickname. “-would love to see the solution you have worked on.” She smiled at him as she started walking away from her desk and toward the door. “I believe you have to lead the way.” featherleg
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Post by featherleg on Jan 24, 2021 1:59:34 GMT -5
“You make it sound like that's a bad thing.” She said teasingly as she leaned back into the booth, a content look on her face. “So, what should we do now? We don’t have work until tomorrow, and we did everything that was listed on our itinerary for the day.” Selena wasn’t used to having free time like this. There was always something that needed to be completed or started. While they did have a looming task ahead of them, Elizabeth would be sending them information tomorrow to begin their preparations. Besides, it made little sense to return to the Den to start working on the restraint for Lucas. ---------------------- Dasco chuckled at her comment. “Do you have that little faith in me? I believe I’m much more observant than that.” The only use the internet had ever served him was placing the orders for all the goods he bought. There wasn’t much fun in just scanning a webpage or blog post to find the information he was looking for. No, Dasco preferred the chase of conversation over the mundane action of hearing a stranger's opinion. Especially if that involved spending more time with the person he truly cared about. “Wonderful. And of course. Please follow me.” His voice had become softer as he led her out of her office and down the hallway, keeping his hand in hers. The two took a left turn towards the wing that had recently finished renovations. Renovations that Dasco had not allowed Hannah to know the details of for months, despite her continuously asking about it. They descended a smaller staircase before arriving in another hallway, one that curved against the structure of the building and had multiple windows to gaze out towards the sea. As they came to the end of the hallway, a grand double door stood before them, engraved with delicate details and designs of numerous stories and tales that Dasco had heard from Hannah, all interwoven together to create a mural of narrative. Placing the box down carefully, Dasco removed a key from his jacket pocket and proceeded to unlock the doors. Grabbing the box once more, he turned towards Hannah while stepping backwards and pressing his weight into the doors behind him to bring them into the space. The room they entered was massive and glowed from the warmth of a fireplace that was located in the back center of the room. Surrounding it was a large, dark red couch with blankets draped over it. The windows on either side of the fireplace had curtains adorned on them that were black and gold. On both their right and left were rows of bookshelves waiting to be filled with moving staircases attached to each of them. There were, of course, tables and chairs scattered about for the use of studying. Perhaps the most surprising aspect of this library was the coffee and popcorn bar that was fit snug in the right hand corner of the room. Finally, the box Dasco had been holding found its final resting stop--for now, he hoped--, as he spun Hannah across the room, his left hand resting on the small of her back as he looked at her intently. “This library, forever more, is yours. It is yours to use to your heart's content. Should anything need to be modified or added by your decree, I will see it done.” Misty
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Post by Misty on Jan 24, 2021 15:21:05 GMT -5
“It’s definitely not. I just know they’re going to have dozens of questions, and I don’t want to take the time to answer them while we’re together.” For that reason alone, Lucas wasn’t going to send the picture right away. It wouldn’t be right of him to use his time with Selena to constantly text his friends. “We could just hang out some more. We’ve done everything that we wanted to for the day.” ~~~ “I completely trust that you paid attention to everything I’ve said about my favorite books and my favorite authors.” But there was fun in their banter, in teasing Dasco under the guise of him not knowing much about her personal life, let alone her favorite romance novels, and vice versa. It wasn’t uncommon for the banter to go back and forth until someone caved. Today, that had been her. As they strolled down the halls toward the solution of which Dasco spoke, Hannah remained quiet. Despite the fact the renovations were now complete, she knew her questions would go unanswered until he revealed the project. That hadn’t stopped her from asking numerous questions throughout the renovations. She had been curious after overhearing months worth of renovation noises and partial discussions about design and furniture choices. “Oh my god.” Hannah found herself face-to-face with Dasco, and she couldn’t help herself. She placed both hands on the back of his neck and kissed him. “So this is why you kept everything a secret from me.” From what she had overheard, she would have never guessed that his latest project had been a library. Her library. It put her home library to shame, something she would have never thought possible. “It’s perfect, Dasco. I love it.” How could it possibly need to be modified when the library fit her tastes? The black-and-gold curtains, the black shelves that stretched to the ceiling, the rolling staircases on the shelves to help her reach the topmost shelves, the candles all carefully arranged, the flowers sitting along the windows, the bar area that she knew was already stocked with popcorn... It was all absolutely perfect. She might not have made the same design choices if she had been in charge, but the library was still perfect. featherleg
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Post by featherleg on Jan 24, 2021 17:06:42 GMT -5
She wasn’t expecting him to answer so honestly. Selena figured that he would just send the photo and the barrage of questions would begin. Lucas had a point though. Why rush the rest of their day together when they could just relax and be? “Sure, why not. You pick something to do and I’ll take us there.” ----------------- Dasco smiled against her lips, the hand that was previously holding hers tangling into her hair. As she pulled away, he held his smile and her within his arms. He knew that keeping this all a secret would be difficult, but it was well worth it in the end to see her as she was now. “I am overjoyed that you do, my love. You do have my sincerest apologies for the secrecy, but I wanted this to be a surprise for you and you only. Which reminds me…”, His voice trailed off as he reached into his jacket pocket once more and presented her a key, similar to the one he had used previously but with a different design, “...this is for you. I know you value your privacy, especially when it comes to your reading. Rest assured, the only one that would cause you a distraction would be myself.” Misty
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Post by Misty on Jan 24, 2021 20:45:16 GMT -5
“We could head back to my place and spend the rest of the afternoon there,” Lucas suggested. He had already seen where she lived. It seemed only fair that she got to see where he lived. “We don’t necessarily have to do anything. We could just talk more.” ~~~ “I suspected that you were working on something for me,” Hannah confessed. That hadn’t stopped her from being curious, so Dasco had endured months of her questions. She really should have known he wasn’t going to answer any of them after he hadn’t answered the first few. All the questions he had asked her during the renovations made sense now, even the seemingly random ones. She took the key, running her thumb over the design at the top. Even the key he had selected for her was perfect. “And just how many times would you distract me from my work if I were to relocate here for my research?” Mischief twinkled in her green eyes as her eyes drifted to the red couch. Dasco loved to romance her while they were alone. “...Or if I were to relocate here on a more permanent basis. I don’t think I’ll be able to leave once I get everything set up.” There was no way in hell she was going to keep her home library at home. She wanted to move everything here and decorate the shelves with all her bookish goodies. featherleg
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Post by Auransky on Jan 25, 2021 1:36:25 GMT -5
Derrick didn't seem phased by this colorful newcomer. Being a father of three, a hockey coach and part of the fire department just prepared him for this day. Would it be possible, he would have grinned from tip to tip at the opportunity that hell has prepped him for? The man extended a hand briefly with a slight upward wave, "Family is very important to some people, as others have different priorities. It's kind of like a team, but to each their own." He calmly replied at the concept. He couldn't help but tilt his head and almost raise a brow, "Hey, Hey..." He lightly waved his hands at Tom's accusation. "I was never told this was an interrogation. I was just brought here and told to sit down." He paused allowing the man to speak his mind, who clearly seemed irritated, but he also kept putting on an act which in a typical setting would irritate anyone. He would have glimpsed at Celestia, but the last thing he needed was to see her fuming in the corner of his eye. "Oh?" He leaned back in surprise. "So, it wasn't the red hair?" He raised a brow. "And here I thought you were another stalker. We've had a few restraining in the orders over red hair." He entered a semi ponder posture, leaning his head to the side a bit, with his left hand to rest against his chin. "Yea, that electrocution was from a bad trip to Australia. It was recent... and they are sending the code soon to fix it, eventually... It started as a tracker." He shrugged at the thought, still un-phased by this guy’s attitude. “I will apologize for whatever you have been placed through though.” Derrick slightly frowned. This guy seemed fed up, so it clearly hasn’t been a few minutes for him. “Though sometimes, you gotta step back and try to put yourself in others’ shoes. Just like someone is trying to protect someone, I’m certain there was or even is a time where you felt the urge to protect something or someone at all costs.” He softly stated. “Maybe neither side started on the right foot?” Derrick tried to reason. “One thing leads to another, before you realize, everything collapses and snowballs right after the other. You might have followed someone out of curiosity, but that in turn led others to panic and meet you at the highest levels of their lives in what they felt at that time as harm.” He took in a brief pause alongside a silent breath. “I’m not going to call the authorities, just wanted to know why you were here, also thought of just sharing the consequences for awareness and transparency. For that I appreciate your willingness to share your tales.” The other man appeared salty, even more so at the mention of the ID and Cellphone. Why didn’t the girls ID the man at the start?
“I don't mind sharing with you a thing or two, but...there is one thing I will ask… and it’s probably disrespectful of me..” He paused briefly. “If we’re going to talk, can you at least drop the act? It sounds farfetched of me to ask such a request, but if you had the interest and curiosity to follow Rowlin, it means you are someone who clearly enjoys a good conversation.” He raised his hands almost wanting to shake his head, “I could be wrong, you’re probably going to tell me you made an act, and that’s fine… but..” He paused looking over at Rowlin. “You can’t lie to this educator, no matter how hard an act he always reads through a person. It’s why he chooses to insert himself into the conversation, even if it lands him into trouble.” He smiled, holding back a smug, it wasn’t a lie- Just like Vincent…
Rowlin had been listening to Derick give Tom the dad talk. Well- it felt like a dad lecturing a kid, he had briefly forgotten they were in this room-in this mess. It was until Derrick pointed him, he flinched then briefly glimpsed down. I don’t want to talk about my track record…
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Post by featherleg on Jan 25, 2021 14:03:10 GMT -5
As the two went back and forth, it was hard to tell how much progress they were actually making. Tom still seemed just as stubborn if not more agitated than he was when Celestia was speaking to him, and the answers he was giving to Derrick were repeats. Even if he was telling the truth, his thought process and actions made no sense. What did make sense to Aika and Celestia was the fact that he had been in jail to some degree before. Not just due to his actions but his whole attitude. The way he answered their questions in the dodgiest manner possible. And, well, Derrick was right to not look at his wife as Tom finished his tale, for the glare she gave the intruder was murderous. It was evident she was biting her tongue to hold back whatever fire she wished she could spew at this man, who thought it would be hilarious to break into her home and endanger those within it. Aika, seeing her friend's anger, stood up from her chair and moved next to her, taking her hand in hers and giving it a squeeze as she whispered calmly to her. “We both know this guy is an idiot, and I know he’s insulting you in any way he can, but we need to hold back for now.” Celestia gripped her hand as she took in a few deep breaths to calm herself. Once it seemed like her friend had regained a bit of her composure, Aika let go of her hand and returned to her seat as Derrick brought up the beginning of what seemed to be a negotiation. If they wanted to get more information, they would have to give him something in return. “If you drop the attitude and start answering his questions like an adult, we’ll drop the restraints. I honestly don’t care about your opinion on us. What I and everyone in this room care about is the danger you introduced into this household. You can hold onto your inflated ego all you like, but you will answer for your actions.” Aika’s tone was flat and cold as she stared Tom down before reclining back into her seat, her eyes flickering towards Derrick to give him the go ahead to proceed in the conversation. We need to get an edge on this guy somehow.
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Post by featherleg on Jan 25, 2021 17:54:52 GMT -5
Misty “Alright. Let me pay for our order and then we can head out.” She gestured for him to scoot out of the booth so she could head over to the counter. Once he had, she walked over and talked briefly with their waiter, paying for the meal while also picking up a few pastries for the road. Finishing her transaction, she walked back over to Lucas with a bag of baked goods in one hand and the other resting against her purse. “All set. I’m excited to see your place. You’ll give me the grand tour of it, right?” Her head was already filled with hypothetical layouts and designs of what his abode could possibly be set in as they made their way out of the café and back to her car. Taking the driver's seat, she handed him the auxiliary cord to hook his phone up to her car's speakers. “As long as you don’t play screamo music, I’m fine with anything. Oh, and directions would be rather helpful.” --------------------------------------- He chuckled at her confession as he lightly kissed her cheek. “You’re as astute as ever, I see.” Despite how hard he tried, he knew she would catch on to the truth of renovations eventually, or at least have an idea of what purpose they served. To make the library worthy of his and, more importantly, her standards, he needed to make sure it fit the brief to a T. Asking off handed questions about her favorite authors, books, designs, motifs, anything and everything to make this a space dedicated to her was vital. “As many times as you’d allow me.” He softly whispered to her as he rested his forehead against hers. A grin spread across his lips as she brought up the idea of her moving into the Court, his Court, permanently. “To be graced by your presence that brings me such comfort? To see your face and hear your voice before anyone else's? To watch the sunrise in this very room with you in my arms? If that is what you're offering, Hannah, that’s not a distraction. That’s a blessing.”
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Post by Misty on Jan 25, 2021 20:52:46 GMT -5
Lucas scooted out of the booth and sat down again. While Selena paid for their drinks and snacks, he sent his friends the picture of them smiling together before switching his phone into do not disturb mode. “I’m not sure how grand the tour will be,” he said as he stood. “But you will get the tour.” Once they were back in the car, he took the auxiliary cord and plugged it into his phone before scrolling through some of his playlists. “Lucky for you, I’m not into screamo music.” Lucas selected a playlist that was similar to the one they had listened to earlier. “You’re going to want to make a right out of here.” ~~~ “Well, when you repeatedly avoid my questions about a particular subject and instead ask your own questions about an unrelated subject...” Hannah really shouldn’t have been surprised Dasco created a library space for her, but he had listened to her talk about her favorite books and authors long before renovations began - just as she listened to him share about music and art. They would continue to listen to each other discuss their interests now that the library was complete. Listening to Dasco share about his passions was the perfect way to end a long day of work. “Then I suspect you would get no work of your own done if I had my way.” Hannah flashed an innocent smile as she placed both hands on the back of his neck again. Hannah’s cheeks flushed red. “Am I not already a blessing when I spend my nights here with you?” She whispered. There was no hurt in hurt words, no indication that she had been offended at what Dasco had said. “I believe you’ll need to find me a bedroom to use now that I’ve decided I want to live here permanently. There’s one upstairs that I really like. It has a beautiful view, and my would-be roommate is quite handsome. That is, if he’ll agree to share his room with me.” featherleg
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Post by featherleg on Jan 25, 2021 22:11:13 GMT -5
Misty Selena let out a sigh of relief as she heard the start of the playlist he had selected. “Thank goodness. I dated someone briefly who was and I just could not get into it.” She shook her head as she followed his directions to his home. As they drove through town, the clouds above them seemed to finally have begun to break apart, allowing darts and rays of sunshine to be casted down from above. “Huh, would you look at that. The weather report said it would rain this weekend from today until Sunday. Maybe the meteorologists got it wrong for once.” Three days worth of rain? As much as Selena liked it when she was at her cottage, she absolutely dreaded it when in the city. --------------------------- “Ah, but aren’t you glad I did?” Dasco asked as he gestured with his eyes to the room around them before returning to her gaze, a look of pride held within them. Ever since they had become a couple, Dasco had wanted nothing more than to find a way to express his gratitude and dedication to her. To show how special she was to him. Upon discovering what used to be a private tea room that hadn’t been used in ages, he knew exactly what needed to be done. A space for them, for her, to relax and enjoy each other's company. A library fit for the queen of his heart. With her hands placed on the back of his neck, he moved his to her lower back, allowing the two to sway as he answered her, his eyes captivated by her smile. “My lady, neither of us would, for I’m afraid I wouldn’t let you go if given such an opportunity.” He sighed softly at her question, his left hand cupping her cheek after brushing her hair to the side. “Of course you are. I don’t take any time with you for granted for every moment I spend with you is divine.” Dasco couldn’t help but smile tenderly at her. “The door was always open, dear. I was just waiting for you to ask.” With that, he softly kissed her, his right hand pulling her closer to him. As he broke the kiss, his left hand returned to her back as he whispered in her ear, “My queen, it would be my honor to have you live here with me.”
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Post by Misty on Jan 25, 2021 23:57:38 GMT -5
About fifteen minutes later, Lucas told Selena to make the final right turn into a parking garage for a modern, expensive-looking apartment building. “I normally park on the second or third floor. There should be guest spots up there.” It was unlikely that they would all be taken. Most guests preferred to park on the bottom floor. After Selena had parked and they had gotten out of the car, Lucas directed her to a door that connected the parking garage to the apartment building. He punched in a six-digit code before pulling open the door for her. “Elevators are on the right. We need to go up.” ~~~ “I am very glad you did. Everything in here is absolutely perfect. You’ve considered everything I’ve ever told you about I would want in my dream library. I don’t think there’s a single thing in here that I would change.” From floor-to-ceiling bookshelves with an attached rolling staircase so she didn’t have to precariously balance on a ladder while wearing heels to storage places for all her blankets that were currently at her home to her favorite flowers potted near the windows... Dasco had considered every detail, whether large or small, for the library. Hannah closed her eyes, reveling in the moment as a content smile spread across her face. This was just one of many moments that they stole while they were completely alone. She opened her eyes. “Just as you don’t want to let me go right now.” A statement, not a question. The content smile turned playful as one hand slid upward to play with his hair. “As you should. I’ve been told my company is quite valuable, you know. Just last week, this very handsome man was calling me every day and telling me how much he missed me and how he couldn’t wait for me to return from my trip. I almost told him how much I missed him.” “My dear, I would love to live here with you, but I’m afraid I do have one request to make. I would very much like to see the room I’ll be staying in before I settle in for the night. I need to make sure it’s up to my standards.” Hannah slipped her hand into Dasco’s. “Shall we?” featherleg
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Post by featherleg on Jan 26, 2021 14:59:07 GMT -5
She nodded as she drove them up to the third floor of the parking garage. It took a minute of circling the lot, but they did manage to find a guest parking spot that wasn’t too far from where the entrance to the main building was. Making sure to lock her car, Selena followed Lucas towards the doors, waiting for a brief second as he entered the security code before saying ‘thank you’ and entering the apartment complex. Following his instructions, the two stood in front of the elevator as they waited for it to arrive. It didn’t take too long for the doors to open, fortune smiling on them again as no one was in the elevator. “What floor is your apartment on?” Selena asked as her hand hovered over the keypad of floor numbers. -------------------------- Seeing her eyes open, Dasco hummed a soft ‘yes’ to her statement. There were times where he would lament to her in private how he wished he didn’t have to send her off on trips, but no one else knew him like she did that worked within the Court. No one else had her expertise or was cunning or confident to go where she did. Feeling her fingers and nails curl into his hair and run against his skin made him go silent as he closed his eyes momentarily, pulling him back into the present. As his gaze returned to her mischievous eyes, he listened quietly to her, raising a brow at her story. “Is that so? I would say this dashing gentleman of yours meant every word he said, just as I do.” “But of course, Hannah. After all, your wish,” in one quick motion, he lifted her up and began carrying her out of the library, “is my command.” He grinned wickedly at her as he proceeded to carry her off towards his chambers, only stopping to make sure to lock the library doors behind them. Misty
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Post by Misty on Jan 26, 2021 22:45:35 GMT -5
“The top floor,” Lucas answered as the elevator doors slid closed. “I wanted the best view of the city. There’s a shit ton of things I don’t like about cities, but it’s hard to beat the view, especially at night. Seeing everything lit up... I don’t know, I just really like it.” There was something Lucas found comforting in seeing a city lit up at night. After they got off the elevator, Lucas went right and walked about halfway down the hall before stopping in front of a undecorated door. He took out his keys and unlocked the door before holding it open for Selena. “This is my place.” He closed the door behind them and flipped the deadbolt to lock the door. As they moved through the entryway, the apartment opened up to reveal an open concept kitchen, dining, and living area with hardwood floors throughout. The space was decorated in gray and white tones, adding to the space’s openness. Beyond the dining area was a sliding door that led to a balcony area. On the walls were various canvases showcasing abstract art that heavily featured blue tones. ~~~ A short time later, Hannah found herself in Dasco’s - their - bed. She lazily ran a finger up and down his chest, being careful to not scratch him with her nails. “I think I could get used to sharing a bed with you every night,” she murmured. “To fully share this lifestyle with you...” Her finger stopped as she sat straighter to lean against the headboard. “I would love nothing more.” She leaned to kiss Dasco on the cheek before deciding to lean against him. featherleg
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Post by featherleg on Jan 26, 2021 23:41:09 GMT -5
Selena looked over at her brother in surprise before she hit the button. What type of job do you have to afford the top floor?? She wondered as she listened to him. “Everyone has things that they like that they can’t put into words properly. It’s a feeling like no other, though, right?” She followed after him as they arrived at the top, nodding her head in thanks as he allowed her into his space. After taking a few steps in, she stood there, her gaze wandering across the vast canvas that was the main living area. It felt minimalist to a certain extent, but well put together. Despite the blues tones, she found the overall composition and design of his apartment to be comforting. Selena smiled to herself as she whispered, “It’s you.” It was like finding the last piece of a puzzle. Everything about the space clicked for her, made sense. ------------------------------- Dasco had his eyes closed, his arms wrapped around her as he enjoyed the softness of the moment. The feeling of her tracing his chest in random patterns. As Hannah spoke up, he slowly opened his eyes to gaze down at her only to close them again as she kissed his cheek, causing him to smile. He opened his eyes as she leaned against him to look at her again as he began to run his fingers through her hair, taking the time to think over his words as well as hers. “You know you wouldn’t just be sharing this room, this bed, with me. You’d be a permanent resident in my Court.” He gently cupped her cheek as his eyes filled with concern. “Are you positive this is the life you want, Hannah?” Dasco knew she was well aware of the restrictions of living in any Court as a permanent resident. While she would still be able to leave the grounds, there were responsibilities that she would have to take on. They would certainly have to make their relationship public, official. She would have to attend more meetings. The ones that Dasco hated that she would hear about only in passing. He trusted her and loved her more than anything or anyone, but...was it fair to her to suddenly place her into such a situation? Only she could answer that for him. Misty
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Post by Misty on Jan 27, 2021 13:44:03 GMT -5
“That’s exactly it.” It was a feeling like no other. “I might have gone a little overboard with all the blue, but it’s my favorite color, and it’s pretty hard to screw up when decorating with it.” Blue was comforting, soothing, safe. “Oh! The canvases you see, I painted them myself.” Hanging his art on the walls immediately made a space feel more like home to him, even if he didn’t have a lot of other decorations in the main living area. ~~~ “I’ve been thinking about this for a couple of weeks. Not consistently, but enough to know I was positive about wanting this life... Or I thought I was.” Hannah placed a hand over his. “I’m not so worried about the additional responsibilities that come with being a permanent resident of the Court. The meetings might suck ass, but most meetings do anyway. I’m more worried about my freedoms and choices being taken away.” Occasionally, Hannah spent time away from the Court for personal matters. Having to stay on the Court grounds at all times didn’t appeal to her. Additionally, she didn’t want to feel pressured to change how she presented herself. She had found a business wardrobe that she liked, that she felt confident wearing, in her short skirts and tight dresses with low necklines, and she adored her lip ring. “But it’s all or nothing. I’m either a permanent resident of this Court, or I’m not.” featherleg
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