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Gary Leonard Oldman
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#Post#: 2791--------------------------------------------------
Courting A Maiden
DIR By: Wolfy
Date: September 5, 2013, 10:23 am
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HTML http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa285/Danisvampiress/Untitled-1-35.jpg
Summary
Lily finds herself living next door to a very arrogant and
seemingly self centered male escort after leaving her hometown
to try living alone. Normally, it was something she could brush
off, but this one was doing all within his power to woo her and
she soon finds it impossible to ignore his advances.
Characters
Lily "[glow=red,2,300]Nightingale[/glow]" Paisley
Antoine "[glow=blue,2,300]Don Juan[/glow]" Laconte
Attire & Architecture
HTML http://www.polyvore.com/courting_maiden_attire_architecture/collection?id=2893803
HTML http://www.polyvore.com/courting_maiden_attire_architecture/collection?id=2893803
Playlist
Don't Be A Stranger - Dina Carroll
Only A Woman Like You - Michael Bolton {theme}
In The Air Tonight - Phil Collins
No Explanation - Peter Cetera
Can't You Stay - Tone Norum
Is This Love - Whitesnake {theme 2}
I'd Have You Anytime - George Harrison
Love Walked In - Thunder
Insatiable - Darren Hayes
Give In To Me - Michael Jackson
Ever Fallen In Love - Stiff Dylans {theme 3}
Addictive - Truth Hurts
Did It Again - Shakira
She's A Lady - Tom Jones
Quizas - Enrique Iglesias
Ain't It Funny - Jennifer Lopez
El Estuche - Aterciopelados
#Post#: 2792--------------------------------------------------
Re: Courting A Maiden
DIR By: Wolfy
Date: September 5, 2013, 4:24 pm
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[glow=red,2,300]A Little Too Haunted[/glow]
Moving to an entirely different state seemed a little drastic in
most cases, but that night had changed my whole outlook on life
and I no longer felt comfortable within my own home. My decision
to move as far away from the problem as possible was the only
answer I could come up with and it mattered not that I may be
leaving people behind, as there was no one in the country who
would miss me. No one but my good friend Lucy, which was even
more of an incentive for me to pack up and go, seeing as she
lived halfway across the world anyway. It had been a great many
years since we had last seen one another, but spoke over the
phone several times a week, just to check up on one another. We
were like sisters almost, apart from the fact that our blood
belonged to two different families and the lives we led were
polar opposites, for the most part at least. Having been the
best of friends since childhood, it was pretty much a given that
we looked out for each other all of the time. And after the god
awful experience I had a few nights ago, she was more than
worried for my sanity, as was expected.
I managed to take deep, calming breaths long enough to explain
exactly what had happened and though at first she could not find
it within herself to believe what she marked a tall tale, she
soon came around and opened up to her own experiences. For
hours, we lounged about, chatting away as though we hadn’t
spoken in over a couple of years and it was the right amount of
reassurance I needed. But nothing could keep me fearless enough
to stick around and after a long debate, I decided I was
leaving. Lucy and her husband David lived way out in California,
snuggled into a cozy little cottage home in the city of Santa
Ana. As soon as she had invited me to stay with them a while, I
could not refuse, despite not wishing to impose and cause any
upset on her husbands part. She reminded me over and over that
he was as carefree as anything though and he wouldn’t have a
problem with such arrangements. So, after several further
debates and a long list of items I would absolutely have to
bring along with me, I was packing my suitcase and a handful of
other bags, given the amount of belongings I had. Usually, I’d
just dump into a small suitcase all I’d need for a short holiday
from work, but as the move was permanent, it had to include
absolutely everything I had ever bought in my life. Well,
perhaps not everything.
My head spun with so many negative outcomes of this move that it
had my vision failing dramatically. I had to take a moment to
sit down and try out those breathing exercises again to prevent
further damage to my senses. If I left the country just like
this, without so much as planning or prepping beforehand, I
would no longer have work, would probably end up borrowing money
from my best friend and completely ruining the lives of both her
and her husband in the process. It wasn’t ideal, nor what I
wanted for myself or others, but I had no choice. Repeatedly, I
reminded myself that she was more than charitable and would
allow me to stay until I had found a place for as long as it
took. And for that alone, I now owed her the world and more.
Many times had she rescued me from struggles I found I couldn’t
quite hack on my own and it was now time to repay her for such
generosity.
The flight to California from Washington seemed to drag on
forever, despite it not being all that far. At least, on the map
of the world, it didn’t look far at all. But for those who were
used to flying, it was a hell of a distance and the constant
ache in my stomach as we hit turbulence more times than I could
count, knocked me back quite a bit. It was over before I knew
it, though. The landing was rather smooth and the people all
around me were friendly as they offered me a hand and asked if I
was alright. And here I thought California was the home of
arrogance and ignorance; I’d been proven very wrong before I’d
even set foot through the gates of the airport. An airport that
was bound to put others to shame as it had some of the most well
mannered staff members I had ever encountered. The place was
spotless and not a single thing was out of place or confusing.
I’d half expected it to be packed tight with people rushing
about and trying to catch their flights, yet it was almost
frightening, given the order and lack of chaos. I did not fly
often, but the airports I had been to were nothing in
comparison.
Rather than make an absolute fool out of myself by trying to
drag my belongings onto a bus, I quickly called for a cab and
was surprised to find it outside in less than a few seconds.
There were so many passing by on the roads that it was
inevitable for one to pull up exactly when I needed it, though.
After giving the friendly but otherwise smelly cab driver my
destination and hoping it wouldn’t take too long to arrive, off
we went, speeding down the highway and along many busy streets.
The streets here were mostly coastal and the view was
breathtaking. Where I used to live, back in Washington, the
ocean was miles and miles from my home and it would take two bus
journeys to get there. And even then, it would be almost sunset
upon arrival which made the whole trip rather pointless.
“Enjoy your holiday, miss?” the driver inquired, casting a
glance at me through the mirror.
Smiling a little, I shook my head and told him I had not been on
holiday at all and was in fact moving to live with my friend for
a while. I told him everything that had happened, but I am not
sure why I felt it necessary to confide in someone I barely
knew. Perhaps that was a comfort in a way. He seemed to buy it
almost immediately, whereas Lucy had done quite the opposite, so
I was thankful. We had just about finished our discussion when
he pulled up toward a dainty looking building on my left and I
beamed. It was as though someone had plucked the cottage from a
fairytale and planted all kinds of roses and daises around the
edge, complete with sandy coloured fencing to protect the flower
garden. I’d never seen anything like it before; not even through
all of the photographs my friend had emailed to me many, many
months ago. I had them all saved onto my laptop, so would have
to boot it up and compare them to reality a little later on,
providing Lucy didn’t wish to go out and celebrate of course. It
was so very like her to want appreciate the finer things in life
and I guessed that with me moving in, there would be more than
enough reason to toast to new beginnings and goodness knows what
else.
Of course, over the duration of the evening, I had to constantly
remind her that I would only be making myself comfortable until
I found somewhere around town that was affordable on the meager
amount of cash I had in my savings account. If I could rent a
place instead, that would be even better. But judging by half
the homes in this neighbourhood, I wouldn’t be able to afford
anything unless I worked for royalty, or was in fact royalty
myself. We spent a further few hours laughing and joking, with
her husband David earning an enormous giggling session from the
pair of us as he cracked witty and altogether entertaining
jokes. I had only met him once or twice before, so living with
him and my best friend was going to be quite a challenge, though
I had absolutely no doubts given the kind aura pouring off of
him. And he made my friend very happy, which was more than I
could say for myself.
My own love life was almost morbid to think about as it lacked
in any kind of life at all. For a short while, I had felt
content with that. But over time, I realised just how lonely I
was and with Lucy being married off with her perfect match and
moving to another state, I wanted a man in life something
terrible. She didn’t know that though – and she never would, or
I’d never hear the end of it. Her idea of happiness was for me
to finally find the one who shared my soul and would forever
sweep me off my feet before riding me into the sunset on his
noble steed. At these memories, I burst out laughing and caught
their attention immediately, which wound up with me shielding my
burning red cheeks and praying my nose hadn’t followed suit,
making me look like one of santa’s reindeer as it often did when
I was embarrassed.
“My darling sister from another mister, looks like you best be
heading off to bed. I’m sure that jet lag will be catching up
with you real soon and you wouldn’t want to be standing around
when it does,” Lucy spoke up, rising from her spot on the sofa
and pulling me into a crushing embrace.
I returned it either way, despite the lack of air that was
passing through into my lungs as she squeezed me so tightly. I
had almost forgotten what it felt like to be given a hug from
someone who cared a lot about you and it was clear my emotions
were running high tonight, as a single tear fell from my eye. As
my friend pulled away and donned a smile, she brushed it away
and pecked my forehead lightly before grabbing my hand and
practically dragging me toward the guest bedroom. Along the way,
David passed by and gave me a brief handshake and warm smile,
letting me know all was well. And with that, I felt better
instantly. Their guest bedroom was one of the cutest rooms I had
ever seen and there was a mountain of pillows and cushions atop
the double bed, just waiting to be pounced on, which I would
soon have to follow through with. Perhaps not in her company,
though.
“Lucy, it’s perfect. Thank you so much for letting me stay
here.. I don’t know where I’d be without you,” I said, pouring
my heart out and finding tears falling down my cheeks yet again.
“There’s no need to thank me, Lily. Our home is your home,
anytime you wish for it to be so,” she responded, her own eyes
filling to the brim with tears.
We remained in the doorway for several minutes, clinging
desperately to one another as though if a window opened, one of
us would fly away and never return. Our tears stopped after a
little while and we then felt it was okay to let go. Laughing at
ourselves and our random behaviour, we parted ways with the
lengthiest of goodnights and I clicked the door shut, dropping
back against it and smiling from ear to ear at the wonderful
gift I had been given. This room was almost fit for a princess
and I would find a way to pay them both back, one way or
another. If I had to work in the most awkward of places to
collect the money, I would just go ahead and do it. Lucy meant
more to me than half the family members who had chosen to
abandon me when I was small and I wasn’t about to let her
kindness walk on by without at least recognising her good deeds.
Plumping up two of the pillows and scattering the cushions about
on the bed, I kneeled down beside it after pulling back the
covers, closed my eyes over and drew my hands together for a
prayer. Since my early childhood years, I had been reciting the
same thing every night before I went to sleep, as some kind of
comfort that I could not place. I was unable to recall who had
taught me the prayer, but each and every time I repeated those
words, all my troubles fell away.
[glow=red,2,300]
Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, the little Lord Jesus, laid
down his sweet head.
The stars in the night sky, looked down where he lay, the little
Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.
The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes, but little Lord Jesus,
no crying he makes.
I love thee Lord Jesus, look down from the sky, and stay by my
bedside till morning is nigh.
Be near me Lord Jesus, I ask thee to stay, close by me forever
and love me I pray.
Bless all the dear children in thy tender care, and fit us for
heaven to live with thee there.[/glow]
A happy little smile etched itself onto my lips as I crawled
beneath the warm covers and stared up at the ceiling for a few
minutes before turning onto my side and falling asleep to the
gentle whistle of the wind outside my window. Tomorrow would be
a new day and a completely fresh start in a home I was more than
welcome to reside in for as long as I needed. My slumber was
uneventful, void of dreams and nightmares, which I found
surprising the moment my eyes shot open. The morning sun was
already shining fully through the thin fabric of the curtains
and as I opened them, I was half blinded by the light, yet it
was pleasant in a strange way. Its warmth was welcoming, but
it’s ability to blur my vision was not and as I turned on my
heel to get away from it, I tripped over my boots and fell into
a couple of objects on my way back to the bed. All the while
though, I found myself laughing uncontrollably at my own
clumsiness and knew if Lucy had been in the room, she would be
rolling about on the floor by now.
“Rise and shine sleeping beauty!” called David as he came
bounding toward my room, knocking with so much force, I figured
the door would fall from its hinges any moment now.
“Alright already! I’m up.. give me a minute to get dressed,” I
retorted, adding my own bang to the door so he knew I’d heard
him loud and clear.
As his footsteps scampered off elsewhere, I heard the distinct
sound of laughter erupting from his mouth and knew he was highly
amused with himself. Hm, I would have to make sure to wake him
in such a way sometime soon, just to see how he liked it. And
all the while, I was wondering where Lucy was, but stopped that
train of thought when I heard her call from what I pressumed was
the kitchen. Inviting me to stay and then cooking what smelt
like an absolutely perfect breakfast was more than I could have
imagined and she was certainly doing her best to make her guest
happy.
“Oooh, a full breakfast!” I squeaked, jumping up onto one of the
high chairs beside the counter. “You shouldn’t have, Lucy.”
Lucy merely shrugged and waved off my words as though she did
this kind of thing every morning, and by the look on David’s
face, that was now a given. He must have her up and cooking
early with the line of work he’s in and it was then that I took
the time to appreciate the finer things in life myself. It was
one of the things Lucy was best at and I’d envied her for so
long, but now I was beginning to understand how she could
appreciate them so much and so easily at that. She had been
given such a wonderful life, with her stunning looks and a
husband who just couldn’t keep his hands or eyes off of her. I
giggled quietly to myself as I munched away at my breakfast and
watched their exchange. They were both up early for work, but I
had yet to find myself a job, so I was going to have to get down
to that soon. But in the meantime, I could enjoy the blissful
life they led and could only continue to watch their
playfulness. I was only a few feet away, happily chewing on my
well buttered toast and fried green tomatoes, but it seemed they
were more than used to a public display of affection. Besides, I
didn’t mind in the slightest.
“Well!” I said, jumping off the chair and whisking my now empty
plate over to the sink, popping it into the hot, bubbly water
and allowing it to soak. “I best be off.. got to find myself a
job so I can be out of your hair and whatnot. Wouldn’t want you
both putting up with my madness too long.”
Almost immediately, the pair of them pulled apart and out came a
string of disagreements from both, which I found highly
entertaining given the situation. I was only halfway out the
kitchen door when they spoke up and as I turned to look back at
them, I noticed the tanglement they had gotten themselves into
and were now struggling to get out of. Laughing like a lunatic,
I continued on my way out but just before I reached the front
door, I slung my ever faithful bag over my shoulder and called
back to them, letting them know all would be absolutely fine and
if there was any trouble, I knew how to reach them. Lucy had my
number if need be, but I doubted very much any emergency calls
would be made.
“I’ll be back before the sun sets, don’t worry” I said, sounding
chipper and full of life for once.
Hell, I had only been in their home for one day and already,
their combined happiness had brought on a load for me, too. I
found myself grinning like an idiot as I strolled down the
neverending streets, turning corners wherever I could and hoping
I’d find some kind of Estate Agents soon. The heeled sandals I’d
chosen to wear didn’t make my trek any easier, but the
lightweight clothes I had thrown on certainly did. It felt
almost as though I was barely dressed and under this burning
sun, I was glad for it.
#Post#: 2796--------------------------------------------------
Re: Courting A Maiden
DIR By: Wolfy
Date: September 9, 2013, 6:29 am
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[glow=red,2,300]New Girl In Town[/glow]
Biting back the urge to scream as I had visited several Estate
Agents already, without any kind of luck at all, I padded into
the next store down the street. Inwardly, I was prepared for
another negative response, but the middle aged woman in here
seemed awfully confident and understanding. She must have
noticed the wounded, tiresome expression on my face and
immediately, she rose from the chair behind her desk and ushered
me forward to take a seat opposite her impressive looking LCD
monitor. I made a mental note to purchase one of those whenever
I found I had enough money to afford it. It was in remarkable
condition, so I assumed it was new and by the way she navigated
the screen, with minor difficulties, I realised she wasn’t quite
used to it yet.
“What kind of property are you looking for, ma’am” she asked,
glancing at me over the rim of her specs as she continued to
type away, backspacing all of her mistakes every once in a
while.
I tried not to chuckle at her obvious inexperience with such a
high tech computer and managed to respond as best I could,
offering up all details I had in mind. She listened intently,
muttering small sounds here and there to acknowledge she had
heard everything. Eventually, she turned the computer halfway
around on its stand so I could share the view as well. Of
course, I had to lean over a little to get a proper look at what
she was showing me, but I could see a vast number of beautiful
homes already on display. The prices however, they weren’t what
I was hoping to work with and I was well out of my league trying
to buy a house here without first landing myself a job. But what
was I to do, without knowing where to begin? It occurred to me
then and there that I would have to take out some kind of loan
before considering renting an apartment or anything as such. I
had been hoping for my own home that would be free of others,
due to my inability to concentrate properly on mundane tasks
when surrounded on all four walls by people renting the same
building. I’d tried that once before and the end results had
been rather tragic. Needless to say, I wound up paying out for
hospital charges after knocking a kid off his skateboard and
watching in horror as he tumbled down the concrete steps,
breaking both his wrists. I’d winced and felt horribly ashamed
of my behaviour only after I realised my mistake. At the time
though, I had been too angry and too consumed with hatred to
even care what happened.
Sighing, I bowed my head slightly and fiddled with my hands as I
spoke. It made sense that I was feeling so down and out, but the
idea that this woman might not take pity on me was overwhelming
and frightening. I didn’t need to feel worse than I already was
and if she so much as thought about stifling laughter, I’d be
right down the street despite the ridiculous sandals I’d chosen
to wear this morning.
“Is there anything within the range of three hundred to four
hundred?” I asked, my gaze cast downward still for fear of utter
humiliation. “Perhaps just a little lower?” I added, now wishing
the ground would pull me under.
To my surprise, the woman reached a hand forward and lay it
gently atop mine, giving it a gentle squeeze and offering a warm
smile. Ah, and there I figured she was going to make me feel
even more insecure. I had to halt my immediate assumptions
around people I had never met before. There was an understanding
behind her eyes, but when that smile fell and she opened her
mouth to speak, I knew it wouldn’t be good news. It never was,
no matter how hard I strived to make ends meet. It almost always
came back to torture me.
“I’m sorry, dear. All we have around those prices aren’t what
you’re most likely looking for. If you are unable to pay rent
for this selection, I’m afraid I can’t offer you a place,” she
said, a hint of sadness laced with her words.
I knew full well that nothing could be done about this and
though I had somewhere to stay, I felt as though I was imposing
and invading someone elses life. Lucy, nor David, seemed to mind
much at all but after a while, I knew I’d begin to get on their
nerves and falling out with the only two people who mattered
wasn’t on my agenda. Sooner or later, I would find myself a job
or another way of earning the money I’d need to buy my own
place. Perhaps taking on side jobs in the meantime would help me
save up; it wasn’t ideal but it was necessary. The idea of
borrowing from a loan shark didn’t sound too great, but I was
prepared to make rash decisions if need be.
“I understand. Thank you for your time and your patience,” I
said, managing to hold back the sob that had built in my throat
as I weighed up my options. All the bad luck in the world was
more often than not, tossed at me and my best friend could vouch
for that. If ever she was in a sticky situation, she knew how to
worm her way out.
The kind woman rose from her chair again and walked me to the
door, offering all kinds of apologies as though she wanted to
break all the rules and find me a place to stay without having
to pay much for keep. I’d considered the idea of staying in one
of the less flattering homes they had on file, but thought
otherwise when I had seen the state they were in. It was no
wonder the asking prices were so very low and I’d much rather
intrude on family or friends than spend even a day in one of
those boxy, smelly, broken wooden trailers. They were the only
homes I could afford, but I wasn’t going to back down so easily
just yet. If I could get my foot in the door of one of the local
businesses, I’d be well on my way to earning the amount I
needed. But again, no one was interested in hiring a trainee
admin and so I was right back where I started; confused and
defeated. And there came the rain with its impeccable timing. My
hair was the last thing I was worried about given the expensive
clothes I was wearing, but I ran for cover to keep it as dry as
possible anyway. It hung loose over my shoulders and flowed
right down my back, framing my face perfectly. Though, I often
used its length and thickness to keep my face well hidden from
those around me. I wasn’t the kind of person who liked to flaunt
herself; nor even her face. I’d been scolded a number of times
during job interviews as my employers had been unable to see me
as I answered their questions.
After several minutes of standing in the shelter of a bus stop,
the raindrops lessened and the sun soon came peeking through the
fluffy white clouds as I made my way back down the street.
Perhaps returning this early would leave a bad impression and I
didn’t want Lucy or David to think I was incapable of anything.
I wanted Lucy to be proud of me, though I didn’t really know
why. I looked up to her and believed she was always the one with
the brains and will power to push through anything and
everything. Whereas, I was the one who struggled and always
asked for help, without fail. I depended upon others far too
much and it was time to start looking after myself, without so
much as mentioning my problems to those around me, no matter how
much I was struggling.
Along the way, I bought myself a plain old vanilla ice cream and
happily danced my way along the roads as though I’d lived here
all my life. The bright rays emanating off of the sun and
shining down upon the pavement had me feeling all warm inside
and despite the poor luck I’d had so far, I couldn’t help but
smile. Well, making matters worse by moping never did anyone any
good, so being as cheerful as I could manage was a necessity.
The few people who passed by barely raised their heads to look
where they were walking and several times, I’d nearly bumped
right into them. I would have thought it quite rude had I not
been used to that back home. Some people just didn’t lift their
misery for anything; not even the warmer weather. And though I
myself wasn’t too much of a fan, I did appreciate the good mood
it put me in after having felt so down and out these past few
days.
For a further fiften minutes or so, I continued on route until I
became curious after passing by an almost vacant looking street.
It had stalls upon stalls outside each building, each containing
some kind of fruit or vegetable. But that was only the left hand
side. On the right, there were stalls for jewellery and make up.
These were the kind of stalls I often wasted my days away
browsing back home and I’d be damned if I wasn’t going to do the
same here. Besides, I needed something more to put the bounce
back into my step and the hope in my heart. A small gift to
myself would do me no harm, nor others. As I quickly finished
the remainder of my ice cream cone and chewed and chewed until
the melted chocolate at the base had disappeared, I turned and
headed into the street. Well, it was more or less an alley to be
exact. It was narrow as anything and I wondered how these people
managed to get such stalls in here without breaking something.
The gap between the two sets of stalls was even more narrow, so
it would prove quite a task to squeeze through, but I’d manage.
I’d go back home with something to show for myself if it took me
all day. But then, a box of make up or a piece of fruit weren’t
considered an achievement. I knew that very well, but my hopes
and dreams had been crushed with but a few words, so this would
be a boost.
As I browsed each stall in search of something I may like, I
realised how it was all rather expensive, save for a select few
pears and oranges. The other pieces of fruit seemed awfully high
in price for what they were, but I wasn’t going to comment on
that. This was a completely different state so naturally, I
figured everything would be different one way or another. I
didn’t wish to seem arrogant or ignorant, so I kept my lips
sealed as I approached a stall containing trinkets and whatnot.
And there, at the very end of the red velvet cloth, sat one of
the most beautifully crafted wooden katana’s I had ever seen. It
was mahogany with an accurate and clean pattern engraved into
one side. The sheath was ebony in colour and as I stretched out
my hand toward the beautiful weapon, the woman behind the stall
spoke up immediately. She had previously been reading a book,
sitting back in her chair and drowning out the world, but my
sudden interest pulled her from her activity.
“Collectors edition, dating back to the fourteenth century that
piece” she said, grinning from ear to ear as I continued to
examine the stunning weapon before me.
I couldn’t imagine why it was still here and no one had shown
interest enough to purchase it, then I considered the price and
realised it did not have a tag on it, so I’d have to ask.
Reluctant as I was, it made me wonder whether or not I could
afford it and seeing as it was fairly small in size, it being a
collectors item and all, it would be easy to get home without
much of an effort. Scanning the rest of the items atop the
fabric, I realised this was the only one of its kind and
immediately decided I’d buy it if no one else was going to. I
had very little money, but I wanted to own such fine weaponry,
or at least have something to show for being out so long. The
woman, noticing my inward debate, chose to tell me further
details i.e. whom it had belonged to and what it was often used
for. It seemed almost absurd that people would actually use
these in fights, for they were incredibly beautiful.
“How much, ma’am?” I asked, digging around in my bag for my
purse, despite the mere coins I had in there.
For a moment, she simply stood there after setting her book down
without marking off the page and looked at me, weighing up her
options. There must have been some kind of worry upon my face as
she chuckled softly before reaching toward the katana and
picking it up, examining every inch so as not to miss any
faults. Finding none, she lay it back down in front of me and
thought a moment longer. Ah, I thought it would have been priced
prior to buyers approaching the stall, but obviously not.
“For you, thirty” she finally decided, offering a warm smile.
I figured that was as good a price as any considering she’d
taken her own sweet time in deciding and had obviously knocked
the pride down a fair amount for me. I was thankful, but
couldn’t really express my gratitude with mere words so instead,
I held out my hand toward her and she took it. And now that I
was focusing fully on her, I noticed how she was dressed and the
vast amount of bangles around each wrist and rings on every
finger. Ah, a gypsy was she and a very kind one at that. I’d
heard many rumours about gypsies, that they often played games
with people and more or less robbed them for all they were
worth, but not this one. No, this one seemed to know exactly
what she was doing and had managed to reach a fair price that
would make us both happy. The outcome, of course, meant that I
had lost half the cash I had brought with me, but had also saved
more of it than I thought. Naturally, for such a fine weapon, I
would have expected the price range to be somewhere between
sixty and eighty, so this kind woman was indeed doing me a
favour and somehow, I’d have to repay her.
I stood there as still as anything a while longer, debating
whether or not I could accept such a generous offer, but soon
realised it was the best thing that had happened to me in
months. With her hand still in mine, she lay the other atop my
own and squeezed gently, something more than her smile reaching
her eyes. I couldn’t work out what it was, but her eyes seemed
to shine under the sunlight and sparkled with the tidbits of
jewellery spread out on the red fabric between us.
“You have a lot coming your way, my dear, but do not be
frightened” she said, smiling still.
Responding was pretty much a given as I was now intrigued, but
otherwise fearful of where on earth that had come from. Then, it
hit me like a ton of bricks. She was not just a gypsy, but by
the way she dressed and the words she had used, could she also
be a fortune teller? I laughed aloud at the possibility but
stopped abruptly when she released my hand and her smile turned
upside down.
“I..” I began, not quite knowing how to apologise for my
foolishness. “Forgive me, I don’t know what has come over me.
Thank you for your decision, I shall take good care of this
item.”
And as I lifted the katana from its spot between us, she touched
the tip one last time and focused on my face. I did not know
where to look but the concentration in her eyes stunned me. They
were once again sparkling with something that would be giving me
nightmares for the rest of the week. It was almost otherworldly
in a sense and unlike anything I had ever seen before. Alright,
so perhaps this woman did have abilities.
“Take care, child. A troublesome path lies ahead. You will have
to choose between what is right and what is wrong, what your
heart craves and what your mind refuses.”
She spoke no more after that and having released the katana, I
tucked the handle safely into my bag and balanced the body
against my shoulder, keeping a firm grip around the width of it.
It was fairly heavy, but nothing I could not handle. Turning on
my heel, I wanted nothing more than to run out into the street
after having paid the woman the right amount, complete with a
small tip. But something held me back and I turned one more time
to face her. As before when I had entered the tiny alley, she
was now sitting back in her chair and reading, looking as though
nothing out of the ordinary had happened and I had not even been
down there. Odd, I thought, but didn’t wish to stay much longer
to figure out the evident mystery. It was too much for my small
mind to take and as I continued on down the street with my new
gift by my side, I found the will to smile again.
Just up ahead, I spotted a sign indicating there was a condo to
rent and as I pressed on, the sight of that condo took my breath
away. It was absolutely beautiful and no doubt perfect on the
inside, too. Just by looking at the fine exterior, I knew I
wouldn’t be able to afford it, not even to rent. But the dream
was there and I only wished I could strike a bargain with
whomever owned the area. The condo at present looked rather
deserted and as I padded up the smooth path toward the white
building, I couldn’t help but giggle like a little child. If
only I had the money to rent this place for a little while, at
least until I’d found myself a steady job or could somehow save
up. Then it hit me, I could worm my way into occupying this
condo if I used my head and the right words. Many times, my
powers of persuasian had gotten me far in life and I was more
than prepared to give it a shot right now. The condo was
practically calling to me as I lay my hand upon the oaken front
door and pushed forward. Finding it unlocked, my face twisted in
wonder but when I entered the main corridor, there was no one
around. Ah, so perhaps it was unlocked for showing purposes. My,
they must certainly trust people around here if they were
willing to leave such a beautiful place open to the public. Back
home, anyone and everyone would make camp in such a place or
steal every bit of interior design they could get their grubby
little hands on.
I spent a further half hour wandering around and falling utterly
in love with the place, when a cough from behind startled me and
almost sent me off balance. Spinning on my heel, with my hand
over my racing heart, I came face to face with a snobby looking
gentleman dressed in a grey suit. He had his hair brushed back
and it appeared to be rather damp; most likely to keep it in
place. His nose was enormous and his tie was bright pink. I
wanted to scoff at the sight of him because nothing he was
wearing seemed to match, including his white dress shoes. But as
I came to the conclusion that he was in charge of showing this
particular home, I donned my brightest smile and held out my
hand toward him, which he took hesitantly. Even his hands were
warm and clammy; not very nice to the touch and I think he
noticed that as I all but yanked my hand back after the first
shake downward.
#Post#: 2797--------------------------------------------------
Re: Courting A Maiden
DIR By: Wolfy
Date: September 9, 2013, 6:30 am
---------------------------------------------------------
“How much is this place to rent, sir?” I asked, doing my utmost
to be as polite as possible, figuring it would improve my
chances a bit. “I don’t have an awful lot to spare at the
moment, but am looking to find somewhere in the neighbourhood
and this is beautiful.”
“Probably more than you can afford, my dear. These homes around
here cost a fortune, especially to rent. If you want somewhere
you can afford, might I suggest the lower, less clean parts of
town?” he said, eyeing me suspiciously as though I might pull
the katana from my bag and attack him with it.
His words were cruel and they stabbed at my heart painfully,
causing an enormous rush of hatred to seep through and flow
around my body. Hateful I was right now, but my ability to
retaliate with harsh words was null and void. It was unlike me
to just stand around and be made a fool of, but I couldn’t hack
it anymore. I’d had enough to deal with over recent months and
foul little businessmen just worth the time. Still, I would not
walk out of here without having my say and if I could persuade
him to change his mind and consider an offer I had in mind, then
all the better. But I was doubtful, given the way he looked down
on me as though I was dirt on his shiny shoes.
“Would you consider anything between three hundred and four
hundred a month?” I asked, biting back sobs.
“Don’t be ridiculous. This place costs a hell of a lot more than
that. Where on earth did you get that meager amount from? I take
it you’ve never bought a house before.. where have you been
living all these years, with your parents?” he asked, his words
dripping venom as he spoke.
That was all it took to get me going. Tears fell silently from
my eyes and I turned fully so he would not see. My shoulders
shook a little with how cruel a person could be to another and
after brushing them away, I collected myself and turned back to
confront him. His words stung nonetheless, given the loss I had
faced several years ago, so no, I had not been living with my
parents all this time and I wanted him to understand I was more
than capable of taking care of myself and making my own deals.
Even deals with the devil, as he was surely not far off.
“No, I had a home in Washington. It was a lovely place, but my
circumstances changed and I moved out here to be closer to my
friend and her husband who have kindly allowed me to stay whilst
I find a place of my own. Now, if you won’t accept anything
below those amounts, how does eight hundred sound?” I asked, my
jaw tightening so I would not be tempted to reach out and smack
him with every ounce of energy I had.
They were all more or less the same, men in business suits with
nothing to do but wander about houses like this one and show off
every part of it they could without so much as taking a step
back to consider the buyers thoughts and feelings. They were
like robots, programmed to do exactly what the print told them
to do and they would not budge for anything, but trying was all
I had and I wasn’t going to lose such a nice place just because
this agent had grown a little too big for his boots. Or shoes
rather; and they were so shiny, I could see my reflection in
them as I took a step closer and tried to look as menacing as a
dainty little woman could.
I stood there for a few moments, tapping my foot impatiently
against the marble flooring and waiting for him to change his
mind, though I doubted very much he would. Naturally, I was
surprised when he faltered for a minute and took a single step
away from me, but the words that passed through his lips weren’t
too pleasant at all.
“The likes of you don’t belong here. You should go back where
you came from.. go back to invading your friends home and feel
guitly that you are potentially ruining her life as well as her
husbands. You’re nothing but a scheming little wench and you
will get nowhere in this world behaving that way, young lady” he
barked, angered now.
I realised I had pushed him a bit, but hadn’t realised I’d
pushed him that far. I didn’t even know this man and here he was
thinking he knew every little thing about me; and figured he
could make me feel so insecure. What I wouldn’t let on to was
that he had indeed done just that. I now felt as small as a
mouse and wanted the ground to swallow me whole, just so I could
be rid of this misery. No one had ever spoken to me in such a
way before and my lower lip began to tremble when it finally
dawned on me that I was being childish. I was being unreasonable
as well, perhaps. He knew more than I did on selling, but I had
always believed it was the buyer who had the finally say or that
the agent had to at least meet them somewhere in the middle.
This one hadn’t done that and he hadn’t even tried, not even a
little. I thought that pushing him a bit might help as some
needed that, but not this one. As before, I felt tears rolling
down my cheeks but I refused to turn away from him this time. If
he saw me as nothing but a silly little girl then so be it, I
wasn’t going to let him think he had won.
“So be it.. I’ll find somewhere else that will accept my offer,”
I said, storming by him and almost reaching the doorway before
he grabbed my arm and held me back.
“You will not find anywhere or anyone who would be willing to
accept such a small amount for a place like this, woman. Take my
advice, go find somewhere downtown” he said, a sickening smile
on his lips as he let go.
I all but stumbled out of his grip and went as fast as my legs
would carry me until I was outside again. The man, he had stayed
inside and was no doubt checking everything was still in order
and I hadn’t nabbed anything whilst he hadn’t been around to
keep an eye on possible buyers. With a heavy sigh, I slumped
down on a nearby wall and dangled my legs over one side. I was
more than intent on minding my own business for a while and
became very lost in my thoughts as time passed. The sun was
still out some time later but it was clear evening was
approaching and I’d soon have to head back or face wandering
around lost in the dark. My tear stained face would hopefully go
unnoticed given how my hair shielded it for the most part.
“I don’t believe we’ve met, signorina” a voice spoke up, making
me jump as I turned my head and looked up to find a very tall
man standing behind me with a stupid grin on his face.
I really wasn’t in any kind of mood to play games, so I brushed
him off and focused on my thoughts once more, hoping he would
take the hint and leave me alone. But he didn’t do that, oh no,
he took a seat beside me on the wall and hung his own legs over
the edge. He was a little too close for comfort, but not close
enough to touch, so I said nothing on the matter and kept my
eyes forward or dancing over my hands as I fiddled with them. My
face was freezing due to the dried up tears coating my cheeks,
but I daren’t move in case the stranger decided to ask what was
wrong, or decided to make conversation that I wasn’t at all up
for.
Then, just when I thought all was clear and there would be no
chatter, he turned slightly toward me and held out his hand,
introducing himself and hoping to catch my name, too. It would
be rude not to oblige, of course, so I lay my hand in his and
suddenly realised how tiny I actually was. His hand was almost
gigantic around mine and my startled eyes lifted and met his
curious ones; where there was also a knowing smile present on
his full lips.
“Antoine Laconte.. and you are?” he asked, hoping to achieve
something this time.
“Lily… Lily Paisley” I answered, releasing my hand almost
immediately as a dominant blush spread on my cheeks, warming
them instantly. “I’m sorry.. I didn’t realise this wasn’t a
public wall. I’ll be going now,” I added, rising from my seated
position without much of a struggle and offering him a brief
smile as he rose, too.
“Stay a while, won’t you? You’re in the neighbourhood, you might
as well view the rest of the area before you consider buying a
place” he smiled, offering his arm to me as a sparkle appeared
in his eyes.
“Oh, I couldn’t, I.. it’s very unlikely that I’ll be able to
afford anything here,” I answered, trying my best to hold back
the rising misery in my throat, but my words came out all
jumbled anyway and he noticed.
If he did not let me go soon, I’d most likely break down right
in front of him. I wasn’t usually one to lose control around
others, especially handsome men such as he, but it had all been
too much to bear lately. And that horrid agent had made it ten
times worse. Speak of the devil and he shall appear; the estate
agent came strolling through the condo doors, locked them with
ease and made his way by us as we stood beside the wall. My hair
was covering my face and absently, I moved in a little closer to
Antoine as though he’d offer me some kind of shelter from the
horrible man who had belittled me so. It did not help any and as
the man spotted me standing there, he scowled in my direction
after slipping his phone back into his pocket as though he had
just taken a call. His next words, they were the last thing I
wanted to hear and it made me feel even more insecure.
“Looks as though I have another happy customer,” he boasted,
donning a fake smile as he noticed the man beside me, “A young
couple just purchased the condo for seven hundred a month.”
My mouth almost hit the floor at his words, but I tried not to
show him he had hurt me more than he already had, or I’d never
be able to pick up the pieces. My lip trembled and as soon as he
was out of earshot and sight, I spun on my heel and walked
briskly in the opposite direction, away from the wall and the
kind stranger. But I soon heard his footsteps racing to catch up
with me, as he called out my name and told me to hold up. I did,
but I don’t know why. I was completely drained of all energy and
no longer had any amount of self esteem left.
“He lied to me,” I choked, pulling my bags strap further up my
shoulder and allowing my hair to frame my face once again so he
couldn’t see me crying. “I offered eight hundred and he said no
one around here would accept such a small amount for rent
payments. I shouldn’t have come here; I don’t belong where I’m
clearly unwelcome.”
And with those words, I took to running slowly away from him and
once again, heard the familiar sound of footsteps chasing after
me. Though I didn’t have energy left, I found that my legs would
carry me a little faster, so on I went and managed to make it
through to the seafront. Pausing for a moment, I took the time
to admire the view and despite my mood, I smiled. It was
beautiful and the smell of the ocean blew by me as I stood
there, bathing me in its splendor. What I would give to take a
paddle right now, perhaps even a short swim. But no, I had to
get back before my friend and her husband began panicking over
my whereabouts. Maybe I could take this route and be there a
little quicker. The thought made me smile again and I felt
considerably better than before as I walked slowly along the
beach. My heeled sandals did not make it easy, but at least I
wasn’t getting any sand caught between my toes; that would have
been the icing on the cake.
“Lily.. wait!” came a voice from somewhere behind, seemingly
fast approaching.
I tried with everything I had in me to move a little faster, but
I was no longer willing to fight my emotions. I broke down,
completely, but did not stop walking as the tears fell fast from
my eyes and blurred my vision. I was wobbling and falling all
over the place before a pair of arms wrapped loosely around my
waist and held me still. My instinct told me to fight back, but
there was something oddly comforting about the embrace. Even
though he was standing behind me, and I knew who it was and we
were practically strangers, I hadn’t been held in a very long
time. I allowed it, if only for a few seconds before I finally
saw sense and tried to free myself, but he would not budge
without a fight and so that’s where I took it. I decided to do
the girly thing and pinch his hand until he released his hold on
me, which he did soon after, only to lock his arms around me
again before I could escape. Sighing and utterly frustrated,
having won the battle but lost the war, I gave in and settled
there. Then, I somehow found the courage to ask what on earth he
was doing and why he thought he was allowed to get so close.
“Excuse me.. but I have only just met you and this.. this is
more than a little awkward, please let me go.”
Chuckling, his voice hoarse as he spoke through his amusement, I
felt a shiver dance all over my skin and tingles erupting on my
insides as his hot breath slipped between strands of my hair. “I
just thought you needed a little comfort, is all. My apologies,
Lily Paisley.”
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