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 Posted: Thu Nov 12, 2009 11:10 pm
Sometimes being involved in social networking paid off.
Not that Toby was the sort to sit down and waste hours on sites like Twatter and Macebook, but when one had nothing to do, perusing the online resources of Gooogle was a great way to discover new and creative ways at his hobby.
For example, he had learned from a prime internet resource the newest "thing" to do: wallet compensation. It was simple really and ever so so clever: one would snatch up a hapless owner's wallet, and then return it sometime later, claiming that they 'saw they had dropped it somewhere and chased after them', which of course, hinted at compensation of some sort. And 90% of the time resulted in a gratification much more honest than stolen visa's and identity theft of the sort. It was a great practice for an honest thief like him: more so because he was a little tired of being beat up from girls and would have just liked to be the 'hero' for once.
All plans forwarded to actions, Toby scanned around for his first intended target. Girls traveling in groups were always tougher to single out and have honest words with, so he had to make sure to choose someone so naive, so innocent, they would listen to anything.
Aha!
Cue a strange, rather eccentric-looking girl, wearing a uniform he did not quite recognize walking around without a care for the world. She was perfect.
While she was busy inspecting whatever it was girls inspected while window shopping on busy streets, he went in for the 'kill', grabbing the wallet in the overly pink ribboned purse (oh god, it was like taking candy from a fluffy baby cat), hiding it behind his back surreptitiously before walking off.
He briefly counted to ten, wondering how long one should take with procured wallet, before deciding one extra second was one second too long. He checked his hair and briefly, his breath. Ok, all looked good in the 'good person' front.
Turning the other direction, he begin walking back to her, back straight, eyes raised, trying to look secure and confident.
"Excuse me miss," Insert tap on the other's preoccupied shoulder, as he did his best to exude concern, holding up well, HER wallet "I think you dropped this somewhere."
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Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2009 9:30 pm
Pierrette had been looking inside and outside of this shop for most of the hour. The shop sign was written in pink cursive and said: "BARKING ANGELS". It was a dog boutique, where the owners would foster dogs from Destiny City's Animal Shelter and let them stay at their shop. Hand-made dog biscuits, designer collars, bags, crates, and toys all for the canine variety. The curtained window was the 'Pent House Suite', where an exceptionally sweet dog will stay to get more attention from customers.
Pierrette was looking in that window, at the miniature schnauzer that was bounding about and trying to get out all of his energy. He had big eyes and a tiny, clipped tail that wagged endlessly. Pierrette giggled when the puppy noticed her looking at him through the window.
That's when she felt a hand on her shoulder, and turned around to look at Toby, the Good Samaritan who had heroically decided to return her wallet. Where had she dropped it? She didn't even notice that it had been gone!
"Thank you! Where did you find it?" she held her hand out with an expectant smile. He was cute, with a mischevious look on his face... yet, he had been honest enough to return her wallet. He was like Aladdin, with appearances a little sketchy, but he was a diamond in the rough!
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Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2009 10:36 pm
Ok, phew, that sure went well.
His eyes briefly slid from the girl to the.... "Parking Angles" sign... behind her. Other than highly questionable tastes, she definitely seemed on the right track of the Naive and Mindless. All right, time for phase 2.
Toby attempted his best at a rogueish smile, which might have worked better if he knew what 'rogueish' actually entailed. For now it was a flash of teeth, and had this been an anime, perhaps a sparkle as his earring caught the sunlight, which thankfully in real life time, did not.
"Oh," he began, using one hand to wipe away some of his stray bangs in a mild effort at self-consciousness, "You dropped it a while ago. I trying to look for you, thankfully I managed to follow you back to here." Hopefully the timeline was vague enough as to entail that his intentions as honourable. "Anyway, I'm glad I could give it back to you, it was such hard work trying to find you again in this crowd."
There we go: let the rest of the word drip down like butter and the fish would be ripe for the picking - or however that comment went.
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Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2009 10:45 pm
Someone having to work hard to return a wallet would normally make someone feel grateful, or even guilty. Maybe it was because of his 'rogueish' smile, wait... no, it was because it was Pierrette. There was a sparkle in her round, gray eyes that hadn't been there a moment ago. A flush rose to her cheeks, and fat little cherubs seemed to fly around on the insides of her head.
Was it mentioned that Pierrette was a romantic?
"Thank you so much!" she gushed. "I don't know what I would've done without it. That was so brave, so... noble. I don't know how I could ever repay you for your kindness! Here... please, take a token from a young girl. One to say 'thank you', and hopefully you will think of me when you look at it."
Pierrette had on two pearl bracelets that day, one her usual coral and the other a natural white. She took off the latter and offered it to Toby, her face bright red after that speech. I mean, after all, she was a grateful maiden giving a token of her affection to her knight, right? Right?
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Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2009 8:18 pm
He stared at the bracelet - was it made of ACTUAL PEARLS? - stupidly. It actually worked?
Toby straightened himself quickly back to a more proper 'posture' again. Of course it worked, it was obviously so flawless. Wow he must be smarter than he thought, or would think, or would think he would have thought... now his brain just hurt.
If his ego could possibly be pampered any more, he would have burst from being called 'brave' and 'noble' (ok, well noble was kind of pushing it but hey, he was the good guy right?). With a rather satisfied smile, Toby just stood there for a second, letting all the flattery sink in, patting himself on the back for a job well done.
"Well, I live to do uh, good deeds miss," he confirmed, happily reliving the other of their bracelet. "I hope your wallet doesn't go missing again, you better keep a good eye out for those horrible pickpockets out there and such."
And with that, satisfied, he put said item happily in his pocket and turned to walk off, ready to look for his next target now that he knew the plan actually worked.
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Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2009 8:34 pm
"Wait!" Pierrette held out her hand dramatically, as if to stop him with The Force. "Please, wait!"
She held onto her purse tightly as she bounded over to him. Her cheeks were still pink, and her smile was wide.
"Are you a student?" she tilted her head, her pigtail swaying from side to side. "What school do you go to? W..."
She paused, clutching her hand over her heart.
"My name is Pierrette. What's yours?"
She didn't seem to miss her bracelet in the slightest. To her, it seemed like a fair trade. Being able to meet someone so handsome, and yet so... so good. With her luck, he would probably be taken.
Or, you know... a lying, thieving Negaverse agent. At least he was cute, right?
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Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2009 8:45 pm
He stiffened for a second as she called for him to wait. Oh crap, had she found out?!
"I can explai-" he began, only to be cut off by a rather unusual interrogation about his school, status, name, blood type, etc etc. Toby stared at her for a second. Um, what?
Was it just him or was she looking at him funny? Feeling a little nervous, he backed up a couple of steps. "Uh... I.... I'm not from around here, so you probably don't need to know much about me!" There was something about her that just set him off for some reason, maybe it was the fact that she was smiling like she was about to eat him whole. Backtracking as to possibly what he could have done wrong during Phase 3 'Take offered item and leave, to never see them again, ever', he tried again to find a conversation finisher. "Ok it was very nice meeting you, uh, Pierette, hope to see you again, and stuff."
Not.
He risked the chance of looking back up at her. Would that be enough to leave now?
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Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2009 9:06 pm
"Oh, you're not from around here..." Pierrette trailed off. "I'm not from around here, either. I'm just here for school. I go to the Barren Pines College. I was hoping..."
She looked down at her feet. Should she go ahead and say it? It was going awfully fast, but if he wasn't from Destiny City, she might never see him again! Strike while the iron was hot, right Pierrette? Right.
"I-- I want to take you out on a date, to thank you!" she blurted out. Wait, what? Was she really that naive? Really?
Well, it would mean free food for Toby... right? But still, this girl was creepy. Unintentionally creepy, but still creepy. She was like a pretty, pretty princess stuck in a world very much unlike her own.
At least she couldn't summon pigeons and cockroaches by singing.
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Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2009 9:25 pm
Huh!?
There was an awkward moment of silence after Pierrette's strange and unusual profession. If this were, indeed, a Disney sort of film, this is where the the opening instrumental for songs about Whole New Worlds would begin.
Thank god for small graces.
Even though technically he could pass as a 'street rat', he was not quite rehearsed in the ways of Street Urchins Who Magically Burst Into Song. Not to mention, as he had lied about not being a local and knew Destiny City up and down like the palm of his hand, he still had a little trouble figuring out exactly where Barren Pines College was. It had always been here...right?
Toby chortled a bit instead, more to himself than anyone else. "That's funny, I could have sworn you just asked if you wanted to take me on a d-."
Cue the proverbial coin dropping into the well with a proverbial plunk. And perhaps a proverbial 'What the <******** she SERIOUS? They had JUST met: he always knew he had amazing charismatic charm, or so he would like to think, but he didn't think it was THAT charismatic. "Um, uh... ah..." he began, brain pretty much overwhelmed by alternating thoughts of smothering and horror. Dating?! That would be mean like, KISSING right?! And holding hands, and doing all that lovey-dovey stuff?!
His face turned a strange sheet-white. "I... ah....I.... " come on, say SOMETHING! "Oh look over there!"
Wildly, he pointed to god-knows-what behind her, hoping for a moment she would be distracted enough for him to make a run.
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Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2009 9:37 pm
Pierrette wasn't sure what he thought about dates, but to her a date was a gateway. It was a gate that could lead to fun and adventure! Walks in the park, trips to amusement parks, movies... it would be so much fun! To be honest, Pierrette had never been on a date before. Even though she was thirteen, for some reason she didn't speak to many guys. Perhaps it was because she was so happy-go-lucky? No, of course not. Pierrette was a romance guru, something like that simply wasn't possible.
"Date? Yes, I did just ask you on a date." Why was he acting so funny? Was he shy? That was so cute! His reaction was precious and--
Wait, what was that over there? He was pointing-- maybe it was one of those awful terrorists! Paling, she whirled around to see what he was talking about.
The miniature schnauzer inside Barking Angels was peeing on the window. Was... that what he was talking about? How odd...
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Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2009 9:58 pm
Doing what any respectable man would do when treated with a situation of Do Not Want, he hightailed it out of there, faster than even that Negaverse Girls on Rampage fisaco that had happened at the pastry store last week.
Finally deciding he had put enough distance between himself and well, the obvious, Toby leaned one hand against a building wall, taking a few gasping breaths. Oh god, what if she still was following him? Casting one furtive look into the rather thick crowd, he gulped nervously, crossing the intersection. Ok, how did one deal with loosing strange people again?
Maybe he had the wrong idea and instead of running away in a STRAIGHT and easily predictable line, should actually try doubling around, and back. It always worked in movies after all, so clearly why not to him? Satisfied that this plan would indeed be, foil proof, unlike the last botched ten-thousand attempts to ditch unwanted Female Presences, he plunged back into the crowd again, determined to head the other direction and therefore, confuse any potential pursuers.
He was in fact, so busy paying attention to all would-be followers that he didn't notice anything potentially in front of him, and ran into them with a small thunk.
Reeling a bit, he looked up. That was strange, that girl sure looked kinda familiar.
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Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 9:38 pm
Pierrette was moping when Toby ran back into her. She fell onto her bottom with an ungraceful thud and looked up at him with a bemused expression.
"Hey!" she said. "You could have just said that you didn't want to. You didn't have to headbutt me. What a strange guy you are."
She stood up and said, "I'm sorry if I offended you. I just wanted to get to know you before you had to leave... and I'd never been on a date before. I thought it could be fun."
She looked away, like she was daydreaming again. Then she remembered that she had been 'headbutt' but this guy.
"Sorry, please forgive me! You've already been nice enough to me," she did a small curtsy. "If you ever want anyone to show you around Destiny City, though... well, I wouldn't be the best tourist. I'm not from around here. Still, it might be fun to get lost together sometime."
She rubbed her shoulder where he had run into her, and winced.
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Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2009 9:29 am
'Huh', was his initial thought as he rubbed his head, 'Why is she telling ME to-
Oh. Oh.
Well, that would be officially the last time he trusted himself, until he forgot about his own wise words, of course. Something was also creeping up into his gut, making it constrict a little, as if reminding him of something. It might have been a feeling of guilt, or maybe, the fact that he had forgotten to eat breakfast this morning.
Another awkward moment of silence passed as both equally stared at each other, Toby compelled by yet another feeling of guilt-slash-not-eating-breakfast as Pierette rubbed her sore shoulder. A couple of people passing by, who had seen the small mishap, were shaking their heads now, tsk-tsking as his unruly behaviour. Aw, now he HAD to do something about it.
"A-actually," he interjected rather loudly, "I... I... came back to.... check on you, yeah!" Now that the excuse was formulated, the rest seemed to come a little more naturally. He tried to put on his best, if not slightly pained, smile. "I felt bad for running off on you like that-" this was kind of true- " I-I'd love for you to show me around sometime."
Guilt was really, quite a terrible, terrible thing. He bit his lip, debating, looking down at the pavement, before looking back again. "Um... if you ever want to hang out again, there's a free pizza event at the local library this weekend. I'll... be there, and stuff, yeah."
And that was as close as he was ever going to get in his life to compensating for the 'date'. At this rate, he would rather take being flogged by Charonite than stand here: why didn't anyone ever mention girls into the equation of Have a Carefree and Easy LIfestyle as a Professional 'Items Borrower'?
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Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2009 5:45 pm
"Really?" Pierrette looked up at him, still holding her shoulder. But, her expression was a lot happier. Good job, Toby!
"Thanks for checking on me. Hey, are you okay, though? You were running awfully fast," she said. She looked up, as if in thought, before looking back at him.
"Maybe my English was funny? Well, it doesn't matter. That sounds like it'll be a lot of fun! Have you ever been to the library before? To be honest, it will be my first time there. I hope I don't have to have a library card or something. I'll be there! I hope you have fun, too." She put her hands behind her back, a confident smile on her face.
"It will be fun to hang out! What's your name? I'm Pierrette!"
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Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 8:13 pm
He raised an eyebrow. Did she just give him her name twice? Well, at least it was consistent
With a some reluctance he offered the other his hand. "I'm... Toby," he finally relinquished, though to the passerby it probably seemed like he was being shy about it. He looked at her oddly for a second, hand still stuck there in mid-pose. "Library card?" Oh right duh. A chuckle. "Nah, I'm just there for the free pizza, after all it is free, and stuff."
Totally forgetting about the handshake altogether, as a distant "shiny" distracted him for a second (he turned his head just slightly to see what it was, making a mental note to follow them if they were still around in the vicinity later), he instead, put the hand back into his pocket, and took out something else. It was the necklace she had 'awarded' him with. Embarrassed slightly, he held it up, "Um... you can have it back, and stuff. I feel bad we got off at the wrong foot, yeah." Really, what was so bad about making a new friend in the end, right? "Anyway, the library event is held at four on Sunday, I'll see you then then?"
He waited, dangling the item in one hand. In addition to feeling bad about taking it... he just wasn't sure he could look at it the same again. Gulp.
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