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 Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2015 12:47 pm
It had been what? A few weeks? She had gotten back into the states just before Christmas. Then, she took off again for a few more to another town to go look into some things to see about helping getting her dad back into the art and gallery scene. She also had been doing some footwork into seeing about doing an internet food blog. She was determined this new year would be a time of taking matters into her own hands. Her dreams would take shape, and she would do some things to make them happen. How inspired and aspirational she felt.
That was frequently mirrored by a tremendous sense of trepidation and avoidance. There was a side to her that she had been running from. For months, she was avoiding having to deal with it. But, in her heart of hearts, she had to admit. Even in the quiet and relaxing places half way around the world; she could still feel that chaos in her. She had been growing to develop a weird duality towards it. On the one hand, the stinging of it set her adrenaline going. To some degree, she derived a twisted sort of pleasure from it. Yet, she also could feel that everytime she did take pleasure from it; it was twisting something inside of her.
Worse yet. She had been fully aware of several messages that were months old from her friend. Her friend who had recently also become and authority figure for her within this new life of hers. She had been avoiding returning his calls or making any appearances whatsoever. One thing she had come to resolution over that morning. If she was gonna stay town much longer, she wouldn't be able to keep avoiding him. He knew where she lived. She was pretty sure if he really wanted to find her; he could. She had missed recent events in town, and she wasn't sure if the injury of a friend in the hospital had anything to do with the Negaverse. Too many questions and answers she wanted nothing to do with.
Still... she really did like Richard an awful lot. He was fun. She didn't mind his mannerisms. He was so much like herself; she felt like it was looking into a mirror minus the alcoholism. She could perceive on some level he suffered a lot. Did the deeper you get into the Nega. Did the chaos grow and consume and torture those in it? It made her feel like she wanted to help him. She fretted over being in trouble. Big trouble. She had disappeared without a word.
Well, she shook her long chocolate tresses out in all their bouncing glory. Looking her best and armed with a small basket of presents including a small homemade booklet of coupons that could be redeemed for personal favors. She decided it was time to bite the bullet. No more running; right? RIGHT.
She decided to try his candy shop first. That was a safe and neutral place. She debated if she should call first. That would, however, offer time for the situation to simmer and cook. She at least had benefit of surprise on her side for the time being.
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Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2015 11:38 am
If there was ever any time to sneak things by Richard Moreau and him not notice it, now was certainly the time. It may have been January, but he was getting prepared for Valentine's Day for his store and he figured that, for once in his life, he'd be proactive and spare himself the aggravation of Daran jumping on him as the weeks progressed. And people called him the money-grubbing monger!
If it wasn't the upcoming (and hopeful) boost in business that distracted Richard from matters, it was the other side of his life, the Negaverse and just how grim things had become in such a short amount of time. It seemed as though as the days went on, the further and further that glorious future that fate had set up for him got, and that honestly bothered him more than the incoming Valentine's day rush for his candy and confections store or pretty much anything else. He wanted that future so much, but how could he even begin to obtain it when the threat of their fellow members going AWOL or worse... abandoning ship to go cling to the measly life boats that the White Moon crowded on? It was disgusting... and at this very moment, frightening...
Shouldn't allow such thoughts. Someone needs to do something about it.
Indeed, if the Negaverse simply allowed their officers to go AWOL or abandon ship, at this rate-
Familiar chocolate curls caught his attention from where he was hunched over a booklet of recipes, and he had to do a double take when he recognized the fine looking young woman that had arrived, noticing her mere existence first, followed by the basket. He flashed her a smile and waved her in, as though nothing were wrong. He needed the company!
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Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2015 8:45 pm
One blue eye caught the motion of him waving her over. Cherry was nothing if not shrewd at certain points. Given how alike in personalities and mannerisms; she just presumed he was just as shrewd if not more so. She wasn't so naive to believe that just because he was smiling didn't mean that wasn't a big bad wolf grinning before he tried to eat little red riding hood.
Regardless she was in motion, and she was full on into her element. Her charms on at just about the maximum. She had spent time stroking her ego and riling up her pompous selfish side. There was little that could penetrate her defense mechanisms when she was in that mode. Her vanity gave her power, and her obstinate responses to anything opposite was blunt. That wasn't to say she was entirely impervious. She had her weaknesses just like anyone else.
She had the biggest and glorious smile. Looking at him, she felt a mix of so many things. She beamed at him with unadulterated admiration. She liked him so much. So very much. Liking him was like liking herself; she loved herself plenty. It had bothered her since she first met him how much he seemed to suffer. Something was happening to her lately. Something that was starting to turn her away from her such hard trotted selfish nature. As she looked at him, she desperately wished she could help him. Make him feel better. Not just the kind that made you feel better for twenty minutes to two hours either.
Deep down, she had been feeling like the timing of her following him into this other life was bitterly ironic as it intersected things going on in her personal life. So many conflicts of interest for her. Never knowing what she wanted to do. Never wanting to do anything she should. The things that were expected of her.
In the end, she chose to address him as the man anyone else would see in the candy shop. "Hello, Richard!!!! It's soooo gooood to see you. I missed you so much."
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Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2015 11:59 am
Richard had not realized just how long a time it was since he had last set eyes upon Cherry or how much he enjoyed her company until she was walking into the shop once more, and whatever troubling thoughts or annoying minutia that dampened his mind were chased away at the mere sight of that sexy, confident walk of hers. She was always such a delight to have!
He was more than willing to abandon whatever annoying, pesky little thing he was doing before then to greet her, pushing the now closed recipe book and his future sales to the side as he emerged from behind the counter. Whereas Cherry's mind may have been a swirling maelstrom of thoughts, concerns, desires and fears, Richard's was, blessedly, narrow and straight forward for the moment, never once realizing her guilt and turmoil that was centered around him though he was certain he would have been flattered to know of this. He was all smiles and for the most part it was sincere, or so he told himself. "And it is good to see you too, my dear Cherry. Come, have a seat behind the counter, or on it, I can guarantee it is both clean and very, very comfortable."
He gave the counter top an inviting pat, being nothing but warm, inviting and ever smiling. What he wanted to do was scoop her up and give her some kisses, but the store was open and customers could venture in at any time. Had to stay 'professional'. "You really mean that? I'm flattered, my lovely... absolutely flattered. Now what can I do for you?"
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Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2015 2:12 pm
The storm of thoughts and feelings still brewed in the toxicity of the chaos that burned away deep down. Soon enough though, her worries and doubts began to quiet and get trampled. Her vanity having taken a breather was ready to bounce back and shine true to her nature.
His warm reception to her made her eyes and expression soften and melt a moment towards him. Her smile would clearly read 'awww', and then she was moving to the seats in front of the counter. Her eyes looking at the counter top.
It seemed to her that it wasn't long ago she was totally exactly the type of girl to sit on that counter top and move her legs just so he got only slightest flashes or hope of flashes up her skirt. However, she felt by doing that; she might make herself trapped. At least on the other side of the counter, she had space to leave herself an out if need be. Hopefully it wouldn't come to that, but she felt a need to be ready anyways.
Still... the way he was looking at her and talking with her. Her genuine friendly feelings towards him won out stronger. Then, she began to feel like reaching out to him.
"Well, I don't really need you to do anything for me really. I just was thinking about you recently. You're on my mind a lot. I just worry about you. I mean, for a self made man... you bare a lot on your shoulders. I just thought since it's been a little bit since I last saw you. I wanted to see how you were. Make sure someone is looking after you. I care about you, and I like to think we are quite good friends."
Wow.. was that... awkwardly put? Or.. clumsy a little? Well, it wasn't like altruism was exactly something Cherry was akin to feeling. Stepping outside her selfishness was almost a sign all by itself she gave a s**t about someone.
"I was just thinking... Maybe I could do something for you. I brought you this. An assortment of new things I've recently learned how to make." For a moment, her eyes grew deeply earnest. Her pride and bravado parting curtains in her soul to let a light of concern for someone important to her to shine through.
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Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2015 11:03 pm
Whatever turmoils was swirling in Cherry's head was a mystery to Richard and it wasn't done intentionally to wile her up, not that many would have believed the confectioner. His act of innocence wasn't at all an act, but one could have sworn otherwise. For now, he was genuinely pleased to see his beloved Cherry! It had been so long since he had seen her last, hadn't it?
He arched a crimson brow at her confession and couldn't stop his grin from widening. "Worried about moi? Well, I am certainly flattered, and I would love to say that your concern would be better spent elsewhere, but what can I say? I rather like the idea of someone worrying their gorgeous head over me and it not be either my brother or Krishna."
Perhaps it was rude of him to be toying around with someone else's concern, Richard thought, and had he known just how serious Cherry was and had noted her altruism was just as genuine as his joy to see her, he might have acted far more sincere and less likely to brush off such concerns, as was customary with the likes of Daran and Krishna. "I appreciate it, but I promise you, I'm doing pretty good. On both ends... business is going to pick up, and no one has tried to damage my face or take my life, so a victory in my book."
When she presented him with a gift, and only then did he feel a worm of suspicion begin to wriggle in his heart. Not that he'd allow it all to come out at once! Such a thing would have been suspicious in itself and not to mention rude when presented with an assortment. So, for now, Richard leaned over to give the treats a look, placing his hands behind his back as he asked, "Oh, so you've been broadening your skills! Is that where you've been all this time, my dear? I'm intrigued... please, show me everything! I'm curious to know what you've been up to..."
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Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2015 10:31 am
For some time, Cerise had started to clean up her act in regards to men. The way she played, toyed, and seduced them at whim. Always enjoying the hunt of wooing someone into utterly adoring her and wanting to do anything for her. Oh yes. She used to do that. That was probably close to her real life's work rather than the coffee shops she worked in. Those were just stages. Yet, since during her involvement with an actual boyfriend, she had gotten away from that. Then, in the months that followed; she felt lost without being that person. If she wasn't stealing hearts and souls of men at random; who was she?
Really, she was still Cherry. Deep down, she had that need to touch and be touched. She really did love attention of people. Her selfishness having not abated much while she took a sabbatical from life to Europe. As she stood watching and listening to Richard, her essence rose up reviving itself. Besides the altruism, a part of her actually loved him. Maybe not in the sense she wanted to marry him or have children with him. Still, he was dear to her. Precious even. Moreover, he was often fun.
At that urge inside to defer to her true nature, the worries and concerns quieted down till she could almost not hear them. She waltzed her pretty little a** around the counter. She stopped to hug him. She brushed his cheek with a tender endearing look and kissed his cheek before opening up the box she had brought.
Then, a huge thrill of excitement lit up in her eyes. She lifted a small flat pastry out. "This is a mini Clafoutis. It's made with black cherries." She set it down to then show him this wonderful cream puff like item with a huge climbing tower of carefully curved and waved swirls, "This one is a Profiterole, but here in the States we just call them cream puffs."
As she set it down, the rebounding of her nature took root even deeper as she looked at him with keen eyes. The good times she had with Richard. It had been a while since she had fun like that. She stopped showing the rest of the French pastries she had been mastering since returning home. Instead she stepped into her charm and reached to take one of his hands. "Richard. Why don't I come tonight? I can make you the best dinner you'll ever eat in your life. It'll be great. Better than old times."
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