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 Posted: Sun Jul 09, 2006 1:40 pm
This is open to anyone. Setting: Medium sized city, night and rainy.
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I walk out of the movie theatre just as the first drops of rain begin to fall....*sigh* great....that's awesome...first a crappy horror movie and now this...I pop the collar of my leather jacket to try and ward off some of the rain. It's going to be a long walk back home.
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Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 1:23 am
Duke was sat on the corner of the street when the rain started to chuck down. He grumbled to himself and pulled his light jacket closer to himself. He didn't want to go back to the hostle, not yet. He had sold all his paintings that day, despite the shitty weather, and he had a few bob in his pocket, which wasn't likely to remain there if he went back home yet. Standing, the wind driving through his thin jacket and long sleeved t-shirt, Duke Raphael looked around at his surroundings more properly, hoping to find some kind of shelter. There was an alley across the road, but experience had taught him they weren't the best of places to hide. Walking along the street, black hair flopping down into his eyes and obscuring his view, a small cafe appeared on the corner of his street. It was cheap, and to be honest, he hadn't eatten all day, so the smell of food was very enticing. From the doorway, he could see the theatre. People were piling out of the doors and into the rain, hailing cabs to take them home. Tutting, Duke entered the cafe and sat himself at one of the window seats, watching the world pass him by.
The city was certainly dismal in the rain. The high rise buildings looking black and grey in the smoggy air. There was a park not that far away, and Duke often sold his paintings there, on occasion getting more business. It wasn't bad for a loner in these streets. He had dealt with his problems long ago, what with the drug addicts and other slime in the hostle moving on when they realised they wouldn't be getting money from him. Yeap... life wasn't too bad here. Ordering a plate of food, and actually enjoying the feeling of being able to pay, Duke watched people pass by. One bloke really didn't look too pleased with the movie he had been to see, and Duke chuckled a little. Why go to the movies, when you could watch all the story lines of the world walk past the window. When his food arrived, he dug into it, savouring the taste of bacon and eggs. Drinking from his cup of tea, Duke turned back to his people watching, silent and content to sit in the cafe for as long as the owners would allow.
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Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 4:31 pm
I give one last spiteful glance at the movie theatre before plodding on. My mind begins to wander as minds are apt to do when one zones out. With a sigh I began thinking of my time at the Academy...it's weird, you know? I've got everything going for me. I'm getting four years of free education from one of the best schools in the nation; I have a guaranteed job as an officer in the Air Force once I'm done; and I have a family who loves me. And yet I'm still depressed. I dunno. Everything's been different since the Hurricane. My home is in ruins, my family moved to a different state, and I haven't seen my friends in over a year. But I guess that's the heart of it. I would go and visit my friends, but then I wouldn't be able to visit family and vice versa. Ugh...I'm here on my blissful three week summer leave from USAFA...blissful...hah that's a laugh. I keep on walking, grumbling, and...and...hey is that a Waffle House? Sick! The merry jingle of the front door snaps me out of my self-defeating thought line. For a moment the sound cheers me up, but then I look around. The happy jingle is just there to soften the blow of this place. It's one of the sorriest looking Waffle Houses I've ever seen. But it's better than out on the street. Standing there, still dripping and shivvering, I look for a table.
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Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 2:02 pm
Duke watched a young man walk into the cafe, noting his rather army boy look, close shaven hair, clean shaven, neat tidy clothes. But his eyes told another story. Saddness seemed to fill them, and Duke wasn't surprised if his prediction was correct that this bloke came from the acadamy nearby. Merda, what he wouldn't do to get away if he was in such a place. Taking a sip of his tea, Duke patted his pocket, checking the money was safetly inside. Watching the man intently, Duke tried to come up with a story for him. People watching. Such a fun past time when you had nothing to do but past time. Perhaps the kid had run away from home, looking for a better life. Perhaps be was booted off to the acadamy by forceful parents that thought that army life would make a man out of their son. Whatever the case, Duke was glad it wasn't happening to him.
Sipping his tea once more, Duke looked out the window, silver eyes narrowed on a distant image, a past memory. The rivulets of water the ran down the window captured his attention for a moment, trying to bet on which one would go down the window pane first. What a game for the bored.
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Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 3:15 pm
I sigh as I look around, and I can already feel my mood lighten a bit. Maybe it's because I just got out of the rain. Maybe it's the fact that, even though the movie I saw was pretty terrible, I still got some time to myself...whatever the reason, I started to feel a bit better. I know I tend to b***h a lot, even though in all honesty I'm rather well off. I suppose it's just my way of dealing with stress, you know? Everyone has their own way. Mine just tends to be on the vulgar side. Ah well...It's just that things can be so stressful some times, you know?
As I walk toward a vacant table, I catch the eye of the only patron that isn't staring intently at his plate. Damn, bet he gets discounts at Hot Topic...stop it...that's unnecesarily mean. I've gotta stop judging people on outward appearances. I smile and nod my head in a genuinely friendly manner toward the kid...man? I dunno, he may look young but something about him seems to exude experience...or at least an "interesting" life, though I doubt he'd agree with that word.
I sit down at a table a couple of chairs down from him and look to the waitress. I order a coffee and a sandwich. As I trace the outlind of my flask in my jacket pocket, I debate turning it into an irish coffee.
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Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 3:55 pm
Duke almost jumped out of his seat when the new guy looked directly at him. Damn, he had been caught out in his game. Stupid stupid mistake. You get caught staring, all sorts of judgments could come into the mind of someone who has no idea why you are staring. Duke mentally berated himself, stiffening up as the guy walked toward his table but instead sat at a nearby table. He seemed nice enough, after all, he had simply smiled and nodded at Duke, who had himself just turned toward the window and the miserable grey outdoors. Hands wrapped around his warm but empty mug, Duke watched the waitress busy behind the counter, wanting to call to her, but not wanting to draw more attention to himself and seem rude. Torn between just remaining where he was and getting up and going to the small serving bar, Duke made up his mind and picked up both empty plate, mug and his dirtied cutlery, walking stiffly past the guy at his table and placing the stuff on the work serface.
"Ciao..." He muttered to the waitress who bustled along to take his order. "Another tea." He said, handing her some coins. She smiled and bustled off. Duke returned to his seat, staring at the tabletop, tracing his finger over the polished white surface, silver eyes lowered, black hair flopped all over his head having gone fluffy from being drenched in rain. The thick, rolled up bandana that was tied around his head did nothing to stop his hair getting into his eyes. Wishing he'd picked up a newspaper so he didn't seem so stupid, he decided he should really aplogise to the guy, for being caught staring.
"Oi, tizio!" He called, motioning to the bloke. "Just wanted to apologise, si?" He said slowly. Deed done, Duke looked away as his face burned lightly with embarrassment. For some reason the guy made him feel like he should sit up straighter, even call him 'sir'. Perhaps it was just the air of confidence the guy had, or Duke's eariler suspicion of him coming from the acadamy. People like that did that to a guy like Duke, a guy that had little to live for really, nothing going for him, pretty much living on the streets half the time.
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Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 8:18 pm
Sighing, I pull out my flask. I normally don't drink alone, but right now is the exception that proves the rule. I go back to the Academy in a couple of days. The three weeks they give you for summer leave is just not enough. It's like they want to torture you with a taste of what real life is like before yanking you back behind the black, anti-terrorist, gate that traps people in more than it keeps those that would do us harm out.
I pour a liberal amount into the coffee cup and I catch the waitress looking at me out of the corner of my eye. I just give her a small smile that says, "We all have our means of escape." She just smiles back and keeps on keeping on. I couldn't help but see a hint of sadness in that smile...s**t, I was probably just imagining it. I’m way too paranoid.
A voice snapped me out of my thoughts. Usually something like that wouldn't grab my attention so easily, but I guess it was the European accent that caught me.
I have no idea what a tizio is, but what came after it made me think it was nothing offensive....apologize...?
"Hmm? For…what?" I ask, genuinely puzzled. The guy was acting like he was apologizing for some horrible transgression toward my person…but…I have no idea what it was about.
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Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 1:31 am
Duke rolled his eyes with a tut of his tongue. Either the guy hadn't realised he was being stared at, or in this city, it was the norm. From his home land, being caught staring usually meant an apology. Lifting a shoulder, and accepting the mug of tea, Duke watched the man's expression for a moment. There was a saddened look to those eyes. Sighing, Duke picked up his drink and came foreward. Couldn't hurt to talk to the bloke. After all, in his eyes he had insulted the man, but obviously not to this bloke. The guy had poured something into his drink, and as Duke sat opposite, he could smell the arid scent of alcohol. His nose wrinkled, but he said nothing.
"Così..." Duke said, eyeing the cup of coffee for a moment. Taking a sip of tea, reaching for the sugar and milk at the end of the table, he helped himself to generous helpings of each. "You live around here?" Duke asked. He wasn't a very good conversationalist, he didn't often talk to anyone, but talking to this guy was better then going home yet. Stirring his cup of tea calmly, watching the swirls of liquid and steam, Duke sat back, fingering the pendant on his chest. The guy certainly wasn't a happy one, just something about his mannerisms.
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Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 9:22 am
What were the rolling of the eyes about? Had I said something stupid? And now he's coming over here...probably just to make fun....damnit there I go again. Reading way to much into things. Just let things ride...don't assume anything. *sigh* I take a sip of my coffee and barely mask a wince...wow, too much.
I give a pleasant (at least I hope it looks that way) grin as he helps himself to a good bit of sugar and milk. s**t...and there's that question. The locals don't seem to like Academy kids all that much. s**t if I know why. But they don't. So, I'm always hesitant to bring that up around here. But of course, I'm not one to lie. Honor code and all that. The Code runs through my head again: We will not lie, steal or cheat, nor tolerate among us anyone who does.
So..., "Kinda, I go to the Academy."
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Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 1:43 pm
Duke allowed himself a small grin of triumph. He had guessed right. Probably because of all the kids he had seen through the years in the hostel and in the orphanage who had got away from that place as soon as possible when the hard regime had started to grind them into the dirt. It was the look of defeat that did it, the strange little habits, the paranoia. Duke had witnessed it all through the years, and experienced a lot of the things himself, though for different reasons, naturally. The guy didn't ask anything of Duke, which was good in Duke's eyes, as he didn't really want to talk about himself. He wondered how old the guy was and really looked at him for a moment, scrutinising every feature, every hair. Perhaps a little older then he, but not much.
"Così your new around here?" Duke asked. Something didn't seem right about that, but Duke shrugged one shoulder and smirked a little. "Pozzo, no matter. What is your name first off, tizio? At least then I don't have to use common call names to get your attention." Duke took a large swallow of sweetened tea, and sighed happily. "Stupore! Destra giusta!" Duke closed his eyes for a moment and let his head fall back, quite content to let the sweetness of his tea calm him.
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Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 5:33 pm
I blink a few times as the guy looks me over. I'm not quite sure what he's looking for...my guess is to see if I'm a putz like some of the other cadets. I like to think I don't give off that vibe. I take this moment to discreetly look over my interviewer...well at least he's not one of those wannabe goths that you see hanging out in places like this. They'd just call me a conformist and walk off.
The accent throws me off a bit, sounds a bit English but with that Italian thrown in? Must be from all over. Gotta wonder how he lost the use of that eye though. Nasty looking scar...poor guy.
"Tommy, Tommy Christian. I'm originally from New Orleans," I say to him, offering to shake the guy's hand.
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Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 9:20 am
Duke eyed the hand for a moment, looked up at Tommy, nose wrinkling a little, but he accepted it and shook it once, quickly withdrawing his hand and discreetly wiping it on his trousers, as though the touch was offending. New Orleans huh? Duke wondered again the reasons for Tommy's escape to the acadamy. Possibly the people there, the hustle and bustle too much for someone that prefers neatness and regime. Tommy didn't strike Duke as a bloke that liked regime, but you could never really tell. Duke stiffled a yawn, feeling the effects of getting up early, and smirked a little at Tommy.
"Duke Raphael. Originally from London, England, with ancestors coming from the Latin Quarter." Duke chuckled a little, and sipped his tea contemplatively, watching the man watch him. They were defiantely an odd pair, always looking, always watching the other for alternative motives. Duke huffed in amusment. "Pozzo... you have free time from the acadamy? Holdiay? Or just escaping into the wider world to strike it out alone?" Duke didn't mind asking the questions. Made him feel more comfortable. The guy didn't seem too bad, must of been what drew Duke to him. He wasn't the usual kind of guy Duke spoke to off his own back, but he was more of an excuse chat, an excuse he could use when he went back to the hostle. 'Consoling a member of the public'! Was a good enough reason to roll up to the home at going on midnight!
"I take it the film you saw wasn't all that good, si? I watched you leave with the others, none looking that happy."
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Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 11:36 am
Well that didn't go too well...this guys is definately not a touchy feely kind of person. Ah well....wait, did he say "Duke" ? I sure as hell hope that's just a nickname and not a title...
"Hah! Strike it out alone? Goddamn, that does sound nice, doesn't it?" I fold my arms across my chest and look whistfully out to the window. "Does sound nice...," I shake my head sadly, "but no, I'd be considered AWOL if I did that," I give a slight grin. "I've gotta go back tomorrow, then I'm shipping right back out...to Italy, actually...Aviano."
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Posted: Sat Jul 22, 2006 3:05 pm
Duke smiled at the name of his homeland, if it was only for five months. He had been brought up as an Italian in the English landscape by his sister, and he had accepted that. Sure they had spoken English for the most part, but they had believed, inside, that they were Italian to the core. Watching Tommy's face, Duke watched him become a little worried over his name and chuckled.
"Duke is my actual name. Don't worry, amico, I have no status other then dirt of the streets." Duke made it sound light and jokey, hoping Tommy didn't question it too much. He chuckled lightly, and listened to the man's slightly whistful fantasy of striking it out alone. Perhaps that hadn't been the right thing to say to a man of the acadamy... pozzo dell'oh! What was said was said, si? Scratching his stomach and bending his back over the back of the chair, top half of his torso disappearing for a moment as he stretched out his arms and let some of the joints pop. Sitting back, bending his neck to either side with audiable clicks, Duke finished his tea, contemplating another.
"Trust me, Tommy, being alone in this world ain't a good situation. At least in your acadamy you know where you stand in life. Out on these streets, its all confused, this pecking order crap. Merda, sometimes I can be the lowest of the low, other times, the one everyone wants to know." Duke sucked in a breath and let it go slowly. "Nessun... Stay where you are known and needed, amico. That is my advise to any I meet. Il signore, questo non basterà..." Duke covered his mouth as a surprise yawn proved to him just how tired he was getting. All these late nights trying to stay away from the il dio è maledetto hostle, he was really starting to affect himself... But this guy was someone interesting, something new to talk about, not just how bad his day had been, and how tomorrow would probably be much of the same. This guy had history, and he had a life that was going somewhere! Duke actually found him interesting. Perhaps he should tell Tommy just how lucky he was that he was a favoured conversation in Duke's very short list of 'Duke-Started-Conversations'... In fact, in only spanned about five people... His sister, his mother, his father, his pendant and now Tommy. Si, a very exclusive list...
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Posted: Sat Jul 22, 2006 3:29 pm
"Yeah...well...I dunno..." I say. Man from the streets, eh? I can just imagine what's going through his mind right now. Usually it's one of a couple of options: "Stuck up b*****d, doesn't know what he's got" or "He wouldn't last a week where I am," or the ever popular, "I hate him 'cause he has more than me." Sigh...oh well. I wish I had paid more attention in Latin class in High School...maybe I'd be able to kind of understand him. I don't think he's cursing me out. I watch him stretch. Funny, if he's thinking any of those things he's sure not showing it. And it seems Duke's sticking around. That's always a good thing.
"Heh...I'm not going anywhere. I see it as an investment anyway, you know? Pay now, benifit later and all that," I tell him with a slight grin. I wonder what he's doing over here...you don't hear of many European backpackers. But I hesitate to ask. From his reaction to the handshake I'm assuming he may resent the question. I'm sure he'll tell me when...or if...he ever feels comfortable doing so. For now, though, I'll just leave it at that as I take a bite from my sandwich
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