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 Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2006 6:38 pm
A 'social butterfly' is a very odd phrase if one thinks about it. A butterfly is a mute and deaf creature the rarely comes together with another butterfly unless for mating. Yet people forget these obvious facts and instead focus on the fact it flits about from flower to flower and communicates via various gestures with its body. In retrospect the meaning of social butterfly is rather amusing if you sit to think about it. So I suppose in this aspect Satoko Hisagi was indeed a social butterfly. She was quiet to most but herself and those that did try to talk to her with their own bemusing body languages and words she hardly did hear anyway.
No, Satoko was not usually a confident person who was the first to dance and get a sore thumb from replying to text messages. Of course when you use the word usually there will always be an exception unless the person you're talking to is finding the English language rather hard to deal with.
This exception for Satoko was at her restaurant. Okay Maybe it wasn't exactly hers but it was as good as for at least to do, the manager being out for the day with a flu that seemed to be going around the popular food court district. The shop wasn't quaint or modest in anyway. It was the usual refined coffee shop with chocolate and cream painted walls with modern looking sofas and paintings around every clear space on the floor and wall with mirrors to try and make the space look larger. The seating extended beyond the inside of the delicious smelling interior and spread five metres in front of the shop. Just the usual modern day coffee shop.
At the very front a large sign swung back and forth in the light wind blowing with the logo of the shop. A Victorian stylised ladies day out with them all sipping steaming liquids from porcelain looking cups. Underneath the words ' The Queen's tea" Curved around in fancy writing, even though the shop dealt mostly with coffee and had a much narrower variety of teas.
A muffled voice was heard just inside the shop's back room and it could be heard easily over the birds chirping so early in the morning, though the sun was standing firmly just above the horizon line shining meekly.
Precariously balancing on a stack of ill-placed boxes Satoko was practically yelling out the lyrics of a song that was playing softly over the PA system. A large smile spread from ear to ear on her face and a smear of chalk was smudged down the side of her nose from wiping it right after writing up the specials of the day above the cashier. Her fingers were creeping along the edge of the shelf just above and out of reach of her, who had put those damn menus up so high?
The boxes under her shook violently for a moment as she distributed her weight unevenly on top of them. For a moment it looked as though they had steadied themselves but a second later the bottom one gave out and toppled over, sending Satoko tumbling down amongst them as well. Her hand tried to clutch desperately for something to grab onto, only meeting thin air.
"Ouch!"
She muttered profusely, rubbing where she had hit the concrete flooring with both her elbow and backside, blushing profusely even though no one was there. The song she had been singing to before ended as if to say that was the end of her good luck but she just stood up and looked down at the fallen boxes, dusting herself off. Well at least one thing had come out of this, the menus were fluttering to the floor as she watched, obviously disturbed from when she had fallen. Now where had they come from?
With a slightly frustrated sigh she righted and re-stacked the battered looking boxes, good thing only some old magazines had been stacked up in them. Nevertheless, Satoko had been put off getting anymore menus and picked up the scattered ones on the floor in her arms to put outside, humming the tune of the song she had been singing to before.
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Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2006 7:03 pm
Hands casually anchored deeply into worn jean pockets, her shoulders were hunched in the early morning chill that often swamped places located near water. She walked with a lack of direction- clearly wandering- but her stride still covered a block of sidewalk in each step of open-toed sandals. From the back, in her ambiguous brown blazer, just a touch finer than the jeans, a torn tote, and the tell-tale white of an i-pod, she could pass as tall, beautiful male. Naturally, her short hair, strands bobbing with her forward motion, did not help to correct a viewer’s assumption. And why should she care?
Where Marie took up residence was no place for a “young lady,” as her mother liked to chide, to be living alone. She didn’t bat an eye of course. She continued on her wandering path through dirty neighborhoods most would dub disturbed, not really seeing where she was going, not really listening to the quiet whoosh of sparse traffic.
It was by chance, as most things ended up to be, that she paused on the corner of one street in order to let a particularly ambitious driver speed around the turn without hitting her. “Pro'lly some drunk d--k, heading home,” she growled in disgust. As she waited her hazel eyes alighted on “The Queen’s Tea” across the street.
She pursed her lips in thought as she crossed the street. Usually Marie would take her morning caffeine at Moonstruck Bakery, up in the heights. Today, however, she had no purpose to be in that area of town. “But the bus trip would only take ten minutes or so,” she muttered to herself before silently scolding herself for being so foolish. This place was dead ahead and it was always a good idea to try new things. Or at least, that was how she tried to justify the situation.
With a sigh, Marie turned to enter the restaurant.
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Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2006 7:37 pm
A slight stinging sensation pulsed up and through Satoko's elbow even five minutes after the fall, truth be told it still felt like someone was continually hitting it and making the bone tingle and the force, but she knew otherwise and was resentful of the fact she would have to continue with her elbow feeling the way it was. A dark purple and blow bruise was sure to be there next morning when she woke up, if not sooner sometime in the afternoon.
the blood was still in her cheeks from when she had blushed so hard at her own folly. Giving off the look that she was either straining under the small weight on menus she was carrying outside or that she had been working very hard inside. Neither of which was true as all she had done so far in her two hours of being there was open up, set up the chairs and tables outside, swept the floor and set up the scrumptious looking cakes she had bought from the Mooncakes bakery only yesterday.
As she approached the door her loosely pulled up hair was thrown in her face as a more gutsy burst of wind seemed to narrow in on her, also sending the olive green apron she was wearing with the name of the shop in it into a frenzy of flapping against her legs. It had been a lucky call to wear the comfortable faded jeans rather than the elegant white skirt she'd had the horror honour of receiving as a birthday present last year. The laminated folds of the menus seemed to want to fly away with the wind as well, the parts that weren't held close flapped rapidly sounding like teasing laughter until the wind did pass and she had to put the now silent menus on a table to try and recollect herself from the pesky gust of wind.
Once again taking up the maroon colored menus up she began walking methodically down the rows of chairs and placing one in the centre of every second table, not having made enough fall down for every table. She'd have to get a different staff member to take them down and move them for her later when they arrived. It didn't bother Satoko that she was always the first to arrive and get so much done by herself. Some of the more lazy staff might even think it was just a pixie that did all the magical work of taking down and stacking the tables as she seemed to do that two after everyone left. she smiled to herself at this and looking down at the last menu decided she might order something for herself. The writing was all in fancy sloping curled gold letter but it was easy enough to make out. Her vivid green eyes wandered down the list of fancy exotic sounding food, remembering that as good as it sounded that some of them were indeed deceiving. For instance 'Le cahtra singlaire prawns' had just been one of her co-workers fancy way of saying 'four singular prawns'. What a shock that customer had gotten!
Tilting her head some, her eyes bounced up to notice a lone figure seemingly approaching her. A customer so early? It seemed a little odd, there hadn't even been time to switch the sign to 'open' on the front door. Oh well she thought sadly to herself, breakfast would have to wait another few minutes. Hopefully this person would be a straight foreword in and out case. A forced smile plastered itself on her face and she smiled invitingly at the person approaching.
"Good morning sir, a little early for a walk don't you think?"
She started with casual talk then got down to business. If The mooncakes bakery offered a soft comfortable atmosphere then this place was very much the opposite. The atmosphere was the usual false inviting friendliness all staff seemed to have in them somewhere and there was little care for any of the furniture other than a modern and coffee theme.
"Can I get you anything or are you just passing through?"
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Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2006 8:12 pm
Marie had been enjoying the show of escaped menus and aprons and other misfortures. Even if the decor was not as comfortable looking as she wished, the entertainment was certainly five stars. Ah yes, the morning chill did have a way with her moods.
Upon been greeted by the young waitress, it was all that the female could do to hold a scowl off her facial features. 'Was I just called by sir?,' she couldn't helped but silently turnover in her mind, the annoyed thought reverberating. If she had been a cat, her tail would have been lashing, but beyond an inward douse of ice, Marie kept her opinions to herself.
On second thought, the female pondered over the fact that her sloppy appearance was masculine. But alas, the first impression was so much more intriguing to play out. Thrusting both away, she painted a smile on her lips to out do the false one that rode on the waitress' face.
Violently tugging the white apple earbuds from her ears, she spoke. "I was wondering what types of lattes you sold?" Her voice, thought Marie with a triumphant grin, was suprisingly clear and femine for such an early hour. "And as for the timing of my walk, I fear that inspiration is hard to come by and when the traffic lies low, it is more keen to reveal itself."
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Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2006 8:48 pm
Satoko couldn't understand the icy gaze coming off this being, though their smile was just as fake and plastic as her own. This being certainly looked male, or perhaps it was just the baggy clothing that hung from each limb that reminded her of a male's composure and disposition. Then again a male wouldn't be able to pull off any icy stare like this unless they were more attuned to the attractiveness of the same gender in which case it was likely Satoko would get more flustered. For the first time since opening shop Satoko's mind was confused and shy in this place she normally felt so comfortable and open in. the smile on her face had yet to falter while all this charged on through her head, though the blood was once again rushing to her face, though not as fast as usual since the restaurant she held so dear was still in fleeing distance. It would only take a phone call for her to pretend something was wrong and she could try and un-embarrass herself. There would also be nothing wrong if she said the store was closed, then again she had already asked if they wanted something. But had they heard her over those earphones?
She noticed the violent way this....it had pulled out the two headphones just as she thought of them, like a mind-reader. It was still a very masculine pulling action indeed. It was only when she, yes she Satoko finally realised, was indeed female as the startling scowl had already said.
Well of course there was no stopping her red cheeks now but Satoko did manage to bring out a pencil and notepad from her pocket, looking down as if they were the most interesting things in the world.
"Oh yes.” She mumbled, finding that even though she was horribly withering at her mistake on the inside her lips and voice were still smiling and cheerful like everything was fine. Then again maybe it was fine and she was just over reacting, had it been she who was told they over reacted or one of the younger staff members? It had only been a week ago, why couldn't she remember?
"Well the views from around some of the city are rather inspiring, we have some art inside on the walls of a few of the most spectacular views around if you'd like to see."
She said, automatically advertising for the restaurant for some reason and in the same fake cheerfulness and grabbed a menu from the closest tables and handed it over to the customer, still smiling.
"If you'd like to browse through our wide selection you can come inside and also take a look at today's specials. May I suggest our top best seller Lattes? At number one is our very vanilla latter, two is caramelatte and lastly is the mocha caramelatte. Of course there's always the classic Cafe latte as well if you just want the basic. Would you like me to show you a seat or is this to go?"
She asked, gazing helpfully up at this newcomer, despite her being very aware of herself under this cold gaze.
"Miss." She added quickly, maybe she could make amends?
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Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2006 9:18 pm
Marie blinked, her hazel eyes growing a touch with pity, the type that no one wants unless they are a five year old begging for a lollipop. The waitress looked to be positively squirming, despite that even toned voice. 'Maybe I was too harsh?,' she thought with a guilty pang before a loud nyah~ ricocheted across her mind.
Now what was that waitress going on about? Speak up, speak up, Marie silently urged the other, her fingernails tapping her thighs in impatience. Something about the art around the restaurant, at least the female guessed. Stepping inside further, trying not to shove the waitress- they never brushed, a close miracle in Marie’s opinion, She looked around. A smirk that not even she, a practiced individual at the poker face, could hold back popped onto her lips. It was so gaudy. Just as fake as the waitress’ smile. And her own, of course, but that plastic caress had long since vanished.
“I’ll sit on that couch, if you don’t mind,” she answered fairly decently if not sharply, her temper swelling, though in truth Marie had no idea when it had been sparked. “And the mocha caramel latte, too.” She didn't take the menu.
Without waiting for an answer, and simply ignoring the "miss," she strode across the vacant restaurant and plopped her backend down on the said couch. ‘It smelled better in Moonstruck,’ she thought with a dry sob. She did not spare a glance for the waitress as she dug into her tote and took out a tattered notebook and chewed pencil.
Surely something in this over-done, tourist-attractive, coffee shop might be even halfway decent to be sketched! Her lips pursed, Marie leaned back against the couch, her eyes darting up to the ceiling and then navigated the room. Nothing. Wait. A smile, a true one this time, but it was cruel, sprang to cover her features, a laugh accompanying it.
Whatever misfortune that dainty little waitress had caused the female this morning, she didn't really remember, Marie felt enough cynical to pay it back tenfold. ‘I’ll just document your little clumsiness, sweet heart,’ she thought with relentless maliciousness. That priceless memory was still as clear as a bell. Ah~ That spray of menus. Beautiful. And it would work well with watercolors.
She got straight to work, sketching out a miniature scene with the other falling forward, the menus slipping out her hands. With some surprise, Marie noted that her talent for realism had improved. It was defiantly the waitress, down to her plastic smile.
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Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2006 9:57 pm
.Well the young girl really did know what she wanted, but it seemed she would be staying for a rather unwelcome amount of time and if she was going to keep up that cynical air well Satoko really wouldn't know what to do. She seemed so impatient and unready to really take in anyone around would say unless it involved something that might actually interest her. For some reason Satoko could only imagine this woman scoffing at anything she had to say and just let her pass into the restaurant, writing down the order quickly and noticing just how closely the new customer seemed to be paying attention to just how close they got to one another. Did she really offend her that much? So it had been a slight gender misinterpretation, she wouldn't be that over the top about it. Then again Satoko was never that criticizing or hurtful over anything, let alone a few words. The wind blew again even harsher this time as if saying she had to go in even if she didn't like it and as she did go in she let her hand hang back long enough to switch the sign outside around declaring that they were now officially 'open'.
The classically wooden polished floor made the sound of her shoes connecting with it slightly louder than they would normally be against the dull muffling sound of concrete. It didn't take long for Satoko to realise what exactly this woman was looking at, the entire building seemed to be shying away from a scornful gaze which only had Satoko resent this undignified woman even more. She tapped her own heel impatiently, making it click against the floor like a clock's soft keys slowly ticking by.
She had been about to offer a seat rather far away from the actual counter but this woman seemed to have no patience for waiting for that either and merely found her own seat on one of the sofas, secretly Satoko hoped that it was one of the harder backed ones.
Happy the woman had found a seat somewhere out the way of her own work Satoko was more than happy to go and fill the kitchen with the scent of softly brewing coffee and caramel.
Soon enough there was indeed the soft aroma of melting caramel and coffee beans in the air, though Satoko had taken the liberty to sadly take out the CD she had taken to listening to while opening up and exchanged it for what could only be described as the perpetual falling of water and soft musical instruments, some called it 'chill out' or 'spa' music but it was hard for Satoko to enjoy anything without some kind of techno element to it. Every now and again she would glance up at the woman she was supposed to be serving a latte to and notice that she was sketching something or other. Another artistic hopeful to this town. There had been a few that stopped in here some months ago, always saying how this place was so welcoming to them. Not like this one. Though Satoko had assumed they'd all moved away since none came back now.
She chuckled trying to think of something a more confident person might say in this situation and a few choice lines came to mind.
Surely this shallow female would have no artistic merit, swinging her pen or pencil onto the paper with as much fineness and compassion as one would a garden hoe.
A soft ding to her left let her know that now was the time to serve up said latte and expertly she finished it off with a flourish of caramel sauce in large arced swirling patterns. Now there was something here in this plastic shop that really did have some kind of life to it, smelling strongly of the sweet caramel mixed in and yet with the sharp surprising tang only the mix of coffee can provide. Grabbing a pen Satoko quickly scribbled down a few figures then ripped the paper off the notepad it was on.
"Here's your latte miss, enjoy your day."
This time she didn't feel the need to put on the smiling mask and instead just placed both bill and latte on the table in front of the wannabe artist, not bothering to peek at the drawing Such and such was doing, but instead making her way over to the cakes counter. The display of cakes looked very inviting and without further ado she whipped one out from under the cold glass display and cutting herself a piece of the carrot cake she would call breakfast for the day, slipping a few coins into the till and biting into the sweet desert with relish!
"That Audley is a genius in the kitchen."
She laughed to herself, remembering the slightly eccentric bakery owner
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Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2006 10:23 pm
Marie had sketched with a vicious air at first, for her turbulent emotions did effect her style. As time drew out, she relaxed slightly, her hands becoming more welcoming to the pencil, and in return the sketch began to soften at her fingertips. The scene on the paper was comical, if nothing else, and she was pleased at seeing it turn out so nicely.
A smile, this one almost compassionate, worked its way onto her lips, as she almost forgot about the restaurant. The sweet smell of caramel and coffee made her nose twitch once or twice in suprise, but she had drowned out her surroundings to such an extent, that no negative thoughts tagged themselves to the fresh aroma.
Her fine mood, however, lasted only as long as her piece, and unfortunately, the arrival of her latte shattered her picturesque world. "Thanks," was the only cheery statement that passed out of her mouth before Marie remembered herself. At the retreating waitress' back, she said, "And a glass of water?" A second later, she added, "Make it tap." The female certainly didn't feel like being charged for water, and even this place should know better than to tag a price onto the water from the city's pipes.
Taking a sip of her latte, it was trifle too sweet, she scanned the bill. Hastily she swallowed, to avoid spitting out the liquid. "Audley would never charge this much," she hissed softly under breath.
As if an echo of her thoughts, or perhaps a continuation, she heard the other mention the same individual. Or someone with the same name. Her stomach curled, and she pushed the latte, pencil, and paper away.
"Excuse me, but you wouldn't be referring to that bakery uptown, would you?"
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Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2006 11:22 pm
Satoko was just about ready to forget all that had happened with this particular customer so far, they were just a customer after all right? It could just be a bad day after all, if she was an artist she could just be a little hard for cash even, that was possible. not everyone could be as sturdy as she was, well sturdy for the most part...She was getting by.
The CD changed track and switched to a more ocean type sound and it was this that seemed to calm Satoko down a little more, letting the 'relaxing waves' wash over her for a minute, maybe this 'chill out' thing wasn't as bad as she thought it was, she should stop at the local Music store and try to find something she could enjoy while taking a nap at home. Of course that might just be the giddiness the cake she was eating was giving her, even just eating one of Audley's delicious cakes was making her feel a bit better now.
Of course that was until he she just had to order a drink, and the spell was broken. She would have shivered in frustration if it weren't for the thought that as soon as she served this feisty young girl a drink she would hopefully be out of here. With an even more forced and calm smile she grabbed one of their finer glasses and poured from the tap a tall glass of water, chucking in ice and a slice of lemon, finishing it off with a little paper umbrella. She took this over to the cynical young woman and put it gently on the table, making sure a coaster was underneath while the iced clinked against the sides of the glass merrily. Satoko chanced a look at the sketchbook and instantly turned and saw red, the picture as talented, yet as she had though passionless, painting was of herself struggling to detain the accusing menus she had accidentally let slip before. An audible huff escaped her lips before she turned away in spite.
"You should know that only paying customers are allowed to sit in these chairs so if you'd kindly finish off your water and pay the bill I wouldn't mind if you left. I've got a party to prepare for in a few hours."
Her tone hadn't been icy yet the meaning was clear, stop bothering her and get out!
It was also there that Satoko decided that if this picture were ever to be purchasable she would be the one to buy it...then burn it.
Now finishing her business for now with the girl she went back to where she had been enjoying her own little slice of heaven away from this dismal girl. A smile caressed her lips, she'd need to go to the bakery later and hopefully be able to ask Audley for a fresh pick-me-up. True these cakes and other baked delights were tempting and hard not to succumb to but it would be impossible to resist the quaint little sweet aroma of a freshly baked pastry.
All to soon though her leisurely thoughts were interrupted by that woman's voice again, did she enjoy torturing her? She had almost just ignored her all together, just wishing she could push this nuisance out the door and close up fro the next ten minutes. It had only been the part about the bakery that had spiked her attention. Surely this spiteful woman couldn't also spend time at such a delightful shop?
"Why yes, I would. Mooncakes bakery of course. We buy all our baked goods from Audley every week. Though I'm sure if you've been there before, you might know it's only really worth the effort of walking up there when it's fresh."
She smiled genuinely this time, well if Audley liked her, she couldn't be all that bad...............right?
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Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2006 11:53 pm
Marie sighed regretfully, looking at the glass of water. It was nicely put together. Picture perfect. Lemon, umbrella, and all. All she really needed was something to dip her paintbrushes in. Taking one courtesy sip, and swallowing quickly for the tap water was harder than she was used to, even after being in the city for as long as she had, the female reached into her bag and pulled out a small case of watercolors and one brush.
The brush, held elegantly between two fingers as if it had been half a set of chopsticks or perhaps a cigarette (not that the female would pollute her lungs), hovered above the glass. Her eyes rose to make contact with the waitress, and a delighted grin slowly drifted across her lips.
So the girl did have some pep in her afterall. "I'll be finishing off my drinks in due time," drawled Marie. "I didn't realize that such a fine institution held such an abrupt attitude towards customers. Usually you drink first and then pay up. It's more civilized."
No sooner than she had spoke, though, than the female clamped down on her sharp tongue. Rather than draw such a dispute out further, She settled for waiting for a response. An exciting reaction.
Her eyes widened as the waitress instead launched into her statement about the bakery. Slowly, a blush rose on the edges of Marie's cheeks. "I frequent there often," she said in a much more gentle tone, her voice no longer carrying a hint of daggers. "Audley has been quite sympathetic to me in the past. You could say that he indirectly saved my income. You see," she found herself trying to defend, or at least make up for, her former attitue, "I rent a studio only a ten minute walk from the bakery. Times have been rough. And I just happened to stumble upon the quaint place."
The paintbrush was now dripping wet on one end, but the female lowered it to the paper, a dark blotch spreading across the surface. With one hesitant glance- she did like the picture- Marie carefully drew her fingers across the pad, successfully tearing out the malicious page. A crumpled wad, it was tucked inside her bag. Inspiration, yes, but no longer could it work as a direct piece.
Marie trusted Audley's instincts, and if this girl visited the bakery on such a regular basis, then surely she didn't deserve what was being dished out to her.
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Posted: Sat Nov 25, 2006 12:55 am
The way this girl held her paintbrush seemed highly professional, like it was not just a utensil used for drawing but as if it was just another part of her finger, and extension with the power to create on canvas anything she wished to direct its power at and even thought it was just a paintbrush sitting elegantly in a hand Satoko did get the feeling that it would just as easily perform a sort of dance along the thin fibres of the paper as easily as a true dancer does on a stage. Though she wished that the young woman had told her all she needed was a glass of water for her to wash the brushes in, then again that image wouldn't look very accepting in the kind of restaurant Satoko was trying to run. A promotional idea for swam into mind for a second, artists swarming in, though hopefully not as rude as this one had been, trying to best capture the plastic yet supposedly inviting atmosphere of the place for some minor amount of money, it would bring in some more customers if Satoko cared to promote such a thing.
Satoko was rather happy however when her female 'companion' had clamped her mouth and bit her tongue, truly the last thing she wanted today was a dispute between a customer and herself, last week's brawl was still lingering between her and the manager, not to mention a few hundred dollars worth of damage repair, why did all the raging hormone controlled teens decide this would be their hangout joint on a Friday of all nights? She wiped her hands from some of the condensation from the drink onto her apron, about to turn away thinking that this woman wanted nothing more to do with her, or so she had thought but apparently not as the next words the feisty young woman spoke were much more...friendly and warm, warmer than this place at the least and the tone had lost the ice daggers which had before threatened to push right through the small shell Satoko had locked her more rare to see angry side. The more the girl talked though the more Satoko could relate, a small understanding slipped between them both for a second and gratefully Satoko sat down in the chair opposite.
"So I guess that's another one saved because of Audley then?" She managed to say after listening intently.
"I guess you could also say that in a way he saved my career. I was just starting here and I'd been out in charge of a lot of the initial stock. We...I, somehow managed to forget to place an order in for any cakes. I was going to be blamed for all of it, the manager was a lot stricter back then as well, I'd be fired and out of a job if it weren't for Audley opening so early and being as helpful as he is. He helped me carry about twenty boxes to from the bakery you know?"
She pondered smiling, that was when she was so new to the city and she'd had to use the yellow pages to find anyone that could help her.
The sound of ripping paper startled Satoko out of her memories and she looked down to see the wad of paper tightly scrunched up in a ball, the piece of paper that was a picture of herself in one of her clumsier moments. For some reason this just seemed like a kind of peace treaty from the other girl and she took it as a good sign, maybe Audley hadn't been to misjudging at all about this girl.
"Oh."
Satoko said startled, still staring at where the horrifyingly embarrassing picture had been previously, though a much nicer smile caressed her lips and she openly grabbed at the piece of paper she had tagged alongside the drink she'd given this mystery woman then tore it in two neat little strips, folding it up and placing them in her pocket.
One good term deserves another right? She reached a hand across the table.
"I'm Satoko by the way, you are?"
((Nine posts and not a single name given xD Writing about 'that girl' sure does get annoying. Maybe Satoko should wear a name badge from now...))
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Posted: Sat Nov 25, 2006 10:07 am
Marie grinned at the waitress. She did like a good argument, for life had been pacified by a large margin without her younger brother around. Sometimes turmoil just needed to break loose, and unfortunately, the straw that broke the camel’s back hurt that camel on this morning. She did feel, however, that this new turn in events was more comfortable. Her whole body seemed to relax, though the female had not realized how tense she had felt.
Gingerly, as to avoid knocking any of the glasses on the table top, she slipped off her blazer, dropping it in a neat heap on the seat beside her. A t-shirt shirt covered with an abstract pattern and then one or two gold outlines of butterflies had been hiding beneath the worn, but warm, jacket. She leaned back against the couch, her willowly form cushioned slightly.
“That’s Audley for ya,” she said in a peppy, matter-of-fact tone. “I don’t know what I’d do if he wasn’t there to meddle-in a good way- in my life. Not like he means to, at least I don’t think he means to.” She paused for a second. Her lips pursed into a rosebud formation, her head slightly tilted to one side and supported by palm of her hand with the elbow resting on the table top, she mulled over the thought for a brief second.
“I needed inspiration, and he somehow gave it to me on just the right day.” She laughed at the coincidence, but faintly, hidden under the tone was the sound of fear. Too soon to laugh, too close for comfort. “Whose to say it can’t happen again,” she whispered under her breath. Shaking her head, the honey strands flying in all directions, she banished those thoughts. Until later, at the least, she could enjoy the present until the future- and life- came knocking.
The sound of more paper ripping had Marie glancing up in alarm. A small gasp tore from her lips as she saw the bill, it was still overpriced in her mind, no matter the positive air she looked at the restaurant with, being neatly torn in two. ‘Wow,’ she thought. ‘I really missed the mark, this time, didn’t I? Even though Mom always said that my little sister was better at judging character than me.’
Amusement, and pleasure, shone in her eyes as she extended a pale, slightly speckled with dry paint, hand to clasp that of the other. “Satoko,” she said, trying the catch the feel of her name. “And I’m Marie-Analiese. But just Marie works fine for me.”
Trying to make a stab at conversation, she asked, “Where are you from?” Satoko didn’t look like a native to the city, but then again, anything could be true.
((Yeah. x3 And forgive me if i'm not on much tonight or tomorrow (for the next twenty-four hours). One of my camp friends is coming down to visit~))
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Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 1:12 am
Satoko was surprised at how tense the young lady had seemed to be before. although she had not noticed before, it was now obvious as Marie's form slackened into a much more comfortable and 'loose' posture.
It was also funny how the Marie's smile made Satoko also more at ease, much like she would if she had just been at home listening to some music rather then pretending to be all professional-waitress-extraordinary! It was rare for her to warm up to anyone so quickly, then again perhaps this was just a state of mind she was in because she subconsciously felt she had sort of...won the argument. Indeed she was much to interested in these thoughts to notice the blazer slip lazily to the seat beside Marie and she only smiled just in time to not look rude or patronizing.
Her eyes however didn't miss the fact that there was indeed something on the seat not meant to be there.
"Would you like me to put that somewhere else or aren't you planning to stay much longer?"
She asked offhandedly, avoiding the question of her own home town for the time being. She was about to reach over and grab the offending blazer when it struck her that touching another's possessions without their permission just yet could be seen as rude and she stopped her hand inching towards the fabric. She looked up to listen to Marie talk, trying to give her full attention to what one would either call a new found friend, or perhaps just an acquaintance? Satoko was unsure of this but she did slide her eyes up towards Marie's while still surreptitiously noticing the breasts which the previously unflattering blazer had covered up. No doubt, unless this was some extremely good and high priced cross dresser, Satoko was talking to a being of the female species.
“Whose to say it can’t happen again,” Marie whispered in an almost final tone to say that part of the conversation had ended. Audley had been the one to start them talking and Satoko hoped he also wouldn't be the one to end it, oblivious to the sound of underlying fear. Most woman might pick this up in what you might just cal female intuition, much more in tune to a person's emotions than a males but such things easily slipped past Satoko nowadays.
Marie's grip on Satoko's hand was surprisingly soft, yet firm and warm in a reassuring way for some reason and it was easy to find comfort in those amused shining eyes of hers. So this new person was now to be called Marie?
"Marie-Analiese..."
She seemed to try the words out in her mouth, forming them carefully with her lips, Marie sounded just as nice to her.
She thought carefully about what to say next regarding where she was from. Satoko was a little bit of that and a little bit of this, though it seemed Marie was more or less talking about her appearance so she started there.
"I moved here about six years ago from New York," She started, trying to think back.
"Before that I was in Europe for a little while and before that New Zealand." She squinted up her face for a minute.
"I guess I'm from the north of Osaka though. My parents started moving me around when I turned four. I've picked up english since then I guess."
She explained briefly, not really wanting to elaborate on herself much longer and shrugged. It wasn't that she was modest or didn't like speaking of the past, she just wanted to know more about Marie. Marie, the girl who was living like a proper artist in some studio uptown making a living from her passion. That was real commitment, something worth telling rather than the little girl who changed continents every few years.
"Yourself?
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Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 2:57 pm
Marie frowned, creases appearing across her forehead for but a mere instant as she attempted to decipher Satoko’s minute amounts of movement. “Take care of...,” she echoed slowly, her eyes following the waitresses path, finally alightly on her rumpled blazer. “Take care of my blazer?,” she asked, the question more of an affirmative comment. “Oh you don’t need to worry,” the female said with a grin. “I don’t really have a time frame in mind, but you really don’t need to bother yourself.”
She paused for an instant, her hazel optics gently delving into the emotion on Satoko’s face. Her lips pursed for a fleeting second before she picked up the offending garment, coming to the conclusion that it was bothering the other, and folded it down the middle. Neatly, with the air of a woman used to having to keep a home tidy (or suffer the extreme consequences of have socks and the like unintentionally ending up in paint tins), Marie placed it over her tote.
That task fulfilled, and hopefully Satoko’s worry would have faded seeing something done, the female returned her attention to the waitress. Her hands now rested in her laps, fingers in one giant ball beneath the table, intertwining at will as she listened A pang of sorrow and sympathy twisted her stomach as Marie mulled over the many moves the waitress had gone through. “What an interesting childhood,” she said once Satoko had finished. “Being uprooted so often. Which place do you consider your home the most?”
Marie pushed off the back of the couch until she no longer slumped, but rather sat upright. The attentive student that only learned to obey after she had left the classroom behind. “But wait,” the female continued, only a breath later. “I suppose I should tell you a little about myself, first. It’s only fair, though I must warn you, my life has not been nearly as interesting as yours.”
She inhaled once, as if needing that extra breath for reassurance before launching into her tale. ‘I wasn’t born in the United States, though I lived in New York for most of my life- small world, ain’t it? I was actually born in Canada, Quebec if you want specifics. We, my parents and I, moved south soon after my second birthday. At any rate, the rest of my siblings, I’m the oldest of five, are all American to the core.
“Right around age fourteen, right before I started highschool, I signed up with a travel group to go to Italy. I fell in love with cities like Rome and Venice, but even more so with the street artists. The freedom of a watercolor brush and paper, or so I thought. The next few years I repeated the trip- once with a group of friends, and once with one of my little brothers, Jeremy.
“I moved here a year ago, fresh out of highschool. My parents haven’t spoken much to me since; they had high hopes for me but I didn’t want to be locked into another life of stress and paper. I’m not lazy, school just made me feel like a caged bird.” Marie paused for a second, her mouth twisting at one corner as if she’d said too much already. Shaking her head slightly, she picked up where she had left off.
“I had taken ten thousand dollars out of my college fund- a parting gift from my parents, you could say, and arrived here with nothing but a suitcase of clothes and a suitcase of supplies. Luckily, for back then I had a good deal of good luck, I found a cheap loft apartment over in that district.” She waved a hand in the direction of the slums, not bothering to mention the notorious neighborhood by name. “I made money by doing street art on that boardwalk down by the ocean. At the same time, I began making my collection. Everyday I would take a small amount of my earnings and I would buy more paint supplies. Eventually, I was able to rent a studio in the heights off and on to display and sell my work.
“And that,” she said with the air of concluding something, “Is where you find me today. Searching for something to capture so that when the studio becomes mine again, I’ll be able to make a living. Doing art on the streets is a nice idea but its not a lovely lifestyle.” Marie stopped, her eyes widening as she released how much she had blabbed on and on. “I’m so sorry,” she hurriedly. “I didn’t mean for all of that to come out.”
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Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 8:04 pm
Home? Home...Of course Satoko was not questioning the meaning of the word, rather trying to consider what one might define emotionally as a home rather than just a place of residence. She smiled though, trying to picture her life as interesting through another's eyes but struggled to find it. Only possibly grazing over the tip, much like an iceberg, of something that could be interesting. Yet to her, the rest was deep down below and unimaginable as anything more than raw facts of her life. She bit her bottom lip, making the top one jut out slightly in a puckered up sort of look.
"I guess I would call this place my home mostly."
She started, considering her words carefully.
"I have lived here the longest, though it's not just that. Maybe just because this is the first place I went on my own. I decided where I wanted to go, not just let another decide I was going to some other place without question."
A smile cracked her lips though and she gestured roughly around the restaurant.
"Although as one might imagine this wasn't the exact lifestyle I hoped I would be living after first moving here."
Chuckling she pondered it a little more to herself, what had brought her here anyway? It hadn't just been a whim she decided on randomly to fulfil. It had been something more but what she could not recall and shook her head in confusion for a while, sending small bits of dust up through the air so she had to stop and sneeze, covering her mouth as she did so.
Letting her hands wring and twist around the material of her apron as she listened Satoko was surprised to hear that Marie had done her own fair share of travelling, including the well known city of new York, a smile twitched the corner of her lips upwards at that, a small world indeed, though she couldn’t help but marvel at the thought of living with so many other siblings, being a single child herself the thought of four others sharing a household seemed somewhat ridiculous and frightening but a small pang of longing for a sibling to get close to also seemed to be there as well, wishing that maybe she to could have someone to tour some foreign country with while following a passion or a dream as this young girl Marie had done, or at least someone to talk to during long and lonely flights. Cities like Venice and Rome pricked her interest, many of the paintings around the café were of various streets located in such fine cities, not just the picture-Esq scenes of the boardwalk of the city they were currently in. True enough Satoko had lately taken to staring at one of the pictures on the wall located in Venice portraying not only the beautiful scenery but the people, both old and young, rich and poor and seemingly in one endless mass in a busy market with sellers offering wares and souvenirs.
Not being one to be officially schooled in any one place though it was hard to relate to her so called ‘high school bird-cage’ Although the idea of being led down a path by others in the shoes of someone else was all to familiar to Satoko, the very mention of the small time company that still raged around Osaka and a few cheap Asian market discount stores around the world sent a shiver up her spine. That had not been what Satoko intended for her life at all and had she been alone she would have sniffed at the very notion! She put a hand over Marie’s shoulder with a meaning to be comforting nudge for her to go on, even though she now seemed to be having a hard time telling the rest of her story. A college fund dip and a shaky start in an unknown city was pretty much were it left off, yet it did hold merit as a tale of perseverance and Satoko felt somewhat proud that anyone could go this far with so little support, even her own parents had managed to give a semi-comforting ‘well we’ll see how long this lasts’ smile before she took off.
She thought about that for a moment before a thought struck her, she clapped her hands once at what she thought might be the brilliance of it.
“Why don’t I buy some of your paintings to hang in the restaurant!? I’d pay decent prices for all of them, really if your previous sketch was anything like your others I’d be happy to pay for a few. God knows these pieces of art are starting to get old around here!”
She nodded enthusiastically, casting a weary gaze at the ever frozen scenes of mournful dull fisherman waiting for a bite that would never come in their forever one frame life, though some sunsets were nice to behold a few new ones would be wondrous and maybe bring some more life to the plastic motif.
“I’ll just ask my partner if I can dip my fingers into a bit of the budget to buy some if it would be okay with you. There are a few perks to being the manager of a semi-successful restaurant so why not use them now?
She dismissed Marie’s comment on rambling like it hadn’t been said, it had been lovely to hear and there was no need to apologise at all.
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