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 Posted: Sun Apr 04, 2010 2:07 pm
Vivi let out a small peal of laughter and gave another little curtsy as Zeke complimented her outlook, but she kept from replying until the other finished speaking, nodding instead until he asked for questions. She was more than curious now about his Raevan, but she felt quite certain that this man would be more than capable in taking care of whatever life would throw at him. She only hoped that she would be able to meet her own charge with the same parental certainty and devotion.
"Hmmm..."
As for questions, she felt as though she must have some, but as she thought about the situation, her eyes locking again onto her bottle and vial, nothing but happiness and excitement rose into her mind. She would keep them safe, find a soul for the bottle, and then return them to the lab! So far, it all seemed fairly straightforward. No, the only thing she could think of was that she could hardly wait to tell the good news!
"You are truly fantastic! All of this news and I am devoid of questions!" Vivi sang at last, placing her hands on her hips. "I am certain that after I return these things I shall have plenty -- but for now I confess I have none! Truly, you are in need of some reward."
While she spoke, Vivi practically glided back to the other side of the counter -- this time walking around rather than somersaulting over -- and gestured around her to her arsenal of sweets and baked goods. She then fixed her smile back toward Zeke, her eyes bright and playful. "I must insist. A new friend and a new charge! I am quite overcome."
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Posted: Sun Apr 04, 2010 3:07 pm
It was amusing to be curtsied at, there was no doubt about that! Zeke gave a little bow back (he couldn't resist!) and patiently waited for Vivi to decide if she did have anything to ask him. Hopefully he had gone over everything as well as an employee of two months could - especially one who only worked weekends - but if something did come up out of her head, he'd be sure to answer promptly, or at least do his best to. The sound his counterpart made had Zeke's head tilting slightly, expression open, friendly, and interested in any quandaries she had. He did rather like answering questions, no matter how trivial or random the askance was. His eyes followed hers to her bottle and vial, figuring there might be something related to them going through her head.
"You are truly fantastic! All of this news and I am devoid of questions!"
He burst into fresh peals of laughter. He hadn't been expecting that but hey! why not? Zeke hugged the papers to his chest with his arm, unsure and rather not caring at the moment if there was some wrinkling going onto the face of the top sheet. His free hand raised up to wipe at the corner of his eye as soon as his laughter settled down some, shoulders shaking with what he was repressing.
"Awesome then!" He said in regards to her lacking questions. He had done his job and he had done it well. Alex had taught him the way of the Lab staff and he fit right into the spot she had given him there for that. He'd parade around their desk in triumph when he got back to the Lab, but for now he'd just settle on that pleased and excited face of Vivi. The mention of a reward tugged the smile higher and he started to shake his head; he didn't need a reward! Seeing a new guardian take to their new responsibility and be so joyous about it was enough for him, truly. His lips parted to make voice to this inner statement, but before he could start the Frenchwoman was behind the counter and making motions toward the cases. He looked at the treats behind the glass barriers - sweet, fluffy, colorful, and so so tempting. Well...Maybe just this once. She did insist!
"You're very kind," his own eyes were lit with the same liveliness as Vivi's own, matching this woman quite probably blow for blow on the positive emotions chart. "I was actually going to ask if I could buy a little something after the business was done. I gotta confess - the smell of the bakery outside had me convinced to buy something!" Zeke turned his attention to the case again, biting his lip lightly as he browsed. What did he want? Luckily for him he wasn't allergic or intolerant to anything that could be made in a bakery and he wasn't picky when it came to sweets, so the sky was the limit here! He was indecisive though and, like a kid in a candy store, he was quite taken up with what was before him that he was already sure he couldn't pick just one thing. That would be rude however, and his eyes continued to flick over pastries, creamy things, and even the ice cream case in the corner for a handful of minutes before finally settling on something very much chocolate covered. He pointed to the dessert with his finger hovering just over the surface of the glass, reading the little placard in front of the thin and professional looking cake(?) twice in his head before out loud with certainty that his decision was made.
"Opéra gateau?" It was clear he wasn't sure of his pronunciation, looking back up at the woman in the red dress with a 'did I say that right?' expression. He knew a bit of conversational Italian (and swears. So many swears...) but French was a whole 'nother game. Either way, that's what he wanted. He just hoped he didn't butcher Vivi's native tongue in the process. "I'd like a slice of that, if that's okay with you Vivi."
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Posted: Sun Apr 04, 2010 4:25 pm
"An excellent choice, Opéra gateau!" Vivi repeated, nodding to affirm that Zeke had gotten the pronunciation correct. She had certainly heard enough terrible French in her day, and although the man's intonations sounded more like Italian than French, his pronunciation had otherwise been spot-on. Anyhow, she was also happy with his choice -- she loved creating the cake in question, the contrasting layers of dark chocolate ganache and fluffy joconde so perfect and inviting.
Vivi retrieved a white box of thin white cardboard from under the counter and flipped open its top, then slid open the display's glass casing. Rather than a simple slice, Vivi then extracted the full 9" cake from its imprisonment, the bitter scent of coffee and chocolate mixing with the light, angelic sweetness of the buttercream and spongecake. The smells wafted up toward Zeke's like a beckoning finger: Eat me, the cake invited.
Vivi looked up at Zeke as she carefully placed the treat into its box, then quickly tucked in the cardboard lid. "You must not argue, oui?" she said with an impish smile. "It is to share with your sister."
She then sealed the box with a logo-printed sticker, looking quite like a contented cat, and presented the package to Zeke. "Please, enjoy. I cannot thank you enough for the happiness you have brought with you!"
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Posted: Sun Apr 04, 2010 5:34 pm
So he had said it right! That was most certainly his little win of the day, the big win being that he had taken care of this bottle drop off without a hitch and come out of it with a charming new friend. And a slice of ca--That wasn't a slice. That was about eleven pieces more than a slice. Again Zeke opened his mouth to say something, but the scent of sweet and bitter was heavenly and the smile Vivi gave him made Zeke shut his trap then and there. Okay, fine, he wouldn't argue and yes he would share with Alex. She was the one who was best at desserts, pastries, and breads out of herself and Brad - though Zeke would holler from here to heck and back saying she was just a good an entree cook as her older brother - so he was sure she'd appreciate such a cake.
"Okay, I won't argue." He smiled himself as he pulled his wallet from his pocket and extracted a handful of gold that would amount to a twenty in US dollars. Instead of handing it to Vivi however, he wordlessly put it in the tip jar by the register, tossing her a wink and a smile that politely said to not argue with that. He nabbed the suitcase off the floor and quickly - but carefully - opened, put the forms inside, and shut it again. He'd need a free hand after all, between the case and the box, which was then situated on top of the metal item so both could be easily brought back to the car. Zeke pulled both into his arms again, body already in a half turn to the door once both were settled.
"Thank you, I will!" One last grin for the bright woman now behind the counter. Damn, he should have shaken her hand before he picked these up! Ah well, too late now. He didn't want to fumble his cargo around too badly. "And you're welcome. I gave you the card, so if anything comes up or you have a question, feel free to call or stop by the Lab okay? There's a big sign out front so you can't miss it." An idea struck him and once he was at the door he turned around to Vivi and gave her a bow that would easily match the curtsy she gave him when he first entered the shop, though he was mindful of that cake who's scent permeated the box it was now encased in. Once he stood up again, Zeke's back pressed into the door, opening it and letting a gust of outside air ruffle the shirt on his back.
"Take care Vivi; I'm sure we'll see each other again soon and thank you so much for the cake!" And with that he was out the door, listening to the chimes jingle overhead as the door swung back into place. Today really was a good day.
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