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 Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2010 12:02 pm
Banyan went silent for a moment, leaning back into the seat and letting the muscles of her neck go slack as she peered up at the ceiling, the glass of wine loosely in the fingers of her left hand. She let reality ebb and crash against the shores of her mind as piano notes danced in little somersaults within her large ears. She took a moment to breathe deeply a little and then raised her head to look at Hunter.
"Did you know that any frog can eventually be a prince? Do you know why Prince Charming only exists in fairy tales?" She swirled the wine in the goblet in three large spins before taking a sip. "Because no one ever starts off as a prince and the princess isn't an important part of the story until she's under some sort of hardship or trial first. It's not until after we've all suffered along with the princess, the frog, and the cruel antagonists that we're finally rewarded with the faintest glimmer of hope for some happiness. So I'm willing to wait until my hair is tired and gray to see what I'm rewarded with."
"I'm not going to force anyone into fitting into the mold of the prince," she moved one hand and found the window control, the tinted glass slid down noiselessly as she gazed out. "You can be whomever you like tonight, honey, and I'll be content for the company."
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Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2010 11:04 pm
Hunter tapped the side of his glass with his nails as Banyan spoke for princes, princesses and fairytales. “You know; I think I only half followed all that, but I’m pretty sure you just called me a frog.” The raccoon laughed; relaxing and simply casting aside all this nonsense. There was no point sitting here talking about what might be; he was just going to enjoy the night. Fairytales could wait. “I doubt I’d make a very good prince; so this time you’re stuck with a handsome rogue of a raccoon, which is really far better in my opinion. I bet a prince would get boring after a while.”
As he spoke they turned the corner onto the street the restaurant was on and were soon coming to a stop at the entrance. It was probably for the best that they had chosen to go by limo rather than Hunter drive them over. They would have been pulled over for speeding at least twice by now “We’re here. About time too; I’m hungry. Hn, they’re going to have five hundred on the table, aren’t they?” As they waited in the back, Hunter put his wine glass aside. Once the driver opened their door, Hunter slid out of his seat and into the night air.
He gave the restaurant a quick look before the racoon turned back to the limo, offering Banyan a hand of help.
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Posted: Mon Aug 16, 2010 3:28 pm
"Oh, it doesn't matter, honey," Banyan gave a little sigh. "Oftentimes no one understands the sentiment, anyway. Let's go have something good and expensive."
Banyan didn't expect Hunter to understand and why should he? He had a different life, a different mindset, and a different string of experiences. He must not have ever sought escape through books and fairy tales like she did.
She took Hunter's hand and stepped out into the night air. Banyan noted how people stopped to look at them, though they certainly weren't the first to arrive by limousine. Some of them tried to see if it was anyone they knew and some of them only looked to admire the view momentarily before being greeted at the door. There were other people dressed well and Banyan couldn't help but admire or mentally criticize their suits and ensembles. It must have been the side effects of modeling because she usually wasn't picky about what anyone wore as casual wear, but fancy dress was a different story.
The horizon flickered with lightning as clouds began to slowly announce that they'd also come for supper. The wind picked up from time to time and her hair flicked back from the nape of her neck and the little tiers of her dress waved to one side silently. The tiny rhinestones of her dress twinkled in the stark white light of the street lamps.
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Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2010 6:07 pm
Hunter had never been the type to turn to books. It was fair to say that he had not read one book during his teenage years; unless it had been filled with archery and hunting techniques.
Once he had helped Banyan from the car the racoon dropped his hand from hers and turned his red eyes upon those who had stopped for a look. He met each stare without blinking until they had dropped their gaze to something else. Hunter chuckled and linked his arm with Banyan’s. “Let’s go.” A few leaves skittered across the sidewalk as the wind picked up; giving the scene on oddly eerie feel. He could feel the coming storm; the scent the rain heavy in the air and the charging electricity sent a shiver through his tail.
He led Banyan forward up the front doors and out of the night into an expansive reception area. The money put into the place was obvious in every detail. Hunter’s ears pricked forward, catching the murmur of voices and the clink of cutlery from the dining room. The best part however was the scent. “Better taste as good as it smells.” He said with a chuckle. Hunter stood confidently amongst the splendour; as if he was used to such a world and not tall, muddy forests instead.
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Posted: Wed Aug 18, 2010 4:26 pm
"Oh, honey, I'm sure it does!" Banyan looked enchanted by it all.
They were greeted with great hospitality, offered wine from an extensive wine list, and fresh baked bread with fine olive oil. Banyan inspected the menu and wondered if she could even pronounce half the items in it. She was glad it also explained what everything was beneath each name.
Banyan couldn't hide how charmed she was by it all. What a glamorous lifestyle it must be to be so wealthy that one could afford to eat here in the evenings. What kind of life would she lead if she played the role of a wealthy billionaire? If she couldn't find love, she'd probably find enough company to spare when they'd all enjoy soaking up a little of the luxury she'd have to spend.
"I think tonight I want shrimp and filet mignon," she said to Hunter from over her menu. "What about you, honey?"
Before she could get a reply, what seemed like an empty wall draped in red velvet curtains from end to end opened up and a quartet began to play alongside a grand piano. They played something smooth and jazzy. Banyan felt little goosebumps raise on her arm. She felt like the belle of the ball.
"Oh, I'm so in love..." she bit the fingernail on the tip of an index finger to stave off doing something childish as she watched them play. "It's like a dream, isn't it, Hunter?"
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Posted: Mon Aug 23, 2010 8:14 pm
“Do you want me to pinch you?” Hunter offered with a playful grin. As the quartet began to play, he tapped his foot in time to the music. The whole atmosphere was really was nice; and even the waiters fluttering about nearby waiting to be helpful hadn’t annoyed him yet. So this was how the wealthy spent their time? It almost made him want to work harder at the whole money business. Almost.
Banyan certainly seemed quite taken with whole thing and he grinned as he watched the expressions on her face.
Lifting his menu out in front of him, Hunter alternated between glancing at the fancy named meals and eating the bread. There were a few things on the menu he’d certainly never heard of before, but the raccoon eventually settled on a meal he knew he liked but rarely ate. Whenever he tried it went all tough and chewy. “I’ll try the char grilled octopus with artichokes.” He replied to her earlier question; putting the menu aside.
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Posted: Sun Aug 29, 2010 6:32 pm
It wasn't long before the waiter took their orders, served them wine, and brought on the hors d'oeuvres of delicate looking salads. The place was so classy that even the salads were dressed in edible flower garnish and drizzled in a vinaigrette that looked as though it were made of strings of stained glass and iridescent glamor.
The jazz musicians had stopped to wander away for cigarette breaks and a single androgynous looking young thing in a slender suit and hair so slick you could see the lights overhead glimmer off each strand took a seat at the piano's bench and started to play a fancy little string of notes before blending it into an all out tune.
Banyan stopped to watch him play, watched his hands and face in a way most people watchers do, spied the little glittering diamond on one of his ears, and then turned to watch Hunter and gave him a genuine smile. It was as though, for a little while, they were other people. For a little snippet in time they were living someone else's life and everyone around them were decoration and playthings.
"Time certainly changes things, don't you think?" she said to him.
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Posted: Sun Aug 29, 2010 7:10 pm
It was almost too pretty to eat. Almost. Hunter spooned some of the salad on his bread; the vinaigrette soaking through nicely. Popping it into his mouth the raccoon made a satisfied ‘Mm’ sound. If just the salad tasted this good then he couldn’t wait for the rest.
Hunter picked up his wine glass and took a sip; preferring to watch Banyan while she studied the piano player. This was so far removed from his usual environment for a second it felt as if he wasn’t really here; that it was all just a silly dream. When Banyan turned to smile as him, he gave one in return. A boyish little smile that spoke of a gentler side.
“Yeah, it does. Though if it didn’t change things, there wouldn’t be much point to it.” Putting his wine aside Hunter picked up his fork, poking at a pinkish slice from the orange and beetroot salad. “It’s a good thing too. I know I have a temper but I was... too angry all the time.”
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Posted: Sun Aug 29, 2010 7:44 pm
"As long as you had an outlet of some type, honey," Banyan said sympathetically, choosing to pluck the slice of strawberry from her salad with her fingers and popping it in her mouth.
"That didn't involve anyone pushing up delicate daisies, that is," she laughed. "We've all got darker sides, Hunter honey, I can't claim to understand what you've been through, though," she admitted. "For the most part, my life's been..."
She used the fork this time for picking up curled feathers of fresh spinach and red lettuce.
"A bit of a carnival, I think," she chewed thoughtfully. "And more often than not I'm the only one left to clean up all the confetti."
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Posted: Tue Aug 31, 2010 5:30 pm
Hunter speared a piece of fennel with his fork; crunching on one half of it before replying with a shrug. “My rage usually got taken out on inanimate objects and walls.” He finished off the rest if the fennel and then reached for the wine again.
“Oh there were a few people I would have liked to send six feet under. But I always got out of there before it was too bad to shoot arrows at trees instead. Not that it’s particularly satisfying, but the forest is a soothing place.” He chuckled.
Leaning back in his chair, Hunter regarded Banyan with a curious look. “Well, you want to tell me about this carnival of yours? I may as well actually learn a bit about you since we’re having dinner. I wouldn’t have a clue what you do with your time... other than search for romance and eat too many sweets.”
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Posted: Tue Aug 31, 2010 8:42 pm
"You mean you don't live in a log cabin with the heads of creatures stuffed and looking slightly puzzled on little plaques on your walls?" Banyan laughed, leaning into the palm of one hand and her elbow at the edge of the table. "Do you really want to give off bad boy vibes because you're out to impress or is it because you really want to be a bad boy but aren't in the right kind of place for it? I admit, the other Hytes do get rather preachy.... and dull. Quite honestly, honey, I'd prefer your company even if you were still mean to me. You still make my life more interesting when I drop by the place."
She sat up straight and enjoyed her salad once more. She taste tested an edible flower and found it smelled nicer than it tasted. It was cold, bland, and the vinaigrette was all she could taste other than that. She imagined a life like Bonnie and Clyde momentarily, Hunter shooting a Thompson gun while she floored it in the getaway car. Banyan stifled a laugh into her hand before responding to Hunter's own inquiries.
"Well, I can't really reveal all of it in mixed company, but let's just say I've seen what it COULD be like and I've got it very much made by comparison," she stopped to accept her water glass being refilled by a passing waiter. "As for my mundane life... I model for clothing company catalogs, build my portfolio for professional modeling, work on my novel... For steady pay, I write fashion editorials in a local magazine. What I'd really like to do most of all is write romance novels. The most exciting things I ever get to do are artistic n***s or put on experimental clothing designs by local high fashion couture students. Once you get over their attitudes, the clothes are really kind of fun. Though, they seem to have trouble with me because I'm a full bodied model and not one of those thin, spindly things that usual walk a catwalk. But then again, I'm a rat. I need a ratwalk."
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Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2010 6:58 pm
“I’d like to say I have a large grizzly bear rug on the floor, but no, I don’t actually spend much time killing things.” Snagging the last piece of bread Hunter dipped it into the olive oil, swirling it around the little plate. “See, that’s why I like you; you have a backbone and don’t take things to heart. You don’t sit there and tell me that I should stop being an a*****e.”
“I don’t go out of my way to be a ‘bad boy’ as you put it. I just enjoy teasing people; particularly the dull preachy kinds I seem surrounded by. Though half the time I hurt their feelings by accident. They’re all so sensitive.” He forked some salad onto his oil soggy bread and took a bite as he shrugged. “I don’t give a s**t what anyone thinks about me so I’m hardly out to impress.”
He cleaned his hands once he was done with the bread; and sat back, finished with the rest of the food until the main came. “I can be a nice guy; I’m just choosy with who I like and spend my time with.”
Hunter listened to her talk about her life with his ears perked forward curiously; fingers tapping idly on the top of the table. “What it could be like, eh?” He mused over that for a second. “I’ll come watch you walk down that ratwalk one day and much prefer it to the coat hangers on the catwalk next door.” He grinned. “So how is your writing coming along? If you really want to do that then you should focus on that rather than boring model stuff. Come to be nonexistent log cabin in the woods, stare at my animal heads and receive divine inspiration.”
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Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2010 8:27 pm
"If I got inspiration from the blank stares of doll-eyed creatures hanging along the walls, honey, I'd stick around with the other Hytes," Banyan laughed. "They're sweet enough, but often too self-involved to give anyone else the time of day. Modeling, I'm afraid, is giving me more money than my writings, so far."
In another moment, the main course had arrived just as well sculpted as the salads. Banyan admired their plates for a moment, all the while she had been resisting the urge to take photos of them using the cellphone in her clutch purse. She was like a child at Christmas all the while, thanking the waiters for being so generous when in reality they were doing it on her dime.
"Do you really like octopus or were you feeling adventurous?" she asked, placing a clean cloth napkin on her lap.
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Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2010 9:54 pm
“Money isn’t everything.” Hunter watched the waiters fluttering around the tables; as the patrons murmured quietly to each others, dressed in splendid jewels and clothing. For some this was probably just a normal night out and nothing special. “Although I’ll admit it’s useful and right now, really enjoyable.” The raccoon had never worked a full day in his life. His first attempt as a teen had lasted an hour; he simply didn’t have the temperament to take being told what to do.
Since childhood he had always assumed everyone else would pay things for him. Such arrogance. He couldn’t guess how much his guardian had already spent on him; giving him what he wanted at the slightest demand. Even when he had lived for a time with Seth, Noe and Haevan; the thought of paying rent never occurred to him.
Hunter mostly ignored the waiters as they brought their mains; shooing them away with a look once he was sure Banyan wasn’t going to ask for anything extra. He picked up his fork, carefully peeling away one piece of the grilled octopus from the neat little pile that had been drizzled with a light sauce and placed on a bed of artichoke hearts.
“A bit of both; I’ve only had it one other time and it was as tough as leather. I figured these guys could do better.”
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Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2010 6:26 pm
"When they don't put the price on the menu, you know it's going to cost a pretty penny," Banyan laughed. "So they'd better make it well, if they know what's good for them. I bet around here, you could talk to the chef personally."
Banyan had stopped relying on her mother's money once she took to a quasi-college life and started making her way through life working. She hadn't quite resorted to fast food jobs, but she was hoping like hell that it wouldn't come to that. So far, the money had been steady and she had always wondered if her mother's money had been... well, legit. The woman never seemed to work and yet she managed to have ample supplies of cash. This used to trouble Banyan a great deal. She learned not to focus too heavily on it these days.
"It is enjoyable, isn't it?" Banyan wiggled a little in her seat and gave him a smile. "I mean, would you have predicted this a year ago? Three days ago?"
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