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 Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2016 2:21 pm
"You're right," he conceded, accepting his own cup of ice cream from the girl along with his card that he returned to his wallet. "Moments are fleeting, best to keep them from passing by."
His own comment made him think about his other duties, the ones that were often dangerous and life threatening, He tried not to think too much about the inevitability of death, especially for a man like him.
"Would you believe it's because I'm a rebel child?" He teased, pulling his own chair out to sit down and set his ice cream on the table, pushing the spoon through the soft treat. His tongue pressed against the inside of his cheek as he decided how he was going to explain his situation. "My father and I didn't get along very well so when I was eighteen I left and got a couple of jobs to occupy my time. The coffee shop was one of them, eventually I had to go home." He avoided telling Prissy that he'd been forced home. House arrest had not been the kindest to him.
"My father convinced me to come work with him, so I did. Long story short, father died and I took his job. One of the days I visited Just Add Coffee and well, they asked me to come back or at least help them with business. I couldn't, not properly but later they had medical issues and had to close up. I bought the shop to make sure they were cared for, because they'd helped me so much and then - " he stopped to shrug like the rest of the story explained itself.
"Mom ended up in the hospital and I took a leave, then decided that having the shop was enough. Besides, I'm good at it. You should come visit some time. If you want." Was he offering more excuses to see her again? It wasn't quite clear BUT very likely.
He promised Lara he'd try so he was.
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Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2016 4:58 pm
Her eyebrows arched as he continued his story, her interest piqued. While Priscilla herself was certainly not left wanting in regards to her own personal life, to not only desire to work but to accumulate enough worth that he could flat-out purchase his old stomping grounds? Impressive indeed. Though it was harder for her to believe that this gentleman was a rebel than to believe he could afford to buy a business on a whim. His manners and speech were far too genteel for someone who acted rowdy and rebellious - if she hadn't known any better, she would have naturally assumed he'd been groomed and brought up like she had, in a boarding school environment. "I would love to, if you didn't mind a "rival" worker in your cute little shop." Her smile was genuine - she was enjoying herself, which was much more than she expected out of the evening. Perhaps, for once, KittyKat had come up with a bright idea...not that Priscilla was ready to confess such things to her friend. "So, when you're not busy at work making coffee and charming all of your female customers, what are you up to?" Swirling her spoon in her ice cream, the lingering whipped cream mixed itself with the rainbow assortment of sprinkles. "Besides going out on blind dates on Valentine's Day Eve, of course."
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Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2016 9:53 am
It was a shame that Priscilla had met Chase now than when he'd been a young lad at Azure or even five years ago, before chaos seeped into his bones and lined his veins. He'd been a happier man then, with devilish charm and a penchant for mischief. Some days he missed that tingling in his stomach when he did something dumb and reckless. Adrenaline was a fair trade for glee he mused.
"When the rival is as lovely as you, I can't see how I could," came his immediate reply. So the charming boy wasn't all gone it seemed.
The pink haired woman wouldn't have been incorrect in assuming that he'd been raised in a boarding school like environment, he had but, unlike most boarding school kids, his father had been ever present and demanding. Chase was, however, certain that Azure hadn't forgotten the havoc he'd managed to inflict on them while he attended and the day he graduated.
Pranks had always been his thing until they suddenly weren't.
"I race." It wasn't a hobby he spoke about often, because it was more of a private affair but it was better than lying to Priscilla about what he really did when he wasn't working. "I spend a lot of time in the gym too, to keep up on my health. My family seems to have a poorer track record. On my mother's side." Bless Lara and her fragile heart.
"What about you Prissy? Do you go around knocking guys off their feet?"
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Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2016 12:18 pm
As he spoke, explaining his side interests when he wasn't busy profiting off of java, her spoon was dipping up the remains of her ice cream as she savored it slowly. The light, fluffiness of the whipped cream and the burst of sugar from splitting into a half dozen sprinkles danced on her tongue, almost causing her to miss his comment altogether. "Racing? Now there's a surprise." Plucking a paper napkin from the dispenser on the edge of the table, she dabbed the sides of her grinning lips. "Maybe I can see a rebellious side of you after all." One leg crossed over the other, her free hand moving to brush the wrinkles from her lap as the other set the empty ice cream container on the table. Thankfully, the parlor was chilly enough to warrant keeping her coat on, the plush furry neckline keeping her snuggled contently in her chair. As her hand was freed from holding the cup, it gestured towards herself, motioning up and down. "What you see is what you get, I'm afraid." Men were not as frequent in her life as she would have probably liked - going to an all-girl's school probably did not help. The gentlemen who had come to call were plain and boring - kiss-ups to her father, mostly. So it was refreshing, if not a bit perplexing, to have one tease her so charmingly. "I run a blog." The term was used loosely, if one could consider an Instagram and Tumblr account filled with nothing but fashion images, articles and tips reblogged from other sites a blog of her own. Then again, she did tend to pepper it with pictures of herself, so that counted as something, right? The mention of her blog sent a figurative light bulb blinking over her head. "Speaking of...do you mind?" A pink iPhone, complete with an abundance of rhinestones glued to the case, slid its way out from within her wristlet. Manicured fingers moved to hit the Camera option as the phone rose to face him. "I like to have memories of special occasions."
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Posted: Fri Mar 18, 2016 7:50 am
"I know, I know. I hardly look like a guy who might street race." Not with his nice clothes and wealth. He spooned a healthy size of ice cream into his mouth, dipping the plastic back into the softening treat. Chase had been talking too much to pay attention to his desert.
But Priscilla was explaining more about herself and he used the opportunity to finish off his single scoop without rushing, much.
"I don't think that's a bad thing." Chase would rather keep the company of someone who was what you see is what you get. Of course, that was assuming Chase kept company at all and - he did, just not much, though his "social circle" had been widening a bit.
He wondered if there was something in the air.
Chase laced his fingers together, set his forearms on the table and leaned forward slightly. "A blog? What kind? They're great marketing tools, depending on the market you're looking to reach." Chase found them to be useful tools for getting information out when wanted. Priscilla pulled out her phone, the pink case matching everything else about her, and Chase found himself blinking, confused.
It only took him a second, when the camera flipped to face them, to understand.
At first, he was at a loss for words because he couldn't remember the last time he'd taken a picture, let alone a selfie. Still, Prissy had been kind in her request and so, Chase nodded shifting his chair so that it came to rest against hers. "One condition though, you send it to me. I think my mother would like to see it." Once his date had agree he slid in closer to her, thigh pressing against one of hers as he let her angle the camera just so, in order to highlight all of her best features of course, and smiled up the front facing camera.
The grin that slipped across his face was mostly genuine, because he'd been thinking of his mom, and over all, Chase thought the picture was a pretty good one, for a guy who generally didn't selfie.
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Posted: Fri Mar 18, 2016 8:40 am
Chase Black had made one fatal error in his request. In requesting Prissy to forward him the picture, which she happily did with no qualms at all, he inadvertently gave her his phone number. Willingly. Unsuspectingly. Innocently. How was he to know that she was an enormous texting fiend who loved to send random messages to any and everyone she had on her Contact list? She smiled as she hit the Review button, studying the image before sending it both to Chase's phone and her Instagram account. For an on-the-fly selfie without any makeup primping beforehand, she was fairly pleased with the outcome. Plus, it would surely make all of her high school chums green with envy when they noticed the picture on her Facebook page. "Thank you," she added sweetly, remembering her manners just as her phone found its way back into her small purse. The pinkette remained seated next to her date, musing to herself as she slid the zipper closed on her wristlet. "I don't really market to anyone, I just do it for fun." Her shoulders shrugged at his comment - sure, lots of people used the internet to make a buck or two, but Prissy had no need for money. No, Prissy just liked attention and that is why she found herself growing so fond of the internet: it was the perfect outlet to getting people to give her as much attention as she pleased. "Maybe one day I'll use it for something other than personal fun, but until then, Pretty Prissy in Pink will be just that, pretty, Prissy and pink." She grinned, clearly proud of the name she'd come up with. "I imagine you could make a pretty stellar website, with your experience in technology and all."
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Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2016 7:58 am
Chase might've reconsidered his request if he'd known just what sort of trap he was falling into but - the picture was a nice one and his mother would really like it. And he could use it as proof that he did as she'd asked, that he put himself out there. It was too late to back out anyway.
His own phone buzzed in his pocket against his leg but he didn't bother fishing it out. It was just the message from Priscilla he was sure, never mind that his mother would've scolded him for even thinking about pulling out his phone when he had company.
'Ah, of course," he said, sounding as though he was distraught with himself for thinking she might only blog for profit. "I forget that not everything needs to be a business transaction or manipulated into something that can earn profits." It wasn't something he really did with his little business, because that was more about maintaining the atmosphere of the previous owners who'd done so much for him. But, with the upbringing of his father and the shark world of corporate business was still fresh in his mind and he couldn't keep from thinking about opportunities.
"I don't always remember that you can do things simply for pleasure very often," he admitted, because he'd practically been a workaholic since he was eighteen. His 'night job' took a lot of dedication. "Is pink your favorite color then?" He asked, whiskey eyes drifting across the ringlets and the outfit she'd picked out.
"I'm not that great at web design, spent more time on the sales and relations side of things, because that's what my father specialized but, I know enough coding to get me by."
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Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2016 7:54 am
Her nose wrinkled as she studied him. Was he teasing her, or being genuine in his question about her color preference? He already made it abundantly clear that he was an intelligent, clever businessman but stating the obvious - questioning it, even? Or maybe he was just trying to make conversation. Hm. Whatever the reason, she gave him a half-smile, followed by a light chuckle. "I don't dye my hair, if that's what you're asking. But yes. I'm rather fond of the color, but I may be a bit biased." The prospect of coding puzzled her beyond interest. All those symbols, all those lines of gibberish just to make something look simple and pretty - it was confusing so ergo, frustrating. She much rather preferred the simplistic method of paying forty-nine dollars to a faceless designer for a premade set-up when it came to her Tumblr account, as her Facebook needed little more than a few pictures to spruce it up. Regardless, the opportunity was there for a conversation segue and she'd be a fool not to take it. "Perhaps you could show me a few tips - I sort of rely on what the site already offers me, but I'd love to add a unique touch or two, to my page." One leg crossed over the other and her eyes focused on his. "You know, make it special. Maybe...we could look at it over lunch? At your shop?"
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Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2016 9:21 pm
"I don't judge," Chase replied easily, rolling his shoulders back in a careless shrug. "It's nice - your hair that color, that is." He reached out to snag one of the smaller curls, pulling on it lightly, an almost fond seeming gesture. "But," he paused to grin, "I might be biased too."
His hand receded, fingers sliding into the pink of his styled do and sliding up until he tugged at the tip. "Did away with it briefly but, I brought it back. It suits me better." Even if he tended to get a mix of compliments and digs about his hair color choices.
They didn't bother him, he like the pink in the middle of the black and that was all that mattered.
"I'm rusty but sure, I don't see why I couldn't look it over and show you some minor things you could do to add a personal touch to an existing theme." He wasn't familiar with tumblr, not really, but he wouldn't mind taking a look.
Coding was extensive and mindless at times, it could help relieve some tension. "Are you - " he smirked, "asking me on a second date Prissy?"
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Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2016 6:40 am
She could feel the butterflies fluttering madly within her as his hand outstretched itself and gently began to play with one of her perfectly coifed curls. Eyes watched as he slowly retrieved his fingers, moving them up instead to play with his own waves of hair. The pink suited him, but she supposed she might have felt the same way had his entire head been colored the same shade. But the black complimented it, accentuating the strands of Easter pink in the middle. His smirk brought a tinge of color to her cheeks, the young woman doing her best attempt at squashing the giddy feeling growing. No, she needed to be mature - she was almost twenty-one, another fashionable, mature adult. "It depends, I suppose..." She answered coyly, one finger moving down to begin designing meaningless patterns across the table's surface. Her gaze dropped to her hand, watching the pink-nailed finger glide across the plastic, but her smile lingered,"...would you say yes?"
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Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2016 8:47 am
Chase had been surprised how easy it'd been to shift back into that charming boy he'd been in high school and just after but the company that'd found him when he was Chase and not Labyrinthite had made it simple. Priscilla had made his first date in years easy because she knew what she liked, what she wanted, and it'd been easy for him to fill in the gaps where she hadn't supplied information. It helped that he found her cute, especially when she grew embarrassed.
It made his smirk widen when her cheeks flushed pink and, without realizing, Chase had leaned forward while he awaited her answer.
"I don't see how I could say no," Chase replied, reaching for the hand tracing patterns into the table, "and risk disappointing or making a pretty girl cry." Not that he thought Prissy would cry if he said no, but he couldn't help but tease when she made it so easy. Besides, his mother would love it if he went on a second date and well, the pinkette had been pleasant company at least.
Chase knew that he needed to start seeming like he had a life again, even if it was just pretense more than anything else. "So, I think you should ask. My money's betting on a yes."
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Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2016 6:32 pm
Her finger tracing stilled as his hand covered hers, warm fingers playfully enveloping her own. The chill of the ice cream parlor did nothing to soothe her heated cheeks, the color now undeniable. Eyes that had been so focused on avoiding his gaze now averted themselves from her hand, choosing instead to look towards the ice cream display. "Well, if that's the case, I suppose I don't have to worry about being rejected, hm?" There was a brief hesitation, as though the young woman was trying to actually muster up the courage to ask the question they both knew was coming. This was a new experience for Priscilla - it was so easy to deny or accept requests coming from others, but to actually put herself out in the open, to be the one with the question? A little world-shaking, to say the least. "I would like to see you again, Mr. Black, if that's okay with you." " Finally." Prissy's head jerked around towards the register, the pink hue of her cheeks growing drastically redder as she caught the parlor girl's comment. The young lady was clearly attempting to return to her magazine, but apparently found their conversation either distracting or annoying - or both - as she now stared at both of them. "Just say okay and move on already." To this, Prissy abruptly rose from her chair and began collecting her things, laughing nervously in return. The wristlet was tucked under her arm as the bouquet - the beautiful, fragrant bouquet - was cradled close to her chest, clearly still very much admired. "I think that's our cue to maybe start walking me home? Or did you drive?"
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Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2016 2:02 pm
Chase liked the way Prissy blushed, it gave her a girlish charm that her otherwise haughty demeanor hid. "I think I'd like that Ms. Straford," he said right after the parlor girl dropped her two cents into the mix. His fingers slipped from hers as she hurried to stand, collecting her things in a rush with flushed cheeks.
The man himself hadn't mad a move to stand, instead tipped his chin up so he could look up at her with a wry grin. When he did finally get up, he placed both palms on the table and scooted his chair back in one swift movement, nodded at the girl behind the counter with raised brows before offering Prissy his arm.
"Don't mind her," he said, "she's likely jealous." He winked, hoping that his easy-goingness about the whole thing soothed the pinkette's frazzled nerves. "I did drive but - it's not suited for taking you home." He had Hermes and Prissy didn't strike him as the type of gal who wanted to risk ruining her outfit on a motorcycle. "Let me walk you home, it'll give me an excuse to stick around longer."
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Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2016 11:52 am
She would have offered to take the bus to make it easier, but she neither wanted to take any form of public transportation nor did she particularly want to leave her present company. Buses were filthy, he was charming - no, this current situation was more than ideal. Her arm encircled his as she nodded her reply, allowing him to escort her back through the shop's door and into the chilly evening. Prissy had just enough time to turn around and stick her tongue out at the girl as a form of delayed, yet sassy response. The girl continued to not care, shrugging her shoulders and returning to her magazine. Out of her presence, however, left Prissy now wondering what sort of transportation her date did have, for him to make the judgment call that it wasn't suitable for her. He'd already admitted to having money, so why drive around a heap of junk? "I was going to bring mine, but I wasn't sure how parking at the gallery would be." That and she much preferred being chauffeured, but even Prissy knew the comment would come across as, well, prissy. Her arm squeezed around Chase's tighter as she began directing them both down the sidewalk, still blocks away from her neighborhood. Thankfully the art gallery was in the general vicinity of her large home, but still far enough to enjoy the conversation a bit longer. "So, tell me - any siblings? Older brothers? Baby sisters?"
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Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2016 4:08 pm
"But if you had, we would have missed out on such a lovely opportunity," Chase countered, one brow arched as he offered her a teasing grin. "It's not often that I get to escort a lovely lady home." He could not in fact remember the last time he'd walked someone home and he didn't know if that was troubling or not.
Food for much later thought he supposed.
"I'm an only child," he answered easily glancing up at the rapidly darkening sky. "Mom probably would've liked another but my father...he wasn't keen on it." He swallowed harshly and his grip on her tightening involuntarily. "I didn't mind much, it's not like I would have seen much of them what with being in boarding school."
He hadn't minded Azure and for the most part - living in those dorms gave him reprieve from most of Samuel's controlling tendencies. Even then his father's influence had seeped and stained every part of his schooling. "It could've been nice but I'm sure my father wouldn't have liked me corrupting any younger siblings I might've had."
Sometimes, Chase missed his rebel youth days.
"What about you?" He asked out of politeness, though he was certain he already knew her answer. She looked like an only child, one who was doted on through material goods rather than actual affection. "Do we share more than our privileged upbringing or excellent hair color choices?"
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