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 Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 6:55 pm
The entire exchange between them was beginning to raise his hackles. Bibelot... the very word made him sick with jealousy, even if Raquel was his. He wanted to spit out that she was no mantis, but a butterfly. He'd seen her transformation, he had made it happen.
But perhaps that would be a bit too forward.
"Of course, dearest," he said, trying his best not to grind the word into Chase to make a point.
"Chase, if you breathe a word of this to anyone, you will never touch anyone's knee let alone your violin." His eyes cast a venomous glance upon his hand before carrying on.
"If you have been paying close attention to the media or to the Ball Room itself, you will see that it is no longer in my possession. How this came about, I've no idea. I do not even know how my father died. But one thing is for certain, someone changed his will and is using this entire establishment for something truly sinister. We need to know who."
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 7:34 pm
Chase drank casually as he kept his hand where it was on Raquel's knee, though listened intently, nodding occasionally to Damian. "Well...It sounds like you want information..." He said after Damian had finished, swiveling the dark red liquid in his glass as he spoke. "...and I think I know how." He looked to Raquel before looking back to Damian. "Theres a sort of...Gala I suppose coming up soon, one that is sure to attract a lot of attention. I'm even playing a set or so myself just for the occasion. It'd be a nice distraction, and the main office would surly be left unattended..." He took another sip of his wine. "If you're Interested that is..." He stopped momentarily, rubbing Raquel's knee a little. "Wait, I thought this favor was for you love..." He said gently, giving her a questioning look.
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- Pocket Full of Ashes - Crew
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 7:39 pm
I will ruin you.
And indeed, he could. Damian could find some way of besmirching this cad's good name in the Ball Room, but for the sake of their current situation, he would not. The only thing he would do was glare with his gleaming silver eyes, like bright coins in his skull.
"I was already planning on taking Raquel to the Ball Room in the hopes of catching a glimpse of the new owner," he said as casually and evenly as he could muster. But good lord, why wasn't Raquel doing something about his attentions? Did she not know that this would be offensive while in a relationship, even in front of the man she said she loved?
How faithless, he thought with some grief.
"The true stir may be that I am no longer a careless bachelor... It may be hard to get away."
Centurion swirled his wine just as steadily as Chase did, and with a dignity reserved for public showings. Oh yes, he wanted to destroy this man.
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 8:14 pm
Raquel during all this had kept strangely quiet. She seemed slightly on edge this whole time though said nothing to either Damian or Chase. It was hard to place if there were fear or just uncomfortableness about her, but either way she hid it well.
"Wha- Who Raquel!?" He asked amused thoroughly. "You can't possi-" he stopped, looking over to the beautiful creature next to him. "...Darling could you perhaps fetch us some small something- er perhaps cheese or something for us to enjoy with this wine? Hm?" he asked, giving her a little pat. Raquel paused, furrowed her brow, but nodded, standing to leave the two gentlemen alone.
When Raquel was no longer in ear shot, Chase raised an eyebrow suggestively. "So...Is she great or what? I'd usually never waste money on a random girl off the street, I could get any lady I want for free...well of course you know that...But that Raquel...She's got something different aye?" he noted, taking another sip.
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- Pocket Full of Ashes - Crew
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 8:21 pm
It was time to sink his teeth into the b*****d, to leak his venom and place doubt or at least knowledge into the man who spoke so freely.
"Chase..." he began, at first seeming casual, perhaps even amused himself. "I have never had the pleasure of sleeping with her in such an intimate manner." Damian's body sunk into the couch as his words did the same. Such a delightful revelation to deliver! And what a beautiful thing, to say that Raquel was his very own.
"Raquel and I are quite different. To me, she is not a loose woman that I could ensnare within the confines of the Ball Room. Although I do miss the easy company, I must agree... you are right. She is very unique."
And with that, Damian gave him a thin little smile, and sipped the rest of his wine with a calm, almost bored air.
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 9:04 pm
Chase raised his eyebrows curiously. "You mean...You never-" he crinkled his nose, amused. then shrugged casually. "Ah well...Good for you...I suppose..." He said calmly, running his finger idly along the top of his glass. "You know...Raquel and I almsot had something resembling an actual relationship...but..well that obviously never went anywhere." He added, glancing over his shoulder to get a glimpse of Raquel who was heading back towards them. "You're a lucky man..." he said, taking another sip.
Raquel rejoined the gentlemen, placing a tray of snacks down, not making eye contact, but smiling cordially. Chase looked up at her, noting how different she indeed appeared. "Raquel, may i request a tour of your new home? I've always wanted to see where Damian Centurion dwelled and this looks like my chance to do so. Of course you wont mind will you Damian?" He said as he stood, placing a hand on Raquels back to escort her off momentarily.
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- Pocket Full of Ashes - Crew
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 9:08 pm
"I know." Lucky was not quite the word. Fortunate didn't even cover it. Blessed. Now there was something that came close.
Damian would only allow it if Raquel felt comfortable enough to. As much as he wanted to yell at Chase to stop ordering around his dove, he knew inside that Raquel did have the defiance to say no. He'd seen it burn in her eyes as they fought.
"Only if Raquel does not mind. I would gladly give the same tour if it is a problem."
Though the glance he gave her begged her to simply say something. Say anything, he yearned.
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 9:25 pm
Raquel seemed to think a moment, her lips pursed. Finally she looked up to Chase and smiled. "I'd be glad to. Right this way." She said with a cute little tilt of her head. She turned and gave Damian a small smile and nod, holding up her finger as if to say they wouldn't be long.
Raquel showed Chase through the house, giving each room a small description. Though Chase seemed hardly interested in their living quarters at all. He only spoke when they reached Raquel's bed room. He stepped in, observing it with an approving nod. "He's taking good care of you huh?" He noted, looking by her closet that he could seews fille with nice clothes that suited her. Raquel nodded, smiling warmly.
"Yes...Damian's wonderful...That's actually why I wanted to take you on the tour..get a chance to speak with you alone..." She said, looking a bit embarassed. Chase cocked an eyebrow.
"Oh?" He asked, making a circle around the room, stopping near the door to shut it quietly. "What about?" He inquired, coming up close to her. He reached out and touched her face gently, making her wide eyed and red as he pulled her close to him. "...How long has it been love?" He asked, reaching his arms behind her, locating the zipper of her dress with ease. He pulled on it firmly sliding it down painfully slow. Raquel looked up at him,wide eyes like a frightened little girl before finally snapping out of it.
"No." She said firmly, standing back. "Y-you misunderstood me." She explained, feeling her while being shake. "Y-you asked why you were here, since you owe a favor to me, not Damian..." She began, taking another step back. "Damian means the world to me. Thats why i called you in...I want to help him lose his dark shadow that his fathers death has brought unto him..." Chase merely looked at her a bit confused.
"I said I'd help love, but that doesn't mean we still can't-" he reached out to her.
"I love him." she stepped back slightly. Her words struck him down to his core. He withdrew his hand, straightening out his suit.
"...I see..." He looked to the floor then up to Raquel again with a smile and nod. "Then of course...How can I say no to you?" He asked, smiling casually. He turned to the door, opening it swiftly before stepping into the hall. Raquel followed, confused but stopped when they reached the living room where Damian was, realizing her dress was still undone. She kept her back out of his view and just watched Chase.
"Good news Damian old boy, Raquel has talked me into it. I'd be more than happy to assist you in getting any information you can gather from the ball room. You have just under a week to prepare yourselves accordingly. I will call later with more details." He explained in a business like manner. He turned to Raquel, leaning down to kiss her on the cheek. Though it lingered for just a bit too long, and a bit too close to her lips to be comfortable. Raquel didn't move but merely stood like a statue until he pulled away. "I'll keep in contact. Thank you for your hospitality." He said witha short bow to Damian before heading out the front door.
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- Pocket Full of Ashes - Crew
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 9:35 pm
It was a shock, to say the least, when Chase came back with such a swift and decided answer. The moments that had passed before he made his grand announcement had been agonizing, to say the least, and yet it had payed off. And just like that, he was gone.
"Raquel," Damian said, walking over to her so swiftly that he almost outright ran. "You're brilliant!" And without even noticing her awkward stance, he took her into a hug, swinging her around slightly. But it stopped almost as soon as it was started, because as he pulled her gently, his hand moved the fabric of her dress, touching her bare skin. With his face to the side of her head, he could look down and see that her zipper was undone.
For a baffled moment, Damian wasn't sure what to think. She couldn't have possibly... It had only been a few short minutes!
"How did you talk him into it?" he asked, with a surprising, uncharacteristic sadness in his voice as his hand remained upon her bare skin.
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 9:45 pm
Raquel brought her hands in front of her, pushing him away with slight force. "I didn't do anything! He didn't touch me!" She cried, quite literally, a few tears rolling down her cheeks, but she stopped herself form getting into a hysteria, putting her hand to her head. "He just misunderstood my intentions...but I sorted it all out for him." She explained trying to calm herself down. Truth be told the situation wasn't that bad. Calmly explaining this to Damian should have been no problem, but Chase just screwed with her emotions more than any Amarathian ever had. "He understood, backed off and agreed to go along with our plan..." She added, crossing her arms uncomfortably. Though after a moment, without thinking, she grabbed Damian close to her, just hugging him tightly. "Thank you..." She whispered so quietly, he'd have to strain to hear her. "For everything you've done for me..."
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- Pocket Full of Ashes - Crew
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 9:50 pm
It was a relief to know he wouldn't have to go racing out the front door after some violinist for touching his love. He listened, though, forcing himself to be calm because he knew she could handle the situation. It was something he'd been making his brain understand, that she could do this.
As she pulled him towards her again, Damian felt like this was what their relationship was turning into: a constant game of push away only for it to reverse in a heartbeat.
He hugged her tightly, but not before taking the zipper on her dress and pulling it safely upward until she was again encased in the green he loved so much.
"I love you," he whispered. "But the next time he tells you to do something or touches you, I swear, you'll have to keep me back."
It was not a threat so much as a promise to both her and himself.
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Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 11:43 am
Raquel nodded, feeling much more secure in his arms. "We've just had an...interesting past to say the least. I had hoped we could just forget about it all but-" she sighed, laughing a bit. "Old loves die hard...ecspecially ones that used you..." The old hurt Chase had left her with, even if he had only started off as a client, well it hadn't bothered her until he came back into her life.
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- Pocket Full of Ashes - Crew
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Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 1:59 pm
"You loved him?" The very thought troubled Damian. He had probably done the same to countless women before... and now that his own actions were facing him in the form of Chase, he was almost thankful the Ball Room was no longer his. He would only have to face all those women once or twice more, before disappearing from the scene forever.
Or at least that was how he was planning it.
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Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 2:41 pm
Raquel pulled back, shaking her head. "I...don't know..." she took his hand, leading him back over towards the couch and wine that was still left out. She took a seat, pulling him down next to her. "He started off as a client like any other..." She sighed, trying to explain how she knew the violinist. "But he didn't pay me to sleep with him...like others...he...well he paid me like you said you would. Just for the company." She sighed, leaning back. "Though eventually, we let ourselves get carried away... The once, I had said I thought I loved him and he returned the gesture...I hadn't even charged him for the last few weeks, because it felt more like a relationship than a job...and by then i was sure..." She swallowed a little, remembering the scene with perfect clarity. "But...the next morning when I woke up...I rolled over...and he was gone." She shrugged, shaking her head. "He left a note saying how he apologized that he had to leave because he had an image to protect, and that he would find a way to repay me for my company and services since he couldn't wire any money from his account at the time..." She furrowed her brow, her eyes watering slightly, though she angrily wiped any trace of tears from her cheeks.
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- Pocket Full of Ashes - Crew
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Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 2:47 pm
At least he had never led anyone on for that long. It was a dry, uncomforting thought, but a fact at least.
"If you want me to," he said, lifting his hand to take her chin delicately so that she might look at him, "I can tell him to bugger off. Not to touch you, not to address you as if you are together. I'll do anything to help you, anything you want."
Anything that wouldn't require money, but real thought. He hated to see her like this, even if he had to admit she never had to put herself through any of it. They were alike in that how they had reached their points in life were almost entirely their own fault.
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