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 Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2011 1:55 pm
Roch jumped, looking guilty as hell, the ice cream half eaten already. "These were just for the booth visitors or something?" he asked, looking like a little kid caught, with a tiny bit of ice cream on his cheek. He followed her, though, looking both ways before finishing off the ice cream and wiping his mouth with the back of his forearm.
When he saw the ice cream on it, he licked it off. He took a second to glance back at the group at the booth before shrugging. It was too late to give the ice cream back, anyway.
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Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2011 1:56 pm
"Not too hard. Just takes practice," he said in terms of guitar playing.
Before he really knew it, Shun suddenly had a Riley doll shoved into his hands. He looked at Christof with a sense of confusion but the Igor had wandered on away. Furrowing his brow, he looked at the doll before glancing up towards Xiu and Demi.
The Hellhound was playing around with the plush, but he wouldn't be joining in on that.
"She might... I guess I could give it to her regardless," he shrugged. Mitsu did have some plush toys after all.
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Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2011 3:20 pm
Riley walked, and walked, and walked some more. When she was finally at a polite distance, far enough that her boothgoers could not see them anymore, she turned around and waited for Roch to catch up.
The ice cream is for anyone. You can have as much as you like, my dear. Besides, we have to close up soon, and it would all go to waste. So, you're welcome to it. Her hand reached out and took his elbow, pulling him close. But nevermind any of that. Roch, what is going on between you and Demi? If I had to feel the tension between you boils for another minute, I was going to rip an Andeon plushie's head off. Aren't the two of you friends?
She sounded effortlessly genuine. As if she didn't already have an inkling.
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Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2011 3:41 pm
He frowned, close, but looking away from her for a moment as he racked his brain. He probably shouldn't--but-- "Jackdammit, how was I supposed to know he had a crush on Xiu?" he asked, his frustration showing on his face as he looked at her.
"And there wasn't a way for me to back off, not once I'd figured it out, because I'd already TOLD her I liked her! It's not like I can go, 'oh wait, I changed my mind, hey, why don't you go out with my buddy over here?' Besides, I AIN'T a nice guy, and I sure as hell ain't nice enough to--to do that. I figure Xiu can make up her own mind. Besides, it isn't like she'd stick with me long, even if she did pick me," he added.
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Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2011 3:47 pm
Well, you're right, Xiu can make up her own mind- wait. What?
His last few words, almost casually spoken, stopped her in her tracks.
What is that supposed to mean? Why would Xiu not stay with you, if she chose you? She knew better than to let a statement like that slide. Much better. There were deeper issues at stake here than who liked who.
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Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2011 3:53 pm
He snorted, shrugging. "All I am is a punk from the wrong side of town, Riley. My idea of fun usually consists of running away from people trying to kill me, the only thing I can do right is play guitar. And even that I learned from a drunken b*****d of a skeleton on the street corner of a neighborhood that even the BOOGIES pretend doesn't exist." He looked at her, his arms out, as if showing himself off.
"Hell, even my own mother left me when I was five," he finished, laughing bitterly. "Why should she stay with me? My only goal in life is to get out of Halloween as often and as long as I possibly can."
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Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2011 4:07 pm
Laid out flat and bare in his honesty, Riley was exposed to a glimpse of Roch that she never would have expected to gain so soon. And despite how easily he spoke of it, her eyes narrowed critically. Embedded deep within the soul of this upbeat, rough and tumble boil was a tenderness that would never die. No matter how harsh his life sounded, she could see through the rough exterior to a sweetness that he denied existed.
And a part of her felt sorry that he would never be able to truly live his life the way he wanted, as long as that tenderness existed.
She let his elbow go, and her hand rested firmly on his cheek.
You are going to listen very carefully to the words I am about to say, Roch. If you deny them, you are a fool, for I have nothing to gain by telling you this.
She waited, just a beat, before continuing. You are a gift. Your life was hard, and your exterior is rough. This is a good thing, it means you can handle the less desirable situations that the world puts us in, when they are presented. But that does not make you any less of a treasure, deep down inside.
Her other hand pressed against his chest. I do not presume to speak for Xiu. She is young, and has a long way to go before she knows what she wants, just as you do. But I do speak from experience, and knowledge. And with this, I tell you, truthfully. Any ghoul would be lucky to have you. And if I were Xiu, and I felt the way you wish her to feel, I would never let you go.
Both of her hands dropped, and her eyes narrowed even thinner. It was a dangerous glare, as if she was daring him to disagree. There is something inside of you that yearns for the love you think you don't deserve. Well you do deserve it. And one day, you will find it. I tell you this, because if a heartless monster like myself can be loved, there is no one in this world that is safe from it.
She took in a sharp intake of air, and sighed. This has nothing to do with Xiu anymore. This has to do with loving yourself. And despite the past, despite how those hard days have carved a hole in your heart, nothing can remove it completely. Someone worthy of you will see that, one day.
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Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2011 4:26 pm
He snorted, giving her a crooked smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "One day," he told her, seriously, "I'm going to be the most famous reaper to ever have graduated Amityville. And it won't have anything to do with whether or not I deserve to be loved, or even if I love myself. That... that's my goal." Actually it was a hell of a lot loftier than his goal, but...
Why not?
"Right now, whether I get the ghoul or not, I'm still going to lose a friend. Doesn't matter what happens in your version of 'one day,' this is what's happening today. Either Demi hates me for stealing his crush, or Xiu feels so jackin' awkward around me cuz she dumped me that she skips out on me entirely."
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Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2011 7:07 pm
Riley's eyes opened and flashed brightly with interest. The most famous reaper, hmm? I like the sound of that. I plan to be the most famous demon. Well, if she was going to be honest, being a demon had nothing to do with it. And what, exactly, she would be famous (or infamous) for.. she seemed to be leaving out that detail. I hope that even then, I can count on you to be my friend. And if you're truly worried about losing friendships, I can assure you. Xiu has already spoken with me, and she has no intentions of letting your friendship be negatively affected by this unfortunate situation. Demi, well.. he's a stubborn boil. But he'll come around. He's very resilient. Give him that much.
She wrapped her arm around Roch, and started to lead him back to the booth. I know you're worried. I would be too. But soon, all three of you are going to soon find that there is much more in life to worry about than relationships and broken hearts. Perhaps then, you will band together as friends once more. There is always hope.
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Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2011 7:13 pm
Roch was about to reply when his mind nudged him. "Soon?" he repeated as they got back to the booth. "What do you mean--" Then he stopped, shaking his head. "Never mind." There were too many people here.
Something was going on. That statement meant him think that there was a fight on the horizon. And all he knew how to do was make everyone around him sick to their stomachs.
"Maybe I need to go karaoke sometime," he said, almost completely off the cuff.
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Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2011 7:22 pm
Achoo!
The hellhound flinched at the sudden bout of sneezes that came from out of the blue. It would be a shame to be allergic to the new plush souvenir that was graciously throw into his arms.
"Hey Jericho, wanna play Riley plushie football?"
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Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2011 7:29 pm
Now that everything was nicely set up, Jericho watched as Riley took Roch elsewhere, raising an eyebrow in the process. Shrugging, he turned his attention to Demi.
"Eh? Nah. I don't think Riley would like the sight of us throwing mini-her back and forth," he chuckled.
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Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2011 7:29 pm
Riley released Roch as the returned to the booth, and her eyes narrowed just slightly, in a coy expression. Karaoke? I love karaoke.
What.
She - what.
She let out a chuckle, and let him go. They had managed to stop just in front of the ice cream cooler.
How coincidental.
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Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2011 7:49 pm
He grinned at her, a hint of wickedness in his eyes. "You and me, Riley, we'll go karaoke together, whaddaya say? But first I think I'll need some alone time in that nice, sound proof booth." He pulled his guitar over his shoulder. "And thanks. Y'know... for the talk." If she told others about what he'd told her... no, he thought as he got onto his platform. There was no point hiding what he was anymore. It was pretty obvious already, wasn't it? "Hey, Xiu," he called to her, "I don't play your type of music, I'm bettin' there's a song that fits you better there. But y'know... you make me remember this one for some reason. Maybe it's the title. This one's called Flor de Luna, which means moon flower. I learned it when I was seven, close to eight. Almost two years after I started playing." He started to play, a little smile pulling at his lips.
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Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2011 9:07 pm
"I'm sure she'd enjoy it," Xiu laughed, clutching her Riley plushie to her chest while reaching out and poking the one that Shun held. "They're quite well made, and--...hm? W-what's wrong, Roch?"
Eyes widening, she shot a concerned glance in the reaper's direction. She listened silently, head cocked to the side. Moon Flower? To be honest, the title did sound like the type of thing that drew her in. But why was Roch bringing this up--oh. He wasn't, um...playing this for her, was he?
When he began to play, her cheeks were a little flushed with embarrassment, and it took a great deal of willpower--again--not to duck behind Shun. Instead, she stood there and listened intently, her face a light shade of pink. However, despite how flustered she felt, Xiu couldn't help but marvel at just how pretty the song was--both the title, and the melody itself. As if in an attempt to dispel her embarrassment, she looked to Shun and whispered, "I-it's a...a nice song, don't you think?"
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