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Dangerous Conversationalist
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 Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 10:32 pm
Who: Genie, Xan (and Domevlo)
Where: A mid-city intersection crosswalk
When: Rush-Hour
Somewhere, at some time...on a generic, metropolitan slab of pavement like any other wedged neatly in an Everytown U.S.A square, all Hell was breaking loose. Mothers clapped their hands over children's ears, dogs on taut leashes cowered under benches, and elderly citizens shook their heads, appalled at what their following generation had been reduced to, all in response to the stream of profane and unholy obscenities that spewed forth from one woman's mouth while kicking the front-left tire of her once mobile junk-heap. Oh was she breaking out the good ones too. Words no good woman should ever dream of using. Hurtful, uncalled-for things. Things about people's mothers. Things about the lord and savior Jesus Christ, and even an apostle or two.
It had seemed that during the busiest time of day, when most of the city's breadwinners were on the desperate commute back home from their soul-sucking professions to an afternoon of Doritos and Sam-Adams, the God of Automobiles had become quite idle, and in need of some good entertainment. Genevieve Witham's car, after many a decade of good service, had broken down right there at the front of a disgustingly long line of fellow automobiles. Literally nudged right against the white line, behind a flashing traffic light. If there were ever a medal for making the most enemies in a twenty-four hour period...
It was probably the fuel-line needing to be blown clean. Or that rickety transmission... She couldn't afford to shell out another two and a half thousand dollars to fix it! For that price she could buy herself a whole new death-trap! Bemused and hollow, she dragged her aching feet to the nearest bench (Being sure to shoo any dogs out from underneath), and began to call the necessary numbers to get this matter take care of. This was sure to be another six hours of her life she'd never get back...
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Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2009 11:18 am
Was it always this busy? Seriously one couldn't help honking their horns as if that would magically make the rush hour traffic just disappear into then air. Just like that! Thanatos sighed for the umpteenth time that day staring out from under his helmet as he sat idle on his cruiser bike. Looking to his left then right he, stood up over the rush hour to see what the problem was.
"We be late!" Came a voice from the back seat.
Xan chuckle assuring the other they would be fine, though he could be wrong with this kind of bumper to bumper. "Stay here." Xan informed removing his helmet and setting it on the seat as he moved through the traffic. There he could see a woman spewing obscenities that would make even him blush. Though instead he only shook his head and chuckled. There appeared to be a lady with[/] distress rather than being in distress. Turning back to his charge he grabbed his helmet and set the bike to the side of the road out of the way. "We're going to help her then we can go."
"We be late... no help!" Domevlo wailed glaring daggers down the road toward whatever or whoever was the cause of his guardian's attention. "We go now! We go!"
This was normal dealing with Domo's constant bratty attitude. He just ignored the frei moving the cruiser onto the sidewalk and heading toward the woman. It would be wrong to just leave her stranded without trying to help at the very least. "Ma'am? Is there somethin' I can help ya with?" He drawled in his usual slow tone while smiling to reassure her.
Domo from his place hovering on the bike glared at her over his guardian's shoulder. He remained unpleasant using his eyes to dig into the woman with disdain as if to tell her to tell him she didn't need help.
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Dangerous Conversationalist
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Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2009 12:23 pm
"Listen, guy, ya' hear all this going on in the background!? That s**t ain't me going through a tunnel, I'm freakin' stranded here with this lemon! You think I wanna be here jaw-flappin' with yer drunk a** because I got another point on Metro-Bird-Bingo?"
Her eyes swiveled leftwards as an unfamiliar masculine shape approached her. Perhaps one of these unfortunate motorists coming by to pick a bone with her, though she didn't look to him directly in case he was only a hapless pedestrian maundering by,
"It's that transmission again and need somebody down here to do something!"
A breathless pause served as the precursor to an explosive, "I don't know who t'call to get one o'those jackasses in the vests and flares to come down here and wave along traffic! But somebody better know or one of these soccer-moms is gonna jump out and beat me with a duffel bag, y'hear!? Well figure it out!"
And with that vague demand, the phone clapped shut. Despite her salty demeanor in all this, it was easy enough to descry her for the calamity that had truly befallen her. She didn't enjoy having to bark orders like middle management to get a job finished... Sure it was therapeutic enough that she blow off steam, but it wasn't as if she wasn't any higher up the proverbial ladder to speak that way to anybody that wasn't her mother... Her Tuck E. Sqeaky's uniform could testify to that. The very one she was slumped on the bench with... Sometimes she just felt as if she were the only hard worker on the globe anymore. How was she to know if the grease-jockey on the other end of the line was truly a hard worker, with pride in his profession, and flawless customer testimonials, and not just another goofball that used his building to moonlight as a chop-shop?
As she wallowed in loathing, head propped in both palms and heaving a sigh against the marauding cacophony of beeping horns and swearing middle-aged men, she could hear a different sort of voice, calm and male. Normally calm, male voices were swarthy and creepy to Genevieve, but this one did have a rare soothing effect. Lilting...sympathetic. If only she had been paying attention enough to make out what he'd said. Tucking her hair behind her ear, she craned her head upwards to find that that masculine shape from before was presenting itself not four feet away. He looked concerned...
"I'm so sorry. Did you say something?"
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Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2009 12:44 pm
No wonder she couldn't hear with all the horns blowing and the crazy voices of angry drivers and passengers alike. It was the city after all a place this cowboy wished to the heavens he could just escape. Far be it for him to ignore his charges want to go to the museum and explore the different artifacts and species they housed. He just wished this could have been under better circumstance to approach the young woman. Clearing his throat he raised is voice an octave so she could hear properly. "I said would ya like some help..." he looked around then finished, "Ma'am?" He was polite without trying.
From his perch on the motor bike, Domevlo crossed his arms realizing his guardian was not going to listen to him. He frowned pouting from under the mask that seemed to hide him from the world. At times like this the frei was thankful. "We go now?" He questioned trying to throw his voice over the noise but was certain it was muffled from the mask alone.
Thanatos could hear him but chose to ignore the frei for now. Instead he waited patiently for the woman's reply, hoping he wasn't being to assertive, some people just didn't want help no matter how troubled they were. If this were the case he'd simply apologize and move along. No harm, no foul.
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Dangerous Conversationalist
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Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2009 1:38 pm
She chewed her lip pensively before replying to the man's courtesy and genial interest.
"Well... Yeah, of course I could use some help here but... I'm not really sure what you could do for it cept' bend anybody over your knee that tries to tar and feather me..." She queried with a kink in her brow, "Know anything about cars? Or do stable-boys keep to their horse-shoin' and out from under the hood?" She gave a provocative, friendly tug on the hem of the stranger's shirt in blatant reply to his interesting garb and western slur. That wholesome grin she was offering supplied quite loudly that she found it very appealing, and of course, when in doubt, lighten the mood.
Genevieve had always pegged herself to be a strong, self-sufficient woman. And, it wasn't as if her knowledge of cars was at all lacking, but how often did a bona-fide cowboy come trotting to the rescue? If only he'd showed up a few years sooner when she'd bought the damn thing... She gave a sidelong glance to her vehicle of sorry state on the verge of getting a bat taken to to it by the locals... By now the thing was pretty much held together by bread-ties and duct-tape. Even she could barely tell a muffler from a solenoid when tinkering around in there just to get it running in the mornings...
In order to be of better use she rose to her feet, tucking her cellphone into her back pocket and extending her hand for him to shake in mutual agreement that she would accept his assistance any way he could give it.
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Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 1:29 pm
For some reason, Xan could only blush nodding in the direction of her car then back to her with a slow shrug of his shoulders. "Well if their gonna do something so stupid with me around then they deserve to be thrown over my knee." He chuckled removing his hat to run his fingers through his hair, enjoying the cool breeze. "Though I don't see how that'd help much with getting ya car movin' so it's pretty stupid on their part if ya ask me. Side's I actually have some friends in strange places. I may be better with horses but he's got the one up under hoods. He can fix just about anything assumin' it can be fixed." As he said this his eyes roved over the car with a sad shake to his head. He turned back to her with a soft smile trying to reassure her that things would be okay. At least he could try his best to see to it they were.
Replacing his Stetson he turned to look over his shoulder mindful that he had an impatient charge underfoot. Thankfully Domo was just sitting there glaring and brooding wishing this woman and his guardian would hurry with their exchange. Xan smiled to him heading over to place his Stetson on the raevan's head. That got a gleeful chirp from the frei who was distracted by the sudden attention.
Smiling he moved back to the woman and extended his hand; "Thanatos, feel free to call me Xan if ya like." He offered in proper greeting. Reaching inside his vest pocket he pulled out his cell making the proper call for his friend. The exchange was brief and friendly, with a soft laugh the conversation was over. "He'll be here in the next 20 minutes give or take traffic. The best thing for ya right now is to get out of traffic so he's bringing his tow-truck. Free of charge ma'am."
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Dangerous Conversationalist
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Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 4:55 pm
Slowly but surely, the honking died down, replaced with an exasperated irritability as the waves of drivers -blocked all the way to the next crosswalk- accepted their situation. Some were still hellbent on voicing their road-rage, but the more complacent ones were content to roll up their windows, turn off the ignition, and listen to the radio for the remainder of their evening while the matter of Genie's car got sorted out. It went without saying, that that did quite a bit for Genie's state of mind. At first, her eyes had never left the good Samaritan's face. He was by all means, handsome, but it wasn't even that that kept her staring, but rather, his mellow, let-it-be behavior. His message that all would be well was effectively communicated in this face of his. If she ever wanted to see what a true altruist really looked like, there it was.
It was then, that he glanced over his shoulder, and took her attention along with it. It was in that glance that a whole new area of interest opened up for her. That same, radiant energy... That same otherworldly glow... It was another of those... those things! (She wanted to say....Fry? Like a fish fry? ...Frow? Frau Blucher! Oooh the encyclopedic knowledge of cheap and scanty movie quotes. Fray? Frei! Yes....) "That's a frei..." she thought aloud with half a wonderous smile as he moseyed along to place his hat atop it's head. But even more astounding than the frei...was that gorgeous bike! Just the sight of that drop-dead stunning piece of machinery made her heart quiver and her toes curl in their modest Adidas housing... That frame! Those six-speed transmission drives and precisioned perfection! Oh how she yearned for a bike that nice.... Yearned through all the fathoms of her soul. When he returned, damn straight did she grab that hand with a confident grip. Xan was his name...
In an affable mock, she replied, "Genevieve... But you feel free to call me Genie....And if eh, that doesn't suit yer pallet, you can call me cookie~" On that token, she gave him a well-meaning slap on the shoulder before allowing him to step aside and work his magic. She could hardly wait for him to conclude his phone call so that she could pour upon him the hilarity of their having met.
"You really are a lifesaver, fella... I mean that." Her segway was... not at all spectacular, "And hey, small freaking world, eh?" She pointed behind him to the impudent, gray-skinned creature, "I'm in the same program!" And for once she could say that without it being smoker's anonymous... "I'm expecting one of those guys myself! Or, at least, I think I am... I had to send in a bottle in a briefcase and they said they'd get back to me."
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Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 11:07 am
"Cookie is it?" The nickname stuck out unlike any other he'd heard before. He liked it and that was that. "Cookie it is then." With that filed away in his devil-may-care mind he smiled looking back over his shoulder as he realized he'd stumbled across yet another guardian. Or at least a soon to be one. She seemed fairly excited about their meet but Xan couldn't lie; he was too. Fairly new owner himself it was nice to be able to help. "Yep that's a frie, a very rude and cranky one at that." He gave the lead being a wag of a finger to stay put and not cause trouble. Of course that was a miracle left for higher beings and not mortal men.
"His name's Domevlo, somehow the nickname Domo has stuck though." Xan chuckled as he let a cool breeze whip across his face. It was needed with all the commotion taking place around him, the city was just too noisy did anyone ever slow down around here? "So you had to go through the full process is it? Somehow I keep finding myself at these shops. I signed some kind of application and answered a few questions next thing I know I got a phone call and was told to come pick him up." He shrugged feeling a bit sheepish that things had turned out like this. "No soul bottle or fel essence just a newly born Raevan." And that was that.
Looking at his watch he turned mint gaze down the road. It wouldn't be long before his friend showed up to help out. Best to stick around for crowd control, seemed some folks were gettin' antsy and if there's one thing this country bumpkin hated was violence and rudeness to people under dire circumstances. "Mind if I sit with ya? We'll be here a minute but shouldn't be too long."
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Dangerous Conversationalist
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Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 6:30 pm
"You're yankin' me, right? You just had to sign a coupla' papers?" Some people got all the luck. And then some people were left in their dust sticking their paws in striking distance of deadly snakes. "Lucky duck." Was all she could manage to return with in response. She had wanted to say a hell of a lot more, but didn't feel contention was what was called for here. But oh was it hard... Somehow, she always ended up with an indignant sense of shame when she came upon the genuinely lucky. Anybody with money, with love, with good fortune-- she hated them all with a white-hot passion. Her father had tried many a time to ensure her, that true fortune was ninety percent hard work, and that if she had applied herself to those areas, she could easily be sitting upon a shimmering fortune with a beef-cake on each arm and a life-time supply of comfort food by now, but she had just had other aspirations that led her elsewhere.
He was a wise ol' coot, but sometimes Mr. Witham's advice fell a little short of the mark... What had she done exactly to seal herself off in a foul-smelling, sticky-floored zoo-cage, herding small, ungrateful children around and checking the animatrons for bare wires? Except, of course, filling out the forms to work there. But that was ages ago when she had wanted to be a drifter, a transient working for a coupla' hundred dollars so she could make off to some next big destination. Some mysterious woman in black like in the picture-shows that always had a ball-busting line fired up. Somebody with a knowledge of manly drinks and a story for every tattoo. Instead, she was a tatoo-less nine-to-five Molly like everybody else, and it was sickening.
When she had her Domo, that would all be sure to change.
And who was she really to take one look at that kind stranger and tell him where to shove that good fortune? The fact she had worked as hard as she did for her payoff meant she would have a greater sense of appreciation and that was all there was to it. Besides... He offered to sit with her. She could use the company. Popping a knuckle or two idly as she began to take her seat back down against the bench, she smiled warmly, "I wouldn't mind a bit, cowboy, but eh... What about your sidekick over there? Will he mind? Maybe you should call him on over, I'd love to meet him in person. "
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Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 5:31 pm
While luck had a lot to do with it, Xan would be the first to say that this particular raevan was getting on his last nerve. He loved the kid -- don't get him wrong -- but if he had a choice in it, he might have better Domo proofed his home before hand. Ah well, what's done is done, best to count your blessings while you have them. At the mention of the frei he looked between Cookie and the Domo before shrugging. "Sure but he might not like you." That being said he whistled catching Domo's attention. "Come sit with us." That got a snort and a glare before the frei turned to look at traffic steadily playing with Xan's Stetson.
"Told ya. He'll come over when he gets tired of being ignored." That was usually the best way to play things. Giving Cookie a once over he turned to look at traffic as well then back to her. "So... what's you're story?" He asked nudging his head in the direction of her car. "Do you always take junk heaps like that out for a spin?" He chuckled scratching the bridge of his nose.
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Dangerous Conversationalist
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Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 6:55 pm
How sad...
With the encroach of company while this little setback got taken care of at his expense (or lack thereof), her first gesture was to reach towards her handbag and produce a pack, politely asking if he'd care for a lung-dart, only to have her hands clutter between a few miscellaneous pens and a five year old package of kleenex that hadn't even had the seal broken. Not wanting to look like a fool, she momentarily appeared to be busy rummaging through it's contents. She settled on a package of spearmint gum, and held that out to him instead, "Mint." She offered bluntly.
Not being the most loquacious person, her dialect was a simple one, but far from plain. It was enlightened and enticing certainly, with a demure sort of cattiness only found in women who knew how to make light of negativity. "Well... You'd consider it a Rags to Riches story in reverse. Right now I'm livin' hand to mouth managing at some sticky children's playplace to kill time until I turn forty or win big at Super-Lotto, so a shreddin' bike like yours over yonder is a little out of my range. Hell, I still need to have my brother stop by every other week to water my Chia pet during the days..." At that token, she had to heave a sigh acknowledging that she would probably have to take the bus for a while before she could afford another reliable vehicle... Perish the thought. She parted her knees a bit so that she could rest her elbows on them, the stretch inciting a symphony of cracks, pops, and groans from her weary bones. "What about you, Slim? Help any other gals out of a sticky situation lately?"
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Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 7:37 pm
Well she certainly had a mouth on her, Thanatos managed a fair blush before scratching the back of his neck. He took the mint graciously before he leaned his whole wight on the bench stretching his long limbs out enough to almost dominate the bench. "Not lately no." He offered turning mint orbs toward his bike and his charge. They both were still in one piece, thankfully. "Just seemed like the thing to do, ya know? Can't go 'round leaving everyone stranded cause I'm in a hurry." Which to say the least wasn't the case, he just knew the sooner they got her on her way, the sooner his charge would stop being miffed at him for stopping in the first place. There he was glaring now at both of them, just, glaring.
"Oh stop being such a stick in the mud kid, get over here all damn ready!" It was annoying, always being glared at cause he was being friendly. He couldn't help being who he was so why get the cold shoulder for it? If he were any other man he might have pouted but he didn't. Ignoring the frei for now he arched a brow at Cookie, "You like kids?" It was the obvious question but from her tone he figured she wasn't all that fond, just seemed like a job for her to keep herself busy for the time being. Something Xan never understood, why do what you didn't like? He just didn't live by that philosophy, he'd be damned if he had to live by someone else rules, thankfully he cut his ties short with the old man long ago or he'd be in some corporate building pushing papers and having his secretary hold his phone calls. Yeah a cowboy could be so lucky... He snorted.
Pulling out his cell he checked the clock on it and wondered what was taking so long? With a shrug he sat back perhaps traffic was just that bad, if so what's to say that getting her car back to the garage would be any faster. "Sorry it's takin' so long, hon, he's usually good about time." Usually. At least with their being outside he could have a smoke only he left them at home. Domevlo insisted he stop smoking because of his knew found knowledge of lung cancer. He sighed rolling his eyes to the sky.
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Dangerous Conversationalist
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Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 2:08 pm
His inquiry invited a maelstrom of thoughts and emotions in her not often provoked.
Being of a certain age wherein most women would already have one in the oven, or at least two already waiting at home, she was never really certain how to respond to public scrutiny when it came to such things. Especially in that it was also the common assumption that she had taken her present job on the pretense that it was solely because she loved children that she wanted consciously to be around them, which was as far from the mark as the dart could hit. It wasn't that she hated them, or that she went out of her way to be cruel or distant from them. It was merely that hourly, daily, she was confined in a place where children were free from rules and parental guidance; in her shoes, it was just very easy to dislike them. Shampooing the carpets after a four year old had spewed bread-stick dipping sauce, or confiscating superballs when some halfwit decided to c**k their arm back to jettison it with all their force to the four corners of the building? But as she was also provided with a lovely niece and nephew, she was capable of finding their redeeming qualities as well.... So long as they knew where the lines were.
Taking her time to chew on it, she then decided to answer, "Sure, I like 'em well enough. So long as they ain't mine at the end of the day." She smirked smartly, titillated at the prospect of meeting the creature face to face. Zul had been an experience of all his own, but she had a feeling each new Frei was a whole new world to be explored. She continued to gaze towards the bike as if to summon him by will alone, but from experience, the more you tried to force a child to succumb to your wishes, the harder they fought. Best to let him come on his own, lest her first impression on him be an ireful one.
As he checked the time, she hadn't even noticed how long they'd been idle. "Oh don't even fret about it. I don't mind sittin' here a little while..." She began to worm her way out of her work-jacket to let her arms breathe, "What about you, though? Were you headed anywhere important before this whole vehicular screwup? I ain't keeping you from somethin' am I?"
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Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 7:45 pm
Thanatos laughed, a deep throaty tinge that smoothed out to a softer tone. "Yeah, kids are fine so long as they return to sender when all is said and done." He could understand that but with Domevlo in his life it wasn't so bad. Technically the Raevan couldn't really be called a kid but he acted like one well enough.
Seemed he was tired of being out of the loop. The monochrome frei slipped from the bike hovering idly as he made his way over in steps. Move in then stop to look at something or another, move in some more, turn to glare at a pedestrian who was staring at him a little to hard. A soft growl got the correct response as the passerby squeaked and continued on their way. Moving to stand in front of the cow-thing and the cookie-thing, Domo glared. This seemed to be usual for him. "We go now?" He asked not bothering the cookie-thing with another glance.
Arching a brow the cowboy smirked. "No we don't go now." And that was that. Turning back to Cookie he shrugged. "If his attitude doesn't tip ya off. We were on our way to the museum but don't fret I'd much prefer to do something useful, sides the kid needs to learn a bit of chivalry. Wouldn't hurt him to be a bit more people friendly." He did little to hide his ire looking up to the floating unicorn frei as he snuffed.
"Domo learn she-vary!" He shouted with a pout. That was a clear challenge from the cow-thing. If he learned this she-vary then they go? Good. Now what? Looking around he wanted to show Xan just how she-vary he could be. "Domo do."
"Domevlo will do nothing... you don't even know what chivalry is do you?"
"Domo know..." He pouted then looked away then back at Xan. "No."
"See." Smiling at his charge, Xan slide over, "Sit."
It seemed the frei wouldn't do much for a long while until he did come to sit between the two. He wasn't shy about showing his dislike of being hindered from his museum visit. "Cookie-thing's car stupid! Go way!"
"DOMO!"
"It true... not work. It junk. Domo know!" He whined going silent at the stern look he was getting.
"Sorry bout that lass, he's still learnin' the ropes 'round these parts. I suppose its all good though. Better he's honest then lyin' all the time. Still..." He went silent, tossing a pray to the heavens above that the lead frei didn't do anything say anything more than that.
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