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 Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2010 11:10 pm
Grey..his entire world was grey..blacks and whites and filled with such drained desensitized emotions..Bah. Lifting himself gingerly from his half upside-down position atop his large circular bed, Riordan managed just barely to resist groaning. Oh his poor poor head..how ever did his mother manage to talk him into drinking anything? He had absolutely no tolerance for anything with a high alcohol content, let alone the kind of cocktails his mother kept down. How the woman had managed to live so long on such a diet of drinks, Riordan could not even begin to fathom.
Still, it wasn't really the previous nights drinking that was destroying his mood. Well not entirely, he was in..ah..what would one call it, a slump? A rut, a trench. A never ending pit of despairing darkness that led to an ultimately complete and devastating lack of creativity and on top of it all worklessness. No projects, no renovations, no big homes, or fancy overhauls, no government works -not that he wanted any for what the cold penny government paid him- nothing at all. At least nothing worthy of sparking his creative interests and getting those colorful juices flowing.
On the other hand, it could have also been the fact that his mother was in town, and the woman was driving him to depression, he was sure he had work that he could be doing if he'd only bother to check over the list of invoices and egen-cards that had come in lately. The woman had a way of dragging him deep into her drama's and ensnaring him though.
"Mother...Mother-Dear I think I'm going to go-oh? When did we get a cat?" Riordan's eyes wide as a small orange fluff landed atop his stomach. Sitting up gingerly and carrying the yowling thing by its scruff out to the living room where his mother lounged about in her 'nighty' "When did we get cat's? E-excuse me but how many of these things did you bring home!"
"Rio-dear, sweetums come have some tea with me! Haha..aren't the wuvvies just darling. I found a box of them outside and I just had to drag the poor widdle things in. Such cold cold babies, ahh..I almost wish I had another baby mnn, maybe one that had big kitty cat eyes and a soft long tail" the woman purred to the three other kittens in her lap. Draped in a red silk-like robe and not a thing else. Sipping from the large half full glass of bourbon in her hand. "Really mio-rio of mine, don't look so shocked! Their just little fluffs, no harm no harm..You should try some of mummy's tea"
Rio couldn't cast the wide eyed look from his face, making a disgruntled sound as he dropped the small creature and gingerly took the glass his mother handed to him. A sour face immediately replacing any other look as he sipped from the dark liquid "Ech..Mother..Just because you place a tea bag in your bourbon..that does not make it tea. Ahhn..I think, maybe I'll head out today, I have some work to do and it requires my immediate presence." yes..immediate presence, immediately elsewhere..oh gods cats on his carpets, sheddy, peeing ecchhhh...
"Aww, but it's such a dreary day, I hoped you'd stay in with me and my new little friends."
"Its Saltaire mother, every day is like the other, snowy, dreary and bleak. Besides duty does call and your dear son must attend to his government appointed duty's, lest we find ourselves in a deep pool of trouble." Riordan said hastily, nearly tripping over a mewling gray fluff bit as he, made a swift retreat from the living room.
A quick scope of his inbox had Riordan making calls, searching for any bit of escape he could muster up. One message in particular catching his bright attention. Something from a Mr. Shen about some remodeling or some other sort of renovation. He'd passed it up before, but now it looked absolutely tantalizing.
"Dear, Mr. Shen
Riordan Fitheal at your service sir, please excuse my late reply to your inquiry as I've been rather swamped with things lately. Upon overlooking your request once more I've decided that I'd be absolutely delighted to come and see whatever it is you'd wish me to see. I'm suddenly in a dire need of work and your project seems like it would fit nicely.
I'm available today if you'd like me to come and get things started.
Feel free to respond at your convenience.
Sincerely,
Riordan Fitheal."
A quick reply and minutes later Riordan was out the door, not caring a bit if his hair was down and he looked less then his best. Phone and other necessary things tucked away neatly in his satchel. Hopefully Mr.Shen would reply soon and he could pick it up on his phone mail. Otherwise he'd be stuck with a long lonely day hovering about Saltaire with nothing to do.
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Posted: Wed Feb 17, 2010 2:37 pm
Another page had been read in the gold paged book before Shen found himself interrupted rudely by a vibrating device on the table-side. Ignoring it in protest, he continued to read his book. Seconds later the device shook again, nearly vibrating off the hollow surface. It was obviously attached with an alert file- which meant that it would keep vibrating until it was answered. Snatching it up a moment before it vibrated again Shen opened the message and listened to it.
It was in accordance to the job he has posted, the needed renovations in which he had just gotten approved. Pressing replay the doctor listened to it much more intently before he slid the thick book back onto the shelf where it belonged and winded through the house."Mu Lan, if you may, please arrange some drinks for a guest." Shen asked as he leaned up against an old-fashioned talking system that connected various rooms in the house to the maid quarters.
Using his hands carefully Shen pushed buttons for various operations of response on the device but settled for a simple,"We are awaiting your company", after a near run in with a hallway display.
"Perhaps opening up the entire house would be beneficial." he noted to himself. The doctor had a distaste for clutter but the tight hallways and darkly lit rooms showed the opposite.
Noting it mentally he took residence in the open gathering room just to the left of the main entrance to his house. The hallway branching further was dark and only tiny slits of light drifted into it. In hopes of making his house more welcoming Shen pulled opened the drawn curtains and looked out. 'No one yet.' he thought as his hands searched for another book to pick up and read.
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Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2010 2:20 pm
Joyus, exuberant, hip-hip-hurray! Riordan was sure that there was some word or overly silly and spontaneous emoticon that could have properly expressed his emotions at that moment. Knowing now that he wouldn't be stuck wandering about aimlessly with nothing better to do then stare at the clouds. Not that staring at the clouds wasn't entertaining, Riordan simply felt like doing something more productive on this particular day. To get a chance to exercise his pent up creativity...
Better yet it would keep his mind off of home, and the four legged creatures that were currently left to run all about it..oh his poor home...Riordan didn't exactly have anything against kittens, or any animal for that matter. He just preferred to watch them from a distance rather then actually own one. After all most pets were so much cuter when they belonged to someone else, so much so then when they were in your own home..and without a litter box..soo messy!!
Riordan hastily sent Mr. Shen a cheery reply, a simple "Thank you very much, I'll be there promptly", a hop skip and jump later he was arriving at the appropriate address..at least..what he hoped was the right home. From the outside it looked slightly like all the rest, though Saltaire did that to homes, made them more dull on the outside then the inside.
Walking up to the front door and knocking politely, brushing his long wind tussled hair back over his shoulders and out of his eyes, tucking some strands away under the collar of his coat to keep them from blowing about.
He vaugely wondered what Mr.Shen would look like..and more importantly what his home would look like. Hopefully the man had a wonderful job prepared for him! Though anything would be loved at this point..even something small..so long as it kept him busy.
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Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2010 10:39 am
The others arrival had been known long before the knock. A scanning light post outside Shen's home documented when someone entered and left the yard; in hopes of keeping track of officials who came in hopes to uproot the retired military officer. Pulling back his hair Shen tucked it behind his ears and ran a quick comb through it before pulling on an old black and brown tux jacket. Buttoning it quickly he picked up the pair of jackets and left the small bathroom, looking at himself on the way out.
He looked presentable.
Nodding the doctor turned and returned to the bottom floor of his house, dismissing any of the cleaning maids. He wanted to welcome the guest in to an 'empty' household. Shen figured the more people around, the more that would bother their work. Looking in the mirror once more he smiled and pushed a pair of glasses up the rim of his nose and opened the oak front-door.
Staring back at him was Mr. Riordan Fitheal, an architect and renovator of Saltaire properties. How the man did it exactly Shen was unaware but he waved him in, and invited him into the study at the end of the hallway.
Long floor to ceiling curtains had been drawn and replaced with sunshine as light streamed in to the room from the outside. Floating dust moved around, undisturbed, in the pillars of sunlight. "Mr. Riordan Ritheal I presume?" Shen asked, "You are a welcome guest in this household. I assume you are here on account of the job I had posted?"
The doctor took a seat behind his desk and invited the other to do so in a comfortable-looking pair of chairs on the other side. Each of them were served tea before the conservation resumed.
"I'm assuming you understand that I am wanting a rather large renovation job done-" he took a sip of his tea, "are you not?" Shen took pride in how he was speaking today, it was more fluid then it had been. The man knew his language would slip up at some point so he went ahead and apologized for any mistakes in grammar he might make.
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Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2010 6:41 pm
Riordan purred quietly to himself as he was generously let in from the cold air. Ahh the wonders of indoor heating, one of mans greatest most unappreciated marvels! He grinned broadly, taking a quick chance to eye the man who would come to be his employer for the time it took to complete this particular job. Mr. Shen, if anything looked rather sharp, not to old, not to young, dressed comfortably, he seemed to have an educated air about him..or maybe it was just the glasses? Ah well, either way the man seemed personable!
Eyes wandering attentively as Mr.Shen led him down the hallway and into the study, from what he could grasp of the small glance of the place..and the study if anything was absolutely darling. Well lit and inviting, a natural old world kind of charm to it. "Uh, oh yes yes! You may call me Rio if you wish, or simply Riordan, I'm not exactly a formal type of person you know." he smiled softly with a tilt of his head, giving a small quick nod as Mr. Shen spoke.
"Naturally, really my friend, may I call you my friend? Anyways I'm absolutely thrilled to be taking up this particular job. I only wish I'd paid attention to the posting sooner you know, but I tend to be a scattered sort..." he cooed, happily taking a seat across the man and wiggling snuggly into the rather inviting chair..and on top of it he offered tea! Hah! Tea of all things, hopefully real tea..yes real tea! Riordans currently lavender eyes widening a bit as he gingerly took an offered cup, sipping at the pleasantly warm liquid..so nice to meet someone so..normal for once.
"Indeed I am..big or small I do them all, renovations, rehomings, cottages in the hills and glens. All those fancy things" giving a slight wave of his hand as he glanced around the study "What exactly..if you don't mind my asking, did you have in mind? You know, any general idea's or did you just want me to go wild! Haha, ah..it'd probably be best if you had a vision in mind though, I'd not want to go about and turn your lovely home into a den of chaos without a bit of knowledge on your unique style and tastes. By the way this tea is amazing, no bourbon in it at all." he giggled cheerfuly, cradling the cute china cup between his hands as he took another large sip.
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Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2010 4:43 pm
Shen smiled, he was glad the gentlemen was enjoying the tea. Setting his own down the doctor navigated his way over to a closed pair of window panes and pushed it open. A breeze flew into the room and sent a cloud of dust into the air but it quickly settled as circulation in proved."I have saved up some money, and i am wanting to expand this house. I want a garden in the back of it all, with wonderful statue collection. Inside, art gallery and rooms for guests who stay with me. Too I want a nice servants quarter.
"See I am collector, I take, buy, and collect objects on market. It good career. Very profitable." by this time Shen had made his way over to the book shelf and pulled out a picture of an old villa masterpiece he had seen a while back. Inside of the thin volume laid the plans for his future home.
"Now, you do this in secret, no other men. Do quickly. Inspection soon."he nodded. The doctor disliked inspections and being an ex-officer he was regarded to a higher-standard than most, it was rather touching but irritating. Pulling a stray hair and tucking it away behind his ear the doctor turned and looked back at Riordan.
"How much it cost, I want more space, less rooms, and bigger windows. Library and greenhou' still though." he instructed, beating the book several times with his finger.
Picking up the cup, he took another sip and sat down behind his desk. With a reach into the drawer he withdrew a small card that held whatever payment the man desired. "You take gov'ment money, yes?"
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Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 4:04 pm
Riordan coughed softly at all the dust, glaring at the small annoying particles, though the breeze was nice, as was the extra light. Watching the doctor curiously as he went about his business, explaining some of the details to Riordan, intriguing....Really Riordan wasn't one for collections at all, to much time and patience and well refined tastes required for him to get into that sort of thing. Though he did occasionally spend in pieces that caught his fancy.
"We all take the governments money don't we?" Riordan chuckled breezily, brushing a few misplaced locks of bright red hair off his shoulder, leaning in a bit closer with a grin on his face. The mans idea sounded exquisite, and surely more space could be used in this rather small home..the bigger the better! "Expansions are always nice aren't they, breathing a little bit of new space into all the old. Now the insides of the home will be easiest to deal with, adding rooms, space,..gallery's and such. Of course I'll tend to your specific needs to detail along the way, color choices and arrangement. The garden might prove a bit trickier though..were you thinking of going along with something more greenhouse-ish. Glass ceilings and all, or did you want more of an open, little white fence feel to it?"
This man shen, while his speech was a tad..foreign..he did have some lovely ideas, and riordan being who he was, hard up for work as he was, was surely more then glad to take on the project."Eww inspections...dreadful nasty things aren't they. Though I do love a challenge when its thrown my way. I'm very very eager to work on this project with you Mr. Shen" Riordan grinned gleefully, licking his lips slightly as he set the cup down on the small desk in front of him. "As for the cost..don't worry to much on it for now. I'll have to do an estimate..I can assure you that you don't have to worry about me charging you an arm and a leg though, not for someone as sweet as yourself. A majority of the cost will go to supplies as it is, and of course whatever's left will go into my pocket" Riordan wouldn't lie, he was a tad greedy at times. He didn't feel any particular urge to rip off dear Mr. shen though "I can promise you though, whatever my cost, it will insure your anonymity as well as complete privacy for yourself, and on top of it a quick and precisely done job." he nodded happily as he spoke, giving shen a wide grin.
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Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 5:00 pm
Reaching for a drawer to his right the doctor retrieved a file full of information, documents, and receipts. "Perfect." Shen noted as his hand scribbled a contract across a sheet of paper, "sign this." His anonymity was guaranteed through the contract as well as a job taking less than three weeks. "My house.. is special," he began, "I want a garden that is enclosed within four walls. Three walls wit' rooms, and the other with a second floor walkway and a first floor entry into the main room. I also want many rooms to be hidden by secret doorways. Doorway that blend into the wall.
"Perhaps, you could examine this. It is a document containing the current house. I have the space, but not the time. I can offer you a liquid vial of gold in exchange for your work. Vial worth very much to me, and to economy." Shen nodded and handed the necessary papers as he talked describing the details of the house.
Standing up he retrieved his cup of tea and invited the other back into the main hallway before entering a sun-room just to their right. The room remained warm from the humming radiator, but with a cloudy overcast overhead the mood was darkened; it did not feel this cold in the other room.
"Will you take the job, if so, I care for an estimate and let our business be done. I have a patient to attend too." he addressed with a sip of his tea, "I no mean to be rude."
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Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2010 12:07 pm
(Ahgahd, sorry it took soooo damnz long for me to reply!-is shot many times-)
Riordans eyes flicked over the paper briefly, not too worried about legality's in such, as Mr. Shen seemed to be a mostly honest man, really though so long as he got paid, what did it matter? Signing his initials down across the line, in his own large artsy scrawl. "Oh don't worry yourself one little bit, your not being rude at all, I assure you! After all we're all busy people aren't we, lives to attend to, projects to get started on"
Taking the papers handed to him and neatly setting them aside in his small carry bag, he would feel much more at ease reading through them in the privacy of his own home where he would have the time and tools to do so and also get to work on shen's demands. Carrying his bag with him lightly as he followed the man, nearly shivering at the chill that seemed to permeate deeper into the home. It must have been bloody cold outside..or maybe it was just this room in particular.
"Your home sounds very special to you indeed, and well worth the purchase your making. Really I feel quite honored to be the one you chose to do this particular project.." riordan chirped cheerily, his eyes gleaming at mention of a vial of liquid gold. "Oh, the vial will be more then enough in payment, considering the time constraint as well as the size of the project. If however you happen to run across any statues or pieces from the Greek era..well..." Riordan gave a casual shrug and left the end of the sentence open. After all, a little bit of bribing went a long way, who knew, maybe if a piece of Mr. Shens illustrious collection were offered, he might feel that much more inclined to do an outstanding job.
Turning his head slightly and glancing towards the path back to the front door. "If your alright with the pay arrangement, I wont take up anymore of your valuable time, I believe I can find my own way out."
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