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 Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 6:20 pm
Kyndall gave him a few days to adjust, to deal, and partially to give him a wide berth considering the state they'd been in the last time they were together. She meant what she'd said about him being able to call her for support and he had when he needed her. She just hadn't seen him in person and wondered if it would be...weird. She desperately didn't want that but she was just too happy today to give any tension much thought at all.
She walked up the steps to his townhouse and rang the bell, hoping he was home. She hadn't stopped by the library first since she was closer to his home. A grin was plastered on her face, spread from ear to ear. She was excited and was doing something good, using her pull for a good cause. It was exciting to her.
When he opened the door she hugged him hello. Yes, they were those types of friends now. Even if she'd kept him at arm's length before out of respect for his girlfriend, even for something as innocent as a hug, that was no longer the case. Certainly their history together justified the greeting. And she was genuinely happy to see him. She acted like this was normal now as she hoped it would be the norm.
"Hey! How are you doing?" she asked, ever concerned for him but trying to act like she wasn't inquiring about his feelings more than his health or welfare. She certainly wasn't going to bring the breakup up directly. She couldn't hide her excitement, either, and her pride. It was a little while away but it was very good news. She waited for him to respond, perhaps to invite her in, before she continued.
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Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 6:39 pm
She was wise, at least, in giving him some time to himself. The next day he was a particular wreck, hung over and feeling impossibly guilty and embarrassed for his behavior at the bar. He had wanted to call her, almost tried to, but each time he got close to the phone he retreated.
Maybe she needed time, and that was why she wasn't calling him.
Most of the events were a bit of a blur, but he knew he had been stupid. He always was, when he was drunk. He knew there had been kisses, there had been singing. A lot of booze, obviously.
When the doorbell rang he jumped, wondering who had stopped by. He opened the door without checking and smiled when he saw her, though he felt nauseous as much as he did relieved that she was there and willing to talk to him. He was surprised by the hug, but then wondered if he was making it a bigger deal than she felt it was.
that wouldn't surprise him at all.
"H-hello," he said, smiling at her. What had her so happy? He imagined she had something to tell him. "I'm feeling alright. I'm sorry for being such a sad sack before. I swear the moping has passed." Or at least, he would make sure to only mope privately.
He stepped out of the doorway, motioning for her to come inside.
"What brings you here? Not checking to make sure I'm alive, are you? You really don't have to keep doing that." He grinned sheepishly. Dogby moved to the door to greet Kyndall, barking happily.
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Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 7:14 pm
She stepped past him, primly standing to the side so he could close the door behind her. She didn't know how much he remembered of their last encounter because scotch and beer had been consumed by him in copious amounts. Probably more than she even suspected. He was very dangerously drunk. She certainly didn't hold it against him but she wasn't sure he remembered much about the night either. Or what they'd done or talked about.
"You're entitled to mope. Something like this is a kick in the balls." No one liked breakups. No one. And she didn't expect him to be mr. emotionally adjusted only a week later, either. But she'd be a liar if she said she didn't think about it sometimes. She'd gone to bed thinking about it, wondering. See if there was some way for it to have gone differently or something she could have changed to make him feel better. The end of their night went down a hundred different ways before she finally drifted off to sleep to dream about it and wake herself, cursing under her breath.
"How much do you remember about that night, anyway?"
Her smile widened and she scooped up Dogby, petting the creature happily. The pup only made her mood brighter and she walked inside to take a seat on the couch, beaming. She waited for his answer which may or may not be vague. She wasn't sure if he'd play it cool cause he did remember or deny everything because he didn't. She certainly wasn't going to press him on how he felt about how things happened even though she was nearly dying of curiosity. Did he mean anything he said? Did he even remember he said it?
"I've done it, Tony! It's wonderful!" She set the corgi to the side and looked up at him. "Arthur is going onstage in a few months but after the premiere performance I've organized an Arthurian masquerade ball. I've booked the banquet hall and everything but that's not even the best part!"
At that she jumped up again, unable to hold still. This was very near and dear to her heart, using her connections for a good cause to do something that benefited everyone. "All the tickets proceeds to the ball go toward arts education in Destiny City."
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Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2011 1:54 pm
Tony nodded his head, smiling softly.
"I think I would have preferred a kick to the balls," he sighed, but he grinned at her and shook his head. "But it's fine. I'm recovering. I'm tired of being... confused and upset I suppose. We'll see how it goes."
He smiled sheepishly, indicating that he didn't remember much, but maybe more than he was willing to say. He shook his head wordlessly, though, feeling dumb.
At least she wasn't mad at him.
"I ah... I remember some things more than others. Not everything, I can admit. I... I'm sorry if I did or said anything inappropriate..."
When she began talking about her play, though he looked much more relieved and brightened, nodding his head. He laughed, imagining that they would have some fun at this themed ball, if only because their counterparts were particularly Arthurian. Not that he was going to dress as a knight for it: that would be too much.
"That's amazing! You've done such brilliant work, I can't wait to see the play, and attend that ball! That's a very good cause, and I'd love to support it." He smiled at her, watching as she all but bounced around. "You should be very proud! I hope it all goes well."
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Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2011 2:49 pm
"If you'd gotten a kick in the balls you might not feel the same way about it."
But she didn't say much more about it. Truth was that being kicked in the balls was probably a shorter pain than the lingering ache he felt. This is why she didn't open herself up to dating and hadn't since Harmony was born. She'd never made time for men because she knew how much it could hurt and she had too many other things to do. Besides, her choices didn't only affect her, they affected her daughter, too. She didn't envy him for this. She'd certainly avoid it if she could which made her wonder lately what she really wanted from him if she could have it? Was it better to remain friends or try for something more knowing it could ruin what they had?
She assumed he didn't remember much and shrugged it off. "You were a perfect gentleman." she lied, trying to spare his feelings. "It was a fun night. You can really belt out those notes."
She beamed when he praised her, feeling whole heartedly excited. She moved to hug him, overwhelmed. She wasn't sure there'd be much of a response but now it seemed a bit secured. She'd been on the phone to secure donated refreshments, a space, and a band. She'd even planned her costume already and gave him a mischievous look.
"I'm going as the Lady of Shalott."
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Posted: Sun Dec 25, 2011 9:02 pm
Tony laughed and nodded his head.
He hated trying to think of how miserable he sounded. Not his whining, but rather his singing. It had to be awful, as he hadn't done anything musical in years and years.
He remembered she had sung very well.
Hugging her, he chuckled and nodded his head, but his happy look vanished into one of horror when she spoke. He shook his head furiously, holding up one hand as if to chide her. Which was apt, as that was what he did.
"You can't go as Shalott! That might be a little telling, don't you think? Why don't we go as a lord and lady of the court? Ah. Or a queen and her jester." He blushed, but smiled. He wanted to have fun.
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Posted: Sun Dec 25, 2011 9:32 pm
"oh!"
Her mouth formed a small "o" of surprise as he first chided her and then suggested that they coordinate outfits. Suggested that they go together. Was she reading too much into that invitation or was he simply wanting to coordinate as friends and as the man who helped her adapt the script? She thought going as Shalott would be safe. The costume was entirely different and the poem and painting were well known in the art world as surely people would assume of her. And, if anyone got too suspicious she could clarify that she was Guinevere running off with her love Lancelot. That's what the legend was, anyway.
"Are we going?" she asked, trying to keep it light, "together?"
She was looking forward to having fun, too, and decorating the hall and making it very medieval in its elegance. She imagined couples sweeping across the floor in pretty dresses and smiled to herself. This was brilliant and she was pleased she'd thought of it. A mere twenty dollars a ticket, one hundred person capacity in the ballroom. That was two thousand dollars toward the arts in one night without costing much more than the space rental! What a boost it would be for schools that weren't privately funded like Crystal!
"Tony, can't you just imagine how wonderful it will be?"
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Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2011 11:09 am
Tony had turned a brand new color. It was strange, usually his skin was on the lighter side, trapped in the library as he often was and venturing outside mostly at night. He had never been much for tanning. The change that came over him then, however, wasn't the handsome tones of some time in the sun, or the forced orange of a faked time in the sun. It was far more natural and quick, as well as complete however fleeting.
Never had a man blushed more furiously.
"I... well. I mean. I just assumed because you asked and... I... well, obviously w-we don't have to go together, if you don't want to. I didn't mean to... to uh... ahm... hmmph."
He looked down, bashful and thoroughly embarrassed. His efforts to clarify had only made it worse on himself. He swallowed hard. Her happiness, though, did well to cut through his self deprecation.
"It will be very nice, I'm really looking forward to it. I hope it goes very well. I mean, I'm sure it will." He smiled at her, calming and nodding his head. It was easy to mean it, because he did believe her hard work would pay off.
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Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2011 4:50 pm
Of course she'd read too much into it. It was too soon and she was only hearing what she wanted to hear. They were friends and Kyndall struggled to pound that idea and nothing more into her mind. To hear him struggling so distressed her. And that color did not suit his skin. He looked sickly and inhuman like that. She came to his aid quickly, putting a finger to his lips to stop his excuses. She didn't want him to be uncomfortable.
"I'll see you there." she offered, trying to help him out. "We can still coordinate outfits. I don't have a date and Dave isn't very keen on being friends anymore."
She shook her head sadly at that, a friendship wasted by romance. It had been her decision to end it but all the same she had hoped three dates was small enough that she could change her mind without hurting him too badly. Apparently it was not. But in the end she'd felt it was the right thing to do, being fair to him when she hadn't been. She liked him, they had fun, but she was not in a place where she could give him what he wanted and that was still true now a full week or more later.
"It's alright, Tony. I have so much to plan I doubt I'll be much fun at the party, anyway. Coordinators don't go to do much dancing." She paused. "But I really want to see you there. Save me a dance if I get one?"
She wasn't going to change her mind about Shalott, though, unless a better concept came along. She was having the dress custom made and one Arthurian gown looked much the same as the next. If anyone asked she could tell them she was Arthur's unfaithful bride. Only Tony need know the truth and would stammer at it, she was sure. The look on his face would amuse her. But the design she had in mind was beautiful.
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Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2011 11:57 am
He looked at her helplessly as she put her finger to his lips, curling them inward on instinct to avoid kissing the digit. He was bashful and he felt like a bit of a fool for stumbling so much on something that should have been simple.
He nodded his head.
"Yes, we'll both be there. Ah. I mean. You... oh?"
Was it rude to ask about Dave? He couldn't help but be a little curious, as she had said they were getting along and she like her time with him. He hadn't thought it was too serious, but he did think it was going well and it might have been something more. He had a sinking feeling in his chest that he had already been told the reason, but he had to ask, he decided. Later. Maybe.
He nodded meekly.
"Yes, a dance. I'll have to ah... I'll have to brush up on my dancing. And ah... costume making."
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Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2011 2:36 pm
She just nodded to his question. She didn't want to talk about Dave or what went wrong. She didn't want to talk about the guilt she felt for using a perfectly good guy to escape something she knew she felt. She had honestly hoped to move on by dating him. They had so much in common why wouldn't she think that? But in the end she knew all it was to her was an attempt at escape and nothing more. It wasn't fair to anyone, least of all to Dave. She regretted her choice but this was her punishment - losing a friend. It was kind of like a punch in the gut knowing she had no one to blame but herself.
"I'm sure you'll manage both." She promised, eyes sparkling with mischief. The turn of topic made her breathe a bit easier. He wasn’t the kind that pressed topics that made people uncomfortable and for that she was grateful. Things at hand and all that. She turned back to him and remembered the things she still needed to do, having intruded on his day as she had.
“I’m sorry. I just had to share my good news with someone. I’ve got a million things to do.”
She was graciously excusing herself so he didn’t have to feel so awkward. She’d made good practice of graceful exits around him for just this purpose. It was kind of charming, in its own way and she'd enjoyed that he was easily flustered by her from the first day they truly met and started chatting months ago. Strange to think how far they'd come and what they were now, how close. The secret they shared between them precious and important.
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