|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2012 8:52 am
Failing impending doom of unimaginable destruction Venice was still expected to go into work today, it was unfortunate side effect to real life. Never mind the soul crushing realisation that she was no longer a good person. Ignore the fact that she was going to corrupt herself because she couldn’t stand being a member of the White Moon Court any longer. Take no notice of her ability to just kill or main someone without feeling a thing, covering it in thick layer of ‘justice’ but just basically loving the pain she caused. Yep, she was one sick puppy and life just plain sucked a**.
But she still had to go into work.
It was the annual craft-a-thon & BBQ weekend in a few weeks, held in the Destiny City central park at the peak of summer. Rising talent, local business and novice crafters would come together in aid of celebrating useless crap stuck together with glue and selling it at extortionate prices. Bustling stalls with food would stand tall as pot bellied men who knew best would poke massive barbeques in anticipation for meat and more meat, lots and lots of meat. A radio tent would be set up to monitor the days events including the competitions for best creation in several areas (wood, sand, maybe nappies who knows!) and in aid of such a joyful occasion the fire department would set off fireworks as evening rolled in. It was going to be fun, it was going to be special. It was going to cause Venice to work an extra 6 hours a week.
In preparation of such an event her work, A Brush with Class, was opening much longer, stocking rarer items and ordering larger quantities of goods. Their sales had tripled and the work load multiplied as citizens across Destiny City came and went, buying their items in the droves in groundwork for the weekend. It was all just one massive headache for Venice, who for the sixtieth time that day had nipped outside to smoke while her colleagues fought back irate shoppers inside, was more than happy to sit there and people watch. Sometimes they were more entertaining than TV and right now she just hoped today was a good channel.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2012 9:58 am
Grant Caudwell was not particularly Arty. He did not consider himself so, at least, but that was mostly because he was humble and did not consider himself much at all. he was always too busy considering others, but they were the ones that really did not see much art skill in him.
Which was fine! That was the good thing about art, wasn't it? Everyone got to read it their own way.
He made his little flowers because they usually made someone smile, not because they had high art quality or he was seeking recognition as an artist. In fact, he was mostly oblivious to the art scene, and was wondering why it was so busy when he came to replenish his colored paper supply.
Someone bearing a lot of bags came barreling out of the store as he was trying to go in. His instincts to jump back and hold the door open were not fast enough, and the man damn near plowed over him. Grant was thrown from his feet and the man continued down the street, presumably not noticing.
Which was fine. He was clearly in a hurry and Grant shouldn't have gotten in his way.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2012 4:20 am
Ok now that’s what she was taking about, maybe not with so much violence but a show with twists and turns, good vs. evil, an idiot being pushed over by an even bigger idiot! This imaginary production had everything! Now all it needed was a heroine of immense beauty and this show was a winner. With every fibre of elegance this girl had Venice spat out her cigarette with the grace of walrus and began shouting expletives towards the back of her supposed cherish customer.
“OY! WANKER! GET BACK HERE!! Pffft, pushing people over, yeah that’s right feck off you TOSSER! Hey kid, kid? Are you alright?
It would never have struck Venice on her own that the boy before her was actually deemed a man of her own age. He looked so helpless and almost guilty about getting in someone’s way that Venice’s heartstrings were severely plucked. He was like a lamb waiting for slaughter and he was doing a terribly job of staying off the grinder. Leaning over (while showing him all of next weeks washing) she passed him her hand, smiling sadly as she offered to help him up.
“Am so sorry, stupid git didn’t even apologise! Are you hurt? Need me to get you some water? Whisky? Shots? I’ve got them all at the back of the shop.” She was “joking” of course, she would never share her whisky but the boy didn’t need to know that as she passed the line of personal space to rub his shoulder where she considered he had landed.
“Want me to hunt him down and bash his head in for you?” She was incredibly serious. This boy was just too cute to not go bash someone’s head in for.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2012 10:07 am
Grant, who was always thought to be younger than he was and certainly did not think it degrading or upsetting. It was not an insult, except when it was, and even then he did not notice. He smiled and got to his feet with her help, thanking her profusely with a shake of that hand once he was up.
"Thank you!"
He blinked at her offer. Shots? He wasn't feeling sick and he was surprised a place like this was licensed to give shots to people. He wondered if they did the flu shot for the elderly, which would be very nice of them to do. He'd put it together later that she meant something else, considering she'd also included whisky in her list and he chose not to notice.
Or rather, he lived in a little bubble where only the brightest and happiest thoughts came to him. Everything else could not compete.
"Oh, no, I'm sure he was just in a hurry and didn't see me! I should have been more obvious about where I was standing, he was coming right out the door and I just happened to be in the way. I'm sure he would have said sorry if he had noticed! I just hope I didn't make him late for anything."
He smiled brightly and meant every word without a drop of sarcasm attached. He would be really good at sarcasm, if he had an ounce of malice in him. But he didn't.
Just sunshine and rainbows and completely oblivious, blind trust in the good of the world.
"Do you work here then? You said you have stuff in the back of the shop. Is it a fun place to work?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 7:26 am
It may have been the hangover working its number on Venice’s brain but was this boy really apologising for getting in someone’s way, who she was pretty dam sure the other guy had purposely aimed for and yet he was taking the blame?! That was just a "WHAT!?!" waiting to be screamed.
Gobsmacked (a rare occurrence) Venice looked over at him, peered into his eyes to see if he was holding out for some ideal moment where he will throw a perfectly hidden boomerang and swipe the floor with the quickly disappearing figure in the distance and saw….nothing. And quite suddenly Venice felt dirty and sinful. This guy was seriously innocent! He wasn’t even being sarcastic! And she had a sixth sense for these things!…well…sometimes she did but that was neither here nor there.
Shaking her head with utter disbelief she had to smile at him. He was like a puppy! A cute puppy that she wanted to keep forever but in a none-creepy way! Of course the longer he stayed in Venice’s vicinity the more his childlike soul would be tarnished with well, debauchery and evil…mainly of the abusing lung and liver variety.
“Uhhh…well, what ever make you sleep easy kid. I am just going to charge him double next time he comes, but heh, you are one crazy bugger you know that? That guy would have been eating through a straw if he did that to me! And you, you just apologies! Its just so, so…. cute!” She made to go pinch his cheeks but thought better of it as pulled back her hand before making contact. She had been warned about touching strangers outside the shop, they were losing business.
“And yeah, this place is cool, short hours, decent pay. Crappy customers in abundance but it can be good fun. Plus I can help myself to as much spay paint as I can stuff down my bra! My record is 17!”
While Grant may ponder on the sheer physics of that statement Venice signalled for him to follow her in to the shop. She could at least serve him if she was preparing to chat off his ears.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 8:30 am
Grant did not seem very nervous as she was looking at him so intently. He smiled at her sweetly and chuckled a bit, shrugging his shoulders and forgetting that anything at all had even happened to him.
He found that going through life worrying about every little slight was just not the way he wanted to go about things. Most of the time it was just on accident anyway, and what was so wrong with giving everyone the benefit of the doubt once in a while? He really subscribed to the Innocent Until Proven Guilty method of things. Except even proof did not seem to dissuade him too much.
Everyone had bad days, bad moments. It didn't make them bad people.
"Well you're very pretty!" he said, when she called him cute. A compliment was meant to be returned in kind, and she was very pretty! And very friendly, he had to admit. He had to wonder why someone would want to put 17 cans of spray paint down their bra. He glanced at her chest innocently, trying to figure out how one might do that. They seemed very fully occupied.
He looked up at her face again, confused but not embarrassed.
"Were you wearing it at the time?" he asked. Maybe that was the answer! He followed after her like a pony at a canter, bouncing a bit with each step.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2012 2:08 am
As the two strangers made there way into the shop it was a buzz with activity and noise. Shop assistants were running about like headless chickens as they sought out the wants and needs of every customer that stared them down. It seemed only Venice had the ability to ignore everyone and everything as she took twists and turns through the aisles. It was a talent she could turn on at anytime and made sure to test it out here of all places almost everyday. Hearing his comment regarding the spray cans she couldn’t help laughing. She had to admit it, the boy was cute, innocently so, but also he was right! The sheer mechanics of it were impossible and she allowed her secret to slip while leading him in to the wool section (a corner that was hardly visited in these summer months even at craft time).
“Think Madonna sweetie” She motioned to her chest with pointed fingers implying the crude but somehow amazing giant bras the pop star had worn in her time. Venice was obvious not shy about stating the bare facts. “You need to keep one step of the game in this world honey, and I learned years ago in my…rebellious teens that bigger clothes meant you could ‘nick’ so much more!” She laughed again, more at the memory of herself as a kid than her encouragement of stealing things.
“Of course you would know nothing about that!” she grinned trying once again to work out how old the boy was and exactly what she could say in front of him. She wasn’t known for a saintly conversation that’s for dam sure and sometimes she worried she was going too far.
“So kid, what brings you to my shop…and by my shop I mean not actually mine but you don’t need to know that…are you looking for…toys?” Of course Venice knew he must be older than 17 but she thought if she hinted enough the boy would take the hint and revel his true identity. “The names Venice by the way, while you’re here I’ll be your personal shopper, it’s the least I can do for being pulverized outside my shop!”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 12:38 pm
"Do you like to sing?" he asked as her reference flew so far above his head he did not even feel the wind of it rustling his hair. It took her hand motions for his brain to drag up an image of Madonna in her prime, and then he nodded and tied everything back to the situation at hand. "Oh! Oh that makes sense."
He smiled and laughed, mostly at himself.
"I'm sure you had your reasons for stealing when you needed to. I certainly would never get away with it! But I would not try, I don't really need to because I can get along pretty okay right now." He smiled. He did not try to justify the things other people did beyond 'they had to do it'. So long as they had their reasons, he was sure it was right. Everyone was good, they just had to do certain things because of the way fate had fallen out around them.
That didn't make them bad.
He looked at her when she poked him subtly about his age and name. He smiled at the introduction though, offering his hand.
"My name is Grant! I'm not here for toys, no. I was here to get some paper for making flowers. I like to give them out around the dorms and at class." At least dorm was a little hint that he was, at least, in school. Which one, however, and how old that made him was still up in the air. He was twenty two, though no one ever guessed that.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 9:40 am
Venice mulled over the name as if it were a hard candy, clicking her teeth with her tongue before agreeing with the title he had given himself. (Like she had any choice!) But it seemed the girl had accepted, begrudgingly, that it was a decent name for such a cute kid. If she did have such a choice she would have named him fluffy.
“Grant huh? Well as you can guess my parents, massive hippies. Well they weren’t but to name me after a city? That must have been one crazy night!” She didn’t know if would get the implied joke but she was happy knowing he was older than 18 at least. Dorm rooms equalled 18 + didn’t it? Well in England they had anyway and that was good enough for her.
“And flowers? Wow, you weren’t giving your parents any chance were you? But uhh anyway, let me help you! What do you need for these said flowers?” She eyed-up the busy store with a grimace, getting anything in here today would be a mission in itself. Sometimes, just sometimes, she wished she could change and just sludge everyone to the ground for an easy life. Somehow she didn’t think it was allowed though.
“Oh and to answer your question am a fabulous singer, you should hear me, angels weep! I am telling you, no word of a lie!!” That whole statement was of course a filthy lie but Venice seriously believed it! She knew she wasn’t angel’s weeping standard but mirrors cracking? Now that was more truthful.
“You should totally hear me one day, it will make you grow hair on your chest!” Which for some unknown reason, she doubted this boy had any off.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 11:20 am
Grant laughed.
"My parents like to say they knew I was going to be nice, and that I would give everyone what they asked for. Like granting them their wishes? That's what mom says. But of course they couldn't know that when I was born! I think that it is nice that you were named for a city! A good memory your parents wanted to keep with them, and cherish, forever!"
He smiled at her brightly. He was in love with the idea, finding it very sweet and kind. Like she was!
"I just make them out of paper! I give them to people that are looking a little down," he always failed to notice when he said really cheesy and painfully sugary things. "I will make you some too! For your singing! Singers like bouquets right?" He looked very excited by the idea, and wanted nothing more than to hear her sing and give her flowers for it.
He was a simple guy, ultimately. But now he had a plan, and they would have a reason to hang out again. She could sing, he could listen, and he could thank her for all her kindness and give her some of his best flowers yet. Everyone wins!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2012 8:31 am
Venice could almost feel the sugar coated vomiting hitting the back of her throat. Hands down she couldn’t think of another person that matched him! She was happy (most of time) but usually only after smoking, drinking and well, other life sustaining activities…and even then she didn’t have a smudge of this kid’s attitude! He was just so bright and cheerful and dare she say it? Gay!! It was contagious!! She almost fell into a rendition of “Baby got back” before she realised her boss was just looking for a reason to fire her. Her smile itching to match his she listened as he spoke about flowers, falling in absolutely protective love for him. She just wanted to squeeze those cheeks and dress him up forever and ever!
“That…sounds…AMAZING! Dam right I love bouquets! I love all flowers! Especial-ly- oh my god” Grabbing his shoulders she shook him in anticipation, her face mere inches away as she stared wide eyed at him. “I…can wear them….in my friggin hair!” A mist fell over her vision as she deluded herself over the unique look she would have, hands still firmly on the boys shoulder as she day dreamed. “I would look…glorious….”
Releasing him she bounced, hard. And with everything bouncing as well she could have easily knocked someone out but she was too busy clapping. “We need to get started on your shopping then!! We need like…paper! And you tell me about yourself, maybe I can sing a song that matches you! I will do thousands of them till I get it right!”
Somewhere, in another dimension, a race of highly skilled ears were weeping at this sentance.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2012 10:54 am
Grant looked at her in wonder and surprise as she shook him, laughing at her enthusiasm. He would have to make them for her right away! He was excited that she seemed to want them so badly.
"Paper, yes! And I would love to hear your song! There isn't much to tell about me, though!" There really wasn't. he basically wore himself very openly, and he did not keep secrets from himself or anyone else. Anything anyone asked, he answered.
Except about the whole DMC thing. He knew he wasn't supposed to say anything about that, and could get himself killed, or his friends killed, if he did. So that was more than enough reason to stay quiet.
He smiled and moved with her to go and get some nice paper. Nothing too flimsy or too stiff. The patterns and colors mattered as well, though he found most of the flowers ended up looking nice.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2012 4:44 am
Venice halted with abrupt steps as if stung before turning and shaking her head slowly towards Grant with deliberate movement. It was as if he had said a grave unspeakable subject as she patted his shoulder once more in a sad and forgiving matter. It was of course completely false what he said, there was always something to find out about someone and to think there wasn’t was just cruel! And of course it was in Venice’s god-given right to know everything about everyone’s business everywhere! There had to be something decent she could wring from him!
“Oh Fluffy, you don’t mind if I call you Fluffy do you? Oh Fluffy, of course there is lots to tell, your one heck of an interesting guy! You make flowers so you’re obviously talented, you so sweet and kind so you’ll probably have loads of friends and adventures. I bet you even have a hot lady stashed in your bedroom somewhere don’t you? Or…a hot guy maybe? Go on, give me some juicy details, I promise not to tell!”
The paper was mere meters away but there was no way Venice was going to let him past before she was satisfied. And it looked like such good quality paper too….
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2012 10:20 am
Grant looked at her in wonder, then glanced at the paper that was not too far away. It looked very inviting and he wanted it, but he was not going to be so rude as to skip the conversation and just go for it. He chuckled.
"Well! I don't keep her locked away anywhere but I do have a girlfriend, and she is amazing," he looked wistful as he said it, thinking about the young woman who took rather good care of him and made sure he didn't get killed while they were powered up.
He did his best to return the favor, when he could.
Fluffy was not the worst nickname he had ever received, so he did not comment on it negatively. Not that it was in him to comment on anything negatively, actually, but at least in this case he had no reason to even think about it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2012 2:05 am
Pffftt. That was not the juicy gossip she wanted to hear! Did this boy not know she feeded of such a thing? She wanted three headed girlfriend material. “I am my own grandma” situation. There was none of that! Just plain boring head-over-heels in ‘love’ admiration! That would never do! But just one look at the guy told Venice that she wasn’t going to get anywhere. Honest he may be but she didn’t think he had it in him to find scandal if it bent him over the kitchen counter.
“Woah there Skippy, your wild adventures are too dazzling for my ears! Remember us mere mortals when you speak about your life! I dare say I think am getting the vapours!” Yes sarcasm, was anyone surprised? Shaking her head she moved back a little to allow him to search the paper. She knew he wasn’t going to dish the dirt and torturing the innocent soul was probably going to damage him in the long run. She didn’t want that, he was way too cute to be connected with any sort of evil.
“Heh, don’t worry kid, am not gonna be mean to you anymore, help yourself to the paper, discounted like I said by….20%!…..no wait…9.6%, wait…no I can’t work that out, lets say 10%! And a promise to always wear your flowers in my hair! How does that sound?”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
