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Oh, that. The minute she opened up and began to confess what was nagging at her brain (and surprisingly easy, Richard noted with relief), he found himself beginning to lay back in his spot, propping himself up with a hand as she carried on with her grief. Not that he thought any less of her or thought it to be childish of her to be going on like that, especially since he could easily sympathize with her ordeal. It was something that a lot of people their age went through, time and time again. He had hit that point fairly recently and perhaps had ran over the same pesky roadkill a few times over before he found his way off of that highway. Poor Cherry... she sounded like she was still stick in that God-forsaken loop and her tires were wearing thin, and all the while, Richard tried to think of the best way to offer some relief to those treads before they completely ruptured. His had, maybe multiple times now, and he would only wish that pain upon his worst enemies...

But not Cherry. No, he cared for her, and her state of mind. In a strange way. She had confessed to trusting him, and Richard knew just how sacred trust was. The thought of a most recent betrayal threatened to reawaken an older wound and he could feel it itching, but he fought it down, made himself focus on Cherry as she confessed the darkness that loomed in her mind, her spirit and her heart. She was exposing herself to him, and it would have been completely barbaric for him to seek an advantage... though tempting, he resisted, and he gave a nod, before adding softly when given a chance to speak. "Whatever goes on in this bedroom, verbally or otherwise, stays in here. Unless you wish it public, but then that's your business. This? This can be between the two of us."

She must have trusted him, as she continued to speak, and Richard could not deny the truths she brought up. There were an awful a lot alike and he couldn't deny it. Even Daran made a comment about it the last time they talked, and if Daran was pointing out the similarities, then there was no way to deny it. For a brief moment he feared that perhaps the two were related, but that wasn't possible... Victoria may have gotten around, but they could NOT have come from the same woman. It simply wasn't possible, and so the fear was gone from his mind. "Now that's not fair. Dogs are easy to take care of! I couldn't imagine having to take care of my father... or live with him, for that matter. The moment my wings sprouted, I flew the nest and only go back when something drags me back, and by then I'm kicking and screaming. I'm told it's both humorous and pathetic at the same time..."

But this isn't about -you-.

It was right, it wasn't about him, and Richard forced his attention back to Cherry, though it was never that hard with her. If it wasn't her beautiful body that warranted his attention, it was the anger and frustration in her voice, and he didn't even bother to correct her on the title of his store as she carried on. What really got him were the rising tears, and he couldn't stop himself from pulling closer to her, ignoring the fact that he long since abandoned all straps of clothing to reach for her, wanting to wipe those tears away before they marred her gorgeous face. "Oh, don't cry, Cherry! Come now, it's not the end of the world... you're just not happy with what you're doing with your life, and trust me... I understand that. More than you know. But you're still young, and there's still time, right? You don't -have- to accept this, right?"

Being comforted by him in the buff really was a non factor. That didn't matter. She had been with him enough that there wasn't anything to be seen that hadn't already been seen. In fact, it might have been one of the most honest moments in a relationship with anyone that she had ever. His reaching for her, she slipped into that pull. She was trying so desperately to stop the tears, but they were running this show now. All she could do is let them flow. Her lips swelled as her nose pinked. Such a mess.

"Richard..." Her face pressed into his shoulder. Her long chocolate tresses moving across her back and shoulders. "Yes. That's exactly it, but what can I do? I don't want to accept it anymore. I've been thinking about what I could do, but I didn't go to school. I guess it's never too late to go back to college and stuff. My cooking and baking is really the only real thing I can do that I could put stock in. Something that I feel I can be proud of. I just... feel like I'm lost. I just... I hate feeling like this. I'm ready for... a change maybe? I just... Something needs to give."

She for the moment didn't go into how these feelings had been accented and accentuated by all the people she had met in recent time. A friend who worked at the museum, one owned a diner, one was a doctor, and her good friend here with her owned his own business too. She was always doing for someone else. She wanted to be able to do something for her. "This is going to make me sound amazingly selfish, Richard. I hope you won't judge me for it, but... What about me. I just... I want something that's mine. I want it to be something that I can do."

Then, she paused and looked up at him with a blush flushing into her cheeks. An even rarer sight to behold. Already admitting that she had things bothering her, and that she wasn't as calm and collected lately as she liked to let others believe. She was going beyond that to admit a fault. Such an admission was such a singular event. One that might never happen again for anyone. "I'm selfish. No, it's true. Even if I do things for others. Even if I do something to please someone else. Really.. I am a selfish person. At the end of the day, when I go to sleep. I'm not thinking about other people. Just myself." It was obviously not an apology though. No words of being sorry for being that way. Just a matter of fact laying it out there. This was who she was. That truth stood even more stark naked than the two of them were.

It hurt to see such a pretty face cry, and given just how easily he had probably caused others to shed such tears, one might have felt it was completely ironic or perhaps poetic justice that Richard found himself wanting to squirm at such a sight now. He didn’t even CAUSE this one, to his knowledge… he wasn’t obligated to help her in any way, but he was going to, because he dared considered her a friend, and despite his recent burns, he simply could not pass up such a chance to help.

The feel of her face to his shoulder wasn’t sensual, but needing, and while he could never truly settle down for a single person, as great as their sex may have been, he could still attempt to act as a pillar of strength for them if they needed it, and Cherry really sounded like she needed it. He considered what he could possibly do to help her… maybe he could have opened a section of his store for her to work, or maybe loan her some money so that she could perhaps get her own business started. But he had a feeling it went deeper than that… much deeper. How could he addressed the root of the problem? The real problem?

She felt it was time she changed. She felt lost. She said she sounded selfish, but Richard shook his head, muttering softly though that was no indication that he wasn’t taking her dilemma seriously. He was merely mulling over possible solutions. “It’s not selfish to want a little something for yourself, especially when you spend so much time helping others. And even if it is, then so what? It’s in our nature to want something for ourselves every once and awhile…”

It was human nature to be selfish, Richard often told himself. Right now, even when he felt his desire to help her was genuine, one could have accused him of helping her to appease his dirty conscious and that he, too, was being selfish. But he did want to help. How could he help Cherry? How could he give her what she wanted, what she truly wanted?

You know how you can help her.

“Cherry,” he found himself saying, as he looked her dead in the eyes, his crimson gaze as fierce and unrelenting as the sun itself. “What is the one thing you want most, and how badly do you want it?”

She allowed herself to be held and coddled. It wasn’t like she got all super cuddly with him all the time. She kept telling herself it was probably ok. She was already crying. Might as well just have at it. His attempts to sooth her and brush off her attempts to be genuine about how selfish she was. She appreciated it. It was easy to eat that up too. The things he said to her. That was part of why she liked spending time with him. He just… got it. She never felt like she had to hide any part of her nature. She could be exactly who she was, and that was ok. It was fine that it never was anything more between them then just exactly what they did. She wasn’t much more suitable for a real relationship either. Her commitment issues were terrible. Maybe once when she was young and naive, she had hoped romantic love was real and for her. A few terrible experiences in high school made her harden her heart.

Now, her heart, mind, and soul were the great fortress of Cerise. It was a formidable fortress that was just too mighty and too unfriendly to allow her to allow herself to be given over to silly things like love and romance. No. It just wasn’t for her. She preferred what she could have right now. Right in this very moment. But, when asked what she wanted most? She was greedy. There was a lot she wanted. Money yea, but not just that. She wanted the freedom to do whatever she wanted when she wanted.

That look he gave her. That stare in his eyes. Something in that just called out to her. “I’m not sure I can honestly put it as just one thing. It comes down to maybe a small list of things, but basically, I want to be on tv. I want to be at least semi famous. I don’t want to want for anything. I want to be able to do for myself plenty enough that I don’t need to rely on other people’s kindness or charity.”

She couldn’t believe she was actually saying this s**t. To anyone. While part of her felt pathetic in hearing her own mouth utter it, she knew he wasn’t judging her. “Richard, I would probably do anything to have what I want. I like having my own way. I have no problem or qualms about doing what I need to do to be able to do what I want and when I want to. Unfortunately, that means also being willing to be a person probably not a lot of people would really want to know.”

She wrapped herself around him. “I’m probably a terrible person. I appreciate that you’re not disgusted with me. I hope I never make you hate me. This right here. This is… maybe one of the most… “ She just couldn’t put it in words. They wouldn’t articulate. She started to feel perhaps a little too vulnerable. She clung tightly to him as the contact helped her.

Richard saw himself as a versatile man, willing to cuddle and snuggle, as well as going all out. He had even went into S&M and while not one of his favorites was never opposed to turning it down when it was brought to the table. Right now, it felt like Cherry needed a good cuddle, and even when his mind had ventured into a more darker setting, he endeavored to remain strong and comforting for her. He waited for her response, his small, weakened conscious trying to appease him but its voice too tiny to be heard over the countless others that existed within his head at a single moment. It would simply have to wait its turn…

Remember Jade.

Cherry began to lay down her confession, her wants and desires, and Richard was hardly surprised to hear those words coming from her mouth. The two of them were just so much alike. They were vain, they craved attention and the spotlight as though it was food, and sex was like water to them. They both needed these two things to survive. What Cherry wanted was fame, but she did not want it given to her, but to have the strength to do it for herself, and that was something that Richard understood, more than anyone knew. She wanted to stand on her own. She wanted to take what she felt was rightly hers, not have it given to her. In that way, she was like his friend Krishna, but it was not a bad trait. It only meant that she was already strong on her own and it seemed that all she was lacking to achieve it was the opportunity.

No, what she needs is the power.

Power that he could give her.

Remember Marot.

“Please, do not think I’m judging you, because I’m truly not, but I must know for absolute certain.” Richard continued to look at her, wondering when he had ever turned his gaze away from her. Had he? It didn’t matter. He drew closer to her, tightening his grip on her ever so slightly, just to reinforce his presence because he was just that vain. He probably should not have asked this, but he felt she had the right to know exactly what might have entailed should she agree to this Djinn’s granting of her wish. “To have what you desire, would you be willing to suffer for it? Would you be willing to not only be hurt yourself, but hurt others, strangers, any that might stand in your way, to have that fame you so crave? How far are you willing to go?”

People from a White Moon come to their town. This triggered that memory of talking to that girl at the mall about those terrorists. When she had said she just didn’t care, she was severely scorned by the interviewing young lady. Well, really, Cherry was just that sort of person who was incredibly disinterested in anything that didn’t involve or directly affect her. If it somehow brought something closer to home, then she’d suddenly wake up like as if she had been interested all along.

When he said this … ‘general-king’, she thought to herself. She especially disliked the idea of serving some high and might ruler of others. She wasn’t especially a submissive type of person. She was willful, and she only ever really truly did just exactly what she felt like doing. What’s more; in her heart of hearts; she really felt that if anyone was bending a knee to anyone. It better be someone else pledging their eternal anything and everything to her. The idea of sitting up on a throne with others petitioning her for whatever their menial requests were. What were the chances of agreeing to join this army of theirs. Then, maybe she could be all high and mighty?

Well, of course, she had absolutely no idea what the thought she was contemplating really and truly meant. How could she know that walking the path that went that direction would quite possibly not just sell her soul down a river. Somewhere along the way, she might become some twisted and warped version of her previous self.

She listened to his mentioning about having to do her duties. She took that with a grain of salt. She did duties at her job in town as well. That was for a paycheck. Maybe this was just another job with a different sort of pay off.

“Do I really have to go before this person and ask to serve them? You know… it’s really not my style to ask someone if I can serve them. Despite the fact I do nice things for people, you better not make no mistake. I have no interest in serving others. I’m not a serving or submissive type of person.”

She went on about this in a rather proud and haughty manner as was her nature. She thought about the fact he had power and strength to make things happen.

“When you say now you have power and strength to get what you want; does that mean you can have anything you want?” Oh yeah. He said within reason. Well, within reason sounded a lot like blah blah blah totally boring to her. “I might be a hard person to handle if I’m promised to get what I want, and I don’t get it at all. I’m not the type who does stuff for others without getting something for myself in return. I just don’t do that. I have done it a few years for my parents, and I’ve grown tired of doing it.”

So selfish. Very selfish. Well, at least she was showing him her one true face.

He listened to her questions and concerns, doing so with as much patience as he could muster and offering her the same respect and courtesy as was given to himself when the pressure was upon him. He wasn't sure how interested she was in the matter and that the idea of serving someone else when she already felt like a slave to her parent's and other people's whims might have been a huge turn off, but still, perhaps she was lured in by the temptation alone and that would have been enough. In regards to her question, he answered truthfully. "No, it's not necessary. There's not ritual or ceremony, not unless you want there to be. I can induct you in and give you everything you need and act as a liaison between you and our General-Kings and Queens, until there comes a time that they summon you themselves. When that time comes, merely... act submissive and be polite. They love the idea of their officers being obedient little marionettes, but what they don't know can't hurt them, or you, right?"

It was his way of saying 'fake it'. He understood Cherry wouldn't have been the type to willingly submit, even if it would have given her everything she wanted. She was ambitious, but she wasn't stupid nor desperate. The mark that would forever mar his hand was living proof of their love for obedient hounds, he told himself, and he flashed the scarred symbol for Cherry to see, pulling back on his glove and offering her some advice. "Simply chose your words well and put on a good act, and you'll be just fine. I've learned my lesson and if you do wish to join me, I intend on making sure you're comfortable and well off in our organization."

He hoped that wouldn't have worried her or deterred her from accepting his offer, but he wouldn't have held it against her if it had. Of course, because he had exposed his identity, he hoped she would have accepted his offer, otherwise... he'd greatly miss his time spent with Cherry, and he really didn't want to consider that.

"As I said, within reason. I wouldn't expect you to take this gift and then proceed to use its power against me or our allies, as that would be frowned upon and the punishment for that would be quite severe." He tapped the scar on his hand, before pulling the glove back on and carrying on in his possible new hire and orientation. "You're a smart woman, Cherry, so I'm going to assume that when you have this power, you're not going to let it go to your head. I can tell you what the minimal you should do with the dark gift, but the rest of it? That'd be up to you... you'll have to use it how you want to, to obtain your own goals, and the whole Negaverse business? Think of it as a side job. So long as you pull your weight, and I will ensure that you do, you'll be just fine. So, what do you say, Cherry? Shall I share this power with you?"

He held out his hand, waiting to see if she would take it…

This all sounded like a nice offer from a friend. Someone willing to help her out. Someone who was riding in to save the day. Like a promise that everything would be ok. She just had to take a leap of faith and follow a certain path. And, this wasn’t just anyone offering this to her. This was Richard. Well… or… Buddy was he being called now. This person had been her friend. For mutually beneficial reasons sure, but all sexy stuff aside, she felt like they were legitimately very good friends. If there were a short list of people she would trust without reservation, he certainly was one of them.

While she wasn’t sure about much of this, she stepped up and placed her hand in his. With a searching yet confident glance into his eyes. When her hand was clasped in his, she grasped his and then wrapped hers around his wrist. She pulled herself a little closer. “Ok then Buddy. Why don’t you dazzle me with what you can do? What does this make me? Like… a protege? Or… an apprentice or… something like that? How does this affect things between us?”

She wasn’t sure if she needed to explain that question more. It wasn’t like they dated or were a pair who would even call it dating. Did Richard date? She guessed not any more than she did. Though lately the idea sometimes went through her mind though not with him. That set her to wondering how that dynamic of their friendship could or might change.

Still, she didn’t let go of his hand or waver in her eye contact. She felt like he was challenging her. He was like he did this and now wanted her to do it. She wasn’t not going to. Most of what he sounded like impossible and incredible things anyways. It was hard to imagine just how true and accurate what he said was.

Buddingtonite liked to think that he had this one in the bag. After all, when it came to confidence, Buddingtonite was never in short supplies these days. Maybe in the past, when certain incidents marred his self-worth, but those days were well behind him, as far as he was concerned. He wasn't going to think about those failures, those inadequacies, as there was simply no room for them. When it came to this part of his work, he couldn't afford any distractions, any annoying whisperings in his head to consume him.

The Negaverse didn't need another Lucca, or Bazzite, or...

Bischofite.

He almost cringed at the thought, but he forced himself still, forced himself calm. Do not think of the man that once laid in Cherry's spot, do not think of the man that had done terrible, wonderful things... the man that was no longer a man and no longer welcomed under the sheets. He told himself that there was no room for this in the Negaverse, or his heart... so he needed no distractions. Because he truly wanted to help Cherry achieve her dreams. Truly.

She took his hand, but was wise to question him still. Lucca never questioned him. Perhaps Lucca should have...

"I can do many things. I can teleport on will, so long as I know where I am heading. I can summon a weapon and swing it to tear down my enemies should they be foolish and seek to oppose or harm me. I can drain energy, take a starseed, or, as I will do with you with your permission, imbue it with the dark gift. I can summon youma on will, and command them too. And, on occasion... I can create youma."

Perhaps it went overboard in the explanation, but he knew better than to lie or hold anything back from Cherry. She asked, and he'd be happy to tell. As for her second question, he gave her hand a gentle squeeze before stepping closer to her naked, perfect form. "I may be your general, but it's only a formality. I don't own you, and if you don't want to be my protege, then that's perfectly acceptable. We can still be friends with benefits, just with something a little more to power us. You are too strong a woman for me to even dream of trying to lord over, but that doesn't mean I won't keep you safe."

And safe he'd keep her, like Turquoise and Schreibersite. He would have kept Dallol safe too, if only she had come to her senses. He'd keep Cherry safe too, in his own little way.

"Now, will you accept my gift? Or should we pretend this conversation never happened?"

Either way, his hand would be going into her chest very, very soon, and his scarred hand itched at the very thought of it.