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It was 8AM sharp when the sports car parked itself near the Divinations shop. Out stepped a woman, dressed up in a clean, professional outfit. She was looking around, clucking her tongue at the street she was on.

"Oh, sweetheart, why were you ever even on this street?" She asked as two teenagers and a preteen stepped out. They were likewise dressed. Clean and pressed as if going to a banquet or conference or something, "Come here, darling, don't wander off." She gathered the youngest beside her.

It would take a closer look, and maybe a double take, to recognize the sole boy as the scruffed up teenager that had tried to wreck so much havoc and then turned an apology into a disaster at the shop. One might have imagined that someone had put a chiseling knife to his nails to make them clean like they were now, his clothes were spotless, and his posture even much straighter. The perfect look a miserable boy like a square trying to fit in a circle hole was the first clue that, yes, this was that same Leran. He was otherwise altered into what resembled... a gentleman...

"Momma, those dolls are creepy. Is that where we have to go?" the youngest pointed to the Bellus Puppa shop. She looked decidely more grieved about the area than her mother.

"I like them, they're different," the oldest daughter, and middle child of the three, spoke with an air of a collector, a bit of arrogance touching her voice. Maybe that arrogance was meant to get on Leran's nerves, she shot him a look.

He took the bait, bowing up, "They'll cast some---"

"Now listen! You are NOT to act like some scamp off the streets, young man!" Mrs. Gem didn't even look back at Leran as she spoke. Lifting her head with purpose and an air of authority, she took Aurora's hand and went forward to go to the shop.

"Leran's afraid of dolls," Kalandra hissed a tease at Leran as she put her arm through his, "And he believes in fairy tales like some ignoramous."

"You jus---"

"Leran!"

Leran glared at his mother's back, then realized she hadn't caught him. He jumped forward to open the door for her and his sisters.

"For goodness sakes," Mrs. Gem whispered, "Smile!"

Leran grimaced.

------


Inside the shop, Kalandra immediately got lost in looking around, amazed at the difference of the type of articles in the shop. Aurora was told to stay by her, and the sisters went on to take their self tour of Divinations.

As Sasha approached, Mrs. Gem gave what was generally a winning smile with most people, "Good morning, sir! I am Mrs. Gem," she held out her hand, "Leran's mother. I'm so sorry to hear about the inconveniance he has caused you. I would be more than willing to pay you back up front, but we have talked and your dear little shop has left such a winning impression on Leran," behind her, Leran was looking more and more trapped and upset, "that he has decided that he wanted to help work off the debt. He's such a chivilarous young man," she turned to Leran, and when the back of her head was to Sasha and she saw the look on Leran's face, she gave him a death glare. He tried to straighten more, and nodded what was supposed to be agreement, composing himself back into a neutral expression at least.

When Mrs. Gem turned back around, her smile was back on her face, "As kind as his offer is and I know his heart is in the right place, I know you run a buisness and the profit you make is so very important. I would understand entirely if you would rather I pay you back." Mrs. Gem started to open her purse, "He's very sorry and it's just torn him up that he was so careless, but I'm sure he's put himself through enough of a mental punishment, I don't want him unnecessarily beating himself about it. How much was it that I owed you again?"

And Leran's expression went from neutral, to surprised relief, and then to what maybe Mrs. Gem had meant for him to have in the first place. A gentleman's look, though he wasn't good at trying to look humble and apologetic.

Maybe not being so expressive would have saved me... It was the thought that ran through Leran's head, though his eyes lit up in a rebellious glare. How dare he not accept his mother's offer?

Mrs. Gem tsked when Sasha finished, but she did not replace her wallet back in her purse, nor did her own expression change from the cool, concerned politeness that she had assumed. "Yes sir, you're very right, and I never dreamed of questioning whether or not you would take care of my son," although she tucked the idea in the back of her head. Who was he? She should get a background check done, "Although you can be assured that Leran will be working at home with us as well, he..."

Her eyes flickered over to a corner, where Kalandra was standing. "Kally, sweetheart, you must be bored. Why don't you pick out something nice for you and your sister?" Although the only noticeable difference in her words was a softer voice for her daughter, there was a briskness as well.

"What? You just saw her!" Leran complained and demanded, "She mocks me and you tell her to go find something to buy?"

"Leran, stop being overly dramatic. She was not mocking you."

"I was mimicing the people, I'm sorry," Kally answered, too innocent and just vague enough to make Leran paranoid and glance behind them. Kally smiled at the image in front of her and disappeared to continue scavenging, and possibly find another way to irritate her brother. Aurora lingered, staring opening at Sasha until Kally dragged her away.

Mrs. Gem shook her head slightly. This would go so much better if they were doing what she had asked of them, "He will, of course, be under strict restrictions at home. When children don't have the necessary structure they need, foolishness is bound to follow. Maybe we were lax in that, but I can assure you that he won't being causing anymore trouble. I'm afraid of putting you out by giving you the child, though. He is not a salesman. Your shop's inventory appears to be lovely, Kally loves the masks that Leran bought for her here, but I'm afraid that Leran has already proven to you that he can be rather clumsy. I don't want there to be any other mistakes. Leran is simply too active to be stuck in a shop all day after his schooling." Mrs. Gem had, apparently absentmindedly, opened her wallet as she spoke and her fingers were playing with the large bills in it, just enough to be noticed, just enough to show there was a large amount there.

Leran winced. THAT was the wrong take, and he knew it. His eyes wandered around, wondering why Hansi hadn't yet made an overexcited appearance. Probably bound by tape by his imp or something. And why did he feel like a hunk of meat being argued over? He shifted his feet, uncomfortable and wanting to do something else, his fidgeting only proving the point Sasha already knew.

Although Mrs. Gem smiled along with Sasha's joke, she raised an eyebrow, trying also to catch this Sasha in his own words, "Haven't seen his clumsiness? If that was the case, we would be here discussing whether or not he should work off the debt he has incurred. Leran doesn't have an understanding or respect for fine items and I'm afraid those are two very important qualities for a saleman. May I ask who Hansi is?"

Kalandra had come up behind them now, "Oh, Hansi's the one that Leran says has only one fry of the Happy Meal. You know how good he is with children, Mother, and it sounds like he's already made an impact here. I'm willing to bet that our gentleman shopkeeper here is looking for help in both respects, and that Leran will be well-placed here."

Mrs. Gem pinched Leran as he half-turned to snap at Kalandra, but she only succeeded in making him angrier.

"You two are no different than this maniac!" Leran blurted, waving his hand to indicated the girls and then Sasha, tired of feeling that he was on the table, and wanting to take control of his own life. "I'm NOT working here, I won't do it! I don't like it here, and I can pay off whatever someway else. It's not like it was MY fault HE sent me an imp that ate his merchandise!"

Both ladies stopped and stared. Mrs. Gem turned a little pale, though Kalandra burst into laughter.

"Leran, baby, are you feeling alright? Maybe we should go home and discuss this another time..."

"I'm FINE! I'm...." Leran stopped dead, realizing what he'd just admitted outloud had happened, something he hadn't admitted even to himself yet. he folded his arms, defensive, "I'm FINE..." It was a much weaker reply.

Mrs. Gem hesitated, at a complete loss of how to respond. Even Kalandra had stopped laughing and gave him a funny look. The son and brother they knew really WAS going crazy.

OOC:
Not sure if that gives you much of a reply... You can just let me know there's an ackward silence and I'll find something else to say if you coan't think of anything. smile

Mrs. Gem nodded, "Well, I think that covers that. You're coming home immediately with me, Leran." She turned back to Sasha, "My apologies, I know he was supposed to start today, but he's obviously not feeling well."

"Is Leran crazy?" Aurora asked, sounding and looking so much younger than she really was. Unlike the other girls though, she didn't seem to be putting an act on with it. She looked at Leran with big, wide eyes.

"Of course not," the thought was immediately dismissed and pushed under the carpet. THAT could not be in HER family! "He's likely feverish is all." Mrs. Gem put her hand on Leran's head, though he pulled away forcefully. She tsk'd over him a moment, looking over to Sasha again, "And I know you need to start having that paid off immediately, perhaps I should just give you what he would have earned this week. He can start Monday."

Kalandra rolled her eyes, mouthing the words 'you're such a liar.' to Leran.

Leran looked positively trapped.

Mrs. Gem nodded, feeling entirely that this battle was hers. "I'll make sure he comes back in top condition." She had no intention of that... Of the coming back part... All she had to do now was convince her husband. She took out the money and counted the cost, apparently having already found out what a week's worth of salary would have been for her son.

"I have something too," Kalandra quickly put in to remind her mother. Leran had bought a week's worth of freedom. She had an interesting knicknack, and had every intention of getting something out of this trip.

"I wouldn't buy something from HERE," Leran said gloomily.

Kalandra rolled her eyes, "What, because the imps need it for nurishment?"

"Kalandra!" Mrs. Gem scolded, sweeping the item first from Kalandra, then looking Aurora up and down like she expected her youngest to have something too. Aurora had come up empty handed, though now she was loking around the shop with a different sort of interest, maybe trying to figure out still if Leran was crazy or if she could glimpse one of these imps.

Mrs. Gem paid for the item, "Thank you very much, sir. Have a fantastic week."

She gave him a winning smile then turned to leave, leading Leran by the arm. For once, he took it, wise enough to know her concern for his wellbeing was what was keeping him out of this whole mess for now.

Aurora hesitated behind, taking one last wistful look at the shop, then smiling and waving a small wave to Sasha before following after her family.

Mr. Gem didn't come home from his latest conference until Tuesday night, and it wasn't until Wednesday morning that he found out about the whole situation.


Outside, the night was gorgeous, but maybe that was because all the bad weather had been sucked out of the air and into the Gem household. Mr. Gem fought with his wife, fought with Kalandra, and came down hardest on Leran. How dare she? How could she? The boy finally ran into someone that would drop discipline down instead of taking a bribe, and she let Leran fool the man into thinking he's unwell! He knew very well how Leran was, and that anything he said that didn't sound feasible was just another one of his wild, made up stories. It was a shame, a pathetic shame.

The only good that would ever come out of Leran's drama and crazy stories was if he became a well-liked author and so set his life for himself, but the lazy, spoiled snot of a son had never shown such initiative, even when pushed.

Well then, Mr. Gem was going to force initiative upon his son, and he would be around to make sure that his boy was facing consequences.

--------

It was the afternoon this time. There were three this time and Mr. Gem didn't take out the sports car. There were no monkey suits, he only made sure that the two children were clean and in decent clothing... That still made the rough-and-tumble Leran look dressed up, though not ridiculously so... But little Aurora now looked like any little girl, not a doll on display.

Mr. Gem did not parade them in. Aurora ran into the shop first, not hanging back this time, mostly because she didn't want to hear her dad's final lecture to his son before entering the shop. She smiled her small smile at the first person she saw and gave a small wave, but quickly ducked her head and moved to the side.

Mr. Gem, like his wife, came in all business, but he didn't take the upper hand. He was the last to enter, Leran in front of him. Leran came with a letter of apology in hand, and a look of real penance on his face. He wouldn't argue this one out. He wouldn't dare. And, like his father said, he would be the one to initiate the conversation.

"Good afternoon," Leran answered, polite, formal, "I..wanted to come to apologize about everything. Being a pain before, and decieving you on Monday." Because of the social standing, his family was one of actors, and now that his father was around, he needed no extra prompting to be believably sincere. There was, of course, the glint in his eyes. He and Sasha both knew that he hadn't even lied to anyone on Monday, and he still felt very much like he was being caged and sold.

He continued, forcing himself past and into the real lying, "It was improper and unbecoming of me, and I know that as the shop owner you had all rights to go to the law. You've been very gracious, and I should have been more considerate to you." Of course, maybe Sasha should have been more considerate before he turned him into an animal thing and sent him a stupid imp and set that dumb Hansi on him and started haggling over him and...

He took a breath, shaky not from the being nervous, but from the claustrophobia of being strapped into this role, "And I promise not to play the fool again..." If they would only stop playing the games... "And if you'll still wishing to hire me in payment for the item I..." and this time he did grit the words. He was still convinced it was all Sasha's fault, "managed to clumsily break, I'd be very grateful for the opportunity."

If he'd been Aurora's age, maybe he would have glanced behind him to see if that had been good enough. It wasn't good enough, he already knew though. having his fists balled and ending his monologue through clenched teeth was not good enough. And really sort of made him look the fool even while saying he wouldn't be... and that anger was still focused at Sasha. Still HIS fault!

Leran nodded his head a little, and put out his hand for a shake, "Thank you, sir, I appreciate it. I'll do my best." He'd better, because his father would have him skinned and then use him as a rug if he didn't. If Sasha accepted the handshake, Leran's shake would have been firm. He would like to squeeze the life out of the man's hand, but that would just be retarded at this point. That didn't mean his expression didn't say he would love nothing more in the world than to knock Sasha flat on the floor about now.

And behind, Mr. Gem nodded, "You are more than welcome to use my son's services. I applaud your decision, a boy can always use a good, honest job. If you ever have any trouble, it is me and not my wife you'll want to contact." Mr. Gem had decided, though Sasha and the shop did seem a little odd an unconvential, that there was no harm. He even liked Sasha from he'd just seen, the shop owner's charms had worked well on the head of the household. He stepped forward now to hand Sasha a notecard that he had written his name and personal cell number on, and from that card Sasha could also learn the Mr. Gem had a first name. It was Leonard.