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 Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2007 4:37 pm
Qadir's hands were stuffed into the pockets of loose black slacks that fell over polished dress-shoes that clicked lightly upon the sidewalk with each step. It was another one of those evenings, where the sun no longer scorched the land but it's rays left bloodied clouds hanging in the orange sky. It was another one of those evenings where people had decided to spend it infront of their tvs instead of outside enjoying the scent of the coming night. Absently he wondered if getting the scent 'black lily' was the best idea, for the scent of dusk was a great deal more enticing.
There were so few people milling about on the sidewalks, but none the less Qadir enjoyed his favorite past-time: people watching. There was something thrilling about relaxing and watching people do whatever it was they did when they didn't know no one was watching, or maybe it was equally interesting watching people who knew they were being watched. One woman had told Qadir that he enjoyed the silly hobby because he didn't like himself, but Qadir didn't take her very seriously; Qadir didn't take many things seriously actually.
The best type of person to watch? Women. Shy, brave, unique, chatty, outgoing, klutzy, it didn't really matter because they all had their different qualities that drew Qadir to them. As long as they weren't crazy, psycho feminists that would rather remove everything male from the world, Qadir was interested in getting to know them.
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Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2007 5:29 pm
Dusk was fast approaching, and it was Crystal's favorite time of day. The soft gilded sky fading brilliantly into the night's embrace always made her feel so peaceful and at ease. The young woman was outside of her shop, tending to the display flowers as she prepared to close the doors for the day. Her curly black hair was let down, although her bangs were pulled away from her face in a small ponytail, leaving her fair heart-shaped face and greyish eyes unadorned. The dying sun bid farewell kisses on her cream skin, catching the blue in her stormy eyes as she alternated between moving the bundles of flowers and watching the sun set. A delicate breeze from the shop teased the hem of her long cerulean gown, fluttering her apron which she constantly smoothed down with her slender hands.
Crystal was humming to herself as she worked, singing wordlessly at times as she moved pots and hanging displays of brilliantly colored flowers. Her mother was inside the shop, going over the receipts for the day while smiling at her daughter. It had been a good day.
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Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2007 9:10 pm
It wasn't unusual that as Qadir casually passed by the small flowershop to his side he couldn't help but stop and watch the black-haired girl go about her nightly chores. People watching as you passed them by was one thing, but there were certain gems of people that you simply couldn't saunter on past.
There were those people that had that look about them, and this girl had it. The tall man stood off to the side of the shop so he wasn't so painfully obvious planted front and center infront of the store, but he was certainly prominent enough that it was obvious he was watching intently; he wasn't quite staring as his eyes wandered as they always did. The life of a vampire, one always on the look-out for things.
Qadir thought it was a hame that the shop was closing up for the night, but at the same time, who honestly has a flower shop open at night? The man could think of plently of flowers that bloomed only at night, but lets face it, the market just wasn't that heavy after the stars began their dance among the velvet black sky.
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Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2007 7:23 am
Crystal had her back turned, and didn't see the man immediately; she continued to sing, touching the petals of the flowers like one might touch the face of one adored. She disappeared briefly into the store with an armful of pots before returning to one of the displays, humming.
There's a feeling one gets when being watched; a tickling that feels like someone is trying to get your attention. Crystal nonchalantly glanced around, not in the least bit perturbed by the feeling. Really, she was singing (and sometimes dancing) with the flowers, it would be foolish of her to assume no one was paying her any mind. When her curious stormy eyes finally found the person in question, however, she had the grace to look startled and maybe a touch embarrassed.
The first thing she saw, despite his fair distance, was his eyes. The last remnants of the sun seemed to have disappeared into the man's eyes, where it continued to shine even as the night was nearly upon them. It seemed that the sun's job of disappearing was a messy one, as it also seemed to have brushed against his hair, allowing burnished gold strands to really offset the smoldering amber drops of his eyes. To oppose the sun, his hair seemed to be woven of night, the true-black that gave blue or purple undertones, much as her own did. That coupled with his handsome face and conservative dress made her stare back in turn.
Crystal stood quickly, brushing her hands on her apron with a warm and easy smile. "Good evening," she greeting him in her cool and melodius voice, a touch of a grin forming. It was a little awkward to meet one who was watching you when you, too, were watching just moments before.
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Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2007 11:53 am
Qadir continued to watch silently, his lips curled in a playful smile that did not reveal his teeth quite yet. When the girl moved to disappear into the shop the man took his chance to move closer to the shop, ending up leaning against one edge with his shoulder by the time she returned.
Even as she turned to look at him he could only return gesture, admiring the looping black curls that fell about her face, framing her features better than any frame could enhance a photo. As she spoke his smile grew, teeth like pearls showed up against his skin as if they were resting upon burnt sand. A hand was lifted from his pocket and he returned the greeting with a soft voice.
Pushing himself off the wall he took a step towards her, looking down at one of the flowers nearby and admiring it silently, almost as if he hoped she would speak again for him. Qadir was too antsy though, he was excited about finding something better to do than people-watch, for the end of the game comes about when you find just the perfect person to get to know better.
"You wouldn't happened to be closed would you?" he asked with a hint of sorrow in his voice. He hadn't actually planned on buying anything tonight, but a shop that was closing usually meant that pleasantries wouldn't last very long.
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Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2007 10:13 pm
Crystal smiled delicately, her eyes twinkling in a curious but warm manner. "No, sir," she chuckled softly, making a graceful sweeping motion with her hand, "you are free to come in if you please. I am merely moving the displays." She self consciously brushed some of her curls from her shoulder, not entirely sure why she felt so shy all of a sudden, but certain it was something about the man rather that the situation. The woman actually put her fingers over her collar bone in a motion usually reserved for cheesy movies when a woman is being wooed by a man; his smile was quite disarming! Irene would likely dislike how she was acting, but she couldn't help it. Crystal curled her knuckles up to her sea-shell pink lips, stifling the giggle that threatened to bubble from her throat. Really, what was getting into her? And in front of her mother! Her Ma would give the poor girl no end of heckling, she knew.
As if the older woman could hear the younger's thoughts, a jovial and pleasant call emitted from the store, "What's this? Has my daughter's honeyed voice brought some unexpected company?"
Crystal's cheeks flushed a soft red. "Mother, please! We have a customer. It is his choice alone if he chooses to be company." She hid her face momentarily behind her hand, peeking out to give the man a sheepish and apologetic smile.
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Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2007 12:16 pm
Slender fingers brushed along the petal of one flower and a voice in his head pleaded for him to ask the name, but the rest of him wasn't intereted. That's not to say the man didn't like flowers or that he wouldn't walk away from this experience with a bundle of plants in his arms, but it did mean he was intereted in something other than the greenery. Amber eyes that missed next to nothing took in the touch of her curls and the way her thoughts made herself giggle; he wondered what it was that she thought about but he did not ask, instead he continued to study the soft colours of the flower at his fingertips.
At the sound of the woman's voice from inside the store he'd blink and lift his head, turning to look and try to find the source of the voice. That devilish smile had reappeared upon his face and those sharper than average canines were revealed to anyone who cared to notice. A terrible vampire he was, never guarding his smiles; he'd lived too long to hide away somewhere playing the miserable old fool. If people wanted to hate him for what he was then he might as well not let them get close and find out at a later date.
"A daughters honey'd voice must come from somewhere and I dare to assume that such sweet notes came from her mother," Qadir replied, not bothering to make comment on the argument between company and customer. At the shy smile given he'd only shrug his shoulders in hopes of putting the woman more at ease. "I've heard worse," he'd whisper so the older woman couldn't hear.
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Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2007 6:58 pm
"Pink Carpet Rose," Crystal offered as she watched the man and how gently he handled the flower. Most people were eager to shove their noses into the flower, or worse - try to lift it to their face, which resulted in broken and damaged goods. His tenderness with the botanicals were not lost on her. She was impressed enough that she ignored her mothers caws of laughter at his flattering remark to the older woman; of course, she knew her mother would like him immediately for his silver tongue. Instead, she remarked on his last comment with a returned whisper, "She's quite the gossipista. You've been warned." Her face lit up with a grin as she carried one of the last pots in, all but the one the man was so intent on.
Returning quickly as to avoid a barrage of questions from her mother, Crystal smoothed her apron and gave a small type of curtsey, quipping in her most professional voice that was loud enough for it to carry back to the front desk, "Welcome to The Gilded Lily, where we have proudly served Midori for generations! My name is Crystal; please let me know if there is anything I can assist you with." She gave him a tight smile and tilted her head towards the shop, trying to indicate it was for the woman behind than counter more than anything. Certainly, formalities were in order, but their 'catch tag' was so long and such a mouthful, she often felt winded just greeting people.
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Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2007 7:30 pm
Pink Carpet Rose? Qadir was just about to ask what exactly the woman was talking about when he realized with a mental kick that she was refering to the flower he so delicately layered attention upon. Of course the vampire had no idea how to handle flowers, but he could certainly pretend he was a surfer of the more floral-ly inclined plants. "A gossipista?" he'd ask with a puzzled expression. Not that he didn't know what a gossip was but he'd never heard of a gossipista, and he wasn't quite sure why he should be warned about such a thing. Was being gossiped about a bad thing in this part of the city that he didn't know about?
When the woman returned from the shop she'd find him cradling the pot containing the pink carpet rose with a look that seemed to ask just where he should be putting it away. Gentleman until the end he was. "The Gilded Lily is it," Qadir mused to himself before smiling warmly at the woman and nodding his head in return for her small curtsey. "Well I dare say I might be interested in some lilies, that is, if the Gilded Lily sells any of the flower," he'd say to her with a wink and another smile.
Oh yes, Qadir thought himself quite the...well, whatever he considered himself he thought himself very good at it. "Where might I put this?" the man asked, lifting the pot slightly so she'd know just what exactly he wanted to organize. For a moment he thought of adding some silly, flattering remark on her name, but there wasn't any point in overdoing it. Maybe that was the difference between him and other flirts: he just lived honestly. "The name's Qadir by the way," he'd finally add, taking a step towards the shop's door.
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Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2007 7:57 pm
"Oh! Thank you...Qadir," she repeated the name softly, rolling the vowels as one may roll wine on their tongue. To explain her previous word, she murmured softly, her cheeks still touched with a dusky rose color, "She likes to hear gossip, but not speak it. She keeps tabs on the town, likes to know who is what and why." She grinned a little uncertainly; why was she being so frank with the man?
Before Crystal could utter another word, her mother called out, "What a handsome name, Qadir! Come on in so I can see just how well it first you, hmm?"
Crystal dropped her face into her hands. Really, her mother was unbearable sometimes! "Ah, this way, then, and thank you once more," she grinned tightly, motioning to the flowers in his hands before turning her dark grey eyes onto her mother. It was one of those 'warning' looks that most people would get and pay heed to; her mother, however, was no such woman. "May I introduce my mother--"
"Just call me Rose, dear," the woman behind the counter said. She practically looked like a rose, with a shock of flaming hair pulled into a bun that barely contained wisps of curly apple red tresses touching her temples, cream colored skin smattered with light colored freckles. Her jade green eyes looked kindly over small glasses that were set over a button nose, her lips curved in a smile that seemed to rarely leave her face. Rose was a little on the plump side, dressed in an emerald gown that brought out her eyes, barely covered by a black apron that had her name stitched in gold over the breast. It seemed Crystal had taken her mother's fair skin and had inherited the rest from her father, who was not currently in the shop. Her voice was lightly accented, motherly in the slight teasing tones underneath her words. She gave a light whistle of appreciation as she looked over at the man. "My, you're a tall one! And handsome to boot!" she said joyfully.
"Mother, for the love of--"
"Pish posh, let an old woman have her fun," she waved a dismissive hand at Crystal, who stood completely still as if frozen. "Over there is fine deary," she addressed Qadir, pointing to a small circle of flowers that Crystal had previously brought in, "no need to worry. Those carpet roses are a hearty type." Rose chuckled to herself, as if she'd just shared some type of private joke.
The younger woman turned her frozen smile to Qadir, trying to hide her horror. Crystal was horribly embarrassed that Qadir, who was simply trying to help, was going to be roped into her mother's word play. She'd have to think quickly to get him out of the hours of talk that Rose would subject him to.
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Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2007 8:19 pm
Qadir gave a wide smile as he listened to her test out his name. It was truly amazing how many people botched his name, even though he'd just said it. Listening to her say his name was wonderful, and he'd have shivered if he wasn't so well composed at the moment. He'd part his lips to reply to her comment, something along the lines of not being bothered in the least by it, when suddenly he heard the previous voice call out his name.
Turning his head he'd peer into the shop with raised brows before shrugging and offering his arm to the girl in a sort of 'shall we go' gesture. Certainly she didn't need to take it and he wouldn't be offended in the least if she just marched right in without him. With the pot cradled in one arm he'd present himself for inspection, smoothing out his hair and coat if Crystal hadn't taken his arm.
Qadir waited patiently for the woman to motion to the circle of pots and he'd nod as he placed the rose with it's other friends before returning to the older woman. "Madam, I was under the impression that I'd met the most beautiful woman in all of Midori standing outside your shop but now suddenly I've found that she's infact the daughter of the most beautiful woman in all of Midori," the man would say, taking Rose's hand and bending over to kiss it. As he did so, Qadir would slip Crystal a side-long glance, a sort of apology for complimenting her mother more than he was her. He'd make it up to her later though, you know, with sugar coated words about how he was only trying to make a good impression.
Rose knew just how to make Qadir preen on the inside: play to his vanity. Although the man tried not to boast about himself in public, he couldn't resist others fawning over him. Playfully the man would wave a hand before his face, casually trying to dismiss the woman's words, "Tall yes, but I am hardly handsome my lady. Standing in this room with such beautiful flowers and the two stunning women who care for them so diligently makes me feel like a weed on the outskirts."
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Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2007 8:38 pm
Crystal's frozen expression shattered into blatant shock as she watched Qadir smooth talk her mother. It was like calling the kettle black, as her mother said, and she'd never seen it done before. She wasn't in the least bit insulted; quite the opposite, as she was impressed by his mannerisms once more. Had he intended to come here and do this all along? The girl was mystified, wondering what her mother would do next.
Rose uttered a girlish chuckle, giving Qadir's hand a light squeeze. "Look at you! You know how to make an old woman's heart skip to your beat." She gave him a sly wink that had nothing to do with being seductive and everything to do with letting him know she knew better. "If you feel like a weed, it's because these flowers have drawn from your sunshine. Me more than any of them. It's a nice light to be basking in." She laughed, lifting her eyes and making a mock fanning-motion before continuing to add her receipts with a large smile. "Now, what's a modest, handsome gentleman like yourself doing in our humble shop? Surely you didn't come all this way at this hour to make an old hen feel like a spring chicken with your sweetness?"
If Crystal could have pressed herself into the wall until she disappeared, she surely would have. In fact, she seemed to be trying. As far as she was concerned, it was a wonder Qadir hadn't fled from the store, laughing at how ridiculous the situation was. Granted, Crystal had been raised to cater to the rich and perform with precision; watching her mother and a handsome stranger banter like a high school couple wasn't something she thought she'd ever have to react to. It was like watching Irene in action, and that thought - being compared to her mother - was frightening in and of itself.
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Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2007 8:56 pm
Shaking his head with a twinkle in his eye that showed he was having more fun than he should have Qadir replyed with a playful tone, "Miss Rose, I have yet to find an old woman, especially in this shop, so I'm not sure who you're referring to. On the other hand, if I've caused your heart to flutter then my deepest apologies, my intentions weren't to cause unpleasantries." The man let go of Rose's hand and motioned lightly over towards Crystal. Oh no, he was going to be blunt and honest. Qadir was always best sticking to his words games, they didn't make him sound like such a, well, stalker was the best term. "Well, I dare say that I'm in the shop at the moment because I just couldn't resist meeting the beautiful woman who owns such a fantastic store, but originally I simply wanted to recieve the name of this stunning maiden. I'm afraid I have such a weak spot for black hair and curls."
Qadir lifted a hand to his chest and gripped at the cloth above his heart, dramatically showing off just where this weak-spot of his happened to be. He could be quite the actor when he wanted to be, but honestly he was just joking around at the moment and his over-the-top gestures did well to prove it. Turning to look at Crystal, Qadir gave her a reassuring smile, he'd do better, just give him a moment. "Now, in all seriousness, I have the most dire of questions to ask you," he'd pause for dramatic effect before continuing, dropping to one knee to further the game they played, "Oh please could you let Crystal off work early just this one night? I'd like to ask her out to dinner but it would be so very rude of me to ask her without your permission first. I do hope she'll say yes of course," Qadir said, looking over at Crystal with eyes wide and just as puppyish as he could make them.
Oh no, Qadir was nothing like the rich, upper class when you really got down to it.
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Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2007 9:14 pm
Crystal wasn't sure she could turn more red, but Qadir was doing a good job of discovering just how deep her blush could reach. She absently touched one of her loose ringlets as if to make sure he was still talking about her. This was almost as surreal as the masquerade.
And then it surpassed the masquerade completely.
"Dinner?" both of the women asked in two completely different voices. The hand that wasn't touching her hair was suddenly clenched around her apron; Crystal's voice was slightly squeaked in her shock at a proposal for dinner. She was almost positive her heart had lodged itself in her throat when Qadir fell on his knee, but she was now certain it was trying to strangle her at the idea of going out to dinner with this young noble. For once, her eyes had taken on a shade of blue that usually was washed out by the grey.
Rose's voice was pleased and mischevious. She slapped down her receipts and bustled around the counter to get a better look at the golden-eyed man on his knee in front of her faint-looking daughter. The matron was quite practically beside herself with glee as she crowed, "Crystal, my darling daughter, just how many of these fine young men are going to come knocking for you?" Rose had never been more delighted. She knew Crystal at least found him handsome, and Qadir's temperment - while dramatic - seemed slightly less fickle than that other noble she'd been with at the big shindig in the heart of the city. "Of course she'll go!" she accepted for her daughter, clasping her hands together under her chin in excitement. "You have my blessing to have her out this night. Just bring her back before day break!"
Crystal tried to work her lips, but her throat suddenly felt dry. "I..." Her wide eyes went to her mother before being lost in the sea of amber that Qadir's eyes presented. She didn't like being so caught off guard, so unpresentable and shaken. She also knew she couldn't refuse a noble, although a good part of her didn't want to refuse Qadir. He reminded her of being younger, carefree. "I would be honored," she said through her crimson cheeks, regaining some of her composure in her soft voice. Crystal smiled to Qadir, still drowning in his puppy-dog eyes, making a distant mental note to leave her mother to run the shop by herself tomorrow for making her feel so...small.
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Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2007 9:38 pm
Brows were lifted at the reaction from both women. Ok, so maybe he'd gone over the top with the pose and everything, but he thought it was cute. Wait, no he didn't, Qadir did not want to be thought of as 'cute' at the moment. Maybe adorable, no wait, stop thinking to yourself and focus!
Pushing himself back up to stand he'd stretch a bit and give that disarming smile of his to both women. Of course he didn't accept Rose's acceptance of his invitation, he was only interested in Crystal's reply, and he watched her carefully as she though. He refused to drag anyone out to dinner who wasn't interested. "It's just pizza," he'd pipe up as she thought, hoping that it would help the matter to not be taken to some hoity-toity 5-star restaurant. Qadir enjoyed watching her, observing silently as her eyes faded into a soft blue that made her velvet hair and eyed stand out even more upon her fair skin. She was stunning. The man probably said that to a lot of women, and he no doubt meant it every time he said it, but he did honestly have the weakest spot for black hair, and his favorite type of hair had to be curls.
Rose's words were making Qadir's ears itch though, something that wasn't all that odd for when he heard something that didn't sit well with him the little round appendages just seemed to tingle. "Ooooh, you mean I'm not the only one that wishes to wisk her away? Oh do tell more my lady," he said eagerly, looking very much the gossip king suddenly as he waited for Crystal to find her answer, which apparently didn't take as long as he thought it might.
With a delighted smile and the sudden loss in interest at whoever this 'other man' might be he'd quickly take Crystal's hand and begin to pull her, gently, out of the shop like an eager boy taking a girl out to prom. "I assure you she'll be back in one piece before the light warms the earth, I can't be out later than that anyway," he'd call over his shoulder with a wave of his free hand and a smile that showed off his little fangs. Qadir knew he'd be coming back to this little shop many times; for one thing he was completely enthralled with not only Crystal but her mother as well, and for another he was leaving the store 'empty handed' so to speak. Lilies would have to wait for another time though, thought the man as he slowed his long strides and let go of Crystal's hand so she didn't feel that he were trying to control her; or at least that's what one woman had screamed at him before hitting him with her purse and running off...
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