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Post by Jules on Dec 1, 2008 0:13:11 GMT -5
The renovations were next to complete. A few finishing touches here and there and they'd be ready to open. Calcifer was excited and confident that the S&N would succeed. He wanted to celebrate, and so he came into the lovely-looking restaurant with a huge smile.
"Cherry! Cherry!" He called, knowing she'd be somewhere around. He could only hope that lout of a cook wasn't around. Something about the way that man fondled his gun bothered Cal. He was a blessed Dream!
He came, for once, not bearing gifts, wearing a grey sweater and scarf. It was getting cold outside.
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Post by Princess Katie on Dec 1, 2008 0:42:53 GMT -5
There was a girl in the S&N, but she did not look like Cherry Clarke. She was dressed plainly in a simple black thigh-length dress and heels. Her short black hair was unadorned, and the most disturbing thing was the girl’s astounding lack of makeup. The left side of her face was bruised around the cut on her temple and a wide scab stretched from her nose to her chin. The injuries made it hard to put on makeup, which in turn made her feel as if there was no point at dressing up today.
The girl-who-did-not-look-like-Cherry gasped when she heard the familiar voice. She was hoping Calcifer wouldn’t see her looking like this. She wondered, for a moment, if she could successfully hide in the freezer. That was probably a bad idea, she figured, so she peeked around the corner and waved, embarrassedly, at Cal. “Hi, Cal! You’re…very excited today!”
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Post by Jules on Dec 1, 2008 0:46:26 GMT -5
He strode towards her immediately, picking her up easily by the waist and spinning her around like a father might his child. Except the kiss he planted on her lips was nothing like a father might give a daughter. Cal didn't care, he was happy and he kissed girls when he was happy. He set her down and then frowned at her face, touching a gentle finger to both wounds. Surprisingly, the heat of anger swelled in his veins.
"Who did this?" He asked, sounding surprisingly dangerous. Calcifer liked people to forget how utterly terrifying he could be. Most of the time.
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Post by Princess Katie on Dec 1, 2008 1:11:00 GMT -5
Normally, Cherry would have been more than happy to have Cal kiss her, but her lip was still a little sore. She hid her wince with a smile. But the disguise-smile dropped right off her face at his sudden change in demeanor. “Oh, it’s okay, Calcie. Some fucker came in to collect some money or somethin’, and I told him to fuck off, and so he was gonna shoot me, but I moved and he shot the bottles behind me instead, and that’s what nicked me.” Cherry fluttered her unpainted lids as she retold the story, “But it’s okay, Jasper took care of ‘im, shot ‘im in the foot and tossed ‘im on his ass.”
Cherry glanced down at her plain attire with a scowl, “You could call ahead so I could make sure I look cute, ya know.”
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Post by Jules on Dec 1, 2008 1:23:31 GMT -5
Shot in the foot? The man deserved to be castrated and sent through a meat mincer, and he'd be sure it happened. "Who?" he repeated angrily. He wasn't going to be put off the hunt because their cook had kicked them out. Cal was going to make sure they never even thought of coming back.
"You always look cute." He said easily, all traces of anger sudden gone. "Now come on, if you're not up for the public, I'll make you dinner at my place."
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Post by Princess Katie on Dec 1, 2008 20:56:01 GMT -5
Cherry didn’t like his angry voice. It made her nervous. It was terribly charming, however, that he got mad for her sake. “Look, I didn’t exchange business cards with tha guy. He was some goon that works for some goon that my Brolly owes money. This,” Cherry indicated to the slices on her face and the lesser scratches on her arms, “is just the result of a failed business transaction. So it’s no big deal, babe. I’ve had worse.” She reached up to stroke his cheek with her tiny hand, “But thanks, ya know, for caring so much.”
He was right, she supposed; she was cute. Most broads couldn’t even come close to pulling of the “Domestic-Violence-Chic” look like she did. “I would love ta come ta your place,” she replied, slipping into her sable coat. “’Cause I am for sure not up for the public.”
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Post by Jules on Dec 1, 2008 22:09:48 GMT -5
He'd find out who it was on his own then. Cal wasn't going to let this go. He stroked her face tenderly, holding back his rage and smiling at her as her tiny hand touched his cheek. Cal caught her hand and pulled her into his arms bridal style.
"You look a little too wounded to walk." He said, dead-pan serious except for the grin fighting to show at the corner of his lips.
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Post by Princess Katie on Dec 2, 2008 0:48:20 GMT -5
Cherry gave an excited squeak and threw her arms around Cal’s neck. Funny, she’d clock most guys if they treated her the same way that Calcifer did. But somehow when Cal kissed her or petted her or picked her up, she only found in extremely charming. ”I think you are right,” Cherry whispered, faking a deathbed tone, “I am surprised I even had the strength ta stand up. I’m glad I have a big strong man like you around to carry me when I’m so weak.”
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Post by Jules on Dec 2, 2008 1:03:55 GMT -5
Devil, she was cute. He couldn't resist nuzzling her neck although he'd been trying very hard not to be overly touchy with her, since she did belong to someone else. But she was different than the women he preyed on. She wasn't weepy, or needy, or too stupid to realize he was using them.
"Sorry." He muttered, pulling away a bit and carrying her out of the restaurant. "You're hard to resist."
He placed her delicately in the passenger seat and then settled in his own seat, taking off quite quickly.
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Post by Princess Katie on Dec 2, 2008 1:44:12 GMT -5
Instinctually, Cherry tilted her head back and tightened her grip on him. A tingle went down her spine and her stomach flopped, but a good flop. She really wished he hadn’t stopped. “It’s alright, Cal. I…understand how you feel. Yer pretty damn irresistible yerself.”
Her heart stopped for a second as the car took off. It was much too fast. Cars should not be that fast. “I have never seen yer place before, ya know? I’m kinda excited. Oh know what else? I haven’t touched the sauce—not all day.” Mostly that was because it stung to drink, but he didn’t need to know that.
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Post by Jules on Dec 2, 2008 1:48:15 GMT -5
Cal smiled at her, real and wide. "That's great, Cherry. I'm proud of you." At his speed, it didn't take them long to pull up in front of Calicifer's place, which turned out to be a somewhat austere, stone four-square house with two floors. Modest enough, but the indoors were luxuriously furnished and decorated, mostly in reds, dark woods and black.
He plucked her out of her seat and carried her once again to the door, striding into the small foyer that lead both to the kitchen and sitting room. He set her down on the bench pushed up against the side of the stairs and smiled. "Want the grand tour before I start dinner?"
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Post by Princess Katie on Dec 3, 2008 1:30:08 GMT -5
For some reason, Cal’s pride in her made Cherry feel a little silly and girlish. Few people were ever proud of Cherry—mostly because she never did anything praiseworthy; she was kind of a bad girl. Once she was firmly seated on the bench, she smoothed out her hair and skirt and examined this new environment. Cherry was a firm believer that one’s home said a lot about them, just like their fashion sense. And from what she saw so far, it seemed befitting Calcifer.
“I would love a tour,” Cherry answered with a coy grin. “I can walk, though.”
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Post by Jules on Dec 3, 2008 1:35:24 GMT -5
Cal smiled and nodded and began to lead her through the house. First the kitchen, sleek and professional looking, then the dining room, through to the sitting room and back into the foyer to go up the stairs.
"It's technically a three bedroom house, but only the master room is used as a bedroom." He opened the first door to the left to reveal a small but stately study. "This is where I waste time pretending I have important stuff to do."
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Post by Princess Katie on Dec 4, 2008 0:43:39 GMT -5
“Oh and I betcha have a lot of Pretend-Important things ta woik on. How do ya manage and still find time ta take me out all the time?” Cherry questioned, running her hand across the surface of the bookshelf. “You read much?”
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Post by Jules on Dec 4, 2008 0:51:14 GMT -5
"Oh you know, I delegate." He grinned and came up behind her, probably too close for comfort and followed her gaze along the books. "No. I don't like reading about other men's experiences and thoughts as much as I like having my own."
"What about you? Closet book worm?"
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