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With A Cigar Between His Teeth; [ ci: Cole | iso: Open ]
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Topic Started: Aug 19 2008, 05:31 PM (224 Views)
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usagi
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Aug 19 2008, 05:31 PM
Post #1
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Unregistered
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- Autumn 19th, Year 4
Tuesday, 2:00a.m
Gareth Cole MacFarland took purposeful strides through the courtyard of Chrysocolla Estate. Despite the cold chill in the night air, he hadn’t bothered to pull on his evening jacket in his haste and was now walking toward the large front gate with his crisp white shirt gaping wide open to reveal his tanned chest underneath.
Cole welcomed the cold air, raising a trembling hand up to his brow to wipe the cold sweat still perspirating all over his forehead. But when he noticed the uncontrollable tremor of his fingers, he changed his mind and dug deep into his pant pocket, pulling out a square silver case that held his cigars. The next three minutes he spent in deep concentration as he lifted the fat brown bud to his mouth and took it in between his teeth, cupped one hand over the end of it while attempting to light it with his other hand. It was proving rather difficult, especially since the damnable trembling of his hand refused to cease, no matter how much he focused on the task.
He hadn’t put his nightmares into consideration when he’d accepted temporary boarding at the estate two days ago. One way or another, it had slipped his mind until quite a few hours later, and since he had brought all his belongings into his room he decided he was just going to stay. Finally, the end of his cigar lit and he took in a drag, stuffing his hands into his pockets. God, he would do anything for a drink right now. A simple smoke had never been enough, and it seemed he had damn well forgotten about that too. Since he was new to the village, he had no way of knowing if there even was a bar, let alone one that sold the type of alcohol he preferred.
Cole progressed, rather leisurely, down the streets of Obsidian in silence. The sky was wide open before him, no large buildings crowded together and obstructing the view, no heavy piles of dark gray smoke billowing up into the air. The sight was somewhat disturbing and comforting all at once. After a little while he reached a lamp post, and came to a stop. Cole leaned against the post, fully aware of how stiff and aggravated his left leg currently was. The light above shone down on him in a perfect sphere of dim light, and it wasn't long until he noticed that the lamp lights were about the only source of light in the streets. Apparently, he thought dryly, not many people believed in staying up all hours of the night here as they did back in London.
Taking in another long drag from the cigar, the silver-haired man gazed up blankly at the moon, deep in thought.
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Nochii
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Aug 19 2008, 05:52 PM
Post #2
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Again, what was she doing outside, at two in the morning?! No idea. Fiorella, busy with opening her flower shop again after a certain accident, had to work in there again and it was already two a.m. she was a bit tired and was going to head back home. Feeling the cool autumn breeze in her hair and outfit, she wrapped her arms around her torso, keeping a bit warm. The weather was getting certainly cold around here at the streets of obsidian.
Her eyes were getting a bit heavy because she stayed up late, but she managed to stay awake due to the cold breeze. When she reached the lamp post, she noticed a guy with hair as silver as the moon, smoking a cigar and with his shirt open. He looked like he was lost in his thoughts. She was a bit nervous, because if she said something, she might disturb him. But, she decided to talk to him for once.
"Um...hello. Is something wrong?"
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usagi
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Aug 19 2008, 07:38 PM
Post #3
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Unregistered
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- As Cole stood in the street, shoulder propped against the metal street light, he absently wondered what had drawn him to Obsidian. The hard and cold businessman within him inwardly thrived on the thought of taking ownership of the small island. Ocean of Stars, which was a peculiar name, had obviously seen a lot of luck during its years. Cole wasn’t exactly sure what had caused the occupants of the small island to preserve its natural surroundings and continue living in an almost industrial-free zone, but the fact that they had was eminent.
Everything else had been taken from him, his entire life’s work falling to the ground in a matter of minutes. He knew that was why he had decided to travel, above all else. It hadn’t really mattered to him that a good deal of powerful and influential Lords had taken an extreme dislike of him and wanted him out of London. There was always work, always women who would be interested in him and offer a substantial price for an affair here and there. But he had thought, what was the point? The business he had worked so hard to get up off the ground, had poured his money and sweat into for years, had all crumbled before him in blazing flames. And the nightmare would never end, the searing flames constantly licking at him whenever he closed his eyes for a little rest. He was even permanently damaged from it, his damned left leg scarred.
“Um…hello.”
Cole opened his eyes slowly, the deep blue color of them focusing on a small female figure before him. Despite the fact that he had not heard her approach, and thus had no idea how long she had been standing there examining him, he showed no sign of being surprised. Instead, he merely stared down at her, his eyes half closed, and a heavy puff of cigar smoke exhaling from his mouth to hit the cold air.
When he hadn’t bothered to say anything to her, but had simply raised his thick eyebrows in silent questioning, she asked, “Is something wrong?”
“No,” he replied curtly and did not bother to say more. With a half-formed grin which showed his white teeth, Cole took his time as he deliberately looked the young woman over. She was small, but exceedingly pretty with her deep chocolate hair curling against her shoulders and framing her small face. But her chest was flat, her hips narrow, and she appeared more like a child than an adult. A pity, he thought, but his smile only grew. Once again, he was greeted with a woman who looked as though she weren’t completely of one breed, sharing some of the same characteristics of the maid he’d met back at the estate. The thought made him wonder if the population of Obsidian was mostly of Japanese descent.
“Tell me,” Cole pushed himself off the lamp post, taking a step toward the young woman and leaned forward. With the cigar still clamped in between his teeth he asked, “What is a pretty young lady like you doing out here all by herself?”
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Nochii
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Aug 19 2008, 08:02 PM
Post #4
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Fiorella blushed a bit when he noticed how pretty she was, and she thought she looked more like a little girl than a woman. But appearance was appearance. He looked pretty himself, almost like those sexy boys she always see at Harajuku when she was with her mother for shopping. This was the first time she met him here at Obsidian. Oh, what wonders...
Tell me, what is a pretty young lady like you doing out here all by herself?
"I was fixing up my flower shop and now I'm going home to rest. It took me a while to take care of all of the flowers I had..."
{>___<;;}
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usagi
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Aug 19 2008, 10:05 PM
Post #5
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Unregistered
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- His thorough exploration of her body earned him a blush. Obviously, she was as innocent as she looked, otherwise she would of reprimanded him for his bold impudence or have returned the favor. Instead she stood there, staring up at him with big doe eyes, and answered his question.
Cole found it strange, if not irresponsible, that she would attend to her flowers in the middle of the night. God only knew what kind of awful things could happen to her on her walk home when every other respectable being was tucked away, dreaming in their beds. And, of course, seeing how he was not one of those people, she was lucky that he wasn’t the type to seduce innocents.
“Perhaps you should arrange it so that you are not returning home in the middle of the night, madam,” he remarked lightly, but the frown drawing his lips downward revealed that he was quite serious. The diversion was good for two things: to get his mind off of the nightmares that could shake him more than anything else, and to get him to a bar. Having finished with his cigar he pulled it from his lips, put it out on the lid of a nearby trashcan, and threw it away. Then he turned back to the young woman and offered politely, “If it is not too much trouble, I would like to ask a favor. In return, I will see that you are safely returned home.”
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Nochii
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Aug 20 2008, 02:40 PM
Post #6
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When she had told him what happened, he frowned at her. Was it because that she was going home so late? After he threw his cigar away, he asked her if he could walk her home, she silently accepted. She sometimes didn't want to walk home alone, because you never know what goes on during the middle of the night. She bowed down and replied with a thank you. Fiorella had forgotten to introduce herself before.
"By the way, my name is Fiorella Valentine. It's..nice to meet you."
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usagi
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Aug 20 2008, 11:00 PM
Post #7
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Unregistered
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- There was still a slight tremor in his hands and Cole wisely decided to tuck them away in his pockets before she would have the chance to notice. He watched her as she bowed at the waist in what was considered a polite and formal custom in Japan, thanking him for his kind offer. The smile remained frozen on his lips as he gave a short nod of his head. Although, he wasn’t entirely sure if she should so readily agree to his services, especially since he was a stranger who was standing out in the dark streets at two in the morning. Nonetheless, he was pleased that she had accepted: it would make things a lot easier for him.
As he turned to head down the street he noticed that she looked somewhat pre-occupied with something on her mind. Apparently, she had become aware of the fact that the two of them were strangers and immediately saw to correcting that. “By the way,” she ventured. “My name is Fiorella Valentine. It’s…,” To his surprise, she actually hesitated for a moment, and his smile grew. “…nice to meet you.”
Turning to face her, the thought of grabbing her hand in his and lifting it to his lips occurred to him. But he remembered the shaking of his hands and, with a deep frown, thought better of it. While he would of immensely enjoyed to see her reaction, it wasn’t worth risking, especially in the state he was in.
“A pleasure,” he murmured instead, his eyes staring into hers. “Miss Valentine.” Cole was used to being introduced on various occasions, always having someone beside him to do the proper introductions between two business partners. So, it actually took him a minute before he gave his own name.
“Cole MacFarland.” Straightening to his full height, Cole started down the street at a slow pace, and he hoped to God this woman knew the locations of all the businesses around here. It would be just his luck if he were to escort her all the way home only for her to stare at him blankly and state she had no idea where the local bar was. Or, for that matter, if there even was one. Glancing toward her, he decided to ask ahead of time so that he may brood the rest of the length if given the unpleasant answer. “As for my favor, Miss Valentine, I would like to know where the nearest bar resides.”
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Nochii
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Aug 21 2008, 03:32 PM
Post #8
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The nearest bar? Fiorella thought there was never a bar in Obsidian, but she finally remembered there was a grand opening at the new bar that just opened. She had never been inside it before, because she didn't drink alcoholic beverages before, and she never will. "Oh yes, there is a new bar that just opened up. It's called the Moonstone Bar, located in Emerald Beach. Do you want me to come with you, so I can show you where it is?" She asked shyly.
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usagi
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Aug 21 2008, 04:04 PM
Post #9
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Unregistered
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- "Oh yes, there is a new bar that just opened up. It's called the Moonstone Bar, located in Emerald Beach." Miss Valentine recalled after a moment of consideration. Glancing up at him, she added a bit shyly, "Do you want me to come with you, so I can show you where it is?"
Cole didn't even stop to consider it. "Thank you for the offer but I can manage on my own. I arrived through the docks and know my way back." In fact, he knew his way to every place on the island that he had been to before at least once. Cole smiled teasingly as he shifted his gaze back over to her and added, "And I would not break my promise to you, as I intend to get you home safely." With a sweeping bow at the waste, he played the part of dashing gentleman and said with good humor, "Care to lead the way, madam?", then offered her his arm for her to slip her hands around.
END OF THREAD
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