Il Canto Amour

[PVodogaz]

(Looking for a one on one roleplay only)

Premise: Max Killeen is a news reporter sent by his network to cover a ethnic genocide event in the fictitious countries of Norium and Salonias. Whilst over there, his country is attacked without reason and New Toronto his home city is destroyed.
He is stuck in the town of Shamaani, where he befriends a local woman who has seen her family murdered. This is a story of love that conqueres the odds, a story of hope in a dire situation and of the beauty and transformation of love on any life.

IC: Journal Entry for Max Killeen

AD 2000, 20th Feb

Who could of predicted that the world would go up in flames in that short week. I have no way of returning to New America, I don't think that there's anything left in my country alive.
I am here where I was sent to cover the ethnic cleansing in the town of Shamaani. Now I am stranded and can only hope not for rescue but for a ending to the misery I suffer.

Until today, she walked into my life, and now after so much bad that has happened, I feel this woman is the one for me. I wonder what will happen? Only time will tell.

Max Killeen Stats

6f4
Green eyes
Blond Hair in a military press haircut
101kg
Broad framed, stocky.

Post here or PM with questions or interest. One woman needed.

 

[Lay Z Butterfly]

:smiling: Is the role taken kind Sir?

 

[PVodogaz]

:smiling: Is the role taken kind Sir?

No Lay Z Butterfly, if you wish to take the role it is yours ::smiles::

Petar
xoxoxox

 

[PVodogaz]

Lay Z Butterfly, I will post this coming saturday to begin the story, work commitments have taken over until friday.

::Smiles:: But I am looking forward to posting with you

Petar

 

[Lay Z Butterfly]

Super.. I have weaved a background out so far. Me thinks that I may have been a bit graphic on her family's massacre, but I can always edit if you are unsatisfied with it.

 

[Lay Z Butterfly]

Swan

Was it really so long ago that her father had swung her around after he’d come home from working at the government building? I steadied my hands as they’d begun to shake again. Her nerves were on edge as gunfire echoed along the perimeter of the village. She reminded herself to visit the small clearing where she had single-handedly buried her parents, younger sister, and older brother. It seemed as if it were fate that she’d been spared being part of the massacre her family had viciously been in.

Thinking back, as she had stayed hidden behind the false wall in the home she lived in, peering out the little hole as the soldiers lined her family members up and then one by one….

Swan dug her fingernails into the palms of her hands praying that it would block out the vision that replayed constantly behind her eyes, but it was to no avail. She was already within the grip of her waking nightmare. She had had waited hours after the soldiers had gone, stealing what precious little they had and destroying the rest. What Swan hadn’t realized was that it wasn’t long hours she had waited, but days behind the false wall. Her strong mind had mercifully shattered when she had witnessed her father being stabbed almost playfully, the soldiers taking their time, enjoying themselves as they had made him watch his wife and youngest daughter be raped by the animals.

When she awoke, it didn’t immediately register that her life had been irrevocably changed. She had been starving and stiff- the pins and needles were painful along the nerve endings of her arms and legs. What had sent her reeling into a state of almost a maniacal rage was the sight of her family members… bloody, broken, and rotting in the home, she had only known. It was then the smell hit her, the reeking stench of death. It assaulted her nostrils, made her gag, and throw up. Swan hadn’t even thought to be quiet as she emptied the pitiful contents from her starving stomach. Wracking pain as gobs of bile burned a trail up her esophagus. The intense heat of the summer sun permeated the small space she had been wedged in. Becoming desperate to get out, she clawed at the fake wall covering of fabric and bamboo that had served to create the illusion that it was only a wall hanging and not a cover for a hidden opening in case of an emergency.

She had gone to her mother first. Her beautiful face had been beaten upon rendering her unrecognizable. The tears had streamed down Swan’s face as she stroked her mother’s blood soaked hair even though it was stiff, dry, and knotty between her fingers. Her older brother was next to their mother and she saw that his jaw was unhinged and mangled, teeth missing as well. God only knew what they had done to him as she took hold of his stiff rig mortised hand. Her brother had protected her countless times, as they had grown up and where had she been when he needed her? Unbeknownst to Swan’s fragile mind she had begun to mutter aloud interchanged with sobs as time had zoomed back to when she gently lay her brother’s hand down as she crawled a few steps to where her sister lay face down. Her skirt bunched around her waist, smears of dried blood on the upper backs of her thighs. Swan’s only thought was to cover her little sister’s nakedness, what mischief they had delighted in against their older brother. Countless times where they’d hidden things or pounced on him as he lay sleeping in the early morning before school.

-All gone-

This knowledge left her horror struck and broken. The days that had followed were ones filled with desolate loneliness. The villagers had tried their very best to help Swan rebuild as best they could, but she shunned them. What would they think if they knew she had been behind the wall covering; silent and watching without coming to their aid.

Shivering as the last of her horrid thoughts thankfully ended the one thing that she still refused to reflect upon was her father.
Her father had nicknamed her Swan long ago. It was because her movements were graceful and her neck had an elegant line to it that he said she was the prettiest winged creature he had ever seen. A special bond had formed between them and never once had there been jealousy between her siblings. Perhaps, her father’s love reached beyond the grave that kept her from committing suicide.

Shaking myself from the silent reverie that I seemed to slip easily in and out of, I came back to the present. Naturally quiet and reflective, I looked down at my hands, little half-moon crescent shapes in the colour of red dotted along the meaty part of my palms. They’ll become permanent I warned myself. I’d done this several times all ready and my palms were not healing. I had to get myself ready, shower, and put on a clean dress. Max was coming and she allowed a smile to touch her lips briefly. It was by a unique coincidence that he had come into her life. That she allowed a stranger to talk to her when her neighbours and/or villagers were warned to stay away.

Glancing about the now scrubbed and sanitized home, I headed toward my childhood bedroom to change.

 

[PVodogaz]

Max Killeen

Max Killeen worked as a news journalist for a prime time top of the ratings pay television news network station. This had been his first and only job outside of school and college. He had graduated from La Union College in his home town of New Toronto in 1996 with a Batchelor of Communications and Arts and in that same year had entered and successfully been accepted as a trainee with the CNBI network. He had worked up the chain of the heirarchy of the network, starting out in the mailroom and by 1998 joining the Journalist section as a camera man.

Max's first chance at becoming a journalist himself, as it was his lifelong dream came during the Horvath Trial when luckily and fortunately Max was in the right place at the right time, when his camera picked up the dramatic scene of Harry Horvath grabbing a court officer's gun and firing on the judge as he was being sentenced. With his shocking and honest report that headlined his station, his boss gave him a journalist position. And Max had not looked back since.

On the 12th December 1999, a savage ethnic war started between the two once friendly nations of Norium and Salonias. The war started with the President's of both Norium and Salonias meeting at the capital of Norium, Saturkea to sign a trade and defence treaty. A terrorist group claiming to be Noriumeans, launched a missile attack at the government parliament killing both presidents and high officials. Both nations blamed each other and tempers flared to a boiling point.

The next day, 13th December 1999, Salonian forces invaded the border towns of Norium and open warfare commenced at the cost of innocent lives and destruction of livestock and food and people. Outside mediation did not help, as both Norium and Salonias stated that this war would only end with the defeat and annexation of the other's land.

Max Killeen was given this portfolio to report on the Ethnic War as it was called. At first he was posting reports from the network studios at New Toronto in New America his country of birth.

Hostilities worsened through January with both forces equally matched and both with will power that was not waning. On the 1st February, he was given clearance to fly out to Norium to do reports live from near the frontlines. Public viewing in New America had fell off with the same stories being tossed from home soil about the Ethnic War, so his network decided to gain people's viewing, Max was to head off into the action.

This proved to save Max's life in the long run. What started off as a 21 day assignment would end up being much much longer than he or anyone anticipated. Max and his news crew crossed the border from Roumania into Norium on the 3rd February 2000. His first live feeds from the warzone proved to be what the network needed, as viewers tuned in to watch the war unfold. Slowly and with security attache from Norium government in hiding going along with Max's 4 man news crew they moved from burnt out villiage after villiage reporting on the war.

By the 7th of February, Max and his crew arrived at the first liberated town by Norium forces of Shamaani which had been for a brief 1 month period captured by Salonian forces. It was in this town, that the full force of the war hit Max on a personal and deep level. Ethnic Genocide had taken place with more than half of the town's people dead. Evidence that was sent from the Network to the New American Government. The evidence was collected from five willing residents who had hid from the hateful Salonians. Max felt for this town and what the survivors had been through. He interviewed a woman around his age, her name only known as Swan who recounted to him on TV her survival and all she saw. This one interview changed world opinion and the New American Government issued a decree to Salonian and Norium Governments to desist with the war.

This decree was met by silence on both sides. On the 11th February, New American forces and a joint coalition of allies landed on the shores of the border between the two warring nations. On the 12th February, Max Killeens Governmental minders disappeared apparently being called to the border lands. Initial reports suggested that the two warring forces were still fighting each other but AWOL soldiers of the Norium side who were fleeing the fighting stated that the Coalition forces were being engaged by both the Salonian and Noriumean forces.

In this time, Max spent time with Swan getting to know her and he began to care for her. On the 15th February, the network wanted Max and his crew to join with the Coalition forces 1000 miles away to do first account reports of the fighting with Salonian and Norium forces.

Just as Max was about to say goodbye to Swan he recieved the news that his country had been attacked by biological missiles. His country had been decimated and what was left of the strong forces of his country was the Coalition. When the news reached Max he fell to the muddy Earth in the middle of the town square and screamed. Tears streamed down his face as town's people looked on mystified but the news of the world war that had started passed on like wild fire.

With the behest on behalf of Swan, Max stayed in the town spending time listening to the events in the world but fearing the worst as more and more radio stations internationally stopped radio broadcasting. His solace and sanity lay within the companionship of Swan.

Journal Entry for Max Killeen

Who could of predicted that the world would go up in flames in that short week. I have no way of returning to New America, I don't think that there's anything left in my country alive. I am here where I was sent to cover the ethnic cleansing in the town of Shamaani. Now I am stranded and can only hope not for rescue but for a ending to the misery I suffer. Until today, she walked into my life, and now after so much bad that has happened, I feel this woman is the one for me. I wonder what will happen? Only time will tell.

----------------

OOC: The above summarises the background of the Max Killeen and the immediate background of the thread

 

[PVodogaz]

Max Killeen

25th February

Max looked at his reflection in the mirror in the shanty motel room he was given in the middle of the now almost deserted town of Shamaani. With the news of the world at war, many fled the town, believing the town was about to be attacked again by angry Coalition forces who had since the devastative attack on his country of New America been on a path of revenge. The attack on his homeland had taken place literally less than a week ago. His one month assignment was now more permanant than he had ever thought it could have been.

Max brought himself back to the here and now, he was dressed smartly as he could in this time or uncertainty. Dressed in a opaque shirt and neat trousers he was ready to see Swan. She who had kept Max's sanity safe and he who kept Swan company. For they both needed each other in this difficult time.

Knowing he was ready, Max turned and picked up his bag (which was still full of his personal effects, journalist material, identification and his diary)
and walked out of the room shutting the door behind him.

Walking down the steps he came to the front desk which was unmanned. He tossed his room key on the counter and walked out of the hotel. It was just after 5pm in the evening and was overcast becoming dark with clouds that threatened to explode with tears upon the world.

Max kept to the walkways and away from the mud and only saw a few people. The people he did see went about their business with grim yet determined looks on their faces. One thing that Max had learnt about the towns people who had stayed, were that they were one hard stubborn nosed people. Yet he respected them for that.

He passed a garden of daisies and roses of different colours and Max stopped. Picking up a collection of roses and daisies and arranging them in a bunch he continued to walk down the main street of the main town center to Swan's family home. Max's heart thumped and beated loudly in his ears, he cared for Swan but he knew that what she had been through had scarred her in ways he could only imagine. For, she had witnessed the pure evil face of humanity at its worse.

With the first raindrops falling, Max reached Swan's house. The rain started to fall faster as he went underneath the awning outside her front door and knocked on Swan's front door. He was just ontime.

 

[Lay Z Butterfly]

Swan

Prior to hearing the sharp rap upon her door, Swan had taken a bath. Although, it was usually reserved only for Sundays, now no one could tell her that she had to wait. She had spent a copious amount of time soaking within the warmness of the water, splashing around and pretending to be a mermaid as she held her breath for as long as she could. One of the absolute pure delights she’d had while growing up was the amount of books her father was able to bring to her each week. It was through books that Swan was able to live many lives. She’d been the Queen of England, Cinderella, and many more heroines that fought for liberty and justice. Many a night at the dinner table would she pretend to be the character using a different voice to the exasperation of her beloved family. Her sister would kick her from underneath just to try to get her to stop, but Swan would just keep on reciting memorized lines.

She’d heard the rain go from a gentle pitter patter to a heavy pounding as she dressed in one of her prettier dresses. True, it was faded and frayed around the edges, but it was her favourite colour. The pink swirls in the fabric had lost its sheen, yet a person could tell it had been well taken care of. Brushing her clean hair back, she secured it with a matching ribbon. One thing she disliked was to have her hair falling in her face. Once when she had been younger, Swan had taken a dull scissor to her hair chopping off the long tresses that had been nothing but a nuisance to her. He parents had been furious with her. When they had asked the reason, she simply stated that it got into her eyes and made her mad. It had taken numerous haircuts to get her hair even remotely even again and Swan had taken to wearing her hair back so she wouldn’t have to attack her hair again.

Swan looked in the cracked mirror. She was not a vain person or one who particularly cared what others thought of her, yet for Max she wanted to look her best. Smiling gingerly at the mirror, she noticed how much older she thought she looked. She would never be beautiful like her sister was. It was funny how much time she would take in the bathroom, Swan would take less then 10 minutes to get ready for any event, and now here she was actually thinking of putting a touch of colour on her lips by using a prized lipstick her Mother had only used for special occasions. A slight blush crept up along her cheeks as she debated no more and dabbed a tiny bit of the rose colour along her lips and then puckered, making a smacking sound like, she’d seen her mother do. Silly girl, she thought.

Straightening the bathroom, she made her way towards the kitchen to check on dinner. She’d invited Max over for dinner. In fact, they had dinner each night of the week so far. They were spending much time together and Swan couldn’t be happier. When he had asked for the initial interview she had been leery and said no, but he had been gentle in his speech and mannerisms and she finally conceded. Swan had been nervous, but as the interview progressed, she’d opened up and told him far more then she thought possible. It was he who had gotten the traumatized village girl to speak.

The rapping on the door brought her out of the kitchen and to the front door quickly. Before she opened it, she used her hands to smooth her dress. Her mother always did this gesture before greeting the person on the other side of the door. Opening it with a flourish, Swan could not help the wide smile that graced her face.

What she saw first was the most beautiful burst of colours she’d ever seen. “Who’s behind the flowers?” she asked, knowing full well it was Max.

 

[PVodogaz]

Max Killeen

Max knocked for a second time, a short rap at the wooden solid door that Max had himself installed for Swan. As he waited, with his free hand, he smoothed his shirt. Max had been coming to Swan's house every evening for dinner spending several hours with Swan each night.

He realised his heart was thumping loudly in his ears. Max realised that he cared for Swan and these feelings he held for her was growing day by day. But Max also realised that they both had been and were still going through their own ideals and that whatever would happen would happen without haste.

As he waited, the rain started to get louder and harder, it would be another night of rain. It seemed that since the war had started, the clouds had stayed in the sky covering the beauty of the blue sky. Was nature punishing humans?

Max raised the bunch of daisies and roses he had picked infront of him as he smiled knowing that Swan was about to open the door. He knew this because the scent of the dinner she was cooking waifed out of the corners of the door, meaning Swan was at the door. When the front door opened, he smiled his most dashing smile at Swan.

Max's heart beat faster as he saw her. He found her very beautiful, and he looked at her face and saw her smile. He melted inside, enjoying seeing her smile. Swan deserved to smile.

"It's me my lady Swan, your one and only Max," answered Max with a playful lilt to his voice. He gave her the flowers and kissed her cheek as he always did when he saw Swan. He entered Swan's house and she closed the door, Max turned and looked at Swan holding the flowers and looked deeply into her eyes. She closed the door and he whispered with so much emotion in his voice;

"You get more beautiful each time I see you Swan. You look exceptionally nice tonight."

He placed his bag down on the side table near the door and continued to smile at her. "So how can I help with the dinner preparations?"

 

[Lay Z Butterfly]

She bit the bottom of her lip at his words. Max had a way of making her feel so beautiful. His words caused a soft pink blush to surface around her cheeks as she lowered her head to inhale the pleasant scent coming from the bouquet of flowers. “Max, you do know how to flatter a girl.” She meant it sincerely. Swan had never been spoken to in that way. In a way, this was all new to her. She knew how to entertain because her mother had done it numerous times. But to date, that was an alien feeling. Date, she sharply thought as she stalled for time with her nose nestled among the flowers. Was this what she and Max were having? Her father had been very strict with his daughters and had not allowed them to think of going on dates. Although, for their brother it was a different story, but she didn’t mind because no boys had ever interested her when she had books to read and keep her company.

Half turning, to hide her blushing face, Swan motioned for him to follow adding, “I need to put these in some water. Thank you, Max, for bringing them. It will make the dinner table seem….more intimate.” What was she saying! The words tumbled from her mouth before she could check them. If she kept talking this way, Max might think she was a harlot or worse. She was raised a good girl and didn’t want him to think differently. She knew from her books how the women got themselves into trouble with their words and/or actions and she wanted Max to think of her in a good way.

“Would you please stir the mushroom sauce while I get a vase?” Swan had gone to the market, and a pitiful market it was, and bought what she could afford. It was a meager meal, but Max never complained. In fact, he had always complimented her on her culinary skills. One day she promised herself, she would make a meal that was fit for all that Max did for her. It would include several courses, each one more sumptuous then the other. But for now, she tried to make each meal they shared the best that she could and the flowers would make the table more appealing to look at then the small portion of food on each of their plates.

She arranged the flowers carefully. Brushing the back of her hand against her cheek, she knew the blush had subsided and was safe to turn towards him. While he stirred, she thanked him once again for the new door to her home. “I was afraid to sleep at night. The new door gives me peace. I wonder where you were able to purchase it?” She made another promise to pay him back for the door, no doubt a lot of money that he needed instead of wasting it on her. Changing the subject, she asked him how his room was at the hotel. Swan knew that it couldn’t be that comfortable and an idea struck her, but before she was able to bring it forth Max turned to her and said, “You’d better taste this and tell me it’s done. It smells so good Swan and I am starving!”

Shaking her head and smiling warmly, Swan stepped forward, took the proffered spoon, and dipped it into the sauce when Max made room for her at the stove. Before she could taste, Max placed his hand over hers, brought the spoon close to his lips, and blew on it. “I didn’t want you to burn the inside of your mouth…” She thought she was going to faint! Swan had forgotten all about her heartache, her loss, her pain during the time spent with him. She felt herself melting within the soft look he was giving her.

“Thank you Max.” she half whispered before tasting the sauce on the spoon. It was perfect and dinner was ready, but she was hesitant to end the closeness she felt with him in that moment. She knew he was in pain. Losing his homeland and all that he loved could have destroyed a lesser man, but Max, although wounded, persevered onward. He needed to be cared for, loved even and Swan felt heartstrings pulled within for her to take the job. Yet again, she hesitated to let her feelings be known, for all she knew he could just be pitying the lost and wayward person that she knew she was in the eyes of everyone. She saw the looks that passed from one villager to the next as she walked the worn torn streets of her village. She wondered if any of them thought she should have died with the rest of her family too. Another time to dwell on this she sternly told herself. “I’ve set the table all ready. Please, go and sit while I ladle the sauce into one of mother’s special bowls.” She regretted instantly his movement away from her, but it was just as well. She was a nobody and she should be grateful that he spent any time with her after the interview she’d given him.

Entering with a flourish, Swan announced, “Dinner is served.” She set two plates down in front of their respective chairs and hurried back into the kitchen to bring out freshly made bread and churned butter. “Bon appetite” she said in her best French accent and added, “I hope you like it.”

 

[PVodogaz]

Max Killeen

Max watched Swan's reaction to his words and it was what he had hoped for. He didn't want to push her into anything she wasn't ready for but he had to know if she was feeling the strong feelings he had started to feel for her. Max smiled at her as Swan smelled the flowers.

“Max, you do know how to flatter a girl.” Swan had replied and Max bowed his head slightly a flush coming to his cheeks as well. When Swan turned away blushing, Max followed her still smiling continously. She had thanked him and her final sentence interested him....he know knew more than before that she liked him.

She led Max to the kitchen that proffered the great smells of the dinner she was cooking. Swan asked him to stir the mushroom sauce, still smiling he slid to the stove taking the wooden spoon as he stirred whilst taking peeks from the corner of his eyes. God, she looked great as always....She is a wonderful person,he said to himself. He glanced over as she was arranging the flowers he had given to her in the vase. He hummed a song from his childhood softly as Max continued to stir and shake the sauce as it shimmered.

Swan turned and they began to talk and she brough up for the thousand time how thankful for the front door that he had brought and installed her her.

"Swan, sweetie it's my pleasure. Keeping you safe is what I need to do." He didn't tell her that he had to sell his $250.00 watch for the door, but money was no subsitute for the safety and peace of mind for Swan. When Swan again bade that she would pay him back for the door, Max vigourously shook his head.

"No Swan, again I don't and will not accept your money." He looked at the sauce that was ready and before she could say anything else, Max interrupted her and asked her to taste the sauce. “You’d better taste this and tell me it’s done. It smells so good Swan and I am starving!”

He watched Swan come closer and as she stepped closer, he placed his hand over hers and blew on the sauce, smiling at Swan. “I didn’t want you to burn the inside of your mouth…” He smiled softly and deeply at her as she thanked him and tasted the proffered spoon of the sauce. Max forgot his loss and his now new beginning when he was here with Swan and he wanted to start anew with Swan in his life. Max needed the right time and they would both know when the right time would be.

“I’ve set the table all ready. Please, go and sit while I ladle the sauce into one of mother’s special bowls.” Swan had asked as Max gave her the spoon. "Alright Swan," he smiled at her and walked over to the table sitting where he had sat in the prior nights he had been invited for dinner. He sat on the side next to the head of the table, knowing that it was not his place, it was Swan's in memory of her lost family.

He smiled as she served dinner. "I am sure the dinner will be as great as you always make it. But Swan I love spending time with you, over dinner or sitting hugging you and just talking. After dinner I would like to talk to you about something important. Let's just enjoy dinner now Swan. But I want to say, that what I have to say is not bad...well I don't think its bad."

Max smiled at Swan as she sat down next to him and before she served dinner to the plates, he took her hand in his and brang it to his lips kissing her soft flesh to his lips. His eyes never left hers, silent for a moment. He held her hand briefly in his before letting it go.

"Dinner sure smells great."

 

[Lay Z Butterfly]

She could swear on a stack of bibles that her heart skipped a beat when Max kissed her hand. Just the act of bringing her hand to his lips was far more exciting then any paragraph in a book that she’d read could do. Swan had read many love scenes in her books, but the real thing was thrilling beyond compare. She felt another blush come dangerously close to the surface of her skin, but held it in check not wanting to look like a bright cherry while they ate in such close proximity. Swan was feeling very much like a love struck schoolgirl. It was bittersweet, she thought as they ate. Having her mother here would have helped her to deal with the feelings she felt for Max, but as was the case, fumbling around in uncharted waters was the situation she was in. Audibly sighing, she held at the tip of her tongue, the question that she wanted to ask him. Was it the right time to ask or would it be better to ask while they had dessert? Holding her tongue, she decided to wait until it felt more appropriate. It would be terrible of her to put him on the spot.

The meal was enhanced by their continued lighthearted conversation stemming from the silly to serious and everything in-between. She knew they had already spoken on some of the same topics the previous nights, but she was at ease with Max and it was lovely. Before they knew it, the meal was over and they were pushing the plates away, not stuffed, but satisfied. “Max, I don’t think I’m ready for dessert so fast.” She said patting her belly. In fact, she wasn’t even ready to move. Sometimes, Swan felt sleepy after dinner and this was one of those times. Bringing the water glass to her lips, she drank the cool water hoping that it would perk her up instead of wanting to curl up for a nap.

“Would you like to sit in the front parlor for a spell? The dinner dishes can wait.”

Max had taken upon himself to help her with the dishes after each meal. Swan had tried unsuccessfully to keep Max out of the kitchen during her clean up time, but the man was like a bull, stubborn at times. Secretly, she liked that he helped for when it was her turn to do dishes after the family meal, everyone seemed to disappear leaving her to do it all alone. To be fair though, Swan would skedaddle herself when her brother or sister had to clear the dishes and clean up the pots and pans.

He agreed to take a rest in the parlor and stood up. He took two steps and realized Swan had not gotten up yet. “Umm, Max, can you help? My feet don’t want to walk!” Happily, she giggled as she sat on the chair feeling like a Buddha. His face split into a grin as he looked upon the lazy girl sitting before him.
She laughed again, not being able to help herself. This was the first time she felt completely at ease since…. It was hard to think about …. She pushed the sad thoughts out of her mind as she sat in the chair.

“I promise if you help me, you can have my portion of dessert!” Swan had created a fruit medley of strawberries, chunks of melon, and green grapes. It had been hard to come across the fresh fruit, but she did it with determination. The seller of the precious fruits had wanted far more than what she could afford, but she’d given the old woman some of her mother’s dresses while bartering. She had two bowls filled to the brim waiting for them in the icebox. While slicing the fruit earlier, Swan had eaten tiny pieces of each and knew they weren’t the freshest and hoped Max didn’t mind.

Max walked until he was standing in front her. His hands were on his hips as if he were surveying the situation.

“Pretty please, with sugar on top?” she asked hopefully.

 

[Lay Z Butterfly]

Lit made me post a few more times then i wanted! Sorry

 

[Lay Z Butterfly]

again

 

[Lay Z Butterfly]

yet again..

 

[PVodogaz]

It's ok Sasha, I know those things happen to everyone even me.

I will post when I return from work later today.

xoxoox

Petar

 

[PVodogaz]

Max Killeen

Max and Swan began to eat the dinner that Swan prepared in comparative silence. Not that Max was not thinking about how much he cared and liked the lady next to him. He kept on stealing furtive sidelong glances at her and fought hard to keep from blushing. Max chided himself internally for acting like a lovesick puppy, but he couldn't help it. Swan brought out that side of him, even in this time of bloodshed and great change.

He could only wonder what Swan felt and hoped she was feeling half of what he did, if she did, Swan would know how much he cared and wanted her at that very moment.

They finally talked with Max beginning a light hearted banter full of jokes and laughs. He loved the way Swan laughed, it made him smile inside and outside. After sometime and a second helping of dinner, they finished, with Max dabbling his mouth with the paper towel and smiling at Swan.

“Would you like to sit in the front parlor for a spell? The dinner dishes can wait.” Swan asked.

"Definitely Swan. But first I will do the dishes and no arguments this time, my lady," he answered with a most dashing smile complimenting his face. Max knew he had a stubborn streak, something he had gained from the cut throat business of media journalism and the forever striving for the right interview or the right questions.

"Just relax here at the table and allow me to clear the table and wash the dishes. Then we'll retire to the parlour," said Max.

They continued to chat lightheartedly as Max cleaned the kitchentable and washed the plates. He watched her sip the water as they talked.

He finished in short order and walked two steps past Swan when she said out aloud;

“Umm, Max, can you help? My feet don’t want to walk!”

He smiled as she giggled at Max and Swan continued to talk in that sweet voice of hers, almost rythmic and melodic. “I promise if you help me, you can have my portion of dessert!” Max walked until he was standing in front her. His hands were on his hips as if he were surveying the situation.

“Pretty please, with sugar on top?” asked Swan.

"Alright my Swan, I will help gladly," he replied smiling cheerfully at her. He slid his arms around her soft lithe body and pulled Swan's body onto his strong arms. He continued to smile as he slowly carried her to the parlour, his eyes locked on hers. Max loved the feel of Swan in his arms and didn't want this moment to end. They reached the parlour and he set her down on the long couch. He slid next to her, taking her hands in his.

"Swan, I don't want this moment to end, I don't want to ever lose you. I care for you." Max squeezed her hands with his and just looked at her, all time momentarilly lost in the essence of affection.

 

[Lay Z Butterfly]

She smiled a soft smile at him when his words stopped. She knew immediately that Max liked her more than a friend. Naïve she was not, but innocent she was. Squeezing his hands back, she leaned forward and kissed him gently on the lips. “Neither do I Max.” she whispered and continued, “I find myself growing excited as evening draws closer knowing you will come for dinner and we’ll have a wonderful conversation too.” Quietly she spoke, all the words coming out in a hushed whisper as if she had to whisper all the things that she kept secret in her heart.

In all her young life, she had never come across a man like him- Strong, self assured, and honest. Yes, her father and brother were the same, but this man was not a relative. He had come from a foreign land and by a twist of fate was now in her life, fast becoming deeply engrained in it. Every time she thought of Max, who was too often to count, her heart smiled amid all the misery and heartache it had. She knew the thought that had first entered her mind when he secured her home with a brand new door was a sound one.

Taking a deep breath, afraid to say more than she should, knowing the warm feelings on her cheeks were slightly more than a pink blush she blurted, “Max, would you please … consider staying here, in my home, instead of that hotel?” Before he could answer she continued on, “I know….I know I must look like a loose woman, but staying there, paying money…when you could stay here with me…sounds much better, yes?”

Each night, it had been harder to say goodnight to him. She saw the tiredness of his eyes and she positively disliked the fact that he walked alone in the streets. Wartime was different. People turned ugly and there was no telling what they would do to him if they wanted money or something else from him. Swan had just two nights ago prepared her brother’s room for him. Changed the sheets, cleaned out the dresser draws, and cleaned the room by scrubbing the walls and everything that it entailed.

Her eyes softened even more as she awaited his answer. She was already feeling foolish about asking him to stay and it showed by the way that she played nervously with her fingers. By her invitation, did that say she wanted to share more than her home with him? Lord knew how attracted she was to him, but did her offer cheapen the budding closeness they had?

So many questions had swirled within her brain as she wrestled with the idea of asking it, but now it was done. No turning back or rewind button like there was on her prized cassette recorder. She felt she should say more, but putting her foot further into her mouth was not a pleasant notion. Max thinking her a foolish girl was not what she wanted either.

“Max, I want you to stay. Please?” She asked as a loose curl fell from the ribbon and fell in front of her left eye.

Without waiting an answer and praying he would not laugh at her, she stood and murmured that she would get dessert ready.

 

[PVodogaz]

Max Killeen

With her hand in his, Max was content to just stare into her eyes without words, for words were not needed for what he felt for Swan. He knew this was both new for both of them and this was all happening in a time of great change and tribulation. When Max saw the soft smile form on Swan's lips he breathed a inwardly sigh of relief. He didn't want to scare her or make her anxious. All Max knew he cared for this woman next to him.

“Neither do I Max.” It was then she kissed him softly on the lips and Max's heart skipped a beat as he felt her soft warm lips on his for that brief minute. “I find myself growing excited as evening draws closer knowing you will come for dinner and we’ll have a wonderful conversation too.”

He smiled at her again as she spoke those words, his lips tingling oh so pleasantly for her kiss. "I feel the same way Swan, the same feelings and the same anticipation."

They were silent for a moment brooding over their feelings until Swan spoke again in a almost hushed voice. Her next words suprised Max but also made him glad and joyous. She started to get up murmuring that she would get dessert ready. With a gentle touch of his hand on hers, Max stopped her. "I would love to stay here with you, Swan. And I don't think any less of you for asking me actually I want to stay with you and make sure you are safe. You don't realise how many times I think of you when I am at the hotel after I leave you each night, hoping you stay safe. I accept your offer, my Swan."

Max was no weak man, he had a strong frame but when he left Swan's place each night very late, Max had to watch each dark place and each person for wartime brang out the devil in many people. Some nights he had listened to the battles far in the distance between the warring 3sides. It has disquietened him but made his resolve stronger.

He continued to smile at Swan and whispered. "Can't wait for dessert and then we will have all night to talk." Max for the first time was truly happy since coming to this country and being trapped in a war gone out of control. He was where he truly belonged - with Swan.

 

[Lay Z Butterfly]

Like the sound of the music she blared through her cassette recorder, Swan almost floated into the kitchen. He accepted! Her fingers trembled as she put the two bowls of fruit on a bamboo platter. He was going to stay with her. She smiled brightly….STAY with her! No more of his leaving late at night, and she barring her door against unknown phantoms. This news couldn’t have come at a better time. At night, Swan had begun to imagine as she slept that she heard the soldiers coming back because they knew they had missed getting her the first time. It left her awake and clinging to the thin bedcovers several times a night.

Coming back in the room, she placed the platter on the damaged table that had once been beautiful, but now looked like a shabby piece of junk wood. It was just one more thing that Max had fixed, as best he could and with limited resources, for her when she put finishing touches on their nightly dinner. She was positively beaming and after handing him a bowl, with renewed vigor attacked the past its prime fruit with gusto.

They chatted for what seemed like minutes, but as Swan glanced at the tiny wall clock, her eyes widened. “Max! Look at the time!” It was by far the longest time they had spent together at night and if someone had taken a peek into the front window, it would have looked like two people obviously very much comfortable in each other’s presence.

“Will you stay the night or go back to settle the bill? I could go with you. Safety in numbers is what my Mother always said.”

Knowing he may contemplate what to do she added, “I cleaned my brothers room. From ceiling to floor I scrubbed and made it as comfortable as I could.” There was a hopeful note to her voice that she tried to hide for she did not want him to make a decision before he was ready to. She could handle one more night alone or at least she told herself so and best of all, Max thought no differently about her at all.

 

[PVodogaz]

Max Killeen

As Swan went to the kitchen to get the dessert, Max leaned back into the couch and allowed himself to breath a content sigh. Swan had invited him to stay with her. He was happy she trusted him enough to offer him a place in her home. But another reason Max was happy was that he believed Swan felt the same strong feelings he felt for her and that she felt the same for him. Only time and fate will decide that, he said to himself.

His reverie was broken as Swan reappeared in the room with the platter of dessert. He smiled at her when she passed him his bowl. The fruit was not fresh, and of course in this time of war he totally understood but the dessert was tasty and he watched Swan eat with a new found gusto. They chatted small talk through dessert and way past it. To Max, when he was with Swan time did not matter. Tonight was a quiet night, the guns and battle sounds were very dim in the far reaching horizon.

“Max! Look at the time!”

Max looked at the wall clock and it was past 2am in the morning. Swan asked Max if he wanted to stay the night or go to the hotel and settle the account.

"No, its way to late to needlessly go back to the hotel. I will go in the morning and settle the account with the hotel owner. Your brother's room sounds fine, my Swan," smiled Max in responce.

They stood and cleared the dessert from the damaged coffee table and Max placed what leftovers in the icebox in the kitchen.

He turned to Swan and smiled. "I suppose you should show me your brother's room," he moved closer and kissed her cheek softly. "Thankyou for a wonderful dinner, dessert and your company the most, Swan."

 

[Lay Z Butterfly]

Blushing for the umpteenth time, Swan took his hand and led him toward her brother’s room. Opening the door, she snapped the light switch to on and the room filled with a softened glow. The bed was neatly made and a small washbasin filled with clean water stood on a small table underneath the window.

“Max, everything is clean and the drawers are empty. The closet is half cleaned out and I will have the rest of it complete tomorrow, ok?” She backed out of the room and hesitated at the mouth of the door. “If you need anything, my room is at the end of the hall.” Pointing for emphasis.

“I…usually wake early in the morning and I’ll try to stay as quiet as possible,” she added before turning and closing the door at the same time. Once the door was firmly shut, Swan leaned against it. They hadn’t kissed and she was grateful for that. She didn’t think she was ready for a real kiss on the lips, but the thought of pressing lips together sure did make her heart go all pitter pattery.

Walking to her room, Swan glanced back and went inside. She sat at her desk and proceeded to write in her Journal. She filled the page within no time and was on the second page before she stifled a loud yawn. It was so late and yet all she could think about was Max being only a few meters away from her. Quickly, she undressed and washed up. She felt refreshed even though she was exhausted as well.

Looking at her bed, she decided to check on Max before settling in for the remainder of what couldn’t even be considered night, but early morning. Quietly she made her way down the hallway and softly knocked on the door. Hearing no answer, she turned the knob and pushed against the door hoping it wouldn’t creak too loudly.

“Max,” she whispered. “Are you asleep?”

 

[PVodogaz]

Max Killeen

Max followed Swan up the stairs with his hand in hers as she led him to her brother's room. He was so happy to be here with her. Max knew it was too early to tell her how he felt for Swan, but he would in due course. Max felt that he needd too.

They came to Swan's deceased brother's room and she switched on the light and she showed Max the layout of the room. This room looked pretty much how his childhood room had been like when he was a small kid growing up in the suburbs of New Toronto which had been called back then just Toronto. Max squeezed Swan's hand and then let it go gently almost reluctantly. When Swan had finished telling him about the room and where her room was located, she hesitated at the door momentarily.

"Goodnight Swan," he said as she closed the door. He didn't want to push his luck by kissing her on the lips Goodnight, but oh he wanted too. Max was now left alone in the room. He sighed as the silence filled the room and undid his shirt putting it on a nearby chair. He went to the basin filled with cool water and washed his face then he took the towel and wiped the beads of water off his face.

With that done he shut off the lights and lay down on the bed thinking about Swan and his life before meeting her. Max knew that what had been was lost forever. His country was decimated, a possible world war, and now he was alone but really not alone. He had met Swan and felt very strong feelings for her. Yet he could not call these feelings love yet, but it was growing into love.

Max drifted off into a sleep as his eyes closed. He didnt hear the soft knock on the door but was awoken by Swan's voice so very close. His eyes opened and he looked towards the door and saw Swan's head peer at him from the side of the door.

"Yes I am my Swan," he said softly. "Come in."

He reached over and turned on a side-table lamp, smiling at Swan. He sat up and patted the side of the bed.

 

[Lay Z Butterfly]

Swan smiled at him as he pat the side of his bed. She was happy, no joyous that he was awake and seemingly happy to see her by the greeting of his smile. Making her way over to the bed, she sat down on it. “I couldn’t sleep Max, “she simply stated. “I wrote in my Journal and then looked at my bed and thought I should check on you. Being that it’s your first night in a ‘strange’ bed.”

When she had sat on his bed, Swan felt warmth. His body heat lingered on the side he had been laying on and she felt comfort. It was like when she was a child and her Momma would come in to hold and rock her to sleep when she had been feeling unwell. Smiling at him, she asked, “Can you turn off the light? My eyes are tired even though they seem awake.”

Max obliged. In the darkness, the troubled moon shone its light into the small window from across the room. It actually cast a beautiful silvery glow in the room and could just make out Max’s features. His eyes shone brightly and that prompted Swan to touch they side of his cheek, her fingers gliding across day old stubble. “Do you mind if we talked some more? I promise not to stay long,” she said smiling. Even though he couldn’t see the said smile he could certainly hear it in her voice.

They talked about their pasts, their parents, how they grew up and some of the crazy antics they did as children. Swan felt like she was baring her soul, and in many ways she was. She was letting him in to her world, her past, which in these present times were the only good memories she had left. Although, even if Swan hadn’t thought it yet, new good memories were being created right at that moment.

Before she knew it, Swan had gone from sitting on the bed to laying half on her side, propped up by a pillow. Her eyes had started to droop several times before she couldn’t keep them open any longer. It was mid-sentence that her words stopped and soft even breaths were the only sounds left in the quiet room.

Swan snuggled deep down into the mattress and fell into a deep, dreamless sleep. The first real sleep that she’d had in a long while.