The Mansion

[DarkWarrioress]

Source available upon request. Wait. Make that pleading, begging, and getting on your freakin knees...and then some

hopes he's not pushing it too far

We'll see who's getting on their knees first. Besides, with my hand glued to your ass, we're going to have a problem doing anything. Damn Ice. Remind me to put icy hot in his...*mumblemumble*

 

[Mav Unlimited]

Oh can't you see it baby, you don't have to close your eyes, 'cos it's standing right before you, all that you need will surely come...

 

[Light Ice]

Cursing. Vehement, nasty, angry cursing and the slapping of palms on the counter. He's shouting about the Red Sox, shouting about the Yankees.

And drunk. Very drunk.

 

[Noon_Shadow]

We'll see who's getting on their knees first. Besides, with my hand glued to your ass, we're going to have a problem doing anything. Damn Ice. Remind me to put icy hot in his...*mumblemumble*

Don't they make a solvent for that stuff?

Disappears.

 

[Aurantica]

Pops into the Mansion with a snap, drifting over to the bar, hand dancing among the bottles

Hmmmmm......

Plucks a bottle from the wall, throws some ice in the glass and takes both over to a quiet corner

 

[Light Ice]

He's sulking, at the bar as always, as highlights play. There's a brief cut of his eyes as a figure passes, no greeting made. Under the dim lights he rounds the counter to the fridge behind it and snags a bottle of Blue Moon. It's tucked into his battered, faithful Mets Koozie.

 

[Aurantica]

Glances up from an old leatherbound book

Evening, Ice.

Goes back to reading

 

[Light Ice]

It spoke. That figure from the lounges nearby, reclined, content. Placid.

He glances over, sharpens his eyes, forces his attention to stray from the scrolling scores of the evening. What book? Almost as soon as the thought strikes him it leaves him.

"What book?"

 

[Aurantica]

Sips from the glass before responding

The Sign of the Four.

 

[Light Ice]

He scratches at his jawline briefly, paying little mind to the coarse stubble taking hold. The rasp rasp rasp of his fingers vanishes as he produces his phone and flicks his finger across the screen. A look of vague familiarity touches his face as he slides his phone away.

"No Sherlock Holmes. No James Bond."

She's somewhat new to him. He was rough with her once. That doesn't provoke shame in him the way it should. Instead, he makes his way to the lounge across from hers and settles on its edge.

"I've never read it. Or any of Doyle's work." Which was strange, really, considering the tear he made in the classical library a few years back.

 

[Aurantica]

Raises an eyebrow at his response, straightening up as he approaches, ready to be defensive if need be

"Its surprisingly light reading."

Focuses on the coffee table, one hand tracing the lip of the glass

 

[Light Ice]

He reaches, leans far, using his hand and the base of the koozie-clad bottle it holds to brace himself against the hardwood floor as the other makes a long stretch to the nearest bookcase. The volumes within are not all, universally, leather-bound. A few have made their way into circulation from his old stores, battered paperbacks with broken up covers that had once been cheap and glossy.

It takes an extended forefinger to pull it from between the volumes trapping it in place and a bit of shuffling with his hand before he grasps it and straightens to lay it beside the length of her thigh.

"Maugham. The Moon and Sixpence. His piece d'resistance is Of Human Bondage but I found it droning. This is lighter and more significant to me. It's about two men. One, an eccentric genius, and another man's decision to follow him and observe his genius. It's simple, intelligent, and beautiful."

The recommendation made, and hers taken, he settles into a hunched seat once again. A heavy pull from his bottle of Blue Moon washes away the most words he's ever said to her.

 

[Aurantica]

Jerks in surprise at the sudden contact, one hand automatically darting to the pocket concealed in the lining of my coat

Hmm.... I'll look into it. Thank you.

Nudges the book onto the sofa, returning to the adventures of Mr. Holmes.

 

[Light Ice]

"What brought you here?"

The question comes just as her eyes dip back to the book, his own intent on hers. His is not a handsome face, not typically. The lines are sharp and masculine, his jaw is squared, but there will be no modeling in his resumé. At one time he'd been blonde. The hair's gone darker now, laboring between its former self and a brown future. He's curious and it shows, no effort made to conceal it. Baseball, for the moment, forgotten.

 

[Aurantica]

Glances up, then quietly closes the book, setting it aside

Looking for a peaceful place to read, really. Almost everywhere else is too noisy. Too many people all talking at once.

Takes another sip of Cognac

 

[Light Ice]

"You knew I was here." He argues, quietly.

Peaceful, typically, is not a word that follows him. There are many words that take its place. Crude. Miserable. Intolerable. Aggravating. A laundry list that weighs heavily on the derogatory. She sips, he watches, non-discreet in the way his eyes catch for a precious moment on the curve of her lips against the crystal of her glass.

Further, in the background, the forgotten passion still scrolls and chatters on the monitor. A subtle reminder of his curses only a moment before she arrived.

 

[Aurantica]

Shrugs

So?

Sets the glass down with a click on the endtable

 

[Light Ice]

"Do you need another?" He asks her, watching and rising all at once to claim his full height.

The question was unnecessary, made moot as he gathered up her glass and made his way to the counter. His voice reaching as he found the bottle she'd chosen and topped her off.

"I've already interrupted your reading." He commented.

And from the fridge he fished himself another Blue Moon. It wasn't long before he was pushing her glass back into place on the table and reclaiming his seat, once again turning the deceptively soft glint of his hazel eyes onto her.

 

[Aurantica]

Smiles and quickly finishes the drink, tucking the book back into a pocket

Thank you, but I should be going. It was nice talking to you.

Walks past him, out the doors and into the night

 

[Light Ice]

It'd been worth the effort. His eyes fell to the empty glass and his fingers pinched its rim, dragged it from her side of the table back to his own before he rose with it in hand. There was a hint of care taken as he deposited into the sink's basin, whiskey glasses were expensive buggers and he was too practical to be careless.

She'd all but run out the door, and that was fine. He wasn't good company. Never had been.

The scores drew his attention, as did his drink, but now and again he glanced back in muted irritation with the copy of Maugham she'd left on the seat.

 

[DarkWarrioress]

Oh hell no. I have enough problems with the maids.

http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lmpi8yCROd1qglflpo1_500.jpg

 

[Light Ice]

Oh hell no. I have enough problems with the maids.

http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lmpi8yCROd1qglflpo1_500.jpg

Flowers on the bar, three dozen this time. The man responsible is locked away in bed, not to be disturbed, and this time the only sounds escaping from his room are those of a TV left on. But, if snooping, she might find that a receipt has been tossed in the trash, a little slip of paper detailing a change in uniform for the girls.

Less discreet is the shuffling of one past her in the new outfit.

http://www.scavengeinc.com/images/Product/medium/roma/maid-costume-1305.jpg

To make things worse for the man behind the locked door - the receipt has the uniform change charged to the house.

 

[DarkWarrioress]

A late lunch. With sandwich in hand, I made my way downstairs for a beer. Not my usual, but hey, now and then, a beer tastes good. Sliding the plate with a sandwich on the bar top, I reach down into the frig and draw out a beer.

My eyes fall on the the flowers. Three dozen?! My first thought is, what did he do this time? What am I going to have to get after him for now? Has he cost me another maid?

A soft sigh as I set the beer on the counter and unwrap the flowers before I search for vases. Setting three vases on the counter, I start to arrange the flowers equally in them. My mind is in a spin. What did he do now? I crinkle up the wrapping and go to throw it in the trashcan and my eyes spy a piece of paper that suspiciously looks like some sort of receipt.

Curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back. Pulling it from the trashcan my eyes narrow as I read.

OH! OH! A soft growl comes from my throat. He CHARGED a NEW outfit to the house???!!!! My eyes go toward the flowers, now I understand. My fingers curl over the receipt, crushing it. HE shredded an outfit on one of the maids and --- my eyes lock onto a maid walking by, narrowing again.

Oh God. He bought her THAT?

Another testament for the reason WHY Ice does not get to hire the maids.

Flowers on the bar, three dozen this time. The man responsible is locked away in bed, not to be disturbed, and this time the only sounds escaping from his room are those of a TV left on. But, if snooping, she might find that a receipt has been tossed in the trash, a little slip of paper detailing a change in uniform for the girls.

Less discreet is the shuffling of one past her in the new outfit.

http://www.scavengeinc.com/images/Product/medium/roma/maid-costume-1305.jpg


To make things worse for the man behind the locked door - the receipt has the uniform change charged to the house.

 

[Aurantica]

Clomps in, boots thudding on the old floorboards

Um, hi.

Makes up a rum and coke behind the bar, then over to the couch from last night. The book is still there.

Hmmm....

Picks it up and begins to read

 

[DarkWarrioress]

Clomps in, boots thudding on the old floorboards

Um, hi.

Makes up a rum and coke behind the bar, then over to the couch from last night. The book is still there.

Hmmm....

Picks it up and begins to read

Hey Aura. Welcome to my home. *smiles*