The Fallen Boulevard;

The deal is set, the stakes are high,

The roulette is spun, the end is nigh,

With a smoking gun, receive the card,

A subtle irony on the fallen boulevard.

 

Choices in your hands, what will you choose?

A roll of the dice, or simply refuse?

To be or not to be, this will be hard

A dilemma to resolve on the fallen boulevard.

 

None can compare to your poker face,

A mask of disdain, a facade of sculpted grace,

Entrenched in prison, encased in a ward,

All alone on the deserted, fallen boulevard.

 

A sweeping fan, a closing dance,

Unwritten, misfortune may bechance,

The smiling crow, a silent guard,

On the setting, fallen boulevard.

Untitled III;

My words like burning embers

Flickering off the edge

Smoke in the desolate chambers

A lingering presence upon the stage

 

My eyes clouded with fallacies

That only I can see through

Thoughts laced with impurities

A cup of tea with a murky brew

 

I dreamt that one came to my aid

In my dreams of woven securities

You swept me far away from dread

Opened my door to endless possibilities

 

But I know that I’m only dreaming

The world continues to turn

My tears flow, past the bleeding

A beating heart that continues to burn.

 

 

 

 

Secondhand Serenade

At the darkest chapter,
Shines a beacon of purest light,
The air is caught, a sighing fiddle,
Voices congregate, as one unite.

There is none but his nimble grace,
Fingers performing the unscripted act,
His engaging smile, leaving no trace,
The written secret, expertly kept.

His voice, a lilting chanty,
Eyes of garnet etched in marble stone,
A debonair with a sinful ancestry,
Skin of ivory, cold as bone.

Yet his song is meant for one,
A soul in Eden’s finery,
To enrapture her, his quest is done,
A secondhand serenade in lasting memory.

This was written about 2 weeks back. Narrative poetry is so in now for me. I write whatever my inspiration conjures. (: 

untitled; part 10

It’s finally here, eh? My deepest apologies, as Madame Michaelis was… busy.

-

Jared was surprised that Annaleigh Webster would want to dance with him. She excused herself to go to the restroom after the first song, and a lady in red took her place. It was when he had taken a few steps did Jared realize the problem.

            “Holy Jesus!” Everyone around him scowled at his choice of swear words, but he didn’t care. His eyes were fixated on the red lady, who was anything but a woman. His hair was so fiery red that Jared’s eyes watered just by looking at it. The man was dressed in a similar style like Sebastian, except that he failed to carry off the flair like he did.

            “Oh, aren’t you the most wonderful dancer tonight!” the red haired guy practically sang as he took Jared’s hand, which Jared felt his eyebrows shooting up into his hair and into oblivion.

            “I-I beg your pardon sir?”

            “Do dance with me! I have yet to find a lady partner who is just as charming as you.” Much to his aghast, he smiled widely at him. He must have too much to drink.

            Jared meant to say just that when a familiar man rapped the other’s head smartly with his knuckles. He came into view, and Jared recognized him immediately.

            “I have had enough of your behavior for one night, Grell Sutcliff. This certainly won’t do,” the man snapped, his heavy rimmed glasses flashing. Grell? That name was oddly familiar.

            “You’re William, isn’t it?”  It was impossible to forget a guy who magically appeared in your house at night. And the name Grell was nagging at the bottom of his head. It sounded familiar but at the same time it was lost on him.

this serendipity; waking up

The smell of blood was a thick haze. It was in my mouth, my lungs. My breath was ragged and slow. The pain that was so sharp before had now dulled to a dull throbbing.

I closed my eyes and willed it to go away. My body was oddly weightless; I floated as if I consisted of mere dust. The metallic scent was unendurable; it weakened whatever resolve I have left to survive, and it burned. My body was on fire. I was going to Hell.

My eyes flew open as I gasped at the empty ceiling. It was nearing winter, and the weather had a good excuse to be frigid. I guess in my state I had a reasonable defense for actually sweating like it was summer.

I flinched as I felt movement apart from mine-and relaxed when Sebastian came into view. Climbing into my bed fully dressed, he pulled me close. His temperature was always the same-chilly, yet it served as the perfect antidote.

“You had a nightmare.” He ran his fingers through my bedraggled hair.

“It was nothing.” I sighed. “I dreamt of… the full moon.”

“Ah.” Of course he understood.

I looked up at him. His eyes were deep maroon again beneath those impossibly long eyelashes. Sebastian enjoyed silence, so I rested against his shoulder wordlessly. The winter sunlight illuminated his skin in a grayish hue, unlike his usual pale, fair complexion. It was a striking contrast against his black assemble he always wore. I wondered if I looked like that as well.

“We shouldn’t stay indoors with such a wonderful climate awaiting us outside,” He grinned at me. “Let’s head downstairs.”

“Alright.” I managed a light smile. How can anyone resist his charm is quite beyond me.

Sebastian was remarkably good at housekeeping. I didn’t need to tell him that he would make a perfect house husband. Today he’d brewed strawberry black tea, one that I preferred on cold mornings. Needless to say, he understood me very well.

“You are almost like an open book,” Sebastian chuckled once. “‘Almost’ because you are a very easy person to know, and yet you possess an air of obscurity about you.

I sipped my tea and glanced at him. Sebastian never ate, nor did he drank anything I’d heard of. I was astounded at first, but then I slowly began to apprehend him as well. He watched me with an undying concentration I will never have. I stared back at him.

“I’m sorry-I didn’t know it irked you.”

“No, I didn’t mean that.” I was quite surprised. “I was just curious.”

Sebastian was perhaps, the most cryptic character I’ve ever met to date. His actions always raises questions, although not all of them are answered. And I am always afraid of angering him; who knows just how frightening his temper may be. Still, he proved himself to be able to keep a cool head even through the most stressful circumstances.

Sebastian smiled that perfect, mysterious smile of his and took my hand in his. It was obvious that Sebastian cared for me-if that was the correct word. But he refrained from using any words that sound schmaltzy in normal conversation. That was good; I can live with that.

I felt a small nudge somewhere around my knees. I knew that soft sensation very well.

“Emmy!” I picked up the moderately huge black cat and cradled her in my arms. My father had given me the kitten a few birthdays ago, and we were both smitten by her winning charm. He named her Emmy, what appeared to be a shortened form of my name. Emmy had kept me company while Daddy was away, and now she humored Sebastian as well. I had feared that Sebastian wasn’t a cat person, but it seemed that he is the cat person. The way he played with her!

She purred in evident contentment and flicked her tail around playfully as I ran my hand across her sable black fur. She eyed Sebastian and turned her green eyes on me expectantly.

“She likes you,” I laughed, handing her over to Sebastian. He embraced the cat with both arms and scratched the back of her ears. Emmy purred again and rested her head on his knee.

“Or maybe,” Sebastian smiled while he tickled Emmy, “She is just envious that I lavish more attention on you than her.”

“Haha.” I took another sip of tea.

Emmy perked up her ears at a sound well beyond my human hearing capacity. Sebastian heard it as well. He promptly set Emmy back on my lap and rose to his feet, straightening his already crisp suit.

“Your father is here. I will get him.” And he was gone, leaving me to prepare myself for our first rendezvous in two years. My father was always more loose on everything, behavior, dressing, everything. He wanted me to truly enjoy life than being bound to certain wards. He felt that they kept me from really experiencing joy. He didn’t mind that I climbed trees. My hands tightened on the lightly colored skirt of my dress. Those were happy memories. Once.

“Emma.” My father’s voice greeted me at the doorway. I felt a rush of nostalgia and happiness as I rushed forward, running into his arms like I was young again.

“My daughter,” he laughed after taking a good look at me. Sebastian hovered in the background like a silent sentinel. “You have grown. Thinner, in fact.” At that, Sebastian raised his head slightly.

We made our way back to the table. Emmy mewed at her old master’s arrival, and sprang towards my father with the same jovial frolic she had while she was a kitten. He patted her affectionately.

“And my dear Emmy grew bigger as well! It seems that we have a lot to catch up on.”

My father gave Sebastian a sideway glance.

“This young man introduces himself as your butler. I say,” he added looking back at me, frowning slightly, “Isn’t he too young to have such a career choice? I mean, not that I’m underestimating his handiwork-the house is in top condition-but it’s such a waste if he decides to spend his life as one.”

I decided to smooth over that sticky moment by taking the teapot to pour tea for my father. My hands trembled slightly under the weight of the teapot, and Sebastian beat me to it by taking it from me, pouring a cup effortlessly.

“It is my choice, Sir. I have been a servant as long as I remembered, and now I certainly cannot imagine myself doing anything else apart from what I’m good at.” he addressed my father with such politeness that I could tell that he definitely redeemed himself in Daddy’s eyes. As long as he doesn’t ask for an official resume.

My dad took a mouthful of tea and licked his lips at the full-flavoredness of it. “This is excellent tea. May I know your name, young man?”

A courteous bow. “My name is Sebastian, and I serve none but Emmanuelle Rose Meyer.”

I cringed inwardly. Surely he needn’t add that much of flowery speech to his sentence.

My father turned to me. “Spectacular, accomplished. And Sebastian manages the entire house in spotless order by himself?”

“Yes, that’s true.” Sebastian and I exchanged grins on our private joke.

“I have indeed done an injustice to you,” my father declared to Sebastian. “Surely someone as skilled as you have a unique approach in carrying out your daily duties? Emma is truly fortunate to have someone like you beside her.”

Sebastian offered another bow just as low as the first.

“I assure you that I have none, Master Meyer. I’m all but… a butler.”

this serendipity; saving grace

First and foremost, I’m going to give a brief explanation to this new story.

• Beautiful Disaster is discontinued. 
• Two characters from B.D. have been taken and used for this current story.
• This new story has no relation whatsoever to B.D.
• Rest assured, there’s no Heroes here. (: 
• The story is still untitled; that’s just the chapter. So if anyone has a title suggestion, please feel free to leave a comment!
• As usual, read and comment. (: 

this serendipity; saving grace

“Stop!” 

My outburst was not enough to make him halt, however. He had lunged at the man with unerring speed and clenched his neck in a chokehold, pinning him up against the wall. The man let out a high-pitched gasp while his legs flailed helplessly above the ground. He beat vigorously at the arm that gripped him tightly, but to no avail. 

“Please, let him go!” My words were near hysterical. In all my life I’ve never been faced with such a scene. I had never prepared myself, nor contemplate what would I do next if… this happens. Someone was going to die in front of me, and I’m afraid that I will live with it for as long as I’m alive. 

The man was clearly at his breaking point. 

“Yes, release me I beg you-I swear I will never lay a hand on you both ever again!” He muttered fervently, at the same time trying to pry free the fingers curled rigidly around his throat. It was a miracle that he could still spit out his words to form a perfect sentence, but then if under harassment, one could achieve anything. I should know that-I’ve been there.

I ran forward to pull the arm back, but my rescuer’s free arm cut me short. 

“We could just let him go-he can keep this a secret.” 

The desperate man nodded eagerly as I tried my best at persuading, egging on my conversation. Buying his time. 

“Why should I put my trust in someone like him?” His voice betrayed no signs of anger; it was a wave of relative calm as if he had done nothing more than discuss business. But I felt every bit of venom and disgust in every enunciation. 

“Sebastian-” 

“Emma,” He smiled in my direction, a picture of breathtaking splendor. “Let me handle this.” It was remarkable how stunning he looked, yet he was capable of committing murder while keeping his perfection in check. So referring to him as an angel was way off the mark.

“I’ll do anything!” the man cried out wretchedly, clutching at any strings that may save him. “I’m in your debt. If it’s money you want-I’ll pay you, just state the sum. I’ll forget who you are, and I’ll leave.” 

Sebastian’s deep maroon eyes were highly amused, as if this were a game he found interesting. His laughter rang quietly around the empty yard. My heart thudded roughly against my ribcage as I attempted to keep myself steady. 

“That is the mark of a human. You foolishly think that you people can solve things with money? I’m sorely dissatisfied.” 

The man was losing time. He coughed, choked and gurgled in such a way that I actually felt pity for him. Tears streamed down his face as he went from pleading to paltry. With considerable effort, he managed to look Sebastian in the eye, a feat which I was personally awed that he could do it at all. Apart from me, that is.

“I-I’ve a wife and two daughters, sir-I mean, Sebastian.” He stumbled over his name. “They are waiting for me to come home to them.” 

I looked at Sebastian. He seemed to be in a pensive state, weighing his options I suppose. One will never fully guess what he was thinking about. 

“We needn’t kill him.” 

I could hear his anguished sobs in the background.

“Please,” he whimpered. 

Sebastian’s eyes rested on his. His impassive face softened. The only sound was our breathing, magnified tenfold. Then, his lips parted into a smiled that was radiant enough to part the clouds, in my opinion. 

I didn’t even see him move his fingers, but I was certain that he did, to break his victim’s neck. The man hadn’t had time to protest, or yell-the reflex reaction. He immediately fell limp. I let out a panicked gasp too late, and shielded my face from the man’s glassy eyes that gape out from his face.

Sebastian threw him to the ground unceremoniously. From behind my fingers, I heard the grisly thud of the corpse. And I felt his gloved fingers gently prying my hands from my face. 

“You killed him!” I wasn’t sure how I sounded-probably breathless and stupefied. But my words were coherent, at least. The dead man’s face swam before my eyes, and I shuddered. 

“He deserves it,” Sebastian remarked bluntly. I looked at him, and noticed his vermillion eyes. It was always the same hue of red, even on our first meeting. I will never forget that color. It drew me in like flowers would a bee, hypnotic and enigmatic. But his expression softened at my horrified face. He shrugged off his coat and slid it around my shoulders. He knelt down and studied my reaction. I was doing my best to rein back my tears. 

“People like him are not qualified to live in this world. I simply sent him to where he truly belonged. Come,” he pulled me to my feet, “You are cold. We ought to return home.” 

I averted my gaze from the body as we left the dingy alley. I felt his wooden gaze following us all the way from where he lay, motionless forever while his soul begins the treacherous journey to Hell, where souls will pay for their sins by enduring an eternal servitude of endless agony. I wondered what was it like there. Hot? Harrowing? The books I’ve read probably wasn’t ample enough to describe…there.

I had my nightmares awake that night.

Beautiful Disaster; Part 7

But, before that, let me just post a quiz result here:

Super corny, but frankly, it’s a better way to die than being tortured to death right?

I decided to take my time in uploading this, because not-rushing it would be better, I guess. (:

Anyway, as the title suggests.

-

Angela Petrelli couldn’t help but feel anxious. She forced herself to remain in a state of calm. It wasn’t the first time she was meeting them, yet she always felt the unmistakable sensation of fear.

The two people approached her with footsteps that echoed in the dark. The shorter of the two spoke first.

“Robert’s been dealt with; I’m quite sure the press made that a clear statement.” He was smoking a cigar. The lazy fumes drifted slowly into the already humid air; the smell of the smoke was thick with anticipation. 

“He knows too much. He knows about you as well. It is only reasonable that he was silenced.” Angela regarded the two with an unreadable look. “Surely you don’t want to be exposed.”

“We like it this way,” the short man said, exhaling a clump of smoke, “But then you said that your sources tell you that there’s something else that we should take heed of.”

“Indeed. Even I don’t know what it is. Vague, but you better take my word for it.” 

The man coughed. “While finishing that fool Peterson, Hei didn’t kill a woman who saw the entire thing.”

Angela snapped up. “Well, did she see his face?”

“She better damn not! Even if she did, she got away unscathed,” he growled. The tall man next to him said nothing as he snapped at him, “Hei you idiot, I’d tell you to kill any witnesses! To think of the consequences if she reports this to the police!” 

“She wasn’t a threat,” the man named Hei murmured. “I made sure of that.”

“Stop going around with your I-trust-my-instincts-stuff,” the smoker muttered, “One day you will find that they cannot be trusted.” 

“I did not meet up just to listen to your bickering,” Angela snapped, her old demeanor returning gradually. “the matters regarding the Company must be protected. I would want to know if you are keen on this assignment. It’s a long running one, so… I understand if you want to back out.” 

“I already said that we’re in,” the short man stubbed out his cigarette. “What about you, Hei?” 

Hei’s face was unreadable. His long, unkempt fringe fell over his heavily hooded eyes, giving him a permanently sleepy expression. But his black eyes were as bright as a clear sky. 

“We will join your Company.” 

“Good.” Angela nodded. “You will follow me back to Odessa first. There is someone I need you to meet.”

“You go, Huang,” Hei murmured to his acquaintance. “I want to stay and keep in touch with things here.”

Huang stared. “What? Me, alone?” Then his eyes narrowed. “I told you that you ought to finish off that woman that night. Now you’re hesitating! Just kill her, for God’s sake, you’ve been doing it all your life!”

“She’s special. I know it.” Hei looked up into the sky. It was void of stars, like the very night he saw her. Her eyes were as bright as the stars, and a different story was reflected in her shadowy pupils. Her terrified stare, her rapid breath as he was about to murder her, to rip her soul ruthlessly from her body… Is this what his victims see and react when they are about to die? His fists tightly into balls.

“Don’t tell me your conscience is creeping up with you again.” Huang sounded almost exasperated.

“You need not kill her.” Angela’s voice broke their conversation. “Just keep a good eye on her. But if she’s really gifted and also smart enough, she will know that it’s wiser to leave us be.”

Hei glanced up at the sky again. He wished he was up in his apartment with his telescope.

“Perhaps.” 

-

Emma woke to the drowsiness of daybreak. The rain from last night still lingered in the air. She yanked the bedcovers over her head and nestled deeper into the folds of her bed. 

Was it a Saturday? She reached out of the blanket and felt her way blindly to her bed stand. When she was affirmative that her hand was firmly around her calendar, she pulled it under and looked at the date.

It was a Saturday. She closed her eyes. The familiar sensation of the fever was seeping into her slowly. She felt frigid, even though she had enlisted the help of her blanket, comforter and what not. On a normal day, she would be melting under the covers. Today was one of those days. She suppressed a shiver. 

Her thoughts drifted towards Sebastian, and what he had said. Was she not human anymore? Her eyes had that searing effect, even in the mirror at her own reflection. So how could she possibly still be sick? 

As if on cue, a hand laid itself on her forehead. Her eyes opened and she immediately recoiled from the sitting form of Sebastian.

“I have to get a restraining order against you.” She wrapped the covers defensively around herself.

Sebastian smiled, his gorgeous features lit up with the simple gesture. His eyes were a deep maroon red. 

“In that way, I wouldn’t be able to show you to your new life.” He sighed. “I have been eluding from you the truth for so long, but it seems that I must spill the beans.” 

She sat up, but at the heavy throb of her head, she sank back onto her bed. Without moving an inch, he somehow managed to conjure a glass of water from nowhere. He handed it to her.

“Drink, and I’ll talk.”

“If I’m not human, then why am I sick?” she blurted out.

 He raised one eyebrow, still managing that perfect look all the same. “Drink, or your fever will not subside.” 

She took a mouthful obediently. 

“You see,” He murmured, “I have never done this before-I mean saving you. So even I myself have just as many uncertainties. But-” his eyes gleamed with a strange excitement, “-you will have… abilities. Though I am not sure what yet. That, I am very interested in seeing. Apart from that, you can do most of what I can do, which we can take that for a test run soon.”

Emma drank half of her glass and set it aside. “So what you’re trying to say is, that you have turned me into… something else?”

“Not just something else…” he allowed himself a small laugh. “Because demons don’t fall sick, at all.”

There was a hanging silence at his words. Emma tried to unstick the words that seemed to have congealed at her throat.

“I am a WHAT? So is that really what you are?” She originally intended to jump out of bed, but her strength wouldn’t permit her; she turned on her right ankle and leaned too much towards her right. Sebastian caught her with ease and set her back on the bed. She continued to gape at him, at a total loss for words.

“I am a demon.” he dropped his eyes down to the floor as if to imply he really did came from Hell. “And yes, I roam amongst humans. And what I did to you… I have made you one as well. Actually, a small part of human still resides within you; you will still retain your human characteristics… at least most of them. You can imagine, I have been living since the Victorian era. Boredom is one part of walking through time.”

“So exorcists will come and kill us now?” She can’t decide whether did she prefer to die on that day or being saved as a demon. Maybe it wasn’t so bad after all.

“Very funny.” He grinned, white teeth gleaming. “There are no exorcists that are so hard-pressed into hunting demons nowadays. Even if there are, they are not known as exorcists any longer.”

Emma frowned. “What does that mean, exactly?”

“It means,” Sebastian ignored her wary look as he slid a stray lock of hair behind her ear, “I’m not the only dangerous person out there. The city is filled with strange people, apart from you and me.” 

She looked towards the balcony. People with abilities. So much for stranger than fiction. It certainly was now. Another glance at the clock told her that it was supposedly time to get a move on. The day was moving by, whether she wanted it or not. She leapt out of bed again, and felt her body betraying her again.

“Why are you so adamant?” Sebastian sounded amused when he wrapped his arm around her waist with the uncanny grace of a dancer. “But tonight, we will have our share of fun.”

She felt a chill, whether it was his arms around her or the fact that the night excursion didn’t sound so good, she wasn’t so sure. Maybe it was both.

“What are we going to do?”

He smiled that blinding smile. “You will find out.”

Or are we ashes and wine?

*

I hear the quiet footsteps approaching slowly towards me. It registered in my head that I was in the danger radius, and the solid fact that I can never escape, even though I try, was sinking rapidly into my skull like water being absorbed by a sponge. I stood there feeling abysmally foolish, and at the same time, taking it in. I could feel the slight tremor with every step, and I don’t need to doubt who it was. It would be silly, even to guess. 

I was tired with all these pretenses. It was weary and artificial, to put up those false identities just to strike up a conversation with someone whom I know have no ears for someone like me. And I still have the bruises and scars to prove it. My hands trembled instinctively, still fresh from our vivid encounter, even though it’s been quite a while. I could still feel it, the impact as I fell against the wall, the crushing sensation, as I was only a whisper from death. I was positive that I was going to die this time; surely I cannot escape death one too many times. The angels would probably get frustrated with me. 

I wanted to say “Go ahead and kill me, I know you are eager to do so” but it sounded so ridiculous in my panicked state. It would probably come out sounding like a squeak. Thinking that I should at least, show some hints of politeness-perhaps I could avoid dying this time around again-before facing whatever it was this time, I turned slowly on the spot.

He was so close that a single miscalculated step would probably earn myself a bruise on my feet. I could not keep up with my own heartbeats; they were beating out of rhythm. If only my best friend could see me now… I stifled a laugh that was on the verge of escaping my throat.

A cool, smooth hand held mine. It took its time to feel, caress my arm. The alien sensation sent shivers down my spine, but I held my stance. I had no reason to run, but I have no reason to remain behind either. This was my decision.

I placed one hand on his face. Like every part of his torso, it was cold, almost like ceramic. Behind his chest, I could almost hear his heart, beating faintly in the background.

And there we both stood, one holding another. There was no warmth from his arms around me, but there was security. Perhaps it has something to do with his demeanor that keeps me in one piece.

But there wasn’t much time. We both know that. So much of it had drained away with time. Needless to say, we have ignored it as it flies by. Somehow, I was taking this lightly. Deep down, I know that there was no way that I was going to live through this year. And I knew that he too, would sooner die quicker than me… because no one survives in this war.

-

PS: No… this isn’t vampire-related, so get all that Twilight fandom out of your head. (: This isn’t getting anywhere, because I’ve absolutely no idea what am I writing! Just something like my morning dose of medicine. 

Food excursion; scrap!

… On the internet, that is. I’ve stumbled upon a few blogs that talk about Japanese food. There was a particularly mouth-watering one about Bento. (: I like the way the food is arranged, including the really cute boxes they use to put the food inside! If that isn’t adorable, what is? I want that for lunch too! Just kidding, really. But it makes me want to go out and get a Bento box for myself so I can decorate my food inside in whatever way I want.

I miss Jason. Which is further worsened by the internet connection over in Kampar, which is reportedly down for the moment. It’s long. I don’t think I can last until the end of September. Three weeks is long enough. There’s this movie called Max Payne that really caught my interest. No news on its release date here, but the trailer is a visual feast indeed. Take a note of those winged creatures (or men) that surfaces around the middle of the trailer. The characters kept mentioning: “valkyrie” and “satan” and since it’s pretty disturbing, I looked up the word “valkyrie” on Wikipedia, the ever so reliable site on almost anything in existence. So it seems that valkyrie is of Norse mythology (Scandinavian origin) and that it has something to do with female deities. But if you ever saw the valkyries (or that’s what I think they are) in Max Payne, you wouldn’t agree with that. It’s more like Constantine. Another freaky comic book movie. Anyway, the lead actor is looking pretty hot right now.

Go see the trailer for The House Bunny. It’s so stupid, it makes you feel smart.  

Wall E with Hwee Lynn on Saturday. It was so cute! It’s instant love. And the message was really clear too. Al Gore would be proud of Pixar. 

Tied Together With a Smile is still on hiatus, while I attempt to tie both stories together and *hem*, collect data. That’s what the mangakas always say when they want a week off from work. Wonder what is it that they really do.

——————-

Scrap

“Aww dang it,” Jared muttered. He groped around blindly for anything for a support to stand. Outside, the rain pounded heavily against the windows, the noise still audible against the glass, even though tightly shut with curtains. The pitch darkness didn’t help to ease his anxiety of not being able to see. He hated that.

“Chill for a moment, Jared. You’re going to give yourself brain damage.” Rie’s voice came from somewhere around the apartment. There was a rustling noise from where her voice came from. “I’m getting the torchlight.”

“I think I blew the modem,” Jared exclaimed, examining the device with the light source from his hand phone. He even smelt something burnt, and without a doubt the modem was emitting the smoke. Another hundred dollars down the drain. Or to put it literally, up in smoke. He remembered something else.

“Don’t bother with the torchlight; I didn’t get batteries. Pull up some candles from the same place and we’re good.”

A few minutes later, the two of them were sitting around the coffee table, with a wide diameter candle on a candle holder. Jared took his mug of hot chocolate and sipped it. Rie was trying to read a book by candlelight, but to no avail. She closed it and laid it aside, but paid caution to the candle wax. She looked tired, Jared noticed, with the faint dark circles around her eyes and her tousled hair becoming even more permanent these days. Her gray eyes fixed on his green ones.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” 

He snorted. “You look like you have been channelling Stephenie Meyer. Or maybe it’s you getting knocked up by Tony Stark.”

She threw him a dirty look. 

“When will you stop talking about him like that?”

Jared stared. “So you guys have been having-” 

Rie chucked a pillow at him, which caught him in the face. When he got it off, she continued on, “No we have not! It’s not like that.” Thunder rumbled as she fell silent, thinking of what to say next. 

“I’m only putting up with you because you’re my cousin,” she said, looking over the candlelight. It illuminated her face from beneath and it gave her a gaunt appearance. Jared winced.

“Don’t do that.”

She raised both eyebrows. “Do what?”

“Stare over the light at me like that.” he shivered. “It’s like you’re going to pull an Exorcist on me or something like that.” 

Rie grinned. “That’s good.” But she withdrew away from the light.

Jared paused for a moment, before adding on, “Does he really like you this way then? I mean, I’m wondering if he likes you, Rie Evans, not just for well… you know.” 

She rolled her eyes. “If you give me a book on safe sex for Christmas I’d kill you. Hang on, why are we even discussing this in the dark? It’s alarmingly wrong, and it’s a good thing we’re cousins.”

Jared sniffed. “Okay okay, just want to be sure you know. Because I’m not really good at breaking up stuff. If you come back crying or some sort of stuff like that, the least I could do is probably walk up to his house with a baseball bat. I mean it. If we’re cousins, isn’t that incest?” 

She sighed. “You need not say that. Besides, he’s got more than security alarms, so good luck if you plan to break in.”

“How’d you know?”

“I’ve been there.”

His eyes lit up. “Oh.”

She rolled onto the sofa. 

“Goodnight, Jared.”

Jared grinned to himself as he stared up at the ceiling. Although the prospects of buying another new modem soon will wipe the smile off his face, it was pretty entertaining to annoy your own cousin, knowing that she can’t get back at you the way you can.

Reality check; Tied Together With a Smile part 3

School’s going to start as usual tomorrow. Suddenly Exploration Week feels like ages ago. How fast is that? It felt like only yesterday when I started working on my Figures at Ilina’s place…): Am missing the (well-deserved) holidays already because I don’t know when again do we get another break like this one. (clings onto holiday)

-

*the story is now titled Tied Together With a Smile.

-

“There’s a delivery package for Miss Rie Evans,” Henry, the security guard who had been here as long as Rie remembered greeted her as they were entering the building. Her friends stopped and stared.

         “Okay,” she said, as he handed a fairly large package over. It was a black carrier bag-the ones you get when you purchase something from a designer boutique.         

         The weight was staggering as Rie thanked Henry and took it from him. She peeked inside, and found her cell phone above a parcel wrapped in black paper. There was a post-it note glued to the black package. She tore it off and examined it.

         Hope you like it, because I most certainly didn’t pick it. Signed, Pepper.

         Written beneath it was presumably her contact number. She tucked the note into my pocket and ran into the building after her friends. No sooner had she entered the office than she was practically ambushed by them. If only she had been more discreet.

         “No way! I bet that’s a dress.” Karen squealed in delight. Susan was jumping in her stilettos, a very dangerous feat when everyone’s feet were in the vicinity. Rie went to her desk and placed it under the table. She picked up my phone and decided to rummage around in the bag. Women liked being showered with gifts, but she wasn’t perturbed by it. But today, she was secretly pleased with the contents. Pepper had go to who knows what extent to find back her shirt and delivered it back to her-in excellent condition. She was a lifesaver. It would be rude not to call her and tell her thanks.

         While waiting for her to pick up, she turned on the computer.

         “Pepper Potts speaking.”

         “Miss Potts? It’s Rie Evans.”

         “Oh!” She sounded nervous. “Do you like the dress I sent you? I wanted to pick it but Mr. Stark insisted on doing so… and you know how different men’s taste are from women,” she remarked.

         “Well, I haven’t looked at the dress yet, but I’m sure it will turn out be to fine. Anyway, thanks a bunch for sending me back my other stuff! I wasn’t counting on it, actually.”

         “It’s not a problem. Right, there are shoes in here too; tell me what you think of them as well. Can I pick you up tomorrow a bit early to do your hair and makeup? You can join me, I get rather lonely sometimes,” Pepper offered.

         “That sounds great. Listen, I have to go now, but thanks again for everything seriously, and I text you tonight.” She can’t help but like Pepper. She was amazing, in every way possible. Tony was extremely lucky to have her as she literally manages his entire life.

         “Okay then, catch you later,” she said brightly, and they both hung up.

-

“You did what?”

         Jared was obviously waiting for an explanation when Rie finally arrived back home. But he certainly wasn’t prepared for the real deal, in which she was forced to dish out everything in detail. After much pestering and a few rounds of scissors-paper-stone, she had finally gave in and told him everything.

         “I told you, I didn’t. It was an accident. And you will wake our neighbors.” Rie ruffled her hair, damp from the fresh shower she had took the moment she reached home. As expected, Jared wanted to know why she missed the dinner. Even though she had told him not to freak, the unexpected excuse must have caught him off guard.

         “An accident?” Jared exclaimed. “What sane person sleeps with women by accident? I will give him-”

         “No you will not give him anything,” she said grimly, “He already called me to apologize, and we’re cool with it. Everything’s fine now. We are taking it with a pinch of salt.”

         Jared muttered something that Rie couldn’t catch. “But he’s taking you to this dinner?” he asked after a moment.

         “As a way of apologizing.” she set down her mug of tea. “Look, I’m not your little sister anymore, I am old enough to take care of myself and handle my own problems.”

         Jared resembled a puffer fish when it feels threatened. She could almost see him inflating, seething with some unseen fury that a billionaire playboy had slept with his cousin sister and got away with it.

         “It’ll be fine,” She said, patting him on the shoulder.

-

The dress was breathtaking. In fact, it was the first time that she found herself completely out of words to describe a single scrap of clothing. By itself, it was an object’d art, a stunning creation of haute couture, something that belonged on the runway while being modeled by a supermodel. Rie held it up for a better look. It was hard to say if it was totally black; under the light she caught glimpses of purplish-blue, or indigo-like shades. It was knee length, sleeveless, with a plunging V-neckline that wasn’t too conservative or exposing too much. At the hem of the dress she could spot the detail on the black lace that lined it. It was beautiful, without a doubt.

         She tried it on to see if it fits. It was the day of the dinner, and She figured that she had better do it right. Pepper will pick her up in two hours, so there was time.

         The dress fitted her seamlessly, as if it was tailor-made for her alone. Rie dug around the carrier bag and found matching shoes that came with it. They were black, open-toe, and really high. Oddly enough, they were her size. She could almost foresee the blisters that would surface, and winced. The things people would do for beauty. She actually liked the dress. Either she had been bewitched, or maybe Tony Stark simply has excellent taste. She rolled her eyes.

         Rie removed the shoes and slid to the floor to get ready. The dress pooled around her in a circular pattern. She hasn’t felt so feminine since prom, which she had, swore was the first and the last time she would ever wear a dress. But she went back on her own promise; which seems to happen quite frequently lately. Placing them carefully into the box, she cleared everything up and waited for Pepper to arrive.

         When the cell phone rang, Rie knew it was her.

         “Hello?”

         “Rie, I’m there now. Just come down, you can see me.”

         She yanked her stuff and darted into the lift. She hastily pressed the button and bounced nervously on the balls of her feet as the elevator went down floor after floor.

         When Rie got to the ground floor, Pepper was waiting, a smile on her face. She wasted no time in ushering her into a sleek black limo before the car peeled off.

         “So do you like it?” She turned to Rie, her face shining with anticipation, as if they were talking about Britney or Madonna.

         “The dress? Yes, I really do! And the shoes are amazing. Thank you so much; I bet they must have been really expensive.”

         She rolled her eyes. “A thousand dollars can be equal to a dollar for Tony Stark. Trust me, thank him.”

         She didn’t know what to say to that. “So where are we going now?”

         “My trusted hair and makeup guru. I always call on him when I attend functions with Mr. Stark. He knows me well, and I can’t wait to introduce you to him. He knows what he is doing perfectly.” She brushed her red hair back from her temples. Her hair was swept into a neat bun, always prim and ready, presenting the image of Stark Industries. Rie, in her scuffed sandals and casual throw-on attire, with her tousled black hair, didn’t feel like she was going for a dinner tonight.

         Rie could tell they were still somewhere in California; the landmarks were still familiar. She was dragged into a grey, stony looking building that looked geometrical yet chic at the same time. The interior was decorated lavishly, but not as luxurious as Tony Stark’s home. She was admiring a sculpture by the entrance when a voice called out.

         “Pepper my dear! It’s been a while, isn’t it?” a tall, thin man with glasses and styled hair walked out to meet her. They exchanged handshakes. The man turned to her politely. “Oh, and who is this?”

         “Rie Evans. She’s heading to the dinner too. Rie, meet Jefferson River.”

         “Rie! Simple yet sophisticated name,” Jefferson said kindly, taking her hand and shaking it too. “You must have a certain charm and appeal to capture the interest of Mr. Stark.”

         She raised her eyebrows. “I beg your pardon?”

         “Mr. Stark spends more time with women in bed than out of it,” he said, looking me up and down. “But Pepper has told me that this was… a misunderstanding?”

         “Yes, it is,” She said quickly, “I accepted his invitation as he apologized to me.” It was hard to give people a good impression.

         “Apologized? That’s something new,” Jefferson clucked his tongue while leading them upstairs. “Saying sorry isn’t common with him.”

         “I made him,” Pepper interjected as they climbed. “Poor Rie was quite alarmed, you see.”

         “Hmm,” he said thoughtfully, gesturing towards a room, which Rie presumed to be his makeup studio. Mirrors lined the walls, accompanied by chairs and several kits that looked like crime scene equipments.

         “Sit, and call me Jeff,” he said to her, and he readied his tools. Pepper seated herself down as well..

         “So, tell me Rie, how would you like to look? What style do you prefer? I’ll try my best to work it out.” Jeff observed her face closely.

         “Well… I’m not good in this. So you can do whatever that you think fits me.”

         “So be it.”

         Jeff decided to start with her first. She decided to keep her eyes closed the whole time. After all, the effect is much better when she see herself fully made up professionally for the first time. Rie felt something like a brush and what felt like a pencil from time to time, and something that she thought was a mascara wand. Next, he was touching up her lips; she felt the light strokes of the pencil, or whatever it was.

         She was tapping my feet slightly out of boredom when he finally said, “It’s done.”

         Opening her eyes, she saw a woman in the mirror, staring back at her. Her eyes were lined with black eye shadow and eyeliner that they smoldered in an odd, smoke-like way. If eyes can drown a person, her eyes certainly could. Her eyelashes were longer, and they curled perfectly, creating a wider-eyed appearance. The rest of her face was more of nude colors. Her lips were pale pink, glossy. Rie blinked, and she blinked back.

         “Pepper showed me your dress before,” Jeff said, sitting next to Rie as she proceeded to gawk at her own reflection. “I had my own idea of how you should look like, but I figured that I should ask you if you had any suggestions for your own look. But you look great now! I bet Tony can’t look anywhere but your eyes.”

         “I look like a porcelain doll,” She choked out. “This doesn’t look me.”

         “Dear, you have to get used to this. You’re attending a high-end dinner tonight, by TIMES magazine! You have to look your best. Now put on your dress while I get started on Pepper.”

         He bustled off.

         Still unable to take her eyes away from her mirror image, she climbed awkwardly off the chair to the dressing room.

         Rie waited patiently, reading a book while he worked on Pepper. When he was done with her, the result was equally stunning. Her eyes weren’t as heavily done as hers, but they were lined with black eyeliner as well. Her face was done cleanly, similar to me, but her lips were rouged to a brighter hue of pink. Pepper was beautiful in her daily wear, but now she was a screen goddess. Rie smiled at her, and she grinned back.

         “You look ethereal.”

         “So do you,” she laughed. “You are amazing, in that dress.”

         They chatted more as Jeff did their hair. Pepper, it seemed has been with Tony Stark for almost 20 years. It was her first job out of college, and she never looked back since. Working with him, she said, was apparently more challenging than any other human being on the planet.

         “He is totally incapable of putting his life together,” she said tartly, “Imagine his life without me.”

         Rie can’t help but snort. “I didn’t know that.”

         “He is that hopeless, I’m not kidding you.”

         Two hours later, Pepper’s hair was curled into soft wavy locks, while Rie’s was combed and twisted into a knot. Jeff had slid a dazzling stick-like accessory that had a pink Swarovski cherry blossom and drooping crystals to mimic a Japanese hair ornament. It was both the most expensive hair deco she ever had and not to mention the most gorgeous. Jeff expertly let loose a lock of hair to grace her temples. Rie was beginning to like him. Pepper had on a choker with a brilliant diamond. She had the aura of an ice queen, which was further emphasized with the strapless white knee-length dress she wore, with matching white stilettos. Jeff looked at their final assemble and clapped his hands in delight.

         “Marvelous, both of you! Both of you ladies are dressed to impress tonight. Make me proud. And say hi to Tony Stark for me.”

         “Thank you so much for everything.” Rie bowed to thank him, but he waved it aside.

         “It’s my job, no worries. Now get out there and work it! Show that playboy Stark that you got class.”

         Rie raised her eyebrows again before Pepper pulled her towards the door.

-

“That Jefferson definitely outdid himself tonight,” Tony Stark commented, looking at them both. Rie had to admit that Pepper was downright beautiful as any model in comparison. Pepper caught her eye and they both smirked.

         “Thank you so much for inviting me, Tony, this dinner is simply splendid,” she said. True enough, the entire place was decked with the finest in everything, and celebrities flaunted their designer gowns wherever they went. It was madness.

         “No problem at all,” Tony remarked airily, before taking a sip of champagne. “It’s nothing.”

         Rie drank her glass of apple cider, browsing the hall. This wasn’t so bad; at least she can avoid the alcohol this time.

         A gaggle of girls-presumably models walked towards Tony. Pepper cast her a look and they both stepped towards the side of the wall. They watched as the girls laughed, shimmied and flirted with him shamelessly, completely unaware of the crowd. Tony Stark simply laughed as if he practically enjoyed the attention he was getting.

         “He does that all the time,” Pepper sighed, sipping her own apple cider. “I’m pretty much accustomed to it, although the first few years drove me insane.”

         “I’m in awe that you can put up with it. Hats off to you,” Rie raised her glass.

         She smiled, and they toasted. Rie drank up the last bit of her drink when she thought of something.

         “Pepper, do you…like Tony?”

         “Our relationship is strictly employer and employee,” she said casually. “We’re colleagues in his company, nothing more. Although there have been vicious rumors. Nah, it’s not your fault,” she said, when she saw her face. “It’s normal to ask.”

         “Okay.”

         Apart from all the mingling, the dinner party was rather boring. As Rie wasn’t a part of the 100 people on the list, thankfully she was out of the spotlight, away from the flashing bulbs and cameras, and the press. Tony certainly got the reporters’ attention; he hogged most of the limelight often, answering their rapid-fire questions like a pro. She was glad no one really took notice of her; it would simply summon up a lot of questions and more complications. Besides, she had always been a part of the background, and being able to attend this event was already mind-blowing for someone like her. She was pretty content to sit there and people watch; with celebs and socialites, you just can’t go wrong. Pepper and Rie talked through the night until she felt like she had known her for a long time. They shared their embarrassing work experiences, and even moments when they ahd screwed up big time. They were enjoying themselves in their own way, so much that when it was time to leave, they didn’t know time could fly by so quickly.

         As Rie was driven back to her apartment, she felt the familiar sensation of sleepiness. A yawn came before she had time to stifle it. Tony Stark didn’t miss it, despite the many drinks he had earlier. Not to mention the attention all those females showered upon him.

         “You’re tired.”

         “Well, sort of. But I had a great time, really.” Rie managed a smile, but she was grateful that my makeup concealed the extent of my urge for shuteye. Pepper had insisted on taking a town car back to her own home. Rie had bid her goodbye and gave her a hug, promising that she could give her a call.

         She shifted her focus to the many dancing lights of the city as we passed. Rie turned to the left to get a better view, and realized that he was really staring at me.

         “Mr. St-I mean, Tony?”

         “I never noticed before, how… lovely you look tonight under these lights.”

         Her eyes widened with shock, as if her eyes didn’t appear large enough already. She felt her heart beating with the pace of a bullet train. Why was he saying this? Maybe the alcohol had finally gotten to his head.

         “Actually, you don’t look too bad yourself, Tony. And in case you forgot, everything that I’m wearing is courtesy of you.” Which was true; Tony always managed to look smart, impeccably groomed and dressed, whether it is a press conference or simply an outing.

         He smiled. “I guess so. Rie, you have a quality about you that makes you really sociable. That spark in your personality will turn heads and get you far in your career, I can assure you. You held my attention during that interview, and you certainly are doing it now.”

         She gulped noisily, trying to absorb it. He was actually praising her. Being commented by someone like him raised her mood to greater heights.

         “Thank you, Tony.”

         They sat in silence for a while, until he spoke again.

         “I’m heading for Afghanistan tonight.”

         She stared. “Why for?”

         “A weapons presentation. There is this new weapon that I am selling to the US troops based there. I’ve been doing this, for my father, for my country.”

         Rie had almost forgot that he is the top weapon manufacturer in the world. It was hard to believe that beneath his playboy persona lies a brilliant mind of an inventor. In fact, he sounded a tad bit patriotic.

         “Had anyone told you that you’re the Da Vinci of our time?” she asked.

         He snorted. “Surprisingly, yes. But I said that it’s absolute rubbish. I certainly don’t paint.”

         Rie laughed. He joined in, and they were still chuckling as the limo pulled to a stop in front of my modest apartment. She got out from the car.

         “Good luck with your presentation tomorrow. I’m sure it will be a blast.”

         He laughed. “Good pun. Thank you very much, Rie. I hope to be successful in this; I will need all the luck I can get. Goodnight.”

         “Goodnight to you too.” she paused. “Have a safe flight.”

         They said their goodbyes before Rie watched the limo leave, turning the corner and disappearing from view. She sighed to herself, before walking up the stairs to her comely home that beckoned her towards her own room. Sleep awaited her, and she was about to accept its offer.

-

Later the next day, it was all over the news.

-