So I've decided to make a Modern AU one-shot of Aria and Thorin whilst I wait in the parking lot. I have a whole bunch of crap to do so Time to Shine will most likely be updated by Monday next. Lots of love; please leave a review if you enjoyed it!
A Page a Day
x That very afternoon x
"You have to come with me! It's just for one night, you're not busy tomorrow, I'll even pay your entrance fee too!"
"Sean, it's free, ladies night, remember? So let's be serious just for a second, alright?" You could practically feel his green eyes widening in his hyped up state.
"How do you EVEN know that? You barely leave that hovel of literature and oak." He is teasing, this hovel has been in your mother's family since the dawn of time, "Do you not know how popular club Draki is? The owner Terry Smaug is going to host the party of the year tomorrow night! There are going to be so many hot…um…intelligent and classy females there, please say yes?"
You huff, blowing your overgrown fringe out of her eyes. Honestly, this guy. Moving your mobile to the other ear, you begin wiping down the last of the oak shelves. Who knew that owning a bookstore would make one addicted to furniture polishing? Or chunky knit sweaters for that matter? That Ori Risona was one heck of a sustainable designer, who else would have been able to get that kind of comfort out of silk/recycled plastic fiber knitwear?
"Ria? Ria? Are you still there? If you don't respond in 0.6 seconds then I will take that as a 'yes', unconsciousness is a form of consent, ya know?" Sean hollered from the tiny speaker bringing you out of the impromptu reverie resulting in the mad juggle of mobile, rag and can of polish, eventually taking their places to scatter across the floor and land under the counter. "Shit balls!"
"Ria, are you okay? Do I need to send you a Life Alert or something? That bookshelf ladder is freakin ancient, I've always told you it would cave one day. Are you still alive? Blink once for yes and twice for no. Did you blink?" Letting him rant whilst you try to reach his mellow baritone voice coming from under the register counter, the bells chime for a customer, whose heavy footsteps echo across the small store. "Welcome! Just…can you hold on for a second, I'll be with you in a...ahh…a jiffy. Feel free to browse if you'd like, a new shipment came in if you'd want to look," pointing with your unoccupied hand towards the general area of the door. Your muffled voice then turns into a triumphant "AHAH!" accompanied by a small happy dance equivalent to what Sean calls a 'cat on crack' dance.
A deep rumble, resembling a chuckle of amusement, makes its way over to a certain someone's ears freezing you in place, slowly looking up you find you are staring into a pair of intense blue eyes in the mirror above the register. You let out a weak chuckle, but before you could even turn around and blush in embarrassment the door chimed once more.
A voice more suited to baby talking to a small dog rather than a grown man piped up, "Ohh! Babykins, this is where Dis-sah," the pronunciation is butchered, with flailing hands she is pointing out a worn-in brown leather armchair settled amongst a persian tapestry and stacks of free bookmarkers for the kiddos who visit, "said to pick up her…books?"
That chair is softer than butter and stuffed more than your boobs thank you very much you want to retort, instead you speak quickly to Sean, "I'll call you back, but count me in, Draki on Ered Luin and Fornost, right? See you then!" Hanging up, you turn to the couple, you were not expecting such blue eyes to be framed by such dark, luscious hair only to be attached to such a majestic profile in a broad, virile body. And the lips! Oh lordy! This man could stop traffic! The woman clinging to his arm is beautiful in that platinum blonde, big boobs, and size zero look, you bet she is nice when she's not trying too hard and when she eats something heartier. The woman glares daggers at you. Hmm, maybe not. He slightly moves away from her with a cringe.
Pasting on a smile, you greet them with a soft "Hello, what's can I do for you?" You feel his eyes taking you in from head to toe. Tugging on your emerald green sweater to hide the oil stains in your jeans from the last time you tuned up your bike, you brush back your messy black locks behind your ears. No matter what style you put it up in it has a mind of its own. Then you panic when you remember your scar, which spreads from your eyebrow to your cheek, it still lingers from the time you were 5 years old and you climbed the bookshelf ladder and fell. The man, in his sharp leather jacket and jeans decides to step closer, with a small crinkle of his eyes he looks right into your brown eyes, "I'm here to pick up an order. By the name of Disa Durinson?" The voice is velvet, deep, and soothing. With a shiver, you nod, almost breaking you neck and immediately scurry to the back mailroom where all packages arrive from the book distributors. Finding a rather large package, and heft it onto the dolly. With a huff of satisfaction in getting the monster on the dolly, you wheel it out. He is on bent knees looking at the sword collection you have inside the glass paned counter display, you admit that you have odd hobbies, and he has a nice bum.
You are always on the lookout for more to add, so when he states non-chalantly that he has "an antique single-edged blade named Orcrist, it has a large tooth pommel, some say it's a dragon tooth" you immediately fall in love with him. You give him a huge smile, which he returns and you both talk swords and smithing techniques for a few minutes until you hear,
"Hey book girl, do you have Vogue or Cosmo here? I'd like to see the new... tips," the woman says with a smirk, making eyes at Mr. Tall Dark and Handsome. Feeling somewhat awkward you clear your throat and shift your eyes from her mooning clock to his stern face, seeing red spots burning above his impressive stubble. "Umm, no sorry. But I have some Ovidia Yu and Ruth Rosen if you'd like." Poor thing looks so confused, she looks at you like you have grown another head, looking up to Mr. TDH you see the corners of his mouth turn up, apparently 2 out of the 3 of you know what's up. Your gaze travels back to Miss Cosmo when she lets out a screech to rival ring wraiths when Mr. TDH says firmly, eyes blazing, "Victoria, can you wait in the car? I'd like to finish up here before the store closes." It is almost 3, you close at 4. Victoria, apparently, hears the silent command, and stalks off in her 5-inch stilettos leaving scratches in the wood floor, with a final slam of the door she disappears around the corner. He offers an apologetic smile.
"Umm… do you by chance have a rather large boot? I don't think this beast can be carried." Seeing the astonished look on his face at the sheer size of it when he finally glances at it, he nods. Good.
You shake your head, "Okay. Hmm. Well it was very nice to meet you!" Before he turns you quickly utter, "Can you sign this before you go, Mr..." While waiting for him to answer you quickly go around the counter and take out the receipt ledger, all of the order forms and receipts are already in the package, but you like to keep record of how many people order, for statistics purpose only. Not to keep him in your store any longer than necessary. Strictly business.
"Durinson. Thorin Durinson. Mrs…" he questions with a small knowing smirk while he signs the ledger. "It's Ms. Edgewater. Aria Edgewater." You reply with a blush, scuffing the floor with worn out boots. You see a large tanned hand with long, strong fingers sliding the book back to you. On the slip you see his name and number written in solid curves and flowing lines. Faster than lightening you look up and see a hopeful expression on his face, the stern look from earlier is gone and you see a glimmer of amusement in his eyes.
Then you remember Victoria, as vain and vapid as she is, the Girl Code has to be honored. Can a man this majestic really be so…so arrogant in thinking that just because he has a handsome mug he can pull any girl? Like you father? you think. With darkening eyes you ask him, "And what about Victoria?" He looks confused and with a loud guffaw that surprises you he begins to laugh so hard he has to support himself on the counter…was that a giggle?
You don't appreciate being laughed at, at all. "And what is so funny, Mr. Durinson?" you huff in irritation, your cheeks turn peachy, your bronze skin does not allow it to be brighter than necessary. He calms at that, a small smile spreads on his face and he runs a hand through his hair. Can I be that hand? "What is so funny, is that you think that I would be a relationship with Bridezilla over there." He says with a chuckle. "What? Bridezilla? But she was all over you!" you exclaim in frustration. You really think you should go out more if you can't distinguish peacocking signals of the sexes.
"Well, apparently, my sister, Disa, is indisposed as the head bridesmaid with the flu. Her 8 and 12 year old boys, Fillian and Killian, brought home a bug, so I was commanded to step in for the day. Not what I was looking forward to but I get a dinner out of it with a beautiful woman," before you can utter a smart retort he interjects swiftly, "if you're willing, of course." he says a bit sheepishly at admitting he's practically an emergency bridesmaid. He is absolutely adorable. Not a single thought goes through your brain when your hands grab his jacket and pull him to you lips. He is surprised, but when you feel his lips move in a smile, you sigh at the feel of the kiss deepening. After a few minutes you break apart dazed, he blinks his eyes, fluttering his thick inky lashes.
You lick your lips, he stares. "Well, Thorin," he perks up at his name, "I think that it would be…great. I'm off at 4." You had him your store card, you hastily wrote you number on the back. He gives you a wide white toothed smile that rivals the sun and all you can think of is that the owner of a 'hovel of literature and oak' has a hot date. Picking up the monster of a package like nothing he smiles again, moving closer, "We're definitely not going to dinner, we are going to the circus that just arrived."
"Oh, is that so?"
"Yes, a girl who kisses like that needs cotton candy and prizes. Preferably won by me," he says with a gaze at your lips, "especially a girl who rides a motorbike." Thorin's eyes slide to your helmet and jacket behind the counter. His deep baritone whisper makes your bones turn into mush. You lean in and whisper, "and then are you going to show me your sword?" His eyes widen and he laughs throatily, his cereulean eyes are full of promises, "only if you're a good girl." You plan on it.