SLIGHTLY EDITTED as of 12.12.06
A/N: Oh my god. You guys reviewed so fast I nearly had a heart attack when I came home! Made me feel so warm inside (even though I'm freezing my tush off right now). Ok now…time to bs another chapter for you guys. Hehe, hopefully I won't start typing and then delete, type, delete, type, redo, delete, and give up. I really hate that. I finish the author's notes on the day I plan to write it but then I put it off for a week or so then cram it all on one day. It's a horrible cycle because I end up being so close to finishing a chapter that I end up staying up really late (when I haven't even started my homework) and blah blah. I'm rambling again so on to the type-and-delete cycle I go!
P.S. – I'm wondering if you guys prefer me to refer to Rosette as Rosette or as her respective mask. For now, I'll just go with what I feel like unless there are complaints. OH! And another thing. Just to clear any misunderstandings up, when I meant that "Darryl" was skinny and stuff, I didn't mean scrawny or anything. Just think about how the guys from Juvenile Orion are like for example. It's something like that. Yup, very metro and sexy even if they are skinnier than me :) Actually, maybe one of these days, I'll draw it out for you guys but then again, it's easier to think about how Joshua looks, except skinnier and shorter.
12.08.06 (9 days later…) – Uh shit. I knew this would happen. I should really try and finish this now…
12.11.2006 – Someone shoot me.
Disclaimer: You know the drill.
Rating: T+ for (very) bad language (there's lots too) and suggestive themes (I think)
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The Heartbreaker
Chapter 4: A Brunch and Incessant Calls
They stared at each other for what seemed like a lifetime.
The violet-haired male closed his eyes and rested his other hand on his forehead. It was becoming awfully hard to breathe as the person on top of him pushed deeper into his lungs. He couldn't breathe and by God, he couldn't see either. Was it his imagination or was the person on top of him really a guy? Maybe she was a really manly girl? He wanted to barf at the thought of it and so he flushed it from his mind immediately. He felt a stab at his chest and instinctively gasped for air, trying to suppress it greatly as to not cause a scene although by now, that was much too late.
Darryl on the other hand, blinked wearily at the pretty amber eyes that had just hidden themselves behind a pair of lids. She yawned and then tried to push herself off the poor guy but only succeeded in digging her elbows deeper into his chest. The guy's chest was rising slower and slower until it seemed like it wasn't moving at all. She could feel it, the weakening heartbeat beneath the slightly ragged clothes and the dawdling pace of his breath. Had it not been nearly three in the morning, she would've instantly jumped off the suffocating body but she was just too tired herself, and without thinking, complied with the warmth rising from underneath him. She lowered her head with jerking motions towards the crook of the young male's neck, feeling relieved that she would finally be able to ease the nabbing yearning for some shut-eye. However, that case was not solved so easily.
What hit Darryl square in the face was not the bliss of sleep but the fist of a very unhappy guy, and a strong one at that.
"What the fuck?!"
Chairs and stools alike tumbled all over the place like bowling pins as Darryl collided with them. The unnamed male scrambled to his feet with a look of pure disgust on his face. He frantically brushed off the front of his clothes as if the plague had just brushed pass him. Satella on the other hand, screamed and rushed to Darryl's side and helped her sit up.
"Darryl! Oh my god, are you ok?!" She bit back a wave of pain as she bent forward.
"Do I LOOK ok?" she retorted. What a bastard! Why she ought a…
Her thoughts of revenge were interrupted by a snort from the other party.
"You there, girly boy," he said, "what the hell were you thinking? Don't tell me you're gay or something 'cause that's just damn gross."
"What?!" Darryl shouted indignantly.
Darryl was absolutely shocked and outraged. Even as a boy, no one had actually tried…no, at least managed to land a real hit on her face, let alone any other part of her. She licked her bloodied lips and pushed off the wall to lunge at him but was instantly pushed back down. Satella stood up and glared at the male.
"Hey buster. Who do you think you are, throwing around my customer and beating him up huh? Do you have any business here other than chasing my customers out?!" she spat.
He recoiled at her fierce look and softened his expression. Mothers always told their sons to be nice to girls, even if he hadn't seen his in years or the girl was being particularly PMS-ish.
"Sorry about that. He just happened to attack-
"I don't care! What kind of man are you to actually punch someone who wasn't even half-awake?!"
Darryl sat there with her eyes half open staring dazedly at the scene. There she goes again…Who knew boys could punch so hard. And all this time, she thought all their fights were just a bunch of sissy brawls. Hopefully her face wouldn't bruise or anything. She was going to down her makeup twice as fast now just to cover up something so big, not to mention that it was placed in the most convenient spot for the world to see.
"Well don't just stand there. Apologize to him!" Satella pointed, her voice coming back into focus.
"Sorry, but no."
She stomped her foot angrily and snapped her fingers at the two bouncers standing by. Genai shrugged and stepped away from the wall while Viede cracked his knuckles menacingly.
Shit, not good. This was asking for too much. Darryl painfully pushed herself into a standing position.
"W-Wait, it's ok." she heaved, waving them away. "I'll deal with it."
Genai raised an eyebrow at the stumbling boy and smirked. He pressed a hand on her shoulder, pushing her back to the ground.
"Back off kid. You don't know who you're dealing with."
She turned and bit his hand.
"Yowch! What the-?!" he yelled.
"To hell with who he is. He's my problem so YOU back off jerk." she replied angrily, letting go of his flesh.
Genai twitched. In a flash, he swung back his arm to punch the living daylights out of the asshole but the contact never came. Satella had jumped in front of Darryl with wide arms while Viede strapped him back from moving. Not only had they jumped in front of him but the stranger had also managed to slip in at the last nanosecond in front of Satella, cupping Genai's closed fist.
"Tch, whatever," he muttered and turned around to leave.
Suddenly, he was jerked back to face the person who had just pulled him back. He swore this time he was going to beat up whoever dared to stop him. He was going to smash his lip to pieces. He was going to-
…be hit like a hurt puppy. His eyes widened as Satella bore her betrayed expression into his skull. She reached out towards his face and he shut them tight wondering what she was going to do to him.
Smack!
"Don't EVER do that again! You could've killed him!" she cried. "I…I…just get out of my face!"
Her hair whipped 360 degrees as she spun on her heel into her personal office. He stared at her back as she left with his hand resting on his reddened cheek. Damn it, damn it all! Genai gave one last death glare at Darryl and stomped out of the club, tearing off his creased jacket. Viede muttered and headed for the backroom leaving they guy and Darryl alone in the otherwise empty club.
Darryl whistled. "Well, that was pretty heated, wouldn't you say? He really needs to stop picking fights with me."
The guy smirked in response. "Seems like trouble follows you a lot."
She huffed, pushing herself up again.
"As if. You're the troublemaker," she mumbled.
He grabbed her arm to help her up. When she had brushed off whatever debris she could shed, the guy offered a hand.
"I'm…" he paused, thinking. "I'm Daemon Sumner. You're quite interesting, I must say."
Darryl hesitated and stared at the hand. She looked up at his still smirking face and felt like going for another round. But she didn't react and instead, took his hand and shook it.
"I'm Darryl. Very nice to meet you," she said sardonically. How similar their names were…in a way. She had to admit, it was pretty freaky.
He grasped her hand firmly, noting that it was quite small. He observed Darryl for a few quick seconds pondering about his scrawny appearance. How the heck could he get the attention and favor of a girl like that red-head? Darryl let go of his hand and flushed slightly at the elongated hold. She turned around and started to pick up the chairs when Daemon cleared his throat. She turned back to him, cocking her head.
"Um, about earlier…"
"Don't worry about it. I'm used to it." NOT.
Darryl shook her head and lifted a chair into its sitting stance. She then repeated the same process with the next few stools.
"I feel kind of bad for punching you and I'm not busy tomorrow. Want to hang out for lunch?"
"Mm…" she mumbled, too busy thinking about other things, like what to do with this aching sore she now had to deal with.
"…but you'll have to pick the place." He scratched his head wonderingly. "I'm pretty much a foreigner here and all…" he trailed off, watching the boy pick up the empty place. Odd, he thought. "You work here?"
She dropped the chair.
"What? Nooo no no. Of course not. Do I look like some kind of bartender or something?"
Daemon looked her up and down again and smirked.
"Yea."
"Bastard."
She attempted to swing at him again but he held her at bay by the forehead and just chuckled.
"That's pathetic. You should really work on your throws or you might find yourself as dead meat before you even realize it."
Darryl made an indignant noise and proceeded with cleaning up.
"So 1 p.m. tomorrow?"
"That's fine. We can go to Jay's across the street," she said tactlessly.
"Okay."
She sifted through some of the cushions, puffing them up as much as possible. It took her a moment to register that she had a busy shift tomorrow. At the café. At 1 p.m. Crap!
"Wait!" she yelled, wheeling around but he was gone. Oh fiddlesticks! If she took a break day, that'd leave Azmaria with all the work. The poor girl already did a load even with her share of the work when she was busy negotiating with clients or out on pickpocketting dates. She cursed, finished with tidying, and headed out the door.
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"Hello?"
"…"
"Yes I would like to speak to Nancy please."
"…"
"Oh, hi Azzy! Yea, um…about that…"
"…?"
"No! Erm, actually yes. I have a lunch out with someone."
"…?"
"Oh yes, I made sure to have him come to the café."
"…?!"
"OF COURSE IT'S NOT A DATE! Sheesh Azzy. I don't have time for that kind of stuff, unlike you though."
"…!"
"Ahahaha don't worry! I'll find you a nice boy sometime."
"…!!!"
"Calm down calm down. Don't have a heart attack now. But anyways, do me a favor will you?"
"…?"
"Make sure you don't do anything weird okay? I'm coming as a guy."
"…"
"Okay bye Az. I'll see you in three hours. Oh yea, apologize to Nancy for me too? 'Kay thanks!" Click.
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Jennings Opperman
World's Best Make-up
9601 E. Gorge Rd.
Lombarda, N.Y. 10235
Ms. Tessa Ellingson
Apt. 11
1109 N. Dixon Place
New York, N.Y. 10016
November 5, 2006
Dear Ms. Ellingson:
Thank you for evaluating our products last month as well as your recommendations. I really appreciate the advice you have given us and the workers.
Regarding this letter, I have received quite a surprise from a close friend and she happened to give me your business card. It is quite charming, might I add. However, I don't think I quite understand the business that you run and hope that you would like to join me for dinner on November 25 at the Pandemonium Palace Casino to further discuss your services. If you have any regrets or cannot make it, please contact me at (718) 295-3622. I look forward to seeing you again.
Yours sincerely,
Jennifer Opperman
------------------------------
"Rosette!" a little girl squealed, running smack dab into Darryl's waist. She smothered her face into her torso and Darryl patted her head lovingly in response. "You're actually here on time." Azmaria gasped. "I-Is it because of that…really handsome boy?"
Darryl coughed. She pounded her chest a few times to catch her breath when a wad of paper flew at her face.
"HEY NUMBSKULL! What's with that get-up?! Change into your work uniform already!"
Ugh, she knew it was going to be like this. Nancy, her cool but cruel manager never seemed to want to believe that she ever took any day off. Every day was a work day. Work work work, and eating and playing was for the rich, which she was not. Darryl sighed and eyed Azmaria warily. Azmaria straighten up and bowed her head with her eyes shut as to avoid eye contact with Darryl.
Sorry Rosette!
"Move it girl! We have things to do, people to serve, things to kill-"
"So this is what this part of New York is like," a familiar rich voice said.
All three girls, or two girls and one boy looked over their shoulders at the newcomer. Their reaction was the same. They all ran to him and gestured towards separate tables.
"Good day sir!" they trilled together. "Please have a seat here."
Daemon stepped back baffled at the anxious waitresses (and boy). Nancy bopped Darryl over the head with her clipboard.
"Idiot!" she hissed.
"Woops…"
Darryl began to laugh nervously as she sat herself down too. Daemon raised an amused eyebrow at the strange boy. The sight of him wearing a pretty beret and a smart outfit was quite hilarious as well and contributed much to Daemon's belief that this guy not only got on well with girls, but he dressed and acted like one too. Hopefully he didn't get attracted to every single thing a girl did or that'd spell trouble…for him. He leaned back comfortably and smiled up at the young pale girl. She blushed and opened her mouth to speak but before she could, Nancy cut her off and pushed her aside. She yanked Darryl off her seat and nodded apologetically at Daemon before pushing her inside the restaurant.
"Ooh bitch! Why are you on a date with such a hottie?!" Nancy complained.
"If this was even a real date, I'd be dress as a girl!" Darryl whacked her.
"Then hurry up and change and get to work on these tables!!" She waved at the chattering customers waiting for their orders.
"So you can serve him? No way!" Darryl slipped out of her grapple, ran outside, and sat back down. "Ahem, sorry about the rude interruption." She shot Nancy the evil eye through the glass.
"Something happen?" Daemon looked at her amusedly.
"N-No." she stuttered. She nearly forgot why she was sitting there when she saw Azmaria still standing there holding her writing pad and blushing madly. "OH Azzy, I'll have my usual. You, Daemon. You have to try the tuna sandwiches here. They're fa-abulously scrumptious. Get that for him Az. Hm…drink? I'll just get ice tea. What would you like Daemon?"
Whoa. He blinked at her and checked her torso for any sign of breathing. He saw that she wasn't heaving from her one-breath sentence and cleared his throat.
"Any soda is fine thanks."
Darryl followed his eyes and pinpointed where he had been looking. Her heart skipped a beat and she slowly leaned back and crossed her arms over her chest in hopes that it would draw attention away or at least hide them. Was her flat corset not so flat anymore…? Maybe she should get a check-up soon. Or maybe not. She imagined the old geezer who helped her with her gears and devices and shook the illustration of him grinning lecherously and fingering her breasts out of her mind. No need for unpleasant thoughts now. Due to a sudden nervous strike, she crossed her legs then uncrossed them, remembering that boys don't cross their legs that way. She then re-crossed her legs the "manly" appropriate way.
Daemon watched the boy fidget uneasily, shaking his foot, uncrossing his legs again, then crossing them the other way. It was rather dizzying. He turned his attention to the inconspicuous black double doors across the street and stared at it for awhile before studying the rest of the street. This was a reasonably nice neighborhood, he thought. It would probably be good to settle here for some time…
Riiiiing. Beep. Beep. Beep. Riiiiiiing. Beep. Beep. Beep.
"Oh, hold on a sec. I need to take this call," said Darryl. She pulled the phone out of her pocket and walked away a fair distance from the table. "Hello?"
"Hey Rosette! It's Mary."
Darryl snapped the phone shut. Damn annoying girl. That was what? The 23rd call this week? She walked back to the table and sat back down as Azmaria served the food and drinks.
"Important call?" he asked.
"I wish," she replied, then paused. "N-Not like I'm trying to avoid you or anything or whatever. It's just that I have some things to do and such that I have to take care of them and some people need me for some other things and also I have to attend meetings and-"
Daemon set down his can of Pepsi firmly.
"You're mumbling."
"No I'm not."
"Believe what you want," he shrugged.
"I will thanks. I'll-"
Riiiiiiiing. Beep. Beep. Beep. Riiiiiiiing. Beep-
Darryl flipped the cell open.
"What do you want now?" she asked exasperatedly.
"Rosette, I'm serious now!"
"So am I!" she complained into the receiver.
"Well I'm more serious. Have you gotten contact with him yet?"
"For the last time, I told you NO. That guy's like security tight or something. Maybe his secretary is hiding him, I don't know. She keeps fucking telling me he's not available."
"Please try?"
"Why are you so impatient? It's not like you're going to die in 2 weeks or whatnot."
"It's Christmas."
"…That's not for another 2 months," Darryl grumbled.
"Come on. It's a romantic time of year. I'll extend the pay for however long it takes if you do it efficiently."
"Fine fine. Don't you dare forget it. Just stop calling me so much." Click.
Darryl stuffed the phone back into her pocket and grinned at the sandwich on her plate, waiting to be lavishly eaten. She was about to dig in when Daemon interrupted.
"You know, the tuna sandwich really is good."
"Well duh. I made the specific recipe. You better like it."
He chuckled and continued eating. They ate in silence and as usual, Darryl finished first. She pulled out her cell phone again while sipping her drink. Daemon looked up but she waved a "Don't mind me" in his direction. She punched in a recently remembered number and waited for the same aggravating female voice to greet her.
"Hello, this is the Pandemonium household and casino. May I ask what your name is and whom you wish to speak?"
Darryl rolled his eyes. No you may not stupid. "Hi, I'm Darryl-"
"I'm sorry sir but Mr. Pandemonium is not here currently. Please call again another time," she interrupted (not so) politely and hung up.
She could tell by the tone in the girl's voice that she was practically screaming, "Don't ever call again!" Ugh, it was now or never. She dialed the number against and listened impatiently to the ring tone.
"Hello, this is the Pandemonium household and casino. May I ask what your name is and whom you wish to speak?"
Didn't she ever get tired of saying that? Maybe the girl was actually a recorded and she had fallen for it the whole time!
"Hey, I don't get why every time I call, that scumbag is never there. Did he get assassinated or something? I seriously need to chat with him. I'll be homeless with no fucking food if I don't get to at least get a chance to talk to him. Get him on the fucking phone before I run in there and blow up the entire place!"
The phone went silent excluding the muffled, static-like rustling.
"Uh…hello?" Darryl freaked out. Oh why did she have to go and say that?! She could feel it. The girl was going to call security, the FBI, and possibly even the army to trace the call, capture her, and take her to jail! They'd think she was a terrorist or they might put her in an insane asylum. Or even worse, when they take her in and strip her, they'll think she's a sadistic mental psychopath that doesn't even know her own gender and put her under intensive care undergoing several lab tests to pull her brain out and observe how exactly a double gendered-thinking person thinks!! Darryl wailed silently biting her lip anxiously but waited either way. Daemon watched the show intently finding that his facial expressions were beyond anything he'd ever seen any guy make. He laughed internally and made a mental note to never let the guy live down anything embarrassing he caught Darryl doing. Suddenly, the voice zipped back on.
"Actually, the truth is…he's missing," she whispered.
"Missing?!" Darryl yelled back.
"SHHH! No one's supposed to know except people who're related or have business with him."
"Well I have business with him too. What makes them so special that I can't know either?"
The girl on the other line tried to hush Darryl more and lowered her voice even further. "He wasn't kidnapped or anything, or at least we don't think so. He just disappeared one day and his parents think someone's holding him for ransom but hasn't showed up yet. Personally, I'd say he ran away. It's pretty high pressure to work here, but even worse as a member of the family."
"Huh…then why are YOU working there, being so damn annoying on the phone?" Darryl heard her growl lightly.
"Because I need this job. It pays well. Anyways, that's none of you business. Now that you know where he is, I mean what happened to him, stop calling. You're not going to get through to him this way," she urged.
"How am I sure you're not lying," Darryl asked suspiciously. The girl sighed.
"Well I can't exactly prove it now, can I? They'll have my head if I reveal anything to anyone."
"That's too late now don't you think?"
"You know what I mean. Now stop calling."
"Sure thing toots."
"…" Click.
Daemon sniggered at the last comment as well as the bewildered expression on his face.
"Got dumped huh?" he teased.
"Please, spare me." Darryl rolled his eyes again. "Sorry hold on, one last call."
"Take your time." He leaned back sipping his drink, ready to eavesdrop on yet another intriguing conversation.
Darryl dialed in another number and held the phone to his ear waiting again. Daemon leaned back on the back two legs of the chair. He watched Darryl listen, pull the phone away to punch in a number, listen again, pull away, and punch in yet another number. This went on a few more times when his face suddenly lit up.
"Hello! Lost and Found?" Darryl asked cheerfully. "Would you happen to have possession of a Mr. Chrono Pandemonium?"
Daemon's chair landed on all fours as he lurched forward, spraying his drink.
-End Chapter 4-
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A/N: I'm soooo sorry this is so absolutely late! I went off on a serious tangent in life (not including school) and did other things but write. Arg I feel guilty. I know this chapter isn't as long as some other peoples' but it's near to twice my usual length so spare me :( Anyways, I hope you guys liked this chapter as well and now I must go and review all those stories I meant to review which I haven't done yet.
Sorry, no preview this time since I'm BS-ing once again!