Author's Note: I don't read TCP (Tales of the Common People) stories myself. So why am I writing one? It's my muse's fault. She lives off of reviews and was desperate to write something so she could see our work on the site again. At least it's got some Rogue/Remy in it. For those of you who are worried about 'Point of Honesty 2: Missions', me and gothic-rogue haven't forgotten about it. It's just a while in coming is all. And I want to mention that in no way did this fic put it's writing on hold.
Disclaimer:
I took to drink one night and my mind became fuzzy and sore.
I decided to take a gamble and lay my X-men on the floor.
The dice weren't in my favor, and with my X-men, Marvel walked out the door.
Needless to day, I don't drink or gamble anymore.
((The Exception to the Rule)) by Christy S.
Diamonds, rubys, emeralds, karrats of gold, worth of silver... I know them all. I
suppose there are far worse jobs in the world. The idea of flipping burgers in some stuffy
fast food restaurant makes me grimace, but even a jewelry store can be boring sometimes.
At least I know the trade. I glance over at the new guy, Tony.
Tony didn´t want to work in the burger biz either. We gave him a crash course in
necklaces, jewels, and whatnot and set him to work. He´s actually pretty good at
distinguishing buyers from lookers. That´s the rule, shoo away the lookers, lure in the
buyers. But, I see that he´s about to make a mistake, and I stop him.
Normally, black jackets, worn trench-coats, and faded jeans mean trouble.
They´re not always lookers, but troublemakers too. Tony knows this. What he doesn´t know
it the exception to the rule.
"Hold up, rookie," I tell him. "This is a customer."
"Customer?" He whispers back, "Bennett, you nuts? He´s got `street´ written all
over him!"
I shake my head and subtly point to the guy´s jacket. "See that insignia? That red
X?"
"Yeah? Some gang sign. What about it?"
"That´s no gang sign. That´s an institute symbol." I continue at his confused
glance. "The folks who wear it, dress pretty casual, but whenever one of them comes in, we
come out a few thousand dollars richer. They go to some fancy school nearby. Strange,
eccentric people, keep to themselves and everything, but usually polite, and they always pay
the big bucks."
I watch Tony´s expression change from disdain to something between respect and
greed. I don´t think any less of him for that last expression. It´s the business.
We glance over at the guy again. He´s taking his time. I smile. I´m a bit of a
softy and I can´t help but notice that he´s looking at the engagement rings. I can imagine him
having a girl who´d want him too. The guy´s got looks to kill for. Chiseled features, thick
auburn hair, slim and muscular build. The funky sunglasses and duster go with the look
pretty well.
He straightens his posture. He´s ready to purchase. I let Tony handle this one.
It´ll be good practice for him.
"How much fo´ dis one?" I see him point to one of our more expensive models.
Wouldn´t expect any less of him. Diamond, set in emeralds, the gold´s practically solid. I
watch Tony tell him the price. The Cajun-accented man doesn´t flinch. Success!
"It´ll go wit´ her eyes..." I hear him murmur to himself, "I´ll buy it." Tony´s
ecstatic by now and trying to hide it. I don´t believe that accadian consumer is fooled for a
minute. He whips out his wallet and Tony´s floating on clouds. Why shouldn´t he? Not
everyday somebody comes in and spends half a million in cash.
I can´t help myself. I honestly can´t. I subtly slide over and stand on my tip-toes
just a bit. I want to see her. As if to grant my wish, he holds the leather money-holder open
as he pays. There´s a picture of the lady. She´s gorgeous. Great body, long reddish-brown
hair, white streaked at that--it looks pretty cool, eyes as emerald as the stones in her
new-bought ring, and her smile is perfect. She looks like she could find joy in anything.
Even something as simple as touch itself. No wonder these institute guys pay so much,
their women are absolute babes!
The man leaves with his girl´s ring. Tony prepares to close up shop. I should
help him, but I daydream instead. Someday, maybe, if I save enough I can go to an institute
like those X-people. Maybe all their women will be pretty, maybe all their money
allowances will be big, maybe their clothes will be comfortable, maybe they´ll save the world with all their donations and charities, and maybe they´ll all secretly be mutants like me. "Yeah, right..." I laugh to myself.
Oh, well. Another day in Tony´s training, another year´s worth of money made in
one night, and another day of hiding who and what I am to the world...
For the record, people, I wrote this story to get reviews. Don't let me labor in vain. [ok, so not exactly labor... I did do this in place of my homework....sooo... MAKE IT WORTH IT, GOOD AND FAITHFUL REVIEWERS!]
Disclaimer:
I took to drink one night and my mind became fuzzy and sore.
I decided to take a gamble and lay my X-men on the floor.
The dice weren't in my favor, and with my X-men, Marvel walked out the door.
Needless to day, I don't drink or gamble anymore.
((The Exception to the Rule)) by Christy S.
Diamonds, rubys, emeralds, karrats of gold, worth of silver... I know them all. I
suppose there are far worse jobs in the world. The idea of flipping burgers in some stuffy
fast food restaurant makes me grimace, but even a jewelry store can be boring sometimes.
At least I know the trade. I glance over at the new guy, Tony.
Tony didn´t want to work in the burger biz either. We gave him a crash course in
necklaces, jewels, and whatnot and set him to work. He´s actually pretty good at
distinguishing buyers from lookers. That´s the rule, shoo away the lookers, lure in the
buyers. But, I see that he´s about to make a mistake, and I stop him.
Normally, black jackets, worn trench-coats, and faded jeans mean trouble.
They´re not always lookers, but troublemakers too. Tony knows this. What he doesn´t know
it the exception to the rule.
"Hold up, rookie," I tell him. "This is a customer."
"Customer?" He whispers back, "Bennett, you nuts? He´s got `street´ written all
over him!"
I shake my head and subtly point to the guy´s jacket. "See that insignia? That red
X?"
"Yeah? Some gang sign. What about it?"
"That´s no gang sign. That´s an institute symbol." I continue at his confused
glance. "The folks who wear it, dress pretty casual, but whenever one of them comes in, we
come out a few thousand dollars richer. They go to some fancy school nearby. Strange,
eccentric people, keep to themselves and everything, but usually polite, and they always pay
the big bucks."
I watch Tony´s expression change from disdain to something between respect and
greed. I don´t think any less of him for that last expression. It´s the business.
We glance over at the guy again. He´s taking his time. I smile. I´m a bit of a
softy and I can´t help but notice that he´s looking at the engagement rings. I can imagine him
having a girl who´d want him too. The guy´s got looks to kill for. Chiseled features, thick
auburn hair, slim and muscular build. The funky sunglasses and duster go with the look
pretty well.
He straightens his posture. He´s ready to purchase. I let Tony handle this one.
It´ll be good practice for him.
"How much fo´ dis one?" I see him point to one of our more expensive models.
Wouldn´t expect any less of him. Diamond, set in emeralds, the gold´s practically solid. I
watch Tony tell him the price. The Cajun-accented man doesn´t flinch. Success!
"It´ll go wit´ her eyes..." I hear him murmur to himself, "I´ll buy it." Tony´s
ecstatic by now and trying to hide it. I don´t believe that accadian consumer is fooled for a
minute. He whips out his wallet and Tony´s floating on clouds. Why shouldn´t he? Not
everyday somebody comes in and spends half a million in cash.
I can´t help myself. I honestly can´t. I subtly slide over and stand on my tip-toes
just a bit. I want to see her. As if to grant my wish, he holds the leather money-holder open
as he pays. There´s a picture of the lady. She´s gorgeous. Great body, long reddish-brown
hair, white streaked at that--it looks pretty cool, eyes as emerald as the stones in her
new-bought ring, and her smile is perfect. She looks like she could find joy in anything.
Even something as simple as touch itself. No wonder these institute guys pay so much,
their women are absolute babes!
The man leaves with his girl´s ring. Tony prepares to close up shop. I should
help him, but I daydream instead. Someday, maybe, if I save enough I can go to an institute
like those X-people. Maybe all their women will be pretty, maybe all their money
allowances will be big, maybe their clothes will be comfortable, maybe they´ll save the world with all their donations and charities, and maybe they´ll all secretly be mutants like me. "Yeah, right..." I laugh to myself.
Oh, well. Another day in Tony´s training, another year´s worth of money made in
one night, and another day of hiding who and what I am to the world...
For the record, people, I wrote this story to get reviews. Don't let me labor in vain. [ok, so not exactly labor... I did do this in place of my homework....sooo... MAKE IT WORTH IT, GOOD AND FAITHFUL REVIEWERS!]