One visit was all it took for the rumours to start to spread... and mere days for them to develop and branch out into many different wild theories about why the ever elusive Theodore Warren had began to show such a intense interest in the office loner, Veronica Young.
Naturally Veronica got wind of what was currently whirling round the rumour mill, most of the unfortunately overheard, perverted concoctions creating a complex urge to bathe in acid. Without a doubt proving that she wasn't the only one that was left feeling uninspired by the reaper lifestyle, but at least she found other means of creative outlets, then the lecherous brain spawns that hovered around the cafeteria as off late.
Speaking of which, it was one of those outlets that she was currently spending her day off occupying her mind with... laying on her stomach at top of the office building, face softly scrunched in concentration as her hand flitted across the paper before her, translated what her eyes observed onto it.
Drawing had always been a favour past time, ever since one of her oldest friend had taken her out into the countryside and started to tutor her in the once great practice. But much like lifestyle, the scenery was somewhat uninspiring... a monochrome mass of grey buildings, anal-retentively neat and clutter free walkways, and otherwise colourless surrounds... even the first light of day did very little to improve it's depressing mundanity.
Signing deeply, Veronica flopped on her back, looking up at the morning sky... "October, already..." she muttered, frowning up at the overcast sky, she always hated the cold weather... it just served as a reminder of just how alone she was. As well as resurfacing old memories... she had met the love of her life, Samuel, in winter, his presence bringing a needed warm summer breeze to a particularly crisp November.
Her train of thought was interrupted by a brisk clearing of her throat, the source of which was current watching her with a look of mildest interest, a good looking male reaper with pulled back dirty blonde hair, dark grey suit, white shirt and silver tie.
"Yes..." she grumbled as she reluctantly sat up
"Sorry to interrupt... well whatever you was doing... but I was ordered to find you and ask you to pass on this letter" the man reasoned, holding out a cream envelop for her to take, which she did promptly "to you're new fancy man, Theodore Warren" he teased, not being about to resist having a bit of a dig.
"That man is nothing to me... now shoo before I kick you in your little man..." she threatened, scowling at him, silently daring him to laugh at her...
He raised an eyebrow at her "oh sparky, I like that... if he's nothing to you, how about you let me take you out for dinner sometime?"
"Not interested..." Veronica stated, gathering up her things, slipping them into her bag, she took off, walking to the edge of the building, jumping down and landing perfectly at the bottom.
Leaving the reaper standing on the roof, slack jawed... a reasonable reaction considering the building stood at over 40 floors off the ground...
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After collecting Theo's card from her office, Veronica took off in pursuit of the location of his shop... which was surprisingly easier to find then expected, and before she knew she was stood staring up at his bolder then brass undertaker's sign.
Sighing lightly, she ventured inside, the front door swinging open to the touch... a ancient, tinny sounding bell rung out as the light breeze that followed her in disturbed the top layer of dust and caused the heavily melted, collections candles' flames to flicker.
His dimly lit, dusty domain consisted of coffins of various sizes precariously strew across the floor, with several leant against the walls, with a large oak desk marking the three quarter mark of the shop and seemly marking the cut off point for the customers. Cupboards and cabinets stood behind the desk, cluttered with vast amounts of; containers, jars and jugs containing miscellaneous liquids, piles of equipment and a limbless anatomy mannequin, all of the above was generously decorated with cobwebs. Leaving only enough room in between the furniture on the back wall for a door sized red velvet curtain, which could be assumed to be the entrance to Theodore's inner sanctum...
"Be right there, dear customer~" Theo's voice giggled from beyond the curtain
Taking that as a challenge, she slipped the letter on his desk in complete silence and retreated out of the front door within half a minute... going completely unnoticed or so she thought.
Deciding since she was already here, she might as well run a few errands she had been meaning to do for the last week or so, but due to having late night assignments constantly only served to throw a spanner into her plans...
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Last stop was the craft shop, to collect some well needed materials, a few new quills, two pots of blue and red ink, so she could mix herself up her customary purple ink, which served to annoy William to no end, brightening any particularly dull day.
Upon deciding to treating herself to a new set of charcoals, chalk... she stood scrutinizing the collections of sketching paper when a shadow crossed her own...
"It's not nice to come into someone's home slash place of work and not even stop long enough to say hello" a far too familiar voice whined down her ear, making her jump and instinctively lash out, punching him in the nose...
"Damn it Theo... don't sneak up on me like that..." she exclaimed, his sudden appearance putting her on edge.
"My poor nose" he whimpered sadly, rubbing the slightly red feature "you should kiss it better after that blatant assault..."
"Like hell I should!" she exclaimed putting her free hand on her hip, "you should just be glad I didn't do more then just dent it"
He chuckled lightly "well, you can't blame a man for trying..." he teased, shrugging it off as scrunching his nose, wiggling it let and right to check for damage.
"Oh believe me you can... especially after the rumours you have caused..."
A wide grin split his face, "you mean the ones about how you're my bit on the side~" he giggled, resting an arm on her shoulder...
Veronica simple growled at him...
"I personally find it flattering, for after all you are a terribly comely creature, m'dear~ I think we would make a very handsome couple~" he chuckled, rubbing his check on hers playfully.
"I suggest you but a sock in it before I stage another attempt to I break your 'poor' nose..." she warned with a pointed scowl, swatting at him.
He snickered "I'm just kidding darling~" he teased, gently poking her nose, before stepping back, leaning on the wall in between displays, sobering up mildly before continuing "reaper gossip has a tendency of blowing over rather quickly, so I wouldn't worry about being considered my little office playmate too much if I was you"
Veronica simply nodded curtly, going back to her current decision...
"You may take away my reality, but I will always have the my dreams of our bodies sweetly intertwining~" he mused, in a mock dreamy fashion, placing his hand over his heart... something he knew would grab her attention in a amusing way.
Veronica's head snapped up, giving him a bewildered look... causing him to chuckle as he wondered off, to the wood paints, grinning to himself.
Shaking her head, she walked over to the till, handing over her things to the sales clerk, who quickly totted it all up asking for payment, whilst jotting it down in a ledger, opening the till before handing back change. Glancing over at Theo, who was pretty engrossed in examining the paint display, she left clutching her things to her chest as she took off down the street, disappearing into the shadows.
Theo stood chuckling to himself as he watched her go out of the corner of his eye, she really was a curious creature... he could most certainly get used to having her around.
