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Post by Chris Strongheart on Aug 13, 2006 18:28:30 GMT -5
"Would you excuse me," Christine said softly. "I'd like to powder my nose," she added. She knew Sky would know exactly what she meant by that - that she was fleeing a potentially uncomfortable scenario. And this double date was just that. Uncomfortable.
Ambrose grabbed her arm and roughly jerked her back into her seat when she made move to leave. "Sit," he said in a harsh whisper, not caring about what he had just done in front of Sky. She was going to sit there and do as she was told, and she was not told to leave so she was going to sit there.
Christine gave a startled squeak at the gesture, not having known about Ambrose's rather, ah, colorful side. Her eyes widened and she glanced over to see how Sky would react to the stupidity of Ambrose. But then she remembered that Sky was Alice's date, and while she and Sky were friends, he wasn't about to leap to her rescue.
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Post by Sky on Aug 19, 2006 14:01:27 GMT -5
Watching Ambrose, Sky gritted his teeth, wanting nothing more than to leap to Christine's defense. Silently, however, he reminded himself for the seemingly umpteenth time that night that Christine had been all too clear that she was capable of taking care of herself . . . so if she was going to sit by and let Ambrose treat her like that, what else could he do? Make a big scene and get them kicked out the restaurant? No, he couldn't - not when he had promised not to do anything of the sort. He had promised to be the perfect gentleman and that was exactly what he was going to do even if it killed him.
Biting down hard on his tongue to keep quiet, Sky wiped his mouth with his napkin as he pretended to be completely absorbed by the contents on his plate.
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Post by Chris Strongheart on Aug 19, 2006 14:52:39 GMT -5
"Let me go, Ambrose," Christine said quietly, trying to feel a bit more confident. That was one of the reasons she had liked been with Sky - he wasn't "violent" like Ambrose or any of the other males she encountered, she felt safe with him, even when he had been a werewolf.
Seeing that his gesture had been lost on Sky, Ambrose smiled to himself. Good, he thought to himself. He shot Chris a look, a smug look. "No," he said, before backhanding her. "And I did not give you premission to talk, chit," he said.
Christine pushed away from the table and stood up. "Would you excuse me?" she asked, directing her question to Sky, ignoring Ambrose's glare. "I'm not feeling well."
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Post by Alice on Aug 19, 2006 16:10:06 GMT -5
Her mouth partially agape at the display she had just witnessed, Alice's eyes narrowed slightly before she hissed at Ambrose in a scathingly icy tone when she realized that Sky was too shocked by Christine being slapped to respond, "I would warn you, sir, about doing that again."
Though Alice was usually the picture of a genteel lady, she was no pushover; there were certain things that she simply would not tolerate - such as the outright disrespect of a lady - and when those lines were crossed, her serene exterior would vanish in an instant to be replaced with something cold and formidable - a force to be reckoned with.
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Post by Chris Strongheart on Aug 19, 2006 16:21:11 GMT -5
"And what would a prissy fairy like you do?" Ambrose asked, not caring that he was walking on thin ice with either. "If you've forgotten, she came with me, therefore, what I do with her is my business."
While Ambrose was talking, Christine had beat a retreat to the ladies' washroom. She examined the crimson imprint on her cheek and sighed softly. She had hoped that Sky would have done something, but it was clear that he was Alice's. That thought...
...hurt.
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Post by Alice on Aug 19, 2006 16:31:56 GMT -5
"Prissy?" Alice echoed with a tinkling laugh. Leaning closer, she whispered seductively, "You know, they say that even the most evil of witches have a bit of good in them - in the same vein, even the sweetest, most prissy of fairies have a dark side. Would you care for me to show you?"
Arching a brow, Alice leaned back in her seat as she waited for Ambrose to respond. While she knew that fairies weren't supposed to use their powers for anything bad, she mentally rationalized to herself that what she had in mind for Ambrose didn't technically go against that rule. True, she intended to use her ice freeze on him - something that would without a doubt bring him to his knees in a moment's time to beg her for a little bit of warmth - but he deserved it. If she were to use that particular power on him when unprovoked, that would be wrong. But this . . . this was just . . . teaching him a lesson.
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Post by Sky on Aug 19, 2006 16:38:45 GMT -5
His eyes following Christine until she had disappeared behind the doors to the ladies' room, Sky then turned on Ambrose, as he demanded, his voice becoming louder with each word, "What the hell was that? What would actually possess you to . . . to hit her, you good for nothing piece of scum!" Holding up his hand, Sky continued in a tone of pure disgust, "Now, let me guess - you're going to tell me to butt out because I'm not with Christine. Well, let me tell you something; it doesn't matter whether or not I'm with her. Just because you're taking her out does not give you the right to lay a hand on her like that just as my not dating her does not mean that I don't have the right to call you out on your behavior!"
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Post by Chris Strongheart on Aug 19, 2006 16:39:36 GMT -5
"Somehow I don't believe you," Ambrose said simply to Alice. He snorted in response to Sky's "glorious" speech.
Christine slipped out of the ladies' washroom and made for the exit. She couldn't stay - not now. Dinner had just been a bust. Right now, she could use the alone time...
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Post by Alice on Aug 19, 2006 16:47:37 GMT -5
Seeing that Sky was nearly doubling over from his anger, Alice lightly rested her hand on his arm as she tilted her head in the direction she had seen Christine go. Softly, she said, "Why don't you go see how she is; I can deal with him."
Watching as Sky wavered in indecision before he finally rose from his seat, shoving his chair back loudly in the process, tossed enough money on the table to pay for the dinner and then stormed away from them, Alice then turned her attention back to Ambrose as she said, "Well, then, I suppose I will have to make you a believer, won't I? Care to follow me outside?"
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Post by Sky on Aug 19, 2006 16:50:59 GMT -5
Hurrying outside as he chased after Christine, Sky called out to get her attention, "Hey, where do you think you're going? We need to talk, Chris!"
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Post by Chris Strongheart on Aug 19, 2006 21:18:28 GMT -5
Christine paused midstep and turned to look at Sky, tears of anger and shame spilling down her cheeks, and her face had a bright crimson stain on it from where Ambrose had slapped her.
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Post by Sky on Aug 19, 2006 21:45:09 GMT -5
Drawing to a halt by Christine's side, Sky remained silent for a moment before he said tersely, "What's going on with you? What in the world possessed you to bring him along? I mean, you can't honestly tell me that you didn't know that he was a first-class jerk who doesn't deserve-"
Rubbing his eyes, abruptly realizing that that was probably not the best way to start up a conversation with her, Sky shook his head before he started again, this time in a more gentle tone, "So . . . are you okay? He didn't hurt you too badly, did he?"
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Post by Chris Strongheart on Aug 19, 2006 21:49:59 GMT -5
She wiped her tears away, but some were far too stubborn and refused to leave. "Humilated and sore," she admitted softly. "He did treat me rather roughly, forcing me to sit, slapping me, grabbing my arm none too gently." She held her arm where he had grabbed it - trying to hide a forming bruise. She lowered her head so he couldn't see how miserable she was. "I'm sorry that I ruined your evening with Alice..."
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Post by Sky on Aug 19, 2006 21:55:11 GMT -5
Shrugging lightly as he shoved his hands in his pockets to ward off the slight evening chill, Sky replied, "Don't apologize because we both know that this is all my fault. I mean, I never should have even suggested this night; I was stupid to think that it would actually turn out well."
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Post by Chris Strongheart on Aug 19, 2006 21:57:53 GMT -5
She looked quizzically at him. "What do you mean?" she asked softly, trying to keep that small trace of hope hidden. Sky wasn't hers, would never be hers, she just had to remember that - even if she had hoped otherwise. But with what he was saying... was he implying that *they* had a chance, that *she* had a chance?
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