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Post by Ashlin Thomas on Nov 9, 2010 19:22:33 GMT -8
Time: Afternoon
Weather: Sunny
Warnings: None
Characters: Ashlin Thomas & Michael/Mr.Stewart
Ashlin hummed happily as she went about her work. She had just gotten her first shipment of books and she was sorting through them. It was mostly novels, though there were a few nonfiction scattered in there. She expected the rest of her inventory would be arriving in the next few days. Ashlin had decided to go with healthy mix of genres until she found what sold best here in Greenvale. Books sorted and inventoried Ash decided it would probably be best to get back to her painting. She'd had a nice tea break sorting but there wasn't much she could do as long the walls needed painting.
The room was in something of a disarray at the moment. The bookcases had been moved toward the center of the room, the ground was covered in tarps to protect the wood floors, there were boxes of books sitting around the counter (she'd need to move those to the backroom soon but the paint by the storeroom door was still wet) and only one and a quarter of the walls were covered in light blue paint she'd settled on so far. In all honestly Ashlin probably had about as much paint of herself as the walls did. Luckily years of ruined clothes from her various projects had left her with plenty of clothes appropriate for painting in and the slightly baggy jeans she wore already had paint on them from other projects, as well as a few rips at the knees. There were a few knickknacks scattered across the counter top as well; things picked up in Ash's travels, and things she'd made herself that she wanted to display. Looking around for her paint brush she spotted it under the counter, and quickly scurried under the counter to retrieve it.
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Post by Mister Stewart on Nov 9, 2010 19:43:49 GMT -8
While she was under the counter, a soft clacking of wheels and footsteps announced the presence of newcomers in the little shop. Carefully picking over the tarps with the wheelchair, a rather strange pair of men entered, stopping just inside the door. One of the figures was what appeared to be an elderly man in a wheelchair, sporting a skull-shaped gasmask and looking about appraisingly. The other was a much younger man, standing at attention just behind in a clean, pressed white suit. It wasn't clear why they were here, and they were certainly overdressed for a shop that was midway through being painted...likely it wasn't the safest environment for a fellow in a wheelchair, either.
But still, there they were, and the young man in particular had a note of interest in his stormy, tired eyes. Gently, he cleared his throat, trying to work out whether anyone was presently in - he thought he heard someone bustling about, but he didn't want to startle anyone. While he waited, he glanced over the objects on the counter from where he stood, inspecting them each in turn.
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Post by Ashlin Thomas on Nov 9, 2010 19:55:39 GMT -8
Hearing the rustle the pair was making, though she couldn't yet see them Ashlin popped up from wear she knelled, hidden behind the counter. "Hello" she greeted them cheerily. Inspecting her visitors curiously as she moved to stand to the side of the counter she didn't even bat an eyelash at what most would consider the rather strange attire of the pair who looked even more over dressed when compared to Ashlin in her ripped, paint covered old jeans, tank top, and mismatched socks. There was a smudge of blue just beneath Ashlin's eye though she didn't realize it. "Can I help you?" she asked tilting her head to the side just a bit, like a puppy that had just been presented some strange new object to inspect.
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Post by Mister Stewart on Nov 9, 2010 20:21:47 GMT -8
As soon as the young woman popped up, the man in white turned his attention towards her, back uncomfortably straight and hands clasped behind his back as he relayed the message he already had been told to share. His voice was slow and careful, his enunciation flawless. She would also recognize the voice as one she had spoken to - albeit very briefly - on the phone when making arrangements to rent this place.
"Miss Ashlin Thomas. I - that is to say, Mister Stewart - has come to check on your shop, and to introduce himself to you in person. We were in town and thought we would stop...we didn't mean to intrude, that much is certain. So says Mister Stewart."
Mister Stewart - that was the name of the fellow who owned the property. Which...rather explained the grandiose style of dress and elaborate wheelchair.
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Post by Ashlin Thomas on Nov 9, 2010 20:44:59 GMT -8
Smiling Ashlin did recognize the man's voice from when they'd talked over the phone. "Oh its no intrusion." Ash told him sincerely, shaking her head back and forth. She noticed the rhyming, he'd done that on the phone as well, but it didn't seem all that important to her. "It's nice to meet you sir." She said holding out her hand to Mr.Stewart to shake.
Ashlin had to tilt her head up to be able to look at the man in the white suit, he had to have almost a foot on her. "I'm sorry I don't think I ever got your name." she told him with an apologetic smile.
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Post by Mister Stewart on Nov 10, 2010 15:34:40 GMT -8
Mister Stewart immediately liked this girl - he knew he would from Michael's phone conversations with her. The fact that she was completely nonplussed by their appearance and was willing to shake his hand without hesitation certainly pleased him...it was a rare thing for him to encounter. Reaching out, he took her hand, giving it a relatively firm shake. He had the slight jitter to his motions of an elderly man, but his grip was still strong enough - must be from pushing himself around in the non-electric wheelchair.
Michael was just as pleased with her frankness and manners as Mister Stewart - she wasn't looking at him funny for the way he spoke, and she was showing respect to the older man right off the bat. When he was addressed, on the other hand, the younger man blinked down at her, hesitating for just a moment before speaking.
"I am Mister Stewart's aide...Michael Tillotson is my name." Once this was dispensed with, he bent low at the waist, giving a very deep (and it must be admitted, rather stiff - it seemed like all of his movements were) bow before straightening up once more. He seemed, perhaps, a little bit awkward when he was introducing himself - but really, he was more used to only speaking for Mister Stewart, the townspeople accustomed to taking him as a passive presence, just a means to communicate with the man in the mask.
Generally, very few people spoke to Michael for the sake of speaking to Michael.
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Post by Ashlin Thomas on Nov 10, 2010 16:39:16 GMT -8
Without missing a beat Ashlin returned Michael's bow with a little curtsy. It wasn't quite the same without a skirt but Ashlin didn't let that phase her. There was no mocking in her smile as she told him "Pleasure to meet you, Michael." Ashlin thought the two men before her seemed nice enough. None of their apparent eccentricities were given more than a passing thought but somewhere in the back of her mind she knew that they would be considered strange by most. Instead of making her feel uncomfortable or awkward though it actually put her more at ease. She knew how people saw her, and even if she'd learned over the years to tune out the whisperers that had followed her all through out high school it didn't mean she didn't know what was said. Subconsciously the part of herself that was always on guard ever so slightly relaxed.
"Oh!" Ashlin clapped her hands together as a thought occurred to her. "Would you like some tea? I just had a cup myself and the pot should still be hot."
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Post by Mister Stewart on Nov 10, 2010 20:31:55 GMT -8
This meeting, despite the slight strangeness of the setting, was rather pleasant compared to the usual conversations the duo carried with the townsfolk. Typically, they didn't so much carry conversations as they did talk at people, watching their words and warnings roll off like water off a rooftop. For someone to just treat them like PEOPLE for a change was a very welcome novelty. It was difficult to see what Mister Stewart might be thinking, that mask of his obscuring his expression...but the younger man, Michael, seemed to be just a touch more at ease once introductions were done with, smiling a tiny, sad smile at the curtsy.
When she offered the tea, he first looked to Mister Stewart who gave a little shake of the head, then a gesture of his hand - Not me, but go ahead. Almost shyly, he looked back down to the girl, giving her a polite nod.
"I would like that very much - I had no time for my usual morning cup." It was true, he had been a little rushed this morning - he had overslept just a few minutes too many, and that was simply unacceptable for the sole servant in such a large mansion. Usually he had a cup of tea before he started his day, but there had simply been no time - he had, in fact, forgone his breakfast as well. Luckily for him, lunch at the A&G had been only a little while ago.
Mister Stewart knew full well that the boy had had a rough morning - he would speak to him about the reasons why later, but for now, he would allow his aide to take the time for himself for a change. Besides, he wanted to observe this girl...get a read for what she was like, as he did with all the townsfolk.
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Post by Ashlin Thomas on Nov 10, 2010 20:48:47 GMT -8
With a nod and a chirped "Coming right up."
Ashlin twirled around and made her way toward the door that up to the little apartment above her soon to be shop. There was a bounce in Ashlin's step as she danced around the various obstacles in her path that wasn't all that uncommon for her. Ashlin had always been just as likely to skip where she was going as she was to walk.
She was quite pleased that Michael at least had taken up her offer of tea. There was nothing quite like a nice tea party Ashlin found but as she was usually so short of guests it was rather hard to ever have a proper one. Perhaps she'd invite Michael and Mr.Stewart over again sometime for tea, and then she'd be able to do it properly, with sandwiches and tarts. Ashlin wondered if either could be tempted to try peanut butter and peeps (the green ones of course.)
Ash was already half way through the doorway when she poked her head back through to ask "Do you take anything in your tea Michael?"
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Post by Mister Stewart on Nov 10, 2010 21:35:32 GMT -8
As she left the room, Michael found his eyes wandering again - Mister Stewart had already busied himself checking into things on the little console on the arm of his chair. The younger man was, honestly, quite pleased that a bookstore was coming in...he did so enjoy reading, and he was more than happy to have a new source. Ordering books in was fine, but he preferred to actually hunt and buy his books in person when he could help it.
Curious, he edged closer to what books were already out, starting to peruse with his eyes and surreptitiously look for something in particular -
But then he was addressed, and he gave a slight jump, turning to face Ashlin with a little apologetic bow of the head. "Ah - yes, a bit of sugar for me...but I do not take milk in my tea." He hadn't meant to seem nosy - he was so concerned with propriety sometimes that he got a bit nervous when he was caught...well...acting like a normal young man of twenty-two years.
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Post by Ashlin Thomas on Nov 10, 2010 22:30:19 GMT -8
Nodding seriously as if they were discussing something far more serious than how one took there tea (tea was quite a serious business if you asked Ash) Ashlin paused for a moment. Tilting her head to the side just a bit Ashlin thought that Michael looked almost like he felt guilty, though she couldn't imagine why. After a moment it dawned on Ashlin why Michael seemed to be acting like a small child caught with his hand in the cookie jar. "You're welcome to look through the books, and things if you'd like." she told him with a laugh. "It's rather the point of a bookstore, and I was planing on displaying those little knickknacks anyway." And with that she disappeared up the stairs to get Michael his tea with sugar but no milk.
It was a bit of a chore maneuvering around her packed, and half unpacked boxes as she looked for the one that contained her tea things. Ashlin managed to find it after a little bit of searching, and with a small ah-ha held up her prize triumphantly and relatively unscathed (she stubbed her toe of one the boxes and knocked over some of her welding tools.) Humming lightly she made her way back down the stairs a little less hop in her step if only for the tea's sake.
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Post by Mister Stewart on Nov 10, 2010 23:15:04 GMT -8
Cheeks reddening ever so slightly, Michael gave a little nod, turning to look through the books a bit more freely. Plenty of novels, many of which he hadn't read, that was promising enough...a few nonfiction books of interest as well. Still, he was searching for something in particular, and he didn't feel right pawing through things still in boxes...he would have to ask Ashlin when they had a moment, perhaps just before they left? At any rate, he could hear her coming back down the stairs-
Turning a little sharper than he really intended to, he slipped on the tarp on the ground, crashing rather ungracefully to the ground on his side with a loud thunk and a yelp. Mister Stewart wheeled around in a hurry, startled and hoping that the boy was all right - but Michael promptly sat up with a little dismissive wave of his hand. The fall had hurt, that was for sure...but no real damage was done except to his pride.
Still, he winced when he reached up to brush his hair out of his face, promptly abandoning the action to clutch at his wrist.
Mister Stewart watched the young man for a moment, concerned with his behavior today. It wasn't like him to be so harried, at least not normally...perhaps the news of the murder had affected him more than he supposed. A kind-hearted boy like Michael...the older man wouldn't be surprised if the death of Anna rattled him more than he meant to let on.
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Post by Ashlin Thomas on Nov 10, 2010 23:35:08 GMT -8
Ashlin had made it through the door just as Michael went crashing to the ground. Putting the teacup down on the nearest bookshelf Ash hurried over to check on her guest. "Are you alright?" she ask worriedly, kneeling down to sit by Michael. "Do you need any ice?" Ashlin bit her lip, trying to remember where exactly she'd packed the first aid kit her mother insisted she have. Her mother had never approved of Ash's penchant for less than safe activities. It wasn't that she went looking for trouble but she was curious girl and the best adventures always had a little risk involved.
Ashlin hesitantly lay a hand on Michael's shoulder, that was suppose to be comforting wasn't it? Ashlin had little experience dealing with other people when they were hurt but she thought you were suppose to be comforting, and that this was how one went about it. She just hoped she wasn't breaking another of those social taboos everyone seemed aware except for herself. Perhaps she should offer him Bo-Bo? The little doll always made her feel better.
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Post by Mister Stewart on Nov 10, 2010 23:58:15 GMT -8
Now the young man was completely red in the face, embarrassment rather outweighing his discomfort for the moment. When Ashlin rested a hand upon his shoulder, however, she would notice that he was still stiff - even as he was sitting on the floor. He seemed a bit uncomfortable about being fretted over for whatever reason...he just shook his head slightly, bowing his head to hide his deep blush. Paint was now splattered awkwardly upon his white suit - and he didn't know it, but he had smoothed a bit into his hair when he tried to brush it out of his face.
The older man, on the other hand, wheeled up towards Ashlin, giving a nod to answer what she had asked for the boy. He knew that Michael wasn't much for letting people help him when he hurt himself...he tried to be self-sufficient, and it had taken him years to open up to even Mister Stewart. Even now, there were things he still kept very much so to himself; in an automatic motion, he tugged his sleeve down, making sure his now-sore wrist was covered.
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Post by Ashlin Thomas on Nov 11, 2010 22:33:37 GMT -8
Taking her cue from the older man Ashlin hurried off to get an icepack for Michael's wrist. She remembered the first aid kit having one of those one time use ice packs, and was relieved to discover that she was correct. Returning quickly Ashlin sat down in front of Michael, presenting the pack with a hopeful little smile. Though she noticed that Michael looked somewhat flushed she failed to realize that he was in fact, embarrassed.
Tilting her head to the side Ashlin noticed a streak of blue in Michael's brown hair. Reaching out Ashlin pulled the paint covered strands through her fingers gently trying to get as much paint off as she could. There was a look of intense concentration on her face, the tip of her tongue peeking out of the corner of her mouth. Given what she was concentrated on it was a rather comical picture. Pulling away Ash cheerfully explained "You had some paint in your hair, I got most of it though. The rest should come out easily enough next wash. Its happened to me a few time." At the moment Ashlin most resembled a Labrador puppy, who was proudly showing off the really great hole she'd dug right in her owner's flower bed.
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