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Title: A New World (pt3)
Number: 134
Date: Aug 1, 2008 at 12:00 AM
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Divinatas – Aug 1, 2008 at 12:00 AM
[bg=#0e1938][padding=10px][so=#67708c][bg=#202d54]NEW AMSTERDAM: A NEW WORLD[/bg][/so][/padding][/bg]
[soli]
With the Bridal Commission done and delivered, the stress levels in the house had thankfully dropped! But lately, there was a lot of whispering of this fantastique idea about beaches and staff vacations! Of course they would still be working, but working at the beach even made the most mundane of tasks sound a lot more glamorous. The only trouble was that no one had seem to have brought it up to Mr. Daupre and no one wanted to be the one that did it!
Finally it was up to Jacob. He was young, but Jacob was apprenticing both here at the Atelier and at a Shoemaker’s. It was always good to have shoes custom made by design, and Jacob was fortunate enough to be here for apprenticeship! Except Jacob had no idea how one was supposed to bring up the topic of vacations to Mr. Daupre!
“That bridal commissions was a real trial, wasn’t it Mr. Daupre?” started Jacob slowly as he was organizing a few pairs of shoes. “Most of the staff is exhausted. I heard Miss Marie saying it would be awfully nice if the whole staff could take a trip, and even take the work there…”
[/soli]
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Azul Morag – Aug 1, 2008 at 12:18 AM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=123][B]Alphonse[/B]
Now that the bridal commission was finally GONE from the house, Alphonse made a secret vow not to EVER AGAIN take a last-minute bridal assignment! He had to admit to himself it had not only been the generous pay, but the challenge to his creativity that made him take that wretched schedule to complete the garments and trousseau from design to make in less than three months… but one time of that had to be enough. Alphonse was enjoying a few minutes of idleness, supervising some apprenticeship project of his staff. Then, for some unfathomable reason, Jacob spoke. Jacob was not exactly the most eloquent one of men.
Alphonse’s back stiffened. “How, a real trial?” He curtly said. “Are you suggesting there was the slightest danger that I would not be able to deliver the work done?”
He turned, slowly. On his shoulder, Alba shook her head a bit and eyed the young man as if he were a mouse she was about to snatch from the ground! Alphonse frowned.
“Trip? Is this a mutiny?”
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Divinatas – Aug 1, 2008 at 12:28 AM
[soli]
“Guh..uh!! No, sir!! Not at all!!” Oh, he did it now! Jacob supposed the girls of the Atelier must of had it in for him, sending him in here like this to face the firing squad! They [i]knew[/i] he always got flustered and couldn’t think of what to say!
“It was… just a real challenge – that we all were happy to take on and accomplish! The Atelier has never done better work!” He swallowed. Mr. Daupre’s owl was giving him the hungry eye. Jacob felt as if she shrank three feet!
“Th-there’s just… Inspiration, sir! Miss Fowler said people are refreshed by visiting new places! S-some thought the beach would be… fun?”
[/soli]
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Azul Morag – Aug 1, 2008 at 12:43 AM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=123][B]Alphonse[/B]
So miss Fowler was behind the mutiny. Good grief! Alphonse arched an eyebrow as Jacob shrank like half his size and looked very sorry for himself.
“What, new places?” Alphonse asked with lazy arrogance. “We are not out of work, so there is no reason to flee the city. What do you exactly mean?”
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Divinatas – Aug 1, 2008 at 12:55 AM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=1&pictureid=16][b]Cheyanne[/b]
“We have to flee the city?” Cheyanne accidentally asked out loud, as she brushed in with several rolls of newly ordered fabric for the stock. Marie had found her lots of simple little chores to do, all of which weren’t so bad! She got to look at all sorts of interesting things!
Of course, at the moment she was looking at Mr. Daupre stiff backed and looking ready to beat that poor boy senseless, Alba ready to eat someone, and Jacob ready to pass out in the floor. …perhaps she should turn around and run away…
“Miss Fowler! You can explain it better than I!” said Jacob, who practically lept across the room to capture the woman by the arms, rolls of fabric and all and push her towards Mr. Daupre. “About the beach…?”
“Oh…” Jacob was throwing her to the wolves! Boy, she was going to kick the daylights out of him if Mr. Daupre didn’t kill her! Cheyanne blinked up at Mr. Daupre! “I’m not sure what [i]Jacob[/i] was saying… Marie and I were talking about the beach and how nice it would be to see it. I… wanted to ask if you would like to go, but the work here is important, so I was trying to think of ideas where you could go but still keep an eye on work and I thought maybe if you took the whole staff…” Cheyanne said it all reasonably slower than she might have usually talked, but mostly because she was afraid Mr. Daupre was going to snap at her any moment! …She’d not just kick Jacob, she’d put ants in his pajamas!
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Azul Morag – Aug 1, 2008 at 1:16 AM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=123][B]Alphonse[/B]
Alphonse shifted his impressive glare from Jacob to Cheyanne. Half of what she said made sense, but the other half…
“Miss Fowler,” Alphonse said, “do you have any idea about the cost of mobilizing everything you see here just to take the rolls of fabric to sunbathe at the beach? Besides…” He eyed Jacob. “I was just planning to give the staff the weekend off. There is no need to chase me for time off.”
He picked up a few sketchbooks with notes he had handed down to the apprentices and leafed distractedly through it.
“Even you could go. I suppose Marie would be glad to take you on a holiday.” [/dotted]
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Divinatas – Aug 1, 2008 at 1:25 AM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=1&pictureid=16][b]Cheyanne[/b]
Jacob being elated to hear the staff would be getting time off, and now no longer the sole target of Mr. Daupre’s wrath eased towards the door. “I hear Mrs. Keanne calling for my help~!” He was dashing out quick as lightning!
Cheyanne very nearly clobbered Jacob with one of those rolls of fabric! That was a dirty setup! She’d get her revenge! She took the rolls over to the closet where they could be neatly stored. Busily organizing them by fabric and color, Cheyanne’s annoyance at Jacob had her too distracted to realize what she was saying out loud!
“Honestly, Mr. Daupre, I wanted to go with [i]you[/i], but I do understand if you’re too busy. The ocean is beautiful and inspiring, I would have like to of seen the things you designed from it.” Maybe if she rolled Jacob in Tuna, tied him up like sushi and left him for Lady Keen to paw at. That would get him. “Marie and I talked about it for hours. It was just an idea at first, but now it seems like so much fun.”
There! A neatly straightened closet where everything is fabric and color coded. That was going to make it so much easier to pull out the correct rolls.
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Azul Morag – Aug 1, 2008 at 1:44 AM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=123][B]Alphonse[/B]
Alphonse found himself staring at Cheyanne’s back as she moved those rolls around in the closet. He opened his mouth to reply, but he had to close his lips to think again and try once more. She seemed to have a strange effect on him; he was not used to get nervous so often and it was getting on his nerves.
“With me?” Alphonse asked with a sort of despair. “I am not… I don’t [I]have time[/I] for vacations. I have to make sure to keep the influx of work steady for all the staff to actually get paid! I…” Alphonse bit the corner of his lip. “Besides, how would I take the whole staff to the beach! They would get drunk and drawn!”
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Divinatas – Aug 1, 2008 at 1:59 AM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=1&pictureid=16][b]Cheyanne[/b]
Cheyanne laughed! “There’s drinking on the beach? They don’t allow that in my city, people get in too much trouble!” She closed up the closet and turned around to lean against the door. Still smiling she shrugged her shoulders. “I know, I know. It was just an idea. Since the staff has a free weekend, they may decide to go anyway.”
Mr. Daupre was very considerate of his staff, but he needed the vacation too. But Cheyanne was fairly certain he made up his mind, and it wasn’t likely he’d budge. “I’ve never been to the beach before, myself. Have you? I’ve been close, but I never really was on the sand or in the water. And that was just when I was little.”
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Azul Morag – Aug 1, 2008 at 2:08 AM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=123][B]Alphonse[/B]
Alphonse in fact had been to the beach twice: when he was too young to remember, with his parents, and that unfortunate time his former boss, Master LeGant, had decided to take his staff to the beach, got drunk and nearly drowned Alphonse and Michael when they rescued him.
He couldn’t tell her that, though; it was too embarrasing.
“No,” he replied, uncomfortably. “I have not been to the beach. Just… join miss Lawrence and she’ll make sure you have a pleasant holiday…” He fussed with the sketchbooks and made Alba stop nibbling on his hair. “I’ll ask Mrs. Keane to give you an advancement on your pay.” [/dotted]
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Divinatas – Aug 1, 2008 at 2:38 AM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=1&pictureid=16][b]Cheyanne[/b]
“Oh. Alright.” She was disappointed but at least trying to keep on her cheerful face. Going off on a vacation without him while he stayed here at the Atelier working away didn’t seem right at all. Not after all the mania from his bridal commission. Cheyanne tried to think of what to do…
“Mr. Daupre… can I ask you a favor? Er… I guess it’s not so much as a favor as something kind of silly…”
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Azul Morag – Aug 1, 2008 at 2:42 AM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=123][B]Alphonse[/B]
“A favor?” Alphonse blinked at her, holding the sketchbooks with Alba trying to scratch her ear on his shoulder. “What may it be?”
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Divinatas – Aug 1, 2008 at 2:54 AM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=1&pictureid=16][b]Cheyanne[/b]
Cheyanne tapped her index fingers together, wondering why she’d saying anything was a good idea! “Well I…” Sh pulled her hands up to cover her face. If she were going to embarrass herself, she didn’t want to be seen while she did it. “I am sort of afraid to leave the Atelier without you.” Cheyanne admitted quickly if not a little muffled. The sad thing was, it was mostly true, and she was really hoping she wouldn’t of had to say it! “I could go out with Marie, but if I ended up lost I’m not sure what I would do.”
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Azul Morag – Aug 1, 2008 at 3:15 AM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=123][B]Alphonse[/B]
“…!” Alphonse found himself speechless again and the fact he was nervous grated his nerves doubly, if possible! He swallowed but despite his tremendous effort to keep his cool, a faint blush colored his face. He absolutely hated blushing… it got to look ridiculous with his white hair.
“What could possibly happen?” He asked, almost desperately. On his shoulder, Alba fluffed up to a ball of white feathers with smugly eyes. “I would really like to… to… to please you,[I] but work…![/I]” Alphonse was dreadfully embarrassed. “I am… I can’t just up and leave…! If it were just me… but my staff depends on me.”
Alphonse stared down at the sketchbooks.
“It’s less than a week before I have to start on the Summer designs… Perhaps I should get started on that now.”
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Divinatas – Aug 1, 2008 at 4:44 AM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=1&pictureid=16][b]Cheyanne[/b]
“It’s alright, really!” she said quickly to reassure him. Cheyanne dropped her hands from her face, and without taking a look at him she moved across the room to gather up all the stray fabric samples that needed to be filed away.
“I can just stay here and take care of things while everyone is out. I’m not as good at cooking as Mrs. Keane, but I can do a few things, and there’s more than enough chores to keep me busy.
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Azul Morag – Aug 1, 2008 at 4:55 AM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=123][B]Alphonse[/B]
“You don’t have to stay. Go with them…”
Alphonse nibbled on the corner of his lip, his blush going deeper. What an awful feeling, he thought. Besides, he’d rather know the whole staff was relaxing instead of looking after one – and one that makes him nervous for some unfathomable reason! Alba made that strange cooing sound again. Alphonse tried to get her on his leather cuff to leave her on a perch, but she refused.
“You don’t have to stay; as long as the staff leaves everything in order, there is no need to have someone here…” He kept on trying to get Alba on his leather cuff. “As for me, I won’t need assistance… There’s a lot of things to do.”
Alba finally hopped onto the leather cuff. Alphonse huffed in silence. Alba flapped a bit.
“I’ll ask Mrs. Keane to give you an advance on your pay, so you’ll be fine and you’ll be able to go with the others.”
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Divinatas – Aug 1, 2008 at 5:18 AM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=1&pictureid=16][b]Cheyanne[/b]
“There’s a lot of things to do, thus it really wouldn’t be fair to leave you here all by yourself to do them. I can take care of small things, and you can worry about the important business matters.” Cheyanne peeked over her shoulder to see him fussing with Alba. Setting aside the samples she moved across the floor and offered the snowy owl her arm!
“Besides, Alba might want the extra company if you get engrossed in work. She could talk to me while I practiced embroidery.”
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Azul Morag – Aug 1, 2008 at 5:33 AM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=123][B]Alphonse[/B]
Alphonse blinked, not quite understanding what she wanted to do, and moved a step away with Alba on his leather cuff. Alba watched them alternately with her big eyes. Alphonse was starting to feel crowded.
“I assure you I am perfectly able to carry on my work,” he said. “There is no need to patronize me.” Alphonse tried to appear dignified, but he was still blushing and flustered. “If the staff needs vacations well, then all may leave! I am not holding anyone hostage here!”
Alba suddenly took flight and landed on a chair. Alphonse scoffed. Even the owl was leaving!
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Divinatas – Aug 1, 2008 at 5:46 AM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=1&pictureid=16][b]Cheyanne[/b]
Alba escaped, and Cheyanne blinked dumbfoundedly at Mr. Daupre! He was accusing her of… accusing him of things! Clearly, he still had little trust for her or the very least didn’t want to be trapped alone with her. Cheyanne’s feelings were hurt, but she had already learned it was better to keep that to herself when talking to Mr. Daupre.
Cheyanne moved back a few paces, crossing her arms defensively. “I’m sorry, Mr. Daupre. I’ll make sure not to be in your way.” She turned around slowly, returning to gathering up those stray fabric samples for putting away.
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Azul Morag – Aug 1, 2008 at 5:59 AM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=123][B]Alphonse[/B]
Alphonse blinked at her defensive attitude. Alba was simply watching them. Alphonse was perplexed and hurt. It wasn’t like he had refused to give what the staff was asking for, vacations time! He was the employer here, it wasn’t like -he- was supposed to take vacations himself, let alone forcefully!
“So, you’ll be leaving with everyone else,” he said. It wasn’t a question! “I suppose a week will be enough rest for all of you. It will be refreshing, not having to find me [I]in your way[/I] at all times!”
He headed for the door.
“No more than one week!” He said, just to keep some appearance of authority, then left the room to go back to the attic!
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Divinatas – Aug 1, 2008 at 6:09 AM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=1&pictureid=16][b]Cheyanne[/b]
Well that was just right and dandy! He was using vacation time as a punishment, and practically ordered her to leave the house! Cheyanne wasn’t sure if she wanted to cry or scream, so she did the only thing she [i]could[/i] do! She continued organizing samples, and talked to Alba!
“I was only trying to help. …he didn’t have to say that! Why do you insist I stay, when he obviously would rather me be… gone!” Finding all the blue samples, she set them aside in a pile. “How can he be so nice one minute and so… [i]infuriating[/i] the next! You know, I only wanted him to have a break and to spend some time with him! You’d think he was being tortured!” Cheyanne stopped sorting long enough to pull out a hankie she had stashed in her pocket to wipe her eyes. ..who knew carrying hankies would be so useful!
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Azul Morag – Aug 1, 2008 at 6:12 AM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=123][B]Alphonse[/B]
Alphonse suddenly reappeared on the threshold.
“But Alba stays!” He warned. He was about to make a dignified exit when he noticed she was dabbing at her eyes. “Tears of joy?” He dryly asked, then noticed she wasn’t exactly merry.
“What’s wrong?”
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Divinatas – Aug 1, 2008 at 6:17 AM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=1&pictureid=16][b]Cheyanne[/b]
Ambushed! She turned her back to him quickly trying to dry her eyes as fast as she could. A sniffle escaped as she took a deep breath, and straightened up to appear as calm as possible! “Nothings wrong at all.” Cheyanne didn’t want to be caught crying, not after what happened last time! Next thing she knew, she’d have to see that doctor and be tortured again!
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Azul Morag – Aug 1, 2008 at 6:22 AM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=123][B]Alphonse[/B]
Alphonse arched an eyebrow.
“Maybe you are allergic to dust,” he said. “Are you sure you are alright? You don’t have to… worry about the house. There will be relative calm here till the next peak time. Vacations are a good idea, for the staff. You… are still getting used to things around here, you shouldn’t be anxious about taking vacations.”
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Divinatas – Aug 1, 2008 at 6:30 AM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=1&pictureid=16][b]Cheyanne[/b]
“I did all the dusting yesterday.” This was exactly why he was infuriating! He’d so mean one minute, and then he’d come back and be considerate the next! It was like riding a roller coaster she just couldn’t get off!
Cheyanne twist the hankie in her hands, still not daring to turn around, and fearing she was really going to embarrass herself if she weren’t careful. “Do you really just want me to go away and leave you alone…?”
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Azul Morag – Aug 1, 2008 at 6:34 AM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=123][B]Alphonse[/B]
Alphonse was astonished.
“-You- said you didn’t want to get in my way. I had only agreed to give vacations to the staff! If the rest of the staff goes on vacations, why wouldn’t you? I only have to stay here. You don’t.”
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Divinatas – Aug 1, 2008 at 6:43 AM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=1&pictureid=16][b]Cheyanne[/b]
Cheyanne took a deep breath. If she were living in a world with Victorian ladies and their fearless attitude, she could do it couldn’t she?
She opened her mouth twice before she could finally find the words to speak! “I wanted to get to know you better, Mr. Daupre. Outside of work. I… guess it was wrong to even ask you. You’re a busy man, so I understand why you wouldn’t want me to bother you.”
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Azul Morag – Aug 1, 2008 at 6:54 AM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=123][B]Alphonse[/B]
Alphonse’s spectacles slid down his nose a bit giving him a helpless air and his face got slightly red.
“But you said the staff needs vacations!” He desperately said. “What does that have to do with me?”
Well, most likely it [I]had to do something[/I] because he was the boss around here, after all. Alphonse blinked at Cheyanne.
“I… I guess… [I]maybe[/I] I could go, but I really shouldn’t! I don’t have time for vacations; there’s so much to do all the time… This is a very competitive line of work, and I… if I don’t keep things going, there wouldn’t be work and my staff would go hungry!”
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Divinatas – Aug 1, 2008 at 7:09 AM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=1&pictureid=16][b]Cheyanne[/b]
Chewing on her bottom lip she tried offering a solution! “You could… take it with you?” Cheyanne turned around slowly, still unsure of whether or not he was going to get mad at her again, and twisting that hankie nervously in her hands.
“With the staff on vacation, all that could be done is paperwork or designing. You can always send a boy out to deliver messages, and I would really love to help you if you’d let me. I could tell you about the styles in my home, or just keep your papers while you’re concentrating!”
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Azul Morag – Aug 1, 2008 at 7:37 AM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=123][B]Alphonse[/B]
Alphonse blinked.
“But still, you could be on vacations,” he said. “I am here all the time. When you come back, I will be here, regardless.”
Alphonse sighed. He had not slept yet and his eyes were getting tired. “Thanks for your eagerness to help, but may I insist, vacations will be good for you. I am not trying to send you away, but if the staff goes on vacations I think you should go as well. It would be unfair to you if you had to stay behind.”
Alphonse felt his ears warm; he was still blushing. How pesky!
“I… Hm. Yes, I’d like to hear about the styles in your home, but I don’t want you to skip vacations. It’s not like the staff gets them often.”
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Divinatas – Aug 1, 2008 at 7:51 AM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=1&pictureid=16][b]Cheyanne[/b]
“It’s unfair for [i]you[/i] to always have to stay home, too, Mr. Daupre.” How could a man be so stubborn about work. It was beyond obsession, and no wonder all of his people worried so much about him.
“Why don’t you come on vacation with me, and bring your work too? It wouldn’t have to be the beach. A lake is nice, or maybe just spending the days in a park would be a pleasant place too.”
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Azul Morag – Aug 1, 2008 at 8:09 AM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=123][B]Alphonse[/B]
She was inviting him to escape with her?! Alphonse blushed furiously.
“Uh… I don’t think that would be appropriate,” he managed to say. “I have not been introduced to your father… and dueling is against the law!”
He stopped. Maybe he was misunderstanding things!
“I mean, the beach would be saf… err, somebody said the staff wants to go to the beach! Why is staying here unfair in my case? I live here!” Alphonse stopped again. “You are trying to force me to get vacations! That is not very considerate!”
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Divinatas – Aug 1, 2008 at 8:20 AM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=1&pictureid=16][b]Cheyanne[/b]
“Duel..?” Cheyanne wasn’t quite sure what he meant by that at first, and once she realized it, she was probably turning three shades of red!
“It’s not a forced vacation if you’re still working when you go! Besides, you said you were working on summer designs. What better place to find inspiration than the beach? You could fashion better swimsuits so ladies don’t faint in the summer sun!”
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Azul Morag – Aug 1, 2008 at 8:28 AM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=123][B]Alphonse[/B]
Apparently, it was true and he had misunderstood. Alphonse blinked. She was too persistent!
“But that is not vacations… and the staff…” Alphonse sighed. “Oh, I will think about it. I don’t promise anything, though.”
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Divinatas – Aug 1, 2008 at 9:21 AM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=1&pictureid=16][b]Cheyanne[/b]
Cheyanne was so surprised that he agree to even think about that, that she couldn’t help but smile wide. “Thinking about it is good enough for me!” And that was way more than she expected to get! Considering vacations is the first step to beating workaholism!
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