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Post by Ethan Carver on Aug 5, 2020 16:45:41 GMT -5
A revolution, huh? He could get behind that. Maybe it would give him some inspiration for the work to come with the Unseelie. He almost wondered if Hayden had recognized that spark in him, but he hoped he hadn't been that transparent. Ethan shrugged and followed after her, still carrying the book in his left hand. Ethan too put out his free hand to try and balance the stack, but the cat hit both the stack and his shins, causing him to swear and step backwards. Hayden still had her hands against the stack at her level, but the rest of it was coming down on her head.
"Fuck."
Ethan shoved the book he was holding onto a random shelf, not even upright, and moved to snatch as many books out of the air as he could, then fell to just knocking them out of the way before they hit Hayden. He rather conspicously didn't bother to block his own head, and a heavy volume of poetry with a hard cover nailed him in the back of the head with a corner just before the assault stopped. That left a rather irritated looking Ethan standing practically on-top of Hayden, holding a stack of random books under one arm, and what was apparently an erotica, based on the lurid cover images, over her head from where he'd been using it as a weapon to deflect the others.
One corner of his mouth quirked upward as he looked down at her. "Told ya I'd defend you. Didn't expect it to be from the books, though."
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Aquila
26
Single
Bookstore Owner
Tier 3 Character
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Post by Hayden Faragher on Aug 6, 2020 13:25:02 GMT -5
Despite her best efforts, the stack was coming down and she tried to cover her head while keeping the rest of the stack steady. She could hear Ethan swear, and half expected him to just pull her aside and let the stack fall, but instead, he was moving behind her. Deflecting book left and right from her head. That didn't save his own head from the poetry book, and she winced as she heard the thunk of it before it fell to the floor.
When it seemed like there would be no more books falling, Hayden took a moment to blink and let her racing heart calm down, before she looked up, seeing the book over her head. Her eyes trailed over to look at Ethan, standing there with that look of irritation. Holding a small stack of the saved books. She glanced back up at the book over her head, and rolled her lips inward, keeping herself from laughing. She caught the corner of his mouth quirk up and found herself smiling in amusement. "They're equal parts danger and pleasure." Mused allowed, glancing around a the ground and the small circle that had been created around her. "How's your head?" She asked. Concern filled those blue eyes for a moment. Her hand reaching up to touch the side of his head, as if she was about to examine it, but she caught herself instead. Quickly lowering her hand back down before she reached up and took the erotica book from him. She glanced over the cover, a look of amusement crossing her face. "Saved by smut, never thought I'd get to say that..." She giggled before she reached over and set it on a shelf before crouching down and beginning to pick up the books that had fallen.
"Thank you for defending my honor." She said glancing up at him. Feeling bad that he'd even had to do it in the first place but that was why you needed to pay attention at all times in Lucifer's. If not for the cat who was knocking stacks over, but for people knocking stacks over as well.
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Post by Ethan Carver on Aug 10, 2020 20:29:12 GMT -5
Ethan smirked at the "equal parts danger and pleasure" line and muttered under his breath "Sounds like someone else I know."
"Fine," he answered about his head without even bothering to take a mental inventory of the pain--even if it hurt, he was fine. He'd know if he wasn't fine because he'd be on the floor. That was how he knew most of the time, anyway. He was ok to keep swinging as long as he could stay on his feet. His expression turned curious, though, when she pulled away before her hand even brushed against his hair. Is she worried about what I'd do? Or what she would? he wondered as his brow furrowed. She was already moving on though, which didn't leave him much time to consider what he might have done. Probably for the best, seeing as his imagination was living in the gutter this fine morning.
When she crouched to pick up the fallen books, he stepped back to give the both of them some breathing room, then did the same. It might not be his fault things were a mess in here, but he wasn't going to let her clean up alone, either. What could he say, his mom had made sure he was a gentleman before she passed, gods help her.
"Anytime," he answered her thanks, looking up to meet her eye as he put more meaning on that than she probably meant him to. But he was serious. He'd defend her whenever she needed it. "I specialize in punching things, but if you ever need defending, let me know."
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Aquila
26
Single
Bookstore Owner
Tier 3 Character
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Post by Hayden Faragher on Nov 11, 2020 3:26:46 GMT -5
Bright blues darted over to look at Ethan. "What do you mean sounds like someone else you know?" She asked curiously, just blurting the question out. She was curious, and given her previous lifestyle she couldn't help but be flirty sometimes. Half the time she didn't mean it. The other half....well....depended on the person...
Those blues stared into those dark ones that looked almost like obsidian. They were such a dark brown she found herself almost getting lost in them as she watched him. There was meaning behind what he said. She could see it in his eyes and Hayden was frozen for a moment. A weird sensation fluttered in her stomach, and a warmth entered her chest. If she didn't know any better she'd say her heart had skipped a beat and her breathing had caught. It took her a second to realize several moments had passed since he'd said if she needed defending to let him know. She hadn't said anything yet, and a quick flush had entered her cheeks. "Will do, but again, I can handle myself." There was a small smile before she adverted her eyes and picked up a couple books. Putting them in her arms in a stack.
"You know you don't have to do this, It's my own fault, I can clean up my own mess." She told him. Putting aside the small stack. She just decided to make a new pile on the floor, and reached for the next one.
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Post by Ethan Carver on Nov 11, 2020 20:51:11 GMT -5
What do you mean that sounds like someone else you know?" She asked, and rather than feel ashamed that she'd heard him, he just raised his eyebrows as the ghost of a smirk drifted across his face. She knew exactly what he meant, and if she didn't, then she was lying to herself as much as him.
He didn't look away. She could stare into his eyes as long as she wanted, he wasn't backing down from that promise--or the unspoken one glittering in his eyes. She'd have to be the one to break it. When she finally blushed and looked away, he smirked as he turned his attention back to the books. Call him a neanderthal if you must, but he liked to win. Especially when it meant that the ever-cool Ms. Hayden Faragher was blushing.
"Nah, s'no trouble," he insisted, already creating another, much more organized stack than the one she was working on. All the books faced the same direction and were neatly aligned at the spine. Within no time, it was about up to his thigh, and he'd run out of new ones to pick up. He pushed his hands against his knees to haul himself to his feet properly, then offered her his hand to get up.
"So, should I give up on that sequel? I can wait till next time if you aren't sure where it's at. Somebody else might have bought it."
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Aquila
26
Single
Bookstore Owner
Tier 3 Character
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Post by Hayden Faragher on Nov 11, 2020 21:47:08 GMT -5
Hayden felt like it was trouble though, she'd caused the mess after all. She was so used to handling things herself the idea help was still so foreign to her. Lucy had really been the first one to truly help her despite the occasional help the girls at the brothel had done for her, but with them it was looking out for one another. This was...being helpful to be helpful.
A cynical part of Hayden wondered what he wanted, or what he was playing at. Everyone wanted something and it was usually sex in her experience. Ethan's quick wittedness and sass was slowly winning her over. She liked him she realized, as a friend. She didn't dare think of him as anything but that because it would lead to trouble. She was tired of trouble, she'd had enough trouble to last for a long time, and didn't want any more of it.
Ethan Carver was trouble with a capital T.
Her stack of books certainly looked the opposite of his as she'd just stacked them. Checking to make sure the sequel wasn't in there before she set them on the disorganized and threatening to top over pile. When her pile was done she found Ethan was already in front of her, offering a hand to help her up. She glanced up him, smiling as she took his hand and climbed to her feet. It was warm in hers she realized and calloused from whatever work he did, but it felt nice all the same. She let go of his hand. She arched an eyebrow at him as he asked about giving up, and she frowned. "Hell no!" She scolded him, placing her hands on her hips. Giving him a look that clearly said she was offended he had the audacity to say such a thing. "Don't you dare give up Ethan Carver." She stuck a finger up at him, as if daring him to do such a thing. "I haven't." She responded.
Those blue eyes flickered off to the side of his head then, looking across the way, and what did she find? She poked his chest lightly before pushing against it, and if he allowed, she walked him backwards into the shelf across the aisle. "We're having a treasure hunt Ethan," She said with a coy smile, before she stood up on her tiptoes, pressing the palm of her hand into the middle of his chest, before she reached up with her other one. For a split second it might have looked like she was about to fist her hands into the dark hair of his and pull him down. It was a ridiculous thought, and she kept her hand on his chest to prevent herself from pressing into him, but she still did a little. Her arm came up behind his head. "I promised you treasure didn't I?" She asked, looking up into those dark depths. Her coy smile turned more smug as she suddenly pulled the book off the shelf behind his head and placed it in the middle of his chest. "X marks the spot."
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Post by Ethan Carver on Nov 13, 2020 19:14:54 GMT -5
Ethan rolled his eyes, even as a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth at her scolding him for even suggesting that they give up. He raised his hands in mock surrender.
"Alright, alright, I get the picture."
He glanced to the side when she looked around him, following her gaze, but his attention was pulled back to her as she pushed him back until he hit the bookshelf behind him. Well then. That smile told him she knew full well his mind was in the gutter every time she so much as brushed against him, and she was tap-dancing on his self-control. This little dance of theirs, all give and take, carefully avoiding the line...at some point, they were going to trip right over it. He could feel it humming in the air between them, as surely as the nudge in the back of his mind that told him exactly where to throw his knives. There was no doubt in his mind that at some point he was going to kiss that pretty mouth of hers--even if it was only a kiss goodbye.
The heat of her palm through his thin shirt seemed scalding, and he nearly reached up to take it in his before he smothered the impulse. He kept his face a low smirk, one eyebrow raised in a gentle challenge as she invaded his personal space. She met his eyes, and once again he dared her to hold it, to be the one to cross the line. He could feel the warmth of her body, barely a hair's breadth from his own. It would be so easy to just pull her in, tangle his fingers in her hair, and yank out the pins… But he didn't. He wouldn't surrender first. He refused to.
"More than one treasure in this shop, I think," he murmured, raising his hand to take the other book she pressed to his chest, but he hesitated just short of it. He was beginning to think that this whole wild chase of hers was just an excuse--this was the second time in one morning. A smug grin crept onto his face as he looked down at her.
"You know, if you wanted to pin me against a wall, you didn't have to make any excuses," he teased, letting her hold him there a moment longer. His eyes may be dark, but they sparked with laughter. "Pretty sure I wouldn't have any good reason to argue."
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Aquila
26
Single
Bookstore Owner
Tier 3 Character
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Post by Hayden Faragher on Apr 12, 2021 17:42:13 GMT -5
Hayden’s eyes were watching Ethan’s. Waiting for him to take the book so she could step back. She arched a brow at his comment. “Well it is a book store, they’re all treasures.” She reasoned with a small laugh. Not realizing that he might have been directing the comment at her specifically. Her blue eyes flickered to the book, waiting for him to take it, before he spoke again.
His teasing tone, had her head shooting up, looking startled for a moment. It all slammed into her at once what she’d been doing, and there was a brief moment of panic in her eyes, replaced by horror before forced herself to calm down. Old habits died hard apparently… You didn’t get raised in a brothel without making flirting a part of your regular behavior, and it was a horrid habit to break. She’d been trying to break it for the past four years, keeping people at a arms length, and yet here was Ethan Fucking Carver coming in and seeping between her protective cracks. Sure, she liked Ethan, but that was all there was too it. Nothing was going to come from it, she was sure of it.
Fuck, she was screwed. “Mmmm, you're funny.” She mused, this time she turned away, book in hand as she gathered up her tea, the few books she’d selected for herself as she started to make her way towards the front desk. “You were in the way.” She said simply, making a lame excuse. “And besides that,” She stopped to look over her shoulder at him. “Not happening.” She gave him a pointed look, but her tone was firm while she tried to keep her cheeks from turning red. She could feel herself shutting down, which meant getting Ethan out of there as reasonably as possible.
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Post by Ethan Carver on Apr 18, 2021 18:30:44 GMT -5
Ouch. The absolute horror on Hayden's face at his teasing was like a bucket of ice water poured over his head. It was only for a second, but he hadn't missed it. Apparently what she'd been doing was all in good fun, but she wasn't interested. She could have just said so…or well, maybe she had said so. But when she did it with a sly smirk and a flip of her hair, it was hard to read what she really meant. He'd never crossed the line, never outright made a move, but he'd thought they were on the same page.
Apparently not.
He swallowed his disappointment as she hurried away toward the front desk. He allowed himself a small sigh, ran his hand through his hair, then followed after her. Just as he did, she turned back to drive home her point. Ouch again. Damn. He could take a hit with a fist better than he could take being shut down by someone he was genuinely interested in. That shit hurt.
He brought up a playful grin anyway and raised his hands in surrender. "Easy there, I get the idea. I was just playing around." He scratched the back of his neck and dropped his gaze to the floor, where Lucifer wound around Hayden's ankles.
"Didn't mean to make you uncomfortable," he muttered, not quite an apology.
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Aquila
26
Single
Bookstore Owner
Tier 3 Character
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Post by Hayden Faragher on Apr 29, 2021 21:20:27 GMT -5
Hayden wanted nothing more then to crawl under a rock and pretend she didn’t exist. She tended to be more cold, maybe even aloof and down right sassy towards people to protect herself. To keep them at bay so she couldn’t get close to them and them her. It was safer that way, especially with Lionel still out there somewhere. She’d just had a startling realization that she was still in hiding and that she couldn’t be doing this.
And yet, Ethan Carver had climbed her walls and was seeping in through the cracks. Bringing out her more of her real self. She didn’t mean to flirt back with him, it was all just old habits. It was a second nature she hadn’t realized she had been doing, and it had apparently led him on. She had to end that now, make him...understand or something. Anything.
Yet he was starting to apologize, which just made her feel all the more worse. She felt Lucifer brush against her legs, as if sensing the shift in the air. Hayden felt herself sighing, her shoulders sagging a bit in defeat, before she turned her body back around to face Ethan. Chewing on her lip in thought before she forced herself to speak. “I think I need to be the one apologizing.” She started. Her whole demeanor had changed to be a bit more serious as a guarded look crossed over her face. “I didn’t mean to lead you on, it’s uh…” She grimaced, not really seeing anyway out of it. “An old habit that I still apparently haven’t shaken yet.” She said in truth. “I didn’t even realize how I was coming across. So I’m sorry. I’ll try to be more careful next time.” She told him. Hayden reached down to scoop Lucifer up, and tuck him under one arm.
“I wasn’t uncomfortable.” She said simply, twirling on her heels as she started for the counter again. Walking quickly. She dumped the cat on the counter top as she came around it, and then sat her findings on top. She glanced up then with a raised brow. “No hard feelings?” She asked slowly. “And seriously, don’t feel bad. I feel bad.” She confessed to him.
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Post by Ethan Carver on May 3, 2021 22:09:34 GMT -5
Ethan frowned a little as he watched Hayden sort through what to say to him. He didn't see why she ought to be apologizing. Oh. Well, yeah, she had a little, but he'd been egging her on. It wasn't like she'd done it on purpose. He definitely had.
What stuck out to him, though, was the phrase 'old habit.' He wondered why flirting would be an old habit for her. Maybe she'd had a different job before the bookshop? Bartending, maybe? Lady barkeeps and waitresses got better tips if they played along.
"Nothing to worry about," he assured her as she scooped the cat into her arms then moved to dump him unceremoniously on the counter. Lucifer looked about as comfortable as Ethan felt. He felt a weird sympathy for the cat in that moment. How did you show affection to a girl who wasn't interested?
She glanced up then with a raised brow. “No hard feelings?” She asked slowly. “And seriously, don’t feel bad. I feel bad.”
"No hard feelings," he echoed, forcing a grin as he shoved his empty hand into his pocket and held out the two books she'd given him. "So, I guess I need both of these? Any others you think?"
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