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Post by Nu on Sept 13, 2017 6:52:13 GMT
Hunter was ready to accept the fact that Lottie would more than likely need to go home after this but he got way too distracted by her smile and her tucking her hair behind her ear. It was the little things a woman did that Hunter noticed and appreciated.
When she squeezed his hand, he looked down at their linked hands and then up at her face and a warm smile spread across his face. "Right on. But you need to let go of my hand." He said with a chuckle as he saw their clogged artery on a plate arrive. "You're going to need both hands to eat this." He said, stroking her hand lightly with his thumb.
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Post by Trix on Sept 13, 2017 14:09:57 GMT
The Innocent The moment he reminded her that she was still clinging, sort of pathetically to his hand, she dropped it and retracted both into her lap. Lottie didn't know where she was, she was completely uncomfortable in her surroundings and she was the type to need something familiar to cling to. She hadn't even thought about the fact that he was not familiar, not really. But he was comforting and she was wrapped up in that comfort too much to realize that she shouldn't necessarily be clinging to him so much. They barely knew each other.
Lottie nodded and looked up as the plate was set in front of her. Looking at it, she sort of laughed. It was definitely a good thing that she was not a vegan or vegetarian of any sort. She'd never survive this plate if she had been. Even looking at it as a meat-eater, she wasn't sure she'd be able to finish it all. Lottie had a problem with eating a lot, something that Will had kept on her about since she was young. She figured her small stature had something to do with it, but she wasn't overly bony. And she ate as much as she felt she could, even if it happened to be not even a quarter of what she should have. She frowned and glanced at him, suddenly very uncertain about eating in front of him. "It looks good."
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Post by Nu on Sept 13, 2017 14:36:13 GMT
His smile dropped slightly at the look Charlotte immediately had on her face after being told to let go of his hand. As soon as they finished their food, her hands were going back into his, no question. He just hoped she wouldn't pull back.
Admittedly, the bodega special was not for the faint hearted. He had trouble keeping it down when he first ate it but it remained, to this day, his favourite food. That she was hesitant to eat it had him chuckling and he shrugged. "If you can't finish it, I'll polish it off for you. Gladly." He paused before grinning at her. "Who's to say I didn't order another one for you just so I could help you finish it?" He lifted his shoulders before popping two pieces of fries into his mouth, chewing with a grin on his face.
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Post by Trix on Sept 13, 2017 15:23:38 GMT
The Innocent Lottie felt her lips twitch into a smile and she rolled her eyes, "I bet you probably did. How selfish of you." She offered a laugh and picked at a french fry before taking a small bite. It was as good as he had made it out to be and she continued nibbling at everything on her plate a little at a time. Of course she knew she wouldn't finish it and while Hunter's figure didn't make it seem like he would either, she was unsurprised by the fact that he had just as he offered. In fact, she was pretty impressed that he was able to put it away like he did.
Charlotte laughed once both of their plates had been cleared, "I do wonder how you manage to remain as thin as you do if that is a regular meal you eat." She wrapped her arms around her stomach instinctively to keep her from fidgeting. Despite how comfortable she felt with him, the environment still made her anxious and she wondered if the tour would be a good idea. If someone tried to hurt them, she could offer little assistance to Hunter. She might even get in the way of him being able to defend himself. The thought made her stomach twist and she bit her lower lip. "So what now?"
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Post by Nu on Sept 13, 2017 15:56:00 GMT
"Oh I go to the gym to maintain my girlish figure." Hunter pretended to flip his hair before belching a little. "Good God that was amazing." He leaned over the counter and grabbed a few pieces of napkins to wipe his hands, giving some to Charlotte.
He missed her uncertainty while he was busy drinking from his bottle but when she asked what of their next stop, Hunter turned to her with a smile. "Patience, Butterfly." He threw a couple of dollar notes on the counter and knocked on it a few times, hopping off the stool and offering her his hand.
"There's not much to do around these parts but I know a few gems you might enjoy."
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Post by Trix on Sept 13, 2017 16:51:38 GMT
The Innocent Lottie would hardly call his figure girlish, but she took the joke as it was. She took the napkins from him and wiped her hands thoroughly. She was hardly patient and she supposed with time he would find that out. But for now she raised her hands, "Fine. Patience, I'll do my best to practice a little." Lottie smiled when he offered his hand to her again. She took it, careful not to seem overeager before sliding off the stool. With her free hand she adjusted her clothing, still very aware of how poorly they fit her. Part of her couldn't wait to go back to her dungeon just to wear something a little more comfortable.
"A few gems, huh? Like the dark alley we met in? Sounds unlikely, but I'll take your word for it," Charlotte grinned and locked her fingers with his. If she was going exploring, he wasn't leaving her side. He had to be smart enough not to take her somewhere that was creepy or murdery. Lottie wasn't sure what to expect outside of the confines of her shop. Just because their side of the wall was poor, didn't mean that it had to be all bad. Right?
She leaned into his arm as they walked out of his little hole in wall, huddling closer just to keep warm. Lana's clothing definitely wasn't very practical. At least, the clothing Lottie thought would fit in the best.
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Post by Nu on Sept 14, 2017 2:01:25 GMT
Was she beginning to warm up to him? Hunter thought to himself as she made a sarcastic comment. It suited her. He supposed he shouldn't have thought she was a doe-eyed innocent young womanin the first place. She had spunk. "Don't knock the dark alley. It's where I met you, wasn't it? I happen to think that was the best dark alley in the entire town."
When she pulled close to him, he pulled his hand out of hers only to sling it around her shoulder. He knew exactly where to go first. Just because the town had gone to shit, didn't mean there weren't a few places that withstood the test. And much like the bar they were just from, the next place they went to was always overlooked. There weren't any signs that it was a cinema.
"Do you like movies?" He asked as they approached the nondescript building.
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Post by Trix on Sept 14, 2017 3:23:51 GMT
The Innocent Lottie felt heat rush to her cheeks and she chewed her lower lip. She by no means was knocking the alley where she'd gotten bumped into by him. It was where she'd met him, it was where he'd kissed her and it was where she was pretty sure her life had changed. Perhaps she was thinking in the land of a romance novel, but she knew that her life had already changed a bit. She'd never have gone out on her own this far. And Lottie most definitely hadn't talked much to boys outside of her older brother and some of the customers that came in.
Hunter slung his arm across her shoulders and she looped one of hers around his waist, her eyes on his face. Charlotte had no idea where they were going, but she didn't care. Sappy and ridiculous as it was, she didn't care where she was as long as he was leading her there. It was unfathomable, the whole predicament and something she would definitely not be able to explain to Will, but she could not wait to see Lana. Her fingers gripped his side, clasping around his shirt and she narrowed her eyes at him. "Movies? Well that depends. I'm not keen on porn, but the occasional slasher flick is okay."
It was definitely safe to say that she'd gotten comfortable with him. She laughed and cleared her throat, suddenly uncertain of what she should be saying in front of him. Of course she was being herself, but she didn't have friends and she didn't know what was acceptable to say in a social setting. Will had deprived her of a lot of things.
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Post by Nu on Sept 14, 2017 3:40:18 GMT
Hunter looked down at Charlotte just as she was looking up at him and an affectionate smile crossed his face. He didn't believe much about love at first sight but this young woman was giving him all sorts of feels at the moment.
He couldn't help the snort that came out at her response. "We're jumping right there then, are we?" He responded in amusement. "Don't worry. The porn cinema is on the other side of town." He reassured her.
There was only one person working at the counter, which meant the way in snacks was limited to probably a packet of gum. If they were lucky, the packet was still intact and not so close to the expiration date.
"Caphorn! And Lady Caphorn! Welcome welcome." The teenager behind the counter gestured for them to come in. "Place is pretty empty today and showing only two movies. Are you up for another shark flick or do you want something with more guns and guts?" He asked, his gaze going from Hunter to Charlotte to Hunter again.
Hunter turned to Charlotte and swept his hand in her direction. "Lady's pick."
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Post by Trix on Sept 14, 2017 3:51:56 GMT
The Innocent Charlotte was relieved by his reaction and especially relieved by his retort. If a porn comment could be received well, she was pretty certain she could say anything to him without worrying. And the smile he wore made her heart squeeze uncomfortably and yet so perfectly. Of all the people in the world he could have run into in a dark alley, she was so happy that it was her. "Next time, then," She laughed and rolled her eyes.
When they walked in, she tore her eyes from Hunter and at the teen that was lounging behind the counter. Charlotte wondered what it was like working at such a small place with so little business. Whenever the shop was dead, she found herself reading anything she had nearby. She could name all weapons in the glass cases around the room without reading the tags in front of them. In the theater, the most he seemed to have to read were wrappers and the movie titles. Charlotte frowned briefly before spoke and called her Lady Caphorn. That must have been Hunter's last name. Another fact learned!
The selection of movies sounded particularly wonderful to her, but the selling point had to be the guts. Shark flicks could have romance in them and she much preferred romance in novels than she did on screen. The feelings came to life better through words than through action. It was at the very least a little less cheesy. Hunter offered for her to choose and she smiled, "Guns and guts!" The excitement she realized that was in her tone was a little much and the heat flushed her face again. "I mean, that sounds okay. Pretty cool, uh lets do that one."
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Post by Nu on Sept 14, 2017 4:04:53 GMT
Her enthusiasm for violence was met with another chuckle and Hunter shrugged as he coughed up a couple bucks to pay for the tickets. "So uh...no way we can get popcorn today, Todd?" Hunter asked, nodding towards the dark concession stand.
Todd looked at Hunter through squinted eyes before sighing. "I ain't gon' do it so if you want it, you gotta make 'em yourself. Butter's in the fridge and the corn thingies in that box under the counter. You better not stinge me, Cap. Grease my palms a little." The teenager held a hand up.
Hunter rolled his eyes and gave him another couple more dollars. "That's my man. Go crazy. Show starts in fifteen."
Hunter looked to Charlotte with raised eyebrows. "Let's go make our snacks then." He grinned and took her hand once more, tugging for them to move towards the concession stand.
He fiddled with the switches and the machines whirred to life. "Wanna get the corn for me down there?" He asked, gesturing to the few boxes under the counter as he grabbed the butter from the fridge, sticking it into a machine with a pulley before pressing a few buttons on it.
"Drinks?" He asked, trying to work the drink fountain. "Get me a 7-Up, Cap!" Came a response from Todd before he chuckled.
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Post by Trix on Sept 15, 2017 15:34:46 GMT
The Innocent Lottie stood by quietly as she watched the interaction in front of her. She was fascinated by people, likely because she was hardly around any. Will was always lurking by the desk while she was working, interrupting any conversation she struck up with a potential buyer. Being around the same people her whole life, she knew their mannerisms, the way they spoke. She could tell when Will was lying or when he was angry just by the set of his jaw or the way his eyes changed. As she watched two completely different people interact, she felt herself trying to decipher everything they did.
Hunter's demeanor hadn't changed, he was easygoing with the teenager, smooth. Todd was different. Much different. Perhaps it was due to working in such a rundown place in a rundown city that had morphed him into what he was. Expectant of Hunter to give him something instead of just doing him a favor. Hunter looked at her and she realized that she must have looked a little dazed. He took her hand and she smiled when she got pulled back from her own brain. She grabbed the kernels from the box under the counter and handed it to him before stepping back and watching him work. She had no idea how he was working this machine, it looked like a robot to her.
Lottie cleared her throat, realizing she hadn't spoken for a while, "Uh, fruit punch?" She bit her lip and narrowed her eyes at him, "Not your first time doing this huh?"
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Post by Nu on Sept 20, 2017 3:51:52 GMT
With the kernels in hand, Hunter went to work on the popcorn maker and nodded when Charlotte asked for fruit punch. He filled a big paper cup with ice and the drink and slid it over to her before getting some for himself.
As they waited for the popcorn maker to do it's job, Hunter sidled against the dark haired young woman, bumping his shoulder against her and shrugged. "I did make an honest living once." He chuckled, reaching below the counter to grab a bag of Skittles. "Ooh it's the sour kind. Want?" He offered the bag to Charlotte first before grabbing a handful.
"What's it like working with your brother?" Hunter asked.
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Post by Trix on Sept 20, 2017 4:19:23 GMT
The Innocent With his shoulder pressed against hers, she felt her body ease and she smiled, "I'm sure you did, once upon a time." After all, he couldn't have always been a thief. She nudged him back and bit her lower lip before he offered the sour skittles to her which caused her to light up. "Yes please!" She took a handful for herself and popped them into her mouth, her eyes squeezing together in reaction to the tartness.
Once she recovered, Charlotte's face scrunched up again, this time at his question. She pursed her lips as she thought of a nice way to describe working with her brother, who happened to be her best friend and favorite person, but also the biggest pain in her life. If she didn't have Lana, she was certain things would be worse. "Well, lets just say Will is sort of overbearing. He doesn't like to worry about me so he tries to keep me close at all times." She shrugged, trying not to give away exactly how much it drove her nuts. She loved her brother and she understood his worry, but he was crazy about it.
"But he's a good person. I mean, he takes care of me. He's the only family I've got, except for our 'god mother' type thing, Lana," Charlotte pressed her lips together when she realized she was diving into a lot of personal information. Will would not be happy if he found out.
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Post by Nu on Sept 24, 2017 15:51:35 GMT
He simply grinned and shrugged at her reply. Hunter's life before going to the East was very different. He was born into a family that worked directly under the Whittemore empire. His twin, Sasha married into not one, but two of the most influential families after the Shepherds and the Whittemores and settled into her West life a lot easier than he ever could. Of course at first, he tried to make a living as honest as he could, much like Todd was. And when that didn't quite satisfy him, Hunter decided to become the thief he now was.
He used to run with some unsavoury characters when he first started, which was saying something considering the town he lived in but it was as hard to leave that behind as it was to enter into. He was slowly starting to realise that if he wanted whatever this was to continue, his past better not catch up to him.
Chuckling at her reaction to the candy, he leaned into her and gave her a small kiss on the lips. "Sorry." He said a little after, a little embarrassed and fearful that he hadn't asked her if it was okay to do so. He looked at her and gave her a small smile. "I hope you don't mind."
As he listened to her speak about her relationship with her brother, he sensed the familial bond that he could relate very well to. He missed Sasha, and in extension her husband Dayton and wife Lori. They all grew up together and if the war hadn't split their home in two, he would have been with them now. His features darkened slightly before he realised the popcorn machine had done its job. "Oh hey, popcorn's done."
From the front, he heard his name. "Where's my damn Dew, son?" Todd yelled out and Hunter snorted. "Quit yer yapping, I'm coming." He responded as he took the biggest tub and filled it to the brim with the popcorn before drenching it in butter. He took two large cups and filled it with Todd's and his drink before gesturing for Charlotte to follow him. "Oh could you grab the Skittles as well?" He nodded to the open bag as he walked over to Todd. "There ya go chump. You should be paying me for this." He chuckled. Todd laughed out loud and accepted his drink, waving Hunter off. "Enjoy the show, Cap!"
He wanted to hold Charlotte's hand but with both his hands occupied, he could only afford to walk real close to her. They entered one of the halls and was immediately met with a cold blast of air mixed with the heavy smell of cigarette and what he could only assume as after sex. They took the farthest seat from the screen, glad there was nobody around. Once he could put his drink in the cup holder, he itched to reach out to grab Charlotte's hand. This time he was ready to ask if it was okay.
"Would it be too presumptuous of me to ask if you wanted to hold my hand?"
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