Rag-A-Muffin
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It's a hard job, but someone's got to do it
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Post by Ryan Shirogane on Aug 3, 2017 14:05:40 GMT -6
Shiro had just finished his classes for the day, normally he'd visit the library but in this case he was not feeling particularly motivated. Instead he sat down on a bench and began flipping through his book. After about 30 minutes his stomach growled, reminding him that he hadn't eaten since breakfast and it was now well into the afternoon. By his guess he had around two hours before it was time for him to head to the station for work. In the mean time there was no harm in getting a bite to eat. With this in mind he made his way towards one of his favorite places to eat. He let out a cry of surprise as he started forward and knocked right into someone. "Oh I'm sorry!"
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Rag-A-Muffin
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Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned
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Post by Harley Quinn on Aug 3, 2017 15:54:40 GMT -6
With some luck and directions from a couple of helpful strangers, Harley finally located a bookstore. There were two men on duty, one was a dark and sad-eyed youth from Greece or Italy, the other was a jowly, slightly bug-eyed man. She walked past a whole wall of books and magazines, to leaf though a display of records. She browsed for about fifteen minutes before finding the one she wanted titled ‘Echoes of Paris’ because it had memories for her. She paid and the jowly man bagged it and sealed the bag with a strip of tape. Harley strolled out of the store as she stowed her purchase safely away in her purse. And gasped. She had not been paying attention to foot traffic and had walked right into someone.
“Me too, sorry” she said mirroring the man's apology. Her hand was pressed to her breast, as if to still a pounding heart. But her heart wasn’t really pounding. She managed a smile. “You startled me,” she said.
He had nice white even teeth, she noticed. She was apt to notice teeth. And he had an open and friendly face, which was also something she was inclined to notice, and why was she suddenly thinking of her dead lover Louis Moreau?” Before her face could betray her thoughts Harley smiled again. “You're not hurt or anything are you?” her brows furrowed, concern evident in her voice.
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Rag-A-Muffin
8
posts
3
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It's a hard job, but someone's got to do it
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Post by Ryan Shirogane on Aug 12, 2017 21:43:39 GMT -6
Ryan couldn't help but feel bad as the woman was obviously startled by his appearance. He hadn't meant to run into her but looking at it now, the only way for it to have been avoided would be if he had been paying attention. Obviously, he had not. He rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand, feeling rather sheepish and embarrassed about the whole situation.
When she exclaimed he'd startled her the guilt worsened. Great, not only had he bothered this poor woman, now he had her worried about him as well. At her question he shook his head quickly. "I'm really sorry about that ma'am. I meant to get a bite to eat but got a tad distracted on my way there." A tad distracted was putting it nicely, he'd been preoccupied trying to think of ways to spend his time before heading to work. He had been completely zoned out and unaware of anything around him. This was a bad habit, but he had been planning on working on it. "To make up for my utter lack of manners, would you mind if I treated you to lunch? I was just heading to Miguel's if that works alright for you?"
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Rag-A-Muffin
23
posts
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Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned
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Post by Harley Quinn on Aug 13, 2017 1:14:18 GMT -6
Harley lifted an eyebrow at this strange man and his even stranger offer to buy her lunch. He was by far the most apologetic person she had ever met. Her eyes widened from a squint, and her lips quivered, as though she might laugh. A progression of expressions fell across her face in swift succession, like a series of rippling veils, quickly transforming her grimace of wry amusement to a look of suspicion then a vivacious and happy smile. "Why the hell not," she blurted, and linked her arm with his. “You only live once,” this she said more to herself than him. Her smile turned ugood and smirky.
Inside Miguel's, booths upholstered in blue plastic stood beside the windows. The table at each booth held an ash tray, a cylindrical glass sugar dispenser, salt and pepper shakers, a napkin dispenser, and a selector from the nickelodeon. An aisle separated the booths from the counter that ran the length of the restaurant.
They sat in a booth at the north end of the cafe. Harley lit the first blessed cigarette of the day. It was the most wonderful cigarette she had ever tasted. The mildest and sweetest of tobacco all wrapped up in a slim long oval tube. "You know, I've never had lunch with a man whose name I didn't know."
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Rag-A-Muffin
8
posts
3
likes
It's a hard job, but someone's got to do it
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Post by Ryan Shirogane on Aug 17, 2017 21:29:37 GMT -6
More than once Anita had accused him of being oblivious to how women were thinking, and for the most part, Shiro had agreed with her. The woman in front of him was very pretty, but he was still concerned he might have hurt her in some way. When her lip began quivering it took him a second not to panic as he realized she was trying not to laugh. The variety of facial expressions she made though almost caused him to laugh. He stopped himself though and gave a sheepish shrug as her smile turned into a smirk. Best case he got an interesting conversation in from this woman, worst case, he was stuck with a potential mad woman. Though either way it would make for a fascinating topic to discuss.
Miguel's had a certain charm that Ryan couldn't quite put his finger on. It was simple, but still pleasant enough that one didn't think it cheap. As he waited for his guest to sit, he glanced up at the desserts displayed. He made a mental note to order two to go. That way he had one for a snack at the station and could drop one off for either Anita or the Commissioner's grandaughter if she was there. Once the blonde was settled, he slid into the seat opposite. He tried not to wrinkle his nose as she lit her cigerette, he tried not to judge, but he just wasn't fond of the smell the things made. "You know, I've never had lunch with a man whose name I didn't know." This resulted in him blinking in surprise. "Oh, my name is Ryan Shirogane. I thought I'd already introduced myself but it seems I forgot. And your name is?"
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Rag-A-Muffin
23
posts
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Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned
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Post by Harley Quinn on Aug 18, 2017 10:51:35 GMT -6
Harley let the smoke come out between her teeth in a luxurious hiss then uttered a laugh. It was short but genuine. “It’s Harley.” She stopped laughing, but was still smiling. Unabashed. “Odd name I know but it comes with a good story. I was born in the evening, on a very stormy night according to my father and apparently my parents wanted to remember it,” she said, and offered up a half-smile that was wholly conspiratorial. "Some people like it, others don’t. I’m just used to it.”
A waitress came over wearing an orange outfit and matching cap stricken with a hollow expression that said, How did my life bottom out so soon? Took their orders and left.
“So Ryan,” she said. “Do you come here often?” Harley looked out the window. She watched a car brake almost to a stop, then accelerate across the intersection. You were supposed to come to a full stop but hardly anybody did, not unless there were other cars or a crossing guard around. “It’s a great place to people watch.” She faced forward looking into his eyes, studying him. “I bet you people watch a lot huh?"
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Rag-A-Muffin
8
posts
3
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It's a hard job, but someone's got to do it
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Post by Ryan Shirogane on Aug 23, 2017 19:25:51 GMT -6
As the woman introduced herself as Harley he extended a hand to shake. "Its no odder than my own name. Nice to meet you Miss Harley. So how did you end up here?" He asked. Not many people had been raised here or stayed in Gatsbery. As the waitress came he ordered a few desserts and then a sandwich for himself. Once she had left he focused back on Harley and smiled at her but it faltered slightly as she started asking him questions. It wasn't that he minded, but it was unusual.
"I come here every now and then, but it's usually after I finish classes or work." It threw him off when she made a comment about watching people. "What makes you say that?" He met her gaze and raised an eyebrow.
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Rag-A-Muffin
23
posts
5
likes
Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned
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Post by Harley Quinn on Aug 28, 2017 2:49:41 GMT -6
“That obvious I ain’t from around here?” Harley smiled again and rested her forearm on the table. Her cigarette between the fingers of her right hand hung negligently down from the edge of the table. She had noticed that Ryan didn’t seem keen on the smoke from her cigarette. “Oh I don’t know,” she said with a shrug, shifted in the booth and looked out the window again. This time a woman was being pulled down the street by a large black and white dog. Harley watched until they turned a corner and moved out of sight, watched another car not quite stop for the stop sign, then raised her eyes to watch a cloud floating free and untouched in the open blue sky. “I guess a change of scenery was just the thing I needed to keep me in good health."
The waitress brought over their food and drink then left. Harley lit another cigarette, puffing away absentmindedly while sipping on her coffee; black and sweet, just how she liked it. She glanced at him sideways “You just have a look about you is all. Maybe it’s your demeanour,” she said trying to figure it out for herself. "I don’t mean to offend your or anything but you seem to be a little bit on the shy side, perhaps you keep to yourself? In my experience people like that are often excellent observers. They see things others don’t."
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