Delia: Out and about gettin' coffee. Anyone in for joining me?
Vincent (to Delia): YES. I wld murder for a cup. Meet u there in 15? How's ur lad 2day?
Delia (to Vincent): Sore. Seeming better though. Curled up with his snake when I left. Which was a little adorable and odd looking. lol
Vincent (to Delia): Leon's snake is quite the cuddler. Not what u'd expect frm a lrg reptile. & certainly not what I expected 2 wake up w/ 1 morn.
Delia (to Vincent): Pete's pretty well socialized. I honestly think it thinks its a dog or another person lol.
Vincent (to Delia): No doubt. See u in a few, hun. Try not 2 b 2 horrified by my lack of product. LOL
Delia (to Vincent): Sure thing! I'm almost there. Would you like me to go ahead and grab yours?
Vincent (to Delia): Yes, pls. Unless the barrista is cute. :-P
Delia (to Vincent): Well that doesn't narrow it down. I know you think aprons are cute lol. But, she is adorable on her own… I'll leave it to you.
Vincent (to Delia): Cute AND wearing an apron. Maybe I'd better rethink showing up au natural.
Delia (to Vincent): You and your vanity. You are perfectly cute w/out the eyeliner.
Vincent (to Delia): Ppl tend 2 think I've not yet entered puberty's sticky embrace. @ least when I wear eyeliner they think I'm 16. :-P
Delia (to Vincent): Really? I don't see it. But I also hang out w/ you a lot. Perhaps everyone with think I'm a dirty old cougar this AM then. Yes it is.
Vincent (to Delia): We can only hope. Oh! Let's start some RUMORS. I'll kiss ur cheek when I come in. There will b shock & awe all arnd.
Delia (to Vincent): Lord, it'd be like that don't stand so close to me song. Only not.. because you're not in HS nor am I your teacher.
Vincent (to Delia): Ooo! Sting back when he was still hot & b4 he got all obnoxious. Come on! It will b HILARIOUS. I can call u Ms Fawkes & ask u 2 keep me after class.
Delia (to Vincent): Oh alright fine lol. I snagged a couch in the back. You can come cuddle up on me too to help the illusion... you've put way too much thought into this. You've considered it before now, haven't you?
Vincent (to Delia): Hee hee. What? Hooking up w/ a hot teacher? No more than every other man who was once a teenage boy.
Delia (to Vincent): Fair enough. Speaking of teachers... are you going to dinner w/ Ripper? I know you were considering it.
Vincent (to Delia): No, he called it off. He said he shld prolly take a break frm dating & that he thinks I'm 2 young 4 him.
Delia (to Vincent): Well, he is closer to my age then yours. And it might be odd for him when he might have students your age if not older. eh. C'est la Vie. A cool down period might just be a good thing. Still casual flirting might be fine. Hell.. I've considered it. He's nice to look at and a pretty quick wit.
Vincent (to Delia): No, he was vry reasonable & kind abt the whole thing & made a lot of good sense, bu land sakes alive! LOOK AT HIM. I'm not going 2 pretend it wasn't just a bit disappointing. Every1 wants the hawt new guy to want him. :-P
Delia (to Vincent): Oh… I hear ya! I'll admit to feeling a little… hmm… intrigued? When he's around. Yes. Flirting might def be in order. tag team w/ me on this one? If its all in goes fun he can't object. lol
Vincent (to Delia): Sweetie, have u EVER known me 2 turn down flirting w/ an attractive man?
Delia (to Vincent): Nope! It'll be fun! Turn on the bartender charm and keep him guessing.
Vincent (to Delia): Mmm. I may do just that. Tho, I have 2 admit 2 feeling a little bad abt turning the tap on full blast. He was vry picture of the older, wiser concerned gentleman when he turned me down.
Delia (to Vincent): Aw, its alright sugar butt. You're young and easily excited. I admit to much the same when I was your age. Lord! I practically swooned over this anthropology grad student when I started college. Didn't end well but I learned. Oh and I'll have to tell you about the time when I met Sasha, sometime lol. That's quite the story.
Vincent (to Delia): Did u & Sasha have a FLING? Le gasp!
Delia (to Vincent): Maybe… Actually yes. It was only a couple of months and we decided we were better friends and he offered me my current job.
Vincent (to Delia): Good gracious. What an incestuous group we have down @ Drac's & I mean that in the best possible way. ;-}
Delia (to Vincent): Heh. A little. We met when I was fresh from college w/ my history degree and working for the museum. I was giving a tour that he was on... apparently knowing a lot about Medieval European history was something of a turn on. lol
Vincent (to Delia): When ISN'T it a turn on?
Delia (to Vincent): Um… when you don't give a shit about history? Probably didn't help that the tour featured artifacts of Vlad the impaler.
Vincent (to Delia): I shld think not. Hawtness squared.
Delia (to Vincent): Hehe.. don't tell me the history has gotten to you too. Also, that's math dear heart.
Vincent (to Delia): Mmmm. Math is good 2. Had the most scrumptious math tutor in school. I didn't need the help, I just wanted tutoring. 2 this day, I have a soft spot 4 algebra. Honestly, I just find intelligence & passion 4 a subject a huge turn on.
Delia (to Vincent): Well then one day I'll have to teach you about Nubian society or why the Hindu Vedas are interesting to science then.
Vincent (to Delia): Oh my. Careful, hun. U may make me swoon.
Delia (to Vincent): We wouldn't want that. You'd be impossible to work with.
Vincent (to Delia): Awwww, u say that abt me all the time anyway.
Delia (to Vincent): Yes, but it'd be even more so with you trying to put a hand down my pants. It was bad enough with you trying to convince me to let you put the tape on me. lol
Vincent (to Delia): What? I'm shocked u'd imply I'm anything other than a gentleman. I'd NVR put a hand dwn ur trousers. Unless u wanted me 2, of course. Oh. Well... Heh. U can't blame a boy 4 trying.
Delia (to Vincent): oh can't I? Incorrigible you are.
Vincent (to Delia): I'm lots of things. Incorrigible ranks up there w/ "sexy" & "beautiful" on the list of adjectives that best describe me.
Delia (to Vincent): Well you're certainly feeling better. Coffee and public couch cuddling seem to have done you good.
Vincent (to Delia): Well, u know how I love causing a scene.
An hour or so later:
Mouse (to Eep): Hey handsome, I have come to make peace with your people... I'm sorry for acting like such an asshole last night.
Eep (to Mouse): I have a people? Don't worry about it. It's not like you've never had to deal with me in a funk. I think I can forgive you.
Mouse (to Eep): Thank you, you are way too good to me.
Eep (to Mouse): Pffft. Because I'm not mad you had a shit day? Not even a little bit.
Mouse (to Eep): Well, I appreciate it, anyway... so there.
Eep (to Mouse): Heh. I'll remind you that you said that next time I'm acting like a dick.
Mouse (to Eep): I'll tape a note to my forehead. :-P
Eep (to Mouse): Heh. That might get in the way after a while. We could just tattoo it on your forehead.
Mouse (to Eep): Oh my god, I think you may have found my next tattoo! :-P
Eep (to Mouse): Ha ha ha! Yes. In a nice old English font in all capital letters. We want to keep it classy looking.
Mouse (to Eep): Yes, indeed, and while we're at it, I'll have Vincent tattooed with 'Poor Impulse Control' in special black light ink. :-)
Eep (to Mouse): Ha! It would practically be a public service. God, what does that mean I have to get? "Approach at your own risk?" "WARNING: contains enough 2nd hand smoke to choke a camel."
Mouse (to Eep): heehee, either one would probably work. :-P (to Vincent) Hey little brother, I'm sorry I was in such a snit last night.
Vincent (to Mouse): No worries, hun. R u better today? Or, do I have 2 come ovr there & force u 2 watch a certain chick flick I'm not supposed 2 mention 2 cheer u up? :-P
Mouse (to Vincent): I have already done that... which is probably why I'm in a better mood.
Vincent (to Mouse): U know u don't have 2 b every1's cheering section all the time, don't u, sweetie? I'm srry if I've been putting 2 much pressure on u, hun.
Mouse (to Vincent): That's what family is for, sweetie. I just sometimes need a day to be grumpy that's all.
Vincent (to Mouse): Well, I'm glad ur feeling better. B/c, oh my stars & garters, when u decide 2 b grumpy, u do it in spades! ;-P
Mouse (to Vincent): haha, very funny.
Vincent (to Mouse): Yes. Apparently, I'm quite "incorrigible" 2day.
Mouse (to Vincent): Do I even want to ask?
Vincent (to Mouse): Oh nothing. I've spent the morn convincing Delia to let me make the ppl @ the coffee shop think she was my cougar-ish teacher & I was her naughty student. It wld have worked 2 if so many ppl didn't already know us!
Mouse (to Vincent): Wow... you're really trying to make up for this weekend's subdued behavior, aren't you?
Vincent (to Mouse): Oh like I wldn't have done that anyway.
Mouse (to Vincent): True... I'll just leave what I want to say unsaid.
Vincent (to Mouse): Boo hiss 2 u 2!
Mouse (to Vincent): What? I was trying to be polite.
Vincent (to Mouse): Mmm hmmm. If u were trying 2 b polite, u wouldn't have said anything, so have ur say, sister dearest.
Mouse (to Vincent): I've just noticed that whenever you feel insecure or your ego is bruised, you tend to throw yourself into the shock & perv. I think you use it like armor, so you don't have to actually show people the real you. That's all...
Vincent (to Mouse): So ur saying I'm NOT a pervert? Wow. I think that's the 1st time any1 has EVER said that abt me.
Mouse (to Vincent): I think you WANT people to think you're a perv so you can keep them at arms length. You're not much different from me, only you've been sneakier, you've been hiding in plain sight & right in front of everyone. You're probably going to argue with me & say that I'm silly. But, it just dawned on me & I've been thinking about it.
Vincent (to Mouse): Or I cld rlly shock u & agree w/ u. Of course, then u won't know if I'm saying that b/c ur not expecting it, or b/c ur rite. LOL Every1 seems 2 have my number these days... Clearly, my game is slipping.
Mouse (to Vincent): Sweetie, I've always had your number... I've just always let you play the game. I don't think I'd be shocked as much as disappointed that you'd lie to me, so I would hope that you actually meant it. I just hate seeing you put yourself in stupid situations because you want to be so sophisicated & grownup.
Vincent (to Mouse): Ooch. Well, I certainly don't want 2 lie 2 u, sweetie. And yes, ur rite; being pervy is a great way 2 hide insecurities or maybe not, as it doesn't seem 2 b fooling any1 lately. I know I sometimes try 2 hard 2 b older & more experienced than I am. Part of the reason is that I rlly can't stand the idea that who I was raised 2 b, or who they tried to raise me 2 b at any rate, can still b affecting me. It's the silliest & most frustrating thing! It's ovr and done w/ after all. I'm SO much luckier than many other lads who have been in my shoes.
Mouse (to Vincent): I understand. But you're the one deciding what kind of person you're going to be from now on & not your past circumstances. The whole thing with Asher really scared the shit out of me...
Vincent (to Mouse): I know, sweetie. Honestly? It scared the shit out of me too. It's hard for me 2 explain... But, I guess part of it was, I was so used 2 being the 1 in control of the situation. It rlly shook me that some1 cld manipulate me that easily. I got flustered &, God help me, turned on. SO not my proudest mo. & I know I'm not the only 1, but good God, did getting roofied scare me. & the nightmares I had all week...
Mouse (to Vincent): I can imagine, I had a couple that were doozies.
Vincent (to Mouse): I try rlly hard not 2 be a burden on u, sweetie. U've done SO much 4 me. More than u had 2 & more than most wld do, certainly. So, despite all evidence 2 the contrary, I try not 2 repay that kindness by being a huge pain in ur ass.
Mouse (to Vincent): Sweetie, you were stuck with me the moment you stepped into my life, despite all of my valiant efforts to the contrary and I never did anything for you because I wanted repayment. I have always loved you as if you were my real brother. All I've ever wanted was for you to be happy. So, it kills me when I watch you get hurt, especially by your own actions. Did you know that Delia & I have had several long talks about her being worried about you, too? Even, Eep worries about you... sometimes. That's what family does.
Vincent (to Mouse): Good heavens. I--I honestly don't know what 2 say...
Mouse (to Vincent): Yep, we're like the fucking Waltons...
Vincent (to Mouse): Pls. Like the Waltons were ever this sexy!
Several hours later:
Delia (to Eep): Hey thanks for the stew. It was great and I know Leon appreciated it.
Eep (to Delia): No prob. I figured the last thing either of you wanted to do is cook. How're you guys doing?
Delia (to Eep): Well I'm fine. I'm at the bar doing the weekly inventory and order. Last I saw Leon he was okay if a bit sore.
Eep (to Delia): Yeah. Sleep's probably the best thing right now.
Delia (to Eep): I think he said something about trying to sleep as much as he could today and trying to go back to work tonight or tomorrow.
Eep (to Delia): Yeah. Sleep's probably the best thing right now.
Delia (to Eep): No doubt. How're you and your lady?
Eep (to Delia): We're fine. We're just watching a movie.
Delia (to Eep): ahh.. I won't keep you then. I may be bored but I'm not rude lol. Hopefully I'll get some business in. Right now its me, a bunch of bottles, Sasha in his office and a pair of the most awkward goths ever trying to flirt w/ each other.
Eep (to Delia): What? Which awkward goths are those?
Delia (to Eep): That's right. You're never here on a Tuesday. They come in almost every week. I think crowds scare them and this being the least busy day... they're probably college kids. No older than Vincent. Its kinda sweet, really, in a really pathetic kinda way. lol
Poppy (to Delia): Are you working tonight, honey?
Delia (to Poppy): Yep. Inventory, ordering and serving what few come in. Why?
Poppy (to Delia): Wonderful! I'm heading there to meet Ripper for a drink.
Delia (to Poppy): Are you now? Well, well, well... my night just got a little more interesting then. I suppose I should thank you then for bringing along something nice to look at, lol
Poppy (to Delia): I like to share in the fun, honey.
Delia (to Poppy): woooow... no. No. Too easy. Heh. No Vincent tonight?
Poppy (to Delia): I called Vincent & left a message earlier, honey. But, it looks like I'm on my own. Besides, I can't stay too late. See you in a minute, honey.
Delia (to Poppy): huh... fair enough. Most decent people have work or class in the morning anyway so we're not open too late.
An hour or so later:
Vincent (to Poppy): Hey, hun. Srry I missed ur call. I fell asleep & was dead 2 the world.
Poppy (to Vincent): It's okay, honey. I made my own entertainment... I'm at the club having a drink with Ripper & keeping Delia company.
Vincent (to Poppy): Good gracious. That doesn't even seem possible.
Poppy (to Vincent): There is the most adorably awkward couple in here. They make the Gloomies seem well-adjusted, honey
Vincent (to Poppy): What? R they sitting 50 ft across the club frm 1 another txting ea other & blushing furiously every time they make eye contact?
Delia (to Ripper): Those aren't students of yours, are they?
Ripper (to Delia): Thankfully, no.
Delia (to Ripper): It'd probably be more awkward for them then you if they were. They don't say much, I just sorta figured they were students.
Ripper (to Delia): They do look like students, but I don't recognize either of them from my classes.
Delia (to Ripper): Well, then a small favor it is then. So. What brings your handsome self to grace my bar with such lovely company as Poppy?
Ripper (to Delia): I needed a break from grading papers. Poppy was nice enough to offer to keep me company & she suggested to come here.
Delia (to Ripper): ahh. I can imagine that gets tedious after awhile. Still, I won't complain of company on a usually boring night.
Twenty minutes later:
Ripper (to Delia & Poppy): Well, pretty ladies, thank you for the drink & the company... I must now return to the grindstone.
Poppy (to Vincent): Sorry, honey, I got distracted... the couple were sitting at the same table, but there was texting & blushing going on. Ripper just left & I'm now heading home, myself.
Vincent (to Poppy): No worries, sweetie. Want 2 get lunch 2morrow, since we see 2 keep missing ea other lately?
Poppy (to Vincent): How about I take a vacation day & we spend the day together, honey?
Vincent (to Poppy): Darling, that sounds FABOO.
Poppy (to Vincent): Wonderful. Would you like to start the day off tonight?
Vincent (to Poppy): Mmmm. I love the way u think, sweetness. Ur place or mine?
Poppy (to Vincent): How about my place & then we can go use the rooftop hot tub?
Vincent (to Poppy): I'll bring my bow tie. :-}
Poppy (to Vincent): Perfect. I'll see you soon.
