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Post by Thrif on Nov 8, 2008 18:54:57 GMT 8
“I don' care how many times I said it before, M' gunna say it again. If they’re gunna live ‘ere they gotta learn the language.” The tall, blonde haired-blue eyed southerner frowned, holding a steamy cup of coffee in his hand.
“You are so xenophobic, Marshall.”
“M’ not Xena-phobic - it’s one of my fav’rite shows. Leather skirts, lesbian sword fightin’, female empowerment. Maybe I’m a little Clema-phobic.” Marshall drawled, he was leaning one-armed out of a doorway looking over at a young woman with delicately slanted eyes and jet black hair talking animatedly in Korean with another young man at a table seated outside of the Internet Cafe. His eyebrows where raised and mouth upturned at Clementine's comment, she was standing beside him, arms folded looking slightly offended at his comment about foreigners. After all she was born in Italy, she had had to learn to speak English too. She was a petite, green-blue eyed, brunette with an Italian accent. He ducked back inside the doorway, leaning against the frame. He turned away from the door,
The streets outside where bustling busily with the other inhabitants of the town making their usual lunch stops for coffee, petrol and breakfast. The various alleyways and roads lead off to the sides, making the street feel like a puzzle. The sun was glistening on the pavements and the talking of the people around them seemed to echo around the area.
“You are too.” She spoke with an Italian accent, eyeing the coffee that had once been hers, now held firmly in his hand. She went to make a snatch for it but he held his hand on her shoulder to hold her back. “I’ve got to say Sticks… you’re wrong.” He smirked at her, watching her purse her lips.
“Are you not meant to be at work?” The conversation was leading no where.
“I’m a man of action. I got better things to do.”
Like steal other peoples coffee? She thought, with agitation. Crossing her arms, she said. “I would say more like an Action figure.”
Marshall grinned, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “Why? You wanna play with me?”
“As in you look good, but cannot do much.” She corrected him.
“Ahh.” His smile didn’t falter. “But I look good.” He stepped aside so that she could walk out into the street, they began walking towards the park, Marshall taking a long sip from the cup. “Good brew. Y’ should try some.” He taunted, making a gesture as if to bring to the cup to her but pulled it away as she reached out.
“I do not like you. You where overdue for a reminder.” She elbowed him as they reached the road, she looked both ways before crossing the street, waiting patiently for him as he crossed.
“You like me just fine, Sticks.” A lazy, all knowing smile spread across his features as he stepped onto the side-walk.
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Post by Piffle on Nov 8, 2008 20:56:07 GMT 8
Belle Andrews :: 18 It was a fabulous day outside, the sun was warm on her face as she strolled through the park for once her day was calm there were no new comers, the work at the ranch had been done. Sure there was plenty of repair jobs that still needed doing, but she didn’t want to think about them right now she wanted to enjoy this day. The streets were full of all the people she and her mother before her had introduced to the island and all those like herself who had been born here. Some smiled and waved as she walked past and some even stopped to say a quick hello but she wasn’t too interested today this was her day for her. For the first time in ages she felt like painting and had all her things in a bag slung across her right shoulder. She was headed for the park she loved to paint in the park when she was younger and she was carefree there were so many interesting subjects to paint. Whether it was the duck dipping and diving in the pond, or the cute old couples that sat on benches reading from the same paper or feeding the ducks. As she entered the park she half-heartedly noticed Marshall walking into the park from the opposite end with Clementine, the young girl that she had helped come to grips with her fate not a month earlier. Smiling as she walked through the park toward the waterfall that cascaded into the pond she smiled seeing the usual suspects. Ducks ducking in and out of the water but today there was something new, a trail of little ducklings following a mother duck into the pond. Smiling she sat down on the soft springy grass and took out all of her paints and brushes, her canvas and easel. Placing them around her she gathered up her hair a paintbrush in her mouth as she twirled it around at the base of her neck before securing it into a bun with the paintbrush. A few wisps escaped immediately and fell around her face, as she began mixing colours and spreading them across the canvas forming the sight before her. The bubbling water at the base of the waterfall and the reflections of the trees on the water, as well as the mother duck with trusting trail of ducklings swimming along behind on lagging slightly as it got distracted by a dragonfly which she also added to the picture.
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Post by Thrif on Nov 8, 2008 21:17:04 GMT 8
“Well fine then. If you don’ want to keep me comp’ny then I’ll say howdy to our Chief over there.” Marshall has spied Bell making her way through the park towards the water, setting up her easel, canvas and other painting equipment and began to paint.
He was tired of ‘playing’ with Clementine anyway. Her humor was always so puritanical, and there was only so much fun you could have with someone like that. Belle was allot more fun to bait.
“Wait Marshall, do not disturb her!” Clementine put a had out to grab his short but he was already striding towards Belle. She sighed, crossing her arms and slowly followed after him.
Typical of him, he never listened. Or did anything unless it benefited him in some way - in this case, it was his own amusement.
Marshall’s pace slowed down slightly as he got closer to the budding artist and walked in front of her view of the water and trees, standing with his legs slightly apart and his arms raised, flexed in a would-be heroic stance. “Now y’ have somethin’ good to paint.” He grinned at her.
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Post by Piffle on Nov 9, 2008 9:18:26 GMT 8
Belle Andrews :: 18 The painting was just starting to come together and Belle was rather happy with the way it was looking when a shadow was caste across her work. Looking up she saw Marshall standing in front of her, blocking the view of the pond as he stuck the most ridiculous pose imaginable. “O yer I could submit it to the most stupid males competition, bet it would win first prize especially with that ridiculous pose and goofy look on your face.”She said with a slight grin as she packed away her paints, she didn’t really like sharing her art with others she was really rather self-conscious about it. Besides she had the image committed to memory she would finish it later tonight, she had the basics set. As she put everything but the still wet canvas away in the bag she saw Clementine walking over a bit more slowly, she seemed embarrassed by Marshall’s behavior. With a friendly smile Belle waved to her, she didn’t mind being interrupted she was used to it, most times on days like this when she thought she had the day off a new arrival would come. It always seemed to be the same, just when she thought she had a day to herself something came up, whether with the stable or newcomers or just some dispute between the locals for some reason they all seemed to come to her. In a way she wished they would leave her alone for once but on the other hand she didn’t like feeling alone and she was always much happier at the end of a day of helping others then after a day of helping herself. “So Marshall what brings you here blocking my light anyway?”
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Post by Thrif on Nov 9, 2008 11:48:58 GMT 8
Marshall dropped the pose, and looked back at Belle with a feigned hurt expression on his face. Crossing his arms he spoke, “Ouch, Belle. Ye always gutta assume I want somethin’? Ye never thought I’d just wanna be graced wit’ yer presence?”
Clementine scoffed. “Yeah, right.” She gave Belle a friendly smile, walking around she leaned over some to view her painting. “This is wonderful, Belle.” She commented. It looked like a perfect image of the scenery in front of them. Minus the less than perfect man blocking the way. “Actually he stole my coffee. I was trying to get it back when he decided to disturb your painting.”
The park was going to be her first choice for a good place to enjoy her coffee. It was quite spacious, and looked pretty new, yet old at the same time. The grass was a lush green, blowing gently in the breeze. Dogs where running around catching frisbees or a ball, stopping to drink water from the lake nearby. There where other people sitting under the old oak or willow trees, enjoying a picnic or reading a nice book. Kids laughing and playing in the little playground that was complete with a swing-set, seesaws, monkey-bars and slides.
The children playing on the equipment where squealing with delight as they chased each other around on the grass, pushed each other on the swings and try to pull each other off of the monkey-bars. She had to smile as she watched several little girls playing double-dutch on the grass about 50 meters in front of her.
If someone came up with a way to take the sound from children and make it into fuel they would be a trillionaire and everyone could stop freaking out about the world’s energy crisis.
At least that’s what Clementine thought.
Everyone on the Island where a mixed crew, and the park was usually where most of the people congregated, each usually sticking to their own familiar groups.
From her spot beside Belle, Clementine could see everything. To the right of her, she could see over by some benches were where the wogs hung out. The wogs - a title they proudly gave themselves - where made up of mainly Italian and Greeks, with the spattering of Croatians. To the left of her where the skips - the Aussies - hung out on some more seats closer to the lake. They where a combination of footy-heads, a few skaters, though normally the skaters, and some classic yobs. Then the Asians took up what left of the skips.
The gothics claimed a small shaded area near, glaring at all the skaters in the skate park. There weren’t many of them and they weren’t exactly that hard core. The extent of most of their Gothdom was dyed black hair, although the talk around the quad was one of the guys actually wore white make-up and black lipstick on weekends.
That left the ones considered rejects, the people who’d been backpackers all their life, moving from group to group, not quite sure of where they fit in. Some of them ended up finding a secluded spot away from the other people, near the lake, while others found each other and spent their time hanging out together anywhere they could find a clear space.
Then finally there where the mongrels, a hybrid of all the groups: a couple of footy-heads, soccer players, good students and muso’s assorted Filipino’s, Lebs, wogs, and skips. They where all an easy going crowd. They usually took up three long seats near the barbecue area.
It had taken Clementine a long while to memories all of this. She was pretty fluent in English but she still didn’t get all of the slang words or sayings right - It was a very complicated language! With all of it’s words that are pronounced the same, but are spelt differently and have different meaning...
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Post by Piffle on Nov 9, 2008 18:01:31 GMT 8
Belle Andrews :: 18 Belle listened to Clementine speak as she continued to put things away then hearing he compliment of her painting she looked at it again herself it wasn’t finished yet there was still much to do but the basics were there it was the detail that was still to come. “Thank you Clementine but it is far from finished.”Marshall’s statement however went by without any notice aside from an eye roll he never wanted nothing, there was always something even if it was to just stir up some trouble. As she stood up and slung her backpack over she shoulder again she listened to Clementine’s story about Marshall stealing her coffee, that sure as hell sounded like Marshall he always was one to take what he wanted rather then get his own. That was why Will the local sergeant had so much fun locking him up so often, he always had somewhat sticky fingers. “Trust you Marsh and you wonder why Will picks on ya so much”She said with a shake of her head her eyes rolling slightly but a smile on her face, as much as he was an annoying pain in the butt most days she found him somewhat refreshing. At the mention of coffee though Belle started thinking that she could quite happily sit back with one of Lucy’s Mocha Frappe’s. “Hey Clementine what ya say we leave this oaf here and go get some more coffee my shout.”She asked as she pick up her canvas holding it carefully so she wouldn’t smudge the still wet paint, her clothes weren’t all that flash today just some old ripped jeans and a loose top but she didn’t want to ruin the painting. Smile graced her lips as she watched the children playing on the playground there attentive mothers hovering nearby talking amongst themselves. Even though they seemed totally realized you could see them glance over often to check on their children. It brought some sadness to her as well though as she remembered her baby sister that she never got to see grow up but she tried not to think to much of that and pushed it to the back of her mind.
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Post by Thrif on Nov 9, 2008 18:50:52 GMT 8
Clementine’s green-blue eyes sparkled as Belle offered to keep her company. Since arising on the Island she had always enjoyed Belle’s company. She was the sort of person you didn’t always need to talk around, and was just content in having someone there. “Sounds like a good plan to me.” She agreed.
Marshall was good company...when he wasn’t being raunchy, juvenile, or in a foul mood, but she always had to be on her toes around him. There was something she just didn’t trust.
“No boys aloud huh?” He smirked. Clementine shook her head, speaking with her delicate Italian accent. “Girls day out. Besides do you not have something to go steal? Will has been looking very bored lately.”
It wasn’t common knowledge what Marshall did exactly before his life on the island but it was a well known fact amongst the locals that Marshall was a bit of a drifter. She had heard tell around the town circle that he’d been caught trespassing on peoples properties a few times the first few months he’d been there. He believed that Will, the head of police seemed to have some person vendetta against him, and he’d been spending half his time in the cells and at his home for nearly a year.
“Hey now c’mon. I like ta think of myself as a sort of modern-day Robin Hood. Rob from the rich, give to the poor?”
“Without the ‘giving’ part. You remind me more of Batman actually.”
“Batman?” Marshall queried.
“Yes. You are solitary, secret identity...”
“So, that’d make which one of you Robin?” He motioned to each of them, looking amused.
“Depends. Would that nickname make me want to beat you up?” She asked, without needing to think about it.
“Probably. How do you feel about spandex?” He grinned playfully. Clementine ducked her head a moment to avoid the dangerous grin, hoping that the action wasn’t going to give away too much concerning her private reflections. She looked over at Belle, “Are you ready?”
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Post by Piffle on Nov 11, 2008 7:11:02 GMT 8
Belle Andrews :: 18 Belle wasn’t paying much attention to the others as they had a war of words, her mind was at the cemetery with her mother and baby sister and she began thinking about how long it had been since she had gone to visit their graves. ‘I will have to take some flowers to them this afternoon after having coffee with Clementine’ she thought to herself. It wasn’t often that Belle went into a daze thinking about other things she usually liked to keep a clear head and wasn’t one to let it wander. Just recently however she was finding it harder and harder to concentrate maybe it was the approach of what would have been her mothers birthday had she still been alive. Hearing Clementine ask her if she was ready Belle had to snap herself from her thoughts, her eyes cleared and she could see the children playing with their diligent parents again. With one last smile she turned away from the children and toward Clementine and nodded. “Sure am lets go.”Belle said before turning to Marshall. “If you get bored on your own Marshall you could always have a shower who knows it might improve your jokes as well as your personal hygiene cause both stink.”She said with a grin as she began to walk off toward the town center and toward the Internet café. A finale fleeting glance back toward the children on the playground set in her mind that she was going to do something special for her mothers birthday even if she was no longer here to share it. ((OOC - edit - i think its a little better quality now))
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Post by Thrif on Nov 11, 2008 20:41:23 GMT 8
“Ciao.” Clementine called over her shoulder just in time to catch a glance at Marshall flipping a finger at them before she started following after Belle back towards the Internet Cafe. She took a deep breath in. It may have been odd but she loved how crisp...clean and fresh the Island smelt. Everything about the place was just so natural. Of course pretty much everything was organic. All of the fruit and vegetables where grown here. Milk and cheese, and yogurt where all made off of the farms and sold to the shops for them to re-sell... The houses where perfect; Every single one of them looked just like something that you’d see in a fairy tale book to her. It hadn’t been the same in Italy. She had literally grown up in a mansion, she had hardly ever been aloud outside of the yard because her father would say it’d be too dangerous for her. She had felt like a prisoner in her own home. When she had first arrived she had been afraid. But then as time passed she started thinking, and really it had been the best thing that ever happened to her.
“Thank you,” She addressed Belle with a friendly smile. “I am glad that I have someone decent to talk to now.” She placed one hand in the other as she walked, rubbing her thumb absentmindedly over a small scar on the inside of the palm.
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Post by Piffle on Nov 11, 2008 20:59:37 GMT 8
Belle Andrews :: 18 As they walked Clementine catching back up as Belle walked through the park gently holding her newest half finished painting to avoid it smearing they passed one of the oldest couples on the island Mr. and Mrs. Wallace they had both been born here and grew up together. Now they were both around 90 and still in love. Walking through the park hand in hand it was so cute to see it wasn’t very often you even saw young married coupes walking that easily with each other in public. Both smiled as they passed the two girls Belle moving off onto the grass to let them pass comfortably on the path. Once past them Belle moved back in again. “No worries most people need saving from Marshall, besides I haven’t had much of a chance to see you since you got here.”She said with a smile. They were soon at the street the internet café sign stood out across the road and to the left as much as any of the others. Even from there she could see many people in there sitting in groups or couples drinking and chatting, some sitting on their own at the computers. They could email their families from here but they could not mention what the island was called or where it was. All emails were filtered by Celeste before they were sent so no specific information could be sent, They couldn’t risk the island being discovered. Looking left and right the coast was clear and she crossed the road. “So how are you settling in?”She asked Clementine as they reached the other side.
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Post by Thrif on Nov 11, 2008 22:01:17 GMT 8
Clementine smiled as an elderly couple walked by, holding hands and looking at each other as if they where teenagers. She gave them a quick wave as they passed, and as she approached the street, she checked for cars before crossing.
“I am settling in very nicely, thank you.” She said as they crossed the street. “My garden is coming along beautifully.” She added with a hint of pride.
The Internet Cafe came into view. She loved it for it’s great food, beverages and lovely service but the computers always bothered her. She knew that you could email your families from there, and that they where closely read and examined before they where sent there so that if you where trying to sneak any information about the where-about’s of the Island, the entire email would be deleted. She knew - for her at least it’d be very difficult to actually be able to talk to your relatives and friends, but not be able to tell them where you where, or why you couldn’t come back. She had heard of a few people who had actually managed to convince their families that they’d gone away on business or on a last minute holiday, but their days numbered before the lies started to seep truth. “And what about you?
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Post by Piffle on Nov 12, 2008 15:39:01 GMT 8
Belle Andrews :: 18 Justin Fletcher :: 19 Belle continued to walk down the street, as they approached the café she saw Nanook sitting outside near the door, her lead drooped loosely next to her not tied to anything, and yet she never ran away. Bending down Belle patted the beautiful red Siberian Husky’s head before opening the door for Clementine. Following her into the café she saw Nanook’s owner the geeky Justin sitting at one of the computers, by the looks he was updating one thing or another for Lucy. “Oh I’m doing fine, there is always something to keep me busy”She said with a grin as she walked up to the counter, the fun and boisterous Lucy was bustling around making orders as another younger women walked up to serve them. “Hey Belle what can I get ya? And Clementine want the same? I saw that oaf Marshall pinch yours, I tell ya he’s good for nothin’ sometimes”
“Hey Fran I’ll have a Mocha Frappe thanks.”
“Coming right up Belle”she said with a grin waiting for Clementine’s response, ‘beep beeeep beeeeep’ not the fanciest message tone in the world Belle thought as she took her phone out of her pocket, sliding it open, and looking at the screen “Shit!”She said out loud as she put the phone away, she had totally forgotten about the new arrivals and here she was thinking she had the day off. “You really should let me get you a better ring tone Belle, anyway what’s the dilemma, you don’t normally swear.”A male voice said behind her turning around she saw that Justin was standing there and the computer he had been using was shut down he had obviously finished what ever it was he was doing. “I told you last time Justin I don’t need fancy ring tones, besides there is nothing fancy about me finding out that what I thought was my day off isn’t I have to go to the woods, there 2 new arrivals I completely forgot about them”
“Well why don’t Nanook and I go, I need to take her for a walk anyway, and after everything you do for everyone here you enjoy your day off”Justin offered kindly, Belle couldn’t help smiling he was such a clumsy geek of a guy some times but he was sweet. “That’s so nice of you Justin but I have to speak with them”
“Well enjoy your drink I’ll bring em to you, you’ll have Nanook to deal with if you don’t say yes”He said with a grin and as if to make the statement true Nanook let out a playful bark outside “Well I cant argue with Nanook now can I thank you Justin”
“Don’t mention it”He said as he walked outside and took the lead off Nanook, who stood and walked along beside the man. “So Clem was it that same then?”Fran asked again since she hadn’t gotten an answer due to the interruption
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Post by Thrif on Nov 12, 2008 15:59:46 GMT 8
“Excuse me?” Clementine’s head spun around as Fran asked the question. She had been looking at the young guy, talking with Belle and hadn’t really been paying attention as he walked out and started to lead the dog that Belle called Nanook down the street. “Oh, yes please. Thank you.” She said looking a little flustered.
Fran smiled at the two of them before walking away to fill the orders. “Who was he?” Clementine turned to Belle, brushing a strand of hair back behind her ear as she pulled out a free seat close by to sit in. “That was very nice of him to offer to help with the new arrivals.”
She wasn’t going to ask or even pretend to know why it was Belle and only Belle who normally went to find the new arrivals. It was a very rare occasion where Belle actually agreed to let someone else do it. It must take allot of trust.
Most people who arrived here just said that they woke up on the Island, or got ship wrecked, or fell, some - like herself - even said that they saw a bright light and when it faded they where simply there. She supposed that it changed from person to person.
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Post by Piffle on Nov 12, 2008 16:39:46 GMT 8
Belle Andrews :: 18 Belle sank into one of the chairs at the table that Clementine chose and put the phone away, it was nice of Justin to go and fetch them for her she really had been looking forward to having a day to herself. Well that wasn’t going to happen but at least now she had the chance to enjoy a nice drink with a friend. “Oh he came here a month before you did, his names Justin, from what I’ve seen of him he is a bit of a geek and plenty shy but he is very kind and giving”Belle answered with a smile there was nothing too hard for Justin, unlike Marshall who never did a kind thing without getting something in return, Justin was always offering help and expected nothing. Before she could say anything else Lucy came over with the drinks and placed them on the table. “What’s this Belle not busy helping new arrivals or someone else”The older women said with a grin she knew very well that this young women was always busy with something. “yer yer Luc don’t worry you will be happy to hear its short lived”
“Yes I heard bad luck kido, enjoy your drinks girls”She said and walked away to serve some of the other customers.
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Post by Thrif on Nov 12, 2008 16:53:10 GMT 8
Clementine smiled at Lucy as she took the coffee, gratefully taking a sip. “Much better.” She smiled. “He seems very nice.” She commented after Lucy left to fill more orders. “Obviously he is smart enough to know he needs to respect women.”
She saw Lucy take another order from a person sitting on the table in front of her. Lucy was another of the Island’s women that she enjoyed the company off. She enjoyed working there, the days where casual and Lucy had always been patient and sweet with her. She even seemed to enjoy the herbs that she sometimes brought in to make teas.
“So, does this Island send you a txt message every time a few arrival drops in?” She chuckled, taking another sip and smacking her lips happily as the hot beverage warmed her, she wrapped her fingers around the cardboard cup as she placed it down on the table.
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