group
Cage stands, “Oh my WORD YOU DID. Kiss! KISSA!” Cage cups his hands to his mouth, calling for her. “Kissa, are you okay???”
Violet scrambles down the steps of the attic, waving a hand. “It’s fine, it’s fine! She’s up here with Gabriel. A little bruised, but okay.”
Silver flew up to the balcony and tore down the hall, barely touching the ladder on her way up to the attic. As she reached the top she slowed her movements to be quieter and crept into the attic. "Kissa?" she whispered. "Are you okay? I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to throw you like that." She peeked around, looking for her in the dim light.
group
There’s a small hiss and it’s hard to tell whether it came from Gabriel or an animal. He sits cross legged in a corner, Kissa laying with her facing his stomach and her head in his lap. His fingers run through her smooth hair and he stares up at Silver. He doesn’t look angry or sad, just normal.
Silver finally found them and clamped a hand over her mouth, her gut churning with horror and remorse. "I'm so sorry." she whispered again, not quite daring to approach them. "Is she okay? I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to hurt her."
group
Gabriel draws his eyebrows together, then looks down to Kissa who very quietly sniffles and shakes. He looks back up to Silver.
Shes fine.
Slowly Silver approached them, but refrained from touching Kissa. "I would offer to let you hit me or bite me or something but you did jump on me first so we're kind of already even. But I promise I didn't mean to throw you or hurt you. I was just super mad at Ben and you got in the way. I'm sorry."
group
Kissa ignores her, turning invisible.
Gabriel lets out a soft sigh.
Kiss. Seriously?
Silver sighed, feeling even worse, and sort of melted down until she was laying on the floor behind Kissa. "You can keep all my candy." she whispered.
group
Gabriel pauses in his stroking and starts to braid a bit of her hair.
She sighs shakily. “I don’t want your freakin candy.” She growls quietly.
Gabriel swallows.
Ah. She’s such a monster.
Silver pressed her lips together, fighting back tears, and nodded even though Kissa couldn't see her. "Okay. I'm sorry." And slowly she crawled back to the ladder and slipped down to the hallway below.
group
Gabriel gives Kiss a sharp glare. “You can’t take an apology?” He whispers.
“I wish you killed her like three years ago.” She growls back, getting shoved off of his lap as a response.
“Kissa.” He hisses.
Violet leans against the railing of the balcony and turns to give Silver a smile. “She’s fine. See?”
Ben raises a hand from downstairs to wave. “I’m going to be off, thank you. If anyone dies, call me.” He slips his coat on and heads out the door.
Silver sniffed, the tears winning the battle, and she wrapped her arms around Vi, crying into her shoulder. "She wouldn't accept my apology even though I offered her all my candy and said I was sorry like ten times." she hiccuped.
Miki waved the vacuum hose at Ben. "Okay! If you die then let us know! Bye!"
group
Ben shuts the door. He tanks forward the collar of his coat, “hah, like he’s have the nerve to kill me.”
Violet bits her lip, holding in a smile, and gives Silver a small squeeze. “Darling, she’ll be over it soon. You know how Kiss is.”
Silver nodded and let Violet go, wiping her face. "Has Gabriel eaten breakfast?" she asked.
Miki turned off the vacuum and put it away, then pounced on the couch beside Cage. "Okay, the living room is clean. What do we do now??"
group
Ben pulls up, parallel parking beside the coffee shop. He runs a hand through his black curls, which are down at the moment. His dark eyes blink as he squints at the street.
Alright. I have to get this done. Too many people, but they’re probably all afraid of you anyways.
He stands up straight, rolling his shoulders back and shoving his hands into the pockets of his long coat.
He steps into the coffee shop, clenching his jaw as he took in the scene before lining up at a counter for a drink.
Dio stepped out of his carriage when he saw Benjamin Stan entire the coffee shop. He stomped his feet on the sidewalk to warm them up and instructed his driver to care for the horses if he stayed too long. Then he strode across the street and entered the coffee shop, getting in line a few people behind Benjamin.
Sugar stood behind the counter, towering over most of the customers thanks to her four inch heels, and took orders and wrote on cups in record speed. She had a smile and a greeting for every person, though her eyes were sharp and missed nothing, including the two rich boys who came into her shop within two minutes of each other.
group
Ben steps up to the counter, meeting her eyes. “A large black coffee and plain muffin, please.” He demands, his accent thick.
Sugar grabbed an isolated cup and scribbled on it. "Is that all, dear? Nothing for lunch?" she asked, trying to up-sell him even as she typed in his order because she knew he wasn't going to change it. "6.79, please."
group
He hands her a card and types in his pin on the pin pad. He moves to the side to let room for the next customer and unbuttons his coat, removing it and slinging it over his arm.
This place is too crowded.
He scans the room.
Sugar poured his coffee herself and popped his muffin into a bag, handing them to him over the pastry display. "There are you, darling. Have a great day and enjoy!" she helped the next two people and then raised an eyebrow at Dio as he leaned on the counter. "And what can I get for you today, Mr. de Angelo?" she asked, planting a hand on her hip.
"You sound so disappointed to see me, Sugar. I've been looking forward to seeing you all week."
Sugar rolled her eyes and motioned for him to hurry up and order. "Come on, Dio, there are other people waiting."
Dio clicked his tongue and shook his head, then ordered a fancy mocha and a piece of chocolate fudge cake. Sugar made a face at him as she typed on the order screen. "Fudge cake? Really? At ten thirty in the morning?"
"Are you judging me, Sugar." Dio asked, pulling out his wallet.
"Yes. I'm judging you so much right now. That will be 58.95."
"What! You only charged them–Sugar, this is discrimination! I demand–"
"Dio, give me the money."
Dio groaned and handed her a 100 bill, telling her to keep the change and muttering to himself as he stepped aside and let the next person order.
group
Hearing the name, his heart sinks. He rubs the bridge of his nose, taking his and sitting at a round table by a window, up on a stool.
I going to want to kill myself by the time I get out of here.
He takes a long sip of his coffee.
"Ah, Sugar. Darling." Dio said, turning back to her, only half teasing now. "A courtesy glass of water, yes? Please?"
Sugar rolled her eyes and filled him a glass, handing it to the other barista to give to him along with his coffee. He picked up his coffee, the plate of cake, and the glass of water, and turned to face the room, his eyes squinting slightly as he scanned the tables until his gaze landed on Ben. He wove through the tables until he reached the window and set his things down on the table opposite Ben.
"Mr. Stan?" he asked, all formality as he removed his right glove to shake hands.
group
Ben gives him a stiff, small nod. “Diablo De Angelo.” He takes his hand and firmly shakes it, squeezing it almost too hard to be friendly.
Dio smiled, not missing the extra pressure Ben gave the handshake. He sat down and put his glove back on. "Ah, good, you're the right person. That would have been super awkward if I walked up to the wrong person." He sipped his coffee, and then rearranged the two cups and his plate, placing the glass of water in the middle of the table before Ben. "Can't be too careful. Not everyone is who they say they are these days." He took another sip of his coffee, but his eyes never left Ben's face as the surface of the water in the glass froze over into a very thin film of ice.
group
Is he stupid? Must be.
He gives Dio a hard glare and takes a drink.
“Indeed.” He looks over Dio, an eyebrow raised.
What is this kid?
“How are you fairing in this cold weather?”
I hate people.
At the mention of the weather all levity left Dio's face and he sat back in his chair as if to snuggle deeper into the many layers of clothing he wore, none of which he had taken off since he entered the warm coffee shop. "I'm not." he answered sulkily. "I can't stand how cold it gets here, snowing every other week and still freezing in between snow storms. I was not built for cold weather. My fingers are still tingling just from the drive here." He huffed a sigh and glanced back at Ben. "Sorry. I honestly hate the weather. When it's cold, at least. I should have moved to the equator." He shivered even though it was a comfortable 72 degrees inside.
group
Augh, there is something seriously wrong with him.
“I prefer the heat.” He tilts his head to the side a bit, swallowing the burning coffee.
“Are you married?” He asks.
Dio suppressed a smile. "You seem like the type to thrive in a hotter environment." He sliced into his chocolate cake and ate a bite. "Nope. The only woman I would ever marry is standing behind that counter," he motioned his fork toward Sugar. "And she takes every opportunity available to remind me that she will never marry me." he shrugged. "So. That's that. What about you? Married? Kids?"
group
“Neither.” He lies with a straight face, not batting an eye. “Family around here? What’s keeping you in the cold weather?” His accent makes the words seem to dip and swirl.
Dio pointed his fork back toward Sugar again. "Just because she won't marry me doesn't mean I don't want her in my life." he ate another bite of his cake and shrugged. "And despite the weather it's a nice area. I know people. Not friends, you know. But I have connections here. Moving to a new place and meeting new people would take too much effort." He leaned back again, nursing his coffee. "You're obviously not from around here." he continues, lowering his voice several decimals.
