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Post by Marie Legard on Oct 6, 2009 23:46:00 GMT -5
“Truly?” I asked, flattered that he was offering me a taste of something so pricy. I smiled at him. “You’re going to have to let me find a way to repay you for sharing these things with me.”
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Aramis Shahrizai
Aristocrat
Lord of House Shahrizai
Son of Bryant and Felice Shahrizai
Posts: 936
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Post by Aramis Shahrizai on Oct 6, 2009 23:55:33 GMT -5
I thought a moment. "Well, if you really want to..." I thought another moment. "How are you at cleaning and penmanship?"
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Post by Marie Legard on Oct 7, 2009 0:05:08 GMT -5
“I am excellent at cleaning,” I said. “I have been doing it for as long as I can remember. My penmanship is passable. I as took as much schooling as I was allowed.”
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Aramis Shahrizai
Aristocrat
Lord of House Shahrizai
Son of Bryant and Felice Shahrizai
Posts: 936
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Post by Aramis Shahrizai on Oct 7, 2009 0:09:34 GMT -5
"Well enough," I said. "Come back at closing time, and you can sweep the floor. That will be more than enough repayment." I gave her a grin. "If nothing else, it means I can see you again."
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Post by Marie Legard on Oct 7, 2009 15:20:58 GMT -5
I blushed softly at his grin and interest in seeing me again.
“What time is closing?” I asked, smiling.
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Aramis Shahrizai
Aristocrat
Lord of House Shahrizai
Son of Bryant and Felice Shahrizai
Posts: 936
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Post by Aramis Shahrizai on Oct 7, 2009 16:10:50 GMT -5
"Five o'clock," I replied, smiling at her blush.
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Post by Marie Legard on Oct 7, 2009 20:39:56 GMT -5
I finished the slice of star fruit and then smiled at him. “I’ll be back at five then,” I said.
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Aramis Shahrizai
Aristocrat
Lord of House Shahrizai
Son of Bryant and Felice Shahrizai
Posts: 936
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Post by Aramis Shahrizai on Oct 8, 2009 0:20:08 GMT -5
An idea was starting to form in my head. Could she be the assistant I had been looking for? I decided to let it alone until she came back. "Good," I said. Then quickly, "Please don't think I want you to leave now, you can stay as long as you like."
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Post by Marie Legard on Oct 8, 2009 14:00:48 GMT -5
“Thank you. I should go though. I want to find a notions shop and then I’ll have to take my stuff back to the house before I return later.” I smiled at him again. “I shall see you later, Aramis.”
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Aramis Shahrizai
Aristocrat
Lord of House Shahrizai
Son of Bryant and Felice Shahrizai
Posts: 936
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Post by Aramis Shahrizai on Oct 9, 2009 20:54:55 GMT -5
"All right," I said. "Give my best to your brother and my cousin from me. May I see you to the door?"
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Post by Marie Legard on Oct 9, 2009 21:24:50 GMT -5
“Yes, thank you,” I said, nodding and still smiling at him. I liked Aramis, there was something intriguing about him that I couldn’t quite put my finger on.
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Aramis Shahrizai
Aristocrat
Lord of House Shahrizai
Son of Bryant and Felice Shahrizai
Posts: 936
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Post by Aramis Shahrizai on Oct 9, 2009 22:47:30 GMT -5
I walked her to the door and opened it. "See you at five?" I asked.
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Post by Marie Legard on Oct 10, 2009 17:36:30 GMT -5
“I’ll see you at five,” I said, smiling and nodding a little. “Until then.” I reached out and touched his hand softly then slipped out the door and headed down the street.
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Aramis Shahrizai
Aristocrat
Lord of House Shahrizai
Son of Bryant and Felice Shahrizai
Posts: 936
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Post by Aramis Shahrizai on Oct 13, 2009 20:44:43 GMT -5
*5 o'clock*
It was getting to be about five, and I instinctively looked to the door, wondering if Marie would actually come back.
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Post by Marie Legard on Oct 14, 2009 0:41:00 GMT -5
I’d found the other items I’d wanted and taken everything back home. Fortunately, there was no one to stop me and I’d managed to slip back out with enough time to not be late.
I found myself rushing even though I had enough time, and forced myself to slow down. Just before five, I slipped through the door to Aramis’s store once again.
“Hello,” I said, smiling when I saw him.
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Aramis Shahrizai
Aristocrat
Lord of House Shahrizai
Son of Bryant and Felice Shahrizai
Posts: 936
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Post by Aramis Shahrizai on Oct 15, 2009 21:27:12 GMT -5
"Hello," I said. "Welcome back."
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Post by Marie Legard on Oct 15, 2009 22:05:07 GMT -5
“Thank you,” I said, still smiling. “I hope I’m not late.”
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Aramis Shahrizai
Aristocrat
Lord of House Shahrizai
Son of Bryant and Felice Shahrizai
Posts: 936
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Post by Aramis Shahrizai on Oct 17, 2009 16:28:17 GMT -5
"You're not," I said. "You're right on time." I made a mental note: she was punctual. "The broom and dustpan are in the storeroom. I'll show you where." I moved to go to the back of the show, waiting for her to follow.
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Post by Marie Legard on Oct 17, 2009 16:53:04 GMT -5
I followed him, my eyes moving over the floor as I did, forming a plan of how best to sweep.
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Aramis Shahrizai
Aristocrat
Lord of House Shahrizai
Son of Bryant and Felice Shahrizai
Posts: 936
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Post by Aramis Shahrizai on Oct 22, 2009 22:16:17 GMT -5
I went to the cupboard in the back of the storeroom and pulled out the broom and dustpan. "All the cleaning supplies are in this cupboard," I said, handing them to her. "Take all the time you need, I'll be at the counter checking the books."
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Post by Marie Legard on Oct 22, 2009 22:20:18 GMT -5
“Thank you,” I said as I took the broom from him. I glanced at the other supplies he had, a plan forming in my mind. Perhaps if I did well enough he might want me to come back and do it again. I was used to cleaning, and if it helped keep me in the City I would clean from dawn to dusk.
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Aramis Shahrizai
Aristocrat
Lord of House Shahrizai
Son of Bryant and Felice Shahrizai
Posts: 936
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Post by Aramis Shahrizai on Oct 22, 2009 22:42:06 GMT -5
"All right," I said, "if you need anything, just get me." I went out to the main shop and sat at the counter. Taking out my ledgers, I began to calculate the profits for the day and plan my next shipments.
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Post by Marie Legard on Oct 22, 2009 22:54:26 GMT -5
From the closet I also took a rag to dust with. Beginning at the back of the shop and moving forward, I swept the floor and dusted. The store was laid out so logically that it was easy to move through with purpose. I hummed to myself as I worked, feeling comfortable and useful.
I reached the front part of the store, continuing my work and almost forgetting anyone else was here.
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Aramis Shahrizai
Aristocrat
Lord of House Shahrizai
Son of Bryant and Felice Shahrizai
Posts: 936
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Post by Aramis Shahrizai on Oct 25, 2009 19:53:03 GMT -5
The time passed quickly, and when it came to be about 5:30, I looked up to see how she was progressing. "Elua," I said. "I've never seen the shop so clean."
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Post by Marie Legard on Oct 25, 2009 23:18:27 GMT -5
The sound of his voice startled me and I jumped a little. I looked up at him and smiled.
“It’s the least I could do, you’ve been so nice to me,” I told him as I continued to clean.
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Aramis Shahrizai
Aristocrat
Lord of House Shahrizai
Son of Bryant and Felice Shahrizai
Posts: 936
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Post by Aramis Shahrizai on Oct 25, 2009 23:30:40 GMT -5
I watched as she turned back to clean some more. "Wait," I said, "this store is still dirty? It looks impeccable already."
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Post by Marie Legard on Oct 25, 2009 23:52:31 GMT -5
I chuckled as I swept around the front door. “I haven’t cleaned everything yet, so there’s more to do,” I replied.
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Aramis Shahrizai
Aristocrat
Lord of House Shahrizai
Son of Bryant and Felice Shahrizai
Posts: 936
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Post by Aramis Shahrizai on Oct 26, 2009 0:10:58 GMT -5
I chuckled. "It seems I have been remiss in the cleaning of my store, then," I said. "You're very thorough."
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Post by Marie Legard on Oct 26, 2009 0:33:21 GMT -5
“You’ve other things to see to,” I said as I wiped the prints from the doorknob. “Besides, I’ve never seen the point in doing something if I’m not going to do it well.” The threshold clean, I moved to where he was. “This is all I have left if you’d like me to clean the counter area too.”
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Aramis Shahrizai
Aristocrat
Lord of House Shahrizai
Son of Bryant and Felice Shahrizai
Posts: 936
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Post by Aramis Shahrizai on Oct 26, 2009 0:35:51 GMT -5
I lifted up the ledger to permit her to clean the counter. "I've been looking at my books," I said, "and business looks good enough for me to do this so..." I paused. "How would you like a job here?"
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