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Post by Jenny on Feb 20, 2007 16:48:46 GMT -5
Esmé raised an eyebrow at his exit-- a strange hop and a jump-- but then let it fall without a comment. She gathered the things she wanted for the day-- all fashionable, not one useful-- and decided it was time to restore some temporary peace (in other words, sew shut the lips of that ginger haired brat in the next room).
Jerome, she observed, was exceptionally happy in the kitchen. Nothing outsmarted him in the kitchen, among the cutlery and the ingredients. Nothing cheated him, nothing confused him and nothing worried him like the rest of his life seemed to when he was dealing with salt, pepper and a stove.
'....Carmelita, sweetheart....' she decided on in the end, affectionate in a controllable way. Charles looked like he was desperate to be saved from the situation, but Esmé was in no rush to help him out particularly.
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Post by Hanna Squalor on Feb 20, 2007 17:24:32 GMT -5
Jerome cut and sliced with ease. He knew all of Esme's favorites. He made the diet sandwich she loved but he also made something else for her. She loved bacon but never ate it, it was her guilt pleasure. She only let him make it for her late at night when she was in a really good mood.
Jerome leaned in through a set of pink doors. "Carmy do you want peanut butter and jelly or ham?" he asked.
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Post by Jenny on Feb 21, 2007 15:24:47 GMT -5
With the prior knowledge that 'Carmy' wasn't fond of either, Esmé replied before the girl had the chance.
'Ham.' she said, nodding at Jerome to disappear back through the pink doors he'd appeared through, smiling when she remembered she was being nice to him this season.
'Carmy,' she said hesitantly when Jerome had returned to his place in the kitchen.
The red-haied little girl looked up, suddenly sweet. Esmé realized, with her reluctance and her approach to the girl that she sounded like Jerome. Fabulous, Carmelita had become the new Esmé, Esmé was the new Jerome and Jerome... well, he was the chef.
'...Do you...'she faltered, wondering what the best way of getting Carmelita to leave could possibly be. '...Would you ever consider... going back to...your lovely sch---home? Back in the city? It's a little boring out here for a girl like you.'
Carmelita shook her head.
'This place is nicer than my boarding school,' she said, obviously classing that as where she lived and her home and parents as where she stayed occassionally. 'Besides, I've got a butler here. And a chef.'
'Jerome isn't the chef...' Esmé murmured.
'Well, he cooks.' Carmy said simply.
Esmé sighed. Carmy stood up and flicked her hair, staring into a mirror vainly.
'Doesn't my hair look pretty today?'
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Post by Hanna Squalor on Feb 21, 2007 17:39:56 GMT -5
Jerome whistled while he made the numerous sandwiches. He had made his own bread and everything. He had enough for 10 people but they would keep for the next day if needed. He put everything into a picnic basket with a sky blue blanket. H thoughtfully went to go get some extra things too.
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Post by Jenny on Feb 22, 2007 14:27:36 GMT -5
'Yes, darling, it does. But there isn't much to do out here, you know. Not like it was,' Esmé continued, ignoring the fact that Carmelita was paying little attention.
'No submarines. Not as much clothes-buying, either,' Carmy seemed to start looking worried at this point. 'Barely anyone around apart from me and Jerome.'
'And the help,' Carmelita added.
'....Well, I don't think Jerome'll be keeping them much longer.'
Here the master plan came into play. Carmelita, like Esmé herself, followed money. If the girl started to think the person in charge of her new home was poor... well, Esmé could certainly see her running back into the arms of her parents.
'Why not?'
Esmé lowered her voice and tried to use whatever actig skills she had to her advantage. 'He isn't all that rich,' she lied as the copper-haired brat sat down, interested. 'He came into money, but a long time ago. It hasn't lasted that long. This is his parent's house to begin with,' she said. Carmy knew nothing about 667 Dark Avenue-- or the fact that Jerome still owned that penthouse-- and in order for much of this to work, never would.
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Post by Hanna Squalor on Feb 22, 2007 15:25:33 GMT -5
Jerome came waltzing in with the full basket. "Let's go my darlings." he said eagerly. He set the things on the table.
"I think I could have been a chef." he said.
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Post by Jenny on Feb 22, 2007 16:29:42 GMT -5
Esmé shook her head slightly and Carmelita looked Jerome up and down as if she'd never seen him before: the false revelation about his wealth had changed her opinion on him entirely.
'Alright,' Esmé stood, dressed in light clothes over the swimsuit she'd chosen. She had to drag Carmelita outside before they could go anywhere, with much mumbling, and eventually they found themselves staring out at an expanse of sea, not calm but not rushing in the light wind. It wasn't cold-- the sun was strong today-- but the wind wasn't particularly warm, and Esmé therefore set up camp on top of a lounger with Carmelita, sandwiches between them. Jerome sat beside them-- she handed him food once in a while.
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Post by Hanna Squalor on Feb 23, 2007 16:36:09 GMT -5
Jerome erected a large umbrella in the sand beside his wife to shield her from the sun. He sat in the sand next to her chair. He sat quietly for a while before offering up his idea of something romantic to do. "We could go for a walk by the cove....or I could rub sun lotion on you." he suggested.
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Post by Jenny on Feb 23, 2007 16:52:02 GMT -5
Esmé didn't squint, and didn't reject both ideas.
'I don't see why going for a walk could be a bad idea,' she said cheerfully, swatting Jerome and the sun lotion away before he got chance.
'Boring--'
'Well, you don't have to go,' Esmé said quickly, shoving another sandwich at Carmelita before she could say much more about Jerome's pathetic ideas.
'We could sink one of those stupid looking boats out there, couldn't we?'
'No,' Esmé said quickly. 'Come on. I can't leave you to sink a boat by yourself, you'll have to come with us.'
'I'm sure she'll be fine,' Jerome said timidly.
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Post by Hanna Squalor on Feb 23, 2007 17:35:16 GMT -5
Jerome grabbed her hand and started their walk. He spent most of his time admiring how she looked in the light wind and warm sun. "You are so stunning." he gushed. He always did.
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Post by Jenny on Feb 23, 2007 17:46:03 GMT -5
She rolled her eyes at him. 'Where are we going?'
'The other end of the beach,' he replied, still staring at her, even after she turned to look at the sea. 'It's pretty.'
'Is that it?'
'Well, there isn't much to do with the absence of tourists.'
He was right. Alomst nobody was to be seen on the beach, even with the sun and the light wind.
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Post by Hanna Squalor on Feb 23, 2007 21:54:50 GMT -5
The walk was pretty indeed and since Carmelita had long since found a place to collect seashells they were very alone. Jerome wanted this to be a romantic moment. If he knew Esme and he did she would refuse him. Luckily it would happen by accident. He tripped her and they both fell in the sand. Him conveniently catching her.
"Sorry dear. How clumsy of me." he grinned rubbing her arm.
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Post by Jenny on Feb 24, 2007 16:05:24 GMT -5
Esmé smiled. She hadn't meant to, but Jerome could be quite cute at times. It was blatantly obvious that him tripping her was no accident, not by any chance.
He sat back, but she didn't get up.
'It's kind of nice here,' she said. 'There's a tree for shade, and not much wind. I don't want to walk anymore,' she smiled. Jerome sat back down beside her, feebling going forward for what he hoped was a kiss. It didn't work out as he'd planned it-- her eyes weren't even open as far as he could tell.
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Post by Hanna Squalor on Feb 24, 2007 16:17:22 GMT -5
"Oh how relaxing." Esme sighed laying back on the sand, unknowingly evading Jerome's second try. Jerome's fingers timidly found Esme's stomach where they gently touched her skin in an up and down motion for a minute. He drew them back before she was annoyed and lay down beside her. He was trying his hardest to get close to her and yet there was always a brick wall there.
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Post by Jenny on Feb 24, 2007 16:28:28 GMT -5
'Isn't it nice here?' she said after a moment. Jerome had laid down and given up a few seconds ago.
'Yes, dear. It's lovely.' he said unenthusiastically.
She frowned. 'Something wrong?' she asked, opening her eyes for a few seconds to check on him. He shook his head instantly, and took the opportunity to scoot closer and quickly kiss her before she had chance to turn away.
She raised an eyebrow at him.
'I didn't know you were into spontenaety in any way shape or form, Jerome?'
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