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Post by Very Funky Disco on Jul 5, 2010 17:08:28 GMT -5
OOC: I'll send you a PM, later on.
"Aw, that's so sweet," replied Marty, softly. "Artie is the bigger fan than I am, but I do like Sailing. So, uh, what is your opinion on Led Zeppelin?" Then, blushing a little, he added, "What do you think of the song you just heard by them?"
Just then, The Power of Love by Huey Lewis and The News came blasting through the jukebox.
"Hey, my absolute favourite song!" Marty gushed. "Our band is planning to perform this song at the dance auditions."
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Post by Emma “Emmz” Squalor on Jul 6, 2010 19:43:55 GMT -5
"Wow!" Esmé laughed. "You change moods faster than I change styles!"
Reaching around to her other shoulder, Jerome tapped her gently.
She smiled sweetly as she turned to face him. "Yes?"
Jerome indicated toward Artie, who was sitting opposite him, waiting patiently for Esmé's answer.
"I'm actually not that much of a Led Zeppelin fan," she confessed. "But that last song of theirs was...wow. It was just beautiful."
"That's probably because so many people associate Led Zeppelin to heavy metal," explained Jerome, if only to recapture Esmé's attention, "when in fact they also specilize in soft rock." He really did like Artie, but Esmé was the first girl to ever show an interest in Jerome that had nothing to do with problems with her friends or boyfriend. She was interested only in talking to him, and hearing what he had to say. And he wasn't going to let his passivity be his downfall like it had so many other times before.
"Do they, really?" Esmé asked. "That's very fascinating. Perhaps I will give them a chance."
"My brother has a bunch of their records. I'm sure he'd be perfectly happy to lend them to you."
"That's very sweet, but I don't have a record player."
"What about a cassette player?"
Esmé shook her head. "All I have is a radio, which I left back at school. Ugh!" She flopped back against the booth, as if she'd spent the entire day in the sun and was now suffering from heat exhaustion. "I'll have to go the entire weekend without music, unless my guardian gives me permission to go out. And that's only if he's feeling generous. In which case I'll hit the record store downtown."
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Post by Very Funky Disco on Jul 6, 2010 20:12:34 GMT -5
OCC: I'm guessing Jerome probably has some female acquaintances. They're the ones who try to be nice to everyone - so, as such, they don't mind talking to Jerome. But Esme was the first to show an interest in him, specifically. Is that right?
"I can't imagine going for a lengthy period of time without music," Marty replied, softly. "I must admit, music is my life."
"Ha! I knew it!" Artie gasped, smirking triumphantly. "Marty is obsessed with rock and roll!"
"Hey!" protested Marty. "Anyway, I want to hear this song."
"See?" Artie asked, gesturing towards Jerome and Esme. "Isn't Marty obsessed with rock and roll?"
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Post by Emma “Emmz” Squalor on Jul 7, 2010 13:49:29 GMT -5
(You got it, Quags. I think it was Jenny who came up with the idea that Jerome would have all friends who were girls, but not any who were boys aside from Bertrand, Lemony, and Jacques. I don't see Jerome ever taking an interest in things like sports - I think he'd like shopping more, even if it's more to help one of his female frends find something for themselves than for himself.)
"He's obsessed with rock and roll the same way I'm obsessed with fashion," Esmé giggled. "My father always used to say that 'obsession' is just another word for 'passion.'" She turned to Jerome. "What's your passion?"
Jerome shrugged. He was afraid to tell Esmé his only real passion in life - besides her, which he wasn't going to reveal so soon after their meeting and possibly scare her off - was cooking. But even then he was afraid she might laugh at him the way so many people laughed at Jacques. Then Jerome remembered that Esmé knew Jacques, and if that was true then she also knew of his preference for men rather than women. Esmé was so sweet, and a person as sweet as she would never judge another person; whether it be over sexual preference, or favorite hobbies, she would be acceptable. And it was for this reason that Jerome turned to Esmé with a smile on his face and said, "Cooking."
"Cooking?" She blinked, her long, dark lashes sweeping up and down like two feather dusters. "Really?"
Jerome nodded, his small mouth set slightly open in the middle of his round face as he anxiously awaited her next words.
"That's so cool!" Esmé exclaimed, and Jerome's smile broadened. "What do you cook?"
"Lots of things," Jerome replied, rather shyly. "Mostly cakes and other desserts and things."
Esmé giggled again, and Jerome felt himself relax. She really did seem to enjoy talking to him, and he'd be lying if he said he didn't feel the same way about her. "I can tell."
Jerome thought perhaps he should be offended by that last remark, but then again Esmé could just as well have been referring to something else. But as he gazed into her eyes and saw that genuine smile playing across her little rosebud mouth, he realized that she had no intention of hurting him.
"I think you're..." She paused, and for a moment he was reminded of himself. He had to bite down on his lower lip to keep from laughing, for she really did look adorable with her mouth dropped open like that. "I think you're very cute," Esmé finished, and a deep blush blossomed around her cheeks.
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Post by Very Funky Disco on Jul 8, 2010 8:46:47 GMT -5
"Hey, you lovebirds!" called out Artie, smirking.
"I don't know about cooking," Marty replied softly, "but I do like to bake. That's one of my favourite parts about home ec. Well, actually, the eating is - but... I also love to bake with my Grandma Stella. The two of us have always been very close. Apparently, Grandpa Sam was quite strict - but he died, when I was very young."
"Well, do you have any plans for Halloween?" asked Artie.
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Post by Emma “Emmz” Squalor on Jul 8, 2010 10:59:36 GMT -5
"Hey," Jerome said to Marty, while blushing at Artie's comment concerning Jerome and Esmé, "I've got home ec tomorrow with Mrs. Fisher. Who's your teacher? If we're lucky, we'll be in the same class."
"Our school is having a dance," Esmé told Artie, while she waited for Jerome to offer his own input. "But only family of the students and staff are invited." She pouted, and glanced briefly at Jerome before turning back to the twins. It was a shame that Marty and Artie weren't members of V.F.D., or else she wouldn't have to worry about breaking any rules if she revealed its secrets. She thought there was a possibility that Jerome was connected to V.F.D. in some way, since he was acquainted with the Snickets and the Baudelaires. She made a mental note to call Bertrand after she returned home and ask him about it.
Suddenly, Esmé heard her name being called above the music flowing from the jukebox.
"Oh!" she exclaimed, and jumped up. "That must be my order." Turning to Jerome, she asked, "Walk me over?"
Jerome looked to the twins, who both nodded eagerly. The next thing he knew, he and Esmé were strolling hand in hand back across the parlor to the counter. He stood silently beside her, watching the chef hand her her order in exchange for payment. After the chef had given Esmé her change, she and Jerome went to rejoin their friends.
"Is that all your getting?" he asked, noting the small salad and bottled water in her hands.
She nodded.
"You didn't want pizza?"
She shook her head.
"Don't you feel well?"
Esmé smiled. "You're so sweet...and concerned. But I'm trying to lose weight, and so I need to be careful. You know what I mean?"
Jerome raised his arm and rubbed awkwardly at the back of his neck. "You...? But you're so thin!"
Shaking her head, Esmé rolled her eyes and blushed. "Come on." She thrust her water bottle into Jerome's hand so that she could grab his other. "We'd better get back to our booth before Marty and Artie think we've eloped."
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Post by Very Funky Disco on Jul 8, 2010 11:31:10 GMT -5
As Jerome and Esme stepped up from the table, Marty turned to his twin. "Y'know, we haven't yet ordered. Well, you know what I like."
"Double cheese pizza," Artie replied, smiling. "I know Doc says that's not a real pizza, but... We have to see what Jerome wants, though."
As Jerome and Esme headed back to the table, Marty was surprised to see that Esme had ordered just a salad. He figured that it would be rude to say something, though.
"Should we put something on the jukebox?" suggested Marty. "We could maybe put something on by Van Halen? Perhaps, we could play Unchained."
"Sure, go right ahead," agreed Artie.
As Marty stepped up to play something on the jukebox, Jerome and Esme returned to the table.
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Post by Emma “Emmz” Squalor on Jul 8, 2010 15:01:55 GMT -5
"Sorry that took so long," Esmé said, as she and Jerome slid into the booth.
"Have you guys ordered yet?" he asked, as the vocals of Van Halen filled the pizza parlor. "I don't know about you, but I could sure go for a double cheese pizza. From what I've heard, California has some of the best in the world."
"Who's that on the jukebox, Art?" Esmé inquired, hoping he wouldn't mind the nickname as she popped a low-fat crouton into her mouth. "It sounds like Van Halen."
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Post by Very Funky Disco on Jul 8, 2010 15:08:33 GMT -5
"It is Van Halen," confirmed Artie. Turning to Jerome, he added, "It looks like you have the same taste in pizzas as we do. However, Doc seems to believe that a plain cheese pizza is not a 'real' pizza. He says he might as well just have a cheese sandwich."
"Which is not the same thing," Artie pointed out. "For one thing, there is no tomato sauce. Although, grilled cheese sandwiches in tomato soup taste pretty good."
OOC: I did start another RPG (The Nexus), but that one's a little more low-key. People can pop in and out of that one.
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Post by Emma “Emmz” Squalor on Jul 9, 2010 10:45:28 GMT -5
Jerome chuckled. "My grandfather would agree with him. He's always piling toppings like pepperoni and hot sauce onto his pizza. As a child someone dared him to stick his tongue to a telephone pole in the middle of winter. It stuck, but unfortunately the school bus pulled up, and in a panic my grandfather recoiled a little too quickly. The action permanently damaged his taste buds, and ever since he's had difficulty tasting mild foods. They always have to be hot - for him, eating a pepperoni pizza with spicy sausage doesn't affect him any more than...say...a carbonated beverage would someone whose taste buds were undamaged." Esmé raised one hand to her mouth, as if she were experiencing the same pain Jerome's grandfather had all those years ago. "That's terrible!" "You would think so," Jerome said. "But, believe it or not, he really doesn't mind. He actually enjoys shocking people at parties by eating whole red peppers." Esmé made a face, and Jerome laughed. (Yes, I saw that - it looks like a really fun RP. Is it okay if I bring in Esme and Jerome into it? I'm sorry, I didn't quite understand the 'not a villain' rule. ^_^;
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Post by Very Funky Disco on Jul 9, 2010 10:53:50 GMT -5
OOC: Yeah, it's okay - since she wouldn't be a villain at the time.
Marty and Artie both grimaced at the thought of sticking their tongues to a frozen pole.
"Needles did once dare me to do it," explained Marty, "but that happened to be one of the times when I didn't listen to him. I would rather be called a 'chicken', then lose part of my tongue."
"There you go, Marty," pointed out Artie. Marty knew right then and there that his twin was about to launch into one of his lectures. "I wish you would think about that, more often."
"I don't want to talk about that, right now," insisted Marty, as a slight edge crept into his voice. "We're supposed to be deciding on what we want to eat."
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Post by Emma “Emmz” Squalor on Jul 10, 2010 10:54:10 GMT -5
(Thanks again, Quags. Since meeting Marty and Artie, this was the first time Jerome had witnessed one of them being on the verge of losing their temper. Jerome could hardly say he felt comfortable (after all, he couldn't stand arguing), and edged closer to Esmé as a safety measure. "What's wrong?" she asked him. "I think Marty might be getting ready to argue with Artie," replied Jerome worriedly. Esmé smiled sweetly. "So? Let them argue." "You don't understand, Esmé. Whether it be with me or someone else, I can't stand it when people argue." "Even when it's the only way they can sort out their problems?" Jerome nodded. "Don't worry," she assured, and touched his shoulder in a gesture of affection. "I've got an idea." Turning her attention to the twins, she said, "You guys look like you're pretty busy, so why don't you sit tight, while Jerome and I go up to the counter and place our order? You still want the double cheese pizza, right?"
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Post by Very Funky Disco on Jul 10, 2010 12:03:10 GMT -5
"Yes, we do," Marty replied, softly. Then, blushing, he added, "I'm sorry, Jerome, I didn't mean to make you feel nervous. I do love my twin and all, but... Well, he has a tendency to get into lecture mode, and..."
"It's only because I care about him," insisted Artie. Then, in a softer voice, he added. "But I guess you guys are right. I am feeling quite hungry."
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Post by Emma “Emmz” Squalor on Jul 10, 2010 13:13:57 GMT -5
"That's O.K., Marty," Jerome assured. "We all get angry sometimes - I won't hold it against you."
"We'll be back in a moment," Esmé informed the twins, as she guided Jerome out of the booth by the hand.
"So you live in San Francisco," Jerome said, as he and Esmé made their way once more up to the counter. "I just moved from there with my family."
"Really?" she asked, her tone one of pure interest. "Talk about a coincidence!"
Jerome grinned. "It is, isn't it?"
"I wish I didn't have to go home for the weekend. I'd love to stay here with the twins and...and you." She blushed, just as they reached the counter.
"Esmé?"
"Hmm?"
"Would you like to go out with me?" Jerome asked, hope lining his voice.
"You mean like on a date?"
"If you'd like to call it that."
"Well, I would."
"So, what does this mean?"
Smiling, Esmé raised her slim hands and pressed them to the sides of Jerome's chubby face. "What it means," she said slowly, mysteriously, "is that I'd be honored to go out with you, Jerome Squalor."
Jerome could hardly believe what he was hearing. Was this a dream? It had to be, as there was no other explanation. Here was Esmé, a beautiful girl who had actually said yes to an invitation he had presented many a time to a variety of other girls - girls who had never failed to turn him down. The very idea that this was not the case, and that Esmé really, truly seemed to like him was so overwhelming, that Jerome suddenly felt himself becoming incredibly lightheaded...
The next thing he knew he was lying on the floor, a sharp pain having established itself at the back of his head. Esmé was knelt beside him, holding and gently patting his hand, looking genuinely concerned. Marty and Artie were squatted on either side of him, their own expressions an equal match to Esmé's. The four had been joined by a group of customers and employees alike, their own expressions a mixture of bafflement and worry.
"Wh-what happened?" Jerome asked, dazedly. "What am I doing here on the floor?"
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Post by Very Funky Disco on Jul 10, 2010 21:43:52 GMT -5
"You fainted," Artie replied, softly. Then, in a near whisper, he added, "I understand where you are coming from. I have plenty of girls for friends, but none of them are really my... I just think my twin is so lucky, in that respect."
"Oh, c'mon, Artie!" Marty protested, flashing a lopsided smile. "You will find your girl, too. Just be patient." Then, turning to Jerome, he added, "It's obvious that Esme really does love you." Then, in Jerome's ear, he whispered, "I even saw her crying."
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