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Post by Pirate on Aug 23, 2014 15:32:08 GMT -5
Alice meandered about, realizing very quickly that without money, it was unlikely she would get food. She was so used to having her food made for her or Jackson paying for her, that she didn't realize that everything cost money. She was sure there was something she could get for free, but it seemed she would have to dig through the trash like an animal if that were the case and she was not desperate enough for that. As she passed by an alley, she noticed a small child rummaging through the trash, only about seven or eight in appearance. Pausing, she hesitated a moment before approaching him. "Hello, do you need help?" The figure whipped around, something in their hand catching the light. It took a moment to register in her mind that he had a knife pointed at her. "I don't need no charity from you, lady," he spat, sounding a little older than he looked. She put her hands up, backing away slowly. "I-I'm sorry." He gave her a look before pointing the knife at her feet. "Gimme your shoes." Glancing down at her feet, she frowned. "But I just-" "Just hand them over and I won't hurt ya," he threatened. Frightened, she kicked the boots off, picking the moment he bent down to pick them up to flee. She ran as fast as her legs would carry her, wincing as various rocks and rubble bombarded the soles of her feet with each step. When she reached the end of the street and felt she was safe, she stopped and leaned against a wall to catch her breath. This world was so violent and callous. Every experience she'd had outside of her home had been terrible. Her feet ached now and to add to her misery, her stomach growled, reminding her that she still hadn't eaten. Perhaps Jackson had returned to the ship already and she could return to the inn without bumping into him. Limping slightly, she slowly made her way back in the direction of the inn, her head hanging in shame.
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Post by Caebeeb on Aug 23, 2014 17:09:18 GMT -5
As Jackson rounded the next corner, he spotted the short brunette woman up ahead of him. Still frowning, he appraised her appearance as he headed toward her, noticing that she was limping. He placed his hands on her shoulders when he reached her, "Alice, what happened?" Sighing, he pulled her into a hug, "I told you to avoid that side of town," he murmured. "C'mon, let's get you back and get you some food," he said as he hoisted her into his arms to avoid further damage to her feet.
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Post by Pirate on Aug 23, 2014 18:06:03 GMT -5
Alice lifted her head when she felt hands touch her shoulders, stopping in her tracks. She felt her heart sink when she saw it was Jackson, her gaze dropping to the ground. Great, now she was going to be a burden once more. She explained her encounter with the boy, all the while not looking up at him. "I was just trying to do something for myself," she explained, finishing her story. She flinched as he pulled her into a hug, confused by his actions. She thought he was upset with her. The last thing she thought he would do was touch her. "I'm sorry," she muttered like a child being scolded. She felt like a child at the moment, foolishly wandering off on her own. She didn't look at him as he lifted her up, her only contact with him her hand on his chest to steady herself. He'd had to come to her rescue again and it made her feel even more helpless. After a moment, she lifted her eyes to his. "Jackson," she began slowly, "will you teach me how to fight?" If she could defend herself, then perhaps she wouldn't be as much of a burden to him. "When the repairs are done, of course," she added quickly, so as not to seem selfish about taking up his time."
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Post by Caebeeb on Aug 23, 2014 23:51:27 GMT -5
Jackson merely shrugged his shoulders at her apology, retracing his steps back to the inn. "Just try to avoid running into men weilding knives," he chuckled slightly. At her question, he glanced down at her, hesitant. She wanted him to teach her how to fight? Didn't that go against whatever etiquette was ingrained in her head? However, the frightened look on her face when he had found her was unsettling. He wanted her to be able to defend herself if she ever needed to. How could he deny her that? "Sure. I'll teach you how to fight if you promise me to avoid that side of town." He smiled when they reached the inn, setting her down. "I'll be back in a few hours. Stay out of trouble." He gave her a slight nod before heading down to the docks. Hours later, when the men had invested a sufficient amount of time and energy to get the ship into a better state, Jackson told them to call it a night. On his way back to the inn, he stopped to buy Alice a new pair of boots. When he reached the lodge, he headed to their room. "Here," he said as he offered her the boots, "Want to start now?"
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Post by Pirate on Sept 1, 2014 18:42:04 GMT -5
Upon reaching the inn, Alice nodded at Jackson's words. "I think I'll try that from now on," she told him, giving him a small smile. She waved him off before limping into the inn and requesting warm water to be brought up to their room. When she reached the bedroom, she rolled her trousers up to keep them from getting wet and sat on the edge of the basin, carefully dipping her feet into the steaming water. She winced at the sting the liquid caused on her abused feet, but got to work washing the dirt away. There was no reason to allow the wounds to get infected after everything she had stepped on. When she had successfully tortured herself with the abrasive soap, she rinsed off her feet and dried them carefully with a towel before walking over to the bed awkwardly on her heels and settling down. She would rest for the day and wait for Jackson to return. He arrived at the end of the day and she looked up as he walked into the door. She smiled at the proffered boots, gladly taking them. "Thank you," she said appreciatively, pulling them over her exposed feet. She glanced up at his question, a little confused at first. She realized he was referring to their earlier conversation and she nodded, getting slowly to her feet. "Please," she added, giving him a small smile of gratitude. She was ready to end her helplessness.
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Post by Caebeeb on Oct 21, 2014 22:27:55 GMT -5
[Sooooo sorry for being gone so long. Dx]
Jackson hesitated as he watched the heiress get to her feet. Not only did she seem frail, but she was in a class far exceeding his. If he were to unintentionally harm her in any way, who was to say she wouldn't send her henchmen after him? He had more faith in her than that, but the fact that she was a woman made him uneasy. He didn't want to harm her. Finally, he decided to start out slow. Closing the gap between them, he grabbed each of her wrists, moving so that he was behind her and her arms were crossed and pinned to her chest. Holding her snug to his body, he asked, "Alright, how would you go about getting away from me?"
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Post by Pirate on Oct 22, 2014 15:55:16 GMT -5
[Tis okay.]
Alice tensed slightly as he touched her, the feel of him pressing against her back causing her cheeks to go pink. She wasn't used to being this close to anyone, let alone a man. She pushed the thoughts away when he spoke, trying to focus on what he was saying rather than his proximity to her. Despite the uncomfortable position, she felt safe wrapped in those arms and rather than feeling trapped like she should have, she felt a sense of security. But she had to focus and pretend he was her captor rather than her savior. Looking down as best as she could at her situation, she squirmed a little against his hold, trying to see what give there was. There wasn't really any room at all, so she couldn't use her arms or upper body. Her head was mobile, so she could probably use that. "I guess I could head butt you. But wouldn't that hurt me?" She craned her neck to look down at their legs. She could move hers if she leaned back against him to support herself. "I could kick you too."
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Post by Caebeeb on Nov 16, 2014 16:39:32 GMT -5
Jackson chuckled as she pondered her possible moves. "Yes, you could head butt me. You're a little short for that, though. You'd want to try and hit me in the nose. Your best option would probably be to kick me. If you're ever given any wiggle room, go for the groin area." Before she could actually practice on him, he released her, moving so that he was face-to-face with her. "Now, if I simply tried to come at you straight on, what are your options?" he asked as he outstretched his arms and began to move toward her.
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Post by Pirate on Nov 16, 2014 22:45:06 GMT -5
Alice sighed softly as he released her, a little disappointed that they weren't making contact but relieved that her thudding heart had a chance to settle down. She looked up at him as he moved around her so they were facing each other. She watched him as he moved toward her in a more menacing way, taking a reflexive step backwards. She forced herself to stand her ground instead of shrinking away, instead assessing what damage she could do to him. "Well, since you said it before, I guess I could go for the groin," she said, miming the action of kicking him between the legs. She lifted her eyes to his face, lifting an eyebrow at him. "Or I could hit you in the face. The nose would hurt." She stepped closer to him and put her hand up to his face, glancing at him curiously. "That might hurt my hand, though. How would I approach that?" She waited for him to describe it to her before she took a step back and her eyes moved over the rest of his body, looking for weak points. "A kick to the knee would stop you, although you might fall on me. Would I be strong enough to push you away if you were off balance?" She moved closer to him again and experimentally placed her hands flat against his chest, lifting her gaze to meet his. Her breath hitched when she realized how close they were to each other and she froze for a moment, held in place by his dazzling green eyes. After a few heartbeats, she forced herself to look away, taking a step back once more to put space between them and muttering an apology for her odd behavior.
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Post by Caebeeb on Nov 17, 2014 0:16:53 GMT -5
Jackson nodded with a small smile as she spoke, but took a small, instinctive step back when she faked the movement. When she put her hand to his face, he glanced at her palm, "It shouldn't hurt your hand too much. Just drive your palm up against their nose. You should end up breaking it." He watched her think over other possible moves, shrugging at her question. "You might be..." He trailed off as she rested her hands on his chest and made eye contact with him. He felt a rush curl down his spine, lifting a hand to gently grasp her one of her elbows. Leaning down toward her, she liked away and stepped back, causing him to second guess himself. He was too close, though, and ended up lightly kissing her temple at the last moment. He immediately released her and stepped away, clearing his throat. He really needed to stop kissing her. "Yeah, uh, sorry. Maybe we should call it a night. Repairs are almost done. We'll be out of here in a day or two." He retreated quickly, yanking off his tunic angrily as he headed toward the bath. His shoulder still felt like it was on fire, but he ignored it as he pulled off his clothes and sunk into the bath. He just needed to get her home so he'd stop getting so attached to her. When he was sufficiently cleaned off, he climbed out, dried off, and pulled on an extra pair of trousers. He walked back into the living area, lowering himself onto the edge of the bed. "Alice? What's it like, your life?"
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Post by Pirate on Nov 17, 2014 1:26:18 GMT -5
Alice looked up at him in surprise after he kissed her temple, her cheeks darkening as she quickly averted her gaze. She nodded in agreement at his words, placing her hand over her elbow where he had been holding on to her. She could still feel the touch of his warm skin lingering there, although it was an echo of what had previously been there. She watched as he walked away to the bath before turning away and sitting on the bed, pulling the boots off. She winced slightly at the pain in her feet, but it had dulled compared to how bad it had been earlier. She carefully padded over to the armoire, looking at her messy hair. She sighed softly, combing her fingers through it and trying to methodically pull the tangles out. She heard Jackson enter the living area, her eyes shifting to him in the brief moment he passed by the mirror, but she quickly returned her attention to the task at hand. When he spoke, she stopped her motions, turning to look at him. She shrugged, dropping her hands and moving to sit beside him on the bed, leaving a small space between them. She was quiet for a moment as she thought of a way to summarize her life without offending him with some aspects of it. "It's quiet," she began softly, looking down at her hands as she tried to picture her old life. "And predictable. I just follow the schedule set out for me by my family. It's a little repetitive. It's nice and comfortable; I never want or need for anything. I read often and go to parties where we talk about the social order and dance. I quite like dancing. It's all very simple, I guess." She lifted her gaze to meet his, giving him a small smile. "I'm sure it's all very boring for someone as adventurous as you." Her smile faded slightly, and she dropped her gaze again. "I know I'm lucky, though. I don't have to face the hardships you do. I'm sure it's pathetic that I only have to worry about social standing while you have to worry about everything else."
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Post by Caebeeb on Nov 17, 2014 1:57:56 GMT -5
Jackson clasped his hands together between his thighs when she came to sit beside him, his eyes focused ahead of him. As she began to describe her life, he could hardly imagine it. To have someone set out a daily schedule, daily objectives, seemed strange, horrible even. The more she went on, though, the more he realized how different they were and how foolish he was to be attracted to her. She liked grand dances and sophisticated conversation, not mangy pirates who longed to explore. Not a man who murdered and plundered. He shifted uncomfortably at her last comments, bristling slightly. "Just because I have a few more things to worry about than you doesn't mean I face grotesque hardships and am extremely unhappy." He frowned slightly, "It's not like I was given a choice, but I enjoy working." He gripped the back of his neck, glancing at her. "You'll be home in a few days and you can get back to your life," he sighed. He shrugged slightly, "We're just different, I guess." He stretched his wounded shoulder before glancing toward her again. "We should get some sleep."
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Post by Pirate on Nov 17, 2014 10:32:51 GMT -5
Alice flinched at his unexpected harshness, realizing she had offended him even though she had tried so hard not to. "No, Jackson, I-" She tried in vain to smooth over her mistake but he cut her off with his dismissive tone and she just closed her mouth, looking down at the rough wooden planks of the floor. "Okay," she murmured in response to his words, her eyes falling shut in defeat. She hadn't intended to say anything to make him push her away like that, but she had clearly said multiple things wrong. She figured she should just keep her mouth shut and her head down until he got her home. He was right, they were different. No point in trying to be friendly with pirates. She let out a soft sigh and looked up at him, although she didn't quite meet his gaze. "Thank you for teaching me those things earlier." She then laid down in the bed, keeping her back to him so he couldn't see her hurt expression. She had felt a bond forming between them and she had screwed it up, causing him to abruptly end whatever was forming between them before it had a chance to grow. It was probably better that way. They were from two very different worlds. Closing her eyes, she drifted off, tired from the strenuous events of the day.
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Post by Caebeeb on Nov 17, 2014 12:20:00 GMT -5
Two more days passed before the repairs were completed on the ship. The crew worked hard to get everything done so quickly and Jackson promised them a lavish reward in return. On the third morning, Jackson pulled on a freshly washed pair of trousers and clean tunic before slipping on his boots. He raked his fingers through his hair before tying it back with a strip of cloth. The past few days had been awkward between him and the heiress. He tried to be kind and courteous whenever possible, reminding himself constantly that she was royalty and far above him. However, he was certain that he came off as distant and awkward, making himself seem a fool. With a long sigh, he turned toward the woman, offering her a smile. "Are you ready to leave?" When she agreed, and they were all set, he led her out to the ship. Most of the men greeted her warmly, but a few were still upset over Pete's death. Jackson glanced down at Alice, "We're going to come in around the back of your city. It'll be less obvious, but it'll take us a little longer," he explained as the men dropped the sails and began to guide the ship away from the dock.
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Post by Pirate on Nov 17, 2014 15:28:37 GMT -5
Over the past few days, Alice felt like Jackson had become a completely different person. He hardly spoke to her and when he did, he was formal and unfriendly and she found it very awkward to be in his presence after everything they'd been through. She avoided contact with him as much as she could, which wasn't hard considering how he was working on repairs. She couldn't believe how much her words had affected him. She let out a soft sigh from her sitting position on the bed, absentmindedly braiding and unbraiding a few strands of her hair. She looked up when Jackson spoke to her, surprised that he was addressing her. It took a moment for his words to register because she was thrown off by his stiff smile. She nodded in response to his question and got to her feet, pulling her boots on and gathering the few things she had acquired during their stay, which wasn't much. She followed him back to the ship, casting her eyes down as the crew greeted her and offering shy smiles to those who spoke to her. She looked up as Jackson spoke to her, nodding at his statement. It seemed the sooner he got her home, the better. He could get his reward and she would be returned to her family and their lives would resume where they left off. She moved away from his side so she would be out of his way and looked over the edge of the ship as they moved away from the dock, watching as the ship was maneuvered toward open sea. After a few moments, she descended to the lower decks, finding the room she had stayed in before. She thought it was best for her to leave the men on deck be. They were busy and it was best she stayed out of their way.
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Post by Caebeeb on Nov 17, 2014 22:04:49 GMT -5
Jackson watched Alice disappear below deck, giving a short sigh. Things had been strange between them the past few days. He shook his head, reminding himself that she would soon be returned home and that he would probably never see her again. Determined, he set about helping his men around the ship, the vessel on track for her home city. A few hours passed before their destination was spotted on the horizon, and Jackson waited a few minutes before he headed below deck to give the heiress the good news. He gave her a brief smile upon reaching her, "We're almost there." He faltered slightly, realizing that he soon wouldn't be seeing her anymore. Giving her a sad smile, he pulled her into a hug. "Thank you for trusting me," he said in a barely audible whisper. A moment later, one of the men above shouted that they were close to docking, and Jackson released the woman. "Come on," he said, heading up the stairs. There was no one around, as they were not at the main port at the front of the island. Instead, they were in a deserted area with only one small pier. Jackson instructed his men to stay put, saying that he would escort the heiress to her home. Finally, he turned toward Alice, "Let's get you home," he murmured as he helped her onto the dock.
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Post by Pirate on Nov 18, 2014 19:31:26 GMT -5
Alice lifted her head as Jackson entered, announcing their impending arrival. "Okay, thank you," she said politely, turning away to pull the sheets straight on the bed after she had rumpled them from sitting for a few hours. She was surprised when he pulled her into the hug, not expecting the physical contact from him. She sighed softly to herself, wrapping her arms around him and nodding in response to his words. Even if this was his way of saying goodbye, she still felt secure in his strong arms and didn't want to leave their safety. Of course she trusted him, he had protected her. She reluctantly let go of him as he pulled away and followed him above deck, looking around at the quiet port. She knew where they were and what it would take to get to the Marquis's mansion. She nodded at Jackson's words and stepped onto the dock, taking the lead and walking toward a carriage house nearby. She approached the older man inside, offering him a small smile. "Could we get a carriage to go see the Marquis please?" The man turned and looked down at her with a scowl. However, his expression changed after a few moments when he recognized her. "Lady Langley?! I-of course-how-" He was flustered by her appearance, particularly the fact that she didn't look like she usually did. "I'll have the horses ready in a few minutes." He disappeared and Alice stepped outside, looking around the quiet little place. She didn't speak to Jackson, unable to think of anything to say to him. Things had been too strange between them; she felt a rift separating them now. When the horses were ready, the driver helped her into the carriage and waited for Jackson to follow before starting down the road toward the mansion. Alice looked down at her lap during the drive, maintaining her silence. She wasn't upset, just content with how things were. It was probably best she kept her distance anyway. When they reached the mansion, they were stopped by soldiers guarding the gate and Alice looked through the window curiously, wondering why soldiers had replaced their regular guards. Realization dawned on her and she sat back, paling slightly. Her fiancée must be staying there. She let out a soft sigh, her eyes falling to her lap once more. She wasn't very excited to tell him that she had lost his engagement ring, or really to see him at all. The prince was kind, but rather dull. She glanced at Jackson briefly, comparing him to the man she was intended to marry. She liked his adventurous spirit much better. Realizing what she was thinking, her cheeks pinkened and she quickly looked down once more. The carriage proceeded moving for a short while once more before it was stopped and the door opened. A soldier held his hand out and helped her out of the carriage. "This man must accompany me so the Marquis can reward him for his efforts to return me home," she told him as he eyed Jackson suspiciously. He nodded and motioned for the pirate to follow. They were escorted inside and no sooner had they crossed the threshold of the door when suddenly she was enveloped in a hug. "My Alice," came her godfather's broken voice and she felt tears in her eyes when she realized she had finally made it home after the long journey. He released her after a few heartbeats and pulled away so he could see her face. The joy in his eyes at her safe arrival was contagious and she laughed softly, hugging him again. "Alice!" She felt another pair of arms wrapped around her and the voice indicated her godmother had arrived. She was released and she looked up to smile at the woman, feeling a hand touching her face. "You've been in the sun, dear. You're covered in freckles." They both laughed softly and she gave her a small shrug. "Beauty was the last thing to cross my mind," Alice replied. "Who's this?" Alice looked up to see the Marquis looking at Jackson. "Father, this is Jackson. He stopped the pirates that took me and did everything he could to bring me back." The older man smiled and stepped forward to shake hands with the pirate. "Thank you for bringing our Alice back home safe. We are completely in your debt. Please, stay for dinner. I want to throw a feast in your honor and send you home with a monetary reward for your efforts." Alice looked up at Jackson, offering him an encouraging smile before her attention was pulled away by her godmother. "Come along, dear. We'll have you bathed and put in something more appropriate." She was whisked away and she glanced behind her one last time to catch a glimpse of Jackson and the Marquis before she was ushered out of the foyer.
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Post by Caebeeb on Nov 18, 2014 22:50:09 GMT -5
Jackson was essentially a shadow to Alice on the journey to the Marquis' home. He followed her silently, quickly seeing that she knew her way far better than he did. He didn't offer any form of conversation, feeling like the heiress wasn't too interested in speaking to him. He was grateful when the bumpy carriage ride was over, unaccustomed to the mode of transportation. Upon arrival, Jackson peered out of the small door at the soldier, immediately uncomfortable. He thought through all of his previous crimes, but was drawn back to reality at Alice's words. While he was grateful, he didn't want the money and he had done nothing to deserve it. With a soft sigh, he climbed out of the carriage and followed the heiress toward the grand building, in awe of it's immensity and architecture. He had never been this close to such a high class home. Jackson remained quiet as they crossed the threshold, feeling like he the only thing out of place. He watched on in silence as Alice's godparents greeted her, feeling an immense amount of guilt weigh down his shoulders. He would never forgive himself for taking her away from her family. He was a little perturbed by her godmother's concern over her physical beauty, but he didn't comment. He didn't belong. He felt out of place. He wanted to leave. He was just contemplating leaving when his presence was question, and he dropped his eyes slightly at Alice's introduction. Correction: he was actually the pirate that yanked her out of bed. He was startled when the man shook his hand, giving him a weak smile at his words. He started to protest just as Alice was whisked away. He watched her disappear before turning back to the Marquis. "While I am very grateful for your offer, I really must decline, sir. Thank you, but I should be getting back to my ship. I wish you all the best," he said sincerely, bowing slightly before he started to back toward the door.
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Post by Pirate on Nov 19, 2014 0:16:32 GMT -5
[Aww, she didn't get to say goodbye D:]
The Marquis smiled as Jackson declined the reward he was offering, his expression softening. He truly was an honorable man. "I can see that you're set on leaving, but I really must insist that I give you some sort of reward to express my gratitude. Please, Alice is the dearest thing to me in this entire world and I will never be able to fully thank you for returning her. At least take a little something with you." He motioned to a man standing against the wall, who came forward and handed the Marquis a small hand-sized bag full of gold coins. He then handed it to Jackson insistently, forcing the pirate's hand to close around it. "This can be some compensation for the trouble she must have caused you. She is a little delicate for the world out there. And please, you are always welcome in my home." He offered the man another appreciative smile before nodding his head to him. "Safe travels. I'll let her know you left." At that moment, a figure appeared in the doorway in front of Jackson. He stopped short of his deliberate pace, his face registering surprise as he nearly ran into the pirate. "Oh, please, excuse me. I wasn't looking at where I was going," he said, glancing up at the Marquis with a hopeful expression. "I heard Alice was back." The older man nodded and gestured to Jackson. "This is the man who returned her. Jackson, this is Prince Edward." Edward turned to Jackson, a look of deep gratitude in his eyes. The man was tall and well built, his sandy brown hair well kempt. He had warm dark brown eyes set in a handsome face and a well practiced charming smile on his lips. "I can't thank you enough for returning her. I should have known something like this might have happened so close to the wedding." He glanced over at the Marquis. "Did you give him the reward?" He shook his head in response. "He's a humble man. He refused any compensation." Edward chuckled, turning to the pirate once more. "That'll never do. Please, I insist that you at least stay for dinner."
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Post by Caebeeb on Nov 19, 2014 0:22:21 GMT -5
[Oh. I figured he could bump into her fiancé and he'd insist to have him stay or something.]
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