The Jester Of Tortuga
Ready Player One RPG
Cashy-money: $53,400
A Batman Who Laughs Is A Batman Who Wins
Posts: 2,739
Ready Player One RPG:
- Morrigan Ashen
_________________________
X-Men RPG:
- Hope Summers
_________________________
Lost RPG:
- Lillian-Rose Craven
- Stu Miley
_________________________
Once Upon a Time RPG:
- Oogie Boogie/Ken Calloway
_________________________
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Post by The Jester Of Tortuga on Aug 24, 2019 1:33:00 GMT -8
"Okay- no questions asked. I need you to take this over to Wonderworld. Tell Gabrielle it's from Granny. If it gets there safely, I will split my tips with you for an entire month."
A frazzled Ruby was in and out like a hurricane, they do that right? She didn't wait for a response which would have been a smart ass decline but the fact Ruby didn't even bat an eyelid at her did kinda worry Eva. Ruby was usually social, overly so what could be so important that she was willing to split her tips for an entire month? Quizically Eva looked at what Ruby had left her to take to the Wonderlandian ruins. If this doesn't get there safely boy would Granny be pissed and with that an evil smile crossed Eva's lips only to escape into a heavy sigh as she picked up the contents and set up to do Ruby's dirty work.
"Wait, does she even get tips?"
***Eva leaves to the Wonderlandian ruins***
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Jan 18, 2020 15:07:04 GMT -8
The rest of Tuesday passes uneventfully.
It is now Wednesday, October 26, 2011, early morning.
Three days after the clock started moving
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Feb 6, 2021 14:53:43 GMT -8
***Charlie enters from Mr. Gold Pawnbroker & Antiquities Dealer***
Charlie rushed her way back from Mr. Gold's, the journey taking a little longer with her being extra cautious by keeping within the line of the forest behind the buildings. She'd nearly stumbled twice, distractedly looking over her shoulder to make sure the man from the diner who'd chased after her hadn't been lying in wait somewhere, ready to continue his pursuit once she'd resurfaced. What had he wanted anyway? She hadn't done anything wrong.
Feeling more and more relief start to wane away the worry as the back door of the bakery came into view, Charlie began to dig in her satchel, looking down toward its shadowy depths, blindly rooting around the big fairytale book taking up most of the room to get to the key bumping around somewhere within.
Her hand still having no luck coming in contact with cold metal, she stopped several feet from the door to give it her full attention. The darn book was just so big and heavy that she couldn't quite shift it around. She grabbed it with both hands and pulled it free from the satchel, catching sight of the shine of metal as the key that had apparently fallen into the pages of the book flew free and fell somewhere on the ground behind her. "Shoot," she muttered under her breath. Charlie held the cumbersome book with one hand whilst lifting the flap of the satchel to return the book within to free up her hands so she could eventually look for the key somewhere in the grass.
Charlie didn't realize someone was approaching. Her full attention had turned to complete distraction as the book's edge caught the satchel's edge. "Darn thing," she said on an annoyed sigh, finally managing to work the book into the satchel.
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The Jester Of Tortuga
Ready Player One RPG
Cashy-money: $53,400
A Batman Who Laughs Is A Batman Who Wins
Posts: 2,739
Ready Player One RPG:
- Morrigan Ashen
_________________________
X-Men RPG:
- Hope Summers
_________________________
Lost RPG:
- Lillian-Rose Craven
- Stu Miley
_________________________
Once Upon a Time RPG:
- Oogie Boogie/Ken Calloway
_________________________
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Post by The Jester Of Tortuga on Feb 20, 2021 23:45:39 GMT -8
He had watched.
He had stalked.
In the short time of all things regarding this book it had felt like a life time of waiting for the insect to stumble into the spider's web. The blonde was skitish watching the forest like an antalope on the African plain but unlike her metaphoric counter parts; this baker was distracted, just waiting to be picked off by a fearsome predator. Forcing the book out of her bag Ken could catch a glint of something falling down behind leaving her struggling with the book and the satchel. If ever there was prey for the taking, this was the moment for it. Non chalantley Ken swiftly made his was up behind her picking up what she had dropped, a key. If only Charlie hadn't of stayed in places with such lousy security he may have had a need for this instead it was time for a good samaritan from out of nowhere act.
"Ah jeez, excuse me Miss but you dropped your key while you were wrestling with that there..." Ken tilted his head, pretending to size the book up with a puzzled expression. "...Book I guess. Looks like a good read, can you recommend int?"
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Mar 6, 2021 12:18:59 GMT -8
"Ah jeez, excuse me Miss
Startled by the sudden voice, Charlie's hand went to her racing heart as she turned, relaxing instantly into a smile when she saw it was her new friend, Ken.
but you dropped your key while you were wrestling with that there..." "...Book I guess. Looks like a good read, can you recommend int?"
Charlie chuckled, amused at his playacting. "Ken, hello," she began with a warm smile, taking the key he held out to her. "Well," she said, slipping into the playact, acting as if this particular cumbersome book wasn't a big part of yesterday's picnic, "you know how it goes. You get a book, having every intention of reading it, but you just can't seem to ever get to it. I can tell you, though," she shifted the strap of her satchel to another spot of her shoulder as the current one was becoming sore from the weight of it, "that it is not travel friendly. Definitely recommend going for the paperback version."
Still grinning with amusement, Charlie returned to normal conversation as she moved toward the door now with key in hand. "Taking another walk in the woods?" she asked conversationally.
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The Jester Of Tortuga
Ready Player One RPG
Cashy-money: $53,400
A Batman Who Laughs Is A Batman Who Wins
Posts: 2,739
Ready Player One RPG:
- Morrigan Ashen
_________________________
X-Men RPG:
- Hope Summers
_________________________
Lost RPG:
- Lillian-Rose Craven
- Stu Miley
_________________________
Once Upon a Time RPG:
- Oogie Boogie/Ken Calloway
_________________________
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Post by The Jester Of Tortuga on Mar 6, 2021 16:59:49 GMT -8
"Taking another walk in the woods?"
"You know how it goes Charlie, all work and no play... I find myself taking a walk through the woods when there is time to kill."
Ken could smell her, Charlie had a soft yet sweet scent to her, he wasn't sure what it was exactly but at a guess he figured it was some kind of shampoo. Either way it was a perfect trace for a predator to follow.
"If you are finding the book cumbersome I would be more than happy to take it from you and swap it with the audio version. Not to sound creepy or anything I just couldn't help but notice you shifting your satchel there and wouldn't want the towns best baker to put her shoulders out."
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Mar 21, 2021 16:14:56 GMT -8
Pushing the door open, Charlie's shoulders sagged to emphasize the genuine remorse on her features as she turned back to face him. Last time he'd asked if he could borrow the book, Ruby had shown up and saved her from having to turn him down, but now, she'd have to and there was nobody around to save her from doing something she really didn't like to do; cause someone a sense of sadness or disappointment.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, Ken," she said, momentarily placing placing a gentle hand on his arm, "but it's not mine to loan." The guilt eating at her had her quickly adding, "If it was, I would loan it to you in a heartbeat."
Despite it not being her fault and despite trying to reassure that she would have loaned it to him if it belonged to her, she still felt guilt. "How about the next time I see Henry, I ask him if I can loan it to you? Or we can meet up on my break again and read it together?"
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The Jester Of Tortuga
Ready Player One RPG
Cashy-money: $53,400
A Batman Who Laughs Is A Batman Who Wins
Posts: 2,739
Ready Player One RPG:
- Morrigan Ashen
_________________________
X-Men RPG:
- Hope Summers
_________________________
Lost RPG:
- Lillian-Rose Craven
- Stu Miley
_________________________
Once Upon a Time RPG:
- Oogie Boogie/Ken Calloway
_________________________
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Post by The Jester Of Tortuga on Apr 3, 2021 3:30:37 GMT -8
"Oh, I'm so sorry, Ken,""but it's not mine to loan.""If it was, I would loan it to you in a heartbeat.""How about the next time I see Henry, I ask him if I can loan it to you? Or we can meet up on my break again and read it together?"
Of course she would she be thoughtful. It was frankly irritating and this whole playing nice with her, the whole town really, was growing tiresome. He could easily wait until until she was alseep and then take it from her, she should be at his mercy, fearful in the knowledge he could command her last breath.
"Oh yes, silly me. I apologize for putting you on the spot like that. Though reading it with you would be wonderful, I could bring some tea along."
Instead Ken was playing along. A scorpion awaiting a frog.
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Apr 4, 2021 10:40:42 GMT -8
Charlie grinned, grateful for his understanding and most especially, for his offer to bring tea. "That would be lovely. I'll bring pastries. And the book, of course."
The faint sound of bickering in the distance growing nearer put Charlie into a slight panic. "My aunts. I have to go in. There'll be no more wandering out on my own if they see me talking to someone," she reminded, trying to pad the rudeness of cutting their conversation short and the unspoken ask that he disappear himself.
"I'll see you later, same place, same time." With a little wave of her fingers and a smile for her friend, Charlie closed the door and threw herself into making it appear as if she'd been working non-stop since arriving at dawn.
*Charlie disappears to inside the bakery*
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The Jester Of Tortuga
Ready Player One RPG
Cashy-money: $53,400
A Batman Who Laughs Is A Batman Who Wins
Posts: 2,739
Ready Player One RPG:
- Morrigan Ashen
_________________________
X-Men RPG:
- Hope Summers
_________________________
Lost RPG:
- Lillian-Rose Craven
- Stu Miley
_________________________
Once Upon a Time RPG:
- Oogie Boogie/Ken Calloway
_________________________
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Post by The Jester Of Tortuga on Apr 10, 2021 3:07:50 GMT -8
"I'll see you later, same place, same time."
She dissappeared into the bakery with a curt wave and smile which he mirrored in kind. With the door shut Ken stood behind the bakery alone taking in a deep breath, filling himself with the lingering scent of his prey.
"Soon the only thing to fear will be fear himself." Ken whispered to himself as he walked away from the bakery, another moment closer to play time.
***Ken leaves Country Bread***
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on May 9, 2021 18:42:26 GMT -8
Charlie had grabbed some cookie dough already prepared the day before from the fridge and furiously rolled them into little orbs before placing them spaced out on a cookie sheet. In record time, she had the tray full and was reaching for the handle of one of the ovens when the back door opened.
"Good morning, Aunties!" she said in a sing-song voice with a bright smile, cutting through their continued bickering.
They all paused to place a smile on their face for her while they returned the 'good morning' and just as smoothly, went right back to their arguing as they made their way to the front to open up for the day, each automatically grabbing a couple of the trays lined up on the counter near the door, ready for the display case.
Charlie closed the door to the oven and let out a sigh of relief. The door opened again and Charlie jumped when Aunt Fae's head popped back in. Charlie quickly smiled but Fae had caught her and was now eying her suspiciously.
"Is everything alright, my dear? You're looking rather flushed. And jumpy," she added.
"Yes, everything's fine," she said, laughing at herself. "I had a lot of timers going off at once and was rushing to get everything out before they started to overbake." Charlie continued moving about the kitchen, starting preparation for another batch of croissants. "I guess I was still absorbed in the rush so you startled me just now."
Fae continued eying, but finally nodded her satisfaction and disappeared back to the front. Charlie relaxed and went back to work. The white lies were getting easier and easier.
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Dec 5, 2021 11:31:32 GMT -8
~*~*~*~*~
Charlie's eyes went to the clock on the wall for what must have been the hundredth time this morning. How could it be that only an hour had passed? Usually time flew by for her, but also usually, she did not have something to look forward to.
Picnic lunch with a new friend to peruse Henry's book was definitely a BIG something to look forward to. Speaking of, Charlie needed to make a couple of sandwiches and of course, package up a couple of desserts. It wouldn't be difficult to smuggle one additional sandwich and dessert in her satchel without her aunts being the wiser.
Something about the possibility of seeing a picture of yourself and reading about this other life Henry claimed they had was both intriguing and also a little terrifying. Enough so that she'd had trouble getting herself to open the book to read it despite being completely fascinated and wanting badly to delve in. Learning about the stories of the others, of the people she'd secretly watched go about their lives, she could not wait to explore. But it was the possibility of turning the page and seeing herself that gave her hesitation. What if she did not like this other life she'd supposedly come from? Worse, what if she did not like the person she supposedly was supposed to be?
Charlie was happy to have made a friend who was not apprehensive about stumbling across the truths of his own potential origins. If Ken hadn't had stumbled across her in the woods the other day, she still might not have read a single word of it.
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Apr 2, 2022 20:59:15 GMT -8
The rest of Wednesday passes uneventfully.
It is now Thursday, October 27, 2011, early morning.
Four days after the clock started moving
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Apr 3, 2022 11:27:42 GMT -8
Charlie loved music of many kinds, but there was nothing quite like Disney music. It was on a whole other level, a deeper one that usually told a story. The way the performers put all of their heart and emotions into what the character was feeling in that moment filled her with enthusiastic energy. Ever since Callie had gifted her a CD filled with a mix of them from all sorts of Disney movies and even stage originals, it was Charlie's go-to every morning.
She loved the array of emotions that a mix gave her and always let the music and lyrics carry her into them, feeling what the character was feeling which allowed the emotion to show in her own voice and on her own face whilst singing along.
"Home" from the Beauty and the Beast stage show had her working a little slower as the lonely and heartbreaking feeling of being locked away from the world and the things you love filled her. This was one that personally touched her due to her understanding of what it was like to feel locked away. She understood her aunts meant it for her own safety, but that did not mean she did not feel like a prisoner at times.
Charlie was filling and tucking up some pastries and singing the last verse when someone had unknowingly gotten into earshot of the back of the bakery.
"Shut away from the world until Who knows when Oh but then If my life has been altered once it can change again Build higher walls around me Change every lock and key Nothing lasts nothing holds all of me My hearts far, far away Home, and free."
Taking in a breath, she let it out on a sigh as the CD's shuffle feature randomly chose the next song. A smile spread on her face. For some reason, this song always felt very close to her heart. It was one that evoked a happy playfulness of one with a romantic heart and her demeanor changed to match it. She chuckled at the spoken line, picturing the blonde princess speaking to, then dancing with forest creatures.
Charlie started to sway in place as she sang along, gracefully dance stepping her way to various items spread out on the counter, grinning over the anticipation of the prince belonging to the stolen cap and cloak appearing midway through to finish the song as a duet.
"I know you I walked with you once upon a dream I know you The gleam in your eyes is so familiar a gleam Yet I know it's true That visions are seldom all they seem But if I know you I know what you'll do You'll love me at once The way you--"
She'd picked up the tray and was swaying into a graceful turn when her eyes caught a figure near the door, the unexpected surprise shocking the voice out of her and nearly the tray out of her hands. "Oh goodness," she said, getting a proper hold on the tray and just barely avoiding losing all the pastries to the floor. "I'm so sorry, I didn't hear you come in," she said over the music, putting down the tray and hurrying over to the player to hit pause, wondering how long the lady had been waiting and why she'd come to the back door. Charlie had stopped locking it since Callie had the habit of forgetting her key. Her aunts were due to arrive fairly soon and the thought of them finding her talking to a stranger had her nervously playing with the edge of her apron. "I'm sorry," she apologized again, "but we're not open yet. You can come back in about an hour, but, to the front, if you don't mind." Her tone wasn't admonishing, but more along the lines of requesting a favor with the worry that showed on her face and in her demeanor as she explained. "We're not supposed to have anybody back here."
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Post by Kristi Lynne on Apr 4, 2022 15:47:50 GMT -8
Cora yawned as she fell back against the building and slid to the ground. She'd been up late trying to contact everyone about the rearranged rehearsal schedules and letting the set and costume crew know that their deadlines had shifted. The coffee she was eagerly downing wasn't doing much to clear her head or keep her warm on this frosty fall morning. But Gold was adamant that this was where she needed to be, where she would find her miracle.
All she'd heard on the other side of the bakery door so far was the expected clang of pots and pans, which was completely unhelpful. Until there was music, and a voice singing along with the music. A pure, resonant soprano that finished the job of waking her up. Scrambling to her feet, she found the door unlocked and slid discreetly into the kitchen.
Cora saw a young, blonde woman happily singing and dancing along to music from the radio. A woman that she had certainly never seen in Storybrooke before. Apparently, someone in town had managed to keep a secret. Quite well.
"Oh goodness, I'm so sorry, I didn't hear you come in. ... I'm sorry, but we're not open yet. You can come back in about an hour, but, to the front, if you don't mind. We're not supposed to have anybody back here."
"Oh, I'm not just anybody, my dear," Cora informed her. "I'm a director. Congratulations! You've passed the audition with flying colors. And to think this beautiful voice has been hiding here all this time."
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Apr 24, 2022 7:52:19 GMT -8
"Oh, why thank you," Charlie beamed happily, perhaps slightly more pleased over the rare opportunity to have unknowingly shared her gift rather than for the compliment itself. But then her expression changed to confusion as she digested what the woman had said, her curiosity over it momentarily forgetting her worry over her aunts arriving soon and the need to be shooing out her unexpected guest. That along with the woman's casual confidence put Charlie more at ease. She stopped fiddling with the hem of her apron and her arms relaxed into her hands lightly clasping before her. "I'm sorry, audition?" she questioned with a hint of curious interest.
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Post by Kristi Lynne on Apr 27, 2022 16:58:05 GMT -8
"I'm sorry, audition?"
"The town musical, of course! We do it every fall at the Terpsichore," Cora informed the girl, who still looked rather lost. "Drama, intrigue, romance, exotic locations and soul-lifting songs, for two evening shows and a Sunday matinee. You...you really don't know what I'm talking about?" she asked, again registering the girl's lack of recognition. Apparently Gold hadn't informed her of the impromptu audition. What other secrets was he keeping about and for this little songbird?
"It's a wonderful event that brings together young and old. Alas, it seemed very likely the show wouldn't go on this year," Cora confided sadly. "Our lead actress fell ill, and I was completely running out of time and options. Pushed the show back a couple of weeks in hopes of a miraculous recovery. But I think I may have found the solution to all our problems in this...charming little kitchen." She made a sweeping gesture that ended with her hand in a table surface covered in flour, that she brusquely tried to shake off.
Circling the young woman with an appraising eye, she remarked, "You're about the same size as Vanessa, the costumes won't require much alteration. Truth is, I thought that prima donna was getting a bit long in the tooth to be playing wide-eyed young damsels, but you certainly didn't hear that from me."
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on May 14, 2022 8:47:22 GMT -8
"The town musical, of course! We do it every fall at the Terpsichore," "Drama, intrigue, romance, exotic locations and soul-lifting songs, for two evening shows and a Sunday matinee. You...you really don't know what I'm talking about?"
Charlie had only dared step outside the edges of where she was allowed and those edges where the forest or bakery met the town had only given her a glimpse of people milling about their daily lives, visiting the shops and the diner, chatting and waving to friends on the sidewalks. She'd only dared venture past the edges to the diner for deliveries and once to the veterinary clinic.
A town musical. The sadness of not even knowing that that existed made her heart drop. How she would have loved to have attended such a thing. Charlie had been barely coping with the feeling of missing out simply on the sociable aspect of town life and now this added a whole other level of difficulty to the lifestyle her aunts wished her to maintain.
"It's a wonderful event that brings together young and old. Alas, it seemed very likely the show wouldn't go on this year,"
"I'm very sorry to hear that," she said wholeheartedly, even though she'd have been missing it either way. Music was a gift. It was a magical joy that could reach people on a deep and emotional level.
"Our lead actress fell ill, and I was completely running out of time and options. Pushed the show back a couple of weeks in hopes of a miraculous recovery. But I think I may have found the solution to all our problems in this...charming little kitchen."
Charlie listened, her sorrowful expression turning to surprised shock at the woman's last comment.
"You're about the same size as Vanessa, the costumes won't require much alteration. Truth is, I thought that prima donna was getting a bit long in the tooth to be playing wide-eyed young damsels, but you certainly didn't hear that from me."
Still speechless, Charlie slowly turned in the opposite direction she was being circled to try to keep her eyes on the woman. "What? Me?" she finally said in surprise before looking crestfallen again, not just for having to let the woman down but for how crushing it was to think of this whole new aspect she was missing out on. She would have adored watching the town's musicals, but to be a part of that magic? To share her love of singing with an audience? That was on a whole other level and the missing of that opportunity would take a long time to get over...if it was even possible to get over it. Charlie's shoulders slumped. "Oh, I'm so sorry, I can't. I'd love to, really, really love to," she reassured, trying to take some sting out of dashing the woman's hopes for saving her musical, how much it pained her to miss out on this so obvious on her expressive face and in her voice, "but... I can't."
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Post by Kristi Lynne on May 14, 2022 17:13:18 GMT -8
"What? Me? Oh, I'm so sorry, I can't. I'd love to, really, really love to, but... I can't."
"Why on earth not?" Cora cried. Most people would be jumping at the chance to be the star of the show and the center of the town's attention. But this girl clearly wasn't most people. "If it's stage fright, I completely understand and I have so many ways to deal with it. I'll happily work with you one-on-one to make sure you're completely comfortable with all the music and the dancing. The whole cast will help, I can assure you."
Cora paused to cross her arms and look at the girl, one eyebrow quirked in inquiry. "Is it Vanessa?" she asked. "Look, her bark is worse than her bite, and with her voice gone even that's nothing to be afraid of. It's always tough to take on a role from someone else, I know, but you can put your own spin on it. It'll be fabulous!"
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on May 15, 2022 0:02:40 GMT -8
Charlie was unsure how to answer. All of the woman's assumptions were nowhere near the mark so she simply listened as she tried to figure how to explain something that the few other people that had been introduced into her life couldn't wrap their mind around. She was batting zero on that front.
The last bit did stick out a bit more than the rest. "Vanessa?" she questioned. There was a vague familiarity to the name. Perhaps Callie had made mention of her, but it was hard to keep track of all the people Callie told her about, especially when she didn't have a face to go with the name and most especially, since she hadn't met any of them.
But this Vanessa person wasn't the problem, nor was the lady's first assumption, which Charlie clarified next. "I don't have stage fright," she reassured. "On the contrary, I would absolutely love performing for an audience." So much so that Charlie could feel frustration over her situation starting to rise over this newest revelation of an opportunity she hadn't known she was missing out on until now. The process of getting her aunts to loosen up was so slow that she'd probably be middle-aged before she got to the point of being allowed to do something such as performing in a play. She attempted now to tackle the 'why on earth not' part of the woman's question. "The problem is, I'm not allowed to," she said, a touch of exasperation in her tone. "My aunts would never allow it."
Charlie's eyes caught sight of the clock on the wall and a panic began to rise. "Oh gosh, they'll be here any minute now. I'll be in such trouble if they catch me talking to you," she said, hurrying to the back door to open in, partly to let the woman out and partly to keep an eye out for any sign of their approach and the possible need to temporarily hide the lady somewhere until her aunts disappeared to the front. She'd rather avoid the embarrassing latter option. "Please you've got to go."
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Post by Kristi Lynne on May 15, 2022 15:29:32 GMT -8
"I don't have stage fright. On the contrary, I would absolutely love performing for an audience. The problem is, I'm not allowed to. My aunts would never allow it. ... Oh gosh, they'll be here any minute now. I'll be in such trouble if they catch me talking to you. Please you've got to go."
" 'Not allowed to'?" Cora repeated, her brow furrowed in confusion. This was a grown woman, older than some of the other performers, and yet she needed permission from her aunts? "My dear, you are singing to a roomful of pastries and bread loaves. It's an astonishing waste of such exceptional talent. Criminal, actually. And I think it's terribly unfair to deny you, nay the community itself, the joy that your performance could bring. I shall tell your aunts so myself," she proclaimed. "I can be very persuasive." If possible, she crossed her arms more intently and made it clear that her feet were planted on the flour-covered floor even as the girl was intent on rushing her back out the door.
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on May 29, 2022 11:30:07 GMT -8
Charlie was warmed by the compliments and still daydreaming about the thought of performing for an audience when the last bit had her eyes widening in horror. "You can't," she protested. "They'll never agree, never in a million years." Despite how adamant Charlie's proclamation was, the woman remained adamantly in place. "They are extremely stubborn and overprotective. You have no idea how long and tedious the process was to talk them into--" she was gesturing to the bakery as a whole when her eyes snapped out the door toward the faint echos of her aunts' bickering voices approaching. Her hand went to her forehead in distress as she quickly shut it. "Oh my gosh, they're almost here." Still, the lady seemed fairly unmoved. Charlie couldn't blame her. She'd hardly given the woman a good reason and her situation was far from usual.
But there wasn't time to explain now. If her aunts caught a stranger in the kitchen, she was fairly certain she'd be put under house arrest. No more 'lone walks' in the forest. Her aunts would insist upon at least one of them always being in escort on her way to and from the bakery and on any breaks taken outside of the bakery. That would eventually lead to them finding out she'd been sneaking around for visits with friends and that a lot of her time in the forest had not been 'lone'. If they had any idea how many people she'd gotten to know...
Charlie's eyes darted around the kitchen she was afraid of losing, scrambled for a plan when they settled on the small walk-in refrigerator. "You have to hide," Charlie insisted, grabbing the woman's arm and pulling her along as gently but insistently as possible. Her freedom, or the small bit of it she'd managed to achieve was at stake.
"I'm so sorry about this," Charlie said as she opened the metal door and persistently nudged the woman inside, pushing it shut, her hand casually resting on the handle as the back door opened and her aunts entered.
"Good morning!" she said cheerily, trying not to overdue it and be suspicious. They gave her a collective greeting as they continued bickering about whatever the latest topic to bicker over was, Merry, the most suspicious of the three, shrewdly glancing over her way. "I was just about to grab another carton of milk," she said in a kneejerk reaction to explain why she was standing by the fridge. 'Don't overexplain, Charlie. Change the topic', she chided herself. It would probably have been best to not mention it at all. Charlie eased up on her smile and gestured to the trays by the swinging door to the front. "Those are all ready to go. I've got another batch of pastries that'll be out in a few minutes."
Relieved to see that Merry had lost whatever thread of suspicion had crept up on her, the three grabbed a couple trays each and disappeared to continue their conversation in the front whilst arranging the display case.
Charlie waited a beat then finally opened the refrigerator door. "I'm so sorry," she whispered even as she hustled the woman out of the refrigerator and toward the back door. "Later, somewhere private. I can explain everything," she promised, feeling that, at the very least, she owed the woman some form of explanation for shoving her into a refrigerator. "But if you don't disappear before they see you, then that might not even be possible," she warned.
Charlie opened the door and looked at her pleadingly, letting the woman name the time and place.
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Post by Kristi Lynne on Jun 1, 2022 10:07:02 GMT -8
Before she could protest, Cora found herself placed inside a walk-in freezer. She cast a quick glance around at the shelves of ingredients and supplies before returning her focus to the small glass window in the door. Movement caught her eye before she ducked away in order to avoid being seen by the three older women making their way through the back door and into the kitchen. These must be the overprotective aunts keeping this secret soprano on house arrest.
"I'm so sorry. Later, somewhere private. I can explain everything. But if you don't disappear before they see you, then that might not even be possible."
Still thawing out, Cora could see the sincere concern on the girl's face. "Fine, fine, fine," she agreed, waving her hands dismissively in a rare moment of not wanting to complicate someone's life further. She retrieved a business card from her purse and began writing on the back of it. "Since you're so keen not to be seen, you can come to the back door of the theater. The tech crew will have cleared out by 6," she explained, handing the girl her card. "Oh, and I'll be taking one of these to help me cope with the emotional trauma of being locked in a freezer." Cora snatched a chocolate chip muffin from a nearby cooling tray before heading for the door. "Ta!" she called as she left the bakery.
*** Cora exits ***
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Jun 4, 2022 16:51:41 GMT -8
"Sorry," she said again on a slight cringe even though the woman seemed she was joking rather than actually suffering any emotional trauma. "Thank you, I'll see you at 6," she promised, taking the business card and closing the door behind the woman.
Charlie closed the door and leaned against it in relief at having gotten away with having an unexpected visitor. She found herself grinning over the woman having snatched up a muffin on her way out. Missing pastries was in no way a problem. The bakers and other employees had to eat, after all, so an empty spot on a tray was commonplace. Charlie was just happy that something she'd baked had enticed someone and hoped that the woman enjoyed the chocolate chip muffin.
'Cora,' she mentally noted, glancing down at the card and finally putting a name to her unexpected guest. The door to the front swung open and Charlie quickly stashed the card in her back pocket, letting her arms rest on her waist.
"What are you up to?" Merry asked, eyeing Charlie and the door.
Charlie thought fast. "Oh, I was just looking to see if Calli was almost here yet. I'm dying to hear about her date," she said with a dreamy grin.
Merry rolled her eyes as she grabbed another couple of trays, muttering about young people and their foolish romantic notions. Charlie breathed a sigh of relief and threw herself back into her work, mentally starting plans for how she would go about fulfilling her promise of showing up to this meeting.
*****
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Jan 7, 2023 0:23:47 GMT -8
Approximately nine hours later.
The early morning and afternoon have passed.
It is late afternoon of Thursday, October 27, 2011,
four days after the clock started moving.
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Aug 20, 2023 11:48:52 GMT -8
Several hours pass.
It is late evening of Thursday, October 27, 2011,
still four days after the clock started moving.
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Apr 21, 2024 14:20:53 GMT -8
The rest of Thursday evening passes.
It is the dead of night, when most are asleep.
Friday, October 28, 2011 has newly just begun.
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