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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Jun 9, 2012 17:02:11 GMT -8
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Post by Kristi Lynne on Jun 11, 2012 18:18:45 GMT -8
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Post by Kristi Lynne on Jun 11, 2012 18:26:19 GMT -8
JULIET
She was still straightening up the house, from the sudden and violent shudder that had interrupted their book club meeting just before the event that might change their lives forever. A plane--unplanned and unexpected. If there were survivors, how would they be dealt with? And why did Ben insist on sending Goodwin right into their midst? Scratch that; she knew exactly why.
She opened a kitchen drawer to put something away and noticed the manila envelope again. The one containing the X-ray that proved Ben was a liar. People never got sick on this island, but now he had a tumor on his spine. He couldn't just explain that away. If he was lying about that, what else was he lying about? The pedestal that he'd placed himself on above the rest of them was going to start chipping away.
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Benjamin Linus
Newbie
Cashy-money: $500
There are consequences to being chosen.
Posts: 27
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Post by Benjamin Linus on Jun 16, 2012 16:31:43 GMT -8
She didn't want to see him. It didn't take a genius to figure that out, but Ben needed to speak to her anyway. He'd already been to see Mikhail, already given instruction to Richard, and now he was going to prove that he was not lying...about one particular situation. He strode up to her door with all the power and intent that came with leadership, and he knocked the door. He'd huff and he'd puff if he had to.
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Post by Kristi Lynne on Jun 16, 2012 17:31:55 GMT -8
JULIET
She opened the door with a sigh and leaned against it. With her arms crossed and the threshold blocked, it was an invitation to not come in under any circumstance. "What do you want, Ben?" she asked, as neutrally as possible. "We haven't decided when to reschedule the book club meeting yet."
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Benjamin Linus
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Cashy-money: $500
There are consequences to being chosen.
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Post by Benjamin Linus on Jun 16, 2012 17:39:34 GMT -8
"Bizarrely, that's not what I'm here for," he said in his usual even drawl. "I have something to show you, Juliet. It's important, I need you to come with me." He didn't smile or look submissive; Ben matched Juliet's neutral tone pitch for pitch.
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Post by Kristi Lynne on Jul 3, 2012 18:10:30 GMT -8
JULIET
"More important than the plane crash?" she offered. "I'm sorry, Ben. We have nothing to discuss, and I'm not going anywhere with you. Why don't you let me know when you've heard back from Goodwin?"
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Benjamin Linus
Newbie
Cashy-money: $500
There are consequences to being chosen.
Posts: 27
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Post by Benjamin Linus on Jul 3, 2012 18:25:59 GMT -8
Ben's expression didn't change. "Would your sister count as a subject you'd be willing to discuss?"
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Post by Kristi Lynne on Jul 3, 2012 19:09:03 GMT -8
JULIET
She sighed and looked away before fixing him with another glare. "This isn't a good time for emotional blackmail, either. I already agreed to keep your secret," she said. "And if you want to remind me how I can't leave this island to see my sister even though she's dying of cancer--"
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Benjamin Linus
Newbie
Cashy-money: $500
There are consequences to being chosen.
Posts: 27
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Post by Benjamin Linus on Jul 3, 2012 19:21:28 GMT -8
"Except she isn't," said Ben swiftly and bluntly. "And I can prove it to you."
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Post by Kristi Lynne on Jul 5, 2012 10:54:01 GMT -8
JULIET
"Fine, you have my attention. But if this is a trick..." She let the words 'I'll snap your neck before the cancer can kill you' hang silently between them as she closed the door behind her. "After you."
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Benjamin Linus
Newbie
Cashy-money: $500
There are consequences to being chosen.
Posts: 27
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Post by Benjamin Linus on Jul 6, 2012 5:32:21 GMT -8
"As always," said Ben, turning away without looking back. He took purposeful strides towards the fence, assuming she would keep up. Well, of course. She was twice his height.
***Ben and Juliet leave for the Flame Station***
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Post by Kristi Lynne on Feb 7, 2021 17:39:53 GMT -8
Juliet had headed straight back to her house after leaving the security office. Securing lunch for the two women had sidetracked her from thinking about her own meal, so she proceeded to the kitchen once she'd entered. She placed a pan on the stove and turned on the burner, then retrieved a couple of eggs from the refrigerator. Cracking the shells and spilling the yolks into the pan, she let her mind wander as the snapping and sizzling sounds of frying issued from the stove.
Whatever questions she was supposed to have asked, Juliet really wanted to ask them about Goodwin. Was he okay? Had they believed he was one of them? How close had he gotten to them? She was sure he was fine. She just wished he was here.
The eggs done, she slid them from the pan onto a plate and set it on the dining room table. She retrieved a knife and fork from a drawer and laid those down beside her plate, then spun round to the refrigerator again to grab a pitcher of orange juice. She filled a glass and sipped it as she looked out the window, watching everyone go about their day. Almost as if their whole world hadn't changed two weeks ago.
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Feb 7, 2021 20:49:32 GMT -8
Ben was actually a little bit nervous as he walked down the street, heading in the direction of the house of a certain someone. The same person he had, admittedly, been bossing around a lot lately, so now he wanted to make up for that with a nice gesture. This time, Ben wanted to do it right. Not like the last time when it all ended up again in a spiteful back and forth. Not that he wasn't enjoying that as well, but he thought it was on time for Juliet to finally get over her huff about his move of having sent Goodwin away. That was never meant to be anyway. She didn't belong to anyone but him.
A satisfied smile lay on his lips as he neared the house he once purposefully had chosen to be in the close area of his own, while carrying the surprise under his arm. A large lunchbox filled with freshly-baked muffins, still warm. After Ben had left Juliet to herself just about an hour ago, Ben had been spending the whole time in the kitchen, thinking about something that wouldn't take too long to prepare. To be fair, though, his efforts might not only come from a selfless act. He had news to pass to her that might not be to her full liking, same as they might regard her housing situation. But only one step at a time, wasn't it?
Once Ben had reached her door sill, he rang the bell, the box with muffins ready to offer to her right at the door. Smiling, he waited for her to open the door.
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Post by Kristi Lynne on Feb 8, 2021 17:14:48 GMT -8
The sudden sound of the doorbell pulled Juliet out of her reverie. She set the glass down on her way to answer the door. And when she opened it to see their leader standing on her doorstep, her surprise quickly shifted to a pleasant neighborliness. "Ben, hi," she greeted. "I was just getting ready to have some lunch. Did something come up with the new arrivals?"
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Feb 22, 2021 9:19:44 GMT -8
Ben's smile remained in place when Juliet opened the door. He appreciated that she sent one his way as well, although he was aware that being merely an act of playing along for hers looked a lot more reserved. There would be put oil on the troubled waters between them at some point. Maybe not today and also not tomorrow, but one day for sure. They had all the time in the world. Or so Ben thought a while ago. He tried to brush off that sudden uncomfortable thought about his cancer.
"Ben, hi,"
"Hi," Ben greeted back as if they were but friendly neighbors who would meet for lunch and tea. In his eccentric mind, they even might be.
"I was just getting ready to have some lunch. Did something come up with the new arrivals?"
Now, that was rushing to the matter. Ben wouldn't destroy their little moment already now, so he decided to ignore her question for now, and instead reacted to her former words only. "And here comes the neighbor bringing the side dish. You like muffins, or don't you?" Of course, she did. Ben had seen her baking some herself, albeit with a not-so-well outcome, at least not for her hand. A little bit of teasing had never destroyed a relationship, hadn't it? "May I come in?"
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Post by Kristi Lynne on Feb 27, 2021 19:14:48 GMT -8
"And here comes the neighbor bringing the side dish. You like muffins, or don't you? ... May I come in?"
"Um, sure," Juliet offered, opening the door further and stepping aside. She would make an honest effort to meet his hospitality with the same, but she assumed the offering of baked goods meant something more than a friendly visit. After all, if it was business, he would have just found her in the infirmary.
"I assume your muffins turned out better than my last batch," she remarked, shutting the door once he was inside and walking back toward the kitchen. "Can I get you something to drink?"
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Mar 5, 2021 7:45:07 GMT -8
"Um, sure,"
Ben's smile grew wider. Of course, hadn't he expected anything else, but he was still feeling glad whenever they could set this neighborhood scenario. And yet again, in his eccentric mind, it was all real. They all had built up something, a community. People, namely Juliet, just had to stop looking at it like this was a prison.
"I assume your muffins turned out better than my last batch,"
Ben couldn't help but smirk at that while it was still his back turned towards her after he had stepped inside her house. Once turned to face her again, the smirk changed back into the friendly neighbor's smile. "You shouldn't be so hard on yourself, Juliet."
"Can I get you something to drink?"
"Do you have any milk? Yeah, I know, surprise. I'm one of these persons who dunk their cake in a cup of milk," Ben stated as if they were having kind of a date, and this his first confession, one of a few that would prove if this first spark between them could outlive the other's quirks. The only problem with them was that she had seen one big quirk of him already before any spark could have arisen. That would be him telling her that she couldn't go back to that place she still called home for as long as he said so.
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Post by Kristi Lynne on Mar 6, 2021 18:32:12 GMT -8
"Do you have any milk? Yeah, I know, surprise. I'm one of these persons who dunk their cake in a cup of milk."
"I think I do," Juliet replied, making her way to the refrigerator to retrieve a carton of Dharma milk. She didn't wish to be rude, but she was also reluctant to make it seem like he was welcome to stay for a casual chat. So she decided to bring up business while she poured a glass and placed it on the table. "I took some lunch to the women that were brought in," Juliet informed him. "But I think it'll take more than a sandwich and a freshly baked cookie to get them to open up. Neither of them seem happy with the way they've been treated so far."
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Mar 7, 2021 11:02:16 GMT -8
Ben was enjoying the short time in which this could feel like they were having just lunch between neighbors or even friends who would soon have a casual chat over cake and milk. Of course, he was aware that wouldn't last long, yet had he been hoping that it would last for longer than the little time it took to fill a glass with milk.
"I took some lunch to the women that were brought in,""But I think it'll take more than a sandwich and a freshly baked cookie to get them to open up. Neither of them seem happy with the way they've been treated so far."
Inwardly, Ben sighed in annoyance. Well then, back to business it was, since, obviously, Juliet couldn't even bear his pleasant side for the share of only one meal. Along with this realization, there also came back his discontentment and, with that, his not-that-pleasant side. Although, all she had done so far was leading the topic of their conversation straight toward business, something he had planned not before after lunch. But by looking at the speed with which she was pressing on, it was probably an illusion to believe to be still here for the dessert, even though he was the one who brought it.
"None of them had been, but then there comes a time that they realize it's not so bad here. Some need longer, however." It was obvious that Ben's last remark wasn't only going for the plane crash survivors, but was also aiming at the situation with Juliet.
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Post by Kristi Lynne on Mar 17, 2021 18:03:43 GMT -8
"None of them had been, but then there comes a time that they realize it's not so bad here. Some need longer, however."
Like about three years? Juliet retorted inwardly. No, any amount of time would feel like being a hostage when one knew there was no conceivable way out. She lowered herself into her own seat at the table and began to surgically slice her fried eggs with a knife and fork.
"They've been through a great deal of trauma, Ben," she advised. "Not just the plane crash itself, but being stranded in a strange place with strange people. They didn't make the choice to come to this island, or to this place," she said, a hand waving to gesture toward her house and the space beyond it. "We can give them food, shelter, a distraction from fear. But it takes much more than that to actually feel safe."
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Apr 2, 2021 12:22:09 GMT -8
"They've been through a great deal of trauma, Ben,""Not just the plane crash itself, but being stranded in a strange place with strange people. They didn't make the choice to come to this island, or to this place,""We can give them food, shelter, a distraction from fear. But it takes much more than that to actually feel safe."
"Then it'll be one step at a time, won't it? Thanks for the brainstorming, though. That brings me directly," because that seemed to be how she wanted it, directly towards business, "to a little modification I was going to tell you." Ben couldn't help but stretching some more time by following suit and slicing one of his self brought muffins in the same surgically way as she did with her eggs, with a knife he had produced out of the knife block on the kitchen counter, having helped himself with just a rhetorical "I may, right?"
Fully aware that it must be driving her crazy to just sit there and wait for him to continue, Ben had actually fun harping on about it just some more. With a smile on his lips and his eyes upon a piece of muffin, he asked as if not having opened with a completely different topic only seconds ago: "Say, have you ever tried using bananas for sweetening instead of refined sugar? It's actually ---"
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Post by Kristi Lynne on Apr 3, 2021 18:18:46 GMT -8
"Then it'll be one step at a time, won't it? Thanks for the brainstorming, though. That brings me directly to a little modification I was going to tell you."
"Say, have you ever tried using bananas for sweetening instead of refined sugar? It's actually ---"
"Ben," Juliet interjected, growing annoyed as he decided to make himself at home in her kitchen. "Much as I'd love to spend the afternoon swapping recipes with you, I really should finish up my lunch and get back to the lab. Why don't you just tell me what brought you here? What modification?"
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Apr 22, 2021 2:17:24 GMT -8
"Ben,"
He looked up at her in feigned surprise. Of course, he was not surprised at all.
"Much as I'd love to spend the afternoon swapping recipes with you, I really should finish up my lunch and get back to the lab. Why don't you just tell me what brought you here? What modification?"
So, then straight back to business, it was. Fine. Ben, though, couldn't insist on taking his time to at least let the piece of muffin hanging on his fork disappear in his mouth, same as slowly chewing it to the amplest extent before finally launching into an answer. After all, it's not quite the thing to speak with one's mouth full, right?
"One of them is gonna move in with you. You don't mind a little company, or do you?" Ben added like someone who was actually concerned about the answer to that while, of course, he knew she didn't like that kind of company, namely the kind that was imposing itself on her.
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Post by Kristi Lynne on May 5, 2021 16:54:04 GMT -8
"One of them is gonna move in with you. You don't mind a little company, or do you?"
It was phrased like a question, it was spoken like a question, but of course it wasn't a question. "Ben, I don't know if that's such a good idea," Juliet offered. She was just voicing her concern, not outright refusing. Now he was going to take away the one safe place she had left; she had to put up some sort of fight. And of course the real question was, did he want Juliet to spy on her new guest, or the new guest to spy on her?
"I just feel like maybe they would be more comfortable at the Hydra," she advised. "With their fellow survivors. That way, they would know that we've taken good care of them, that we can be trusted."
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Post by DarkSideCookie on May 8, 2021 15:55:19 GMT -8
"Ben, I don't know if that's such a good idea,"
Yeah, but he hadn't asked her for her opinion. Not really. Besides, this was something already decided anyway. After all, it was him who gave her this place. Juliet was still working for him, even if she seemed to forget that at times. Or so it appeared.
"I just feel like maybe they would be more comfortable at the Hydra,""With their fellow survivors. That way, they would know that we've taken good care of them, that we can be trusted."
"No," Ben replied simply, in a way that made clear this was nothing he had brought up for discussion but only for information. At this point, there was also no sign left of his former amusement or try to play nice. "Allowing them to live right among us is the better way. You're trustworthy, Juliet. We make use of that." Then, a slight smile came back to his features, after all, yet one with spite: "Also, you're the one who already talked to them. Isn't that like with a baby who calls the first woman it sees a mother?" He speared another piece of muffin with his fork, not breaking eye contact with her, before raising it to his lips and into his mouth with relish.
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Post by Kristi Lynne on May 15, 2021 16:12:22 GMT -8
"No. Allowing them to live right among us is the better way. You're trustworthy, Juliet. We make use of that. Also, you're the one who already talked to them. Isn't that like with a baby who calls the first woman it sees a mother?"
Juliet sullenly looked away, continuing to eat her eggs as a convenient excuse to break eye contact with him. Clearly no argument on this matter would be heard. She wasn't looking to be anyone's mother, or deceptively polite prison warden. But as she had no alternative at the moment, she would have to grin and bear it. Though that didn't mean he would be allowed to sit there at her table, drinking her milk and enjoying his momentary victory.
"I suppose I should get to work on fixing up the guest bedroom then. Thank you for stopping by, Ben," Juliet offered in dismissal. "And for the muffins."
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Jun 13, 2021 4:01:12 GMT -8
"I suppose I should get to work on fixing up the guest bedroom then. Thank you for stopping by, Ben,""And for the muffins."
Another day, another misstep. As for their relationship, not as for their work with each other. But there will come the next day. And the next. And the next. One day, Juliet will get to see that he wasn't her enemy but her friend; if she let him.
"Oh, you're very welcome, Juliet," Ben replied politely, without any sign of sarcasm even, yet still clearly that he was aware of the fact it had been meant sarcastic, or at least dismissing, from her side. However, he wasn't going to pestering her further, not today, at least. Still taking his time to finish his meal and milk, yet not as provokingly as before, Ben finally rose from the chair and got ready to leave, giving her some space to abreact her inner anger towards him. "You can keep the lunchbox with the leftovers. Just return it to me next time," he said as he turned around one last time, making it, once again, sound like this had been but a brunch between neighbors or friends even. Before she could have objected, because Ben knew she didn't like the thought of owing him anything, even if it was just a lunchbox, he said his farewell. "I'll see you later."
Once the door was closed behind him, a satisfied smile appeared on his lips, yet accompanying him only for the little time it took him to exit from the doorway, then changing into slight discontent, after all. Why was this woman so fractious, and when would she finally start seeing that he had her best interests at heart?
*** Ben exits ***
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Post by Kristi Lynne on Jun 18, 2021 18:34:24 GMT -8
"Oh, you're very welcome, Juliet. You can keep the lunchbox with the leftovers. Just return it to me next time. I'll see you later."
Juliet glared at the door once it had closed. Making sure that her unexpected guest had had enough time to walk away, she took the container of muffins and dumped its contents into the trash bin. It would take a hell of a lot more than baked goods to soften her anger and resentment. She tossed the container itself into the sink, along with the used plate and utensils. Taking a few more sips of juice, she headed down the hallway in order to make her guest room hospitable for the incoming hostage.
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Jul 10, 2021 9:28:06 GMT -8
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