|
|
Post by The Exodus on Apr 4, 2013 19:29:20 GMT -6
Devi KumarAfter a long week of wearing business suits and fancy gowns, Devi was glad for the opportunity to dress in something more comfortable and more stylish. Tonight, she was going clubbing with Solange and it was about time, too. They’d both been so busy with work that it left next to no time for anything fun. And all work and no play made Devi one bored girl. The closest thing to a night out that she’d had in recent weeks was dinner with Bill MaCarthy and that was strictly business. After all, it was standard business procedure to attend an opera at the best man’s request. I’m just repaying him for making this wedding bearable.After all, his brother was proving to be the toughest groom Devi had ever dealt with. Ben MaCarthy gotten his way about the catering for his wedding – Matvey had given into the “no faces” rule—and it was clear that it had gone to his head. His new demands were more outrageous than ever. If it wasn’t for Bill, Devi would have quit already. But somehow, he was making this whole process enjoyable. He was funny and charming, even if his music taste wasn’t exactly Devi’s cup of tea. Devi reapplied her lipstick in the elevator. It’d be nice to forget about Bill MaCarthy for a couple hours. Tonight wasn’t about planning his brother’s wedding and it certainly wasn’t about her dumb decision to go out to dinner with him. Devi had a strict rule about groomsmen, after all. And if it was her and Solange out on the town, they’d be turning plenty of heads. She put the makeup back into her purse and stepped onto Solange’s floor. When she reached the apartment, she rang the doorbell. It opened almost immediately. On the threshold stood Solange, dressed so nicely that Devi might as well have been wearing jeans and a stained t-shirt in comparison. Solange looked like a movie star, now that she wasn’t caking on the black eyeliner and lipstick. For a second, something like envy shot through Devi. She still smiled, though. "You look hot Devi!" Solange said, grinning. It made Devi’s smile oodles more genuine, sheepish. "I'm lucky you're my date for the night!"“Ha-ha,” Devi said, catching Solange’s wink as they walked into the kitchen. She looked around Solange’s place, getting a lay of the land. It was a nice little place. Cute. “I look more like your publicist than your date, Solange. You look gorgeous.” "How was work this week?" Solange asked. She pulled a bottle of wine from the refrigerator. Devi raised her eyebrows and shrugged. “I’m going to need some of that,” she said, indicating the wine bottle. “After the week I’ve had. What’s the male equivalent to a bridezilla?” She laughed and leaned on the counter. “I think I finally met my match in Ben MaCarthy. He wants his prized Tasmanian devils to serve as ring bearers. If his brother doesn’t talk him out of it… I’m resigning. How about you? You hand in your two weeks’ notice yet or what?” Last Devi had checked, Solange was still working at the funeral home. Devi couldn’t imagine why. Poor thing had her heart stomped on by her boss. Devi would never forget the look of anguish on Solange’s face when they’d seen her boss sitting with another woman at a wedding reception. She couldn’t remember the b*stard’s name, but if he had led Solange on, if he had broken her heart, he didn’t deserve to even have her still working for him. It was sensitive territory, no doubt, and Devi didn’t want to outright ask. But she was curious. Had Solange gotten over Monsieur Mortician or was she stuck on him? If she was, Devi would definitely help her find someone to help her forget about him for the evening. She didn’t mind playing wingman, if it would make Solange’s life a little better.
|
|
|
|
Post by blueeyeddevil on Apr 4, 2013 22:35:38 GMT -6
Solange de Grace
When they were in high school, Devi had been the one that all of the boys in their group sought after. Solange had dated a few of them, but was Devi with her exotic looks and sharp wit that had all of the goth guys interested. Now, with the black clothes and heavy makeup a thing of the past, Devi was as gorgeous as ever and if anything, was more likely to appeal to wider range of guys. Solange complimented her friend on how hot she looked, teasing that she was lucky to be her date for the evening.
“Ha-ha,” she said sarcastically. “I look more like your publicist than your date, Solange. You look gorgeous.”
Solange smiled, pulling at her dress a little. “Thanks, love,” she said. She briefly wondered how Tristan would react if he saw her in this dress. She’d have to wear on a date some time and find out. She shot Devi a wry smile. “But you have to say that. You’re my publicist.”
Solange moved to get them some wine as she asked about the week at work.
“I’m going to need some of that,” Devi declared, motioning to the wine. “After the week I’ve had. What’s the male equivalent to a bridezilla? I think I finally met my match in Ben MaCarthy. He wants his prized Tasmanian devils to serve as ring bearers. If his brother doesn’t talk him out of it… I’m resigning.”
Solange laughed heartily as she poured, expecting Devi to join in laughing about the obvious exaggeration…and then she didn’t. Solange’s laughter quickly faded out, her blue eyes wide with shock and disbelief as realization set in.
“Oh wait…you’re serious,” she suddenly realized, moving to fill Devi’s glass just a little more and handed it to her. “Who on earth even owns Tazmanian devils?!”
“How about you? You hand in your two weeks’ notice yet or what?” Devi asked.
Solange looked at her a bit confused. “No, I haven’t put in my two weeks,” she said. “Actually things have been going pretty good at work. I’m actually enjoying it, which is definitely more than I could say when I first started.”
|
|
|
|
Post by The Exodus on Apr 4, 2013 22:57:57 GMT -6
Devi Kumar
Solange seemed taken aback by Devi’s non-reaction to her laugh and to Devi’s question. It surprised her a little that Solange was so shocked. Benjamin MaCarthy was a zoologist, who believed anything was cuddly if you didn’t piss it off too badly. And Monsieur Mortician was a d*ck who didn’t deserve Solange’s heart, time, or work ethic. Both these facts seemed painfully obvious to Devi. Maybe she ought to make herself clearer in the future.
No, I haven’t put in my two weeks,” said Solange. “Actually things have been going pretty good at work. I’m actually enjoying it, which is definitely more than I could say when I first started.”
Devi cocked and eyebrow at her friend and took a swig of her wine. She needed a bracing shot of something before speaking. Pity wine wasn’t exactly strong. She pulled a face when she swallowed.
“I think it’s admirable you’re putting on a brave face,” she said. “But. Honestly. Solange. If I were you, I would have been out of there months ago.”
And Devi would have given Monsieur Mortician a piece of her mind. Maybe by means of a shin kick. She couldn’t remember the girl he’d been with’s name anymore. E-something. Elena, Eleanor. Something like that. But she could remember all the catfights E-something had started during the wedding planning process. Any man who picked that over a woman like Solange was a moron and deserved worse than a shin-kick. He deserved to be landed with that crazy b*tch from the wedding and he deserved to realize just how amazing Solange was, after Solange had moved on healthily and happily and he had less than a snowball’s chance in hell with her.
“You can be honest with me,” said Devi. “How do you really feel about work?”
|
|
|
|
Post by blueeyeddevil on Apr 5, 2013 15:30:51 GMT -6
Solange de Grace
Solange smiled a little as she started to realize just how true her words really were. Tristan's passion for the job seemed to be rubbing off on her. She was really coming to enjoy being the one to organize everything and make it go smoothly for the grieving families; help them out in their time of need. And she loved doing it alongside Tristan. He'd been doing this quite a while and she was amazed and inspired by the compassion he had for the clients. One of these days she'd find a way to tell him without sounding overly sappy.
She was quite happy with her job, so she was confused about why Devi seemed to think she'd want to quit. She assured her friend that she was actually starting to enjoy the job that she had been so ambivalent towards before.
Devi gave her a skeptical look as she sipped her wine. “I think it’s admirable you’re putting on a brave face,” she said. “But. Honestly. Solange. If I were you, I would have been out of there months ago.”
What on earth was Devi talking about?! Obviously working at a funeral home wasn't the most glamorous job in the world but as long as she was happy doing it, what did it matter? Solange took a drink of her own wine as she tried to figure out where Devi was coming from.
“You can be honest with me,” Devi told her. “How do you really feel about work?”
Solange shook her head. "Okay, I though I was the one a psychology degree here. I don't know what you're reading into my statement, but I assure you, work is just fine," she said firmly. "What makes you think I'd want to quit?"
|
|
|
|
Post by The Exodus on Apr 5, 2013 16:22:47 GMT -6
Devi Kumar
Solange shook her head. Devi could feel frustrated sympathy well up in her gut. She loved Solange; she was her best friend. But she didn’t have to be so damn noble every time something bad happened to her. Especially if it involved a guy they could exact revenge on.
"Okay, I thought I was the one a psychology degree here,” Solange said wryly. “I don't know what you're reading into my statement, but I assure you, work is just fine. What makes you think I'd want to quit?"
How to put this delicately… Devi traced the rim of her wine glass as she thought. There was no really “delicate” way to ask if Solange had gotten over her crush on Monsieur Mortician or if they should castrate him the first chance they got. Devi sighed and shrugged. Maybe that was a harsh way of putting it. There had to be a nicer way to ask.
“Well, it’s just… Last time we talked about your job… You seemed a bit… um, frustrated, I guess is the word.” Devi stopped. “Forget it. If you say you’re fine, you’re fine. Don’t mind me.”
She took a sip from her wine glass, which turned more into a chug. She wasn’t even close to drunk and Devi’s foot was already half way down her esophagus.
|
|
|
|
Post by blueeyeddevil on Apr 7, 2013 14:49:12 GMT -6
Solange de Grace
Solange was busy trying to figure out what Devi was actually getting at when she asked about work. Solange didn't think she'd complained that much before about work but obviously she must have said something that made Devi think she was ready to quit. Otherwise she doubted that she would have been so insistent on if things really were okay at work.
“Well, it’s just… Last time we talked about your job… You seemed a bit… um, frustrated, I guess is the word.” Devi paused for a moment. “Forget it. If you say you’re fine, you’re fine. Don’t mind me.”
Solange contined to drink her wine, trying to remember the last time even was that she had talked to Devi about anything regarding work. The only thing she could think of was...the wedding. It was all making sense now! The last time work had been brought up Solange had been both angry and hurt, thinking Tristan had led her on while having a girlfriend. It had turned out to obviously be a huge misunderstanding but she'd never told Devi. They just weren't the type to do "boy talk".
"Oh! You...you mean, my boss," she said with suddenly clarity. Really, it felt oddly degrading to refer to her boyfriend as her boss. She wasn't quite sure how to explain to Devi after having been so upset, that the whole thing was a misunderstanding. First things first...Devi needed to be caught up to speed on her dating life.
"Well, I guess things are going fine...we're dating now..." she said as non-nonchalantly as possible, hurrying for another swallow of wine.
|
|
|
|
Post by The Exodus on Apr 7, 2013 15:05:59 GMT -6
Devi Kumar
A change of topic was in order. Trouble was, Devi couldn’t figure out how to steer conversation back in a direction she and Solange would both be happy going. Work was out of the question, since Solange didn’t seem ready to talk about it. Family was a strange and one-sided monster, where Devi did all the talking but felt stupid doing so. Other friends? Hah. They’d cut ties with mutual friends a long time ago. Maybe they should just try to figure out what bar to go to…
"Oh! You...you mean, my boss," Solange said. Devi, who’d picked up her wine glass for another drink, lowered it and nodded hesitantly. "Well, I guess things are going fine...we're dating now..."
“What?!” Devi stared at Solange with wide eyes. Surely, this was a joke. A way for Solange to save face or something. But Solange just kept drinking, like it was no big deal. “Solange… You’re serious…?
Solange had made some pretty bad choices; Devi had made equally awful ones. But Devi didn’t mix work and pleasure. It had “bad idea” written all over it. Devi shook her head.
“I feel like I’m missing something,” she said, tenting her fingers. “Last I checked, your boss was that sleazebag dating what’s-her-face from the wedding. Unless I’m mixing him up with someone else.”
|
|
|
|
Post by blueeyeddevil on Apr 7, 2013 17:12:06 GMT -6
Solange de Grace
Waiting for Devi's reaction was quite painful. She had no idea how her friend was going to take her admitting that she was now dating the guy who last Devi had checked, had broken her heart. She took a long swig of wine, hoping to steel her nerves somewhat as she waited to hear what her friend thought.
“What?!” Devi sputtered, looking her with disbelief. “Solange… You’re serious…?"
She just kept drinking at she nodded. Her mind was still trying to find the right way to explain the whole situation without making either her or Tristan look like complete idiots. It wasn't an easy feat because really, they had been total idiots. She just wanted Devi to understand that she was happy and that was all that mattered for the time being.
“I feel like I’m missing something,” Devi mused. “Last I checked, your boss was that sleazebag dating what’s-her-face from the wedding. Unless I’m mixing him up with someone else.”
Solange sighed and shook her head. "No, you didn't mix him up. But there was a mix up," she tried to explain. "You see, Tristan's uncle set up him on a blind date. The girl was just saying that he was her boyfriend. Really it was stupid of me not to have come to that conclusion before." She gave a small smile. "I screamed at him about it the next day...and then I kissed him."
|
|
|
|
Post by The Exodus on Apr 7, 2013 17:36:37 GMT -6
Devi Kumar
To Devi’s horror, Solange shook her head. Devi’s eyebrows hiked up onto her forehead. She did her best to keep from expressing any other shock or confusion or pity.
"No, you didn't mix him up,” Solange said. “But there was a mix up. You see, Tristan's uncle set up him on a blind date. The girl was just saying that he was her boyfriend. Really it was stupid of me not to have come to that conclusion before." She gave a small smile. "I screamed at him about it the next day...and then I kissed him."
Devi shook her head and took a swig of her wine. If things went sour between Solange and Monsieur Mortician, she could kiss her career goodbye. And maybe move onto better things than answering phones in a funeral home.
“You’re crazy, you know that,” she said, not without affection. “But if he pulls another stunt like that – if there’s another “mix up” – I’ll kill him. What’s his name, again?”
Devi grinned before polishing off the rest of her wine. Though her tone was lighthearted, if Monsieur Mortician made Solange cry ever again, he would wake up to slashed tires on his hearse or something of that sort. Devi didn’t trust guys all that much. Not from any particular wrong done to her or anyone she knew. She just didn’t want anyone messing with her best friend. She knew the feeling was mutual. If any guy she was seeing messed with her, Solange would, no doubt, spring to her rescue whether she wanted her to or not. That’s what friends were for.
|
|
|
|
Post by blueeyeddevil on Apr 10, 2013 14:23:42 GMT -6
Solange de Grace
Talking about that first kiss always brought a small smile to Solange's lips. It was such a messed up way to start a relationship but somehow it was just so typically them. Only they would have failed at the simple communcation needed to claear this situation up before actually having their first kiss. They were definitely getting better at the communication thing though and she honestly had never been happier.
“You’re crazy, you know that,” Devi chided her affectionately. Solange smiled at her friend, knowing the thoughts that were running through Devi's head. It was nothing that she hadn't considered before in the 24 hours between the kiss and she and Tristan actually being official. She knew the risks associated with dating your boss, but it had been a risk she was willing to take to be with Tritan.
“But if he pulls another stunt like that – if there’s another “mix up” – I’ll kill him. What’s his name, again?” Devi asked.
"The whole thing was an accident," she tried to remind her friend, though she doubted it made a difference. Solange knew it wouldn't have made a difference to her if the roles were reversed. If Devi had been the one with the heartbroken expression at that wedding, Solange would have been just as suspicious of the guy as Devi was being.
"His name is Tristan. He's actually a really amazing guy who makes me happy and would never hurt me on purpose. Nothing to worry about, Dev," she assured Devi. "But tonight isn't about guys! Where should we go?"
|
|
|
|
Post by The Exodus on Apr 10, 2013 17:07:42 GMT -6
Devi Kumar
Devi rolled the name around in her head, determined not to forget it. This “Tristan” had better take good care of Solange’s heart. Solange may have given him a second chance, but until Devi saw how “amazing” he was actually treating Solange, she would run on the principle of “guilty until proven innocent”. Solange could take care of herself; Devi wouldn’t interfere. But she would be the first to play judge and jury if anything went wrong.
"But tonight isn't about guys!” Solange insisted. “Where should we go?"
“I don’t know,” Devi said coyly. “Because unless you change into a grandma sweater and hobo skirt, you’re going to attract every guy at any bar we hit up.”
She had kind of been looking forward to flirting with strangers in a dark and too-loud bar. It would have been a sure-fire way to have a good time and to forget about Bill MaCarthy’s crooked smile. Devi still could; she just couldn’t remember the last time she’d gone out with Solange – or any of her friends – while only one of them was in a relationship of any sort.
No guys… Where did we go before we cared about guys?
Devi instantly shied away from her first thought. They’d gone to airless bars where they could score quality drugs. Not that she’d been lucid enough to learn the names of those bars back then, but they were probably not on the agenda for the night. Devi pursed her lips.
“You eat yet?” she asked, when inspiration finally struck. ”There’s a Thai restaurant above Les Bains. I know the owner; bet I can get us in without a reservation.”
|
|
