#Can I at least get a bagel to tie me over till later?

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Hobbit Soulmate Pt 25

Instantly upon seeing you Karl smirked exiting from the arrivals gate where he bent to give you a warm hug, “You didn’t have to come get me Gimli.”

“Oh yes I did, all the taxi’s are circling Times Square right now. Simple trip, bus then train.” He grinned walking with you down the hall to a side exit joining you up into the waiting bus, “Nice flight?”

“Yes, it was lovely, and long. How do you do that so often?”

“Um, well, I sleep, and read, and eat and sleep again before reading till landing most times. Unless Dad is there and we watch shows together. More fun when he picks.”

“I bet, so, I have a green suit,” your brow arched up, “I lost a bet with the guys and I have to wear a green suit to the premier.”

“Nice, if you wanted me to match I have a blue and green sequin mini.”

“What is a mini?”

“It’s a dress, shows some thigh, or I could wear a black one I have that’s more flowy with a sheer panel across my chest. It’s your day, so what you’d be comfortable in.”

“You are the one wearing it. I know one of the guys boasted he’d be flashing some of his chest and keeping his tie at home, the two main ladies are quite young so they might wear something similar, who knows.”

“Okay, I’ll get dressed a bit early and if it’s too much you can let me know.”

“I’m just glad to have a friend there. This is nerve wracking.”

“I’m sure you’ll get used to it, bound for stardom,” the sentiment made him smirk and for the subway trip and stroll back past stoop after stoop following you up the steps and past the lobby he couldn’t help but smirk taking the stairs behind you to the turquoise door still peeling. Once opened a glimpse of the hall certainly gave the impression you hadn’t had a lot of funds or time to put into making this place more cozy for guests that you certainly weren’t used to having. “Bathroom over here, kitchen is through here, with the dining counter, sitting room through there,” he nodded then laughed as you turned on the light in your half bed with sheets added to the twin mattresses lining the floor with piles of pillows around the walls and a folded comforter in the middle of them. “Half bed.”

“Now I get it,” he replied with a chuckle, “It’s cute, I can make it work.”

“If not the loveseat in the sitting room folds out. The rest is just my bedroom and bath across the living room, ooh, I can show you the dresses.” Making him grin following you eager to see what you had. The simple room and lone tv showed where you spent most of your time cuddled up to the stack of films beside it and his lips parted seeing the sequin mini you had mentioned. “It looks a bit small on the hanger but it is really comfy.”

“No, it looks great, if it’s comfy you should wear it.”

“Ok, so, let’s see your suit,” he chuckled again turning for his bag he used the post hung up in his half bed after flashing you a giggle inducing glance of his deep forest green suit.

“I know you’re jealous.”

“Certainly green.”

He chuckled again, “I do think this might be part of why my Lady didn’t want to come.”

.

By supper Lee came to join you out to lunch glad to help you secure a table at an Italian place silently demanding three people to take up a table at their place. Partly showing off the bit of town and shops you frequented so he could pick a souvenir for his Lady Love and son. Sunset however came and a car was being sent, fully primped he exhaled taking another glance at himself only to come out and look you over as you sat on one of the stools securing the zipper on your shimmering silver heeled booties. Over your shoulder your loose hair slumped and he watched you stand not adjusting the skirt barely reaching your mid thigh yet to move in the motions.

“Don’t worry about the skirt it’s snapped onto some hot pants with some framing to keep it down.”

“Wow, you plan ahead.”

In a giggle you replied, “It was for school, on land retelling of the little mermaid.”

Nodding he grinned, “Oh, that sounds nice.”

You giggled again saying, “Like I said, comfy,” Brushing your hair back over your back flashing the second bare arm of yours on the mini covering your full chest and back hugging you perfectly. Flashing nothing but leg and arm with tons of tussled curls to help ease the look down some more.

His phone rang and down you went locking up behind you to climb in proving to him the resilient skirt remaining in place before his slide to join you in the back. Flashes greeted you and where you assumed he would step aside for the pictures he kept you near him introducing you to his fellow cast with the main ladies also having chosen sequined dressed in pastels. Each polite while working past the confusing moment of mistaking you for Karl’s wife you brushed off not taking anything by it past a funny mistake after sharing that he would try to bring her if she could get off.

Cross legged beside him in the theater you accepted his jacket as he’d thought he’d sweat through it if he got any warmer and in the lights going down his hand took yours to lay on your lap relaxing at the stroke down his arm through the opening scene leading to when his crew came into the film. Hushed through it he muttered comments to you on the filming making you smirk learning the secrets between sharing what you thought so far at each tightening of his hand around yours. A shrimp filled cocktail event after led to more pictures and conversations with the others wondering why you weren’t eating or drinking anything but the same cranberry flavored sparkling water you had picked off the boozy menu. Karl however seeing the time knowing he’d have to fly to California in the morning while you flew back called it early excusing you both gladly taking you up on stopping for some Chinese take out to eat over a film in pj’s back at your place.

Snuggled together however you woke to your alarm and he grumbled climbing up to take a quick shower and change while you cleaned up and pulled on some jeans keeping your tank top on you covered with a flannel shirt halfway buttoned. Converse were added last and with bags packed you led the way locking up behind you to get back to the airport in time to share a table for the both of your groggy selves at the airport diner for breakfast waiting for your flights.

“Thank you again,” he hummed making you smirk lifting your orange juice glass.

“Any time Horse man,” making him chuckle again, “I do like their breakfast here.”

“It is nice. Busy today?”

“I start night shoots today, so I can get back and nap before heading to film my escape from a hospital, or planned escape, I don’t make it.”

“Just canon fodder, the both of us.” Stirring giggles from the both of you.

“So much fun though, get to break out the mats and I get to leap down some stairs.”

“Fun, so what do you have after these?”

“Ballet film yet to be named and I don’t know if you know Daredevil,”

His eyes snapped wider, “The comic book?!”

“Yes,” you giggled back grinning at him, “Out in Texas, I’m part of Elektra’s back story.”

“Nice,”

“Ya, so I get to play warrior, start boot camp once these two films are done.”

“That’s fantastic.” His next project took up most of the time remaining then you parted with another tight hug each saying you would meet up at the next premier if not sooner.

.

One more re-shoot of the bathroom scene where Lee Cormie is found bloody and cut up with your failed try to get through the locked door to get to him had the boy coming to hang out with you between takes as you were his bubbly friend helping to keep him happy through the tense shots. All through the rest of the week however more day sleeping came with nights of following the same path for multiple takes. Through the hospital until you giggled post cut call at being grabbed mid jump by a stunt man in the tooth fairy costume that hooked his harness to your hidden harness to be yanked out of view for your ‘death’. Four takes of that scene and you were wrapped, hanging around to see Lee Cormie through the final segment of the escape of the Hospital that day. And post change for their next week here at least you agreed to join the cast for at least another cast dinner before they had to head to other locations to finish the film.

.

Head tilted into your palm you sat in your seat at the table with a spread of juice and bagels, one of the chocolate chip muffins was chosen and being picked at by you while you listened to a message from Richard that once it was finished you set the phone down in time to see Amber sit down. “Your Agent checking in? Mine does that.”

“I don’t have one. No, a message from my Mate.”

Her brows inched up as she reached for her own muffin, “You don’t have an Agent? How’d you get the role?”

“Well, see I was buying this sweater a few years back,”

“Uh huh,” she said unwrapping her muffin while Martin beside you finished prepping his bagel listening along.

“And I ran into Liam Neeson,” her mouth parted, “Uh huh, and well his wife Natasha was there, first Christmas break with my Mate so I needed gifts. They helped me pick a sweater for his brother and November, I think, I stopped into a call for auditions to be an extra for a few films after a lot of them dropped out, Natasha was there with Jennifer Lopez,”

“Oh my gosh, what happened?” she asked taking a bite to keep quiet.

“Well Natasha recognized me and I got extra roles in three films after meeting that Director for their film and the one upstairs that Natasha introduced me to. Later that day I was sent another stack of scripts, including this one to audition for.”

Martin, “That’s amazing.”

Naomi asked with a grin taking her seat after having had another public send off from Live, “What’s amazing? What did I miss?”

Looking at her you said, “Oh, Amber asked how I don’t have an Agent and I said I bought a sweater a few years back with Liam Neeson and his wife Natasha’s help and back near November I ran into her and JLo at a call for more extras to be recast in New York and they introduced me to two Directors and I ended up with a stack of scripts to audition for including this one.”

She sat down asking, “Does that happen often? Just, meeting people and getting roles like that?”

“Well before that I, well I was attending Oxford at the time and they have student showcases in the winter, why I was there, I was in Swan Lake and I’m running, literally, to the rehearsal the day of the first show and there’s this cane sticking out into the walk from this group. Well I take a tumble and it turned out to be Sirs Christopher Lee, Ian McKellen and Peter Jackson.” The names dropped their jaws and you added, “Well it was Mr Lee’s and he felt so bad they said they would have dinner with me after the show they had tickets for and through that I ended up getting a job on the Lord of the Rings trilogy.”

Amber muttered, “Wow,” Wile Naomi asked, “Just like that? What did you say?”

Martin said, “No, no, which role? More important.”

Widely you grinned at him replying, “I’m Gimli’s stunt and body double, along with about thirty other extra roles, everything from Hobbit to Elf and even a few Orc between servant roles in Rohan and Gondor.”

Martin, “Oh my god, that is so cool.”

“I know!”

Amber, “Wait, which one’s Gimli?”

You and Martin answered, “The Dwarf.”

She nodded, “But, you don’t look like him,”

“No, but it was more for my endurance, dance and gymnastics training to wear the heavy suit, layers and carry the thirty pound ax while running cross country in a full face mask and wig between fight scenes. Also I was six inches shorter, perfect height to double for John Rhys Davies who is six foot something. Plus, Naomi to answer your question they asked me my dream job and since I was a kid covering for my cousin in a Lord of the Rings play I wanted to be Gimli. He’s so important in the story and I just love the history of the Dwarves through Tolkien’s work it’s so intricate.”

Amber, “How did your Mate take that?”

“He was so excited for me. Plus when he came to visit they gave him some extra roles too in Rohan and Gondor. He loved it, working with Peter is just like being part of his family. His crew is just fantastic, and for once I didn’t feel so strange being such a huge Tolkien nerd.”

Martin patted your arm, “No need to hide it around me, I love his work too, just catching up on the books again since I was a kid, but I do love the films so far.”

“Thank you, plus I also got to bond over X-men with Ian, who works with Hugh Jackman who did a film with your Mate, Naomi, says he’s pretty cool.”

Amber, “Yes, how’d you two meet, I love these stories.”

Naomi grinned saying in a folding of her hand around her coffee cup, “Well since I was a teen I would have these weird pains, we have the touch link. And it turns out it was my mate. Playing baseball, basketball and American football year round just battering himself. Got him back though through my swimming, football and dance lessons, said my monthlies just about had him in tears.”

“How’d you find out it was Liev?” Martin asked.

“Well we grew up so far apart thought I’d never meet him. I used to feel these taps, turns out it was Morse Code, every morning he was saying hi. He spent a week practicing on small messages. We used to get things to be like little homemade reflex hammers to tap out messages. We trade addresses and we start to write to each other. He was all the way in San Francisco while I was in Kent.

We both were going to be actors so we thought using nicknames at first was best. Turns out I saw Liev writing in a film and I recognized his handwriting so I wrote him. ‘Just throwing this out there, I saw this film and I think you’re Liev S and I’m Naomi Watts, and we have a few mutual friends so I said x and y are having a dinner next month did you want to meet up in person?’ And he said yes and he’s absolutely wonderful.”

Amber says “That’s so sweet. Why can’t I have something cool, everyone has singing and love messages to wake up to and Morse code tapping mates while I have nothing. I’m 19 and everything. Should have had something by now.”

You reply, “Could be older than you, or younger.

“True,” she said nodding as she pondered it.

“Or they could have always been kidnapped by a legion of chipmunks and can’t tap or sing out that he needs saving,” making her giggle

“You never expect the chipmunks,” Martin teased.

“No you don’t,” She said smirking at you.

“Maybe try singing to them a bit, little message, maybe they’re just shy and don’t like to belt out singing.”

She nodded again, “I did have this weird humming song stuck in my head last week.”

“See, there you go. Could be them,”

The guys said, “Or the chipmunks trying to remotely take over your mind using your link.”

“Well if I ever start acting like a chipmunk you all know to get me some help to track the link somehow and save my poor damsel and myself.” She giggled and your focus turned to the aid come to show you to your dressing trailers with the scene sheets for the day.

Giggling with Amber you changed into your school uniforms then were driven to the house that the owner would only be allowing for two days. With tarps over the outside of the windows you had the morning slot for filming while Naomi and Martin filmed a few of their own scenes with young David. While things were being set up you and Amber stole a giggling tour of the house then went to the chosen bedroom to start talking about this mysterious tape after Amber’s shutting off the tv when nothing good was on. Comments on brain waves came before your trek downstairs to scour the fridge.

A tight hug came from Amber on her bittersweet trip to the airport after you had gone to change after the full two day filming and re-filming those scenes, off to film something else herself while you were back to the hotel to soak in the tub.

Normally you stuck to showers but the overpowering lavender scent from the house had you soaking in an oatmeal bath to help the start of a rash on your legs to calm down before the beginning of your asylum scenes the following day. Dinners with Amber and the other teens, once the funeral scene was filmed was through left you to once again be comfortably reclusive. You did love working with these people, but after 16 hour days you just wished to eat alone while messaging Richard or your Dad while Lee finished up his final semester at school.

.

Giggling to yourself you watched your curls being fluffed out more to more wild proportions while pink eye shadow was brushed around your eyes giving the appearance you hadn’t slept in days. Comfy in pajamas and a cozy robe the fellow cast and crew chuckled at your favorable comments to it had even the Director on considering gifting it to you once your role had wrapped.

One whole week you spent in the asylum set partially disturbing your fellow extras on how dedicated you were into portraying Becca as disturbed. Walking, eating, watching tv, staring at blank notepad while nurse brings pencil that was sharpened, therapy session, all while you did as the Director had asked, tried not to blink at all. Barefoot walks behind a rolling curtain were filmed at the start and end of the day to have various lighting to choose from with the nurse actress you spent the most time with both in and out of character. The latter she enjoyed much more as she got to know you much better and relax between the slightly disturbing character slipping out with ease.

.

“And right in the middle of the third act this man starts groaning, not heart attack groan either, then over five people he dives and starts sprinting for the toilet by how he was waddling out,” Through his laugh you giggled at his continued dishing of his latest show. “Then of course that threw off the whole marker for the pass through the arches and Billy slammed right into them. Luke of course set it right by an off the cuff joke and we kept on thundering.”

“Why do I always miss the unique shows?” you giggled out making him chuckle again.

“I am glad you missed it, after it ended there were screams like someone exploded in the toilets, the man who ran out apparently did and then hobbled to the lobby and blacked out.”

“Oh that’s bad.”

He chuckled again, “It is, but we couldn’t stop laughing. They have to shut down all day to sanitize the toilet.” Smiling wider you sat listening to him delve more into his show with feet tucked up into your chair over the robe coating it to keep them warm while waiting for the filming to start. “I love you, aren’t you supposed to be on set?”

“I am, waiting.”

“Well you can wait and call me later Dearest, I don’t want to get you into trouble. Have fun terrifying your costars.”

“And you have fun with your sleep. Love you Richy Rich.”

Once hung up you turned off the cell phone that was pocketed after shifting attention to Naomi grinning in her taking the seat next to you she said, “That’s sweet, he far away?”

“London,” parting her lips, “In a play, been a couple months, and it’ll be a few more through my next couple projects, but he’s doing well with the distance, better than at first. I went home after my first trip when we met and it was sort of, rocky.”

“It is hard, I know we must have had seven times growing up that we cut one another off for various reasons. All falls together somehow though.”

“It does,”

Her smile inched wider, “Which reminds me, I told Liev about what you said, knowing Hugh, and they talked and we are having a dinner tonight wondering if you wanted to join us?”

“Sure, sounds lovely.”

“It is, he’s got this great recipe of this roast chicken with all the trimmings. And this fabulous wine his family sent from Napa, do you like wine?”

“I dabble,” you said making her grin inch wider, “My Mate enjoys it more than I do, loves to share his favorites.”

“Ooh, and I know he has these stuffed mushroom dumplings witch are to die for.”

You nodded and giggled, “Well that might be true for me, I’m allergic to mushrooms.” Parting her lips, “Just don’t lick me after eating them and I’ll be fine. Promise, my Mate’s family does this whole shrimp menu over their summer months and it just about drove them all into a whirl when they found out why I didn’t want to try any.”

“Mushrooms, shrimp, anything else?”

“Bananas and nuts make me ill, and oysters kind of gross me out, like someone sneezed in a shell,” Making her smile again.

“Me too.”

The smooth conversation against the pale and pink makeup contrasted your bubbly self that contrasted the steel performance you gave opposite Naomi at first making her inch back in her chair visibly adding to the feeling the Director asked to have more of in the next few takes until lunch. The conversation was split into half and somehow a day shoot split so Naomi could film night shots away breaking up the week every day to finish off your role. Nightly quite easily her, Martin, you and Liev melted into quite the friendship only luring Hugh to call promising to set up some time for all of you to hang out together. Again however you had to split up, though this time with you leaving first, checking out and once again off to the airport for a long flight to your old home.

.

Far from Maine a welcome blast of warm air from the oddly chill free week in Texas in the early spring you landed in the airport finding your father waiting in the arrivals gate eager to scoop you up into a tight warming hug. Every long green stretch and wind through town stirred a memory in your mind of the last time you had been here years prior.

Just like coming back from what seemed to be an out of place dream back again you sat in your own bedroom coated in sketches of book titles worked into posters you wished to work on one day surrounded by inspiring actresses of old. Stars and random animals painted from when you were even younger coated another uncovered wall you respected to leave untouched your father used to admire and remember those days while he lived here alone and you were away at school. Added to the pictures of your mother you had Richard’s was added with another for Lee and your friends from New Zealand.

Oddly almost out of place you were changed now, laying back on your bed galaxies painted across the ceiling had you nearly tearing up uncertain if you would ever wish to go back to dreaming of far off places and incredible films again, if only for a moment. Leaving the thought for the call to dinner bringing you through the small house to the larger one where your smile came back in the sea of relatives all hugging you and welcoming you home eager to share all you had missed. They had heard all the tales and somehow knew you just wanted to talk about them and be home again for a little while.

Training camp began the next week after measurements were taken for your costume adjustments. Complex martial arts inspired fight scenes would be waiting for you along with wire work. Triple pronged daggers were your weapons along with throwing stars and some chains for the few shots you had. Some sort of school blended to your being an adult assassin after fully grown Elektra, played by Jennifer Garner, who absolutely loved to learn all about the background of the more physical extras while you mainly faced off with her body double, who like her was taller than you. Once more another snippet of the film that was much larger but after researching with your cousins on some Daredevil and Elektra comics you couldn’t wait to see it, invite to the premier of not.

Lost to the midst of the training and filming curiosity had brought the other ladies from set to another set. A theater where you would be filming a role in a French produced mainly English languaged film that the Bolshoi Ballet had sent a team to Texas to film solely for the purpose of granting you the proper time to play the lead. For the next two months you would film in what would be the oddest role you had read to date, but the lead was yours straight out.

A ballerina hunted by an obsessed Police Inspector from a long line of monster hunters assuming you were a succubus in need of killing to spare your victims mesmerized in the audience in a town plagued by mysterious bouts of deaths and unexplained illnesses seemingly unlinked by anyone but him. With the town whispering all the while of a masked Bard out for blood prowling through town on the hunt never not hungry for blood. All while in actuality you are a half Selkie being kept hostage by the show director in a traveling troupe of dancers.

Smack in the middle of your latest stop however a mysterious foreigner comes to see your show and becomes enthralled by you. Him being a former dancer injured and both missing and loathing dance while still mending post injury, bonding with you over tries to help him. And in return him unknowingly saving you in a late night break in to steal you away to the last train through an unstoppable fire and chaos exploding through the city wrapping you in a warm fur coat. The Hunter is clearly dead after having been seized by the Bard who witnessed the Hunter attacking you. Ending rather ambiguously as along with most of the cast hiding hidden traits your savior would, once found in a private moment alone with a pitcher of water by chance, to have gills hidden under his collar all this time hinting at a happily ever after under the sea once a safe location to ditch your lives on land could be secured.

A single surprise however had you grumbling at an early knock at your bedroom door waking you post second snooze button hit. Along your cheek a finger stroked and you mumbled, “No Georgie. No painting my face.”

Turning over you missed Richard’s smile spreading as you rolled over and he sat down leaning over your back humming in a lean on his hand settled on the other side of you, “And just who is Georgie?”

That had your eyes open and turning back he smiled at your open mouthed gasp and sit up to pull him down into a tight hug drawing muffled laughs from the giant teddy bear melting around you in the embrace. “Richy, you’re here!”

Leaving a kiss on your cheek he pulled back at the loosening of your arms, “Surprise. Got a call from my agent, a role just for me.”

“No!”

He chuckled, “Yes, apparently I am perfect for an injured former dancer who happens to also be a fish monster.”

A dopey grin eased across your lips and he smiled in your sit up to hug him again, “Sometimes I do love it when Babushka and Babu try to interfere.”

“I think they are warming up to me. I hear the role was meant to be for a Frenchman. They made an exception hearing I spoke French. I will need some reminders on my accent, I have been practicing, however Chris is a poor judge of proper accents and the best accent coaches couldn’t be gotten shortly.”

“No problem, it will take me a couple days to slip back into my Russian accent flawlessly too. I’m just so glad you’re here.” You said making him chuckle and lean into the kissing embrace you claimed.

In a tug he helped you up to your feet and hummed against your lips, “We’re expected for breakfast. And you get to tell me in the sea of relatives just who Georgie is, My Love.” Stealing another kiss and guiding you through to the main house he had been told how to get here from by your father giving you a short break alone. All summer you’d be together again, and he would finally get to know the rest of your family, who was just as eager to get to know your Mate much better than what they had read and heard about him from calls and emails.

Pt 26

@himoverflowers​, @theincaprincess​, @aspiringtranslator​, @sweeticedtea ​, @thegreyberet​, @patanghill17​, @jesgisborne​, @curvestrology​, @alishlieb​, @jogregor​, @armitageadoration​, @fizzyxcustard​, @lilith15000​, @marvels-ghost​, @catthefearless​, @imjusthereforthereads​, @c-s-stars​, @otakumultimuse-hiddlewhore​, @mariannetora​, @shes-a-killer-kween, @ggbbhehe4455, @xxbyimm (Hobbit x oc)

X all Rich. A - @abiwim, @deepestfirefun, @thestorybookmistress

X Lee P - @tigereyesf

#Richard Armitage x Reader OC #Karl Urban #Lee Pace x Reader OC #Darkness Falls #Ghost Ship #The Ring #Flying #Traveling #Filming Jobs #Back Home #Surprise Visit

[starcountesseevee]

A Rocket Coincidence (Part 25)

Part 24 / Part 26

     Kali woke up with a start, wincing at the sudden flare of pain in her back as she sat up on the couch. Her and Mara, who was still asleep on the other end of the sofa, had stayed up way late last night binging movies until the early hours of Valentine’s Day morning. She was glad they had closed Simply Yoga for the day, there was no way she would be able to teach a class like this. Extracting herself from the tangle of blankets she got up and tucked Mara in a little more before quietly slipping off to her room. She felt bad for her friend, Kali knew all about being single on Valentine’s Day although it was probably worse to be newly broken up with as well. 

     Kali’s stomach rumbled as she went to plug in her now dead Pokegear but damn did she not feel like cooking. Peeking back out into the living room she saw Mara was still asleep and decided to surprise her with some treats from the cafe around the corner. She quickly changed out of her pajamas and brushed her hair into something that was half way normal before sneaking past the living room and out the door. The place was a little more crowded than Kali would have expected for the morning of Valentine’s Day but fortunately they were still well stocked and Kali headed back home with a selection of pastries, muffins, bagels, and spreads to go on any of them; carbs were just the thing to mend a broken heart after all. As Kali headed up the back stairs she was stopped by a young man in a delivery uniform. 

     “Hi, I’m looking for a...Kalysta O’Malley?” He read her name off a clipboard. 

     “That’s me.”

     “Great, can you sign here, thanks.” After she finished signing he handed her a long skinny white box and took off. Kali glanced at the back door but decided to peek in before she got inside. Opening the long box revealed a single red rose with a small card tied to the stem in a pink ribbon. ‘One rose for one girl in one city.’ Kali couldn’t help the butterflies in her stomach and the grin on her face as she tucked the card away and went inside. Cliff hadn’t been able to come back to town, which worked out well as Kali could spend the day with Mara, but they did have a call planned for the evening so she wasn’t entirely bummed out.

      “Hey, where’d you run off to?” Mara questioned as Kali walked in. 

     “Good morning to you, too.” 

     “Are those pastries I smell?” Mara ignored the sarcasm and got up with the blanket still wrapped around her to see what Kali had brought home. “Are these from Sweetwater? You are the best.” 

     “Yeah, I know.” Kali grinned.

     “What’s in the box?” 

     “Oh...it’s just a little something from Cliff.” Kali tried shrugging it off. 

     “Come on girl, let me see! Just cause I’m single doesn’t mean I can’t be happy for you.” Kali grinned and excitedly showed off the rose before finding a vase for it. She was glad Mara was in a better mood this morning. As they cleaned up breakfast the two were surprised by a knock on the door. Kali went to answer and was doubly surprised to see another delivery man holding two bouquets of roses, one red and one yellow. 

     “Hi, I’m looking for...Kalysta O’Malley.”

     “That would be me…” Kali was bewildered but signed and thanked the man before struggling to bring both over to the kitchen counter. “What in the world?” She questioned as she opened the card from the red roses first. ‘But you deserve more than one, sorry I couldn’t be there. Happy Valentine’s Day.’ If it was physically possible Kali would have melted into a puddle on the floor right there.

     “Well?”

     Kali handed Mara the card as she reached for the one on the other bouquet. “Oh, wait. This one is addressed to you!” Mara eyed her curiously as she took it. 

     “For being such a great friend to Kali.” Mara read aloud before rolling her eyes. “Someone is trying to earn some brownie points with me.” 

     “Oh come on.” Kali playfully nudged Mara with her elbow. “It’s cute, admit it.”

     “Okay fine.” Mara grinned. “It was very nice of him.” 

     Later that evening Kali propped her tablet against a pillow then checked her reflection in the mirror one last time; Mara may have helped her doll up a little bit more than usual since it was Valentine’s Day. After getting settled on the bed she opened the video call app and waited for Cliff to join, it only took a few moments. 

     “Hey dollface - wow you look gorgeous.” 

     “Thanks.” Kali blushed. “I got the flowers, they were lovely. Mara says thanks too.” 

     “I’m glad you liked them.” 

     “I do.” Kali smiled as she eyes Cliff’s choice of attire, or lack thereof. Wherever he was he was sitting in a chair and was shirtless. Not that she was complaining at all. 

     “How’s Mara feeling?” 

     “She’s alright. She’ll bounce back.” Kali tucked a strand of hair behind her ear as conversation lapsed. “So, how’s work?” 

     "Work is fine."

     "It's always just fine." 

     "You know I can't talk to you about it." 

     "But why not? What's so secretive about Team Rocket that it warrants such a vow of silence?" Cliff arched a brow in a silent response, the look on his face clearly saying what did I just tell you? Kali rolled her eyes. "Alright, alright. Guess that's why you're such a big shot, huh? So loyal." She teased. 

     "I would think that's a good quality to have, right?" 

     "You're cute when you're right. So then...why'd you join Team Rocket? Can you at least talk about that?"  

     Cliff was silent for a long moment. "I suppose there's no harm in that. I didn’t join until I was a teenager.”

     “Okay?”

     “My mom was a hard worker and my dad, well he seemed to bounce around jobs a lot. But my mom made good money, she used to sell real estate like big time real estate sometimes even to celebrities. I remember this one time we got to meet Leonardo DiCacnea when she couldn’t find a sitter for me and Fay so she took us to the house showing.” 

     “Wow, really!” 

     “Yeah, he was a really cool guy. Anyway money seemed to go out faster than it came in, we were always broke, and when we were dad got...violent. I…” He paused, pinching the bridge of his nose as he took a deep breath. 

     “Hey, we don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to.” Cliff met her concerned gaze and wished they were having this conversation in person.

     “It’s...okay.” He continued after a moment. “My dad was a drinker, he’d go out and sometimes not come home until late. As I got older I figured that’s where the money was going. So one night I followed him. I wanted to know what he was spending mom’s hard earned money on, it wasn’t fair. And that’s when I found out he was gambling it away, on lots of things apparently but most nights he went to an underground pokemon battle ring. I watched him gamble away mom’s money and got so mad!” Even now Kali could hear the anger creeping into his voice as she watched him ball his hands into fists. “And when I confronted him…he just laughed at me. If boss’s -Giovanni’s- men hadn’t stepped in I don’t know how far I would have gone. It was Giovanni that calmed me down and talked to me like I wasn’t some dumb kid. Then he offered me a job. I could help my family, get us out of debt, and away from my dad all at once. So I took it and never looked back. I pretty much owe the boss my life for that.” 

     “I’m so sorry you went through all that.” 

     “It’s life.” Cliff shrugged. “Shit happens. From what you’ve told me you didn’t have it much better.” 

     “I mean mine was good until my mom...passed. It wasn’t till after that my dad started drinking but I was pretty much an adult at that point.” 

     “Dad’s, huh?” Cliff tried joking to lighten the mood, it was Valentine’s Day after all. “Anyway, I didn’t mean to bring the mood down. So how about you tell me a little more about what you’re wearing and how it comes off?” 

     Kali still felt sorry for him but went along with his question. “Oh, this? You see I can pull this tie right here…”

Part 24 / Part 26

So there isn’t really any information on what Cliff’s backstory is so I made one up! Hope you liked it! If we ever do get an official one I don’t know if I’ll change it or not, I guess it’ll depend on what it is. Also wow, I never thought I’d be posting a Part 25! A big thank you to everyone reading this! And to @rubystartrail for always helping! 

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