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last online May 14, 2024 16:18:59 GMT
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Jan 23, 2022 17:29:23 GMT
Post by Deleted on Jan 23, 2022 17:29:23 GMT
"You look good! You don't have to be so self-conscious." Cassie said, giving him a smile in the light of the passing streetlights. She muttered the next part softly to herself, "Especially 'cause you might not be wearing those clothes long."
She blinked a little at what he said next. If she was anyone else, going to a strange man's house in the middle of the woods in the dead of night would be a horrible idea. As it was, she wasn't convinced it was a great one. "I don't know anyone under 40 that owns a house, let alone a cabin in the woods. That's really impressive. You'll have to give me a tour."
"I like being in nature, too - my cousins and I would always go bow hunting for deer when I was growing up. But for some reason it always unsettled me to stay for a long time. By the end of the trip, I always ready to head back." Cassie mused. "Oh, no, I like pretty much all pets! I've never owned a cat or a dog, but I always like visiting them, and I never have any trouble with allergies."
Leaning over a little, eyes sparkling with mirth (because this usually freaked people out), she added, "I used to have a pet boa constrictor named Frank. I left her behind with my cousin Tony in New Jersey, because she gets terrible anxiety in the car, so I didn't want to stress her out too much trying to move her across the country."
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last online May 14, 2024 16:18:59 GMT
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Jan 23, 2022 22:44:21 GMT
Post by Deleted on Jan 23, 2022 22:44:21 GMT
Luca cheeks warmed at her compliment, and he smiled sheepishly back as he glanced at her. “Grazie…” He returned his eyes to the road as she muttered what she said about his clothes not being on him long, and his eyes widened and panicked as he became flustered, and nearly lost control of his vehicle for a second, but managed to get it under control before he could crash into anything. “Shit,” he sighed, “Almost hit a deer back there, I think.” He was a really good liar. “You okay? I hope I didn’t scare you.” He then responded to her about his cabin, “It’s a nice area. I also own the area around it. It used to be a small hunter’s cabin when I bought it, but now it’s a family-sized cabin. Nice and spacious.” He nodded with a smile. “I’ll give you a quick tour when we get there.” “That’s good to know you have experience in the great outdoors,” he smiled again warmly. “It’s nice to get away when life stresses you out. Getting away from all the noise, pollution, crime, people…it’s perfect.” He sighed in relief when she said she liked all pets and didn’t have any allergies to them. Thank God, he thought as he eventually pulled off of the main road, and headed up a long, winding but maintained dirt and gravel road surrounded by different trees and thick brush on either side and the only lights illuminating the road came from his headlights. “Sorry for all the bumps, but we’ll be there soon.” Luca was quiet for a minute after she mentioned her pet snake to him; especially quiet after she leaned over and he glanced into her eyes. “So…you like reptiles?” He looked surprised to learn this. “Hmm. That’s cool. I’m not much into reptiles, but I still think they’re cool.” He quieted again, wishing he didn’t have to put on his lights, much less his brights as he drove along toward his home. It wasn’t like he needed them to see at night, but he also didn’t want her to freak out. Before long, he pulled into his driveway and parked inside a carport he’d built next to the cabin, and turned off his vehicle. He sat there silently for a moment before looking at her. “And we’re here,” He gazed at her with a smile, and took off his seat belt before climbing out and walking over to her side to open the door and offer her a hand to help her out of the passenger seat.
@mayhem
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last online May 14, 2024 16:18:59 GMT
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Jan 23, 2022 23:07:18 GMT
Post by Deleted on Jan 23, 2022 23:07:18 GMT
"Uh huh, a deer," Cassie said, calm as can be and smirking slyly as the car swerved and she was jostled around. He definitely wasn't as good of a liar as he thought he was. She figured she'd give him an out, anyway. "Just warn me next time you see a pothole, if you can. I know you probably swerved 'cause you don't wanna wreck your suspension, but don't blow my back out doing it, please?"
Or maybe do, she thought. Okay... maybe he's not the only one who's down bad. She adjusted herself in the seat and crossed her legs.
"If you really want to be scared, let me drive. There are reasons I don't own a car." Cassie laughed. Looking around at the dark forest, trees so thick you could only see the stars in patches, and his driveway extending out in front of them, she continued, "You really weren't kidding. God, country dark is just a whole different ballgame. Can't see your hand in front of your face kinda dark. I don't think I could live out here alone."
She was really glad he wasn't repulsed by her keeping a snake, or reptiles in general. It was a bit of a bummer he wasn't as excited about them as her, but... maybe she could convert him to her side? Hmm.
And, they were there. Cassie took his hand, and stepped out of the car on the balls of her feet, steady as if she was standing normally in flats. She had more practice walking in heels already than most women had in a lifetime. That was probably suspicious, given gravel was hard as hell to walk on, but at the same time, she wasn't going to break an ankle pretending.
"Your house is really nice. No offense, but when you said you had a cabin in the woods, I was picturing more 'Scooby Doo set piece' than 'cozy.' But it is cozy." She ran her hand up the doorframe, noting the marks from being hand-planed and chiseled, as she waited for him to unlock the door. "So when you say you built it yourself, you mean personally, don't you? Holy shit."
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last online May 14, 2024 16:18:59 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2022 3:09:25 GMT
“I’ll try to warn you next time, by the way,” he smiled apologetically as she took his hand and he helped her out of the car. “I wouldn’t want you to injure your back.” Of course, what she really meant went way over his head. “So, you really don’t drive, huh?” He tilted his head and peered at her questionably.
“Ah, well, you get used to it,” he said as he walked her up to his cabin. There was a calm stream running underneath the front deck area, creating a relaxing area to sit out in when the weather was calm and warmer; though, he usually sits out there, no matter the weather or time of day if he needed to sit and think without any kind of interruptions, save for his animal companions. “I’m not alone, not really. I have my dog, my cat…”
Luca gazed at her, watching as she checked his cabin out, and grinned. “Really? I can’t blame you, I guess,” He paused, picking his house key from the set of others from his key chain he had in his pocket. “If someone invited me to their cabin out in the middle of the woods somewhere, outside of the city limits, I would be concerned too. So, no offense taken, Cassie.”
He beamed, feeling good about her seeing all the details he carved into the wood. “Yeah, I learned most of the technique while I lived in the Nordic countries for a while since I was kind of bored and wanted to learn something new back then,” He unlocked his door and went on, “My father and grandpa were also carpenters and not just farmers. So, they made extra money taking carpentry jobs in order to make our lives a little better…”
He trailed off, looking sad at the mention of his family, and ushered her inside as he walked in and turned on the lights and made sure the security alarm didn’t sound as he entered the code when he walked into the large living room area of his home. He turned to face her, rubbing his hands together nervously. “So…what do you think? Could you still not live out here alone? Or…with someone else?”
@mayhem
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last online May 14, 2024 16:18:59 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2022 4:11:31 GMT
"Well, I do know how to drive, but how do I put this? My dad said I drove like a Russian taxi driver." Cassie laughed a little. "Nothing bad happened, but eventually I decided it was just better for myself and others not to."
She took a peek at the stream as they passed it on the porch tour. "It is really nice and peaceful out here. It would be a great place to read or paint." She paused to take in all the details carved into the wood. "You know, you're really good at woodworking. And I say that as someone that's spent a not insignificant amount of time fixing shoddy old frames. I'm glad you've kept up with it, and it sounds like it's a really good way to stay connected to your roots, too."
As she entered the house, her eyes lit up. It was genuinely a beautiful house; one that would have been at home in an old snowy village somewhere in Scandinavia, probably thanks to its construction techniques. "I might be able to," she said, attempting to be jokingly modest as she stared up at the ceiling, but her overawed expression spoiled it. "Okay... I definitely, definitely could."
Cassie grabbed his hands and squeezed them. "Seriously, what are you doing being a cop?"
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last online May 14, 2024 16:18:59 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2022 5:53:47 GMT
Luca smirked. “A Russian taxi driver…? Really?” He laughed. “Just like half of drivers in major cities here in the states.” He nodded, smiling warmly at her compliments of the cabin he built over the years. It was great to have someone here to finally appreciate all the hard work he put into it. He raised an eyebrow and subtly tilted his head when she mentioned she might be able to live out here, and continued watching her look around when she changed her mind and she definitely could. He chuckled lightly. “Well,” he waved his hand around with a friendly smile. “La mia casa è la tua casa.” He looked at her in surprise when she grabbed his hands and squeezed them. “What am I doing being a cop? I like helping people who need help, and protecting them when they need it. Solve crimes, like cold cases, and…bring people to justice.” He flashed her a small, yet sad smile. “That’s why.” He gazed into her eyes for a few moments before glancing awkwardly down at their hands.
@mayhem
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last online May 14, 2024 16:18:59 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2022 6:38:46 GMT
"Well," Cassie said, threading her fingers through his, "That's very admirable, and I respect it. I'm just saying, if you ever decide to hang up the badge, you've got a solid second career in carpentry."
"Right." She said, indicating the kitchen with her head as she spun him around slowly in a half-dance. "Should we get cooking before it gets too much later?" She releases him towards the kitchen, and starts looking through his cabinets for a pot to boil water in.
The pots and pans were in a cabinet beside the oven, with the bottom section labeled RED POTS AND PANS and an arrow pointing down. Why on earth would he need to be so clear with where he put the red ones, specifically? She peeked in the fridge, and a carafe sat there labeled CRANBERRY JUICE. The orange juice wasn't labeled though... because he could see it. Suddenly the monochrome outfits and muted (though tasteful and coordinated) home decorations made sense.
"You're colorblind," Cassie said bluntly, curious eyes meeting his. "Red-green, specifically. So I'll go ahead and point out I'm wearing red lipstick, and if I get it anywhere on you, I'll make sure to wipe it off." She gave him a quick kiss, and brushed the small smudge that resulted off his lips with her thumb. "Starting with that one."
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last online May 14, 2024 16:18:59 GMT
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Jan 24, 2022 12:14:46 GMT
Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2022 12:14:46 GMT
Luca looked on curiously as she threaded her fingers through his, and then met her eyes with his again. Smiling, he replied melancholy as he thought about the cases he was working on, “Maybe one day when I’m finished with it.” He chuckled lightly when she slowly spun him around as if they were about to dance with each other and directed him toward the kitchen. “Sì, cara. Dovremmo.” He grinned and followed her in, and then eyed her quizzically while she went through his cabinets and his fridge; obviously, looking for what to cook their meal in. He stood around, waiting for her to find what she was searching for, while rubbing at the back of his neck or scratching at his arm. When she bluntly said he was colorblind, he raised his eyebrows and seemed impressed. “Wow, Cassie. You’re right. I am red-green colorblind.” He crossed his arms and leaned against the island in the middle of his kitchen, smiling at her. “I’m honestly impressed you gathered all of that by going through my cabinets and fridge.” Luca smirked when she mentioned she was wearing red lipstick and would wipe it off of him if she ended up getting it anywhere on him, and blinked in surprise when she gave him a quick kiss and after she wiped the small smudge off, he reached a hand to lightly brushed the area she kissed him at. His fingertips lingered for a few seconds, while his eyes were on her, and then he snapped out of it before getting two pots out and setting one on the gas stove, and filled the second one with enough water to boil the fresh raviolis he made on his day off earlier in the week. “While I appreciate you wanting to help me in here,” he began as he set the water-filled pot on the stove and turned it on to boil the water. “You’re my guest, and you don’t need to do anything. Feel free to sit there and we can talk while I make our super late dinner.” He ushered her to sit on one of the stools tucked underneath the island. He smiled, and turned his attention to his cooking, taking out a jar of his homemade sauce for the pasta and pouring it into the smaller pot to heat up. While he waited for the water to boil and the sauce to heat up, he turned on the oven and grabbed a wooden cutting board from a hook on a wall, a sharp knife, and a bag with freshly baked Italian bread inside, and cut enough slices for them to have with their meal. He fell quiet, concentrating on cutting the bread and spreading garlic butter on each slice of the Italian bread. “I didn’t bake this break myself, in case you were wondering,” he said, “Bought it from this local bakery I go to on my way home since it’s closer.” He smiled when he heard nails from a dog clicking against the hardwood floors as Obscura finally woke up from his sleep, and headed into the kitchen, tail wagging happily as he saw Luca and greeted him first, demanding pets and butt rubs from his owner before making his way over to Cassandra. While Obscura attempted to receive pets and butt rubs from her, Luca checked on their food, and began cooking the pasta. He grinned at her. “Yep, Obscura likes you. Like I said, he's friendly, even if he seems intimidating to some; though, he can be protective when he needs to.” He put the garlic bread into the oven and timed it to where it’ll be done right after the ravioli finished cooking, and announced, "Food will be ready in a few minutes."
@mayhem
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last online May 14, 2024 16:18:59 GMT
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Jan 24, 2022 14:22:34 GMT
Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2022 14:22:34 GMT
Cassie pouted a little as she was kicked out of the kitchen, but did go and sit at the table as instructed. "Darn. I get it though, my family doesn't let me help, either, after I forgot to salt the water ten years ago." She pursed her fingers, making a pained expression and imitating her grandmother's old timey Tuscan accent. "Ha un sapore triste, Cassandra! Hai portato disonore alla famiglia..."
"I'll have you know, I can bake, however. And I can already tell from here that bread's gonna be good, from the sound it made when you cut into it." She grinned down at Obscura as he trotted over, giving him pets and murmuring softly about what a good boy he was.
"Earlier, when I saw the pots, I started thinking about this story my boss told me about a colorblind guy he used to know, and how he'd do some of the same things as you." Cassie was very glad the food would be done soon; her stomach felt like it was eating itself. She usually ate dinner around 7 or 8, and it was pushing 11. "My mouth runs ahead of my brain and makes me sound dumb sometimes... okay, a lot of the time... but I'm actually pretty observant. I have to be, to do what I do. Every brushstroke matters, every inscription. I have to honor the artists' intent and their legacy when I restore a painting, no matter if it was made by someone in Indiana 20 years ago, or someone in Holland 300."
Cassie's stomach gave an almighty gurgle, and she laughed to herself. "My stomach's demanding an ETA."
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last online May 14, 2024 16:18:59 GMT
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Jan 24, 2022 21:07:59 GMT
Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2022 21:07:59 GMT
Luca pressed his hands against the counter-top of the island and raised an eyebrow. “You forgot to salt the water? Oh, my god…” He laughed when she imitated her grandmother’s voice, and then winced. “That’s really bad if she said that to you, but…you kind of deserved it.” He winked, hoping she knew he was joking. “You have relatives from Tuscany?” He wondered with a faint smile as memories of his past were brought to the surface briefly. As he started to put the rest of the bread back in the bag, he tore a little piece off to share with her. “Yep, it is good bread. Here, try it.” He handed her one little half and popped the other half into his mouth and ate it. “That should tide you over for a little longer until it’s ready.” He smirked, and listened to her talk. He started stirring the sauce and the pasta, and brought the spoon he was using to stir the sauce with, and hovered it in front of her, with his other hand underneath so nothing dripped off of it and onto her dress. “Here, have a sneak peak to tonight’s meal. You know you want to, my wonderfully, amusing, starving artist friend.” He grinned and waited. "Then it will be ready and we can eat." @mayhem
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