dust and dusk can settle; i choke.

don't pretend to have forgotten my face; i know the look in your eye, but i'm not ashamed. take a good look, drown in it. you'll never hold my attention again.

[avantgxrde]

Talk Shopping to Me ♦ Anthea & Cordelia

[avantgxrde]

There were several things Cordelia did out of impulse. Childishly, in the past, she found herself escaping through bathroom windows to get out of dates or conversations with utterly dull people. Other than the one time she’d stupidly tried to jump out of a man’s apartment window,  Cordelia prided in herself in her skills when it came to entering and escaping buildings, homes, and restaurants.  Maybe in the future she’d teach Anthea a thing or two in order to keep her safe from the not-so-nice clients the girl likely received once every blue moon?

Sensing Anthea’s disapproval, the federal agent huffed out a breath of indignation. "I’m not a fan of the shoes. They make you look like a nun who’s recently left the convent, duckie. If you insist on me changing my blouse,  I insist on buying you a much better pair of shoes.” She said, releasing another sigh. “But if you insist on keeping me young - go for it.”   

&&

"This?" Cordelia asked, looking at Anthea like the she had smacked her in the face with a fish. The choice of clothing was surprisingly beautiful and elegant. Not only was the blouse appealing to the eye, it was something nice enough for Cordelia to wolf whistle at in adoration.

Using her index finger and thumb, Cordelia felt at the fabric and nodded. “I quite like it. Though, in all honesty, I don’t recall buying the blouse.” Her tongue traced over her teeth as she tried to recollect buying the blouse; unsure of whether it was a gift from her mother or something she herself had bought during one of her many rounds of retail therapy.

Quietly, the older woman let her friend unbutton her. By the wide-eyed expression she was making, it was clear when the Eureka moment had hit her. "Ah- - now I remember where I got the bloody thing." She nodded more to herself than Anthea, before placing the blouse on in one swift, graceful movement. Since some hair caught underneath the clothing, she used both her hands to free her curly brown locks. "A gift from my sister a few years back. For Christmas, I believe." In thought, she closed her eyes and made a mental note to call her pipsqueak baby sister after her day with Anthea was over. As she contemplated this, the Criminal Psychologist began to button up her blouse, her eyes focused on the pace of her own fingers and not Anthea who was likely waiting for her to hurry the hell up. 

“Better, duckie?” Cordelia asked, arms opened to display her change of clothing. A tiny smirk graced her lips before she spun around for a better view. “And we’re going in my car — right?” Striding toward the front door of her home, in order to get the keys to her car. She paused once her keys were in hand to look at her young friend. "I put gas in the old boy, so we should be set. But if we’re going in yours, pet, I’m willing to pay to fill up your engine.” 

[properlyenglish]

Anthea was pleased with herself. Smug, even. She enjoyed dressing up, and she enjoyed dressing other people up even more; as if they were her own, private dolls. That were life size and had real brains in them. Anthea bobbed her head left to right in a happy way. "I've never met your sister," she mentioned sort of subconsciously. As the words were out of her mouth and floating in the air, Anthea felt a rush of blood dress her cheeks. "Ah, but I suppose that might be improper."

When Cordelia showed off the blouse, the younger woman beamed. "It's truly darling; you've got to wear that colour more often. It suits you." Anthea's smile turned a shade darker and she rose to her feet. At the mention of her choice of footwear, Anthea's eyes widened. "Oi, these were expensive! They're Louis Vuitton!" she practically screeched, in slight disbelief. "They go with everything."

They headed towards the front door of Cor's home, where she asked whether or not they would take her car or Anthea's. Anthea sucked on the inside of her cheek -- "I rode here with the chauffeur, but I could call 'im back if you wanted. Though, your car is plenty good." She seemed agitated, but with a quick glance to her brow, anyone could tell it was impatience. Anthea twirled a lock of free hair that had escaped her loose bun.

"Come on, plum -- let's get going. We'll take your car. I won't even comment on your driving," Anthea proposed with a weak smirk. She nudged the woman's arm with her elbow, ready to leave for the day. Before it was over.

[properlyenglish]

pressing matters — bambi + anthea

Bambi: [She smirked on her end of the phone, nodding to herself.] I could do that. I may be a tomboy but I'm not a complete dyke, Thee. [She knew it was a joke but, she figured, she should let her friend know that she would've done as much just to show her thanks.] It's going to take more than some boxes. I need a U - haul too. Unless you already have a bedroom set. Other than that, I have /a lot/ of clothes. More than you might think. [Bambi made an unimpressed noise.] Please, I make everything fun.

Anthea: [ / she considered what Bambi was saying, about the insta-move and what not, but mimicked her friend's noise ] Baaaam, then at least let me have some, er, friends -- take care of it. They'll move all your shiny toys into the spare, and I'll get my /other/ friend, Lilly, to take care of your clothes. Hm? She's got tiny, little hands that will take very gentle care with it all. We can spend the day at the shops, and when they're done bringing all your things over, we can head back to my place -- our place -- and arrange your rooms to how you like it. Please? [ / she tried to be as alluring as possible, knowing it wouldn't be so simple with Bambi ]

[properlyenglish]

café connoisseur — ben + anthea

[bencackerman]

"Okay, hm…" Ben trailed off, biting his lip as he tried to think. Would he accept her offer or not? If he wanted to become friends with this girl, he’d have to play her games and use his cards to suit his needs. Sure, he wasn’t all too good at playing games, but he had to try, at least. Politics was all about mind games, after all, and if he wanted to climb the ladder, he needed to get better at playing these games. “I’ll take it. I’ll take the thirty questions, and I’ll try to guess your unconventional job.”

"Well, don’t underestimate me just yet, Anthea," Ben replied jokingly, a sly grin forming on his lips as he crossed his arms over his chest, mulling over what would be his very first question. He only had thirty questions; he had to make sure that every single one counted. At the end of the day, he was probably going to lose the game - Ben was absolutely horrid at guessing games - but, at the very least, he wanted to get as close as he probably could. He needed to make every single question count. “Do you work ‘round here in Alexandria or up in DC?” 

[properlyenglish]

Anthea liked to watch his brain cogs work; it was always something fun to do with anyone. Watching a person try to figure her out, trying to crawl their way under her skin -- it was what gave her power. Social and emotional power, really. When Ben finally agreed to the new rules, Anthea beamed underneath a sly look.

She waited for him to ask his very first question, and when he did, Anthea let out a tiny tch. "Sometimes both." She almost blurted out: 'I get to travel a lot,' but she didn't. Anthea didn't want to spoil this man too much. Though she wanted him to lose, she didn't want him to think he was able to outwit her more than once.

"Next question, pumpkin," Anthea hummed sweetly. 

[properlyenglish]

pressing matters — bambi + anthea

Bambi: [Bambi just remained quiet, pondering on each word. Anthea was really the closest person to her in this town, besides her own mother and she trusted her.] Well, you /do/ drive a hard bargain. Always have. But... As long as you're sure I don't see any problems. Plus, you know I'm damn good at taking care of your lonely needs. [She smiled on her end of the phone.] I can cover more than electric and food, Thea - seriously. Whatever else you need. I'm excited though. Now I don't have to go through the hassle of reaching you for my weekly booty call or make the trip. And I can force you to watch Adventure Time with me too. Oh shit! I'm also going to teach you how to play Street Fighter against your will! All of the possibilities are making me squee!

Anthea: [ / laughter erupted out of her, unstoppable. Bambi was a ball of energy, and they got on better than any other friend of Anthea's ] Anything else, hm? A Sephora shopping trip once in a while? [ / she laughed again, obviously pulling Bambi's leg ] I'm at my place, but I can be over at your's in a few. I'll bring some boxes. You have no say in the matter, but you will be moving in today. As for video games and cartoons, I'll consider it. Though...I hope you've got a plan on how to make that fun.

[properlyenglish]

pressing matters — bambi + anthea

Bambi: [She was on her way back from her disappointing apartment searches when she heard her iPhone ringing to the tone of Zelda's Theme - which meant it had to be one person. Quickly, she accepted the call and listened, shocked at the offer.] You've got people spying on me now, Theethee? I know this is a small town, but shit, people must really be talking. [She was joking, but a part of her was unsure only because she didn't want to feel as if she were intruding. Her pride often got in the way of things.] But seriously, I mean, that sounds like it would be friggin' amazing and all but I don't want to take over your space - even if your internet is bitchin'.

Anthea: [ / she sighed, the tone of it light and humorous ] Christ, Bam -- You know I'm rarely at home, anyway. I could do with a bit of company, too. I was thinking of getting a parrot, but I don't love to listen to my own voice /that/ much. [ / she laughed, followed by silence ] Really, though. I'm not going to offer a second time, you know how I am. You don't even have to pay a hefty rent bill, I'll still cover everything but the electric. You can also buy us weekly take-away, but I have a feeling that won't be much. So? Don't make me whine.

[properlyenglish]

pressing matters — bambi + anthea

Anthea: [ / the phone rings twice ] Bambles? Dove, I'm glad I caught you. Listen: a darling little bird informed me you're looking for a place. Well, I've got the room, and I've just given you the offer. What say you, blossom? I've got high-speed internet, and enough bandwidth to last...well, a damn long time. So? [ / she fiddles around with something plastic and crinkly ]

[properlyenglish]

café connoisseur — ben + anthea

[bencackerman]

If there was one thing that Ben knew about this girl, it was just that she clearly did not like losing. Getting close simply wasn’t enough for her. To be honest, Ben was fine with getting close - he had never been the type of guy who easily won things, after all - but she seemed to be a lot more competitive than him. This was the game she had set up, and she had wanted to win. Of course it had to be disappointing for her! Always the sympathetic guy, Ben couldn’t really relate to what she was feeling, but he could understand why she was feeling that way.

And, yes, his job did seem pretty boring. In many ways, it was. He sat at a computer, researching things for hours, and spent a lot of time coming up with bills that wouldn’t necessarily go into action. All in all, it was pretty frustrating. Still, it was an incredible opportunity for him, and a chance for him to climb the ladder and get himself somewhere better. That was the thing with politics - jobs were always temporary, and they were to be used as stepping stones for the next best thing. 

"Yeah, it might not be, but you can’t win at everything." Ben commented with a shrug, bringing his mug to his lips to finish off the last few drops of his drink. Then, he chuckled, nodding his head as he replied with, "Alright, so you’ve got two jobs? Gee, can I get forty questions, or do I still have to do it in twenty?" Ben wasn’t really all too good at mind games - that’s why he liked sports, because everything was direct and physical - but, like he did with almost everything that was put in front of him, he was going to try it out. What was the worst that could come out of it? Him losing? It really wasn’t such a big deal to him. 

[properlyenglish]

Anthea felt a bit sour in the situation, but was trying to appear chipper. For some, they were able to see right through the glossy-eyed stare and the strained smiles. For most, they were enamoured by her supposed charm and lacked the skill of picking up on facial cues. Anthea wasn't sure what side this Ben fellow fell into.

At his request, she titled her head slightly and rose both eyebrows. "No, but I'll give you thirty to only guess my unconventional job." Once offered, Anthea straightened her spine and rummaged through her purse to find a stick of spearmint chewing gum. 

"Nobody ever guesses right, but then again, I've only ever lost this game once before; maybe you've got a chance," she informed the male, her expression mischievous and alluring. Anthea wasn't sure if she wanted him to win or not, and if he lost -- would she want to tell him what the answer was? Probably not. Anthea was proud of what she did on the side, but Ben seemed too meek and innocent to know. But with that thought floating around in her mind, Anthea somehow wanted him to find out even more so.

[avantgxrde]

Talk Shopping to Me * Anthea & Cordelia

[avantgxrde]

"Oh, come on. You can’t blame my windows. You’re the wise guy who decided to go through the window, in the first place." Cordelia contained her laughter as the girl hopped off the counter in a way that would make an episode of bugs bunny look like an old man’s funeral. “When I told you to go through my window through text, I was only joking. I didn’t think you would actually go through the window - nor did I think you’d get stuck.” The older woman watched as the girl picked up her heels, both eyes lingering at her somewhat impressionable-looking shoes.  Not complaining about where Anthea’s hand was, Cordelia let both her eyebrows rise. There’s a part of her that wants to move just enough for the girl’s hand to touch one of her breasts; mostly so she could make some dumb comment about the situation, preferably that was enough to get herself playfully smacked. However, she made an effort to behave. After all, not too long ago, Cordelia had gone out of her way to take a picture of Anthea dangling out a window. That was more than enough fun for one day. 

"Yes, this is what I plan to wear." Looking down at her outfit, Cordelia frowned. Whether that was an insult or not, she’d had yet to decide. Hands running down her thigh, she began to question whether the choice of wearing blue jeans and a red button up blouse — whether it cost more than some people’s expensive earrings —  had been a bad idea. Though Anthea was technically paid to be her friend — the girlfriend experience mostly dealing with Cordelia settled in bed with the girl, just to talk or lye down with — Cordelia felt it was common courtesy to dress nice for friends.  ”Why do you ask? Do want me to change?” She asked, glancing at the pretty little thing’s attire. "——And is that what you’re wearing?" It’s not intended to be a rude statement. She likes the outfit; not the shoes, but the clothing does wonders for the girl. 

[properlyenglish]

Anthea waved a dismissive hand, trying to appear unfazed by the ordeal. Getting stuck crawling through a window was one of those instances that Anthea just wanted to forget about instantly. She kissed her teeth when Cordelia confirmed, yes, this is what she was going to wear.

She tried not to allow a smirk grace her cheeks, though it was difficult. Cordelia was dressed for a backyard party, not shopping at places where a single clutch cost more than an engagement ring. Anthea shrugged her shoulders when asked if Cordelia should change. "No, it's -- you needn't change, it's fine," she heaved.

Cordelia glanced her up and down, then asked Anthea if she was going to change. "Of course I'm wearing this; you don't think I stuffed an extra outfit down my front, do you? These are all natural, darling," Anthea joshed. She snuffed out a threatening laugh, then paraded into the rest of Cor's home. "At least change your top. Wear something sheer, something dark. In fact, I'll go and pick something out for you." 

&&

Anthea returned to the living room after rummaging through Cor's closet and wardrobe. She held in her hand a navy blue blouse, with some sort of sparkly thread weaved in and out of it to resemble stars. Anthea set it on the sofa and came to stand before Cordelia. With quick, skillful fingers, Anthea began to unbutton her friend's top. It was hardly sexual, and Anthea was definitely not giving off an aura that it should be considered as such. Once the buttons were all plucked, Anthea gently slid Cordelia from the sleeves. "Put this on," she hummed.

The younger woman plopped down on the sofa and placed her chin on two fists.

[avantgxrde]

Talk Shopping to Me * Anthea & Cordelia

[avantgxrde]

Cordelia found herself letting out a friendly laugh, before stroking the girl’s face one more time. "I think it’s important you know not many people are capable of making me laugh, without falling down a flight of stairs." She cooed, right before she released a heavy sigh. "But, fine —” When she said the words, she sounded much more like a child than an adult with a serious occupation. “I’ll let you ruin all my fun, and I’ll get you on your feet.” 

Another laugh escaped the older woman’s lips as Anthea made a face. When she took the photo, she expected an annoyed expression from Anthea. Not the silly, somewhat childish expression Anthea gave her before the flash went off. Taking note of the ridiculous face, Cordelia knew who to call when she was feeling extremely down and self-loathing.

"EXCUSE you, you little...f e t u s!!!!” Cordelia bit back, placing her hands beneath Anthea’s under arms to try and help pull her out of the small window. Never in all of her life — even as a girl who routinely snuck out of her home or school dormitory —had Cordelia seen anyone get stuck within anybody’s kitchen window.  "My ass happens to be the best part about my body. It doesn’t quit. If you’d have said I lacked breasts, I would have agreed." Concentrating, Cordelia looked behind Anthea to have a better look of the window. As much fun as it would have been to hurt anyone else, she didn’t want to hurt Anthea. They were going shopping after this, after all. She couldn’t shop with someone who needed to go to the emergency room, could she?  "And I never said your ass wasn’t fantastic — it’s quite nice.  But I think it’s what got you in this predicament in the first place. So…suck it in like a big girl and try not to break any of my kitchen utensils.”  

[properlyenglish]

A laugh popped out of Anthea at the mention of her being a fetus. She was barely ten years younger, though she knew the age gap existed. Anthea was grateful as Cordelia helped her get in through the window. Her nylons were in tact as she tried to spider-crawl her way in over the sink. 

At the compliment about her bum, Anthea pulled a smug grin. "Even if it is a bit round, it's not my fault you've got windows the size of cutting boards," she whined. Anthea finally managed to get a grip on the counter, and she righted herself as she hopped down onto the floor. She bent over to slip back into her heels.

With her inner balance off, she had to toss out a hand to steady herself. It landed on Cordelia's shoulder, though a bit too close to her bosom, if Anthea was being honest. She stood up tall and brushed off her skirt, not even caring about the comment she'd get after picking out her wedgie. Anthea folded her arms and gave Cordelia a once over. "So? Is that what you're wearing on our shopping date?"

[properlyenglish]

café connoisseur — ben + anthea

[bencackerman]

"Yeah, I sit in a cubicle for a good part of the day. Not all day, but a couple hours each day, at least." Ben replied earnestly, shrugging his shoulders slightly. He could feel her eyes burning, see the intensity that was in them, and he did feel slightly intimidated. This girl clearly had a very, very strong personality. She was definitely a force to be reckoned with, and Ben wondered whether or not he was really up for the challenge. ”I do a lot of research for my job, but it’s not exactly your average, everyday desk job.”  

Twenty questions had been asked, and to Ben’s surprise, Anthea had managed to get pretty close. She hadn’t been able to guess it, but congressional staff… That was pretty close. He was technically on the congressional staff, though his official title was legislative assistant. While he couldn’t give it to her, he did have to commend her for getting pretty close. “You’re pretty close, actually,” Ben admitted, a small smile forming on his lips. “But, I’m a legislative assistant, for Senator Jim Clyburn. You were really good at guessing, though. You actually got really, really close.” 

[properlyenglish]

After Anthea had asked all of her questions, she waited desperately for him to tell her she won. Which she did not. With disappointment resonating within her, she clenched her jaw and tried to erase any sign of anger on her face. Ben told her she had been close, though she hadn't won -- which was the issue. Anthea puckered her lips for a second before biting on the inside of her cheek.

An assistant was such a boring job. It must have been degrading, too. Being a translator was similar, though she didn't have to run out and grab coffee for anyone. She just had to stand there and repeat things in another language. 

"Well, really close isn't winning, is it?" she hummed, smacking her lips. Anthea drank from her mug, finishing it off. She smiled, her lips a tight, thin line. "If you'd like to guess what I do, then perhaps I'll buy you a biscotti, or something. Though, I've got a conventional job, and an unconventional job. And if you'd like to guess, you'll be guessing what I do under a fake name." She winked, her expression sly. Yes, this was giving him a slight foot up, but nobody actually guesses professional prostitute as a job unless they're kidding around. She wanted to see his reaction if he got it right.

[properlyenglish]

coffee & compliments // jemima + anthea

[greatscottjemima]

Had it been any other day, and Anthea been any other customer, perhaps Ilse’s movements would have retained their usual undercurrent of efficiency. But the fact of the matter was: it was not any other day, and Anthea was not any other customer. Today, Ilse was stuck on a character. Or, rather — this week, Ilse had been stuck on a character, and this woman — Anthea, though Ilse was not, obviously, aware of this minor detail — seemed interesting, and amusing, and sincere. And, oh, God almighty, sincere — to be free from deceit; a synonym for genuine; an antonym of dishonest. She was blood and bones. She was quirks, she was traits, she was qualities. She was real. She was real. Oh, God almighty. She was real, and Ilse — Ilse needed that, Ilse needed someone real. To study. To emulate. To characterise.

Thus, Ilse was distracted. Well, as distracted as Ilse could be. For example: it was only once the woman was actually standing in front of her that Ilse had the forethought to turn on the cash register. Another example: it took approximately 56.7 seconds to fish a pen out from her apron, and another 34.5 seconds to poise it above a notepad, when it should have taken 34.5 and 23.8 respective seconds. This lagging was uncharacteristic. Unrealistic. Unusual. It had to stop.

Ilse nodded in conjunction with the woman’s requests, her writing neat and large, and more like a teenage boy’s scrawl. She gave a finite nod as an acknowledgement to the woman’s please — and therefore, the end of her sentence —, before turning round placing a cold-drinks cup in the high-powered, technologically impressive coffee machine. It looked like something out of Tony Stark’s kitchen, or Star Trek, or — something. After flip of a switch, and a pressing of a few buttons, the machine whirred into motion. “Will that be all?” She inquired as she swivelled back around to face the woman, only speaking once she had caught sight of her in her peripheral vision.

"New customer," she leaned in a little closer to the woman as she spoke, voice hushed to a conspiratorial whisper. "It’s a bit daunting, at first, walking into a coffee shop that isn’t Starbucks." She shook her head, slightly, a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it movement, and turned back to collect the woman’s coffee. Really, the machines did all the work — Ilse pressed a button or two, sure, but that was it. “Oh. Thank you.” She smiled, a brief and flighty thing. “I’ve always been more of a tea person, myself. Really, you can thank Leila — ” she gestured towards the barista at the cash register beside them, then, “ — for developing our mochas. She adores them.”

[properlyenglish]

Anthea was aware of the woman's stare, though unaware of what it meant; Anthea always knew what a gawk meant, though this particular time it was near impossible to decipher. It upset her slightly, causing a tiny wrinkle to appear above her right eyebrow -- as it always did when she became upset.

The order was taken care of, and Anthea offered the payment in coins and two bills. American money was always so strange, which she had never truly gotten over. She couldn't entirely complain about it, however, since England was no better. 

The blonde informed Anthea that the customer was new, and Anthea pursed her lips to the side of her face. Starbucks was definitely not on the top of her go-to list, as their coffee was far too bitter, and far too strong. It wasn't good in her opinion.

"Well, then, Leila -- thank you," Anthea said loud enough for her to hear. Anthea turned her attention back on her own barista. "You've got such an amiable face," Anthea mused, mostly to herself. "I could get you acquainted with a friend of mine, he does a bit of casting." When she realised what she had offered (blindly, which was a downfall of hers), Anthea's eyes widened. "Though, only if you were interested in a life of fame and gossip!" She forced out a laugh, but it was a product of years of practice. Not even her brother could differentiate it from the real thing these days. 

[properlyenglish]

café connoisseur — ben + anthea

[bencackerman]

There was something sort of… Strange about Anthea. She wasn’t exactly scary, like clowns and spiders and loud noises were, but there was just something about her that Ben couldn’t quite put his finger on. He had never met anybody quite like her. Was she intimidating? Overbearing? Intriguing? To Ben, at least, she was kind of a strange combination of all three, and he wasn’t exactly sure if he should shy away from her or try to reach out to her and play her game. For now, he was going to go with the latter. What’s the worst that could happen, right? They were in a public place, with plenty of people to serve as witnesses, and if he needed to run, the door wasn’t too far away. 

"Like, uh, ‘Twenty Questions’? Um, sure, I’m up for it, I guess." Ben replied with a shrug, a chuckle escaping his lips as he took another deep sip from his steaming mug. Guessing games weren’t exactly something that most people did with strangers they just met at the coffee shop. In fact, he hadn’t done this with anybody before. Not many people seemed too interested in finding out what he did for a living; not many people even knew what his job was even called. Still, he had some time to kill and this girl seemed pretty interesting, so why not? What was the worst that could come out of this? ”Ask away.”  

"You mean, like, face-to-face? Like customer service and that sort of thing?" Ben questioned, tilting his head to the side. Of course, he had to deal with people; his job involved having to collaborate and work with his co-workers to come up with great plans, but was that what she meant? "But not really, no."

[properlyenglish]

Anthea gave a coy sort of look that was just barely concealing her disappointment. Like a child finding out a secret having to do with them and didn't like what it was. She folded her hands on the table again, determined to figure it out. "Hmm..." she mused, tapping her left-hand fingernails on the glossy wood. They clipped the surface lightly as she thought.

She thought a quick moment before her gaze turned back on Ben. "In an office, then? Like, you sit in a cubicle all day, that sort of thing." Anthea was not afraid to eye the male down, her stare almost burning a hole through his skull. Two down, then; eighteen left.

[avantgxrde]

Talk Shopping to Me * Anthea & Cordelia

[avantgxrde]

Cordelia keeping her shit-eating grin in-tact,  trailed her index finger along her young friend’s face. "Add in a ‘Cordelia has better fashion-sense than I do’ and you’re good to go, pet." She teased, cupping Anthea’s face in her left hand before patting the tip of her nose. Anthea’s over-dramatics were adorable. Almost like watching her dog Teddy tear up a newspaper. "Maybe I’ll even buy you that bag you wanted?" 

In order to savor the moment forever, Cordelia took out her phone and said,  ”Say cheese.” She then took a few steps back to take the picture. While in the process of capturing the perfect angle, the agent pouted her lips. After the clicking sound was heard, Cordelia placed her phone in her pocket and walked back to Anthea. 

“Out of curiosity: what made you think you’d fit through such a space? Another question, pet: if you don’t want my neighbors to see your butt, why go through a window, in the first place?” Cordelia knew she’d brought up the idea, in the first place. But it was fun to see Anthea just a bit mad with her. It wasn’t like the aggressiveness couldn’t be fixed with a few accessories and fake apologies. So, why not have a little fun? 

[properlyenglish]

Anthea was angered (or, rather, annoyed -- ) with how Cordelia was treating her. It was all in good fun, but really - ! Not when half of her was hanging out a kitchen window! Anthea rolled her eyes in a way she knew Cor would note as joking. "Please just get me on my feet," she whined. 

The second Cordelia had her mobile out, Anthea pulled a silly face. She didn't want to have this moment caught in a photograph, mostly because the blouse she was wearing would be near see-through with a flash. She kept her face sour as Cordelia took the photo, and then she walked back towards her.

"Are you calling me plump? Because if so, I know my arse is fantastic -- bigger than yours, Mum," Anthea joshed. She cupped her chin in both palms, elbows on the window sill. "I wanted to show you I could do things. Now, please. You'd better not rip my nylons!"

[properlyenglish]

café connoisseur — ben + anthea

[bencackerman]

"Well, it’s very nice to meet you, Anthea." Ben replied with a small grin, extending his hand across the table for a diplomatic handshake. If there was one thing that Ben had perfected, it was his handshake. Every person who even dreamed of going into politics needed to have a good handshake. It needed to be firm, but not too firm, and quite strong too. You couldn’t break the other person’s hand, but you couldn’t flop your arm around like a fish. A good handshake told people that you knew exactly what you were doing. It was one of the most basic requirements. 

"Um, alright? You’re welcome to try, I guess. I don’t know how easy it will be to guess, though." He replied with a chuckle and a shrug, figuring that he would just play along. All his life, he had been told to take orders and be polite. It was just how he was raised - children are meant to be seen, not heard. He always listened and never spoke, and never really knew how to say ‘no’. Plus, he didn’t have all too many friends in Alexandria  to begin with. Sure, he had friends from the office, but most of them lived up in DC. He didn’t really know anyone in town. It certainly wouldn’t hurt to try to make a friend around these parts, and Anthea didn’t seem to be too bad. In fact, she seemed nice… Ish. 

"Am I supposed to give you some clues or something? ‘Cause that might make it easier… I mean, my job isn’t really a conventional one." Ben said, trailing off as he picked up his cup and took a deep sip from it. Putting the cup down on the table, he added, "Most people don’t even know what my job is." 

[properlyenglish]

Anthea noted the twitch of his hand before it was extended. She shook it like a Queen to her consort. The handshake was firm, as if he had been preparing for some sort of important interview. Anthea clenched her jaw a second before offering another smile.

He seemed hesitant to play the little guessing game, but Anthea was determined. Even if she somehow lost, which was a very possible outcome since she was terrible at guessing, then perhaps she would figure out a way to sneak another coffee out of him anyway. Anthea gave a coy smile as Ben asked about the rules.

"Conventional...hah," she breathed out, looking away for a moment to compose herself. "I'll ask you a question, you answer with yes or no. Simple; like the games kids play." Anthea was practically a child, so this game would be perfect for her. "If I can't guess what you do in under twenty q's, you can guess mine." Nobody ever suspected professional girlfriend as a job, so she would surely win if it got that far.

"Alright, first question: d'you deal with people? Daily basis sort of thing, you know," Anthea started. She took a sip of her coffee before he answered.

[properlyenglish]

café connoisseur — ben + anthea

[bencackerman]

"Well, thanks. Really appreciate it; you sound like you know your stuff." He remarked with a small nod, holding his hands behind his back as he looked up at the menu. Ben was always the type to overcomplicate everything in his life. From his choice of drink for afternoon at this particular coffee shop to how many one-hundred-dollar bills he kept in his wallet at time, every little decision mattered to Ben. There was no room for mistakes in his life, after all. 

Mulling over his choices one last time, he finally told the cashier, “Uh, I’ll have a dark French Vanilla blend… And yeah, it’s for here.” Ben had always had a bit of a sweet tooth, after all - the child inside of him needed that little kick of sugar in order to swallow the bitter drink. Sure, he needed the caffeine to get through the day, but he didn’t really have a very sophisticated palate. French Vanilla sounded like the perfect choice for him. 

After grabbing a couple of packets of brown sugar just in case and pouring a dash of milk into his drink, Ben turned to follow the woman, trying his best to catch up with her without spilling his drink. Sitting down at the table she had chosen, Ben picked up the mug and took a slow sip, a small smile forming on his lips as he did. Usually, he didn’t really love coffee - he needed it, but he didn’t exactly like it - but this cup was actually really good. Then, he said, “So… Since we just met and all that, I think it’s time for introductions. I’m Ben, and, uh… Thanks for the coffee recommendation. It’s really good, actually.” 

[properlyenglish]

Anthea was near-smug hearing the footsteps following after her like a puppy. She was used to getting what she wanted, and this was no different. She slid into the wooden chair and folded her hands delicately over one another on the table. Anthea waited for her new pet to sit down across from her.

He seemed awkward, terribly so, but his eyes were kind. Anthea wondered if he was the secret adventurous type, or if he was always this meek. Cute, but not enjoyable. And everyone was a toy to her.

Ben was his name, and Anthea smiled. Her shoulders back and spine straight, she parted her lips softly. "Anthea." Ben thanked her for the coffee recommendation, and she dipped her head slightly. "It's not a problem, dove," she cooed.

Taking a sip from her own cup deeply, Anthea kept her gaze on the male as she did. Breaking eye contact was a sign of weakness, of submission, and she was no weakling. Anthea set her cup down gracefully and kept her manicured fingers around the ceramic.

"Ben," she began strongly, glancing down to her mug for a moment of feigned hesitation. "What do you do for a living? I love games, so I propose to you that -- if I can guess what you do in under ten minutes, you'll owe me another sit-down." Anthea looked up, though didn't move her head. It was funny to her, thinking that this Ben fellow had no idea he had already agreed to play games with her. Anthea was no loser, and every friendship, relationship, and acquaintance had been something to win at. This would be no exception.

[thecharlottereynolds-blog]

adventures with strangers // charlotte + anthea

[thecharlottereynolds-blog]

Charlotte didn’t see a problem, going with her — it had been a nice thing for her to offer, and maybe she was naive. However, she could very well take care of herself — except for, obviously, putting on some sunscreen. “That’s sweet. Any discount is better than none, after all.” She reasoned thoughtfully, her voice cool and calm as always.

"Hopefully." Charlotte smiled more as she touched her arm, finding the girl in front of her pleasant; not everyone was so friendly. "Charlotte, actually." She corrected. "Pleased to meet you, Anthea — take me to this shop!" She was looking forward to this place, as she tried to go with organic things whenever she could. This place sounded like an unmarked oasis in little Alexandria, and Anthea the bearer of good news.

[properlyenglish]

Anthea gave a cute sound of pleasure, shrugging up her shoulders to add to it visually. She was excited to show a potential new customer to that adorable shop. It had just about everything Anthea adored, and the owner had even imported a few throw pillows from Italy and Japan. Maybe the two would bond over sweet-smelling lotions and organic hair products.

"Charlotte is a darling name; I've got a cousin named Charlotte." Anthea gave a tiny curtsey, and offered her arm to link. "It's not too far from here, and trips always go faster with company." Anthea tilted her head slightly to the side, her eyes wide and inviting.

[properlyenglish]

café connoisseur — ben + anthea

[bencackerman]

"Well, geez, I’m sorry ‘bout that. I’ve never been to this place before. How am I supposed to make a decision so quickly? " Ben muttered under his breath as he turned to face the girl standing behind him, letting out a chuckle as he stuffed his hands into his pockets. This was his first time at this particular café; he didn’t know what was good and what wasn’t. He needed a couple of minutes to mull over his choices, just as any other normal person would. Was that such a problem? Ben didn’t think it was.

Being the gentleman that he was, he shuffled his feet over to the side, allowing her to place her order with the cashier while he looked up at the menu, which had written on chalkboards above the cashier’s head. Capuccino, caffé latté, espresso, croque monsieur… Man, there were a lot of things on this menu, and they all seemed pretty good to him. Ben had always been indecisive, and it only became worse when pressure was put on him. Turning to face the girl who called him out on being so slow, he crossed his arms over his chest, asking, “So, what would you recommend from this place, huh?”

[properlyenglish]

Anthea refrained from kissing her teeth. She raised a brow in wait for the man to move aside, which he eventually did. It was a coffee place, just like any other, and it was not some sort of test -- even if it was his first time here, he didn't have to hold up the queue. She wrinkled her nose in distaste, but contained the horrible rudeness that begged to be released.

In response to his question, Anthea huffed out a sigh. "Well, if you're looking for something sweet, their strawberry smoothie is something to consider. As for caffeine, their French Vanilla blend is obviously a sweeter choice, and the Colombian and chicory blend is nice with milk." For a moment, Anthea continued to keep her eyes on the male. But after a lowly uttered, 'Ugh,' she ordered for herself. Another glance to the man, then back to the cashier; "I'd also like a medium Columbian-Chicory blend, for here," she added. 

Anthea paid quietly, thanking the cashier when he handed her the two steaming mugs. The darker one was handed to the slow customer. "Here. You add what you'd like to it, and I'll find us a seat." The way she had said it, there was no room for protest on his part. If he did end up leaving, that was his loss. Anthea strutted deeper into the café to find a nice table.