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Post by skyeknight on Apr 1, 2017 20:11:41 GMT
He had been so focused on washing the plates, he completely missed the way Anna had all but locked up at his words. It was just bad manners to make a lady cook for him and expect her to clean up. Or at least that was how his parents raised him. He didn't know the typical rules for 'house guests' but there were enough dishes in that sink for an army, so Axel became the one man army to tackle it. He made quick work of the foe and the dishes were clean and dry by the sink to be put away.
"Huh? Um, anytime Anna."
Axel let the dirty water out of the kitchen sink. He dried his hands before glancing over at Anna. He fondly smiled as she held out the two new dishes. She had all but made a five course meal for their dinner. Heck, he would have been happy with pizza and chips, but this was very thoughtful. It showed how much careful planning Anna had put into the meal. He picked up a dish towel to dry his hands off. It seemed he still had a few new things to learn about the young woman. He was looking forward to it.
"I might have to roll out the door by the time I'm done," he joked. "But I'd love to have some."
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Post by neverlandlostgirl on Apr 3, 2017 1:41:09 GMT
"Don't worry. You can burn off the excess calories by beating up some annoying street thugs harassing people in your spare time."
She gave a somewhat sassy smile at this and a cheeky wink before taking the plates over to the table and setting them down with the bowl of cream taking center place. Despite her somewhat frazzled state of mind, she wasn't about to let it get in her way of making sure the two of them had a nice evening. After all, she owed this to the fire Demon even if he seemed to think he wasn't worth the trouble.
"I hope this doesn't seem like too much or over the top for you. It's just the way I pay people back for the kindness they've shown me, for the good friends they've been to me."
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Post by skyeknight on Apr 3, 2017 2:41:50 GMT
"Anna, I'm going to be honest with you, but no one has ever done anything this nice for me," Axel replied.
No one made him dinner. Aside from the ones when he was a kid, made by his parents. He had set out from home, still visited his parents, made sure they were doing okay. They had retired to Hawaii - to be closer to the volcanoes. Fire and all that. So it was just Axel in that town. But it meant a lot to him that Anna thought he was worth all this time and effort. He didn't exactly have very many friends. He had kept to himself, trying to keep his nose clean, for his sake and the sake of his parents' mental health.
"I really appreciate it." he said sincerely. "So thank you."
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Post by neverlandlostgirl on Apr 4, 2017 3:39:19 GMT
Anna had just finished arranging the dessert and was about to take her seat again when she paused and turned slowly to stare at Axel. Her expression was one of simple surprise at his words. Was he really telling the truth or just embellishing to make her feel good? Was making him dinner really the nicest thing anyone had ever done for him?
"Is that true? I mean....surely people have done more for you then just make a dinner."
She stood by the table and continued to watch him in mild shock. She had made him dinner and most people would say that was a kind thing to do, yes, but to her it wasn't that big of deal. In a way, it was meant to pay him back for what he had done for her and therefore necessary in her mind. But to think that this simple thing had been the kindest action someone had shown him.....
It unnerved her slightly. And it made her feel a sudden rush of sympathy for Axel.
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Post by skyeknight on Apr 4, 2017 13:42:48 GMT
"It's no big deal." Axel dismissed with a wave of his hand. "Don't worry about it."
Honestly, it was to him. No one had ever put so much thought and effort into anything for him. Not even the staff he hired at the bar. He wasn't used to anyone being this kind, but Anna was obviously an exception. She broke all sorts of rules and conceptions that Axel had set up for his patrons. He was used to being kept at arms' length. The patrons would talk to him, talk at him, get advice from him but very few actually sought his company when they weren't there to drink. He supposed it was easier that way to keep his cool as long as he wasn't being tested. Sadly his fire streak had been broken. Now he was only a week into his 'fireless' break.
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Post by neverlandlostgirl on Apr 4, 2017 19:19:56 GMT
Anna nodded and even managed a believable smile, but deep down she couldn't help but wonder. Axel acted as though such things never bothered him but was that really true? Either way, it wouldn't do to pester him about it. Maybe, just maybe, given more time he would start to open up to her about these kinds of things.
"....Well, you better have some of this lava cake before the cream gets warm!"
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Post by skyeknight on Apr 4, 2017 20:06:53 GMT
"Don't mind if I do," Axel said.
He took his seat across from her. After taking a bite of his cake he nearly groaned, but managed to keep any noise to himself. It was very warm and very rich. The cream on top was literally the icing on the cake. It mixed perfectly with the warm spongy layers of cake. Anna was trying to kill him. That was the only logical explanation he could think of. She had to be trying to kill him because this was amazingly good. Kill him with kindness. There was a first. He wondered if it would be too soon to make jokes like that. Perhaps. Especially considering her reaction beforehand.
"I don't even think Nevermore makes cakes this good," he told her before going on to dramatically lament. "What am I supposed to do after this? How will I be able to go on?"
He would get his fix at Nevermore. But Axel didn't exactly have an opinion on them. He liked them well enough, but wouldn't go out of his way to get them.
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Post by neverlandlostgirl on Apr 4, 2017 20:16:13 GMT
Anna had been taking small bites out of her own cake when she heard the smallest of sounds from Axel and looked up at him, her expression somewhat worried. Was the cake not that good? Or maybe he didn't like chocolate and was simply too polite to say so?
However, a moment later he responded in a slightly over the top manner of how good the cake was. Indeed, his dramatic praise for the dessert was so silly that Anna couldn't help but give a hasty giggle of mad laughter before managing to stifle it.
"Don't let the staff at Nevermore hear you say that! Otherwise they might challenge me to a bake-off to the death."
She gave another small chuckle before returning to her own cake.
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Post by skyeknight on Apr 4, 2017 20:21:40 GMT
"To the death, huh? Well, I can't have that. Your secret is safe with me," he vowed.
That would have been entertaining to see Anna go up against the bakers of Nevermore. Both of them were equally skilled at what they did, but Axel found himself wondering what Anna was like when she worked. Did she flounce about like she normally did? Sing silly songs while she baked? With little Pascal balanced on her shoulder as she worked. She knew how he worked. He tried to make every drink like he was putting on a show, aside from after the prison riots and he was just tired. He figured some people would cut him some slack for that.
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Post by neverlandlostgirl on Apr 4, 2017 20:30:18 GMT
For a while neither of them spoke again and instead focused on enjoying their lava cake. Anna was happy to see that the dessert had turned out quite well after all. She had been worried the chocolate sauce inside the cake might have turned out somewhat lumpy when she was baking them but was happy to note that the sauce was perfectly smooth and rich. Not only that, but the Chantilly cream paired perfectly with the cakes so that the chocolate wasn't completely overwhelming in taste.
Soon enough, both of their plates were empty and the city outside began to wind down as the evening wore on. Anna licked her lips to remove any lingering traces of chocolate before taking the plates and putting them in the sink. She had to admit she was grateful that Axel had offered to clean the dishes beforehand. Now she would only have to clean these two plates instead of a sink full as she had previously thought.
"I hope you enjoyed yourself here tonight, Axel. I know it wasn't exactly exciting or anything but I'm glad the food was to your liking."
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Post by skyeknight on Apr 4, 2017 20:47:08 GMT
Axel finished the last of his cake. Shortly thereafter, Anna whisked away the plates. He smiled. It seemed that after this things were going to go back to how they were. He was just the bartender after all and she was the patron. He would see her once a week - for her surprise drink of the night and that would be it. Hopefully, he wouldn't have to scare the patrons stiff about trying to make advances on unsuspecting people in his bar. There were only so many times that Anna would go without questioning his willingness to jump to her rescue after all.
"I had a lot of fun tonight, so don't worry your pretty little head." he reassured her.
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Post by neverlandlostgirl on Apr 5, 2017 17:42:00 GMT
"You too, flame-head."
Anna gave a small laugh as she said this last bit. It seemed like things really had gone very well that evening and the meal was a resounding success. Not only that, but it had given her a chance to learn more about the kind of person Axel really was. And what she had learned had only made her like him more.
"Well, I guess I'll see you when I next drop in for a drink at the bar."
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Post by skyeknight on Apr 5, 2017 20:02:49 GMT
"You know where to find me," Axel added.
He got to his feet. He knew he should say something more. But he kept quiet. He didn't have anything to take with him, so his hands were clenching at his sides. He offered her a smile. Anna was literally playing with fire by inviting him there, but he was the one who actually accepted so maybe he was the one who got burned? Regardless, something was different and Axel wasn't sure if that was a good thing. All he knew was that he could not wait for Anna to go back to the bar.
"Drinks will be on the house but don't tell anyone or else my reputation will be bust." he teased.
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Post by neverlandlostgirl on Apr 8, 2017 7:42:09 GMT
Anna simply gave a soft smile and light laugh at Axel's words, this gesture alone turning her face into something soft and beautiful.
"Don't worry, my lips are sealed. And as long as Pascal gets his cherries, his are too."
She said this as she stood beside Axel near the door. Part of her was glad that the evening had gone so well, even if there had been a few awkward moments here and then. After all, she had achieved what she wanted in paying back Axel and even learned more about the young fire Demon. Still, part of her was slightly reluctant for him to leave. There was still so much about him she didn't know.
However, she reminded herself that there would be more opportunities in the future. And she knew for certain that she could count him amongst her friends.
"Guess I'll have to tip the staff really well then."
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Post by skyeknight on Apr 8, 2017 18:22:50 GMT
He was stalling. That was never a good sign. That he honestly hadn't wanted to go home just yet. That he wanted to see Anna again. But he knew that he would so this... pining would do him no good. She and Pascal would drop in and things would go back to how they were. But... did he honestly want that after this? Seeing Anna in her element, a layer of her mask taken away and this was quite personal. Could he go back to just being her bartender? With the counter creating distance between them?
"See you next week." he said.
He turned on his heel and headed to the door with his hands in his pockets. He gave her a wave before seeing himself out. He would almost say she spiced his food with something if he didn't know her so well, but it was going to be a long night and very hard to get her out of his head.
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