A Starlight in the Gloom | [ action ] | OPEN

[fatherssins]

Who: Alucard Adrian & ...
What: It's free sample day at Cold Marble and Adrian has been told he's needed to lure in new custom.
Where: Cold Marble (the ice cream and sweeties parlour Adrian works at)
When: Today (5th June)

Memories of that bizarre vision* were running through Adrian's head as he blankly stared out of the shop window. It took three calls from the manager to finally pull him out of his day-dreamer's trance.

Business is a bit slow, his boss advised I think it'd be a good idea if you brought in some more custom Adrian.

For a moment the British expat looked at his superior with a cool, unchanging expression. There was a preternatural, and altogether eerie, appearance to his fair features as though the request had been beneath him and Adrian's androgynous beauty had been akin to carved stone. However, the moment passed (although it's passing seemed to take longer than it truly was) and suddenly his face was illuminated by a broad, toothy smile. He spoke, tone light and soft.

"I suppose things are a little slow. What do you want me to take out?"

The parlour's manager proceeded to instruct his young assistant on a selection of both frozen and room-temperature samples and with tray in hand and apron tightly tied around his middle Adrian stepped out into the street. He squinted slightly, it felt brighter today than it had yesterday, he didn't usually feel this sensitive to light but nowadays when he spent too long outside it brought on the most awful headaches.

He spotted a passer by and spoke, voice clear as the ringing of a silver bell, a chime in the bustle of the city centre.

"Would you like a sample?"



[ * Adrian's first echo, found here]

Comments

[not_good_not_wicked]

On one side, the almost ethereal retail slave, on the other side, an altogether earthy high school student. Marisa decided that if he didn't look like he had a headache, he would have been one of the prettiest men she had ever met.

More importantly, though, he had icecream.

"Do I ever!? Whatcha got?"

[fatherssins]

She was the archetypal girl next door. The sweetly curling hair looping into plump, little braids, her bright expression and her dear outfit. Her enthusiasm alone caused Adrian to smile, his expression full of grace and serenity.

"All sorts, miss." he spoke, voice smooth and melodic, the classic British accent well enunciated and clear "However, I would recommend the cookies and cream," charm oozed from him, it was his job to lure people in and he was good at it. Evidently he hadn't lost that ability from his previous life "it's to die for."

[not_good_not_wicked]

She yoinked the cookies and cream sample off the tray, but kept peering.

"Hmm, I'm more of a chocolate person."

[fatherssins]

"We do have a selection of chocolate flavoured ice creams inside. Would you like me to bring you a sample of one? Perhaps there's a particular one you'd like to try?" All of this was said with that continuing, perfect smile but as Adrian spoke there seemed to be something a little disjointed about his cheerful appearance. Something deeply sad lurking behind his smiling eyes. "Let me see, how about Belgian chocolate? Or double-chocolate swirl?"

[kingofthetoybox]

"If you're offering," Pokey said. As if the question prompted Pokey to move at the speed of light, he materializes out of nowhere and waits for his free treat. His greedy little hands are already stretched out in anticipation.

"This is free, right? Important as I am, even I can't refuse anything for free."

[fatherssins]

There was something outright comical about this boy's appearance, Adrian couldn't help but smile a little as he saw those plump, little hands reaching up at him in a grabbing motion. He had been told explicitly not to simply hand out the freebies to just anyone but he couldn't refuse this boy. He was endearing in his roundness.

"Free indeed, young sir. And are you important? Forgive me, I'm new to the city and I must be out of touch with people of note." The strong British accent affirmed his foreign nature, but neverheless he was gently humouring the boy, it was sweet to see such confidence.

[visionarykitten]

Free food of any kind was right up Gomez's alley. He didn't get to leave the apartment very often, but when he did, he made a day of it-- and stopping by the ice cream shop just to sniff and sniff and wish his ehhif didn't think ice cream was bad for cats was part of a nice day.

Part of a nicer day would be free ice cream, definitely.

The little white-and-tabby cat-- kitten, really; he was only half-grown, and barely that-- pawed at Adrian's pants leg as he headed outside for another potential customer, and looked up with bright green eyes that he hoped were adorable enough to earn him free eats.

[fatherssins]

This was most unusual for Adrian, as cats seemed to take an instant dislike to him. Had he known his past fully he would've known why by it was a sad fact that he had simply accepted over time. The saddest part for Adrian was perhaps that he rather liked cats, he thought them to be elegant, graceful creatures but they had never returned that affection.

Until now.

"You are keen," he whispered, looking down at the animal as it pawed at him gently "most of your brothers and sisters don't like me very much. I'm convinced it's something about the way I smell." How odd that he found it infinitely easier to talk to a cat than another human being. "I'd get scolded if I offered you a proper sample, you know." he teased, not expecting to disappoint the cat.

[visionarykitten]

Those cats obviously hadn't been sentient and able to understand human speech. Gomez could overlook a weird scent-- or whatever the cause was-- if it meant ice cream. Besides, the boy obviously didn't mean any harm, right? He was just selling ice cream, nothing wrong with that.

He gave a soft little mew and tried to look both sad and hopeful, making his eyes even bigger and perking both ridiculously over-sized ears at the ice cream boy.

[fatherssins]

Adrian expression softened further as he looked down at this altogether pitiful kitten. Its eyes seemed to plead for a sample and his resistance was running low (especially after considering his fondness for cats). "How am I meant to resist you if you look at me like that?" he sighed, looking down at his tray of samples to see one of the vanilla scoops was beginning to melt. "Well, maybe I can give you this. I suppose when it melts entirely it'll seem like cream. Cats like cream, don't they?" and with that Adrian crouched down and placed the half-melted sample in it's tiny paper cup on the floor by the cat's paws. "Just don't tell anyone I gave this to you, mm?"

[italktofish]

Arthur had already been considering getting himself some ice cream, but then he heard that question. Those were the magic words. "A sample?! OUTRAGEOUS! I'd LOVE one!"

[fatherssins]

That was more enthusiasm than Adrian was used to. He had offered samples on the streets before but never had he seen someone get quite that excited.

"Certainly, sir." He replied, British accent crisp and clear "We have several flavours for you to try today including caramel pudding and cookies and cream. I would advise you to try both, of course, as they are quite delicious." Adrian was charming, of course he was, he was meant to charm possible customers with mild manners and sweet smiles.

[italktofish]

"Of COURSE I'll try both!" Who needed to be charmed? Adrian had Arthur's full attention and cooperation as long as free ice cream was involved. "I'd have to be CRAZY not to try both!" said the man who had been known to have long conversations with fish in pet stores.

[thepiisatruth]

"Sure would," said Shawn, raising a brow behind his sunglasses, selecting, consuming, and turning on his heel to stride on. No natural law stood against eating and running.

Then impulse whipped him right back around. "Hold that thought, man, you got some space for 'chillin'' in there? 'Cuz I could cut out for an attosecond."

He'd realized as he asked that he felt - not bored, but peeved. He made his rounds through Locke City on crowded streets in the clear warm sunshine often and did so contentedly. But today - maybe it so many random-roll people to catch sight of his yellow eyes flashing with the sun behind his shades. If they saw, they saw. He didn't want to care.

Not caring got you killed, however. And so he has continued to pretend to. The hiding was mounting. Today, he thought to suppose, the sun was further irritating patience rubbing raw.

[fatherssins]

Adrian was glad to have achieved at least one potential sale but perhaps more exuberant to hear the quizzical way in which this young man spoke. He could not stop himself from smiling and behind those perfectly formed teeth there was a hint of a chuckle. "Ah, you sound so local." he said, forgetting his manners for a moment but quite remembering how different he sounded to most Americans. "Is that American slang? I suppose it is." His last comment was more internal than directed at the new customer.

"Oh, forgive me, I am a little too forward. Please, step this way and I can show you to a table." Adrian stepped back inside the parlour, nodding to his manager (who seemed most pleased with his progress), putting down his tray of free goodies he led the energetic young man to a rather quaint looking booth.

Now he stood before him, notepad in hand and an altogether charming expression on his face. He'd practiced and perfected that one well. "Is there something I can get for you? Or perhaps this seat is not to your liking? Please allow me to accommodate you in any way possible."

[thepiisatruth]

"Sure," he said smirking - a thing to let the man think when those with far more street-jive-heavy patterns had asked him to speak plain English in the past, slow-brained suckers - and drifted on in and into the booth.

Nice and cool in here. Of course.

"The seat's a'ight," he said. The cool, the space. With that he couldn't give a damn to nitpick about the seat - and throughout any care not to permit this break to last. He owed it himself - ever more, and more, and more, with all of this unnatural forced subtlety, creeping head just under the full of do-what-I-please. "Ya know what, I'm gonna get chocolate and espresso in the largest bowl you got."

[depolarized]

"Ah," Riku glanced up from his phone, his reply email half-typed, and glanced at the ice creamery behind the... woman? Man? in the apron offering him samples. He didn't usually pass by this side of town, but he made a mental note to drop by when he needed a sugar rush.

"New flavor?" he asked curiously, looking over the cups and selecting one at random.

[fatherssins]

"Quite so." And if Adrian hadn't sounded English before, he did now. "We have several new flavours for you to try, sir." he was polite and well-spoken but there was something quite 'put on' about Adrian's charm. It was a veil under which lurked a lot of nervous energy and anxiety. "Recently we have perfected a caramel pudding and cookies and cream recipe. I personally think they're both delicious, but you are welcome to try both if you wish?"

[depolarized]

"...Not from around here, are you?" Riku blinked at the accent, a vague impression of a butler flashing into his mind. The image, however, was soon superseded by the flavors. Feeling slightly guilty about it, he reached immediately for the cup that contained what looked like vanilla ice cream with swirls of caramel.

"Pudding is a pretty weird flavor for ice cream," he said carefully, and crushed the cup's contents onto his tongue. Sweetness burst on his tastebuds, slightly saltier than he'd expected. "Is it... supposed to be salted?"

[ursoreckless]

Shou wasn't too found of sweets. As a kid, he always would go for spicy and sour treats, leaving the sweeter stuff for his younger brother to munch. In other countries, he had tried their treats in an attempt to find something he actually liked, but still there was a limit as to how much sweet in a treat he can handle. Ice cream though, he had found he liked most flavors but the ones involving marshmallow flavoring. He especially liked vanilla and the bitter chocolates. So when a man about his age offered a free sample, Shou smiled.

"Ah... thank you."

He took his time to select one, skipping over ones that looked familiar since the joy of samples was finding something new. He also wasn't so startled by Adrian's appearance, being that he himself could look like a girl with a few changes in wardrobe.

[fatherssins]

Adrian's head tilted to the side slightly as he smiled, and as attractive as the expression seemed at a glance there was something unsettled about it; some poorly concealed sadness. "You're very welcome, sir."

He waited for a moment before remembering himself, he added (almost meekly) "Do you approve? Perhaps I can interest you in another flavour?"

[ursoreckless]

"Now, now, I haven't finished savoring this one yet," Shou said, his tone light as he smiled. The sample was actually quite small and usually people could just eat it in one bite, but Shou liked to get all the flavor coating his mouth before making his decision. Maybe it was a little silly of him, but he always found it saved him trouble later on.

"Does your shop make their own flavors?"

[moarnomsplz]

Alex had enough of a sweet tooth that he'd never pass up free ice cream, even if the guy offering it looked like someone those overdramatic theatre types only wished they'd grow up to be, and made him feel as if his hair had come uncombed, which it had a tendency to do, and as if his tie were crooked, which it definitely wasn't. He was still in his school uniform, navy blazer and all.

"What d'you have that's interesting?" he asked. He liked novel flavor combinations.

[fatherssins]

Adrian smiled sweetly, the expression holding both beauty and finess but beneath this seemingly perfect veneer there was something unsettled and almost shy about the blond.

"A good question," he replied "we have a variety of flavours you could try, recently we've brought out a salted caramel flavour or if you'd prefer something a little more fruity we have a mixed berry and--" a pause as he wracked his brain "--ah yes, we also have black cherry too."

[moarnomsplz]

"Salted caramel sounds good. So does the berry."

So did the black cherry, but Alex didn't want to seem greedy. Man, this guy had a really posh-sounding accent. Alex wondered if he was working his way through college.