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Post by Chiara "Romana" Vargas on Sept 26, 2011 21:26:39 GMT -5
The announcement for dinner was called, and Chiara followed the crowded, muttering curses at everyone who "invaded her bubble". It opened up to a room with long, place-marked tables. She wandered around for a bit, looking for the name "Chiara". After not seeing her name in two laps, and with most of the chairs being filled in, she began to get angry.
She instead starting looking for just "Vargas". She found her seat immediately, under her brother's name. With a sigh, she took her seat. All her questions were answered. It was a normal, stupid art gallery; and she really didn't belong. Chiara made direct eye contact with the nameplate, hoping that no one would notice that she had taken her brother's place.
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Post by Yao Wang on Sept 28, 2011 13:29:28 GMT -5
Yao Wang looked up, his head was propped up by the heel of his palm, and noticed two ladies had joined the table. Tapping the cigarette he sat up and and looked awkwardly around. The food had come. There was a low growl in his stomach as he looked over the ornate looking food. The signal was given so that they could start eating. Picking up his fork awkwardly he silently wished for a pair of chopsticks as he twisted his face a little.
Delicately he picked up the meat-thing and began to chew. Making yet another face. It was disgusting, flavorless and bland. Almost as bad as the rancid pork he had eaten when he was a child only with much less flavor. Putting the fork back on the table he swallowed heavily and stuck his tongue out for a brief second. "Ugh!" he said almost inaudibly to express his distaste.
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Post by Toris Laurinaitis on Sept 30, 2011 1:10:57 GMT -5
Dinner came and went. Toris must have been the first one to finish everything on his plate considering how hungry he was. Granted it wasn't good food, he really was expecting something better for an event like this, but food's food. And who is Toris to deny a possibly free meal?
Before dinner started though, Toris noticed that a rather young looking girl with brown curly took the empty seat next to him. He took a peek at the nameplate. Never heard of the name before but it sounded pretty important despite how the girl looked. He was expecting her to strike up a conversation with the other people sitting at the table but she was just as quiet as Toris was and pretty soon they were the only two at the table not talking.
"So, what do you think of this..um..art show? " that came out alot less smarter than how Toris imagined in his head.
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Post by Chiara "Romana" Vargas on Sept 30, 2011 20:18:01 GMT -5
Chiara had been sitting quietly in her brother's seat, poking curiously at her food. She wasn't quite sure what it was, or if it was edible. She had tried a bite, but it made her visibly wince. It took all of her social skills not to spit it at a waiter. She swallowed, like a lady, and gulped down her glass of wine to wash out the taste. She saw an Asian man sitting across from her have a similar reaction, and snorted. Apparently everyone had better taste than the Americans.
Time passed fairly slowly, and some people got up, wandered, and sat back down to eat throughout the formal dinner. She considered that they were avoiding their dinner, but she had no one to voice her thoughts to.
Out of no where, she heard the man next to her shyly ask her opinion of the art show. With unconsciously narrowed eyes she glanced over to him. "You are talking to me?" She asked, not sure who he was talking to.
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Post by Toris Laurinaitis on Oct 1, 2011 10:58:10 GMT -5
"Ah! Um..no, never mind, its nothing. S-sorry.. " Toris stuttered looking down. Bad idea, definitely bad idea Toris thought quickly in his head. The lady looked like she's angry or at least, Toris thinks she is.
He shouldn't have even come to this damn event if he knew it'd turn out like this, art that barely looks like art, food that's not even worth digesting (he still ate it though) and not a single person he knows is here. There's a very low chance he'd know anyone here anyway in the first place.
After awhile, the plates were cleared and a few people got up to go wander about again. Toris was also about to get up and walk around, mostly to get away from the lady he was sitting next to but another announcement sounded though telling everyone to stay in their seats as the organiser of the event wants to address them. Roy Liechtenstein was it? Or was that the person whose art the event's showcasing? Toris sat back down and looked over to the stage. He was still embarrassed over his failed attempt at starting up a conversation and stomach was really starting to hurt.
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Post by Chiara "Romana" Vargas on Oct 1, 2011 20:32:45 GMT -5
It took Chiara a moment to realize she'd scared the man. She blushed in embarrassment. Why was everyone so afraid of her? She's cute and sweet, god damn it!
She was trying to think of something to say, that wouldn't scare him or make him angry, and started intently, if not angrily, at her plate. Comment on the food? She didn't want to seem nasty. The art? No, she'd be meaner. While she was lost in thought, people continued eating, and chatting and walking around to look at the "art".
She'd decided on answering his question, and could only say; "I could be-" before another announcement came on, telling people to stay seated because there would be a speech from the organizer of the art show. She'd hoped it wasn't the artist, she really didn't care what he or she had to say at all. But, she was interrupted. With her face slowly getting redder, she tried to figure out if anyone cared whether or not she continued speaking. God, being embarrassed pissed her off.
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Post by Toris Laurinaitis on Oct 1, 2011 22:03:31 GMT -5
Toris caught a little of what the lady said before the announcement came up and on instinct, turned to look at the person who was talking. But its not like he did it really quickly or anything since he was afraid that if he did, he might just be staring into the face of an angry person. The thought of that tightened the knot in his stomach. Though he partly blames the food too. He shouldn't have ate it so fast.
He sat facing the lady who spoke and was surprised...though shocked might be a more appropriate word for Toris, to see that the lady's face was bright red. Like a tomato one would say but Toris didn't have the guts to make such a statement especially since the person might already be angry with him.
"A-are you o-okay M-miss? " Toris stuttered even more. It seems he's more afraid of people than what he does in his job. "Um..y-your face is..uh..all r-red" Sort of obvious but its not like you can look at your own face right? "I-I'm sorry i-if i made you mad." because apologizing seems like the right thing to do now or so Toris thought. He never was any good at interacting with anyone other than those closest to him. Which would equal out to nobody. As far as Toris's concern, he only had one best friend in his life but can't really see him anymore since he lives all the way across the sea. Now that he thinks about it...he was always being pushed around by that guy too. But it was fun in a way. But back to the matter at hand, he was still sorta waiting for a reply from the lady whose face was still red as tomato. If not redder.
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Post by Chiara "Romana" Vargas on Oct 1, 2011 22:47:31 GMT -5
He thought he made her mad? Oh, God, this twenty kinds of awkward, Chiara thought, wincing. "Um- no... It's fine. Really. I'm not mad. At you. Promise."
She wasn't completely sure why she wasn't lashing out at him. He didn't do anything to make her angry, but she was very known for placing the blame on undeserving people. There was just no way she could blame her irritated embarrassment on him. Which made her more irritated and embarrassed. She concluded that she should spend more time cursing and beating people than actually communicating with them.
"I was trying to answer your question... There are worse places to be than this art show, but not many," She grumbled. She hoped her face stopped turning red. It was freaking annoying- and probably scaring this obnoxiously nice man. She was sure she looked like a tomato by now. The very thought of looking like that fruit made her snarl slightly.
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Post by Toris Laurinaitis on Oct 3, 2011 6:01:59 GMT -5
Toris heaved a small sigh of relief and smiled abit after the lady said that she wasn't mad at him. Thank god for that then. It at least made a little bit of the stomach ache go away. "Well...I guess there are worser places to be" Toris said with a nervous chuckle. Was worser a word? His knowledge of the English language was still quite limited despite living here for about 3 years already. That and Toris was now embarrassed at jumping to the conclusion that he's made someone mad with they're not. But it was better than the feeling of thinking that you made someone mad and not know What you did in the first place.
"Ah, my name is Toris Laurinaitis," he said this and extends a hand out. It just seems like the right thing to do now right? Besides, its not like he can keep referring her as the lady sitting next to him. "and you are..." he recalled looking at the nameplate "Ms Vargas? Or is it Mrs, since the nameplate doesn't really state" Toris was almost very well aware at how nice or open he's being. Being nice is not the thing that surprised him since it's very much in his nature, but the part about him being open is what surprised him.
But you can't take back what's already been said and Toris would just go along with whatever happens next. Maybe..he might just make a new friend after all this. But then again, this lady doesn't look very friendly to begin with, maybe she wouldn't accept his handshake! You're over-thinking things again, Toris scolded himself in his head. It should all turn out fine if you just be yourself right? This is as myself as I'll ever be...Toris thought with a sense of depression. While all this was going on in Toris's mind, the speaker had already got up on stage to start on his speech or whatever. And to be truly honest, Toris doesn't really care at all.
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Post by Chiara "Romana" Vargas on Oct 5, 2011 21:52:44 GMT -5
Chiara glared at the orator when the microphone screeched, menaing he would start his speech. She finally found a person to talk to, who wouldn't arrest her if he knew what she'd been up to last night; and it was being interrupted for this shit? That was just mean.
She glanced back to the man, to see if he planned on paying attention. He seemed to be lost in thought, but was holding his hand as though he thought someone would shake his hand, but didn't. It took her another minute to catch what he'd said, and jumped slightly, before shaking his hand. He called himself Toris Laurinaitis. She didn't know if she could remember- or even pronounce- either of those names. All though, he sounded quite foreign. Now that she thought about it, even his accent had the attractive lilt of a language she'd never heard before. She held her tongue, not wanting to sound ignorant if she'd never heard of the country he was from. She'd learned in coming to America there was a lot more to the world than Rome, Madrid, and New York City.
"Ms. Vargas is fine, I guess," she replied at normal volume, blushing brighter yet. She must have seemed like such a bitch, leaving his hand there for so long. She hadn't even acted like a bitch yet! She winced slightly in realization, then repeated herself in a whisper. The speaker continued to speak, and as far as she could tell everyone else paying strict attention.
"We need to shut up now, I think," Chiara hissed in a low voice, collecting her hands in a folded pile on her lap. Without waiting for a reply, she stared blankly at the man speaking, turning her body slightly in an attempt to pay attention. Maybe if she knew something about art her brother would talk to her about all his artsy shit in their apartment. It ended up, though, that she was simply staring blankly at the wall behind the orator.
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Post by Toris Laurinaitis on Oct 7, 2011 8:03:02 GMT -5
"A-ah, um, right.." Toris kept his hand back and turned to face the man who was speaking. It mostly sounded like the guy was just asking for donations, one or two things about his art and then a whole bunch of supposedly deep meaningful bull- that artist always say. About what gives them their inspiration to create art and stuff like that. Toris wasn't paying attention though, and almost fell asleep several times. What is so important that this guy has to drag it out for an hour? Probably filling up for time since it said on the invitation that it would be dinner and talk at the same time.
Toris allowed his thoughts to wander as the man continued to speak and thought back to the lady whom he just got to know of. Ms Vargas. Doesn't sound like any American name he's heard of. She did sound foreign. He was sure he heard it before somewhere, he was reminded that quite a few people in the "family" talked with that kind of accent too. Was it spanish? Nah...Italian maybe? That could be it...
Toris was pulled out of his thoughts as the man finally finished his speech and bowed as the crowd loudly applauded. Toris really haven't heard a single word the man said and simply clapped along with the crowd hoping to not look as awkward as he felt.
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Post by Chiara "Romana" Vargas on Oct 8, 2011 0:04:31 GMT -5
The speech seemed to last years to Chiara. She stared blankly at the decidedly cream-colored walls, with exactly fifteen cracks and one odd stain for the duration of his presentation. She had caught one or two words; but all the sense it made to her was "money, the love of my live, painting and other shit Chiara doesn't care about". She felt a bit left out from the interest, assuming most people actually wanted to hear from the artist. Poor them; they couldn't realize how mind-numbing this was to more "normal" people.
One topic seemed to conquer attention more than any other; and it was surprisingly not the violent dismemberment of whoever was boring her. Instead, she was trying to figure out where she would have met the man next to, Toris Something-Long-And-Foreign. He was oddly familiar, but she couldn't place where she would have met him. He wasn't like most of the people she associated with, mainly because he seemed like more of a "good guy", than a "mobster". Not that she only interacted with other mobsters; but she didn't think anyone as... timid would be living in her violent and shitty neighborhood, either. It was a bit of a riddle, that she still hadn't figured out when the orator finished.
She was snapped from her thoughts by the applause that came when a long lecture ended. A new blush turned her cheeks light pink as she jumped in surprise clapped, a few moments after everyone else.
After the presentation was done, the guests were to walk around gallery again, and see the art "in a new light". Chiara thought it would still be crap, but welcomed the excuse to stretch. Standing up as quickly as socially acceptable and cracking her back, she looked down at Mr. Something-Long-And-Foreign.
Blunt and rude as usual, she asked, "Where the hell do I know you from?"
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Post by Toris Laurinaitis on Oct 8, 2011 5:52:59 GMT -5
"Um...i don't b-believe that we've ever met before Ms Vargas.." the stupid stuttering started again as Toris nervously replied the Italian/maybe Spanish lady. It was true that he never really met or seen this person before. Her accent does sound vaguely familiar though but Toris was pretty sure he's never run into anyone with the name of Vargas bcracked
His back made a tiny cracking noise as Toris stood up for the first time since dinner started and stretched a little. Almost everyone had already left the dining area except for a few people and Toris thinking how awkward it would be for him to be left alone here with this lady. She might have already proven that she's quite friendly and mean no harm...at least for the most part. But still, being the socially awkward person he is, its not possible for Toris to NOT feel nervous at all.
"Maybe you've mistaken me for someone else..? " Toris said with a slight smile.
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Post by Chiara "Romana" Vargas on Oct 8, 2011 22:05:02 GMT -5
Chiara scowled out of frustration, but accepted the answer. Accepting defeat, she replied "I guess. You're just very familiar..."
Despite giving up on asking him for his identity, the fact that he was so familiar seemed to bug her. It was his name and accent more than anything else that she could have sworn she'd heard before. It was more likely than not that he was simply a friend of her brother or of another member of the Family, and she'd seen him around her home, or with someone she knew better.
Chiara had noticed everyone else filing out of the dining room, but she had absolutely no urge to go look at more shitty pottery and paintings. Unsure of what to do now, and not wanting to be openly rude; she waited to see what Mr. Something-Long-And-Foreign was going to do. She didn't dislike talking to him; but she liked the idea of leaving much more than she liked this awkward conversation. She blushed redder and waited for his next move.
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Post by Toris Laurinaitis on Oct 9, 2011 8:45:48 GMT -5
(( I wonder where the others are, i mean I know China is off on vacation till tmr but then where's..everyone else? xD;; ))
Toris noticed that Ms Vargas' face turning even redder but decided to go against the idea of announcing it to her in the risk of embarrassing her even more. He tilted his head a little to the side so as to avoid eye contact and ended up looking at a potted plant sitting in a corner.
"Um...I don't suppose you'd want to look at any more of the art exhibits..? And you can call me Toris if you want, most people call me that since not alot of people are able to remember or even pronounce my last name...though I guess it's kind of a common thing back at home.." Toris then realized that he was starting on a ramble and quickly changed the subject. "A-ah! You're not really a local too are you? I'm from Lithuania."
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