The Marktplein: Page 3

Desya eyed Ao warily. sensing Gregory's discomfort, he moved a step away, immidiately noticing the lack of body-heat and being forced to fight himself to keep from trembling, still shaken from the cross-sighting.

he rubbed his arm self-consiously, and cast a glance at Ao quickly, then returning his half-blinded gaze to the ground. he could never look anyone in the eyes for more than a second. hastily he spit out an answer, "i. . . i don knou what he. . ." he glansed at gregory before returning consentration on trying to speak, "but i. . . i-i jusst lookink for worrk."

Desya made a slight face, unhappy with the wording he had used, thinking he sounded stupid, but not knowing anything better.

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Gregory's head cocked at the mention of pocky. "Eh, so you're German, but like the Japanese confections? Well, you're not alone. I love pocky. Especially chocolate orange." he turns to Desya, and senses his emarassedness. ((if that's not a word, it should be!)) "Wot about it, mate? Care for some pocky? If you've never tried it, now's as good a time as any." He smiles at Desya as if saying, Cheer up, mate. Don't be ashamed of the way you talk. "Come on, then, let's have a party!" Gregory chuckles.

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Gregory was right, Desya had never had any of this pocky. he smiled nervously, assuming it was some type of food, "ah. . . shure. . . tsansh. . ." he blushed slightly, hardly noticable but definately there.

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Gregory bought some Chocolate Orange pocky and began to chow down. "Excellent stuff, mate," he said between mouthfuls. He handed Desya a few sticks. "It's addicting, I must warn you," he says, chuckling again.

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Desya forces a small laugh and nibbles on the stick of pockey cautiously, upon tasting it, he nearly gasped in surprise that anthing could hold so much flavour. quickly glanceing at Gregory as if to ask permision, he shoved the entire stick in his mouth without breaking it.

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"Yes, that's how to do it!" Gregory demolishes several more sticks and finishes of the box. "Too bad they never last long," he says rather regretfully. "I'd buy some more, but I don't have much on me... really need to get to the bank soon," he said.

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Desya laughs in his quet way and nodds understandingly, emptying his pockets to show that he too had no money without saying anthying.

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Gregory stretched and said, "Say, how abouts we take a trip to the bank and fillup me wallet, eh? Maybe we can get you a little something too."

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"ah. . .! no. . .!!" Desya blushed furiously, "eh. . . i. . . i coudd not. ..i mean . . " Desya thought Gregory ment to give him money, as Desya didn't have anything in the 'bank'. he looked at the ground, "pleass. . . n-not wissout worrk."

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Gregory smacked his forehead and made a "tsk" sound. "Stupid, stupid, stupid! I keep forgetting you're new here," he said to Desya. "Well, if ye insist on working for your money, There's an employment agency just a couple of blocks from the bank. For that matter, I think the bank itself is hiring nowadays... ah, well, why don't ye just come along and check it out, eh?"

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Desya smiled shyly, again finding himself embarrassed with his own actions, "ah. . . ya. . . tsat soundds gudd."

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"Ok, let's go then! I'll lead the way." Gregory began to walk, a very determined yet not in a hurry walk. Unconciously, he shoved his hands in his pockets, something he only did when he was feeling self-concious (which Gregory didn't feel very often). But other than that, he was as charismatic as ever, smiling in the afternoon sun.

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Desya smiled and followed Gregory, enjoying the man's good mood.

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Ao beamed. She was happy that Desya was happy. But she needed a conversation.

"So! Whot are ye going to do now? How 'bout we go to the cafe? I always wanted to try their triple cappacino expresso supreme. I've heard et tastes just like fire whiskey........so would ye like to go?" she finished, smiling at the two men.

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"Sounds good," Gregory said to Ao. "How 'bout we catch up to ye after we rob the bank?" He elbowed Desya playfully and laughed.

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Desya blinked with big eyes, flinching slightly at Gregories gesture, "r-robb. . . ??"

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Ao looked slightly worried. Desya didn't really get the joke. "Um....well, not exactly," she started, trying to make her accent heavier to get his attention, "he's joking. Et's like a figure of speech, ye know?, like ye boys have nothing to do but ye'll pretend to not want to go with me because ye need to 'rob a bank' or something even though ye won't do et. Does that make et clear?"

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Desya had only become more confused at Ao's explaination, but he tried to fake an understanding look and nodded to cover up what he believed to be his own stupidity.

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Gregory looked at both of them and burst out laughing. "You're both wrong! I was making a joke, Ao, but not to blow ye off or anything like that. It's just that," Gregory held up a finger in a 'wait' gesture and bent over so his hands were on his knees and laughed some more. When he'd composed himself, he said, "It's just that I needed to go to the bank anyways to get some money. It was just a joke, Desya. I'm not laughing at you, just your reaction. Man, you two crack me up!" He wiped tears of mirth from his eyes and sighed, still smiling.

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Desya smiled and blushed, "o. . oh." he let out a small laugh.

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Ao scowled and stuck out her tongue at Gregory; acting like a child. "I knew that..." she mumbled while crossing her arms and looking away from him.

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Gregory laughed and said, "So, do ye want to come with us to the bank, or just wait for us at the cafe?" Just then his cell phone rang. "Hallo? Oh, Angela darling, what's up? Really. Well, come join us! We're at the Marktplein, on our way to the bank. Just hop on over, okay sweetie? Alright. See ya soon!" Gregory hung up, with a little smile on his face. "It seems my good friend Angela is all alone and lonely this evening, so she's going to come join us." He looked at Ao and Desya. "That'll be fine, right?"

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Desya nodded with a smile, "ja. . .tsat saunds . .. goodd"

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Ao shrugged, but then nodded and smiled brightly, walking in the direction of the bank...

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Continued in The Mitternacht Bank
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