Vlora Kawan's Story

Rhyanid grinned down at Isla when she said it sounded like a lovely evening. "Yeah," he said, but wasn't able to say anything more before a customer came in and Isla went off to deal with the customer. He watched for a moment, smiling a bit. She really was great with the customers. He was definitely impressed - and, on top of that, she didn't constantly seem to be flirting with him. If anything, she kept her distance and kept to herself. He didn't mind getting new girls that flirted with him, of course, but his mother didn't want him dating coworkers, so the girls usually got frustrated once they realized it wasn't going anywhere. Maybe this thing with Victoria would go somewhere, though. After a bit he headed into the back, figuring he'd check and see if his mother needed him to do anything.

Bastian headed out of the office with Vlora, making sure to lock up behind them before starting to walk back to his place with her. He was quiet for most of the walk, his blue-grey eyes heavy with sleep. When they got there and she insisted on tucking him in, he eyed her slightly. "You have been spending too much time caring for a child, Mademoiselle... I assure you, there is no need for me to be tucked in," he said, unlocking the front door and holding it for her.

Isla had been having a steady flow of customers come in and when it was time for lunch she let whoever was here know she was going out and she ran down to the post office to mail a letter back home. She needed them to ship her tanks over for her. Then she went for a smoothie and got her work some cupcakes before coming back. When she came back she set the cupcakes down in the office and smiled. "I got cupcakes..." She said and left them there before going in the back to play with the animals.

Vlora smirked and nodded before walking in. It seemed a bit plain but it fit him and she wouldn't have changed it, not that she could, but if she had the chance she wouldn't. She really did like her new friend. She turned around and looked at the tired lawyer in front of her. "You know they say your face when you are tired is what you look like during sex." She smirked.

Rhyanid spent some time in the back cleaning the animal cages, and then he popped out to the front to stock some shelves. He noticed that Isla had customers to handle, so he didn't say anything to her. Lanissa kept on working in the office, nodding when Isla told her she was leaving for lunch. Rhyanid was in the front while his mother was in the back when Isla put the cupcakes down on the desk. Lanissa blinked, smiling a bit. "Thank you, dear," Lanissa said to Isla as she headed into the back to play with the animals. She took a cupcake and headed up to the front, giving it to her son and telling him it was from Isla before heading back into the back to eat her own cupcake and work on her paperwork.

Bastian shut the door behind them, glancing at Vlora when she said what she did. He was quiet for a moment, trying to discern whether she was joking. "I've never heard such a thing," he said after a moment, heading to the kitchen. "Can I offer you a beverage?" he asked, getting out a glass and pouring himself a drink of water.

Isla came back and smiled at Rhyanid before going check on the fish. She had been feeding them when Victoria walked in. She said hello to Rhyan, commenting on how handsome he looked before excusing herself to look at some cat stuff. Isla looked back to see the woman and she gasped. "Do you have any idea how adorable you look in that color?" She asked and Isla blinked before looking down at her dress. "I have had some people say it matched my hair nicely." She said softly. Victoria clapped her hands together, "Well they weren't lying. Would you be okay with doing a photo shoot? We have like... a ton of gorgeous elf's but we never get dwarfs. You would do wonderful in our summer catalog." She said softly.

Isla wanted to die, "Uhm... I am no model. I tend to fish and I have had a baby." She said sofly. Victoria blinked, "What? HOW do you look so damn good after a baby? How old is..?"

Isla smiled, "He is nine months." She said and the woman sighed. "I can only ever hope to bounce back like you did. Please consider it? Oh! Rhyan, would you be willing to shoot with her?" She asked. Isla blinked and slowly looked at Rhyan, praying he would say no.


Vlora watched his noggin turn trying to figure out if she was joking and she covered her mouth with the back of her hand. She couldn't get over this man. "Probably not." She said trying not to laugh. Vlora followed him into the kitchen and looked around before smiling at him, "Water is fine, thanks. Let me guess... you have a firm and steady desk here too?" She said and pressed her lips together afterwards.

Rhyanid smiled when he saw Victoria come in, saying hello to her and thanking her after she said how handsome he looked, telling her she looked lovely today as well. He finished up with the box he was unpacking as he heard the women talking. When Victoria asked Rhyanid to consider shooting with her and suddenly both girls were looking at him, though, he blinked slightly. "I, uh..." he said, a little taken aback. "I mean, if Isla wanted to then I'd be cool with it, but it'd be up to her. Oh, Zel has a friend who's a dwarf. I haven't met her yet but she says she's cute, maybe I should get her to introduce you," he suggested with a bit of a grin. He could see some discomfort on Isla's face so he figured he would avoid trying to pressure her into doing what Victoria wanted. If she didn't want to then she didn't want to, and it wasn't a big deal.

Bastian nodded when she said that water was fine, getting down a second glass and handing it to her. He glanced over when she asked if he had a firm and steady desk here too and he shook his head. "No. My desk here is nice, but nowhere near as sturdy as the one at my office is," he replied, taking a sip of his drink.

Isla blinked, this man was something. Victoria looked over and cupped her hands together, batting her eyes. This damn woman was going to go for it until she said yes and she didn't want to snap at a customer. "Sure... just know I am going to look really really short next to him. I don't if you have seen his very tall self... but he is tall." She smiled. Victoria cheered and giggled. "Thank you! I will be back tomorrow to let you two know when we will be setting up for it. And great stuff, you two get to keep the clothes. Ugh... another dwarf? Yes, I would like to meet her too." She smiled. The woman got her stuff, bought it, kissed her man's cheek and walked out. Isla took a deep breath and let it out before feeding the birds. "Now look here you." She said to the angry red bird. "Stop biting my darn fingers. I am just trying to give you food. If you want better food talk to my boss." She huffed before giving him food and dodging his beak. "Ha!" She giggled.

Vlora thanked him for the water and slowly sipped hers before smirking. This man was something. "Well, that's no good. How will you have fun on it if it can't support you?" She asked and looked around before eyeing him a bit. Amell thought it was weird for her to make a guy friend so fast and him not be rough and tough like her. Most of the guys she met that were like Bastian scuffed at her and called her a dyke. It was rather rude and the guy always got his ass kicked.

Rhyanid watched Victoria as she tried to convince Isla, smiling a bit at Isla's comment about looking really short next to him. He nodded when Victoria said she wanted to meet another dwarf. "I'll talk to Zel about it when she comes in tonight, then," he said. He let Victoria kiss his cheek before she left, smiling as he watched her go and then turning towards Isla. He smirked a bit as she scolded the angry red bird. "I feel like he and Soup would get along really well, if not for the fact that Soup would eat him," he said to her with a chuckle. "And, hey, if you really don't want to do the modeling thing then I can probably convince her to drop it. You didn't look too enthusiastic," he added gently.

Bastian blinked when she asked how he would have fun on his desk if it couldn't support him. "Well, it doesn't need to support me. I only really use my home office when I'm working alone, so it's just my paperwork. I lean on the one in my office at work when I'm with clients sometimes, but here all I do is sit at my desk. It needn't be capable of supporting my weight," he told her with a bit of a shrug. He leaned back against the counter and sipped his water, gazing towards her. "Can I offer you anything else?" he asked.

Isla stuck her tongue at the bird, "Yeah well... I can't say I would feel bad for the bird. So mean for no reason... unless the bird had a hard past with a crappy owner that was redheaded like me... then I would feel bad and I wouldn't be so darn angry with it. Hell if that was the case him and I would be in the same boat." She said before looking over at him and shrugged. "I told her I would do it, wouldn't I? I will be fine." She smiled. She faked smiling and being okay with a lot of things most days. So this should be a piece of cake.

Vlora smiled, he had no idea what she meant and she loved it. He was going to be so much fun to mess around with. "Ahh all business." She said before finishing her water. When he asked if he could offer her anything else she smirked and thought about it. There was a number of things she could have said to him. "Hmm... well I have seen a good bit of your house just walking in here... how about you show me your bedroom?" She smirked.

Rhyanid chuckled a little at her comment about the bird having a hard past with a crappy owner. "Well, given that we purchased him off a breeder and he's been in our shop for most of his life, I doubt it has anything to do with previous owners," he told her. He was curious what she meant about being in the same boat. Maybe her son's father had been abusive. That would explain why she'd moved here with a baby. He hoped that wasn't the case, though, because a sweet little thing like her didn't deserve anything like that. He nodded when she said she'd be fine. "If you're sure. Just let me know if you change your mind," he told her before breaking down his empty box and heading to the back to get another one.

Bastian nodded when she said he was all business, finishing up his glass of water and setting it in the sink. He looked over at her when she asked to see his bedroom and he nodded. "I suppose I could do that," he said, gently taking her glass from her and putting it in the sink with his. He put a hand in the middle of her back and began to lead her to his bedroom. He opened the door and held it for her with a polite smile. "After you," he said.

Isla frowned a bit, "No one has wanted him? No wonder why he is so angry at the world. When he told her that she could change her mind and tell him she nodded. As long as he wouldn't be perverted with her in any way she would be okay. She returned to the counter when he left and sat, humming a tune and looking through a bet magazine.

Vlora smiled when he said he could do that. She had also loved when his hand went to the middle of her back. She went with him and blinked as she looked inside of his room. Vlora looked up at him and smiled when he said after her and she walked in. "Well... this is a very you room. It screams, Bastian." She smiled and refrained from saying something pervy.

Rhyanid emerged with another box of merchandise and he shrugged a bit at her comment. "He hasn't been here too long. I'm sure someone will want him eventually," he told her, carrying the box over to an aisle and beginning to stock the stuff from inside. A young couple walked in a few minutes later, heading for the dog supplies aisle hand-in-hand and beginning to look over the things that were there. Rhyanid was about to go over to them to see if they wanted a hand when he stood up quickly and knocked a box of cat litter off the shelf. The corner of the box smashed and some of the litter started to pour on the floor, and he sighed, picking up the box and setting it aside before going to the back room to get the broom.

Bastian smiled down at Vlora when she commented that the room suited him and he nodded. "I like to think so. It suits me much more than my home office does. I don't care for the decorations in there. I had a girlfriend some years back who took it upon herself to put up some pictures, change my curtains, and put in some plants. I don't much like plants. I feel guilty when I don't water them, so I keep watering them and hoping that they'll eventually die on their own, but they never do," he sighed.

Isla blinked and looked up when she heard the door. She put the magazine down and welcomed them before watching them disappear into the aisle before giggling when she heard the noise and then the sigh. Isla watched him walk into the back and she hurried over to asked if they needed help. They smiled and nodded, asking what would be a good toy for a hyper dog. "Well, let's see what we can find." She said and looked up at the toys. "You want something your dog will stick with, something that will hold their attention." She said softly and gently grabbed a toy from where it was and showed it to them before showing them what would get its attention. "Though I am pretty sure this one will keep its attention for a while too." She giggled and handed them a toy you would put a treat in and they would try to get it out.

Vlora sat on his bed and listened to him. "Oh? You had a girlfriend before?" She teased and smirked. "Well it is rude to hope a plant dies. They only need water once a day. Do it in the morning when you are doing god knows what. Probably your hair." She laughed.

While Isla was helping the couple who'd come in to look for toys for their dog, another young couple entered. They started to go towards the dog section but stopped when they saw Isla there with the first couple. They exchanged a look and then the man gently pulled the woman towards the birds, idly watching them while they, presumably, waited for Isla to be finished with the other couple. Rhyanid emerged from the back with a broom and pan, heading straight for the spilled litter and starting to clean that up.

Bastian blinked when she questioned his having a girlfriend and he nodded. "Well, of course. I've dated before. Haven't you?" he asked with a smile. He blinked when she said to water the plants in the morning when he was doing his hair. "Well, of course I do my hair in the morning," he said in a very matter-of-fact tone. He took off his suit jacket and gently set it in a laundry basket near the foot of the bed before beginning to loosen his tie stifling another yawn. "I do hate suit shopping," he muttered, and glanced over his shoulder to glare at the suit bag that hung from the back of his bedroom door.

Isla took that couple to the counter to ring up their shit ton of toys and treats. She wished she could find her a man who was like this one. He seemed like he loved her a lot. Though so did Dover, fucking cunt tart. When she was done and they paid she looked over.

Vlora laughed softly when he said he did his hair in the morning. It was a dumb obvious. She leaned back on her hand and tilted her head to the side, resting on her shoulder when she watched him take his jacket off and undo his tie. He was a very handsome man and she still wondered if he knew it. "I am going to be honest with you... I asked my niece for help with the whole ballgown think and she got super excited, but she is smart and figured I didn't want to dress like a thirteen-year-old and now she is on the hunt for someone to come shopping with us. I have to say I already feel tired. So I can't blame you for looking like you can fall asleep right where you stand." She smiled.

Rhyanid kept cleaning up the spilled litter, having to make a few trips to the garbage bin with the dustpan to deal with it. When Isla took the couple with the treats and toy to the counter, the other couple moved away from the birds and went straight to the dog supplies aisle. They held hands the entire time they were there, speaking in hushed voices and not looking towards Isla or Rhyanid while they browsed. Rhyanid glanced over at them and then looked at Isla, smiling. From what he'd heard, she'd done quite well with that first couple, so he didn't mind if she helped this second couple while he finished cleaning up.

Bastian took his tie off and went to his closet on the wall opposite the bed, opening the door and putting away the tie. He listened while she talked, smiling a bit and looking back over at her. "If she's as intelligent and mature as you seemed to indicate when you were telling me about her previously, I am certain her taste in gowns will be just lovely," he told her before taking off the vest of his suit and dropping it in the basket with his jacket, leaving himself in just the black suit pants and crisp white dress shirt. He walked over to where she stood, leaning down and kissing her cheek softly. "I appreciate you walking me home, Vlora. I should likely get some sleep. I've got a long day of meeting with clients ahead of me tomorrow. Let me show you out," he said.

Isla was done with them and went over to the others, smiling. "Hi can I help you?" She asked.

Vlora watched him and then laughed, "I am sure she would, but my taste is a bit more... mature than she should be thinking." She said softly and got up when he said that he had a long day. "Yeah, anytime. I know the way." She said and smiled before saying goodnight and left.

Isla blinked and looked at her for a bit before laughing, "Of course you work here. Hello, I am Isla. The one who is great with fish and selling animals and stuff, but not so smart at putting two and two together." She said softly. The puppy licked her cheek and she smiled down at him before gently loving on him and putting him up.

Vlora was on her way back from talking to her boss and decided to get that information from Bastian's secretary while she was in town. She was wearing casual clothes once again since she wasn't working and walked into the big green house and smiled. "Hi, Bastian told me to come to you to get the information about the charity ball." She said softly and smiled.

Zelipia smirked a bit when Isla introduced herself and laughed. "I don't blame you. I mean, it's not like I look like my family. I'm much lighter than them, and obviously didn't get the elfy ears," she said with a bit of a shrug. "And hey, for the record, I very rarely ditch work. I'm scheduled to work evenings and appointments, and I do. I'm not like Rhyan, I'm not gonna spent my entire damn day in the shop when I'm not scheduled to be here all day," she said with a bit of a smirk. "Seriously. Go peep the schedule. All my shifts start like an hour after yours end."

Claire was sitting at her desk when the girl from yesterday walked in and asked for information about the charity ball. She blinked, surprised that Bastian would ask a girl like this to attend the ball with him, but she nodded. "Of course. Let me just find it," she said, opening a drawer and beginning to rummage around in it. While she looked in the drawer, a man emerged from the door that led to Bastian's office. He had scraggly hair and thick stubble, and he was wearing a mismatched and obviously cheap suit with grey bottoms, a navy jacket, and a red tie. He slowed to a stop when he saw Vlora, a slight smirk coming to his lips. "Well, you're a sight for sore eyes. If I followed you home, would you keep me?" he asked with a chuckle.

"Mr. Samson," came Bastian's voice suddenly as the office door opened again behind him and Bastian walked out, "that is hardly any way to speak to a lady. Now, shouldn't you be going? I believe you have paperwork to find and get back to me," he said, his voice stern and rather intimidating. He was wearing a nice black suit with a dark teal tie today and he stopped in the doorway, putting his hands in his pockets and glaring at the sleazy man. The man frowned and shuffled a bit, clearly intimidated by Bastian, and then nodded. "Uhh, right, Mr. De Larousse. Sorry," he said before slinking out of the office. Bastian watched him go before shaking his head a bit and looking at Vlora. "I apologize for Mr. Samson's behaviour," he said.

Isla smiled, "Between you and me, though, you are your mom are the prettiest." She giggled and blinked. "Ahh no I wasn't thinking you really slacked. I just thought you actually worked on only appointments and the rest was kind of like chores... but you are right... your brother kind of lives here. Though with Victoria maybe he will be a bit more... outsy?" She said and blinked." Oh no no... I don't like looking at other's schedules. I feel like that is invasive." She said softly.

Vlora nodded and smiled at Claire. When the rough looking man came out and he said what he said to her she kind of laughed and shook her head. She had been hit on many times but that was new. She hadn't expect to hear Bastian defend her and his sternness made a chill go down her spine. It was hot to say the least. "Ah, no biggie, but thanks for standing up for me. Who knew you could be so stern. You are surprising me, Mr. De Larousse." She smirked.

Zelipia laughed when Isla told her that she and her mom were the prettiest. "Oh, so you don't think Rhyan's pretty? I'm surprised. Most of the girls that work here think he's just soooo dreamy," she pretended to gush, rolling her eyes a bit as she got out her supplies for grooming and went over to where the fluffy dog was. "Ugh, aren't you just a cutie? With so much floof? Let's get that floof under control, now, shall we?" she cooed, beginning to get to work. "Yeah, Rhy kinda lives here. It's pretty sad, really. But you're right, Victoria should make him get out more. He really doesn't date enough. He's too afraid of getting hurt. Pussy," she said with a smirk.

Bastian smiled a bit when Vlora thanked him for standing up for her and commented that she was surprised he could be stern. "It is rather necessary when dealing with men like Mr. Samson," he said with a bit of a shrug, walking over to where she stood. "How are you?" he asked, removing one hand from his pockets and bringing it to her waist, leaning down and gently kissing her cheek. Claire eyed them somewhat, having found the information but waiting until he and Vlora were done before she would give it to her.