Topic: Kurious Kingston

Refined Mischief

Date: 2010-04-08 19:37 EST
Klara Kingston was not one to sit on her ass and watch life pass her by. On the contrary, Klara Kingston was the type to get off her ass and create her own life.

She had done just that since she was introduced into the world, forcing others to be on her schedule. Klara was introduced to the world with a golden spoon in her mouth, and had the refined tastes of the Upper East side ever since.

Even when daddy dearest, fed up with paying boarding schools to take her, told her to get her act together. She was cut off, but she wasn't without. Klara had learned that a killer smile and great curves could get you far in this world.

A hefty bank account later and splashed all over the tabloids had caused Mommy and Daddy dearest to just accept who she was ? a shrewd business mind mixed with the party-girl pinup.

Klara came to Rhy'din a few months ago, but her first order of operations was to set up her shop. Mommy had passed on more than great genes and Klara had found out that Rhy'din was more perfect than home for this type of business.

Kingston's Kuriosity Shoppe was created in the marketplace, just off the main square. She had spent the first few months aquiring an eclectic mix of first edition books, various weapons, a specific line of lingerie, antiques from other worlds, and technological gadgets. Satisfied with her inventory, the shoppe was opened for business.

She also had the backroom that was only by invitation only.

So far, none had been invited back.

But Klara would bide her time.

Refined Mischief

Date: 2010-04-08 19:38 EST
Klara awoke, the sun's rays lingering on the bed and causing her to squint as she pushed off the tangled sheet and swung her bare legs off the bed. It was well on its way to being noon, but that was the life she was used to and she'd be damned if she was going to give that up.

Manicured nails curled around the edge of the mattress as she slowly woke up, her eyes rising to the room in the rather extensive apartment she had fixed up. It had two bedrooms (potential for three), a rather large living area, and a decent sized kitchen.

Sadly, Klara had no roommate.

Klara did not even have a friend.

All her time had been in the shoppe and getting that off the ground. The realization drew a slight frown as she pushed off the bed and padded toward the shower, tank and panties dropped on the floor en-route to the tub. The steam created a vaporous cloud in the bathroom, the heat welcome.

She wasn't used to this. Lack of plans; lack of paparazzi; lack of? well" a life. It kinda sucked. The only bright spot in her week was the jello wrestling; she had dared to venture out and had a hell of a time. Yet, she was still lacking in making a single true friend.

The water was turned off and she toweled dry, droplets of water sliding down tanned skin to drip onto the floor, her hair pinned up on her head until she was dressed and could dry it.

But all that had changed with the knock on the door. Jeans and a t-shirt were donned as Klara crossed the apartment toward the door, pulling it open.

And there she was " Shawna Willows. Klara all but squealed as she threw her arms around the woman. Shawna laughed, dropping her Louis Vuitton outside the door as she hugged the woman back.

"How did you get here?"

"Beats me." Shawna replied, stooping to pick up her bag and make her way in. "But I'm here now and I found you." She continued in her Southern drawl.

Klara's full lips slid into a wide smile as she closed the door, ushering Shawna inside. "That's good"because I have some business ideas and I could use you."

Refined Mischief

Date: 2010-04-23 21:48 EST
Klara laughed loudly, a toss of her head sending blonde tumbling down her back and exposing the long expanse of smooth skin that led from her jaw, to her neck, to the swell at the top of her corset. She was well aware of the eyes on her, but it was all part of the game.

"You are unfair!" She half laughed, half whined, throwing the cards on the table and shoving the pile of chips toward the young man across from her. "Aren't you supposed to let the lady win?"

"If it was any other lady, then yes." He responded with a smile, a hand reaching out to scoop the chips into his pile. "But we all know you, Klara."

"Hmph." She pretended to pout, rising from the chair. The pencil skirt was smoothed by a quick glide of her hands, four sets of eyes once more watching her every move.

"Besides," the man next to her chimed in. "Last time you cleaned us out."

"Ah' the truth." Klara reached out a hand to slide her fingers through the man's thick hair. "Shame. Though the money was put to good use." She outstretched her arms and twirled to show off her new clothes.

"That it was." A third voice growled, an arm curling about her waist as she was tugged backwards and teeth nipped at her neck.

Klara's hands reached out to shove the man backwards, baby blues narrowing for but a moment before she laughed. "Glad for the approval." She turned toward the bar, fingers making easy work of uncorking a decanter and filling a glass with scotch. "When is the new guy coming?"

"Tomorrow."

"And?"

"The usual."

She nodded, an elbow resting on the bar as she reclined against it. "Fine."

Refined Mischief

Date: 2010-04-23 21:48 EST
"It must be the luck of a first timer!" Klara nearly squealed, clapping her hands together before her hands reached out to slide the chips toward her pile.

"So it seems." The man grumbled, leaning back in his chair to reach a hand up and scratch at his jawline. Deep set eyes stared at the woman laughing across from him. What he wouldn't give to win her in a game. She could make all the losing worthwhile.

"What do you say we up the stakes, Lucas?" The man next to Klara asked.

"Mmm' What do you have in mind?" Lucas asked, turning his attention back to the man he had met only a few days earlier; the one who had told him of the biweekly card games.

"How much are you wiling to wager?"

Lucas sat silently. What was he up to' He eyed the woman again, watching as she looked confusedly between the two men. A hand dug into the pocket of his expensive Armani slacks, a keyring being drawn out and tossed onto the table.

"I see you're serious." The man spoke, his eyes falling onto Klara before he dropped her license onto the table. "I wager her."

"What"!" Klara exclaimed. "You can't wager me!"

"I just did." He responded coolly, dealing the cards toward Lucas. "Sit there and play. You're on a winning streak so win."

Klara's lips pursed in silent anger as the cards were dealt to the last two players; her and Lucas. She watched from beneath long lashes as Lucas shifted to lean forward on the table. Klara eyed the cards, plucking two from her hand to drop back down on the table. Lucas did the same. She silently hoped to hell that Michael knew what he was doing.

The cards were dealt"and Klara's straight beat Lucas" three of a kind. Lucas swore as he threw the cards on the table, but Klara simply smiled, her laughter once more bubbling out from between her lips. Her fingers snaked out to pluck both her ID and the key off the table, her lithe form unfolding from the chair to rise. She reached out to grab the bottle of whiskey off the center of the card table, stilettos clicking on the hardwood floor as she made her way to the door.

"Whatta ya say you show me what this thing's got, handsome?" She tossed over her shoulder at Lucas. "I need to see how my new Vantage works.?

Refined Mischief

Date: 2010-04-23 21:56 EST
"But'daddy?"

"Klara, I'm done. This is the fifth school you have been expelled from. There is nothing more I can do. I am running out of money."

"Daddy don't be so dramatic."

"Klara, you need to take responsibility for yourself. There is no place for you in this family if you cannot learn to handle yourself and learn from your mistakes."

"Daddy, I'm a business woman..."

"Klara, these are not serious business ventures you are investing in. You got expelled three out of the five times for your little 'business' ventures. Making fake IDs, like your first school, is not a business venture. Hiring the young woman you go to school with as call girls to the male students is not a business, however willing they say they were. Klara, these are not acceptable!"

"Dad-dee"." Klara whispered. "Please don't."

"I have deposited money into your bank account. That is all I am going to give you until you straighten up. Lana Lang has offered to give you a job with her modeling agency should you choose to actually work. Your mother and I love you. We want to see you succeed. Good luck, Klara.?

The phone line went dead. Klara stared at the receiver in her hand, tears welling up in those big eyes. She felt the tracks they left behind on her cheeks as they ran rivulets down her face. He really did it. The phone was dropped back into the cradle before her her head fell into her arms.

Klara awoke with a start. She rolled over, pushing the pillow off her head as she looked at the clock. Three oh-two in the morning. She found that slightly ironic as she pushed the covers down and sat up. There was no point in trying to sleep now, not after the dreams she had been having. She reached out, snagging a tiny satin robe off the hook near her door, tying it about her waist as she padded into the kitchen for a glass of milk before turning to head downstairs toward the shop. If anything, she'd find comfort in her back room and maybe some answers to the dreams.

Refined Grace

Date: 2010-04-30 14:28 EST


She was as languid as mint julep's on a summer afternoon, cool and refreshing to compete against the otherwise dry humidity that seemed to coat the world and everyone's emotions.

One day you're talking with the Magic Man, and the next you find yourself at the doorstep of your best friend's home....though it wasn't her home....and the place was hardly any place that Shawna was familiar with.

Fingers toyed absently with the talisman worn at her throat, thumb brushing the roughened edges of it left smooth by so much wear.

"Where are we sugah?"

A look around as those black magic eyes cut and offered their ink drop analysis right back on over to Klara as she set down her bags and twirled on her foot.

A purse of lips, a gentle consideration of these new found surroundings before a brow arched and she set her eyes level upon Klara.

Something about this screamed of trouble, or maybe just of a road that went off a beaten path.

Could it really be so strange" After all Shawna and Klara just were not your average girls...