r o s e s {&} t h o r n s

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"Nothing is perfect. Everything that is perfect has a flaw."

She stepped out of her apartment, locking the door behind herself.

The bag slung over her shoulder bumped her hip, and she felt a dull throb.

She ignored it.

"Love is a game that children play."

Her dark brown hair was tied into a bun, but the ends of it trailed over her shoulder.
Her eyes - green - flicked from place to place, checking the doors of other apartment-owners.

She looked wary, scared, nervous - like a deer.

"Trust is fake. People use you."

Her Converse - black and white - made no noise on the faded carpet as she stepped down the stairs, out of the apartment building.

She was headed towards the library.

[CrimsonMoon]

Inside the library, a young man was slouched in a plush chair, his glasses sliding down his nose and his tawny hair flopping over his eyes as he read the huge book in his lap. He had been there since the library had opened at dawn

[Deleted]

Jade walked in.

She looked mildly uncomfortable - there normally weren't people at the library on a Sunday.

"Excuse me."

Her soft voice, accented with her Italian heritage, floated around them like magic.

Her tattoos shone against her skin, and she fidgeted, drawing her black leather jacket more tightly around her form.

Not a wise idea.

[CrimsonMoon]

He gazed at her and tilts his head," Yes, Ma'am?" He smiles, setting the book down. He had always lived here, but usually worked behind the scenes...

[Deleted]

Jade bit her lip - the ring there pinched into her gums.

Pain helped.

"Um.. I need help."

[CrimsonMoon]

" Anything, though i have to say i'm not very good at physical labor," he laughs gently, sensing her discomfort

[Deleted]

Jade allowed herself a smile.
It flashed a set of white teeth and plump lips painted with glittery lip-gloss.
Her eyeshadow, a soft, pale green, showed off her eyes, and her eyelashes flickered as she blinked.

Nothing painted her eyelashes - they were thick and long enough to look like she had mascara on.

Her jacket parted to show the dark pink tank-top she wore, her hair shifting to show the tattoo on her neck.

She situated herself back up, hiding the tattoos, hiding her everything.

"I just need some help finding some books. I'm looking for everything you have on creative writing, please."

[CrimsonMoon]

L Having writers block!" He muses softly, placing the book on the chair and motioning for her to follow," don't worry, we're all plagued by it,"

[Deleted]

Jade smiled at his back.

And, whew, it was quite a sight.

Sad that he missed it.

"Mm, not really. Just looking for an extra muse, something to... Bounce me." She frowned. "That was a bad choice of words, but I gather that you are a writer. Am I right?"

[CrimsonMoon]

" Somewhat, i suppose," He smiles and glances at her," 'bounce you'? Care to be more specific?"

[Deleted]

"Like..."

She searched for the right words.

It wasn't easy, what with him staring at her.

She fidgeted again.

"Like research... Or... A muse."

[CrimsonMoon]

" Just read history, thats amusing," He chuckles and tilts his head toward an aisle," Care to try?"

[Deleted]

Her Converse were silent.

"Mm, maybe."

Jade shrugged.

"I'm Jade."

[CrimsonMoon]

" Milo," He replies, turning down an aisle and running his fingers across the spines of the books as he walked, almost... Sensually

[Deleted]

Jade gulped.

Bad, bad, memories.
Stop it.

Stop it.

"A pleasure. So...."

She drifted towards the books on writing.

[CrimsonMoon]

He slides his fingers along the spine of one particular book particularly lovingly," Here... 'art and Culture of the Holy Roman Empire'," he breathes before pulling it free

[Deleted]

The pentacle Jade wore pressed against her throat as she fingered it.

"Are you a Roman Catholic?"

[CrimsonMoon]

" Oh no, i don't join book clubs," he chuckles and holds it out to her with a small smile, pushin his glasses up his nose

[Deleted]

She couldn't resist it.

She grinned.

"It's not a book club, Milo. It's a religion."

She took the book and sat down, leaning against a shelf.

"Help me through this one?"

[CrimsonMoon]

" Is there a difference?" He chuckles and nods," Alright, i suppose I can help..."