Heavenly Rise (Aviva and tobisquestion)
<h1 id="title">Elliquiy Role Playing Forums</h1>
		<h2 id="linktree">Play-By-Post: Bondage, D/s, S&amp;M =&gt; Bondage: Exotic Solos =&gt; Topic started by: Aviva on 25-08-2011, 00:23:54</h2>
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				Title: <strong>Heavenly Rise (Aviva and tobisquestion)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Aviva</strong> on <strong>25-08-2011, 00:23:54</strong>
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				Coroline Richardson smiled to the vicar as he slowly crept along the steps towards her. She was upon her knees at the front of the church, ready to drink of the wine that represented Jesus's blood. She could feel the vicar pass his hand over her head as he murmered a few words she never could quite understand these days. He was growing old now, his voice a bare rasp when he mumbled but she did not mind at all. He would be in service until either himself or the church requested he retired but with the lack of vicars in her part of the woods she doubted that would be any time soon. She took a small sip and rose to her feet so that the next in line could take her place.<br><br>She returned to her seat and watched silently as the line at the front became smaller and smaller, each receiving their bread and wine before returning to their own seats.<br><br>Only when each had, received them did the vicar step up to the pulpit and began to read verses from his large bible. His words barely carrying to where she was settled at the back but at least he spoke loudly enough that she could open her bible to the appropriate book and verse. <br><br><em>Galatians 5:22-23<br><br>What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?</em><br><br>She read the verse quietly while others called out amen from their places. She watched the light increase in the large church as it became filtered through the red, blues and greens of the stained glass. Above them many pictures filled the windows. Of Jesus in a cradle, of Him surrounded by his disciples as a grown man. Rainbows of light filled the airy space which made her smile as the vicar spoke of the ways money could bring more harm than good. The way it fed peoples hunger and lust for power and how increasingly it took men from looking to the Lord and to their pay check to ease thepains they had gained in life. <br><br>As the sermon came to a end she rose to her feet and walked towards the large doors that led outside. A warm smile on her face as her bible was held against her waist. She stood aside for those elderly or handicapped in any way to leave first. <br><br>While she was waiting the vicar approached her with a smile. "Ah Coroline I was hoping to speak with you before you left this morning. I hear you will be helping in the church charity event this weekend coming. Corline smiled to him. "Of course Father, I have offered to help man a few of the stalls and sell raffle tickets." He nodded his head gently to her. "So I have been informed. I was wondering if you would be willing to hand out these fliers at your charity shop over the next week to try and increase the number of people attending." He produced a couple of hundred fliers in his aged hand.<br><br>She reached over with a gentle smile. "I shall have to askpermission first but if they say no I can always post them through the letter boxes in my neighbourhood." He gave a faint nod again. "Thank you Coroline, I hope to see you there. Until then may God keep you in His graces." She returned the nod. "And you to Father." He turned and walked away from her just as the church was now empty and she left with a feeling of warmth radiating through her form.<br><br>She walked down the street and to her bicycle where she placed the bible and fliers in the basket before climbing on and beginning her way to work. <br><br>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Heavenly Rise (Aviva and tobisquestion)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>tobisquestion</strong> on <strong>25-08-2011, 01:44:06</strong>
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				<div class="floatright">(http://i1096.photobucket.com/albums/g323/shmband/Unused/1247539483_4752_full-2-1.jpg)</div>A light breeze sent a flurry of fallen leaves and other garden detritus rustling along the grass lawn outside the front of the church.&nbsp; Against the wall of the building itself was a very old wooden loveseat, in which nobody ever set.&nbsp; No person, that is.&nbsp; The two who sat there now, invisible to mortal eyes and unruffled by the movement of the cool air, were slumped lazily.<br><br>"Pretty girl." the female demon said flatly, watching from a short distance as Coroline mounted her bike and set on her way.&nbsp; Jilaiya looked across at Asmodeus, who was staring intently at the girl also, a sly grin on his face.<br><br>"I know." Asmodeus sneered, "If there were more like her, there wouldn't be such a gap in the male twenty-somethings demographic for church attendance."<br><br>"Awesome," Jailaiya said with a slight yawn, "so...why are we here again?&nbsp; To stop her handing out leaflets?&nbsp; It's hardly a 'powers and principalities' sort of warfare."<br><br>"Ephesians 6:12." Asmodeus smirked, "You know for someone who's supposed to be undermining people's faith in the Bible you don't half quote from it a lot."<br><br>Jilaiya rolled her eyes.&nbsp; "That's the best way isn't it?"<br><br>"The best way to gain a devout soul's trust, yes, definitely." Asmodeus looked across at his erstwhile partner.&nbsp; Jilaiya was a much younger demon than him, arrogant and disrespectful, but she had experience and zeal for the cause, and that was why he'd agree to take charge of her for this present time on earth.&nbsp; "Remember, it was by quoting scripture that our Father attempted to tempt Christ after his time in the desert."<br><br>"Yeah but that didn't work."<br><br>"Yeah, but it's not <em>Christ</em> who <em>we're</em> trying to tempt.&nbsp; And if I were you I'd speak more respectfully of the Infernal One if you don't want to find out whether a lake of fire is the worst thing he can subject you to."<br><br>"Alright alright," Jiliaya mumbled, looking down at her feet.&nbsp; "So again with my question...what <em>are</em> we doing?"<br><br>Asmodeus leapt to his feet and started walked down the path which led onto the main street, where Coroline was heading on her way to work.&nbsp; "A still soft voice here," he said, a cruel smile playing on his lips, "a subtle prompting there.&nbsp; The devil's in the details, as they say.&nbsp; The best tactic Satan ever invented was getting people to believe he doesn't exist.&nbsp; So we'll work silently in the background.&nbsp; You don't need to smite a man like God smote Job in order to shake his faith.&nbsp; Watch closely Jilaiya, and you'll see how easily even a faithful soul like Corolina can be undone without her even realising there was any spiritual presence."<br><br>"In other words sit back and watch while you crash and burn." Jilaiya said sneakily, rolling her eyes again and following close behind.<br><br>"I won't be the one burning when we're through." Asmodeus gave Jilaiya a pointed look, causing the smirk to fall from her face, "One way or another, someone will be burning, and it won't be me."
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				Title: <strong>Re: Heavenly Rise (Aviva and tobisquestion)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Aviva</strong> on <strong>25-08-2011, 02:40:05</strong>
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				The bicycle ride between the church and the small charity shop she worked at in the mornings each day from ten until two in the afternoon was only a ten minute drive by car but as long as she was careful Coroline often managed to shorten the time by avoiding having to stay in the traffic lines. It had of course gained her more than a few dirty looks since she went from automobile onto her fathers bike but she did not let them bother her.<br><br>She did not feel the gaze of the two unseen creatures as she left the street and turned right. Her focus on merely avoiding becoming road kill. People often drove the car as if they were wielding a weapon but she enjoyed the soft breeze that had lifted her hair up and cooled her skin after being in the warm church.<br><br>Once she pulled up in front of the small red building, she waved through the glass at the older women already opening the shop and sorting out the till before taking her bike around the back through a small alley way that was laden with old cobbles along the floor of the pathway. Graffiti had long been etched or painted onto the walls but she avoided looking at the words and pictures. Locking her bike to the little railing before picking up the leaflets she stepped through the open back door before closing it with a sigh. "You need to remember to close the back door when you come in Sophie." Coroline's attention turning to the young girl who was there on work experience. The girls mouth turned up with petulance. "How did you know it was me? Could of been any of the old biddies." She tilted her head to the women clustered around the till laughing quietly. "It only started happening when you came, besides none of them smoke and the air certainly is not as fresh as it should be Sophie."Coroline gave her a knowing smile that caused Sophie to nod her head. "Sorry Sophie. I shall try and remember next time." Coroline nodded her head slightly."Thank you Sophie." She spoke gently before going into the main part of the shop. <br><br>The manager already rapidly approaching her with a grin. He was almost six foot in height but as well built as a maypole. His hair was pitch black with blue eyes that seemed at times as cold as ice. "Good morning Coroline, how was church this morning?" "Oh it was fine thank you for asking. Perhaps sometime I can convince you to join me." Her manager began to quickly retreat to his office."Ah no thank you. I prefer to be neutral on such politics." His gaze drifted down to her full hands and raised a eyebrow. "More fliers..?" Corline gave a nod of her head."May I?" He gave a rapid nod of his own. "Of course, of course. Anything to keep you from arguing the point like you did the other week."Coroline laughed at the reminder but had no intention of pressing her point."Thanks Charlie." <br><br>She quickly moved to the till and smiled once to theladies. Placing the fliers next to the till the women began to talk about church, about the pending weekend events and family. The sun shone brightly through the window as Coroline began to move between the back and front of the shop gathering new stock to be put out on the shelves and rails. The day felt good. She silently sent a prayer of thanks to God for those whom did not feel the same way about him, none the less they respected her. <br><br>While she believed in Satan and those that worked for his cause as much as she worked in God's name she never quite believed that his attention would come to her. He came through by driving a man to kill his best friend over cash, or the woman who drank herself to death. <br><br>"Deuteronomy 30:19, I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:"<br><br>She murmured quietly to herself with a faint shake of the head. The shop quickly started to fill there after and she was too busy too notice anything too peculiar going on.
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				Title: <strong>Re: Heavenly Rise (Aviva and tobisquestion)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>tobisquestion</strong> on <strong>25-08-2011, 16:01:08</strong>
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				Asmodeus and Jilaiya stepped into the shop unseen behind some regular customers.&nbsp; At that moment, they were still invisible and insubstantial, but it was a long taught tip that it was best to make a habit of not walking through walls, doors and windows when not in a physical form, to avoid the risk of trying to do it in a moment of forgetfulness when you <em>are</em> in a physical form.&nbsp; It was something very few humans knew, that a person who was often bumping into things might not just be clumsy, but in fact a demon who can't keep track of what form they are in.<br><br>The shop was already fairly well patronised with customers of all kind; most of them simply looking for a cheap bargain, at least one woman who liked to set herself a challenge of assembling stylish outfits from charity shop clothes, one or two people bringing in donations.&nbsp; Asmodeus spotted Coroline helpfully moving around the shop, assisting customers and dressing the shelves, putting out new stock serenely and contentedly.&nbsp; He turned to the she-devil next to him and raised a hand with an outstretched finger.<br><br>"Perhaps a few small demonstrations before we really get to work." he said, and strolled up to the counter where a man was handing over a bag of clothed.&nbsp; The old woman behind the counter handed him a form to fill in his personal details, explaining that it allowed them to claim Gift Aid on the value of all items sold.<br><br>Asmodeus leaned in over the man's shoulder, and softly whispered, "How annoying, don't you hate filling in forms?&nbsp; You didn't expect to have to do that did you."<br><br>The man did not hear the demon's words as one would hear another human whispering in such a manner.&nbsp; But the man's brow did furrow visibly, and he grumbled, "Perhaps you'd all get more donations if you didn't attach paperwork to it."&nbsp; The old lady behind the counter thinned her lips and looked away, obviously affronted by the man's comments.<br><br>Asmodeus smiled and held and arm out towards the man, looking back at Jilaiya who seemed unimpressed.<br><br>"That was it?" she said.<br><br>"What do you mean 'that was it'?" Asmodeus objected.&nbsp; "Don't you see?&nbsp; Something that could have been a genuine act of charity - the giving of his old belongings - ruined by an act of <em>uncharity</em>, all over having to fill in a few lines on a form."<br><br>Jilaiya narrowed her eyes and sighed.&nbsp; "OK...keep it coming."<br><br>Asmodeus shook his head in exhasperation.&nbsp; He hopped up to sit on the counter, and leaned in towards the woman who had just served the man, and whispered, "The upbringing people have these days...he's probably never been to church in his life."<br><br>The woman said nothing, but huffed to herself, glanced back at the man, and then also glanced towards the manager, who'd just declined Coroline's invitation to attend church.&nbsp; Her lips thinned even further, and she swooped towards the back of the shop to make a cup of tea.&nbsp; Asmodeus looked back at Jilaiya.<br><br>"Temptation to judging others." he explained, "particularly effective on the older generation."<br><br>Jilaiya folded her arms, looked off thoughtfully, then looked back at Asmodeus and nodded.&nbsp; "Alright," she said, "let me try it."<br><br>She hopped onto the counter and rolled over it, landing on her feet and walked up to another old woman who was standing near the back door.&nbsp; Also standing nearby was the work-experience student, who was leaning up against a wall looking utterly fed up and demotivated.&nbsp; Jilaiya leaned in towards the old woman, looking across at the girl, and whispered, "Your generation knew what a work ethic was didn't they."<br><br>Immediately the old woman threw a frosty glance across at Sophie, and shook her head disapprovingly.&nbsp; Jilaiya squealed with delight at her victory, then leaned in again and whispered, "She'll never grow up to be a good, god-fearing woman like you will she, she's a useless, lazy teenager."<br><br>At that point, the old woman's face fell, and she turned away, mouthing something to herself and was seen to make the sign of the cross on herself.&nbsp; Jilaiya looked at Asmodeus and held her arms out.<br><br>"What did I do wrong?" she complained.<br><br>"You went too far!" Asmodeus laughed, "She realised the impure nature of her thoughts.&nbsp; You have to keep it subtle.&nbsp; Remember, Romans 6:23, <em>The wages of sin is death</em>; that's <em>all</em> sin, not just the big stuff.&nbsp; Why try to incite hatred and violence among men, when a little seed of pride is all it takes to bring about someone's spiritual downfall."<br><br>"I see." Jilaiya nodded, and then looked over towards Coroline.&nbsp; "So how about a live test?&nbsp; What you gonna do with <em>her</em>?"<br><br>Asmodeus smiled and cracked his knuckled, sliding off the counter and walking towards his mark.&nbsp; Coroline was placing some household ornaments on a low shelf, and the demon sat cross-legged on the floor next to her.&nbsp; For a few moments he just looked at her.&nbsp; She was certainly beautiful for a mortal, but at the same time he knew from observation that vanity wasn't something he could use against her.&nbsp; Coroline was one of those rare people who put more stock in keeping her soul pure than her face and body glamorous; even though she managed to look gorgeous each day with minimal effort.&nbsp; So the vanity route was a dead end for sure.<br><br>However, Asmodeus knew of a trick which worked as a good ground-layer for a multitude of temptations; disheartenment.&nbsp; He leaned towards her, and whispered the silent thought into her mind; a mere suggestion from way beneath her subconscious:<br><br>"It was so good of you to bring those fliers into work.&nbsp; It's such a shame nobody's going to want to take one."
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				Title: <strong>Re: Heavenly Rise (Aviva and tobisquestion)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Aviva</strong> on <strong>25-08-2011, 16:35:32</strong>
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				While in two points in the shop tension had started to come forth from the unseen being's shenanigans Coroline for that moment remained quite oblivious to it. The tension being kept inward rather than genuinely directed at the other staff members or the customers. Just as she placed another feline ornament on the shelf, already priced and tagged. She felt the firm brush of the thought stroke her mind. For a moment she frowned slightly and looked over to the pile of fliers placed on one corner of the counter. The pile had certainly not appeared to have grown less. A smile suddenly crossed her face instead though. The frown fading. "Perhaps I can help some of them get to who and where ever they are meant to be." <br><br>Checking the basket at her knees and seeing she had a few ornaments still to be placed she rose to her feet and walked through the demon that had settled beside her. Her body pausing a moment as she turned around seemingly focusing on the spot a moment. A cool chill dripping down her spine. "Must have a draught in there some where." She said quietly to herself before turning her back to the demon and going into the back room. Seeing Sophie leaning against the wall she smiled. "Sophie could you do me a favour please?" The young girl looked at her obviously bored with merely sorting out the donations. "What would you like me to do?" Coroline smiled, there was no sense of annoyance but in fact a sense of eagerness at being able to do something different. "Well first of all will you please finish putting the ornaments out on the shelves and then if you would like I can help you learn how to use the till." <em>"At the same time I shall see if I can encourage people to take the fliers."</em> She thought to herself. Sophie nodded her head eagerly and smiled. "Are you sure I am ready to?" Coroline smiled warmly. "I am sure you shall learn it easily." Feeling a compliment Sophie's smile widened.&nbsp; Coroline's eyes noticed&nbsp; Alice in the back watching Sophie and then smiled to Coroline. "I forget the saying that the devil makes work for idle hands..I also forget how bored I used to get in my youth." Coroline smiled. "I shall keep her busy." Alice nodded her head slightly before mouthing a thank you to her. <br><br>By the time Coroline had returned to the main shop Sophie had already found the basket and was looking at the ornaments within curiously. She could not hide her dislike at some of them but she did seem happier. "Once you have finished that Sophie I shall show you the till." Sophie nodded her head slightly in Corolines direction but she seemed focused on moving the ornaments around as if she was experimenting with the design to try and improve the way the shelves looked. <br><br>Coroline smiled to herself as she walked to the till just as a customer was paying the cash for her clothes. Coroline smiled to her warmly as she began to pack up the items the lady had purchased. "I was wondering if you would like to have this flier, it is for the Young Heart church charity event on Saturday." The woman looked shocked a moment and glanced down at the leaflet before nodding her head slightly. "Yes please. Perhaps my children would like to attend." "All ages are welcome." She said gently as she slid the first flier into the woman's bag.<br><br>She kept a eye on Sophie as she continued to ask customers if they wish a flier. Some she knew would only take them to avoid embarrassment, others would only take them so she would not delay them further. Some did&nbsp; refuse but she did not think ill well of them. <br><br>By the time lunch time had arrived almost over half the original pile had gone. 
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				Title: <strong>Re: Heavenly Rise (Aviva and tobisquestion)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>tobisquestion</strong> on <strong>26-08-2011, 17:07:44</strong>
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				Asmodeus flinched out of habit as Coroline stepped through him, and shuffled around on his backside to watch what she would do.&nbsp; Jilaiya sauntered over to him and leaned against the wall, looking back at the young woman as she gently prompted Sophie into service.&nbsp; Coroline didn't seem quite as despondant as he would have liked.&nbsp; And worse still, the work experience student seemed happier as well.<br><br>"Not a rip-roaring success that one." Jilaiya chirped smugly as Sophie came towards them, picking up where Coroline had left off.<br><br>"This isn't a one-liner job." Asmodeus snapped, "We know Coroline's gonna be a tough one to crack.&nbsp; So if you're not gonna help, shut up."<br><br>He got to his feet and wandered about the store, looking at the customers for any sign of irritation, weakness, vulnerability, embarassment...any emotion that could be pressed into service.&nbsp; All the while, Coroline was cheerfully serving people and handing out the fliers without any hint of reserve or bashfulness.<br><br>"Wow Az, thanks to your efforts this church do is gonna be packed out."<br><br>"Are you just following me?" Asmodeus growled back at Jilaiya, "You know nine out of ten fliers people hand out just go in the bin."<br><br>"Yeah I just find it funny that she's making happen exactly what you said wouldn't happen."<br><br>"That's basic psychology.&nbsp; A person presented with an idea will either accept it, or form a new idea which is usually it's opposite."<br><br>"Hey get you...maybe you'll have to put me on the couch sometime."&nbsp; Jiliaya purred teasingly.<br><br>"No thanks I can do without however many millenia of <em>your</em> issues and hangups to deal with."<br><br>"Woah one second Az," Jilaily pressed herself up to the window like a kid outside a sweet-shop, "I think we may have a resource you can use."<br><br>Asmodeus came up beside her and looked out.&nbsp; Sure enough, a large black BMW had just pulled up outside the shop, and a stocky man in his mid to late twenties wearing a rugby shirt was getting out of the drivers seat and coming around the back of his car.&nbsp; The demon frowned and shook his head, not immediately seeing was Jilaiya meant, but as the man's hand moved to open the boot Asmodeus caught sign of a familiar emblem which had been stuck prominently onto the back of the car.&nbsp; A "Darwin Fish".&nbsp; He smiled a nodded; many generalisations and stereotypes held true, and the rule that the bearer of a Darwin Fish was usually a hard-nosed, vitriolic anti-religionist had yielded very few exceptions.<br><br>He patted Jilaiya's arm - harder then was necessary so she fell off the inside windowledge and landed on her backside on the floor - and hurried around to the centre aisle, watching the rugger man come in and shadowing him as he walked in with a bin-bag full of donations.&nbsp; He seemed haughty,impatient, and reluctant to be seen going into a charity shop.&nbsp; In short, he seemed perfect.<br><br>The man lined up behind a buying customer, and stared up at the ceiling, blowing out a sigh of frustration as if simply <em>being</em> in the store was making it hard to breath.&nbsp; Asmodeus couldn't help but chuckled at the pettiness of it.<br><br>Eventually he got to the counter, where Coroline greeted him with her winning smile, and took the bag from him, handing across the gift-aid form for him to fill in.&nbsp; At this the man huffed without any prompting, and began writing down the necessary details.&nbsp; When he handed the form back and he was offered one of the fliers, he looked at it quizzically.&nbsp; Asmodeus could read on his face that he was thinking of crumpling it into his pocket and hurrying out without another words, but instead, the demon leaned in and whispered an addendum to Coroline's invitation:<br><br>"...where your nice old clothes will be sold to keep churches open."<br><br>The man's face darkened visibly and he placed the flier back on the pile and grabbed the bin-bag, pulling it back to himself.<br><br>"No thanks," he grunted, "I'd rather support a <em>genuine</em> cause."<br><br>With that, he turned and strode out of the shop.&nbsp; Asmodeus folded his arms and smiled in satisfaction, looking over at Coroline for her reaction to that outburst.
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				Title: <strong>Re: Heavenly Rise (Aviva and tobisquestion)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Aviva</strong> on <strong>26-08-2011, 21:07:52</strong>
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				Coroline had been watching the man from the moment he had entered the shop. He was not hard to miss, especially with the loud exasperation's and the way a cloud seemed to hang over him from the moment he entered the shop. Yet he had appeared friendly enough if a bit gruff. It was as he pulled the bag back before it could be taken that Coroline frowned. As he strode out of the shop she nodded to the cashier and followed him out side. As he wasjust about to place the bag in the boot once more she approached him carefully and gave him a light tap on the shoulder. "Excuse me Sir, I am sorry to disturb but I was wondering if you could inform me why you feel this charity shop is not a genuine cause?" Shel lifted her hand up to the charity shop she worked for. It raised money for those with life threatening illnesses. She saw the man stop as the bag was dropped looking almost surprised at her appearing there.<br><br>"Well if you are going to use those clothes for the church event I do not see the need or desire to provide for what I do not believe in."<br><br>Coroline rose a eyebrow slightly at the notion. A genuine look of surprise crossing her face followed by genuine shock. "I am not sure who or what gave you that impression and I am sorry that is the case but those fliers in the shop are from my church..." The man gave a faint snort as if that had in itself alone clarified his suspicions.&nbsp; " and I shall be at the event to raise the money for the church but all the donations made to the shop are strictly for the shop only...and if you do not believe me...you can come and see for yourself..." She turned away from a moment before pausing and looking over her shoulder to give a faint smile. "You can watch the whole process if you like and should you feel so inclined put the clothes up in the shop this very afternoon before I leave for work."<br><br>She could already see his hands clenching slightly at the idea of entering the shop again. In a grump he picked up the bag and threw it at her, she managed to catch it with ease but had to turn at the waist rapidly,almost toppling over as she did so. "Here take them, the wife will only be annoyed if I take them back...." He paused mid stride after closing his boot and going to the front seat. "I shall be back this afternoon to check though." <br><br>Coroline nodded her head slightly. "If you have any questions and I am not here the manager can be asked and I shall leave my mobile number for you to get in touch if there is any concern. Though I do say good quality goods often sell very quickly and thank you." She gave him another smile though she was not sure he even noticed as the car doorslammed. Coroline returned to the shop and took the goods straight to the back passing them to Alice. "Make sure these are priced, tagged and put up front immediately...in fact have Sophie put them up on the mannequins they could do with a change over."<br><br>Alice gave Coroline a raised eyebrow before peering into the bag and nodding her head once. "Oh I see why. What a pleasant person to give us these." Coroline smiled to herself though said not a word except "Indeed." She glanced at the clock seeing it was one o'clock. She only had one hour left before having toleave. She heard Alice call Sophie's name, who's head popped up from the lower railings of clothes in the children's section. "Yes Alice?" "Would you like to arrange those mannequins in the windows love?" Sophie looked over at the mannequins before giving a eager nod."As long as I get to pick some of the clothes." The words made Coroline smile as she returned to the till. "Some of them yes love, though these clothes have to go out to." She held up the bag of clothes. <br><br>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Heavenly Rise (Aviva and tobisquestion)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>tobisquestion</strong> on <strong>26-08-2011, 21:58:41</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Asmodeus turned with a happily expectant look on his face as Coroline hurried out after the man.&nbsp; <em>This was it!</em>&nbsp; She was going to give him a piece of her mind for being so rude, then she'd come back in angry and flustered and.......<em>oh no</em>.&nbsp; He saw as the man threw the bag of clothes into her chest, and <em>even still</em> she came back into the shop looking calm and happy.<br><br>"<em>Bad</em> luck Az." came the irritatingly familiar, mocking voice from behind him.&nbsp; "I really thought you had her on the ropes with that one."<br><br>"Shut up Jilaiya!" he snarled, "It was a good play.&nbsp; The problem is that Coroline's learned to 'die to herself'."<br><br>"Ya ya, Romans 6 yadda yadda..."<br><br>"Listen!&nbsp; She doesn't put too much stock in herself, thinks of others first."<br><br>"Sheesh," Jilaiya rolled her eyes, "get some pride girl."<br><br>"It's not quite like that," Asmodeus shook his head, "she knows her worth, but he derives it from her faith.&nbsp; So it doesn't matter if jerks come into the shop and treat her that way, because she has worth in the eyes of God and is loved by Him."<br><br>"Gross."<br><br>"Well whatever.&nbsp; What we need to do it get her deriving her worth from her very <em>self</em> a little more.&nbsp; Get her to think that she deserves better treatement from people than that.&nbsp; Get her to want to be loved for her earthly nature a little more."<br><br>"Like in the L'Oreal adverts right."<br><br>"Are you going to get serious or do I have to report back about you right now?"<br><br>"OK OK....so what's the plan.&nbsp; Wait 'till she walks past a high street window and whisper to her how pretty she'd look in that dress?"<br><br>"No," Asmodeus cracked his knuckles and shook his head, "suggestions of self-worth are easy enough to shrug off when they seem to come from within yourself.&nbsp; For a woman, there's one kind of worthiness they just can't shake off; the desire to be worthy in the eyes of the right man."<br><br>Jilaiya squinted at him for a moment, looking around the shop assuming he was planning to send some handsome young guy her way through the powers of suggestion.&nbsp; Problem was, there was nobody in the shop who was even close to Coroline's age...the closest all day had been the jerk in the BMW.&nbsp; Then she looked back at Asmodeus, who was grinning at her, and her face fell.<br><br>"Az, no!"&nbsp; she said firmly, "You're not seriously considering it?"<br><br>"If you want a job done right...." he said with a cheerful shrug.<br><br>"You're going to get us into trouble!&nbsp; You're not supposed to materialise unless a senior gives you permission."<br><br>"What we have to do," Asmodeus sneered, "is get the job done.&nbsp; And I think this is the way to do that."<br><br>With that, and despite Jilaiya's further protests, the demon turned and hopped through the wall.&nbsp; Jilaiya remained where she was, not wishing to follow him, lest there be other forces watching them.&nbsp; The best she could do at this stage is act as though she was clearly against his cock-eyed scheme...which in fact was the truth.&nbsp; She paced the store nervously, watching Coroline as she continued to serve customers and direct the young girl to dress the mannequin.&nbsp; This woman seemed unshakable...people seemed happier just by being around her.<br><br>Just then, the jangle of a bell indicated the door opening.&nbsp; Jiliaya turned around, and saw a handsome blonde man, the same age as Coroline more or less, walk in slowly with his hands in his jacket pockets, looking around the store purposefully.&nbsp; <em>Asmodeus?</em><br><br>Asmodeus took a few steps towards the mannequin, which was having a sweater replaced with a newly donated clubbing shirt.&nbsp; He looked at Sophie who was busying herself with the task, but looked back at him when he cleared his throat.<br><br>"Hey there," he said to the girl charmingly, "let me save you a job, could I take that shirt?"<br><br>"Sure." Sophie replied coyly, blushing a little at the good-looking guy, despite the fact that he was certainly eight to ten years her senior.&nbsp; She handed him the shirt, and set about finding something else to put on the mannequin.&nbsp; Asmodeus fought to stop himself from smirking, and sauntered over to the till.&nbsp; It was the end of most people's lunch break, and so the shop was quieter and there was no queue.<br><br>He stepped up to the desk and held up the shirt, smiling at Coroline.&nbsp; "Hi there, think you have anything that would go with this for a nice Saturday night outfit?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Heavenly Rise (Aviva and tobisquestion)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Aviva</strong> on <strong>26-08-2011, 22:25:47</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Coroline's eyes had for a moment drifted from the till as the door jangled again. She saw the man enter&nbsp; and walked over to Sophie, though as soon as he entered her sights she almost instantly forgot him again.&nbsp; It was not that he was not good looking. In any club or woman's eyes he would certainly catch attention from any female and while she could certainly appreciate a good looking man. She was not the one to waste her time over fantasies and day dreams.<br><br>She was just writing down the mobile number from the gentleman of before when she heard a man's voice directed at her. Her face rose up from the note and gave him a warm smile before glancing at the shirt. "I can give you a hand if you would like though I will just need a couple of minutes to get a matter sorted." He did not appear to be in any rush and so she finished jotting down her number and name before walking to the managers office and stepping in. <br><br>She passed the note to him with a smile. "A customer that believed his donations would end up on the church charity table. He did give his goods and they have already been put out on the shop floor but he said he may pop by later to check I was being honest. Here is my number should there be a query." The manager nodded his head slightly andplucked the note from her finger tips. "Everything else alright out there?" Coroline nodded her head slightly. "It is. I am just going to help a customer while it is quiet and then I shall head off at two as normal." He gave her a smile before turning back to the open books in front of him. Seemingly facing the nightmare of making sure everything totted up. <br><br>Coroline returned to the till with a smile that reached her eyes but there was no look of physical attraction there. Nor any blush or rush of embaressment. "I am sorry about keeping you waiting. Were you going for any particular look or just going to be having a night on the town in general?"<br><br>She asked referring to his clothes while indicating him to follow her towards the men's section of the shop. "I do have to admit we rarely get items of that style so you may have to seek another charity shop along the road."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Heavenly Rise (Aviva and tobisquestion)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>tobisquestion</strong> on <strong>29-08-2011, 22:40:04</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Asmodeus waited patiently at the till until Coroline returned, and he threw her another charming smile.<br><br>"Oh I think it's going to be a fairly quiet one," he said, "not looking to get dressed up to the nines or anything.&nbsp; But you know I'm already pretty impressed, I didn't expect to find <em>anything</em> in a shop like this, I only came in on the off chance.&nbsp; I suppose it goes to show you shouldn't judge too hastily, eh?"<br><br>He followed her to the men's section, glancing back at Jilaiya who was stood in the far corner shaking her head, a deep furrowed from on her face.&nbsp; He knew that he was the only one who could see her, and while Coroline's back was turned he winked at her goadingly.&nbsp; The female demon simply rolled her eyes and scowled at him, obviously thinking of nothing but the trouble they could get in if Asmodeus' little stunt went wrong.<br><br>"That said," he went on, his voice taking on a smoother timbre, "if you don't mind me saying, <em>you</em> make a pretty nice first impression.&nbsp; I'll certainly be keeping an eye out for you in town...care to tip me off on which particular establishments I'll most likely find you in?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Heavenly Rise (Aviva and tobisquestion)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Aviva</strong> on <strong>29-08-2011, 22:57:15</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				She managed to conceal&nbsp; the puzzlement that crossed her face when he smiled at her when she had returned. The fact he was smiling was not what made her puzzled but the nature of it. For a brief moment she could almost imagine the snake that had tempted Eve to eat of the tree of knowledge but she shook the image away. She had not eaten since this morning and she tended to get a little cranky around this time of day andput her odd nervousness down to that. <br><br>"So nothing that stands out in a crowd or would light up like a candle in the dark? Well we have plenty of trousers in. "What size are you and what is your leg length? " A smile briefly fell over her lips at the comment about being impressed with the shop. "Certainly not, never wise to judge a book by it's cover at all." She reminded herself at the same time as she spoke to him. <br><br>She did not notice him look over his shoulder or wink to seemingly thin air but Sophie did and believing it was aimed at her, gave him a playful wink in return. <br><br>Coroline turned around to face him properly as he spoke again but this time about her. Where as with most women their cheeks would perhaps bloom with colour, or their eyes would dilate with attraction her smile was a genuinely sweet one. Accepting the compliment but she did not see it as anything more.<br><br>"Oh I can be generally found here and abouts. Here Monday through Friday, at work in the afternoons and most of my free time I can be found at the Young Heart's church. Have you heard of it?" She wondered if that charming smile would fade from his face at that little detail. She had seen it happen many times before and had given up attempting to share her life with God and men in her life romantically. One attempt had ended up with her being told she was cheating on him and with God. Needless to say at least one part of her had become slightly jaded over the years. "If not you could always come and see it there on Saturday, we are having a charity event. There are some leaflets on the counter if your interested."
			</dd>
		</dl>
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