Washing the doubt away (Trixie tag Any)

[Trixie Michaels]

Jay's words got to her. Some what. Trixie did not trust easily, but since the day she met DJ he matched her in everything she did. If Trixie got scared DJ called her out on it, if Trix acted like a bitch DJ called her out on it, if Trix was hiding something DJ made sure she knew he was there. So why this....another woman...why?

Trixie wanted to give DJ the benefit of the doubt. They had been dating for about three weeks. So it was not early enough for trust was it. However, deep down Trixie wanted to trust DJ. She had to trust someone. Might as well be the guy who got under her skin and annoyed the crap out of her, but in a good way.

Trixie could just ask DJ like most people would, but that was too easy of course. Besides how did one ask about their boyfriend being with another woman without sounding jealous. Especially when she was jealous, after all Jay had said she was hot and bangable, which Trixie did not appreciate hearing.

In fact she wished Jay would have kept his mouth shut. Trixie needed to learn on her own. Besides what if she listened to Jay and dumped DJ over something that was nothing. Trixie would never forgive herself. Deep down she was not ready for the relationship with DJ to end. She wanted to see where it would lead. She was not done with him yet. Just when Trixie wanted to get scared and run away DJ did something that melted her a little more, but only a little.

Trixie left to take a run that morning. She went to the beach despite the weather. She did not care about the rain. It was a nice feeling actually. Sure the deluge was not ideal, but it was better then nothing and besides it made Trixie actually feel like she might be washing away something, but she was still filled with doubt. Trixie finally took refuge inside a building and waited to dry off and for the rain to finish. She sat down in the corner and ordered a water. It was a bar and restaurant.

The words Jay said rolled around in her head. Mostly the words about DJ being ashamed of her. Trixie could not get over that and the words about meeting his parents. They had only been dating like three weeks, who the hell met the parents yet.

Then again DJ had met grandma, but that was a different story. It stuck with her more then DJ being with another woman, Trixie actually felt like he might be ashamed of her. Trixie sighed and motioned for the waiter, "Can I get a tequila sunrise...it's five o'clock some where right...." She ordered instead.

The waiter looked at her, "We do not sell alcohol until later in the day." He told Trixie, "Sorry. But I can get you something virgin if you like." He offered the girl with the long look on her face.

Trixie sighed and shook her head, "Fine, A pina colada...vigrin...and a chicken sandwich." Trixie was not really hungry but she might as well order something. She was still drying off from being in the rain. She was dressed in a work out shirt, pants, and shoes as she sat down at a table wishing she could have a drink.

[Raphael D'Aubert]

On the opposite side of the almost empty restaurant, Raphael D'Aubert glanced up from the thick paperback copy of Wuthering Heights he had been reading, and smiled. Di'Azzio's was one of his preferred stomping grounds during the daytime, despite it not receiving much business, and it had been quite a bit of time since he had last conversed with a woman in broad daylight.

Not to say that he didn't talk to women.. On the contrary, his nightlife was a positively blooming flower tainted with the sweet taste of occasionally.. darker, and more mature delights.

Take Varinia... For example..

Raphael couldn't help but chuckle slightly at the memories of last night, and stood up from his seat in an exceptionally elegant manner, allowing his book to plop lightly against the dining table with almost careless ease. Clad in a matching set of black sweats emblazoned with the golden seal of Frank Shamrock's Martial Arts Academy, Raphael looked slightly less "glowing" than in the night before, having topped off a brisk six-mile run and an intense shadowboxing session at the beach earlier in the morning. Nevertheless, he still possessed his characteristic air of dark charisma than entranced many individuals and the aura of confidence that had ensured him success in many different venues of life.

"Hello.." he greeted, waving slightly towards the girl.

"I.. Couldn't help but notice that you ordered the chicken sandwich?"

He grinned widely, revealing a mouthful of perfectly white teeth.

"Di'Azzio's has a positively wonderful Grilled Camembert Sandwich for the same price... Though, I daresay they haven't been able to share it with many people.."

"My name's Raphael... and I couldn't help but notice a small bit of... distress on your face?"

[Trixie Michaels]

Trixie was not expecting to be bothered by anyone. The moment the waiter handed her a drink she sipped it almost gone, only breathing once. She closed her eyes pretending it help the sweet, but bitter taste of alcohol. Trix knew drowning your doubts and worries every time with the bitter, sweet taste could lead to a serious problem, but hell she had a serious problem. DJ and this chick, they could be going at it right now, or having an innocent meeting. Either way just the thought was driving her insane, but Trixie was to proud and too stubborn to just call DJ.

When she heard the dark, booming voice her heart skipped a beat and for a brief moment she thought it might be DJ. How he found her she had no clue, but soon, the moment she heard the accent Trixie knew it was not DJ. However the accent was quite hot, so that alone caused Trixie to turn around in the chair and look the new come up and down.

She cocked her head to one side. "Trixie." Of course everyone knew her, unless you were new, she was Trixie Michaels, Silver cheerleader, and popular girl around in school. she was gorgeous and she knew it. No way should the thoughts she was having get her down. So Trixie shifted pushing out her breasts a little more. She slowly crossed one leg over the other. She might not be in a sexy outfit, but she could make her movements sexy. Flirting never hurt.

"Nice to meet you. Tell me is the reason they have not shared your little sandwich because perhaps it is not good." Her voice was light as she spoke. "You are a bold man. Telling me I ordered the wrong sandwich. " She finished sipping her drink and motioned to the seat next to her, "Please join me."

Trixie was not sure what to make of Raphael. He had this air of darkness, which was always interesting, but very dangerous. Something told her to be on guard around him. Well if DJ could flirt around then so could she. Of course she was taking Jay's word for it and for all Trixie knew he could be lying about her boyfriend. Well its not like Trixie planned to do anything. All she was going to do was sit in her seat and have a pleasant conversation. "So tell me, Mr. Bold, just what makes you think, I will change my mind so easily and try this sandwich?" Trixie returned his perfect smile with one of her own.

[Raphael D'Aubert]

He couldn't help but cock his eyebrow's up at the brevity of the girl's response, and flashed another one of his trademark grins. It had indeed been quite a long time since he had last "talked" to a girl in broad daylight, and he would be damned if allowed this particular teen, nevermind how pretty or popular she might be, to dismiss him without an interesting conversation.

"The way I see it.." replied Raphael, sitting down next to the girl, "It's not because it isn't good..."

With almost catlike grace and finesse, he allowed his tall and well-toned frame (somewhat masked by the looseness of his sweats) to stretch out on the seat, taking care not to brush up against the girl.

"It's because there haven't been many people good enough for it.."

Raphael smiled, and leisurely brushed a long lock of auburn hair away from his face.

"Of course, the reason they may not have shared 'my little sandwich' may completely be because it might not be 'not good'..."

"But... I'm willing to bet it was because you didn't exactly ask for it.."

[Trixie Michaels]

Now this was rather interesting. Trixie was not sure if she should like the guy or hate him. Usually right off the bat she knew if she hated someone or liked them, and this guy was a toss up. Well either way this would prove to be quite entertaining and Trixie was in the mood for some entertainment and stimulating conversation.

"Not good enough, I hardly doubt I qualify in that area, but you are right, I never did ask for it...." Trixie smiled as she spoke confidently that was was good enough. Trixie watched the guy settle into the chair and watched him lean back. He defiantly moved well. Of course looking never hurt anyone. "Your accent....french I take it....you much be new to the area. I am sure I would have remembered someone with quite the accent."

Trixie smirked. She was not beyond giving out tiny compliments, but it meant nothing really. She compliment a few people, cause she was always a bitch to them, later. it was in her nature to compliment and then dig. "Then again I tend to have a narrow focus when it comes to guys, and well, I guess I just never noticed you before." There was the dig. In others words she was just telling him, perhaps he was not good enough to be on her radar.

"Of course meeting new people is always fun. Unless you're boring." Trixie did not care to offend or make friends. She was a bitch and she was proud of it. Of course she had gone soft since she started dating DJ, but well now she was in a mood, a bad mood, and hopefully this guy could handle her bitchiness.

[Raphael D'Aubert]

Raphael's grin twitched slightly, before he erupted in a sudden explosion of dark laughter. Clearly, the girl was an interesting find, and he could easily note the slight undercurrent of sarcasm/bitchiness hidden in her pretty little voice.

"Oh!" he gasped, raising a hand to his head in mock distress. "How hurt I am!"

"Trixie... The 'Great Trixie'.. N-n-not n-n-noticing me?"

Almost immediately, his demeanor shifted back from hilarity to dark coolness, the smile on his face melting away like hot butter in a matter of seconds.

"I assure you, I'll try my best to be as 'interesting' as possible.. Though I can't promise you that entirely.."

He glanced sideways to peek out the window, and couldn't help but admire the thick blanket of fog coating the Californian landscape. In a place characterized by its pristine beaches and almost eternal sunshine, it was almost anachronistic for an ominous curtain of mist to blanket the entire area.

Almost scary.. But then again, Raphael D'Aubert had always admired the odd, the mysterious, and (occasionally) the terrifying.

"Wonderful day today, isn't it?" he noted dryly, changing the subject. "One almost sympathizes with the weather.."

"It reminds me of France, on its less than favorable days.. A long time ago, I used to live in an orphanage, and on the very wet and rainy days, we'd go out to play.."

Heavy droplets of rain poured down with vicious intensity, striking the earth in marble sized droplets before exploding into a spectacular myriad of wetness. A flash of lightning illuminated the figures of two men standing over the huddled body of a young boy, with a small crowd of children watching fearfully in the distance.

"It was a very 'fun' time in my life.."

With unnatural speed the polished boot of one man slammed into the child's ribcage, elicitating a sudden gasp of pain and a dull *snap* from the pitiful figure.

"I'd used to think that whenever it rained, God was there.. Standing over us and watching.. Shedding tears for his children."

More dull thuds, and then silence...

"I'd also used to think that somewhere else in the world.. There'd be other kids who'd be enjoying a perfectly warm and sunny day.."

Lifting his bloodied face up from the mud, the boy slowly wiped away at the blood plastering his face, spitting out three pea-shaped pieces of teeth from his mouth. Despite the great difficulty he had breathing, he couldn't help but note that the ice-cold rain pelting his tiny body almost completely numbed the burning sensations in his torso.

Raphael chuckled softly, straightening himself up from his seat. Glancing back towards the girl, he flashed an almost apologetic smile, before rising up to take his leave.

"I'm sorry.. Maybe I'm a bit too boring, spouting out all this nonsense about 'rain' and 'God'?"

"I wouldn't want to bore you, after all, with my presence... Would you like me to leave you with your own miseries and go back to my book?"

[Trixie Michaels]

Trixie just smirked when he laughed. He could laugh all he wanted. It would never change the fact that that she had not noticed him until now. "The great Trixie...i like the ring of that." She replied with a slight chuckle. Then he mentioned the weather. Now she wondered where this was going. Usually the weather was a great way to kill a conversation.

She was ready and willing to tell him to kick it but then he began talking. Something about his words...when he said 'a very fun time' in his life, something about those words just made her skin crawl, as if there was meaning behind them. She eyed the weather to see what he was speaking of and it sent chills down her spine.

She turned her eyes back to Raphael. As his words finally came to an end and he stood saying he would leave her alone. Trixie looked down and smiled. She actually smiled at what he said. But it was a sick and twisted smile. Trixie looked up at Raphael, "The weather is boring, but I find you theory on God to be interesting. God crying for his children. You are assuming there is a god."

Trixie knew the talk of religion could be dangerous, but she grew up around a man who worshiped Satan. A man who beat her, toughed her and then used her as a sacrifice in his rituals. Not a literal sacrifice, but they killed a part of her soul each time, so it was almost like it. "Growing up in an orphanage must have been hard on you, but the fact you believe god actually watches over us is interesting."

Trixie motioned for Raphael to sit back down. "This might be interesting after all. As for my miseries well they were here prior to you and they will be here after you. However, you could provide an interesting distraction. I am not ready to solve my miseries with my boyfriend yet." Which was true. She needed to approach DJ with a calm head and right now she was still too annoyed.

"I am actually interested in meeting someone who believes in God. Why? Why do you believe in him? I do not believe in someone who allows their children to get hurt."

[Raphael D'Aubert]

Raphael shook his head in denial, grinning viciously at the girl's inquiry over God. Something about the girl's slightly bitter tone seemed to explain much to the young man, who had seen more than his share of cruelties and tragedies over the course of his eighteen years of life.

"You mistake me, Trixie.." replied Raphael, this time with a mild undercurrent of sadness in his voice.

"That was a very long time ago.. and that was in another country.. Experience has taught me otherwise, robbed me of whatever good was in my miserable body, and replaced the boy in me with a monster..."

He looked up, staring the girl in the eyes with his own piercing gray orbs. All traces of good humor and jest were gone now, replaced with an animalistic stare more akin to that of a wild beast than a man.

"The truth of the matter is there is no God to watch over the children of men.. No redeemer... No savior.. No personal Jesus..."

"Just an uncontrollable chaos that dominates and destroys the unfortunate lives of some individuals.. Anarchy, one could say, dictates the order of things.. As I refuse to believe that one God could be responsible for the suffering and abuse of millions of children worldwide.."

The young man smiled bitterly, savoring the sensitivity of the situation.

"You're like me, aren't you?" spoke Raphael after a pregnant pause, burning his eyes deep into the girl's face.

"Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about..."

"Was it your father?"

"He beat you, didn't he? I can tell... People like us... tend to give off that sense of... wickedness?"

"I'm willing to bet that wasn't all he did to you.."

[Trixie Michaels]

Trixie stiffened as Raphael spoke. His words, while she would not agree with everything he said. He was a tad intense. Trixie did not believe in God, but she also did not believe the world was run by chaos. She believed you ran your own destiny. Granted Trixie would push the envelope on that, but no..there was no God in this life. Although..Trixie was beginning to question that since she met DJ.

"A monster....if you think so of yourself then so be it. But I would not say there is a wickedness about me. Perhaps at one point I use to take pleasure in the pain of others, and pleasure in jumping from bed to bed. I will not deny that." Trixie's grip tightened on the arm of the chair her her look turned to a glare when he began to talk about how they were alike...about her father...now that was a sore spot and sure to piss her off.

Mostly because he was right. Her father had beat her, and worse. Trixie took a moment before replying back. She needed to take a breath. "I would not go that far in terms of chaos or anarchy. That is rather harsh if you ask me." Trixie told him in a cold tone.

"But you have an interesting view. I might not believe in god, but I believe in something. I believe that my destiny is my own. No god, or higher power will ever tell me how to live my life. My life is mine and mine alone to do with as I please. God is just a figment of someone's imagination. Someone to turn to when you are in crisis."

Trixie smirked. "Truth is god was not there for me. So I had to rely on myself to get through the hell that was my life. He was not around when my father took his sick pleasure out on me and decided worship of the devil was his new religion, but....I am now in charge of my own suffering and I am actually not suffering anymore. I have DJ..." Trixie smiled at the mention of his name.

"My boyfriend has helped me see that perhaps there is some good left inside me." Trixie commented with another smile.

[Raphael D'Aubert]

"I'm glad for you then... " commented Raphael dryly, ignoring Trixie's verbal jabs.

For half a second, the cold shrewdness in his face disappeared and was replaced with something almost human... An overwhelming sense of sadness and regret that seemed to surpass all forms of expression..

"I... felt that way about someone once too.." spoke Raphael, thoughtfully stroking his long auburn locks of hair with a perfectly shaped finger.

"She's gone now, though... and.. I don't think I've been the same since.."

He looked up, smiling sadly towards the girl. Without another word, the young man stood up, stretching his long frame out in a distinctively catlike manner.

"You ought to call him, you know.."

Lifting the paperback copy of Wuthering Heights from the restaurant table, Raphael turned to leave, pausing only to glance back at Trixie.

"If he's so important to you, you really ought to talk it through.."

He left without another word, dropping off several dollars at the cashier's table before strolling through the front door of Di'Azzio's Italian Restaurant.
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"Ma'am.."

The waiter scratched his head nervously, unsure of how exactly to explain the situation. It was his first day on the job, and already things were looking bad.

"There's... erm... a shortage of chicken today.. Apparently, since nobody really comes here on Sunday, we haven't been able to restock our meat stores..."

"We do, however, have a very good Grilled Camembert Sandwich we'll be willing to make for you in leiu of the Chicken Sandwich... and will give you a discount on the meal for your troubles.."

"It's really good..."