Pants Off Friday [Invite]

[Cosimo Alessi (DELETED 6612)]

The Italian might not have been as charming as some of his allurist contemporaries, but then a person didn’t need special powers to be charming. Before he’d been turned, Cosimo had been able to talk his way out of most situations. A good laugh and a smile often put people off guard; it calmed them, especially people in positions of authority. They were treated like garbage most of the time so it was easy enough to disarm them with a little complimentary kindness.

”There are wars, si? People die on the streets every night. I think it is nice for some … frivolity, si?” he said, grinning broadly as he nodded. ”Yes, I will put my pants back on. As you wish, please…” he said, lifting the tray one more time, urging them to take a taste test before he went back inside.

No one was given much time to react before a voice louder than the rest broke through the murmurs and laughter. A voice Cosimo would recognise anywhere, one that had him flinching both inwardly and outwardly. He slowly turned to face Athena. What slow work he had managed to make the security smile was going to unpick itself with the feisty female now on the scene. Her fury should have cowed Cosimo but instead… well, it definitely shouldn’t have been exciting. But it was more than they’d had for so very long, and it was better than silence. Anger generally led to better things…

”Strega,” he all but purred. ”I am selling tarts! A little unconventionally, I do agree, but it was a dare. And I could not say no…” he said with a wink, though he was already backing up toward the door. Now the crowd was not just there for the tarts, but for the entertainment.

”These fine gentlemen have requested that I put my pants back on. I think that you would agree with them. Come inside, si?” he said, as if bringing Athena into the shop would somehow contain the explosion. He did not realise how many people were already inside, and how they all turned to watch him as he came through the door, eyes gleaming, faces flushed. He just nodded to the onlookers, grinning and bowing before gesturing toward the cabinets.

”They are all delicious! The tarts, please, browse the tarts…” he said. The shop was full and Elizabeth was nowhere to be seen – Cassidy jogged out to the counter and looked a little surprised, and she would soon be overwhelmed.

He wondered, mildly, whether Elizabeth would fire him for this.

[Athena (DELETED 6736)]

Strega. He thought he was going to weasel his way out of her anger by calling her a pet name. A name that definitely always made her smile. A pet name that always came before, or even during, something more passionate than this. The thought wasn't lost on her and for a split second, and in between unnecessary breaths, she did almost crack a smile for him. Even for her, his smiles and his charisma wasn't totally lost. But her anger won, as it usually did when it came to Athena and suddenly she didn't give a flying crap that they were in public and people were watching.

"You're going to have to do better than that, Cosimo! Who CARES that somebody dared you to take your ******* pants off!" Athena didn't bother with the cops who were undoubtedly staring at the short pale brunette who was yelling her face off at Cosimo, stomping her heels while she followed the poor pants-less man into the the bakery and into a completely different crowd. It wasn't until she saw another employee blur by that she managed to calm down a little, sucking in another useless breath of air in an effort to control herself while not only in Cosimo's workplace but the bakery his sire owned.

So she tried again, squaring her shoulders after another hardy breath of air. "What were you thinking, Cosimo?"

[Elizabeth]

Cassidy had no troubles with stepping in for Elizabeth; she was well aware of Elizabeth's situation and how she preferred to be behind the scenes in most things. However, there was usually someone else at the counter to pick up the slack, should the woman be unable to deal with more than a few faces at once.

There wasn't. Not tonight. There was supposed to be-and her eyes fell on the one who should be manning the counter with Elizabeth. Cassidy's beady eyes disappeared to a more than approving one, as she took in a whole lot of rear end. And what a rear end it was! "CAN I GET SOME SERVICE?!" A boisterous voice bounced inside the small bakery as he stood there, gawking at the woman, who in return was gawking at Cosimo from behind the counter. "OH! Yes. Of course. Sorry." Cassidy gave the man a look that said, 'well?' before looking towards the large glass windows to the front of the store. "I need some help!" Cassidy said, looking around for some help, growing somewhat flustered with the customer's and that rear end. Was she lucky to be working with someone like that!

And at that thought, Elizabeth appeared with a tray full of mini-tarts of all kinds, looking almost 'Stepford wife' in appearance. Balancing the tray in one hand, and a fixed smile on her face, the woman gently set down the tray and looked at the next person in line. "How can I help thee? Would one like to sample my tarts before making a decision?" Her eyes never wandered off the woman in line; the one she was conversing with, as if nothing existed outside of her, Cassidy and Elizabeth.

[Cosimo Alessi (DELETED 6612)]

Cosimo was good at being charming, yes. Perhaps he should have been an Allurist with the way he bore Athena’s fury; he didn’t even wilt under it. Once upon a time, he might have. He might have flinched, or defended himself. Now, however, after having lived with her and her fury for so long he knew to laugh. It was a dangerous game to play, but he knew he had those dimples to play with. They were weapons in their own right. Even in the chaos of the bakery, now, with both Cassidy and Elizabeth behind the counter and customers clamouring for attention, Cosimo was able to laugh and flash one of his trademark grins.

”Athena, il mio amore,” he said, almost purring as he took her hand in his own – at least tried, if she would let him, to press a kiss to her knuckles. ”Of course you were right, and I was not thinking. My brain, it went on a holiday but it has returned now. As will my pants,” he said. The aforementioned pants were folded over the chair nearest the counter, where he’d left them after taking them off. They were easy enough to pull on underneath the apron. Only then were the apron string untied and, with an apologetic grin at Athena he turned his back on the crowd so the apron could drop. Broad shoulders and rolling muscles were revealed fully to any onlooker only for seven seconds, before he pulled on the plain shirt he was required to wear beneath the pink apron.

The apron was soon tied back around neck and waist. Fully dressed, Cosimo wanted only to offer one of the tarts to Athena by way of apology but it would do no good. The woman, like he, could not eat it.

”Per favour, my love. Stay? I will help with the crowd. You will watch? As I have watched you work…” he said, though he did not leave her side until she had agreed that she would stay. Even if she didn’t, he couldn’t leave. He’d have to make it up to her later. Now that he’d created this crowd, he had to help Elizabeth tend to it.

Outside, the security watched through the glass as Cosimo was chased by a furious partner; if he’d been there to hear them as they shook their heads and wandered off, he’d have heard one of them mutter: I think he’s going to be punished enough.

[Athena (DELETED 6736)]

Athena was naturally fueled by her bad attitude, sometimes it helped her get past the obstacles in life and other times it just screwed her over. But as Cosimo reached for her hand, she didn't pull it away, she didn't turn her head and scowl like her attitude wanted her to do. No, instead she took another small step back towards him and let the man kiss at her knuckles regardless that she was still irritated. It wouldn't do them any use, if they wanted to work on things that she continuously pull away just because she was mad. She needed to see things through, just like she had come here to watch him work and to visit with him. To be a part of his life again, just like they both decided they wanted. She couldn't possibly do that by being a *****.

Thinking of nothing to say, she continued to keep an irritated silence so she could watch the man change under his apron. She tipped her head when she thought he wasn't looking, to get a better view of the man she loves' backside and smile very small to herself. It didn't take her long, but her mind quickly went to how badly she wanted to give that rear a squeeze, mad or not. Catching just a glimpse of his muscled shoulders, she had to inwardly sigh, why had she gotten mad to begin with? She almost couldn't remember now. Not with the view in front of her.

"Yeah, I'll stay." She promises, her arms lifting to casually fold over her chest, so that she could still look pissed regardless if she was or not. She knew that Cosimo would stay, even if she didn't, because she knew him to be a man of his word and his commitment and that was just one of the many reasons she loved him. Athena wouldn't curse him for that, or be angry now because of it, she had come to watch him in his element, knowing just how much pride he had to feel having and keeping this job. That helping his sire, and re-paying his debt was more than he could've hoped for and he would return that gratitude tenfold "Would you mind if I took a seat, or do you think you'll need help?" she asks suddenly, taking a pause from his irritation-play to look across at the crowd that was quickly gathering at the counter. "I could do something, anything, if you need me too, Cosi." The offer was out of her mouth before she knew it, before she even really processed the idea but she smiled just the same, small. If this was something that made him happy, she wanted nothing more than to be right in the middle with him and this was one step closer to showing him that.

[Elizabeth]

The crowd was dispersing. Some had abandoned the idea of a scantily dressed male who seemed to have a girlfriend-having lost interest in the entire premise, while some, very few trickled inside to see just what else they could find. While Elizabeth had been taken by surprise, and was still in mild shock over what Cosimo had done to gather attention of various patrons, she noticed the appeal dwindling among the potential customer base.

She zipped into the back of the kitchen and claimed a tray of mini tarts of the fruit variation. She took a deep breath inwards and moved past the counter and towards the main area of the bakery. Her eyes remained expressionless, as Elizabeth focused not on the noises within, but to a playlist she had Elise help her create through an online music account. While the blonde telepath was taken away to a more calming location with the assistance of her playlist, she repeated the same, lack of tone or inflection, bribe every two minutes. "Get the sweetest tarts in town, here."

[Cosimo Alessi (DELETED 6612)]

The grin that graced Cosimo’s features was impish, at best. The woman might have been pissed but she was staying. She was staying, and she was even offering to help. Was he forgiven, then? Probably not completely. He knew better than to underestimate Athena’s rage.

”I am not in charge. We will have to ask Elizabeth if there is something you can do…” he said, aware that the more time he stood there talking to Athena, the busier they were getting – or the more customers were walking out because they were not being served. Dark blue eyes were torn from the woman in front of him to survey the scene he’d not been paying much attention to. There was Elizabeth, a tray in her hand, trying to gain the attention of the wandering customers but… oh, no. She wasn’t doing a very good job at it. There was no passion in her voice. She sounded like someone who’d been worked too hard and had no interest in being there.

Something was up, Cosimo knew it. He didn’t like it. Grabbing Athena by the shoulders he turned her in Elizabeth’s direction, walked her toward Elizabeth , pushing her along in front of him.

”You… I think… need to distract my sire. Take her behind the counter and… someone needs to put the transactions through,” he said. Once at Elizabeth’s side he swept in and took the tray of samples from her hand. He his opposite hand landed on Elizabeth’s shoulder next, squeezing it reassuringly as he turned her toward Athena.

”Elizabeth, this is Athena. Athena, Elizabeth. Boss, leave the advertising to me, si? Si, si. You and Athena will go and give them their tarts,” he said, taking control of the situation that he had created. Turning away from the women, he repeated Elizabeth’s earlier statement – Get the sweetest tarts in town, here!” – except his accented voice was buoyant excited, jubilant, genuine in its conviction that their tarts were, indeed, the sweetest.

”The man holding your free samples is not allowed to be a tart! But his samples are far sweeter than he will ever be. Come on in, come on over! Try a fresh slice to get your mouth watering for more…!” He started to wonder whether he should have become a salesman rather than a con man. The Italian seemed to be thoroughly enjoying himself.

[Athena (DELETED 6736)]

It was crazy for her to see a crowd go from roaring to dwindling in the matter of minutes. It didn't even dawn on her that maybe it was her fault, having chased Cosimo in here to change back into his clothes. That she had ruined their view, and that she had again let her rage get the better of her and ruin something that Cosimo was doing. But she had to admit too, that she was thankful that the crowd seemed to be dying down. Even if she wanted to help and she did, she wouldn't be able to stomach the large crowd. She would be of no real help, having no grip when it came to large bodies of people unless she had something else to focus on. And as of right now, she didn't have anything else, since Cosimo would be leaving her side to work and he was completely dressed again.

He said his siress name and she completely froze up for a second, having never met the woman before and forgetting the possibility in the chaos of earlier. The very thought made her nervous, the organs of her stomach twisting and rolling on each other to make a knot had her stomach hurt, maybe this hadn't been the best idea but as always - her mouth got the best of her. It didn't take much to guide her, feeling lighter than a feather now with her unrealistic fear of meeting Elizabeth. She couldn't help but to worry even if she wouldn't admit it, that she hoped the woman would like her. No, she needed the woman to like her. Athena was desperately trying to lighten their life, she couldn't stand the thought of ruining that by having Elizabeth hate her. Taking a breath she no longer needed, she let Cosimo put her where he wanted her - in front of his sire.

The introductions were made and the woman swallowed. Well hell, it was her turn to speak now, wasn't it?

"It's nice to finally meet you, Elizabeth." she said, feeling completely out of her own skin already. She didn't know how to be this person, this social butterfly that Cosimo was always oozing, but she'd try or she'll die again trying. "I hope you don't mind me coming by, but you seem like you needed some help and I can do my best though I get very anxious with crowds and usually only work in the back.."trailing off, she watched Cosimo sell in the corner of her eye. He looked so at ease now, saying his little clever speech about the tarts and smiling as he always did. At that very moment, Athena wanted nothing more to have that light he had if only for just a minute. Long enough to help.

[Elizabeth]

The elusive Athena. She had heard so much about the woman in passing from Cosimo, but had never been able to put a face to the name. She could have attempted to-quite easily, but Elizabeth tried not to go into the memories of others, especially when it could be delicate matters. Hearing things she did not wish to hear as she tried to piece together more about the woman than her name. The way she talked, how loud she spoke, the dialect, might have helped Elizabeth paint a picture of the woman Cosimo was so smitten with.

A warm smile was offered to the other woman, before the tray if tiny tarts were taken from her by Cosimo. "Athena. It is good to finally meet thee." Elizabeth started as she dipped her head every so slightly to Cosimo's...girlfriend? Fiance? She could not recall-but Elizabeth was hopeful that it was the latter for so many reasons. "You would like to...help?" Elizabeth canted her head to the side, as she studied the woman, observing Athena's facial expressions. "Is one good at baking?" Elizabeth asked, wondering if Athena would rather do that, while she tried to man the front by herself. "Cassidy would be happy to help thee. This area is not her forte, but she helps where and when she can. To which, I greatly appreciate." The woman followed up with, before glancing to the woman behind he counter. "Or-there are two registers. Either choice would be of great help, I assure thee."

[Cosimo Alessi (DELETED 6612)]

Cosimo kept an eye on the women out of the corner of his eye, making sure that they both greeted each other, were civil – that his plan had actually worked and the two weren’t just going to stand there like awkward turtles while he gave away all the sweet treats. Five years ago Cosimo Alessi could not have imagined that he would be giving away sweet treats while wearing a pink apron – taking control of a situation that he himself had started because he’d got a little too eager about showing off his backside.

In this world, however, it wasn’t only nakedness that sold treats. A well dimpled smile and a sharply lilted foreign accent could lure the customers in just as good as a well dimpled, Sicilian tanned backside.

He should not have been worried about Elizabeth and Athena; Athena who was so strong-willed and defiant in so many ways, he had faith that she would be herself – whether angry or not, he wouldn’t ask her to be any different. Not for him. Not for Elizabeth. Elizabeth, who’d heard so much about Athena would have some idea what to expect – and Elizabeth herself was wise, and radiated a strength of her own. They were adults. They knew how to interact. They would be fine.

Cosimo let them go and left them alone as he lost himself in the crowd, answering questions about the tarts and what was in them, whether there were gluten free or lactose free or vegan options available, whether there were salted caramel varieties and could they order some for a party next week? Cosimo answered to the best of his ability, with confidence and aplomb – if any mistakes were made, he would fix them himself. Even if he had to deliver the desserts at sundown himself to the party that wanted them, he would do it,.