Walnut, Oak or Pine - Tagged

[Dorian Reese]

|| TAG: Isla Hudson,|| WORDS: 0 ||
|| NOTES: ... ||

Dorian was furniture shopping, it was a far cry from what he was used to doing. Being a body guard, a military guy it was strange to have to place his skill set in finding a new table and chairs for his apartment. His mother however, now refused to come over for dinner if he had no suitable table and chairs for her to sit on. His own style sofa and chair followed by a stack of books and broken coffee table was an issue in the older woman’s eyes.

Browsing the store Dorian had no idea where to start, the table and chairs came in all colours, sizes and price ranges as he scoffed at something that was more than his monthly wage. No, he had a practical side and something that was memory foam seating and some walnut coloured table with fancy edges was a little more than he wanted. Was it so difficult to find just a small table and chairs, all he needed was two chairs but most came with four or six or eight and special order for ten. What was wrong with two chairs and table?

Did he have to make it himself he wondered as he tried to look remotely interested in looking around the store. He could see a few other people looking around with a little bit more enthusiasm than he could muster for this trip. A basic range was more his speed, nothing fancy, frilly, embossed, varnished, metal... no all he wanted was a table and chairs. Simple he thought when he had gone through three other stores that morning already.

Dressed in blue jeans and a white t-shirt with his military boots, he was far from the weekend browser or the one who designed a room. If anyone saw his living room they would be sorely disappointed by it, the one magnolia colour on the walls, the fabric sofa that squeaked a little when you sat on it. A TV on an old wooden cabinet, it was minimal style without the style part and he just needed a table to fit that bill he thought as he rounded a corner straying away from the various table lights he has passed. No light, just the table he thought to himself as he walked.

Red☠Frost

[Isla Hudson]

Now that she had a real job that actually paid well, Isla was ready to move up in the workd and get out of her 'junior studio' apartment, just another way of saying 'cubicle apartment'. No longer were the kitchen, living and bedroom all going to be in the same place, and she would be able to give up the twin-sized bunk bed that had the lower level serving as dresser and desk. Nope, she'd get a proper bed, queen-sized, maybe even a small entertainment center and couch.

And, once she was settled, she was going to get herself a kitten!

As she was browsing past the sofa section, she was beginning to think that maybe she should be trying the thrift stores instead. The selections here were nice, but were far more than she'd been intending to spend.

At the moment, she was contemplating a leather couch that had an almost straight back and no arms. She shook her head, idly asking a man who had just turned into the aisle, "Does that look at all comfortable to you? I mean, maybe I'm missing something, but I just can't see how that can be even remotely relaxing."

Dorian Reese,

[Dorian Reese]

|| TAG: Isla Hudson,|| WORDS: 0 ||
|| NOTES: ... ||

Furniture shopping was a new life skill he was trying to acquire, he never had a cause to do much of it before. When he was younger his family was hardly bothered with the state of his room, it was basic and just a place to sleep really. The military, home comforts were confusing and not required. He had a job to do and as long as he had a place to lay his head, be that the ground, a field, a room with a roof. He was happy enough to go along with the idea because really what more was there to life than the job.

Now he had a more regular job, one that provided him with free time, cash and a headache in the form of a parent telling him what he needed in his place. Life had boiled down to furniture shopping and yes flipping through a catalogue or two might be easier but then Dorian had no clue where to find those. All of the things in his place were second hand, broke and or taped together to make them work. He needed little in life and personality, his place was void of that. He still had things in boxes just in case he needed to move.

It was hardly a requirement but then he could never tell, being stuck in one place was a new adventure and with it, came shopping. Going out and buying his own dinners for the rest of his life was an experience rather than the mess hall. Still Dorian was being an adult, being that guy to take life by the hands and find it exhausting from the outset that morning, a bigger headache to find a table and chairs than he had imagined.

Dorian turned toward the voice that had spoke as he glanced at the leather couch. It seemed to him to be more a device for torturing unsuspecting guests than a comfortable couch. He tilted his head at the object thoughtfully wondering exactly what to say to that. “Yeah, I don’t think that was made with comfort in mind at all.” He stated grinning a little, “Unless you’re a lego figure I think there would be better and more comfortable options out there. It all depends on the look you’re going for I guess.” He added not sure what look would require the angled couch. “What is it that you’re wanting, comfort or painful style?” He asked.

Red☠Frost

[Isla Hudson]

Isla laughed at the 'Lego' reference, nodding. "I think it might be a better idea to build a couch out of Legos instead of something like this." Shaking her head, she added, "It does seem more like a torture device, and your guests..."

She paused for a moment before continuing. "Oh....I get it now! It's meant to be incredibly uncomfortable so you're guests don't want to stay! Clever! Now I have to reconsider...if it would keep my brother from over-staying his welcome...'

Well, honestly, she was joking, she didn't mind Steven coming over and hanging out, although that would probably change if she ever had a boyfriend, and she knew that once Steven had his baby, he'd be pretty scarce.

"I'm starting to think that the Hope Chest might be a better place to look than here." Sure, the place was a 'thrift store', but it was high-end thrift and inexpensive, and she was pretty sure she could find something decent there.

Dorian Reese,

[Dorian Reese]

|| TAG: Isla Hudson,|| WORDS: 0 ||
|| NOTES: ... ||

“Yeah Lego’s are so much more comfortable.” Dorian added smirking lightly as he laughed. “For some guests I am pretty sure that should be legal and you know for those unwanted house guests, an uncomfortable couch would work wonders to get them to move along in good time.” Dorian rarely had house guests; he tended to avoid them as much as possible given his lack of furniture. It made the shopping trip even more mind boggling when he thought about why he was doing it, for a house guest of a sort.

“Think you understand the way of the universe with that couch.” He added smiling, “Exactly, I think I might get it just so my mother can keep her distance from my place. Not really sure she would want to stay if I got it.” Yes this was the way forward in life, uncomfortable furniture and all he had to do was make sure as the owner of the house. He got to have the best seat in it and if he really disliked someone he could always just throw them out anyway.

“Hope Chest?” Dorian said, he really had no clue where to go for furniture at all. His first time shopping for something that resembled it was going well so far if well could be called staring at uncomfortable furniture. “No clue where is good to look, I’ve not really done anything like it before.” He added deciding that if someone else knew better than him he might as well learn from them. After all it had been his job to seek out and investigate things. Right now he felt as if he should have done more of it before venturing into the furniture game.

Red☠Frost

[Isla Hudson]

"Neither have I, really," Isla admitted with a shrug. "I was in a 'junior studio' (air quotes) and there wasn't room for much, what I had, I already had, or my brother bought. Now that I have a one bedroom place, though, I need...something for it!"

Laughing, she shook her head. "Hope Chest is a thrift store, kind of like Good Will. But, really, I don't know that I want used furniture...but this stuff," she rolled her eyes. "Well, honestly, it's kind of high-end for what I need. There's a place up the street, an outlet store, but I promised my brother I'd try here first." She laughed. "Since we're not Legos, I think I'll try there!"

Steven really did have good intentions, and maybe one day she'd get really classy stuff, but at this point in her life, practical was enough for her, so long as it didn't cross into tacky!

Dorian Reese,

[Dorian Reese]

|| TAG: Isla Hudson,|| WORDS: 0 ||
|| NOTES: ... ||

Dorian smiled at the air quotes for the junior studio, he figured that was like saying miniature anything though miniature in front of a property meant it was tough to line up a renter or buyer. “Ah yeah I get that, I used to have a place wherever the military decided but now I have to figure it all out for myself. I need to get some things that don’t require people to sit on a table or stack of books to eat from a tin can.” He joked though generally that was the situation he was used to.

“This stuff looks painful and for me, I don’t mind used. It’s cheaper and at least you can see if it comes from a caring home. It’s a little like tried and tested where as this... this is just torture for guests.” He added grinning though he had to agree, high end was hardly his idea of useful. “Sure I think I’ll follow you if you’re good with that, you seem to know the places to go for this kind of thing.” Dorian added smiling.

The one thing he knew nothing about was shopping unless it was related to his work or just kit for it. Ironically he could find anything for that but basics he was little cut and dry with, it had taken him long enough to find what store he preferred in the city. Where he could get a few specialised items for cooking and then remembering and finding time to do the shopping. It was why he was the takeout leaflet hoarder. Then again that had little to do with furniture as he glanced at a few other items where they were stood.

Red☠Frost

[Isla Hudson]

"Sure, I don't mind at all, it's not too far and I think they deliver, too...at least I hope they do." Isla grinned. "I can't quite see tying a couch to the top of my Taurus!" That made her laugh and shake her head. "And the dining table sticking out of the trunk and mattresses folded in the back seat!" And then there was the issue of getting things from the car to the house...no, she needed delivery.

"I would have just gone there in the first place," she explained, "but my brother wants me to 'have the best', so I promised him I'd look here first. And I don't mind," she explained as she headed for the door, "but you can argue, too, that expensive isn't necessarily 'best', and 'good' doesn't have to be expensive and swanky."

'Best' in this case was practical and comfortable, something she liked.

She got into her car, then waited for Dorian, and a few minutes later they were pulling into the parking lot of a warehouse. It was a little run-down, but the paint was intact and the lot was free of trash.

Isla got out of her car to wait.

Dorian Reese,

[Dorian Reese]

|| TAG: Isla Hudson,|| WORDS: 0 ||
|| NOTES: ... ||

“Oh delivery, another great option I am sure would cost a small mortgage in here.” Dorian said smiling as he nodded. “Pretty sure you get arrested for that sort of thing but if it flat packs, it would fit.” A flat pack couch sounded just as uncomfortable to him as the option for a lego couch. The world he had come back to was certainly a very strange place indeed. “Pretty sure we would need a small trailer for all of that but cars these days, they do a lot more than just drive.” He joked lightly.

“Your brother seems to have good ideas.” Dorian added, he wished he had a brother or a sibling but his mother had never really done the sibling thing for him. No instead he had a string of bad news step fathers and uncles or really whatever the flavour of the month had been at that time. Now however he was being strong armed by his own mother into shopping for the very thing that meant putting down roots of any kind. “You seemed to know a lot about this, for me I was doing just fine with a plastic milk crate for my table and a old rickety table for a lamp. It was all I needed until... my mother.” He added.

The woman was a force and sure send him into a war zone, get him to spy and do recon on anything or anyone but his mother. She scared him more than any Drill Sergeant every could so yes he was shopping for a table and chairs by order of his mother. Dorian made his way to the new store as he glanced around seeing Isla stood by her car. The warehouse looked a little run down but then he better than to judge an outer shell, things were always different on the inside.

“Glad you made it.” Dorian said as he glanced toward the warehouse door. “So do we go and see what these guys have that might take the edge of sitting like lego people?” At least he had a story to tell about furniture shopping he thought as he tried to wonder how people could do this at all. It was a headache when he was fine with a house that held little but the practical items. Next news he would be looking at new curtains and soft furnishings which was another scary part of life.

Red☠Frost

[Isla Hudson]

"Sure...like I said, the place isn't grand, but what they have is inexpensive and practical, and sometimes you can find some really good stuff when they get a shipment of seconds." She shrugged as they walked toward the building. "Does it really matter if there's a ding or chip on the wall side? No one is ever going to see it, right? Or no one will know if you need a couple of blocks to prop up one end of the couch!"

They entered through massive warehouse doors, and she stopped to get her bearings, looking up at Dorian. "You know, a nice throw-cover for the couch and a table cloth for your table (air quotes) and no one would ever realize what was really there, right?"

She laughed, then headed for some dining sets. Really, she didn't need much, and there wasn't much room anyway. "Something to make Mom happy, huh? Look at that!"

Grinning, she pointed out a small round table that had two matching chairs. "It's a table...barely, but a table, right? Do the job...sorta..?"



For her own purposes, a square table with a drop-leaf caught her eye, and the prices seemed reasonable. "I think we might have found the right place...I have a feeling I can get what I'm looking for and not waste the whole day going from place to place. Shopping can be kinda fun, until it's not."

Dorian Reese,

[Dorian Reese]

|| TAG:Isla Hudson,|| WORDS: 0 ||
|| NOTES: ... ||

“That is all I need really, it sounds like the perfect place to me.” Dorian said looking forward to something that was more his speed and price range. “Sure and it adds character, these days people are paying big bucks for the furniture that looks like it’s been through a war so really, we’re just getting to it first.” Furniture was a world he would never really understand, he was simple with what he had and he made it work for him. The table and chairs was the window dressing to life in his mind.

His eyes stared around the warehouse; he took notes of the exits first followed by the people and faces there. Buildings took on a whole new lease of life when his main aim was a bodyguard. He looked to Isla for a moment as he nodded. “So really all I need to find is the table cloth for my crate and a cloth for the boxes as seats.” Dorian said thoughtfully, it would work for him he knew that much but his mother. She was the sort that looked under things.

“Ohh nice choice and yes that is exactly what I need.” Dorian said grinning as he saw the two matching chairs and small round table. “Sure it would, a cloth would make it look like the Ritz too.” He added grinning; this was by far the better furniture so far as he could see. It made sense to him and was small and practical.

“So what is it you’re looking for exactly then?” Dorian asked having realised he had been entirely focused on his need for a table he had forgotten to ask. “Hmmm shopping is not fun, it’s a way to ruin your day and then make you penniless for a while too.” He added grinning as he glanced over another table set, small, skinny, a leaf either side of the small frame and he was sure it was small enough to shove behind his couch if he needed the space.

Red☠Frost

[Isla Hudson]

((Oops! Sorry, posted the wrong thread here!))

“So really all I need to find is the table cloth for my crate and a cloth for the boxes as seats.”

"So long as no one looks." Isla shrugged, grinning. "But if I know women, and your mom is a woman..." Well, yeah, while it sounded good it was probably only a solid idea for a men-only environment!

“Ohh nice choice and yes that is exactly what I need.” Dorian said grinning as he saw the two matching chairs and small round table. “Sure it would, a cloth would make it look like the Ritz too.”

"The right cloth!" Isla laughed...there was always a caveat! "Cheap burlap won't do, you'd need real linen, maybe a lace edge, at least for when Mom visits!"

“So what is it you’re looking for exactly then?” Dorian asked having realised he had been entirely focused on his need for a table he had forgotten to ask. “Hmmm shopping is not fun, it’s a way to ruin your day and then make you penniless for a while too.”

"Well, I at least need a couch, something that isn't all slippery leather," Isla explained, "something that opens up to be a sleeper...just in case someone spends the night." Her cheeks took on a bright tint. "Not that there's anyone that exciting in my life, but...you know, in case. And I need...well, a real bed, and not that student deask-bunk-bed thing...but that can be simple, too. Actually, I was thinking about a waterbed, but Steven thinks that's too...retro. But heck, they're cheap, and they have storage under them...dunno..."

Dorian Reese,

[Dorian Reese]

|| TAG: Isla Hudson,|| WORDS: 0 ||
|| NOTES: ... ||

Dorian grinned, oh his mother would look he was sure of it. She was the one who came around and dragged her finger across a surface just to see that he had tidied up efficiently. “She is and if I covered it with cloth, I would be back out looking again I am sure.” Dorian knew his mother and yes life might not have been all sunshine and roses for the two of them but when it came to making sure his life was in order. He could count on his mother for that.

“Lace ....ewww, seriously I mean lace?” Dorian said screwing up his face at that. Even the sound of lace suddenly make him feel like his apartment was about to have a nice set of curtains, a pink door and a tea pot cover suddenly sitting in the window. “I think I’ll stick with anything linen, a yellow or a blue or something.” He said smiling wondering if he had just bitten off more than he could chew with the furniture thing.

“Okay, fabric couch it is then.” Dorian said as he glanced around trying to see something that could do everything she wanted as he grinned. “Oh really well you never know, I said that I didn’t need a table and look where that had led me. I didn’t even know this place existed so you never can tell what’s around the corner.” He guessed it was like anything in life, one minute this was happening and the next there was a complete surprise just waiting there.

“A water bed... I mean don’t get me wrong I love the seventies and eighties but are you sure you want to sleep on water? Why not just get a boat?” He said grinning at her for a moment, “But hey, if it has storage that is a good thing. So a couch and a bed... let’s check out over here.” Dorian said as he walked over to a few of the nice looking fabric couched as he spied a dark emerald green one that seemed more velvet than fabric. “Oooh what about this one... very royal?” He said as he sat on in nodding for a moment. “Very comfy too.”

Red☠Frost

[Isla Hudson]

"Oh, that looks nice, and soft!" Smiling, Isla flopped onto the couch, then leaned back and struck a bit of a pose. "Is it me?" Actually, despite the joking, the couch was pretty soft and had good support.

Laughing, she stood and checked the price tag, then nodded, her grin widening. "Not bad...kind of an 'act of God' thing...everything falls into place, it was meant to be. I should go shopping with strangers more often...not to say you are strange, but..." She shrugged.

"Hey, does your mom visit often? I mean, if she doesn't just drop by unannounced you could have, like, a Mom-ify kit, you know, the lace and doilies to put out when she comes by, then go back to the burlap and plaid after she leaves."

Of course, there was always the danger of an unexpected visit, but..."If she comes by out of the blue just say the good stuff is at the cleaners!"

At least that was one thing she didn't have to worry about with her brother...Steven might want the best for her, but a short argument and a bat of her eyes and the problem would be settled -- so long as it wasn't broken he'd give in to her wishes.

"As for the bed, water's cheaper than air for some reason, and it's cheaper than a decent mattress with box springs, not that that's the only consideration."

She shrugged. "What about you? Fold out couch or Murphy bed? That way you don't even have to actually make it, just fold it away and out of sight. Then no one will know about the Avenger sheets!"

Dorian Reese,

[Dorian Reese]

|| TAG: Isla Hudson,|| WORDS: 0 ||
|| NOTES: ... ||

Dorian laughed watching Isla flop onto the couch. “Oh it’s so very you darling.” He said putting on his best posh voice as he chuckled. It seemed like a nice couch though a bit out there for what he liked but then plain and simple was more his style than the colour and fabric.

“Thanks I think but yeah I would never have known about this place without bumping into a stranger in a store so if I’m strange then so are you.” He joked, he was unsure what it said about them willing to travel to a new place with a stranger but then Isla had been there before and now he was torn between a stalker for following her or just sticking with stranger.

“Yeah I kinda need one of those kits; she does drop by and mostly just to check that I’m still keeping up with cleaning and looking for decent furniture. So I already have a catalogue collection to throw out, that I’ve never really looked at.” He explained, filled with furniture, soft furnishings and one about the general goings on in life. Stuff he hated but had none the less as he nodded. “Sounds like a good idea to me.” Dorian added, he needed to get that kit sorted out.

“Even better, the cleaners... I think my ‘it’s in the cupboard’ excuse ran out the moment she realised that I hadn’t put one up yet.” He added with a grin, that had to be the lamest of his excuses but then what was he supposed to say when he had nothing of the sort. “How about for the sake of introducing me to this place, I pay the difference for you? As a thank you and also because if you have anything sharp near that water bed... it’ll end badly.” He offered deciding it was a nice thing to do.

“Oh I have the fold out couch, you know just in case but the Murphy bed is great. Makes the room look bigger, extra hanging storage too and blends well into the wall when I need it to.” He said pretending to be shocked when she mentioned Avenger sheets. “Wait, did you break into my place? How did you know about the sheets?” Dorian asked before smirking, “And what about you, new bed to hide the princess castle sheets? Not sure if water beds come in pink.” He mused lightly as he grinned.

Red☠Frost