Standing before the doors to the shop, she gazes up at the sign for a moment before entering. Carved into the mahagony sign, the words "SINFUL PLEASURES" capture the eyes of all who pass by, while underneath in slightly smaller letters is written "Gourmet Chocolatiers". A smile appears as she muses the appropriateness of the sign. Chocolate, for centuries, was a pleasure reserved for royalty and the extremely rich. Only with the transplantation of the cacao plant and the subsequent development of plantation-style farming was it made available for the common man or woman.. add a bit of sugar, perhaps a little milk, and thus the "food of the gods" became the treat of the common individual.
Removing a key from it's place within her purse, she inserts it into the lock on the door, giving both key and doorknob a slight twist. A quiet >click< of the tumblers and the cheerful jingling of the small bell positioned just above the door announces her entry into the noticeably cooler - and quieter building. Once inside, even the slightest breath will carry the rich unmistakable scent of chocolate directly to the pleasure centers of even the most jaded customer's brain.
But far more than simple milk chocolate can be found here, oh no. For the better part of a month now, she could be seen carrying a notebook around with her wherever she went. Often she could be observed writing notes within its pages, notes that would be quickly covered should she even sense someone attempting to see what it was she was writing. Within the walls of Sinful Pleasures can be found chocolate in a multitude of glorious forms. Milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate.. and the flavors! New ones added almost daily! One could find maple fudge, strawberry fudge, chocolate mint, chocolate covered fruit of nearly every shape and kind. There was even an entire selection of chocolate liqueurs . Chocolates with a hint of rum..or brandy... and so many more, all wrapped neatly in little colored foil packages emblazoned with the calligraphic "SP" that has become her trademark.
Also found within these walls, are syrup versions of many of the treats found elsewhere in the shop. Suitable for adding additional flavoring to one's coffee, milk, cakes.. or for those of a more..creative...bend to their minds, bedroom activites.
All this and more goes through her mind as she steps behind the counter and places her purse underneath. Taking her apron from it's place on its peg by the door to the backroom work area, she slips it about her neck, reaching behind her to tie it in place.
There is an old saying: "Chocolate is a substitute for sex..". If that is accepted as true, then this shop could be considered a mindless, savage orgy of the senses...
Slender fingers place the last of the most recent batch of chocolates on a shelf within the display case before closing it. The heady aroma of chocolate diminishing only when the case is sealed. With pots and pans soaking in the kitchen, she removes her apron, placing it upon its peg... her chef's hat soon resting upon the nearby shelf reserved specifically just for that purpose.
Walking over to the recently finished "Sampling and Relaxation Area", she takes a seat before the piano nestled in it's own little corner. Emerald eyes glance towards the clock on the wall, mentally scheduling herself a little "down time". The area had long been a dream of hers and as her slender fingers wander over the ivories, she allows her mind to wander on its own. The music remains softly in the background, a composition seemingly borne of a minor key, mysterious with a hint of sadness as the past once again intrudes upon her solitary oasis.
It wasn't as if she didn't have enough things to be happy about.. her shop was turning a tidy little profit, and while she would never be as rich as many of the nobles strutting about in their fancy garments and beautiful jewelry, at least it could be said that she had food upon her table each night and a roof over her head.
If only she could determine from whence these feelings were springing. Some, she could ascribe to simple homesickness - a malady that even she was succeptible to on occasion. The others... only time would tell.
Just before the "Gourmet Chocolatiers" was about to close for the night, Colonel Wil Savage turned the handle of the front door and entered the shop. The strong intoxicating smell of the chocolate washed over him like a rogue wave.
He took a few steps inside and allowed the door to slowly swing closed behind him. He looked at the woman behind the counter and smiled, "I think you should charge just for the privilege of enjoying the smell of your shop."
He took slow steps across the wooden floor and looked at the variety of chocolates in the glass cases.
"Perhaps you could help me. I would like something that no woman can resist. Something delicious, addicting, and romantic."
He moved closer to the shop owner and leaned toward her. "Do you have anything like that here?"
Alerted by the sound of the door chimes, she looks up to smile warmly to her last customer of the evening. "Welcome to Sinful Pleasures, sir...if it's something delicious..addicting and romantic, then you have indeed stepped into the right shop.." Turning her attention towards the display case between them, she gestures to its contents cheerfully. "As you can see, we've no shortage of just such an item. Very few women would turn down one of our delicious treats.. all of them crafted with the finest ingredients and careful attention to detail by me in this very shop!" With a smile, she leans lightly upon the display case, adding cheerfully, "And if your intended is careful about what she indulges, we do have a specialty line created with an eye towards lowering the impact upon one's waistline.."
“Detailed by you in this very shop?” He removed his shades and his deep blue eyes looked into hers as he repeated her sales line. “In that case, I can’t imagine them being anything but delicious.”
He put a finger on the glass and ran it along in a horizontal motion as he perused the delicacies being displayed so artfully. He knew that if this woman gave such care to display of her product, the care given to the product itself would be extraordinary.
“I’m ashamed to admit that I have not really been a chocolate aficionado, so I have a lot to learn and must rely upon your expertise.” He put the end of his shades against his lips and looked them over one more time. “The lady certainly doesn’t have to worry about her waistline, so the choice is wide open. “Do you have anything with a brandy filling?”
"A brandy filling? Why yes we do..," kneeling gracefully behind the counter, she slides the back of the display case open. Taking a napkin, she reaches inside, slender fingers plucking one of the chocolates from its home upon one of the myriad display trays before rising once more to offer it to him. "This example is one of our cream-filled items, the creme inside flavored with various liqours...in this one's case..brandy..." she smiles. Another that your special lady might find interesting might be of our chocolate-covered cherry line.. our signature chocolate coating over a plump, sweet cherry as it floats in its own liqour filling.. "
Wil reached out and took the creamed filled chocolate from her slender fingers. He put it to his lips and bit into the chocolate; his deep blues never left her dark green eyes as his teeth sunk into the delectable sweet and his mouth savored the brandy-flavored cream filling.
A smile ran across his face.
“That is absolutely to die for.” He looked at the chocolate-covered cherry with the liquor filling. “If I may try that one also.”
He put the new chocolate to his lips and bit into it, releasing the delicious filling into his mouth.
“Oh my. I think you are turning me into a lover of chocolate.” He put the remainder of the chocolate into his mouth and licked off his fingers. “But the real mystery is . . . how you manage to remain so slim and sexy with all this temptation surrounding you?”
He wiped his fingers on the napkin she used to select the chocolates. “I see that I now have a difficult choice to make.”
Blushing softly at his compliment, she shakes her head softly. "It's a hard road to hoe, but I've managed it thusfar. I have to find other things to keep me busy when I'm not in the shop. Physical activities such as hiking, rafting or swimming...they all help me to keep in shape.." She smiles once more noting his predicament. "Well there is such a thing as a sampler package.. we put a little bit of everything into it.. sure to bring pleasure to your special lady..."
“A sampler package of the two I’ve just tasted would be perfect, something like twelve of each in alternating spaces in a box? I’m sure she will love it.”
He was quiet for a moment, realizing that it’s nearly time for her to close the shop. “So you like physical activities? If it wouldn’t be too much of an imposition, perhaps sometime you can show me where to hike around here.”
Selecting just the right box, she places it on the table in her little workspace, kneeling behind the display case to select the choicest examples of her craft from amongst the two confections he'd indicated. An even two dozen soon find themselves nestled snuggly together within the box with only the thin paper cups that house each one being the only thing separating them from their neighbors. Hearing his question, she smiles and glances over at him as slender fingers nimbly finish boxing the candies, adding a carefully tied ribbon as a final touch.
"An imposition? No, not at all. There are plenty of places to hike around town! With the changing of the seasons, they're all quite beautiful with the changing of the leaves and the cooler temperatures..." One final tug upon the bow binding the ribbon to the package before she scoops it all up and places it on the counter beside the cash register. "Here we are.. one sampler sure to please even the most discerning of chocolate lovers..." she grins.
Colonel Savage took the box of chocolates with a smile, "Thank you so much. You've been very helpful." He reached into his pocket while looking at the pricing for the chocolates, then counted out the correct amount.
"I'm sure the lady will enjoy these very much," he said while putting the coins into her hand.
"Oh, and I'll see if I can find some of those hiking trails. It sounds like it's the perfect season to get out and get some exercise."
He put his shades back on and took a step back. "Thanks again for your help."
Placing the coins in the till, she glances up at him with a smile. "Perhaps we'll see one another then.. the trails are rather well marked. Those with the green markers are easy going for everyone, yellow tend to be a tad more difficult.. you might find yourself breathing heavily afterwards.. and the red marked ones are reserved for the serious hikers. You really have to be in shape to attempt one of those. They really give one a workout.."
Last edited by Selena Hale on Fri Sep 22, 2006 5:21 pm; edited 1 time in total
Glancing back towards the kitchen, she sighs softly, eyeing that pile of pots and pans that have thusfar steadily refused to give in to the magical nature of Rhydin and to disappear...
With the rapidly approaching holiday season, business in her little shop is soon picking up. The number of days increase that she often finds herself arriving for work long before the sun rises over the distant eastern mountains... and leaving long after it has already descended into the west. Her confections and treats barely have time to rest upon the display shelves before they are bought up by customers seeking to get all their necessary supplies in preparation for the annual visit of trick-or-treaters..
The weekends prove to be her "safety valve". Bright and early each weekend morning, her slender form can be spied jogging along the various hiking trails scattered about the land... though in her mind, she is a million miles away.
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