Lunch with Lucifer

by Jo and Bridgid 

Sid wandered slowly back down his side of the ridge, thinking about the uber-cozy scene between the General and his wife. He himself would never want such a thing. Not in HIS life. No. Stubbing his toe on a small outcrop of rock, he paused, glaring at the ground then picked up a small stone and hurled it against a tree with such force it nearly disappeared beneath the bark.

Frowning the rest of the way home, he pressed a security panel and stomped into his living room. He plopped heavily on his white couch, staring at nothing for a long time. Gradually he let his eyes focus on the room. Everything was just the way he wanted it, the way it should be. Clean, neat lines, not much clutter, the only living thing being the large snake plant on the table behind the couch. He considered it the perfect plant. No leaves, needed almost no attention, very hard to kill, lovely name. Picking up the remote for his sound system off the white coffee table, he filled the space with the thundering tones of Wagner's
Valkyries. He should have been a Viking. He would have made a good Viking. Plundering England would have been amusing.

Now he was bored. He'd been here a whole day...almost...and he was deadly bored. It wasn't like him to do something so stupid on a whim. At the moment he couldn't even remember why he'd come to the Glen. He was meant for city life, big city life, not some green asshole spot on the backside of nowhere. He was not amused. "We are not amused," he said aloud, almost cracking a smile as he imitated Queen Victoria's famous saying in her exact voice. It didn't entertain him for long.

He couldn't get the image out of his mind of Maximus brushing his fingers over the yellow rose Joimus was holding before he touched her cheek. The gesture had pierced completely through him and he didn't like that it had. Leaning forward, he knocked the two candlesticks off the coffee table with a backward sweep of his left hand. Then he leaned back, his lips pressed tightly together, and scrunched his eyes closed, not even hearing Wagner any longer.

Sometimes he wished he could sleep. Humans got to escape from themselves every day during those strange hours in which they shut themselves down. He was still not completely sure just what sleep was, but the thought of it had always fascinated him. He couldn't quite imagine the need that would lead to such a drastic loss of awareness. But he never escaped from himself. What  would it be like to be able to do that? It was similar to eating. How odd it would be to put foodstuffs in one end and have them come out the other. The thought was more than disgusting. Sleep, though, could be interesting. If one did not have enemies, that
is, who might sneak up on one while in that turned off state of existence. There was something totally impractical about the whole thing.

But Maximus slept. Sid had seen him asleep more than once. Vulnerable. Risking everything in such a state. How had the General survived as long as he had? No, it was better not to sleep. Wasn't it?

This Glen place was disturbing him with its ridiculous level of peace and quiet, its air of gentleness and...sharing. He didn't belong here. He belonged...where? Where did he belong? He'd never needed to belong anywhere. He was above the need for that. But the General's fingers had moved over the petals of the rose like they had over the heads of the ripened wheat, with a knowing of ripeness, of readiness, and then he had looked in his wife's eyes and with those same fingers touched her cheek with a similar knowing.
Why...why did that bother Sid?

Getting up, he turned off the music and walked into his computer room just off the back of the living room. Here he had every piece of modern technology it was possible to have...and some that it wasn't. He sat in his chair, swiveling it back and forth with an almost nervous intensity before turning to his screen. He needed to arrange a remote monitor so he could always see the rust-colored house in the
confetti bowl. Yes, he needed to be able to see that whenever he wanted.

His e-mail pinged. What? Who would be sending him a missive here?

Colleen sat back in her chair after she'd hit the send button. She had no idea who this man was on the receiving end of her email and for a moment she felt regret for sending. Maybe he'd ignore it anyway. She didn't have much self esteem at the moment and truth be told it was probably all Cal's fault He barely knew she existed beyond work. Even though they lived in the same house they never had a meal together or anything.

She knew when he asked her to come here that their relationship in his eyes was purely professional, but there was that niggling glimmer of hope.

"Aw fuck it!" she huffed to no one as she reread the email she'd just sent.

Hello,

Remember me? We met briefly yesterday and when I mentioned I needed a date for Toni and Richie's wedding, you expressed some interest.

I think it would be a good idea if we get to know each other before we make plans. Could we meet someplace for lunch today? My treat since I'm the one doing the asking.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Colleen


She really didn't expect a reply. He didn't know her from Adam and he was a bit strange anyway.

Colleen? Yes, he remembered encountering her for a brief moment. Nice shapely blonde. Seemed smart, competent, if a little lost somehow.
She wanted to have lunch with him? Guess she wasn't aware he didn't...ingest. But he could watch her eat. Interesting she'd asked right now when
he was so completely bored.

Hello back,

Yes, I remember.

Noon at that inn place Steve owns. 

See you there.

Sid

A slow smile began to spread over his face as he clicked the 'send' key. Perhaps there might be some amusement here after all? This Colleen wasn't half bad. And from what he knew, she didn't have one of his counterparts fawning all over her, either. No one ran his fingers over rose petals and touched this one's cheek.  Ah, yes! That's what he needed. Quickly he walked to the door and went back outside.


He didn't leave her much time. Colleen got up from her desk and polished herself up to what she figured to be appropriate for lunch.

Sid. It was an unusual name. She wondered if it was Sidney or something like that. All she could picture in her minds eye was Sid Caesar and it made her giggle. The poor man already created a memory by association with her.

She giggled all the way to Steve and Millie's place. Had she been unlucky enough to arrive before him? There were no cars in the lot at all. Go figure, she already seemed too anxious. Maybe she could calm down a little with a pre date data drink.

She got out of her car, straightened her skirt then marched into the eatery part of the boarding house. Something smelled delicious but it wasn't food that she caught wind of. What was that interestingly masculine scent? Hm, something by Armani she reckoned. She stood there for a moment with her eyes closed to enjoy it for a moment.

He came soundlessly up behind her and leaning just slightly over her right shoulder whispered her name.

"Colleen." 

Lordy days that was the smoothest, most seductive sound she'd ever heard. It was like Amaretto soaked velvet and it left her comfortably drunk for a few seconds. Her eyes were still closed and she let out a contented sigh. Colleen licked her lips and turned slowly to look into the most bewitching set of eyes she'd ever seen. Who or what was this man?

"Hello." she purred to him. That wasn't very professional now was it? Her better judgement grasped her around the ankles like a bungee cord stretched to its limits. Reality slapped her face.

"Uh. Hi. Sid. I'm sorry for being so familiar. I was daydreaming...I think." Wiping her hand on her skirt to eliminate the humidity that built up there she extended it to him. "Thanks for meeting me."

He took her hand, calculating just the right amount of pressure to make a statement yet cause her no discomfort. She was prettier than he remembered. He let his appreciation of that show in his eyes, but nicely. "My pleasure entirely," he replied, his voice a deep rather leonine rumble of masculinity.

"I've arranged a table for us," he continued, ignoring Steve's almost hostile stare as he passed the bar, leading her to the most secluded corner of the room. He pulled a chair out for her and waited till she was seated before he took his own seat, his back carefully against the wall. Smiling, he picked up his menu, running his eyes down the page. "It all does look good," he said, a hint of sadness in his voice, "but I'm afraid I'm still in the middle of my fast."

"You're fasting?" she queried. "Why on earth would you be fasting?" Leaning a bit closer to him she added "Unless it has something to do with Millie's cooking. She's a nice girl but thank goodness for Andy."

Colleen felt a little mean saying that to him. She really liked Millie but her culinary skills left a lot to be desired. Hopefully Andy would teach her a thing or two.

"I'm sorry. That was a bit out of line. I'm not really hungry either but I could use a cup of coffee." She decided to forgo the libation.

"Please, do not let me keep you from eating. This is a, well, a, um, religious matter for me. But I'm quite comfortable if you would like something. It won't bother me at all, I assure you."  How very interesting it was to meet someone here who did not seem aware of what he was. It opened entire new vistas of possibilities. He tried to avoid Steve's eyes. The fruit photographer kept staring across the room at him in an entirely suspicious and unfriendly manner.The man had just better keep his distance! Colleen would doubtless hear soon enough what the people here thought of him. He just didn't want it to happen
so soon, not before he got to spend some time with her one-on-one.

Okay, a religious thing. She figured she'd just pass over that for now.

"Maybe I will have something sweet. There's a new baker in town and the goods here are wonderful." She motioned for Steve to come over and she wondered why he seemed to hesitate. When he finally arrived at the table he seemed to ignore her companion completely.

"Have you decided on something, Colleen?"

"Yes. Can I have a cup of coffee, black and some of that wonderful Tiramisu that you have."

"Sure it would be my pleasure." Steve replied. He turned his back to walk away but she stopped him. "Excuse me. Perhaps my companion would like something to drink."

Steve just shook his head.

"He doesn't seem to like you much, Sid. Did you have some kind of falling out with him. I mean the Moran's seem like really nice folks. I can't imagine why he would act like that. You want to go someplace else?"

"I don't think there is anyplace else in this hic...em...village," he replied smoothly. "Don't let Steve's lack of manners bother you, Colleen. I'm a little...different...from the other men here due to...to...to my religion. There's quite a bit of prejudice, I'm afraid."  He looked slightly wounded yet still noble. "I'm used to it. Still hurts, though. More than I'd like." 

He seemed to force a smile through deep pain. "You, however, seem quite nice, Colleen. I hope you'll give further thought to letting me escort you to the wedding."  Who WAS that who was getting married anyway? It hadn't been important enough to remember at the time. "I'm really looking forward to attending and it would only be all the better were you to be with me."  He sighed and looked away a moment. "With all the prejudice I'm likely to encounter."


The look on his face just tugged at her heartstrings. Maybe she could make him feel better. "It's Toni and Richie who are getting married and I'd like to go with you."

Poor man, persecuted over his religion? How archaic!

"Is there anything special that you'd like me to wear?" Being not sure just what his religion was, she had to ask. "I mean should I be aware of anything."

He was thinking 'topless' would be nice. "No, no requirements there, Colleen. Just whatever you feel comfortable in," is what he said. "Dress for me is pretty much a matter of personal taste."  He ran a fingertip down the bottom part of his Armani sleeve. 

She watched as he did what he did and thought about how impeccable his taste was, wearing Armani to a lunch date and all. She'd never be able to afford anything to wear alongside of this man. She could cash in a bond or something, maybe raid her retirement. Hair and nails had to be done too. Great, this was going to cost a fortune but no one else had asked her to go with them. Cal sure didn't know she existed.

Steve glided by with her sweet treat and he refilled her coffee with a smile but it was only given to her. He once again snubbed the man with the perfect coif.

"Thank you." Colleen called out to him as he strode away. What on earth was up his ass?

"Sid, can I ask you something? What's a man like you doing in a place like this? You don't seem as down to earth like the rest of the residents at The Glen."

"Down to earth?" he repeated. "No, I wouldn't describe myself in those terms." Especially not when it comes to tilling the soil or mucking stalls like the  GeneralFarmer.  "Why am I here? I was wondering that exact thing not long ago. I think...," he paused and looked down at the table, letting his lashes spread briefly across his cheeks, "...I think, perhaps, I was lonely."  Why did he say THAT? He couldn't BE lonely!! To be lonely you had to need somebody and not be with them. Quickly he lifted his chin and cleared his throat. "It was a whim. That's all. Nothing more than whim to see what it was like here." It was an obvious cover-up and he knew it. He suddenly needed to examine a fingernail to avoid her eyes.

"A whim?" she queried  "I guess I'm here for the same reason. It was a whim all right and a pipe dream on top of it all. The way things are looking, I'll be heading back to Washington shortly."

Colleen picked at her tiramisu, toying with it like a child would. The last thing she wanted to get into was a discussion about why she really came to the Glen. As if by some miracle Cal would notice her more here in Australia than he did back in the States.

"You seem so sad, Sid. Knock it off now or my emotions will feed off of yours." How was she supposed to know he didn't really have any such thing, or did he?

"Sorry," he said, straightening his tie knot a bit. "It's just I haven't really met very many people here who are as...empathetic...as you are. I find myself enjoying your company very much. In fact, being in your company is a definite pleasure. I'm glad for whatever whim brought you to the Glen." Yes, indeed, maybe coming
here hadn't been such a bad idea after all. "I take it that you have consented to attend the wedding festivities with me, then?" He flashed his most appealing smile.

His smile was a handsome one for sure but for some odd reason she couldn't feel any warmth from it. It surely had to be one of her character flaws. Maybe she was not able to read people after all which was not a good thing for a reporter.

Nodding her head she smiled shyly back at him. "Yes. I will be attending with you, Sid." Gosh she sure hoped he didn't feel like he was her second choice.

"Excellent!" he said happily, then stood and came around to pull her chair out, leaning over her shoulder again and saying softly, "I shall call for you an hour before the ceremony." He really must find out just when that was and he'd already forgotten again who it was that was getting married. "In the meantime, perhaps we
might walk together tomorrow morning? I've still not seen most of the Glen. Sharing my first sight of it with you would be...delightful. What do you say?"