The Ku Casino and its staff warmly welcome you. Feel free to enjoy the facilities provided you this evening in the casino’s
Conservatory. As you are guests here, rules must be adhered to:
1. Clothing and/or costumes must be worn at all times. Indecent exposure, lest discovered, will result in immediate dismissal from the premises.
2. Behavior and language should be appropriate. No vulgarities, please.
3. Alcoholic beverages should only be consumed by those of age. Underage consumption is punishable by law. Please remember this.
Thank you,
The Kapuhai Reef Chamber of Commerce
Mahelona Memorial Hospital and the Susan G. Komen Foundation would also like to welcome you to Kapuhai Reef’s first annual Fright Night and wish you
all a great time and a Happy Halloween! Please enjoy yourselves.
All proceeds go to Mahelona Memorial Hospital and the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
“...And you’re more than welcome to do that, but I promise that it will be the last thing you do before your job title becomes something along the
lines of hygiene technician. If you’re lucky. Goodbye-,” This was always the fun part of her job. The day of the event where everything that could
go wrong, did go wrong and tonight, at a charity event of all places, they had a total of 100 napkins floating around. What happened to the other
19,900 salmon colored napkins she ordered was beyond her, but she was sure they would arrive within the next ten minutes. That is what the phone call
she had so abruptly just ended had been about. The boy-child she was forced to deal with had informed her it would be a half an hour and she
politely told him it would not be. She did not have arguments with the help and if he knew what was good for him, he would find one of her assistants
in about ten minutes. TEN.
Until then, she would occupy her time looking for the guest she had personally invited. Amiri had told her he intended to come; to see her work first
hand and witness her genius...okay, maybe not in so many words, but he had said he was coming and if Amiri was anything, he was a man of his word. And
there had been so many words between the two of them in the past few weeks. She had known working for him would be a challenge, but he was often
times...an annoyance. Meetings for no reason, going back and forth between decisions, making what would be impossible requests for things that anyone
else would not be able to attain...He was doing it purposely, that much she knew and she could only imagine the laundry list of reasons why.
Tonight was important to her though. She had a lot riding on his impression of this event and nothing would go significantly wrong with it.
Not even this tropical storm was going to ruin the night.
And they shall know I am the Lord, when I shall lay my vengeance on them.
Checking his cufflinks for the third time in fifteen minutes, Amiri silently wondered when his second escort for the evening would figure out that he had
stopped listening to her...fourteen minutes ago. Her incessant babble was causing the world's most massive tension headache and her squeaky
voice only made matters worse. Why was she still standing near him? His other "ladies for the evening" had seen the dismissal in his invitation to
"find his reserved table and wait for him there" as soon as they had entered the Conservatory. They had diligently taken instruction and scurried
away, anxious to fulfill his wish. But this one...had missed the hint entirely, thinking that the dismissal of the others meant more time for she and
Amiri to become more acquainted. Not quite. Had the four not become...acquainted enough? For two nights, they had spent the most
extraordinary time together. Them, not speaking. Amiri, enjoying their company...simultaneously. He had grown weary of them and their company and it
was time for new company. But this blond beauty would, of course, not figure that out as whatever fluff adult film company she worked for certainly
did not pay her to think.
"Amiri...baby? I'm thirsty. Don't you want to get us drinks?" With an amused scoff, his ears seemed to have tuned back into her annoying voice at the
appropriate time. Subtly leaning away from her as her arms fell about his neck, her body pressing against his, he smirked at her, his dark eyes
peering into hers. Oh. She did think that this was supposedly "personal" time for the two of them. Precious.
"Number one. Never call me baby..." Quickly, his hands moved to her wrists, removing her from around his broad shoulders. Silly little thing
she was. If Amiri had wanted the company of one woman that night, he would've come with one. Singular. Not plural. With one hand still around her
wrist, he turned her softly towards where the other girls had disappeared, a gentle push aiding her way. "Number two, you have legs and two perfectly
good lips. Figure it out."
Without another word, he turned and walked slowly from her before she could utter another word. Even she knew what the sight of his back meant. End of
discussion. It amused him, really. Women like her lost sight of their place so often these days, forgetting what he was, and more importantly, who he
was. And that moment of ignorance was deathly to them, he wished they could see that. He would not be asking that girl's company again.
Grabbing a champagne flute from a passing tray, he lifted it to his lips and nodded in surprise. Dom Perignon? Well. For a party hosted by the Chamber
of Commerce, open to the public, the choice of champagne was admirable. His eyes roamed the immense Conservatory. Every flower was amazingly spruced
and tended to, carved pumpkins with smiling faces placed among them. Every inch of the party was decorated, the tables set to perfection. Amiri smiled
quickly, remembering the original purpose for his attendance. Ruka. Even though Amiri had been invited to observe the showcase of her work
and donate a "generous amount" to the charities named and honored by the event...but he could not ignore the desire to look for the red-haired
perfectionist herself. Where was she?
Screams from the haters, got a nice ring to it
I guess every superhero needs his theme music...
Fine. Fine. Fine. Perfect. Her mind ran over the many things that needed to be in place now that the event had started and most everything
was in order. Of course, it had been planned, executed, and paid for by her so she would expect nothing less. The simple issue of the missing paper
napkins would soon be solved and the rest of her night could be spent...who was she kidding? It would be spent ensuring that things stayed as perfect
as they were now. It seemed employees began to slack once they discovered she was satisfied. Tonight was not the night for inactivity, there was
always something to be done. And right now, the first thing on her list was to ensure Amiri was present and pleased. She thought about calling, but
there was a certain professionalism that came with speaking to him face to face. Not that much between them was ever extremely structured.
She sometimes worried that their familiarity might get in the way of her work. She wasn’t...herself with Amiri. Or maybe...maybe that was the issue.
She was herself/. Yes, she got him everything he asked for and no, her work didn’t suffer because of it, but...he knew her. And he knew her
well. They had been enemies in high school and Amiri knew as well as she, the only person one should know better than themselves were their
enemies. Of course, it could be said that no one knew much about Ruka, but Amiri knew the most. And things only got worse as they continued
to meet...She had never dealt with a client that knew her on a personal level and the line between business and her personal life was becoming a bit
of a blur.
Maybe a little more than a bit as she spotted him, her steps slowing as her teeth came to catch her bottom lip. Well...Ruka wasn’t sure she had ever
seen any man wear a tux so well and as her stride began again she became sure of that fact. A smirk graced her lips as his head lifted, her lips
lifting as his eyes fell to hers. Closing the short distance between them she spoke, “Amiri...or should I say, Mr. Bond? How are you?”
And they shall know I am the Lord, when I shall lay my vengeance on them.
The final drops of Dom fell from the glass and past Amiri's over anxious lips as he continued his search for Ruka. Retraction. He was not merely
searching for her, just...curious as to where she was. What she doing...what part of the flawless event she was coordinating now. If there was one
thing that Amiri discovered in his time working with the Ruka that he now knew (using the term very lightly), it was that she was an artist when it
came to her job. She sculpted and weaved everything she touched into complete perfection and she would not rest until that perfection was achieved.
And in that case, Amiri was sure that she had not slept a moment from the second she acquired his company's account. Not with the way Amiri had been
"requiring her attention" as of late. Changes to the Gala were coming on a daily basis now, but oddly enough, none of them were coming from
headquarters or from Nema, actually. All of them were from...Amiri who, just luckily enough, was the Source. Clearly, he manipulated his power. But
for good reason. Call him charitable, but he believed in only employing the best and what better way to make sure that he had the
best? Requesting flowers so rare that they were only found on one specific part of the island. Changing the guest list at thirty minute intervals.
Revamping the menu and then returning it to the one Ruka had chosen a day later...yes, all ways of keeping her on her toes. And even though she
obviously did not appreciate it, it amused Amiri how the girl who would quickly tell him when and where she would end his life became the woman so
concerned about keeping his account active that she would submit herself to this gruesome torture. Clearly, she valued her job more than she valued
the verbal lashing that he knew he deserved. But he could not resist admitting that at times, he wished that her care for her career to lessen...if
only for a moment. Just long enough for the professional relationship to not matter...
Looking down at his watch, his eyes began to search the room again as he placed his empty flute on another tray carried by a faceless server. Boredom
sat in those dark browns as time was ticking on and the night was passing him by. There were, of course, more important things to do besides stand in
a room surrounded by people in costumes that did not matter, listening to music that did not entertain him and keeping company that he had tired of
after the first night of having them. A sigh escaped him as he turned slowly on the spot, just watching the scene play out in front of him, a
party that he in no way wanted to be a part of or a guest of for much longer...
Well. Hello... Through the crowd, his eyes caught sight of a magnificent body in the midst of mere beings. She was draped in red, the fabric
gathered around her feet as she stood feet away from him. He traced the fabric with his eyes, settling on the place where the fabric gave away and
showed the sexiest hint of a willowy, milky leg. Her skin was flawless, almost alabaster with a pink blush underneath it. That red hair spilled over
an uncovered shoulder, purple elbow-length gloves on her delicate hands. Amiri could barely catch himself. As a matter of fact, he did not. He stared,
blatantly, those dark eyes absorbing the beauty she exuded. She was breathtaking. And it did not take long for him to recognize the face on that
amazingly assembled form. Looking away from her, he took a quick moment to recover, his face returning to the uninterested gaze that it had worn
before he'd laid eyes on her...Ruka.
Nodding in acknowledgment, his eyes met hers again, his gaze turning into a soft smile as she correctly guessed his costume. "I must say, I am a bit
disappointed...at your rudeness." With a chiding glare, he smirked at her, leaning in as he drew a bit closer and spoke. "I would have hoped...that
you would have greeted me upon my arrival...especially with you wearing a dress like that..." A soft chuckle escaping him as he maintained the
closeness. Breathtaking as she was, Amiri could not help his eyes roaming. Sure, Nema had warned him of his behavior with Ruka...especially after a
jealous and dismissed Nijai had gotten back to her and told her everything. But he...could not help himself. Especially not with her playful skin
peeking out of her dress the way it was...teasing him.
Tearing his eyes from her bodice, his hand casually found his pocket as his eyes found her face. "And you...I must admit I cannot guess your costume.
So...who are you supposed to be...besides exquisite?"
Screams from the haters, got a nice ring to it
I guess every superhero needs his theme music...
He was bored. It was written all over his features and as soon as she saw him her mind began running through a laundry list of things that might
lighten his mood. Hadn’t he come with someone? A “date”? Or at least what served as the Ben Hassi equivalent? She was sure he had brought some
plaything to hold his attention for the evening, but Ruka did not see her now...which was fortunate in a way. His guest being absent meant she would
not have to endure the attitude of yet another over zealous woman desperate for all of Amiri’s attention. There had been quite a few more after
their incident with his childish assistant...An assistant she was happy to say she hadn’t seen again; an assistant she was sure he’d terminated.
She had had plenty of opportunity to see her again, what with the number of unnecessary meetings Amiri called in reference to his Gala. Plans that he
would change and change again and then revert to the original plan, only to test her patience. More often than not she found herself holding her
tongue when it came to him, his requests at times urging her to tell him exactly where he could stick his Gala and just how long to leave it there.
But she did not. Instead, she invited him to events that were really of no concern to him so that he could critique her further. It seemed she was a
glutton for punishment and she knew already that she would want to kill him more than once tonight, but as always, she would endure. A task made much
easier with the way he wore his costume. Ugh, when had they come to this? When had she begun lusting after a man she more than enjoyed
loathing in their past? Now was not the place and it was certainly not the time nor the man for her to feel the way she did about
him at that point. There was business to be conducted and it would be done so without consideration for her personal emotions...a point she was
somewhat pleased she’d pledged after hearing his first comment.
Ruka could feel her smirk fall as the word disappointed left his lips and then disappear completely with the use of the word ‘rudeness’. Rude?
Really? Again she found herself restraining the many things she had wanted to say to him since this whole ordeal began. Instead, she quickly
recovered, her smirk returning as she waited for him to finish. Oh what was this? A compliment to punctuate a subtle insult? How extremely...Amiri of
him. The night had just begun and as soon as he asked her to drinks, they would be par for the course. What more could she do than accept him attempt
at admiration?
She allowed a polite laugh to fall from her lips as he chuckled, “You know very well how I hate to disappoint, Amiri. Perhaps as the night goes on
we will find a way for me to make it up to you-,” she could see his mind roam as his eyes wandered, lingering on a silent response to her suggestion
to make amends. No. And as if he could hear her thoughts, his eyes returned to her face, his hand slipping into his pocket as he asked who she had
come as.
“Oh, now it is my turn to be disappointed I see-,” she said playfully, her smirk becoming a small smile. “I’m Jessica Rabbit; cartoon siren of
'Who Framed Roger Rabbit?’ fame-,” In all honesty, the costume was not important to her. She was Ruka Souen and the only thing that
really existed to her was the success of this event...and Amiri’s impression of it.
“I trust you and your guests are enjoying yourselves?”
And they shall know I am the Lord, when I shall lay my vengeance on them.
Rude, although a bit harsh, was exactly the word that Amiri had wanted to use to describe Ruka's behavior. How dare she give the other
unworthy men that watched her with lusty eyes she did not see the pleasure of her beauty before he received the opportunity to partake of it? Oh, yes.
He remembered. Because they were to remain "professional", by special request of Ruka, herself. And Nema, but he rarely listened to his older, overly
cautious sister who would rather deny herself and run their father's company than actually admit that she was human, much less act like one. And, Ruka
was the same...unfortunately for him. She was persistent in her belief that business and pleasure were antonymous, although Amiri did his best to
disagree. Not that he wanted much from Ruka, just her company...but she often denied him that outside of the random "meetings" that he often called
for just to shift details of the Gala around...and then shift them right back again. To be perfectly honest with himself, Amiri did none of those
things to test her competence. He did them...to see her. From the moment they had reunited in Cipriani's, he had wanted her presence...for what
reason, he could not say. And it was very odd that he could desire the company of a past adversary they way that he did. But in the oddest twist of
things, that was what he desired from her. And at times...more, especially that night, that long, red dress fitting her the way that it did.
But if he knew anything about Ruka Sōuen (and he knew a few things), that last option was not an option at all...even with her words teasing at
Amiri the way that they did.
"Ah, Jessica Rabbit, you say." He repeated, chuckling at the adorableness of the inspiration of her costume. A child's movie. He would have never
guessed it...not they way his eyes traced the slit in her dress that climbed past her ivory thigh. "I do not mean to offend..." Leaning in again, he
smirked and allowed their eyes to connect again. "...but I do believe I will not be able to watch that cartoon the same way again. Not without
remembering the way you look tonight..." His eyes fell again, of course without his permission. But he did not complain at his lust taking over his
mind. Sure, he would be good...but that would not stop him from looking...for as long as he liked.
Alas, her words broke through thoughts of the possible colors of the corset he was sure she wore underneath that dress...among other things.
Oh. His guests. He remembered now. Yes, Ruka knew him too well. Too well to think that he had attended an event without some thing on his
arm. And quietly, he wondered if she had seen them walk in, Amiri...with three beautiful women in tow. Or had she just read his RSVP...the planned
"plus three" he would be attending with. He hoped it was the later. Although, he thought that maybe he should have come without guest afterall. With a
small smile at her ability to see right through him, something she had done so well in their childhood. He could never hide anything from Ruka. No one
could...
"They...are probably having more fun than I am. I am alone now...wanting the company of someone who is far too busy. I think I desire foolishly. What
do you think?" Gazing at her, he waited for the sure rejection he was to receive. The recited refusal of his advances, the proverbial slap in the
face. But he would take it tonight. Just to see the flicker of desire that matched his in her eyes.
Screams from the haters, got a nice ring to it
I guess every superhero needs his theme music...
Oh, to have the ability to act on his words. Whenever they were together, Ruka found herself wishing that the circumstances were different between
them. She hated having to hold her tongue under any circumstance, but with Amiri there was a particular...fervor that pushed against her
lips, struggling to break free yet somehow, at every challenge, she maintained. She kept her composure while Amiri had his fun with her then and she
was being forced to do so now. Of course, he wasn’t having as much fun as he obviously wanted to, his eyes traveling the legnth of the exposed skin
of her leg, before falling over the soft curve of her chest as he confirmed her costume with a small chuckle. His eyes returned her gaze as he
continued though, conceding that she had officially changed the way he would view the movie now.
"You're too kind-," she said softly, her eyes falling away from his as she pretended not to notice his eyes resume drinking her in. In a way, she
liked the attention. If Amiri weren’t a client, she might have returned it but, as usual, she forced herself to focus. On things other than the
perfect fit of his tuxedo and what he might look like without it...Instead she asked about his guests, the ‘plus 3’ listed on the RSVP records.
No, she had not seen them arrive, but Ruka had known who he was bringing and if she had to be honest, he was not the only one disappointed. Adult film
stars? That was the Amiri she remembered from so long ago. That was the Amiri she knew and it was the Amiri that most made her want to revert back to
the child she once had been. They may not have been friends then, but they did have a lot of fun together...There was no harm in a soft tease though
was there?
Before she could utter a comment about his choice in company, he spoke again, endorsing what she already knew to be true. He was bored...and in search
of company, specifically Ruka’s. Her lips pulled into a smile as they always did when he did this. As much as she would like to see what time spent
with Amiri would be like, she was more busy than curious and she fully intended to keep it that way. “Sadly, I do have a few things to tend to-,”
she admitted, her mind returning to minor issues she would need to rectify, “But I assure you, you’ll see more of me tonight than you have
lately. Your opinion of this event is very important to me.”
It was true enough. Part of the purpose of this event was to exhibit her prowess in her field. To prove to Amiri he had the best and there was no
reason to worry...and to perhaps stop the plethora of meeting he called that were almost wholly redundant. This was not her field of
expertise for no reason.
And they shall know I am the Lord, when I shall lay my vengeance on them.
Ah, "kind" was a word that did not often accompany the name Amiri Ben Hassi. Simply because Amiri Ben Hassi was not kind. He was
shrewd, calculating and most of all, he was blunt. Frank. Very to the point. He had no regard for feelings or protecting them. And he did not
lie...unless it was completely necessary. At that moment, lies were not warranted. Not when talking about Ruka. Or, complimenting her gratuitously,
which was something that had not happened until they had reunited. Before Kapuhai Reef and adulthood, there was only the sniping, the
disgust...the death threats. All of that was a distant memory now as Amiri watched her blood red lips curl into a smile at words that would
have previously caused both he and her to retch in sheer disgust. But his words bore no sarcasm and at their core, even if coated in pure "tease",
they were...true. No truer words would be spoken that night than of her beauty. There were no more feelings of distaste, no more ill will. No more
hate. There was...something else now, brewing between them quietly. So subtly that Amiri could barely sense it. It was not merely lust. He could of
course admit to her allure, her undeniable attractiveness that made him lose his senses momentarily whenever she was near. But that was not nearly all
that astounded Amiri about her. It was not the only thing that drew him to her, even though he knew they could be nothing more than partners in
business. Even in the midst of all of this, from the moment they were thrust together again by fate, Amiri had known that everything would never be
the same for them. Not their childish hate. Not their distrust and malice towards the other. Nothing. Everything would change.
"I am not kind enough, Ruka..." He quietly responded, his eyes refusing to leave hers, even as she questioned the company he kept that night. With a
small smile, Amiri saw through her question like transparent glass. She knew. With what detail Ruka had known about his guests for the
evening, Amiri could not determine. But he was very sure that she knew. He wondered as he spoke a well calculated, though stalling rebuttal, if she
knew who they were. It was clear that Ruka had never approved of his choice of company. From the very beginning, her nose remained upturned
to the type of woman Amiri tended to keep company with. Available. Easy apprehended. Lower than him. His choice of "company" never agitated
him as much as it seemed to Ruka...especially when he found companionship in those she held close. Those that she deemed unworthy, yet they continued
to frequent her circles. Minions...she called them. It had happened possibly more often than Ruka would have liked in the past and it was no wonder
she still frowned upon it as Amiri heard the repulsion for his escorts (no pun intended), cloaked with concern, in her voice. She was displeased, was
she? Well. The company he kept was certainly none of her concern...especially if she refused to provided it, a soft scowl of displeasure rippling his
features as she rejected his invitation to accompany him in place of his...guests.
"Ah..." He said simply, letting a sigh of disappointment cut through her meaningless apology. Amiri had expected to be rejected, as he had been from
the moment their initial meeting in Cipriani's. "No" to invitations to have drinks."No" to simple dinners, just between friends. "No" to...anything
that Amiri had suggested that did not concern company time. Was it questionable why he had made so many pointless meetings with agendas of
unimportance? Once she ceased the endless game of "avoidance", the meetings would be unnecessary, but moments like these did nothing but push his
hand...and irritate him to no end.
"My opinion?" Lifting his chin, his eyes, carrying the flirting tease that they had assumed from the moment he had seen her in that dashing red dress,
dulled into frozen coal. Fine. If work was what Ruka wanted, work was what she would get. Amiri would play her game. "My opinion of
this...event...is quickly souring, if you must know. I suggest that you return to my side as soon as possible as I would hate for you
and...your company to see the consequence of you not doing so...in a timely matter." With that, Amiri nodded, his eyes, unreadable...but on his
lips...the tiniest, boyish smirk appeared and vanished.
Screams from the haters, got a nice ring to it
I guess every superhero needs his theme music...
![[*]](images/davis/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
