Sleuthing [Vienna/public-ish]

"Come onnnn--" Franze fiddled with the lock on the car's door-- Auguste's car. She wanted to see if he was serious, or if he was hiding something. She hoped not, but... They never talked, really. He just walked around the carnival with her to survey things, and visited her nights.

It didn't seem like a real relationship to her. Well... Not anymore.

The lock was finally picked, and she went inside, closing the dooR behind her. It should have struck her as odd that she'd never been in there before. It was a gorgeous suite, with the exception of wine bottles everywhere. She was not a drinker, she probably never would be. She could practically smell the burning of the acohol from where she stood.

Spotting some drawers, she thought she should start there first, and opened one. She wasn't prepared for what was there.

That wasn't her underwear.

And she was sure she couldn't fit into it even if it was a gift.

There could be two possible situations... And she was sure he wouldn't be wearing them.

Franze was caught between wanting to cry and wanting to find him and hur him, somehow. She settled for crying. She thought he loved her, and then... Then... This?? Unable to stand from the shock (but really, should she really be that shocked?), and sank to the floor, the unknown lingerie crumpled in her hands, as if she had tried to rip it to shreds but knew she couldn't.

There would be hell to pay, for sure.

((ffuuuuu sucky writing. :I))

That damn Moldovan. That damn gypsy, too. Auguste could not handle either of them. They both could go to hell. Auguste could just fire that damn pimp. For a man to have that much nerve- Then that gypsy kept hanging around.

He was furious when he got to his door. He knew the door was locked, he had locked it right before. He twisted the door knob anyways.

The door creaked open.

Merde.

He didn't know if he should step back, or go right in. Was somebody in there...? They could have a weapon... Were they looking at the finances? Were they stealing something?

He opened the door, then walked in.

Somebody was sitting by his drawers. He picked up one of the crappy and empty wine bottles that he had bought off the girl. He was not one to leave things around when people were in. He did not expect company.

He stepped towards her, bottle in hand.

Wait-

His initial shock washed away, as he neared her. He could recognize the small mass. It was the Austrian, his Austrian.

"Franze...." he whispered. He didn't see what she was doing. He didn't see what was in her hand.

"Franze- What are you doing here?!" His tone became harsh. How would she even have gotten in? He left the door locked. She should not have been sneaking in.

She heard him, but didn't turn. Her sobs got considerably louder to match the tone of his voice, though.

The woman tried desperately to say something, something that would make him sorry or ashamed or anything to make her feel better. She hoped he had a good explanation, she would believe almost any. Was she not good enough for anyone? She tried her hardest, she tried to make him happy. What did she do wrong?

Finally getting the courage and enough air in her lungs, she tossed the objects in her hand weakly in his direction. "What am I doing?? What are YOU doing?!"

She was crying...? No, not just crying, she was sobbing. Auguste placed the wine bottle down on a nearby table. Why would she be crying? It's not like sombody broke into her house. It was his job to comfort her, even if she was the one who was unrightfully invading his home. He began to move forward.

Then there was some small cloth thrown at him.

"What am I doing?? What are YOU doing?!"

What?

He reached down for the cloth. He didn't process exactly what it was, until it was in his hands. He felt the feminine and lacey fabric. This was...something special. It was the underwear he bought Crina.

Merde.

Any other man would show some display of uncertainty, of confusion, of anything other than confidence. Auguste was not like most men. He was always compised. He only frowned, slightly. His eyes overwhelmed themself with manufactured sympathy.

"Franze...Franze..." he dropped the underwear. His arms went to wrap around the tiny girl. "Franze... I- don't cry. This was a present for you... I planned to give it to you tonight....Don't cry..." he whispered. "I love you... I'm sorry... It was supposed to be a surprise."

Her crying subsided a small bit as he displayed his sympathy, but she was still confused and angry. Franze tried to push him away to no avail, maybe because she didn't really want to. She wanted to accept his explanation... But his explanation was more than insulting.

A gift for her??

She burst into angry sobs again. Her make ran down her red and hot cheeks as she sniffed rapidly. "for ME?!" This time she did push away from him. "These wouldn't even fit me these--these are-- these belong to a FAT, UGLY woman, not ME...!!"

Whoever owned them or was going to own them was a considerable deal taller, and with it, wider. With much more in the chest than Franze. Was that what she was lacking to him? How shallow.

Still, she finally broke down, and had to seek some solace, somewhere. She buried her face in his shoulder, seeking comfort in the man who had possibly betrayed her. His claws were in her heart as well as her mind-- to her he was the only man in the universe, save Djuro, and she wasn't sure what even to make of that.

"I-I didn't know your size, Franze..." he frowned, leaning down to kiss her head. "I'm a man... We don't know these things. I assumed it would fit... It was the smallest they had..." his arms wrapped her up tighter. He wanted her to know that he was there. He wanted her to realize that he was always there with control.

"I could never look at another woman...knowing that I had you waiting for me." he felt like he had said these words before. He felt like something like this had happened before...He knew it didn't. But it felt so familiar. He was disloyal in his past relationships, but nobody ever found out. Nobody had ever snuck into his room. Maybe Auguste didn't realize how clingy Franze was, before he decided to use her like this. "You're the most beautiful girl I've ever met..."

"I'd never cheat on you..."

((so short fff sorry)

That made sense. She forced herself to believe it, even though it was probably wrong. But she didnt want to lose him, so she would believe it.

And it was a gift... So she felt bad for yelling. "I'm sorry... Thank you..." She wiped the mascara and tears from her eyes. She felt extremely ashamed. "I shouldn't... I shouldn't have come in here..."

What was she thinking? Breaking into his room, not trusting him... "I'm sorry... I love you..."

He smiled, kissing the top of her head. She was such an inconvenient size. Crina wasn't. "It's all okay, Franze. Don't worry..." Another kiss. "I'm here for you.. I'm always here for you."

And she should not think that anyone else would be there for her. Auguste was all she had. He was all she needed. He liked to make that clear. He did not want that to mean her clinging to him, but if it was something he had to sacrifice, to get his power, then that was fine. She would believe any lie, he could do anything.

"Tomorrow...we can go shopping together to get underwear that's your size..." They had not done much together recently. "I'm sorry, Franze, I've been so busy." Busier than her.

"You can sleep in my room tonight...if you want..."

She had been wrong all along-- he really did love her.

"Ja-- Ja, okay..." She mumbled, embarrassed.

She looked awful and she knew it. Franze didnt want to be around him when she felt she didn't deserve to.

"I'll... I'll be back later... Is- is that okay?"

He lifted her head. She looked terrible- or well... worse than she normally did. He had no sympathy. Anyone could have easily blamed her mess on Auguste. Auguste knew that she did this to herself. If she wasn't sneaking around in his room, she would be fine. "You can use the bathroom to wash up." he whispered sympathetically, and kissing her one last time.

He let go, only once he was confident that she had complete faith in him. Letting her go did not make her free. No, he was now just confident that he had secured tighter chains.

"That's fine, Franze. I'll be up for a while... You're welcome in any time." Not including when he was not there.