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This entry marks a significant change in John's background and history. All entries from this point on will be Friends Only. Thank you for your consideration.

Charlotte dressed for the trip into the lion's den behind a closed and locked door. Partly so John wouldn't see her trying on six different outfits but mostly so he wouldn't see her carefully building a charm as she dressed. Focusing it on the heavy gold bangle on her left wrist, she built in a protective shield for both of them and an empathic one for herself. Anyone studying her would have a little trouble seeing through her facade. None of it would hold up to a real
assault; that would be too noticeable if they had anyone looking. The charm was just enough to make her feel she was doing something.

Her outfit was another matter. Like Goldilocks, the first was too casual, the second too formal. Not until the sixth did she find just right. Adding another layer of personal charm, she put on some of her sexiest underthings including silk thigh highs. Over that went an ivory linen pencil skirt, an ice blue silk blouse with gold buttons and gold and blue heels. In the shoes she actually stood an inch taller than John, which amused her.

Confident she had achieved the proper mix of sex appeal and conservatism, she presented herself to John.

~~~

While she dressed, he paced. Al and Viv both watched him before Al finally decided he needed to help. He ended up on John's shoulder, meowing in his ear. He rolled his eyes, then pet the little monster. He wanted a drink, several, in fact. But he couldn't, not and go see the doctor.

When Charlie came out John considered calling and canceling. He could keep her to himself. Only her glare at him when he started to suggest it stopped him. Instead, he handed her the keys to his car. "You're driving."

They had a quiet dinner at a little bistro down from Charlie's building. The evening was nice enough that they sat outside, across a small table from each other. When they'd left the building, John had been very self-conscious about his hair, even though he was wearing a hat. But by the time they'd reached their destination, he'd been sufficiently distracted by her hand in his.

So, while they sat at the table, he laced his fingers between hers and let their hands sit on the table. If asked, later, what they talked about, John wouldn't have been able to tell anyone. It didn't matter.

After dinner, John decided it was time to go and get his stuff from the hotel. He had no idea what state his room was in, he couldn't remember how it had been when he left to go over to Charlie's a few days earlier. Hopefully, they wouldn't be there long.

It had been an unexpectedly long day. A day that he would have preferred to not experience again. It was little wonder that Dagny had no desire to go back to the doctor's. He didn't want to go back, either. And he was only there for an interview and to go over paperwork.

Now he was a half day late for his date. Date. That, in itself, was a little odd. But he wasn't about to let himself think too long about it. If he did, he'd be even later. And she was already going to be less than pleased with him.

Flowers in his hand, he hit her buzzer and looked around, hoping she was home.

Everton: *His first stop when he came back to town was to visit Dagny. He was able to sneak in the building as someone was coming out, so he didn't buzz before knocking at her door.*

Dagny: *The TV was on, and Dagny was on the floor next to Mista Bones feeding him some mushed up dog food that smelled pretty horrible. At the sound of the door, she looked up and frowned before standing up. Wiping his hands off, she walked to the door and when she opened it, she smiled brightly.* John!

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Dagny: *On her day off, she went grocery shopping and cleaned her apartment, everything put away, she went out for a walk. She spent most of her days off keeping to herself, reading in the park next to her apartment. When she got back, she went to work on the non-fat cheesecake recipe she had stumbled on. She had no idea what she would do with the damn thing, but cooking was therapeutic and one of the only things she could do well.*

Everton: *He had been forced to take the day off. It wasn't something he would have ever done willingly. But his handler had been worried after the shooting and barred John from the building. That meant he was limited in what he could do. Being a man of habit, he went to the bar and got drunk. Then he went to Dagny's.*

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Dagny: *Dagny stopped on the store on the way home, she got all the things she needed to start the meal. It was hard for her to find the andouille but managed to get to the butcher shop right before it closed. She wanted to make him a traditional New Orleans meal, so it was Jambalaya with sausage and shrimp, with pecan pie for dessert. As everything cooked, she hummed softly and tided up the place, setting the table before changing out of her work clothes and into a floral print dress.*

Everton: *He arrived at her building and buzzed. He was still dressed for work, having barely made it on time. He found that he wanted to get angry at the person who delayed him, which made no sense, given his declaration that he was not interested in Dagny in a romantic sense. Yet, here he was, getting ready to have dinner with her.*

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Everton: *Everton was sitting at a table near the window, watching the world go by as he waited. His black eye was fading and his suit hid the various bruises and scratches from the run in that had caused him to miss dinner. In front of him was a mostly full beer and a mostly empty glass of scotch.*

Dagny: *Dagny showed up a few minutes later, she was feeling rather good. Her headache was gone for once and she had a decent buzz going on from the drinking she had done before being invited out. Re-shouldering her bag, she spotted John and paused for a moment, remembering the information she got about him. As she shook her head, the beads in her dreads clicked together, and without a without a second more of hesitation she walked to his table and sat down.*

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Everton: *He sat outside the coffee shop, waiting for her to get off work. She'd agreed to talk with him. Not that he expected her to listen, much less go with him. But maybe she would see that he wasn't some creepy stalker, even though he probably was.*

Dagny: *She spotted him waiting for her outside, and so lingered inside the coffee shop for longer then she normally would. She wasn't sure why she didn't want to talk to him, it wasn't like she couldn't tell if he was going to hurt her. Grabbing her bag, she took off her apron and threw it in the corner before walking out to stand in front of his table. Putting a hand on her hip she gave him a look.*

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