Post by Donovan Basch on Jun 28, 2017 20:24:40 GMT -5
Encenitas Ranch Town Center
Encenitas, CA
Scene fades in outside of the entrance to a small women’s boutique, where it’s hard to miss the towering figure of WCG superstar Donovan Basch standing in the back of the store, looking about as out of place as a man of his stature can look in blue jeans and a black t-shirt. His eyes glance toward the curtains of the fitting rooms beside him, or rather, the one set of curtains that is closed. Every so often, the hint of movement can be seen as the curtains rustle, punctuated with a few soft, contemplative utterances of “Hmmmm”.
Donovan: Everything okay in there, Danni?
From behind the curtain, Danni can be heard giggling just before she pops her head out from between the curtains.
Danni: Had a little trouble with the top part of the zipper, but I managed to get it. You wanna see it?
Donovan strokes his short, pointed goatee, flashing a wolf-like grin at Danni before nodding his head.
Donovan: Sure... let’s see how much better that dress looks on you than it would on anyone else that walks into this store...
Danni: Oh, you....
She giggles again, then pulls her head back through the curtains. After a second, she throws open the curtains, standing barefoot before Donovan in a marine blue sheath dress, embellished with iridescent beading, with a hem that reaches her mid-thigh. He scans her from her feet to her face, clearly enjoying the sight before him, but as he focuses on the dress itself, the smile fades into a more pensive expression.
Donovan: Hmmm...
Again, Donovan’s hand moves up to his face as he resumes stroking his goatee.
Donovan: Do you want my honest opinion?
Confused, Danni tilts her head to the side, her brow furrowing a little.
Danni: Of course I do, Spidey! That’s why I wanted you to come in with me. Now... out with it!
Donovan: My dear, you would make a burlap sack look like haute couture. But as beautiful as you look in that dress, I’m afraid it doesn’t do you justice. For your birthday, I’d like to see you in something a bit... bolder.
Danni: Maybe I should just show up to the party dressed head to toe in nothing but Swarovski crystals....
Donovan chuckles.
Donovan: Perhaps that would be a bit much...
Danni catches sight of herself in the full-length mirror outside of the fitting room. Turning her body so that she could see the dress from every conceivable angle, she pouts her lips.
Danni: You really think it needs more bling?
Donovan: Definitely.
Danni: Okay then... I’ll keep looking.
Danni gives Donovan a playful wink before stepping back into the fitting room, pulling the curtains closed. Once she’s out of sight, Donovan pulls out his cell phone to check the time.
4:30
Glancing toward the fitting room where Danni is changing, he quickly swipes through to his settings. Keeping one eye on the curtains, he fumbles around until he finds the list of sound effects for his text messages. He taps one at random, and with a mischievous smirk, he clears his throat.
Donovan: Danni, I just got a text from one of our subordinates. It seems like an emergency, so I’m going to have to step outside and give him a call.
From behind the curtain, there’s an awkward silence until Danni finally speaks up.
Danni: Um... okay.
Donovan: I won’t be too long....
With that, Donovan hurries out of the store, leaving Danni behind. As soon as he’s gone, Danni pops out of the fitting room in a pair of white shorts and a red tank top, standing with her hands on her hips.
Danni: Hold up... that wasn’t his default text alert...
Meanwhile…
Scene shifts to another section of the shopping center, where Donovan can be seen moving at a brisk pace toward the entrance of a jewelry store. Pausing at the door, he quickly looks around to make sure he wasn’t followed, then walks inside, heading straight to the counter. He immediately draws the attention of a jeweler, clad in a grey suit with a white shirt and black tie, who greets him with a smile.
Jeweler: Ah, Mr. Basch! Are you here to pick up your...
Donovan raises his finger to his lips, staring wide-eyed at the jeweler.
Donovan: SHHHH!!! My girlfriend doesn’t know I’m here. I had to slip away while she was distracted just to get here.
Jeweler: Right, of course. Well then, I’ll make this as quick as I possibly can. Just give me one second, and I’ll bring you your ring....
With a smile, the jeweler walks through a door, disappearing into the back of the store. After a few minutes of Donovan nervously looking around, the jeweler returns with a small, black velvet box in his hand. He sets it down in front of Donovan, who bites his lower lip as he slowly opens the box. Inside is a massive kite-set princess cut diamond with a platinum band. He picks up the bauble, slipping it onto his pinkie finger. The ring doesn’t even make it past his first knuckle. Donovan smiles.
Jeweler: I don’t mean to pry, but when do you plan on popping the question?
Donovan tucks the ring back into the box, closing it before stuffing it into his pocket.
Donovan: On her birthday. I’m throwing a party for her, and I’m gonna drop the bomb in front of everyone. She doesn’t suspect a thing!
Voice: WHO doesn’t suspect a thing?
Donovan shuts his eyes, a guilty grimace on his face as he slowly turns around to find Danni standing behind him. Her arms are crossed, and she’s staring at him with a half smirk on her face.
Danni: Yeah, I thought it was funny when the WRONG sound played when you got that...
She rolls her eyes.
Danni: “Text.”
Donovan’s head drops as he chuckles. He looks up at his girlfriend, offering up a somewhat-defeated nod of his head.
Donovan: Alright... you caught me. I slipped away so I could pop in here and pick up your birthday present.
Danni’s smirk fades into a smile.
Danni: Aww, Spidey...
The jeweler stifles a quiet chuckle with his hand as Danni grabs Donovan’s gargantuan hands, locking her fingers into his as she pulls him toward her for a kiss.
Danni: You should have just told me that in the first place; instead you made me think you were up to no good.
Donovan: I thought that was a given....
They both laugh as the jeweler goes back to straightening some of the other items inside the cases. Danni starts to back away, still smiling as she looks at Donovan.
Danni: Well, I’ll let you get back to what you were doing. I’ll be next door. They’ve got a smoothie I’ve been wanting to try....
Donovan steps forward, giving Danni a quick kiss on the top of her head.
Donovan: Alright, then. I’ll try not to be that much longer.
Danni winks at Donovan before turning to leave the store.
Danni: Now where have I heard THAT before?
She giggles, then walks out onto the sidewalk as she heads next door. Meanwhile, Donovan turns his attention back to the jeweler, breathing a HUGE sigh of relief.
Donovan: Phew! That was almost too close for comfort. I thought for sure she had caught me with the ring in my hand. Guess I’d better think of something to use as a decoy...
He looks around, spotting a pair of earrings in the display case in front of him that, as fate would have it, bear a striking resemblance to the stone in the engagement ring. With a smile, he looks at the jeweler and points at the earrings in question.
Donovan: I’d like to take a look at these princess cut earrings, please....
Jeweler: Right away, Mr. Basch!
The jeweler’s eyes grow wide with excitement as he opens the case and the scene comes to an end.
Encenitas, CA
Scene fades in outside of the entrance to a small women’s boutique, where it’s hard to miss the towering figure of WCG superstar Donovan Basch standing in the back of the store, looking about as out of place as a man of his stature can look in blue jeans and a black t-shirt. His eyes glance toward the curtains of the fitting rooms beside him, or rather, the one set of curtains that is closed. Every so often, the hint of movement can be seen as the curtains rustle, punctuated with a few soft, contemplative utterances of “Hmmmm”.
Donovan: Everything okay in there, Danni?
From behind the curtain, Danni can be heard giggling just before she pops her head out from between the curtains.
Danni: Had a little trouble with the top part of the zipper, but I managed to get it. You wanna see it?
Donovan strokes his short, pointed goatee, flashing a wolf-like grin at Danni before nodding his head.
Donovan: Sure... let’s see how much better that dress looks on you than it would on anyone else that walks into this store...
Danni: Oh, you....
She giggles again, then pulls her head back through the curtains. After a second, she throws open the curtains, standing barefoot before Donovan in a marine blue sheath dress, embellished with iridescent beading, with a hem that reaches her mid-thigh. He scans her from her feet to her face, clearly enjoying the sight before him, but as he focuses on the dress itself, the smile fades into a more pensive expression.
Donovan: Hmmm...
Again, Donovan’s hand moves up to his face as he resumes stroking his goatee.
Donovan: Do you want my honest opinion?
Confused, Danni tilts her head to the side, her brow furrowing a little.
Danni: Of course I do, Spidey! That’s why I wanted you to come in with me. Now... out with it!
Donovan: My dear, you would make a burlap sack look like haute couture. But as beautiful as you look in that dress, I’m afraid it doesn’t do you justice. For your birthday, I’d like to see you in something a bit... bolder.
Danni: Maybe I should just show up to the party dressed head to toe in nothing but Swarovski crystals....
Donovan chuckles.
Donovan: Perhaps that would be a bit much...
Danni catches sight of herself in the full-length mirror outside of the fitting room. Turning her body so that she could see the dress from every conceivable angle, she pouts her lips.
Danni: You really think it needs more bling?
Donovan: Definitely.
Danni: Okay then... I’ll keep looking.
Danni gives Donovan a playful wink before stepping back into the fitting room, pulling the curtains closed. Once she’s out of sight, Donovan pulls out his cell phone to check the time.
4:30
Glancing toward the fitting room where Danni is changing, he quickly swipes through to his settings. Keeping one eye on the curtains, he fumbles around until he finds the list of sound effects for his text messages. He taps one at random, and with a mischievous smirk, he clears his throat.
Donovan: Danni, I just got a text from one of our subordinates. It seems like an emergency, so I’m going to have to step outside and give him a call.
From behind the curtain, there’s an awkward silence until Danni finally speaks up.
Danni: Um... okay.
Donovan: I won’t be too long....
With that, Donovan hurries out of the store, leaving Danni behind. As soon as he’s gone, Danni pops out of the fitting room in a pair of white shorts and a red tank top, standing with her hands on her hips.
Danni: Hold up... that wasn’t his default text alert...
Meanwhile…
Scene shifts to another section of the shopping center, where Donovan can be seen moving at a brisk pace toward the entrance of a jewelry store. Pausing at the door, he quickly looks around to make sure he wasn’t followed, then walks inside, heading straight to the counter. He immediately draws the attention of a jeweler, clad in a grey suit with a white shirt and black tie, who greets him with a smile.
Jeweler: Ah, Mr. Basch! Are you here to pick up your...
Donovan raises his finger to his lips, staring wide-eyed at the jeweler.
Donovan: SHHHH!!! My girlfriend doesn’t know I’m here. I had to slip away while she was distracted just to get here.
Jeweler: Right, of course. Well then, I’ll make this as quick as I possibly can. Just give me one second, and I’ll bring you your ring....
With a smile, the jeweler walks through a door, disappearing into the back of the store. After a few minutes of Donovan nervously looking around, the jeweler returns with a small, black velvet box in his hand. He sets it down in front of Donovan, who bites his lower lip as he slowly opens the box. Inside is a massive kite-set princess cut diamond with a platinum band. He picks up the bauble, slipping it onto his pinkie finger. The ring doesn’t even make it past his first knuckle. Donovan smiles.
Jeweler: I don’t mean to pry, but when do you plan on popping the question?
Donovan tucks the ring back into the box, closing it before stuffing it into his pocket.
Donovan: On her birthday. I’m throwing a party for her, and I’m gonna drop the bomb in front of everyone. She doesn’t suspect a thing!
Voice: WHO doesn’t suspect a thing?
Donovan shuts his eyes, a guilty grimace on his face as he slowly turns around to find Danni standing behind him. Her arms are crossed, and she’s staring at him with a half smirk on her face.
Danni: Yeah, I thought it was funny when the WRONG sound played when you got that...
She rolls her eyes.
Danni: “Text.”
Donovan’s head drops as he chuckles. He looks up at his girlfriend, offering up a somewhat-defeated nod of his head.
Donovan: Alright... you caught me. I slipped away so I could pop in here and pick up your birthday present.
Danni’s smirk fades into a smile.
Danni: Aww, Spidey...
The jeweler stifles a quiet chuckle with his hand as Danni grabs Donovan’s gargantuan hands, locking her fingers into his as she pulls him toward her for a kiss.
Danni: You should have just told me that in the first place; instead you made me think you were up to no good.
Donovan: I thought that was a given....
They both laugh as the jeweler goes back to straightening some of the other items inside the cases. Danni starts to back away, still smiling as she looks at Donovan.
Danni: Well, I’ll let you get back to what you were doing. I’ll be next door. They’ve got a smoothie I’ve been wanting to try....
Donovan steps forward, giving Danni a quick kiss on the top of her head.
Donovan: Alright, then. I’ll try not to be that much longer.
Danni winks at Donovan before turning to leave the store.
Danni: Now where have I heard THAT before?
She giggles, then walks out onto the sidewalk as she heads next door. Meanwhile, Donovan turns his attention back to the jeweler, breathing a HUGE sigh of relief.
Donovan: Phew! That was almost too close for comfort. I thought for sure she had caught me with the ring in my hand. Guess I’d better think of something to use as a decoy...
He looks around, spotting a pair of earrings in the display case in front of him that, as fate would have it, bear a striking resemblance to the stone in the engagement ring. With a smile, he looks at the jeweler and points at the earrings in question.
Donovan: I’d like to take a look at these princess cut earrings, please....
Jeweler: Right away, Mr. Basch!
The jeweler’s eyes grow wide with excitement as he opens the case and the scene comes to an end.