The Heiress

Robi Chavratt's Second Date

 

Hi Legacy Land, it's me again, Calliopie Legalos.  Tonight I'm going out with Robi.  I'm looking forward to seeing what he has planned.  He completely surprised me last time by taking me to see my brother film a new music video.  I know we won't been seeing Plato tonight since Llama Mama is playing at the Wise or Foolish Pub which is out at La Fiesta Tech.  Anyway, the only thing I know is that I'm supposed to get dressed up.  He said he was going to take me out on the town.

 

When I arrived at the address Robi gave me, he was waiting outside.

"Oh man," he said "What do you call THAT?" 

"A dress?"  I giggled.

"Call it what you want" he said "it's HOT."

"So what are we doing?"  I couldn't wait to find out what he had planned.

"I never tell, and I NEVER disappoint"  he said.  "But if you must know, we're going in here" pointing to the building behind us.

"The Art Museum?"

"Yeah, actually, my roommate, Nesdin, from freshman/sophomore year has an exhibit here.  He's a painter.  There's a restaurant on the top floor and we have a reservation in forty five minutes.  Come'on, and bring that dress with you, it's hot."

This was such a different side of Robi.  Must have been the sunglasses.

 

 

Nesdin's show was amazing, he was very talented.  Robi knew something about each piece and it was interesting to learn about the artist behind the work. 

"This is one of my favorites, 'Ode to Seared Fromage - that's long for Grilled Cheese" Robi explained.

"Compelling"  I said.

"Yeah, our freshman year we lived on Grilled Cheese so he painted this to pay tribute.  It's part of his 'starving artist' series."

"I have something kind of special to show you"  Robi said.  "I've been in contact with Nesdin  during 'The Heiress' telling him about all the stuff that's gone on, but mostly about you."  Robi grinned.

 

 

He's a big fan of the show, and when we talked last week he told me that he had done a new painting that would be in this show - he was dedicating it to you.  You were the inspriation for this piece.

 

"It's called 'The Heiress' "

The painting took my breath away. It didn't look exactly like me, but it was close.  Wow.  I didn't know what to say.

"How about dinner?  Are you hungry?" Robi asked.  We headed to the restaurant upstairs for dinner. 

The Host told us they were behind schedule and our table would be ready in a few minutes.  We took a seat in the lounge while we waited.  I was really looking forward to getting to know Robi tonight.  I had such a great time with him when he took me to see my brother, but I still hardly knew anything about him and I was going to meet his parents in a week.

 

 

When we sat down on the couch, Robi asked me,  "So what's the best thing that happened to you today?"

"Wow"   That certainly wasn't a question I expected.  I don't know if anyone had ever asked me that before.  "Ummm, I got an A on my Media Crisis exam.  That was good."

"Awesome"  Robi said.  His genuiness was surreal. 

"So what's your major?"  I asked, not very original, but I guess it was a standard question among students.

"It's Bio Chemistry.  See, my dad has a pest control business, Ugg Bugg Pest Control, you remember cause we used to spray your house, and I'm going to take over for my dad when I graduate.  I didn't get to start school until later, I was going to go when I graduated highschool and then we had kind of a family emergency. 

 

 

My dad was exposed to some improperly mixed pesticide during a large scale fumigation.  It created  really toxic fumes and it caused him to have hallucinations.  It was some really bad stuff and he had a really rough time for several years.  He couldn't be around any pesticides or his symptoms returned, it was a hyper sensitivity.  I ran the business for him during that time.  He's better now, but he only works part time.  They hired more field people to treat houses and that freed me up to start school.  I'm a senior now, graduating in the spring.  You too?

I think it was the longest I'd ever heard Robi talk.  He was so animated.

 

 

So you actually want to be a bug man?

"Oh yeah, my whole life, I've always loved bugs.  I know that sounds wierd, but when you get into it, it's really very interesting.  The reason I wanted to go to college and get a BioChem degree is I want to develop my own pesticides, non toxic things so people won't get sick like my dad did.  I'm very interested in creating better pesticide technology.  I guess it sounds wierd if you don't like bugs, but my mom always says "Bugs are our bread and butter"  Gross huh?  But there's so much insect knowledge that isn't used in the pesticide industry.  Did you know that with the introduction of the right insects at the right time your bugs can actually kill each other off?  You can actually introduce a type of beetle that will be predatory to pests like roaches, and because they aren't domesticated, once they eat your roaches, they will leave your house.  There are so many options like that that people just don't know about."

 

 

I couldn't resist the urge to wrap my arms around him.  I'd never met anyone so excited about bugs.  I was charmed.

"I'm sorry, am I talking about bugs too much?  I can talk about something else."

Like what?

"Elvis.  I've been like a huge fan ever since I was a little kid.  But I think it'd be even more interesting to talk about you."

I had a really good time the other night, when you took me to see my brother and Llama Mama.

"Yeah?  I thought you'd like that.  Your brother is amazing"

There's something I forgot to give you though.

 

 

I don't know if the moment was right or not, I just couldn't wait any longer.  I had to kiss him.  I couldn't believe I was being turned on by a man who was excited about bugs, but his energy was charismatic.  I like that.  But before I could do much more than lay my lips on his, our name was called, our table was ready.

 

"Is this ok?"

"Oh yeah, this is awesome.  I've never even been here before." 

"Nesdin recommended it."  Robi said.
 "So, I want to be a bug man... What does an Heiress want to be when she grows up?"

"Oh gosh.  You know nobody ever asks me that, they just assume being an heiress is enough.  I don't know if I really know though."

"Well, what did you want to be when you were a kid?  What did you did you think you'd be when you grew up?"

"In Charge"   I giggled.  It was a family joke.  I might have been the youngest but I tried hard to stay ahead of Izzy and Plato - which wasn't easy.  "I kind of like all this television stuff, doing this show has been really interesting.  My Media Crisis class was really stressful, but I did do really well in it.  Oh, and I did want to be a pirate when I was little, but I don't know of anyone who's hiring for that.  I used to practice on Plato."

 

"I don't know how to say this without it being cliche' " Robi said, "But you really are lucky, to have such a great family.  I'm an only child, and even though my parents are the best I could ever ask for, I always wished I had a brother, or a sister.  I think your family is great, with all it's legacy history.  The Heiress web site has all this information about your ancestors.  Have you seen it?"

  "No, I didn't know about it.  What does it say?"

"Oh it tells all about your great great something grandfather Aristotle Legalos coming to Legacy Land and starting out with nothing.  It's really interesting.  You've got a great family history.  I wish I had one like that.  My parents moved here after they got married, so we haven't been in Legacy Land for 6 generations like your family"

 

 

"You actually researched my family geneology?"

"I'm kind of an information junkie.  But I like to do my homework.  I mean I was competing to be a part of this family legacy you know, I thought I should know something about it.  It's all up on the show's web site.  There's old pictures and everything.  You had this one relative, Capernicus.  I think that's the coolest name I've ever heard."

Dinner was delcious, although I don't know what I was eating.  It was too interesting getting a family history lesson from Robi.  When the waiter cleared our plates he brought two glasses of champagne.  "What's this for?"  I asked?

 

 

"I wanted to make a toast"  Robi grinned suspiciously

"Ok.  What shall we toast to?"  I asked

"To The Flaming Commode" Robi said.

I very nearly spit my champagne all over the table.  "The Flaming Commode???"

"Yeah.  You don't know about The Flaming Commode?"

"Umm, no."  I don't think I want to either...

"Drink up" Robi said "We're going right now."

What was this?  Some kind of gastric terrorism?  Is this the price for not paying better attention to my dinner?  My eyes shot around the room for Orlando Centowski, but I couldn't see him.

 

Robi grabbed my hand and said "Come'on" and at almost a run, we went down the four flights of stairs to the garden level of the Art Museum.

 

 

In the center of the garden was a sculpture that looked oddly like some space age toilet.

"Watch this" Robi said.

And in a moment, the toilet errupted in flames.

"Oh my gosh.  What is that?" I said

"It's the Flaming Commode" Robi said "My parents have been bringing me here ever since I was a  kid.  There's a legend.  If you make a wish at the exact moment that it errupts your wish will come true."

"Does it work?"

 

 

 

"Well, let's just say it never failed to get me a chocolate ice cream cone.  But there's another part to the legend.  It says that on this exact spot hundreds of years ago, two lovers were burned at the stake and the flame is supposed to be their eternal love that never burned out.  The legend says if you kiss someone in front of the Flaming Commode and it errupts in flame, it means they are your true love."

"Does it work?"

"Do you want to find out?"

You know what?  As silly as it sounded.  I did.  Even if he was making this up, it was good.

 

 

 

I didn't expect my breath to be taken away when he grabbed me and kissed me, and when the flamming commode errupted in flames, I was already feeling heat.

"See?"  said Robi, "I told you"  and he winked.  I wanted to laugh, but I was too emotional.

"Robi, I want you to know that for the rest of my life I will remember that moment.  Thank you.  You're a great date."

 

 

 

"No one forgets the Flaming Commode" Robi grinned.  "But we're not done yet.  I have one more surprise."
Where are we going?
"Next door.  There's someone I want you to meet."

 

 

We walked less than a block to a little underground club that I didn't even know was there, the entrance was actually from a side street, and there was no sign.  "How did you find this place?"  I asked.

"Oh, I have a good friend who works here." Robi flashed that boy mischief grin at me.

 

 

 

 

 

My heart stopped, my blood ran cold when I looked across the room.  My feet were frozen to the floor.

"Come on" Robi said.

"Is, is that, is that. Is that who it looks like?"  I trembled.

 

 

 

 

"Yeah, that's him."  Robi grinned.  "He's a good friend of mine.  He knows we're coming, come on, I'll introduce you."

I was so embarassed.  Robi almost had to drag me across the floor like a little girl.

 

 

 

 

"Hello Robi" his friend said.  His voice was so familiar it gave me chills to hear it in person.  "Is this the special young lady you've been telling me about?"

"Yeah, this is her, Calliopie Legalos, Heiress of Legacy Land"  Robi said, pleased as punch

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Calliopie, this is my very good friend, Mr. Presley."

 

I was cold and clammy and all things that were uncool.  I didn't know what to say, but I think I said something silly like "Do you live around here?"

 

 

Mr. Presley grinned.  "Well, I don't live in the city, if that's what you're asking, but yes, I've been in Legacy Land for many years.  I'm sure you know Legacy Land is home to many great legacies and legends.  When I left the uh, business, I made Legacy Land my home.  I try to keep a low profile.  My friend Robi here has made a special request.  Would it be alright if I sang something for you?"

 

Robi took me into his arms, grinning ear to ear, and Elvis began to sing.

 

 

Love me Tender
Love me Sweet
Never Let Me Go
You have made my life complete
And I love you so

 

 

Love me tender,
Love me true,
All my dreams fulfilled

 

 

Oh my darling I love you
And I always will

 

 

Elvis stopped singing but we kept dancing.  We were the only people in the room.. 

 

 

Robi echoed Elvis in an almost perfect voice "Love me tender, love me true, all my dreams fulfilled, oh my darling, I love you, and I always will."

All I could do was tremble.  I had never met anyone like this man.  No one had ever done such a thing.  I wish I had the words to say something equally romantic in return.  But I was caught off guard, I was out of my element.  I wanted to run away, and at the same time, stay with Robi forever.  I thought about Isadora and Randy and their desperate love, and I was scared.  I wanted to be worthy of this kind of love.  I don't know if I am.

 

I didn't know what to say other than to tell Robi I was ready to go home.  We thanked Mr. Presley and Robi drove me back to HOHOHO.  We were silent during the drive home.

 

 

"You're awfully quiet.  Please tell me you had a good time."  Robi said when we reached my front door.

 

"I had the best night of my life"  I told him.  "No one has ever been so creative or thoughtful.  I don't even know someone who's been on a date like this Robi.  You are the nicest guy I've ever known.

 

 

Robi took my hand and kissed it.  "You're nervous, aren't you?  About the finale?"
I nodded.
"Please don't worry about that.  Any guy who gets to spend time with you is the luckiest guy in the world.  No matter what your decision is, I'm already a winner."

 

I kissed Robi goodnight for a long time, hoping the answers I needed would lie in his kisses. 
Finally, we said goodnight.

 

 

 

WHY did the first 6 Bachelors have to be variations on a freak show? WHY do the last two guys have to both be so great?  Why couldn't they each just get a little better than the next until it's clear that the last one is the best one?  I told the producers of this show that I'd been in love with more than one person at a time and it was never a problem.  I didn't know what I was talking about.  I'd had more than one boyfriend at a time, but I guess that isn't the same.  Never did I think I would be in love with two guys like these.  They are so different, and I love them for such different reasons.  Robi is the sweetest guy ever, it's just, I don't know if I'm the sweetest girl ever.  And George, he's so hot, and he's totally into me - but, is that enough?

Next week I go to meet their families, and they come to meet mine.  I can only hope that these dates bring me new information.  If I had to decide now, I'm at a complete impasse.  I couldn't make a choice if I had to.

Anyway, thanks for watching Legacy Land.  Good Night.

 

 

 

Next - The Visitor Part 2

 

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