Diamond in the Rough

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Episode 1: Diamond in the Rough


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(Part 2)
To Allison's surprise, Crystal had been sincere about coming by ... She just didn't know it was going to be that afternoon.
The greetings were awkward but there was no turning back ...
Allison began to understand that Crystal was going to be different.
Without much pause, Allison decided to get the ball rolling.


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"Okay Crystal ... You're probably wondering what this is all about.
I'm going to be candid with you and speak my mind ... You're welcome to do the same at all times.
What I asked you over for was a chat and a nice little talk about you and the opportunities I can provide."

For starters, I've asked around and you aren't really new to the breaking and entering business.
You've told me your story about your childhood and the ongoing whirlwind of disappointments you have had since.
From a retired thief, myself, to another thief ... You kind of suck at the thieving business."


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Crystal didn't say much in response, and Allison just let the comment sink in.
As the tension grew a little, Allison took on a brighter tone and asked Crystal to follow her downstairs.
Crystal was hesitant at first but brave just the same ... And as much as she didn't like it ...
Allison's words had been hurtful but true.

It was a quick trip around the corner, down a set a stairs, and they were in the basement.
Crystal was impressed with what she truly had not imagined about the house from the outside.
She had known there was probably something worth stealing in the house but had not expected what she saw now.


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As Crystal gazed around the room, Allison found a point to start.

"I'm guessing you have a fence and probably some knowledge about artwork and antiquities at least in layman's terms.
You probably noticed that vase on the coffee table over there ... Chinese, Third Dynasty ...
And worth a good bit on the Black Market if you could get it in the right hands.

But ... What you may not know is that the bottle of nectar sitting next to it is worth four times as much.
If you are anything like I was ... You'd probably swipe the vase, fence it for few pence on the simoleons ...
*started giggling* ... And drink the nectar without knowing any better."


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Crystal got a bit defensive and butted in.

"I see you're having fun with this ... Even though you keep comparing yourself to me ...
But what are we doing here ... Is this just punishment for breaking into your place?
Seriously ... If I was going to be harassed, go ahead and press charges ...
The clowns at the District lockup are funnier.


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What are you getting at ... Are you making fun of me or planning on making me a better thief?
You need a wheelman for your next job ... Someone to hang everything on when things go south?
Are you trying to give financial advice ... Or does this have to do with the plans you were alluding to?
You want to be the next crime boss in the District ... Not suggesting you couldn't be."


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Allison understood Crystal's defensiveness and calmy shot back at her chuckling ... :D

"No Crystal ... What I am getting at is that crime doesn't pay at all ...
At least not unless you're a king or politician and you're robbing from the People as a whole *laughing*.

I didn't steal any of this stuff ... Nor did I do anyone any harm or injustice getting it.
I haven't done anything to threaten you or try to con you into anything.
That may be how the people in your life and your world operate but that's not my style."


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Allison continued without joking around as much.

"What I am trying to do ... And I may not be that great at it ... Is open your eyes.
I want to offer you an opportunity to leave that all behind and take your life down a different path.
I can tell you some things I think may happen, but nothing about your life is written in stone ...
Until you pick up the hammer and chisel and write it yourself."


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Then, as effortlessly as Allison had turned on the heat, she flipped the switch and continued.

"I am not trying to berate you or cast disparaging ideas in your direction.
I am trying to open the doors you have always found shut ... And cast some light into the darkness.
There is a way out ... A way to a more productive and fulfilling existence.
I am far from perfect ... But I have learned how to stop struggling.

What I am offering you is an opportunity ...
A chance to make a choice that will put you, and me, on a different path.
Just keep an open mind and come walk with me ... Let's talk a little more."


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Leaving the basement behind as well as a few of the hostilities ... The two walked out into the fresh air.
The day was nice, although a bit warm ... They made their way out to the far side of the pond.


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There in the shade of the ancient oaks and cherry trees ... They sat down to relax.
They invested in a good amount of small talk just getting to know each other.
For the most part, Allison just let Crystal breathe in the fresh air until afternoon came closer to a close.


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Grabbing a few fishing rods, Allison suggested the try to catch dinner.
She made the point to mention that the world was 'built" to provide for people who were looking.


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Crystal didn't know how to fish but gave it an honest effort ... Allison managed to catch dinner.
Allison didn't make a big deal of it ... And Crystal didn't say anything at the moment ...
But to herself, Crystal was surprised what Allison was saying not only made sense ...
But was true in the follow-through.


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As the evening came, Crystal played video games while Allsion fixed the dinner she had promised.
If there was one thing the two had in common ... They both liked sushi.
They chatted a little more over dinner before cleaning up afterwards.
Things were not perfect, but they were getting to know each other and with less apprehensions.


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Finally, it was time for Allison to make the offer whole.
She let Crystal know that she could have a way out ... It wouldn't be easy all the time ...
But rewarding just the same.


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Allsion took Crystal into one of the ground floor bedrooms to show her what was available.

"What I need is help pursuing my vision for the District and around this place.
What you need is access to better surroundings to explore the world and its opportunities.
What I am offering you, is this room and a chance to write your story.

Stop letting the world and the people in it tell you who you are and where you belong.
Free your mind and your will follow ... *laughing*."


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For the first time Crystal was starting to really think Allison may be serious about all the nonsense.
She was breaking into the woman's house a few nights before and was now on the guest list.
Either Allison was really gullible or extremely secure in her own ideology as well as capabilities.

Crystal was beginning to lean more towards the latter ... But was still hesitant.

"This all sounds nice ... And I am hesitant to call you a fool believing in me ...
But it's a lot to take in on such short notice ... And I am going to have to think about it.

I really appreciate the offer ... But don't know exactly where it is coming from.
You are offering me more than anyone ever has, and I can't avoid thinking there is a catch."


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All jokes aside, Allison responded in a very matter of fact way.

"I certainly see where this is odd by any measure, and understand your position.
All I can do is let you know that in return you don't owe me anything.
I am paying a debt long overdue.

It's not entirely about you ... It's about what I owe.
And it's about what I owe someone you'll never know and who is long gone.

In any case, take your time.
If you do agree, come ready to work ... Come ready to embrace change.
Until you decide ... I won't make the offer to anyone else ... And this room has your name on it.

If you decide not to ... No harm, no foul ...
And good luck in your endeavors."


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After what truly had been an odd day for Crystal, the two made it out by the road.
Allison took a moment to add one last thought in passing before they parted.

"Again ... Neither of us knows how this will turn out.
Nothing has to be the same as today.
When you wonder what can go wrong ... Take a moment to wonder about the adventures you have never had.

Good night Crystal ... Thanks for stopping by and hearing me out.
I appreciate your consideration."

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Episode 1: Diamond in the Rough

(Part 3)
When Crystal returned home the previous evening after visiting Allison, she was a ball of conflicting emotions.
Something about the whole situation struck her as not quite right, but her mind kept wandering towards Allison's last words.

"When you wonder what could go wrong ... Take a moment to wonder about all the adventures you have never had"

For some reason the previous night, the comment resonated with Crystal ... Kind of like buying a lottery ticket.
Once you put your money down ... You have no indication you have any chance of winning.
Doesn't make a difference ... You start mentally spending or allocating the money you could win ...
Because you have done the only thing necessary and possible you can do in the situation.

It doesn't have to make sense that you'll probably never enjoy actually winning.
For that moment in your mind ... It's all yours ... And you'll do everything perfectly as well as the way things should be done.
You'll be a hero to some ... A saint to others ... But more importantly you'll be able to provide for those you care about.
Not to mention you're gonna get the justification to treat yourself to a few things as well.

That evening, Crystal's mind kept slipping into that dream world ... The dreams of all the possibilities.


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As it turned out the following morning wasn't quite a nightmare ... But there were no dreams floating around.
The fridge was empty, bills were stuffed in a drawer, the car was almost out of gas ...
And Crystal didn't really have enough money to fix any of that.

Bail money to spring herself from the lock-up after getting busted, had cleaned her out.
She remembered what she had told Allison about going ahead and pressing charges.
The bail money was gone whether or not Allison did press charges and nothing about that was going to pay her bills.
She might end up homeless or in jail either way.

Crystal was so deep in that no regular B&E was going to cover what she needed ...
At least not unless she found someone out of town and rented a U-Haul Truck or held a fake Estate Sale.


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Walking into her house, Crystal snorted, when thinking about being homeless.

"Homeless ... Big deal, because this place sucks big time.
There's no happy memories of here ... And I can still smell the booze that father of mine drank.
That Allison is out of her silly mind ... There is no fairytale ending to this story ... The story of my life."

That thought made her stop for a moment ... And scan the room.
Crystal roughly assessed the area of her house ... And became even more incensed.
By her estimation ... The room Allsion had offered Crystal,
was probably a few square feet smaller than Crystal's childhood and now current home.

Crystal didn't know who Allsion thought she was ... Treating her like garbage and acting like she cared.


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"That nutcase thinks she can fix me ... Who the is she?"

Now, a bit worked up, Crystal decided to do a web search and find out who this Allison was.
Surely there was something in that woman's past that stank to high heaven ...
Or she had been lying about being a thief or whatnot.

The keys clicked away as Crystal eagerly sought that little nugget of hard truth.
She searched area data bases, public records, news websites ... There was something somewhere on that woman.

At first ... To her surprise ... She found nothing.
Not just nothing to hold against Allison ... Literally nothing about Allison anywhere online.
Finally, she cross-referenced Allison's last name, Wildwind. and was going to see if she could backtrack from there.
It was with that, Crystal found something ... And not what she had expected at all.

The story was in the Bridgeport Daily News, and about a young lady named Alexa Wildwind.
This Alexa had gone toe to toe with an organized crime outfit in Bridgeport and apparently met her end in the process.
A picture of Alexa accompanied the article ... And Allison was in the background.
Whatever that had been about ... Allison had been part of it.

Crystal searched a bit more, but again found nothing more about Allsion at all.
There was a little more about Alexa, but mostly just fluff pieces on her contributions and community service.
It didn't make sense ... She had met Allison ... And nothing about the Allison she met screamed benchwarmer.

Crystal couldn't let it go ... It was intriguing, mysterious ...
She kept digging around online as the hours slipped away.
Still nothing about Allison ... And the longer she dug the crazier the other stories got.
There were conspiracy websites with articles about vampires being involved and bunch of other nonsense.

She became frustrated with the garbage she was finding and then thought to herself ...
"Dang Crystal, don't get sucked in ... Let it go and keep your eye on the ball.
Go to your thinking spot, get some fresh air and clear your head."


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Crystal's thinking spot was rusty and faded swing set still in the front yard.
It's where she would escape the misery of her drunken father, drowning himself in booze nightly.
She could barely remember her mother who had abandoned them when Crystal was still in diapers.
It was quiet with exception of the slow, squeaky cadence of the rusty chain grinding metal on metal.

That cadence put order back into her world ... Reliable, unchanging and ever-present.

Something was wrong with the whole Allison situation and Crystal couldn't figure out why she felt that way.
Allison had been a good saleswoman when they had spoken ... It was like she knew what to say.
There was something wrong with that ... How did Allison find the words.

That was when Crystal figured out what her problem was ... And it wasn't Allison.
Deep down, Crystal didn't like Allsion ... Allison seemed to have it all going on.
Allison was strong, smart and self-confident ... Crystal knew she wasn't.

Crystal was jealous, envious ... Allison was everything she wasn't ... Allison was the enemy.

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