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!:sandrine michaels

t.w.o

[She's still in the clothes she arrived in, though she's taken the advantage of being able to wash them so at least they're clean. This was, of course, after she'd ventured out into the city to plumb the depths of allies and dumpsters in order to collect materials to make goods to sell so she would have money for clothes and food.]

[It was a very practiced ritual of hers.]

[So now she's got a blanket (dumpster behind a home goods store) spread out with some cuff bracelets and woven wire necklaces that she'd been working on diligently for the first few days. Even as she sits patiently waiting for customers, she's got her hands busy wrapping feathers and bones into the wire and gear framework of a larger wrist cuff.]

[Dictated into the grimorie, which she's got laid open by her side,] So this whole gears and steam aesthetic ... it was pretty popular in my world among the more financially endowed. I never had the means for it, so it's interesting to be able to experiment with it here on a limited income.

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[Sandrine's already watching him carefully as he approached. Way too pretty people weren't generally people she trusted.]

[But then he speaks, and she recognizes the name, she trusts him even less.]

[She smirks, leaning slightly forward and catching his eyes with a knowing glance, hanging onto the silence intentionally long before answering.]

For the morbidly curious, there is a certain beauty in death that can be celebrated, in my opinion.

[and his is definitely on the inhuman side of pretty. He doesn't seem to be putting any effort into making himself seem particularly trustworthy at all, really.

Ah-- and the pause catches him. That knowing glance gets him to pay attention enough to recognize her voice right away when she responds, and a smile slithers across his face]

You don't need to convince me. I entirely agree.

[Okay that smile is a little disturbing along with everything else, but she tries to hide her unease as she leans back casually against the building behind her. She waves a hand over her current collection of goods.]

See anything you like? I might be able to give you a discount.

[he lowers himself into a graceful crouch so he can really get a good look at the selection-- and, more importantly, so he can touch them.

The only ones he bothers with are the ones with bones, and he gravitates towards pieces that shine. Anything with chain, metal, beads.]

You're quite the entrepreneur. You wasted no time at all, did you?

[She's noticing that, thinking it's more a matter of preference than anything else.]

It's what I do. Even with free housing, I still need to afford food and clothing. The sooner I get started, the better off I'll be.

Smart. I'm a little surprised at how long it has taken anyone else to take up ventures of their own. Very few have.

[he's playing with the pieces as he talks, whether he'd been invited to or not. He's thoroughly inspecting them--the bones especially. Picking up each and closing in his palm, it's as if they're frozen and he's trying to thaw them, inspecting each of them the same way]

[She's used to people handling her goods, trying them on, trying to filch them. She doesn't comment but she is watching him with a very close and careful eye. His actions are odd, and she files that away for future reference.]

Let's just say I've had plenty of practice.

I can tell. These are--

[oh, he opens his fingers as if the bracelet he's currently clutching surprises him, and he trails off to get a better look at it. A pretty little wire bracelet with snake vertebrae woven in.

He turns it around in his hands. The bones are good, it meets the minimum sparkle amount, there isn't anything that clashes with his general color scheme...]

I like this one.

[This guy is just a trunkful of curious behaviors. Sandrine peers at the bracelet and purses her lips. Yup. The snake. She absently rubs her arm where the thing had nipped her before she'd been able to snap its neck.]

That one's thirty. Or -- we could work something out.

[ha, that gets another good smirk out of him, and he gives a little incline of his head]

Did you have something else in mind?

[She sighs and leans back, considering quietly for a moment.]

Groceries for the week. Or, dinner tonight. Maybe a decent coat. The sort of thing I'd be spending that $30 on anyway.

You want me to take you out to dinner?

[the amusement is absolute, brow raising in surprise]

Alright. That sounds fun.

Well, it was just one of the options, but yes. My first week here, wouldn't mind something a little fancy.

[She'd thought it was a nice way to get to know him, figure out if he's the kind she can push and prod for her own motivations. Now she's thinking not so much, maybe, but he's already pulled that prize from the list and she couldn't back out and still save face.]

[She considers something for a moment, then pushes a matching ankle cuff towards him, that utilized other bits of the snake.] Get me something nice to wear, I'll throw this one in as well.

[Not that she generally has use for fancy clothes, but she's testing to see what she can get out of this.]

[she's actually bartering with him. Oh, he could not be more pleased.

A creature after his own heart. It endears her to him... as well as preemptively giving him a potential outline of her motivations. He knows this game well.

He can't help but give a low little chuckle.]

Keep it. If you turn out to be a good conversation partner, I'll get you something as a gift.

[pulling out money for the bracelet in the meantime]

[Okay, this was unexpected. Sandrine raises her brows as he pulls the money out.]

It's $30, or dinner. I'm not out to rob anyone. [She's also not about to let herself get endebted to anyone, either.]

[ah, good to know. She pushes limits but isn't clumsily greedy. So, he shrugs and puts the money away]

No gestures of goodwill--got it.

Good. [She smiles at her small victory.] So just tell me when and where and I'll be ready.

Meet me at the tram station nearest to here, at seven. I'll have somewhere picked out by then.

I need to do some research in the meantime.

[She gives him a small chuckle, and goes back to working on more jewelry.]

I didn't realize this was going to be so complicated for you.

If I'm going to take a girl out, I'm going to do it right.

[teasing, teasing... sort of.

And so, he pockets the bracelet and turns to head on his way]

It's been a pleasure doing business with you, Nicole. See you later tonight.

See you, Tek.

[She watches him pocket the bracelet, intrigued. usually people who bought her things liked to put it on just then, if it wasn't a gift. Just one other oddity to add to the stack.]

[As the day edges on to early evening, she gathers up her things and heads back to her room to get ready, and a little bit before seven she's dutifully waiting at the tram station. She's transformed her dark blue flannel shirt into something a little more appropriate.]

[he's there more or less on time, and dressed up for the occasion. In one of his nicest fitted coats, nails neatly lacquered black, he's certainly not making any attempt to blend into anything. They'll make quite the pair.

And oh the amused expression is right back on his face when he spots her and her outfit.]

...You are a clever thing, aren't you?

Hey, those of us who aren't pretty or rich have to make up for it somehow. [She smirks at him, eyeing the tailored outfit in contrast to her own.]

So, what's on the menu for tonight?

I'm taking someone else's suggestion, so if it isn't any good, it's not my fault.

[he nods in the direction they'll be heading, and then offers his arm]

Shall we?

[She hesitates slightly before taking his arm, forcing a small smile. She tries to play it off with a soft chuckle, but it's been a while since she's given anyone this honor and she doesn't really trust him besides.]

We shall. Certainly sounds like an adventure, trying something new.

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