t.w.o

[tigerhound]

[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.

Comments

[heresyandlace]

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.

[tigerhound]

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.]

[heresyandlace]

[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?

[tigerhound]

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?

[heresyandlace]

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?

[tigerhound]

[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.

[heresyandlace]

[he doesn't seem to be taking it very seriously, if that's any consolation. There's a playfulness to it. Entirely irreverent. He finds the whole thing funny; he loves the glances they're attracting as they stroll along.]

This world is entirely an adventure. That's really all it's good for, I've decided.

[tigerhound]

Well, I guess the situation could be worse. An adventure is at least worth having.

[She's becoming more and more conscious of the stares, and it's unsettling her somewhat, not out of embarrassment at all, but a general dislike of attention. Her attention gets distracted a moment as she glares back at someone who was staring a few moments too long for her tastes.]

[heresyandlace]

[he's reveling in it--both the attention itself, and her wonderful responses to it.]

Of course it could be worse. There are theories floating around that this place is some sort of punishment, or test, or any number of other unpleasant things.

But, I think that's all ridiculous.

[tigerhound]

Really? And why do you think that?

[She pauses from giving passerby the evil eye to glance up at him, curious. She hasn't had enough experience in this world yet to discount any of those theories, but it certainly sounded like he had.]

[heresyandlace]

Because it's too much fun.

[and he would know. It is his tower, after all.]

[tigerhound]

So, what do you think? [The conversation was helping to distract her from the stares they're getting. How she wishes to just blend into the background right about now.]

[heresyandlace]

[he's never been to the place they're heading, but it's a short and uncomplicated walk from the station. He can keep most of his attention slid over to his companion]

I'm still half-convinced that none of this is real.

[tigerhound]

[She's devoting more and more to him just to ignore the passerby, unconciously edging a little nearer.]

So, it could all just be a bad dream? [She smirks,tilting her head at him. It felt too real and too vibrant to be a dream, certainly.]

[heresyandlace]

[and he does what he can to accommodate--holding himself at a lazy and nonthreatening stroll. As entertaining as she is while she's high-strung, he'd also liked to see her relaxed]

It's the only explanation that makes any real sense, right?

[tigerhound]

Who says an explanation has to make sense? If this place is true and it does drag us from all over, something I find very normal might seem extremely odd to someone else. So, an explanation that makes sense to me might not to -- to someone else.

[She sort of fades off at the end, looking off into space for a moment as she realizes her opinions are colored by her magic, and What Would A Normal Human Say is probably not What She Has Been Saying.]

[What she needed now is a subject change.] So what's with all the steam power stuff anyway?

[heresyandlace]

[ha, and that was precisely what he'd been looking for. So, another thing to tuck away for later, and he lets her change the subject]

I have no idea. It's been quite an adjustment, but I find it fascinating.

[tigerhound]

[Yeah, that was not a smooth move on her part. She's already mentally kicking herself for that.]

So you're not from here, how did you end up with the tower?

[heresyandlace]

I took it over.

[aka, no one else was claiming it]

[tigerhound]

What, was there a battle or a confrontation or anything? [He's being frustratingly vague.]

[heresyandlace]

Not with whoever owned it before. [frustratingly vague--he has that down to an art]

[tigerhound]

Well, lucky you. Hope it doesn't turn around to bite us all in the ass. [She snarks back. Her stomach adds a little gurgle of hungry protest.]

[heresyandlace]

[luckily, it only takes another few minutes of walking before they arrive at a flashy little Asian restaurant. And, like a perfect gentleman, he'll even open the door for her.]

[tigerhound]

[She flashes him a smile, and walks through, turning away to let it fall when she realizes just how out of place she is. Then nope, not going to let him see that weakness, when the hostess comes to seat them she gives him a little side-eyed smirk.]

Maybe a nice, dark corner? [So she can hide, but let him think it's for something else.]

[heresyandlace]

[whether he sees through it or not, he approves of the suggestion, and returns the smirk.

They'll be seated in a nice cozy booth near the back of the restaurant, then. There's no seat to hold our for her, but he at least lets her lead and choose where to sit first]