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]

[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]

[tigerhound]

[She puts her back to the kitchen so she can see the entrance, without trying to be overt about it.]

So. Sushi. I have to say that's something I don't get the luxury of having.

[heresyandlace]

[ah, he'd guessed as much. He makes a note to himself to sit there the next time they're out somewhere, to see if it bothers her]

I've actually never had it. Is it good?

[tigerhound]

It's ... interesting. I just had the low-level pre-packaged stuff they sell at the store, but it was okay. I'm interested to see how a real sushi shop does it. [She's pulling over a menu and looking at it with interest. She hadn't had much to eat today, and everything is looking good but small.]

[heresyandlace]

Well, you're welcome to get it, if you'd like.

[he'll pull over a menu as well, but it's mostly just to make sure that they actually have what he'd been told they did]

But I'm getting something else. [and he looks pretty excited about it]

[tigerhound]

I think I will. [She'll be ordering what she can find is the largest roll. Prices aren't bad, she could probably pick up some appetizers too and still be under the $30 ... possibly even have something to take home ...]

Really? and what's that?

[heresyandlace]

[instead of just explaining, he reaches to point it out on her menu--a pricey glazed duck dish, served over rice. It looks good, with crispy skin and lots of glaze]

--That.

[tigerhound]

[Yeah, that ... looks pretty good. It sort of puts her little assortment of fish and avocados and seaweed to shame, and she can't help pursing her lips and trying to imagine what it'd taste like.]

[but, that was far and above past the cost of the cuff. So she'll smile and move focus back to her own menu.] Nice.

Looks like they have a variety of stuff here.

[heresyandlace]

That's one of the reasons I wanted to try this place. I didn't know what you'd prefer, so I looked for something with plenty of options.

[he closes and sets down his menu]

So, get whatever you'd like.

[tigerhound]

That's very considerate of you. [She sounds just a notch shy of genuine, wondering what angle he's playing at.]

[Certainly get whatever you'd like would be an invitation to some girls to way outdo the $30, but Sandrine is not most girls. When the waitress comes to take their order, she gets a Rainbow roll, some teriyaki, edemame and miso. With, of course, some water.]

[heresyandlace]

[it's not as though everything he does is some kind of test or game. Except it totally kind of is, so...

And he orders his wonderful duck dish and all that it comes with... along with a spur-of-the-moment appetizer or two.

...He hasn't eaten at all this week, okay.

He also orders water. So, once the waitress heads on her way--] ...Not much of a drinker?

[tigerhound]

Not really. I mean, I will with friends, [Which she considers herself not to have,] but usually I'm fine without it.

[heresyandlace]

What about dancing?

[because the transition makes perfect sense in his head]

[tigerhound]

[She looks up at him sharply, pausing a moment before answering,]

I don't dance.

[Too many people wanted to get too close.]