[Private] Thermodynamics of Mixing

I've got this.

Riley stared at themselves in the bedroom mirror. This had been the fifth look for the coming evening. Archie had been vague about this evening's Talent Mixer. It sounded like others that he was managing getting to know each other. Networking
The lack of information had made the Darkling nervous. First impressions were important, but these people, who ever they are, were unknown factors. Were they actors? Singers? Comedians? What circles did they walk?

Would the Bright Ones gender and sexuality be welcome? Or would it be alienating. THe question of of how queer to be was always easier to takle in circles Riley knew. The unknown was hard to account for.
So they went through a variety of looks, gender queer, feminine, masculine. It had almost driven them half mad. Picking up their phone they called Claire and talked it through.

“I don't see the problem.”

“How can you not!?”

“ Well, R, what feels right?”

“I don't know what they-”

“No you dummy, what's right for you, not them. Right now, tonight!"

“Oh…”

“Yeah. Oh. So what is it?”

Tonight Riley was feeling like she. When Claire was able to comfort Riley that by no means that was normative, (when have you ever been normative!) did Riley finally find her look for the evening.

Taking some of her over the knee leather boots from her show closet, a cropped leather jacket, and a light short black dress, and leather cuffs, just for some spice.
Riley had even managed to start prep for the evening extra early. Running late was habitual for the undiagnosed ADHD addled moth, but not tonight. Arriving an outstanding twenty minutes late, Riley was pleased with their timeliness.

She stepped from the cab, taking a look down at their new Iphone 12 to make sure Archie had not sent any last minute notes or reminders. Seeing the phone was clear, Riley made her way inside.

Directed to the Foundation Room, Riley gave the attendant a smile before stepping inside. To find the jaw dropping room mostly empty, say for the one person the Bright one had not expected to see at all this evening. Firebringer.
Riley stopped, struck by the sight of the elemental. Her mouth opened and shut in surprise, her antennae flicked nervously.

“Oh. Hey Dani. I didn't- I hadn't. Uh. Hi” the bewitched finally stammered out.

Where was Archie, where was anyone else?  The Darkling had a sudden realization.

I don't got this. 

Fire had been on her phone, scrolling through random posts on reddit while she waited. It wasn't until she heard that familiar voice saying her name that she jumped. Her phone nearly flew out of her hands and she had to steady herself in her seat. Her orange eyes gaze up at Riley who looked absolutely stunning... and completely taken by surprise. She supposed, as least she herself had had some level of warning. Had Riley? Unlikely. 

"H-hey, Riley," that's when she felt the buzzing from her phone. She looked down and saw the text from Archie and she made this squinting face before announcing, "I fucking knew it! I knew this is what he was--" she pauses and awkwardly looks back over to Riley. Her heart is racing in her chest. It feels like it could just explode at any moment and she can't decide if it is from embarrassment or terror or from whatever weird fluttering nonsense had gotten into her. "I-I don't mean- this isn't- uh... Archie is a fucking dick and I will now not be convinced overwise." 

"Not that-uh. I just-uh..." there is a long pause, what the heck was she going to say now? Her mind was racing to find something to say that wasn't awkward. "You look pretty." Pretty? Just pretty? She looks. Just. Like she could step on me and I would thank her for acknowledging my existence. It all catches up with her and her skin just glows a bright red. 

That flush doesn't seem to want to calm down. The shock, that somehow wasn't a shock, but was at the same time, still hadn't worn down. She was here. Riley was here. Archie pulled that 'throw them in a room and see what happens' trick. Is she more mad that she didn't just call him out on it before? But if she had, maybe this wouldn't have- Calm down. Why don't we try that whole see what happens thing? 

Right. Breathe. 

"Thanks-" She thinks I'm stunning. Eeek. 

"Definitely could use a drink," She chuckles, and shuffles a little, trying to figure if she should stand or, well, Dani was closer to the bar.

"Not that hanging with you needs alcohol, but um. Sorry, I'm hella awkward." She reaches up her hand to run her fingers through her hair, though they don't really go all the way through. She also needs to be careful not to mess up the work it took to get her hair to do this. It was hard finding a style to make that piece of hair she'd accidentally burned off not look weird. 

"Here, uh, what do you want? I can go order it." She puts her phone in her satchel that's hanging across her chair.

That is, after she sends a quick text to Archie reading: How very dare you. 

Riley made her way across the room towards Fire The sound of the boots heels almost echoed in the near lounge. It gave them a moment's pause realizing there was nowhere to hide, it was just the two of them and the staff , But Bright One had developed a way to cope with the anxiety of such moments.

When you can't hide, shine.

Pausing at the chair across from the Elemental, Riley removed her bag and placed it on the back of the chair before making direct eye contact with Dani again. 

“Oh? Do I make you that nervous?” they smiled.  They both already knew the answer. 

“A Cosmo would be awesome. ”  Riley drew the chair out taking a seat, crossing one leg over another. 

There were only two options for Riley at this point, seize control of the moment, or melt to the heat.

As Dani went to the bar, Riley swiftly fished out their cell phone pulling up the contact “Bowtie $”. Quickly the darkling swiped out a text to her manager.

Did y’all plan this? Why is Fire here?!

Last Riley recalled seeing her manager interact with Fire was at Imbolc, calling him out on some hot take. What was that again?

Hearing Firebringer return to the table Riley flashed a smile. Taking a moment to watch the mannerisms of the Elemental. There was a softness, no, a warmth to the Ifrit, but so easily she could be fierce, terrifying. It was an enthralling trait.

“Thanks,” the moth said, taking a gentle sip, before placing the glass gently down. Then she alluded to Imbolc. It was true they only seemed to talk at parties. The antennae fidgeted in a subtle tell of embarrassment to the fact.

Riley wanted to tell Dani about the hundred of deleted text messages they had drafted.

Whoa slow the roll cowboy.

The thought of admitting that they had spent that much time thinking about and failing to contact Firebringer was certain to sound a bit...desperate.

“Sorry 'bout that silence.” I wasn't avoiding you, well I was, but not like that.

“ Archies had me really busy. How...do you two uh?” The bewitched paused.

“Didn't take ya'll to be buds.”

As Fire watches Riley and the silence sets in between the two, she nervously sips her drink.

Oh, god. they find me boring. Maybe that's why Riley only talks to me at parties. Instant sad. She takes a long sip of her drink at that. She doesn't realize it, but she's nibbled a little bit on the straw. Nerves. 

When Riley finally speaks again, it is as if the doom finally lifts. At least, somewhat. "It's fine." 

"We're not. Buds, that is." She pauses, trying to figure out how to formulate her thoughts, "Um, well, I've told you before I'm into political activism. I do a lot of PSAs at the bar and I've worked as a speaker at rallies when I was back in Baltimore. Not hard to inspire rage, honestly, and nothing really big. Archie kind of caught wind of that and decided he wanted to help out."

She kind of looks off to the side for a moment, trying to go to what she needed to say next, "I'd asked who else he'd been working with and I guess I shouldn't have been surprised that your name came up." A little flush comes to her cheeks. And then Archie decided he was going to play matchmaker. Quick, change it up- "You know, I realized I haven't actually gotten to see you really dance before. I mean like, in your element."