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Post by Rowan on Mar 8, 2021 12:41:14 GMT -8
As much as the Darkling liked his Hollow, he liked his Clarity more. And so, even if he would have had an easier time studying there, Rowan needed to go where people were. Ugh.
He had texted Firebringer , who had told him she was working, but was supposed to clock out soon-ish. So he simply made his way there, thinking to catch some studying while waiting. He garbed a notebook, his reading guide and a particularly worn and dog-eared copy of Lord of the Flies and set out into the city.
One of the advantages of being Rowan was that there was always a kith suited for any given situation. He called upon the Wyrd to scour his mien of the cold that permeated it, to grant him the acumen of witches' balefires. Ice turned to moisture, then to steam as it evaporated from his skin in an audible hiss. Embers started to glow in the pit of his bottomless eyes as he exhaled the smoke of swamp fire.
The world slowed down a little, as he burned though the information his senses were usually taking in. He pushed the door to the coffee shop and waved to Dani at the register.
"Hey, how goes?" His eyes ran over the menu board as he waited impatiently for the Torrent to answer. "Do you sell smoothies? With caffeine it them."
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Firebringer
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Elemental Ifrit, Presence 3 (Intimidating)
Posts: 634
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Post by Firebringer on Mar 8, 2021 13:00:24 GMT -8
Firebringer is in the midst of making herself a drink, cause it's been a long shift. Hot steam is a going and she's just minding her own business when Rowan barges up to her counter like he owns the place. "Um. Excuse you. You can be patient two seconds while I finish making my drink, thank you very much."
She loves to piss him off sometimes, so she takes juuuust a little longer than usual before going speaking.
"Smoothie? With caffeine in it? Do you just want a frozen coffee? It's probably easier? I could water it down for you good too. Or milk it down, I suppose if you wanna go more that route..." She leads up against the counter, examining his current kith. "Well, aren't you looking all hot today." She couldn't help it. It was the perfect set up for it.
The torrent is wearing a black band-tee that you can't quite see the artwork for under her working apron and a pair of black jeans. Her hair is done up in a messy bun and somehow has managed to mostly defrizz itself. She's discovered keratin. It isn't working great but... she's trying. She has a partner to look cute for now.
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Post by Wayland on Mar 8, 2021 15:13:35 GMT -8
Outside the coffee shop, there's the tell-tale rumble of a motorcycle's engine. Not the high-pitched wine of a crotch rocket, the throaty rumble of a light chopper. It precedes the Ogre as she pulls her bike into one of the parking spots, killing the engine and leaning the bike onto a kickstand. She pulls off a light helmet, taking a moment to run the fingers of one hand through her hair, before swinging off the bike and heading inside, dark aviator sunglasses coming off and folded into the neck of a band-T as she makes the transition from bright exterior to darker interior.
If asked, she wouldn't say she was a caffeine addict, but a hit of that legal stimulant always sounds good. She falls into the line for the counter, only noticing as she does so that she's not the only one with the touch of a Seasonal Court in the building. There have been times since she's gotten back that this would've been cause to turn around and walk back out, avoiding complications while she tried to get settled into some new kind of normal. But those times are long past now. The Darkling at the counter is turned away from her, but she watches the Elemental behind it, sure that she'll be noticed. This doesn't have to be a thing, so she tells herself, they can just nod to each other and go their separate ways if it's not a good time.
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Post by Rowan on Mar 8, 2021 15:33:56 GMT -8
"Word. Can you blend it? I like the crushed ice." His speech pace was noticeably faster than usual, and he looked more jittery too. Not in the scared prey kind of way, but like an ADHD kid that was trying to take in too many things at once and couldn't decide what to focus on. He showed Dani his book. "Studying. GED exam coming up. Haven't been out today yet, so I decided to come here. Don't know why. Am I bothering you? I could go elsewhere if you want." Cargo shorts, Vans, Golden Knights cap put on backwards. Rowan was looking like a proper overgrown Tony Hawk fan.
He was just about to turn around and leave when he sensed- something. The dilation of heat brushing against his sooty skin, something more potent than his own will-o-wisp warmth. Something Seasonal. He froze in place, the glow in his eyes intensifying as smoke and embers escaped from his lips. He slowly tilted his head and turned it to face the newcomer. "One of yours, I think," he whispered to the Torrent before paying for whatever cold and slushy nonsense she was going to concoct for him. He then stood to the side, and waited for the Lost to decide if there would be an interaction or not.
But he was starting to get familiar with Dani. There would be an interaction, so he sighed and just endured.
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Firebringer
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Elemental Ifrit, Presence 3 (Intimidating)
Posts: 634
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Post by Firebringer on Mar 8, 2021 19:26:41 GMT -8
"I got you," She says with a chuckle and did notice the other Lost off to the side, "Oh, cool your pants. I thought I was the steamy one in here. Compared to seeing Archie, this is a beautiful blessing. Plus, I actually enjoy your company. Relax, go read your book, I'll have your drink in a minute." She didn't dislike Archie, but she loved to just rag on him from time to time.
She took his payment and then started working on his drink, which she made sure not to add any syrups to. God forbid he spit out his coffee like he did her lemon bar. Actually, that was kind of precious. First step to friendship. That memory made her smile.
As she is in the midst of it, she turns her head up to look at the noob, "Awfully warm in here. What can I get for you, friend?" She raises her eyebrow at the Ogre waving them over, but gives a friendly smile. It would be friendlier looking if she didn't just naturally come off as intimidating.
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Post by Wayland on Mar 8, 2021 20:05:03 GMT -8
Stepping into the space vacated by the Darkling, but not too close, the Ogre steps up to the counter. The Elemenetal's smile is met with a small upturning of Waylad's lips, just enough to start to dimple her cheeks. A reserved expression of emotion, appropriate to her wary nature. "Bound to get warmer," she observes conversationally, her eyes flicking up towards the establishment's menu.
"An espresso, please," she replies, her voice rich and dark and a touch raspy. A tarnished silver hand dips into the pocket of her jeans to retrieve her wallet. She glances aside at the Darkling, but her eyes don't linger.
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Post by Rowan on Mar 9, 2021 11:40:24 GMT -8
He flipped through his reading guide, scanning for pertinent tips as he pretended to not notice the Ogre. Their Mantle pulsed against his back, causing his own whispers to rise in response. It reminded him of the furnace in the school's basement. He gave Dani a pointed Look at the mention of Archie but didn't comment on it.
When he finished looking over the guide, he tried people watching to distract himself. He needed things to go faster, to keep up with him. It was a strange feeling, a mixture of impatience and exasperation. And still, still, heat washed over him. He was tempted to ask the Ogre to step back, but caught himself on that thought. It wasn't their fault, not really. Then there was that side glance.
"Oh, you know Las Vegas. Heat death by day, death by exposure by night." he said. He tapped the tip of nose as he took in the other. "Have I seen you around before?"
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Firebringer
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Elemental Ifrit, Presence 3 (Intimidating)
Posts: 634
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Post by Firebringer on Mar 9, 2021 23:58:26 GMT -8
Fire nods, taking the Ogre's payment before finishing up Rowan's frozen drink which was a tiny bit of a strong coffee taste with lots of milky ice. "Here, before you get heat stroke," she teases.
She didn't catch the pointed glance and continues on her merry way, making the regular espresso. The heat of the machine with the way her mantle crackles around her gives just another wave of likely unwanted breeze to the poor Darkling sitting at the tables. It happens. Maybe when his mantle rises he'll be a little less heated. Unless hers rises first. Poor thing. May or may not happen any time soon though. She's not there yet.
"Espresso," she says in an exaggerated voice when she's done, setting the cup up at the high pick up counter.
"Yeah, though I don't know a bunch of peeps, so I don't think we've crossed paths before." The Torrent pauses, "Oh, hopefully I'm not weirding you out. I can come on strong. Heh." She didn't think this was one of those times, but like... two Lost and a random one in a shop together. Can get weird and feel a big claustrophobic to someone who isn't familiar with another.
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Post by Wayland on Mar 10, 2021 9:22:44 GMT -8
Awkward. This is awkward. Talking around things they shouldn't be saying in public. And it's nobody's fault, unless they decide to just not be social at all. But Wayland was never good at breaking the ice even before she had a shared sense of trauma with a secret community that they couldn't talk about in front of strangers.
One more thing to avenge upon the Fae.
Her facial expression betrays her inner thoughts. Making a genuine effort despite the challenging nature of the conversation. A sort of half-smile that doesn't reach her eyes quite yet, but might once everyone involved is on a bit firmer footing. "You might have," she responds to Rowan. "I've been in town for a few years now."
She reaches for her espresso with one tarnished, silver hand as the Ifrit speaks, smile twitching slightly wider for a moment as she lightly shakes her head, "You're fine," she assures mildly. "I don't get out much myself. Though I'm trying to change that." That sounds natural, right? This coded language always has her second guessing herself. She shuts herself up with a sip of her frothy drink, pausing a moment to make a pleased sound at the taste.
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Post by Rowan on Mar 10, 2021 17:38:40 GMT -8
He studied the Ogre's face intently. His eyes grew brighter and the smoke thickened to a deep black with embers floating around. And then it returned to his current normal state. "She's awkward," he declared to Dani. He swirled the ice around his drink and took a sip. His head swerved when the sun's reflecting off of a passing car caught in his eye.
The Darkling gave off very much misfit energy himself. He was in his mid-thirties, dressed like someone in their mid-life crisis and holding a book that most had read in high school. He was blunt and kept a distance from the new Summer. He rubbed the sunlight out of his eyes before speaking again. "I'm Rowan. I like your shades." Reciprocity, even if not genuine, was a good way to bridge gaps. Or so he had been told. The Ogre looked just as uncomfortable as he was feeling. She said she'd been around, but Rowan couldn't be sure. His first instinct was to avoid yet another Spear in his live, except he'd likely never hear the end of it. Felicity did say to play nice with other Courts.
"I'll be over there." He pointed some tables to the Elemental before returning his eyes on the biker. "Nice to meet'cha." He walked off, leaving a trace of soot on the counter.
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Firebringer
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Elemental Ifrit, Presence 3 (Intimidating)
Posts: 634
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Post by Firebringer on Mar 10, 2021 18:00:33 GMT -8
The Torrent gives a look to Rowan, sticking out her tongue at him in a playful manner. "Boo. It's only okay when I say it. God," she says in an exasperated manner, clearly joking.
"I'm Dani. Or Fire. Or yo you with the face. I'll probably respond to any of it," She shrugs, a smile still on her face. At the moment, there weren't any other people in the store. Not that they'd likely be alone for long. The shop was located in one of those weird spots that people just kind of forget about unless they've been here before.
"Uh, just the coffee or do you want a scone or somethin'?" She was feeling chatty today. Maybe it's because of the mild lack of Lost socialization she'd had in the last couple of days. Too many mundies at the bar asking for advice. She just wanted some normal conversation. Even if that normal isn't normal in the slightest. "Or if you wanna just chill, that's fine too. Heh." She starts sipping on her own drink. Because she's assistant manager working alone in the last hour of her shift, she can do what she wants. Well... that and it's okay via policy when not around customers. But Lost don't reeeeally count as customers. That is beside the point. ...Wait, where was her brain at again?
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Post by Wayland on Mar 10, 2021 18:20:10 GMT -8
The Ogre frowns, eyebrows forming sharp lines at the Darkling's (accurate) assessment of her social skills. A curl of anger tickles her chest, a tiny hint of indignation. Her expression remains sober even as he compliments her and dismisses himself, but she lets go of her aggravation with a soft, gusty sigh through her nostrils. She eases the slight tension in her shoulders as she raises her cup for another hint of espresso, quite content to turn her attention back to her fellow Summer.
"Ramona," she responds to the introduction in kind, "Or Wayland." She hadn't been intending to eat when she first pulled up to the shop, but at the mention of food, her expression goes pensive for a moment before she shrugs, "I could go for a scone," she agrees after that internal assessment, reaching for her wallet again. She tilts her head behind herself towards the Darkling, "Didn't mean to interrupt you and your friend, there," she says with a mild, apologetic tone.
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Firebringer
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Elemental Ifrit, Presence 3 (Intimidating)
Posts: 634
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Post by Firebringer on Mar 10, 2021 18:55:02 GMT -8
Firebringer gets a little bit more chipper, setting down her drink and heading over to the pastry window, "We have vanilla, blueberry, orange cranberry, and a lemon poppyseed one. What'll you take?" She asks, leaning up against the counter.
"Oh, don't worry. We're fine. It's nice to meet and talk to new people." It's weird how nice she is currently acting, because you get this very intimidating vibe from her. But the problem is that she has her customer attitude on, cause she's in work. She doesn't entirely know how to turn it off. It's like... a personality that comes with an apron or something.
"And uh duh, nice to meet you Wayland." She went for the last namey sounding one. First names feel weirdly personal and if you give a last name, might as well go with that. At least, that's what normal people do right?
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Post by Wayland on Mar 10, 2021 19:56:45 GMT -8
"Blueberry," she answers after a moment of consideration. She glances at the price tag in the pastry window, producing the required bills. And she sticks a couple in the tip jar for good measure. "Nice to meet you too, Fire," she salutes the Elemental with her espresso, taking a sip, and then accepting the scone when it's produced.
"Yeah. Meeting new people." She turns to put the Ifrit on her left, and the Darkling at his distant table on her right, so she can turn her head and glance at him without disengaging from the conversation at the counter. "So is he expecting company?" She asks Fire after a moment, mild bemusement in her voice, like she can't quite figure him out.
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Post by Rowan on Mar 10, 2021 20:41:21 GMT -8
"I can hear you."
A simple statement of fact. He waved his book around while he took another sip of frozen caffeine stuff. "I'm trying to make sense why a bunch of kids would listen to a pig head. Is it, you know..." Gentry? Of course, you don't say those words inpolite company that isn't exclusively Autumn. Also, not in a public place.
His leg shot up and down as he started getting annoyed at the lack of immediate response, at his speed. Was that how Loki felt all the time? "Simon's a idiot for following it's advice."
Rowan throws the book down in a gesture of resignation and leans back on his chair to stretch.
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